"Is everything set for take off, Padawan?" Qui-Gon turned to face Kiana. The girl was seated in the pilots seat, manipulating the controls in front of her.
"Yes Master. All is ready. We have only to wait for Obi-Wan's arrival, then we can get underway." Spinning the seat, she turned to face the Jedi Master. "This planet we're going to...Ishmar...shall I bring up some information about it for the trip?"
Grinning, Qui-Gon nodded. "By all means. The more we know about our surroundings in a situation, the better prepared for it we are. Do you feel up to piloting, or would you prefer to study up on the way?"
Smiling now, Kiana answered quickly. "I'm up to piloting Master. I could use the practice anyway."
Qui-Gon returned her smile and added. "That is until we are at safe distance to engage the autopilot, of course. Then you can join me and study for the mission." Sarcasism was evident in his voice and he chuckled at the disgusted frown he got from his Padawan.
"Greetings Qui-Gon...Kiana. Is everything prepared for our departure?" Obi-Wan climbed into the cockpit and stood beside Qui-Gon.
"Yes, everything is. We were just awaiting your arrival."
Obi-Wan nodded in recognition and then he sat down across from his companions. "I have a few things that I thought might be helpful during our mission." He pulled a bag in front of him. "Most of this is medical supplies of course, one can never be too prepared in that department. Especially with my penchant for getting myself hurt. I also brought along this."
From the bag he pulled out a small black device. "Its a tracking device that I've been tinkering with. For this mission it might come in handy. As you know, we are going to be after the Sith. And as you have no doubt gleened from the mission outline, the Sith are using a galactic trade company as a front for their evil plans, They do all sorts of illegal, vulgar things and attract the attention of the Jedi, who they proceed to kill. We will have the upper hand, knowing that this is their usual course of action. Also we will be able to plant this device in one of the trading parcels we have on board. It is completely undetectable through the Force. It just might lead us into the Sith hideout." He sighed. "We can't depend on it completely. We are going to have to use some old fashioned detective work as well."
Kiana was surprised. "Obi-Wan, Sir? You invented this thing yourself!?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "I wouldn't doubt it. Obi-Wan was always very adept when it came to machinery. He appears to still be. I remember how quickly you aided the Naboo when fixing the hyperdrive on the Queen's starship." He stopped his memory there, not wanting to remind himself of the events on that planet.
Obi-Wan must have sensed his emotions through their bond and he sent reassurance toward him. Grateful, Qui-Gon smiled again. "Kiana, take off. The sooner we begin this mission, the sooner we may end it."
She nodded, not catching the small Force exchange between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. She returned her attention toward the console and the forward viewscreen. "All right..." She muttered under her breath. Being the Padawan, it was a privledge to be allowed to pilot and she was determined to prove she could do it.
Qui-Gon was watching her closely as she activated the repulsor lifts and took the shuttle into the air. It wasn't long before she manuevered her way into the Coruscant space lanes and was heading off planet. Once they were out the proper distance, she fed the hyperspace jump coordinates into the computer and they were off.
"There!" She sighed, giddy with having done a good job. "We should be approaching Aleden in about one week. Master, shall I begin to read the mission information?"
"Yes." Qui-Gon agreed, smiling. "Nice piloting, Padawan. You are excused."
Obi-Wan watched Kiana leave the cockpit, then turned his gaze to Qui-Gon. "She is very talented. I am glad she has you for a Master. ANd I hope she makes it through this all right. What are we going to do if the situation gets very sticky. We know full well that a Padawan, no matter how adept, can NOT defeat a Sith in battle!"
Sighing, Qui-GOn nodded in agreement. "I am well aware of that, Obi-Wan. I was thinking the same myself. I know she can defend herself, but she isn't battle hardened and it will be hard even for the both of us to protect her completely. We can only hope that the Force will be with us."
"It will be, Qui-Gon. I know it will, I feel it to be so and I think you do as well."
"Yes, I do. But that doesn't stop me from worrying."
*************************************************************************************************
Kiana could sense unease filtering from the cockpit even though she tried to push it aside and concentrate on the mission information in front of her. She had been reading over the profile, hoping to find something that would be important. As of yet, all the information in the file was miscellaneous and spoke mostly about the culture and the climate.
She decided that this was pointless and instead let herself slip into a light meditative state. Unfortunately, her heightened awareness of the Force caused her to sense Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's conversation in the cockpit much more acurrately.
Hearing the apprehension in her Master's tone, she stood and went to him. "Master? Might I speak with you for a moment?"
Qui-Gon turned when she entered and nodded. "Of course you may. Is something bothering you?"
The girl sighed lightly. "Well, no Master. NOt really. I am more concerned about you to be perfectly honest. I could tell from the other side of the ship how worried about me you are. I understand the need and I know why you are worried, but I can't stand it. I don't want you to be preoccupied."
A small smile crept across Qui-Gon's face and he laughed lightly. "I am sorry, Padawan. You are one hundred percent correct. I will try not to worry so much. We can't have it interfering with my ability to operate!"
Suddenly, there was an insistant beeping on the console in front of Obi-Wan. The young Jedi Knight swung around in his chair and began analyzing the readouts. "Uh-oh. This doesn't look good, Qui-Gon. We seem to be leaking fuel, there is no way we are going to make it to Aleden at this rate. We are going to have to put down somewhere between here and there."
Turning slightly to Kiana he pointed to the nav computer next to her. "Could you pinpoint the best landing planet for me, Kiana. I'll send the parameters to your console."
She nodded and sat down in front of the screen. It didn't take her long to determine that their only alternative landing point was on the remote and hostile planet of Fendow. "Uhm...Master? I have good news and bad news."
He acknowledged. "What is it, Padawan?"
She sighed. "Well, the good news is that I've found a planet to land on. However, the bad news is that the planet is Fendow."
Obi-Wan whistled sharply. "What a predicament we're in now, Qui-Gon. Not only do we need fuel and repairs, the only place we can land is a hostile planet that absolutely hates Jedi and humans. Of which, we three are both."
"Yes Master. All is ready. We have only to wait for Obi-Wan's arrival, then we can get underway." Spinning the seat, she turned to face the Jedi Master. "This planet we're going to...Ishmar...shall I bring up some information about it for the trip?"
Grinning, Qui-Gon nodded. "By all means. The more we know about our surroundings in a situation, the better prepared for it we are. Do you feel up to piloting, or would you prefer to study up on the way?"
Smiling now, Kiana answered quickly. "I'm up to piloting Master. I could use the practice anyway."
Qui-Gon returned her smile and added. "That is until we are at safe distance to engage the autopilot, of course. Then you can join me and study for the mission." Sarcasism was evident in his voice and he chuckled at the disgusted frown he got from his Padawan.
"Greetings Qui-Gon...Kiana. Is everything prepared for our departure?" Obi-Wan climbed into the cockpit and stood beside Qui-Gon.
"Yes, everything is. We were just awaiting your arrival."
Obi-Wan nodded in recognition and then he sat down across from his companions. "I have a few things that I thought might be helpful during our mission." He pulled a bag in front of him. "Most of this is medical supplies of course, one can never be too prepared in that department. Especially with my penchant for getting myself hurt. I also brought along this."
From the bag he pulled out a small black device. "Its a tracking device that I've been tinkering with. For this mission it might come in handy. As you know, we are going to be after the Sith. And as you have no doubt gleened from the mission outline, the Sith are using a galactic trade company as a front for their evil plans, They do all sorts of illegal, vulgar things and attract the attention of the Jedi, who they proceed to kill. We will have the upper hand, knowing that this is their usual course of action. Also we will be able to plant this device in one of the trading parcels we have on board. It is completely undetectable through the Force. It just might lead us into the Sith hideout." He sighed. "We can't depend on it completely. We are going to have to use some old fashioned detective work as well."
Kiana was surprised. "Obi-Wan, Sir? You invented this thing yourself!?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "I wouldn't doubt it. Obi-Wan was always very adept when it came to machinery. He appears to still be. I remember how quickly you aided the Naboo when fixing the hyperdrive on the Queen's starship." He stopped his memory there, not wanting to remind himself of the events on that planet.
Obi-Wan must have sensed his emotions through their bond and he sent reassurance toward him. Grateful, Qui-Gon smiled again. "Kiana, take off. The sooner we begin this mission, the sooner we may end it."
She nodded, not catching the small Force exchange between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. She returned her attention toward the console and the forward viewscreen. "All right..." She muttered under her breath. Being the Padawan, it was a privledge to be allowed to pilot and she was determined to prove she could do it.
Qui-Gon was watching her closely as she activated the repulsor lifts and took the shuttle into the air. It wasn't long before she manuevered her way into the Coruscant space lanes and was heading off planet. Once they were out the proper distance, she fed the hyperspace jump coordinates into the computer and they were off.
"There!" She sighed, giddy with having done a good job. "We should be approaching Aleden in about one week. Master, shall I begin to read the mission information?"
"Yes." Qui-Gon agreed, smiling. "Nice piloting, Padawan. You are excused."
Obi-Wan watched Kiana leave the cockpit, then turned his gaze to Qui-Gon. "She is very talented. I am glad she has you for a Master. ANd I hope she makes it through this all right. What are we going to do if the situation gets very sticky. We know full well that a Padawan, no matter how adept, can NOT defeat a Sith in battle!"
Sighing, Qui-GOn nodded in agreement. "I am well aware of that, Obi-Wan. I was thinking the same myself. I know she can defend herself, but she isn't battle hardened and it will be hard even for the both of us to protect her completely. We can only hope that the Force will be with us."
"It will be, Qui-Gon. I know it will, I feel it to be so and I think you do as well."
"Yes, I do. But that doesn't stop me from worrying."
*************************************************************************************************
Kiana could sense unease filtering from the cockpit even though she tried to push it aside and concentrate on the mission information in front of her. She had been reading over the profile, hoping to find something that would be important. As of yet, all the information in the file was miscellaneous and spoke mostly about the culture and the climate.
She decided that this was pointless and instead let herself slip into a light meditative state. Unfortunately, her heightened awareness of the Force caused her to sense Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's conversation in the cockpit much more acurrately.
Hearing the apprehension in her Master's tone, she stood and went to him. "Master? Might I speak with you for a moment?"
Qui-Gon turned when she entered and nodded. "Of course you may. Is something bothering you?"
The girl sighed lightly. "Well, no Master. NOt really. I am more concerned about you to be perfectly honest. I could tell from the other side of the ship how worried about me you are. I understand the need and I know why you are worried, but I can't stand it. I don't want you to be preoccupied."
A small smile crept across Qui-Gon's face and he laughed lightly. "I am sorry, Padawan. You are one hundred percent correct. I will try not to worry so much. We can't have it interfering with my ability to operate!"
Suddenly, there was an insistant beeping on the console in front of Obi-Wan. The young Jedi Knight swung around in his chair and began analyzing the readouts. "Uh-oh. This doesn't look good, Qui-Gon. We seem to be leaking fuel, there is no way we are going to make it to Aleden at this rate. We are going to have to put down somewhere between here and there."
Turning slightly to Kiana he pointed to the nav computer next to her. "Could you pinpoint the best landing planet for me, Kiana. I'll send the parameters to your console."
She nodded and sat down in front of the screen. It didn't take her long to determine that their only alternative landing point was on the remote and hostile planet of Fendow. "Uhm...Master? I have good news and bad news."
He acknowledged. "What is it, Padawan?"
She sighed. "Well, the good news is that I've found a planet to land on. However, the bad news is that the planet is Fendow."
Obi-Wan whistled sharply. "What a predicament we're in now, Qui-Gon. Not only do we need fuel and repairs, the only place we can land is a hostile planet that absolutely hates Jedi and humans. Of which, we three are both."