Chapter 8

AN: I am glad people are enjoying this story. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews.

Obi-Wan's mouth was still slightly open, even as the lights came on. He was in shock. He had never seen Siri like that before. She had looked beautiful. In fact, it was such a change; he almost wouldn't have believed it was her. However, her name was in the program and he could just tell it was her through the Force.

"Pardon me," a female humanoid spoke up, and Obi-Wan realized he was blocking the aisle from the others.

"I am sorry," he nodded to her and the others behind her as he quickly joined the crowds of beings filing out. They were all talking about the ballet and he did not hear one unkind word. It was a surprise, because even though he did not know much about dancing, he knew how critical the upper classes of Coruscant could be.

While most of the crowd seemed to be going to the main entrance were many speeders were waiting, Obi-Wan was trying to move against the crowd to find the door that would take him backstage. He wanted to see Siri to congratulate her. He was so focused on his mission on hand that he stumbled into someone.

"I am sor-" he stopped short when he looked up and found himself looking at his Master.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon spoke, his voice nor eyes showing any emotions such as surprise or disappointment. He was dressed in his best Jedi tunics. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Adi Gallia with him. She was in a simply cut dress that he assumed was from her homeworld.

"M...Masters," Obi-Wan managed, quickly getting over his shock. "This is a surprise," he added, for lack of anything better to say.

"We could say the same about you," Qui-Gon remarked. While his tone seemed firm, the older man's eyes held a small spark of mischief. Obi-Wan relaxed slightly at this. His master did not seem displeased. In fact, he seemed amused by this.

Adi, on the other hand, was not so easy to read. Glancing over at her, Obi-Wan found it was impossible to tell how she felt about this. She did not look upset, nor amused. The best way to describe her would be neutral. He knew that she and Siri worked well together, but he doubted that Adi would have allowed her to participate in such a performance. That meant that Siri had been sneaking out without her Master's permission. For a fleeting moment, Obi-Wan felt pity for his fellow Padawan, knowing that she might be in a lot of trouble.

"I wanted to see the show," Obi-Wan answered.

"Did you enjoy it?" Qui-Gon asked him, casually, and Obi-Wan started to relax.

"Yes, Master. I did."

"I am glad to hear that. However, I do wander what you are doing out the Temple, Padawan."

The fleeting moment of relief passed. "Master, I saw…someone sneaking out of the Temple. I wanted to be sure they were safe." He had a feeling that they knew he was talking about Siri. How could they not? Especially with Adi there. However, he felt it was only right not mention her name until he had to.

"And were they?" his Master asked.

Obi-Wan nodded. "They seem to be fine."

"Good." There was silence then, except for the voices of some of the ushers and patrons of the theater.

"Master? What are we waiting for?" Obi-Wan finally asked, seeing that neither his Master, nor Adi seemed to be in a hurry to go to the exits.

"We are waiting to meet someone," Adi finally replied, voice calm.

Obi-Wan wondered if the two Jedi Masters knew that Siri had entered from a back entrance, and that it was most likely that she would leave that same way. He did not voice this though. As soon as this thought came to him, he dismissed it, realizing that they must know something that he did not. Once again there was silence and it seemed to stretch for eternity. However, Obi-Wan was certain it had only lasted about half an hour.

Then he saw two dancers come out through the door that he had been looking at before. While dressed in street clothes and without makeup, he could identify them by their hair that was still pulled back tightly and their graceful movements. He heard a little of their conversation and realized that is how Adi and Qui-Gon were certain Siri would exit this way.

"I feel bad for her, trying to leave the back with all those reporters and critics. It will be hard enough to dance tomorrow without all the added stress caused by those beings," one was saying as she pulled up the hood of her cloak. It covered her hair, showing only her soft features and Obi-Wan saw the other girl doing the same thing. They would slip past the crowds unnoticed. It was a smart idea, he realized.

A few more dancers came out before Obi-Wan saw a familiar figure walking with another girl. This figure though, instead of the grace of a dancer, seemed to be more athletic, and seemed to be quite different compared to the girl she was with. It was the same girl who had been "Revenge". It was fitting, the Padawan decided, that rivals on stage would be friends off stage.

"I know," Siri was laughing in response to that Kalani said. She did not often laugh freely, and while she started to, it died in her throat when she looked up at the figures in the hallway. She first saw Adi, and she stopped short, dropping her eyes.

"Siri," Adi spoke and Obi-Wan that Siri looked nervous, not that he could blame her. She had been caught breaking a number of rules, and now was being confronted.

"Master Adi, Master Qui-Gon," Siri bowed deeply to both Masters, her blue eyes scanning Obi-Wan over for just a moment.

"That was a fine performance," Qui-Gon remarked.

"Thank you," Siri replied, and Kalani echoed the words. "You can go ahead," Siri assured her friend. The girl looked uncertain but after another urging from the Padawan, Kalani walked down the hall and was soon out of sight.

"Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, please excuse us for a moment." Adi motioned for Siri to follow her a short distance so they could talk with a relative amount of privacy.

"While they are discussing things, I would like to hear how you ended up at the theater," Qui-Gon remarked. This caught Obi-Wan's attention and he looked at his Master. He had been watching Adi and Siri so closely; he almost forgot that he had also broken rules.

"Master, I know you are upset with me, and I am sorry to I snuck out of the Temple without permission, but I felt I was doing the right thing…" Obi-Wan started then trailed off as Qui-Gon shook his head.

"First I would like to hear what happened. Then you can explain your actions," Qui-Gon told him with a kind, fatherly smile.

Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan started his tale.