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Back on Corruscant a terrible event had happened and the Jedi were in quite a bit of trouble, especially the Council. When the council made their decision to send the four boys to the Agri corps they did it without thinking of the consequences of such a major decision possibly backfiring on them. It was their arrogance in believing that it would not matter if they sent them to the Agri Corps because there were no Knights available now, they knew where to find them if circumstances changed, and a Master became available for any of them.
It had happened before, where a young one had come back from the Agri-Corps as an apprentice. However, what they did not expect was a tragedy in space. Pirates attacked the transport to Bandameer, and in the ensuing battle, Arly and Gerlin were killed, and Dag-Mar was fatally injured, however, before he died, he exonerated Obi-wan from all blame and prayed that they would return Obi-wan to the Jedi because he was innocent of any wrongdoing.
The Captain of the Transport had recorded Dag-Mars dying confession, and had promised to take the holo-vid back to the Temple. Nevertheless, by the time, the transport had limped its way to Bandameer and sat in the spaceport being repaired, a week had passed.
The Captain of the transport contacted the Temple with the bad news that all three young boys were dead, and that one of them had made a holo-vid, which he wanted shown at the Temple, so he said he would send it by courier because he was to busy to bring it back himself. When the Jedi finally received the message, and contacted Bandameer to speak to the Captain, they found out that while repairing his ship, a falling beam had killed him.
It was several months later that Qui-Gon and Master Yoda returned to the Temple, and Mace Windu greeted them as they descended the ramp.
"Mace my old friend it is good to see you it has been a long time between visits?" Qui-Gon chuckled.
Master Yoda sensed the upheaval in Mace's aura. "Troubling you something is?"
Mace could not put a smile on his face as he nodded.
"What's up Mace you look like you have lost your best friend, but that is me, so what's wrong my friend?" Qui-Gon also asked.
"We lost three young initiates several months ago, they are now one with the force," he said solemnly.
"Oh no, Mace, who?" Qui-Gon questioned while Yoda waited.
"Arly Bron, Dag-Mar, and Gerlin.
Qui-Gon seemed to breathe slightly easier, although he still had a pained look on his face.
Yoda sighed. "Knew them I did, potential they had, tell us what happened you will"
"They were on route to Bandameer, and there was a pirate attack. By the time the Captain and crew
reclaimed the ship our three initiates were amongst the dead," he said sadly.
"Did you know of them Qui-Gon?" Mace asked.
"No not really, I knew of Arly Bron by reputation, he had an unhealthy dislike towards Obi-wan Kenobi"
He hesitated when Mace seemed to wince, and then he carried on. "I did not know Dag-Mar or Gerlin; tell us Mace why were they going to Bandameer?"
"Master Windu, a very good question has been asked, an answer I would like to hear?" Yoda remarked.
"Please, can we talk in Master Yoda's apartment; I will explain everything to both of you"
Why didn't you contact us and let us know?" Qui-Gon asked.
"It was a decision made by the council and we knew there was nothing that could be done about it, and the last time I spoke to you Master Yoda, you said Qui-Gon was coming for a visit and you did not want to be disturbed, so I thought I would wait till you both got back."
The three Jedi walked down the empty hall, and Qui-Gon looked thoughtfully at his friend who looked so solemn and decided to cheer him up.
"Well Mace I have some good news for you, I am going to take an apprentice."
Mace stared at his friend shocked. "Your going to take on a Padawan, I thought you were never going to take another one." Mace stated.
"Yes well that's why I have been visiting with Master Yoda, for the last couple of months, he knew I was interested in an initiate and he wanted me to really think about it. It is a big commitment and he didn't want me to take him for the wrong reasons."
"Him?" Mace questioned.
"Yes, I am going to ask Obi-wan Kenobi to be my apprentice, he is a bright and very committed young boy. He is strong in the force and is as honest as the day is long, I couldn't choose a better initiate for my Padawan" Qui-Gon beamed.
Mace Windu's face almost fell to the floor. "Oh force, Qui-Gon, I didn't know you felt that way about Obi-Wan Kenobi!"
Yoda sensed something had happened to Obi-Wan. "Where is young Obi-Wan, what have you done?"
Qui-Gon stared at Yoda and could see the sadness in his eyes, "Mace what's going on, has anything happened to Obi-wan?" Qui-Gon questioned.
By the time they arrived at Yoda's apartment, Mace had filled them in on all the details, about the accusations and the subsequent decisions made by the Council. Qui-Gon was furious, and did not really want to talk to Mace, but he needed to know everything. By the time Mace had explained all the details, Qui-Gon was pacing up and down Yoda's apartment.
"How could you believe that Obi-wan would do those things you accused him of Mace?" Qui-Gon snapped.
"The other two boys verified Arly's stories at every turn," Mace said trying to defend his actions.
"Tried have you to contact Obi-wan at his parents?" Master Yoda asked.
"No we didn't have any reason too, he made the decision to return to his home" Mace felt ashamed.
"See the tapes of that day in the Council we will, now" Yoda said as he stamped his cane on the floor.
They watched the scene in the Chambers when the boys were accused and subsequently turned the blame onto Obi-wan, they watched the fight as Bruck and Obi fought in the council chamber, and they watched as a silent Obi-wan stood there being blamed for everything. Then they watched when Obi-wan came back to the Council and said his piece. Finally, Yoda asked Mace about the holo-vid the Captain sent to the Temple.
"View the Holo –Vid sent by the Captain, we will?"
Mace lowered his eyes "We never received a holo-vid, we presumed he didn't have time to send it before he died"
Yoda made a sighing noise and said "Looked have you?"
"Excuse me?" Mace queried.
"Looked have you, to see if package arrived from Bandameer?" Yoda asked again.
"Well I didn't look personally, but surely if a package had come I would have been told," he added.
"Go now we will, look ourselves," Yoda snapped.
They went down to the mail room, and the Padawan on duty checked the incoming mail book, the first time she checked she came back and said "No Master Yoda all incoming packages have been signed for."
"Tell me Padawan what happens to a package if it is not signed for." Qui-Gon asked.
"Well Master Jinn we put them in the store room, and send a message to the Council and one of the Councillors come down and check it."
"Show me the mail book," Master Yoda indicated.
She did and after a few minutes, he said, "No signature there is here, at the bottom of this page?"
Qui-Gon looked over Yoda's head and noticed a blank spot next to an incoming package.
"Show us where the packages are kept", they followed her into a large room with shelves all around.
There were many packages on the shelves. "Which ones have been here the longest?" Yoda asked.
"Those over there" she said pointing to a shelf in the corner near a desk.
They went and picked up each package, but there was not one from Bandameer. The young Padawan sat on the edge of the desk, swinging her feet as Mace was checking parcels. Master Yoda started to watch her feet and noticed a package on the floor jammed in between the wall and the desk.
"On the floor a package is, who belongs to it" Master Yoda asked, as he pointed to the corner.
The girl leaned over and saw the package wedged between the desk and the wall, and she pulled it out.
"It is from Bandameer Master Yoda!" she explained
"Take it we will, holo-vid it may be?" Qui-Gon opened it and sure enough it was, they hurried back to play it, finding out that Dag-Mar had confessed that Obi-wan was innocent of any crimes.
Mace Windu felt the weight of the world crush down on his shoulders. "What have I done?"
"You have taken an innocent child, and banished him from ever returning to the Jedi. How must he have felt, it must have been devastating for the boy to be banished for crimes he didn't commit." Qui-Gon said as he was pacing back and forth. "We must contact him, he must be told of the grave injustice that has been done to him, how long has he been gone Mace?" He asked.
"Nearly four months". Mace said.
"Contact the Temple, has he tried to" Yoda asked.
"I don't think he would after I told him never to contact the Temple again." Mace said quietly.
"Prepare a ship, go to OrulShai III, and ask him to forgive us you will, hope it is not to late for him to return to us" Master Yoda stated.
Qui-Gon nodded and left to pack, Mace Windu went to organise the ship, and Yoda would remain in the Temple and contact Obi-wan……...
tbc...