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Obi-Wan groaned loudly.
"Food service cleanup after the evening meal," 0-Bin hissed through her teeth. "And V-Obi, from your groan I'm sure you'll be happy to join O-Siri.
So much better for the General Good."
"I am capable of keeping my mouth shut," Siri told Obi-Wan later. "I just don't want to. What difference does it make if we're washing dishes? At least we're not sitting in a class listening to 0-Bin tell us that the Core Worlds are corrupted."
Obi-Wan regarded the stack of dishes crusted with the remains of the evening meal. It was the second time they had been given cleanup duty that day. "I think I'd rather be sitting in class."
"I have a suggestion." Siri threw the dishrag into the sink. "Let's forget the dishes and escape. Tonight. If we can't outsmart that greedy V-Tarz, we don't deserve to be Jedi."
"All right," he agreed.
"Obi-Wan, you've got to listen to me sometime. You're not the only one who can — " Siri did a double take. "Did you just agree with me?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "You're right. We saw how the security system operates.
Let's do it. Qui-Gon and Adi must be really worried now."
"There will be two guards," Siri said. "And V-Tarz might not be able to go for his snack. What do you have in mind?"
"The other Security Guide thinks the system malfunctioned last night, but they don't know where the problem is, right?"
Siri nodded.
"So let's create a real problem," Obi-Wan said. "They'll have to shut down the system to check and repair it. Meanwhile we'll sneak out the cleansing room window."
"How can we sabotage the system?" Siri asked. "We can't sneak into the admin center now. It's full of Guides."
"We have to sabotage it here," Obi-Wan said, glancing around the kitchen. "Any ideas?"
They examined the security devices set into the ceiling corners.
"Didn't V-Tarz say something about the infrared sensor?" Siri asked.
"He claimed that it could be malfunctioning," Obi-Wan said.
"Can we rig something to set it off again?" Siri asked. She ran her hand along the big warming unit. "What if we turned the stoves on low? They'd heat the room and eventually the infrareds would go off.
They'd have to turn off the system to figure it out."
"Simple, but genius," Obi-Wan said. "Let's do it. But we'd better wash the dishes first. If a Guide comes in to check our work, he or she might notice the stoves are on."
"I knew there was a drawback," Siri groaned.
Working quickly, the two finished their task. The warning lights flashed for lockdown, and they ran for their dorm quarters. They paused outside the admin center.
"We don't have time to say good-bye to Davi," Siri said in concern.
"He'll know what happened when he finds out we're gone. We can come back for him with Qui-Gon and Adi. Meet me here as soon as the security light goes out," Obi-Wan said. "Then we'll head for the Quad 7 exit."
Siri nodded. Obi-Wan headed to his dorm quarters. He managed to slip into bed just before the lights went out. He waited, listening to the breathing slow around him. The students worked so hard and long during the day that everyone fell deeply asleep within minutes of lying down.
At last the security light blinked off. Obi-Wan slipped into his boots and tiptoed out. He hesitated near Davi's sleep couch. It was better not to awaken him. Anything could go wrong, and he didn't want to get Davi in trouble.
When he reached the hall outside the admin center, Siri was waiting.
"I just saw V-Tarz and the other Security Guide take off to check that sensor," she said. "It's an all clear."
They hurried down the long hallway, past the other dorm rooms. The cleansing room was at the very end of the long, circular building. They had almost reached it when they heard the scrape of a door opening slightly.
Without hesitating a fraction, Obi-Wan and Siri leaped together toward the curve of the hallway, where they would be out of sight. They hit the floor and began to run. If someone had caught a glimpse of them, or even merely heard them, Security Guides might be called. Each student was encouraged to inform on the others.
But would they?
An alarm pierced the silence. The door to the cleansing room was in sight. They raced toward it. But before they could reach it, Security Guides spilled out into the hallway and surrounded them.
They could have fought them. But that meant they would have to draw their lightsabers. Obi-Wan was still reluctant to do that, since Yoda had cautioned them against it. There had to be a better way. He saw Siri's hand drift to her lightsaber hilt, and he shook his head. But would Siri listen to him?
Students spilled out into the hall to see what had caused the disturbance. 0-Bin and several other Teaching Guides hurried out, dressed in their sleepwear.
"I know these two well," O-Bin said. "What are you doing out in the hallways after curfew?"
A shaky voice came from behind them. "It was me."
They turned. Davi stood nervously, his eyes on the floor, afraid to look at 0-Bin.
"I was heading for the food prep area," Davi said. "I… forgot something."
"I'll say he did!" V-Tarz hurried forward. "He left all the stoves on!
Tripped the sensors!"
0-Bin plastered her chiding smile on her face. "This is very careless of you, V-Davi. We will have to consult to figure out how many punishment marks you will receive."
"I know," Davi mumbled. "I realize that I endangered the General Good.
I am repentant."
"Well. We shall discuss this tomorrow." O-Bin clapped her hands.
"Everyone return to your quarters."
Amid the crush of students, Obi-Wan and Siri made their way to Davi.
"Why did you do that?" Siri whispered.
"I don't have as many punishment marks as you," Davi whispered back.
"Davi, why are you wearing your boots and outer tunic?" Obi-Wan asked shrewdly.
"I saw you leave," Davi said. "I knew you were going to escape. I wanted to come with you!"
"V-Davi!" O-Bin's voice was shrill. "If you want. to repent for your disobedience, you should not be talking to two troublemakers!"