Disclaimer: All belongs to the great and powerful Mouse.
A/N: Here's chapter three. I hope you are enjoying it... and still reading it. For some reason, this particular collection of words I loosely refer to as a story seem to speak to me. I hope that maybe it will speak to you as well. Please, your comments and feedback (good, bad, and in-between) are not only welcomed, but treasured.
A/N 2: Italics indicate emphasis, visions, personal thoughts and flashbacks. Context should illustrate which device is being used. / / indicates mindspeak.
Please R&R!
Chapter 3 - No Safe Quarter
Day – 0
It should have been impossible. He knew that. If his apprentice had gone missing on a mission that would be one thing, but to go missing from the Temple? It was not only unheard of, it should not have been possible.
Qui-Gon had checked the gardens, the training salles, even the Healer's Ward, a place Obi-Wan would never have entered voluntarily, and found nothing. He had visited the masters of his apprentice's closest friends, Bant, Garen, Reeft and Quinlan. None of them had seen him.
Now, Qui-Gon stood before another master's apartment door, but this time he found himself hesitating. He closed his eyes, tightened his shields, and tamped down the panic trying to gain a foothold in the pit of his stomach. He pushed the door chime and waited. He did not wait long. The door slid open and there stood another Jedi. He was as tall as Qui-Gon, but his skin was deep russet and his head was bald.
"Qui-Gon," Master Windu greeted pleasantly, but then he noticed the subtle waves of anxiety rolling off his friend's Force signature. "What has happened?"
"Obi-Wan is missing," he answered flatly. Windu stepped aside allowing Qui-Gon entry into his quarters.
"I'm starting to worry, Mace," Qui-Gon said as he took a seat on the couch. Master Windu closed the door then took a seat across from his distraught agemate. Windu leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. Qui-Gon absently carded his long, dark bistre locks before speaking. Mace waited patiently for the other Jedi to collect his thoughts.
"He was in a fight earlier today and I left him in our quarters to meditate on his actions and his punishment. When I returned, he was gone," Qui-Gon paused to clear the small catch he felt form in his throat. "It is not like him to disobey me. I have checked with his friends and with the Healers. No one has seen him."
"And your bond?"
"Is completely silent. I feel nothing from him," Qui-Gon answered. Mace's brow furrowed and his characteristic frown returned to his face. After a few moments thought, Mace stood and crossed to the comm. panel.
"Temple security."
"Master Lo-Cha," Mace said in greeting. The Iktotchi Jedi on the screen nodded in deference to the Council member.
"How may I be of service, Master Windu?"
"We have a missing padawan. Kenobi. I want you to organize some knights to search the Temple grounds. The child may be unconscious or injured. Also, his master and I will need to see the security footage outside the Jinn/Kenobi apartment starting from..." Mace paused as he turned to Qui-Gon.
"1500 hours," he supplied. Mace turned back to the comm. screen.
"1500 hours," he answered. "We will join you shortly."
"I will start immediately, Master," Lo-Cha noded then he terminated the link. Mace paused silently by the comm. panel before turning around.
"I think we should alert Master Yoda," he said. Qui-Gon gave no verbal response only a curt nod before returning his chin to its position of rest on his interlaced fingers. Mace eyed his long time friend for a moment more before turning back to the comm. panel.
"Master Yoda."
"A problem there is. A disturbance I have felt," the wizened Jedi stated rather than asked. Mace nodded grimly.
"Yes. Qui-Gon's padawan, Obi-Wan, is missing."
"Sense him he cannot." Another statement. Mace didn't stop to ponder how the Grand Master always seemed to be one step ahead when being given information—telling the answer instead of asking the question. Over the years, the Korun Council member had just grown accustomed to the quasi-precognizant green entity.
"He cannot."
"Hmmph," Yoda paused, his small clawed hand tapped his chin. "To my chambers when done with Master Lo-Cha you are."
"Yes, Master," Mace said with a bow of his head. He ended the transmission. When he turned around Qui-Gon was already on his feet.
"Let's go," he said and then he immediately left the apartment. Mace followed right behind. The two Jedi traversed the grand corridors of the Temple in silence—one not wanting to give voice to the terrible, anxious images laying siege to his thoughts, the other not knowing the words to use to bring any comfort to his friend. So they carried on in silence until they reached the Temple's Security Station. Once the two stepped inside, Master Lo-Cha moved to meet them.
"Masters," he nodded. Mace and Qui-Gon politely nodded back. The Iktotchi Master gestured to the main security station which was flanked by one large holo-monitor on both sides and one directly in front.
"I've dispatched four knights to sweep the building with the assistance of the Temple Guards. I also have droids checking the services entrances and maintenance hatches. If the padawan is in the Temple we will find him," he said speaking directly to Jinn who nodded. All three Masters stood before the main station as a young Cerean male with long black hair manned the console. Lo-Cha rested a hand on the youth's shoulder.
"This is my padawan, Bur-Lan-Ty," Lo-Cha introduced as the young man swiveled around in his seat to greet the masters. Both Jedi nodded in acknowledgement. "Bur-Lan has pulled the footage you requested, though we have not had an opportunity to view it," Lo-Cha finished as his apprentice swiveled back to face his console and key in the necessary commands. Instantly, an image of the corridor outside Jinn's apartment appeared on all three holo-monitors. Each displayed a slightly different angle.
"So, this is the hall at 1500 hours," the Cerean said then he pushed a button and the time frame sped forward. He released the button as a tall, robed figure exited the quarters.
"That's when I left for meditation in the gardens," Qui-Gon stated.
"And where was your padawan at that time?" Master Lo-Cha asked.
"Meditating in his room with orders not to leave until I returned," Qui-Gon answered. He leaned forward resting one hand on the outer edge of the console and one on the back of Bur-Lan's seat.
"Speed it up again," he told the apprentice who dutifully obeyed. "Stop! There!" Qui-Gon yelled. As requested, the image on the monitors froze.
"Who is that? Another Jedi? Were you expecting someone to visit your quarters?" Master Windu asked as all four Jedi stared at the back of the hooded figure that stood outside Qui-Gon's door.
"No, but perhaps he may have noticed something that may shed some light," Qui-Gon muttered. "What is the time index?"
"1820 hours," Bur-Lan replied.
"Unpause it," Lo-Cha instructed his apprentice. With the push of a button, the figure on the monitors palmed the door to the Jinn/Kenobi quarters open and stepped inside.
"He did not request entry," Mace noted. "Perhaps Obi-Wan expected him?"
"I do not know," was Qui-Gon's only answer. "He seems familiar, but I still can't place him," he murmured, mostly to himself. The four waited, three of them patiently, one less so, as they watched the monitors, the minutes ticking away in real time. Finally, the door opened and out stepped the hooded figure once again except this time he carried a very large, reinforced duffle bag. Then the figure did something completely unexpected. He looked directly into one of the cameras. The face was that of a young man with pale skin, somewhat delicate features, and piercing azure eyes. On his cheek he bore a distinctive scar.
"Xanatos," Qui-Gon growled. As if on cue, a cruel smile spread across the young man's face. He patted the duffle bag lightly and winked at the camera. A realization took hold. A gasped followed.
"He has Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon whispered to no one, his eyes locked on the screen before him. Xanatos reached into his cloak and placed something on or near the camera. He smiled again and gave a tiny nod to the camera before continuing down the hall with his prize. Mace turned abruptly to Master Lo-Cha.
"I want you to review all of the footage for today. I want to know how he got in and how he got out."
"Yes, Master," Lo-Cha answered with a quick nod. Mace turned to Qui-Gon who simply nodded, already knowing the Councilor's thoughts. Hurriedly, but not running, the pair of Jedi made their way to Qui-Gon's quarters. As soon as they entered the corridor, Qui-Gon immediately crossed over to the camera in question, subtly mounted in a faux sconce located high on the wall. He patted around until his fingers brushed against a small, round object. He removed it, stepped back, and shared his finding with Mace.
"A holo-recorder," Mace stated needlessly. Qui-Gon wasted no time activating the device. A tiny, blue image of his former apprentice sprang to life.
"Hello, Master," the holo-Xanatos smiled as he gave his intended audience a mocking bow. "It's been a long time. They say you can never go home again, but... I found it rather easy. You may want to consider stepping up your security. You wouldn't want the wrong kind of people just walking in..." he paused and smiled. "You know, being in the Temple again, walking the old hallways, seeing our old quarters, being in my old room... it has left me rather nostalgic. I can't help but think about all the things lost to me since that time... all the things I will never again have... all the things that You took from me!" the holo-Xanatos yelled, his rage evident in the harsh lines of his expression. "But," he began, his voice returning to the calm and cold timber of before. "I cannot get those things you stole from me back so instead I have chosen to settle for an exchange. A future for a future. A life for a life," he finished his tone unmistakably dark. "Feel free to meditate on that, Master. I'll be in touch."
The message terminated and the Council chamber was plunged into a heavy silence. Qui-Gon's expression was unaffected by the holo-recording as by now he had heard it many times. First in the hall with Mace then again with Master Yoda in his chambers, and now in the Council room, but these instances were but a mere trifle compared to the number of times the master had replayed the message in his head. Each time he studied every word, every expression, every inflection, gesture, intonation, looking for something, anything that might reveal a clue to help find Obi-Wan. But Qui-Gon knew from experience that Xanatos would reveal only want he wanted and nothing more. Still, something had felt off about Xanatos's behavior and though Qui-Gon could not determine what that was the feeling still plagued him. The old master was forced to be patient—a skill learned early in the life of a Jedi and a skill that quickly waned from this particular Jedi with each passing moment.
"You said you felt something during your meditation?" Master Adi Gallia questioned breaking the uneasy silence. Qui-Gon nodded.
"Yes. It was very strange, but very faint. I... I was unable to recognize it for what it was," he said shaking his head in frustration. "I know now that it was a warning."
"Yes," Master Yoda interrupted. "A disturbance I felt. Clouded it was."
"How did he even get in?" Master Even Piell's heavily accented voice sounded in the chamber. Master Windu shook his head and steepled his fingers.
"Based on Master Lo-Cha's review of the security footage for the Temple Xanatos was able to simply walk in. However," he paused. "Not long after leaving the corridor outside Jinn's quarters he simply disappears from view."
"Disappears? Caught him leave no camera did?" Master Yaddle questioned.
"No," Mace replied. "However he left he managed to avoid all of our surveillance."
"And we have no leads as to where he may have taken the boy?" Master Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.
"None," Qui-Gon answered succinctly. His jaw was clenching and unclenching as his patience continued to evaporate under, in his view, the unnecessary discussion. It wasn't the time for words, it was the time for action. With each passing second his apprentice and his capture drew further and further away.
"And still you can sense nothing through your training bond?" Master T'un asked. Qui-Gon sighed.
"Nothing, Master. I can still feel his presence. It is muted though... distant," he said as he closed his eyes. He searched the bond again, but the result was the same. Silence. He opened his eyes and looked to the Council.
"I can only sense that he is alive," Qui-Gon finished sadly. Master Yoda looked at his former pupil, his golden eyes brimming with compassion and resolve.
"Continue the search for him we will, but trust in the Force we must."