[Jedi Quest] - 08(4)

Focus on the first step. The others will follow.

Much good had come out of his experience on Vanqor. The Zone had broken him down in a way that had been helpful. He had felt vulnerable and afraid, and he had leaned on his Master. He had come to see that Obi-Wan cared for him a great deal. His Master would be there for him always. That had been a great gift to carry away from an uncertain time.

Anakin tore his mind away from his own preoccupations and noticed that Ferus looked as though he were debating whether to speak. Anakin hoped he wouldn’t. He rarely liked what Ferus Olin had to say.

Siri noted her Padawan’s hesitation. “Is there something on your mind, Ferus?” she asked.

“I am just wondering if this plan is appropriate for the Jedi,” Ferus said. “It is not for me to question Jedi Masters…”

“Questioning is part of the role of an apprentice,” Obi-Wan said kindly. “Go ahead.”

“This isn’t the kind of thing that a Jedi should do,” Ferus said stiffly, obviously uncomfortable at second-guessing his Master. “Impersonating criminals? We are not tricksters. We are ambassadors of peace and justice.”

Anakin wanted to roll his eyes. Ferus was such a show-off. He always had to bring up Jedi rules, as if he was the only one who remembered them. Did it ever occur to him that the important thing was to get the job done? Anakin looked over at Siri. She was nodding thoughtfully, as though she was truly considering Ferus’s point. He wondered if she was just trying to be a good Master when she really wanted to call him a pompous bore.

“Of course that is true,” Siri said. “But the galaxy is complex. The Jedi must operate differently and take different kinds of risks. There are planets that do not welcome our presence, yet circumstances demand that we help for the good of the galaxy.” She sighed. “I have gone undercover before, Ferus. The Council decided that it was the only way to infiltrate a vast space pirating operation. I had to pretend to leave the Order. It was difficult. Every Jedi thought I had turned to the dark side, even Obi-Wan.”

“It was a great act of bravery on Siri’s part,” Obi-Wan said.

“Every second of my deception went against my core,” Siri continued. “I don’t like lies. To live a lie takes a toll. Yet am I glad I did it? Yes. The Jedi were able to bring down a vicious pirate and liberate hundreds of slaves.”

“I tangled with Jenna Zan Arbor before, when I was your age,” Obi-Wan told Ferus. “She is a great enemy of the Jedi. She imprisoned Qui-Gon and drained his life in order to study the Force. She almost killed him. She has killed others. She is capable of anything. With the Zone of Self-Containment she could subdue an entire population. We must use any means to stop her.”

“Any means?” Ferus asked.

There was a silence. Anakin saw Obi-Wan exchange a quick glance with Siri. Everyone in the room was thinking the same thing. Means equal ends. It was one of the core beliefs of the Jedi. In order to do good, one must act rightly at every step. If the means used were wrong, then the outcome was wrong, too.

“I did not choose my words carefully,” Obi-Wan said. “My meaning is this - - if we must use a little deception to catch her, then we will. In this case, our only hope is to beat Zan Arbor at her own game. She could consolidate her power on Romin. She could use the planet as a base for operations, thinking she cannot be touched there. She could do vast amounts of damage. Lives are at stake. Perhaps millions of lives.” Obi-Wan’s keen stare fixed on Ferus. “Don’t you think that is worth forsaking your dignity and taking another’s identity for a few days?”

Ferus’s cheeks colored. Anakin realized that Obi-Wan had put a sure finger on the spot that was most tender in Ferus. His dignity. Obi-Wan had done it kindly, but Ferus had felt a sting.

Ferus nodded. “I will, of course, do as you say.” “But you must believe it, too,” Siri said.

After a short pause, Ferus said, “I do. I trust that those with more wisdom know the way.”

Ferus seemed to be sincere. He was incapable of lying. Yet it was clear that Siri and Obi-Wan had not done away with all of his uneasiness.

Obi-Wan turned back to Siri and Anakin. “If all goes well, we can brief Master Windu and leave tonight,” he said.

Anakin nodded. He bent his head closer to Siri and Obi-Wan as they discussed their next step. Ferus was silent throughout their entire discussion. For once, Ferus was the outsider. For once, it wasn’t him.





CHAPTER THREE


Tyro did not tell Obi-Wan the details of the favors he had called in and the promises he had made. He just gave him the results that he’d wanted. It was not the first time that Tyro had proved an invaluable friend.