Chapter 2
Misplaced Padawans
With the morning came the summons to appear before the council. Qui-Gon changed into a fresh set of clothes, washed away the uneasy sleep from his eyes, and went.
The council, again. Why, for everything else that Qui-Gon might have missed about the Temple, he hadn't missed this. The tension, the probing stares and the silence that stretched towards infinity. Yoda's influence, surely, Qui-Gon thought as he bowed, greeted the Masters and waited. Yes, surely. Only Yoda could wait a lifetime and a half to simply ask how was his journey back.
'Qui-Gon, brings joy to my heart, your return.'
Ah, you humble me.
'Thank you, Master,' Qui-Gon said simply.
Mace Windu was all business. No time to spare. Report about the mission. Qui-Gon did. No casualties? No. Success, then? Yes. Tell us… Qui-Gon did, about this, about that, calm and detached. The sun rays slanted through the windows and travelled on the floor by his feet. No time to spare. But the questions, that he had already answered in his written account, dragged on. Oh well, it was the way of the Council. It would end sooner or later. Sooner than later, Qui-Gon hoped.
He was a patient man. But Mace Windu was a thorough one. Master Jinn felt compelled to reconsider the wisdom of his return.
'Explain to as, please…'
Oh, Force. He wasn't that patient.
'One more detail, if you please…'
The temptation to turn around, call a taxi and leave rose in Qui-Gon like a tidal wave. He smiled and spoke, as calm as a bright summer day.
'Of course, master Windu. The senator Narb is safe. Safely reunited with his family and is ready to resume his duties. The peace negotiations are concluded in a satisfactory manner. There are still factions who disagree, of course, but the planet's government decided that it was their duty to discipline their own. Hence, I am here.'
'And so you are,' agreed Mace Windu. 'I have no more questions.'
Force be praised!
'I do,' said Qui-Gon.
'Indeed?' asked Master Windu.
Qui-Gon took a deep breath. 'Indeed,' he answered in a clipped tone. Then he released his breath and the tension behind it. 'Is my Padawan well?'
A hush fell on the room. Qui-Gon straightened his shoulders.
'I know that he is within the Temple walls. I can feel that much. But the bond has been silent for a long time. We had been far apart. I cannot reach Obi-Wan to know more.'
Yoda sighed and stood from his chair.
'Silent your bond is, you say, Qui-Gon. Far apart. Long time. Your Padawan here is. Returned to his own quarters, he has.'
'The initiates' wing?' asked Qui-Gon, unbelieving. 'Is he well?'
'Seek him out you must, or not. Know your own heart. Tell you more, I will not.'
Qui-Gon stared at his old master.
'If the council will give me leave,' he murmured.
'We do,' said Mace Windu. 'Go in peace, Qui-Gon.'
Peace was an alien notion, at the moment. Obi-Wan had moved out. Qui-Gon was still the boy's Master ; the bond told him that much. But Yoda's frown and Mace Windu's grim expression spurred the Jedi on. Something was wrong. He went down to the initiates' wing with swift strides. There, across the hallway, he remembered, were Obi-Wan's room. Qui-Gon halted before the door.
« Initiate Naat » read the sign.
Qui-Gon stood still for a moment, then raised his hand and knocked. A very small and furry initiate opened him. He got a glimpse of bright green eyes in a feline face before the girl ducked her head.
'Master Jinn,' she said in an awed whisper.
Her russet tail curled around her left wrist. She looked up at him briefly, intimidated. She stood as high as his waistband. Qui-Gon came down on one knee and the girl drew in a sharp, surprised breath. Her ears pricked up a little.
'How can I help you, Master Jinn?'
'I am looking for Padawan Kenobi, initiate Naat. I wonder if you could help me.'
The girl smiled.
'Of course, Master Jinn. The first door to the right, right at the end of the corridor. When Obi-Wan came back, I already was here. He didn't want me to move, so he took a spare room. I have his flying models!'
A golden spark lit her eyes as she laughed.
'Thank you,' said Qui-Gon.
He stood to go. Naat followed him.
'But Obi-Wan is never there anymore,' she called out, trying to catch up to his long strides.
Qui-Gon stood still as his heart thudded once, strongly, in his chest. He turned to face the girl.
'Why not?' he asked.
She shrugged and scratched at her forehead with a claw-like paw.
'I don't know.'
'Where could he be then, initiate Naat? Would you know?'
She thought for a moment, furrowing her brow, ears twitching. Her tail shot up like an arrow.
'The crèche, I think!'
'Why?' repeated Qui-Gon.
She shook her head.
'I don't know, Master Jinn.'
'Thank you, little one.'
The crèche, then, releasing the strain and the threatening headache as he went. Another thirteen levels down, and Qui-Gon proceeded with caution, because he towered as a giant now over the swirl of the laughing and bouncing children. Oh, joy. He found a corner that the ebb of screeching life seemed to skirt around. What has he gotten himself into? What in all the galaxies was Obi-Wan doing here? And where was he? Nowhere to be found, naturally. Qui-Gon pinched the bridge of his nose.
'Padawan!' he growled under his breath.
The bond lay inside him, silent as a dark lake. Qui-Gon closed his eyes for a second. Something was not wrong. Nothing was right. He pushed away from the wall and went outside, where snowflakes tumbled from the sky and the ground was white and quiet. Voices murmured around the bend of the path. Qui-Gon heard laughter, then a squeal of delight.
'You promise, Obi? You promise?'
His missing Padawan was kneeling by a frozen fountain side. Three boys looked into the youth's eyes, expectant as young birds that awaited nourishment from their mother bird.
'You promise? A tale tonight, and you'll show us how to build a snow castle tomorrow?'
Obi-Wan reached a hand to their reddened cheeks, each boy in turn, with a gentle and soothing touch.
'Of course I do. If you promise to sleep tonight as soon as you are sleepy. And if you promise to tell me, tomorrow, if you start getting cold.'
'And we'll go skating too, yes, Obi-Wan? Please, say yes!'
Obi-Wan laughed.
'Well, yes, then. But only if your crèche Master is willing.'
The children threw their hands around him.
'You know he is, when it is you.'
They flew off, a small and noisy flock. Obi-Wan watched them go with a smile.
Qui-Gon watched him. The Jedi Master saw his apprentice climb slowly, awkwardly to his feet. Obi-Wan swayed, then leaned against the fountain wall, eyes closed, his face white with pain. Qui-Gon stood still, his gaze fixed on the boy. Finally, the bond stirred to life like a frightened, caged animal. The Master felt his Padawan. And the Padawan felt the Master.
Obi-Wan's eyes flew open. Surprise. Joy, mingled with sadness. Then a smile, and Obi-Wan was limping towards him, color returning to his face.
'Master Jinn. I have not heard of your return.'
The Master's eyes widened at the formality of the greeting.
'Obi-Wan,' he said. 'Padawan, I have been looking for you.'
The smile on Obi-Wan's face faded. Qui-Gon's words came to a stop.
That's it for now. Thank you for reading. Did you like the chapter?
