Loyalty6HTML
Loyalty of a Padawan
Part 6
Qui-Gon watched as his Padawan slipped into unconsciousness and
watched as
the hood of their rescuer was removed to reveal the identity of the
person
beneath it. Long pale hair spilled out of the hood and fell about the
waist.
Crouching by the fallen Apprentice, she checked his pulse and his
breathing.
Only when she was content with what she found did she turn to the
battered
Jedi Master.
"He will be all right." The tall woman said, answering the
Jedi's
unvoiced question. Qui-Gon noticed that her blue eyes seemed to gleam
in the
darkness.
"Who are you?" Qui-Gon asked in a tired but determined
voice.
"I am Counselor Noela Tanmhin." She gave her formal name.
The
Jedi was somewhat stunned to learn that a government representative was
behind their rescue. "I must apologize for what has happened to
you
Master Jinn", she stated remorsefully. "I am sure you have
many
questions, all which will be answered in time. However, first we must
leave
this place and get you and your Apprentice to a healer."
Counselor
Noela motioned for them to follow. Obi-Wan was once again picked up
off the
ground and his limp form was carried down the dark passage.
Qui-Gon kept a close eye on his Padawan as they walked. The boy had
saved
him, even when he had told him not to, even when he warned him of what
would
happen, and ordered him to go, his Apprentice had saved him. However,
Obi-Wan had also gotten himself badly hurt in the process. Now instead
of
one injured Jedi on the mission, there were two.
'Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon thought more to himself than his unconscious
Padawan,
'why do you have to be so stubborn!' Another thought crossed his mind
at
almost the same time, one of Yoda's teachings.
"Look to yourself you must, when questioning others." Came
the
words of the old Jedi Master.
A small faint smile appeared on Qui-Gon's bruised face as he realized
his
own feelings. He gave an inward sigh and thought to the boy, 'I would
have
done the same thing for you.' Although Obi-Wan could not hear him.
***********
"Gone?" Kai-Shia hissed though clenched teeth. "What
do you
mean he is gone?"
"He is gone, my Lady." The shaken Captain of the Guards
replied.
"Tortured Jedi do not just disappear from their cells." An
angered Kai-Shia shot back. "Report Captain."
Many things flashed though the Captain's mind as he attempted to
speak, the
lives of his family, his wife, what would be done to them, in the midst
of
this he founds his voice. "He escaped with the help of his
Apprentice." He said, fearful of angering his leader.
Kai-Shia stood from her chair and faced the window.
"So it appears I have underestimated the Apprentice." She
said to
herself. "A mistake I don't plan on making again. Captain!"
She
called and the Captain immediately came to attention. "I doubt
they got
far without aid. The Master was already weakened and from your reports
one
or both of them very likely might have been shot. Find them, and when
you
do, throw the Master back into his cell, but bring the Apprentice to
me." She said, and the Captain of the guards quickly left the
room,
gathering his troops as well as his wits. With no one left in the room
to
hear her, Kai-Shia added, "It's time I met this Obi-Wan
Kenobi."
******
There was a far off point of light in the darkness he was surrounded
in. He
knew he must reach the light to return to the surface. Slowly, ever so
slowly, he made his way to it. It became brighter and brighter,
leaving the
darkness behind him. He heard someone calling to him, and he knew he
must
break free. He pulled toward the light and toward consciousness.
"Obi-Wan?", came the voice in the haze around him. The
image
before him was blurred and he couldn't quite make out all of the voices
around him for his heart was pounding in his ears. He felt a hand move
to
his and the voice come to him again. "Padawan?", it said,
the
voice of his Master. His eyelids opened the rest of the way and the
blue-green orbs which lay beneath focused on the older man at his side.
"Master?" Obi-Wan asked questioningly, Qui-Gon simply
nodded.
Slowly he began to remember the events which took place before he was
knocked
out. As he tried to sit up he was met with a stab of pain in his ribs
and
shoulder. He winced as the sensation hit him, his head still
throbbing.
"Careful, my Padawan." Qui-Gon caution as he slipped a
bandaged
arm around his Apprentice to support him. "You have been shot
twice and
you have quite a concussion. You've been unconscious for some time
now. You
are lucky to be all in once piece."
Obi-Wan looked up at his worried Master. The wounds Obi-Wan could see
had
been treated and the rest lay under a new tunic. The Apprentice looked
around him. They were in a large room lit by many glow lamps, what was
not
lit was dark and shadowy, there were many people dressed in dark
clothing
talking amongst themselves. The entire place had a very secretive
atmosphere
about it.
"Where are we?" The confused Jedi asked. Before Qui-Gon
had a
chance to answer a figure stepped out from behind the shadows.
"I believe that is a question I can answer, young Kenobi",
said a
female voice. Obi-Wan recognized the voice as its owner came into
view.
"Counselor Noela?" the Padawan said, surprised to see the
government representative. "You were the one who helped us."
he sta
ted, Noela nodded.
"I am afraid that the Prime Minister has more secrets which he
hid from
you, young Jedi. It is time you and your Master hear the entire
truth",
she paused for a moment, then began again. "I know that you were
told
that everything in our power was done to attempt to stop Kai-Shia,
although
that is not true."
"What has been done?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Nothing." Noela said bitterly. "Nothing at all has
been
done. The Prime Minister is in a state of complete denial. He refuses
to
believe it is his daughter doing these things. He put up the force
field
around the government building in hopes of waiting her out and that she
will
soon tire of her little 'game' as he likes to put it." Her fists
were
clenched tightly and they began to turn white. "Before either of
you
ask," she said, her gaze drifting to each Jedi, "Yes, he
does see
the terrible things which take place at his daughters behalf, those who
are
tortured and killed. Yet, he is determined to be a good father in his
own
mind and will therefore do nothing to stop her."
"A good father would not have let things escalate this far."
Qui-Gon interjected. Noela nodded in agreement.
"The people are getting tired, Master Jedi. I am getting
tiered."
She said with a great sigh.
"You formed a resistance then." Qui-Gon did not ask, but
stated.
"I did not like going behind the backs of the Prime Minister and
the
rest of the Council, but I had no choice. I could not let this
continue." She truthfully said. "I suppose you could say we
are a
rebellion for the rebellion. We are growing stronger but we still do
not
match Kai-Shia's forces."
"Who are the people who decided to join you", asked the
Apprentice. She turned toward the other people who filled the room.
"Mostly we consist of those who have lost someone they love
because of
Kai-Shia and do not wish the same for others." She said this
sadly,
turning to face the Jedi again. "I will not ask you to help our
cause.
I am aware of the Jedi code and I understand you cannot take sides.
That,
and how could I ask you after what has been done." She stated
this
without looking in Qui-Gon's direction, she couldn't. "Only, I am
afraid that there is no way to get off of the planet and there is no
way to
call for help. We have no starfighters and Kai-Shia is in control of
the
transmissions. Until she is over thrown I am afraid you are simply
stuck
here."
Qui-Gon felt her deep remorse and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We
thank you for your help Counselor. And we assure you that we will do
everything in our power to help and protect you." Noela smiled at
the
tall Jedi.
"Thank you", she but whispered. "Now," she said
with
more confidence. "I ask that both of you get some rest. You are
in
need of it." This time she did look at Qui-Gon when she spoke.
"Thank you Counselor Noela." Obi-Wan stated to the woman
who was
filled with sorrow. She smiled at him.
"You are very brave, Young Kenobi. Many have wanted to do what
you
did. You give our people hope." She bowed to the two Jedi, then
turned
and left.
Obi-Wan watched her leave then looked back up to see Qui-Gon starring
at
him. A question hit the Apprentice with a wave of panic. 'Was his
Master
angry with him?'
"No Obi-Wan, I am not angry with you." Qui-Gon said with a
shake
of his head. "I am simply worried, but by no means
angry."
A flood of emotions came over the young Padawan. "Oh Master!
I'm
sorry! I'm so sorry! But I couldn't, I just couldn't..." he
stopped
unable to go on as he was struck with the visions of his Master
suffering so
much pain and not being able to do anything to help him.
"Shhhh it's all right, my Padawan. I know." Qui-Gon
soothed his
grief stricken Apprentice. Although he was still in great pain and was
weary
the older Jedi sent a gentle wave of the Force though the bond he
shared with
the boy.
The complete caring and sense of family which came over Obi-Wan calmed
his
hurting soul. He relaxed into the Force and let it lead him to
sleep.
Qui-Gon watched his sleeping Padawan for a moment longer before he
turned to
leave. He was only a few feet from where his Apprentice lay when he
was
struck by a sensation of pain. The effects of the torture had left him
weak
and the pain he had been trying to hide came back to him with a
stronger
force than before. He abruptly stopped, his hand moving protectively
to his
chest where many of his injuries lay hidden under his tunic. He
brought the
Force around him to relieve some of the agony.
"Are you all right", came the voice of Counselor Noela.
"Yes, I will be" he assured her. She looked at him
sadly.
"I am deeply sorry, Master Jedi."
Qui-Gon nodded, "Thank you." She looked over to the
sleeping
figure of Obi-Wan.
"I hope you were not too hard on him for coming to find
you." She
stated, and for the first time truly spoke of the abduction of the Jedi
to
him.
Qui-Gon smiled and gave a small laugh. "I assure you Counselor I
was
not." He said. "That boy is like my son. If things had
been
turned around and it was him who had been taken I would have done the
same
thing." Noela smiled at him, but the Jedi saw the mournful look
in her
light blue eyes. "She took someone from you." He
stated.
Noela looked startled for the moment, not understanding how the Jedi
could
know such a thing. "Yes," she confirmed. "My older
brother,
who was also my best friend. He was always so watchful and protective
of me.
I use to find it annoying, now I would give anything to hear his voice
scolding me for being out too late or not letting him know where I
was."
Her mask of strength and confidence slipped for a moment and her eyes
sparkled with tears. "Kai-Shia bid me to join her," she
continued,
"but I refused to have any part in her rebellion. So she took
something I loved. She tortured him, as she did you. I was forced to
watch
his life drain away and there was nothing I could do. She stole him
from
me." The tears spilled down her cheeks. She felt the Jedi's hand
once
again on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry", was all he could say to her for the loss of
someone
whom she cared had for so deeply.
She regained some composure and very lightly put her hand on his arm,
afraid
of further hurting one of his injuries. "Take good care of
Obi-Wan,
Master Qui-Gon. You will never truly know how precious he is to you
until
you lose him." The Jedi held her gaze for a moment until she
broke
away, "And I am afraid he is in danger now", she said
regretfully.
"By saving you he has shown the people of MaraTa that they can
rise up
against Kai-Shia. If one person could do it, Jedi or not, then so can
they.
He has shown her up, Master Jedi and she will not take kindly to
that."
**********
Qui-Gon was in pain, but more to his horror, so was Obi-Wan. His
Padawan
was screaming, crying out for his Master to help him, only, Qui-Gon
could
not. He could not move, could not speak, and could come to the aid of
his
Apprentice.
"It is your punishment, my Jedi." The soft but evil voice
of
Kai-Shia said, "Yours and his alike." Violent laughter
erupted as
his Padawan gave out one last bone chilling cry and then was gone.
Qui-Gon awoke with a start, sitting straight up in the sleep couch,
sweat
dripping down his face; a nightmare, an awful, horrible nightmare. Or
was
it? Something did not feel right.
The Jedi Master heard a clank and the shuffling of feet. Panic
flooded the
bond he shared with Obi-Wan, then there was nothing. Qui-Gon already
on his
feet, raced to where he had left his Apprentice, only the sleep couch
was
empty, his Padawan no where in site. Qui-Gon felt panic surge through
him
again, only this time it was his own. He looked down to discover what
had
made the noise he heard. He bent down and picked up his Padawan's
lightsaber
where it lay discarded on the ground.
Obi-Wan was gone, and whoever took him was still here.
To Be Continued . . .
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