Chapter 9 On Their Own
Ren did not want to do anything to Bruck just yet. He would find Obi-Wan Kenobi and then make his choice. One would die, or both. It did not matter to him. One or both, preferably in front of their masters.
Bruck was back in his cell, he had to think of something and something fast. Obi-Wan was walking into a trap.
Master Dar...Where are you?
Obi-Wan and Klea moved with stealth through Ren's fortress. Obi-Wan held on to Klea's hand and said in a determined voice, "Stay close at all times. If things get to dangerous, you are to leave."
Klea argued, "I can't leave you."
Obi-Wan tightened his grip on her hand, "Please, just trust me on this. I could not stand it if anything happened to you."
Klea gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, but did not answer.
Ren knew Obi-Wan was coming. He knew that the kid figured out a way to take off the collar. How was beyond his comprehension. Obi-Wan was truly special, and Ren knew it would be a damaging loss to the Order to lose him. He Truly underestimated the brat. He was his Master's student.
Qui-Gon was meditating. He was worried for Obi-Wan and for Bruck and Klea. The three teens were happy go lucky. And it tended to rub off on the Master. Yoda once said that Obi-Wan was the best thing that ever happened to Qui-Gon Jinn. And Qui-Gon would have to agree.
Suddenly Qui-Gon felt something. The bond was back! It filled his mind with light and washed warmth over his being. Stunned, Qui-Gon said aloud, "Obi-Wan?"
Darick heard this and asked, "Qui, do you feel Obi-Wan?"
Qui-Gon reached out with the force and nodded, "I do, but it is weak."
Darick sighed, "I still can not feel Bruck, but he is alive, I know that."
Qui-Gon replied, "And alive they will all stay, lets get the others. We must move quickly. There seems to be a hidden fortress on the other side of the cliffs."
Obi-Wan and Klea were creeping down a hallway. Out of nowhere, there was screams of pain. Obi-Wan cried out, "Bruck?" He did not stop to contemplate the circumstances, if his Master was there, he would have told him that he was not mindful of the living force.
He and Klea ran down a different hallway, and Obi-Wan used the force to open a door. Stepping inside he did not see Bruck. In fact, the room was empty, aside for a voice recorder.
Obi-Wan then got uneasy, gripping Klea's hand, he said, "We need to get out of here."
From behind him, a voice said, "What is your hurry? We have much to discuss. But I must say I am disappointed. I thought you were like the great Qui-Gon Jinn. But in reality, you are incompetent. For Qui-Gon would have never walked this easily into a trap."
Obi-Wan pushed Klea behind him and responded bravely, "My master is a great man, he has taught me much."
Ren only laughed and said, "Taught you how to walk into traps is more like it. Well, enough of that. Guards!"
On Ren's word, ten guards entered the room. Ren motioned at them, and they went to Klea and roughly yanked her away from Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan yelled, "Get away from her! Let go of her!" He went to try and defend her, but was shocked with an electro-pole. Obi-Wan fell to his knees, gasping in pain.
Klea screamed, "OBI-WAN!" But she was dragged out of the room.
Ren laughed and knelt so he was facing the injured padawan. Roughly taking the boy's chin in his hands, he snarled, "Now, Brat, we will do things my way."
Bruck was laying on his bunk in his cell when he heard kicking and screaming, "Let me go, let me go! When our Masters get here, you are going to be sorry!"
Bruck jumped up and asked in disbelief, "Klea?"
He watched as his friend was thrown into a cell next to his. Her face was beginning to show a welt where she had been slapped, and it was tear streaked. Bruck waited until the guards left and ran to the bars that blocked him from Klea.
"Klea, oh force! What are you doing here? What happened?" Bruck was full of anxiety and questions.
Klea was gulping for air through her tears, she grabbed Bruck's hand and managed to say, "Obi-Wan, he has Obi-Wan. He...he set a trap for him. Bruck, we have to do something. Or he is going to do something terrible to him!" She dissolved in tears again.
Bruck's hands went to his collar. If he could only get it off, they would have a chance. Klea, reading his mind, "I can help with that! I helped Obi get his off."
In moments, the collar was off and Bruck was formulating a strategy.
Obi-Wan gathered all of his strength and pulled away from Ren's hands. Taking a deep breath, he said strongly, "You will be sorry. Master Qui-Gon and Master Darick will be here soon."
Ren laughed, "I am counting on it. I must say Kenobi, your Master really has you snowed. You really think he is infallible."
Obi-Wan answered, "I know what he is. He is a good, strong man. Honorable and full of the light side of the force. I am honored to be called his padawan."
Ren then said sharply, "An honor he was going to deny you. Or don't you remember the 12 year old boy who begged Qui-Gon to take him as a padawan, only to have the High and Mighty Jinn refuse."
At those words, Obi-Wan winced. It was true, Qui-Gon did not want him at first. But when he came around, the bond was unbreakable. Forged in love and trust. Even after Melida/Daan it remained, and had only grown stronger as time went on. Obi-Wan said bravely, "My master loves me. Nothing you can say or do will change that."
Ren ignored the remark, "So tell me Obi-Wan, how does it feel to be padawan to a man that only took you after you offered to die for him countless times?"
Obi-Wan argued, "Its not like that..."
Ren did not give him time to finish, "He loves you? He left you to die on Melida/Daan. Just turned and walked away. And just recently, you were in a slave labor camp for months." With sarcasm, Ren added, "He FINALLY got there to save you. Took you home, cared for you, and allowed you to starve yourself right under his nose."
By now Obi-Wan was growing angry, "Master Qui-Gon loves me, what I did to myself was my fault." Then something dawned on him, "How do you know all of this?"
Ren laughed again, "I know people. And it is refreshing to see that Qui-Gon is still the same. You say your near starvation was your fault, Qui-Gon made you believe that? He once told me that my being banished from the order was my fault. When it was his."
Obi-Wan was more confused then ever, "His fault, I don't believe that."
Ren then looked at the boy, "Oh, yes, I forgot, you are blinded. Qui-Gon is perfect. He will come for you." With that, Ren kicked Obi-Wan hard in the ribs. The boy went skidding across the floor and landed at rest near the wall.
Ren then said, "When he gets here, lets see what he will find." He then laughed as he moved the electro jabber towards Obi-Wan.
Ren left a battered Obi-Wan gasping for breath. He did not want to work the boy over to much. He still needed Obi-Wan. The plan came to Ren as he beat the kid senseless. The plan was perfect. Ren could not wait to carry it out.
Obi-Wan laid on the floor, bleeding. He ached all over, the injuries from the slave camp at Anitan, though healed, still ached at times. Qui-Gon was told to take it easy on him with training, and the master had done his part in making sure that Obi-Wan did not over exert himself.
Master, where are you? Obi-Wan then closed his eyes and allowed himself to succumb to the darkness.
Qui-Gon stopped in his tracks, "Obi-Wan?" But try as he might, he could not get a response through the training bond. Qui-Gon was lost in thought, the only way Obi-Wan would not answer him, was if he was to hurt to make the effort.
Ren interrupted his thoughts, "Qui! Qui, I made contact with Bruck, he and Klea are safe."
Qui-Gon nodded, "And Obi-Wan?"
Ren gave his friend a sympathetic look, "I am sorry Qui, but Ren has him."
Qui-Gon started to pace, "Ren, he hates me, he will do anything to get back at me...us, for all those years ago when he went against the code. He still blames us for not going along with him and hiding his misdeeds."
Ren agreed, "He blames us because we would not lie for him. He was our friend, but we had a greater responsibility. We WILL find them, Qui-Gon and when we do, we will bring Ren to justice once again." He paused a moment before he added, "Hopefully Bruck will listen to my order and find a safe place for he and Klea to hide."
At the fortress, Bruck was doing anything but. If he found Obi-Wan, then the three of them would have an excellent chance to escape without being caught, but he was not leaving without his friend.
Klea then grabbed his arm, "This way, he is this way. I can feel him."
Bruck nodded, "All right, stay behind me, and keep a sharp look out. The Masters will be here soon. We need to have found Obi-Wan by then and get out."
Klea and Bruck came to a doorway, both were mindful of their surroundings and of the living force. In a instant they knew Obi-Wan was on the other side. Gathering the force, they over rode the lock. They both gasped at the sight that met their eyes. Obi-Wan was laying in the center of the room, shivering. He was bloodied and bruised.
Klea got right to work, healing the injuries. A few minutes later, Obi-Wan opened his eyes, taking a moment to focus, he rasped, "Klea...Bruck?"
Bruck responded, "Yes, it is us. You did not think that we would leave without you, did you?" Helping his friend to his feet he said, "Let's go, we need to get out of here."
Behind him a voice said, "I don't think so. I can't believe you walked into a trap as well Bruck. If I was not so absorbed in destroying you and your masters, I would actually find this amusing."
Bruck snarled, "I came for my friend."
Ren laughed as guards came up behind him, they could not escape, "Ah, yes your friend. Well I have a bargain for your friend, and I am interested to see what he does."
Obi-Wan swallowed hard, "What sort of bargain?"
Ren stepped towards them, "I will let you go. And I will allow you to take ONE of your friends. Only one will walk out, you get to choose who."
