Note:
Sorry about the Major spacing in the last chapter, the problem with switching computers mid story. Here's Ch. 4, hope everyone likes it. Tell me what you think!
Ch. 4
**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Jesi swallowed hard finding her mouth dry. Raiy looked at her for a long moment, then he smiled and turned away.
"Wait!"
Jesi said but her voice came out hardly hearable as though she were losing it. He didn't stop just glanced at her over his shoulder and continued walking. Jesi followed willingly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drumming his fingers on the table Obi-Wan sighed. He was actually beginning to lose feeling in the tips he'd been drumming them so long.
//May we go yet??//
He asked desperately. Qui-Gon smiled at him lightly and continued his conversation with Poishen. Obi-Wan leaned back in his chair again, yet still sitting straight and respectable, and glanced to the empty chair next to him. He thought, it was nearly ten minutes ago she had left. Looking towards the large doors Jesi had gone out of he saw no one at all.It was then he realized how his eyes drooped. Force, he was tired. Wow, he shifted to become more comfortable, he was really tired.
"Good evening Padawan Kenobi."
Obi-Wan opened his eyes fully again as Lt.Colonel Raider sat next to him.
"Lt.Colonel Raider."
Obi-Wan replied with a small nod.
"I see you've been..nodding off a little."
Obi-Wan shrugged slightly.
"It's been a long trip and all."
He replied.Raider nodded,
"I know how that feels."
He glanced around the table.
"I don't see Cpt.Stafferi..Is she late again?"
He asked with a still remaining smile.
"No, not this time, she excused herself a few minutes ago."
Obi-Wan replied glancing towards the door.
"Oh, I see."
Raider replied looking at the door. A bell rang again and everyone started to stand.
"That's the excusion bell."
Raider said not bothering to stand yet. Too many people trying to file out of the room at once.
"Do all of the dinners last as long as this one did?"
Obi-Wan asked. Truthfully he was a bit worried that it was true and he'd have to do this again tomorrow night.
"Yes, they are."
Raider replied. Obi-Wan wanted to scream in dispair.
"But you're not required to attened them at all. In fact I usually don't attend these, I just choose to tonight..having guests and all, in honor you know."
Obi-Wan nodded relieved. Perhaps his Master would bid him pitty and allow him to stay in for the meals.
"Padawan, are you ready to leave or would you like to stay here longer?"
Qui-Gon said standing with a smile on his face. Obi-Wan glared up at his Master and stood.
"I'll be sure to send any information to you about the negotiations."
Raider said standing as well.
"Thank you Lt.Colonel."
Qui-Gon said.Raider nodded and turned away. Qui-Gon glanced round the dining room.
"Where's Jesi?"
He asked.
"She never came back Master."
Obi-Wan said.Qui-Gon raised a brow.
"She hasn't come back yet?"
"No."
Both said nothing for a moment then Obi-Wan spoke,
"Should we wait for her here Master?"
Qui-Gon looked around again sighed and shrugged.
"We could stop at her quarters to see if she is there. If not then.."
He shrugged again.
"We'll figure it out then."
Obi-Wan finished. Qui-Gon nodded and they walked out of the diner room.
~~~~~~~~~~~
She didn't pay attention to where she'd been, nor where shew as going. She just followed and that's all she cared about at the moment. Jesi paused before she entered a room. Glancing around she had no idea where it was that she was. Raiy didn't stop, he just kept going and he disappeared behind a corner. Jesi pushed her apprehension aside and continued on after him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is something wrong Master Jedi?"
Poishen asked nervously. The aide that had opened Jesi's door must have sent for him.
"Have you seen Cpt.Stafferi since dinner?"
Qui-Gon asked exiting the small empty quarters.
"No sir."
Poishen replied.
"Is she missing?"
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon glanced at eachother.
"Probably not, she most likely just became lost."
Obi-Wan said. He didn't want anything drastic thought of.
"I understand."
Poishen said as they continued down the corridor.
"I will have the guardsmen keep an eye out for her. Would you like an aide sent when we find her?"
"Please, but I doubt we'll be in our quarters. Perhaps we can help look for her."
Obi-Wan noticed how Poishen straightened a little after his Master had spoken.
"I-if you wish Master Jedi though our forces are quite capable to find one woman."
Obi-Wan frowned at his choice of words but Qui-Gon showed no outside appreance of irritation.
"We're aware of that officer Poishen, but Cpt.Stafferi is a good friend and perhaps we may know some places she may be."
Poishen seemed to consider.
"Very well, as you wish Master Jedi."
He bowed slightly and turned away without another word. The two Jedi went the other way.
"Should we split up? We could cover more ground."
Obi-Wan suggested.
"We could..but I sense a slight waver in the Force."
"I feel it as well." Obi-Wan replied.
"What do you think is causing it?"
"I'm not fully sure."
Qui-Gon said stopping his walk as they came to an 'intersection'.
"It feels close but far away.."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement.
"Like it's being hidden."
He added.Qui-Gon nodded.
"Exactly.I just don't know how."
~~~~~~~~~~
Jesi stopped turning yet another corner. Raiy was no where in sight.
"Raiy?" She called. Nothing but her own echo answered her. Finally she looked around her. She was in a dimly lit room that had pillars with symbols all around them. Suddenly she hardly remembered how it was she got here. Why did she leave dinner? How did she end up here? She remembered vaguely that she had been following someone.Who?"Jesi.." The whisper circled around her. She looked around the room.
"..Jesi.."
"Hello?"
She called following the voice.She nearly turned right.
"No, this way Jesi..."
The whisper said.
"What you're looking for is this way.."
She didn't even recognize the voice but she followed it anyway. She stopped rounding the corner looking at what was before her in question and confusion.
~~~~~~~~~~~
//She's not in the South Gardens.//
Qui-Gon informed his apprentice.
//Nor in the North ones or in the "Wing of Stars".//
Obi-Wan added. In the end he and Qui-Gon had decided to split up in order to cover more ground.
//Has anyone even seen her?//
Obi-Wan asked.
//No one I've asked.//
"Hello?"
Obi-Wan stopped dead step just as he was passing a wing. That was Jesi, he knew.
"Jes?"
He called.
//I think I just heard her Master.//
//Where are you?//
Obi-Wan looked around. Nothing identified the wing.
//I'm not sure. Trace me.//
He replied going down into the wing.
//Alright, I'll be there in a minute.//
Qui-Gon said reaching further into the bond to locate his apprentice.
"Jesi?"
Obi-Wan called. The wing was completely empty.
Tbc...