A disturbance in the Force pulled Heri from a deep sleep and she sat up in her bed, her eyes scanning the darkness of her room.

“My master’s coming home.” Obi-Wan stood in the center of her doorway, his hands clenched tightly into fists and a line of worry creasing his too-young face.

Heri was on her feet and across the room in moments. “How do you know that? Can you feel him?” She checked her chrono quickly noting it was closer to dawn than late evening. Qui-Gon must be very close for it to wake the boy from a sound sleep.

Obi-Wan nodded and edged a little further into the room. “Can we go meet him?”

Hesitating, Heri knelt next to him, draping his small frame with her own robe to keep him warm in the cool night air of her quarters. She knew she didn’t keep it as cold as Qui-Gon, both for her own preference and in deference to Slade, but he had a chilled look to him. From her research into bonds, she was beginning to think his sensitivity to cold might be partly related to the bond he shared with Qui-Gon. “Why don’t I make some calls and see if I can find out where they’re coming in? Then we’ll know where to meet them.” She was also certain that for them to be coming in the middle of the night with no warning couldn’t mean anything good.

“Okay.”

She picked him up and carried him to the kitchen, walking softly so as not to disturb Slade. If they left, she would have to wake the boy anyway, but she wanted him to have as much sleep as he could manage. There was no reason for them all to be up. Quickly setting up a small cup of tea for Obi-Wan in the new flavor he liked, she tucked in onto the couch in the common room with Qui-Gon’s robe enveloping him. “You stay here and keep warm and I’ll make some calls.”

Obi-Wan nodded and sipped at his tea as she picked up her comm and headed back to her room. She thought a moment about who she should call and quickly decided. Flicking on the unit, she waited for Mace to answer.

“Do you have any idea—“

“Now isn’t really the time for you to complain about the hour. I need information and I need it now. Obi-Wan says Qui-Gon is on his way home and he must be close. I need to know when and where he’s coming in and if it’s all right for Obi-Wan to be there when he lands.”

She could almost hear Mace collecting her words and switching over to a more official mode. He’d be perfect for Council business if they ever gave him the seat he wanted. “They weren’t due back for another couple days. We hadn’t heard anything, but if Obi-Wan thinks he’s near…”

“It woke him in the middle of the night. I wouldn’t be surprised if Qui-Gon were right on top of us. How quickly can you find out?”

A pause on the other end and Mace’s voice rang out confidently. “Give me five minutes and I’ll have answers for you.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Heri clicked off her comm and strode back to the common room where Obi-Wan was huddled in the corner of the couch. “Hey, I’ve got Master Mace working on the problem right now, so we’ll know soon. How’re you doing?” She sat next to him, wrapping her arm around his shoulder and tucking him into her side.

“Okay, I guess. Something’s wrong. He hurts and it's all fuzzy.” Obi-Wan shook his head. “I can’t understand much.”

His words increased her concern while at the same time making her glad that she’d taken the time to find out the situation before she took Obi-Wan and Slade out to meet the ship. The boys had had enough trauma between them to last lifetimes and the more she could spare them within the walls of the Temple, the better. “I’m sure everything will work out, Obi-Wan. We just need to be patient.”

“I’ve tried. I’ve been patient a long time, even when I knew things weren’t good.”

She stroked his hair, standing up in spikes from sleep. “But he’ll be home soon, and things will start to get better.” It was difficult, though, to say the words and not hear the warning in the Force that said things would not be easy or the same again.

Her comm beeped and she crossed the room to answer. “Yes?”

“Obi-Wan was right, Qui-Gon is headed in right now. Traffic is light so they should be landing in about ten minutes. Don’t take him to the landing pad, though. Qui-Gon’s been injured as has Bel-San and they're coming in on Payter’s ship with some local who’s also in bad shape. I don’t have the details. No one on that ship is in good enough shape to share them. Qui-Gon has specifically asked that Obi-Wan not be there, though, and I’m going to have to agree.”

“Mace, the boy is sitting on my couch wide awake and very aware that Qui-Gon has been hurt and that things are very wrong. What would you like me to say to him? I think you and Qui-Gon are both making a bad judgment call in this case. He should at least be able to meet him at the Healers once Qui-Gon’s been settled."

“You’ve been dealing with children for years, Heri. I think you can come up with something to tell him. I’m on my way there right now and I’ll let you know when Obi-Wan can see Qui-Gon. Things are not good,” he paused and for a moment she thought he wouldn’t continue. “Once we get things sorted out and there’s less negative emotion running through the place, then Obi-Wan can come. Until then, put him to sleep if you have to.”

Part of her was shocked that Mace would authorize the use of Sleep suggestion on one so young only to keep him ignorant of current events, while the rest of her marveled at the seriousness of the situation. “I’ll do what I can.”

Mace clicked off his end of the communication without further word and Heri stared at the small comm unit in her hand for several seconds before turning back to Obi-Wan. Crossing the room to his side, she knelt next to him and took his hand.

“He’s closer now.”

“He is, and so are the others, but we can’t go meet them just yet. There are some things they need to deal with and once that’s taken care of and your master has had a chance to rest some, then we’ll go see him.” She squeezed his hand tightly and could feel the tension in his small body as she spoke.

“When will that be?”

“Soon, but probably not till morning.”

Obi-Wan was nodding, though she could tell it was more from reflex than a response to her words. His hands were clenched tightly in Qui-Gon’s robe and she could see him battling tears. “It’s supposed to be better with him home,” he whispered finally.

With a sigh, Heri moved to sit at his side on the couch and wrap her arms around him. “I know, and it will be, but it will take time. Do you think you can go back to sleep?”

Obi-Wan shook his head against her shoulder.

“Do you want to?”

This time he nodded and Heri frowned tightly, knowing he couldn’t see her. It wasn't something she condoned much in children, but she also knew it might be better for everyone involved.

“I think I can help with that. Why don’t we go get you settled in bed?”

***

Mace pulled on his robe as he waited for confirmation from the Healers that they would have some of their people at the landing platform waiting when the ship landed. From Payter’s terse explanation of the injured body count, Mace thought it better to err on the side of caution and had requested one Healer for every person on the ship.

“We’ll have our people there by the time the ship lands.”

“Good.” Mace clicked off the comm unit, not even sure who it was he’d been speaking with, and honestly not caring as long as she did as she said she would. He hooked his lightsaber to his belt out of habit and stalked out of his apartment, striding down the long corridors in the closest thing to a run he could manage without drawing attention. Of course, there weren’t many out at this hour of the night, for which he was grateful. It seemed Qui-Gon and Bel-San could never return from a mission without creating some kind of a disturbance.

He shook his head as he walked, thinking of all the things that could have gone wrong. Payter had been less than eager to speak, which made him think that things were very bad indeed. The other Jedi had an edge in his voice that made Mace think Payter was upset with him personally. He supposed Payter would try and blame him in some way for what might have happened, as though he singularly had control over everything that happened in the Jedi Council. What everyone seemed to forget was that he wasn’t even officially on the Council and even if he were, he would be the youngest member and therefore hold the least amount of influence.

As he stepped out onto the landing pad that Payter’s ship with its ridiculous name he could never remember was scheduled for, he was grateful he’d taken the moment to pull on his robe. While Coruscant was generally a temperate planet, it was always windy and cold out on the landing pads. From the high vantage point, Mace could see most of the surrounding section of the city and he was struck by the calm that encased the still sleeping city. For all the levels of buildings and different types of beings, the night cycle was always the most calm. In a few hours the sun would be up and the skies would be clogged with traffic, filling the planet with so much life and machinery that Mace couldn’t help wondering why the Jedi continued to keep their main temple on Coruscant. But for now, it was calmer and he could at least imagine what it might have been like in the early days, before the planet had been overtaken by a single city.

The distant sound of an engine and the barest hint of lights from a ship pulled Mace from his wandering thoughts. He could finally see Payter’s ship in the distance, trying to contain his curiosity about what had happened with the one Qui-Gon had been sent with. There was a reason they never gave that man ships anymore, and he should have known Qui-Gon wouldn’t come back with it in one piece.

At the hissing sound of the doors, Mace turned to see a small squad of healers file out onto the landing platform, hoverbeds at the ready as well as a variety of portable equipment. Mace hadn’t been able to understand half of what Payter had been saying about the injuries, but from experience he knew it was better to prepare for the worst.

“They’re just about to land. I’m not sure what to expect, but be ready.” He spoke only in the direction of the Healers, not to any single person as most of his attention was still fixed on the swiftly descending ship. Within moments it bumped gently against the platform and the side hatch opened to reveal Payter, motioning to them furiously.

“You, Healers, in here now. We’ve got two unconscious, not responding, and another that should be on a hover bed, but will likely insist on walking.” He stepped aside as the Healers made their way quickly inside the ship before striding out across the platform toward Mace. His teeth were bared and a snarl was set on his features as he stalked Mace, not stopping until they were a hair’s breath apart. “You’d better have a stunning explanation for what’s about to come out of my ship, Mace, or you’ll wish you’d been sent on a ten week training exorcise on Dagobah. My job is hard enough as it is without you sending Jedi—without backup—into situations like that. If I hadn’t been on my way home, that entire ship of people would be dead now and you’d probably have a dead or severely traumatized padawan on your hands here.”

“Don’t start with me, Payter. I think we have larger issues to deal with right now than—“

Payter thrust out a hand, his clawed finger shoving Mace back as he jabbed it into his chest. “I have your issues right here.” He flung his arm around, pointing to the slack figure of Bel-San who was being pushed out of the ship on a hoverbed. Even though Bel-San lay covered with thermal blankets, Mace was shocked by his condition. The Jedi Teacher looked as though he hung on to life only as an afterthought, that he might be tempted to let go with the slightest brush of the wind.

“We have an entire section of the Order to deal with Jedi who need help.” Payter’s voice had dropped to a furious whisper. “He was being held prisoner, Mace. There is recourse for this, if you’d taken the time to think about it. A small squad, highly trained could have been sent instead of one man.” A second hoverbed joined the first, a young man its occupant, followed by the limping form of Qui-Gon and Kerge.

“We didn’t know and couldn’t risk—“

“It’s your job to know, and when you don’t, it’s your job to find out. I’m tried of cleaning up your messes, Mace, yours and the Councils. Do you see that? That is the direct result of poor decision making. We have enough things in this galaxy that are terrible without adding to them by our own making.” Payter drew a deep breath, shaking his whole frame with it as the Healers passed and Qui-Gon neared with Kerge. “I realize you’re not entirely to blame here, but you do have sway on the Council where Qui-Gon and others do not.” He turned his attention to the new arrivals, an exasperated sigh escaping him. “Qui-Gon, you shouldn’t be walking. Would you just take the help that’s offered? Just this once?”

“I’m well enough to walk there on my own.” Unmoving resolve lay beneath Qui-Gon’s tone, though it appeared the flesh was somewhat weaker than the words as his legs buckled. Payter caught him before he could hit the ground, though Mace could see there had been a second’s hesitation on his part.

“Lay down on the bed and let them take you to the infirmary or I will knock you out myself and add further head wounds to your injuries.” The patient tone was false, barely covering Payter’s utter seriousness in his words.

Qui-Gon hesitated only a moment before allowing the Healers to help him. He reached out to Mace as he passed, his eyes locking firmly. “We need to talk about what’s happened.”

“We will, Qui-Gon. Go with the Healers now and get well. There are a host of people interested in seeing you well, particularly a certain padawan of yours.” Mace found himself unexpectedly sympathetic to Qui-Gon, for all the trouble he’d caused and the injured people he’d brought back with him. There was a certain hard knowledge in his eyes. A wounding that would take time to heal.

As Qui-Gon was pushed off the platform, one of the Healers took the calm moment to interrupt. “Pardon, Masters, but there is another life-form aboard the ship, but we can't seem to locate it exactly.”

Payter growled low in his throat and Kerge darted a nervous glance over his shoulder. “Leave him. I’ll deal with the lying bastard later.”

“Payter?”

“It’s no business of yours, Mace. You’ll recall I do have a mission other than wandering the galaxy in hopes that I can save Qui-Gon from himself?” He glanced around the platform, his eyes landing on his padawan. “I have some people I need to see first, before I deal with my special cargo. Padawan, I want you to return to our apartment and get some rest.”

The young man looked as though he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue and nodded instead.

“Good choice. It isn’t that I don’t want you involved or that I think you lacking in some way, but you’re still growing and learning and you need rest. I’ll be joining you as soon as I’ve finished with my meeting.” He dropped a hand on the boy’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of meeting for you to sit in on in the next several days. So many you’ll end up sick of them.”

“Yes, Master.” A slight smile played at the corner’s of Kerge’s mouth as he bowed to his master and then to Mace, as he was obviously pleased at the odd praise.

They both watched the young man walk away, weariness dragging his every step and Payter made a pleased sound, the first non-threatening noise he’d made since landing. As the doors closed behind his padawan though, he rounded on Mace again, his hands at his sides this time, but the threatening gesture was implied.

“Now I have a mission for you. You’re going to go with the Healers and you’re going to sit. You’re going to wait until at least one of those people is conscious and able to speak about what happened and you’re going to listen. You may need to talk with some people, that’s fine, as long as you do it from the Infirmary. That’s why we have comm links and that’s how you’re going to conduct your business until someone is conscious. I imagine Qui-Gon will be first. You get the story from him then you get him his padawan.” Payter ran a hand across his head. “I don’t want to hear of any official reprimands for this mission, or even unofficial ones. He did everything he could and more than can be expected. We are Jedi, nothing more or less than that and just as prone to weakness as the next individual. I think we lose sight of that on occasion.”

“Payter--”

“No. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say right now. I’m too angry and I need to calm myself, let some of it go to the Force before we get into this. And we will. If you think this is the end, you are more wrong than you can know and I will take this within the very chambers of the Council itself if I think it will do any good." He stopped, his breath forming in a vapor around his muzzle. "I hate this. I hate it so much. It makes me wonder if it’s possible to be a Jedi with this much hate. So I’m going to go calm myself down and see some people about an entirely different set of terrible problems and you are going to go make sure our friends make it through the day. Got that?”

Mace nodding, thinking of a thousand refutations and arguments in his head but he let them go as Payter walked away. He had some things of his own to take care of.

TBC