Chapter 1: Unmasked
He reined his Kaadu to a stop on a grassy hill just north of the swamps. His companions reined their mounts to a sudden stop along side him and grinned behind their masks. The leader of the small band chuckled menacingly, "It's a gloomy night, and the plains are deserted. Perfect Jedi conditions, wouldn't you say my friends?"
If one looked at the leader who sat astride the large duck-billed mount, they would have no trouble understanding why all of Naboo called him the Jedi. He radiated power just sitting there. His ridged posture and the special made boots enhanced his immense height. The Ceremonial robes of the legendary warriors, accented with a hidden staff, covered a well-built body. His dark hooded cloak covered his masked face, making it impossible to discern his identity.
The two riders at his side cackled their agreement. It was true. The lack of a moon would allow the ship to land unnoticed. Only the high-pitched whine told them that Corellian freighter Captain had landed his craft and began unloading the goods. With every squeak and whirl, the Jedi knew the precious cargo for the people of Naboo came closer to being delivered. He smiled in satisfaction knowing that he had deprived the Emperor of his ill-gotten gains tonight.
"With sharp lookouts and the will of the Force …" the mysterious figure murmured, "the droid army will fail to extract their import fees."
Even in the weak glow of the ship's lights, the modified breathing mask he wore terrified both allies and enemies alike. No one but Nighthunter and Jacobeast, his trusted friends, knew his real identity. In truth, he commanded a band of men 300 strong and all were fiercely loyal. Seventy-five of his men gathered tonight and waited patiently with transports to move the precious cargo, and if they were caught they would receive a long torturous death.
These men were civilians; everyday people that had turned to smuggling in order to survive. Honest people who loved their homes and families. Exhausted in spirit by an evil tyrant's harsh laws and corrupt government officials, their loyalty turned to the man they called the Jedi. His compassion and knowledge helped to create ways for them to pay the bribes, the taxes, to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.
Every man in the group was brave enough to face the Emperor's execution squads… and the long prison sentences on the Death Star … but shuddered at the sight of the Jedi. They held their breath as the Kaadu rapidly approached. To the civilian smugglers, the Jedi and his honor guard looked like hideous demons rising from the Nubian swamps and not a single man would disobey a directive given by the one of the three.
The knight's leader maneuvered his mount past the men and their transports to the side of the Corellian freighter. "Load up men and be quick about it," he urged. "If we are to make a fool of Emperor Palpatine then we must ride toward our destination before the fog breaks."
The human captain of the freighter, Diamonds Way, was in just as much of a hurry to get the cargo unloaded as the Jedi. He looked anxiously skyward, "Get a move on you stupid droids, the fog will lift and they will find us, then I'll scrap every one of you."
The tall man turned as the Jedi reined the duck billed mount forward. "The droids have unloaded the entire cargo Mister Jedi, sir."
The Jedi turned and looked at his men and nodded, "Your payment, Captain." He tossed the large man a bag of gold and inclined his head.
The Captain caught the money pouch and grinned, "The next shipment…."
One of the droids began to beep uncontrollably and the two men turned to see the cause of the disturbance. The protocol droid came forward to translate the beeps and whistles. "Sir, he says there are droids approaching from the south."
At the same moment, one of the Jedi's guards, farther away sent up a flare against the foggy night.
He wheeled his Kaadu and said to the men, "Extinguish all lights men. Leave now! Knights, you have your orders. My sentinels, Jacobeast, Nighthunter …follow me!"
He kicked his mount and chortled in delight. The Jedi and his men had ridden to the top of the hill before the transports that held the smuggled goods began to move out. The sound of the approaching droids caused the duck-billed mount to shift nervously under the weight of the smugglers leader.
Steady! Steady! came the hissed response. The Jedi's gloved hand soothed the anxious beast. "We'll run soon enough."
Jacobeast and Nighthunter knew what the 'run' would entail. The droid patrol needed to be lured away from the slow moving transports. That meant the Jedi and his companions must not be seen as unattainable. To do that they had to risk being caught until the last possible moment. Both knew that last moment would be the Jedi's to command. Hearts raced in excitement as the patrol grew closer.
The Jedi closed his eyes and relied on the unseen Force for the right moment to escape. Behind his mask, the Jedi grinned. "They're getting smarter, they've sent twenty after us tonight," he told his companions.
As the patrol moved into visual range, the Jedi kicked his Kaadu in the sides and it bolted forward. The steed snorted and reared directly into the path of the approaching troops.
"Captain it's the Jedi, Sir." The yellow droid told his commanding officer.
"Roger, roger." the other droid replied.
Like three winged monsters, cloaks billowing in the wind, Jacobeast, Nighthunter, and the Jedi raced off across the hills and toward the wild swamps.
"Get them," the mechanical voice echoed across the Nubian plains. Hard on the heels of the fleeing smugglers came the emperor's droids firing their blasters as they raced after the men.
Over boulders, over bushes, the Jedi held a dizzy galloping pace. Blaster bolts ricocheted off trees and rocks causing the riders to draw their lightsabers for protection. Then suddenly, in a mad straightaway dash, the three men urged their Kaadus over a low-lying tree.
Ahead, and up the sloping field stood the ruins of an old mansion and an ancient hangar. Rough rock walls held no color against the foggy night, and wide black spaces appeared where two metal doors had once hung.
Straight into the abandoned mansion the Jedi and his two companions rode, and straight out the far side! On to the old hanger they raced--- and vanished.
At the dilapidated walls of the mansion, the captain of the guard halted his men. "We have them now! Surround the perimeter."
Minutes later, the droids knew they had lost their query, unless the Jedi hid in the abandoned hanger. Moving as a unit, the droids marched forward with blasters drawn. The captain motion to his sergeant, "Check it out sergeant, I will cover you."
The yellow painted droid exited the hangar; "There's nothing in there except a few machine parts."
"That does not compute," the captain said. "They could not have gotten away. Search the hangar again."
"Roger, roger"
Logic dictated that even if three grown men could hide in the hangar, the beasts of burden could not be easily concealed. The droid captain stared down at a puddle of grease that marred the floor and said, "Sergeant gather your men. We have lost our target."
Fortunately, for the Jedi, Jacobeast, and Nighthunter, the droid captain couldn't see through the metal decking that formed the ceiling for the Jedi's underground lair. Large hands covered the noses of the weary Kaadus. The three-cloaked men waited, not even daring to breathe.
"They've left," said the tall figure stroking the neck of his riding beast. "Good girl," he told his weary steed, "You wouldn't give away the Jedi by a snort would you?"
He then peeled off the breathing mask, revealing a handsome smiling face. He chuckled softly, "Nor would you give away the master healer of Theed either, I guess.
His companions removed their masks also. The taller and darker of the two grinned. "If she had, it would have given your patients a fine shock, Qui-Gon. You, their respected healer running amok all over the swamps in the dead of night." He stepped forward to help the taller man remove the Jedi costume.
Healer Qui-Gon Jinn, Head Physician of Theed, once again looked like the middle-aged human that everyone was used to seeing, grinned back. "Thank you Mace." He replaced the flamboyant ceremonial robes with the sedated ones of a healer and settled his cloak back into place, " Have you thought about what those on the Council would say if they knew their librarian, who keeps the books and…"
"Issues the arrest warrants," Mace the Council's librarian interrupted cheerfully. "It would be an interesting site indeed." His face became solemn, "It's issuing your arrest warrant that worries me sir. I would be much happier if you threw away that Jedi mask forever---- before your luck runs out."
"Before his luck runs out," an indignant voice cried.
Both the Healer and the Librarian turned in astonishment and stared at the third, and by far, the youngest member of their trio, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was the second youngest child of the Council's senior member Yoda. His Grace, Councilor Yoda, who was compelled to enforce the harsh rules of the Emperor, would have been horrified to see his son at that moment.
Obi-Wan's brilliant sea green eyes ablaze with anger, "Luck, Mace. You know better than that, it's the will of the Force and Qui-Gon's skill. He watches, plans and thinks."
Mace chuckled, "I rather believe that it is well that your father is kept in the dark about what his healer thinks or you would never be allowed to leave your living quarters."
Obi-Wan's eyes lost their spark and he shrugged. "My father…. barely notices that I am alive. His thoughts are always on Bant. Sometimes I wonder if he even remembers that he adopted all of us."
Qui-Gon laid his large hand on Obi-Wan's and gently squeezed his young friend's shoulder in support. "Your father is hurting," he said sympathetically. "To lose his daughter in such away and be able to do nothing about it! We must go! It's late. We need to be at our homes… before ugly questions are raised. I will ride out first. Give me 5 minutes and if you hear no shooting then it is safe to follow. Jar- jar will care for the Kaadu. Don't worry friends; the Emperor's patrol is miles from here now. "
Mace shook his head in worry. "It's not the smuggled cargo they want, old friend; it's the reward money for your capture."
"Mace, keep your focus on the here and now. No one is going to suspect the good healer of Theed in his rusty old speeder of chasing about the swamps at night."
Qui-Gon pushed the speeder to the secret entrance of the underground lair, while Mace and Obi-Wan hurried ahead to open the trap door.
With a clank, a sputter, and a whine, the speeder began its long drive back to the city. To the average citizen it looked like the good healer was out making a nighttime call on a sick patient. No one would ever have guessed that the serene, handsome face also hid behind the horrible mask of the Jedi ---and was shown in the data banks and holo-vids all over the planet of Naboo.
Reward
The Jedi
10,000 Republic credits
Dead or Alive
But Qui-Gon Jinn, the most compassionate and honorable healer that the people of Theed had ever known, was a maverick. He fought for justice and he fought in a way that Emperor Palpatine would gladly punish by death.
tbc