Chapter Seven
"We need to go back to the female quarters and speak with the woman you spoke with before."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan attached their lightsabers to the belts hidden underneath their long gray cloaks and started making their way through the dim walkways leading toward the housing facilities.
A gentle persuasion soon had the guard posted there sound asleep and they moved quietly down the tenth floor cell block. Obi-Wan noticed a woman pacing behind one of the doors and stopped.
"Do you know where Rena is?"
The startled creature's eyes shot toward the small window in the door, made a sign with two claws and pointed to the right. She then disappeared from his sight.
Obi-Wan looked back to Qui-Gon. "I guess she is two doors down." But when they arrived to that particular cell, they found it empty.
"Now what do we do Master?"
"You looking for Rena?" A voice barely above a whisper floated underneath the iron door on the right.
Obi-Wan moved closer toward it. "Yes. Can you tell us where she is?"
"Took her to the gutter. Serves her right. Talked too much."
Obi-Wan looked through the window at the elderly appearing woman standing behind the door and nodded his head in a silent thanks. Before he could move away, however, the woman's face was pressed firmly against the window. "Hey! I helped you, you help me. Got any deathsticks?"
"No. Thank you anyway." Obi-Wan quickly moved away from the door, hearing the woman's whispered obscenities echoing through the small cell.
"You should not feel guilty Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon sensed the young man's emotions through their training bond. "Perhaps when we find this gutter, we will find Rena as well."
"But how do we find this place?" They both stopped at the corridor leading away from the building.
"When we were in the elevator yesterday with the warden, did you notice any extra controls that were perhaps unmarked?" Qui-Gon already knew the answer, but always the teacher, he waited on Obi-Wan to tap into his skilled senses of observation.
"Yes Master. There was a panel under the main controls that appeared to be locked."
"I am counting on that leading us to this gutter."
A slight manipulation with the Force, and the Jedi accessed the elevator and the panel inside revealing a hidden switch. Obi-Wan flipped the switch and the elevator jumped slightly before making its descent, down below the first floor, its door finally opening to reveal a long durasteel tunnel.
Qui-Gon moved quickly through the tunnel without hesitation, Obi-Wan following quietly behind, until theycame to the first juncture in which two tunnels led away from them on either side.
"This way Master." Obi-Wan stated confidently as he began heading down the left.
Qui-Gon immediately followed, trusting his younger padawan, but curious about his confidence. Qui-Gon was not receiving any direction from the Force whatsoever.
Cell doors began appearing one after another as they walked. Most of them were empty, but they finally came upon one that was not. A young woman was pacing back and forth behind the door. Qui-Gon was about to ask her a question when a strong hand was placed upon his shoulder. He turned to face a heavy blaster pointed directly at his face.
"Sorry." Obi-Wan whispered. They had both been too attuned to the Force to direct them through the tunnels that they had not even heard the guard approach.
"You." The guard sneered. "How did you get down here?"
Qui-Gon met the man's gaze and spoke in low tones. "We were invited here by the warden."
The man repeated his message.
"You will tell us what happens to prisoners who are brought down here." Qui-Gon stated just as evenly, moving his hand in a wave across the guard's stunned features.
"They're sold."
"Sold!" Obi-Wan gasped from behind.
Qui-Gon's shoulders raised with his deep breath as he waved his hand one last time. "We are buyers. You will take us to the cell of one called Leira."
"I will take you to Leira." The guard deadpanned and then began walking further down the tunnel.
He stopped in front of a door that looked just like all the doors they had already passed. Obi-Wan walked up and peered through the single window. He turned to Qui-Gon quickly. "That's her."
"We need to go inside." He spoke once more to the guard.
"I don't have access to the cells."
Qui-Gon hesitated, bringing his hand up to enclose around the hilt of his lightsaber. It appeared that they didn't have a choice. His hand dropped however, ashe noticedthe approach of a quiteflustered and red-faced Warden Grimes.
"Mr. Jansen! Mr. Kent! What are you doing roaming about at this hour!" Qui-Gon noted the beads of sweat that were popping out on the man's forehead.
"We were simply checking out some of the merchandise." Qui-Gon stated flatly, noting the slight change in the man's color.
The warden began to chuckle. "Merchandise? What in the Sith Hells are you talking about? These are the solitary confinement cells."
Qui-Gon approached the warden and peered down at him from his intimidating height. "Warden, honestly. You're an intelligent man. Do we look like Republic investigators to you?"
The warden gulped and looked up at Qui-Gon and then to Obi-Wan. "Now that you mention it, no, not really. If you aren't, then who are you? And why did you pretend to be investigators?"
"We're businessmen like yourself." Qui-Gon replied. "Actually hired by someone interested in refreshing their stock, if you know what I mean." Qui-Gon goodnaturedly slapped the hefty man on the shoulder. "We needed to inspect your facilities to make sure that the specimens were being well treated. We don't wish to purchase any damaged goods, you understand."
The warden looked like he had just been hit with a stun rod as Obi-Wan approached him. "From what we've seen, you provide high-quality specimens. Our boss is interested in prime young females like that one you have here." Obi-Wan motioned backward with his head.
The warden finally began to grasp the situation and began chuckling once more, his large girth jiggling with movement. "Ah! Leira! Certainly you jest. Although..." He hesitated. "She will probably fetch me a high price today." The man raised a hand and scrubbed at his stubbled chin.
"Our employer will pay top price for one such as this." Qui-Gon added as he reached down and jingled the credits that were contained a pouch hanging from his belt.
The warden's eyebrow shot up at the sound and he chuckled again, but quickly turned serious, his brows furrowing. "You will have to bid on her like everyone else. The auction begins at 0800 hours."
Qui-Gon nodded his understanding. "Before we bid on her, we would like to inspect the merchandise."
"Of course! Of course!" The warden proceeded to dig through his pockets for the key card that accessed the door. "Would you like a guard to accompany you? For your own protection of course."
Qui-Gon turned once more toward the warden, opening his cloak to reveal a hidden blaster. "I believe we can handle her ourselves. We would like to be left alone with her. She's obviously frightened of you. " He noticed, glancing toward the woman in the cell who had huddled herself against the far wall.
"Yes, yes. No fondling of the merchandise however, even if you do intend to buy her. We only deal with fresh and unspoiled commodities."
"Of course." Qui-Gon cooly replied, as Obi-Wan fought to hide his disgust. They watched the robust man turn and move down the tunnel before they turned and walked into the open cell.
The young woman scrambled back on her hands and feet as far back against the wall as she could, her eyes widening in terror. Qui-Gon glanced quickly to the side, noting the guard that stood posted outside the door.
He moved slowly to the woman, speaking in low tones, saying that they were not going to hurt her. Confident in his ability to sooth frightened creatures, Qui-Gon was not prepared for the launched attack as the woman sprung up from the floor and hit him full force in the stomach, bolting for the now slightly open door. Quickly regaining his composure, he managed to grab her arm and pulled her as gently as he could to his chest, placing his other arm firmly around her waist. He winced as he felt teeth press into the skin of his forearm, but held onto her despite the discomfort. He soon let go however, doubling over as a searing pain shot up from his groin.
Obi-Wan stood by and watched the scene with some humor, but not as much as the guard posted out the door. The man laughed loudly and moved away, apparently quite satisfied with the spectacle he had witnessed.
Obi-Wan moved to place a hand on Qui-Gon's bent back. "Are you all right?"
"Yes." Qui-Gon gasped out. "I will be. Be careful, padawan. She's stronger than she looks!"
"Don't worry Master. I know what to do."
Obi-Wan moved slowly to the woman huddled once again in the opposite corner of the small cubicle. Not speaking, he reached out through the Force to send waves of comfort toward her. She appeared to be receptive, as the tremors of her small body slowed somewhat.
Obi-Wan knelt down in front of the young woman who had now drawn her knees up against her and was lightly rocking back and forth.
"My name is Obi-Wan. My friend and I have come to take you out of here. We're going to take you home."
Reaching out to push the wild mane away from her face, Obi-Wan noticed a slight flinch in response to his touch, but was glad that the young woman accepted it, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Will you trust you me?" He asked her quietly, waiting patiently for her reply.
"I trust you, Obi-Wan."