~<>~<>~

At breakfast, Elyzabe kept one eye on the children while looking over a stack of reports she needed to sign. She covered her mouth and tried to hide a yawn, hoping no one noticed. The last thing she needed was the students seeing how little rest she was getting. Paperwork on top of no sleep was exceedingly annoying, she had decided.

Mace, who had just entered the dining hall, did notice. Walking over to her table, he took in the changes in his friend. From what he could see, nothing good was coming of Qui-Gon's being forced to leave. "Are you managing any sleep?" Mace asked in a low voice. He had been standing looking over her shoulder at the reports for several moments.

She barely managed not to jump in her seat. Turning, Elyzabe tried to glare at him, but failed miserably in the attempt. "Probably as much as you are since this all started." Biting back another yawn, she paused and rubbed a hand over her face. "Where are they shipping you off to today?"

Mace rolled his eyes and sat next to her. "Today I escort a shipment of Terillian spices from one embassy to another." He waved his hand around in the air, aimlessly. "Quite a respectable job for a Jedi Master, don't you agree? I know I'm relieved my training is being put to good use."

"I don't understand how they're justifying it." She signed yet another report and laid it aside before looking at Windu. Glancing at the children, she lowered her voice. "Something has to give, Mace. Something's happening, and it's getting worse."

"What's happened?" Mace asked, concern marking his voice and his eyes narrowing. He searched Elyzabe's tired gaze, but found no answers. One possibility sprung to mind over all others. "Is Obi-Wan okay?" As he spoke, he glanced over his shoulder at the child.

Elyzabe closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. Her voice wasn't quite steady when she said, "I feel like I'm watching him slip away." Laying the reports on the table, she took a deep breath. "And damn the Council, I cannot continue to do it."

Windu tore his gaze from Obi-Wan to again look at Elyzabe. Being forced to sit by while one of her students suffered haunted her eyes. "I know," he whispered.

Looking at Obi-Wan, she shook her head sadly. "Last night I found him crying in sleep, today he refuses to eat. What's next?" She made a concerted effort to keep her voice down, but the venom rising in her words made it hard. "What has to happen to force the Council's hand?" She asked, turning suddenly cold eyes to Mace.

Mace had opened his mouth to reply when a padawan rushed up to him. Bowing to both Mace and Elyzabe, the girl asked, "Master Windu, a moment of your time?"

Nodding distractedly, Mace stood. Looking at Elyzabe, he dropped a hand onto her shoulder. Turning his back to the waiting padawan, he said quietly, "I'll find you this evening and we'll speak again."

Kohn merely nodded, watching him leave.

~<>~<>~

It was just past the noon hour, the sun high in the sky and the room uncomfortably warm when Qui-Gon realized he was losing the battle to keep his eyes open. Drawing on the Force, he kept his attention focused on the proceedings by sheer will.

There had been many such times in the past when his limits had been taxed. However it was usually the result of being physically drained. As it was, he was curious why they were so easily worn by such a mundane task.

Not ten minutes later, he felt as if he were swaying in his seat. The last thing he was truly aware of was his chair falling, and the floor rising to meet him. He thought briefly of Obi-Wan, and his promise to return before blackness claimed him.

~<>~<>~

"Elyzabe," Mace said, walking into her office.

She didn't need to be Force sensitive to realize something new had developed. Her stomach tightened for an instant. For weeks, even since before Qui-Gon's departure, very little news of the good variety seemed to be developing. That didn't leave much other possibility than something else gone wrong.

Fighting the urge to sigh, she nodded. "What now?"

Nervous energy was radiating from him. "I've spoken with my contact on the Council." He paused, taking a deep breath. "It's not good. Qui-Gon has missed his last two scheduled check in times."

"What?" Elyzabe paled, dropping into her chair. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it and opened it again.

"I wasn't informed after the first missed message." He sighed and ran a hand over his head. "But with this one, no one has heard from him in almost two weeks."

"There's no way Qui-Gon would stay out of contact for that long if he could help it." She rolled her eyes. "At least not this time." Leveling a stare at Mace that would scare any padawan and most knights, her voice turned hard. "What are they going to do?"

Mace sat in one of the extra chairs, dropping his face into his hands. "Nothing." He raised his head and shook it warily. "There is no plan of rescue from the Council."

Eyes widening, Kohn looked at Mace in disbelief. "Not even they could be so cold. Yoda wouldn't allow it."

"For whatever reason, Yoda has kept his own council during all of this." Windu sighed. "Apparently he has yet to speak out about it."

Elyzabe looked appalled, shaking her head slowly. Nothing made sense anymore. "Even for his own Padawan?"

"Apparently so," Windu said with a nod. Resting his elbows on his knees, he met Elyzabe's icy gaze. "But you're right. This whole situation just feels wrong."

Her mind was running over the situation, examining and discarding ideas even while she spoke. "If the Council will not do anything," she said, sitting up straight. "Then I'd say it falls to us to do so in their stead." Smiling wickedly, she asked, "Think you're up to finding us transport?"

Mace grinned, encouraged by her reaction. "I like the way you think at times, Elyzabe." Nodding, he agreed. "I think an errand boy can manage that. When do we leave?"

Glancing at the chrono, Kohn thought about what all they would need to do before leaving. "Tonight. And as soon as possible, then."

He took a breath, preparing to broach the one subject he wanted little more than to avoid. "You should get Obi-Wan, we may need him to help find Qui-Gon." He recognized Elyzabe's suddenly hesitant expression, and understood her dilemma.

She blinked slowly, considering the possibilities of taking the child with them on a risky mission. "Okay," she agreed a moment later. When Mace started to nod, she held up a hand. "But his safety comes first." Meeting the other Master's eyes, her own were sad, but determined. "He's only a child, Mace, and a hurt one at that."

"Of course." Mace smiled, recognizing her concern. Mace stood as replied, "Besides, we promised Qui-Gon."

"That we did." Elyzabe stood, moving to follow Mace from her office. Just before the door was to open, she placed a hand on Mace's arm. "I'll arrange what we need to take with us and get Obi-Wan. You find us a transport and we'll meet at my quarters in an hour."

With a mock salute, Mace replied, "Yes, ma'am." More serious, he covered her hand with his own and lowered his voice. "We'll find him."

Nodding, Elyzabe met his gaze with somber eyes; her voice was serious. "For Obi-Wan's sake, we better."

~<>~<>~

After speaking with Mace, Elyzabe hurried to find the clothing and foodstuffs they would need on their journey. Time was of the essence in their plan, and nothing could be left to chance. As it was they were risking someone finding out with any delay they allowed.

Proceeding carefully, she collected the necessary things a little at a time, depositing them in her quarters. She hoped to attract the least amount of attention as possible. Luckily, most of the corridors were empty as she went about her duties.

Once done, Kohn headed for the gardens where many of the students were practicing their meditations. Finding Obi-Wan was far too easy, as she simply followed the Force to where the sad little boy was kneeling.

A glance around revealed that Bant was nowhere to be found, and she recalled that the young Mon Calamari girl was in another group that afternoon. The rotation of students had been set up some time before, and it was too late to regret their being separated.

Taking a seat in front of him, Elyzabe waited for him to become aware of her presence. She took the time to settle her own nerves as well. It wouldn't do for anyone to wonder why she was anxious.

A few moments later, the child's eyes snapped open and he looked at her with a heartbreaking gaze. "Master Kohn?" he asked, his brow scrunching in confusion.

She smiled, brushing his hair away from his forehead. Making sure to speak in a voice that wouldn't carry, she said, "I need you to come with me, Obi-Wan."

Although his confusion only increased, Obi-Wan nodded. One of the first things he had learned as an initiate was to obey the teachers. "Okay."

"I'll tell you more in a little while, okay Obi-Wan?" She asked in a soft voice. Again he nodded. Over time he had realized that his teacher did care about him, and he trusted her.

Standing, she waiting for him to follow and took his hand. She smiled down at him, and felt her heart twist when the normally cheerful child didn't return the gesture. All the more reason to find Qui-Gon and bring him back where he belonged, she thought.

As they left the gardens she passed directly by Padawan Jonis. "Master Vrim will be here shortly," she whispered so that only Jonis could hear. The dependable padawan had been informed as to some of their plans and nodded. As he watched them disappear through the large doors there was a relieved smile on his face.

Once in the hallway, Obi-Wan looked up at Master Kohn with an uncertain look on his face. "Are we going to see Qui-Gon?" he asked, chewing on his lip and trying not to sound hopeful.

Elyzabe squeezed his hand and tried to smile encouragingly. "I hope so, Obi-Wan."

It was a short walk from the gardens to Elyzabe's quarters. Obi-Wan's eyes widened when he saw the pile of supplies. Leading the boy to the couch, Elyzabe motioned for him to sit.

"I'll start something for dinner, okay?" Walking over to the kitchen, she looked at Obi-Wan, who pulled his knees up onto the couch and wrapped his arms around them. She sighed softly, hating everything about the situation they had been thrust into.

Busying herself with making dinner, Elyzabe tried not to think about everything that might go wrong with what they were preparing to do. The only way to go was forward, she said to herself.

All that was left to do was wait for Mace to arrive.

~<>~<>~

It was later than they had planned, but Mace finally did arrive at Elyzabe's quarters. Pressing the buzzer, he waited for a minute before she answered the door.

Opening the door, she was surprised to see Mace standing there in casual clothes. She ushered him inside, sparing a glance at the hallway behind him. Satisfied it was empty, she shut the door and asked, "Did you find a ship?"

He turned and nodded, meeting the teacher's level gaze. "It took a bit more fast talking than I'd like, but nothing more than I would have expected." He glanced at the chrono on the wall. "We leave in an hour."

"Then let's finish dinner." She gestured toward the kitchen, where Mace could see Obi-Wan sitting at the small table. He surmised he had arrived as she was trying to coerce dinner into the boy. Lowering her voice so that only Mace could hear her, she added, "If we eat, maybe Obi-Wan will, too."

Looking over at Obi-Wan and then back at Elyzabe, he nodded in understanding. He dropped his small bag on the couch next to the pile of supplies Elyzabe had gathered. "Did you get everything?" he asked, looking over the assorted packages and bags.

"I think so," she said over her shoulder. "Everything I could think of, at any rate." He walked into the kitchen and began fixing himself a plate of the food she had prepared. Elyzabe half-smiled. "It's been a great many years since I went into the field."

Mace laughed, taking a seat at the table beside Obi-Wan. He glanced at the withdrawn little boy with the wide eyes. "Don't look at me, I'm just an errand boy."

Obi-Wan looked from one Master to the other, blinking. "I don't think I'll ever understand Masters," he said, not quite smiling.

Elyzabe laughed and reached over to ruffle his hair lightly. "There are a few I don't quite understand myself, Obi-Wan." She smiled conspiratorially at the boy before adding, "And Master Windu here is near the top of that list."

"Why are you talking about me?" Mace asked, winking at Obi-Wan. "I'm as boring as they get."

"I can't argue with that one," she replied with a smile, taking another bite of her dinner. Casting a sideways glance at him, she laughed softly.

Mace shook his head, the smile that wasn't on his lips shone in his eyes. "Would you quit looking at me like that? I'm not Yoda, nor do I have two heads and six eyes."

"Was I looking at you?" Shaking her head, she bit back a laugh. "Can't imagine why. Tell me, did you ever have hair?"

Distracted from his melancholy by the continued bantering, Obi-Wan finished his own dinner. Although everything was far from all right, Obi-Wan felt better for the moment. For the first time since Master Qui-Gon had left, he felt like things might be okay.

~<>~<>~

The next time Qui-Gon woke, he found himself lying in a darkened room. Propping up on his elbows he looked around, squinting in the darkness. Unable to see anything he sat up on the bed, but paused when his head started spinning.

Qui-Gon tried to remember what had happened, how he had ended up asleep in a room he didn't recognize, but everything was fuzzy. He could remember being sent to Nahbey, to attend the negotiations. However, the details of those negotiations were blurred.

Nothing made sense, least of all why he felt as if he had been run over by a transport.

He stood only to stumble back onto the bed. The noise, however, gathered attention and two men rushed into the room. The light that suddenly filled the room caused Qui-Gon's eyes to water and he blinked quickly to clear them.

"Rest, Master Jedi. You are ill."

Qui-Gon looked at the men. He was unsure if there were two or four, as his vision continued to blur. "Ill? Where am I?" Qui-Gon winced at hearing his voice, gravely from disuse it tore at his throat.

The second man nodded, handing him a glass of water. "You are in our healing ward. You collapsed during the negotiations."

Drinking the offered water, he took a deep breath and thought for a moment. "Collapsed?"

"Yes, Master Jedi. It would appear..." The shorter man hesitated, refusing to meet the Jedi's gaze.

Qui-Gon blinked, his vision blurring as the man spoke. After a pause, the other man finished his statement. "It appears that you have been poisoned."

The room began to spin, and the healers each put a hand on his arms to steady him. "Rest, Master Jedi. You need to rest."

They helped him to lie down, but it did little to ease the overwhelming vertigo and soon he slipped back into unconsciousness.

~<>~<>~

They carefully bundled their supplies into as few satchels as possible, and with minutes to spare began the walk from Elyzabe's quarters to the transport bay. Both she and Obi-Wan had changed into civilian clothes, with their Jedi robes over them so as to hide that fact.

Reaching the entrance to the hangar, Mace stepped inside and looked around quickly. Finding the large room empty, he waved Elyzabe and Obi-Wan forward. Nodding in response, the teacher prodded Obi-Wan forward.

The group had only taken a dozen steps when a soft tapping from the shadows to their left caught Elyzabe's attention. Looking over her shoulder, her eyes widened when she saw Yoda approaching. She rested a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, causing him to stop, and cleared her throat to gain Mace's attention.

Shuffling across the smooth floor, Yoda only paused when he stood directly in front of them. Closing his eyes, he let out a long breath. "Going to find Qui-Gon, you are." It wasn't a question, and each of the four knew it.

Mace opened his mouth to reply, but Yoda rapped the floor with his gimmer stick. "Excuses do you not need." The small master looked at Obi-Wan for a long moment, and the youth didn't dare breathe. "Danger my Padawan is in. Find him you must."

Elyzabe stared at Yoda, shocked. "You know this? And yet you've done nothing?"

Yoda shook his head sadly. "Larger pattern at play, a pawn he is. Pawns are you all. More needed to be seen, before anything could be done."

"We need to go," Mace interjected after glancing over where the pilot stood impatiently. "He won't wait forever, I'm not paying him that well."

Elyzabe nodded at him and the pilot. "Okay." Looking back at Yoda, she took a deep breath. "Why now?"

Mace growled under his breath, looking back and forth between the pilot and the other Jedi. "Does it matter?"

"Yes," she replied in an icy voice, not wanting to hear any arguments to the contrary. "It does."

Yoda simply shook his head. "Shadows there are. Light there must be." With that he turned to leave, leaving a blustering Elyzabe in his wake.

It was easy to see she wanted to question the cryptic comment, but Mace placed a hand on her arm and tilted his head toward the transport. "We'll deal with that when we return."

She nodded curtly and took Obi-Wan's hand in her own. Shifting her packs, they followed a step behind Mace. Glancing down at the child, Elyzabe recognized his wide-eyed look. Forcing a smile, she asked, "Have you been on a real transport, Obi-Wan?"

"Once, but I don't really remember," he said after a pause. Faint memories of he first time he arrived at the Temple flickered in his mind, and he shivered. Shaking his head, he stared at the ship. "Are we really going in it?"

It was Mace who answered, hurrying with every step they took. They had to leave before any other unexpected visitors tried to stop them. "For the next six days, Obi-Wan."

"Wow."

Elyzabe met Mace's gaze over Obi-Wan's head and almost grinned. "Something like that, Obi." Personally, Elyzabe hoped that they could keep the boy from going stir crazy after so many days cooped up in the transport.

Hurrying up the ramp, they ignored the scowl of the lanky pilot and moved to stow their gear. Within moments, they were airborne and waiting for permission to leave the atmosphere.

~<>~<>~

Again Qui-Gon woke in the darkened room. He had no way of knowing how much time had past since the healers' visit and found that when he tried to figure it out, the pounding in his head quickly brought him to a standstill.

At least, he thought he remembered a visit from two... or was it four of the healers? Frustrated, Qui-Gon sighed.

He shook his head, hoping to clear the fog that seemed to have settled upon him, but all he succeeded in doing was causing the room to spin. Biting back a groan he closed his eyes and clutched his head in his hands. Once everything had stopped moving, he dropped his hands.

Taking a deep breath, Qui-Gon sought to center himself. He knew it was imperative that he find out what exactly had happened to him. Turning his attention inward he settled into the Force as best he could. It was easy to find the source of his ailment. There was a darkness within him, pulsing throughout his veins.

Reaching out toward the poison, Qui-Gon just grazed it before he gasped and recoiled. He struggled for breath, his attentions forced outward by the pain. Blinking quickly, the Jedi couldn't believe what had just happened. It burned, as if the Force itself had rejected him.

Managing to control his breathing, it was of no use to a Jedi to panic he knew well, he again tried to drop into a meditation of sorts. Once more he was repulsed by whatever raged inside him. There was a fire burning in his mind, blocking him whenever he fought to slip within the Force.

Trying to find any connection to the Living Force, he reached out blindly -- driven more by instinct than consciousness. Without the Force it was as if he couldn't breathe. Qui-Gon couldn't remember a time that the Force wasn't at his nearest touch.

Sweat beaded his forehead and he closed his eyes. For the first time in his life he was truly alone in his own mind. Falling back onto the bed, a wave of weakness pouring over him, he was compelled to admit he didn't care much for the solitude he so often claimed to seek.

Again the healers entered the room, but Qui-Gon was barely aware of their presence. He caught clips and phrases of their conversation, but try as he might to wake completely, his body would not follow.

"... high fever ... cooling cloths ..."

"... swelling in the mind ..."

"... breathing labored ..."

"... help me raise him ..."

"... losing ... too fast ..."

Their words echoing in his mind, Qui-Gon struggled to breathe before finally losing his fight to stay conscious.

~<>~<>~

On board their transport, Mace and Elyzabe were huddled together at the small table in the briefing room. Right next door was the main sleeping quarters where they had placed Obi-Wan in the hopes he would get some sleep.

They had been en-route to Nahbey for several hours before Elyzabe had finally managed to convince Obi-Wan to rest, and in the time since the two masters had been debating the situation they were rushing to face.

Standing, Mace began to pace next to the table. His arms crossed in front of him, he rubbed his chin with one hand. "It doesn't make sense," he said absently, not turning to face Elyzabe. "The Nahbey have nothing to gain by either capturing or holding Qui-Gon."

"True, but more foolish things have been done for less," she countered, watching Mace's restless movements. One would never guess it would be he who could not contain his agitation. There had been debate at the Temple if one Master Windu was indeed made of stone.

Elyzabe barely had time to wonder if the pool for proving otherwise was still open when he broke her from the thought. "Maybe. But it still doesn't feel right."

"Okay." She nodded, fiddling with a stylus from the table. "Say it's not the Nahbey. They're simply caught up in a larger picture." Mace stilled his pacing long enough to look over at the teacher. "Then who?"

He rubbed his face with one large hand and sighed. "I don't know. That's the problem."

She nodded. "Exactly."

Before Mace could reply a noise from the neighboring room caught their attention and Elyzabe was out of her seat and through the door before Mace could even turn. Following her, he entered the bedroom to find the teacher sitting on the edge of the leftmost bed.

"Obi-Wan?" she asked softly. The boy was tossing restlessly, tangling the sheets around him. Her hand on his shoulder, she pushed along the Force, surrounding him in a cocoon of calm. "Obi? It's okay." She continued to whisper, running a hand through his hair.

With a gasp the boy's eyes opened and in less than an instant he was sitting straight up in the bed. He looked around the unfamiliar room quickly, as if unsure if he had really escaped the dream.

Waiting until Obi-Wan met her eyes, Elyzabe nodded. "You're awake. It's okay."

Large tears sprung up in his eyes, and he began shaking. "It's wrong," he whispered. "Everything's wrong."

Not understanding the words, Elyzabe pulled the child into her lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Rocking him back and forth she made shushing noises. "I know, little one."

At the mention of the name Qui-Gon so often called him, Obi-Wan sniffled, causing Elyzabe to hold on more tightly. She closed her eyes, struggling to buffer the anxiety and despair that radiated from the little boy with hope.

After a time the shaking began to subside and no longer were tears wetting her tunic. Looking up at Mace with tear-filled eyes she shook her head. "This can't go on."

Mace nodded, having until then not seen the worst effects of Qui-Gon's absence. He tore his gaze from Elyzabe's haunted one and stared at Obi-Wan for a long moment. In a hushed voice that she almost couldn't hear, he replied, "No. It can't."

He turned and left Elyzabe with Obi-Wan. Leaving her to settle Obi-Wan back into the bed he turned his attention to the information they had managed to gather on Nahbey. In the background he could hear Elyzabe's voice singing softly.

She continued singing the ancient lullaby until she was sure Obi-Wan had fallen back into a less fitful sleep. And even then she held him close, offering what comfort she could.

~<>~<>~