Chapter 3
“What do you mean?” Garret
said with genuine shock.
“Nice try Dawit. I’m going
to ask again. If you don’t tell me, I’m sure you’ll tell Master Yoda.”
“I am not Dawit! How could you
say such a thing? For one thing, Dawit is a she and I’m a he.”
“Dawit is skilled in Illusion.
Illusionists can change into any form, man or woman.” Obi-Wan paused and then added,
“Which one are you really, Dawit or Garret?”
Dawit was once again trapped in her own lie. She thought she was fooling Obi-Wan,
but if she couldn’t fool Obi-Wan. . . Her thoughts trailed off. She had to come
clean, it was now or never. First she wanted to know how he knew. It infuriated her that
her plan had been ruined. Had she worn the wrong lightsaber? There were so many unanswered
questions.
“What makes you say I’m Dawit?” The question gave nothing, yet left
room for all sorts of answers.
“Dawit, you got careless. I read your mind.”
“You what?!? How could you have read my mind? I clouded it all the time!”
Dawit’s shock could not have begun to prepare her for what Obi-Wan said next.
“You always think of home. You may think of it in the ‘he’ or
‘she’ pretext, but you always think of the same home.” Obi-Wan said it
simply, he didn’t drag it on or lecture. Dawit knew he knew. She needed to know who
else knew. She needed to know what he knew. Slowly, she relaxed and let everything go. Her
red hair fell in cascades down her shoulders and her height was four inches shorter.
Obi-Wan stood there in amazement.
“How do you do that? That is amazing.”
“It’s natural. Most people in tune with the Force can only do mind
tricks. They can fool the weak-minded. I found I could take that to the next level. I can
make everyone, weak-minded or otherwise, think I’m someone else. If I get kicked out,
Garret is staying.”
“So you are Dawit. Didn’t Master Yoda warn you about holding an illusion
too long? I distinctly heard him say that if you remain in one illusion too long, you
could stay that way forever.” Obi-Wan’s voice didn’t betray his feelings,
but his thoughts did. He thought of her leaving. The thoughts showed true caring and. . .
sadness.
“I know when I have to let go of an illusion. I have no intention of staying Garret forever. You would
be sad if I left?” The last question would make leaving harder if he answered it, but
Dawit had to know.
“I’d miss anyone who left.”
“Oh.” Sadness filled Dawit’s thoughts. She was hoping he’d miss
her as more than a fellow trainee. She was hoping he loved her.
“But especially you.” The space between them narrowed. Obi-Wan leaned
down. Their lips were about to touch. Dawit turned her face to receive the kiss and. . .
“Dawit! Thank goodness I’ve found you! I have been looking all over for
you! Where have you been?” Nefra said as he burst between them in the hall. They
parted away from each other quickly. Each looked in opposite directions.
“I, I’ve been around. You didn’t
have to worry.” Dawit said.
“I wasn’t worried. I needed to find you so that I could tell you that you
are to report to the council room in the morning. You’re being personally reviewed.
Don’t show any emotions, if you can help it.” Nefra was calming down; at least
now that he’d found her. Dawit was worrying about how to tell Henyic where Garret
was. She had to continue the conversation, as if she was hiding nothing.
“I won’t show any emotion, you don’t have to worry.”
“Obi-Wan, why are talking with her? You know you’re not supposed to
be.” Nefra said with a disapproving tone.
“I was talking with her because Garret said you were looking for her.” He
replied. Dawit’s heart sang. Obi-Wan was going to keep her secret after all. The
trainees parted and Nefra walked toward the council room. He was saddened by the recent
turn of events. What Master Yoda had said after Dawit had left had been true. Dawit was
hiding something. Nefra turned around and thought about the day he that had taken Dawit to
be his Padawan.
The eleven-year-old Dawit was standing
in the training room watching her older brother, Onxyi. He was practicing his fighting
techniques with another student. The practice got out of hand and the blows became deadly.
Dawit realized it was no longer practice. She stopped the blades from reaching their mark.
Had she not stopped the blades, both boys would be dead. She was never officially
classified as ‘Force-sensitive’. Dawit was immediately given a test to determine
her abilities. She scored higher than Qui-Gon Jinn’s new Padawan, Obi-Wan. Dawit
showed promise in Illusion, Mimicry, Healing, and Vision. She could see most things before
they happened. Perhaps that’s why she stopped the blades. Dawit never knew the
results of her score, Nefra never wanted her to know the full extent of her ability. She
already knew she was skilled in illusion and mimicry. That was enough for now. Nefra
planned to train her in the other areas later. Until then, she knew very little of the
entire extent of her ability. Dawit agreed to be his Padawan that day. Nefra just never
realized the full extent of her anger. . .
Nefra had reached the door of the council room. He had a new report to give. He hesitated a moment. He felt as though he was betraying Dawit. She had
been faithful to him, never questioned anything he taught her. His confusion lasted only a
few seconds. The doors opened and he was faced with his task. Slowly he stepped into the
room.