Since I'll be going on a trip, so the story will be back in February.

I'm really sorry for the delay!

And please read and review!

Chapter Four

Obi-Wan got up early the next morning as he always did. When he crossed the living room, he found Qui-Gon sitting cross-legged beside the windows, still meditating.

"Ma –" He stopped himself before he disturbed his Master's meditation. He stood quietly at the same position, waiting for Qui-Gon to finish the meditation.

There must be something wrong. Obi-Wan thought worriedly as Qui-Gon woke from the meditation state.

"Anything wrong, Master?" Obi-Wan asked when he watched Qui-Gon stand up exhaustedly.

"No, everything is fine." Qui-Gon's brow furrowed for he had finally figured out the vague meaning of that dream – and it wasn't a cheerful thing to be known.

"Yeah, sure!" Obi-Wan said with much doubts in his voice.

"Why don't you go back to sleep, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon suggested lamely.

"Master, it's morning now, and I am already completely awake." Obi-Wan crossed his arms in front of him, "You never got up this early to meditate before."

"Why can't I change my habit?"

"Because you won't wake earlier than usual unless something has scared you in your dreams."

"Is that so?" Qui-Gon arched an eyebrow.

"Unfortunately."

Qui-Gon snorted and turned to walk away, "I thought you'd know better than to be so nosey to your Master."

"So you were scared by something? What is it?" He rushed in front of his Master to face him, "It's got to be something important, or you wouldn't meditate on it."

"Is that the way to talk to your Master?" Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes.

"No…but yes." Obi-Wan always felt braver when he just got up, maybe it was because his brain hadn't come to full conscious yet, "It is a Padawan's job to care for his Master when his Master is disturbed by some nightmare."

"Why do you think it was a nightmare?"

"Or that dream wouldn't be scary."

"I haven't even said it was something frightening in my dream that waked me."

"Then you wouldn't wake in the first place."

Qui-Gon rubbed his forehead. He had known Obi-Wan was a pragmatist, but he didn't know he could be so…unbelievable.

"Padawan, in order to make you quiet, I admit it was a nightmare."

"So what was it about?"

"Don't push your luck, my young Padawan. You shall learn that everything has a limit, even should your stubbornness." Qui-Gon walked around his speechless stubborn apprentice and went into the kitchen.

Stubbornness? I am worrying about you! Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and followed his Master into the kitchen.

After their first meal, Qui-Gon decided to meditate more upon that bizarre dream, but he'd have to deal with his curious Padawan first.

"Obi-Wan, it is not your place to interfere with your Master's personal matters." Qui-Gon said serenely.

"I'm not interfering, Master. I'm asking." Obi-Wan gave him an innocent look.

"Asking is the first step of interfering."

"Okay…then I am interfering." Obi-Wan shrugged, "But if you just tell me what it was, I swear I will keep silent."

"I do NOT have deals with Padawans." Qui-Gon said arrogantly, "Besides, you don't have my trust on that. You would find yourself even more questions to disturb my peace after I tell you about it."

"Whoa…Was it something that full of mysteries, Master?"

"That's it! I've had enough of you, Padawan!" Qui-Gon stood up abruptly and felt his patience was fast flowing away.

"So have I, Master!" Obi-Wan stood as well, "Why not just tell me? I have a feeling that you'll keep being bothered by the same nightmare if you don't share it with someone and do something about it."

"Is that a threat, my Padawan?" Qui-Gon intimidated as his eyes narrowed threateningly.

"Well…no…" Obi-Wan swallowed and winced a little, "It's a…concern…" He bowed his head weakly.

Qui-Gon sighed; he understood his Padawan had been worrying about him, but he wanted to meditate some more upon it before he told anyone since he had sensed the dream was showing something…dishonorable. Perhaps he should discuss it with Obi-Wan? After all, Obi-Wan was his closest friend and wouldn't despise him.

Having made up his mind, Qui-Gon sat down back to his chair. "All right, Obi-Wan." He gestured Obi-Wan to sit down, "I'm afraid the dream was revealing something I have done in the past."

"Really?" Obi-Wan asked with concern, "And why is that…startling to you? I mean, since you were the one who did it, unless the thing you've done was truly horrible, or you shouldn't be frightened by reviewing it…"

"Because I don't remember anything about it." Qui-Gon sighed with frustration, "Therefore, when I saw it again last night, I was astonished. And, seems like it was something horrible."

"You mean…" Obi-Wan's eyes widened, "your memory of doing that has been wiped?"

"At least it seems so." Qui-Gon nodded and told Obi-Wan about the dream.

After he finished, he waited quietly to see Obi-Wan stare at him with scorn. However, when his Padawan came back from shock, he didn't even stare at him. He simply stood up and walked around the table to kneel beside Qui-Gon and placed his hands on the Master's laps.

He whispered soothingly: "It wasn't that horrible, Master. You were young and alone, I think I would have done the same if I were in your place, or even worse." He smiled at Qui-Gon understandingly.

Qui-Gon felt his heart warmed by Obi-Wan's smile. When he finally nodded with a slight smile of himself, his Padawan was relieved and stood up.

"So…what are you going to do, Master?" Obi-Wan asked as he still remained at Qui-Gon's side.

"I suppose I will talk about it with the Council." Qui-Gon rubbed his forehead heavily, "It is something that I must do."

Sensing his Master's dim fear of facing the Council on that matter, Obi-Wan put one hand on Qui-Gon's shoulder, "Don't worry, Master, they will understand. Besides, we could do it together if you allowed me to."

Covered Obi-Wan's hand with his, Qui-Gon smiled, "It is a blessing to have you at my side, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan blushed lightly and was glad Qui-Gon didn't see the redness on his face. "Then it would be my honor to assist you, Master."

In the Council chamber, Master Yoda's brows furrowed after Qui-Gon finished the report of his concerns.

"So this disturbance in the Force is caused by your past mission on Zephyrann, you think?" Master Yoda asked with apprehension.

"I'm afraid so, Master Yoda." Qui-Gon bowed his head guiltily.

"But you don't remember the mission correctly anymore." Master Windu said, more of a question than a statement.

"Yes." Qui-Gon sighed deeply.

Obi-Wan looked worriedly at his Master, wishing he could help even for a bit. But, then again, he was just as confused as the Council itself.

"You will return to the planet Zephyrann immediately and investigate." Master Windu said after his deep sigh, "With your Padawan, of course." He added after he saw the worried look on Obi-Wan's face.

"Also try to recover your lost memory, you must. Or know the entire conspiracy, we won't." Master Yoda remarked heavily. Qui-Gon frowned at his remark – this was the hardest part of the mission, which was of the shameful memories he didn't really want to remember again.

"But why didn't the Zephyrenes kill him instead if they don't want him to reveal their attempt?" Master Lal'mar turned to look at Master Windu.

"Obviously," Master Windu sighed again, "they only wiped Qui-Gon's memory because they didn't want his death to stir the Order. And a Jedi Knight with some memory lost could also be a fine tool to assure the Council that there wasn't anything insidious on that planet."

Master Lal'mar nodded and remained silent, as other Council members did.

"We know it would be hard for you to recover that unpleasant memory, but it is vital for us to know what is behind the danger." Master Ki-Adi-Mundi's voice was colored with understandings.

Qui-Gon looked up, determined, "It is because of my own fault that the situation has become like this, I will do all the things within my strength to correct the mistake."

"Then your ship will be ready in thirty minutes," Master Windu said, "and report to us any information you have acquired at once."

"And may the Force be with you." Master Yoda ended the conversation.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed formally and left the Council chamber.

"Master?" Obi-Wan asked as they were on their way back to their shared quarters.

Qui-Gon turned to look at his Padawan.

"Um…" Obi-Wan swallowed a little, "Will you be able to remember…you know…that part of the memory in time?"

Qui-Gon gazed at the young man for a while, then smiled, "I don't think so, Padawan, unfortunately. But I'll try." He added quickly as he saw Obi-Wan opened his mouth, "And I know perfectly that there is no try, but this is not something I could control, so don't try to pour me with Master Yoda's subjective lecture."

"Well, he's still one of the wisest men in the Order." Obi-Wan smiled, "And since the situation now is not really positive, maybe we should work a little harder on your memory recovery?"

"Perhaps." Qui-Gon said dryly, "Though I doubt there is anything you could do to improve the recovering pace."

"Maybe what you need is some stimulation," Obi-Wan mused, "something that could remind you of the forgotten part of the mission."

"But stimulations are not that easy to find, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon sighed, "And we don't even know what kind of stimulations we need."

"That could be solved." Obi-Wan rubbed his chin, "It'll take us about…" He contemplated.

"Five days." Qui-Gon said.

"Right, five days to reach Zephyrann, so we'll have plenty of time to think of the stimulations."

"I hope you're right." Qui-Gon said with despair.

To be continued…