Author's note: My most humblest apologies for the delays in updating the fic. I haven't abandoned it. I had open heart surgery and I'm now at home recovering. I have a friend updating at theforce.net for me so I tend to forget about this one. I have several new chapters ready to post so I hope you enjoy!!

Chapter Seventeen

Devin stuffed a pair of extra trousers and tunics into his travel bag, leaving him just enough space to jam in his small toiletry bag. He packed light, figuring that they would not be staying on C'lasi very long. The authorities had made it clear that they had a very limited welcome. He sensed his padawan come into the room. She stood at the doorway, watching him.

Jalei stood staring in the doorway wondering why her master was packing and what he was so upset about. She was concerned since he didn't even acknowledge her but headed straight for his room. That was most certainly out of character for her master...something had to be up, something big. "Master, what's wrong?"

Devin paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Jalei was not going to like what was coming, but his mind was made up. "Jalei, come sit down. We have to talk."

Obediently she sat on the edge of her master's huge bed, her eyes filled with worry at his last comment. "Have I done something wrong?"

"No, Padawan. Its not you," Devin hastened to reassure the girl. "You know that Knight Qui-Gon was supposedly killed on a mission several months ago although we believe he's still alive. We've finally received permission to go to the planet and talk to the man accused of killing him."

"Are we going to find him then? I should be packing too." She stood up quickly as if to go pack.

"Wait, Padawan. I'm going, so is Master Kyran. You will be staying at the Temple along with Jayla."

Jalei frowned deeply, biting her lip at the idea of her master going without her. She shook her head. "You need me. Who's going to watch your back?"

"Padawan, believe it or not I was able to take care of myself before you came along," Devin's teased affectionately. How he would miss this girl, he had gotten used to her always being there. But she couldn't come along on this mission.

Jalei frowned at her Master and crossed her arms over her chest. "You need me. We're a team now. Remember? The last time we split up on a mission, I had to come after you because you'd gotten shot because you had no one to watch your back."

Devin remembered that mission with a mixture of chagrin and pride. Chagrin because a group of local terrorists had managed to get the drop on him, pride that his Padawan had made her own way through the chaos of the war torn city, and managed to get both of them back to the relative safety of the Embassy. "I won't be alone this time, Master Kyran will be with me. And I'm not going into a war zone. We'll be back in the Temple within two standard weeks."

Jalei looked away trying to come up with some other argument to offer. "But Master, what if something goes wrong? And the prison officials decide for some reason they don't like you either? And if it isn't dangerous, then why do I have to stay?"

Devin got up from where he had been sitting and began to pace. How was he going to explain this one to his Padawan? "Jalei, what is my responsibility to you as your Master?"

Jalei sighed deeply and looked at the floor. "To train and protect me while I'm under your care."

Devin put a hand under her chin and gently raised her head so their eyes would meet. "This is a time when what I need to do means that I might not be able to train and protect you the way that you deserve. I need to be able to focus only on finding out what happened to Qui-Gon and what to do if I do find out."

Jalei gazed deeply into her Master's eyes, her expression that of worry and concern. She sighed knowing that there was no way her master would change his mind since he'd made it up and it broke her heart that he would leave her behind, even if she did understand why. She bit her lip and then looked away. "I see."

"I knew you would understand, my young one." Devin also knew that she didn't like it one bit. "While I'm away, you'll be busy with your classes and training with the Temple masters. You probably won't even notice how quickly the time will pass before I'm back."

Jalei smiled half-heartedly and then buried her face in her master's tunic, throwing her arms around him, clinging to him with all her might. As if doing so would make him stay. A stray tear flowed down her cheeks. "Who will I stay with then Master?"

"I think you are old enough to stay here in our quarters. If you don't feel like fixing dinner for yourself, you can always eat in the dining hall. Or invite Jayla over. I'm sure she'd appreciate the company. The two of you can complain about your Masters leaving you behind, together." Devin rubbed Jalei's back in comforting circles. He squinted, forcing himself to stay dry eyed and calm voiced.

She looked up in surprise at that. "I can stay by myself?"

"I can't think of any reason why not. You're responsible enough, and you'll be 15 in just a few months. And, anyone capable of getting a wounded, half-conscious Jedi master across a war zone by herself can surely handle staying by herself for a few weeks."

Jalei tried to smile. It was obvious her master was trying his hardest to make her feel better about being left behind. "Yes, Master. How soon will you be leaving?"

"Now, actually. Our transport is waiting for us. Want to see me off?" He was only going to be gone for two weeks, but it would be the longest time they will have been separated from each other since this bright spirit became his Padawan. It was for the best that she stay behind, but how he would miss her.

Jalei blinked back tears. She'd only just learned the news that he was leaving and he was leaving right away? "Yes Master, of course I'll come with you.

Devin smiled approvingly as he watched Jalei 'put on her Jedi' as she phrased it, straightening her shoulders and doing her best to school her features into a serene, impassive look. Nodding slightly, he led the way towards the landing field.

*******

Kyran busied himself aboard the ship the Council had given them. It was the fastest ship the Council could offer and in that he was grateful. They would just barely make it in time if they didn't run into any problems. He frowned slightly as he saw Master Yoda come out to the ship in the Hangar Bay. "Devin, do the rest of the pre-flight checks. Master Yoda needs something." He headed out of the ship and bowed deeply before the small Master. "Master Yoda."

"Master Josel. Depart soon do you?" asked Yoda, leaning heavily on his gimmer stick.

"Yes Master Yoda. As soon as we run preflight we'll be on our way," he replied.

"Good, good. Truth of this matter you must discover. Trust your feelings and the Force you will. Think so much on what may have been you will not, hmmm."

Kyran bowed contritely but he wasn't sure really what to reply to that so he said nothing wondering what the small master wanted. Surely that wasn't everything.

"So impatient the young are," chuckled Yoda. "On your way go, but this take with you." Yoda held out a thick envelope.

Kyran accepted the envelope and tucked it in a pocket of his robe. "Thank you Master Yoda. We will report in as soon as we've met with him." He bowed.

"May the Force be with you," Master Yoda hobbled back to the edge of the landing field, out of the range of the ship's take off.

Within minutes, the ship had made the jump to hyperspace. Devin looked over a Kyran, seated in the co-pilot chair. "What did Master Yoda want?"

Kyran pulled an envelope from his pocket. "He gave me this." He handed it to his friend

Devin whistled appreciatively when he looked inside. "Must be close to 50,000 in here. Not Republic credits, either. Cash. Wonder why he gave you this. He knows that we already were issued credits for this trip."

"Dunno. I didn't ask and he didn't say. He must think we might need it for something."

Devin frowned at this. Yoda was well known for his ability to sense the most probable paths the future could take. According to plan, they wouldn't even need the standard Republic credits they had been issued. A few hours on planet, with only one of them leaving the ship didn't require any major expense. If Yoda believed they might need a large amount of cash, untraceable and usually only used on outer Rim worlds or by those who did not wish to have their transactions traced . . . well, he couldn't think of anything that be good about it.

"We have to trust in the Force, Devin." Kyran said softly.