Chapter 7
Heavy smoke and dust choked the area. Fires raged all around the rubble; slabs of concrete lay everywhere. A shock wave of pain rippled through Qui- gon Jinn's body. He couldn't feel his legs: they were pinned by part of the ceiling. Ash stung his eyes and lungs as he tried to make sense of this massacre. There was no warning; he had walked back in the room, and then he was on the ground. The cracking of the fires was all Qui-gon heard; no one else screamed in pain or begged for help. He knew this was the son's doing. His greed could wait no longer, and now the capitol and his father were destroyed and the reins of power hung free. All he need do was reach out and take them.
Qui-gon winced hard as he tried to move his legs. Finding it impossible, he concentrated just long enough to lift it with the Force, and drag his lifeless legs out from under its grasp. Limping heavily, Qui-gon made his way around what was a minute ago the debate room. He could hear no survivors, much less see them. The assault knocked out the wall to the inner courtyard. Qui-gon stumbled to it and stepped outside only to find that the entire residence was in flames. People were running in all directions in mass hysteria, their screams drowned out only by the attack ships that swooped overhead.
Qui-gon saw many people rushing to a large shelter- a generator room, which could hold a reasonable amount of people in safety. His brain was telling him to help; carry the injured, save lives. But his body couldn't. Qui-gon stood there on legs suddenly unwilling to move; his vision became blurry and he knew that he probably had severe head injuries.
"No," he thought, " I have to help." He tried to push himself forward, but collapsed. Another roaring engine seared overhead, and dropped its weapon in the middle of the courtyard, but Qui-gon didn't even see it.
"Obi-wan?" whispered a healer into the pitch-black room. Quiet sobs were the only answer she received. The healer walked into the room and turned the lights to the dimmest setting. She wove her way through the beds to Obi- wan's, and discovered he was certainly the one awake.
The child sat pushed up against the headboard of his tiny bed, quivering and crying. He looked at the healer with terrified eyes.
" Obi-wan, what is it? What's wrong?" the healer asked gently, sitting next to him.
Obi-wan could not soon answer, but the woman was patient, and within a few minutes she heard the name "Qui-gon" spoken.
" Master Jinn?" She repeated. Obi-wan nodded, unable to say more. Suddenly, Obi-wan screamed out as if in pain, holding his left side severely. The healer jumped to her feet, and tried to hold the boy, scanning for injuries. She found nothing.
The healer scooped Obi-wan into her arms and raced out into the common room. Something told her Master Jinn was in trouble and Obi-wan's bond with him was suffering as well. About to signal Master Yoda, the healer looked up to find Yoda had already entered the nursery. His countenance disturbed her.
"Shielded him I did, for as long as I could. Find out he would eventually." Yoda spoke slowly and sadly.
" What's wrong?" she choked, still holding Obi-wan, who's face was twisted in grimace.
Yoda explained all he knew, and the healer noticed tears in his eyes. Obi- wan settled into fitful sleep, somehow eased. Yoda said he would take the boy, and keep him overnight. The healer watched the old Master leave, then returned to her room, where she cried softly. She sensed Yoda had no hope; Obi-wan would be crushed.
Heavy smoke and dust choked the area. Fires raged all around the rubble; slabs of concrete lay everywhere. A shock wave of pain rippled through Qui- gon Jinn's body. He couldn't feel his legs: they were pinned by part of the ceiling. Ash stung his eyes and lungs as he tried to make sense of this massacre. There was no warning; he had walked back in the room, and then he was on the ground. The cracking of the fires was all Qui-gon heard; no one else screamed in pain or begged for help. He knew this was the son's doing. His greed could wait no longer, and now the capitol and his father were destroyed and the reins of power hung free. All he need do was reach out and take them.
Qui-gon winced hard as he tried to move his legs. Finding it impossible, he concentrated just long enough to lift it with the Force, and drag his lifeless legs out from under its grasp. Limping heavily, Qui-gon made his way around what was a minute ago the debate room. He could hear no survivors, much less see them. The assault knocked out the wall to the inner courtyard. Qui-gon stumbled to it and stepped outside only to find that the entire residence was in flames. People were running in all directions in mass hysteria, their screams drowned out only by the attack ships that swooped overhead.
Qui-gon saw many people rushing to a large shelter- a generator room, which could hold a reasonable amount of people in safety. His brain was telling him to help; carry the injured, save lives. But his body couldn't. Qui-gon stood there on legs suddenly unwilling to move; his vision became blurry and he knew that he probably had severe head injuries.
"No," he thought, " I have to help." He tried to push himself forward, but collapsed. Another roaring engine seared overhead, and dropped its weapon in the middle of the courtyard, but Qui-gon didn't even see it.
"Obi-wan?" whispered a healer into the pitch-black room. Quiet sobs were the only answer she received. The healer walked into the room and turned the lights to the dimmest setting. She wove her way through the beds to Obi- wan's, and discovered he was certainly the one awake.
The child sat pushed up against the headboard of his tiny bed, quivering and crying. He looked at the healer with terrified eyes.
" Obi-wan, what is it? What's wrong?" the healer asked gently, sitting next to him.
Obi-wan could not soon answer, but the woman was patient, and within a few minutes she heard the name "Qui-gon" spoken.
" Master Jinn?" She repeated. Obi-wan nodded, unable to say more. Suddenly, Obi-wan screamed out as if in pain, holding his left side severely. The healer jumped to her feet, and tried to hold the boy, scanning for injuries. She found nothing.
The healer scooped Obi-wan into her arms and raced out into the common room. Something told her Master Jinn was in trouble and Obi-wan's bond with him was suffering as well. About to signal Master Yoda, the healer looked up to find Yoda had already entered the nursery. His countenance disturbed her.
"Shielded him I did, for as long as I could. Find out he would eventually." Yoda spoke slowly and sadly.
" What's wrong?" she choked, still holding Obi-wan, who's face was twisted in grimace.
Yoda explained all he knew, and the healer noticed tears in his eyes. Obi- wan settled into fitful sleep, somehow eased. Yoda said he would take the boy, and keep him overnight. The healer watched the old Master leave, then returned to her room, where she cried softly. She sensed Yoda had no hope; Obi-wan would be crushed.