Charismilena – I am allowing some nice master/padawan fluff for Crion right now. Don't worry. I will complete lives soon. I think everyone will need hugs.
sterling5842 – I really like that I can explore the relationship between knight/master Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon at least in the AU. I like to think they would have been close and the banter would be priceless.
Irene Djo – When I first sat down and began to put some thought into Crion, I could only see him with a really sharp tongue. He means well, he really does, but there is no filter from brain to mouth.
Jacen200015 – There would be no fun if Crion never found out, now would there.
Now, jumping ahead in time a bit.
Chapter 12
The view offered by the Tarmahk Gorge was one of the most breathtaking Crion had ever seen. Tall cliffs extended from the river that snaked through the canyon, reaching up into a pristine blue, cloudless sky. It was a rift that separated two ways of life. On one side were the advanced Kai'may who lived in large modern cities, and on the other, the primitive Nai'may, who generations earlier had shunned technology and chosen to live in the jungles. Over the years their cultures had become so diverse that conflict had arisen, which was why Crion and his master were here.
The gorge really was magnificent. It would be the type of scenery to sit and contemplate all day long, but not while hanging on for dear life, somewhere between the bottom and the top. It was certainly not how Crion had anticipated spending his sixteenth life day.
"Are you okay, Padawan?"
The teenager looked down below to where his master was also hanging on tightly to what remained of a collapsed bridge. It had been primitive in construction, made of wood and vine-like rope.
"Yes, Master," Crion called down, allowing a bit of annoyance to bleed into his voice. He was the one who had pointed out that the bridge would never hold them. His master had urged them on, despite the creaking and swaying that should have warned them otherwise.
"You can say it, Padawan."
"What? I told you so?" Crion shot back without hesitation.
"The Prime Minister said that this bridge has been the main route across the gorge for decades."
"Yeah, but did he say that anyone had actually crossed it in that time?" Crion asked. "Nevermind. How do we get out of here?"
"I was thinking of this being one of the situations where you bail me out of a bad decision," Obi-Wan said with unmistakable amusement.
"Well, falling is arguably faster and less work," the apprentice replied. "But, the river is probably not deep enough, and I can see rapids from here. I think we would become one with the rocks. I say we climb," Crion said, situating one booted foot on the next plank up as though climbing a ladder.
"Have your cable launcher ready, Padawan," Obi-Wan called out from below. "There is no guarantee that what is left of the bridge will continue to hold us."
"Now he's worried about it holding our weight," the padawan mumbled under his breath as he began to climb, one hand over another, trying not to look down. The bridge creaked and groaned. Crion resisted the urge to pause, knowing their time was limited. Finally, the sound of ropes snapping echoed through the canyon, and the great bridge slithered down the cliffside, leaving two Jedi suspended from cable launchers. Crion let out a breath of relief as he slowly ascended the wall. He was even more elated when his fingers found the edge of the cliff and his feet found a secure foothold. He pulled himself up onto stable ground, reaching around to extend a hand to his master. Both Jedi sat on the edge of the gorge, taking in deep gulps of air. They sensed before they heard several beings creep from the cover of the jungle.
A tall man covered in furs, the Nai'may chief, stepped ahead of the group. His long gray hair was intertwined with beads and leather wraps. Stern dark eyes looked out from a chiseled, weather-worn face with a mixture of awe and suspicion. His piercing gaze fell on Crion as he closed the distance between them.
"Our brothers, the Kai'may, told us they had found one worthy to transverse the great chasm that separates our two people. We were reluctant to believe after so long, but the proof is before us," the chief said, resting a strong hand on Crion's shoulder.
"Me?" the padawan sputtered.
"You were the first to emerge from the great chasm, and have therefore, passed the test …"
"Wait a minute – did you just say test?" Crion exclaimed. He had a few choice words for the Prime Minister when they returned the capitol - that was certain.
"Padawan," Obi-Wan warned softly.
"Yes," the chief continued. "Our brothers know of our beliefs. Only one of great bravery and dedication, one of great worthiness, would traverse the great chasm. We will honor you as an arbitrator between us and our brothers."
The chief brought his other hand to Crion's opposite shoulder. "Umh …" Crion mumbled as he glanced back toward his master. "Any ideas?" he hissed.
Obi-Wan stepped forward, bowing low and respectfully. "Honorable one, this boy is under my authority, my apprentice. I am the intended arbitrator."
"He was the first to come from the great chasm," the chief protested, waving his hands emphatically. "We will accept no one else."
Crion stumbled to offer his own bow. "Sir, please, I am just a learner." He paused, extending his hands out in front of him in a contrite gesture. "The great Council that sent us from afar means for my master to be the one to lead you to peace." Crion was certain he heard a soft groan from Obi-Wan. "My master is very wise, wiser than I am. Yes, he did not reach the top first, but it was his choice to cross the bridge in the first place, definitely not mine. Please don't hold the fact that he losing the speed and strength of youth against him."
Something between coughing and choking erupted from Obi-Wan. Crion reached over and hit him softly on the back. "Are you okay, Master?"
"Fine," Obi-Wan replied, gasping in a deep breath.
A smile broke the chiseled lines of the chief's face. He turned and conferred with several others who appeared to be elders, rich laughter flowing from the group. Crion grimaced slightly, knowing the laughter was probably at his master's expense. Sienn and Keyan were right. He really needed to learn to keep his mouth shut.
"Very well, Young One," the chief finally said. "We will accept your master as our arbitrator. Please come to our village and feast with us."
As the two Jedi followed the chief and elders into the jungle, Obi-Wan turned to Crion. "Thank you, Padawan … I think." The Jedi master raised one russet eyebrow. "I will have you know that I am barely thirty and have hardly lost the strength and speed of youth. To my knowledge, you have yet to best me in sparring match."
"Hey, I got them talking to you." Crion shrugged. "You didn't really want me to negotiate this treaty, did you?"
"No, not really."
"I am truly sorry if your pride was wounded in the process, Master."
"Padawan," Obi-Wan protested in a scolding tone before he caught sight of the mischievous grin stretched across his padawan's face. Both Jedi broke into soft laughter as the lights of Nai'may village came into view.
Soren stepped into the lavish, dimly lit office, having been summoned just moments earlier. Of all of Xanatos' employees, he enjoyed a level of trust others simply did not. He had been through many trials with his employer, one of the privileged few to see a quieter, more vulnerable side to the man. He was not in the least surprised when greeted with a smile and an offer to sit and talk. It did not even faze him when Xanatos poured two generous drinks and pushed one across the desk to him.
"A toast?" Xanatos said.
"To what are we toasting?" Soren asked.
"There are many things that deserve a toast. We could toast to my son's sixteenth lifeday, to some new insight I've recently gained, to your employer's idiocy," Xanatos said as his face creased into a frown. "Take your pick."
"What has happened?" Soren questioned as Xanatos took a sip from his drink.
"I think I know where my son is."
"You do? That's wonderful news." At least Soren thought it was. Xanatos seemed to be too brooding to have received good news. "Where do think he is?"
"I know you don't have the same beliefs in the Force that I do."
It was true. Soren was a practical man. If it wasn't something he could see, hear, smell, taste, or touch, he was not inclined to put much faith in it. It was that pragmatism that had made him a valuable asset in helping Xanatos to manage his affairs. Still, Soren did not doubt Xanatos when it came to this mystical concept of the Force. He had been at his employer's side long enough to know that there were things he simply could not explain any other way.
"I have connected with Crion through the Force several times over the past couple of years. From that brief contact, I have sensed that he is growing stronger and honing his abilities. In addition, all of these incidents have been the Force warning me that my son's life was in danger or that he was frightened." Xanatos began to rotate his glass making tiny circles on the desktop as he stared down into the unfinished amber liquor. "There are not many ways someone of his age finds himself in that much trouble. It is possible he has fallen on hard times and has found himself on the streets, associating with smugglers, pirates, slavers, and the other scum of the galaxy. I am inclined to trust that Mia saw to it he was better cared for than that. Another possibility is that he is living the life of a Jedi apprentice."
"You think Mia took him to the Jedi?"
Xanatos looked up, nodding as he finished off the contents of his glass. "In retrospect, it makes perfect sense. I should have realized that is where she would go if desperate, but she was so adamant that I not train him to use the Force, and we fought so bitterly over it. I never thought…" He paused, shaking his head. "That's in the past. I won't dwell on regret when I might actually be able to find Crion."
"What do you need me to do, Sir?" Soren asked without hesitancy. Perhaps he alone of anyone knew what it would mean to his employer to find his son.
"I need access to Jedi records," Xanatos shot back immediately.
"As you wish, Sir."
Soren finished the rest of his drink before standing. As he turned to leave, Xanatos' voice stopped him.
"Soren, I need this to be discrete," Xanatos warned. "I have managed to stay away from Jedi scrutiny since Bandomeer. I will not take them on until I am absolutely certain they have my son."
"No inquiries will be traced back to you or Offworld, Sir. I will see to it personally," Soren pledged. That was why Xanatos was entrusting this task to him, after all.
"Thank you, old friend," Xanatos said as the door to the office closed and Soren set off with a definite sense of purpose.