Qui-Gon opened an eye. "Why don't you try some meditation?" he asked.
Obi-Wan nodded and sat down. Even after he had stopped pacing the room, Qui-Gon could tell he was still agitated. With both eyes open now, he studied his Padawan. Obi-Wan sat cross-legged in a chair with his eyes closed. But his shoulders were tensed, and beneath his eyelids Qui-Gon could see movement.
"Are you all right, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked softly.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and met his Master's gaze. "Yes," he said slowly. And then, "Well, I don't know."
"You are afraid," Qui-Gon stated plainly.
A look of shame came over Obi-Wan's face, but he did not deny it. "My heart is full of dread," he admitted. "I wish we were on another mission — any other mission. I am not sure I have the courage to face the Holocron…
" Qui-Gon leaned toward his apprentice. "You have every right to be afraid," he said quietly. "Allow yourself to feel the fear — really feel it — and then let the emotion go. If it comes back, feel it again and let it go again. There should be no shame in one's emotions."
"I am not at fault if it comes back?" Obi-Wan asked, looking up.
"No, Padawan," Qui-Gon replied. "We cannot control how we feel. Only how we choose to handle our feelings."
A look of true relief crossed Obi-Wan's face, and he smiled slightly.
His shoulders relaxed and he closed his eyes. Qui-Gon could almost see the fear leaving his Padawan. He was glad his advice had provided some relief.
Sitting back, he closed his eyes, too. He only hoped the advice would work as well for him.
Chapter 10
By the time the ship landed on Kodai, Obi-Wan felt refreshed and no longer afraid. He was ready to move forward with the mission.
Unfortunately, doing so was not going to be easy.
Although the Jedi were quite certain that they were on the right planet, it was not at all obvious where they should go or what they should do. It was only clear that they were running out of time.
Not to mention that wherever they went, they seemed to be attacked.
Their pursuer, or pursuers, would not be shaken and wanted them stopped.
After dropping the Jedi off on a tiny platform in the sole island city of Rena, Elda entered new coordinates into her navcomputer.
"Don't think I'm sticking around just because you diffused that bomb, " she grumbled, eyeing the shabby-looking city. "Good luck to both of you,"
she added, shaking her head. "I have a feeling you're going to need it."
"Thanks for the support," Obi-Wan said dryly as he and Qui-Gon walked down the ship's ramp. "And the transport, of course."
Out in the bright sunshine, the Jedi had to shade their eyes until they adjusted to the light reflecting off the vast sea. The city was small and appeared to have few inhabitants outside. There were cantinas, a single lodging house, and a marketplace where locals exchanged and bought food, most of which was harvested from the sea. Giant walls lined the streets — an attempt at flood protection, Obi-Wan guessed.
While the locals didn't stare at them — in fact, nobody looked at them at all — Obi-Wan got the feeling that they were definitely being noticed. The Kodaians were trying too hard not to look at them. As the Jedi approached they cast their yellow eyes downward or bent their slender necks to study the horizon in the opposite direction.
"Do you get the feeling they wish we were invisible?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Our presence seems to pain them."
"Exactly," Obi-Wan agreed. It was a strange feeling.
"Let's check the lodging quarters," Qui-Gon suggested. "We need a place to stay, and Lundi may be there as well."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement and they strolled into a shabby but clean lobby. A thin Kodaian sat on a stool behind a counter. When he saw the no- longer-disguised Jedi, he nervously got to his feet.
"May I assist you with something?" he asked, fiddling with his stubby fingers and gazing at the floor. Obi-Wan wondered if he was always this agitated around his customers.
"We would like to rent one of your spaces," Qui-Gon explained. "Do you have any to spare?"
The Kodaian closed his golden eyes for a moment, surprised by the question, and Obi-Wan guessed that Kodai and the quarters did not have visitors particularly often. After taking Qui-Gon's credits, the Kodaian placed a card with a door code on the counter. Their room was 4R.
"We are also looking for a Quermian guest we believe you have at the moment. A Doctor Murk Lundi."
The Kodian winced at the mention of Lundi's name. Without making eye contact he pointed to an old turbolift at the end of the hall. "His quarters are on the second floor, number 2F."
The Kodaian looked around to see if anyone was nearby before continuing, then leaned forward and addressed Obi-Wan's boots. "He's a fine guest. He hasn't spoken to anyone since he got here. Hasn't even come out of his room."
Obi-Wan thought this was interesting information. He had gotten the distinct impression that the professor liked an audience. Any audience.
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said, taking the key.
The Jedi made their way down the hall and stepped into the turbolift.
An older model, it shuddered as it moved up the single flight to the second floor.
Dr. Lundi's room was located at the end of the hall, and the room next to it was rented out. With the exception of breaking in or listening at the door, there was no way to know what was going on inside.
Obi-Wan put his ear to the door and focused his auditory senses, but found it difficult to concentrate. It almost felt as if something was blocking his connection to the Force. He could not hear anything on the other side.
"Why do you suppose he would hurry to get here only to lock himself up and do nothing?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We do not know what he is doing," Qui-Gon pointed out. "It's impossible to tell what is going on inside."
Another dead end. Obi-Wan let out a long sigh. Fear and frustration began to well in him once again, and he closed his eyes and relaxed his muscles until he felt these emotions fade. It was not easy, but he was able to do it.