| "What now?" Nadine asked as she walked by Vernice's shoulder, at tempting to look casual. "There's no time to lose, infact the opposite. We've run out of it completely." Vernice flicked the annoying braids disdainfully away from her face. "There's something happening here that I think we'd be foolish not to capitalize on." she strove to explain herself to the frowning Corellian woman. "Unrest. I can feel a great deal of discontent. I mean from the guards. If Merdan's expecting trouble I think he's going to get it…so why not utilize that? What's the best time to form an escape? When your captor is watching out for his own neck. I say we let these disturbances continue to plague Mister Merdan. Whilst he's busy with them, THAT is when we will make good our escape." She stopped in her tracks and let out a long breath. "Hopefully." She added. "What about Jemmiah?" Nadine insisted. "I'm about to take care of that. We need to find Qui-Gon and tell him to be ready to leave. I'm going to see what I can do about creating a little madness and mayhem in this place. Go to their communications room and see what I can't arrange. But this will have to be a fairly smooth operation or else we are going to get blown sky-high. First to get Qui-Gon and…" Vernice strained her senses as she let the force guide her through various corridors and hallways, past the reception, hovering momentarily in the mouth of the recreation room. She closed her eyes and concentrated, Nadine frowning beside her in wonderment. "No, not here…was here some time ago…try the courtyard." "Sorry?" Nadine contorted her face. "What was all that about?" "Obi-Wan." "Who?" "Master Jinn's apprentice. We need to collect him on the way." Vernice started to walk forwards again, this time with Nadine trailing in her wake. "You jedi sure are strange." She muttered tersely. "But girl, you make one heck of a streetwalker." "Thanks, I think." Replied the jedi over her shoulder. As they entered the courtyard through the south exit, the sun glinting of the sandy gold cobbles, Vernice instantly homed in on the slightly round-shouldered figure, uncomfortable in his non-jedi outfit. He kicked at the ground impatiently with his boots and wearing the most miserable expression on his face, the one Vernice referred to as 'Dex gets turned down by a member of the opposite sex, poor little jedi' look. Not that it was ever one that she had seen him with many times… //Head up and shoulders back, Obi-Wan!// Vernice almost smiled despite their situation. //Qui-Gon would tell you off for having such lamentable posture!// He was clearly annoyed…or was that upset? It was perhaps a bit of both that Vernice sensed from him. The poor young man resembled somebody who had been stood up on their first date! His thoughts were clearly not where they should be and that was what bothered Vernice most of all. She could just about hear Qui-Gon's standard lecture on keeping his concentration focussed on the 'here and now', after all it was one that he had borrowed almost verbatim from Yoda! Not staying alert was a sure way of becoming detached from your head in a place like this… She didn't want to risk calling him over, nor was it likely that Nadine would have any reason to do so either. Instead Vernice gave him a little force prod, shaking him out of his stupor. When he looked up and saw Vernice dressed as he had never seen before, with braids and beads and bangles, bedecked in an outfit that would gave Mace an apoplectic fit he felt himself gawk with the unreality of the vision. Vernice placed a finger against her lips to indicate silence and nodded at the young man to join them which Obi-Wan obligingly did, still gawking in amazement. "Don't say a word, padawan." Vernice's smile became fixed. "If you so much as make one hormonal-induced reference to my clothing I will see you join Tanni in the infirmary when we get back." "I was going to say that I liked it…" he caught the warning gleam in her eyes and swiftly backed down. "…But as you say I probably shouldn't mention it. What do I know about that kind of thing?" "Very good, young man." Vernice gave his shoulders a little squeeze of welcome, showing him she really wasn't that angry at all. "You are a much wiser man than your master." "Would you care to tell that to him?" begged Obi-Wan with pleading eyes. "He's threatened not to let me out of his sight until I reach thirty!" "That's just Qui-Gon being Qui-Gon." Vernice frowned at the hairstyle that Obi-Wan had been forced to adopt, examining it from all angles. "What, you don't think he means it?" the padawan seemed to sag in relief. "Oh, yes. He means it." Vernice winked. "By the time Qui-Gon thinks you are old enough to start seeing girls you will be over three hundred and borrowing Yoda's stick for social occasions." She watched the slumped shoulders droop even further down and tutted. "I don't know what it is about teenage boys that makes them stand in such an untidy and slovenly fashion. No girl will ever go out with somebody with rounded shoulders like that, at least nobody I know. And what HAS Qui-Gon done to your hair? Jemmiah was right…it IS awful!" Obi-Wan snapped suddenly to attention, so much that it was almost laughable. "Have you seen her?" he asked urgently, his voice - already wracked with the first throws of puberty- cracking and wavering slightly as he searched Vernice's face for news. Vernice pulled both Nadine and Obi-Wan right against the doorway, wanting to make certain that nobody saw them in the open courtyard where guards frequently patrolled the perimeters. The determination on Master Ashdal's face was not lost on the padawan, but neither were the grim lines set firmly at the side of her mouth. "She's okay, padawan…" "We think." Interjected Nadine shortly. "…but Merdan's clamped restraints on her wrists and thrown her into the wine cellar. We've got to get her out as soon as we can. I think our stay here is about to come to a rather abrupt end." "Good." Growled the padawan, before flicking a nervous glance at Nadine. "No offence, ma'am." "None taken. Just get my girl out of there, that's all the reparation I ask for." "Obi-Wan, if you know where Qui-Gon is go fetch him now. Take Nadine with you. I'm going to do what I believe every jedi does best." "Which is?" Obi-Wan asked, his mouth drying with nervousness. "Snoop." Called Vernice. "Tell Qui-Gon I'll meet him at the bay where the speeders are kept in half an hour." And with that she jogged away. Nadine and Obi-Wan were left to exchange dubious glances. "Are you jedi always like this?" Nadine asked. "No, ma'am." Obi-Wan flushed, trying not to let his eyes stray to her outfit. "Usually we are much, much worse." "It looks like you will soon be on your way then." Nadine smiled at him. "Must be a relief to you." "Yes, you are right." The fourteen-year-old admitted as he tried to look her in the eye. "Maybe then these infuriating dreams will stop plaguing me." "Dreams, eh?" Nadine elbowed him insinuatingly in the side. "N-no, ma'am." Obi-Wan stammered, eyes glued to the floor. "Not those kind of dreams!" "There's no harm in it. Perfectly natural." Nadine grinned wickedly, delighting in her teasing of the young man. "You seem kinda shy around women. What's the matter kid? Don't you like girls?" "Yes…no…that is to say I…er, I don't…um." Obi-Wan thought his face was about to melt with the sudden flaming of his cheeks. "Let me give you a bit of advice, kiddo." Nadine picked up his chin, buried deep against his chest, and pushed it upward with her finely manicured fingernails brushing his skin. "If there's one thing you should always remember with the ladies…the one thing guaranteed to drive a lass mad with desire…is to look at them. Make eye contact. Worship them with your eyes. Make 'em feel special and loved. Don't let your eyes scrape the carpet, son! It would be a tragic waste." She saw the astonished padawan actually dare to meet her own look. "You have very enchanting eyes. Make the most of it!" "I…I don't have much contact with girls." Obi-Wan mumbled, still feeling embarrassed beyond all measure. "Not now maybe." Nadine nodded knowledgeably, her expression serious yet hiding a smile that Obi-Wan could plainly see lurking on her lips. "But one day…who knows?" She released his face and was pleased to see that his eyes did not immediately retreat to the floor as they had previously. "Now, let's find this master of yours and get my girl rescued." ********** If Obi-Wan and Nadine were having difficulty in finding Qui-Gon it was because the jedi master was probably, at that very moment, standing in the one place that they would have thought of looking in last of all. The one place where nobody would dare to search unless they were either brazen like Keleskladt or determined like Jemmiah had been. Merdan's office. Again Qui-Gon was struck by the simplistic décor of the room, the lack of clutter which revealed the state of his opponent's mind admirably. Even the few items and small sculptures that Merdan did own were very small, stark and simplistic, although Qui-Gon could have sworn that there was now one missing from the center of the ledge, one of a large Nerf-like creature protecting its youngster from some cannoid snapping at its feet. He had been rather taken with the statue before and couldn't help but wonder why it was missing. "You like art, Mr. Logan?" Merdan asked, watching the tall man looking carefully at the collection. "I do, as it happens. I think one can appreciate skill and beauty wherever one goes." Qui-Gon answered carefully. "Strange, I never would have thought that from someone who makes as much money as you." The unwavering stare was back on Qui-Gon's shoulders but the master refused to be intimidated. The greatest fear a man often had to cope with was fear itself. The worry was gone but it had been replaced instead with a healthy curiosity of the man he now faced across the table. "I find that art and money often mix extremely well." Qui-Gon offered a small but polite smile. "Most pieces are ridiculously priced and I have ridiculous amounts of money to pay for them." "Indeed." Merdan nodded, weighing up the information. "But something tells me that was not what you wished to speak to me about." Jinn continued. Rufus stood up and casually perched on the end of his desk, reaching into his pocket. "Cigara?" he asked Qui-Gon. "No thank you. I gave them up. What's the point of having all that money if you don't have the health to enjoy it with?" "True." Merdan agreed, lighting his own cigara but making no effort to smoke it, merely holding it between his fingers as he continued to study Qui-Gon. "You don't mind if I…" "Not at all. It's your office." Jinn shrugged. "Yes." Merdan offered a strange imitation of a laugh. "It's amazing the number of people who have forgotten this fact. Still, that's been taken care of." He sniffed. "I'll get to the point. You have money, Logan. Money that I can use." "Can you really?" Qui-Gon asked with a tinge of irritation. "It's usually customary to ask the person before taking it for granted." "You have money and I have the land. I can get the men and the equipment. This place can expand." "With the Republic knocking on the door?" Jinn theorized. "You'll have to do better than that if I am to be tempted." Merdan eyed him craftily, a confidence there that Qui-Gon had not expected to see suddenly present in his body language. "The Republic will never get here." He replied. "And why would that be?" "Because there are too many people in the senate who know about this place. Believe me, they would like nothing better than to get rid of the farmers and turn this whole world over to what we are doing here, if they could. Not exactly practical." Merdan grinned feraly. "Although one day who can tell? No, the Republic will never get their hands on Nargotria and even if it did there are enough people - high ranking people - who will never let anything happen to this little business venture." Merdan watched as Qui-Gon worked to keep the shock from his face, enjoying his little game of cat and mouse. "Now, listen to me. I've been here nine years. I know what this place is like. I've run it ever since my first business partner met with an unfortunate accident…seems like a long time ago now. This venture can really take off if we expand…" "But for that you need money." Qui-Gon stepped in. "My money." "Correct." "And what would be in it for me?" Jinn wondered at the temerity of the man. "Fifty/fifty split on profits made. I can't say fairer than that." Merdan leaned back, taking in the brooding countenance of 'Brad Logan'. "What's the catch?" "I have total control. My word is law here and that's the way it stays." Merdan's icy gaze didn't flicker for a second. "I do not want you to get involved at any level other than financially…and maybe sampling the goods if you have a mind." He smirked. Qui-Gon offered a slight nod, although feeling heartily sickened at the words. "I do not see why on principle this should be unacceptable." Qui-Gon agreed. "The terms seem reasonable to me. Of course I will have to consider it most carefully." Merdan spread his arms in a generous motion. "Take all the time you need. Just as long as you decide to agree." He joked. At least Qui-Gon assumed he was joking. "We'll talk again tomorrow." Merdan stood up to indicate that the meeting was terminated. Qui-Gon bowed, walked towards the door and then exited the room leaving Merdan to his own thoughts. Jinn waited outside for a moment, listening to the bolts click shut one by one. He stared at the door for a moment and then tried to sense where the locking mechanism was seated within the wall. Six…no, seven bolts buried deep within a lock system inside a wooden door, class and taste crossing in protective fashion with the need for safeguarding Merdan's person. Vernice was the real expert at this kind of thing, but Qui-Gon had manipulated a fair few locks in his time. If he could just locate the timer setting on the door… There it was. A few nudges with the force and then… Done. "Talk again tomorrow?" Qui-Gon hissed with revulsion on the other side of the door. "I don't think so. Let's see you get out of that!" *********** "Where's the wine cellar?" Obi-Wan asked, poking his head round the corner of a wall, feeling every bit the fugitive he really was in reality. "It's not too far away from the speeder bay. Underground." Nadine muttered tersely, "but where is this Master Jinn of yours? How can you lose a man that's as big as five Bantha's all sitting on each other's shoulders?" "It's an amusing image." Obi-Wan smiled. "I'm not sure he'd appreciate the likeness though." "We could leave a message at reception for your 'uncle' to contact you as soon as possible." Nadine suggested as she dragged Obi-Wan by the hand over the plush carpets and past the murals that had so embarrassed him the first time round. He stiffened as he caught sight of one of the men in the reception area, black outfit all too evident but then felt a warm arm slither round his shoulders. Nadine leaned in against him and whispered something. "Remember the eyes, kid." She said in a low voice. "Trust me." Obi-Wan swallowed, catching sight of the splendid talon-like nails resting on his shoulder, feeling certain that Tanni would be proud of claws like that! The pair of them walked over to the foyer…at least Obi-Wan did. Nadine seemed to swagger over with a definite sway of the hips that didn't go unnoticed by the young padawan. The man raised an eyebrow at the odd looking couple before him. "Bit young for you isn't he?" he leered at the pair of them, eyeing Nadine as she squeezed Obi-Wan towards her suggestively. "Or are you too old for him?" "It's not age but experience that counts." She grinned back, blowing the man a kiss. "I've been giving the young lad a bit of a guided tour." "I'll bet you have." The guard laughed at Obi-Wan, who recollected Nadine's words and worked furiously to keep his expression blank and his eyes fixed ahead of him. "Seen many sights, boy?" "Leave the kid alone!" scolded Nadine jokingly, stroking the side of his cheek. "You've made him all red with guilt, bless him…and that's MY job!" The man laughed and looked from Obi-Wan to Nadine then back again. "Got a message from your uncle." He stated. "He says sorry he had to leave you on your own before but he had pressing business to attend to." The smirk became a jeer. "I think I can guess the kind of business he was talking about, huh? Anyway, he's waiting for you in the lounge. Better go through, kid." The man jerked his head through to the main suite. "Don't want to keep the rich man waiting…although I'm sure he'd be charmed to see your friend here, eh?" he winked lasciviously. Obi-Wan muttered his thanks and not only managed to dispense with his shyness but achieved a glare right back at the man behind the desk. This place was just too…well, it was just too infuriating by half! People insinuating and laughing and making fun at his innocence: he would not be sad to leave Nargotria far behind him. Worse still was the way in which the women had been treated. Did people still act like that? It was just so wrong, and a shocking eye-opener for Obi-Wan. He would never have expected to see anything like this in all his life. He imagined that it sounded a touch prudish or old fashioned but he didn't really regard himself as either. For as long as there were people without homes, without money or needing to look out for dependant family there would be those willing to sell themselves for credits. It was a fact of life, and he couldn't say he condemned them for it either. "I am really sorry that you cannot come back with us." Obi-Wan found himself saying once they were out of earshot. "That's okay, kid." This time the squeeze on the shoulder was well meant and perfectly acceptable. "For the same reason that my Jemmiah didn't want to go, I can't either. Anyway, what have I got to go back to? No family, no friends…this is hardly a home but it's all I have." "Have you nobody looking for you?" Obi-Wan asked disbelievingly. "Surely there's someone…" "Oh, it's been a long time since anyone missed me. I dare say I've been long forgotten about." Nadine propelled him into the lounge. Qui-Gon stopped them immediately in their tracks. "Time to be leaving." He breathed. "Master Ashdal," Obi-Wan almost blushed again at the memory of her provocative dress, "said to meet her at the speeder bay in half an hour…that was over fifteen minutes ago!" "What's she up to?" Jinn frowned as they retraced their steps past the still smirking guard and found the exit that would take them to the bay. "I don't think we can afford to hang about…not considering what I just did." "Master?" Obi-Wan frowned at him. Qui-Gon looked neither at Nadine or Obi-Wan, keeping his vision focused straight ahead. "If you must know, I locked Rufus Merdan in his office." "Oh, what is it with you jedi types?" Nadine groaned. "Merdan's going to be kriffing mad when he gets out!" "It might take him a while to do that." Qui-Gon consoled her. "Let's make the most of the diversion and get out of here." "Not so simple." Nadine grabbed impatiently at his arm. "What about my girl? Merdan has her locked away! You promised me you would take her!" There was a horrified silent moment where Obi-Wan was convinced just as Nadine was that Qui-Gon was going to renege on his promise to take Jemmiah with them, infact he could almost see the various thoughts play put on his normally unreadable face. A little twitch at the side of his lips gave away his guilt and Obi-Wan felt utterly floored at the idea that his master would back down on his word. The war on Qui-Gon's features finally gave way and he nodded briskly. "I gave my word and I will keep it." He said at length. "Where is the girl being held?" "The wine cellar. It's not far away…now hurry, please!" Qui-Gon reached into the extra pocket in his coat and fingered the hidden lightsabre. The chances were that very soon he was going to have use of it. ********* Rufus had sat virtually unmoving for the last quarter of an hour, perched on the desk, considering all options and angles. His head said he should have the jedi removed yet his heart told him to wait. All he needed was the man's money and for that he needed to draw him in and make him feel that he was trusted. There was still a slight and intriguing chance that this Master Jinn really was operating without the knowledge of his jedi peers, which would make for a very unusual partnership indeed. It was always handy to have knowledge that could be stored up and used on a rainy day, and blackmail was still a legitimate way of guarding one's interests… The truth was that for one of the few times in his life Merdan wasn't sure what to do. It would be simpler to shoot them when they didn't expect it…poison their food, perhaps. Who would know? Yet the lure of that money existed and Merdan decided to go against his common sense and make a play for the credits. You never got rich by not taking chances and this was the biggest gamble of his life to date. He'd have the jedi watched and shadowed. Everywhere he went so would one of his men. He stood up and eyed the missing space amongst his statues balefully. Trust Keleskladt to break the one valuable part of his collection. Well, Keleskladt had gotten his reward and now if his gamblers instincts were true to form so was he. Merdan keyed the door open and waited for the bolts to slide back. Nothing. Frowning, he tried it again…and the same thing happened. There was no response from the lock mechanism at all. Annoyed, he tapped in the override sequence manually. Still nothing. Frustrated, Rufus controlled the impulse to throw another statue at the door in exasperation. Getting angry would achieve nothing, infact it would only cloud his judgement. Snorting his irritation, the man walked over to call for the control center to release the door, hitting the com switch…only to be met with total silence. Repeating his demands did no good either. Finally he tried the scanners in his room and found - not at all to his surprise - that they were dead too. It looked like the coup he'd been dreading had started right under his nose. |
| As Long As There Is Hope By Jemmiah |