Children of the Force
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.....no kidding.....
Kusuri paled as he gazed at the dying plant and set his cup down quickly. Shinzo dumped Qui-Gon's cup into the plant, and this sped up its inevitable death. A commotion outside the door caught their attention. Petin entered, holding an angry looking boy by the arm. They recognized him as the boy who had served them their drinks.
"I found Chotto listening outside the door," he told Shinzo. She picked up her cup and held it out to the struggling boy. Her voice was quiet, almost seductive.
"Drink, Chotto."
His angry face gave her the answer she wanted. Dumping it into another pot, she set the empty cup down and nodded at Petin and a girl who had come to see what all the commotion was about. They held Chotto firm as Shinzo searched his pockets quickly and efficiently. Obi-Wan was surprised to note that she held no anger. Then a tiny flame radiated form her as she pulled something from his inner pocket. Petin and the girl, seeing her face, released the boy and stepped away from him quickly. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan winced as her hand shot out and struck his face. He fell against the wall as she spoke, voice cold and hard.
"An attempt on my life is expected at one point." Her anger grew slightly. "But to attempt to murder a Jedi, someone completely neutral is despicable. Petin, get him out of my sight!" She turned to the girl. "Asa, search his room for anything suspicious." They nodded and hurried out of the room. Shinzo turned back to the Jedi, face drawn.
"I apologize."
Qui-Gon waved her off as she sat down. She sighed and put her face in her hands. Kusuri touched her shoulder and she looked up with a tired smile.
"Now, back to your problem, Master-?"
"Jinn. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Anyway, I can help you with some of your mission." She picked up a long wooden box and handed it to him. She nodded at his questioning look and he opened it. He closed his eyes. Obi-Wan looked over and into the box. It was a lightsaber.
"Mastser Cheral's lightsaber was with his body. The late leader of the COTF had it preserved and buried in our cemetery. If you wish to take it back to Coruscant, we will retrieve it for you. In the ways of the ancient Shinu, we have mastered the art of the preservation of bodies." She paused. "Master Cheral's companion left no trace, whether dead or alive."
"She is alive," Obi-Wan stated firmly. Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows . "Tana and I were close friends like Bant and I are. Even though I have not seen her but once since she was chosen as Padawan, I would be able to feel it if she died." He looked at Qui-Gon. "She was chosen when she was nine, you know. I did not notice this before, but our connection has strengthened since we arrived."
Shinzo turned on her comlink. "If she is, then we will find her. We have contacts all over the planet, branches, you could say of the COTF." She spoke for a couple minutes. When she was done, Qui-Gon spoke, already accepting his Padawan's words.
"What is the COTF?" he asked.
"Children of the Force."