Chapter 7 Test of Faith

Klea stepped off the ship. How she managed to go the entire trip undetected was a mystery. But she was able to, so it had to be the will of the force.

Klea looked around at her surroundings, she knew that the Jedi Masters and Master An-Paj went to meet with Qui-Gon and Darick. Their ship was about one hundred yards away, she had to be careful, she could not get caught, not now. Gathering the force, she tried to locate Obi-Wan. She would find him. She had to find him.

Bruck stood his ground, "I am not going to turn, I can not, I will not."

Ren just laughed at the boy, "Come now, Bruck. You don't really want your friend to die, do you?" Bruck flinched, slightly, so Ren continued, "Or maybe he is not your friend at all. You hated him at one time, wanted him to fail."

Bruck swallowed, "That was a long time ago. I have changed. He is my friend, a great friend."

Ren scowled, this was going to be more difficult then he thought. Ren looked like he was about to say something else, but he turned on his heal and left the cell. Bruck waited until he was down the hall to let out a sigh of relief. He then turned his attention back to Obi-Wan, who was shivering.

Bruck took off his own cloak and wrapped it around his friend. Obi-Wan merely groaned. Bruck then decided to look at his friend's leg. Bruck lifted the cloak and almost gagged at the sight. The wound was deep and infected. Bruck knew that the poison was raging in his friend's system, but he had no idea on what to do.

In another room Ren was pacing back and forth, Vrel sat watching him, suddenly Ren stopped and laughed. Vrel looked at him as though he had lost his mind, Ren then stated, "I have it, it is too perfect."

Vrel asked wryly, "Do you care to share?"

Ren replied, "Get two of the guards, have them go in and get Padawan Kenobi."

Vrel nodded, "Yes. And then what?"

Ren laughed again, "We say we are going to throw him off the cliffs."

Vrel was confused, "But I thought you needed him and the other alive."

Ren smiled, "I do. But Bruck Chun has more integrity then I thought, but there is no way he is going to allow his friend to get thrown off the cliffs."

Vrel smiled, understanding, "So then he will do what you want."

Ren nodded, "Yes, they will be where I want them."

Bruck was busy cleaning the wound on Obi-Wans leg the best he could with the basin of water that was in the cell. Bruck just hoped that he was not making it worse. He jumped up when he heard footsteps. Ren, Vrel and two guards stepped in.

The guards went towards Obi-Wan and Bruck jumped in front of him, "What do you want? Stay away from him!"

The guards roughly pushed Bruck out of the way, and each grabbed one of Obi-Wan's arms. Obi-Wan moaned in pain as they pulled him up.

Ren looked at Bruck, "Come, young Bruck."

Bruck had no choice but to follow, all the time he looked for a way that he and Obi-Wan could escape, but Obi-Wan was so weak, it would not be possible at this time.
Bruck was curious when they reached the cliffs, it was a rocky drop, further then the drop that he and Obi-Wan took at the beach.

Without missing a step Ren ordered, "Toss him over."

Bruck shouted, "NO! You can't do that!"

Ren shrugged, "I can and I will. What are you waiting for? I said, toss him over."

Bruck's throat constricted, "Please, don't kill him, please."

Ren acted as though he was thinking deeply, "Let us make a barter, Padawan Chun, I will spare your friends life, for... your service."

Bruck closed his eyes, "That is something I can not do."

Ren shrugged, "Then we have discussed all there is, throw him over."

Bruck then shouted, "No! Wait!"

Ren looked at Bruck in anticipation. Bruck looked at Obi-Wan who had opened his eyes, they looked at Bruck pleadingly, Obi-Wan managed to croak out, "Bruck...don't."

Bruck thought to himself, I am so sorry Obi-Wan. Out loud he said, "I will do it."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and aloud his body to slump. Ren smiled, "Very well, I will give your friend the antidote when we get back. I am certain you find this deal acceptable."

Bruck only nodded and said in his head over and over, I am sorry Obi-Wan, I am sorry Master Dar, I am sorry Master Qui-Gon.

Bruck stood like a sentinel as Ren administered the antidote for the poison that was killing Obi-Wan. Ren kept his end of the bargain, and Obi-Wan was spared.

Bruck wanted to cry when Obi-Wan opened his eyes and gave him a look that said, Why, Bruck? Why?

Bruck looked away, Obi-Wan was still to weak and it would be useless to try to escape. Also there were those damnable force inhibiters around their necks.

Bruck knew that they would have to survive on wits. And what better way to survive then to make the enemy trust you.
An-Paj, Mace and Adi listened to Qui-Gon and Darick with interest. Qui-Gon stated, "We have no idea where they are. The force is blocked from them, so we can not sense them."

Mace looked surprised, "After all these years Ren still hates you both? I would have thought that the years that have passed, he would have forgiven you."

Darick replied, "Well, he hasn't. He hates us, so he is going to take his revenge on what we treasure. Obi-Wan and Bruck."

An-Paj tried to reassure them, "We will not allow that to happen. Now, we need to form a plan."

Bruck stood at a window looking out over the oceans. He could not believe what he did. But he had too, he could not allow Obi-Wan to die. Obi-Wan was his friend. The only real friend Bruck ever had. He would stand with the enemy in sight only. But underneath, he would plan. He was a Jedi, nothing would change that.

Ren stepped in then, "Ah Bruck. Are you ready to start your training. I think you would be great in politics. We could take over the whole sector of planets here. Two ex-Jedi. Nothing will be able to stop us."

Bruck thought wryly, Don't count on it.

Obi-Wan was laying in his cell. He was all alone. Tears streamed down his face, he was devastated that Bruck chose to team with Ren. He knew that Bruck did it to save him, but he would have rather died, then to have his friend choose to align himself with Ren.

It is all my fault. If I had been stronger we could have beat him. It is all my fault.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. He was exhausted and even though the poison had been counteracted, his leg still throbbed.

Klea was able to get into the stronghold un-noticed. Or so she thought. The force was telling her to backtrack, but she knew in her heart Obi-Wan was near. Finding a data pad on the prisoners, she found she was correct. Obi-Wan was only two doors away. Slipping a key out of the desk she went to the detention block.

From the shadows Obi-Wan heard, "Obi? Obi...Wake up."

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and looked at the shadow. For a moment he thought he was dreaming, "Klea?"

Klea smiled, "I found you! Thank the force! Where is Bruck? I know a way out, and the Masters are only half a day from here."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, tears slipped out of his eyes. Quickly Obi-Wan told her what had happened, when he was done, Klea tears were falling down Klea's face too.

"Obi-Wan, we have to go I have a key." Klea unlocked the door, she entered the cell and pulled out her medpack. Checking Obi-Wan's leg, she saw that it was cut deeply, she dressed it with bacta patches and helped him stand.

Obi-Wan looked at her, "Klea, we can't leave. We can't leave without Bruck. Bruck agreed to this for me. He did it to save me. He does not want to do this. We need to find him."