The Kenobi Underground

Part III

Okew in Order

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"All Okews silence. Silence, please, padawans. As most of you know, the reason for this meeting is very grave. The association's integrity has been compromised. Earlier today, one of our own discovered this by Kenobi's racey behavior after the Sabre Delight was through. Does anyone know how Kenobi might have found us out?"

Intense quiet… some whispers brimming the closed area.

Then… Padawan Bekki stood slowly along with a friend that had sat beside her, "Our Kenobi data pad is missing. [a round of gasps and voices rise and settle] We've looked for it but to no avail."

"What was on the data pad?" someone called out.

Bekki's trepidation jumped a notch. Her companion spoke up however, "Nothing about the Obi-Order, we think, but we're not sure… just particulars concerning Kenobi himself."

"Obi-Praise…" was the whispered word.

"Yes," both girls said at the same time.

"Silence… Silence, please. Padawan Bekki, you have been an Okew for nearly five revolutions… and the Obi-Order has been around for six years. Obviously you did not take the precautions and so you are banned from Sabre Delight for six weeks. Since your friend has been apart of us for only one revolution, she will be sentenced half that time."

A subdued hush saturated the room. It was a fair punishment.

"Now, onto the main point. How does this affect our presence? Should we absolve?"

There was a moment of quiet and then… "No…" -- "Negative…" became the crowding mantra.

"But what do we do about this development?"

There were rippling voices of talk… then someone from the back stood.

"High Okew…"

"Who requests audience?"

"Padawan Lore does."

"Do you have a suggestion Padawan Lore?"

"I say we send someone in as intelligence and see just how much Obi-Wan Kenobi knows about the Order and how he will use the information."

The High Okew considered this and nodded slowly, "That is a reasonable and effective petition. All in favor…?"

It was nearly unanimous.

"Alright, then… Who do we send…"

Utter and complete silence.

"Send the High Okew…" someone proposed. The slight laughter and tones were cut though by Lore's raised voice.

"We send someone who is immune to the… [a breath] Kenobi Trance."

Calls ruptured like leaves in a fall hurricane:

"No one's immune!"

"They wouldn't be trustworthy!"

"Who could be immune?"

"How would we find someone like that?"

Raised hands from the High Okew slowed the cries, "Please, calm. Everyone stay calm and be quiet. [the figure contemplated the Okew speaker who, until tonight, had been fairly obscure] Padawan Lore, that is an excellent idea, but where do we find someone like this who is trustworthy?"

Lore looked only barely rattled by the hundreds of eyes on her, "We get someone from outside the Order."

"That's ridiculous!" a shout came.

"No, it's not," Lore said almost menacingly, "It's the only way."

"And Padawan Lore, do you know of such an individual?" came the High Okew rather curiously from the platform.

The okewan padawan nodded slowly, "Yes, I know of such a person."

And so, it began.