Loyalty5HTML
Loyalty of a Padawan
Part 5
Obi-wan kept a safe distance away from the guards but close
enough
not to lose them. Occasionally one would glance back, but the Padawan
brought the Force to bear down on the guard who would look away,
believing
he had seen nothing.
It took a great deal of time for them to reach their destination on
foot,
yet the guards did not seem to notice, nor did they notice the people
who
cowered from them as they passed. They walked as if they had made this
journey hundreds of times before, perhaps they had. Either way they
were
leading him to wherever Qui-gon was being held, and that was all that
Obi-wan cared about. He did not know what to do when he got the the
command
center of the rebels, but he would figure that out later. “The here
and now.” He continued telling himself over and over.
Even within his concentration it was impossible for him not to think
of the
sight he had witnessed only hours before. His master, held by chains
at the
wrists while Kai-shia’s minions inflicted him with unimaginable pain,
and Obi-wan could do nothing. That fact, the look of anguish written
on his
Master’s features, and the wound on Qui-gon’s body, was enough
for the Apprentice to feel his heart slowly cracking into dozens
peaces.
Although Obi-wan’s attention had been focused on his Master, he was
aware of the citizens of MaraTa and their emotions. They felt sorry
for the
Jedi Master and he could sense that they did want to help him, but
their
predominate emotion was fear. They were far to afraid of Kai-shia to
risk
helping the man who was being tortured before them. Yet, Obi-wan also
sensed an abundance of anger though the fear. The Padawan could not
blame
them. Who knows how long the same thing had been happening to their
loved
ones. But would they become angered enough to revolt against the one
who was
causing this pain? Obi-wan couldn’t even fathom a guess. Yet, that
did not matter to him at the moment. The only thing that mattered was
finding his Master and getting away from this place.
At that thought, he realized that they had come to their destination.
What had once been a grand mansion on the very end of the city far from
the
capital building had been converted into Kai-shia’s base. And somewhere
in the bowls of that building would be his Master.
He hid behind a near by building and waited for the guards to disband.
Once
they did and there was no longer a large number of them in one place,
he
came out from his cover and made his way to the entryway of the base.
The door was patrolled by two guards who stood with their weapons
ready.
Obi-wan sent a wave of the Force to them. ‘There is no one there.’
He projected into their minds. The guards stood blankly, unaware of
the
young man who approached them. ‘You should open the door.’
“I should open the door.” One guard said as she punched a command
into the panel and the door slid open. The Padawan stepped though
quickly
and made sure he was far enough away from the guards before he released
his
control from their minds.
The first corridor was well lit and made it difficult to keep covered.
However, it was also lavishly decorated. Kai-shia apparently had not
forgotten the elaborate state of the capital building where she grew
up. It
had followed her, she had not completely forgotten her past.
Therefore,
Obi-wan made use of the many statues scattered about the halls and any
open
doors with no one inhabiting the rooms inside.
The Force led the Padawan further and further down the passage. He
turned
the corner and all the light was left behind him. Only a few glow
rods,
which gave off an eerie dim light, remained. He came to a metal door
at the
end of the corridor. The Force was screaming at him now, biding him
to go
down. He was about to obey the command when the footsteps and faint
voices
coming from the other end of the entrance made him think other wise.
He
quickly stepped around a corner and pressed himself as close against
the wall
as he could manage. Then the door opened.
“Two more days should be sufficient.” Said the female voice.
Obi-wan recognized it as Kai-shia’s. It took every ounce of training
for him to push down the rage he felt against the one who had caused
his
Master such pain and suffering.
“He is very weak, my lady.” Came the voice of her advisor.
“I’m not sure he can survive another two days of torture.”
“We can go some what easy on him tomorrow.” She said with a nod.
“However, if he does not survive it is of no matter. I will already
have won.”
“What of the Apprentice?” The advisor asked. “There is still
no word on him.”
“He is probably to devastated by the disappearance of his Master to
know what to do.” Kai-shia chuckled. “I have not doubts that he
will show up tomorrow or the next day. When he does we will have him.
And
his fate will be no different than that of his Master’s.” she
paused, then added. “Perhaps worse. After all, I have a promise to
keep.” Kai-shia laughs became quieter as they continued down the
hallway, stopping all together when they were gone from sight.
Obi-wan let go of the breath he did not even realize he had been
holding,
his mind racing. They were planning on torturing Qui-gon again?! He
could
not allow this to happen. He had to get his Master out as quickly as
possible.
Kai-shia’s confidence was a great help to him. Her pride in herself
and belief that she had the people of MaraTa virtually wrapped around
her
finger allowed him a near flawless entrance into her base and to his
Master’s where abouts. Yet, it could not last much longer. He could
not bring Qui-gon back the same way he had come. His Master would no
doubtedly be well guarded. He would have to find another way out.
But,
that would all come in time. First thing was first, to get to
Qui-gon.
Obi-wan brought the Force to bear down on the lock of the door. It
opened,
he stepped though and found himself on a winding staircase. He walked
down
cautiously, testing every step as he went.
He finally reached its end and was met with a door of a cell with two
guards
in front of it. They saw him instantly and pulled raised their
blasters
against the intruder. In a blink Obi-wan’s lightsaber was in hand and
ignited. With one slash he melted away the barrels of the blasters.
He then
jumped behind the now unarmed guards and with two powerful side kicks
by the
Apprentice, they were unconscious.
Obi-wan quickly opened the door of the cell. The site he found
drained the
color in his face. Laying on his side in the far corner of the dark,
cold
cell, with chains around his wrists, was his Master. His looked
haggard
and pale. His exposed flesh was covered in cuts and bruises. The
Padawan
hardly recognized him.
Obi-wan went to him, gently lifting the Jedi by the shoulders
cradling him
in his arms.
“Master?” He called quietly to Qui-gon. ‘Master?’ he
said again, this time directly into the bond that they shared.
The eyes of the Jedi Master weakly opened. “Obi-wan?” he asked
hoarsely.
“Yes, Master.” Obi-wan said, while removing his cloak and
wrapped it around his Master who was as cold as ice. “I have to get you
out of here.” he said and began to bring the Force down on the bindings
around Qui-gon’s wrists.
“No.” Qui-gon said weakly before Obi-wan could finish.
“Master, please...” the Apprentice started, but was cut off.
“No!” The Jedi Master said again, this time with force.
“You don’t know what they’ll do Obi-wan. They wont kill me,
not yet at least. But they will you, without a second thought. You
must go
now.”
“I’m not leaving you.” Obi-wan said. He was momentarily
stunned by the visions of himself in pain and suffering which were
coming
from his Master’s mind. He then heard Kai-shia’s words “We
will do the same and worse to him,” rang in his ears. The Apprentice
shuttered inwardly, but would not let these threats stop him. His
master’s almost frantic voice came to him again.
“Go now, Obi-wan!” Qui-gon said firmly. Although he was in great
pain, he refused to allow Kai-shia do the same to his Padawan. “That
is an order, from Master to Padawan.”
“An order which I choose not to follow.” Obi-wan shot back.
“You can discipline me later for disobeying you.” There was no
more time for argument. Once again the Padawan let the Force come down
on
the cuffs around Qui-gon’s wrists. Once they opened the green light
which had been been glowing on them abruptly turned red. Obi-wan knew
they
did not have much time. He gently brought Qui-gon to his feet, letting
the
weary Jedi Master lean on his shoulders. They made their way out the
door of
the cell and down the dark corridor.
Obi-wan knew that the guards would be on their way at any moment,
therefore
there was no possible way they could go out the way he had come. As
they
walked down the hallway they came to a dead end. A wall made of thick
metal
blocked their way to the outside. Yet, behind that wall was freedom.
Finding the strength to stand on his own, Qui-gon moved away from his
Apprentice and leaned against another wall. His Padawan looked at him,
and
Qui-gon gave him a nod of approval. With that, Obi-wan unhooked his
lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. The blue blade gave off a dim
light
which cast eerie shadows on the wall. The Apprentice then plunged
blade into
the wall, melting away the metal.
He heard shouting, the guards were coming. He didn’t have much time.
The Padawan cut the last part of the wall away, and with a physical
push as
well as one from the Force the part of the wall he had burned fell to
the
ground with a large thud. Once again helping his Master walk, they
quickly
but carefully made their way though the exit which they had made.
They had not gotten far when the blaster fire began to rage behind
them.
Although the streets of MaraTa were dark they lit up like a light show
with
the storm of blaster fire which followed the two Jedi into the city.
Obi-wan
deflected many of the bolts with his lightsaber, but the fire was
becoming
increasingly heavy. They had to find cover and find it fast.
The Padawan was distracted when a jolt of pain was sent though his
body.
One of the many random bolts hit him in his side and grazed his ribs.
He
started to stumble, but he caught himself.
‘You must leave me, my Padawan.’ Qui-gon’s voice said into
his mind.
‘No.” Obi-wan simply replied, concentrating on controlling the
pain.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a hooded figure beckoning him to
follow.
Out of instinct the first though of the Apprentice as not to trust the
person. Yet, he had no time to argue to much and had no where to go,
so he
followed the shadowy figure ahead of him into a dark ally way.
Just before turning the corner into the ally, Obi-wan sensed a
blaster bolt
heading straight for Qui-gon. He had no time to react with his
lightsaber,
so instead of deflecting the bolt he quickly spun around letting the
shot
hit him rather than his Master. What would have hit Qui-gon in the
back
struck the Young Jedi in the shoulder. This time he could not stop
himself
from falling and both he and his Master collapsed to the ground. In
his
downward plunge Obi-wan let out a quiet gasp as his head hit against
the
corner of a building.
He could still hear the blaster fire, and knew neither he nor his
master
were safe. ‘Get up!’ he told himself firmly, but his body would
not obey the command his mind gave to it.
“Padawan! Obi-wan!” He could hear Qui-gon plea worriedly.
Obi-wan tried to give a reply but could not find his voice when he
attempted
to speak. As his eyes slowly began to shut he saw the cloaked figure
standing over him making a hand gesture. The Padawan then hazily saw
three
more figures appear. One picked him up and the other two helped
Qui-gon to
his feet. The barely conscious Apprentice heard the sound of a door
sliding
open, then shut again once they were all inside. Though the door he
could
still hear the fire of blasters, but could not follow them here.
He was lain back on the ground and the figure which had first led them
here
stood over him. His vision clouded just as the being pulled back its
hood to
reveal who lay behind it, then everything around him went black.
Even though his was losing his grip on consciousness rapidly he could
still
sense Qui-gon’s concern though their bond. His last thought was of his
Master. Hopeing that he was safe, and that he did not fail him.
After that thought, there was nothing except darkness.
Part Six
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