DISCLAIMER: *jumps Frodo and snatches the Ring* Haha! My One Ring of Unlimited Copyright Privileges, which lets me own everything you recognize and everything you don't! Hahahaha! *is smacked upside the head by Maedhros Feanorion, who runs off with the Ring* What the- Damn Elf!
I don't own Star Wars. Or any Middle-Earth residents. But I am proud to say I actually am running on a decent amount of sleep today! Go me!
Apologies to RoMythe, for whom I should be beta-ing. And also to Nanashi. I should be writing more of Castaway... But certain alt-ending plot bunnies bite. Hard. *ruefully rubs bite marks on backside* I think it's related to the rabbit from Monty Python...
(Person Without A Name From Chapter 4): I'm so sorry I forgot to reply to your review earlier! *is ashamed* I am glad you're enjoying this though! I enjoy writing Cin and Zara, what can I say? *blushes* Aww, thanks! I'm glad you approve of the crossover idea!
Ren Ankh: *blushes* Thank you so much! And I hope you enjoyed results of said recommendation! Skillet RAWKS! (I should do a songfic for Savior, or maybe Hero... Hmm...) Thanks for reviewing Monster, I'm glad you enjoyed that one! :)
***************
The guards were dragging Obi-Wan and Zara onto a ship, obviously preparing to flee the mines and the wrath of the Jedi. Obi-Wan was kicking out at the guards as much as he could, but the effect of his flailing wasn't very much.
Qui-Gon sprinted with everything he had to reach the ship before the doors could shut. He was aware of Cin and Mace running beside him, desperation lending their feet speed. Zara's screams seemed to drive Cin to an even greater speed as he ran toward the transport and the captive Padawans.
The Force screamed at him to hurry. Qui-Gon felt the flutterings of fear within his chest as he watched the teens be dragged into the ship. A guard reached for a control pad, obviously intending to shut the door before the Jedi could board the ship.
No! Qui-Gon was not about to lose Obi-Wan again. He had a feeling that if the Ylesian criminals escaped, he'd never see his apprentice again. He called on the Force to speed him, running with everything he had.
It was close. The ramp was going up. Zara's final desperate cry echoed out of the ship's hull as Qui-Gon raced up. The lightsabre in his hand snapped to life, cutting a gouge in the wall of the hull, piercing the metal all the way through. The green blade continued on, slicing through the door's hydraulic system as though it weren't there. The ramp whirred in protest before falling open again, allowing Qui-Gon to jump aboard the spacecraft.
But the ship was still moving away from the entrance of the tunnel. Cin and Mace had been too far back to reach the ship in time, and could only watch as their friend and fellow Master leaped through the air onto the ramp, intent on rescuing the captured apprentices.
Mace snatched his com out of his pouch. "Clee, get a ship around to the back of the mines, now!"
*************
Hope surged in Obi-Wan's chest as he watched his Master jump onto the ramp and swiftly climb into the hold. He managed a cry of joy, although it was muffled by the rag in his mouth.
"Master!" cried Zara, before glancing to the door to the cockpit and screaming "Look out!"
Perhaps a dozen of Gorig's guards were storming into the hold, blasters at the ready and firing at the tall, cloaked intruder. Lightsabre flashing, Qui-Gon started deflecting the bolts back to the guards.
A couple of particularly vengeful guards started aiming at the helpless teenagers on the floor by the wall. Zara yelped in alarm as a bolt hit the wall above her head, scorching the metal. Obi-Wan tried to roll on top of her to protect her, but with the wild movements of the ship, it wasn't easy. Evidently the pilot was doing everything in his power to throw Qui-Gon out of the ship, even at the risk of losing the prisoners. The Master stumbled slightly as the ship sailed through a tight corner before regaining his footing.
He was the only one who appeared to have been able to stay upright. Several of the guards were downed by the abrupt turn, temporarily joining their comrades that had been hit by returned blaster fire. Others had dropped their blasters in the curve and were now searching for them. Obi-Wan and Zara had both been thrown against the wall, Obi-Wan pinning his smaller friend to the floor. The boy had hit his head, and now dizzily tried to focus on the battle amidst the stars dancing across his vision. Zara appeared to be unconscious.
Seeing an opportunity, Qui-Gon quickly knelt beside the teens. His lightsabre flashed, slicing through the ropes that bound Obi-Wan's wrists together. A large hand quickly removed the rag from the teen's mouth. "Obi-Wan, are you all right?" The tall Master sounded worried.
Obi-Wan managed a shaky grin. "Better now, Mas- Behind you!" He'd seen some of the guards get to their feet and train their blasters on Qui-Gon's back.
The venerable Jedi whirled around, green laser deflecting the bolts. Flexing his wrists, Obi-Wan started picking at the knot tying Zara's arms together. However, whoever had tied Zara had known what he was doing; the knot didn't look like it would be coming undone anytime soon, and not by his weak fingers.
The whine of a second starship caught Obi-Wan's attention. Glancing out the open door, he could see a Republic-marked transport flying up to Gorig's ship. The top hatch was open, and there were two men standing on top. Obi-Wan tried to see who they were, but couldn't make out their features until the duo had come close enough to the Hutt's ship to leap on board. Two more lightsabres, one blue and one violet, hummed as they were ignited. Master Drallig and Master Windu!
He watched the new arrivals jump into the fray, lightsabres moving faster than the eye could see, deflecting any bolts that came their way. Obi-Wan relaxed slightly; they'd be fine now. He was almost certain of it.
Master Drallig stepped back from the fight, kneeling beside Obi-Wan and Zara. "Force, you two look horrible." His fingers probed at the most recently-acquired bump on Obi-Wan's head before reaching down to touch Zara. "How badly are you hurt?"
"I don't know, but we both hurt a lot." Obi-Wan scooted back, allowing Master Drallig to reach Zara. "How did you find us?"
"We'll explain later." Master Drallig carefully lifted Zara's limp frame with one arm. "I'll come back for you, Kenobi. Just hang on a couple of minutes. She's hurt a bit worse than you are."
Obi-Wan nodded. "But please hurry, Master." He looked worriedly at the battle.
Master Drallig nodded and leaped out of the ship, carefully holding Zara. Obi-Wan could only assume that the young Master had made it to the Jedi ship. He flinched as a stray bolt thudded into the wall above him, creating another mark in the metal.
More soldiers were coming. Obi-Wan saw rather than heard Master Windu yell something at Qui-Gon, who quickly nodded. The older Jedi tried to go to Obi-Wan, but had to aid Master Windu against the soldiers. Obi-Wan sighed; it didn't look like he'd be getting off the ship anytime soon.
He felt an impact on the floor, jostling him slightly, then he heard Master Drallig say, "Let's get you out of here, Obi-Wan." An arm was wrapped around Obi-Wan, placing unwanted pressure on the cracked and broken ribs. Obi-Wan forced himself to keep the cry of pain at bay, knowing Master Drallig was only trying to help him. However, the blond Master still sensed the teen's pain and hesitated for a brief moment, before lifting him with a bit more effort than he'd picked up his own Padawan. "Damn, you are definitely not the smallest Padawan in the Order."
Obi-Wan didn't answer. He was too focused on keeping the sudden nausea at bay. He suspected a collection of concussions was starting to catch up to him. Master Drallig seemed to sense the extent of the teen's injuries, and vehemently cursing under his breath, leaped out of the transport, landing with a thud on the roof of the Republic ship. The top hatch was still open, held back by a simple hooking mechanism. Master Drallig went straight for the hatch, easing Obi-Wan down first. "Can you get down?"
Breathing through gritted teeth, Obi-Wan gripped the rungs of the ladder leading down into the ship. "Yes."
"Good." Master Drallig crouched above the hatch, lightsabre out. "Go! I'll stay up here until you're down."
Not bothering to argue with the stubborn Battlemaster, Obi-Wan started his painful descent. He was surprised when he felt an arm not his own wrap around him about a third of the way down. Instinct ordered him to fight back until he heard a welcome voice snap, "Good grief, Obi! I'm trying to help here!"
"Garen?" Obi-Wan twisted to see his friend's cropped brown hair and dark brown eyes beside his own. "It is you!"
"Who else would it be? Master Yoda?" Garen tightened his grip on his friend. "We have to get you down! Clee's piloting and Zara's already on a sleep couch, but we gotta get the other Masters down here. Master Fisto and Knight Esniki are taking the other ship out of here." The teen started climbing down, helping his friend. "Who got you here?"
"Master Drallig." Obi-Wan clung to his friend's shoulder, grateful for the help even if his ribs were screaming in protest. "My Master and Master Windu are still on board that ship!"
Garen opened his mouth to answer, but paused at the sound of loud thuds from the roof that sounded like two fully-grown men landing on the ship. "I think they're fine, Obi. Let's get you down." He quickly got down the last few rungs, helping Obi-Wan the rest of the way. Once the rescued teen had his footing secure on the floor, Garen started pulling him toward a sleep couch.
Obi-Wan obediently followed his best friend, catching sight of Zara sleeping on another couch. But his thoughts were still with his Master. With the collar still on his neck, he had no way of knowing if Qui-Gon was hurt. And those thuds could just as easily have been Gorig's soldiers...
Force, let Master be all right! Please...
**************
Qui-Gon caught a glimpse of Cin jumping out of the ship, Obi-Wan secure in his grip. Knowing his Padawan was out of danger, he resumed fighting alongside Mace, taking down as many soldiers as they could.
They both knew it was a losing battle though. There were more soldiers than they could handle. Mace yelled to Qui-Gon, "Go! I'm right behind you!"
Still deflecting bolts, Qui-Gon jumped backwards out of the ship, using the Force to guide him to the Jedi craft. He sensed Mace beside him, freefalling through the thin atmosphere to the hull of the ship.
The soldiers swiftly converged around the broken door, firing still at the Masters. Qui-Gon and Mace returned the bolts to their attackers even as they fell.
Qui-Gon grunted as his boots hit the roof of the ship. He started moving backwards to the hatch, sensing Mace moving as well, still defending himself against the bolts. Cin was still topside, although he was balancing on the top rung of the ladder, ready to climb down at a moment's notice.
The ship suddenly ducked underneath the Hutt's ship, away from the blaster fire. Qui-Gon silently thanked Clee for the skillful manoeuvre as he turned to the hatch, gesturing at Cin. "Down!"
Cin obediently ducked down the hatch, clambering down the ladder. Qui-Gon followed him, sliding down the side of the ladder for added speed. Above him, Mace unhooked the hatch cover and swung it over, sealing the hatch behind him. The dark-skinned Master looked down at Cin, who had already slid to the bottom. "Tell Clee to throw her shields up as high as she can get them and then get off-planet! And tell her to tell Kit and Aerdna that if they haven't left yet with Dorlea, they better leave now!" Then he caught sight of Garen, who was hurrying up to the ladder. "Actually, Garen, you tell your Master that."
Garen nodded and raced off towards the cockpit, as Qui-Gon and Cin hurried to the room where they knew their Padawans had been placed. Qui-Gon beat Cin to the door by a fraction, his eyes anxiously casting about for his apprentice. "Obi-Wan?"
"Master!" Obi-Wan sat up on the sleep couch that he'd been resting on, joy in his face. "You're not hurt!"
Forsaking the normal stoic Jedi mask, Qui-Gon ran to Obi-Wan's side, holding the teen close. "Force, Padawan... I thought I'd lost you..." He started fiddling with the Force-inhibiting collar on the teen's neck, dropping it on the floor as soon as he'd freed Obi-Wan from the device. He sighed in relief and hugged Obi-Wan again as the Force swelled between them, sharing their joy.
Obi-Wan hugged his Master back just as tightly. "I thought you were dead, Master. When you and Master Drallig got shot back at that station, I thought... And then just now, with that grenade and-"
"Shh." Qui-Gon soothingly rubbed Obi-Wan's back. "Everyone's fine, Padawan. Not even Master Fisto is hurt too badly. He'll hurt for a couple of days, but he'll be fine. And Master Drallig and I are both alive and well, as you can see." He tried to crack a grin, but the effect was spoiled by the tears pooling in his eyes.
Obi-Wan smiled. "I'm glad of that, Master." He rested his head on his Master's shoulder, relaxing for a brief moment, until Qui-Gon squeezed him just a bit too hard on a particularly sore rib. "Ow!"
Qui-Gon went tense. "How badly hurt are you, Padawan?" Without waiting for an answer, he carefully removed the teen's tunic, hissing as he saw the bruises and lacerations marring the pale flesh. "Good Force, Obi-Wan!"
"Hutts punch hard," groaned Obi-Wan as his Master's gentle fingers prodded at the injuries. "Really hard."
"I could have told you that without you having to find out first-hand, Padawan." Qui-Gon sighed and pushed his apprentice back down on the couch. "Stay put, I'll get the first aid supplies." The tall Master stiffly rose and started rooting around in the ship's supplies for bacta patches, casting the occasional worried glance Obi-Wan's way.
The teen rested on the pillow, watching Master Drallig take care of a slowly-awakening Zara. For the first time in over a week, he actually felt safe. He let his eyes drift closed, the stress of his imprisonment catching up to him.
He felt the ship lurch slightly, followed by the whine of the engines. A moment later, Garen returned to the room with a triumphant, "We are in hyperspace, en route to Coruscant!"
Obi-Wan grinned as he sensed Qui-Gon return to his side. He flinched slightly at the sting of the bacta on the wounds, but was too drained to really notice the pain. The last thing he was aware of was Qui-Gon lightly kissing his brow and sending a wave of love and comfort along their bond before sleep claimed him.
***************
It didn't take Cin long to get the collar off of Zara's neck when he got to her side. He dropped the device like a hot iron on the floor beside him and started examining his Padawan for other injuries that he'd missed while carrying her off the Hutt's ship. Carefully lifting her tunic, he gasped at the injuries that she'd sustained. "Force, Padawan... What happened to you?"
Knowing he wouldn't get an answer from the unconscious girl, he got up, grabbing some medical supplies from the ship's store before returning to Zara's side, tending as many of the wounds as he could. He was about halfway finished when she groaned, starting to stir.
He reached up and touched her face. "Zara? Padawan, can you hear me?"
The girl's green eyes flickered open, taking in the sight in front of her. "Master?" she whispered, joy lighting her eyes. "You're... you're alive!"
That did it for Cin. He bent down and gathered Zara to his chest, cuddling her close. "Force dammit, Zara, I thought I was going to lose you!"
He felt Zara wrap her arms around his neck. "I thought you were dead! You... you got shot, and then..."
Cin pulled Zara into his lap, cuddling her. "Ah, it'll take more than a blaster shot to kill me, Padawan. You were the one I was worried about!"
Zara buried her face in his neck, trying to restrain sobs of joy and lingering stress. "I knew you'd find me, Master. I just knew it!"
Cin smiled into the girl's hair. "I"ll always come for you, Padawan. Promise."
He felt Zara's grip on his neck eventually loosen. Gently, he laid the girl back down on the couch. "I just have to finish fixing these up. We're heading back to Coruscant right now, so you're safe. That Hutt will never be able to hurt you again."
Zara smiled, her eyes closing. "That's good. And you'd never let him near me again, hmm?"
"Darn right." Cin quickly finished placing bacta and bandages on the wounds. "I'd never let him come close to even seeing you, much less hurt you." His task completed, he brushed a hand through the girl's red hair, planting a kiss on her forehead. "You're exhausted, Padawan. You need to sleep."
Zara caught his fingers in her hand as he rose to put away the remaining medical supplies. "Don't leave me, Master. Stay, please?"
Cin thought for a brief moment, glancing over at Qui-Gon. He nearly laughed when he saw the older man had sunk onto Obi-Wan's couch, an arm drapped over the sleeping teen's body. But... that did look comfortable...
Deciding that the supplies could wait to be put away, Cin carefully settled himself on the couch with his back against the wall, letting Zara pillow her head on his chest. The girl knotted her hands in his tunic, resting her head on his heart.
"Thank you, Master." Zara already sounded half asleep.
"Anytime, Zara." Cin wrapped an arm snuggly around Zara, cuddling her close to his chest. As the girl drifted to sleep, he murmured through their bond, I love you so much, Padawan.
Love you too, Master was the sleepy reply from the dozing teen in front of him. With a grin on his lips, Cin rested his head on the pillow, joining Zara in slumber.
It bothered Cin that the other Hutt had escaped, but there was nothing he could do about that. Zara needed him more. In a few years perhaps, he would need to bring down another crime ring masterminded by this particular family of Hutts. But for now, he was content to rest here with his precious apprentice and know that she and Obi-Wan were both safe now.
***************
Writing... at 2 AM... not the best idea in the world. *sighs* Hopefully you guys enjoyed this one though! And if you have any specific one-shots you'd like me to do, tell me, either in a review or a PM.
Thank ye for reading! Please review!
Xaja