All questions are about to be answered...

Yeah, okay, I just heard that somewhere.  I think it was Animorphs.  But it sounds kinda cool, so I just decided to put that there.  =)  But seriously, I think a lot of the confusing chapters in the beginning are going to be answered in this chapter and in coming ones.  I'll be posting Chapter 11 up once I crank it out of my mind, but I'm on break so I plan on getting it up hopefully by Friday or Saturday.  Maybe even tomorrow afternoon.

Chapter X

The guard, Patrik, bowed low.  "Supreme Leader."

Balog stared at him, his eyes shining with new interest.  "I have heard you have news."

"Jedi news, sir."

"Don't waste time keeping me in suspense," Balog said sharply, "Give me the two Jedi apprentices you have in your possession and get on with it!  I have much work to be doing."

Patrik blinked.  "I see there was no need to tell you the news, Eminence."

Balog smiled slightly at the titles he was being called, "Good, good.  The Jedi?"

With a faint smile, Patrik kicked Siri to the ground.  She went down without protest.  All the better to leave them overconfident.  "You won't win, Balog," she ground out fiercely.  "The Jedi will get you eventually."

All following the act.  As expected, Patrik violently kicked Siri across the ribs. She faded from the blow slightly to reduce the pain.  Immediately, Bant sprang to her feet and shoved Patrik hard through the Force.  The guard was slammed backwards against the wall and slumped down.

They had to convince Balog they were dangerous.  And honorable sacrifices.

Siri leapt up, charging Balog.  Stunned by the move, he still managed to have lightning instincts and draw his blaster.  "Siri, look out!" Bant cried.  That was not part of the plan.  They had forgotten Balog had once been a head Security chief.

And we are unarmed!  The thought rushed to Siri's head even as she dropped low and kicked out with both feet.  Balog dodged, aiming his blaster more securely.  Smiling faintly, he pulled the trigger – only to be violently shoved aside.

Bant rose, her hand extended outwards.  "This plan doesn't seem to be working right," she muttered, still driving Balog down with the Force.  Siri circled the room, and Bant could sense Siri trying to establish a connection between them.  Reluctantly, she opened her mind to it.  The sheer power of Siri's mind came forcefully down on Balog as the two doubled their efforts.

"I'll contact the masters," Bant said, reaching for her comlink.

"Wait."  Siri grinned at her.  "Who better to find Obi-Wan than two of his peers?"

"His master, maybe?" Bant shot back.  "We can't risk Obi-Wan's life so we might get a chance for glory.  We can't sacrifice so much."  Her tone turned rebuking.  "Jedi don't do that."

"Hey, relax," Siri said, taken aback by Bant's tone.  "I was just kidding."

"Well, don't," Bant snapped.  She punched numbers on her comm, spoke briefly, and then shut it off and replaced it.  "It appears we may have a chance to play 'hero' after all.  Qui-Gon and Adi are being detained by the New Apsolon government."

***

"I told you there were flaws."

Adi's voice sounded muffled. "Thank you for your optimism."

Qui-Gon twisted backwards to look at his fellow Jedi master.  "They don't know for sure that we're Jedi," he whispered softly, "They only suspect."

"Yes, how many other men on New Apsolon have exactly your look?" 

Qui-Gon sighed, "We should have thought of disguises.  But it's too late.  We'll have to bluff our way through this.  Hopefully there won't be many people around when they start their questioning."

"What is taking them so long?" Adi wondered, "From our earlier businesses related to this planet and these people, I would have thought somebody would be here now."

"The New Apsolon military forces are enough."  However, Qui-Gon couldn't quite place his finger on what was going on.  Adi was right.  It wasn't like the government to delay sending somebody over when Jedi were possibly involved.

"Perhaps they are preoccupied."

"I hope that the reason has nothing to do with our padawans," Qui-Gon said, feeling sudden worry rush through him.  What if Balog had decided to kill off Obi-Wan?  Worse, what if Obi-Wan was already dead?  A mixture of feelings rushed through him, momentarily stalling his connection to the Force and his mental bond with Adi.  She felt the change and looked backwards again.

"You are already grieving and he is not yet dead," she said calmly.

"I cannot help it.  It is my deepest fear."  Qui-Gon struggled to explain.  He couldn't stop his hands from trembling.

"Where you see weakness, you may also see strength," she imputed, quoting one of Qui-Gon's sayings in converse.  

"You are right, of course," Qui-Gon admitted, "fear is a feeling I fight everyday.  Normally I can release it – but there has been too much going on."  He felt Adi's sympathy as he reopened his connection with her.  Her warm touch against his mind calmed him, just as it always managed to.  "And as we head into a mission, I must admit one thing."

Qui-Gon faced Adi, as well as he could with his hands tied to hers and their backs tied to each other.  It took a bit of shuffling for him to accomplish the task.  "You have always been there when I have needed your comforting most.  I thank you for that."

Adi smiled slightly.  "We're friends and friends help each other."

Qui-Gon nodded before his expression turned to one of sadness.  "On this mission, I know my temper will be tested countless times."  He laughed, although his tone was mirthless.  "Help me then.  The core of me doesn't wish to turn."

"I never imagined you turning."  Adi sighed.  "One thing most admire about you, Qui-Gon Jinn, is your commitment."

"So Master Yoda told me."

"Your commitment to the Jedi – and to those you love," Adi continued softly, seeing understanding flash in Qui-Gon's blue eyes.

Through the Force, they could sense each other's inner emotions.  Adi was the perfect picture of serenity and confidence.  Once, I was like her.  Qui-Gon straightened, adjusted his mental composure, and then looked at Adi confidently.  But through the Force, there was also shadows creeping closer to them.

"Ah," Adi said, her voice close to Qui-Gon's ear.  "It would appear the government is finally arriving."

Qui-Gon was distracted, his gaze firmly focused on the representative walking in.  He knew this person.  The Force signature of whoever it was, was faintly distinctive, in the Force.  Qui-Gon watched the footfall and suddenly all the pieces fell into place.

Eritha.

***

"Eritha."  Qui-Gon's voice was emotionless.

"Qui-Gon," she mocked back.  "It pleases all of us to hear that you have finally been stupid enough to be captured."  She walked towards them steadily, her blue eyes blazing triumph into Qui-Gon.  He held her gaze firmly.

"You did this."  The evenness was sliding rapidly out of Qui-Gon's voice.  "You kidnapped Obi-Wan – and caused all the things I've been feeling along our bond."

Adi shifted suddenly and he caught a tremor in the Force.  You have felt Obi-Wan?

Qui-Gon ignored his comrade and focused firmly on Eritha.  "Congratulations," he said tautly. 

Eritha smiled.  "Balog is everything.  He'll give us the power we so rightfully deserve!  Our father and our adopted father were both great men, that is always true, but they taught us something.  They showed us what it was like to rule."  She licked her lips hungrily.  "Alani, of course, was quick to spring to action.  Luckily she had me to cover for her, to bring her and Balog what they wanted most.  You, Qui-Gon.  You and your apprentice."

Seeing him glare coldly, she laughed. "Don't worry about Obi-Wan's fate, Master Jedi.  He is merely amusement for Alani and I.  Quite a boy you raised there."

Qui-Gon fixed an icy gaze on her, "What have you done to him?"

Eritha ignored him and continued, "but you should worry about your own fate.  Obi-Wan will be spared.  He is too – lovely – to kill.  But you and your fellow Jedi there will definitely be served to Balog."

Adi felt her stomach lurch at the thought.  "He is cannibalistic?" she asked coolly.

"He is Jedibalistic," Eritha corrected.  "And you shall be his first meal.  Just tell me one thing.  Who else came with you?"

"No one.  I came alone."  Qui-Gon snapped. 

She leaned close to him, suddenly hitting him sharply across the face.  "Don't lie to me!" she shouted, "Captain Jef – our prime Jedi dealer – was found dead.  But not death by a Jedi.  He was killed by a blaster wound.  So – who is the man who killed Jef?"

Qui-Gon felt his temper flare, but Adi spoke before he could react.  "We don't know."

"Liars," Eritha sneered, "however it really doesn't matter now."

***

"We have caught Qui-Gon Jinn," Alani sneered to a motionless Obi-Wan.  "Give it up, Padawan Jedi.  I know you're awake."

Slowly, Obi-Wan opened one eye and then shut it again.  He couldn't stand to look at her.  If he did, his anger would return full force and then – there is nothing more dangerous than an angry Jedi, Obi-Wan recalled Qui-Gon's words. 

Smiling slightly, Alani reached towards him, brushing his hair and then sliding one cool hand down his face, dancing across his bruises.  Obi-Wan had long come to terms with his injuries.  That didn't mean they didn't hurt when someone touched them.  "Stop it," he said.

Alani sighed sadly.  "It's a pity you don't agree with me."  She slowly fondled him.

"I said stop."  Obi-Wan opened both eyes, seeing her face inches from his.  "Get your hands off me."  His voice had dropped to a deadly tone.

"What can you do?" she laughed.

The majority of the bruises and burns, broken bones and various other injuries had been healed since he had first been tortured by Balog then by Alani.  Ever since he had begun regaining his strength, Alani had been more careful in binding him.

"Get off," Obi-Wan growled.

Alani smiled at him.  "We caught Qui-Gon," she stressed. 

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes upward, carefully not looking at Alani.  "I don't care."

"That's the spirit."

The two rested in strained silence before Alani spoke again, "So nice to see that you no longer have loyalty towards that Jedi."

"He left me."  Obi-Wan sounded blunt.

"So he did."  Alani laughed snidely.  "How can you trust that man?"

"You can't."

"Good boy."

Obi-Wan felt a familiar churning in his stomach.  "Stop talking."

"Your wish is my command," Alani smirked and then left the room, leaving Obi-Wan alone to his confused and jumbled thoughts.

***

"This is wasting time," Qui-Gon said, kneeling on the floor with his head appropriately bowed.  Eritha was snarling angrily at several guards about the delay of Balog's arrival.  Qui-Gon pointed it out to Adi.  "It would appear something in their plan also went wrong."

"Perhaps the work of the padawans," Adi said carefully.

"I can't believe this!" Eritha raged, turning back.  Seeing nobody but Qui-Gon to take her anger out on, she fiercely kicked him across the face.  Qui-Gon's head snapped back but he didn't respond.  He could feel a bruise rising across his cheekbones.

Adi fixated her power of the Force on Eritha. "Stop," she commanded swiftly.

Eritha turned her attention towards the Jedi Master.  "Shut up!" she shouted, "Shut up!  I need to concentrate."  Her eyes clouded with indecision as she paced the room furiously.

A moment later, Qui-Gon realized the reason for her agitation.  A small holo of Siri and Bant was playing from another room.  Qui-Gon sharpened his senses with the Force and listened.

"Yes, I'm holding a blaster to this idiot's head and unless you want your 'Supreme Leader' back with half his head blown off, I suggest you free Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Adi Gallia.  You have one hour.  If I don't get all three of them back, with none of you bozo-heads at least a mile away, I'll kill him.  I'm not afraid to."  Siri's voice sounded sure.

"And don't think about storming this building, either.  We've got a bounty hunter watching our backs."  Siri sounded smug now, "So I advise you listen to our demands."

Adi reached out towards the Force to Qui-Gon, sensing her fellow Jedi's amusement.  "Two Jedi padawans succeeded where two masters failed," he said, "This pattern is getting familiar."

Her voice sounded muffled.  "I fail to see the humor in that."

A moment later she spoke again.  "You're right. This is wasting time.  We should get going."  Reaching out through the Force together, Qui-Gon directed his focus on the chains that bound them and slowly undid one of the locks.  Sweat ran down his forehead as he turned his attention to the one that Adi had binding her – only to discover that Adi had easily undone it.

"Force only, no blades," Qui-Gon said thoughtfully.  "We have surprise on our side."

Together, they touched the Force with their minds, opening up a connection between them, the guards, everything living in the room.  Qui-Gon could sense Eritha's anger, frustration, hopelessness – and deep, down, a burning desire for –

Qui-Gon snapped his mind free of hers.  "You disgusting piece of Hutt slime," he swore.  "What did you do to him?"  A slight mental prod from Adi brought him back to the mission at hand, but out of the corner of his eye, Qui-Gon kept a thin gaze on Eritha.

With Adi, they undid the security measures within the building through Force power alone.  Then, carefully, Qui-Gon lifted the blaster from one of their bored guard's belts.  Adi secured an electro-jabber and gripped it firmly. The two looked at each and exchanged an unspoken message.

Let's go.

Silently, Qui-Gon added another message.  Those who used my padawan for enjoyment will pay.  He knew he shouldn't think those thoughts.  He had thought he had been over his quest for revenge.  He had thought.  But now, a tingle of anxious energy tingled through his nerves; Qui-Gon opened up to it, not quite caring if it was Light or Dark.

***

There were a haze of memories, Obi-Wan thought dreamily.  Surely this must be the call of death.  He couldn't remember ever feeling so secure.  But suddenly – he felt a horrible wrenching as his memories were torn from his very soul.

Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open dazedly.  Alani stood over him, her expression one of annoyance.  "Hello, Obi-Wan Kenobi," she said.  It was only then Obi-Wan noticed the two familiar looking tubes screwed against his temples.

He struggled to get his words out, but his bruised chin only succeeded in incoherent syllables.  With great effort, Obi-Wan reached out for the Force – only to realize his connection to it was back and strong.  Surprised, but grateful, he touched it once more, reassuring himself.  "What do you want?" he mumbled.

"You," Alani said.

Obi-Wan once more felt her cool hand underneath his chin.  He fought her angrily, but only managed to twist his head to the left a few centimeters.  Alani tsked.  "You'll soon see things in a different light," she said softly, and then flicked a switch on her machine.

"A memory-wiping machine, Obi-dear," she said, "I'm sure you remember it.  But in a few hours, you won't remember anything, anymore."