'I wouldn't know where to start,' Obi-Wan confessed. 'We don't know why the bounty hunter was hired.'
'We know she tried to steal that datapad,' Astri said. 'So we know there is information on it that is valuable to someone. And we know that datapad belonged to Jenna Zan Arbor. Fligh stole it from her.'
'But he also stole Senator S'orn's datapad,' Obi-Wan pointed out. 'So the connection to the bounty hunter could lie there. Your friend Fligh is dead and cannot give us answers. And even if we did find out who hired the bounty hunter, we still don't know where she would take Qui-Gon.'
Astri nodded. 'But you will find him,' she said. 'The Jedi can do anything.'
She stood, wincing as she did so. Astri had a wrenched shoulder, as well as bumps and bruises from being dragged down the mountainside, a prisoner of the bounty hunter's whip.
'Are you all right?' Obi-Wan asked. 'The medic could give you something for the pain.'
'No, I want to stay alert. What about you?' Astri asked Obi-Wan. 'How is your leg?'
Obi-Wan felt the bandage on his thigh. His leg had been sliced by the spiking of the bounty hunter's whip. The wound had been bathed in a bacta tank. It would heal. Already the pain was ebbing.
And Qui-Gon? Have his wounds been attended to?
Astri prowled around the small waiting room. It was designed for comfort and calm, in colors of pale blue and white. The seating areas were grouped for both privacy and intimacy.
Astri looked out at the view of Coruscant. 'I am so grateful to the Jedi. The healers and medics have been so good. I just wish they were faster.'
The door to the inner treatment rooms opened. The Jedi healer, Winna Di Yuni, came toward them, dressed in the light blue tunic of a medic. Obi- Wan had been glad when Winna had taken over Didi's care. She was an elder Jedi, tall and strong, with a gentle manner. She was renowned for her great skill as a diagnostician. She had a vast knowledge of all the diseases in the galaxy.
Now Obi-Wan's heart beat faster when he saw the look on Winna's face.
He knew in a sudden flash that she was not bringing good news. He stood, and Astri quickly crossed to his side.
Winna looked at Astri kindly and gestured for them to take a seat.
She sat opposite them. 'We have done all we can for your father,' she said.
'It is up to Didi now. His life energy is very low. He himself must find the strength to fight.'
Obi-Wan saw Astri swallow. 'His wounds are bad?' he asked.
Winna nodded. 'Very bad, I'm afraid. But that is not the only problem. Infection has set in, an infection that we cannot identify. We are searching all our data banks. I did not want to come out here until we found out what infection this is, but you need to know what is happening.'
'I don't understand,' Astri said. 'You are the best healers in the galaxy. If you don't know what is wrong with Didi, who will know?'
'We do not know everything,' Winna said gently. 'The galaxy is a very large place. Infections and diseases pop up everywhere, new ones all the time. I have no doubt that we will locate the source of this one. But it may take time.'
'Didi doesn't have time,' Astri said, gripping her hands together.
'That is what you mean.'
'Do not look for the worst thing,' Winna said. 'Think of the best thing. We will identify this infection and treat it.'
Astri bit her lip. 'Can I see him?'
'Yes, of course. He is not conscious. But he might feel your presence. Come with me.'
Astri followed Winna. She looked as though she were sleepwalking.
Obi-Wan felt stunned as well. Didi was larger than life. He had expected the healers to come out with good news any second.
Instead, there was only more waiting…
The door to the main hallway opened. Tahl walked in with Yoda at her side.
'How is Didi?' Yoda asked. 'Heard we did that news there is.'
'He has an infection that they cannot identify,' Obi-Wan said. 'Winna tried to reassure Astri, but I can see that she is worried.'
'Do her best, she will. A great amount, that is.' Yoda pressed a button and one of the seating cushions lowered. They were adjustable for the many species in the Jedi Temple. He lowered himself onto the cushion, then leaned on his staff. 'And you, Obi-Wan? No sleep you've had, I fear.'
'I can't sleep until I know Qui-Gon is safe,' Obi-Wan said. 'Is there any news?'
Tahl's sightless green-and-gold striped eyes were filled with frustration. She shook her head, her lips tightening. 'I've got every contact working, Obi-Wan,' she told him. 'Giett has returned from his long mission and is back on the Council, so Ki-Adi-Mundi is helping with the galactic search. We could not ask for a better analyst.'
Obi-Wan nodded. Ki-Adi-Mundi had stood in for Giett on the Jedi Council for a time. With his binary brain, he was able to sift through an extraordinary amount of information and analyze it.
