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"Very well, where should we begin searching?" Xichu wanted to get started. She felt angry with herself for falling for such an obvious trap.
Qui-gon looked around the room. He realized that all the Masters were harboring a guilty conscience. He knew the feeling well since he himself had felt responsible for loosing his Padawan. "First we should stop blaming ourselves for what has happened. It will be difficult but we are not all powerful. The future is not so easy to see. And even the simplest of tricks can fool the best of us. Then we will be able to follow Twik's path with an open mind to see if there is any indication of what happened to him. Then continue on through the abductions." MiraCyn joined J'fidah next to the table. The Masters rose and they left the room.
*****
"Sit at a desk, and we will begin." Serrine motioned the students into the room. They each found a desk and waited. Serrine continued, "What is the Jedi Order? What is it's purpose?"
Pet-trie raised her hand. Serrine nodded. "The Jedi Order is a group of Force sensitive beings that help maintain peace throughout the galaxy."
Serrine shook her head, "No, Pet-trie that is not correct. The Jedi Order was established to destroy the fundamental basis of the galaxy. By destroying worlds little by little they will be able to control the galaxy themselves."
"That's ridiculous. The Jedi are the most respected people in the galaxy next to the Senate. That's not true," Tesahn blurted out.
"If they are so respected then there shouldn't be fear, anger and resentment against them. But there are many worlds that believe the Senate is a puppet government for the Jedi." She spoke plainly enough and believed every word she said. The Jedi looked at each other incredulously.
"They are only feared because they are a mystery to some planets. There is always a fear of the unknown." Twik said.
"And others are angry and resent the Jedi because their criminal behavior was stopped by Jedi." Tinarah added.
Tesahn joined in, "Most of the worlds respect the Jedi because they helped stop injustices on their worlds. And assisted in creating governments that bettered their lifestyles."
Serrine denied, "That is what you are taught and made to believe. Those criminal lords, as you call them, are usually the legitimate rulers of their worlds. The Jedi destroy what is in place in order to seize the world for their own purposes. The Jedi don't mind coming in, so called, helping re-establish a government and then leaving only to return when it suited them. They do not see how, in some cases, they have sent a world on a downward spiral."
"You're lying! The Jedi often return to a planet to check on their progress. They desire peace for all creatures. They could not be evil." Pet-trie shouted.
"Really? How long do you spend training for fighting skills? Combat analysis perhaps? Tell me." Serrine questioned.
There was silence for a couple of minutes as the students accessed their memories. Saber training and combat skills were often long periods of the day. Strategic thinking and battle planning were also part of the week's schedule. A Jedi needed to be able to see all aspects of a situation, formulate and then execute a plan within seconds. They realized that Serrine's point might be valid. Only in regards to the steps taken to prepare a Jedi for any combative situation, not that they sought it out.
"So. You see, you are trained to do battle. If the Jedi desire peace so badly then why is fighting such a dominant subject in their training?" Serrine punctuated her words.
"A Jedi must be ready for all situations that they may face, but a Jedi never seeks out conflict." Twik spoke aloud, but his voice was not as confident as it had been moments ago.
Serrine half-smiled when she heard his response. She had created the doubt she was hoping for. "Peace can only be found when all parties are willing to compromise, but the Jedi feel they are beyond the law. Padawan's, when going to a peaceful convention do you give your weapons up freely without hesitation?"
"Even at peaceful demonstrations danger can lurk. We are there to protect. We cannot do our job if we have no means to do it." Twik answered. "You cannot expect a law enforcer to relinquish his sidearm if he feels there is reason for him to be armed. It is the same for Jedi."
Serrine took in his words and then replied, "Jedi always seem to expect danger. And where danger is expected, danger will reveal itself." She turned away from the students. "The Jedi cannot offer peace when they continue to destroy the basis of society in the galaxy." The students looked at each other again, confused on what she was getting at. "Do any of you know your family? Do you know who your parents and siblings are? When was the last time you saw them?"
The group said nothing. None of them had seen their families since they made their choice at age five. MysAri was one of the rare exceptions that had a relative in the Order. Most would never speak with their blood family again. The Jedi was their family now. They respected the need to protect their relatives by not associating with them often, if at all. Keeping in contact with family could place them at unnecessary risk. "None of us have seen our parents since we were five. We made our choice to stay in the Order. We are protecting them this way." Pet-trie said.
"Are you protecting them or denying them their family? Families can easily be ripped apart by the loss of a child, and even more so when the child is given away. How many families have you seen destroyed by a child dying or gone missing? Have you ever seen the destruction of a family that had let their child enter the Jedi Order?" Serrine's eyes penetrated their soul as she passed from one pupil to the next. Obi-wan had remained silent. He had been in similar situations and knew arguing would get them no where. He needed to understand the motives in order to retaliate. However, at this new line of questions, Obi-wan could not meet her gaze. At her prompting, he felt the deep guilt he tried to suppress from his Master. In his many missions with Qui-gon he had seen many families torn apart. His experience on Melida/Daan amplified her argument. In addition, he had seen at least two families destroyed, both from Telos, partly due to the Jedi. He had inadvertently killed a Jedi student and felt the anger of the boy's father and brother. It was possible if the darkside was allowed to take over. Serrine noticed Obi-wan's aversion. "You know what I am talking about, don't you?" She halted in front of Obi-wan and cupped his chin. She brought his eyes up to meet hers and she could see that he knew. "Tell them. How were those families destroyed?"
Obi-wan hesitated but knew he had to answer. He remembered Fiza's warning. He felt the cuff on his arm and did not want the others to suffer if he did not comply. Fiza had remained in the corner but perked when Serrine had questioned him. Fiza toyed with a control rod in his hand. Obi-wan knew it activated the cuffs. "I have seen two families destroyed. My Master's first Padawan denounced the Jedi when my Master killed his father. His heart filled with vengeance. He had repeatedly tried to kill us and destroy the Jedi. He convinced another student to help him sabotage the Temple. They captured my friend and were going to kill her. All of us fought. And I. I watched the Student fall to his death. I tried to save him but I couldn't." He skirted around the details trying not to let his guilt overpower him, but it was difficult.
"Why did he fall?" She prodded at his raw emotions.
"We fought, I couldn't let him kill my friend. He slipped on the moss- covered rocks at the top of the waterfall. I reached for him but couldn't grab him." Obi-wan reasoned, glancing down at his hand. He still remembered Bruck's fingers graze his own.
"Did you really try to save him? Or did you simply let him die?" Serrine knew he felt guilty and exploited his feelings.
Obi-wan searched for words, "I have to believe I did all I could to save him. I cannot imagine that I would let him fall. That would not be the Jedi way."
"Again we hear about the noble Jedi philosophy. Your Jedi code did not stop you from hating him, did it? And so let him die. You may as well have pushed him to his death." Obi-wan's heart clenched. She had seen into the depths of his heart and pulled out every doubt he had about his battle with Bruck. He turned his eyes back to the floor and battled the doubts within. He knew what she was trying to do, and he could not let her win. MysAri was sitting next to him and when Serrine turned around quickly touched his arm and pulled back. He glanced at her and saw an apologetic sorrow in her darkened emerald eyes. Serrine lectured now about the evils of the Jedi. She had accomplished her goal and doubt hung in the air.
*****
The Jedi had walked along the avenues to the Senator's apartment. They found nothing along the way to indicate what had happened to Twik. They were now heading towards the spot where Xichu had been ambushed. MiraCyn began to lag behind the group and Qui-gon fell in step beside her. He felt she was his only link to his Padawan and was anxious about her contacts with her sister. "Do you sense something?" He asked her.
"Only some sadness and doubt. I'm not sure why, but that is what I'm getting." MiraCyn looked up at the tall Jedi. She could see the worry underlying his features. "How long have you been together?"
"Three years now. We have been through quite a lot. I dislike this void between us." He spoke truthfully and he could tell she appreciated it.
"Maybe someday you will not need the Force to be connected." She smiled at him and Qui-gon returned the favor. Her innocence and thoughtfulness touched him.
"This is where I landed the speeder." Xichu announced bringing them back to the moment. "I had felt a disturbance in the Force and told the students to wait while I investigated. I went into this alleyway. I found a person lying on the ground, when I approached they scratched my hand. Then the world twisted around me and I passed out. When I awoke the speeder was still parked but none of my students were there." The group looked in the alleyway and the surrounding area for anything that might give them a clue to the abductors or the missing Jedi.
Qui-gon was busy searching a dark corner of the alley when he felt something. It was like a familiar scent floated on a breeze that passed by. But natural breezes did not occur on Coruscant. He thought about where they were and realized that this was a possible route that Obi-wan might have taken. He stood and left the alley. Qui-gon continued down the block and found another access road. The sensation became stronger and he entered the back street following his instincts. He stopped near the end and stood. For an instant he felt dizzy but it quickly passed. Suddenly, he realized that this is where Obi-wan had been captured. "I'm sure he's alright." Mira's voice cut through the silence. Qui-gon spun around to face the girl. She was the only one to follow him. "They are alive, Master Qui-gon, and we will find them."
"I know we will." Qui-gon recalled the brief sensation that he knew to be Obi-wan. Sith, how he missed the boy already. "Obi-wan was always good at leaving mental traces." Qui-gon commented as he moved toward her. She watched the sorrow creep into his eyes as he thought. Not knowing how else to comfort the Jedi Master, MiraCyn simply stretched out a hand. Qui-gon accepted it. Together they walked back to the others to report their findings.
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"Very well, where should we begin searching?" Xichu wanted to get started. She felt angry with herself for falling for such an obvious trap.
Qui-gon looked around the room. He realized that all the Masters were harboring a guilty conscience. He knew the feeling well since he himself had felt responsible for loosing his Padawan. "First we should stop blaming ourselves for what has happened. It will be difficult but we are not all powerful. The future is not so easy to see. And even the simplest of tricks can fool the best of us. Then we will be able to follow Twik's path with an open mind to see if there is any indication of what happened to him. Then continue on through the abductions." MiraCyn joined J'fidah next to the table. The Masters rose and they left the room.
*****
"Sit at a desk, and we will begin." Serrine motioned the students into the room. They each found a desk and waited. Serrine continued, "What is the Jedi Order? What is it's purpose?"
Pet-trie raised her hand. Serrine nodded. "The Jedi Order is a group of Force sensitive beings that help maintain peace throughout the galaxy."
Serrine shook her head, "No, Pet-trie that is not correct. The Jedi Order was established to destroy the fundamental basis of the galaxy. By destroying worlds little by little they will be able to control the galaxy themselves."
"That's ridiculous. The Jedi are the most respected people in the galaxy next to the Senate. That's not true," Tesahn blurted out.
"If they are so respected then there shouldn't be fear, anger and resentment against them. But there are many worlds that believe the Senate is a puppet government for the Jedi." She spoke plainly enough and believed every word she said. The Jedi looked at each other incredulously.
"They are only feared because they are a mystery to some planets. There is always a fear of the unknown." Twik said.
"And others are angry and resent the Jedi because their criminal behavior was stopped by Jedi." Tinarah added.
Tesahn joined in, "Most of the worlds respect the Jedi because they helped stop injustices on their worlds. And assisted in creating governments that bettered their lifestyles."
Serrine denied, "That is what you are taught and made to believe. Those criminal lords, as you call them, are usually the legitimate rulers of their worlds. The Jedi destroy what is in place in order to seize the world for their own purposes. The Jedi don't mind coming in, so called, helping re-establish a government and then leaving only to return when it suited them. They do not see how, in some cases, they have sent a world on a downward spiral."
"You're lying! The Jedi often return to a planet to check on their progress. They desire peace for all creatures. They could not be evil." Pet-trie shouted.
"Really? How long do you spend training for fighting skills? Combat analysis perhaps? Tell me." Serrine questioned.
There was silence for a couple of minutes as the students accessed their memories. Saber training and combat skills were often long periods of the day. Strategic thinking and battle planning were also part of the week's schedule. A Jedi needed to be able to see all aspects of a situation, formulate and then execute a plan within seconds. They realized that Serrine's point might be valid. Only in regards to the steps taken to prepare a Jedi for any combative situation, not that they sought it out.
"So. You see, you are trained to do battle. If the Jedi desire peace so badly then why is fighting such a dominant subject in their training?" Serrine punctuated her words.
"A Jedi must be ready for all situations that they may face, but a Jedi never seeks out conflict." Twik spoke aloud, but his voice was not as confident as it had been moments ago.
Serrine half-smiled when she heard his response. She had created the doubt she was hoping for. "Peace can only be found when all parties are willing to compromise, but the Jedi feel they are beyond the law. Padawan's, when going to a peaceful convention do you give your weapons up freely without hesitation?"
"Even at peaceful demonstrations danger can lurk. We are there to protect. We cannot do our job if we have no means to do it." Twik answered. "You cannot expect a law enforcer to relinquish his sidearm if he feels there is reason for him to be armed. It is the same for Jedi."
Serrine took in his words and then replied, "Jedi always seem to expect danger. And where danger is expected, danger will reveal itself." She turned away from the students. "The Jedi cannot offer peace when they continue to destroy the basis of society in the galaxy." The students looked at each other again, confused on what she was getting at. "Do any of you know your family? Do you know who your parents and siblings are? When was the last time you saw them?"
The group said nothing. None of them had seen their families since they made their choice at age five. MysAri was one of the rare exceptions that had a relative in the Order. Most would never speak with their blood family again. The Jedi was their family now. They respected the need to protect their relatives by not associating with them often, if at all. Keeping in contact with family could place them at unnecessary risk. "None of us have seen our parents since we were five. We made our choice to stay in the Order. We are protecting them this way." Pet-trie said.
"Are you protecting them or denying them their family? Families can easily be ripped apart by the loss of a child, and even more so when the child is given away. How many families have you seen destroyed by a child dying or gone missing? Have you ever seen the destruction of a family that had let their child enter the Jedi Order?" Serrine's eyes penetrated their soul as she passed from one pupil to the next. Obi-wan had remained silent. He had been in similar situations and knew arguing would get them no where. He needed to understand the motives in order to retaliate. However, at this new line of questions, Obi-wan could not meet her gaze. At her prompting, he felt the deep guilt he tried to suppress from his Master. In his many missions with Qui-gon he had seen many families torn apart. His experience on Melida/Daan amplified her argument. In addition, he had seen at least two families destroyed, both from Telos, partly due to the Jedi. He had inadvertently killed a Jedi student and felt the anger of the boy's father and brother. It was possible if the darkside was allowed to take over. Serrine noticed Obi-wan's aversion. "You know what I am talking about, don't you?" She halted in front of Obi-wan and cupped his chin. She brought his eyes up to meet hers and she could see that he knew. "Tell them. How were those families destroyed?"
Obi-wan hesitated but knew he had to answer. He remembered Fiza's warning. He felt the cuff on his arm and did not want the others to suffer if he did not comply. Fiza had remained in the corner but perked when Serrine had questioned him. Fiza toyed with a control rod in his hand. Obi-wan knew it activated the cuffs. "I have seen two families destroyed. My Master's first Padawan denounced the Jedi when my Master killed his father. His heart filled with vengeance. He had repeatedly tried to kill us and destroy the Jedi. He convinced another student to help him sabotage the Temple. They captured my friend and were going to kill her. All of us fought. And I. I watched the Student fall to his death. I tried to save him but I couldn't." He skirted around the details trying not to let his guilt overpower him, but it was difficult.
"Why did he fall?" She prodded at his raw emotions.
"We fought, I couldn't let him kill my friend. He slipped on the moss- covered rocks at the top of the waterfall. I reached for him but couldn't grab him." Obi-wan reasoned, glancing down at his hand. He still remembered Bruck's fingers graze his own.
"Did you really try to save him? Or did you simply let him die?" Serrine knew he felt guilty and exploited his feelings.
Obi-wan searched for words, "I have to believe I did all I could to save him. I cannot imagine that I would let him fall. That would not be the Jedi way."
"Again we hear about the noble Jedi philosophy. Your Jedi code did not stop you from hating him, did it? And so let him die. You may as well have pushed him to his death." Obi-wan's heart clenched. She had seen into the depths of his heart and pulled out every doubt he had about his battle with Bruck. He turned his eyes back to the floor and battled the doubts within. He knew what she was trying to do, and he could not let her win. MysAri was sitting next to him and when Serrine turned around quickly touched his arm and pulled back. He glanced at her and saw an apologetic sorrow in her darkened emerald eyes. Serrine lectured now about the evils of the Jedi. She had accomplished her goal and doubt hung in the air.
*****
The Jedi had walked along the avenues to the Senator's apartment. They found nothing along the way to indicate what had happened to Twik. They were now heading towards the spot where Xichu had been ambushed. MiraCyn began to lag behind the group and Qui-gon fell in step beside her. He felt she was his only link to his Padawan and was anxious about her contacts with her sister. "Do you sense something?" He asked her.
"Only some sadness and doubt. I'm not sure why, but that is what I'm getting." MiraCyn looked up at the tall Jedi. She could see the worry underlying his features. "How long have you been together?"
"Three years now. We have been through quite a lot. I dislike this void between us." He spoke truthfully and he could tell she appreciated it.
"Maybe someday you will not need the Force to be connected." She smiled at him and Qui-gon returned the favor. Her innocence and thoughtfulness touched him.
"This is where I landed the speeder." Xichu announced bringing them back to the moment. "I had felt a disturbance in the Force and told the students to wait while I investigated. I went into this alleyway. I found a person lying on the ground, when I approached they scratched my hand. Then the world twisted around me and I passed out. When I awoke the speeder was still parked but none of my students were there." The group looked in the alleyway and the surrounding area for anything that might give them a clue to the abductors or the missing Jedi.
Qui-gon was busy searching a dark corner of the alley when he felt something. It was like a familiar scent floated on a breeze that passed by. But natural breezes did not occur on Coruscant. He thought about where they were and realized that this was a possible route that Obi-wan might have taken. He stood and left the alley. Qui-gon continued down the block and found another access road. The sensation became stronger and he entered the back street following his instincts. He stopped near the end and stood. For an instant he felt dizzy but it quickly passed. Suddenly, he realized that this is where Obi-wan had been captured. "I'm sure he's alright." Mira's voice cut through the silence. Qui-gon spun around to face the girl. She was the only one to follow him. "They are alive, Master Qui-gon, and we will find them."
"I know we will." Qui-gon recalled the brief sensation that he knew to be Obi-wan. Sith, how he missed the boy already. "Obi-wan was always good at leaving mental traces." Qui-gon commented as he moved toward her. She watched the sorrow creep into his eyes as he thought. Not knowing how else to comfort the Jedi Master, MiraCyn simply stretched out a hand. Qui-gon accepted it. Together they walked back to the others to report their findings.
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