He was not aware of how much time had passed, but gradually , out of the
haze of his pain, Something soft and delicate moved across his cheek.
Fleeting as it was, it arrested the flow of his tears. He focused his eyes
outward and found his world mysteriously transformed. Instead of Obi-Wan's
spare room at the temple, he was in a metal walled room much longer than it
was wide. He was lying on a sleep coach against one of the walls. There was
a communications console and a small table but nothing from which he could
draw a conclusion as to where he was. Before he could gather his scattered
thoughts together and give it more thought, a shimmering apparition appeared
before him. He calmed his unsteady lungs and used all of his power to focus.
"Master Jedi. It is all right now. Your emotions have hold of you now,
but they can not harm you. Take hold of them and they will guide you, guide
you to peace and understanding.
"Mistress...I don't understand." There was not much point in feigning
Jedi calm and confidence in his current state.
"Shhh, I know. The Malebrion is very disorienting. Believe me when I
tell you that what you have been experiencing is not real, or at least is
only real within the realm of the Malebrion."
Incomprehension filled him. What was reality and what was not? Could he
dare believe that it had all been a nightmare?
"No Qui, you've just lost your mind." His voice dripped with bitterness
as he chastised himself and ignored the luminous form of the Mistress. He
brought his hands to his head and rubbed his temples. "Go ahead, go stark
raving mad. That will do your training and Obi-Wan's memory proud, won't it?"
"Sarcasm doesn't suit you Master Jedi." The Mistress' laughter bubbled
through him like freshly uncorked Laleth wine.
"I don't think the Mistress would laugh at my pain, except in my addled
brain." Qui-Gon said, doing his best to regain his composure. If he was
going to be insane at least he wasn't going to embarrass himself.
"I am sorry, please understand. I am not belittling your grief. I felt
it through the connection as if it were my own, but while the grief may be
real, the source of it is not. Look to your own senses, your own mind and
you will know the truth.
Gathering the Force around him the Master focused inward. He replayed
the prior days over in his mind. With the pain stinging his heart, he
remembered that which he only wished to forget. He remembered Obi-Wan
holding back the call of the Force just to bid him good-bye, remembered
letting the boy go and feeling as if it were he falling into an abyss,
remembered the burning of the boy's body with hungry merciless flames; and
yes, he remembered the regret in his heart. His heart told him that it had
all really happened, but the Force called on him to push further. Reaching
out to the familiar vibrations of the Force around him and suddenly the
orderly ebb and flow of his memories scattered like rare and beautiful
crystals carelessly strewn upon the floor. For the barest of moments his
mind refused to believe that it had all been so flawless. Qui-Gon was not an
inflexible man though. He released his doubt to the Force.
"Oh Force. Then my Padawan...my Obi-Wan..." Renewed tears were
threatening to overtake him.
"Yes, he lives." She whispered to him.
Qui-Gon took a deep controlled breath as if cleansing himself with her
words. The air came out slowly along with frantic swirls of emotion, finally
surrendered to the force.
"You have been given a rare gift Master Jedi. The Malebrion is a gift of
insight. My people and I believe it is given by the Goddess. You would say
it was a manifestation of the Force. Whomever the giver is, know that it is
bestowed only upon the worthy." The Mistresses gentle voice had become
strong. "Because you are worthy you will know that it is precious and will
act upon it."
"I regret only that it took pain of this kind to gain such obvious
insight. I am strong in the Living Force and yet my own heart eluded me. I
allowed so many moments to slip through my fingers." As he spoke, Qui-Gon
pulled himself to a sitting position. The fading image of The Mistress
followed him.
"Our connection is fading and there is much I need to tell you. You are
aboard a ship taking you home. "
"Thank you Mistress. I..."
"Master Jedi, one more thing." Her image faded, but her voice still
reverberated within his head. "The Malebrion is a two-fold gift. Be mindful
of all you have experienced." Then she was gone.
Having been aboard more Republic Cruisers than he cared to think about,
Qui-Gon easily gained his bearings. He pulled his hood over his head and
hastened to the front of the ship. He burst into the cockpit, startling both
the captain and the co-pilot.
"How close are we to Coruscant?" he demanded. With his features
shrouded, the tall Master made an imposing figure. Captain Netsua had faced
Togorian Pirates without skipping a heartbeat, but now she looked like she
was starring at death itself.
"Um...ah...oh Master Jinn sir. I...I'm glad to see you well. I was...I
mean we were concerned about you."
"I am well. When we will arrive at the temple Captain?"
"Forty minutes, Master Jinn."
"Good." With that he swept from the cockpit.
Captain Netsua could only glare at her co-pilot's obvious humor at her
lack of composure.
Returning to his quarters, Qui-Gon pulled the commlink from his belt and
sent a message to his apprentice, placing his hands on his hips waiting for
the response.
After a few long moments it arrived. "Master?"
Qui-Gon let out a sigh. "Yes, Padawan. I will be arriving shortly." He
took a moment to consider his words. "Obi-Wan are you feeling well?"
"Yes, ofcourse Master." How did his Master know about his sparring
session? "Did you speak with Master Sil? I didn't do too well, but I did
get two hits in. I hardly needed any bacta at all!"
"I'm sure you did very well Padawan. Sil uses a saber as if it were an
extention of her arm. I have yet to best her myself." Qui-Gon told his
apprentice not for reassurance, but because it was true. He was relieved
that Obi-Wan did indeed seem well, but could sense that the boy's shields
were up rather strongly. He comforted himself with the knowledge that it was
not in Obi-Wan's nature to be open. The boy was probably trying to disguise
his disappointment at his poor performance against Sil to himself.
"I think she missed you at today's session Master."
The corner of Qui-Gon's mouth quirked up at this. "I missed her as well,
Obi-Wan."
"Since you're arriving so early perhaps I could ask Master Sil for
dinner."
"Perhaps another day. I need you to do something Padawan and I need you
to do it without questions." He could feel the uncertainty over their bond.
He had always taught Obi-Wan to think for himself and to question when he
thought it was necessary. "I will explain everything when I arrive. But now
I need you to go to the healers."
"But Master are you..." he swallowed down the question and just trusted
his knowledge through the Living Force and their bond, that his Master was
unhurt. He took a deep breath. "Yes, Master."
"Master Leeto will be there. Do as he says and I will be there before
long." He could feel his student's worry over the bond they shared. "Don't
worry Padawan. All will be well. I have quite a story to share with you."
"Yes Master. I'll see you soon." Qui-Gon's stories were worth any
amount of uncertainty. Obi-Wan replaced the commlink to his belt and headed
for the door. Knowing that his Master was near at hand, the boy kept his
shielding up. He really didn't want Qui-gon to know just how exhausting the
session with Master Sil had been. He felt as though she had used his chest
to beat out a Maltarquien Story Song. He eased his arms down the sleeves of
his robe and hoped Master Healer Leeto would be able to do something about it
before Qui-Gon arrived.
For his part, Qui-Gon wasted no time in contacting Master Healer Leeto
Valtor. Qui-Gon and Leeto had been good friends from their days in the
creche. The Master slid his finger up and down the edge of his comlink. He
did not feel nervous, for he was perfectly capable of releasing his anxieties
to the force. However a sense of urgency was playing upon the periphery of
his perceptions. He knew he could not afford to relax. Finally, just as he
had lowered his forehead to the device in his hand, the comliink beeped.
"Leeto?"
"Qui-Gon. How are you old friend?"
"I am well, but I fear that my Padawan is not."
"What is it?" All of the jocular tone was absent now. The Leeto who was
a playful friend was gone and the dedicated healer was present.
"Have you ever heard of something called Seltaris Syndrome?"
"Um, a very rare genetic disorder affecting less than two percent of
Denarians. I just read something about it in a recent journal. It's
metabolic in nature, but affects the heart. It's easily corrected, but
unfortunately the patient usually dies of massive heart failure very shortly
after the first signs of problems. "
"Obi-Wan is Denarian." Qui-Gon gathered up some of the urgency he felt
pushing on him and sent it along the bond that had developed between them
over many years of friendship. He felt his friend respond in kind with waves
of understanding and solace.
"You're concerned he may have this. I know the healer's ward is not your
apprentice's favorite place, but if he will grace us with his presense in the
morning, I'll run the test." The healer couldn't help feeling amused at the
worry his friend was showing over such a slight chance of harm to his
apprentice. He would feel better himself though to have the test done.
Inwardly he was admonishing himself for not checking for any Denarians at the
temple and testing them. He knew now what his activity would be for the next
afternoon.
"Actually he's on his way to the healers now. Factoring in his usual
amount of dawdling, he should be within a hallway or so away right now."
"Qui-Gon, I appreciate your concern, but isn't the morning soon enough."
"No my friend, it is not." The Master's words collided with his friends.
"I am putting my trust in something other than the Living Force. All I am
asking is for you to put your trust in me."
"And that, my friend, is not difficult."
"Assure my apprentice that I will be there soon, but do not wait for me."
Qui-Gon replaced his comlink and removed his robe. The towering Master
gracefully lowered himself into a meditative position. The fifteen minutes
until he arrived could be the longest of his life or the most clear-sighted.
As he began to meditate, he vowed they would be the latter.