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Title: "For the Record" by Quiller
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I am only dipping my pen in George's inkwell. No credits, Republic or otherwise, have been exchanged.
Description: Obi-Wan in disgrace. When I first saw that haunting E2 picture of Obi-Wan, head down, cloak pulled close, I wondered what could possibly bring him to ruin, if indeed, that is what the picture suggests. Though Obi-Wan's fate in this story is entirely my own creation, it is set solidly in E2 and hints strongly of E2 story lines. Don't read it if spoilers are an issue for you.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, do you fully understand the nature and seriousness of this tribunal?"
Clenching his jaw, Obi-Wan stared over Mace Windu's head into the clear blue Coruscant sky. He took a calming breath and said, "I do."
Sunlight flooded the Jedi Council chambers, throwing half of the council members into silhouette and half into high relief. Obi-Wan stood with his back to the silhouettes, facing Mace and Yoda. With their features partially in shadow, their expressions became even more unreadable. The presence of the twelve masters surrounding him was oppressive, and a chill clung to Obi-Wan, despite the comforting warmth of his cloak. Two steps behind and to the right, Anakin's barely concealed tension radiated outwards. It was tinged with a heat that worried Obi-Wan. Through their Master-Padawan bond, he sent a warning pulse urging caution.
Mace's mouth was moving. Obi-Wan blinked his thoughts into focus. Mace said, "I repeat, this hearing is being recorded. A copy of the recording will be made available to you if you request it. Is this understood?"
Obi-Wan's gaze flicked to the metal ball, with its large eye, hovering just to the right of Mace. Three other vidcams were recording the proceedings, one on each side and one behind him. His every twitch would be analyzed. Obi-Wan nodded.
"Are you willing to lower your shields and allow your reactions to be made known to the members of the Council for the duration of the question period?"
Anticipation tinged the air. Anakin's silent 'No!' resounded through Obi-Wan's mind. The Jedi closed his eyes for a second and met Mace's intent black gaze. Clearly, he said, "I am."
"Please do so now," Mace commanded.
Nodding, Obi-Wan cleared any residual emotion from his mind. That is what the Council would be monitoring; his thoughts would still be his own. Living with his shields in place was as natural as breathing after 34 years -- they not only kept his emotions from others, they protected him from being inundated by the emotions of others. It took an effort of will to lower the shields completely, something he never did unless he was meditating in the Force. Twelve presences probed the deep space void that Obi-Wan opened to them. Hands clasped before him, Obi-Wan squeezed his fingers tightly to stop from shaking.
The minds withdrew, but their sharp regard remained focused on the lone Jedi, like scavengers waiting for the wounded prey to finally collapse so the feasting could begin. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and centered on his own breathing.
After a moment in which Obi-Wan sensed stirrings in the Force, Mace declared, "Let it be known that the members of the Jedi Council affirm that Obi-Wan Kenobi has willingly lowered his shields to submit to this examination." Mace paused, adding, "State, for the record, why you stand before this tribunal, Knight Kenobi, so that we may know you fully understand the charges you are facing."
Mace's formal tone felt like a slap in the face. Force, but I could come to despise the requirements of tradition. Obi-Wan gave thanks that he had rehearsed the answer to this question. "I am charged with gross misconduct and violating key precepts of the Jedi Code. In addition, civilian charges of destruction of property and piracy have been stayed pending the outcome of this hearing."
"And to what incident do these charges relate?"
"Ten days ago, while on a mission in the Duro system, I commandeered a Republic naval vessel and destroyed a ... production facility of a dubious nature."
"That you deemed to be dubious. That has yet to be determined." Oppo Rancisis spoke from behind Obi-Wan. The Jedi chose not to answer as he visualized the masses of flowing white hair that almost made the master look like a Wookiee. Bushy eyebrows were undoubtedly straining to meet in a fearsome scowl. Obi-Wan stared straight ahead, fixing on a spot just above Mace's dark brown scalp. He couldn't quite say he'd felt animosity in the comment by Master Rancisis, but neither had there been any encouragement. It could prove to be a long day.
Mace cleared his throat. "That seems as good a spot as any to begin the questioning. Tell us about this facility and why you were sent to investigate it."
"The details are in my report," Obi-Wan replied.
Mace arched one eyebrow and pointed a finger in the general direction of the vidcam above him. "For the record ... Knight Kenobi."
A whisper of disapproval brushed Obi-Wan's mind. Master Tiin exercising his telepathic abilities, no doubt. Obi-Wan stared at Mace while he decided how to proceed. "This Council sent me, along with my Padawan, to the Duro system to investigate odd rumors about a factory -- rumors about evil experiments and unusual sightings. I found the rumors to be ... substantiated." He paused. "As you all know, the factory turned out to be a cloning facility."
"Had you ever seen a cloning facility before this?" Master Tiin asked.
"No."
"Then how could you know what you were looking at?" Tiin challenged.
"I understand the principles. I understand incubators. I understand row upon row of what looked to be modified bacta tanks occupied by human males that all had the same look about them. It wasn't difficult to reach the obvious conclusion."
"A lot of races bear the misfortune of 'all looking alike' to outsiders. You could have simply been standing in a medical research facility."
Obi-Wan felt a rising ire, which he easily dampened. He turned his head to address Tiin where he sat, two chairs from Yoda. "I am a human male, Master Tiin. I am able to differentiate amongst members of the species."
Tiin's leathery faced looked carved from stone. "Did you run a genetic sample? Did you ascertain that the beings were truly human, and not humanoid?"
"There was no need."
Obi-Wan snapped his gaze forward as Rancisis broke in. "Where there is room for error, there is need."
The Jedi clenched his fingers tightly once again. He would not rise to the bait. He would not give them the satisfaction of seeing him lose his composure. He could sense Anakin behind him, struggling to control himself, and longed to comfort his Padawan. The Council was too focused on him to notice Anakin. They should never have insisted the boy stand beside him through this. Maybe they were being kind. Maybe they were allowing him one ally in a hostile setting.
Mace's voice was quiet. "Why was there no need?"
Slowly, Obi-Wan replied, "You read my report."
"Why?"
The insistence of that soft voice drew Obi-Wan's gaze. He stared at Mace for a long time, then finally replied, "I stood in the presence of some of those men from the tanks. They were not human." He flexed his cramping fingers. "They were an abomination to the Force."
A ripple of disquiet ran through the circle of Jedi masters. It was Adi Gallia who put voice to what Obi-Wan suddenly knew every member was thinking. "You can't mean that sentient beings who are not human are ... abominations?"
Frustration was beginning to stir. Obi-Wan fought to keep the hard edge from his reply. "Of course that's not what I mean. They were like ... droids in casings of flesh. They did not register in the Force the way anything natural does. Their signatures were twisted somehow -- completely unnatural, and tainted by the Dark Side."
"What do you know of the Dark Side?"
Obi-Wan shifted to face the Twilek master who had taken Ki-Adi-Mundi's seat on Council. "To my knowledge, I am the only one in this room who has been face to face with a Dark Side adept. I know exactly what it feels like."
A wave of compassion rolled over Obi-Wan, followed by Yaddle's quiet voice, "Perhaps, made you too eager to see the Dark Side, your encounter with the Sith warrior did. Perhaps, see darkness, you do, where exists, it does not."
The sight of Qui-Gon being run through by a red blade flashed across Obi-Wan's mind. Churning emotion forced him to take three calming breaths. The pain abated, but not before it was noted by every being present, he was sure. His voice was hoarse. "No. I know what I felt. Ask Anakin. He was there. He felt the same thing."
Anakin's cloak whispered as he made a move to step forward. Mace's hand shot up. "No. A Padawan is too much under the influence of his Master to be an effective witness."
The Padawan's frustration lashed out through the Force for a micro-second, causing Obi-Wan to wince. He said, "Then no purpose is served by his presence. I request you allow Anakin to withdraw from these proceedings."
"Denied." Mace's flat tone brooked no argument. "Master and Padawan always stand together, whether it be to face discipline or receive reward."
Obi-Wan inclined his head in acknowledgment. The Council went on to grill Obi-Wan regarding every aspect of what he'd felt. It was forty minutes before that avenue of inquiry finally ran its course. Obi-Wan's head was beginning to throb. He silently cursed his lack of sleep the previous night. This day was a critical juncture in his life -- he could feel it -- and the best he'd been able to do for most of the night was meditate and review his testimony.
After several moments of silence, Mace said, "Even if this Council agrees with your judgment that you were dealing with clones, that still doesn't explain why you felt driven to act so hastily." Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak. Mace cut him off. "I know. I know. It's in your report. You claimed to gain access to computerized documents that implied these clones were to be used in a military conspiracy against the Republic. Yet you have no such documents. Your explanation of the files being coded with latent viruses that activated when you downloaded them, destroying everything on your datapad including visuals of the facility, seems almost too ... convenient."
Obi-Wan immediately bristled. "Are you implying that I'm lying, Mace?" As displeasure pelted him through the Force, Obi-Wan glanced at Yoda. You know I'd never lie, Yoda. Why aren't you saying anything? Anything at all. You haven't even asked a question. The diminutive Jedi Master pursed his lips and stared past Obi-Wan's shoulder with an unseeing gaze. Obi-Wan struggled to keep his shoulders square as the ire drained away. His gaze slipped out the window and he watched a passenger ship vectoring toward space.
"Are you lying, Obi-Wan?" Mace's voice had dropped. It shimmered with a dangerous air.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes. Let them probe his mind; he had nothing to hide. He stood, passive, waiting.
Again the voice intruded. "Are you lying?"
Softly, Obi-Wan replied, "Have you ever known me to lie, Mace? Has anyone on this Council? Do I have a history of deceit? Is there a reason, that I am unaware of, that leads you to question my veracity?"
The voice hardened. "For the record, Obi-Wan."
The Jedi's eyes flew open. He glared narrowly at Mace for a full thirty seconds, then bit out, "For. The. Record. No. I am not lying."
The silence stretched tautly until it was quivering. Obi-Wan forced his heartbeat to slow to its normal tempo. Force help me, I'm in real trouble here. Tension gripped his neck as he waited for the questioning to resume.
The Twilek master, Grif Doluna, said, "I fail to see the reasoning behind your haste. As we speak, a Senate committee is exploring the ethical considerations of cloning. Why did you not forward your findings to that committee for further consideration?"
One eyebrow twitched. Obi-Wan said, "There was no time to take it to committee, as noted in my report." His gaze bounced to Mace's and away. "Everything we uncovered suggested the conspirators were on the verge of implementing their plans. The large numbers of ... mature clones housed in barracks at the facility confirmed that finding."
Rancisis spoke up. "And who are these conspirators?"
"We weren't able to determine that."
"The members of the board of Trans-Galactic Enterprises, perhaps?"
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan replied mildly. "Since TGE owned the facility, that would be the logical place to begin an investigation."
"Do you have any idea of the uproar your actions have caused in the Senate?" asked Rancisis.
"Yes. TGE may not have Senate representation, but it holds an unhealthy measure of influence amongst a great many Senators." Obi-Wan paused. "Much as the Trade Federation did ten years ago."
"Enough," interrupted Mace. "Trans-Galactic Enterprises is not on trial at this hearing." He leveled a stare at Obi-Wan. "Slurs and innuendo are not tactics befitting a Knight of the Republic."
Obi-Wan bowed shortly. "My apologies, gentle masters. My remark was completely unwarranted." However true. "May I ask if a search is being conducted for the second facility."
"There has been no corroborating evidence to support your testimony of a second facility. No documents. No rumors."
"But there were several files clearly linking the Duro facility to another. A search must begin immediately."
"That's enough, Obi-Wan," Mace replied.
Urgency thrummed through Obi-Wan's mind. His clenched fists dropped to his side and he stepped forward. "We've done nothing but delay the conspirators if we don't find that other facility, Mace. We have to find it."
Mace jumped to his feet, his expression thunderous. "I said enough! Knight Kenobi, compose yourself." He glanced around the chamber. "I call a recess. We'll resume in fifteen minutes." Mace strode from the room. The other Council members filed out silently.
Obi-Wan sank to sit cross-legged on the floor. He buried his face in his hands.
A hand rested on his shoulder. Anakin whispered, "Master, the vidcams."
"I don't care, Anakin." No. I do care. Force help me. I care too much. A few seconds later he lifted his head and met his Padawan's concerned gaze. "Thank you. I'll be okay now." He sent a corresponding pulse of thanks through their shared bond, then composed his face into peaceful lines and drew on the Force to regain his center. Intense questioning with shields down was far more taxing than he'd anticipated. And they hadn't even touched on the difficult questions yet.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, are you prepared to resume giving testimony to this tribunal?"
Obi-Wan met Mace's forbidding stare and nodded. His shields were already down. He promised himself he would not lose control. The questions returned to the facility and the evidence Obi-Wan had discovered regarding the conspiracy. Almost an hour later the subject shifted.
"What was your state of mind when you wrapped up your investigation?" It was the first time Even Piell, the fierce Lannik warrior, had spoken.
Obi-Wan kept his eyes front, though the Lannik was off to his left. "I was determined."
Piell continued, "To do what?"
"To act."
"Don't you mean, to destroy the facility, despite its status as a privately-owned civilian factory?"
"It was what I felt the Force leading me to do," Obi-Wan replied quietly. A lapse of silence followed his statement.
Piell picked up the thread and continued. "I am a warrior. I act. But I also seek confirmation before I act. Did you think to do this?"
"I thought about it. But I knew there was no time."
"You knew beyond any doubt that attacking a civilian installation full of sentient beings was your only recourse?"
Obi-Wan drew a slow breath. "There were no sentient beings, per se, and, yes, I was certain."
"Why?"
"I could feel the Living Force's leading as clearly as I feel this cloak upon my shoulders."
"So you focused completely on the moment, with no regard to the Cosmic Force," commented Plo Koon in nasal tones necessitated by his anti-ox mask. Obi-Wan glanced at the Kel Dor sitting to the right of Mace. Plo added, "Much as your old master would have done."
"A most disruptive influence," Rancisis said.
Through clenched teeth, Obi-Wan replied, "My master is not on trial here, either."
"No, he's not," soothed Plo Koon. "He was a good friend, and his integrity was unmatched. But, nevertheless, one needs to look beyond the moment when making such a momentous decision."
Obi-Wan remained silent. A single beat of comfort coursed through his bond with Anakin.
Mace glanced toward the Padawan, narrowed his gaze thoughtfully and said, "I think it's time to discuss the Republic battle cruiser, Peacemaker. When did you first become aware of its presence in the system?"
"My report states that ..." Obi-Wan trailed off and began again. "As soon as we entered the Duro system. I contacted the vessel to report our presence and proceeded to the surface."
Piell took over the questioning again. "And when did you decide to involve it in your plans?"
This time Obi-Wan pivoted on his heel to face the Lannik master. "As soon as they were formulated. I had Anakin set a direct course to the Peacemaker after launch."
"And upon docking, you took over the vessel's command."
"No, Master Piell. As my report clearly states," Obi-Wan paused and challenged the Jedi master with a pointed look before continuing, "I presented myself directly to the captain to inform him of the situation."
"And how did the captain respond to your report?"
"He didn't. He was so high on glitterstim that he could barely focus his eyes, never mind understand a simple sentence."
"Are you so familiar with the effects of this illegal drug that you could immediately diagnose the captain's problem?"
Obi-Wan clenched his jaw and let the insinuation hang between them. Softly he replied, "I have seen the effects often enough on the denizens of the middle and lower reaches of Coruscant. Perhaps you should descend from the heights once in a while -- you might be surprised what you'd discover."
A strong wave of disapproval slammed into Obi-Wan from Master Tiin's direction at the same second that Mace's warning sounded. "Knight Kenobi, I have no desire to have additional charges brought against you. Cease with the unwarranted accusations."
Not taking his gaze off Piell, Obi-Wan replied, "I expect the same courtesy, Master Windu."
Piell ceded the point with a slight nod. But Obi-Wan could tell he had made a grave error in defying the Lannik. A drop of sweat ran down his cheek and into his beard, and he absently wondered if the vidcam had recorded its passing. He berated himself silently in the stillness. It was like they were purposely goading him. To what end? To justify a judgment that had been predetermined? Mace seemed to have buried his friendship somewhere deep within. Yoda continued to keep his silent vigil. The unrest in the air was stifling.
Piell continued as if nothing untoward had just been said. "Where was the captain's second-in-command while this was happening?"
"The first mate had escorted me to the captain's quarters, and was present."
"Your report states that you confronted the first mate and demanded he take control of the ship." Obi-Wan waited for the Lannik to continue. Piell leaned forward. "And when he refused to admit the captain was unfit for duty, you took command."
Obi-Wan nodded tersely. There was no point filling in details everyone knew -- that the man had been terrified, both of the captain and of himself. The entire command crew had reeked of incompetence, which was why it had been so easy to take control.
Piell said, "And then you proceeded to order the crew to destroy the alleged cloning facility."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and nodded again.
"When did you receive a commission in the Republic navy, Knight Kenobi?"
Meeting Piell's shuttered gaze, Obi-Wan said, "You know full well that I hold no such commission."
Something approaching a sneer flitted across Piell's features. "So you admit to seizing control of the Peacemaker illegally." When Obi-Wan didn't answer immediately, Piell asked, "Am I correct?"
"Technically," Obi-Wan replied.
"Is there some other angle that should be considered here?"
"What I did was right and necessary."
"And illegal," countered Piell. "It's hard to occupy the moral high ground when you're breaking the law to do it."
Pain sparking up from his wrist alerted Obi-Wan to the tight grip encircling it. He forced his hands to relax. His shields seemed to be rising of their own accord, and he labored to keep them down. He knew his defensiveness was radiating outward. He ignored the focused attention of the twelve masters and drew on the Force to regain his composure. After a moment he reopened his eyes to see Piell nod again, this time in victory.
Obi-Wan wheeled back to face Mace. He searched the dark face for any sign of charity, but found a blank wall. Yoda would not meet his gaze. He strove for calm as he awaited the next salvo.
Oppo Rancisis's gravelly voice battered him from behind. "Do you understand what Jedi precept you violated when you took control of that Republic ship?"
Feeling like a novice being lectured by an irate tutor, Obi-Wan dropped his gaze to Mace's intertwined fingers. Mace leaned back and raised his hands, steepling them under his chin. Obi-Wan continued to stare as Mace's index fingers tapped his chin.
Rancisis said, "Tell us what precept you violated."
Obi-Wan blurted, "Serve, never rule."
"And do you understand the principle behind that code?"
"Of course I do."
"Yet still you commandeered the Peacemaker in order to wreak destruction, knowing full well that you were walking a thin line on the edge of your own undoing, knowing full well it could open you to temptation from the Dark Side."
Inwardly, he answered, You're wrong. Sometimes service is found in leadership and in taking control, as the Council well knows. Obi-Wan turned his attention to Yoda's averted gaze as he said, "I was walking firmly in the path of Light when I gave the order to fire." Yoda met his gaze for two seconds, then looked away.
"Is that your only defense?" Rancisis asked.
"In this room, it should be the only defense I need."
