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 4 E-mail me at: jedi-apprentice@mailcity.com
Summary: On the planet Noga, Qui-Gon was shot, and they have to make it to the palace.
Rating: G
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.
Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together.
Ephesians 4, 3-4
Part Three
The blaster fire hit Qui-Gon in his left arm, sending intense pain in a chain reaction through the upper half of his body. Qui-Gon stumbled to the ground. When seeing this, Obi-Wan rushed to his Master's side.
"Master, are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked, obviously very worried.
Qui-Gon took several deep breaths to clear his head, then attempted to speak, but the pain was still intense, so he simply nodded.
"Can you continue on?" Obi-Wan asked, looking over his shoulder to see how far back the Nogarian women was.
Qui-Gon cleared his throat, then said, "Yes, we must continue."
Obi-Wan tore a piece of fabric from his shirt, and tied it around the bloody wound on his Master's arm. Qui-Gon winced as Obi-Wan tightened it.
"Thank-you Padawan. Let's continue now." Qui-Gon said calmly, trying to ignore the searing pain.
Obi-Wan could sense the pain his Master was feeling, but he knew it would have to wait, until they lost this confounded female Nogarian.
Obi-Wan helped Qui-Gon get to his feet, then told him, " We better hurry, she's gaining on us." So, they took off running again. Qui-Gon went slower than before, but he used the Force to block out some of the pain that was penetrating through his arm.
They ran through the streets, they never used the Force to increase their speed because Qui-Gon was in too much pain and had to use his energy on healing. Obi-Wan wouldn't leave his Master behind, so they continued on together. They realised long after it was dark that their pursuer must have an awfully good reason for chasing them for this long, she must be being paid lots of money to either kill or capture them. But they ran, or jogged all through the night.
The sun was rising just as they reached the end of one street and stopped to make sure there weren't too many people around to notice them. But just their luck, it was the market place. There were lifeforms buying, and selling stuff at stands set up along the sides of the street.
/How are we going to get by all these people without being seen? / Qui-Gon thought. /What if we are spotted by one of the gang members? Well, there are no other ways to go, so I guess we will have to take our chances, and maybe we will lose this Nogarian that is chasing us. / Then as Qui-Gon was looking around at the stands and people, he saw something that could help them.
"Follow me." Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon led his apprentice to a stand near where they were a moment ago.
"Can I help you sir?" the elderly man who was managing the stand asked.
"How much are your hats?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Ten credits, but the ones on the left are only five credits." The man told him.
" I'll take one of the five credit ones." Qui-Gon said, trying to hurry before the female Nogarian caught up with them.
"Which one sir?" the old man asked.
"Surprise me." Qui-Gon said with an irritated tone. So the old man grabbed a pink and yellow toque, and handed it to Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan was just about to protest about having to wear the ugly toque, when he saw his 'admirer' come out of the alley, and start looking around for them. He grabbed the hat, after Qui-Gon paid for it, and put it on. As they hurried through the crowd, Obi-Wan tucked his padawan braid up into the toque.
After a few minuites of making their way through the crowd, Obi-Wan noticed Qui-Gon stumble, so Obi-Wan hurried to his Masters side, and grabbed his arm, to hold him steady. That was when Obi-Wan remembered his Master had been shot in his arm, luckily Obi-Wan grabbed the unhurt arm.
"Are you alright Master?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, I'm just a little light headed." Qui-Gon answered. Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon's wound. It was bleeding quite heavily.
/The blaster shot must have gone deeper than I assumed. / Obi-Wan thought.
"Master, you can't continue on like this, you're losing too much blood!" Obi-Wan told him.
"We must continue Obi-Wan. We don't have a choice." Qui-Gon insisted. Obi-Wan knew his Master was right, but still he wished he could help his Master. Obi-Wan took off the pink and yellow toque and wiped the sweat that was running down his forehead with it. Then he ripped another piece of cloth off his shirt, and tied it around his Masters arm.
"You're sure you are feeling well enough to continue?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'll be fine padawan." Qui-Gon tried to reassure Obi-Wan.
"Well, if you're sure." Obi-Wan answered reluctantly, then continued on through the market place.
"Turn here." Qui-Gon instructed Obi-Wan, gesturing towards a narrow street off the market place, trying to get as closer to the palace.
At the end of the narrow street, they stopped. "I think we lost her." Obi-Wan said.
"It appears so." Qui-Gon said, trying to regain his energy, unsuccessfully.
"Master, I know you are tired, but perhaps we should hurry on, so we can get someone to attend to you." Obi-Wan suggested.
"Yes, you are right, we must find the palace, we are too close now to just give up." Qui-Gon agreed.
"Wait here for a minute, and I will go see what's around the corner." Obi-Wan told his Master, the hurried off.
When Obi-Wan stuck his pink and yellow toqued head around the corner, he was met with a sight that was overwhelming. There, about three streets over, was the palace. They were closer than they thought. Obi-Wan grinned, and ran back to his Master.
"Master! I saw the palace, it's only about three streets away!" Obi-Wan reported enthusiastically.
"Well, lets go then." Qui-Gon said trying to sound as joyful as he felt.
So off they went again. As they made their way to the palace, Qui-Gon had two more times where he felt light-headed, and nearly fell. But he insisted on continuing, after all, they were so close to their destination. Obi-Wan became increasingly worried about his wounded Master, but they reached their destination without being seen again. It was now early in the afternoon. They had been walking for about three days straight, but they made it.
Once they reached the palace gates, Qui-Gon tried to muster up as much energy as he could. He stood straight and tried to look dignant, instead of the physically exhausted man he was. They walked up to the guardhouse, and waited for the apparently busy worker to come and talk to them. After a minute, the guard walked up to the window.
"Who are you?" the guard asked gruffly. "I am Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is my apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. We were asked to come here to protect the princess." Qui-Gon started explaining.
"Please let us in, my Master is in need of medical assistance, and we must talk to the princess." Obi-Wan interrupted.
"You're the Jedi? How can I be sure when you dress just like all the other Nogarians?" the man asked cautiously.
Obi-Wan understood that the guard had to be careful about who he let in the palace, so Obi-Wan pulled off his pink and yellow toque to reveal his padawan cut, and braid. Then he pulled out his deactivated lightsaber.
"Oh. Yes, thank you for coming Jedi. Please go right in." the guard said as he typed a code into his computer. The large doors to the palace opened, and the Jedi walked in. Qui-Gon glanced around to see where they should go, when he saw a young girl about Obi-Wan's age, whom he assumed was a palace worker. When he saw her, she looked over at the Jedi, and then started walking towards them.
"Can I help you?" the girl asked.
"My name is Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is my apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, we are the Jedi sent to protect the princess." Qui-Gon answered.
"Oh, forgive me, my name is Jallist. Please come with me and I will show you to your quarters." Jallist said.
"If you don't mind, could you show us to the medical infirmary? My Master requires medical assistance." Obi-Wan asked.
"Oh, yes, of course, follow me." The girl said, leading them down long high ceilinged hallways, with rich looking floors, and statues lining them, and paintings on every wall. On the ceilings, hung crystal, old fashioned, chandeliers.
/It appears the architects of the palace speared no expense on this place. / Obi-Wan thought as he admired the palace. Just then, Qui-Gon wavered slightly, but it caught Obi-Wan's attention, so he grabbed his Masters good arm, and held him steady.
*"We are just about there Master, just hold on."* Obi-Wan sent sportingly.
*"Yes I'm trying Obi-Wan."* Qui-Gon responded weakly.
After a few more minuites of walking, Qui-Gon's step faltered again, and he fell unconscious to the floor.
"Master!" Obi-Wan said rather loudly.
"I'll go get some help." Jallist said, and hurried off. Obi-Wan knelt down next to his Master and examined his wound. The bandages were soaked in blood. Obi-Wan sat with his Master until Jallist came back with three healers a few minutes later. The healers put Qui-Gon on a stretcher, and took him to the medical infirmary, with Obi-Wan following close behind.
When they reached the medical infirmary, the healers lifted Qui-Gon off the stretcher, and put him on a bed. Immediately four healers were hovering over the Jedi Master. Obi-Wan could sense the healers wished he would leave the room, but Obi-Wan wanted to stay with his Master, so he leaned against a wall, out of the way.
The healers were like flies, swarming around Qui-Gon. One was cleaning his wound; another took some blood samples, and was checking for infection. The third healer was hooking an intravenous bag up to him, and the forth was typing stuff in a data pad while giving instructions. It appeared nobody was listening to each other. Obi-Wan's ears were ringing from everybody talking at once, but he never said anything because it would have been a distraction from their work.
An hour later, Obi-Wan was alone in the room with Qui-Gon. Occasionally a healer would come in and check on the patient, but they never said anything to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan had found out that Qui-Gon's good arm was not infected, but he had lost a lot of blood. The heat from the sun added to his condition, after being under it for so long, he had heat stroke. Normally it wouldn't have been that bad, but he had been weak from losing so much blood.
Obi-Wan sat in a chair beside Qui-Gon's bed. He was reading a data pad on the crimes the 'Kriffs' had done in the past month. After about an hour of reviewing the crimes, he fell asleep.
Obi-Wan woke up when he heard a healer come in. So he looked down at the data pad he was holding, to make it look like he hadn't fallen asleep. The healer came in, checked some of the medical equipment then left. Obi-Wan looked over at Qui-Gon, who was still unconscious from the drugs they had given him in order to gain his strength back, and so they could do some tests on him.
/You'll feel a whole lot better when you wake up Master. / Obi-Wan thought to himself.
Obi-Wan slept in the chair by Qui-Gon's bed that night. A few hours after he had gone to sleep, he sensed someone watching him. Obi-Wan opened his eyes, and saw a welcome sight. Qui-Gon was awake, and it appeared he had been up for some time, because he was half done a meal tray.
"Did I wake you?" Qui-Gon asked.
"No Master." Obi-Wan fibbed, "How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you, I can move my arm better, and am feeling very refreshed after sleeping for so long." Qui-Gon answered.
"Good. You lost a lot of blood, and had heat-stoke. The healers said it was amazing you never collapsed hours before we got here." Obi-Wan explained. Just then a healer came in.
"How are you feeling Master Jinn?" she asked.
"Much better, thank you." Qui-Gon answered.
"Wonderful. I'll just check you over, and then you can be released to the guest quarters.," she said.
"I'll wait in the hallway." Obi-Wan told them, then left.
After a few minutes, Qui-Gon and the healer emerged from the Medical infirmary. "Now be sure your Master gets plenty of rest, and gets a few good meals. If he needs anything else just come and ask." The healer told Obi-Wan.
"Yes Ma'am." Obi-Wan responded with a grin.
"Thank you for your assistance." Qui-Gon said to the healer with a bow. Th palace worker that they had met when they first arrived hurried towards the group, to show the Jedi to their quarters.
"Please follow me." Jallist instructed. She led them down several hallways, and then stopped at one door. She punched a code into the door lock, and entered.
"I hope these quarters will do." Jallist said as she showed them where everything they would need was.
"Yes they are more than sufficient." Qui-Gon answered.
"If you need anything, just use the comm. system, and I will come." She explained, then left.
"Master, you go sit on the couch, and I will get you something to drink." Obi-Wan instructed.
"Obi-Wan, that is not necessary." Qui-Gon said.
"Oh yes it is. Remember what the healer said, you must rest." Obi-Wan replied and went into the kitchen. A few minutes later he emerged with a cup of tea.
"Here you go Master." Obi-Wan said as he handed the cup to him.
"Thank you padawan, but I could have got it myself." Qui-Gon insisted.
"I know you could have, but you need to rest." Obi-Wan said firmly. Qui-Gon didn't like tone in his padawan's voice, but he knew he was just worried about him.
/If Obi-Wan acts and talks like this for too long, I will have to have a talk with him, but I did just get released from the medical infirmary, so I understand he is worried. I'll let him get away with it for a little while. / Qui-Gon thought.
In the late afternoon, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan reviewed the history of the Kriffs, and talked about the precautions they should take. In the early evening, the door chimed. Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon to remain seated, and he answered the door.
"Here is your meal." Jallist said showing the tray with the meals on it to Obi-Wan.
"Thank you." Obi-Wan replied, reaching for the tray.
"I'll set the table for the both of you... that is unless you want to do it yourself?" Jallist asked, not letting him take the tray.
"Well, if you want to you can, but you don't have to." Obi-Wan said.
"It's my job. I don't mind doing it." Jallist answered as she walked into their quarters.
"Good evening Jallist." Qui-Gon welcomed from his spot on the couch.
"Master Jinn." She replied, bowing her head, then walked into the kitchen.
Qui-Gon looked at his apprentice who was watching Jallist walk into the kitchen. "Obi-Wan, put your eyeballs back in your head." Qui-Gon said with a grin.
"Yes Master." Obi-Wan answered turning red.
A few minutes later Jallist came into the main room. "The table is set if you are ready to eat." She told them.
"Thank you for your services Jallist. Would you care to stay and eat with us?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Thank you for the offer Master Jinn, but I have duties to attend to." Jallist said. "I'll be back to clean up in a little while."
"Thank you." Obi-Wan called out as she left.
Qui-Gon was smirking as he walked into the kitchen with his apprentice. The two sat down at a formally set table. Their meal looked delicious they both agreed. The dishes looked very expensive, and the meal definitely was no food ration. They were living in style on this mission.
Once they finished their meal, they sat in the main room, reviewing the history and culture of this planet. Shortly after they were seated, the door chimed again. Obi-Wan ran to answer it.
"Are you done with your dishes?" Jallist asked.
"Yes, thank you. The meal was delicious." Obi-Wan complimented.
"I'll give your comments to the cook." Jallist said, then turned to Qui-Gon. "Master Jinn, how are you feeling this evening?"
"Much better, thanks to the fine healers here." Qui-Gon answered.
"I'm glad to hear that. I'll go tidy up in the kitchen now, please excuse me." Jallist said, then walked into the kitchen.
Obi-Wan sat down on the couch opposite of Qui-Gon, and resumed reading when...BOOM!
Both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon dove to the floor for cover, as large ceiling panels, wood, and other materials cascaded down on them. The whole place was falling apart. Sensing danger, Obi-Wan looked up just in time to see a large piece of metal coming for him. Not being able to move in time, Obi-Wan was knocked unconscious.
T.B.C.
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