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Chapter 4 Mission of Discovery

Over the next couple of years the Padawans were busy with missions, classes, training, and much meditating. When at the temple at the same time, which was not often, Obi-Wan, Siri, Garen Muln, Reeft and Bant were inseparable. Many hours they spent together sparring, eating, playing jokes on various members of the order, and laughing.

Several evenings found them anxiously awaiting word when one of them became sick or injured. Although they all had their share of mishaps, it seemed Obi-Wan came home injured more often than the others, and it became a running joke between them. Siri wondered sometimes if Obi-Wan's future destiny would be thwarted by his untimely death. Would she even have to worry about whatever kind of connection they may have later?

As they grew older, the Padawans were often away from the temple for lengthy periods of time. The five friends were seldom able to be together as often as they had been. Siri and Obi-Wan, with their Masters, had gone on several missions together over the past two years and as a result the two had become much closer.

Adi watched silently, but saw no sign of anything more than close friendship between them.

Qui-Gon was simply happy that Obi-Wan had someone he could consider a best friend. He himself had treasured his close friendship with Tahl, who had died a few years earlier during a mission. He still missed her, and loved her.

He knew something could someday happen between Siri and Obi-Wan, but he trusted his Padawan enough to make the right decision.

As time passed, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were away more often on long, dangerous missions, sometimes being away for several months. Siri didn't have time to think about him very much as she and her master were also being sent on longer, more intricate missions.

It was over a year later before Obi-Wan and Siri saw each other again.

Shortly after Siri's sixteenth birthday, it was announced she and Adi would be going on a mission with Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Siri was excited to see him after so long. He had become a senior Padawan while Adi and Siri had been away on their most recent mission, and she was looking forward to finally congratulating him.

At their mission briefing in the council room, Siri learned they were to go to the planet Astar, a tribal planet in the Solari system. They were to find a tribal village, the Pellan, and investigate why the villagers were attacking other villages. The leaders in the main city of the planet seemed unconcerned about finding any answers. When they were finally persuaded to send out a party to investigate, they were attacked. Several of the party were seriously injured and one died. The rest of the investigating party returned to the city with their injured and the leaders decided to contact the Jedi temple and ask for help.

While Master Windu discussed the matter with the four Jedi, Siri surreptiously glanced Obi-Wan's way. He stood tall and serene, his eyes serious and focused on the masters' and their instructions. But she could swear a couple times she had seen his eyes glance her way. She felt a nudge from her master through their bond.

"Focus, Padawan."

"Yes, Master." Chagrined, Siri blushed and re-focused her attention on the masters.

The next time she saw him was when they boarded the transport that would take them to Astar. He turned as she entered and his eyes widened a little, lighting up when he saw her. He grinned. "There you are! I wondered where you've been." He approached her, lightly brushed her arm, then dropped his hand. He backed away slightly, then said, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too, Obi-Wan. Your braid is longer!" She gazed at the plait which now reached almost to his waist.

"Yeah." He grinned as he glanced down at it. "Qui-Gon says I'll have to tuck it in my belt if it gets any longer."

Siri laughed softly.

Then she really looked at him. He was, if possible, even more handsome. His bright blue/gray eyes had a more serious look in them, but still shone with light. His face was more mature, but still had that boyish charm that could always take her breath away. She became aware that he was appraising her in a similar fashion.

Obi-Wan seemed to realize what he was doing and suddenly straightened his shoulders, looked away and said, "Well, I'd better see what I can do to help Qui-Gon."

Siri nodded and started to look around for her master when she heard Master Qui-Gon's voice.

"Hello Siri!" he called cheerfully as he came from the back of the transport. "Obi-Wan, time to ready our ship for take off.

Obi-Wan turned immediately to his master and said, "Yes, Master!" He gave Siri a quick smile and then went to his tasks.

Siri sighed and helped put away the gear.

A week later Siri found herself alone with Obi-Wan and lost in the woods.

"How did this happen?" she wondered to herself, but she knew.

The four Jedi had been travelling on foot through dense jungle to find the village where they were to meet the leader of the Pellan tribe and try to find out what was going on. They had landed two days earlier and had been surprised to find little assistance. They were given a map, and the instructions to "go this way till you find it. Much forest, watch out for wild animals." But no guide volunteered, so off they had gone.

They marched through a dense forest thick with long reaching branches, full of chatter, twittering, hawking and creeping sounds. Siri and Obi-Wan walked together behind their masters, and often one would poke the other to point out a furry woodland creature with long sharp teeth skittering up a tree, or other creatures and interesting flowers along the way.

At one point as they walked, Obi-Wan had punched Siri's arm excitedly and she looked up to see a large bird covered in brilliant blue, red, yellow and purple feathers perched on one of the large crooked branches. Its long plumage dipped down into the undergrowth of the forest and its long dangerous looking beak opened with a call that was shrill and intense. Its sharp gaze pierced the woods around it. The group had stopped their trek, gazing in admiration at the beauty of this extraordinary creature. The bird closed its beak and suddenly lifted itself off of its branch and with long, graceful wings it spun and soared, quickly reaching the top of the forest, then its long tail brushed the tops of the trees as it flew away. Siri was mesmerized. She had never seen anything like it. Even Qui-Gon had seemed awestruck by it. He loved the living force as it sang to him in these woods, and he seemed to be most in tune with their surroundings.

As they walked, Master Qui-Gon told them about the different kinds of trees and foliage they came across. They watched as he picked strange looking blue leaves off of a plant he had seen. Later when they camped he made tea out of them.

Pungent, Siri sipped gingerly at the bitter, woodsy flavored drink. Her mouth puckered and her eyes watered at the unpleasant taste. She glanced at Obi-Wan, who had been watching her with amusement. He took a larger gulp and his eyes widened as he swallowed hard, then began coughing, his face turning a funny shade of red. Siri giggled.

"Sip it, Padawan. This kind of drink cannot be drunk hastily."

"I noticed," Obi-Wan sputtered as his face returned to its natural color.

He glanced again at Siri and grinned. "I'm used to this. Master is always finding some concoction to make tea out of. It's not really so bad," he whispered to her.

"Thank you, Padawan. I take it you like it then?" Qui-Gon said from his perch on a nearby rock.

"Now, Master, don't get the wrong idea. I said it's not so bad. Not like that tea we were served that time on Dantooine."

He turned to Siri, crinkling his nose distastefully "I didn't sleep a wink all night."

Siri gasped. "Did it make you sick?"

"Not me! Qui-Gon. He was up all night long, running to the fresher. He woke me up every time he did."

"Well, I couldn't be the only one having all the fun," Qui-Gon growled.

"Yeah, thanks a lot. I only took a few sips, Master drank three cups. But I had to pay the price of being his bunk mate in a very small room. It's a wonder I stayed awake through the rest of the meetings."

"Impudent brat. Just wait till you have a padawan, Padawan," he said, wagging his finger at him.

Everyone was laughing by then, and soon Master Qui-Gon had joined them.

They slept under a canopy of trees, the stars able to peek through sporadically as the night wind blew. They took turns keeping watch but sensed no danger and passed a quiet night.

They resumed their trek early the next morning. After another long day of hiking they knew they were getting within just a few hours to the village that had been accused of the attacks, but Qui-Gon had decided that due to the late evening they would camp again that night then reach the village the next day in daylight. After a supper of cold food and water, they had bedded down for the night. Master Adi had taken first watch, then Obi-Wan had relieved her a few hours later. Siri had been sleeping lightly. She had become aware of him out there, alone and watching and had considered joining him, but fatigue won out and she had drifted off to sleep again.

Suddenly she jumped with the urgency of the force's warning. She leaped to her feet to find Obi-Wan already up, his lightsaber on. He shouted to Qui-Gon, who had already awakened, and he, along with Master Adi, were on their feet. All lightsabers were out and blazing.

It was a group of tribal villagers, of average height and stocky. They wore nothing but threadbare britches and their bare chests were tatooed in colorful designs, their dark hair was long and covered in the feathers of the beautiful long plumed bird they had seen the day before.

As one the tribesmen roared and attacked them, their sharp teeth bared and dark eyes gleaming with lust and fury. They were screaming and brandishing rough hand made swords. A few were firing at them with outdated blasters and hurling stones from slingshots.

The Jedi deflected the shots and tried to disarm without hurting them. They were gaining the upper hand against their attackers; a few had been killed, but most were rendered unconscious and some were injured, when suddenly Siri heard a cry from Adi. She spun around and to her horror, her master was being dragged into the woods by several of their attackers. The men fled with her, screaming and shouting as they went.

"Master!" she screamed, and started to run to her, but Qui-Gon shouted, "No! Wait, Siri." He grabbed Siri's arm and pulled her to Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon then grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and spoke to him in their bond.

"I don't want to alarm Siri, but they seem to be after the women. I sense danger for Siri as well. I don't think she should follow them, but I need to follow them to find Adi. Obi-Wan, please stay with her. Find a place to hide and I'll be back as soon as I can."

Obi-Wan started to protest but Qui-Gon was stern.

"No! Not this time. Keep her safe, that's all I'm asking right now, okay?"

Obi-Wan nodded, his face worried and intense and Qui-Gon knew he understood. He nodded, let go of a Siri, turned and ran into the forest, going in the direction of the now retreating voices of the jubiliant men.

Siri suddenly turned and ran away from Obi-Wan, trying to catch up to Qui-Gon, but Obi-Wan out ran her and grabbed her, holding her firmly.

"Let me go, Obi-Wan," she cried, squirming. "I need to find my master!"

"You heard him, you need to stay with me."

"Why?" She turned on him, her eyes sparking. "She's my master, Obi-Wan. Don't tell me you wouldn't go after them it if was your master!"

"Of course I would, but I trust Master Qui-Gon and besides," he turned toward the woods worriedly, "we don't have much of a choice now."

A renewed noise was heard from the forest and she turned with him to find more of the wild tribesmen running toward them, eyes blazing and weapons brandished.

"Did Qui-Gon know about this?" Siri spat as she ignited her lightsaber and stood defensively against the attackers.

"I don't think so. He was sensing something, but I don't think this was it."

Obi-Wan stood with Siri, as their blue and violet lightsabers stood out against the darkness surrounding them.

The men paused a moment, staring at the strange Jedi weapons, then with a cry they attacked.

Obi-Wan and Siri stood back to back in a symphony of light and dance, they were driving their attackers back when suddenly something exploded in a cloud of smoke at their feet.

Siri stopped with a cry, her lightsaber falling to the ground. She gasped and felt herself losing consciousness. At the last moment she felt Obi-Wan put his arm around her and then both crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

TBC