Star Wars Oneshots

Escape from Insanity (JO)

A/N: request by dragon03138 is finally done!

Obi-Wan's Point of View

Obi-Wan reached out with the Force, brow furrowing in concentration as he searched for any other Jedi in this wretched prison.

He let himself sag against the wall, feeling no Force sensitivity anywhere in the complex, even underground. He reached out once more, though, stretching his consciousness and brushing against even the outer walls, many miles away.

There. Something faint, but persistent. A pulsing purple Force Signature in the far reaches of the compound.

It was risky, as Obi-Wan had heard of non-Force users with particularly strong Force signatures, but Obi-Wan reached out anyways. It was surprisingly easy to connect their minds as Obi-Wan asked, hello?

The Force signature immediately turned orange. What the what the what the what, the voice screamed back. Boba was right, I am going insane!

You're not insane, Obi-Wan said, quickly realizing that this person was definitely not a Jedi. Stay calm. I'm a Jedi. Obi-Wan sent calming vibes through their wispy bond, watching the Force signature turn from an angry red to a cooled purple.

I don't have time for Jedi tricks, the voice said, sounding sour. Obi-Wan felt the bond begin to fray, and the comforting Force presence slip farther away.

Wait, Obi-Wan said, somewhat desperately, and he figured it was the tone of his voice that kept the person from pulling further away.

The voice, fainter this time, said, What do you want, not exactly a question.

Obi-Wan chose his words carefully. I think we can help each other break out of here. 

A reply came immediately, though it sounded doubtful. How? This place is locked down tight.

Obi-Wan took stock of his surroundings, noting the bare duracrete walls, dusty lights covered in cobwebs, and single wooden chair.

Above the door was an air vent.

We can go through the air vents, Obi-Wan said, fighting to keep his voice calm. How close are you to the exit?

I'm not sure, the voice said. I think I'm nearby.

I'll crawl through the vents to get to you. You'll have to be a lookout and warn me if anyone is near your cell.

Alright, came the reply. 

Obi-Wan made sure their thread was still secure as he disconnected their channel and reached out for guards. Finding one nearby with the worm-filled mind of a Gamorrean, Obi-Wan sat back in the stiff chair and waited for it to pass.

When Obi-Wan was sure there were no guards in the vicinity, he reconnected his mind and the mind of his partner in crime. With a tug from the Force, the vent cover was yanked from the wall and bobbed in the air as Obi-Wan leapt deftly up into the vent. It was a tight squeeze, but he managed.

Blindly, he replaced the grate over the vent entrance behind him and began to crawl in the general direction of the purple Force signature. The vent was cold and smelled stale, like a long-unused storage closet in the deepest parts of the Temple.

As Obi-Wan passed by grates looking out over various cells throughout the complex, he heard insane mumbling in a hundred different languages, screaming matches with the wall, and species in straitjackets with padded cells.