The Fight for Truth

3

Qui-Gon didn’t trust V-Haad and O-Rina from the start. Despite their wide smiles, they gave off a sense of unease that he could not attribute to being unused to strangers. And why were there Hospitality Guides when the planet allowed no visitors?

He nodded at them anyway, meeting their friendliness with his own. “Of course you may remain if V-Nen and O-Melie wish it,” he said.

“There are exceptions to every rule,” Adi said graciously. She, too, no doubt knew that it was better not to aggravate the situation by insisting.

“I’ll get O-Lana,” O-Melie said shortly. “A neighbor is watching her.” She hurried from the room.

She returned in a moment with a small bundle in her arms. The child was close to a year old. She looked up at Qui-Gon with a bright, inquisitive gaze. He held out a finger. She grabbed it, then pulled it to her mouth and gnawed on it gently.

“Ah,” Qui-Gon said. “I see.” He studied her for some minutes, evaluating her reactions and expressions. Finally, he gave a short nod.

“You’ve reached your conclusion so soon?” O-Rina asked, her smile a little tight.

“Yes, I have,” Qui-Gon answered. “She is definitely hungry.”

O-Melie and V-Nen broke into relieved smiles.

“O-Yani can feed her,” O-Rina suggested. “That way we can all talk.”

“O-Yani is the child caregiver for this dwelling quad,” V-Haad explained to the Jedi. “There is one for each quad in each dwelling circle so that parents may still work or have time for themselves. Our child caregivers are the wisest and best among us.”

O-Melie took the baby from Qui-Gon’s arms. She disappeared into the other room.

With only a quick glance at Adi, Qui-Gon knew that his fellow Jedi Master had also picked up what he had: O-Lana was Force-sensitive. But how deep the Force ran was something they needed more time to discover.

“Let us sit down,” Adi suggested. “While the child is feeding, we can explain more about why we have come so far to see her.”

O-Melie and V-Nen sat down on a cushioned bench opposite from the Jedi. V-Haad sat on one side of them, O-Rina sat on the other. As though they are guarding them, Qui-Gon thought.

“If O-Lana is strong in the Force, her powers will become more apparent as she grows,” Qui-Gon began. “These powers should be nurtured and directed. When they are not, the child can become confused and frightened.”

V-Nen and O-Melie leaned closer, their eyes on the Jedi.

“No one is frightened on Kegan,” O-Rina said firmly.

“The General Good is strong. O-Lana will be supported by us all,” V-Haad added.

Adi spoke up. “The Temple on Coruscant is a place where a Force-sensitive child can learn not only how to control her gift, but how to let it guide her and connect her to all things.”

V-Haad nodded, smiling. “Excellent! The Jedi Order sounds very wonderful indeed. We have Guides here that show us how to connect.”

Adi stirred impatiently. Qui-Gon quickly stepped in. “If O-Lana is a special child—”

“Ah, here I must interrupt you,” O-Rina said, her smile beaming gracious friendship at Qui-Gon. “O-Lana is special, yes—but only as each Keganite is special. V-Tan and O-Vieve have taught us all that the Guide Within is powerful in each of us. No one is any better than another.”

“We are not saying that O-Lana is better,” Adi said. Qui-Gon could hear the impatience she was struggling to control. “We are saying that the Force will set her apart. The Jedi path will show her how to connect to the galaxy and to others.”

V-Haad beamed. “Ah, now I see! A wise and just path, I’m sure. But O-Lana will have no need of this. Here on Kegan, each Guide Within unites and forms the General Good. It would be wrong to remove O-Lana from the circle of General Good, as the circle would diminish and O-Lana would be raised to believe she was special. This is against the counsel of the Guides.” V-Haad and O-Rina nodded and smiled.

Slowly, V-Nen and O-Melie nodded, too.

Qui-Gon understood Adi’s frustration. V-Nen and O-Melie seemed to be listening intently, but they were not given a chance to react. Instead, the Hospitality Guides were doing all the reacting and talking. This was precisely why the Jedi preferred the first interview to be with the parents only.

He knew that despite their interjections, V-Haad and O-Rina had not truly listened to a word the Jedi had said. They had asked no questions about the Jedi path, or about O-Lana’s abilities. If it were up to them, this child would never leave Kegan.

Qui-Gon focused on V-Nen and O-Melie. “If O-Lana is strong in the Force, you need to fully understand what that means. She might be able to move objects, or see things before they happen. Such things can frighten a young child.”

“Not on Kegan,” O-Rina said cheerily. “Our Benevolent Guides themselves, O-Vieve and V-Tan, have visions. We have learned to trust them. Their visions of the future have guided the present, creating the General Good.”

Qui-Gon exchanged a quick glance with Adi. They had to get the parents away from the Guides. That was clear. But they also had to be mindful of Yoda’s directive. They could not bring disruption to this planet. They must respect the Kegans’ way of doing things.

The Hospitality Guides suddenly stood. “That was an excellent meeting,” V-Haad said. “I’m so glad to hear of the wonderful Jedi way.”

“And we are sure you are tired from your journey,” O-Rina added. “We will show you to the quarters we have for you. There will be plenty of time for more discussion.”

“Unless you must go,” V-Haad said. “We know how important the Jedi are.”

“We can stay as long as V-Nen and O-Melie want us to,” Adi said firmly.

“I have a request,” Qui-Gon said. “We would like to walk to our destination. We did have a long journey, it’s true. We’d like to stretch our legs and see more of your beautiful planet.”

The two Hospitality Guides exchanged glances at this unexpected request.

“Of course,” O-Rina said, reluctance coloring her usual bright expression. “If you would like that…”

“We would,” Qui-Gon said firmly. “And of course we would enjoy the company of V-Nen and O-Melie as well. It will give us a chance to get to know one other.”

The Guides could not refuse. O-Melie and V-Nen went to ask their neighbor O-Yani if she could continue watching O-Lana.

“The baby is sleeping now,” O-Melie said quietly as she slipped back inside. “We would be happy to walk with you.”

The Guides and O-Melie and V-Nen went out. Under the cover of adjusting his cloak, Qui-Gon turned back to Obi-Wan and Siri.

“Leave us and wander off when you can,” he said in a low tone. “Do it without being seen. The Guides will come after you. Avoid them. You can use the time to gather information about Kegan. Do not cause disruption or upset. Remember, observation without interference. Do not reveal that you are Jedi.”

Obi-Wan and Siri nodded, their expressions alert.

Qui-Gon saw Adi’s worried look. He thought he understood. They would cause a disruption. A minimal disruption, and worth the risk, in his opinion. But Adi might not think so. He was not used to having to ask another Jedi Master to approve a course of action. He waited, his eyes on her, to see if she would object.

As he waited, Qui-Gon wondered again why Yoda had sent two teams to this planet. Had Adi been sent in order to monitor his tendency to follow his instincts and bend the rules? Was she meant to oversee how he and Obi-Wan worked together?

And if she did not approve of his suggestion, what would he do?

But Adi nodded. “This had better work,” she murmured as she stepped out into the bright sunlight.