Rating: G
Disclaimer: The characters and venue of Star Wars belongs to Lucas Films Limited. I receive no profit from this story or its distribution.

Early the next morning Obi-Wan was awake and ready to look for Bruck. The feeling was not anger now; it was a desire for closure...for this whole episode to be over. He had submitted his feelings to the Force last night and allowed its calm and healing peace to flow through him. It showed him that Bruck was a person of much anger and that he could become that way if he didn't let go of the past. Obi-Wan supposed he could identify with some of what his tormentor felt. He remembered how he felt when he thought that he was not going to become a padawan. It was hard not to be angry and bitter. One of the hardest battles he'd fought in his short life...hard for a not yet emotionally mature thirteen-year-old to face. It was difficult enough for him--what had it been like for Bruck? The young boy Obi-Wan remembered was a very angry person, and he didn't do much to try to overcome his feelings. He let his rage rule him. That's why he had not become a padawan, Obi-Wan was sure of that. With that much underlying anger already in his soul, how much would being passed over add to that?

The more the apprentice thought about it, the more he felt sorry for Bruck. It was too bad that someone who had been good with a light saber and adept at the Force was letting his abilities go unused because he was unable to govern his passions. In control and properly trained, Obi-Wan imagined Bruck would have become a capable Jedi. Seeing the situation in this light, it was easier for the padawan to overcome his feelings toward his competitor. Having come to this healing of his spirit, Obi-Wan wished to put the entire thing to rest by finding Bruck and ending the whole affair.

Master Qui-Gon could sense the new peace in his padawan and was pleased. Now he knew they could complete their mission without Obi-Wan having to face distracting temptations from the dark side. "First, let's find out if Bruck has returned during the night. I suspect he has. He ran off with nothing. It's a long trip to the next colony. He couldn't make it on foot without supplies."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan agreed.

Since Mare was the only person Qui-Gon felt he could trust, they went to his home first. The elder Jedi explained the confrontation to their accomplice and asked for his help in determining if Bruck had returned. >From experience he knew that his efforts to gain information would bear little fruit among the paranoid population of the colony.

"Should be easy enough to find out," Mare told them. "First I'll see if he has shown up for work. If not...well, I know all his favorite hangouts and this is a small outpost. If he's here we should be able to find him." Mare paused and thought for a moment. "There's only one problem. Rook, or Bruck you say his real name is, has a lot of friends here. If they know you two are looking for him, they'll protect him. If might be better if you let me go on my own."

"I tend to agree with you," Qui-Gon replied. "We will be at the north end of the colony, where the confrontation took place, when you are ready to tell us what you find out."

Mare nodded and started off toward the speeder maintenance shed. The two Jedi watched him walk away for a moment, then Obi-Wan spoke up, "Master, why are we going there?"

"For a look around, Padawan. Since we will be doing nothing in the colony, we can begin searching outside the colony."

******

In the middle of the afternoon Master Qui-Gon activated his comm link. "Obi-Wan?"

"Yes Master."

"Let's meet back at the colony. Mare may be waiting for us there. Have you found anything?"

"No, Master. No trace that he's been this way. And you?"

"Nothing here either. See you at the colony."

"Yes, Master."

Obi-Wan reached the edge of the treed area first. He looked around for Mare and didn't see him. He sat under a tree while waiting for Qui-Gon to rendezvous with him. Shortly there was a crunching noise--boots coming down on limbs and dried leaves. Obi-Wan sensed his master and rose to meet him.

"Have you seen Mare?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Here I am," came the answer.

"What have you found out?"

Mare shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing. No one has seen him since last night at the pub."

"Can you be sure they aren't just protecting him?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, not a hundred percent sure. I tried to put on a good show...that his job depended on him showing up today. I hoped that would encourage them to want to pull his butt out of the fire. He's in enough trouble at work. One more screw up and he was going to be terminated." Mare held his hands out in surrender, "I did the best I could. Nothing more I could do."

"That's good enough," Qui-Gon replied.

"So you found nothing either?"

"Not a thing."

******

After a week of looking and waiting, Mare and the two Jedi still had not seen or heard anything of Bruck. Although he considered it unlikely, Qui-Gon contacted the next colony to see if the runaway had shown up there. As he expected he received a negative answer. They had scoured the areas around the colony. No sign of him. His friends continued their insistence of no knowledge of his whereabouts.

Qui-Gon had informed the governor of Bruck and his admission and his disappearance. Security forces were extra vigilant in their patrols. A guard had been assigned to watch his quarters around the clock. No one had seen anything even remotely resembling the errant man.

"He can't have disappeared into thin air, Master," Obi-Wan said in frustration.

"No, Padawan. He can't. However, I am at a loss to explain what has become of him. We are near to exhausting all resources."

"Master, someone must be protecting him--hiding him. Remember the rock thrower who lured me to the edge of the colony that night? He knows something about what was going on. He must be the one hiding Bruck."

"I agree with you. As you say he can't have disappeared. I do think he is in hiding. We have no idea where though. He has not been seen around the colony. Maybe that's why he was so quick to take off away from the colony; he knew someone had a hiding place set up for him."

"But there's so much suspicion here. Are you sure we can trust these people to be honest with us?"

"We've been through that before Obi-Wan. We don't have the ability to do everything ourselves. We are going to have to rely on them...especially now."

Obi-Wan's brow wrinkled into confusion, "What do you mean, Master?"

Qui-Gon sighed knowing his apprentice would not like this news. "We have been recalled by the Jedi council. If we had something to show for our efforts we would be allowed to stay and continue the investigation. However, we are getting nowhere with it, therefore, they wish us to return to Coruscant for reassignment. The security forces here will continue to look for Bruck."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to reply, but his master held up his hand to forestall it. "I know you are not happy about that Obi-Wan, but it is logical. You must go forward and put this behind you. If Bruck has tried to travel on foot, no supplies and no transportation...then he will pay the penalty for it. If he is still here, the security forces will find him. If you are realistic you will see this is the right thing to do."

Obi-Wan began a reply, stopped, thought for a moment. Then he dropped his gaze to the ground and said simply, "Yes Master."

******

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Mare were standing near the transport that would take them back to Coruscant--by way of Baroon. Governor Ros had come to bid them farewell.

"You have done a great service, Mare. While most people here are so apathetic, you were willing to go against that and your own anxiety of retribution to help bring this sabotage and attempted murder to light. It is my great privilege to have helped you get permission to return to Baroon. And thank you Master Qui-Gon for bringing it to my attention."

"I told you I wouldn't leave you in jeopardy," Qui-Gon said to Mare. Then he turned to Ros, "I thank you, Governor, for all your help while we were here...and mostly for acting on Mare's behalf. You will keep us up to date on the search?"

"Oh, most certainly. Some of my faith has been restored in my people. I have you to thank for that." To Obi-Wan he said, "I assure you we will not give up the investigation after you leave. If Bruck is to be found, we will find him."

"Thank you Governor. I appreciate your efforts," Obi-Wan replied with a bow.

The Jedi and their passenger turned to go up the ramp into their transport. Ros stood and watched as the ship took off and soon became a small dot then was lost to his sight. "May the Force be with you."

******

Acknowledgement: To my husband, Steve, the electrical engineer for making sure my circuit analysis was correct.

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