Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! Darth Real Life got hectic over the holidays but I'm back and the story is finished! I just need to post a chapter or so a day but it is done! Thanks so much for your continued support! Especially to those of you who regularly leave replies, Athena and Kynstar I really appreciate it!

Repercussions

Chapter 31

Kyran groaned a bit as he came to, wondering where he was. Wherever it was it was extremely cold. His eyes fluttered open. Four stone walls surrounded him. There was a drain in the middle of the floor. On one side of the room a large holo-vid screen had been set up. Kyran puzzled about that. Surely whoever held him wasn't going to be entertaining him.

As he became more aware, he noticed that was dangling several inches off the floor by his wrists. Chains stretched from his arms all the way to the ceiling. He glanced down and noticed that all of his clothing had been taken from him except his undershorts. That was not entirely surprising. When he'd been with Qui-Gon and had been taken prisoner by the bounty hunters, all he'd had other than that was his undertunic... Qui-Gon! Frantically Kyran reached out with the Force to try to link with him through their bond. A painful shock traveled from the ceiling to his arms and he let out a yelp of surprise.

The door was shoved open and through it entered a grim faced guard pushing a cart covered with a white cloth. Ominous shapes pushed against the cloth. Behind the guard came a Trandoshan, dressed in expensive clothes. He approached Kyran and bowed with a flourish. "Knight Josel how delighted I am to welcome you to C'lasi. I hope you are finding your room comfortable."

Kyran's gaze darkened at the entrance of his captor. "Can the small talk, Gaikusan. What do you want from me?

"I wasn't sure you would recognize me after all these years. How nice that you remembered. Of course, our mutual friend Qui-Gon would have been sure to have shared some of his experiences here. As to what I want, that is fairly simple. I want your pledge to me and to the power of the Darkside."

Kyran flinched inwardly at the mention of Qui-Gon's time in prison. "You don't know when to give up, do you? If Qui-Gon wouldn't turn, what makes you think I would?"

"I believe my mistake with Qui-Gon was allowing others to do the breaking for me. Far too many people were involved with his torment, which I think lessened the overall effect. I intend to correct that mistake by seeing to you personally. Of course, it may be that I simply needed to wait a bit longer for Qui-Gon to turn. Fortunately, now that he is back in Tuvlat, I can see which of the two methods is more effective."

At that news Kyran's hold on his calm facade faltered slightly. "What did you say?"

"Did I hit you too hard on the transport? Qui-Gon was captured with you and returned to Tuvlat where he will continue to suffer any and all indignation's that place has to offer. Perhaps you were thinking that someone might have intercepted him before he could be safely imprisoned? Well, I must admit, an attempt was made."

Kyran clenched his jaw, determined not to give anymore reaction than he already had. He reached out along the link he shared with Devin to see if Gaikusan was telling the truth, when another sharp shock flowed from the chains into his wrists, causing him to wince at the strength of it.

Gaikusan watched as Kyran's body thrashed. When he stilled, Gaikusan said, "As I was saying, an attempt was made. However, it was not successful. Knight Ly'rath is the newest inmate at Tuvlat. No doubt his cellmates are initiating him as we speak."

"I don't believe you."

"Your belief is hardly necessary. It does not change the fact that they are now prisoners of Tuvlat. No doubt even as we are speaking, their new cellmates are welcoming each. Hopefully the guards remember my instructions that neither is allowed to be killed. Yet." Gaikusan sneered.

Kyran shook his head and glared at Gaikusan. "How could you? To someone you used to be friends with?" He frowned, struggling to figure out a way to reduce the stress on his arms from the chains.

"I offered him the greatest of opportunities, to be free of the restraints of Council and Jedi Code. I continue to hope that he can be convinced. Just as you will be."

Kyran shook his head in disgust and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and another, to try to stay calm.

Kyran's eyes flew open as the searing pain tore across his back.

Gaikusan grinned evilly. "Perhaps not the most original technique to begin your reeducation with, but still effective." At his signal the guard began to lash Kyran's back with a heavy whip.

"This is just the start. The pain will continue, increasing, until you accept the Dark Side and swear loyalty to me."

Kyran just shook his head, and clenched his teeth, refusing to open his mouth knowing that if he did he would cry out and that he refused to do.

The guard continued his work, at a steady pace. The welts on Kyran's back began to split and bleed. "Most impressive, Qui-Gon screamed like a small child much earlier. Perhaps he is screaming again, even now."

Kyran glared at Gaikusan but didn't verbally respond, his concentration was focused on keeping his mouth shut. He would not allow himself to cry out. No matter how badly it hurt, unwilling to give the other satisfaction.

Gaikusan watched Kyran's torment for a few more minutes, intently studying how he was now biting his lip to keep silent. He strode to the table and examined the many items arranged neatly on its surface. Holding up a hand, he commanded the guard to stop.

He picked up a short handled whip, brandishing it in front of Kyran's face to make sure he got a good look. From the end were five braided strand of leather and wire. "Use this for a while." The guard silently exchanged whips with Gaikusan and began again.

Kyran gasped as the guard lashed him with the wire whip, and his fists tightened in their restraints. He clenched his teeth. Sweat was running into his eyes from trying to endure.

"How do you feel," whispered Gaikusan. "Fear? Think of what may be happening to your friends. Think of what will happen to you. Anger? You were so very close to escaping, yet now all three of you are within my power. Hate? Do you hate me for what I did to your friend, Qui-Gon. The scars he now bears. The scars he will soon have again. Feel the fear, anger and hate. Let it flow through you. I can sense it in you, just waiting for you to use it."

Kyran clenched his teeth, trying hard to ignore Gaikusan's words.. but they were so close to how he truly felt...anger.....at the other for allowing his friend to suffer....anger at himself for allowing it by not going like he was told in the first place. He tried to push those thoughts away as he had promised Qui-Gon, but the effects of the self doubt and guilt of the last several months still remained whispering to him enticingly like the caress of a lover's lips along his cheek.

The room was shabby, in a section of town where both Devin and Qui-Gon were watching each other's backs. Above a bar where not just drinks were being sold, but anything anyone demanded. The smell of spice was in the air. No doubt the ex-healer had an arrangement with the owners of the bar, exchanging his services for rent and spice.

It was primitive. Most of the equipment was patched together, ancient out dated machines. At least it was relatively clean. Some effort had been made to hold back the dirt and mildew that seemed to cover every other surface in the neighborhood.

Devin looked around mournfully. He was furious that this was the best he could do for his friend, but it couldn't be helped. Their resources were rapidly dwindling and day spent asking around in run down dives and to street corner punks had resulted in this contact. From what they had gathered, the man standing before them had once been a respected healer before an unfortunate addiction to spice had lost him his license. They had rejected just this sort of treatment for Qui-Gon previously. Now, however, the need to get Qui-Gon into a functioning state outweighed the risk that the unlicensed, underground hack might end up doing more damage to his patient than he healed.

The man had instructed them to call him "Doc." No other name was offered, and none of their contacts seemed to know what his real name was. Devin supposed it didn't really matter. What mattered was could he take care of Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon stood a pace or two behind Devin, holding his shoulder gingerly with his left hand attempting to keep it immobile. He gazed around the room noting the out-of-date equipment and sighed deeply. For once he wanted to be in the Healer's Wing of the hospital where it was comfortable, clean and sterile with the Healers combined the latest technology and Force-healing techniques to help patients.

"Well, don't just stand there. Can't examine you from there. Sit on the chair by the table. And my payment is cash up front. I want 30 for the exam. How much the healing will be will depend on what I find." The thin, rawboned man stuck out a hand.

Devin slowly counted out the credits. They were getting down to the last of the money Yoda had given them before they had left on this misadventure. They had decided to seek treatment only for the newly injured shoulder and repairs on the badly healed wrist. That would be enough for Qui-Gon to be able to use his lightsaber. The damage to the leg was just too extensive to be repaired quickly. Both men were well aware that every moment that passed, unspeakable things might be happening to Kyran.

Qui-Gon climbed slowly onto the chair, gritting his teeth trying not to use his arms much as he moved and winced as he settled himself in the rickety chair.

Doc impassively examined Qui-Gon's shoulder and wrist, ignoring any signs of discomfort in his patient. "Collar bone and shoulder broken in several places. Take a couple of days with a bone knitter or a couple of months in a cast. Wrist's healed all wrong. Gotta rebreak it and reset it. Same as shoulder, couple of days with knitter or couple of months. Cost lots more with the bone knitters 'cause you'll have to stay here while he's hooked up to it. Cast I put on and you go. Come back in about 2 months and I'll take it off, or you can take it off yourself."

Qui-Gon winced at the idea of having his wrist rebroken and at the length of time it would take to have his bones healed. He refused to leave his best friend in Gaikusan's hands for that long. He growled softly, "We don't have a couple of months, we're a little short on time."

"Doesn't matter to me. Bone knitter for both will be 2,000. Cash in advance."

Devin frowned and quickly added in his head their remaining funds. They could just manage to cover the cost. "Fine. Get started."

Doc quickly shoved the credits into a small safe, being careful to keep his body between his clients and the combination. "Over there," Doc instructed, pointing to small machine on the counter. "Put your wrist on the brace. Gonna hurt, but the only thing I can offer is some spice. It will knock you out enough that you won't feel the pain."

Qui-Gon gritted his teeth and braced himself as he put his wrist on the brace. "No spice. You don't have anything else?"

Doc shrugged. "I could have them send up a bottle of whiskey. Won't kill the pain as good as spice"

Qui-Gon shook his head. "No." He glanced at Devin and they locked eyes. He put up his mental shields making sure the pain wouldn't filter through their link. Qui-Gon gritted his teeth and tentatively reached out to the Force so that he could release as much of the pain into it as possible. There it was. It would always be with him. Something else was at the very edge of those thoughts though. . . darkness . . . anger . . . fear . . . Qui-Gon forced himself to push those thoughts away.

Devin felt Qui-Gon strengthen the mental wall between them. Curse it, he thought, when will he stop shutting us out? As Doc snapped restraints around Qui-Gon's arm to hold it steady, Devin placed his hand on his good shoulder. "Not alone."

Qui-Gon bit his lip and he nodded at Devin and very slowly let down part of the wall in his shielding. /I don't want you to feel it/

/We share the good and the bad, brother./ Devin said over the bond. Doc glimpsed briefly at a monitor, then punched in a command. A sharp crack sounded as the bones in Qui-Gon's wrist snapped.

Qui-Gon cried out as the bone in his wrist snapped. Clenching his jaw he tried to regain control of his emotions. The pain in his wrist was fierce and brought tears to his eyes.

"Hard parts done." Doc said calmly, releasing Qui-Gon from the restraints. Taking the wrist in his hands, Doc quickly shifted the bones, sending another burst of pain up Qui-Gon's arm. "Change your mind about the spice, boy?"

Qui-Gon clenched his teeth, a few tears slowly made their way down the side of his cheeks and he shook his head. When he spoke his voice was thick. "No."

"Suit yourself. Move over to the bed. We'll get those shoulder bones where they should be and hook you up to the bone knitters."

Very slowly Qui-Gon made his way over to the bed and tried to settle himself on it, wincing. The bed was just as uncomfortable as the chair.

Devin stood at the foot of the bed. "Just a little bit more, then it'll be over."

Doc prodded Qui-Gon's shoulder, forcing bones back into place. Bone knitters were attached, the standard adhesives replaced with tape. "Looks rough, but it'll still work." Doc assured them.

Qui-Gon inhaled sharply and some of the pain flowed through the bond he shared with Devin as Doc forced the bones back into place in his shoulder, more tears flowing down his cheek.

Devin took as much of the pain as he could, channeling it away from Qui- Gon. /Sleep, Qui-Gon. Sleep through this/ Devin finally sent, backing up the suggestion with a touch of the Force.

Qui-Gon tried to fight it off but the pain in his wrist and shoulder was too much for him. He quit fighting and fell into the bliss of unfeeling unconsciousness.

"So you have decided to rejoin us?" Gaikusan asked pleasantly. "How are you feeling today?"

Kyran gritted his teeth. In a raspy voice he growled, "How about, stow it?"

"Bit grumpy this morning. Get up on the wrong side of the dungeon? Or perhaps you just need some breakfast." Gaikusan held up a glass of water. It had been two days since Kyran had the smallest drink of water, longer since he'd had anything to eat. With the blood loss and screaming, his throat burned with need for moisture.

Kyran shook his head stubbornly. Dying of thirst was better than turning to the dark side. "No. I will not turn."

"Turn you? I was discussing breakfast. All you have to do is ask nicely."

"Never." Kyran growled and the chains that were holding his wrists shook slightly, emphasizing his answer.

"That's your final decision?" Gaikusan sipped slowly from the glass of water.

Kyran licked his lips dryly and his gaze darkened as he thought of Qui-Gon and what he'd suffered at his hands. "How many times do you need the same answer repeated?"

"I just thought perhaps you would answer differently once you realized that neither of your friends will receive anything to eat or drink until you do. However, if you have made up your mind," Gaikusan began to turn towards the door.

Kyran's heart jumped at that, his mind raced furiously wondering what to do.

"Gaikusan wait."

Turning his head slightly, Gaikusan said, "Yes?"

Hoarsely Kyran managed to croak out, "Please. I need a drink of water."

"Of course. All you had to do was ask." Gaikusan carefully held the glass to Kyran, allowing him to drink his fill. "You see, obedience is rewarded."

Kyran gulped thirstily, the water cooling his parched mouth. Kyran frowned thinking of Gaikusan's last line. "I haven't obeyed you. I will not turn."

Gaikusan smiled slightly, patting Kyran on the cheek. Enough to sting slightly, but no real hurt. "Foolish, stubborn man. You just did obey. You asked a favor from your master and he granted it."

Kyran glared at that and berated himself sharply. "Let Qui-Gon go, Gaikusan. Hasn't he suffered enough already?"

"How much he suffers depends entirely on you and your decisions."

Kyran flinched and looked away, gritting his teeth at the ache in his shoulders and back.

Gaikusan's eyes narrowed in thought at Kyran's strong reaction, he'd felt the flash of strong guilt through the Force, a wonderfully Dark emotion. The pieces suddenly feel into place, it had bothered him slightly that Qui- Gon had traveled alone. It was standard practice that at least two Jedi were sent to collect renegades such as himself. That combined with Kyran's reaction . . .

"You were supposed to have been with him from the first, weren't you?" Gaikusan asked. "He should never have been alone on his mission."

Kyran clenched his jaw and tried to study the rough dirt floor, not answering Gaikusan.

"You were. How does it feel, knowing that you failed your friend twice. Once when you allowed him to be delivered to the horrors of Tuvlat, then when you failed to protect him a second time. That he is once more a helpless victim to the torments that are the way of life in Tuvlat." Gaikusan's voice was soft, almost sympathetic.

Kyran flinched and continued his study of the floor. Kyran could feel the guilt so strongly that it was almost anger and hate directed at himself. He knew he had to let that go, had to resist those feelings or Gaikusan would win, he would turn to the Darkside.

"How will it feel," Gaikusan continued in that same pseudo-sympathetic voice that mocked Kyran's pain. "How will it feel knowing you will fail him a third time. That he will suffer because of your refusals."

Kyran shot daggers at Gaikusan and shouted, "Sithspit Gaikusan, jump in a Sarlacc pit!" He lunged at the other man, anger and hate overtaking him.

Kyran was jerked short as the chains held him fast. "Yes, think about what Qui-Gon and Devin will suffer. Shall I order them both whipped until there isn't a shred of skin left on their backs? Shall I have their hands crushed slowly? Or perhaps simply let their cellmates have the freedom to do whatever evil they can devise."

At the last sentence Kyran swore violently at Gaikusan, using the Force to shove mocking Gaikusan away. An instant later the powerful jolt of electricity through the chains broke his concentration, making him scream in pain.

Gaikusan flew backwards, landing hard on his back. He got to his feet slowly. "Well done. Did you feel the power your anger gave you."

At that Kyran stilled in horror. He'd touched the dark side in anger.

"You are learning, my apprentice. As a reward, I will allow Qui-Gon and Devin to survive another day. However, you must still learn to direct that anger appropriately. Striking at your master is forbidden and you must be punished." Gaikusan reached for the whip.