THE DANGEROUS RESCUE

CHAPTER 1

Obi-Wan Kenobi heard the door slide  shut  behind  him.  The  locking

system clicked and whirred.

He stopped short as a wave of helplessness overwhelmed him.

"No," he said.

His companion, Astri Oddo, turned. "What is it?"

Obi-Wan faced the closed door with despair. "I can't leave him."

"But he ordered you to go."

Placing his hands against the door, Obi-Wan shook his head. "I can't.

"

Astri waited a moment. She did not move, but he felt her  impatience.

Her newly shaved head gleamed in the faint gray light. A  heavy  mist  fell

like rain and gathered in droplets on their skin.

"Obi-Wan, we don't have time," she  said.  "I  have  to  get  to  the

Temple."

Obi-Wan nodded, but still he could not  move.  Astri's  father,  Didi

Oddo, was dying at the Jedi Temple. Astri carried the antitoxin that  would

save him. Astri had been a chef at her father's caf©, and she  had  bravely

joined Obi-Wan in his bold plan to break into Jenna Zan Arbor's secret lab.

They had succeeded in only part of their mission. They had  retrieved

the needed antitoxin. But Obi-Wan's Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, was still inside.

Obi-Wan spun around and gazed quickly down the dark street, searching

every shadow. "Where are Cholly, Weez, and Tup? They can arrange  transport

for you."

"They're not here," Astri said, anger tightening  her  voice  as  she

scanned the street. "I knew we couldn't trust them."

Obi-Wan dismissed the thought  of  the  three  scoundrels.  They  had

agreed to watch for Ona Nobis, the bounty hunter who Astri had impersonated

to get inside. They were supposed to warn Obi-Wan and Astri if she arrived,

but they had not. As a result, Jenna Zan Arbor  had  known  that  intruders

were inside, and Qui-Gon had been trapped. Obviously, Cholly, Weez, and Tup

had fled.

But they weren't important to Obi-Wan now. Getting Astri back to  the

Temple was. As was getting himself back into the  secret  lab  so  that  he

could fight side by side with his Master.

"Let me contact Tahl," he said. Astri handed him her comlink. He  had

already given his own to Qui-Gon, along with his lightsaber.

Jedi Knight Tahl's crisp voice came  through  a  moment  later.  "I'm

here," she said tersely.

Quickly, Obi-Wan outlined the situation. "Jenna Zan Arbor is  holding

another prisoner who she claims Qui-Gon doesn't know, but who is  close  to

him. What do you think that means?"

"I have an idea," Tahl said. "Go on."

"Poison will be released in the  prisoner's  bloodstream  if  Qui-Gon

leaves the building. He ordered me to leave the lab and conduct Astri  back

to the Temple. He said that safe passage for the  antitoxin  was  the  most

important thing. I... felt I had to go, Tahl."

"Of course you did," Tahl said crisply. "Qui-Gon was right  to  order

you. But I don't want you to leave Simpla-12."

Obi-Wan felt relief flood through him. He was only a Padawan Learner.

He would need the permission of a Jedi Master in order to disobey  Qui-Gon,

even if his Master was currently a captive.

"What about Didi?" Astri asked urgently.

"Don't worry, Astri. Jedi Master Adi Gallia and  her  Padawan,  Siri,

are due to arrive on Simpla-12 at any moment. You should see their ship  in

a few seconds. The pilot  can  bring  you  back  to  the  Temple  with  the

antitoxin. Obi-Wan, you will work with Adi Gallia and Siri to  rescue  Qui-

Gon. We'll start with a small team, but we're sending more Jedi to  Simpla-

12 in case you need them."

Obi-Wan saw a glint of silver in the leaden sky. "I see  their  ship.

I'll get back to you."

He ended the communication and watched as the small, sleek  transport

landed in a dirt field nearby. He had worked with Adi and Siri before.  Adi

was a brilliant and resourceful Jedi with a gift for intuition. Siri was  a

tough fighter and faced danger  without  ruffling  a  hair.  The  relations

between the two Padawans could be bumpy, but he could not ask for a  better

team to rescue Qui-Gon.

He saw Adi's familiar regal figure stride down the landing ramp.  The

smaller, blond Siri followed. Adi's  sharp  gaze  scanned  the  surrounding

area, missing nothing. Then she hurried toward Obi-Wan and Astri.

She nodded at Obi-Wan and turned her gaze to Astri. "The transport is

waiting. May the Force be with you."

Even at a moment of great urgency, Astri thought of others.  She  put

her hand on Obi-Wan's arm. "I know Qui-Gon will be safe."

"And I know Didi will be well," Obi-Wan told her.

They had been through much together. Astri had no Jedi  training,  no

Force-sensitivity, and could barely manage to hit  a  target  with  blaster

fire. Yet Obi-Wan had come to admire her many skills. Her fear was  obvious

but she never failed to charge ahead.

Now she fumbled as she withdrew the vibroblade from her belt.  "Here.

You might need this."

He took it from her. "Thanks. I'll see you back at the Temple."

Biting her lip, Astri nodded. Then she rushed off, wobbling a bit  in

the thigh-high boots she had donned to impersonate Ona Nobis.

Siri's hand rested lightly on her lightsaber hilt. Her  bright  blond

hair was combed straight back and tucked behind her ears.  Her  no-nonsense

appearance matched the way she attacked a problem. She did not waste time.

"Tahl contacted us a moment ago," she told Obi-Wan.  "Zan  Arbor  has

blocked out all communications from the lab, but Qui-Gon managed to  get  a

last message through to the Temple. Zan Arbor has locked  herself  in  with

the other prisoner. If Qui-Gon attempts to come through the door, she  will

kill the captive. He is searching for another way inside that room."

"Did he see the other prisoner?" Obi-Wan asked.

Siri shook her head.

"We think we know who he is," Adi said. "He is a Jedi Master."

Obi-Wan was startled. "She was able to hold two Jedi Masters hostage?

" How could such a thing happen?

"Noor R'aya is an elder Jedi," Adi explained. "He does  not  live  at

the Temple. He no longer goes on missions, but he chose  to  live  out  his

remaining  days  in  seclusion  and  meditation  on  his  home  planet.  He

disappeared several weeks ago, and we've been searching for him."

"We traced his disappearance to the bounty hunter, Ona  Nobis,"  Siri

explained. "As soon as we told Tahl this,  she  told  us  about  Jenna  Zan

Arbor's involvement. Noor R'aya must be the other being Qui-Gon  sensed  at

the lab."

"Our first problem is  getting  in,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "There  are  no

windows and only one door. Other Jedi teams are on their way, but the  more

we delay, the more we risk Qui-Gon's and Noor R'aya's lives. And  Simpla-12

has no security police. It's just us."

"It's not a problem," Adi said serenely. "We have a way in."

CHAPTER 2

"We've learned through our contacts that someone  is  looking  for  a

large shipment of black market assassin droids for protection on Simpla-12,

" Adi said. "We know this person is Jenna Zan Arbor. We've tracked down the

droid dealers. Now we just need to get the dealers to agree to  smuggle  us

inside along with the shipment."

"When is the transfer supposed to happen?" Obi-Wan asked anxiously.

"As soon as possible,"  Adi  replied.  "The  droid  sellers  got  the

definite impression that Zan Arbor is planning to  leave  the  planet.  She

could have lied, but I'm  guessing  her  departure  plans  are  behind  the

urgency of the request. She needs protection in  order  to  leave  and  she

needs protection wherever she goes. She knows the Jedi are on her trail."

"If she's planning to leave, we can't wait for reinforcements,"  Obi-

Wan observed.

Adi nodded grimly. "I agree. Let's head for the warehouse  where  the

droids are being loaded. The sellers are waiting for us."

The warehouse was a dingy metal structure that tilted  alarmingly  to

one side. The foundation was sunk deep into the mud.  Simpla-12's  constant

cloud cover made for frequent rain, and  Obi-Wan,  Siri,  and  Adi  slogged

through ankle-deep mud to reach the entrance.

As Obi-Wan pushed open the door, he heard familiar voices.

"Gibbertz and ham, these droids are old. Couldn't you have found some

newer models?"

"Oh, of course, why didn't you say so? Let  me  reach  into  my  deep

pocket full of credits and pay for them."

Obi-Wan groaned aloud. "You don't mean to tell me," he  said  to  Adi

and Siri, "that the droid sellers are Cholly, Weez, and Tup?"

"You know them?" Adi asked.

Just then, Cholly caught sight of Obi-Wan. "My friend!" he cried in a

warm voice that did not disguise his nervousness.

"Jedi Kenobi!" Weez echoed as Tup slid behind him to  hide.  "We  did

not expect you!" "Why?" Obi-Wan asked, walking toward  them.  "Because  you

thought I was Zan Arbor's prisoner? Because you said you would prevent  Ona

Nobis from approaching the building, and ran away instead?"

"Well, no," Weez said, shifting his feet nervously. "I  wouldn't  say

that's why."

Tup peeked out from behind him. "We are on your side, Obi-Wan."

"As long as you don't have to risk your own necks," Obi-Wan observed.

"Well, of course," Weez said. "But we are like that with everyone!"

"Wait, let me think. Did we ever say we were brave? I don't think so!

" Cholly pointed out.

"And Ona Nobis was a very frightening being," Weez said.

"Woosh," Tup said, blowing out a breath. "You must admit that. But we

did follow her!"

"You did?" Obi-Wan asked sharply. "Where did she go?"

"To her own transport," Cholly answered. "She left Simpla-12, we know

that."

At least they had given him one piece of information. Ona  Nobis  was

gone for good. She had told Zan Arbor that she would not work for  her  any

longer. She had more profitable clients.

"You can make it up to me now," Obi-Wan said, frowning. "You let  the

Jedi down once. Do not do it again."

"Never, never, never," Weez said, shaking his head.

"Unless there is terrible danger," Tup added quickly.

"This shouldn't be dangerous for you," Adi said. "All we want you  to

do is let us hide in your shipment of droids to Zan Arbor. We will  find  a

way to sneak out after you have left."

"Ah," Cholly said. "That would be after we get paid, then?"

"Yes," Adi said impatiently. "We just need a way into the building."

Cholly, Weez, and Tup exchanged  glances.  "Excuse  me  so  much  for

asking this," Cholly said. "But what is in it for us?"

"In other words, it sounds risky,"  Weez  explained  helpfully.  "And

there's no reward for our risk."

"Well, we're not going to pay you," Adi said.  She  fixed  her  dark,

commanding gaze on the three, who squirmed at her scrutiny. "Is  that  what

you are suggesting?"

"Of course not," Tup said stoutly.

"Unless, of course, getting into the lab is very important to  you  -

important enough to pass along a few credits..." Cholly's voice trailed off

when Adi continued to stare at him. "It  was  just  a  thought,"  he  added

weakly.

"How about this," Siri suggested in a pleasant tone. "You help us  or

we'll smash all your droids."

"Siri!" Adi's voice was sharp. "Jedi do not threaten."

Siri's mouth closed, but she continued to stare fiercely  at  Cholly,

Weez, and Tup, her hand on the hilt of her lightsaber.

"I have two reasons you should help us," Obi-Wan said, trying to keep

the impatience from his voice. They did  not  have  time  for  this  delay.

"First, because you owe me. And second, because Jedi  make  better  friends

than enemies. And you three can use friends, I think."

"That is true, since everyone despises us," Tup agreed sadly.

"All right, we'll help you," Cholly decided. "But  wait  until  we're

out of the building before you start your Jedi saber rattling."

Siri paced around the gravsled  hauler,  where  the  three  had  been

loading droids. There was no exterior shell on a gravsled, just a  platform

and a windscreen. "But how can we hide? They'll see us at once."

"Don't you have a covered vehicle, like a skiff?" Adi asked.

"We could barely afford the gravsled," Cholly said. "But let me  show

you something. First, we have to unload the droids. Weez, Tup!"

Cholly, Weez, and Tup unloaded the handful of droids that had already

been loaded onto the gravsled. Then Cholly pressed a lever,  and  a  hidden

compartment in the gravsled slid open. It was cleverly disguised so that it

appeared to be part of the vehicle's shell.

"We occasionally have the need for secrecy in transporting  objects,"

Cholly explained. "You mean smuggling," Siri said.

Adi peered into the opening. "Not much room, but I think we  can  all

fit."

"You have to hide first. Then we load the droids," Weez explained.

"That means you have to unload the droids before  we  can  get  out,"

Siri observed with a frown.

Adi drummed her fingers on her holster.  "Not  the  ideal  situation.

You'll have to offer to unload the droids as soon as we get inside."

Cholly did not look happy at this, but he nodded.

"What about programming  the  droids?"  Adi  asked.  "Did  Zan  Arbor

already give you instructions?"

Weez shook his head. "She's going to program them herself."

"Offer to do it. Make something up," Adi  suggested.  "Then  sabotage

them in some way. Better for us not to face twenty attack droids."

"We'll do our best," Cholly said. "You'd better get inside  or  we'll

be late for our appointment."

Adi folded her long, elegant body into the small compartment and  lay

flat. Siri followed. Obi-Wan squeezed inside.

"Oof," Siri muttered. "Watch your elbows." "I've got no place to  put

them," Obi-Wan responded.

"Quiet, you two," Adi said. "We won't be here for long."

Tup's cheerful face loomed above them. "I'm going to shut  the  panel

now. Don't worry, there's plenty of ventilation."

"I hope so," Obi-Wan said  softly  as  the  panel  slid  closed  just

millimeters from their upturned faces. "I don't  like  having  to  put  our

trust in these three."

"Maybe because your friends seem so untrustworthy," Siri said.

"They aren't my friends," Obi-Wan muttered. Why did Siri always  have

to needle him?

For long minutes, they listened to Cholly, Weez, and Tup loading  the

droids, quarreling and fussing all the way.

"The more we fit, the more  she'll  take,  if  we're  lucky!"  Cholly

exclaimed. "Don't put them in that way, Tup,  you're  taking  up  too  much

room."

"Woosh, I'm doing the best I can."

Adi sighed. "This is taking too long." She thumped on the top of  the

panel. "Hurry it up!" she shouted.

"Yes, yes, we're hurrying. Only a few minutes more," Cholly called.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes. Why was he always asked to be patient at the

moment he  was  jumping  out  of  his  skin?  Every  second  of  delay  was

frustrating.

Adi spoke quietly. "Knowing Qui-Gon, I am sure that he  has  his  own

plan, Obi-Wan. We are not his only means of rescue."

"I am sure that he does as well," Obi-Wan said,  grateful  for  Adi's

words of reassurance.

"There is just one thing that troubles me,"  Adi  murmured.  "I  only

hope his plan does not collide with ours."

CHAPTER 3

For days, while he was stuck in the vapor-filled chamber, all Qui-Gon

had wanted to do was get  out  and  stretch  his  muscles.  Thanks  to  his

Padawan, he had been released from the chamber. But now,  when  he  finally

had his freedom, he found himself in an even tighter space - a  ventilation

shaft.

Jenna Zan Arbor had sealed herself into the room where she  held  the

other prisoner. It had been a wise move. She knew that  Qui-Gon  would  not

dare to break in. She knew he would not gamble with the other being's life.

He could not use Obi-Wan's lightsaber to get  through  the  door.  He

could not take any aggressive action. With a sensor in his body and one  in

the other prisoner's, both of them could be dead in an instant.

He would have to use stealth. He had found the ventilation shaft that

ran through the ceiling. He had been crawling for what  felt  like  a  long

time. He could not make a sound to alert her, and he had to be  mindful  of

his direction as well. The various shafts  were  a  maze.  But  if  he  was

careful, he could wind up in the ceiling over Zan Arbor's head.

What then? Qui-Gon wondered. He could drop down on  her  from  above.

But what if the trigger for the sensor was concealed in her clothing?  Even

if it were somewhere on a console, could he persuade  her  to  disable  the

sensors? Could he believe her if she said she had?

He didn't know the answers to those questions. But he could not  wait

outside the door, wondering what was going on inside.

He spied a vent ahead and carefully moved toward it. He  lowered  his

face and peered through.

He was over the lab at last. He saw the top of Zan Arbor's head.  The

same kind of transparent chamber he had been kept in was in the  middle  of

the room. It was filled with  a  cloudy  gas,  so  he  could  not  see  the

occupant.

Zan Arbor paced back and forth with short, quick steps. He recognized

the angry movement. Something else had gone wrong.

"Do not think you can fool me," Zan Arbor said furiously. "I know you

are willing yourself to die. You refuse to access the Force. I will not let

that happen!" She strode over to a bank of equipment. "You  want  to  die?"

she asked shrilly. "Then know what it feels like to die!"

She turned an indicator knob. Qui-Gon  did  not  know  what  she  was

doing. He could only imagine. Zan  Arbor's  goal  was  to  break  down  the

essential elements of the  Force  into  something  she  could  measure  and

control. Qui-Gon knew firsthand how ruthless she could be  if  her  subject

did not cooperate.

Hold on, he urged the prisoner silently.

She switched off the dial. "Well? Are  you  still  so  interested  in

dying? Now show me the Force!" Qui-Gon saw her  send  a  sharp  gaze  to  a

chronometer to check the time. She was under some kind of pressure. Why?

"All right, then. If I cannot use you, you are just a liability.  But

I'll take all your blood before you die, just for being so uncooperative."

Her hand went for the dial again. It was time to act.  Qui-Gon  eased

out Obi-Wan's lightsaber in one swift, practiced movement and  reared  back

to kick through the vent.

But he checked himself just in time as an indicator  buzzed  and  Zan

Arbor hesitated. She pressed the communication button.

A voice blared, "Droid shipment."

"It's about time," she snarled.

She whirled and stalked from the room without another  word.  Qui-Gon

settled back on his haunches, thinking. He could not release  the  prisoner

until he knew that Zan Arbor was immobilized and unable to  kill  him.  But

any delay could seal his doom completely.

He was more trapped in his freedom than he'd been as a prisoner. What

should he do?

CHAPTER 4

The gravsled ride was smooth while they  were  outside,  but  Cholly,

Weez, and Tup had trouble maneuvering the craft through the narrow hallways

of the lab. Each time Weez slammed into a wall,  Obi-Wan,  Astri,  and  Adi

were thrown against one another, and the droids rattled noisily overhead.

"That's enough!" Obi-Wan  recognized  Zan  Arbor's  commanding  tone.

"Just stop! You can unload where you are."

With a last shuddering lurch, the  repulsorlift  engine  lowered  the

gravsled to the floor.

"You can see that we only brought  you  the  finest  droids,"  Cholly

said.

"These are your finest? I'd hate to see the rest."

"If you pardon my saying this, this is Simpla12,  ma'am,"  Weez  said

respectfully. "There isn't much choice to be had."

"I suppose so. Give me the CIP."

Obi-Wan tensed. The Central Intelligence Processor would program  all

the droids at once. Adi had instructed Cholly to try to program the  droids

himself. Would Zan Arbor allow him to do so?

"There's the matter of our fee..." Cholly said.

"Not until I'm sure these droids are operational."

"I can program them for you, ma'am," Cholly  offered.  "Part  of  our

service. We aim to please!"

"It pleases me to program them myself. Give me the CIP."  Apparently,

Cholly hesitated, for Zan Arbor snapped, "Now!"

Adi let out a breath. Obi-Wan knew what she was  thinking.  It  would

have been easier if they didn't have the droids to contend with.

They heard a series of beeps and the sound of the  droids'  movements

as they were activated.

"Follow my voice command only,"  Zan  Arbor  rapped  out.  "You  will

surround and protect me. We will be leaving from the launch pad on sublevel

one in five minutes."

The droids beeped an affirmative response.

"Now unload them and I'll pay you the credits,"  Zan  Arbor  said  to

Cholly, Weez, and Tup. "Quickly!"

Overhead, Obi-Wan heard the noise of  droids  being  unharnessed  and

wheeled off the gravsled platform.

"Watch out, Tup!" Cholly called. "You just - " "I didn't! Weez - "

"Don't pull that way, push - "

"Not that way, over here, you idiots!" Zan Arbor shouted.

"I have it!"

"No, you don't!"

"I do!"

"No, you - "

A screeching noise and a great crash sent the gravsled shaking.

"Woosh," Tup said in a small voice. "Guess I didn't."

"Do it this way, Tup," Cholly shouted.

"If you didn't shout like that,  I  wouldn't  be  so  confused,"  Tup

dithered. "Just let me - - "

The gravsled rose slightly in the air. There was a crash.

"Turn off the engine! You're tipping it!" Zan  Arbor  screamed.  "The

droids are falling - - " "Gibbertz and ham, let me - "

"Don't touch that!" Cholly and Weez screamed at the same moment.

It was too late. Tup hit the hidden lever, and the  compartment  door

sprang open. Adi, Obi-Wan, and Siri tumbled out onto the floor. They rolled

away from the repulsorlift engine as the  gravsled  hovered  a  few  inches

above the floor.

"Jedi!" Zan Arbor screamed.

Most of the droids had been unloaded, and the Jedi had  landed  right

in the midst of them. The gravsled hemmed them in against the wall.

"Attack!" Zan Arbor shouted, backing away from the  gravsled.  "Shoot

to kill!"

Tup's face went white, and he dropped to the floor. Cholly  and  Weez

jumped off the gravsled. The droids wheeled, positioning the blasters built

in their arms.

Adi, Obi-Wan, and Siri reached for their  lightsabers.  Blaster  fire

erupted from every direction. They were caught in a deadly crossfire.

CHAPTER 5

Qui-Gon had just decided to  go  through  the  vent  and  rescue  the

prisoner when he heard the sound of blaster fire. That could mean only  one

thing. A Jedi team had arrived.

With one smooth motion  he  cut  through  the  shaft  with  Obi-Wan's

lightsaber and dropped to the floor. Then he  accessed  the  lab  door  and

burst out into the hallway, racing toward the sound.

He rounded the corner and swept the battle with one glance. The  Jedi

were faced with twenty armed droids. Obi-Wan had  no  light-saber,  just  a

vibroblade. Jenna Zan Arbor stood in the  opposite  corner,  watching.  The

sneer on her face announced that she was confident of victory.

Qui-Gon watched for a few extra  seconds  in  order  to  grasp  Adi's

strategy. Even while she mowed down droids, she protected Obi-Wan from  the

worst of the fire. She was using  a  series  of  short,  fast  combinations

designed to obscure the fact that she was steadily making  progress  toward

Jenna Zan Arbor and the hallway to the rest of the lab.

Obi-Wan was using the vibroblade effectively, but it was no match for

blaster fire. Qui-Gon decided, even as he leaped, that his job would be  to

protect his Padawan, leaving Adi free to go after Zan Arbor.

A flash of joyful relief lit Obi-Wan's face as he  saw  Qui-Gon  sail

toward him. His moment of distraction was smoothly covered by Adi, who in a

lightning strike took out a droid who aimed a blaster at  Obi-Wan.  Qui-Gon

came down, knocking out two droids as he landed  and  whirling  to  deflect

fire from a third. He was surprised to find that although he had succeeded,

his reaction times were slow. He could not trust his body to move  quickly.

The days of captivity had taken a worse toll on him than he'd thought.

Qui-Gon received a sense of satisfaction  when  he  saw  Zan  Arbor's

expression turn from smugness to alarm. She knew now that  the  tide  would

turn against her. With a sharp command, she ordered four droids to surround

her. Her back was to the wall.

Qui-Gon accessed the Force to help him overcome his body's  weakness.

He deftly attacked, slashing through the metal bodies of the  droids  while

Siri whirled and dived, her lightsaber a blur. The  young  girl's  footwork

was impeccable. Obi-Wan was hampered by his vibroblade but kept up a steady

attack, sweat pouring down his face.

There were only five droids left,  excluding  the  guard  around  Zan

Arbor. Qui-Gon did not need to look at Adi for confirmation as he drove the

droids  toward  her.  They  would  catch  them  in   a   pincer   movement.

Understanding his intent, both Siri and Obi-Wan moved to flank him.

The plan would have worked perfectly if Tup hadn't chosen that moment

to make a break for safety. Hearing a  slight  lull  in  blaster  fire,  he

scrambled out from underneath the hovering gravsled arid dashed toward  the

hallway.

Unfortunately, he crashed into two droids, driving them  back  toward

Obi-Wan. The droids wheeled and raised their arms toward Tup,  prepared  to

blast him.

"G-giberbtz and h-ham!" Tup screamed.

Obi-Wan was closest. He accessed the Force and  leaped,  coming  down

with both feet hitting the two droids squarely. The droids wobbled and  the

blaster fire went awry. Obi-Wan landed and  swung  his  vibroblade  at  the

first droid. It raised its blaster toward Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon reached out a hand to use the Force to send the droid flying.

Nothing happened. Adi reversed direction to neatly slice the  second  droid

in two.

"Zan Arbor," Siri said tersely.

Jenna Zan Arbor had taken advantage of the distraction  to  slip  out

from behind the droids that were guarding her and dash down the  hall.  She

was just disappearing into a turbolift.

"There are stairs," Qui-Gon told Adi. "Second door on the left."

"Siri and I will follow," Adi told him, already starting off.

"We'll see to the prisoner," Qui-Gon said, signaling to Obi-Wan.

He raced down the hallway, his Padawan by his side. They  burst  into

the lab. Qui-Gon strode to the cloud-filled chamber  and  cut  through  the

material with Obi-Wan's lightsaber. The transparent  material  peeled  back

and gas escaped in a vaporous cloud.

The chamber was empty.

"We have been fooled," Qui-Gon said quietly. "Maybe Noor R'aya is  in

the other lab," Obi-Wan suggested.

Qui-Gon looked startled. "Noor R'aya? The prisoner was a Jedi?"

"Adi thinks so."

"She said I did not know him,  but  I  was  close  to  him,"  Qui-Gon

murmured. "Of course that is so. Every Jedi shares a bond."

"We should head for the launching pad," Obi-Wan said. "Zan Arbor said

it is on sub-level one.

"In that case," Qui-Gon said, "I am sure it is not. Come, Padawan."

He did not know for certain if he was right, but he had come to  know

the turnings of Zan Arbor's mind, the way she strategized. She would  enjoy

flipping the situation so that the Jedi were in the opposite place of where

they should be when she made her escape.

So instead of heading for sub-level one, Qui-Gon headed for the roof.

He did not trust the turbolift. No doubt she would have sabotaged it.

He took the stairs, Obi-Wan at his heels.

They burst out onto the roof just in time to see  Jenna  Zan  Arbor's

craft rise in the air. They saw the body of Noor R'aya in the seat next  to

her. He was slumped over as if he were too weak  to  raise  his  head.  She

smiled and waved a split second  before  the  craft  shot  into  the  upper

atmosphere.

They had lost her again.

CHAPTER 6

Obi-Wan waited while the Jedi medic, Winna Di Uni, attended  to  Qui-

Gon. She located the sensor implanted  in  his  bloodstream  and  carefully

extracted it. While he waited, Obi-Wan searched the lab  and  located  Qui-

Gon's light-saber. It was a great pleasure for him to place it back in  his

Master's hands.

"How is Didi?" Obi-Wan asked Winna.

She smiled. "On the mend. He is already  suggesting  better  ways  to

prepare his meals."

Qui-Gon groaned. "Whatever you  do,  don't  listen  to  him."  Didi's

abilities as a chef were dismal.

Winna touched Qui-Gon's shoulder. "You've been through a trauma, Qui-

Gon. Your body has not recovered fully. I suppose it would be fruitless for

me to tell you to take it easy."

Qui-Gon winced as he slid off the examination table.  "Not  until  we

find Noor."

Obi-Wan saw the signs of fatigue he had missed in his joy to have his

Master well and safe. Jenna Zan Arbor had drained Qui-Gon's body of  blood.

She had kept him confined for long periods of time. His  skin  looked  pale

and his face drawn. The experience had weakened him.

"Are you sure you shouldn't return to the Temple?" he  asked  Qui-Gon

in a low voice.

"No," Qui-Gon said sharply.

Adi and Siri strode into the room.

"We've checked all the computer files," Adi said crisply. "There's no

indication of where she might go next."

"There was an assistant, Nil," Qui-Gon said.

"Not anymore," Siri said. "We found him in one of the storage  rooms.

A lethal injection, we think."

"He was a liability," Qui-Gon said. He turned away. "She will stop at

nothing."

"Yes, that's why we must find her," Adi agreed quietly.

Cholly, Weez, and Tup peered around the corner.

"If you're no longer in need of our services, we thought we would  go

back to our poverty-stricken but basically safe existence," Cholly offered.

"She had the credits in her hand," Weez said.  "If  only  Tup  hadn't

started the engine - "

"Or knocked over the droids - "

"Woosh, everything is all my  fault,  all  the  time,  forever,"  Tup

complained.

"Yes, it is," Cholly and Weez said together.

Qui-Gon's comlink signaled. "It's Tahl."

A miniature hologram of Tahl appeared before them. "I am relieved  to

hear that you all are safe and that Didi  will  recover,"  she  said.  "The

Force is with us. Winna, how is Qui-Gon?"

"Fine," Qui-Gon said tersely.

"Excuse me, did I ask you that question?" Tahl demanded. She was  one

of the few Jedi who was brave enough to challenge Qui-Gon, let alone  tease

him. "Winna?"

"He has undergone a great trauma," Winna said. "My best advice  would

be to return to the Temple, but I know he  is  needed.  There  will  be  no

lasting damage. He just needs rest and food."

"Then you will release him on a mission?" Tahl asked.

"Release me?" Qui-Gon thundered irritably. "Am I still a captive?"

"No, you are a stubborn Jedi who might push himself  beyond  a  limit

his body cannot handle," Tahl answered.

"I see no danger to him," Winna said reluctantly. "I  have  seen  how

quickly Qui-Gon is able to recover his strength. As long  as  he  has  been

honest with me about how he is feeling and not covering up any weakness."

Qui-Gon glared at her.

"I'm sure he was covering them up," Tahl said crisply.  "However,  we

must pursue Jenna Zan Arbor. The Council wishes the two Jedi teams to  join

together to find Noor."

Obi-Wan glanced at Siri. So he would have to  work  with  her  again,

side by side. He hoped she had learned a little more humility  since  their

last mission.

"I have news for you, Obi-Wan," Tahl said. "And you will not like it.

Nor do I. As soon as she was assured that Didi would make a full  recovery,

Astri left the Temple. She has gone off to pursue Ona  Nobis  in  hopes  of

getting the reward."

"Astri is no match for Ona Nobis!" Obi-Wan cried in surprise.

Tahl sighed. "I know this. Yet there is nothing the Jedi can do.  She

does not wish our protection any longer. We cannot force it."

Obi-Wan felt frustration and worry battle within  him.  Yet  he  knew

Tahl was right. The Jedi did not impose protection. And his mission was  to

find Jenna Zan Arbor.

"Adi and Qui-Gon, contact me when you decide on your next move," Tahl

finished.

"Meanwhile, I am coordinating the search for Zan Arbor's ship."

"It's a big galaxy," Qui-Gon said.

"Then I'd better get going," Tahl said, and signed off.

More and more, Obi-Wan had grown  to  appreciate  having  Tahl  as  a

liaison  within  the  Temple.  When  they  rescued  a  blinded  Tahl   from

Melida/Daan, he had never expected how important she would become in  their

lives, as well as their missions.

"It's been a swell adventure, but we must be going," Cholly said.

Adi turned to them. "We are grateful for your help.  We  regret  that

you were caught in a battle."

Weez waved his hand. "It was nothing." "Especially when it was over,"

Tup said, blowing out a relieved breath.

Giving a last bow and a quick wave from Tup, the three  hurried  from

the lab. No doubt they were anxious to get  away  from  the  Jedi,  Obi-Wan

thought. It was no wonder that Cholly, Weez, and  Tup  were  such  hopeless

criminals. Their courage did not match their greed. At the  first  sign  of

trouble, they ran.

Qui-Gon turned to Adi. "Did you and Siri discover anything that could

help us while you were investigating Noor's disappearance?"

"I don't think so," Adi said thoughtfully, "but let  me  tell  you  a

little about him. Noor had a deep connection to the Force that led  him  to

choose a life of meditation when he became an elder. He left the Temple and

returned to his home planet, Sorl,  where  he  planned  to  live  in  quiet

seclusion. He built a simple home in the foothills of  the  great  mountain

range of Cragh. Things did not turn out quite the way he expected."

"As they seldom do," Qui-Gon noted.

Adi nodded. "When Siri and I reached Sorl, we discovered that to pass

the time, Noor had begun to craft small landscapes out  of  stone,  sticks,

and vegetation. He made small animals and figures and placed them in  these

imaginary landscapes, places he had seen over his long life. We saw them in

the yards and fields surrounding his home. They were charming. Beautiful."

"Ah," Qui-Gon said. "And they began to attract some attention."

Adi smiled. "From the children. They began to come by to  watch  Noor

work. He began to make toys for them. Soon he was involved in the  life  of

the community. His life of seclusion became a life of engagement."

"'Life surprises you. Accept the gift,"' Qui-Gon recited.  It  was  a

Jedi saying.

"So you see, all we know about Noor  will  not  help  us  here,"  Adi

finished. "I think we must concentrate on Jenna Zan Arbor. Yet so  much  of

her life is a mystery...."

Obi-Wan's comlink began to signal him. He stepped off a few paces  to

accept the communication.

"My name is No Muna and I am a medic at the Med Center on Sorrus,"  a

voice said. "I was given your name by Astri Oddo - "

"Is Astri all right?"

"I am afraid she is not. An accident -  she  is  not  conscious,  I'm

afraid. She gave me your name before she passed out. She asked you to  come

here. Yinn La Hi is the capital city of Sorrus, in the system of - "

"Yes, I know where it is," Obi-Wan interrupted. "Thank  you.  If  she

awakens, tell her I am on my way."

He cut the communication. The others had  stopped  talking  and  were

listening to him. He met Qui-Gon's gaze.

"I have to," he said.

Qui-Gon frowned, but Obi-Wan knew it was a  frown  of  concentration,

not displeasure.

"Yes," he said. "We cannot leave  Astri  on  Sorrus  alone.  But  the

chances of finding Zan Arbor and Noor diminish with every moment of  delay.

Adi and I will remain here to begin the search. You go with Siri to  Sorrus

and escort Astri back to the Temple, if she is able to travel. We'll either

meet back at the Temple or tell you where you must come." Qui-Gon seemed to

recall that he was supposed to collaborate with Adi. He turned to her.  "Do

you agree?"

There was a beat before Adi responded. "I agree." She turned to Siri.

"I am sending you alone with Obi-Wan. This means I am trusting you  not  to

engage with the bounty hunter Ona Nobis  or  pursue  any  lead  unless  you

contact me."

"The same goes for you, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon told him. "Ona  Nobis  will

have revenge on her mind if she  knows  you  are  on  Sorrus.  Keep  a  low

profile. Do not cause any disturbance. And contact us immediately after you

see Astri. Now let's find you some transport."

CHAPTER 7

Sorrus was a large planet in a busy system, and it was easy to find a

hauler making a direct run. After landing at the capital city  of  Yinn  La

Hi, Obi-Wan and Siri thanked the pilot.

"Now we'll have trouble," Obi-Wan said to Siri  as  they  exited  the

busy landing platform area. "There are no signs in the  cities  on  Sorrus,

and we have to find our way to the Med Center."

"Why don't we just ask someone?" Siri asked.

"We won't get very far. Sorrusians don't like strangers."

"You make everything so hard, Obi-Wan," Siri scoffed. "You just  have

to be polite." She approached a Sorrusian couple, their  arms  filled  with

produce from the open-air market.

"Excuse me," Siri said. "Can you tell us  where  the  Med  Center  is

located?"

The couple gave her  a  blank  stare,  then  moved  on,  chatting  in

Sorrusian as if Siri didn't exist.

"That was rude," Siri said. She hailed  a  young  Sorrusian  who  was

strolling by, his hands tucked into his tunic pockets.

"Excuse me. My companion and I are strangers here. We need directions

to - "

The young man wheeled about and walked away from them.

"Do you believe me now?" Obi-Wan asked. "Are you sure you were polite

enough?"

"They're positively paranoid," Siri grumbled, running a hand  through

her hair. "How are we going to find the place?"

"The center should be fairly large, and on a  main  street,"  Obi-Wan

said, his eyes scanning the street ahead. "And the pilot said he thought it

was close to the city center. It should be right around here."

After only a few minutes of quick walking, Obi-Wan and Siri found the

complex. Yinn La Hi was a teeming city, and the Med Center was  spread  out

over a large area. Soon it would take up even more space. A  new  wing  was

under construction.

"Now we'll have to get someone to  tell  us  where  Astri  is,"  Siri

observed as they walked through the  doors  into  a  gleaming  atrium  that

swarmed with Sorrusians.

"Why don't you try?" Obi-Wan asked. "You did so well earlier."

Siri gave him an  irritated  glance.  Obi-Wan  walked  ahead  to  the

reception desk.

"I received a message from No Muna that Astri Oddo was  brought  here

for treatment."

The Sorrusian clerk behind the  desk  said  nothing,  just  continued

tapping on the keyboard.

Obi-Wan leaned over the desk in frustration.  He  spoke  clearly  and

insistently. "My friend is hurt and I must see her!"

The clerk looked up at him warily. "What did you say your name was?"

"Obi-Wan Kenobi."

A spark of recognition lit the clerk's blank gaze. "Ah, I was told to

expect you. Please see Medic Rai Unlu. He is waiting for you over there."

Obi-Wan saw a short, slender Sorrusian standing by a pillar. He  wore

a med smock and carried a small datapad. Obi-Wan and Siri hurried over, and

Obi-Wan introduced himself.

"Oh, yes, Astri Oddo. Sad case. We do not know how she  received  her

injuries," the Sorrusian doctor said gravely. "Let  me  check  to  see  her

status." He pressed several keys. "Ah. She has regained consciousness. That

is a good sign." I must see her," Obi-Wan said.

"Of course. But first you must fill  out  registry  information.  All

foreigners must do so on Sorrus. You will have to go to Wing A,  Level  27,

Room 2245X. Astri is in Wing M, at the opposite end of the  complex.  After

you fill out the information, you can ask for directions to her room at the

Registry Office."

"Good luck," Siri muttered.

"But that will take too much time!" Obi-Wan objected. "I need to  see

her now."

"Why don't I fill out the papers while Obi-Wan  visits  Astri?"  Siri

suggested. "Would that be all right?"

Rai Unlu looked uncertain. "It is not procedure - "

"I've come so far to see her," Obi-Wan said persuasively. "And  she's

been badly hurt."

"All right," Rai Unlu said, looking around furtively. "But don't tell

anyone. I will take you to Astri. Your companion can follow signs  to  Wing

A. There will be signs to the Registry Office from there."

Siri nodded. "Good luck, Obi-Wan. I will come to Astri's room as soon

as I am finished."

Siri strode off, and Rai Unlu beckoned to Obi-Wan. "This way."

Obi-Wan followed him from the soaring  atrium  through  a  series  of

gleaming corridors. They stepped onto a moving ramp and were swept  through

wing after wing.

At last, Rai Unlu stepped off the ramp at Wing L. "We must walk  from

here."

They walked quickly through the wing, past the closed  doors  of  the

ward. Then they came to a sign that read NO ADMITTANCE.

"Restricted  ward  for  foreigners,"  Rai  Unlu  explained,  hurrying

through.

To  Obi-Wan's  surprise,  they  stepped  through  a  doorway  into  a

partially completed hallway. Small graysleds  with  construction  materials

littered the corridor, and through the open grid-work of the  ceiling  Obi-

Wan saw ducts and wires.

"The Med Center is very crowded. We had to put her in the new  wing,"

Rai Unlu said.

"But it's not finished," Obi-Wan said, stepping over a pail  full  of

rivets.

"She is still getting the best care," Rai Unlu assured  him.  "Sorrus

has the best med facilities in the galaxy."

It was a claim Obi-Wan had heard on  other  worlds.  Had  Astri  been

shuttled to this far wing because she was a  stranger?  Sorrusians  weren't

noted for their hospitality, but he expected a more sterile environment.

"She is just through here, third door on your left," Rai  Unlu  said.

"I must return. I have an emergency."

"Wait," Obi-Wan said.

"Sorry, must go," Rai Unlu said. "I'm being signaled. Emergency!"

He turned and almost ran down the hall.  Obi-Wan's  growing  wariness

turned to concern. He felt a disturbance in the  Force  that  alarmed  him.

Prepared for anything now, his hand went to his lightsaber hilt.

Cautiously, he opened the third  door  on  the  left.  Instead  of  a

private room, he found himself in a partially built  hospital  ward.  There

were beams overhead  and  a  durasteel  frame.  Only  two  walls  had  been

constructed.

He just had time to see  a  shadow  flicker,  nothing  more.  Obi-Wan

stepped back, lightsaber activated, as the bounty hunter Ona Nobis suddenly

flew from a beam overhead straight toward him.

CHAPTER 8

Obi-Wan had captured her laser whip back on  Simpla-12.  He  was  not

happy to see that she had replaced it. It danced  toward  him,  an  arc  of

supple, lethal light. He struck out at the whip before it reached him.  The

two lasers tangled and smoked.

He could not move as fast as Ona Nobis. That, he remembered. He could

not defeat her with quickness. She was an astoundingly agile  fighter  with

lightning-fast moves. Her mind was quick as well. She always had  surprises

up her sleeve.

Cleverness. Acrobatics. Cunning. Flexibility. She had  everything  he

had been taught was important in battle. His adversary  did  not  have  the

Force, but she might have the advantage.

In this partially enclosed space, he was too vulnerable. He must  get

out in the open. Obi-Wan drove Ona Nobis back  with  a  furious  flurry  of

moves, forcing her to  concentrate  on  defending  herself.  When  she  was

slightly off balance  he  vaulted  to  the  top  of  the  unfinished  wall.

Balancing for a moment, he leaped down into the construction site.

Here there were obstacles - graysleds, drills, large piles  of  metal

poles, blocks of stone, a durasteel skeleton of the exterior walls  of  the

wing, a deep, muddy pit. Yet he could use them for defense and attack. Here

the Force could help him.

The whip snaked to the top of the wall behind him, curling around  an

exposed rod. A moment later Ona Nobis used it to haul herself up. Her  head

swiveled toward him in the black visor she wore to conceal her  eyes.  Then

she leaped down, landing lightly, already  furling  the  whip  for  another

attack.

Her lips curled back from her teeth. "I've been  waiting  for  this,"

she said.

He was ready. Every sense was alert,  every  particle  of  his  being

focused on the battle ahead. He had to be. The trick was to get her  close.

From a distance, she used the  whip  to  devastating  effect.  If  he  were

closer, she would have no room to maneuver.

The perfect attack begins with your attention. Every pebble can be an

obstacle or an opportunity. Hone your focus. Add speed,  timing,  strategy,

surprise. Do not forget the Force is with you.

Obi-Wan leaped to his opponent's left side. He used a technique  Qui-

Gon called "false attack." He knew he would not win with this strategy, but

he did not mean to. He wanted to draw her forward toward him.

His lightsaber whirled  and  blurred  as  he  moved,  deflecting  her

curling whip with its spiked edge. He saw her hand move toward the  blaster

strapped to her hip and he blocked it with a flurry of moves  so  fast  she

had to concentrate to keep up.

The ground was treacherous with mud and debris, but he used the Force

to aid every step. He leaped on a pyramid of  stone  blocks  and  used  the

momentum to flip in midair and  come  at  her  left.  Instead  of  stepping

backward, she stepped forward, an unexpected move for anyone but Ona Nobis.

Good. He had expected it, planned for it.

He twisted in midair, adding momentum to his leap. He  landed  behind

her. Now her back was to a sinkhole filled with mud and water. There was no

telling if it was shallow or meters deep.

He drove her relentlessly backward. He saw her lip curl with anger as

she flicked the whip, sending  it  within  millimeters  of  his  flesh.  He

slashed downward. The lasers tangled with a buzzing noise.

Suddenly the blaster was in her hand. He had only caught  a  blur  of

movement as she reached for ft. But he was ready, his  lightsaber  spinning

in a continuous arc to deflect the fire. The Force surged  in  him,  making

every movement sure.

But he could not concentrate on  everything  at  once.  He  lost  his

connection to the ground. Chips of stone lay around the muddy surface,  and

they were slippery. His foot slid  and  he  lost  his  balance.  He  caught

himself before he fell but his loss of concentration cost him.

She moved to his right and charged, firing as she went. Obi-Wan  slid

on the slippery stones, struggling to regain his footing  as  he  deflected

the furious round of fire, twisting his body. He felt the rush  of  air  as

the whip snaked around him.

For the first time, he was seriously worried. He was  outmatched  and

he knew it. He did not have Qui-Gon's perfect mastery of the Force. And  he

could not meet the dual challenge of the whip and the blaster. He could not

get close enough to disarm her, and he doubted he would be lucky enough  to

capture the whip a second time. He had  only  managed  to  do  so  back  on

Simpla-12 because Astri had barreled down on Ona Nobis in a gravsled.

Doubt is your first enemy. How many times had he heard that in class?

Yet he knew deep within that this doubt was justified. With a whip as  well

as a blaster, she could keep him running while she remained  still.  Sooner

or later he would tire. He saw how much he depended  on  Qui-Gon  during  a

battle. He could pick up on Qui-Gon's strategy, but he could not  formulate

it himself. He would put up a good fight, maybe even wound her, if he  were

lucky to get close enough. But she would win. She knew this territory  well

and she had set the trap. He had walked right into it.

All of these calculations roared through Obi-Wan's mind  even  as  he

regained his footing and faked a pass at Ona Nobis, forcing her to  retreat

a few steps. He knew it was a temporary victory.

The hardest decision, Qui-Gon had told him once, is to walk away.  He

had not understood that. Until now. It went against everything he'd learned

about battle, everything he was as a Jedi.

Or did it? The mission was his first concern.

Ona Nobis was not part of his mission. As far as they knew,  she  had

no connection to Jenna Zan Arbor now. She had picked  a  fight  solely  for

revenge.

Which meant there was no reason to  fight.  Behind  Ona  Nobis,  tall

girders framed a wall of the wing. He needed a few seconds, that was all

Concentrating  all  his  will,  he  reached  out  a  hand  toward   a

fusioncutter lying  on  the  ground.  He  felt  the  Force  move,  and  the

fusioncutter slid along the mud and then flew with sudden momentum straight

toward Ona Nobis.

Surprised, she slashed at it with her whip. Obi-Wan felt the power in

his legs as he leaped straight over her head toward the  girder  above.  He

landed, slipping just a bit from the mud on his boots. But he knew he would

regain his balance. He bent his legs and  leaped  again,  this  time  to  a

higher girder.

Far below, the whip snaked toward him. It could not reach him  as  he

leaped to the next high girder. From here, he leapfrogged his way down, out

of her reach at the far side of the site. Her howl of rage rang in his ears

as he raced away.

CHAPTER 9

Siri was waiting for Obi-Wan back in the atrium, her vivid blue  eyes

snapping with impatience.

"This place is crazy," she said before Obi-Wan could speak. "There is

no Wing M. Or if there is, I can't find it, and would you care  to  make  a

bet on how helpful the Sorrusians were? Plus, Astri isn't  even  registered

here. I went to Wing A, and they had never heard of her. So  then  I  asked

about Rai Unlu. Get this - they've never heard of him, either. Or at  least

that's what they tell me. I  don't  know  whether  they're  lying,  or  I'm

trapped in a nightmare." For the first time, Siri  noticed  Obi-Wan's  mud-

splattered tunic and dirty face. "Did you fall in a puddle?"

"I had a run-in with Ona Nobis," Obi-Wan said. "This whole thing  was

a setup. I don't think Astri's here at all. Ona Nobis lured us here to  get

revenge on me."

"So what happened?" Siri asked, instantly poised for action.

Obi-Wan thought the decision to leave the battle was hard. He  hadn't

thought ahead to telling Siri. This was harder.

"We fought. I left," he said.

Siri looked incredulous. "You ran away?"

Obi-Wan felt his annoyance rise. Why did Siri have  to  put  it  that

way? He struggled not to let his anger show. The best way to tell her  what

happened was not to offer excuses.

"I was outmatched this time." The words seemed to come out  smoothly,

but they felt as though they'd been torn from his throat.

Siri opened her mouth, then snapped it shut.  Obviously,  there  were

many things she wanted to say. Just as obviously, Adi had taught her  well.

For once, she kept her thoughts to herself.

Yet the expression on her face spoke more clearly than  anything  she

could have said. Siri could not understand leaving the scene of  a  battle.

She could not imagine a situation in which she would give up. She  had  not

been in as many battles as Obi-Wan. She was more used to the training rooms

at the Temple, where she had usually been the winner. When  she  had  lost,

she had bowed to her opponent with grace. Then she beat them  in  the  next

encounter.

She did not yet realize that even  for  the  best  Jedi,  there  were

battles that could not be won. Qui-Gon had taught Obi-Wan that. As  skilled

a fighter as he was, Qui-Gon knew that surprises in battle came often.  You

could train for them, but you could not predict them. Sometimes you had  to

cut your losses.

He wanted to tell Siri this, but Siri would not listen. She liked  to

find things out her own way. And you did not go to her  for  a  sympathetic

ear.

"We'd better contact Qui-Gon and Adi," Obi-Wan said, turning away.

They found a secluded place to talk in the gardens in the  center  of

the med complex. Qui-Gon's calm voice came through the comlink, and Obi-Wan

quickly described what had occurred.

There was a pause. "You did well,  Padawan,"  Qui-Gon  said.  Obi-Wan

felt some of the tension inside his body  uncurl.  Qui-Gon  understood  his

decision, at least. "Ona Nobis is only a distraction for us now.  But  this

news distresses me. Astri has not checked in with Tahl. If Ona  Nobis  used

her as a lure, that means she must know that Astri is on Sorrus.  She  must

know where she is."

"Siri and I can look for her - "

"No," Qui-Gon interrupted. "Hard as it is, I must  agree  with  Tahl.

Astri has made her own decision. She has not asked for our help." "But - "

"Obi-Wan, listen to me. Do nothing. Tahl, Adi,  and  I  will  discuss

this. You and Siri return to the Temple immediately."

It was Qui-Gon's sternest voice. Obi-Wan tucked his comlink back into

his belt. Reluctantly, he turned to Siri. "We'll be able to  hitch  a  ride

from the main landing platform."

She nodded. She was silent on the walk back to the landing  platform.

Obi-Wan did not know what to say, either. He and Siri  had  formed  a  bond

during their adventure on Kegan. He had liked her spirit and humor and  had

depended on her courage. Obviously, they still had  a  distance  to  travel

before they became real friends. He felt a sudden sharp ache for his friend

Bant, who would never let him feel like a coward for leaving the scene of a

battle. She would trust his judgment. Siri only trusted her own.

When they got to the landing platform, Obi-Wan looked for a hauler on

a direct run to Coruscant. The  first  pilot  he  approached  refused,  but

pointed to another pilot nearby.

"Donny Buc is about to make a run. He'll probably  let  you  hitch  a

ride. He's been laid up for repairs for a day, but he's ready to roll."

Obi-Wan saw a pilot squatting near his ship,  drinking  a  carton  of

muja juice. He signaled to Siri and approached him.

"Sure, I can always find room for Jedi," the  pilot  said.  "Are  you

ready to leave now?"

"Yes." Obi-Wan had a sudden impulse. "By any chance, has someone else

tried to hitch a ride earlier today? She's tall and has a shaved head - "

"Sure, I remember her," the pilot said, taking a last gulp of  juice.

He wore a tattered leather helmet and sported a short black beard. "Her and

some of her friends were looking for transport to the far desert."

"Friends?" Obi-Wan asked, puzzled.

"Three of them," the pilot said. "They kept quarreling about how much

they were willing to pay. Wouldn't listen to a word the girl said."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes. "Their names wouldn't be Cholly,  Weez,  and

Tup, by any chance?"

"That was them!" the pilot chortled. "What a bunch of chuckleheads."

"Did you transport them to Arra?" Obi-Wan asked. That  was  no  doubt

where she was headed.

He shook his head. "Couldn't swing it, I had repairs to wait  for.  I

told them to take an air taxi. Saw them heading toward the taxi platform."

Obi-Wan drew Siri aside. "Now we can be pretty  sure  that  Astri  is

here. We've got to check this out. It won't take long. If this  pilot  will

take us to Arra first, we can pick up Astri and bring her back with  us  to

the Temple."

"But Qui-Gon and Adi want us to return immediately."

"That was before we knew for  sure  that  Astri  was  here,"  Obi-Wan

argued. "We know that Ona Nobis is here in the capital city, so we won't be

in danger. We can swing by, pick  up  Astri,  and  head  straight  for  the

Temple."

Siri  shook  her  head.  "We  are  wasting  time,  Obi-Wan.  I  don't

understand why we had to rescue Astri in the first place.  Why  is  Qui-Gon

bending the rules for this girl? She isn't a Jedi. She  can't  lead  us  to

Jenna Zan Arbor. This is a distraction."

"She needs us," Obi-Wan said. "Qui-Gon has known her since she was  a

child. If she is in danger and we can help, we must. Your Master  sent  you

here to Sorrus, just as much as Qui-Gon did."

Siri gave him a stony glance. "Adi did not want to.  She  went  along

with Qui-Gon out of loyalty."

"Then you should do the same for me."

Siri said nothing for a long moment. She squinted into the  distance,

as if counting the tall buildings in Yinn La  Hi.  "All  right,"  she  said

finally. "But we must not delay more than a few hours."

Obi-Wan quickly made a deal with the pilot.

"All right. It's only a little out of my way,"  the  pilot  said.  "I

wouldn't want your friend to get herself in trouble."

They boarded the transport and took off.  Obi-Wan's  impatience  made

the flight seem to last forever. As the pilot slowed the engines and  began

landing procedures, a blinking warning light suddenly lit on the panel.

"Well, eclipse my moon, there's that same problem," he said,  hitting

the panel with an angry fist. "That mechanic didn't fix  my  problem  after

all. Maybe I shouldn't have bought that discount part. I'm going to have to

drop you and head back to Yinn."

"But we have to get to Coruscant!" Siri exclaimed.

"Well, you can come back with  me,  if  you  want,"  Donny  Buc  said

genially, slowing the engines further. "Don't worry, we'll make it back  to

the landing platform. Should be a couple of hours, that's all."

Siri groaned in frustration. "I don't believe  this!  We  could  have

been halfway to Coruscant by now."

"Sorry, little girl," Buc said cheerfully. "The hyperdrive's  busted.

Lucky we made this detour so I can get back  to  the  mechanic.  You  could

hitch another ride from Yinn, I guess. But nobody else  was  making  a  run

near Coruscant today."

Siri bristled at being called "little girl." "I  don't  like  any  of

these options."

"It will only mean a few hours delay," Obi-Wan said.

"Maybe less," Buc said, shrugging.

"We might as well get off here," Obi-Wan said to Siri. "We  can  look

for Astri while we wait. You've come this far."

Siri pressed her lips together. She gave a short, angry nod.

"All right, drop us here," he  told  Donny  Buc.  "We'll  be  at  the

landing platform in two hours."

"Make it an hour and a half. I feel lucky."

Donny Buc swooped in for a bumpy  landing.  They  scrambled  off  the

craft and he made a wobbly takeoff back to Yinn.

Siri and Obi-Wan were hit with a blast of hot wind.

"All I can say is, he'd better come back," Siri grumbled.

Obi-Wan led the way through the sand. He was  grateful  to  Siri  for

agreeing to stop. She may have been disdainful  of  him  back  at  the  Med

Center, she might be angry now, but one thing he could say about Siri - she

was loyal.

They struck out over the dunes. Obi-Wan saw no sign of the  tribe  or

Astri with her three companions. But up  ahead,  he  caught  the  glint  of

metal.

"Siri, look."

She shaded her eyes with her hand. "It's  an  air  taxi,"  she  said.

"Come on."

They ran ahead, the sand sucking at their footsteps.

The air taxi was settled into the sand, but did not  appear  to  have

crashed. As they got closer, Obi-Wan saw a bundle of clothing in the  front

seat.

His heartbeat tripped. It was not a  bundle  of  clothes.  It  was  a

pilot. He'd been strangled.

CHAPTER 10

Barely breathing, Obi-Wan walked closer to search  the  rest  of  the

ship. He braced himself for the sight of Astri's  lifeless  body.  But  how

could you brace yourself for something like that?

The air taxi was empty except for the pilot.

"What should we do, Obi-Wan?" Siri  asked  in  a  hushed  voice.  She

anxiously scanned the area around them. "Do you think Ona Nobis killed  the

pilot?"

"I have no doubt of it."

"What do you think happened to Astri? Do you think..."

"I don't know," Obi-Wan said uneasily. "Maybe she's hiding. Is  there

anywhere you can think to look?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. He tried  to  ignore  the  foreboding  that  was

gathering inside him.

"There is one place. When Astri and I were here, the local tribe  led

us to the bounty hunter's hideout."

He led Siri along the sheer rock wall that circled the  canyon.  When

he got to a sharp turning, he stopped.

"Put your hood up," he advised. "The wind will get very strong  after

we turn the corner. Whatever you do, don't lose sight of me."

Siri nodded, drawing her hood over her face. He did the same.

They turned the corner into a howling wind. Pellets of sand  peppered

any exposed skin. Obi-Wan kept one hand on the wall so that  he  would  not

get lost. He could only see a meter or two ahead.

He dropped to his knees, motioning to Siri  to  follow.  His  fingers

trailed along the rock, looking for the  opening  to  the  bounty  hunter's

hideout.

It was a relief to enter the narrow opening of the cave. He could not

stand, but the cool sand under his fingers felt  good.  He  shook  out  his

cloak and brushed the sand from his face and hair.

"The cave opens up just ahead. We'll be able to stand," he told  Siri

in a whisper. He was fairly sure that Ona Nobis wasn't  here,  but  he  was

prepared to meet her if she was. This time, he would have Siri by his side.

He crawled along  the  cool,  damp  sand,  feeling  his  way  in  the

darkness. He saw the small opening ahead and squeezed through.  Immediately

the air felt different and he knew he was  in  a  larger  open  space.  The

blackness turned gray. He waited a moment, then lit his glow rod.

Astri sat against one wall with Cholly,  Weez,  and  Tup.  They  were

tethered together, their wrists and ankles tightly bound. Gags were stuffed

in their mouths. Astri's eyes went wide.

"Don't worry, it's me," Obi-Wan called,  in  case  they  had  trouble

seeing him.

"Mmmmfff!" Astri struggled against the gag. Cholly beat his  feet  on

the floor of the cave.

"All right, I'm coming,"  Obi-Wan  said,  hurrying  toward  them.  He

reached toward Astri's gag even as she attempted to talk.

"Trap!" Astri exhaled the word as Obi-Wan removed the gag.

"Wh - " Obi-Wan's question was cut off as he  heard  a  loud  rushing

noise behind him.

He turned and ran past Siri to  the  opening.  He  dropped  flat  and

pushed forward, but it was too late. Sand and rocks were pouring down  from

overhead, piling up against the cave entrance. There was nothing  he  could

do. Larger rocks spilled down, wedging in against one another  tightly.  In

only moments, the cave opening was sealed and they were buried alive.

CHAPTER 11

Obi-Wan crawled back into the larger cave. He wiped the dust  out  of

his eyes and reached for his comlink.

It didn't work.

"Siri?"

She shook her head. "Mine doesn't work, either."

Astri ran her hands over the stubble that was beginning to grow  back

on her bare skull. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. She left us here to  die,  but  she

was hoping you'd find us. When you crawled through,  you  tripped  a  slow-

acting lever that deposited all that debris."

Obi-Wan nodded. He felt foolish for once again walking into  a  trap.

He had never told Qui-Gon about Ona  Nobis's  hideout.  There  hadn't  been

time. He had told Tahl, but he hadn't given her coordinates. Everything had

happened too fast. And now no one knew where they were.

Siri had freed Cholly, Weez, and Tup. Tup groaned as he stretched his

legs. "I'm so hungry."

"You won't be for long," Weez said.

Tup brightened. "There's food?"

"No, idiot. Because soon we'll be dead," Weez snarled.

Tup paled. "You don't have to be so negative. Woosh. We're with Jedi.

They can do anything."

Cholly had crawled forward to peer through the opening to  the  cave-

in. "They can't tunnel through a rock," he said.

"You're not dead yet," Siri told them. "Come on, Obi-Wan,  let's  see

if we can cut through those rocks with our lightsabers."

Obi-Wan followed Siri back into the narrow portion of the cave.  They

crawled forward. There was just enough room to crouch side  by  side.  They

activated their lightsabers and sliced through the rocks.

The rocks crumbled into sand, which filled up the spaces, packing the

landslide even tighter.

"This isn't going to work," Obi-Wan said. He sat back and deactivated

his lightsaber. He wiped the dirt off his face with his  sleeve.  "Now  you

get to say 'I told you so."

Siri sat down beside him. She dusted the sand off her tunic with  her

hands. "If you say that again," she muttered, "I'll hit you. There's got to

be another way. Maybe she has tools in the cave."

"I'm sure she removed them. Ona Nobis plans for everything."

With a grunt, Siri flipped over and began to crawl back to the  cave.

"Maybe she doesn't know it's a tool."

Intrigued, Obi-Wan crawled behind her. They stood upright as soon  as

they reached the big cave. Siri found two more glow rods and lit them. They

prowled around the cave, pawing through the bins in which  Ona  Nobis  kept

survival gear and protein packs.

"Can I help?" Astri asked. "What are we looking for?"

"Tools," Obi-Wan said. "Something to dig with."

Astri sighed. "Ona Nobis hauled out a bin of tools when she left. She

didn't leave anything. Not food or water, either."

Siri sat back on her haunches. "We can't dig with  our  hands.  We'll

never get out."

A slight whimper from Tup ended in a howl as Cholly kicked him.

Siri's eyes roamed over the cave. Suddenly, she raised her glow  rod.

She rose to her feet in one quick motion and went over to study the wall of

the cave.

"Obi-Wan, look."

Obi-Wan stood at Siri's shoulder. He saw that  the  cave  walls  were

braced with slender metal poles.

"Do you think the cave would collapse if we cut a few of these down?"

Siri asked.

Another moan from Tup. This time, Weez joined him.

Astri came closer. She gazed around the cave, noting  the  number  of

supports. "I'm no engineer, but I bet you can take some of these out."

"You'd bet?" Tup asked. "Aren't you sure?"

"I can't be sure," Astri said. "But if it's  our  only  chance,  it's

worth the risk, isn't it?"

"No," Tup said in a small voice.

Astri turned to Siri. "What are you thinking of doing with them?"

"They're shiny," Siri said.  "And  they  look  pretty  flexible.  I'm

thinking if we can get them through the rocks and sand, we can  signal  the

outside."

Cholly looked dumbfounded. "What outside? It's just desert out there!

"

"There's a tribe  nearby,"  Astri  said.  "They  scavenge  for  food.

Someone might see it."

"Or someone could come looking for us," Obi-Wan said.

"Or the whole cave could collapse on our heads," Tup  suggested.  His

hands fluttered down as he mimicked  the  cave  ceiling  falling  on  them.

"Woosh."

"I guess we should take a vote," Obi-Wan said. He looked at Siri  and

Astri, who nodded immediately. Cholly followed with  a  nervous  nod.  Weez

agreed with a shrug. Then he elbowed Tup.

"I guess it's better than starving to death," Tup said shakily.

Siri gritted her teeth. She activated her  lightsaber  and  carefully

began to slice through the slender metal pole. It peeled back from the wall

and Obi-Wan stepped forward to grab it. A stream of dirt rained down on his

head, and Tup fell to his knees and covered his head with his hands.

"Gibbertz and ham, we're done for!"

The stream of dirt stopped. Obi-Wan scrutinized  the  ceiling  above.

"It's all right," he said. "I think it will hold."

"He thinks," Tup repeated.

"Shut up, Tup!" Weez and Cholly yelled. Another stream of sand poured

down.

"Come on, Obi-Wan," Siri  said.  "Let's  see  if  we  can  push  this

through."

They wiggled through the opening and crawled forward. It  took  trial

and error, but first Obi-Wan, then Siri threaded the slender  pole  through

crevices in the rocks. Siri hit a rock and wiggled the rod, trying to force

it through. The rod snapped.

"We'll have to try another," Siri said.

This time, Tup rolled into a ball and kept his eyes closed as Obi-Wan

sliced through the second pole. He eased it away from the wall and  had  to

jump back as a chunk of loose dirt and rocks cascaded down.  They  heard  a

rumble overhead.

"Don't say a word, Tup," Astri snapped.

Siri and Obi-Wan went back to the cave entrance and tried  again.  He

tried to guide the rod through the tiniest of cracks.  He  pushed,  pulled,

prodded, and maneuvered but he got no further. Sweat streaked  through  the

dust on his face. His gaze locked with Siri's. An unspoken agreement passed

between them. This time he closed his eyes as  he  gently  moved  the  rod.

Together they called on the Force. He felt it gather power around him.  The

sand and rocks were part of him. They were connected to  everything  around

him. He could feel the tiny rivers of space through the packed debris.

Obi-Wan maneuvered the rod carefully. He felt  it  poke  through.  He

wiggled it.

"I think it's out in the air now."

"Good. Push it out as far as you can," Siri breathed.

Slowly, Obi-Wan pushed the rod through until he only  held  the  very

end. He wiggled it.

"Maybe if the wind dies down, the sun will glint on it," Siri said.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure if the wind ever died down in that canyon, but he

didn't tell Siri that.

For the next few hours they  all  took  turns  crawling  through  the

narrow cave and holding the rod. They turned and twisted it  carefully,  in

case it could catch a ray of sun.

The group split Obi-Wan and  Siri's  survival  rations,  but  it  did

little to assuage their hunger and thirst. The air grew close and hot. They

barely spoke or moved in order to conserve  what  little  oxygen  they  had

left.

When Obi-Wan's turn came again, he took the rod from a weary Tup.  He

lay flat and wiggled the metal. He was tired from the rescue of Qui-Gon and

the battle with Ona Nobis. He could not  remember  the  last  time  he  had

slept. But he would lie here and stay alert as long as he had to.  As  long

as there was hope

"Hello in there! Is anyone there?"

"Yes! We're trapped!" Obi-Wan shouted.  "I  am  Goq  Cranna.  Who  is

there?"

"Goq Cranna, it is Obi-Wan Kenobi! I am the  Jedi  who  visited  your

tribe and asked for your help!"

"Ah, then it is good I stopped. Stay back, young Kenobi. We will  dig

you out."

Obi-Wan crawled back into the cave. Siri, Astri,  Cholly,  Weez,  and

Tup sat propped against the cave wall, exhausted.

"Goq Cranna has found us!" Obi-Wan said. "He's digging us out."

"Thank the stars and planets," Tup said fervently.

It seemed to take a long time for Goq to dig out the opening. At last

light streamed in and they saw the smiling face of Goq's son, Bhu.

They crawled out of the cave into the orange blaze of sunset.

"The wind dies down at dusk, or else  we  would  not  have  seen  the

silver rod," Goq said. "Even though we were  searching.  We  saw  the  dead

pilot and knew Ona Nobis had been here. We went into hiding. But then  when

we emerged we met a pilot who was supposed to pick up two passengers at the

landing platform. They didn't show up. Bhu said, what if the wonderful lady

who saved our tribe is in danger? So I agreed to look. Bhu saved you."

Bhu smiled shyly at Astri, who hugged him. "Thank you, Bhu."

On their last trip, Astri had made a trade with

Bhu for information about Ona Nobis. She had taught the desert  tribe

how to find food in the harsh environment. It  was  obvious  that  Bhu  now

worshiped her.

Siri combed her hair behind her ears with her  fingers,  shaking  out

the sand. "Did you actually see Ona Nobis?"

"Close enough to touch," Goq told her. "I was nearby when she  called

someone on her  corn-link.  Someone  was  trying  to  persuade  her  to  do

something and offered her a cut of a potential fortune if she did so."

"Did you hear if she accepted, or where she is headed?" Obi-Wan asked

urgently.

"I merely heard stray words," Goq said. A look of blankness had  come

over his face. Obi-Wan recognized it. It was the look of  a  Sorrusian  who

did not want to get mixed up in  a  stranger's  business.  Obi-Wan  shot  a

glance at Astri.

"Surely you picked up some indication of what she was up  to,"  Astri

said gently, her hand still on Bhu's shoulder.

Goq's eyes warmed as he looked at Astri and his son. Astri had  saved

his tribe. For that, he would overcome his  Sorrusian  instinct  for  self-

preservation at all costs.

"I do know where she is headed, wonderful lady. Belasco."

Obi-Wan stood on the landing platform of Arra. The sunsets were  long

on Sorrus, and the sky was still ablaze with orange and yellow. He had just

concluded a difficult conversation with Qui-Gon. It had not  been  easy  to

tell his Master that contrary to orders he had stopped in the desert before

heading to Coruscant.

Now he waited out Qui-Gon's silence.

At last the Jedi spoke. "You were told to come straight to Coruscant.

"

"The stop, we felt, would have been quick. And I had a strong feeling

that Astri was in danger."

"The stop was not quick, and you put yourself and Siri in  danger  as

well."

"And now we know that Ona Nobis is headed to Belasco. It is the  home

planet of Senator Uta S'orn! She was Jenna Zan Arbor's  only  friend.  This

can't be a coincidence. Uta S'orn could be in great danger.  We  should  go

there immediately!"

Another long silence. "Adi and I are disappointed in both of you.  We

will discuss this later. For now, we will meet you on Belasco."

CHAPTER 12

Qui-Gon gazed through the cockpit  of  the  consular  ship  that  was

ferrying the Jedi to Belasco. From high above, the capital  city  of  Senta

glowed. It had been built  centuries  before  out  of  native  rose-colored

stone.  It  was  a  spectacular  sight,  crowning  the  golden  hills  that

surrounded a sea of sparkling blue.

Casually, he stretched his arms and legs, testing his  strength.  His

continuing weakness dismayed him. He knew he  had  not  given  his  body  a

chance to recover. But he was driven on by his fierce desire to bring Jenna

Zan Arbor to justice. He was the  one  who  knew  firsthand  how  her  mind

worked. He could not leave this mission to others.

"Do you feel you are regaining your strength?" Adi asked politely. He

knew she would not ask such a personal question if she were not concerned.

"Yes," he said shortly. He liked and respected Adi, but  he  did  not

wish to tell her his concerns. He hoped  that  would  be  the  end  of  the

subject.

He should have known better. Adi was not one to  pry.  But  when  she

wanted a true answer, she did not give up.

"I noticed that your connection to the Force was a bit weak  back  at

the lab," Adi said. "I would not wish you to return to the Temple,  or  ask

you to do so. But..." Adi turned her face to look at him directly.  Qui-Gon

was  forced  to  meet  her  dark,  commanding  gaze.  She  was  almost   as

intimidating as Mace Windu when she wanted to be.

"I just want things clear between us," she continued. "Here is what I

see. You are pretending to have made a full recovery, but you have not. You

compensate for your weakness by demonstrating your strength in strategy and

decision-making. You should have consulted me before ordering Siri and Obi-

Wan to Sorrus, Qui-Gon. I am your comrade. Not  your  enemy.  If  you  have

weakness, I should be aware of it."

Adi didn't let anything slide. Qui-Gon knew he  had  overstepped.  He

should have consulted his fellow Jedi Master before issuing the order.

"I'm sorry," he said. He did not find it hard to  apologize  when  he

knew he was wrong. That didn't mean he enjoyed it. "You are  right  on  all

counts. My connection to the Force has weakened along with my body."

"All right.  Now  I  know."  Adi  turned  to  look  out  the  cockpit

windshield. "The landing platform is crowded. I don't see our Padawans."

"They had better be there," Qui-Gon said. He was still irritated that

Obi-Wan had made the stop in the desert of  Arra  without  consulting  him.

"Unless they decided to go off on their own mission again."

Adi gave one of her rare smiles. "They did well, and you know it."

Qui-Gon frowned. "They disobeyed."

"They had reason."

"They did not contact us."

"They are learning independence."

"At a cost of disobedience?"

Adi leaned back. "You know the Jedi look at things differently,  Qui-

Gon. We are not an army. Our discipline comes from within.  Each  Jedi  has

his or her own connection to the Force. We all  are  taught  to  trust  our

feelings and hone our instincts. Obi-Wan had a strong feeling and  followed

it. Siri backed him up. You did the same on Kegan, and  I  backed  up  your

instinct - even though you did not ask my opinion. I am pleased  that  Siri

is learning cooperation. Perhaps Obi-Wan has taught her more about it  than

I can."

"Obi-Wan is usually cautious," Qui-Gon said as the ship began landing

procedures. "Yet sometimes he is swept away by feeling. I worry about those

times."

"As the Council worries about you," Adi said in an amused tone.  "You

and Obi-Wan seem so different. But at the core you are very alike."

"Perhaps that is not good," Qui-Gon mused. As the craft descended, he

could just make out Obi-Wan standing, waiting for him.

Adi looked down at Siri, who was standing next to Obi-Wan. "It is the

same for me. I see Siri's defiance and  independence  and  see  myself.  In

guiding her I guide myself. It is good that this is so."

Qui-Gon felt her words strike his heart. Obi-Wan's face was  upturned

now, his expression anxious. Being a  Master  was  difficult  for  Qui-Gon.

Pride in his Padawan battled with the need to be  stern.  He  saw  so  much

potential in Obi-Wan. He wanted to mold this being into a better Jedi  than

he was himself. He was impatient with himself as often as he was  impatient

with Obi-Wan. He saw that Adi was right: When he was stern with Obi-Wan, it

was sometimes because he saw his own mistakes in the boy.

The consular ship slid into a narrow space among larger vessels.  Adi

turned to the pilot. "We do not know how long we will be on Belasco, but we

might need to leave quickly."

"I will be on alert, waiting for your signal."

The landing ramp was activated, and Qui-Gon and Adi  walked  down  to

their Padawans.

Siri and Obi-Wan faced them,  their  gazes  expectant.  They  awaited

whatever their Masters might say.

Qui-Gon strode forward "Next time, contact me first,"  he  told  Obi-

Wan.

Adi spoke to Siri quietly so that the other Jedi could not hear.  She

preferred to give her Padawan instructions privately when she  could.  Then

she turned back to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

"I would say that our first step is to warn Uta S'orn that she  could

be in danger," she said. "I think we all agree that if Ona Nobis  is  here,

Jenna Zan Arbor must have been the one who summoned her. And the fact  that

Zan Arbor picked her old friend's home planet can't be a  coincidence.  She

must be planning to contact Uta S'orn."

"We have no proof to bring to Senator S'orn, only suspicion," Qui-Gon

said. "But we owe her that, at least."

"We've learned that because of her years of  service,  she  has  been

granted a home in the palace on the old royal grounds," Obi-Wan told them.

Qui-Gon nodded. "Then let us head there. But first, where is Astri?"

"She was nervous about seeing you," Obi-Wan said.  "She  feels  badly

that she put Siri and me in danger."

Qui-Gon glanced around. Amid the throngs of people  standing  on  the

landing  platform,  he  glimpsed  Astri  standing  next  to  the  departure

checkpoint area. A long line of Belascans snaked around her.

He walked closer. Astri looked thinner and  more  muscular,  and  her

shaved head gave her a fierce appearance. She did not look like  the  soft,

pretty girl he had known. But her eyes were the  same,  clear  and  honest.

Right now they were filled with uneasiness.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "I did not think Obi-Wan would follow me. I

would not ask for more help from the Jedi. You have done  so  much  for  me

already - "

"All of which we were happy to  do,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "And  Obi-Wan's

decision was his decision. But I am concerned, Astri.  Didi  is  recovering

quickly. He will find new investors for a new business. You must know this.

Why are you still chasing Ona Nobis? I do not think it is  because  of  the

reward."

Her warm gaze grew hard. "She shot him as  though  he  were  nothing,

just something in her way."

"Yes. She feels nothing for living  beings.  But  revenge  makes  one

careless," Qui-Gon said. "Leave Ona Nobis to us."

She shook her head stubbornly. "I can't."

Annoyed, Qui-Gon fell silent. He could not control Astri's  behavior.

She was a distraction to the mission, but he could not allow her to go  off

alone. He was too close to her father and cared too much for her  to  watch

her walk off into danger.

Qui-Gon sighed. "I have no right to tell you what to do."

"Now we agree," Astri said cheerfully.

"But I have a right to make a request," Qui-Gon added.

She looked at him warily.

"Remain with our party for the time  being.  Ona  Nobis  is  here  on

Belasco. Either we will find her, or she will find us. You will learn  more

with us than without us."

Hesitantly, Astri nodded. "All right. I thank you."

"If you persist, I cannot protect you," Qui-Gon warned. "But at least

I'd like you near."

Obi-Wan walked up. "Adi is feeling a disturbance in the Force."

Qui-Gon hid his dismay. He had not felt anything.

"All right," he said shortly. "Come, Astri." "What about my friends?"

Astri asked.

Obi-Wan glanced over. He saw Cholly, Weez, and  Tup  trying  to  make

themselves inconspicuous nearby.

Qui-Gon  frowned.  "After  years  of  disapproval  of  your  father's

friends, now you consort with criminals?"

One corner of Astri's mouth lifted. "They are not competent enough to

be criminals. And I'm almost growing fond of them."

With a sigh, Qui-Gon beckoned to Cholly, Weez, and Tup. The trio came

forward uneasily. "It appears that we are stuck  with  you,"  Obi-Wan  told

them.

"It is usually our policy to run away from trouble," Cholly said. "So

don't worry."

The group headed over to Adi and Siri.

"Something is wrong, Qui-Gon," Adi told him  in  a  low  voice.  "I'm

feeling desperation and fear here. Look at the departure checkpoint."

Qui-Gon's keen gaze swept the Belascans in line.  Now  that  Adi  had

alerted him, he felt what he should have  known  all  along  -  a  rippling

disturbance in the Force. But he did not need the Force to alert him to the

fear on the faces of the Belascans.

"You  are  right,"  he  said.   "And   this   landing   platform   is

extraordinarily busy."

"Everyone seems to be leaving, not arriving," Siri observed.

"Let's walk a few blocks into the city," Adi suggested. "Maybe  we'll

pick up on what is wrong."

They took the turbolift down from the main landing  platform  to  the

city streets below.

"We did not have time to do much  research  on  Belasco,"  Adi  said.

"Here is what we know. This is a wealthy world with a rigid  class  system.

The planet was once ruled by a royal family, but now a Leader  is  elected,

who then elects his own Council. Senators are greatly revered."

"And Uta S'orn is a favorite of the current Leader, Min K'atel," Obi-

Wan said.

"Look," Qui-Gon pointed out. "There are  clinics  set  up  on  almost

every block. They look temporary. Maybe a sudden illness has  infected  the

population. There aren't many people on the streets."

An elder Belascan sat nearby on his front stoop, his  hands  dangling

between his knees, a lost  look  on  his  face.  He  wore  the  distinctive

elaborate headwrapping of the Belascan people, but two loose ends of fabric

trailed over his shoulders as though he'd lost interest halfway through the

task. Adi walked closer.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," she  said  gently.  "We  have  only  just

arrived on your world. We sense that something is very wrong here."

"Very wrong." The handsome elder turned a bleak gaze on  them.  "Have

you not heard? Our water supply is contaminated."

"We have not heard. You get your water supply from your Great Sea, do

you not?" Adi asked.

He nodded. "It is run through the desalinization tanks  and  provides

us all with drinking  water.  Every  seven  years,  a  naturally  occurring

bacteria invades. We prepare for this. We know how to contain  it,  and  we

stockpile water for our use while the scientists control the bacteria. This

year, they could not control it. It has  multiplied  and  spread.  But  not

before it took the lives  of  many  elders  and  children.  Among  them  my

granddaughter."

"I am so sorry," Adi said. She bent down slightly to give the  man  a

brief touch on the arm. Underneath Adi's regal manner, her intuitive nature

gave her insight into suffering.

"I am not alone," the Belascan continued. His bleak  gaze  swept  the

empty street. "Many are ill on Belasco. Even  the  Leader's  own  daughter.

Most of the ill are children and elders. The Leader has set up med wards on

the royal grounds. But every day there are more funerals.  Even  while  all

our scientists work to contain the bacteria, we are running out  of  water.

And running out of time."

Adi bid the elder good-bye and turned to the others.  "This  news  is

distressing. It can't be a coincidence."

"Jenna Zan Arbor must be behind this," Qui-Gon said grimly. "She  has

done this before, introduced a virus or bacteria into a population in order

to rush in at the last moment and save it."

"We'd better get to the royal grounds," Adi said.

Hurrying now, they followed the curving streets to the palace,  which

was visible on the main hill of the city. The palace gates  stood  open  to

all so that the population could enjoy the gardens. As they walked  through

they could see that large temporary domes had been set up on the wide lawns

surrounding the sprawling rosy palace. Medics walked rapidly by  them,  and

some children sat on benches nearby. They wore white robes, and their  thin

faces were turned toward the sun.

Adi looked shaken. "If Zan Arbor is responsible, this is monstrous."

"Could she deliberately make all these children sick?" Siri asked.

"I'm afraid she could," Qui-Gon said.

Tup swallowed. "If she could do this to kids, imagine what she  would

have done to us."

They asked a medic for Uta S'orn's whereabouts, and he  pointed  them

to a garden at the back of one of the Ward Domes. They found S'orn  sitting

on a bench, watching over a group of children. Instead of her usual jeweled

head-wrapping, she wore one of fine white linen. A  small  girl  with  dark

curls sat in her lap.

Uta S'orn was speaking to the girl with a smile on her face,  but  it

faded when she saw the Jedi.

"This is a surprise," she said to  Qui-Gon.  She  gave  a  disdainful

glance to Astri, Cholly, Weez, and Tup. "Is this your new entourage?"

The little girl shrank shyly back against Uta  S'orn's  lap.  Qui-Gon

crouched down and smiled gently at her.

"And who are you?"

"Joli K'atel," she said, and added confidingly, "I'm sick."

"I am very sorry to hear that. But I'm sure you will be well again."

She nodded. "My father says it is so."

"Then it is so," Qui-Gon said gravely.

Uta S'orn gently eased the girl off her lap and  gave  her  a  gentle

pat. "Go sit with the others, Joli.  I  need  to  speak  to  these  people.

Unfortunately."

The little girl wandered off, the sash of her robe  trailing  in  the

grass. Uta S'orn's face was creased with worry as she watched her.

"I have volunteered as a med aide," she said quietly.  "I  thought  I

could help. I did not know it would break my heart."

"Is that the Leader's daughter?" Adi asked.

"Yes. But she is no more important than all of these  children,"  Uta

S'orn said, waving her hand to take  in  the  Ward  Domes.  "They  are  our

future. We must save them." She turned to them. "What is it that you  want?

As you can see, I am busy. Why are you here? It seems  I  cannot  get  away

from the Jedi."

"We have reason to believe that Jenna Zan Arbor - " Qui-Gon began.

She stood up angrily. "Not this again. You  have  told  me  what  you

believe about my former friend. I have not heard from her, nor  do  I  wish

to. She has nothing to do with me."

"But we think that she does," Adi said. "We think that she  is  here,

on Belasco. We're not sure why. There  could  be  some  link  that  we  are

overlooking, some reason she needs to contact you again."

"But she hasn't," Uta S'orn said impatiently. "And I will not see her

if she tries. All right?"

"She might insist," Qui-Gon said. "And she can. Ona Nobis is here  as

well. She has kidnapped and killed for Jenna Zan Arbor before."

"If you're trying to frighten me, it isn't working," Uta  S'orn  said

dismissively. "I have no time to worry about phantom threats. My  world  is

dying. I see now there was a reason I returned here."

"We are merely trying to protect you - "

"No need. I am safe here. Although we have no king, the  royal  droid

guards still protect the Leader and everyone on the grounds. Thank you  for

your concern, but Ona Nobis cannot get to me here. Now if you'll excuse me,

there are sick children to tend."

Uta S'orn walked away.

"I guess she has a point," Siri said, glancing  around  at  the  busy

grounds as medics walked by and guard droids, their shells  polished  to  a

golden gleam, patrolled. "It would be hard for Ona  Nobis  to  get  to  her

here."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance. "I'm afraid,  Siri,  that  in

our experience," Qui-Gon said, "Ona Nobis can get anywhere."

CHAPTER 13

"Why didn't you tell Uta S'orn that we suspect Jenna  Zan  Arbor  has

engineered the bacteria explosion?" Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon as they left  the

royal grounds.

"Because we have no proof, only our suspicions," Qui-Gon  said.  "She

would not believe us. She doesn't even believe that Zan Arbor is here."

"Nevertheless, she will take care, just in case," Adi said.  "Despite

what she said, she is afraid of Ona Nobis."

"We have to get proof," Qui-Gon said.

"I'm confused," Siri admitted. "I  don't  understand  why  Zan  Arbor

would come to Belasco at all."

"We know that Zan Arbor killed Uta S'orn's son. Uta S'orn  knows  it,

too. But Zan Arbor doesn't know that she knows - as far as she's concerned,

Uta S'orn is still an old friend," Adi explained. "Perhaps Zan  Arbor  came

here because S'orn is a powerful ally, and she needs her help."

"That could be," Qui-Gon said, nodding.  "And  Zan  Arbor  feels  she

still needs the protection of Ona Nobis as  well.  She  knows  we  will  be

pursuing her. Yes, I think Zan Arbor will contact Uta S'orn.  But  we  must

convince S'orn that Zan Arbor  is  here.  Let's  go  back  to  the  landing

platform. If we can prove that Zan Arbor landed on Belasco, Uta S'orn might

listen. In the meantime, even if Zan Arbor used an alias, we should be able

to track her."

"How can I help?" Astri asked.

"The royal grounds are open to all," Qui-Gon said. "And  those  guard

droids seem to have a mostly ceremonial function.  Someone  needs  to  stay

there and watch Uta S'orn. Ona Nobis could show up at anytime."

"We can do that," Astri said, with a glance at Cholly, Weez, and Tup.

"Do not approach her," Qui-Gon warned.  "And  remember  -  your  best

revenge is to bring Ona Nobis to justice. We can do this for you. Then  you

can collect your reward."

"That sounds like an excellent plan!" Tup beamed.

"I don't care about the reward," Astri said. "Only about her capture.

"

"Don't be so hasty," Cholly said.

Astri, Cholly, Weez, and Tup turned away from the group to start back

toward the royal grounds.

"You're placing quite a bit of faith in them," Adi observed.

"Not really," Qui-Gon said. "I'm counting on Cholly, Weez, and Tup to

be obvious. Ona Nobis might steer clear of Uta S'orn  for  a  time  if  she

knows they are watching. That will give us time to gather evidence that Zan

Arbor is behind the poisoning of the water supply."

Obi-Wan's senses suddenly went on alert. Even while he  was  walking,

he had been watching every shadow. After his last encounter with Ona Nobis,

he was taking no chances. He  had  sensed  a  sudden  movement  nearby  and

realized that someone was following Astri.

He signaled Qui-Gon with a quick glance  and  melted  away  from  the

others. He ducked back into an alley and scanned the street behind. Whoever

was following the group was moving quickly from one shadow to another.

Using his cable launcher, Obi-Wan swung himself up to the  flat  roof

overhead. He ran lightly across the roof. When he  reached  the  corner  he

stopped and waited for his target below to catch up. Then he  leaped  down,

aiming to land directly in front.

To his surprise, he found himself face-to-face with Fligh. He was the

thief back on Coruscant who had stolen Zan Arbor's datapad and given it  to

Astri, inadvertently plunging Astri and Didi into danger. Fligh was wearing

an eye patch and a stunned expression.

Obi-Wan was just as stunned as Fligh. Qui-Gon, Adi, and Siri  ran  up

to them quickly.

"Fligh?" Obi-Wan said. "I thought you were dead. I saw your  body  on

Coruscant."

"No, you didn't, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "But you did," Obi-Wan said,

confused. "No," Qui-Gon said. "I saw a body that resembled Fligh. I had  my

doubts."

"Ah," Fligh said. His face was naturally mournful, with a  downturned

mouth and sad eyes. "I've never been clever enough to fool  a  Jedi.  Never

will."

"What are you doing here now?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Following Astri, of course," Fligh answered. "I thought I owed Didi.

Even though I keep losing her, I am doing my best, which  isn't  much.  But

there you go."

Siri sidled closer to Obi-Wan. "What's going on?" she whispered. "Who

is this character?"

"Fligh is a friend of Didi's back on  Coruscant,"  Obi-Wan  explained

quickly. "He's the one who stole the datapads of Jenna Zan Arbor and Uta

S'orn in the Senate building. Then he was murdered. Or so I thought."

"He looks pretty healthy to me," Siri observed.

"Hey, I lost my eye!" Fligh protested.

"I can see that. I'm sorry," Siri said.

"I mean my false eye," Fligh explained. "It was a beauty, wasn't it?"

he asked Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "But I decided I had to leave it at the scene

of my murder. It's those kinds  of  touches  that  convince  people  you're

really dead."

"How did you do it?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

"I have a friend  who  works  at  the  morgue  on  Coruscant,"  Fligh

explained. "And I think my job is tough."

"You don't have a job," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Being a thief is a job," Fligh answered huffily.  "I  get  up  every

morning and go to work, just  like  everybody  else.  But  this  particular

morning, I realized that someone was trying to kill me. When you get a whip

wrapped around your neck, it wakes you up to the  possibility.  Luckily  my

landlord is handy with an electrojabber. But I thought I  should  disappear

for a while. So I spoke to my friend at the morgue, and  he  found  someone

with my general characteristics. Who was dead, I mean."

"We assumed that," Qui-Gon said.

"My friend did the rest. We drove the body to the alley and  left  it

there. Along with my eye, alas. I knew the security police would not bother

to run ID scans on the body - there are some advantages  to  being  someone

nobody cares about. Just another piece  of  riffraff  meeting  a  sad  end.

They'd accept the text doc identification and just cart  the  body  to  the

morgue. Nobody would shed a tear."

"Didi did," Qui-Gon said sternly.

Fligh brightened. "He did? He is such a good friend!"

"But why would Ona Nobis be after you?" Obi-Wan wondered aloud.  "You

didn't have Zan Arbor's datapad any longer. You gave it to Astri."

Fligh shrugged. "I was just a loose end, I guess."

"Oh, I think you were more than that,"  Qui-Gon  said,  crossing  his

arms. "You're leaving something out, Fligh. The body was found  drained  of

blood. Why did you do that?"

"Because that was how Ona Nobis left her victims,"  Fligh  responded.

"Six of my fellow riffraff were found that way."

"But we didn't know that yet. No one had yet traced Zan Arbor to  Ren

S'orn, or any other victim. We didn't even know Zan Arbor had  anything  to

do with the attack on Didi."

"Ah, Jedi logic, so impressive," Fligh said nervously. "Are you sure?

"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Very sure. Which means that you knew Zan  Arbor  was

behind the attack.  And  you  knew  she  was  conducting  experiments  that

involved extracting blood from her victims."

"Hmm, interesting point," Fligh said. "I find I must agree.  Maybe  I

did know that. Maybe I traced a few of the murdered riffraff to Zan Arbor's

lab. Maybe that's why I stole her data-pad in the first place. But I didn't

see why it would help Didi to know that. At the time. I felt badly after he

was hurt, of course. Maybe I should have warned  him  after  all.  Maybe  I

should be a better person in general. But at least I am watching over Astri

while Didi is in your excellent Jedi hands. I'll protect  her  if  anything

happens. Of course," Fligh added quickly, edging away with an uneasy smile,

"I am hopeless at protection and therefore delighted to see that  the  Jedi

are by her side. Obviously, I am not needed, so I guess I'll just head off.

..."

"Not so fast," Qui-Gon said, catching Fligh by  the  elbow.  "I  have

more questions. What about Senator S'orn's datapad?"

"What about it?" Fligh asked.

"What happened to it?"

Obi-Wan looked at Fligh curiously. He hadn't thought of the question,

but he was interested in the answer. Once they  had  identified  Jenna  Zan

Arbor as the one who had hired Ona Nobis, they  had  stopped  investigating

what was on Senator S'orn's datapad, or what had happened to it. It  seemed

a minor detail. But Uta S'orn kept connecting to the mission,  whether  she

wanted to or not. Maybe there was a detail they had overlooked.

"I still have it," Fligh said. "I haven't had a  chance  to  sell  it

yet." He slipped a small data-pad out of his tunic. "See?"

Qui-Gon took it from him.

"There you go," Fligh said, waving a hand.  "I  won't  even  ask  for

credits. See how generous I can be with stolen property? You will  have  to

erase all those files on it. Just Senate holo transcripts of  speeches.  Or

leave them, and you can use them as a sleeping potion." Fligh made  a  loud

snoring noise. "Take it from me. Very dull. Now, if you don't need me, I'll

be going. This world is too depressing, even for me. I think I'll head back

to the fun-filled world of Coruscant."

Waving, Fligh took off. Qui-Gon turned his attention to the  datapad.

He quickly accessed the files and searched through  them.  Obi-Wan  watched

over his shoulder.      Hovercams recorded all Senate proceedings. Each Senator

could download transcripts into their own datapads  for  official  records.

Senator S'orn had recordings of several speeches she had made.

Qui-Gon shut down the datapad. He glanced at Adi.

"What are you thinking?" he asked her quietly.

"I do not like how Uta S'orn keeps coming  into  this  mission,"  Adi

said. "Let's get to the landing platform."

CHAPTER 14

On the way to the platform, Qui-Gon contacted Tahl and asked  her  to

investigate the odd bacteria formation on Belasco.

He was about to sign off when  he  had  a  thought.  "Tahl,  can  you

forward the official Senate hovercam transcripts from... hold on."  Qui-Gon

accessed the file listing and read out the dates and times.

"Sure," Tahl said  dryly.  "I  just  love  dealing  with  the  Senate

bureaucracy. Nothing I like better."

"That's what I thought." Smiling, Qui-Gon cut the communication.

"Why did you ask Tahl to do that?" Siri asked.

"Just a hunch. I want to make sure the transcript on Senator  S'orn's

datapad matches the official filed version," Qui-Gon explained. "I've heard

of senators bribing the operators to alter  official  transcripts  for  one

reason or another. There must be a reason  Senator  S'orn  has  kept  those

transcripts on her datapad. Maybe we'll find out why."

At the docking platform, the Jedi headed for the official  in  charge

of off-planet vessel registration. Transports to Belasco had  slowed  to  a

trickle as word had reached the galaxy of the water shortage. It  was  easy

for the dockmaster to check the records over the past two days.

"That V-wing cruiser is unusual," the official said. "You  don't  see

many of them in private  use.  I  think  I  can  find  it...  here  it  is.

Registered to a Belascan native who was arriving home. Cir  L'ani  and  one

passenger."

"Do you have a record of the passenger?" Adi asked. "Can you give  us

a description?"

"Do you think I remember every ship that docks  here?"  the  official

asked, shaking his head. "Just the pilot of the vessel  registered.  That's

all we require. Sorry."

They thanked the official and walked out onto the busy platform.

"It could be them," Adi said. "But we need proof."

"Let's  ask  a  worker,"  Qui-Gon  suggested.  He  gazed  around  the

platform. "Why don't we each pick someone and see what we can find out."

The group split off. Obi-Wan stayed where  he  was.  He  scanned  the

different workers on the platform.  Some  were  checking  text  docs,  some

directing transport, and some refueling ships.  He  did  not  know  how  to

choose.

But then he noticed a young woman, dressed  in  the  coveralls  of  a

mechanic, who was working at the refueling bay. The young  woman  was  busy

doing her job, but as she worked she gazed at the different ships  as  they

came in for landings. Something about the alertness on her face caught Obi-

Wan's attention. This was someone who admired  sleek  airships.  She  would

remember the V-wing cruiser.

He walked over and nodded a hello.

"If you need refueling, you  have  to  signal  the  controller,"  the

worker said. "Get a number and wait your turn. You  can  signal  from  your

ship or go over there." She pointed to a booth a short distance away.

"I don't need refueling," Obi-Wan said. "I'm looking for someone. She

landed in a V-wing cruiser. Black with silver underside - "

"I remember that ship," the  young  woman  said,  her  eyes  suddenly

brightening. "She was a beauty. I'd love to get my hands on those controls.

"

"Do you remember the pilot and passengers?"

She wiped her hands on her coveralls, thinking.  "I  remember  I  was

surprised. I expected some hotshot pilot to  come  strutting  out  of  that

cockpit. Instead there was a petite human woman and a  sick  old  man.  Her

father, she said. I refueled them."

"How do you know he was sick?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Because he was taken out on a  med-splint.  I  don't  think  he  was

conscious. A medic met them when they landed. A tall Belascan male."

That could have been Ona Nobis in disguise.

"Do you know where they went?" Obi-Wan asked.

The worker shifted her feet. She was  constantly  moving  as  Obi-Wan

asked her questions. And she seemed so nervous. "No, but they had to file a

flight plan." Gazing at Obi-Wan, she wiggled her foot.

Obi-Wan noticed the movement and looked down. A small hand was curled

around the worker's ankle.

"That's my boy, Ned," she said in a whisper. "Please don't report me.

I had to bring him to work this week. My mother is ill and  she's  the  one

who takes care of him."

Obi-Wan smiled down at the boy, who looked up at him. A small toy was

clutched in his dirty fist. "I won't tell. Thank you for your help."

He hurried over to Qui-Gon to tell him what he'd learned.

"That sounds like a good lead," Qui-Gon said. "I'm  sure  the  flight

plan is false, however."

But Adi was more skeptical. "I would like better  confirmation,"  she

said. "There are many ill elders on Belasco. I'm  not  sure  if  this  will

convince Uta S'orn."

"I hate the thought of Noor being unconscious," Siri said worriedly.

"She drugged him, most likely," Qui-Gon said.  "If  that  was  really

Noor," Adi said.

Obi-Wan caught Qui-Gon's irritation. Adi's instincts  were  renowned,

but she did not abandon her need for absolute  facts.  They  needed  proof.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan remembered something that had nagged at him.

"Wait," he told the others. Then he hurried back over to the worker.

She looked at him anxiously.  "I'll  lose  my  job  if  you  tell  my

supervisor about Ned - "

"Don't worry," Obi-Wan assured her. He crouched down and spoke to the

boy. "That's a nice toy. Can I hold it for just a second?"

The friendly boy nodded and handed it to Obi-Wan.

It was a model of  a  tiny  V-wing  cruiser.  It  had  been  cleverly

fashioned from slender threads tightly wrapped over bits of metal.

Obi-Wan fingered the threads. They had come from a Jedi's robe.  Noor

had only pretended to be unconscious. He had left them a clue.

CHAPTER 15

Now that they knew for sure that Noor was on  Belasco,  they  had  to

discover why Jenna Zan Arbor had traveled there. Adi and Qui-Gon set up two

datapads on board the consular ship. They ran the Senate transcript on  one

datapad, and Uta S'orn's on the  other.  Obi-Wan  and  Siri  sat,  watching

intently.

"Look for the smallest difference," Qui-Gon advised. "There  will  be

much talk, so listen carefully."

The holocam had recorded a session in  the  Senate  that  dealt  with

regulations in the Mindemir system. Senators got  up  and  spoke  endlessly

about complicated rules. They interrupted one another and heaped praise and

scorn on one another. They spoke for long minutes and said nothing.

Siri caught Obi-Wan's eye and faked a huge yawn. Adi saw the gesture.

"Every task requires full attention," she told Siri sternly. Then she

turned back to Qui-Gon and murmured, "But I'm having trouble myself."

"I don't understand," Obi-Wan said. "Uta S'orn isn't even visible  in

the transmission." "Exactly," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan  was  mystified.  He   returned   his   attention   to   both

transmissions, but it was hard to know what he was looking for.

At last a list of regulations was passed. The holocam  hovered  above

as Senators rose to the front of their boxes to vote. The regulations  were

passed by a majority. Then, the screen went black.

"Shall we play it again?" Adi asked.

"Do we have to?" Siri muttered.

"Wait," Qui-Gon said. He scanned backward as the vote was called.  "I

think I know what is different. Here." He pointed  to  the  screen  on  the

left, which was the official Senate transmission.

"Look at the delegate from Hino-111," he said. He  pressed  the  zoom

function on the transmission for a closer view. "He  is  not  pressing  the

'yes' button. He is voting against the measure. Yet  in  the  audio  he  is

voting for it." Qui-Gon pressed the zoom function on  the  second  datapad.

"And here, he has recorded a 'no' vote. This is Uta S'orn's version."

Adi leaned closer. "She altered the official Senate record?"

"I'm sure if we study this we will find other votes  that  have  been

changed. The Senate recorder uses the official transcript to record  votes.

These  regulations  were  never  passed.  Senators  vote  on  thousands  of

regulations. Mindemir is a small system. It  is  a  risky  move,  but  this

transcript is from eight months ago. Obviously, she got away with it."

"But why would she care about  a  regulation  on  Mindemir?"  Obi-Wan

asked.

"I'm sure she does not care for herself. She was paid  to  do  this,"

Qui-Gon said. "Paid in credits or influence. The question is, who paid her?

"

"Jenna Zan Arbor?" Siri guessed.

"That is what we need to know." Qui-Gon was already reaching for  his

comlink. "This is a job for Tahl." He walked away  a  few  paces  to  speak

quietly.

"Why would she keep the  real  transcript?"  Siri  asked.  "It  could

incriminate her."

"For blackmail," Adi said. "She could always threaten to  expose  the

person who engineered this. She could send it anonymously  to  the  Senate.

Perhaps she's covered her tracks so  well  that  they  could  not  tie  the

deception to her."

Qui-Gon returned with the news that Tahl would get back  to  them  as

quickly as possible. They reviewed the other transcripts. It was easier now

that they knew what they were looking for. In each case, the votes had been

altered.

By the time they finished, Tahl had signaled Qui-Gon.

"You are right," she said. "Jenna Zan Arbor  conducted  a  series  of

experiments on the water supply of Mindemir. She needed a  large  planetary

system to prove her theory, apparently. Endangering a whole system  was  of

course against Senate regulations. But Senator S'orn introduced legislation

that would allow this, if the  planet's  legislative  body  agreed  to  the

experiment. The measure passed in the Galactic Senate and a few weeks later

the government of Mindemir voted to allow the experiment."

"Easier to bribe a politician on  a  small  planet  to  push  through

legislation," Adi said shrewdly. "But she needed someone  powerful  in  the

Galactic Senate."

"So we've linked Jenna Zan Arbor and Uta S'orn at last," Qui-Gon said

quietly. "Zan Arbor said S'orn had been helpful to her. I did not think she

meant S'orn had acted illegally."

"It is hard to believe," Adi said. "She has a  reputation  for  great

integrity."

"Eight months ago, Ren S'orn was still alive," Obi-Wan  said.  "Jenna

Zan Arbor was conducting her experiments on the  Force  as  well.  What  if

Senator S'orn knew this? What if Jenna Zan Arbor was blackmailing her?"

"So S'orn knew that Zan Arbor was holding her son, and she  did  what

Zan Arbor asked?" Qui-Gon frowned thoughtfully. "It's possible."

"All the more reason to help Uta S'orn now," Adi said.  "Whether  she

wants us to or not."

CHAPTER 16

Faced with the evidence, Uta S'orn crumbled.

"Yes," she said. "I altered the record."

She sat on a bench, her hands dangling between her knees. The grounds

were quiet now, with most of the patients back in the Ward Domes.

"I had to," Uta S'orn said. "She had my son."  "So  you  altered  the

Senate record in order to save him," Adi prodded gently.

S'orn nodded. "And then she released him. But something  went  wrong.

He was found dead. She told me that he had tried to  break  back  into  the

lab, and Ona Nobis had killed him. I don't know whether to believe her, but

what can I do? I broke Senate laws. My son is dead. The only thing left for

me is to devote myself to the people of Belasco, the  only  way  I  can.  I

cannot imagine why Jenna would contact me  again.  She  must  be  here  for

another purpose. Surely she will leave me alone now, after all she's done."

Usually, Uta S'orn's manner was brusque and  impatient.  Now  Obi-Wan

saw how deeply her grief ran. Her voice trembled, and her eyes were full of

tears.

A tall man dressed in rich robes approached, followed by royal  droid

guards. Although his hair was silver, his face was youthful.

"Uta, are you all right? Do I need to eject these people?"

She hurriedly wiped her eyes. "No. This is our Leader,  Min  K'atel,"

she said to the others.

Qui-Gon and Adi bowed. "We are Jedi  Knights  Qui-Gon  Jinn  and  Adi

Gallia, and these are our Padawans, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Siri."

The Leader gave a short nod. "I don't care if you are Jedi,  you  are

not to disturb Uta S'orn."

"They speak of things I'd rather forget," Uta S'orn  said.  "I  don't

mean to blame them, but - "

"Your distress is enough," Min K'atel said. He turned to the Jedi. "I

must request that you leave the royal grounds.  You  have  upset  Belasco's

greatest Senator."

"We are just leaving," Qui-Gon said politely. The Jedi bowed and made

their way out of the glade. As they struck out across the lawn,

Obi-Wan said, "I have never seen Uta S'orn so affected before."

"Yes, she seemed so," Qui-Gon said. "But you noticed she  manipulated

the Leader so that he would throw us out."

"She is lying," Adi said.

Qui-Gon shot Adi a quick glance. "You are certain?"

Adi nodded. "I don't know why. Something in her words is false."  Her

steps slowed, and she stopped. "I feel that he is here. Somewhere near."

"Moor is on the royal grounds?" Qui-Gon asked. "Let's return  to  Min

K'atel and demand that he search."

Adi shook her head. "It's only a feeling." "That is all we have! What

good are your instincts, Adi, if you do not trust them?"

Adi met his gaze sternly. "I trust them. But I do not expect them  to

sway others. We cannot involve a government in  our  investigation  without

proof. You know that as well as I do."

Qui-Gon struggled with his impatience. His mind was tired,  his  body

spent. He was not connecting to the Force as Adi  was.  His  ragged  nerves

screamed for an end to this.

Adi had spoken to him of cooperation and loyalty. He  would  have  to

submit to her wishes now. She had just as much right to choose a  direction

as he did.

"What, then?" he asked. "What do you suggest?"

"Let us follow our suspicions to the logical next  step,"  Adi  said.

"We must have permission to search those grounds. Min K'atel is not  likely

to give it to us as things stand. We will have to convince  him.  There  is

one last place to go."

Qui-Gon nodded. "The water purification plant. But  we'll  never  get

permission to enter."

"Then we'll just have to break in," Adi said grimly. "Yes,  sometimes

I do act on my instincts, Qui-Gon. The answer lies there."

CHAPTER 17

The plant was gated and heavily guarded. No doubt  the  security  had

been increased because of the bacterial invasion. The  Jedi  hovered  in  a

heavily forested area on the fenced perimeter. Qui-Gon swept the area  with

macrobinoculars.

"There are none of the usual ways  to  breach  security,"  he  noted.

"Anyone entering must go through a retinal scan.  There  are  guard  droids

posted at every entrance. Even after we took care of the guards,  we  would

have to break in with our lightsabers. And that would most likely trigger a

full-scale security alert."

"We want to get in and out without being seen," Adi said.

"Not to mention without any loss of life," Qui-Gon added.  He  stared

at the plant, thinking. Then, suddenly, he saw a way. "Of course," he said.

"We can't walk in. But we can swim."

The Great Sea narrowed to a fast-moving  river  downstream  from  the

plant. The water foamed around boulders and formed mini-falls in the center

of the river.

"The current is very strong." Adi glanced  at  Qui-Gon.  He  saw  the

concern on her face. "Maybe it would be better if only one team goes in."

"We have a better  chance  if  we  all  do."  Qui-Gon  took  out  his

breathing tube and was the first to wade into the shockingly cold water.

"When we get to the in-draw pipes, there will most likely be a filter

covering the opening," Qui-Gon said. "We  can't  use  our  lightsabers,  so

we'll have to use vibrocutters.     Stay close to  us,  Padawans.  Do  not  be

afraid to ask for our help if you tire."

And you, Qui-Gon? Will you ask for help if you need it?

Adi's dark gaze asked the question. He ignored it.

The Jedi slipped underwater. Qui-Gon felt the current pull him along.

It was carrying him in the right direction, but he had to take care not  to

bump against the boulders or get caught in the swirling eddys. It took  all

of his strength.

The current swept them toward the pipes. As  they  got  closer,  they

felt themselves being sucked along even faster. Now the danger would lie in

being slammed up against the filters.

As they approached the pipes, Adi  motioned  to  them  to  fight  the

current. Waving their arms to slow their pace, they managed to gently  bump

against the giant filter. Already Qui-Gon had reached for his  vibrocutter.

He and Adi went to work as their Padawans hung on to the grates.

Quickly, they sliced  a  hole  in  the  filters  and  motioned  their

Padawans through first. Immediately after  entering  the  pipe,  they  were

sucked along by the action of the water, bumping on the sides of the  pipe,

turning and tumbling until Qui-Gon did not  know  which  way  was  up.  His

shoulder wound cried out at the twisting motion. By the time he spilled out

into a giant tank, he was overcome with dizziness.

He felt Obi-Wan touch his  shoulder.  His  Padawan  had  noticed  his

distress. Qui-Gon nodded to let Obi-Wan know he was all right  even  as  he

fought his queasiness.

They quickly swam to the side of the tank and swung themselves up and

over the side. They were in  a  large  viaduct  made  of  stone.  Banks  of

equipment surrounded the tank. Further on the water was treated, but  here,

machines took random samplings of its quality.

Adi pointed to a tech console nearby. While Adi,  Obi-Wan,  and  Siri

kept watch, Qui-Gon pressed buttons and levers  until  a  long  panel  slid

open. A storage unit held vials of water samples, labeled by date.

"We'll never get out the same way," Qui-Gon said to Adi as he  tucked

the samples into his tunic. "We'll have to find some tech jackets and  pose

as workers."

She nodded. "There's got to be a supply closet."

Suddenly, a red light on the console pulsed.  A  few  seconds  later,

they heard the sound of approaching droids. "I think it's time  to  leave,"

Qui-Gon said, reaching for his lightsaber. "Let's do this  quickly,  before

the Belascan guards arrive."

The guard droids wheeled around the corner, blasters held  high.  The

Jedi charged as one spinning block, lightsabers in constant motion. Qui-Gon

took out two droids with  one  stroke.  Adi  flipped  over  the  group  and

attacked from behind. Siri went down on one knee and came up with a  mighty

swing that knocked one droid over and cut the other in  two.  Obi-Wan  went

for the droids on Qui-Gon's left side, slicing the top off of one droid and

burying his lightsaber in the control panel of the other.

In just seconds, it was over.

"Belascan guards will be here soon," Qui-Gon said, breathing heavily.

"Never mind getting out quietly. Let's just get out."

Together, he and Adi cut a hole in the durasteel exit door with their

lightsabers. A siren began to clang. With the noise ringing in their  ears,

the Jedi leaped through the hole in the door and raced for the high fence.

Qui-Gon reached out for the Force. He needed  it  desperately  if  he

were to make it over that fence. He heard blaster fire ping near  his  ear.

Obi-Wan and Siri sailed over the fence, clearing it by several centimeters.

He saw that Adi had slowed her pace to make sure that he would be  able  to

clear it.

With a mighty effort, Qui-Gon forced his tired muscles to  cooperate.

His feeling of the Force  surged,  helping  his  leap.  Still,  he  slammed

against the top of the fence and had to haul himself over by hand.  Out  of

the corner of his eye, he saw Adi sail over.

Qui-Gon landed heavily and a little off balance.  He  raced  for  the

treeline. He ignored the blaster  fire  behind  him,  counting  on  Adi  to

expertly divert any fire that came too close.

He reached the safety of the trees and glanced back.  "They  are  not

following. They don't have to. They know who we are."

Adi tucked her lightsaber back into her belt.  "It  won't  take  long

before Min K'atel orders us off the planet. I think we just  wore  out  our

welcome."

CHAPTER 18

Qui-Gon leaned against the trunk of a tree, his eyes closed,  as  Adi

ran the samples through an analyzer and then sent the data to Tahl.

Obi-Wan approached him and sat down gingerly. He  knew  that  Qui-Gon

did not want him to speak. But he was worried.

"You have not regained your strength, Master," he said quietly.  "Are

you sure that - " He stopped. Qui-Gon had opened one eye. That  was  enough

to stop his voice in his throat.

"Winna Di Uni told me it would take time," Qui-Gon said. "It is doing

so." He closed his eyes. "Do not worry, Padawan. This will  be  over  soon.

Then I will rest."

Obi-Wan nodded, even though Qui-Gon did not see him. He had  observed

his Master tired and in pain before, but never  so  diminished.  It  was  a

strange feeling. If Qui-Gon could weaken, any Jedi was vulnerable.

Adi's comlink signaled, and she quickly pressed  the  holo  function.

Tahl appeared.

"The  bacteria  have  been  bioengineered,"  she  said  without   any

preliminaries. "It has been cleverly done. The measures taken  to  restrain

it actually caused it to grow."

Qui-Gon sat up, alert. "Can you  tell  the  scientists  here  how  to

control it?"

"They already know," Tahl said. "A  scientific  research  company  on

Belasco announced a discovery just a few hours ago. They now  know  how  to

neutralize the bacteria. They also have found a way to treat those who  are

already sick. They will make a fortune."

"A fortune," Obi-Wan repeated softly. "And a piece of a  fortune  was

offered to Ona Nobis if she came back."

Adi leaned toward Tahl. "Can you trace the company back to - "

"Zan Arbor Industries? I already have," Tahl said.

Siri slapped a hand on her leg. "We've got her." "Now we have to find

her," Adi said.

"I'll be standing by," Tahl said, and her image faded.

Qui-Gon stood. "Let's head back to the royal grounds. I'm certain the

answer is there."

The sun was lowering as the Jedi hurried through back streets  toward

the palace gates.

Streams of  Belascan  citizens  were  heading  there  as  well.  They

realized quickly that news had spread about the discovery. The people  were

gathering to celebrate. They would have plenty of cover.

And so would Ona Nobis.

They moved through the crowd  on  the  palace  lawns,  searching  for

Astri.

"I don't see her anywhere,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "She's  supposed  to  be

keeping an eye on Uta S'orn."

"There she is," Obi-Wan said, pointing. "She's wearing a  medic  aide

coverall."

Dressed in white, Astri wheeled a young boy through the  garden.  She

bent down to pull a blanket over his lap.

"It's good cover," Qui-Gon said. "But what about  Cholly,  Weez,  and

Tup?"

Tup burst out of one of the Med Wards at  the  head  of  a  group  of

children, juggling three bright laserballs. Weez followed.

"At least they are staying out of trouble," Qui-Gon said.

Astri caught sight of them and hurried over, her face alight.

"Have you heard the news? A cure has been found!"

"We've heard," Adi said. "But we still have a problem."

"I've been keeping track of Uta S'orn," Astri said. "I  haven't  seen

anything suspicious. She's out in the open all  the  time.  She's  devoting

herself to the children. She does everything, even helps with food service.

"

Qui-Gon tensed. "Do you have access to the palace kitchens?" he asked

Astri.

Astri nodded. "Food delivery is one place that they are  shorthanded.

Everyone can pitch in and help."

"Do you think it's  possible  to  track  the  meals  that  leave  the

kitchens? Can you count the meal trays?"

"Yes," Astri said. "Cholly has been helping to prepare the trays."

"How are the meals delivered?" Adi asked.

"Through the tunnels, mostly," Astri said. "They were built  about  a

century ago, during a war with a neighboring planet. It's the  fastest  way

to get from the kitchens to the ward areas. They built the domes  over  the

old entrances in the gardens, just for that reason."

"When is the next meal?" Qui-Gon asked. Astri checked her  timepiece.

"Cholly should be preparing the trays right now."

"Good," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan, Siri, I want you to go with Astri  to

the kitchens. Compare the number of food trays  with  the  number  of  sick

children. If there are more trays than children,  follow  Uta  S'orn.  Make

sure she does not see you! Note where she delivers the trays. If Ona  Nobis

and Zan Arbor are on the grounds, they have to eat."

Qui-Gon fixed Obi-Wan and Siri with his most serious glare.  "If  you

see, or even sense, that Ona Nobis is near, do not engage  with  her.  Come

back for Adi and myself."

Obi-Wan and Siri agreed and followed Astri to the palace kitchen.  It

was an enormous room filled with food stations  and  storage.  Obi-Wan  and

Siri waited in the dim hallway while Astri went inside.

Cholly was busy setting up trays with bowls of  stew,  bread,  and  a

fruit tart. Other workers milled about, dishing up the stew and pushing the

trays forward in a line to be loaded onto carts.

Swiftly, Astri ran her eyes down the rows  of  trays,  counting.  She

slipped outside to the hall.

"There are sixty-four trays,"  she  said.  "Two  extra.  Qui-Gon  was

right. Now we have to wait for Uta S'orn."

Moments later, the other workers began to fill the kitchen. They each

took a cart and slid trays inside the warming element.  Uta  S'orn  arrived

and quickly worked to fill her own cart.

"I'll take Ward Five, as usual," she said.

She rolled the cart out into the hallway and headed for  the  tunnel.

Obi-Wan and Siri pressed back against the wall. They moved silently  behind

Uta S'orn, keeping as close as they dared through the twisting maze.

Uta S'orn delivered the meals to Ward Five first. They watched as she

ascended the ramp into the ward. When she returned, she still had two trays

on her cart. She made a sudden turn and came straight toward them.

Obi-Wan and Siri threw themselves  back  into  a  side  tunnel.  They

flattened themselves against a wall and tried not to breathe. If Uta  S'orn

came down this way, they would be discovered.

They were lucky. She turned down an opposite tunnel. After a  moment,

they followed cautiously. The tunnel narrowed as it turned sharply  to  the

left. Obi-Wan had been careful to keep track of how they  were  moving.  He

knew that they had turned away from the main wing of  the  palace  and  the

wards and were heading toward Uta S'orn's private quarters.

Suddenly, they heard the cart stop. Obi-Wan crept forward. He  peered

around the corner long enough to see Uta  S'orn  place  the  trays  on  the

floor. Then she turned toward him.

He ducked back and motioned to Siri. The two  ran  lightly  down  the

tunnel, hearing S'orn behind them. She could not move as fast  due  to  the

cart. They reached the main tunnel and Obi-Wan headed  left,  guessing  she

was on her way back to the palace kitchens.

After a few moments Uta S'orn emerged and took the route Obi-Wan  had

predicted. Obi-Wan and Siri headed back the way they had come. They  waited

at the curve of the tunnel.

"What if Ona Nobis comes from behind us?" Siri whispered.

"We run," Obi-Wan whispered back.

To Obi-Wan's surprise, a small vent in  the  ceiling  over  the  food

trays opened. Ona Nobis slithered through, her  Sorrusian  skeletal  system

compressing to allow her to fit through the tiny space.

Siri's hand went to her lightsaber. She began to draw it  out.  In  a

swift move, Obi-Wan put his hand on her wrist to stop her.  She  glared  at

him, but he did not let go.

Ona Nobis picked up the sweet fruit tart from one tray and popped  it

in her mouth. Quickly, she gobbled up  the  second  tart,  then  wiped  her

fingers delicately on her tunic.

"Sneak," Siri whispered in Obi-Wan's ear.

Ona Nobis pushed the food trays through the vent overhead.  Then  she

hoisted herself up and through.

"We should  have  attacked,"  Siri  whispered  fiercely  after  Nobis

disappeared.

"Siri, Qui-Gon told us not to," Obi-Wan said irritably.

"But we were so close! And she didn't have her  whip,"  Siri  argued.

Her blue eyes glinted a challenge in the darkness of the tunnel,  and  she

thrust her chin at Obi-Wan. "Or were you afraid to meet her again?"

CHAPTER 19

Adi and Qui-Gon listened to Siri and  Obi-Wan's  story.  Adi  gave  a

satisfied nod.

"They're here. That means that Noor is here as well." Adi glanced  at

Qui-Gon. "We have enough to speak to the Leader. We must take the risk."

"I agree," Qui-Gon said. "If we are lucky, we will  avoid  a  battle.

Whether Uta S'orn is being forced to hide Zan Arbor  or  not,  he  must  be

told."

Around them, preparations for a celebration had begun. The Leader had

decided to throw a grand party for the city of Senta. More and more of  the

population streamed into the royal grounds. The gardens glowed with candles

and lights. Musicians were beginning to set  up  near  the  flower  garden.

Servants, officials, and townspeople milled about on  the  lawns,  fragrant

with evening dew.

Min K'atel sat, beaming, with his wife. Their  daughter  sat  between

them, wrapped in a warm quilt. Uta S'orn sat to their right.  As  the  Jedi

walked toward him, Min K'atel's wide smile faded and he fixed them  with  a

stony glance.

"I have received  a  report  that  saboteurs  broke  into  the  water

purification center, no doubt to  reintroduce  more  deadly  bacteria,"  he

said. "My security chief tells me these saboteurs were Jedi. Either you are

impersonating Jedi, or everything I know of your order is wrong.  Which  is

it?"

The Leader gave a signal, and the  gleaming  guard  droids  appeared,

flanking the group of Jedi.

"We are neither saboteurs nor impersonators," Adi said in her strong,

commanding voice. "We are Jedi Knights, come to find one of our own and  to

investigate your troubles."

"We do not need your help," Min K'atel said haughtily.

"But you need  to  know  what  we  discovered,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "The

bacteria in your water supply was deliberately introduced."

"You are strangers here," Min K'atel replied  stonily.  "You  do  not

know that on Belasco, this bacteria arrives every seven years."

"We do know this," Qui-Gon said. "As did the person who bioengineered

the bacteria to reproduce. She knew that you would not suspect that it  was

artificially introduced into your system because it was something  you  had

seen before. But this bacteria was different. It was meant to  multiply  in

response to the attempt to contain it."

Min K'atel stared at them. "And who would do this thing, and why?"

"Someone who stood to profit by  eliminating  it,"  Adi  replied.  "A

brilliant scientist named Jenna Zan Arbor. She  is  behind  the  scientific

group who will cure it, and she will make a fortune,  enough  to  help  her

escape justice and remain a fugitive."

"She is not Belascan," Min K'atel guessed. "How could she do  such  a

thing without help?"

"She had the help of a prominent Belascan who had access to areas  of

the highest security," Adi responded. She fixed her commanding gaze on  Uta

S'orn.

S'orn did not bluster or deny the charge. She raised an  eyebrow  and

looked disdainfully at the Jedi.

Min K'atel glanced at S'orn. "This is preposterous,"  he  said.  "You

try to cover your own involvement  by  accusing  one  of  Belasco's  finest

citizens! I will contact the Jedi Council. I will not let  this  accusation

stand!"

"Uta S'orn is hiding Jenna Zan Arbor  and  the  Jedi  Master  she  is

holding hostage," Qui-Gon stated. "If you would give the  order  to  search

her quarters, you would find them."

"I will not give such an order!"

Adi and Qui-Gon activated their lightsabers in a split  second.  Obi-

Wan and Siri quickly followed.

"I'm afraid we must insist," Qui-Gon said.  "A  Jedi  is  being  held

captive on your grounds. That makes you responsible. If  we  must  fight  a

battle to release him, know that we will."

Min K'atel looked uncertain. "There is no other Jedi here. Only wards

full of sick children and elders."

"I saw a sick elder," Min K'atel's daughter, Joli, suddenly piped up.

She shook the doll in her lap, moving its arms and legs. "He made this."

"And how did he give it to you?" Adi asked gently.

"He threw it down into the bushes," Joli said. "He threw  down  other

toys to the children. Mine is the best." She smiled down at the doll in her

lap. "It is the prettiest."

"Mine is the prettiest!" a young girl said, running forward, waving a

doll.

"No, mine!" A boy shook a toy in the air. Qui-Gon walked forward.  He

gently took the doll from Joli's hand. He held it  against  his  robe.  The

color and texture of the threads matched exactly.

"Do you still say a Jedi is not  on  your  property?"  he  asked  Min

K'atel.

Min K'atel's eyes  traveled  high  above  to  the  window  where  his

daughter had seen the toy-maker. It was in Uta S'orn's quarters.

He did not look at Uta S'orn. "Search her quarters," he said  to  the

captain of the guard.

Uta S'orn shrugged as the members of  the  royal  guard  rushed  off.

"They will find nothing."

"If that is so, then I will apologize most humbly," Min K'atel  said.

He turned to the guard droids. "Surround Senator S'orn."

The guard droids wheeled in formation. But instead of turning on  Uta

S'orn, they turned on the Jedi.

CHAPTER 20

"They have been reprogrammed," Qui-Gon said tersely.

The words had barely left his mouth when the droids  began  to  fire.

Blaster fire erupted in a flash around the Jedi.

Only the group immediately around them realized what  was  happening.

The partygoers on the lawn thought the flash was part of the  celebrations.

They applauded as the  Jedi  began  to  spin,  their  lightsabers  a  blur.

Musicians played nearby, and the people turned toward the music.

Obi-Wan thought of the many children surrounding  them.  His  primary

objective was to contain the battle so that they would not  be  injured  by

stray blaster fire. He knew the others had the same thought.

The  droids  stayed  in  formation,  wheeling  to  attack  and   then

regrouping. Uta S'orn slipped off her seat of honor  and  disappeared  into

the crowd.

The Jedi did not need to confer on strategy.  Along  with  protecting

the Belascans in the garden, they had to get to Uta S'orn's quarters.  They

formed a tight circle to deflect the blaster  fire  and  attack  the  royal

droids. As they fought, they moved steadily forward, fanning out  to  break

the strict formation of the guards.

"Cover me," Qui-Gon said tersely.

Adi, Siri, and Obi-Wan stepped up the attack. They  were  a  blur  of

movement now, moving together, covering one another and then  reversing  to

deliver a furious attack on the droids.

Obi-Wan reached out to Adi and Siri, catching  the  rhythm  of  their

battle strategy. Adi relied on Siri's quick footwork and  gymnastic  leaps.

Siri depended on Adi's dazzling lightsaber action. Together, they  were  an

amazing pair.

But even as they  littered  the  grounds  with  broken  droids,  more

arrived in what seemed to be a never-ending stream. They poured out of  the

palace guard room, blaster rifles pointed at the Jedi.

Fighting battle droids had its own challenges. Their weakness was the

same as their strength: They did not think.  They  responded  to  stimulus.

They saw beings as targets to be destroyed. Their complicated wiring  could

be compromised by one good blow. Yet their accuracy was impeccable.

Even as he fought, Obi-Wan kept in mind that Qui-Gon had run into the

palace alone. He would meet Ona Nobis there. He remembered with  alarm  how

Qui-Gon had not been able  to  clear  the  fence  earlier.  Qui-Gon  needed

backup.

He knew Adi was thinking the same thing. Without a word or a  glance,

they accelerated their drive with a furious series of volleys. They  pushed

forward until they were at the entrance to the palace.

Obi-Wan launched a quick reversal, sweeping up with  his  lightsaber,

then leaping and twisting in midair to come  down  behind  the  droids.  He

attacked from behind, leveling four with two blows. Meanwhile, Adi and Siri

slipped inside the palace. Obi-Wan leaped again, this time landing  on  the

threshold of the entrance. With a backward kick that sent a  droid  flying,

he raced inside.

The palace was dim after the blazing lights of the festival  outside.

Obi-Wan sensed rather than saw movement. Adi and Siri  were  heading  up  a

grand staircase.

"This way," Adi called to him as she ran.

Obi-Wan started for the stairs. Suddenly, blaster fire  erupted  near

him. Chips of stone flew from the step where his foot had been.  He  turned

to attack, but his balance was slightly off. He knew his countermove  would

be clumsy.

He saw a blur near his shoulder. Siri had leaped from the top  stair.

She twisted in midair, holding her lightsaber high. As she came  down,  she

sliced off the head of a royal guard droid.

"Thanks," Obi-Wan said.

"Anytime."

Obi-Wan raced up the grand staircase, Siri now behind him. He  called

on the Force to direct him, following the stir of air and heat that Adi had

left in her pursuit. He ran down long corridors. Ahead, he heard the  sound

of shouting.

He burst into a high-ceilinged room. Jenna Zan  Arbor  stood  in  the

center, her hands in front of her. Noor was bound and shackled with  energy

cuffs at his ankles and wrists.

"I am holding the formula  for  the  eradication  of  the  waterborne

bacteria," Jenna Zan Arbor said, holding up a palm-sized datapad. "There is

one crucial linkage missing from the version the scientists  hold.  Only  I

can cure this world. If you kill me, many will die."

Qui-Gon's lightsaber was held at his side. Adi stood near  him.  Obi-

Wan had stopped short. He waited for the two Jedi Masters to  decide  on  a

strategy.

"We do not want to kill you," Qui-Gon said.

"Capture is death to me," Jenna Zan  Arbor  said.  "It's  freedom  or

nothing."

Adi and Qui-Gon did not look at each other. Yet Obi-Wan  sensed  that

they were communicating. Noor's eyes were closed,.  but  Obi-Wan  felt  the

Force from him, as well. And this time Zan  Arbor  had  no  instruments  to

measure it.

He felt, rather than saw, Qui-Gon gather his strength.  Obi-Wan  felt

its power.

Elation surged through him. Qui-Gon was back.

The datapad flew from Jenna  Zan  Arbor's  hand  and  into  Qui-Gon's

suddenly extended left palm. At the  same  time,  he  leaped  forward,  his

lightsaber slicing the air. Jenna Zan Arbor flinched, but he merely slashed

at a hanging behind her. A large tapestry on the wall flipped over to  land

on top of her. At the same time, Adi sprang forward to free Noor.

Qui-Gon calmly tucked the datapad in his utility  belt.  He  bent  to

capture Jenna Zan Arbor as  she  came  up  from  underneath  the  tapestry,

coughing from the dust.

"After all your experiments with the Force, in the end you failed  to

understand its power," Qui-Gon said.

She fixed him with a look of rage. "I should have killed you  when  I

could."

"That," Qui-Gon said, "was your other mistake."

Obi-Wan looked around for Siri. She should  have  been  right  behind

him. She was not. Alarm ticked inside him. Siri was always where the battle

was.

And where was Ona Nobis?

Obi-Wan turned and ran back down the long corridor. He reached out to

the Force, searching for Siri. She was close. He could feel her.  In  times

of danger, their connection grew closer.

She was above him.

He raced to the staircase. It curved up and around and he lost  sight

of the top in the dimness. Obi-Wan dashed  up  the  curving  staircase.  He

paused at each landing but heard and felt nothing. She was still above him.

At last he reached the top. A long corridor with  thick  carpets  stretched

before him. Frustrated, Obi-Wan paused. Siri was not on this floor.

He spied a small door to his right. Obi-Wan flung it open. He  saw  a

narrow staircase twisting upward to the roof. In that instant he knew  that

Siri was up there and needed him.

He charged up the stairs, activating his lightsaber  as  he  ran.  He

burst out onto the roof.

For a moment, his eyes were dazzled. The festival lights  blazed  far

below. The lawns beyond were inky black. This portion of the roof was flat,

but gables and turrets surrounded him.

He saw the pale violet glow of Siri's lightsaber. Her back was to the

roof wall. Ona Nobis had her cornered. The laser whip wrapped around Siri's

lightsaber, nearly wrenching it from her grasp. Siri placed her other  hand

on the hilt and held on, but she stumbled. Ona Nobis withdrew  the  blaster

from the holster strapped to her thigh.

Obi-Wan charged, even as he reached out a hand to direct  the  Force.

He could not count on his ability to move objects.  But  the  Force  surged

this time, knocking the blaster from  Ona  Nobis's  hand  and  sending  her

staggering slightly from surprise.

Obi-Wan did not stop, but leaped and twisted  in  order  to  come  at

Nobis from her other side, leaving Siri free to regroup.

The whip furled and his lightsaber hit it with a sizzle. Smoke curled

upward. He twisted the lightsaber to release it. Ona Nobis reached for  her

second blaster.

Siri gripped her lightsaber and advanced. Sweat soaked her  hair  and

tunic. Grimly she swung at Ona Nobis but the bounty hunter twisted away.

"Come on, children," Ona Nobis spoke at last. She  bared  her  teeth.

"You can do better."

Obi-Wan catapulted forward. He worked in tandem with  Siri  now,  the

two of them flanking the bounty hunter. This time when she furled her  whip

he leaped high to meet it, corkscrewing his lightsaber around and around so

that the whip would tangle momentarily. He knew that Siri  would  take  the

opportunity to attack.

Blaster fire pinged next to him. It was very close. He  hung  in  the

air, holding on to the whip, every muscle straining.

She tried to twist the whip  out  of  his  grasp.  Her  strength  was

extraordinary. He felt his wrist wrench and he  began  to  fall.  The  whip

spiraled out, free again. He used his fall  to  twist  one  more  time  and

surprise her with a roundhouse kick. Her second blaster flew from her  hand

and she let out a howl of rage.

Siri bounded forward to join him as  he  landed.  Now  they  had  her

cornered. She restored the whip to normal mode and sent it flying  high  to

wrap around a drainpipe nearby.

He saw that she meant to escape. She never stayed if she felt she was

losing. She pulled herself up and over Obi-Wan and Siri, using the whip  to

propel herself  high  above  their  heads.  For  a  moment  her  body  hung

motionless in the dark night sky.

She was holding on with one hand. What was she doing with the other?

"Siri, watch out!" Obi-Wan cried, as a third blaster appeared in  Ona

Nobis's hand.

At that moment, Adi charged through the door to the roof. She  leaped

high, slashing at the bounty hunter's whip. She neatly sliced it in two.

A surprised look came over  Ona  Nobis's  tight  features.  She  hung

suspended in midair for one quick moment. Then, without the whip's support,

she tumbled over backward and fell through the inky night far, far below.

CHAPTER 21

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Siri, and Adi stood outside the small building near

the Senate on Coruscant.

"Ready?" Astri called.

"Ready," Qui-Gon answered.

Astri flipped a switch. Halo-lights glowed, spelling out

DI I'S NEW CAF

Astri sighed. "I guess it still needs work. That's  what  I  get  for

using Fligh as an electrician."

"At least the food is good," Cholly said. He held up a chunk of spicy

ahrisa. "This is the best I ever tasted."

"Mmmph," Tup agreed, his mouth full. Weez handed him a napkin.

Astri beckoned the Jedi inside and placed them at a center table. She

poured tea for them.

"I don't like having Fligh as a partner, but he promised he would  go

straight," Astri said. "And he did find investors for us."

The cup stopped halfway to Qui-Gon's mouth. "Legitimate investors?"

"Of course!" Didi bustled forward from the  bar.  He  had  lost  some

weight during his illness, but had  regained  his  rosy  cheeks  and  merry

temperament. "Fligh and I have learned our lesson."

"I hope so,"  Astri  murmured.  "All  I  know  is,  I'm  keeping  the

financial records."

"I'm sure you'll be a great success," Adi said, toasting her.

Astri sat down at the table with them. "Have they set the  punishment

for Zan Arbor and S'orn?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "They have been exiled to a prison world for the rest

of their lives."

"I can't believe Uta S'orn was an accomplice,"  Astri  said,  shaking

her head. "Her best friend killed her son, and she still  continued  to  do

business with her!"

"Never underestimate the power of  greed,"  Adi  said  soberly.  "Uta

S'orn  wanted  to  make  a  fortune.  Jenna  Zan  Arbor  offered  her  that

opportunity. She was the backing behind the scientific company on Belasco."

"Their plans nearly went awry when Zan Arbor was sidetracked  by  her

interest in the Force," Qui-Gon added. "The fact  that  her  friend  had  a

Force-sensitive son was too tempting for Zan Arbor to resist. And when  Uta

S'orn found out what happened, her greed overcame her anger and grief."

"They are quite a pair," Siri said, grimacing.

Astri got up to fix the lunch she had  promised  to  the  Jedi.  Siri

beckoned to Obi-Wan and drew him into a quiet corner.

"I just wanted to say I was glad to see you turn up on  the  roof  to

help me fight Ona Nobis," she said. "I guess I  thought  less  of  you  for

fleeing the battle on Sorrus. I did not understand how  powerful  she  was.

She could have killed me, Obi-Wan."

"I cannot imagine that," Obi-Wan said. The  embarrassment  on  Siri's

face made him want to smooth over the situation. "You are the best  Padawan

fighter I've ever seen."

"Except for you," Siri said. "I have fought you in  Temple  exercises

many times, Obi-Wan. I should not have  questioned  your  ability  or  your

nerve. I was wrong." The words seemed torn from her reluctantly.

"I have been wrong myself," Obi-Wan said lightly. "As well you know."

"Adi says I have learned an important lesson," Siri went on. She made

a wry face. "And I hate learning lessons. I thought  too  much  of  my  own

abilities. Even though I'm a Jedi, I am not invincible. There are  many  in

the galaxy who can defeat me. Now I understand why we were taught over  and

over  that  our  motive  must  be  sure,   our   concentration   total.   I

underestimated the dark side of the Force. I will try not to do that again.

And I know now that I will not always be strong. I will not  be  afraid  to

recognize when I am weak."

"An important lesson for Padawans," Adi said, overhearing them.

Obi-Wan threw a glance at Qui-Gon. "And for stubborn Jedi Masters."

Qui-Gon took a placid sip of tea. "I have no idea who you  mean,"  he

said, his eyes twinkling.