TITLE: Dark Sacrifice  26/36

AUTHOR: Cara & Quintus

E-MAIL:  [email protected]

RATING: PG-13

CATEGORY: Pre-TPM, Jedi Apprentice, Original Characters

ARCHIVE: Yes. Please keep headers intact.

DISCLAIMER: Star Wars is the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. No copyright infringement intended, no profit is being made from this fiction. All original characters and story belong to the authors. 

FEEDBACK: Constructive feedback appreciated.

TIME FRAME:  Pre-TPM @ 1-2 years

SUMMARY:  When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan join a diplomatic mission to the planet Sahmly II, they uncover a strange vergence in the Force, centered around a young padawan whose actions may determine far-reaching changes in the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan’s decisions about the padawan could save the boy's life, or drive him to the power of the Dark Side.

DARK SACRIFICE

By Cara & Quintus

Chapter 26

It took Dushiko, Adin, and Obi-Wan until midmorning to retrace Remii's movements from the Ga Scree hospital to the Lho Scree area. The streets were filled with Sahmlians, many of whom were distinctly hostile to the Jedi contingent and their questions. The droid dog gave them pause as it stalked along, head up and carbon steel teeth bared.

"The boy was here, I smell him, although faintly," Bellicus said.

Adin looked around. "The Ga Scree said their leader went with members of the Lho Scree. From what I've learned of their caste system, even a lower caste leader would not meet with common members of other castes. Logic tells me the leader went to meet with other leaders, or high-ranking caste members. So we need to start with the Lho caste leader and see what he knows."

"I do not follow your logic, Knight, but you seem to understand these people," Dushiko said. "I trust your instincts." The Weapons Master looked weary. Not even meditation cleared the bitter resignation from his face.

"I believe I can pinpoint the Lho Scree leader's residence from my maps and from observation of the locals," Bellicus said. He sat and regarded them with his metallic eyes.

"Lead on," Adin told him.

The droid dog went still as he accessed internal subroutines, then pointed with his long snout. "Go to the east approximately six blocks, then turn north and looked for color coding on the buildings."

Obi-Wan drove, and did as the dog said. Soon they were in an area where the buildings had subtle blue and white bandings near the entry doors. Bellicus continued to direct Obi-Wan until they stopped before one imposing residence. Metal gates and sapphire hedges surrounded the building. Obi-Wan drove down an alley until the droid dog yelped at him to stop. The Jedi got out of the vehicle.

Bellicus pointed his nose into the air. "He was here."

Adin nodded, and pressed his hand to the announcing panel. The gate opened immediately. 'I am Jedi Knight Yeriamman," he said in Basic, "I wish to speak to your caste leader."

The Sahmlian stared at him before he replied in lightly accented Basic. "Our leader is dead, killed by one of your kind."

"Our kind does not kill unless attacked. I think there has been a misunderstanding. Is there someone we can speak with? The Sub-Leader?"

"Wait here." The Sahmlian disappeared and returned a few minutes later. "Come with me."

Adin nodded, and gestured for the others to walk ahead of him.

Obi-Wan gave him a curious look.

Once inside the compound, they were met be a tall Sahmlian surrounded by caste mates. With weapons.

Adin gave a formal bow. "Thank you for speaking with us." 

"What do you want?"

"We understand there was a death, and that a Jedi was involved. We, too, would like to know what happened. Did the Jedi come here alone, or was he with another?"

Obi-Wan watched as the rills flared on the natives before the leader spoke again.

"The Jedi came with another. He was supposed to heal our leader's injuries, suffered in the bomb attack. He did not heal them, but killed our leader instead."

"What did this Jedi look like?" Adin asked, one hand on Bellicus' head.

The Sahmlians exchanged glances along with their rill flares this time. "He looked as you did. He wore the same clothing." The leader studied them a long moment. "He was smaller than your smallest," he said finally. "A kit, perhaps?" The leader spoke sharply to one of his guards in caste dialect, and the man bowed and scurried off. "I sent for the one that brought him."

Adin nodded. " We have lost one of our children, and we wonder if the Jedi you speak of is the lost one. He is but a kit, as you say. He is very young, not a healer as you understand it. We are training him, but he has not yet learned what he needs to know to be a healer."

The Sahmlians murmured in surprise. Obi-Wan sensed they were shocked by Adin's revelation, and more willing to now listen to them.

"It is difficult to determine who are the kits of outworlders. You all look alike," the sub-leader said.

"Especially Jedi kits," Adin replied. "I can see where you would be confused, but I think this has been a misunderstanding. We are prepared to offer restitution."

The Sahmlians did not speak, but their rills flared. The leader nodded to Adin. "The Jedi are with honor, as others have told us. Restitution will go a long way towards bringing this turmoil to a close."

Obi-Wan bit back an exclamation as the guard returned with a female Sahmlian.

Adin touched a hand to Obi-Wan's shoulder and stepped forward to give her a bow. "Ga-Ree-Jen, I am pleased to see you again."

The caste leader looked sharply at the Jedi. "You know the Ga Leader? You honor her?"

"Yes," Adin replied. "She has done the Jedi much honor in the past and we return that honor."

The leader frowned, but motioned his guards to leave.

Ga-Ree-Jen waited until they departed, then gave a nod. "What may Ga-Ree-Jen do for the Master Jedi?"

"The kit, the healer Jedi. You brought him here?" Adin asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"The Lho Scree leader was dying. I did not wish that to happen, he was a good restitution negotiator. The kit healed others of our kind. He should have healed that one," Ga-Ree-Jen said.

"You knew the Jedi was but a kit. Did you not know that he could not heal yet?"

"He healed those in the hospital! I saw him. Why he did not heal that one, I do not know," she replied.

Dushiko stepped forward and touched Adin's arm. "Perhaps I can explain. The boy… the kit as you call him, he does not yet know his craft well enough to be on his own. As such, he is like a pitcher of water, he pours out his healing energy, and when the pitcher is empty, he can do no more until he is refilled. For a kit, refilling takes a long, long time."

"He is Force drained!" Obi-Wan said. "That is why you can not 'hear' him. So he may still be out there!"

"It is a possibility," Adin replied.

"He was too tired to heal," Dushiko said to Ga-Ree-Jen. He rubbed his face and looked troubled.

Ga-Ree-Jen's eyes widened. "I understand. We poured his healing on those in the hospital. He could not refill in time to heal the Lho leader." She turned to the sub leader. "I owe you much restitution. I did not understand the Jedi kit could not do what I asked him to do. I am doubly responsible. The kit owes no restitution."

The sub leader nodded. "The kit owes us none. Because all of us misunderstood I will half the restitution, you are no longer bound on his behalf. You are free to return to the Ga and tell them this."

Ga-Ree-Jen bowed low. "The Ga shall make things right with the Lho. Send your speaker to the Jedi and we will continue the negotiations."

Dushiko closed his eyes, and Adin sensed the Weapons Master had reached a breaking point. He placed a hand on Dushiko's shoulder and looked at Ga-Ree-Jen. "I am happy this has been resolved. But where is the Jedi kit now?"

The Ga leader pursed her emerald lips. "I do not know. After the Lho died, I sent him away. I did not want him taken for restitution. Taking outsiders is not our way, but our ways sometimes change, especially when there is upset." She looked apologetically at the sub leader.

"Where did you send him?" Dushiko asked.

"Out into the city…" Ga-Ree-Jen made a helpless gesture with her six fingered hands. "I told him to put as much distance between himself and here as possible. But he could not have gone far; the city ends a few kilometers hence." She gave the Lho sub leader a look and flared her rills, then stepped forward and placed her hand on Adin's arm. The Lho sub leader took a half step forward and touched Ga-Ree-Jen's arm in turn.  "He would not venture out on the savannas alone."

"Not alone," Adin agreed. He froze and his eyes took on a distant look. "He was alone when he left, but he met up with others… two others… they look Jedi… but they are not with us. Darkness surrounds them, and they in turn surround Remii with it. He is still lost, and does not know it…" Ga-Ree-Jen dropped her hand, and Adin looked up with a start at the others. "Dark Jedi! There are Dark Jedi in the city. That is the source of energy we have felt!"

"Force preserve us," Dushiko said softly. "My padawan…" The Weapons Master looked stricken.

Obi-Wan stood rooted in place. Adin's vision explained much... and raised serious concerns.

"Do you know which direction Remii went when he left?" Adin asked Ga-Ree-Jen. "Anything that would help us search?"

"West, he went to the west."

Dushiko whirled and headed for the gate. Adin bowed to both caste members. "Excuse our haste, but the kit is very young. The ones who took the kit could harm him beyond restitution."

"I will come with you," Ga-Ree-Jen said firmly. "I know the area he went into. It belongs to those that have no caste. They will not speak with an outsider."

"Thank you," Adin said. He looked at the apprentice. "Obi-Wan, I think we better continue on foot, so we don't miss anything. He can't have gotten far, as tired as he was."

Obi-Wan nodded, but gave the knight a doubtful look. "Fear can lend speed to the weariest."

"You think he was afraid?"

"I know it," Obi-Wan replied. "I think you do, too."

The two headed out the gate, Ga-Ree-Jen trailing. Once outside, Bellicus took the lead with the caste woman, the Jedi followed close on her heels. Bellicus led them to a dusty street with a fountain.  The droid dog climbed the stairs to the fountain and examined it thoroughly before he turned. "He was here."

"This is the place I saw in my vision," Adin said. "He met them here."

Ga-Ree-Jen glanced around at the dilapidated buildings. "This is not a good place. I feel much anguish and despair."

Bellicus sat suddenly, eyes whirling as he processed information. "This area is not on my maps."

"We do not acknowledge the uncaste," Ga-Ree-Jen said. "No one speaks of them, or helps them, or puts them on the maps. It is something we must change."

Obi-Wan shivered. "I do not like it here."

"Darkness taints it," Dushiko said. "I feel it in the very air we breathe." He turned in a circle. "I also feel them," he said with distaste. "The Dark Ones were here."

"Can you sense Remii?" Adin asked.

Dushiko stood a long moment, gaze turned inward. He finally shook his head. "I cannot. Every time I think I can, the feeling gets masked. You?"

Adin bit his lip. "The same."

"We need to look around," Obi said. "Maybe he is still here, somewhere. Maybe he is hurt, and that is why we cannot feel him."

Adin nodded. "We should search. Obi, you and Bellicus take the buildings to the north, I will take the west with Ga-Ree-Jen. Master Dushiko, the south. If you find anything, use your comlink. Bellicus, Assess and Protect mode."

"Understood, Knight," the droid dog responded. He parked himself by Obi-Wan's right side as the two set off.

Dushiko walked away without a backward glance. Adin watched him a long moment, frowning.

"He believes the kit to be dead," Ga-Ree-Jen said quietly.

"How do you know this?" Adin asked.

"I can feel it. He goes to look reluctantly, because he does not want to find what he expects to find." The caste woman's eyes glittered as she looked at Adin. "You, too, are upset about the kit. But you do not carry the despair of that one. Why?"

"I do not believe him to be dead," Adin replied. "I cannot believe it. I have seen the future, and the future had Remii in it. I understand there are many possible paths to the future, but I do not think I would see one that could not be possible." Adin gave a tired smile. "If it is in my power to make the future with Remii in it happen, I will do so."

Ga-Ree-Jen bowed. "I, too, wish that future to be possible, Master Jedi. Let us find the kit."

~~~~

Obi-Wan rounded the corner of the dilapidated building and stopped short. There, on the ground lay a brown Jedi robe. "Bellicus?"

The droid dog moved forward to sniff the robe. "It belongs to the boy."

Obi-Wan crouched and picked the short braid up from its place on the robe. He felt his heart sink. "Is this his, too, Bellicus?"

The dog gave him a look, but dutifully sniffed the length of hair. "Yes."

"What does it mean?" Obi-Wan said. He chewed his lower lip and looked at the droid dog.

"Do you request an analysis?" Bellicus asked politely. "I can make several projections based on available information."

"Uh, yes, please," Obi-Wan answered.

"First hypothesis, the one called Remii discarded his robe and cut off the braid to symbolize his rejection of Jedi ways and-"

"No!" Obi-Wan interrupted, "that is not true."

"Do you know this for sure, Apprentice?" The droid dog sat, eyes whirling. "I hypothesize from what I know, and from what I know of the boy, he was unhappy. Although my master did his best to retune the boy."

"Remii is not a machine!"

"I never stated he was," Bellicus replied. "My master only said that the boy's Force balance was not properly aligned, and needed to be fixed. Would you like me to continue analyzing?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. He stared at the droid, braid tightly clutched in one fist.

"Second, the one called Remii was removed from the area against his will. If that were the case, the discarded robe would signify the kidnappers disdain for the things Jedi value. If there are Dark Jedi as my master surmises, then they would be symbolically stripping the boy of his ties with the Light side."

"And this?" Obi-Wan asked, holding up the braid.

The droid dog sat and tilted his head. "I believe it to be a message also. They are letting you know that Remii does not belong to you anymore. Or rather, they inform Master Dushiko that he no longer has a padawan."

"That's what I believe also," Obi-Wan said softly. He glanced around. "Is there anything else significant here?" Obi-Wan extended his senses, striving to do what he had been taught by Qui-Gon- read the Force and extract information from it.  He could sense darkness, and despair, but that could come from the natives and the surroundings.

"Not for me, Apprentice."

Obi-Wan opened his hand and dropped the braid back onto the robe at his feet. He fingered the com-link in his pocket, then came to a decision and pulled it out. "Master Dushiko, Knight Yeriamman? I've found something…"

"Stay where you are," said Yeriamman, "We'll find you."

A short time later, Yeriamman appeared, alone. A few moments after, Master Dushiko stepped around the corner and walked towards them, face unreadable.  Both of the Jedi glanced at the robe on the ground. Obi-Wan could tell when they spotted the braid, Yeriamman frowned, and although Dushiko's expression did not noticeably change, Obi-Wan saw a furrow appear between his eyes.

"Bellicus?" Yeriamman asked.

"I can read his scent, but it is faint. It goes towards the outskirts of the city."

Dushiko moved to examine the wall behind them. He closed his eyes and touched it. "Do you feel them, Yeriamman?"

"Yes," the knight answered. "Dark Ones were here. Their malice permeates the area."

Obi-Wan extended his senses to follow the lead of the other Jedi, concentrated, and caught what they picked up on so quickly, an underlying sense of wrongness, pain and fear that didn’t belong to Sahmly City. When he opened his eyes, Dushiko watched him. "Sorting out the information the Force offers you is one of the most important things a Jedi can learn, Apprentice Kenobi. You must attune yourself to the nuances at all times. Lock the sense of the Dark Ones in your memory, it might come in handy."

The words could have come straight from Qui-Gon's mouth. "Yes, Master," Obi-Wan answered automatically.

Dushiko reached down, picked up the braid, and rubbed a thumb over it. "We must return to the Diplomatic Grounds and inform Master Toock of our discovery."

"I think we should continue to search for Remii," Yeriamman replied. "If we head to the outskirts, perhaps Bellicus could pick up the trail. Besides, all we have to assure them of Dark Jedi is my vision, and your sense." Yeriamman gave a self-depreciating smile. "I'm not sure Master Bondura would accept that as proof positive."

"Why not?" Obi-Wan asked. "Jedi prescience is well documented."

"Some Jedi only believe what is right in front of their face, Obi-Wan."

"For what it is worth, I believe your vision, Knight," Dushiko said.  "I feel them here as sure as I feel my robe around me. I have no reason to doubt. But that is beside the point. Master Toock gave us orders."

"And of course orders are more important than your padawan."

"If you believe that, Knight, then you have a lot to learn." Dushiko clutched the braid tightly in one hand.

The two Jedi glared at each other.

Obi-Wan glanced from one man to the other. He sensed the tension and argument that threatened to explode from both. "Master, Knight, please! I do not think this antagonism is natural. Perhaps you are under the influence of the Dark side?"

Yeriamman looked startled, but Dushiko's eyes grew wide. "I believe you have a point, Apprentice. There is a tangle of Darkness, and worry about Remii that is clouding my thoughts. I apologize."

"I apologize also, Master," Yeriamman said, rubbing his beard with a hand. "I have no right to question your loyalty to the boy."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Perhaps we should move from the area, then?"

Master Dushiko shot Obi-Wan a look, but bent to pick up Remii's robe and headed back towards the fountain. Yeriamman fell in step alongside, Bellicus and Obi-Wan brought up the rear. "You know the Force has been turned on its head when apprentices have to remind masters of their place," Dushiko told Yeriamman. "I must comment Qui-Gon for raising such a forthright padawan. I only hope I can teach mine as well someday."

--Continued in Chapter 27--