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

Part Three

Qui-Gon had turned from his meditations and had spent some time considering his next course of action. It had occurred to him that perhaps Obi-Wan had gone to Loard. They were scheduled to visit both planets. Maybe the padawan had decided to stop at Loard initially and then meet him on Baroon when Qui-Gon landed there. After all, Qui-Gon was not scheduled to arrive for two days. Just because the Jedi master had intended to start on Baroon didn't mean that Obi-Wan would go there first. Perhaps with that much time before the talks started Obi-Wan decided to begin his look around on Loard. As he thought over his reasoning, the Jedi looked from the window of the spaceport building into the dusty, pale sky. There was Loard now. It was time of the closest approach of the planets to each other in their orbital tracks, which made the body easily seen. He nodded his head; it sounded like a plausible explanation.

Therefore, the elder Jedi decided to talk with the planetary officials on Loard. However, he bore in mind the fact that there was currently a dispute between the legislatures of the two worlds. Qui-Gon was fearful that if he merely made a comm link with the government while he was still on Baroon, there might not be total cooperation because of their animosity toward Baroon. So he decided to visit the planet, present himself to the ruler, thereby making direct contact with the leadership of the planet.

Qui-Gon called for Captain Breen to inform him that he would be leaving. The officer inquired of the Jedi's plans. Breen agreed with him that Obi-Wan going to Loard was a reasonable idea. He offered to either speak with the planet's officials or go with Qui-Gon to the planet. Qui-Gon thanked him for his offer but resolutely refused any offer of assistance from the leaders of the planet. He wanted nothing to delay his progress in locating his apprentice. He took his leave of the captain and was soon on his way to the neighboring planet.

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Obi-Wan had been traveling for a few hours now, but he had covered only a short distance. It was rough going for the padawan. It was difficult enough to walk--but to have to walk in the wretched sun and on the irregular, rugged terrain multiplied his toil. The ups and downs and crevices and occasional obstacle fallen onto the path would make rough traveling for a whole person. For one who was as bashed and sore as the miserable apprentice, it was pure agony. His joints ached. His injuries repaid their rough treatment with torment and failing capacity. His head pounded and the dizziness never left him now. He stumbled to a boulder beside the trail and lowered himself to a half-sitting position on the edge of it. The apprentice rubbed the sweat out of his eyes with the sleeve of his tunic. He was huffing and puffing from the exertion--which caused his ribs to ache the more. In pain and frustration, Obi-Wan began to sob. Try as he might, he just couldn't hold it back any more. He felt his emotional strength dissolve with his physical strength. He was being assaulted by his injuries, by the toll the travel was taking on him, by the worry over his amnesia, by the slowness of his journey, by the lack of contact--which brought additional anxiety about supplies or possible medial attention. It was too much, too much.... He gave in and quit trying to hold back. All came out in a surge of tears and release of distress. The heavy sobs wracked his body, causing yet more agony. The padawan lost focus on the world about him and, unheedful of his position perched on the edge of the large rock, he lost his balance and tumbled to the ground. Already a tortured mass of flesh, he hardly noticed the added pain from the impact on the hard earth. He just lay in the dust and rocks and let all his anger, frustration, and suffering flow out through the tears that washed his face of the dirt--and his soul of its agony.

Some time later, Obi-Wan had no idea how much later, the padawan pushed himself slowly up into a sitting position. The sun was low to the horizon so he looked about for a sheltered place for the night. He hadn't much choice now, this late in the day. He hadn't the desire to set out walking either to look for proper shelter. Groaning and cursing as he got his feet under him, he gingerly lifted himself up. He was so dizzy and weak that his knees shook visibly. There was no way he could travel further, even if he wanted. Refusing to think on the possibility of becoming incapacitated out here, he turned to survey his surroundings. Grasping one of the straps of the backpack, he turned to walk toward the stubby hills, dragging his burden on the ground behind him.

Walking along the foot of the jagged protuberance of stone rising from the planet surface, Obi-Wan spied an outcropping just ahead. Jutting from the hillside was just enough of a rock shelf that the apprentice could fit under. He wasn't picky either. Appreciatively he carefully lowered his mutilated form to the unforgiving ground and dragged himself under the ledge. The padawan didn't move another muscle but lay still as death. Soon he was gratefully unconscious.

****

Early the next morning Qui-Gon rose from the small couch tucked into the back of the compact transport that he had been traveling in. He had arrived at Loard late in the night and had refused all offers from the spaceport officials to accompany him to the house of the planetary governor. Qui-Gon knew from previous experience how much deference was usually given to the Jedi, as representatives of the Republic government. There was no point in waking the ruling house of the planet just so he could have a soft bed. Therefore, the master had insisted on sleeping in his ship.

Since it was yet early, the Jedi took a few moments for his morning amenities--cleaning himself up and having a small breakfast. Then he returned to the couch. Sitting with his eyes closed and breathing deeply, he once more reached out to the Force. Again he began his search for the padawan's essence. It took some time, but he finally found Obi-Wan. Deeply concentrating, Qui-Gon tried to understand what was going on. Yes, his apprentice was alive. Yet, he didn't seem to be in touch with the Force himself. Could that be what it was? If Obi-Wan wasn't reaching out to the Force, could that explain why his presence felt so weak? If that were so--then why was he not in touch with the Force? True, his apprentice still had much to learn of the ways of the Force; however, he was certain Obi-Wan understood the importance of using the Force, of reaching out to it. Why, then, would he deliberately avoid it? Unless...a chill shook through Qui-Gon and his eyes snapped open. Something must be preventing it. The padawan understood...so there must be something that is stopping him from connecting with the Force. Qui-Gon was unsettled by this realization. He had to calm himself however. Getting upset would cause him to lose his focus and that would not help his attempt to find Obi-Wan. So he remained where he was for a few minutes longer to seek out the calm of the Force, the peace of the force. Focus he told himself.

Later, at a more respectable hour, Qui-Gon permitted himself to be shuttled to the governor's house. He allowed the official a short time to observe some of the political rituals accorded to visiting dignitaries then came to his point quickly.

"I thank you, Governor, for your hospitality. However, before you go on, let me assure you up front that I am not here on a diplomatic mission. I have business of a more personal nature to attend to."

The governor's brow furrowed in confusion. "Excuse me, sir. I thought you were sent here by the Senate to mediate our dispute with Baroon."

"It's true I had been given that assignment. However, in the meantime a matter has come up that I must attend. Another Jedi will be dispatched very shortly to act as negotiator."

"I see," he replied slowly, still confused. "Then may I ask why you are here?"

"My apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, left Coruscant two days ago to come to this system. He would have been assisting me in the negotiations. However, he did not arrive on Baroon as scheduled. I have visited the planet in an attempt to determine his whereabouts. The officials there were most helpful. There is nothing in their sensor record to indicate that my apprentice's ship landed on the planet, or even entered their controlled space. I was hoping that you could help me determine if he might have landed on your planet instead."

"Why, yes, of course. All our resources will be at your disposal. Anything we can do to help, we will. Excuse me one moment and I will contact one of my aides to assist you."

******