for disclaimers see part one
Part Two: Finding
Canara was an arid and dry planet. Only two main continents, but both of those were huge and covered at least three-quarters of the planet. Temperatures were hot as the planet orbited fairly close to its single sun. Their Corellian transport ship had been granted permission to land on the western continent, its Jedi passengers hidden in the manifests as traders from Tatooine.
It was dark when Qui-Gon and Mace began their search. First they went to find Mace's contact, a human who owned a bar in Rekick, one of the larger cities on the continent, where they had landed. The bar was in the seedier part of the city but it was clean and the man ran it well. His name was Punja, Mace said as he introduced the two and quickly they were taken into the back of the bar, to a small, private room where they could converse safely.
"I've only managed to find out a little more", Punja admitted. "It's dangerous asking questions round here but I think I know where they've got the captive held. He pulled out a map of the continent, from a hidden recess in one of the walls. "This place isn't marked on any of the maps the computers will show you", he warned as he spread the plastic across the table. "This is an old map a contact gave me once.
See here", at this point he gestured to a town that was some distance west of Rekick. "This place is called Benin. Nasty place, even the authorities don't go there no more. But what really interests you is this", his finger moved to a dark spot a little north of Benin, which the Jedi had at first mistaken simply for a stain.
"This here's a Gagh military complex. It's kept secret, I doubt even many in Benin knows what it really is, they think it's another smugglers' hideout, but I found out the truth a while back, it's military for sure. One of the drunken soldiers who came into my bar mentioned Benin and a secret place so if this person they've got is anywhere he'll be there".
"Thank you, Punja, you've done well", Mace said as the two Jedi examined the map closely. Tomorrow we need to get hold of a speeder and then we can set out to Benin", Mace added to Qui-Gon.
"You can spend the night here", Punja offered. "I know one of the dealers and I'll make sure he gives you a fair price. I'm warning you though, Benin's a nasty place and I don't see how just the two of you are going to be any good, Jedi or no".
"Two of us will be enough", Mace told Punja seriously. "You needn't worry about losing your income from me, I have no intention of dying here".
"Good, you pay fair wages", Punja laughed as they shared the black humour.
Qui-Gon said nothing as he stared at the little dark spot on the worn map, trying desperately to reach his Padawan, but he could not.
*-*-*-*-*
Obi-Wan lay unmoving but his mind was struggling fiercely. * He would hold on, he would * he repeated the refrain in his mind over and over, unable to say any longer who or what he was holding on for but knowing it was important. He tensed as he heard the footsteps come again, the jeering laughter and the sickening smells and above all the pain, which wrapped around him, allowing him to feel nothing but its liquid agony. He tried to push it all away. * He would hold on, he would hold on *...
*-*-*-*-*
Punja was true to his word. In the morning Qui-Gon and Mace set off in a worn-out looking SoruSuub V-35 speeder, heading west. The speeder might have looked in poor condition but it had clearly had a few modifications, the engine especially, and they were soon speeding across the dusty terrain. It took them all day to reach the outskirts of Benin and by the time they arrived they were tired and thirsty for the heat from the sun had been unrelenting and the dust their speeder kicked up had made both cough almost incessantly.
They headed towards the hotel Punja had recommended, or rather had said was 'less bad than the rest', eyeing their surroundings with caution and distaste. The streets were filthy, rubbish was strewn everywhere as well as rubble from the various dilapidated dwellings that they passed.
The people were mostly Gagh, although the Jedi also spotted Humans, Sullustans, a couple of Twi-Lek and so on. They wore dark clothing and most had hoods, they passed swiftly and silently, with their heads down, avoiding eye-contact. The two Jedi could hear no sounds of laughter, few sounds at all save a few screams here and there, which were ignored. Clearly this was a place where your business was considered your own, everyone looked out for themselves, first and last.
They arrived at their destination: a run-down two-story building with a green flashing hotel sign hanging near the door. Punja had been right, it did look marginally better than the rest of the town. They entered and paid for a room, credits up front, naturally. The two Jedi went immediately to their room and rested for several hours until the sun had gone down.
Once night had fallen the two Jedi stole out of their room. Like the inhabitants of Benin, their dark cloaks covered their heads and faces, they took the speeder and travelled several clicks north until they found signs of inhabitation. They quickly killed the power on the speeder and concealed it as best they could in the sparse brush near a grove of trees.
From here they moved carefully. Fortunately the planet's three moons provided enough light to see by but they knew that in return they could be seem. The complex loomed in front of them in the gloom looking dark and forbidding. The pair efficiently scouted round the security wall, memorising all the security features that they could see and hunting for any potential weaknesses. Several hours went by and they had to hurry to return to Benin before dawn.
*-*-*-*-*
The only thing he could feel was pain, it sang through his veins, it whispered to his raw cheek, as he lay slumped on the floor. It called to him, telling him to embrace it, to reach out with his fear and anger and embrace pain… But he resisted, his mind dancing away from the agony, concentrating on one sentence, although he had long forgotten the meaning * Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on…*
*-*-*-*-*
"It's our best chance", Qui-Gon said with a frown, as he stared at the map of the military base that they had constructed together.
"It's our only chance, you mean", Mace replied. "Still it looks fairly possible. We're lucky these Gagh never believed anyone would attack them here. We jump the wall here", he pointed at their sketch, "run to the cover of this building, then enter through this door. We should have enough time to be in before the guards complete their paths".
"Agreed", Qui-Gon said, fear and hope warring in his heart. He stared at the sketch a moment more and then said, "Come, we need to rest. We'll leave an hour after sunset".
The two Jedi bedded down and prepared to wait out the sun.
*-*-*-*-*
Obi-Wan felt utterly detached from his physical body, even the pain had receded. He felt himself almost floating away, something called to him, offering him comfort, but he felt himself slipping and pushed it away. He had to hold on, but he was so tired…
*-*-*-*-*
That night at the prescribed time Qui-Gon and Mace again stole out of their lodgings. They made good time and were soon staring at the base once more. Their plan met with success, they were over the wall, crouching by the side of a door in the breadth of a second. Mace quickly pulled a tool out of his pack to disable the door control and soon the Jedi were inside. They stole down dark corridors with the utmost care, watching for signs of life.
Soon they came to a lit area and what seemed to be a Mess Hall, although at this hour it had only a few occupants, a group of Gagh soldiers playing cards and drinking. Concealing themselves Qui-Gon and Mace listened to their conversation. After a few minutes two more soldiers stumbled into the room, drunk and in good humour.
One of the other Gagh called out to them, "How's the little Jedi this evening, is he dead yet?"
"He soon will be", one of the newcomers slurred. "He ain't no fun when he's just lying on the floor".
This elicited laughter from the rest of the group and the two Jedi stiffened with a mixture of horror and hope. It seems they had found the right place, but after all this were they too late?
The two Jedi moved silently away and went to search for a cellblock. "We must concentrate on rescuing Obi-Wan," Mace warned Qui-Gon. "We cannot take retribution for their actions, no matter how much they deserve it, not if we want to get all three of us out of here alive."
Qui-Gon nodded, he seemed calmer, more certain now despite his anger, now that he knew his Padawan was here, "I know, Mace. But these people will pay, maybe not here and not now, but they will".
Mace merely nodded, Qui-Gon was still angry and wanted revenge but it was set aside in his focus on Obi-Wan. They began to search in the direction from which the two Gagh had come and soon found stairs leading downwards.
They began to search the lower levels of the building and there they found a series of cells. They quickly despatched the two guards on duty, neither soldier having a chance to cry out as the lightsabres flashed. Mace checked the computer, beside the guard's station. "Cell 17," he said quietly.
Within minutes they had found the cell and broken down the door. What they found stopped them in their tracks. The small, huddled, form in the corner of the room looked nothing like Qui-Gon's Padawan. The form was covered in blood and filth and on first appearances appeared dead. Qui-Gon rushed to his apprentice's side, horrified by what he saw.
His Padawan was barely breathing and his pulse was very weak. Qui-Gon wrapped the boy in his cloak, tears in his eyes as he lifted his Padawan. Mace said nothing, the horror clear on his face, and silently he led the way back outside. The met only one more soldier, who Mace took care of, and they were soon speeding back towards Benin.
Back in their dismal lodgings, they used all the medical supplies they carried to begin to treat Obi-Wan's injuries. He had been starved and beaten savagely but there were fortunately no wounds that would cause immediate problems. It was clear that they had arrived just in time.
They returned to Rekick as soon as dawn broke and by the evening were back on their transport, heading back to Coruscant. They had placed Obi-Wan gently in the small medical bay and done all they could to make him comfortable. Mace had left Qui-Gon there finally, when he showed no signs of moving from the still form of his apprentice. Qui-Gon sat in silence, his hand on his Padawan's, hoping to provide some comfort. * I'm so sorry, Obi-wan * his mind said to the still form of his apprentice * This should never have happened. But you're safe now, so rest. You're safe… *
*-*-*-*-*
Qui-Gon sat outside the healers' inner sanctum at the Temple, outwardly appearing calm but inside his feelings surged like a maelstrom. During the return trip to Coruscant Obi-Wan had not regained consciousness and, in return, Qui-Gon had not slept as he remained at his Padawan's side. Although he and Mace had cleaned and treated Obi-Wan's body they had not dared to remove the device the Gagh had implanted in him.
Now the healers had taken his Padawan. He did not know how long he had sat there but he was not moving unless it was to see his apprentice. As he sat Qui-Gon tried to study his feelings, the emotions that were battling within him. After Xanatos he had not wanted another apprentice, had rejected Obi-Wan, but the boy had managed to worm his way past his shields, had come to feel more like a son than an apprentice.
Finally a voice broke through his thoughts, "Master Qui-Gon?" He looked up blankly at the woman standing before him. "Master Qui-Gon," she repeated and then, apparently satisfied that she had his attention, she continued. "My name is Calne'rel. We have finished treating Padawan Kenobi's injuries but…"
"I can see him now?" Qui-Gon interrupted brusquely.
"Soon, there are some things you need to understand first. Although your Padawan has regained consciousness we haven't as yet removed the device implanted in him. He is totally unresponsive, and although we have healed his physical injuries, it is the psychological effects of what has happened to him we are concerned about and those at the moment we cannot help him with. We cannot remove the implant until his mental health is assured but we cannot help him until the device is removed." Her words were spoken gently but Qui-Gon's spirits dropped even further as the words sank in.
"Can I see him now?" his words were a broken whisper.
"Of course", she hesitated and then continued, "if you'd come this way."
*-*-*-*-*
Obi-Wan was lying motionless on the bed Qui-Gon was led to. Although Obi-Wan was very thin it was not his physical appearance that concerned Qui-Gon. As he lent over his Padawan he looked at his eyes. They were open, but appeared unfocused and, worst of all, the spark of life in them was gone. He swallowed his fear and sat next to him, hoping against hope that his presence would reach Obi-Wan.
Outside the room where Qui-Gon sat with Obi-Wan, Mace Windu and Yoda had arrived. Although both seemed calm they were concerned for the pair. Mace Windu turned towards the healer who had informed them of Obi-Wan's condition. "What do you suggest now?"
The healer shook his head and shrugged slightly and said with great sadness, "We are uncertain. We can do nothing more for the boy at the moment. Until we can get through to him, we can do nothing more. We believe it would be best to turn him over to Qui-Gon. If he cannot reach his Padawan we certainly cannot."
"Much danger in this path there is," Master Yoda said slowly. "Much anger and fear there is and will be."
"There are no other options", Mace Windu pointed out. "Qui-Gon will reach him, I'm sure of it"
Then they stood in a silence that was mirrored inside the room where Qui-Gon sat as he willed the silent form of his apprentice to respond.
*-*-*-*-*
tbc
well, what did you think? Please let me know, all feedback, especially constructive crit is much appreciated. Part three will be along soon!
Reviewer responses
Michelle: thank you for your reviews!! I'm glad you liked the first part, hope you like this part too.
Kenobisaqt: glad you like the story so far, hope you like this part too!