Disclaimer and such in Part 1
Okay, so the first part of this chapter is a little bit silly, but oh well, I just liked the idea. It's not silly at all, though, after the first part so I think that makes up for it. THANKS SOO MUCH TO MY REVIEWERS SASSY-SATINE (thanks for e-mailing! Like I said I really appreciate it, and I hope what we talked about about Padme and Obi-wan's relationship is moving the way you want it to in this chapter) AND JEDI-KELADRY (I loved your review! It really made me giggle. Thank you for being " like the girls in 'grease'" and being excited about hearing more of my story). Anyway, I HOPE YA'LL ENJOY!!!
It had now been a total of ten days since they had crashed landed on the forest planet of Iagone and five days since Obi-wan and Padme had had their encounter with Illyria. Nothing rather special had happened in the days following that adventure, though. All the Jedi, by the time the ninth day of their stay on Iagone had rolled around, were completely healed. The two remaining members of the crew were a different story, however. Lieutenant Canton still had trouble walking properly due to the burns on his leg, and Lieutenant Zared, although his condition was improving, was still bedridden. The Jedi were doing their best to remedy that situation, though.
Since there wasn't much to do while confined to the small area of the treehouse and since Qui-gon and Rohhe had commanded that Obi--wan and Padme spend less time together because the Masters didn't approve of the two Padawan's problem solving abilities while they were alone together, Padme spent most of her time during the past five days tending to Lt. Zared's wounds and, much to Obi-wan's frustration, deepening her friendship with Lt. Canton. Padme and Canton met everyday in the afternoon to talk and work on the young Padawan's relaxation techniques. Obi-wan hated it. He hated the fact that another man, a young, intelligent, and very handsome man no less, was getting close to Padme while he, himself, wasn't even allowed access to her. He had been trying to hide his jealous feelings for the past few days, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it much longer without being able to meditate his thoughts away, especially since Master Qui-gon, Master Rohhe, and Padme were leaving for the day to meet Illyria and he would be alone at the house all day with only Canton to talk to.
With a sigh, Obi-wan walked through the front entrance of the treehouse and onto the platform that connected the spiral staircase to the balcony. Padme and the two Masters were about to head off towards the hidden tree-trunk room to meet with Illyria, so he wished to see them off safely. Besides, this was a good excuse to finally get to talk to his best friend, even if it was under the watchful gazes of Masters Jinn and Antol.
"Have a safe trip, Master." Obi-wan bowed low to show his respect for the man he considered as his father.
Rohhe placed a loving a hand on Obi-wan's shoulder and flashed a rare smile.
"Thank you, Padawan. We should be back before nightfall, but do not worry if it is later."
"Be extra careful while we are away." He continued with a much more Jedi, authoritative tone in his voice, but it softened a moment to whisper a gentle sentiment to his Padawan, "Do whatever you must to keep safe, I trust your judgment Obi-wan."
Obi-wan was a bit taken aback by his Master's kind words, but nevertheless, very touched. To hear his Master say that he trusted him was a joy beyond belief and it took all his will power to keep a loopy grin off his face.
Master Jinn and Padme emerged from the main entrance a second later, packs thrown over their shoulders. Obi-wan and Padme glanced at eachother with hidden smiles on their faces. They were very glad to be able communicate openly with eachother after five days of being restricted of doing so.
Padme walked over to where her best friend stood.
"Here to see us off Obi-wan?" She couldn't keep the smile off of her face.
Obi-wan too smiled and, crossing his arms in front of his chest, leaned back against the balcony railing. Padme followed his actions and, putting her pack down at her feet, leaned against the railing next to him.
"Of course," He replied with a teasing tone, "I needed to somehow give you advice on how to survive out in the jungle without me there to rescue you."
Rohhe and Qui-gon exchanged glances and rolled their eyes, going back to checking their sacks to make sure that they had all the necessary supplies for their journey. When would their Padawans ever grow up?
Padme laughed but didn't have time to come up with a witty reply as Qui-gon and Rohhe slung their packs over their shoulders and turned to her expectantly.
"Well, Padawan," Master Jinn started, "you're the one who knows how to get to this place. Shall we go?"
Padme straightened up and pushed herself off the railing. Picking up her pack, she nodded and started toward the stairs, Rohhe and Qui-gon in toe.
"Padme wait!" Came the shout from inside the house, causing all four Jedi to turn around in time to see Lt. Canton appear through the front door.
Padme looked at him in confusion, as did the other three Jedi around her.
Canton grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips.
"I couldn't let you leave without a good luck kiss now could I?"
While Qui-gon's and Rohhe's eyes widened in amusement, Obi-wan's narrowed. How dare the man make such a display? This made him dread the afternoon he was to spend with Canton even more than he already had. He had a funny feeling that he might explode at the young flight crewman if he said even one word to him. Where was the Force when he needed it?
Padme blushed in embarrassment. She wasn't an idiot. She knew Canton was starting to take a romantic liking to her, but for him to display that in front of her Master, no less, was a bit of a surprise.
"Well, thank you, Lieutenant." Obi-wan smirked in triumph at Padme's lack of using Canton's first name. A part of him knew that she did that only because they were in front of Qui-gon and Rohhe, but at the moment he didn't really care.
Qui-gon broke the moment, despite his entertainment in it.
"Alright, if we could please go now..."
Canton let go of Padme's hand and let the three Jedi be on their way.
When they were well out of earshot of anyone at the treehouse, Rohhe spoke to Padme with laughter in his voice.
"Well, Padawan Naberrie, it seems you have an admirer." Padme snorted at the comment. She would never live this down, would she?
Luckily, with the three Jedi's healed bodies and Padme's impressive memory, they reached the secret sitting room within only three quarters of an hour. When Padme stopped at the base of the tree she and Obi-wan had descended less than a week earlier, Qui-gon and Rohhe looked to her for direction. She silently pointed to the high branches, communicating to them that the room they sought was inside the trunk of the tree next to which they were standing. The two Masters nodded and set down their packs. Taking out a couple of lengths of rope, they handed them to Padme to attach to her belt. She quickly shed her cloak and stuffed it into her pack and did what they asked. Handing her pack to Qui-gon, she moved to the base of the tree and looked for a good spot to start climbing. It was rather odd to her that the grooves she had made five days ago to aid Obi-wan were only barely visible and would've had to have been recarved to be of any help to them in their current situation.
'What incredible healing powers.' Padme thought as she placed her first hand on the trunk and started her climb to the high branches. Since this time she didn't have to carry a knife with her and dig small grooves into the tree along the way, it only took her ten minutes to climb to her desired destination.
When she reached the small, hidden room, Padme, first, found the invisible door and peered in to see if anyone was already occupying the space, and then, when she was sure that no one was, she took the lengths of rope off her belt and tied each one to the branch on which she stood and lowered the remaining length of each to the two Jedi Masters waiting on the ground below her.
Each Master grabbed one of the ropes and easily pulled themselves up to where Padme stood. After Padme helped them onto the thick branch, they knelt down and gathered up the ropes and put them back into their sacks. Qui-gon handed his Padawan's pack back to her and waited for her to show them where to go from there. Padme silently motioned for them to walk through the illusion of the tree trunk and into the small sitting room. The two Masters looked around in amazement. Qui-gon's eyes narrowed at a realization, though. If this room existed without their detection, then there could be more rooms exactly like it...anywhere.
Padme walked over to the small rope button that Illyria had pointed to in her last stay in the room and pressed it, hoping that Illyria's words about only her knowing that they were at the secret hideaway were true. A few moments after Padme had pressed the button, Illyria's thickly accented voice sounded from a hidden com-speaker.
"I will be there shortly."
Padme turned to Rohhe and Qui-gon.
"I guess we should just wait." She shrugged and headed over to a couch to sit down.
"We need to be careful, Padawan," Qui-gon took his saber off his belt and gripped it at his side, "This could be a trap." He then began to quietly pace around the small space.
Rohhe, taking his saber from his belt as well, did the same. Padme sighed and knew she needed to follow suit. She had just grabbed her light saber when Illyria's form materialized through the door.
Qui-gon and Rohhe ignited their sabers and jumped into ready stance at the arrival of the small Iagonian, but Padme simply continued to hold hers to her side and walked over to Illyria in greeting.
"It's good to see you again, Padme." Illyria gave the young Padawan and warm hug.
"And the same to you." Padme replied with a smile as their embrace ended.
"This is Master Qui-gon and Master Rohhe." She continued and pointed to them in turn. The Masters switched off their sabers, but still kept them ready at their sides.
Illyria walked up to each man and extended a furred hand. With some reluctance, they both accepted her friendly gesture and, in turn, shook her hand.
"Pleased to meet you both." She said while turning to sit down in the large, over-stuffed chair, "Now, is there a particular reason why you called me out here, or is this just a visit for some amusing chit-chat?"
Qui-gon and Rohhe followed Padme's actions and sat down on the couch across from the chair in which Illyria sat.
"Actually," Padme spoke, "Masters Qui-gon and Rohhe wished to meet you."
Illyria's gaze flicked to the two formidable looking Jedi.
"Yes, Illyria is it?" The petite woman nodded at Qui-gon's question, "We were wondering if you could tell a us a little bit more about your planet and your people."
Illyria laughed.
"Well, sir, I'll answer what I can, but I come from a rather small village, by this planet's standards at least, and am therefore by no means an expert."
Qui-gon and Rohhe weren't too thrown by Illyria's remark. They only wanted to know some basic questions, so they were pretty sure that she could answer them.
They sat on that small couch for almost six hours while they discussed different aspects of the Iagonian race. Plus, even though Qui-gon was a bit hesitant to share much information about their Force-sensitive nature, Illyria had wanted to know more about the Jedi's people and abilities.
In the six hours that the three Jedi sat and talked with Illyria, they realized everything she told them they had pretty much already known or guessed. A few exceptions included the hierarchy of the planetary cities (the tan Iagonians with large manes who lived in the plains were the leaders of the planet, the orange or white Iagonians with black stripes who lived in the mountains were next in line, the tree-dwelling, black and spotted Iagonians were after them, the skinny, orange Iagonians with black spots who also lived in the plains were last of the larger races, and anyone group smaller than those four was left to fend for themselves when it came to societal positioning) and how the Iagonians executed their hunting parties in groups of five.
When they finally got up to head back to the treehouse, Padme got to ask a question that had been on her mind for a few days, since she was in charge of rations for the group.
"Illyria," She started when they stood in front of the invisible door, "could you perhaps tell us where a good food source is? Our group is running low on supplies." Padme glanced in Qui-gon and Rohhe's direction, hoping that they wouldn't be angry with her for informing Illyria that they needed to get more food or else they would starve soon. She just really felt like she could trust the woman in front of her. She couldn't put her finger on why, she just did.
Illyria smiled.
"Of course, but they are heavily worked by our farmers. So, there would be little chance of you being successful in obtaining any food." Illyria paused a moment in thought, seeming to be trying to come up with a solution for her friends's dilemma.
"Well," She started slowly, knowing that the two men to her right didn't trust her in the slightest, "I could bring you food every week, if you wish. I don't have to bring it to wherever you might be hiding, but I could leave it here." She gestured to the counter on the far wall.
Padme looked to Qui-gon and Rohhe for an answer. They pondered for a moment to consider all risks involved in meeting Illyria once a week, but Rohhe eventually spoke for the group and agreed to the exchange.
"We must be going now, though." Rohhe said while glancing at the door.
Illyria nodded and exited first to make sure that no other
Iagonian was present outside. When she motioned to them that it was all
clear, the three Jedi tightened their grip on their sabers, lest Illyria
had set them up, and walked through the door.
To their relief, there really was no one to be found
except Illyria. Tying the ropes to the tree branch again, they made their
descent. After waiting a moment to make sure that Illyria had ventured
back to her village and not decided to follow them, they made their way
back to their treetop home.
Obi-wan leaned forward and rested himself against the balcony railing.
'The sunsets are really beautiful here,' He thought as he looked around branches that glittered with orange and red hues. His mind was on other things, though.
He had just finished redressing Lt. Zared's wounds, but other than that, he had had a rather uneventful day, mostly because he avoided talking with either of the flight crewman the whole time, which was surprisingly difficult due to Canton's overly-friendly manner. Obi-wan really wanted some sort of reason to dislike the handsome lieutenant, but he was just too...nice. How annoying.
With a troubled sigh, he gently pushed himself away from railing and turned to walk through the gauzy, white curtains that led to the small dining area.
"Jedi Kenobi!" Came the call of Canton's voice, as the young Padawan entered the interior of the house. The Lieutenant was mulling about in the kitchen doing Force knows what.
'Great,' Obi-wan thought as Canton appeared at the door that connected the kitchen and the dining room, 'there goes the idea of stopping conflict by avoidance.'
"Would you care to have some tea with me?" He asked in a friendly manner that completely grated on Obi-wan's nerves. He knew that he was being totally irrational in his dislike of Canton, but he just couldn't help how much his annoyance boiled at the mere sight of the man.
"Sure." Obi-wan answered with as much politeness as he could muster.
'This ought to be interesting.' He thought with a mental scowl as he took a seat and Canton retreated into the kitchen to retrieve the tea and some cups.
"I hope you like it." The Lieutenant smiled too much for Obi-wan's liking, "It's my own blend of herbs and spices."
Obi-wan tentatively took a sip after Canton set the filled cup down in front of him. He hated to admit but the tea was excellent. That only added to Obi-wan's annoyance with the character in front of him.
"So Jedi Kenobi," Canton paused a moment, seeming to hope that Obi-wan would extend the sentiment that he should call him by his first name. Obi-wan made no such move.
"Um," He continued after a moment of disappointment, "How long have you and Padme known eachother?"
Obi-wan mentally groaned. He had to bring her up: the one subject where he didn't think he could maintain his cool when discussing it with the man seated across form him. And why did he have to use her first name? It only reminded him that there was a friendship between Canton and Padme.
"Well," He stared at Canton coolly and placed his cup down on the table, "we've been best friend's for about six years." He wanted to make sure that the lieutenant understood that Padme was his best friend.
"Wow," Canton didn't seem deferred from his disposition in the slightest, "that's quite a while."
"Yes it is" Obi-wan mentally winced at how harsh his voice sounded, even to his own ears.
Canton glanced at Obi-wan curiously out of the corner of his eye, but continued to gaze out the window at the beautiful sunset that Obi-wan had been watching earlier and sipped his tea.
"She's quite a woman." Canton commented nonchalantly.
Obi-wan's eyes narrowed for the second time that day. He had wished that their topic would change, but now it seemed that it was only going to grow in complexity.
"I hope you know, Lieutenant..." Canton cut off Obi-wan's sentence.
"Please," He said with a sickeningly charming smile, "call me Canton."
"I hope you know, Lieutenant," Obi-wan emphasized his choice in what to call the man in front of him with a cold voice that tried to sound warm, "Jedi aren't allowed to fall in love."
That had done it. Obi-wan's cool manner towards the innocent flight crewman he was drinking tea with had finally gone too far.
"Well, Jedi Kenobi" Canton slammed his cup down on the table and spoke through clenched teeth, "that obviously hasn't stopped you!"
He quickly rose from his chair and stalked out of the room, leaving a stunned Obi-wan behind.
TBC....
What do you guys think?! I hope ya'll liked it! I'll try to get the next chapters up soon, but it might be a few days considering I haven't quite figured out their content yet, lol.