Chapter 8

A week later, Dooku was sleeping peacefully in the lavish quarters he had been provided with. It was in the early morning hours of the predawn when the alarm klaxons began to wail. He sat bolt upright hearing the alarms and he fumbled for his robes. He cursed himself for not being more aware. As the weeks went by without pirate attacks, he had fallen into complacency. Angry with himself now, he stumbled around pulling his boots on and belting on his lightsaber.

He quickly finished dressing and headed out to meet them.

He cursed as he came out of his quarters and saw the pirate ship not far away. Another ship landed not far from that one.

/They're trying to box us in./ He thought, his mouth tightening into a thin line. He had to keep them from getting into the city.

He ignited his blade after calling for security reinforcements. Brandishing his saber, he ran to meet them.

Qui-Gon awoke in the early morning hours screaming. Dooku had been hurt. It wasn't a dream this time. He felt it.

Master Rayeln came running having heard Qui-Gon's scream from the front office. "Qui-Gon, what's wrong?" she asked going to the distressed boy and hugging him warmly.

He burst into sobs, unable to say a word through his tears.

She rubbed his back soothingly and gathered him in her arms and began to rock him. "Shh…it's alright."

Eventually he calmed down enough to be able to say, "Dook got hurt."

She frowned slightly. "In your dream?" This was nothing new. He had been having nightmares off and on while Dooku had been gone.

He shook his head negative. "I felt it," he said sniffling.

She frowned even further. "Qui-Gon, you can't possibly have. He's several systems away."

"I did too!" Qui-Gon insisted stubbornly.

"Alright well, let's go talk to Master Yoda in the morning, okay? He will be able to help," she said.

"Promise?" he asked sucking his thumb, a habit he'd picked up while Dooku had been away.

"Would a Jedi lie?" She asked him, patting his back.

He shook his head.

"Well then, there's your answer." She said fondly looking at him.

"Kay," Qui-Gon said agreeably resting his head on her shoulder. His eyes drifted closed and within minutes he was sound asleep on her lap.

She smiled down at him watching him sleep.

After a few minutes she rose and put the boy back in bed. Was it possible that even at this young age, Qui-Gon had formed a bond enough to be able to feel things from a great distance?

She resolved to keep a closer eye on Qui-Gon during the day.

Later that morning, Master Rayeln took Qui-Gon to see Yoda as promised.

The venerable Master smiled as the pair of them entered his private quarters. Qui-Gon bowed as he had been taught. "Hello, Master Yoda."

Yoda leaned on his gimmer stick before replying, "What help can I be, Rayeln?" He asked the crèche Master.

"Master Yoda," Rayeln began. "Qui-Gon has told me that he felt Dooku get hurt."

Yoda's face grew instantly serious. "Felt it did you?" He asked Qui-Gon.

The boy nodded.

The Master stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Odd that is. Call we did have and hurt he is."

The crèche Master gasped. "So Qui-Gon really did feel it?"

"Puzzling it is that distance makes no difference with this pair. Meditate on this, I will," he said. "Padawan Dooku on his way home he is after having a vibroaxe wound and a broken leg."

Qui-Gon winced. "Will he be okay?" he asked.

Yoda smiled at Qui-Gon's concern. "Fear not young one. Alright he will be. The Healers here, care for him they will. Visit him you should while hurt he is. Did the same for you he did."

Qui-Gon's face lit up at the idea of being able to visit. "When can I see him?"

"Arrive tomorrow he will. Go and play you should. Come faster tomorrow will," Yoda chuckled.

Master Rayeln smiled and gestured to Qui-Gon. "Come on Qui-Gon. Let's go back now. I will bring him by the Healers tomorrow, Master," she said.

Qui-Gon eagerly went with her, happily anticipating having his Dook back. Things would be alright after all.