Author's note: Thank you again to all of you who read and reviewed. I had a request to repost the link to my yahoo group, but I can't get the link to transfer to HTML for whatever reason. My group can be found on yahoo by searching for CalaisKenobi. I'm also on live journal and a link can be found there. The group isn't up and running yet, so there's no rush. Thank you!
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As he stepped outside of the Jedi Temple, Master Jinn
immediately tried to reach for his apprentice through the training bond again.
Although he was reasonably certain that leaving the Temple would not be enough
of a change to allow him to break through Obi-Wan's
shielding, something prompted Qui-Gon to try.
Reaching out with every ounce of Force energy he could muster, the Master sent
a powerful probe out along the training bond.
Although he expected no response, Qui-Gon was still
disappointed when the probe merely broke against the colluding factors of
distance and the titanium shielding Obi-Wan was maintaining. Releasing a quick
sigh of frustration, Master Jinn had no choice but to search for his apprentice
using the same methods Adi and Mace were employing.
Using the Force to enhance his senses, he scanned the alleyway that ran along
the edge of the Temple, quickly catching sight of his first lead. Swiftly approaching
the huddled shadow he could just barely make out among the detritus of the
alley, Qui-Gon spoke.
"I am hoping that you can help me to find a friend of mine," he declared, as he
stopped before the crouched figure of a young man. Although the Force vastly
improved his visual acuity, he still could not make out much more than a shock
of dirty blonde hair and an oversized, and equally
grimy tunic.
"I don't know nothing or nobody!" the boy cried, as he skittered back from the
imposing figure of the Jedi.
"I am not going to hurt you," Master Jinn said, pitching his tone to be as non-threatening as possible. "I am merely looking for… my son…
and I need to find him before something happens to him."
"Jedi don't have kids," the boy replied warily, though he stopped his backward
retreat into the shadows.
"No, we don't," Qui-Gon sighed. "But Obi-Wan is the closest thing to a son I have ever, or will ever have
and I am worried about him. If you can help me to find him, I would be in your
debt…"
"Adonik," the boy supplied, when he realized that the
Jedi was asking his name. "And if he's your son, how come he ran from you?"
Squatting down so that he was more on the level of Adonik,
Qui-Gon ran a hand through the unruly mass of his
hair. "I made a mistake, and I didn't help Obi-Wan when he needed me. Now I am
hoping that I can make it up to him before it is too late."
Squinting his eyes and apparently judging the value
and merit of the Master's revelation, Adonik paused
for several moments before nodding, satisfied with whatever conclusions he had
drawn. "A young Jedi left through that door awhile ago and headed down toward Cressik's," he explained, pointing in the direction of the
well-known diner. "I think he might have taken the lifts down to the lower
levels from there though, since I normally don't hear the lifts operating at
this time of night otherwise."
Rising to his feet once more, Qui-Gon offered a hand
to the young street dweller. "Thank you very much for your assistance. My name
is Qui-Gon Jinn, and should you ever require
anything, you need only come to the Temple and ask for me, and I will do
everything I can to assist you."
Accepting the wary nod as the only response he was likely to get, Master Jinn
turned and took off in a slight jog in the direction Adonik
had indicated. As he drew nearer and nearer to the silent lifts, he offered a
plea to the Force. \Please, please don't let Obi-Wan have gone to the lower
levels at this time of night… please\
*********************************************
I was scared. At first that surprised me, since it was so odd
to feel anything. It seemed like so much time had passed since I had
felt anything at all, that the fear was almost a good thing. And then, as the
novelty of the emotion faded, I began to wonder just what it was I was afraid
of. Why had I allowed myself into such a situation if I was afraid of death?
Wasn't that really what I was craving when I chose to wander at such a late
hour in such a dangerous place?
*********************************************
Swallowing against the bitter tang of fear that had risen in his throat,
Obi-Wan strove to calm his mind as the large Bothan
was joined by several other figures. \You are a Jedi.
Regardless of how poor of a Jedi you might be, you know that fear leads to the Darkside, and giving in to that is one thing you would
never do to your Master\
"I didn't know that I was in your 'home,'" Obi-Wan said softly, once he had his
fear somewhat under control. "I will be more than happy to leave, if you could
simply tell me just where it is that the boundaries of your home end."
"Little Jedi, this whole area is our home, and like Noci
said, it's too late for you to be sorry," the tall Chagrian
explained, stepping forward until he stood nearly beside Obi-Wan.
"And we don't like people who come to our home without being invited." The Twi'lek added, coming to stand at
the young Jedi's other side.
"And we especially don't like…" one of the human males called, joining the
other three group members in effectively fencing Obi-Wan in.
"JEDI!" the entire gang finished, apparently completing a familiar motto.
"So the question is, little Jedi," the Bothan
ringleader sneered, "just what exactly are we going to do with you?"