Loyalty3HTML
Loyalty of a Padawan
Part 3
Cold. That was all Qui-gon could think of as he slowly began
to
awaken. Wherever he was, it was as cold as a night on Hoth. His eyes
weakly opened and the room he was in began to spin. Although his head
was
pounding in time with his heartbeat, he shook it to attempt to gain
some
clarity. It worked to clear his vision some, but it made his head
throb
more than it already was.
His cloak was gone, his tunic was torn, and he was leaning against
an ice
cold wall with chains around his wrists. He now recalled that he had
been
captured and injected with a drug, which explained his groggy,
disillusioned
state. Yet, why was he here? He had known there was danger when he
arrived
but there was no explanation for it. What was to become of him and his
Padawan.
His Padawan...Obi-wan! Obi-wan had gotten away. Or had he? Did the
guards
catch up with him before he had gotten a chance to escape? Qui-gon
hoped
that was not the case. Remembering the words of the so called
‘Senator’, “Kill the Apprentice, but leave the Master
alive.” Obi-wan must have gotten away. Even with the state of mind he
was in right now, he would know if his Padawan was dead. No, Obi-wan
was
alive, but what would happen if he were to be caught at some time?
What
will happen then?
As if hearing all of his unvoiced questions, the door slid open and
the
‘Senator’ strode in, the wind of the closing door caused her hair
about to blow about her shoulders. She gave him an icy stare along
with an
equally cold smile.
Qui-gon could not stand to face her. Due to lack of strength and the
chains
which bound his writs forcing him to remain where he was on the floor.
The
best he could manage was to sit as straight as he could against the
wall
which was causing his back to go numb. Yet, even with this against
him, he
still shot her a gaze of a Jedi, for that is what he was. And no
amount of
chains could change that fact.
“Awake at last I see.” she said. “Good, our business can
begin then.”
“Who are you?” The Jedi asked confidently although it took all
his will not to have his teeth chatter while he spoke.
“I have told you before Master Jedi. I am Senator Kai-shia
Domia.” she cynically replied.
“You *are* Senator Kai-shia Domia, or you *were*?” Qui-gon
stated.
“If that’s the way you wish to look at it then I suppose I *was*
Senator of MaraTa. Now I own it.” Kai-shia replied with a smile.
“You are the leader of a rebel band,” Qui-gon said, coming to
that conclusion without the need of being directly informed. “You do
not own the planet or the people on it.”
“Oh but you are wrong, my Jedi.” She said viscously. “So
very wrong.” She began to pace the room. Coming closer to him with
each turn she made. “Do you think you are here because it was the
request of the Prime Minister? If you do, I am afraid you are
mistaken.” She paused to bend down and stare into his eyes. “I
told him I wished to talk, knowing he would call for Jedi assistance.
But
it was I who allowed him to send the message to Courscant. I have had
control of the transmissions for longer than he thinks. You are here,
because I want you to be here. You are going to help me show the
citizens of
this planet what fear truly is. You are here to help my cause.”
“You took me but not my Apprentice. Why?” The Jedi asked.
“He is young and lacks knowledge this makes him weak.” She stated
simply. “People do not fear the weak.” She smiled at the Jedi
Master. “Yet, they fear the strong. Which is why you were chosen.
“They have it all wrong in the capital. To strike fear in the hearts
of men and women is the way to control them. And when they see I have
defeated a Jedi Master, they will know there is no longer any way to
stop
me. I will be in complete and total control.”
“You believe that controlling people by fear makes you strong.”
Qui-gon said to the woman. “But it doesn’t. It makes you weak
instead.”
Kai-shia stood up and took a step back. She had a stunned look on her
face.
With his softened tone, Qui-gon could see a young girl. A young
spoiled
girl who had never been told ‘no’ in her life. And when she was,
it had destroyed her.
Her look hardened once again. Her brow knitted in a glare. Her hand
came
back and she struck the Jedi Master across the face with all of her
might.
Although the blow caused Qui-gon’s vision to blur, he showed no sign of
weakness.
“Pain and fear come as one Master Jedi.” She spat. “As a
Jedi I know you are aware of both those feelings. Yet the Jedi push
fear
away, when you should embrace it. The Jedi push pain away, but you
should
use it. And for that one comment you will feel pain that you never
thought
possible.” She knelt close and whispered into his ear, and lightly
touched his face with the back of her hand. “When you think there is
no more we could do, we will find away. And then, when that part of
pain
has stopped, and you think it is over, it will really have just
begun.
Because, my Jedi, when we find you’re little Apprentice we will do the
same and worse to him. And you will watch. You will hear every
scream,
feel every blow as if you yourself had been struck, and you will smell
his
burned skin and fresh blood. Then, when you beg us to stop, we will,
and
he will die. And it will be because of you, Master Jedi. Because of
you.” Kai-shia spoke these words with a gleeful smile on her face. As
if merely thinking of the pain she spoke of gave her a rush.
Qui-gon began to feel as if he were going to be sick. He did not know
if it
was a side affect of the drug they had injected him with, or the sheer
pleasure in her voice as she spoke of unfathomable pain and suffering.
He
could not let this become of his Padawan. However, she believed Obi-wan
was
young and helpless. Incapable of helping himself of anyone else. But
Kai-shia did not know his Padawan.
“Three days, Master Jedi. That is all it will take.” She stood,
her gaze never leaving Qui-gon’s, and her smile never faltering.
“You believe torturing me in front of the citizens of MaraTa will cause
them to fear you.” What Qui-gon said was not a question. “It may
work, but only for a time. If you keep hurting them in such ways they
may
fear you, even be terrified of you. But fear leads to anger, and
anger to
hate. They will hate you Kai-shia. This will cause your downfall.
You must
stop this while you still can.”
“Ah, a lecture. I should have thought as much from a dersperate
Jedi.” she said amused. “But it will not come to that. You think
I have no knowledge of where fear ends and hate begins? You are wrong
again
then Master Jedi. After these three days I will no longer need to
continue
to show the populations horror. They will have already seen it, and
it will
be enough. I will have won my power.” She said, her smile shining,
she then added, “With your help of course.”
“I would recommend you not try to escape. The cuffs you are wearing
have sensors. The guards will be in at a seconds notice if you use
your
precious Force to loosen them. But, I believe you will not have much
of a
chance to act on such a matter. You will be, ‘resting’ soon
again. And by tomorrow afternoon you will be more concentrating on
your own
pain, and fear” her smile widened. She gave a mocking bow. “I
must go prepare for your outing tomorrow. So I leave you for now, my
Jedi.
With these happy thoughts of course.” She gave one last look at the
Jedi, and chuckled softly.
As she left, two guards came in to take her place. They began to
come
towards him. Qui-gon ignored them. His mind was enveloped in images of
Obi-wan in searing pain. He closed his eyes and brought all his
strength in
to him at one time. He must warn his Padawan. He tried to send a
message to
his Apprentice, but the words he intended were corroded with terrible
visions and Kai-shia’s talk of pain. In the end he was only able to
send a one word message to Obi-wan.
He then felt something hard hit his head. Then for the second time
since he
had reached this planet, Qui-gon lost consciousness.
Part Four
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