Jahzea

Jahzea Mahl paced nervously in the corridor, her right hand rubbing her left, trying to work the feeling back into it. It was a useless activity, but Master Healer Ashthoret had said that it wouldn't hurt, either. She'd discovered she did that when she was nervous, or when she was thinking about Obi-Wan - which she definitely was right now.

How Bant had decided that she would be the one to get Master Jinn out of the Temple, she would never know. She barely knew Master Ravenna's Mon Calamari Padawan, although she had met her before. The idea of celebrating Obi-Wan's return from a mission without ending up at the Healer's was a little strange, but then, the Jedi were a strange bunch. And Obi-Wan's friends seemed even stranger. She shook her head fondly, remembering the fourteen year old that had talked her out of her suicidal funk six years ago. They'd spent some time together after that, since her Master and his were friends.

Maybe that was why Bant had asked her to get Qui-Gon out. Of the bunch she'd barely met, she seemed to be most aware of his movements, simply because he and Master Windu was such good friends.

Her comm buzzed. "Jahzea, he's coming your way," Soren said softly. "He just passed me."

With a jerk, Jahzea straightened her tunic and nervously ran her hand over her short hair. She was at the far end of the hall; the timing on this had to be perfect. She started toward the intersection, and hoped she'd hit it at the same time he did, bracing herself for some pain. Master Jinn was a big man, and she was more slender than Obi-Wan...

She collided with him and was knocked off her feet, landing hard on the floor. There was little acting in the surprise on her face when she looked up at Master Jinn. "Oh, Master Jinn, I'm sorry," she said, and scrambled to get to her feet. He reached down, took her elbow, and helped her to stand. "I was distracted."

He nodded slowly. "As was I. I apologize, Padawan Mahl."

"As do I."

His head tilted to the side. "You already did. Is something wrong?"

"Um... no?" she hedged.

"Is something wrong with Mace?"

"No, Master Jinn. My Master is well." At least, she amended silently, he was when I left him three hours ago. "Are... are you busy?" she asked hesitantly.

His lips curved slightly. "It depends. Is there something I can help you with?"

She let out a sigh of relief. "There is a friend of my Ma... Of Delios' not too far from the Temple." It still hurt, if a little less, to refer to her first Master by her first name. "I have a birthing day gift for a friend, but she lives in an area that Master Windu suggested very strongly that I not go in alone. He took me the first time, when I went to tell her of Delios' passing," she cleared her throat to make her voice go back to normal, "and again when I asked her to make this for me. He is busy right now; could I prevail upon you to accompany me?"

Fortunately, she didn't have to say much more. There was compassion in his gaze, and she had to look away to keep from bursting into tears. Six years! It had been six years since Delios had hidden her, and then been torn apart before her eyes by the inhabitants of... whatever planet they'd been on. She didn't remember, and the mind healers said it wouldn't hurt her not to know. In spite of all she had tried to do, there were times when the grief was just too much.

:Padawan?:

She stiffened slightly, still turned away from Master Jinn. He was kind enough to give her space. :Yes, Master.:

:Are you all right?:

:Yes, Master. Thank you.:

It was comforting to know that her current Master didn't see her as too much of a distraction, even if he was on the Council. She took a deep breath, and turned back to face her duty again. "I'm sorry, Master Jinn."

"I understand," he said, and there was enough empathy in his voice that she knew he did. In their line of work, almost everyone had lost a cherished friend.

Clearing her throat - she hadn't expected that to happen, and hadn't wanted it to - she smiled at him. "I would appreciate it if you would help me."

He was skeptical. "There are places on Coruscant that a Padawan near her trials wouldn't be able to go on her own?"

She blushed a little, glad now that she had the annoying propensity to do so whenever she was embarrassed. "Yes, Master Jinn." She paused a moment, hoping the blush didn't deepen. "The Comfort District, two levels down. Near the...."

"Ah." He interrupted her, and she was glad she didn't have to go into further detail.

Knowing that he had friends in places most Jedi never bothered to go, she'd immediately called on her former Master's friend. Kharma had been enthusiastic, and her response made Jahzea blush every time she thought about it. "I've never... entertained... a Jedi before," she'd said with a strange purr in her voice. "Definitely bring him by." Jahzea tried very hard not to think of what she might have meant.

"I think I see why Mace doesn't want you hanging out there. Someone might take you for...." And then to her amazement, his face reddened a little. He cleared his throat. "Certainly," he said. "Do you need to go now?"

"Please. There is a party this evening, and I need it for that."

"Then we'd better hurry."

They were outside of the Temple before he spoke again. "How did Delios meet this... friend of hers?"

Jahzea grinned. "It was kind of funny. They were in jail together."

He glanced at her. "What?"

She laughed; she couldn't help it. The story was one she'd never forget, even though it had happened before Delios had chosen to train her. "They were in jail together. It was on... Tumeri, I think. My Master was investigating an allegation concerning one of the ruling councillors there, and got caught in a raid. She wound up talking to Kharma all night, and found out that not only was the allegation false, but that the man who had made the allegation was the one who was..." She paused, not sure how to go on.

"I remember that," he said. "Very tricky situation. Delios handled it well."

"I guess Kharma liked my Master so much, she followed her here. Nothing much has changed in her life, but Kharma seems to like it better on Coruscant."

"I've been to Tumeri. I like it better here, too."

They took a ramp down, into one of the lower levels, then a few minutes later, another one, chatting amiably. When they reached the second level down, Jahzea glanced around, trying to remember the way. She'd missed the alleyway last time, to her embarrassment. She'd seen things she didn't want to.

This time she found it, and she was very glad to find the small marketplace where Kharma lived. She was even more surprised to find that Kharma was waiting for her, standing outside a rather run-down booth that sold wool cloth. The older woman's face lit up, and she moved forward. "Jahzee!" she called enthusiastically. "I'm glad you've come!"

"Hello, Kharma," Jahzea grinned, and hugged her friend.

"That Master of your's taking care you," the woman said, stepping back. "You're not skin and bones any more."

"He's being good to me."

"You are here for the gift?"

"Yes." Jahzea grinned in spite of herself. Ever since Bant had told her of this idea, she'd been trying to figure out something that her friend might like. It wasn't until she saw a small figurine during one of her visits to her friend that she got the idea. She'd managed to get a holo of the Jedi next to her, and had given it to her friend. Kharma, as well as her less-than-reputable trade, was a very good sculptor. Jahzea had learned the hard way what it was like to lose someone too soon, and had decided to give her friend a remembrance of his Master.

"Good. Follow me. It's just inside." She paused and leveled a measuring look at Qui-Gon, then smiled. Jahzea had to smother her own smile as Qui-Gon shifted slightly. Then Kharma turned away and led the way past the shop to the door behind it. They went up the narrow stair case to a small set of rooms lit brilliantly by the sun. In the windows were small figurines, one of them of a clear stone that shaded everything in blue.

"It looks like you're busy," Jahzea commented, reaching to touch one of the small statues.

"Oh, I am." But the inflection - and the admiring look she cast on Master Jinn - seemed to indicate more than she'd said. Jahzea nodded. "Just a moment, and I'll wrap it for shipping."

Kharma beckoned to her, and Jahzea followed her to the inner room, carefully closing the door behind her. "He's even better looking in person," she said softly with a grin. "Are you sure I can't get him to stay?" Reaching into a drawer, she pulled out a small figurine, carved in a dark blue stone.

Jahzea laughed. "I don't know, but give it a shot. I need him to, for at least a little while. Anything to get him away from Obi-Wan for a while." She took the statuette and ran her fingers over the face and cloak, and smiled. The expression on the face was one of deep caring - love, she could almost say - and it was one that she hoped Obi-Wan saw often. She handed the small figure back.

"Well, I could try to distract him," Kharma said with a smile as she wrapped Jahzea's gift in thick cloth.

"I hope that one of your skills would be something he'd be attracted to." She couldn't help it; as much as she tried not to, she blushed bright red.

"You'd be surprised at how many start looking at my statuettes and it moves on to... other things." Kharma laughed as Jahzea flushed even more. "Come. Let's see if I can't get him to stay."

She followed Kharma back into the front room, to find Qui-Gon looking intently at the small table of carvings, some of them only partially done. As soon as the door closed behind them, he straightened. "These are beautiful."

Kharma smiled. "You know sculpting?" she asked.

Qui-Gon shook his head. "I only know to appreciate beauty," he said.

"Oh?" She stepped closer, her shoulder barely brushing his arm. Jahzea had to admire her; she didn't get so close that he moved away from her. It was quite amazing. They began talking sculpture and beauty. Slowly, carefully, masking her presence as much as she could, Jahzea slipped out of the room and down the stairs.

The marketplace was subdued, much quieter than it had been. Jahzea, startled at the air of... fear and resignation, moved quickly along the wall, staying out of sight as much as she could. She'd reached the edge when she realized what the feeling meant.

Moving at a steady pace, the police marched into the center of the market, then dispersed. Her former Master had explained of the regular "cleansing" of that particular marketplace; it was just pure luck it had happened tonight. Jahzea knew that Kharma wasn't the only one there that plied that particular trade, but she was amazed at the number of people that were brought out of the decrepit buildings. She nearly gave herself away when Master Jinn was lead out of Kharma's apartment, his cloak blatantly absent. Well, chances were good he wouldn't be back to the Temple for a while. Chuckling slightly, she turned and ran back to the Temple.

One level up, she slowed and activated her comm. "Dei?"

"Speaking."

"Jahzea. I... Uh... Master Jinn will not be returning to the Temple until sometime tomorrow, probably - but someone ought to warn Obi-Wan that he's not going to be in a good mood. And I really don't like to think what Master Windu is going to do to me for getting him caught in that...."

"Where did you go?"

"Comfort District. Don't ask. They did a Cleansing - you know, get rid of all the... business women just to make some of the religious people in the area happy."

Dei sounded like she was choking. "They took Master Jinn with them?"

"Yes."

"I'll make sure Obi-Wan is warned. He might end up at the Healers after this anyway."

Jahzea laughed. "Maybe. I still have to take care of Master Windu, and then I'll be up."

"See you when you get here."

She signed off, stepped into the Temple, and made her way up to her quarters.

Inside was a mess. Jahzea stood staring in utter disbelief at the chaos that filled the common area for a full minute before she stepped in far enough for the door to slide shut behind her. "Master Windu?" she asked.

He appeared from his apartment, eyes wild, and she was hard pressed to keep from laughing. He snapped into what she called "full Council mode" almost immediately. "What?"

"What happened?" she asked, indicating the displaced chairs and table, the plant spilled in the corner, and the clothes - she realized then that some were hers - strewn on the floor.

She didn't know if he blushed, since his dark skin kept that a secret from her, but his embarrassment crept down the bond between them. "Master Yoda was... unhappy with me."

Jahzea nodded, hesitantly, but didn't dare add anything else. "Um... Are you busy tonight?"

He gave her an incredulous look. "Why?"

"Well..." She took a deep breath when his eyes narrowed. "I thought you were a little too... tense lately, so I thought that a night out with a friend might be a good idea."

He actually perked up, and she fought the urge to laugh again. "Who?"

"Master Gennaro was complaining the other day that she never saw you. I mentioned that you might not mind a night away from the Temple with her." She gestured to the room. "I can comm her and then clean up in here while you get ready."

He nodded slowly, stepping into the room. "You left the Temple." He touched her cloak, still cool from outside.

"Yes, Master. Kharma let me know that the gift I had asked her to make was finished."

One eyebrow lifted slowly. "And you went alone?"

"No, Master, of course not. I knew you were busy, and so I asked Master Jinn to take me."

"Good." It was distracted, and nearly a dismissal. Whatever Master Yoda had said, it certainly had made him think. He turned and began picking up the clothing in the common area.

"Master, please. Let me call Master Genarro. It will be good for you to get away from the Temple and go out a little." She joined him, gathering her clothes - finding that her datapads were there too - in the silence.

After a long while, he sighed. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea," he said, straightening the overstuffed chair. He leaned against it. "Thank you, Padawan."

Jahzea smiled innocently. "You're welcome. I'll comm her, then. You could get a reservation at one of the restaurants around here, and really relax."

"I think I'll do that," he mused, taking himself and his clothes into his room. Jahzea went into her's, relieved to see that no more damage had been done than her shelves and desk had been emptied. Tomorrow, she'd ask what Master Yoda had been angry about - right now, she just wanted to get her Master away from the Temple.

Master Gennaro was pleased about going out with Mace, mentioning again that they'd been clan mates and friends, and Jahzea hung up without even feeling a little guilty. Sure, she wanted Master Windu away from the Temple this evening, but she had been worried about him the last few days. Something seemed to be building, and he needed to take a break before he went insane. And before she did. This was perfect.

"Padawan?"

"Yes, Master?"

"What did Master Gennaro say?"

"She'd be ready when you came. I told her possibly half an hour, but you can go earlier if you're ready."

"What will you be doing this evening?"

That was the question she'd been dreading. "A bunch of us are getting together since we're all home at the same time," she told him. "Small group, so we shouldn't be too loud or too late."

"Hmph. Does Master Yoda know?"

"Is he supposed to?" His intense gaze fell on her, and Jahzea shrugged. "I don't know. I was just invited."

"By whom?"

"Padawan Bant Eerin. She seems to think it will be good for us."

"Who else is going to be there?"

Jahzea stifled a sigh. "I'm not sure, Master, but I believe Travina will be. I thought I heard that the twins, MysAri and MiraCyn were invited. I just don't know if they'll be coming." She tried to keep her impatience from showing, and from getting to him through the bond, but she caught the hint of a smile on his face and knew she'd failed.

"When does this thing start?"

"Soon, Master. But I'll finish cleaning up while you and Master Gennaro go."

Suspicion slithered down the bond and she straightened. "Master Windu, please. I'm worried about you. You have been so bothered by something... something that has to do with the Council, and you need to get away from here for the evening."

"You're not trying to get rid of me?" There was even suspicion in his voice.

She stifled a laugh. "Of course I'm trying to get rid of you," she teased. "Tell me you didn't try to get rid of your Master at least once when you were a Padawan."

"Once a month, at least, and sometimes more often," he answered promptly, and joined in her laughter.

"Did it work?" she asked.

"Sometimes." He took a deep breath. "It would be just as effective to take some time and meditate," he said.

"Yes, but Master Gennaro would not be pleased. She said you were friends once, and she misses that friendship."

"Hm... There is that," he said, and smiled at her. "I will go, then, and now, so that you can get to your little gathering."

"Thank you, Master," she said, and watched him go. Quickly, she straightened the rest of the furniture, then with one satisfied look, left for the Council Chambers. On the stairs up, she activated her comm. "Dei?"

"Yes."

"Jahzea. Scratch one Council Member, and I'm on my way. Are you sure it's safe up there?"

"Very. Come on up."

The lift ride was short, in comparison to other rides. Maybe because she was looking forward to this visit to the Council chambers. Stepping out, she walked down the halls to the large doors, took a deep breath, and went in.

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

This post written by the wonderfully talented Just_Jill Major kudos to her!!! CK

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