Qui-Gon and Darrick followed another aide down the hall, to the rooms that were to be theirs for the visit.
Once Qui-Gon had Obi-Wan in one room and Darrick had Bruck in the other, the two Masters met in the hallway to quietly discuss how to get the padawans off the planet.
Qui-Gon began, "I have already contacted the council, they agree that this is a dangerous situation. Unfortunatly, they can not have a transport here until tomorrow."
Darrick nodded, "So we will just have to be aware, We can't allow any harm to come to them."
=======================
Qui-Gon woke up feeling unrested, Obi-Wan had a hard night. He did not awaken
from his nightmares, but that was because Qui-Gon soothed his dreams though the bond. Qui-Gon gently smoothed the boy's hair with a loving hand, "Shh, it is all right Obi-Wan. You are safe, and I will keep you safe no matter what."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan met Darrick and Bruck in Ren's office again. Obi-Wan tried to center himself in the force, but could not. Bruck looked at his friend concerned. Something was not right, that was obvious.
When Ren walked through the door, Obi-Wan started to shake. This was the man haunting his dreams. Ren looked at the boy, and then at Bruck. Ren decided that Obi-Wan was vulnerable, but strong. But Bruck, he was the weak link. The one who would give into his anger quickly.
Suddenly Obi-Wan fell to the floor. He was being assaulted by horrible visions of him and Bruck. They were alone, and hurt. And then of visions of Klea. She was going to be hurt, and try as he might, he could not move.
Qui-Gon rushed to his padawan's side. Obi-Wan was on his knees clutching his head and screaming. Qui-Gon wrapped his arms around him, "Obi-Wan? It's all right, come back. I have you."
Ren looked at the sight before him and said, "You sure know how to pick them Qui. You have a great record."
Bruck wanted to deck the man, but Darrick held onto him and steered him to where Obi-Wan was. By, at this time, Qui-Gon had calmed down, Obi-Wan was shaking, but coherant again, "I'm ok Master, just a vision."
Qui-Gon nodded, "Of Klea?"
Obi-Wan nodded and whispered, "and me and Bruck."
Darrick and Qui-Gon exchanged glances, Qui-Gon helped Obi-Wan up and said, "Well, don't you worry about anything. It will all be fine."
Ren looked at Obi-Wan closely, this boy was different. He radiated pure goodness. This was going to be fun.
***********
Ren gave Bruck a challenging look, who had the grace to ignore it. But if it had been two years earlier, he may not have been able to hold back his anger. But two years with Master Darrick Kint had done wonders for the boy. And for his Master. Yes, it was obvious, Bruck had changed.
Ren nodded to Vrel who stepped foward and said, "If the Honorable Masters and their padawans would follow me, there is a particular stretch of beach for you to see."
Darrick nodded and said, "Very well, but after, Master Jinn and I will accompanny our apprentices to the landing platform. The temple has sent a transport, they are returning to Coruscant."
Obi-Wan and Bruck exchanged shocked looks, and were about to argue the point with their Masters, but the looks in Darrick's and Qui-Gon's faces told them not too.
Ren bowed slightly, almost mocking the Jedi, "Of course."
But it will be too late. For by that time, the game will have begun. Ren thought to himself.
=============
Vrel led the Jedi to the cliffs over looking the ocean. Qui-Gon did not like this. He kept Obi-Wan close to him. Vrel saw that the masters were not going to let the brats out of their sight, so he called in plan b.
Out of the corner of his eye, Darrick saw a group of large wild animals rushing towards the group. Vrel screamed, "Predetons!"
Pretetons were about the size of a bantha, but with sharp claws and fangs. They could rip apart their prey with little effort. Qui-Gon and Darrick along with Obi-Wan and Bruck ignighted their weapons.
Somehow during the frenzy, the padawans were seperated from their masters. Then it happened.
BOOM
There was a loud explosion. Obi-Wan and Bruck turned around to see an avalanche of rocks heading towards them. Before they could react, they were caught up in it and the rocks pushed them over the edge of the cliff.
Obi-Wan was aware of being in a free fall, and he was aware of his body hitting the icy cold water. Then he was aware of nothing.
**********
Obi-Wan had no idea how long he was unconcience. But the water was icy cold and it assaulted all of his senses like a thousand sharp knives against his nerves.
Once Obi-Wan became aware again, he kicked as hard as he could to bring himself back up to the surface. Knowing the water was polluted, he did his best not to swallow any. With the force, he frantically searched for Bruck, he knew that his friend went over the edge with him, but he could not find him.
Finally, Obi-Wan reached the surface. His lungs were burning, and he was exausted. But he was alive. By some will of the force, he found a large piece of drift wood, clinging to it for dear life.
Master? Master, help me.
Obi-Wan allowed his eyes to close and thought, At least with the water being so polluted, I don't have to worry about anything attacking me from below.
Then the boy drifted back into unconcienceness.
***********
It was hours before Obi-Wan woke up. He slowly opened his eyes and saw that it was now evening. Lifting his head, he screamed, "BRUCK! BRUCK!" But there was no answer. Obi-Wan's eyes filled with tears and he laid his head back down on the wood.
Closing his eyes, he used all his strength to call out to his Master, Master, help me. I am alone and cold. Help me.
Obi-Wan was relieved when he managed to get the call out. His master would hear him, he would come and get him. They would find Bruck and then they would leave this terrible place and go home. Obi-Wan cleared his mind, so he would be able to concentrate when his Master responded through the bond.
But then out of nowhere, something bumped against Obi-Wan very hard from under the water. Obi-Wan jolted in surprise and then froze in fear.
Again, what ever it was brushed against Obi-Wan. Rough skin tore open Obi-Wan's pants and cut open flesh, "AHHHHHHHHH, GO AWAY! GO AWAY!"
This is it, I am going to die, in this dark, filthy, icy cold water.
Then Obi-Wan's eyes turned towards a bright light. A large vessel was making its way towards him. Obi-Wan prayed it saw him and would get to him in time. He gave another shout when whatever was under the water brushed against him.
Closing his eyes, he called on the force to help him. He accepted his fate, if he were to die, he would die as a Jedi. Obi-Wan yelped when strong, rough arms pulled him out of the dark water and away from the creature that was stalking him. Obi-Wan landed hard on the deck.
Vrel took in the sight of the wet, bleeding Jedi on the deck before him, to weak to move, to weak to even open his eyes, "You treat his leg before he bleeds out all over the place. Ren will be angry if either one of the brats die before he sees them."
Obi-Wan weakly muttered, "Bruck?"
Vrel laughed, "Thats right little Jedi. In spite of everything, Ren managed to get you and the other brat away from your masters."
Biting back a groan, Obi-Wan called out desperately through the force, MASTER, Oh Master, help us.
*********
"And certain a bomb was planted?" The small holo of Yoda asked.
Qui-Gon answered, "Yes, My Master, and then...then..." Qui-Gon had to stop, he could not go on.
Yoda's nodded, "Understand I do Qui-Gon, Darrick. Help is being sent. Felt Obi-Wan or Bruck have either of you?"
Qui-Gon choked back a bit, "Yes, before this transmission I felt him pleading for me to help him, help Bruck. But I have not been able to locate him."
Darrick then added, "And I feel Bruck's life force, but have not recieved nor been able to make contact."
Yoda again nodded, "Master Windu and Master Gallia. Join you they will, along with Master An-Paj."
Qui-Gon and Darrick both bowed to the holo and the transmission ended, leaving two very worried Masters in its wake.
Qui-Gon could not get the vision out of his mind, of the rocks swallowing up the two young padawans and sweeping them over the cliffs edge to the murky depths of the ocean. He would never forget that sight as long as he lived. But now was not the time for that. Now he and Darrick had to find their padawans, their sons.
Qui-Gon and Darrick looked at one another and Qui-Gon said in a no nonsense tone, "Now we find Ren. He is responsible for this, of this I am certain."
*********
Klea was doing an inventory of the medical supplies when An-Paj came in. Klea was nervous. She had not been able to make contact with Obi-Wan at all, it was un-nerving, but she refused to think that it meant something was wrong.
After all, she thought, we do not have that strong of a connection...yet. But come back safe Obi-Wan, so we can.
Klea looked up from her data pad, "Master, what is it?"
An-Paj did not know how to tell her that Obi-Wan was missing. He did not want to hurt his apprentice. She was a wonderful and sweet girl, and An-Paj was glad when she and Obi-Wan started to see each other, for he rather liked the young man.
An-Paj took a deep breath, "Klea, there has been news."
Klea started counting how many cc's of bacta there was, she nervously asked, "What sort of news?"
An-Paj looked at his apprentice as she kept herself busy, he knew that she knew something was wrong, "Klea, Obi-Wan is missing."
Klea dropped her data pad, and quickly stooped to get it, when she tried to stand again, she felt dizzy. Falling to her knees, she dropped the data pad again and burrying her face in her hands she began to cry.
An-Paj knealt next to her and wrapped his arms around her, "I need to go and join Masters Jinn and Kint on Kranta."
Klea nodded, "Its bad isn't it?"
An-Paj did not want to lie, "I am afraid so."
Klea then said, "I am going with you."
An-Paj stated firmly, "No, young lady. You are staying here where it is safe."
Klea wanted to argue, but one look on An-Paj's face told her not too, "Master, I need to do something."
An-Paj gave her a squeeze, "I know, but stay here and look over the infirmary. Obi-Wan would want you to stay here where it is safe."
Klea nodded in agreement, but she did not agree, not one bit.
**********
Bruck opened his eyes, looking around, he saw that he was in a cell of some sort. Sitting up, he grimaced in pain. Closing his eyes he reached out with the force, but was surprised when he could not sense the force at all. Then he noticed the force inhibitor around his neck.
Moving his hand to it, he tried to remove it. He jumped when he heard a voice, "Don't waste your time, Padawan Chun. It is useless to try to remove it."
Bruck glared at the man, "Ren? I don't understand? Why am I here? Where is Obi-Wan, where are Master Darrick and Master Qui-Gon?"
Ren smiled, "So many questions, my young apprentice."
Bruck did not like the sound of that. "Excuse me, but I am not your apprentice. I am the padawan of Master Darrick Kint."
Ren looked at his fingernails and replied, "No, that life is over."
Bruck said in a venemous voice, "I will never deny who I am. I am a Jedi and proud to be one."
Ren then replied, "Maybe I can use your friend to change your mind."
Bruck asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Ren smiled, "Obi-Wan Kenobi. If you do not bend to my will, he will suffer."
Bruck stood unsteadily, "You are mistaken. Obi-Wan is strong, he would never want me to turn just to save himself."
Ren considered Bruck's words, "I am counting on it. He is strong. What I am counting on is you."
Bruck narrowed his eyes, "Is that so, well, you are going to be disapointed."
Ren shook his head, "Oh, no Bruck. I don't expect you to watch your friend suffer, I have a feeling that you will be more perceptive of me and my plans once you see what I have in store for Obi-Wan."
At that point Obi-Wan was brought into the room, well more like drugged into the room. Bruck could see that he could not stand on his own. There was a nasty gash in his leg that looked rather deep. He had on the same type of collar that Bruck had on.
Bruck's heart dropped, "Obi-Wan? Oh gods, what happened to you?"
Ren smiled, "Oh he had a run in with one of our oceans predators. It realeases a poison into the wound. It can kill him...but...you can stop that."
**********
Qui-Gon and Darrick stormed into Ren's office, he was not there, but Vrel was, Qui-Gon walked up to the desk and demanded, "Where is Ren? I demand to see him now!"
Vrel smiled slightly, "I am sorry Master Jinn, Master Kint, but Ren is not available at this time, but he has promised to make contact with you in good time."
Darrick stepped next to Qui-Gon, "Does he know where are Padawans are? If any harm comes to them, he will have to deal with us."
Vrel had the decency to look uncomfortable, "I am sure, I am sure."
======================
Qui-Gon and Darrick returned to their ship, they would sleep there, until they found their padawans. If they could sleep at all.
They made contact with the council again, and found that Mace and Adi, along with An-Paj were on their way. Qui-Gon had the sinking feeling that An-Paj's presence would be sorely needed.
A beeping noise caught their attention, Darrick went to the com unit, "Qui, we have a message coming in."
Qui-Gon took a deep breath, "Well, I suppose we had better answer it."
*************
Ren smiled into the communicator cam. He was going to enjoy this, It had been a long time since he was cast out of the Jedi. They sent him to Kranta which was a backwater planet, for him to work the rest of his life in solotair. But he had other plans. Ren managed to remove the transmitter in his body that inhibited the force, no small feat, but Ren was one of the most brilliant of all the Jedi. He then got involved in politics. He was good friends with Senator Palpatine of Naboo. In fact they still stayed in touch, Palpatine was a stout supporter of Ren Jalson. But Palpatine was not overly fond of the Jedi, that was clear.
In 10 short years, he was ruler of Kranta. Dictator was more like it, but Ren savored the power he had. And to think it all came about on a mission with Qui-Gon and Darrick. He had not expected them to go along with him, they were strict upholders of the code.
Qui-Gon was a bit of a maverick, but he never did anything to disgrace the Order. But Ren did. He had disgraced the order, the council, had the senate in an uproar for weeks. All the Jedi abandoned him. He understood why, but that just made him hate them all the more. Especially Qui-Gon Jinn and Darrick Kint. He hated them with a passion.
Glancing over at his hostages he smiled. Bruck was leaning over his friend and talking to him in a quiet voice. Of course the other boy was not answering him, the poison was doing its job.
Ren smiled some more and then turned his attention back to the holo cam, he almost laughed when the worried faces of Qui-Gon and Darrick came up, "Ah, Qui, Dar. I am so glad to see you. You both must be so concerned with the little swim your padawans took."
Qui-Gon held back his ire, "So help me Ren, if you hurt them..."
Ren cut him off, "You are not in the position to give orders. I just want to tell you that only one has a chance of walking out of here, and he is not taking it. Sorry, Qui, but your beloved padawan is going to have to suffer a bit. And Dar, lets see how well you have done with your padawan, lets see how long he holds out watching his friend suffer until he finally joins me."
************
Bruck leaned over his friend, who was burning with a fever, "Obi, hang on. It will be all right, I promise. Our Masters will come for us." Bruck hoped that he was right.
Obi-Wan tried to nod, but a pain shot through his body, he gasped, then struggled to say, "Bruck, promise...promise me, you won't cooperate. Please, don't, no matter what."
Bruck swallowed hard, "I...I won't. I promise."
Ren made his way slowly over to the padawans. He looked like a rancor on the prowel.
Bruck stood up and over his friend in a protective matter, "I will not turn, I can't deny what I believe, I can't be what I am not. And I am a Jedi."
Bruck just hoped that he would be able to keep his promise.
*********
Klea stepped off the ship. How she managed to go the entire trip undetected was a mystery. But she was able to, so it had to be the will of the force.
Klea looked around at her surroundings, she knew that the Jedi Masters and Master An-Paj went to meet with Qui-Gon and Darrick. Their ship was about one hundred yards away, she had to be careful, she could not get caught, not now. She had a portable com unit, it was patched into Obi-Wan's frequency, she would find him. She would find him.
================
Bruck stood his ground, "I am not going to turn, I can not, I will not."
Ren just laughed at the boy, "Come now, Bruck. You don't really want your friend to die, do you?" Bruck flinched, slightly, so Ren continued, "Or maybe he is not your friend at all. You hated him at one time, wanted him to fail."
Bruck swallowed, "That was a long time ago. I have changed. He is my friend, a great friend."
Ren scowled, this was going to be more difficult then he thought.
Ren looked like he was about to say something else, but he turned on his heal and left the cell. Bruck waited until he was down the hall to let out a sigh of relief. He then turned his attention back to Obi-Wan, who was shivering.
Bruck took off his own cloak and wrapped it around his friend. Obi-Wan merely groaned. Bruck then decided to look at his friend's leg. Bruck lifted the cloak and almost gagged at the sight. The wound was deep and infected. Bruck knew that the poison was raging in his friend's system, but he had no idea on what to do.
===============
In another room Ren was pacing back and forth, Vrel sat watching him, suddenly Ren stopped and laughed. Vrel looked at him as though he had lost his mind, Ren then stated, "I have it, it is too perfect."
Vrel asked wryly, "Do you care to share?"
Ren replied, "Get two of the guards, have them go in and get Padawan Kenobi."
Vrel nodded, "Yes. And then what?"
Ren laughed again, "We say we are going to throw him off the cliffs."
Vrel was confused, "But I thought you needed him and the other alive."
Ren smiled, "I do. But Bruck Chun has more integrity then I thought, but there is no way he is going to allow his friend to get thrown off the cliffs."
Vrel smiled, understanding, "So then he will do what you want."
Ren nodded, "Yes, they will be where I want them."
=======================
Bruck was busy cleaning the wound on Obi-Wans leg the best he could with the basin of water that was in the cell. Bruck just hoped that he was not making it worse. He jumped up when he heard footsteps. Ren, Vrel and two guards stepped in.
The guards went towards Obi-Wan and Bruck jumped in front of him, "What do you want? Stay away from him!"
The guards roughly pushed Bruck out of the way, and each grabbed one of Obi-Wan's arms. Obi-Wan moaned in pain as they pulled him up.
Ren looked at Bruck, "Come young Bruck."
Bruck had no choice but to follow, all the time he looked for a way that he and Obi-Wan could escape, but Obi-Wan was so weak, it would not be possible at this time.
Bruck was curious when they reached the cliffs, it was a rocky drop, further then the drop that he and Obi-Wan took at the beach.
Without missing a step Ren ordered, "Toss him over."
Bruck shouted, "NO! You can't do that!"
Ren shrugged, "I can and I will. What are you waiting for? I said, toss him over."
Bruck's throat constricted, "Please, don't kill him, please."
Ren acted as though he was thinking deeply, "Let us make a barter, Padawan Chun, I will spare your friends life, for... your service."
Bruck closed his eyes, "That is something I can not do."
Ren shrugged, "Then we have discussed all there is, throw him over."
Bruck then shouted, "No! Wait!"
Ren looked at Bruck in anticipation. Bruck looked at Obi-Wan who had opened his eyes, they looked at Bruck pleadingly, Obi-Wan managed to croak out, "Bruck...don't."
Bruck thought to himself, I am so sorry Obi-Wan. Outload he said, "I will do it."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and aloud his body to slump. Ren smiled, "Very well, I will give your friend the antidote when we get back. I am certain you find this deal acceptable."
Bruck only nodded and said in his head over and over, I am sorry Obi-Wan, I am sorry Master Dar, I am sorry Master Qui-Gon.
TBC
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