Chapter 5 No Longer a Boy, But Not Yet a Man
The sun rose brightly over Coruscant. Qui-Gon opened his eyes and got up. He reached out for Obi-Wan, and frowned when he found that his apprentice was still shielding. Qui-Gon put on his robe and went to Obi-Wan's door and knocked. There was no answer so Qui-Gon opened the door.
Obi-Wan's bed was empty except for a note.
MASTER,
WANTED
TO GET AN EARLY START ON THE DAY. WENT TO THE COMPUTER LAB, AND THEN
TO CLASS. I WILL BE BUSY UNTIL DINNER, SO I WON'T SEE YOU.
OBI-WAN
Qui-Gon frowned. Something was not right. Obi-Wan hated early starts, and no matter how busy his day was, they always managed to see each other at least once. Turning on his heal, Qui-Gon dressed and was out of the apartment in the matter of minutes.
His first stop was the computer lab. The instructor on duty looked confused when Qui-Gon asked if she had seen Obi-Wan. "No, Master Jinn. Not for several days now."
Rubbing his beard, Qui-Gon said. "Is it possible he was here very early, and you did not see him?"
"It's possible, Master Jinn. But I have been here since early morning."
Qui-Gon bowed to her and said. "Thank you for your help."
By this time, the Jedi Master was anxious. The force was screaming to him something was not right. His apprentice was up to something. And he was set on finding out what it was. His next stop was the healers. Bant was just getting off duty. She looked very uneasy when Qui-Gon approached her. "Good Morning, Bant. I was wondering if you have seen Obi-Wan."
The Mon-Calamari girl bit her lip and seemed to look everywhere but Qui-Gon's eyes. "Um...Obi-wan. Um, yeah, I...um, saw him."
Qui-Gon knew that this was not going to be easy. He took a deep breath and said as calmly as he could. "Bant, if you know where he is, you must tell me."
"Well, actually, I don't have any idea where he is." That much was the truth. Obi-Wan had not told her where he was going.
Qui-Gon was losing patience, but he remained calm to Obi-Wan's friend. "But, he is no longer in the temple. Is he?"
That one question put Bant between a rock and a hard place. There was no way she could lie to a Jedi Master. "I promised him I would cover for him." The girl seemed torn between keeping her word to her friend and telling Qui-Gon the truth.
Qui-Gon saw her struggle and decided to let her off the hook. "It's okay, Bant. I have all the information I need."
The council was in another of their meetings when Qui-Gon came bursting in. Yoda's ears perked. "Qui-Gon, problem there is?"
Qui-Gon bowed to the council. "My apologies for barging in, Masters. But it seems that Obi-Wan has run away."
Mace tried unsuccessfully to hide a smirk. Qui-Gon caught this and asked. "What is so funny, Mace?"
Mace shrugged. "Well, Qui, you raised him."
This did not make Qui-Gon happy. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Mace looked Qui-Gon directly in the eye. "Let's just say, he is his Master's apprentice, and leave it at that."
Qui-Gon began to pace back and forth. "But he is just a boy."
Yoda's response was. "A boy he is no longer. But a young man he is. Go after him you can. Help him you will. But understand, trial this is. For both Master and apprentice."
Qui-Gon stopped pacing long enough to look at his former master. "I don't understand."
Yoda replied. "Like you he is. Remember back, same thing you did."
Qui-Gon was appalled. "But you forbade me to go."
All the council began to snicker. But Qui-Gon did not notice. Yoda continued. "But listen you did not." Each word was punctuated with his gimmer stick hitting the floor.
"And", Mace added, "You somehow talked me into covering for you." He rubbed his head and grinned, "My head sometimes still hurts from that whack Yoda gave me."
Qui-Gon stood there expressionless for a moment. It was all true. He ran away once. He followed what his heart was telling him to do and what the force was screaming at him to do. It seemed that Obi-Wan had his master's same convictions.
He ran out of the room and missed Mace saying, "May the force be with you."
Qui-Gon hurried to the public transportation cruisers. He ran to the information desk and asked the twi'lek behind the counter. "Please, I need to know all flights that have left since last night."
The twi'lek placed a data pad down and Qui-Gon scanned over the names of systems looking for a clue to as where Obi-Wan could have gone.
Alderaan
Brila
Chandrilla
Dantooine
No, none of them.
Corellia
Feln
Gamorr
Concord Dawn
Come on, Qui. Think. THINK. Where
would he have gone?
Bortross
Kashyyk
Nal Hutta
Mon Calamari
Then at the end of the list, it jumped out at him. The last name on the list was:
Melida/Daan.
Qui-Gon was packed in record time. He was leaving his apartment in a whirlwind when he ran into Darick. Qui-Gon was surprised to see him. "Darick, what can I do for you?"
Darick was straightforward. "I heard about Obi-Wan. And, after meditation. I have decided that maybe I should go with you."
This was not something the other Jedi Master was expecting. Darick was still in mourning over Bruck. As gently as he could, he replied. "Dar, I appreciate the offer. But don't you think it is too soon?"
A firm look over took Darick's face. "Am I still in mourning over Bruck? Yes. Do I miss him? Yes. But I will be damned if I will let those hateful beings destroy Obi-Wan as well. I am going and that is final.
Qui-Gon knew to argue would waste time. He would actually be grateful for the company. "Very well, Darick. A transport is waiting for us. We can leave right away."
