Chapter Eleven

Jedi Master Devin Ly'rath sighed deeply as he walked along the corridors with his padawan, his travel pack slung over one shoulder. It had been a most tiring mission and it hadn't even turned out the way he would've liked. He wondered vaguely if his two best friends, Qui-Gon and Kyran were in the Temple or on missions. Preoccupied with his tiredness and the stiff achy muscles he had acquired he didn't sense the other Jedi until he'd run headlong into him. "My apologies..."

"No, the fault was mine, I wasn't . . . Devin? When did you get back?" Equally preoccupied with his own thoughts, it took Kyran a split second to recognize the man he had just bumped into. Slightly taller than himself, Devin was more slender, with piercing brown eyes that gazed out from under thick brown eyebrows. His skin was an even deeper golden brown than usual, indicating that his last mission had required a great deal of time in the sun. Standing slightly behind Devin, looking as if she was asleep on her feet, was his Padawan, Jalei.

"Just now. What you think I'm carrying my travel pack all around the Temple for the fun of it?" He smirked.

"Well your idea of a fun time has always been a little strange."

Devin rolled his eyes. "That lower level adventure was your fault. Not mine. Where's Qui-Gon? Is he here?"

"No," Kyran said, the open grin disappearing.

Devin noted the look on his face. "Jalei. Why don't you run along to our quarters. I'll be there shortly."

"Yes, Master. Do you want me to take your pack?" The auburn haired girl offered, even as she stifled a yawn.

Devin shook his head negative. "I can carry it. Your master may be getting old but he's not that old yet. " He grinned. "Go on. You need some sleep."

With a smile and a slight bow to both men, Jalei continued down the hall.

"You should go with her, Devin. You looked like something a nexu spit up."

"Thanks a lot. You don't look like a flower garden yourself. What's the matter?"

Kyran shrugged. "A lot has happened while you were gone. It will take a while to explain and I'd rather not do it standing in the hall. Why don't you unpack and get some rest. Its nothing that can't wait until tomorrow." The truth was Kyran would have been very happy to avoid having this conversation completely. Devin had been friends with Qui-Gon almost as long as he had.

Devin frowned deeply at Kyran and studied him. "You're hiding something. We'll talk about it in my quarters or yours if you'd prefer. I slept on the flight…I'll be alright for a few more hours."

A Jedi does not avoid a situation just because it may be difficult or unpleasant, Kyran reminded himself. Delaying telling Devin about his estrangement with Qui-Gon wasn't going to make the telling any easier. "Okay. My quarters. Jayla is out and there's no reason to disturb your Padawan's rest."

Devin nodded then quirked a grin. "Good. Your quarters probably have fresh food. Mine don't."

Kyran smirked slightly at that and then the two rode in companionable silence on the lift to Kyran's apartment. He flipped on a light and Devin settled himself on Kyran's couch, making himself at home as his friend headed to the kitchen. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes actually," Devin replied as he put his feet up on Kyran's couch.

"Would you like kaf?" Kyran questioned as he started to heat up some leftover stew for his friend.

"No thanks. Do you have tea?"

"Of course. Qui-Gon usually makes sure--" He trailed off and then shook himself.

Devin frowned noting the strange reaction to his friend's name and he felt the sharp sense of both stubbornness and anxiety that flared in his friend. He watched as Kyran busied himself heating water for tea and he moved to the table as his friend put out the freshly heated stew.

"So get busy explaining. Where's Qui-Gon?" Devin remarked. "I'm not getting any younger here." He sipped his tea and hungrily ate the stew that Kyran had given him having not have a decent meal himself since the day before.

There was no more delaying it. "You remember that I left on that mission to Palindikan, right before you and Jalei left? The one where Jayla stayed behind with Qui-Gon?"

"Yeah, you said you'd catch two snarks with one snare. Someone to watch Jayla while you were away and let Qui-Gon get in some practice at being a master. So what happened to get you so worked up? Surely Qui-Gon couldn't have done anything that awful. He let her stay up too late, eating sweets and watching horror holos?"

"I only wish it had been that simple--if that had been his only error, I would have easily forgiven him." Kyran sighed deeply and fidgeted on his seat, his sense of foreboding increased and he scowled slightly.

"Forgive?" Devin set his bowl down and leaned forward. It wasn't like Kyran to circle around the point like that. More importantly, it wasn't like Kyran to talk about forgiving, or not forgiving, Qui-Gon.

Kyran, with an enormous amount of effort stilled his fidgeting and forced himself to calm down. "Yes. Jayla was kidnapped while in his care, very close to the Temple." He tried not to sound exasperated but he couldn't help some of his feelings from leaking into his voice. He proceeded to tell Devin about the rescue Qui-Gon had forced his way into even after Kyran requested that he stay behind and the Council's judgement of his actions afterward.

Devin leaned back heavily. The words themselves seemed to take longer to register than the emotions he could sense from Kyran. Anger, fear, frustration all twisted together with a foreboding that centered on Qui-Gon, in both the in future and some distant intangible event. "Kyran, Qui-Gon did a number of things that deserved the Council's reprimand. He might even have been careless with his own safety, but you're getting caught up in your anger and fear. You need to talk this out with Qui-Gon. If you need me to, I can help mediate."

Kyran glanced at the floor. "There's one small problem with that plan, Devin. Qui-Gon isn't here."

"Where is he, then?"

Kyran was silent for several long minutes before he finally responded. "On a mission." He took a deep steadying breath. "The Council asked me to partner him but I declined."

"Since when do you decline missions? I can't believe that you let yourself get so angry that you would actually refuse to work with a man who you've been friends with over half your life. What's the mission and when's he due back?" Devin felt irritation rising in him. He promised himself that as soon as Qui-Gon was back in the Temple, he'd lock both his friends in a small room until they settled their differences. Even if he had to pound sense into them to get them to do so.

"Retrieving a former Jedi who's accused of misusing the Force to take control of a planetary government." Kyran shot back. "I could not in good conscience take Jayla on a mission like that so soon after her kidnapping.

"Retrieving a potential dark Jedi! And you refused to partner him? Don't try to use Jayla as your excuse, you refused because you are angry at him. So who did the Council send with him?" Devin could hardly believe what he was hearing. There had to be something that Kyran wasn't telling him. It just didn't make sense what he had done.

"Don't you start on me. You know perfectly well that forcing knights who're having problems to work together is one of the oldest tricks the Council uses." Kyran retorted. "I refused to partner him because I don't trust him. He ignored my order to stay behind. IF things get in a mess--and going after a Dark Jedi they likely would--what if he ignored my orders and let Jayla get hurt, or even killed?" He snapped .

"How could you not trust him? You know Qui-Gon would give his life for you! He's also a blasted good Knight, you know he wouldn't do anything to compromise the goals of a mission. He doesn't always go by the book, but that never stopped the mission from being a success. It usually made it a success. Obviously some other Jedi was willing to trust him on this mission."

Kyran didn't respond, instead studying the pattern of the wood on his dining room table.

Devin didn't like the way that Kyran got so quiet all of a sudden. He demanded, "Who went with Qui-Gon?"

"No one."

Devin blinked several times in confusion. "What do you mean, no one?"

"No one went with him. This was a long term assignment and there was nobody else available to go but me," he said through a suddenly dry throat. He swallowed hard.

Devin's voice went cold and dangerous. "You let him go after a potential Dark Jedi alone?"

"He went after me alone after nearly dying from getting poisoned." Kyran shot back. "His defiance of orders puts others at risk. Its going to cause major damage someday, if he doesn't learn that. And you know Qui-Gon. Once he decides something, nothing short of supernova will change his mind. If it takes me breaking off our friendship to bring him to his senses, it will be worth it. He could have died! All because he refused to do as he was supposed to do. Our lives as Jedi are dangerous enough with adding reckless impulsiveness in with all the other hazards."

Devin stared at Kyran hard. "Breaking off your friendship? What are you talking about? You have been his friend since he was five years old."

"Our friendship wasn't enough to get him to listen to reason." The foreboding that had plagued him since Qui-Gon's departure redoubled at Devin's words, but he continued to defend his actions. "Its the only way he's going to understand that he can't just do whatever he feels like."

"This is absurd. Qui-Gon's defiance of orders isn't something new. Even if you are more concerned with the rules than him, what changed? Why this sudden obsession with getting him to change?"

"Because, I don't want to see him get himself killed with his defiance." Kyran remarked coolly. I'll do whatever it takes to get him to change his ways. IF it takes me breaking off our friendship to bring him to his senses, it'll be worth it. He could have DIED! Don't you get it? All because he refused to do what he was told."

Devin sat in stunned silence, unsure of what to say. All the emotions he had felt swirling through Kyran now focused on that single idea. Finally, he said, "You can not let your fear dictate your actions. You know that. You also should realize that by letting him go alone on this mission he could very well die anyway. You think about that and when we get back, you're going to work this out with Qui-Gon. Where was Qui-Gon headed to?"

It took a few minutes for the words to register on Kyran's brain. "When we get back? Where are we going?"

"After Qui-Gon, of course, nerf brains." Devin stood up, shouldering his pack. "As soon as I grab some fresh clothes and make arrangements for Jalei, I'm leaving and you're coming with me."

"Hey wait a second," Kyran protested vehemently. "You just got back. You can't go like this. You're exhausted."

"I'll sleep on the ship. Now get your things. I'll meet you at the hanger. The ship I came back on should be refueled by now. You can also notify the Council you've changed your mind about going on this mission."

"One problem with that genius." Kyran said, his voice a trifle cold. "I haven't changed my mind. You haven't even tied up your loose ends from your mission--you still have to report to the Council and get authorization to leave."

"Sith take it, Kyran. Get past that anger and fear of yours. Think like a Jedi, for just a second! Qui-Gon won't learn a thing about following orders if he's dead."

Kyran flinched as if Devin had slapped him and he crossed his arms over his chest and looked rather like an upset schoolboy. "You're overreacting. Qui-Gon is more than capable of handling missions by himself. He's not some padawan learner off on his first mission."

"And this mission isn't some simple escort duty or treaty negotiations. Its going after some one with the same training as us, who may have turned to the Dark Side. There's a reason the Council usually sends at least two Jedi after rogue Force users."

The argument was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Kyran frowned as he headed toward the door wondering who in the Force it could possibly be. Qui-Gon was gone and Devin was here--he had no one else who would come by to visit. He padded to the door and opened it and was surprised to find Master Mace Windu at his door. The look on his face suggested this was not a social visit. He stepped aside allowing the other Master to enter his apartments.

"I thought I would find you both here, since you are Qui-Gon's closest friends. You have most likely already sensed this through the bonds you share, but I wanted to come by personally, to offer whatever support I could." Mace's voice was soft and laced with sadness.

Kyran's gut tightened at his words wondering what he was talking about. "What are you talking about?" He shared a quick glance with Devin. "I haven't felt anything since Qui-Gon left."

Mace looked slightly surprised. "I knew that you, Devin, usually shielded while on sensitive missions and that you, Kyran, were shielding against Qui-Gon since your return, but I didn't realize that you hadn't felt his passing. I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you. Qui-Gon has become one with the Force. The Council received word of it less than an hour ago."

Kyran felt his blood run cold at Windu's words. Dead?? How could he be? He had just seen Qui-Gon a week ago. His stomach churned as another thought overrode the previous one--it was his fault. It took all of Kyran's concentration not to lose his dinner over his friend remembering the feeling of foreboding as Qui-Gon had left.

"No, I don't believe it. We would have sensed his passing." Closing his eyes to better concentrate, Devin focused on his bond with Qui-Gon, reaching out over the vast distance that separated them. "He's not dead. I can sense it! Not much more, but I know he's alive."

Guilt consumed Kyran and the pain of what he had done hurt like a vibroblade wound to the side and he fell hard to his knees at the thought that his friend could be dead, barely comprehending a word Devin was saying.

Shields open, the wave of guilt coming from Kyran almost felt like a physical blow. Devin knelt next to Kyran, taking his face gently in both his hands. "Kyran, reach out. Your bond is even stronger than mine. You'd know if Qui-Gon was really dead, shielded or no. Reach out to him."

"That's just it.. I can't feel anything." He didn't add that it was because his stomach hurt too much at the moment to concentrate. He felt sick.

"Open to me, Kyran," said Devin, at the same time reaching out towards Kyran. He recognized the sharp nausea that his friend was suffering from, although it had been a long time since he'd witnessed it. Devin had thought Kyran had outgrown the stomachaches that had plagued him whenever he was extremely upset. Mentally, he guided his friend outward along the bond both of them shared with Qui-Gon. "There, feel the truth. Qui-Gon lives."

Kyran's breathing steadied as he tried to reach out with Devin and he sighed deeply feeling his friend's presence. He worked along the path that Devin guided him along and located Qui-Gon's presence. His sense of relief was so intense that it was almost a tangible thing you could reach out and touch. His stomach wasn't as easily convinced however and he still felt nauseous.

"He's alive, Mace, no doubt. Now who said he was dead?" Devin rested a comforting hand on Kyran's shoulder, hoping to further calm him.

Mace frowned slightly. "We received condolences from Prime Minister Yaneh of C'lasi. His lightsaber will be returned to the Temple with full ceremony and accompanying honor guard.

"Did this Yaneh mention how Qui-Gon supposedly died?" asked Devin.

Mace arched a brow but obliged. "Knight Jinn was found bound and gagged and unconscious in the cargo hold of a notorious assassin's ship. The assassin, Avril Duursema, has since been arrested and imprisoned in Tuvlat Maximum Security Prison."

"If Qui-Gon is dead, then why didn't they send home his body? This Avril Duursema must know something about what's really going on. And what about the ex-Jedi Qui-Gon was being sent after. Does he have a connection to all this?"

"Apparently they have a very strong religious taboo against a person's body leaving their place of death--citing that it will be more difficult to navigate to their Holy Place in the hereafter if the body is moved. As for Dovance Gaikusan, we're uncertain--but this occurred on the planet he is trying to control. They were agemates and the Prime Minister believed that Deputy Minister Gaikusan-"Here Mace Windu rolled his eyes--"spoke the truth."

"Gaikusan, I remember him. He could convince a Jawa to buy sand. How soon can we get a ship out there?" Devin stood, offering a hand to help Kyran, still somewhat shaky, to his feet.

Mace frowned at that. "You can't." He said bluntly. "It took a great deal of effort to convince Minister Yaneh to even allow this investigation in the first place. If we send you to C'lasi then we will in essence be calling their government officials liars and we could cause an intergalactic incident."

"They are lying. Qui-Gon's alive. Claiming he's dead is just a way to make sure no one comes after him while they do whatever they want to him. It also means that the odds of Gaikusan having turned just got better."

Kyran who'd been silent until now spoke up, feeling somewhat calmer listening to their argument. "We both know that the government is lying." He put a hand on Devin's arm. "But like it or not C'lasi is out of the Republic's jurisdiction. If we went after him calling their government heads liars, they could launch a war with the Republic." He chewed his lower lip.

"So we just leave him there? I won't abandon him, no matter that both of you seem willing to." Devin's dark brown eyes flashed angrily.

Kyran's shaky knees faltered and his legs slipped out from under him at Devin's words. A fresh surge of guilt came at him with the strength of a tidal wave, knocking him over. His stomach churned even as he fought to control his sudden sharp nausea.

Mace Windu frowned darkly at Devin. "Master Ly'rath, I suggest you rein in your temper. We are not abandoning Qui-Gon. The Council will try to get permission from the government to examine the body they have buried, that they claim is Qui-Gon. The negotiations will take several weeks--but in doing so we could avert a war."

Devin clenched his hands into fists, let himself for a moment feel the heat of his anger and fear, then released it. "My apologies, Master Windu. Now that the Council knows the truth, I know that you will do everything you can for Qui-Gon." Devin looked down at Kyran, crumpled on the floor, lost in guilt and misery. Wrapping an arm around his friend, Devin said, "If you would excuse us, Master Windu? Kyran and I have much to discuss."

Mace bowed and headed back to his own quarters. Kyran's stomach churned as he fought to control his nausea and he didn't even acknowledge Mace as he left.

"Kyran, I'm sorry. I know you did what you did because you felt you had to, " Devin said softly, stopping himself just in time from adding that Qui-Gon had done the same. It wouldn't do any good right now to start that argument up again. "I spoke in anger and fear."

Kyran felt the thought that Devin almost said and heard it anyway. He couldn't open his mouth working hard through the Force to try to calm his upset stomach. It was too much all in the same afternoon. The shock of Mace's announcement combined with Devin's accusation. Very slowly he managed to reach to the Force trying to let it flow through him ...helping him control his churning stomach. The silence was heavy between them until finally he managed to calm his stomach to a more tolerable level and he tried slowly to get his feet under him. "What should we do now?" He asked.

Devin slipped his arm under Kyran's, balancing him until he took a seat on the couch. Sitting next to him, he said, "We wait and trust in the Force."