First, sorry for not updating sooner, business and crazy Sandy has got things crazier! Thank you Tavae Themisal, nineteennintytwo, Annabel Willow, Jedi Kay-Kenobi, and Lillafiore for reviewing! I love you guys! Thanks if I didn't mention you too, and please review! It really inspires me to keep writing! Here it is . . .
". . . I don't get him. He seems like he is totally masking himself." Adriyn shifted his folded legs on his sleeping mat, fanning the cards in his hands. "Do you have. . . 'knowledge'?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, glancing at his cards to be sure. Adriyn drew another blue card from the deck between them.
"It seems to me that he feels like he is bothered by us and this problem altogether." Obi-Wan replied, scratching his chin, "Do you have 'emotion'?"
"Nope." Adriyn replied, "Do you have 'serenity'?"
"No."
The three youth sat in their Facilitation area, restless to sleep at the early evening hour though encouraged by their Masters to do so. The area they were staying in was a comparatively small room, outfitted with only a sleep couch, a food heater, a small dining table, and a Holoscreen, all of which were white. The simplicity reminded Obi-Wan of his own quarters in the Jedi Temple, and he felt at ease.
Obi-Wan found no desire to rest as he played a game of cards with Adriyn, discussing and pondering about the Governor of the Facility, General Haddon, and the feelings he had emitted.
"I think that the Governor is ignorant. Why doesn't he want to talk to us? We shouldn't have to tell him twice that he could die any day now . . . how about . . . 'peace'?"
Obi-Wan handed Adriyn his card labeled "peace" and the other grinned as he laid down his match. They were playing Virtue, a simple card game that younglings used to memorize the tenets of the Jedi Order. The object was to simply match the virtue with its opposite, "knowledge" with "ignorance", "mercy" with "revenge", and "emotion" with "peace", to name a few. Since both of their Master's disapproved of sabbac, it was one of the few games that Obi-Wan and Adriyn had ever played with each other and they had continued playing it into their youth. It became somewhat of a tradition, to sit and play and discuss.
"He has lived most of his life as superior, the person in charge. I don't think he knows how to listen to the opinions of others –"
"Or he is just stubborn and ignorant, like Adriyn said." Siri interrupted Obi-Wan. She was downloading something into her datapad, only glancing up for a moment as she spoke to her peers from her mat lined up beside theirs. "I think you're underestimating Amos."
"I never said he was stubborn." Adriyn challenged, picking up a card from the deck, "And what is there to underestimate? Your turn Obi . . ."
Obi-Wan nodded, studying his cards, "He is stubborn though. He has refused help from the Republic Refugee Sheltering Committee seven times."
"True." Adriyn said, "And I didn't like Haddon. He seemed awfully strange, distant . . . suspicious."
Obi-Wan agreed. A suspect was only as suspicious as their crime. And the crime the Padawan was tempted to accuse him of was something not thrown about lightly. Subconsciously, blue-grey eyes looked upon Siri, though she did not see him in his examination, and a tendril grasped his heart -
"Obi? Hello?!"
Obi-Wan snapped back. "What?"
Adriyn stared at him with his olive eyes. "There you go again. Do you have 'passion' or what?"
"Oh. Yes. Do you have 'ignorance'?"
"Yep. I still don't get why we're here. Why don't we just –"
"I win." Obi-Wan said, "The deck's gone, and you only have . . . two matches."
Adriyn glanced at his cards with a downcast expression. "Best two out of three?"
"Adriyn, you've been playing for nearly an hour!" Siri protested, "We have to get to sleep soon."
"Already?" The two protested in unison, and Siri laughed. Adriyn was simply being himself, opposed to curfew like always, but Obi-Wan had objected, however, because he still had not asked Siri about . . . he did not want to even speak the name. About Haddon. If anything was going on, he needed to get to the bottom of it quickly, before anything - or anyone - else did. He kew she would not want to speak of it. That did not mean that he could avoid asking.
"Just one more game? I haven't won yet!" Adriyn pleaded, putting on a face of exaggerated sorrow.
"We'll play again." Obi-Wan replied to Adriyn, averting his gaze to Siri's. "After Siri and I clean up from dinner."
Siri gave him a quizzical look, but followed him to the kitchenette on the wall, over to the tiny sink. "That was a bad excuse." She said quietly, once Obi-Wan turned the tap on, the sound of the running water masking their voices. Obi-Wan began to scrub at a tray. "You look tired." He whispered to her, hoping she would respond.
"Tired of listening to you and Adriyn talk."
"That's not what I meant."
Siri grabbed a soapy tray and began to dry it with a rag. "I know you didn't get my attention to just ask me that. What is it?"
Obi-Wan was hesitant, reluctant. "I need to ask you something."
Siri sensed his solemnity, and responded by closing herself off from him coldly, growing defensive, "About what?"
"Shh." He hushed her sharp tone, glancing back at Adriyn who was lying on his mat, his hands folded over his mid-section, twiddling his thumbs. He turned to her again, "Do not shut yourself away from me -"
"If I don't, someone else may grow suspicious." Siri gestured her head ever-so-slightly to Adriyn again, "Now hurry up and ask me."
"It isn't that simple, Siri. This is important." Obi-Wan watched her, her eyes staring at the sink and avoiding his own. She was biting her lip, but truly holding her tongue, fighting back words and protest; they had promised each other not to hide, but it was killing her to say the truth. She set down the rag harshly and turned from him, retreating from the situation, but he grabbed her forearm to stop her -
"Siri -"
"Don't touch me!"
"Hey!"
The two shot their eyes to Adriyn, who had sat up and was studying them with both surprise and confusion. Obi-Wan, realizing he still grasped Siri's arm, felt her tug it away angrily, her aura in the Force brimming with the same emotion. He felt stung with it, just as upset.
"What's up?" Adriyn asked, and Obi-Wan said softly, allowing none of the frustration he fought with into his voice, "Nothing."
"We should get to bed." Siri retreated from him, flicking off the light and lying down on her mat, the only light illuminating from the power light on the Holoscreen. It was very quiet. Obi-Wan sighed, finding his own spot beside Adriyn who he could still see vaguely in the dark, a question in his eyes. Obi-Wan did not answer it, turning over and closing his eyes, but not sleeping. He felt stiff, rigid, cold. How dare she treat him like this, like his concern meant nothing, his care.
My care. He did still care for her, possibly in more ways than one. He only wanted for them to trust one another, and arguments like these were not helping. Before, when he was younger, he would have had no problem letting Siri wallow in her own secrecy, but then, he was above it. He cared for her enough not to.
Maybe I was too blunt with her; maybe I need to be patient. He shut the thoughts out. If she wanted to be that way, he would not bother trying to convince her otherwise. They had a mission to accomplish, and could not let their private struggle hinder it. Obi-Wan Kenobi turned onto his stomach, rested his head in his hands, and watched Siri Tachi until he fell into restless sleep.
The next morning, the Jedi were escorted by a Seikh woman to a room, which was almost identical to the plain foyer they had been in the previous day, to speak with the Governor. The Jedi, who, of course, were completely open to whatever the Governor had to say, had agreed to wait for him in the close-cornered area. Minutes upon minutes had passed, and Obi-Wan had begun to tap his foot, an action that he thought could relieve a portion of the impatience that he felt. His eyes searched his comrades faces as they all sat on the crescent shaped couch that circled the room. They all seemed calm in the Force, anxious maybe. They all looked tired, especially Siri, who sat beside her Master, her clear blue eyes distant. The scent of the herbal tea that was set on a small table in the middle of the room filled the area with its crisp, fragrant aroma; only Master Cla'i was sipping on a small glass.
Obi-Wan felt his Masters stare on him, and, remembering the absentminded action of tapping his foot, ceased the gesture.
"The Douronians are not a very punctual people." Obi-Wan mumbled softly to Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master stroked his beard, pondering his apprentices' observation. "Their ways may not be our ways, Padawan." He replied quietly.
"Then what are their ways? Do you think Amos won't leave Douron because we, the Jedi, are telling him to? Is it not a bit irrational to ignore those warning you of death?"
Qui-Gon turned his head and caught Obi-Wan's gaze. "If that is his mindset, then we must convince him otherwise."
Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes, Master." It still was a puzzling thought, but Obi-Wan knew not to let his mind wander on it for too long, for it was what was then and there that he should be aware of.
The room's small door opened, and the Governor entered the room, dressed in a black uniform, smiling sincerely, or maybe deceitfully, Obi-Wan could not tell; he couldn't nab exactly what the Governor felt in the Force either. He appeared to be like any other Seikh male, his eyes a piercing hazel and his stature just a bit more regal than the others. He spoke smoothly, nodding his head on occasion, "How excellent it is to be in the company of Jedi once again. I apologize for waking you at this early hour, and for my absence last night. I am a very busy man."
"No trouble." Master Cla'i said, arising from his seat simultaneously with the others.
Amos smiled again, "Wonderful then, so may I lead you into the hall where we can begin our excursion around the Facility?"
The Jedi exited the room hastily, and followed behind the Governor down a lengthy white hallway as he began to speak. "The Seikh Clan was once, decades ago, housing for Douronians who themselves could not find residence elsewhere. We provided nourishments, a place to work, and overall a way of life in the Facility."
The group turned a corner into another hall; the walls around them replaced by glass that viewed into areas far below them. Inside showed Seikh citizens packaging boxes with dry food rations, clothes and other items and setting them into the end compartment of a transport speeder.
"Soon, however, the Facility found itself in severe poverty, some of it due to the occasional overflow of citizens, but a large amount from inhabitants who stole and looted our supplies. My father at the time was the current Governor, and I, wanting to aid the Seikh citizens, decided to join a bounty hunter union and hopefully come up with the funds to support the Facility."
"A bounty hunter union?" Adriyn whispered into Obi-Wan's ear, discreetly enough to be unnoticed, "That's practical."
Obi-Wan knew that Adriyn was being sarcastic, but he personally didn't think it was something to tease.
"Unfortunately, I became very . . . successful, you could say, in my new occupation, and my headstrong youth got the better of my actions. I decided to keep my funds, and live on my own; it went on for years before my coalition was caught by the Douronian government, and I returned to the Facility. By then, my father had died, and the Facility was being funded by Thym-Lad-Borat. So, I decided to reclaim my position as Governor, and refine the Seikh Clan back to its usual rituals."
Exiting the foyer, Amos led the group into a second door. "This," Amos started, "Is the accommodation of the Clan members."
All along the lengthy hallway was transparasteel, letting prying eyes see easily into each facilitation area. "The areas are specially formulated to fit the needs of each of the family members."
The areas were separated by slender walls, and each of them held the same items as the Jedi's had; a bed, a food heater, a couch, and a small Holoscreen. All the things were white, corresponding with the Seikh's uniforms. The Seikh men and women inside the areas glared curiously at the Jedi, stopping their current actions and watching them until they strolled away; the Seikh children, however, gaped in wonder at the guests, some children pressing their bluish-tinged hands on the glass to look even closer at them.
"The Seikh are an interdependent species, surviving and prospering very much more efficiently in groups than if living single-handedly. We are very strong to our belief that the key to contentment is concord, and the key to prosperity is unity. That is why we are the Seikh Clan of Prosperity, for we do not spend our prosperity on material things, but in the satisfaction that comes from our family."
As the group traveled down the long hallway, the Governor led them through another door, and they entered a large, dome-shaped room with a spherical floor and many doors that lined the rounded walls. The walls and flooring were impressed with marble-like patterns in pale and tan shades of white, melding with each other like pieces of a fluid puzzle. Faint sunlight shone through the skylight on the ceiling, heating the cool room and causing it to appear very illuminated and brilliant.
"This is the Centre Vestibule, containing a passageway to any section of the Facility." Amos folded his hands behind his back, his eyes tracing the ceiling, "The sun causes the marble mineral in this room to change its structure molecularly, triggering its density to become soft and take in the sunlight; we call it 'sun streaking'. Marvelous, isn't it?"
"I have never seen anything alike," Qui-Gon remarked, and his Padawan noticed suspicion hinted in his Master's eyes, "Where does this material come from?"
Amos turned his head sharply to meet his gaze, "Exhumed by local miners from the moons of Iego," He replied, without flinching.
"It must have cost a large sum of money," said Adi, reaching out to stroke the glossy surface of the wall, her fingers tracing the seemingly intricate designs, but eyes still on Amos.
"I purchased it in my earlier years;" Amos said leisurely, "The cost doesn't essentially matter in my opinion."
Obi-Wan strolled to Adriyn's side, sensing the tension increase between Amos and them; Adriyn tightened his lips, a sign Obi-Wan took as unease.
Qui-Gon ambled closer to Amos, "In your opinion? Does your opinion only ignore the cost of material things, or the things physical?"
"You imply specifics, I assume." Amos spoke curtly, almost as if he sought to rub Qui-Gon the wrong way, "And I have been informed of the bombing of your Jedi School, do not fret, and am deeply remorseful."
"We are not here concerning our Temple, Governor." Adi stressed the word, bothered clearly by his blunt use of "school"; she stood aside Qui-Gon, direct in form and stare, "But what I think my comrade is implying is your ignorance of the cost of the lives of your people. What are they of worth to you?"
"The worth of a life is not mine to state, or yours for that matter. When it all is said and done, all know that if put to it one would save himself above another -"
"On the contrary, it is the duty of the Jedi to put others before oneself, to place themselves the lowest in sake of another." Qui-Gon corrected, "We have things to discuss, Amos, not to see who has the most eloquent tongue -"
"Clearly." Amos snapped back, and before he could go on, General Haddon exited the turbolift at the rooms stern, pace quick and urgent. He was tightening his cap and brushing down his uniform as he bowed to the group, fixating his eyes on Siri; Obi-Wan watched them lock gazes momentarily, and Haddon's already flushed face deepened. Obi-Wan, sparked with frustrated suspicion, met Haddon's glare, and the general narrowed his sullen eyes back at the Jedi.
"This is General Haddon . . ." Amos started, but Haddon turned to the Governor just a little, looking to him with tense eyes and whispering, "Your presence is required on level 7-B, your Superiority. I'm afraid we have a bit of a situation."
Amos nodded slowly, turning to give the Jedi a bit of a pleading gaze, "I'm sorry, my guests, but if you will excuse me . . ."
"No trouble." Master Cla'i spoke up, "We'll manage fine here."
"You are free to further explore around the Facility." Amos finished, "A mid-day meal will be served to your accommodation areas shortly."
"Thank you for your time Governor." Adi said, smiling warmly.
Amos bowed to the group of Jedi, a grin painted on his own face, "Thank you."
The Governor and General turned back down the hallway that he came, leaving the Jedi alone in the foyer. Obi-Wan folded his arms and glanced toward his Master, whose own gaze was fixed where the Governor departed. "Master, are you sure the suspicions of Amos are correct?"
After a pause, Qui-Gon finally broke his gaze, and replied, "I'm almost sure Padawan."
The Jedi began to stroll towards the turbolift, silent in deep contemplation.
"Are we to continue here much longer?" Obi-Wan questioned, "The Facility seems ideal to me."
"Be mindful of your thoughts, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon replied, a distance in his voice, "It is not the Facility that we are concerned about."
Obi-Wan awoke into darkness, and rolled over. His eyes ached from drowsiness, and he pulled his thin sleeping sheet closer to his face. His body was spent from the extra time used up exploring the Facility; nothing he had seen had concerned him in the least. Why help someone who doesn't want the help? Adriyn's words seemed almost intellectual at this point. And after scrutinizing all the faults or problems the Facility could posses, the possibilities he had thought of were irrational.
It was at times like this when Obi-Wan questioned the Jedi Council, times when he was tired and drained and fed up. But it was also times like this when he reminded himself that the Council was wise and he was . . . young, and he usually questioned a lot of things. Obi-Wan fought back a yawn, remembering that he had to sleep. It was still silent in the dismal facilitation area, besides Adriyn's muffled snore, his own quiet breathing, and Siri's . . .
Obi-Wan listened for Siri's usual soft inhaling and exhaling. He rubbed his face and turned to face Siri's cot. He expected to see the form of her slender body, her soft blonde hair strewn across her head rest. "Siri," Obi-Wan whispered, lifting himself upright on his forearms. He waited for her delicate voice to answer; silence.
He reached out his arm onto her cot, but he knew in the Force, that the cot was empty. Obi-Wan sighed and rose to his feet. He should have expected Siri to do something foolish; why hadn't he awoken when she left? Pulling out a finger-sized glowrod form his belt, he paced stealthily toward the door.
Tiny green lights light up the dark, long hall sending an eerie glow all around. Obi-Wan quickened his pace, trying his hardest to keep quiet. Why would she have the desire to explore around at this time? Obi-Wan thought, turning a corner. But he knew it was typical for Siri, to go about and do things on her own. Slowing his pace, Obi-Wan sensed a presence ahead of him, wary and still. He paused, and continued on forward, raising his glowrod in front of him.
Why wouldn't she just- Obi-Wan felt the same presence once again, but this time from behind. He stopped, confused, and listened. Silence . . . .
Turning on his bare feet, he walked back the hall the way he had entered. But again he sensed the presence from behind him, growing nearer. Tucking the glowrod away, Obi-Wan grabbed his lightsaber from his belt and listened closely. It's probably just a small night creature, following the light of the glowrod in search of food. Obi-Wan twisted around; he paced down the hall, rotating the lightsaber in his hand.
The presence followed. Obi-Wan ignited his weapon.
"Come out," he threatened, his blue-white blade thrumming in the silence.
"Obi-Wan?" It was Siri's voice. Obi-Wan glanced upward, to find Siri hanging with her hands from a water pipe connected through the ceiling. "What –"
"I was just looking around." Siri said, shifting her grip, "I don't feel comfortable here. I feel an . . . uneasiness, like something's not right. I didn't find anything, anyway."
Obi-Wan stared at her as she landed gracefully in front of him. "So you just decided, on a whim, to go out and get into trouble?"
"I was just looking around."
"Just looking around? Not for anything in particular?"
Siri sighed, knowing the prodding questions would only continue until she confessed, "I sensed someone pass by outside our door. I thought ... I thought it may have been Haddon, so -"
"And you went looking for him?" Obi-Wan said, forcefully but gently, "Did you see the way he looks at you Siri? If there is anyone more suspicious than the Governor, it's him."
Siri nodded, her eyes distant as if trying to reject the information. "I know."
Suddenly, a slight stirring caught Obi-Wan's attention, and he switched his gaze beyond Siri to see a small rectangular droid peeking its photoreceptor out from behind the walls corner. The droid hovered a good six feet above the ground, with one black, arrowhead stripe on its white durasteel casing; it didn't notice Obi-Wan as he studied it carefully. This droid meant that the Governor was spying on them. And not only spying, but searching for information to use against them. And that meant if this droid was returned to Amos, the Jedi's position as harmless dignitaries would change.
"Siri," Obi-Wan whispered, "Don't move."
Siri, still frustrated, folded her arms over her chest. "Obi-Wan, this isn't funny –"
"Siri!" He repeated urgently, emphasizing his seriousness in the Force, "Listen, just don't move."
The droid's scarlet eye flickered, picking up the change in conversation.
"Obi-"
"Shh!"
Siri wrinkled her face, "What is it?!" She turned, and the droid instantly fled, speeding off down the hallway. Obi-Wan ran after it, and Siri followed, both being as silent and fast as possible, using the Force as their guide to the droid that was nowhere in their view.
"Why don't you listen to me?!" Obi-Wan whispered hoarsely.
"Because it came out of nowhere! You could have signaled me that we were being watched!"
"If you wanted me to scare it off, I would have!"
"Anything else?!"
"You could have listened to me for once!"
The two turned down another long hallway and through the darkness finally faintly saw the droid's scarlet antennae bobbing along. Siri ignited her violet lightsaber to bring in more light, and Obi-Wan followed; the droid was increasing speed as they were gaining ground. They both were running at full momentum, their bare feet slapping the cold floor, their breaths harsh but controlled, and not nearly as loud as the droids sharp humming.
The droid zipped into the turbolift at the end of the hall, and the doors began to close slowly; Obi-Wan halted, outstretched his hand and called on the Force to keep the turbolift open, while Siri kept running toward the droid. Not surprisingly, the little machine bolted back out of the 'lift and sped past Siri, hovering dangerously close to the ground, and zipped between her feet, just barely fast enough to miss her violet blade.
Obi-Wan reacted quickly and switched his grip from the door to the droid, to stop it mid-air. For some strange reason, the droid didn't stop motionless as he had predicted; it went past him so fast, Obi-Wan didn't have time to think.
"Obi-Wan!" Siri shouted, running back after the droid, her face unimpressed.
"I couldn't stop it!" He replied, jogging along beside her.
The droid, this time, took a different route, leading the two down flights of stairs and past halls they hadn't seen before. "Where are we?" Siri panted; she looked tired. Obi-Wan realized that he had seen Siri tired so often lately that he dismissed it, and he shrugged; Siri pressed again, "Obi-Wan, we can't just chase this thing forever!"
"Eventually-"
"We've been running after this thing for too long -"
"Well maybe we wouldn't be if you wouldn't have snuck off to find Haddon in the first place."
Siri suddenly halted her pace, and Obi-Wan stopped beside her as she turned back to face him, "Excuse me? You're saying this is my fault?"
With the option available, Obi-Wan took a chance of asking something Siri would refuse to answer, "Haddon doesn't happen to have anything to do with . . . ?"
"Obi-Wan -"
"When was the last time you were here?"
Siri hesitated, ". . . I don't want to talk about this."
"Siri, please - "
"I said I'm not ready to talk about this! Don't ... please, just ..." Siri's voice faltered, and she turned from him physically, face hidden behind her fallen hair.
Obi-Wan felt the guilt stab into him suddenly, cursing his rash tongue and quick temper. He realized his error, even more deeply then. He had promised to protect her, ever since her trust was put in him. He had not anticipated that, as well as shielding her from the real dangers that shrouded her, he would have to protect her from himself. Allowing his own suspicion, his anger, his worries, to cause her to suffer even more ... that may have been the worst danger she faced.
His feet moved slowly, reaching her side again and waiting there. He did not move, or reach out to move, or say anything until she acknowledged his presence 's fingers brushed at her cheek, hiding a stray tear as if it had not fallen. "I'm sorry." she whispered.
"I am sorry." Obi-Wan returned the phrase genuinely.
"I am sorry, as well."
The voice was new, not his or Siri's. Obi-Wan switched his gaze . . . to see General Haddon at the end of the hallway with the arrowhead droid.
The General looked like he had been awoken from sleep, his brown hair disheveled, his cap askew, his navy suit wrinkled and his mood in the Force still unreadable, just as the Governor's was. Haddon cleared his throat, his eyebrows raised; he folded his arms over his chest as he strolled over to face Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan's feet felt colder than ever as he held Haddon's muddy brown glare, and that faint trickle of suspicion returned as strong as it did the first time he felt it.
"Jedi Knight, I never did get a proper introduction." Haddon outstretched a bare hand, "Call me Haddon. Just Haddon."
The amount of proper introductions that had already occurred within the Facility was staggering, and Obi-Wan felt as if he knew the name of every being there, from random encounters. The gesture was a pleasantry used to soothe visitors, to provide an aura of professionalism as well as comfort. However, in Haddon's presence it seemed to have lost its touch.
Obi-Wan took the hand and shook it limply, "Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I'm not a Knight yet."
Haddon smiled, half-amused by the correction. "I see. And your friend here is . . . ?"
From his side, Obi-Wan was almost startled at how quickly Siri had shed her vulnerable state and stood firmly, surely, in herself.
"Siri Tachi."
Haddon's smile turned into a sly smirk, "Ah, yes." He mused softly, "I believe we have met. I trust you are still well?"
Siri nodded only, and Haddon's outstretched hand that waited for her own was not met. He gently closed it, retuning it to his side.
"Now what are you Jedi doing out so late?" Haddon clicked out of the corner of his mouth, and the droid zipped to his side like an obedient pet. "This is our new droid Too-Vee-Seven-En. They said you were . . . practicing lightsaber drills?"
2-V7N's tiny antennae quivered at the mention of its title.
"No, not at all." Obi-Wan said, feigning a light tone, "I was feeling a bit restless, so I took a stroll. My comrade joined me in my absence. We're sorry to alert your droid."
"No need for apology. Iif you are ever in need of assistance here, I will always be happy to help you. My security droid is on look-out for loiterers, and simply thought you were up to mischief. Unfortunately, I must depart before His Superiority finds me off guard."
Anxious to leave Haddon alone, Obi-Wan said, "We must be going as well. Good night, General."
Haddon nodded, "Too-Vee will show you to the 'lift."
The security droid sped to their side and buzzed along ahead of them eagerly. "May you find Prosperity."
Obi-Wan smiled gently and turned away, Siri following along with him. They went along quietly for minutes, Obi-Wan agitated and his temper flared. "Siri, I want to trust you." He blurted after a moment, slowing to her pace. "I do. But Haddon –"
The droid turned a corner sharply, and they sped up to catch it. "Haddon . . . did you feel –"
"Yes." Siri seemed annoyed, her gaze forward and unwavering. "I did. I felt it just as you did, Obi-Wan."
"Then you understand why I doubt you?"
"No."
2-N twirped, slowing as they approached the turbolift, and zipped inside.
"Why not? I don't understand –"
"Why even doubt anyway? Either believe me or don't!"
"It's not that simple –"
"Yes, it is!"
The two stepped in, the doors hissing closed. "I know that you would never like him –"
"What?" Siri exclaimed. "What does that mean?!"
Obi-Wan was about to reply when the lights in the 'lift began to flicker, and the hum of the turbo-engine ceased. "What . . . was that?"
"Shh!" Siri hushed, and the lights shut off completely; the Force grew tense, and Obi-Wan grew nervous. 2-N, who hummed sharply from the corner of the 'lift, droned a series of low, long notes, and it switched it's photoreceptor from blue to red. Something in the Force told Obi-Wan that the innocent little droid . . . wasn't.
Obi-Wan felt Siri's hand grab tightly to his arm. "Don't move; I think –"
Her voice faded into jumbled words as Obi-Wan felt a strange sense of ecstasy wave over him seconds before pain and darkness.
Thanks for reading! Also, I'm looking for a beta and am a beta, so if your interested in being mine or me being yours, PM me! ~ Ellisaed
