Disclaimer: All belongs to the great and powerful Mouse.

A/N: Here's chapter twenty-five! Please, don't be angry with me! I know this is late... very late, but I must be up for my knighthood because I am certainly experiencing my Trial of Spirit right now. So I ask you to bear with me and I will try to keep to the posting scheduling as best I can. After all, we have only a scant few chapters remaining...

A/N 2: Italics indicate emphasis, visions, personal thoughts and flashbacks. Context should illustrate which device is being used. / / indicates mindspeak.

Thanks:

Capurnia: I'm glad I still have you riveted and you are quite right, there are a few more revelations on the way in the final chapters.

Geri K: Oh, you know Qui-Gon won't leave Obi-Wan alone for too long especially since he doesn't trust Adaen. As to what Adaen is doing or what Qui-Gon may or may not be doing... well, guess you will just have to read and see!

Pippin-The-Hobbit: Adaen is back indeed and there are some who definitely think it is not good, but are they right or is Obi-Wan? Only time will tell.

Please R&R!

Chapter 25 – Bad Feelings

Day 149

"Any change?"

"None."

"And where is the boy now?"

"Watching a holo-vid with Obi-Wan in our quarters," Qui-Gon answered as he accepted a cup of red tea from Vresh. Mace took an offered mug as well as the interlude briefly put a pause to his questioning. Vresh handed a cup to Tahl before taking the last one for himself and setting the now empty tray aside. The tall, short haired master took a seat on the arm of his couch while Tahl and Qui-Gon sat on the couch proper. Mace sat in the armchair to the left of them, his brow deeply furrowed, his expression the same as the one he wore for the most frustrating of Council sessions. Qui-Gon took a sip from his tea then lowered his cup shaking his head.

"I've spoken with the boy several times over the past few days and nearly everything out of his mouth is a lie."

"But you don't feel any danger or malice coming from him?" Tahl asked. Qui-Gon turned to her with a wry grin.

"Oh, I sense plenty of malice," he told her, but then he looked to Vresh and Mace and quickly answered the question not yet spoken on both their tongues. "All of Adaen's malice seems to be directed at me. It is quite obvious that he hates me."

"Do you know why?" Vresh inquired as he drained his cup and sat it on the low table in front of them. Qui-Gon sat his still full cup down and frowned.

"No. He acts as if he is somehow trying to protect Obi-Wan from me, but I get no sense of that from him."

"He's still shielding," Mace spoke his tone indicating more statement than question.

"Well enough to keep his thoughts hidden, but his stronger feelings often escape. Whoever is or was training him doesn't seem to have advanced him past level seven shielding."

"Lantis is still at level six," Vresh offered.

"Before the Dar'Makai, Obi-Wan was at level six as well though now... his shielding rivals that of many masters."

"Do you think Xanatos was training him?"

"I've... inquired into their relationship, but he either evades my questions or denies the implications outright."

"Perhaps you should have Obi-Wan ask him," Vresh mused aloud. Qui-Gon shot him an indignant look.

"And would you ask the same of Lantis if the situation were reversed?" he snapped. Vresh had the good grace to look slightly abashed.

"No," he answered slowly, "I don't suppose I would, but... that doesn't mean I would be right not to do so."

Mace nodded his head in agreement with his agemate's words, but before he could speak Qui-Gon shook his head, a thunderous expression on his face.

"You would have me ask him to betray one of the only people he trusts. Adaen is his friend. Hells, Mace, the boy saved his life!" Qui-Gon yelled as he clenched his fingers into fists. Tahl covered one fist with her hand and waited for him to meet her eyes. When he did she could see more than the anger that was apparent in his tense frame, she could also see the fear hiding within those midnight blue depths. Tahl easily recognized that her friend was absolutely terrified of pushing his padawan too far too fast. She knew he dared do nothing to risk losing the boy again.

"Qui," she began gently. "You're not going to lose him again. No one in this room is going to allow that, but... as long as we don't know how Adaen fits into all of this Obi-Wan is in danger."

"I could live with Lantis hating me if it meant I could keep her safe," Vresh added somberly. Qui-Gon closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. He need not question the veracity of his friend's words because he would endure the same. Every master would happily endure nearly any burden to keep those in their care safe from harm. After a few calming breaths, the long haired master was able to regain his center. When he opened his eyes he looked to the small group of friends.

"I will speak to him," he intoned. Tahl patted his hand then turned to Mace.

"And I will see what I can find on him," she added with a smile that could only be described as wickedly mischievous. Vresh frowned deeply as he concluded his internal debate.

"Lantis tested very high on the empathic register. If she were to spend time in Adaen's company there is a possibility that she could gleam something more from him," he said. Qui-Gon immediately sent him a worried glance. The dark haired master opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word of protest Vresh raised a single hand to silence him.

"I know your score as well Qui, but it's clear he won't speak to you. He might speak to her and Lantis has been in far more dangerous situations in the field, but of course I will talk to her before hand and she will have the whole Temple to back her up if necessary. Besides," the white haired master continued with a shrug, "I'd rather have her watching Obi-Wan's back and he hers than trust Obi-Wan's safety to a boy who may be Xanatos's apprentice."

"So it's settled then," Mace stated as he clapped his hands together the gesture signaling the end of their informal meeting. He stood up and gave a solemn nod to the small assemblage. "I've got a meeting with Valorum and the Sentate Sub-Committee on Interstellar Cross-Cultural Contamination."

"You're meeting with the triple C? Stars, Mace, who did you piss off to get that assignment?" Tahl said with a laugh as she stood and joined the bald Councilor at the door.

"The Force apparently," he answered dryly. Tahl hooked her arm under his elbow.

"Well, I need to see a friend of mine in the city, so I'll escort you as far as the Senate, but then you are on your own," she smiled. Mace shook his head in mock disappointment.

"What has the Order come to when Jedi desert their own," the Korun master answered his usual scowl still present, but the humor in his chestnut eyes belied his sour tone. The two masters then took their leave the lilting tones of Tahl's laughter carrying them out. The remaining two masters sat in less than companionable silence before Vresh awkwardly cleared his throat in a clumsy attempt to break the heavy quiet.

"Well... Lani will be out of class soon... I should go meet her," the white haired master said as he stood. Qui-Gon immediately joined him.

"Vresh,"

"You can't talk me out of this, Qui."

"I wasn't going to," the dark haired master answered wryly. "I was going to thank you for doing this."

"Oh," Vresh stumbled nervously, "then... uh... you're welcome of course," he mumbled as he headed to the door. Qui-Gon grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face him.

"What's wrong?" Qui-Gon asked, but his friend just shook his head and offered him a weak and wholly unconvincing smile.

"Only this whole situation," he laughed lightly, but no humor reached his eyes. Qui-Gon scrutinized his friend and the more he looked into those silver colored eyes the more he was convinced that something was amiss with his long time companion.

"Vresh, tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing."

"Tell me or I will forbid Obi-Wan from spending any time with your padawan," Qui-Gon growled. Vresh's eyes widened briefly in shock before his more neutral expression once again settled onto his golden features.

"You can't do that."

"I most certainly can and I will," Qui-Gon replied as he drew himself to his full height, but the motion failed to bring its usual intimidation as both masters were roughly the same height. "Vresh, what is going on?"

Vresh closed his eyes, a look of grim resignation framing his face. He stood silently for a moment and Qui-Gon could sense that he was gathering the Force around him and within him. It was a sensation that the dark haired master was very familiar with having spent so much time as a youngling in the presence of Master Yoda. Vresh was attempting to access the future. Prescience had never been one of Qui-Gon's strong suits and, as a result, he found that he put little stock into twinges of precognizance and Force visions, but he was aware that Vresh, and Obi-Wan, had this particular gift, both subject to powerful visions since their days in the crèche and Vresh had learned to trust the hazy hints the Force chose to show him. Vresh opened his eyes.

"It's nothing specific, Qui. Believe me, I wish it were...," he said with a heavy sigh. "I only know that if Lantis helps Obi-Wan something bad will happen, but if she doesn't... something far, far worse will happen," he finished his whole body suddenly tense with frustration. Qui-Gon placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Are you certain?" he asked quietly. Vresh nodded and gave a wry smile.

"The Force is being rather... insistent on this one, Qui," he answered then he forced himself into a state of calm. "Come, Lantis will be out soon."

Qui-Gon nodded, but said nothing and the two masters left the apartment and headed to the classroom section of the Temple in weighty silence. It didn't take long before the two reached the main classroom halls where dozens of recently released padawans and a few initiates softly milled about the corridor. After a moment a ball of fur made its way through the crowd and settled before her master.

"Afternoon, padawan," Vresh smiled down at his apprentice. Lantis beamed up at him in return.

"Master," she replied then paused, "did I forget something? Were we supposed to meet, Master?"

"No, Lantis Something has... come up and I need to ask something of you," Vresh answered calmly, but something about his tone still caught his padawan's attention and her small furry brow wrinkled in concern. She looked briefly to Master Jinn, but his expression was inscrutable and revealed nothing to her. She turned back to her master and gave him a quick nod.

"Of course, Master. What do you want to ask?" she said. Vresh looked around a moment then placed a hand on her shoulder, gently steering her towards a window seat in a more secluded section of the corridor away from the concentration of classrooms and padawans. The master and padawan pair sat on the small bench tucked within the alcove while Qui-Gon stood silently nearby blocking the two from the scrutiny of strangers and eavesdroppers.

"Padawan," Vresh began then he took a deep breath and looked deeply at his apprentice. He began again. "Lantis, you are aware that Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are hosting a guest in their quarters?"

"Yes, Master. There's a boy staying with them," she answered as she glanced again to Qui-Gon, but again his face revealed nothing. "Why do you ask? Is something wrong?"

"Yes... and no," Vresh replied smiling weakly at his apprentice which only served to confuse her more. "The... boy that is staying with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is called Adaen and he was... with Obi-Wan while he was kidnapped," he added. The master waited as he watched his padawan slowly absorb this information and he could almost see the questions appear in her thoughts before she spoke them.

"He was with Obi-Wan? Then... he is the one who saved him, right?" she asked hesitantly, unsure of the connections she was making. Her master nodded, but his answer too was hesitant.

"Yes, Obi-Wan believes that Adaen helped him escape from Xanatos," Vresh replied and two tawny-orange ears immediately perked up.

"But you don't?" she asked this time looking directly at Master Jinn.

"We are unsure," the dark haired master answered. Lantis turned her gaze to the floor, her tongue darting meekly out of the corner of her short muzzle as she puzzled out the pieces presented her.

"If you're unsure that Adaen helped Obi-Wan escape then... you think it's possible that he was helping Xanatos instead, but... if Obi-Wan still believes that Adaen helped him that means that... you haven't talked to him and if you haven't talked to him, but you're talking to me... you're worried about him," she finished then she turned to face her master. "Am I right?"

"Very," her master answered with a warm smile and a rush of pride sweeping over their bond that made the apprentice's whiskers twitch in the equivalent of an embarrassed blush. Vresh let his smile linger a moment longer, but all too soon the smile was gone and a worried frown took its place. The expression was mirrored on his padawan.

"You want me to spy on Adaen," Lantis stated more than asked. Vresh shook his head slightly.

"Not spy," he answered, "just spend time with him and Obi-Wan. You have a gift that we do not, a gift that may help us find the truth."

Now it was Lantis's turn to shake her head.

"How can anything I can do be better than what you can do, Master? I mean, I'm just a padawan!" she replied in patent denial. Vresh stopped her shaking head with a finger placed under her slightly pointed chin.

"The Force grants us many gifts, padawan, and you have the gift of empathy. Master Qui-Gon is strong in the Living Force and I...," he paused, "I am stronger in the Unifying Force. More than that," he said as he looked directly into his apprentice's eyes. "You are far more than just a padawan. Do not forget that."

Lantis nodded at her master, but her expression told him that she was still far from convinced. Vresh removed the finger from her chin and placed his hand on her shoulder giving her a gentle squeeze.

"Something more troubles you," he stated gently.

"Obi-Wan," she answered softly. "If we are wrong and he finds out what... what I'm doing..."

Finally moving from his sentry position, Qui-Gon knelt before the young felinoid. He waited until the youth's eyes were upon him before speaking.

"If we are wrong and Adaen is no threat then we," he said the emphasis clear in his voice as he glanced quickly at Vresh, "will apologize to Obi-Wan. You would have done nothing wrong Lantis," he spoke then Qui-Gon's expression softened. "As your very wise master pointed out to me earlier, I would rather have an angry padawan than an injured one."

At that the young girl looked up to her master.

"Padawan," Vresh began, "I will not order you to do this."

"Then I volunteer," the apprentice answered, but Vresh shook his head disapprovingly.

"Do not do this because you fear disappointing me," he stated bluntly, but not unkindly. "If our doubts prove to be warranted, you and Obi-Wan could be in great danger," he said. Lantis drew herself up, her back straight and her chin slightly raised.

"I am a Jedi, Master," was her reply and Vresh was incapable of stopping the smile that tugged at his lips.

"You are indeed, Padawan. You are indeed."

"Remember, if something should happen, if you sense something wrong or feel a disturbance in the Force... anything, you let me or Qui-Gon know immediately. If you can't find us or there is an emergency you and Obi-Wan get away immediately then you find Mace or Tahl or Yoda or any master or knight. Do not try to do anything yourself. This is a reconnaissance mission, Padawan. Remember that."

"Yes, Master," Lantis repeated for the third time. This time her exasperation leaked over the bond and Vresh let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle.

"I'm mothering you aren't I?"

"A little, Master, but I'm pretty sure it's in the Code somewhere that masters have to mother their padawans a little," she smiled shyly at him. Qui-Gon raised one eyebrow.

"Well, I can see that your sense of humor shall be passed on to the next generation of Jedi. Whether that is for better or for worse is yet unclear."

"For better," Lantis answered definitively as she stared down the tall master. Vresh knelt down next to his apprentice and the mood quickly grew serious once more.

"Padawan," he began and obediently Lantis turned her attention to her master. "There is one more thing you should know." Vresh glanced up at Qui-Gon who nodded then he turned to his apprentice once more. "Adaen is force sensitive."

"How strong?" Lantis asked her brow wrinkling at this new information. "Is he just aware of the Force or can he use it?"

"We don't know, but there is... reason to believe that he has had some training. He has been attempting to hide his Force sensitivity. We masters are not fooled, but..."

"But I wouldn't know. That means that Obi-Wan doesn't know either, right?"

"Correct. I am telling you this because I do not want you to underestimate Adean. He hasn't... done anything that is threatening or harmful, but he has been less than truthful with us since his unexpected and unexplained arrival. Be mindful and be careful, young one."

"I will, Master. I promise," she answered. Vresh nodded and gave her shoulders a quick squeeze before rising to his feet. He looked at Qui-Gon and the trio continued their journey down the corridor to the Jinn/Kenobi apartment. Once they reached the door, Qui-Gon palmed it open and they stepped inside to find the two teenagers sitting on the couch watching a holo-vid. Obi-Wan paused the vid and jumped to his feet.

"Master," he greeted then he gave a small bow to their guests. "Master Vresh," he welcomed then he smiled at his fellow padawan. "Hey, Lantis."

"Hey Obi," she answered back. Qui-Gon stepped a little forward commanding his padawan's attention wordlessly. Adaen remained silent still sitting on the couch, a discreetly annoyed look on his face.

"Padawan," Qui-Gon began. "Master Vresh is being called away for a short mission. In his absence, his padawan will be staying with us."

"What!" Adaen exclaimed jumping to his feet now. Qui-Gon turned a cocked head to the Rattataki teen.

"Is there a problem, Adaen?" the master asked calmly. Quickly, the boy relaxed his tense frame, attempting to mimic the master's cool composure.

"I was just wondering how that would work out, Master Jinn sir. There are only two bedrooms. Perhaps it would be better if she stayed elsewhere."

"Nonsense," Qui-Gon replied, dismissing the concern with an elegant wave of his hand. Obi-Wan touched Adaen lightly on his arm drawing his attention.

"It's alright, Adaen. We have plenty of room," he said then he turned to Lantis. "You can sleep in my room. Adaen, you can sleep on the couch and I will stay with my master. If that's alright with you, Master?"

"Indeed, that sounds like a sound arrangement," Qui-Gon answered then he looked at Adaen. "Unless you have some other concern that is?"

The teen swallowed back the bitter retort sitting on the edge of his tongue and managed to mumble out a "that's fine with me." Vresh gestured for his padawan to come near.

"Now, you be good, Lantis. I expect you to mind Master Qui-Gon as you would mind me. I should not be gone long and if you need me," he said as he looked deeply into her eyes, "you know how to reach me."

"Yes, Master," she replied as she drew the tall master into a hug. "May the Force be with you, Master."

"And with you, Padawan," he responded. When the short embrace ended, the white haired master nodded curtly at the teens then at Qui-Gon who gave a knowing nod in return then the master took his leave. Obi-Wan crossed over to his fellow padawan and placed an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't worry, Lantis. I'm sure Master Vresh will be fine and be back real soon."

"Thanks, Obi," she replied softly thankful that her nervousness for the situation read only as her concern for her master. Obi-Wan gently led her to the couch where he sat her down by his side much to Adaen's obvious displeasure; obvious to all except Obi-Wan.

"Here you can watch this with us. We just started it. It's about a boy who finds a magic weapon that turns him into a king..."

Obi-Wan pulled himself out of another failed attempt at meditation. He hadn't had much success lately and he didn't know why. Worse he hadn't told his master that he was having a problem and he didn't know his reason for that either, but his worry must have been evident on his face as his master graced him with a quizzical look as he stepped out of the refresher clad in his sleep pants.

"Padawan, is something bothering you?"

"I'm worried about Lantis," he answered. It wasn't exactly a lie. He was worried about his friend. Lantis seemed more subdued throughout the evening than he had ever seen her. Usually, the felinoid was a bouncing ball of energy, but tonight... she was... quiet. Too quiet for Obi-Wan's tastes. The change did concern him though he attributed it to her master's absence and his solo mission. So, Obi-Wan was speaking the truth when he answered his master that it was Lantis who concerned him. It was not important that he mentioned that he also couldn't meditate or that he had had a constant bad feeling for several days now. No, his master didn't need to know that. After all, it was just a feeling. If it became more then the apprentice would say something. Now just wasn't the time.

"Oh?" his master answered as he pulled back the bed clothes and motioned for Obi-Wan to get in. Obi-Wan lifted his corner of the sheets on the side opposite his master and slid into the large bed. He felt the bed tilt slightly as Qui-Gon climbed in as well.

"Well, she was so quiet at latemeal and after...," he said his voice trailing off with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's probably nothing. She's probably just missing her master. I know... I would be if you went on a mission without me," he finished his voice falling to a whisper. Still sitting up in bed, Qui-Gon reached out and patted his padawan's hand gently.

"As I would miss you and as I am sure Vresh misses his padawan and her him. Perhaps then you can use this time to get to know Lantis a little better, distract her from her anxieties," the master suggested. Obi-Wan nodded.

"Yeah, Adaen and I can keep her busy. I'm sure we can find lots to do."

"Yes, you and Adaen," Qui-Gon repeated, but something in his voice must have been slightly off because Obi-Wan looked up at him questioningly.

"You don't like him, do you?"

Qui-Gon didn't pretend not to know to whom the boy was referring.

"I do not dislike him."

"That's not really the same."

"Perhaps not, but I really don't know him, Padawan," he said then he paused for a heartbeat or two. "And neither do you."

"Perhaps," Obi-Wan responded mirroring Qui-Gon's words and tone, "but I know he cares about me, that he helped me, that he saved me when... when I needed saving," he said with a sigh. "I just wish you two got along better," he finished then he laid down rolling onto his side, his back to Qui-Gon.

"Goodnight, Master."

"Goodnight, Padawan," the master answered, but he did not sleep. Sleep that night was a long time coming as he pondered over his padawan's words.

...he saved me when... when I needed saving...

At that moment, Qui-Gon hoped more than anything that he was wrong about his suspicions, but deep down inside he knew that he was not.

Day 156

"How is she?" Vresh asked the moment Qui-Gon stepped into his quarters as he had asked everyday for over a week. Were Qui-Gon not acutely aware of his friend's genuine concern over the welfare of his padawan and the possible danger she was in, he might have laughed, but he was aware and the danger was real so the would be humor never materialized. Instead, the dark haired master took a seat on the other master's couch and graciously received the proffered cup of tea while once again attempting to alleviate at least some of his friend's fears.

"She is well," Qui-Gon answered calmly and instantly a little of the tension pent up in Vresh was released into the Force. True, that because of their training bond if something had befallen his apprentice Vresh would likely know without having to consult with Qui-Gon, but something about hearing the words from the man who was currently living with his padawan and seeing her on a daily basis just eased something within him that his rational mind could not.

Qui-Gon took a sip from his cup before speaking again. When he did it was with the same calm voice he used earlier, but Vresh noticed that his eyes reveal a deeper worry that utterly belied his tone.

"There have been a few... incidents, though,"

"Incidents? What kind of incidents?" Vresh interrupted. Qui-Gon held his hand up in a yielding gesture that encouraged the white haired master to take a moment to calm himself. As he did, Qui-Gon continued with his explanation.

"Nothing dangerous. Nothing obvious, just a few coincidences... a strange occurrence here or there all of which could mean nothing at all."

"But if you believed that you would not be mentioning them to me now," Vresh responded more centered now than when he began the conversation. He took a seat across from his fellow master.

"True," Qui-Gon answered ruefully. Vresh leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his fingers interlaced before him.

"Tell me what's happened."

"Like I said it's nothing serious, but there have been datareaders that have gone missing or assignments that have been erased. The occasional missing item, a brush, a data chit, a nail file... All Lantis's, of course," Qui-Gon paused knowing he was about to cross into something a little less innocent. "However, there was one incident that truly concerns me."

"Yes?"

"Yesterday, when the boys had gone to the refectory to fetch the latemeal I ordered for us, Lantis told me that she caught Adaen trying to access restricted files on the terminal in the common room the previous night when she happened to be up to get some water. She asked him what he was doing and he told her to mind her own business... that curiosity had been known to kill felinoids. Later that night, after everyone had retired I felt a slight warning in the Force. I checked on Obi-Wan who was sleeping peacefully then I made my way quietly into the common room to check on Adaen. When I looked to the couch, I found that he was not there. I then moved to Lantis's room. That's where I found him, standing in the doorway to her room watching her sleep."

"He...," Vresh began then he stopped as he visibly shunted his anger into the Force. "What was he doing? What did you do?"

"I pulled him from the doorway and demanded that he tell me what he was doing. He said he was just going in to use the fresher."

"And?"

"It was a lie."

"Was she..."

"She never woke during the exchange and I could find nothing dangerous or incriminating save his presence. I waited for him to use the refresher then sent him back to bed with a very heavy sleep suggestion to ensure that he would be out for the night," Qui-Gon finished. Vresh leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. He let out several deep breaths before he trusted himself to speak. When he did he leaned forward again, his eyes open, his serenity returned though his grasp on it was tenuous at best.

"What I sensed... What ever is to happen will happen soon. I can feel," he started stopping suddenly as his eyes widened and he jumped to his feet. Qui-Gon felt it an instant later. Panic. Fear. Confusion. Pain. He felt all of these things from his padawan, but the last one, the pain was not his own, it was not Obi-Wan who was hurt, it was another.

"Lantis," Vresh scarcely whispered as he grabbed his cloak and raced out of his apartment his fellow master quick on his heels.