Thanks Ziptango. Your reviews were very encouraging!

Obi-Wan leapt out of bed as a wave of pain pulled him from sleep. His lightsaber was shining in his hand before his eyes were fully open, his mind alert and aware of sudden danger. Several paces away Qui-Gon stood in a fighting stance, his own lightsaber held defensively in front of him, perfectly still in the dark.

The two Jedi did not need to look at each other to know they had both felt the same thing: death. They rushed out into the corridor, lightsabers held high, The Force guiding them through the maze of the unfamiliar building. From a doorway to their right streaked two figures, their weapons a blue and purple blur as they raced towards Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Without speaking, the four ran on together, reaching their destination precious minutes later.

Qui-Gon hammered on the black door with one large fist, impatience getting the better of the usually calm Jedi Master. A moment later Cahn appeared, his silver eyes wide with fear.

"Masters," he cried, his soft voice high and agitated. "I have just received word…an attack."

 Shara nodded. "We felt it," she said. "But we do not know who was killed."

Cahn looked at her, tears glistening in his moon-like orbs. "The Governor," he whispered. "The Governor's house was blown up. His wife, his children…everyone destroyed."

Shock raced through Obi-Wan. The Governor? Surely no rights groups were that bold? And yet it had happened. The Governor, the man who held ultimate power over Seratina, was dead.

"This is serious indeed." Qui-Gon's voice was grave. "We must go there at once." He hesitated, looking at Shara and Leyana doubtfully. Whilst Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had slept in their Jedi robes, the other two were still in their night clothes. Obi-Wan fought an inappropriate thought as he took in Leyana's sheer white shirt, visible through the opening of her brown cloak.

Qui-Gon raised a discreet eyebrow in his Padawan's direction which Obi-Wan chose to ignore, focusing instead on the marble floor beneath him.

"You go on," Shara said, oblivious to the private exchange between Master and Padawan. "Leyana and I will follow shortly." Qui-Gon nodded his assent, and he swept down the corridor, Obi-Wan and Cahn close behind.

 "I will have a security guard escort you to the Governor's premises," the Seratiniun said. "You will travel by Dingen. It is the fastest way."

"Is the Governor's house far?" asked Qui-Gon, without slowing his pace.

Cahn shook his head. "Not far, but speed is of the essence." He led them down a twisting staircase into a large stone room filled with round, bright green transportation vehicles. They reminded Obi-Wan of floaters, but with a glass covering. Cahn showed them into the nearest one, calling out in Seratiniun as he moved. Moments later another Seratiniun appeared, noticeably bigger than Cahn, wearing pale green clothes, several weapons strapped to his body.

"This is Teeota," Cahn explained, gesturing Teeota into the Dingen. "He is my head of security. I hope you will find his presence useful."

Qui-Gon bowed slightly. "We thank you," he said, pushing Obi-Wan into the peculiar transport before him.

"I will follow as soon as I can," Cahn said, "But there are things I must see to here first."

"Of course," replied Qui-Gon. "We quite understand."

Cahn nodded, then gave some instructions to Teeota in Seratiniun, before stepping away from the Dingen. No sooner had he moved than the Dingen's engines roared to life, and the little green circle shot into the city at an alarming speed.

"Master," said Obi-Wan, turning to Qui-Gon with a frown on his young face. "Could it be there is someone else at work here, other than the protest groups? It seems they have more to lose than gain by killing the Governor."

Qui-Gon blinked, surprised his Padawan had got to the heart of the issue, and Qui-Gon's own thoughts, so quickly. "It is an odd move," he admitted quietly. "Resorting to murder will only create more opposition against their campaign. Without support they cannot hope to gain any sort of victory. But who else could have reason for wanting to be rid of Governor Thelos?"

"Perhaps," said Obi-Wan slowly, "Whoever it is is trying to make it look as though the protest groups killed the Governor, to discredit their cause." Qui-Gon glanced at him, unable to cover his surprise at his apprentice's sharp mind. "Perhaps," he agreed softly. There was no more time to continue their discussion, as at that moment the Dingen came to an abrupt halt, jerking Obi-Wan out of his seat. Qui-Gon reached out a quick hand to steady him, and Obi-Wan sent his Master a grateful look. They climbed carefully out of the vehicle, and glanced around, eyes adjusting to the scene of horror around them.

There was death everywhere. It hung in the air, a heavy stench, circling with the smoke that rose from the ruins of the Governor's house. Seratiniuns ran back and forth, cries of grief and rage flying through the night, sirens wailing, lights flashing. Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a moment, seeking composure against the wave of anger that swelled towards those responsible. When he opened them again, he found Qui-Gon looking at him, an unspoken question hanging delicately in the air. Obi-Wan nodded to show he was all right, and the two Jedi strode forward, beginning the task of searching for survivors amongst the debris.

***

Leyana dressed quickly, throwing on her Jedi robes with little regard to her appearance. Within moments she and Shara were moving swiftly down the corridor towards the clear glass lifts located on each floor. They were to meet Cahn in Conference Room Three on the Ground Floor. There he would give them any information he had managed to gather in the last ten minutes, and supply them with transport to the Governor's house.

Leyana could hardly believe this was happening. They had barely been there five minutes, and things were already being blown up. She had felt the deaths of the Governor and his family. She had felt their pain and fear and shock, and she struggled to control her anger as she followed Shara to the lifts. How could someone do that? How? Senselessly murder another human being? Because, as far as she could see, the murder was senseless. What could the protest groups hope to gain by killing the Governor? Their cause would be abandoned, they would lose all their support.

"It makes no sense," she muttered.

"I know," agreed Shara, able, as always, to understand her Padawan's thoughts. "The protest groups have too much to lose to attempt such a brash move. There must be someone else involved."

"Yes, but who?"

Shara turned troubled, indigo eyes toward her apprentice. "I don't know," she admitted.

The lift arrived with a soft 'whoosh', and the two stepped hastily into the cylinder shaped car suspended in front of them. The door closed behind them, and a cool voice asked "Floor please?"

"Ground Floor," said Shara, glancing subconsciously toward the ceiling. There was a silence, then "Going down." and the lift began a smooth descent.

For a moment Leyana said nothing, but then turned to face her Master, wondering exactly how to voice her worries. "Shara," she began cautiously. "If there is someone else involved, another...presence…why can't we-" she broke off, a small cry of shock escaping her lips as they were plunged into sudden darkness. The lift stopped, suspended between floors, motionless.

"Something tells me this isn't a routine malfunction," Shara commented dryly. "We'll have to climb out of the top and up to the nearest doors." She glanced at her Padawan for any objections, but Leyana only smiled in reply. She always did like an adventure.

Shara boosted her up to the ceiling of the car, and Leyana quickly opened the glass panel, hoisting her body through the opening. She reached a hand back down, and a moment later felt her Master's grip, carefully pulling her up too. They stood for a moment, letting their eyes adjust to the darkness of the lift shaft. Shara peered through the gloom, sharp gaze settling on the outline of a door, some twenty metres above. The side of the shaft was perfectly smooth, offering no footholds.

"We could use our suction guns," suggested Leyana. "But on second thought, they might not stick to the glass." Shara nodded, absorbing the information as she looked for another possibility.

"There." She was pointing to a spot about fifteen metres above them, where a small glass ledge jutted out from the otherwise seamless shaft. It was only thirty centimetres in width, but it was enough to get a firm footing on.

"Can you make it?" she asked her Padawan.

Leyana smiled. "I can make it," she replied.

"Good. You can go first, that way if you fall I can catch you."

Leyana raised an eyebrowat her Master, detecting the hint of a smile through her words. "Well I'm glad I'll have something soft to land on," she teased.

She closed her eyes, gathering much needed concentration, and wrapped The Force around her like a blanket. She felt it energise her body, focusing on the muscles in her legs, giving her extra strength.

She jumped.

For a few pure moments, she felt like she was flying. Weightless, she soared into the air, arms pinned to her sides, gravity left far behind. She could sense the ledge in the dark, knew exactly where it was and how she would land: right foot turned out, left on tiptoe, hands pressed against the glass wall, steadying her. She glanced up at the doors, only five metres above now, within reach. Again she gathered The force, sending it toward the doors in an arrow of steel. It should of sprung them apart with no trouble, but the doors remained unmoving, unopened. She frowned and tried again, this time harder, pushing as much life as she could towards those doors. Nothing.

"Is there a problem?" came Shara's dry tone from below.

"The doors are stuck," Leyana called.

"Stuck?" repeated Shara, an obvious note of disbelief in her voice.

"Yes, stuck. It's almost as if something is blocking them, stopping The Force from taking effect."

Before Shara could reply the lights flickered, and hope rose in Leyana's chest, only to be dashed when the feeble flicker diminished, and darkness ensued. But the lift shaft was vibrating slightly, and to the Jedi's horror, a slight whirring noise echoed against the glass.

The lift was once again active. But it was moving upwards, not downwards.

Leyana leapt from the ledge onto the top of the car beside her Master. Shara shot her a grim look, as the car gathered speed.

The Jedi didn't need a light to see the end of shaft coming closer, ready to crush them to death.

***

"Here. Over here."

Qui-Gon ran in the direction of Obi-Wan's cry, The Force guiding him easily to his Padawan. Obi-Wan was kneeling on the grass, bent over a small, still figure. It was a Seratiniun girl, barely six years old by the look of her. Her skin was black from the explosion, cuts covered her arms and legs, and a large gash in her forehead leaked blood.

Her eyes fluttered slightly as Qui-Gon knelt beside her, opening wide with fear.

"Daddy," she whispered, her young voice hoarse from smoke inhalation.

"It's okay," Qui-Gon murmured laying a cool hand on her forehead. "What is your name?"

"Rosarie," said the girl. "I want my Daddy."

"I know," replied Qui-Gon, his voice soft. "But he's not here right now. I need your help Rosarie."

The girl regarded him with wide, silver eyes. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I am Qui-Gon Jinn. I have come to help your planet." The girl nodded and closed her eyes, as if she had no strength left to keep them open.

"Rosarie," Qui-Gon's voice was gentle, hiding the urgency he was feeling. "Where were you when the house exploded?"

"Outside," came the fearful reply. "I shouldn't have gone, but I just wanted to say goodnight to Midnight. Please don't be angry."

"I'm not angry," Qui-Gon reassured her. "I need to know if you saw anything unusual. It's very important."

"There was a man," said Rosarie, her eyes still closed. "He was dressed in black. I hid from him. I thought Daddy had sent him. He was carrying a package."

Qui-Gon glanced at Obi-Wan. A package bomb?

"What sort of package?" he asked.

"A brown one." Rosarie's voice was growing fainter. "I only wanted to say goodnight to Midnight. Do you think Daddy will be angry?"

Qui-Gon smiled sadly, gently stroking the girl's silvery hair. "No," he whispered. "He won't be angry."

Rosarie nodded, eyes still closed. She took one last, shuddering breath, then lay still in Qui-Gon's arms.

***

Shara bent over the panel through which they had originally come, trying to ignore the panic bells ringing in her head. It was stuck fast.

"It won't budge," she cried.

"There's no other way out." Leyana's voice held a definite edge of fear in it. "We're trapped!"

The lift was gathering speed at an alarming rate, carrying them closer and closer to the top of the shaft.

"Stay calm," called Shara. "There must be another way." But she could barely hear her own voice over the rush of air as they sped upwards. They passed set after set of glass doors, the building dark beyond, and Shara waved her hand frantically at each one, willing The Force to aid her. But each set remained closed as the lift continued it's fatal journey.

Shara gave a cry and flung herself to the ground, pushing Leyana before her, trying desperately to protect her Padawan from their monstrous fate. She braced herself, waiting for the pain, for the crunch of metal, for death.

Nothing happened.

It took her a moment to realise the car was no longer moving. They were barely half a metre from the top of the shaft, so close they could touch it with their fingers.

"We've stopped." Leyana's voice was barely more than a whisper, laced with disbelief. "We've stopped," she said again.

Shara gave a relieved laugh, and carefully rolled onto her back. "That was a little too close," she commented wryly. "Now to get out of-" Her stomach lurched as the lift roared to life again.

Leyana let out a gasp as it suddenly dropped from beneath them. For a moment they were suspended in mid air, then landed back on the car with a painful thump. Panic raced through Shara's veins. It was too fast, they would never make it.

"The ledges," she cried desperately. "Leyana, the ledges." She saw Leyana glance at the tiny glass ledges beneath each set of doors, whizzing past them as they dropped down.

Ready?

Leyana nodded. Both Jedi could sense the next ledge, coming at them in a spilt second.

Now!

They reached out exactly the same time, fingers curling around the smooth glass, grips like death. The lift fell away beneath them, and they waited, hanging in the dark, for the crash as it hit the bottom.

It never came.

Peering through the darkness, Shara could just about make out the car about a metre from the bottom of the shaft.

"Someone's playing with us," she said, realisation dwaning.

"Fun game," her apprentice replied sarcastically.

Shara waved a hand at the doors above them, expecting the mysterious resistance. They opened easily.

"Let's get out of here," she muttered. "Before the phantom lift strikes again." She leapt through the open doors above, Leyana close behind.

As they stopped and peered down the lift shaft the lights flickered suddenly back to life. The two Jedi became suddenly very still as they saw clearly what fate could have befallen them. It was a long, long way down. Shara glanced upward and noted the several long, deadly spikes reaching down a metre from the top of the shaft. Leyana shuddered, following her gaze.

"Whoever is playing this game doesn't have much of a sense of humour," she whispered.

"No," agreed Shara gravely. "They don't."

***

Qui-Gon sighed and ran a dirty hand across his forehead, wiping away a small pool of sweat. He had been working hard to help the Seratiniuns clear some of the debris from the explosion, in the vain hope that there might be survivors. The sky was slowly turning to a pale blue, signalling the star of the day.

He glanced up as Obi-Wan appeared, reading from a data sheet, his face unusually blank.

"Rosario Thelos," he said. "Youngest of seven children. Jamilla Thelos was only sixteen. She was the oldest."

"They are all gone?" asked Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Along with Reeta Thelos, seven servants, three of whom were married with children and the Governor himself." He lowered the paper, grief written on his features. "Who could do this Qui-Gon? Who could murder innocent children?"

Qui-Gon stood, brushing his hands on his tunic. "Unfortunately, many people."

Obi-Wan stared at the still smoking ruins of the house. "Midnight was her pony," he said softly. "She was saying goodnight to her pony." Qui-Gon laid a comforting hand on his Padawan's shoulder, and for a moment neither of them spoke.

"Have Shara and Leyana arrived?" Obi-Wan asked, scanning the grounds as he spoke. Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes, they ran into a little lift trouble." At Obi-Wan's questioning glance he shook his head. "I'll explain later. Shara wanted to see if she could find anything left of that package, though I have a feeling it will have been totally destroyed in the explosion."

No sooner had he spoken, the other Jedi appeared both, like Qui-Gon, rumpled and dirty. Shara was holding a twisted lump of metal in one hand, beaming as if it was the most wonderful thing she'd ever seen.

"I've found it," she announced, holding up the melted lump. "The bomb. And get this, it's an ion bomb."

Qui-Gon blinked, wondering for a moment if he'd misheard. "It's a what?"

"An ion bomb," she repeated. "Qui-Gon, you know what this means."

"Yes," he said softly. "I do."

"Well then perhaps you'd like to tell us," Leyana said bluntly, "since we don't have a clue." Qui-Gon glanced at her in surprise. She was rather…forward.

"It means," he replied heavily, "that this bomb was imported from off planet, since there is no possible way the ionite used could have been found on Seratina."

"Why not?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Because the temperature at the planet core is too low to form ionite," explained Shara. "It's scientifically impossible for ionite to form here. And since I doubt the Seratiniuns would go to the trouble, not to mention the danger, of importing an ion bomb when chalk bombs are easily obtainable here, it's probable that someone else is involved." She looked thoughtful. "I expect they didn't think any trace would survive. Or maybe they're just stupid."

"So there is a third party." Leyana frowned slightly. "This definitely complicates things."

Qui-Gon sighed, suddenly feeling tired. "We had better get back," he said. "Take this to Cahn, see what he thinks." Shara nodded in agreement, and the two Masters began to walk toward their Dingens. Qui-Gon stopped, frowning as he realised Obi-Wan was not following. The younger Jedi stood a little way off, gazing blankly at the scene of destruction around them. Qui-Gon was about to go to him, but Shara placed a gentle hand on is arm, restraining him. He shot her a look of annoyance. "He's my Padawan," he said.

"Then you should know the time to let others play a part," she replied, staring pointedly at her own Padawan, who was a few feet from Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon hesitated, unwilling to let another comfort his apprentice.

"It's the first step to letting go," Shara said softly. He stilled, wondering exactly how this women could depict his thoughts.

"I know how it feels," she said. "You don't want to let him go. But you have to Qui-Gon. It's the way it has to be." She tugged his arm slightly. "They can find their own way."

It was the truth, Qui-Gon could see it. He nodded, and allowed her to lead him away.

***

An odd feeling overwhelmed Obi-Wan, stinging his eyes with tears, sapping his muscles of their strength.

All this pain, all this death. And for what? For what?

"I don't want to feel like this," he said softly. "But I can't help it."

Leyana did not speak, but he could feel her presence.

"Does it make me weak?" he asked softly.

"No. It makes you human."

"I'm not human. I'm a Jedi."

She gave a soft laugh. "Obi-Wan, all Jedi are human."

 There was a pause as he considered this. Yes, all Jedi were human. Even Qui-Gon succumbed to his emotions sometimes. When Tahl died…

"Well," said Leyana suddenly. "I mean not all Jedi are human. Your friend Bant's a Mon Calimarian, and Master Yoda's a…well, I'm not actually sure what Master Yoda is, but he's definitely not human. He's green." She glanced at him for confirmation, then blushed.

"Sorry," she said. "This isn't exactly helping, is it?"

Obi-Wan grinned wryly. "Actually, you'd be surprised."

She smiled, turning to face him, and an entirely new feeling overcame him, as if someone had drenched him in emotion. They stared at each other for a moment, then her hand reached out to him, almost as if she didn't notice. His breath caught in his throat as her finger brushed his cheek, the softest touch imaginable. Time seemed suspended.

She coughed and dropped her hand, cheeks flaming. There was an awkward silence, then she muttered, "Well, we'd better go." He nodded quickly, and they walked quickly towards the remaining Dingen, determinedly avoiding each other's eyes, unable to forget the tenderness of a finger brushing a cheek. 

***

The four Jedi retired to their quarters for a few hours sleep, exhausted by the night's events. Leyana changed from her sweaty, soot stained robed, pulling the cool, soft whiteness of her nightshirt over her head, the material settling against her golden skin.

She was drawing back the crisp white sheets of her sleep couch when an unexpected flash of colour caught her eye. A piece of yellow paper lay innocently folded on her pillow. She hesitated a moment, then reached for it, reading the message inside.

Did you enjoy the elevator ride?

***