**********

"Tough mission?" She asked some time later.

"Frustrating mostly," came his answer, "I guess I didn't
conceal that very well."

Still lazily stroking his hair as he rested his head on her
chest, Lia said, "I could tell by the way you nudged me
in the library."

Qui-Gon's eyes popped open. "You could?" He asked,
his throat tight as the blood ran cold in his veins. He had
not used the Force to nudge her earlier.

"Of course. You were so different, so insistent. I knew
right away it must have been difficult."

Qui-Gon squeezed his eyes shut tight, swallowing back
the bile that rose in his throat.

***********

Qui-Gon sat in a meditation chamber surrounded by
darkness. He had come here this morning not for
meditation but to consider possible suspects. He knew
there were many in the Temple who were attracted to
Lia. Obi-Wan and Erryn Brum were at the top of that list,
but he was certain that neither of them were behind this.
This would take a manipulation of the Force that only a
fully trained Jedi Knight was capable of, though no Knight
would ever do this, he told himself. This was nothing
short of rape, perhaps not in the physical sense, but rape
just the same. It pained him to see that once again he
had not been able to protect the woman he loved.

**********

Tsalia Kai was on the second floor of the Temple library
where the small museum of Jedi artifacts was located.
She moved through the area straightening exhibits and
activating holos of ancient Jedi Masters. As the museum
filled with the words of Jedi who had long since become
one with the Force, Lia's thoughts turned to Qui-Gon.
He had not slept the night before and was deeply troubled
by something, she could feel it along their link. It was
something he felt he had to hide from her, this much was
certain. Perhaps he and Obi-Wan had had another
difference of opinion during their mission. She knew
Obi-Wan had little patience for Qui-Gon's causes.

Lia shuddered as the air seemed to grow cold around
her. She scanned the area, searching for a presence
she felt. No one was there. Unease settled around her
and she headed for the exit. Her throat seemed to tighten
as she walked. She felt as though a hand were closing
around her neck, yet when she felt it nothing was there.
Panic seized her as she was unable to take in any air
or make any sound. She fell to the floor gasping, her
lungs burning. Darkness closed around her as she
tried to call Qui-Gon.

**********

A disturbance in the Force caused Temple Security to
be on high alert. It was the second time in two days such
a disturbance had occured. None felt it more acutely than
Qui-Gon Jinn. He raced to the library to find Lia being
taken away on a repulsor gurney. Kraana, the empathic
Calamarian who worked with Lia had found her.

"What happened?" Qui-Gon asked as he and Kraana
followed the healers leading Lia to the Temple's hospital
wing.

"I don't know," the young woman began, "something felt
wrong and I sensed fear coming from Lia. I hurried as
fast as I could. I found her on the floor of the museum, her
face blue."

************

Two dark figures moved up behind Obi-Wan. Lia tried to
call out to him, to warn him, but her voice wouldn't work.
She struggled to get to him but couldn't reach him. She
watched helplessly, tears blurring her vision as her
friend was jabbed with an electropole. He collapsed
instantly and was caught by his attackers, who covered
his head with a bag of some sort, then pushed him into
an air speeder. She had to get to Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan's
life depended on it!

**********

"Qui-Gon!" Lia burst out, her voice hoarse, as she sat
up in bed.

"I'm here, Lia." Qui-Gon soothed, taking her in his arms.
"Everything's all right."

"No it isn't!" She pushed away from him. "Obi-Wan is in
trouble!"

"Obi-Wan is fine." He said trying to calm her.

"No he isn't!" Lia insisted. "He's been kidnapped! I saw it!"

Qui-Gon watched her questioningly for a second then
tried to contact Obi-Wan with his comlink. There was no
answer. He searched for him along their master/padawan
link but could not sense him. Concerned now, he rose
from the edge of Lia's bed to speak with the two knights
that stood at her door.

Lia could not hear what was being said. Both knights
nodded as Qui-Gon spoke then one exited the room in
a hurry and the second pulled out a comlink and began
speaking into it in hushed tones. Qui-Gon returned to her
side, sitting at the edge of the bed once more. For the first
time since waking Lia noticed her surroundings. How had
she gotten here?

A healer entered the room smiling. "Feeling better?" He
asked making her lay back down. He rested a hand on her
forehead for a moment. "She'll be alright, Master Jinn."

It was then she noticed how pale and drawn Qui-Gon looked.
"What's going on?" She asked. "How did I get here?"

"We were hoping you could tell us." The knight who had
been speaking into his comlink approached.

"This is Jedi Knight Naawen, Lia. He is with Temple Security."
Qui-Gon said.

Lia thought for a moment. She remembered going to work,
speaking to Erryn and Kraana and then going up to the
museum. She had to make sure everything was in order
for the Jedi History classes were coming tomorrow. She
remembered being in the museum and activating the holos,
but after that her next memory was of seeing Obi-Wan being
taken away. Qui-Gon touched her cheek gently, bringing
her back to the present.

"I don't know what happened." She explained then told them
all she could. "What about Obi-Wan?"

As if on cue, Naawen's comlink sounded. He moved a short
distance away to answer it, then returned quickly. "Obi-Wan
left the Temple three hours ago and has not returned."

"Lia?" Erryn Brum poked his head inside the door. "I just
heard what happened. Are you alright?" He entered and
gave her a careful hug, he was not very comfortable around
Qui-Gon Jinn.

"I'm fine."

A thought occured to Qui-Gon. "Have you seen Obi-Wan this
morning Erryn?"

"We were supposed to meet for lunch at this cafe near the
Senate but he never showed. I finally gave up and came back
here. That's when I heard about Lia."

At that instant the knight who had left earlier returned carrying
a small data reader. He handed it to Naawen. The Jedi Knight
glanced at it then passed it to Qui-Gon. "This is a readout of all
private crafts leaving this quadrant in the past two hours. Look
at number eleven."

Qui-Gon read and his heart sank. The ship was the Fury, it's
owner was listed as Karami Gorxix. He knew after the way he
had humiliated her after her last visit that he would hear from
her again, but he never believed it would be like this. "I'm sure
that's it." He said solemnly.

"What is it?" Lia asked frightened. She sat up taking Qui-Gon's
hand.

He looked at her. "Karami Gorxix has Obi-Wan."

"No!" She cried quietly.

"We've sent out a seize and board order throughout the galaxy."
Naawen said. "We'll find your Padawan, Master Jinn. I promise."

A comlink sounded again, this time it was Qui-Gon's. His heart
lept. Perhaps Obi-Wan had escaped!

"Yes?" He answered.

"Hello Lover." The woman's voice on the other end purred.

Qui-Gon recognized it immediately as Karami's. Anger surged
in him as he spoke. "Where is Obi-Wan?"

"Honestly Qui-Gon don't I even get a hello first?"

"If you have harmed him in any way Karami, I will hunt you down!"
Qui-Gon barked into the comlink.

The knights from Temple Security exchanged a quick glance at
Qui-Gon's words.

"The boy is fine!" Her voice was harsh now. "If I had wanted to
harm him he would be dead now. The same with the girl. I must
say I was surprised to see that you were still with her. I would have
thought you would have tired of her by now."

"Where is Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon repeated angrily.

"Do you see how easy it would be for me to take away what you
value most Qui-Gon? The Jedi aren't the only Force users you know.
I have found quite a few others who are not bound by any code.
I didn't kill them this time, Qui-Gon. Next time who knows." The
transmission ended.

Qui-Gon closed his eyes, trying to release his anger and frustration.
He refused to believe it could be so easy for someone to take
everything from him. Yet Karami had proven it could be done. It
could not happen, he wouldn't allow it. Obi-Wan and Lia meant
too much to him. Obi-Wan was his son, not by blood perhaps,
but by mutual respect, experience and love. He could not love
the boy more. And Lia was the love he thought he would never
know, could never have. She was life.

Concern for Obi-Wan and the anguish she sensed in Qui-Gon
made Lia cry. She tried to stop the flow of tears but they kept
coming. Leaning forward, she took Qui-Gon in her arms. He
returned her embrace, nearly crushing her. Naawen and the
other knight shifted uncomfortably and Erryn Brum silently left
the room.

Naawen finally spoke, "We will find him Qui-Gon, and bring
Karami Gorxix to justice, I promise."

Qui-Gon's comlink sounded again "Master?" The unmistakable
voice on the other end brought cries of relief and joy from the
room's occupants.

"Where are you Padawan?" The tightness in his throat made
it hard for him to speak.

"I'm in an escape pod floating above the space lanes of Coruscant.
Master, I have no memory of how I happened to end up here."

"I'll explain later Obi-Wan. Just sit tight, Temple Security will have you
picked up shortly."

"Yes Master." Obi-Wan replied, then ended his transmission.

Naawen, who had been speaking into his own comlink the
minute he heard where the apprentice was, spoke up, "A
Coruscant traffic patrol vessel has him in their tractor beam
now. He'll be aboard any minute."

"Thank you Naawen." Qui-Gon said.

Naawen nodded, then he and his companion left the room
leaving Qui-Gon and Lia alone. Qui-Gon put his arms around
Lia once more. "That was too close. If I ever lost the two of you..."
His voice trailed off.

Lia held tight to him, knowing just how he felt.

**********

Lia and Qui-Gon were waiting for Obi-Wan when his rescue ship
touched down. Lia embraced the confused Obi-Wan tearfully and
the Jedi Master took them both into his long arms. Qui-Gon
reflected once more on how close he had come to losing both
of them this day.

The Jedi Master knew the Council would not permit him to join the
search for Karami. It was for the best, he knew, but that did not mean
he wouldn't ask anyway.

He had decided not to tell Lia that he was not the one who had
nudged her with the Force the night before. It would only bring back
painful memories.

Obi-Wan broke from their group hug. "Would someone please
tell me what's going on here?"

END