Shadow of Trust

Chapter 11 - Old Friendship

Chapter 11 – Old Friendship

What ... this can't be ... was that really Qui-Gon?! That was his voice ... Obi-Wan, stop hallucinating! Qui -Gon is dead, sad as it is. And you have to accept it! Obi-Wan sat in his seat, hands clasped on the seatbacks and eyes wide.

The rest of the council members looked at him, worriedly. Finally, after a long silence, Plo Koon began to speak, "Obi-Wan, are you alright?"

Obi-Wan straightened and tried to regain his composure. "I'm sorry, I ... I just thought I heard Qui -Gon for a moment," he whispered, taking a deep breath.

"Could it be that the events of the last few days weigh more heavily on you than they should?" Plo Koon tried to get through to him. But Obi-Wan just shook his head.

When the session was over, Obi-Wan headed toward the cafeteria. He felt uneasy. Why, he didn't really know himself. It was all so complicated. He had always seen Anakin as his son and he had treated him as such. Letting him go now was difficult. Especially since he knew he was in danger. Suddenly Plo Koon appeared up beside him. "Obi-Wan, I wanted to speak to you again. About before," he said, and almost immediately Obi-Wan flinched.

"Master Koon, thank you, but I'm fine," he whispered, and walked on.

Not about to give up, however, the Keldor confronted the absent-minded Jedi Master. "Master Kenobi. Obi-Wan. I've known you long enough not to notice you're unwell. Please speak to me. Speak to your old friend."

Obi-Wan looked at Master Koon, waiting for him to clear the way. But the Keldor continued to block the way to the canteen. After a long sigh, Obi-Wan finally said, "Since I have a feeling, I can't get rid of you, I have no choice." With a wave of his hand, he motioned for Master Koon to follow him. But instead of going to the canteen, Obi-Wan took the path to the Thousand Springs. Despite initial confusion, Plo Koon followed Obi-Wan. When they reached the Hall of the Thousand Springs, Obi-Wan sat at the edge of a small fountain and waited for Plo Koon to do the same. Then a wave of silence overcame them.

Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon. My former master. He taught me so much. He was like my own father. And yet he left me. Fought at Theed on Naboo. Fallen against a Sith assassin. Fallen with honor. Dead. And now, more than ten years later, is he supposed to have spoken to me? Not possible! Or not? As Yoda always says, nothing is impossible.

After a while, Plo Koon broke the strange silence. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. I shouldn't have made you tell me about your problems." The Keldor sat cross-legged across from him.

"Master Koon, you are a good friend of mine. Don't be sorry for asking me if I'm okay or not. Therefore, I'll tell you the truth." Obi-Wan paused and continued as Plo Koon nodded in agreement. "The story with Senator Amidala rattles me a bit. Master Windu claims to have clear evidence against her. But when I listen to what he says, I'm not sure. The senator could've cleared the path for Palpatine, oblivious to his true scheming. Remember the assassins that tried to kill her before she could vote against a Republican Army?"

Plo Koon nodded again, he had been one of the leading investigators back then. With the latest droids, they had searched for reasons, perpetrators and traces. "As far as we could find out, it was Zam Wesel who carried out the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. She herself worked for the Clone donor Jango Fett, and he in turn worked for Count Dooku ...", the Keldor paused.

If we had been more careful, we could have prevented the Palpatine disaster. But they hadn't been paying enough attention. The Jedi had always been part of the Republic, a cornerstone of democracy. And yet they had contributed to the fact that this democracy became a dictatorship. What use are peacekeepers if there is no peace to defend?

"Yes. If Amidala had been involved from the start, she would hardly have spoken out against an army. Besides, there wouldn't have been attempts for her assassination."

Plo Koon didn't quite understand. What did that have to do with Obi-Wan's problem? "Obi-Wan, do you want to deviate from the subject? Or why are you starting to tell a story from before the Clone Wars?"

"You know, Master Plo, for me this story has a beginning that goes way back. But I'll try to be brief: I heard Qui-Gon's voice." Plo Koon tried to hide his disbelief. Obi-Wan, however, was a skilled mind reader: "I know what you're thinking. He is bats. That's completely impossible. But I heard him. Really!"

The Keldor raised his hands, half placated. This situation calls for Master Yoda. "I have an idea. Meditate a little today and then we'll meet tomorrow in front of the main entrance to the archive." With these words Plo Koon turned turned, leaving an unsettled Obi-Wan behind.

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