Disclaimer: Do I look like a George to you? Well at least I don't have the beard or the male factor hehehe. Anyway, I don't own Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon or that cute little Yoda, but all the other characters are happily mine.or at least I hope they are scratches head Read and Enjoy and PLEASE review!
Well here you are. Part 8 finally. I am so sorry about the wait but hey life has a way of throwing some major curve balls when you least expect and it is has sent me plenty. Read and Enjoy. Yes there is an Epilogue. I wasn't just going to leave you hanging hehe. I may be slow with updating but I am not that cruel Thank you so much for all the reviews! They mean the world to me
Part 8:
"Wake up Jedi. It's time to die."
Qui-Gon's eyes snapped open. The first thing that hit him was the pain. He took a deep breath and reached out to the force. He needed to concentrate on something other then the pain. Qui-Gon remembered the guards walking in and forcing him to stand. They hadn't said anything, just stood there, looking at him. Then the pain had come. One of the guards had hit him with an electrode, sending watts of electricity through his system. It hadn't stopped there. Qui-Gon couldn't remember the number of times they had hit him. But he hadn't cried out, he wouldn't give that satisfaction. They must have knocked him unconscious again, for he remembered nothing after that. The pain now under control, he took a deep breath. He looked about and found himself in a large white room. He was sitting in a chair and soon realized he couldn't move. Steel shackles held down his hands and feet, they wouldn't budge. Qui-Gon decided it was best he got a good look at his surroundings, the knowledge might come in handy if by some chance he got loose. The chair he was sitting in was unusual to say the least. Odd looking took stuck out n all different directions, all particularly sharp and extremely painful. A further inspection of the room revealed more such devices. There was something familiar about the room, all though he was sure had never been in before now. A sense of dread came over him. Whatever type of room it was, it definitely caused great pain for whoever was unfortunate enough to see it.
" I guess you realize we didn't bring you here to question you."
Qui-Gon looked at Minad standing in front of him. He noticed that there were four stars on his color where the three had been. " So, you've been promoted."
Minad smiled, " Yes. His Grace decided to make me an Admiral. And he has given me the delightful pleasure of leading the assault tomorrow morning. A shame you won't be around to see it."
" Qui-Gon grinned sarcastically, " Don't be so sure. I might just pop up again."
" I wouldn't bet on it. No one has survived the extermination chamber. In fact the chair you are sitting in happened to be on of my favorite tools."
The Algot walked over and ran his hand long one of the razors jutting out from the side of the chair. Blood seeped from the newly formed cut, but didn't seem to notice. " You see, the way it works is actually quite simple. Each of these little devices is meant to give you different levels of pain. We start out small, a bruise here, and a cut there. Then we move onto more entertaining methods. You know I once had a guy; last right up until I plucked out his eyes. Then the man passed out. He died of infection poor thing."
Qui-Gon kept his gaze neutral. Minad was obviously trying to scare him. To his satisfaction, anger flared in the Algot's eyes. Good, he thought, loose your control.
Suddenly a rather nervous looking guard ran into the room. " Admiral sir, the storage shed has had a problem. There was an explosion, the blaster have all be destroyed!"
" What? But how?" Minad took one look at Qui-Gon, then his face twisted in rage.
" The boy! He's still alive! Find him, he's around here somewhere. Find him and bring the little squirt to me!"
" I don't think that will be necessary." Obi-Wan stood in the doorway, his light saber drawn and flashing bright.
" Get him you fools!" Mimad shouted, reaching for his own blaster.
Obi-Wan dodged the in coming blaster fire, his light saber nothing but a blue in the white room. Three guards went down, hit by their own fire. Two more advanced, but Obi-Wan leaped into the air and jumped over their heads. The astonished guards spun around, their jaws dropping. Before they could even fire, Obi-Wan cut their blasters in half leaving them weaponless. They stared at the remnance of their weapons then promptly ran out of the room. Only three guards remained. Not wanting to meet the same fate as their friends, they dropped their weapons and left as quickly as possible.
" Come back here you cowards!" Minad was left standing alone against Obi-Wan.
" You should get braver guards Minad. The ones you have don't seem to measure up to the task of protection you very well."
" Protect me? I need no protection little boy. And soon you will find out why."
Minad raised his blaster and fired but Obi-Wan easily deflected the fire with his light saber. Minad straightened and lowered his weapon. " You are good at using your Jedi weapon. I can see now that I could never defeat you with this measly blaster."
Obi-Wan lowered his light saber slightly, but every muscle was tight anticipation. Minad was up to something, he could feel it. The Algot looked at his weapon then back at Obi-Wan. " Yes I could never defeat you with this blaster…but your Master is another story!"
In the blink of an eye Minad had the blaster pointed at Qui-Gon, aiming for his heart. Obi-Wan's dream flashed before his eyes. The warning hadn't been for his life…but that of his Masters! In the dream Minad had won, but Obi-Wan wasn't about to let that happen now. He raised his light saber and flipped into the air. He landed just in back of Minad and brought down his light saber in a swift stroke, just as Minad's finger went for the trigger.
The blaster crumpled to the ground. Minad stayed standing for a few brief seconds, an expression of disbelief on his face, before falling to the ground at Qui-Gon's feet. Obi-Wan stood up and powered down his light saber. He stared at the fallen body of Minad. I killed him. Obi-Wan had killed before but then he'd had no choice. He couldn't help but wonder if he could have stopped Minad without killing him.
" You have done well Padawan."
Obi-Wan looked up at Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master had a smile on his face. Obi-Wan smiled back, thankful for his Master's praise. " Thank you Master."
Qui-Gon nodded and then looked down at the shackles holding him in place. " Now how about setting my loose?"
" Oh!" Obi-Wan quickly cut through the binds with his light saber and helped his Master to his feel.
Qui-Gon rubbed his sore wrists and stepped away from the dreaded machine. " That's better."
" Here Master. I found something that belongs to you." Obi-Wan reached down and unclipped his Master light saber from his belt. He handed to Qui-Gon, who smiled in return.
" Thank you padawan for retrieving it. Now, we must find the Ambassador."
" He is in office Master."
" Good, that will make it easier to find him in the maze."
Obi-Wan smiled and followed Qui-Gon out of the room.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moved down the hallway side by side. Two guards were standing at the door, but Qui-Gon didn't even have to activate his light saber. Word must not have reached that Obi-Wan was alive. When the guards saw the boy walking beside Qui-Gon they both turned a definite shade of white. Obi-Wan walked right up to them and waved cheerfully, " Hello."
The guards just starred at him for a moment, then releasing a pitiful squeak, ran down the hall and out of sight. Obi-Wan starred after them, then looked back at Qui-Gon. He smiles ruefully.
" I think I like being a ghost."
Qui-Gon smiled and shook his head. " Just so long as you don't get any ideas of actually becoming one."
Obi-Wan laughed, " No need to worry about that Master."
" I 'm glad. Well, shall we?"
" I think so."
Qui-Gon nodded and opened the door. The Ambassador was busy at his desk but quickly stoop up at the sight of Qui-Gon.
" What's the meaning of this!"
" I'm afraid you won't be starting any wars Ambassador. Your weapons have been destroyed. And the Galactic Senate is charging you with Genocide."
" I'll have you killed for this! Guards!"
Obi-Wan stepped into the room smiling, " They can't hear you at the moment, they're to busy running from a ghost."
The Ambassador's mouth dropped open and he paled considerably, "Your supposed to be dead!"
Obi-Wan just smiled even more. The Ambassador stumbled back, his eyes widening as he realized he had been tricked. " No, this can't be!"
" Sorry to tell you your Grace but your reign has ended."
" No!" The Ambassador reached into a drawer and pulled out a hidden blaster. Qui-Gon had caught the subtle movement and already had his light saber activated. The Ambassador barely had time to fire one shot before Qui-Gon sent it flying back. The Ambassador jerked savagely as his own fire hit him square in the chest. His eyes went blank as he sank to the floor.
Qui-Gon deactivated his light saber and placed it safely on his belt. " I had hoped it wouldn't end like this."
" What will happen to Corath now Master?"
" It hard to say. A new ruler will be appointed, hopefully one with a desire for help the planet not destroy it."
" Will the senate still going through with the mining commission?"
" I don't know Obi-Wan. I hope the new ruler agrees. It would bring great –"
Before Qui-Gon could finish his statement blaster fire nearly hit his shoulder. Both he and Obi-Wan got into battle ready stances, scanning everywhere for the location of the blaster fire.
" Where did that come from?" Obi-wan asked, as he kept an eye out for more guards.
" I don't--" then Qui-Gon felt it; a slight ripple in the force. Someone was approaching fast. Obi-Wan felt it as well but not soon enough. Before he could turn around someone grabbed him from behind, knocking his light saber to the ground.
" Don't move Jedi."
" Jesk!" Obi-Wan cried out, trying to get himself loose.
Qui-Gon froze. Minad's second in command was holding Obi-Wan around the neck with his arm, preventing him from giving a good struggle. For some reason the Algot's presence felt familiar. Qui-Gon searched his memory; his eyes widened when he finally realized it."
" It was your presence I felt. You've been following us."
Jesk smiled cruelly, " Yep, even since you first got on board the Silver Raider."
" Then you knew Obi-Wan was alive and where he was hiding all along."
" Right."
" Why didn't you tell the Ambassador or Minad?"
" And spoil the fun? No way, it was much better keeping everyone on their toes. Just like one gigantic game, with me in control."
Qui-Gon tried to calm his growing concern. His instincts were screaming at him. Jesk was not fully in his right mind and Obi-Wan was held tightly in his grasp. Qui-Gon deactivated his light saber in the hopes of looking less threatening,
In the mean time Obi-Wan had been circulating this new piece of information in his head. It wasn't long before he put all the pieces together. It suddenly all made sense! " You're the one who grabbed me on the ship!"
" You got it. You shouldn't have been spying. It's against the rules."
" I wasn't spying, I was—", but Obi-Wan wasn't allowed finish his sentence. Jesk tightened his arm around his throat cutting off his air supply. He began to cough as he tried desperately to get some air.
Qui-Gon took a step forward at seeing Obi-Wan's distress, but stopped when Jesk raised a blaster to the boy's head. " Don't move or he gets it!"
" Jesk there is no point in doing this, the Ambassador is dead," Qui-Gon hesitated then added, " so is Minad."
Jesk's eyes widened and his arm loosened its hold. Obi-Wan gasped in great heaves of air. The Algot appeared shocked at the news, and Qui-Gon though he might just let Obi-Wan go. But he thought to soon. Jesk's arm tightened again and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
" No, you're lying. Minad is not dead and when I bring you to him, you will both be killed. A perfect end to the game."
" He's telling the truth Jesk, he's—" Once again Jesk cut off Obi-Wan's air supply making his gasp.
" Stop!" Qui-Gon yelled desperately, " Choking him isn't going to solve anything!"
Jesk kept his arm tightened around Obi-Wan's throat a few more moments before loosening his grip. Obi-Wan coughed and inhaled deeply.
He's playing with me, Qui-Gon thought. " I didn't lie to you Jesk, Minad is dead. Now please, release Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon rested his hand on his light saber. He was prepared to kill the Algot if he made any movement to hurt Obi-Wan but he hoped he wouldn't have to.
There was a moment of uncertainty in the Algot's eyes and Qui-Gon though he might have gotten through to him. But it quickly vanished and Jesk roughly rubbed the blaster against Obi-Wan's head threateningly. " No! You lie!"
Qui-Gon was getting desperate. He was sure how much longer he could keep Jesk from killing his padawan. Obi-Wan looked back at him calmly, no trace of fear in his pale eyes. He had faith that his Master would get him out of Jesk's grasp safely. Qui-Gon wished he were as confident.
" It's the truth Jesk, I swear." Qui-Gon put as much of a push behind the sentence as he dared. He just hoped it was enough.
Clarity entered the Algot's eyes for a brief second and he slowly began to lower the blaster. Qui-Gon waited with baited breath as he watched the arm around Obi-Wan's throat begin to lower. Come on…come on, that's it.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath and almost sagged with relief, when he felt Jesk's grip on his lighten. But just when he thought everything was going to be okay he felt a sharp ripple in the force.
Suddenly Jesk pushed him away and aimed his blaster directly at Qui-Gon, "No! I won't let it end this way! I won't!"
He fired before Qui-Gon had his light saber in the right position and the bolt headed straight for his chest. Obi-Wan managed to use the momentum of Jesk's push to throw himself at Qui-Gon, knocking him to the ground. The shot missed its target but grazed Obi-Wan's shoulder, and he fell beside Qui-Gon crying out in pain. Jesk fired again but this time Qui-Gon was ready and the shot was easily deflected. A cry of pain and Jesk fell motionlessly to the floor, his eyes gazing into nothingness.
Qui-Gon quickly reclipped his light saber and knelt down beside his padawan. Waves of pain flowed across their bond and Qui-Gon placed a hand on his padawan's arm. The boy sat up slowly, clutching his shoulder. His face was pale and sweat covered his forehead.
" Let me have a look Padawan."
Obi-Wan nodded and carefully removed his hand. He winced at the sight of blood covering it but managed a weak smile. " Just like last time huh Master?"
Qui-Gon chuckled softly at his Padawan's odd sense of humor once again coming to the surface and looked over the wound carefully. Relief soared through him when realized it was only a flesh wound. " It's only a flesh wound, nothing serious. Still, I don't want to take any chances. We had better get that cleaned up then have the healers at the temple look at it when we get back."
Obi-Wan nodded though he wasn't overjoyed at the thought of another session with the healers. " It doesn't hurt Master," he moved his arm to prove his point then winced, " Much."
Qui-Gon shook his head and laughed. Helping the boy to his feet he ruffled his padawan's hair. " Come on, lets get out of here and contact the temple. I don't know about you but I am anxious to get home."
Picking up his light saber from the floor, Obi-Wan couldn't have agreed more. " Yes Master."
