THE THREAT WITHIN

CHAPTER 1

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood perfectly still. He sensed no  movement  in  the

darkened room, yet his muscles were tensed,  ready  for  attack.  The  only

light came from  the  glowing  blue  blade  of  his  lightsaber.  The  only

discernible sounds were  the  hum  of  the  blade  and  the  Jedi's  almost

undetectable breathing. Obi-Wan had been standing  in  the  same  position,

balanced on a thin rail, for nearly an hour. Still, he waited.

Suddenly Qui-Gon's voice penetrated the silence,  breaking  Obi-Wan's

concentration. A message from his Master over the comlink was not what Obi-

Wan had expected. Momentarily distracted, he  almost  missed  the  stealth-

training probe moving rapidly toward his head. That was what  he  had  been

waiting for.

Obi-Wan turned awkwardly on the slim rail and sliced the probe out of

the air. Leaping high to another unseen  rail,  he  knocked  out  two  more

probes. A moment later the lights in the room came on and  the  young  Jedi

deactivated his lightsaber.

Obi-Wan shook his head. The exercise was complete, but the seventeen-

year-old Jedi was not pleased with his performance.

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied to Qui-Gon over the comlink.

"We've been summoned by the Council. Meet me there."

"Of course," Obi-Wan replied. Hope sprang  within  him.  Perhaps  the

Council had at last summoned them for a mission. Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon  had

spent the last two months at the Temple. It was always  a  relief  to  come

home when a mission was complete, but Obi-Wan did  not  like  to  stay  too

long.

Being a Jedi was constant work. And somehow the  dedication,  energy,

and patience it required seemed  to  intensify  when  Obi-Wan  was  at  the

Temple, when he wasn't working toward a mission's specific objective.

Jedi never stopped learning. But after  endless  training  exercises,

Obi-Wan could feel his focus begin to slip. He  should  not  have  been  so

clumsy with the training probes. He should have been prepared for anything.

He was growing bored, and that was dangerous.

Outside the Council Chambers,  Obi-Wan  spotted  his  Master's  large

frame. Even with his back turned, Obi-Wan could sense that  Qui-Gon  shared

none of his eager anticipation, his anxiety. As always  his  Master  exuded

calm. Qui-Gon was almost always content with training and meditation alone.

Why did Obi-Wan crave action?

Qui-Gon  smiled  and  nodded  at  his  approaching   Padawan   before

activating the door and entering the chamber. A half step  behind,  Obi-Wan

followed as Qui-Gon strode to the center of the room and  acknowledged  the

seated Masters.

Obi-Wan's pulse quickened slightly.  But  it  was  nothing  like  the

nervousness he used to feel when summoned to appear before the Council.

Mace Windu leaned back in his chair, his arm draped across the  back.

"We've received a message from Vorzyd 4," he  said  plainly.  "They  report

that they are being sabotaged by Vorzyd 5 and have requested mediation. The

planets in the Vorzyd system have never been engaged in war  of  any  kind.

But tensions have been brewing between the fourth and fifth planets. All of

the planets are interdependent and a dispute between two  could  trigger  a

chain reaction, disrupting the whole cluster. Clearly this is something  we

wish to avoid."

"So the situation  is  delicate,"  Obi-Wan  finished  Master  Windu's

thought and immediately regretted  it.  It  would  not  do  to  reveal  his

impatience to the Council.

"Very,"  Mace  continued,  appearing  to  notice  neither   Obi-Wan's

eagerness nor his interruption. "And  to  make  matters  more  complicated,

Vorzyd 5 denies any wrongdoing."

"Before you can bring these planets together to talk you will need to

assess the matter carefully," Master Yarael Poof added. "There may be  more

at stake here than meets the eye."

Obi-Wan saw Qui-Gon nod slowly, and knew that their work would  begin

before they even left the Temple.  He  had  heard  of  the  Vorzyd  cluster

before, but only in passing. The next  step  was  a  visit  to  the  Temple

archives. Mediation  required  a  good  deal  of  research  and  background

knowledge. The Jedi would have to be prepared for any possible conflict.

Jocasta Nu was ready when the Jedi arrived. She  spent  most  of  her

time pulling research for Jedi missions. Although she was regularly briefed

by a member of the Council as to what planets or systems might soon require

Jedi assistance, her ability to access just the right information  at  just

the right time was uncanny. She could almost always sense the moment when a

brewing problem was about to boil over.

The viewscreen in the archives was playing a  recorded  communication

from Chairman Port, the leader  of  Vorzyd  4,  when  Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon

entered the room. Jocasta quickly shut it off.

"Sending you to Vorzyd 4, are they?" she asked with a  chuckle.  "I'm

sure that will be a productive trip." Obi-Wan did not get the joke. But  as

Jocasta told them more about the Vorzyd 4's, he began to understand.

The small planet was best known for its amazing production  and  sale

of goods. Alone, Vorzyd 4 produced almost all of the food  and  hard  goods

used by the five planets in its system.

"All of  the  inhabitants  of  Vorzyd  4  work,"  Jocasta  explained.

"Children begin working at the age of ten, when their school  cycle  wanes.

Instead of attending school seven days they attend six and work  one.  Each

year thereafter they gain another day of work until the age  of  seventeen,

when they begin to work full-time. From then they work seven days a  week."

Jocasta narrowed her eyes. Obi-Wan thought he sensed disapproval. Even Jedi

rested sometimes.

"At age seventy, laborers are required to retire," Jocasta continued.

"Vorzydiaks fear that the elderly will not be able to keep up with the work

pace. Sadly, most of the retirees die within a few weeks  of  being  forced

out of their jobs. The cause of these deaths is unknown. Most retirees  are

in good health until they are forced to stop working."

Obi-Wan glanced at  his  Master  to  see  what  he  thought  of  this

practice. Qui-Gon was in his fifties, and Obi-Wan could  not  imagine  that

anyone would think of him as anything other  than  productive.  And  Master

Yoda was over eight hundred years old. It was unthinkable that he be  asked

to retire. His wisdom was one of the Council's most valuable assets.

The thought of someone asking these Jedi to step  down  made  Obi-Wan

smile, but Qui-Gon shot him a stern look and he quickly checked himself.

Of course, Vorzydiaks on Vorzyd 4 were unique beings with unique life

cycles and cultural practices. Although they looked mostly  human  -  their

bodies were humanoid but they had a pair  of  long  antennae  and  slightly

larger eyes - Obi-Wan knew better than to judge them by any  other  beings'

standards.

"What of Vorzyd 5?" Qui-Gon asked. "And the tensions between the  two

planets?"

"Vorzyd 5 produces less than half of its planetary needs and  depends

largely on trade with Vorzyd 4  for  its  subsistence.  In  the  past  they

struggled and were often in debt to Vorzyd 4, though relations between  the

two have remained peaceful and friendly. Debt did not  matter  to  the  4's

because they had a constant surplus. Neither were  the  5's  troubled  that

they owed so many credits to their neighbor. But now things have changed."

"How so?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Vorzyd 5 has begun building casinos. The  profit  they've  made  has

allowed them to pay off many of their interplanetary debts."

"And they are no longer beholden to Vorzyd 4," Qui-Gon said softly.

"Exactly. Vorzyd 4 claims that Vorzyd 5 now wants to be the planet in

power. That they are sabotaging Vorzyd 4's production in  order  to  appear

stronger to the rest of the system, and the galaxy. Vorzyd  5,  of  course,

claims this is nonsense. And the continued accusations are making them very

angry."

Handing Qui-Gon a stack of disks, Jocasta  replayed  Chairman  Port's

message. The large man on the screen looked uncomfortable, but his plea was

direct.

"I am contacting you to request mediation.  We  are  being  attacked.

Vorzyd 5 is to blame. All diplomats and suspected spies have been expelled.

The sabotage continues. Please contact us at once." As he talked, the  ends

of Chairman Port's antennae moved about like birds looking for a  place  to

land.

"It is unusual that the chairman has contacted us," Jocasta said once

the image had disappeared from the screen. "In the past Vorzydiaks have had

little contact with the  galaxy  outside  their  cluster.  They  were  even

reluctant to have representation in the Senate. The  fact  that  they  have

requested outside help can only mean that  they  feel  their  situation  is

desperate."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan thanked the archivist and  left  with  stacks  of

additional information to review on their own. Obi-Wan did not  relish  the

task. This mission, he realized, would not provide the  action  he  craved.

The Vorzyd system sounded dull, and diplomacy was often a long and  tedious

process. Obi-Wan sighed and inwardly scolded himself. He knew he should  be

grateful for any mission. At least it was a change.

CHAPTER 2

Qui-Gon started down the shuttle ramp before it touched the floor  of

the hangar  on  Vorzyd  4.  He  had  spent  the  entire  journey  reviewing

information about the planets and their history, and was  anxious  to  move

around and get some fresh air.  All  of  the  disks  held  data  about  the

planets' corporate history, and while Vorzyd  4's  success  as  a  peaceful

corporation was admirable, it had  been  dry  research.  Qui-Gon  had  been

totally  unable  to  get  any  sense  of  what  Vorzydiaks  were  like   as

individuals.

The hangar they'd landed in was uncluttered. Aside from  the  workers

loading cargo on what appeared to be export  ships,  there  were  not  many

beings about.

"Are we being met?" Obi-Wan asked. He stifled a  yawn  as  he  joined

Qui-Gon outside the shuttle. Qui-Gon guessed his Padawan's research had not

been any more entertaining than his own.

Before Qui-Gon could reply in  the  affirmative,  a  young  Vorzydiak

appeared before them. He stood for a moment, then  bowed  slightly  to  the

Jedi. His demeanor was calm, but his antennae twitched  nervously.  Qui-Gon

knew that it was unlikely the Vorzydiak had encountered beings from outside

his planetary system before.

"Welcome. Follow me," their guide said without expression. He  turned

and walked quickly out of the hangar. The Jedi had to  follow  at  a  rapid

pace to keep up.

Qui-Gon had been looking forward to talking with the young Vorzydiak.

He'd hoped it would help him to understand the species  better.  But  after

the brief greeting, the Vorzydiak offered nothing more. He simply led  them

briskly through the streets.

When Qui-Gon tried to ask one or two questions it was obvious by  the

confused  looks  and  twitching  antennae  that   they   made   the   guide

uncomfortable. Perhaps Chairman Port had  asked  their  guide  not  to  say

anything. Qui-Gon decided to give himself over to the  observation  of  his

surroundings. He would come to know the Vorzydiaks soon enough.

The streets of Vorzyd 4 were nearly empty. Though it was midday there

were no beings about. Nor did Qui-Gon see any refreshment vendors or public

spaces.

The buildings were tall and six-sided. There were no arched  doorways

or awnings. No large windows or ornamentation. Not one  scrap  of  material

was wasted on style or aesthetics. Everything appeared to be  designed  for

maximum efficiency, including the hexagonal system the buildings were  laid

out in and their drab color-coding.

Glancing at the Vorzydiak in front of them, Qui-Gon realized that the

same was true of clothing on Vorzyd 4. So far everyone he had seen  wore  a

plain, closely fitted one-color jumpsuit. They did not even have collars.

The three had not been walking long when  the  Vorzydiak  stopped  in

front of a nondescript, pale brown building. The plate next to the entrance

read MULTYCORP. The guide activated the door and motioned the Jedi  inside.

Expecting to enter some sort of portico or hallway, Qui-Gon  was  surprised

to find that they were inside a turbolift that was rising  to  the  twenty-

fourth floor. A droid like voice called the names of  each  floor  as  they

whizzed  past.  "Assembly  seven,   Assembly   eight,   Manufacture   nine,

Manufacture ten..." until they reached "Accounting twenty-four."

The door slid open and a tall Vorzydiak rushed into the lift  without

waiting for the others to get off. He nearly ran into Obi-Wan.

"Unproductive entrance," the Vorzydiak guide murmured.

The tall Vorzydiak glared at the  group  but  said  nothing.  Qui-Gon

wondered who he was.

"Do you know him?" he asked the guide.

The guide shook his head and led the Jedi out of  the  turbolift  and

through a maze of beige workspaces. Hundreds  of  jumpsuit-clad  Vorzydiaks

sat close together, speaking into headsets and inputting  information  onto

data-screens.

Though many of the beings spoke at once, the overall effect was a low

drone. No single voice could be heard above  another.  There  was  no  idle

chatter among the laborers. And aside from the Vorzyd numeric symbol posted

above each station, there was no way of telling the workspaces apart.

Could this be where Chairman Port rules his planet? Qui-Gon wondered.

From a Vorzyd plant? Qui-Gon glanced at his Padawan and Obi-Wan raised  his

eyebrows slightly. Obviously he was  as  surprised  and  perplexed  as  his

Master.

"Wait here," the guide instructed. He motioned the Jedi into a  small

room dominated by a large table surrounded by  benches.  Then  he  scurried

away, disappearing into the maze.

A moment later Chairman Port appeared in the doorway. Had he not seen

the chairman's image in the Temple archives, Qui-Gon would  not  have  been

able to guess that this man was a planetary leader. He wore the  same  pale

jumpsuit as the rest of the planet's inhabitants, and  his  manner  was  no

more self-assured. Though his  expression  did  not  change,  his  antennae

twitched when he spoke.

"We are glad you have come," he said. He crossed the room quickly and

sat down at one of the benches surrounding  the  large  table.  "All  known

Vorzydiaks from Vorzyd 5 have been cast off our  planet.  Still  there  are

attacks. They want to lower our productivity. The attacks must stop."

Qui-Gon drew a deep breath. "I understand that so far no one has been

hurt in the attacks."

"That is true." Port's antennae twitched faster.

"The saboteurs have concentrated on things that  slow  productivity?"

Obi-Wan prompted, hoping the chairman would fill in the details.

"Yes. Productivity is hurt. We are unable to work."  Chairman  Port's

head bobbed up and down in a nod.

"Why do you suspect Vorzyd 5?" Qui-Gon asked. "Have they taken credit

for any of the attacks? Have they outlined terms or made any demands?"

Qui-Gon understood that after having been at the mercy  of  Vorzyd  4

for some time, Vorzyd 5 might harbor resentment. But taking action  against

a neighboring planet seemed rash, especially if Vorzyd 5 was prospering  in

its own right.

"We must stop Vorzyd 5," Chairman Port said, not  acknowledging  Qui-

Gon's inquiries. "You will contact them?"

Qui-Gon was about to reply when the chairman stood. He was  obviously

anxious for the meeting to be over. "To work then?" he said.

Qui-Gon remained seated. He had many  more  questions  and  a  strong

feeling that all was not as it seemed. "Before we contact Vorzyd 5, I would

like to inspect the sabotage sites. One should never  be  hasty  in  making

accusations."

Chairman Port seemed  to  hover  over  Qui-Gon,  but  he  didn't  say

anything.

Qui-Gon continued. "I would also like to spend  at  least  one  night

here on Vorzyd 4, to get an  idea  of  how  you  live...  when  you're  not

working."

Chairman Port's antennae moved so furiously they looked  as  if  they

would tie themselves in knots. "Not working?" he asked, puzzled.  "We  eat.

We sleep. Nothing more."

The chairman was clearly frustrated with the Jedi's thought  process.

He wanted immediate action. "I will take you  to  the  homespace  when  the

workday is - "

Chairman Port was cut off  when  a  laborer  rushed  into  the  room.

"Vorzyd 5!" she said. "Another attack!" Her high-pitched voice revealed her

distress. "Productivity status monitors are registering erroneous data."

Port rushed from the room and glanced at the nearest datascreen. "Six

days behind schedule on hard goods distribution," he  mumbled.  "It  cannot

be."

Everywhere laborers stood up from their stations and  looked  around,

bewildered. Qui-Gon noticed that when their eyes  rested  on  the  Jedi  in

their flowing brown robes, their already vibrating antennae would wave even

more wildly. In this environment even the  subdued  Jedi  dress  made  them

stick out like pulsating beacons.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed Chairman Port to the turbolift. As  they

made their way through the maze,  Qui-Gon  noted  a  few  of  the  laborers

rocking back and forth. Others appeared  to  be  physically  ill,  grasping

their stomachs and leaning on their desks.

As the turbolift doors closed, Qui-Gon heaved a deep sigh.  Obviously

the Vorzyd 4's were un- able to handle anything  outside  of  their  normal

work routine. Only the chairman seemed to maintain relative calm, though he

didn't look particularly well, either.

This was going to be a very interesting mission.

CHAPTER 3

Obi-Wan sat in front of the mainframe computer. He had been there for

almost an hour. The Vorzydiak technician  assigned  to  the  station  paced

behind  him,  stopping  regularly  to   peer   over   Obi-Wan's   shoulder.

Occasionally the tech's antennae grazed the back of Obi-Wan's head and neck

and he could be heard mumbling something about Vorzyd 5.

Obi-Wan's Master had gone with Chairman  Port  to  try  to  calm  the

laborers. The threat to the Vorzydiaks'  physical  and  mental  health  was

equal to their technical difficulties. If the chairman could  not  get  the

laborers to calm down, he would have a health crisis on his hands.  Judging

from the stress level Obi-Wan still felt in the building, he did not  think

Qui-Gon was having much luck.

Obi-Wan wasn't  having  much  luck,  either.  The  problem  with  the

computer system was not a simple one. Obi-Wan knew he couldn't clear it  up

quickly, but was hoping to learn something about who had started  it  while

he tried.

Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the anomaly was gone. All of the

computers in the building were back on-line, running  as  if  the  bug  had

never been there. And there was no trace of what had happened on any of the

machines.

Obi-Wan motioned to the nervous tech, who nodded  and  spoke  into  a

comlink on the wall. "Back on-line. Laborers to resume work immediately."

A few of the techs  nearby  looked  at  Obi-Wan  gratefully  as  they

settled back into  their  workstations.  They  thought  he  had  fixed  the

problem.

The rest of the Vorzydiaks busied themselves, relieved to have things

functioning normally once more. Even the very sick Vorzydiaks struggled  to

their data stations.

Obi-Wan stayed where he was. He wanted  to  continue  to  search  the

systems, to see if he  could  determine  what  had  caused  the  mysterious

problem and maybe come to understand the Vorzydiaks. But the tech  standing

beside him clearly wanted Obi-Wan to move out of his spot.

"To work, then?" the tech asked, agitated.

Obi-Wan stood with a sigh. His curiosity was  not  reason  enough  to

cause the Vorzydiak discomfort.

On his way back to the twenty-fourth floor, Obi-Wan  considered  what

he knew. Unfortunately, it wasn't much. The saboteur had been  someone  who

knew the computer system as well as or better than the techs  who  ran  it.

But there was definitely no evidence that the Vorzyd 5's  had  planted  the

bug. Obi-Wan suspected that the culprit was an insider - or at least a spy.

Before Obi-Wan could  share  his  suspicions  with  Qui-Gon  and  the

chairman, a long, dull tone sounded in the building. The Vorzydiak laborers

groaned in unison, echoing the tone. It was a strange,  disappointed  sound

that penetrated Obi-Wan's skin. Obi-Wan wasn't sure if  the  laborers  were

frustrated that their workday had been cut short due to  the  interruption,

or if the sad sound was one they made every day when it was time to leave.

Like the other laborers, Chairman Port seemed  to  struggle  to  tear

himself away. At last he stood and motioned for the Jedi to follow him.

Vorzydiaks poured en masse from buildings  like  slow-moving  liquid.

Though they stood very close to one another, they gave Qui-Gon and  Obi-Wan

a wide berth, even  aboard  the  packed  shuttles  they  all  rode  to  the

Vorzydiak home-space. Obi-Wan was sorry to see that his presence  made  the

Vorzydiaks uncomfortable, but was grateful for the space just the same.  It

allowed him to look out the transparisteel sides of the shuttle.

As they left the city workspace, Obi-Wan waited for the landscape  to

change. He'd assumed that the  identical  buildings  would  fall  away  and

reveal the natural planet landscape,  or  at  least  some  parks  and  open

spaces. But he was wrong.

On the outskirts of the city the workspace turned to  homespace.  But

if Chairman Port had not announced that they were in  Vorzydiak  homespace,

Obi-Wan would not have known. The homespace buildings were slightly smaller

and stationed around hubs where automated shuttles and airbusses picked  up

and dropped off passengers. Otherwise it looked exactly like the workspace.

There were no yards. No pads  for  private  vehicles.  No  Vorzydiaks

relaxing outside.

In light of this, the  Jedi  were  not  surprised  to  see  that  the

chairman's home, like his workstation and dress, did not  differ  from  the

rest of the population's. He lived on a single floor of one  of  the  high-

rises.

"My wife, Bryn," the chairman said,  introducing  them  to  a  slight

Vorzydiak wearing a blandly colored jumpsuit. "The Jedi, Qui-Gon  Jinn  and

Obi-Wan Kenobi," Port gestured.

Bryn's antennae fidgeted as she looked the Jedi over.

"We appreciate your hospitality." Qui-Gon offered a  hand.  "Chairman

Port has kindly invited us to share a meal in your home."

Bryn nodded again but did not take Qui-Gon's hand. Instead she turned

toward the galley. After pressing  a  few  buttons,  she  placed  two  more

settings at the table that was already set for two.

"Grath will not be eating," she said. Chairman Port nodded.

"Will he be home later?" Obi-Wan asked. He was anxious  to  meet  the

Ports' fifteen-year-old son. Vorzyd 4  seemed  so...  boring.  He  couldn't

imagine what life must be like for the teenagers on  the  planet,  and  was

hoping that they would be easier  to  talk  to  than  the  Vorzydiaks  he'd

already met.

"After mealtime. He is working," Bryn replied flatly.

While they waited for the meal to  be  served,  Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon

looked  around  the  small  residence.  It  was  furnished  and  reasonably

comfortable, but revealed nothing about the inhabitants. It  reminded  Obi-

Wan of the sterile spaces travelers could rent on Coruscant. With  so  many

different species coming through, the quarters were designed to be  nothing

more than clean and inoffensive.

"Is Grath away from home often in the evenings?" Qui-Gon  asked  when

they sat down to dine. "It must be disappointing when you cannot share your

last meal of the day together."

Obi-Wan knew that Qui-Gon was also looking for a  sign  of  emotional

connection in the family.

"It is an honor to work," the chairman said tersely.

His wife nodded. "May he be as productive tomorrow as he  is  today,"

she said.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a look as the table fell silent.

Obi-Wan chewed a particularly tough and flavorless bite  of  whatever

food was in his bowl. "What  do  you  do  in  the  evenings,  to  entertain

yourselves?" he asked, still hoping to spark some conversation.  Though  he

was getting the feeling that the endeavor was useless, he felt  he  had  to

try.

Bryn looked up from her food, a confused expression on her face.  "We

read instructuals to better our work," she replied, as if it were obvious.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan wondered if Grath chose to work late to  avoid  the

evening meal. He found it hard to imagine that the young people on Vorzyd 4

were as work-driven as their parents. In some  ways,  he  thought,  it  was

similar to life at the Temple. There, children and adults  were  completely

dedicated to learning the ways of the Force.  The  path  of  the  Jedi  was

fascinating, of course. Far more fascinating than anything Obi-Wan had seen

here. But Obi-Wan had to admit that  sometimes,  at  the  Temple,  he  just

wanted some time off - to take a break.

Looking up from his bowl, Obi-Wan noticed Qui-Gon staring at him.  He

felt his face redden. More than once Qui-Gon had seemed able  to  read  his

mind, and he hoped this was not one of those times.

Obi-Wan had felt frustrated lately, yes. But he did not wish to leave

the Jedi path. He had done that once - and it had  turned  out  to  be  the

biggest mistake of his life. Still, there were times - especially  when  he

felt he was not progressing - that he wondered where all of this hard  work

was leading him.

CHAPTER 4

Chairman Port led the Jedi into a building a short distance from  his

house. "This is our retirement complex. My  mother  lived  here  after  she

retired. Now she is dead. The room is empty," he said. His voice registered

no feeling.

"I'm sorry to hear of your mother's passing,"  Qui-Gon  said  gently.

"Was it recent?"

"One month ago," Port replied.

Qui-Gon noticed that Chairman Port's antennae quivered slightly.  "It

is difficult to lose a parent."

"Laborers do not last without work," Port replied  steadily.  But  he

stopped outside the retirement complex, as if he were reluctant to  go  in.

"Second floor. Third door on the right," he said.

Pressing a key pass with access codes into Qui-Gon's hand, he  turned

to go. "Tomorrow we will contact Vorzyd 5. Work must go on."

As the door slid shut behind them, Qui-Gon heard  a  tapping  in  the

corridor. Door lined halls stretched in all directions, and to the  left  a

figure struggled toward them using a support. He  waved  to  attract  their

attention. It was an elderly Vorzydiak.

"To work," he called in a raspy voice. "Is the shuttle here? To work.

" Obi-Wan started toward the nearly crippled being, but Qui-Gon put a  hand

on his shoulder to stop him. The Vorzydiak turned and walked in  the  other

direction, still rambling. He had not been talking to them. He  was  raving

to no one in particular, and Qui-Gon knew there was nothing they  could  do

to help.

Port's mother's room was as gloomy as the rest of the complex. But it

held two sleep couches, and was certainly adequate for  the  Jedi.  Obi-Wan

paced the small space between the couches. Qui-Gon knew he had been waiting

for a chance to speak. A year ago he would have shared his thoughts by now.

But his Padawan was growing older, wiser. He was becoming a Jedi.

"Master, I do not think that Vorzyd 5 is responsible  for  today's...

mishap," Obi-Wan said. "I do not know who is responsible, but we  must  not

contact Vorzyd 5 until we have a clearer sense of what is going on."

"Of course." Qui-Gon nodded.

"I feel... I feel that  all  is  not  right  on  Vorzyd  4,"  Obi-Wan

continued. "There's something more here,  there's  some  sort  of...  well,

secret."

Qui-Gon nodded again. He had sensed it, too, but had not realized  it

until Obi-Wan said it aloud. There was a secret on  Vorzyd  4.  They  would

have to proceed very carefully.

Qui-Gon lay down and breathed deeply. Beside  him,  Obi-Wan  did  the

same. It had been a strange day and Qui-Gon looked forward  to  meditation.

But even after several minutes of trying  to  relax,  the  deep  calm  that

usually filled him did not come.

Instead his mind was filled with images of Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan as a  boy

in a practice duel with Jedi student Bruck Chun, letting his  anger  rather

than his instincts direct him. Then an image of Obi-Wan when he had gone to

help him on Melida/Daan, wounded, humble, and  brave  enough  to  face  his

mistakes - even if doing so meant never becoming a Jedi. The boy had  grown

so much in the last four years. More than getting stronger and  taller,  he

was learning to trust himself, his instincts, and the Force.

Another image of Obi-Wan flashed in Qui-Gon's mind. An older Obi-Wan,

ready to begin the intensive path toward the trials. Soon he would be  more

man than boy. He would take the leap toward becoming a Jedi Knight.

Pride and sadness flooded Qui-Gon as he pictured Jedi Master  Obi-Wan

Kenobi. He looked forward to the day that the two of them would  work  side

by side as Jedi Knights, but with this thought  no  image  came.  Qui-Gon's

chest tightened. He was so proud of Obi-Wan's path,  of  his  achievements.

Why couldn't he see him as a Knight? Perhaps I do not want to see  the  boy

grow up, he thought.

The whir and click of the door  forced  the  thought  from  Qui-Gon's

mind. His eyes flew open. Immediately he saw that the room was empty.  Obi-

Wan was gone.

CHAPTER 5

Obi-Wan moved silently down the hall  toward  the  exit.  Unlike  his

Master, he had been too restless to meditate. Though he sometimes wished he

had Qui-Gon's ability to  calm  his  mind,  he  had  learned  when  it  was

impossible and to simply accept it. There were times when it  was  best  to

put his energy to more active use.

The corridor in the retirement complex was dim and quiet, and Obi-Wan

was almost through the door when a sound broke the  silence.  Startled,  he

turned on his heels. Was that laughter?

Obi-Wan quickly made his  way  back  toward  the  noise.  Rounding  a

corner, he spotted two Vorzydiaks - one young and one elderly - together in

one of the retirement rooms. The elder sat on her sleep  couch,  while  the

other leaned casually against a wall.

"Grandfather was so silly," the younger Vorzydiak said.

The elder nodded. "That is what I loved about him." She  smiled,  and

her small, thin body seemed to surge with energy as she straightened up  on

the sleep couch. "He was like a breath of fresh air. Of course, we are  not

allowed to show such silliness. Especially not now."

The young Vorzydiak nodded solemnly. "Things  are  going  to  change,

Grandmother," she said. The girl glanced at a timepiece  on  her  belt  and

pushed off the wall, moving toward her grandmother. "I have to go now,  but

I will be back soon."

The elder softly stroked her granddaughter's face with her  antennae.

Her eyes were full of sadness. "Promise me," she said  softly.  "I  do  not

have much time."

The girl frowned and shook her head. "Do not say  that,  Grandmother.

You might live for a long time." She wrapped her feelers around the elder's

and they stood quietly together for several long moments.

In spite of the girl's  words,  Obi-Wan  sensed  that  she  knew  her

grandmother spoke the truth. The elder Vorzydiak was  quite  frail-looking,

and it appeared as though her life systems were beginning to fade.

"To wor - " The elder stopped herself  from  giving  the  traditional

Vorzyd greeting. "Goodbye, then," she said with a sad smile.

"See you soon, Grandmother," the girl replied in a near-whisper.  But

she waited a few more  seconds  before  unwrapping  her  feelers  from  her

grandmother's. Then she turned and quickly left the room.

Obi-Wan ducked behind a corner, not sure if the girl had seen him. He

felt a little bit guilty, for the visit was clearly meant  to  be  private.

But he was glad to know that there were relationships on Vorzyd 4 that were

emotional. It gave him a sense of hope.

The girl  hurried  down  the  corridor  and  out  the  door.  Obi-Wan

followed. Outside, the night was dark and still. There was no sound  except

the echo of the girl's footsteps. Most of the planet was clearly asleep.

As the girl slipped into a nearby building, another  figure  appeared

just outside the Ports' dwelling. It was a boy. The Ports' son, Grath, Obi-

Wan guessed. He felt a small surge of excitement. He had  already  gathered

valuable information tonight and might be able to gather even  more  before

the suns rose.

Looking around furtively, Grath made his way across the street to the

shuttle platform. This surprised Obi-Wan. If almost everyone  was  in  bed,

why would the shuttles be running? It would not  be  an  efficient  use  of

transportation.

While Obi-Wan hid in the shadows, Grath waited on  the  platform.  It

wasn't long before a small maintenance shuttle pulled  up  and  came  to  a

halt. A second later the doors opened, and Grath stepped inside.

Obi-Wan knew he wouldn't be able to ride in the shuttle without being

seen. That left only one option...

Quickly scanning the outside of the vehicle, he spotted  a  durasteel

overhang running along the top. It was a few meters above his head and very

narrow. He wasn't sure it would bear his weight or if he could successfully

hold on to it. There was nothing for his feet to rest on,  and  no  way  of

knowing how long the ride was going to be.

Obi-Wan didn't have much time to think.  At  that  moment  the  doors

whisked closed. He leaped off the platform and  grabbed  the  railing.  His

fingers arched over the top, barely securing a grip.

This was not going to be fun.

The small shuttle gradually picked up  speed  and  was  soon  roaring

along. Obi-Wan tried to ignore his aching arms  and  fingers  so  he  could

focus on the conversation taking place inside the shuttle. It was difficult

with the vehicle's noise and the wind in his ears. But one of  the  portals

was open, and he was able to overhear occasional tidbits.

"The meeting..." "Our best one yet..." "Our parents' attention..."

As he listened, Obi-Wan felt sure that  he'd  discovered  Vorzyd  4's

secret. The kids on this planet were up to something; there was a lot  more

going on than the adult laborers knew. It was even possible that  the  kids

themselves were responsible for the sabotage.

Obi-Wan was wondering what the kids' motives were - as well  as  what

their next prank would be - when he looked off to his  right.  The  shuttle

was about to enter a narrow tunnel, and he wasn't going to fit!

CHAPTER 6

Obi-Wan squeezed himself tightly against the side of the  shuttle  as

it zoomed into the tunnel. The hard duracrete surface grazed  the  back  of

his tunic, but didn't scrape his skin. A moment later  the  tunnel  widened

and the shuttle came to a screeching halt.

Obi-Wan nearly went flying. Using all of his  resolve,  he  tightened

his grip on the railing. His knuckles  were  white  and  the  tips  of  his

fingers throbbed with pain. But he couldn't fall and risk being discovered.

After what seemed like a long time, the shuttle came to a full  stop.  Obi-

Wan let out a deep breath and slid carefully to the ground.

The shuttle doors opened again,  and  Grath  exited  along  with  the

driver, who Obi-Wan now saw was female. The two chatted animatedly as  they

disappeared down a passageway.

Obi-Wan followed several paces behind. The passageway was  dark,  and

he had to walk carefully because the floor was not entirely smooth.

Grath and the girl quickly made their way through a maze of  hallways

and up several flights of stairs. Obi-Wan noted that Vorzydiak kids  walked

rapidly, like the adults. For efficiency, he supposed. But  their  animated

discussion was nothing like their parents' clipped method of communicating.

When they emerged at the top of the stairs they were  in  a  deserted

office building. Empty desks and dusty tables  and  chairs  were  scattered

around the space, which had clearly not been used  for  a  while.  A  small

group of kids had already  gathered  in  a  large,  empty  office.  Obi-Wan

decided not to enter the room, and hid under a large desk just outside  the

door.

"What took you so long?" one of the kids asked as Grath and the  girl

entered the office.

"Shuttle hang-up," Grath replied slowly.

There was a pause, and for a moment Obi-Wan was  worried  that  Grath

was talking about him. But he couldn't imagine why Grath would pretend  not

to see him if he had.

"Nania was late," Grath added.

Obi-Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

"My parents were watching me like a pair of harks," Nania  explained.

"I had to wait until they were asleep."

"Well, you're here now," a boy's voice said.  "The  Freelies  meeting

can officially begin."

There was a moment of silence while the kids all dropped their  hands

to their sides. Then everyone spoke at once. The words  "It  is  to  remain

secret. It is to remain peaceful. It is to remain a surprise,"  echoed  off

the walls.

Obi-Wan was struck by how different this chanting was compared to the

low drone the laborers made at the end of their workday.  The  kids'  chant

sounded alive and full of energy.

With the rules recited, the meeting began in earnest. From what  Obi-

Wan could gather, it centered around the youth reporting  on  their  latest

pranks and acts of sabotage. They took turns speaking, telling one  another

what they had done and how things had  turned  out.  There  was  a  lot  of

excitement in the voices, but the teens also waited patiently to speak. The

meeting was energetic but orderly.

"We changed the traffic signals and the workers were an hour late for

their posts," a boy reported.

"My father came home furious about that," a girl  piped  up.  "But  I

think I saw my mother smile when he told her about it."

"Good," Grath said. "We want to get them thinking."

"The fake work orders we gave at the electronics factory  really  got

everyone confused," someone else said.  "They  were  actually  putting  the

machines together the wrong way for half the morning."

"I heard those machines played music instead of giving  off  static,"

reported another voice.

"Did they know it was music?" a girl asked.

As Obi-Wan listened, he felt torn. He was not sure that what the kids

were doing was right. He had seen firsthand that it was  causing  confusion

and distress to the adults. And  the  accusations  against  Vorzyd  5  were

unfair. But he had to admit that if he were a boy on Vorzyd 4, he would get

pleasure out of pulling pranks such as these - especially if faced with the

bleak, work-filled future  that  lay  ahead.  And  the  kids  were  working

together, putting their minds to creative use. Not  to  mention  that  they

clearly trusted, liked, and relied on one another. That was more than  many

of the laborers could say.

Besides, Obi-Wan  reasoned,  nobody  was  really  getting  hurt.  The

Freelies' own rules plainly stated that the pranks were to be peaceful. And

though he couldn't be certain, he suspected that they had  a  good  motive.

One Obi-Wan could believe in.

All of a sudden, images of Melida/Daan  flashed  in  Obi-Wan's  head.

Death, destruction..

Melida/Daan was a planet ravaged by generations of civil war,  and  a

group there called the Young was trying to bring an end  to  the  fighting.

Obi-Wan had felt strongly about the Young's cause, and had  even  left  the

Jedi path to join them.

The decision had been a mistake. While the ideas of  the  Young  were

just and good, the situation was complicated. There was fighting among  the

leaders, and deceit between the generations. Many of the Young were killed,

and there was much bloodshed on the planet. Obi-Wan had been caught in  the

battle. When it was all over he felt as ravaged as the  planet  itself.  He

was grateful that the Jedi Council had agreed to take  him  back.  He  knew

from experience that it was dangerous to believe too quickly in the  causes

of others.

Suddenly Obi-Wan felt crowded under  the  desk.  He  needed  air  and

space. Sitting up, he felt better and could actually see the  kids  in  the

office. He noticed that some of  them  had  adorned  their  jumpsuits  with

brightly colored scraps of fabric. Others wore homemade hats  or  bandannas

on their heads. The  group  was  still  talking  animatedly.  Lost  in  his

observations, Obi-Wan did not see the Vorzydiak girl coming toward him.

"Hey, what are you doing out here?" she asked.

Startled, Obi-Wan looked up and quickly pulled his hood over his head

to hide the fact that he did not have antennae. Luckily the office building

was quite dark.

"I'm not feeling well," Obi-Wan said, getting slowly to his feet.  "I

came out here to rest. But I think I should just go home."

The girl eyed him curiously. "What's with  the  funny  clothes?"  she

asked.

Obi-Wan looked down at his Jedi robe. "It's my new bathrobe. I had to

sneak out at the last minute and didn't have time to change." He looked  at

the  girl's  plain  tunic  and  hoped   that   Vorzydiaks   had   different

nightclothes. "Weird, isn't it?" he added shyly.

"I guess," the girl replied. Obi-Wan  thought  she  looked  a  little

doubtful, but she smiled casually before he headed down  the  corridor  and

out the door.

As he made his way down the steps, he heaved a  sigh  of  relief.  So

far, so good.

CHAPTER 7

Qui-Gon opened his eyes and sat up in a single  fluid  movement.  The

room was dark, but he did not need to look at his timepiece to know that it

was very late. He did not need to see the empty couch to know that the room

was still empty. Obi-Wan had not returned.

Where is he? Qui-Gon thought in frustration. He should have conferred

with me before leaving.

Reaching into his Jedi robe, he found his corn-link and  switched  it

on. He was about to contact his Padawan when something told him not to.

Let the boy do some exploring. He is not a child who  needs  constant

instruction any longer. He  may  be  doing  something  important.  And  his

investigations may prove fruitful to the mission.

Qui-Gon put his comlink away with a sigh. Again he was bombarded with

images of his Padawan - images of a talented, impatient boy becoming a man.

They had been through a lot together - revenge,  deceit,  war,  death.  And

things had not always been smooth between them. They each had a strong will

and those wills sometimes clashed. But they had also grown to depend on and

trust each other. More than a formidable Jedi team, they loved  each  other

and were true friends.

As he looked around the empty room, Qui-Gon wanted Obi-Wan to stay  a

young man forever. He did not want him to change, to grow up.

If he does, I will lose him, he thought. Just as I have lost TahL

Qui-Gon was horrified at his own desire - how could he  want  such  a

thing? Obi-Wan had his own life to live, his own destiny. It was  not  Qui-

Gon's place to interfere with or wish it to be any different  than  it  was

meant to be.

As he lay back on his sleep couch, guilt and sadness kept him  awake.

He tried to let the emotions flow out of him.

It was a long time before they finally did.

Qui-Gon was resting peacefully when Obi-Wan  returned.  As  the  door

slid closed behind his  Padawan,  Qui-Gon  sensed  his  excitement.  Energy

sparked from the boy like an electric current. Qui-Gon sat up.

Obi-Wan turned on a soft light and  sat  down  on  his  sleep  couch.

"Master," he said, his eyes shining. "I have  news.  I  have  learned  many

things that will help us in this mission."

Qui-Gon smiled. Just a year or so ago Obi-Wan would  have  burst  out

with whatever news he had like an excited boy. Now he was introducing it in

a logical fashion, in spite of his stimulated state.

"Go on," Qui-Gon prodded gently.

"There are  two  things,"  Obi-Wan  explained.  "The  first  is  that

Vorzydiaks are capable of sharing strong emotional bonds.  I  saw  a  young

girl with her grandmother, and it was clear  from  their  interaction  that

they loved each other very much."

Qui-Gon was glad to hear this news. Somehow it was comforting to know

that the Vorzyd 4's had more emotions than they usually displayed. "And the

other piece of information?"

"That is even bigger news," Obi-Wan said. "Vorzyd 5 is definitely not

responsible for the pranks."

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "And I assume you are going to tell me who

is?" he asked.

Obi-Wan inhaled slightly. "Freelies Vorzydiak kids."

Qui-Gon was quiet for a moment, letting this information sink in.  It

changed their mission considerably.

"I followed some kids to a secret meeting and listened  from  outside

the room," Obi-Wan explained. "If I can pass myself off as a Vorzydiak boy,

I can pretend to join the cause and gather all kinds of  information  about

the kids and what they are trying to do. Then we can - "

"Absolutely not," Qui-Gon interrupted. "Infiltration is not  part  of

our assignment. We must tell Chairman Port what is happening."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. Qui-Gon  got

the feeling that it took all of his Padawan's resolve  not  to  explode  in

frustration.

Obi-Wan took some time to gather his thoughts, standing up and moving

across the room before turning back  to  face  his  Master.  Qui-Gon  could

almost see his mind working.

"This society is clearly unhealthy," Obi-Wan finally said in  a  calm

voice. "It is not working for  its  people.  The  youths'  actions  are  an

obvious cry for help. If we are not  careful  about  how  we  expose  their

involvement, we risk ruining everything. We may as well say good-bye to any

hope of change."

Obi-Wan stopped speaking for a  minute  but  continued  to  look  his

Master in the eye. Qui-Gon sensed that he was not going to back down.

"The Vorzydiak 4's would be better served if we  prepare  both  sides

for the confrontation  ahead,"  Obi-Wan  finished.  "It  will  still  be  a

mediation, just not between the parties we expected."

Qui-Gon looked at his Padawan. He stood near the  doorway,  his  arms

crossed over his chest. His eyes burned  with  determination,  but  not  an

angry one. He simply believed that this was the best path for  the  mission

to take.

Qui-Gon disagreed. They had not  been  summoned  by  the  Council  to

infiltrate the Vorzydiaks. They should simply explain that Vorzyd 5 was not

to blame and leave Vorzyd 4 to sort out its own  troubles.  The  Jedi  were

keepers of peace, not politicians or spies.

But then, missions often didn't go as planned. And this  one  was  no

exception. Nothing on Vorzyd 4 was as they'd expected.  The  dinner  they'd

shared with the Ports was not just culturally different,  but  stifled  and

awkward. He'd  sensed  that  Bryn  was  unhappy,  perhaps  even  depressed.

Relations  between  the  generations  could  certainly  be   described   as

unhealthy. But was this the way to fix it, and was doing  so  within  their

mandate?

Qui-Gon stood up and paced the room.  Wasn't  he  constantly  telling

Obi-Wan to trust his instincts? How could he give the boy such guidance and

then never let him act on it?

Because you are afraid to let him go, afraid of the day you won't  be

his Master.

"Master?" Obi-Wan's voice cut into Qui-Gon's  thoughts.  He  had  not

meant to be silent for  so  long.  Obi-Wan  was  looking  at  him,  waiting

patiently for a response.

Qui-Gon exhaled a long breath. "You may gather information for  three

days," he said. "But you must keep me informed of all  happenings.  And  if

after that time you have not convinced the Freelies  to  come  forward  and

discuss matters with the adults themselves, I will  have  to  report  their

involvement in the pranks to Chairman Port."

Obi-Wan dropped his hands to his sides  and  smiled.  His  blue  eyes

clearly showed his gratitude. "Thank you," he said.

Qui-Gon nodded. He was not at all certain that he'd  made  the  right

decision.

CHAPTER 8

Obi-Wan immediately began to  formulate  his  plans.  He  was  a  bit

surprised that Qui-Gon had let him take the lead in the mission, but he was

pleased as well. It was the first  time  Qui-Gon  had  given  him  so  much

responsibility.

Perhaps he is beginning to think of me as  a  peer  and  not  just  a

pupil, Obi-Wan thought. The young Jedi had been waiting a long time for  an

opportunity like this, and was determined to succeed.

Lying on his sleep couch, Obi-Wan recounted what  he'd  overheard  at

the Freelies meeting. The more he could remember, the better his chances of

infiltrating successfully. It seemed he had just  fallen  asleep  when  his

Master was gently rousing him awake.

"Time to get up," Qui-Gon said. "The Ports will be waiting."

Obi-Wan got up and dressed quickly. But  when  they  arrived  at  the

Ports' dwelling the family had already left for  the  day.  Cold  kibi  and

patot panak were on the table, and the  Jedi  dutifully  sat  down  to  eat

despite the fact that the food did not look particularly appetizing.

A message on the databoard asked the Jedi to come to Chairman  Port's

office in the workspace as soon as they could. He wanted to contact  Vorzyd

5 immediately.

"I'll have to find a way to stall him," Qui-Gon said aloud as he  bit

into a panak.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I'd like to visit the Vorzyd school today,  Master,"

he said. "There's no point in waiting for another secret meeting to occur -

it would waste valuable time."

"That is probably wise. But be careful,  Padawan."  He  paused,  then

added, "And I suppose I do not need to tell you to keep your eyes and  ears

open at all times, since that's exactly what got us to where we  are  right

now."

Obi-Wan thought for a moment that his Master was  scolding  him,  but

his eyes showed amusement as he looked across the table at his apprentice.

"No, I suppose you don't," Obi-Wan agreed.

When Qui-Gon had left the homespace, Obi-Wan found his way to Grath's

clothing container and  borrowed  a  drab,  one-piece  jumpsuit.  Then,  to

conceal the fact that he didn't have antennae, he made a  makeshift  turban

using the hood from his robe.

"It's  not  exactly  high  fashion,"  he   told   his   goofy-looking

reflection. But some of the kids  he'd  seen  the  night  before  had  been

wearing doctored outfits and homemade hats - attempts  to  make  themselves

stand out and look different. If he was lucky, his hat would  pass  for  an

example of self-expression and would not be suspected as a coverup.

With a last once-over in the reflector, Obi-Wan left the dwelling and

made his way to the shuttle platform. It was mid-morning, and most  of  the

laborers were already at work. The shuttle car was nearly empty.

The city was neatly organized, so it was not difficult  to  find  the

schoolspace. Obi-Wan had assumed that the educational buildings would  look

like all the other buildings on Vorzyd 4, and he was right. Three identical

and dull-looking structures stood in a row, housing students  of  different

ages.

As he circled the buildings, Obi-Wan peered into as  many  classrooms

as he could. With the exception of the students' ages, they all looked  the

same. Glazed eyes stared at large screens placed in the front of the rooms.

Adults stood by, drilling what could  only  be  work  techniques  into  the

students' heads. The institution looked more like a work-training  facility

than an actual school.

But then, Obi-Wan knew from experience that there were all  kinds  of

schools in the galaxy. He was suddenly  reminded  of  the  awful  Learning-

Circle on the planet Kegan. In spite of the warm day, he  shivered  at  the

memory of the "school"  where  he  and  Siri,  another  Padawan,  had  been

imprisoned.

At the School for the Learning,  kids  were  brainwashed  to  believe

things that were not true, and difficult or ill children were locked away -

for good. Vorzyd 4 was  certainly  not  the  only  place  where  kids  were

discouraged from developing their own  ideas.  For  the  second  time  that

morning Obi-Wan felt grateful that his Master was allowing him the  freedom

to determine the course of this mission. To try to solve a problem  on  his

own, in his own way. He did not want to let himself or Qui-Gon down, and he

felt more determined than ever to make his plan work.

Obi-Wan turned a corner and  peered  into  a  small,  square  portal.

Inside was an austere room. Grath and a few other kids  from  the  previous

night's meeting were inside, sitting on sleep couches. The room appeared to

be an infirmary, but none of the kids inside looked sick.

In fact, they were all sitting up and chatting animatedly.

Obi-Wan stepped closer to the portal, hoping to get a better look and

possibly hear what the kids were saying. But just then the door  slid  open

and an adult Vorzydiak entered the room. Right away the kids all lay  back,

feigning weakness and sleep. The adult looked each student over  carefully,

standing  over  Grath  for  a  particularly  long  time.  Then,  apparently

satisfied, she turned and left the room.

No sooner had the door closed than the kids sat up again and began to

talk. One of them jumped to her feet, using hand gestures to emphasize  her

point. Obi-Wan recognized her as the girl who had spotted him  outside  the

meeting the night before.

It looked like the kids were planning something, and  Obi-Wan  wanted

in on it.

Moving away from the portal, Obi-Wan focused on his body temperature.

Soon he began to feel warmth tingling through his  limbs  -  he  had  given

himself a fever. A Vorzydiak fever, he hoped.

Making his way around the side of the  building,  Obi-Wan  found  the

door to the infirmary, opened it, and stepped inside.

"The button!" someone shouted.

"Quick!" yelled another voice.

"The door!"

After a moment of confusion, Obi-Wan understood. The kids wanted  him

to keep the door open - they obviously couldn't get out from the inside. By

pressing a button, Obi-Wan was able to keep the door from closing. The four

kids leaped off their sleep couches and charged out into the sun's light.

"What happened to Tray?" Grath asked, turning toward Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan shrugged, hoping it would be enough of a response.

"Well, I'm glad someone came to let us out,"  the  hand-gesture  girl

said. "It was getting hard to convince the medic that we were actually ill.

"

"Come on," Grath said, looking around. "Let's get out of here  before

someone sees us."

As the kids ran down a duracrete walkway away from  the  schoolspace,

their conversation continued.

"I think we should try to get more kids out of class next time,"  one

of the kids - a younger boy - said. "Trainer Nalo is so obsessed  with  his

instructuals he would barely notice."

"We can't risk being discovered," a girl replied. Obi-Wan thought she

was the shuttle driver from the night before, but wasn't entirely sure.

By now the group was a fair distance from the schoolspace,  and  they

slowed to a quick Vorzydiak walk.

"This new plan is complicated enough without  getting  more  Freelies

involved in implementing it," Grath explained. "We need them  to  focus  on

their part  of  the  plan  -  getting  the  rule-following  kids  to  think

differently, too."

Grath stopped and turned toward the  boy.  "But  it's  good  to  keep

thinking ahead, Flip," he added.

Grath smiled at the boy, and Flip beamed. He obviously looked  up  to

the Freelie leader.

Grath ran a few steps and spun around,  still  moving  backward.  "To

work, then?" he called with a smile.

The group erupted into giggles and  broke  into  a  run  after  their

leader. Obi-Wan felt a surge of energy as he hurried to catch up.

CHAPTER 9

Drab hexagonal  buildings  whizzed  past  the  windows  as  Qui-Gon's

shuttle made its way back to the city workspace. The view was  uninspiring,

and Qui-Gon's thoughts drifted back to Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon had waited outside Port's dwelling and  watched  his  Padawan

board the shuttle to the schoolspace. He hadn't meant to spy  on  the  boy,

but something had held him there. As he watched Obi-Wan  confidently  board

the shuttle, secure in his skills and his plan, Qui-Gon felt the same  pang

of emotion he'd felt the night before.

The feeling was new to him,  and  so  unfamiliar  that  it  made  him

uneasy. He was not sure why he was reluctant to let Obi-Wan take charge  of

the mission on his own. Was it because he was  afraid  of  losing  him,  or

because he was worried about the boy's safety? "Production Sector seven," a

voice droned.

Qui-Gon was startled  to  hear  his  stop  -  and  grateful  for  the

announcement. There were no other landmarks to help him find his  way  back

to the Multycorp office he'd visited the day before.  Exiting  the  shuttle

behind several other laborers, Qui-Gon cleared his mind. He needed to focus

on the mission at hand.

All around him swarms of Vorzydiaks hurried to get to their stations.

Qui-Gon wondered how the Vorzydiaks maintained their enthusiasm  for  work.

They seemed to be in a great hurry to get to work, almost a frenzy.

Thinking about how he would stall the chairman, Qui-Gon  boarded  the

turbolift for the twenty-fourth floor.  But  long  before  he  reached  the

chairman's office he sensed that something was wrong. It suddenly dawned on

him that the Vorzydiaks leaving the shuttle were agitated about  more  than

simply getting to work.

The turbolift doors opened on the twenty-fourth floor. As he  stepped

out, Qui-Gon was met by a disturbing scene - and sound.

A low insectoid drone - much more unnerving than the one  he'd  heard

the evening before - bounced off the walls and filled  the  room.  Laborers

rocked back and forth in their chairs like confused children,  mumbling  to

themselves.

Inside the meeting room, Chairman Port circled the large  table.  His

antennae flailed and his eyes  looked  larger  than  normal.  When  Qui-Gon

entered, the chairman nearly pounced on him.

"At last," he said, his voice quite a bit higher than  usual.  "There

has been another attack. We must contact Vorzyd 5. Now!"

"In time," Qui-Gon said calmly. "First tell me what has happened."

"It is awful," the chairman said, walking faster  and  faster  around

the table. "The worst casualty yet. The  central  operations  computer.  It

controls the whole grid! It is down. We are all down."

Qui-Gon  thought  the  chairman  might  burst  into  tears  -  or  an

unintelligible droning buzz. He had to calm down the leader. Without Port's

help it would be impossible to keep the rest of the Vorzydiaks from  losing

it.

Qui-Gon strode to the opposite side of the  room  and  stood  in  the

chairman's path. Port stopped circling.

"First tell me where the central  operations  computer  is,"  Qui-Gon

said firmly. "Then I have work for you to do."

The chairman looked up at the tall Jedi. Qui-Gon saw something  shift

on his face, as if he suddenly knew he had to get a hold of himself. But he

wasn't sure that the chairman knew how.

"Yes, yes, yes," Chairman Port said. "We must make our  way  back  to

work. To work." His antennae seemed to slow a bit.

"The operations computer?" Qui-Gon repeated.

"In the sub-basement. Take the turbolift to level S-one."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Contact the technicians  and  let  them  know  I  am

coming. And when you have done that you must assign tasks to the  laborers.

Contact the managers. Keep everyone busy until the computers are  back  on-

line. It doesn't matter what they do. Just make  sure  they  are  safe  and

busy. It is your job." Qui-Gon emphasized this last word.

The chairman nodded. He seemed relieved to have  an  assignment,  and

Qui-Gon hoped that simple tasks would calm the other  Vorzydiaks  as  well.

But he had no time to wait and see.

Confused laborers flooded the turbolift. Several of them were rocking

back and forth. Others were holding their ears. Rather than force  his  way

through the bewildered crowd, Qui-Gon headed for  the  stairs  and  started

down.

By the time he got to the twenty-third floor Qui-Gon  understood  why

so many of the Vorzydiaks were trying to block out the noise. The computers

on the twenty-third floor were emitting high-pitched whines as they  turned

themselves on and off. He imagined that the sound was much  worse  for  the

Vorzydiaks, who had sensitive ears. To him the  sound  was  irritating  and

chaotic. But he listened carefully long enough to realize that it  was  not

random.

The chaos grew worse the farther Qui-Gon descended. On Assembly eight

the machines on the line were also turning on and off  and  emitting  high-

pitched tones. The laborers were completely  unable  to  cope.  They  stood

against the walls, twitching, while  gooey  food  product  oozed  onto  the

conveyor and then the floor.

Receiving four was no better. Huge vats that needed to be  positioned

under the receiving pipes had stalled. Grain was spilling out, making small

mountains all over the wing, as well as a slippery hazard for  the  baffled

Vorzydiaks. Several fallen laborers  flailed  on  the  floor  while  others

watched in horror, too confused to offer help.

Qui-Gon shook his head. The Vorzydiaks' helplessness when things  did

not go as planned was extreme. He could not remember when he had last  seen

such rigid thinking. In the life of a Jedi, things seldom went according to

plan. Thinking on your feet was a Jedi necessity.

At last Qui-Gon reached the sub-basement. There were fewer Vorzydiaks

on this floor, so Qui-Gon could make out more clearly  the  intonations  of

the machines - the tones and rhythms. Stopping for a moment to listen, Qui-

Gon almost laughed out loud. He stopped himself when he heard  a  cry.  For

the Vorzydiaks this was no laughing matter.

Qui-Gon ran down the duracrete passage to  find  a  female  Vorzydiak

standing in a large room filled with circuits. Some of them  were  shorting

out, and the poor worker gazed at them in horror, her arms  moving  jerkily

up and down. She clearly did not know what to do.

Qui-Gon would have liked to have calmed the poor woman, but  he  knew

he would be the most help if he could get to central operations. Turning on

his heel, he made his way back down the passage.

The tech at the large terminal was madly  pushing  buttons,  but  the

readout continued to flash. He jumped when he saw Qui-Gon,  though  it  was

clear he had been expecting him.

"Nothing  is  broken,"  he  squealed.  "There  is  no  electrical  or

mechanical failure. It is not logical."

"It is not mechanical failure," Qui-Gon agreed. "But there is a logic

to it. Your computer is playing music. It is  conducting  the  machines  in

this building to play a specific tune."

"A what?" The tech stopped pushing buttons long enough  to  stare  at

Qui-Gon.

"Someone has been playing with your system," Qui-Gon explained. "Your

computer is making music."

The tech looked disgusted. "That is just like  Vorzyd  5.  They  like

playing games.  That  is  all  they  do,"  he  snarled.  "Playing  prevents

productivity."

Qui-Gon was silent  as  he  helped  the  tech  find  and  remove  the

erroneous command. Once they knew what they were looking for,  it  did  not

take long. And once the command was removed,  the  resonant  tones  in  the

building stopped.

There was near silence in  the  sub-basement  when  Qui-Gon  heard  a

familiar scream. Leaving the tech, he ran  down  the  hall.  The  Vorzydiak

woman he'd seen earlier was still shrieking, but her arms and feelers  were

still. She appeared to be paralyzed with fear.

Qui-Gon had thought that the circuits were  tied  into  the  computer

system. He'd assumed that when  the  computer  problem  was  resolved,  the

circuits would stop shorting.

He had been wrong.

Looking closer, Qui-Gon saw that he was  standing  in  front  of  the

circuits for the entire city workspace. This was the  grid  Port  had  been

talking about. The circuit on the grid that marked this office building was

okay. But there had been a  chain  reaction,  and  circuits  all  over  the

workspace were blowing out in waves. The woman next to him pointed  at  the

next hex of the grid set to go.

"This is the children's hospital," she  whimpered.  "It  cannot  lose

power."

With nothing to go on but instinct, Qui-Gon raced back to the central

operations computer. If he could override the network  shutdown  and  flush

the system, he might be able to stop the chain reaction.  If  he  couldn't,

this prank would result in more than chaos.

It would result in death.

CHAPTER 10

Obi-Wan jogged a few steps behind Grath and the rest of the kids.  He

was certain that one of the girls, Pel, was the one who had caught  him  in

his "bathrobe" the night  before.  Fortunately  she  didn't  appear  to  be

suspicious of him now.

The other girl, Nania, had a familiar-sounding voice. She  must  have

been driving the shuttle Obi-Wan had hitched a ride on. But so  far  nobody

had openly recognized him.

Obi-Wan kept waiting for one of them to ask him who he was and why he

was following them. But they never did. Grath's initial acceptance  of  him

seemed to be all that was needed. Either that, or the Freelies were such  a

big group that they were used to not knowing one another.

It didn't matter as long as the students continued to let Obi-Wan tag

along. The more time he spent with them, the easier it  would  be  to  gain

their trust. And the easier it would be to eventually convince them  to  do

the right thing.

Though he longed to know where they were going, Obi-Wan  didn't  want

to risk blowing his cover by asking any questions. It would  be  better  to

listen. Unfortunately, nobody was saying much.

About a kilometer away from the school, the small  band  of  Freelies

turned in to a refuse facility. Flip and Nania began pulling  scrap  off  a

huge pile and tossing it aside. Obi-Wan wasn't sure what to do.

Wondering if the next prank involved garbage, he reached over to grab

a piece of trash himself. Then Nania pulled a large piece of  wreckage  off

the pile and Obi-Wan spotted something familiar underneath. It was the back

of the shuttle he'd ridden last night.  Apparently  the  Freelies  kept  it

stashed here.

"Hop in," Flip said, gesturing to the panel door. The kids piled  in.

Nania  took  the  pilot's  seat  and  the  repulsorlifts  roared  to  life,

dislodging debris from the viewscreen.

"Hold on," Nania said over her shoulder. With a lurch and  a  shudder

the small craft broke free of the  garbage  pile  and  zoomed  out  of  the

facility.

Flip, who obviously hadn't been holding on tight  enough,  landed  in

Grath's lap.

"So what do you think they're doing in the  Multycorp  offices  right

now?" he asked, grinning at the older boy.

Grath pushed Flip off him with a  laugh.  "I  don't  know,"  he  said

slyly. "Dancing?"

Obi-Wan didn't get the joke, but he laughed along with  the  rest  of

the kids. When the laughter had faded Grath spoke again.

"But they won't be dancing tomorrow. Tomorrow they'll be walking."

Grath sounded serious, and the mood in the shuttle changed. The group

was clearly ready to get to the business at hand.  Whatever  that  business

was.

There was not much light in the back of the craft, and Obi-Wan had to

hang on to keep from being hurled about by Nania's erratic driving.  As  he

braced himself for the next turn he suddenly noticed something he'd  missed

before.  The  shuttle's  entire  hull  was  lined  with   small,   homemade

explosives.

With a  final  gut-wrenching  turn,  Nania  brought  the  maintenance

shuttle to a stop inside a transport shuttle bay.  Grath,  Flip,  Pel,  and

Nania grabbed armloads of the explosives and piled out of  the  maintenance

craft. Despite his misgivings, Obi-Wan picked  up  several  explosives  and

followed.

"Pel, Nania, you two cover the east wing. We'll do the  west,"  Grath

directed.

Obi-Wan watched uneasily as  Grath  crawled  underneath  one  of  the

shuttles with the explosives. He needed to find out what  they  were  doing

and he needed to do it now. It looked like Grath and  Flip  were  attaching

the explosives to the undersides of the passenger compartments.  Were  they

planning to blow up the crafts with passengers inside?

"So, I forget, when do we trigger  these?"  Obi-Wan  tried  to  sound

casual as he climbed under the shuttle next to Grath and  began  to  fiddle

with one of the devices.

Grath gave Obi-Wan a strange look. "Don't worry. Nobody will be hurt.

That's one of our rules, remember? We're hiding the  explosives  so  nobody

sees them during the evening ride. Then tonight, when the shuttles are back

in the bay, we'll trigger them by remote. So  tomorrow,  when  everyone  is

ready to go to work, well... they won't have  their  usual  transportation,

will they?" A smile  spread  across  Grath's  face,  but  Obi-Wan  was  too

concerned with all that could  go  wrong  to  smile  back.  This  plan  was

dangerous, far more dangerous than changing  numbers  on  a  datascreen  or

giving computer systems false commands.

Grath noticed that Obi-Wan wasn't smiling.  "Don't  worry,"  he  said

again more quietly. "We really aren't going to kill anybody. We  just  want

to wake them up."

Obi-Wan forced a smile and a nod. "To work then?" he asked.

"Not tomorrow!" Grath laughed.

CHAPTER 11

Qui-Gon took a deep breath and flipped a switch. The screen in  front

of him went blank, then blinked  back  on.  Down  the  hall  the  shrieking

finally stopped. The  break  had  been  successful.  The  circuits  stopped

shorting, and the children's hospital was safe. But it had been close - too

close.

Qui-Gon sighed. He knew the next thing he  had  to  do  was  to  tell

Chairman Port about the near  disaster,  a  prospect  he  did  not  relish.

Perhaps he had been wrong to give Obi-Wan three  days.  After  this  latest

Freelie prank it was going to be harder than  ever  to  stall  the  nervous

Vorzydiak.

Maybe even impossible, he thought as he made his way back up  to  the

twenty-fourth floor. He was not prepared for what he  saw  when  he  walked

into the meeting room.

Chairman Port stood before a  large  projection  of  a  regal-looking

Vorzydiak wearing a turban. It was Felana, the leader of Vorzyd 5.

"What is the meaning of this?" Felana demanded. "You dare  to  accuse

Vorzyd 5 of sabotage after you have already insulted us  by  banishing  our

ambassadors? I do not understand you, Chairman Port."

"Here is the J-J-Jedi," Chairman Port stammered. He motioned  Qui-Gon

to join him in front of the holoprojector. "He knows  the  truth.  He  will

tell you."

Felana looked even more aghast. "You have called in outside  counsel?

Do you think this will make your baseless accusations stronger?"

For a moment Qui-Gon was not sure what to do. This was certainly  not

the way mediation was supposed to work. Chairman Port had  put  him  in  an

awkward position, and now it would be impossible to establish himself as  a

neutral party. All he could do, he realized, was try to keep the damage  to

a minimum.

"Tell her," Chairman Port screeched at the Jedi. "Tell her  what  she

has done to our planet!"

"That is enough!" Felana seethed. "We have been under your thumb  for

a long time, Chairman. And now you accuse us wrongly. We will not  tolerate

your accusations."

Qui-Gon put a hand on Chairman Port's shoulder. Using the  Force,  he

calmed the distraught Vorzydiak enough to prevent him from saying  anything

else he would regret. Then he turned to the image of Felana.

"Please accept the chairman's apologies," Qui-Gon  bowed.  "Vorzyd  4

has been experiencing some terrorist activity and he meant  only  to  alert

you to that fact so that you may be on the lookout for similar activity  on

your planet."

Qui-Gon could tell by the look  on  her  face  that  Felana  did  not

believe him. But she was not going to contradict him, either.

"Please tell the chairman that I appreciate his  concern  and  assure

him that Vorzyd 5 is prepared to fight," Felana replied  in  a  cool  tone.

"Vorzyd 5 will not be humiliated. We are not the weak planet in the  system

any longer. We need only the opportunity to show our strength."

Qui-Gon thanked Felana and ended the transmission. He recognized  her

last statement for exactly what it was: a threat.

If Vorzyd 4 persisted in accusing Vorzyd 5 of illegal  activity,  the

likely result would be devastating.

War.

Qui-Gon paced the long hall of the retirement home  while  he  waited

for his Padawan. He realized that he could simply  summon  Obi-Wan  on  his

comlink, but he did not want to destroy the young Jedi's cover or  put  him

in danger. Besides, he needed some time to think about what he was going to

say when Obi-Wan did appear.

Qui-Gon reached the end of the hall and turned on his heel. If he did

not give  Obi-Wan  the  three  days  he'd  promised,  the  boy  would  lose

confidence. But things were getting out of hand. If Qui-Gon kept silent...

Suddenly Qui-Gon's thoughts  were  interrupted  by  a  timid  woman's

voice. "Excuse me," she said.

With his long strides Qui-Gon had covered the distance of the hallway

nearly a dozen times without giving any notice to the one open door. Now he

stopped in front of it  and  gazed  at  the  elderly  Vorzydiak  woman  who

beckoned him.

"I am sorry," she said, looking nervously up  at  Qui-Gon's  imposing

figure. "You are not a laborer are you? I thought maybe you were a  laborer

coming to visit. The laborers seem to think life  ends  when  the  work  is

finished. They are too busy to visit. But I heard someone out  here  and  I

thought - "

"I would be happy to visit with you," Qui-Gon said  gently.  Even  in

his distracted state, his heart went out to this woman.

"Oh, would you? I do not get many visitors. And do not get me wrong -

I do not blame them. It is the Vorzyd way."

Qui-Gon followed the woman into her small room and  sat  across  from

her on a chair. She did not ask him who he  was,  but  continued  to  talk,

simply enjoying the fact that there was someone there to listen.

"We live to work, you know. Nobody realizes that there is life beyond

the work. Nobody knows. Sometimes I wish there was not. The life, I mean. I

wish I could die like the others. But there is Tray. Tray still comes.  She

says things will change. That everything  will  be  different.  I  want  to

believe her, but they are just children..."

The woman stopped speaking and cocked her head. Outside in  the  hall

Qui-Gon heard boot steps. Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon  excused  himself  and  stepped  into  the  hall.  His  brief

conversation with the retiree had awakened new questions in his mind. There

were many things he wanted to ask the woman, but they would have  to  wait.

At the moment he needed to talk to his Padawan.

CHAPTER 12

"The shuttles are set to blow  tonight  when  everyone  is  sleeping.

Grath assured me that no one will be in the shuttle bay." Obi-Wan tried  to

sound confident as he reported the Freelie prank to his Master.  He  wanted

to mask the unease that he felt. Already he thought that  infiltrating  the

Freelies was taking too long. He wished he'd been able  to  keep  the  kids

from planting the explosives, but he hadn't seen a way to do it. It was too

soon to reveal himself.

Qui-Gon was silent.

"They don't want to hurt anyone," Obi-Wan added.

"Someone will be hurt just the same," Qui-Gon said  when  he  finally

spoke. "People were almost hurt today."

Obi-Wan knew that his Master was right. The Freelies were  going  too

far and there was more at stake than they realized. All they wanted was  to

show their parents that they were alive, that they needed  more  from  them

than work training. But they were going about it the wrong way.

Now Obi-Wan wondered if his plan to stop them  was  all  wrong,  too.

Looking at Qui-Gon's face, he could not help but get the feeling  that  his

Master doubted him.

"I fear the pranks have risen to a new level.  The  children  are  in

over their heads. Today Chairman Port contacted the leader of Vorzyd 5. She

was outraged at his accusations and is prepared  to  take  action  if  they

continue. There was also an attack on the central control  computer.  If  I

hadn't been there to help, it could have resulted in a power outage for the

entire city. And many lost lives."

Qui-Gon spoke evenly, but Obi-Wan felt reprimanded all the same. Even

though he shared his Master's doubts,  he  found  himself  railing  against

them.

"I have two more days," Obi-Wan said with  new  resolve.  "I  can  do

this." Why couldn't Qui-Gon trust him to follow through?  Obi-Wan  suddenly

felt desperate to be allowed to continue his plan. It seemed more important

than anything else.

"It's not that I don't trust you," Qui-Gon said,  locking  eyes  with

his Padawan.

It never failed to startle Obi-Wan the way Qui-Gon sensed what he was

thinking.

"The situation is complicated, and impossible for any  single  person

to control. We must proceed carefully," Qui-Gon finished.

Obi-Wan nodded. He was prepared to defend his plan further, but  Qui-

Gon had not cut him off as he'd suspected he would. He was being given  the

freedom to carry on.

Why? Obi-Wan wondered later, lying on his sleep couch. Why  was  Qui-

Gon letting him continue when he obviously had no faith in Obi-Wan's  plan?

For a moment Obi-Wan thought his Master was giving him  room  to  fail,  to

teach him a lesson. But that could not be. A  Jedi  would  never  risk  the

lives of other beings simply to prove a point. Qui-Gon hadn't given Obi-Wan

the chance to fail, he had given him the chance to succeed.

Lying in the dark, Obi-Wan felt torn. He wasn't at all sure that what

he was doing was right. Yet he had no choice but to move forward.

My plan will work, Obi-Wan told himself. It had to.

The lock on the door clicked and whirred. Obi-Wan  was  on  his  feet

before he realized he was awake. The door opened to reveal a  very  rattled

Chairman Port.

"The shuttles," the chairman gasped. "Vorzyd  5  is  blowing  up  the

shuttles. The morning laborers..." Port's antennae twitched rapidly and the

Vorzydiak leaned against the portal for  support.  He  appeared  to  be  in

shock. "Wounded," he said in a hollow voice. "Some may not live."

"The shuttles are exploding with passengers on them?" Obi-Wan  asked,

disbelieving. "When? Where?"

"Everywhere," the chairman whispered. "Now."

"Contact the shuttle bay. Tell them to evacuate. Tell  them  to  stop

all shuttles," Qui-Gon commanded.

Chairman Port pulled himself together  enough  to  hurry  toward  the

communication station near the entrance of the building.

Without a word to Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan ran toward the exit. He could hear

his Master's footsteps behind him. They needed to keep as  many  Vorzydiaks

as possible from boarding the shuttles.

Outside, a half-full shuttle was just  pulling  in  to  pick  up  the

nearly twenty laborers ready to go to work.

"Stop!" Obi-Wan shouted, waving his arms to try  to  keep  the  crowd

from boarding. But the appearance of the strangely  dressed  Jedi  had  the

opposite effect, and the group attempted to squeeze onto the shuttle  in  a

panic.

Thinking quickly, Qui-Gon stepped in front of the shuttle to keep  it

from moving. Obi-Wan  understood  and  dove  underneath.  With  the  simple

removal of two wires, the explosive was rendered  harmless.  But  this  was

just one shuttle.

Suddenly Chairman Port's  voice  echoed  over  the  shuttle  system's

speakers.

"Evacuate the shuttles at once. Please exit and move  away  from  the

shuttles. All shuttle systems will be shut down until further notice."

Confused Vorzydiaks did as they were told. But some of  them  started

in with their  droning,  and  a  few  others  rocked  from  side  to  side.

Eventually most of them began to walk the long distance to work.

"We cannot allow this to be blamed on Vorzyd 5," Qui-Gon said quietly

behind Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan nodded. Just as Qui-Gon had predicted, the Freelie  plan  had

gone horribly wrong - and so had Obi-Wan's.

"I will find out how extensive the damage is and ask the chairman  to

have every shuttle in the city inspected," Qui-Gon continued.  "You  should

contact the Freelies. You must convince them to come forward  before  I  am

forced to do it for them. We haven't much time."

Obi-Wan nodded again. He had not expected Qui-Gon to let him continue

with his infiltration - not after this. He knew his Master had every  right

to go directly to the chairman and tell him everything. But,  he  realized,

there was reason not to as well. It would be better for all  Vorzydiaks  if

the Freelies came forward in peace. Forcing the  kids  and  adults  into  a

hostile meeting could  actually  make  the  situation  worse.  Qui-Gon  had

obviously considered this.

Obi-Wan sighed. Whatever the reason, Qui-Gon was giving  Obi-Wan  one

last chance to do it his way. And he was grateful.

But as he watched his Master walk away, Obi-Wan was suddenly overcome

by a strange feeling. He had the sense that someone was watching his  every

move.

Turning quickly, Obi-Wan looked up. High above him, in  a  window  of

the retiree complex, Obi-Wan thought he saw a face  staring  down  at  him.

Then it disappeared.

CHAPTER 13

Obi-Wan scanned the window for another moment  to  see  if  he  could

catch a glimpse of the person inside. He couldn't. Still thinking about the

conversation he'd just had with his Master, he  walked  toward  the  Ports'

dwelling. It was time to wait for Grath.

It wasn't long before Grath appeared. When the boy  had  walked  some

distance ahead, Obi-Wan called out to him and ran to catch up. Even  before

he got a good look at Grath's face, Obi-Wan could tell that he was upset.

"I don't know how everything went  wrong,"  Grath  said  shakily.  He

looked exhausted and his eyes were ringed in red. There was no sign of  the

charismatic, playful boy Obi-Wan had met the day before.

"There must have been a failure in the remote triggering  device.  It

went off during..." Grath's voice trailed away.

"I know," Obi-Wan said, putting a hand on Grath's shoulder.

Grath swallowed. "I've called  an  emergency  meeting.  I  just  hope

nobody notices that so many of us are not in work training, or at work."

Obi-Wan tried to look more optimistic than he felt.  It  wouldn't  do

any good to have Grath more worried than he already  was.  "Let's  go,"  he

prompted.

The meeting was held in the refuse facility. Grath  managed  to  pull

himself together, and once again looked like a leader as he stepped up on a

pile of rubble to call the meeting to order.

"We have a problem," he began. "The explosives did not  go  off  last

night as planned. Instead they exploded during the morning commute."

There was a concerned murmur among the students, but an excited voice

rose above the rest. It was Flip.

"And the city is in chaos!" he exclaimed. "We knew we  could  make  a

bigger bang if we just put our minds to it and  waited  until  people  were

paying attention. Now our parents will really have to take notice!"

The group was silent as everyone stared at Flip.

"You did this?" Grath asked the boy. "You tampered with the remote?"

Flip nodded proudly. "Yes!" He looked up  at  Grath  expectantly.  It

seemed to Obi-Wan that the younger boy was waiting for Grath to shower  him

with praise. But the Jedi was certain that no praise was coming.

Grath's mouth hung open for a moment before he snapped it closed. His

antennae hung low over his forehead and his mouth contorted into a scowl of

fury. But his eyes revealed another emotion: guilt.

Obi-Wan was not sure which of Grath's emotions was going to win  out.

Then Freelies all over the room began talking.

"What are we going to do now?"

"I hope my parents are okay."

"It's about time somebody took some real action."

Obi-Wan turned to see who had made this last remark. But the facility

was crowded and it was impossible to tell.

Grath cleared his throat and calmed everyone down - at least for  the

moment.

"Many people were hurt this morning," he said gravely, "and some  may

not live. Our mission  is  to  wake  people  up,  make  them  see  what  is

happening. It is not to kill them." Grath looked  directly  at  Flip.  "You

should not have altered the plan," he said flatly. "It was wrong."

There was a brief moment of silence. Everyone looked at Flip. The boy

looked confused, then angry. He glared up at Grath. "It was necessary,"  he

said. "And it was  the  right  thing  to  do.  Now  they're  really  paying

attention."

The group erupted. Obi-Wan could see a split  beginning  to  develop.

Some of the kids felt that Grath was right. Acting peacefully was the  only

way. Others had had it with the peaceful tactics. They felt violence was  a

necessary part of revolution.

"The adults will never pay attention to us  if  we  continue  to  act

peacefully," Flip shouted. "What we've been doing so far  is  not  working.

Our pranks need to become tactics."

"We don't want to start a war!" someone shouted back. "We're  talking

about our parents."

"We're talking about adults who ignore us!" yelled another.

Soon everyone was shouting so loudly that Obi-Wan couldn't understand

much of what was  being  said.  He  could  only  tell  that  everyone  felt

strongly, and that the group was divided. Then a voice rang  out  over  the

rest. It was Flip's.

"Only cowards are afraid to stand up and fight for what  they  need!"

he shouted.

This set the Freelies off again. The  camaraderie  that  Obi-Wan  had

admired in the group completely disappeared. Kids who had  worked  together

peacefully began to shout in one an-other's faces. Antennae  jabbed  wildly

in aggressive movements. The room was in chaos.

Finally Nania  jumped  onto  a  tall  pile  of  rubble.  "Stop!"  she

screamed. The group quieted instantly and turned to look at  her.  Some  of

the kids looked annoyed by the interruption, but nobody said anything.

"This fighting is useless," Nania said. "We need to work together  or

we will accomplish nothing. Let's report to our work training spaces before

we are missed. Then tonight we can meet as planned."

Some of the Freelies grumbled aloud, but the group  slowly  made  its

way out of the facility. There was little  discussion,  and  Obi-Wan  could

feel the tension in the air.

He could also feel the knot in his stomach. The division in the group

was not a good sign. lithe Freelies wanted  to  be  taken  seriously,  they

would have to come forward peacefully and talk to the adults as a  cohesive

group. It looked like the chances of  that  were  getting  slimmer  by  the

minute.

Obi-Wan decided to find Grath  and  see  what  he  was  thinking.  He

circled a pile of rubble near where he  had  last  seen  him,  but  instead

spotted Flip and a dark-haired girl he didn't recognize.

The two were clearly deep in conversation, and Obi-Wan tried to  look

casual as he tuned in to what they were saying.

"It's not enough," the girl said. "Grath is on their side."

He saw Flip nod slowly, and the girl  leaned  in  closer.  She  spoke

almost in a whisper.

"We have no choice but to take action on our  own,"  she  said.  "And

soon."

Obi-Wan took a step closer to the two Freelies.  He  wanted  to  hear

every word. But his movement caught their attention, and  they  immediately

split up. It was obvious they didn't want to be overheard. But he  couldn't

tell if they knew he'd been listening in.

Obi-Wan's mind reeled. He needed some time to clear his head. Exiting

the refuse facility, he watched groups of kids make their  way  toward  the

work training space. He knew instinctively that work  training  was  not  a

good place for him to think things through.  So  he  turned  in  the  other

direction, heading toward the home-space.

Walking along, Obi-Wan now noticed the adult laborers who were  still

making their way to work. Some walked  in  pairs,  talking.  Others  ambled

along, gazing at the sky. None of them seemed desperate to get to work. And

there was no audible droning. It was almost as if being forced out of their

work environment gave them a new perspective.

Perhaps the adults are ready for change, Obi-Wan thought. He  felt  a

small surge of hope. If he and Qui-Gon could just bring the kids and adults

together, Vorzyd 4 might have a chance.

CHAPTER 14

"Vorzyd 5 must pay," Chairman Port said as he and Qui-Gon entered the

Multycorp offices. "We shall contact them immediately."

Qui-Gon exhaled slowly. Although he'd expected the chairman to  react

in this way, he had not yet come up with a plan to stop  the  communication

from going through.

He again questioned  the  wisdom  of  his  decision  to  let  Obi-Wan

infiltrate the Freelies.  He'd  wanted  to  empower  his  Padawan.  And  he

believed that Vorzyd 4 would have the best chance at a peaceful  resolution

if the kids came forward on their own. Unfortunately, that belief was of no

help to him at the moment.

Time to think on your feet, he told himself wryly.

"I think it would be better to wait until we have  the  results  from

the shuttle inspection," Qui-Gon said rationally. Chairman Port had ordered

an investigation of all the shuttles in the city, and they were waiting for

the report. "The more information we have, the better."

"They are to blame!" Chairman Port railed. "They need to be punished!

"

"Do we, now?" came a voice from behind them. Qui-Gon turned  and  saw

Felana standing in the doorway. Two large Vorzydiaks flanked her on  either

side.

Chairman Port's face had lost all traces of anger. His expression was

now a combination of confusion and fear. His large  eyes  were  even  wider

than usual and his antennae twitched uncontrollably. It was obvious that he

was not accustomed to unexpected political visitors  -  especially  hostile

ones.

"What are you - "

"I have come to set the record straight once and for all,  Chairman,"

Felana said, striding  into  the  room.  She  was  remarkably  tall  for  a

Vorzydiak, and her upright stance made her even more so.

The chairman blinked in surprise. Qui-Gon sensed that  he  wanted  to

know how she had gotten all the way into his office without  being  noticed

and stopped. He imagined that it  probably  wasn't  too  difficult  in  the

chaotic aftermath of the shuttle explosions.

There were several long moments of  awkward  silence.  Then  Chairman

Port  straightened  his  jumpsuit  and  cleared  his  throat  loudly.   His

expression shifted to one of self-righteous indignation.

"You have been  sabotaging  our  production  capabilities,"  he  said

evenly. "You resent our productivity. You wish to appear  stronger  to  the

rest  of  the  Vorzyd  system.  Our  computers  and  assembly   lines   are

malfunctioning. It is the only explanation."

"Explanations are not my concern,"  Felana  replied.  "Your  baseless

accusations are. And we do not resent your productivity,"  she  added,  her

eyes glinting. "On the contrary, we find your work  customs  to  be  rather

tedious."

If it were not for the seriousness of the  situation,  Qui-Gon  would

have smiled at Felana's remark. The Vorzydiak kids obviously found the work

customs to be tiresome as well.

"You see?" Chairman Port said, turning to Qui-Gon. "They resent us."

Qui-Gon was  silent.  Part  of  him  wanted  to  tell  Chairman  Port

everything. But his gut told him that this meeting was not going  to  bring

about any kind of immediate or violent action. And he still hoped that  the

Freelies would come forward on their own.  Besides,  he  had  promised  his

Padawan that he would wait. If all went well, there would be a  meeting  of

the minds - between those truly involved and responsible - very soon.

"We did not resent you," Felana insisted. "Until you began to  accuse

us of crimes we did not commit." She glared at Chairman Port. "I  want  all

of these baseless lies to stop at once, or we will be taking action against

you in response."

Chairman Port's antennae began to twitch again. "What kind of action?

" he asked nervously.

Felana leveled her gaze at the Vorzyd 4 leader. "A  kind  much  worse

than the sabotage you've wrongly accused us of."

CHAPTER 15

That night, Obi-Wan met up with Grath on  the  shuttle  platform.  He

looked tired, but his eyes were clear. Obi-Wan  sensed  that  the  boy  had

found a new sense of direction.

"Some of the adults looked content as they made  their  way  to  work

today," Obi-Wan told him. "I think they enjoyed their time off."

Grath nodded. "It can work without violence,"  he  said  confidently.

"People just need a little time to see how it could be."

Obi-Wan was glad to see Grath back to his old self. He didn't want to

dampen his spirits by telling him about  the  conversation  he'd  overheard

between Flip and the dark-haired girl. But he couldn't keep  that  kind  of

information to himself, either.

"I overheard - "

Obi-Wan was cut short by the shuttle  pulling  up  to  the  platform.

Nania was driving, and she  greeted  Obi-Wan  with  a  smile.  Obi-Wan  was

grateful as he took a comfortable seat. A ride inside Nania's shuttle could

be a nail-biter, but it was better than clinging  to  the  outside  of  the

craft.

When they arrived at the usual office building meeting place, Obi-Wan

spotted Flip right away. He was standing in a corner next to the same dark-

haired girl, scowling.

Grath walked right up to them. "Hi, Flip,"  he  said  in  a  friendly

voice.

Flip didn't say anything, and his scowl deepened. It was  clear  that

he was still angry about the reprimand he'd received earlier  in  the  day.

The girl next to him was silent as well. Watching  them,  Obi-Wan  suddenly

realized that he'd seen the girl before, away from the Freelies. She'd been

visiting her grandmother at the retiree complex the first night  he'd  been

on the planet. But she seemed totally different now - there was no trace of

the warm, affectionate young girl he'd enjoyed watching and listening to.

Grath stood in front of Flip for a moment, trying to get the  boy  to

soften. When it was clear that he wouldn't, the leader's focus  shifted  to

the meeting at hand. He stood up on one of the desks and called  everyone's

attention.

"If we can show  the  laborers  that  there  is  more  to  life  than

productivity without hurting them, they will help us," he said calmly.

"The laborers are too far gone," the dark-haired girl replied  hotly.

"Fear is the only thing that will keep them from stopping us."

Grath frowned. "That's not true, Tray," he said. "And you know it."

It didn't take long for the disagreement and anger from  the  earlier

meeting to overtake the group.  Everyone  shouted  to  be  heard.  Antennae

twitched and stabbed the air, punctuating shouts. Hands  were  balled  into

fists. The two groups began to separate - Grath and his  followers  on  one

side of the office and Flip and his on the other.

"We need to make ourselves known," someone yelled. "The laborers have

no idea that we're pulling the pranks. They don't even think we're capable.

"

"We're not getting any credit," a different voice called out.

"Or blame," someone on the other side shouted.

The shouts were getting louder and louder. It was  almost  impossible

to hear what was being said. Obi-Wan looked from one side of  the  room  to

the other, not sure what to do. He felt that some action was necessary, but

he didn't want to blow his cover.

Suddenly the lights outside the  office  blinked  on.  Voices  echoed

outside, and footsteps thundered up the stairs.

Grath looked up, alarmed. The kids were suddenly silent.

The Freelies had been discovered.

CHAPTER 16

The footsteps and voices got louder as they came closer. The Freelies

began to look worriedly at one another, their antennae twitching in fear.

Out of the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan saw Flip toss a  small  capsule

to the ground. A thick, green smoke immediately began to  billow  into  the

room. Interestingly, the smoke did  not  seem  to  irritate  the  Freelies'

lungs. There was no coughing or sputtering among the group.

"This way," Flip said calmly. He led  the  kids  out  of  the  office

through a secret exit, down a tunnel, and up  several  flights  of  stairs.

When they emerged through a heavy durasteel doorway, they were standing  on

the roof of a neighboring workspace building. It was dark, but the stars in

the sky gave off a dim light.

All was quiet below. The kids were safe.

No sooner were the Freelies on the roof than Flip turned toward  Obi-

Wan. "There's something you don't know!" he shouted to  the  group.  "Grath

has been keeping it from you. This boy has been sent here to stop us. He is

a Jedi - and a traitor!"

There was an audible gasp as the Freelies gaped  at  Obi-Wan.  For  a

moment Obi-Wan sensed that the group wasn't sure this was the truth  -  and

thought he might be safe.

The moment passed quickly.

"it's true!" the dark-haired girl shouted.  "I've  seen  him  at  the

retirement complex. My grandmother is there, and he was spying on us!"

"Yes, Tray, he is a Jedi." Grath lowered his head in defeat.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a moment. He'd had  no  idea  that  Grath

knew he was a Jedi. Taking a deep breath, he tried to gather  strength.  He

was not looking forward to what was coming. Someone  pulled  at  his  hood,

exposing his antennae-less head.

"Traitor!" someone shouted.

"Grath is a liar, not a leader!" Flip yelled.

"What kind of leader doesn't trust his team enough to tell  them  the

simple truth?" came a quieter voice.

Kids on both sides of the violence  issue  were  coming  out  against

Grath and Obi-Wan. Only a few stood by Grath.

"Grath has to make difficult decisions for all  of  us,"  Nania  said

reasonably. "We may not like each and every one, but he makes them for  the

good of the group. He has never led us astray."

"The Jedi should still leave us," Tray spoke out. "Immediately."

There was silence as the group  nodded  -  almost  unanimously.  Only

Grath's head remained still.

Obi-Wan looked to Grath for support, hoping he would say something to

the group. Grath looked distraught, but he kept quiet.

Obi-Wan felt defeated, but knew he could not just walk away.

"Peace is the only way to true victory," he told  the  Freelies.  "If

you  continue  down  this  path  you'll  build  a  permanent  wall  between

yourselves and the workers. There will be no chance for dialogue, or a  new

way of life." Obi-Wan looked beseechingly at the  group,  his  eyes  moving

from one face to another. None of their expressions had changed. There  was

no way for him to convince them.

Obi-Wan dropped his head and turned toward the stairs. The last thing

he saw before the door slid closed behind him was the smiles on Tray's  and

Flip's faces.

Obi-Wan's mind was spinning as he left the rooftop. He  felt  like  a

fool. Why didn't he suspect that Grath knew he was a Jedi  all  along?  The

infiltration had been too easy, he now realized. Obi-Wan felt  ashamed  for

not figuring it out earlier. He had wanted his plan to work so  badly  that

he assumed everything was going just fine. Only it wasn't.

Obi-Wan made his way through the streets to  the  homespace.  In  the

back of his mind was a voice that reminded him that he hadn't been entirely

honest with the Freelies, either. He hadn't told them he was a Jedi.

But I was acting for the good of the planet, he told himself.  I  was

trying to bring everyone to a peaceful solution.

This all felt much  like  the  situation  on  Melida/  Daan,  Obi-Wan

realized. When Obi-Wan had joined the Young, he was  certain  that  he  was

doing the right thing. But in the end he was not sure that the  Young  were

on the right path. And it had not taken him long to know that  leaving  the

Jedi order was not the right path for him.

At first glance, the  situation  here  on  Vorzyd  4  seemed  totally

different from the one on Melida/Daan. Harmless, really.  But  now  Obi-Wan

could not see many differences. And the similarities were screaming in  his

ears.

The  arguing  Freelies.  The  explosions.  The   inability   of   the

generations to talk openly together.

Worst of all, Obi-Wan knew, he was no longer in a position  to  help.

The kids didn't trust him. And why should the adults  believe  someone  who

had been keeping secrets from them all along?

Not sure what else to do, Obi-Wan headed back  to  his  room  at  the

retirement complex. He had not been there long when Qui-Gon arrived.

Obi-Wan knew his Master was concerned about him -  and  probably  the

situation as well. With a sigh, he began to tell him all that had happened.

"Someone must have tipped off the adults," Obi-Wan began.

Qui-Gon nodded. "I did not say anything, as I promised I would  not,"

he said. "But I did overhear the  building  maintenance  team  reporting  a

disturbance to Chairman Port. They were acting on a tip."

Obi-Wan had not  suspected  that  Qui-Gon  was  responsible  for  the

intrusion, but was glad to hear his Master confirm that he was not.

"A group of adults stormed the secret meeting,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "But

ore of the kids, Flip, dropped a smoke capsule and led everyone to safety."

"He was well prepared  for  just  such  an  invasion,"  Qui-Gon  said

pointedly.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I thought that at the time," he  said.  "Perhaps  he

was the informer. It seemed too simple. But much more  has  happened  since

then...."

Obi-Wan trailed off. It was getting difficult to look his  Master  in

the eye. He felt responsible for the state of  the  situation  between  the

kids and adults. Once again he had the feeling that his instincts had  been

all wrong.

"Go on," Qui-Gon said gently. His eyes  were  full  of  empathy.  But

somehow that didn't make Obi-Wan feel any better. In fact, it made him feel

worse. He didn't deserve understanding right now. Things on Vorzyd  4  were

worse than when they'd arrived.

And it was all his fault.

CHAPTER 17

Qui-Gon could see that his Padawan was struggling. He was tempted  to

push him further to see if he would open up, but  knew  that  was  not  the

right choice. What Obi-Wan needed was  a  bit  of  time,  just  as  Qui-Gon

himself did on occasion.

The room in the retirement complex was  quiet  for  several  minutes.

Then Qui-Gon spoke.

"I think we should go outside and spar," he said. "It  has  been  too

long since we did lightsaber training together."

Qui-Gon was hoping that the physical activity would help his  Padawan

release some tension - and piece things together in his  mind.  Regardless,

focusing on something entirely different would be a good change of pace.

Obi-Wan seemed reluctant as they exited the building. But once he was

outside and facing his Master, his eyes  flashed  with  an  intensity  that

surprised Qui-Gon. The young Jedi ignited his lightsaber, and  Qui-Gon  did

the same.

The two Jedi circled each other slowly with their lightsabers raised,

as if in a dance. Obi-Wan moved gracefully, his eyes locked  on  Qui-Gon's.

It was as if he were challenging him to do something,  to  make  the  first

move.

Qui-Gon did. He brought his lightsaber down in a  powerful  strike  -

once, twice, three times.  Obi-Wan  was  there  to  block  each  blow.  The

graceful arcs he made with his blade were confident and accurate. His  eyes

never left his Master's face.

Qui-Gon suddenly realized that his Padawan's  lightsaber  skills  had

improved  significantly  in  the  past  months.  His  physical  energy  was

exceptional - young and true. Obi-Wan was fighting like a Jedi Knight.

Not to mention trusting his  instincts,  Qui-Gon  thought  wryly.  He

suddenly had the feeling that one day the boy would beat him. And that such

a day might not be so far away.

The two Jedi dodged and weaved with incredible speed,  their  ignited

blue and green blades blurs of energy in the Vorzyd night. But behind  them

pulsed something even stronger-Jedi will. Obi-Wan wanted to be  treated  as

an equal, Qui-Gon knew. But while he had grownup a lot  in  the  last  four

years, he was only seventeen. He still had much to learn.

With each stroke, Qui-Gon pushed Obi-Wan farther  back.  It  was  not

terribly difficult. But even as he advanced on his Padawan, Qui-Gon had the

feeling that Obi-Wan was allowing him to do  it  -  that  the  Padawan  was

somehow in control.

He was. In a flash of blinding green light Obi-Wan swung, ducked, and

turned. His blue eyes flashed and a small smile turned up  the  corners  of

his lips. He now had the upper hand.

Qui-Gon was accustomed to this kind of haughty strategy  coming  from

an enemy. But it was slightly unnerving  to  see  it  in  his  own  Padawan

learner. And yet it had worked.

As if picking up on his Master's thoughts,  Obi-Wan  stepped  up  the

pace  an  additional  notch.  Now  he  was  swinging  repeatedly  and  with

phenomenal strength, pushing Qui-Gon in a wide arc  around  the  courtyard.

His green blade was a bright blur in the  darkness,  and  his  entire  body

moved with certainty and empowerment.

Qui-Gon had to concentrate - hard - to keep  ahead  of  his  Padawan.

They had fought side by side often enough for him to be able to guess  what

Obi-Wan would do next. Of course, the same was true of Obi-Wan. And once in

a while the young Jedi blocked a blow so quickly that Qui-Gon knew the  boy

had known exactly what was coming.

With a flash and a buzz, the lightsabers met in a raised cross.  Both

men  were  breathless,  sweating  from  the  exertion.  This  had  been  no

lighthearted spar.

Obi-Wan looked up at his Master, his eyes bright and intense. It  was

clear that he had not actually won the match, but that he  had  stated  his

case firmly. Something had changed between  them.  Obi-Wan  had  taken  yet

another step toward becoming a Jedi Knight, and  Qui-Gon  was  closer  than

ever to letting him go.

Without speaking, the two Jedi switched  off  their  lightsabers  and

headed back into the retirement complex.

"You must go to Grath," Qui-Gon said quietly. "The students  and  the

laborers have much to teach one another."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I agree," he said. "As you have had  much  to  teach

me. I am grateful, Master."

Qui-Gon felt a surge of pride. Obi-Wan was a good man, and would be a

great Jedi Knight. "We learn from each other, Padawan," he said. "But thank

you."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I think I should find Grath immediately,"  he  said.

"I see now that there is still a chance for us to stop the dispute, to  get

the two sides to listen to each other. But we do  not  have  much  time.  I

think that deep down, the students and the adults want the same thing."

"Yes, deep down," Qui-Gon agreed.

CHAPTER 18

Obi-Wan slept soundly through the night and awoke with a clear  head.

He knew exactly what needed to be done, and was prepared to do it.

After donning his Jedi robes, he left the retirement complex,  walked

over to the Ports' homespace, and knocked on the door. It seemed as  though

Grath were standing right on the other side, because  the  door  slid  open

immediately. Obi-Wan was surprised to see Nania behind him.

"We were just getting ready to come look for you,"  Grath  explained.

He looked a bit sheepish. "I'm glad you've come."

Grath stepped aside and Obi-Wan entered the dwelling. Nania led  them

all to the table.

"I'm so sorry, Obi-Wan," Grath said as  soon  as  they  were  sitting

down. "I knew you were a Jedi because I overheard my father. I should  have

told you. But I thought you might not want to help if you knew I  knew.  Or

that your Master would not let you. And I didn't  think  that  all  of  the

Freelies would accept help from a Jedi."

Grath spoke quickly and clearly, and his words felt genuine.  Obi-Wan

could see why he was the leader of the Freelies.

"I deceived you as well," Obi-Wan  admitted.  "I  knew  that  it  was

dishonest not to tell you that I was a Jedi. But I felt it was the best way

to learn what was happening on your planet, and how to help."

Grath's eyes lit up. "I know," he said. "And I think you can help. We

need to get through to our parents. They are not our enemy. You  have  seen

firsthand what our relationships are like. They are crumbling. We  need  to

rebuild the foundations. You might have the power to help facilitate that."

"Both sides could be a problem at  this  point,"  Nania  added.  "The

adults suspect that we have  been  pulling  the  pranks,  so  they  may  be

hostile. Especially because they've been accusing Vorzyd 5. We've caused  a

lot of trouble. And now the Freelies are divided."

"I did not tip off the adults," Obi-Wan  said  earnestly.  He  wanted

Grath and Nania to know he would not betray them in such a way.

"We know that," Grath said.

"It was Flip," Nania added. "I overheard him and Tray laughing  about

how easy it was to fool the rest of the group." She reached over and put  a

hand on Obi-Wan's arm. "We know you've only been trying to  help  us,  Obi-

Wan," she said. "That's your job as a Jedi, isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it is," Obi-Wan said.

"But things keep getting  worse  and  worse,"  Grath  said,  suddenly

looking a bit defeated. "We used to do this just for fun,"  he  said.  "You

know, for something to do."

"It went on like that for a while, and it was okay," Nania said.  "We

were having fun. We worked hard together doing the  planning  and  carrying

out the pranks. And nobody got hurt."

"But then we changed the rules," Grath continued. "We wanted to  wake

up the laborers - our parents and grandparents. Then  my  father  began  to

accuse Vorzyd 5." His voice  suddenly  held  a  tinge  of  bitterness.  "We

started to interfere with productivity, because that was all they seemed to

care about. We just wanted to be noticed...."

Grath's voice trailed off and his eyes fell to the floor. "We're  not

so sure about the pranks anymore," he  admitted.  "We  never  intended  for

those explosives to go off when laborers were in  the  shuttles.  We  never

meant for anyone to get hurt."

"Now we want to stop what we have in  the  works,"  Nania  continued.

"But we're not sure we can convince Flip and the Freelies on  his  side  to

call it off - that violence isn't the way."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "This next prank  would  be  violent?"  he

asked.

"It's not actually supposed to be," Grath replied. "But it was  going

to be explosive. And with the way things have been going..."

His voice trailed off once more. But this time he looked  up  at  the

ceiling. "I don't know what's happened to Flip," he  said  mournfully.  "He

used to be such a great person. A real friend. I always thought  he  looked

up to me."

"He did," Nania said. "But Flip is his own person.  You  can't  blame

yourself for his thoughts and actions."

Obi-Wan's heart went out to Grath. He knew what it was like  to  feel

responsible - he had felt that way so many times. When his friends were  in

danger. When his rivals had died.

"I'll bet he still looks up to you," Obi-Wan  said,  remembering  how

hurt Flip had seemed when Grath came  down  on  him  for  setting  off  the

explosive devices during the morning commute. "I think his anger might be a

mask for his hurt. He wants you to be proud of him."

"I am proud of him," Grath said. "In a way. I just think  his  energy

is misdirected."

"It's important for you to move forward and make the right decisions.

For everybody-including Flip," Obi-Wan counseled. "It's time to  meet  with

the adults, to tell them what is going on. You need to confide in them."

Grath let out his breath slowly. "I know," he said. "But I don't know

where to begin."

"I can set up the meeting for you," Obi-Wan said. "And  Qui-Gon  will

help counsel the laborers."

Grath sighed. "Okay," he said. "But I have a feeling that talking  to

the laborers might be easier than convincing the Freelies to call  off  the

latest prank and to show up at the meeting."

CHAPTER 19

That evening, over a Vorzyd supper of tasteless  broth  and  a  tough

flatbread, Obi-Wan told his Master of his meeting with Grath and Nania.

"I really think we can turn the situation into a  positive  one,"  he

said confidently. "The Freelies have to see that meeting with the  laborers

is the right thing to do. It's the best thing for everybody."

"I agree, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "And I think I should accompany you

to this Freelie meeting. There is much at stake."

Obi-Wan could not help but feel chided. Didn't his  Master  think  he

could handle the situation? Wasn't it clear that  he  was  approaching  the

problem in a new way?

Obi-Wan swallowed his utensilful of broth and looked across the table

at his Master. "I would like to go alone," he said slowly. "To finish  what

I have started by myself. We will  both  be  at  the  meeting  between  the

Freelies and the laborers, of course."  Obi-Wan  hoped  this  last  comment

might sway his Master a bit.

There was a moment of silence before Qui-Gon spoke. "Very  well,"  he

said. "I understand that it could be important for  you  to  go  alone.  My

presence might upset the balance you have been trying  to  create.  I  will

contact Chairman Port and make sure the laborers are ready to meet. I  will

need to be present when he contacts Vorzyd 5 to apologize. And I may know a

few others who would be interested in coming to the Freelie/laborer meeting

as well," he added thoughtfully.

Obi-Wan wondered who his Master was talking about,  but  a  knock  on

their retiree room door halted their conversation. A second later the metal

portal slid open and Grath stood in the doorway. He  looked  sheepishly  at

Qui-Gon, as if he wasn't sure how to greet a Jedi Master.

Qui-Gon got to his feet and lowered his head slightly before Grath.

"It's an honor to meet the leader of the Free-lies," Qui-Gon said.

Grath looked surprised, but  Obi-Wan  just  smiled.  His  Master  was

exceptionally skilled at setting others at ease.

"Obi-Wan has told me  much  about  you,"  Qui-Gon  continued  with  a

friendly smile.

Grath smiled back. "It's an honor to meet you as well," he said. "And

I'd like to thank you for your help. I'm hoping Vorzyd 4 will be on  a  new

path before you leave."

"That is my wish as well," Qui-Gon agreed as he began  to  clear  the

eating utensils from the table. Obi-Wan sensed that it was his way  of  not

intruding on their departure. Silently grateful, Obi-Wan left the room with

Grath.

The two crossed the courtyard and waited for Nania to pick them up in

the shuttle. In spite of his apparent confidence  back  in  the  retirement

complex, Obi-Wan felt quite nervous. What if the Freelies  wouldn't  listen

to what he and Grath had to say? What  if  they  still  thought  he  was  a

traitor?

By the time they got to the refuse facility, Obi-Wan was practicing a

calming breathing technique. But he did not have  to  worry.  The  Freelies

were quiet as they heard Grath out.

"I must apologize to you all for not telling you that we had  a  Jedi

among us," Grath said from atop a heap  of  rubble.  "But  at  the  time  I

thought I was doing the right thing."

While he listened to Grath, Obi-Wan looked around the facility.  Kids

were listening intently, and many were  nodding.  Only  Tray  stood  apart,

alone in a corner, looking angry. There was no sign of Flip.

"Obi-Wan has come to help us," Grath went on. "He understands what we

are trying to do. And he can bring us and the laborers together."

"No!" Tray shouted,  stamping  her  foot.  Looking  at  her,  Obi-Wan

wondered why she was so bent on violence. What did she want to accomplish?

There was a murmur in the crowd, and kids began to  speak.  But  they

were much more orderly than they had been the previous  day,  taking  turns

and listening to what others were saying. Obi-Wan took this as a good sign.

"They  don't  care  about  us,"  someone  said.   "It's   all   about

productivity."

"And they won't listen," another Freelie added.  "They'll  just  stop

the pranks, and the pranks are..." The boy  struggled  to  find  the  right

words.

"I agree," Grath interrupted. "Our coming together to make the pranks

happen is the only fun I've had, and could be  the  best  thing  I've  ever

done. But we are not solving the problem. We are not getting any closer  to

our parents. We have to start somewhere if we are going to bring about  the

changes we need."

There was a moment of silence as the Free-lies looked at one another.

Obi-Wan noticed that Tray's  antennae  were  jabbing  at  the  air,  as  if

fighting something invisible. But the others  seemed  to  be  getting  what

Grath was saying. They understood that violence wasn't the answer.

"You do not have to come to the meeting if you  are  opposed,"  Nania

said, looking directly at Tray. "But we hope you will. It is for all of us.

It is the only way."

Nania kept her eyes locked on Tray, as if she expected  an  argument.

But  the  girl  remained  sullen  and   silent.   Then   Nania's   antennae

straightened.

"Where is Flip?" she asked.

Tray shrugged. "I do not know," she said. But there was  a  glint  in

her eyes that made Obi-Wan suspect she wasn't telling the truth.

Obi-Wan switched on his comlink. It was time to contact Qui-Gon.  The

device crackled for a moment, and then he heard his Master's voice.

"The Freelies have agreed to meet," Obi-Wan said.

"That is good news," Qui-Gon replied. "We are in the Multycorp  annex

next to Chairman Port's office. We have made peace with  Vorzyd  5,  and  a

large group of laborers has gathered here, along with some retirees. We are

anxious to get started."

"Excellent," Obi-Wan said.  For  the  first  time  in  days  he  felt

relieved, and truly hopeful. "We are on our way."

Obi-Wan ended the communication and climbed  onto  a  small  pile  of

rubble. "The laborers are waiting to meet with us - to hear what we have to

say," he told the Freelies. "Some of the retirees are there as  well.  They

want to begin the dialogue. We should all head over to the Multycorp  annex

at once."

There was audible excitement as the Freelies began to  chatter  among

themselves. Antennae all over the room were bouncing up and  down.  Obi-Wan

turned to look for Tray, and saw her sink to the ground. A look  of  horror

was frozen on her face.

"But my grandmother - " she stammered. "No." She looked up  at  Grath

and Obi-Wan. "The Multycorp annex is going to explode."

CHAPTER 20

The Freelies grew completely silent as Tray's words sank in.

"What?" Grath said. "What did you say?"

Tray's eyes were full of tears. "The  Multycorp  annex  is  going  to

explode," she repeated. "We thought  it  would  be  empty.  There  were  no

meetings on the roster."

Obi-Wan reached for his comlink. If he could tell  Qui-Gon  what  was

happening, they might be able to stop the explosion. But  before  he  could

even attempt to make a transmission Tray was shaking her head.

Obi-Wan tried the  comlink,  but  there  was  only  interference  and

static.

"It  won't  work  anymore,"  she  said  woodenly.  "We've   scrambled

communication." She pointed to her timepiece. "We're too late."

Tray leaped to her  feet.  "We  have  to  stop  the  explosion!"  she

shouted. "Come on!"

Leading the way, Tray rushed  out  to  the  maintenance  shuttle  and

climbed into the cockpit seat. For a moment, Nania  looked  as  though  she

might try to take the controls from her, but she  changed  her  mind.  Tray

needed something to do.

Unfortunately, Tray was not much of a pilot. If a ride with Nania was

an adventure, a ride with Tray  was  a  hazard.  The  shuttle  lurched  and

bounced, tossing the other Freelies around in the back.

As he slammed into his seat, Obi-Wan tried  to  clear  his  mind.  He

wanted to send Qui-Gon a warning about the explosion. But there was so much

anxiety and commotion in the shuttle it was difficult  to  concentrate.  He

closed his eyes and shut out all of the noise and  emotion.  Gathering  the

Force around him, he sent a warning to Qui-Gon. Get  everyone  out  of  the

Multycorp annex, he told him. Now.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes  to  find  Grath  staring  at  him.  "I  hope

whatever you just did works," the boy said in a shaky voice.  "If  anything

happens to my father because of me,  because  of  what  I've  done...."  he

trailed off, suddenly at a loss for words.

Obi-Wan tried to reassure Grath. "We're doing all we can. We  mustn't

lose hope," he said.

But Obi-Wan himself had a foreboding feeling. They might be too late.

"It's all my fault," Grath went on. "I started to change the  pranks.

I wanted to get their attention. To make them see..." Grath's  eyes  filled

with tears as he stared out of the shuttle portal. "And now my father,  the

leader of the planet, is in danger."

"It's not your fault, Grath," Tray  piped  up,  her  voice  wavering.

"It's mine." She made a sharp turn and the  shuttle  banked  to  the  left.

There was a groan from a few Freelies who were thrown against  the  shuttle

wall.

"I convinced Flip that the pranks should become violent. I  told  him

you would respect him for taking the next step, that you would be proud....

" Tray took a hand off the controls to wipe her eyes, sending  the  shuttle

into a nosedive. It skidded against  the  ground  before  Tray  righted  it

again.

"And he believed me," she said with a sob. "He believed every word  I

said."

Finally the shuttle rounded a corner and  the  Multycorp  annex  came

into view. Obi-Wan let out a huge sigh of relief. It was still standing.

But before the shuttle  got  close  enough  for  anyone  to  shout  a

warning, a huge explosion rocked the workspace. Chunks  of  metal,  cement,

and other debris shot into the air as the  front  of  the  Multycorp  annex

exploded, collapsing in on itself.

"No!" Grath screamed, covering his face with his hands. Nania  stared

ahead, too shocked to speak. Tray slumped over the shuttle's controls. Obi-

Wan scanned the area through the  view-screen,  waiting  for  the  dust  to

clear. Did Qui-Gon get his message? Did the Vorzydiaks  get  out  in  time?

Obi-Wan sensed that his Master was nearby, but could not tell if he was all

right.

Obi-Wan immediately saw a group of people. Some were crouched, others

lay on the ground amid the rubble. There was not much movement.

Forcing  open  the  shuttle  door,  Obi-Wan  raced  toward  them.  He

desperately hoped that he was not running toward a scene of death.

CHAPTER 21

The explosion site was in chaos. Vorzydiak laborers and retirees were

everywhere, lying on the ground, droning, and nursing injuries. All of them

were in shock. Obi-Wan followed Grath and Tray as the  Vorzydiaks  searched

the crowd for their families.

At last Obi-Wan spotted Qui-Gon's brown robe. His Master was kneeling

beside a body on the ground. Next to him was Chairman Port.

"Father!" Grath shouted and sprinted ahead.

Chairman Port turned. His face was singed. With one hand he protected

the injured arm that hung awkwardly at his side. Being careful not to  hurt

his broken arm, Grath stepped close to his father. They did not  speak  but

instead embraced using  their  antennae,  letting  their  feelers  entwine,

assuring each other that they were going to be all right.

Obi-Wan hurried toward Qui-Gon. He was relieved to see his Master was

not injured, but the Jedi did not  embrace.  The  look  on  Qui-Gon's  face

stopped Obi-Wan in his tracks. Tray's grandmother was  the  figure  on  the

ground. Her eyes were closed and there was blood on her face.

Tray dropped to her knees beside her grandmother, unable to speak.

"She's going to be fine," Qui-Gon said softly. "She was  hit  on  the

head by a small piece of falling debris on her way out of the building."

The old woman's eyes fluttered open  and  she  reached  out  for  her

granddaughter. Tray took her hand, but her face remained a mask of  horror.

Obi-Wan knew she was blaming herself.

Qui-Gon put his hand on Tray's shoulder. "Your grandmother is a brave

woman."

Tray looked  gratefully  at  Qui-Gon  through  tear-filled  eyes.  He

returned her gaze reassuringly before turning to Obi-Wan.

"Thanks to your warning almost everyone was able to get  out  of  the

building in time."

"Almost everyone?"  Obi-Wan  asked.  Qui-Gon  did  not  need  to  say

anything else. Obi-Wan knew who had  been  left  inside.  "Flip,"  he  said

quietly, not wanting to upset Tray further. But she overheard.

"No!" Tray sobbed. "No, not Flip. We've got to find him. We've got to

get him out."

Obi-Wan nodded solemnly. Of course they needed to find Flip. He  only

hoped they would find him alive.

Grath shouted and waved the growing group of Freelies to  the  corner

of what had been the front of the Multycorp annex.

"There's a sound coming from the basement," he explained. "We have to

get in there."

The team of laborers had searched the rubble for only a  few  minutes

before they first heard the soft pinging. It could have  been  a  piece  of

machinery still trying to operate. It could have been a wild  creature.  Or

it could have been Flip.

A dozen large laborers gathered together and pushed with all of their

strength on a heavy beam that blocked access  to  the  basement  level.  It

didn't move.

"Lift together," Grath shouted. "On three."

Several of the laborers looked skeptically at the young Freelies. But

they made room for them around the beam.

"One, two, three," Grath counted. Working together, the group  lifted

the beam, easily sliding it over until they'd created an  opening  about  a

meter wide.

"Brace the side," Grath shouted.

The opening wasn't much, but it was big enough for Obi-Wan to squeeze

through. "Hurry, Obi-Wan," Grath urged as the young

Jedi began to lower himself into the  darkened  basement.  He  didn't

need to ask twice. Obi-Wan knew that the remains  of  the  Multycorp  annex

were unstable at best. Even with the beam braced  over  the  entrance,  the

chance of a collapse was great. And if Flip was still alive his time  could

be limited.

Obi-Wan paused a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.  He

listened for the pinging. It seemed to be coming from a spot ahead  of  him

and to the left. It was getting less frequent.

Suddenly dirt and pebbles poured down onto Obi-Wan's head.

"Look out," called a voice above him. "I'm coming with you."

The light from the opening  was  blocked  for  a  moment.  Then  Tray

dropped down beside Obi-Wan.

"The noise is coming from over there," Obi-Wan pointed. He started to

lead the way but Tray rushed past him.

"Flip?" she yelled. "Flip? Hang on, we're coming." The Vorzydiak girl

ducked around a large piece of machinery. She moved quickly and  easily  in

the cramped quarters and disappeared from view.  But  Obi-Wan  could  still

hear her calling to her friend.

"Flip? Flip!" Tray's exclamation left no doubt that she had found the

boy. Obi-Wan pushed past a pile of rubble to join them.

"Flip," Tray repeated more quietly. Together Obi-Wan and Tray  heaved

the piece of durasteel bracing that pinned Flip to the floor off his chest.

Dropping down beside him, Tray took the boy's hand. She loosened  his  grip

on the scrap of durasteel he'd been pounding on the  brace  as  a  distress

signal.

Except for a large bruise on his forehead, Flip appeared to be  okay.

But even though the brace was no longer holding him down, he  couldn't  get

up. Watching him struggle to get enough air to speak, Obi-Wan realized that

he was in bad shape. Flip coughed and winced in pain.

"Lie down," Obi-Wan instructed. "Don't try to move or speak. Then  he

turned to Tray. "Stay with him while I get the medics."

As Obi-Wan made his way back to the basement opening  he  heard  Tray

speaking softly.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. A sob caught in  her  throat.  "I  was

wrong."

CHAPTER 22

Tray stood as close as she could to the  gravstretcher  as  Flip  was

slowly maneuvered out of the basement. Grath  fidgeted  nervously  as  they

emerged. It was obvious to Qui-Gon that the boy wanted to talk to Flip, but

that something was holding him back.

Qui-Gon glanced at his Padawan, mentally urging  him  to  coax  Grath

forward. But Obi-Wan was already approaching the  Freelie  leader.  Qui-Gon

could not hear what Obi-Wan spoke into Grath's ear,  but  whatever  it  was

gave him the courage to take a few steps toward the wounded boy.

Grath put his hand over Flip's and bent close to his  face,  speaking

quietly. Although Flip could not respond, the look in his  eyes  said  that

all was forgiven. Grath and the younger boy touched their antennae together

briefly. Then Flip's antennae drooped across his face, and  his  body  went

still. Flip was gone.

"No!" Tray sobbed. She leaned over Flip's body, laying  her  head  on

his chest. "No," she whispered. "Not you."

Grath put a comforting hand on Tray's back.  "It's  not  your  fault,

Tray," he said softly. "Flip was his own person, and made his own  choices.

We were all doing what we thought needed to be done."

Tray looked up at Grath gratefully, her large  eyes  full  of  tears.

Then she dropped her head. "But our way was not the right one," she said.

"I do not think so, either," Grath said. "But now we are  on  another

path. The path to peace."

Tray nodded slowly. Qui-Gon sensed that over time she would  come  to

terms with Flip's death. But it would not happen quickly.

Grath gazed down at  Flip's  lifeless  body,  then  leaned  over  and

briefly said good-bye. Tray did the same, then several other Freelies.  The

medics covered Flip with a heavy gray cloth and  loaded  the  gravstretcher

into the transport.

Grath, Tray, and Obi-Wan stood silently  together  as  the  transport

took off. Slowly more Freelies gathered around the trio, twining their arms

and droning. The sound was  soft  at  first,  then  grew  louder  and  more

intense. It was full of pain and sorrow. The young group had been through a

lot, and would now need to cope with a death among them. It  would  not  be

easy, Qui-Gon knew. And there was still much work and challenge to come.

When the last of the injured Vorzydiaks had been taken to  med  units

and the dust had finally settled, there was a moment of calm. But soon  the

moment of peace was over.

A large Vorzydiak laborer pointed an angry finger  at  the  Freelies.

"Look at what you've done," he said, gesturing toward the rubble. "How  can

we work?"

"Have you no respect?" asked another angry laborer, shouting  at  the

Freelies. "Have we taught you nothing?"

"You've taught us plenty," answered  a  voice  from  the  cluster  of

Freelies. "You've taught us that work is all you care about. And that  this

is what we have to do to get your attention."

Very quickly the scene erupted into a giant  shouting  match  between

the Freelies and the laborers. Qui-Gon watched from the sidelines beside  a

handful of retirees. The argument was going nowhere,  each  side  convinced

that the other was at fault. Qui-Gon was about to take a step forward  when

Obi-Wan separated himself from the Freelies and moved to stand between  the

two groups.

"It is useless to lay blame," he said in a commanding voice. "I think

you can all agree that the damage has been done." Obi-Wan spoke slowly  and

calmly, looking into the faces of laborers and Freelies alike. Qui-Gon felt

a wave of pride well up within him. When had Obi-Wan become so wise?

"You must work together to heal the wounds that have shown themselves

today." Obi-Wan directed his plea toward the laborers. But in spite of  the

truth in Obi-Wan's words, Qui-Gon could tell the adult Vorzydiaks were  not

convinced.

"My Padawan is right," Qui-Gon said as he joined Obi-Wan in the space

between the factions. "The generations have much to offer one another."  He

placed an arm around Obi-Wan's shoulder. "In time you may  understand  that

there is more to life than work and productivity. You do not have to  agree

all of the time, but if you take time to listen, to learn from one another,

the work you do together will become infinitely more rewarding."

The words resonated within Qui-Gon as he spoke them. He hoped Obi-Wan

understood that he was not just  speaking  about  the  Vorzydiaks.  He  was

talking about the two of them. How much they taught each other.  How  happy

it made them to work together, to depend on each other, to know  that  they

would always be there for each other, even when they did not agree.

With a glance at his apprentice he saw that Obi-Wan  understood.  The

two Jedi did not need antennae to  communicate  emotions.  Their  bond  was

strong.

Qui-Gon's words  reached  some  of  the  Vorzydiaks,  too.  But  many

remained unconvinced.

"Who are you to tell us what to do?" one of the laborers  asked  Qui-

Gon and Obi-Wan angrily.

Chairman Port struggled to the front of the crowd and Grath rushed to

help him.   "You are right," Port said to the angry Vorzydiak. "The Jedi are

not the ones who should solve our problems. Together we have  created  this

disaster." He leaned heavily on his son. "And  together  we  must  work  to

resolve it."

CHAPTER 23

In only two days the retirement complex  had  changed  significantly.

Almost every door stood open, including the front entrance that led to  the

courtyard. After work hours, Vorzydiaks of all ages  drifted  in  and  out.

Occasionally the sound of laughter even made its way down the once-deserted

halls.

Obi-Wan walked with Qui-Gon toward the exit, marveling at the change.

The Vorzydiaks would need time to mourn Flip's death and the damage he  had

done. The rift between the generations would not heal quickly. But  Obi-Wan

was hopeful.

The irregular bleat of a Vorzydiak echoed down the hall. It made Obi-

Wan smile, and then stop in his tracks. It sounded like Grath.

"Master, wait," Obi-Wan called. He rushed back down the  hall  toward

the familiar noise, and was not disappointed.

Grath sat in a circle of chairs  in  one  of  the  complex  bedrooms.

Taking a second look, Obi-Wan noticed that instead of sleeping couches this

room had been filled with chairs and tables positioned for conversation. It

had been converted into a sort of leisure lounge.

Obi-Wan was pleased to see the converted room, but immediately sensed

a sadness in the air.

Grath stood and greeted his friend. "We were just talking about Flip,

" he explained. "The things he did are  still  very  painful,  but  sharing

memories is helping all of us." He gestured to the others in the room  -  a

few Freelies, his father, Tray, and Tray's grandmother, Ina. They all waved

their antennae at Obi-Wan in greeting.

Grath turned back to Obi-Wan. "You are not leaving yet, are you?"

Obi-Wan was glad when Qui-Gon came  into  the  room  behind  him  and

interrupted Grath's question. They were, in fact,  on  their  way  back  to

Coruscant.

"Chairman Port." Qui-Gon's voice was warm and deep.  He  crossed  the

small room in two steps and held out his hand to the chairman. "You're away

from your office. Don't you have work to do?" Qui-Gon's  eyes  were  alight

with amusement.

Chairman Port took Qui-Gon's hand but did not return his smile.  "You

have shown us there is more important work to do," he said humbly. "We  are

grateful."

"We were on our way to thank you," Grath said.  "But  we  stopped  to

talk to Ina and were sharing some memories of Flip."

Obi-Wan smiled slightly. The generations of Vorzydiaks  were  finally

spending time together, sharing emotions. And in spite of the  pain  caused

by Flip's death, they seemed to be enjoying it.

"We wish to thank you," Chairman Port said formally,  "for  assisting

us in our relations with Vorzyd 5, and..." Chairman Port struggled to  find

the words. His flailing  antennae  touched  the  top  of  his  son's  head,

tousling his hair. "And in our relationships here on Vorzyd 4."

Qui-Gon nodded, accepting the thanks.

"Oh, and we have a new plan," Tray said excitedly.

For a brief moment, Obi-Wan thought she  was  talking  about  another

Freelie prank.

"The young people are helping to make an outdoor space for  us,"  Ina

explained.

"The  laborers  will  also  be  helping,"  Grath  added.  "Father  is

shortening the work week by one day so that there will be time."

The Vorzydiaks looked from one to the  other.  Their  antennae  waved

gently back and forth as if they  were  riding  a  gentle  breeze.  Obi-Wan

didn't think he had seen any of them looking as alive and happy as they did

right now.

"There is still much to be done," Chairman Port said.  "But  we  have

begun. And together we shall finish."

"I believe that you will," Qui-Gon agreed. "But I'm afraid it is time

for us to get back to Coruscant. We have our own work to do."

"Of course, of course," Chairman Port agreed.

The Vorzydiaks bid good-bye to the Jedi,  and  Obi-Wan  followed  his

Master down the hall. They did have work to do, Obi-Wan knew.  And  it  was

work they needed to do together.

"Our work is well begun, my Padawan,"  Qui-Gon  said,  breaking  into

Obi-Wan's thoughts. They stepped outside into the  courtyard,  and  Qui-Gon

stopped and turned to  his  apprentice.  "And  though  we  are  beyond  the

beginning of our journey, we are not quite at the end."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I know. I still have much to learn."

"Yet you have already grown so much,"  Qui-Gon  acknowledged.  "I  am

proud of you, Obi-Wan. Proud of what you have become. It  is  an  honor  to

teach you, to work with you. I could not ask for a better Padawan learner."

Obi-Wan beamed. "To work then," he said. "Yes," Qui-Gon  agreed.  "To

work."