The Uncertain Path

19

To track how the Elders had been armed, Qui-Gon decided to start at the obvious place: the warehouse where the Security Squad had stored the confiscated weapons. Nield must have raided it. But could the Elders have stolen from it as well?

The walk to the warehouse was conducted in silence. There was so much silence between them now, Qui-Gon realized. And it was not the easy silence of companions. He saw the emotions that Obi-Wan struggled to hide. Chief among them was hope that Qui-Gon had forgiven him.

Of course Qui-Gon had forgiven him. He was not sure when it had happened—when he heard Obi-Wan’s voice as he reported Cerasi’s death, or when his former Padawan had greeted him at the gate with so much hope in his face. Perhaps it had been gradual, but it was there, in his heart, and he knew it.

Qui-Gon did not think of himself as a hard man. Obi-Wan had made an impulsive choice in the heat of a charged moment. It was a choice that he had come to regret. That was part of growing up.

Forgiveness was not the point. Qui-Gon had already passed to the next step. Would he take Obi-Wan back if he asked? He did not think so.

But that feeling could change, Qui-Gon told himself, struggling to be honest. It had before. So it was better to wait, to say nothing. Obi-Wan must deal with the consequences of his decision. One of them was uncertainty.

The warehouse was deserted, bolted on the outside with a strong lock.

Qui-Gon sliced through it with his lightsaber and pushed open the door. A boy and a girl were sitting on the floor of the empty space, talking. They looked up, startled, when Qui-Gon strode in. He recognized the girl as Deila, one of the Young, but did not recognize the stout, round-faced boy.

Deila scrambled to her feet when she saw Obi-Wan. Then she appeared confused. Since Obi-Wan was no longer her leader, she seemed to be thinking, was it right to show him respect? Quickly, she sat down on the guard’s chair. The boy made a halfhearted attempt to rise, but Deila shot him a glance and he quickly sat down again.

Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan’s face flush. These two had once been his friends.

But Nield had drawn a battle line, and they were loyal to him now. Qui-Gon wondered how far such loyalty extended. Why were the two sitting in an empty warehouse behind a barred door? They must have climbed in a window. Were they hiding?

“Hello, Deila,” Qui-Gon said in friendly tone. “I’m glad to find you well.”

Deila nodded coolly at Qui-Gon. “I am surprised to see you back on Melida/Daan.”

“Certain factions on Melida/Daan have called for Jedi assistance,” Qui-Gon answered. “I’m here to help.”

Deila glanced at Obi-Wan. “I think I know which faction has called for help.”

“There are many who still hope for peace,” Obi-Wan said. “You were once among them.”

Deila flushed. “Peace is always our ultimate objective. What do you want?”

“Just some answers,” Qui-Gon said.

“I have none to give.”

“I have not asked you a question yet.”

“We’re trying to find out how and when the Elders and the Young rearmed themselves,” Obi-Wan said. “Did someone take the weapons? Obviously the warehouse has been emptied out.” He turned to the boy. “Do you know, Joli?”

“Don’t say anything, Joli,” Deila said sharply. “We have nothing to say to an outsider.”

Qui-Gon leaned closer and fixed Deila with his piercing blue gaze. He could use the Force on this girl, but it would be better to let her own emotions guide her. He sensed uneasiness in her. She respected Obi-Wan. He sensed that, too.

“You know that Obi-Wan fought hard for Melida/Daan,” Qui-Gon said. “He shot down every deflection tower in Zehava for you, at great personal risk. He, Nield, and Cerasi devised the strategy that won the war. He fought side by side with you in that war. After peace came, he again risked his life to work for disarmament. If he is an outsider, he was also instrumental in saving your world. Now he continues to risk his life by remaining because he thinks he can help. Why do you show him no respect?”

Fierce Deila crumpled under Qui-Gon’s gaze and became a mumbling girl. “I don’t know.”

“When you don’t know your own mind, you fill it with the beliefs of another. Are you so sure that everything Nield says is true?”

Deila glanced at Joli. Perhaps Qui-Gon had raised a question that they had been discussing. Joli nodded at her. “No,” she muttered.

“Then will you answer my questions if you can? You can help the cause of peace on Melida/Daan.”

Deila glanced at Obi-Wan. She bit her lip. “Of course I want to help the cause of peace.”

Qui-Gon signaled to Obi-Wan.

“Where are the weapons?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Mawat took most of them,” Deila said. “He moved them to a safer location, he said. I don’t know where.”

“Did he rearm Nield and the Young?” Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon saw Deila’s eyes slide to Joli before she nodded. “He heard that the Elders had arms, he said. Nield gave him permission. What could I do? Nield is governor.”

So Mawat had just taken what he wanted. He’d known that Obi-Wan would refuse to open the warehouse. But how had the Elders gotten their weapons?

Joli’s round face was red. He looked at Deila nervously. “I think we should tell them,” he said.

“Be quiet, Joli!” Deila snapped.

“I don’t want to fight in a war again!” Joli cried. “You said you didn’t either! That’s why we’re hiding here, remember?”

“What do you want to tell us, Joli?” Qui-Gon asked.

“Mawat armed the Elders that day,” Joli burst out.

“Mawat?” Obi-Wan asked, shocked. “But why?”

“Because he wanted a confrontation,” Qui-Gon guessed. “Isn’t that right, Joli?”

Joli nodded. “If a battle broke out, Nield would be held responsible. Mawat wanted to make sure there would be trouble. He… he even put sharpshooters on the roof to start the battle if Nield or Wehutti backed down. He needed war.”

“So that he could grab power,” Qui-Gon suggested.

“He thinks Nield is weak,” Joli said, slumping back against the wall. “Now he’s planned another battle.”

“Today?” Obi-Wan guessed. “Is that why you’re hiding?”

Deila bit her lip. “He tried to recruit us. We hid instead. We don’t want to fight. Especially since no one can find Nield. Mawat is planning a big action, but we’re not sure what. He’s acting on his own. He wanted me to set some explosives. But he doesn’t have the authority to start a war with the Elders!”

“I think both Mawat and Nield are crazy,” Joli said. “We had peace on our world. Why can’t we hold on to it?”

“That is a very good question, Joli,” Qui-Gon said. “I wish every planet in the galaxy could answer it.”

“So one of the sharpshooters killed Cerasi,” Obi-Wan said as they reached the street. He felt dazed by what he’d learned. “Because of Mawat, she’s dead. The funny thing is, Mawat loved Cerasi, too.”

“The important thing is that Nield did not kill Cerasi,” Qui-Gon said. “He needs to know that, and he needs to know of Mawat’s betrayal. Do you know where Nield could be?”

“Any one of a dozen places,” Obi-Wan said, thinking. “The tunnels. The park…”

“Let’s split up,” Qui-Gon said grimly. “We’re running out of time.”

He reached into his cloak and brought out Obi-Wan’s lightsaber. He tossed it to Obi-Wan. “Here. I have a feeling you’re going to need this.”

Obi-Wan’s hand curled over the hilt of the lightsaber. As he hefted it, the Force suddenly surged through him.

As he slung it into his belt, he lifted his chin and met Qui-Gon’s gaze. For the first time since Qui-Gon’s arrival, he felt no shame.

It didn’t matter what Qui-Gon thought. He was still a Jedi.