"NO!" Nield burst out, flinging something at the holo. A thin knife cut through the air, slicing through where Balog had been seconds ago. "You evil – "
Qui-Gon had gone perfectly still, simply staring at the area where his padawan had been. He could not speak, he could not move. All he could do was stare. He didn't even notice when Yoda asked quietly for everybody to leave except for Adi, Siri, and Nield.
"Understand, we do," Yoda started.
Qui-Gon didn't answer, staring blankly.
"Who is that man?" Nield burst out, taking quick steps toward Yoda. "Yoda, who was he?"
"Balog," Adi said softly. "Padawan, would you mind – "
"I won't leave!" Siri said vehemently.
"I wasn't about to say that," Adi said gently. "Would you brief Nield about the current situation – in a private room?"
A small part of Qui-Gon's mind was aware of the conversations going around him, but the rest was firmly fixed on Obi-Wan. He can't be dead. He just can't be. One death after another . . . I'm going to die from this. Oh Force, let me die. I caused his death. I failed him. I failed Tahl. I failed Xanatos. And my last words to him were spoken out of anger.
"Failed nobody, did you, Qui-Gon," Yoda said.
"He's right, Qui-Gon. You didn't fail anybody." Adi put in.
Qui-Gon could only shake his head mutely. Why couldn't he just die? He deserved death, not his padawan. Slowly, he sunk to the ground, burying his head in his hands and stifling a sob.
A moment later, the door burst open. "Qui-Gon!" Eritha shouted, her voice trembling. "They took Obi-Wan! That monster took him!"
"He's dea – " Qui-Gon's voice cracked.
"Dead?" Eritha cried out in an impossibly loud voice.
Qui-Gon was too constricted with pain to notice when Nield and Siri entered the room again and started talking in very loud whispers with Eritha. Dimly, he heard Adi gesturing Eritha outside. The moment she was gone, Nield spoke up. "I don't like her."
"She's the adopted daughter of Roan." Qui-Gon heard himself saying.
Nield raised an eyebrow. "Whose Roan?"
"The former leader of – " Siri lowered her voice. "New Apsolon."
New Apsolon. The words rang in Qui-Gon's ear. That damned place had started everything. What was wrong with Balog? Going after innocent children! Why did that fool seek power? Qui-Gon clenched his teeth. When he was angry, he didn't feel the pain. He didn't feel the guilt. I can channel my anger . . .
If Yoda or Adi noticed the change, they didn't let on.
"Just because someone has good bloodlines doesn't mean that they aren't corrupt!" Nield was shouting loudly. "If I recall correctly, you said that Eritha's sister, Alani is part of Balog's conspiracy to rule the galaxy and kill all Jedi!"
"Shut up, Nield!" Siri snapped, glancing at Qui-Gon.
"Stop denying the truth!" Nield snapped back.
"Be quiet, both of you," Adi ordered.
There was a momentary silence before Nield spoke again. "Obi-Wan is alive, Qui-Gon. Reach out with your Force. If I know criminals, I know that he isn't dead. Balog wouldn't kill him. Not so soon."
Master Yoda nodded wisely. "Along your bond, you must feel, Qui-Gon."
"But what if Nield is wrong, and I can't sense him?" Qui-Gon asked dully. It would be a second death if he generated up hope only to find that he really couldn't sense Obi-Wan's bright light.
"You must try," Adi said.
Yoda thumped his gimer stick indigently against the floor. "Not reaching you, have my lectures? Do or do not! There is no try!" Yoda pointed the gimer stick at Qui-Gon. "Do, you will. Do you will now."
At the moment, Qui-Gon was grateful he had a stubborn green troll around to guide him through difficult moments.
***
Obi-Wan blearily opened his eyes. He hurt all over. Now he could see why. His arms were bruised and bleeding, his wrists were bleeding where someone had snapped handcuffs none too politely, and his legs felt as if they had been run through a grinder and back. Not to mention his throbbing headache, courtesy of – Eritha?
Balog! He was a prisoner of Balog! And Eritha was Balog's ally! Obi-Wan blinked, trying to get rid of the circles clouding his vision. A moment later, he saw Balog's face lean down. "So the little Jedi is awake."
A sharp slap snapped Obi-Wan's head to the side. "We should kill him," Balog ground out. "This Qui-Gon Jinn, I know he's after me. He's endangering my reign."
"Your reign?" Alani asked.
Balog glared at her. "Our reign then. Either way, the people are dubious. They want the bounty on the Jedi's head, but they realize now that they can't kill him! Nearly a hundred sightings have been reported, we've told them repeatedly he's in our grasp, and still he lives!"
"He will die soon enough!" Alani shouted. "Do you now see that we have his apprentice?"
"He thinks his apprentice is dead."
"His apprentice is our bargaining chip." Alani glared at Balog. "And need I remind you his apprentice is also awake and listening to everything we're saying?"
An evil grin lit up Balog's face. "Then we'll just have to flush his memories – the hard way." Smirking, he lifted an thin instrument, coated with a thin layer of pure acid. "I can take care of this Jedi."
Master! Help me! Obi-Wan screamed along their bond as intensifying fire jolted through his sides.
***
Alone. He couldn't sense anything. All he knew was that he was alone. Nield was wrong. He is dead. Balog killed him. Balog killed him. Balog killed . . .
MASTER!
Qui-Gon jerked violently. Obi-Wan?
Help me!
Pain shot through Qui-Gon again. He tried his best to absorb the pain and take that pain from his apprentice. A jolt of fire suddenly raced through Qui-Gon. He welcomed that pain, too. I'm here, Padawan. Another flash of heat and Qui-Gon nearly collapsed. If he was feeling so much pain, he didn't want to think about Obi-Wan's status.
Master, go! Don't s – suffer with me! Qui-Gon could sense his apprentice's shields going up in an attempt to block the Master from it all.
Don't do this, Obi-Wan! Qui-Gon threw himself at the pain, battling it back furiously. Another wave threatened to overtake him. Padawan, please! Let me help you! Relief that his padawan was alive was quickly being replaced with the fear that his apprentice was suffering.
There was no reply.
Qui-Gon threw himself bitterly at Obi-Wan's shields, trying to break them down so he could help. But Obi-Wan was too far gone for him to help.
***
A slight touch on his shoulder brought Qui-Gon out of his meditative state. "He's alive," Qui-Gon announced, his voice thick with anger and tears. "You were right, Nield. But - " Qui-Gon's eyes burned with intense fire. "He's being tortured."
"Where is he?" Siri asked.
Qui-Gon shook slightly as he rose. "I must go after him."
"Where is he?" Siri repeated.
Qui-Gon ignored her and strode out the Council Room.
"Agh!" Siri muttered in frustration. "You know, Qui-Gon, I care about Obi-Wan too. I want to help you find him! A Jedi is in danger. It's a job as a Jedi to go after him."
Qui-Gon paused, his hand on the door switch.
"Let me go with you," Siri said. "Two people can search better than one."
"Me too," Nield said firmly. "You say that I'm too busy as a planet ruler, Qui-Gon. But I know planet rulers and I know how to use propaganda for our own purposes." He faltered slightly at the skeptical look Adi, Siri, and Yoda shot him. "Ah, I forgot Jedi don't like that. Well, it'll still help!" he said defensively.
"It will be dangerous!" Qui-Gon said to the wall. His determination to go on alone was faltering.
"If you leave without me, I'll follow you!" Nield said. "You know I will." His tone softened. "This is my friend in danger, Qui-Gon. I can't turn my back on him."
"I'm going too," a new voice said.
Bant appeared in the doorway. Her eyes were red with tears, but she lifted her chin determinedly, blocking Qui-Gon's path out the door. "He's my best friend. And Tahl was my Master. I have every right to go."
Qui-Gon grimaced inwardly. He was going to be dragging around two Jedi Padawans, one teenager, and another Jedi Master. But arguing was wasting time. "You will go," he said to Bant, "all of us. But you will follow my orders and wishes."
"That'll be the day . . . " Siri murmured softly.
***
"This is New Apsolon," Adi told Siri, Nield, and Bant. "It is a planet that Qui – the Jedi – " she quickly edited, "helped bring peace to six years ago. It's ruler, Roan, was murdered, believed to be the murderer of Ewane, who ruled before him. Roan was never too popular, but he relied on one man, Balog, to be his Chief of Security. It is now being discovered that Balog simply wanted power."
"He wants to rule the galaxy?" Nield asked skeptically.
"And overthrow the Senate," Adi said. "But to take down the whole Republic, he must find something that the Republic uses as a symbol, and turn the galaxy against it."
"Us." Siri said bluntly.
"I was hoping, Padawan, you might keep that discovery to yourself," Adi said. "But never mind it. We know for a fact now that – "
"Balog has kidnapped my apprentice and now is torturing him to death just as he killed Tahl slowly," Qui-Gon interrupted, a hint of steel in his voice. "If he had to kill somebody, he could have done it quickly." Qui-Gon clenched his lightsaber hilt. "Adi, how fast does someone die if you lop of their head?"
"Qui-Gon!" Adi reproved, but even she could not find the strength to reprimand him for anger.
"Slowly, I hope," Bant said bitterly before catching herself. "Forget it."
Adi sighed. "Everybody here – yes, you as well, Qui-Gon – I hope you will all keep an open mind about the situation. Try to remember your Jedi Training."
"My Jedi training?" Nield asked.
"You can just blunder along," Siri said. Adi leveled a stern gaze at her and she sighed. "Sorry."
"Once we arrive on New Apsolon," Qui-Gon said brusquely. "We will split up. Adi, you travel with Nield because he has no real means of defense." Nield flared at that, but did not comment. "Siri and Bant can travel together. I will go on alone."
"No!" Adi and Siri said. "We will go together," Adi finished.
"That is not wise," Qui-Gon snapped.
Adi shrugged. "It may not be wise, but it is right."
Qui-Gon flared. "Obi-Wan thought he was doing what was right many times before and look where it's gotten him! Look where it's gotten Tahl! If I must die, then none of you will die because of me."
"We are here because of you!" Nield practically shouted.
"We are here because of Obi-Wan," Siri said firmly.
"We are here because it is right," Adi said icily, her intimidating glare successfully quelling Siri and Nield's argument.
"What is not right is this argument," Bant spoke up softly. "I must find Obi-Wan."
"I must find Balog," Qui-Gon grate out. "And Obi-Wan."
"I must find justice," Adi shot back.
"Then those working towards similar goals go on together," Qui-Gon said. "Come, Bant." He knew that it was dangerous to take a girl, barely a Jedi Padawan, with him, but he also knew that Bant would trust him more than Adi. I just hope I can protect her.
Qui-Gon wheeled and turned away. After a moment's hesitation, Bant followed.
Siri threw her hands up in frustration. "Master, there is no arguing with Master Jinn, is there?"
"That's what will kill him one day," Adi said. "And not physically. Come, Padawan. We have much work to do if we are to stop Balog's plan."
Nield sighed. "So the 'defenseless' 17-year-old planet leader is supposed to stay here and guard the ship . . . "
***
"I don't quite understand what is our purpose," Bant admitted softly. Qui-Gon was drumming his fingers impatiently on the side of his chair. "We've followed all of our leads to this spaceport. It's taken us three days to track down Balog's latest base as of three days ago. He could very well have moved."
Qui-Gon took a deep breath. "Yes, but I'm willing to bet he won't leave his most precious possession."
"And moving that possession would stall him, do you believe?" Bant asked softly.
"He wouldn't leave him," Qui-Gon said. "Nield believes he can read Balog. And it's true. Balog greatly reminds me of some of those who dwell on his home world."
Bant hesitated a moment before seeming to gear up her courage. "Why did you go to Melida/Daan, Master Jinn?"
"Balog placed a bounty on my head. I went to a planet where I knew I could trap him."
"That's not the reason, is it?" Bant asked softly.
Qui-Gon's jaw twitched. "You don't need to know, Bant." He was already overwhelmed with guilt - why did the Force make him listen to Bant's painful questions as well?
"My Master was killed by Balog, Qui-Gon," Bant said, her voice wobbling slightly. "I have a right to know."
Qui-Gon said nothing for a few moments before saying shortly, "I wanted to go to a planet I knew Obi-Wan would never want to return to. I was trying to protect him." Qui-Gon's voice roughened. "If he hadn't followed me, he would have been safe. He would have gone to New Apsolon. Or the Temple."
Bant closed her eyes, absorbing Qui-Gon's words. "That's not whole reason," she accused. "You know that Obi-Wan wouldn't have been safe it he had gone to New Apsolon."
Qui-Gon rose. "Please . . . I do not want to discuss this."
Bant clenched her teeth in frustration. They had been sitting here for quite some time, waiting for Qui-Gon's lead to come back with new information. Then the system of tracking and hunting would begin all over again. And while they tracked, Obi-Wan would be suffering a fate far worse than death could bring.
***
"Master, look," Siri said, pointing vaguely towards the statues of those Workers who had been sacrificed. "They're taking them down!"
Adi drew her cloak more tightly around her. "I wonder . . . "
"What?"
"Balog has great cunning," she said simply.
Siri drew back. "Are you really my Master? He killed a Jedi, is torturing another, and is trying to overthrow and defeat the entire Jedi Order and the Republic!"
"Cunning, Padawan, is intelligence without wisdom." Adi stared at the remnants of the statues. "He knows that he must gain the support of the Workers. His previous status has helped him, along with the fact that Alani is by his side. But he's urging the planet as a whole to come together, to defeat a common enemy. All so he can grasp power."
Siri shook her head, confused. "He's risking so much. Workers are against him. They never started to trust him in the first place. And that list that I've heard so much about – "
"The list?" A young male overheard Siri and did a double take. "You haven't heard?"
"What?" Siri demanded.
"The Supreme Leader, Balog, destroyed the list and filmed it to be broadcast to the General Public!" the man said excitedly. "We no longer live in fear or in separation! The mighty New Apsolon will rise! We will conquer the galaxy and - "
"I thought New Apsolon believed strongly in peace and justice," Adi broke in.
The man flushed. "We do. But Balog will light the way for the rest of the galaxy to believe in our purposes. We are merely spreading the word."
"The Senate will not approve," Siri said.
"The Senate," the man
sneered. "What do they know? Why would you support - " He glared at Siri, taking in her tunic,
boots – and her lightsaber. Realization
and horror snapped into his eyes as he backpedaled from her and drew a
blaster. "Jedi!"
***
Nield hummed softly to himself, gazing at the controls of the starfighter and running his fingers in awe over them. Suddenly, the comm unit flashed and an image of Balog broadcast across it. Nield stumbled backwards, already drawing his vibro-shiv before realizing that the image was from the local news company.
Balog must have great power in order to be broadcast on every station.
Nield glared at the image. Balog was speaking, so softly, that Nield had to lean close to hear.
"My loyal citizens of the great Apsolon, I hold before me the great List that some standing right here in his room dread so greatly. I have come into possession of this List from an old – friend." Balog smirked. "It took me great pains to take it from him. And here, I hold the greatest blackmail, a List that could destroy many of you where you stand." Balog's voice dropped even more. "And to those who are watching this right now, to those who know that what's hidden in this List could kill them – I must say, your fears are over."
"Our Old Apsolon was not the best. New Apsolon was even worse." Balog's voice was filled with malice as he continued, "But the Apsolon we are creating today, is strong. We no longer base ourselves on ancient bloodlines. My good friends, Alani and Eritha have shown us so. They have become common people, eager to serve their Apsolon. And I, of course, do not seek power. I seek power for all of you!"
The crowd roared its approval. "Balog! Balog! Balog!"
"Eritha!" Nield hissed.
Balog continued. "To show that I will never use any force of power over you, I burn this list." Balog withdrew a match and casually lit the List. The smoke flared as the flames rose and danced, burning the List. "See this, my people? It is your old fears, burning up. There is no fear to be faced anymore. You are all free. And you are all strong."
Balog held out a hand triumphantly as the last of the List burned up. "You, my people, you and I together will conquest." His eyes gleamed. "We will not fail."
Tbc