Chapter Twelve
Somewhere just outside of his cell, Obi-Wan could detect the soft scratchings of a rodent, probably a mouse, and he wondered about its activity, drawing closer to the energy field and sitting himself upon the cold, stone floor, leaning so that he could possibly get a look at the creature, but it must have been out of his sight, because he could see nothing but shadowed rock wherever he looked.
Focusing upon the sound, however, he momentarily lost himself in it, leaning his head back against the wall, until the rasping noise was drowned out by voices echoing down the corridor.
Voices that he recognized.
And the previously relaxed, slow pacing of his heart increased dramatically.
Straining to listen to the floating conversation, he overhead the two Masters talking.
The one he had known from his earlier life, and the one who was going to end his life.
"It has been pointed out to me, Master Jedi, that your presence aggravates the young man, and so I must insist on seeing him alone."
"I'm afraid you don't realize how dangerous Obi-Wan is."
"Is not the cell secure? I assure you, I will be quite safe. I just wish to see him for myself and allow him to get to know me so that our journey back to Coruscant will not be an awkward one."
"Very well. I'll be in the security station monitoring the situation. If you need my assistance, signal me and I'll come immediately."
"Yes, yes. I will be quite fine."
Obi-Wan rose from the floor, every approaching step of the Sith Lord increasing the amount of trepidation in his heart, until the highly polished black boots stood before him, just beyond the barrier.
From the corner of his eye, the young man detected a movement of his Master's hand, and then heard the cool and calculated voice. "Look at me, you fool."
Qui-Gon leaned over the back of the chair in which the guard sat fiddling with the controls of the security holorecorders.
"What happened to the audio?"
"I don't know sir."
"Try to get it back."
"Yes, sir."
"I will not have the opportunity here to deal with you as I should, but that time will come, my young apprentice. Have you told them anything?"
"No, Master."
"Good. At least that is one thing you have done right. I am quite disappointed in you Darth Venge. Your failure has caused me quite a bit of trouble. I'm afraid I will now have to accelerate my plans. Because of your weakness, you have altered the future and the Queen is much more dangerous than I had originally forseen. You obviously need more training, which I will provide when we return to Coruscant."
A predatory grin spread over the older man's ruthless face -- a face that Obi-Wan had come to detest over time, but he spouted the only thing he could, the words coming quite robotically from his mouth.
"Yes, Master."
After Sidious left, Obi-Wan collapsed upon the bed, his head flung down in despair into his open palms.
There had been no doubt in the veiled threat to Padmé. It had been Obi-Wan's mission to merely kidnap the young woman and turn her over to his Master, but now, Obi-Wan feared for her life.
He had no choice. His Master was no fool. Not anyone could play the double role that he had and gotten away with it -- to hide his true nature from all those around him, even the Jedi.
Obi-Wan was the bad guy here, and if he revealed Palpatine's identity, surely his Master would twist his words and make him more guilty that he already was.
No. The best thing for him to do would be to cooperate with his Master and return with him to Coruscant.
Get him away from Naboo. Away from Padmé.
Only then, would she be safe. At least for a while, until the Sith Lord trained a new apprentice.