Trust in the Force

Part 2

"Hello, hello, and what can I do for--� The shopkeeper came out from the back room, saw Obi-Wan, and stopped in mid-sentence, eyeing him suspiciously. �You�re a Jedi.�

"Yes,� Obi-Wan stated. �And I need some parts for a--�

"Put your hands here,� the man told him, tapping the counter.

Confused, Obi-Wan came forward two steps and laid his hands palm-down on the cool surface, wondering if it were some kind of identification scanner or even a lie detector.

"Now you can talk, just don�t move your hands. I happen to know that Jedi can�t mind trick a person unless they can wave their hands around, and you�re not going to mind trick -me- into giving you something for free and losing all my profits.�

Such a thing had never occurred to Obi-Wan. He felt faintly ridiculous standing there with his hands pressed against the counter, but knew he had to go along if they were to have any chance of getting the replacement parts. After he had described what they needed, Piniker checked his computer.

"Well...I don�t have them in stock. There�s not much call for parts for -Republic- ships on this planet.� He made �Republic� sound like a curse word. �But I do have connections and I can get them for you.�

"I�d be grateful.�

"Cash in advance. Suppose you�ll be offering me Republic credits? I�ll take them, but I�ll have to charge an exchange fee.�

"I can offer you dennars,� Obi-Wan told him. Piniker looked disappointed.

Checking the computer again, the man named a sum that would all but deplete Obi-Wan�s supply of dennars, then asked, �You in a hurry? I can have the parts here to-morrow for a hundred dennars extra.�

Obi-Wan did not have a hundred dennars to spare. After the exchange fee at the space port and the omnibus ticket, and now the price of the parts, he�d be lucky to have fifty left. Smiling politely, he shook his head. �I�m not in a hurry.�

"Then they�ll be here in, oh, two or three days.� Piniker looked down at Obi-Wan�s hands. �All right, you can lift them up, but don�t say a word. I still don�t trust you not to mind trick me. Just hand over the money and go.�

Obi-Wan reached carefully into his belt pouch and silently counted out the required sum, then took the computer-printed receipt and added it to the few remaining coins. Bowing to the Otorian with a pleasant expression on his face, he then left the cramped shop and began to walk back to the spaceport. There was no point in taking the omnibus again, it would just be a waste of money which he might need more desperately later.

It began to rain as Obi-Wan walked, and by the time he reached the ship, his cloak was very wet. He shook it off and hung it up to dry, then peeked into Qui-Gon�s quarters. His master had his eyes shut and did not open them, and Obi-Wan could not tell if he were in a healing trance or simply asleep.

Going up to the cockpit, Obi-Wan sent a hologram recording to the Jedi Council on Coruscant, advising them of the situation without mentioning Qui-Gon�s condition, but expressing his hope that they�d be on their way again soon. Next, he went to the tiny galley, which was scarcely more than a sink and a instant-heater, with a cabinet on top of it. Poking around for something to eat, he realised they�d been living off the ship�s supplies for some time already, because of the situation on their last mission, and all the pop-n-serve meal trays were gone now. There were only a few unappetizing ration bars left, and four packages of ration drink mix. He�d also used the last tea bag that morning. The situation was not good. He didn�t know how much food he�d be able to buy with the money he had left, but he had the sinking feeling it wasn�t going to be much. He also had the feeling he should save those last few coins for an emergency. Unethusiastically, he reached for one of the ration bars and washed it down with water.

When Qui-Gon woke up later that evening, Obi-Wan offered him a ration bar, too, but the Jedi Master frowned and shook his head slightly.

"How are you feeling?� Obi-Wan asked in concern.

Qui-Gon sighed before answering, �Not good. I fear infection is setting in and I am already exhausted from fighting it.�

"It can�t be,� Obi-Wan exclaimed. �I washed the wound, I put bacta salve on it, there shouldn�t be any infection.�

Qui-Gon lifted up the covers to have a look. The wound looked normal and there was no sign of redness or swelling.

"There, you see. It�s not infected.�

Qui-Gon looked surprised. �I am fighting something, though. I can feel it.�

"Maybe you�re coming down with something.�

"Hopefully not the Rodian flu again.�

"Hopefully not.�

Changing the subject abruptly, Qui-Gon asked, �What about the parts?�

"They had to be ordered, but they�ll be here in two or three days,� Obi-Wan said. �Shall I put some more bacta salve on this, just in case?�

"Please,� Qui-Gon said simply.

"I�ll get you a big drink, too,� Obi-Wan offered, trying to keep his tone light despite his worry. �You�re quick enough to drown me in fluids whenever I�m coming down with something, now�s my chance to return the favour.�

"A Jedi seeks not revenge,� Qui-Gon murmured, and Obi-Wan smiled. Things weren�t so bad yet that Qui-Gon couldn�t spout wisdom at him. He hoped it was a good sign.

In the night, Obi-Wan was awakened by a dull feeling that something was wrong. He got up and looked in on his master, and found him huddled under the covers, shivering visibly.

"An-Paj?� Qui-Gon asked, opening his eyes.

"No, master, it�s me, Obi-Wan.�

"I�m so cold. Where are we?�

"On Otoria.� Obi-Wan got Qui-Gon�s heavy bantha-wool cloak and spread it over him. �Is that better?�

"Where�s An-Paj?� Qui-Gon glanced around as though expecting to see the tall, blue-skinned Healer in the cabin.

"He�s back at the Temple.� Obi-Wan felt a cold knot of worry form in his stomach. Was Qui-Gon hallucinating?

"Oh. Must--must have been dreaming. Had something--important--to tell him.�

"Go back to sleep, master.� Obi-Wan put his hand on Qui-Gon�s shoulder and concentrated on the Force, sending him a long, concentrated burst of healing power. Qui-Gon eventually stopped shivering and relaxed, then fell into a deep sleep, breathing heavily.