Chapter 35
Crion didn't speak to his father, Qui-Gon, or Anakin as the small group made its way through the streets of Kyatn IV. In fact, all of them were silent; all were on high alert. The residents were on edge and gave the group a wide berth, looking down and only speaking in hushed whispers. Crion couldn't blame them. He wouldn't want to get in his father's way at the moment.
Xanatos stormed ahead with purpose, his entire disposition promising retribution if anyone disturbed him. Qui-Gon glanced toward his former student discreetly, seeming to probe for something, but remained silent as Xanatos led them to a cantina off the main drag. The former Jedi seemed to take a deep, steadying breath before entering.
"I am looking for Naya," Xanatos said casually to the man at the bar. "It's urgent."
Before the man could even speak, a woman with long dark hair burst through the doors to the side of the bar, blaster aimed squarely at Xanatos.
"You have a lot of nerve …"
Apparently, they had found Naya.
"We both know that blaster will do you little good," Xanatos replied calmly, making a good faith show of raising his hands as he turned to face her. "I am just here for information and then I will leave."
Naya surveyed the rest of the group, her eyes narrowing when she saw Crion. He wasn't quite sure why his presence seemed to enflame her rage but didn't have to wait long to find out.
"I see you brought your brat … is his whore of a mother around?" she spat out angrily.
"Not good," Crion breathed out softly.
Sure enough, the Force surged powerfully. In one instant, Naya's blaster skittered across the floor and Xanatos shoved her into a wall, hand at her throat.
"You best not speak ill of the dead, Naya," Xanatos voiced in a growl. "You won't get another warning."
Xanatos' face was completely unguarded at that moment, grief etched into every feature and tears pooling in his eyes. He backed up a step, shaking his head, hands clenching and unclenching as he struggled to rein in his emotions.
"You actually loved her," Naya murmured, clearly in shock as she slowly moved away, sure to keep the former Jedi in her sights.
"Yes," Xanatos whispered so faintly, Crion wasn't sure that Naya heard.
"Mama?"
All eyes were drawn to the small girl that ran from the same door Naya had exited. She cowered behind her mother, scowling at the man who had yelled so loudly.
"Your daughter is lovely," Xanatos said tenderly. "She has her father's eyes."
Crion wondered about his father's remark. The girl bore a striking resemblance to the man he had just killed. His suspicions were confirmed as biting fear bled into the Force. Fight or flight - it was always potent, no matter the species, especially when a mother felt her child was in danger.
Naya pushed the girl into the adjacent room, shutting the door and standing in front of it.
"If you dare lay a hand on her …"
"Kriff, Naya!" Xanatos barked out. "Do you really think so little of me … do you really think I am going to harm your child simply because her father …"
"A man I once knew might have done just that," she bit back.
"Madam." The moment was interrupted by Qui-Gon Jinn's soothing baritone and calming influence in the Force. "Is there somewhere more private where we might speak? We really only want information and then we will be on our way." He glanced toward Xanatos. "Time is of the essence."
"In the storeroom," Naya said after a moment. "Follow me."
The woman showed them to the storeroom, closing the door once everyone was inside.
"So, what information are you looking for?" she asked, leaning against some crates.
"A Jedi went missing a few days ago," Qui-Gon said softly. "We are simply trying to find him."
"Please, if you know anything," Crion added.
"I might know something about that, but it will cost you," Naya replied, looking directly at Xanatos.
"I always pay well for info…"
"No, I mean, it will really cost you this time, and you owe me, too. You have no idea what I had to do to survive after you killed Rilk and abandoned me here."
"What's your price?" Xanatos said tiredly rubbing the side of his head as though warding off a headache.
"I want off this rock with my daughter and my brother … new identities, employment … new life … and I know you can make it happen."
"Done," Xanatos shot back without hesitation.
"And I don't want to be associated with Offworld or go anywhere near Telos," she added.
Xanatos slid his eyes closed in thought, resting his chin on folded hands. "Patul," he said after a moment. "I have an operation called Nustar there. The world is clean with nice housing, plentiful work, and good schools for your daughter."
"Deal," Naya replied.
"Now tell me - what trouble did Tyrn get himself into this time?"
The woman seemed to consider their faces for a moment before walking to the center of the room and kicking back a rug. She opened a door in the floor. "Get up here."
A young man that looked very much like Naya hesitantly climbed up the ladder.
"They are asking about the Jedi, Tyrn," Naya said sternly after a moment. "You better tell them everything you know."
The young man sat down, surveying the group before hesitantly glancing at his sister. She prodded him with a pointed stare.
"It … it was just a job … said he'd pay a lot," he stammered. "He knew everything … showed us holos … told us when he would arrive … and exactly how to catch him … gave us some special sedative."
Crion began to ask how they could even capture his master, but Xanatos beat him to it. "I would love to hear how you and that bumbling group of idiots and thugs you run with managed to capture a Jedi."
"The man said compassion was his weakness. We used a little girl … a beggar. She met him at the hangar and he gave her a few credits. We confronted him later, put a blaster to her head, and said we would kill her if he didn't give up his weapon. He rolled it toward us and we released her …"
"Master would have called his saber right back to him," Crion protested. "You wouldn't have had time …"
"The girl had the sedative." It was the first time Anakin had spoken since they entered the bar. "Obi-Wan was so caught up in saving her and she had to be terrified. He misinterpreted the warning in the Force. He didn't sense she was part of the plan."
"Yeah, he fell for it," Tyrn replied, hunching over.
It was Crion's turn to struggle with his emotions. Hot tears stung his eyes. He was angry and wanted to lash out at the man before him. The very idea that they would use his master's noble character against him. He felt the weight of his father's hand on his shoulders, giving a reassuring squeeze. Surprisingly, it helped to calm him.
"We had to keep sedating him … never seen anyone fight being drugged like that before," the man continued. "We delivered him to the coordinates. I stayed with the ship while they took him except they never made it back. I heard them screaming over the coms until they didn't anymore and some sound I never heard before … it wasn't a blaster … hissing, humming, whining …"
"Like this?" Xanatos asked as he ignited his saber and began to move it through the air.
The young man's face paled, a sob escaping from his throat as he nodded his head.
"Could you give us a description of the man who hired you?" Qui-Gon asked in alarm.
"Never saw his whole face." The young man continued to tremble. "Always had a hood pulled down low in the holos."
Crion felt dread constrict his stomach. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to keep from retching all over the floor. The floor seemed to rush up to meet him, and Crion felt Qui-Gon catch him and guide him to sit on the floor. Xanatos was in his face in an instant.
"Are you okay, Crion?"
"No, I am really not okay," Crion sobbed. "A Sith lord has my master."
"We don't know that for certain," Qui-Gon voiced with little conviction.
"Really? Someone with a lightsaber … knowledge of how to trick a Jedi … someone powerful enough to keep my master captive," Crion bit out in exasperation. "He hasn't killed him yet … which means … I don't know what that means …"
"It means we still have a chance to rescue him," Xanatos replied softly before turning back to Tyrn. "We are going to need those coordinates." He then turned to face Naya, "You remember Soren. He is here on the planet. You are no longer safe here. Quickly pack up whatever you will be taking with you. I will brief him on our agreement and he will take it from there."
"If he stays here, who will watch your back out there," Naya voiced with quiet concern. "I don't recall you being on friendly terms with the Jedi."
Xanatos glanced at Crion then begrudgingly over to Qui-Gon and Anakin. "I'll be fine.."
Once they left the cantina, the group quickly made their way back to the hangar, making plans as they went, spurred on by the urgency of the situation. Qui-Gon contacted the Jedi Council before the group boarded Xanatos' ship, leaving Soren behind, and set off for the coordinates provided to them.
Once in space, Xanatos retreated to his room and settled into deep meditation.
"Are you there?" he whispered into the Force. There was no response from the Jedi master. Obi-Wan's presence was there, but he was either asleep or still unconscious. "We are so close now."
With nothing to do but wait, Xanatos stretched out on the bed in his berthing area and allowed himself to drift to an uneasy sleep. He was awakened too soon by Crion.
"We're here."
The group met in the cockpit of the ship. The coordinates had led them to some sort of boneyard with derelict ships. The small freighter currently in their view panel seemed to be fully functional but was powered down to blend in with the surroundings.
"Sensors aren't picking up anything inside," Xanatos said as his fingers glided over the controls. He glanced to Qui-Gon, surprised that he was about to ask the Jedi master's opinion. "I don't sense a trap … what do you think?"
"The Force is polluted … dark … but I don't sense danger."
It was an accurate assessment of what Xanatos already knew the situation to be. He went ahead and docked the ship, first and foremost concerned that he still could not sense Kenobi's presence. Surely with how strong their link had been, he would be aware of something. They made their way to the docking exit. Qui-Gon was the first to speak.
"Anakin, I want you to remain on this ship."
"Wait … no way …"
The Chosen One's protest was cut off as Xanatos echoed the sentiment. "Crion, I need you to stay with him."
"This is complete bantha sh…"
"Don't complete that statement," Xanatos replied pointedly.
"If something goes wrong in there, " Qui-Gon continued, "we need someone to contact the Jedi Council for backup."
"So, the two of you are just going in there together to possibly face a Sith lord?" Crion asked, glancing to Anakin who mirrored his concern.
"We were one of the strongest teams in the Jedi Order at one time," Qui-Gon suggested.
"Before he tried to kill you!" Crion exclaimed, cringing at the backlash of shame and hurt he felt from his father.
"We're wasting time … let's go," Xanatos said tiredly, not meeting Crion's gaze as he left through the docking exit, Qui-Gon on his heels. "Just stay here."
"That was an adolescent acting out in concern for his master and fear … he didn't mean what he said," Qui-Gon said as they made their way toward the other ship's entrance.
"I would rather not dwell on it … can't afford the distraction right now," Xanatos murmured.
The pair reached the entrance, Qui-Gon communicating a course of action through hand signals that Xanatos remembered well from his apprenticeship. Nodding in affirmation, Xanatos activated the controls and opened the hatch on the other ship. They passed through a corridor before coming to a large open room, obviously a cargo hold.
The stench of the darkness was thick, but there was none of the chanting Xanatos had sensed in the background. A persistent chill hung in the air making Xanatos wonder how Kenobi had not succumbed to hypothermia. The room was in disarray as though there had been a mightly battle, and the residual imprints of the struggle between the two powerful Force users were still present. Xanatos had felt that battle through Kenobi, but now there was no sign of him.
"He was here," Qui-Gon said softly in a voice thick with emotion.
Xanatos glanced away from his former master, afraid his face would betray what he knew, what he was hiding. In time he would have to confess, but he wasn't ready to explain how much Kenobi had suffered here and what he faced even now.
They swept the remainder of the ship and finding nothing, returned to the cargo hold to find Crion and Anakin waiting for them.
"We told you to wait on the ship," Xanatos scolded.
"He's gone isn't he," Crion murmured in response. "We're too late."
"We are not going to give up," Xanatos promised. "Let's do a full sweep of the ship and see if we can find any clues about our Sith or where they might have gone."
"Anakin," Qui-Gon said. "Go use the sensors on Mr. Marojni's ship to see if you can pick up any trails …"
"On it," Anakin said, running back toward the ship.
"I should go show him how to use the sensors," Xanatos began, only to be cut off by Crion.
"Trust me, he already knows more about that ship than you do … I am going to go see if there are logs or something on this ship."
"Mr. Marojni," Qui-Gon began as Crion left the cargo hold.
"If we are going to hunt a Sith lord together, I suggest we use first names," Xanatos murmured. "Honorifics will quickly become tedious."
"Very well, Xanatos. I am not sure what your plans are from here, but Anakin and I should return to Coruscant and brief the Council on what information we have."
Xanatos squeezed his eyes shut. This was his penance for falling, for taking Crion from Kenobi, and for his betrayal. "We will go to Coruscant with you."
"Are you certain?"
"It doesn't matter what I feel about this. Do you really think I will be able to keep Crion away?"
"Probably not," Qui-Gon said with a laugh. "Let's sweep the ship one more time."
Obi-Wan slowly surfaced to consciousness, struggling to become alert when he realized his circumstances had changed. From what he could tell, he was lying on a cot in what looked to be the med bay of a small ship, vibrations telling him he was in hyperspace. Then again, it could all be a dream. His mind was very sluggish. The only thing that made him think it wasn't a dream was that everything hurt - his face, throat when he swallowed, chest when he breathed - everything. Given what he remembered last, he should have expected nothing less.
"Die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi … die Jedi …"
It seemed the Holocron was traveling with him. The chorus was softer, more subdued in the background, but every bit as annoying. Obi-Wan attempted to move only to realize he was held in place by electrobindings. His anger flared, the frustration of his circumstances and apparent helplessness threatening to overwhelm him. A nearby panel groaned, sparking slightly in response. The chanting paused for a moment, continuing with a renewed vengeance as Obi-Wan centered his mind and desperately tried to shield and separate himself from the darkness in the room. The door slid open.
"I was wrong to call you a disappointment."
The Sith's words were imbedded with unmistakable pride, but twisted, nothing like the praise a Jedi master would have for his or her padawan learner. Obi-Wan tried to speak, only coughing painfully as he tried to force his throat to work.
"Don't speak. I have not completely repaired the damage your insolence caused."
The Sith prodded at his bruised neck, and Obi-Wan hissed at the pain, anger quickly flaring again.
"Good," the Sith crooned as he reached for a bacta spray and began to apply it to Obi-Wan's neck. "Embrace your pain and your anger. It will make you stronger than you can possibly imagine."
"No," Obi-Wan rasped in protest, earning only a chuckle in return.
"Continue to fight. It will make you more worthy a prize in the end."Obi-Wan slid his eyes shut, choking back a sob, reigning in his frustration. He had drawn on the foul darkness in that wretched room to save his life, but like quicksand, it was drawing him in. His hope had been for Xanatos and Crion to find him, and Qui-Gon was with them.
"Your thoughts betray you. I must admit. I did not expect your apprentice's father to be quite so tenacious … or efficient. You are not ready to be reunited yet, but all in good time."
"No," Obi-Wan breathed out.
The Sith reached for something outside Obi-Wan's field of view.
"You can continue to resist, but you already sense it. You now belong to me." Pressure on his neck preceded the sharp hiss of a hypospray. "Rest now. When we get to our new location, we will continue your training."
Obi-Wan felt his already sluggish mind cloud even more. He fought, clawing at consciousness as the drug lulled him to sleep, one thought in his mind - he was in trouble. If this continued, he wasn't sure if there would be anything of him left to rescue.