The Dangerous Games by Jude Watson
Maxo Vista and Liviani Sarno have denied all charges. The Games Council has
backed them up."
"Didi Oddo can confirm the events were fixed - " "He has left the
planet."
That was not a surprise. "Bog Divinian saw the files on Vista's
datapad," Obi-Wan said.
"He has denied seeing them," Ruler Seven said. Obi-Wan remembered
Bog's sad notes on how to succeed. NEVER CONTRADICT A SUPERIOR!! FOLLOW THE
POWER!!
He had been foolish to imagine that Bog would not give in to pressure
from Maxo and Liviani.
He gazed at the faces of the Council. None of them met his eyes. No
one wanted the scandal to see the light. Not the Ruling Power, not the
Games Council. And no doubt Bog Divinian had just ensured that he would be
elected Senator on his homeworld. The Commerce Guild would see to that.
This is what the galaxy is becoming, Obi-Wan thought with a sudden,
sharp sadness. Those with power hide the truth, and the weak go along in
hopes they will become the strong.
"I can see there is no more I can do here," Obi-Wan said. He strode
off the platform and left the room.
Anakin was waiting. When he told him what had occurred, his Padawan
was furious. "How can they do this? Maxo Vista and Liviani Sarno are
guilty! And they are going to walk free! This is an injustice!" Anakin's
words echoed off the hard plastoid walls of the Grand Court.
"It is a hard thing to see happen," Obi-Wan agreed. "But sometimes
even when the mission is successful, justice is not done. It happens. At
least the Commerce Guild did not get what they wanted. No spectators were
killed and their legislation may be defeated by those they wished to
disgrace."
"And Aarno Dering? Maxo Vista will get away with murder!"
"That is the hardest of all," Obi-Wan said.
They walked down the hall toward the exit. As they pushed through the
heavy metal doors, they saw Astri waiting, leaning against the rail. She
came toward them slowly.
"I am sorry, Obi-Wan," Astri said. "I offered to testify, but I didn't
see the datapad myself, so the Ruling Power would not allow me. It was my
word against Bog's. Didi wanted to help, but Bog said he would press
charges for the theft of the speeder. So Didi thought it best to leave the
planet. You know he has no moral courage." Astri shook her head. "I seem to
have married a similar man. Bog isn't bad. He was pressured by Liviani and
he worships Maxo Vista. He swears to me that when he becomes Senator he
will do good."
Obi-Wan nodded sadly. "I'm sure he believes that, Astri. But he is
already in debt before he starts. He has done a favor for the Commerce
Guild, but he has lied in a hearing. So they have something on him. That
will corrupt him."
"I am frightened for my future," Astri said, her dark eyes bleak. "But
I have no choice but to go on."
Obi-Wan touched her cheek. "Your loyalty is what drives you, Astri. I
would not like to see you lose that."
"So we are still friends?"
"We will always be friends."
Astri nodded and slowly walked down the steps. Soon she was lost in
the swirl of the crowd. Obi-Wan felt a sudden pang. Would he ever see her
again?
"Nothing has turned out as I thought," Anakin said. "I was here to
work on my Jedi lesson of connection to the Living Force. If that is true,
I've failed. I judged everyone wrong. I did not see that Doby and Deland
were using me. I trusted my instincts, and they betrayed me."
"Do not judge yourself so harshly, Padawan," Obi-Wan said. "Your
mistake was one of the heart. You allowed your emotion to cloud your
instincts. You allowed what your heart wanted to be true to make it true.
Connections to other beings, good and bad, must be pure and free of one's
own desires. You wanted Sebulba to be the culprit, so you made him one."
"I thought my connection to the Living Force was clear, and it's not
at all," Anakin said moodily. "I have such a long way to go."
"If it makes you feel better, I made the same mistake with Maxo Vista,
" Obi-Wan said. "Jedi lessons are learned by Masters as well as Padawans."
"Wisdom comes with time and missions," Anakin said, repeating Obi-
Wan's own words.
Obi-Wan smiled gently. "And mistakes," he said.
Jude Watson, The Dangerous Games