Chapter Six

Padmé struggled with the sluggish, semi-conscious body of the palace guard as she left Obi-Wan's cell, but managed to get the young man on his feet and out the door. Once she had cleared the opening, Qui-Gon activated the force field with a swipe of his hand and with the other, allowed Obi-Wan to slide down the wall and crumple to the floor.

However, the young man didn't stay in that position for long. With unleashed fury, the Sith launched himself at the Jedi, swinging his fists violently at the older man. Padmé gasped, flinging her hand up over her open mouth as she rushed into the monitoring station to witness the confrontation, stunned that Qui-Gon was just standing there, absorbing every punch.

Blow after blow landed on his chin, his nose, and into his stomach, doubling the older man over at times, but obviously exhausting the younger man in the process, until Obi-Wan was doubled over himself, gasping and glaring at the Jedi who stood up and wiped the blood oozing from his nose onto his sleeve.

"Are you finished?"

"Not hardly." Obi-Wan stammered, out of breath. "I'm going to kill you."

"Understandable. It's what you've been trained to do. You were always eager to please your Master." Qui-Gon noted casually as he sat himself down upon the platform bed.

"You sonofabitch. It's more than that and you know it."

"Is it?"

"You left me."

"So, you remember. How much?"

"Enough to know that if Sidious hadn't found me, I'd be rotting away in some slave trader's cell, or be dangling at the end of a rope."

"I was told you killed someone." Qui-Gon noted, watching as Obi-Wan had begun pacing in front of him, looking at him as a dangerous creature examining his prey.

"He deserved it. Just as you will."

"I see. Darth Sidious, is that your Master's name?"

"Yes."

"Does he have another?"

"Don't you wish you knew. He'll come for me, you know. He'll search me out to kill me because I've failed."

Qui-Gon stood up from his position, a confident smirk showing itself on his face. "That's what I'm hoping for."

Leaving Obi-Wan to fume alone in his cell, Qui-Gon walked down the dimly lit corridor of the holding area, the aches of the multiple cuts and bruises he had on his face just now beginning to be felt. He winced as he took a deep breath and gingerly felt his side, feeling for evidence of any fractured ribs, relieved to find none, but realized he would be tender there for a while. His apprentice had been trained not only to kill, but apparently to fight as well.

Rounding the corner to enter the monitoring station, he was surprised to be wheeled into a chair by a firm grip on his arm, a wet towel being dabbed at a rapidly swelling lip he hadn't realized was bleeding.

"Why did you just stand there and let him do this to you?" Padmé asked, her tone one of confusion. "He could've killed you."

"It's what's he's been trained to do, but when it comes down to it, I don't think he'll be able to. You were right, your highness. I can feel the struggle within him. Perhaps it's not too late."

A ghost of a confident smile appeared on the young woman's face, and her tender ministrations almost made him forget, but not quite.

Qui-Gon gently grasped her hand to remove it away from his face and then stared at her to gain her full attention.

"What did you think you were doing going in there?" He raged, his voice actually louder than he had intended. "I told you to not go in there alone with him! You promised me you wouldn't."

"I did not. I said I wasn't a fool, Master Jinn. I guess I was wrong. I'm sorry."

The contrite nature of her apology was enough to take the spark out of his aggravation, but he still had to have his say.

"Obi-Wan may be struggling, but he is still a dangerous person, and until he's stable, you must stay away from him. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Promise me." He wasn't going to let her get away with anything this time.

A sigh escaped the young woman's lips before she finally gave in. "I promise."