Kora Roberts rolled over sleepily. She wondered what had woken her up and was prodding her side. "WAKE UP!!! Kora, we need you!" She heard Mila's voice kind of faintly. It was hard to hear, sleep seemed like a good idea. She thumped her head onto her pillow and tried to get some more Zs but Mila wouldn't stop screaming.
"Mak. MAK!!! Get in here! What the fuck did you do, fucking sedate her?"
"Of course. Sh-she needed to sleep to recover f-from her injury and she couldn't sleep s-s-s-"
"Of course she couldn't sleep. SHE'S AN INSOMNIAC!!!" Mila raged. Kora made a low moan, wishing they would go away. She had been having such a nice dream before.
"Wake her up."
"But, it could hurt her later!" Mak protested.
"Well honey, trust me she won't care because for all we know the motherfuckers could be planning an attack, and here we would be without a leader and they could destroy the rebel army and then she would say... WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP!!!!!" Mak squirmed at the new screamed threat. He took out a syringe and poked Kora in the arm. She made an annoyed grunt at the prick, then slowly came out of the daze.
Mila snarled and Mak ran away. She gave Kora a cup of black coffee. Kora sipped it tranquilly and slowly inhaled as the warm liquid swished in her mouth. "Now, what were you babbling about?" She asked calmly.
"Maill says she saw some activity near Balat and a cruiser landed. She says Roberts is there. She wasn't sure what to do so she reported to me. I figured you should check it out."
"Is the cruiser off planet?"
"Of course. She thinks it's from Coruscant, the logo was on one of the wings."
Kora had to stop from spitting out her coffee. She calmly set the cup down as the anger flooded her body. Slowly, she focused on the anger until it started to melt away. She accepted the feelings and once she had control of her mind again, she spoke. "I'll check it out. Tell Maill to come to camp and tell her good job. I'll handle this one alone."
Rain streamed continously onto the ground. The jedi had been on the planet's surface, maybe five minutes before they were thoroughly soaked. The leader of the planet, Roberts, had immediately approached Qui-Gon and started filling him in on the situation as he showed them to his transport that would take them to the city. He seemed to be deliberatly ignoring Obi-Wan, which suited him just fine because it gave him a chance to observe the planet.
He had a feeling Roberts didn't like him very much. The file he had read as briefing had explained that Roberts didn't trust anyone under twenty and only vaugely trusted those under forty. He was eighteen and felt that a stupid reason for someone to ignore him. The file had stated that the rebels were made up of mostly youths. There were veyr few people in the rebellion over sixteen, which had made some people wonder how the rebellion had gone on for three years. The rebels had little training, scarce supplies and their base was huts spread out over the vast forests that made up the majority of the planet Lay. The government should have squashed the rebellion awhile ago.
But they hadn't. Many said that the leader of the rebellion, Roberts' own neice, had a strong mind for military battle and was a brave fighter. Some of the locals said she could take down an entire army with a blaster. High words to be spoken of for a girl of sixteen.
It made Obi-Wan suspicious of Roberts. What could he have possibly done to make his own neice turn against him in such an extreme manor? Roberts didn't seem very likeable. Add to that that he was dressed in fine robes and had a luxiourious transport when his people were in the middle of an economic depression. Just the price of his boots could feed a family of five for weeks.
The depression had been brought on by Lay's war policy. To keep interference from other planets to a minimum, a blockade had been put around the planet to prevent unknown ships from entering and they accepted no imports. The blockade was costly and the people were starving and unsheltered as a result.
Something had broken in the transport. Roberts assured them they would be on their way momentarily. Obi-Wan glanced at the ten guards standing by Roberts. He had chosen to meet them in the forests outside of the capitol city, but to accomplish what? If the rebels showed up, did he hope to make them look like bad guys? Or was there something he didn't want them to see in the city's port, if it even had one.
Just then, blaster fire flashed over their heads, catching their attention and snapping Obi-Wan out of his reverie. Instantly his lightsaber was in his hand. Qui-Gon responded in like. They looked up into the trees, where the blaster fire had come from and tried to locate its source.
At that moment a girl bounded down from the trees. It was at least a fifty foot fall and she landed on her feet, unharmed in the middle of the circle. A blaster holster stuck out from the belt around her waist. Her baggy denim pants were ripped and blood stained, her boots caked with mud. She seemed very worn. Her body was tan and lean, hiding rippling muscles and flexible limbs. Her hair was a unique shade of blond and hung unbound down past her shoulders. Her sapphire eyes sparkled at the new challenge. She seemed no older than seventeen.
"Hi Unc. Who's your guests? Lemme guess, jedi cuz you're a hipocritical shit. You set up this blockade of battleships to prevent ME from calling for help and then you go back on your word and call these guys in cuz you can't crunch a sixteen year old girl all by yourself. Tsk tsk tsk. Ain't right. I mean, you gotta have more important things to spend your money on than blockade ships, like food for your people?" Her arrogant smile finished the insult perfectly.
Obi-Wan sensed a flood of rage coming from Roberts. His face was red and flustered. For a moment he couldn't speak, only point at her. "FIRE!!!" The guards aimed their blasters, but she leaped through the air before they could pull their triggers. She was back in the trees all the while firing her blaster. She took five men out of the fight in about five seconds. Roberts and the remaining guards headed for the transport. Obi-Wan started to head for the transport too when Qui-Gon spoke to him.
"See if you can find the girl, then contact me."
"But master I think we should-"
"Now's not the time to question orders. Find her before she gets away. I'll watch after Roberts."
Qui-Gon ran into the transport. Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. "They're going to leave without me." He said to no one. Roberts didn't like him, he was certain he would take off and leave him there.
Obi-Wan looked around and wondered what to do. Then he saw a twig land at his feet and heard a slight rustle in the branches above. He sighed and followed the trail from the ground. It wouldn't have seemed obvious to a random guard, but Obi-Wan knew the girl was leading him somewhere. She stopped near a small body of water. He stood there, waiting.
She leaped out of the trees and landed neatly a few feet in front of him. She took a moment to study him so he studied her in more detail. He noticed a tiny scar next to her eye that was mostly covered by her hair. It looked like it had been painful to receive. Again, he noticed how fit she was and he didn't entertain the fight of a battle with her, she seemed ready for any opponent. Then he noticed something else. He left pocket, the end of a silver tube protruded up about a centimeter or so, no one else would have caught it but he did. It was the hilt of a lightsaber, a jedi knight's lightsaber! He reeled in his shock and decided to ignore it for now.
"Your ride's leaving without you." She finally said. Obi-Wan listened and heard the transport take off. He bit his lip and snarled a bit. The girl laughed. "You're awfully prickly."
"I knew he would do that." Obi-Wan muttered.
"Yeah, well I don't reccomend going into the city alone. You're a kid and most of the rebel army is so they have this rule, shoot kids first, ask questions later. And I know you think you're some hot shot fighter, but trust me, in a confined space against twenty guards, you'll crash and burn just like a normal person."
"I'm not a kid."
"Under twenty equals kid. Sorry to say so, but you don't look over twenty." Obi-Wan scowled again, which caused her to laugh again. "My name's Kora Roberts. Most people call me Bitch. Some call me Cunt. What's your name?"
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Any nicknames?"
"No."
"Well, everyone needs a nickname so I'll make one up for you now. Let's see... Shithead will do for now. I'll upgrade you later." He wondered if that was her policy for everyone. Distrust them until you knew them better. "Listen Shithead, you obviously can't enter the city yet. So come back to the rebel camps with me and I'll see what I can do to get you in. That can help your mission too, because then you can get our deal. Just because they're adults doesn't mean they're right."
"I never thought that."
"Uh huh. Sure. You coming with me?"
"What choice have I?" With that they started walking to the camps.
Mila looked at the new arrival. So that's what a jedi looks like, she thought. He seemed overly serious. Not the kinda guy she would wanna hang out with. Then again, there wasn't a guy she wanted to hang out with. Mila decided she was the bitter towards male female stereotype.
She took a swig of something that would get her drunk from a flask. Wish she knew what the stuff was. Not that she wouldn't drink it anyhow, beggars can't be choosers. She looked around the camp. It was beginning to get dark out. All of the kids were sitting around the big fire eating their meals. The jedi was talking quietly with Kora. She had found some way to get him into the city during one of their annual raids of the capital. When the shield generators went down once a year, a big thanks to the rebels on the other side of the planet next to the shield generator, in five days they would sneak in, grab some weapons, food and medical supplies, and sneak out. Kora would help Obi-Wan find his master while Mila led the mission. Simple gig.
Mila walked over to the two of them and made some suggestions on how they infiltrate. After a few moments they were done with the plans. "So, tell me about Coruscant. I've never been there but I think I have some relatives there." Mila said to Obi-Wan.
"Everyone probably does. The planet is huge and well mixed. Every species live there."
"Is it true you can live there your whole life and never set foot on the ground?" Kora asked. Obi-Wan nodded. "That must suck. Me, I need nature." Mila agreed. Obi-Wan said there were plenty of gardens and places to go for nature.
Nah, it's not the same. I mean, this is real. These trees, the lake, the flowers and animals. This is my life. I don't think I could live without it." Mila looked around and silently agreed.
"This is kinda nice." Obi-Wan agreed.
"I'm going in. 'Night." Mila said and headed into her tent. A few moments later Kora joined her.
"What do you think of him?" Kora asked.
"Seems kinda stiff. He needs to get drunk. Maybe then he'd be tolerable. A few piercings couldn't kill him either." She said.
"I like him the way he is."
"Uh oh. Does Kora have a little crush?" Mila asked in an exaggerated voice.
"Maybe..."
"On him?! Serious, the stiff out there?" Mila laughed. "Well, he is kind of cute. In a completely not my type kind of way."
"Of course he's not your type Mila, you're a lesbian. But he is my type."
"You have a sorry type. 'Sides, he's on the other side and in the end, even if we do win, he'll lit on outta here. And you'll never see him again."
"Gawd Mila, I'm not planning on marrying him or anything. I just have a crush. Still...we could have time for a fling."
"You have five days to seduce stiff over there unless you want to sabotage finding his master, and don't you dare do something stupid like get your ass stuck in the city by not getting out before the shields come back up."
"I'm not stupid Mila. Jeeze, I can have a crush without my brain turning into mush."
"Yeah, well I've had a crush before and I lost my mind so I'm gonna keep my eye on you. But you will tell me if anything comes from this puppy love, won't you?"
"I swear on all that is holy I will keep you up to date. Now I gotta go sort through some leader shit...and maybe talk to him again...about something or other." Mila laughed as Kora left her tent.
"It's going to be an interesting five days, that's for sure." She muttered to herself.
Qui-Gon Jinn paced relentlessly around the room he had been offered. He had told them not to leave, told them to stay where they were until Obi-Wan contacted him. And there was something around the city that scrambled his com-link. Twenty four hours. Twenty four hours for them to search for Obi-Wan before he went and did it himself.
Still, he wasn't angry at Roberts. Roberts himself had tried to persuade the guards into waiting for Obi-Wan, but they said it wasn't safe. He later reassured Qui-Gon that the rebels didn't hurt kids, so Obi-Wan would be safe. Qui-Gon had snapped back that Obi-Wan was not inept and that he could defend himself, but he wondered. That girl had been very skilled. Should he have sent Obi-Wan to fight her alone.
Either way, it was pointless to pace about in his room. He thought about leaving to look for Obi-Wan now, but he had promised them twenty four hours. So instead he decided to focus on the mission. He took off down the hallway to find Roberts.
Three days. Three days had passed and she was getting nowhere. Maybe if the bastard was a bit less reclusive they could bond or something, but instead he brooded in the little hut she had given him. Although, when she did find an excuse to talk to him, he was courteous and even funny and sarcastic. Mila referred to him as the stiff, but he really wasn't. She had already upgraded him three ranks in nickname to nonentity.
Now they were walking through the forest together. She couldn't find an excuse to talk to him, so she just outright asked him if he wanted to talk and he had said yes. They were in a discussion about her hair.
"I hate my hair." Kora said as she tightened her elastic to keep the messy bun in place. She furiously swiped a loose piece out of her face, trying to make her point.
"I think it's beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen a shade of blond like that."
"I hate having blond hair. Everyone assumes I'm a dumb blond and it doesn't help being a pretty teenage girl either."
"I can't imagine anyone thinking you a dumb blond."
"Well they do."
"Then why don't you just dye it?"
"My Dad made me promise I wouldn't ever dye my hair when I complained about it once. He said I shouldn't aid people in judging me by my looks, but to accept that my looks don't control my personality." Obi-Wan looked surprised. "What?"
"You just paraphrased a saying we learn at the Temple."
"Oh, my dad was a jedi. He bowed out when he fell in love with my mom and moved here. He was really helping out our shitty politics but then he died." She decided not to mention the part about him being murdered.
"Is that why you have a lightsaber?" Now it was her turn to be surprised.
"Yeah. He was allowed to keep it because he was still on call if they needed him. I woulda given it back, cuz he said jedi are supposed to when they quit, but I can't get a ride to Coruscant." She also didn't want to admit that it was the only thing of her father's she had.
"I think they would have let you keep it anyway." He said quietly. He studied her for a minute. "Do you know how to use it?"
She shook her head. "My dad kinda trained some jedi stuff to me even though he probably shouldn't have, but I'm force sensitive and he didn't want me to get scared or use the powers for bad purposes. But I never learned how to fight with a lightsaber. I just carry it with me to remind me of him."
"Would you like me to teach you some things?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Isn't that against the rules?" She asked.
"My master ignores rules enough that I should get to at some point." He said.
"Besides, what they don't know won't hurt us." He smiled at her comment and they headed into a clearing. She took her father's lightsaber out of her pocket. "I...um, I don't know how to turn it on."
"I guess I'll start at the very beginning then." He looked at the lightsaber and pointed to a red button. "That will activate it." he pointed to another button. "That controls the length of the blade. This one controls the power. That dot is the weakest setting, which will give a life form a nasty burn. That's the maximum setting, that one can sever limbs."
"Sever limbs. Got it." She mumbled as she stored the information into her brain. He showed her a few basic moves which she picked up quickly. He oved on to more advanced fighting techniques.
"You're a fast learner." He said approvingly.
She smiled as she moved the white blade through the air. "I think I got this down. Now how would one deflect blaster fire?"
"Well, you pretty much sense when the fire is coming at you from the Force, then move the blade to block it. I can't really explain how, it just kind of comes naturally." He picked up a rock and ran his fingers over it. Then he suddenly threw it at her. She moved the blade so that it sent the now very hot rock back into a tree. She smiled.
"Like that?"
"Yep."
She smiled again. "I like this." She moved the lightsaber from side to side. "What now?"
"Blocking." He answered.
Try as she might, Kora was much better at offense than defense. Her and Obi-Wan had a practice battle, and he had had so many almost burns on her, because she always missed the block. He sighed. "I really don't know how to teach it better than this."
"Well...try a demonstration."
"I did."
"No, try it this way." She postitioned them so that she was in front of him and he had his arms over hers and his hands over hers. They gripped her lightsaber. He floated his in the air with the aid of the Force and made it attack. He moved their hands into a blocking position and did it for a few minutes.
"Okay, I think I got it." She smiled, liking the way they were so close she could feel his breath on her neck. Then felt sad. Two more days and the battle lines would be drawn. On impulse, she turned her neck and lightly kissed his lips.
Terrified at her not so subtle move, she pulled away from him and turned to see his reaction. Her lightsaber was off and now shaking in her hand. She waited for him to speak.
"I...I really don't have any idea what to say." He said quietly. She felt like crying. Oh God, he didn't have feelings for her. She felt like she was going to die. Then he walked over to her, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.
She felt her inards turn to mush. Her body relaxed as she wrapped her arms around him.
Mila paced furiously around her hut. Kora and Obi-Wan had been gone in the woods for over an hour, so she went to see what was up and found them making out in a clearing. Well, not making out but they were definetly kissing. And it made them both drop their guards. And one of Roberts rats just happened to be watching them and just happened to be taking aim at Kora's unguarded back.
Mila put the silencer on her blaster as not to let Obi-Wan and Kora know they were in danger, after all this was what Kora had wanted and Mila certainly wasn't going to be the one to screw it up for her. The rat had seen her and ran away. So she had watched them until they finally left.
Ugh. Why were people so stupid when they were in love? She had fallen in love hard with Kaytlun Brii but she hadn't completly lost all sense of preotection.
And she couldn't shake this jealous feeling she had towards Obi-Wan. She was so deeply in love with Kora, and hadn't realized it until she saw Obi-Wan kissing her. That made her feel shitty enough. So she couldn't honestly give Kora advice about their relationship because every move might well be a stab in the back due to her want of them breaking up.
Breaking up! What was she doing? It was just a fling! Obi-Wan would be off the fucking planet as soon as the mission was over and therefore out of the picture.
But there was still danger. Kora had been completely undecided about her sexuality before meeting Obi-Wan. What if she decided she was straight? That could completly ruin Mila's chances of being with her intimately.
She sighed deeply. She didn't want to do anything to hurt Kora. God, that was the last thing she wanted. Since her uncle had betrayed her father's secrets to Roberts, she'd trusted no one except Kora. And she hadn't ever felt good about herself after the moment she had slit her uncle's throat with her vibroblade unless she was with Kora. Yes, friendship would have to be enough.
Roberts looked at Qui-Gon's stoic face. "It's been four days Roberts. I want you to find my apprentice. You can't detain me any longer. I have a duty to him and I will search myself if you can't locate him."
"Actually, one of our men sighted him." That stirred Qui-Gon.
"Where? What was he doing? Was he well?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Unfortunately, he didn't have a lot of time to act. One of the rebels was about to shoot him so he ran off. But he did see your apprentice. He was with my niece." He wished he could determined if Qui-Gon was worried or not. Over the last five days he had done everything possible to poision Qui-Gon's mind against Kora, and to become the man's friend. No doubt Qui-Gon had to hold at least some harsh feelings towards his niece.
"What were they doing?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Kissing, apparantly. And the guard is reliable. Biggbey has never lied." For a moment, a look of shock overcame Qui-Gon's face. Then he returned to his staid mask. Roberts turned to look out the widow. And to hide his pleased smile from Qui-Gon. "I think your apprentice may have been swayed by the rebels. We'll have to get him back here before they poison his mind any further. This came at a convienent time because we also have the location of Kora's rebel base in the forest. We'll be attacking tomorrow and we'll find your apprentice."
"I would like to come along." Qui-Gon said calmly. Roberts assured him that his prescence was not necissary and that he had another chore he would like Qui-Gon to do for him. Some base that the rebels chose to raid annually. It could use his protection. Qui-Gon reluctantly agreed. Roberts smiled again.
"I have faith in you Roberts. Do not dissappoint me." Roberts had to surpass a shudder. There was coldness in his words. And an underlying threat.
"I won't." He promised, but Qui-Gon had already left the room.
Kora sighed with pleasure. She had had no idea where those kisses were going to lead, but she didn't imagine they would possibly go this far. And all in a matter of four days.
Her head was rested on Obi-Wan's chest and his arms were around her. He had probably fallen asleep a while ago, and she had tried but she was too excited. Her first time! And wow, it had been amazing.
She heard the rythmic beating of his heart and felt the rise and fall of his chest. She realized how much she loved him, and doubted a crush could feel like this. This was real. And it made her sad that he would be leaving her soon. Too soon. So she focused on every little things about him and comitted it to memory to be replayed in her head many times later. And hoped she could dream about moments like this with him. With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and fell into the first restful sleep she had had in seven years.
Mila stared at the wall around the city. She threw a rock at it. A blue glow surrounded the spot the rock hit the wall. Damn, the shield was still up. She motioned to her troops to hold. How much longer could it be? They were already twenty minutes late!
A moment later she tried again. The shield was down. With that, she marched into the city.
Obi-Wan sighed. He trusted Kora. But they had spent an hour searching for Qui-Gon and they couldn't find him! Was she tricking him to spend more time with him? No, that was genuine frustration he was picking up from her.
"I don't understand it. He should be here." She said. Obi-Wan concentrated and sent a ripple through the Force. He paused, confused.
"He's not in the city."
"The shield'll be coming up soon anyway. We should leave. Sorry Obi-Wan." She said regretfully.
"It's okay. We'll find another way." They scaled the wall that surrounded the city and headed for the camp. When they were about fifty feet away. Obi-Wan stopped.
"What is it?" Kora asked.
"Something's wrong." Obi-wan said. Kora paused and seemed to be listening with the Force as well. Then angry tears came to her eyes. She ran for the camp. Obi-Wan ran after her, calling to her. The stupidest thing in the world for her to do right now was to charge headlong into the battle.
They reached the bast clearing where the rebels had their huts. It was horrible. Most of the huts had been burned to the ground. Dead bodies littered the ground, most rebels, and therefore most children. Obi-Wan suppressed the urge to vomit when he saw the body of a three year old child. It's fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet, legs and head had been cut off it's body. How could they have done this?
In the center of the circle where the bonfire was usually going stood Roberts. Mila was on her knees in front of him, a gun to her temple. At least a hundred men surrounded Roberts, and Obi-Wan could sense many more around them.
"Don't move a fucking muscle. Put your gun to the ground and I won't hurt her." Roberts said, with a menacing smile.
"Bullshit! He'll just kill me later! Put a knife between his ribs while you can!" Mlia yelled. Obi-Wan had his hand resting on the hilt of his lightsaber. Kora was creepily devoid of emotion.
"Call of your men, Roberts. This is pathetic." She said.
"Stay close by." He said. The men dissappeared into the vast forest. The closest one was about twenty feet away. Kora approached Roberts and Mila, and with her came Obi-Wan. Roberts undid the safety of the blaster and Kora stopped. They were about ten feet away from them.
Obi-Wan wondered where it was going to go from here. Kora probably had some kind of plan, but he couldn't imagine what she would do.
Kora moved a finger. Obi-Wan felt a surge in the Force. Roberts' hand jerked to the left and the blaster went off. It grazed Mila's ear, but did nothing more. She leaped out of the way.
"GO!" Kora screamed. Mila was in the trees. The lightsaber was in Obi-Wan's hand and activated. Kora had her blaster ready. She fired and hit Roberts' trigger finger, sending the gun out of his hand and making that hand useless for weapons. The men charged into the circle. Without a word, both her and Obi-Wan made Force-aided leaps into the trees.
They took off at a run through the branches. One would need the balance the Force could give you to travel this rapidly up here, Obi-Wan thought. He should have noticed earlier, but Qui-Gon was always sayig he was out of tune with the living Force.
He had no idea where they were going and blindly followed Kora. She was in an icy rage, he desperatly hoped she knew what she was doing.
Her foot got caught in a branch and she fell out of the tree. Obi-Wan watched, his breath in his throat, as she fell into some tall bushes and saplings below them. He gratefully jumped down, thinking it lucky they weren't over a clearing and the bushes were there to break her fall. He helped her out of the bush. Her face was streaked with tears.
Obi-Wan wasn't sure what to say to ease her pain. He had to say somthing. "Darling, every debt in life is at some point repaid. Those men will pay for what they did to the children. Besides, there's nothing we can do now except grieve and that will have to come later. We have things to do now."
"I don't know what to do Obi-Wan! What are we going to do?" She began to sob. He held her and stroked the side of her hair.
"You said there are other groups of rebels on the planet, I'll take you there. Then I have to find my master. I can sense him. He's near."
"Will I ever see you again?" She asked in a choked voice.
"I pity the person who tries to keep me from you." He kissed her, and as he did so he felt some strength and dignity return to her. She smiled weakly.
"I love you Obi-Wan."
"I love you too." He eased his hold on her, but only a little. A silent message that they had to leave soon. But she pulled closer, not ready to move yet. So he continued stroking her hair until she was ready.
He was about to suggest they leave again, when blaster fire singed the air. One shot hit Kora in the abdomen. The other hit his shoulder. Still another got her leg and she fell against him before his lightsaber was in his hand. Obi-Wan winced as pain rocked his body. He leaned against a tree and triend to gain control of himself. One arm held Kora upright, the other deflected blaster fire. He saw her uncle about ten feet away, laughing as he fired at them.
One deflected bolt struck his hand, which was still injured from Kora's attack. Cursing, he bent forward and switched the blaster to his other hand. Obi-Wan was uncertain of what to do. So he set Kora down on the ground behind the tree, giving her cover. His movements were jerky and he wondered how bad the two of them were hurt.
Another bolt struck his leg and he was on the ground. He cursed himself for letting his guard down. He should have gotten Kora out of there. Roberts approached him. He aimed his blaster at Obi-Wan's forehead. He was just about to pull the trigger when a green lightsaber slashed through his torso. The blaster fired and struck Obi-Wan in the abdomen. He saw Qui-Gon kneel over him.
"Master...help her, she's behind the tree." Then he blacked out.
Obi-Wan awoke on the ship they had taken to Lay. He looked around and saw a window, and blackness outside it. They weren't on the planet. He tried to sit up, but was rocked with pain that forced him back down.
"Don't do that again." Qui-Gon instructed him. Obi-wan could feel a healer's salve over his wounds. "They're very sensitive, I suggest you don't move. We're on our way back to Coruscant. You need to heal and we can't trust anyone on Lay. This mission will have to be a failure."
"What happened to Kora?" He asked.
Qui-Gon hesitated. "I went behind the tree. There was nobody there. I felt two life forms nearby. I think someone must have found the girl before I got there." Obi-Wan felt tears well in his eyes. His stomach did thirty flip flops and his throat clenched. What if one of Roberts' men found her? What would they do to her? Would she be okay?
"I'm sure she's fine. One of Roberts' men would have finished the job, not taken her. It must have been a friend." Qui-Gon said gently.
"Mila." He whispered. It was flimsy, but he had to hope because he had no idea what he would do if he ever thought Kora was lost to him forever.
DISCLAIMER: i am making no money off of this story (unfortunately :( ) and I am in no way affiliated with George Lucas.