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s his own responsibility？ It didn't take long for Obi…Wan to dismiss the question。 He was a Jedi Knight； Yoda； a Master； and his responsibilities and Yoda's were ultimately one and the same。 He didn't expect that Yoda could help him with this particular problem； but then again； Yoda had always been full of surprises； full of going far beyond any expectations。
〃I'm looking for a planet described to me by an old friend；〃 he explained； and he knew that Yoda was absorbing every word。 〃I trust him and the information he provided； but the system doesn't show up on the archive maps。〃 As he finished； he showed Yoda that he had a hologlobe with him。
〃An interesting puzzle；〃 Yoda answered。 〃Lost a planet； Master Obi…Wan has。 How embarrassing 。 。 。 how embarrassing。 An interesting puzzle。 Gather； younglings； around the map reader。 Clear your minds and find Obi…Wan's wayward planet； we will try。〃
They went into a room to the side of the veranda。 A narrow shaft was set in the middle； with a hollow depression at the top。 Off to the side； Obi…Wan took up the hologlobe； then moved and placed it in the hollow of the shaft。
The shades closed as soon as he put it there； darkening the room； and a star map hologram appeared； glittering distinctly。
Obi…Wan paused a moment before presenting his dilemma； allowing the younglings to get past the initial excitement。 He watched with amusement as some reached up and tried to touch the projected starlights。 Then； when all quieted； he walked into the middle of the projection。 〃This is where it ought to be；〃 he explained。 〃Gravity is pulling all the stars in this area inward to this spot。 There should be a star here； but there isn't。〃
〃Most interesting；〃 Yoda said。 〃Gravity's silhouette remains； but the star and all its planets have disappeared。 How can this be？ Now； younglings； in your mind； what is the first thing you see？ An answer？ A thought？ Anyone？〃
Obi…Wan took Yoda's quiet cue and paused then； watching the Jedi Master look over his gathering。
A hand went up； and while Obi…Wan felt the urge to chuckle at the idea of a youngling solving a riddle that had befuddled a trio of acplished Jedi； including Yoda and Madame Jocasta Nu； he noted that Yoda was quite focused and serious。
Yoda nodded to the student； who answered at once。 〃Because someone erased it from the archive memory。〃
〃That's right！〃 another of the children agreed at once。 〃That's what happened！ Someone erased it！〃
〃If the planet blew up； the gravity would go away；〃 another one of the children called out。
Obi…Wan stared blankly at the excited group； stunned； but Yoda only chuckled。
〃Truly wonderful； the mind of a child is；〃 he explained。 〃Uncluttered。 The data must have been erased。〃
Yoda started out of the room and Obi…Wan moved to follow； flicking his hand as he passed the reader shaft； Force…pulling the hologlobe back to his grasp and instantly dismissing the starry scene。
〃To the center of the pull of gravity go； and find your planet you will；〃 Yoda advised him。
〃But Master Yoda； who could have erased information from the Archives？ That's impossible； isn't it？〃 〃Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is；〃 Yoda replied with a frown。 〃Only a Jedi could have erased those files。 But who and why； harder to answer。 Meditate on this； I will。 May the Force be with you。〃
A thousand questions filtered through Obi…Wan's mind； but he understood that Yoda had just dismissed him。 They each had their riddles； it seemed； but at least now Obi…Wan's path seemed much clearer before him。 He gave a deferential bow； but Yoda； already back to his work with the children； didn't seem to notice。 Obi…Wan walked away。
Soon after； not wanting to waste a moment； Obi…Wan was out on the landing platform standing beside his readied starfighter； a long and sleek delta… wing fighter； of a triangular design； with the cockpit set far aft。 Mace Windu was there beside him； the tall and strong…featured Master regarding Obi…Wan with his typically calm and controlled demeanor。 There was something reassuring about Mace Windu； a sense of power and； even more than that； of destiny。 Mace Windu had a way of silently assuring all those around him that things would work out as they were supposed to。
〃Be wary；〃 he said to Obi…Wan； tilting his head back just a bit as he spoke； a posture that made him seem all the more impressive。 〃This disturbance in the Force is growing stronger。〃
Obi…Wan nodded； though in truth； his concerns were more focused and tangible at that moment。 〃I'm concerned for my Padawan。 He is not ready to be on his own。〃
Mace gave a nod； as if to remind Obi…Wan that they had covered this already。 〃He has exceptional skills；〃 the Master replied。 〃The Council is confident in its decision； Obi…Wan。 Not all of the questions about him have been answered； of course； but his talents cannot be dismissed； and we are not disappointed in the progress he has made under your tutelage。〃 Obi…Wan considered the words carefully and nodded again； knowing that he was walking a fine line here。 If he overstated his concerns about Anakin's temperament； he might be doing a great disservice to the Jedi and to the galaxy。 And yet； if he let the magnitude of his assignment in training Anakin Skywalker bring him to silence on legitimate questions； then was he doing great harm？
〃If the prophecy is true； Anakin will be the one to bring balance to the Force；〃 Mace finished。
〃But he still has much to learn。 His skills have made him 。 。 。 well…〃 Obi… Wan paused； trying to walk that delicate line。 〃…arrogant。 I realize now what you and Master Yoda knew from the beginning。 The boy was too old to start the training； and 。 。 。〃
The frown spreading on Mace Windu's face signaled Obi…Wan that he might be pushing a bit too hard。
〃There's something else；〃 Mace observed。
Obi…Wan took a deep and steadying breath。 〃Master； Anakin and I should not have been given this assignment。 I'm afraid Anakin won't be able to protect the Senator。〃
〃Why？〃
〃He has a 。。。 an emotional connection with her。 It's been there since he was a boy。 Now he's confused； and distracted。〃 As he spoke； Obi…Wan started toward his star fighter。 He climbed up the cockpit ladder and into his seat。
〃So you have already stated；〃 Mace reminded。 〃And your concerns were weighed properly； and did not change the decision of the Council。 Obi…Wan； you must have faith that Anakin will take the right path。〃 It made sense； of course。 If Anakin was to bee a great leader； a creature of prophecy； then surely his character tests must be passed。 Anakin was waging one of those tests right now； Obi…Wan knew； off in seclusion on a distant planet with a woman whom he loved too deeply。 He had to be strong enough to pass that test； Obi…Wan just hoped that Anakin recognized the trial for what it was。
〃Has Master Yoda gained any insight as to whether or not this war will e about？〃 he asked； somewhat changing the subject； though he felt that it was all very connected。 Finding the assassin； making peace with the separatists… all of these things would allow him to focus more closely on Anakin's training and would keep things at a more