Chapter Three:
The 'Sanctuary' wasn't quite what Qui-gon had expected. The way Trip had talked about it he'd been under the impression it was some sort of refugee camp. Instead he found himself looking down on a large bowl shaped mountain valley filled with a very efficient civilization.
Houses made from anything from would to stone were spread out through the valley with a winding system of dirt roads connecting them all.
The waterfall they'd just stepped through fed a small stream that wound it's way around the entirety of the valley. A series of ditches and trenches alowed the people to draw water for the gardens most homes seemed to have. Apparently they were very self sufficient.
In the very center of it all was a large formidable looking stone building.
Judging by the steady flow of armed people entering and exiting it was some sort of barracks or base.
And to top it all off, it was teeming with people. The young, the old, children..... all working and playing together harmoniously. It was like one extremely large family.
The sight of it was truly magnificent. Quite the change from what he'd seen of this planet so far.
Qui-gon turned his attention from what was before him to what was immediatly next to him. For standing on either side of them were two gaurds, from the looks of the long odd sort of blasters they were carrying.
"What's this?" one of them asked, looking curiously at Qui-gon's bound hands.
"Found him while I was out on patrol. Thought I should take him to the Admiral. Make sure he'd safe. Then mayby we can get some use out of him."
The gaurd appeared uncertain for a moment but finally nodded.
"Alright. But you're responsible for him."
"Righto'. Come on Quiggy. The Admiral will be most interested to meet you."
Qui-gon sighed. "Please stop calling me that. My name is...."
"You're in my charge. I'll call you whatever I like and you won't complain about it or you might just end up on the wrong end of an arrow."
She marched off down the naturaly carved stone steps leading to the valley floor without so much as a second gance at him.
Kit growled loudly at him and the pair quickly moved to follow her.
Qui-gon seemed to strike the interest of the people. Children stopped in their playing to look at him and adults took a moment to look him over. It almost seemed like they were sizing him up, judging his worth.
'I bet I'm the first outsider they've seen in quite some time.' he thought.
Every now and then someone would wave at Trip or stop to say hello and she would no at them cheerfuly. She didn't seem overly concerned about her prisoner. If he really and truly wanted to get away, it would be all to easy.
There was no point in it however. He had no were to go and if he did get as far as the entrance he'd get lost in the tunnels.
Besides, he had to admit his curiosity in this planets happenings was growing.
Why were they all hiding here like this? Were had all the wildlife gone?
Nothing made since to him and Trip would ignore him every time he asked her a question, either that or give him an answer that wasn't quite an answer at all.
They finally arrived at their destination- the stone building.
Its two large wooden doors were host to yet another pair of armed gaurds, but when they saw Trip they didn't say anything, merely nodded in respect.
She flashed them a grin and led their little group inside.
It was an extremely buisy place. People running here and there looking flustered and in some cases down right frustrated. Soldiers going from place to place and on more than one occasion looking thoroughly confused.
"It's usually not this crowded, but with winter coming all the patrols are coming back in for good so they can be stationed to a field or given special orders. it gets hectic, but it's a system that works for us."
Trip gave him a brief commentary on the people they ran into as they wnet along.
So and so was in charge of the crops (self sufficient gardens or no it was still not enough to keep families fed over winter months), or he was chief of the gaurd. There was one of her fellow patrolers (they'd worked togethr for a short time and personaly she thought he was a bit of a snob). It was quite amusing.
Finally Trip led him down a long hall way with yet another door with a new set of gaurds, who yet again didn't ask questions. Apparently Trip help some authority around here.
"I've got to go speak with the Admiral. You'll stay in here and be a good boy till I get back. Kit, stay with him."
She unbound his hands and shoved him through the door as one of the gaurds obediently opened it.
It wasn't the type of cell he was expecting. if anything, it was nice.
There was a comfortable looking bed against one wall and an airy, if barred,
window on another. It was quite comfortable and he was relieved to have the ropes off his wrists.
He sat on the bed, rubbing his hands together to get the circulation going again.
Kit stretched out in a corner, golden eyes watching him unblinkingly.
"You are the oddest creature I've ever met."
Kit simply purred, if possible looking pleased.
"That wasn't intended as a compliment you know."
Qui-gon moved to sit down next to the tiger and extended a hand to pet him.
At first Kit looked ready to bite it off, but with the help of the Force and a fewcomforting words Qui-gon managed to calm him and tentavly scratched the cats ears.
"See there, I'm not so bad am I?"
When Trip returned a good half hour or more later she found them sitting together, the big cat comfortable resting his head on Qui-gon's lap,
sleeping.
"Ah, you traiter."
the tiger opened one eye lazily, saw who it was, and quickly rose to all for feet to go and brush against his mistress purring loudly all the while.
"Alright, you're forgiven. Just don't let it happen again."
Trip smiled at her feline friend and then turned her attention to Qui-gon.
"He wishes to see you now. Personaly, I think we should just lock you up and forget about you, but hey, can't have everything."
Qui-gon rose slowly.
"Should I be tied up again?" he hoped not.
"Oh no. I've been ordered to be nice. It's not exactly custom for us to tie people up. You were a special case." she grinned.
Qui-gon smiled. "Lead on then almighty leader."
She coplied by walking out and allowing the door to swing closed in his face, the lock clicking in place.
Kit growled.
"Alright, alright. Come on. Only because I've been told to."
She opened the door and let them out.
Qui-gon was amazed at how large the building was. From the outside you'd never guess it held so many corridors.
She led him to an area that was more sparcley populated than the rest,
and the confused faces were less frequent.
Suddenly they stopped in front of a wooden door that seemed much better taken care of than the rest.
"I expect nothing less than politeness from you mister Quiggy."
Qui-gon nodded. "Of course."
The 'Sanctuary' wasn't quite what Qui-gon had expected. The way Trip had talked about it he'd been under the impression it was some sort of refugee camp. Instead he found himself looking down on a large bowl shaped mountain valley filled with a very efficient civilization.
Houses made from anything from would to stone were spread out through the valley with a winding system of dirt roads connecting them all.
The waterfall they'd just stepped through fed a small stream that wound it's way around the entirety of the valley. A series of ditches and trenches alowed the people to draw water for the gardens most homes seemed to have. Apparently they were very self sufficient.
In the very center of it all was a large formidable looking stone building.
Judging by the steady flow of armed people entering and exiting it was some sort of barracks or base.
And to top it all off, it was teeming with people. The young, the old, children..... all working and playing together harmoniously. It was like one extremely large family.
The sight of it was truly magnificent. Quite the change from what he'd seen of this planet so far.
Qui-gon turned his attention from what was before him to what was immediatly next to him. For standing on either side of them were two gaurds, from the looks of the long odd sort of blasters they were carrying.
"What's this?" one of them asked, looking curiously at Qui-gon's bound hands.
"Found him while I was out on patrol. Thought I should take him to the Admiral. Make sure he'd safe. Then mayby we can get some use out of him."
The gaurd appeared uncertain for a moment but finally nodded.
"Alright. But you're responsible for him."
"Righto'. Come on Quiggy. The Admiral will be most interested to meet you."
Qui-gon sighed. "Please stop calling me that. My name is...."
"You're in my charge. I'll call you whatever I like and you won't complain about it or you might just end up on the wrong end of an arrow."
She marched off down the naturaly carved stone steps leading to the valley floor without so much as a second gance at him.
Kit growled loudly at him and the pair quickly moved to follow her.
Qui-gon seemed to strike the interest of the people. Children stopped in their playing to look at him and adults took a moment to look him over. It almost seemed like they were sizing him up, judging his worth.
'I bet I'm the first outsider they've seen in quite some time.' he thought.
Every now and then someone would wave at Trip or stop to say hello and she would no at them cheerfuly. She didn't seem overly concerned about her prisoner. If he really and truly wanted to get away, it would be all to easy.
There was no point in it however. He had no were to go and if he did get as far as the entrance he'd get lost in the tunnels.
Besides, he had to admit his curiosity in this planets happenings was growing.
Why were they all hiding here like this? Were had all the wildlife gone?
Nothing made since to him and Trip would ignore him every time he asked her a question, either that or give him an answer that wasn't quite an answer at all.
They finally arrived at their destination- the stone building.
Its two large wooden doors were host to yet another pair of armed gaurds, but when they saw Trip they didn't say anything, merely nodded in respect.
She flashed them a grin and led their little group inside.
It was an extremely buisy place. People running here and there looking flustered and in some cases down right frustrated. Soldiers going from place to place and on more than one occasion looking thoroughly confused.
"It's usually not this crowded, but with winter coming all the patrols are coming back in for good so they can be stationed to a field or given special orders. it gets hectic, but it's a system that works for us."
Trip gave him a brief commentary on the people they ran into as they wnet along.
So and so was in charge of the crops (self sufficient gardens or no it was still not enough to keep families fed over winter months), or he was chief of the gaurd. There was one of her fellow patrolers (they'd worked togethr for a short time and personaly she thought he was a bit of a snob). It was quite amusing.
Finally Trip led him down a long hall way with yet another door with a new set of gaurds, who yet again didn't ask questions. Apparently Trip help some authority around here.
"I've got to go speak with the Admiral. You'll stay in here and be a good boy till I get back. Kit, stay with him."
She unbound his hands and shoved him through the door as one of the gaurds obediently opened it.
It wasn't the type of cell he was expecting. if anything, it was nice.
There was a comfortable looking bed against one wall and an airy, if barred,
window on another. It was quite comfortable and he was relieved to have the ropes off his wrists.
He sat on the bed, rubbing his hands together to get the circulation going again.
Kit stretched out in a corner, golden eyes watching him unblinkingly.
"You are the oddest creature I've ever met."
Kit simply purred, if possible looking pleased.
"That wasn't intended as a compliment you know."
Qui-gon moved to sit down next to the tiger and extended a hand to pet him.
At first Kit looked ready to bite it off, but with the help of the Force and a fewcomforting words Qui-gon managed to calm him and tentavly scratched the cats ears.
"See there, I'm not so bad am I?"
When Trip returned a good half hour or more later she found them sitting together, the big cat comfortable resting his head on Qui-gon's lap,
sleeping.
"Ah, you traiter."
the tiger opened one eye lazily, saw who it was, and quickly rose to all for feet to go and brush against his mistress purring loudly all the while.
"Alright, you're forgiven. Just don't let it happen again."
Trip smiled at her feline friend and then turned her attention to Qui-gon.
"He wishes to see you now. Personaly, I think we should just lock you up and forget about you, but hey, can't have everything."
Qui-gon rose slowly.
"Should I be tied up again?" he hoped not.
"Oh no. I've been ordered to be nice. It's not exactly custom for us to tie people up. You were a special case." she grinned.
Qui-gon smiled. "Lead on then almighty leader."
She coplied by walking out and allowing the door to swing closed in his face, the lock clicking in place.
Kit growled.
"Alright, alright. Come on. Only because I've been told to."
She opened the door and let them out.
Qui-gon was amazed at how large the building was. From the outside you'd never guess it held so many corridors.
She led him to an area that was more sparcley populated than the rest,
and the confused faces were less frequent.
Suddenly they stopped in front of a wooden door that seemed much better taken care of than the rest.
"I expect nothing less than politeness from you mister Quiggy."
Qui-gon nodded. "Of course."