[Jedi Apprentice] - 17(20)

Obi-Wan found an old tarp outside a nearby ship, and Lena showed the Jedi the traditional way to enclose the body in it.

“Mica always looked out for me,” Lena said as she lay the wrapped body gently on the ground. “She always tried to guide me in the right direction.”

The three stood quietly together for a moment, silently saying good-bye. Then they left Mica lying in the pool of orange light.

“The park,” Lena said as they slowly moved away from the body. “Mica said you’d searched it for hours.”

“We did,” Obi-Wan confirmed.

Lena’s shoulders straightened and her eyes cleared. “I know what Rutin was trying to tell me,” she said with sudden certainty. “We have to get to the park immediately.”

Qui-Gon was amazed at Lena’s ability to change her focus back to finding the necessary evidence. Her face was full of deep sadness, but she carried herself upright as she led them to the Tubal Park.

Once inside, Lena headed directly for a spot at the rear of the park. It was still dark, but the sky had completely cleared and the planet’s two moons shone in the night sky. Their silver light partly lit the paths, bridges, and brooks.

Qui-Gon continuously scanned the area around them. He did not sense anything dangerous - the park seemed serene and peaceful, just as it had during the day. But it would have been foolish to let his guard down. Obi-Wan stood a distance away, alert for any trespass.

Suddenly, Lena stopped short next to a small stand of lush tropical trees. A stream gurgled over smooth rocks and into a pool of clear water.

With a sigh, Lena sat down. “This was our special place,” she said. “I remember the first time Rutin brought me here four years ago. We were not even married yet. But we had so many plans, so many dreams.” Her eyes shone with happiness for a brief moment. But before long, tears were welling in them and she broke down, sobbing.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Sometimes it is more than I can bear. I find myself wishing that it was I who had been killed, not him. I would have gladly given my life to save his.”

Qui-Gon nodded. “I, too, have wished I could have given my life to save another, one whom I had loved. But now I know that it is often harder to be the one left behind. I would not have wanted her to feel such loneliness, to go through the pain I have gone through.” He touched Lena’s arm briefly. “Rutin left these things for you because he knew his death was possible, and he trusted that you would carry on.”

Qui-Gon looked into Lena’s eyes, and knew that his words were getting through to her. Surprisingly, he felt a lightening in his own chest as well. His grief for Tahl was still excruciating, but he suddenly knew that there would come a time when it would be possible to bear. And in his heart he was certain that Tahl would want him to carry on, too. She would have hated the way he had chosen to mourn her, he realized suddenly. He had allowed his grief to remove him from everyone who had tried to help him. Because the weight of his sorrow was so terrible, he could not lift his head to see that others mourned her, too. Obi-Wan. Yoda. Bant. Clee Rhava. The list was long.

Her face rose in his mind. He could see the ironic twist to her lips.

“Now who’s blind?” she said.

Her voice was so real to him. How he wished he could answer….

“Thank you, Qui-Gon,” Lena said softly, breaking his reverie. “As difficult as it is to live without Rutin, I know that you are right.”

Qui-Gon briefly squeezed Lena’s hand. He noticed that his Padawan’s face wore a look of confused frustration, and felt he had some explaining to do. But now was not the time to discuss it. They had to find the evidence and leave the planet.

“Do you have any ideas about what the clues from the package mean?” Qui-Gon asked.

Lena got to her feet and began to look under rocks and thick green leaves. “I’m sure this is the spot,” she explained. “But the clues don’t make any sense to me. Why would I need a drill? Or a pair of boots?”

The three searched the area, finding nothing but grass, water, rocks, and plants.

“There’s nothing here,” Obi-Wan finally said, sounding exasperated. “It’s just like any other lovely spot in the woods.”

Hearing his words, Lena suddenly looked up. “But it isn’t, of course, ” she said. “It’s all manufactured. Human made.” She began to look at the ground in a new way. She stepped across a patch of fake ground covered with moss. Getting to her knees, she peeled it back.

Underneath was a large, locked panel.

Lena picked up the beam drill and forced the panel open. Lifting it aside, she found a short tunnel descending down.