The Captive Temple(2)
“Strong in the dark side, he was,” Yoda said, nodding.
“We know that Bruck Chun hasn’t left the Temple since you discovered he was the culprit in the thefts,” Mace Windu said to Qui-Gon. “We still do not know who he has allied himself with. We only know there is an intruder in the Temple.”
“Has the person been spotted again?” Qui-Gon asked.
“No,” Mace Windu said. He reached for a data sheet on the arm of his chair. “But just this morning, a student found this. It was left outside a meditation chamber.”
Qui-Gon took the data sheet from Mace Windu’s outstretched hand. He read it, then handed it to Obi-Wan.
MEDITATE ON THIS, MASTERS: NEXT TIME I WILL NOT FAIL.
Mace Windu placed his hands on each armrest. “Naturally, this has been the focus of consideration and debate. We feel the dark side working. Not only that, but it appears the invader has managed to sabotage our central power structure. You may have noticed the warmer air. We have a perplexing problem with the air cooling unit. Every time Miro Daroon fixes something in the tech center, there is another malfunction elsewhere. There have also been various problems with the lighting and communication systems in some of the wings of the Temple. Miro is hard-pressed to keep up.”
Obi-Wan was puzzled. Mace Windu had not looked at him once during his briefing. Why was he here? He wasn’t technically a Jedi, since the Council had not extended the offer to take him back. And he certainly wasn’t Qui-Gon’s Padawan any longer.
At that moment, every face on the Jedi Council turned to him. Mace Windu’s intense gaze studied his face. Obi-Wan struggled to remember his Jedi training in composure. It wasn’t easy to have twelve Jedi Masters staring at him. And the penetrating gaze of Mace Windu was the most rigorous of all. His dark eyes had a way of making you feel he had seen into the very heart of you, ferreting out secret feelings you weren’t even aware you had.
“Obi-Wan, we are hoping that you will have
insights into what Bruck Chun can and will do,” Mace Windu said heavily.
“I wasn’t his friend,” Obi-Wan said, surprised.
“You were his rival,” Mace Windu said. “That could be even more valuable to us.”
Obi-Wan was at a loss. “But I didn’t know Bruck well. I knew how he would move in a lightsaber duel, yes. But not what was in his mind or heart.”
No one said anything. Obi-Wan struggled not to betray his apprehension. He had disappointed the Jedi Masters once more. Looking around the room, he did not meet one friendly eye. Even Yoda gave him no encouragement. He wanted to wipe his damp palms on his tunic, but he didn’t dare.
“Of course I’ll do whatever I can to help,” he added quickly. “Just tell me what you want me to do. I can talk to his friends -“
“No need,” Mace Windu interrupted. He laced his long fingers together. “Until a decision is made by the Council, we must ask you not to interfere with Temple business unless we ask you otherwise.”
Obi-Wan felt stung. “The Temple is my home!” he cried.
“You are welcome to remain here until your situation is resolved, of course,” Mace Windu
said. “There is still much discussion to take place.”
“But there is a real threat to the Temple,” Obi-Wan argued. “You need help. And I wasn’t here during the petty thefts. I’m one of the few Jedi students who can be ruled out as a suspect. Someone could have helped Bruck. I could investigate.”
Obi-Wan saw with a sinking feeling that he had made a mistake. He should have known better than to ask the Council to take him back based on the fact that he could be of use to them in a crisis.
Mace Windu’s sharp gaze cut him like ice. “I think the Jedi can manage to solve the crisis without that kind of help from you.”
“Of course,” Obi-Wan said. “But I wish to tell all the Jedi Masters that I feel genuine remorse for my decision. It felt right at the time, but I’ve come to see how wrong it was. I want nothing more than to have back what I once had. I want to be a Padawan. I want to be a Jedi.”
“Have again what you had, you cannot,” Yoda said. “Different you are. Different is Qui-Gon. Every moment makes you so. Every decision a cost it has.”
Ki-Adi-Mundi spoke up. “Obi-Wan, you have violated not only the trust of Qui-Gon, but the
trust of the Council. You seem not to recognize this.”
“But I do!” Obi-Wan exclaimed. “I take responsibility for it and I’m sorry for it.”
“You are thirteen years old, Obi-Wan. You are not a child,” Mace Windu said with a frown. “Why do you speak as one? Sorry does not make the offense disappear. You interfered in the internal affairs of a planet without official Jedi approval. You defied the order of your Master. A Master depends on the loyalty of the Padawan, just as the Padawan depends on the Master. If that trust is broken, the bond shatters.”