Chapter Twenty-Eight

Aalea walked into the small galley of the skipship. She had initially been headed toward her quarters, but she suddenly had an urge for a cup of tea.

She bit her lip. She hadn't realized Obi-Wan was so disapproving of her. She knew he and Qui-Gon were extremely close, closer than most masters and their padawans, so she wondered for a moment if Qui-Gon had told Obi-Wan about the kiss.

Aalea shook her head. That wasn't likely. She could understand Qui-Gon's having discussed it with Cian, but she couldn't imagine he would have talked about it with Obi-Wan. And since Aalea was also shielding against Obi-Wan there was no way he could have found out what happened through their bond.

No, Obi-Wan just didn't approve of her. And, as far as she knew, he never had. Even when she was a child, during those times when Qui-Gon would come to visit her, Obi-Wan would either quickly excuse himself or stand silently to the side, a slight frown on his face. Therefore, when Aalea had come out of her coma ten years ago and discovered he had bonded with her, it had shocked her for she had been so certain he didn't care for her at all. Yet, he had saved her life.

Aalea looked around the galley as she searched for the tea. For such a small ship, the galley was well-stocked. The skipship was a prototype; a smaller, faster starship which the Jedi Council was considering using for missions. It had been given to the Order by Horesh-Kessel Inc., one of the Republic's largest starship manufacturers. The company hoped to obtain a contract with the Jedi.

When she and Obi-Wan had arrived that morning at the starport near the Temple and the portmaster had informed them the skipship was going to be their transport to Sylvonna, Obi-Wan's face, which until then had been set in a stoic mask, broke into a wide smile.

He and the Horesh-Kessel rep, who had been on hand to answer any questions, went inside the ship, the two of them talking animatedly about the ship's rating and capacity and a lot of other stuff Aalea hadn't found the least bit interesting.

Later, when Aalea was loading her traveling case on board she heard Obi-Wan, who was outside performing some last minute checks on the ship, call out a greeting to Qui-Gon and Cian. Her heart pounded in her chest. She had been successful at avoiding Qui-Gon for the last three days. Despite Cian's reassurances that he didn't hate her, Aalea hadn't been able to bring herself to face him.

She heard Qui-Gon ask Obi-Wan where she was. Then she heard Obi-Wan's footsteps as he ran into the ship.

He came into the quarters and stopped when he saw her kneeling on the floor, her hands on her traveling case. He looked at her for a moment, than jerked his head toward the outside.

"My master and Mistress Nyal want to say goodbye to you."

"Okay, I'll be right there," Aalea said, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"Are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked as he looked closely at her. "You're not ill, are you?"

"No, I'm fine. I'll be right there."

"Well, don't be too long. We have to leave soon."

He turned and went back outside.

Aalea sighed and pushed her traveling case far under her cot. Then, taking a deep breath, she got up and left the ship. As she walked over to where Qui-Gon and Cian were talking with Obi-Wan, Aalea kept her head down so at first all she saw were the front of Qui-Gon's boots. Then she felt a finger under her chin and her head was slowly lifted.

Qui-Gon gazed down at her, his smile open and warm.

"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye, Aalea?" he asked gently.

"No, of course not, Master."

"I haven't seen you these last few days. I was afraid I wouldn't get a chance to wish you good luck on your mission."

"Oh, well, you know, Master, I've been busy preparing for the mission, and, well..." Aalea stopped because she suspected Qui-Gon knew exactly why he hadn't seen her since the night she'd kissed him.

Aalea glanced over to Obi-Wan who was intently watching the exchange between her and Qui-Gon. She suddenly wished he would go away and tinker with his precious ship so she could talk privately with Qui-Gon.

She looked helplessly over at Cian and then, as if she had read Aalea's mind, Cian went over to Obi-Wan, took him by the arm and asked him if he wouldn't mind showing her around the ship. As they walked away, Obi-Wan began talking enthusiastically to Cian about the ship's innovative design and hyperlight engines.

Qui-Gon smiled as he watched them walk away.

"He's very excited about that ship, isn't he?"

Aalea shrugged and frowned. "It's the only thing he's smiled about all day."

"I suggested to the Council Obi-Wan be allowed to test fly it. He's a good pilot and if the Council is considering using it for missions, he's the best person to determine its potential."

"Yes, Master," was all Aalea could think to say. She didn't particularly want to talk about the skipship or Obi-Wan, for that matter.

She gazed up at Qui-Gon's strong, handsome face and her heart turned over. She loved him so much and yet, she knew it was a love she would have to keep to herself. For Cian was right. Not only was Qui-Gon old enough to be her father, he was also a Jedi Master. Even if, by some slight chance, he felt the same way about her as she did about him, he would never act upon it.

Qui-Gon placed his hands gently on Aalea's shoulders.

"Don't worry, Aalea. I'm not angry with you. Nor do I hate you."

"I know, Master."

"I'm glad to hear that. You will always have a special place in my heart. Never doubt that. Now, before you and Obi-Wan leave, may I ask a favor of you?"

"Of course, Master. You can ask me anything."

"May I give you a hug?"

Aalea smiled and tears welled in her eyes.

"Oh, yes," she cried and moved quickly into his arms. She sighed as she felt his strong arms encircle her. And as she pressed her cheek against his broad chest and listened joyfully to the robust beating of his heart, the tears spilled from her eyes. Then, holding him just a moment longer, she stepped back.

Qui-Gon looked down at her, his blue eyes warm. Then he gently stroked the tears from her cheek.

"Good luck on your mission, Aalea. And please, be supportive of Obi-Wan. He can be a bit demanding at times, especially on himself, but you can learn much from him."

"I'll try, Master," she said.

Qui-Gon shook his head in mock disapproval.

"Aalea, you know better. What does Master Yoda always say?"

Aalea smiled through her tears.

"Do or do not. There is no try." And the two of them laughed together and she knew then that she had not lost him as she had feared.

Aalea turned as she heard Obi-Wan and Cian exiting the ship.

"It's quite the little ship, Qui-Gon," Cian said as she moved next to him.

"So I've heard."

"Obi-Wan has already named her."

Qui-Gon glanced over at Obi-Wan. "Really, Obi-Wan? What do you call her?"

Obi-Wan, who had moved next to Aalea, stared curiously at her and didn't hear Qui-Gon's question. Aalea, realizing there were still some tears on her face, hurriedly wiped them away.

"Master Qui-Gon asked you a question, Obi-Wan," she said.

"What?" Obi-Wan turned quickly towards Qui-Gon. "I'm sorry, Master. I didn't hear you."

"The name of the ship. What is it?"

"Oh, I've decided to call her the 'Lady Cian', in honor of Mistress Nyal. If she doesn't mind, of course," he said bowing to her.

Cian blushed. "I'm flattered. But you do me too much honor, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan smiled broadly at Cian's gracing of him with that title.

"You are deserving of praise, Mistress Nyal, and worthy of much more than my humble attempts to pay you homage."

Aalea had to keep herself from rolling her eyes. She couldn't believe the way Obi-Wan was talking. He sounded like some peer of the realm from those awful Old Republic holovids he loved so much. She glanced over at him and was struck by the warmth in his eyes as he gazed back at Cian. Then he turned towards Aalea and his eyes were once again cool and aloof as he looked down at her.

"We'd better get going, Aalea," he said brusquely. "We do have a schedule."

"Yes, Master," Aalea said. She then glanced over at Qui-Gon. He smiled back at her, but also shook his head warningly.

Cian had then quickly kissed her and Obi-Wan, hugging them tightly and wishing them well on their mission. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had clasped arms, exchanging a look which spoke volumes.

Then, with one final round of good-byes and hugs, she and Obi-Wan had entered the ship and taken off. And as Aalea had sat in her seat, the skipship tearing through the Coruscant sky, she had stared out the window at Qui-Gon and Cian's figures as they had gotten smaller and smaller until they, and Coruscant itself, finally disappeared from her sight.

Now, as Aalea wandered about the galley, she told herself she would see Qui-Gon and Cian again. But she had this mission to get through first. Now that she knew Obi-Wan was so unhappy about her being on it with him, she was determined not to give him any reasons to justify his misgivings.

She could be just as good a Jedi as he was, she thought angrily. Then she stopped and realized anger was not the proper response to her frustration. During his mastership of her, Ke-Ondra had lectured her repeatedly about her quick temper.

Aalea finally found the tea. She quickly made a pot. Once the tea was done, she poured some into a cup and, as she took it to her quarters, decided she would find some way to work with Obi-Wan. Both their futures depended upon the success of this mission. And it wasn't as if they had to like each other in order to work together.

To be continued...