Hidden4

Title: One Apprentice, One Pathway #2: Hidden (Part Four)
Author: Ginger Ninja

*****

Qui-Gon and Lena sat on the patio sipping drinks. Lena turned to Qui-Gon. "I think we should try and meet some of the other rulers on this planet. So far we have only spoken to Moeren. Perhaps the others will be slightly more open about the ways of Elmvanis."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I am forced to agree. Moeren has been most gracious in taking us in like this but we have very little news about our Padawans. Have you had any more luck with Kyrana?"

Lena shook her head. "The only thing I know for sure is that she's on this planet. What about Obi-Wan?"

Qui-Gon's face remained the same but inside his heart sank. Obi-Wan was no longer a constant presence in Qui-Gon's mind. His lifeforce came and went. Out loud Qui-Gon said, "No, I haven't found Obi-Wan through our bond."

But Lena knew Qui-Gon was miserable. Any Jedi, from the highest master to the lowest initiate, would be able to sense this. She knew and understood the bond between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan but could only imagine the pain one must feel when that bond began to ebb slowly away.

Both Jedi looked up simultaneously to see Moeren approach. They greeted him politely and then asked if they could visit other sections. Qui-Gon and Lena shared a glance when Moeren reacted with more surprise than was really necessary for such a request.

"Well...I...erm...I suppose it can be arranged," he said rather hesitantly.

"Please, if you can," Lena said, her calm voice not betraying anything-the perfect Jedi. "We are most worried about Kyrana and Obi-Wan and any leads we can find would be most welcome."

Moeren looked at Qui-Gon. "Are you sure about this too Master Jedi?" he asked, as if only Qui-Gon's word would satisfy him.

"Without a doubt Moeren," Qui-Gon replied without blinking.

Moeren's sigh seemed rather long and drawn out as it echoed in the Jedi's minds. "I shall return soon with the arrangements." And with that the troubled Elmvanian left.

"I sense something is amiss with him," Lena said as soon as Moeren was out of earshot. "However I cannot place it. Something about all of this isn't right."

Qui-Gon agreed. "We must be careful what we say and do around him I think. It could get dangerous." He looked around the garden as if searching out spies. "We have allowed ourselves to relax too much and haven't considered the idea that Moeren maybe..."

But whatever Qui-Gon had to say remained unsaid as a female Elmvanian approached the two. "Please come with me," she said quietly, almost fearfully. "Something terrible has happened."

The two Jedi got up straight away and followed the woman to Moeren's office. When they arrived they saw that the office was in terrible state. The desk and chairs had been thrown across the room, many of the books had been slashed and there was a strange green substance in small puddles on the ground. The door had been ripped off its hinges and the window had a large spider web crack branching out from the centre where someone had possibly tried to smash through the window.

"Where is Moeren?" Qui-Gon asked. "Was he injured? Is this his blood?"

The maid looked at the Jedi, her voice quaking as she mumbled, "Master Moeren has been abducted. In fact, all the Section Rulers have been taken."

"Who by?" Lena asked.

"Misfits," the Maid replied, her voice quivering with rage.

*****

It seemed luck was on Obi-Wan and Kyrana's side. After awakening from the previous night's ordeal, they had discovered that it was already well into the working day yet no one had come for them.

"We should use this opportunity as a time to plan our escape," Kyrana said, her eyes shining with determination.

Obi-Wan nodded. It seemed that he two apprentices would have to rely on each other instead of their master's. �Former Master,' Obi-Wan reminded himself remorsefully. 'Qui-Gon has gone.'

Kyrana felt Obi-Wan's depression return and, although she still had no idea what was wrong, she placed a hand on his arm in a comforting gesture. "Don't worry Obi-Wan," She said, with a smile. "Everything's going to be fine."

Forcing his emotions down, Obi-Wan returned the smile. "Of course it will," he replied.

The two plotted for several hours until Kyrana suddenly fell silent. "What is it?" Obi-Wan asked her.

She looked at him, her expression one of confusion. "Don't you feel it?" she asked. "Someone here is in terrible pain and everyone else seem to be petrified of whatever it is that's happening to that person."

Obi-Wan's eyes widened in shock. How could he not have felt such a disturbance in the Force? What was going on? First Qui-Gon's presence had gone now the Force itself seemed to be elusive. What was wrong with him? Out loud Obi-Wan just said, "I guess I was too absorbed in our escape plans."

Obi-Wan attempted to centre himself while Kyrana peeked out of their cabin door window. No matter how hard he tried, his centre eluded him. Frowning from this new problem, Obi-Wan focused instead on Kyrana who was saying something again.

"...Seems to me like everyone is terrified of this person, whoever it is," she was saying. "Let's check it out."

Obi-Wan looked at her. "Where is this person?" he asked, trying to sound as if he was intent on finding the cause of the disturbance, even though he hadn't felt it.

"I have only a vague idea so perhaps we should stick together," Kyrana suggested. "Plus I've been around more of this ship so we might be less likely to get caught if we stick together."

Obi-Wan nodded. He had no intention of splitting up from Kyrana when so many weird things were happening to him and around them. Despite his lack of Force, Obi-Wan had a feeling that something wasn't right. "I have a bad feeling about this," he said aloud to Kyrana. "But we might as well do something."

Kyana nodded and then focused on the door lock. She was surprised to find that she was unable to lock it. Then, when she tried the handle, she realised with a sheepish grin that it didn't need unlocking. She pushed the door open a little and then, when she was sure there were no guards in the immediate vicinity, she crept out. Obi-Wan followed shortly after he closed the door.

Kyrana led Obi-Wan to a door just next to the one that led to the Captain's personal area. "This leads to where I found the nursery," she informed Obi-Wan. "I think who we're looking for is just down there."

Obi-Wan nodded and then looked around to make sure no one could see the pair. Kyrana was about to say something else when Obi-Wan threw her through the door. Unprepared for the move, she tripped and fell to the ground. Turning back to him, a protest on her tongue, Kyrana fell silent as Obi-Wan glared at her with a finger to his lips. Outside the door she had been thrown through, were the unmistakable sounds of the guards.

"I dunno mate, something about this seems a little too dangerous."

"But it could be our ticket off this ship! Think about that? Do you even remember the last time you were on dry land?"

"Sure I do! I was the one who got supplies from Suo's section."

"Idiot! You know what I mean! When was the last time you were able to move around on the land freely without all those sectioned fools looking down their noses at you?" There was a brief pause then the voice carried on. "Exactly! Never! With this deal the Captain's got going, we'll be able to rule the lands soon!"

Obi-Wan and Kyrana shared a quick glance at each other. What were they talking about?

"So are you going to check on our prisoners now?"

"Yeah, gotta make sure they're comfortable." Then loud laughter rang out from the two guards.

Kyrana pointed at the door as the handle began to move. Obi-Wan crawled forward quickly and joined Kyrana. "We'd better find someplace to hide," he said calmly.

Kyrana nodded and led Obi-Wan further down the hallway as the door opened and the still guffawing entered. Kyrana pulled on Obi-Wan's arm and dragged him into another cabin. She closed the door and the two apprentices stood either side of the door as the guard clomped by the door.

"That was close," Obi-Wan muttered

Kyrana walked forward into the cabin. Obi-Wan realised for the first time that this was the nursery she had spoken of. There were five cots and in them were five tiny grey babies, all fast asleep. Obi-Wan suddenly heard a sob from Kyrana.

"What is it Kyrana?" he asked, instantly at her side.

Kyrana looked at him, her wide green eyes glistening with tears. "Obi-Wan," her tone carried a note of disbelief. "Obi-Wan�these babies�they're�they're *dead*."

Obi-Wan was caught unaware as Kyrana fell into his arms sobbing. Dead? No, no they couldn't be! No, Obi-Wan would've known if they were dead! They weren't dead!They were just sleeping...

Over Kyrana's shoulder Obi-Wan saw one of the cots. Gazing at it closely, he realised with a growing feeling of sickness that they were dead. Their tiny chests didn't move at all. The blankets they laid upon had been soiled on over and over. Obi-Wan felt tears come to his eyes as he listened to Kyrana's distress. Not only was he upset by the appalling conditions these children had been kept in, he now knew that he was most definitely unwell himself.

"Obi-Wan?" Kyrana asked as she pulled away from him and saw the distant look in his eyes. "Obi-Wan what is it? What's wrong?"

He shifted his gaze from nothingness to Kyrana. "I...I can't feel the Force," he whispered brokenly. "I can't feel anything, not even Qui-Gon..."

Kyrana suddenly understood why he had been so upset and depressed recently. It all made sense now. "Oh Obi-Wan," she whispered quietly. "Why didn't you say so?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Can we talk about this later?" he said, not really feeling like talking after this disturbing discovery. "Let's just find out what caused that disturbance you felt OK?"

And before Kyrana could protest or agree, Obi-Wan headed for the door. Biting her lip in concern, Kyrana obediently followed. Something about all of this was wrong and it was getting worse by the minute. Why couldn't she quell this dread rising in her? Why couldn't she�

"Halt!"

Obi-Wan and Kyrana came to an abrupt stop. Turning around, they came face to face with a group of guards.

"Sir, we've found them!"

The guards stepped aside as the Captain came forward. Kyrana stood slightly in front of Obi-Wan. "What do you think you two are doing?"

Obi-Wan stepped forward. "What have you done to me?" he asked, his voice devoid of all emotion. "And why have you killed those innocent babies?"

The Captain actually appeared shocked. "Dead?" his voice rumbled through the young Jedi's minds. "How can that be so?"

As he ordered two guards to check on the nursery, two others grabbed Obi-Wan and Kyrana. "We shall see what sick game the two of you are playing!"

It was a tense couple of minutes that passed as the Jedi and Misfits awaited the return of the guards. When they did come, the Captain's body posture gave it all away before he uttered a word.

"Dead?" he eventually rasped. "The children?" The guard nodded and then rushed away. The Captain turned to the two teens and Obi-Wan didn't need the Force to tell him of the anger that was radiating off the Captain.

But why was he so distressed and angry? Hadn't he let the children die? If he hadn't, then who had?

"Captain?" one guard, who stood behind Obi-Wan, asked hesitantly. "Shall we�?"

The Captain made a gesture. Obi-Wan looked towards Kyrana. Their eyes met. Kyrana suddenly looked behind Obi-Wan. She opened her mouth to shout out a warning but it was too late. The butt of the guard's blaster smashed into the base of Obi-Wan's skull. Obi-Wan sank to the deck. He was unconscious before he hit the deck. Kyrana soon followed into the dark abyss.

*****

The Captain looked at the two unconscious humans. From behind someone else approached. The figure did not emerge from the shadows.

"Have you apprehended the ones who committed this�atrocity?"

The Captain did the Elmvanian equivalent of clearing his throat. When he was certain his voice would be strong and not shaky with grief, he replied. "Yes. What shall I do with them?"

"For now keep them with the other prisoners. We shall decide on their punishment later. For now though, there are more pressing matters at hand. Come Captain, we have an important call to make."

The Captain ordered to guards to take the boy and girl to the brig. He followed the shaded figure out onto the sunlight deck.

*****

"So what do you do now that all the rulers have been taken?" Lena asked as she and Qui-Gon met up with the Vice Section Rulers.

Lena was slightly surprised that the Vices of the other two Sections were females. Did this mean Tonir and Suo were female too? Lena had begun to believe that this was a male orientated planet but she had been proved wrong. Moeren's vice, of course, was male. Perhaps it was only he and his section that saw women as underlings and not as equals. Or perhaps the other two Sections were female orientated. Once again Lena found that she knew frustratingly little about Elmvanis and its culture.

"The only thing we can do is attempt to contact the Misfits and demand that they return our leaders," Yashan, Moeren's vice, spoke up.

"And what do we do if they say no?" the quiet voice of the blue Frea said. "What if they don't even have them?"

"Of course the Misfits have them!" Yashan thundered. "Who else would sink low enough to commit such a crime?"

The wispy white Shirai calmly pointed out Yashan's biased opinion. She would have continued if not for the knock on the door. Qui-Gon opened it with a quick Force manoeuvre and the maid from earlier bustled in. "My apologies for my intrusion," she said breathlessly. "But we just received a holo-transmission I think you'll be interested in."

She handed a disk to Yashan and he slid it into the holo-projector in the centre of the table. He activated it and a miniature figure came into projected life.

"People of the sectioned world hear this!" the Misfit's voice rang out. "We have your precious leaders here!" The view moved from the Misfit to three bound and gagged figures. The Vices' gasped in turn as they saw their leader. As the image switched back to the Misfit, Qui-Gon saw something that made him frown. Behind the Misfit,he could make out a crumpled heap of cloth. But in that heap of cloth was a hand.

A human hand.

Quietly pointing this out to Lena, Qui-Gon's heart felt suddenly lighter. Was this the clue they had been searching for?

When the transmission ended, Qui-Gon got straight down to business before any of the Vices' could speak. "Are there any other human's on this planet that you know of?" he asked.

Yashan spoke up. "Of course there isn't! Elmvanis has never had humans here before you came."

Lena gave Qui-Gon a tight nod. That confirmed it. The Misfits did have their Padawan's.

"We have traced the source of the transmission," the maid said.

Yashan nodded grimly. "Prepare our fleet," he said, each word sizzling with anger. "It's time we disposed of the Misfits once and for all."

*****

When Obi-Wan opened his eyes, it took several seconds for everything to come into focus and several longer seconds for the world to cease spinning. Next to him, Kyrana still remained unconscious. Shifting slowly into a sitting position, Obi-Wan didn't realise that he and Kyrana weren't alone until he heard a voice.

"Are you alright young one?"

Obi-Wan was used to there being voices in his head but he hadn't expected one here. Looking up, he came face to face with a very white face. Obi-Wan frowned. Weren't all Elmvanian's grey?

"Hello there, my name is Tonir."

"You...you're different from the others, aren't you Tonir?" he asked the white face.

"We both are," came another voice. "I am Suo."

Obi-Wan looked past Tonir and discovered that Suo was blue.

"I don't understand," he admitted. "I thought you're species were all grey."

Tonir leaned back and laughed a little. "No, only the Misfits are grey, the rest of us are either white, blue or green."

"Oh," Obi-Wan said. "So, how come there isn't a green Elmvanian in here too?"

"Because the green ruler, Moeren, doesn't allow his section to mix with anyone else unless it's absolutely necessary," Suo said. "They are very strange in that way."

"Indeed," Tonir picked up where Suo left off. "It is only Moeren's section who seem to oppose change."

"What kind of change?" Obi-Wan asked.

Tonir and Suo explained the separation within Elmvanian society. They explained who their sections believed it was time for change and how Moeren's section opposed it.

"But why?"

But before Obi-Wan could be given an answer Tonir and Suo fell silent. Obi-Wan turned around and saw a Hooded figure standing in the doorway. Behind him stood the Captain.

"Have you decided on their punishment yet?" the Captain asked Hood

"Indeed I have," Hood replied. "Bring the girl to my cabin. You may do what you wish with the boy. He is already useless."

Two guards came into the room. Obi-Wan stood in between them and Kyrana. "Leave her alone." Obi-Wan ordered in his most intimidating voice.

The two guards shrugged at each other. While one guard picked Kyrana off the floor, the other shoved Obi-Wan against a wall and held a blaster to his throat. "One more peep Pinkie and you'll regret it," he hissed.

Hood took Kyrana and left. Then Obi-Wan was greeted by several more guards. They all had the same look in their eye.

"It's been a long time since I had a good fight," the guard who still held Obi-Wan up against the wall sniggered.

*****

Kyrana opened her eyes and ignored the pounding headache. Looking around, she found herself surrounded by several male guards. Feeling oddly cold, Kyrana wrapped her arms around herself. She gasped when she found herself dressed in nothing else beside her underwear

"Who wants to go first?"

Kyrana looked around for the source of the voice but couldn't find it. She found, to her horror, that she couldn't properly access the Force. In that one instant, she understood how completely cut off Obi-Wan felt. As the guards started to come forward, terror rose within the girl. She was in serious trouble.

*****

As Qui-Gon tried to tell Yashan that their apprentices were aboard that ship, Lena felt Kyrana's already distant presence in her mind slip further away.

"We must hurry," Lena spoke up, her voice trembling from uncontrollable anxiety and fear. "Something terrible is about to happen."

***End Part Four***