Chapter Fifteen
It was the middle of the day, he realized. The prisoners were at their workstations.
One last reprieve before the final days of his life began. One that would no doubt be short, brutal and with a messy end.
Another guard came by to demand he get out of the cell and go to the exercise yard. Once every two weeks, whether they needed it or not, the inmates were herded outside. Immense walls, toped with razor wire surrounded a cement covered ground. Ancient exercise equipment was kept at one end, where those who specialized in enforcement worked out. Not a single living thing except the inmates and the guards, but at least he could once more see the sky.
Qui-Gon didn't resist them as they hurried him outside. Why should he resist? Everyone believed him dead. There was no point in putting himself through more pain when it could be avoided.
Qui-Gon hunched at the edge of the yard, as far a possible from anyone else. Gaikusan had said that he was finished with him, that he believed that Qui-Gon would never turn. There was nothing left now except to wait for death to claim him.
He knew he had been tainted and was lost. Even if he by some small chance was found by the Jedi, a chance that grew smaller by the moment, he would still be lost to the Jedi for he could not be part of the Order, tainted as he was by the Darkness that he had touched in the Hole.
Perhaps he should just remain here. When the guards try to force him to return to his cell, he could attack them. He might get lucky and they would beat him to death.
Qui-Gon sighed as he pondered that. No. His luck the guards would beat him nearly to death and then bring him inside anyway. How he missed the Temple, even though he knew he could never go back there seemed to be a hole in his heart that the dark side had touched. He had been violated by his time in the Hole and it could never be regained.
A loud grunt broke him out of his reverie. Qui-Gon stared upwards at the C'lasi. He was one of Inion's main enforcers, the very same being who had dragged him out of his chair that very first day. It was, Qui-Gon realized six months ago. Only six months. Had it taken so short a time to destroy of lifetime of ideals? Lost in his thoughts, he stared blankly at the C'lasi.
"Inion would like a word with you, Duursema." He grabbed Qui-Gon's arm and began pulling him along to where Inion was sitting under the only bench surrounded by his cronies.
Qui-Gon allowed himself to be dragged along. Did it really matter if he huddled on one side of the yard or was dragged to the other? No. The enforcer released him in front of Inion. Qui-Gon met his eyes emotionlessly, making no comment.
"Well Duursema, welcome back to the land of the living." Inion looked him up and down. "Take a load off your feet." He pushed one of his hanger on's off to make room for Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon sat, face blank, keeping his eyes fixed on Inion.
"You seem to be doing well. You're made of some tough stuff, Duursema. You managed to keep the count and you survived the Hole."
He seemed impressed by this, though Qui-Gon didn't see why he should be. If he'd been able to, he would have gladly died in the hole. Inion looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for an answer. In a gravely voice, he finally said, "All it took was not dying."
"Duursema, I have to admit, that I was entirely certain that you deserved the reputation that my informants gave you. Watching you on the inside you didn't seem that tough, even considering the fact you're a half-sized, naked human. But you showed us what you were made of the way you handled that punishment. I've seen them whip bigger men than you to death 'cause they kept losing the count."
Qui-Gon said nothing. He only stared. He'd shown them he was tough even though he was human. That hadn't been what it'd felt like to him. To him it was just confirmation that the Force had given up on him and so had those who served it.
"Not much of a talker are you? That's good. I don't need your conversation. What I need is for you to repay the favors I've been doing you."
Qui-Gon continued staring blankly ahead letting Inion's words wash over him, barely listening to a word he was saying.
"Yomar and his boys wanted to take you out, but I knew there might be a use for you, so I put them on a leash. Made sure no one touched you any else, either. Now you want that kinda protection to continue, you have to start doing your part. See that guy over there?"
Qui-Gon turned to look in spite of himself, part of him wondering what Inion wanted , the other half not caring at all.
"That's Nahirj R'ken . He runs cell blocks 24 and 25. He thinks he can expand into my territory. I want him gone in the next three days."
Qui-Gon stared at the figure disconsolately. Would it really be so bad if he did what this boss wanted of him? He was lost to the Order tainted by the Darkness. He could start over, have a different life, one of which was useful and valuable. He wasn't valuable to the order any more he knew. He'd been so close to the Darkness in the Hole. He was forever tainted.
After all, Qui-Gon thought it wasn't like he would be preying on those who couldn't defend themselves. On the contrary, the C'lasi was huge and powerfully built and had built in claws as an extra advantage. It wouldn't be as if he was preying on someone innocent. The reason the C'lasi was in prison in the first place was because of sentencing his judicial system had given him.
Qui-Gon stared blankly ahead thinking and as he did another thought awoke in his brain. Regardless of what the Order believed him to be, he was a Jedi and would be until the day he joined the Force.
"No. " He said surprising himself as he finally found his voice. "I will not kill for you."
"What?" asked Inion in surprise.
"I will not kill for you. " he repeated himself.
"You trying to bargain for something more than just protection. Okay, I can understand that. What do you want?"
"You can't possibly understand what I want." Qui-Gon said drawing himself up to his full height, he stood from the bench. "I will not kill for you.
Inion's eyes narrowed. Around them the crowd had fallen silent, warily watching as the most powerful criminal boss in Tuvlat was defied. "I don't think you understand what you're doing. I take you under my protection and you throw that back in my face like it was nothing. If I was you, I'd reconsider and make your apologies by taking out Nahirj R'ken by the end of the day."
Qui-Gon's gaze hardened slightly. "I will not kill for you."
"Then you're gonna die for me. Get out of my sight." snarled Inion.
Without another word Qui-Gon turned and headed back for his spot before he'd been dragged away from it. Inion's request had reminded him of something that used to flow through him. The Force. No matter if the Jedi believed him dead, the Force would still always be there and that he would be true to until the day he became one with it.
********
After evening meal and lockdown, Qui-Gon sighed as he tried to crawl up the ladder to his bunk. He wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. His cellmates didn't physically abuse him anymore, rather they voiced what they'd do with him if they had the chance. Tonight, however, he felt sharp claws digging into his scalp and pulling hard on his short hair, yanking him away from his bunk. He tucked into a roll as the claws let go and came up on his feet, with his back to the cell bars.
"Inion isn't very happy with you," Yomar smirked.
The other men in the cell began to close in around him. "He asked us to give you a reminder of what happens to people who make him unhappy."
/Oh Force, now what?/ He thought as he dodged the first few punches aimed at his face and he lashed out himself managing to land several hits. He cried out in pain as someone got in a hard punch to his raw, wounded back which was still covered with old and new whip tears, some of which were still bleeding freely. He grunted as two of his cellmates rushed him, bringing him hard to the ground, knocking the wind from him and he gasped trying to regain his breath as they piled on top of him. He struck out with his fists and his feet not caring particularly who he hit, his only thought being to get out from under the pile. Soon however, his arms were captured and he found the weight lifted as his cell mates tried to get out of the way. He twisted and kicked trying to free his arms without any success.
Yomar glared at the struggling human. "Blasted human." His lip was cut and bleeding from a punch Qui-Gon had given to his face. "You'll pay for that one too." He strode to his bunk while Dakj'k held Qui-Gon down. From under his thin mattress, Yomar pulled out a leather strap tipped with metal studs that he'd fashioned himself and wrapped it around his hand. He slammed the metal tips into Qui-Gon's already torn back.
Qui-Gon yelled in pain as Yomar pummeled his torn back with metal studs and he thrashed under Dakj'k's firm grip as he tried to get out from under. He panted for breath as Yomar drove them into his back again and again. Dimly through the haze of pain Qui-Gon wondered why none of the guards had shown up to investigate the noise. He lashed out with his foot in desperation, catching Yomar hard in the stomach and he twisted freeing one hand and jamming the heel of his hand into Dakj'k's nose causing it to stream blood. Qui-Gon scrambled to a corner of the cell as soon as his arm was freed. He peered outside of their cage while trying to keep an eye on his attackers.
"Guards don't care what we do to each other so long as we do it on our time and not theirs," Yomar hissed.
Qui-Gon backed away. He knew he couldn't win. He was trapped and hopelessly outnumbered, but he knew he couldn't give in either. Gathering as much of the Force as he could, he pushed his cellmates back. The four, Yomar included, flew back hard but quickly regained their feet. They came at him in a rush, pinning him against the bars. Four pairs of fists pounded into him mercilessly. He struck out indiscriminately, landing blows whenever he could, soon however his arms were again captured and twisted ruthlessly behind his back.
"Blasted human," Yomar snarled. "We'll see how much fight you put up after this."
Qui-Gon fought as he was shoved face down on one of the lower bunks. His right leg was pulled out straight and a stool shoved under his ankle. Realizing what they intended, Qui-Gon began fighting even harder. Yomar pummeled his back with the metal still strapped to his hand making him yell in pain.
"Now," Yomar ordered.
From the top of the bunk Nahy'l leaped down onto Qui-Gon's outstretched leg. The loud snap of breaking bone was drowned out by Qui-Gon's scream. He panted for breath. Oh Force how it hurt. He barely felt it as Yomar drove metal into his back again and again. He was on the verge of passing out. He cried out as they jerked the stool from under him and Yomar kicked his broken leg. Just before he passed out he saw Yomar leering at him. "Learned your lesson? I hope not. I'm looking forward to teaching you some more."