THE ONLY WITNESS

CHAPTER 1

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn sighed deeply as he strode  down  the  hall.

The Council felt he had been inactive for too long, and he  knew  it.  They

had been patient as he mourned the death of his dear friend Tahl.  And  now

they were waiting for him to decide he was ready to resume his active  life

as a Jedi.

Except he wasn't. And he was not sure he ever would be.

Qui-Gon turned a corner, heading for the Council  room.  The  Council

had summoned him, but hadn't explained why. Perhaps they had grown tired of

waiting. Perhaps they were going to send him on a mission anyway.

Maybe it is for the best, Qui-Gon thought,  trying  to  make  himself

believe it. He'd been attempting to convince  himself  of  so  many  things

lately, though he did not often succeed. And at least it will be  good  for

Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon's Padawan walked noiselessly beside him, his face a  mask  of

perfect calm. Qui-Gon knew  what  lurked  underneath.  He  could  feel  the

tension growing between him and his  apprentice.  He  sensed  that  Obi-Wan

wanted to speak, and yet he was uncharacteristically silent.

Though Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had never been far apart over the last few

months, in many ways Qui-Gon had deserted  his  apprentice.  He  wished  he

could say something to reassure Obi-Wan. Soothing speeches used to come  so

easily. But Jedi wisdom felt somehow hollow to him now. He would not  offer

the boy empty words.

Pausing outside the Council room, Obi-Wan turned to his Master.  Qui-

Gon saw he was about to speak, but before he could say anything the Council

room doors hissed open.

Only three of the twelve Council seats were filled. Qui-Gon  was  not

surprised to see so few members present. He greeted  his  old  friends  and

stood before them in the familiar circle.

Yoda, Mace Windu, and Plo Koon thanked  the  Jedi  team  for  coming.

Their eyes passed briefly over Obi-Wan, then rested on Qui-Gon.  They  were

obviously concerned.

Qui-Gon could feel the  Council  members  looking  deep  inside  him,

trying to determine if sending him on a mission was the right decision.  He

was surprised to find that he  could  not  hold  their  gaze.  Rather  than

lifting his burden of sorrow, their caring made him painfully aware of  the

weight he was bearing.

Looking past the seated Masters to  the  Coruscant  skyline,  Qui-Gon

tried to settle his feelings. He wondered yet again why he  could  not  let

this flood of emotion flow through him. He had been taught to do just  that

by great teachers - some now seated before him - and it had always  worked.

Yet it did not work now.

Obi-Wan shifted his feet, and Qui-Gon realized that the  silence  had

gone on for too long.

"We've received a request from Senator Crote of  Frego,"  Mace  Windu

began at last. "He has asked for Jedi assistance in transporting a  witness

to Coruscant to testify before the Senate."

Qui-Gon nodded. Protecting important witnesses was  routine  for  the

Jedi. As he'd suspected, this first mission would be a simple assignment  -

something easy. A distraction. That was why there were only  three  members

of the Council present.

"A simple task it is not," Yoda said, as if in  answer  to  Qui-Gon's

thoughts. "There is much danger on Frego."

Mace Windu continued to study Qui-Gon's face. "We would not send  you

if we did not think you were ready. Do you feel ready, Qui-Gon?"

Qui-Gon did not know. He had no desire to leave the Temple,  or  even

his simple rooms. But it would not be fair to Obi-Wan to live in  seclusion

forever.

"I am ready," Qui-Gon replied, more firmly than he believed.

Qui-Gon could feel Obi-Wan's relief. It rushed from him like a breath

that had been held for a  long  time  and  finally  released.  The  Council

members, too, seemed to relax upon hearing Qui-Gon's  words.  They  stopped

searching his thoughts. They had the answer they wanted. Qui-Gon  hoped  he

had made the right decision.

"As Yoda said, the situation is complicated," Plo Koon  said.  "We've

asked Jocasta Nu to give you all of the information  you  need  before  you

depart." He gestured toward the Temple archives.

"Go now you must," Yoda added gravely.

"We fear the danger for the witness is growing. The sooner you get to

Frego, the better," Mace said, dismissing Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan with  a  wave

of his hand. "May the Force be with you."

Qui-Gon nodded and walked slowly out of the circular  room,  followed

by Obi-Wan. Even after hearing the Masters' cautionary words, he felt  sure

that the mission would be simple to  complete...  as  long  as  his  spirit

didn't fail him.

Jocasta Nu was a thin, wispy Jedi with long  graying  hair  that  she

wore in a tight bun. She stood up from her work table the moment  the  Jedi

entered the room. The picture of efficiency, she gathered her materials and

gestured toward another, larger table, asking Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to take a

seat.

"I understand that time is of the essence," Jocasta said. She did not

bother with introductions. It did not matter. Qui-Gon had  encountered  the

Temple archivist before, and surely Obi-Wan knew who she was.  She  briefed

many Jedi teams before they went out on important missions.

In the past Qui-Gon had preferred to use other  sources  to  get  his

information. He had grown used to working with Tahl, and  hadn't  met  with

Jocasta that often since he took Obi-Wan as an apprentice four years ago.

"The witness is Lena Cobral." Jocasta showed them a holo image  of  a

slight young woman with dark hair twisted into an elaborate  bun.  "She  is

the widowed wife of Rutin Cobral."

The image of the young woman vanished  and  a  man  appeared  in  her

place. He was young, fairly tall, with  short  brown  hair  and  a  relaxed

smile. "Rutin was recently killed, and his murderer is still at large."

"Is that unusual?" Qui-Gon asked. "I thought Frego was a planet ruled

by criminals."

Jocasta looked slightly annoyed at the interruption,  but  continued.

"The Cobral family is the largest power on Frego. They are in charge  of  a

crime ring that has  successfully  controlled  the  government  for  twenty

years. Rutin's father died a few years  ago,  of  natural  causes.  It  was

widely believed that Rutin was being groomed to take over, although he  has

two brothers who are older than he is. Solan is  the  oldest  and  the  new

leader of the Cobral."

A shorter, stockier version of Rutin appeared on the screen.  Besides

his brother's height, Solan also lacked his thick head of hair and  genuine

smile. He was nearly bald and his scowl looked permanent.

"Solan is well known on his planet, widely feared and  respected.  He

gets what he needs through threats, violence, and influence."

Now that Jocasta was through imparting information, she was  prepared

to answer Qui-Gon's question.

"It is not unusual for murders to go uninvestigated on Frego. But  it

is unusual for a  favored  member  of  the  Cobral  family  to  be  killed,

particularly without vengeance."

Though Qui-Gon's expression did not change, he felt a fresh  wave  of

grief wash through him. He longed  more  than  ever  for  Tahl  -  for  her

cynicism, her quick mind, and her habit of dispensing information in a  way

that naturally led Qui-Gon's thoughts in the proper direction.

Qui-Gon reminded himself that theirs  was  a  relationship  that  had

taken years to develop. And that the connection he had with Tahl was one he

would never have with the Temple archivist. Or anyone else, probably.

"Lena married into the Cobral family three years ago,"  Jocasta  went

on. "There was a rumor that Rutin no longer wanted to be  involved  in  his

family's dealings. Although he could not easily divorce  himself  from  the

crime business, Senator Crote has  told  us  that  Rutin  was  prepared  to

testify before the Senate against his family. He wanted to put  an  end  to

the crime ring altogether. Not long after Rutin agreed to testify,  he  was

killed." Jocasta took a breath, but did not allow more  than  a  second  to

pass before going on.

"Last night we received a secret  communication  from  Lena.  Senator

Crote did as well. She has decided to  take  up  her  husband's  cause  and

testify against the Cobral herself." Jocasta pushed several documents on  a

datapad across the table toward the Jedi. "Everything you need is here."

Qui-Gon stood and took the datapad. "Thank you," he said curtly.  "We

may be contacting you if we need further assistance."

"Of course," Jocasta nodded. "May the Force be with you."

Qui-Gon nodded blankly in return. How could he trust that  the  Force

would be with him? Where had it been when he'd needed it the most?  He  and

Tahl had pledged their love for each other. But nothing -  not  that  love,

not the Jedi, not the Force - had been able to save her.

It did not take long for Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to gather  supplies  for

the short journey. Soon they were stepping onto the  freighter  that  would

take them to Frego.

Distracted and exhausted,  Qui-Gon  was  anxious  to  retire  to  his

quarters as soon as they were on board. He was about to say as much to Obi-

Wan when his Padawan spoke.

"Master, I know that these last few months have been  hard  on  you."

Obi-Wan reached out a hand toward  Qui-Gon's  shoulder  but  let  it  drop,

barely brushing his Master's brown sleeve. "And I...  well,  I  can't  help

remembering what you told me when Bant was missing in the Temple. You  said

that the darkest time is the time when it is most important that you follow

the Jedi Code. If you let your emotions fl - "

"Thank you, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon cut him off.  "You  have  learned  well

what I've taught you. One day you will make a fine Jedi Master." He  turned

and made his way quickly toward his quarters. He could sense the boy behind

him, standing, bewildered.

Qui-Gon knew his apprentice was only trying to make him feel  better.

But he could not bear to listen to the wisdom that was now failing him.  He

simply wanted to be alone.

CHAPTER 2

Obi-Wan stood silently, watching the planet Frego grow larger on  the

freighter's view-screen. Qui-Gon had not emerged from his  quarters  during

the journey. Obi-Wan was not sure if he should disturb him, even  now  that

they were drawing close to their destination. He desperately wanted to give

Qui-Gon the same comfort his Master had given him so many  times.  But  the

more he tried, the further Qui-Gon retreated. The gulf between them  seemed

to be growing wider, and Obi-Wan was at a  loss.  How  could  he  span  the

distance alone?

"That must be Frego."

Qui-Gon's voice surprised Obi-Wan and  filled  him  with  relief.  He

would not have to disturb his Master's solitude after all.

"And that glowing spot must be the capitol  city  of  Rian,"  Qui-Gon

continued.

Obi-Wan could tell that Qui-Gon was still sad and distracted. It  was

almost like standing beside a ghost. But at least he was speaking.  He  was

making an effort.

As they exited the craft, Obi-Wan felt on edge. It was up to  him  to

focus on this mission. He could not depend on his Master in his emotionally

wounded state.

Obi-Wan did not think the Cobral family had  been  alerted  to  their

arrival, but a planet ruled by criminals was always a dangerous  place.  He

half expected to see dark dealings and black market bargains right  in  the

freighter hangar, but there  was  only  one  person  present  as  the  Jedi

disembarked - and she looked at them without interest.  Obi-Wan  relaxed  a

little, until the freighter captain slid down the ramp toward him.

"I'll be taking off as soon as possible, if  that's  okay,"  he  said

nervously. "I don't want to spend any more time  here  than  is  absolutely

necessary, with the Cobral airways tax and all."

Obi-Wan nodded. Though he did not know exactly  what  the  pilot  was

referring to, he could tell it was not pleasant, and most likely not legal.

He thanked the captain for their safe passage and  watched  him  slip  back

inside his craft.

As soon as the ship's  door  shut,  the  lone  woman  in  the  hangar

approached the Jedi.

"I trust you had a pleasant journey from..." she paused.

"Coruscant," Obi-Wan finished for her. "Are you Lena?"

"No," the woman said, lowering her hood to reveal  closely  cut  hair

and a youthful face. "I am Mica, but I will take you  to  Lena  now."  Mica

glanced around the hangar once more.

She's  nervous,  Obi-Wan  thought.  He  drew  a   deep   breath   and

concentrated on the Force. But he did not sense danger, only Mica's fear.

"Follow behind me, but not too close.  If  I  am  approached  I  will

pretend not to know you." Mica's eyes were large and dark  and  she  turned

them on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in turn, waiting for each to nod in agreement.

"We will do as you ask," Obi-Wan assured her.

Raising her hood, Mica started out of the hangar at a brisk pace.

Obi-Wan enjoyed being introduced to a new planet on foot. Qui-Gon had

taught him that the slower pace was best for  observation,  and  there  was

much to observe in Rian. None of it was what Obi-Wan had expected.

The streets were  clean;  the  footpaths  were  filled  with  Fregans

carrying colorful bundles and walking unhurriedly together.  Just  a  short

distance from the municipal hangar, stalls lined the  paths.  Food  vendors

sold heaps of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and grains, shouting  out

prices and greeting regulars. Farther into the  open  market  more  vendors

sold household goods and even crafts. Everywhere people  seemed  happy  and

relaxed.

In the heart of the market the crowd was so dense and  there  was  so

much to see that Obi-Wan nearly lost sight of Mica. But whenever he  looked

up he saw Qui-Gon's eyes trained on the gray peak of Mica's  hood.  He  did

not seem to be taking  in  the  surroundings  as  he  normally  would.  His

thoughts were clearly elsewhere.

Obi-Wan would have liked to discuss his observations with his Master.

Wasn't it unusual that a planet controlled by criminals would have  such  a

seemingly happy populace? But he was quite  sure  Qui-Gon  wasn't  thinking

about the Fregans, so he kept quiet.

At last  the  market  stalls  ended  and  the  crowd  thinned.  After

following Mica through a maze of dark but clean alleys, the  woman  stopped

and beckoned the Jedi toward her. When  they  drew  close  Mica  punched  a

control pad and a large warehouse door groaned open to reveal a  huge  room

filled with abandoned equipment.

"We're here," Mica said, waving the Jedi in first and taking  a  last

look up and down the alley before shutting the door. "I am the only one who

knows where Lena is hiding. Besides you. It is important that you are never

followed to this spot."

"Of course." Obi-Wan nodded.

At the top of several flights of durasteel stairs, the yawning spaces

and hulking machinery gave way to a more hospitable living space.  Standing

with her back to the entrance among  several  mismatched  but  comfortable-

looking couches was the woman Obi-Wan had seen on Jocasta Nu's  holoscreen.

Lena Cobral.

Mica cleared her throat to announce their arrival. Lena turned.

"You've made it," she said, bringing her hands together and  offering

both of them to Qui-Gon and then Obi-Wan, and finally embracing Mica.  "I'm

so pleased. Was your journey very difficult?"

"It passed quickly," Qui-Gon told her before introducing himself  and

Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan was glad that Qui-Gon had emerged again from silence, for  he

was not entirely sure he would have been able to manage the conversation so

easily.

Lena Cobral had been attractive on the holoscreen, but in person  she

was stunning. Her long dark hair spilled over her  shoulders,  framing  her

face and dark eyes like Mica's. She was only a few years  older  than  Obi-

Wan, which surprised him. Like the Fregans in the street, her demeanor  was

relaxed. She greeted the Jedi as if they were old friends or honored guests

at a party, not political escorts.

"Please sit," Lena said, guiding the Jedi to the  chairs.  "You  need

refreshment. Perhaps some Kopi tea?"

Before the Jedi could protest Lena was pouring  a  warm  dark  liquid

into cups. It looked slightly orange and tasted delicious.

"My cousin Mica brings me everything now that I am in  hiding."  Lena

smiled at the silent Mica. "She brought me this tea  yesterday.  And  today

she has brought you to me as well." Lena turned her infectious smile on the

Jedi; Obi-Wan found that it was nearly impossible not to smile back.

"She is too good to me." Lena's upbeat voice gave no clue that  there

was any real threat. "She insists on staying with me without any thought of

the danger to herself. I know I should not allow it."

"You are the one who does not give any thought to putting yourself in

danger," Mica said softly.

As Lena watched her cousin stand and leave the room, Obi-Wan  thought

he caught a first glimpse of tension and fear on her  face.  He  looked  at

Qui-Gon to see if he too had noticed it, but Qui-Gon had  retreated  inside

himself once more and was gazing into his tea cup.

"I'm sorry," Lena apologized, suddenly placing her hand to her  brow.

"I'm wasting your time, and I have not been entirely honest."

Obi-Wan sat up and Qui-Gon placed his cup on the table. They did  not

speak, but waited for Lena to continue.

"It is true that I need an escort to Coruscant. And it is true that I

wish to testify against the Cobral. I must complete  the  task  that  Rutin

started. The task he died for." Lena's voice caught and she stood,  turning

toward the shrouded windows before continuing. "In so many ways  it  is  my

fault. I did not mean to fall in love with him. I did not  know  he  was  a

Cobral. But love isn't a choice, is it?"

Obi-Wan thought he saw Qui-Gon nod slightly.

"Before we married, Rutin promised he could stop the  crime,  but  he

could not stand to be cast out of his family. He was his parents'  favorite

and he loved them. He hoped that he could convince  them  to  change  their

ways. He was not content to remove himself; he wanted to stop it all." Lena

spoke more quickly as she went on, as if she could not  stop  the  flow  of

words.

"But then his brother Solan found out that Rutin was trying to change

things. Furious, he went to their father. Rutin could not close  the  crime

ring from the inside. So he decided to try to close it from the outside. It

was the hardest decision he ever made. I wanted  him  to  get  out,  but  I

begged him not to risk his life. He insisted. For me, he said.  He  did  it

for me." Lena paused again and turned back toward the Jedi. Her  dark  eyes

were moist with tears.

Obi-Wan felt she was looking only at him, and her eyes bore  straight

into his heart. It was as if she were searching him, checking to see if  he

had the strength and courage to help her. If he could be trusted.

Obi-Wan knew instinctively that he trusted her. There  was  something

about the way she carried herself, about the way she  spoke.  She  was  not

lying to them. He could sense her fear, yes, but also her honesty.  And  he

could feel her strength. Lena Cobral was not a coward.

"That is why I must carry out his plan," Lena said, straightening. "I

can't let Rutin's death be for nothing. I will testify,  I  will  stop  the

crime. But..."

Obi-Wan leaned in. So far the story was as he expected. But what?

"I don't have any solid evidence to bring before  the  Senate."  Lena

sighed. "Rutin worked very hard to protect me. Although I have  heard  many

things, as all Fregans have, I have only my word against theirs."

Qui-Gon stood. Obi-Wan could tell by the look on his face that he was

not happy about being fooled. They were sent to escort a witness in  danger

and now it seemed their witness had no testimony.

"Please," Lena said, taking Qui-Gon's large hand. "I  beg  you,  stay

until I have the proper evidence. I know  it  exists  -  lists  and  dates,

accounts and records of the Cobrals' crimes. With your help - "

"We were sent only to protect you. If  you  cannot  testify  we  must

return to Coruscant alone," Qui-Gon said flatly.

Obi-Wan flushed, unable to believe what he  was  hearing.  How  could

Qui-Gon deny this woman help?

CHAPTER 3

"Master!" Obi-Wan said, more sharply than he'd intended. "I  -  "  He

stopped, realizing that it would not be good  to  discuss  their  differing

opinions in front of Lena. "I would like to speak with you," he finished.

Obi-Wan nodded to Lena and walked quickly toward the stairs and  down

one flight. Qui-Gon's footsteps followed. When he reached the landing, Obi-

Wan whirled.

"Master, you can't mean to leave this woman here.  She  is  obviously

scared and in danger!" he burst out.

"She lied to us about having evidence, Obi-Wan. Who's to say  she  is

not lying about the danger as well?" Qui-Gon said calmly.

"Her fear is real," Obi-Wan said.  "Surely  you  can  feel  that.  We

cannot abandon her." His face felt warm. He had not spoken so  strongly  to

his Master since before Tahl's death, but since then Qui-Gon seemed to feel

nothing outside of himself.

Qui-Gon gazed at his Padawan for some  time.  Obi-Wan  did  not  look

away. He would not allow Qui-Gon to walk away from this.

"We can stay for two days, that is all. If  she  does  not  have  the

evidence by that time we will return to  Coruscant  without  her,"  Qui-Gon

decided. "But I do not think this is a good  idea.  You  are  letting  your

emotions guide you."

"I will not regret it," Obi-Wan said tightly.

"That is my hope," his Master replied.

Anger and frustration welled up inside Obi-Wan. He  started  back  up

the stairs without another word. Hadn't Qui-Gon let his emotions guide  him

in the past? If only his Master would allow himself to feel some  of  those

emotions now he would understand. They were making the right decision. Lena

- and Frego - needed them.

Struggling to let  go  of  his  frustration,  Obi-Wan  paused  before

reentering the living quarters. Lena heard  the  Jedi  on  the  stairs  and

turned. Her face was full of hope.

"We will stay two days," Obi-Wan told her with a smile.

"We will protect you while we are here, but that is all. We will  not

gather evidence against the Cobral," Qui-Gon added.

It was enough. Lena threw her arms around Obi-Wan's neck. "Thank you,

" she said in his ear. "Thank you. It is more than I can ask."

Obi-Wan felt his face and neck grow  warm  as  he  hugged  Lena  back

awkwardly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw  Qui-Gon  and,  behind  him,

Mica. Neither of them were smiling.

"Two days will be plenty, but there is no time to waste," Lena  said.

She dashed from the room and returned a moment later with a robe similar to

Mica's. She quickly coiled her hair  and  pinned  it  on  her  head  before

covering it with a hood.

"I'm coming with you," Mica stated.

Lena shook her head. "There's no reason to put you in danger, too."

Obi-Wan thought he saw a flicker of annoyance in  Mica's  expression,

but she was silent as the Jedi and Lena left the apartment.

Lena's manner was  very  brusque  and  her  expression  one  of  pure

determination as she led the Jedi outside into the alley.  Obi-Wan  noticed

her brows were drawn before she covered them with a pair  of  dark  goggles

that hid most of her face.

Lena moved through the streets even faster than her cousin.  She  led

the Jedi from the dark, towering warehouses to a neighborhood  filled  with

tall, sparkling buildings. Bubble like turbolifts silently  glided  up  and

down their outside walls.

Lena came to an abrupt halt a dozen meters away from  a  particularly

large and grand-looking building. Three imposing men stood on guard outside

the bubble turbolift.

"We'll have to go in the back way," Lena said, finally turning toward

the Jedi. She sighed sadly. "I haven't been back to my apartment since - "

"Your apartment?" Qui-Gon interrupted.

Obi-Wan guessed that his Master  was  not  entirely  surprised  about

their destination, but that he didn't think going inside was a  good  idea.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure it was, either. But he wanted to help Lena.

"Are you certain that's wise?" Qui-Gon finished.

"We have no  choice,"  Lena  explained.  "There's  vital  information

inside. I need it to testify.

Qui-Gon did not reply as Lena turned and made her way down  a  narrow

alley to a back entrance. Luckily this one was not guarded. Lena punched  a

code into a small panel and the door slid open. But there was no  turbolift

on this side of the building. They had to walk up thirty-seven  flights  of

stairs.

By the time they reached the top floor,  all  of  them  were  out  of

breath. But Lena did not pause to rest.  Instead  she  led  them  around  a

corner to what looked like a duracrete wall. It  wasn't  until  he  got  up

close that Obi-Wan realized it was actually a concealed door. Lena  pressed

a small button concealed inside a panel, and the door slid open.

Before Obi-Wan could even get a look inside, Lena gasped  and  put  a

hand to her mouth. They were standing in what had  once  been  a  beautiful

parlor. But the apartment had been ransacked, and piles of debris  littered

the floor. Everything was ruined.

The rich fabrics that had covered the furniture were torn  to  shreds

and strewn across the rooms. Tables and bureaus were smashed. Drawers  were

overturned and shelves cleared, their ripped and broken  contents  randomly

spread across every surface.

The apartment had been lavishly decorated, but now it looked like the

inside of a garbage scow. Whoever was responsible for  the  ransacking  had

done a thorough job. Even the carpets had been  pulled  up  and  hacked  to

pieces.

Beside him, Lena leaned heavily on  Obi-Wan's  arm.  "I  should  have

guessed that they would search," she said, forlorn.  She  leaned  down  and

picked up the pieces of a small stone carving. She turned them over in  her

hand, and her eyes welled with tears.

Obi-Wan wanted to comfort her,  but  wasn't  sure  what  to  say.  He

squeezed her arm gently.

"I suppose you should be glad you weren't at home,"  Qui-Gon  replied

dryly. He obviously hadn't noticed Lena's expression, and  Obi-Wan  felt  a

flash of annoyance. How could his Master be so insensitive?

Lena drew a deep breath and let go of Obi-Wan before picking her  way

carefully through the mess toward the back of the apartment. Qui-Gon stayed

near the lift doors. Obi-Wan followed close behind Lena, in case she needed

his support again. The apartment did not look like it had been searched  so

much as destroyed.

Her face full of sadness, Lena surveyed the damage. She  paused  once

to pick up a trinket that was not entirely shattered, then placed it  on  a

shelf still barely attached to the wall. Obi-Wan wondered how long it would

stay there before sliding off.

"How strange!" Lena exclaimed as she walked into her bedroom, at  the

end of a long hall. Nothing in this room had been touched. The  furnishings

stood upright. The bed  was  made.  Even  the  portrait  on  the  wall  was

straight.

Obi-Wan stepped closer to the portrait. It was a picture of Lena  and

Rutin. They stood together in front of a waterfall, their  eyes  locked  on

each other. Something about the portrait disturbed Obi-Wan, but  before  he

could place the feeling, the portrait and the wall it was on swung aside to

reveal a small office.

"It's where Rutin worked in the evenings,"  Lena  explained,  walking

through the secret door. "All of his family files are stored here.  I  just

can't believe that whoever searched the house didn't - " Lena  trailed  off

as she activated the computer screen.

Blue light and horror shone on Lena's face as a  message  flashed  on

the screen:

YOU CANNOT STOP US. YOU CAN ONLY DIE TRYING.

CHAPTER 4

Qui-Gon entered the back room just in time to see the message flash a

final time. Then the computer went dead.

Lena sank into a chair. "They've  erased  the  evidence,"  she  said.

"They've erased everything."

For a moment Lena's determination was replaced by  desperation.  Qui-

Gon was surprised to feel a similar desperation  coming  from  Obi-Wan.  He

gazed at him thoughtfully. This was unusual behavior for his Padawan.

Qui-Gon turned his attention to the matter at hand. "Was the computer

connected to a network of some kind?" he asked.

"I don't think so," Lena said. Then she shook her head  firmly.  "No.

Rutin would not have kept the information here if it was."

"And no one else had access to the information?" Qui-Gon questioned.

"Well, the information was no secret within the family. They all know

what's going on, but they are careful not to leave  a  trail.  Solan  makes

sure of that." Lena stood up and walked back into her bedroom, talking more

to herself than the Jedi. "Still, Rutin managed to construct a  trail.  Any

of them could, but Solan..."

Qui-Gon could see that Lena was already recovering from the  setback.

She was formulating a new plan. Qui-Gon  could  not  help  but  admire  her

resolve. And yet, if  she  loved  her  husband  as  she  claimed,  she  was

remarkably strong in the aftermath of his death. He thought perhaps she was

deceiving them.

"They all know," Lena said again, louder. "And one of them might just

help." Lena turned and began picking her way back toward the lift.

"Come on," she beckoned the Jedi. "I may need  your  protection  even

more now. We're going to the Cobral Estate."

"Really?" Qui-Gon asked. "Are  you  sure  that's  the  best  plan  of

action?"

"Only my mother-in-law lives there now. She's not part of the  family

business. Taking the risk will be worth it. It has to be."

In the basement of the building, Lena and the  Jedi  climbed  into  a

large landspeeder. Within moments  they  were  zipping  outside  the  city,

toward the home of Lena's mother-in-law, Zanita Cobral.

"We've always gotten along,"  Lena  explained  as  they  skimmed  the

surface of the planet. "Rutin was her favorite son. He  was  the  youngest.

Losing him was devastating for her, for all of us."

Qui-Gon had trouble focusing his attention on Lena from his  seat  in

the rear. As he forced himself to stay present, in the back of his mind  he

wondered if coming on this mission had been  a  bad  idea.  It  called  for

subtle judgments he wasn't certain he was equipped to make. He felt  as  if

he was moving through a fog of unclear emotions.

"Zanita may be the only person on the planet who is not under Solan's

thumb," Lena said to Obi-Wan. "She's the only one who can help. I just hope

she wants to."

The Cobral Estate sat on a high  ridge  overlooking  Rian.  When  the

large home was within sight Lena activated  a  transparisteel  roof,  which

quickly covered the travelers. Then  she  pushed  another  button  and  the

transparisteel turned a dark shade of gray.

"When we reach the gate you'll have to duck down,"  Lena  said.  "The

Cobrals don't like strangers."

Qui-Gon wondered how much the Cobrals would like  seeing  Lena.  Even

though she'd said that she and her mother-in-law were on  good  terms,  her

presence might stir things up rather than settle them.

At least they had someone to remind them of Rutin. But who  did  Qui-

Gon have to remind him of Tahl? No one had  known  her  as  he  had.  Fresh

memories came to him every day. There was no one to share them with.

Crouched in the back and covered by his own robe, Qui-Gon  felt  Lena

tense. He could tell it was not just apprehension about  the  meeting  with

Zanita. Something else was happening.

"That's Solan's speeder," she whispered to the Jedi. "And his brother

Bard's. The whole family is here."

Qui-Gon raised his head enough to see a  number  of  luxury  vehicles

parked in the bay outside the mansion. There was no doubt that the  Cobrals

possessed extraordinary wealth.

"Maybe we should come back later," Obi-Wan suggested gently from  the

front seat.

"No. I don't have time," Lena said with her familiar resolve.  "We'll

sneak in, and I'll find a way to get Zanita alone. Or maybe I'll find  what

I need on my own and we won't need her help after all. We might be able  to

get additional information. Having several of  the  Cobrals  present  could

turn out to be a good thing. "

Or a deadly one, Qui-Gon thought.

Lena parked her speeder at the far end of the row, next  to  a  metal

statue.

"We can get in through the galley," she said, motioning with her head

toward a small entrance.

Qui-Gon watched as Lena and Obi-Wan moved silently into  position  by

the galley door. Moments later a cooking servant emerged. He did not notice

as Lena slipped her foot into the door, preventing it  from  closing.  When

the servant rounded the edge of the  building,  Qui-Gon  slipped  into  the

galley after Lena and Obi-Wan.

The entrance had been too easy.

The cooking quarters were vast, with rows of gleaming countertops and

food storage units. Servants bustled about, busily preparing a large meal.

Lena waited until most of the servants had their backs to  the  door,

then pulled up her hood  and  walked  through  the  quarters.  She  carried

herself with such authority that nobody bothered to  ask  who  she  was  or

where she was going.

Soon after entering a spectacularly long  hallway  covered  in  lush,

thick carpet, she ducked into a small room and pulled Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon

in after her. The room held several holoscreens.

"This used to be a guard station,"  Lena  explained.  "But  when  her

husband died Zanita didn't think she needed as much protection, so it's  no

longer used."

Qui-Gon felt slightly relieved. At least there was an explanation for

the easy entrance.

Lena adjusted one of the holoscreens until it showed a  large  dining

room filled with people.

"It's Bard's birthday," Lena said with relief. A large  Fregan  birth

celebration banner lay across the dining table. "I should have remembered."

The crowd milled about the room, smiling and carrying glasses  filled

with red liquid. At first glance it looked like any  other  party.  Qui-Gon

looked harder.

"There's Zanita," Lena said, pointing to a tall older  woman  dressed

in a black gown  covered  in  tiny  smokats.  A  large  scarf  was  wrapped

attractively around her head like a turban. In spite of  her  age  she  was

easily the most striking person in the room. Qui-Gon was surprised  by  her

commanding presence and the way  she  set  people  around  her  at  ease  -

laughing, smiling, and making sure they were taken care of. Then  something

else caught his eye.

"Is that Solan?" he asked quietly, pointing at a scowling man in  the

corner.

"Yes, how did you know?" Lena asked. Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows  but

said nothing. His eyes stayed trained on Solan. Like Zanita,  the  frowning

man was surrounded by a large group of people. But none of the people  near

Solan seemed to be enjoying his company. They simply stood nervously by.

Suddenly Solan stood. A woman next to him rushed to  take  his  empty

cup and napkin. Someone else asked if they could get anything for him,  but

he brushed them off with a wave of his hand. Solan approached the guest  of

honor, a man shorter than him but who otherwise bore a striking resemblance

to him. It was the middle brother, Bard.

Casually tossing an arm over Bard's shoulder, Solan  interrupted  the

conversation and steered him toward the outer edges of the party. He  spoke

in hushed tones.

"They're all afraid of him," Obi-Wan remarked.

Qui-Gon was glad to see  the  stiffening  shoulders  of  the  younger

brother had not escaped the attention of his  apprentice.  "Exactly,"  said

Qui-Gon. "Even his family is fearful."

Lena held up a hand to silence the Jedi. "Zanita's leaving the party,

" she whispered. "This is my chance."

Without another word Lena slipped out the door, leaving the  Jedi  to

watch her on the holoscreen. She made her way down the long hallway  toward

the library. It was a large  room,  with  towering  shelves  of  important-

looking books and polished furniture. Zanita was inside, apparently  taking

a moment to relax.

Qui-Con felt a strange unease. In spite of Zanita's  pleasing  manner

he did not think the meeting would go well.

Obi-Wan leaned close to the screen. Lena entered the  library  unseen

by the other guests.

The look on Zanita's face when she saw her daughter-in-law was one of

sheer pleasure. The older woman stood and embraced Lena, holding her  close

for a long time.

Obi-Wan fiddled with the  projection  controls  beneath  the  screen,

tuning out the party guests until all they heard were the  voices  of  Lena

and Zanita in the library.

"But, my dear, why would you hide from your  family?"  Zanita  asked,

her voice filled with concern.

"I was afraid," Lena explained. "And without  Rutin,  I  didn't  know

what you would think of me.

"You  will  always  be  a  Cobral,"  Zanita  said  solemnly,  looking

thoughtfully at her daughter-in-law. "But why were you afraid?"

Lena hesitated, then lowered her voice. "I am afraid because I  think

Solan had Rutin Killed."

Zanita staggered back  before  sinking  onto  a  large,  comfortable-

looking sofa. Her skin paled and she reached a shaking hand toward Lena.

"It was my greatest fear," Zanita whispered as tears  sprang  to  her

eyes. "I did not want it to be true. And yet, when I look into my heart,  I

know you are not lying."

She pulled a piece of embroidered cloth from her pocket and wiped her

eyes before going on. "I tried to stop Solan, to make him see  reason,  but

it was too late," she sobbed again. "And now Rutin is gone."

Kneeling beside her, Lena comforted Zanita as  best  she  could.  She

also told Zanita all she knew of Rutin's plan to end  the  crime  ring.  "I

know it will not be easy for you to hear, but now I am planning to  testify

against the family. Rutin's dearest wish has become mine as well. I want to

stop the violence," Lena explained, looking into her mother-in-law's  eyes.

"And I need your help."

In the guard room, Qui-Gon detected a slight quaver in Lena's  voice.

He could not fault her, of course. She was asking Zanita  to  join  her  in

betraying her own family - her own children.

Zanita kept her eyes on her lap, but  let  go  of  Lena's  hand.  Her

commanding presence seemed somehow diminished as she sat  unmoving  on  the

sofa. At last she looked up at the portrait hanging on the library wall. It

was a picture of three men, the Cobral brothers. Rutin stood proudly in the

center.

"Yes," she breathed. "It must stop."

CHAPTER 5

Zanita sat quietly for another long moment. When she looked up, there

were tears in her eyes. "There is a set of documents," she said slowly.  "I

think I can get them for you. But you must promise me  that  you  will  not

link my name to the testimony in any way."

"Of course not, Zanita," Lena assured her. She squeezed  her  mother-

in-law's shoulder. "I know the violence and corruption are not your doing."

Zanita seemed to become empowered while her mind worked. It  reminded

Qui-Gon of Lena. "It will take me some time to get the  documents.  Perhaps

by tomorrow night," she said. "I must be very, very careful. If Solan  were

to suspect - "

Suddenly a loud voice boomed just outside the library door. Qui-Gon's

face registered concern. It was a man's voice, and it sounded angry.

Lena let go of her mother-in-law's arm and put a finger to her  lips.

Without wasting a second she got to her feet  and  ducked  behind  a  heavy

curtain covering the library's transparisteel portal.

A moment later the door slid open and Solan thundered into the  room.

"Mother," he said sternly, looking at her as if she were a child who needed

scolding. "What are you doing in here?"

Zanita looked evenly at her son. She was not a child, and it appeared

that she did not appreciate being treated like one. "I was  just  having  a

moment to myself," she replied simply. Her face showed no sign of fear.

Solan tapped his foot on the floor impatiently. "You are the  hostess

of your son's birthday celebration," he stated. "It is not appropriate  for

you to slip away to have a moment to yourself. If necessary you can do that

when the party is over."

"Stop bullying me, Solan. This is my house, and I'll do as  I  like."

She looked her son in the face.

Solan blinked and stepped backward. "Juno needs you in the  kitchen,"

he said more quietly. "He is not clear about  which  service  platters  you

would like to use for dinner."

"Fine. I will go and discuss it with him," Zanita replied.

"Good. Then come back to the party."

Zanita did not acknowledge the fact that her son had just  given  her

an order. Instead she followed him easily out of the library. She  did  not

turn around as the door quietly closed behind her.

After waiting a few moments, Lena left  the  room  as  well.  Minutes

later she met up with the Jedi in the guard station.

"I assume you heard all  of  that,"  she  said.  "He  infuriates  me,

talking to his own mother like that. Sometimes I wish she'd really put  him

in his place." Her voice quieted. "But I suppose that might get her killed.

"

Lena paused while her quick mind moved on to the  next  thought.  Her

eyes were suddenly lit with excitement. Qui-Gon wasn't sure if it  was  the

thrill of escape or the result of the meeting with her mother-in-law.

"Isn't it great?" she asked, perhaps a little too  brightly.  "Zanita

is going to help us. I knew she would. Leave it to a  woman  to  understand

that the violent ways of the crime world can only lead to  destruction  and

hate."

Qui-Gon could not help but think of Jenna Zan  Arbor,  a  mad  female

scientist who had conducted horrible experiments on live human  subjects  -

including him. He knew many women who lived lives of  crime  and  violence.

But he didn't say anything.

"Anyway, I'm very relieved. The meeting couldn't have gone better."

"It does look as though your mother-in-law is willing to help you get

testimony," Qui-Gon agreed. "Let's just hope she keeps her word."

Lena nodded as she turned back to the  security  screens.  "We  still

have to get out of here without being discovered," she said. She looked  at

each screen in turn, noting the whereabouts of everyone in the house.  Qui-

Gon knew she was trying to figure out the best time to leave.

"Follow me," Lena said after  a  moment.  She  slid  open  the  guard

station door and peered into the hallway. She motioned  to  the  Jedi,  and

they all stepped out of the room. Zanita was still in the cooking  quarters

with Juno, so they left through another, rarely used entrance at  the  side

of the mansion.

As they made their way outside, Qui-Gon considered the Cobral family.

On the surface they appeared like any other family - close and loving,  but

not without tension. Beneath the surface, however, lay dark ties. There was

fear there, and possibly hatred as well.

Of course, this did not entirely  surprise  Qui-Gon.  A  family  that

ruled a planet with corruption and violence was bound to  have  a  sinister

web woven within it.

Distracted by his own thoughts, Qui-Gon  did  not  sense  any  nearby

danger. It was Obi-Wan who cried out first.

"Look out!" he shouted, pushing Qui-Gon  and  Lena  away  from  their

landspeeder.

As the three of them tumbled to  the  ground,  a  huge  metal  statue

thundered down where they had been standing. It crashed into the front  end

of their landspeeder, missing them by mere centimeters.

Their vehicle was destroyed. And if not for a few seconds of warning,

they might have been killed, too.

CHAPTER 6

The Jedi and Lena were still on the ground when Zanita and Juno  came

rushing out the cooking quarters door. Qui-Gon felt Lena tense at the sight

of the servant, and for a brief moment Juno glared at  her.  But  his  face

shifted quickly into a look of concern.

"Are you all right?" he asked, holding out a hand to help her up.

Lena got to her feet on her own and brushed herself off. "Fine,"  she

replied briskly. She casually scanned the area to see if  anyone  else  was

coming. It was a good thing they had parked their vehicle on  the  opposite

side of the mansion from the entertaining quarters.

Qui-Gon was impressed with Lena's composure. And he  didn't  need  to

glance at his Padawan to know that Obi-Wan was as well.

Zanita's turban was askew, and the older woman seemed slightly out of

breath. But she did not show any surprise at the fact that Lena had come to

her home with two companions she had never met.

"We really must strengthen the  base  of  that  statue,"  Juno  said,

eyeing the giant metal sculpture on the ground. "It's quite unsafe."

"Quite," Qui-Gon agreed dryly.

"Zanita, do you remember  Obi-Wan  Kenobi  and  Qui-Gon  Jinn?"  Lena

asked, raising her  eyebrows  slightly  at  her  mother-in-law.  "They  are

friends of mine."

Qui-Gon knew instinctively that Lena was  trying  to  lead  her  late

husband's mother away from saying out loud,  or  even  somehow  suggesting,

that she had never met them before. He guessed that  this  was  because  of

Juno's presence.

"Of course," Zanita replied easily. "How nice to see you again."

Qui-Gon smiled with a graciousness he didn't feel. "And you as well,"

he said, taking her hand for a moment in the Fregan custom.

Juno appeared annoyed that he hadn't been  introduced  to  the  Jedi.

Clearing his throat loudly, he stepped toward the  group.  "You  must  come

inside and rest," he declared. "We have a medical droid who can examine you

for injuries."

Qui-Gon tried not to grimace as he realized that a  family  like  the

Cobrals probably needed its own medical droid. But there was something  odd

about Juno's offer. Qui-Gon was quite sure that in spite  of  the  look  of

concern he wore, the servant was not truly  worried  about  their  welfare.

Perhaps he had other motives for wanting to get the group back  inside  the

house.

"I'm sure that won't be  necessary,  Juno,"  Zanita  said  pointedly.

"Lena and her friends were just  leaving."  She  looked  around  furtively.

After the exchange with her son in the library, Qui-Gon  guessed  that  the

mention of going inside - or the possibility of someone coming out  -  made

her nervous.

"You can borrow a landspeeder, Lena," she added. "It's  the  least  I

can do."

Lena smiled at her mother-in-law. 'That would be  most  appreciated,"

she said. "Thank you, Zanita."

Juno scowled at Lena, then started off  toward  the  vehicle  storage

building.

"Lena knows where the landspeeders are housed,  Juno,"  Zanita  said.

"And she can take either of mine. You don't need to direct her."

Juno's frown deepened, but he didn't say anything.

"We'd best be getting back inside," Zanita said  brightly  when  Juno

didn't move. "We have guests to attend to."

With a last look at the three visitors, Juno turned and followed  his

employer back into the cooking quarters.

"Another close one," Lena whispered, shivering slightly. "Rutin never

liked Juno, and he gives me the creeps." She eyed the door Juno and  Zanita

had just disappeared through, then turned and started  toward  the  vehicle

hangar. "Let's get out of here before something else happens."

Minutes later Lena and the Jedi were on their way back into the city.

"It was nice of Zanita to offer up her land-speeder,"  Obi-Wan  noted

from the front seat.

"Very nice," Lena agreed. But she did  not  say  anything  else.  She

suddenly seemed to focus very hard on piloting the speeder.

Once again in the backseat, Qui-Gon considered the events of the last

few hours. Though he didn't particularly want to admit it,  he  felt  at  a

loss. He was not able to decipher whether Zanita or Lena were being  honest

- either with each other or himself and Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon sighed. For the millionth time he wished that Tahl were still

alive. Aside from the aching absence that still burned inside him, he  knew

that her sharp perception and intuition would uncover the truth. She  would

not be distracted by the composed, polished surfaces of  these  women.  She

would cut through all of that and  get  to  their  real  intentions,  their

motives.

Qui-Gon bowed his head and tried to let the  grief  of  missing  Tahl

move through him. Isn't that what  Yoda  had  taught  him  -  what  he  had

repeatedly told his Padawan?

Allow yourself to feel  the  emotions,  then  let  them  go.  Qui-Gon

focused on the words. He felt the grief well up inside  him  until  he  was

sure it would break him, shatter him to pieces. Then, with every  nerve  of

his body, he tried to let the pain go.

It wouldn't.

His head aching, Qui-Gon opened his eyes. It was always the same.  He

felt the incredible fullness of the pain, and then endless hollowness.  The

grief never actually left. It emptied him,  but  it  would  not  leave  him

alone.

CHAPTER 7

Obi-Wan was silent as the landspeeder traveled through the  city.  He

could sense his Master's melancholy mood, and Lena was  attentive  only  to

driving. She navigated skillfully through the city,  and  Obi-Wan  was  yet

again impressed by her composure. Less than  half  an  hour  ago  they  had

nearly been killed. Yet she seemed to have wiped the memory away as  easily

as one wipes a crumb from a table.

Obi-Wan had assumed that they were going  back  to  Lena's  warehouse

hideout. Instead she turned off toward her ransacked apartment after making

sure they were not being followed. Obi-Wan considered inquiring about this,

but thought better of it. He guessed that  Lena  was  being  silent  for  a

reason.

Lena parked the landspeeder several  hundred  meters  away  from  her

building. They approached carefully, and found only one guard  outside  the

turbolift. He was dozing off. Moving quickly past  him,  they  entered  the

turbolift and were whisked to the top floor. Once  inside  her  flat,  Lena

moved through room after room at a rapid pace, the Jedi at her heels.

Qui-Gon did not say anything, but followed  with  assurance.  Obi-Wan

felt a moment of frustration  as  he  realized  that  his  Master  was  not

experiencing the same confusion he was. Even  in  his  depressed  state  he

seemed to know exactly what was going on.

It took a bit of effort for Obi-Wan to keep up with the two people in

front of him. Lena led them out the secret exit they had used before,  then

down flight after flight of stairs. She did not slow  her  pace  when  they

reached the alley. She simply hurried down several blocks, turning this way

and that. Finally she hailed an air taxi and they all climbed inside.

Relieved not to be chasing after Lena and  his  Master,  Obi-Wan  sat

back against the seat. "Were we being  followed?"  he  asked.  It  was  the

logical reason for Lena's actions.

"Not that I know of," Lena said in a strange tone. She sounded almost

giddy, as if the idea were amusing. "Zanita is really  a  wonderful  woman.

I'm lucky to know her."

Obi-Wan thought it was strange  that  Lena  was  speaking  about  her

mother-in-law as if they were acquaintances and not family. But once  again

he kept quiet. What did he know about families, anyway?

Lena told the taxi driver to let them off  several  blocks  from  the

warehouse. Once they were walking again, she relaxed  a  little.  A  moment

later she reached out and touched Obi-Wan's arm.

"Sorry about that," she said, looking into his eyes. Obi-Wan tried to

ignore the way he felt when she gazed at him.

"I couldn't talk in the taxi because of the sky drivers' collective,"

she explained. "They are Cobral supporters. And as  for  Zanita's  vehicle,

well, let's just say that it has plenty  of  added  surveillance  equipment

that even Zanita might not know about."

Obi-Wan nodded, and Lena turned and kept walking. She spoke  quietly,

but loud enough for both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon to hear.

"That statue falling was no accident. I'm sure the base is completely

secure, no matter what Juno says. There are several traps on the property -

the Cobrals call it security. They say they have to protect what's theirs."

"Who do you think triggered it?"  Qui-Gon  asked,  speaking  for  the

first time since they'd left the Cobral property.

"I don't know," Lena replied. "The Cobrals have many  allies  -  paid

and unpaid. Although Juno is Zanita's servant, he works  for  Solan  first.

I'm sure he would be handsomely rewarded if he succeeded in killing me."

The group's mood was contemplative as they navigated the streets  and

arrived back at the warehouse.

Inside, Mica was pacing the living space. A medium-size  package  lay

on a low table.

"This arrived while you were out,"  Mica  said.  She  picked  up  the

package and  thrust  it  into  her  cousin's  hands.  She  seemed  slightly

agitated.

Lena took the package and turned it over. It was covered  in  a  thin

gray wrapping material. There was nothing written  on  the  material  other

than her name in block letters: LENA COBRAL.

CHAPTER 8

"Rutin," Lena said, gazing down at the package. She ran  her  fingers

over her name. "This is Rutin's handwriting," she explained, looking up  at

the Jedi. "I'd recognize it anywhere."

Qui-Gon looked down at the package, feeling quite certain that it was

some sort of trap. Rutin was dead, was he not?

"I'd like to have a look at that," he said, stepping forward. "I want

to make sure it is not dangerous before you open it."

Lena frowned.  "Rutin  would  never  put  me  in  danger,"  she  said

adamantly.

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. From what he could gather, Rutin  had  put

her in significant danger. But he saw no point in reminding  Lena  of  that

now.

"It could be a trap," Qui-Gon said plainly. Lena scowled slightly  at

Qui-Gon. Perhaps, Qui-Gon mused, she felt he was  stealing  her  last  gift

from Rutin But she gave Qui-Gon the package.

Closing his eyes, Qui-Gon held the package for several moments.  When

he opened them again, he returned the package to Lena.

"I do not sense anything immediately grave," he said. But he was  not

convinced that the package was from Rutin, or that it would help them  gain

evidence against the Cobral. He was not convinced of anything.

Lena set the box on the table and opened it with a small pocket blade

before removing the wrapping. Then she began to empty its contents and  set

them on the table: a pair of black boots, a small vial  of  dirt...  Lena's

face fell as she looked over the contents of the box.  "This  doesn't  make

sense," she murmured.

"I think I'll go make us all something to eat," Mica  said,  excusing

herself.

"Good idea, Mica," Lena said. "I'm starved."

Qui-Gon sat down next to Lena as soon as Mica left the room.  He  was

unclear about the motives of both women, but felt he might be able  to  get

some answers if he addressed them individually.

"Have you had any visitors to the warehouse?" he asked,  not  wasting

any time.

Lena turned her attention away from the package and shook  her  head.

"No, why?"

Instead of answering,  Qui-Gon  asked  another  question.  "Have  you

received mysterious packages before today?"

Lena shook her head again. "No, of course not. I would have told  you

about them."

"I'm glad to hear that," Qui-Gon said,  not  entirely  sure  that  he

believed her.

The next question was perhaps the most important. "Is Mica  the  only

one who knows about this place?" he asked quietly.

Lena looked up quickly. She was frowning.

"I think I'll go see if Mica needs any help with the  food,"  Obi-Wan

said abruptly.

Qui-Gon gave a brief nod to his Padawan, indicating that  he  thought

it was a good idea. But he did not take his eyes off Lena's face.

Still frowning, Lena got to her feet. "Yes, Mica is  the  only  other

person besides you and Obi-Wan who knows about this  apartment,"  she  said

flatly. She turned to face Qui-Gon again, her hands on her  hips.  "But  do

not question my cousin's loyalty. Mica and I grew up together. We are  like

sisters. And she is not in league with the Cobrals."

Lena crossed the room, then let out a sigh and came back to sit  next

to Qui-Gon. "I don't even like to discuss the Cobrals in  front  of  Mica,"

she said slowly. "As a very young girl she  witnessed  the  murder  of  her

mother, and the memory is still excruciatingly painful."

"The Cobrals were responsible for her mother's death?" Qui-Gon asked,

slightly surprised.

Lena nodded sadly. "They killed her in  cold  blood.  Mica  was  only

seven and she saw the whole thing. It was a huge loss, and perhaps an  even

bigger trauma. She has never gotten over it."

Qui-Gon was silent as this information sank in.

"Everything on Frego is so complicated," Lena said with a heavy sigh.

"But I will try to explain. As I've said  before,  the  Cobrals  have  many

allies on Frego. For centuries  Frego's  government  treated  the  citizens

poorly - taxes were high and public services virtually nonexistent. Fregans

worked hard only to have their money taken from them.

"The Cobral family changed all of that. While it is  true  that  they

made their fortune selling drugs and weapons and had  a  rough  reputation,

they used their power to force the government to provide the basic services

people needed. They even lowered taxes and raised wages."

"Which made life for the people better," Qui-Gon said. He had visited

planets with similar stories. A corrupt power ousted an unjust  government,

making positive changes. But the means through which those positive changes

were made had its own kind of evil.

"Today the government acknowledges that the ways  of  the  past  were

wrong, that they treated the people unfairly," Lena  continued.  "And  many

politicians resent having to operate under the Cobral thumb. They  want  to

do right by their people. Or at least some of them do. Others appear to  be

noble, but are corrupt to the core."

"I see that the  Cobral  makes  things  quite  complicated,"  Qui-Gon

commented. "For everyone, it seems."

"There is no honesty, no safety," Lena stated. "We live by whims  and

not laws. That is why the violence has to stop. I know there  is  a  better

way, and I want Frego to have a chance for a  new  beginning-the  beginning

that Rutin and I did not have."

Tears welled in Lena's eyes, and for the first time Qui-Gon  softened

toward her. He understood just how she felt. He and Tahl had  never  had  a

new beginning, either.

Lena wiped her cheek. "There are some politicians who would also like

to forge a new path for the future. And some people would like to support a

new government. But many others feel a  strong  debt  to  the  Cobrals  for

making life better."

Lena gazed solemnly at the package and the boots on  the  table.  "It

seems that no one can break free."

"But you trust your cousin completely?" Qui-Gon asked,  getting  back

to his original line of questioning.

Lena looked Qui-Gon in the eye. "Without hesitation. As I  told  you,

she is like my sister. Mica  longs  to  avenge  her  mother  and  shed  the

corruption. Perhaps more than anyone."

Qui-Gon did not point out that Rutin and Solan were brothers. Instead

he took a breath and let it out slowly.

"I'm afraid that Mica may have revealed your whereabouts," he stated.

"Or else another party has discovered them on their own."

CHAPTER 9

Obi-Wan entered the food galley and was only half  surprised  to  see

that the room was empty. Turning back down the  hall,  he  spotted  an  old

turbolift in one of the makeshift bedrooms. A  second  later  he  felt  the

building shudder. Mica was running away.

Obi-Wan leaped into the turbolift shaft, landing gracefully on top of

the lift just as it came to a halt. Activating his lightsaber, he sliced  a

hole in the metal and jumped down a second time. But the lift  was  already

empty. He heard the echo of Mica's receding footsteps as she  raced  toward

the door.

Obi-Wan knew he should continue  to  follow  her...  doing  so  could

provide information vital to the mission, and to Lena. What if Mica was out

to hurt her cousin - what if her actions put Lena in even greater danger?

He couldn't risk that. He had to talk to Mica. Now.

It did not take Obi-Wan long to catch up to the  girl.  Grabbing  her

arm, he was struck by the anger he felt well up inside him. He was furious,

he realized, because Mica was jeopardizing Lena's safety.

Obi-Wan calmed himself, intending to let the anger leave  him  before

speaking. But as soon as he saw Mica's face the anger disappeared. The girl

was clearly distraught.

"Where are you going?" Obi-Wan asked, trying not to sound too stern.

Mica looked alarmed. "I... I was..." She blinked, her eyes glistening

with tears. "I need to go somewhere," she finished in a whisper.

"Not before you tell me what's going on," Obi-Wan  said.  He  spotted

several large crates in a corner and led her over to them. Sitting her down

on one, he found another for himself.

"It's time for you to tell the truth. If you truly care  about  Lena,

you'll do so," he said.

Mica looked down at her feet. She didn't  say  anything  for  several

minutes. Then she started to talk. "The Cobral  is  terrible,"  she  began.

"They do hideous, evil things. But I do not think that  Lena  -  or  anyone

else - is capable of bringing them down.  Rutin  tried,  and  he  is  dead.

Killed by his own family. My mother was killed by the Cobral as well."

A sob escaped Mica's throat and she wiped her eyes. "Of course I want

to avenge her death. And I know that she is not the only one. Mine  is  not

the only loss. I long to see those killers pay for their crimes. But  if  I

go after them I would probably be killed, too.  And  so  would  Lena.  They

think nothing of taking life. It means nothing to them. Not even  in  their

own family."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I cannot tell you that you are wrong," he said. "But

the Cobral has Frego caught in an evil trap of violence and crime. Lena has

a chance to destroy that trap - and those who made it - for  good.  She  is

willing to take that chance."

Mica nodded. "I know. Lena is a hero. She thinks nothing of  her  own

life, only of Frego and its people. And I am nothing but a  coward,  guilty

of thwarting her plan."

Obi-Wan nodded again, surprised that he was not filled with anger for

a second time. He knew that Mica had been deceiving Lena but he was somehow

relieved that Mica felt guilty about her actions. "How?" he asked simply.

"I wanted to stop the trial," Mica explained. "It was too  dangerous.

So I convinced Lena to wait until you arrived before  proceeding  with  her

plan. Then I broke into her apartment and erased the files. I figured  that

if the evidence was gone, Lena would have to give up. And if she  gave  up,

the Cobral would leave her alone. She would be safe. Of course, I  did  not

expect to find the hired thugs at her apartment."

"Thugs?" Obi-Wan repeated.

Mica nodded. "They were heavily armed and ransacking  the  place.  At

the time I thought they were just street people, thieves after the  jewelry

and precious metals. Lena and Rutin had a lot of beautiful possessions."

She paused for a moment before going on. "But then  I  realized  that

they must have been searching for something."

"Did you see what they looked like?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No," Mica said. "They fled as soon as they  heard  me  coming.  They

left the bedroom alone. I only caught a glimpse  of  their  backs  as  they

climbed over the balcony. I did not try to get  a  better  look  because  I

didn't want them to see me. I only know that there were two of them -  both

men. One was quite tall and lanky. The other short and bald."

"Not much to go on," Obi-Wan mused.

"I'm sure they were hired by the Cobral," Mica said.

Obi-Wan felt better about Mica now that she had confided in him.  But

there was still one question that was bothering him. "I understand why  you

wanted to erase the computer files, but why did you leave that  threatening

message on the screen?"

Mica looked up, surprised. "What message?" she asked. "I didn't  send

any message." She paused for a moment. Then, as if reading Obi-Wan's  mind,

she said, "And I didn't tell anyone where Lena was hiding, either."

CHAPTER 10

Lena looked at Qui-Gon in disbelief. Qui-Gon could tell she  did  not

think Mica would reveal her whereabouts, but the package on the table meant

it was likely that someone had. The strange contents  were  not  dangerous,

but the knowledge of Lena's whereabouts  was  -  especially  in  the  wrong

hands.

"I must speak to Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon excused himself.

Walking slowly toward  the  kitchen,  Qui-Gon  felt  exhausted.  This

routine mission was turning out to be more difficult than he'd imagined. He

felt a strong sense of deception, but something about it continued to elude

him. He could not tell who was being deceived, or by whom. And he  did  not

understand why Lena so fiercely protected her  cousin.  She  had  obviously

learned - the hard way - that family lines do not protect  you  from  being

double-crossed. Or killed.

The food galley was empty. Following his instincts,  Qui-Gon  started

down the stairs. Halfway to the ground level, Qui-Gon  met  Obi-Wan  and  a

sullen Mica coming up the stairwell.

"The evidence is gone," Obi-Wan blurted. "Mica erased it."

"Erased or stole?" Qui-Gon asked, looking directly at Mica.

"Erased!"  Mica  spat  back  defiantly.  "I  do  not  profit  by  the

misfortune of others, especially Lena." Her voice softened when  she  spoke

of her cousin. "I only wanted to protect her. To make all of this go away."

Mica hung her head and shuffled her feet before the Jedi led  her  back  up

the stairs. She obviously knew it was time to tell Lena what she had done.

Although she was clearly ashamed of her actions,  Qui-Gon  felt  that

her conscience was clear. She was not deceiving them.  He  felt  relief  in

knowing that somebody wasn't.

"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon stopped his Padawan on the landing, allowing  Mica

to go farther ahead. "We must proceed with caution. All is not as it  seems

with our witness. On this planet, lies come easier than the truth, and at a

lower cost."

As Obi-Wan raised his eyes to meet his  Master's,  Qui-Gon  saw  tiny

flames of anger burn inside them, then flicker out.

"Lena is a noble woman," Obi-Wan said evenly. "She is  struggling  to

do what is right. Your doubts will not help her."

Qui-Gon could not help but smile faintly. Obi-Wan thought Qui-Gon was

insulting Lena, and he was upset - ready to defend her. It  confirmed  what

Qui-Gon had suspected, that Obi-Wan was infatuated  with  Lena.  He  should

have pointed it out sooner, to try and warn the boy. Most likely  he  would

end up getting badly hurt.

"You are infatuated, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said. "Be careful not  to  let

yourself be guided by your attraction."

"I am - " Obi-Wan shook his head and  struggled  to  keep  his  voice

under control. "It is not infatuation. Lena's motives are good."

"The motives she has told us are good, but there may be others. Think

of what she is giving up. She will probably never live again in the  manner

to which she was accustomed. She lost her  footing  with  the  Cobral  when

Rutin was killed and is in danger of being an outcast. Not  just  from  the

family, but from all of Frego. Don't you think it is possible that  she  is

trying to get evidence in order to have something to bargain with?"

Obi-Wan made no gesture to show that he understood. "There is another

day," he said softly. "Then we shall see." He turned to walk up the stairs.

Qui-Gon entered Lena's quarters behind  his  apprentice.  Mica  stood

over the table staring at an empty box. The contents of  the  package  were

gone.

"I told her I erased the evidence," Mica said tearfully. "But I don't

think she even heard me."

"Where is Lena now?" Qui-Gon asked. Obi-Wan was  already  headed  for

the stairs.

"I don't know," Mica sobbed, sinking into a low  couch.  "She  didn't

say anything to me. She just took what was in the box and left."

CHAPTER 11

"Obi-Wan, wait," his  Master  commanded.  Obi-Wan  did  not  want  to

listen. Not now. Not while Lena was alone and in danger. But he slid  to  a

stop at the top of the stairs.

"We'll have a better chance of finding her if we have some idea where

she might have gone," Qui-Gon said. He sat down next to Mica. "Where do you

think she went?" he asked evenly.

Obi-Wan remained at the top of the stairs. He knew his impatience had

little to do with finding Lena. He was impatient with his Master, and a bit

confused. He used to know Qui-Gon so well that at times it felt  like  they

shared one mind. They both knew how the other would react to  a  situation,

what his thoughts and actions would be. But this was no longer the case.

Just when Obi-Wan believed that Qui-Gon was beyond caring  about  the

mission, he had taken charge. If Qui-Gon hadn't stopped Obi-Wan,  he  would

be with Lena now, and  sure  of  her  safety.  Leaning  against  the  stair

railing, Obi-Wan let out  an  exasperated  sigh.  There  was  no  point  in

questioning Mica.

"Let's go, then," Qui-Gon said. He stood and strode toward the stairs

in fluid movement. Mica, eyes still red from crying, hurried  in  front  of

him.

Obi-Wan followed. He had been too lost in his own  thoughts  to  hear

where they were headed. Breathing deeply, he let go of his frustration  and

focused his energy on the matter at hand. Qui-Gon had  no  right  to  doubt

Lena. He had been too distracted until now to even notice who she was,  her

real nature. But if Qui-Gon was - at least for the moment  -  concentrating

on the mission, Obi-Wan could too.

Mica was not as concerned with being seen this time as  she  led  the

Jedi through the streets of Rian. They left the warehouses and  alleys  and

hurried into the center of the city. Over  Qui-Gon's  head  Obi-Wan  saw  a

gleaming transparent structure, like an enormous serpent  that  snaked  its

way overhead, between the towering buildings.

Inside the structure Obi-Wan saw green leaves and moving forms. Water

beaded on the inside of the rounded transparisteel walls,  making  it  look

like a vast, multistoried greenhouse. Although Obi-Wan could not see  where

it began or where it ended, the structure appeared to wind through the city

for several kilometers.

"There," an out-of-breath Mica said, pointing toward a  door  to  the

structure. "I think she might be in the Tubal Park."

"I was hoping for something a bit  smaller,"  Qui-Gon  said.  Obi-Wan

could not tell if he was mildly amused or truly frustrated.

Obi-Wan caught up to Mica as they approached the entrance. "Why would

she come here?" he asked.

"This park means a lot to Lena. She used to come here with Rutin, and

she always comes here to think," Mica answered. "Or at least she used to."

The giant oval doors opened and the  three  stepped  inside.  As  the

doors closed behind them Obi-Wan felt as if he'd stepped off  a  ship  onto

another planet. Inside the air was moist. The noise of the city  was  gone,

replaced by the echoing sound of running water and children's voices.

Looking up, Obi-Wan could only barely make out the seams in the  roof

beyond the tops of the towering  trees.  Paths  crisscrossed  one  another,

leading toward brightly blooming plants or  meandering  beside  creeks  and

trickling waterfalls. People strolled over the bridges and  ducked  through

the tunnels that wove under and around the dense flora.  There  were  small

animals winging overhead, and  even  smaller  amphibians  flopping  in  the

pools.

Obi-Wan could see why Lena would come here. It reminded  him  of  the

Room of a Thousand Fountains at the Jedi Temple. That, too, was a sanctuary

and a great place to go to think.

"Do you know her favorite spot?" Qui-Gon asked.

Mica shook her head sadly. "I never came here with her. She only came

alone, or with Rutin. She could be anywhere."

"Then I suggest we split up," Qui-Gon said to Obi-Wan. "Mica can come

with me."

Obi-Wan nodded and headed off to his left. It would be a relief to be

away from Qui-Gon for a while. He could use some time alone to think.

As soon as he had walked away from his Master, Obi-Wan's mind  filled

with thoughts of Lena. All around him people were gathered in small groups.

They ate, played, and leaned back on the grass to stare up at  the  leaves.

Yet Obi-Wan was only aware of them enough to know that they were not Lena.

Could it  really  be  infatuation?  Obi-Wan  wondered.  After  taking

several deep breaths and letting go of his anger and  frustration,  Obi-Wan

could not deny it. As usual, Qui-Gon was right. He was  falling  for  Lena.

But it was not just her beauty. No, it was more than that.

It was her strength - the strength she drew from  her  vulnerability-

that had enamored him. Lena was a grieving young widow. The husband she had

loved was only recently lost. But instead of hiding in the hole  that  he'd

left, she pulled new purpose from it. She was not drowning in it,  refusing

to speak of the loss. Not like Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan's thoughts drifted back to his Master. He shook his  head  as

he climbed a steep bridge  arching  over  a  waterfall.  Perhaps  the  bond

between them was not as damaged as  Obi-Wan  imagined.  No  matter  how  he

tried, Obi-Wan could not deny that Qui-Gon correctly  recognized  Obi-Wan's

feelings for Lena, and before he did.

How can he be so clear about the emotions of others  when  he  cannot

seem to untangle his own? Obi-Wan wondered.

"With time," Master Yoda would say. "With time all are healed."

Obi-Wan felt new energy flood through him as he relaxed and let go of

everything that had been bothering him. He had been in  danger  of  letting

his emotions blind him. Now he felt more sure.

Still, Obi-Wan did not  believe  his  Master  had  been  right  about

everything. Walking more quickly and scanning the park  for  Lena,  Obi-Wan

realized his resolve to help her was stronger than ever. Whether or not his

judgment had been clouded by affection, he knew that Lena was on  the  side

of rightness.

For the first time in hours, Obi-Wan felt  clear.  And  he  was  more

certain than ever that Lena was doing the right thing. She was fighting for

peace and justice, and not just for herself. For her entire  planet.  As  a

Jedi it was his duty to help.

As these thoughts formed in his mind, a new  one  floated  over  them

like a dark cloud: They were running out of time.

CHAPTER 12

Qui-Gon pulled his comlink from his utility belt.  He  was  about  to

activate it and summon Obi-Wan when his Padawan  appeared,  walking  toward

him on one of the paths.

"There he is," said Mica a moment later. She craned her neck  to  see

what Qui-Gon already knew. Lena wasn't with him, either. The three of  them

had scoured most of the enormous park, but Lena was nowhere to be found.

Mica and the Jedi left the park  and  walked  back  to  the  deserted

warehouse in silence. Qui-Gon tried to stretch out with  his  feelings,  to

get a sense of whether or not Lena was in danger, or  even  alive.  But  he

felt nothing.

The dim evening light made the hideout look less  welcoming  than  it

had early that morning. Qui-Gon strode into the room ahead of  the  others,

and immediately saw a figure sitting on the couch in the darkness.

In a flash, he activated his lightsaber.  Its  green  blade  cast  an

eerie light over the room, illuminating the sparks in Lena's eyes.  Qui-Gon

quickly switched off the blade just as Obi-Wan and Mica came into the room.

"Lena," Mica cried when she saw her cousin. She hurried  forward  and

sank to her knees in front of the couch. "Lena, we were so  worried.  Where

were you?"

"I'm sorry I ran off," Lena said, looking  from  one  person  to  the

next. "I didn't want to worry you, but I had to be sure  that  the  package

was from Rutin. I had to know...." Lena trailed off.

Mica rose to turn on the light.  Back  on  the  table,  next  to  the

wrappings, were the contents of the package: the pair of waterproof  boots,

the small light, the beam drill, and the vial of dirt.

The objects made no sense to Qui-Gon. What did Lena have to know? And

where had she been? Qui-Gon felt betrayed. She was  not  telling  them  the

whole truth.

Although Lena appeared to be upset, Qui-Gon did not wait for  her  to

calm down. "Where have you been?" he demanded.

Lena looked up, surprised by the stern tone of the Jedi's voice.

"Wandering," she replied. "I - I needed to be alone."

Qui-Gon was not satisfied. "Alone? Or just away from us?"

Lena's lip trembled and Qui-Gon noticed Obi-Wan was staring  at  him.

He softened his tone slightly, but  pressed  on.  "Why  did  you  take  the

contents of the package with you?"

"That package is from Rutin," Lena said after a moment, struggling to

control her voice. "He sent it to me before he..."  She  fought  again  for

composure. "But how did he know he was going to die? And why didn't he tell

me?"

Lena lost the struggle to suppress her frustrated grief  and  dropped

her head into her hands. "He's trying to give me a message," she said after

a moment, struggling to control her voice. "But I can't figure it out! It's

as though he's speaking to me,  and  I  can't  hear  him."  Lena  lost  the

struggle.... "He really is gone forever."

Mica and Obi-Wan rushed to join her on the couch,  anxious  to  offer

support. Qui-Gon stumbled back until  he  was  sitting,  facing  the  other

three. Lena looked so much smaller than she had  before.  Less  capable  of

deception, somehow.

Qui-Gon felt himself diminish as Lena's waves of  grief  washed  into

him, adding to the sea of sadness that never stopped pounding in his heart.

Her words touched  him  deeply,  and  he  had  no  more  doubts  about  her

sincerity. He, too, knew how the fact of a loved one's absence could strike

with as savage a blow as the first realization. He knew  that  moment  when

the future ahead seemed empty and impossible to bear.

"The loved ones we have lost are always with us,"  Qui-Gon  said.  He

was surprised to hear himself speaking, and surprised  by  his  words.  But

they rendered comfort. Suddenly, it did feel as if Tahl  were  nearby,  and

the storm inside of him quieted a little.

There was a moment of thoughtful silence in the room.  Obi-Wan  gazed

at his Master, his eyes full of compassion. And for the first time  Qui-Gon

did not feel the need to look away.

Lena's grief seemed to lift,  and  she  looked  at  the  Jedi  Master

gratefully. "It's true," she said, nodding. "Rutin is looking after me even

now. He must have sent this package some time ago and arranged to  have  it

delivered today. I'm sure it is meant to help me  find  evidence.  He  must

have known that any information on the computer would be a target. He  knew

I would need something more."

Qui-Gon noticed that Mica paled as Lena spoke  of  the  computer.  He

wondered if she was embarrassed that her plan hadn't worked, or  frightened

by the possibility that more evidence existed.

The young widow took no notice of her cousin. Her tears  had  stopped

and the familiar strength was returning. Lena gathered the boots  from  the

table and held them in her lap. "I haven't figured out the clue yet, but  I

will," she said firmly.

"Just please don't rush off like that again,"  Mica  told  her.  "You

scared me to death. We searched the park for hours."

Lena frowned. "The park..." she murmured.

Obi-Wan stared at the strange  items  on  the  table,  then  suddenly

spoke. "Rutin had the package delivered to you here. So, he must have known

about the hideout."

"Of course," Lena said. "Rutin was the one who secured this place. He

was planning to hide here himself while he waited to be  smuggled  off  the

planet."

Suddenly, Lena leaped to her  feet,  knocking  the  boots  aside.  "I

almost forgot," she cried, pulling a datapad from her pocket. "While I  was

out I went by my apartment to see if I'd received a  message  from  Zanita.

She sent this."

CHAPTER 13

The sky outside the warehouse had darkened to a milky  gray.  Qui-Gon

peered around the portal screens that masked the  people  inside  from  the

streets below. It was getting late and the alleys were deserted.

"Meeting with Zanita is an unnecessary risk," Qui-Gon  stated  as  he

left the portal and paced the floor. He  suddenly  felt  that  leaving  the

planet as soon as possible was the best course  of  action.  "We  have  the

clues from Rutin, and should work with that. We do not need to place you or

your mother-in-law in further danger."

"She's taking a risk because I asked her to," Lena argued.  "I  can't

just let her wait in vain."

With a frown, Qui-Gon looked at the message on the datapad again.

TRANSPORT LOADING STATION, DOCK 12

10 P.M. TONIGHT

ALONE

FOR RUTIN

"I never should have gotten Zanita involved," Lena lamented. "But  it

is too late to change that now. If I can go alone, I can talk  to  her  and

convince her that I've changed my mind. I'll tell her I'm scared  and  have

decided to leave the planet. Then we will all be safer."

Qui-Gon had to admit that it was not a bad plan. It  would  buy  them

some time and could even help them get off planet  easier.  He  nodded  his

assent.

"But we won't let you go alone," Obi-Wan said. Mica  looked  relieved

to hear this.

"Of course not," Qui-Gon echoed. "It is not safe."

"It is the only way I can convince Zanita," Lena argued. "She saw you

at the estate. Surely she knows you  are  here  representing  the  Galactic

Republic. I will not be able to convince her I've changed my  mind  if  she

sees I am accompanied by Jedi!"

"We are here for your protection," Qui-Gon said firmly. And  to  make

sure you are what you say you are. Learning that Lena had returned  to  her

apartment when she was alone had once again aroused  Qui-Gon's  suspicions.

She could have done any number of things while she  was  there.  Though  he

accepted the sincerity of her grief, he would not lose sight  of  the  fact

that there could be pressures on her that he knew nothing about.

"I'm afraid you're stuck with us until we all arrive safely  back  on

Coruscant." Obi-Wan smiled. "We will remain hidden, but we will  not  allow

you to go alone."

Lena returned Obi-Wan's smile. "All right," she  said.  "We'd  better

hurry so we are first to arrive. It's not very far."

"Be careful," Mica said, embracing her cousin. "I'll be here  if  you

need me. I'll always be here if you need me."

Lena touched her cousin's cheek. "I'll be right back!" she promised.

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Lena left the  warehouse  and  made  their  way

through the dark streets, lit only by the occasional light of the  planet's

two moons. Now that daylight had faded, Frego seemed a less inviting place.

It was as though the darkness brought out the lies and deceit that pervaded

the planet.

As the three neared the station, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fell  back  into

the shadows. Lena insisted on walking boldly in the middle of  the  street,

under the glowing lights.

"She should be more careful," Obi-Wan muttered.

"No, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "She should not appear  as  if  she  has

anything to hide. Besides, her presence will help to diminish ours."

Dock 12 was eerily silent. Low buildings rimmed a giant  landing  pad

where huge transport ships were loaded with goods. The  edges  of  the  pad

were almost completely dark.

Obi-Wan motioned to his Master and both Jedi leaped noiselessly  onto

a low rooftop. After making his way to the edge, Qui-Gon lay down  next  to

Obi-Wan and the two watched Lena walk slowly  into  the  orange  square  of

light in the center of the landing pad. From their perch the Jedi could see

everything, and they could be at Lena's side in a moment.

Although Lena's was the only shape Qui-Gon  could  make  out  in  the

darkness, he sensed they were not  alone.  He  had  felt  another  presence

almost from the moment they had left the hideout, but now the  feeling  was

stronger, more threatening.

From the opposite side of the pad, Zanita  stepped  into  view.  Lena

moved with both arms out to greet her mother-in-law.

But Zanita did not raise her arms or offer any greeting. After taking

one more lurching step forward, the reason became clear.

Zanita's mouth was covered with a gag, and behind  her,  holding  her

bound arms firmly pressed against her  back,  was  her  oldest  son,  Solan

Cobral.

CHAPTER 14

Obi-Wan leaped to his feet as three more figures emerged behind Solan

and Zanita. But Qui-Gon pulled him back down.

Obi-Wan wrestled his arm free of his Master. He had to protect  Lena.

She was unarmed facing two droids, Solan Cobral, and his brother, Bard. The

young widow was no match for men evil  enough  to  hold  their  own  mother

captive, or order the death of their own brother.

"Not yet," Qui-Gon said softly. "I'd like to see what these men  have

in mind."

Obi-Wan sank to his knees. He would wait, for now. But if anyone made

a move toward Lena, not even Qui-Gon would be able to stop him.

In the orange light of the landing pad Lena took a few steps back.

"Solan," she said. Her voice sounded strange to Obi-Wan, almost  full

of guilt. He wondered if she felt responsible for  what  was  happening  to

Zanita.

"You were supposed to come alone," the crime boss boomed.

"I did," Lena replied without flinching.

Nervous that they had been spotted, Obi-Wan felt for his  lightsaber.

He tried to rise but Qui-Gon's hand on his shoulder pushed him back to  his

knees.

"Not us," Qui-Gon whispered.

"Don't hurt her," a voice cried in the darkness  below.  "She  didn't

know I was coming." Obi-Wan recognized the voice immediately. It was  Mica.

A moment later she was standing beside her cousin. Obi-Wan  had  not  known

she was there.

"Please, don't hurt Lena. She would never turn  against  the  Cobral.

She's only been trying to cover for me. I am the one you want. I am the one

who knows how you operate. I am the one who wanted to testify against you."

"Mica, no. Be quiet," Lena  whispered  in  an  attempt  to  stop  her

cousin's outburst.

"Don't listen to her," Lena told the Cobrals. "She is protecting  me.

She doesn't know that I came tonight to tell Zanita I've changed my mind. I

was a fool to think I could go against the Cobral. Solan, please  hear  me.

You and Bard and Zanita are all I have left of my precious husband,  Rutin.

I realize that I need to hold on to the family I have, now more than  ever.

Where will I be if I drive you away? No matter what  has  happened  in  the

past, we will always be family. And family is more  important  to  me  than

anything."

"How wise," Solan replied, chuckling. He shoved Zanita  toward  Bard,

who caught her with one hand. He held a blaster in the other.

"I'm touched that you still want to be a  part  of  the  family,"  he

continued, taking a step closer. "And I'm grateful that you came together,"

he continued, walking closer still. "It will  make  cleaning  up  the  mess

you've made that much easier."

Solan dived toward Lena and Mica as  the  two  droids  closed  in  on

either side.

Up on the roof, Obi-Wan knew it was time. Qui-Gon was at his side  as

he leaped off the roof and sprinted toward the helpless cousins.

Mica was caught in Solan's grasp, but Lena pulled away just in  time.

She turned  to  run  and  found  herself  face-to-face  with  a  lanky  but

potentially lethal droid.

The one-eyed droid's arms shot out from its sides and began  to  wrap

themselves around her. Lena ducked at the same moment Obi-Wan's  lightsaber

blade severed one arm, and with a mighty backswing  separated  the  droid's

head from its body.

Obi-Wan pushed Lena behind him and rushed to meet the other droid.

Beside him, Qui-Gon deflected a bolt from Bard's blaster, sending  it

toward Solan's feet. Solan struggled to hold  on  to  Mica  and  train  his

blaster on the Jedi. He did not notice Lena sneaking up behind him.

Lena grabbed Solan's blaster. Mica whipped her body back  and  forth,

delivering a sharp blow with her elbow to Solan's jaw. He lost his grip  on

both Mica and the weapon.

The second droid fired rapid bolts at  Obi-Wan,  who  deflected  them

easily. Though the bolts turned and rained back on the droid,  it  did  not

show any damage. It continued to spray the  pad  with  fire  while  rapidly

extending a long arm to grab Mica.

Qui-Gon dispatched the arm with an elegant sweep  of  his  lightsaber

and stepped forward to finish the job. A slashing  blow  to  the  machine's

midsection finally brought the droid down.

While Qui-Gon took care of the droid, Obi-Wan  quickly  surveyed  the

scene. Behind him Mica appeared to be in shock.  She  lay  on  the  ground,

staring into the darkness. Lena bravely held her blaster on Solan.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan leaped high in the air over Lena's  head.  He  knew

what was going to happen before it happened, but still was not in  time  to

deflect the blast. From his spot deep in the  shadows,  still  holding  the

bound-and gagged Zanita, Bard fired his blaster straight at Lena.

Mica dived Lena screamed. And the bolt found flesh.

CHAPTER 15

While Obi-Wan hurried toward the two women, Qui-Gon  hit  the  ground

running. He rushed toward Bard and his hostage, but  could  not  see  where

they had gone in the darkness. He could merely hear the muffled  sounds  of

the footsteps fleeing ahead of him.

Qui-Gon raced behind a building in time to see  Solan  climb  into  a

repulsorlift vehicle. Bard shoved his mother in behind his brother, and the

engine gunned.

Qui-Gon stopped short, his breath catching in his throat. The Cobrals

had a vehicle waiting. It was useless to pursue them on foot. Besides, Qui-

Gon was anxious to return to the dock. He had a terrible feeling about what

he would find there.

Qui-Gon rounded the corner of the building. In the orange  square  of

light he saw two figures kneeling. A third  figure  lay  in  his  Padawan's

arms. There was no life emanating from the body.

Mica was dead.

Lena threw herself onto her cousin's body, sobbing. "No,  Mica,"  she

cried, begging. "Not you. Don't leave me."

Qui-Gon stared at the scene before him, frozen. His mind flashed back

to Tahl's last words to him. A horrible ache clenched his chest.

"Wherever I am headed, I will wait for you, Qui-Gon," she  had  said.

"I've always been a solitary traveler"

"Not anymore," Qui-Gon had teased.  "We  will  go  on  together.  You

promised, and you can't back out now. I'll never let you forget it."

Tahl had smiled slightly, and the effort  drained  her.  Qui-Gon  had

known then that she was in grave danger. That she was going  to  die.  He'd

called on the Force, on the Jedi, on his great love for  her.  Nothing  had

been able to save the woman he loved.

Qui-Gon had rested his forehead against Tahl's. Their breath mingled.

"Let my last moment be this one," she had said.

And it was.

"Master," Obi-Wan said quietly, and Qui-Gon was suddenly brought back

to the moment. Lena was crumpled over Mica in front of  him,  wallowing  in

her pain. There was no trace of the strong, resolved woman Qui-Gon had  met

when he arrived on Frego. He did not see the woman who he thought might  be

deceiving them. He only saw a woman bent over a dead body, unable  to  cope

with her agony.

He knew exactly how that felt. But he had survived, had gone on.  And

he believed that Lena could as well.

Qui-Gon bent down next to Lena. "I am so sorry," he said  softly.  "I

know I cannot share your pain. But I do understand it."

With a shudder, Lena let go of Mica's body. "I would like to wrap the

body," she said, wiping her eyes. "It is the custom here."

Obi-Wan found an old tarp outside a nearby ship, and Lena showed  the

Jedi the traditional way to enclose the body in it.

"Mica always looked out for me," Lena said as  she  lay  the  wrapped

body gently on the ground. "She always tried  to  guide  me  in  the  right

direction."

The three stood quietly together for a moment, silently saying  good-

bye. Then they left Mica lying in the pool of orange light.

"The park," Lena said as they slowly moved away from the body.  "Mica

said you'd searched it for hours."

"We did," Obi-Wan confirmed.

Lena's shoulders straightened and her  eyes  cleared.  "I  know  what

Rutin was trying to tell me," she said with sudden certainty. "We  have  to

get to the park immediately."

Qui-Gon was amazed at Lena's ability to  change  her  focus  back  to

finding the necessary evidence. Her face was full of deep sadness, but  she

carried herself upright as she led them to the Tubal Park.

Once inside, Lena headed directly for a spot at the rear of the park.

It was still dark, but the sky had completely cleared and the planet's  two

moons shone in the night sky. Their silver  light  partly  lit  the  paths,

bridges, and brooks.

Qui-Gon continuously scanned the area around them. He did  not  sense

anything dangerous - the park seemed serene and peaceful, just  as  it  had

during the day. But it would have been foolish to let his guard down.  Obi-

Wan stood a distance away, alert for any trespass.

Suddenly, Lena stopped short next to a small stand of  lush  tropical

trees. A stream gurgled over smooth rocks and into a pool of clear water.

With a sigh, Lena sat down. "This was our special place,"  she  said.

"I remember the first time Rutin brought me here four years  ago.  We  were

not even married yet. But we had so many plans, so many dreams."  Her  eyes

shone with happiness for a  brief  moment.  But  before  long,  tears  were

welling in them and she broke down, sobbing.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "Sometimes it is more than I  can  bear.  I

find myself wishing that it was I who had been killed,  not  him.  I  would

have gladly given my life to save his."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I, too, have wished I could have given  my  life  to

save another, one whom I had loved. But now I know that it is often  harder

to be the one left behind. I  would  not  have  wanted  her  to  feel  such

loneliness, to go through the pain I have gone through." He touched  Lena's

arm briefly. "Rutin left these things for you because he knew his death was

possible, and he trusted that you would carry on."

Qui-Gon looked into Lena's eyes, and knew that his words were getting

through to her. Surprisingly, he felt a lightening  in  his  own  chest  as

well. His grief for Tahl was still excruciating, but he suddenly knew  that

there would come a time when it would be possible to bear. And in his heart

he was certain that Tahl would want him to carry on, too.  She  would  have

hated the way he had chosen to mourn her,  he  realized  suddenly.  He  had

allowed his grief to remove him from everyone who had tried  to  help  him.

Because the weight of his sorrow was so terrible, he  could  not  lift  his

head to see that others mourned her, too. Obi-Wan. Yoda. Bant. Clee  Rhava.

The list was long.

Her face rose in his mind. He could see the ironic twist to her lips.

"Now who's blind?" she said.

Her voice was so real to him. How he wished he could answer....

"Thank you, Qui-Gon," Lena said softly,  breaking  his  reverie.  "As

difficult as it is to live without Rutin, I know that you are right."

Qui-Gon briefly squeezed Lena's hand. He noticed that  his  Padawan's

face wore a look of confused frustration, and felt he had  some  explaining

to do. But now was not the time  to  discuss  it.  They  had  to  find  the

evidence and leave the planet.

"Do you have any ideas about what the clues from the  package  mean?"

Qui-Gon asked.

Lena got to her feet and began to look under rocks  and  thick  green

leaves. "I'm sure this is the spot," she explained. "But  the  clues  don't

make any sense to me. Why would I need a drill? Or a pair of boots?"

The three searched the area, finding nothing but grass, water, rocks,

and plants.

"There's nothing here," Obi-Wan finally said,  sounding  exasperated.

"It's just like any other lovely spot in the woods."

Hearing his words, Lena suddenly looked up. "But it isn't, of course,

" she said. "It's all manufactured. Human made." She began to look  at  the

ground in a new way. She stepped across a patch of fake ground covered with

moss. Getting to her knees, she peeled it back.

Underneath was a large, locked panel.

Lena picked up the beam drill and forced the panel open.  Lifting  it

aside, she found a short tunnel descending down.

Excited, Lena lowered herself into the tunnel. A moment later Qui-Gon

heard a loud splash.

"Well, I know what the boots were for," she called up. "I'm up to  my

ankles in water. But at least it's not sewage!"

Qui-Gon handed Lena the boots. They were big, and Lena pulled them on

over her shoes. Then she turned on the flashlight and splashed around.  She

was inside a small pump room.

"Do you need help?" Obi-Wan called down.

There was some more splashing, but no response. Then several  moments

of complete silence.

Qui-Gon and his Padawan exchanged glances. Qui-Gon was just about  to

lower himself into the tunnel when they heard a gleeful shout.

"I found it!" Lena exclaimed.

A moment  later  she  emerged  with  a  second  small  package  in  a

waterproof sheathing.

Qui-Gon hoped it was the evidence they needed.

CHAPTER 16

The three wasted no time getting back to the warehouse. They had been

at the park for a couple of hours, and it was now very early morning.

Obi-Wan was anxious to get to the makeshift apartment  and  open  the

package. He was also exhausted, and hoped they would be able to rest for  a

few hours before planning their next move. But then his  Master  was  never

one to rest. There had been many times when Obi-Wan was  certain  that  the

older Jedi simply did not need sleep.

Once safely inside the  warehouse,  Lena  ripped  open  the  package.

Inside was a datapad, well wrapped and protected  from  water  or  shaking.

Lena switched the tiny machine on and they all waited while  it  hummed  to

life.

The next few moments seemed to go on  for  hours.  Her  hands  a  bit

shaky, Lena put the data-pad on a low table and sat down on the  sofa.  The

datapad beeped.

Lena pressed a series of buttons on the  side  of  the  machine,  and

information began to flash across the  screen.  Information  about  illegal

land negotiations, bribery, government extortion, contracts for  murders...

the list of crimes went on and on.

"Say good-bye to power, Solan," she whispered. Lena looked up at  the

Jedi, smiling. "This will put the Cobral behind bars for a long, long time,

" she said.

Obi-Wan sighed in relief. Soon this mission would be over. Lena would

be safe, and Frego would be free.

Qui-Gon did not  waste  any  time  in  contacting  Senator  Crote  on

Coruscant. He explained that they had the evidence they  needed,  and  they

would be traveling with it first thing in the morning.

"Wonderful," the senator replied. "Take the Degarian II. It  is  fast

and available. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."

With nothing more to do, Lena and the Jedi settled  down  for  a  few

hours' rest. But while Lena slept in the room  next  door  and  his  Master

dozed nearby, Obi-Wan found that, exhausted as he was, sleep evaded him. He

kept remembering the conversation he'd overheard  between  his  Master  and

Lena in the park. Qui-Gon had never spoken so frankly  about  his  grief-to

anyone. Why did he choose to confide in a woman he barely trusted, and  not

in his own Padawan?

Obi-Wan knew that Tahl's death was incredibly hard  for  Qui-Gon.  He

knew now that his Master was in love with her. But  while  Tahl  was  alive

Obi-Wan had not fully recognized that  their  love  existed.  When  did  it

blossom? Qui-Gon and Tahl barely had any time together that he knew about.

As Obi-Wan lay in the darkness, guilt washed over him. He knew it was

not right for him to be upset with his Master. Who he chose to  confide  in

was his decision. And if it was not Obi-Wan, so be it.

Rolling over, Obi-Wan remembered  his  Master's  words  to  Lena.  He

remembered the look in Qui-Gon's eyes. And more than anything, he wished he

could find a way to ease his Master's pain.

At last the fatigue of the mission overcame Obi-Wan and he  began  to

drift into sleep. But just as his senses were falling into a  more  relaxed

state, he heard movement in Lena's room.

Obi-Wan sat up, wondering for half a moment if  Lena  was  trying  to

escape without them - if his Master had been right to question her  motives

all along. She'd spoken convincingly to Solan, perhaps she really did  want

to make amends with  the  Cobral.  Then  Obi-Wan  heard  a  second  set  of

footsteps and a struggle. Someone was attacking Lena!

Checking to make sure his lightsaber was safely at his side,  Obi-Wan

broke into Lena's room. Lena sat on a chair, bound  and  gagged.  A  figure

wearing a hooded burgundy tunic stood over her.

Launching himself into the air, Obi-Wan somersaulted over the two  of

them, pulling back the figure's hood. He expected to find  the  face  of  a

Cobral, but did not recognize the stranger, whose  face  contorted  into  a

tangle of rage as he drew a blaster.

Obi-Wan was ready with  his  lightsaber,  but  the  intruder  quickly

shoved something into his pocket and made for the transparisteel portal. He

was about to disappear when Qui-Gon burst into the room and knocked the man

into the wall with a Force wave. The intruder slid to  the  floor  and  was

still.

Obi-Wan quickly untied Lena. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Lena nodded.  "Another  thug  working  for  the  Cobral,"  she  said,

cracking a half smile. "I'm almost getting used to them."

"Good timing, Master," Obi-Wan said wryly as he helped  Lena  to  her

feet.

"Thank you," Qui-Gon replied as he bent over the man. "He's going  to

wake up with quite a headache, I'm afraid."

Qui-Gon had not cracked a joke in weeks, and it  was  music  to  Obi-

Wan's ears.

Qui-Gon searched the man's  pockets  and  quickly  retrieved  Rutin's

datapad. He retrieved something else, Obi-Wan saw, but concealed it in  his

hand.

Qui-Gon stood up and faced Lena and Obi-Wan. His face was grave  with

concern.

"There's been a change in plans. We  must  leave  Frego  as  soon  as

possible," he said.

CHAPTER 17

Lena, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan were silent as they once again made  their

way through the darkened streets of Rian. It was almost dawn,  and  a  pale

yellow light was beginning to overtake the sky. Qui-Gon was anxious for the

mission to be over. But as he strode purposefully ahead, he could not shake

the feeling that they were far from the end.

When they arrived at one of the city's many landing  platforms,  Obi-

Wan headed straight for the Degarian II. He was  practically  boarding  the

ship before Qui-Gon was able to catch up to him. Lena was at his heels.

"No, Padawan," Qui-Gon said quietly, pulling him aside. "We will  not

be taking this ship." Qui-Gon gestured with his head toward a lone  vehicle

in the corner of the launch bay. "I believe that this one will better serve

our purposes."

Obi-Wan looked  momentarily  confused,  then  he  nodded.  He  gently

steered Lena away from the Degarian II and guided her to a shadowy area  of

the platform.

Qui-Gon approached the pilot of the smaller ship. "We're looking  for

passage to Coruscant," he explained in a low voice. "We'd like to leave  as

soon as possible."

The pilot stopped what he was doing and stood  to  his  full  height,

which was considerable. He did not say anything at first, but simply looked

Qui-Gon in the eye. Qui-Gon returned his gaze without  flinching.  He  felt

confident that this man was not in league with the Cobral. Flying with  him

would be relatively safe.

"I can fly you to Coruscant," the pilot finally said.  He  named  his

fee, which seemed a fair price.

Qui-Gon agreed. "We have some business to attend to, but will  return

shortly," he said. The pilot nodded. "I will be ready."

Qui-Gon turned and headed back to Obi-Wan and Lena. Now he  only  had

to make it appear as if they were leaving the planet on the Degarian II, as

planned.

"Time to board," he said in a  normal  voice  as  he  walked  up  the

boarding ramp. Then he quietly added to Obi-Wan, "Let me do the talking."

The Degarian II was a large and comfortable ship, with  a  diplomatic

lounge and roomy sleeping quarters for its passengers. The  Jedi  and  Lena

were greeted by a droid host as soon as they got on board.

Qui-Gon was surprised to see that the droid was identical to those he

and Obi-Wan had cut down earlier in the evening, but greeted the  droid  as

if he were expecting him. After  chatting  for  a  few  brief  moments  and

accepting a message of welcome from Senator Crote,  Qui-Gon  declared  that

they were all very  tired  and  would  like  to  retire  to  their  resting

quarters.

"That will be fine," the droid replied. "I can show you the way."  It

led them down a long hall to a trio of spacious rooms.

"Thank you," Qui-Gon said. "Please be  sure  to  wake  us  before  we

arrive."

The droid nodded. "Of course. We have clearance to  leave  in  twenty

minutes." He stood for a moment, as if waiting to make sure  that  each  of

them went into a room. Lena yawned and said good  night,  then  disappeared

through a doorway. Obi-Wan did the same, and Qui-Gon followed.

Qui-Gon waited for a good fifteen minutes before knocking  on  Lena's

door.

"We're getting off early," Qui-Gon said as  Obi-Wan  appeared  behind

him.

Lena looked confused. "Do you think it is safe?" she asked.

"Safer than staying on board," Obi-Wan replied with a grimace.

Qui-Gon started down the hall and the others followed closely behind.

They escaped through a small hatch at the back of  the  ship  just  as  the

craft's engines hummed to life. They were boarding the other  ship  by  the

time the Degarian II disappeared into the atmosphere above them.

As soon as everyone was safely on board, Qui-Gon explained  what  had

just transpired. "I'm afraid Senator Crote is not what he appears  to  be."

He pulled a travel order bearing the official Fregan senatorial  seal  from

his pocket. It also bore Senator Crote's signature. "I found  this  on  the

thug who tried to steal Rutin's evidence."

Lena's eyes widened. "The senator?" she exclaimed. "I felt certain he

was above this - that he was not part of the corruption."

"I have felt certain of many things that have not been  so,"  Qui-Gon

replied. "There are many hidden truths in a galaxy such as ours."

Lena sat back and rubbed her eyes. She was  clearly  overwhelmed.  It

seemed there was no end to the Cobral web of lies.

"Obviously I did not think it worth the risk to fly on  the  Degarian

II," Qui-Gon continued. He flashed a brief  smile.  "I  think  we've  taken

enough risks already."

The small vessel took off a short while later, and the Jedi and  Lena

settled in for the journey. Though the ship was not nearly as large  or  as

fancy as the Degarian II, Qui-Gon noticed that a sense of  calm  came  over

the group as they rose into  the  air.  They  were  finally  leaving  Frego

behind.

When the ship was about halfway to Coruscant,  Qui-Gon  was  startled

out of his meditative state by the buzz of  his  comlink.  A  moment  later

Yoda's familiar voice began to speak.

"Been attacked the Degarian II has," he said  simply.  His  statement

was followed by a few seconds of silence. Then, "Survivors there are not."

CHAPTER 18

Jedi Master Mace Windu met Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Lena at the  landing

platform. It had been a long journey, and it was  afternoon  on  the  city-

planet of Coruscant. The sun was high in the sky, making reflections on the

thousands of on-planet transport vehicles and glinting off of the  towering

skyscrapers.

"You must be Lena Cobral," Master Windu said, taking her hand  for  a

moment. "It is good to finally meet you."

He looked at each of them in turn before leading them into  the  Jedi

Temple. "We are grateful that you are safe," he said. "The news of  Senator

Crote came as a surprise, and obviously not a pleasant one. Then  when  the

Degarian II was destroyed..."

Obi-Wan winced as he remembered how close they had all come to  being

killed.

"We would like to get Lena on the stand  as  soon  as  possible,"  he

said, changing the subject.

"Of course," Mace  agreed.  "The  chancellor  has  called  a  special

hearing for this afternoon. It is scheduled to start in just a  few  hours.

The entire senate will be present."

"Excellent," Qui-Gon said. "We do not want to give Senator  Crote  or

the Cobral time to realize that their plan has failed -  that  we  are  all

still very much alive." He briefly touched Lena's  shoulder.  "And  we  can

take care of this matter once and for all. It is best for Frego, I think."

Lena nodded. "In the meantime I'd like to freshen up  and  change  my

clothes." She gestured to her dirty travel clothing. "I fear  this  is  not

appropriate for a special session of the Galactic Senate."

Obi-Wan  smiled.  Even  under  extreme  pressure,  Lena  attended  to

details. He would miss her when their mission was over, he realized. And it

would be over very soon.

"We have readied some chambers in the Fregan consulate for you," Mace

said. "We believe that Senator Crote will be out of the building until  the

hearing. But if we run into him we must all behave as though  we  have  not

linked him to the Cobral in any way."

"I understand," Lena said. "But I hope you are right when you say  he

is out of the building."

Mace led the way to Lena's temporary quarters  and  the  Jedi  waited

while she quickly freshened up and changed her clothes.

Obi-Wan was amazed when she reemerged a few minutes later.  Her  hair

had been tied into an elaborate twist, and a pair of sparkling gem earrings

dangled from her earlobes. A simple  light  blue  gown  hung  just  to  her

ankles. She looked lovely and not at all like she had been through a  long,

harrowing night.

The group left the consulate and went directly to the Senate.

Lena gasped when she entered the Senate chamber. "I had no  idea  the

galaxy was so big!" she whispered to Obi-Wan nervously.

Obi-Wan gave her a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine,"  he  whispered

back. "Remember, you are doing what is right."

Lena squared her shoulders and nodded as the group took  their  place

on the large floating platform. She took her seat as the platform  smoothly

glided toward the  front  of  the  giant  chamber.  The  session  was  just

beginning, and Senators from all over the galaxy were craning  their  heads

to see who would be speaking at this special meeting.

After a few minutes the murmur echoing throughout the room  began  to

die down. Chancellor Valorum signaled to Lena that it was time for  her  to

speak.

Steadying herself on her chair, she got to her feet. For a moment she

was silent as she looked out at the thousands of faces staring back at her.

Obi-Wan could only guess at what was running through her mind. She had been

through so much, come so far. Now her fate was in the hands  of  strangers.

Would they believe her? Would they care?

Lena's voice did not wobble as she spoke out about the  Cobral.  When

she linked the crime family to Senator Crote there  was  a  murmur  in  the

chamber followed by respectful silence. Obi-Wan could  tell  Lena  had  the

attention of every being in the room as she spoke of crimes, abused  power,

and the evil Cobral hold on Frego. Then she told her own  story,  including

the death of her husband and cousin. And finally Senator Crate's attempt to

have them all killed.

There was an uproar in the chamber as a stunned Senator Crote  leaped

to his feet. "You are lying!" he shouted. "I have done nothing but good for

your planet!"

But Obi-Wan could tell by the look on the senator's face that the man

knew the tide was against him as Lena presented the proof -  not  only  his

link to the thug who had attacked her, but transmissions  that  linked  him

definitively      with the destruction of the Degarian II. His political  career

- and in fact his life as a free man was over.

It did not take long to tally the vote.  Senator  Crote  was  removed

from office, and the Cobral were immediately ordered under  arrest,  to  be

tried for their crimes. Once a new government was in place, a  new  senator

of Frego would be elected.

Obi-Wan beamed. He was  so  proud  of  Lena,  of  all  that  she  had

accomplished for her planet and her people.

Because of her, Frego would finally get its new beginning, its chance

at a new life.

CHAPTER 19

Back at the Fregan consulate, a small party was going  on  in  Lena's

chambers. There was much talk of the success of the testimony and  the  new

road ahead. A few senators were so impressed by Lena's testimony that  they

suggested she run for the Fregan senatorial position.

"I have no interest in such a position," she replied flatly. "I  will

return to Frego to  help  put  the  transition  government  in  place.  But

afterward it will be time for me to start a new life on a new planet."

She winked at Obi-Wan, and  he  had  a  feeling  that  politics  were

definitely in Lena's future. Perhaps she would get a position as an aide of

some sort on Coruscant. If she did, he realized, he might get  to  see  her

from time to time....

After the small group had shared a celebratory  meal  together,  Lena

announced that she wanted to get some rest. "So much has happened, and  I'd

like a little time to digest it all. Soon enough I'll be  heading  back  to

Frego. I'm afraid I won't be getting much rest there."

Qui-Gon nodded. He knew how much work it was to  change  governments.

"I certainly think a rest is in order," he said. "Jedi  Master  Mace  Windu

and I have Temple business to attend to, but I will be back  shortly.  Obi-

Wan can stay with you, if you like."

"That's very kind, but I'd really like some time alone," Lena replied

graciously.

Obi-Wan tried to hide his disappointment as he nodded.  "Of  course,"

he said.

While Mace and Qui-Gon left for the Temple, Obi-Wan lingered  outside

Lena's door. He wanted to respect her wishes, but also wanted to stay close

by in case she changed her mind. The door to the adjacent chamber was  open

and the room was empty. Obi-Wan entered  and  sat  down  in  a  comfortable

chair. From here he could hear what was going on in Lena's room.

Obi-Wan had just closed his eyes when he heard a familiar  voice.  It

was not Lena's, and it was not friendly.

"Surprised to see me, Lena dear?" it said. "I suppose you  would  be.

But then I thought you loved surprises."

There was a muffled sound, as if the intruder was fiddling with  some

clothing. Then Obi-Wan heard Lena gasp.

Obi-Wan was out in the hallway in less than a second. With  his  hand

on his lightsaber, he pressed the door controls. But nothing happened.  The

door was jammed.

Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber. He'd have to cut  through  the  door.

But as his blade touched the entrance, something told him not to cut.

Concentrating, he closed his eyes. He heard a  very  slight  scraping

right in front of him. Lena was just centimeters away - on the  other  side

of the door. There was no way for him to cut through without putting her at

risk.

"I should have done this years ago," the intruder continued. "Perhaps

then I could have saved my favorite son. The one I loved the most. The  one

I cherished."

Zanita.

"I tried to save him, I really did. But once word  got  out  that  he

wanted to betray the family - that  you  had  talked  him  into  testifying

against his own flesh and blood, there was nothing I could  do.  It  was  a

great loss for me, yes. But necessary."

Lena let go of a sob. "Necessary?" she echoed in disbelief.  "Zanita,

he was your own son!"

"I know that, Lena. Actually, I rather wished he had been a daughter.

You see, boys and men are nothing but foolish pawns. They always need to be

told what to do, and half the time they still do it wrong. Things on  Frego

were a mess until I took control.  I  organized  our  forces  and  got  the

government to see matters our way. Everything was going just fine until you

came along. You stole my Rutin's heart and coerced his mind."

"Rutin had a mind of his own," Lena said quietly.

Scanning  the  wall,  Obi-Wan  tried  to  remember  the  position  of

everything inside the quarters. His hands were damp  with  sweat,  and  his

heart was pounding. He didn't have much time to act, or any room for error.

Zanita acted as if she didn't  hear  her  daughter-in-law.  "And  now

because of you I stand to lose my other two sons as  well,"  she  went  on.

"But of course I'm not going to let that happen."

Obi-Wan heard an ominous click. He had to act  -  he  just  hoped  he

wasn't already too late. Raising his lightsaber, he pushed the  blade  into

the wall.

"Would you like a moment to fix your hair,  darling?"  Zanita  asked.

"You might be seeing Rutin in a few moments."

Obi-Wan sliced through the wall with remarkable speed -  and  stepped

inside just in time to see Lena fall to the floor, meters away. She  landed

with a sickening thud and lay completely still.

Still holding a blaster in her hand, Zanita leveled the barrel at her

daughter-in-law's chest.  She  did  not  seem  to  be  aware  of  Obi-Wan's

presence.

Obi-Wan tore his eyes away from Lena and took  several  steps  toward

Zanita. She whirled around suddenly, the blaster now aimed at him.

"Ah, a Jedi," she said. "Of course."

She  fired  several  rapid  blasts.  Obi-Wan  was  surprised  by  her

incredible accuracy, and had to dodge and weave to avoid being hit  by  two

and deflect three of the bolts with his saber at the same time.

Stepping forward, he felt one of the bolts graze his  robe.  He  spun

around and leaped into the air, landing on Zanita's right side and grabbing

the blaster. Zanita hurled herself forward onto Lena's body. Her  shoulders

shook violently as several sobs escaped her throat.

The true leader of the Cobral had been  defeated,  and  was  probably

thinking of the time she would soon be spending in prison.

Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber and re-clipped  it  to  his  belt.

There was a small hole in his robe where the blaster bolt had grazed him.

He fingered it gingerly, grateful that he was not wounded. But Lena..

.

All of a sudden Obi-Wan heard a rushing sound behind him.

"Obi-Wan, look out!" someone shouted. It was Qui-Gon.

For a split second Obi-Wan was not sure where to look.  Then  he  saw

the glimmer of a weapon in Zanita's hand. It was a vibroblade.

Before Obi-Wan could disarm her a second time, Zanita had plunged the

reverberating blade into her chest.

A moment later she fell to the floor next to Lena, dead.

CHAPTER 20

Qui-Gon looked up from his sleep couch in his quarters  at  the  Jedi

Temple to see his Padawan standing in the doorway.

"I thought you might like to come with me to see Lena," he explained.

Obi-Wan shifted his feet slightly, and Qui-Gon was  reminded  of  the

young boy he had taken as a Padawan learner more than  four  years  before.

Impatient and headstrong, but also unsure. They had come a long  way  since

then. But at that moment Qui-Gon was very aware that the younger Jedi still

sought his affection and approval. Qui-Gon could not  blame  him,  and  was

even grateful. Soon enough Obi-Wan would be a Jedi Knight in his own right,

and would no longer need him. For the moment, however, he was still a boy.

Things between them had not been very smooth of late,  Qui-Gon  knew.

He felt a twinge of guilt. He was not sure why it was so difficult for  him

to confide in the boy when it came to his feelings. Like  many  things,  it

simply was.

"I would like that," Qui-Gon said, getting to his feet. "How  is  she

doing?"

"The blow to her head  when  she  fell  was  quite  severe,"  Obi-Wan

replied. "But she is recovering  well  and  is  set  to  be  released  this

afternoon. She is planning to return to Frego the day after tomorrow."

Qui-Gon set his pace to match Obi-Wan's as they made their  way  down

the corridor. "Physical wounds heal quickly," he said quietly. "It  is  the

emotional ones that require more time."

Qui-Gon was silent as they made their way  down  the  hall.  Then  he

spoke. "When Tahl died, the wound was so broad  and  so  deep  that  I  was

certain I could not live. I could not go on. And in my pain I was blind  to

those around me - those who also loved and mourned Tahl."

"I grieved her as well," Obi-Wan said. "But I knew that my grief  did

not match yours, that it never would. I did not know how to help you. I was

lost."

Suddenly Qui-Gon stopped and turned to face his Padawan.  "I  am  the

one who was lost, Padawan. You were generous and patient  with  me.  And  I

needed that patience. I still carry the wound I suffered when I lost  Tahl.

I will for the rest of my life."

Obi-Wan nodded solemnly. "I know," he said softly.

Qui-Gon placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I am grateful for  your

efforts to help me through my pain. For a long time I was not ready to hear

your words, but you were still right to speak them. Thanks to  you  I  have

found myself again - I have found a way to go on. Your words... you  are  a

comfort to me. Thank you."

Obi-Wan let out a deep breath and smiled. "You're welcome," he said.