A Jedi No Longer?

Carefully, Raven crept across the room, trying to stay within the shadows. The debris was thicker on the sides of the room, and she had to place her feet carefully to avoid making noise or even twisting her ankle. The room was painfully quiet, and the rogue couldn't even hear the movements of Qui-Gon. Dane was silent, at least to her ears, as well, although he hadn't made any noise to begin with. Something bothered her though. Her mind for details went over what she knew about Nat, and this quiet, seemingly empty room didn't quite seem to be his style. She would have suspected something a bit flashier from him.

Raven was almost to the corner of the room when she noticed it was significantly darker. The nearly full-length windows reminded her of her own loft, and through them, despite their layers of dirt and grim, she could see that night had almost fallen. This side of the room was, in comparison to the other, much brighter, which made it considerably more difficult for Raven to stay within the cover of the shadows. She squatted onto her haunches to rest for a moment and consider the best way to get to the corner opposite her, where she could sense Dane sitting. He was hidden behind some fragments, far enough into the shadows that he wasn't visible.

Abruptly, an explosion roared from the other side of the room, shaking the floor and knocking Raven's feet out from under her. A bright flash accompanied the noise, temporarily blinding her. Dimly, Raven could see a plume of vapor erupt from the spot the flash was a moment before, and then it filled the room with a chalky white fog that chilled Raven's skin.

So that's the catch, she thought dismally to herself. Raven shifted fluidly to her feet, frustrated to find that the fog extended well over her head. The smell of it was somewhat medicinal, and a sinking feeling settled itself into her stomach. She recognized that smell. In fact, it had been used on her before. The fog was some kind of sedative. Even as she made that logical deduction, the room was beginning to spin. Raven crouched back down towards the floor, hoping that the fog was less dense than air. Then, she began to make her way towards the table.

She estimated she was about halfway there when a groan permeated the fog. The sound seemed to come from somewhere in front of her, although Raven couldn't be sure. The fog was beginning to take a toll on her senses, making even the act reaching out into the Force a challenge. She tried to avoid it totally, knowing she would just act as a homing beacon in her state.

Once under the table, she slipped off her cloak. That already had soaked in some of the scent from the fog. Quickly, Raven pulled off her outer tunic and turned it inside out, pressing the formerly unexposed fabric to her mouth and nose. Almost immediately, she felt better. Her senses were clearer, and she felt more in control of herself.

With the cloth pressed up to her nose, Raven reached out with her senses to the room beyond the table. She could feel Qui-Gon some distance away, although he was unconscious and somewhat wounded. His mind was confused and distant. The Rogue decided that he must have inadvertently triggered whatever it was that had released the sedative fog. Given the speed at which the fog had dispersed, he probably had been thrown a short distance from wherever the trap had been set.

Dane was also still in the room, although he was also knocked out. Raven sat for a moment, considering the next best move when she felt a familiar presence approach the large, dilapidated room. Nat was coming to collect his prey. Reaching into the Force, Raven worked to create what was the Force-equivalent to white noise, masking her own presence with others. She knew that it may not even work, but she would be no use whatsoever if she couldn't maintain the element of surprise against Nat. Qui-Gon was in danger though, lying in the middle of the dark room, completely unable to defend himself. Raven knew that there would be light soon, as well as other people.

As if to confirm her suspicions, something mechanical rumbled above her, and she watched as the fog around the floor swirled, eventually beginning to dissipate. It took maybe ten minutes for the room to become clear again. Raven gave a soft sigh, preparing herself for the confrontation that would inevitably follow.

***

"It's all clear now, sir," a voice echoed hauntingly in the room. It was then flooded with lights, making Raven blink with slight pain. She still hunched under the table, and her back was beginning to stiffen and protest because of her position. Clatters from a pair of boots made their way along the side of the table towards Qui-Gon. The black boots then paused next to her friend's inert form. "Looks like he was either knocked out by the initial explosion or overpowered by that gas."

With the lights on, Raven could see Qui-Gon's face and part of his side. His left leg had a damp, red splotch that was slowly growing, as well as cuts on his face, arms, and torso. There must have been shrapnel within the gas detonator. He seemed to be fine other than the leg wound and having been knocked out. Raven swallowed, wondering what Nat had planned. It wouldn't be good, in any case.

The boots moved away as Nat's lackey walked towards where she had sensed Dane. She watched him move towards a larger pile of old furniture. "The Alderaanian is still here. I would have thought the second intruder would have taken him."

"No, she's still here," Nat's deep voice echoed from the far side of the room. "I'm not sure where, because she is masking herself, but she never left. She won't leave either."

"She?" the other voice inquired dubiously. He moved back towards Nat's voice, stepping over Qui-Gon as if he were tempted to kick the defenseless Jedi. "How are you so sure?"

"I know," Nat replied a little contemptuously. "That's all you need to understand. Kill the Jedi," he added casually.

"Yes, sir," the other voice replied. Raven darted out from under the table, grabbing and activating her lightsaber in one fluid movement. She deflected the two blaster bolts shot from Nat's companion, sending them harmlessly into one of the corners of the room. Surprise registered on the other's face, and he glanced down at his blaster, as though the deflections were caused by some malfunction of it. Then, he glanced back to Nat, who was still near the doorway.

"Nice of you to join us," the blond-haired man said sweetly, his blue eyes glittering malevolently. "I figured that would coax you out of hiding. You haven't seemed to have lost your touch either." He shifted slightly, moving forward fluidly. He was wearing very fine clothes, obviously tailored to his well-built body

Raven kept her face blank and deactivated her pure white blade. "You either," she replied. "I'm not surprised to see that you still prey on those weaker than you."

"Oh," he pouted contemptuously, "temper, temper, Raven. We don't want fireworks just yet."

"You have no right to chide me for keeping my temper, Nat," Raven said evenly.

"Right, I forgot I was speaking to the poster child for the Jedi Order. But I forgot, you aren't a Jedi any longer." His lip curled into a vicious smile.

"You can't goad me into attack that way. You ought to know that. Besides, I certainly left on better terms than you."

Nathaniel's face changed to show masked anger. The other man glanced at his superior then turned and fired on her. Raven easily activated her saber and deflected the bolts away from her and Qui-Gon. "All right, enough small talk. I'm taking C'xon and my companion here, and we're leaving," Raven said very businesslike, shooting a look to the man with the blaster.

Nat shrugged in return. "I'm afraid it's not that easy. You see, this man here thinks I have a right to them. In addition to that, I've already made plans for our Alderaanian friend. Your companion there also presents a certain allure, given what he is and what I could do with him."

"I can't let you do that," she shrugged. "Old habits die hard, eh?"

The fallen Jedi sneered. "You were always difficult." He produced his own lightsaber and then smiled again. "Now this looks familiar. When did we stand like this before?"

Raven shifted positions, still in front of Qui-Gon. "I believe it was the last competition in the Temple," she said softly, almost reluctantly.

"That's right," he replied. "As I recall, you beat me, even though I wasn't in your weight class. In fact, you took that class's title, isn't that true?"

"You were there," Raven answered.

"You're right. I think it's time to rewrite history." Nat then darted forward and struck with his saber.