Title: Decisions
Author: Tenel'Ka
Feed back: PLEASE! This is my first attempt at a fan fic. And I need some motivation to write part 3.
Summary: Qui-Gon has a decision to make that could endanger his apprentice's life.
Rating: G
Time period: Obi-Wan at age 15
Spoilers: Maybe to Jedi-Apprentice books
Warning: If you don't like Star Wars, DON'T read this story!!!
Disclaimer: All these characters are owned and licensed by George Lucas. I am making no money for this. So Please don't sue me!!! I don't have any money anyway!!!
******
When the planet Noga was in view, the Jedi prepared to exit the transport.
"Be prepared for the unexpected my young padawan." Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan.
"Yes Master." Obi-Wan answered.
Qui-Gon paid and thanked the pilot for the transportation, then left the ship. The Jedi were on their own now. They had to somehow find the palace, and find a way to enter it without being seen. Once they were in the palace, they were supposed to meet the other Jedi Master there. If by chance they were seen... well, they would just have to make sure that never happened.
The two Jedi walked away from the shuttle that had taken them to the outskirts of the city.
Once they reached the edge of the city, they stopped. Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan, and said, "We must not ask for directions to the palace, and we must try to find it without being noticed." Qui-Gon had told Obi-Wan that on the flight to Noga that these people were familiar with how Jedi looked, and they would know they were Jedi if they saw Obi-Wan's padawan hair style.
Obi-Wan nodded. Before they had left the shuttle, they had changed into some clothes that looked similar to the ones that were worn in Noga, so they would blend in. It was too bad that none of the styles included hoods, that would have hidden Obi-Wan's hair.
As the two Jedi were working their way down the side of one deserted street, they heard someone coming quickly in their direction. Qui-Gon looked around for cover. A few feet in front of them, he noticed an old escape balcony. It was several meters up the building, and just their luck; there was no ladder.
"Obi-Wan, if I give you a boost, do you think you can climb up to the escape balcony?" Qui-Gon asked quietly.
"Maybe. I'll try." Obi-Wan answered.
"Do, or do not, there is no try." Qui-Gon muttered, quoting Master Yoda.
The Jedi hurried toward the balcony, and stood under the railing of it.
"Give me your foot." Qui-Gon instructed.
Obi-Wan put his foot in Qui-Gon's large hands, and pushed Obi-Wan up until he could grab the railing and climb over. Once he was up, Obi-Wan looked down at his Master wondering how he could get up.
Qui-Gon gathered the Force around him, and leapt high into the air, then gripped the edge. Obi-Wan then grabbed his Masters arm, and hauled the tall man over the side.
"Get down." Qui-Gon instructed.
Both he and Obi-Wan ducked just in time, three Nogarians hurried around the corner, and headed down the street towards where the Jedi had just been moments earlier.
"They are on watch." Qui-Gon whispered to Obi-Wan.
"What are they watching for?" Obi-Wan asked in a whisper.
"For people who aren't following the city's laws." Qui-Gon answered.
"Or... they could be looking for two suspicious looking characters, who can leap the side of a building in a single bound." Obi-Wan whispered with a sly grin.
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes, and thought, /Why does he have to always make cracks in the middle of something serious. /
After a few minuites, the three Nogarians reached the end of the barren street and turned out of sight. Qui-Gon stood up, and leapt over the railing to the ground, and Obi-Wan followed.
The two Jedi continued in the direction that they were headed, shortly before they heard the Nogarians coming.
Qui-Gon stopped at the end of the street, and listened to see if anyone was near by. There was no sound of footsteps, so Qui-Gon motioned for Obi-Wan to follow. They hurried across the street and kept walking in search of a back alley.
"There is another back alley just up ahead..." Qui-Gon started, when they heard, "There they are!" from somewhere behind them. Then they heard feet, running towards them.
/Darn! Someone must have seen us. / Qui-Gon thought, then glanced at Obi-Wan. His padawans eyes were 'wide' open. Qui-Gon grabbed Obi-Wan by his arm and said, "Run." And that's exactly what they did.
They ran down the alley that Qui-Gon had pointed out, before he was so rudely interrupted. The two Jedi led whoever was chasing them down back alleys and streets. With the help of the Force, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan lost their pursuers in only a matter of minuites. Once they were sure they weren't being followed any longer, they stopped and stood in an old doorway, which was in a junky old alley.
"We lost them... for now anyway." Qui-Gon said quietly.
"So much for not being noticed." Obi-Wan joked.
Qui-Gon sighed as a response to his padawans comment.
"Why did we run? Why didn't you just use the Force to make decide not to follow us?" Obi-Wan asked. He knew it was against the Jedi code to question a Masters actions or decisions, but as a Jedi, Qui-Gon would usually have used the Force to distract them or something.
"I must have forgotten to mention, the Force doesn't work on Nogarians." Qui-Gon answered. "And as I said before, these people have killed many, even a Jedi. One of the ways they can kill a Jedi, that was discovered not long ago, in order to kill the last Jedi that came here, is to inject Sovero particles into you. These particular particles make you ill very fast, and within hours, if that, it traps you inside your own body, like a prisoner. You are unable to use, or even touch the Force. You can't even contact people; you can only hear them. From there, it is all downhill." Qui-Gon explained.
"How do you know all this? And if you are aware of it, how come the Jedi that was killed wasn't aware of it, and didn't watch out for it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"The Jedi council has some investigators, and they were sent to discover how the Jedi Master was killed. They found out after she was dead though." Qui-Gon responded.
"Oh." Obi-Wan said, not able to think of a better response.
"Be mindful of those around you padawan. Don't let anyone too near you." Qui-Gon warned.
"Yes Master." Obi-Wan answered.
After they were sure the Nogarians had given up on the chase, the Jedi continued on, trying to find the palace. It was a very difficult task, considering the population of the city was over 4.7 million life forms, and they didn't have a guide to take them through a city they weren't familiar with. /I really have to talk to the Council about updating the maps in the library. / Qui-Gon had thought many times, since realizing the city was nothing like the old map they were shown before they left for this mission.
The only advantage they had, was that the buildings were 'very' tall, thus the people weren't spread out so much, and the fact, that they knew roughly where the palace should be... just not what roads to take to get there. It was a tough job without a map. It was a hard task for a Jedi, but a near impossible job for an ordinary life form. The two Jedi continued down alleys in the direction of the palace.
It was now early evening, so the planet was getting dark as the twin suns were setting. The city was quiet; most life people had gotten home from work already. During the time most of the life forms were going home from work, the Jedi stayed in the shadows of a side street to keep out of sight. Now that the city was quiet, they keep moving. The city was quite large, and took some time to travel through with a transport, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had to walk unseen to the palace. They had been spotted once already, so no doubt the rumors had spread of their presence. Perhaps the gang that is against the royals, who are known as 'The Kriffs' already was aware of their progression.
As they were walking along the shadows heading south, Qui-Gon stopped and turned to face Obi-Wan. They were beside some crates that hid them from view on one side and some walls on two other sides of them as well.
Qui-Gon reached into his pack on his belt, and pulled out some food rations. "Here padawan, eat these." Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan took the rations and ate them silently. /I guess Master Qui-Gon sensed that I was hungry. I'm glad that he did though, because I didn't want to ask for something to eat. / Obi-Wan thought.
After Obi-Wan had 'inhaled' his rations, Qui-Gon asked, "Do you have enough energy to continue?"
"Yes, just give me a minute to rest my legs." Obi-Wan said.
"Alright, I could use a short rest as well." Qui-Gon told his apprentice.
They crouched down, so as not to be seen, and just rested, they drew strength from the Force to gain the energy they required to continue their journey.
"Ready?" Qui-Gon asked, with newfound energy.
"Yes Master." Obi-Wan answered feeling much more rested.
They started down the alley, and continued to get closer to the palace. It was now completely dark; so most people were asleep. It was easier to travel at night, because they have a smaller chance of being seen, but they had to be very quiet.
/We have been walking all day long, and now into the night. I hope we reach the palace soon. I 'long' to take a shower and put on a fresh tunic. After that, I would have a warm drink, and then go to bed. I hope our quarters are nice. If they aren't, I'll try not to be too disappointed. / Obi-Wan thought.
/Obi-Wan is getting tired, I can sense it. I'm surprised he has held up this long. I am rather tired myself, but I must not center on my anxieties. / Qui-Gon was thinking.
"I sense we are getting close now, it should take us an hour more, tops. Do you think you can make it that long?" Qui-Gon asked half jokingly.
"Well, I am getting tired, but I can make it." Obi-Wan answered.
Both Jedi fell silent as they continued on. Again both Jedi were deep in thought when they heard, "You there. Halt!" a female Nogarian ordered, from a ways behind them.
/ Darn, I let my guard down, I should have sensed her coming. Luckily, she must not be close enough to recognize Obi-Wan's hairstyle. / Qui-Gon thought, as the two Jedi froze in their tracks.
*Master, what should we do? * Obi-Wan asked through their Master/ padawan bond.
*Well, we can't just stand here, it is too dangerous to let her get near us. Our only choice is to try to outrun her. * Qui-Gon answered.
*Yes Master. * Obi-Wan replied.
*Ready... NOW! * Qui-Gon ordered, and they took off running.
At first the female Nogarian was surprised, but she got over that quickly, and took off after them. She pulled out her blaster, ready to fire, if necessary.
*We seem to be getting a lot of exercise everytime someone tries to welcome us to the city. * Obi-Wan joked.
*Yes, I'm sure someone who just wants to welcome us to the city would be chasing us. * Qui-Gon countered.
*Maybe she was so stricken with my good looks, that she just 'has' to meet me. * Obi-Wan replied grinning.
At hearing that, Qui-Gon snorted, but never had time to argue with Obi-Wan, because he sensed danger.
All at once, Qui-Gon pushed Obi-Wan to the opposite side of the street, when blaster fire hit him.
T.B.C.
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