Chapter twenty-one:
It had been a week since the incident in the 'fresher. Qui-Gon had refused to speak about it, becoming withdrawn. Devin and Kyran, attempting to respect their friend's right to privacy didn't try to force him, but instead watched worriedly as Qui-Gon began to hobble restlessly around the small apartment. At night, they knew he spent more time tossing and turning than sleeping, but again, Qui-Gon refused to discuss it.
Today Qui-Gon sat staring out the window of their apartment. He was becoming increasingly edgy about being kept inside the apartment all the time. He'd been liberated out of one cell only to be forced into another and it was eating at him. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He had to get out. The neighborhood around was filthy and rotten like every other city block on Nar Shadda but he didn't care--it was better than being trapped inside. He stood up. "I'm going out." He announced to the room.
Devin and Kyran looked up from the game of Sabacc they had been half-heartedly playing to pass the time. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Devin.
"Yes, I'm sure." Qui-Gon said shortly as he pulled on a cloak. He was so tired of being inside. He wanted to smell fresh air, even if it wasn't good fresh air anything was better than the constantly stale recycled air of their cheap apartment. He winced slightly at the pull of the fabric of his cloak on his still-healing back.
"A little exercise would do us all good," Kyran said as he stood to grab his cloak.
Qui-Gon would have none of it. He'd been constantly with the two Jedi since they'd broke him out of his misadventure and he wanted a little time to himself. "No. I don't need a baby-sitter. I'm just going for a short walk. Besides it's not as if I'm going out without protection." He rested his hand on the newly completed lightsaber hanging at his side. It was crude looking, but it worked.
"Its a dangerous neighborhood, Qui-Gon. A man with an obvious injury like your leg would be a tempting target for the local muggers. Not to mention the bounty hunters."
Qui-Gon glowered at Kyran. " So now you think I don't know how to defend myself is that it? I've had just as much training as you have Kyran."
"I'm not saying that, Qui-Gon. I'm just reminding you that you aren't at your best right now." Kyran made himself stay calm, reminding himself that they were all getting short tempered in the close quarters.
"I'm going out. Alone." With that he walked out of the apartment and slammed the door.
Kyran and Devin looked at each other. "Well, what do you think? Should we let him take the risk or follow him," asked Devin.
Kyran cursed as Qui-Gon headed out. "He'd kill us for following him. If he doesn't go far it shouldn't be a problem."
"And what are the odds of him not going far?" Devin shook his head in annoyance. "You're right about us following him, though. What if we give him an hour? If he's not back, we head out."
Kyran frowned thoughtfully. "Alright. I suppose that works. He's been cooped up for so long, he really does need this, as much as I hate to let him go by himself. He is a Jedi, not a crèche initiate."
Qui-Gon felt wonderfully free outside in the fresh air. He inhaled deeply the scent of the planet. Sure it didn't smell all that wonderful but it was so much better than being cooped up. He walked along the city street, his heavy cast only slowing him down slightly, mingling with the crowd. This was life. Not being cooped up.
He loathed the idea of going back to his apartment but he knew that he had to eventually or Kyran and Devin would come after him. He turned around intending to head back the way he came.
"Hey pal, got a ciggaro?" A human male in his late teens stepped in front of Qui-Gon. He wore a leather jacket with decorated with a crudely drawn nexu. Four other teens formed a loose circle behind Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon frowned at the teen and reached out to the Force. "You don't need to bother me."
"I'll decide what I need," sneered the male. From the slight slur in his words and the glazed eyes, Qui-Gon realized the youth was likely already on some mind-altering substance. With his mind being scrambled by drugs, the Force suggestion was lost in the haze.
Qui-Gon slowly released a deep breath. He felt two of them coming up from behind intending to grab him and he pivoted on his good leg putting himself out of reach. With lightening reflexes he dodged a blow as another teen pulled out a big piece of metal and swung it at him. Qui-Gon grabbed the teen's wrist, pulling him forward, using the teen's own momentum to shove him into his fellow gang member.
The teen who first spoke to him slammed his fist into Qui-Gon's lower back. Qui-Gon grunted in pain, stepping towards the nearby building. His back now somewhat protected, he faced the gang members. The two that had been knocked to the ground scrambled to their feet. "You gonna regret that, slimo. Should have just given us what we wanted, maybe you would have walked away. Now you going to bleed."
Qui-Gon clenched his teeth at the circle of gang members surrounding him. He knew he was too far from the apartment for Devin and Kyran to see what was going on then he frowned at that thought and realized that he didn't want any help. He was a Jedi after all and he didn't deserve his rank if he couldn't get out of this small scuffle on his own. He ducked a punch aimed at his head.
The gang member closed in on Qui-Gon, two more of the pack pulled out weapons, a thick length of chain and a vibroblade. The chain was swung in low, meant to wrap around his feet, while the blade was shoved towards his stomach.
Qui-Gon swore as a chain wrapped itself around his good leg and jerked him off his feet. By pure instinct he twisted as he fell and rolled to the side as soon as he hit the ground thereby avoiding the cut to his stomach and getting cut on the arm instead.
Leather jacket, his prey now down on the ground, raised a booted foot intending to stomp his face. Qui-Gon reached up sensing the leather's intent to kick him in the face and grabbed his foot and pulled, jerking the teen off balance.
Qui-Gon heard the yell of pain accompanied by the sharp crack of a head hitting the pavement as the teen hit the ground, but quickly shifted his focus as the vibroblade made another jab at his torso. He twisted out of the way and grabbed the teen's wrist, pulling him forward, slamming his head into the wall. He pushed hard and sent the teen sprawling into the teen with the chain. The Jedi swung hard with his plaster encased leg and heard the thud as his leg connected with something solid and another yell and the clink of metal as the chain was torn from his hand.
The unarmed teen screamed as his kneecap shattered from the impact. Qui-Gon gritted his teeth against the pain the impact caused his own broken leg. The three down, two to go. Unfortunately those two were now warily watching him out of his reach. Perhaps it was time to bluff a little. "If you want to be able to walk away from this, you better be gone by the time I get to my feet."
The two teens looked at each other, then at their companions. Their leader was sprawled unmoving on the sidewalk from where he had fallen, another moaned softly while laying next to the vibroblade that had fallen from his hand when he had been slammed into the wall, the third sobbed while cradling his leg. Deciding to cut their losses, they took off. The sobbing teen pulled himself up and scrambled after them.
Qui-Gon exhaled slowly the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding watching the three run off. Very slowly, bracing himself on the wall, he managed to climb back to his feet. He winced at the pain from his arm where they'd managed to cut him. His gaze narrowed as he pulled down his sleeve. Kyran and Devin weren't the only ones who could hide things. He glanced around at the two on the ground and felt for a pulse at the leader's arm. He was still alive. He sighed knowing that if he didn't head back now then his two friends would be out looking for him and he headed back to his apartment feeling decidedly better. He hadn't forgotten everything and he could protect himself. He entered the apartment to find Kyran and Devin pulling on cloaks. He arched a brow. "Going out for a little walk?"
His friends had the grace to look embarrassed. "It had been awhile, we were starting to get concerned," admitted Devin.
Qui-Gon smirked. " I see. Well thank you for your concern but I made it back, and I didn't even get lost on an unfamiliar planet." He glanced pointedly at Devin.
Devin glared. "I was 14. When are you going to let that go?"
Qui-Gon grinned. "When you stop coming after me after I've only been out for an hour."
"You made your point." Kyran grinned suddenly. "If you're up to taking a casual stroll, then you must be more than up to taking on your share of the cooking."
Before Qui-Gon could answer, Devin commented, "Yeah, but are we?"
Growling Qui-Gon good-naturedly punched Devin in the arm. "So I burned a ,meal once and set off the smoke alarm. I was twelve. I haven't burned anything since then if you'd notice."
"Burned, no. Confusing Corellian hotspice and Alderrian sweetspice, now that was an experience I don't think any of us will forget," said Kyran.
Qui-Gon grumbled under his breath. "Insulting an injured person. How low can you get? At least I never poisoned my Master by my cooking." He glared at Kyran.
"Only because Master Dooku had the wisdom never to trust your cooking," laughed Kyran. The walk seemed to have worked a miracle on Qui-Gon. The dourness was gone; he seemed almost euphoric. Perhaps he just needed a bit of space and the opportunity to stretch his legs.
Qui-Gon shook his head and walked back to the bedroom mumbling under his breath. "You think you know a guy..."
*******
Qui-Gon's daily walks had become part of the routine, with the provision that he returned within a certain timeframe. Qui-Gon hadn't been happy about that, but recognized that some safety measures were necessary. Especially when his friends pointed out that they both were under the same restriction of setting a specific return time.
Qui-Gon whistled as he left the apartment on his daily walk. He was in a good mood as he always was when he was out walking. His arm wound was healing from a few days before and so far he'd managed to keep it a complete secret. He turned a corner and strolled down the street on his usual path. The neighborhood gangs had left him alone after he'd fought them off again two days ago.
From the shadows of an alley, two figures watched the tall man stride down the street, only slightly slowed by the heavy cast he wore on one leg. "That him?" a guttural voice asked.
"Yeah, I'm telling you, he's the one. I spotted him a couple of days ago. One of the local gangs went after him, revenge for sending three of their pack to the healers when they had tried to mug him. Halfway through the fight, he took out a lightsaber and then bodies started flying through the air. Nothing touched them, they just started getting thrown around."
The bounty hunter nodded. "Description on his wanted holo warned he was a force-user. What about the two that are supposed to be with him?"
"Neither of them are ever with him when he goes walking. But I followed him back to where he was staying." The informant assured him.
"You got the address of where they are staying?"
"Cash first."
"Half. If they are there you get the rest. So far all I've seen is one of the three."
The being grumbled a little. "Fine," he said sourly and pulled out a flimsiplast.
A small bag that clinked slightly was exchanged for the address. "He go walking the same time every day or he varies the time? Same route or wanders?"
"Same route, same time. Has been for awhile now. Gang members bothered him like I said but since he pulled the glowsword out they give him a wide berth."
"Careless of him to have a routine. Someone might notice. I'll contact you when you can pick up the rest of your payment if the other two are where you say they are."
The being nodded and grabbed for the cash, quickly stuffing them in his pocket. He wasn't getting paid to analyze. He just had information. He nodded again as was custom of his culture and vanished around another corner.
The bounty hunter ignored the snitch's disappearance. Instead he watched as his target moved confidently down the street. If a single man, injured no less, could take out one of the local gangs, he was not to be underestimate. A little careful planning, though, and that bounty would be his.
Qui-Gon paused suddenly having an eerie feeling that something wasn't as it should be. He turned around and looked behind him but saw nothing. Shrugging he walked on his way home.
*******
Kyran paced, glancing at his chrono he wore on his wrist. He glanced anxiously at Devin, then at the door. His friend had gone out over two hours ago for his daily walks and still hadn't come back. He had been against the idea in the beginning, but after seeing how euphoric Qui-Gon had been after a simple walk, they'd decided it would be for the best for it to become part of his daily routine. Now however, he wondered if that had been a mistake. "He's late," he said tersely to Devin.
"By less than a half hour and he's been staying out longer every day. You know how much Qui-Gon values his privacy, it must be driving him crazy to have to spend so much time locked in a small apartment, doing nothing." Privately Devin was starting to get concerned also, but somehow it felt better to try and convince Kyran and himself there was nothing to worry about.
Kyran shook his head at Devin's explanation. "I don't care. I don't like this. I'm going out after him. You should stay just in case he comes back." He pulled on his cloak and started to pull on his boots.
"Before you go charging out after him, think. If he's just taking his time, how is he going to feel about you acting like he's an initiate out after curfew?"
Kyran frowned at that. "We set that time for a reason. I don't care how much he values his privacy. We need to know where he is. Staying out without telling us when he's coming back is not a very good idea, considering the bounty hunters that might be out there."
"I suppose your right," sighed Devin. "It just seems that Qui-Gon is, well," Devin struggled to find the words to express his concerns about Qui-Gon's self-image.
Kyran grumbled slightly. " I know Qui-Gon's been through a trauma and is having a hard time recuperating but we can't have him running off when he's a wanted man, especially after his flashback a week ago. What if he forgets where he is when he's out there?"
Devin's reply was interrupted by a knock on the apartment door. "Expecting someone?" asked Devin as he drew, but did not ignite his lightsaber.
Kyran shook his head darkly. "Not unless its Qui-Gon and I doubt he ordered out dinner for us." He opened the door to find a small girl at the front door. "Can I help you, young one?"
"I'm supposed to give this to the friends of Duursema," the little girl said earnestly, holding up a folded piece of flimsy.
Kyran arched a brow at the little girl as he took the note from her and gave her a credit chip. "Who gave this to you?"
"A man in the front of the building." The girl said, smiling at the credit chip.
"Was he a tall human?"
"Yes, very tall. Almost as tall as you."
Devin came up besides Kyran, "What does it say?"
Kyran's gaze darkened as he read it and the little girl left, then he closed the door and locked it. He ran to the window after he locked the door and his heart fell to his stomach at what he saw. With several bounty hunters surrounding him, Qui-Gon was bound and gagged and semi-conscious. "Sithspit."
Kyran barred his way. "Sith, where do you think you're going? We can't go out there."
"I'm going to get Qui-Gon."
"No. That's what they want us to do. We have to think of some other way. There are bounties on us too."
"What do you suggest?" Devin growled.
Kyran stroked his chin thoughtfully. He tried to probe the bond to see how much awareness Qui-Gon had but got no response. "He's drugged. As for a plan.... well we can't stay in here forever. Let's try to slip out the back and surprise them that way. We stay here and we'll both be captured."
"They must know we're in here, what did the note say?
Kyran cursed. "We have about ten minutes before they kill him. Apparently if they deliver a body that's good enough for Gaikusan."
Devin looked back out the window, examining the scene. "I can see at least three from here. Wonder how many we can't see, that are in sniper position." He strode back towards the door. "I'm going out, I'm not going to let them kill him."
Kyran grabbed Devin's tunic. "No. I have no intention of letting him die. However rushing out there without a strategy is foolhardy. I'll go up to the roof and see how many there are waiting to shoot at us. You go around back and make sure none of them are waiting to attack us the minute we come through the door."
"Okay, but then I'm heading out front."
"Alright as soon as you clear the back come help me up front. Now go. Our time is ," Kyran paused to check his chrono. They had about three minutes left. "Sith. Almost out. GO."
Kyran nodded and without another word headed up for the roof. He stealthily crept across the roof and peered down. He reached out to Devin across the bond. //I'm in position.//
The alley behind their building was clear, Devin moved to the end of it, peering at the men holding Qui-Gon. They were beginning to get restless as the deadline approached and no one had come out of the building. The Rodian holding Qui-Gon, his blaster firmly pressed to Qui-Gon's head, said something. The tall human standing next to him, obviously the one who had sent the note, shook his head. //I'm here, the alley's clear.//
//Great.// Kyran sent to his friend. //When I say go, Force grab Qui-Gon and get him to the ground out of the way. We can't risk a stray shot hitting him when he doesn't have a weapon. I'll climb down off the roof and start eliminating them one at a time.// He smiled tightly. //Let's show them why people don't collect bounties on Jedi Knights. Ready.....Go!//
Devin stepped out of the alley, but the bounty hunters' attention was firmly on the form of Kyran, teal lightsaber flashing as he leaped from the top of the five story building. Focusing on Qui-Gon, he pulled downward and to the side, being careful to cushion Qui-Gon's fall so that his limp body did not hit the pavement hard. The Rodian had only a moment to look startled before Devin was rushing forward, orange saber slashing downwards.
Kyran's teal lightsaber twirled as he deflected blaster fire and he lunged forward with his blade, chopping off limbs of the two bounty hunters closest to him. He glanced over and saw that Qui-Gon had been pushed slightly out of the way by Devin's Force grab.
The orange blade stopped centimeters away from the Rodian's throat. From the corner of his eye, Devin could see the other two bounty hunters writhing on the ground, clutching the stumps of their arms. In a cold voice, he said, "I suggest you drop your weapon and go."
Kyran held his blade down to the throat of one of the hunters who was missing an arm. "I suggest if you value your lives you all do as he told you. We will not be as merciful the next time you attack us."
The Rodian hesitated for a moment, then dropped his blaster and ran. The wounded bounty hunters quickly followed. "Amateurs" Devin said contemptuously. As soon as they were out of sight, Devin knelt at Qui-Gon's side
Kyran shook his head as the remaining bounty hunters fled and he dropped to Qui-Gon's side next to Devin. He sighed deeply and tried to gently peel the tape off his friend's mouth, trying not to rip out more of his beard than necessary and he took out the gag that had been forced down his throat. . His glazed eyes suggested that he had been heavily drugged. What concerned him more was the ragged way Qui-Gon was breathing. There was a bluish tint to his lips. "I think he's having a reaction to whatever they drugged him with."
Devin quickly loosened the bindings on Qui-Gon's wrists and ankles. Like scavengers that appear once the larger predators are gone, other people began to gather on the street a slight distance away. Deciding to deal with one problem at a time, Devin said, "We have to get off the street."
Kyran glanced at the crowd that was starting to form on the street. "They know who we are obviously and they might pass the word on that we were here. I think we've worn out our welcome and it's time to move. We have to get to a more secure location."
Devin scooped Qui-Gon up into his arms. "Go grab the medpacks and our bags. We can deal with Qui-Gon's reaction to the drug on the ship." Knowing that they might have to make a fast departure, the few possessions they had were kept in a couple of carrysacks.
***