Anakin frowned, exhanging a slightly worried look with Obi-Wan.
"You know who we are?" he repeated.
Irus smiled, moving her head weakly on the pillow.
"I am Phindian," said Irus. "I have not been since I was as a child but my homeworld is Phindar. Do you know Phindar?"
"No," said Anakin. "I'm not familiar with it."
"I know it," said Obi-Wan, sounding reluctant to admit it.
"You know Phindar," said Irus happily, her eyes shining. "And Phindar knows you."
Anakin shifted in his seat, glancing between the other two.
"I'm afraid you may have to explain a little," said Anakin. "Your planet knows us?"
"For centuries, Phindar's history records that the Syndicat ruled Phindar," explained Irus. "The Syndicat were the worst of criminal pond-scum. No, not so. They were less than pond-scum."
Obi-Wan wrinkled his nose at her description but nodded along in agreement.
"Phindar's history records the Syndicat as being the worst thing to happen to Phindar in all its history - except maybe for the time of the Empire," said Irus. "But do you know why the Syndicat fell?"
"A group of Phindian rebels rose up and overthrew the Syndicat," said Obi-Wan. "They then arranged for democratic elections to take place."
"Phindar's history tells that the democracy was good and the Phindians were happy until the Empire came," said Irus. "With thanks to the rebels. But history also tells that the rebels had help from two Jedi. Are their names known to you?"
"They are," said Obi-Wan, his face falling.
"History records their names as Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi," said Irus happily. "When you told Investigator Tylip your names, I thought you lied but when I saw your lightsabres in the alleyway? I knew you were true Jedi."
Irus' gaze was locked onto Obi-Wan adoringly. Obi-Wan averted his gaze as Anakin did his best to hide his amusement at his friend's embarrassment. It was at least comforting to know that not all the deeds of the Jedi had been forgotten.
"The Obi-Wan Kenobi referred to in your history was my grandfather," lied Obi-Wan smoothly. "Obviously, it was before I could have been born."
"You must be honoured to have such a heroic grandfather," said Irus, her enthusiasm undimmed. "And you follow in his footsteps well."
"We are trying to keep the fact that we're Jedi a secret," said Obi-Wan. "We understand that the politics here..."
"Say nothing further," said Irus. "I have spoken to no one and I shall keep your truths safe."
Obi-Wan nodded and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Anakin took pity on his fellow Padawan and changed the subject.
"This was the reason you asked to see us?" asked Anakin, leaning back in his chair.
"Not so, not entirely," said Irus. "Rather it was both to meet you and to make sure you had not yet departed Wefhuk. I am glad to see you have not."
"Well, we haven't," said Anakin. "But our Masters have gone to Canemone Station. They will return soon. I assume you'd like to talk to Master Qui-Gon as well..."
Irus had frozen, her large eyes widening in horror as she stared at Anakin. Anakin trailed off with a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Is something wrong?" asked Obi-Wan, concerned.
"Your ship has already departed?" she questioned weakly. "How long ago?"
"A couple of hours," said Anakin. "Why is it important?"
Irus looked away from them, gazing instead at the ceiling. She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, muttering to herself. When Anakin recognised some of her words as a prayer for safe passage, he shot to his feet so fast that he knocked his chair over.
"Investigator Irus," said Anakin sharply. "What's wrong? Tell us."
She opened both eyes and flinched from Anakin's angry expression. Obi-Wan reached out to lay a restraining hand on Anakin's arm even as he caught Irus' gaze. Anakin briefly contemplated throwing off Obi-Wan's hand.
"Investigator Irus," said Obi-Wan quietly. "Our Masters are on that ship. They are the closest thing we have to family. Please, tell us what's wrong."
Irus' eyes switched to Obi-Wan, softening. She raised a shaking hand to take Obi-Wan's free hand.
"I am sorry," she said. "I would have said sooner but I thought you were all still here. All still safe."
"Safe from what?" interrupted Anakin.
She ignored him, all her attention on Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan's grip on Anakin's arm tightened but he didn't turn to look at his fellow Padawan.
"Investigator Tylip is not a bad man," she began.
Anakin snorted disparagingly.
"No, I do not lie about this. Tylip is a good man but times have been hard," said Irus earnestly. "This smuggling ring has been eluding us for some time now. They have hurt people and even killed people. Their last raid killed a security guard who was a very close friend of Tylip, the two were like brothers."
"And Tylip suspects us of being involved," said Obi-Wan.
"Sometimes...," began Irus.
She paused and tried again.
"The New Republic is not always loved by the people of Wefhuk. Many settlers deliberately moved here to be at the edge of the Republic's influence," explained Irus. "So when Imperial agents contacted Tylip, he was prepared to at least listen to what they say."
"The Empire isn't exactly known for being fond of the Jedi," said Obi-Wan.
"No," said Anakin, still struggling to control his temper. "I wouldn't call a massacre good evidence for fondness."
Irus turned her large, watery eyes on Anakin. There was pity in them.
"Why did the Imperial agents contact Tylip?" asked Obi-Wan. "What did they want?"
"They said they had information that the New Republic was involved with the smugglers," said Irus. "And they claimed that your ship was not only part of it but had been dispatched to oversee the operation. They said that if anybody was arrested, the Republic would see that they escaped punishment. Normally, Tylip knows not to believe what they tell him."
"But he was angry?" guessed Obi-Wan.
"He was hurt, and grieving," said Irus. "I have never seen him this angry. If he believes you are responsible for killing his citizens and that justice won't be done... I am afraid he will take the law into his own hands."
"Or might already have done so," snapped Anakin.
He turned on his heel and swept from the room.
As the door slammed open, Ranun and the two guards jumped in alarm. They stood there looking wide-eyed as Anakin stalked out of the room. It took a moment but Ranun eventually jolted into action, pursuing Anakin down the corridor.
"Wait!" demanded Ranun. "Where are you going? Where is the other one?"
Ranun managed to catch one of Anakin's arms, nearly toppling the young Jedi. Anakin's head snapped around angrily enough to scare Ranun into backing up several steps. However, it was there that Ranun stood his ground and reached for his weapon. The two room guards reached for their weapons as well.
"Enough!" commanded a voice. "This isn't helping."
Involuntarily, Ranun and Anakin both turned to look at Obi-Wan.
"Anakin, where are you going? Have you forgotten that we gave our word to stay on Wefhuk?"
"I am going to find a long-range transmitter," said Anakin slowly, as if speaking to a small child. "So I can contact the Fahren. There should be one downstairs in reception that I can use."
"I assure you, he means no harm," said Obi-Wan calmly, turning to Ranun. "He simply has to make an urgent call. I'm sure he won't mind if you accompany him."
"I... as long as he doesn't go anywhere else," agreed Ranun.
Obi-Wan paused and glanced back at Investigator Irus' room uncertainly.
"Give me a minute," said Obi-Wan quietly. "Then I'll come with you."
"Give you a minute? We're all out of minutes," snapped Anakin angrily. "Don't you get that everybody else is gone? They are all we have left. Maybe you don't care that much about Qui-Gon but Ben is like a father to me."
The hurt and fury flashed so briefly across Obi-Wan's face that Anakin may well have imagined them. He blinked and the only sign that anything was different was the blandness of Obi-Wan's expression. There was no accusation in those blue eyes and that only made Anakin feel worse.
"Qui-Gon's life may not mean much to you," said Obi-Wan, his words as crisp and even as Anakin had ever heard them. "But I assure you it means the universe to me. So, while you are running off on a selfish, childish impulse, I'll be here getting the answers to questions you haven't even had the patience to think of yet."
"Obi-Wan, I didn't... I'm s-"
"You'd better get a move on, don't you think?" asked Obi-Wan, striding back into Irus' room.