“We must have misunderstood,” Qui-Gon said. “We asked if we could return here. So sorry if we caused you upset.”
“O-Lana has been taken,” 0-Melie said, struggling to keep a pleasant expression on her face. “0-Yani says the Med Circle Guides came for her. But she just had her routine med exam. Perhaps there is some mistake.”
“We shall check on it,” 0-Rina assured her. “Do not be concerned. A child can’t be too healthy!”
V-Nen looked as ashen as his wife, but his face was frozen into the same pleasant mask. “Parental notification before a med check always takes place. Strange that O-Lana was taken without it.”
“Slips can occur, even on Kegan,” V-Haad said in a jovial tone. “But that doesn’t excuse them,” he added quickly.
“Even a moment of worry about a child can be an eternity,” 0-Rina said sympathetically. “V-Haad and I will be happy to intercede for you. We’ll go right to V-Tan and O-Vieve if we have to.”
“We are grateful,” V-Nen said through tight lips.
0-Rina turned to the Jedi. “Of course, all this
will take time. We know the Jedi are far too crucial to the galaxy to linger. We will completely understand if you must return to your more important tasks.”
“Unfortunately we did not find your young aides,” V-Haad
said pleasantly. “Perhaps you have communication devices that can summon them.”
“Thank you for your concern,” Qui-Gon answered smoothly. “But I’m afraid you overestimate our demand in the galaxy. We can certainly remain here until the child is found. As for our aides, I’m afraid we’re at a loss.”
Adi picked up on his strategy. “We have tried to contact them on our comlinks,” she said. “They are not responding. Perhaps they lost them, or our technology does not work on your planet. We will have to search for them.”
“We are sorry if this causes trouble for you,” Qui-Gon added. “We would like permission to travel among your people. You know how the young can be. They are most likely exploring and have forgotten the time.”
The Hospitality Guides were trapped. They could not refuse such a sensible request. But they looked uncertain.
“Kegan is a peaceful planet,” V-Haad said haltingly. “Yet our people are unused to foreigners. They could feel fear, which could make them act in unaccustomed ways. We wouldn’t want you to run into trouble of any kind…”
“Jedi are used to walking among strangers,” Adi said, inclining her head. “We are not worried.”
“We will be in touch,” Qui-Gon said, bowing to the Guides.
The Guides turned away. O-Melie stayed still as a block of stone, but her burning eyes be-seeched the Jedi. Find her!
Then the Hospitality Guides turned back again, and her bland smile returned.
“The mother is frightened,” Adi said.
“The father as well,” Qui-Gon said. “He hides it slightly better.”
Adi sighed. They had paused by the Gardening Circle before going on. “I am afraid that with every step we take, we violate the Council’s wishes. We are interfering. We could make enemies here.”
“A child is missing,” Qui-Gon said. “Never mind that
she
is Force-sensitive. Her parents are obviously terrified. The situation has changed. And it is because of our presence. If we had not come, the child would be safe.”
Adi nodded reluctantly. “The child could be
where the Guides say she is. They want to keep us away from her. That doesn’t mean they’ll harm her. We can’t take bold
action
without ascertaining if the child is in danger.”
Qui-Gon knew the child wasn’t safe - why else would the parents be so afraid? But he held his tongue. He and Adi Gallia needed to work as a team.
Adi went on thoughtfully. “Our mission is also to demonstrate to Kegan the benefits of joining the galactic alliance. We are promoting peace. All I am saying is that we must tread carefully.”
“We are telling each other things we already know,” Qui-Gon said restlessly. “Let’s raise Obi-Wan and Siri on their comlinks.”
He activated his comlink, but Obi-Wan did not answer. Adi did the same with hers, but there was no answer from Siri, either.
“Perhaps they’re in a situation where it is better not to answer,” Adi suggested. “We told them to mingle with the native population and not advertise that they were Jedi.”
“True,” Qui-Gon agreed. “Let’s try again later. In the meantime, searching for them will give us a good cover to look for 0-Lana. Let’s head for the Med Circle.”