"Room for one more, do you have?"

Qui-Gon, Dooku, and I each stopped at the hatch of the diplomatic transport and turned to see the ancient Grinzellian Grandmaster slowly move toward us.

"My apologies, Master Yoda." I stepped down to offer him a hand onto the ramp. "I had understood you had declined to accompany us." As usual, I felt nothing but a warm, diffuse mind as he got closer - a smooth and placid will, marred by no strong emotion.

"Changed, my mind can still sometimes be," he mused, glancing at Dooku as he climbed the ramp with my assistance. "Very persuasive our new Count of Serenno is."

This earned surprised looks from me and my Master… former Master. "Has your title been restored so soon?" Qui-Gon inquired of Dooku as we took our seats. I lit gingerly at the pilot controls; since it appeared I had retained both the original Kenobi's dislike of flying and his talent for it, I found myself at the helm any time I couldn't pawn it off on Anakin or someone else.

"Not formally, no," Dooku explained. "I believe Master Yoda is referring to the recent Council decision. I will be allowed to vie for my title without having to give up my position on the Jedi Council."

I nodded thanks to R2 as he laid in a carefully plotted course to Kamino. It included three hyper-jumps to intervening systems, only one of which was included in the flight plan filed on Coruscant. Apparently the Clone Army was going to stay a secret of the Jedi Council for the time being.

"Provided," Yoda added, "that perform his duties to the Order, Dooku can, without interference from his role as Count."

I tuned out the Masters' conversation as I eased us out of the Temple hangar, moving us smoothly through the upper atmosphere and past the orbit of the planet's four moons, until I was cleared to enter hyperspace. R2 double-checked the calculations and nav sensors, and engaged the drive.

"... exploits of our newest young Knight and his apparent learner-to-be," Qui-Gon was saying as I swiveled my chair around to face him. "You wanted to discuss your handling of an issue that arose this past week, yes?"

"Mmmm," I agreed, although I was less enthusiastic about having the conversation with Yoda present. Still, he took a personal role in the training of every Padawan, and he certainly had the right to know, as did the prospective Count. "Partha Nellis came to me to, ah, 'warn' me about Olana's issues in making decisions under pressure. She suggested I make a better choice for Padawan."

"Like her?" Qui-Gon asked.

I nodded. "But it wasn't just a suggestion… it was a suggestion. Strong telepathic pushes the entire time."

I felt concern from Dooku as well, but it was a surprised Qui-Gon who asked, "Actual mental compulsion, or just emotion?"

"Emotion," I clarified, "but strong, and clearly designed to push me towards agreement with her. I'm surprised she wasn't more cautious considering the amount of mental training that a Jedi Knight is expected to have."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "Most Jedi, particularly Guardians as opposed to Consulars, don't gain the sort of awareness you've trained yourself in, Obi-wan. Yes, they learn mental defenses, but it's much more like putting up a forcefield than learning to identify and respond to specific threats." He glanced at Dooku and Yoda. "She's a telepathic species?"

"Zeltron," I confirmed. "Emotionally empathic, and natural broadcasters."

"Than any push felt by her teachers, the ones strong enough not to be affected, would likely be dismissed as her automatic abilities. We had an Iktotchi sister when I was a youngling, and it was the same with her." Qui-Gon met Dooku's gaze and got an acknowledging nod.

"I have been working on Olana's skill and confidence, so she can pass her final initiate Trial," I continued, "but I now believe that Partha has targeted her."

This received a stronger spark from Dooku, but it was Qui-Gon who again spoke. "Targeted her to disrupt her concentration during tests?"

I nodded. "Over the last three years, Olana has received top marks only twice. Both those were times I was able to verify that Partha was elsewhere."

"Did you confront the girl about her actions directly," Dooku asked, "or did you bring it to her instructors? Telepathic intrusion over many years may have effects they should be aware of."

"Neither," I said, and received another spark of surprise from both men. "I spoke with Olana about her relationship with Partha, and urged her to consider the situation and resolve it by the time we return."

Qui-Gon nodded. "A Trial of a different kind. I can understand that. But it only addresses the problem with respect to Olana. It doesn't deal with Partha herself."

"Once Olana has overcome the obstacle," I agreed, "Partha herself can be dealt with easily."

That got a narrowing look from Qui-Gon. "Dealt with, how, Obi-wan?"

"Discreetly and permanently," I replied, my gaze matching his.

A small, amphibious throat cleared, and I started as I was reminded of the other Master in the room. "Fortunate, we are, my brothers," Master Yoda announced, "that such a brave Jedi Knight we have as our savior." I noticed his ears were lowered, almost flat, and the eyes in his wrinkled face were large and bright as he stared into me. "More wise than any of us, he is, the role of judge and executioner to play." As he continued to speak, I felt his mind expand toward mine, a constant soft pressure like an unrelenting breeze. "Safe we can feel, knowing that even a ten-year-old girl, beyond the reach of his deadly blade is not."

The Grandmaster's mockery had its desired effect, and I forced myself to rise above the shame I felt from his chiding words as I answered him. "Partha has been doing this to Olana for three years, and to who knows how many others? I would not kill her out of malice, Master; simply from a knowledge of the path she has chosen, and the harm it brings."

"Sense no malice in you, can I. True this much is," Yoda conceded. "Yet, a subtler flaw I see. A flaw that to the Dark Side can also lead."

The ancient Grinzellian climbed down from his seat and limped slowly over to me. I bent down in my own chair until our noses nearly touched. Finally he said, in almost a whisper, "Compassion you lack. Through all living things, the Force flows. Great evil one can carry out, in the name of a greater good, when justice one pursues without compassion."

He held my gaze for a minute longer, and I received his mind as it reached into mine. He made no attempt to push anywhere or move anything; he was simply looking. After a minute, he gave a nod and a small grunt of assent, and turned to return to his seat. "Under our watch for some time, Partha Nellis has been. Much to learn she still has, but committed to a Dark path she is not."

I felt my own surprise at this claim by the Grandmaster. "What Partha has been doing… the Order is already aware of it? The Temple trainers?"

Yoda barely nodded, while Qui-Gon spoke up with an exasperated sigh. "We have dealt with this so many times, Obi-wan. Your unique knowledge doesn't mean you are the only one who sees or does anything in the Order."

"If you knew, why hasn't anything been done?" I tried hard to stifle the rising anger and defensiveness I felt on my student's behalf. "Why permit Olana to be attacked in this way?"

"If talk to their teachers you had, as was your responsibility," Yoda said with some satisfaction, "then know their reasoning you would." He turned to face me again as he made it up into his too-tall chair. "For now, contemplate the matter you can.

"But, this much I say to you, my young savior." Yoda's mind pushed at me, and I realized I didn't have the strength to resist him even if I had wanted to try. For the first time in a decade I heard him speak with genuine, incontrovertible force. "Harm Partha Nellis you will not. Your student, Olana is, and your Padawan she will be. How you have taught her so far, I greatly approve. But to judge over others of the Order, your role is not, Obi-wan."

"Yes, Master," was all I said, and turned my chair back to the helm.

For much of the rest of the journey to Kamino, I thought about what Master Yoda had said, and about my own role and my relationship with the Order. The most intriguing element for me, though, was that I felt no resentment towards the Grandmaster. Even when his mind met mine as he was scolding me, I sensed no contempt for me, no disgust at what I had planned. He cared, genuinely, that I learn a better way and make better decisions. He had compassion in abundance, even for me.

Qui-Gon had shown and taught me the same ideas for years, on a smaller and subtler scale, and I had rejected the lessons as unnecessary attachment. Perhaps my calculations were overly cold, and that could lead me to destroy what might otherwise be redeemed.

One thing was certain: I would watch the training of Partha Nellis with great interest.