A/N: Chapter four.
Siri shot Obi-Wan a nervous glance, but when their eyes met she wrenched her gaze out the window.
Of all the luck! She thought mournfully. The same day I decide to avoid him, I'm going on a mission with him. The Force must hate me, this is just mean!
Little did the blonde teen know, but Obi-Wan was having very similar thoughts.
Of course, he mused wryly. It would be today. This could get interesting.
"Padawan," his Master addressed him quietly, a hint of concern colouring his words. "Are you feeling well? You look a little pale."
Meaning he looked like he'd been dead for a while, Obi-Wan translated in his head. He'd learned diplomacy from Qui-Gon. He knew how to read between the lines.
"I'm fine, Master," Obi-Wan almost-whispered. Qui-Gon gave him a searching look, and then nodded. When he spoke again it was in his normal serene tone.
"The council will see us shortly."
Obi-Wan just nodded. He gave a sideways glance at Siri. She seemed determined not to look at him.
Well, fine, he thought, trying desperately to ignore how much his heart hurt to look at her. Good. I'm going to avoid her, and if she ignores me, all the better.
He turned slightly so he could see her. Slowly, he took a deep breath and cleared his mind. It wasn't easy and it took him several moments longer then it usually would have, but he managed to restore a sort of calm to his brain. For now.
The doors to the Council Chamber slid open. He could see them in there, sitting in that half circle, all looking serene and composed.
"Enter, you may," Yoda's gravelly voice called to them from within. Qui-Gon and Adi entered first, with their respective Padawans' trailing after them, looking dead ahead. The two teams stood in a row before the Council: Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Adi, and finally Siri. Obi-Wan couldn't help but think that Siri must look very strange in this row. She was barely five foot two, and the rest were six foot or over.
"Mission for you, we have," Yoda said calmly. "Dangerous, it will be. Long, it might be."
Obi-Wan had to try very hard to keep the ironic look off his face. Of course it would be long. He just vowed not to spend time with one of the people in the team. Fate had to be a bitch. He saw Adi and Qui-Gon share a curious glance.
Mace Windu continued, "Have either of you heard of the planet Hydra?"
Qui-Gon shook his head, but Adi hesitated. After a moment, she nodded.
Master Windu looked at her coolly, "What do you know of it?"
Adi stared at him, not the least bit intimated, "I recall children's stories that I heard on a mission once about a place ruled entirely by monsters. The planet they spoke of was called Hydra. I assumed they were just children's stories."
Yoda snorted, "Wrong, those stories were not. Ruled by a monster, it is. But human, this monster is. Known as Cytaur, he is."
Mace Windu shifted slightly, "Cytaur took over the planet Hydra ten years ago. He didn't allow anyone in or out of the planet until recently. A year ago he suddenly set up a campaign for skilled workers to migrate to Hydra. Around three thousand beings went. They all decided to stay. Their families got messages about how lovely it was, and how well treated they were during the first week. Since then, no one has heard anything. Until last month."
Master Windu hit a button on a small device in his hand. A grainy holographic image of a woman was projected in front of them. She was thin and ragged, and had tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Please, who-ver gets thi – hurting us… get us -ut," the recording was scratchy and many words word partially or entirely cut out. No only that, but the woman was having trouble speaking through her tears. "Cytaur – monster… slaves… -amily is dead. H—p me. Get us out!"
The last three words came through clearly, and were spoken with such desperation that Obi-Wan felt sick.
"This recording was sent to the Senate," Mace Windu informed them softly.
"And the Senate asked for Jedi help?" Qui-Gon inquired, his voice thoughtful.
Master Windu shook his head, "Not the Senate itself."
"Out side the Republic, it is," Yoda explained. "But a representative of the Republic, that woman was. Interfere directly, they would not."
"But they did give us permission to investigate as we see fit," Windu agreed. "Cytaur recently sent out yet another advertisement asking for skilled workers. We need at least two teams of Jedi to go undercover as workers and find out exactly what is happening. If we can find proof of slavery or maltreatment of these people, the Senate can take action."
There was silence as Adi and Qui-Gon exchanged an unreadable look. After a moment, Adi spoke carefully, "Once we had gained this information, how would we get off planet if no one is allowed to leave?"
"You would be in contact with us," Windu said firmly. "When you had the information, you would simply need to contact the Temple. We'd have someone there to pick you up within hours."
"Time to think, you will have," Yoda spoke gravely. "Report tomorrow, you will. May the Force be with you."
The two teams returned the greeting, bowed and turned to leave the room. As soon as the door closed Adi and Qui-Gon turned to one another.
"We need to speak of this later," Adi said firmly. She put her hand on Siri's shoulder. "I have to talk about this with Siri first, as I'm sure you will speak to Obi-Wan."
"Indeed," Qui-Gon agreed quietly. "We will meet you in The Room of A Thousand Fountains at 1700 standard hours?"
Adi nodded. She and Siri turned in unison and strode of down the hall. Qui-Gon glanced at Obi-Wan, and was surprised to see an almost sad look on his young apprentice's face. When Obi-Wan noticed, he smiled reassuringly. Qui-Gon nodded slightly, and placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"Come," the Master said softly. "We have much to discuss."