A handful of late night travelers occupied the seats of a public transport ship. Near the front sat Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon on their way back to the Jedi Temple. "Unfortunately, if this Volacca has a ship he could be systems away by now but...the information might be useful to us still." Qui-Gon sat back and scratched lazily at his bearded chin. "How did you manage to find out his name, by the way?"

"Uh..." Obi-Wan hesitated. "Nahlia and her friend Zep helped me." His eyes remained focused on the back of the seat directly in front of him, and not on his Master's face. Confusion from Nahlia's actions that night and the feelings that her kiss brought out in him persisted. He was sure Qui-Gon knew everything already but wasn't about to broach the subject with him willingly.

"Nahlia..." Qui-Gon sighed. He had already guessed that more had gone on between this girl and his Padawan but he was hoping for once he was wrong. Irritation and a hint of accusation seeped into his next remark. "She followed you there, I suppose?"

Obi-Wan finally made eye contact with Qui-Gon as he said defensively. "Yes, Master. She helped a lot actually. Someone described Volacca to her when no one at the bar would tell me anything. She even persuaded Zep to help."

"Yes." Qui-Gon's scowl remained firmly in place. "Pretty girls can be most persuasive."

"I suppose that could be why." Obi-Wan mused aloud - trying to seem unaffected by Nahlia's beauty. "I did sense that he was attracted to her."

"But she is attracted to you." Qui-Gon pointed out. The shocked expression on Obi-Wan's face didn't sway him from continuing. "You know this already."

"She's just a friend." Obi-Wan insisted. As a Jedi Padawan, he knew that he shouldn't question his Master's judgment but as Obi-Wan grew older and into more and more his own man, he found himself occasionally at odds with Qui-Gon Jinn. "We are allowed to have friends."

"Friends, yes." Sensing his Padawan's rising anger. He attempted to diffuse the situation with a more understanding tone. "But I suspect she's interested in more than friendship."

"I have made a commitment to the Jedi Order." Obi-Wan said unwavering. "I've no intention of breaking that commitment."

"That's good to hear but... she is in your thoughts, Obi-Wan. You cannot deny that." Qui-Gon could sense Obi-Wan's concern for the girl and what he'd seen in his vision. "You can't help her. You can't keep her from dying. This much Yoda has foreseen."

Obi-Wan gritted his teeth in frustration. "Why is it you may go against the Council's wishes time and time again and take on all manners of causes and pathetic life forms in the name of the Living Force, and yet when I show an interest in helping someone, I am wrong?"

Qui-Gon struggled to control his own impatience and irritation with his Padawan. "This is different Obi-Wan."

"How?"

"It just is." Qui-Gon insisted bluntly. "Now I don't want to hear anymore about it. And I don't want you spend anymore time with that girl."

Obi-Wan let out a huff of air through his nostrils before responding sourly. "Yes, master."

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It was mid morning in the Paltry district of Coruscant, but the street where Nahlia Anteros lived gave no indication of it. So high was the architecture on the city planet, that sunlight never reached the lower levels and those who looked to the sky could only see a hazy blue glow in between buildings to indicate between day and night.

Inside of Nahlia's small underground level apartment, Nahlia relaxed on a light blue couch as she read the Coruscant want ads from a thin rectangular shaped holopad which she kept carefully balanced on her lap. It had been bought, second hand, at the Intergalactic Trader's Market, but was easily the most valuable item in her apartment. Like so many other citizens of Coruscant, the holopad kept Nahlia informed about Galactic news through the Holonet and allowed her to communicate with other citizens through a holographic messaging system. As Nahlia scrolled through the ads, she couldn't shake the feeling of hopelessness and anxiety. For a human female, with little in the way of education and experience, there were few employment options available. The jobs she wanted were often taken by faster and more efficient droids and the jobs she knew could have easily, she didn't want.

A light in the upper right hand corner of the holopad blinked green and the pad beeped urgently. Nahlia pressed a button and at the top of the pad a tiny hole opened up. There the small holographic image of her Twi'lek friend Trindi appeared. Trindi was lounging on her bed, still wearing her asteroid theme pajamas. At the same time, next to Trindi's image, a disc shaped image transmitter popped up and sent the holographic image of Nahlia on her couch back to her friend's holopad.

"Hey Nahlia," Trindi wasn't her usual cheery self. "I tried talking to the owner of the club last night but apparently your position has already been filled... by the bartender's girlfriend."

"Hmph." Nahlia continued to concentrate on the want ads on the holopad screen. "That explains why he was so keen to get rid of me."

"Mm. Yeah, really." Trindi perched her head up on one hand. "What are you doing anyway?"

"I've been scouring the Holonet for jobs all morning." Nahlia sighed. "But most of the waitressing positions nearby seem to have been taken by droids."

"What about sales?"

Nahlia kept her concentration on the holopad screen but couldn't help but be discouraged by what she was reading. "Droids."

"Food preparation?" Trindi suggested. "Apartment cleaning?"

"Droids and more droids."

Trindi thought quietly for a moment. "What about child care? You're good with kids."

Nahlia shook her head hopelessly. "Apparently they're making these amazing new Nanny droids that monitor a child's activity and intellectual development and sends the parents reports on their progress as they grow."

"Hmmm..." Trindi continued to ponder the situation. Suddenly, she perked up. "Oh! I know. You could ask for a job at the Jedi Temple. I bet Obi-Wan would help you."

Appalled by the suggestion, Nahlia finally looked up at the holographic image of her friend. "I am not asking him for a job. Besides, I can find one on my own... eventually."

"Okay, well..." Trindi remained undaunted. "Maybe you can get a job at the Jedi Temple on your own. I mean, they can't use droids for everything can they?" She smiled mischievously as she spoke, "And then, if you just happen to run into a certain sexy young padawan in some romantic, secluded, room in the temple, and his tunic just happens to come off-"

Nahlia couldn't hold back a giggle. "Trin! I am not getting a job at the Temple just so I can 'run into' Obi-Wan. That would be silly... and a little bit creepy actually." Nahlia turned her concentration back to her holopad screen. "He probably already thinks I'm incredibly pushy." She muttered. "I don't want him to think I'm stalking him too.

Trindi pulled herself up into a sitting position with her legs crossed on the bed. "It's not stalking." She tried to explain. "It's just... making yourself available... you know... if he needs you for something."

"I'm sure he doesn't need me for anything." Nahlia told her firmly.

"How can you be so sure?" Trindi replied - a naughty smile returned to her tentacle framed face. "You never know, he might need someone from time to time."

Nahlia laughed in response and shook her head. "He's a Jedi, they don't need anyone. Not in the way you mean, anyway."

The Twi'lek pouted. "Well... that's no fun." She sighed. "Why is it all of the good ones are either married or Jedi?

Nahlia only shrugged slightly in response.

"Hey, wait a minute." Trindi suddenly remember something earlier in their conversation. "Why would he think you were pushy? He's the one who kissed you the other night. It's not like you grabbed him and gave him a long, passionate-" She gasped and pointed back at her friend. "You kissed him!"

"Um..." Nahlia cleared her throat. "I may have... a little..."

"And?!"

"And... it was nice..." She continued to concentrate on the holopad screen, now, not because she was reading it but more because she was embarrassed by her behavior with the young Jedi.

"What... when..." Trindi sputtered out. "How did he react?"

"Uh... he seemed sort of surprised, actually."

"He kissed you back at the club though." Trindi pointed out.

"He was drunk when that happened. He didn't know what he was doing."

Trindi raised an eyebrow. "It certainly looked like he knew what he was doing."

"You know what I mean." Nahlia bit her lower lip softly as she remembered her brief indiscretion with Obi-Wan. "I probably shouldn't have kissed him."

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The lavish beauty of Senator Najja Fantui's office rivaled that of even his good friend Chancellor Valorum. Morning traffic could be seen flying by in the distance from the panoramic blast proof window behind the dark brown Shirak wood desk. Fantui, a short round humanoid creature with green scaly skin and a few wisps of grey hair on the top of his head, sat behind his desk across from Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan kept a quiet vigil just behind Qui-Gon's chair as his master updated Fantui on their investigation.

"I do not believe he is working alone, Senator." Qui-Gon explained. "In the Aurora club, several patrons described a similar creature to me as well as a cyborg female that may be involved in the disappearances of some other citizens of Coruscant."

"Other citizens?" The senator let out an annoyed sigh. "Master Jedi, it was my understanding that you were investigating the disappearance of my daughter not other citizens."

"We are." Qui-Gon remained calm even though both he and Obi-Wan were annoyed with the senator's arrogant attitude and lack of concern for the other victims. "However, I believe that other recent missing persons reports may be linked to-"

"Master Jinn," Fantui interrupted rudely. "I have long been a supporter of the Jedi cause and keeping funds flowing to the Temple. However, I have been greatly disappointed in this investigation. You have come to me with nothing. No name of a kidnapper, no evidence or solid leads on where my daughter may be, and my daughter has yet to be returned to me. Now you are telling me that you are wasting time investigating crimes against common citizens instead of finding my daughter?"

"I believe the disappearances are linked Senator." Qui-Gon insisted - still trying to control his ire. Behind him, he could sense anger rising in his Padawan as well. Obi-Wan was developing into a fine Jedi but still had a sharp tongue and slightly impetuous nature.

"You believe?" Senator Fantui sneered. "Again, where is the evidence to support your beliefs?"

"The Force is evidence enough." Obi-Wan snapped. He was still angry with Qui-Gon over Nahlia but he would not let his Master's ability be questioned by some over-bearing politician. "If my Master believes there is a link, then there is."

"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon quieted him before turning back to Fantui. "Why do you believe someone would take your daughter, Senator? There has been no ransom, no political demands. Don't you think that's a little strange?"

"I suppose." He admitted hesitantly. "But perhaps credits and political demands aren't what they are after."

"What else would they be after, Senator?" Qui-Gon could see he was holding back something. "You seem certain this may be politically motivated. Perhaps it would be helpful to the investigation if you would share a bit more information with us... for your daughter's sake."

"Master Jedi," Fantui leaned in closer to Qui-Gon and said warily. "When you have as much power and influence in the Galactic Senate as I do, enemies, I'm afraid, are everywhere."

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3 MONTHS EARLIER:

Senator Fantui sat in his office across from a visibly perturbed Senator Palpatine of Naboo. "It is my concern, Senator Palpatine, that if this proposed hike in trade route taxes goes through that the Trade Federation and those many systems aligned with it will attempt to withdraw from the Republic. It is of the utmost importance that you and your allies in the Senate back down from your support of this potentially disastrous proposal."

Palpatine sneered at the suggestion. "The leaders of the Trade Federation are only driven by greed and corruption. I will not allow them to continue to take advantage of my home world and others with their unscrupulous behavior. A hike in trade route taxation could not only be used to redistribute the Trade Federation's wealth to those who need it but keep their activities better monitored for illegal activities."

"I have many friends in the Trade Federation, Senator." Fantui rose from his chair, the anger in his voice apparent. He leaned over the desk closer to the other Senator and spoke intensely. "Many powerful friends. They would not be pleased to hear you speak so unkindly of them."

"I have powerful friends as well, Senator." Palpatine replied calmly as he remained in his chair. "Friends that believe in my cause."

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The eerie laughter of Darth Sidious clamored against the high walls of the dark master's Coruscant hideout. The statue of a female figure stood in front of him, her face had the appearance of begging and yet no words came out of her lifelike mouth. The color of her long blonde hair and shiny green scales made her appear quite vibrant in the sunlight in which she stood. "It is a particularly cruel joke, is it not Darth Maul?"

Darth Maul remained behind his master, his red and black face twisted into a sadistic grin as he examined the statue.

"Yes..." Sidious closed his eyes and looked into the future of the statue. There he found an intense grief and regret that he relished as some would a beautiful woman's caress. "Particularly cruel..." A low cackle returned to his throat, slowly rising till his ominous laughter once again filled the room.

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Obi-Wan sat up straight on a meditation chair in the Temple Gardens with his arms at his sides and his legs folded in front of him. Qui-Gon had instructed him to go to the garden and meditate on the mission, in the hopes it would take his mind off of Nahlia. Obi-Wan still wanted to please his Master, almost as much as he wanted to be a Jedi Knight himself one day, but his feelings continued to fog his vision and his worries over his new friend plagued his thoughts.

"Young Obi-Wan?" A female voice inquired gently.

Obi-Wan broke his meditation. He immediately recognized the elderly woman Jedi who had disturbed him. "Yes, Mistress Jocasta?"

"There is a young woman in the main hall looking for you."

"Me?" He asked anxiously.

Jocasta Nu nodded. "She asked for you specifically."

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'Why did she have to come here?' Obi-Wan hurried towards the main hall. 'Qui-Gon will not be pleased if he finds out...' He stopped suddenly as he recognized the female standing in the middle of the main hall with a very worried look on her face. It was not Nahlia but her Twi'lek friend.

"Obi-Wan!" Trindi waved in his direction and rushed over to him. "Hi, we met the other night, remember? My name is Trindi."

"Yes, I remember you." Obi-Wan could sense how upset she was and who it was about. "Is something wrong with Nahlia?"

Trindi blurted out her response. "I think she's missing."

TO BE CONTINUED...