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"Qui-Gon, are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Perhaps we should not speak of evil and darkness just as we've completed a successful mission," Qui-Gon suggested lightly. "Let us enjoy this moment. Justice has returned to Kegan."
"And if darkness lies ahead of me, I will fight it," Obi-Wan resolved.
Qui-Gon put a hand on his shoulder. "We will fight it together, Padawan."
"I thought children were revered on Kegan," Obi-Wan said, his cheek in the dirt.
A boot was suddenly placed on his head. His face was pushed farther into the dirt. "No back talk. You know very well that truancy is a criminal act on Kegan. You're old enough to be punished for it."
"But we're not Keganites!" Siri protested.
"I've heard all the excuses. Shut your mouth."
"We're from another world. We're visitors," Siri insisted furiously.
"Take your boot off my friend's head."
The boot was removed from Obi-Wan's head and landed on Siri's shoulder.
"Sure," the man said.
Enough, Obi-Wan thought. He struggled to rise, but the electro-jabber had done its work. He knew he wouldn't regain full use of his arms and legs for several more hours. It would be impossible to use his lightsaber effectively until then. Besides, he'd been instructed not to show Keganites that he was a Jedi. Obi-Wan tried to roll closer to Siri but couldn't move.
He watched helplessly as the boot increased pressure on Siri's shoulder, driving her face into the dirt.
"What did I say about back talk?" the man asked again.
Siri gritted her teeth. Her vivid blue eyes blazed. She spat out the dirt in her mouth. Still, she didn't answer.
"V-Tarz!" A voice boomed from behind them. Instantly, V-Tarz took his boot off Siri's shoulder.
Obi-Wan saw another man approach, wearing the same navy chromasheath tunic as V-Tarz.
"Why are these students on the ground?" the second man demanded.
"Resisting capture," V-Tarz responded.
"No need to use physical force," the other man said. "We've discussed this before. The Learning works with love, not fear. Take them to class."
Obi-Wan was hauled to his feet. He locked his knees so that he would not fall. Siri did the same.
"But we're not Keganites," Obi-Wan protested to the second guard, who seemed more friendly. "We're visitors."
The second guard's dark gaze flicked over Obi-Wan and Siri. "No one visits Kegan. Three marks for lying." He turned away. "Take them to class."
V-Tarz nudged them with the handle end of his electro-jabber. "You heard V-Brose. Get moving."
"Let's make a break for it," Siri murmured to Obi-Wan as they stumbled across the yard, their muscles like pudding.