Chapter 25

Garen sat in the cockpit staring down at the controls. A green light flashed steadily, indicating that all systems were in good condition. As Garen watched the light, he felt every second slip by slowly, bringing him closer to Telos. He had left Coruscant several hours before, and hadn't moved from the cockpit since. Instead he sat in his chair and allowed himself to be lost in his thoughts.

A sudden chirping from the communication console brought him back to the present. With foreboding sense of unease he answered.

"Yes?"

"Garen, it's Bant."

Garen's chest tightened, he detected a slight quiver in the Calamarian's voice that only years of friendship could, "What's wrong?"

"It's Willow. I went to your quarters like you wanted me to, and she's not there. I've asked her friends and instructors and no one has seen her today. She's been absent from every class, and none of her friends have seen her at any of the meals." He heard Bant take a deep breathe, "I don't think she's in the Temple, and I'm afraid she's not on planet."

Garen rubbed at his face tiredly, "You're sure, Bant?"

"Yes, I checked everywhere. I'm sorry Garen, I don't know where else to look."

"I do." Garen said with a frustrated sigh. "I think I may have a stowaway. I'll call you back." He slapped his hand down on the comm unit, ending the transmission, and stalked to the back of the ship.

He searched through the obvious places before heading finally into the cargo hold. Garen gave an empty container a frustrated kick as he walked by, but stopped suddenly as a cry of "Ouch" rang throughout the hold. Whirling around, he jerked the container open with one hand, and hauled Willow out with the other.

The young Jedi stared at her Master with large, sheepish eyes. "Hi Master."

"Willow Teisman! What are you doing here?" Garen growled.

Immediately she dropped her eyes at the sharp tone in her Master's voice. For the first time since her decision to stow away and follow Garen she wondered if she were making the right choice. Several moments passed in silence. Willow was either unable, or unwilling, to respond, and Garen was trying to keep his anger in check. It was Garen who broke the silence.

"Go to the crew quarters. You will remain there until we land. I'm stopping at the nearest planet and putting you on the next transport back to Coruscant. And this time if you disobey me, so help me, you will rue the day you accepted your position as my Apprentice!" Garen's anger sprouted from his concern for his Apprentice. He knew the mission was not going to be easy, and far from safe. This was not a suitable mission for a girl of eleven who had yet to go on a mission that required anything but subtle diplomacy.

At Garen's words, Willow's face paled. She hid her quivering hands in her robe. "Master, don't send me back." She whispered.

"You are not staying with me on this mission. I gave you an order, and I expected you to follow it. I am responsible for your safety. I am sending you back to stay with Bant where you will be safe. Now, do as you're told."

Willow shook her head back and forth, tears readily streaming down her face for the second time in less than a day. "Master I won't go back to the Temple. You need me. I will find a way to follow you, with or without your consent."

Again, Garen found himself fighting down anger and frustration caused by his Apprentice. "If you disobey me this time, you will have so many demerits to work off that you will find yourself lucky if you make it to knighthood before your thirtieth birthday! You walk a very fine line and ought to walk carefully. Direct disobedience warrants expulsion from the order."

Willow's head bent low, so that all Garen could see was the back of her head, her brown curls hiding her face. He saw her shoulders shaking, and waited, confident in his knowledge that she would not dare disobey him any further.

He was once again surprised.

Slowly she bent her body, lowering herself to her knees and bringing her forehead to rest on the floor before her. She took a position reserved only for the greatest transgressions, and for the gravest petitions.

"Master, I must humbly request that you reconsider your decision."

Garen found himself grinding his teeth, "Request denied. Now get up. I gave you an order."

Willow spoke softly, chocking on soft sobs. "Master, please, you will need help. I have seen it!"

Garen started at the mention of Willow's prophetic dreams. "You have seen it?"

Willow nodded miserably without raising her head from the floor.

Garen took a moment to collect himself. That would explain why she was insistent on coming along. "What have you seen, Padawan?" He asked gently.

"I saw this mission, Master. And I saw that if you went alone, you would not return." She raised stormy eyes to meet his, "Please, Master. Do not send me back. I will be careful and I will follow your orders exactly."

The sight of her tear stained face, and the absolute desperation in his Apprentice's eyes was the final breaking point for Garen. He knelt down on one knee, bringing himself to her eye level. Silently he cursed his weakness, he was a Jedi Master, and should be stronger than this! He studied her carefully and several moments passed in silence.

"I will allow you to stay with me." Garen began, his voice reluctant. Before he could continue Willow wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug.

"Thank you Master! I will do exactly as you say, I promise." Her voice was full of relief and Garen had to smile at her excitement.

He returned the hug for a brief moment before detaching his Apprentice from his neck. "I will allow you to stay with me," he repeated, "However; I expect your absolute obedience on this mission. Your disobedience in the wrong situation could be quite costly. If I give you an order, you are to follow it. Understood?"

Willow sensed the change back to teacher and disciplinarian and nodded quickly, "Yes, Master. You will not regret it."

He nodded absentmindedly, "We shall see." Standing back up, he continued, "Go to the crew quarters now and get some rest. We'll arrive on Telos shortly and you'll need to be alert. And when we return to Coruscant, we are going to have a very serious discussion regarding your disobedience as of late. This is absolutely unacceptable and will not be repeated in the future."

Willow swallowed and nodded before following her orders.

Garen watched as his apprentice bowed her head and scurried out of the room. He had a looming sense of unease. Something was going to go wrong, and every nerve in his body screamed that Willow should be on the next transport back to Coruscant. However, he also knew that if he sent her back, and something did happen to him, she would blame herself indefinitely. The mental anguish that could be caused by her return to Coruscant outweighed his need for her safety.

With a tired sigh Garen returned to the cockpit to contact Bant and update her on the situation and then he would retire to the crew quarters and try and get some sleep. They would need to be in top condition when they reached Telos.