Chapter Two

Qui-Gon wasted no time trying to swim after the merman and his captured apprentice. Fins were ten times faster than legs and not even the Force could make Qui-Gon fast enough to save his padawan. As he raced up the beach toward the Mainland City, his thoughts raced.

Zodek would not harm Obi-Wan if he hoped to gain any cooperation from Qui-Gon, so no matter how much his heart constricted in fear for his padawan he knew that, logically, Obi-Wan was safe.

But that still left the question of Zodek's actions. If all the Pennetians wanted was to be represented in the Republic Senate then this risky move would destroy all of that. Zodek was no fool. His capture of Obi-Wan just did not fit with what he claimed his demands were. The Force prodded Qui-Gon into thinking that perhaps there was something more going on here that was beneath the surface, either literally or figuratively...or both.

"Master Jedi?"

Qui-Gon ran right past the Tourist Representative, sand flying up from his boots. "Follow me," he barked over his shoulder. The woman noted the absence of his student and came silently, running quickly for a woman whose width was twice her height.

Qui-Gon did not slow down until he was in the Tourist Contact building. Kiosks filled with holonet capable devices lined the walls while a large booth in the middle held a bored-looking woman with "Happy Helper" pinned on her tunic. Pausing only long enough to find a free kiosk, Qui-Gon slid into it and closed the small door behind him for privacy. It was a tight fit with his build, but he managed to get mostly comfortable as he keyed in the code for the Jedi Council.

Mace Windu's face popped on the screen. "Qui-Gon!" His friend greeted, surprised. "I just happened to be at the receptionist area..."

"Obi-Wan's been taken," Qui-Gon broke in impatiently.

"What?"

"Obi-Wan has been taken by Chieftain Zodek of the Pennetians," Qui-Gon said very slowly through clenched teeth.

"I'm assuming he said why?" Mace said as he bent down, writing something down.

Qui-Gon nodded curtly. "His reason was for me to find someone to represent them to the Republic and he gave me a week."

Mace glanced back up at him, his eyes searching his friend's face. "But you aren't convinced of...what, exactly?"

Qui-Gon sighed and brushed his long hair from his face. "His actions just don't seem to fit with what he wants. This is counterproductive to what he claims the Pennetians want for themselves. Why take Obi-Wan at all? I had already told him that I would search for someone on the mainland to represent them. Something about this just doesn't fit right, Mace. There's something more to it; there has to be." He felt frustrated that he didn't know what Zodek was really after. The more he thought about it, the more he was sure that Zodek wanted Obi-Wan for another reason.

"What are their laws concerning hostages?"

Qui-Gon glanced sharply at his friend. "What are you getting at?"

Mace returned his gaze evenly, though his voice was soft with his reply. "We must be facing reality, Qui-Gon. What are their laws concerning hostages? What kind of danger is Obi-Wan in?"

Qui-Gon forced himself to think past the paralyzing fear for Obi-Wan that he felt. He scanned his memory for what he had read about what little is known about the Pennetians in preparation for this mission. "Pennetians are fair, but aggressive," he said slowly as he thought out loud. "They are a proud people that take their beliefs very seriously; some even say that they are fanatics. None know exactly what those beliefs are. And that's about what anyone knows about them. I have no idea how they would treat Obi-Wan."

Mace was quiet a moment as he thought. Finally, he said, "I'll have to run this by the Council. I can already tell you that this has changed everything about your mission. You will be considered on a rescue mission now, and not a contact mission. Do what you need to in order to get Obi-Wan back safely. I will contact you when I can."

Qui-Gon leaned back in the chair as the screen went blank. By Mace's reaction alone Qui-Gon could tell how concerned Mace was about this turn of events. Mace never acted without the full Council's discussing the matter through first.

A knock sounded behind him. The tall Jedi sighed heavily. So now this was a rescue mission, was it? Well, in that case, he wouldn't have to waste a lot of time on the dignitaries of Mainland City and he wouldn't have to go to the dinner that he and Obi-Wan were supposed to attend that night.

Obi-Wan was always hungry and was a trifle testy when he hadn't been allowed to eat in a while. Qui-Gon fervently hoped that his padawan would be fed something while in captivity or things might get unpleasant.

Obi-Wan woke feeling like he was in the middle of a windstorm. His hair, braid, tunic and pants were blowing behind him and the only reason he did not flip over was because he was chained down to some sort of soft though firm floor.

He groaned and opened his eyes, his head pounding from the lack of oxygen when he had passed out. Immediately, he saw that he was staring up at water. All around him was water. Pressing in on him, a blue so dark that it was almost black, the water was above him, below him, on his sides, though none touched him. As he woke more, he discovered that he was in some sort of bubble-type container. The air rushing in was coming out of a high hole that must be a primitive vent.

Evidently his captors didn't want him to die just yet, which heartened him somewhat.

"Jedi child, what is your name?"

Obi-Wan twisted his neck around to see a beautiful merwoman lazily floating in the water on the other side of the bubble to his right. "I am Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi," he said soberly and respectfully. Qui-Gon had taught him to be respectful of all beings in any situation and he used that now to keep panic away in his unfamiliar surroundings. "Whom am I speaking to?"

The merwoman's long green hair swirled around her head while layers of shell necklaces floated around her neck. She opened her mouth and moved it, though he didn't immediately hear her words. After a short delay, he heard, "I am Triandeena, the speaker of the Mother Planet."

Obi-Wan blinked, confused. Speaker of the...what? Did he hear correctly?

"I'm...sorry," he said, trying to gain some information into what he was doing here and who exactly this important-looking merwoman was. "I don't understand."

Again the merwoman's lips moved without him hearing her words at once. After a pause, "The Mother Planet is our provider. She sustains us and keeps us safe from those above who wish us harm. We do Her bidding without question or hesitation. Every generation She chooses someone to speak to among our people. I am the one in this generation to whom She speaks."

Ah, so this was someone very important after all, he reasoned, though he didn't like the sound of the merwoman's words. He tried to pull his hands out of the strange, dark green chains binding him to the floor he was laying on, but could get no leverage to do so.

"Do not resist, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Triandeena told him wisely, her golden eyes gleaming in the soft light of his bubble. "She does not wish you to waste your energy."

Obi-Wan stopped, but mostly out of surprise. Captors that were concerned with his well-being? This was becoming more and more strange by the minute.

"That's better. You are here by Her request."

"She didn't exactly ask," Obi-Wan pointed out dryly. "I would have come with less confusion if she had just asked nicely, and I would have brought my master with me."

Triandeena shook her head slowly, bobbing up and down in the currents of the water. "You do not understand, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Then why don't you enlighten me?" He shot back, growing tired of this verbal game. "Why am I here? What do you want?"

"It's not what we..."

"Fine," he snapped. "What does this 'mother planet' want?"

Triandeena regarded him a moment, then replied, "Our Mother is dying. There is too much evil, too much greed and selfishness with the Mainlanders, and so Her balance is off, causing Her to die. You are here to help."

Obi-Wan felt a little sorry for their mother planet for a moment, then his brain caught up with him. "Wait," he asked suspiciously, "how am I supposed to help?"

Golden eyes stared at him without mercy. "She felt you. You are filled with so much light, so much power of good, that by your death you will save Her."

"How can a death possibly restore balance if it's already out-of-balance with greed and corruption?" Obi-Wan shot at the merwoman, his heart chilling in his body. "That doesn't make any sense!"

Now the merwoman placed her hands on the bubble, causing little indentions. Her expression was earnest. "It is not a death to be feared, Obi-Wan Kenobi, but one to be considered an honor. You will be absorbed into the Mother Planet, therefore transferring your light to Her to stabilize Her again." Triandeena's head swiveled around to look at something in the dark water behind her that Obi-Wan could not see. When she turned back to him, she had a serene smile on her face. "I must go prepare a few things for you to eat to further cleanse your body." She made as if to swim away, but paused. "And do not try to contact your master using your mind. You are in Her bosom now and She will not allow you to have anymore contact with those that are unworthy." Then with a flick of her powerful tail, Triandeena was gone, seemingly swallowed up by the water.

Obi-Wan beat his head against the floor in frustration. Almost immediately, he felt the floor soften itself considerably so that he couldn't cause injury to himself. He stilled and the floor hardened again. His blue eyes widened.

Just what exactly did Triandeena mean when she said that he was 'in the mother planet's bosom'?

Thou art mine now, Jedi child.

Obi-Wan turned his head around so fast that he almost pulled a muscle, but no one was around his bubble. Besides, the voice had been...inside his head.

I will take care of thee. We two shall soon become one, to protect my children from harm. Thou wilt be a father to them, rejoiced throughout ages for thy bravery and sacrifice.

"I don't want to be a sacrifice!" Obi-Wan yelled to the voice, refusing to speak to it by thought like he could feel that it wanted him to. "Pick someone else! Pick someone older or more experienced! Why don't you choose one of your 'children'?"

Age is of no use to me. Came the feminine voice promptly, sounding slightly scolding. I desire someone with the power to put the wrong to right. Thou art talented and powerful in the light. My children have no connection to the light like thou dost. Thou shouldst keep the balance longer than their last father.

Last father? Obi-Wan wondered before he could stop himself.

The last Jedi to be powerful enough to balance. Evil was not yet so rampant then. More is needed now. Thou art needed now.

"No! I don't want to do this!" Obi-Wan cried out. He did not want to die like that other Jedi, whomever he was. He did not want to be the one to balance a planet's internal equilibrium.

The voice hardened now and was not as soft and motherly. Thou hast no choice. Thou art mine now. Thou cannot escape.