For those that really worry about detail, I was re-reading The Deadly Hunter again the other day and realized that I made a little boo-boo. The Cascardi Mountains are actually on Duneedain and not Vandor-3. I have made the correction and apologize. :)
K-Rock - I'm glad you liked. Like I said, I've been working on this fic recently and hope that you like where I take it. It's just taken another twist I wasn't anticipating but I think I like it. It adds even more dimension to what is to come. I really appreciate you sticking with me. More twists to come. I hope you like dancing. :p
And to anyone else, Thanks for reading. ;)
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Anakin rushed through the landing procedures. The ship barely touched down before he was running out the back hatch. He felt the need to be by his Master's side. Dashing through the snow-bleached landscape, he made his way toward the house. He found his Master holding MysAri in his arms. But what he heard astonished him more. "you will hand yourself over to us." He was so sure his Master would bargain with them and the simple response stopped him in his tracks, "Done."
Immediately, he cried out his opposition, "NO!"
Mentally, Obi-Wan called back to his Padawan, {Stay back.} Outloud, he addressed his adversaries, "On the condition that once MysAri has been given the antidote and I have noticed her improve, that my Apprentice be permitted to take her back to the Temple for care."
The pair glanced at each other for a moment, before replying. "Agreed." Apparently, they were expecting this type of provision. Once the terms were set, Jenna instructed, "Bring her inside, we don't have much time."
Obi-Wan hastily followed them inside. Barely, he heard MysAri in his mind, {Please, don't do this. Better to let me go.} He smiled wearily as he spared a glance for her. Tears trailed her cheeks, and her eyes pleaded with him to rescind his decision. He did not get the chance to respond as his Padawan came up next to him.
"Master, you mustn't do this." Anakin was seething with bridled anger. Clenching his fists, he could not even bring himself to face his Master.
Obi-Wan noticed all this but dismissed it at the moment. He had more pressing concerns, unconsciously bringing the woman in his arms closer to him. Glancing down he gazed into her dark eyes, almost all hints of emerald gone due to the pain. He would give anything to see the vibrant green again. Sighing he replied, "You would not understand."
"But you're giving in to them." The young boy argued. It was simply inconceivable that his Master would strike this type of bargain so quickly. Suddenly, the future looked uncertain and grim. "You can't do that."
The Knight knew it was pointless to explain at this point in time, "Just be ready to leave as soon as Mys is able to."
Determination quickly replaced frustration. Anakin decided that he would not leave his Master to face these women alone. Somewhere deep inside him told him that his Master was in grave danger. "I won't leave you."
The Master could sense the shift in the Apprentice, there was little time to waste. His prime objective was to make sure his friend would recover. He hoped that once Mys was safe he would find a way to escape, but he doubted it. That mattered little now that he had made a deal and he would honour it as long as they upheld their end of the bargain. "I will not argue with you. I order you as your Master to take Mys back to the Temple." And the matter was closed.
They followed behind as Jenna led them to a small room. "Place her there, I'll prepare the injection." The scientist moved quickly. For some reason, Obi-Wan trusted Jenna enough to supply the antidote. Glancing back down, he turned his attention back to his friend. She was curled up on her side, her eyes full of pain and desolation. Obi-Wan held MysAri's hand trying to console her, with his other he smoothed her bangs away from her face. Tears continued to trace her pale skin. Moving down he wiped them away, "Shhh, You will be well soon. I promise." Tenderly, he smiled.
MysAri was torn inside. She did not want him to do this. Could not allow him to do this. Especially for her. It was all so wrong somehow, yet there was nothing she could do. Her condition was deteriorating so rapidly that movement on her own was virtually impossible. And the agony from the tendons threatening to rip apart was crippling. So all she could do was cry. It was futile in all respects but it was the only thing left to do. With the last of her dwindling strength she spoke to him mentally, {Please, please don't do this. I have accepted my fate. I am not worth such a sacrifice. Please leave before it's too late.}
{It's already too late and you know it. You also know I could not simply walk away and let you die. Besides, I think you are more than worth it.} He leaned in closer and kissed her forehead.
If it were possible, she would have let out a hiccuping sob, instead it came out as a soft hiss between her teeth and a whimper. Closing her eyes, she savoured the light touch of his lips to her brow. It was the most wonderful feeling amidst the torment. She began, {Tschüxani…} but could not finish as the emotions took her mental voice away.
Anakin sulked in the corner. He could feel something swirling between the two but he could not grasp it. It was intimate and he was not permitted to take part. With every passing moment the anger grew. He was loosing his Master to these evil people for someone his Master cared for more than himself. It was selfish, but he didn't care. Who would take him now? He had already gone through two Masers. Were there any others who would even bother with him?
Jenna re-entered the room holding an injector. "Roll up her sleeve." Obi-Wan complied, he noticed the scar on her arm and remembered how she acquired it. Sighing, he moved aside to give the Scientist room to do her job. Swabbing a spot on the inside of her arm, Zan Arbor placed the needle and injected the solution.
Obi-Wan kept his gaze locked with MysAri's, her eyes still pleading with him to change his mind. As they continued to stare, her eyelids slowly drooped closed. Worriedly, he demanded, "What's wrong? What's happening?"
"Relax, I added a sleeping agent. It will make it easier for the antidote to work." Jenna spoke without compassion, this was all business to her. It was a simple detail that needed to be taken care of before she got her real prize. Glancing down at the handsome Knight, she smirked knowing that he was hers. She had waited years for this, she could wait another hour or two. The cultured voice cut through her thoughts.
"How exactly is it supposed to work?" He asked never removing his eyes from the sleeping form.
"I have placed an enzyme into her system. This will dissolve the previous joining of the catalysts that were introduced and the previously dormant cells. There will be no way to remove the initial contaminant given by my head Scientist, Harenti. However, this enzyme will block any possible relapses of the ailment."
At the mention of the debacle on Chandrila, Obi-Wan's shoulders sagged a little further. He listened to the composed woman and drank in what she said. Her last statement did not assuage his fears. He needed clarification of a few things. "So she will not suffer from it again?" Jenna nodded. "But what about now?"
"That is something I cannot guarantee. I have stopped the damage from progressing, but she will need treatment to rebuild what was already destroyed." Obi-Wan finally turned to face his tormentor. His mind racing with the implications of such a statement.
Thrown into turmoil, Obi-Wan realized that his friend was not out of danger yet. "How will I tell if she is responding to the treatment?"
Jenna headed for the door. Before she left, she turned and said, "The contraction of her tissues will relax gradually. In time she will be able to move again."
Obi-Wan nodded in understanding. Anakin watched as the woman left. When she was gone he approached his Master. "We should try to escape. She's injected Master MysAri with the antidote, let's get out of here."
"Mys is in no condition to be moved yet. And if we tried to leave now, things could get worse. I would be carrying her out and you are not yet ready to face an adversary such as Ona Nobis." Obi-Wan countered Anakin's rash suggestion.
"I am more than ready to face a Bounty Hunter," Anakin announced. Suddenly, the sound of a whip cracked. Anakin turned just in time to see a cord reaching out for him. But before it could reach it's mark, Obi-Wan was in front of him. The strip of metal rapped tightly around Obi-Wan's forearm.
Cool eyes bore into the Knight. Obi-Wan made no move toward the quiet woman, "Your grievance is with me. You will leave my Padawan out of this." With scarcely a flicker of motion, the whip unwound and flew back toward its originator.
Jenna returned at that moment holding a metal circlet. Ignoring the stand-off, she strode purposefully toward Anakin. Bending down she was about to place the bracelet on the Apprentice's arm. Anakin stepped back and Obi-Wan moved forward. "What is that?"
"A Force Disrupter." The scientist answered.
Feeling like things were beginning to spin out of his control, Obi-Wan argued, "That was not part of the deal."
Seemingly not disturbed by his objections, Jenna added, "We have altered the arrangements slightly."
"That is not permissible," the Knight tried to hide his frustration, but it was of little use.
"And you are going to stop us how exactly?" The mastermind challenged coolly. "Don't worry yourself. It is not an inhibitor. This will dull his connection to the Force not sever it. And it will be removed once they leave. This is just insurance that you will remain with us."
Obi-Wan pushed, "You don't need that, he's just an apprentice. He can do you no harm."
"Is that so?" A voice cold and steely sliced through their conversation. Everyone glanced toward the door and found the Bounty Hunter frowning. Her arms were crossed in front of her and Obi-Wan could see her injured hand clearly. When he was about Anakin's age, he fought Ona just outside this house. During their battle, he came down and seared her fingers. Ona thrust them into the snow to cool the burn. As a result two of her fingers had fused together. He knew instantly why she did not trust a Jedi Student.
Utilizing the distraction, Jenna clamped the cuff around Anakin's wrist. Expecting to feel the Force vanish, Anakin was surprised to feel nothing at all. Obi-Wan quickly reeled on the scientist grabbing her arm. "Take it off!"
"When he leaves," Jenna affirmed.
"Now!" He reached for his lightsaber but stopped immediately. Jenna held up a small control remote.
"If you attack me, I will kill your Padawan. Now hand over your weapon." Stretching out a hand, a silver cylinder was placed inside.
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If you please, I would really appreciate a review. I know ff.n has been having some issues but if you can, it would mean a great deal to me. Thanks again. More soon. :D