Chapter 11

//Padawan, what's the situation?//

//It's clear Master, I'm going in.//

//Be careful.// There was something in his Master's mental voice that made Obi-wan chuckle. He could almost hear the man trying not to sound overly concerned and then not being able to stop himself.

Obi-wan made sure to toss the ball through the door before he stepped foot into the resort's storeroom. It wasn't empty very often, and he had been "playing" nearby for several hours just waiting for an opportunity to get inside. He could not screw up now. Shaking himself back into reality he took a quick appraising glance of his surroundings. Crates of crystals were everywhere, although he was certain not all of them were the special ones the B'disth seemed intent on harvesting.

//I haven't found them yet, Master, but there are lots of other crystals.//

//Try and keep your focus Obi-wan.//

Right. It was then that he noticed the smallest tower of boxes near the far door. Walking over, the boy stood on his toes to try to read the labeling.

"Guulang. That's Ev'lee and Mi'read's name!" He scanned the boxes, all of them baring names, some names having multiple boxes. And then he saw the ones he had been anxious to find. The biggest crate bore the names di Kylo/di Jinn. His shock gave way to an internal battle as he slowly raised the lid to peek inside.

"Oh Force! They're beautiful!" Slowly he touched the top of one with the tip of his finger, afraid the delicate beauty of it would crumble under his touch. He soon discovered how deceiving these crystals were, and that they were extremely strong. To the far right of the box one caught his eye, and picked it up to examine it closer.

The base of the crystal was as one, only to split halfway up the piece, and then, crystal arms intertwined, meld into one again at the top. There were threads of rainbow color throughout, but dead in the centre was a mass of weeping blue surrounding by a warm, deep green.

Reaching out with the Force Obi-wan's suspicions were confirmed. It was from the other night, when he had had those dreams about his Mam. The night Master Qui-gon had taken all of that horror and made it better. They had made a crystal out of his weakness and neediness for his – he squashed the thought out and the anger and returned his focus to the crystal to calm himself.

//Obi-wan, out, NOW!// He registered his Master's command just as he saw the B'disth.

"What are you doing in here?" This one was gruffer than of the other B'disth he was used to dealing with. "Well?"

"I – I was just looking for my t-t-toy, Ser." He slipped the crystal that had distracted him unto a fold of his tunic and then pointed away from himself to where the red ball was lodged underneath a box.

"What is your name?" The B'disth asked as he picked up the red ball, all 6 eyes never leaving Obi-wan.
"Bendo di Kylo, S-s-ser."

"You are trespassing young di Kylo, let us go find your father."

Qui-gon feigned surprise at seeing the figures blocking his light in the gardens. Sure enough, as he suspected, Obi-wan had been caught by one of the B'disth. A nanosecond of concern spiked through the Master before he noticed the red ball clasped rather tightly in the B'disth's hand. Apparently his apprentice's cover story had worked.

"Can I assist you?"
"Yes. Keep your child out of the storeroom. He does not belong there, and if we catch him trespassing again there will be serious consequences to his actions."

"Papa! I wasn't trespassing, I was just – "

Qui-gon held up his hand. "Enough Bendo. Were you, or were you not in the storeroom as our friend stated?"

"Yes, Papa, but ---" All Qui-gon had to do was raise a questioning eyebrow and Obi-wan's mouth snapped shut, leaving the boy looking as though he had swallowed his own tongue. By the force he played petulant well. A bit too well, Qui-gon thought, no longer knowing where the acting lines were, where the emotional manipulation lines were, where maybe his padawan was actually sincere.

With a sigh the big man unfolded himself from his meditation position and stood, clasping a firm hand on Obi-wan's shoulder. "Thank you – "

"Durune."

"Thank you for returning my son to me and informing me of his infraction, Durune. It shall be dealt with appropriately." At this Obi-wan felt the colour rise to his cheek. That phrase sounded a little too familiar.

//You've done well Padawan; fear not. It's just a little game, remember?//

After the B'disth left them to their peace, Qui-gon resumed his seat on the ground and motioned for Obi-wan to join him.

//What did you discover?//

//Boxes and boxes of crystals, Master. Not all seemed to be harvested from the same emotion, though. The – the ones like they got from us were lesser in number, and were in boxes with names on them.//

"Names?" Qui-gon asked out loud.

"The names of the families. There was a di Kylo/di Jinn box."

"Is that what caused you to lose your focus?"

Once again Obi-wan felt himself blushing, and he wordlessly shook his head.

"Then what, Cai'lan?" Slowly the young jedi pulled the crystal from his tunic. He couldn't help but notice the low tone of his Master's voice when he asked, "Did you take this from one of the boxes, Bendo?"

"Yes." A low whisper, hard for even Qui-gon's force-sensitive ears to hear.
"Why?"
"I didn't mean to, he came in before I could put it back!" Before he knew what was happening, Qui-gon had him by the hand and was leading him away.
"Then we shall return it."

Obi-wan panicked.

//But it's ours!! They stole it from us!//

//It is not ours, Padawan. Just because it is of us, does not mean it is ours.//

"But papa it's not fair!"

//If we keep this, if I do nothing, our mission is lost.//

"Please! It's just one..." But by that time they were at the door of the storeroom and Qui-gon was knocking at the door. Obi-wan was almost relieved that it was Durune who answered.

"Yes?"

"I believe my son Bendo has something that belongs to you." With that he looked at the boy expectantly. Sure enough his Padawan held the crystal out to Durune.

"You stole this?" the B'disth asked neutrally.

"No!" Obi-wan's head shot up. "It was pretty and I just w-w-wanted to see it."

"What do you say to Ser Durune, Bendo?"

The boy scowled. "It's mine -- "

Before he could even finish the words he was caught by the arm and felt two hard swats hit his backside. The surprise and the pain caught him unawares.

Qui-gon almost, almost laughed at the look of pure betrayal on Obi-wan's face, but held it in. "What do you say to Ser Durune?"

"I am sorry Ser." He choked out.

"No harm done. It's returned now. And I understand the enticement of its beauty."

"Thank you for your understanding Durune." A squeeze on Obi-wan's shoulder and then, "Thank you, Ser." With that the B'disth retreated into the storeroom and out of sight.

Qui-gon looked down at the little one beside him and caught the trembling chin and the refusal to meet his eyes.

//Padawan, I am no good to you as a Master, as a teacher if I do not correct you.//

Obi-wan was clenching and unclenching his fists, still refusing to look at the bigger man. Kneeling down to the youngling's level Qui-gon said,

"Cai'lan, what kind of a Da am I if I do not teach you the proper ways to behave?"

"I am sorry Papa. I won't be-behave badly ever again."

With this Qui-gon roared with laughter. "Do not make promises that are impossible to keep, my boy."