Bound

Moving Forward

Some spoilers from Jedi Apprentice.
No betas, therefore the mistakes are all mine.
See chapter one for disclaimers.

Qui-Gon hurt. Every shambling step was painful. Every pull of skin and muscle was torture. Every inhale and exhale was agony, but still he pushed forward though he was forced to lean heavily on the young boy at his side. The boy hadn't spoken since he had freed Qui-Gon from his rocky tomb. In fact, Qui-Gon wasn't entirely certain the child wasn't in some mild form of psychic shock; a not so uncommon side-effect of excessive Force use, especially in the under or untrained. But Obi-Wan was upright, moving, and shouldering a considerable amount of the master's weight so the effects could not be that bad. Qui-Gon himself was desperately trying to stave off shock of his own, not a psychic state, but a physical one caused by his injuries. And from what the master could tell, his injuries were numerous indeed. His entire left side felt like he had been trampled by an overweight bantha. His left ankle was swollen, tender, and most likely broken as he also suspected was the case of his wrist and forearm. His chest and side pained with every breath and deep inhalation was impossible. Qui-Gon figured since he still could move and breathe the damage was likely a case of cracked ribs rather then completely broken ones. What concerned the master most was the pain and impaired movement in his left hip. It might be fractured as well, but not too badly as he could force himself into movement. However, Qui-Gon had to admit to himself that that movement was getting harder and harder as the pain and aches of his abused body clawed at his resolve, eating away at his will by inches. He could not even draw upon the Force for strength or relief as he remained blind to its presence and power.

Speaking of being blind... The world of green light, stone, and shadow began to blur as a wave of vertigo assaulted Qui-Gon's senses. He stumbled hard causing Obi-Wan to adjust his grip on the master and the master's saber to keep the Jedi from accidently impaling himself. Qui-Gon was dead tired. He had nothing left. He needed to sit down, to rest, yet part of him knew if he stopped moving it was unlikely he would move again. Ultimately, the choice was taken from him as his weak left side folded sending him to the ground in an agonizing heap that pulled a low, wailing moan from him. Obi-Wan sank with him, carefully holding the lit saber out of harm's way. Qui-Gon looked to the child's face. Even his current double vision could not hide or fully distort the wide-eyed fear in the boy's expression or his small body's extreme fatigue. Qui-Gon closed his eyes hard. He had to think, to focus. He had to get them out of here.

When he opened his eyes again his vision had somewhat cleared, but the pounding in his head, a concussion for certain, had not abated in the least.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon called, his voice rough and weak. Large waiting eyes focused on his. Qui-Gon licked his lips, trying to dull their ache with saliva he didn't possess. "I need to rest a bit, Obi-Wan. Why don't you go a little ways ahead and see if you can see or hear anything," he said in between labored breaths and stabbing bursts of pain behind his eyes. Obi-Wan said nothing, simply rose to his feet and proceeded down the tunnel. Qui-Gon watched his figure retreat leaving the space where he sat in darkness. He held his battered arm tight against his damaged ribs, closed his eyes, and tried his very best not to die.

* * * * *

Obi-Wan tried not to think. Thinking was bad. Thinking led to things like planning and planning led to hoping and hoping, well, that was just something he could not afford to deal with right now. He continued down the mine shaft, bearing Jinn's saber like a torch. He should be happy or, at least, if not happy better than this. He had saved Master Jinn after all, hadn't he?

Obi-Wan ran his free hand along the rough wall of the cave. Yes, Master Jinn was alive, for now, but how much longer could the man go on? And as far as he could tell, he and the Master Jedi were no closer to finding a way out of the stone labyrinth. Master Jinn might very well still die here and it would still be Obi-Wan's fault.