"That is fine," Master Qui-Gon said simply. His eyes were on the view, scanning the surface for features resembling civilization. "Thank you for your assistance."

"I owe the Jedi for a number of past deeds," the captain murmured. "It is my pleasure."

Good fortune had found us this transport almost immediately, as Qui-Gon's broadcast request for passage to Chad was answered by a middle-aged woman who owned and operated this modest shipping freighter. They were headed for other worlds beyond the Chad system, but would pass close enough that dropping off a couple of Jedi would not delay their transport schedule in the least way. We left the morning after the Council meeting, and about twenty hours later, we were called up out of the hold to see the blue and green planet fast approaching out of the blackness of space. The long journey had passed uneventfully, as my Jedi companions meditated and talked about what they wished to accomplish on this retreat, and I listened, napped, and wrote down a few things. True to his word, Qui-Gon had found me a thick writing pad and a couple of pens (or something like pens, I didn't know exactly by what means they made marks on the paper, but they were very cool), and without losing a minute I set to writing down my thoughts on what had happened to me so far. I had been with the Jedi about eight or nine days, give or take depending on space travel, and had grown close to them much more quickly than any of us anticipated. There was so much to say, more about my impressions of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan than the actual events which brought us together. I wanted to make sure I jotted down anything my friends back home would have wanted to know, to savor. I managed to add, If this ever gets back to Earth, I only hope my words are enough to accurately describe this wonderful place... before the comlink went off and the captain called us up.

I stared in awe at the marbled planet before us as the high, white cloud tops rushed nearer. "It looks just like my planet does from space," I breathed.

"I thought you never traveled in space," Obi-Wan noted.

I glanced at him. "I didn't. Only a few scientist-types ever went up into space, I've seen pictures of Earth from orbit. It looks a lot like this."

"Then it must be a beautiful planet," Qui-Gon mused. Something about seeing this planet evoked strong feelings in him, which he kept to himself but couldn't prevent hints from telling on his face. He stood with his hands hiding in his sleeves, as usual, the serene and ambiguous Jedi posture he tended to adopt when needing to project some sense of control. "You have the coordinates for the center, outside of Kalinda?" he asked the captain.

"We'll set down in Kalinda's spaceport," she affirmed. "The center should be easy for you to reach. The local chieftain already knows to expect you, I got a very warm reception when I told him I was transporting Jedi."

"Good." Qui-Gon returned to silent contemplation, his eyes on the viewscreens. I looked at him, wondering, but decided not to intrude. Instead, I turned to Obi-Wan. "Have you ever met a Chadra-Fan?"

He glanced at me, smirking. "No. Have you?"

I fixed him with an annoyed look. "What do you think?" He chuckled softly at that. "I saw a picture of one, once. That's all."

The apprentice nodded slowly, returning his gaze to the planet's surface. We were coming in fast, now, and larger details on the surface began to reveal themselves. It was mostly water, but small continents honeycombed the blue surface at mid-latitudes with the distinct bayous and alluvial deltas where the Chadra-Fan lived. The landmass was mainly covered in green, though mountainous areas poked through here and there like scars. The night before, as we hung around waiting for an answer to Qui-Gon's request to come in, Obi-Wan and I had done more research on the Chad system and its primary sentient life-form, the Chadra-Fan. It seemed this would be a very interesting place to take a retreat. Quakes and deadly hurricanes were expected on a regular basis, often wiping out large percentages of the population in one fell swoop. The hardy Chadra-Fan, who sounded like giant walking mice to me, managed to survive and adapt well. Their main dwellings were small, sturdy, and seldom permanent in nature, easily rebuilt when toppled or blown down. Those who chose to live right along the seas in the deltas built houses on stilts, which were necessary in light of the tides on Chad; the planet contended with the combined gravitational pull of nine moons, so high tide was really high. Fortunately for us, the Jedi center, a strong temple made of native stone which had withstood many quakes and floods, was in a northern region of the largest continent, far from the oceans' high tides and the rapidly fluctuating water levels of the southern bayous. Still, there was water and swamp enough in the area of Kalinda, a large city with a spaceport which had a brisk and lively trading life with off-world interests. The Chadra-Fan were known galaxy-wide for interesting and delicate crafts as well as a particular adeptness for tinkering with technological gadgets. I had expressed some curiosity in checking out the local crafters for examples of this famed work, but Obi-Wan gave no indication that he shared such an interest.

The loading ramp of the freighter extended slowly downward and settled on the firm ground, spilling daylight into the entry bay as we stood there waiting. We had landed without incident, and the captain wished us well as she performed a routine flight check to prepare to leave as soon as we disembarked. I gazed in wonder at the scene revealed to us by the open landing. The spaceport was primitive by most galactic standards, with open stretches of packed dirt instead of smooth-surfaced landing pads and a few outbuildings housing the communications center and warehouses for the loading and unloading of cargo. As Qui-Gon stepped before me and his apprentice into the sparkling white light of morning, I noticed a small party waiting to welcome us, a furry and brightly-dressed party who erupted into squeaky cheers when they spotted the brown robes of the Jedi. One of the short, fur-covered creatures bustled forward and held out his hands as if to embrace all three of us - which would have been impossible. "Ah, the Jedi, the Jedi! Welcome to Chad, and most specially to Kalinda! I am Kazik, chieftain of clan Kalinda. It is our pleasure to have you visiting us, yes yes! Ask anything, it will be done for the esteemed Jedi."

Stifling an amused grin, Qui-Gon buried his hands in his sleeves and bowed deeply. "Chieftain. I am Qui-Gon Jinn, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, and our friend Stacey. Your offer of hospitality is much appreciated. I trust the Jedi temple is still standing?"

"Yes yes, a wonder for Chad," Kazik burbled. "Methinks a Jedi trick keeps it strong in the face of storms and shakings, yes? Ah, but that is a topic for another day. You are here for pleasure, not missions?" Qui-Gon nodded affirmation. "Good, good. I thought so. I know no one who called for Jedi, we have no troubles except those we get ourselves into. And what luck! You choose to come on the eve of the haridi, very very lucky you are. Or perhaps you knew that, eh?" He winked a beady black eye at us, flicking his large, bat-like ears forward.

"No, I did not," Qui-Gon said honestly. "I hope our presence will not be a distraction."

"Oh, no no no! Never distracting," the chieftain quickly assured, waving a paw to indicate that we should follow him. Picking up our baggage, we did, heading toward the group of Chadra-Fan chattering eagerly among themselves. "In fact, it would be a great honor to us if you came to the haridi, and enjoyed yourselves greatly. Seven nights it lasts, much time for enjoying and trouble."

I glanced at Obi-Wan out of the corner of my eye and hissed, "What's a haridi?"

"I wish I knew," he whispered back.

"But let me not make your plans for you," Kazik continued at the same rapid pace, talking as he pattered through the gawking crowd and led the way through the spaceport. The other Chadra-Fan seemed to be immediate members of the chieftain's clan, though they all just stood and watched, and then followed, chattering in high, squeaky voices and swiveling their large ears around. They were short, perhaps three feet tall at the most, which gave them instant whimsical charm. Qui-Gon towered over them like a giant, moving like a swift, silent tree in their midst. Even Obi-Wan enjoyed some sense of regal stature. The chieftain explained that the walk to the ancient Jedi temple was not far, and we would pass through a portion of Kalinda on the way to the road which stretched up into hilly "dry-land" as he called it, where the ground was rocky and instead of bayous, a stream rolled down from the mountains to feed the large lake which in turn fed the swampy lowlands of the bayous. Just beyond the spaceport, I began to see short, squat buildings, and a good number of Chadra-Fan milling about, greeting each other amiably as they made preparations for some kind of party. Decorations were being strung in the trees, whose large, drooping limbs accommodated decorating well. As we neared a busier intersection, there were wood-plank platforms rigged up like bandstands, gazebos and broad balconies, hard surfaces among the soft ground. Kalinda was on the edge of the northern bayous, and the watery nature of the land could be seen and felt even on the streets, where the Jedi's boots and my shoes sunk into patches of mud caused not by rain but by seepage. I noticed with some chagrin that we were going to get very dirty hanging around here. Fascinated with the sights and sounds of the alien civilization, I only marginally noticed Kazik still talking. "So serious, so serious," he muttered toward Qui-Gon, who only nodded and smiled gracefully. "The haridi will teach you to relax, I know it. You must not miss your chance to see it. Believe me!"

"Forgive my ignorance, chieftain," Obi-Wan interjected, "but what exactly is the haridi?"

Kazik glanced at him and snorted - which came out rather loud, because Chadra-Fan have four nostrils! "The haridi is only the most splendid time of merrymaking and feasting the Chadra-Fan can boast of. The spring rains have ended, the season of storms is over, so we celebrate the warming of the days and the easing of our troubles. It comes at the rare time when all nine of Chad's moons can be seen at one time - as the sky-bodies join together to celebrate, so do the clans of the north. A good year it will be, our seers have predicted good harvests and plenty of food for all, so we give thanks and show our happiness, and strengthen bonds of peace with other clans from all over the region. They will come from all over to feast and have fun."

"For seven days?" the apprentice exclaimed with some disbelief.

Kazik grinned, showing sharp little teeth. "Oh, yes yes! We would go longer, but work needs to be done sometime. Eh!" He chuckled, or rather giggled, and rubbed his long-fingered hands together. "The haridi is a good time, a very good time. You can't keep yourself from it, I know it. I know it! There will be food - much food - and dancing, the artists will have their most splendid crafts for sale, there will be games and tests. Much excitement. Much to see and do, even for Jedi humans who meditate and watch all day."

"Boy, does he have you pegged," I remarked, earning raised eyebrows from both Jedi.

The pale sun had risen well into the sky by the time we hiked all the way to the Jedi center, a walk of perhaps three or four miles along a dry, seldom-used road. The furthest outskirts of Kalinda still reached up this high, but the area was much less populated than the bayous. Fields of green with strange, cattle-like creatures grazing contentedly were watched by Chadra-Fan shepherds, who waved amiably as we passed by. An imposing stone building rose out of the trees as we approached it, gaps in the branches allowing us glimpses of it each time we rounded a bend in the road. Its gray façade reminded me a little of old Renaissance-era churches, with pillars and a severe pediment overhanging the entranceway, and crumbling stone steps leading up to it. Vines grew thick on the northern side, creeping around and threatening to eventually engulf the building if someone didn't find them a better place to creep soon. Their broad leaves lay like a thick, green carpet over the stone. At one point the road afforded us a glimpse of the rear of the temple, which overlooked the lake that could be seen sparkling in the sunshine, and more of the green carpet could be seen draped over the back wall. There was also a balcony of some sort there. Kazik and three of his fellows led the way, as we had left the rest of the Chadra-Fan behind in Kalinda. It was clear the center was not built by the Chadra-Fan, as its dimensions conformed to the needs of much taller species, unlike the tiny huts of the natives who did not need ten feet or more of ceiling space. Kazik, at the moment, was discussing exactly that with Qui-Gon. "Long ages have passed since this place was built," the chieftain mused, having lost a little of his chattery nature as he reflected on the past. "Many generations have come and gone, and still the Jedi temple stands firm. No cyclone can blow it down, no shaking can level it. I still think it is a Jedi trick, but I know little of Jedi ways, I would not be able to prove it." He looked up and gave Qui-Gon a respectful grin.

"Who takes care of it when no Jedi are using it?" the Master wondered. "Has it been in use for anything recently?"

"Oh, it's been some long time since last a Jedi came to use the temple," Kazik recalled. "It would be in bad shape, yes? But Shassa has made it her duty to keep it in order. She does good, she is an honor to the Chadra-Fan, and makes it possible to keep good standings with the Jedi." We had reached the clearing that marked the entrance to the center, which may have been an open avenue, possibly paved, in the past, but was now just an overgrown lot. Some work had been done recently, though, for the grass was trimmed neatly and the bushes at the base of the stairs cut back. Kazik waved for us to go ahead, which we did. The broad staircase led up about ten feet to the entrance, a pair of actual hinged doors rather than electronic like the kind I had encountered everywhere else. Qui-Gon led the way through them, opening them both wide to let the daylight spill into the foyer. I looked up and was only mildly impressed by the dimensions of the temple's main hall, due to the fact it was a bit run-down and dusty compared to what it might have been, in its glory days. The hall extended all the way to the rear of the building, where two stories of giant windows framed a glorious view of the lake through the trees, and reached up through a third story to perfect ribbed arches which upheld the ceiling. A row of narrow pillars ran along each side of the hall, between which could be glimpsed doorways leading off to what I assumed were the habitable rooms of the temple. The floor and pillars were comprised of a smooth brown stone, like polished granite, which reflected the images of the windows like a still, dim pool of water. All three of us stopped in the doorway, looking up and around with interest, as Kazik and his friends came up behind us. "Shassa!" the chieftain called out. "Visitors are here. Where are you?"

In moments a female Chadra-Fan bustled out of one of the doorways to the right, flicking her ears and flaring her four nostrils to pick up the scent of those who came to bother her. "What is it now?" She saw the brown-robed Jedi and stopped short, her eyes widening. "Oh! Oh. I see, I see. Welcome, welcome. Kazik, you didn't tell me Jedi were coming! For shame!"

Shassa was evidently an elderly Chadra-Fan, from the timbre of her voice, the whitish hairs in her fur, and the embarrassment she provoked from Kazik. "Yes, well, Shassa, they notified me late of their coming. I had no time." He went on to introduce us, his high-pitched voice adding a funny lilt to our names though he pronounced each correctly.

Shassa brushed down her floor-length tunic and bowed deeply. "I am Shassa, I am caretaker of the temple, in the Jedi's service. It is my delight to attend to your needs, whatever they may be, Jedi friends."

Qui-Gon bowed in response. "Thank you, Shassa. We shouldn't need any assistance, as long as the center is stocked with whatever provisions we may need."

"It is, it is, but you need not do things yourself," the female insisted, rather like a grandmother. "What else would I do all day? Come, come, I will show you rooms, I will see to your needs." She waved her paws entreatingly, and I couldn't help but smile at the way her generosity completely disarmed the stoic Jedi. Qui-Gon refused to let her carry his bag, though. Kazik bid us farewell, reminding us of the haridi as he went, which made Shassa perk up her ears. "You're here for the haridi?"

"Not exactly," Qui-Gon replied. "We've come to take retreat for a time, to get away from the demands of our duty."

"Oh? I see, I see. Retreat, yes. How long?"

"As long as it takes."

"Ah! One of those." Shassa smiled like she knew some secret. "It is good, yes, even Jedi need to take holidays. And so nice that you came in time for the haridi! It will be a good one, I know. Perhaps we can even throw a party here - it has been so long since some use was made of this place. So, so long."

We entered the right-handed doorway from which she had come, which led to the southern wing of the temple. Several rooms led off the main corridors, which functioned to lead the wanderer back around where he started, so that every room had a window-view. A large suite commanded the entire rear of the wing, with three bedrooms converging on a spacious sitting room, whose tall windows looked eastward to the back yard and the lake. It was perfect, and in very good shape despite what could have been years of disuse. Shassa scurried around fluffing cushions and shaking dust out of curtains, opening the windows so that a warm breeze flowed in, scented with marsh flowers blooming in the gardens out back. It was agreed I would take the room on the left, with a lake view, while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan each took a room on the right. The larger one, which somehow ended up being the Master's, was on the corner of the building. Double doors led back into the corridor, and Shassa directed us where the kitchen and dining halls lay in relation. "And on the far side, across the main hall, is the temple part," she continued as she circled the room looking for anything else that needed to be cleaned up or shook out. "In old times Jedi used to do the meditations, the teachings, over that way. Big rooms, a few, I think they exercised there."

"That's exactly what they would do," Qui-Gon nodded, pleased, "and what we will likely end up doing. Thank you very much, Shassa. We are in your debt."

"Debt nothing," the old Chadra-Fan snorted. "It is what I do. You be Jedi, I be caretaker, and we all be happy, right? Now," she said concludingly, "is there anything I can do now? Else, I will tend the gardens as I planned today, before Kazik dropped this nice surprise on me."

"We need nothing. Thank you. See to your gardens if you wish," the Master said politely, bowing again. Shassa, evidently quite impressed with his demeanor, beamed happily before bustling out the doors.

The Jedi looked at each other, sharing a glance in silence. I broke it by saying, "I like this place already."

Obi-Wan smiled impishly. "It is nice, and it looks like we won't have to fend for ourselves after all."

"A Jedi can always count on the kindness of strangers," Qui-Gon mused, his bearded face lightened with a smile. I could see the weariness in his eyes, though. It had been a long time since he rested, and being slowed down by his healing injury, he looked much more worn than the rest of us. "I want to have a look around. Feel free to do the same, if you wish. I have no plans for today, so you may do whatever you like."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan acknowledged, and I nodded in agreement. Qui-Gon nodded back, and turned to exit the room. I looked around once more, then picked up my bag and deposited it in what was going to be my bedroom. There wasn't much in the bag: sleepwear, a couple shirts, and toiletries, mainly, which had been obtained for me on Coruscant, as well as my writing pad. I looked at the bed and tested it, briefly, and found it to be soft and cushiony. Unable to resist, I threw myself onto it and sank into the most comfortable bedding I had ever had the pleasure of calling mine. Though they looked primitive on the outside, the Chadra-Fan sure knew what real luxury was. I guessed Obi-Wan to be checking out his room, but didn't care, because I was happy to be exactly where I was, knowing that my two friends were nearby but no longer desperate for their physical presence like I had been on Rodia. This place exuded peace and tranquility, and I saw no reason to tag at their heels again like some frightened puppy in need of protection. I lay on the bed for a long time, staring at the random patterns formed by white minerals in the face of the brown stone on the ceiling, until inspiration roused me to dig my writing pad out of my bag. I had to try and capture the mood of the temple, the unique sounds and scents which drifted in on the breeze, and the peculiar sight of the diminutive rodents who called this planet home. Words were coming to me, and demanded to be jotted down before they flitted out of reach again.

I was unaware of the passage of time, but some hours later, Obi-Wan poked his head in my room. "You're still here," he noted.

"Yeah, why - do you need something?" I wondered.

"No." He tilted his head to the side. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"You're writing something." He came in, then, and crossed over to where I lay sprawled on my stomach on the bed. He had shed his robe, but his lightsaber still dangled from his belt, as if he had only partially relaxed. He sat down next to me and peered over my shoulder, and though I knew he couldn't read what I had written, I still fought to keep him from seeing it. "Come on, let me see."

"No," I declared, smirking.

"Why not? What are you hiding?"

"Nothing." Mock innocence, for sure. "I'm just keeping a journal."

"Ah." He relented, sat back, but as soon as I relaxed and returned to writing, he moved with lightning-fast Jedi reflexes and snatched the pad from under my pen. I complained, but didn't bother reaching for it, as he looked at it and frowned. "What's this?"

"It's my language...well, my alphabet, anyway," I smiled. "We speak the same language, but...you know."

"I thought you wanted to learn to read the Republic standard lettering."

"I do. But this is my journal, and I'll do it any way I want." I grabbed for it, and he gave it back without fighting. I had finished what I had been trying to say, mostly, and whatever else I had wanted to write was certainly not going to get written with him sitting next to me, so I got up and put my writing things away. "I suppose I should have a look around here. Where's Qui-Gon?"

Obi-Wan's brow wrinkled with a slight frown. "I don't know. I haven't looked for him, I haven't gotten out of the sitting room all afternoon."

You're no help, I wanted to say, but didn't. Instead, I wandered out of my room and gave the suite a cursory glance, satisfied that no one else was in there. Without waiting for the apprentice, I made my way into the corridor and back out to the main hall, emerging at the far end away from the entrance. I noticed that one of the enormous windows was not a window at all but a pair of transparisteel doors which opened onto the balcony we had seen on our journey up the road. One of the chairs outside was occupied by an unmistakable figure. I stepped through the doors and took a deep breath, smiling.

It was a gorgeous day, the sun had already passed around the building so that most of the balcony - or patio, really - was in shade. The stone extension ran the length of the temple's middle section, about twenty feet or so, with a carved stone balustrade serving as a railing and one set of steps leading down to the lawn. The grass was long and unkempt, the path to the lake nearly obliterated by weeds, but it was still lovely. Flowering shrubs lined the edge of the patio. Small trees with drooping limbs overhung the water, whose shore lay some thirty yards away, but the lawn itself was open to sunlight. The star around which Chad orbited was blue-white in color, not yellow, so the light bathing the planet was a bit sharper than I was accustomed to, bringing out all the subtle hues of color in the landscape, while not being as intense as summer sun on my homeworld. I savored the view, breathing deeply to capture the tingly scents of strange flowers and the familiar odor of warm grass, before going to the collection of chairs to my left where the Jedi Master sat quietly.

Master Qui-Gon occupied a chair like a king on his throne, relaxed and casual, his brown robe draped royally around him. With his hands resting on the arms of the chair, and his back slumped into the soft cushions, he looked lazier and more comfortable than I had ever seen him. A warm smile flashed onto his face as I passed. "You look, uh...pretty relaxed, there," I chided him.

"I feel pretty relaxed," he acknowledged, with a twinkle in his blue-gray eyes. "I must admit, I am enjoying myself already. I may have to give Obi-Wan credit for a good idea."

"There is a first time for everything." The retort came from the doorway, as Obi-Wan leaned out and smiled at us. "So this is where everyone ended up."

"It's a beautiful day," I said as I settled into the chair beside Qui-Gon. These seats were quite comfortable, no wonder he had grown so relaxed sitting here. "Come on out and enjoy it. Sit, take it easy."

The apprentice did come out on the patio, but rather than sit, he wandered along the balustrade, idly trailing his fingers along the stone. "It is lovely. Not too warm." He shot a glance at his Master. "Have you been out here all afternoon?"

"Most of it," Qui-Gon affirmed without remorse. "And what have you been doing?"

"Nothing."

"Being a bother," I corrected. Obi-Wan grinned at that. "I was trying to write, and he was bugging me."

"It's not like I can read what you write," the apprentice said defensively, his accent making it sound like he was whining. "You insist on writing in your letters, not ours."

"Yeah, and there's a reason for that. I can write anything I want," I taunted, "without fear of you getting a hold of it, like you tried to do."

Qui-Gon glanced at me, his eyebrows lifting. "Keeping secrets, are we?" he teased.

"Yup. Is there a problem with that?" I teased back, just to see his reaction. He smiled warmly, but took no offense.

Obi-Wan, unlike his Master, was full of energy, and couldn't resist leaping up onto the balustrade, taking a moment to center his balance before walking along it. "Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon warned, "take care."

"I'm not going to fall," his Padawan assured, even as his boot heel slipped on the smooth stone. "The Force will keep my balance. It's not far to fall if I do, though."

"Just don't ruin the rest of your retreat by doing something foolish," the Master said, though he was not at all worried. "I have plans for the days to come. Don't make me change them because you twisted an ankle."

"Plans?" Obi-Wan challenged. "Do you mean to tell me you're feeling better, Master?"

"I'm as strong as ever," he replied casually. "Or do you need proof?"

Obi-Wan paused to steady himself, and then executed a perfect back-flip, landing on the balustrade with grace that would make an Olympic gymnast jealous. "No, I'll take your word for it," he smirked upon completion.

"How do you do that?" I exclaimed. "Jedi show-off."

"Show-off?" he snorted. "I haven't even begun."

"I'm so glad everything I've taught you is being put to good use," Qui-Gon said dryly, turning to me with a wink. "You wouldn't do anything like that, would you?"

"I don't think I could," I said honestly, "even with the Force. Not that I would want to. I live under the basic assumption that your butt should not go over your head."

Master Qui-Gon chuckled gruffly, and I realized it was the first I'd seen him truly laugh. He had been amused, before, I'd seen him smile brightly, but so much tension and trouble had plagued our time together so far that I'd not had occasion to hear his laughter. A solemn and reserved man he may be, but I knew him to also have a good sense of humor. "A wise adage," he complimented with a nod. "Perhaps you could give my Padawan a lesson in discretion."

I made a face at Obi-Wan. "I would if he would sit still long enough."

Obi-Wan had been pacing back and forth on the balustrade, keeping his balance, and grinned when he heard that, as if taking it as a challenge. He paused again, and gathered himself to make another back-flip. Just as he did, an idle thought crossed my mind: I wonder if he ever loses his balance doing stuff like that? As if in response, I watched him flip and land with his left boot heel sliding out from under him. He thought he had landed perfectly again, but realized too late that his balance had been taken from him, and gave a little yelp as he tottered over the edge and disappeared into the shrubbery. I started in surprise, but the ground was less than three feet from the patio's deck, so I knew he wasn't in danger. I heard an explosive snort next to me, and turned to find Qui-Gon's face contorted with suppressed laughter. Obi-Wan's tousled head popped up over the railing, bits of leaves in his hair and a sheepish look on his face, and his Master lost control. Deep, loud laughter rang out over the balcony, and he slumped over in the chair, holding his side as he laughed. I couldn't help but laugh as well, Obi-Wan looked so comical. He threw his arms over the balustrade and hid his head in the crook of one, embarrassed and flushed red. After quite some time, Qui-Gon managed to take a breath and comment, "Obi-Wan!"

"I can't believe it," his apprentice lamented, looking up. "I never lose my balance!"

Qui-Gon was still chuckling as Obi-Wan climbed up over the balustrade and returned to the safety of the deck, eyeing the stone railing warily. "Perhaps," the Master offered, "the Force eluded you for a moment."

"Nonsense, Master, I was in complete control."

"Well..." Qui-Gon suddenly shifted his gaze to me, still smirking. "I did sense a disturbance come from this direction. I felt a wondering if you ever did lose your balance."

My eyes widened, and I flicked them to Obi-Wan with incredulity. "I didn't do anything!" I protested. "I only wondered! I couldn't have possibly made the Force.." Qui-Gon responded with a fresh burst of laughter, while Obi-Wan sighed in exasperation. Apparently, I did do something involuntary. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right," the young man assured, crossing to the chair on my left and plunking himself down, brushing the leaves from his hair and the dirt from his tunic.

"Are you hurt?" Qui-Gon asked him.

He beamed modestly. "Only my pride."

I shook my head slowly. "I told you - your butt should never go over your head, young Padawan."

Obi-Wan made an amused face. "If you were my Master, maybe I would listen to you."

I turned to Qui-Gon, feigning shock. "Did you hear that?" The Master only chuckled. I turned back to Obi-Wan, who was grinning as though he were back in control. I dared him, "Oh yeah?" and slugged him in the shoulder.

"Ow!" He grabbed his shoulder, though I certainly hadn't hit him very hard. "What did you do that for?"

"Because you're there."

He suddenly lunged for me - or feinted a lunge - and I leaped from my chair with a yelp. That only encouraged Obi-Wan, who jumped up and gave chase as I ran across the patio screaming in protest. He caught up quickly and seized me, practically tackling me as I shrieked with laughter, wrapping his arms tight around me and holding me captive. "No, no, no, all right," I relented, even as his grip tightened and his stance widened to prevent me from worming my way free. "I didn't mean it. Obi-Wan!"

"No, this time, you're going to pay," he demanded gleefully, and proceeded to turn me just slightly. The next thing I knew, his shoulder was in my stomach and he was standing swiftly, with me hanging over his shoulder. I screamed, afraid of what he could do, remembering friends who had done the same to me in the past with disastrous results. Obi-Wan ignored my protest, settling me comfortably into position and carrying me back over near Master Qui-Gon. "Hmm, what should I do with this?" he wondered.

I couldn't see Qui-Gon, hanging over Obi-Wan's back like that, but I could hear the amusement in his voice as he suggested, "The lake looks nice."

"What? NO!" But Obi-Wan took his Master's advice and started for the stairs, carrying me down from the patio and along the path toward the lake, while I beat on his back with my fists and cried out in protest. All the way down the sunny slope I begged him to put me down, be nice, don't throw me in the lake! "No, no, no, no, no! Come on! It was all a mistake," I cajoled. "Don't! Obi-Wan! Please! These are my only pants - you don't want me running around here half-naked, do you?"

That made him finally stop, turning around as if to look back and contemplate it. The sudden spin made me dizzy. "Well, if you put it that way..."

"Please, Obi-Wan?" I continued to beg. "I promise not to use the Force to tip you over again, even if it was just an accident."

"Nothing happens by accident, you know." Obi-Wan chuckled, then, and I felt the center of his weight shift forward. He let me slide gracefully off his shoulder, using his body to guide mine safely to the ground.

As soon as I gained my feet, I straightened out my rumpled tunic, which had been pushed up a bit by the motion of the slide, and then slugged him again. "Dork."

Obi-Wan looked at me with a puzzled grin. "Was that supposed to be an insult?"

I growled under my breath. I couldn't win. "You're such a troublemaker," I declared as I started back up the hill toward the patio.

"Me? I seem to recall you being the one who started this." He laughed, and I knew I couldn't be mad at him. I wasn't, I just acted like it for a moment for lack of composure. We stepped up onto the deck and encountered Master Qui-Gon laughing, shaking his head. "Disaster averted, Master," Obi-Wan reported.

"Good," Qui-Gon chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye. "Oh, this does my heart good. I haven't had a good laugh like that in a long time. There are so few chances in a Jedi's life. Thank you."

"Anytime," I responded, taking my seat again. "Especially if it's at Obi-Wan's expense."

"Hey!"

I grinned at Obi-Wan's protest, but then turned my attention fully to the Master as I thought of something. "I didn't really cause the fall, did I? I couldn't have - I don't know how to use the Force."

As his laughter subsided, Qui-Gon gazed thoughtfully at me. "I'm not sure," he responded after a moment of introspection. "It's possible, though it was not deliberate. What I do know," he added, "is that this...incident, only proves that I was right. I must test you, to see what you can do with the Force. This is a sign that your Force presence is growing stronger, it must be tested - and soon."

A momentary lull passed between us, during which I gazed out toward the lake, admiring the view. There were mountains in the distance, and green-clad hills around the body of water sparkling under the sun. It was beautiful, and I would have been content to sit there forever. Then Obi-Wan mentioned, "Have you given any thought to the haridi, Master?"

Qui-Gon did not answer right away. He looked to be searching for an answer in the view. "I know little of what goes on at a haridi, though I can make assumptions based on Chadra-Fan society." He turned his head in order to consult both of us. "Do you want to go?"

I looked at Obi-Wan, but he had no answer, so my gaze returned to the Master. "I hadn't thought about it. It sounds like fun, though. We are allowed to have fun, aren't we?"

A broad smile crept onto Qui-Gon's face. "I have no problem with that. I would only be mindful of what it means to the Chadra-Fan to have fun."

"We could go tonight," Obi-Wan offered, "and see for ourselves. You did say you had no plans for today, Master."

At that moment, Shassa conveniently reappeared, having finished her gardening and apparently looking for us. "Ah, out basking in the sunshine," she observed, even though our chairs sat in the shade. "I have not seen Jedi do that before, I don't think."

"Shassa, what's going on tonight at the haridi?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Haridi starts tomorrow. Tonight is the prelude, though," she replied. "Tonight all nine moons appear in the sky together, so the clans of Kalinda gather and observe the moment, and drink to oaths of peace."

"Sounds pleasant," Qui-Gon remarked.

"Big feast, too," Shassa added, "lasts usually until the first of the moons to set does so. Pleasant, yes, but in the Chadra-Fan way."

"And what way is that?" Obi-Wan asked, smirking in anticipation of the answer.

Shassa beamed mischievously. "Loud and with much laughter."

Master Qui-Gon's smile faded somewhat, but I grinned openly. "This, I've got to see. And nine moons - I've never seen more than one."

"Do come to the prelude," Shassa implored, clasping her long fingers together. "Certainly you are invited, come observe the peace among the clans and among the moons of Chad. Not to be missed."

"I seem to recall chieftain Kazik saying something similar," Qui-Gon mused. He glanced at Obi-Wan and me, taking in our reactions, and made his decision quickly. "Very well. We will attend the prelude."

*****

The sun had set and twilight was deepening into the purple and blue hues of night, but under the trees which sheltered most of Kalinda, glow-lamps and bonfires brightened everything with a golden glow. The three of us strode casually along a dirt-packed street, Obi-Wan to his Master's left and me on Qui-Gon's right, heading towards the center of the sprawling city where the chieftain himself was expecting us. Once he had heard of our interest in the prelude celebration, Kazik extended a personal invitation to join his clan's table at the feast, as guests of the clan. The celebration's focus was at the center of Kalinda, where a huge clearing in the forest allowed everyone a clear view of the sky, and there was room enough for members of all the visiting clans to gather, eat, and make merry. The feast would not begin until after the last moon rose, which would be shortly, though it meant holding off on dinner until late by most standards. My stomach was growling, but I didn't complain. I just hoped the feast would be worth it. As we passed rows of low-ceilinged huts and small, hive-shaped buildings of mud-brick, Chadra-Fan waved and called out cheery, squeaky greetings to the Jedi. Qui-Gon acknowledged every one, nodding amiably at even the children who raced past us, laughing. The two tall men in their billowing brown robes were something of a spectacle in Kalinda, but everyone seemed to know they were not here on business, so they received nothing but the utmost in respect and honor.

The large, stone-paved square in Kalinda's center was packed with furry bodies in bright clothing, and the chatter of hundreds of Chadra-Fan voices filled the air. Ablaze with light and color, it had all the makings of a carnival. The chieftain's clan, though not the largest, claimed the position of honor because of his ruling status. A number of his relatives and friends were gathered around the one table placed higher than the rest, while he made the rounds of the other tables to greet the other clan chieftains. Everyone in the square could see us enter, and excited chatter followed us as Qui-Gon navigated the way through the tables toward the dais at the far end. I grinned brightly, enjoying the attention, shyly saying hello to anyone who extended a greeting. Kazik met us just at the base of the steps to the dais. "Ah, my Jedi friends have come! You do not disappoint me. Come, come, sit, we are nearly ready to start. It is a beautiful night for the prelude, eh? And all is well at your temple, yes?"

"Very well, thank you," Qui-Gon acknowledged. "We are in your debt, chieftain. Yours, and Shassa's."

"She does well, does she not? As I said, she honors the Chadra-Fan with her service. But come, there is space right here for all of you. I hope your long human legs will not be uncomfortable."

The tables were set low to the ground, and everyone sat on cushions rather than chairs. It took Qui-Gon a moment to fold his legs under him and get settled, but in the end, sitting on the ground ensured that everyone - human and Chadra-Fan - was on eye-level with each other. I managed to worm my way in between the Jedi, and sat quietly watching as Kazik introduced us to his clan and explained the circumstances of our being there. I guessed there were at least fifty Chadra-Fan around the huge square table, all of them wearing sashes over their right shoulders with an emblem embroidered into it, possibly the symbol of their clan. Obi-Wan, on my right, nudged me and whispered in my ear, "So, do they have parties like this on your world?"

I smirked at him. "If they do, I'm not invited to them." I turned to Qui-Gon. "When does this whole thing start?"

"Any minute now, I would assume," he replied, his eyes searching the vast crowd. A server came by and offered us something to drink, which the Jedi accepted without hesitating, so I did as well. It was strong, but not alcoholic that I could tell, sweet and heavy. Suddenly, all the lamps dangling from poles all around the square winked out, one by one. "Here we go," the Master noted.

The square was plunged into darkness, to the delight of the Chadra-Fan, who uttered a few excited exclamations before hushing reverently and turning their collective attention to Kazik, who stood on the steps of the dais where everyone could see him. Every light in Kalinda went out, but the moons overhead gave more than enough light to see by. "My friends, my kin, and my people!" Kazik shouted. "The time of the haridi is upon us. We are here together in peace, doing honor to each other, and our cousins in the sky come together to observe the pacts that keep all Chadra-Fan from doing harm to one another. Lift your eyes, brothers and sisters, and see it for yourselves!" He went on to point out each of the nine moons by name, which I appreciated, because only two or three of them were large enough to be identified as moons. The rest were either small or so far out in their orbits that I could have mistaken them for planets. The larger moons gave off a combined light stronger than Earth's one full moon, a milky radiance that gave Kazik a blue shadow and bathed the furry faces watching him, glinting in their black eyes. I glanced at Qui-Gon, amazed at the way the moonlight picked out details of his appearance in a whole new way. The silver strands in his dark hair and beard shone; his eyes, darker now, were framed by long lashes. The angles and contours of his rugged face were defined sharply, with shadows and highlights tinged with a blue-white hue, accentuating the unique texture of his careworn skin. He glanced back at me, and smiled, stirring up the small lines at the corners of his eyes. I looked away hastily, trying to focus on the rest of Kazik's speech. Instead, I stole a glance at Obi-Wan, who seemed to be otherwise occupied with studying the Chadra-Fan around him. My eyes wandered freely over his profile; as with Qui-Gon, the light of the moons cast him differently. His red-gold hair was softly brown in this light, his skin smooth and pearly. His mouth twitched in wry amusement, then, as if reacting to something he heard...or felt. The thought occurred to me as his sparkling eyes met mine and his lips quirked up into the slightest grin. "What are you looking at?"

I just shook my head, smiling, and turned my attention back to the Chadra-Fan chieftain. He was currently introducing the leaders of the other clans, who all came forward with their glasses in hand to meet him by the stairs. An attendant poured a full glass for each one, and Kazik led an oath of peace, which all of them repeated and then drank to. At the conclusion of the toast, the entire square erupted with cheers, and the lights blazed back to life, making me jump. Even the Jedi had to look around in startled wonder, not expecting the lights so quickly. The clan leaders drained their cups completely, and Kazik declared over the din, "Let the feasting commence!"

Attendants brought out broad platters heaped with food, setting them in the center of each table for everyone to grab at will. I noticed there were no utensils at each place setting, just a plate and cup, but made no comment until I saw what was being laid before us. It reminded me of a traditional Indian or Middle Eastern spread, with a variety of dipping sauces in large bowls and stacks of flatbread, with trays of some kind of waterfowl and shellfish alongside. There were round fruits of differing sizes and colors, and even flowers, served alongside the meat and bread. "So...do we just...dig in?" I wondered, glancing around at the Chadra-Fan for an example to follow.

"It seems that way." Master Qui-Gon shrugged his robe off his shoulders, rolled up the loose sleeves of his tunic, and reached for some of the flatbread. I glanced at Obi-Wan, who shrugged and did the same. Following their lead, I tried one of the sauces and found it to be wonderful, spicy, but not too hot. Another was cool, like honey mustard. If this was what we could expect at every meal on Chad, I figured I would never go hungry, and remarked so to Qui-Gon. He smiled. "One of the better feasts I have attended, I assure you. You never know what will be placed before you when you're in the company of a race you know little about."

"Is it true, Jedi have to eat anything they're given?" I asked him. I remembered hearing that somewhere. "So you don't offend the people who are hosting you?"

"For the most part," he answered with a smirk, and then glanced past me to Obi-Wan. The apprentice smirked back as they shared a remembrance. "Unless you know what they have served is going to kill you, or otherwise disagree with you."

"Like the green fruit on Rodia?"

"Precisely." Master Qui-Gon's eyes went to Obi-Wan again. "Or strong drinks in some other cultures. Some beings' physiologies give them a higher threshold for tolerance than humans."

"We don't need to bring that up, Master," the Padawan implored.

"Oh? This I've got to hear," I encouraged. Obi-Wan covered his face with one hand. "Really, though. Do you often get in trouble over little things, cultural things, going from planet to planet as much as you do?"

Qui-Gon smiled delicately as he reached for more bread. "Not often, but it has been known to happen. Even for myself. A Jedi in the field ought always research his next destination, especially if it is unfamiliar, but sometimes information can be wrong - or perceptions of that information." He glanced down at me. "It must be easier only having one planet, less likely to get confused."

"Oh, no. There's hundreds of countries and languages on my planet," I said. "I haven't been to many of them, but from what I hear there's lots of confusion. Lots of differences. It's like having the whole galaxy on one world - on a smaller scale."

The Master nodded slowly at that. Obi-Wan then said, "You know, in all this time, we've not asked you much about your world. I would like to know more about it, about you..."

Kazik interrupted at that point, as he was going around the table ensuring himself that everyone was having a good time. "Well, my Jedi friends! I hope you are enjoying yourselves. Is everything to your liking?"

"Very much so," Qui-Gon assured. I nodded in agreement. "This is splendid, Kazik, thank you for inviting us."

"And it has only just begun," the chieftain snickered. "The better drink is coming out now, and stories to be told, laughter to be shared. So good you are here. And you, little one!" I started as he focused his attention on me. "Not a Jedi, I know, but are you having a good time?"

"Yes, chieftain," I replied, grinning. "This is great. Thank you."

"How did you know she's not a Jedi?" Obi-Wan wondered.

"No robe." Kazik winked, and then tapped his large, flat nose. "And a bit different in scent. Hard to describe to creatures like you, but I can tell. Ah! But enjoy yourselves. This is but the start, the haridi will begin tomorrow, and then you will see real fun! Yes, yes!" He chuckled to himself and continued on.

I giggled. "He called me 'little one!'"

"You are shorter than us," Obi-Wan reminded.

"Yeah, but if that isn't...oh, never mind. What did he mean by...scent?"

"Chadra-Fan have extra senses, one of which is an advanced chemo-receptive sense of smell," Qui-Gon informed me. "They can pick up on subtle differences humans can not." He raised an eyebrow at me, daringly, as he popped a slice of fruit into his mouth.

I looked at Obi-Wan, who was also grinning smartly, and shook my head. "You guys can sense my thoughts, they can smell things I can't..."

"And see in the dark," Qui-Gon added. "Infrared sight."

I sighed aggressively. "I'm not going to be able to keep anything to myself."

"Is that a problem?" The Master's question was more a challenge, I could hear the taunt in his voice and see the subtle shade of his smile. His eyes were keen and steady as they trapped mine. "Unless you're hiding something, I don't see why you should be concerned."

"I was only joking." Well, that was partly true. But the things I would need to hide were not in danger from the Chadra-Fan, only the Jedi. Perhaps when they got around to testing the extent of my abilities to use and sense the Force, I should ask them to teach me to put shields up around my thoughts. Then, we would all be safe.

On to part 11

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