TITLE: Dark Sacrifice  28/36

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 28

Remii sat with his back against the wall, scrambling to his feet when Muat appeared, ready to defend himself this time. He sagged with relief when the master appeared behind Muat. The Jedi stared at Remii a long moment, and Remii felt the man's senses push their way into his mind. He struggled to throw up shields. The master's eyes narrowed as Remii fought him.

"I told you, Master," Muat said, "He's been trouble. He didn't listen to me, he ran off down the canyon-"

"So I see." The master quit prying at Remii's thoughts and paced back and forth in front of the youth. "Too bad. I have good news for him, too."

Remii stared at him.

"You see, Padawan, I was going to tell you I met with Dushiko." He paced again, then stopped in front of Remii. "Do you want to know what he told me?"

Remii stared at him some more, then his mouth betrayed him. "Yes," he whispered.

"Your Master Dushiko told me I could have you. He told me he washes his hands of you, Little One." The Jedi stepped closer. "He said he no longer wants such a stubborn, disobedient padawan. So… you are mine."

"No!" The denial ripped itself from Remii's throat. "He would not… He didn't…"

"He did. I'm sorry, but he does not want you, Padawan."

"He does!"

"He does not. Why do you think you cannot contact him, Padawan? He's blocked you out. He dissolved your bond. You are nothing to him anymore. You are mine now."

"No, no, no!" Remii charged the master, fists flying. The man casually backhanded him, then strode forward and grabbed Remii by the front of his undertunic and shook him. "You are mine, do you understand? You will listen to me now."

"No..." Remii said. "No! I won't!"

The master laughed softly. "You are so close to becoming one of us I can almost taste it, Little One." He looked over his shoulder at Muat and smiled. "He needs some help crossing over." The Jedi unsheathed a knife and held it up. Dried blood mottled the edge. He ran the point from Remii's throat to his belly with a delicate touch, then sheathed the knife, ripped Remii's under tunic down the front, tore it off him, and threw the pieces on the ground. The master ran a scaly finger over Remii's bare collarbones, and around his chest, ignoring the way Remii recoiled from his touch. "You are mine…"

Diplomatic Residence

Sahmly City

The discussion about what to do took the Jedi the rest of the day. Again Master Toock forbade them to go out into Sahmly City at night. The unrest in the city had reached a volatile state.

Adin’s frustration was plain on his face, while Master Dushiko remained stoic. Obi-Wan bit back his own growing impatience and tried to emulate the calm of his master.

“First light, you, Knight, and Master Dushiko will go in search of the boy,” Master Toock said. “Search the city thoroughly.”

“I fear the boy is outside the city and our influence,” Adin said. “We may have to venture onto the savannahs.”

Toock wrinkled her nose then gave a reluctant nod. “So be it. I trust your judgment in this, Knight. Who better than an Explorer to lead the way? And a Weapons Master to back him up?”

“I will go with them,” Obi-Wan blurted. “They may need me.”

Toock turned to examine him. Obi-Wan held her gaze until she turned to Qui-Gon. “I am unsure of the logic of this, Master Jinn. He is your apprentice. What do you wish?”

Qui-Gon rubbed his bearded chin and studied his padawan. “If Obi-Wan feels he will be of use, then he should go. He will be a Knight soon. It is time he learns to make his own decisions.”

Obi-Wan swallowed. “I feel I should accompany Knight Yeriamman and Master Dushiko then.”  I have to Master. I feel responsible. I should have done more to help Remii.

I understand, my young apprentice. Qui-Gon gave him a small nod.  Go, then.

“Very well,” Toock said. “Prepare yourselves. All of you. I will expect answers by the close of day tomorrow, both on the Sahmlian situation and on the boy.” The Kushiban leapt off the chair and padded away, leaving a silent group of Jedi behind.

In the morning Ga-Ree-Jen waited for them outside. A covered blue and gray marked speeder waited by the ones the Jedi used. It looked battered, but serviceable. A young Sahmlian driver stood nervously by the cockpit door, rills fluttering as he watched the Jedi.

 “I will show you the way,” Ga-Ree-Jen said.

Adin nodded. “I think I know where to go, but it will be good to have confirmation.” He slung his blaster into the front seat and motioned to Obi. “You ride with me. Master Dushiko will take another speeder. We may have to split up, better to be ready to do so.”

“Why would we split our forces?” Obi-Wan asked as he climbed into the front seat beside Adin.  Bellicus leapt into the rear seat before the canopy closed.

“If I am right, there is a pair of Dark Jedi out there, and Remii. One of us needs to distract them, and one of us needs to secure the boy.” Adin started the speeder and moved it onto the road behind Ga-Ree-Jen.

Obi-Wan frowned, but kept his mouth shut. There are three of us, what am I to do while this is going on, guard the speeders? I am not a child...

A hundred kilometers passed before Adin spoke again. “We’re almost there.”

Obi-Wan glanced over from the monotony of the rolling Sahmlian savannah outside his window. “How do you know?”

“I’ve been here before.”

The little convoy stopped where the worn road they traveled met with others at a four-way junction. The road to the west lay in disrepair, tall grass grew in the roadbed, and flash flood ruts marred the normally smooth surface. Adin set the speeder to idle and cracked the canopy to climb out. Bellicus leapt out first and ran to the center of the crossroads, where he turned in a circle.

“I do not sense the Arrcats that were here before, Adin. Not at all.” The droid dog continued to turn in circles and observe the area.

‘That’s because they have something else to occupy their attention,” Adin commented as he stood in the center of the crossroads. Obi-Wan and Dushiko moved up to join him, and more reluctantly, Ga-Ree-Jen, who darted nervous glances over her shoulder at the surrounding plains.

“They are drawn to Darkness,” Dushiko commented. His gaze fixed on the west road. “It sustains them, and makes them stronger.”

Obi-Wan shivered. The idea of anything Dark becoming stronger did not appeal to him. 

Adin dropped a hand to his shoulder. “Ground yourself in the Light, Obi-Wan, and you will have nothing to fear,” he said quietly. He raised his voice. “Bellicus! Scout the western road, one kilometer, and then return.”

The droid dog loped off, sensors on high.

Adin turned to Ga-Ree-Jen. “The western road leads to the Canyon of Sorrows, does it not?”

The Sahmlian woman’s eyes got huge. “It is forbidden to speak of the... that place, let alone go there.”

“But go there we must,” Adin said. “If bad ones took the little Master Jedi, that is where they will be. You need go no further, I just wanted confirmation that this was the right crossroads.”

Ga-Ree-Jen drew herself up. “About fifty kilometers to the west you will find what you seek. You will know when you are close. You will sense despair, and death. You will smell it in the air you breathe, and taste it on your tongue. It is not a place one goes voluntarily. I do not envy you this task.”

“We must find the boy. His life may depend on it.”

“Remii,” Ga-Ree-Jen said with a slight smile. “He must be found, I agree.”

Obi-Wan stared at her. He had never heard a Sahmlian call an outworlder by name before. Even Dushiko stared at the Sahmlian with a raised eyebrow.

“I will go with you, should you wish me to,” Ga-Re-Jen continued. 'I will help you find Remii." Her driver looked aghast, and clamped both six-fingered hands across his mouth. His rills fluttered so rapidly they blurred.

Adin bowed. “I thank you for the offer, Caste Leader, but the Jedi will handle things from here.  You are needed in the city to negotiate for your people. You have done much honor today. The Jedi will not forget this.”

The Sahmlian returned Adin’s bow, then climbed back into the speeder with her much-relieved driver. The speeder wheeled around and set off towards Sahmly City.

Bellicus trotted back and sank to his haunches in front of Adin. “There has been travel on the west road recently, Adin. Vegetation is disturbed, and I smell vapor from a speeder. I found no recent trace of Arrcats on or by the road.”

Adin nodded and turned to Dushiko. “What do you think, Master?”

“We continue on. When we find this canyon of yours, we will reassess our actions.”

“Do you agree, Obi-Wan?”

Startled, Obi could only nod.  Why do they ask my opinion? I am only an apprentice.

It was Dushiko who dropped a hand to Obi-Wan’s shoulder. “Good, then we all agree. We travel onward.” He turned and climbed back into his speeder, and edged slowly up the western road.

“Let’s go,” Adin said. They followed Bellicus and jumped back into their vehicle to follow the Weapons Master.

The last fifty kilometers took much longer than the first one hundred and twenty, Obi-Wan mused to himself.  He touched his light saber for reassurance, then tried to study the passing terrain. They seemed to be climbing; the ripples in the savannah were closer together. In the far distance a mountain loomed on the horizon, purple and blue in the bright Sahmlian sun. As the crested a small rise, suddenly Obi-Wan saw what they sought, and along with it felt a chill of foreboding.

A dark slash in the gold of the savannah, a feeling of despair, of loneliness, of death...

“We’re here,” Adin said.  He maneuvered the speeder up and took the lead from Dushiko, circling the furthest edge of the darkness, staying on the circle of brown grass that marked the beginning of the desolation. He finally found what he sought, a ridge with a light covering of trees that faced the opening of the Dark canyon. He set the speeder down behind the sparse cover and leapt out, blaster in hand.

By the time Obi-Wan untangled himself from the speeder, Dushiko and Adin stood with their heads together, talking quietly.  Obi-Wan stopped and took a deep breath. It was as Ga-Ree-Jen said, the very air seemed tainted, and heavy. He closed his eyes and extended his senses- then very nearly recoiled. The Darkness waited, and roiled with bitter emotions. He would have to be careful not to fall prey to its volatile negativity. Obi-Wan moved up to join the two Jedi. They broke off their conversation and looked at him.

“We think the Dark Ones will have their base camp in the furthest reaches of the canyon. It is the most logical place,” Dushiko said. "If I wished not to be found by Jedi, it is where I would be."

“Bellicus, I want you to scout the top of the canyon. Stealth mode. Do not let anyone or anything see you if it is at all possible. Understand?” Adin said.

The droid dog’s eyes whirled. “I understand, Knight. You do not wish the enemy to know we are here."

“Correct. I also want you to see if you can find any sign of Remii.” Adin reached down and took a hold of the droid dog’s fearsome muzzle with both hands. “That is the most important thing, Bellicus. We need to find Remii. Bring us back what information you can, but do not expose yourself.”

“On my way, Knight!” Bellicus whirled and loped off. Within the space of several heartbeats, it was no longer possible to see or hear him.

“What do we do now? Obi-Wan asked.

“Now, my young apprentice, we wait,” Dushiko said with a tired smile. “Rest and prepare yourself for what lies ahead.”

“And keep an eye out for those Arrcats,” Adin added. “Just because we don’t see them, doesn’t mean they aren’t there.”

Obi-Wan gave a nervous glance around and shivered. He didn’t like it here. He didn’t like it here at all.

--Continued in Chapter 29--