He looked a bit sheepish. 'I'm glad you've come.'
Grath stepped aside and Obi-Wan entered the dwelling. Nania led them all to the table.
'I'm so sorry, Obi-Wan,' Grath said as soon as they were sitting down. 'I knew you were a Jedi because I overheard my father. I should have told you. But I thought you might not want to help if you knew I knew. Or that your Master would not let you. And I didn't think that all of the Freelies would accept help from a Jedi.'
Grath spoke quickly and clearly, and his words felt genuine. Obi-Wan could see why he was the leader of the Freelies.
'I deceived you as well,' Obi-Wan admitted. 'I knew that it was dishonest not to tell you that I was a Jedi. But I felt it was the best way to learn what was happening on your planet, and how to help.'
Grath's eyes lit up. 'I know,' he said. 'And I think you can help. We need to get through to our parents. They are not our enemy. You have seen firsthand what our relationships are like. They are crumbling. We need to rebuild the foundations. You might have the power to help facilitate that.'
'Both sides could be a problem at this point,' Nania added. 'The adults suspect that we have been pulling the pranks, so they may be hostile. Especially because they've been accusing Vorzyd 5. We've caused a lot of trouble. And now the Freelies are divided.'
'I did not tip off the adults,' Obi-Wan said earnestly. He wanted Grath and Nania to know he would not betray them in such a way.
'We know that,' Grath said.
'It was Flip,' Nania added. 'I overheard him and Tray laughing about how easy it was to fool the rest of the group.' She reached over and put a hand on Obi-Wan's arm. 'We know you've only been trying to help us, Obi- Wan,' she said. 'That's your job as a Jedi, isn't it?'
'Yes, I suppose it is,' Obi-Wan said.
'But things keep getting worse and worse,' Grath said, suddenly looking a bit defeated. 'We used to do this just for fun,' he said. 'You know, for something to do.'
'It went on like that for a while, and it was okay,' Nania said. 'We were having fun. We worked hard together doing the planning and carrying out the pranks. And nobody got hurt.'
'But then we changed the rules,' Grath continued. 'We wanted to wake up the laborers — our parents and grandparents. Then my father began to accuse Vorzyd 5.' His voice suddenly held a tinge of bitterness. 'We started to interfere with productivity, because that was all they seemed to care about. We just wanted to be noticed….'
Grath's voice trailed off and his eyes fell to the floor. 'We're not so sure about the pranks anymore,' he admitted. 'We never intended for those explosives to go off when laborers were in the shuttles. We never meant for anyone to get hurt.'
'Now we want to stop what we have in the works,' Nania continued.
'But we're not sure we can convince Flip and the Freelies on his side to call it off — that violence isn't the way.'
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. 'This next prank would be violent?' he asked.
'It's not actually supposed to be,' Grath replied. 'But it was going to be explosive. And with the way things have been going…'
His voice trailed off once more. But this time he looked up at the ceiling. 'I don't know what's happened to Flip,' he said mournfully. 'He used to be such a great person. A real friend. I always thought he looked up to me.'
'He did,' Nania said. 'But Flip is his own person. You can't blame yourself for his thoughts and actions.'
Obi-Wan's heart went out to Grath. He knew what it was like to feel responsible — he had felt that way so many times. When his friends were in danger. When his rivals had died.
'I'll bet he still looks up to you,' Obi-Wan said, remembering how hurt Flip had seemed when Grath came down on him for setting off the explosive devices during the morning commute. 'I think his anger might be a mask for his hurt. He wants you to be proud of him.'
'I am proud of him,' Grath said. 'In a way. I just think his energy is misdirected.'
'It's important for you to move forward and make the right decisions.
For everybody-including Flip,' Obi-Wan counseled. 'It's time to meet with the adults, to tell them what is going on. You need to confide in them.'
Grath let out his breath slowly. 'I know,' he said. 'But I don't know where to begin.'
'I can set up the meeting for you,' Obi-Wan said. 'And Qui-Gon will help counsel the laborers.'
Grath sighed. 'Okay,' he said. 'But I have a feeling that talking to the laborers might be easier than convincing the Freelies to call off the latest prank and to show up at the meeting.'
Chapter 19
That evening, over a Vorzyd supper of tasteless broth and a tough flatbread, Obi-Wan told his Master of his meeting with Grath and Nania.
'I really think we can turn the situation into a positive one,' he said confidently. 'The Freelies have to see that meeting with the laborers is the right thing to do. It's the best thing for everybody.'
'I agree, Padawan,' Qui-Gon said. 'And I think I should accompany you to this Freelie meeting. There is much at stake.'
