Author's Note: Thank you again to all of the reviewers. Again, the yahoo group is completely blank right now, but I am hoping to have it up and running as soon as my move is done. Right now the need for electricity, a phone, and signing the lease IN BLOOD, has taken my time.
"Before you say a word, Master, I suggest we get Obi-Wan
some medical attention," Xanatos stated, "and perhaps
we should deal with these… individuals… as well," he finished motioning toward
the gang members who still stood frozen in fear at the sight of the crimson
blade.
"Xanatos, I don't know what kind of a game you are
playing," Qui-Gon declared, as he ignited his own
emerald 'saber, "but if you hurt Obi-Wan…"
"If I was going to harm him, I wouldn't have saved him," Xanatos
scoffed. "Now are you going to help me, or do I need to do everything myself."
Pausing and weighing the sincerity in his fallen apprentice's tone, Qui-Gon finally nodded. "This changes nothing, Xanatos. I will still arrest you for your crimes against
the Republic." Turning to address the gang members, he spoke before his fallen
apprentice could form a reply. "You have attacked one of the members of the
Republic's peacekeeping forces, and as such are subject to the laws of the
Galactic Senate. You will be remanded into custody, until such a time as the
Senate is able to arrange for your trial."
As the Jedi Master gave the Senate-mandated speech to the four criminals, Xanatos extinguished his blade and knelt down beside the
unconscious Obi-Wan. Gently feeling along his neck for a pulse, the fallen Jedi
released a sigh of relief as he found it. Calling on the Force, he began to
channel it into the Padawan's body, using it to halt the
internal bleeding and to begin to repair the extensive damage.
Feeling the stirrings within the Force, Qui-Gon
turned from where he had herded the gang members up against the wall to face
his former apprentice. "What are you doing to him?" he demanded stalking up
behind the crouched man.
"I am trying to save his life, Master," Xanatos
sighed.
"Do not call me that," the Jedi Master ordered, crouching down on the other
side of Obi-Wan where he could keep an eye on the gang members. "I am no longer
your Master."
"Very well, Master Jinn," Xanatos stated in clipped
tones. "Now, if you have finished interrogating me and ordering me around,
perhaps I can go back to saving Obi-Wan's life."
Biting back the sharp retort that automatically rose to his lips, Qui-Gon stood back up and pulled his comm. link from his
utility belt. Entering the code for Master Windu with
the hand he was not holding his lightsaber in, he
waited for the familiar voice to come over the line.
"Mace here."
"Mace, I've found him," Qui-Gon said. "We are on the
lower levels near the old refinery. He's going to need a Healer as soon as
possible."
"I'll call one from the Temple and we'll meet you
there," Master Windu answered.
"Thank you," Qui-Gon answered simply, switching off
his link. Approaching the four gang members again, the Master Jedi withdrew a
length of twine from his utility belt. Using it to bind their hands, one to
another, he then tied the end of the length onto one of the metal brackets
stretching off of the alley wall. Once assured that they were unable to go
anywhere, he turned his attention back to his former and his present
apprentices.
*********************************************
Master Adi Gallia had only been a few levels away
when Mace called to inform her of Obi-Wan's
condition, and as such, she was the first to arrive on the scene. Slowing from
her Force-enhanced sprint, she cautiously entered the mouth of the alleyway,
freezing as she identified the figure hunched over the injured Padawan.
"Xanatos DeCrion, I should
have guessed that you'd have something to do with this," Adi
growled, as she ignited her lightsaber.
"Oh, yes, of course "big bad Xanatos" is responsible
for the Jedi Order's characteristic "ignore it and it will go away" attitude
toward the galaxy," Xanatos sneered, rising to his
feet at the same time that Qui-Gon reached out a hand
to intercept Adi's approach.
"Adi, he saved Obi-Wan's
life," Qui-Gon murmured softly, as he wrapped his
hand around her bicep.
"Oh, well isn't that convenient," Master Gallia scoffed, shaking loose of his
hold. "He's just in time to save the day, right?"
"Well if I had waited any longer for the great and wonderful Jedi Order to do
something, you'd be finding a dead body!" Xanatos
replied as he moved toward the exit of the alleyway. Halted by Adi's blade, the fallen apprentice reached for his own lightsaber hilt, which he had reattached to his belt.
"No…" a barely audible whisper interrupted, drawing the attention of the three
toward the just-conscious Obi-Wan. "Please just let him go."
"Padawan, Xanatos is a
criminal…" Qui-Gon began; only to be interrupted by a
harsh groan from his apprentice as Obi-Wan tried to sit up.
"You shouldn't try to move yet," Xanatos said,
ignoring the two Jedi Masters as he again dropped to his knees beside Obi-Wan.
"I wasn't able to completely repair all of the damage, and you are still badly
injured."
Nodding his head slightly in understanding, Obi-Wan nonetheless raised one
shaky hand to Xanatos's arm. "Thank you," he whispered,
just before his eyelashes fluttered, signaling his return to unconsciousness.
