"O-Vieve and V-Tan were right about many things," Nen said, touching his daughter's cheek. "One of them is that we must sacrifice for the General Good. It is better for Lana, better for the galaxy, if she is able to be taught completely."
"We shall care for her and honor her," Adi Gallia said. "She will grow wise in the ways of the Force, and her life will be one of service."
"I can ask for no better life for my daughter," Melie said.
Nen put his arm around Davi. "And a new child has come into our lives.
Davi has agreed to stay with us."
"If he can stay away from the Animal Circle," Melie teased. "Our friend Via works there. She is teaching him how to care for the animals."
"I will never forget you," Davi told Obi-Wan and Siri shyly.
Obi-Wan put his hand on Davi's forearm. "We will always be your friends, Davi."
"If you ever need us, you have only to summon us," Siri told him.
"Safe journey," Nen said. "We are grateful to the Jedi for working to restore our world to justice."
Nen, Melie, and Davi walked away. Siri brought Lana into the ship to settle her in for the journey. Adi went inside to do her last-minute checks.
Obi-Wan took a last look at Kegan from the landing platform. "This world was a puzzle to me," he said. "I still don't understand how an entire planet could place its trust so blindly in visions and dreams."
"I'm not surprised," Qui-Gon said. "All living beings find comfort in a truth that makes their lives easier to bear. Here on Kegan the people did not have the strife or hunger that we've seen on other planets. Why should the people question a system that brought them ease and comfort?"
"But their freedom was an illusion," Obi-Wan argued.
"We do not know if 0-Vieve and V-Tan's visions were wrong, Padawan,"
Qui-Gon said thoughtfully. "O-Vieve's vision of the future was clouded, but that doesn't make it invalid. Perhaps she just misinterpreted what she saw."
"That I don't believe," Obi-Wan said. "I can't imagine one central evil controlling the whole galaxy. That would be impossible."
"I hope we do not see it, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said. "But we cannot say it is impossible. Haven't you experienced enough of chance and evil in the galaxy to realize that?"
Obi-Wan shook his head stubbornly. "She saw darkness coming from the Jedi itself. That could never happen."
Sun suddenly burst through the clouds overhead, dazzling Qui-Gon's sight. The glare caused Obi-Wan's features to blur and dissolve. For a moment, Qui-Gon didn't see the boy. He saw an elder man, alone, living on a desolate planet, his only companions his dark memories.
Qui-Gon felt the same shiver he'd experienced in O-Vieve's presence.
Did he just have a vision of himself as an elder? Was that the dark vision 0-Vieve had seen for him?
Then a sudden truth pierced him. That isn't me. It is Obi-Wan.
Or was it?
The sun retreated behind the clouds. The world became clear again.
Qui-Gon studied Obi-Wan. He saw the familiar boyish features, the shining eyes. He found reassurance in the sight of his youth. The future is not fixed, but fluid, he told himself. Visions did not have to come true.
"Qui-Gon, are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Perhaps we should not speak of evil and darkness just as we've completed a successful mission," Qui-Gon suggested lightly. "Let us enjoy this moment. Justice has returned to Kegan."
"And if darkness lies ahead of me, I will fight it," Obi-Wan resolved.
Qui-Gon put a hand on his shoulder. "We will fight it together, Padawan."
"I thought children were revered on Kegan," Obi-Wan said, his cheek in the dirt.
A boot was suddenly placed on his head. His face was pushed farther into the dirt. "No back talk. You know very well that truancy is a criminal act on Kegan. You're old enough to be punished for it."
"But we're not Keganites!" Siri protested.
"I've heard all the excuses. Shut your mouth."
"We're from another world. We're visitors," Siri insisted furiously.
"Take your boot off my friend's head."
The boot was removed from Obi-Wan's head and landed on Siri's shoulder.
"Sure," the man said.
Enough, Obi-Wan thought. He struggled to rise, but the electro-jabber had done its work. He knew he wouldn't regain full use of his arms and legs for several more hours. It would be impossible to use his lightsaber effectively until then. Besides, he'd been instructed not to show Keganites that he was a Jedi. Obi-Wan tried to roll closer to Siri but couldn't move.
He watched helplessly as the boot increased pressure on Siri's shoulder, driving her face into the dirt.
"What did I say about back talk?" the man asked again.
Siri gritted her teeth. Her vivid blue eyes blazed. She spat out the dirt in her mouth. Still, she didn't answer.
"V-Tarz!" A voice boomed from behind them. Instantly, V-Tarz took his boot off Siri's shoulder.
Obi-Wan saw another man approach, wearing the same navy chromasheath tunic as V-Tarz.
"Why are these students on the ground?" the second man demanded.
"Resisting capture," V-Tarz responded.
"No need to use physical force," the other man said. "We've discussed this before. The Learning works with love, not fear. Take them to class."
Obi-Wan was hauled to his feet. He locked his knees so that he would not fall. Siri did the same.
"But we're not Keganites," Obi-Wan protested to the second guard, who seemed more friendly. "We're visitors."
The second guard's dark gaze flicked over Obi-Wan and Siri. "No one visits Kegan. Three marks for lying." He turned away. "Take them to class."
V-Tarz nudged them with the handle end of his electro-jabber. "You heard V-Brose. Get moving."
"Let's make a break for it," Siri murmured to Obi-Wan as they stumbled across the yard, their muscles like pudding.