Thank you all so much for your comments! To The dancing Cavalier: Obi is wearing a Force-suppression collar. Qui-Gon can't track him through their bond. To Jedi-Bant: Don't worry, the fight isn't completely out of Obi yet! To Blackheart Syaoran: Your comments are TOO funny! I wish I had time and room to personally respond to all reviews, but please know they are all read and appreciated!
oooooooo
Mace Windu paced his quarters. He knew he should be sleeping, but he couldn't get his mind to rest. He stopped and ran his hand over his bald head. I'm not going to be of any help to Obi-Wan like this! He sat down on the floor and got into his meditative position.
They had searched countless arenas, but there was no sign of Obi-Wan. Both he and Qui-Gon had become even more worried for Obi-Wan after being eyewitnesses to the utter barbarity of the Games. Mace sighed as he let go of his frustration and released it into the Force. He let the Force calm his mind. He was missing something. He felt that the answer to all of this was close by. Why couldn't he see it?
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Qui-Gon paced in his quarters. He knew he should be sleeping, but he couldn't get his mind to rest. Worry for his padawan was starting to erode his calm. He stopped and ran his hand through his long hair. I'm not doing Obi-Wan any good like this!
Qui-Gon sat down on the floor to meditate. He now understood why Obi-Wan had been so affected by what he had seen at the Games. He was right, it WAS brutality. He couldn't imagine his padawan having to participate in such horror. They had to find him soon! Qui-Gon had the nagging feeling the he was missing something. But what?
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Zirta woke up to find Obi-Wan already up. She could hear him in the fresher. She put on her robe and joined him. His hair was wet and a towel was around his waist. He paused from his shaving as he noticed her entrance. He wanted to roll his eyes, but refrained. He continued his shaving.
Zirta smiled wickedly as she looked him up and down. She had quite a prize! No Aurelian man could possibly be equipped like her Obi-Wan! She would NEVER share him with anyone! Her employees, her aides and the crowds at the Games could pine all they wanted, but Zirta was going to keep him all to herself. She moved closer to him. "Do you mind if I shower while you shave?"
Obi-Wan gestured casually. "Go right ahead."
Zirta opted for a sonic shower and was back out in no time. Obi-Wan was putting away the shaver. She went over and inspected his shoulder. "Your shoulder looks better." She touched it lightly, but stopped when he winced.
"It's still tender." Obi-Wan walked out into the bedroom and pulled out a clean pair of leggings from a drawer.
Zirta intercepted him and threw the leggings on the dresser. She grinned as she undid his towel and tossed it aside. "First things first."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Jancy and Krana tried to enter Obi-Wan's room only to find it locked. They looked at each other wide-eyed and headed over to Zirta's room. Hesitantly, they opened the door and found the room empty.
Krana was crestfallen. "She's with OUR Obi-Wan!"
Jancy looked equally defeated. "Yeah." She brightened as a thought struck her. "Maybe she'll finally let us have a chance, since she was able to be with him first!"
Krana looked dubious. "Do you really think so?"
"I don't see why not. Let's ask her about it first thing!"
When Obi-Wan and Zirta finally exited his room, Krana and Jancy were waiting for them. Obi-Wan didn't even glance in their direction. Jancy spoke up first. "Boss, do you mind if we speak with you privately?"
Zirta turned to Obi-Wan. "Go ahead to the dining room. We'll join you shortly." Obi-Wan didn't so much as nod. He just kept walking. Zirta turned back to her aides. "Well?"
Jancy swallowed, trying to build up her courage. "Well, Boss, we were wondering about Obi-Wan. We…we want to know when we can have time with him ourselves?" Krana just nodded in agreement.
Zirta's eyes narrowed. "Never."
"NEVER? But, with any other slave…"
"Obi-Wan is NOT any other slave!" Zirta came in closer, looking at both women in turn. "Hear this and hear it well. Obi-Wan is MINE and mine alone! NO ONE touches him but me! Anyone who does will pay. Is that clear?"
Jancy and Krana nodded, fear evident in their eyes.
Zirta smiled maliciously. "Good." She turned and headed downstairs.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Mace was thoughtful as he ate his light breakfast. He had meditated all night. His meditations had cleared his head and given him focus. He now felt that searching this city, or even this area was useless. He also sensed that questioning slave dealers was a dead end. He had the feeling that whoever now owned Obi-Wan had bypassed a dealer and taken him herself. They needed to be looking for people who owned a lot of slaves, especially gladiators – probably those with wealth and prominence.
Mace also had the feeling that they should be searching arenas on the northern continent instead of the southern. His feelings also told him that he and Qui-Gon should do those searches themselves, without the knowledge of the Aurelian government. He got up and headed for Qui-Gon's quarters. He didn't trust the Aurelian officials. From now on, this is strictly a Jedi affair!
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Obi-Wan sat on a bench beside the employee building. It was a green, shady area with a fountain. The sound of the water was soothing. If he closed his eyes, Obi-Wan could almost imagine he was in the Room of a Thousand Fountains back at the Temple. Almost.
"Hi, Obi-Wan!" Flyn walked over to him and sat down. "What are you doing out here?"
"I just had to get out of the house. I had to get away from HER!" Obi-Wan flushed with embarrassment and anger at the thought of Zirta.
"Ah." Flyn had put two and two together. Zirta wanted Obi-Wan for more than just his gladiatorial skill. And she obviously didn't want anyone else having him in that capacity. It angered her that Zirta would take advantage of a kid – especially a kid like Obi-Wan. Flyn put her hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I'm sorry, kid. Really."
Obi-Wan turned his eyes to her. "Why do you do it, Flyn? Why do you work for her?"
"I was really down on my luck when I met her. I needed a job in the worst way. I didn't really know what I was getting into until I got here. I could've left, I suppose, but I was tired of not knowing where my next meal would come from. I pushed aside my own misgivings for a roof over my head and three meals per day."
"Oh, yes, there's that pushing aside emotions routine. I'm starting to get kind of good at it myself. It's probably the only way I'll survive this Hell I've been put into. But do you know what scares me?" Obi-Wan paused, looking off into the distance. "Now that I'm learning how to shut down my emotions – what if I get to the point where there's no turning them back on again?"
Flyn looked at the young man beside her. His shoulders were slumped and sadness hung around him like a shroud. She didn't know what to say. What could she say?
Obi-Wan continued. "Do you know anything about the Jedi?"
Flyn shrugged her shoulders. "Just snippets, really. Something about being the guardians of justice for the Republic. I've heard that they're great warriors."
"We're not warriors. Not first, anyway."
Flyn looked at him in shock. "What do you mean 'we?'
"I'm a Jedi, Flyn. I arrived here on Aurelia a little over a week ago with my master, Qui-Gon." Obi-Wan noticed Flyn's eyebrow go up at that. "The word 'master' for the Jedi does not have the same connotation that it has here. Qui-Gon is my teacher, my guide and I am his apprentice. We were sent here to help mediate the dispute between the northern and southern continents over the issue of slavery."
"So that's how Zirta came to know you! I had no idea you were a Jedi!" Flyn looked genuinely dismayed.
"Jedi are first and foremost guardians of the peace. We only become warriors if it's absolutely necessary, and then only in defense. We believe all life is precious and that freedom goes hand in hand with justice. Before coming here, I thought that I'd pretty much seen it all – war, injustice, tyranny and lawlessness. But I've never encountered such prejudice, degradation and devaluing of life as I've seen and now, personally endured, here on Aurelia. It's something that I still cannot truly fathom. But Aurelia has changed me. I've now killed seventeen innocent men. I can't change it and I can't take it back. I've gone against everything I've ever known and believed in."
Obi-Wan finally turned and looked Flyn in the eye. "My master, Qui-Gon, and the Jedi Order will not stop looking for me. They WILL eventually find me. But I'm afraid once they find out what I've done, they'll kick me out of the Order!" Obi-Wan's voice wavered with emotion. "But the truth is, I wouldn't blame them. How could I possibly go back to being a Jedi after this?" Obi-Wan turned away so Flyn couldn't see his tears.
Flyn pulled him into a hug. Obi-Wan could no longer contain the sobs that wanted to erupt. He let himself go. Flyn just held him and rocked him as he cried. She felt her heart breaking for this distraught and hopeless young man. When Obi-Wan was done, he sat back and wiped at his eyes. He gave her a small smile. "So much for my not having any more emotions."
Flyn smiled warmly at him. "I don't think it would be possible for you to not have emotions, kid."
Obi-Wan's smile faded. "I can't afford emotions if I'm to maintain my sanity. The longer I stay here, the more I feel I have to make a choice between the two." He got off the bench and squeezed her hand. "Thank you." He turned and walked away.
When Obi-Wan was gone, Jancy and Krana came out of their hiding spot behind the employee building. They sat down beside Flyn, who looked at them in irritation. "How long have you been there?"
Jancy sighed heavily. "We heard your whole conversation. We secretly followed Obi-Wan out of the house to talk with him. But he looked like he really needed to be alone. So, we just stood back and watched him. Then you came along."
Krana sadly shook her head. "We had no idea that he was a Jedi, either. Poor Obi-Wan! I feel horrible for him! Seeing his pain just broke my heart!" Tears pooled in her eyes.
Flyn looked at them in surprise. "You really do care about him, don't you?"
Jancy nodded her head vigorously. "Yes, we do. We have to do something to help him! We can't just stand back and watch her destroy Obi-Wan. He's too special!"
Krana perked up. "Yeah, there has to be something we can do to help him escape!"
Flyn nodded. "Yes, I've had enough of this place, anyway. I have the feeling that Zirta isn't going to let Obi-Wan out of her sight for long periods of time while she's here at the compound. We'll probably need to wait for a time when she's gone. Wait a minute, do you know where the negotiations with the Jedi were being held?"
Jancy shook her head. "No, she never did tell us. She's been extremely secretive about all of her movements lately. She doesn't trust anyone."
Flyn got up and looked around to be sure no one was listening. "Try and find out where Obi-Wan's master, Qui-Gon, is staying. We must try and get a message to him."
Krana looked worried. "But Zirta monitors all communications going to or from this compound."
Flyn looked determined. "We'll have to figure a way around that. Hey, I could probably help him escape while we're out at a Game!"
Jancy shook her head. "That collar on Obi-Wan is equipped with a tracking device. And Zirta has you secretly followed by armed guards every time you go to a Game. She knows how fond you are of Obi-Wan and doesn't entirely trust you not to help him escape. That is ONE thing she has bothered to tell us."
"Blast that woman!" Flyn hissed out her breath. "This isn't going to be easy, but we have to find a way!"
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Obi-Wan sat in his room a couple hours after dinner. He fervently hoped that Zirta would leave him alone that night. He flexed his shoulder a bit. It was a lot less tender than it was that morning. Bacta gel had been applied to it several times that day, which was quickly helping it to heal. Obi-Wan froze when he saw his door open.
It was Zirta. She strode in and gave him a cocky smile. "Come with me, Obi-Wan." She held out her hand. Obi-Wan got up, but would not put his hand in hers. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand. She pulled him along behind her out into the hallway and then into another bedroom. The room was huge and ornately decorated. "This is my room. This is where you will be staying tonight and every night. It's much more comfortable." She looked at him expectantly. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
"What I'm offering you is quite an honor."
Obi-Wan could not believe her! "An honor? You have got to be kidding me! Where is the honor in any of this?"
Zirta's eyes grew cold. "The honor is that I'm allowing you to live. The honor is that I have made you into a star gladiator. The honor is that I'm allowing you to roam freely in my house. The honor is that I have chosen you as my consort. And the honor is that I'm allowing this room to be yours as well as mine!"
Obi-Wan's eyes grew equally cold. "You know nothing of honor, Zirta."
Zirta stared at Obi-Wan for a moment. Then her mouth grew into a malicious smile. "Very well." She came nose to nose with him. "But now, neither do you."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Qui-Gon and Mace were making plans on how to work this investigation alone. Qui-Gon had come to the same conclusion as Mace. They were planning to go to the northern continent the next morning. They had also started doing discreet investigations on all the officials involved in the negotiations. Finding out information without going through official channels was proving difficult, especially with the automatic disdain showed toward their gender.
Mace tapped his fingers on the table. "I just have the feeling that one of the officials is involved with this somehow. They had the most contact with Obi-Wan. Whoever took him saw something in him that they liked, something that intrigued them. I bet that this goes beyond just the physical."
Qui-Gon rubbed at his beard. "I completely agree that Obi-Wan's personality could have intrigued someone, especially here, where the men are so defeated. But I don't think we can dismiss that it might have been merely physical, either. Obi-Wan's looks get him a lot of attention almost everywhere we go – much to his chagrin." Qui-Gon laughed.
Mace smiled knowingly. "Yes, but I have the feeling that this is both physical and personality combined. And that means someone who had some interaction with him. We must continue trying to get what information we can on all the Aurelians involved with the negotiations."
Determination shone in Qui-Gon's eyes. "Then that is what we will do."
