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When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 36
Qui-Gon moved through the crowd on the streets of one of the planets the Hutts had as a trading outpost for numerous goods, some legal as he looked at the merchants yelling out their wares.
Others less so in Republic space… looking at the exotic women they had on the streets flaunting their bodies to draw in customers as he could only watch on and move further into the sea of people with Obi-Wan staring a bit longer than necessary before following him.
“I understand your feelings but do not let it get in the way of our purpose here. We have no means to properly help these people.” He said quietly to Obi-Wan who did as he was told albeit grudgingly.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan before long came across a club like any other and walked in as the numerous patrons chatted with one another enjoying their drinks or the company around them as they moved over to a corner away from prying eyes.
One of the women, a female Rhodian, approached their table. “What can I get you?”
“I would like to see Jed Boreal. Is he in?”
The woman paused for a moment before responding. “Yeah, he is in the back. Who wants to see him?”
Placing his hand briefly onto the table she spotted the emblem and realized who he was. “I will let him know you need to talk with him.”
The two of them remained at the table waiting and it wasn’t long before they were ushered into the back of Jed’s office as the man went over his paperwork on the terminal as they stepped in. “Qui-Gon it is so good to see you!”
The human man said as he rose out of his seat and shook Qui-Gon's hand enthusiastically. “Though I must say you have chosen one hell of a time to come here with the Hutt's current mood.”
“And it is good to see you as well Jed.” He said back as he and Obi-Wan took the offered seats that Jed gestured to. “Normally I wouldn't be doing this with the way things are currently but I need your help.”
Jed sat back in his Bantha leather chair letting out a sigh at Qui-Gon's request. “Depends on what it is.”
“The one responsible for attacking the Hutts is here. I fear they are here to attack the current Lord of this planet.”
Jed, who looked comfortable with a hint of irritation at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan being here, froze at the mention of the Jedi that's been causing no end of issues for the Hutts. Rubbing his black beard he had grown out that had a hint of gray forming at the edges that wasn’t there when Qui-Gon had last seen him.
“Are you sure of this? The Jedi that has killed a lot of the Hutts forces?”
Qui-Gon nodded. “Yes. But I think it is unlikely they are a Jedi.”
Jed narrowed his eyes at that comment. “How do you figure?”
“Most of the Jedi fighting against the Hutts forces are good, but they are not prepared for a conflict like this as you have seen. Whoever is doing this is skilled, very skilled. Enough so they purposefully leave witnesses and survivors while massacring most of the people wherever they strike. That is not the way of a Jedi.”
Jed could only sigh and shake his head. “Alright, let's say I believe you. What do you want me to do about this?”
Qui-Gon gave him a small smile and Jed knew already he wasn’t going to like whatever idea he had.
…
And Jed was proven right as he stood by watching the less than pleased look of the Hutt that was in control of this world. Lord Grub was busy trying to decide who he wanted to glare at the most, Qui-Gon and his apprentice or Jed for getting in contact with Grub and setting up this meeting.
It spoke volumes of Grub's patience and the fact he wanted this conflict to come to an end since they don’t have his men swarming the club and trying to kill them.
With a growl, Grub spoke in accented basic. “Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t have you all killed with an orbital bombardment from space.”
Jed raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Easy their Lord Grub, Qui-Gon is here to deal with the one that according to him is not a Jedi. He says they are here coming for you and the other Hutts.”
Grub fell silent as he looked between the two of them. “Is that so? Why should I trust you Jedi, since the rest of your kind and the Republic have spit in the face of our mercy and attacked us.”
Both Qui-Gon and Jed were thankful he was willing to hear them out. Both have had their fair share of the Hutts and knew that the fact he was willing to speak even if he sounded agitated told them both he was willing to work with them.
“I cannot speak for the rest of the Order or the Republic. I have not had anything to do with this conflict besides trying to investigate the one committing the attacks, Lord Grub. I believe you and the Hutts here are their targets since you and they are interested in seeing this conflict brought to an end so that you may focus on your businesses and not go back to the old ways as you all are growing to fear.”
He was about to say something but stopped after processing what Qui-Gon had just said and clamped his mouth shut before stares down at him with a searching gaze.
Turning to Jed who looked up at the Hutt. “I have known Qui-Gon for many years, Lord Grub. He also has saved my life on a few occasions. He can be trusted. He isn’t like the other Jedi.”
Jed said vouching for Qui-Gon. He wasn’t lying either, considering their past encounters and how Qui-Gon had saved the man’s life a few times and the man had in turn allowed himself to become an informant and agent for the Republic helping any Jedi in the outer rim gather information or find a place that is safe so they may rest.
It also helped that it’s a lot safer job than what he used to do as a smuggler or running a business in the more dangerous commodities of the black market.
“Jed. You are one of the few businessmen in this sector of space that I can trust, you know the consequences if this turns out to be a trick?”
“I do Lord Grub, and I stand by what I said. He is only after whoever is responsible for helping fan the flames of this conflict”
“Very well.” He said after a long moment of silence had stretched on. “If what you say is true or you believe it to be so, we will have a meeting of the influential Hutts that are in this system soon. I will allow you to be nearby under watch and armed guards. Jed,” He said and spoke Jed’s name as he stared down at him with an intense gaze.
“If this is a trick, you will be paying a high price for this.” Grub said before his image faded away Jed exhaled as he had been holding his breath for quite some time.
He turned and glared at Qui-Gon. “This better not be a trick Qui-Gon.”
Raising a hand in a calming way his face remained impassive besides the faint quirk of his lips going up. “Of course not old friend. As I said, we are after the one who has been attacking the Hutt forces. Thank you, Jed, I know this was not an easy thing to do.”
“You ain’t kidding it wasn’t! Now my neck is on the line…” Jed could only shake his head before he got himself together. “No point in moping about it now, what’s done is done. Now let’s get the bastard responsible for putting us in this situation in the first place.”
Several days had gone by with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan having familiarized themselves with the planet they found themselves on. Qui-Gon used that time to further help Obi-Wan get better with his lightsaber form as they had several of Lord Grub's men stationed near and around Jed's bar to keep an eye on them.
Despite the looks Jed would get he didn’t budge nor sell them out. A good friend indeed.
Blocking a strike from Obi-Wan and countering as his apprentice blocked it before backing away then charged at him putting more force into each strike. Qui-Gon's stamina flagged more and more before despite the force warning him of the strike to come he couldn’t block it in time because of his age catching up with him and his lack of stamina.
The lightsaber struck his left shoulder and he felt pain from the sting before numbness from the containment field set in. Qui-Gon dropped to his knees breathing in and out deeply while Obi-Wan quickly deactivated his lightsaber and checked on his master in concern.
“I’m sorry master, I should not have charged you like that. Are you alright?” His padawan asked him placing his hand on his shoulder and he smiled softly at him.
“You have come a long way Obi-Wan. Do not apologize, your charge is nothing to be ashamed of. Remember though, aggression is not the way of the Jedi.”
Obi-Wan slowly nodded, grabbing some water and offering it to him. Downing the water as did Obi-Wan after that training session. “I will be fine Obi-Wan, simply my age showing. That and I was holding back.”
“Master…” Obi-Wan said, giving him that look he got when he was annoyed. Qui-Gon fought off a smile and a chuckle at the look directed at him.
“Obi-Wan it is alright. You are not far off from being capable of making me be at my best and I firmly believe you could best me when that time comes in a few years.”
“That’s not what I am worried about. I don’t care if you were holding back to help me learn as you have since you first took me in. I am more concerned with this rogue Jedi-” Obi-Wan saw the counter look Qui-Gon gave him and remained steadfast under his gaze, “-or force user from who knows where. If we are to apprehend them, how are we to do so when you struggle to train with me?”
His question was not something that Qui-Gon was annoyed or angered by, as he could feel his padawans' concern for him. It was not an unfounded concern either. Qui-Gon's age and his usage of his modified Ataru form had become a detriment now.
His form and the one he had taught Obi-Wan traded the fast pace and agility that Form IV was known for instead for more power in their strikes. The downside of it is despite the power in each strike it is still a stamina-intensive form. Something that he was going to have to correct later on.
As things stood, Qui-Gon did not have the time to swap over to another lightsaber form since it would require a lot of time to be at an acceptable level in the form before he felt comfortable going on any missions, especially with Obi-Wan under his tutelage. The boy who was becoming a man still had much to learn since he didn’t like the idea of doing things like what they were now.
Talking with the Hutts and other unsavory individuals rankled Obi-Wan something fierce, his padawan wanting to stick to the rules and laws of the Jedi and Republic. Qui-Gon had told him numerous times, you cannot always do things by the law.
As nice as it would be, the force and the galaxy tended to show them all how such ideas were fanciful. Reality made one open their eyes. Unless of course, they continued to choose to be blind to it.
“Obi-Wan, you know I am a capable duelist, I will be fine. If need be we can retreat after getting an idea of who this mysterious individual is and how capable they are. We currently need information on what we and the rest of the Order are dealing with.”
Obi-Wan paused for a moment looking like he was going to argue with him but with a slump of his shoulders and a huff he accepted. Grudgingly, but acceptance all the same.
“Alright.”
With that, they settled into silence as time went on and eventually, they found themselves at a lavishly decorated hotel owned by one of the Hutts. He and Obi-Wan stood within the crowd while no one paid them any mind beyond the few guards the Hutts had keeping an eye on them up on a second floor looking down at the group of Hutts surrounded by slaves and entertainers.
The musicians played an energetic tune with their stringed instruments and Alderaanian wind flute. “Master, are you sure the attacker is going to be here?” Obi-Wan asked quietly, leaning closer to him as he blended in far better than he had when he had taken him on a few missions in the distant past.
Before he would struggle with not drawing attention to himself and now he was far better equipped to become one with a crowd even with his robes. Many sentients in the galaxy liked to use robes that looked similar to the ones a Jedi would wear for various reasons.
“I am. Open yourself to the Force Obi-Wan, let go of what plagues you and you will know.”
Heeding the advice of his master Obi-Wan did just that. He managed to calm himself just enough despite the raging emotions within himself with help from his desire at not wanting to disappoint his master. One thing that wasn’t helping his frustration was the constant denial at not being allowed to go and help the Republic against the Hutts. He had been questioning why they remained here when the Hutts responsible for so many acts of evil are right before them.
Why can't they just deal with them now, merely capture them and bring them to justice? Even if they were not responsible-- as much as he doubted it-- for the conflict that had erupted across the outer and inner rims. As far as Obi-Wan was concerned they deserved every bad thing that happened to them.
Even this Lord Grub despite the claims that he wanted this conflict to end.
But he let that go. Deep down he knew much more was at stake currently and his master needed him to work with him, not against him. He struggled at first to let go and feel the force. Like trying to calm a raging river, slowly but surely it calmed down to a steady stream. He felt the force and for lack of a better word saw what his master was talking about.
Not at first. At first, he merely saw the collective darkness of this world from all the pain and suffering. It was stifling, but centering himself in the Force Obi-Wan managed to calm himself and continued to feel through the Force for what Qui-Gon was so confident was the one they were after.
As time went on Obi-Wan began to have doubts before a nudge in the Force directed him to a part of the darkness around them.
The darkness here was oppressive and stifling like being submerged under chemical wastes in what was once clean water. But then he felt it through the Force helping him, there was something more sinister mixed into it.
He can faintly make out a darkness that was far colder and more sinister but it faded away and appeared occasionally from the ocean of darkness.
Becoming almost one with the darkness around it that he would have missed were it not for the Force guiding him. Like the fin of some great beast beneath the depths that would on occasion cause the water to ripple revealing its presence.
So the Force had aided them and from what he could put together wanted them to find this person. Obi-Wan had long since learned from his master that there were no such things as coincidences when things lined up like this.
Not when the Force was involved.
Just like when they first met one another all those years ago… focusing on the presence he tried to find it in the mass of darkness but with no success besides it occasionally breaking the surface but by the time he noticed it it was already submerged back in the cold murky depths.
“I see you now understand.” His master said with a smile before it faded away. He watched the party from observing the Hutts tapping their hands against their bodies to the rhythm or looking relaxed while the musicians and dancers continued to play. Everyone else was enjoying themselves.
Some of the guards were smart enough to not enjoy the drinks like the others were. They kept an eye on both of them but also other parts of the large dark chamber. The spots of light coming off of reflective decorations from beams of light aimed at them, the room was much darker with it being mostly the Hutts and the band with the barely dressed dancers in the spotlight.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood there for some time, occasionally drinking some water. Obi-Wan grew restless and Qui-Gon himself froze halfway from taking a bite from a local delicacy of meat wrapped in cheese in the form of a ball.
He crept closer to the edge the guards around them had their attention drawn to him with Obi-Wan now on full alert.
Where Obi-Wan was struggling to find the one they were after through the Force, Qui-Gon on the other hand had been getting better and better at spotting it and reacting to its presence surfacing. Still difficult to find it when it was mixed in with the rest of the darkness, but when it made a move he had grown accustomed to seeing it and tracking it.
Like tracking the movement of a great predator in an ocean by the water shifting and moving albeit with great difficulty, but possible given time and patience. “Are they here?” Obi-Wan quietly asked, but still loud enough for the nearest guard to look at them intensely.
Turning to face his padawan the guard could see a part of his face before he nodded, “They are. Prepare yourself.”
Obi-Wan took the situation seriously like he always did when on missions with him. He palmed his lightsaber looking more energetic than he had before. Not out of excitement, but being in a dangerous situation. But like the many things he learned from Qui-Gon, when in doubt lean on the Force and it will aid you.
Qui-Gon in comparison to his padawan who was calming himself with difficulty was like the eye of a hurricane. Despite the chaos and darkness around him, he was calm like an island untouched from it all acting like a bastion and an anchor for those struggling to find some semblance of calm and peace.
Obi-Wan managed to finally calm himself down but there was still a tenseness to his movements. The guard having overheard them muttered into a comlink with the guards around them having their hands hovering over their weapons if not already drawn and ready to use.
Guards all around them who were not enjoying the festivities began to move around as they prepared themselves with Jed gesturing at Grub who watched and slowly blinked. Then both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan felt it.
A coldness seeped into the room that only they could feel with everyone else being blissfully ignorant of the room being plunged into a dark and foreboding shadow.
Qui-Gon moved forward knowing through the Force what was coming. Leaping over the side and landing in front of Grub he narrowed his eyes at Qui-Gon. Several of the Hutts gaped like oversized fat fish at his presence and then in horror when his lightsaber ignited the dark chamber in a green glow before the doors to the chamber crumbled like mud before a tsunami forced open.
A figure in a helmet concealing their face wore cream-colored robes stepped through with numerous guards and servants lying dead behind them.
Despite not seeing their eyes, Qui-Gon knew they were aimed solely at him and not the Hutts. Hearing Obi-Wan land right beside him the figure pulled out a pair of blue lightsabers before charging at them. Several of the guards opened fire on the figure but they blocked the rain of crimson bolts sending several back at the guards.
Grub, seeing the situation, spoke to the others in Huttese, each of their repulsor platforms hovering up and moving further back with the crowd of entertainers and guests screaming and fleeing in terror.
Before Qui-Gon's emerald blade met the sapphire of the attacker they used the force and pushed several of the guards back with each of them hitting the wall falling and not getting back up.
A strike lashed out trying to take a hand at the wrist only to be met with a slash that intercepted his blade, Obi-Wan joined the clash not long after as the figure blocked their strikes before taking a split-second opening and going on the offensive.
Whoever they are, they were incredibly skilled and well-trained. Each strike was like having a hammer slammed into them and the speed and ferocity were unlike anything Qui-Gon had encountered before.
In a matter of seconds, dozens of blows were exchanged and Qui-Gon would counter where he could to take advantage of any openings but the attacker was too fast and ferocious.
Any openings that could be exploited which were rare and the few that did happen were quickly left behind with several more blows being used to cover up any openings with more attacks and power.
Qui-Gon was utterly surprised by the skill he was witnessing. Obi-Wan wasn’t idle this entire time either, originally standing beside him trying to divert some of their blows towards him and get their attention while Qui-Gon was starting to buckle under the onslaught.
Now Obi-Wan was doing his level best to become the center of attention for the assassin but the figure focused primarily on Qui-Gon.
Several of the guards had held their fire to their collective surprise since they had expected them to not care and simply open fire on them. Of course, Grub yelled at them while the two of them were getting pushed back with their weapons raised and Jed further back in the room looked on in concern yelling for them not to shoot.
Feeling through the Force they all disengaged when the blaster bolts impacted where they had been. They each evaded the shots and blocked a few as the Force helped them know where to block and evade as it guided them. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan ensured each deflected bolt didn’t hit anyone in the room but their enemy did not have such reservations.
Each deflected bolt hit either one of the guards or the few innocents in the room who had yet to fully leave it, uncaring of their lives. The warning through the Force came too late before they had to watch in horror as the assassin raised their hands when they were in a gap between bolts and many of the guards were raised into the air before getting sent flying.
Grub and the other Hutts on their repulsor lifts had made it through one of the doorways with a large durasteel door closing behind them. The assassin rushed past Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan who both gave chase but they were not as fast with the assassin being far faster than them with the Force empowering all three of them.
Despite the rate at which the Durasteel blast doors were closing wasn’t the slowest nor the fastest, it was still fast enough that most sentients wouldn’t be capable of moving fast enough to get inside the room that also currently had more guards shooting at them. Despite being forced to evade and flip around each shot the assailant was still moving forward at a fast enough rate leaping over and ducking each blaster bolt.
As they drew near to the door that was halfway closed and when Qui-Gon grew concerned that they would make it the one they were after felt a warning through the Force and turned back with one lightsaber deflecting several blaster shots before having to slow down as more and more shots honed in on them with several more ahead of them cutting them off from the now almost fully closed door.
Glancing over and seeing Jed holding his holdout blaster pistol with a rifle in his other hand pried from a dead guard he fired several more shots making the assassin slow down but not enough that they couldn’t make one last attempt and leap forward becoming a speeding slug round taking two blaster rounds to the chest for their attempt.
Just when it seemed they would make it they slowed to a stop mid air and abruptly wrenched back to Qui-Gon who had his hand raised in a pulling motion. As they came back they broke off his telekinetic grip on them with a quick application of the Force snapping it. The door closed with a hiss and Qui-Gon could feel the rage and hate coming from them while he and Obi-Wan had their lightsabers at the ready.
Without even looking they batted aside a volley of blaster bolts back at Jed who ducked under them going to a knee and continuing to fire at them they raised a hand to use the Force while still gripping a lightsaber but Qui-Gon stopped it in time as his green blade locked with one of their blades and Obi-Wan stopped the other blade from spearing him as he wrenched it to the side. Jed didn’t even attempt to fire out of fear of hitting them.
Both sides pushed against one another before they both were caught off guard with the newfound strength that they were pressed up against pushing them both back and forcing them both apart.
Not wasting any time the figure used a Force-empowered leap before bringing both blades slamming down on Obi-Wan who fell to a knee barely able to defend himself from an onslaught of strikes before a pained gasp leaves him when his leg was cut from the side with a single strike using the very tip of the blade to bypass his defense.
Bringing both beams to their side in an attempt to bisect Obi-Wan from his neck and chest to instead abort the strike when Qui-Gon hurried to stop it as he clashed with the figure one on one with Obi-Wan falling to the floor fear and worry for his master felt through the Force as he watched on powerless.
Qui-Gon felt his stamina waning as the fight dragged on while their opponent hadn’t slowed in the slightest despite the amount of effort they had put into battling them. The only thing helping keep him in the fight was the Force. It helped give him just enough speed and strength to not let his enemy take advantage of any openings.
Staying on the offensive and trying to force them to be more defensive he noticed that they were not as good on the defensive as they were entering a stalemate with each strike blocked, countered, avoided, and parried. They went blow for blow, a whirlwind of green and blue in the dim room before many doors opened and guards came pouring in.
Steps echoed out across the room even managing to overwhelm the hum of their lightsabers and the crackle of their collisions with the guards both above and on the floor they were on began to surround them before a Nikto pointed at the masked figure. “They are the one, shoot them!”
At his command, the guards opened fire and Qui-Gon was forced to leap aside. The figure blocked numerous blaster bolts managing to keep up with the barrage to Qui-Gon's surprise and horror seeing just how skilled they were before they began quickly retreating, becoming a blur leaping and spinning through the bolts.
Crouching low they leaped up to the second floor and with a wave of their hand send a crowd of guards sliding across the floor and cutting any in their way down if the screams of pain and the feeling of their deaths echoing in the Force to Qui-Gonn while he lay on his side exhausted letting his gentle grasp over the Force go.
“Qui-Gon!” Jed called out to him, quickly rushing down from the second floor and checking over him.
“Are you alright?” He said worried for his friend.
“I will be, my padawan Obi-Wan needs medical attention. Do not worry about me.” He said breathing heavily as his body felt sore, especially in his hands and arms from the blows they endured when clashing with the one they were after.
Jed reluctantly went over to Obi-Wan checking him over while the guards had their blasters ready. Several went through the doorway that their target had fled through. Some came over and helped Jed after some orders from him they applied bacta patches to help soothe Obi-Wan's leg wound.
Well after what just happened, Qui-Gon would say there was no doubt in his mind that the perpetrator of these attacks was no Jedi. The Council could argue it, but as far as he was concerned there was a third party involved in this conflict making it far worse than what it could have been.
Getting up and heading off to check over Obi-Wan as he contemplated what they were going to do if they fight that person again.
