Chapter Seven

Kyran headed towards the Jedi Council Chamber, his Padawan walking the traditional two steps behind and to the left. Jayla was physically fine and just this morning the soul healers had pronounced her well on the way to recovery for the trauma. He himself felt an immense amount of relief at the idea of being assigned a mission. It would be good to get back in the field once more. Granted, part of that was the idea that he would no longer have to be concerned about running into Qui-Gon.

Entering the Chamber, Kyran made sure to keep his face serene, but he knew the Council would easily detect the flare of annoyance. There, standing in the center of the room, was Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon stared in surprise at his friend, then his face smoothed out and became unreadable. This was an unexpected turn of events. He'd known the Council was going to give him a partner on his next mission, but he hadn't expected it to be Kyran. What game were they playing? Was this their subtle way of trying to state that they were concerned with the confrontation between them?

Without a second glance at Qui-Gon, Kyran led his padawan to the center of the room. He stood next to Qui-Gon, but spared him all of the attention of a decorative plant. Bowing to the Council, he said, "Greeting, Masters. Forgive our slight delay, my Padawan's session with the soul healers ran slightly late."

"Your apology is accepted, Master Josel. Contacted us Master Han'yaie did to inform us that late you would be." Yoda started the proceedings.

"We have also received notification that your Padawan has been released back onto the active duty list," added Yarrel Poof.

"Yes, Masters. The healers and I are pleased with her progress." Kyran said.

Qui-Gon's face paled slightly at the mention that Jayla was still seeing the soul healers. He'd wondered how she was doing and with Kyran ignoring him he had been able to find out very little information on how she was doing. He was very pleased to hear that she was recovering rapidly, but that was mixed with the guilt of knowing that it was his fault she'd had to go to the healers in the first place.

"Her return to active duty comes at a good time. We have received word that a former Jedi has taken control of the government of C'lasi V and is suspected of using Dark Side abilities to maintain his power. You are to return him to the Temple so the truth of this can be determined."

Qui-Gon frowned deeply as the Council explained the mission. The idea of investigating someone that had left the order hit a little to close to his own situation. The possibility that he could be expelled hung over his head like a dagger on a slender thread. Had the Council chosen him for this as a way to remind him that leaving the ways of the Jedi could lead to Darkness? He had a sudden feeling of foreboding and glanced at Kyran briefly out of the corner of his eye. Very formally and in a flat tone of voice he stated. "I will do as I am ordered and accept the mission."

"With respect, my masters, I must exercise my right to decline this mission," said Kyran.

"Master Josel, I ask you to reconsider. There are currently no other Jedi available for this mission. Furthermore, the Council believes you and Knight Jinn will have an advantage in convincing the former Jedi to return with you, since he was known to both of you during his time at the Temple. Dovance Gaikusan."

Kyran frowned thoughtfully, the name sounded familiar but he couldn't place it at once. Gaikusan, he recalled after a few moments of searching his memory. He had been an agemate of Qui-Gon's and had been in several of Qui-Gon's classes. Kyran had only known him through Qui-Gon and he didn't think Qui-Gon had been that close to him, either.

Qui-Gon waited wondering if Kyran would accept the mission and work with him again. He was optimistic that this would be a perfect opportunity for them to work things out and make things right while trying to bring someone to justice and he was doing as ordered which was what Kyran wanted him to do in the first place. Surely he wouldn't decline a mission such as this...

"Nevertheless, I again decline." said Kyran. Behind him, Jayla looked startled that her master would turn down a request from the Council.

Qui-Gon stared at Kyran in surprise as he declined for a second time. He was shocked that Kyran had refused the mission knowing that there would be no one else to go with him. This mission would not be easy even with help. He wondered why Kyran was suddenly declining orders from the Council.

"What is your reason for declining," asked Ploo Kloon. Jedi had the right to decline a mission, but they were obligated to explain why.

"If Gaikusan has become a Dark Jedi, he will not come quietly back to Coruscant. I recall that he left amid charges of inappropriate use of his Force abilities during both his missions and his off hours. My Padawan has only recently recovered, I do not feel it is appropriate to take her on this mission, but neither will I leave her behind in the Temple so soon. I am willing to take on other field work at this time, but not this mission."

Qui-Gon stared at his friend in dismay. Gaikusan had been his agemate and they'd been casual friends when they were both initiates. He hadn't seen Gaikusan since they were both senior Padawans, when they had run into reach other in the cafeteria. As each had been on their way to an offplanet mission, that meeting had been brief. Qui-Gon remembered the dry wit and sarcasm that had made their short conversation an entertaining verbal sparing. That he'd left and was trying to take over a planet was most disturbing. As was something else. Kyran had refused the mission. Kyran, as far as he knew, had never refused a mission in his life, regardless of the risk. Had the emotional damage to Jayla been even worse that he thought, that Kyran would neither expose her to a potentially Dark Jedi nor leave her alone at the Temple?

"Sense, I do, that another reason you have, Master Josel," pressed Yoda.

Kyran nodded. "On a mission, especially one with the risk of going against someone who was once a Jedi, who has the same abilities as us, requires that the Jedi partners have trust in each other. I cannot say that I trust Knight Jinn to do as he needs on a mission."

Yoda's ears dipped downward, a sign of his disapproval, "Fear for both padawan and friend you have let develop into anger. A Jedi should have released both into the Force. Unseemly it is for you allow it to interfere in your duties."

"I will do my duty to the Jedi, as I always have. I will serve on any other mission you see fit to offer, but I will not work with Knight Jinn nor place my Padawan in unnecessary peril."

Qui-Gon looked at Kyran, in stunned disbelief. Kyran didn't trust him? Since when? They'd been friends since he was five years old and had trusted each other enough to form a mental link, which they'd used . . . until now. Qui-Gon realized his friend hadn't spoken to him through their link since he'd put up his mental shields when trying to apologize. His face burned at the betrayal. Kyran was willing to just throw away their friendship and let him go face whatever dangers awaited him alone.

"It is within your rights, but I would ask you once more to reconsider. There is no one else available to partner on this mission if you refuse," Mace leaned forward intently. Had things really gone this far between his two friends that Kyran would refuse a mission just to avoid Qui-Gon?

"I once more refuse. If you have no other need of me, my masters," Kyran bowed and spun on his heal, striding towards the exit. Jayla looked briefly between the Council and Qui-Gon, then hurried after her master, radiating confusion and worry.

Qui-Gon watched numbly as Kyran exited the room, leaving him standing before the Council alone. He tried valiantly to regain control of his emotions as he'd been taught but his control was rapidly slipping away from him. The knife of Kyran's words had been driven deep and had cut into his soul. The person he had thought of his closest friend no longer trusted him.

Silence filled the room as the Councilors watched Qui-Gon struggle to regain control of his emotions. When it seemed that he had them as well under control as possible, "You will need to complete this mission alone, it is vital that we determine if a Dark Jedi has arisen. May the Force go with you."

After Qui-Gon had left the chamber, the Council members allowed themselves to express their deep concern over what they had just observed between the two men.

"There is much anger between those two. If it continues to grow, both could be lost to the Darkside," said Oppos Rancisis, the flicking of his tail indicating a small measure of his distress.

"One of the dangers of the attachment of such close friendships, that the strength of the friendship becomes twisted into the strength of enmity."

"Hmmmm," Yoda closed his eyes to better focus on the possibilities revealed in the Force, "Uncertain is the future surrounding them. Crossroads they are near, either become more from the trials they will face, or lose them we will."

"What actions can we take that will most likely guide them away from the Dark?" asked Mace.

"Few our options are. Decisions they must make, offer only our support we can."

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Qui-Gon stood stunned into inaction outside of the Council Chambers for several long minutes , in complete disbelief at what had just happened inside the Council room. Finally, the stubborn determination that was part of the core of his being began to shout. He would fix this, somehow. He would find out what he had to do to get Kyran to forgive him. Qui-Gon reached out along his bond with Kyran. He was still being firmly blocked, but that didn't stop him from being able to sense Kyran's general location. With long strides, Qui-Gon began making his way towards Kyran's rooms.

Qui-Gon caught up to Kyran near the lift. "Kyran! Wait a moment."

Kyran didn't wait. The last thing he wanted was a conversation with Qui-Gon. "Jayla, why don't you run along to the meditation room. I'll be along in a minute." He got on to the lift, not wanting to wait for Qui-Gon.

/You aren't getting away that easily,/ thought Qui-Gon. Slipping past Jayla, he managed to get onto the lift just as the doors were closing. "Kyran, talk to me about this."

"We have nothing to discuss, Knight Jinn." Kyran folded his arms across his chest.

"We have everything to discuss. Like the way you keep calling me Knight Jinn. We've been friends almost all of my life, Kyran. Won't you at least give me that?"

"We were friends yes. However your behavior as of late has said otherwise." Kyran responded curtly.

Qui-Gon flinched at the slight emphasis Kyran had put on the word were. "I swear to you Kyran, if I could take back that moment of carelessness that allowed Jayla to be kidnapped I would. I would have rather died myself than allowed any harm to come to her, you must know that."

"You still don't get it do you, Knight Jinn." Kyran gritted out. "I asked you specifically point blank to stay behind. You did not. To me that says you do not value my friendship nor my advice. Why should I listen to anything you have to say? Do you know what I hear when I go to sleep at night Qui-Gon? Jayla calls out for me in her sleep with nightmares about you getting yourself killed."

"I'm sorry, Kyran," Words seemed to fail Qui-Gon. He was a skilled diplomat, quickly gaining a reputation as an excellent negotiator. But whenever it came to explaining how he felt, the reasons behind why he needed to take certain actions, it was as if did not have the ability to sell ice on Tatooine. "I needed to help you find her. Your friendship is one of the most important things in my life, how could I let you go alone?"

"How could you not. You don't trust my judgement why should I trust yours?" Kyran snapped.

"I trust you with my life, Kyran. I'm sorry that I let Jayla get taken. I'm sorry that you had to come back for me. I'm sorry most of all that I've so damaged your trust in me. But I can't be sorry that I backed you up when you went after Jayla. Please, reconsider this mission. Let me earn back your friendship and your trust."

"Are you asking me for help or do you just want to regain my friendship?" Kyran demanded. "It doesn't work like that Knight Jinn. You're behaving childishly. Sorry doesn't make the offense disappear." The lift stopped and Kyran got out. "Come and find me when you've grown up a little and can accept another's point of view."

Qui-Gon was out of the lift in a flash. The tension of the past weeks finally snapped in him. Grabbing Kyran by the arm, he hauled him back around. "Who is acting childishly? I've apologized and done my best to make clear to you that I will do whatever I have to so that we can repair our friendship. All you've done is avoid me and address me like we barely know each other. I did what I did because it was the right thing to do. Yes, I want your friendship. And yes, I need my friend on this mission. It's going after a possible Dark Jedi."

Kyran frowned and twisted out of Qui-Gon's grip. " I will not take Jayla into that dangerous a situation until she has completely recovered. Can't you see how dangerous it would be for her? Even more so with someone along who does what ever he thinks is right, regardless of what his partner may say. That's the end of this discussion. Do as you are told, for once."

Qui-Gon stepped back as if the white-hot pain of Kyran's betrayal of their friendship had been a physical blow. He had refused. He had refused to repair the rift in their friendship. Qui-Gon had asked his friend for help and he refused to give it. He swallowed hard and he felt moisture coming to his eyes, as he stared at Kyran for several long minutes. Finally after trying without success to regain his composure he bowed, to give himself some sense of dignity and quietly walked away without a word or a glance back.

Kyran felt his friend's hurt before he turned and walked away. He had hurt Qui-Gon deeply. Guiltily he almost called out after him but then he stopped. He would do what he had to to ensure that his friend didn't make the same reckless mistake again that might get him killed. If that meant he had to be hard on his friend for awhile then so be it, he would.

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