Another Security Guide stood in the doorway. 'What are you doing?'
'Security alert in the kitchens,' V-Tarz said quickly. 'Probably just a malfunction. Maybe the infrared alarm. I was just checking it out.'
'I'll go with you. New orders are for two posted guards during the lockdown hours. We'd better get Quad 7 back online quickly.' The other Guide moved toward V-Tarz.
'There goes V-Tarz's snack,' Siri murmured.
'We'd better get back to our dorm quarters,' Davi said nervously. 'We won't be able to escape tonight. I'm sorry. They've never put two guards on at night before.'
They waited until the Guides had turned the corner. Then Davi led them out of the food hall.
'We can get back to the dorms through the admin center,' Davi said.
'Hurry, it won't take them long to check out the kitchen security.'
They raced through the halls and entered the admin center, a round room that was in the center of the building. All the different quads spun off from this central location.
'Almost there,' Davi said as he hurried toward the door that led to the Quad 7 dorm, where they were all quartered.
But just then they heard familiar footsteps behind them. There wasn't enough time to make it to the door. Quickly, Davi sprang behind a row of desks. Siri hurried after him. Obi-Wan was bringing up the rear. He slipped behind a wall of shelves that held data files.
They could hear V-Tarz grumbling as he moved toward the security wall.
'Run the infrared check, he says,' he muttered. 'There's nothing wrong with the infrared. What's wrong is that I'm starving.'
'V-Tarz? Are you there?' The voice came through the comlink on the console.
'I'm here.'
'Run check.'
'Running,' V-Tarz said. 'You idiot.'
'What?'
'Nothing. Running check.' V-Tarz's stomach rumbled. He sighed.
Obi-Wan leaned against the console to peer around it. Would they be able to slip past V-Tarz? Not if he didn't move. V-Tarz had a perfect view of the door they needed to pass through.
As Obi-Wan retreated back behind the shelves, he brushed against a container that was overstuffed with data files. One of them slipped off the top. Obi-Wan's reflexes were excellent, and he caught it soundlessly.
It was a file for someone named 0-Uni. Obi-Wan leafed through it quietly. The girl had excellent reports from her teachers. A few visits to the med circle. Then a paper stamped reclassified to re-learning circle.
Obi-Wan carefully replaced the file. The Re-Learning Circle? What was that?
'Check complete,' V-Tarz said into the comlink. 'No problems.'
'Copy that. Making one last check of kitchen and food hall before I get back.'
'I'll give you a hand.'
'Don't bother. I've got it covered.'
'Didn't copy that. I'll check the kitchen.' V-Tarz switched off the comlink. 'Maybe I can sneak some veg patties when you're not looking, killjoy.'
He lumbered off. Davi immediately poked his head out.
'Let's go,' he hissed.
They hurried toward the door, but Obi-Wan stopped Davi for a moment.
'What's the Re-Learning Circle?'
'I'm not sure,' Davi said. 'But I know I don't want to end up there.
You get sent there if you have enough punishment marks. But then some kids who are never in trouble get sent there, too. Nobody knows why.' He shuddered. 'But nobody ever comes back.'
The morning gong shattered the silence before dawn. Instantly, students threw back their covers and stood, lining up to use the wash basins that ran along the wall.
Obi-Wan felt the shock of cold water against his skin. His mind was already clear. The next gong sounded, the signal to dress and proceed to the food hall within three minutes. Davi had explained what was required last night before they'd separated.
Obi-Wan reflected how different life at the Temple had been. There, a soft light began slowly and grew in brightness, mimicking a rising sun. The students all had their own quarters, as privacy was respected. Early morning was a time of meditation and gentle exercise before the day began. It was not harsh noise and hurry.
Here the students did not seem to mind the abrupt start of the day or the strict schedule they had to follow. They did not seem to notice the contrast between the smiles of the Guides and their sharp orders. And nobody seemed to mind the food.
Across the room, Siri sat with the other girls. She lifted a spoonful of grain mash and made a face at him.