Stirring the soup
slowly, Qui-Gon finally sighed and looked at Yoda. “I have to
admit, I didn’t expect soup.” He smirked wryly.

Yoda snorted in
reply. “An ache in my gums I have. Appointment with the healers not
for another few days are, my meals soft at the moment will be.” He
gave Qui-Gon raised eyebrows. “Invited yourself to my dinner you
did, so grateful you should be.” He said wryly.

“Fair enough
Master Yoda.” Qui-Gon raised his hands in surrender before
peacefully taking a spoonful of the still hot soup.

‘I’d forgotten
how beetle soup tasted. Bleh.’ Qui-Gon inwardly grimaced but kept
his complaints to himself as Yoda was right, he had invited himself.

Yoda peacefully ate
a few spoonfuls too before he sighed. “But a social visit I do not
believe this is. Concern you seem to have.” Yoda looked at him
seriously.

Taking another
spoonful to summon his thoughts, Qui-Gon nodded. “I did have an
ulterior move, I admit that.”

Yoda hummed at
that, watching him while settling his spoon down to watch the other.

“Knight Shkma,
what kind of man is he? Do you know?” Qui-Gon decided bluntly to
ask his grandmaster as the man put his nose into practically every
affair in the temple and if the man was as Qui-Gon suspected then
Yoda was sure to at least have some kind of suspicion or even just a
Council report.

His stomach
squirmed uncomfortably when Yoda looked down and picked up his spoon
to stir his soup. “Olliander Shkma you speak of? Something you have
seen to bring his name to me?” The grandmaster’s voice was serene
but Qui-Gon knew the other, the other was his grandmaster after all
and could tell the other was wary.

“Please just
answer the question Yoda.” He requested plaintively.

Yoda sighed at
that. “Concerned the council is, Knight Shkma’s conduct worrying
in later months has become, concerned we are that unsuited as Jedi he
may be but direct evidence we can not properly show to justify
actions. Reprimanded he has been but further action the Council can
not take on only suspicions.” Yoda confessed.

Qui-Gon’s stomach
sunk.

“Something you
must have seen, to bring his name to me.” Yoda’s voice sounded as
old as he really was.

Qui-Gon nodded. “I
encountered padawan Kenobi, he…” He hesitated but Yoda’s ears
went taunt, his full attention firmly placed on Qui-Gon and if he
hadn’t been so used to it, it might be a bit daunting.

“Worried you are.
Concerned about Padawan Kenobi?” Yoda sounded alarmed.

‘He’s fond of
the boy.’ Qui-Gon realized with a bit of surprise before quietly
launching into a description of his encounter with young Obi-Wan.

()()()

Quietly, through
the grapevine of the temple, master’s were put out on the lookout
for the behavior of Knight Shkma, both in general and in particular
in how he behaved with his padawan. So far nothing was too alarming
though several master’s were sending in reports back about the
knight seemingly having boundary issues about what punishments were
appropriate.

And that alone was
worrying.

Mace rested the
back of his hand against his lips, staring at the report for a long
moment before looking at Yoda. “Is this report accurate master?”
He rumbled.

“Truthful I
believe master Inka is, struck Obi-Wan knight Shkma has.” Yoda
offered as grimly.

There was a
scattering of mutters around the council.

Jocasta leaned
somewhat forward. “I do believe in the benefit of certain kind of
physical punishments, like chores but outright striking ones
padawan…” She let the statement linger then looked around the
room.

Shaking his head,
Plo spoke up. “There is no reason to strike ones padawan as
punishment for training mishaps. This is not justifiable and actions
we need to take against him.”

Yaddle tapped her
claws on the chair. “Lashing out at ones padawan, a grave sign this
is. Uncertain of Knight Shkma we have all been for a while.” She
stated grimly.

The mutterings went
mute when Yoda cleared his throat for attention. “Speak to Obi-Wan
I shall. If abuse this is as suspect we do, then to the bottom I
shall get. If abuse I find…” Yoda let his words trail off as his
ears raised.

Then he pursed his
lips with a small sigh. “If abuse I find from a master to one of
our younglings, then young Shkma will be removed from his position.
Probation he will find himself on. Kept away from all our younglings
he will be until trial held can be.” He stated grimly.

There would be no
quiet dealing with Olliander Shkma if there was discovered abuse by
the man towards Obi-Wan because abuse was a serious thing.

And no Jedi would
tolerate an adult inflicting such a thing towards their young.

Never.