Chapter 3

The playground was quiet and empty by the time Mara and Kyp reached the kindergarten. Most of the children must have gone home already, and the rest was probably inside.

Actually, Mara believed it to be a good thing, as nobody could bother them while trying to feel traces of Ben in the Force.

"Go on Durron" she ordered. "This is the place. Track him down."

Kyp stood in the middle of the square, and tried to concentrate. It wasn't easy, because Mara was standing close by, watching him like a predator preparing to jump at her prey, and tapping one foot impatiently.

"Would You please stop glaring at me?" he asked eventually.

"I'm not glaring at You. I'm just making sure You're doing Your job."

"It's not helping me..."

"And You're not helping me when You quarrel with me instead of looking for Ben! Do You sense him?"

"No, but I told You You were distracting me..."

Mara pouted, but she moved away. She took place in the corner of the playground, and watched the black- haired master from there with even bigger intensity.

Kyp, muttering something about 'Grim Green Glare', reached for the Force and sent his senses outward, trying to find Ben Skywalker's force signature.

It was a difficult task as there were traces of other children's presences around, not to mention those of billions of people's on Coruscant, outside of the kindergarten, plus that it had been a couple of hours since Ben's disappearance.

But the main problem was the fact that every other trace in the Force was overwhelmed by a very strong sensation of anger and impatience, emanating from the corner of the square.

Kyp sighed and cautiously turned to Mara:
"Could You dim Your presence in the Force for a while?"

"Why?" she growled.

"Your emotions are disturbing. There's no emotion, there's peace, remember?"

Mara's Grim Green Glare changed into Deadly Daggers of Doom, but she managed to get her feelings under control.

After all she is a Jedi Master Kyp thought with relief, and started searching again.

Ten more minutes passed, and Mara's patience with them.

"Have You found him yet?"

Kyp shook his head wearily:
"No, I'm sorry. He's out of my reach. I can't sense much of him here either. I mean: no strong emotions like fear or anguish."

She looked at him with contempt:
"I knew You were an useless crap Durron! I'm just wasting my time here with You!"

"Hey! Wait now Master Jade! Maybe it never occurred to You that it actually could be Your fault!"

"My fault?! What's my fault?!"

"Maybe I cannot sense Ben's presence because I don't know him well enough?! And why I don't know him well enough? - Because You forbade me even to come near him!"

"And I had good reasons!"

"Oh really?! And maybe good arguments too?! I remember, once, when You took him with You to the Council meeting, I heard You tell him not to come too close to me or he would get warts!"

"It was a metaphor."

"I'm sure Ben was aware of that fact too." he snapped sarcastically. "Honestly Jade, even Leia wasn't so prejudiced against me. And Han could tell you I'm pretty good with children. I used to spend a lot of time with Solo kids when they were small."

"And just look what's become of them!: Anakin died, Jacen left the Order and went Force knows where to look for Force knows what, and Jaina almost turned to the Dark Side - when she apprenticed herself to You no less! Not to mention that she turned down Jagged Fel's proposal when we all thought they were going to be together!"

"Maybe it's also my fault that the youngest daughter of Kirana Ti beats boys, since I babysat her once?! Come on Jade, even You cannot seriously blame me for Anakin's death and Jacen's craziness! And I actually helped Jaina to return from the Dark Side! And Fel... Fel can go to hell!" he spat. " Or even to the nine Corellian Hells, if You prefer. Same for me!"

For a couple of seconds they only glared at each other murderously and gasped.

"Now..." Kyp began, when he finally regained at least some of the calmness that a Jedi Master should possess .

"Now" Mara cut in, her voice surprisingly calm and controlled "we'll take a speeder and begin searching other places on Coruscant. We'll start from here and move in a spiral. I'll connect with You, so that You can get a better feeling of Ben."

Kyp made a face.

"Any objections?"

"I don't really wish for such intimacy with You..."

"Nor I with You, trust me" she growled. "Do You have a better idea?"

"I think we should talk to the teacher first..."

"Have You been deaf Durron?! I've talked to her! She doesn't know anything!"

"Let me finish! We should talk to the teacher first, and then to the other children. Maybe they have seen or heard something. And I suspect You haven't questioned the teacher properly either, because You were too nervous." (An understatement, but it's safer not to irritate her further.)

She scowled at him, but didn't object.
"Ok Durron," she said finally "this time we'll try out Your method, but if it doesn't work, we'll do it my way!"