Entry # 10 - A Traitor In Our Midst

I often wonder what drives a man, or any intelligent being for that matter, to hurt the people he cares about. I've traveled to hundreds of systems and I've had countless encounters with beings that have committed the vilest atrocities - not to their enemies, or to total strangers, but to the ones they love, family members, those who trust them the most. The most prime example, of course, would be Anakin. In the name of 'love' he slaughtered those who considered him a friend, a brother, and yes, a husband.

After my encounter with the Abyssin it became clear that someone in the farming community was working for Jabba. Because of their betrayal it became impossible to know who could be trusted and who couldn't. I couldn't even determine if it was a single individual or more than one person. I knew something must be done, but what?

After some meditation I decided that best plan of action was to fish the traitor out. To do this I would need to employ the help from the only people I knew could be trusted.

The next morning I arrived at the Lars' homestead to find Owen and Beru working on a moister vaporator. Young Luke was playing nearby on a blanket in the shade. It appeared he had learned to crawl and Beru was having a bit of trouble keeping him on the blanket.

"He's becoming quite a hand full," I observed.

Laughing, Beru nodded. "Oh yes, he is growing up very quickly. He wants to explore everything! He was trying to catch a dune bug; it was quite funny! Every time he got near it, it'd fly away just out of reach. Eventually Luke became frustrated and began crying."

"The boy's going to be quite a farmer when he gets older," Owen said as he worked on the vaporator. He eyed me as if gauging my reaction. I just nodded and kept my comments to myself. It wouldn't do us any good to argue over Luke's future.

"So what brings you back here, Kenobi?" He asked in a somewhat annoyed tone.

"I'm afraid a problem has come to my attention that we cannot ignore," I said.

"What now?" Owen asked.

"One of Jabba's associates paid me a visit last night after the meeting. It appears that he already knew of our plans. I'm afraid we have a spy in our mists."

"What? Who?" Beru asked in an alarmed tone.

"No one would do that," Owen said, approaching me. "I know everyone in this community; they're like family to me. The only person here who can't be trusted is you."

"Really Owen, must we go through this every time we speak?" I protested. "You know I am not a spy."

"Hey, all I know is that we didn't have any troubles with the Hutts before you arrived," he accused.

"Arguing will get us nowhere. We have to find the person or persons responsible before it's too late," I insisted. Owen looked irritated but he eventually backed off.

"Fine. What do you propose we do?" He asked.

"Well for starters, can you think of anyone who may do something like this? Possibly someone who owes the Hutts a lot of money?"

"No, I can't think of anyone. I know these people. Its beyond my imagination as to who it could be," he said with a sad tone.

"Then we'll just have to bait them out," I said.

"How?"

"Leave that to me. Call another meeting. Use whatever excuse you deem appropriate."

Owen nodded reluctantly. "Okay. I'll let you know when it is."

"Good," I nodded. "I'll see you then."

That night I stood before the same group of irritated farmers. Most were not pleased to be there, especially when they saw me heading the meeting. Owen and I had discussed how the meeting would be handled. Now it was time to execute our plan.

"I know you're wondering why we needed you back here so soon," I started.

"You're damn straight we do!" Shouted a farmer by the names of Sanderson.

"Well, I'm afraid that last night's meeting was a ploy. Some evidence had come to our attention that a spy was in our midst. After the meeting we were able to confirm who it was after they leaked information to the Hutts."

A gasp of shock filled the room. I carefully monitored each individual through the Force. Three individuals did not seem surprised. Two of them were the Lars', the other was a farmer named Dell. He instead radiated fear that grew with every passing second.

I mentally went over the names on the list the Abyssin had given me. Dell was not among them. I locked eyes with him and he quickly looked away. I glanced at Owen and nodded.

Standing, Owen addressed the crowd. "Ben and I have decided the best course of action would be to give this individual a chance to confess. If they should refuse, than we will be forced to embarrass them with the evidence we've gathered."

I looked at Dell again and he began to fidget. Others began to notice my stare and they too looked at him. After a moment of awkward silence he spoke.

"Fine! You've figured it out. But I'm not the only person who's deceived you!" He said, giving me an accusing glance. "He's a Jedi!"

The crowd gasped again.

"Is that true? Are you a Jedi?" Huff Darklighter asked.

"Yes. I am. I was forced into hiding when the Empire over threw the Republic."

"The Empire is the Republic! And the Jedi are traitors! You tried to kill the Emperor!" Accused Sanderson.

"The Empire is a dictatorship; the Republic was a democracy! They are hardly the same," A farmer named Stramp defended. "And the Jedi were keepers of the peace. The Emperor is a tyrant who needs to be stopped!"

"That has nothing to do with us!" Sanderson barked. "His being here is a danger to us all!"

"Quiet all of you!" Owen barked. "The Jedi has nothing to do with our troubles! Dell has betrayed us to the Hutts! That is where our focus should be."

"He's right," Darklighter affirmed. "Dell, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"The Hutts promised me the highest profits if I cooperated. I didn't think anyone would get hurt," he defended.

"You didn't think anyone would get hurt? You made a deal with the Hutts! What did you expect to happen?" Owen snapped.

"I was just looking out for my family! Any one of you would have done the same!"

"I thought we were all a family," Beru said. Others nodded in agreement.

"Oh, get real!" Dell shouted. "You can't be that naive! Out here there is no one to watch out for you and yours but you, and you alone!"

"What about the time when you needed help on your farm after you burned your hand on a vaporator?" Darklighter asked.

"Yeah, and the time I helped you buy food for your family when you had a bad crop?" Stramp added.

"And the time my father sold you one of our vaporators, allowing you to make payments when no one else would; and when he dismissed your dept after your wife died," Owen said, his eyes growing misty. "We've always looked out for each other. You've betrayed that trust; you've betrayed us all."

"The question is," I asked, "what are we going to do about it?"

Everyone looked at Dell. He sat with his head hanging low, unable to meet our stares.

"I say we exile him from the community," someone spoke.

"I second that," another spoke.

"All in favor?" Owen asked. The community unanimously agreed.

"What say you Jedi?" Stramp asked.

"I know what it is like to live in exile. I know the shame and hardships it can bring. I also know of the rewards it can offer; redemption, a greater knowledge of one's self. I agree that exile would be appropriate, but not forever. I say a probationary period. Say, one year?"

"After what he has done? Only a year?" Sanderson asked.

"No, Ben's right," Owen said. "A year in exile out here can be very hard on a person."

"A year it is then," I said. "Dell, I suggest you use that time to rethink your outlook on your life and this community."

He nodded but wouldn't speak. I think it had finally set in just what he had done. No matter how long he was in exile, he would never be fully trusted by the community again.

That night, after returning home, I began to meditate on my situation. For the first time since arriving here I began to understand the community in which I lived. Though I know that I'll never be completely accepted as one of them, I do feel comforted in the knowledge that Luke will.