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Yoda blinked. He had lived long and seen much. There was not much that could surprise him.
"A good sign this request may be," he said. "Think we do that by taking this step Kegan means to open up relations with the I
Welcomes this, the Galactic Senate does. Relations between worlds fosters peace. So two parts, your mission has. Open relations with Kegan we must.
Determine the child's potential we must as well. A planet that isolates itself can be filled with suspicion and fear. Diplomatic you must be.
Disruption you must not allow."
Yoda looked at Adi and Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan was confused. Was he sending the two Jedi Masters instead of a Master-Padawan team?
"Two teams we have decided to send," Yoda said.
"You mean all of us?" Obi-Wan blurted in dismay.
Yoda ignored his tone. "Cooperate you must to complete the mission."
Cooperate with Siri? Obi-Wan wanted to cry. He'd need more than the Force to accomplish that!
Why two teams? Obi-Wan wondered as Adi piloted their craft toward the surface of Kegan. The mission to identify a Force-sensitive child was fairly routine.
Did it mean that the Council was still looking over his shoulder?
After he had left the Jedi for a short time, Obi-Wan had been put on probation. He had used the time to deepen his study of the Jedi path. The probation had been lifted, and he was once again an official Padawan learner. But did the Council still withhold their trust?
Over the past months, the process of repairing his ties with his Master had been satisfying for both of them. They had spent much time at the Temple, and also had roamed the galaxy together, observing other worlds and customs and helping when they could. Their bond had grown stronger.
Had the Council not seen this? Why were they paired with Adi and Siri?
"Landing in three minutes," Adi a
Obi-Wan stole a glance at Siri. Her face was passive as she gazed over the countryside below. She looked completely calm, but perhaps she hid nervousness well. Obi-Wan remembered how anxious he'd felt before his first mission. It was a new experience to leave the Temple and be thrust into the sometimes rough and violent galaxy. Obi-Wan leaned closer.
"Landing on a planet for the first time can be confusing," he told her.
"There's usually so much to see that it's hard to focus. But in the first few minutes you can learn many things."
She didn't turn, but kept her eyes on the approaching landing platform.
"I never lose my focus, Obi-Wan. Or my commitment."
The words felt like a slap. Obi-Wan leaned back again, his face flushed. Siri had been furious with him for leaving the Jedi path. She had accused him of undermining the commitment of all Padawans by his decision.
She implied that her commitment to the Jedi was stronger than his.
It wasn't fair. He had taken one misstep. His Master and the Council had forgiven him. Why couldn't she?
The craft slowly lowered onto the landing platform. Obi-Wan saw a group waiting for them. Both the men and women wore tunics similar to the Jedis'.
Adi activated the ramp, and they disembarked. A man and a woman stepped forward immediately to greet them.
"Welcome, Jedi visitors," the woman said in a pleasant tone. She was of middle years, with a broad face and curly gray hair that framed her ruddy cheeks in a frothy cloud. "We are the Hospitality Guides, here to introduce you to our world and make sure you're comfortable. I am 0-Rina and this is V-Haad."
Her companion smiled and bowed. He was tall and balding, with warm dark eyes.
The Jedi bowed in return, and Qui-Gon introduced them. "We were called here by two of your citizens."
The younger couple stepped forward. "I am V-Nen and this is my wife O-Melie," the man said. "We are the parents of O-Lana."
The woman's eyes studied them, then looked down. She seemed nervous, as did her husband. No doubt they were worried about the approaching examination of their child.
"The child is at their dwelling," V-Haad said. "We will transport you there. Please follow."
The Jedi followed the Guides and the parents to a battered-looking landspeeder. Obi-Wan had never seen such an old model in use. He wondered if it would be able to start.
The repulsorlift engine fired up with a worrisome clatter, but it ran perfectly. As they sped over the rugged ground, Obi-Wan looked around curiously. They were traveling along one central unpaved road that curved around a low wall. Inside the wall were domed structures. The landspeeders parked outside looked as ancient and battered as the one they were riding in.
"There is but one city on Kegan, and we are all its keepers," 0-Rina shouted over the noise of the engine. "The rest of the planet is used for food and animal cultivation. There are large areas of open space. We are passing the Tech Circle right now. Kegan is divided into circles for each area of work. The Tech Circle leads into the Communication Circle, which leads to the Study Circle, which leads to the Garden Circle, and so on. They all ring the Gathering Circle, where we hold meetings. We are heading now to the Dwelling Circle."
A shadow passed over them, and Obi-Wan looked up. A skyhopper zoomed overhead, an old model he wasn't familiar with.
"Perhaps you are amazed that our transports are still ru
"Do you have currency here?" Adi Gallia asked in an interested way.
V-Haad shook his head. "We are a barter economy. Everything belongs to the General Good. We may give up great riches here, but we have no crime. I would rather live peacefully and safely than with worry on my shoulders."
"It seems a good philosophy," Qui-Gon agreed. "Do you have a system of government?"
"We have Benevolent Guides, V-Tan and 0-Vieve," O-Rina said. "They were the first to devise a new way to live here on Kegan. They have an Advising Circle, but they guide rather than rule. We are all given a voice.
Everything is adjusted for the General Good."
Obi-Wan had to admit that the system seemed to work on the surface.
Perhaps because Kegan was a tiny planet with a small population, it managed to avoid the strife of other worlds. As they sped by, people lifted their heads from their tasks to wave and smile. They all seemed busy and happy.