The Kenobi Underground
Part VI
State of Affairs
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"All Okew attention, please. This meeting has now officially begun. Primary concern is the Compromise Agenda. Padawan Lore is up to speak on the matter."
Lore bowed to the High Okew before she stepped up to the translucent podium, hands at her sides, eyes sweeping her audience:
"Our agent, Padawan Cynn, made first contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi this night. Through Padawan Cynn's help, my own and some other manipulations via sources who wish to remain unknown, we have been able to arrange for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Cynn to become team mates in the upcoming Senior Padawan trials."
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"I heard nothing more. They moved out of range."
"Thank you, Engineer Bian. Your coming forth has been duly appreciated."
"Call on you again, we may. Dismissed are you."
"Thank you, Masters," and with a bow, the engineer exited the room.
"I wonder if this is even a true threat."
"If it is empty, we still must investigate it."
"There are many whom do not like our involvement. We cannot investigate every flippant remark made, and sentient of all walks are bound to make them."
"Close to the Temple, this was. Too close."
"Master Yoda is right. We must look into this further."
"Issue a meeting with all Knights, we will."
"We must also get into the matter of this unknown group the engineer mentioned. Obviously, it has something very intimate to do with our padawan body."
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"Good evening, Master. You seem weary," Obi-Wan refused himself the question straddling his teeth as Qui-Gon entered their quarters in an almost boneless albeit regal state.
"I am tired, padawan."
"There is food already set out for you, although it might be a bit cool. You were rather late," he added the last part almost too nonchalantly. He wanted to know what had been so urgent, but kept his heart in a steady beat. It had to be something big. He'd never known all of the Masters to be called at once.
"Yes, there was something to discuss with the Council," his master explained as he disrobed and sat at the humble table, "I will tell you before our meditation."
"Yes, Master."
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"If there are any who'll help us in the Jedi, they're few 'n far between. We went after limited contact with the Okew Order inside the Temple, but by the reaction, there'll be no cooperation."
"Think contactin' them made 'em suspicious?"
"Of course, but with this li'l gadget here, they're not likely to remember anything a'tall."
"Yes, but they are Jedi. They have those mind woogly-boggly things."
Engineer Bian stopped at the corner just out of sight, hearing the word 'Jedi' and having his hackles tickle across his neck. He listened intently, hand gripping the machinery satchel tightly.
"Not Jedi."
"Some from the Order were, weren't they?"
"Close to it, but we avoided them."
"How do we get the padawan, then, if the Order won't help?"
"We have to monitor the padawan's movements, and get 'em when the time's ripe."
"Won't be easy."
"Nothin' worth trying is ever easy, nimwit... Besides…" the voices floated away on the wind as the two moved off.
They're going to take the padawan?… They're planning on taking the padawans. I hafta inform the Council.
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"How can the Council be so worked up over this?" Obi-Wan Kenobi was crouched on the pallet, staring at his master in the half-light of their mainroom window.
"Obi-Wan, it was a threat on the lives of the Jedi Padawan. It must be taken seriously."
"It was only two, Master. Just two," Kenobi insisted.
"Learn this, my padawan: never count the mouths of a threat; know it is a threat and know only that while it is still a threat."
"Yes, Master."
"You worked in the salles while I was gone?"
"Yes, Master, with my partner for the upcoming trials."
"Padawan Cynn. I've heard some about her. She seems a good partner for you."
"A little strong willed and odd, but I agree. Did you know that she can see?"
"Yes, I did, padawan."
"Why does she not?"
"She simply chooses not to see. She uses the Force. She's on a different learning tract than yours, Obi-Wan."
"She's in Light Arts, isn't she, Master?"
A nod as the broad man settled down and took a long breath, "She is."
Obi-Wan took pause. Cynn hadn't mentioned this, though he should have known for certain earlier. He thought back on their… meal.
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It was simply decided between them that since their masters were out to Council, they would eat together, get to know one another to strengthen their bond for the tests ahead.
Cynn practically gawked at the speedy rate at which her fellow padawan ate. She stared. She hadn't bothered to go back into Force sight, yet, but she would soon enough. Seeing physically would bore her before long, she was sure.
Kenobi's presence had been dominant at once, but had lacked in any unique impressions until they were well into their second match. He kept himself locked away and truly let the Jedi in him shine. She had to respect him for that. Most she'd encountered had let their character selves be ruled and changed by the Jedi image. She had refused to do so and it seemed that this one had as well. Interesting that he was worshipped merely for his looks. It was a sad state of affairs.
He'd make a great Jedi Knight one day. She knew it. She remained wary, however. This boy could be more than what he seemed, but not in the good sense. Jedi were creatures of the light, but not devoid of flaws, staggering flaws she'd discovered before.
"Where are you, Padawan Cynn?" came his Deep Core accent lacing her mind. She'd let it drift, staring at him -- almost leering at him. He looked only slightly uncomfortable under her absent study.
"I apologize. I was thinking upon the tournament coming up."
"Yes, I think we will work well together," the sentence came out almost cryptically, though he had merely been cautious as to how she'd take it.
She smirked rather wickedly, forgoing (as usual) the external Jedi calm, "And as opponents."
"I do wonder how that will go, who will prevail, that is," he took a none too quaint bite of what was left of his food. There was a twinkle in his catlike eyes.
The smirk turned into a feigned frown, "There will be no hard feelings, Padawan Kenobi. You must take defeat like the Jedi you are."
He almost grinned, though he kept it in, slapping on a neutral expression before downing a swallow of drink, "If I must, I must, Cynn. And if you lose…"
Her smile flashed over her plain face and lit it up to where he paused his eating utensil midlift and gaped in his own Obi-Wan way with blank eyes and a disengaged set to his mouth. Her voice rang off the air between them, a devilish tilt of her chin, "If I lose, you know banthas will fly."
"Arrogance doesn't suit a padawan learner, Cynn," Kenobi chided, a twitch to the corner of his lips, "Besides, banthas have been known to travel light."
She grimaced, "That was a poor joke, Padawan Kenobi. I believe bad jokes such as the one you most recently uttered lead to the Dark Side."
"Then my master would most certainly be a lord sith by now."
She'd barely eaten, setting her fork down and leaning forward on her folded arms, "I must meet him, this Qui-Gon Jinn."
"Oh, he would like you well enough. I assure you that much," Kenobi had tackled yet another plate of food.
"Why do you say that?" She eyed him coolly, unsure of how he would answer.
He glanced up at her through thick, dark lashes, a cocky smirk allowed on his face, "You remind me much of him, his defiance and even fighting style. It's almost like fighting my master when he was a padawan."
"I am to become another Qui-Gon Jinn, am I? Is that a compliment, Obi-Wan Kenobi? Surely, it can't be," She prodded on, seemingly catching him in a slip up, but alas…
"It is, Padawan Cynn. Learn to deal with the truth," and back to eating he went.
She felt her spine go rigid. What was he doing with her? Perhaps he had a power within the Force she'd yet to ascertain. One thing was for sure, this foreign prickle of lightning through her nerve endings was not of her own creation. She was in dire need of meditation.
She excused herself politely enough and went to her quarters and directly to the meditation mat before her window. This was serious. She felt her desire to be one with the Force again override any other sensation. This was too much.
She was just reacting to the Kenobi folklore.
That was it.
That had to be it.
To all hells with Kenobi and his followers, she thought as she let her sight slip away and commune with her beloved: the Force.
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"We have to tell the Council."
"How will we be able to do that without revealing the Order?"
"This is bigger than the Order."
"Every Okew will be punished for this."
"Then we tell them what we're doing…"
"We?!"
"I need you."
"I won't do it. It costs too much. There's another way."
"This is important. This is the life of Kenobi. There is no room for hesitation."
"Why Kenobi… Why him… of all padawans…"
"There's no telling. A mission to some world must have brought him in contact with these people. We have to inform the Council. They know enough. They're already questioning for the Order's existence and nature. If we come forward now, there will be less repercussions."
"Fine. I will call the Okews for tomorrow afternoon."
"No later than that. I'm going without you if I must; though, -- I tell you now -- it will be easier if you come with me."
"If anyone's doing the telling, I must."
"But… I was the one who was there. I was the one the man asked."
"I am the High Okew. I will be there to represent and explain."
"Force be with us."
"Force be with us all."