Chapter Three
Obi-Wan tossed and turned in his cool covers. He had been placed on a low sleep couch and given light, airy covers with heavier ones to the side should he need them. His fever was getting worse...one minute he was burning up, the next he felt as if he were outside again on Hoth...outside again...
i
Qui-Gon carefully brought the ship down into Hoth's atmosphere and set it down. The wind buffeted the ship and made the landing rough. He winced a little at his rocky landing. "At least the ship is still intact this time," he muttered.
A choked off chuckle came from behind him and Obi-Wan tried to turn it into a cough. Being stuck on a tiny ship with eight very naive researchers had been very trying for his master's patience, and now some of that was bleeding through, Obi-Wan could tell. "As long as we're alive this time," he quipped, in a good mood to finally see the planet after almost two weeks in space travel.
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "For now." He stood and began pulling on his cold weather gear. He hated the idea of being burdened down by heavy clothes. It would make it very hard to move through the snow, but he knew it was necessary. Without proper protection on the freezing ice planet they would die.
Obi-Wan, already in his heavy gear, pointed toward the large common room. "The researchers have finally decided who goes on what team, Master," he informed him. "They wanted to run it by you...and see if our splitting up has sat well with you yet." He raised an eyebrow, questioning. Qui-Gon had not seemed happy about him and Obi-Wan being split up, no matter how many times it was mentioned.
Qui-Gon nodded slightly. "What's the plan so far? I still don't like this idea, but I realize it's our best action."
Obi-Wan shrugged and led him to the common room. "Ask them," he said as he pointed at the two head researchers.
Qua jumped up immediately. "Ask us what, young Kenobi?"
Qui-Gon resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. As nice as the researcher was, being in close quarters was beginning to wear his patience. "What is the plan of action for splitting up?"
Greklen answered. He jerked a thumb at each person as he ticked off their names. "One specialist per group, we think. Me, Penne, Sassi and Howik in one group--with you, Master Jinn-- and Qua, Lucas, Geron and Jebthia with your padawan in another. That way we all have what we need for brains in each area."
Qui-Gon nodded his agreement. It sounded logical but he still didn't like it. "That sounds acceptable. I suppose we had better be off. The sooner we start looking, the sooner we can go back to Coruscant where it's warm."
All heads bobbed in agreement with him on that one and the two groups gathered what they needed. "Okay," Qua instructed. "My group will start searching for the ore here while Greklen's group will go to the other side of the planet. We all ready?" She received three head nods, and then exited the ship.
Obi-Wan lingered beside his master for a moment. Something nagged at him through the Force... "Master," he said at last. "I don't like it. Something's not right...not with the researchers, they're all fine. But it's something else...elusive..." He frowned, unhappy at not being able to be more specific.
"I know. I feel it also padawan. I don't know what it is. That's why I don't like this idea of separating." He sighed. "Just be mindful and keep a close eye on your surroundings. I'll only be a thought away."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, Master." Then he walked off the ramp into the blistering cold of Hoth. He turned to watch the ship take off and disappear over the horizon forlornly. His feeling of unease only strengthened, but there was nothing he could do at the moment, so he turned around and started helping the researchers make environmental proof shelters.
Qui-Gon set the ship down again in the middle of a frozen wasteland. The winds buffeted the ship but he managed to make a more steady landing than the last one. He sighed deeply as he stood and went to go meet the other researchers before disembarking. He was not looking forward to this at all.
Obi-Wan glanced around him once the shelters were up. Heating units were going full blast so that they wouldn't freeze and their equipment wouldn't freeze as well while they were here. For now, the five stood huddled in a shelter as it slowly heated up. Obi-Wan felt lost and wondered what his master was doing. He sighed and turned to the authority figure in his group. "Qua, what now?"
"Well," the animated researcher responded. "I'll bring up the map and images we've received and pinpoint where we think the ore might be. Then we'll have to run tests and see what we have."
Lucas, a nervous-looking young man only a few years older than Obi- Wan, stuffed his hands in opposite sleeves of his pockets and chattered out between his teeth, "What about food for tonight?"
"Lucas, not to worry," said Qua soothingly. "We have made preparations ahead of time and we brought a portable gas stove, along with the proper utensils. So we'll take turns with preparing meals. I volunteer to cook for tonight."
The other three cheered and Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile. Evidently she was a pretty good cook. "What can I do?" He asked, wanting to be helpful.
"You can come keep me company while I cook," she said with a small grin.
Obi-Wan grinned. "That sounds like a job I can do." He followed her to the small stove.
Qui-Gon met his group of researchers at the top of the ship's ramp. "I suppose we had better put up shelter before we lose the light. There's not that much daylight on Hoth."
Greklen held up the poles of the shelter. "Already working on it, Jedi," he said gruffly. "You could be some help by scanning for anything that could eat us while we do this."
Sassi hit Greklen's arm. "Be nice to the Jedi. He doesn't have to be here," she hissed at the burly researcher.
Qui-Gon took the scanner from Greklen rather abruptly and headed down the ramp, turning it on. He reached out also with his senses, determining for the moment that there were no life forms close by—which wasn't really surprising. Nobody could survive for very long on Hoth.
Sessi, Greklen, Penne and Howik struggled against the cold, strong winds of Hoth to set up the shelters. Finally, after many times of being hit by Sassi, Greklen approached the silent and watchful Jedi. "We could use your help," he mumbled to him, his words almost lost on the wind.
Qui-Gon didn't verbally reply, but he moved to take one of the poles and used the Force to aide him and the other researchers in setting up their shelter. He again thought to himself about how much he hated the bulkiness of the heavy winter clothing in making a difficult task even harder.
Greklen sulked, hating to have to ask for help with any project, but Sassi flirtatiously winked at the tall, handsome Jedi. She was glad she was in the group with him. His padawan was quite cute too and would one day really grow more into his looks, but here was a full-grown, sexy Jedi...and she the only woman in the group. This would prove to be fun. She caught his eye and winked again.
Qui-Gon blushed slightly before turning away. Was that researcher actually flirting with him?! He was grateful for the cold. He could brush off the red heat in his face as having to do with the cold of the planet and wind. As soon as he could, he headed into the shelter they'd built.
Sassi watched the Jedi's face go red. So, not all of them were totally without emotion like rumor said. Interesting. She would have to see what else she could do to warm the Jedi's blood before this trip was through. She was so happy, she even volunteered to do the night's cooking with the food they had brought with them—something she normally sneered at. This would be a trip full of memories.
i
Obi-Wan tossed and turned in his cool covers. He had been placed on a low sleep couch and given light, airy covers with heavier ones to the side should he need them. His fever was getting worse...one minute he was burning up, the next he felt as if he were outside again on Hoth...outside again...
i
Qui-Gon carefully brought the ship down into Hoth's atmosphere and set it down. The wind buffeted the ship and made the landing rough. He winced a little at his rocky landing. "At least the ship is still intact this time," he muttered.
A choked off chuckle came from behind him and Obi-Wan tried to turn it into a cough. Being stuck on a tiny ship with eight very naive researchers had been very trying for his master's patience, and now some of that was bleeding through, Obi-Wan could tell. "As long as we're alive this time," he quipped, in a good mood to finally see the planet after almost two weeks in space travel.
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "For now." He stood and began pulling on his cold weather gear. He hated the idea of being burdened down by heavy clothes. It would make it very hard to move through the snow, but he knew it was necessary. Without proper protection on the freezing ice planet they would die.
Obi-Wan, already in his heavy gear, pointed toward the large common room. "The researchers have finally decided who goes on what team, Master," he informed him. "They wanted to run it by you...and see if our splitting up has sat well with you yet." He raised an eyebrow, questioning. Qui-Gon had not seemed happy about him and Obi-Wan being split up, no matter how many times it was mentioned.
Qui-Gon nodded slightly. "What's the plan so far? I still don't like this idea, but I realize it's our best action."
Obi-Wan shrugged and led him to the common room. "Ask them," he said as he pointed at the two head researchers.
Qua jumped up immediately. "Ask us what, young Kenobi?"
Qui-Gon resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. As nice as the researcher was, being in close quarters was beginning to wear his patience. "What is the plan of action for splitting up?"
Greklen answered. He jerked a thumb at each person as he ticked off their names. "One specialist per group, we think. Me, Penne, Sassi and Howik in one group--with you, Master Jinn-- and Qua, Lucas, Geron and Jebthia with your padawan in another. That way we all have what we need for brains in each area."
Qui-Gon nodded his agreement. It sounded logical but he still didn't like it. "That sounds acceptable. I suppose we had better be off. The sooner we start looking, the sooner we can go back to Coruscant where it's warm."
All heads bobbed in agreement with him on that one and the two groups gathered what they needed. "Okay," Qua instructed. "My group will start searching for the ore here while Greklen's group will go to the other side of the planet. We all ready?" She received three head nods, and then exited the ship.
Obi-Wan lingered beside his master for a moment. Something nagged at him through the Force... "Master," he said at last. "I don't like it. Something's not right...not with the researchers, they're all fine. But it's something else...elusive..." He frowned, unhappy at not being able to be more specific.
"I know. I feel it also padawan. I don't know what it is. That's why I don't like this idea of separating." He sighed. "Just be mindful and keep a close eye on your surroundings. I'll only be a thought away."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, Master." Then he walked off the ramp into the blistering cold of Hoth. He turned to watch the ship take off and disappear over the horizon forlornly. His feeling of unease only strengthened, but there was nothing he could do at the moment, so he turned around and started helping the researchers make environmental proof shelters.
Qui-Gon set the ship down again in the middle of a frozen wasteland. The winds buffeted the ship but he managed to make a more steady landing than the last one. He sighed deeply as he stood and went to go meet the other researchers before disembarking. He was not looking forward to this at all.
Obi-Wan glanced around him once the shelters were up. Heating units were going full blast so that they wouldn't freeze and their equipment wouldn't freeze as well while they were here. For now, the five stood huddled in a shelter as it slowly heated up. Obi-Wan felt lost and wondered what his master was doing. He sighed and turned to the authority figure in his group. "Qua, what now?"
"Well," the animated researcher responded. "I'll bring up the map and images we've received and pinpoint where we think the ore might be. Then we'll have to run tests and see what we have."
Lucas, a nervous-looking young man only a few years older than Obi- Wan, stuffed his hands in opposite sleeves of his pockets and chattered out between his teeth, "What about food for tonight?"
"Lucas, not to worry," said Qua soothingly. "We have made preparations ahead of time and we brought a portable gas stove, along with the proper utensils. So we'll take turns with preparing meals. I volunteer to cook for tonight."
The other three cheered and Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile. Evidently she was a pretty good cook. "What can I do?" He asked, wanting to be helpful.
"You can come keep me company while I cook," she said with a small grin.
Obi-Wan grinned. "That sounds like a job I can do." He followed her to the small stove.
Qui-Gon met his group of researchers at the top of the ship's ramp. "I suppose we had better put up shelter before we lose the light. There's not that much daylight on Hoth."
Greklen held up the poles of the shelter. "Already working on it, Jedi," he said gruffly. "You could be some help by scanning for anything that could eat us while we do this."
Sassi hit Greklen's arm. "Be nice to the Jedi. He doesn't have to be here," she hissed at the burly researcher.
Qui-Gon took the scanner from Greklen rather abruptly and headed down the ramp, turning it on. He reached out also with his senses, determining for the moment that there were no life forms close by—which wasn't really surprising. Nobody could survive for very long on Hoth.
Sessi, Greklen, Penne and Howik struggled against the cold, strong winds of Hoth to set up the shelters. Finally, after many times of being hit by Sassi, Greklen approached the silent and watchful Jedi. "We could use your help," he mumbled to him, his words almost lost on the wind.
Qui-Gon didn't verbally reply, but he moved to take one of the poles and used the Force to aide him and the other researchers in setting up their shelter. He again thought to himself about how much he hated the bulkiness of the heavy winter clothing in making a difficult task even harder.
Greklen sulked, hating to have to ask for help with any project, but Sassi flirtatiously winked at the tall, handsome Jedi. She was glad she was in the group with him. His padawan was quite cute too and would one day really grow more into his looks, but here was a full-grown, sexy Jedi...and she the only woman in the group. This would prove to be fun. She caught his eye and winked again.
Qui-Gon blushed slightly before turning away. Was that researcher actually flirting with him?! He was grateful for the cold. He could brush off the red heat in his face as having to do with the cold of the planet and wind. As soon as he could, he headed into the shelter they'd built.
Sassi watched the Jedi's face go red. So, not all of them were totally without emotion like rumor said. Interesting. She would have to see what else she could do to warm the Jedi's blood before this trip was through. She was so happy, she even volunteered to do the night's cooking with the food they had brought with them—something she normally sneered at. This would be a trip full of memories.
i