Chapter Six


Kyran hit the send key, submitting the latest update in his training curriculum for Jayla. Her physical training had to be revised slightly while she recovered from her injuries, but not enough to make any significant changes in the goals set for her to achieve this year. Of greater concern was her emotional state. The soul healers had assured both of them that her nightmares were perfectly normal and would pass in time. Their frequency had decreased in the past week, although the intensity of the dreams themselves had not. Only last night Jayla had called out for him in her sleep. When she awoke, she sobbingly described a dream where both he and Qui-Gon had been killed in the attempt to rescue her.

It hadn't taken long for her to find out that Qui-Gon had come after her and the results of that action. As Kyran feared, she had felt responsible for the breach between the two men. It had taken several earnest talks to convince her that she had no part in Kyran's feelings towards Qui-Gon. However, the new theme that had appeared among the nightmares about her abduction was harm coming to Qui-Gon. Kyran cursed silently to himself. More fallout from Qui-Gon's impulsive actions.

Qui-Gon stood outside Kyran's door and hesitated briefly before pressing the door chime. He knew that he had to talk to Kyran. Surely he could explain. He was refreshed from his meditation with Yoda and felt sure that he could handle this and things would soon be back to normal. He waited for Kyran to answer the door certain that they could work this out.
Speak of the Sith, Kyran thought as he sensed the familiar presence in the hallway. So they had finally set Qui-Gon loose. That was assuming that he hadn't once more ignored orders and just left. Kyran opened the door, but stood so that he blocked entrance to his rooms. Clearly sending the message that he had no intention of welcoming Qui-Gon in. "Knight Jinn."

Qui-Gon frowned as Kyran didn't step aside. He knew that Kyran was angry with him but he'd been confident that he would at least let him talk. This cold formality was unexpected, he'd expected Kyran to at least call him by his name rather than his title.

"Kyran. Please can we talk?"

"I'm at a loss to think of anything that we have to talk about."



Qui-Gon stared at his friend in stunned silence. How could they have nothing to discuss? "I promised you could explain to me at length my shortcomings. I thought now would be just as good of a time as any to try to get this settled."

"I do not doubt that for the past two weeks the Council has made clear your shortcomings."

Qui-Gon stared in dismay. "Please at least let me try to explain my point of view."
"Its always about your point of view, isn't it, Qui-Gon. Maybe you should consider someone else's point of view for a change. Like how you put my Padawan in a life-threatening situation. Like how you disregarded Code and Council. Like how foolishly and unnecessarily you risked your life. Like how your irresponsibility affected Jayla's emotional wellbeing."

Qui-Gon stepped back as if Kyran had hit him. He was in shock. He'd been certain that Kyran would at least give him a chance. "I-I...Kyran please..." he stammered out.

"Please, what? Please ignore the fact that you just seem to do what you want and expect everyone else to just go along with it regardless of the consequences to themselves?"

Qui-Gon's face hardened. "I suppose I should expect this. After all, I let her get taken in the first place, didn't I Kyran? I can understand how you would find that hard to forgive, but how could I not be a part of her rescue? If my padawan had been taken while in your care would you sit and wait for me to find her alone without any help whatsoever?"

"Do you think that's what you did wrong? The abduction? You self-centered, arrogant Sithspawn. You got ambushed. It happens. I could easily forgive that, its what you did afterwards. Did you think that I couldn't find her on my own without the help of the great Qui-Gon Jinn? Did you even stop to think that you were within an inch of dying just a few days before? That stealing a ship from the Temple after sneaking out of the Healers was one of the stupidest stunts you have ever pulled? Did you forget the fact I had to leave Jayla alone and come back for you?"

Qui-Gon forced himself not to take a step back and took the barbs Kyran threw at him one after another. In a hard voice he responded, "No. I forgot nothing. You refuse to remember that I helped create a situation where you could get to her undetected. What would you have done had the entire mob descended on you while trying to get an unconscious girl out of the building, alone?"

"I would have found a way. I'm six years older than you Qui-Gon. I was a Knight
successfully completing missions while you were still a Padawan learner. The situation you created was one where you placed yourself and Jayla in danger."

"Maybe you would have found a way, but the results speak for themselves. Jayla is safe back at the Temple."

"Ends do not justify the means! That's part of your . . . "

"Master?" a worried voice called from within the apartment.

"I'll be there in a minute, Padawan. As for you, Qui-Gon Jinn, this discussion is over. You chose your path, now live with it." Kyran slammed the door shut.

Qui-Gon stood stunned as the door shut in his face. A wave of frustration and despair slammed into him. Kyran had insulted him and refused to listen at all. He had been sure Kyran would understand. They had been friends most of his life. Kyran knew him better than anyone else. How could he be willing to just end their friendship? Kyran should be able to understand that Qui-Gon had to help him with Jayla's rescue.

Kyran kept focusing on what could have happened, to both himself and Jayla. Why couldn't he see that by being there he had decreased the possibilities of harm to Jayla by providing the cover he had needed to get to Jayla undetected. The risk to himself had been unimportant, and it was Kyran who had taken the unnecessary risks. He should have just left with Jayla instead of coming back for him.

Growling under his breath he turned on his heel and headed for the gym, intending to have a hard work out to relieve the tension. Kyran refused to see reason. Perhaps in a few days after cooling off he would be more willing to talk, maybe that outburst was enough to vent feelings that had built up over the two weeks they couldn't talk things out. Now that Kyran had them out of his system, he would calm down and be willing to talk rationally.


******

Qui-Gon, soaked in sweat, sprawled on the bench along the edge of the gym and gulped from his water bottle. Beside him, barely a wispy hair out of place, sat Master Yoda, sipping from his own water bottle. True to his word, a few days after Qui-Gon had been released from his confinement, Yoda had sought him out to spar.

"Out of practice you have become, dealing with much smaller opponents. Think this would not be a problem for one of your size," observed Yoda teasingly.

"Few beings of any size have your skill, Master," smiled Qui-Gon. Although ranked one of the best saber fighters of his generation, Qui-Gon had been run ragged by the ancient Master.

Yoda harumphfed dismissively, but seemed pleased. For a few minutes they sat in companionable silence, watching as others in the gym sparred, as Qui-Gon caught his breath.

Suddenly, Qui-Gon stiffened. Turning to follow his gaze, Yoda saw Kyran and Jayla enter the gym. Taking up positions on the other side of the large room, Kyran began to lead Jayla through a series of warm-up exercises.

"Such anger between two old friends. A way to forgive each other, you can not find?"

"Its him that won't forgive me, Master. I've tried talking to him, but he just won't listen."

"Tried have you? Jedi do not try. Diplomat's Jedi are supposed to be. Find ways to get others to listen, they can. But perhaps need to listen you do, too."

Qui-Gon looked at master Yoda, puzzled wondering what the small Master was talking about. "How can I listen if he won't talk to me?"

"Perhaps tell you he has already, silence is telling you also. Know you why upset with you he is?" inquired Yoda.

Qui-Gon examined his boots for several seconds before answering. "He said I took unnecessary risks with my health and I affected Jayla's emotional wellbeing by coming after her..but ..how could he expect me to just sit and wait since she was taken while in my care?"

"Hmmmm, reason had he, to think that wait you should?"

Qui-Gon frowned at that. "How could I wait? When I caught up with him, he'd located her. If I'd waited then he might not have had any backup...."

"Might not have needed any backup, perhaps. Was it Jayla's need you sought to fulfill or your own?"

Qui-Gon frowned deeply as he considered and his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm uncertain, but she was taken from my care. Duty demanded that I try to do everything I could to help."

"Consider that carefully you must, whose need you served. Also duty. To yourself? To your friend? What of duty to the Order? Hmmmmmm."

Qui-Gon looked at Yoda and then sighed a little. In a soft voice he replied, "I still believe it was the right thing to do my Master."

"Just as sure Kyran is that wrong you were. Why would he think so, when so sure you are that right you were?"

Qui-Gon sighed deeply. "He said I never consider anyone's point of view but mine. However, " his tone firmed. "I do what the Force guides me to do. The Force guided this decision, therefore I am certain it was the right thing to do."

"Hard it sometime is, to interpret clearly what the Force shows us. No physical harm came to any of you and help you may have in Jayla's return. But consider, did you, if waiting for Kyran's return would have been against the Force?"

Qui-Gon paused at that. He hadn't considered that. The Force had told him that he needed to go. He hadn't considered the possibility that it might also have said that he could wait. "He still should understand why I felt that this was necessary."

"And understand why he felt you were to wait you should."

Qui-Gon nodded slowly. "Yes Master. I realize that Kyran is upset because he feels I put myself needlessly at risk, however I disagree with his point of view. I will meditate further on this. With your permission, I will take my leave. Thank you for the lesson."

Yoda returned Qui-Gon's bow and watched him walk away. His padawan's padawan was not stupid, he could recognize what another's point of view was. The trick was going to be getting Qui-Gon to recognize the legitimacy of anyone else's point of view. Hopping down from the bench, Yoda gathered his things and made his way out of the gym.