Jedi71 - Thanks so much for the nice review! My co-author and I worked very hard on that scene trying to get everything just right because it's the turning point where Qui-Gon finally begins to heal. In order to help someone heal you have to know what's wrong ;) so I'm very glad it came across as emotional without being too much.

Athena Leigh - Bad girl! Don't lure Qui to the darkside! We're trying to go the OTHER way ;) hehee. Glad you liked it!! Thanks for sticking with the story!!! Here is more for you!

Italics means telepathy.

Chapter 27

The three men faced each other in a small circle. The group meditation was being led by Kyran. Across their bond, Kyran encouraged the others to release the tensions of the day, to accept the peaceful feelings of the surrounding forest as the day ended. The plants drinking in the last rays of the sun's light, the creatures of the day finding places to rest, while those of the night began to stir. It was still difficult for Qui-Gon to fully relax, a small part of him insisted he must stay on guard. But that part of him was lessening, being replaced with the willingness to once again accept existing in the moment of the Living Force.

Kyran breathed deeply, releasing his frustrations and fears as he exhaled. A dark ripple in the Force caught the edge of his awareness. Shielding part of his mind from his companions as not to disrupt their shared meditation, he contemplated it. The darkness wasn't anything being released into the Force by either of his friends. He followed the ripple outwards, to an evil presence moving quickly towards them. Not wanting to break Qui-Gon out of the serenity of his meditations if he didn't have to, Kyran sent a shielded thought towards Devin.

What's wrong Devin replied, also keeping the exchange tightly shielded from Qui-Gon. Over the bond he could feel the spike of worry from Devin

Did you feel that? asked Kyran.

Following the tendril of Force sense Kyran sent him, Devin caught the darkness moving towards them. Trouble. Can you get a feel for what exactly it might be?

Several beings, moving closer to us.Kyran looked up, his eyes suddenly wide as he realized what they intended. "Down!" Kyran shouted as he pulled Qui-Gon to the ground just as several blaster bolts shot over their heads.

Devin leapt to his feet, calling his lightsaber to his hand and igniting it. The orange blade deflected the incoming stun bolts, providing cover while Qui-Gon and Kyran scrambled to their feet. From the forest several bounty hunters emerged. Teal and green blades sprung to life as Kyran and Qui-Gon positioned themselves to either side of Devin. The calm that Qui- Gon had gained from the mediation was gone. Over their still open bond they could clearly feel Qui-Gon's growing fear, centered over the immense reptilian humanoid leading the attack. Kyran tried to help Qui-Gon control his fear and focus on the attack.

Heeding a warning flash from the Force, Devin launched himself into a back flip over the heads of his companions. Landing with his back to them, his blade intercepted the stun bolts fired from a second group of bounty hunters "About a dozen more this side," called out Devin.

Kyran swore in Rodian. "There's another dozen in front. We should split up, there's no way we can fight that many."

"On three then, we'll go." Devin said. According to the plans they had made weeks ago, if found again by bounty hunters, they would make their way back to their ship, hidden half a klick away.

"On three," echoed Qui-Gon. He was the one that had insisted that in case of trouble the three split up. He knew that he was the main target of the hunt. The more that chased him, the fewer his friends had to deal with. He had no intentions of being captured, though. He'd determined he would die before he let that happen again.

Kyran continued to deflect stun bolts, glancing at Qui-Gon worriedly. "One......two.. three!" With Force enhanced speed, he rushed past the bounty hunters.

Qui-Gon ran in the opposite direction of Kyran. The quick burst of speed the Force gave him would have to get him as far away as possible. Once it was used up, his limp would slow him down considerably.

Devin rushed towards the bounty hunters in front of him, yelling a Wookie battle cry at the top of his lungs, brandishing his lightsaber threateningly. As he hoped, his opponents fell back slightly, startled by the unexpected charge. Leaping into the air, he somersaulted over their heads then disappeared into the forest.

As their prey fled, Yomar shouted out orders. "You five, after him!" Yomar pointed in the direction Kyran had gone. "You five go after the other one. The rest of you with me after Duursema."

Seeing the lightsaber in Duursema's hands had been a bit unexpected. Rumors were that both he and the men who had broken him out had claimed to be Jedi. After a brief moment, Yomar dismissed the topic from his mind. He'd beaten down Duursema enough times in Tuvlat. If that was the measure of a Jedi, it wouldn't be too difficult to take down the other two as well. Gaikusan had released him and some of his cronies from Tuvlat for exactly that reason.

Devin circled in towards the ship, dodging through the trees. His pursuit was a good distance behind him, but was catching up fast. Perhaps he needed to discourage them. A tree with a few low hanging, thickly foliaged branches provided the perfect spot. Leaping up, he hid until the bounty hunters had passed beneath him. Jumping down, he stretched his hand out, Force pushing two of the bounty hunters into tree trunks. With a satisfying thunk, they slid to the ground and were still. The lightsaber slashed out, a bounty hunter fell to the ground, clutching the cauterized stump that had once been his leg. The remaining two opened fire on Devin. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding blasts.

A thick log flew through the air, catching one of the remaining bounty hunters in the back, pinning him to the ground. The last began to spray stun bolts wildly around. Devin faltered slightly as the edge of one of the bolts caught him. Seeing his advantage, the bounty hunter advanced.

Qui-Gon stumbled slightly, cursing at his own clumsiness. He was simply unable to focus enough to sustain the Force run for more than a few seconds. Worse, somehow he'd managed to end up with a collection of bounty hunters between him and the ship. He gripped the hilt of his lightsaber in his hands, the left merely helping to balance. He could hear Yomar shouting behind him. How had Yomar gotten here? Why wasn't that monster still locked up at Tuvlat? Qui-Gon struggled to control the panic he felt screaming in him. If he panicked then he would be captured for sure, and that he could not allow.

Qui-Gon cursed the fact that in retreating from the clearing he had actually run in the opposite direction of their hidden ship. He had to loop around, with Yomar and his pack of thugs following him on a much smaller loop, drawing closer with every step.

Kyran arrived at the ship first. The bounty hunters that had pursued him had the misfortune to catch up with him. Three would never bother anyone again. The other two were now far more interested in their own injuries than in any attempt to inflict any on the fugitives.

He dashed up the ramp and threw himself down in the pilot's seat, starting the preflight checks. He had to be ready to take off as soon as his friends made it to the ship.

The ship was ready for take off, but neither Qui-Gon and Devin had showed up yet. Kyran shifted his concentration to the bond he shared with his friends.

Seconds later Kyran was running through the trees as fast as the Force let him.

Qui-Gon knew he was being driven further away from the ship. Soon he'd have to make the choice of confronting the overwhelming numbers behind him or giving up on reaching the ship and just hope he could manage to elude his pursuit.

A spasm in the muscle in his bad leg sent him sprawling to the ground. Gritting his teeth, he scrambled back to his feet. That settled that question. The throbbing pain let him know that his running was over. Putting most of his weight on his good leg, he raised his lightsaber in a ready stance. It would end here. A part of him was relieved. If nothing else, at least the uncertainty and torment of the past months would be over.

Yomar and his men appeared, circling warily around him. "You led us on a fine chase, Duursema, but now its over. Drop that glowrod and get your hands on your head," Yomar growled.

Qui-Gon shifted his stance slightly, tracking the movement of the bounty hunters out of the corner of his eyes while still watching Yomar. "Make me."

The air around Qui-Gon filled with blue stun bolts. Oddly, knowing that this was the end brought a certain peace. The Force flowed through him as it had not for months. Like a top, balanced on the single point of his good leg, he spun. Bounty hunters began to fall, hit by bolts reflected back at them.

"Enough!" shouted Yomar. "Switch to the scatter guns."

Six of the remaining bounty hunters, Yomar included, pulled from their backs rifles. The barrels were easily twice as wide as standard. "Catch all these, if you can," mocked Yomar.

Hundreds of tiny darts flew towards Qui-Gon. The green blade incinerated many of them, more got through, peppering his chest and back. The sting of the needle tips quickly became a numbing cold.

"Sleep darts. By the time you wake from your beauty nap, you'll be well on you're way back to Tuvlat," Yomar laughed as the lightsaber dropped from Qui-Gon's numbed hands.

Sleep darts, not poison. They intended to capture him alive. They were taking him back, thought Qui-Gon in despair as the strength to stand left him.

Kyran burst through the clearing, just in time to see his friend fall from stun darts. "Qui-Gon!" He shouted rushing over to try to protect his friend.

"Shoot him," ordered Yomar, firing at Kyran.

Kyran, No! Unable to make his voice sound, Qui-Gon desperately fought to stay conscious long enough to warn off his friend. Darts. Get away . . . Then even mind speak was impossible.

Kyran tried to block all of the darts that came speeding at him and managed to get several however, many imbedded themselves in his arm and side. He struggled to stay on his feet, swaying unsteadily as the lightsaber rolled from his grip.

The last thing he heard was the reptilian leader's booming laugh. "That's two of the three bounties. Now we just have to pick up the third and collect our pay."

Kyran fought against the unconsciousness that he knew was claiming him. Not only had he failed to rescue his best friend from danger .. again, but he'd been captured also. 'some Jedi' he thought to himself and with his remaining strength, Kyran reached out to the Force to send a message to Devin hoping that he managed to stay free enough to rescue them.

Devin watched the bounty hunter advance towards him, blaster at the ready. Shaking off the dizziness of the glancing stun bolt, Devin readied his saber. Just as the bounty hunter fired, Kyran's cry of warning burst into his mind. Thrown off balance for a split second, he parried only part of blast. Knowing he could not block the next shot, he whipped his lit saber towards the bounty hunter. The orange blade sliced cleanly through his neck, the head falling near the lit saber. Devin lurched to the saber, turning it off and stamping out the underbrush smoldering from contact with the blade.

Qui-Gon and Kyran were both down and unconscious, Devin knew. He took two wobbly steps in their direction before he realized that if he rushed in, he would soon join them.

Hating it, but knowing that it was his only real choice, he began to search for someplace to hide until the effects of the stun blasts wore off. He had to avoid capture. Once he was recovered, he could figure out a way to get Kyran and Qui-Gon. He prayed to the Force he wouldn't be too late.