Okie-day, here's Part Two and since I am posting this immediately after posting Part One, no reviews, but thank you in advance for those who did! And this is a little longer, too…
Enjoy!
PART TWO
Xanthe paced and paced… and paced some more. It was ten till nine and her Padawan still hadn't returned. She hadn't started worrying until around eight-thirty or so and now that it was nearly nine 'o clock she was sorely tempted to tell the Council. Ten minutes. She would give Cassandra ten more minutes until she went to the Council.
Those ten minutes passed uneventfully and the Master made her way to the Council chambers. She walked quickly and briskly, hardly stopping to talk to anyone; all she could think about was Cassandra. She had tried countless times to contact her via their bond but no such luck. That was what had her worried: the fact that she could not reach her apprentice, even through the Force.
Xanthe was so preoccupied that she did not notice her fellow Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn until she literally ran into him. She looked up and said softly, but respectfully, "I'm sorry, Master Jinn…" and, after stooping to pick up the data pad that she had caused him to drop, she kept right on walking.
Qui-Gon eyed her as she handed him the pad. "Is everything all right, Master Xanthe?" He knew who she was—her skills were quite famous—but he had never had the chance or the opportunity to work with her before. All the times he had seen her around the Temple with her Padawan, she seemed very friendly, but this evening such was not the case. And where was her apprentice?
Xanthe stopped and ran a hand down her face, losing the battle of letting her worry show. "I have no idea where Cassandra is… We went out into the city today, to relax, and I let her go off on her own for a little while, telling her to be back in the Temple at eight o' clock and now it's—it's three after nine!"
"Where was the last place you saw her?" he asked calmly, crossing his arms on his chest.
"I can't be sure, but it was in the shopping area within a mile of the Temple," she said as calmly as she could. "I tried to reach her through the Force, but I couldn't get a response." This was the first time she had ever really lost her Padawan and certainly the first time she could not contact her. "Wait a minute," she looked around. "Where is Padawan Kenobi?"
"He's also out in Coruscant, picking up something for me. He just left about fifteen minutes ago," Qui-Gon replied. "I'll contact him and tell him of your situation. Maybe he can find her. In the mean time, go tell the Council of Cassandra's disappearance."
Being only a Knight in the vicinity of a Master, she had to acquiesce, even though both she and Qui-Gon knew it was only a friendly suggestion and an offer. "Thank you, Master Qui-Gon. That is a good idea." She sighed. "Please give your Padawan my thanks as well for keeping an eye out for Cassandra."
"I will pass along your sentiments, Xanthe," he smiled warmly and ushered her gently in the direction of the lift to take her to the Council room. After she was boarded, Qui-Gon took out his comlink and contacted Obi-Wan.
The boy answered immediately. Yes, Master?
"Obi-Wan, we have a slight problem. Master Xanthe's Padawan is missing."
He hesitated a few seconds, trying to place a name. Cassandra?
"Yes, that's her. Xanthe said that the last time she saw her, they were in the shopping district of the city about a mile from the Temple," Qui-Gon relayed the information the Knight had given him. "Since you're over in that area, keep a lookout for her. She could just be lost or something akin to that, but then again, maybe not; I doubt that she is lost… You know what she looks like, don't you, Obi-Wan?"
The thoughtfulness was etched into his reply, I believe so, Master. Short, light red hair, blue eyes… around my age?
"Yes, that's her. Just keep an eye open for her. Try not to stay out too late and check back in periodically. And… Obi-Wan?"
Yes, Master?
"Be careful. I sense trouble in the Force."
I feel it also, Master. Obi-Wan out. And the apprentice closed his end of the transmitter.
Well this was good. Obi-Wan would look for her although there was no guarantee that he would locate her. But his apprentice was smart. He would let the Force guide him. The boy had yet to let him down.
Obi-Wan sighed and ran a hand through his short hair for what seemed like the thousandth time. True to his word, he had looked around for his fellow apprentice but nothing showed up. He felt a little guilty with himself; not only was his own Master counting on him, as well as Master Xanthe, but Cassandra was too. He was certain now that the girl was not merely lost; something must have happened to her. That was the only possible explanation for her mysterious disappearance and becoming-apparent abduction.
Figuring there was hardly any more he could do, Obi-Wan started heading back to the Temple, pulling out his comlink to contact Qui-Gon.
The Master responded quickly. Yes, Obi-Wan?
The boy sighed. "I searched throughout all the alleyways and streets and asked the vendors questions but nothing has turned up."
Well, you tried your best, Obi-Wan. We could ask for no more than that.
"I know, Master, but…" he stopped and sighed once again, defeat rippling through his voice.
Qui-Gon understood. You feel guilty and slightly responsible. Don't, Obi-Wan. This isn't your fault. We only offered to help. The Council will look into it more deeply tomorrow morning.
"I realize that, Master, but I wish I could do more," he said, exasperated, as he turned down a street leading to the Temple. "I just hope—" He stopped, dead in his tracks. That alleyway next to him… on his left… Something drew him there…
Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan, are you there? Answer me! Qui-Gon's worried and panicked voice brought the apprentice back to reality.
"Yes, Master, I'm here," he said distractedly into the small device. "I'm on my way back to the Temple, but first I want to check something out. If it is nothing, then I'll be back in a few minutes."
All right, Padawan. And I feel you may have something for I feel it also, through you. It was true; his and Obi-Wan's bond was strong and had been since they had become Master and Padawan. They could feel each other through almost anything. Be cautious, Obi-Wan, and may the Force be with you. Qui-Gon out. And at the other end, it was silent.
Obi-Wan pocketed his comlink and stared down the lonely, deserted street. It was strange; he felt like something bad had happened here and it was somehow… connected with the missing Cassandra. Like before, the Force was beckoning him to walk down the alleyway. He often listened to the Force—he was Jedi—and so he heeded its call. Slowly and cautiously, he paced down the street, the sound of his boots reverberating off the stonewalls just feet apart and his hand ever near his lightsaber. Through the mist and smoke, he saw a small glimmer of light reflect off something. Walking up to the source and kneeling on the ground, he placed his hand over a familiar-looking object: the hilt of a lightsaber. He picked it up and looked at it. Obi-Wan was on to something here. He just knew it…
Could it be that this was where Cassandra had last been, or at least been recently? Obi-Wan didn't know, but as he stood up, still looking over the lightsaber, he heard a high-pitched scream echo through the night, alerting him to the building on his left.
Wasting not another moment, Obi-Wan belted the picked-up lightsaber and then, taking out his own without activating it, kicked open the door at the bottom of the building and dashed up the stairs.