Chapter 6
Jayla was idly flipping through a holochannel when Obi-Wan's call hit her. She immediately jumped up and raced out of the Temple. Jumping in her speeder, she zoomed toward the place that Kyran had directed them to, hoping that she wasn't too late.
~~ ~~~~~ ~~
Kyran gritted his teeth as they pushed him into one of the cells at the basement levels. He sighed deeply and sat on the small cot in the other side of the small room. Now what?
"Oh my...the galaxy must be tilted...is that esteemed Jedi Master Kyran Josel, friend to Qui-Gon Jinn, that I see in here with me in my humble home?" A snide voice from a few cells away commented.
"Shut up, W'Go." Kyran growled at him. "I didn't come to visit you."
W'go chuckled. "Oh, but at least now I have some company. Say...you wouldn't want to come share a cell with me, would you?"
"No. I think I'd rather rot in my own cell, thank you kindly," Kyran spat at the fallen Jedi. W'go had been a member of the Jedi Council…until he had tried to sexually violate Qui-Gon when he was younger. He and Qui-Gon had discovered that W'go had a history of such behavior and had met the sister of one of the young Jedi that W'go had violated, Lana Marks. Lana was now a good friend to them both and W'go was stuck down in a cell that cut off the Force for a very long time.
"Aw...you don't know what you're missing..." W'go coaxed. "Don't be such a spoil sport, Kyran. I can make it worth your while, though I'd rather have Qui-Gon or his wonderful padawan."
"Too bad. You can't have him. I killed him."
W'go's laughter abruptly choked off. After a stunned silence, he said, "I would laugh, but somehow I think that you're telling the truth...from a certain point of view."
"You're correct. From a certain point of view." Kyran leaned against the wall and sighed. Why, oh why did the Council put him in the same hall as the psycho who'd assaulted his best friend years before? "This seems to be the cells where they take those who've hurt Qui-Gon. Does each knight have a designated hallway, or am I just lucky?"
"Just lucky," came the snide remark. Suddenly, W'go whistled. "Looking good, Lana! Come on over here and give me a hug! Or a kiss! Or something a little more, though I prefer Qui-Gon..."
Lana Marks' husky voice could be heard as she bit off a few obscenities and then said, "Go stungun yourself, W'go."
"Shut up, W'Go." Kyran stood and went to the bars of his cell and grasped Lana's hands. "Lana. You shouldn't be here."
Lana smiled at him, tears gathered in her eyes. "Well, word travels fast, especially by a mysteriously anonymous call from the Temple. I had to see you. I had to know what happened and I had to hear it from you."
Kyran frowned wondering who called her. He looked away. "According to the Council, I murdered my best friend." His gaze darkened. "The Qui-Gon I killed was a clone." Seeing the stunned look in her eyes he hurriedly filled her in on everything that had happened in the last few days. "Qui-Gon, when we fought, broke two of my ribs and attacked me with Force lightening. That was not Qui-Gon. I could feel it from our bond and through his behavior," he said in a rush, his eyes begging her to believe him.
Lana thought for a moment and then slowly squeezed his hand. "I believe you," she whispered. "So what's being done about finding Qui-Gon? Where's Obi-Wan?"
"The Council is doing nothing but sitting on their hands investigating," he said bitterly. "I took matters into my own hands. I could not in good conscience sit on them after Qui-Gon called out through our link telling me his lips had been sewn shut. I had to rescue Obi-Wan from the Mental ward." He blushed slightly at that.
Lana about choked. "Mental Ward? Obi-Wan? He's the most sensible Jedi so far I've ever met. Sometimes I wonder how in this galaxy he ever got to be Qui-Gon's padawan!" She blinked. "And Qui-Gon's lips were...sewn shut?!" She felt faint.
"Yes." His gaze darkened in anger. "All for a pile of credits." He cursed. "He was in so much pain. I couldn't just sit and do nothing. If there's one thing I've learned from Qui-Gon it's that sometimes rules must be broken to do what you know is right. This was right. I'm certain of it."
Lana nodded. "Ok...so what was Obi-Wan doing in the Mental Ward?"
W'go started to chuckle so she spat at him and hit him even from two cells down. "Shut up, W'go!"
"He felt the clone through their link. He tried to tell the Council. The clone took him to the mental ward and just left him there," Kyran said bitterly. "Qui-Gon would never have left Obi-Wan in a place like that."
Lana nodded more earnestly this time. "Yes, Qui-Gon dotes on Obi-Wan like a father. He would have been at his side every second. So...the clone is dead and you're in here. I assume Obi-Wan is rescuing the real Qui-Gon?"
"Of course he is." I hope, he added to himself silently.
Lana caught the gist of his thought and gave a small chuckle. "Obi-Wan would jump out of a ship without any protection if it meant helping Qui-Gon. I'm sure he's fine." She paused as she thought. "Though...I do hope you have backup handy."
"Yes. My former padawan is on stand-by. I hope they're alright. I have to wait and trust the Force."
"Jayla?" Lana inquired. "Jayla's back? Good. She's a practical young woman. She shouldn't do anything rash."
~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~
Jayla crashed through the ceiling to the room she sensed the two Jedi in and tumbled to the floor in a pile of rubble. Her amethyst lightsaber was out and ready as she surveyed the situation.
Qui-Gon looked up at the spatter of debris as part of the ceiling caved in around him. He arched a brow as the dust cleared and he saw Jayla with her amethyst saber. "Fancy meeting you here."
Jayla grinned at him. "Will the real Qui-Gon Jinn please stand up?" She joked, then turned her attention to two women facing her. "Okay, I'm taking the Jedi with me. Any objections?"
"Like I can do anything besides stand." Qui-Gon muttered and rolled his eyes.
Lora glanced uncertainly at Qui-Gon and shook her head. The Creator had put him through so much pain. She knew he was hurting and needed medical attention desperately. "No," she whispered.
Dora glared at her twin. "No?" She screeched. "I'll show you 'no'!" She quickly fired off her blaster...right at Lora. Lora's eyes widened in shock right before she crumpled. Her eyes found Qui-Gon's. "Forgive me," she whispered, and then was still.
Qui-Gon's gaze narrowed and he yanked the blaster from Dora's grip with the Force. "Good, no more objections."
Jayla quickly spun around and tried to slice through Qui-Gon's chains. Promptly, her lightsaber sputtered and died. She cursed.
Qui-Gon arched a brow. "Swear a Jedi should not."
Jayla shot him a look and relit her lightsaber quickly. "Cortorsis ore. Should've known. Hold on." She flipped over the rubble on the floor to land next to Dora. "Key," she demanded.
"No," Dora growled and in a lightening quick move used her sharp nails to slice cuts across Jayla's cheek.
Jayla cried out and spun around in reflex. She cut off one of Dora's arms. Both women stared down at the severed arm for a moment.
Dora glared at the Jedi and threw the keys in her face, aiming to hit her in the eyes. She stomped out, cradling her bleeding stump of an arm.
Jayla snatched the keys in the air with the Force and then raced over to Qui-Gon. Quickly, she unlocked his wrists, and then found herself supporting his massive, muscled weight as he dropped. "Oof!"
Sorry." Qui-Gon groaned and then cried out as he landed on her. The pain from the acid burns on his chest was nearly one hundred times worse when impacting any surface. He rolled off her and lay in the floor, nearly sobbing in relief that it was finally over and that he could go home.
Before Jayla could stand up, a burning pain slammed into her and she screamed, dropping the key and her lightsaber. She glanced up as she writhed in the floor in pain to see Syfo Dias, Force lightening coming from his fingertips, pointed at her. Her muscles electrified and spasmed out of her control. She tried to cry but her tear ducts were dried out. "Qui-Gon!" She gasped.
Qui-Gon's gaze narrowed and he reached out to the Force, shoving Syfo Dias back, distracting him from Jayla. He snatched up her lightsaber and thumbed the switch, trying hard not to wince at the sharp pain that went through his muscles as he moved.
Syfo growled and grabbed his own lightsaber. "So it is to be physical battle, my friend."
"You're the one who started with the battles, old friend. Hurting an innocent. My friend Kyran won't be very happy with you when he hears about what you've done to his padawan." Qui-Gon lunged forward with his blade.
Syfo gracefully blocked Qui-Gon's lunge and parried with a slicing stroke. "Oh, but technically she's not his padawan anymore," he quipped.
"Technicalities. Do you think the bonds dissolve at knighthood for everyone?" He leapt over Syfo Dias's head and twisted in mid-air, gasping as his landing was off due to the fact that he'd been restrained for so long. He staggered, trying to regain his balance.
Syfo quickly took advantage of his opportunity and stabbed at his side. For some reason, his blade went off mark and missed Qui-Gon, barely, by an inch. He growled and glanced to the side to see Jayla, fighting for consciousness, her arm stretched out toward them. The meddlesome woman must have used the Force to push his killing blow to the side.
Qui-Gon smirked slightly as he regained his balance. "Missed." He used the Force to toss the keys to Obi-Wan and then lunged at Syfo Dias again, coming at him harder and faster than he had before.
Obi-Wan tried to catch the keys but missed and they landed at his feet. He let out an exasperated groan. Then he noticed Jayla crawling, slowly and painfully, toward him while the battle between his wounded master and the psycho Jedi raged. Finally, Jayla reached him but had no strength to stand. She concentrated in the Force and floated the keys up to where it was needed and used the Force to turn the keys to unlock Obi-Wan's hands. He grabbed the keys and she mercifully passed out.
Qui-Gon lunged at Syfo Dias, finding his opening, and managed to tear the lightsaber from his grip. He held the tip of his blade underneath the tender skin of Dias's chin. "Game point."
Syfo chuckled. "Not quite." His eyes blazed, red flecks showing in them, and suddenly Qui-Gon was pushed so hard against the opposite wall that he momentarily stuck to it. Syfo chuckled.
Obi-Wan unlocked his feet, spun his lightsaber into his hands, and charged the Dark Jedi with a yell.
Qui-Gon hit the wall with a thud and slid to the floor, desperately in search of the air that had been knocked out of him. His eyes followed Obi-Wan as he attacked Syfo Dias.
Obi-Wan flipped through the air, slicing down with his lightsaber as he did so. His purpose was not to kill: he was not experienced enough to kill a Dark Jedi and he knew it. Instead, he was aiming to hurt Syfo so badly that he would have to concede defeat.
Syfo Dias swore viciously as Obi-Wan sliced a cut along his thigh and he staggered, his balance off, holding his wounded leg and wincing. His gaze narrowed at Obi-Wan and he tried to thrust with his blade, aiming for the padawan's gut.
Obi-Wan twisted, managing to take the blow to his side instead of his stomach. He clenched his teeth to keep himself from crying out. Determined anew, he swept his leg under Syfo's feet to knock him over.
Syfo leapt over Obi-Wan's kick and landed hard, gritting his teeth at the pain in his leg, and fell over on impact.
Obi-Wan quickly followed and sliced his other leg, using one hand to hold his side, blood running down his fingers.
Syfo Dias howled in pain and gritted his teeth at the pain in both his legs. He knew that he wouldn't be able to get back up with lightsaber wounds in both.
Obi-Wan panted, his lightsaber still up in a defensive position as he watched Syfo and waited to see what he would do next.
Syfo Dias cursed, knowing he was beaten. He tried to get up, but failed and winced deeply at the pain in his legs.
Obi-Wan let out a deep sigh of relief and powered down his lightsaber. Suppressing the pain with the Force, he sent a call to Kyran. //We need pick-up. One dead, four wounded, one missing.//
//Small problem with that, Obi-Wan.//
Obi-Wan slid down to sit on his butt on the floor. //What is that?// He asked, exhausted and hurting
//I'm in prison. The lower levels of the Temple. Mace Windu saw me kill the clone.//
Obi-Wan groaned. //I can't walk. Master Qui-Gon's in no condition to walk and Jayla is unconscious. Though...I think she brought a speeder because she got here really quick. Maybe I can get us all to the speeder...//
Kyran cursed at Obi-Wan's news. //No, Obi-Wan. Stay put and I'll see about getting help.// "Lana? I need your help."
Lana blinked. "Anything. Name it."
~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~
Jedi Master Mace Windu hurried out of the Council room at a dead run, having heard that Obi-Wan was coming back with Qui-Gon .This he had to see since, according to their investigation, Qui-Gon was dead. What he saw in the hangar bay made his jaw drop.
Obi-Wan had to laugh when he saw the expression on Mace Windu--and all the other Council members, except Yoda's--faces. He couldn't resist. "Still think I'm crazy, Masters?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mace stared speechless at Obi-Wan.
Yoda stepped forward. "Doubt you we did not. More information we needed." He glanced over at Qui-Gon and his features softened as he saw him trying without success to get out of the speeder on his own.
Obi-Wan turned to help his master get out of the speeder and winced as his master's weight pulled and stretched his lightsaber burn. "Well, we all need to go to the Healers, Master Yoda. Someone needs to get Knight Jayla out of there and Syfo needs to be under some kind of lock and key."
Yoda narrowed his gaze. "Taken down to the Healers then to the lower levels he will be." He gestured to the members of Jedi security who had arrived on the scene.
Obi-Wan sighed in relief and sagged against the side of the speeder. He felt light-headed and dizzy. He tried to straighten and instead felt himself falling.
Mace Windu stepped forward and caught the boy before he hit the floor. "Easy, Obi-Wan." He lifted the boy in his arms and then frowned at Qui-Gon who was trying to walk, leaning heavily on the edge of the speeder. "Qui-Gon, you shouldn't be walking. The Healers will be here soon."
Obi-Wan pressed a hand to his forehead and weakly agreed with Mace. "Yes, Master, why don't you just take it easy until they get here?"
Qui-Gon, proving their point, stumbled and fell, sitting down hard on the ground. He found that he lacked the strength to get back up off the floor. "Well, I suppose I'll just sit here until then."
Obi-Wan looked up at Mace's kindly face. "Kyran...is he released yet?"
"He hasn't been yet, but he will be shortly."
Obi-Wan sighed and then let Mace take care of him.
~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~
Kyran sighed as he leaned back against his cell wall. He wondered vaguely if Obi-Wan had managed to rescue Qui-Gon yet. He was lonely. Lana had left after the guard ushered her out. W'Go was humming to himself next door. It was getting on his nerves. "Would you shut up, please."
W'go laughed. "No. I find it too amusing to see how many different ways I can get on your last nerve, partner."
Kyran rolled his eyes then buried his head in his arms trying to ignore him. "If you don't shut up, I'll call security."
"Too late..." W'go said as footsteps sounded down the hall. The footsteps got nearer and then a Jedi stopped outside Kyran's cell.
"Master Josel?" He said courteously.
Kyran frowned as security was outside his door. "Yes?" He wondered what they wanted.
The Jedi waved his hand and the bars slid back into their slots. "The Jedi Council extends sincere apologies for the mix-up with the clone. You are free to go, though I have been told to offer you passage to the Healers since your friends are back and are there in bacta tanks."
Kyran let out a breath of relief as they unlocked his door. He could leave. He was free.
Then what the guard said registered. In bacta tanks? He left the room at a run ignoring W'Go's taunting as he called after him.
"Told you I would call security. Now shut up for the peace of everyone else," he called as he ran.
