Chapter 15- Masters and meetings
Qui-Gon strode out of his room, off for his morning walk. He'd left Obi-Wan to stew over things in his room. Master Jinn inhaled the smells of the Temple at morning, he smiled, moving on.
"Good morning Master Jinn. "Aenanya said, meeting him in the hall way as she was on her way to the council room.
"Well, good morning Aenanya. It's a pleasure to see you this morning."
"It's a pleasure to see you as well, Qui-Gon. How has the temple held out whilst I was on Mirial?"
"Fine, fine. Though it was a bit less vibrant without you to add to its beauty." He said curteously.
"Thank you Qui-Gon. I would assume you've spoken with young Obi-Wan this morning?"
"Yes, I have as a matter of fact."
"And what did he say of his early morning rondez-vous with Adali and Azah?"
"He said that they had gone to the room of A Thousand Fountains to meditate. What of it?"
Aenanya looked at him for a moment, deciding upon whether or not to confirm her beliefs. "When Adali told me that same story, there seemed to be something that didn't quite fit. I know she is growing up, and that she doesn't get to spend a lot of time with her friends, but meditate, it just doesn't seem like them. At least not when the three of them are together"
"I thought the same thing myself, and Obi-Wan seemed a bit nervous. He doesn't normally lie to me, but he was quite jumpy, as if he were hiding something."
"As was Adali." she said, turning to look down the hallway. "Perhaps we should confront Master Ke'Sahndhran about that matter, and see what Azah told her."
"It would seem the logical course of action."
"First I must confront the council about my mission," she said, looking back at him, "when I am finished, I will contact you so we can talk with her."
"Yes, of course." He bowed. "The same frequency as always." He informed on his way away.
"As always." she said, bowing as well and departing.
Obi-Wan grabbed his commlink. Ever since Qui-Gon had left, he'd been pacing, crazed, unable to think clearly. He needed to talk to someone so he dialed Adali's number.
Adali had been sleeping in her bed, trying to catch up on the lost time she had because of her abduction. She woke up to the sound of her commlink beeping in her ear. 'Obi-Wan? What does he want?' she thought. "Hello? What is it Obi?"
"I'm going crazy over here, I don't know what to do. He knows, well I don't know he knows, but I'm pretty sure he knows. How did he find out? Oh, stars and galaxies, Adali." Obi-Wan blurted, babbling, pacing his room even faster.
"Obi-Wan, calm down. What did he say when you told him where we were?" she asked, now getting out of bed, since it was apparent she wasn't going to get any more sleep.
"He repeated my words, sighed like he was thinking then told me he was proud of me. I feel terrible Adali, completely terrible. I hate lying to my master"
"As do I, but what did you think we were going to do when you and Azah came and got me, just tell them where we went? I could see that going over well." she said, walking into the kitchen and getting a snack out of the refrigeration unit.
"I wasn't thinking, Azah and I went to a cantina, I wasn't exactly on the top of my game. You know what liquor does to me." Poor Obi-Wan, he was a basket-case.
"You didn't tell me you went to a cantina! What else did you do before you came to kidnap me?" she said, a little shocked because she wasn't invited. Even she liked to get her favorite, Aldeerean Ale.
"Cantina, dancing, movie, but thats beyond the point. Look at the bigger picture Adali! We're going to die soon...do you hear me? Die!"
"Obi-Wan! Calm down, ok? If it will make you feel better, I'll come over so we can talk in person..."
"Please?" He whined, sounding utterly pathetic.
"Alright! If it will make you happy. I'll be over in a few minutes." she said, grabbing her snack and heading for the door.
"Thank you." Obi-Wan said, hanging up the call. "Sith." He mumbled to himself, collapsing in a chair.
Adali placed her commlink into its pouch on her belt, exited the room and headed for Obi's room.
After Aenanya finished with her debriefing, she contacted Qui-Gon. "Qui-Gon? Are you there?"
"Yes, I supopse you've finished with your debriefing?"
"Yes. Have you contacted Janekah? Or were you waiting for me to finish?"
"She is meeting us in the refectory in fifteen minutes." Qui-Gon informed her.
"Alright, I'll meet you there." Aenanya said, turning to walk that way.
Qui-Gon replaced his commlink in his belt and sat back on his chair. He was seated in the refectory, waiting for the ladies to arrive. Janekah was just exiting her quarters, leaving Azah behind. The girl was sleeping, worn-out from the nights excursions.
Aenanya arrived at the refectory, finding Qui-Gon sitting at a table, waiting for her. "Good afternoon, Qui-Gon." She said, sitting down across from him.
"Good afternoon to you as well, Aenanaya. Janekah should be here any moment." He informed.
"Very well, I do hope she arrives soon. I don't want Adali to wake up and find me gone, she might get suspicious." Aenanya said, looking around for Janekah.
Qui-Gon nodded, leaning back once again. Janekah arrived a few minutes later, a smile on her face. "Good afternoon Qui-Gon, Aenanya." She sat at the had of the table so they could all speak with ease and equally.
"Good afternoon Janekah," Aenanya said as the other Jedi seated herself, "I presume you have spoken with Azah this morning?"
"Oh yes, and as of this moment she is asleep. Do either of you have any idea why she would feel the need to sleep at this hour? I've thought about for some time and have come to one conclusion, but please...let me hear your thoughts first."
Qui-Gon sat, watching, nodding every now and then to show he was listening.
"I left Adali at home sleeping as well. She told me they all went out at sunrise to meditate in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, but something is telling me that they aren't telling the truth."
"Obi-Wan's story matches the girls perfectly, but it's his actions that have me unnerved. He was very jumpy, as if he was hiding something, and when I left he was pacing his room, odd." Qui-Gon piped in, sitting up to the table.
Aenanya considered Qui-Gon's words, "That is quite odd. Adali seemed as if she were hiding something. Her appearance on the outside made me think she was calm, but her feelings betrayed her. They are hiding something, but what they are hiding is what I am afraid of."
"Hm..." Janekah thought, rubbing her chin. "I think they left the Temple." She finally stated, looking at both of the others.
'Left the Temple? But how would they have gotten out without being noticed?' Aenanya thought, not really thinking about who they were talking about.
"Sadly I must admit that when dealing with Azah, all things, however improbable as they may seem, are possible." Janekah said with a sigh.
"With all three of their minds working together, I'm sure they could find a way out easily." Qui-Gon added.
"Should we check all the exits? The front entrance has the highest security, therefore eliminating that route." Aenanya said, thinking once more. "If they had left the Temple it would have been before sunrise. That is the only way they would have returned in time to clarify their story."
"I say we check the lower levels first, if I were trying to leave the Temple unnoticed that is where I would try. They have the least security and are close to ground level." Janekah stated, sitting back in her chair, shaking her head at the thought.
"That would be quite illogical, seeing as how leaving from the lower levels would cause them to have to walk." He paused, "I agree, that is where we should search first." Qui-Gon continued.
"I thought you said it was illogical?" Janekah asked him, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but when have I ever done things logically?" He smiled.
"All right, shall we go now, or?" She paused, thinking about what all was in the lower levels, "should we split up and search separately? Seeing as how there is more than one exit down there."
"Splitting up would work the best, it would also take us the shortest amount of time." Janekah informed, standing. Qui-Gon stood as well, nodding in accord.
Aenanya stood with them, "I'll check the lower levels in the southern spire."
"And I'll take the northern spire." Janekah added.
"It's the hangars for me then." Qui-Gon stated, smiling.
"When we are all finished we will meet back here." Aenanya looked down at her crono. "Is thirty minutes long enough?"
"Quite." Qui-Gon nodded, beginning on his way.
Janekah moved over to Aenanaya, "I sense that punishment for our padawans is oncoming." She smiled, moving on.
"As do I." Aenanya smiled as well, exiting the refectory and heading to the southern spire.
