by Джуд Уотсон
The man picked them up and dumped them like cargo on the rear floor of the landspeeder. Then they roared off.
"O-Lana is gone?" 0-Melie's face went dead white. She stumbled backward, and V-Nen steadied her. She pressed a hand to her mouth. "How could you have let her go?"
"I had to," 0-Yani replied, her eyes darting from 0-Melie to V-Nen.
"They said she was due for her routine med check. There is no reason for concern. She will come back. She will not disappear."
V-Nen shot a glance at 0-Melie. A warning glance, Qui-Gon thought. He saw 0-Melie swallow. The look on her face was transformed. Her constricted facial muscles smoothed out. Her lips tilted upward in a strained smile.
"Of course," she said. "I understand."
They heard the sound of running footsteps, and the Hospitality Guides hurried toward them.
"Ah, we found you!" 0-Rina said.
V-Haad's smile did not falter. "We thought you were to wait in the market."
"We must have misunderstood," Qui-Gon said. "We asked if we could return here. So sorry if we caused you upset."
"O-Lana has been taken," 0-Melie said, struggling to keep a pleasant expression on her face. "0-Yani says the Med Circle Guides came for her. But she just had her routine med exam. Perhaps there is some mistake."
"We shall check on it," 0-Rina assured her. "Do not be concerned. A child can't be too healthy!"
V-Nen looked as ashen as his wife, but his face was frozen into the same pleasant mask. "Parental notification before a med check always takes place. Strange that O-Lana was taken without it."
"Slips can occur, even on Kegan," V-Haad said in a jovial tone. "But that doesn't excuse them," he added quickly.
"Even a moment of worry about a child can be an eternity," 0-Rina said sympathetically. "V-Haad and I will be happy to intercede for you. We'll go right to V-Tan and O-Vieve if we have to."
"We are grateful," V-Nen said through tight lips.
0-Rina turned to the Jedi. "Of course, all this will take time. We know the Jedi are far too crucial to the galaxy to linger. We will completely understand if you must return to your more important tasks."
"Unfortunately we did not find your young aides," V-Haad said pleasantly. "Perhaps you have communication devices that can summon them."
"Thank you for your concern," Qui-Gon answered smoothly. "But I'm afraid you overestimate our demand in the galaxy. We can certainly remain here until the child is found. As for our aides, I'm afraid we're at a loss."
Adi picked up on his strategy. "We have tried to contact them on our comlinks," she said. "They are not responding. Perhaps they lost them, or our technology does not work on your planet. We will have to search for them."
"We are sorry if this causes trouble for you," Qui-Gon added. "We would like permission to travel among your people. You know how the young can be.
They are most likely exploring and have forgotten the time."
The Hospitality Guides were trapped. They could not refuse such a sensible request. But they looked uncertain.
"Kegan is a peaceful planet," V-Haad said haltingly. "Yet our people are unused to foreigners. They could feel fear, which could make them act in unaccustomed ways. We wouldn't want you to run into trouble of any kind.
.."
"Jedi are used to walking among strangers," Adi said, inclining her head. "We are not worried."
"We will be in touch," Qui-Gon said, bowing to the Guides.
The Guides turned away. O-Melie stayed still as a block of stone, but her burning eyes be-seeched the Jedi. Find her!
Then the Hospitality Guides turned back again, and her bland smile returned.
"The mother is frightened," Adi said.
"The father as well," Qui-Gon said. "He hides it slightly better."
Adi sighed. They had paused by the Gardening Circle before going on. "I am afraid that with every step we take, we violate the Council's wishes. We are interfering. We could make enemies here."
"A child is missing," Qui-Gon said. "Never mind that she is Force-sensitive. Her parents are obviously terrified. The situation has changed. And it is because of our presence. If we had not come, the child would be safe."
Adi nodded reluctantly. "The child could be where the Guides say she is. They want to keep us away from her. That doesn't mean they'll harm her. We can't take bold action without ascertaining if the child is in danger."
Qui-Gon knew the child wasn't safe — why else would the parents be so afraid? But he held his tongue. He and Adi Gallia needed to work as a team.
Adi went on thoughtfully. "Our mission is also to demonstrate to Kegan the benefits of joining the galactic alliance. We are promoting peace. All I am saying is that we must tread carefully."
"We are telling each other things we already know," Qui-Gon said restlessly. "Let's raise Obi-Wan and Siri on their comlinks."
He activated his comlink, but Obi-Wan did not answer. Adi did the same with hers, but there was no answer from Siri, either.
"Perhaps they're in a situation where it is better not to answer," Adi suggested. "We told them to mingle with the native population and not advertise that they were Jedi."
"True," Qui-Gon agreed. "Let's try again later. In the meantime, searching for them will give us a good cover to look for 0-Lana. Let's head for the Med Circle."
They roamed through the various clinics, looking into nurseries and care centers. No one stopped them. In their rough tunics with their lightsabers hidden, they could pass for native Keganites.
"If we could access their records.. " Qui-Gon murmured to Adi.
"That would involve violating their security," she said with a shake of her head. "A serious breach of conduct."
"But it's the only way," Qui-Gon argued. "Obviously they've hidden the child."
"We should keep searching," Adi said firmly.
Qui-Gon had a hard time suppressing his frustration. Cooperation among Jedi was a given. It was how they were raised to interact. But what happened when they disagreed?
"For a little longer," he said.
She arched an eyebrow at him. Tall and forbidding, with dark golden skin and blue facial markings, Adi Gallia was known to subdue a boisterous group of young students with just a glance. Qui-Gon was not as easily intimidated.
"There you are!" They heard 0-Rina's chirping tone behind them. "Have you found your young aides? Strange that you are looking in the Med Circle."
"Young Jedi are interested in all facets of society," Adi answered, composed.
"And how is the search for O-Lana?" Qui-Gon asked. "Strange that three people have disappeared in one morning."
"We have put another team on the problem," V-Haad said quickly.
"O-Vieve and V-Tan thought it best."
"Perhaps we should speak with your Benevolent Guides," Qui-Gon said.
"We would like permission to search the records of Kegan."
V-Haad was already shaking his head. "We would do anything for the Jedi. But appointments with V-Tan and O-Vieve must be requested weeks in advance. They are very busy."
"But you said they just saw you," Adi pointed out.
"This is true," O-Rina said, her ruddy cheeks deepening in color. "We are high-level Guides, you see."
"I think you will find that they will see us," Qui-Gon said firmly.
"Shall we go together, or will you point the way?"
His tone told them he would not take no for an answer. O-Rina and V-Haad nodded reluctantly. "Of course, we are at the Jedi's service…"
Qui-Gon echoed the blank smile of the Guides. "Then lead on."
"I still can't feel my legs," Siri whispered. Obi-Wan could hear the fear in her voice.
"It will wear off," he assured her. "But it will take a few hours."
They had been traveling for some time. The city had been left behind.
From his position on the floor of the speeder, Obi-Wan could see a glimpse of sky. He had seen no other speeders around them for kilometers now, just
the top branches of the trees, dancing in a brisk breeze. The temperature was dropping; perhaps they were heading to a higher altitude.
At last the engines thrummed to a lower speed and they stopped. The door next to Obi-Wan opened and he was dragged out roughly. His legs were too unsteady to hold him and he was dumped on the ground. Siri was dumped next to him.
"I thought children were revered on Kegan," Obi-Wan said, his cheek in the dirt.
A boot was suddenly placed on his head. His face was pushed farther into the dirt. "No back talk. You know very well that truancy is a criminal act on Kegan. You're old enough to be punished for it."
"But we're not Keganites!" Siri protested.
"I've heard all the excuses. Shut your mouth."
"We're from another world. We're visitors," Siri insisted furiously.
"Take your boot off my friend's head."
The boot was removed from Obi-Wan's head and landed on Siri's shoulder.
"Sure," the man said.
Enough, Obi-Wan thought. He struggled to rise, but the electro-jabber had done its work. He knew he wouldn't regain full use of his arms and legs for several more hours. It would be impossible to use his lightsaber effectively until then. Besides, he'd been instructed not to show Keganites that he was a Jedi. Obi-Wan tried to roll closer to Siri but couldn't move.
He watched helplessly as the boot increased pressure on Siri's shoulder, driving her face into the dirt.
"What did I say about back talk?" the man asked again.
Siri gritted her teeth. Her vivid blue eyes blazed. She spat out the dirt in her mouth. Still, she didn't answer.
"V-Tarz!" A voice boomed from behind them. Instantly, V-Tarz took his boot off Siri's shoulder.
Obi-Wan saw another man approach, wearing the same navy chromasheath tunic as V-Tarz.
"Why are these students on the ground?" the second man demanded.
"Resisting capture," V-Tarz responded.
"No need to use physical force," the other man said. "We've discussed this before. The Learning works with love, not fear. Take them to class."
Obi-Wan was hauled to his feet. He locked his knees so that he would not fall. Siri did the same.
"But we're not Keganites," Obi-Wan protested to the second guard, who seemed more friendly. "We're visitors."
The second guard's dark gaze flicked over Obi-Wan and Siri. "No one visits Kegan. Three marks for lying." He turned away. "Take them to class."
V-Tarz nudged them with the handle end of his electro-jabber. "You heard V-Brose. Get moving."
"Let's make a break for it," Siri murmured to Obi-Wan as they stumbled across the yard, their muscles like pudding.
"Are you kidding? We wouldn't last five meters," Obi-Wan whispered through his teeth. "We have to wait until the effect of the electro-jabber wears off. We'll figure out where we are and contact Qui-Gon and Adi Gallia."
"Just let me at V-Tarz before we get out of here," Siri muttered.
"That does not sound like a Jedi," Obi-Wan said disapprovingly. "V-Tarz is not our enemy, merely an obstacle to our mission."
"That obstacle just ground the faces of two helpless young people into the dirt," Siri responded. "Just what do you require in an enemy, Obi-Wan?"
Their conversation stopped abruptly as V-Tarz pushed them against a wall. Rough hands reached under Obi-Wan's travel cloak. V-Tarz brought out Obi-Wan's lightsaber and examined it.
"What is this?"
Obi-Wan tensed. He could not lose his lightsaber without a fight, no matter how weak he was.
"It's just a hand-warming device," Siri said.
V-Tarz shoved it back in Obi-Wan's belt. "Then I don't need it. What's this.. ?"
He'd found Obi-Wan's comlink. He pulled it out of its pouch, then grabbed Siri's.
"You won't be needing these," V-Tarz said, holding them up. "They look new," he said, examining them. "Your parents must work in the Comm Circle in order to have comlinks like these."
He stuck them in his pocket, a delighted smile on his face. Obi-Wan was afraid he'd take their electrobinoculars next.
"For the last time, slab-brain, we're not Keganites," Siri snapped.
V-Tarz raised the electro-jabber. Obi-Wan tensed. Another blow could put Siri out of commission for a very long time.
A carved bust of a serene-looking woman sat on a high shelf over them.
Obi-Wan called on the Force. The bust rocketed to the edge of the shelf and flew off. It missed V-Tarz by millimeters and crashed to the floor, sending chips of marble everywhere. V-Tarz stared down at it in disbelief.
A door near them opened. A Keganite woman stuck her head in. Her hair was pulled back behind her ears in a severe style, and she wore a plain brown tunic over black trousers.
"V-Tarz! What's going on? I'm trying to conduct a class." Her gaze traveled over the broken bust. "You smashed 0-Vieve!"
"It fell, O-Bin," V-Tarz said. "An unfortunate accident. But here are two students for you. Keep your excellent eye on them — they're troublemakers."
O-Bin cast a cool gaze over Siri and Obi-Wan. Then she smiled. Obi-Wan felt a chill move through him. The smile was eerily similar to O-Rina's and V-Haad's.
"There are no troublemakers in The Learning," O-Bin said. "Come."
Glad to get away from V-Tarz, Obi-Wan and Siri followed the teacher through the durasteel door into the classroom. The door clanged shut behind them and an automatic lock snapped shut.
Students dressed in gray tunics sat on long benches that ran the width of the room, row after row. Small data screens rose from the floor in front of each of them at eye-level. The students sat erect, hands at their sides.
Only their eyes moved as they examined Obi-Wan and Siri.
"I'm afraid there's been a mistake," Siri said to O-Bin. "We aren't Keganites. We're…"
Obi-Wan heard a few titters from the class. A slight, sandy-haired boy with hair that brushed his shoulders gave him a sympathetic look, then quickly looked down at his data screen. O-Bin swiveled and fixed her smiling gaze on row after row. The room went still.
"Sit," she told Siri and Obi-Wan.
"But we are not — " Obi-Wan began.
"Sit." The smile didn't waver. "Put on the robes for The Learning." She handed them two gray tunics.
Obi-Wan and Siri exchanged glances. Should they continue to resist, or give in for now? Mindful of Qui-Gon's orders, Obi-Wan slipped into the tunic. Siri did the same.
The same slender boy moved over to make room for them. Obi-Wan and Siri sat. Immediately two data screens rose in front of them.
The teacher looked at them, her fingers poised over her datapad.
"Names, please."
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," Obi-Wan said. "Of Coruscant."
"Three marks for lying," O-Bin said, smiling. "One mark for not giving your full name."
"That is my full name!" Obi-Wan protested.
"Three more marks for lying," O-Bin said. "I see you already have three. That makes… ten marks. Class?"
"Marks reveal the Inner Guide's confusion," the class chanted in unison.
"V-Obi is confused," the teacher said, nodding. "His Inner Guide is cloudy. It is up to all of you to bring him to his contribution to the General Good."
The class nodded solemnly.
"Have we landed on Weird World?" Siri whispered to Obi-Wan.
"Two marks for talking, and what is your name?" The teacher turned to Siri.
"Siri — "
"One mark for not giving your full name, O-Siri," the teacher said. "We each have a letter before our names that we share with others. This demonstrates our commitment to the General Good. Class?"
"We are all unique, yet none is better than another. Such is the General Good," the class chanted.
"This is generally crazy," Siri muttered.
"Three marks for talking after being warned, O-Siri," O-Bin said. "Let us return to the lesson."
Obi-Wan's data screen flashed blue. Letters began to crawl across the screen: TRA
VEL TO THE INNER CORE IS DANGEROUS. THE FIRST OBSTACLE IS THE DELACRIX SYSTEM.
