Repercussions

Chapter 23


Devin scooped Qui-Gon up into his arms. Kyran took a protective stance as they headed back to their apartment.

"He's not breathing right. I think he's having an allergic reaction to whatever they drugged him with." Devin said, gently placing Qui-Gon on the bed and reaching for the med-pack. The hypo spray hissed quietly as he injected epee and an antihistamine. Kyran grabbed the three carry bags they'd brought with them and silently gathered all of the belongings he'd scraped together, including a tea kettle and some other kitchen odds and ends and shoved them in a small box. He glanced over sadly at his friend. " I wonder what happened. There's never been any trouble before now."

"Those cursed holos that were being handed out. Someone recognized him and decided to try and collect. We're just fortunate that they were greedy enough to go for all three of us instead of just taking in Qui-Gon." As he talked, Devin took a blood sample, feeding it into the portable analyzer. "B'taxin. Its an illegal recreational drug, causes the user to go into a deep, euphoric daze. Use in about 10% of humans results in respiratory failure."

Kyran swore. "Sithspit. It doesn't do any more damage to Force-users than non-Force users does it?"

"No, no more damage, although I think I remember hearing somewhere that its more potent. He'll be out for a while. You ready?"

Kyran nodded and gestured to their belongings that he'd packed up. "Yes. We need to get to a more secure location. Any suggestions?"

"I think we've worn out our welcome on Nar Shadda. Lets get to the ship. We can figure out were we're going once we get out system." Devin wrapped Qui-Gon in the top blanket and slung him over his shoulder. It wasn't the most comfortable position for Qui-Gon, he knew, but it left his saber arm free.

Kyran sighed deeply then glanced around their small apartment. "I suppose that's the only choice we have." He stooped to pick up their things. "Let's go."

*****

Once out system, they had made a short hyperspace jump to an uninhabited region of space. They needed time to plan their next move.

Kyran sat at a computer terminal in their ship trying to determine where they should head next. A small out of the way system close to the outer-rim territories caught his eye. "Devin what do you think of this planet?' It's out of the way and still not in the Republic... We'll have a better chance of hiding if we stick to a system outside the Republic."

"What's its tech level like? I'd feel better going someplace that had a decent medical system available. Even if just stay long enough to get Qui-Gon looked at then leave before the wanted signs caught up with us." Devin had strapped an oxygen mask onto Qui-Gon. He seemed to be breathing easier, but he was still in the grips of the drug.

Kyran tapped in a few commands on the keypad and pulled up an information file on the planet. "Looks to be pretty advanced. They're away from the Republic so they can keep to themselves. Have a lot of repulsorlift technology too."

Loosing Qui-Gon's shirt, Devin noticed a bandage around Qui-Gon's arm. "He's been injured."

Kyran's gaze darkened at that news and he swiveled around in the chair. "What?"

Devin carefully unwrapped the bandage and examined the half-healed cut. "Looks like it was a while ago, maybe a week or so. A fairly deep cut, though."

Kyran rubbed his chin thoughtfully then stared at the wound. "He didn't trust us enough to tell us about it." He sighed.

"Like we tried to protect him by not telling him about our injuries. When did we start keeping things secret from each other?"

Kyran glanced at his friend then looked at his hands in his lap, guiltily. "We bear the blame for this distrust. We didn't tell him about our injuries. No wonder he doesn't trust us. Would you?" Frustrated, Kyran got up from his chair and wandered over to sit next to his unconscious friend.

"I thought we had cleared up everything with him. I thought that by letting him go out by himself we showed him that we did trust him to take care of himself. "

Kyran took Qui-Gon's other hand gently in his own. "Apparently that didn't work."

"Stubborn. All of us, its going to be the death of us."

Kyran half-smiled. "Maybe. In fact I'd say probably. However, Qui-Gon survived one of the most horrible prisons in the galaxy due to his stubbornness so I'm grateful for it."

******

The time had passed slowly, they had programmed the destination into the navicomputer, so now there was only the waiting. Waiting for their arrival. Waiting for Qui-Gon to awake.

A soft moan caught the attention of Kyran. Devin had finally agreed to get some sleep, but only when Kyran promised he would awake him if there were any changes in Qui-Gon's condition.

"Qui-Gon?" He questioned gently as he moved over to the chair next to his friend's bed. "How are you feeling?" Quickly he sent a mental message to Devin hoping that would rouse him.

"Fuzzy." The reply was muffled by the oxygen mask.
"Go slowly. You're probably going to be pretty fuzzy for a few more hours yet."

"Am slowly. Too slowly. Can't move." The drug in his system, while fading, was still strong enough to muddle Qui-Gon's thinking.

Kyran very gently began to undo the straps that held his friend to the bed to keep him secured during their take off. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Walking. Felt threat. Thought it was the gang members again."

Kyran's eyes narrowed. "What gang members?"

"Local gang. Called Rabid Nexu." One of the side effects of the drug was to cut off the connection between Qui-Gon's mouth and his brain. Things that he had no intention of ever telling his friends now slipped out easily.

Kyran frowned deeply at his friend. "What happened to your arm? How did you injure yourself?"

"Got cut. Not me, them."

Kyran frowned at that. His normally very stubborn friend was giving information far too readily to have kept the wound hidden for so long. His brow furrowed and he wondered if perhaps that might be a possible side effect of the drug he'd been given. "I see. When were you planning on informing me of this?"

"Wasn't. Just get all crèche mother. Don't need a protector. I'm Jedi." The lazy tone Qui-Gon had been used shifted somewhat, not quite energetic enough to be called anger, but certainly shaded that way.

Kyran's gaze darkened. "After this last incident, I must disagree. You were drugged Qui-Gon. Don't you realize what that means?"

There was a very long pause. When Qui-Gon finally answered, the voice was small. "Not Jedi. Can't be
Jedi, anymore. Not after what happened."

Kyran frowned at him "What do you mean? What happened? We can't help you until you tell us. You needed protection because you're not healed yet. Not because you've done something wrong."

"Have done something wrong. Can't help. Can't heal. Can't be Jedi." Tears began to roll down Qui-Gon's cheeks. He didn't sob, he simply continued to
repeat himself in that small voice.

Kyran gently wiped the tears that were falling down his friend's cheeks. He didn't really know what to say. He'd never seen his friend this lost before. "Why can't you heal? What did you do wrong?"

"Can't tell. Won't tell. " Qui-Gon suddenly jerked backwards, his breathing growing more rapid. "You can't make me. Die first."

Kyran blinked in confusion as Qui-Gon suddenly jerked away from him. "What's the matter, Qui-Gon? I have no intention of letting you die. Why else do you think I risked my neck to break you out of prison?"

Qui-Gon was now firmly wedged in the corner of the bunk. His eyes, pupils dilated from the drug, had a wild look in them. "Might as well kill me. I won't. Never."

/Sithspit. He's having another flashback./ Kyran realized suddenly. He took Qui-Gon's hands firmly. "Qui-Gon. Look at me. It's me, Kyran."

Qui-Gon pulled on the hands that restrained him, it was like trying to move through a thick syrup. Bringing his legs up, he kicked out. If Gaikusan thought he could trick him into believing that he was his friend, he would soon learn otherwise.

Kyran swore as Qui-Gon kicked him in the stomach and he jumped back away from his friend's bed. /Sith./ He grabbed his friend firmly by the shoulders and shook him. "Qui-Gon stop it. Listen to me. You're free."

"I won't listen to your lies. Give it up, I'll die before I turn." The adrenaline now pumping through his body made his words clearer, but his mind was still trapped deep in his delusions. The drug contributed to the waking dream, making his memories real. He lunged at Kyran, hands wrapping around his throat.

Kyran coughed as his friend's hands found their way around his throat. He didn't want to hurt Qui-Gon but he would defend himself. In one swift movement Kyran had pried his friend's hands from his throat and twisted Qui-Gon's arm behind him, holding him firmly. "Qui-Gon, stop it."

"What are you doing?" demanded Devin. The noise of the conflict had woken him. He was shocked to find Kyran forcing Qui-Gon face down onto the bunk by twisting his arm behind him.

Qui-Gon shoved himself upward. Further damaging his arm meant nothing if he could get his hand back around Gaikusan's throat.

Kyran gritted his teeth and tried to hold on to his friend's arm. It was like trying to pin down a wild rancor. "He tried to attack me. He's having a flashback."

"I can't sedate him. Not with the B'taxin already in his system." Devin pinned Qui-Gon's legs back down onto the bunk. Qui-Gon continued to thrash beneath them.

Kyran held on to his friend pushing him down. "Then I suppose we have no choice but to tie him back down until he remembers where he is."

Devin grunted, the thick cast Qui-Gon wore connected solidly with his ribs and he reached for the straps that would secure Qui-Gon's legs.

Kyran winced as Qui-Gon smacked him hard in the face, slamming into his nose causing it to stream blood, and he struggled to hold his friend down. He reached for the straps to tie his arms to the bed.

Qui-Gon screamed out his frustration as he felt the straps tighten around him. "Wont' turn! Doesn't matter what you do! I won't! I'll die first"

"Qui-Gon, listen to me. Stop it." With deep regret Kyran slapped the back of his friend's head, hoping that would get his attention. "Please stop Qui-Gon. You're going to hurt yourself."

Qui-Gon laughed bitterly. "Promising to stop the pain won't work. It never worked. Let me loose, Gaikusan. I'll teach you about pain."

"Its no use, until the drug wears off he can't be reasoned with," said Devin. Devin's stomach twisted. What had his friend experienced while at Tuvlat that would make him so accepting of receiving pain.


Kyran's gaze darkened. "No. You're not in your right mind, Qui-Gon and because I'm your friend and I care about you and because I don't want to end up with a broken rib, you're going to have to stay there until you come out of it." Kyran put a hand to his nose that was streaming blood, wondering just what Gaikusan had done to his friend to make him lash out like this and guiltily he realized that this was his own fault. If only he had gone with his friend then he could have prevented this. Swallowing hard, Kyran glanced at Devin, then walked out, leaving Devin alone with Qui-Gon, not able to bear being in his friend's presence while he was in so much pain. He headed back to the lounge to try to find a towel so he could mop up his nose.

"Kyran?" Devin called out as his friend walked away. Cursing silently to himself, he decided that for the moment it was more important for him to stay with Qui-Gon than go after Kyran. But as soon as Qui-Gon settled down, there were going to be some questions answered.

Qui-Gon struggled a while longer against the straps, then finally lay still. Devin wondered if he had drifted back into unconsciousness when he growled, "What are you waiting for?"

Devin frowned at him, puzzled wondering what he was talking about. "What are you talking about?'

"Are you waiting for one of the guards to get started on me? Trying to decide if it will be the whip or the club this time?"

With a chill Devin realized what his friend meant; he was waiting on Devin to torture him. "Qui-Gon. I'm not going to hurt you. Nobody is going to hurt you. I'm your friend. You're free now. Tuvlat is a long way from here."

"What game are you playing at, Gaikusan?" demanded Qui-Gon.

Devin sighed and tried to shift position on the bed. "Qui-Gon. It's me, Devin. I"m not Gaikusan. Look at me. Focus on my face."

Qui-Gon twisted his head so he could see Devin. He studied the face, distrust evident but after a few minutes confusion flitted across. "Who are you?"

"Devin. Devin Ly'rath."

Burying his face back into the mattress, Qui-Gon began to shake. "You can't be Devin. You lie. Devin would never serve Gaikusan. He would have been strong, he wouldn't have been tempted no matter what happened."

Devin patted his friend's shoulder comfortingly. "I am Devin. Remember how we first met? You were seven, looking for a quiet place to give into your loneliness over Kyran leaving on his first long term mission as a Padawan. Instead you found me, reading my hidden stash of melodramatic adventure comics."

"How did you know that?" whispered Qui-Gon.

Devin arched a brow at his friend then sighed. "I'm your friend. I have been ever since then."

"I . . . I remember. You and Kyran came for me. Then the bounty hunters came. . . They found you, didn't they? Found you because of me and then took us all to Tuvlat. Oh merciful Force. He turned you. My fault, its all my fault. Forgive me." A surge in the Force was all the warning Devin had as the water glass next to the bed shattered. The shards of glass hovered for one brief moment, then dove towards Qui-Gon's throat.

Devin looked up in alarm seeing glass shards heading straight for his friend's throat. Instinctively he threw himself on top of his friend. He cried out in pain as glass shards pounded into his back.
Kyran came running in having been alarmed at the sound of breaking glass and Devin's cry of pain that followed. His mouth dropped open in horror at seeing Devin on top of his friend with glass in his back, blood streaming from the wounds.

"He's gone suicidal. Thinks he's in Tuvlat and we've turned," gasped Devin as Kyran ran in. "Remember what I said about B'taxin being more potent in Force-users?

Sithspit. Has it been long enough that we can sedate him yet? We can't have him in this state. It's too dangerous for us and him."

"Not while there's any B'taxin left in his system. It could cause his respiratory system to completely shut down. We'll just have to ride it out," Devin stiffly stood up, gritting his teeth against the pain of the glass jammed deep into his back. Qui-Gon was once more lying still, but his muscles were tensed.

Kyran cursed. "How much longer before that stuff is out of his system?" He glanced at Devin in concern. "Will you be alright? I'll sit with him for a while and try to calm him down. I'll tend to your injuries as soon as he's calm."

"I don't know. At most I'd guess a few more hours. We have to keep talking to him. Try to reach him. At least he recognizes that we're us and not Gaikusan. Now we just have to convince him we're not in Tuvlat."

"Easier said than done. I'd let him loose if I thought that would help, but I'm afraid we'd both wind up with broken ribs." Kyran touched the bridge of his injured nose gently. "Go on. I'll be alright with him."

"Qui-Gon" Devin said softly, "We haven't turned. The bounty hunters didn't capture us, Kyran and I drove them off. We don't want you to turn, let go of your fear and embrace the Light."

"How do I know you're telling the truth? If I'm not in Tuvlat as you say then what am I doing chained down?" Qui-Gon growled softly, tugging on the straps for emphasis.

"Its so you won't hurt yourself or us," said Kyran.

"Prove to me that I'm not a prisoner. Let me go. Why would I hurt my friends?"

"You wouldn't Qui-Gon. Not intentionally," amended Devin, kneeling next to the bed to start undoing the straps. "Get up slowly and look around. You'll see you are on a ship. Go to the bridge, see the stars out the viewport. You're free and far from Tuvlat."

Qui-Gon slowly sat up as he was untied from the bed and he rubbed his sore wrists that were slightly raw from him pulling at the restraints. He got up from the bed carefully, wobbling slightly on his injured leg. He limped up to the bridge to see for himself. What he saw completely astounded him. Stars of every color flashed so fast they were mere blurs of light. He reached out a hand and felt the chairs for the pilot and co-pilot. He paused confused and glanced at Devin and Kyran who had both followed him, "We're not in prison?"

"No, Qui-Gon. We're free," said Devin.

"Free?" Qui-Gon echoed the word like it was foreign to him. Suddenly the realization that he wasn't in prison slammed into him and the Jedi was so relieved he almost collapsed. Kyran caught his friend and eased him gently into co-pilot's seat. "I....." He started to say something then frowned glancing at Kyran's face. His eye was discolored and a dark bruise was forming on his cheek and the bridge of his nose was swelling. " What happened to your face?"

"A little misunderstanding. Its nothing. Lets get you back to bed." said Kyran.

Qui-Gon frowned slightly and he tried to stand to go back to bed. As he passed Devin he cried out in shock seeing Devin's torn and bloody back. "Devin! What happened?"

"You don't remember any of it, Qui-Gon?" asked Devin.

Wordlessly Qui-Gon shook his head. "Should I?"

"No."

"Better that you don't. Come on, sooner we get you back in bed, sooner Kyran can pick out this glass." Devin gave Qui-Gon a half-smile. He meant for his tone to be light, but his face was tight in pain.
Qui-Gon's face narrowed. "You're trying to protect me again. Both of you. What really happened?"

"We'll tell you everything, I promise. But you've still got too much of that drug in your system. Sleep off the rest of it, let me get patched up, and we'll answer all your questions. With the complete truth. Okay?"

With any luck, Devin thought, Qui-Gon would forget this, too.

Very reluctantly Qui-Gon nodded, knowing that he wouldn't get any answer better than that. He trudged dismally back to bed and winced as Kyran helped ease him into it. How it hurt to know that his friends thought they had to keep things from him. Thoughts continued to chase themselves around Qui-Gon's mind and after several long minutes of lying there the Jedi finally dozed off into a restless sleep.