BlueElli - Thanks, two posts for you today! : D
Jacen200015 - Thank you. I am still endeavoring to improve it. ; )
Liyanette - They are a-comin'! Two as a matter of fact. Hope you like them!
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Astri was waiting tables as usual, when Qui-gon entered the humble Café. She squealed with glee when she spotted the big Jedi. Hugging him, she said, "Qui-gon it's so good to see you. We've missed you." She noticed the girl following him but did not see Obi-wan. "Where's Obi-wan?"
"That's why I'm here." He answered her.
Astri grabbed at her heart. "He isn't.." She couldn't complete the horrible thought.
"No," Qui-gon said. "And I hope it won't end that way. We were hoping you could help us. Can we talk somewhere private? This is MiraCyn." He gestured toward the girl behind him.
Astri smiled a quick greeting. "Let's go to the back, we'll talk to Didi." The three moved through the small Café into a back room. Papers littered the room but no one seemed to worry about the disarray. Didi smiled at the sight of his old friend. He moved around the desk to hug the Jedi. "Didi, they've come for help."
"What seems to be the problem, Qui-gon?" Didi picked up the importance in his daughter's voice.
"Some Jedi Students have been kidnapped and we are trying to gather any clues as to why." The Jedi Master briefed.
Didi looked from Qui-gon to the girl behind him and understood now why Qui- gon was involved. "Obi-wan is one of them, isn't he?" The Jedi's eyes moistened, but held back the tears. Among friends, Qui-gon relaxed a little when showing his feelings. "Then I will do my best to help you. I owe him and you my life and more importantly, my daughter's life. We will not rest until he's home safe."
Qui-gon's voice caught in his throat. "Thank you my old friend. This is MiraCyn, her sister is also one of the missing Jedi. Perhaps you have heard something in regards to this?"
"I'm trying to think, but off the top of my head, I can't say that I have." They sat in silence for a moment.
"Obi-wan told me how Astri helped a village on Sorrus by discovering some vegetation to utilize as food and how to prepare it. Astri, do your skills also include produce identification?" Qui-gon asked.
"Of course. I have to prepare many different kinds of meals for the various Senators that visit the Café. I have become very familiar with the multitude of vegetation and meat products." She replied.
Qui-gon then turned to MiraCyn, "Do you think you could draw the plants you saw for Astri?"
"I will do my best. Mys wasn't really concentrating on them, so I didn't get a very good picture. Do you have something I could draw on?" She turned to Didi. He nodded and pulled a fresh durasheet and writing implement from a drawer in his desk. She went to work right away. At times she would close her eyes and concentrate on the images in her memory. Astri moved closer to the girl to get a better view while she worked. Qui- gon and Didi remained quiet as not to distract the girls. When MiraCyn finally finished she passed the picture to Astri. "I hope it's ok. It's the best I could do."
Astri held the drawing for some minutes before she spoke. Qui-gon waited as patiently as he could. "I know I have see this plant before. It's just. Well, it's not as obvious as I hoped it would be. Something's just not right about it." Qui-gon tried to hide his disappointment. MiraCyn's shoulders drooped.
"I'm sorry, my art skills are not as strong as my healing skills. If only I had gotten a better image of them in my mind." She admonished herself.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. You did your best that's all we can ask." Qui-gon reassured.
"Besides, your drawing is fine, it's my memory that's failing. I'm sorry Qui-gon." Astri added.
"The same advice goes for you too, Astri. Give it some time, it could still come back to you."
"Well, let me at least get you a little something while you wait." Astri said as she shuffled off toward the kitchen. MiraCyn's eyes sparkled as they lightened to a green-yellow. Qui-gon knew he needed to bide his time, so accepted the offer.
*****
Hadn't it only been a few minutes ago since I fell asleep? Obi-wan thought groggily. Something nudged him in the side, pulling him out of the darkness he had so happily been engulfed in. Fiza's voice sliced through the haze. "Get up!" He said sharply. Obi-wan tried his best to comply but his body did not want to respond. The Tube had done it's job well. "Hurry up." Fiza urged. This time a quick jolt of pain shot up his arm. Obi-wan managed to make his way out of the cell. He remained on his hands and knees as he breathed deeply. Fiza kicked him in the side, forcing him into the wall behind. "Get up now!" The ferocity in the voice drove away the fatigue Obi-wan felt. Holding onto the wall, he forced himself to his feet. He didn't know what they were going to do, but as long as he was not put back into the Tube he felt he could withstand anything. Fiza marched him through corridors until he stopped in front of another door. He accessed the entry and pointed inside. Obi-wan bent over in order to fit inside the small confine. Fiza shut the door behind him once he was fully inside. The cell was bright white and he could feel cold air seeping in around him. Blazing light reflected off the bleached walls. Obi-wan shivered as the temperature continued to plummet. He remained in the bright blizzard for a couple of hours.
*****
Qui-gon and MiraCyn finished the meager meals given them. Qui-gon's patience waned as the hours passed. He was beginning to think this detour was a mistake. He should have headed for the ports to secure ships instead he dilly-dallied at a Café that might not be of any help after all. His impatience was leading to disappointment and finally anger. Not at the friends who wished to help him but at himself. He should have seen the danger before letting Obi-wan head back without him. He decided he could not wait any longer. Just as he was about to speak, Astri exclaimed, "That's it! I knew something was different about this plant!"
"What? What is it, Astri?" Qui-gon questioned excitedly. He prayed that this would be the clue the needed.
"I know why I couldn't place it before. I recognize the plant only because on rare occasions it is used as a garnish. However, the plant itself is not what it is used for." Astri announced.
"What is it used for?" Didi was intrigued. He had been cooking for quite some time, but knew Astri had easily surpassed his skills.
"This, my friends, is a Chaawn plant. Chaawn root is the prize under the soil. They are excellent sources of nutrients. And because of their unique flavor can be very expensive. I hardly ever order a bushel of them myself. Only when asked specifically, do I prepare them." Astri smiled now that the puzzle was solved.
"Where can they be harvested?" Qui-gon pondered.
"Well they can be found on a number of planets now. Colonists have taken them on their journeys. However, the best come from it's indigenous environment."
"And where is that?" Qui-Gon repeatedly trying to pull the information she eluded to.
"Chandrila, of course." Qui-gon and MiraCyn exchanged glances as the answer they had been waiting for proved worth the wait.
"Do they grow anywhere else within the Core worlds?" MiraCyn wanted to cut out all other possibilities if they could.
"No, Chandrila is the only Core World that I know of." Astri was pleased that she figured out the answer. And that she was able to assist the Jedi.
"Then we know where they are. We should tell the others." MiraCyn verified.
"We know what Planet but we still don't know where they are exactly. It's a large place to look and many places to hide. Chandrila is sparsely populated but there are many gardens and farms across the planet." Qui-gon went into deep thought for a moment. "Astri, do you think you could do us one more favor?"
"Anything. You know I would."
"Can you search for the next shipment? Pretend you are looking to buy. Maybe that will give us our next lead." Qui-gon voiced.
Astri nodded. "No problem. I'll get right on it. It shouldn't take too long."
"MiraCyn and I will head back to the Temple and apprise everyone on our discoveries. We look forward to hearing from you." Qui-gon and MiraCyn parted the Café and headed back to the Jedi Temple. They told LaMinott and Xichu what they learned and decided that they should rest the night. They would need their strength. In the morning they would tell the Council and head off to Chandrila as soon as possible to search.
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I know this is a bit short but the next chapter will make up for it I hope. Don't forget to review. : D
Jacen200015 - Thank you. I am still endeavoring to improve it. ; )
Liyanette - They are a-comin'! Two as a matter of fact. Hope you like them!
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Astri was waiting tables as usual, when Qui-gon entered the humble Café. She squealed with glee when she spotted the big Jedi. Hugging him, she said, "Qui-gon it's so good to see you. We've missed you." She noticed the girl following him but did not see Obi-wan. "Where's Obi-wan?"
"That's why I'm here." He answered her.
Astri grabbed at her heart. "He isn't.." She couldn't complete the horrible thought.
"No," Qui-gon said. "And I hope it won't end that way. We were hoping you could help us. Can we talk somewhere private? This is MiraCyn." He gestured toward the girl behind him.
Astri smiled a quick greeting. "Let's go to the back, we'll talk to Didi." The three moved through the small Café into a back room. Papers littered the room but no one seemed to worry about the disarray. Didi smiled at the sight of his old friend. He moved around the desk to hug the Jedi. "Didi, they've come for help."
"What seems to be the problem, Qui-gon?" Didi picked up the importance in his daughter's voice.
"Some Jedi Students have been kidnapped and we are trying to gather any clues as to why." The Jedi Master briefed.
Didi looked from Qui-gon to the girl behind him and understood now why Qui- gon was involved. "Obi-wan is one of them, isn't he?" The Jedi's eyes moistened, but held back the tears. Among friends, Qui-gon relaxed a little when showing his feelings. "Then I will do my best to help you. I owe him and you my life and more importantly, my daughter's life. We will not rest until he's home safe."
Qui-gon's voice caught in his throat. "Thank you my old friend. This is MiraCyn, her sister is also one of the missing Jedi. Perhaps you have heard something in regards to this?"
"I'm trying to think, but off the top of my head, I can't say that I have." They sat in silence for a moment.
"Obi-wan told me how Astri helped a village on Sorrus by discovering some vegetation to utilize as food and how to prepare it. Astri, do your skills also include produce identification?" Qui-gon asked.
"Of course. I have to prepare many different kinds of meals for the various Senators that visit the Café. I have become very familiar with the multitude of vegetation and meat products." She replied.
Qui-gon then turned to MiraCyn, "Do you think you could draw the plants you saw for Astri?"
"I will do my best. Mys wasn't really concentrating on them, so I didn't get a very good picture. Do you have something I could draw on?" She turned to Didi. He nodded and pulled a fresh durasheet and writing implement from a drawer in his desk. She went to work right away. At times she would close her eyes and concentrate on the images in her memory. Astri moved closer to the girl to get a better view while she worked. Qui- gon and Didi remained quiet as not to distract the girls. When MiraCyn finally finished she passed the picture to Astri. "I hope it's ok. It's the best I could do."
Astri held the drawing for some minutes before she spoke. Qui-gon waited as patiently as he could. "I know I have see this plant before. It's just. Well, it's not as obvious as I hoped it would be. Something's just not right about it." Qui-gon tried to hide his disappointment. MiraCyn's shoulders drooped.
"I'm sorry, my art skills are not as strong as my healing skills. If only I had gotten a better image of them in my mind." She admonished herself.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. You did your best that's all we can ask." Qui-gon reassured.
"Besides, your drawing is fine, it's my memory that's failing. I'm sorry Qui-gon." Astri added.
"The same advice goes for you too, Astri. Give it some time, it could still come back to you."
"Well, let me at least get you a little something while you wait." Astri said as she shuffled off toward the kitchen. MiraCyn's eyes sparkled as they lightened to a green-yellow. Qui-gon knew he needed to bide his time, so accepted the offer.
*****
Hadn't it only been a few minutes ago since I fell asleep? Obi-wan thought groggily. Something nudged him in the side, pulling him out of the darkness he had so happily been engulfed in. Fiza's voice sliced through the haze. "Get up!" He said sharply. Obi-wan tried his best to comply but his body did not want to respond. The Tube had done it's job well. "Hurry up." Fiza urged. This time a quick jolt of pain shot up his arm. Obi-wan managed to make his way out of the cell. He remained on his hands and knees as he breathed deeply. Fiza kicked him in the side, forcing him into the wall behind. "Get up now!" The ferocity in the voice drove away the fatigue Obi-wan felt. Holding onto the wall, he forced himself to his feet. He didn't know what they were going to do, but as long as he was not put back into the Tube he felt he could withstand anything. Fiza marched him through corridors until he stopped in front of another door. He accessed the entry and pointed inside. Obi-wan bent over in order to fit inside the small confine. Fiza shut the door behind him once he was fully inside. The cell was bright white and he could feel cold air seeping in around him. Blazing light reflected off the bleached walls. Obi-wan shivered as the temperature continued to plummet. He remained in the bright blizzard for a couple of hours.
*****
Qui-gon and MiraCyn finished the meager meals given them. Qui-gon's patience waned as the hours passed. He was beginning to think this detour was a mistake. He should have headed for the ports to secure ships instead he dilly-dallied at a Café that might not be of any help after all. His impatience was leading to disappointment and finally anger. Not at the friends who wished to help him but at himself. He should have seen the danger before letting Obi-wan head back without him. He decided he could not wait any longer. Just as he was about to speak, Astri exclaimed, "That's it! I knew something was different about this plant!"
"What? What is it, Astri?" Qui-gon questioned excitedly. He prayed that this would be the clue the needed.
"I know why I couldn't place it before. I recognize the plant only because on rare occasions it is used as a garnish. However, the plant itself is not what it is used for." Astri announced.
"What is it used for?" Didi was intrigued. He had been cooking for quite some time, but knew Astri had easily surpassed his skills.
"This, my friends, is a Chaawn plant. Chaawn root is the prize under the soil. They are excellent sources of nutrients. And because of their unique flavor can be very expensive. I hardly ever order a bushel of them myself. Only when asked specifically, do I prepare them." Astri smiled now that the puzzle was solved.
"Where can they be harvested?" Qui-gon pondered.
"Well they can be found on a number of planets now. Colonists have taken them on their journeys. However, the best come from it's indigenous environment."
"And where is that?" Qui-Gon repeatedly trying to pull the information she eluded to.
"Chandrila, of course." Qui-gon and MiraCyn exchanged glances as the answer they had been waiting for proved worth the wait.
"Do they grow anywhere else within the Core worlds?" MiraCyn wanted to cut out all other possibilities if they could.
"No, Chandrila is the only Core World that I know of." Astri was pleased that she figured out the answer. And that she was able to assist the Jedi.
"Then we know where they are. We should tell the others." MiraCyn verified.
"We know what Planet but we still don't know where they are exactly. It's a large place to look and many places to hide. Chandrila is sparsely populated but there are many gardens and farms across the planet." Qui-gon went into deep thought for a moment. "Astri, do you think you could do us one more favor?"
"Anything. You know I would."
"Can you search for the next shipment? Pretend you are looking to buy. Maybe that will give us our next lead." Qui-gon voiced.
Astri nodded. "No problem. I'll get right on it. It shouldn't take too long."
"MiraCyn and I will head back to the Temple and apprise everyone on our discoveries. We look forward to hearing from you." Qui-gon and MiraCyn parted the Café and headed back to the Jedi Temple. They told LaMinott and Xichu what they learned and decided that they should rest the night. They would need their strength. In the morning they would tell the Council and head off to Chandrila as soon as possible to search.
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I know this is a bit short but the next chapter will make up for it I hope. Don't forget to review. : D