Gone From Danger - Part 2/?
Ruya Sansaro crossed the cramped section of the small diplomatic shuttle that served as the main cabin and took a seat opposite Qui-Gon, clasping a cup of Boleavan tea in both hands and watching the other man with a mixture of concern and amusement. Almost the instant the two of them had boarded the craft, his friend had become preoccupied; now, several hours into their journey, he had taken to staring vacantly at a cup balanced on one knee, its contents cooling rapidly, while his right hand scratched absently along his thigh, incidentally the same place where he had taken a blaster shot a few months ago.
The shuttle's destination was Banis, a designated "neutral planet", where the Jedi were to mediate peace-talks between two estranged races, the Kalriki and the Liscerin, and provide official sanction for any reconciliation between them. It was a task that should have been relatively straightforward, and their presence might not have been needed at the negotiations were it not for the presence of a Kalrikian isolationist group, the Kaatuu, which objected vehemently to the negotiations and had threatened retaliation on any ambassadors that the Senate might send. Ruya was acutely aware that he and Qui-Gon would have to formulate a plan to deal with the Kaatuu's threat should it be acted upon, but he also realised that there was a slightly more pressing matter at hand and turned his attention on his companion.
"Qui?" Ruya probed, leaning across and retrieving the cup from its perch on the Jedi's knee, setting it down safely on the low table between them.
Qui-Gon continued to stare at the spot where the cup had been for a long moment, then blinked slowly and looked up. "Hmm?"
"Is your leg bothering you?" Ruya inquired, indicating the offending limb with a small dip of his head.
Qui-Gon glanced down and realised, with a fair amount of chagrin, that he was unconsciously massaging the area of recently healed flesh. "No, not really," he answered hastily, and his hand immediately dropped away.
"I don't suppose anything else is bothering you?" The Toorkan raised an eyebrow in a lopsided frown, dissuading any attempts at half-truths.
"I'm worried about Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon admitted with a sigh. "What happened on Dareela, including this," and he tapped his thigh with a finger, "has affected him badly. He's become apprehensive to the point of fearful at times, and we haven't even ventured outside the Temple together yet."
"That's to be expected," Ruya observed, sitting back. "I think we forget at times that even as Jedi our tolerance isn't limitless."
"Still, I've never seen Obi-Wan react like this. Something besides that attack took place on Dareela, I'm certain of it, but he won't tell me about it." Qui-Gon rubbed his face wearily and settled back into the padding of the chair. "I don't know how to help him."
"Perhaps we could come to a solution between us, if you're willing to discuss the matter," Ruya suggested as he sipped his tea, inhaling the scented steam that rose from the scalding liquid before placing the cup on the table.
Qui-Gon sat forward hesitantly, unsure of where to begin or how much to reveal to one of his closest friends. "I almost lost him, Ru'," he said quietly, staring at his hands, which were now clenched together, fingers interlocked.
"Force, Qui, I'm sorry." Ruya regarded the other Master with sympathy. "I assumed Obi-Wan's injuries during the attack had been minor."
"It wasn't a result of the attack," Qui-Gon responded quickly, his eyes darting up to meet the Toorkan's.
"No?" Ruya prompted, surprised.
"It was later, after I'd spent a week in a Dareelan hospital." Qui-Gon's focus became introspective, lost in memory, and Ruya knew better than to disturb him. "Obi-Wan must have slipped out while I was asleep and went to the hospital garden to meditate," he continued distractedly. "I saw him through the window of the room the healers had put me in. He looked weak and pale, like the life had been bleached out of him, and his Force signature was scattered...fading." He paused, momentarily caught in the horror he'd felt when he'd sensed Obi-Wan slipping away. "By the time I got to him, he had collapsed, but he was conscious and his signature had returned to normal. At the time, I thought he had simply exhausted himself and drifted too deep into meditation. Now, though…"
He paused to quieten the emotions that had returned with the memory, then removed an object from the belt around his waist, placing it on the table to allow Ruya to examine it. The object was a small crystal, its fragile, elegant facets terribly disfigured by deep fractures and blooming shadows which indicated combustion of some sort.
"What is it?" Ruya asked, a curious frown creasing his expression.
"Obi-Wan's meditation stone. It was a gift from the High Priestess of Lamari. Her people use stones like this to channel the Force." Qui-Gon retrieved the crystal and studied it, turning it in the palm of his hand carefully as though it might disintegrate with the lightest touch.
Ruya paused. "I assume that's not a result of normal meditation," he ventured carefully, watching his friend's face intently.
Qui-Gon shook his head. "Obi-Wan was using this on Dareela," he explained. "Whatever took place in that garden and caused him to collapse also created this damage." He hesitated before continuing reluctantly. "As far as I've been able to find out, only Dark Side channelling has been known to taint a Lamari stone."
"But surely Obi-Wan couldn't be responsible for that," Ruya protested, nodding at the crystal. "Unless you believe…"
Qui-Gon bowed his head, desperately trying to hide his consternation, the cursed doubts he had managed to conceal from his Padawan, but the more experienced Master could immediately sense his conflict through the Force.
"Oh, Qui, no," Ruya breathed, rubbing his forehead in dismay. "You know Obi-Wan is stronger than that! You know he wouldn't give in to his anger over the attack!"
"Of course I do!" Qui-Gon barked harshly, his uncertainty abandoned instantly. "My Padawan's integrity is not an issue, Ru'!"
"My apologies," Ruya amended at once, startled by the other Jedi's intensity. "I didn't think…"
"No, you didn't," Qui-Gon stated bitterly. "My faith in Obi-Wan is absolute. However, I don't know that he couldn't become a conduit himself, as this stone is." His fingers closed into a tight fist around the crystal he still held. "Obi-Wan might have unknowingly, or unwillingly, channelled the Dark Side while he was meditating, because he used the stone to relieve his emotions, and his guilt, over my injury."
Ruya was silent for a few seconds, nodding slowly. "Do you believe that is why Obi-Wan isn't forthcoming on the subject?" he asked cautiously. "That he's aware, at some level, of having channelled?"
"I don't know," Qui-Gon admitted. "He's been reluctant to talk about Dareela at all, and I haven't pushed." He looked at the crystal again, pulling thoughtfully at his beard as he studied it. "He has been a little withdrawn, though."
"What about this High Priestess? Have you consulted her?"
"She's dead," Qui-Gon replied, slumping back into his seat with a sigh. His voice carrying an unmistakable note of grief. "When I tried to contact her on Lamari after Obi-Wan and I returned from Dareela, I was informed that she had succumbed to a brain haemorrhage only hours beforehand. She was the last Priestess of an archaic religion that focused on the Lamari stones – there are no successors."
Ruya cocked his head curiously. "Her death appears rather convenient, don't you think?" he remarked. "It's a little strange that the only person who could reliably confirm if there was a problem with Obi-Wan's stone unexpectedly passed away not long after the stone was damaged."
"You think the Priestess was murdered?" Qui-Gon stared at his companion, his expression wavering between disbelief and dawning comprehension.
" Perhaps. I'm merely speculating, but…" The Toorkan lifted an eyebrow suggestively.
"It would imply that whatever occurred on Dareela was also intentional," Qui-Gon finished. "That someone was trying to destroy the stone or…" Qui-Gon's face paled. "Or use the stone to hurt Obi-Wan."
"It might just be a harmless coincidence," Ruya reminded him, trying to reassure the anxious Master.
"And what if it's not? What if Obi-Wan is in real danger?" Qui-Gon rose and began to move to the cockpit. "I'll have the pilot return us to the Temple immediately."
"Qui, stop!" Ruya ordered, gaining his feet and catching his friend by the arm. "We can't go back now - the negotiations on Banis won't hold for long without our attendance. They could collapse completely by the time the Council despatches replacements!"
"My Padawan's safety is paramount!" Qui-Gon objected, his voice rising dangerously as he extricated himself from Ruya's grasp, but the Toorkan stepped around him and placed a hand on his chest.
"I know you want to protect Obi-Wan, but our suspicions are practically baseless." Ruya lowered his hand and fixed Qui-Gon with a compassionate look. "I already arranged for someone to keep an eye on him - my former Padawan, Noreif, agreed to tutor him while you are away. If you want, I can have him move into your quarters until you return, but there really is nothing more you can do. It's too late to abandon this mission now!"
At that, the strength seemed to leave Qui-Gon's frame: his shoulders slumped and he swayed back onto his heels slightly before turning away and dropping heavily into the chair again, his elbows resting on his knees and his face in his hands. Concerned by the abrupt mood swing, Ruya crouched by the chair; sensing his presence, Qui-Gon lifted his head and stared bleakly at the Toorkan.
"He was frantic, Ru'," he whispered. "I thought he was just afraid that I would be involved in another attack, but what if he had sensed that something was wrong? What if he was worried for himself, too? And the way he's been acting since Dareela… Force, how could I leave him?"
Sighing, Ruya touched his friend's shoulder. "It was a difficult mission, for him more than you. You couldn't have known his behaviour might be caused by something like this." He straightened and made his way to the comm unit. "I'm going to request that the Council replace you on this mission," he said quietly, activating the unit and entering the appropriate code sequences that would provide a direct link to one of the Council members.
Qui-Gon looked up in confusion. "I thought it wasn't possible to turn back."
"It's not," Ruya confirmed. "We have to continue on to Banis and assist the negotiations - an entire sector could be affected depending on our arrival. However, I can have another Knight sent to Banis, and he can assume your role in the proceedings while you return to Coruscant." He glanced round apologetically. "I'm sorry Qui, there's no other way."
"It's enough," Qui-Gon responded, smiling gratefully. "Thank you, my friend."
"If it was Noreif, I would be acting exactly the same way."
Ruya looked back at the comm unit as the connections were finally made and a questioning voice sounded, followed by a miniature holo of Mace Windu. As he began to explain the situation, Qui-Gon closed his eyes and hoped desperately that he could get back to Obi-Wan in time, regardless of whether or not the theory he and Ruya had formed was proven wrong.
tbc...