SIX

"The woman he describes…" Qui-Gon was standing in a small waiting area of the infirmary while Healer Obuk was tending yet again to his favorite patient. He spoke quietly to his audience of two; Masters Yoda and Mace Windu. "…is a mystery to me; from what little he recalls, it seems she may be a Force-sensitive. However I am not sure from what he has been able to show me where she is or how we may find her."

"Reaching out to Obi-Wan she is." Yoda murmured thoughtfully. "Find you she will; no help from you will she need." The small Jedi Master looked up Qui-Gon, absorbing the other's response to his words.

"And you say this random contact was initiated this morning during Obi-Wan's meditations?" Mace asked, leaning forward with one hand on his knee.

"Actually, I believe it was initiated last night…and if it was a chance encounter, it is no longer. This morning proved that." Qui-Gon sat down now, facing his masters fully. "The first contact was overwhelming; whether it was this girl herself or another, I cannot say. But it was powerful enough to render him unconscious and close his mind to me."

Yoda and Mace Windu exchanged concerned looks; Qui-Gon wondered just what it was that they were thinking through all of this. He was about to ask, in fact, when they were interrupted by the presence of Obuk's apprentice Jeryia, a young healer of rather incredible talent who likely would be teaching her own apprentices before she had yet reached the age of 20.

"Master Jinn?" She said respectfully, and Qui-Gon shifted to face her.

"Yes."

"You have an apprentice who is very anxious to get out of here." She smiled a little, and Qui-Gon returned it, feeling a rush of relief begin to flood through him. That sounded very much like the Obi-Wan Kenobi he was so familiar with. "However the healer would like a word with you." The rush was stopped full force as if it had run into a brick wall inside him; a thread of worry replaced it as he nodded respectfully to his masters and rose to his feet, following the young girl further into the infirmary.

Obi-Wan was lying on a repulsor bed, fidgeting. After this morning's episode there had been no discussion, no argument allowed; Qui-Gon wanted to be certain there was no harm done to his Padawan. Perhaps Obi-Wan didn't fully understand his value to his master, but Qui-Gon knew that if he were to lose him now…

He pushed that thought almost savagely aside, not allowing himself to dwell on something that he would have advised Obi-Wan not to focus on were the roles reversed. Heed your own advice, Jedi Master. He chided himself. It is the Living Force you seek. With that, he gave his Padawan a slight, reassuring smile. Patience, Obi-Wan. His smile deepened a little when all he received back through the bond was a soft, agitated sigh. "Anxious to leave" was a bit of an understatement.

Passing Obi-Wan by, he entered into a small office-like cubby; Obuk was not a man given to ostentation and for a healer had very little need for official space. The slender, nearly toothpick-like man looked up at Qui-Gon's entrance, and he motioned for the Jedi to sit on the small stool in the corner.

"Master Qui-Gon. You keep sending this one back. Are you trying to send him to the Force before he takes the Trials, my friend?"

Qui-Gon smothered a chuckle, but the small joke had become something of a running exchange between them. Through the years Obi-Wan had seen his fair share of scrapes, bumps, bruises, burns and broken bones. Some could be chalked up to childhood adventures in his younger years; several like the saber nicks a day earlier were due to the dangers of training or missions. At least one or two were simple bad luck. But that hadn't stopped Obuk from good-natured kidding of his friend and peer.

"Oh he'll face the Trials all right, if he manages not to send himself there first, Force preserve him." Qui-Gon finished the other half of the now familiar banter. Both men laughed a little, but once the familiar anchor had been cast, the unfamiliar beckoned seriousness soon enough. "What did you find, old friend?"

"Your Padawan seems to me to be in fine shape for having experienced a presence of the sort of magnitude you described to me…" Obuk moved to activate a holo-display. "All except for this." There was a flash and a display hovered between the two men, drawing Qui-Gon's attention. "There is a small indication of neurological damage as a result of his exposure."

"How small?" Qui-Gon asked instantly. "And what sort of damage?"

"Very small. Scanners almost didn't pick it up even. It's very mild and likely easily corrected with the proper therapy. However I'm not sure what will happen if he has too many more of these episodes of prolonged contact."

"Perhaps I should pursue this mission and leave Obi-Wan in your capable hands…" Qui-Gon said thoughtfully. Obuk shrugged a little.

"You could, Qui-Gon but I don't see where a few days' journey will make much difference in his condition. Just see to it that when you return, you send him back." Obuk grinned once more.. "Again."

"Very well, Master Healer, I'll do just that."

"Good. In the meantime," Obuk passed a datachip to the Jedi Knight. "Here's a list of things to watch for. If you see any of them, contact me immediately." He rose and clasped his friend's shoulder. "He's a good one, I believe, Qui-Gon. Watch out for him." That too was something Obuk affirmed nearly every time they spoke, and Jinn nodded.

"I will as always, Obuk. Thank you for your kindness."

"Force be with you, Qui-Gon Jinn. Now take that nuisance and get out of my ward."

"Force be with you."

Passing back through the outer room, Qui-Gon made a brief motion to the figure lying on the bed, hands now tucked in behind his head and feet crossed lazily in an attempt to appear patient as he had been told. Qui- Gon wasn't buying it for a minute.

Come on then, get your cloak and let's go.

Just that fast, Obi-Wan shot up from the bed and darted after his master, scooping up the wayward cloak with one hand and shrugging his way into it as they emerged into the sitting area. The two Jedi masters had gone; in their place was only silence.

"Did you talk him out of keeping me, Master?" Kenobi asked almost immediately, a hopeful cast to his expression. Qui-Gon gave him a curious look.

"I thought you didn't want to go to Bahreen. After all, it's not our usual mission profile."

Obi-Wan hesitated in mid-step, giving his master a guilty look.

"You knew about that?" He kicked himself mentally for not having better guarded his initial disappointment concerning their mission.

"I have half a mind to put you back in there; it would give you plenty of time to meditate on the Code while I was gone." Qui-Gon was not above a little 'blackmail' of sorts to teach his lessons, and this resulted in another slight cringe from his apprentice. "A Jedi…"

"…does not seek adventure. His focus is on the Force, not on excitement or praise." Obi-Wan recited dutifully, suddenly having the sinking feeling that he was indeed being left behind.

"No mission is ever mundane, Obi-Wan. There is purpose in everything we are called to do."

"Yes, Master." Kenobi answered softly, and Qui-Gon could tell from the tone of his voice and the oh-so-slight slump of his shoulders that the lesson had been taken to heart. "When will you be leaving?"

"As soon as you finish packing. You rather left that undone last night, if you recall. Don't forget your interstellar history datapad, there will be plenty of time on the journey for you to study for your exam." Qui-Gon watched amusedly as his Padawan's expression brightened considerably. "Go on; I'll catch up to you shortly."

"Yes, Master!" Obi-Wan took off at a run, and Jinn watched him go a moment, shaking his head slightly. You're right, Obuk. He thought to himself. He is a good one. And I will watch over him.

Resolved yet again to that, Qui-Gon turned to go rearrange their departure plans.