Hiyos.  I'm back, well I've been back, but busy. N e wayz thanx for the reviews! You all rule.  Oh rite Omega: About the Padawan's not in the same rooms… well that all has to do with the carver's plan. You'll see what I mean soon… ::grins::  Hehe… well here the next chap, enjoy!

Distance

Darkness…

A never-ending sea of black.

That was all that surrounded Zae-Non.  She knew her eyes were open and yet no light shown through.  No pictures came to site.

There was no site.

The girl looked up blindly towards the sound of footsteps.  Showdow was back… but to do what?  Would she have to hear her friend's pain again?  Hear the young Padawan gasp out and yell in agony.

Would Z have to feel the coldness of her tears fall down her cheeks as Showdow snickered with every horrific crack of a bone.

She could only imagine the evil grin on the Blood Carver's face as he laughed at every bone he broke in half…

One by one.

Zae-Non wished she could see for the soul purpose of not needing to imagine the mask of pain on Siri's face.  The torment she went through not being able to see it…

Only being able to imagine it.

She felt another tear fall down her cheek at the sound of Siri's soft cries from across the lab.  The carver had, from what Zae-Non could tell, taken random bones throughout her body and broke them.  He did so with a device of some sort or his own hands.  And with each snap Siri let out another cry. And the carver a laugh of enjoyment.

Z wished more than anything that she could contact her Master.  Feel Sage's presences in the bond they shared. 

But what if Sage and everyone else are off planet? Zae-Non thought her hope dripping away.  Dammit Z! Stop it.

Zae-Non knew that no matter the distance between her and her Master there would always be a bond.  No matter the distance…

Near or far.

*****

"Mace!" Qui-Gon exclaimed turning to face the dark skinned Master. "What in Sith's hell do you think your doing here?"

Mace held up a hand and spoke calmly. "Three Padawans are missing.  You didn't think I was going to sit in the Council Chambers discussing one thing or another and not help now did you?"

Qui-Gon centered himself before continuing. Crossing his arms he stared at his friend. "How do you suppose you can help us?"

"You tell me." Was the simple reply.

Qui-Gon felt a soft hand on his shoulder and he turned to face Sage.  She gave him a small smile and a slight nod before she handed him the coordinates.  Qui-Gon turned back to Mace and handed him the durasheet.

Mace looked at the numbers and the few notes Sage had jotted down onto it and looked up.  Quirking an eyebrow he looked back up. "So what so we have do far?"

Sage sighed and looked around the library. "Do you want the shortened version or the longer?"

Mace smiled. "For your Padawan's sake the shorter."

"Good choice." Sage glanced at Adi before going on. "Well, so far we have three Padawan's gone missing, an insane blood carver, two men and some of their friends out to kill us, and a rendez vous spot that is mostly likely some trap that is going to get one of us hurt or killed and not to mention the fact we have no clue what so ever if our Padawans are even on this planet, despite what this sheet says!"

Mace nodded his eyes slightly wide. "Not too bad…" he said meekly.

"Right Mace." Adi said sarcastically. She gestured the other three towards the door. "We only wish it wasn't too bad."

The four walked out into the sun beating the mid-day rays down to the planet.  They walked down the street in silence towards the place they had been staying.

Once they reached the small room the Jedi each took separate seats and sat in silence.  As the time passed by Qui-Gon wondered why they were there at all.  They weren't doing anything that could help their Padawans by sitting around and thinking. 

The vulnerable Master looked around at his friends wondering if they were thinking the same thing.  Mace sat in a chair to one side of a table that was in the center of the room.  He apparently was staring out the window across from him in thought.  Sage had taken a seat on the table and was looking over the notes she had made on the durasheet.  Qui-Gon then glanced quickly at Adi then double-checked as he saw she was rubbing her wrist as though it hurt. 

She looked down at it curiously and let out a long sigh. "Sage where exactly outside of this city do those coordinates say?"

Sage shook her head. "From what the library archives say it's somewhere along a long stretch of cliff heading out into the unpopulated section of this desert.  This cliff goes about six or seven kilometers into the desert."

Adi's face dropped. "It could be anywhere along that cliff?" she asked dismally.

"No the coordinates are more precise." Sage said "But if it's the fake spot then yes where ever they could be is, anywhere along that stretch."

"We will go there in the morning then." Mace said looking over the three exhausted Jedi around him.

Adi and Sage shook their heads and Mace turned to Qui-Gon. 

Reluctantly the Master also shook his head.  He knew being completely drained from lack of sleep would be a stupid thing when he found Obi-Wan and if his Padawan needed help he wouldn't be able to give it.

Qui-Gon once again looked over at Adi. He noticed she was still rubbing her wrists. "Are you OK?" he asked.

She looked at her arm and looked up. "I don't know." She said slowing trying to decide. "It's as though my arms hurt, but… I don't know how to explain it."

Mace stood up and walked over.  He studied Adi then closed his eyes.  Opening once again he looked back at her. "It's not your pain?"

"Something like that I suppose." Adi's eyes widened as she realized what Mace was getting at. "Siri…" she breathed.

The room was silent as everyone stared at Adi who was staring at her arms.  No one knew what to say exactly.

Sage broke the silence with a question. "You think you are feeling her pain?"

Adi just shook her head unsure of what to say.

"It has happened before." Mace said. "A Master and Padawan bond can be so strong that one can feel the other's pain if it is so intense.  Although on most of these accounts one person was not far from the other."

Adi looked up. "So you're saying that Siri isn't too far away?"  She didn't wait for Mace to answer.  She looked at him fear creeping and then leaking from her eyes quickly. "But what do you mean by intense pain?"

Mace dropped his head. "I hate to think about it."

Qui-Gon felt a pang ring through him.  Intense pain to a kidnapped person normally means one thing.

Whoever kidnapped them is hurting them and hurting them immensely. Torture.

The one thing Qui-Gon prayed his Padawan would never have to endure.  He had been through it, never would he want Obi-Wan to feel that kind of pain.

Adi put her head in her hands. "What is he doing to them!" she exclaimed throwing he arms up.

Sage put a hand on her friends shoulder. "Whatever it is we will stop him.  They are near Adi and we can't loose faith.  We will get Siri back."

Adi forced a small smile. "Thank you. I'm going to rest for a bit." She said standing up.  

Qui-Gon looked at Mace and Sage. "We all better rest." He said surprising himself with the statement.  He watched as Sage and Mace exchanged glances. "I wouldn't have won if I fought against you three." He added.

Sage shrugged. "Probably not."

Adi began to go towards the back room where she and Sage slept.  She stopped at the door when she realized Sage was not following.

"Sage, come on." She said. "You of all people need rest."

Sage turned to the window. "I can't right now."

Adi crossed the room again and put a hand on her friends shoulder. "You have been working the hardest out of all of us.  You need rest."

Mace sighed. "Sage you can't be helping you Padawan by being exhausted."

"I know," She said. "I'll get rest once I finish…"

Qui-Gon stepped forward "Sage put it this way. Either you get some sleep yourself or we'll help you."

Sage sighed. "Fine!" she said throwing up her arms. She made her way to the door. "I'll get some rest."

Adi followed. "Don't worry I'll make sure you do." The two went into the room and shut the door.

Mace went to the door. "I'm going to have a look around and I am going back to the library to do some research. I'll be back later."

Qui-Gon nodded to him and went to the couch. Settling down he stared up at the ceiling before he decided to close his eyes. 

He sighed thinking about the one day he had spent with Obi-Wan on the planet before the attack had happened and all this had started.  The two had walked around the market place for a good two hours just enjoying each other's company.  They recalled good times they had had. Something they hadn't done in years. 

Not since Tahl had died. 

When that happened something in their Bond had snapped, and Qui-Gon felt that was his fault. He was so wrapped up in his misery and sorrow that he ignored the fact that Obi-Wan just wanted to help.  He had shut out his apprentice. Ignored him and the helping hand he was offering.

He and his Padawan were working on rebuilding what was once lost from the loss.  Though they both knew it would never be the same. 

Willing rest to come the graying master fell off into a restless sleep.

Well I was nice, not a cliff hanger… sorta.  N e wayz review please! Thanx a bunch… ill try to get the next chap up when I can… this week is gunna be all crazy and junk.  Friday at the latest I promise! Till Later~

Peace Out