A/N: New chapter! Thanks for the awesome reviews and favs! So, I really did not want to use telepathy/mindspeak stuff, at least not directly or extensively... but I did. Having a cool plot demanded it D: Or something like that :)

Chapter 9: Gray Skies

The temperature had dropped considerably during the night, but Obi-Wan had stubbornly wrapped himself in Qui-Gon's cloak and both spare blankets rather than close the window. The quiet of the few hours preceding dawn was tranquilizing; even the occasional whirr of a passing speeder was muffled.

A distant part of Obi-Wan was aware of the moment when Qui-Gon woke up and performed his usual Force signature check. He was relieved when his master did not approach him but instead limped to the fresher using the crutches he had been provided. But it was only a temporary reprieve, because as soon as Qui-Gon was finished he made his way over and gently slid the window shut.

"I was meditating, Master," said Obi-Wan, keeping his gaze locked the opposite wing of the building outside the window, hoping the older Jedi would leave him be.

"No, you were brooding," said Qui-Gon in his no-nonsense tone of voice.

Obi-Wan's eyes immediately snapped over to his master. In the darkness it was difficult to read Qui-Gon's expression, especially with his back turned to the dim light shining weakly through the window, and Obi-Wan wondered for the first time if his master could even read his own unguarded features. But expression or no, it did not seem to matter, Qui-Gon could always see through his attempts at deception.

"What happened?"

"I… she was…" but Obi-Wan found he could not force the words past the growing lump in his throat.

"Padawan," said Qui-Gon, reaching out to rest one of his large hands on Obi-Wan's shoulder, "do not let fear hold your tongue."

The jedi master seemed to tower over Obi-Wan in the darkness as he had when he was younger, a pillar of strength, and no longer the injured and weary figure the apprentice had become accustomed to seeing in the daylight.

"It is not fear, Master…" but guilt.

Obi-Wan thought he had spoken the last in the deepest, most private corner of his mind, but he could sense that somehow Qui-Gon knew. The older man sighed and sat down in the second chair without lifting his hand.

"Please, tell me what is wrong."

The deep, soothing sound of his master's voice chipped away at Obi-Wan's unconscious barrier until the story came pouring forth. He described turning on the data-pad and the chilling scene that followed, stumbling over some of his words, embarrassed that he could not stop repeating the phrase, "I watched as," at the start of each new sentence.

But Qui-Gon did not ask him to stop or interrupt with questions, for which Obi-Wan was grateful. Even if his account was somewhat incoherent, he was not sure he could stop. Now that the words had been given an outlet, it felt as if he must let them all go, or be lost in the deluge.

Qui-Gon absorbed his padawan's revelation in silence, carefully weighing his response. He gave Obi-Wan's shoulder a squeeze before drawing his band back.

"I am truly sorry to hear that," the words were almost trite, but Obi-Wan could hear the genuine remorse in his master's voice, "She sounded like a wonderful person, I wish we could have met."

But his remorse could not touch the root of Obi-Wan's distress, and Qui-Gon could sense it.

"Padawan—Obi-Wan," he said, trying to address his apprentice's unspoken concerns, "What happened is terrible, but there was nothing we could have done."

"But, Master," a frown marring his smooth features, "can't you see, what happened to Misshi happened because of us!"

"You do not know that. A multitude of factors could have contributed to and caused this event which we may never know or fully understand," Obi-Wan wanted to protest, but he knew by the tone of Qui-Gon voice he would allow no interruptions or room for argument, "Padawan, release your negative emotions into the Force. Of more immediate concern is the fact that this tragedy has revealed a source of the danger we face. Now, more than ever, we must focus on the present. Be mindful of the Living Force. When we cannot actively shape what is to come, we must be prepared to let the natural flow of events guide us. Assumptions will only cloud our judgment."

The sententious speech did nothing to ease Obi-Wan's mind and only stirred up an irrational resentment. "Yes, Master," he answered sullenly.

Obi-Wan thought he had hidden the defiance in his voice, but the implied reproof in Qui-Gon's tone told him he had not succeeded, "You need sleep, my young padawan. We will meditate on this once you are properly rested."

"Yes, Master," said Obi-Wan obediently crawling into bed, but fumed silently.

Qui-Gon did not understand! It was all Obi-Wan's fault. He should have realized what was happening, paid closer attention to the warning signs he had felt from the Force. Misshi was so kind and thoughtful! She only meant to assist them out of innate, innocent generosity, and was completely undeserving of the grisly death she suffered. He knew he was asking her to do something dangerous; it was obvious some one did not want them to regain their equipment, obvious that they were only nominally patients and actually prisoners. And yet, he had done nothing to stop her, he had even asked her to find their weapons! Not only had he allowed her perform such dangerous tasks, he had deliberately asked her to do something which would obviously be taken as hostile, treasonous, and without any thought as to the risk he was selfishly asking her to run.

The seething irritation Obi-Wan felt after Qui-Gon's speech drained away to reveal the sorrow and guilt that was its source. How could he have been so thoughtless? He had been training for this type of situation for years, and yet he had given no consideration to his actions. He had never shown himself to be less worthy of being a Jedi, of being a more terrible, selfish person—

"Obi-Wan—Go. To. Sleep."

The sound of his master's voice cut through Obi-Wan's haze of self-recrimination, the firm Force suggestion nudging him into a dark, dreamless oblivion.

When Obi-Wan finally woke up, he still felt groggy and exhausted. He carefully surveyed the room from beneath his cocoon of blankets. Qui-Gon was laying in his own bed, broken leg propped up, and reading from the data-pad. On the table by the window stood one breakfast tray, but since Qui-Gon's was obviously gone it must have been well past mid-morning. The window was cracked open, carrying in a heavy, but cool, damp smell. Dark clouds loomed, dampening the light and giving Obi-Wan the curious impression that it was much later in the day than it actually was.

The atmosphere made him want to curl up and fall back asleep, but his mind was already too awake and the sight of breakfast waiting made his empty stomach rumble. While Obi-Wan completed his morning routine and sat down to eat, Qui-Gon continued to read silently.

"Obi-Wan," said Qui-Gon, after hobbling over as soon as the padawan had pushed his empty tray away, "tell me what is bothering you."

It was hard to look his master in the eye. Obi-Wan felt ashamed of both his un-jedi like sulk the night before, and the fact that he still held those same feelings deep within. He felt as if he were still precariously close to falling once more into that downward spiral of guilt and sorrow, where one fed on and strengthened the other.

Although he struggled to find the words, Qui-Gon was patient. "Master, I… I can't help feeling like her death was my fault," there was no need to say who, Obi-Wan was not even sure he could say Misshi's name out loud, "I know what you said last night is true, but I should have known something like that would happen. I can't stop thinking about all the things I could have done to prevent it…"

"Obi-Wan, how could you have known, what could you have done?"

"I… I could have stopped her… not asked her for help…"

"From what you have told me and the way to talk about her, I am not sure there is anything you could have done to stop her. Misshi seemed eager to help. Can you honestly say, given what you knew at the time, you wouldn't have answered her questions, wouldn't have told her what we needed?"

"But, Master, I should have realized it would be dangerous, it was so obvious," his reply came out almost whiny, but Obi-Wan was becoming tired of repeating himself.

"Was it?"

Something in Qui-Gon's tone and eyes kept Obi-Wan from shouting out the automatic "Yes!" that had risen to his lips. Instead he stared, mouth still half open.

Qui-Gon let his words sink in, before continuing, "Was it really? Think carefully. What is your strongest feeling? Not what may or may not have been done, but your reaction what did occur."

"I feel…guilt. Responsible for her death," the last word came out nearly a whisper, Obi-Wan was surprised he even said it out loud, "I feel like I failed… Misshi, you… myself."

Qui-Gon let out a long sigh, and said, "Padawan, fear comes in many forms, and it is often the fear of what we may find in ourselves, the fear of our own failings, that is the most dangerous. Do not let your negative emotions cloud your judgment. Although they are natural, you must accept, and then release them."

"I understand, Master," said Obi-Wan, letting out a sigh of his own, eyes turned to his folded hands in his lap, "otherwise they will only feed on each other and breed new fears."

"Yes," Qui-Gon sounded satisfied, "I think now would be an excellent time for some meditation."

His master's words were soothing, giving him the firm anchor he'd lacked before. A voice of reason, reiterating the important lessons he already knew and allowing him to weigh them against what he felt now in this specific instance. All in all, Obi-Wan felt much more in control of his emotions, and yet… and yet there lingered a stubborn seed of doubt. And when he replied with, "Yes, Master," to Qui-Gon's suggestion, there was slightest lack of conviction.

There was a sharp knock at the door, and instead of a nurse it was Lemleshor who came in bearing their lunch tray. The doctor wore a forced smile, and when he spoke it was almost painfully cheerful, "Good afternoon! Along with lunch I thought I would bring you some flarras bread, the traditional food commemorating this name-day for Lenvakasis. Do you know the celebration?"

As Lemleshor spoke he set the tray down on the table and stood somewhat awkwardly between the two Jedi. Obi-Wan shared a look with Qui-Gon, and answered, "It was mentioned in our briefing, but there was very little information."

"It is, in fact, the day-naming celebration. I am sorry, it is a little difficult to translate. Each day of the week has a special food and item associated with it, and the entire week is given to festivities. I myself am going to visit my family very soon," Lemleshor said the last with strange emphasis, looking first to Obi-Wan, then to Qui-Gon.

"I see," replied the Jedi master, his deep voice casual and relaxed, "It sounds like a most curious holiday."

"Yes, for many generations it has been a rather light-hearted time. This year, Hroshis, one of the co-commissioners of the People's Tribunal has decided to place special emphasis on its original significance—but, I am boring you with my talk."

Lemleshor did not look as if he thought they were bored at all.

"We are always interested in learning about other cultures," said Qui-Gon, "Please, continue."

"Lenvakasis is the celebration of freedom from tyranny. It began many centuries ago when the exspansive empire of Sommun was defeated and Lenoia was formed. Each day was named for the purging, or freedom from, of a corruptive influence. Such as today: Dollkas, purging of charlatins, or Sommun's preist-doctors who were at odds with Lenoia's local religious beliefs. Yesterday was Craikas, purging of the informers," the doctor drummed his finger's together with a nervous aagitation Obi-Wan had never seen before.

"Tomorrow is perhaps more… amusing. It is Thovkas, purging of magicians—alchemists and men who claimed to move things without touching them. Of course, this all culminates on the seventh day with Sulkas, or purging of tyrants. You can understand why the former regime was much more concerned with celebrating sweet-meats and baked tuffa, and why the Party is pleased to celebrate it in a more historically inspired, if somewhat… literal, manner."

"Literal?" said Obi-Wan.

"Oh, you did not know?" before the doctor's casual tone of voice was so over-done it was almost comical, but Lemleshor suddenly turned deathly serious, "The party leaders have decided to co-ordinate the trials and punishment of 'enemies of the people' to fit day of the week. After all, have we not once more thrown off the 'yoke of oppression?'"

Suddenly everything began to fall into place for Obi-Wan, Lemleshor was giving them a veiled warning, albeit a somewhat clumsy one.

Qui-Gon said, "I am glad your people have an opportunity to return to their roots," without any noticeable recognition of the doctor's deeper meaning, and Obi-Wan wondered if perhaps his master had caught on earlier.

"Yes, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to visit my family so soon. I will be 'shutting up the shop' as the parlance goes, in two hours. Please enjoy your flarras bread."

Lemleshor gave each of them one last check up, congratulated Obi-Wan on recovering from his flu so completely, told Qui-Gon to stay off his leg while giving the older man a look that said how little he believed his advice would be followed, and said his goodbyes with definite air of finality.

As soon as the door slid closed, the jedi pair looked at each other. For the first time since the coup, Qui-Gon spoke directly into Obi-Wan's mind.

/It is possible we are being monitored./ Out loud, Qui-Gon said, "Let us try these delicious looking rolls."

"Yes, I almost got to try flarras bread before, but my stomach as too upset the last time they had it," said Obi-Wan out loud, and only responded to his master's unspoken thought once he was chewing on a large bite of his bread.

/Master, Dr. Lemmy must have been implying they will come for us tomorrow. Otherwise, why would he go into such detail about the first few days and the 'magicians' and then skip to the final day?/

Although Obi-Wan suspected they were both thinking it, he could not bring himself to mention Misshi must have been one of the sacrifices fitting the first day's "theme."

/Yes, and be careful with your roll, he may have left us something… though I doubt he'd actually put anything inside—/

Qui-Gon's eyes widened when Obi-Wan's eyebrows flew up and he made a sudden "HMMMMM," noise while biting into his bread.

"Padawan, did you just bite your—"

/Lenvakasis, it's Lenvakasis! It's this week, that's what she meant!/

/Obi-Wan! Please calm yourself, you are going to give me a headache with your 'shouting.'/

/Sorry, Master,/ Obi-Wan replied contritely and with much less force, /Lenvakasis must be the time Misshi meant us to escape. I wondered why she kept mentioning the 'days of the week'… She said someone would be waiting to meet us—at least, that's how I understood it./

"This is wonderful bread," said Qui-Gon with a hum of satisfaction.

As he set down his bread down on its napkin, Obi-Wan saw his master discreetly palm something from underneath.

"Yes. It was so good I accidently bit down too hard," the padawan said, belatedly remembering someone might be watching.

Qui-Gon raised a single eyebrow, as if to comment on Obi-Wan's less than natural performance, but instead continued their wordless conversation, /Interesting. And it seems we have been given a means of escape. He has left us not only bread, but a key-card./

/Should we go now?/

Instead of replying right away, Qui-Gon uncovered the main course, and said, "However, I'd like to eat my lunch before I fill up on bread," only then did he answer Obi-Wan's question /No. Let us give the Doctor his two hours. If I read him correctly, that will be the time to make our move./

They both focused on their food, meandering through a rather bland conversation ranging from the meal to the rather gloomy weather. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan went over everything he knew about the situation in his mind, and decided he has something important to add.

/Master, they took away the map, but I think I have it mostly memorized. The original idea was for us to escape using the tangled courtyard and some of the well concealed shortcuts. I believe we can still make it through, and possibly meet the contact Misshi mentioned./

It still hurt to talk about the late nurse, but with an objective to occupy his mind, Obi-Wan found it easer to focus.

Qui-Gon unconsciously nodded, and replied /Good. Let us begin there./

But it only took moments for Obi-Wan to fill his master in completely and for them to make the few decisions required. Afterwards, they had only to wait. The next hour and a half was going to be very long.

A/N: I keep debating if I wrote too much in the first half of this chapter... Oh well, I think that's only something I'll be able to tell once I have a little distance. I'm going to keep working on the next chapter :)

As always, comments and constructive criticism are always welcome! I also love all the faves and alerts, they mean so much. Thank you!