Title: Qui-Gon's Decision
Author: Quay71
Catagory: Old Republic
Keywords: None
Spoilers:
Summary: A Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan Adventure
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Lucasfilm, Ltd. No money is being made and no infringement is intended.

Reviews welcome! I hope you all enjoy!

Qui-Gon's Decision

He had finally arrived. It had been days. But, even days felt like an eternity once their Master/Padawan bond had been severed so quickly.

Obi-Wan is near.

Qui-Gon Jinn could feel it.

The Jedi Master had been walking for days through the jungle-like terrain of the planet Zeth in a desperate search for his young Padawan.

Qui-Gon usually held a very noble stature. He was tall, with a powerful build. His beard and mustache were short and close-cropped, but his brownish-graying mane was swept from his forehead and held with a leather band, allowing the rest of the length to flow freely about his shoulders.

He strode ever so silently through the thick foliage and brush that surrounded him, his mind numb with the loss of his Padawan.

It had been less than a week ago, that he had accepted the mission and he and Obi-Wan had arrived at the stately manor of Zeth leader; Abundi Auhgrali.

Auhgrali had informed them on the first night that due to an increase in population, his cities would have to expand into the vast jungle areas of the surrounding land. Within the first few days of clearing the jungle away the trouble had begun. At first, only small items began missing or being moved from place to place overnight. Days later, dozerships were being wrecked or destroyed. Convinced that the problems were nothing, but pranks Auhgrali ordered crews to work around the clock.

Things settled down until three nights later when a well-known council representative's teenage daughter was taken from her home by some mysterious invisible force.

Soon, more children and young adults were reported as well, with ages that ranged from infants to twenty-year-olds. All had similar stories, they were there and then it was as if their surroundings came to life and took them away. In not one of the cases, had the victim attempted to fight to get away. That's when the Jedi were called in.

The Jedi Master knew the pain and frustration the victim's parents held, he felt it too. He rarely allowed himself to become emotionally distracted by a mission, but this one directly involved his Padawan and he wouldn't rest until he was found.

The same scenario continued to wreck his mind with havoc; he had only been ten meters from Obi-Wan the moment he was taken. Ten, if that!

It had all happened so fast, he and Obi-Wan walked carefully and silently as he was at this very moment. Without even the slightest sign of any impending danger, Qui-Gon heard his apprentice let out a grunt as he stiffened and then dropped into the waist-high foliage. It only took seconds for Qui-Gon to light his saber and get to the very spot where he last saw Obi-Wan. Nothing! He was gone! The only thing that had been left behind was the young man's lightsabre.

Obi-Wan's presence is close, but it is weak, very weak. Perhaps dying. No, don't even think that!

Obi-Wan would turn eighteen today and he had planned to have a small celebration for him when they returned to the Temple, but now he wondered if he would be returning to the Temple with his protégé at all.

Qui-Gon shook the thought from his mind, preceded further, and then he stopped. He scanned the area and looked at every crevice he could possibly see and saw nothing. He was sure he felt Obi-Wan's presence! Not really knowing what caught his attention first; he looked up and gasped at the most gruesome sight he'd ever witnessed.

There had to be at least twenty males and females strung up in the tree canopy about thirty meters up. All had their arms outstretched as far as they could go and bound with vines and some kind of crystalized goo. All of them had their eyes closed as their bodies hung like limp rag dolls.

There were no signs of life; it was as if the Jedi Master had stepped into a graveyard with nothing, but opened graves.

Qui-Gon's heart sunk as he saw Obi-Wan amongst them. He used the Force to gently touch Obi-Wan's mind. He hoped to be able to bring what life Obi-Wan had left back.

Obi, can you hear me?

Obi-Wan Kenobi mottled a sigh of relief as he felt his master bring him from his deep meditative state. Though, with the loss of concentration, Obi-Wan wasn't able to keep his levitated hold on his body and he sunk slightly into the painful grip of the vines.

Master…

Pain ripped through Obi-Wan in waves as he had just barely moved. All he could do was groan, due to the sticky substance that his captor had placed in his mouth to hold it shut. The pain was fierce and Obi-Wan could feel his head begin to swim as he began to drift into unconsciousness. He fought the urge, but in his weakened state he wasn't sure if he had the strength anymore.

Master, I can't hold on...

Shh, Obi-Wan, quiet your mind and don't concentrate on the pain.The Jedi Master could feel his apprentices pain, most was from his right shoulder which he had obviously dislocated, possibly even torn ligaments and tendons.

Then he felt more, he felt the sharp quills that pierced his apprentices body. Many in his legs and upper chest, one in his neck and a couple in his forearms. From the quills, Qui-Gon sensed a burning poison that his apprentice had held at bay with the help of the Force. But, now as he grew weaker, his tap with the Force weakened as well and the poison began to work its way through his bloodstream once again.

Qui-Gon focused his mind on lifting Obi-Wan to relieve the pressure off his shoulders and slowing the poison in his blood, he commanded it.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes slightly as he felt his master's mental pull on his body. A few seconds later, he closed them again. The sight of all the young people around him made his stomach lurch.

They were all dead and he knew it. He had been willing to join them in death as the pain had grown so intense; but then he thought of his master finding him here, dead. That thought alone gave him the will to hang on. The Padawan had been weakened by dehydration, hunger and pain.

But, in his near unconscious state, he realized that death was not the answer. He was a Jedi's apprentice, a Padawan and he wasn't about to let go that easily.

Qui-Gon felt his Padawan's consciousness flicker.

Stay with me, Obi.

Obi-Wan heard and felt the desperation in his Masters silent plea. He half commanded, half begged him to stay awake, but it was getting harder and harder as time went along.

The Jedi Master quickly devised a plan to get his Padawan down from his hanging prison. He would wrap a Force blanket around him and then cut the vines with his lightsabre, while it levitated. He would have to act quickly; Obi-Wan's body was weakening even more. It would be a hard task to use the Force in so many directions; all while slowing the poison that threatened to consume his young protégé.

Obi-Wan, I'm going to get you down, just stay with me.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes slightly and looked around. That's when he saw it, the thing that moved through the tall foliage. Master! It's coming! Behind you!