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Qui-Gon's fingers dug into the back of the chair as he pressed it up against the communications console. He clenched and unclenched his jaw.
"Try again," he ordered the hapless comm officer in the next seat.
"Sir, her comlink is still turned off. I'll try the Agrarian's again, if you wish," the officer said.
"Yes, I wish."
While the officer went through the laborious identification sequence, thoughts whirled through Qui-Gon's mind. Was giving Alee space the right thing to do last night? Should he have gone after her? They needed to talk. Did he know what he wanted to say? Where is she? Why hasn't she been in contact? I don't want to lose her friendship, her esteem. What have I done?
"Sir?" the comm officer interrupted his thoughts. "We found her. She's at breakfast with the leader, Falk."
"Breakfast?" Qui-Gon's voice rose.
"You wish to speak with her, sir?"
"Yes, I wish to speak with her. Now. Better yet, 20 minutes ago." His voice was tight.
"Yes, sir." The officer relayed the request as the Jedi Master left the room.
Qui-Gon was just entering the salon pod when his comlink signal went off. He nodded to Obi-Wan sitting at the table and opened the link.
"Where have you been, Alee?"
Her voice was laced with static. "In the grass."
"You were outside the spaceport? Doing what?" He frowned at Obi-Wan, who raised his hands in mock surrender. Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes.
"Reconnecting," came the reply. He immediately understood her reference to the Force. He'd done a lot of that himself last night.
"Don't stay out of touch like that again. What do you plan to do today?" Qui-Gon knew he sounded harsh. He couldn't seem to help it. Her nonchalance was curdling his concern.
"I'm still working on the hostage issue. Possibly making headway on getting food for the city." The static clicked off, then back on. "Do you know anyone back at the Temple that has a good information network?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. A good friend named Tahl," replied Qui-Gon.
"The Knight who was left blind from a mission years ago? I met her once." The static cleared a little and Alee's voice continued, "Would she be willing to trace something for me?"
"If I asked her, yes. I don't have time to pluck draigon claws here, Alee. Out with it."
A sigh came over the comlink. "Please ask her to find out anything she can about a smuggler named Cray-el or Krail. Especially anything that traces him back to Fondor."
"What are you on to, Alee?" Suspicion rode his words.
"I'll let you know if your friend finds anything. Out." The comlink went dead.
Qui-Gon scowled at the offending gadget and tried to reopen the connection. Alee had switched her link off. He tossed the comlink on the table and sat down stiffly.
"Master," Obi-Wan said, "I think you need to sit down with Alee and discuss whatever it is that is bothering the two of you." He wrinkled his brow thoughtfully. "A few days ago I was surprised, and perhaps a little vexed, by how relaxed you seemed around Alee, how ready to smile, even laugh. Now, I am surprised by how close you are coming to losing your normally unshakable demeanor. I wonder if you even know how deeply your feelings run for this Jedi Knight. No offence intended, Master, but you need to find out so we can all get on with our lives."
Qui-Gon looked into his Padawan's dark eyes. "The simple wisdom of youth. There is much more at stake than just how I feel about Alee, Obi-Wan. There is our relationship, for one."
"Yes, Master. That, most definitely, is my focus," Obi-Wan pointed out. He fingered his Padawan braid. "But this issue is distracting you. You need to settle it. Trust your instincts."
Obi-Wan's statement was met with a quiet grunt.
"More immediately," said Qui-Gon, "we must consider the mission."
"But, are you able to give the mission the consideration it needs, Master?"
Qui-Gon frowned and crossed his arms. "The mission is paramount, and for its duration, there is no issue. We do not need to repeat this discussion. Is that understood, Padawan?"
Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan's facial expression, but it remained bland. "Yes, Master."
"Now," said Qui-Gon as he rose, "let's go convince the Trium that they cannot expect help from Fondor, and see if we can clarify the symbiotic nature of their relationship with the Agrarians. Be cautious. I sensed we were being watched yesterday, but I was never able to pinpoint the source."
Obi-Wan sighed. "It's going to be a long day, Master."
"Of that I have no doubt, Padawan."
Alee strolled on the catwalk above the parade ground with General Sothar. They stopped and watched the few Fondorian soldiers roaming the yard, their blue uniforms bold against the timid grey ferrocrete. They were being let out ten at a time for ten minutes. Alee had convinced Falk it would happen twice a day. The continuously complaining Core Vazgul was settled in his stripped-down officer's quarters, with two unfortunate guards to listen to his litany of grievances. A good day's work, but Alee sensed it wasn't over.
She turned with Sothar to lean on the battlement and look across the fields to the mountains. Sothar breathed in deeply and lifted his clean-shaven face to the sun. The light reduced the deep creases in his face to fine lines and his scar pulsed white against his pale tan, which seemed to be reviving and deepening before Alee's eyes. He turned brown eyes to the Jedi and studied her for a minute.
"Thank you, Alee."
She gave him a small smile. "It was my pleasure, Sothar. Falk is a good man. He doesn't really intend harm towards you or your men."
"Well, I am heartily grateful you are here to point that fact out to him," Sothar said.
They enjoyed a comfortable silence before the general spoke again.
"May I tell you a story? One that cannot be repeated?"
Alee twisted to face the Fondorian. "It is yours to share, Sothar. I would be honored to hear such a tale."
Sothar kept his eyes on the mountain peaks and spoke very softly. "Many years ago, a carefree and callous Technick youth used to ride his swoop over the countryside. He would whip across Agri fields and crank through Agri yards, spraying terrified children with dust. One day he topped a bank and had plummeted down into a river before he could react. The water shorted the engine and a laughing Agri lass helped him haul it back on shore to dry out. She stayed a while and he was captivated by her earthy beauty and her glowing self-confidence. Soon, they were meeting almost every day at that fateful spot. They fell deeply in love." Sothar paused for several long moments. Alee watched emotions flash through his eyes and disappear. He sighed and continued, "They were discovered by the Technick's younger brother, who swore he would keep their secret. But he was greedy for his brother's considerable inheritance and betrayed his brother. The Technick was banished forever from Gandeal. He fled to Fondor, created a new life for himself, complete with a new identity. He did the very thing he had always dreamed of - he became a fighter pilot."
"And what became of the Agri lass?" Alee asked quietly.
"He ... I tried to get to Lina before the authorities,
so we could flee together. I failed. She disappeared into the
mines."
"I'm sorry, Sothar."
He blinked. "It was all a very long time ago."
"And now you are back. How did that come to pass?" Alee asked.
"When Core Eliat Vazgul's father, Gerand, wrangled this post for him, it was with the proviso that a senior military officer accompany him. Coremain Gerand wanted no embarrassments. I was on the verge of being assigned my own patrol ship, but since no one else wanted to deal with the arrogant whelp, I volunteered before they could reassign me. My desire to see Gandeal again was very strong. Now, I'm not sure why I came."
"The Force brought you here for this very moment, Sothar."
He turned to her, his creases deep. "I'm not tracking."
"You love, or at least understand, both factions on Gandeal. But you have lived long enough on Fondor to have an air of neutrality." A twinkle entered her eye. "And I need someone local whom I trust. We need to brainstorm on how to build a bridge between Agri and Technick." She shook her head. "When we first met, you spoke of the Agris. Everyone from off-world calls them Agrarians. That should've tipped me to your origins."
"Yes, well. It must have been your pretty face. I don't usually slip like that," Sothar said.
Alee snorted. She sat down on the wide catwalk and leaned against the wall. Sothar joined her. The group of blue coats below them was herded inside and another group appeared, the men blinking and shielding their eyes from the early afternoon sun. That group was ushered back in before words passed between the two again.
Sothar whispered, "Lina told me something once. I had almost forgotten it, until now. A fable, I thought, but she insisted on its truth. It was something very few Agris knew of, and fewer spoke about. She said you had a tendency to disappear if you did. Lina's father was one who vanished - into the mines, I suppose - but not before he told his secret to his daughter."
The general narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. "Gandeal history is unusually scant before the purge. Our Technick history reads that, several hundred years ago, Agri leaders became greedy and attempted to take over the whole planet. There was a massive purge and all the leadership was killed. Rioting ensued. When calm was restored, the present system was firmly entrenched. For the good of all Gandeal, we were taught."
"My briefing mentioned something of the sort," said Alee. "I take it the Agri view of events doesn't quite mesh?"
"The secret-bearers told of a time before the purge, when Technick and Agri lived in peace. They said that the original colonists had had a contract specifying an equal sharing of resources between miner and farmer. It was the Technicks who succumbed to greed, destroyed the contract and the Agri leaders, and set up our present system, to their exclusive benefit."
Alee felt the Force surging. "Did any copies of the contract survive?"
Sothar smiled sadly. "That is where the tale gets interesting. One of the Agri leaders - an ancestor of Lina's - was sensitive to the changing climate and had secretly made a copy of the contract. When the purge began he sent a trusted daughter to hide the copy. He was killed in the purge. His daughter was killed in the rioting, but she had passed her secret to her younger sister."
"Are there any secret-bearers left alive?" Alee held her breath.
"They were always members of Lina's family - I don't know why the Technicks never clued in to that fact and wiped them out. Or maybe they did. Lina was an only child. You are speaking to the last secret-bearer, so far as I know." He looked into Alee's wide eyes. "I always wondered why Lina passed this burden to me. Maybe she saw the fate awaiting her. Or maybe she saw this moment. I would guess you are the why, young Jedi lass."
"Yes," whispered Alee, "but now we must discover the where."
"Deep within the bowels of Victory Mount."
Alee sprang to her feet and scanned the mountain range. On the second pass, she spotted it, partially hidden behind other rocky faces. A single-peaked mountain with an odd tapering chimney of rock reaching for the sky from halfway down its slope - like an arm raised in triumph.
"Victory Mount," she breathed.
Qui-Gon paced the width of the salon pod and back for the seventh time, then turned to find Obi-Wan's eyes glued to him. The tall Jedi Master returned a blank look.
"I am restless," he said.
"Of course, Master," replied Obi-Wan. A crooked smile grew on the young Padawan's face. "I had expected Alee to be back by now."
"You must be patient, Padawan. She will return in due time." Or I will go looking for her.
Obi-Wan's smile widened. "Unless she prefers the company of fields and grass again."
Qui-Gon narrowed one eye. "She will report in, Padawan." He is enjoying this.
"Of course, Master," Obi-Wan said.
Qui-Gon switched the viewscreen on and clasped his hands behind his back. This won't wait until the mission is complete. Alee and I will talk tonight and get some things clarified. I know now that I want to explore this Force connection we seem to share. But has my usual standoffish attitude scared Alee away? I know I hurt her. Will she forgive me?
He switched off the monitor and closed his eyes. Opening himself to the Force, he reached out his senses. Obi-Wan's signature was strong, as always. He expanded his sphere of knowing slightly beyond the ship and held it steady. The hum and buzz and rustling of normal shipboard activities flowed around him, making him aware of the crew, droids, a small rodent scurrying under the ship. A few minutes later, a ripple impinged on his awareness. Alee. He smiled. Qui-Gon opened his eyes to find Obi-Wan watching him again. He refrained from giving his Padawan a smug look and sat down, stretching his legs out.
Alee rushed into the salon pod and stopped short. She looked from Padawan to Jedi Master and back, then raised her eyebrows.
"Am I late?" she asked. "I don't recall setting a certain time to return. Where is my chrono?" She searched compartments in her belt. "I never liked wearing the thing. Oh, here it is." She looked at the device and frowned. "Is it that late, already? I have to hurry, so I have time to rest."
Talkative and preoccupied. Interesting combination. Qui-Gon crossed his arms. "What progress did you make today, Alee?"
She looked up, then away. "Quite a bit. Did you hear back from Coruscant?"
"It's too soon for that," he replied. "What progress?"
"Fresh air for the hostages. That sort of thing. How did your day go?" She glanced at Obi-Wan.
The Padawan answered, "Very frustrating. They still think Fondor will rescue them. Though fear has driven them a step closer to wanting to talk to the Agrarians." He frowned. "But they stipulated something about no awled Agris. Does that mean anything to you?"
Qui-Gon sensed anger flare in Alee, which she quickly doused. Her voice was calm and measured. "Yes. It means Agris that are deemed unfit to deal with Technicks. They are marked with a hole in their left ear."
Qui-Gon asked, "Falk has such a mark, doesn't he?"
"As do most of the leaders I've come in contact with, and many of the soldiers," Alee replied.
"That could complicate things," Obi-Wan commented.
"Indeed," agreed Qui-Gon. He watched Alee's eyes flit around the room, looking for a place to settle. Anywhere would do, it seemed, except on his face. He felt his eyebrows straining to join and ran a hand over his forehead to smooth away the furrows. He asked, "Did you make any progress regarding food distribution?"
His gaze trapped Alee's for a micron, then she blinked and looked away. "You can expect a delivery at the spaceport gates in the morning. I told Falk you would look after it."
"I will? Where will you be?" Qui-Gon stared, willing her to look at him. Her eyes bounced off him. She is being very evasive.
"I have something I need to check out," Alee said. "I have to get a pack, replenish my medkit, get some rest."
Alee spun and headed for the door. Qui-Gon jumped to his feet and almost leaped across the room. He brought his hand down on her shoulder and she stiffened; he dropped it faster than if he had grabbed an overheated blaster.
He whispered at the back of her head. "Alee, could we talk, please?"
"There's nothing to talk about," came the soft reply.
Louder he said, "Alee, we are a team. I need to, at least, know what you are doing."
Alee spoke to the door. "I work better alone."
Firmness crept into his voice. "Tell me where you are going."
Alee turned around slowly. "To the mountains."
Qui-Gon frowned and grabbed his own arms to keep from grabbing hers. "Why?"
"To check out a lead."
"What lead?"
Alee hesitated. "I don't think I can say without betraying a confidence."
Air hissed through his clenched teeth. He unlocked his jaw. "This is ridiculous, Alee. You know I will not betray this person. I need to know where my team members are and what they are doing."
Alee's chin jutted out. "Your team? I don't recall Master Windu putting you in charge of anything. I am a partner here, not a subordinate."
"What kind of a partner heads for the hills chasing phantom leads and leaves the rest of the team to deal with the mission?"
"The kind that has perfect confidence in her partners." Alee's eyes sparked.
Qui-Gon expelled his frustration with each breath, only to have it rush in with the next. "Stop answering questions without answering them. I am the senior Jedi here. If nothing else, you will respect that and tell me what I wish to know. Now."
Alee narrowed her eyes."I respect you as a person, Qui-Gon, but do not throw your rank in my face. I will not be treated like a novice Padawan and I will not answer to the great Jedi Master just because he snaps his fingers. I am doing exactly what you told me to do. I am trusting my instincts, and that includes keeping my silence."
"What you are doing," Qui-Gon ground out, "is being stubborn."
"And you are being thickheaded," Alee snapped back.
Qui-Gon grabbed her by the upper arms. Alee shot her hands up and out in a defensive move, knocking his hands loose. The desire to argue rushed out of him, and a sense of loss welled up.
"Don't touch me." Alee's nostrils flared. "Why do you have to make this so difficult? Why do you have to make everything so difficult?" Qui-Gon stared at the teardrops that clung to her lashes and refused to fall as she continued, "You wanted to be left alone with your Padawan; I'm leaving you alone. So leave me alone. Is that too much to ask? And do not ever, ever try to make me see the revered Jedi Master Jinn that everyone stands in awe of. All I will ever see, can ever see, is the man, Qui-Gon. And if you cannot suffer that, then maybe it's best if we don't see each other at all."
"But I want to..." Qui-Gon started to say.
Alee interrupted, "I know what you want. To be left alone. To remain uninvolved."
"Will you please..."
"Respect your wishes. Yes, I will."
"Alee..."
"Qui-Gon," she said, as her fingers fluttered, then floated to his face and swept a loose hair behind his ear. A lone tear tracked down her cheek. She whispered, "Good-bye."
Qui-Gon blinked and she was gone. He stared, frowning at the door, his muscles vibrating with tension and indecision. Go after her, or stay? He wheeled, strode across the room and plopped in a chair. He sensed a presence awash in ... amazement? Obi-Wan. I forgot about Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon sighed and looked into his Padawan's face, which was punctuated with a slack jaw and round eyes.
"What now, Padawan?" Qui-Gon sighed.
"You, you plopped." Obi-Wan oozed incredulity.
Qui-Gon wrinkled his brow. "What do you mean, 'plopped'?"
"When you sat down just now, you plopped," Obi-Wan explained. "In the eight years I have been your Padawan, you have never ... plopped."
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "How, exactly, does one 'plop'?"
Obi-Wan waved his arms. "You, you lose total control ... and, and just collapse ... then plop, and the air whooshes out of you ... and, and ..."
Amusement broke through his pensive mood and Qui-Gon worked to keep his face straight. "It sounds like a most undignified process."
"It is." Obi-Wan nodded vigorously.
"Most unsuitable for a Jedi Master," Qui-Gon added.
Obi-Wan kept nodding. "Absolutely."
"Even in the most trying circumstances..."
The Padawan jumped in, "we must maintain our dignity."
Qui-Gon's breath rushed out of him. He rested his head on the chair back and stared at the ceiling. "You cannot maintain what is apparently lost."
"You could never lose your dignity, Master," said Obi-Wan. "It's just that, she is so difficult at times."
"Alee? Yes, I suppose so."
"She misconstrues everything you say."
"At times, I suppose."
"She is stubborn and completely unwilling to listen to reason."
"I'm sure she has her reasons," Qui-Gon mused.
Obi-Wan went on,"I don't know how she achieved knighthood. Totally lacking in respect."
"That's enough, Padawan."
"Just like on Keedad, she's tripping down her own path, completely blind to..."
"I said that's enough!" Qui-Gon slammed his hands down on the table.
Obi-Wan stopped and stared at his Master like he'd suddenly sprouted brain-tails. Qui-Gon stood and leaned heavily on his hands.
The Jedi Master spoke slowly. "I will have at least one person on this ship listen to what I say."
"But, Master ..."
"And," Qui-Gon continued, "that one person will be you, Obi-Wan. I trust Alee. And you know I do not give my trust easily. She does, and always has, treated me with respect, even when I respond with thickheadedness. You will show her the same courtesy - respect that includes trusting her judgment. Do I make myself clear, Padawan?"
"I just ..."
"Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Master."
"Thank you." Qui-Gon rose and moved to the viewscreen. The monitor sprang to life with a flick of his wrist. He stared at the screen, knowing he had driven Alee from the ship again, waiting for her to appear. When her shadowed figure stepped into sensor range, he reached out with the Force and brushed her mind. Her silhouette froze, pivoted and faced the ship for a moment, then turned and faded into the darkness.
Even when you frustrate me, Alee, I feel more vitally alive
when you're around than I ever remember feeling. You may have
said good-bye tonight, but you'll find I'm not ready or willing
to do that. You aren't the only one who can be stubborn.
