Chapter 8 No Room For Error

Klea looked at Obi-Wan, "Your right, Bruck is our friend. He would not leave us, we cannot leave him."

Obi-Wan smiled at Klea, "Besides, our Masters know you are here. They will be here soon."

Klea looked away, "Well, not exactly..."

Obi-Wan did not like the sound of that, "Klea, tell me they know where we are."

Klea blushed, "Actually, An-Paj does not even know I left the temple. I snuck on the transport that brought him here."

Obi-Wan put his hand to his head, "Oh sheesh Klea, how could you?"

Klea took his hand, "Because of you, because...because I love you."

Bruck was pacing back and forth. Now that Ren thought Bruck was on his side, he took the liberty of cleaning up the waters that were polluted. Ren looked like a hero, the Jedi looked inept. Bruck was seething with anger, but he exhaled and released it. Remembering one of Master Darick's many lessons on controlling anger.

Ren came back in, "Well, that is done. The planets waters will once again be pure, and it will look like the Jedi did nothing but delay that."

Bruck nodded, "Ingenious. But what of Obi-Wan. We really should send him away. That way..."

Ren shook his head, "No, not yet, Young Bruck. He is still needed."

Bruck tried to argue, "But..."

Ren stormed, "I said, NO! Is it understood who is in charge here? Or do I need to get your friend to help teach the lesson?"

Bruck quickly said, "No, that will not be necessary."

Bruck did not know what he was going to do, but he would get them out of this, no matter what.

An-Paj, Qui-Gon and Darick all stood around the holo of Yoda, An-Paj was speaking, And you are certain she is not at the temple?"

Yoda shook his head, "Certain we are, snuck on your ship she did."

Qui-Gon did not like the sound of that, "Well, she is no longer here, so my guess is she is already looking for Obi-Wan and Bruck."

An-Paj let out a curse, "I can't believe she did this. She is a healer not a fighter. She is going to get herself killed."

Darick then said, "If she finds them, they will protect her. They will not allow her to be harmed.

An-Paj sighed, he knew that Darick was right. Obi-Wan and Bruck were honorable young men, but he knew that Obi-Wan was injured and Bruck was in a difficult position. He only hoped that they could keep her safe.

Ren sat at his desk enjoying a cup of tea. He knew that in order to keep Bruck's alliance, he had to keep Obi-Wan imprisoned. Obi-Wan was the leverage that Ren needed, but if it ever proved that difficult, he would execute them both. That would be the final revenge on Darick and Qui-Gon. Once they were dear friends, now only adversaries.

Ren knew the cruelness of the galaxy, the Jedi tossed him to it years ago. He made a mistake. But even Ren knew it was not a mistake. It was a well thought out plan. Each detail conceived in Ren's own mind. Each detail so against the code.

When the council found out, he knew he would be punished. Knew he deserved it, but what he did not expect was to be betrayed by his two best friends. Sure they were sorry-or so they said. But they had to uphold the code, for it was the very thread that held the entire order together.

It was almost funny, hearing those words come out of Qui-Gon Jinn's mouth. No other Jedi ever defied the council as much as he. But, Darick was quick to point out, Qui has never done anything for his own gain. All he has done has been for the good of the order. For the good of his padawans, for the good of the galaxy.

Ren remembered those words. Each word dug into him like a vibro knife in his soul. He wanted them to suffer. Wanted the padawans to suffer. And suffer they would.

Ren allowed himself to muse more, The days and months after he was banished turned to years. And over those years, he kept in touch with one person. Senator Palpatine. The senator was the one who helped him get his start. Now he was a success, and nothing was going to change that.

A knock brought him back to the present, "Enter."

Vrel came in, "Ren, we have a problem. The kid, padawan, mini jedi, whatever you call him, is gone."

Ren raised his brows, "Bruck? Hmm, did you check..."

Vrel interrupted, "Not Bruck, the Obi-Wan kid. He is gone."

Ren jumped up, "We need to find him, when you do. He will suffer greatly."

Bruck was in his assigned room, it was more like a cell, but comfortable. He could not help distressing over Obi-Wan, who did not look at all well the last time he saw him. Bruck still had on the force inhibitor, so he could not call on the force to help him. He was alone, and his best friend probably hated him. But Bruck did what he thought was right at the time, he thought he would have come up with a plan by now.

The door then swished open and Ren stepped in. Ren was the last person who Bruck wanted to see.

Ren snarled, "Where is your friend, Bruck?"

Bruck looked confused, "I don't understand what you mean."

Ren grabbed Bruck roughly and spat, "He is gone! How in the hells was he able to escape? He could barely walk."

Bruck suppressed a smile, "Well, Obi is no ordinary person, he is like his Master, through and through. I thought you would have figured that out by now."

Ren replied with a hard slap to Bruck's face, "Is he like the all mighty Qui-Gon now? Well lets see how much like Jinn, he really is."

Bruck did not like the sound of that. I have a bad feeling about this, He thought.

Obi-Wan stopped suddenly, "Klea, help me get this stupid collar off."

Klea looked at it, "How?"

Obi-Wan answered, "I need you to draw the force around it. Hopefully, you will disable it, and I can draw on the force again to open it up."

Klea did as she was told, after a few minutes Obi-Wan felt the force return to him, he exhaled in relief as he felt the comforting presence of the Force wash over him and he joined Klea in drawing it around them. A moment later the collar popped off.

Obi-Wan smiled, "Now lets go find Bruck." He started to walk, ignoring the sharp pain in his leg. Which was growing worse by the minute.