Chapter 10 Either Choice, Causes Great Pain

Obi-Wan looked at Ren, then turned to his friends, then turned back to Ren again. Reaching out with the force, he called with all his might,

MASTER, PLEASE HURRY!

Obi-Wan also knew that his friends were also calling for their masters.

Ren sensing this laughed, "Now that is not fair. I think I will cut you all off." And with that a strong force field went up around the room. Ren, satisfied with his work, turned to Obi-Wan, "So now Padawan Kenobi, you have a choice. Let us consider the choices. You have the beautiful and brave," considering Klea he added, "hmmm, I don't believe we have met, but I can almost see Obi-Wan choosing you. A good woman by your side is worth much. But then there is Bruck, friend, peer, and fellow Jedi."

Obi-Wan was seething, he could not sense anything outside the room he was in, but he refused to give into fear, "I cannot choose. I care for them both deeply and in different ways. I can not and will not choose between them."

That made Ren furious, "How about I kill them both then?"

Obi-Wan jumped forward, "NO! Don't!"

Ren walked to Obi-Wan and grabbed him by the tail on the back of his head, through clenched teeth he snarled, "Then choose! Choose and maybe I will spare your Master when he comes."

Obi-Wan tried to pull away, but could not, he snarled back, "When my Master gets here, he will wipe up the filthy floor with you."

Ren responded with a punch to Obi-Wan's gut that doubled the boy over, Klea started forward, but Ren shouted, "STAY THERE! Or you will be the one who will not walk out."

Obi-Wan caught his breath, "Touch either one of them, and I will kill you."

Ren was surprised at those words, "Ahhh, so the real Kenobi surfaces at last. You are feeling fear and anger. The two traits that almost caused your reverent Master not to choose you. I wonder how he really feels about you."

Bruck then shouted, "You scum sucking friend of a hutt. You have no idea how Master Qui-Gon feels about Obi-Wan."

Ren yelled, "SHUT UP!"

Obi-Wan managed to stand straight again, "Bruck, its OK. I know how Master Qui-Gon feels about me, and this worm will not change that."

Ren then hit Obi-Wan again and the boy doubled over but did not fall to the floor. He refused to give Ren the satisfaction.

That only incensed Ren more, kicking Obi-Wan's legs out from under him, he screamed,

"CHOOSE!"

Obi-Wan looked up, and with a calmness that would have done his Master proud he stated, "As I said, I will not choose. You have failed, no wonder the Jedi tossed you out."

Ren's eyes narrowed into slits, "We need to do something about that mouth of yours Kenobi. So since you won't choose, you will be the one to be carried out."

The fortress was close Qui-Gon thought, When we get there, we will get the kids out, and then we will deal with Ren. Our priorities are Obi-Wan, Bruck and Klea.

Qui-Gon thought back fifteen years ago, when he and Darick were friends with Ren. But Ren had gone against the code. He had taken a bribe and killed for it. It left him considerably well off, but it also was cause to remove him from the order.

Ren pleaded with Qui-Gon and Darick not to go to the council, but Qui-Gon and Darick did not have to go to the council. Yoda already knew, not that Qui or Dar would have covered for Ren, they were both honorable men. Neither willing to disgrace the Jedi.

After Ren was banished, he publicly and privately blamed Qui-Gon and Darick, swearing revenge on both.

Qui-Gon knew that Ren would not be kind to the three teens he had in his clutches. He would hurt them, NO! Qui-Gon screamed to himself, I will not think that, they will be fine, Obi-Wan and his friends will be fine, they have to be. Qui-Gon did not want to think what it would be like if they were not safe.

They were only half a mile away from the fortress when the mental scream hit Qui-Gon, it was full of fear and pain. Qui-Gon slumped to his knees at the intensity of it.
Darick and An-Paj went to his side, Qui-Gon gasped for breath, "We have to hurry, Obi-Wan is screaming. He is in such pain, we need to get to them!"

Darick, while relieved that Bruck was not being physically harmed, was still distraught with the fact that Obi-Wan was being hurt, and that his apprentice was being forced to watch his friend's torture. He helped Qui-Gon up and said, "We need to hurry, lets go!"

Obi-Wan was on the cold ground, he was bit on his lip to hold back the screams, but soon he was screaming in pain. Ren was using a electro-pole that sent painful currents running through the boy's body.

Bruck and Klea stood together, Klea sobbing, and Bruck looking determined,who screamed, "STOP! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Ren took stopped Obi-Wan's torture to look at Bruck, "Excuse me, but you are not in a position to give orders."

Using the distraction, Klea made eye contact with Obi-Wan, who slowly and painfully moved away.

Bruck stepped forward, "You are not going to touch him again, or at least, I warn you not too, because Master Qui-Gon will not be happy."

Ren laughed again, "Precisely my idea."

Bruck then swallowed and said, "Well, seeing that our Master's are not here, you will have to get past me first." Using the force, Bruck called the electro pole to him. It flew into his hand effortlessly.

Obi-Wan weakly cried out, "No! Bruck, don't."

Ren snarled, "You will all be very sorry."

Suddenly the door swung open, and Vrel ran in, "Ren, this is serious! The Jedi, they have turned the people of Kranta against us! You have been removed from the leadership of the planet! A revolt is planned."

Ren went pale, "Noooo, you can't be serious. How did this happen?"

Vrel responded quickly, "Yoda and the Jedi council found a way to show that you were responsible for the pollution of the waters. They exposed you, and all that you have done."

Ren then turned furious, "Yoda! Damned green troll. And Qui-Gon and Darick, again making my life miserable."

At the door, someone responded, "No, Ren. We do not make your life miserable, you do with your evil ways."

Ren swung around to see Qui-Gon, Darick, and An-Paj standing there. Qui-Gon pulled out his weapon and said calmly, "Surrender Ren, you can not win." Qui-Gon stole a look at his injured apprentice, the boy was worked over badly, and would surely be sore for quite a few weeks, but he would be fine. Qui-Gon sighed in relief, through the bond, he sent a soothing message, It's all right Obi-Wan, I am here and you are safe now.

Obi-Wan sent back a wave of love and relief, Yes, Master.

Ren then shouted, "I will not surrender." Ren pulled out his lightsaber and added, "I will be happy to finally destroy you."

Qui-Gon pulled out his own weapon, while Darick stood behind him at the ready to help if need be. An-Paj went to Klea, who through her arms around him, sobbing. She was shaking and not speaking. An-Paj whispered to her, "Shh, its all right, but we need to check on Obi-Wan." Klea managed to nod, and they went to Obi-Wan who was leaning against the wall, taking deep breaths.

An-Paj gently prodded the boy, who gasped a bit in certain places, An-Paj nodded and said, "Well, Obi. You have bruised some ribs, and you have some nasty cuts, but you will be fine."

Obi-Wan barely nodded, "My...Master...got to help him."

Obi-Wan struggled to get up, but An-Paj gently pushed him back, "Obi, you need to rest, Qui-Gon is well capable of handling that poor excuse for a person."

Obi-Wan nodded and took Klea's shaking hand.

Then suddenly, Ren took his lightsaber cut it through the wall, giving access to the outside of the fortress, Qui-Gon had no choice to follow, he was not going to allow this criminal to escape.

Qui-Gon was an outstanding swordsman. He knew how to turn things to his advantage.

He would tire Ren, and then he would take him back to Coruscant to stand trial for all of his deeds. He could not help but think, Don't you know the good guys always win, Ren?

Reading his former friend's thoughts, Ren spat, "I don't think so Qui. Not this time!"

Qui-Gon knew that Ren was trying to distract him. It was Ren's way. Qui-Gon minded his thoughts and concentrated on the here and now.

His opponent saw this, and decided that he would have to hit a soft spot with Qui-Gon if he was to damage the man's focus. While parrying one of Qui-Gon's blows, Ren added, "Nice apprentice Qui-Gon. He fell into my traps quite easily. He is rather ungainly, how do you stand it?"

Qui-Gon refused to answer. He knew what Ren was trying to accomplish. He would not allow his concentration to diminish. Everything depended on it. Ren thrust his lightsaber blade towards Qui-Gon's midsection which the Jedi master easily deflected.

Ren continued, "He is such a little whelp. But, he almost gave into his anger. But then he must have realized one of you many boring lessons and stopped."

That gave Qui-Gon pride. He was proud of his student. Proud of the one who stood with him through thick and thin. They were more then teacher and student. They were father and son. They complemented each other perfectly. Each drawing on the others strengths.

"That was when I really hurt him Qui-Gon." Ren was pleased to see that a response, though subtle as it was, showed on Qui-Gon's face. He went on to say, "That's right Qui-Gon, I HURT him. I caused him PAIN. I made him scream."

Qui-Gon fought to keep his center, he would not give into this man's taunting. He would not lose his concentration. Blow after blow he delivered and he parried. He would not tire, but Ren would.

Ren also knew he would wear out soon. He was not as well conditioned as Qui-Gon. And if he did not break the focus soon, he was done for.

Darick, with his lightsaber in his hand, but not ignited and Bruck followed outside. An-Paj left Obi-Wan in Klea's care and also went, to be on hand if he was needed.

Obi-Wan started to get up, but then he saw the look in Klea's eye, soothingly, he said, "Klea, I am going to be fine."

Klea looked at him and threw herself in his arms. Obi-Wan hugged her tight and finished getting up. He was aching, but he and Klea stepped outside.

The sun was bright, and he saw Qui-Gon and Ren fighting. He also saw Bruck standing off to the side. Out of the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan then saw Vrel, he was holding a blaster. Vrel aimed it at Darick, Obi-Wan screamed a warning, and Darick ignited his weapon and easily deflected the bolt. Judging the distance between Darick and Bruck, Vrel decided that there was no way that Darick could get to him in time to protect him.

Obi-Wan saw this and screamed, "Bruck! MOVE!

Had Bruck not done what he was told, the bolt would have hit him directly in the heart. Instead the bolt hit the rocks behind him, causing a fissue. The wall was now to weak to hold the overhang, and it started to crumble. Gathering all of his strength, Obi-Wan leapt at Bruck and pushed him to safety, the rocks landed on Obi-Wan's back, and he fell to the hard ground screaming.

Qui-Gon saw this yelled, "Padawan!"

Ren used the distraction to slip away. Qui-Gon, forgot about his foe and ran to Obi-Wan. An-Paj, Darick, and Bruck were already there.

Bruck was sobbing, "He did it to save me! Oh force, why did he have to do that?"

Darick wrapped his arms around Bruck, "Padawan, we need to help Obi-Wan, it is not your fault, you need to be strong now."

Bruck nodded and he and his Master joined Qui-Gon in using the force to lift the heavy rocks from Obi-Wan's back. They gently turned him over.

An-Paj closed his eyes, and judged the boy's injuries, Who surprisingly was awake, but not in any pain. "Obi-Wan, where do you feel pain?"

Obi-Wan looked confused, "No where Master An-Paj."

An-Paj did not like the sound of that, something was not right. Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's hand, "Obi-Wan, are you all right?"

Obi-Wan looked even more confused, he eyes were sort of glazed over, "I think so."

Klea began to walk over to them, but she then dropped to her knees and fainted. An-Paj got up to go to her and Obi-Wan called, "Klea!" Obi-Wan struggled to go to her, but could not move. His arms flailed around, but from his waist down, he was still.

Qui-Gon's heart dropped, "Shhh, be still Obi-Wan. Please."

Obi-Wan started to sob, "Master...help me."