Title: Lost and Found
Author: Apprentice D (ApprenticeD@aol.com)
Rating: PG
Archive: Jedi-Apprentice, Wolfie's Den
Category: Humor
Disclaimer: The characters belong to George Lucas not me. (surprise!)
Summary: Something's amiss at the Temple. Obi-Wan is 16 years old.
****************
Qui-Gon Jinn settled back into his seat and watched as the landing pad grew bigger as his transport approached the Temple. He had been away for two weeks, negotiating mining rights for the colonists of Tragor's second moon. It had been tedious and boring and monotonous. The Jedi Master was glad to be returning to his home. Obi-Wan had been unable to join him on this mission and Qui-Gon had missed the companionship of his young apprentice.
The transport settled onto the landing pad with a barely noticeable bump. Qui-Gon gathered his things and walked down the ramp and onto what was usually a bustling part of the Temple. Today, however, there was only one person waiting to greet him. Qui-Gon recognized his Padawan and walked over to him.
"Obi-Wan, it is good to see you...", he began.
Obi-Wan gave a quick bow to his Master. "Master, I'm so glad you've returned. Something terrible has happened."
Qui-Gon drew in a deep breath. "I thought I sensed a disturbance in the Force. What has happened, Obi-Wan?"
"It's Master Yoda," Obi-Wan replied.
The Jedi worked to calm himself. Yoda was the leader of the council, as well as being his former Master. He took Obi-Wan by the arm and began walking to the elevator.
"What has happened to Yoda?" he asked quietly.
His Padawan stopped and turned to face him. "You misunderstand, Master. Nothing has happened to Master Yoda. It's his walking stick."
"Something has happened to his walking stick?"
"I'm afraid it's missing."
"Fear leads to the Dark Side," Qui-Gon muttered as he resumed his trek towards the elevator.
Obi-Wan trailed quietly behind his Master until they entered their quarters.
"Master Windu is waiting for us in the council chambers," he said.
"Yes, well, that's where I'm headed, anyway, to report on my mission."
"All council appointments have been suspended until this crisis is resolved," Obi-Wan informed him.
"Crisis?" Qui-Gon exclaimed. "Are you still referring to the walking stick?"
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied. "Master Yoda is very upset. That stick belonged to his great-great-great-great grandfather."
"Well, then, if it's that old, perhaps it has become one with the Force."
"Master!" The apprentice sounded shocked. He took Qui-Gon's bag and deposited it in the common room. "Master Windu is dividing the Temple into segments and is going to assign groups to search each area."
"Padawan, how long has the walking stick been missing?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Council had a late session last night. Master Yoda had it with him there. When he woke for morning meditation, he could not find it."
"So, the search has been going on since....?"
"Early this morning. We'd better hurry. Master Windu was eager to begin a coordinated search," Obi-Wan concluded.
Well, by all means, let's not keep General Windu waiting," Qui-Gon remarked.
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The council chamber had been filled with people. Masters, Padawans, Knights, Initiates. All hopeful that they would be the ones to find the walking stick. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had been assigned the Meditation Gardens. Qui-Gon had reached out with his Force sense immediately but found no sign of the missing item. But Obi-Wan had insisted on conducting a thorough search.
"Obi-Wan," the Jedi called to his Padawan.
The young apprentice, who had been in the process of lifting a rock, replaced it and walked over to his Master.
"Obi-Wan," the Jedi repeated, "I hardly think you're going to find the walking stick under a rock that is no bigger than your fist."
"Not in it's original form," Obi-Wan admitted. "But if someone took it as a prank, they may have panicked, cut it up into tiny pieces and hidden it all over the Temple!" he replied fervently.
Qui-Gon blinked. "*You*" he said, poking his Padawan in the chest, "are watching too many detective holo-vids." He checked his chrono. "Time to rendezvous with the other teams. Let's go."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
No one had found the walking stick. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Mace and a few other council members had gone to Yoda's quarters to report the sad news.
"Knew you would return empty handed, I did." The diminutive Jedi master's ears drooped forlornly. "Gone is my great-great-great-great grandfather's heirloom." He sat dejectedly on a small chair in the corner.
"Poor Master Yoda," Obi-Wan whispered to Qui-Gon.
"How about saving some of that sympathy for *your* poor Master? I haven't had a chance to rest since I returned," Qui-Gon grumbled.
Obi-Wan was immediately contrite. "I'm sorry, Master. Would you like something to drink?"
The Jedi nodded. "Something cold would be nice."
Obi-Wan disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared promptly with a glass of kavaberry juice. "Is this alright, Master?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you." He settled onto the small divan that was part of Yoda's common room and sipped at the drink appreciatively. The door chime sounded. Obi-Wan was closest to the door and offered to see who it was. Qui-Gon did not have a clear view of the door so he closed his eyes and began to sort through the events of the day in his mind.
"Master Yaddle," Obi-Wan greeted.
Yaddle nodded a greeting and stepped into the room. "A party, is this? Not invited was I."
"Oh, this is no party," Obi-Wan answered.
"You can say that again," Qui-Gon thought, as he continued to sip his drink.
Obi-Wan regarded the small Jedi with a curious look on his face. "Master Yaddle," he began hesitantly, "what do you have under your robe?"
Qui-Gon spit the kavaberry juice out full force. What in the world was his Padawan thinking?
"Returning Yoda's walking stick, I am." She shuffled into the room. Every eye was on her.
Yoda got up and walked over to greet her. "Found it, you have. Grateful, I am." He took the walking stick in his gnarled claw. "Hmmmmm. Feels different, it does."
"Know what you are talking about, I do not." Yaddle took a seat in the room. "Told you, I did, that take it to be varnished today, I would."
"You mean, *you* had it all this time?" Mace demanded.
"Told Yoda last night that I would take it. Problem, this is, hmmmm?"
Qui-Gon stifled the urge to laugh out loud.
"Forgot, I did," Yoda stated. "Appreciate your help, I do. Time, it is, to go." He herded everyone into the hallway. He stopped Qui-Gon at the door. "A mess, the front of your tunic is. Get it cleaned, you should."
"Yes, Master," he replied. "I'll see you in chambers tomorrow." He walked out of Yoda's quarters and was confronted by an obviously upset Padawan. "Is something the matter, Obi-Wan?"
"Yes, Master, we spent the whole day looking for that stick and Master Yaddle had it all the time. And don't you think we were dismissed rather abruptly?"
Qui-Gon threw his arm around his Padawan's shoulder and steered him down the hallway. "I think Master Yoda is somewhat embarrassed about his lapse in memory. What do you think?"
"I suppose so," he concurred. He eyed the front of his Master's tunic. "What did happen to you? That looks like kavaberry juice."
"I'll tell you while you help me unpack. Deal?"
"Deal," Obi-Wan agreed. "Oh, and, by the way, welcome home, Master."
THE END
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