Jinn only had time to greet De'Crion and deposit their bags inside the door so he and Knight Gayron could go to where the young Knight stood guard over Pernile.
"Obi listen to me as you have never listened before. We must capture Pernile and it is of grave importance they you stay here and be good for Xanatos. Understand. He will not let anything happen to you."
Xani did feel a bit of pride creep through his negativity he had been feeling for his master. Jinn felt enough confidence in him to oversee the child he had thus far been willing to move a foot away from.
Jinn turned to go and actually got through the door before Obi rushed to him. He had broken away from the grip Xani had on him. He again grabbed the master by the robe and Jinn thought he would have to put in under ina force sleep. He waited a moment as the boy looked up at him with the most penetrating blue eyes he had ever seen.
Xani stepped forward as if to grab the child and haul him back in the house but Jinn waved him off.
Obi-Wan had attached himself to the master's robe, something he had insisted on doing since leaving the healers ward. He looked into the eyes of Jinn and mind linked with him.
//Be safe.//
//How does he do that? He has to be somewhat coherent, in there somewhere in that jumbled mass of confusion from the neurons. He speaks to me clearly. Can he not vocalize his thoughts.?//
Jinn thought the boy might just be able to vocalize his thoughts just unwilling or untrusting to do so.
Obi-Wan slowly released his grip to let the master do what he had too. He stepped back inside where Xani immediately grabbed his arm, in case he wanted to try leaving again.
Qui-Gon got the distinct feeling the child knew he was doing this to help him and did not put up an argument, although Jinn thought he saw fear lacing his now almost blank stare.
###########
Jinn and Gayron came upon a two-story brick office building.
"He must have had this place available to him as part of his plan. Where is Knight Diener? I explicitly told him to watch from out here and not get caught."
Jinn shuddered at the thought that the young knight might have been caught spying on Pernile. If he was capable of doing what he did to Obi-Wan then killing a knight would be nothing for him thought Jinn. They circled the building twice, even going over to a small coffee shop across the street to see if maybe he set up sentry there to watch for Pernile, however still no clue of where the knight was.
"I suppose Gayron, we will have to go in ourselves and see if Pernile is there and what happened to our young friend."
"Yes Master Jinn. I don't like it that we don't see him. I know Knight Diener and he would not disobey Master Yoda. I have a bad feeling about this."
######Back at the De'Crion home
Obi-Wan had set up guard of sorts of his own. He had found a window and sat down watching out of it and if he expected to see Master Jinn return at any moment.
//
Idiot that he is, I still can't find it in myself to hate the boy. This one who has taken my Jedi life from me. I thought I could, but look at him.. So far the Jedi have not helped him very much. In fact it has been do in part to the Jedi that he lives his life out as a vegetable.//
Xanatos went to the dining room where he could still watch over Obi and talk to his father.
He could not help but think his father seemed on edge or extremely nervous.
"Father have we come at a bad time?"
"No,no, actually it could be a very good time. It's just that I did not expect to be inundated by Jedi. I thought your next visit would be with just you and I had or will soon have something for you, call it a gift, but I did not necessarily want you to share it with the entire Jedi community."
"Well this was not my planned visit father, but two or three extra Jedi does not constitute an entire temple full of them."
Still Xani could not understand why his father stood and nervously wrung his hands. Jedi any and all Jedi had before been welcome in his home.
"Listen son I know how you had problems ..ugh.. connecting with Master Jinn. You know the bond and all. While I don't claim to understand it I think I can help you with it"
It seemed to Xanatos that his father grew even more frazzled, to downright a panic state
"Well I was hoping to speak with you about that and tell you my decision I have made because it is so important in my life. I have decided to renounce Master Jinn,….Qui-Gon as my master and take another. In fact that Knight Gayron that is with us, is who I wish to form a training bond with."
"Listen son you may not have too. I have something for you and I think Jinn could remain your master. Of course when I planned to gift to with his surprise I had not way of knowing that you and Jinn would be so intricately linked to it.""
"Don't you see Father, I am not all that sure I want him to be my master any longer?"
"How could you not. He is the most revered Jedi in the order next to Master Yoda and equal to that council member..what's his name?"
"You must mean Master Windu? Nevertheless father if we can not connect with a strong training bond then my Jedi training will falter. I am not as strong in the force as some. You know that. Master Jinn took me with my midiclorain level just barely at the cusp of what they consider strong enough in the force to be trained. Look at him father, poor pathetic waif that he is now, he was blessed with the highest midiclorian count there is. Shame isn't it?"
"He's that boy? That's what I meant when I said a horrible error has been made in getting you and Qui-Gon drug into to this."
Still Xani did not know what his father meant and ignored what he said. De'Crion continued.
"Doesn't look like he even has any gray matter up there in his head right now. Doesn't act it either."
Xani had told his father of what some of what had happened when he commed him from the ship to seek permission to stay at his home while they were there.
"I assure you he does, well he did until Healer Pernile decided to remove them from him and make him the imbecile he is now."
De' Crion stumbled back as in shock when he heard of Obi-Wan's midiclorians being taken right out of his blood stream. Xanatos thought it was because he had never heard of anything so barbaric yet medically advanced as removing ones force..
//Just as I thought. Obi-Wan is the boy who had his midiclorians removed and I paid to have it done.//
"Well I still think it is a bad idea to let go of a master that could make you one of the top knights in the Jedi order. I think once you see what I have for you as a present, you won't need to renounce Master Jinn. Your bond can be stronger than any Jedi in the galaxy . Your powers will far out exceed even your master's and he will have not choice but to remain bonded to you. Kenobi will be an after thought with the power you possess. You will be able to even control your master if you so desire."
"What are you talking about father? I just can't multiply my midiclorians at will. Just because I truly want to be stronger in the force does not make it so. No one can increase their count. They are born with it."
From out the kitchen stepped Master Pernile with the same smirk of a smile on his face. Xani instinctively drew his sword.
"You forget padawan, I can increase anyone's midiclorain count. I just have to harvest someone else's and in this case it happened to be someone with the most midiclorain count ever recorded."
He nodded his head to Obi-Wan who now sat in terror at seeing the master healer.
"Now I think you should put that saber away and let me explain. After all it was your father's idea to gift you with this. I needed funds to experiment with the procedure and he supplied them to me. In fact he supplied me with a great deal of credits. Enough that after this, I can work on my experiments and live out an anonymous existence on any planet I want in quiet obscurity."
##########
Back at the office building where the young Knight should have been standing guard Jinn and Gayron managed to break their way into it.
It did not take them long to find one of the people they had looking for. Up on the second floor, stuffed in a large storage closet was the body of Knight Diener, devoid of his saber.
"It would seem we have a healer carting around a pint of whole blood with a light saber in his hands. Just where would we look now?"
Jinn knelt down by the body and out of respect remained silent a moment.
"I'll notify Yoda, Master Jinn, then the authorities so they can have Knight Diener shipped home for proper burial ceremonies."
"Yes you do that. I will be outside."
Jinn mourned privately for the young knight. He did not know him personally but he was a Jedi and as a Jedi he was part of an extended family which stuck together.
We will have to go back to De'Crion's and see what we can come up with. This is not looking good for Obi-Wan. If Pernile decides to inject himself with Obi's blood, if indeed that is his plan, we could very well be too late.
Qui-Gon and the young knight headed back to De'Crion home. Jinn went over what he had planned for the next next step. But the plan did not hold much detail.
"Master Jinn would it be so bad if the boy had no midiclorians. I mean he is too old to train as a Jedi and he has to be assessed whether is of the dark side or not Surely if his of the dark it would be of benefit to the Jedi to have him without his immense midiclorian count.."
"You don't understand do you Knight? You think I just want to dump Xani and take an untrained boy into my home as an apprentice. I did not want to bond with him and I hope not too. Nevertheless if Obi-Wan does not get it midiclorians back then we will be unable to counteract what the neurons did to his mind. While he might recover gradually it would be very gradual maybe years. I do not want the Jedi to have that blame on their heads and neither does Master Yoda. I agree with him. We owe a certain amount of assistance to this boy. He did help Bant and Garen escape."
"I understand that. But forgive me if I overstep my bounds but I feel you owe a certain amount of loyalty to Padawan Crion. Am I not correct?"
"Yes, I agree with you Knight Gayron. I just have to figure out how to balance the two. That's all."
###########At De'Crion home############
Pernile stood in the room and waited for what he thought would be Xani's agreement but it never came.
"This is not something I can't just answer too immediately. This is the first I have heard of this Master Pernile. I assure you I was not in with my father with this ridiculous idea."
"If you knew how it could boost your status within the Jedi order, you would not think it ridiculous. With your and Kenobi's midiclorain you will be the preverbal Super man of the Jedi.
"That is what you say. I bet you have no actual study proof of that. It is just a theory until it has been tested and of course I am to be your test subject. Am I right?"
"In a way yes, but it can't hurt you and if I am correct in what will happen, you will far exceed Yoda, Jinn, and the boy there in midiclorians. The Jedi will fall at your feet. I wouldn't care to bet you would have more midiclorians than the Chosen One himself or Sidious. Couldn't complain then could you? You master certainly wouldn't cast you aside for that little wretch if you became that powerful."
That was the only thing to keep Xanatos from taking the man into custody right there. Was he right about Qui-Gon keeping him if he was graced with more power within the force?
Xani looked back over his shoulders and saw Obi-Wan still cowering I from the Jedi healer. He had placed himself glued to the wall hugging it as if he hoped to get further away from where they stood and talk but couldn't.
"I don't know. I need more time to think this through."
"Look I didn't know this was for you. Until today I didn't even know De'Crion was your father. After all, at the temple we always knew you as Xanatos Crion. I guess it was quite chic to drop DE' before your name. Made you less notable that way as a millionaire's son."
A noise behind them drew their attention all three looked over to were Obi-Wan was. He was there, but Xanatos realized he had just let the " Precious One" escape and that could not be good.
Xanatos ran immediately out the door, however by the time he got there Obi-Wan had managed to mingle with the people on the sidewalk and seemed to have vanished.
Qui-Gon will kill me for this. How will I ever explain it to him?
He returned to his father's home without Obi-Wan.
"You didn't find him padawan?"
"Don't call me padawan. You do the Jedi a disservice. How did you manage to escape from Diener, anyway. He won't be showing up here after following you will he?"
"No need to worry. Look I have his saber for a souvenir. Nice one too. It only took one quick slit to his throat to render him all so very dead. Dumb that young knight was, dumb and careless. Not worthy to be called a Jedi for his lack of abilities. He let one lone Jedi healer overtake him without even activating his saber."
"I should just hold you captive and tell Qui-Gon what you and Father did. What am I suppose to do comm Jinn and tell him I let his little one go after he saw the big bad Jedi standing in my father's dining room."
"Well you could do that but I don't think you would benefit from this."
Master Healer Pernile held up a clear plastic flask-like bag, used by med teams to transport whole blood..
"I know you are considering it Xani or you would have already overtaken me. I have no doubts about your abilities as a Jedi because Jinn trained you. No one will have doubts about you if you decide to use this? I'll tell you what. I will chance it for three days and let you think it over. The price might rise because of the wait and the chance with my life I'll be taking. But I think your father can afford it can't you "Dad"?"
"What ever my son wishes to do. The final decision is his."
"I might think about it. Right now though, I have to think of what to do about Obi-Wan. I have to at least appear to be looking for Kenobi when my master gets back. And what if he starts babbling about seeing you here what happens then.
"Silence Xanatos. If he does just tell your master the boy has been acting weird and must now be delusional. Jinn already knows his mind all but gone. If he does regain his speech it will be incomprehensible or it will take him all day to get a sentence out. Besides I am not without a few corrupt friends including pirates like those who kidnapped Kenobi once before. If I can find him then he will be on the next ship out of here."
So sure Pernile. Well don't bet on fooling Qui-Gon. It is not that easy. My master is wise and very in tuned to the living force. He might know I lied just by looking at me."
Then for your sake I hope you don't meet him eye to eye. You know I could get a great deal more money from someone else if I took this elsewhere."
Xanatos grabbed the healer by the throat and shoved him clear a crossed the room.
"Don't mess with me Jedi. You have already caused trouble ten-fold and if you'll see what is rightfully my father's until I am able to think this through. I will trace you from planet to planet until I get you. Now get out of here before Master Jinn and Knight Gayron return."
Pernile left and Xani could only stare at his father questioningly along with disgust.
"I hope you have taught me how to lie well father for my master is not easily fooled by anyone let alone a padawan. If he finds out that you or I had anything to do with losing the boy our lives won't be worth anything. I will be thrown out of the Jedi that you want me to possess so much power for. Then where will I be.
"I never thought of that. I only thought of advances you abilities talents and station with in the Jedi. I only had your best interests in mind."
"We will see Father. I may not have any interest to deal with once Qui-Gon gets back and see his little Obi-Wan gone."
"That in its self should make you want this added power. How dare he attempt to dump you."
"It is not my master who initiated the bond with the boy. and although it hurts, I understand now. It is the force that brings them together, just as it is the force that elicits me to form a training bond with Gayron. Now I must go at least try to find the boy."
Xanatos headed out the front door only to return.
"What's the matter son?"
Xanatos for a moment lost his stoic Jedi calm and actually for once feared his master.
Qui-Gon and Gayron are headed down the street. I can't go out now. I know. I will tell him that I just came back from a lengthy search for the boy and I was just planning on calling him. That will solve the question he will ask about while he was not notified. Yes, that's it. I'll tell Qui-Gon I was too busy chasing the boy down to comm him and then I just returned. I will act out of breath."
The elder De'Crion lifted the edge of the drapes to see where the other two Jedi were exactly.
"He's about to enter the door Xani, so act out of breath or whatever you plan to do."
Jinn took the many steps of the De'Crion home in long strides, two steps at a time. He could not feel Obi-Wan's presence within the home and it alarmed the Jedi master. So much so that he flung the door open and let his blazing blue eyes roam the expanse of the room and hall in his view, no Obi-Wan.
His roaming eyes finally settled on the face of his padawan and his look was all Jinn needed to know that something had happened to the Kenobi child.
Fear gripped Master Jinn, but he tried not to show it. He knew the answer to his question even before he asked. However he asked it anyway?
"Has something happened to Obi-Wan?"……………………….
"Xanatos stood in the middle of the room as he tried to grasp the words from his mind and then find the courage to speak them to his master. He failed horribly at his attempt. Nothing came from his mouth as Qui-Gon stood and waited for an explanation. His eyes bore holes through the Jedi apprentice.
"Xanatos where is Obi-Wan? Did he go lay down for awhile?"
Jinn knew he was just wasting words. He knew perfectly well the boy would not have strayed very far from the door until he returned.
"Master, it was an accident. I mean I turned my back and walked to the dining room. Before I had time to even realize what was going on, the child darted out the door."
Jinn rudely interrupted his padawan.
"You couldn't stop him? A senior padawan in the Jedi order could not stop a half-thinking child, not even with the use of a force hold on him, if need be?"
"Master Jinn I followed him straight out, but there were alot of people congregated at that roadside vendors out there and he got lost in the crowd. Of course I searched for him, but I couldn't find him."
"How long has he been gone? Did you not think to pick up the comm and notify me?"
"Master Jinn I see no reason to brow-beat my son. He told you what happened. He was also just getting ready to comm you and let you know about Obi-Wan. He didn't do so right away because he searched for the little slave first. I personally think it was unwise decision to bring someone like him, I mean in his condition on a mission in the first place. Just asking for trouble you were and you have it."
"I know Xanatos is your son, however I am his master. His obligations lie with the Jedi De'Crion and his priorities are to follow the orders of his master."
A stern foreboding look passed Jinn's face as he waited. He clearly wanted more of an explanation and Xanatos did not offer it up to him.
Knight Gayron decided he should step-in and defend Xanatos. The young knight had only one real problem. While he did believe Xani, he was confused by his shielding from him. Xanatos had never attempted to shield from Gayron since the bond had started forming,
Why now? Xani surely hasn't anything to hide. I mean it could very well have happened to me. I could have let the erratic-thinking boy escape.
"Master Jinn, I don't think repeatedly interrogating your apprentice is going to solve anything. He has told you everything."
"Oh so you have become a mind reader. Are you bonded so deeply with my apprentice that you know his every thought."
Had Jinn still had access to the bond with Xani he would have known that the young man shielded tightly from even Gayron and no one would have known what was in his mind. Gayron was balancing his words with his trust for Xanatos.
"I will assume your words spoken to me were wrought out of distress Master Jinn. For I see no reason for you to reprimand me or talk in such a manner. While we stand here bickering, does not the child continue to get further away? I suggest we go back out and look for him. He can't get far with his mental capabilities what they are. Maybe the local police will find him wondering around. I will contact them and let them know what has happened."
Jinn hated to admit it, but the young knight made a great deal of sense. Standing here going over and over Xanatos' story would not help matters. Jinn was not sure why he was so hard on Xanatos in the first place. He had always carried out his master's command with meticulous care.
//Surely I don't believe he would intentionally let a boy in Obi-Wan's condition run away without trying to stop him? Why do I question what happened so much? It must have gone exactly the way Xani said it did.//
"Yes, you make a great deal of sense. You comm the authorities. Then we will leave. Padawan get your robe and accompany us please."
"Now he can go. Before when his rightful place was with you, he was left to baby-sit a jelly-minded child that should not have been here on Telos in the first place."
"De'Crion because you are Xanatos' father I will hold in the words I very much want to say to you. Nevertheless, I have to ask you stand out of the way. This is business that concerns the Jedi."
"When it concerns my son, I will not relent on my statements Jinn. I may personally contact the temple myself and let Master Yoda or Master Windu know of your insubordination as a master to my son."
Xanatos jumped in front of his father and Jinn fearing they might actually come to blows.
"My master is right father. I am a Jedi and it is not your concern. If I should think my master mistreats me in anyway it is for I, not you, to file a complaint and ask the council to launch a formal inquisition on it. I have no intentions at the moment of doing anything. Now we need to find the child."
Jinn was a little taken aback. He did not think he would get verbal support from Xanatos, especially with the failed bond they were both carrying around in their heads.
"Yes, well Xanatos grab your robe we will be on our way. I think Gayron has finished with the notifying the police of the situation here. We notified them earlier of Diener's death."
Jinn wanted to get that out of the way and tell his apprentice that the young Jedi had been killed.
Xanatos first planned not to say anything and then he did because he did not want to spawn suspicion on himself.
"What? Did Pernile escape?"
"Yes and now he will be wanted for murder because he killed Dierner in the process of his escape. The Jedi do no look kindly on my of own being murdered by another Jedi. Let's go. De'Crion if the boy happens to wander back here, keep him here please, and use this to let us know."
Jinn handed him an extra comm he carried on his belt. He didn't really think Obi-Wan would return but he would have De'Crion ready with instructions just in case.
##########In the middle of Telos##########
The city was large and unfamiliar to Obi-Wan as he hurried past the numerous store fronts, with no where to go. All he knew for sure was he wanted away from the De'Crion home because of Pernile. Then fear rose in the little former slave for he thought maybe Pernile followed him and would take him back. He was not sure what all Pernile had done to him because he could not think clearly, but he knew enough to know the man had brought him unbearable and excruciating pain. No, that was a Jedi he did not want to be around.
Obi-Wan thought to seek out Master Jinn. That soon became a mute decision. The child didn't know where or how to look for a Jedi master in the overwhelmingly large city. It was not as huge or magnificent as Coruscant with its towering intricately designed skyscrapers, but it might as well have been.
Obi-Wan seemed so small among the large, to him unnamed buildings and endless criss-crossing of streets. People yelled back and forth on the street corners. He was pushed aside on the sidewalk in order for others to get past him, His movements were slow and less deliberate than the people passing him on the street for they knew where they were going. Obi-Wan just kept walking with no idea at all where he was going. He just knew he was going away from the De'Crion home and Pernile.
######## back with Jinn and the other two Jedi#[/b]
Jinn walked in front of the group with a slightly faster and seemingly more urgent pace.
Gayron held back little and when Xanatos started to walk faster to catch up with Qui-Gon, the young knight grabbed him by the arm to signal that he should stay back with him. Xani did and waited, for he knew the knight would question him about the shielding.
"Is there a reason Xanatos that you have decided to shield from me now? Even before, when the training bond just started, you were willing to leave it open to proceed naturally. What is wrong Xani? Anything I can help you with?"
All those words were soothing to Xanatos Crion. Master Jinn while a very fair master had a way of making a padawan, at times, feel very small. Sometimes the concern that Gayron had for Xani was not exhibited by Jinn. Qui-Gon made the mistake in assuming that because Xani was a senior padawan, everything should come easily and naturally to him. It didn't though because of his inability to stay in touch with the force at all times, Xani sometimes wavered in his training. It was something Qui-Qon was unintentionally blind to in Xani's quest for knighthood. Qui-Gon found it confusing, Xani thought, because Jinn was in touch with the living force always and with immense strength. That was the main reason for Xanatos' hesitation in taking Pernile into custody. He thought with the extra power in the force from Obi-Wan's blood, he would be a more exemplary apprentice.
"Knight Gayron I ask you not to question me right now, but to have faith that I do not do what master thinks. I did not willingly let the boy go."
"I don't think Qui-Gon thinks that."
"I never know what my master thinks anymore. I just want you to have faith in me."
Gayron put his arm around Xani's shoulder.
"My faith will not falter Xanatos. When you are ready to open up to me, you have only to do so."
Xani would have liked to tell Gayron right up front what was wrong, but he knew the young knight's Jedi ethics were almost as strong as Jinn's. Gayron would be shocked and disappointed by what Xanatos was actually thinking of doing.
//He would never condone me wanting to become stronger with Obi's blood. While as tempting as it sounds, I not sure I can condone my actions, myself…………………………..//
Qui-Gon had rethought his words spoken to his apprentice. He did feel bad, but Xanatos had an obligation and duty to do as he was told. It was not like Xani to claim ignorance about such a little job as watching a boy and to keep him from running away.
//There has to be something more to this. What sidetracked Xani's attention so much that he would give Obi a head start on his escape. While not blessed with immense powers in the force he is astute enough to control one little boy.//
Qui-Gon was on the right track. Something did draw Xani's attention away from Obi-Wan and enable the boy to successfully run away. He had no idea though that his apprentice's attention was on Pernile, the very one they searched for.
Why would Obi run away in the first place? I think he understood I would be back. He had been so unwilling to even let go of my robe, but the first opportunity he gets with Xanatos' back turned he runs away from him, from me? Something just doesn't add up here, but how can I ask Xani? He already feels burdened by my accusations of his incompetence. I don't think it was incompetence. Xani was clearly engrossed in something very important to let Obi-Wan have such a head start on him. I will have to wait to see if he offers up the truth as to what it was. If not then I will find out. Now, though I must focus on Obi-Wan and where he might be.
Jinn tried to reach through their bond and connect with the former slave, but was unsuccessful. Obi's force ability, lacking as it was, only evidently gave him spurts of ability to mentally connect and talk with Jinn.
I wish Obi-Wan could summon up enough power to try to contact me if indeed he even wants too. Maybe the Jedi have put so much fear in him that he just wants to get away from the Jedi, all of them, including me.
"Master Jinn do you have any idea as to where we should look for the boy."
"If he really ran away to get away from us, the Jedi then if he had common sense he might look for transportation off this planet. Maybe the landing ports, they have several. Also the shipping docks although I don't think Obi-Wan would be in great deal of hurry to land on another ship because of his past with the pirates. Jin thought back on what a horrible past he had with the pirates.
He has so much to deal with in that little mind of his and then to have Pernile screw with his thoughts. It's even more frightening to think what the boy might be doing now.
For the life of me I don't know why that child ran away."
"I thought that too Master Jinn. You could barely get him unconnected from your robe long enough to do a thing ever since we left Corusacnt."
It was not an accusation of some kind of guilt on Xani's part by Jinn or Gayron but Xanatos took it as one."
"Do you think I have lied Knight Gayron, Master? I have told you what I know and still you accuse me of some wrong doing. It was Obi-Wan who brought this on himself. He was not thinking clearly before this happened. I mean he mumbled and his eyes darted wildly and uncontrollable. I truthfully did not know what he was doing. I thought, like you that he would want to wait on my master to return."
Gayron tried to console the young man who that if he had anything to do with it would become his apprentice very soon.
"Xanatos neither your master or I put blame on your head. I guess we are like you, dumbfounded by the Obi-Wan's action. But is he was as you say almost incoherent then that could explain why he left. He had no reason. His mind is just too scrambled to understand that he should have stayed and waited on Master Jinn. The other possibility could be that he went in search of you Master."
"I seem to think you may be right Knight Gayron. Obi-Wan could be searching for me, but where would he look?"
The three Jedi separated on Jinn's suggestion to extend and widen their search.
They combed street after street, alleys, went in numerous eating and drinking establishments and still no luck.
Jinn did feel closer to Obi-Wan as they walked and he let the force guide him at will until they were virtually at the edge of the city. The south side of the city rested on the shoreline of the ocean. Jinn did not like the prospect of Obi-Wan being in such a place. Nevertheless, he was drawn to the area and that was where he intensified his search with the other two, Xani and Gayron lagging behind.
They had been searching all day without a bite of food and fatigue was winning out before they could complete their search of the seedy shipping port.
"Master Jinn it seems to be getting very late. Maybe we should go back and continue in the morning. We can't even see out here. With the fog coming in with high tide and the darkness, we could pass right by the child and never see him."
"You are right about the fog and the night, but I am hesitant to go all the way back the De'Crion home. That is a good twenty-fives miles away. Instead of spending our credits on a hover taxi we could rent a room around here for the night. I seem to feel closer to Obi-Wan here."
"I know you want to find him Master, but you expect us to sleep with any peace in an area of town like this. We will wake up and find our heads cut off."
"Padawan your last proclamation does have a certain amount of mirth to it. If dead we will find it exceedingily difficult to wake up at all!!"
Gayron let it slip and called Xani, padawan as if it were natural. He smiled to the boy he had just called "his" padawan..
Jinn let it slide because he was so wrapped up in his thoughts for the terrified little boy. He did take a mental note to have a long talk with this knight, who would insert himself in his and Xani's life without taking it before the council first.
"We will be fine Xani. Let's go there to that little pub and get something to eat. We can talk with a few of the patrons and maybe they will know something. I know you and Knight Gayron are starving."
"How about you Qui-Gon are you not hungry too?"
"Yes but I could forego food if I thought I was on the track of finding the boy. These cut-throats are not the best people for a child to be subjected too alone in the night."
"Maybe he is not even in this area."
Gayron still could not understand why Jinn had a bond with the boy, even though he and Xani's bond grew at first unwillingly.
"I know if all the certainty I need Knight Gayron that Obi-Wan is in close proximity of this shipping port. I feel it with every ounce of the force I possess. I also know it is a dangerous and deadly place for young one to be alone at night with no one to fend off any aggressors that might beseech him to go with them. Pirates, Gayron, slave pirates crawl in every corner of this port."
Qui-Gon Gayron and Xani was the center of attention when they entered a bar and dining facility with most of the patrons being from a ship or working on the docks.
Jinn thought with a little Jedi persuasion they might find out something about Obi-Wan. However Jinn soon found that credits worked quicker if you wanted information without going the Jedi mind trick route.
Almost before they sat down a man with a patch over his eye came right up to the table, brazen enough to take on three Jedi, Gayron thought.
"May we help you sir?"
Gayron spoke first, although normally would have been Jinn's job since he was the head master but Jinn waited as did the other two to see what the man wanted.
"It's not that you can help me kind sirs. I think I may be able to help you. I could bet a pint of beer here that you be looking for a little Jedi that looks just like yourselves. I mean in dress and all. Am I not on the right track?"
"You might be and what would we have to do to elicit this information from you?"
"Ugh…… what do you mean?"
Jinn looked at the man and realized he did understand what he had said.
"In simpler terms sir, what you do wish of us for the information you would give us?""
"Just a few credits, whatever you deem a worthy amount for information on the boy. Sure had a pathetic look on his face when they carted him away."
Jinn fought panic as he tried to find out more. He handed a few credits and with a nod of his head, pointed to his money bag as if the man would be promised more, for more information.
"Who carted him away and how can we be sure you are telling us the truth?"
"Well I knew you were looking for him didn't I? I can also tell you which ship he was shanghaied too, for enough credits."
Jinn reached down and untied the credit pouch from his belt. He then started to hand it to the unkempt and odorous man before he had second thoughts and abruptly stopped.
"Wait, before I give you this you must describe the boy. After that, we will both put our hands on this credit purse and when you tell me what I want to know you can take it from my hands to yours ."
"Seems fair enough if you don't renege on your part of the bargain, Of course that would be a foolish idea Jedi with all my friends around here."
"Yes well quit stalling. Now tell me what the boy looked like first."
"Expect me to remember everything about him do ya. I can't . Two things though I remember. He had the deepest but saddest blue eyes I have even seen on a child his age. Another thing that stood out about the boy. I recognized the Jedi clothing he wore though the pirates did not. However I noticed he didn't wear his hair as this young one and other Jedi children do. He wore it like yours, Master…?"
"Jinn my name is Master Qui-Gon Jinn."
" It was very long and pulled back with a band."
Qui-Gon knew that had to be Obi. While he wore the clothes of a Jedi apprentice his hair was not cut like one, cropped short and spiked with a braid in it.
Jinn handed the man the pouch full of credits.
" I will gladly tell you another thing… Master Jinn is it? You had better find the boy and quick. The ship that took him is piloted by an evil captain that one is. In fact I think he took a liking to that kid of yours instantly. I overheard him say he just might keep him around for "amusement" if you know what I mean."
The man winked at Jinn and the Jedi master got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Xani and Gayron knew what the man implied about the captain also.
"Yea and he said one more thing."
Jinn was up and at the door headed out when the man spoke again. He at first did not intend to acknowledge the informer again, but something told him he should.
"The captain said the boy's hair was the color of ginger with gold woven in. While he caressed the boy's long hair with his grimy fingers, he said that your kid would make a pretty trinket to keep on the ship to "serve" him.. The only thing I heard out of the boy was some mumblings about his master. I guess that would be you Jinn?"
Jinn let the man's statement wrongly assuming Obi-Wan being his apprentice go, without correcting him.
He was surprised to know that the boy had spoken coherently at all. However nothing would surprise him about a captain that ran a slaver ship and abused the children taken for slave trade even before they were sold. He needed to find Obi-Wan and quickly.
Xani on the other hand began to fear what would happen if they did find Obi-Wan.
//I know now Kenobi has at least some of his speech back. Is it enough to tell Master Jinn about the visit my father had with Pernile? //
Once out the door of the pub where Master Jinn received both good and bad news of Obi-Wan's whereabouts, Xani and Gayron watched as the Master guided them a crossed the street where there was a store of sorts that sold used clothing.
After the other two Jedi followed the big master inside without a word. They did not think to question him of his sanity. They stood a moment, awestruck by why Jinn came here instead of going directly to the pirate's ship docked no more than a few yards away.
Xanatos happened to have read the name, "Sea Witch" on the side of the ship when they passed it to go eat. That was just about the time Master Jinn stated he knew the boy was close by somewhere.
//Qui-Gon must certainly be in tune with the boy's every ounce of consciousness for him to feel him then.//
Finally it was Gayron would gathered enough courage to ask the Master what he was doing. Both of the other Jedi had remained quiet since their conversation with the man in the pub because they felt so much anger mixed with worry coming from the master. It might have been the first time for Xani or Gayron to actually momentarily fear a Jedi. Jinn seemed that angry.
"Master Jinn why may I ask are we are in here. Shouldn't we proceed immediately to the ship and get Obi-Wan back?"
"Yes. However I thought it would be easier not to go in there like Jedi on the attack. They would eventually recognize us as Jedi and Obi-Wan could be killed or gotten off the ship as we talked to the ship's captain. We will go on the pretext of looking for a slave to do our bidding."
"Yes but Master, the man told you the captain wanted to keep the boy to himself for…ugh..you know thereasons."
The anger flared danerously within the master with the mention of the captain's plan.
Xanatos did not want to go into the reasons the captain wanted the boy and Jinn was glad of it. He didn't want to rehash Obi's fate without escape. The boy ad already suffered at the hands of one slave ship captain. Jinn would not allow him to have to repeat his horrible fate again.
"Xani this is where our connection with the force will be most delicately used. We will just have to wave our hand and convince the captain that we should be allowed to buy Obi-Wan from them."
It was the first time Xani smiled because he didn't have too much to smile about. Obi-Wan could destroy him with the truth. Xani knew though even if Obi told before he had the courage to tell them himself he would still have to help Qui-Gon and Gayron reclaim the boy. He couldn't be allowed to stay with the captain with his plans for him and Xanatos would not allow Gayron to go into what might possibly turn into a battle without him. The bond between the padawan and the young knight strengthened with each passing hour, it seemed.
"Now enough talk let's see what is here that might possibly fit us. I am sure Xani and you Knight Gayron will have no trouble finding something. I just hope they have a few taller and more massed people living around here.
Jinn started rifling through the used clothing and Xani and Gayron joined in, each choosing outfits merchants would wear. Jinn picked up a bright orange turban off the top shelf of the clothing store and tossed it to Xani.
"What is this for, Qui-Gon?"
"Like the man said you have the haircut of a Jedi. That may be why they did not recognize Obi-Wan's clothing because his hair was not cut in a Jedi apprentice style. You have to cover your head."
"With this?"
Xani scrunched up his face and frowned. It was not very stylish and the color was atrocious.
"It's the only thing here that will completely cover you head. I know the color orange is not very flattering but you will live Xani."
Jinn had been hesitant to call Xani his padawan because he felt finally that he just may have lost Xanatos as a padawan to Gayron.
Jinn had managed not to lay blame on the two younger Jedi anymore. He had come to grips with the truth. It was the force who willed their training bond and the council would have to approve it.
Xani and Gayron waited outside the shop as Jinn finished finding what he needed. It had been harder for him to find something because of his size. All chose flowing tunics and multicolored robes in stripes. The clothing was indicative of traveling merchants who would sometimes search the ships in hopes of finding a few slave children not really worth transporting to another planet; he weak looking or sickly ones.
The Jedi would have to convince the captain that Obi-Wan was not worth keeping. That is where the Jedi mind trick would come in.
The Jedi, very much resembling merchants climbed the wobbly plank laid out from ship to the dock. Once on the ship Jinn immediately asked to see the captain. And was told to wait. He was tending to "other" matters..
A feeling of dread planted itself within Qui-Gon. He knew the captain had the boy and Obi-Wan was more than likely the "other" matter.
With Obi's mind being the way it was, once the captain realized it, he might just throw him overboard into the bay to drown like an unwanted pup.
While they waited Xani drew Gayron to the side and began to talk. He wanted to open up to the young knight but he not sure how.
"Knight Gayron what if you had a chance to improve your force abilities, would you be tempted do it?"
"What and odd question padawan. I don't think so. It would not be right. I believe that each Jedi is blessed with the precise amount of the force to fulfill their destiny, nothing more, nothing less."
The knight hesitated to see if Xani grasped what he was saying before he continued.
"That part of the force brought to me by Obi-Wan's midichlorains or anyone else's would not be mine and I am afraid the force itself would compensate for that. I don't think it would allow anything good to come of stolen midichlorains. You see that is what Pernile did not allot for. You can transfuse the power to the another, but it was not bestowed on that person willingly by the force, then I don't think you could use that power efficiently. I don't believe it would have worked as Pernile planned it."
"What if you were already blessed with some force?"
Xani really wanted the young knight to agree with him about the increased power; that he could become a better Jedi with it.
"Each Jedi are given what they are able to handle. Like I said never more or less than is needed by that particular Jedi. It is what we do with it that counts, not how much we possess. Look at Pernile, his midichlorian count is considered the highest among the Jedi healers and his work up to this point had been worthy of him but now, no matter how much power he possesses is not of the light but the dark side, now. He killed a Jedi. I don' think the one who gets Obi-Wan's midichlorians would stay on the side of the force, our side, for long."
Xanatos knew right then he had to talk to Knight Gayron and tell him what happened, but time,….There seemed to be no time. If Obi-Wan were to blurt out the truth about Pernile being at his father's home then no one would believe the padawan that he planned to confess. He did not however want to make his confession to Master Jinn .He was acting too emotionally connected to the boy to think clearly about Xanatos' confession. No he needed time alone with Gayron.
//In just a very few minutes we could be face to face with the boy who knows everything if he can get it from his mind to his lips. I won't be believed. I must do it now.//
"Knight Gayron I have a confession to make and I don't think we have time to discuss this before Master Jinn comes…"
Gayron had felt there was something Xani wanted to tell him ever since they returned to the De'Crion home.
There before them stood Master Jinn waiting on the captain... Xanatos was right, time had run out to make at least part of what he had done right. Now what was he going to do. Jinn leaned over the bow of the ship in deep thought an suffering the emptiness of his mind without the connection with Obi-Wan being felt. ...
.
Just as they waited in a moment of "calm before the storm", Xani felt a brushing to his mind and knew it was Knight Gayron trying to access their bond. Xani willingly opened his bond by dropping his shields.
//Here padawan now you can tell me what has distressed you so and why you have shielded from me. I promise not to pass harsh judgment on you and hopefully we can correct what you seem to think can't be corrected.//
PEACE ewen
"Obi listen to me as you have never listened before. We must capture Pernile and it is of grave importance they you stay here and be good for Xanatos. Understand. He will not let anything happen to you."
Xani did feel a bit of pride creep through his negativity he had been feeling for his master. Jinn felt enough confidence in him to oversee the child he had thus far been willing to move a foot away from.
Jinn turned to go and actually got through the door before Obi rushed to him. He had broken away from the grip Xani had on him. He again grabbed the master by the robe and Jinn thought he would have to put in under ina force sleep. He waited a moment as the boy looked up at him with the most penetrating blue eyes he had ever seen.
Xani stepped forward as if to grab the child and haul him back in the house but Jinn waved him off.
Obi-Wan had attached himself to the master's robe, something he had insisted on doing since leaving the healers ward. He looked into the eyes of Jinn and mind linked with him.
//Be safe.//
//How does he do that? He has to be somewhat coherent, in there somewhere in that jumbled mass of confusion from the neurons. He speaks to me clearly. Can he not vocalize his thoughts.?//
Jinn thought the boy might just be able to vocalize his thoughts just unwilling or untrusting to do so.
Obi-Wan slowly released his grip to let the master do what he had too. He stepped back inside where Xani immediately grabbed his arm, in case he wanted to try leaving again.
Qui-Gon got the distinct feeling the child knew he was doing this to help him and did not put up an argument, although Jinn thought he saw fear lacing his now almost blank stare.
###########
Jinn and Gayron came upon a two-story brick office building.
"He must have had this place available to him as part of his plan. Where is Knight Diener? I explicitly told him to watch from out here and not get caught."
Jinn shuddered at the thought that the young knight might have been caught spying on Pernile. If he was capable of doing what he did to Obi-Wan then killing a knight would be nothing for him thought Jinn. They circled the building twice, even going over to a small coffee shop across the street to see if maybe he set up sentry there to watch for Pernile, however still no clue of where the knight was.
"I suppose Gayron, we will have to go in ourselves and see if Pernile is there and what happened to our young friend."
"Yes Master Jinn. I don't like it that we don't see him. I know Knight Diener and he would not disobey Master Yoda. I have a bad feeling about this."
######Back at the De'Crion home
Obi-Wan had set up guard of sorts of his own. He had found a window and sat down watching out of it and if he expected to see Master Jinn return at any moment.
//
Idiot that he is, I still can't find it in myself to hate the boy. This one who has taken my Jedi life from me. I thought I could, but look at him.. So far the Jedi have not helped him very much. In fact it has been do in part to the Jedi that he lives his life out as a vegetable.//
Xanatos went to the dining room where he could still watch over Obi and talk to his father.
He could not help but think his father seemed on edge or extremely nervous.
"Father have we come at a bad time?"
"No,no, actually it could be a very good time. It's just that I did not expect to be inundated by Jedi. I thought your next visit would be with just you and I had or will soon have something for you, call it a gift, but I did not necessarily want you to share it with the entire Jedi community."
"Well this was not my planned visit father, but two or three extra Jedi does not constitute an entire temple full of them."
Still Xani could not understand why his father stood and nervously wrung his hands. Jedi any and all Jedi had before been welcome in his home.
"Listen son I know how you had problems ..ugh.. connecting with Master Jinn. You know the bond and all. While I don't claim to understand it I think I can help you with it"
It seemed to Xanatos that his father grew even more frazzled, to downright a panic state
"Well I was hoping to speak with you about that and tell you my decision I have made because it is so important in my life. I have decided to renounce Master Jinn,….Qui-Gon as my master and take another. In fact that Knight Gayron that is with us, is who I wish to form a training bond with."
"Listen son you may not have too. I have something for you and I think Jinn could remain your master. Of course when I planned to gift to with his surprise I had not way of knowing that you and Jinn would be so intricately linked to it.""
"Don't you see Father, I am not all that sure I want him to be my master any longer?"
"How could you not. He is the most revered Jedi in the order next to Master Yoda and equal to that council member..what's his name?"
"You must mean Master Windu? Nevertheless father if we can not connect with a strong training bond then my Jedi training will falter. I am not as strong in the force as some. You know that. Master Jinn took me with my midiclorain level just barely at the cusp of what they consider strong enough in the force to be trained. Look at him father, poor pathetic waif that he is now, he was blessed with the highest midiclorian count there is. Shame isn't it?"
"He's that boy? That's what I meant when I said a horrible error has been made in getting you and Qui-Gon drug into to this."
Still Xani did not know what his father meant and ignored what he said. De'Crion continued.
"Doesn't look like he even has any gray matter up there in his head right now. Doesn't act it either."
Xani had told his father of what some of what had happened when he commed him from the ship to seek permission to stay at his home while they were there.
"I assure you he does, well he did until Healer Pernile decided to remove them from him and make him the imbecile he is now."
De' Crion stumbled back as in shock when he heard of Obi-Wan's midiclorians being taken right out of his blood stream. Xanatos thought it was because he had never heard of anything so barbaric yet medically advanced as removing ones force..
//Just as I thought. Obi-Wan is the boy who had his midiclorians removed and I paid to have it done.//
"Well I still think it is a bad idea to let go of a master that could make you one of the top knights in the Jedi order. I think once you see what I have for you as a present, you won't need to renounce Master Jinn. Your bond can be stronger than any Jedi in the galaxy . Your powers will far out exceed even your master's and he will have not choice but to remain bonded to you. Kenobi will be an after thought with the power you possess. You will be able to even control your master if you so desire."
"What are you talking about father? I just can't multiply my midiclorians at will. Just because I truly want to be stronger in the force does not make it so. No one can increase their count. They are born with it."
From out the kitchen stepped Master Pernile with the same smirk of a smile on his face. Xani instinctively drew his sword.
"You forget padawan, I can increase anyone's midiclorain count. I just have to harvest someone else's and in this case it happened to be someone with the most midiclorain count ever recorded."
He nodded his head to Obi-Wan who now sat in terror at seeing the master healer.
"Now I think you should put that saber away and let me explain. After all it was your father's idea to gift you with this. I needed funds to experiment with the procedure and he supplied them to me. In fact he supplied me with a great deal of credits. Enough that after this, I can work on my experiments and live out an anonymous existence on any planet I want in quiet obscurity."
##########
Back at the office building where the young Knight should have been standing guard Jinn and Gayron managed to break their way into it.
It did not take them long to find one of the people they had looking for. Up on the second floor, stuffed in a large storage closet was the body of Knight Diener, devoid of his saber.
"It would seem we have a healer carting around a pint of whole blood with a light saber in his hands. Just where would we look now?"
Jinn knelt down by the body and out of respect remained silent a moment.
"I'll notify Yoda, Master Jinn, then the authorities so they can have Knight Diener shipped home for proper burial ceremonies."
"Yes you do that. I will be outside."
Jinn mourned privately for the young knight. He did not know him personally but he was a Jedi and as a Jedi he was part of an extended family which stuck together.
We will have to go back to De'Crion's and see what we can come up with. This is not looking good for Obi-Wan. If Pernile decides to inject himself with Obi's blood, if indeed that is his plan, we could very well be too late.
Qui-Gon and the young knight headed back to De'Crion home. Jinn went over what he had planned for the next next step. But the plan did not hold much detail.
"Master Jinn would it be so bad if the boy had no midiclorians. I mean he is too old to train as a Jedi and he has to be assessed whether is of the dark side or not Surely if his of the dark it would be of benefit to the Jedi to have him without his immense midiclorian count.."
"You don't understand do you Knight? You think I just want to dump Xani and take an untrained boy into my home as an apprentice. I did not want to bond with him and I hope not too. Nevertheless if Obi-Wan does not get it midiclorians back then we will be unable to counteract what the neurons did to his mind. While he might recover gradually it would be very gradual maybe years. I do not want the Jedi to have that blame on their heads and neither does Master Yoda. I agree with him. We owe a certain amount of assistance to this boy. He did help Bant and Garen escape."
"I understand that. But forgive me if I overstep my bounds but I feel you owe a certain amount of loyalty to Padawan Crion. Am I not correct?"
"Yes, I agree with you Knight Gayron. I just have to figure out how to balance the two. That's all."
###########At De'Crion home############
Pernile stood in the room and waited for what he thought would be Xani's agreement but it never came.
"This is not something I can't just answer too immediately. This is the first I have heard of this Master Pernile. I assure you I was not in with my father with this ridiculous idea."
"If you knew how it could boost your status within the Jedi order, you would not think it ridiculous. With your and Kenobi's midiclorain you will be the preverbal Super man of the Jedi.
"That is what you say. I bet you have no actual study proof of that. It is just a theory until it has been tested and of course I am to be your test subject. Am I right?"
"In a way yes, but it can't hurt you and if I am correct in what will happen, you will far exceed Yoda, Jinn, and the boy there in midiclorians. The Jedi will fall at your feet. I wouldn't care to bet you would have more midiclorians than the Chosen One himself or Sidious. Couldn't complain then could you? You master certainly wouldn't cast you aside for that little wretch if you became that powerful."
That was the only thing to keep Xanatos from taking the man into custody right there. Was he right about Qui-Gon keeping him if he was graced with more power within the force?
Xani looked back over his shoulders and saw Obi-Wan still cowering I from the Jedi healer. He had placed himself glued to the wall hugging it as if he hoped to get further away from where they stood and talk but couldn't.
"I don't know. I need more time to think this through."
"Look I didn't know this was for you. Until today I didn't even know De'Crion was your father. After all, at the temple we always knew you as Xanatos Crion. I guess it was quite chic to drop DE' before your name. Made you less notable that way as a millionaire's son."
A noise behind them drew their attention all three looked over to were Obi-Wan was. He was there, but Xanatos realized he had just let the " Precious One" escape and that could not be good.
Xanatos ran immediately out the door, however by the time he got there Obi-Wan had managed to mingle with the people on the sidewalk and seemed to have vanished.
Qui-Gon will kill me for this. How will I ever explain it to him?
He returned to his father's home without Obi-Wan.
"You didn't find him padawan?"
"Don't call me padawan. You do the Jedi a disservice. How did you manage to escape from Diener, anyway. He won't be showing up here after following you will he?"
"No need to worry. Look I have his saber for a souvenir. Nice one too. It only took one quick slit to his throat to render him all so very dead. Dumb that young knight was, dumb and careless. Not worthy to be called a Jedi for his lack of abilities. He let one lone Jedi healer overtake him without even activating his saber."
"I should just hold you captive and tell Qui-Gon what you and Father did. What am I suppose to do comm Jinn and tell him I let his little one go after he saw the big bad Jedi standing in my father's dining room."
"Well you could do that but I don't think you would benefit from this."
Master Healer Pernile held up a clear plastic flask-like bag, used by med teams to transport whole blood..
"I know you are considering it Xani or you would have already overtaken me. I have no doubts about your abilities as a Jedi because Jinn trained you. No one will have doubts about you if you decide to use this? I'll tell you what. I will chance it for three days and let you think it over. The price might rise because of the wait and the chance with my life I'll be taking. But I think your father can afford it can't you "Dad"?"
"What ever my son wishes to do. The final decision is his."
"I might think about it. Right now though, I have to think of what to do about Obi-Wan. I have to at least appear to be looking for Kenobi when my master gets back. And what if he starts babbling about seeing you here what happens then.
"Silence Xanatos. If he does just tell your master the boy has been acting weird and must now be delusional. Jinn already knows his mind all but gone. If he does regain his speech it will be incomprehensible or it will take him all day to get a sentence out. Besides I am not without a few corrupt friends including pirates like those who kidnapped Kenobi once before. If I can find him then he will be on the next ship out of here."
So sure Pernile. Well don't bet on fooling Qui-Gon. It is not that easy. My master is wise and very in tuned to the living force. He might know I lied just by looking at me."
Then for your sake I hope you don't meet him eye to eye. You know I could get a great deal more money from someone else if I took this elsewhere."
Xanatos grabbed the healer by the throat and shoved him clear a crossed the room.
"Don't mess with me Jedi. You have already caused trouble ten-fold and if you'll see what is rightfully my father's until I am able to think this through. I will trace you from planet to planet until I get you. Now get out of here before Master Jinn and Knight Gayron return."
Pernile left and Xani could only stare at his father questioningly along with disgust.
"I hope you have taught me how to lie well father for my master is not easily fooled by anyone let alone a padawan. If he finds out that you or I had anything to do with losing the boy our lives won't be worth anything. I will be thrown out of the Jedi that you want me to possess so much power for. Then where will I be.
"I never thought of that. I only thought of advances you abilities talents and station with in the Jedi. I only had your best interests in mind."
"We will see Father. I may not have any interest to deal with once Qui-Gon gets back and see his little Obi-Wan gone."
"That in its self should make you want this added power. How dare he attempt to dump you."
"It is not my master who initiated the bond with the boy. and although it hurts, I understand now. It is the force that brings them together, just as it is the force that elicits me to form a training bond with Gayron. Now I must go at least try to find the boy."
Xanatos headed out the front door only to return.
"What's the matter son?"
Xanatos for a moment lost his stoic Jedi calm and actually for once feared his master.
Qui-Gon and Gayron are headed down the street. I can't go out now. I know. I will tell him that I just came back from a lengthy search for the boy and I was just planning on calling him. That will solve the question he will ask about while he was not notified. Yes, that's it. I'll tell Qui-Gon I was too busy chasing the boy down to comm him and then I just returned. I will act out of breath."
The elder De'Crion lifted the edge of the drapes to see where the other two Jedi were exactly.
"He's about to enter the door Xani, so act out of breath or whatever you plan to do."
Jinn took the many steps of the De'Crion home in long strides, two steps at a time. He could not feel Obi-Wan's presence within the home and it alarmed the Jedi master. So much so that he flung the door open and let his blazing blue eyes roam the expanse of the room and hall in his view, no Obi-Wan.
His roaming eyes finally settled on the face of his padawan and his look was all Jinn needed to know that something had happened to the Kenobi child.
Fear gripped Master Jinn, but he tried not to show it. He knew the answer to his question even before he asked. However he asked it anyway?
"Has something happened to Obi-Wan?"……………………….
"Xanatos stood in the middle of the room as he tried to grasp the words from his mind and then find the courage to speak them to his master. He failed horribly at his attempt. Nothing came from his mouth as Qui-Gon stood and waited for an explanation. His eyes bore holes through the Jedi apprentice.
"Xanatos where is Obi-Wan? Did he go lay down for awhile?"
Jinn knew he was just wasting words. He knew perfectly well the boy would not have strayed very far from the door until he returned.
"Master, it was an accident. I mean I turned my back and walked to the dining room. Before I had time to even realize what was going on, the child darted out the door."
Jinn rudely interrupted his padawan.
"You couldn't stop him? A senior padawan in the Jedi order could not stop a half-thinking child, not even with the use of a force hold on him, if need be?"
"Master Jinn I followed him straight out, but there were alot of people congregated at that roadside vendors out there and he got lost in the crowd. Of course I searched for him, but I couldn't find him."
"How long has he been gone? Did you not think to pick up the comm and notify me?"
"Master Jinn I see no reason to brow-beat my son. He told you what happened. He was also just getting ready to comm you and let you know about Obi-Wan. He didn't do so right away because he searched for the little slave first. I personally think it was unwise decision to bring someone like him, I mean in his condition on a mission in the first place. Just asking for trouble you were and you have it."
"I know Xanatos is your son, however I am his master. His obligations lie with the Jedi De'Crion and his priorities are to follow the orders of his master."
A stern foreboding look passed Jinn's face as he waited. He clearly wanted more of an explanation and Xanatos did not offer it up to him.
Knight Gayron decided he should step-in and defend Xanatos. The young knight had only one real problem. While he did believe Xani, he was confused by his shielding from him. Xanatos had never attempted to shield from Gayron since the bond had started forming,
Why now? Xani surely hasn't anything to hide. I mean it could very well have happened to me. I could have let the erratic-thinking boy escape.
"Master Jinn, I don't think repeatedly interrogating your apprentice is going to solve anything. He has told you everything."
"Oh so you have become a mind reader. Are you bonded so deeply with my apprentice that you know his every thought."
Had Jinn still had access to the bond with Xani he would have known that the young man shielded tightly from even Gayron and no one would have known what was in his mind. Gayron was balancing his words with his trust for Xanatos.
"I will assume your words spoken to me were wrought out of distress Master Jinn. For I see no reason for you to reprimand me or talk in such a manner. While we stand here bickering, does not the child continue to get further away? I suggest we go back out and look for him. He can't get far with his mental capabilities what they are. Maybe the local police will find him wondering around. I will contact them and let them know what has happened."
Jinn hated to admit it, but the young knight made a great deal of sense. Standing here going over and over Xanatos' story would not help matters. Jinn was not sure why he was so hard on Xanatos in the first place. He had always carried out his master's command with meticulous care.
//Surely I don't believe he would intentionally let a boy in Obi-Wan's condition run away without trying to stop him? Why do I question what happened so much? It must have gone exactly the way Xani said it did.//
"Yes, you make a great deal of sense. You comm the authorities. Then we will leave. Padawan get your robe and accompany us please."
"Now he can go. Before when his rightful place was with you, he was left to baby-sit a jelly-minded child that should not have been here on Telos in the first place."
"De'Crion because you are Xanatos' father I will hold in the words I very much want to say to you. Nevertheless, I have to ask you stand out of the way. This is business that concerns the Jedi."
"When it concerns my son, I will not relent on my statements Jinn. I may personally contact the temple myself and let Master Yoda or Master Windu know of your insubordination as a master to my son."
Xanatos jumped in front of his father and Jinn fearing they might actually come to blows.
"My master is right father. I am a Jedi and it is not your concern. If I should think my master mistreats me in anyway it is for I, not you, to file a complaint and ask the council to launch a formal inquisition on it. I have no intentions at the moment of doing anything. Now we need to find the child."
Jinn was a little taken aback. He did not think he would get verbal support from Xanatos, especially with the failed bond they were both carrying around in their heads.
"Yes, well Xanatos grab your robe we will be on our way. I think Gayron has finished with the notifying the police of the situation here. We notified them earlier of Diener's death."
Jinn wanted to get that out of the way and tell his apprentice that the young Jedi had been killed.
Xanatos first planned not to say anything and then he did because he did not want to spawn suspicion on himself.
"What? Did Pernile escape?"
"Yes and now he will be wanted for murder because he killed Dierner in the process of his escape. The Jedi do no look kindly on my of own being murdered by another Jedi. Let's go. De'Crion if the boy happens to wander back here, keep him here please, and use this to let us know."
Jinn handed him an extra comm he carried on his belt. He didn't really think Obi-Wan would return but he would have De'Crion ready with instructions just in case.
##########In the middle of Telos##########
The city was large and unfamiliar to Obi-Wan as he hurried past the numerous store fronts, with no where to go. All he knew for sure was he wanted away from the De'Crion home because of Pernile. Then fear rose in the little former slave for he thought maybe Pernile followed him and would take him back. He was not sure what all Pernile had done to him because he could not think clearly, but he knew enough to know the man had brought him unbearable and excruciating pain. No, that was a Jedi he did not want to be around.
Obi-Wan thought to seek out Master Jinn. That soon became a mute decision. The child didn't know where or how to look for a Jedi master in the overwhelmingly large city. It was not as huge or magnificent as Coruscant with its towering intricately designed skyscrapers, but it might as well have been.
Obi-Wan seemed so small among the large, to him unnamed buildings and endless criss-crossing of streets. People yelled back and forth on the street corners. He was pushed aside on the sidewalk in order for others to get past him, His movements were slow and less deliberate than the people passing him on the street for they knew where they were going. Obi-Wan just kept walking with no idea at all where he was going. He just knew he was going away from the De'Crion home and Pernile.
######## back with Jinn and the other two Jedi#[/b]
Jinn walked in front of the group with a slightly faster and seemingly more urgent pace.
Gayron held back little and when Xanatos started to walk faster to catch up with Qui-Gon, the young knight grabbed him by the arm to signal that he should stay back with him. Xani did and waited, for he knew the knight would question him about the shielding.
"Is there a reason Xanatos that you have decided to shield from me now? Even before, when the training bond just started, you were willing to leave it open to proceed naturally. What is wrong Xani? Anything I can help you with?"
All those words were soothing to Xanatos Crion. Master Jinn while a very fair master had a way of making a padawan, at times, feel very small. Sometimes the concern that Gayron had for Xani was not exhibited by Jinn. Qui-Gon made the mistake in assuming that because Xani was a senior padawan, everything should come easily and naturally to him. It didn't though because of his inability to stay in touch with the force at all times, Xani sometimes wavered in his training. It was something Qui-Qon was unintentionally blind to in Xani's quest for knighthood. Qui-Gon found it confusing, Xani thought, because Jinn was in touch with the living force always and with immense strength. That was the main reason for Xanatos' hesitation in taking Pernile into custody. He thought with the extra power in the force from Obi-Wan's blood, he would be a more exemplary apprentice.
"Knight Gayron I ask you not to question me right now, but to have faith that I do not do what master thinks. I did not willingly let the boy go."
"I don't think Qui-Gon thinks that."
"I never know what my master thinks anymore. I just want you to have faith in me."
Gayron put his arm around Xani's shoulder.
"My faith will not falter Xanatos. When you are ready to open up to me, you have only to do so."
Xani would have liked to tell Gayron right up front what was wrong, but he knew the young knight's Jedi ethics were almost as strong as Jinn's. Gayron would be shocked and disappointed by what Xanatos was actually thinking of doing.
//He would never condone me wanting to become stronger with Obi's blood. While as tempting as it sounds, I not sure I can condone my actions, myself…………………………..//
Qui-Gon had rethought his words spoken to his apprentice. He did feel bad, but Xanatos had an obligation and duty to do as he was told. It was not like Xani to claim ignorance about such a little job as watching a boy and to keep him from running away.
//There has to be something more to this. What sidetracked Xani's attention so much that he would give Obi a head start on his escape. While not blessed with immense powers in the force he is astute enough to control one little boy.//
Qui-Gon was on the right track. Something did draw Xani's attention away from Obi-Wan and enable the boy to successfully run away. He had no idea though that his apprentice's attention was on Pernile, the very one they searched for.
Why would Obi run away in the first place? I think he understood I would be back. He had been so unwilling to even let go of my robe, but the first opportunity he gets with Xanatos' back turned he runs away from him, from me? Something just doesn't add up here, but how can I ask Xani? He already feels burdened by my accusations of his incompetence. I don't think it was incompetence. Xani was clearly engrossed in something very important to let Obi-Wan have such a head start on him. I will have to wait to see if he offers up the truth as to what it was. If not then I will find out. Now, though I must focus on Obi-Wan and where he might be.
Jinn tried to reach through their bond and connect with the former slave, but was unsuccessful. Obi's force ability, lacking as it was, only evidently gave him spurts of ability to mentally connect and talk with Jinn.
I wish Obi-Wan could summon up enough power to try to contact me if indeed he even wants too. Maybe the Jedi have put so much fear in him that he just wants to get away from the Jedi, all of them, including me.
"Master Jinn do you have any idea as to where we should look for the boy."
"If he really ran away to get away from us, the Jedi then if he had common sense he might look for transportation off this planet. Maybe the landing ports, they have several. Also the shipping docks although I don't think Obi-Wan would be in great deal of hurry to land on another ship because of his past with the pirates. Jin thought back on what a horrible past he had with the pirates.
He has so much to deal with in that little mind of his and then to have Pernile screw with his thoughts. It's even more frightening to think what the boy might be doing now.
For the life of me I don't know why that child ran away."
"I thought that too Master Jinn. You could barely get him unconnected from your robe long enough to do a thing ever since we left Corusacnt."
It was not an accusation of some kind of guilt on Xani's part by Jinn or Gayron but Xanatos took it as one."
"Do you think I have lied Knight Gayron, Master? I have told you what I know and still you accuse me of some wrong doing. It was Obi-Wan who brought this on himself. He was not thinking clearly before this happened. I mean he mumbled and his eyes darted wildly and uncontrollable. I truthfully did not know what he was doing. I thought, like you that he would want to wait on my master to return."
Gayron tried to console the young man who that if he had anything to do with it would become his apprentice very soon.
"Xanatos neither your master or I put blame on your head. I guess we are like you, dumbfounded by the Obi-Wan's action. But is he was as you say almost incoherent then that could explain why he left. He had no reason. His mind is just too scrambled to understand that he should have stayed and waited on Master Jinn. The other possibility could be that he went in search of you Master."
"I seem to think you may be right Knight Gayron. Obi-Wan could be searching for me, but where would he look?"
The three Jedi separated on Jinn's suggestion to extend and widen their search.
They combed street after street, alleys, went in numerous eating and drinking establishments and still no luck.
Jinn did feel closer to Obi-Wan as they walked and he let the force guide him at will until they were virtually at the edge of the city. The south side of the city rested on the shoreline of the ocean. Jinn did not like the prospect of Obi-Wan being in such a place. Nevertheless, he was drawn to the area and that was where he intensified his search with the other two, Xani and Gayron lagging behind.
They had been searching all day without a bite of food and fatigue was winning out before they could complete their search of the seedy shipping port.
"Master Jinn it seems to be getting very late. Maybe we should go back and continue in the morning. We can't even see out here. With the fog coming in with high tide and the darkness, we could pass right by the child and never see him."
"You are right about the fog and the night, but I am hesitant to go all the way back the De'Crion home. That is a good twenty-fives miles away. Instead of spending our credits on a hover taxi we could rent a room around here for the night. I seem to feel closer to Obi-Wan here."
"I know you want to find him Master, but you expect us to sleep with any peace in an area of town like this. We will wake up and find our heads cut off."
"Padawan your last proclamation does have a certain amount of mirth to it. If dead we will find it exceedingily difficult to wake up at all!!"
Gayron let it slip and called Xani, padawan as if it were natural. He smiled to the boy he had just called "his" padawan..
Jinn let it slide because he was so wrapped up in his thoughts for the terrified little boy. He did take a mental note to have a long talk with this knight, who would insert himself in his and Xani's life without taking it before the council first.
"We will be fine Xani. Let's go there to that little pub and get something to eat. We can talk with a few of the patrons and maybe they will know something. I know you and Knight Gayron are starving."
"How about you Qui-Gon are you not hungry too?"
"Yes but I could forego food if I thought I was on the track of finding the boy. These cut-throats are not the best people for a child to be subjected too alone in the night."
"Maybe he is not even in this area."
Gayron still could not understand why Jinn had a bond with the boy, even though he and Xani's bond grew at first unwillingly.
"I know if all the certainty I need Knight Gayron that Obi-Wan is in close proximity of this shipping port. I feel it with every ounce of the force I possess. I also know it is a dangerous and deadly place for young one to be alone at night with no one to fend off any aggressors that might beseech him to go with them. Pirates, Gayron, slave pirates crawl in every corner of this port."
Qui-Gon Gayron and Xani was the center of attention when they entered a bar and dining facility with most of the patrons being from a ship or working on the docks.
Jinn thought with a little Jedi persuasion they might find out something about Obi-Wan. However Jinn soon found that credits worked quicker if you wanted information without going the Jedi mind trick route.
Almost before they sat down a man with a patch over his eye came right up to the table, brazen enough to take on three Jedi, Gayron thought.
"May we help you sir?"
Gayron spoke first, although normally would have been Jinn's job since he was the head master but Jinn waited as did the other two to see what the man wanted.
"It's not that you can help me kind sirs. I think I may be able to help you. I could bet a pint of beer here that you be looking for a little Jedi that looks just like yourselves. I mean in dress and all. Am I not on the right track?"
"You might be and what would we have to do to elicit this information from you?"
"Ugh…… what do you mean?"
Jinn looked at the man and realized he did understand what he had said.
"In simpler terms sir, what you do wish of us for the information you would give us?""
"Just a few credits, whatever you deem a worthy amount for information on the boy. Sure had a pathetic look on his face when they carted him away."
Jinn fought panic as he tried to find out more. He handed a few credits and with a nod of his head, pointed to his money bag as if the man would be promised more, for more information.
"Who carted him away and how can we be sure you are telling us the truth?"
"Well I knew you were looking for him didn't I? I can also tell you which ship he was shanghaied too, for enough credits."
Jinn reached down and untied the credit pouch from his belt. He then started to hand it to the unkempt and odorous man before he had second thoughts and abruptly stopped.
"Wait, before I give you this you must describe the boy. After that, we will both put our hands on this credit purse and when you tell me what I want to know you can take it from my hands to yours ."
"Seems fair enough if you don't renege on your part of the bargain, Of course that would be a foolish idea Jedi with all my friends around here."
"Yes well quit stalling. Now tell me what the boy looked like first."
"Expect me to remember everything about him do ya. I can't . Two things though I remember. He had the deepest but saddest blue eyes I have even seen on a child his age. Another thing that stood out about the boy. I recognized the Jedi clothing he wore though the pirates did not. However I noticed he didn't wear his hair as this young one and other Jedi children do. He wore it like yours, Master…?"
"Jinn my name is Master Qui-Gon Jinn."
" It was very long and pulled back with a band."
Qui-Gon knew that had to be Obi. While he wore the clothes of a Jedi apprentice his hair was not cut like one, cropped short and spiked with a braid in it.
Jinn handed the man the pouch full of credits.
" I will gladly tell you another thing… Master Jinn is it? You had better find the boy and quick. The ship that took him is piloted by an evil captain that one is. In fact I think he took a liking to that kid of yours instantly. I overheard him say he just might keep him around for "amusement" if you know what I mean."
The man winked at Jinn and the Jedi master got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Xani and Gayron knew what the man implied about the captain also.
"Yea and he said one more thing."
Jinn was up and at the door headed out when the man spoke again. He at first did not intend to acknowledge the informer again, but something told him he should.
"The captain said the boy's hair was the color of ginger with gold woven in. While he caressed the boy's long hair with his grimy fingers, he said that your kid would make a pretty trinket to keep on the ship to "serve" him.. The only thing I heard out of the boy was some mumblings about his master. I guess that would be you Jinn?"
Jinn let the man's statement wrongly assuming Obi-Wan being his apprentice go, without correcting him.
He was surprised to know that the boy had spoken coherently at all. However nothing would surprise him about a captain that ran a slaver ship and abused the children taken for slave trade even before they were sold. He needed to find Obi-Wan and quickly.
Xani on the other hand began to fear what would happen if they did find Obi-Wan.
//I know now Kenobi has at least some of his speech back. Is it enough to tell Master Jinn about the visit my father had with Pernile? //
Once out the door of the pub where Master Jinn received both good and bad news of Obi-Wan's whereabouts, Xani and Gayron watched as the Master guided them a crossed the street where there was a store of sorts that sold used clothing.
After the other two Jedi followed the big master inside without a word. They did not think to question him of his sanity. They stood a moment, awestruck by why Jinn came here instead of going directly to the pirate's ship docked no more than a few yards away.
Xanatos happened to have read the name, "Sea Witch" on the side of the ship when they passed it to go eat. That was just about the time Master Jinn stated he knew the boy was close by somewhere.
//Qui-Gon must certainly be in tune with the boy's every ounce of consciousness for him to feel him then.//
Finally it was Gayron would gathered enough courage to ask the Master what he was doing. Both of the other Jedi had remained quiet since their conversation with the man in the pub because they felt so much anger mixed with worry coming from the master. It might have been the first time for Xani or Gayron to actually momentarily fear a Jedi. Jinn seemed that angry.
"Master Jinn why may I ask are we are in here. Shouldn't we proceed immediately to the ship and get Obi-Wan back?"
"Yes. However I thought it would be easier not to go in there like Jedi on the attack. They would eventually recognize us as Jedi and Obi-Wan could be killed or gotten off the ship as we talked to the ship's captain. We will go on the pretext of looking for a slave to do our bidding."
"Yes but Master, the man told you the captain wanted to keep the boy to himself for…ugh..you know thereasons."
The anger flared danerously within the master with the mention of the captain's plan.
Xanatos did not want to go into the reasons the captain wanted the boy and Jinn was glad of it. He didn't want to rehash Obi's fate without escape. The boy ad already suffered at the hands of one slave ship captain. Jinn would not allow him to have to repeat his horrible fate again.
"Xani this is where our connection with the force will be most delicately used. We will just have to wave our hand and convince the captain that we should be allowed to buy Obi-Wan from them."
It was the first time Xani smiled because he didn't have too much to smile about. Obi-Wan could destroy him with the truth. Xani knew though even if Obi told before he had the courage to tell them himself he would still have to help Qui-Gon and Gayron reclaim the boy. He couldn't be allowed to stay with the captain with his plans for him and Xanatos would not allow Gayron to go into what might possibly turn into a battle without him. The bond between the padawan and the young knight strengthened with each passing hour, it seemed.
"Now enough talk let's see what is here that might possibly fit us. I am sure Xani and you Knight Gayron will have no trouble finding something. I just hope they have a few taller and more massed people living around here.
Jinn started rifling through the used clothing and Xani and Gayron joined in, each choosing outfits merchants would wear. Jinn picked up a bright orange turban off the top shelf of the clothing store and tossed it to Xani.
"What is this for, Qui-Gon?"
"Like the man said you have the haircut of a Jedi. That may be why they did not recognize Obi-Wan's clothing because his hair was not cut in a Jedi apprentice style. You have to cover your head."
"With this?"
Xani scrunched up his face and frowned. It was not very stylish and the color was atrocious.
"It's the only thing here that will completely cover you head. I know the color orange is not very flattering but you will live Xani."
Jinn had been hesitant to call Xani his padawan because he felt finally that he just may have lost Xanatos as a padawan to Gayron.
Jinn had managed not to lay blame on the two younger Jedi anymore. He had come to grips with the truth. It was the force who willed their training bond and the council would have to approve it.
Xani and Gayron waited outside the shop as Jinn finished finding what he needed. It had been harder for him to find something because of his size. All chose flowing tunics and multicolored robes in stripes. The clothing was indicative of traveling merchants who would sometimes search the ships in hopes of finding a few slave children not really worth transporting to another planet; he weak looking or sickly ones.
The Jedi would have to convince the captain that Obi-Wan was not worth keeping. That is where the Jedi mind trick would come in.
The Jedi, very much resembling merchants climbed the wobbly plank laid out from ship to the dock. Once on the ship Jinn immediately asked to see the captain. And was told to wait. He was tending to "other" matters..
A feeling of dread planted itself within Qui-Gon. He knew the captain had the boy and Obi-Wan was more than likely the "other" matter.
With Obi's mind being the way it was, once the captain realized it, he might just throw him overboard into the bay to drown like an unwanted pup.
While they waited Xani drew Gayron to the side and began to talk. He wanted to open up to the young knight but he not sure how.
"Knight Gayron what if you had a chance to improve your force abilities, would you be tempted do it?"
"What and odd question padawan. I don't think so. It would not be right. I believe that each Jedi is blessed with the precise amount of the force to fulfill their destiny, nothing more, nothing less."
The knight hesitated to see if Xani grasped what he was saying before he continued.
"That part of the force brought to me by Obi-Wan's midichlorains or anyone else's would not be mine and I am afraid the force itself would compensate for that. I don't think it would allow anything good to come of stolen midichlorains. You see that is what Pernile did not allot for. You can transfuse the power to the another, but it was not bestowed on that person willingly by the force, then I don't think you could use that power efficiently. I don't believe it would have worked as Pernile planned it."
"What if you were already blessed with some force?"
Xani really wanted the young knight to agree with him about the increased power; that he could become a better Jedi with it.
"Each Jedi are given what they are able to handle. Like I said never more or less than is needed by that particular Jedi. It is what we do with it that counts, not how much we possess. Look at Pernile, his midichlorian count is considered the highest among the Jedi healers and his work up to this point had been worthy of him but now, no matter how much power he possesses is not of the light but the dark side, now. He killed a Jedi. I don' think the one who gets Obi-Wan's midichlorians would stay on the side of the force, our side, for long."
Xanatos knew right then he had to talk to Knight Gayron and tell him what happened, but time,….There seemed to be no time. If Obi-Wan were to blurt out the truth about Pernile being at his father's home then no one would believe the padawan that he planned to confess. He did not however want to make his confession to Master Jinn .He was acting too emotionally connected to the boy to think clearly about Xanatos' confession. No he needed time alone with Gayron.
//In just a very few minutes we could be face to face with the boy who knows everything if he can get it from his mind to his lips. I won't be believed. I must do it now.//
"Knight Gayron I have a confession to make and I don't think we have time to discuss this before Master Jinn comes…"
Gayron had felt there was something Xani wanted to tell him ever since they returned to the De'Crion home.
There before them stood Master Jinn waiting on the captain... Xanatos was right, time had run out to make at least part of what he had done right. Now what was he going to do. Jinn leaned over the bow of the ship in deep thought an suffering the emptiness of his mind without the connection with Obi-Wan being felt. ...
.
Just as they waited in a moment of "calm before the storm", Xani felt a brushing to his mind and knew it was Knight Gayron trying to access their bond. Xani willingly opened his bond by dropping his shields.
//Here padawan now you can tell me what has distressed you so and why you have shielded from me. I promise not to pass harsh judgment on you and hopefully we can correct what you seem to think can't be corrected.//
PEACE ewen