Chapter Seven

Wind from the thrusters of the ship that was landing blew Qui-Gon's robes around him in a swirl. Qui-Gon waited for the ramp to settle to the ground and then gave a tired greeting to his childhood best friend, Kyran Josel. Kyran's sandy-blonde hair was lightening the older he became, yet his green eyes were as still sharp and intelligent as ever. He quickly took in his friend's haggard appearance and rumpled tunic as he disembarked from his ship.

"Kyran," Qui-Gon greeted, his tone one of exhaustion. The friends quickly embraced, then began the long walk out of the tourist shops and cantinas of Penne't II. "How was your journey?"

Kyran sighed and ran a hand through his thinning hair. "Long," he admitted as he glanced around at the variety of beings visiting the beautiful planet. Most of the humans and aliens parted automatically for the Jedi to pass. The majority smiled at them, though some avoided their gazes. Typical. He redirected his attention to his friend. Quietly, he inquired, "Any news of Obi-Wan?"

Qui-Gon shook his head. Dark bags were under his eyes and he seemed thinner, though his voice was stronger as he replied, "I thought I felt him—or something, if not him—a week and a half ago. The only thing that kept me from simply diving into Un'ocean was the fact that I have no idea where the location of the Pennetian city is. Since hearing of your coming, I've studied everything I can find where Pennetians are seen the most—perhaps a city is located there."

"Do you have any coordinates?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Just this morning I narrowed down two possible coordinates of where Zodek could have taken Obi-Wan. We can hire a skiff to go out there, though we'll have to swim since there isn't any watercraft here. I've already purchased breathers for us."

Kyran smiled as he glanced at Qui-Gon out of the corner of his eye. "Good. We can go out after you've had a hot meal and a few hours of sleep," he commented neutrally.

As expected, Qui-Gon protested. "Obi-Wan has been gone almost two weeks! How can I take a break now when I'm so close?"

"Because you'll do neither him, nor me, any good if you're so tired that you lose your focus," Kyran pointed out gently. He stopped and laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Yoda cautioned me before I left."

"Oh?" Qui-Gon asked, raising an eyebrow. "And what did the little troll say?"

Kyran chuckled at their nickname for Jedi Master Yoda. He resumed walking as he spoke. "Yoda can't...exactly...feel Obi-Wan in the Force anymore. No, let me finish," he said swiftly as Qui-Gon opened his mouth to say something. "He's not...dead, but he's not...alive...not really. Yoda and the other Jedi Masters on the Council are very perplexed—and worried. Mace also sends a message."

Qui-Gon sighed. Mace was their more responsible and practical friend. He had secured a seat on the Jedi Council at a fairly young age, and continuously reminded both Kyran and Qui-Gon that they could be on the Council by now if they would just adhere to the rules more. "What did he say?"

To Qui-Gon's surprise, Kyran started laughing. He laughed so hard that it was several minutes of travel before he could calm himself down enough to continue. "He told me to tell you to ignore the Council's rules and do whatever necessary to save Obi-Wan." Then he burst out laughing again.

Qui-Gon's own hearty peals of mirth joined Kyran's. He saw what was so funny now: Mace telling him to ignore the Council—like he usually did anyway—in order to do what he needed? Mace, the 'must stick to every letter of every rule' Jedi?

"He must be getting lax in his older age," Qui-Gon remarked as he drew up to the small hostel he was staying at.

Kyran chuckled again. "Maybe it's the fact that the air has been hitting his bald head for too long now."

"Well, you're the one to blame for that, Kyran."

Kyran adopted a shocked look as he entered Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's rooms. "It was your idea of revenge, my friend. I merely was able to get the needed materials to carry it out as the senior padawan."

His observant emerald gaze swept over the still-packed bag of Obi-Wan's that sat in a corner. Piles of notes, datapads, and maps of Un'ocean with dots of color marking places were strewn about the main room. The corner that held Obi-Wan's bag, curiously, was the only clean part of the room.

"I'll order something from the diner located down the street," Qui-Gon was saying now as he picked up things, cleaning up enough to make room for the two of them to sit.

The door to the room that Obi-Wan was supposed to have slept in was closed. Qui-Gon noticed the direction of Kyran's gaze and remarked quietly, "He made his bed, but never had the chance to unpack his things, so I just left his room...available for him when he...returns."

Kyran could feel his friend's hidden anguish at Obi-Wan's long disappearance and wanted to kill the Council for delaying him so long in coming to his friend's aide. Yoda had wanted him to watch various initiates spar and, as Qui-Gon knew well himself, Yoda could not be denied when the little green master was determined. That had also been when Yoda had told him of what he had felt—or not felt, rather—when he quested for Obi-Wan in the Force.

"A shining beacon he is," the old Jedi had told Kyran, his ears drooping. "Gone the light is, but not."

Kyran had turned from the two female padawans who were currently sparring, confusion at Yoda's words on his features. "I...don't understand."

Yoda seemed extremely sad. "Muted Obi-Wan is. Waning. Time Qui-Gon does not have."

So Kyran had embarked on his week long journey to reach Penne't II. His search for a padawan could wait. He could only hope that he was not too late for his friend and Obi-Wan.

"Well, let's get some food so I can rest and find Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said now, leaning forward to find the code to program into his comlink for the diner. "I want to start tonight."

Qui-Gon had been asleep for almost four hours now, though Kyran himself did not sleep. He pored over the information that his friend had gathered trying to see if he could narrow things down more in order to increase their chances of finding Obi-Wan swiftly.

Unfortunately, there were still two completely different sites where the Pennetian city could be located and at opposite sides of the planet, too. And what if, after invading the Pennetians' homes, Obi-Wan was not even there? The two Jedi were about to create a lot of hostile enemies that could out-swim them by invading the city of the merpeople—something Jedi were not supposed to purposely do.

Mace did give them free reign—as if they needed it.

Kyran sighed and rubbed his upset stomach. Why did the Pennetians take Obi-Wan in the first place? If he and Qui-Gon could discover that reason, then they could have some peace of mind on Obi-Wan's condition, instead of this crushing uncertainty.

Memories of Obi-Wan flashed through Kyran's mind. He remembered when Qui-Gon had returned from Bandomeer, impressed at Obi-Wan's almost sacrifice for the greater good.

Then the image of Qui-Gon's conflicted, confused face after the whole Melida/Daan incident. Kyran had understood Obi-Wan's actions, as had Yoda, and had tried to make Qui-Gon realize it as well before he lost his padawan forever. Even to this day, Kyran could see Obi-Wan's determination not to fail his master or his training again; he wondered how aware Qui-Gon was of it. He was sure that no matter where Obi-Wan was or what was being done to him that the young man was doing his duty as a Jedi.

Kyran only hoped that this whole ordeal wouldn't end with them finding Obi-Wan dead.

"Evening.
Kyran glanced up, a frown on his handsome face. "What are you doing up? You should be sleeping."

Qui-Gon held up his comlink. "Someone just contacted me. I think we finally have a lead on finding Obi-Wan."