In a few reviews and some emails, some people said they wanted chapters to come out faster…just fyi, I post a chapter of Prelude to Vengeance at my website about one week before I post here at ff.net.  The URL is: http://www.jedi-archives.cjb.net  Tata!

Chapter VII

"Having fun, Jedi?" Alani taunted.

Obi-Wan's mind was firmly focused on something besides her voice and the pain.  Oh yes, the pain.  But when he concentrated on Eritha, the pain took a secondary place.  He could not believe that she would have done this.

The idea lit up in his mind like a powered up lightsaber.  Of course!  It must have been Alani that had knocked him out and brought him to Balog.  Eritha was the good sister.  Obi-Wan sighed, relaxing, and trying to ignore his burning muscles.

It hurt to think.  But it hurt more to not.

How long have I been tied here?  He was sprawled across a table, his tunic torn to shreds, blood oozing from hundreds of cuts, burned flesh in other areas where the acid had done its work well.  Obi-Wan shifted, wincing as a spasm of fire flashed through him.

"Don't move," Alani's icy voice suddenly hissed.  "Don't you dare move, Jedi."

Obi-Wan dimly was aware of Alani speaking, but he continued to fight madly against the chains binding him still.  Sudden fire arched through his back.  Alani continued to pummel his abused back, hitting wilding with very small – but very real – pieces of metal.  Obi-Wan cried out, red flashes of light coming across his vision.

He had heard when that happened one was close to blackening out.

But Alani was too cruel to grant him that.  She punched him again several times, blood now pouring from Obi-Wan's swollen lips.  Smirking, she reached out her hand and rested it gently on the small of Obi-Wan's back.

"Oh my dear, Obi-Wan," she purred into his ear.  "Does this hurt?"  She pressed down – hard.

Obi-Wan screamed.  A moment later, Alani leaned down, placing her lips directly on his.  "Kiss me, Obi," she said.

Obi-Wan struggled to get his muscles to move, but they felt like sludge and refused to budge.  Filled with horror, he felt Alani's cold lips press again his, her tongue working its way down his throat and –

Force, help me!

***

Siri moved her hand instinctually for her lightsaber.

"Submit!" Adi hissed softly.

"But they're – "

"Submit, Padawan," Adi said lowly.

With a sigh, Siri raised both hands over her head.  She watched as another man stepped behind her and roughly twisted her arms down to fasten them.  "Hey, watch it you damn fool!" she snapped.

"Ho, bitchy girl's got a mouth," the man laughed, gently caressing Siri's cheek.  "Tsk, tsk tsk."

"Get your hand off of me," Siri said furiously. 

"Stop playing around," Adi ordered, gathering the immense power of the Force to bear.  "Take us to Balog," she finished.

"Take them to Balog," the man yawned, suddenly losing interest.

"But, sir – orders say that . . . "

"Orders are meant to be broken," Adi said softly, focusing her intense gaze towards the man who was clearly in charge.

"Orders are meant to be broken," the man repeated.

"Take us to Balog."

"Take them to Balog!  Damn you, boy, can't you follow orders?"

"But you just said – "

"Get out of my face, you ignorant fool."

"Yes, sir," the younger man muttered.  He motioned to two civilians.  "You two, help me."  He allowed a grin to light up his face.  "At last we have two Jedi captives."

"How very fortunate for you," Siri muttered dryly.

***

Qui-Gon leaned across the table, his eyes not moving from the man's eyes.  He had a wig pulled across his hair, tinted eye lens covering the true color of his eyes with a bland yellow.  But the gaze and the fire coming from them was still intensifying.  "So . . . " Qui-Gon said softly.

"What is it?" the man asked, trying hard to suppress his fear.

"I am on a bounty hunt, for a very precious treasure," Qui-Gon said, every word cutting stone.  "I have come across the information that Balog has captured a Jedi."

"Has he?" the man blubbered out excitedly. 

"What is your name?" Qui-Gon interrupted.

"Mikel," the man said.  "I work for Balog.  I'm in the top department, the department of Jedi."

"Department of Jedi?" Bant asked incredulously.

Mikel smirked.  "That's where we plot the best ways to kill them."  He halted, suddenly, frowning.  "Hey wait a minute here.  Why are you looking for the Jedi that Balog just captured when this other one, Qui-Gon Jinn is worth so much more?"

Qui-Gon lifted one corner of his mouth in a determined smile.  "I have my reasons.  Your job is to provide me with information."  His gaze drifted to Mikel's sign, which read, Information Broker.  Will deal with criminal profiles.

"I heard that one Jedi was captured by Balog." Qui-Gon said conversationally.

Mikel laughed.  "Aren't you slow?  He already killed that Jedi Tahl."

Anger crested in Qui-Gon at the dismissive way Mikel spoke of Tahl.  "I do not want to hear about Tahl.  I meant a different Jedi," he said stiffly.

"Why not?" Mikel shrugged.  "Hey, I've got some datapads and holo's of those last moments that she was alive.  Balog recorded a documentary detailing the exact way to kill a Jedi – pity she was a blind and useless one.  A real Jedi could have put up a – hey, take it easy!"

A violet blade hovered mere centimeters from his throat.  Bant had risen, her face contorted with hatred.  "Don't you dare speak about her that way!"

"Bant!" Qui-Gon cried out, alarmed.

"Jedi!" Mikel shouted.

"No!" Qui-Gon rose out of his chair.  "My companion is not a Jedi, Mikel.  She is the one who captured a Jedi earlier.  That weapon she uses is that of the Jedi's."

"Why is she so upset?" Mikel sputtered.  "Do you mind putting that thing away?"

Qui-Gon reached out a hand and touched Bant's trembling shoulder.  "Cut your blade, Bant," he said softly, his own anger waiving at the pained look on Bant's face.  "We have greater goals then to go around killing everybody who insults Tahl.  We know those things said about her are not true."

With a deep breath, Bant deactivated her violet lightsaber.  It went out with a soft hiss.

Mikel grinned now.  "Never mind that alert," he called casually to his friends.  "These people killed a Jedi."

"Unlikely," Bant muttered darkly in Qui-Gon's ear.

"We need information!" Qui-Gon said hurriedly.  Everything was costing him time.  He was only grateful that he had managed to resolve this confrontation here.  If everything went according to his plan, he would have Obi-Wan back in –

The door to the grubby room burst open.  "We've caught two more Jedi!" a boy yelled to Mikel.  "Father, we've caught two more Jedi scum!"

"Sith hells!" Qui-Gon swore loudly.  Just when you think things are going right . . .