Jedi Apprentice(7)

Obi-Wan looked over at the stone markers. He saw the name micae chiseled on one, with the warrior’s birth and death dates. Next to it was a marker for Leidra. They were Nield’s parents.

Nield looked down at the markers. “I’m glad you saved them,” he murmured to Mawat.

Obi-Wan exchanged a surprised glance with Cerasi.

Would

Nield reconsider his position now that he was face-to-face with the last evidence of his parents?

Nield caressed the golden globe that activated the projection. His father appeared in hologram form, brandishing a blaster and wearing armor.

“I am Micae, son of Terandi of Garth, from the North Country,” the hologram began.

Nield turned and activated the hologram of his mother, Leidra. A tall woman with Nield’s dark eyes appeared. “I am Leidra, wife of Micae, daughter of Pei of Quadri,” she began.

The two voices combined, each drowning out the other. Obi-Wan could pick out isolated words and phrases about battles fought and won, ancestors dead, villages destroyed.

Nield picked up a beamdrill. Now the crowd had gathered around him. A solemn look was on his face as he turned to the marker for his father.

“I was but a boy when the evil Melida invaded Garth and herded my people into camps,” Micae was saying. “There -“

Nield attacked the marker with the beamdrill, shattering it into pieces. The hologram dissolved into glittering fragments, then disappeared.

Only the voice of Nield’s mother remained.

“And to my son, Nield, my treasure, my hope, I leave my love and my undying hatred for the filthy Melida -“

Leidra’s voice was cut off as Nield set to work on her marker. The hologram wavered, then dissolved. The harsh sound of the beamdrill filled the air. Stone splintered and chips flew, cutting Nield on his arms. He didn’t seem to feel it. He operated the drill until his parents’ markers were ground to small chunks of stone.

“Now they are gone forever,” Cerasi whispered. Obi-Wan saw a small tear trickle down from the corner of her eye.

Nield turned. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a forearm. Blood from his cuts mingled with the dust covering his face. He leaned down to pick up one of the chunks of stone. He held it aloft.

“The remnants of these stones will be used to build new housing for Melida and Daan to live together in peace,” he shouted. “Today, a new history is born!”

A great roar rose from the crowd. Many rushed into the Hall to help dismantle it. Others hoisted pieces of stone and cheered.

Obi-Wan stood next to Nield and Cerasi. It was a historic moment. He had helped to shape it.

He had no regrets about leaving the Jedi. He was home.

Qui-Gon was in his quarters when he got the message that he was to report to the Jedi Council immediately. He was most likely being called to report on what had happened with Obi-Wan.

He rose with a sigh. He had returned to the Temple for peace. Instead, he was forced to relive the situation over and over.

Still, a request from the Council could not be ignored. Part of being a Jedi was recognizing that one’s own wisdom had limits. The Council was made up of the wisest and best of the Jedi Masters. If they wanted to hear from Qui-Gon directly, he would tell them.

Qui-Gon entered the Council room. It was the highest room in one of the Temple towers, taking up the entire top story. Outside the windows that ran from floor to ceiling, the spires and towers of Coruscant hovered below. The sun was just rising, brushing the clouds with orange fire.

Qui-Gon stood in the center of the room, bowed respectfully, and waited. How would they begin? Would Mace Windu, whose dark eyes could burn through you like hot

coals,

demand

his

reason

for

leaving

a thirteen-year-old boy in the middle of a war? Would Saesee Tiin murmur that Qui-Gon’s actions had always come from an impulsive but giving heart? He had been called before the Council more than most Knights. He could guess at what each would say.

Yoda began the meeting. “Call you here on a matter of grave importance we have. Secret it is. A series of thefts we have discovered.”

Qui-Gon was startled. He had not been prepared for this. “Here at the Temple?”

Yoda nodded. “Sorry I am to report such a thing. Taken are things that do not have monetary value. Yet serious the thefts are. Against the Jedi Code, they are.”

“Does the Council believe that a student is responsible?” Qui-Gon asked, frowning. Such a thing was unheard of at the Temple.

“This we do not know,” Yoda replied.

“If it is not, then some outside force has invaded the Temple. Either possibility is intolerable,” Mace Windu put in. “And both must be

investigated.” He knit his long, elegant fingers together. “That is why we’ve called you here, Qui-Gon. We need to investigate discreetly. We don’t want to alarm the youngest students, or tip off the thief. We’d like you to take charge of the investigation.”