CHAPTER NINETEEN

It took two full days to get to Layiunne by lightspeed in the ship that carried them. The days dragged slowly, for the quartet was anxious to get there and get the dangerous mission over with to stop all uneasy feelings. Yet, the Jedi remained strong. As they got closer and that vague foreboding feeling kept getting slightly stronger as time went on. But Anja decided to keep it in the back of her mind and not to let it distract her. At last the quartet had arrived on the planet for their mission. Each, in turn, felt an odd presence there. Something.too dark and too different from them to even comprehend. Perhaps Anja was right. Something deep and sinister was amongst the earth of this planet that they had just set foot on. They needed to get started on their mission as soon as possible. The planet of Layiunne was rather hostile and its beings were ones of those who despised the prospering worlds around them and kept their traditions alive by living in twig huts and wore simple clothing. They farmed their own lands with simple materials, using little technology as possible. The people there were rather shy, yet quaint and had large families because of their love and devotion for children. Qui-Gon had asked the village leader if they might spare a hut or two for their accommodations while they worked on their mission to discover this odd, dark power that existed. The leader welcomed them warmly in Basic and showed them to the two huts that had been prepared for their arrival. As they got settled, the two Masters briefed the leader with some questions about this dark discovery. With a gentle smile, Obi-Wan led Anja over to the hut that their Master's said they could share. He pushed back the thick rug that covered the entrance and gently sat her down onto their blanketed bed before coming to sit beside her, cradling her gently in his arms. "Anja.please.I hate to see you worried like this." He gently placed his hand upon her pregnant belly and stroked it, trying to comfort her and their young son inside. '"It's not good for the baby, Love." Anja sighed softly and brushed a gentle kiss against his chin before she looked up into his eyes. "I know, Obi-Wan. Something just.troubles me here. It seems like." She closed her eyes quickly, fighting back tears to keep her strength. "I.I.can't say." "Shh.shh.." He gently rocked her in his warm and comfortable arms, stroking up and down her back gently as his nose nuzzled into her silky hair. "Don't let it worry you so. We need to keep our mind on the mission. But if anything, and I mean anything, goes near you, I will protect you and our baby with all of my heart. I love you." Obi-Wan leaned down and kissed Anja's lips tenderly; tasting the salt of her tears upon them.