Obi-Wan caught up to Mica as they approached the entrance. "Why would she come here?" he asked.
"This park means a lot to Lena. She used to come here with Rutin, and she always comes here to think," Mica answered. "Or at least she used to."
The giant oval doors opened and the three stepped inside. As the doors closed behind them Obi-Wan felt as if he'd stepped off a ship onto another planet. Inside the air was moist. The noise of the city was gone, replaced by the echoing sound of running water and children's voices.
Looking up, Obi-Wan could only barely make out the seams in the roof beyond the tops of the towering trees. Paths crisscrossed one another, leading toward brightly blooming plants or meandering beside creeks and trickling waterfalls. People strolled over the bridges and ducked through the tunnels that wove under and around the dense flora. There were small animals winging overhead, and even smaller amphibians flopping in the pools.
Obi-Wan could see why Lena would come here. It reminded him of the Room of a Thousand Fountains at the Jedi Temple. That, too, was a sanctuary and a great place to go to think.
"Do you know her favorite spot?" Qui-Gon asked.
Mica shook her head sadly. "I never came here with her. She only came alone, or with Rutin. She could be anywhere."
"Then I suggest we split up," Qui-Gon said to Obi-Wan. "Mica can come with me."
Obi-Wan nodded and headed off to his left. It would be a relief to be away from Qui-Gon for a while. He could use some time alone to think.
As soon as he had walked away from his Master, Obi-Wan's mind filled with thoughts of Lena. All around him people were gathered in small groups.
They ate, played, and leaned back on the grass to stare up at the leaves.
Yet Obi-Wan was only aware of them enough to know that they were not Lena.
Could it really be infatuation? Obi-Wan wondered. After taking several deep breaths and letting go of his anger and frustration, Obi-Wan could not deny it. As usual, Qui-Gon was right. He was falling for Lena.
But it was not just her beauty. No, it was more than that.
It was her strength — the strength she drew from her vulnerability- that had enamored him. Lena was a grieving young widow. The husband she had loved was only recently lost. But instead of hiding in the hole that he'd left, she pulled new purpose from it. She was not drowning in it, refusing to speak of the loss. Not like Qui-Gon.
Obi-Wan's thoughts drifted back to his Master. He shook his head as he climbed a steep bridge arching over a waterfall. Perhaps the bond between them was not as damaged as Obi-Wan imagined. No matter how he tried, Obi-Wan could not deny that Qui-Gon correctly recognized Obi-Wan's feelings for Lena, and before he did.
How can he be so clear about the emotions of others when he cannot seem to untangle his own? Obi-Wan wondered.
"With time," Master Yoda would say. "With time all are healed."
Obi-Wan felt new energy flood through him as he relaxed and let go of everything that had been bothering him. He had been in danger of letting his emotions blind him. Now he felt more sure.
Still, Obi-Wan did not believe his Master had been right about everything. Walking more quickly and scanning the park for Lena, Obi-Wan realized his resolve to help her was stronger than ever. Whether or not his judgment had been clouded by affection, he knew that Lena was on the side of rightness.
For the first time in hours, Obi-Wan felt clear. And he was more certain than ever that Lena was doing the right thing. She was fighting for peace and justice, and not just for herself. For her entire planet. As a Jedi it was his duty to help.
As these thoughts formed in his mind, a new one floated over them like a dark cloud: They were running out of time.
Chapter 12
Qui-Gon pulled his comlink from his utility belt. He was about to activate it and summon Obi-Wan when his Padawan appeared, walking toward him on one of the paths.
"There he is," said Mica a moment later. She craned her neck to see what Qui-Gon already knew. Lena wasn't with him, either. The three of them had scoured most of the enormous park, but Lena was nowhere to be found.
Mica and the Jedi left the park and walked back to the deserted warehouse in silence. Qui-Gon tried to stretch out with his feelings, to get a sense of whether or not Lena was in danger, or even alive. But he felt nothing.
The dim evening light made the hideout look less welcoming than it had early that morning. Qui-Gon strode into the room ahead of the others, and immediately saw a figure sitting on the couch in the darkness.
In a flash, he activated his lightsaber. Its green blade cast an eerie light over the room, illuminating the sparks in Lena's eyes. Qui-Gon quickly switched off the blade just as Obi-Wan and Mica came into the room.
"Lena," Mica cried when she saw her cousin. She hurried forward and sank to her knees in front of the couch. "Lena, we were so worried. Where were you?"
"I'm sorry I ran off," Lena said, looking from one person to the next. "I didn't want to worry you, but I had to be sure that the package was from Rutin. I had to know…." Lena trailed off.
Mica rose to turn on the light. Back on the table, next to the wrappings, were the contents of the package: the pair of waterproof boots, the small light, the beam drill, and the vial of dirt.
The objects made no sense to Qui-Gon. What did Lena have to know? And where had she been? Qui-Gon felt betrayed. She was not telling them the whole truth.
Although Lena appeared to be upset, Qui-Gon did not wait for her to calm down. "Where have you been?" he demanded.
Lena looked up, surprised by the stern tone of the Jedi's voice.
"Wandering," she replied. "I–I needed to be alone."
Qui-Gon was not satisfied. "Alone? Or just away from us?"
Lena's lip trembled and Qui-Gon noticed Obi-Wan was staring at him.
He softened his tone slightly, but pressed on. "Why did you take the contents of the package with you?"
"That package is from Rutin," Lena said after a moment, struggling to control her voice. "He sent it to me before he…" She fought again for composure. "But how did he know he was going to die? And why didn't he tell me?"