"I don't really care what you think personally or what you have to do, Mace. I need to be on this mission and you know it. Someone needs to watch out for Qui-Gon, and while you and he are on speaking terms, I really don't think that qualifies you. And Bel-San, while a better choice, I'm sure, is a Teacher." Payter stressed the word, casting an apologetic glance at his friend. "He doesn't really do field work. And besides that, I don't think Qui-Gon is going to leave Obi-Wan in the care of anyone else, not that I really see that boy willing to stay with anyone other than Bel-San at the moment." The three Jedi were sitting in Mace's apartment trying to come to some sort of agreement.

"I understand your point Payter, but there is more going on here than you know. I don't think--"

"Yeah, that's generally the problem. You don't think." Payter took a breath and tried from a different approach. "Look, we all know that Qui-Gon is not at his best right now and he needs someone to keep an eye on him. You'll be busy doing whatever it is you're doing and if Plo Koon or Ki-Adi-Mundi get even a whiff of the idea that Qui-Gon can't handle this, they'll ship him back home. None of us want that." Payter paused seeing the unchanged expression on Mace's dark features. Apparently it was time to pull out all the stops. "Okay, how about this? You four are going to be doing your little diplomat thing, which I'm sure you're very good at and does wonders for negotiations. But let's face it, there are some things that you aren't going to be able to do; some things you will need to be done. Diplomacy is only one way we get things done in the Order." Payter stopped, casting a glance at Bel-San, who was looking at him with wide and astonished blue eyes.

Mace rolled his eyes and sat back. "You know I don't approve of that."

"It doesn't really matter whether you approve or not. It's sanctioned by the Council. They know exactly what I do on some of my assignments; they're the ones who ask me to do it. You're going into a very dangerous situation, and you'll need all the information you can get your hands on. I'll be able to get you that information. You need me."

The three sat in silence for several moments waiting for Mace to respond. Payter knew Mace was trying to find a way to argue effectively against his proposition, while Bel-San was probably biting his tongue to keep from asking the thousands of questions that were most likely running through the Teacher's head.

Finally, Mace nodded. "All right, I'll talk to the Council and see what I can do. I can't promise anything, but I'll try. I don't like it, but you do have a point."

"I'm so glad you see things my way," Payter said with a flash of his teeth, which he knew irritated Mace. "I'll be bringing my Padawan of course."

"What? I don't think so. You I might be able to add to the mission, but to drag a thirteen-year-old--"

"Jedi." Payter finished for him as he leaned forward. "Kerge is more than capable of taking care of himself and he needs to be exposed to this in any event. He's a natural and I imagine there will be places he can go where even I won't be able to get into. You need us both."

Mace leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "I don't know how I get involved in these things," he said wearily.

Bel-San snorted. "Yes you do, liar. You love this. You love being the middle of everything." He shook his head as he stood. "We just want to make sure Qui-Gon is taken care of and you're going to be too busy to deal with him and I need to be here for Obi-Wan. Kerge will be fine; he's a good kid and very capable. Now go talk to the Council, toss your weight around, such as it is, and get this fixed."

Payter took his cue from Bel-San and stood as well. "He's right, Mace. This isn't about me, it's about Qui-Gon and what he needs to get through this. Just make it happen. Let me know when we're leaving."

Payter followed Bel-San out of Mace's apartment and walked along him in silence waiting for the other man to speak. He didn't have to wait long before Bel-San stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to him.

"Were you ever going to tell us?" he asked.

Payter thought for a moment about playing dumb, but thought better of it. "It isn't exactly the sort of thing one broadcasts, Bel-San. It isn't something the Order likes to admit to, and everyone involved is much happier if we all pretend that all the Jedi running around out in the galaxy are completely on the level. Public opinion of us is fickle enough as it is. I don't think it would help matter much if they knew there were spies among us as well."

"Is that all you do? Spy?" Bel-San asked cautiously as he began walking again.

Payter drew a breath and considered the answer. "For the most part, yes. There have been other occasions when I have been called on to do other things. But for the most part, I just get to perfect and use all the talents I amassed as a Padawan wreaking havoc on the Temple." He shrugged and finally looked at his friend.

Bel-San ran a hand through his long hair and glanced up at him. "I had no idea--"

"Most don't and the Council prefers it that way. I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread this around."

"What?" Bel-San looked up again at him, the distracted air about him common when he was thinking about something. "Oh, yeah, of course. Everything makes so much more sense now. I can't believe I didn't see it. Like that mission you had last year to Vellnor, I couldn't figure out why they'd sent you, but I get it now. Are there more of you?"

Payter smiled, pleased the other man was taking it so well. "No, I'm pretty sure there is only one Payter in the Temple."

Bel-San rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."

"Well, there are others, but I don't know how many. I've worked with a couple others on occasion, but not often."

"What about Kerge? Are you teaching him the same things you do? Who decided on that?" Bel-San barely waited for him to finish answering the first question before he went onto the next one.

"I will be teaching him what I know, but the choice to do as I do is up to him. The principles of Jedi training are basically the same, I mean, my master wasn't one of us and yours wasn't a Teacher. I think Kerge would do nicely in this area of the Order; he's got the skills and intuition, but the choice is up to him."

"Does Qui-Gon know?"

"I haven't told him, but I wouldn't put it past him to have picked up on it. I think they asked him at one point to be one of us, but he said no." Shrugging, Payter continued down the hallway to Qui-Gon's apartment where they could share the news.

"So, what do you guys have a club? Benefits and stuff?" Bel-San asked, the shorter man walking quickly to keep pace with Payter's longer strides.

Payter laughed. "No, we're just like everyone else, we just do some more...interesting things. Now, are you done with the inquisition or is there more?" It wasn't that he minded answering Bel-San's questions, but if one did not remind the teacher every once in a while that the galaxy was not at his personal disposal all the time, he tended to go on a little bit.

"Actually I do, but as we're almost there, I think I can wait till a more appropriate time. I think Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are going to be hard enough to handle without bringing this up as we walk in the door. I don't think this is going to be pretty." The two paused outside the door and Bel-San drew a breath before he hit the panel to chime for entry.

"But definitely interesting." Payter said as he straitened his shouldered and followed his friend inside the apartment. If nothing else, the next few weeks would be very interesting.

***

Qui-Gon sat back in the co-pilot's chair with a sigh as the small ship cleared Coruscant's atmosphere and a black field of stars filled the windows. He rubbed wearily at his temples and tried to ignore the hollow, hurt feel of his bond with Obi-Wan. The boy had not been happy that he was being left behind and even the addition of Payter and Kerge to the group had done little to ease the boy's worries.

Still, there was nothing to be done about it. He could not stay behind and leave this to others, and he could not bring Obi-Wan on a mission of this sort just yet. The boy was far too young; he couldn't even carry a lightsaber as yet. It was too much of a risk, one he was not prepared to take.

"He'll be fine. Bel-San will make sure he's okay," Payter said from the pilot's seat. His friend was the best pilot of the group, though in present company that wasn't saying much.

Qui-Gon nodded. "I know, I just wish we had been able to part on better terms."

Payter let out a small laugh then shot him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry it isn't funny, but it kind of is. Who knew that kid had tantrums like that in him? He seems so passive most of the time. It's good that he has a little backbone. Probably not the best time to develop it, but it's good to know."

Qui-Gon nodded but said nothing. There was really nothing he could say, nothing he had been able to say to Obi-Wan to assure the boy everything would be fine. They would be in little danger at a formal negotiation, and should the militant faction try anything the full weight of the Republic would be brought to bear on them; they must know that.

"Speaking of padawans, I need to go check on mine. He said something about unpacking." Payter shook his head. "I tried to explain we would only be in flight for about twelve hours, but he insisted. Kids are so weird."

Qui-Gon gave a faint smile at the other Jedi's remark and nodded to him. "I think I'll stay here for a bit."

Payter nodded and squeezed his shoulder before leaving the small cockpit. Although the other Jedi would never say it, Qui-Gon knew he had the other man's unwavering support. It was something he thought he would be needing in the days ahead as he faced off against the people who had tried to kill his master. He hated the thought that he had to deceive Payter as he had been deceived, but there was nothing for it. No one could know right now; maybe before the negotiations started he would be able to say something.

What he wanted more than anything right now, however, was for everything to be over. He wanted the entire incident to be gone and done with and to be back at the Temple with his Padawan. He wanted to be able to talk with his Master and figure out a way to help the small boy understand the strange visions he was seeing. Qui-Gon's own talents in the Force ran in a very different vein and he had a difficult time understanding what was happening with the boy. Hopefully, they would be able to find out what the faction wanted and try to come to some sort of agreement. If not, an attack against the Jedi Order and the Republic as a whole was not something to be taken lightly, but at that point it would be out of his hands.

Mostly he hoped he would be able to do something, anything to prevent a similar attack. Mace's words would not leave him, and the thought that someone would attack their children to make a point to the Republic sickened him. He wanted to stop these people and he wanted it done as quickly as possible. He couldn't stand the thought of someone hurting the children--hurting Obi-Wan--because they disagreed with a political stance.

Qui-Gon released a breath as well as his anxieties. He needed to be clear and focused for the upcoming negotiations if he was to be any help at all. Casting one last glance at the instruments before him, he closed his eyes and dropped quickly into a light meditative state. He had much to consider and only a limited amount of time to do so.

***

"Master Jinn?"

Qui-Gon opened his eyes to find the face of Kerge looking at him somewhat hesitantly. "Kerge." He nodded.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but Master said you'd been in here long enough and you should come eat." The young Padawan jerked his head toward the door indicating they leave.

Qui-Gon smiled at the boy's request. He already sounded like Payter. He wondered briefly what mannerisms Obi-Wan had picked up form him in the time they had known each other.

"Thank you, Padawan. I suppose if Payter thinks it's best, who am I to argue?" He dropped the boy a quick wink and stood, checking his chronometer. "Oh, I suppose I have been I here long enough." He said with some surprise, he'd been meditating for nearly four hours and found he was no closer to any answers.

Kerge merely nodded and led the way out of the small room.

"How are you finding your first mission?" Qui-Gon asked as they walked down the narrow corridor of the ship.

"It's okay." Kerge shrugged. "There's a lot more reading than I thought there would be."

Qui-Gon held back a smile. Knowing Payter, he'd probably dumped more reading than was strictly necessary on the padawan just to prove a point. Missions were not always the adventures one heard about in class and in the Cr�che.

"I'm sure you'll find it much more interesting once we actually get there." Qui-Gon placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"If my master lets me do anything. I think I'll just spend most of the time trying to stay out of everyone's way," Kerge said as they entered the small catering unit of the ship where the other members of the mission were already seated.

"Ah, my dear boy, you've forgotten the most important part of being a Padawan," Payter said expansively as he caught the end of the conversation.

"Yes?" Kerge asked somewhat hesitantly.

"Fetching things for the master. Now be a good padawan and bring that dish over here." Payter pointed at a dish on the counter across the room.

Kerge risked a quick glance at Qui-Gon, who smiled at the boy, before obeying his master.

Qui-Gon sat at the table and began eating. The Jedi spent the time usefully, going over their options and the plans they had made for the negotiations. Finally, after sitting through most of the meal in silence, Qui-Gon spoke up.

"You all seem to be overlooking one important fact. You all assume the this faction from Lieyl are going to be willing to negotiate. The only reason they are meeting with us in the first place is, more than likely, to keep their people safe for the moment. They are buying time. I don't trust them, and neither should you."

Plo Koon shook his head. "I have to disagree. They agreed to meet, they must be willing to discuss terms of some kind."

"You're missing the point. As soon as they laid claim to the attack, they set themselves up for retribution. If they had not agreed to meet with us at the neutral site, the Republic fleet would have gone after them within the first hour. Something more is going on here, but I can't quite see it. I just think we should keep our thoughts open to other possibilities."

"Qui-Gon is right. Something is off about this whole thing. I'll try to do what I can, but that will only get us so far. Security will be very tight, and what I will be able to do will be limited by that." Payter sat back in his seat and glanced at his Padawan. "Aren't you hungry?"

Kerge shrugged. "Must be worried about the mission. Should I clean up?" he asked as Plo Koon and Ki-Adi-Mundi rose from their places to discuss matters further on their own.

Payter sighed in satisfaction and gave what passed for a smile to Qui-Gon. "Such initiative in the youth of today. Yes, Padawan, then I think you should work through the 'saber drills I've been showing you for a while." He stood and handed over his plate to his padawan with a flourish. "Come on, Qui-Gon, let's leave the boy to his work."

***

"We're just about ready to come out of hyperspace. Just a few more minutes and we'll be set," Payter said quietly as his hands ran over the control panel of the ship. "Nervous?"

Qui-Gon shook his head. "Not really. Mostly I just want this to be over."

"How do you think this will run? Do you really think they want to talk with us?"

"I'd like to think so, but the feeling I'm getting tells me no. In any event, we will do what we can and hopefully the people who are responsible will be brought to justice."

Payter gave him a sidelong glance. "You seem to be taking this awfully well, Qui-Gon. Is there something you aren't telling me?"

Qui-Gon thought about lying for only a second. "Yes there is, but I can't talk about it right now. When I can tell you, rest assured you will know, but for now just know that not everything is as it seems."

"Okay." Payter nodded and gently pulled the ship out of light speed. "I know you'll keep me updated."

As soon as the small ship had left hyperspace, a message flashed up on the comm console marked URGENT.

Payter flicked a switch on the console. "It's from the Temple."

Qui-Gon drew up the message, a single line from Bel-San. 'Qui-Gon, you need to contact me immediately.'

"What else could have happened?" Qui-Gon murmured as he connected to the Temple's comm system. He waited a few tense moments, hundreds of different dire scenarios of what might have caused the message running through his thoughts. Most of them centered around his Padawan and he hoped fervently that Obi-Wan was all right.

"Bel-San." The voice of the Teacher floated out to him across the distance of space.

"What happened?" Qui-Gon asked immediately, skipping all polite courtesies.

Qui-Gon could hear the other man draw a breath to speak but after several long moments no answer was forthcoming.

"Bel-San, just tell me what happened."

"I, I don't know what happened, I can't find Obi-Wan. I don't know where he is and Slade isn't talking."

Qui-Gon sat silently for a moment letting his friend's words sink in. He opened his bond with Obi-Wan as wide as he possibly could and stood suddenly from his chair. "Thank you, Bel-San, but I think I know where he is."

Stalking out of the room, Qui-Gon was only peripherally aware of Payter signing off to Bel-San and following him. All Qui-Gon could think of was how he hoped he was wrong and how much trouble that little boy would be in if he wasn't wrong. Following his instincts and a little nudge from the Force, Qui-Gon turned down the corridor and stopped in front of a small storage closet. Drawing a breath, he opened the door and was confronted with the slightly scared but determined face of Obi-Wan.

"I told you, you can't go alone." The boy made no move, but neither did he shy away from his discovery.

Qui-Gon stared at his Padawan for a long moment, taking in his condition. He seemed fine, though more than a little dirty. He was huddled in his cloak, as the heating in the storage closet was not the same as the rest of the ship, and the remains of what looked suspiciously like their dinner were carefully piled in a corner.

"I'll get Kerge," Payter said as he walked by.

"Is anyone else with you?" Qui-Gon asked finally.

Obi-Wan shook his head.

Qui-Gon drew a breath. "Come out of the closet." His voice was steady and even, though distant. He was incredibly angry, at both himself for not noticing the boy's presence earlier and at Obi-Wan for disobeying him. "Let's go." He turned sharply on his heel and headed for the catering unit, their only real common area. As he passed Plo Koon on the way, he ignored the man's astonished look. "Payter and I will be occupied for a little while; you'll need to take care of the landing."

Qui-Gon moved past the astonished councilor and stepped into the room. He stood aside and pointed at a chair next to the one Kerge was already occupying. He crossed his arms and stared down at the two padawans. "Anyone care to explain?"

TBC