Loyalty
Loyalty of a Padawan
By: Katie
The hyperdrive went off line and the image of a sphere began to fill
the
view port; blue and green, with traces of brown. The captain
gracefully
piloted the ship into the atmosphere of the systems main planet, aware
of
the two robed figures standing behind him speaking in whispers.
“Master, I sense a disturbance in the Force.” The Padawan said
softly. Obi-wan Kanobi was the Jedi Apprentice to Jedi Master Qui-gon
Jinn.
Obi-wan was young, having his seventeenth birthday but two months ago.
He
stood tall in the cockpit of the ship, however he still had to crank
his
neck to make eye contact with his master.
“Your senses are correct, Padawan.” The Master said coolly.
“The disturbance here is grate. There has been much suffering in this
place.”
“And we don’t know anything more of what happened here?”
Obi-wan asked.
“All we know is the information which was given to us by the Jedi
council.” Qui-gon replied. This information was not overly abundant.
There was a request put though to the Jedi Council for a Jedi to come
to the
planet of MaraTa to act as a guardian of peace. The only information
which
was given was that a group of rebels were taking over the planet. In
a
message from the rebel leader, who's identity was still unknown,
stated
that they were tiered of fighting and wished to reach a settlement.
The date
for the meeting between the rebel leader and the Prime Minister of
MaraTa was
set. The Jedi would be sent in to assure that the agreement would not
be one
sided and that the world would go on living peacefully because of it.
Although everything seemed to be in correct order Qui-gon could
understand
his Padawan's unease. Everything seemed to well in order. This was
not
normally the case of a planet going though a rebellion. He firmly
believed
that there was more to this story than they were being told. Qui-gon’s
thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the ship’s captain.
“We are receiving a transmission from the ground, sir.” The
pilot said respectfully. Qui-gon only nodded in response and in a
matter of
a second there was a holographic image of a woman dressed in political
robes.
“I great the Jedi warmly.” She said with a slight bow. “I
am Senator Kai-Shia Domia. I have been sent by the Prime Minister to
escort
you to the capital.”
Both Jedi bowed, but it was Qui-gon who answered. “Thank you
Senator.” He said simply.
Although she was composed she gave a slight smile, “I look forward to
meeting you in person Master Jedi.” She stated, and ended the
transmission.
Obi-wan shot a questioning glance at his Master. “I thought we were to
go to the capital on our own because it was to dangerous for any of the
representatives to be out in the streets?” The Padawan asked
confused.
“We were.” Qui-gon said, his suspicion matching that of his
Padawan’s. “This escort which she is providing is unexpected, and
her tone does not have the urgency that the situation on the planet
calls
for. There is something more to this simple escort than she is leading
us to
believe.”
“What should we do, Master?” Obi-wan asked concerned.
Qui-gon smiled at his Apprentice. “We will be cautious and
alert.” He said to the boy. “We will watch out for each other,
my Padawan.”
Obi-wan nodded, yet even with the words of his calm master, his
unease was
not satisfied.
***********************
The Jedi stepped off of the ship’s ramp and onto the soil of the
planet. They walked up to the Senator who was sent to meet them. She
was a
tall woman with long black hair done up in many tiny braids, here eyes
were
a deep midnight blue. She wore the green and blue political robes
which
matched the color of the planet when one sees it in the sky. She was
followed by three guards in silver uniforms.
The Jedi bowed in unison. “Welcome Jedi. The planet of MaraTa
welcomes you and they help which you offer us.” The representative
stated.
“Thank you Senator.” Qui-gon said. “It is our honor to
assist you in any way we can manage.”
She looked as if she was about to say something, but they sight of
the ship
taking off took her attention. “If you would follow me,” She said
point her hand in the direction of the capital. The Jedi bowed and
followed
her.
As they walked Qui-gon attempted to read the emotions from the woman.
All
he was able to sense was complete confidence. This caused him to
worry. He
glanced at his Apprentice who returned the look. Something was
definitely
wrong.
“Again I thank you for coming here Master Jedi.” The Senator
said, her voice seeming to come from no where. “You will be a great
help to me.” Her lip curled in a smile. “Kill the Apprentice,
but leave the Master alive.”
As soon as she spoke these words the Jedi’s lightsabers were ignited
and ready. But also as she said these words 10 guards appeared from
inside
of a building surrounding the pair. They began firing high powered
blasters
at the Jedi.
Using the Force as their guide the Jedi deflected the blaster bolts.
They
maneuvered gracefully as the Force moved between them. They knew each
others
moves and where to be to make sure the others back was protected.
Out of the corner of his eye Qui-gon saw Kai-Shia tap something into a
communicator attached to her wrist. The insignia on the uniforms of
the
guards began to glow. They then pulled small blasters from a hidden
pocket
in their uniforms and fired on the Jedi at once.
With the blaster fire now doubled Qui-gon realized that it was
impossible to
win this battle, or even for both of them to escape. As he worked to
deflect a blaster bold which came dangerously close to his shoulder, he
came
to a conclusion. “Obi-wan, go!” He shouted to his Apprentice
over the sound of the blaster fire. Obi-wan ,who was at his back,
stiffened.
“No, Master!” He shouted in return. “ I will not leave
you!”
“You must get to the Capital! Go now!” The Master said once
again, knowing that one of them must escape. He sensed Obi-wan’s
hesitance. “Go now, Padawan!” He called to his Apprentice.
Putting strain on the word ‘Padawan’ in remindance that even
though Obi-wan thought of Qui-gon like a father, he was still an
Apprentice
and still had to follow the orders given to him by his master.
Obi-wan gave one final look to his Master. He then used the Force to
lift
him into the air and onto the top of a building. Then he was gone from
sight.
One of the guards was making his way to the building in pursuit of the
young
Apprentice but before he could start Kai-Shia barked an order. “Let him
go, he is of no importance! It is the Master I want!”
The blaster fire began to decrease. It became clear to Qui-gon that
what
she had said was true, they did want him alive. He could use this to
his
advantage. As the fire began to die down he gave himself a Force
amplified
lift and jumped over the heads of the guards. As he began to plan his
fast
escape one of the guards stood directly in front of him. There was a
device
in his hand which shot out at the Jedi Master. It looked like a claw
with a
seemingly endless cable attached to one end of it, the other end
attached to
the rest of the device still in the hands of the guards.
Qui-gon easily avoided the claw like device with a jump to the side.
That
jump would prove to be his mistake. For as he moved past the claw, it
opened up and eight long cables shot out of it. These cables wrapped
around
Qui-gon’s body and when their ends touched they sent a jolt of
electricity thought out the Master’s body. He stiffened as the
electricity pulsed through him, he then slumped to the ground below.
He was dazed for a moment, but then as able to open his eyes. He
felt a
slight pain in his left shoulder.
“This should keep him quiet for awhile.” He heard on of the
guards say as he injected him with a drug.
“Excellent.” Said the female voice of Kai-Shia. “All is
going accordingly. It wont be long now.”
“What of the apprentice?” The guard asked.
“His wear abouts is not a concern of mine right now.” Kai-Shia
said. “We will find him in time. Once we do....”
The rest of the words became but echoes and Qui-gon’s vision blurred.
His last coherent thought was of his Padawan, hoping that they boy had
gotten away and was safe.
Qui-gon felt his eyes close, and the darkness of unconciseness took
over.
Part Two
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