The Apprentice and the Padawan

Escape

Atonai stared into the darkness of a cell, emotions stewing. Master had thrown him into the darkness several days ago, and had not yet sent water or food. As predicted, Master was enraged with him, and had let his brothers teach him a lesson for hours before throwing him into this hole where misery lingers.

Atonai shifted his weight to sit more upright and his abdomen protested loudly. He could stay here and accept his punishment, but that route may lead to death. With every minute, Atonai could feel his strength fading. Master had taken all of Atonai's brothers and Atonai as apprentices, due to their strong connection to the force, so he didn't have qualms about hurting them. Nothing is ever out of bounds, and Atonai wouldn't be surprised to hear that Master was leaving him in here forever. He'd done it before to Atonai's younger brother, his bones hung on the wall of the training room to serve as an ever present reminder of the price failure. Atonai only made it this long because his connection to the force is the strongest, but his mistake with the Jedi may outweigh Master's ambitions to mold his talent.

An unfamiliar emotion ran through Atonai's blood, intense and sudden. His hands trembled and were sweating profusely. He clasped his hands together and stared at them, attempting to force them to still. Something must be wrong with him. This must be why Master is getting rid of him. Atonai shouted in frustration and leaned his head back on the cold wall.

So this is my fate, he thought slowly, after all I have done and learned, I will be thrown out like trash. No one will know of my fate. There will be no glory to my name.

He looked around the cell. It was a fitting place for his end. After all his dark deeds, he probably deserved to rot away in the foul cell, just like the other failed apprentice.

Strangely, his thoughts drifted to the Padawan. He got to be nurtured by a gentle Master. Antonai doubted he ever spent significant time locked in a cell. He got to be taught everything he could absorb without constant competition for survival. Although each Force sensitive child is different, the Jedi method of teaching is usually more successful in regards to completion. The Sith, in comparison, have many Apprentice deaths, and therefore fewer numbers. This makes Sith better at combat, but without enough power to completely eliminate the Jedi.

Maybe that's why I was thrown out. I've always been the worst at fighting one-on-one. Atonai contemplated. I have to get out of here. I have to prove myself to Master. If I fix my mistake, Master will take me back. I can continue on my path to become a Sith Lord. I have to get out of here.

Atonai knew that using the Force would be useless, because the cell was designed to block any Force user from connecting with the Force. He'd have to find another way out, before his strength completely left him.

I could trick the guards into thinking I was having a seizure, although I'm not sure that would spur them into action... I could tell them that I remembered something really important about the Jedi and need to speak with Master immediately. Atonai went in circles thinking about a way to escape. In the end, none of his schemes seemed plausible, and he became frustrated.

Before long, his limbs seemed to be made of lead and he could no longer move around the cell. Before Atonai could let the darkness of sleep in, however, he heard gunshots and the buzz of a lightsaber outside his cell.

"Uhh...what-" Atonai was suddenly cut off by a blue lightsaber slicing a hole in the cell door.

"Are you a friend of the Sith?" A young, but low voice asked.

Looks like I found my way out of here.

"Of course not! They dragged me here when I tried to start a rebellion after my brother was killed." Atonai tried to sound honest. Atonai thought quickly. After hesitating, he added in a whisper, "I think they plan to kill me."

The hole in the wall was suddenly thrust away, revealing a figure. Crystal blue eyes stared into Atonai's black ones, which were filled with crocodile tears. "Alright. Come with me."

Ha. The Jedi are so easily fooled. It's no wonder the Sith are more powerful.

"I'm on a mission to blow up this ship. I've already triggered the explosives, so we need to hurry. You are the only prisoner here right?"

Oh...Well, I'm sure Master and my brothers have escaped already.

"I don't know, I never left the cell." Atonai told the Padawan.

"Okay that's fine. Let's get out of here."

Atonai couldn't agree more. He started to stand up, visualizing his escape already. Suddenly, he crumbled back down. "It seems I'm having trouble getting up. They haven't fed me in I-don't-know how long." He said wearily.

The Padawan was quickly alarmed, his eyebrows scrunching together. "Ah, that's not good. My escape ship is all the way across this ship and the timer for the bombs is already counting down." He worriedly looked out the hall. "And reinforcement should be coming any second now." Those crystal eyes turned back to Atonai. "Okay, I'll have to carry you to an escape pod. My Master can pick us up from the closest planet."

Atonai's eyes narrowed.

Uh, carry? Sith Apprentices are not carried. I will not allow this undignified-

Atonai did not get to finish his thought before the Jedi Padawan came into the cell and scooped him up bridal style. Atonai tried with all his might to not twist and struggle out of the Padawan's embrace, which would give away his cover story.

Thank God anyone who sees this will be dead in a few minutes...How humiliating.

Right before Atonai and the Padawan left the cell, Atonai prepared to mask his dark energy. It would not be good if his identity was discovered. As much as Atonai hated to admit it, he was not strong enough to get off the doomed ship by himself. Besides, being with the Padawan could be advantageous. He could join the Jedi and find their weakness, then be welcomed back to the Sith with open arms.

Needing to play up the injured innocent, Atonai leaned into the Padwan's surprisingly strong chest and whispered "Thank you for saving me."

The Padawan then did something that made the Apprentice slightly uncomfortable. He looked down at Atonai and smiled a brilliant smile. Suddenly, all that mattered to Atonai was that a bright smile was directed towards him, which had never happened ever, unless smirks count. All of the Padawan's attention was on Atonai. The darkness under Atonai's eyes seemed to fade, as well as Atonai's fatigue. Surprising himself, Atonai realized he didn't mind being smiled at.

And the thought disgusted him.

"There's a pod right around this corner." The Padawan obviously did some research before this mission. The Padawan turned the corner and found three Sith mercenaries running straight at him. They raised their guns and fired.

One moment Atonai was in the Padawan's arms, the next he was flying in the air towards the hard ground. The Padawan stepped in front of Atonai, activated his lightsaber, and deflected three shots right back at the mercenaries. After they were down, he looked at his arm and sighed.

"They hit my transmitter." The Padawan sounded like he was losing his calm collected facade. "I won't be able to contact my Master without it..." He trailed off, deep in thought.

Atonai, on the other hand, felt energized witnessing some violence. Again, needing to act the part, Atonai suggested, "How about you just send me down in the pod alone while you get to your escape ship?"

"No, it's too late. Besides, you're not strong enough to survive on your own in your condition. We can get a ship at whatever planet we go to. But we really need to get off this ship soon." He said as he opened a hatch to an escape pod. Atonai slowly climbed in, smarting about the 'not strong enough' comment, and almost sat in the control seat.

No, Atonai. You are not in command, and you do not know how to work this thing. You are a measly, failed rebellion leader.

"Alright. Here we go. The closest planet is Tatooine." The Padawan informed Atonai.

With that, the escape pod hatch closed, and the two young men were sent into space, spiraling towards Tatooine.