Layla91

I'm not exactly sure how that works out, but that's what is recorded, I haven't read the JQ books, they don't' interest me all that much. Eep, don't sue me!, I'm not that rich

K-rock

At the end there, siri pulled Obi-Wan through a trap door she had found in the back. They were able to get out of the office that way. Since Obi-Wan had Xanatos' attention, Siri was able to look around without any inconvenience. Hope that makes some sense now.

Saiyan Jedi

I love the trailer!! I can't wait. And no, I haven't noticed that. Hehe, Siri with brains…scary thought, oi..i'm mean. lol

Mellaithwen

Lol, I like Siri, but I am still furious with her for her actions, she needs to repent, I believe that's what it's called. Xanatos said that in a evil snidy way, he's Xanatos of course. Hehe, I love logic…it's so…logical! Hehe, just with till after this chapter, you may be feeling a tad bit more sorry for him. You gotta review faster if you want to be first (-)

Kynstar

Xanatos with a padawan…that's kind of scary actually, an odd twist I know

Halfling

That was only a small cliffhanger…well, sorta, hope you like this chap, lots o action in this one

Chapter 14

The city had almost but died down, only a few stragglers were roaming about. Near the entrance, two figures hid within the trees, ever alert. A sigh of exasperation could be heard as Jedi Master Adi Gallia glanced over her shoulder at her companion, Qui-Gon Jinn, another Jedi Master. They were able to escape from the building nearly twenty minutes ago, and Qui-Gon had done nothing but pace relentlessly behind her.

"If you do not stop that," She warned, "I will forcibly tie you down so you cannot move."

The man sighed, bringing a hand to his forehead and rubbing his temples. "I cannot help it, how long has it been."

"They still have seven minutes," Adi responded, focusing her attention to the front again. Though she had to admit that she was worried as well. Sometimes Siri made a point of cutting it close, but this was starting to get too close. The Masters themselves had been able to get out easily enough, it was as though the main focus in that building was on something else, or someone. That unnerved her evermore. But she kept her calm, the last thing she needed was for Qui-Gon to worry more. His restlessness was eerie, and it drove her nerves to the edge.

It was then that sirens sounded in the cool air, alerting both Jedi shortly after the Force rippled. Qui-Gon turned to the front, stopping in mid-step, letting go a huge sigh of relief as he spotted Obi-Wan and Siri running toward them. Adi Gallia urged them to hurry as many other citizens filed onto the streets to see the commotion. The sirens were beginning to increase in sound, but none of the citizens witnessing the commotion attempted to intervene. When reaching them, Siri squeezed through the rustic gate, followed by Obi-Wan shortly after.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged short nods, knowing that this was neither the place nor the time to consult one another. Without a word Adi took the lead, and the others followed, quickly leaving the city behind them.

Once out of immediate danger, Obi-Wan had filled both masters in on what he and Siri had found out. He knew there was more going on than the eye could see, but they didn't have the time to stick around and figure it out. There were unsuccessful in finding Obi-Wan's items, which left both Master and Apprentice defenseless. They had traveled nearly a mile through the thickness of a forest when Obi-Wan suddenly recognized his surroundings.

"There's a small cave around here," he said, coming to a stop. "It's risky because Serr knows where it is, but it does have supplies, it may be useful."

Adi nodded, "We'll have the element of surprise," she said, as Obi-Wan took the lead. "Siri and I will go back to the ship and meet you here. Rix Mayx and his padawan should be showing up soon enough, I contacted them over an hour ago. Keep an eye out for them."

"You're leaving us behind?" Qui-Gon demanded, folding his arms. Adi only nodded. "In the condition you two are in, it would be safer for you to stay hidden. Although I don't like the prospect of leaving both of you unarmed," she added, handing a blaster to Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan sat down at the base of the cave as Qui-Gon watched them leave. He glanced up as Qui-Gon walked past, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I thought you were dead," Qui-Gon admitted softly.

Obi-Wan shrugged lightly, "Sorry to disappoint you."

"I think I can see it in my heart to forgive you this once," Qui-Gon told him, taking a seat next to him.

Obi-Wan grinned, "You are far to lenient Master."

Qui-Gon nodded, "I fear it is my greatest weakness," his tone changed suddenly. "Are you all right padawan?"

Obi-Wan nodded, "I'll be fine, I still hurt some, but most of it has gone away."

His Master sighed, "I'm sorry Obi-Wan, you shouldn't have been in this mess. If my pride hadn't gotten in the way…"

"Master, I choose to come," Obi-Wan interrupted him. "And though I'll more than likely be dismissed from the order, I wouldn't have done things differently."

Qui-Gon quirked an eyebrow, "They won't dismiss you from the order for not following orders," Qui-Gon told him, "unless you've done something else?"

Obi-Wan grimaced. "Well…I disobeyed direct orders, I stole a ship, I crashed and completely totaled that ship by the way, I'm a wanted criminal on another planet…and as far as I can remember…that's about it."

Qui-Gon nodded. "That's quite a list," he remarked. He leaned his head against the stone wall behind him, resting. It was some time later that Qui-Gon was back on his feet, his hand gripping the blaster Adi had passed off to him. Obi-Wan stood next too him, alert. The force rippled around them, Obi-Wan closed his eyes, feeling relieved that he could once again grasp the Force. But he didn't like what he felt. They weren't alone.

Blaster fire hit the wall next to them, the rocks shattered, sending bits shooting out, cutting into Obi-Wan's cheek. Qui-Gon fired return shots, moving toward the front side of the formation. "Get to the back of the cave," Qui-Gon told him, using the rocky wall as a protective barrier.

Obi-Wan only shook his head. "We'll be cornered," he responded, glancing around him.

"We don't have any other choice," Qui-Gon warned him. "Get to the back, that's a direct order."

But Obi-Wan was already moving, heading out of the cave. His Master turned to stop him, as he felt his padawan gather the Force around him, jumping into one of the surrounding trees. Qui-Gon watched for a moment as blaster fire followed after him as his apprentice disappeared in the heavy vegetation the tree had to offer, before it turned back toward his direction.

Qui-Gon estimated in his head to how long Adi Gallia and Siri had been gone, to when they would return. The blaster offered little protection; he knew Xanatos would be able to take both of them easily enough with their conditions considered. "Where are you," he whispered.

Obi-Wan, meanwhile, was having his own problems. From where he was he could see the small group of Strunians, armed with blasters firing blindly toward the small grotto where his Master had taken cover. Behind them, Xanatos followed shortly behind, a smile played on his face. He could only wonder dimly if Adi and Siri had passed by unharmed. Several of the Strunians had broken off from the group, following the young apprentice's tracks above them.

Obi-Wan moved quickly through the trees with some difficultly, as blaster fire shot up around him. Grasping the branch above him, he swung to the next branch, but he had misjudged the strength and was alarmed as his weight broke it in half. His reflexes were quick, but even though they were, there was not another branch to grab a hold of as he fell.

He landed on his feet, his knees taking in most of the impact as he grimaced, and was already moving out of the way, kicking out with his foot to disarm one Strunian. Obi-Wan took the blaster for his own use, firing at another one nearby, aiming at the man's legs. He had been taught to avoid taking a life at all costs, and he would do so here, but a nagging feeling told him that life would be lost despite that fact; Obi-Wan could only hope that it was not them.

A ripple in the Force was the only warning Obi-Wan had as Xanatos brought his lightsaber down at him. Obi-Wan ducked just in time, spinning away and bringing up the blaster. Xanatos met his movement with his own, slicing through the metal blaster with ease, cutting it into two parts. Obi-Wan spun around him, now unarmed, looking for an easy way out. Xanatos kicked out at him, sending the boy sprawling onto his back. He smiled with glee as he moved to deliver the final blow. Obi-Wan tensed as the blade came down, but was shocked to find that Xanatos had stopped.

Glancing up he saw a pair of arms wrapped around Xanatos at his throat, pulling the man off balance. Surprised rolled over him as he Serr yelled at him to get out of the way. Obi-Wan took the opportunity to jump to his feet, grabbing a stick that lay next too him, although he knew it would be of little protection. He watched as Xanatos threw the boy off, and Obi-Wan moved to intervene, but it was too late. The young padawan watched in horror as Xanatos cut Serr clean through, shock and pain filled the boy's face as he fell backwards. Xanatos smiled smugly. "Shame that you were actually of use to me," he told him softly.

It was then Obi-Wan saw the two extra lightsabers clipped to his belt. Moving swiftly he was able to grab the nearest one, activating it as he spun away from an enraged Xanatos. The green blade gleamed brightly as it met with the red blade, Xanatos' strength was overpowering and Obi-Wan felt himself falling back. He pushed himself back to his feet, spinning away from another slash from Xanatos' blade.

Blaster fire hit near his feet, and Obi-Wan found himself cornered. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his Master moving, now that the attention was on him instead of Qui-Gon. But he knew his Master would not be able to reach him in time. He braced himself for the blow he knew would come, sooner or later, but suddenly, Xanatos staggered backwards, and the Force surged as Obi-Wan felt the life leave from the man's body. Obi-Wan moved to the side as Xanatos fell forward, a blaster wound on his back that had cut him straight to the heart.

The remaining Strunians pulled back, afraid now that their leader was gone. They turned and fled as more blaster fire erupted around them. Obi-Wan glanced up to see a Master padawan team running toward he and Qui-Gon. Master Mayx, he presumed. He watched as the small group ran back toward their town, deactivating the lightsaber. Qui-Gon came up beside him, picking up Garren's lightsaber and handing it to his padawan, taking his own back from him.

"I told you to stay in the cave," Qui-Gon told him, watching as Mayx and his padawan approach. "We almost didn't make it."

Obi-Wan nodded, "If it wasn't for Serr," he started, but then stopped, looking around. "Serr," he said again, remembering what had happened. There was no sign of him. Qui-Gon pointed over is shoulder, to the base of a tree near twenty feet away. "There."

Qui-Gon followed Obi-Wan as they made their way over to wounded boy, Obi-Wan knelt beside him, checking his vitals. He was relieved to see him open his eyes.

"You were right Obi-Wan," Serr told him softly, "I should have listened to you."

"We all make mistakes," Qui-Gon told him, examining the wound.

Obi-Wan nodded, "Qui-Gon's right, everything will be okay, just rest," he laid a hand on the boy's arm. Obi-Wan closed his eyes as Serr stopped breathing, a disturbance in the Force could be felt as his life ended. Sitting back on his heels Obi-Wan shook his head with a sigh. Serr had betrayed him, nearly leading both him and Qui-Gon to a certain death, but for some reason, he felt ill.

"There was nothing we could have done for him," Qui-Gon told him. "The wound was too severe."

Obi-Wan nodded as Qui-Gon helped him to his feet. Rix Mayx came up next to them surveying the scene. "I would say that went well enough," he reported, his hands folded in front of him.

"Really?" Qui-Gon mused. "Lives have been lost," he told him, "unnecessarily."

"Death is a part of living," Mayx told him. "Consider yourself lucky that you were not among the fatalities."

Obi-Wan watched him leave, shaking his head. "Charming."

"Rix Mayx, too much pride, not enough skill," he told Obi-Wan. He glanced beyond the tree line to see a republic ship landing. "Come, let's go home."

"Home sounds nice," Obi-Wan agreed, following after him, but he stopped, turning back to look at Serr.

"He will have a proper burial," Qui-Gon told him. "We'll see to that, but we have other matters at the moment."

Once onboard, Obi-Wan felt the fatigue that had building up the last several days overwhelm him. He let himself fall into the plush lining, closing his eyes as he relaxed. He could hear the others talking and moving around him, but he barely noticed it as he fell asleep. He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep when he was gently awaked by his Master.

"Come, we need to see to your wounds," he told him softly. Obi-Wan stretched as Qui-Gon started to pull out the med kits, but he was stopped by Adi Gallia, who took them from him.

"You need your rest," she told him, "There's a room in back that you and Obi-Wan can share. It's small, but it will have to suffice."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "Obi-Wan's hurt."

"I'll see to him, don't worry," Adi turned him toward the back of the ship.

"I would rather see to him," Qui-Gon started, but Adi cut him off once again.

"Now," she said sternly, and Qui-Gon shook his head in defeat. He was too tired to argue, and he trusted Adi well enough. Not willing to push her any further he let her have the med kit as he went towards the back.

Adi Gallia led Obi-Wan into another room, closing the door behind them. "Go ahead and take that off," she motioned to the robe as she pulled out some salve and bacta, as well as some bandages. Obi-Wan fought off a yawn as he shrugged out of the robe, grimacing as he did so. The cool air soothed his back as he sat on the bed, tensing as she began to clean.

"You did get yourself into this," she reminded him, as she cleaned around a larger welt, "the council told you to stay at the temple."

Obi-Wan nodded, flinching as the cloth touched another one. "True, but Qui-Gon would be dead if hadn't gone."

Adi frowned, dabbing the cloth back into some water. "Now how do you figure that?" she wondered.

"If I had never gone, the council wouldn't have sent you two out, and Master Mayx and his padawan wouldn't have found Qui-Gon in time."

Adi nodded, as she began to bandage his wounds. "I never thought of it like that. Some of these larger cuts will need stitching when we get back to the temple," she told him, digging through the kit. "We don't have anything for them here. They'll have to wait. Now, go get some rest, we'll be back soon enough."

TBC