Chapter Six

Qui-Gon had been writing in his journal for some time, but even that could not dispel his growing sense of unease. The disturbance he felt in the Force was swelling. It was still hazy, however, slippery and nebulous and just when he thought he knew where and what the danger was, the knowledge slid away from his awareness like a mist. He sighed and put his journal back into the haversack.

Earlier he had heard Cian's music box playing. He had been tempted to go to her and reassure her he had meant no harm, for he knew their conversation regarding her Force abilities had upset her. But he sensed she would merely rebuff any attempts on his part to soothe her anxiety. She was as stubborn as Obi-Wan, he thought.

He had not meant to distress her with his questions; he had just been surprised at what she had accomplished. It was quite unprecedented. Her inherent Force abilities coupled with her own natural intelligence and strength of will had helped her to achieve much on her own. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of Jedi she would have made if properly trained. A remarkable one, he imagined. Professor Landru was lucky to have her as his assistant.

As he thought about Landru, Qui-Gon felt a sudden urge to check on him. He walked over to Landru's tent and quietly peeled the entrance open. He looked in and saw that the professor's cot was empty. He stepped quickly inside and, looking around, noted that Landru had apparently crawled out the rear of the tent.

Qui-Gon went back outside the tent. The cavern was huge. The professor could be anywhere. Qui-Gon picked up his robe, put it on, then made sure his lightsaber was fastened securely to his belt.

He glanced at Cian's tent. He would not wake her. He would find Landru on his own and bring him back to camp. Then, if Qui-Gon had to tie him down until morning, he would do so. Whether the professor liked it or not, he and Cian were leaving this planet.

Qui-Gon went around to the back of the professor's tent. He saw that Landru had deliberately kept to the shadows and gone into the temple. Qui-Gon followed his trail.

-----

Qui-Gon stopped. He had followed Landru's track to this cul-de-sac deep inside the temple, but now there was no sign of where the professor had gone.

It was very dark. Qui-Gon was tempted to light one of the small glow rods he carried in his utility belt, but the Force warned him not to give away his position. He tensed. His senses were on high alert. Something was not right here. But what?

Qui-Gon unclipped his lightsaber. He held it in his hands, but did not ignite it. He turned around slowly. His Force sense was screaming: Danger! But from where, from whom? Shadows seem to shift and swell about him. The air abruptly grew cold.

Suddenly one of the shadows launched itself from the wall. Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber and spun away from it. The shadow turned and leapt at him again. Qui-Gon raised his lightsaber and was about to strike the figure down when he saw by the blade's green glow that it was Professor Landru.

Qui-Gon pulled sharply back on his downward swing and that was when Landru darted forward and stabbed him.

Pain exploded alongside Qui-Gon's side. Landru pulled the dagger out of him and leapt back. Qui-Gon saw Landru's eyes were no longer green. They were dark red.

Qui-Gon's left side went numb and blood flowed from the wound. He could barely hold on to his lightsaber. Landru watched him, his ruby colored eyes glittering with blood lust.

He darted forward again, the dagger he held in his hand aimed at Qui-Gon's heart, but Qui-Gon was able to strike Landru a glancing blow on the wrist with his lightsaber.

Landru screamed as the blade sizzled against his skin. He dropped the dagger, turned and scurried away into the darkness.

Qui-Gon dropped to his knees. He looked down at the dagger. It was an ancient Sith blade. He had seen one in the museum at the Jedi Temple. Such daggers were usually poisoned. His head spun, but he forced himself to stand. He took a few steps, then sagged heavily against the wall.

He had to get back to the camp and protect Cian from the creature which now resided inside what had once been Professor Landru. For when Landru attacked him, Qui-Gon had felt the shields dropping in the professor's mind and he knew that what was now inside Landru was a creature of the Dark Side. Possession. He and Cian were in great danger.

Slowly, Qui-Gon retraced his steps back toward the temple's entrance. He could feel the Sith poison spreading rapidly through his body. He stumbled down the passageway. He wasn't going to make it. He slid slowly down the wall. There was only one thing left to do. He concentrated on the Force.

Cian. Hear me. Cian.

----

Obi-Wan shuddered awake.

"Master!" he cried.

Obi-Wan looked around. He was alone in his room in his and Qui-Gon's quarters in the Jedi Temple. He had been having another bad dream. Although the Healers had been working diligently with him the past few days to help heal the Force induced traumas inflicted on him by the war-mages, he still experienced some nightmares.

Obi-Wan didn't think he'd be able to get back to sleep, so he decided to make some tea and read for a while. He went into the common area and through that into the kitchen.

He had just finished brewing the pot of tea when the front door chimed.

Obi-Wan went over to it. He opened the door and, looking down, saw Aalea Ve'Red standing in the hall.

For a moment Obi-Wan was startled. Although he knew Aalea and Qui-Gon were close, Obi-Wan had managed to keep his distance from the little eight-year old girl. It wasn't that he disliked her. The truth was Obi-Wan thought Aalea was the most beautiful child he had ever seen with her tiny heart-shaped face, night black hair and large violet eyes framed by long thick lashes. But it was her eyes, he'd decided one day, which made her so unusual and so striking for they were the eyes of a woman in the face of a little girl.

"Is Master Qui-Gon here?" Aalea asked as she gazed up at Obi-Wan.

"Aalea, you know Master Qui-Gon is on a mission. What are you doing up at this hour?"

"I heard Master Qui-Gon's voice."

Obi-Wan saw Aalea was barefoot and was only wearing a thin blue night robe. The halls of the Temple were chilly at night.

"Come inside," he said.

Aalea walked past him. She sat on the settee in the common room, her short legs dangling over the edge.

Obi-Wan sat next to her. "Now, tell me what happened."

"I was sleeping and then I heard Master Qui-Gon's voice."

"What was he saying?" Obi-Wan asked.

"He said 'Cian. Hear me.'"

Obi-Wan stared at Aalea. Although she knew, like everyone at the Temple, that Qui-Gon was on a mission, she did not know any particulars about it. And she certainly didn't know anything about Cian Nyal.

"Are you certain he said Cian?" he asked.

She nodded. "He sounded sick."

Obi-Wan mulled this over. He looked over at Aalea and noted she was shivering.

"I'll get you a blanket."

Obi-Wan got up and went into his room. As he pulled a blanket from the shelf above his bed, he happened to glance at his utility belt where he had left it on his desk. He remembered the stone Qui-Gon had wanted him to give to Aalea. He took the stone out of the belt's pouch and carried it and the blanket back into the common room.

He handed her the blanket. "Here, wrap yourself in this."

Aalea took the blanket from him and drew it around her shivering body.

Obi-Wan held the stone in his hand for a moment, then handed it to Aalea.

"This is for you, from Master Qui-Gon. It's from Tamarii."

Aalea gazed down at the stone in her hand.

"It's beautiful," she said softly.

"I've made some tea. I'll get you a cup."

He came back with the tea. He set the cup before Aalea on the low table in front of her. She was still staring at the stone.

"The tea's hot," he said, "so let it cool before you drink it."

Aalea only nodded.

"Aalea, I'm going to leave for a bit. Will you be all right here alone?"

She nodded, again saying nothing. She continued to gaze at the stone in her hand.

Obi-Wan went into his room and closed the door. He quickly changed into his tunic and pants and hastily pulled on his boots. He would go and see Master Yoda. It couldn't just be coincidence that both he and Aalea had sensed something was wrong with Qui-Gon. He might look like a fool in the morning, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Obi-Wan went back into the common area. Aalea was sitting with her eyes closed, her tiny fist clutching the stone.

"Aalea," he called.

She jumped, her eyes snapping open. She stared at him.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

She nodded. "Are you going to talk to someone about Master Qui-Gon?"

"Yes, Aalea, I am. I'll be back soon. If you get tired you can sleep here."

As Obi-Wan walked out the door, he sincerely hoped he would look a fool come morning. For if Qui-Gon truly was in danger, Obi-Wan would never forgive himself for not having been at his Master's side.

-----

Malus ran. He reached his private chamber and sank to the floor.

Cursed Jedi! He clutched his burnt flesh. Twice-damned Jedi! And damn this sickly body! For Malus realized his possession of Landru's body was speeding up the progress of the professor's disease. Now he was also injured.

Malus slumped onto his side. Pain lashed over him in waves.

The Jedi had surprised him. Malus had intended on waiting until his enemy had fallen asleep. Then he had planned to sneak up on him and stab him with the poisoned blade. However, for some reason the Jedi had come prying into the Temple. Malus had had no choice but to attack him. He knew he had wounded him, for he had felt the dagger enter the Jedi's flesh and scrape against his rib.

Malus gritted his teeth. No matter. With the poison that was on the blade, the Jedi did not have long to live. Once the Jedi was dead, Malus would then find the female and perform the ritual. He would transfer his spirit into her body. Then, just to please himself, he would flay the Jedi's flesh from his bones and hang his entrails in the wind.

But now he had to regain his strength. Malus prepared himself to enter a Dark side trance. It would take a few hours for the meditation to heal him enough for him to perform the transfer into the female's body, but Malus was not worried for he knew she wasn't going anywhere. Even if she decided to return to the base camp and call for help, he knew from Landru's memories that it would be at least a week before such help arrived and by then it would be too late.

Malus held his throbbing arm close to his body. He focused his meditation on an image of the Jedi lying dead at his feet. He then closed his eyes and sank into the trance.

To be continued...