Obi-Wan turned to see the crowd opening up to let Pakmillu through. Even dragged out of bed as he must have been, the Mon Cal's uniform was still immaculate. "Master C'baoth," he said, his voice even more gravelly than usual. "Master Kenobi. What is the problem?"
"They want to take my son away from me," the man in the door bit out.
"The boy is to enter Jedi training," C'baoth said calmly. "His father seeks to deny him that right."
"What right?" the man snapped. "His right? Our right? Your right?"
"The Jedi are the guardians of peace," C'baoth reminded him. "As such-"
"Maybe in theRepublic you are," the man cut in. "But that's why we're leaving the Republic, isn't it? To get away from arbitrary rules and capricious justice and-"
"Perhaps we should wait until morning to discuss this," Obi-Wan interrupted. "I think we'll all be calmer and clearer of mind then."
"There's no need for that," C'baoth insisted.
"Master Kenobi speaks wisdom," Pakmillu said. "We'll meet tomorrow after morning meal in Dreadnaught-Two's forward command conference room." His eyes rolled to first the man and then C'baoth. "There you'll both have an opportunity to present your arguments, as well as relevant articles of Republic law."
C'baoth exhaled loudly. "Very well, Captain," he said. "Until tomorrow." With a final look at the man and boy, he strode off, the crowd opening up even faster for him than it had for Pakmillu. Obi-Wan followed, making it through the gap before it closed again.
For the first hundred meters they walked in silence. Obi-Wan was starting to wonder if C'baoth even knew he had tagged along when the other finally spoke. "You shouldn't have done that, Master Kenobi," C'baoth rumbled. "Jedi should never argue in public."
"I was unaware that trying to clarify a situation qualified as arguing," Obi-Wan said, stretching to the Force for patience. "Though if it comes to that, a Jedi should never deliberately antagonize the people he's supposed to be serving, either."
"Taking a child into Jedi training is not antagonism."
"Doing so in the middle of the night is," Obi-Wan countered. "There's no reason that couldn't have waited until morning." He paused. "Unless, of course, you were deliberately trying to force the issue of control."
He'd hoped the other would instantly and hotly deny it. But C'baoth merely looked sideways at him. "And why would I do that?"
"I don't know," Obi-Wan said. "Particularly since the Code specifically forbids Jedi to rule over others."
"Does it? Does it really?"
Obi-Wan felt a tingling at the back of his neck. "We've already had this discussion," he reminded the other.
"And my position remains the same as it was then," C'baoth said. "The Jedi Order has accumulated many rules over the centuries that are clearly erroneous. Why should this not be one of them?"
"Because Jedi aren't equipped to rule," Obi-Wan said. "Because seeking power is the dark side."
"How do you know?" C'baoth demanded. "When was the last time we were ever given the opportunity to try?"
"I know because the Code says so," Obi-Wan said flatly. "We're here to guide, not become dictators."
"And what is the purpose of rules and regulations if not to guide people into the behavior that will best serve them and their society?" C'baoth countered.
"Now you're playing with semantics."
"No, I'm speaking of intent," C'baoth corrected. "Rule is of the dark side because it seeks personal gain and the satisfaction of one's own desires over the rights and desires of others. Guidance, in any form, seeks the other person's best interests."
"Is that truly what you're seeking here?"
"That's what all of us seek," C'baoth said. "Come now, Master Kenobi. Can you truly say that Master Yoda and Master Windu couldn't run the Republic with more wisdom and efficiency than Palpatine and the government bureaucrats?"
"If they could resist the pull of the dark side, yes," Obi-Wan said. "But that pull would always be there."
"As it is in whatever we do," C'baoth said. "That's why we seek the guidance of the Force for ourselves as well as for those we serve."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "It's a dangerous course, Master C'baoth," he warned. "You risk bringing chaos and confusion."
"The confusion will be minimal, and it will end," C'baoth promised. "Whatever authority we're granted, rest assured that it will be with the support of the people." He lifted a finger. "But never forget why most of them are here in the first place. You heard that man: they joined Outbound Flight to escape the corruption of the worlds we're leaving behind. Whyshouldn't we offer something better?"
"Because this is skirting perilously close to the edge," Obi-Wan said. "I can't believe that the Code could be as wrong as you seem to believe."
"Not wrong, but merely misinterpreted," C'baoth said. "Perhaps you should focus your meditation on this question. As of course I will myself," he added. "Together, I'm sure we'll obtain the insight to find the proper path."
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan said. "I'd like to come to the meeting tomorrow morning."
"No need," C'baoth said. "Jedi Master Evrios and I will handle things. Besides, I believe you're scheduled to help with the shielding of Dreadnaught-One's new auxiliary navigation room at that time."
"I'm sure that could wait."
"And now you'll want to return to your rest," C'baoth said as they reached the pylon turbolift lobby. "You have a busy day tomorrow."
"As do we all," Obi-Wan said with a sigh. "And you?"
C'baoth gazed thoughtfully down the corridor. "I believe I'll wait for Captain Pakmillu," he said. "Sleep well, Master Kenobi. I'll see you tomorrow."
At the meeting the next morning, after all the various arguments had been presented and the discussion had wound down, Captain Pakmillu sided with C'baoth.
"They took the boy away three hours later," Uliar said, scowling across the table at his friends.
"What do you expect?" Tarkosa asked reasonably from across the table. "Jedi are as rare as dewback feathers. I can understand why they wouldn't want anyone with the talent to slip through their fingers."
"But before it was always just infants," Jobe Keely reminded him, his face puckered with uncertainty. "Kids who don't even know they're alive yet, much less knowing who Mom and Dad are. These kids have all been much older."