"Lost Light" - A New FanFic by Cassia

Hey! Trika here again with another edition of story time with Cassia! If any of you do not know who Cassia is, she is the great writer of many FanFics, such as "World of Enemies", and "Deep in the Night". She's won the hearts of many on this forum, and I can't wait to start posting, so here it is...
*Remember that all the characters that aren't made up, are ol' Uncle George's, k?
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"Lost Light"

The flames raged, higher and higher, reaching out their destructive tendrils to engulf and destroy the laboratory. Bottles on the wall beneath the flames popped and shattered like explosives as their chemical contents were heated by the fire. The shelf gave way, sending what was left of its load crashing into the building inferno. The fire writhed and momentarily changed color as it was inundated by the dangerous mix it had just consumed.

Qui-Gon Jinn noticed with alarm that the flames were heading for the large oxygen drums on the far wall. When those went up this whole place was going to be cinders. "Come on, let?s go! Move, move, move!" he urged the fleeing scientists. The room shook as something exploded down the hall.

A moment later, the Jedi Master was relieved to see his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, enter the room. The apprentice?s clothes were singed and his face and hair darkened with soot and streaked with sweat, but he was otherwise unharmed. The young Jedi clutched two children in his arms and four more hung onto his robes, wide-eyed and scared to death.

Obi-Wan did not stop to speak to his Master but hurried the children out of the building. Blaster bolts exploded around the fifteen-year-old Jedi?s head. Instinctively, he ducked; jumping back and shoving the children out of harms way as well.

The soldiers who had set the building ablaze ringed the flaming structure, mercilessly shooting down those who fled. This door had been safe last time Obi-Wan had ushered people through it, but it was no longer and he would have to find another way to get these kids out of here. His mind could not comprehend the ruthlessness behind all this, torching the building, shooting people, shooting at children of all things!

"It?s okay kids," he tried to sooth as he dragged them back the way they had just come. "It?ll be okay. Just stay with me."

"Master! Master Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan called, finding him once more. "The east door is no longer safe."

Qui-Gon swore silently under his breath. "Neither is the west door," he said with forced calm.

Obi-Wan bit his lip. They were trapped.
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Comments?

 

Rarely do Cassia stories ever get no replies...this one's going to the top...

 

Another Cassia story! Awesome! Eagerly awaiting more!

 

Oh man this story is so awesome. I'v read alot of it already at another site. So I've read alot more than this. I won't spoil it for you but guys if you like Obi-Torture stay tuned. Has Qui-Gon torture too.
Ohhh I can't wait for them to update over at the other site so I can find what happens.

 

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!! I was thinking to myself just earlier today how cool it would be if Trika had another Cassia story to post, and here one is!!! Her other two are on my list of favorite fan fics of all time, so I know this one will be good.
BTW, what's this doing on page two!?!?
Uppity up up up!!!!!!

 

Yay! I love these stories!

 

I must say, I've always enjoyed Cassia stories. Yup, a new thread to check up on.

 

Yoo-hoo! Cassia's back with a vengeance! I've also read this story--at least the beginning--on another site. And while I've enjoyed every word, I'm also green with jealousy, wishing I could write this well. Hurry with the rest, Cassia and Trika!

 

Heh. I knew you guys would be here! Welcome to the Cassia Fan Club! Here's a pretty long post...
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"Is everyone out of the building yet?" Qui-Gon asked, his gaze sweeping over the children that huddled around Obi-Wan like frightened koka?s.

"Most everyone, except maybe a handful scattered about, and these children," Obi-Wan confirmed what Qui-Gon already knew.

The air was stiflingly hot and choked with acrid smoke. The children coughed and Obi-Wan had to resist the urge to do the same.

Leila, one of the scientists who had stayed behind to help everyone else get out ran up to them. "This building is as empty as we?re going to get it. The fire?s progressing too fast, we have to get out of here now!" she reported breathlessly, pushing her thick bundle of short, black braids back over her shoulder.

"That will be a little difficult," Qui-Gon said, searching for a plan. "The Drojan army has us quite thoroughly surrounded."

Leila hissed through her teeth, wiping perspiration off her brow with her sleeve. "Pigs!" she spat, referring to the Drojans. "This is exactly why we refused to create biological and chemical weapons for them, because they?re animals!" she raged. "This was a research station, not a weapons lab, we tried to tell them that..." her eyes turned hard and hopeless. "I guess that isn?t what they wanted to hear."

"You made the right choice," Qui-Gon assured.

"Yeah, I guess this is proof of that," Leila shook her head. "Come on, there?s a maintenance entrance in the back of one of the labs, with any luck, they won?t have discovered it yet."

The two Jedi, children in tow, followed Leila down the smoke-filled corridors. The lab in question was already engulfed in flames. Each adult took two children in their arms and made a dash through the raging fire.

Smoke, laced with chemical fumes choked them and stung their eyes. Leila struggled with the door. "It?s locked!" she cried in dismay.

Drawing his lightsaber, Qui-Gon quickly took care of that. Kicking the door open, they tumbled outside, into the pale light of the Driosian day. They found themselves in an outdoors storage area behind the building. A high fence with no door, twice as tall as Qui-Gon ran around the area.

"Do you think we can climb it Master?" Obi-Wan asked, looking uncertainly up at the imposing barrier.

"No," Qui-Gon shook his head. "It?s electro-charged," he said, testing it with a gentle touch that left his finger numb.

"Only one way then," the apprentice said, setting down the children he carried.

Qui-Gon nodded, releasing his burdens as well. "Leila, stand there by the wall with the children. We?re going to lift you over and then pass the children to you. Whatever you do, you have got to be calm and trust us, all right?"

Leila nodded. She was not sure what the Jedi had in mind, but she did trust them. Clutching two of the frightened four-year-olds to her breast, she waited.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both closed their eyes and their powers joined.

Leila felt herself rising off the ground, the children still in her arms. She resisted the urge to look down and tried to remain calm as Qui-Gon had told her to, but it was not easy. Slowly, she rose up, over the fence and was set down gently on the far side.

"Leila, are you all right?" she heard Qui-Gon?s voice call to her from the other side of the barrier.

"I?m fine, and I?m on the other side. There?s no one in sight for the moment," she reported quickly.

"We?re sending the children over," Qui-Gon told her as he and Obi-Wan prepared to hoist two more of the youngsters into the air. Qui-Gon wondered if perhaps he should have his apprentice hold two of the children and send them over together, bringing the remaining two with him on the next trip, but he mentally checked their reserves and decided against it. Neither Master, nor Padawan had slept in over 72 hours. This last business of evacuating the burning research station had used up nearly the last of their energies. It took both of them concentrating together to safely levitate anyone at this poin

 

Acid? (winces)

 

Oh no! Poor Obi-Wan! What happens next? Please hurry and post more soon!

 

Another great one by Cassia!! Post 'em up quick .

 

Word up to Cassia!

 

*JMA'F rides up*
Doth I hear the sweet sound of Obi-torture?
Doth I hear the sweet sound of a Cassia fic?

 

When Obi-Wan woke up, the pain in his face was the first thing he noticed. Then the pain in his hands, then the rest of his body. At least that meant he wasn?t dead, the apprentice tried hard to look on the bright side. But where was he? He was lying on his back on a hard, lumpy surface, but the room was pitch dark and he could see nothing. Somewhere, nearby, he felt Qui-Gon?s familiar presence, and that made him feel better. If they were together, than things couldn?t be that bad.

Qui-Gon moved to his Padawan?s side as the increased level of pain he felt emanating from the boy told the Jedi Master that Obi-Wan was waking up.

"Master?" Obi-Wan asked groggily, deciding against trying to sit up just yet.

"I?m here Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon?s mellow voice was comforting. Obi-Wan could hear the gentle rustle of his Master?s robes as Qui-Gon settled himself next to his apprentice.

Obi-Wan blinked, trying to force his aching eyes to adjust to the darkness, but it didn?t help, he still could not see Qui-Gon. "Where is here?" Obi-Wan wanted to know. "Where are we, Master?" Why was it so dark?

"A Drojan prison cell I?m afraid," Qui-Gon replied. Obi-Wan admired his Master?s control. There was almost no emotion in the older Jedi?s voice and he might as well have been telling Obi-Wan that they had been invited to a high tea... come to think of it, that was almost as bad... Obi-Wan?s lips twitched slightly in spite of himself. Unfortunately, even that much movement in his facial muscles was acutely painful to the Padawan.

Obi-Wan put his hand to his face, gently touching the smarting burns that ran across his features. They didn?t seem too bad, just painful, and half of that was probably a reaction because it was a chemical burn as well as a normal one. "What happened?"

"The research station collapsed," Qui-Gon said calmly. "We were trapped underneath, but miraculously, were not killed. The Drojan forces extinguished the fire to keep it from spreading to other buildings. When they went through the rubble, they pulled us out. You were unconscious by that time and I was... not in a condition to oppose them, so they brought us here," Qui-Gon explained wearily.

No, Obi-Wan realized with a shock, it wasn?t just weariness he heard in his mentor?s voice, it was pain. Qui-Gon was in pain and Obi-Wan hadn?t even realized it. Obi-Wan kicked himself for being so unobservant and wrapped up in his own suffering.

"Not in a condition to oppose them..." Qui-Gon must be hurt, but how, and how badly? Obi-Wan wished he could see his Master, blast this infernal darkness! Did the Drojans always keep their prisons this dark? Perhaps it was meant discourage escape, or to drive the inmates insane.

Obi-Wan sent out a probe through the Force, trying to get a reading that way. "Master, you?re hurt!" he said in dismay when the probe came back to him. He couldn?t tell specifics, but whatever the injuries were, they were substantial.

Qui-Gon?s eyes narrowed slightly in surprise. Obi-Wan only just noticed this? He looked down at the double slings that bound his broken arms to his chest. That he was injured was readily apparent to anyone with eyes...

A cold chill ran up Qui-Gon?s spine and his stomach tightened uncontrollably. Obi-Wan was not looking at him. He was not looking at anything. As he lay on the rough cot, the boy?s blue eyes wondered aimlessly, but focused on nothing.

Qui-Gon passed his hand over his apprentice?s face, not three inches away. No reaction. Obi-Wan did not even seem to notice. Qui-Gon?s gaze lighted on the red burns that traced across the boy?s face, especially the large, blistered one that arced across Obi-Wan?s cheekbones, the bridge of his nose... and straight across the Padawan?s eyes. The tightness in Qui-Gon?s stomach solidified into a hard lump.

Obi-Wan felt the sudden change in Qui-Gon?s calm demeanor. "What is it Master? What?s wrong?"

"He doesn?t know..." Qui-Gon realized in anguish. "Obi-Wan, what do you see?" the Jedi Master asked carefully.

"See?" Obi-Wan was surprised by the question. "I can?t see anything Mas

 

Young_Sith_Apprentice told me about this story and I never got the chance to check it out. I'm sure glad it's at JC, now I'll be able to enjoy it.

 

Nooo! I knew Obi-Wan was going to be blind. I hope he gets his sight back soon. I am eagerly awaiting more.

 

Sorry for the delay...
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"Master?" a note of alarm crept into the boy?s voice. He could tell something was wrong.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon?s voice was low, too low, he was sad about something... "This cell is fully lighted. I can see you quite clearly," the Master?s voice cracked just slightly.

For a moment Obi-Wan did not understand. Fully lighted? That was impossible! He couldn?t see a thing... Suddenly what Qui-Gon was telling him hit the teenager like a blaster bolt in the gut. Obi-Wan?s chest tightened so badly he couldn?t breathe. He gasped for air and ended up hyperventilating. It couldn?t be true! It couldn?t! Oh, please don?t let it be true! But it was true and he knew it, Qui-Gon wouldn?t lie to him about something like this. That burning he felt in his eyes...

"Master, Master I can?t see!" he cried in dismay and alarm. Sitting up despite the fireworks it set off in his head, he groped out, trying to find his Master by feel.

Qui-Gon managed to catch one of his apprentice?s searching hands in the still slightly movable fingers of his right hand. The motion and strain hurt incredibly, but Qui-Gon barely noticed, his whole attention was on Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon moved closer, pulling the boy to him with the Force in lieu of the arms he did not have the use of at present.

Obi-Wan buried his face against Qui-Gon?s shoulder. The fabric of the older Jedi?s tunic smelled of smoke and bacta, the later no doubt applied to treat the burns and other injuries Qui-Gon had received when the ceiling fell in above them. Qui-Gon had covered Obi-Wan with his own body and the apprentice had come out virtually unharmed, except for his vision...

A single tear slipped from Obi-Wan?s sightless sapphire eyes, yet he did not feel like crying, not really. He was too numb to cry, too shocked to even fully absorb the meaning of what he had lost.

Qui-Gon did not speak empty words of comfort to him, did not try to trivialize what the apprentice had lost, nor say that everything would be all right when it was not. The big Jedi just held him close, using the Force to replace his useless arms, and letting Obi-Wan know that he was not alone in this darkness.

Obi-Wan leaned against Qui-Gon for a long time. It was comforting to be near him, to feel his Master?s presence so close, the touch of his mentor?s mind and body, the familiar smell of Qui-Gon?s robes that was still apparent underneath the scent of smoke and bacta...

Obi-Wan had never realized how much all these little details played into the image he had of his Master. Now that he could not see, he seemed already much more aware of sounds, smells, feelings and even tastes.

What did this mean for the future? Obi-Wan wondered. Was this blindness permanent, or could it be fixed? And if it could not, did his loss of sight take with it his dreams of becoming a Knight? He knew at least one other blind Jedi, but Tahl was already a Knight when she was blinded. Could he continue training to become one if this condition was permanent? Could he ever hope to be allowed to face the trials, and even if so, did he stand any chance of passing them?

He must not rely on his eyes, since Obi-Wan was little he had been taught this, but could he live without them? He didn?t know.
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Comments?

 

Ooohhh, poor boys. I really hate to start my morning with such heavy angst, but it's so well written.

 

Welcome back, I was wondering when we'd get a new story from Cassia. This is starting out great. I can hardly wait for more.

 

This story is awesome!!!! But poor Obi! Imagine waking up to realize you were blind...unreal!

 

WAAAAHHHH! That is sooooo sad. Such a good update. I just read at the other sites update. So sad and happy. Yall are going to love this story.

 

I'll say it again: Poor Obi-Wan! Thanks for the post, it was wonderful and I can't wait for more!

 

Hey! What's this doing on page two? Uppity uppity up!
And please post soon! Postity postity post! I love this story and I must have more, or I won't be able to sleep soundly tonight. I'll be tossing and turning, wondering what will become of my 2 fav. Jedi, locked in prison, one blind, the other with two broken arms. So please hurry and post!

 

More...
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"Walk to me," Qui-Gon instructed yet again.

Obi-Wan took an uncertain step forward, reaching out with his feelings to find where Qui-Gon was and moving towards him.

The elder Jedi circled slowly and was pleased to see that Obi-Wan continually adjusted his course to keep heading towards his Master. Unfortunately Obi-Wan was so centered on tracking Qui-Gon that he neglected to fully probe out the path he was taking and ended up tripping over the chair that Qui-Gon had placed in his way.

Obi-Wan restrained himself from punching something in frustration. He should be able to do this! Hadn?t he trained, blindfolded, for enough years at the Temple to know how to maneuver without sight? "Deceive you they can, trust your eyes, do not," he could still hear Yoda say to him. Why couldn?t he do it now, when it mattered the most?

Qui-Gon shook his head. "You?re trying too hard Padawan," he corrected gently. "You?re trying so hard to see, that you tense up and miss things. Open your mind and let it happen naturally. Let the Force flow around you Obi-Wan, only then you will be able do it," Qui-Gon instructed, his presence was strong, but his voice held traces of weariness and sorrow. "See through the Force," the Master urged. "Don?t just see me, or other life forms, see the room, the objects in it. Especially the objects in your immediate path."

Obi-Wan righted himself to try again. Leave it to Qui-Gon to turn even a prison cell into a place to train. Then again, what else were they going to do here? Escape, in their combined conditions was a sadly ludicrous idea. The Jedi Council would send search parties for them if they did not report in again soon, but would they be able to find them?

Obi-Wan made it on his second try, evading all obstacles and finding his way to his Master?s side.

"Good," Qui-Gon approved, letting a smile creep into his voice since he knew Obi-Wan could no longer read his facial expressions. "You?re learning fast."

Just then, the cell door slid open and both Jedi looked up, although it was merely a gesture of habit on Obi-Wan?s part.

Two soldiers entered the cell; six or seven more waited outside the door. "You will come with us," the men informed the two Jedi brusquely, gesturing towards the door with their blasters.

With little choice, the Jedi acquiesced. Obi-Wan caught Qui-Gon?s elbow for guidance and they followed the soldiers out. Qui-Gon was a good and careful guide. With his friend Tahl he had learned how to lead and still allow the sightless person the freedom to navigate on their own and Obi-Wan had no trouble keeping up with him. Qui-Gon only hoped that unlike Tahl, Obi-Wan?s eyesight would be fixable.

"Where are you taking us?" the big Jedi asked calmly.

"To the Camps dolt," one soldier responded with a rude laugh. "Can?t have all you people cluttering up our prison space and eating our food. Gotta work for your keep here. You work, or you die."

They stopped in a large room where many other prisoners were also waiting, ringed by soldiers and well guarded. The room was actually a platform of sorts and the tracks at the far end suggested that they were waiting for some form of transportation to arrive.

As they came to a halt, one of the soldiers noticed the way Obi-Wan was holding Qui-Gon?s arm. The man jerked Obi-Wan away, giving a short, rough, laugh. "How many fingers am I holding up boy?" he jeered, not holding up any.

Obi-Wan tried to pull away from him and got slapped across the face for it.

Qui-Gon tensed, stepping towards them, but two or three soldiers caught him by his injured arms and pushed him back against the wall. "Hey pops, where do you think you?re going?" they asked, giving his tightly wrapped, but un-casted, broken arms an intentionally vicious twist. Qui-Gon gasped, gritting his teeth in pain.

"Huh boy? Come on, how many?" the soldier shook Obi-Wan back and forth mockingly. One of the other soldiers pulled a short whip off his belt with a cruel laugh. "Hey Tacin, see if he can see this coming," the man jeered, snapping the