The Captive Temple

5

Obi-Wan decided he needed a new comlink. What if something happened in front of his eyes again, and he needed to summon help? Or suppose Qui-Gon or the Council changed their minds and needed him?

It could be wishful thinking, but I don’t care, Obi-Wan thought. I have to think like a Jedi, even if the Council doesn’t want me to.

Instead of heading to his quarters, Obi-Wan started toward the tech center. He was sure that Miro Daroon would let him have a new comlink.

Ahead of him, he saw a familiar figure striding down the hall, munching on a piece of muja fruit as she walked. It was Siri, a fellow student. He didn’t know her very well, but he knew she’d been a friend of Bruck’s. Maybe if he questioned her, she could come up with a clue about Bruck. He could return to the Council with the information.

He called her name, and she stopped and turned. The impact of her blue eyes was like a cresting wave. Siri had always been striking, but she hated to have anyone comment on her good looks. She kept her blond hair in a close-cropped style, swept straight off her forehead. The boyish style was probably intended to dim her beauty but instead only enhanced her intelligent eyes and glowing skin.

When she realized who’d called her name, Siri’s friendly expression cooled. Obi-Wan wondered why. They had never been friends, but they’d been friendly. Siri was two years younger than Obi-Wan, but her abilities had landed her in Obi-Wan and Bruck’s lightsaber class. She had been a worthy opponent. Obi-Wan considered her style athletic and highly focused. Unlike other students, she never got distracted during a duel by emotions such as anger or fear, and she never involved herself in petty rivalries. Privately, Obi-Wan had always thought of her as a little too focused. She never seemed to relax or join in the jokes and fun that students enjoyed in their downtime.

“Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Siri said flatly. “I heard you were back.” She took a bite of fruit.

“Siri, you were a friend of Bruck’s,” Obi-Wan said urgently. “Did you notice any signs of anger or rebellion in the past few months? Or anything out of the ordinary?”

Siri chewed, staring at him, not answering.

Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably. He realized too late that these days, being Bruck’s friend was not exactly a benefit around the Temple. He had blurted out the question without thinking, eager for answers and mindful of the time pressure. He supposed he should have phrased the question more diplomatically.

While he was trying to think of a better opening, Siri swallowed. She spun the muja fruit in her hand, searching for the next place to bite.

“What’s it to you?” she asked.

Her rudeness surprised him, and Obi-Wan struggled not to snap back. “I want to help Qui-Gon find Bruck and the intruder—” he began patiently.

“Wait a second,” Siri interrupted. “I thought Qui-Gon Jinn dumped you. And you dumped the Jedi.”

Annoyance filled Obi-Wan. “I didn’t ‘dump’ the Jedi,” he said irritably. “And as for Qui-Gon, we…” Obi-Wan stopped. He didn’t owe Siri an explanation! She stood there, chewing on her fruit and staring at him as though he were a lab experiment. “You shouldn’t listen to gossip,” he told her.

“So why do you want me to gossip about Bruck?” Siri shot back coolly.

She took another bite of the muja.

Fuming, Obi-Wan took a breath. The interview wasn’t going well, that was for sure. “The Temple is under siege,” he said, struggling to keep his voice even. “I’d think you’d want to help.”

Siri’s cheeks flushed. “I don’t have to help you, Obi-Wan. You’re not even a Jedi. But for your information, I wasn’t a friend of Bruck’s. He just used to hang around, trying to copy my lightsaber moves. He knew I was a better fighter than he was. So does the rest of the class. I thought he was a bore. He was always trying to impress me. That about sums up our supposed ‘friendship,’ all right?”

“All right,” Obi-Wan said. “But if you think of anything—”

“And another thing,” Siri interrupted, her eyes shooting sparks at him. “I do care about the Temple. You’re the one who left the Jedi. When you did that, you cast doubt on the commitment of all Padawans, present and future. You made all Jedi Knights question whether we’re as committed as we should be. You’re almost as bad as Bruck!”

Siri’s words hit his cheeks like slaps from an open hand. Color rushed to Obi-Wan’s face. Was this what the other students felt? That he had betrayed them?

Obi-Wan hadn’t considered before that his action could cast doubt on the commitment of all Padawans. Faced with a similar situation, would he offer to help someone who had done what he had done?

With every encounter at the Temple, Obi-Wan received a wider picture of the consequences of his decision to stay on Melida/Daan. Now he realized that his action had left a wider pool of ripples than he’d thought.

A decision is yours alone to make. Yet remember you should that you make it also for the silent ones who stand at your shoulder.

How many times had he heard Yoda say that? Now the meaning was so clear that it mocked him with its simplicity. He understood completely what Yoda had meant. He should have understood it before.

Siri seemed to regret her words. Her cheeks flushed almost as deeply as Obi-Wan’s.

“If you can think of anything that might help, please see Qui-Gon,” Obi-Wan said stiffly.

“I will,” Siri murmured. “Obi-Wan—”

But he couldn’t bear to hear an apology or an excuse. Siri, he knew, had blurted out exactly what was in her heart.

“I have to go,” Obi-Wan interrupted, and hurried away.