Qui Gon heard his shout and fell to the ground just in time.
A draigon snapped, his teeth closing on thin air. It soared high into the air, screaming in anger.
Obi Wan grabbed Qui Gon's good arm and hauled him to his feet. He shoved him toward the caves. "Did you get the dactyl?" he demanded.
Qui Gon nodded. "Leila?"
"Barely alive. Go! She's dying. And so are the Arconans." Obi Wan looked at him. "I'll hold the mouth of the cave," he said quietly. He expected Qui Gon to argue and to send him back into the cave.
The Jedi Knight gazed at him for a tenth of a second. And suddenly, in the Master's eyes, Obi Wan saw respect.
"I'll return," he promised and rushed into the caves.
Obi Wan watched him go. He thought of Leila and hoped fervently that they where in time.
Seconds later, the draigons were on Obi Wan. His lightsaber slashed and burned. Draigons roared in pain and fell all around him. He was fighting better and stronger than he ever had, ever thought he could.
But he knew he could not hold the draigons off for long.
Qui Gon raced through the caves, carrying his bag of dactyl.
Such as the look of purpose in his eyes, that no one dared stop him. Until he came face to face with Qui Gon.
"Halt!" the Hutt ordered. "Where are you going?"
Qui Gon stared evenly at the Hutt. He was tempted it plunged his lightsaber into the nasty slime but held himself back. "You had better get your guards to the mouths of the caves," he warned. "We're in trouble."
"Your foolish pupil already tried that trick."
Suddenly a draigon roared near the mouth of one of the tunnels. The sound was astonishing. The cave trembled and bits of dust shook loose from the roof.
"It has started," Qui Gon said evenly. Then he shouldered past the astonished Hutt.
Grelb squeezed himself between two flat rocks and for a moment, stared down at the caves. He had missed his chance to kill Qui Gon Jinn. The big Jedi had already raced into the caves. But his pupil guarded the mouth of the cavern. He had wanted the Master, but the pupil would have to do for now.
Draigons where hurtling from the sky by the dozens, consigning on the lad. Even Grelb had to admire the young Jedi's skill. His lightsaber struck again and again and the boy showed no sign of tiring. It was almost a pity to kill him.
Lightening spilt the sky and thunder shook the earth. Rain pounded down on the stones over Grelb's head.
He raised his blaster and aimed at the young Jedi. The boy's lightsaber flashed among the draigons.
All Grelb needed was one brief moment to pull off his shot.
The battle as like none Obi Wan had ever imagined. He felt no fear. He had accepted his death and didn't even bother to concentrate on that. The odds were just too great against him. Instead, he clung to Leila. He could feel her pain and was waiting for it subside. He only fought to protect those in the caves. he felt no anger. He did not gate the hungry beats that dropped endlessly from the blackened skies.
The Force was his ally.
Qui Gon burst into the cave where the Arconans where and where he had left Leila. He saw Clat'Ha kneeling next to where he had left Leila. He went over to her. "Here." He handed her to bag of dactyl.
She took it slowly.
"How is she?"
"Bad," said Clat'Ha.
"Leila." Qui Gon picked up the other two bottles that contained the other two chemicals.
Clat'Ha handed the bag of dactyl to the other two Human women that had been helping take car of the Arconans. She took one of the yellow crystals.
Qui Gon took the crystal and crushed it up.
"She coughed up blood, Qui Gon," Clat'Ha said softly.
"How much?"
"I don't know."
"Leila," Qui Gon said firmly. "Leila, I need you to wake up."
Slowly, her eyes opened and focused on his face. "Obi Wan," she whispered. "I…" she coughed.
Blood spattered on the front of Qui Gon' tunic.
Quickly Clat'Ha held her up.
Every breath seemed to take all of her strength. "I…" she tried again but couldn't even talk. "I…help him."