Chapter Two

"But, Master, you need me. You can't do this alone."

Qui-Gon smiled at Obi-Wan who was sitting up in his bunk. Obi-Wan looked better than he had in days, but his complexion was still too pale and dark shadows lay under his eyes like half moons. Qui-Gon also noted Obi-Wan's face, which had carried its boyhood roundness a bit longer than most his age, was starting to angle out. A man's firmness was evident along the jaw line. Qui-Gon suspected, however, Obi-Wan would always look somewhat younger than his true age.

"Obi-Wan, I was handling missions by myself long before you were born." Qui-Gon tilted his head and fixed Obi-Wan with an amused look. "What is it, my young apprentice? Think I'm too old to do this alone?"

"No, of course not, Master. I didn't mean to suggest anything like that. I just don't want you to think I'm not able to hold my own. I'm not a baby. I don't need to be coddled."

"Ah," Qui-Gon said as he stood up from his chair, "but you do need rest and a period of intensive recuperation."

He went over to the storage shelf near the cabin door and picked up the tray he had brought from the galley. It held a cup of steaming Corellian tea and a bowl of leafroot soup. He took the tray over to Obi-Wan. Ignoring his padawan's scowl, Qui-Gon placed the tray in front of him.

"There will be no more discussion, Obi-Wan. I've made my decision. I will go to Dyran and you will go on to Coruscant. I have already contacted Master Yoda and Master Windu. They'll be waiting for you and will see to it personally that you rest and recover."

Obi-Wan looked up with horror at Qui-Gon. "Master, I don't need to be babysat!"

"They are not your babysitters, Obi-Wan. But they will see to it you rest."

Qui-Gon raised his index finger and looked directly into Obi-Wan's eyes.

"And I do mean rest, Obi-Wan," he continued. "No lightsaber practice, no lectures on Jedi metaphysics, and no reading of anything heavier than the latest holonovel. I want you to relax. You still know how to do that, don't you?"

Obi-Wan dipped his head and smiled slightly. "Of course I do, Master."

"Good. When I see you again, I want you to be a hundred percent recovered. Now eat."

Obi-Wan sighed and picked up his spoon. "I hate leafroot soup," he murmured, but he lifted the spoon to his mouth and, under Qui-Gon's watchful gaze, ate his soup.

Qui-Gon stood, turned, and reached for his utility belt in the alcove above his sleeping berth. He opened a pouch on it and took out a small golden stone. It was oval and speckled with shimmering dots of ebony.

Obi-Wan looked up. "What's that, Master?"

"It's a stone I found on Tamarii. When you return to the Temple, I want you to give it to Aalea."

Obi-Wan frowned. Qui-Gon knew he did not completely understand his Master's interest in Aalea. Aalea was an eight year old initiate at the Temple. Like Obi-Wan she had lived all her life there. Qui-Gon had found her while on a mission. He had brought the baby back with him to the Temple where she had been tested and consequently admitted for training. Qui-Gon had named her Aalea.

As a result, she had become, in a sense, Qui-Gon's special project. He always looked in on her when he was at the Temple and, two years ago, he had started bringing her stones from every world he visited.

Obi-Wan laid his spoon down and took the stone from Qui-Gon. He turned it around in his fingers.

"It's beautiful," he said, but Qui-Gon could hear the misgivings in his apprentice's voice.

"Is there something wrong, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked.

Obi-Wan looked over at him, his blue-gray eyes solemn. "Master, why do you want me to give it to Aalea? You can give it to her when you come back from the mission."

"Indulge me, Obi-Wan. Give the stone to Aalea." he said.

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan retrieved his utility belt from the alcove above his head and slipped the stone into one of its pouches.

To humor Obi-Wan, and also because he truly valued his apprentice's insights and opinions, Qui-Gon read aloud Professor Landru's reports regarding his discovery on Dyran. Dyran was an isolated, desolate planet. It was not even officially part of the Republic. Located on the Frontier, the border line between Republic space and Wild space, Dyran was devoid of any sentient life forms. It possessed no valuable natural resources and had no strategic military or economic value.

In all honesty, Qui-Gon couldn't even imagine what had drawn the professor to the planet in the first place. However, Professor Landru and Cian had been on Dyran for three months and had apparently discovered some previously unknown ruins which dated back 4,000 years to the time of the Great Sith War when the forces of Light and Dark had battled for control of the Galaxy. Reports had been diligently sent back on a regular basis to the Archeological and Antiquity Consortium on Coruscant, the organization which was funding the dig, until about three weeks ago. Since then no word had been heard from the scholars.

Obi-Wan laid his spoon down next to his empty bowl.

"Ruins from the Great Sith War," he said. "That sounds very exciting. I wonder what they found? Maybe a cache of Old Republic weapons? Or ancient Sith amulets?"

"I don't know, Obi-Wan, but I find it very interesting Professor Landru was somewhat vague in his report regarding exactly what it was they did find."

"Do you think something has happened to them, Master?"

"Dyran is a very inhospitable planet. And Professor Landru does suffer from Alvron's Syndrome. I believe the Chancellor has reason to be concerned. However, I will remain optimistic both the professor and his assistant are safe and there is some other explanation for the cessation of communications from Dyran."

"What's Alvron's Syndrome, Master?"

"It's a degenerative muscle disease. There is no known cure and those who are afflicted with it soon lose control over their body. However, the Chancellor said Professor Landru was only recently diagnosed. The disease takes years before it totally debilitates."

"I hope he's all right." Obi-Wan picked up his spoon and twirled it through his fingers. "Master, do you think....?" Obi-Wan paused.

"Yes, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon prompted.

"Well, I've read all of Professor's Landru's works on the history of the Republic and the Jedi," he began.

A small smiled crinkled Qui-Gon's lips. Obi-Wan had not merely read the professor's works. He had devoured them.

Obi-Wan laid his spoon down, his eyes dancing with excitement.

"My favorites are his greatest work, the Jedi/Sith Pentad. Do you think. Master, when you see him, could you ask him to sign some of them for me?"

"I doubt he'll have copies of his books with him, Obi-Wan. This is a dig the professor is on."

Obi-Wan's eyes dimmed. "Oh, yes, of course, I forgot."

"But, I'll see what I can do," Qui-Gon said and Obi-Wan's eyes lit up instantly.

Obi-Wan had never had the pleasure or more accurately, Qui-Gon thought ruefully, the horror of meeting Professor Landru in person. Qui-Gon had, although only briefly, at a colloquium on Old Republic history he had attended some years back at the University of Coruscant. And although Professor Landru possessed one of the most brilliant minds in the galaxy, he was also one of the most ill-humored and sour-tempered men Qui-Gon had ever met. He was a terror to his students and a thorn in the side to his colleagues.

Qui-Gon wasn't sure if Landru would be offended or flattered by a request for his signature. But the way the mere thought of the professor's signature had brought such joy to Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon decided Landru was going to sign something for Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon would see to that. Personally.

"Master, this assistant of the professor's, Cian Nyal. Is she related to the late Senator Sydalli Nyal?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes, she's his daughter."

"Wasn't he opposed to the involvement of the Jedi in the affairs of the Republic?"

Qui-Gon folded his arms and nodded. "Before his death, the senator tried many times to pass legislation which would have restricted the ability of the Senate and the Chancellor to call upon the services of our Order."

"But why, Master? The Jedi have served the Republic for over a thousand generations. Why would he want to change that?"

"The senator was part of a new generation of leaders who believed there should be a separation of the Republic from organizations he, and others, considered to be non-secular. The senator, you see, did not believe in the Force."

Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "How can someone not believe in the Force, Master? It's everywhere. I can feel it. All the time."

"Yes, Obi-Wan, but for those who are not attuned to it as we are, it can be very difficult to believe in something they can not see or touch or feel. For people such as that, belief in the Force is more a matter of faith than of certainty."

Obi-Wan was quiet for a moment as he digested this. Qui-Gon knew that for Obi-Wan belief in the Force was as natural as drawing breath. The idea there were those who did not believe in it was difficult for him to comprehend.

"The irony of it all," Qui-Gon continued, "is that when the Senator's daughter, Cian, was born, it was discovered she possessed a very high midichlorian count. Jedi Representatives visited the Senator's household to discuss the child's coming to the Temple. The senator and his wife would not even receive them."

Obi-Wan stared uncomprehendingly at Qui-Gon. "Her parents did not want her to be trained?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Remember, the Senator did not believe in the Force and he and his wife were already well along in years when Cian was born. She would be the only child they would ever have."

Obi-Wan frowned. "I guess I can understand why they would not want to give her up. But to deny her the chance, the opportunity...." Obi-Wan shook his head. "I don't understand that at all."

"It doesn't happen often, Obi-Wan, but sometimes parents do refuse requests from the Temple to train their children to become Jedi. And we honor their decisions. Always."

"But what happens to children like that?"

"Since it's fairly rare children are not trained, it's difficult to say. In some cases, over time, their Force abilities atrophy, the way a muscle in your body would if not properly exercised. Others learn to use their gifts on their own, albeit clumsily. In Cian's case, I don't know what the effect of not being trained has had on her. I will soon find out, I gather."

"How do you think she'll feel about you being a Jedi?"

Qui-Gon frowned. The boy was full of questions today. But then, Qui-Gon asked himself, when wasn't Obi-Wan full of questions. There were two constants about Obi-Wan which Qui-Gon had observed over the years. One was that he was always hungry and the other was he was always full of questions. Yet, the fact Obi-Wan was back to his old habit of asking questions was a welcome sign to Qui-Gon. It meant his padawan was starting to feel like his old self.

"I don't know how she'll feel, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon replied, "since I'm not Cian Nyal. Are you suggesting she might be resentful of my presence?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "I just can't imagine not being a Jedi. I remember when I thought I was going to be a farmer. If I had become one, a farmer, I mean, I don't think I would have wanted to be reminded of what I could have been."

"And if you had become a farmer, Obi-Wan, there would have been no shame in that. Providing food for others is an honorable way to be of service. But, regarding Cian, your situation was different from hers. You were raised in the Temple with the expectation of becoming a Jedi. Cian was not. She may not feel the same way."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I still can't imagine she wouldn't feel something. What else do you know about her, Master?"

"Hmmm, she must be about 22 standards now, and according to the Chancellor, she's stubborn and headstrong."

Obi-Wan blushed and Qui-Gon suspected Obi-Wan was recalling the many times Yoda had used those very words to rebuke Obi-Wan for some transgression. Even Qui-Gon himself had had to stand a number of times before Yoda and listen as the diminutive Jedi Master had complained about Obi-Wan. "Reckless is he. Stubborn is he."

And Qui-Gon, his arms folded within his robe, would always say quietly, "If you remember, so was I, Master." And Yoda would protest, stamping his staff on the floor.

"Was?" he would grumble incredulously. "No, Qui-Gon! Not was! Still!" And the tiny Jedi Master would shake his staff at Qui-Gon. "Stubborn are you! Reckless are you! That is where boy gets it! Hmmph!" And Yoda would turn away and shake his head, mumbling to himself.

Qui-Gon cleared his head of Yoda's admonishments and glanced over at Obi-Wan, fixing him with a teasing glance. "Actually, Cian sounds a lot like someone I know."

Obi-Wan laughed. "Then handling her should be no problem, Master. You've had plenty of practice."

Qui-Gon's heart warmed at the sound of Obi-Wan's laughter. It had been weeks since he had heard it. He had feared the war-mages' attempts to bend Obi-Wan's mind and turn him against Qui-Gon had ripped something apart inside his apprentice's soul. Even though Qui-Gon knew he would miss Obi-Wan's presence at his side, he also knew that he had made the right decision. Obi-Wan would return home and regain his strength and Qui-Gon would go to Dyran to find Professor Landru and his assistant. He was sure it would be a run-of-the-mill mission.

To be continued...