Obi-Wan walked in front of Qui-Gon for the first time in his remembered
life. For once, he was the expert on the planet. And Obi-Wan didn't even
notice. He had grown used to his solitude, but he certainly didn't mind Qui-
Gon's presence. Obi-Wan took no pleasure from the fact that for once, he
was actually in front of Qui-Gon.
Nield talked about the situation as they walked back to the capitol building, where the Jedi's quarters would be.
"As you know, Obi-Wan, we've grown a lot since the Civil Wars ended. Just take a look at our city. Most of this is due to your efforts here."
"It has prospered, there is no doubt about that. But what is this I hear about terrorist activities? I assume that you didn't just call upon the Jedi to reminisce," prodded Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon stared at Obi-Wan in wonder. The boy he once knew would have been too overtaken by emotion and the bonds of friendship to even have a hope of staying on topic. Yet here he was, reminding a childhood friend to pay attention to the situation at hand.
What had happened to Obi-Wan?
And then it hit Qui-Gon that his apprentice had grown up. Obi-Wan was not the boy he had once known, for he had grown in wisdom and ability. He had experience.
And he was a true Jedi. Qui-Gon was going to have to learn to look upon his former apprentice as an equal.
Obi-Wan felt a strange surge of conflicting emotions from Qui-Gon, but he couldn't exactly pinpoint the feeling.
Nield began again, "No, I suppose this isn't a social hour, is it? Maybe when you've fixed this problem, we will have time to talk."
"Perhaps," remarked Obi-Wan calmly.
"So for the past year, terrorists have been striking blows at some of our major centers. More recently, they've been raiding our Halls of Evidence,"
"I recall being part of such a raid in my youth," commented Obi-Wan wisely. Qui-Gon took the implication.
"Are you sure that another ground on the planet is not striking out as you once did?" asked Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan nodded in his direction. The two Jedi had been thinking the same thing.
"We are fairly sure, although these things are never certain. My intelligence council points to one of our moons, Rotna 5," answered Nield.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Melan has never had trouble with any of the moons in the past."
"We know. You'll have to talk to intelligence to find out the specific details on the attacks and why we suspect Rotna 5. I've been so busy calming the public and working on defense issues that I haven't had time to really work on the attacks themselves. That's why I called for your help. The capitol building is swamped. I have almost all of my people working around the clock. I fear that if we do not get some sort of a break on this issue soon, the people are not going to be happy."
"I know how you feel. I have suffered through a great deal of similar situations in my life. But these things pass in time. We will talk to intelligence as soon as we can," promised Obi-Wan.
"President Nield, since you cannot tell us about the attacks in detail, tell us what you know about your defenses. I suppose that the capitol building has suitable protection?" asked Qui-Gon.
"Most of my defenses are positioned elsewhere, actually. The capitol building has guards in place at every entrance, and there are cameras surrounding the vicinity. My guards are mostly stationed around the Halls of Evidence and our largest building that has not been hit, the Center of Defense. We also have people patrolling the residential areas and the storehouses where a lot of our weapons are kept. Those are all underground and are always on a close watch," answered Nield.
"I know," said Obi-Wan, "I created them."
Nield laughed. "So you did! You probably remember more about our defense systems than me, especially since some of those creations of yours have been in existence for many years."
"I'm sure that things have changed a little in twelve years, Nield."
"You'd be surprised. Our new Chief of Security loved most of your ideas. In fact, many of the things that you came up with are still around," said Nield.
"How sad," said Obi-Wan, "my ideas weren't that good."
Nield laughed again. "Your ideas brought peace to my planet."
"You give me too much credit."
The three men and the guards arrived at the capitol building. Nield showed them to their quarters, and then left, promising to return later. The two Jedi made their way to the intelligence wing.
"Any ideas?" Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon as they walked through the corridors. The elder Jedi had been walking in silence for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.
"Not really. We have been given virtually no information on the attacks themselves that would lead us to suspect Rotna 5. In fact, we don't have enough information to suspect anybody. Nield was very vague on those details, which is odd, especially since the attacks were the reason we were called here."
"I agree. I was surprised by how little Nield knew."
Qui-Gon was stunned.
You're not going to defend Nield? Qui-Gon thought to himself.
Obi-Wan surprised him by saying, "No, I'm not going to defend Nield. Sometimes, even the most unexpected people are guilty of the crime."
"Very good, Obi-Wan. You've learned not to be influenced by outside forces."
"Thank you, Mas--- Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan flushed with embarrassment. He had been working hard not to make that mistake, and he had let up his concentration.
"Sorry," Obi-Wan muttered softly.
"No need to apologize. After my Knighting, I called my former master 'Master' a thousand times before I finally grew out of it."
Obi-Wan nodded, even though he knew it wasn't exactly the same for him as it had been for Qui-Gon.
The two Jedi walked into the intelligence wing.
Nield talked about the situation as they walked back to the capitol building, where the Jedi's quarters would be.
"As you know, Obi-Wan, we've grown a lot since the Civil Wars ended. Just take a look at our city. Most of this is due to your efforts here."
"It has prospered, there is no doubt about that. But what is this I hear about terrorist activities? I assume that you didn't just call upon the Jedi to reminisce," prodded Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon stared at Obi-Wan in wonder. The boy he once knew would have been too overtaken by emotion and the bonds of friendship to even have a hope of staying on topic. Yet here he was, reminding a childhood friend to pay attention to the situation at hand.
What had happened to Obi-Wan?
And then it hit Qui-Gon that his apprentice had grown up. Obi-Wan was not the boy he had once known, for he had grown in wisdom and ability. He had experience.
And he was a true Jedi. Qui-Gon was going to have to learn to look upon his former apprentice as an equal.
Obi-Wan felt a strange surge of conflicting emotions from Qui-Gon, but he couldn't exactly pinpoint the feeling.
Nield began again, "No, I suppose this isn't a social hour, is it? Maybe when you've fixed this problem, we will have time to talk."
"Perhaps," remarked Obi-Wan calmly.
"So for the past year, terrorists have been striking blows at some of our major centers. More recently, they've been raiding our Halls of Evidence,"
"I recall being part of such a raid in my youth," commented Obi-Wan wisely. Qui-Gon took the implication.
"Are you sure that another ground on the planet is not striking out as you once did?" asked Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan nodded in his direction. The two Jedi had been thinking the same thing.
"We are fairly sure, although these things are never certain. My intelligence council points to one of our moons, Rotna 5," answered Nield.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Melan has never had trouble with any of the moons in the past."
"We know. You'll have to talk to intelligence to find out the specific details on the attacks and why we suspect Rotna 5. I've been so busy calming the public and working on defense issues that I haven't had time to really work on the attacks themselves. That's why I called for your help. The capitol building is swamped. I have almost all of my people working around the clock. I fear that if we do not get some sort of a break on this issue soon, the people are not going to be happy."
"I know how you feel. I have suffered through a great deal of similar situations in my life. But these things pass in time. We will talk to intelligence as soon as we can," promised Obi-Wan.
"President Nield, since you cannot tell us about the attacks in detail, tell us what you know about your defenses. I suppose that the capitol building has suitable protection?" asked Qui-Gon.
"Most of my defenses are positioned elsewhere, actually. The capitol building has guards in place at every entrance, and there are cameras surrounding the vicinity. My guards are mostly stationed around the Halls of Evidence and our largest building that has not been hit, the Center of Defense. We also have people patrolling the residential areas and the storehouses where a lot of our weapons are kept. Those are all underground and are always on a close watch," answered Nield.
"I know," said Obi-Wan, "I created them."
Nield laughed. "So you did! You probably remember more about our defense systems than me, especially since some of those creations of yours have been in existence for many years."
"I'm sure that things have changed a little in twelve years, Nield."
"You'd be surprised. Our new Chief of Security loved most of your ideas. In fact, many of the things that you came up with are still around," said Nield.
"How sad," said Obi-Wan, "my ideas weren't that good."
Nield laughed again. "Your ideas brought peace to my planet."
"You give me too much credit."
The three men and the guards arrived at the capitol building. Nield showed them to their quarters, and then left, promising to return later. The two Jedi made their way to the intelligence wing.
"Any ideas?" Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon as they walked through the corridors. The elder Jedi had been walking in silence for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.
"Not really. We have been given virtually no information on the attacks themselves that would lead us to suspect Rotna 5. In fact, we don't have enough information to suspect anybody. Nield was very vague on those details, which is odd, especially since the attacks were the reason we were called here."
"I agree. I was surprised by how little Nield knew."
Qui-Gon was stunned.
You're not going to defend Nield? Qui-Gon thought to himself.
Obi-Wan surprised him by saying, "No, I'm not going to defend Nield. Sometimes, even the most unexpected people are guilty of the crime."
"Very good, Obi-Wan. You've learned not to be influenced by outside forces."
"Thank you, Mas--- Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan flushed with embarrassment. He had been working hard not to make that mistake, and he had let up his concentration.
"Sorry," Obi-Wan muttered softly.
"No need to apologize. After my Knighting, I called my former master 'Master' a thousand times before I finally grew out of it."
Obi-Wan nodded, even though he knew it wasn't exactly the same for him as it had been for Qui-Gon.
The two Jedi walked into the intelligence wing.