Chapter 18- Another night out?

"This is our punishment?" Adali asked, looking up at the building in front of them. "I don't see why I have to go through with this, It's not like I went with them to the cantina." She whined.

"No, but this will guarantee that you never get the idea later on." Janekah replied, looking at her friends padawan.

"This is cruel..." Azah mumbled.

Aenanya looked down at Azah. "Who's idea was it to come here in the first place? I can't see Obi-Wan coming up with this one." She looked over to the boy.

"No disrespect Master Arlos, but Obi-Wan isn't quite the angel you all believe him to be." Azah replied, sending a glance Obi-Wan's direction.

Adali smield, "No, he isn't."

"Stars.." Obi-Wan mumbled, shaking his head. "Thank you all so much." He directed that comment to Azah and Adali.

"Well, we weren't the ones who pretended to be Qui-Gon in order to get us out of the lower..." Adali stopped, seeing their Master's redirect their attention to what she was saying. Apparently Obi-Wan hadn't mentioned that part when explaining what had happened.

"Adali!" Obi-Wan squeaked.

Azah's eyes widened.

Adali put her head down, she really had said too much this time.

"No, really, do continue." Qui-Gon stepped forward. He towered over her, not angrily, just with the usual striking presence he had.

Azah looked down at her boots, this was going to be bad.

---

Adali looked up at the tall Master and gulped, then look to Obi-Wan. 'I'm sorry.' She mouthed. Looking back up at Qui-Gon she began, telling him about what happened in the hangar when they 'casually' walked out.

When she had finished, Aenanya was standing beside her. "Do any of you even realize what could have happened to you whilst you were galavanting around the city?" Now she was getting upset. "And who helped you get back into the Temple? Witnesses say they saw you coming from the Room of A Thousand Fountains, but you weren't there. That means somehow you got on the roof." Her voice raised.

Obi-Wan directed a glance at his Master, sheepishly. He sighed.

"But perhaps I shouldn't be asking you." Aenanya paused, redirecting her glance. "Azah, how did you get back into the Temple?"

"We flew." She said matter-of-factly, looking at Aenanya.

"How did you fly?" TheMaster asked, looking around at the others.

'With a ship.' Was the first thing that came to mind, but Azah had second thoughts. "An old friend gave us a ride." She said.

"An old friend?" The Masters said in unison.

Obi-Wan and Adali nodded in agreeance. "Yes, an old friend." Azah repeated for a third time.

"Who might this old friend be? Someone we would approve of, I hope." Aenanya said sternly.

"Orly Meola." Azah stated, arms folded in front of her.

"Orly Meola.." Aenanya thought aloud. "Didn't he drop out of the order?"

"Oh, brilliant." Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. Janekah was silent, taking everything in and analyzing it.

"Yes, but for a good reason." Adali began.

"I'd like to hear about this..." Asked Qui-Gon.

"Orly met us and brought us to the roof." Azah replied, watching all the masters with her bright blue eyes.

"Did he know he was aiding you in sneaking back into the Temple? I know Orly, at least I used to, and he would have asked questions." Aenanya said, moving the group to the side of the street.

"He did know, but didn't exactly want to help, at first." Replied Azah. Adali looked at Azah.

"And I suppose you talked him into helping?" Qui-Gon said, arms now folded in front of him.

Azah didn't reply at first, she gulped. "Yes, Master Jinn."

Qui-Gon looked at her sternly, "We will finish this discussion later. For now, we are going to continue with your punishment."

---

A sigh escaped Obi-Wan's lips. Azah felt like rolling her eyes but decided against it. That and Qui-Gon's gaze had made her heart stop momentarily.

Adali slowly moved, following Janekah and her own Master into the Cantina. Azah, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon came after them.