TITLE: Dark Sacrifice  32/36

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 32

Obi-Wan started for Remii, before he'd gone a meter, he sensed another shift in the Force. The invisible barrier holding back the Arrcats vanished, and they immediately sprang. Obi-Wan barely had time to bring his light saber around as he reacted without thought. The next several moments were spent in an intricate ballet of life and death, slash and dodge. Arrcat teeth clicked by his ear, and their screams echoed off the rocks as Obi-Wan dispatched one after another with fatal wounds. Panting and covered with gore, he used a respite in the attacks to look for Remii.

To his horror, two small Arrcats had a hold of Remii and attempted to drag him off into the bush. Obi-Wan started for the padawan, only to have the biggest Arrcat he'd seen yet leap into his path. The cat's three feral eyes glowed with an unanimal like fervor. Obi-Wan was forced to dodge and backflip away to avoid the big cat's claws. He threw a Force blow at the big cat, then directed one at the smaller Arrcats surrounding Remii. They retreated, confused.

"Remii! Fight them!"

The boy showed no response, and Obi had a fleeting moment to wonder if the padawan was dead before the big Arrcat attacked again. If he wasn't dead, he very well could be by the time Obi-Wan killed the cat and got to him. Obi-Wan redoubled his efforts, and managed a fatal slash across the Arrcat's throat that dropped the beast in his tracks. Obi-Wan turned in time to see an Arrcat prepare to clamp down on Remii's throat with bared fangs.

Obi-Wan sprinted forward; the crowd of Arrcats around Remii snarled and fought, then scattered as he somersaulted into the middle of them, light saber flashing. Remii lay on the ground, bitten perhaps a half-dozen times.  The boy was limp, his tunic torn and bloody at the shoulders, arms, and legs. Blood gushed from a jagged tear in Remii’s right knee and soaked the hide boot a deep red.

Movement on his left caused Obi-Wan to turn. He stumbled over Remii. The Arrcats charged as one, expecting their quarry to go down. A shower of rapid-fire blaster bolts broke the Arrcat charge as soon as it formed. A tan mass that Obi-Wan recognized as Bellicus flashed past him, and tangled with the Arrcats. The droid dog whirled and snapped and snarled while pinpoint laser bolts blazed as Bellicus became a blur of lethal force. Obi-Wan waded into the confrontation, twirling his light saber and slashing Arrcats which fell dead or dying on and around Remii. The boy never moved.

A surge of Light energy took Obi-Wan so by surprise that he missed landing square after a jump and instead landed on his posterior. He curled himself into a ball and continued a backward roll that brought him to his feet, then circled Remii, still on guard. The Arrcats retreated several dozen meters – a perimeter of Light surrounded the Obi-Wan and Remii, and it drove the carnivores back.

Obi-Wan turned. Adin Yeriamman stood in front of him, breathing heavily. The Knight was gore-smeared and held his light saber at the ready.

“The… Dark… Master?” Obi-Wan gasped, out of breath.

“Finished. By him,” Adin said, pointing at Remii with his light saber. “It's a long story…But you did a fine job, Obi-Wan, eliminating the apprentice.”

Obi-Wan nodded, too drained to do much else.

"Let's get these creatures off Remii."

In short order they pulled Arrcat carcasses off the boy and tossed them outside the Light circle where the remaining cats began to devour them.

“Bandage up that shoulder and face wound,” Adin ordered. “I’ll take his leg. Bellicus, patrol!” Adin laid his hands over the bleeding knee and closed his eyes, head tipped in a listening pose.

“Yes, Knight Yeriamman,” Bellicus replied. He slipped out of the force shield and roamed in a circle, blasting any Arrcat that strayed too close.

“Remii won’t last if we can't stop the bleeding,” Obi-Wan said. "I think that knee wound hit an artery." He pulled bandages from his utility belt and ripped open the outer packaging, then applied the self sealing strips to the worst of the wounds. The bacta smeared plas-strip melded itself to the tear over Remii's collarbone, and the gaping hole in his shoulder.

Adin finished his examination and opened his eyes. "It's bad," he said softly. He reached into a utility belt pocket and pulled out a thick plas-press bandage, opened the package and rewound it over the bleeding knee before he triggered the small control to inflate the pressure bandage.

 Obi-Wan glanced up. “Your force shield is shrinking, Adin!”

The knight jumped to his feet, light saber ready as he reached a hand to stabilize his force shield. Arrcats yelped and scrambled for escape as the shield overtook them. A flurry of blaster bolts from Bellicus dispersed the Arrcats entirely.

Obi-Wan concentrated on bandaging Remii’s face as Yeriamman stood defense. Gashes ran over and under the boy’s eye where an Arrcat bit his head. Obi-Wan smeared bio-sealant into the wounds then reached a hand down to Remii’s neck to feel his pulse.

“What do you think, Obi-Wan? How is he?” Adin asked, eyes still surveying the terrain, light saber at the ready.

“Very weak. He lost a lot of blood in a relatively short amount of time, Adin,” Obi-Wan replied. "We need to get him back to the Residence and medical help.”

“Leave him,” a quiet voice said from outside the force shield. “He has joined the Dark Side.”

“No!,” said Adin. "That is not an option. We will not abandon him.""

Dushiko moved inside the force shield and faced Adin, light saber drawn.

“We must let the boy die,” Dushiko said softly. "There is no other way…"

“There is always a way!” Adin replied, “If the boy dies, it will not be because of our neglect! If Remii lives, then the Dark Master was truly defeated - not by you or I but by the student you would elect to abandon.”

"I do not abandon him! I am saving him a future of pain and torment as a Dark Jedi!" Dushiko's eyes dropped to the boy and fixed there.

Obi-Wan saw plainly revulsion as well as compassion tore at the Jedi Master. If Dushiko and Adin start fighting, we’re in deep trouble. Is their understanding of the Force truly so divergent?

"That is not the future I saw," Adin said. "I saw Remii as a powerful Jedi… a Keeper of the Light… a Healer."

“Maybe you only see what you wish to see, Knight. What makes you think he can be saved?” Dushiko asked. “He embraced the Dark Side. I felt him use it and draw upon it!”

“He held onto us as he did so! In the end, he looked to the Light to save himself. He repented!” Yeriamman retorted. “He is a boy, not a Dark Master who named his price and sold his soul years ago! Remii is dying!”

“Master Dushiko,” Obi-Wan pleaded, “help us get Remii back to the speeder and out of this place! He can still be saved!”

“Remii turned!” Dushiko shook his head, despair plain in his eyes. "He is tainted."

“Will you rise as a Dark Master to replace the one your student dispatched? I felt your anger at your nemesis; that anger is closely held because it represents a betrayal. Would you do the same thing to Remii, or will you help your apprentice find his way, even if it requires extraordinary measures outside your experience, Ak’ra Dushiko? He can be saved. If you help Remii now, when he needs you the most, then it can be fairly said that his Master has finally arrived.” Adin extinguished his saber and stepped forward to place a hand on Dushiko's shoulder. "If you truly believed Remii was beyond hope, why did you prevent him from following the Dark One into the ground? 'Don't leave me…' I heard. Obi-Wan heard. Obviously Remii heard. Remii believes in you, Ak'ra. Now return the faith and love that boy has in you, and help us save his life!"

Dushiko’s expression changed from confusion to pained anguish. He took several tentative steps toward Remii before dousing his saber and hanging the weapon on his belt. He knelt next to the boy and rubbed a thumb over Remii's uninjured cheek, smearing blood and gore away. “You speak the truth, Knight. I cannot deny it." Dushiko took off his robe and wrapped it around Remii. "I don't want him to die. I will carry Remii to the speeder. You two and the droid run interference. Those Arrcats may not give up.”

Adin nodded and pulled his light saber off his belt. “As you command, Master.”

Obi-Wan rubbed his face, perplexed by the exchange between the Knight and Master. He reignited his light saber and led the way back to the speeder, followed by Dushiko, who carried Remii. Adin bought up the rear, light saber also at the ready while Bellicus walked a wide perimeter.  They made it without incident, the surviving Arrcats having grown wise in the ways of the Jedi and light sabers. Adin took over the controls, and headed back to the city, taking a shortcut Obi-Wan was certain wasn't on any map. It cut their return trip by a third. Obi-Wan spent that time following in the other speeder. Obi didn't dare look in the backseat, where a silent Dushiko held the body of his unconscious padawan.

Adin jumped out of the driver’s seat of the speeder. Dushiko and Obi-Wan lifted Remii out of the other vehicle. Qui-Gon Jinn exchanged a glance with his padawan, then attended to Remii along with several Sahmlians who wore the Medal of Dkaka signifying their status as physician.

Adin watched them take Remii away, resisting the impulse to follow.  Dushiko spoke to Obi-Wan, patted his shoulders once, and pointed toward Adin. Obi-Wan glanced after Remii and his master, but did as he was told.

Adin felt Dushiko’s eyes on him, full of pain, yet also grateful – something that Adin hadn’t expected. You made a difficult decision. One you did not expect to make. Adin bowed his head toward Dushiko. You remain a Jedi Master this day, Ak’ra Dushiko. Take care of your student, and yourself.

 Dushiko glanced at Adin, nodded, and followed the medics into the Diplomatic Residence.

“Knight Yeriamman?”

“Yes?” Adin said, turning to look at Obi-Wan. He forced a smile then shook his head to clear it. “My apologies, Obi-Wan. It has been a trying day. It may be forward of me to say so, but you handled yourself very well, Padawan, as well as any knight. I hope that you will soon become one.”

“I thank you, Adin. I apologize for some of the unspoken accusations I made earlier. I can see that they were unfounded. You care very much for Remii.”

Adin sighed softly, careful to conceal the wave of sorrow rising in him. “I do care for Remii – and Dushiko.”

Obi-Wan’s eyebrows furrowed. “Did you see this come to pass in your mind’s eye?”

Adin shook his head and looked toward the front doors. They opened, and Masters Jinn and Bondura followed Master Toock into the driveway. “No, Obi-Wan. Foresight is predicated on being on a particular path at a particular time, and staying on that path to fruition. If you change to another path, then foresight changes accordingly. I did not see this possibility… not in this way.”

“We are please to have you back safe and sound with Apprentice Kenobi, Knight Yeriamman,” Master Toock said, glancing at Jinn as he grasped Obi-Wan’s shoulders.

Obi-Wan smiled, and collapsed into his Master’s hug.

“We are more than happy to be back in the safety of the city, Master Toock,” Adin replied.

“How is Hajradurama?” Bondura asked.

“Medics tend to him,” Qui-Gon replied. "They are doing their best, but I may need to assist Master Dushiko in stabilizing the boy. His wounds are grievous. They will call me if I am needed." Jinn rubbed a hand over his face. “Most of his physical injuries can be healed, but others wounds are beyond Sahmlian capabilities. We do not know how badly his mind was damaged by what happened. He should be taken back to Coruscant as soon as he is stable enough to travel.”

“Elaborate, please,” Toock said. “We felt the boy use the Force. It was an inconceivable thing he did, an act of desperation, and foolishness." She twitched her nose. "It was also incredibly bold, and something only a padawan would have thought to do. Was Remii successful in trapping this Dark Master?”

“Yes,” Adin replied. “ For the moment. That one is bound to the Darkness that exists in the Canyon of Sorrows, but his presence could serve as a beacon. That is another matter for consideration."

"The planet of Sahmly Two could fall further under Dark influences," Bondura commented.

"I think we should disperse this Dark Master once and for all before he escapes Remii’s bonds.” Adin said.

Toock and Bondura both nodded. “We will discuss the matter with Coruscant, but I think it is safe to say that the matter will be remedied before our departure,” Toock replied.

“What other news, Adin-Duanath?” Qui-Gon Jinn asked.

Yeriamman wiped his temple with the palm of a hand. “I managed to disable their ship. It is out in the bush. I can provide coordinates for a technical team to claim it.”

“What else can you tell us about these Darksiders?” Bondura asked.

“That’s the confusing part." Yeriamman shook his head. "I’m not sure what Force tradition they followed. Perhaps something will be discovered aboard their ship that can further identify them. There was an Apprentice – killed by Padawan Kenobi, and a Master – engaged by myself and killed by Master Dushiko. No others.”

“Good,” Master Toock said, approaching Adin, and grasping his hand in a furry paw. “Come inside, Knight Yeriamman, clean up and rest. More questions we will have for you later.”

“Thank you, Master Toock. What of the unrest in the cities? Were you able to quell it?”

“Ga-Ree-Jen was instrumental in restoring peace,” Jinn said with a broad smile. “She came to us after meeting with you. The Sahmlians assumed that all Jedi were equal and obviously didn’t understand that Remii was not trained to act as a Healer. Restitution was exchanged between lesser and middling clans, embarrassing several noble clans that advocated combat to settle matters. Their restitution will be most expensive indeed.”

“It should be,” Adin agreed.  “It is possible that they were manipulated by the Darksiders, but I am yet uncertain how direct a hand they played in the matter.”  He rubbed at the sweat on his face and gave the other Jedi a small smile. "I think the events of the day are catching up with me. I feel a bit faint."

“Inside, and drink, Knight Yeriamman. We will learn the truth before the rising sun,” Master Toock said. “I have an evening meeting with clan elders directly to discuss the matter.”

“Not with representatives mind you, but clan elders,” Bondura emphasized. “The fact that you and your rescue mission discovered Darksiders was instrumental in bringing all elders together – something that has not happened in several centuries.” He stood aside and gestured Adin toward the front doors. "Come Knight, Apprentice. Refresh yourselves."

One of the Sahmlian physicians scurried out the front of the Residence and down the stairs into their midst. "Your pardon, Master Jedis, but this one is needed," he said, pointing at Qui-Gon. "We fear we are losing the little Master Jedi. He will not stop bleeding."

--Continued in Chapter 33--