Chapter Four
Tho watched from his usual place near the corner of the wall. He had
already kicked out his frustration on the young, semi-conscious Jedi brat
and now he was letting his riders have a turn.
Qui-Gon moaned at the queasiness in his stomach as the men continued to pummel him. He was fairly certain one of his ribs was broken if not two. They'd been hitting him with a metal rod in the stomach for nearly an hour and a half. He heaved but nothing came up, having long ago emptied his stomach all over the floor. How he wished he hadn't disobeyed his master.
Lana hurriedly showed the Jedi into the cantina and raced toward the hidden room in the back, hoping she wasn't too late.
The woman in Tho's gang reached for the Padawan braid on the boy's head with her knife. She liked to collect trophies before she killed. Seeing the warning, Tho casually uncrossed his arms. "No, Fli. We're not killing him yet. Just punishing him for being born." He chuckled. "Hand me the rod." Fli mutely handed him the metal rod and he raised it to hit the Jedi again.
Without a word the door flew open and the metal rod was jerked out of the grip of the owner before he could land another hit on his padawan. Yan Dooku, blade ignited took in the scene. His sick padawan was chained to a wall, so weak he could barely move. Dried vomit on the floor close to the boy gave mute testimony of what the boy had been injected with. "Step away from my apprentice. Now." He ordered. His voice was cold, sharp and intimidating, filling the room with his Force-presence. Qui-Gon was semi-conscious and even he had sense enough to recognize the voice. "Master!" He said hoarsely in surprise and joy. Kyran and Devin were just behind Dooku, blades also out and ignited.
Lana hung back in the hall, not anxious to get in the way of three lighted blades and trapped swoop riders. Tho gaped in surprise. "How'd you get in here?" He demanded. "No one knows..." He spied Lana hanging back in the shadows. "You Gamorrean whore!"
Kyran's gaze darkened and with a powerful Force blast he sent Tho flying across the room, away from his friend.
Tho hit the wall hard, his spine cracking and he suddenly could no longer feel the bottom part of his body. Terrified, he tried to get up and walk but found the gesture useless. His eyes round, he stared at Kyran. "What di' you do to me?!"
Kyran blinked. "I just pushed you. You're the one who had to fall into the wall."
Lana burst out laughing, though she quickly stilted it. Fli detached herself from her cowering position near the door and jumped on Lana, surprising the Jedi and swoop riders. Fli's dislike of Lana had been legendary but to pick a fight right here in front of Jedi was stupid even for her. Fli punched her in the face and Lana clawed at her face.
Kyran reached down and with great difficulty pulled the struggling woman off Lana, getting several slash marks across his face for his efforts.
Fli suddenly let herself get limp. Reaching into her tunic, she pulled out her holdout blaster. She grinned maliciously and fired directly into Lana's chest. Lana gasped and let out a strangled yell before sinking into unconsciousness.
Glaring at the woman he was holding, Kyran struggled to get a grip on the blaster and she clawed his face again, nearly getting his eyes. He yanked the blaster from her with the Force and then dropped to Lana's side to check on her.
Fli, happy now, let herself be led to where the swoop riders were all gathered, hands up in surrender, against the wall. Dooku glanced down at Kyran. "Kyran, can you get to Qui-Gon? Then I can get him out of here and you can get Lana."
Qui-Gon moaned and sighed in relief seeing Tho and his men as prisoners of his master. Kyran quickly went over to his friend and cut him out of his chains. Qui-Gon was too weak to support himself and his knees buckled. "Sorry." He tried to apologize for falling on Kyran but he was so tired...so tired.
Kyran held Qui-Gon's stumbling form and whispered, "Hold on buddy." He handed him over to Dooku, anxious to get back to where Lana lay, blood staining her shirt.
Kyran swore as he glanced at her wound and clenched his jaw. It looked bad. He reached deep into the Force and tried to aide healing and stop the blood flow. Standing only when he thought her blood flow had stopped enough to move her.
Dooku nodded. "Okay, let's move." He glared at the swoop riders. "The Council will hear of this and more Jedi will be dispatched shortly to take care of you and your little 'business'," he snapped.
Jedi Healer Han'yaie slowly injected adlantum into an unconscious Qui- Gon's arm. He silently hoped that the padawan had been brought to him in enough time for the antidote to Yanthamin to work.
Kyran looked at his unconscious best friend and shook his head sadly at his condition. His friend had been unconscious since they rescued him. He'd fainted in the speeder and neither himself, nor Master Dooku or his friend Devin could bring him around. He hoped it wasn't too late to save his friend. Qui-Gon had been his friend since Qui-Gon was five.
Han'yaie took a step backwards as he regarded the young Jedi apprentice. He should know soon whether or not the adlantum was given in enough time to save the boy's life.
Kyran looked up, his eyes wide with horror as he heard the rhythm monitoring his friend's vital signs go flat. He jumped to his feet to go to his friend's aide.
Han'yaie swept a well-muscled arm to the side to block Kyran's passage to his friend. "No," he clipped tersely. "This is something I alone have the knowledge in the Force to do." He placed his fingers lightly on Qui-Gon's forehead, ignoring the whine of the heart monitor. Focusing into the Force, Han'yaie gathered the almost tangible ghost-like strands of Living Force to his body like a glove scooping out herbs in a broth. When he had several of the pulsing strands of Life, Han'yaie pushed them through his fingers and into Qui-Gon's body. He had to anchor Qui-Gon's life force before it slipped too far away. Gritting his teeth with the white-hot pain of the Living Force pulsing through him, Han'yaie focused still more and more of what only he could see into the limp body of the young Jedi.
Kyran watched helplessly and glanced at the just then entering Master Dooku. Dooku had finally finished delivering Tho and his men to the authorities and had showed up to keep the vigil over his padawan. He took in Han'yaie over his padawan and he felt his stomach drop out at seeing the flat monitor. He frantically searched his bond with his padawan and knew then what that silence in his mind that was his padawan's place meant.
Han'yaie poured more of the Living Force into the padawan. He refused to let it be too late for this boy. Almost as if the Force knew his determination would not waver, suddenly he felt Qui-Gon's life force slam back into his body. The heart monitor steadied again to a steady beeping and Qui-Gon's began to breathe normally again, though still unconscious. Han'yaie let out a tired sigh of relief and removed his fingers from the boy's forehead. It had been close. He opened his eyes, not aware that he had closed them, to find Master Dooku and Padawan Josel staring at him with wide eyes. "He is safe now. Let him rest," he said in an exhausted voice.
Dooku let out a long breath that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding when he saw his padawan's monitor start up again. A few tears slipped down the side of his cheeks. If only he'd told the boy "Happy Birthday" instead of waiting and being so cold this would never have happened. He bowed his head and walked out, filled with regrets.
Han'yaie silently watched the Jedi Master leave. He was so tired, had used so much of his strength for just one person...and he had yet to look after Kyran and the woman they had brought in. The Healer glanced over at Kyran. "Come here. Let's get those cuts cleaned off of your face, Padawan Josel," he said.
Kyran sighed deeply, unconcerned about the cuts on his face, more concerned for Qui-Gon, who was still unconscious. He bowed his head and nodded. "Yes, Master Han'yaie."
Han'yaie took little time with Kyran as the cuts were not that deep. He used a little bacta to help heal the cuts faster and to hopefully not leave any scarring behind. Once he was finished, he raised an eyebrow. "Now, what am I to do about this woman you and Master Dooku have brought me? She has little Force talent, is not trained, and the rules forbid her to stay here if she is not Jedi." He leaned down conspiratorially. "But I know that if she leaves here, she will die. What shall we do with her?"
Kyran shook his head. "Heal her anyway?" He glanced up at the Healer. "She doesn't exactly have the energy to go anywhere else and see a doctor."
Han'yaie hid a smile as he stood up. "Correct, Kyran Josel. Though I am afriad that at this moment I have nothing to spare her with the Force. So we'll place her in a bacta tank for a few days and tomorrow, after I have rested, we will see how she responds. But where shall we put her for her extended stay?" He knew that the young man could think of something, he just wanted to hear it from the padawan's lips so that Kyran could feel like he was helping.
Kyran bit at his lip. "With Qui-Gon? They can keep each other company. That way we can see how they're both doing at the same time. When we come visit." He knew the Master healer would know he meant Qui-Gon's Master if he said "we".
Han'yaie smiled. "A good idea, Padawan Josel. So shall it be. Now, go get some rest. I will alert you and Master Dooku should anything happen during the night to either one of them."
Kyran nodded and left the Healer's Ward as the Chief Healer instructed, but knew that he wouldn't be able to get any sleep, while both of his friends were in such bad shape. He headed for his quarters, intending to ask his Master to help him meditate and focus.
Qui-Gon moaned at the queasiness in his stomach as the men continued to pummel him. He was fairly certain one of his ribs was broken if not two. They'd been hitting him with a metal rod in the stomach for nearly an hour and a half. He heaved but nothing came up, having long ago emptied his stomach all over the floor. How he wished he hadn't disobeyed his master.
Lana hurriedly showed the Jedi into the cantina and raced toward the hidden room in the back, hoping she wasn't too late.
The woman in Tho's gang reached for the Padawan braid on the boy's head with her knife. She liked to collect trophies before she killed. Seeing the warning, Tho casually uncrossed his arms. "No, Fli. We're not killing him yet. Just punishing him for being born." He chuckled. "Hand me the rod." Fli mutely handed him the metal rod and he raised it to hit the Jedi again.
Without a word the door flew open and the metal rod was jerked out of the grip of the owner before he could land another hit on his padawan. Yan Dooku, blade ignited took in the scene. His sick padawan was chained to a wall, so weak he could barely move. Dried vomit on the floor close to the boy gave mute testimony of what the boy had been injected with. "Step away from my apprentice. Now." He ordered. His voice was cold, sharp and intimidating, filling the room with his Force-presence. Qui-Gon was semi-conscious and even he had sense enough to recognize the voice. "Master!" He said hoarsely in surprise and joy. Kyran and Devin were just behind Dooku, blades also out and ignited.
Lana hung back in the hall, not anxious to get in the way of three lighted blades and trapped swoop riders. Tho gaped in surprise. "How'd you get in here?" He demanded. "No one knows..." He spied Lana hanging back in the shadows. "You Gamorrean whore!"
Kyran's gaze darkened and with a powerful Force blast he sent Tho flying across the room, away from his friend.
Tho hit the wall hard, his spine cracking and he suddenly could no longer feel the bottom part of his body. Terrified, he tried to get up and walk but found the gesture useless. His eyes round, he stared at Kyran. "What di' you do to me?!"
Kyran blinked. "I just pushed you. You're the one who had to fall into the wall."
Lana burst out laughing, though she quickly stilted it. Fli detached herself from her cowering position near the door and jumped on Lana, surprising the Jedi and swoop riders. Fli's dislike of Lana had been legendary but to pick a fight right here in front of Jedi was stupid even for her. Fli punched her in the face and Lana clawed at her face.
Kyran reached down and with great difficulty pulled the struggling woman off Lana, getting several slash marks across his face for his efforts.
Fli suddenly let herself get limp. Reaching into her tunic, she pulled out her holdout blaster. She grinned maliciously and fired directly into Lana's chest. Lana gasped and let out a strangled yell before sinking into unconsciousness.
Glaring at the woman he was holding, Kyran struggled to get a grip on the blaster and she clawed his face again, nearly getting his eyes. He yanked the blaster from her with the Force and then dropped to Lana's side to check on her.
Fli, happy now, let herself be led to where the swoop riders were all gathered, hands up in surrender, against the wall. Dooku glanced down at Kyran. "Kyran, can you get to Qui-Gon? Then I can get him out of here and you can get Lana."
Qui-Gon moaned and sighed in relief seeing Tho and his men as prisoners of his master. Kyran quickly went over to his friend and cut him out of his chains. Qui-Gon was too weak to support himself and his knees buckled. "Sorry." He tried to apologize for falling on Kyran but he was so tired...so tired.
Kyran held Qui-Gon's stumbling form and whispered, "Hold on buddy." He handed him over to Dooku, anxious to get back to where Lana lay, blood staining her shirt.
Kyran swore as he glanced at her wound and clenched his jaw. It looked bad. He reached deep into the Force and tried to aide healing and stop the blood flow. Standing only when he thought her blood flow had stopped enough to move her.
Dooku nodded. "Okay, let's move." He glared at the swoop riders. "The Council will hear of this and more Jedi will be dispatched shortly to take care of you and your little 'business'," he snapped.
Jedi Healer Han'yaie slowly injected adlantum into an unconscious Qui- Gon's arm. He silently hoped that the padawan had been brought to him in enough time for the antidote to Yanthamin to work.
Kyran looked at his unconscious best friend and shook his head sadly at his condition. His friend had been unconscious since they rescued him. He'd fainted in the speeder and neither himself, nor Master Dooku or his friend Devin could bring him around. He hoped it wasn't too late to save his friend. Qui-Gon had been his friend since Qui-Gon was five.
Han'yaie took a step backwards as he regarded the young Jedi apprentice. He should know soon whether or not the adlantum was given in enough time to save the boy's life.
Kyran looked up, his eyes wide with horror as he heard the rhythm monitoring his friend's vital signs go flat. He jumped to his feet to go to his friend's aide.
Han'yaie swept a well-muscled arm to the side to block Kyran's passage to his friend. "No," he clipped tersely. "This is something I alone have the knowledge in the Force to do." He placed his fingers lightly on Qui-Gon's forehead, ignoring the whine of the heart monitor. Focusing into the Force, Han'yaie gathered the almost tangible ghost-like strands of Living Force to his body like a glove scooping out herbs in a broth. When he had several of the pulsing strands of Life, Han'yaie pushed them through his fingers and into Qui-Gon's body. He had to anchor Qui-Gon's life force before it slipped too far away. Gritting his teeth with the white-hot pain of the Living Force pulsing through him, Han'yaie focused still more and more of what only he could see into the limp body of the young Jedi.
Kyran watched helplessly and glanced at the just then entering Master Dooku. Dooku had finally finished delivering Tho and his men to the authorities and had showed up to keep the vigil over his padawan. He took in Han'yaie over his padawan and he felt his stomach drop out at seeing the flat monitor. He frantically searched his bond with his padawan and knew then what that silence in his mind that was his padawan's place meant.
Han'yaie poured more of the Living Force into the padawan. He refused to let it be too late for this boy. Almost as if the Force knew his determination would not waver, suddenly he felt Qui-Gon's life force slam back into his body. The heart monitor steadied again to a steady beeping and Qui-Gon's began to breathe normally again, though still unconscious. Han'yaie let out a tired sigh of relief and removed his fingers from the boy's forehead. It had been close. He opened his eyes, not aware that he had closed them, to find Master Dooku and Padawan Josel staring at him with wide eyes. "He is safe now. Let him rest," he said in an exhausted voice.
Dooku let out a long breath that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding when he saw his padawan's monitor start up again. A few tears slipped down the side of his cheeks. If only he'd told the boy "Happy Birthday" instead of waiting and being so cold this would never have happened. He bowed his head and walked out, filled with regrets.
Han'yaie silently watched the Jedi Master leave. He was so tired, had used so much of his strength for just one person...and he had yet to look after Kyran and the woman they had brought in. The Healer glanced over at Kyran. "Come here. Let's get those cuts cleaned off of your face, Padawan Josel," he said.
Kyran sighed deeply, unconcerned about the cuts on his face, more concerned for Qui-Gon, who was still unconscious. He bowed his head and nodded. "Yes, Master Han'yaie."
Han'yaie took little time with Kyran as the cuts were not that deep. He used a little bacta to help heal the cuts faster and to hopefully not leave any scarring behind. Once he was finished, he raised an eyebrow. "Now, what am I to do about this woman you and Master Dooku have brought me? She has little Force talent, is not trained, and the rules forbid her to stay here if she is not Jedi." He leaned down conspiratorially. "But I know that if she leaves here, she will die. What shall we do with her?"
Kyran shook his head. "Heal her anyway?" He glanced up at the Healer. "She doesn't exactly have the energy to go anywhere else and see a doctor."
Han'yaie hid a smile as he stood up. "Correct, Kyran Josel. Though I am afriad that at this moment I have nothing to spare her with the Force. So we'll place her in a bacta tank for a few days and tomorrow, after I have rested, we will see how she responds. But where shall we put her for her extended stay?" He knew that the young man could think of something, he just wanted to hear it from the padawan's lips so that Kyran could feel like he was helping.
Kyran bit at his lip. "With Qui-Gon? They can keep each other company. That way we can see how they're both doing at the same time. When we come visit." He knew the Master healer would know he meant Qui-Gon's Master if he said "we".
Han'yaie smiled. "A good idea, Padawan Josel. So shall it be. Now, go get some rest. I will alert you and Master Dooku should anything happen during the night to either one of them."
Kyran nodded and left the Healer's Ward as the Chief Healer instructed, but knew that he wouldn't be able to get any sleep, while both of his friends were in such bad shape. He headed for his quarters, intending to ask his Master to help him meditate and focus.