Chapter Eight
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walked the narrow durasteel corridor, following the guard leading their way. The walkway suddenly ended however, opening up into a very large hangar. Qui-Gon quickly scanned the area. To his left was the open mouth of the hangar and various ships were just now beginning to land. To the right was a gathering of guards, species of several worlds, and a platform. Attached to the platform was another walkway that led directly behind it. This tunnel was barred, like a cage, thought Qui-Gon. He motioned toward it with his head and Obi-Wan turned toward his view.
"That must be where they bring in the prisoners." Obi-Wan said softly.
"Keep your focus, padawan. There's something behind all of this. Something dark."
"I sense it, Master. What is it?"
"A presence I haven't felt in years." Qui-Gon faltered, his brow furrowing deeply in concentration. "But that's impossible." His Master's gaze grew distant as he focused on his senses, then shook his head disparingly. "Concentrate on the here and now. Our goal is to rescue the princess and return her to Naboo."
"Yes, Master." But Obi-Wan could not help drawing his attention to the dark swirls of the Force that ebbed and flowed through his consciousness. He could not discover its source, as it was not coming directly from inside the hangar, but somewhere else, although definitely from this planet.
His eyes moved to the platform as the beings gathered for the first auction of the day; a young Twi'Lek female. The bidding began at once and quickly rose to over 800 credits. Obi-Wan looked to Qui-Gon, revealing his surprise and slight worry. Between them, they had approximately 500 credits.
Qui-Gon knowingly returned Obi-Wan's gaze, leaning toward him slightly to keep his voice from carrying. "We may have to require the assistance of the Force on this, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. He only hoped that they succeeded in securing the princess, no matter what measures they had to take to do so.
Several prisoners passed across the platform, all bringing a range of prices. It seemed that the warden was saving what he considered his best for last.
The breath caught in Obi-Wan's throat as he caught a glimpse of a slight young woman coming up the barred walkway. She held her head high and proud, her dark eyes glancing to and fro, scanning the crowd, obviously looking for someone in particular. When they found their destination, they stopped and locked onto Obi-Wan's gaze.
Obi-Wan did not fail to notice the change in her appearance. The torn and dirty gray unisuit was gone and in its place was a tight one-piece wrap that appeared to be a dark brown leather. It was cut diagonally across the shoulder and above her knees. Her feet were bare and her hair had been washed and pulled back to show off her young and beautiful features. Her dark and natural curls fell across her shoulders. Her skin seemed to glow with some sort of oily glitter. She was petite and quite attractive and Obi-Wan could not help but smile, noting that she returned the small smile, only causing her previously dull eyes to sparkle, increasing her beauty that much more.
A small worry pricked his heart. The warden indeed expected her to bring a high price, if he had gone to all of this trouble to bring out her beauty, but he quickly pushed his worry aside. Qui-Gon would make sure that they attained the princess this day, even if they had to rely on aggressive negotiations to do so.
Obi-Wan grinned once more as he realized that underneath the façade of beauty and fragility before him, stood an energized and dangerous fighter, of which his Master bore witness. If he and Qui-Gon had not been here, Obi-Wan could almost bring himself to feel sorry for the princess' potential buyer. They wouldn't know what they were getting themselves into!
The bidding began low, as with all the other auctions, but rose quickly. Qui-Gon made a move to stroll about the room, heading toward the active bidders. Obi-Wan maintained his position, not wishing to break eye contact with the young woman bravely standing on the platform, wanting to give her all the support that he had promised.
One by one the bidders dropped out (by a bit of Force persuasion he presumed) until there was no one but Obi-Wan left. The final bid was announced at 475 credits and Obi-Wan quickly glanced toward the warden who stood by, the disappointment evident on his face.
Obi-Wan strolled through the crowd of bidders, who automatically parted for his path and he held his hand up to the young woman staring down at him. She took it readily and stepped down from off the platform.
Qui-Gon walked over to the warden and handed him the purchase price, receiving a bill of purchase in return. He said a few words to the man, which Obi-Wan assumed was their excuses for leaving and then walked back to Obi-Wan's side.
The princess immediately and firmly grasped ahold of Obi-Wan's arm as they strolled back through the murmuring crowd. They were nearing the corridor they had used to enter the hangar when a loud voice rang over the mumbling conversations.
"Stop them! They're Jedi!"
From each of the other three corridors leading into the hangar came a flood of armed personnel.
"It's a trap, Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon managed to yell out over the commotion as they both brought their lightsabers to life.
Shots from the guards' blasters rang out across the room as visitors screamed and ran for cover. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's lightsabers swung furiously, deflecting the numerous bolts aimed at them.
Obi-Wan drew upon the Force to aid him. They were quickly being outnumbered, even for Jedi, he noted, as more guards poured through the tunnels and into the hangar. Qui-Gon began to move slowly across the steel floor and Obi-Wan followed, managing to keep the princess behind him as he moved, at least until the young woman reached down and grasped ahold of a blaster that had fallen from a now deceased guard's hand. Obi-Wan smiled once more to himself as Padmé moved with him, firing off several rounds that hit their intended targets.
Qui-Gon was the first to reach a ship that appeared to be a Neimoidian class vessel. The ramp was luckily already extended and eased the speed of their boarding.
The Jedi stood their ground, furiously reflecting the shots coming from various directions while the princess leapt aboard the ship. Backing up the ramp, lightsabers still swinging in timed precision, they heard the engines ignite as the the platform moved under their feet. The princess had already reached the cockpit and had begun the takeoff procedures.
Obi-Wan smiled once more, although this time with pride as the loading ramp closed securely and the ship took off from the hangar.