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Obi-Wan did not wait for a reply but cut off the co
Anakin was now sitting erect. "Will you really do that?"
"Jedi do not threaten," Obi-Wan said. "We inform." He sat calmly, but his eyes were on the chrono. Anything could happen. They could be locked inside their quarters. Or Uni could decide to boot them off the ship to the nearest planet.
In exactly eight minutes, the door hissed open. Deleta stood with the same neutral expression on her face.
"Uni will see you now."
Obi-Wan and Anakin followed her through a maze of corridors to a single turbolift. It brought them to a higher level of the ship. They emerged into a deserted hallway.
Deleta accessed a door at the far end of the corridor. They walked into a round room lined with low seating and recessed glow lights. The walls, floors, and furniture were pale blue. Deleta left, the doors hissing shut behind her.
"Do you think this is Uni's private quarters?" Anakin asked in a hushed tone.
"Most likely," Obi-Wan answered.
The doors opened behind him. Obi-Wan saw a tall, slender human walk in. His hair was close-cropped and as white as a moon. His eyes were clear and very blue.
"I am Uni," he said.
But Obi-Wan knew immediately that it was Kad Chun.
Chapter 13
Obi-Wan felt as if his throat had been squeezed. His feet were planted on the floor, or else he could have sworn that he staggered.
"Kad Chun." Obi-Wan spoke his name numbly.
Kad looked just as surprised. He gathered himself with a visible effort."Obi-Wan Kenobi. I am Uni now."
Kad approached until he was standing close to Obi-Wan, closer than Obi-Wan liked. His pale eyes flickered as he registered the signs of maturity in Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan remembered the face of the boy, burning with hatred in a Senate hearing room.
"So they sent you."
"Yes."
"I suppose they do not know who I am."
"No."
"Kad Chun is no more."
Obi-Wan's curiosity overcame his caution. "How did you come to be here?"
Kad turned and began to stroll about the room. He did not give Anakin a glance, but the boy watched him steadily.
"After the hearing, my father and I returned to Telos. We led a quiet life, recovering from our double tragedy-the loss of our son and brother, and the inability of the Senate to bring his killer to justice."
Obi-Wan stiffened, but Uni did not look at him, just strolled about, picking up an object here or there, studying it and putting it down.
"Many good things happened on Telos. I understand you were there at the begi
"I am sorry to hear this," Obi-Wan said.
"I found myself in a position of some leadership," Kad went on. "I gathered followers. I knew it was too late to save Telos. We were wasting our time. We could never fight that kind of power. In order to save the remaining examples of responsibility and honor on Telos, we had to bring the last of the best with us. Which we did. We boarded a ship, taking our plants and minerals with us. We traveled through the galaxy. We did not look for another world. We did not need one. As we traveled I saw that Telos was not unique. So many worlds in the galaxy are corrupt. The noblest beings protest and are drowned out. We welcomed them aboard. Our core ship began to grow. We have the most brilliant scientists, the greatest i
Kad turned at last. His pale blue eyes burned with fervor. "So you see no one here is held against their will. They can leave at any time at our next docking port. We are working on a renewable fuel that we can produce on the ship, but we haven't been able to perfect it. So we must still stop occasionally. We hope one day to be completely self-sufficient. We will not ever need to have contact with another world. Until then we must deal with the tiresome demands of the Senate. I consider it demeaning to the intelligence of all who live aboard this ship. Nevertheless, I will cooperate."
"You will allow us access throughout the ship?"
Kad nodded. "I will arrange a tour so you can get an overview. After that, you are free to wander on your own."
"We can speak to any of your followers?"
Kad frowned. "I do not use the word followers."
"These beings are here because of your philosophy?"
"A philosophy they have adopted as their own." Kad raised an eyebrow."And what about the Jedi? How different are we from you? Yet the Senate does not send envoys to investigate you, I notice."
"We are very different. We lead lives of contemplation but also engagement," Obi-Wan said in the even tone he adopted when he was irritated. "We do not isolate ourselves and abandon the galaxy."
"Yes, you still believe you can dogood," Kad said carelessly. "Everyone on this ship felt that way once."
Obi-Wan sensed that disengaging was a good philosophy to adopt at that moment. He knew it was fruitless to argue with Kad and knew that Kad's carelessness was studied. He was goading Obi-Wan. No doubt he knew that Obi-Wan's calm was also a mask.
"I am sorry you consider this process demeaning," Obi-Wan said carefully. "But I'm sure you must realize that there are family members throughout the galaxy who have to deal with the sudden disappearance of their loved ones. Communication has been infrequent."
"That is because no one understands our vision," Kad said impatiently. "Everyone here is an adult, capable of making their own decisions. Now, I suggest that you and your follower proceed to the bridge, where I have arranged for one of us to give you a tour of the ship. Take the turbolift to Level four and you will be met there."
The doors opened again. A frail old man walked slowly into the room. His scalp gleamed in the light, and his hooded eyes were dull. It took Obi-Wan several seconds to remember Vox Chun. He was startled at how much he had aged.