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Post by ayanabashu on Jul 22, 2005 8:55:57 GMT -5
A Cry in the Dark
Chapter 1 As Obi-Wan lay on his cot waiting for sleep to overtake him, he thought about how good it was to be in his own room again. The past two months hadn’t exactly been the toughest of his life, but the mission had been long and tedious. Peace treaty discussions could be that way and this last mission was no exception.
Two neighboring clans on Averill had laid claim to the same territory. It would not have been serious enough to warrant mediation by the Jedi, but the planet’s largest urban center was in the middle of the disputed territory, and civil war was threatening to broke out. There had been many days when it looked as if the civil war would start in the negotiation chambers. The petty difference of the two clans were all that had stood in the way of finalizing the treaty for many weeks. At last, the treaty had been signed and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were free to spend some much needed relaxation time back at the Temple.
//Good night, Master, sleep well.//
//As should you also, My Padawan.//
As Obi-Wan rolled over to get comfortable, an explosion went off in his head. The blinding pain that accompanied it caused Obi-Wan to sit straight up. His heart was pounding and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead as he gasped for air. He tried to reach out with the Force to get some idea from where the assault had originated, but all he got was disjointed images and intense pain.
//Are you all right, Obi-Wan?//
//Obi-Wan?//
When Qui-Gon received no answer from his padawan, he raced to his room to find Obi-Wan curled in a ball in the corner whimpering.
**************** All over the Temple, Jedi were waking to the disturbance. Many masters, finding their padawans in similar condition to Obi-Wan and called for healers.
Masters Yoda and Windu were already in the Council Chambers where they were soon joined by other members of the council.
“Like this not at all, I do. Find the cause, we must.” Yoda said to no one in particular. “Lost a Force-sensitive is.”
“Reports are coming in from all over the complex that padawans have been hit hard by this disturbance. There is total chaos in the Initiates’ Wing and the Crèche masters have their hands full, as do the healers,” Mace Windu reported. “Whoever or whatever caused this is a very powerful Force user. I agree, Master Yoda, we need to find the source, and soon.”
**************** Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan’s face in his hands and forced him to look at him.
“Obi-Wan, tell me what’s happening. I want to help you, but you have to let me in.”
Obi-Wan just moaned in pain and continued to stare off into space unable to see or hear Qui-Gon.
Make it stop, Master. The images, the pain, make it go away.
“Come back to me, Obi-Wan. Shhhh, everything is going to be okay. The healer will be here soon.”
Qui-Gon felt helpless. There was little he could do for his padawan except to comfort him until the healer’s arrival.
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Post by ayanabashu on Jul 22, 2005 8:56:45 GMT -5
Chapter 2
“Padawan, stay with me,” Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan as he cradled his padawan in his arms. “You have to hold on just a little longer. the healer will be able to help you.”
Qui-Gon was torn. He knew he had to get through to Obi-Wan, but dropping his shields would leave him open to the incapacitating pain that was now paralyzing his padawan. Qui-Gon would be no help if he too was affected. Every moan, every shudder tore through Qui-Gon deepening the chill that fear brought to his heart.
//Master, it hurts so much, I can’t breath!//
By the time the healer arrived, Obi-Wan writhed and screamed as wave after wave of pain assaulted him.
“Master Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan is not alone, there are padawans all over the Temple that are affected. Even the younglings are affected. I know it doesn’t help Obi-Wan, but perhaps you cam take some solace from knowing you are not alone,” Jai-Dahn informed Qui-Gon.
“Master Jai-Dahn, I am unable to reach him, nor am I able to ease his pain. I can’t even put him to sleep. He’s locked away somewhere that I can’t go.”
“I am going to give him something that will make him sleep. Then perhaps we’ll be able to determine what the cause of this affliction is. There is no need to move him to the healers’ ward, he’ll be more comfortable here. I’m just sorry there’s not much more I can do for him before we find out the cause.”
**************** In the Council Chambers, the attitude was one of urgency. The debate was not whether or not the culprit should be sought out, but how to go about it. The council was evenly divided between going out and scattering in an all out search, and meditating to pinpoint the location.
Master Ki-Adi-Mundi proposed that in the next few hours, the members of the council meditate on the best way to find the Force-sensitive. Adding that it would also give the healers time to deal with the problem and that there was a possibility that one of the affected padawans might be able to give some information.
To this Master Windu added that the latest information from the healers was that the senior padawans were not affected, that it was only the younger padawans and the younglings. He further added that the crèche masters had been able to give sleep suggestions to the younglings and that all was now quiet in the crèche wing. The same could not be said for the junior padawans.
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Post by ayanabashu on Aug 2, 2005 13:46:16 GMT -5
Chapter 3 As Yoda opened himself to the Force, he could sense the disturbance that was affecting the younglings and junior padawans. Where he normally saw the energy flowing gently like water in a stream, he now saw the turbulent maelstrom of a raging flood. In the midst of the flood Yoda saw a tiny pinpoint of light struggling to survive the overwhelming darkness that surrounded it. As he reached out to the light he sensed it grow stronger, pushing back the darkness.
Yoda was not prepared for what he found when he finally reached the light. The strength of the disturbance had suggested an older adult, one that was accustomed to using the Force. Instead, what he found was a very small, very frightened child.
The shock of his discovery broke Yoda’s connection to the Force. In his dismay, he hoped one of the other counselors had discovered where the child was.
**************** Elsewhere in the Temple, the chaos was starting to settle down.
Obi-Wan finally was sleeping peacefully in Qui-Gon’s arms. The medication that Jai-Dahn had given him had relaxed him enough that Qui-Gon had been able to give him a sleep suggestion. The master knew that now was not the time to try to get any information from his padawan.
Qui-Gon laid Obi-Wan on his couch as the healer motioned for him to join him in the living area.
“There is little more that I can do here”, Jai-Dahn told him. “Obi-Wan is comfortable for now, just let him sleep as long as he can. It is the best thing for him at this point, and I suggest that you do the same.”
“I need to be with my padawan.”
“We don’t know how long this may continue and Obi-Wan will need you to be rested if the situation deteriorates”, the healer stressed. “It will do neither one of you any good if you are as exhausted as he is, and it may be some time before we find the cause of this disturbance. Get some rest.”
****************
In the hold of a ship, a young Zabrak clung to her mother’s chained, lifeless body.
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Post by ayanabashu on Aug 4, 2005 18:51:28 GMT -5
Chapter 4
“GO ‘WAY! DON’T WANNA GO WIF YOU!”
“Listen, you little brat, I don’t care what you want! You’re already cost me time and money, you’re coming with me,” the man snarled at the child. “Get moving!”
“NO!”
At that last act of defiance, the Aqualish grabbed the arm of Eddiyah and dragged her away from the only comfort she had.
Poble Suda had never had this much trouble transporting children before. The woman had fought hard to keep him from taking her child and he had been forced to kill her in the process. He didn’t care. There was good money to be made from the sale of small children, and he wasn’t going to let anything get between him and his payoff.
He dragged the little Zabrak down one passageway after another, all the while the girl screamed and tried to pull away from Suda. After numerous turns they stopped in front of a hatch. Opening the door, he shoved her in another cargo hold where there were others about her own age. Eddiyah lay sobbing where she landed, she was frightened and she desperately wanted her mother.
****************
“Young, she is, and in danger,” the ancient master informed the council. “In the Force, she is strong, but surrounded by darkness, she is. Rescue, this child, we must.” Yoda closed his eyes, his ears drooping, “where she is, I know not.”
The facial expressions of the council members never changed, but the air in the chamber was thick with tension and an urgency they all felt.
“Has anyone been able to determine where this child is?” Mace Windu asked.
“I had to expend far to get any sense of her, it is my feeling that she is not in Republic space,” Master Adi Gallia added to the discussion. “I did get a sense that there is much darkness where she is.”
****************
As Qui-Gon usher Jai-Dahn out the door, he knew he had a decision to make, take the healer’s advice and get some rest or go to the gardens and meditate. To take the Jai-Dahn’s advice would help Obi-Wan if he needed Qui-Gon, but if he went to meditate he could be of more help to more than just his padawan. There was a being in distress and Qui-Gon’s connection to the Living Force might allow him to determine the reason for the disturbance.
The master looked in on his padawan one more time to assure himself that Obi-Wan was still sleeping. Qui-Gon then grabbed his robe and headed for the gardens.
When he reached the gardens Qui-Gon was relieved to find he was alone. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be around others, but he didn’t want anything to interrupt him. He had come here for a reason and that was all he could focus on.
As he settled into a relaxed state, Qui-Gon reached out with the Force. He sensed that someone was in danger and followed the thread back to it’s source. At the end of that thread was a young girl of only four or five standard years. It wrenched Qui-Gon’s heart to feel such intense fear, pain, and loneliness radiating from this child. He also knew that it was the source of Obi-Wan’s pain.
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Post by ayanabashu on Aug 21, 2005 13:54:41 GMT -5
Chapter 5 The Jedi master was relieved to knew the source of Obi-Wan’s distress, but if he was going to help Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon needed to know where to find the child. His connection was tenuous at best, if he could just strengthen that connection perhaps he would find something, anything, that would give him a location.
As Qui-Gon strengthened his connection with the child he felt the loneliness abate just a little to be replaced by something else. Was that curiosity? He sensed other beings around the object of his search.
//Well, at least she’s not alone, that’s something.//
At the same time as Qui-Gon was beginning to feel some relief, he was hit with another wave of fear and pain. Whatever it was that was causing the fear in this child had returned, and Qui-Gon knew what was the cause, but more importantly he recognized the signature of Poble Suda. The Jinn/Kenobi team had dealt with Suda two years before and if Suda was up to his old tricks again, Qui-Gon had a good idea as to the why and where.
****************
In an apartment elsewhere in the temple a comm unit beeped.
“Ri’iga here.”
“Mynn, it’s Qui-Gon. I need to ask a favor.”
“Qui-Gon. When have I ever been able to refuse one of your requests?” the Ysani-S’kytri replied with a smile. “What can I do for you? How’s your padawan?”
“He’s asleep right now, but I have to go to the Council. I don’t want Obi-Wan to wake up and find he’s alone. I don’t want to intrude, but I need someone to stay with him.” the Jedi replied.
Mynna’ari Ri’iga glanced over at her own padawan, “I’ll be right down the corridor if you need me.” Returning her attention to Qui-Gon, “of course I’ll stay with Obi-Wan. Talon is studying for his trails next week and doesn’t need me here, so I’m free to be there if Obi-Wan wakes up.”
“Thanks, Mynn. I owe you one.”
“I’ll add it to your tab,” Mynn laughed, “now go to the Council.”
“Don’t stay up too late studying, you won’t do any good if you do,” the Ysani-S’kytri told her padawan, “if you need me, comm me.” And with that she grabbed her robe and glided out the door.
****************
In the hold of his ship, Poble Suda chained Eddiyah to the bulkhead.
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Post by Jauhzmynn Enz on Sept 8, 2005 20:11:12 GMT -5
Oh boy, a good story. Any more coming?
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