Part Eight

Much to Ashanti's relief, and Qui-Gon's disappointment, the rest of the journey to the Planet of Thoughts was completely uneventful. Qui-Gon had been hoping on space pirates; Ashanti had gotten her peace and quiet.

The ship arrived at the docking bay at the main resort hotel on the planet. A structure that just floated in the nothingness of gaseous atmosphere, Ptoph Hotel was an enormous piece of engineering that attracted as many people for it's aesthetic beauty as the planet did for it's hallucinogenic entertainments.

Ashanti and Qui-Gon were duly impressed, like the other guests disembarking. Both the captain and Bartender were there to say farewells to Jedi knight and apprentice. Qui-Gon gave Bartender a jaunty smile in perfect mimicry of his master. Bartender repressed a snort of laughter, but the snort was caught by the captain who had no such qualms of hiding his laughter. His brown eyes dancing, Qui-Gon saw the first bit of non-mundane emotion from the captain.

"Good luck to you, you mischievous elf," called Bartender.

"Hold me some of that root wine for the return trip," Ashanti answered without turning around.

"She's gonna need it!" Qui-Gon added, in the spirit of things. That elicited a laugh from all three adults and Qui-Gon felt himself ridiculously pleased. Something deep inside him nagged, telling him the camararidie between the three Jedi was somewhat strained. Did they think the two of them wouldn't be returning? A sense of foreboding swept across him again.

Ashanti gave him a sharp look. "Stop that," she ordered sternly.

"I sense something, though, master," Qui-Gon told her, slipping into the typical padawan to master language without realizing it.

Ashanti's shoulders squared as she glared up at her padawan. "I know, I do too, but we need to put up a good front. Don't let them know that we're wary. Very few people here know why we are here. Let's look like tourists, shall we?"

"Jedi tourists?" asked Qui-Gon skeptically.

Ashanti shrugged and gave a roguish grin. "It's possible."

"But not likely," Qui-Gon added and followed her example of looking totally casual and relaxed.

"Welcome, Jedi!" exclaimed a voice.

Both Jedi looked around, seeing no one approaching them. "Excuse me?" asked Ashanti, perplexed, reaching out with her Force sense to locate the welcomer.

"I beg your pardon, but I thought a corporeal form would not be necessary with Jedi. That your extraordinary tie with the universe would allow you to not need a solid form in front of you." The voice was immediately solicitous. "I can create a solid form if you so desire."

Ashanti tipped her head to one side, finally picking up the being hovering around them. "Please, if you don't mind. A solid form for the moment, to give a sense of you and then you may return to your normal form."

A being materialized, if that's is what you wanted to call it, pulling the dust together from around to give itself an outline to see. The sparkling shape of a humanoid being stood before them, just a basic outline, as if a drawing. "Is this better?"

Qui-Gon gaped. Never had he imagined such a creature before! Ashanti merely bowed respectfully. "We come in peace at the behest of your government and our Council. You are our liaison then?"

The being shimmered a delightful color spectrum, drawing on the light particles around it. Another being some distance away materialized using the same peculiar phasing in front of Bova the Hutt and her two pleasure slaves. Ashanti noted this and nudged Qui-Gon, nodding in their direction. Qui-Gon focused part of his attention on the Hutt and her companions, while keeping half an ear on the conversation between his master and their escort.

"I am," it affirmed. Qui-Gon could get no sense of gender and so resigned it to the terminology of "it" for lack of anything better.

"I am Ashanti Vende and this is my apprentice, Qui-Gon Jinn," Ashanti introduced. Qui-Gon bowed and the being shimmered in return, the same dancing spectrum of colored that it had used when Ashanti spoke. In a flash of understanding, Qui-Gon realized the being was returning the compliment. He flushed in pleasure, the first time he had been given respect by anyone except other Jedi. It was a heady feeling to be acknowledged as a Jedi by someone else. It brought home how important he could be to a mission in the capacity of a Jedi.

Ashanti grinned at Qui-Gon's reaction, knowing what he was thinking. Being raised to know that one was special somehow was completely different to having it brought home that someone recognized how special you were.

The being was speaking, causing both Jedi to return their attention to it. "I am 459," it informed them.

"Four fifty-nine?" asked Qui-Gon. "You are a number rather than an individual?"

"It is easier for most beings to say a number than our names, which is physically impossible for you to pronounce." The being seemed amused by their shock. The sense of laughter came to the Jedi through the Force.

Ashanti grinned. "Interesting, but distasteful. May I call you something else to make life interesting?"

Qui-Gon's eyes widened. She had almost broken the Code again! One did not show such disrespect to a planetary delegate in such a fashion. "Ashanti, it's name is 459, so perhaps we should..."

"A name would be acceptable. Whatever makes you comfortable, Jedi Ashanti," the being graciously stated. The feeling that it didn't really matter to the creature came across to them.

Ashanti, delighted with the prospect, grinned and her tail spiraled. "Excellent, Pak, then please take us to our quarters and brief us on what we need to be doing."

The being shimmered again in the gesture of a bow and turned from them to lead away. It stayed in it's outlined form until they had left the docking bay so the Jedi would not confuse it with other beings who greeted incoming patrons to the planet. As soon as they cleared the large crowd, it dematerialized and the Jedi followed it through their sense of it's presence alone.

Ashanti thought the whole thing imminently fascinating; Qui-Gon thought it was downright bizarre.

The being took them down several long corridors until it stopped in front of an ornate door, with carved wooden designs of vines, trees and other shrubs. Ashanti was awed by it's very Maagolon design. "This is like the work my people do," she gasped.

The being seemed amused again. "You see what you want to see. Your companion sees something different."

Ashanti turned to Qui-Gon, who was frowning at the door. "I see nothing but a steel sliding door." It dawned on Ashanti that Qui-Gon had never seen anything except the functional doorways in the Jedi Temple. He had not yet been exposed to the beautiful works from different planets, including his own.

"Fascinating," Ashanti announced.

The door opened and allowed them in, the being following the Jedi. "The room is aesthetically the same to both your eyes, with only variations in the furniture." Qui-Gon noted that Ashanti ran her hands over the functional chair arm as if touching something delicate. He wondered what she saw that he didn't. "If I may ask a question, Jedi Ashanti?"

Ashanti turned to the being, who's body again became an outline that they could discern. "Please, ask away."

The creature turned to Qui-Gon and then back to Ashanti. "What is Pak, and why does your companion disapprove of a new designation for me? Would it not bring you more comfort to know me as something other than my assigned designation?"

Qui-Gon's lips twitched. "I disapproved, yes, not because she didn't like your, uh, designation, but because she seemed to think she would know a better one. It is rude to think that one can reshape someone else."

The being gave a tinkling sound like the whistling of the wind that no doubt passed as laughter. "She sensed that designations mean little to us and acted upon that feeling. No disrespect was intended and none was taken."

Ashanti raised an eyebrow at Qui-Gon. "See? I'm not the rebel you paint me out to be." Qui-Gon took that as the mild rebuke it was and sat in the chair behind him. "As for your name, my people believe in beings similar to you, that live in the air and help the trees grow. Trees are the basis of our world. We live in them, eat the fruit they bear, and hide in the branches that give us shelter. We call them the Pak, the Givers. You give Qui-Gon and I quarters and will be our guide while we visit here. You are a Giver to us, so I named you Pak."

The creature seemed to contemplate this name carefully. "Will offense be taken if I retain this designation upon your leaving our world?"

Qui-Gon looked at Ashanti, startled. Ashanti merely continued her roguish grin. "I see no reason why not. Please, Pak, keep it as your new name. I encourage it."

Pak released a broad spectrum of colors, indicating his pleasure. Qui-Gon could not repress the smile that welled up inside and he began to laugh as the kaleidoscope of colors escalated to a cascading rainbow. "Anything you desire, it is my pleasure to give," Pak informed them once he'd finished his light show.

"How about some lunch?" suggested Qui-Gon, his stomach rumbling in a reminder that he was a perpetually starving twelve year old human boy.

"Refreshments and other nutrients can be found through the nutrients replicator on the wall. Clothing and other accessories can be gotten from the replicator as well. I shall go and inform the magistrate of your safe arrival and return to see if you need anything else. Is this acceptable?" Pak's outline disappeared again.

"Very acceptable, Pak," approved Ashanti, "we thank you. Return when you can."

"We look forward to your company," added Qui-Gon, heading for the replicator. Pak gave off the impression that it was startled by their willingness to have its company and brought forth a brief shower of light once more to show its pleasure. After that they lost all sense of it completely. "That was interesting."

"And useful. I like Pak. He'll make an excellent guide here." Ashanti wandered over to watch Qui-Gon operate the replicator. After a couple hit and misses, Qui-Gon managed to replicate a stew for them both, some bread and drinks.

The two ate in silence, contemplating what they had read about the planet to themselves. Their thoughts, however, ran along the same lines.

The Planet of Thoughts had been a unimportant planet in the Republic who's only reason for gaining membership was because it was in the Central System and the only planet with sentient life not a member of the Republic. Because representatives of the Thoughtians, as they were called, could not congregate with the rest of the Senate, they were a largely forgotten people, ignored for the most part by all. The Thoughtians needed nothing from the Republic and were content.

About twenty years ago a space freighter lost it's maneuverability and "crashed" within the planet's atmosphere. When the crew lost life support aboard their ships and the gases from the atmosphere seeped in, they began to hallucinate and, more importantly, could control their hallucinations. The Thoughtians, seeing the joy and happiness the space pilots experienced in creating their own fantasies, began to wonder if they could contribute to the Republic after all. With the help of Ptoph, a Malastarian scientist, the Thoughtians developed a way to "float" structures within their atmosphere and allow visitors to sample a part of their atmosphere. For a small fee, which paid for the upkeep of the structures and public transportation to the atmosphere 'spas', a visitor could have a small portion of the gases in a room to enact a fantasy or indulge in an entertaining memory. Whatever the mind could imagine, the gases had the ability to show the visitor. The gases created substantial, real objects that could be touched, sat in, moved around or whatever else was needed. Safety protocols were put into place to stop anything lethal from happening, however, making it a hot spot for exclusive clientele.

The Thoughtians thought it was a good trade for their inclusion into the Republic and more than paid in full the protection the Republic gave them. The Senate agreed and it was a popular vacation spot for delegates all over the Republic.

The Jedi master Hal Lim and his apprentice, Mal Jemins, had traveled to the Planet of Thoughts when a Senator complained of an assassination attempt. The Thoughtian government knew nothing of the matter and having no way to be solid beings, could not be of any help even they did know something of an attack on the senator's life.

The last report from Lim stated that the Thoughtians were gentle creatures, completely taken advantage of by a Hutt named Marteene, who had ingratiated himself into their enterprise and now made a substantial profit from his several hotels and transportation modes. Lim also reported that he suspected something else, but needed more proof before making an accusation. He did not elaborate further. Nothing else was heard from the two Jedi until the apprentice's body was brought back with a regretful apology from the Thoughtians, who claimed to have no idea what went wrong.

Which was where Ashanti and Qui-Gon came in, investigation team extraordinaire. They were sent to determine the whereabouts of the missing master and why his apprentice was returned deceased. The Thoughtians humbly accepted the request for an investigation, promising full cooperation.

Somehow Ashanti felt sure that someone was going to stand in the way. When she read Marteene had an interest in the planet, she knew exactly who was going to cause her no end of trouble.

Piddling though the loss of Qui-Gon's fortune had been, Marteene had taken the whole thing way too personally, to Ashanti's frame of mind. Any other Hutt would have made a mental note of her name, promised retribution if the opportunity came along and went their slimy way. Marteene, on the other hand, put a bounty on her head, small at first, but the bounty grew as his wealth grew. It was vastly irritating to Ashanti, who was tired of running into bounty hunters in the middle of missions that had nothing to do with Marteene the Hutt and everything that had to do with her staying alive for the next mission.

That this "chance" meeting with Marteene was enough of a bizarre coincidence made Ashanti very wary. It was bound to happen, she knew, but these circumstances were just way too convenient for her peace of mind.

It was also convenient that Qui-Gon happened to be with her as well. He was still considered a minor and forged papers could easily put the Temple's claim of legal custody of Qui-Gon to question. By the time everything would be resolved, Qui-Gon, and the fortune that came with him, would be long gone. It definitely smelled of a setup, but Ashanti saw little she could do about it for the time being.

The rules of the game had not been laid out before her, and reckless rebel though she was, Ashanti always knew what the rules were before she broke them.

"Pak should be returning soon, padawan, let's say you and me do some talking, shall we?" Ashanti rose to have the replicator refill her juice glass.

Qui-Gon looked at her puzzledly. "I don't understand."

Ashanti looked at him shrewdly. "Yes, you do, Qui-Gon. You've been thinking the same things I have. Did you reach any conclusions?"

"Just that this is a somewhat convenient coincidence."

"Yes, very convenient. This whole setup is almost too good to be true." Ashanti nodded her head in agreement. "I don't trust too convenient conveniences."

Qui-Gon looked down at his hands. "Master, I have a bad feeling about this place."

Ashanti quirked an eyebrow at him. "Oh? How so?"

"It is too good to be true. A planet that allows your mind to create whatever it wants using the gases in the air, but there are no ill effects to the person manipulating the gas? Highly unlikely." Qui-Gon opened the report on The Planet of Thoughts again. "The scientist Ptoph states that absolutely no ill effects were found in any user during short term exposure. He says nothing at all about long term exposure."

Ashanti sat down next to Qui-Gon and read the report as well. "For the recommended short periods of usage, the gases have no ill effects upon the user's minds. Recommended period of usage is no more than 30 minutes." Ashanti paused in her outloud reading. "How odd. It says nothing about usage for over 30 minutes?"

Qui-Gon flipped a few pages back. "Not that I've found. Could that be what the missing Jedi found out? That long term exposure causes damage?"

"Or, even more likely, that repeated usage causes brain damage." Qui-Gon's eyes widened at the implication that Ashanti made.

"Would the Thoughtians know of this?" Qui-Gon asked, reaching out with the Force to make sure no Thoughtian was hiding in the room.

"I already checked," Ashanti told him absently in reference to his searching for spies. "I'm betting some Thoughtians do, but I'm positive Pak knew nothing of this. He actually thinks that people gain entertainment from manipulating the atmosphere. If this is the case, then Thoughtian high officials are the ones who know otherwise and will not be cooperative in this investigation." Her tail thumped the carpeted floor several times in aggravation.

"Will Pak help us?" Qui-Gon wondered.

"In anything I can, Jedi Qui-Gon." Pak entered the room, followed by two other beings, who materialized with Pak, drawing the material particles in the air around them to give outlined shape. "Do you require anything else?"

"Not at the moment," Ashanti said hastily. "Perhaps later."

A bright band of orange flashed at them, as if Pak was shrugging. "May I present 2435 and 8937, high officials within our government? They wish to assist you in the investigation."

Ashanti and Qui-Gon bowed formally to them. The beings pulsed in the same fashion that Pak had done in the docking bay. "We thank you for your offer, but we would rather work with Pak if this is acceptable?" Ashanti stood with her legs braced apart, almost military in her stance. Qui-Gon imitated her, hoping she knew what she was doing. He sensed anger from them at this slight.

"Pak?" sputtered 2435. "Who is Pak?"

"She gave me a more comfortable designation," explained Pak in a shimmer of blue spectrum. "I confess it appeals to me."

"Highly irregular," muttered 8937, "but if they insist, the guest is always right." It seemed to be repeating the creed of good customer service as if by rote and not really meaning it.

"I will be happy to serve them in their investigation," Pak continued, unabashed by the other two Thoughtians distaste for his new name. Ashanti had the distinct impression that she had just picked up a faithful servant.

"Very well," agreed 2435 haughtily, "but we expect a daily report upon the status of the investigation. This unfortunate blemish must be eradicated from our record. We must maintain a pristine reputation." Qui-Gon understood this to mean that they had a reputation for being a quiet resort and wished no incidents of wrongful deaths to blemish such a hard won reputation.

Ashanti added her own two-bits to the instructions. "We require our own private transport and full security clearance to all facilities and documentation concerning the resort. We have reason to believe that something untoward happened to our missing Jedi that was not an accident."

All three Thoughtians seemed disturbed by such an accusation. "Of course, whatever you require. We reserve the right to revoke these should this become necessary, however," agreed 2435 hastily and placatingly. "If something unlawful happened to your missing Jedi, then we will be prepared to help track down the cause."

Ashanti nodded confidently. "Excellent. The Jedi take note of your willingness to work with us during this unfortunate incident and thank you for your assistance."

"It is most unfortunate," 8937 stated sadly, but both Ashanti and Qui-Gon got the feeling 8937 wasn't as sorry as it made out to be. It actually seemed more indifferent to the Jedi's investigation than sympathetic.

The two officials left, after giving Pak instructions on what was at the Jedis disposal. Qui-Gon sat back down and Ashanti began to pace.

"Is there something wrong?" inquired Pak, losing the outline to again become part of the air around them.

"Pak, do you know if anyone has become ill because of your atmosphere?" Ashanti continued her pacing, tail flicking ever so slightly as she thought.

Pak seemed to consider the question. "Not that I am aware of or have been told. According to scientific investigation by the great Ptoph, our atmosphere is compatible to all life forms."

"That's not possible though," Qui-Gon put in. "Most species require a certain mixture of gases to breath and sustain life. A slight variation of this may not have immediate or short term affect, but it will in the long term."

Pak seemed appalled. "Do you suggest that your missing Jedi has died from our atmosphere, which was poisonous to him?"

"We don't know, Pak, that's what we need help with. The apprentice was stabbed to death by some sort of electrical spear weapon. All our reports state that investigations on short-term usage of your planet's gases show no harm, but it says nothing about continuous and constant use, or repeated short term use." Ashanti explained further.

"Our guests who return could be in danger?" Pak finally grasped the implication.

"Very likely. Has nothing been done to study this possibility?" asked Qui-Gon.

Pak's attitude dropped to immediate depression, worrying Ashanti at the rapidity of this. "None that I am of aware, but then I am only a greeter, a private escort. I am not privy to these matters."

"We trust you to help us, Pak, will you do that, despite the fact that it may cause your people to lose the resorts you have built so graciously?" Ashanti pressed the alien to make a decision. She knew what Pak would say, but wanted to make sure of it.

Pak did not hesitate. "I do not see how making people suffer will bring us any joy. No matter how little it hurts them now, it may cause them hurt later. I will help you, Ashanti Vende, Qui-Gon Jinn." Pak seemed to take a steadying breath, though neither Jedi thought it actually breathed. "Whatever you require, I will try and provide. When do you wish to start?"

Ashanti smiled at Qui-Gon, who smiled back. "I knew you were my kind of Thoughtian, Pak. A rebel with a cause." Pak didn't understand what she meant, but he understood the companionship the two Jedi offered him.

Qui-Gon suddenly realized that Pak was a very lonely being, escorting one ungracious guest after another, fulfilling their every request and getting nothing but the pleasure of making them happy in return. The camaraderie that he and Ashanti offered was unusual and made the Thoughtian think of himself as something special.

Thus Qui-Gon resolved that if he ever came across other creatures such as Pak who needed such guidance and companionship, he would offer it freely. Ashanti's eyes twinkled at him when he looked at her. She seemed to know what he was thinking and with her fond, yet mischievous, gaze he saw her approval of his decision.

Qui-Gon Jinn had found his mission in life.