Jedi Apprentice(19)

“At last it’s time,” he said. “We can set the trap.”

“I call for a vote on a stop action for the New History Squad’s demolitions of the Halls of Evidence,” Cerasi called out. Her voice echoed off the crumbling walls of the building.

For once, the council chamber was silent. All of the Young were stunned at the call to oppose Nield. Cerasi, Obi-Wan, and Nield were almost seen as one person by the group. The division between the friends was shocking.

Birds wheeled overhead in the blue sky. Occasionally, one would fly inside the open roof and perch above, and a shrill caw would split the air.

Deila stood. “I second the motion.”

The room erupted in shouts and demands. Obi-Wan could only pick out some of them.

The Halls must be destroyed! Nield is right!

Nield has taken this too far!

Cerasi is right! We need housing, not rubble!

Nield’s face was still and white as he waited out the shouting. Cerasi gripped her hands together. As council head it was her job to control the crowd.

At last she stood and pounded on the table with the stone she used to maintain order. “Quiet!” she shouted. “Sit down and be quiet!”

Slowly, the boys and girls took their seats. Everyone looked at Cerasi expectantly.

She cleared her throat. “The council shall vote. On the issue of a stop action on the demolition of the Halls, vote yes for the action, and no to continue the demolition.” Cerasi turned to Mawat. “You may begin.”

“Hey, I agree with Nield,” Mawat said. “The demolition must continue. I vote no on the stop action.”

Cerasi turned to the next council member, and the next. By the time the vote got back to her, it stood at four against the stop action and four for it.

Cerasi gave a quick, nervous glance to Obi-Wan. There were only three votes left: Cerasi’s, Nield’s, and Obi-Wan’s. Cerasi would vote for the stop action. Nield would vote against it.

Obi-Wan would be the one to break the tie.

“I vote yes,” Cerasi said quietly.

Everyone looked at Nield. “And I vote no, for the continued peace and security of Melida/Daan!” he called in a ringing voice.

Now all eyes in the chamber turned to Obi-Wan. He heard the mocking caw, caw of the birds overhead and the moaning of the wind. His heart was heavy as he said, “I vote yes.”

“The motion is carried,” Cerasi said, swallowing hard. “The New History Squad shall temporarily cease all demolition of the Halls until further study.”

For a moment, no one moved. Then Nield suddenly sprang to his feet. “I call for another vote!” he shouted. “I call for the removal of Obi-Wan from the council!”

Obi-Wan stiffened. “What?” Cerasi cried.

Nield turned to the crowd. “How can Obi-Wan get a vote when he is neither Melida nor Daan?”

“Obi-Wan is one of us!” Cerasi cried in shock.

“Nield is right!” Mawat stood, his eyes blazing.

“Vote again!” a supporter of Nield cried.

Obi-Wan felt as though he could not move. Never could he have imagined Nield making such a charge. He and Nield were like brothers. Just because they disagreed on this issue didn’t mean that would change. At least not for him.

Cerasi took charge. “Council members have been elected for a one-year period. Nield cannot oust any of us just because a vote went against him. Obi-Wan was a hero of the war, and was voted in by an overwhelming majority.” She banged her rock on the table. “The stop-action vote has carried. This meeting is over.”

She stood and motioned for the other council members to do the same. But the crowd was angry. Shouts and cries filled the air. Someone in a back row pushed someone else, and a fight broke out.

“We must decide on our own destiny!” Nield was shouting. “Melida and Daan together!”

The shouting grew louder. Obi-Wan stood at his place, still unable to move. He didn’t know what to do. Suddenly, he was an outsider.

He glanced at Cerasi. She stared out over the crowd, her face white, her hands gripping the edge of the table. She met his gaze with despair. The unity of the Young was disintegrating before their eyes.

In the days after the meeting Obi-Wan and Cerasi could only watch helplessly as the Young splintered apart. Nield would not talk to them. He moved aboveground and slept with Mawat and the Scavenger Young in the park. Heartbroken, Obi-Wan and Cerasi could only try to heal the division they had caused.

We cannot let this divide us, they pleaded.

But the divide only grew wider.

Nield worked on Mawat to convince the Scavenger Young to support him. If he had enough votes, he could overthrow the entire council and call for a new one. He targeted Obi-Wan as an outsider who had no right to make decisions for Melida/Daan.