Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn paced back and forth in front of the Jedi Council Room. He was called here for an unnamed reason; he was simply told it was an "urgent matter." Now his padawan was inside; he wasn't told he was; he sensed he was. Obi-Wan probably knew he was waiting outside too.
The doors opened and Obi-Wan exited, not looking the least bit surprised to see Qui-Gon standing outside. "The members of the Council would like to speak to you, Master. I would not keep them waiting."
"Neither would I," he replied and walked into the room.
Mace Windu started the talking, as was usual. "Master Qui-Gon, I do not wish to hold you up. We have a new mission for you, and you must leave as soon as is possible"
"What might this mission be?" He asked impatiently. He was never fond of listening to the Council go on and on. He liked to get straight to the point.
"A disturbance in the Force there is," Master Yoda began. "To Stuilia you must go. Yes. Know what it is, we do not. Strange it is that it appeared so quickly."
"Stuilia? Is that in the outer rim?"
Mace Windu began to speak again. "I believe so. It's almost uninhabited, except for a few remote life forms. We have almost no idea what could have caused the disturbance, and so we are sending you to gain intel in the matter."
"Intel? So you are sending us on a research mission." Qui-Gon paused. " Are there any dangers we should be informed of?"
"We assume nothing." The tone in his Master Windu's voice told him that he did not think that there actually were any dangers, which worried him, because most disturbances were because of some sort of danger (someone simply waking up and going about their normal day normally didn't change anything). The danger to him, however, was that he did not know what he would be facing, which could and often did lead to many unpleasant circumstances. This would be more than just a research mission.
"When are we to depart?"
"A ship, there is. Heading to Cardooine it is. Pass by Stuilia, it will. Leaving tomorrow morning, it is. Be ready by then, you must."
"As you wish." Qui-Gon turned to depart, but was stopped by Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, giving him a last minute bit of advice.
"Stuilia has its own hazards. Its terrain is difficult to manage. It has overwhelmed many a' person. Be careful. "
"Thank you Master." He walked out. Obi-Wan greeted him outside the door.
"I've been doing some research on a data pad from the Temple's library. Were you warned of the terrain, Master? I've learned it's quite treacherous, and… well, there are more dangers than you may have realized."
"Tell me, my young padawan. I'm much eager to learn. We are departing tomorrow and should not waste any time."
"The data was incredibly difficult to come across, but I do believe that the planet is covered with highly steep mountains and sheets of ice, hard to hike and easy to hide anything in. "
"I knew the terrain would be challenging to venture over, now tell me what the other dangers may be."
"As you wish, Master. He tapped a button on his data pad and a holoprojection of an unknown plant appeared."
"What is it called?"
"It has no name, Master, only evidence that it exists."
"Explain."
"It is a highly poisonous organism with thorns similar to that of the Dagger Thorns used by Melee tribes in the time of the Old Republic. A single scratch can be deadly to almost any organism due to its sap. They grow off a slightly-odd shaped bush which blends into the icy terrain quite easily. However, the thorns themselves are as black as soot. The poison takes quite a while to kill, but is almost unstoppable once in the bloodstream of an organism."
"Is there an antidote?"
"It hasn't been proved to work, but the berries of the Teloberry bush have showed to work for similar toxins. "
"Well done, padawan. This could prove to be useful. I think I know a way to acquire some of the berries you speak of. Obi-Wan, would you mind taking a visit with me to the lower levels?"
"Not Particularly. May I inquire why on earth we would want to visit such a place?"
"You shall see" Obi-Wan sighed. He hated when his master did that.
Coruscant's lower levels were not the most pleasant places in the galaxy; the lower you got the worse they became. But they needed the berries, and whether or not they were here, well, there really wasn't a better idea Obi-Wan could think of as he stepped off the transport, so he followed his Master enthusiastically, eager to get the trip over with.
"Follow me, young padawan. … And please be cautious. Things may get a bit… difficult.
Great. Just grand. Obi-Wan thought. I can't imagine what you mean. And I don't think I want to.
They traversed through several streets and passageways until they reached one particularly large building advertising to be a store of some sorts in about ten different languages. Qui-Gon opened the door cautiously, clearly aware of what could be beyond the door. They entered the shop and Obi-Wan was entirely surprised by what he saw.
The room was filled with unlabeled crates, a bookcase covering one wall. An almost completely destroyed sign hung by a single nail on the wall opposite the door, reading "Welcome to …" the writing was impossible to read after that point. A single man was standing amidst the mess, writing something on a tattered piece of paper. He looked up as they entered.
"Qui-Gon!" the man exclaimed.
"You know this man?" Obi-Wan whispered. Qui-Gon didn't answer. He got right to business, asking if the man had acquired any Teloberries recently, and it occurred to Obi-Wan that most people wouldn't even know what they were, much less actually have a supply on hand.
Regardless, the man turned to walk through a curtain covering the back wall. He returned carrying a small crate in his hand.
"I don't see what you are going to do with these, my friend, but here you go." Qui-Gon said nothing of the mission, which was good. Obi-Wan expected no less. Qui-Gon slid some credits over the counter and walked toward the exit, beckoning to his padawan, who had been watching the exchange from a corner in the back.
After exiting the building Obi-Wan inquired on the strange man.
"I met him on a trip to Naboo. He was a space captain at the time. After an unfortunate exchange with a certain unhappy passenger, he settled down here in Coruscant, and I haven't visited him since then.
"No wonder he was so excited to see you."
Qui-Gon changed the subject "When we get back to the Temple, you had better get some rest. We are leaving early in the morning."
"Of course master"
