Hello Everyone! As promised here is a new section. I will be away for a week or so due to some minor heart surgery. Then I'm going to my parents house to recup for a week-- I'm leaving Greencat in charge of posting while I'm away :D since I won't have access to my computer :P I'll have some internet but not as much. Anyway please keep me in your prayers.
Chapter Twelve
Inion, surprisingly had been true to his word. Qui-Gon's cellmates, although still verbally abusing him, left him pretty much alone. His work detail was in the prison laundry, boring and hot work, but not that challenging. After a week in Tuvlat, he was learning the routine well enough that the guards seldom disciplined him anymore. His existence was bearable for now, he could survive until help from the Temple arrived. At least that was what Qui-Gon thought until the guards had dragged him down to this cell within the depths of Tuvlat.
The room featured four rounded stone walls and a dirt floor. On one side of the room several highly cushioned gilded chairs stood lining one wall and small tables were in between each of them. Pitchers of ice water were on the tables and a section of carpet covered the floor beneath them. The floor dipped in the center to where there was a small drainage hole right above a pair of highly polished manacles hanging from chains attached to the ceiling. Qui-Gon frowned as he took it all in as guards roughly pushed him to the center where the manacles hung.
Qui-Gon gasped when the manacle was snapped around his broken wrist, suspending him by his arms in the middle of his cell. Balancing on his tiptoes allowed him to
take some of the pressure off his wrists, but it was a tenuous position he knew he could not sustain for any length of time. All but one of the guards left. The remaining guard took up a position by the door, standing stiffly at attention.
Gaikusan strolled down the halls to the cell where he ordered Qui-Gon to be brought. He was in a disturbingly good mood. He had an appointment to keep in a few hours, a formal state funeral. He was expected to attend and give a speech. He smiled tightly, he was looking forward to it. Even more, he was looking forward to the appointment he had
beforehand. He almost chuckled when he realized that both appointments were for the same person. From a certain point of view, of course.
He strolled through the door and found that the guards had done as he ordered. Examining Qui-Gon as he hung from chains, he commented cheerfully, "You've looked
better, old friend."
"If you would release me, I would be more than happy to go and make myself more presentable," said Qui-Gon, arching an eyebrow.
Gaikusan shook his head, saying in a regretful voice, "If I did that, the State Funeral that the Prime Minister is planning in your honor wouldn't be necessary would it? I'd hate to have to tell him that he has to postpone his important ceremony."
"So you have decided to kill me already?" he asked calmly.
"Have you forgotten what I told you when you landed on this planet. Qui-Gon Jinn was killed by the assassin Avril Duursema. These people have important religious
ceremonies that must be observed especially for the passing of death in a violent manner such as that. They had to wait a full week to complete that ceremony. The funeral this afternoon is the final part of the ceremony. I suppose the excitement of your new home has made you forgetful, has it not?"
Qui-Gon silently cursed himself. Come to think of it, Gaikusan had mentioned something of the sort when he had first arrived, but battered with the beatings that
followed, Qui-Gon had completely forgotten.
Gaikusan smiled wisely. "Ahh, I see. You did forget. I suppose you thought I was making it all up and that someone might come for you?"
"If you think the Council will believe your lies, you are very much mistaken. Master Yoda will be able to sense any lie told about my death."
Gaikusan chuckled again but this time it had no mirth behind it. "You really have been forgetful haven't you? Perhaps I need to refresh your memory. They'll believe it because they'll sense that the Prime Minister who believes it is telling the truth. Master
Yoda will be convinced that the Prime Minister is telling the truth. Especially when he graciously returns your lightsaber back to the Temple in full ceremony with accompanying honor guards."
Qui-Gon stared straight ahead. While Yoda could sense someone lying to him as easily as a child could say her own name, if the other person believed he was telling the truth, then that was what Yoda would sense. It was far more questionable whether the venerable master would be able to sense that Qui-Gon still did live. The vast physical distances of space reduced the strength of mental bonds. Would anyone be
aware that he was alive? Another terrible thought surfaced. The person he had the closest bond with, Kyran, had been shielded against him when he left. Perhaps there was no chance anyone knew he still lived. No, he chided himself. It was far too early
to give up hope. Even if no one else knew he was alive, he knew. And he certainly didn't plan on dying here.
Gaikusan slowly walked around Qui-Gon, taking in all the damage that had been inflicted on him thus far. He frowned slightly as he studied him. Most of the
injuries looked days old and well on their way to healing. Perhaps he had not made himself clear to the Warden what he expected for this prisoner. "Had enough of Tuvlat yet? Ready to consider my offer?"
"On the contrary, I'm having a lovely time here. I haven't had a vacation in sometime. It was very considerate of you to arrange for me to have some time off."
Gaikusan arched a brow at Qui-Gon. "Council keeping you busy running their errands? Do you enjoy being their lapdog so very much? "
"I remember when you wanted nothing more than to be a Knight, Gaikusan."
Gaikusan shook his head slowly. "I was a foolish young man then, Jinn. I thought I could right the wrongs of this galaxy as a Knight. Then I realized that the Jedi were only interested in creating mindless puppets that jump to the control of the Council and the
Senate. You and I are so much alike if you would only see. You champion causes just like I did. How much more effective would you be if you didn't have to follow the dictates of the Council? How many more people could you help if mission directives didn't bind you?"
"I follow the will of the Force."
Gaikusan frowned deeply, sitting down in one of the chairs along the wall. He flicked a clawed hand towards the guard.
The guard picked up a silver metal rod with sharp thorn-like claws sticking out at various intervals from one of the tables. He stood next to Qui-Gon, looking expectantly towards Gaikusan.
"Do you now? As I recall the Council frowned on Knights following anything except the orders they gave. I prefer to be the ones giving the orders. You have a choice before you, to be the one at the mercy of the orders of others or to be the one giving the
orders."
Gaikusan nodded and the guard swung the metal baton with the sharp spikes into Qui-Gon's already torn back.
Qui-Gon cried out at the attack. Off balance from the blow to his back, his weight shifted causing his body's full weight to pull on his wrists, adding a second jolt of pain through him. After a moment, he recovered his stance. Taking a deep breath, he
replied, "We are given choices every moment, to do evil or to do good. We are responsible for those choices. What choices have you made, Gaikusan?"
"I have chosen to no longer be bound by the petty dictates of the Council. If only you would open your eyes. You want to do good? Think what good could you
do in the galaxy if you could decide for yourself how best to use your powers? And if you decide for yourself where that power comes from. By allowing myself to do so, I have made immense changes to this world, benefiting many in this society. But Qui-Gon
Jinn would never be allowed to do that would he? He sits up in his lofty tower of the Jedi Temple, bound by the dictates of the Council who know little and care less about what is really happening in the galaxy."
The guard swung the rod again at Qui-Gon's back, with more force this time.
Prepared now, Qui-Gon was able to take the blow without losing his balance, but he couldn't help the hiss of pain that accompanied his words. "I have seen first hand the charity work you do in Tuvlat."
"Ahh indeed you have. These men here are the foulest of all men, having committed atrocities that are unspeakable and have been convicted and sentenced to be here by their own judicial system. Surely you do not deny that the people must have justice, Qui-Gon."
The rod was swung again, this time towards the upper part of his torso. "And this? Is this justice?" The words were growled out, the pain of the beating channeled into them so he wouldn't start screaming.
Gaikusan flicked his hand again and the pace of the beating increased. "In a way, yes, this is justice. To the rest of the people on this planet, you are a convicted assassin who was involved in a conspiracy to murder the Prime Minister. It is only fitting that you
be held here. "
It was getting harder and harder to concentrate what Gaikusan was saying as the sharp spikes tore into his back. "More . . . lies. Darkness . . . "
"And a powerful ally it is! Easily it flows! Why are you making things difficult on yourself Qui-Gon? It would be so easy for you to get justice if you would but see it." The guard continued his onslaught, raining blows steadily on Qui-Gon's back and moved
toward the lower part of his torso.
Qui-Gon screamed as the hit on his back finally stole his balance, but the agony in his wrist was far overshadowed by the fire across his back. Gaikusan's
voice had become nothing more than an angry buzz, barely penetrating the haze of pain.
Gaikusan smirked as Qui-Gon cried out in pain. His plan was working. He would have Qui-Gon broken. It would only be a matter of time. He allowed the beating
to continue until blood ran steadily from Qui-Gon's back onto the floor. "Well. Perhaps after some time to think, you'll reconsider your decision. We could work
well together Qui-Gon. You have so much potential. We will, however, have to continue this discussion later. I have a funeral to attend."
Half-conscious, Qui-Gon was only dimly aware of Gaikusan's words. What demanded his attention were the screaming nerve endings from his beaten and bloody
back. Time lost meaning, only the thud of the club and the bite of the spikes existed. The sudden absence of impact on his back was a shock, he was still bracing himself for the next blow when rough hands unsnapped the manacles from his wrist and
dragged him from the cell.
Qui-Gon managed a few stumbling steps before his legs gave out. Undaunted, the guards continued to drag him forward, his bare legs scraping against the rough
floor. The guards tossed him back into his prison cell, skillful enough that they made sure he landed on his back. Another scream filled the air, almost drowning out the laughter from his cellmates.