THE DEADLY HUNTER

CHAPTER 1

Obi-Wan Kenobi slung his survival pack over his shoulder and  yawned.

It had been a long journey.

Around him rose the many levels of Coruscant, the city that covered a

planet. He was standing on a landing platform at one of the high levels  of

the city, surrounded by tall buildings with spires and turrets.  The  mists

around him  could  be  atmosphere  or  clouds.  The  sky  was  filled  with

transports, large and small, that negotiated the air lanes with  skill  and

daring.

Obi-Wan watched as his Master, the Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn,  thanked

the space hauler pilot who had let them hitch a ride to Coruscant. He noted

the respectful way Qui-Gon bowed to the scruffy creature.  His  manner  was

gentle, yet strength was behind every word and gesture. Obi-Wan hoped  that

one day he would have his Master's grace and assurance  with  other  living

beings. Often he just felt awkward with the many  characters  they  met  on

their journeys.

Time passes and it teaches, Qui-Gon had told him. You  are  fourteen.

You have much to see and much to experience. Do not hurry the knowledge you

seek. It takes its own time.

"Sorry I can't bring you all the way," the pilot said  to  the  Jedi.

"But there are plenty of air taxis cruising this neighborhood."

"We are grateful for your help. I wish you a safe journey home," Qui-

Gon said in his quiet way.

"Always glad to help out the Jedi," the pilot answered, giving them a

cheerful wave.

Qui-Gon slung  his  survival  pack  over  his  shoulder  and  gave  a

satisfied look around. "It is good to be back," he said.

Obi-Wan nodded. Coruscant was where the Jedi Temple was located,  and

the Temple was home. It was almost time for the midday  meal,  and  Obi-Wan

had been thinking about it as the kilometers went by. He  and  Qui-Gon  had

been traveling throughout the galaxy for some time.

"Look, here comes an air taxi." Obi-Wan started forward.

"Wait, Padawan."

Obi-Wan turned. Qui-Gon hesitated and waved him back. "I have another

idea. Would you mind if we made a stop first?"

Obi-Wan tried to hide his disappointment. "Whatever you wish."

Qui-Gon smiled. "It won't take long. There's someone I'd like you  to

meet - a friend. It's not far. We can walk there."

Qui-Gon strode to the end of the landing  platform  and  activated  a

temporary crossing bridge to the next level. Here in the  Senate  district,

the buildings were close together and the walkways were  easy  to  navigate

without relying on air transport.

Obi-Wan caught up to Qui-Gon's long stride. He waited,  knowing  that

if Qui-Gon wanted to give him more information about this friend, he would.

"Didi Oddo runs a cafe near the Senate building," Qui-Gon  explained.

"He's an informant, of sorts. Many Jedi come to  him  for  information.  We

don't pay him, but we try to watch out for him in return for his  help.  He

knows all types on Coruscant - from Senatorial aides to gamblers to various

beings who find laws a hindrance to their... operations."  Qui-Gon  gave  a

brief smile. "Everyone knows Didi's Caf©. I first met him when I was only a

bit older than you are now."

Obi-Wan detected fondness in Qui-Gon's tone. His tiredness lifted. It

would be interesting to meet a friend of Qui-Gon's. And  a  cafe  meant  he

might be able to have a meal.

They traveled along a pedestrian walkway past shops and  restaurants,

all catering to the tourists and business people who traveled to  Coruscant

to either tour the Senate or offer petitions there. Occasionally they would

have to activate a pedestrian bridge to move from one level to another. The

walkways were crowded with beings from all over the  galaxy.  Talk  bubbled

around them in Basic as well as several languages unfamiliar to Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon stopped before a small caf© on a corner. It  appeared  shabby

beside the grander restaurants next door.  An  attempt  had  been  made  to

improve it by painting the windowsills and doorframe a  cheerful  shade  of

blue. But the fresh coats of paint only made the cracked and  pitted  stone

walls appear more run-down than they were.

Still, Obi-Wan noticed that the restaurant next door was  empty,  and

the dingy caf© was packed. He could see everyone inside, sitting  at  small

tables crowded together, all talking, gesturing, and eating enormous plates

of food.

"Do not engage with anyone," Qui-Gon instructed him. "There  are  all

types here, and fights are common."

He started for the entrance, then stopped and turned.  "Oh,  and  one

more thing. Whatever you do, don't eat the food."

Suppressing a sigh, Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon into the bustling  caf©.

Tables were packed so closely together they could barely  squeeze  through.

Obi-Wan nearly knocked one customer's plate to the floor. The  customer,  a

Togorian, grabbed at it, snarling.

"Clumsy fool!"

Obi-Wan  kept  walking,  carefully   following   Qui-Gon's   graceful

threading through the narrow spaces. Finally, they  reached  an  open  area

near the back. A  long  bar  ran  along  one  wall.  It  was  crowded  with

customers.

"That's enough for you there,  Andoran,"  a  cheerful  voice  called.

"Finish your ale and get a plate of food to eat. You need food, not  drink,

my good friend. Pilus, do you call this a tip?  You  just  made  a  fortune

running spice to the Quintus system. You can do better -  manys  the  favor

I've done for you, and I have a daughter to raise. Nadarr,  let  me  refill

your tea. No, no, don't pay me, save it for your wife's care. Funny how  we

all get better when we can afford to pay the doctor."

Qui-Gon grinned. "That's Didi."

Obi-Wan still couldn't see anything. Then a small, round man  with  a

melancholy face jumped onto a stool behind the bar. He reached up to grab a

bottle, then turned and saw them.

"Stars and planets, it's Qui-Gon Jinn! Clear the way, friends, I have

a greeting to bestow!"  The  mournful  face  creased  into  a  smile.  With

surprising agility, Didi leaped onto the bar, then onto the floor.

He threw his short arms around the tall Jedi. Obi-Wan  stepped  back,

confused. He had never seen anyone hug Qui-Gon. The Jedi was such a private

man that Obi-Wan expected  him  to  disengage  himself  from  the  embrace.

Instead, he pounded Didi on the back.

"It is good to see you," Qui-Gon said.

Didi released Qui-Gon. "You rogue, you stayed away too long.  But  my

eyes thank me as they look upon your person."

Qui-Gon gestured at  the  caf©.  "There  have  been  changes.  You've

dressed up the place. New paint, new decoration. It looks nicer."  He  cast

an eye along the food bar. "And cleaner."

Cleaner? Obi-Wan thought. You mean it looked worse than this?

"My daughter Astri's  doing."  Didi  shrugged  his  round  shoulders.

"She's trying to attract a better clientele. Wants me to get rid of tables,

have more elbowroom. Buy new plates... do  renovations.  She's  even  taken

cooking lessons! She'll either ruin me or make  me  a  fortune;  I  haven't

decided which. And who is this delightful young man with you?"

"This is my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan nodded at Didi. "I'm happy to meet you,"

"And I you." Didi's face turned serious. He touched Qui-Gon's arm. "I

think fate sent you to my door, my good friend."

Qui-Gon shot him a keen glance. "Is everything all right?"

"Everything is..." Didi paused. "We can't talk here.  Come  into  the

office."

Obi-Wan followed behind as Didi slid the panel open and ushered  them

into a cluttered back room. Supply boxes were stacked to the  ceiling,  and

the desk was littered with account records, folded  napkins,  and  a  food-

spattered apron.

As soon as the door swung shut  behind  them,  Didi's  cheerful  face

crumpled. He rubbed his plump hands  together  and  fixed  Qui-Gon  with  a

mournful gaze.

"My friend," he said, "I am afraid. Danger stalks  me.  I  need  your

help."

CHAPTER 2

"Tell me," Qui-Gon said. "You know I will help if I can."

Didi took a deep breath. "Only two days ago, I was almost  kidnapped.

I was simply walking down the street when a woman  wearing  plastoid  armor

came at me from behind on a swoop. Some sort of whip wrapped around my body

and I was yanked toward her. Luckily a Cavrilhu  happened  to  be  standing

near. He didn't like the fact that she knocked off his visor as she passed.

He gave chase with a rather large vibroblade and she  had  to  abandon  her

attempt. She left him with a lashing to remember her by."

"Who was she?" Qui-Gon asked.

"A bounty hunter," Didi said in a whisper. "I  asked  around.  Nobody

can be in this sector without information getting back to me. No one  knows

her home planet, but she's humanoid."

Qui-Gon received this news with dismay.  Didihad  always  managed  to

stay on the right side of the law -  barely.  Qui-Gon  gave  his  friend  a

piercing look. "A bounty hunter? Why is she after you?"

"It was not me, I swear," Didi said fervently. "I may  feed,  let  us

say, some dubious creatures in the underworld, but I am  no  criminal.  You

know this, my friend. All right, all right," he said before  Qui-Gon  could

speak, "perhaps I have once or twice bought  my  provisions  on  the  black

market. Maybe I've made a gambling bet or two. That doesn't  mean  I  break

laws."

Qui-Gon sighed. "It is against your best interest to gamble in such a

way on Coruscant, Didi."

"Of course it is! How well I know that!" Didi cried, bobbing his head

furiously in agreement. "But I'm convinced the bounty hunter is  not  after

me. No doubt some government on another world has confused me  for  someone

else. It happens, you know."

Qui-Gon saw the disbelief on Obi-Wan's face. He knew that his Padawan

did not approve of Didi. He had not seen Didi's generous heart, the way  he

took care of the many beings who crowded his caf© without letting them know

it. One of the lessons Obi-Wan needed to learn  was  to  look  beneath  the

surface. Perhaps this was one way.

"What would you like me to do, Didi?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Talk to her and tell her that there's been a mistake.  Convince  her

that I'm innocent," Didi said earnestly.

"How would I find her?" Qui-Gon asked.

Obi-Wan shot him an incredulous look. Qui-Gon  answered  him  with  a

glance that spoke as clearly as words. Wait, Padawan.

"I know where she is staying. An inn not far from  here,"  Didi  said

rapidly. "You could go right now. For a Jedi, this is a tiny favor. It will

take five minutes of your time. So easy for  one  as  wise  and  strong  as

yourself. She cannot ignore a Jedi. You know how I love your  person,  Qui-

Gon. I would never endanger you. Your life must be long, for  I  value  you

so."

Qui-Gon's eyes twinkled. "Ah, I see. I must live a long life for your

sake, Didi."

"Ha! And you are so clever, too. Jedi wisdom,  it  catches  me  every

time! Of course I didn't mean you should live long for me only," Didi  said

hurriedly. "So many depend on you. Like your  Padawan  here.  Is  that  not

right, Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan did not look pleased  to  be  dragged  into  Didi's  coaxing.

"Excuse me, Didi," he said. "But if you're  innocent  of  any  charge,  why

can't you see the bounty hunter yourself? Ask her to do a retinal  scan  or

check your identification papers. The matter can be cleared up in seconds."

"That would be a very good plan, were I not such a cowardly  person,"

Didi told Obi-Wan earnestly. He turned back to Qui-Gon.  "You  see  how  he

worships you. Just as I do. You question my love for you, and it hurts me."

Didi dabbed at his dry eyes with a napkin he swooped up from a stack on the

desk.

"All right, Didi," Qui-Gon said, bemused.  "You  can  stop  all  this

drama. I will see your bounty hunter."

Didi beamed. "She is at the Soft Landings  Inn.  It's  in  the  third

Senate Quadrant on Quarter Moon Street."

"We'll return shortly," Qui-Gon said. "Try not to get into  any  more

trouble while we're gone."

"I will remain here and be very good," Didi assured him.

The Jedi quickly made their way through the crowded caf© and  reached

the street.

"I don't understand," Obi-Wan burst out as soon as they were  in  the

open air. "Why do you trust him? What if Didi actually did commit  a  crime

and he's using you to get the  bounty  hunter  off  his  trail?  His  story

doesn't make sense to me. Bounty hunters  can  be  unprincipled,  but  they

rarely make mistakes. Why did you agree?"

"Didi might seem disreputable to you, but I've  never  known  him  to

lie," Qui-Gon answered calmly. "And he's right - he knows all the criminals

on Coruscant, but he's not one himself."

"Master, it is not for me to question your decision,"  Obi-Wan  said.

"But it seems to me that you are involving us in something that is bound to

be dangerous and is none of the Jedi's concern. Here is a man who seeks out

criminals and the dregs of the galaxy in order to get information, which he

then sells to the highest bidder. If you live in that sort  of  world,  you

deserve whatever bad luck comes your way."

"Perhaps," Qui-Gon said.

"I  don't  understand  why  you're  helping   him,"   Obi-Wan   said,

frustrated.

Qui-Gon hesitated. Then he said, "It's because he is my friend."

CHAPTER 3

"This place doesn't look as if it provides a  soft  landing  to  me,"

Obi-Wan observed, casting a dubious eye at the  Soft  Landings  Inn.  "More

like a full-scale crash."

"I've seen many places such as this," Qui-Gon said. "It  is  a  place

for space travelers to get a few hours of  sleep.  It's  not  arranged  for

comfort."

The building was made from salvaged materials - durasteel sheets  and

conductor pipes that wrapped  around  the  building  as  though  they  were

strangling it to a last gasp. The entire structure leaned to one  side.  It

looked as if a small push could knock it over. The stairs leading up  to  a

battered durasteel door were lined with overflowing garbage bins.

"Well," Qui-Gon said philosophically, "we might as well get this over

with."

They mounted the stairs and pressed a button to access  the  door.  A

voice came from a speaker mounted next to the frame.

"Na hti vel?"

"Visiting a guest," Qui-Gon said.

The door slid open. A small Togorian female shuffled out.

"We're looking for a woman," Qui-Gon said. "She's humanoid and  wears

a plastoid armor plate - "

"Third level. Number two." The Togorian swiveled  to  return  to  her

room.

"What's her name?"

The Togorian didn't turn. "Who cares? Pays in advance."

Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow at Obi-Wan. Obviously,  the  Soft  Landings

Inn didn't worry about security.

They hurried up the creaking  stairs  to  the  third  level.  Qui-Gon

knocked on the door marked 2. There was no answer.

"I am Qui-Gon Jinn, a Jedi Knight," Qui-Gon called through the  door.

"We mean  you  no  harm.  We  just  wish  to  ask  you  some  questions.  I

respectfully request permission to enter."

Again, there was no answer. But after a moment, the door slowly  slid

open. Obi-Wan sensed a slither of movement near the  floor,  but  no  other

disturbance. The door seemed to have opened on its own. It was dark  inside

the room, and he could not see anyone. He felt danger shimmer  out  at  him

like cracks in broken transparisteel.

Qui-Gon must have felt the warning as well. Yet he walked boldly into

the room without drawing his lightsaber. Obi-Wan did the same.

Qui-Gon headed directly to a window. He tilted  the  shade  and  pale

yellow light filtered in.

The bounty hunter sat facing them on a stool, her  back  against  the

wall. Her shaved head picked up the light and gleamed like a pale moon. Her

dark eyes studied her visitors without interest.  Underneath  the  plastoid

chest plate and thigh-high boots, her body was powerful  and  strong.  When

she stood, she would be close to Qui-Gon's height.

"We come on behalf of Didi Oddo," Qui-Gon  said  politely.  "You  are

trying to capture him, yet he has done no wrong. He requests that you check

your information or contact the government or party that has sent  you.  He

is sure that you have located the wrong person. Will you do this?"

The bounty hunter said nothing. Her eyes stayed on Qui-Gon, but  they

were expressionless.

"Didi Oddo runs a caf©," Qui-Gon said. "He  is  not  a  criminal.  He

rarely leaves Coruscant." Silence.

"If you would allow me to check the warrant, I could  clear  this  up

immediately," Qui-Gon said. "Then we could be on our way."

More silence. Obi-Wan forced himself to remain still. He knew  better

than to fidget. This was a contest of wills. Qui-Gon stood easily, the same

polite expression on his face. He would not show the bounty hunter that she

had intimidated him with her silence. No one intimidated Qui-Gon.

"I'm afraid I must insist,"  Qui-Gon  said,  his  voice  hardening  a

fraction. "If a wrong has occurred, we should  check  it  immediately.  You

would want the same."

Again, the bounty hunter did not reply. She  appeared  bored  by  her

visitors. Or maybe she slept with her eyes open...

The movement came out of nowhere, taking him by surprise. He had been

watching her face in order to determine what she would do. She barely moved

a muscle, but with a casual flick of her fingers a  whip  arched  into  the

air, its spiked tip heading straight for his face.

Obi-Wan backed up, but the whip curled around his neck several times.

It tightened as he clawed at it.

Qui-Gon's extraordinarily fast reflexes were sharper than  Padawan's.

His lightsaber activated in a blur of light. He sprang forward to slash  at

the whip in order to sever it.

But the bounty hunter's agile fingers flicked  again,  and  the  whip

reversed its twist and uncoiled off Obi-Wan's neck. It was just out of  the

lightsaber's reach, taunting Qui-Gon's blade.

The bounty hunter sprang to her feet. The whip  flashed  again,  this

time wrapping around Obi-Wan's ankles as he stepped forward to attack.

Obi-Wan stumbled and had to break his fall with one hand. Heat blazed

in his face. He hated being clumsy. This was the  second  time  the  bounty

hunter had surprised him. Fury clouded his vision for a moment, and he  had

trouble focusing on the calmness he would need for the battle.

The whip retracted. Suddenly, it glowed red in the dim room.  It  had

been turned to laser mode.

Qui-Gon's lightsaber tangled with the whip. Smoke  rose  as  the  two

lasers buzzed. Even while entangled with the lightsaber, the bounty  hunter

manipulated the end of the whip so that it slashed  at  Qui-Gon's  forearm.

Qui-Gon was forced to  retreat  and  come  at  his  opponent  from  another

direction.

Obi-Wan leaped forward to help him, already flexing so that he  could

come at her with a reverse backhand sweep. She flipped backward three times

to avoid him, then dropped unexpectedly to the floor and rolled in  a  ball

back to the window. Her movements were liquid, as though she were boneless.

Obi-Wan had never seen such acrobatic skill.

The window was open a few centimeters at  the  bottom.  To  Obi-Wan's

astonishment, the bounty hunter shed her armor and flattened herself enough

to slip through the small opening like water, pulling the armor behind her.

In another moment, she was gone.

Qui-Gon deactivated his lightsaber. He stood staring after the bounty

hunter. "A formidable opponent."

"How did she do that?" Obi-Wan asked.

"At least now we know where she is from," Qui-Gon said, shutting down

his lightsaber. "The planet Sorrus. Sorrusians have a skeletal system  that

can compress, allowing  them  to  squeeze  through  tight  places.  She  is

remarkably flexible. Not to mention very good with a whip."

Obi-Wan touched his neck. "She certainly knows how to use it."

"I've never seen that weapon before,"  Qui-Gon  mused.  "It  has  two

modes, one a laser.  She  was  remarkably  fast,  Padawan.  Don't  question

yourself. Your reflexes will get faster as you gain  more  control  of  the

Force."

"You were  already  moving  when  I  was  strangling,"  Obi-Wan  said

ruefully.

"I was expecting the whip," Qui-Gon said. "Didi told us about  it.  I

was watching her wrist. Next time, you will be as well."

Qui-Gon twisted around to look at his shoulder. Obi-Wan saw that  his

tunic was tattered. Blood soaked the edges. "You're hurt!"

"The spikes caught me.  A  little  bacta  and  I'll  be  fine.  Come,

Padawan. We'd better get back to Didi with the bad news." Qui-Gon  grimaced

as he peeled back the cloth from the wound.  "I  don't  think  this  bounty

hunter is going away."

CHAPTER 4

"She injured your person!" Didi cried as soon as he saw  Qui-Gon.  "I

cannot believe such a thing!" His hands flew to his mouth. "That means  she

is truly dangerous. Oh, I am in more trouble than I thought!"

"Never mind your troubles for the moment. We need  water  so  we  can

clean the wound," Obi-Wan said sharply to Didi.

"Of course, of course, let me help. I have a med kit here somewhere..

." Didi began to fuss around the desk, pushing aside datasheets,  receipts,

tins, and boxes.

"Never mind. Obi-Wan, it is okay to leave me. Go  get  your  medpac,"

Qui-Gon said.

Quickly, Obi-Wan found his medpac. Didi brought  a  basin  of  water.

Obi-Wan moved forward but Didi waved him away.

Obi-Wan watched as Didi cut away the tunic and carefully cleaned  the

wound, making sure no dirt or fabric remained in the torn flesh. His  plump

fingers were surprisingly delicate. He worked quickly and expertly, with no

trace of hesitation. Obi-Wan couldn't help but admire his skill.  He  would

have expected the excitable Didi to feel faint, or moan  with  sickness  at

the sight of blood.

Didi dripped bacta into the wound  and  then  with  great  gentleness

wrapped a clean bandage around it.

"Thank you," Qui-Gon said. "I could not ask for better care."

"You'll need a fresh tunic," Obi-Wan said. "I can fetch one - "  Didi

began.

"In a moment." Qui-Gon frowned at Didi. "This bounty  hunter  is  not

giving up. Either she is very stubborn, or there truly is a warrant out for

your arrest."

"Impossible," Didi said, shaking his head.

"Or there could be no warrant at all, just someone who  wants  to  do

Didi harm,"  Obi-Wan  pointed  out.  "Bounty  hunters  often  take  private

commissions."

Didi swiveled and stared at Obi-Wan, his mouth open. "Oh, do not  say

that, Obi-Wan. That is even worse. It would mean that someone has placed  a

death mark on my head."

Obi-Wan was taken aback at the sight of Didi's pale face.  "I  didn't

mean to scare you."

"I appreciate that very much, dear boy," Didi  said.  "Very  kind  of

you. But you did. Why would someone do such a thing?  I  have  no  enemies.

Only friends."

"Obi-Wan, you make a good  point,"  Qui-Gon  said  thoughtfully.  "We

should have considered this before. It is logical, considering  the  bounty

hunter's attitude and how Didi makes his living."

"Serving food and drink?" Didi asked, baffled.  "I  admit  some  have

gotten sick after supper, but  I've  never  actually  poisoned  anyone.  At

least, not on purpose."

"I am not talking about your dubious cooking skills," Qui-Gon said to

Didi. "I'm  talking  about  your  sideline.  You  traffic  in  information.

Information that could benefit or harm criminals as well as security forces

and members of the Senate. What if you know something that someone  doesn't

want to get out?"

"But what could it be?" Didi asked. "I don't know anything."

"You must," Qui-Gon insisted. "You just don't know what it is."

"How can  I  know  something  without  knowing  it?"  Didi  cried  in

frustration. "Is this worth a death sentence, I ask you? I  hear  something

and pass it along for a tiny profit, and suddenly I am dead? Is that fair?"

Didi would have gone on, but Qui-Gon silenced him with  an  impatient

gesture. "Let me see if we can narrow this down. If we knew who  hired  the

bounty hunter, we could begin to investigate. Let me contact Tahl."

Didi slumped in a chair. Obi-Wan  drew  closer  to  Qui-Gon.  "You're

going to involve the Temple resources?" he asked in a low tone.

"Tahl is a friend of  Didi's,  too,"  Qui-Gon  said,  activating  his

comlink. "She'll want to help."

Seconds later, Obi-Wan heard Tahl's crisp  voice  over  the  comlink.

After Qui-Gon filled her in  on  the  situation,  she  said,  "Didi  is  in

trouble? Of course I want to help."

"I know the bounty hunter is Sorrusian," Qui-Gon  said.  "She  didn't

speak. She's about my size, and very muscular. She wears plastoid armor and

has a shaved head."

"I know of her," Tahl said. "I don't  know  her  name.  Nobody  does.

We've received reports that are somewhat alarming, so Yoda asked me to keep

track of her movements. It's hard because she tends to disappear into  thin

air. I didn't know she was on Coruscant. She doesn't work for  governments,

just private individuals with great wealth. She gained her reputation  with

a series of for-hire killings. Some of her victims have been in  high-level

government or finance."

"In other words," Qui-Gon said grimly, "she is  able  to  get  around

high-level security."

"Exactly. And word is that she will take any assignment if the  price

is right. She's very good, Qui-Gon. Very dangerous."

A moan came from the desk.

Tahl's warm laugh came through the comlink. "I hear you, Didi. Do not

fret. With Qui-Gon helping you, everything will turn out fine.  Qui-Gon,  I

will see you and Obi-Wan soon, I'm sure. Yoda is expecting you shortly."

Tahl's  voice  was  warm  as  she  spoke  to  Didi.  Obi-Wan   didn't

understand. Obviously, he missed whatever charms Didi  had  for  the  other

Jedi.

Qui-Gon cut the communication. "The situation is getting interesting,

" he observed.

"I would hardly use that word," Didi  said  mournfully.  "Terrifying,

maybe. Horrible. Unfair. Hopeless - "

"The question is," Qui-Gon interrupted,  ignoring  Didi,  "why  would

such a high-priced killer be hired to take care of  a  low-level  scrounger

like Didi?"

Didi  sat  erect.  "Low-level?  Just  a   minute.   I   resent   that

characterization. Haven't you noticed that we painted the windowsills?  And

as for scrounging - "

"Didi, focus your mind," Qui-Gon interrupted urgently. "Think!"

"Hardly my best ability," Didi said. "But I'll try.  Information  has

dried up recently. And I've been busy with the caf©. Astri doesn't like my.

.. sideline, so I have to be careful now. However, there are  a  couple  of

pieces that came my way recently by way of a regular informant, Fligh.  But

neither of them seems at all important. I wasn't even sure who to sell them

to..."

"What are they?" Qui-Gon asked impatiently.

Didi held up one fat finger.  "First,  Senator  Uta  S'orn  from  the

planet Belasco is resigning." He held up a second. "And  the  Tech  Raiders

are moving their headquarters to Vandor-3."

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon. "Tech Raiders?"

"Black  market  traders  in  space  vessels  and  weapons,"   Qui-Gon

explained.

"But why would the gang care if I  knew  their  new  location?"  Didi

asked. "They know I wouldn't sell it to the security forces. I myself  have

used the gang to find parts for my pocket  cruiser."  At  Qui-Gon's  raised

eyebrow, he quickly added, "Well,  they  are  cheaper!  It's  not  illegal.

Technically."

"Even if the parts are stolen?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I don't know if they're stolen!" Didi insisted. "Why should I ask? I

know / didn't steal them."

"What about Senator S'orn?" Qui-Gon asked.

Didi shrugged. "She's not on any important committees or  planning  a

war or anything. It's a piece of gossip, nothing more. I'm planning to call

on a few journalists. One will probably pay a few  credits.  I'll  have  to

hurry to beat Fligh. He's been known to sell information more than once.  I

assure you, this is all routine news. Nothing worth  killing  anyone  over.

Especially me."

"We don't know that for sure," Qui-Gon said thoughtfully. "We'll have

to investigate both items."

Why us? Obi-Wan thought. They had done one favor for Didi.  Did  Qui-

Gon mean to involve them further?

The door opened and a slender female rushed into the room. She wore a

utility cap that was tugged low over her forehead. Curly  dark  hair  poked

out of it, waving around her ears and neck. She wore a  floor-length  apron

that was snowy white except for  one  brilliant  splotch  of  red.  As  she

walked, she left floury footprints. She held a pan full of  soup  that  was

the obvious source of the apron stain.

She thrust a spoon at Obi-Wan. "Taste this, will you?"

Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon, mindful of his directive not to  eat  the

food.

"Don't be shy. Here." She pushed the spoon toward him.

Obi-Wan had no choice.  Tentatively,  he  spooned  up  the  soup  and

swallowed. A smooth, tangy liquid slid down his throat.

"It's good," he said, surprised.

"Really?" Didi and the young woman said together, also surprised.

"Really," Obi-Wan told her.

She turned and saw Qui-Gon. "Qui-Gon! Didi said you  were  here.  How

good it is to see you." She placed the pot on the desk, spilling  a  little

over the top. She took the edge of her apron and wiped the spill,  knocking

a shower of durasheets onto the floor. "Oops."

Didi shot Qui-Gon a warning look that she did not catch.

"Just a friendly visit," Qui-Gon answered. "You're right, Astri. It's

been too long since I visited your father."

"Have you seen the improvements?" Astri asked. "I painted  everything

myself. It was hard to persuade my father to spruce up the place."

"I don't want to scare the regular customers away," Didi said.

"If only we could," Astri groaned.

"I don't know what was wrong with my cooking," Didi went on.  "Nobody

ever complained."

"Sure," Astri said  cheerfully.  "They  were  too  busy  being  sick.

Meanwhile, I've decided we must spend money on new napkins, and cloths  for

the tables - "

"Who needs a cloth? It just gets dirty!"

Astri turned to Qui-Gon and spread her hands. "Do you see my problem?

I want to make the place better, and all he does is complain.  He  welcomes

back the dregs of the galaxy. He promised to give  up  buying  and  selling

information, but he can't resist feeding them. How can I attract  a  better

class of customer when the place is full of gangsters?"

"Everyone likes to eat with gangsters," Didi observed. "It adds spice

to the food."

"I'll add the spice, thank you very much," Astri said crisply.  "I've

landed a big client, Father. This could be our big break. There's a medical

conference coming to the Senate, and scientists are arriving from all  over

the galaxy. Guess who booked the caf© for a small dinner?"

"The Chancellor?" Didi guessed.

"Not yet," Astri said with a grin. "Jenna Zan Arbor!"

Obi-Wan had  heard  of  Jenna  Zan  Arbor.  Years  ago,  as  a  young

scientist, she had achieved  fame  by  inventing  a  vaccine  for  a  world

threatened by a deadly space virus. She focused her  attention  on  helping

planets with low levels of technology. Her last project was to  triple  the

food supply on the famine-stricken planet of Melasaton.

"Who?" Didi asked.

"Jenna Zan Arbor!" Astri cried. "She reserved the entire caf© for her

party!"

"Did you say elegant?" Didi asked. "Now that sounds expensive."

"Just... don't... ruin it," Astri said through her  teeth.  Then  she

picked up the soup and left the room, curls bouncing, apron  swinging,  and

soup dribbling onto the floor.

"Isn't she marvelous?" Didi sighed.  "But  she  is  driving  me  into

bankruptcy."

"You promised her not to buy and sell information  anymore,"  Qui-Gon

said.

"Well, I suppose I did, yes. But can I help it if this  one  or  that

one whispers something to me in exchange for a few credits or a meal?"

"Maybe Didi should go away  for  awhile,"  Obi-Wan  suggested.  "Some

other planet where the bounty hunter won't find him."

"Now that's an idea!" Didi said cheerfully. "Running away is just  my

style!" Then he frowned. "But I don't like to leave Astri."

"Of course not," Qui-Gon agreed.

"She will spend all my money," Didi said. Qui-Gon  sighed.  "I  don't

think you should run away, Didi. The bounty hunter is undoubtedly an expert

tracker. And it is better that we face the problem here  and  now.  Obi-Wan

and I will do some investigating for you."

"But we're due back at the Temple!"  Obi-Wan  protested.  "Tahl  said

Yoda was expecting us."

"We can spare a few hours," Qui-Gon said. "I'll contact Yoda  on  the

way and tell him why we are delaying our return. He'll understand. He's a -

"

" - friend of Didi's," Obi-Wan supplied.

Qui-Gon's eyes twinkled. "Besides, it will give you a chance  to  see

the seamier side of Coruscant."

"Just what I always wanted," Obi-Wan grumbled.

"And when you return, I'll treat  you  to  a  delicious  meal!"  Didi

announced.

Obi-Wan looked doubtful. "As long as you're not the one to cook  it,"

he said.

CHAPTER 5

Armed with a good description of Fligh, the  informant,  Qui-Gon  and

Obi-Wan headed to the Senate.  "Just  ask  around,"  Didi  had  told  them.

"Everyone knows Fligh."

They walked through the main entrance  of  the  Senate  rotunda.  The

press of beings inside worked against the calm  surroundings  to  create  a

sense of controlled chaos. Obi-Wan was jostled and bumped  by  quick-moving

Senatorial  aides  and  consorts  of  various  species.  Hover-cams  buzzed

overhead,  heading  to  the  vast  interior  amphitheater  to  record   the

proceedings. Guards dressed in royal blue robes strode by purposefully.

Small caf©s were tucked into overhangs along the exterior wall,  some

more populated than others. Qui-Gon stopped to inquire at several of  them,

and then moved on.

"Didi is right," he told Obi-Wan. "Everyone knows  Fligh.  They  just

don't know where he is."

At last they found him in one of the small pocket cafes. This one was

deserted. It was past time for midday meal, and the Senate was in session.

Fligh sat at a small table, nursing a glass of muja juice. He  was  a

spindly creature with a long face, prominent ears, and one green prosthetic

eye.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sat at the table. "Didi sent us," Qui-Gon said.

Fligh looked surprised. Then he licked his lips.  "Didn't  know  Jedi

trafficked in information. Buy, sell, or trade?"

"We are not here to make a deal," Qui-Gon said. "We need you to  tell

us how you found out about the two pieces of information you just  sold  to

Didi."

Fligh wrapped his long, thin fingers around his glass and  looked  at

them slyly. "Why should I tell you? What's in it for me, I ask?"

"You would be helping Didi," Qui-Gon said. "He is in trouble. And  if

you chose not to help him, I would not be pleased." Qui-Gon  gave  Fligh  a

level stare.

Fligh choked on his muja juice, then broke out into nervous laughter.

"You are a friend of Didi! I am a friend of Didi! We are all friends! There

you go! Of course I want you to be pleased. I'll tell  you  everything  you

wish to know. May I say that I am both helpful and discreet? And  generous.

May I offer you two some muja juice? Unfortunately at the moment I  am  out

of credits, but I would be happy to order them for you."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "Just tell us what we want  to  know,  Fligh.

How did you find out about the Tech Raiders?"

Fligh shrugged. "Easy. One hears things if one  pays  attention.  And

there you go."

"You just heard it in the air?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I can see you're a stickler for details," Fligh said,  leaning  back

and chuckling at Qui-Gon. "Okay, okay. I heard it from their representative

on Coruscant. Helb is the broker for stolen tech equipment. One  meets  him

in the Splendor Tavern, he makes the deal. He used to make deals at Didi's,

but the lovely Astri took care of that. Too bad - Didi always gave me juice

for free." Fligh sighed at the lost opportunity.

"What about your information about Senator S'orn?" Qui-Gon asked.

"One has to protect one's sources, you know," Fligh stalled.

Qui-Gon gave him a stern look. It was all he had to do. The  cowardly

Fligh immediately backtracked.

"Okay, okay, I can  see  you'll  make  me  talk.  I  got  hold  of  a

confidential memo written by S'orn herself announcing her  resignation.  It

isn't scheduled to be released until next week. Naturally one could not let

such a find go to waste."

"And how did you get this memo?" Qui-Gon asked.

"How does one learn things? Things happen. A durasheet falls into the

trash bin, someone plucks it out, passes it along..." Fligh shrugged. "It's

the way one has to work. A little here, a little there.  A  favor  here,  a

trade there, and there you go." He turned to Obi-Wan. "Do you like my eye?"

The abrupt question took Obi-Wan by surprise. "Which one?"  he  asked

politely.

"The green one, of course!" Fligh said, pointing to it.  "I  lost  my

own in a little dustup with some Hutts. Isn't it a beauty?"

"It's very attractive," Obi-Wan said.

"Very nice," Qui-Gon offered, when Fligh turned to him.

"You see? There you go - a trade. A little information goes  here,  a

little goes there, and  I  get  an  eye!  How  else  does  one  survive  on

Coruscant?"

"One could get a job," Qui-Gon pointed out. "One could, if one were a

different being," Fligh agreed. "However, one is not." He  shrugged  again.

"I do the best I can. On my own since I was knee-high, I learned how to get

by. Didi is my friend. He has done much for me, and Astri is in my heart as

well. I'm sorry Didi is in trouble. I  will  try  to  help,  Jedi.  This  I

promise."

"I think it better if you stay out of it," Qui-Gon said in  a  kindly

tone, for Fligh's tone was sincere. "We don't know what we're dealing  with

yet.

"Then call on me when you need me. I will do my best, which I am sure

you can guess is not much." Fligh cackled. "But there you go."

Qui-Gon stood. "We might have to return and ask you more questions."

"I am always here," Fligh said. He waved at the empty  caf©  and  his

jar of muja juice. "Where else can one find such excitement?"

Since they were already in the Senate building, Qui-Gon decided  that

their next stop should be Senator Uta S'orn's office.

The outer room was empty, so Qui-Gon knocked on an inner door.

"Telissa?" The door was flung open. A Belascan female stood, one hand

on her hip, wearing the trademark Belascan  headdress  of  wrapped  jeweled

cloth, as well as an irritable expression. "Oh, sorry. I thought  you  were

my assistant." Her glittering eyes swept them, and her expression  changed.

"Oh. Jedi. Excuse my rudeness."

"May we speak with you for a moment?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I am very busy... all right.  Enter."  Senator  S'orn  swiveled  and

walked back into her private office. She waved them to two  chairs  set  in

front of her desk.

Qui-Gon  seated  himself  and  began  with  preliminaries.  "You  are

resigning next week, Senator S'orn."

She looked startled. "But how do you know this?"

"The information is out there," Qui-Gon said. "It is for sale.  I  do

not know if anyone has bought it yet, but no doubt someone will. We  cannot

prevent that."

Senator S'orn dropped her head in her hands. "My  data  pad.  It  was

stolen at the Senate commissary. My resignation announcement was on it.

Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon. Obviously, Fligh had lied about how  he'd

received the information.

She raised her head. "Disaster. I'm  sponsoring  legislation  in  two

days. If this gets out beforehand, I'll have no support."

"Did you see anyone nearby who could have stolen it?" Qui-Gon asked.

She shook her head. "Just the usual  Senate  crowd."  She  laced  her

fingers together and bowed her head for  a  moment  in  thought.  Then  she

raised her head and put both hands flat on  the  desk.  "Decision.  I  must

announce my resignation immediately. Then I can  rally  supporters  to  the

legislation by saying they must help me with my legacy. I'll play on  their

sympathies." She drummed her fingers on the  desk  as  she  calculated  her

strategy. Her mind seemed to be elsewhere as she said absently, "Thank  you

for telling me."

Qui-Gon stood. "Thank you for your time."

She did not say good-bye or acknowledge  them  again.  Her  mind  was

already working to fix her problem. Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon out the door.

"Why didn't you ask her about Didi?" he asked Qui-Gon.

"Because it wouldn't have gotten me anywhere. If she put a death mark

on Didi's head, she would hardly admit it," Qui-Gon said. "And I can't  see

how she could trace the theft of the data pad to Didi. Do you?"

"Only if she's lying," Obi-Wan said after a moment.  "If  she'd  seen

Fligh steal it, it would be easy to trace him to Didi.  But  why  go  after

Didi, and not Fligh?"

Obi-Wan thought this over some more. He felt at a disadvantage.  Qui-

Gon seemed to have an insight into the hearts and minds of beings  that  he

did not.

"Still, Senator S'orn's distress  seemed  sincere  to  me,"  he  said

slowly. "She was barely polite and not terribly nice, but  not  evil.  Just

busy."

"A typical Senator," Qui-Gon said with a half smile.

"She seemed surprised that the information was out," Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, she did," Qui-Gon mused. "Unless she is a  very  good  actress.

But she did seem sincerely upset."

"Why did Fligh tell us that an assistant got her announcement out  of

the trash?" Obi-Wan asked. "It's obviously not true."

"He didn't actually  say  that,  Padawan,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "He  just

indicated that as one of many ways he could have  gotten  the  information.

No, Fligh stole the data pad. He would  not  want  to  admit  that  to  us,

however."

"This seems like a dead end  to  me,"  Obi-Wan  said  in  conclusion.

"Senator S'orn certainly doesn't look like a murderer."

Qui-Gon's blue eyes  were  keen.  "Tell  me,  Padawan.  What  does  a

murderer look like?"

CHAPTER 6

The wide Senate doors at the south  exit  were  crowded  with  beings

hurrying inside and outside the building. They were all intent  on  getting

somewhere fast, some of them barking into comlinks,  others  with  harried,

preoccupied looks on their faces.

"Now we need to find the Splendor Tavern," Obi-Wan said.

"I know where it is," Qui-Gon answered, striking off to his left down

a small alley.

Obi-Wan lengthened his stride to match  his  Master's.  "How  do  you

know?" he asked curiously.

"Because I have had occasion to go there," Qui-Gon  responded.  "It's

where connections are made for the black market. If one needs weapons or an

illegally modified speeder, or wants to gamble, one goes to the Splendor.

Sometimes on a mission you need help from the worst sorts as well  as

the best."

Qui-Gon led him farther into a section he had never been  in  before,

down many levels closer to the planet's surface. If Obi-Wan had been  asked

to describe Coruscant, he would have  talked  of  a  gleaming  planet,  all

silver and white, with wide walkways and  space  lanes  that  flashed  with

agile crafts zooming toward their destinations. He barely  knew  the  other

Coruscant, below the levels of the  Senate  and  the  beautiful  residences

above. This one was made up of narrow alleys and  cluttered  streets,  with

dark shadows and furtive creatures who darted away when they saw  the  Jedi

striding toward them. Games of chance were played on stoops and in  outdoor

caf©s. Weapons were placed on tables as warnings for cheaters.

Qui-Gon stopped in front of a metal building with a sagging roof.  An

old readout sign swung in front, occasionally  banging  against  the  rough

metal walls with a screeching sound. Half of its letters had burned out, so

it read: s P D O R. The windows were shuttered, and only a  thin  strip  of

light came through.

"Here we are," Qui-Gon said.

"Here?"  Obi-Wan  studied  the  building  with  a  dubious  eye.  "It

certainly doesn't live up to its name."

"Don't worry. It's worse than it looks."

Qui-Gon pushed open the door. Immediately they were met with a  blast

of noise. Music played from a recorder in the corner  while  a  variety  of

customers drank, ate, and played games of chance at each table.  A  jubilee

wheel whirled on the bar, and gamblers gathered  around  with  fistfuls  of

credits, betting on the outcome. It stopped, and  one  crowed  triumphantly

while two others began to fight. A fourth turned away, desperation  on  his

face.

Qui-Gon made his way to the lmbat bartender, whose head nearly bumped

the ceiling, and whose long ears drooped to  his  shoulders.  As  the  Jedi

watched, his massive hand reached out and casually smacked a  bar  customer

who was trying to get his attention by waving his arms. The  customer  fell

back off his seat and crashed to the floor, a stunned  look  on  his  face.

Someone stepped over him and took his place.

With a jolt, Obi-Wan realized that Didi's  caf©  hadn't  been  filled

with the worst of the galaxy, as he'd thought. He did not  know  who  owned

the Splendor. But whoever it was obviously did not care one bit  about  his

customers.

Qui-Gon took up a position at the end of the bar. He did  not  signal

the bartender in any way, but the lmbat  moved  toward  him.  He  bent  his

massive head and listened to Qui-Gon dolefully.

Then, moving only his eyes, he indicated a shadowy corner.

Qui-Gon signaled to Obi-Wan, and they moved toward it.

Helb was a Neimoidian. Instead of the large glasses of ale the  other

customers were swilling, a small cup of tea was almost hidden in his large,

sharp-nailed hands. Though Neimoidians usually favored  the  richest  robes

they could afford, Helb  wore  a  plain  gray  unisuit  with  two  blasters

strapped to his hips. His back was to the wall, and he  watched  the  crowd

with shrewd orange eyes.

Qui-Gon took a seat at the table across from  him.  Obi-Wan  did  the

same.

Helb gave them a considering look. "I am surprised to see Jedi  in  a

place such as this."

"We come for information only," Qui-Gon said.

"That is probably the one thing I do not have to sell," Helb said.

"That is all right, for I do not wish to buy it,"  Qui-Gon  said.  He

sat in silence, waiting. Again, Obi-Wan marveled at how  much  Qui-Gon  was

able to convey through stillness.

Helb gave the hissing sound that passed for Neimoidian laughter. "You

are lucky. I'm in a good mood. I just won a game of sabacc.  Otherwise  you

would be talking to a wall."

Qui-Gon didn't rise to the bait. "There is a death mark on  the  head

of Didi Oddo. He wonders if the Tech Raiders are displeased with him."

Helb laughed again. "I am the one who is  displeased  with  Didi.  He

beat me at a game of sabacc the other day. That is why I am so happy to win

today."

Qui-Gon nodded. Helb took a sip of tea.

"Which doesn't mean I want to kill him," Helb continued. "If  I  were

going to put a death mark on someone's head, it would be his friend

"Why?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Because he owes the Tech Raiders an interesting sum of money,"  Helb

responded. "Not just gambling winnings on one game  of  sabacc,  but  favor

after favor we have done him for which he has not paid. Why would I  put  a

contract out on Didi?"

"Because if you put a death mark  on  Fligh,  you'd  never  get  your

money," Qui-Gon said.

Helb laughed. "I'll never get it anyway!"

"Fligh knows that your group has moved to  Vandor-3,"  Qui-Gon  said.

"If you kill him, the information won't get out."

Helb shook his head, bemused. "I told  Fligh  because  I  wanted  the

information to get out. I knew he wouldn't sell it to the security force.

Only to those who need tech equipment or stolen speeders  for  cheap.

How else would we get customers? Speaking of which,  if  the  Temple  needs

equipment..."

"No, thank you," Qui-Gon said. He stood.

"Don't worry about Didi," Helb said. "He always seems to land on  his

feet. And if you see Fligh, tell him I'm looking for him. That should scare

him!" Hissing with amusement, Helb turned his attention back to his tea.

Qui-Gon started for the door. As Obi-Wan began to  follow,  something

caught his eye. A wizened old man wrapped in layers of  soiled  cloaks  and

robes sat at a table, pushing  pieces  around  a  gameboard  with  a  dirty

finger. His eyes slowly slid back to the board as Obi-Wan glanced at him. A

jolt of familiarity hit Obi-Wan, but he could not place it.

He caught up with Qui-Gon at the door. But something  made  him  turn

back. The old man was now heading toward the back of the place. He shuffled

through the crowd at first, but his step quickened as he passed through the

throng at the bar. It was difficult to keep him in sight through the  press

of bodies, but Obi-Wan focused his attention, watching for movement.

He saw a cape drop to the floor. Then another. No one noticed.

The windows along the back were shuttered as well. One  was  slightly

more ajar than the others, the window itself  cracked  to  let  in  a  tiny

stream of air.

The shuffling old man had disappeared. A tall  female  dressed  in  a

dark tunic suddenly disengaged from the crowd and moved toward the rear.

"It's her," Obi-Wan breathed. He quickly turned  to  Qui-Gon.  "She's

here."

Qui-Gon turned. As they watched, the female dressed in  black  hauled

herself up and then slipped through the narrow opening of the  window,  her

body seeming to compress as she did so.

With a leap, Qui-Gon burst out the front door.  Obi-Wan  followed  on

his heels. They raced down a narrow alleyway crowded with so many durasteel

garbage bins that they had to leap up and run on top of them.

Garbage squished under their boots,  impeding  their  progress.  They

landed as lightly as they could, racing over the tops of  the  bins  toward

the rear. At the end of the alleyway, they leaped down onto solid ground.

She was already disappearing around a corner far down the back alley.

Qui-Gon increased his pace, and Obi-Wan spurted forward to  catch  up

to him. His Master was a faster runner, and he  dashed  around  the  corner

before Obi-Wan could get there.

Obi-Wan pushed himself  to  his  limit,  racing  after  Qui-Gon.  The

question was, if they  caught  the  bounty  hunter,  what  would  they  do?

Questioning her had not exactly been productive before.

As he rounded the corner, he saw that Qui-Gon had given up. The alley

widened into a small square with six different roads radiating out from the

center.

"She's gone," Qui-Gon said.

"If that was really her," Obi-Wan said. "Now I  can't  quite  believe

it. I saw an old man, and suddenly he became a younger female."

"Your eyes did not deceive  you,  Obi-Wan,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "Only  a

Sorussian would have been able to slip through that opening.  The  question

is, why was she there at all? Was it a coincidence, or is she  now  on  our

trail?"

CHAPTER 7

"What are you doing here?" Astri  demanded  as  Qui-Gon  and  Obi-Wan

walked through the door of Didi's Caf©. She wiped her flour-dusted hands on

a dish towel. "Oh, forgive me, I didn't mean that the way it  sounded.  You

are always welcome, Qui-Gon. Except not just now."

"Don't worry, Astri, we haven't come for a meal," Qui-Gon told her.

"Jenna Zan Arbor is due  with  her  party  any  moment,"  Astri  said

distractedly. "One of the servers hasn't shown up. I haven't  finished  the

banja cakes yet. The water won't boil for the pashi noodles, and  my  sauce

is too spicy!"

"It smells delicious," Obi-Wan said helpfully.

"Thank you. If only I could feed them with smells! How does the place

look? Fligh was supposed to come by and sweep, and he never showed up, that

rascal. After all Didi has done for him!"

"I have never seen the caf© look better," Qui-Gon assured her.

Astri had tried to brighten the place with ornate candles on the  two

long tables she had pushed together. A long pink cloth was on  each  table,

and the plates and glasses looked clean and sparkling. But  she  could  not

hide the general air of disrepair of the place. The walls were  dingy  with

the years of smoke and dirt, and the floor was pitted  from  the  marks  of

thousands of boots and scuffles.

"There was no time to paint the inside," Astri  said,  noticing  Obi-

Wan's glance around. "And no time to  tear  the  place  down  and  rebuild,

either." She gave a comical grimace.

"I'm sure everything will go fine," Qui-Gon said. "We've just come to

talk to Didi for a moment. Is he here?"

"He's in the back. I told him to stay out of my  way."  Astri's  dark

eyes twinkled. "I  think  I  scared  him.  He  actually  listened  to  me."

Suddenly, she craned her  neck  and  stared  out  the  window.  "Stars  and

planets, it's them!" Astri gave a surprisingly loud  bellow.  "Renzii!  Our

customers are here! Renzii - "

She was still bellowing as the door opened.

A tall woman dressed in a gray shimmersilk  gown  underneath  a  rich

purple cloak stood uncertainly in the doorway. Her gleaming blond hair  was

intertwined with silky fabric. "This is Didi's Caf©?"

Hurriedly, Astri wiped her hands on her stained apron, then held  one

out for the woman to shake. She had rubbed a berry stain on her apron,  and

the hand she offered was blue. The woman stared at it and did not take  it.

Astri quickly tucked her hand behind her back.

"Yes, yes, come in. You are so welcome. I'm the owner and chef, Astri

Oddo."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan faded back. The woman's party crowded behind her.

They glanced around the cafe, surprise on their faces. Obviously  they  had

expected a grander restaurant  for  their  meal.  They  were  from  various

worlds, but all had a prosperous look. The men were dressed in fine  tunics

and jackets, the women in shimmersilk gowns or jackets.  One  aristocratic-

looking female wore a jeweled turban. Her light blue eyes widened in dismay

as she surveyed the cafe, and she quickly gathered her tunic closer  around

her.

"There must be some mistake," Jenna Zan Arbor said.

Just then Renzii the waiter raced out of the kitchen and skidded to a

stop in front of the party, still buttoning his tunic. "Welcome,  come  in,

enter, this way," he babbled.

"I think we'd better leave Astri to her guests,"

Qui-Gon murmured to Obi-Wan. "It seems her hands are full."

They walked back toward Didi's private office. They pushed  open  the

door. Didi sat in a chair, his back to them. He didn't turn.

"Didi? Is everything all right?" Qui-Gon asked.

Slowly, the chair swiveled around to face them. Didi's dark eyes were

full of tears. "I fear it is my fault," he said.

"What is your fault, Didi?" Qui-Gon asked gently.

"It's Fligh," he said. "He's been murdered."

CHAPTER 8

Obi-Wan had faced death before. He never got used to it.  The  way  a

spirit could fill a space, the life energy behind  the  eyes,  and  then...

nothing.

"What happened?" Qui-Gon demanded.

"I don't know," Didi said, mopping  his  face  with  a  napkin.  "The

Coruscant security force contacted me. They know Fligh is a friend. He  was

found in one of the alleyways around the Senate. The Lane of All Worlds  is

where he is lying like an animal." Perspiration shone on Didi's  face.  "Do

you think this has anything to do with me?" he asked. His face betrayed how

fearful he was to hear the answer.

"I'm afraid I do," Qui-Gon said grimly.  "We'd  better  talk  to  the

security forces. Come on, Didi."

"Me?" Didi squeaked. "Why do I have to  go?"  "Because  I  think  you

should remain with us at all times now," Qui-Gon  said.  "You  aren't  safe

here."

"But I am!" Didi protested. "Astri will lock the  front  door  so  no

other customers come. And this fancy party will go on  for  hours.  No  one

will try to attack  me  while  such  distinguished  guests  are  here.  And

besides," he added in a low tone, "I'm too afraid and  sad  to  move  right

now. I could not look upon my dead friend's body. I am sorry."

Qui-Gon exchanged a glance with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan  hoped  he  was  not

going to suggest that he stay here with  Didi  while  Qui-Gon  investigated

Fligh's death. He did not want to stay behind to baby-sit Didi  when  there

was work to do.

"All right," Qui-Gon said  reluctantly.  "This  shouldn't  take  very

long. Make sure every door and window is fastened tight, Didi. This  bounty

hunter can get through very small spaces."

Didi nodded vigorously. "I have done so already, but I  will  double-

check."

"We'll return soon," Qui-Gon said. "We'll knock at the back  door.  I

don't want to spoil Astri's big evening."

"So considerate of you, Qui-Gon," Didi said fervently.  "None  of  us

want to spoil things for Astri. I will wait here. Can you... can  you  make

sure that Fligh is... taken care of?" Didi's eyes filled with tears.  "Tell

the security forces that I will  pay  for  the  funeral.  I  will  pay  for

everything."

Qui-Gon put a hand on Didi's shoulder. "This is not  your  fault,  my

friend."

"I hear your words," Didi whispered. "Yet I do not feel them."

Qui-Gon checked the doors and windows from the  outside  before  they

headed off. He did not trust the scattered Astri to remember  to  bolt  the

door. But everything was locked up tight.

It was fully dark when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan arrived at the Lane of All

Worlds. There was no moon, and the glare of  the  glow  lamps  threw  harsh

shadows.

The Coruscant security forces in their navy  uniforms  milled  around

Fligh's fallen body, which was covered by a tarp.

"May I look?" Qui-Gon asked the officer in charge. His nameplate read

CAPTAIN YUR T'AUG. He was a stocky Bothan with a flowing beard  and  glossy

dark hair that hung to his shoulders.

The captain frowned, but all officers in the security force knew that

Jedi requests must be honored.

"All right," Captain Yur T'aug said. "Not a pleasant sight, though."

"Stay here, Padawan," Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan. This  order  Obi-Wan  was

glad to obey. He did not want to see Fligh's body. He  wanted  to  remember

Fligh alive.

He watched as Qui-Gon, his back to him, crouched to lift a corner  of

the tarp. Although Qui-Gon did not flinch  or  shudder,  Obi-Wan  knew  the

sight had distressed him. There was something about how his Master did  not

move for several  seconds,  how  his  hand  dropped  the  tarp  with  great

gentleness.

Obi-Wan turned away with a shudder. Around the  body,  officers  went

about the business of death, tagging various items,  searching  the  ground

with glow rods, entering information in their data pads, talking in groups.

It could be any being lying on that cold stone walkway. Fligh had ceased to

matter. Only the manner of his death was important.

Obi-Wan looked up at the dark sky. Stars glittered  with  edges  that

looked hard enough to cut. Already he felt at times that he  had  seen  too

much death and cruelty. How did Qui-Gon, who had seen so much  more,  feel?

It was the Jedi's job to meet such things. To help. The  helping  was  easy

compared to this.

Will I ever get used to death? Obi-Wan wondered.

Obi-Wan saw something glitter in the dim shadows. He  walked  closer.

It was a bright green stone. He leaned down to study it and realized it was

Fligh's prosthetic eye. It must have rolled away from the body. He  pointed

it out to Qui-Gon, who nodded.

Qui-Gon showed it to Captain Yur T'aug. "It belonged to the  victim,"

he said.

The captain crouched to examine it. "Sergeant!" he called. "Tag  this

item."

Another officer scurried over  with  a  specimen  bag  and  carefully

picked up the eye with a tweezer device.

"What was the cause of death?" Qui-Gon asked quietly.

"Strangulation, we believe," Captain Yur T'aug said shortly.

"I saw the marks," Qui-Gon said. "It seems like  a  slender  cord  of

some kind. Not hands." The captain nodded.

"And the unusual... ah, pallor?" Qui-Gon asked.

"The body was drained of blood," Captain  Yur  T'aug  said.  "He  was

killed elsewhere and then dropped off here."

Obi-Wan looked back at the tarp and shuddered again.

Qui-Gon's voice was calm. "Any suspects?"

The captain sighed, tapping his comlink with an impatient finger.  "I

should be investigating, not filling you in. You can read the report when I

am done."

Qui-Gon did not show his impatience, but Obi-Wan could feel it. "I do

not have time to read your report," he said, his voice as brittle as ice.

Captain Yur T'aug hesitated, then said, "No suspects yet. Nobody  saw

anything. But we know this High character. He's a well-known informant  and

petty thief. Could have a hundred enemies. Not  to  mention  that  he  owes

money all over town. I hear he has a major debt to the Tech Raiders."

Qui-Gon studied the officer for a moment. "There is something  else,"

he said.

"This is not the first body we've found drained  of  blood,"  Captain

Yur T'aug said hesitantly. "Drifters, lowlifes - beings no one would  miss.

Over the past year, there have been a half dozen.  Maybe  more  we  haven't

found. Who knows? Coruscant can be a hard world. Many transients come  here

to scrounge a living."

"If this is the case, the killer is most  likely  not  someone  Fligh

owed money to," Qui-Gon said.

Captain Yur T'aug shrugged. "Or else the killer copied the method  to

throw us off the track. It's our job to find out."

"You might want to check into a female bounty hunter," Qui-Gon  said.

"She's a Sorussian who might have had reason to  dispose  of  Fligh.  She's

been staying at the Soft Landings Inn."

"Sure," Captain Yur T'aug said. "Thanks for the  tip."  His  lack  of

interest was obvious.

"Good luck to you," Qui-Gon said. "You should  know  that  Didi  Oddo

will pay for the funeral. Fligh was not friendless. He will be missed."

Qui-Gon motioned to Obi-Wan, and they walked past the  officers  back

onto the main walkway that curved around the Senate.

"Are you all right, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked him.

"Fligh wasn't my friend," Obi-Wan said. "I only spent a  few  minutes

with him. There was something likeable about him, but I can't  say  that  I

liked him. Yet I feel almost as sad as Didi."

"I do as well," Qui-Gon said.

They walked a few steps in silence. "Do you ever get used to  death?"

Obi-Wan asked.

"No," Qui-Gon said. "That is how it should be."

"Why do you think Fligh was killed?" Obi-Wan  asked.  "Do  you  think

that he knew something important but didn't realize it, like Didi?"

"Perhaps," Qui-Gon said. "And remember that Fligh said he  would  try

to help Didi. I wonder if he did try. No doubt it would be easy for him  to

discover where the bounty hunter was lodging."

"You think that is what happened?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Let us swing by the inn on  the  way  back  to  the  caf©,"  Qui-Gon

suggested. "We should have another talk with this bounty hunter."

They walked quickly through the streets until they reached  the  Soft

Landings Inn. This time the front door was slightly ajar, so they were able

to walk in without ringing the innkeeper. They quickly climbed  the  stairs

to the third level. Qui-Gon knocked on the door, and  it  swung  open.  The

room was empty.

"She's gone." The Togorian stood behind them with a bucket and vibro-

mop. "Checked out. I have to clean. Get out of my way."

They  retreated  down  the  stairs.  "I  don't  like  this,"  Qui-Gon

murmured. "Let's get back to Didi's."

They quickened their pace and began to run. Didi's wasn't far.

They swung around the corner. Ahead was the caf©. There was no  spill

of light from the windows, and the front door was shut tight.

"We are too late," Qui-Gon said.

CHAPTER 9

Lightsabers drawn, they rushed into the caf©.  With  a  quick  sweep,

they saw that it was empty. Plates with half-eaten food sat on the  tables.

Qui-Gon charged past the tables to the kitchen. Pots were overturned, their

contents on the floor. Bins of flour and grain spilled onto  the  counters.

The cooler door was open.

They ran to Didi's private office. Papers and files  were  thrown  on

the floor, the contents of  durasteel  bins  upended  and  kicked  through.

Everything on the shelves had been tossed onto the floor.

"Upstairs," Qui-Gon barked.

He raced up, Obi-Wan on his heels. They  burst  into  Didi's  private

quarters together.

In times  of  danger,  Qui-Gon's  senses  slowed  down.  He  took  in

everything in the room in what felt like several long seconds but was  more

likely the flicker of an eyelash. Astri on the floor, unconscious or  dead.

Didi standing, wrapped in the bounty hunter's  whip,  his  eyes  wide  with

terror, a bruise on his forehead. And the bounty  hunter  turning,  pausing

for an instant when  she  saw  them.  Her  expressionless  gaze  showed  no

surprise, no fear.

Real time snapped back. Qui-Gon anticipated the bounty hunter's reach

to the blaster strapped to her thigh. He moved forward to counterattack. He

did not anticipate that she would aim  at  Astri,  not  at  him.  His  Jedi

reflexes were fast enough so that he was able to spin  and  turn,  sweeping

his lightsaber wide. He was slightly off-balance, but he managed to deflect

the fire.

Astri stirred. Relief streamed through him. She was alive.

A perfect attack blended deception with speed and  strategy.  Qui-Gon

feinted a pass to the bounty hunter's left and instead charged straight  at

her. She did not respond to the feint but fired straight, then leaped  high

to the left to avoid him. His lightsaber whizzed through  empty  air  where

she'd been.

She was even better than he'd thought.

Obi-Wan  moved  forward  to  cover  Astri  so  that   Qui-Gon   could

concentrate on the  attack.  The  bounty  hunter  activated  her  whip  and

retracted it. It spun off Didi in a dizzying  circle,  sending  him  flying

against the wall. He hit it with a thud and fell to the floor, dazed.

The whip reverted to laser mode. With a slashing maneuver, the bounty

hunter shattered the transparisteel in the window. Qui-Gon sprang  forward,

still keeping his body between his opponent and Astri. Didi began to  crawl

toward his daughter, getting underneath Qui-Gon's feet. Qui-Gon  jumped  to

avoid him, his attention now focused on protecting Didi.

The bounty  hunter  leaped  out  the  window.  Outside  was  a  small

enclosure that held various speeders and swoops. She jumped  into  one  and

took off.

Qui-Gon stood at the window as the lights of the swoop  twinkled  and

receded. He felt anger rock him, and he took a minute to accept and release

it. His opponent had eluded him. Sometimes it happened. He had  fought  the

best fight he could.

But she has eluded me three times now.

"Astri," Didi said brokenly. "Astri..."

Qui-Gon knelt by the young woman's side. He felt carefully around her

skull. "What happened?" he asked Didi. "Did she get hit by blaster fire?"

"No, no. Knocked out from behind," Didi said. "With the handle of the

whip."

Qui-Gon felt a lump rising on Astri's skull. Her eyes fluttered open.

Her pupils were not dilated and her eyes focused on his face.

"Ouch," she said.

"She's all right," he said to Didi. "Lie still, Astri.  You're  going

to have a headache." She let out a hiss of air. "I'll say."

"We should call a medic," Didi said worriedly.

"I'm all right," Astri said.  Wincing,  she  raised  herself  on  her

elbows. "What happened? The last thing I remember is all my customers going

out the door."

"Did anyone come in while they were going out?" Qui-Gon asked.

"No," Astri said. "I locked the door behind them and told  Renzii  to

go home. Locked the door behind him, too. Then I came upstairs. That's  all

I remember..."

"I was up here," Didi said. "I heard Astri on the stairs. She  opened

the door and suddenly fell down. Then the bounty hunter came in.  She  tied

me up while she searched the place. She went downstairs  and  I  heard  her

searching my private office."

"And the kitchen," Qui-Gon said.

"No, not the kitchen," Didi said.

"But it was chaos, pots everywhere," Obi-Wan said.

"It always looks that way," Astri said  with  a  sigh.  "What  bounty

hunter? I thought we were talking about a common thief."

"Why did the group leave?" Qui-Gon asked Astri.

Astri cradled her head in her hands. "I tried my best," she  mumbled.

"I guess I'm not quite elegant yet. Renzii kept mixing  up  the  orders.  I

couldn't handle all the cooking. Some of the food was cold.  So  Jenna  Zan

Arbor had a fit, and they left. Next time I'll hire extra help. That was  a

big mistake. It's just that I spent all the extra money on the food..."

"So how did the bounty hunter get in?" Obi-Wan asked.

Astri lifted her head. "What  bounty  hunter?"  she  asked  again  in

frustration.

"Didi, tell her," Qui-Gon said.

"Not while you're hurt, Astri," Didi said nervously. "You need to lie

down - "

"What bounty hunter?" Astri asked through clenched teeth.

"I might-ah-have gotten myself in a tiny spot of trouble," Didi  told

her. "Nothing serious."

"Sure," Astri  said.  "This  isn't  serious.  Just  another  ordinary

evening in the caf©. I get knocked out on a regular basis."

"What a sense of humor my daughter has,"

Didi said to the Jedi nervously. "Isn't she marvelous?"

"Your father may have a piece of  information  that  is  valuable  to

someone," Qui-Gon broke in impatiently. "That someone  has  sent  a  bounty

hunter after him. We're assuming they want  the  information  back  at  any

cost. And yet, the bounty hunter did not kill him when she had the chance."

"That's a good sign," Didi said encouragingly. Then he looked fearful

again. "Isn't it?"

"You're selling information again?" Astri yelled  angrily.  Then  she

winced and closed her eyes. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "You slimy,

slithery, snaky son of a Kowakian monkey-lizard," she  hissed  through  her

teeth. "You lied to me. Again."

"I didn't lie so much as not tell you everything," Didi said, patting

her shoulder. "I would not say that I have the  thriving  business  I  once

did. But Fligh still came to me with bits and pieces to sell. How  could  I

abandon him? Without me, how could he sell his little tidbits? It is tragic

that he has been killed."

"Killed? See where his business has gotten him," Astri  said,  fixing

her father with a steady stare. "Am I next, Papa?"

Didi turned away, unable to face his daughter. She got up  unsteadily

and left the room. "Let's return to what we know," Qui-Gon  said  to  Didi.

"The bounty hunter has not found what she is looking  for.  She  tore  this

place apart. That means there is an  actual  object  she  wants,  not  just

information in your head. What is it, Didi? This time  you  must  tell  the

complete truth. You see now that you have put the ones you love in danger."

"Yes," Didi said heavily. "I see that. But  I  cannot  help  you,  my

friend. I  do  not  have  anything.  Fligh  didn't  give  me  anything  but

information. This I swear."

"Not a data pad?" Qui-Gon asked.

Didi shook his head. "Nothing."

Qui-Gon sighed. "Then there is no alternative. You must close up  the

caf©. Take Astri and leave Coruscant."

Astri was just returning to the room as Qui-Gon finished. She  paused

in the act of pressing a cold cloth to her head. "Close up the caf©?"

"Just until we know what the bounty hunter is looking  for,"  Qui-Gon

told her. "We can't stay by your side all day and all night, Astri. I think

you are in danger as well as Didi." He paused, then said  gently,  "I  know

you are angry at your father, but you do not want to see him hurt."

Astri bit her lip and nodded. "But where will we go?"

"I know where," Didi said. "I have a house in the Cascardi Mountains.

"

"You bought a house?" Astri exclaimed.  "But  you  say  you  have  no

money!"

"It was a deal I could not refuse," Didi explained. "I  haven't  even

been there yet, and I haven't told anyone about it."

"Where are the Cascardi Mountains?" Obi-Wan asked.

"On the  planet  Duneeden,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "A  short  journey  from

Coruscant. But the mountains are a good choice. The  Cascardis  are  remote

and rugged. It's a good hideout for a time. Obi-Wan and I will  wait  while

you pack a few things. You must leave quickly."

Didi sprang up and helped Astri from the room. They went  into  their

bedrooms to pack.

"Do you think they'll be safe?" Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon in a low tone.

"Safer than here on Coruscant," Qui-Gon said. "But the bounty  hunter

is no doubt an expert tracker. Even though the galaxy is  wide,  it's  hard

for beings to just disappear. No, I fear we must unravel this  mystery.  No

matter where they are, Didi and Astri are still in great danger.  She  will

find them, and it will be sooner rather than  later.  Of  that  I  have  no

doubt."

CHAPTER 10

As they entered the cool halls of the Jedi Temple,  Qui-Gon  saw  the

relief Obi-Wan tried to hide.  The  boy  was  worn  out.  Qui-Gon  had  not

expected that a short stop to  meet  Didi  would  spiral  into  a  twisting

mystery they would be forced to solve.

"I did not plan for this, Padawan," he told him. "I  just  wanted  to

stop by to say hello to a friend."

Obi-Wan nodded. "But a friend was in danger. You could not refuse  to

help."

"You did not approve," Qui-Gon said.

He saw the hesitation on Obi-Wan's face. He knew the look well.  Obi-

Wan hated to disappoint him. But he never lied to him.

"No," he said. "Not at first. But now I do. You say I need to connect

to the living Force. More and more I see what you mean.  My  first  impulse

was to turn away from Didi." Obi-Wan met his Master's eyes.  "I  was  tired

and hungry and I did not like Didi. I thought of my own needs.  Now  I  see

what you see. Didi has faults, but he is a good being.  It  just  takes  me

longer to see these things. I wish," Obi-Wan said with difficulty, "it  did

not."

"You are too hard on yourself, Padawan," Qui-Gon said quietly.  "That

can become a fault if you are not  careful,  for  anger  at  oneself  is  a

destructive thing. Every living being can be impatient, can turn away at  a

first glance, can avoid getting involved. It is a natural impulse.  We  are

all creatures who want peace and comfort. Yet we are Jedi.  Our  own  peace

and comfort is not what drives us. We are dedicated to a larger  good.  But

always remember that the peace and comfort of just one being is what drives

us, too."

Obi-Wan nodded. Qui-Gon put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Get something to eat, Padawan," he said. "I am going to  speak  with

Yoda and Tahl."

Qui-Gon could see Obi-Wan's hunger and fatigue battle with his desire

to remain by his Master's side. "Are you certain you won't need me?"

"I will find you when I need you," Qui-Gon said. "What you need is  a

bit of rest and food. Then we'll continue."

He left Obi-Wan at the juncture toward the food hall.  Then  he  made

his way to the Room of a Thousand Fountains, where he was to meet Yoda  and

Tahl. He had contacted them on his comlink to arrange the meeting.

The cool, moist air revived Qui-Gon better than a  meal  would  have.

His eyes rested on the multitude of shades of green in the plants and trees

that were arranged amid the winding  paths.  He  paused  for  a  moment  to

register the beauty around him.  He  drew  a  long  breath,  then  another,

concentrating on the shades of green, the murmuring fountains, the scent of

growth and flowers. He let the moment matter,  fill  his  heart  and  mind.

Refreshed, he headed down the winding paths toward Yoda and Tahl.

They sat on a bench that Yoda favored, where water  ran  over  smooth

white pebbles, making a musical sound. Tahl must have heard his  step,  for

she turned her head toward him.

"I hope you allowed Obi-Wan to get a decent meal," she  called  in  a

humorous tone before he could speak. "That poor boy is always hungry."

Qui-Gon grinned. Tahl never said hello. Instead she  always  launched

right into a conversation. "Do you realize," he said, seating himself on  a

bench opposite them, "that you  always  give  me  an  accusation,  never  a

greeting?"

Tahl smiled. "Of course. How else can I keep you on your toes?"

Qui-Gon let his eyes rest on Tahl's lovely face. Her sightless green-

and-gold striped eyes were alive with humor. Once he had not been  able  to

look upon her without pain. Just the sight of the white  scar  that  marked

her dark honey skin had grieved him. But he had come to  realize  how  Tahl

had accepted her fate, how she had allowed it to deepen her. Her friendship

was invaluable to him.

"I left him at the food hall," Qui-Gon said. "I am sure he's  on  his

second helping by now."

"No news have you?" Yoda asked.  "Concerned  we  are  about  Didi.  A

scoundrel he may be, but a friend to the Temple he is."

"I am sorry to report that things are worse rather than better," Qui-

Gon said. Quickly, he filled them in on the murder of Fligh and the  attack

on Astri and Didi.

"Fligh's body was drained  of  blood?"  Tahl  frowned.  "That  sounds

familiar."

"There have been a half dozen similar cases  on  Coruscant  over  the

past year," Qui-Gon said. "Mostly drifters, beings with no ties to anyone."

"Yes, I know that," Tahl said. "It  is  something  else."  Her  frown

deepened. "There is one more thing. I did some more investigating  on  your

bounty hunter. It seems she is a master of disguise. She uses wigs,  synth-

flesh, prosthetics. that is how she moves about undetected."

"I am not surprised to hear it," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan saw her  turn

from an elderly man back into a young woman."

"Say you did that Fligh stole a data pad from a Senator," Yoda  said.

"Who?"

"Someone I did not know," Qui-Gon said. "Senator Uta S'orn  from  the

planet Belasco."

"By the way,  I  contacted  the  security  police,"  Tahl  told  him.

"Senator S'orn never reported the theft. It might not be  significant.  The

Senate is full of petty thieves. I'm sure many thefts do not get  reported.

Still,  I  thought  I'd  mention  it.  Senator  S'orn  also  announced  her

resignation today. She said it was for personal reasons."

"Know Senator S'orn, I do," Yoda said. "Several talks  she  had  with

the Jedi."

Startled, Qui-Gon turned to Yoda. "About what?"

"A son she had," Yoda continued. "Ren S'orn. Force-sensitive, he was.

Accepted him for training, we did. Part with him,  his  mother  could  not.

Harness the Force, understand it, he could not. Wandered he did through the

galaxy."

Tahl gave a sharp intake of breath. "Of course," she whispered.  Yoda

nodded.

"What is it?" Qui-Gon asked, leaning forward urgently.  He  saw  that

Yoda and Tahl knew something important.

"Ren became a lost being, a drifter," Tahl  said.  "He  lost  contact

with his mother. At last she came to us for help.  Several  teams  of  Jedi

were sent to find him and help him. He rejected them."

"Hoped we did that he would reach out one day," Yoda said. "Feared we

did that he would use the Force for evil. Yet the Force merely confused and

angered him. Different he was. Different he did not want to  be.  Peace  he

could not find."

"Such a tragedy," Tahl said. "He could not find a way to flourish. He

could not find a place that felt like home. So as it often happens he  fell

in with bad companions. We received word that he had been killed."

"Not long ago, it was," Yoda said. "Six months, I think.  On  Simpla-

12."

"This is sad news," Qui-Gon said. "But why is it significant?"

"Because of the manner of his death," Tahl  said  quietly.  "Ren  had

been strangled. And his body had been drained of blood."

CHAPTER 11

Obi-Wan saw at once from Qui-Gon's grim face that he would not get to

savor his tart. He scrambled to his feet.

"I am sorry, Padawan. But it is time to go," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan snatched up the tart and wolfed it down  while  they  walked.

Qui-Gon checked out a speeder from the transport pool. Within seconds, they

were heading back toward the Senate building.

It was late evening, and the air lanes still buzzed with traffic. The

glow lights made the buildings and walkways blaze as  bright  as  daylight.

Beings strolled below them, crowding the restaurants and walkways.

"What did Yoda and Tahl say?" Obi-Wan asked, swallowing the last bite

of his tart.

"I don't have a clear picture yet," Qui-Gon told  him.  "But  somehow

Senator S'orn is either connected to Fligh's death or involved in  it.  Her

son died the same way Fligh did." Qui-Gon  explained  the  story  of  Ren's

confused life and tragic death.

"But what does that have to do with Didi?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Maybe nothing." Qui-Gon guided the transport along the  crowded  air

space surrounding the Senate.

"But it doesn't make sense," Obi-Wan said. "Her son died  on  another

planet. And Didi has never met Senator S'orn."

"It doesn't make sense, true," Qui-Gon  answered.  "But  it  has  to,

somehow. We just have to figure out the connection."

Qui-Gon left the speeder in the Senate landing area. He  strode  into

the Senate building. The usually crowded hallways were almost empty.  Their

footsteps echoed on the slate floor.

"What makes you think she'll be here so late?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Because her resignation was announced," Qui-Gon answered. "No  doubt

she had a busy afternoon. And she seems the kind of Senator to  work  late.

Most of them leave as soon  as  Senate  business  has  concluded."  Qui-Gon

paused, then remarked, "The Senate is not what it was. And  it  is  getting

worse. It has lost one idealist after another."

They made their way to the Senator's office.  The  outer  office  was

dark, but Qui-Gon knocked on the inner door.

"Come in."

They entered. Only one light was on in the office. Senator S'orn  sat

in a chair, staring out at the bright Coruscant  night.  "Yes?"  she  asked

without turning.

Qui-Gon closed the door behind them. "We  regret  having  to  disturb

you."

She spun the  chair  around  and  sighed.  "It  has  been  a  day  of

disturbances. I didn't expect my announcement to cause such a stir. I guess

there's not much else going on."

"I do not wish to bring up something that is  no  doubt  painful  for

you," Qui-Gon said gently. "But is your son's  death  the  reason  you  are

leaving?"

Senator S'orn's face changed. Her  features  hardened  and  her  lips

thinned. "Yes, I know why you are here. I should  have  given  him  up  for

Temple training. I was selfish."

"No," Qui-Gon said quickly. "Not at all. Many parents choose to  keep

a Force-sensitive child. There are many paths in life. You  make  the  best

choice you can for your child."

"So I chose to keep him with me, and that  decision  destroyed  him,"

Senator S'orn said bitterly. "I chose a path that led to death."

"No, Ren chose his own path," Qui-Gon said firmly. "Senator S'orn,  I

do not know you. But I have known many Force-sensitive children.  There  is

no more guarantee a Force-sensitive child will grow up  to  find  happiness

than one who does not have that ability. Many do not choose the Jedi  path.

Some flourish outside the Temple, and some do  not.  We  are  not  here  to

question your decision or blame you."

"There is no need. I blame myself," Senator S'orn said bleakly. "Ever

since I heard the news of Ren's death, I have been unable to focus,  unable

to do my job the way it needs to be done. I have managed to concentrate for

only brief periods of time. What right have I to serve  my  people  when  I

could not save my son?"

"I cannot answer that question for you," Qui-Gon said.  "But  perhaps

you are right to take time apart from your life's  journey.  I  have  found

such a time helpful, if you can look at your choices with  forgiveness  and

calm."

"Forgiveness and calm seem very far away  when  your  son  is  dead,"

Senator S'orn said in a choked voice. She spun her chair around so that her

back was to them. When she turned again, she had composed herself. "But  if

you didn't come here to blame me, you certainly didn't come to counsel  me,

Qui-Gon Jinn. What is it that you are looking for?"

"I'm not quite sure," Qui-Gon said honestly. "Tell me something. When

your data pad was stolen, why didn't you report the theft?"

She shrugged. "The chances of Senate security finding it  were  slim.

My friend's data pad was stolen as well. Jenna didn't think  it  worthwhile

to report. We were both too busy to bother."

Qui-Gon's watchful gaze turned alert. "Jenna?"

"Jenna Zan Arbor," Senator S'orn  said.  "She's  a  friend  of  mine,

visiting the Senate for a conference. Surely you've heard of her. She's the

foremost transgenic scientist in the galaxy, and a great humanitarian."

"Of  course,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "You  were  together  when  the  theft

occurred?"

"It was in one of the hall  caf©s,"  Senator  S'orn  said.  "We  were

having lunch."

Obi-Wan controlled his excitement. Something was about to  break.  He

knew it. Fligh stole the data pad, and Jenna booked Didi's for an important

dinner. Was this a connection that would lead them  somewhere?  As  Qui-Gon

had said earlier, it didn't make sense, but it had to.

"Was there anyone else in the caf©?"

Senator S'orn sighed. "Do you mean, was the thief there? I assume so.

Don't you think I've gone over this? The caf© was crowded. I didn't  notice

anyone suspicious."

"How about a tall, slender human male  with  one  dark  eye  and  one

bright green eye?"

Senator S'orn looked startled. "Yes. But he couldn't  be  the  thief.

He's a Senatorial aide. Or at least he said so. We were discussing a dinner

that Jenna was going  to  host  for  the  other  scientists  attending  the

conference. He handed out a card for a restaurant nearby that he  said  was

excellent. Jenna took the card. I had never heard of it, but Jenna said she

would look into it."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance.

"Was that the thief? Should I report him?" Senator S'orn asked.

Qui-Gon stood. "It would be to no purpose. He is dead. Thank you  for

your time, Senator."

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon from the office. "So we have a  connection,"

he said. "Fligh and Didi to Jenna Zan Arbor and Senator S'orn."

"Not to mention to Ren S'orn," Qui-Gon  said.  "No  doubt  Jenna  Zan

Arbor knew about Senator S'orn's son."

"But I still don't see what it all means," Obi-Wan said,  frustrated.

"It's all so confusing." "Ask yourself this question,  Padawan.  Who  would

benefit from Fligh's death? Or Didi's?" "No one," Obi-Wan said.  "Not  now,

anyway. Unless there is something else on that data pad that we don't  know

about."

"Exactly," Qui-Gon said. "Either data pad -  remember,  we  now  know

that Jenna Zan Arbor's data pad was stolen, too."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I have a feeling I know where we're heading next."

"Yes," Qui-Gon said. "To see Jenna Zan Arbor."

CHAPTER 12

Obi-Wan stood uneasily in the lobby of the luxury hotel. He had  been

in palaces and grand houses before. He  had  seen  luxurious  surroundings,

thick carpets, fine metals, ornately  carved  furniture.  He  had  observed

without feeling part of it, as a Jedi should. He had  never  felt  awkward,

even in the palace of a queen.

But here he felt differently. The walls  were  of  a  white  polished

stone with veins of pinkish gold. The floor under his feet was  black  hard

stone, polished to a high sheen. He was afraid to sit on  the  plush  sofas

and chairs. He suddenly noticed the stains of his dessert on his tunic.

The rich swirled  around  him,  coming  to  and  fro  from  the  many

restaurants off the lobby, or picking up mail and  keys.  Their  eyes  slid

past him, as if he was not worth their notice. Their voices  were  low  and

hushed, unlike the busy chatter on the crowded streets.

As usual, Qui-Gon looked perfectly at ease. He walked to the desk and

asked the clerk to ring Jenna Zan Arbor's room.

The clerk spoke into a private comlink headpiece and listened  for  a

moment. "You may go up," he said. Then he directed them  to  the  turbolift

that would take them to the seventy-seventh floor.

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon into a large lift tube  lined  with  a  rosy

stone that made him feel as though he were in the center of a  flower.  The

tube doors opened, and he stepped out onto a thick, cushioned carpet.

Jenna Zan Arbor waited in the doorway of her suite. She  was  dressed

in a septsilk robe of deep blue that hung stiffly to her  feet.  Her  blond

hair was again twisted  in  an  elaborate  style  and  wound  through  with

multicolored fabric.

Qui-Gon bowed. "Thank you for seeing us. I am Qui-Gon Jinn  and  this

is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

She returned the bow. "Jenna Zan Arbor.  I'm  honored  to  greet  the

Jedi." She gave them another look. "But you were at the caf©."

"We are friends of Astri and Didi Oddo," Qui-Gon said.

Jenna Zan Arbor looked a little less welcoming

She turned and led them into a vast room with the same polished black

stone floor as the lobby. Plush white sofas were arranged  in  two  seating

areas, one intimate and one grand. Gauzy white draperies hung at the floor-

to-ceiling windows and pooled on the floor.  Outside,  the  lights  of  the

passing traffic were like traveling stars through a fine mist.

Jenna Zan Arbor ushered them to the most intimate  grouping.  Obi-Wan

sat down and immediately sank into the cushions. He tried to sit erect  but

found himself slipping backward.

Zan Arbor waved her hand at the room. "I don't feel comfortable  with

all this. But the conference is paying  for  it.  I'm  used  to  a  more...

practical environment. I spend most of my  time  in  my  lab."  She  turned

luminous gray eyes to them. "What can I do for you?"

"We are investigating a murder," Qui-Gon  said.  "Someone  you  spoke

with at the Senate. His name was High. He posed as a  Senatorial  aide  and

gave you a card for Didi's restaurant - "

"Of course, I remember," Zan Arbor  said  immediately.  "He  had  one

green eye. He praised the food and atmosphere of this place. I  don't  know

Coruscant very well, so I followed up on the tip."

"Why did you leave the caf© so abruptly tonight?" Qui-Gon asked.

The scientist gave a low laugh. "Because my guests were miserable. It

was not what I had been led to expect. I know that sounds snobbish,  but  I

was trying to make a good impression. The conference has a number of grants

for scientific projects. I need funding." She shrugged  slender  shoulders.

"So we came back here and the hotel accommodated us." She paused. "But  why

should my dinner have anything to do with this person's death?"

Instead of  answering,  Qui-Gon  asked  another  question.  "You  are

friends with Senator S'orn?" "Yes."

"And you know that her son died, and how he died, I presume," Qui-Gon

said.

Zan Arbor nodded, but a frosty look took  over  her  warm  gaze.  "Of

course I do. I hardly think it's your business. That was  a  great  tragedy

for Uta."

"Not for you, though," Qui-Gon stated.

She gave him a hard look. "No. I was sorry for my friend, but it  was

not a personal tragedy. What are you implying?"

"Nothing at all," Qui-Gon said easily. "We  are  just  investigating.

Could I have a list of the guests at your dinner?"

"Why?" Zan Arbor asked, irritation now coloring her even tone.

"Because someone attacked the owner and his daughter after your party

left," Qui-Gon answered. "I don't think it's necessary, but later it  might

help if we could question them."

"I hardly think..." Zan Arbor's irritated tone ended in a shrug. "Why

not. I have nothing to hide." She crossed to a desk and scrawled some names

on a durasheet, then handed it to Obi-Wan. He tucked it in his tunic.

She sat down again. "Can I ask you what Ren S'orn's murder has to  do

with this Fligh person, or the attack at the caf©?"

"Maybe nothing at all," Qui-Gon said.

The scientist's gaze was cool. "I think I'm beginning to  understand.

You don't want information from me. You think I may be involved."

"I did not mean to imply that," Qui-Gon said.

"Yet here you are," she pointed out crisply. "I assume you know who I

am."

Qui-Gon nodded.

"I'm not accustomed to someone coming  to  my  private  quarters  and

linking me to a murder. Murder is not a topic that is  familiar  to  me.  I

live in the world of transgenic research. So you must forgive me if  I'm  a

little confused and upset."

"Of course," Qui-Gon said. "Murder is an upsetting topic."

Zan Arbor gave a brief  smile.  "Especially  for  the  victim.  Let's

finish this. What else do you need to know?"

"Why didn't you report the theft of your data  pad?"  Qui-Gon  asked.

"You must have been upset about it."

"I was not upset. I have backup of all my files on data cards."

"Uta S'orn was upset," Qui-Gon said.

"She had a reason to be," Zan Arbor answered, an edge to  her  voice.

"She had private information on that data pad. She  was  forced  to  resign

before pushing through an important piece of legislation."

"Do you happen to know what that is?"  Obi-Wan  asked.  He  had  been

content to watch Qui-Gon ask the questions. But the legislation had come up

before, and he was curious to know what it was.

"Yes. Uta told me all about it. I wasn't that interested, frankly. My

head is full of science. But apparently she was trying to  put  together  a

coalition of planets to join together to fight some sort  of  black  market

tech gang. She probably had all the votes she needed. But  her  resignation

changed that. Without her  to  hold  the  alliance  together,  things  will

probably fall apart. Are we through?"

Obi-Wan did not look at Qui-Gon, but elation surged through him. This

was a crucial clue. The Tech Raiders had a  reason  to  want  to  discredit

Senator S'orn. She was trying to pass  a  law  that  could  lead  to  their

destruction. Helb knew both Fligh and Didi. Here was  the  link.  No  doubt

Helb had recruited Fligh to steal the Senator's data pad.  Fligh  had  gone

further and stolen the scientist's; most likely for  his  own  profit.  All

they had to do now was figure out how Didi was involved.

So Senator S'orn and Jenna Zan Arbor were just what they appeared  to

be: two powerful women who were simply victims of petty theft.

He did not need to glance at his Master  to  know  that  Qui-Gon  had

reached the same conclusions.

"We're through," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan felt a thrill as they left the hotel suite  and  entered  the

turbolift.

"This is it," he said. "This is the  connection  we've  been  looking

for. We're close to solving the mystery."

"Perhaps," Qui-Gon said. "We need to talk  to  Helb  again,  that  is

certain."

"Tomorrow we'll solve the mystery, and Didi and Astri can come home,"

Obi-Wan said. "If we confront the Tech Raiders with what we  know,  they'll

have to recall the bounty hunter. It's got to be  them,  doesn't  it?  They

wanted to prevent that legislation from going through.  Somehow  Fligh  got

Didi mixed up in it. Maybe they hoped to sell both data pads to some  other

party. That would definitely anger Helb."

The lift tube doors opened and they walked out into the grand  lobby.

The floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the black night outside.

"It's too late to find Helb now," Qui-Gon said. "Let's return to  the

Temple. We both need sleep."

Outside the side door was a  large  landing  platform  for  the  many

vehicles of the guests of the hotel. Qui-Gon had left their  speeder  close

to the door so that they would be able to leave quickly, but now a  row  of

other vehicles had blocked it in.

He signaled to the parking clerk. "Can you move those other vehicles?

"

"Right away, sir," the young boy replied. He jumped  into  the  first

speeder to move it.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan headed toward their own vehicle. Qui-Gon  slipped

into the driver's seat. Obi-Wan had a bit more  trouble  getting  into  the

passenger side. The speeder was jammed up next to another. He had to  swing

one leg up and over in order to enter.

He was in the middle of the maneuver when he felt a sudden jolt  send

him flying backward. The clerk had backed his speeder into the one  behind.

Obi-Wan slid backward on the smooth metal. Behind him was the railing. Past

that was only the empty air.

"Hey, you - " Qui-Gon suddenly vaulted  out  of  the  driver's  seat,

alert to danger.

He was too late. The clerk hit the speeder behind his again, and  the

Jedi's speeder jolted backward. Obi-Wan felt himself slide off the back end

of the speeder. He was thrown over the railing, straight into space.

CHAPTER 13

Everything had happened so fast, but Obi-Wan's extraordinary reflexes

gave him a second to plan. It was enough. As he shot over the  railing,  he

was already accessing his  liquid  cable  launcher.  He  aimed  it  at  the

platform edge. It engaged.

The line played out, and he swung in empty space.  It  was  an  eerie

feeling. A cruiser zoomed by  him,  its  driver  surprised  to  see  a  boy

dangling in the middle of a space lane.

Obi-Wan  felt  sweat  trickle  down  his  flanks.  He  retracted  the

launcher, and it carried him up to the platform level. Qui-Gon was waiting.

"That  was  fast  thinking,  Obi-Wan,"  Qui-Gon  said,  relieved  and

agitated. "Your reflexes did not fail you. I should have been more alert."

"Where is the parking clerk?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Took off in the speeder," Qui-Gon said grimly.

"Do you think the bounty hunter bribed him?"

"I think the boy was the bounty hunter," Qui-Gon said. "We  will  not

make that mistake again." He felt lightheaded with relief and realized that

fatigue had set in at last. "Come. We can't do any more tonight. We need to

rest. At least we know the bounty hunter is still on Coruscant and  is  not

tracking Didi and Astri."

By the time they reached the Temple, Obi-Wan's steps  were  dragging.

His close call had cost him. Qui-Gon was glad to send him to his quarters.

Back in his own quarters, Qui-Gon lay  on  his  sleep  couch  in  the

darkness. He wished for rest, but even a Jedi could not summon  sleep  when

the mind was active.

She had deceived him again. She had nearly killed  Obi-Wan.  She  was

thinking faster than he was. It was because his preoccupation with the whys

of the investigation was leading him to be less vigilant. He had been  more

worried about Didi than about his own Padawan.

Qui-Gon thought back to the interview with Jenna Zan  Arbor.  Obi-Wan

was right. It made sense that the Tech Raiders would want to steal  Senator

S'orn's data pad. No doubt they had engaged Fligh for the task. It  was  in

Fligh's character to hold out on them. And it was possible that  Fligh  had

concealed the data pad within the caf©, involving Didi. Perhaps he'd  tried

to retrieve it and that was why he'd been killed.

Qui-Gon stared at the ceiling. Logic told him that this scenario made

sense. Why couldn't he sleep?

It was because the killing of Fligh did not seem like the  job  of  a

criminal gang like the Tech Raiders. They did not need  to  disguise  their

work, to send the  Coruscant  security  forces  on  the  wrong  path.  They

arrogantly thought themselves too big to care about a local investigation.

No, Fligh's murder still did not make sense. That indicated  to  Qui-

Gon that it was about emotion, not logic.

He thought back to Senator S'orn. He had  glimpsed  the  despair  and

bitterness deep within her. Such emotions  could  drive  someone  to  evil,

certainly.

Jenna Zan Arbor appeared to  have  nothing  to  hide.  Yet  it  still

bothered him that she'd shown up at Didi's  Caf©.  True,  she  didn't  know

Coruscant, but her friend did. She could have asked  for  a  recommendation

from Uta S'orn. Why did she take the advice of a stranger?

Murder is an upsetting topic.

Especially for the victim.

There was something cold in the way Jenna Zan Arbor had  smiled  when

she made that light remark. Her smile was keeping Qui-Gon awake.

And the vision of Obi-Wan shooting over that railing into deep  space

while he scrambled to get to him. And the knowledge that the bounty  hunter

would likely return to Didi and Astri's trail.

Yes, he had much on his mind.

He reached out to the night. He pulled the darkness  around  himself.

He drew long slow breaths. He could do nothing  tonight.  His  worry  about

Didi and Astri would simmer inside him, would flare to life  again  in  the

morning. Until then, he would sleep.

The next morning, Helb was nowhere to be found.

"This is suspicious," Obi-Wan said. "No doubt he knows that we are on

to him."

Qui-Gon had decided not to share his feeling that  the  Tech  Raiders

were not responsible for Fligh's death. He had only cloudy doubts and vague

feelings to report; he wanted more concrete evidence.

And Helb knew more than he was telling. That was certain.

"There is only one place left he can be,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "Vandor-3.

He's got to be at the base. We should get answers there."

Vandor-3 was a neighboring satellite  planet  of  Coruscant.  Luckily

Qui-Gon had taken a cruiser from the Temple landing platform, just in  case

they needed to travel beyond Coruscant's atmosphere. It was a short journey

to Vandor-3.

They hovered outside the base's  air  space  until  they  were  given

clearance to land. Qui-Gon saw the landing platform below, in the midst  of

what looked like a salvage yard.  He  eased  the  cruiser  down  between  a

maintenance hauler and a sea of swoops.

As soon as they released the  loading  ramp  and  exited,  they  were

assaulted by noise. Workers and  droids  were  everywhere,  cutting  metal,

soldering circuits, dragging materials, operating  graysleds.  Voices  were

raised in argument over  the  loud  buzzing  of  hydraulic  metal  cutters,

macrofusers, and hydrospanners. Enormous  repulsorlift  engines  hung  over

their heads on a system of  straps  and  pulleys.  Speeder  parts,  circuit

boards, boosters, converters, and other parts  Obi-Wan  did  not  recognize

were divided into various piles.

"This is quite an operation," Qui-Gon said as they  edged  their  way

past a starship, its engine parts laid out on the floor.

"Watch out for that acceleration compensator!" a voice bellowed.

Obi-Wan took a quick step sideways to avoid  the  equipment  as  Helb

barreled toward them, his orange eyes sparking irritation.

"I'm guessing you didn't come here for a deal on speeder  parts,"  he

yelled over the noise.

"Just information," Qui-Gon yelled back.

"Well, you're in the way here. Follow me."

The Jedi followed Helb into a quieter corner of  the  yard.  A  small

shed made out of salvaged materials stood against a durasteel  fence.  Helb

pushed the door open.

Inside, the din dulled to a dim roar.

"I'd ask you to sit, but you're leaving," Helb snapped. "I thought  I

made it clear that I've told you all I know."

"I don't  think  you  have,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "I  think  you've  left

something out. I think your gang hired Fligh to steal Senator S'orn's  data

pad. Most likely Fligh had to agree to do it because he owed you money."

Helb didn't say anything. He crossed his arms.

"Maybe Fligh didn't turn over the data pad. Maybe he thought he could

get more money out of  you,"  Qui-Gon  guessed,  watching  Helb  carefully.

"Maybe that's why you put the deathmark on his head. You suspected  he  had

given the data pad to Didi."

"Listen, I'm not pretending to be overflowing with  goodness,  Jedi,"

Helb said. "I'd sell out my brother for money. But we didn't  put  a  death

mark on Fligh. Now get out of here before I call the security droids."

Qui-Gon didn't move. He put one hand on his lightsaber hilt.  Obi-Wan

did the same.

Helb shifted uncomfortably. "Look, we don't want to get on the  wrong

side of the Jedi."

"Then tell us the truth, and we will go," Qui-Gon said.

"All right, all right. Yes, we did get Fligh to steal the  data  pad.

The bantha-brain stole the wrong one! He should  have  taken  her  official

data pad, not the one with her personal correspondence. But it  worked  out

fine, because we didn't know she was planning to resign.  We  got  what  we

wanted anyway. Her legislation is dead. Why would we put a  death  mark  on

Fligh? Sure, he was a weasel, but he was a valuable weasel. Sent a  lot  of

clients our way."

"High stole two data pads that day," Qui-Gon said. "Do you know  what

happened to the other one?"

Helb shrugged. "Probably sold it, or gave it to someone he owed money

to."

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged a glance. "Didi," Obi-Wan murmured.

"Maybe," Helb said, overhearing him. "I'm sure Fligh owed Didi,  too.

Didi is the shrewdest sabacc player around. We  all  played  that  game  of

sabacc together. I lost to Didi, too. None of us could pay  off  Didi  that

day, but he let us slide. I didn't pay him off  until  a  few  days  later.

Luckily I had something to trade with."

"What did you trade?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I passed along this hideout I had in the Cascardi  Mountains,"  Helb

said. "I never would have used it, anyway. I won it in a game of chance off

some old fool wrapped in a pile of cloaks at the Splendor. As a  matter  of

fact, it was the day I met the two of you - "

Helb didn't get a chance to finish his sentence.

The two Jedi were gone.

CHAPTER 14

From above, the house in the Cascardi Mountains looked quiet. It  was

a white, three-story structure built into the mountainside that blended  in

with the snow. They could see Didi's cruiser parked on  the  small  landing

platform that was off the second floor. There  was  no  sign  of  Didi  and

Astri.

Qui-Gon landed their cruiser next to Didi's.  They  climbed  out  and

approached the door with caution. They  kept  their  lightsabers  in  their

hands but not activated. This time, they would be prepared.

Qui-Gon concentrated, listening for movement, for anything out of the

ordinary. Obi-Wan was tense beside him. He  trusted  the  boy's  instincts.

"What do you think?" he asked quietly. "I'm not feeling anything  clearly,"

Obi-Wan said. "Yet something is wrong. As though Didi and Astri are not  in

danger, but danger is here."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I feel that, too. She has lured them here. No wonder

she remained on Coruscant and trailed us. She did not have  to  track  Didi

and Astri. She knew where they were. The sooner we get them away from here,

the better."

A window slid open above them, and Didi popped his head  out.  Relief

creased his features. "It's you, thank the moons and stars.  I'll  activate

the door for you. I am so very glad to see you."

A moment later the door slid open. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walked  inside

and were met by Didi as he hurried down a curving ramp from upstairs.

"Is everything all right?" Qui-Gon  asked,  clipping  his  lightsaber

back onto his utility belt.

Didi nodded. "I suppose. At first we were glad to be  here.  We  felt

safe. The place is so remote and hidden. But now the isolation  is  getting

on our nerves. I think we would feel safer back on Coruscant."

"Where is Astri?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Here." Astri appeared from the other room. "I am so happy to see you

both. The hours have been very long."

"No sign of trouble?" Qui-Gon asked. "Nothing out of the ordinary?"

"Nothing," Didi said.

"We keep a lookout," Astri  said.  "We  watch  out  the  windows  for

cruisers. We saw you approach. We weren't sure who it was."  She  tapped  a

blaster strapped to her hip. "I was ready."

"Have  you  ever  used  a  blaster  before,  Astri?"  Qui-Gon   asked

cautiously.

"How hard could it be?" Astri said. "Point and shoot. Easy as  making

a meal."

After having seen her  kitchen,  Qui-Gon  was  not  sure  he  trusted

Astri's shooting. "I'll give you a lesson in a moment," he told  her.  "How

about you, Didi? Do you have a weapon?"

"Are you serious?" Didi shook his head. "I don't  like  Astri  having

one, either. How do you think I managed to stay out of  trouble  all  these

years?"

"We must speak to you both seriously," Qui-Gon said. "You  must  tell

us the truth. Your safety depends on it."

"But you said we were safe here," Didi said nervously.

Qui-Gon shook his head. "I did not. This only  bought  us  time.  I'm

afraid time has run out."

"What do you need to know?" Astri  asked.  Qui-Gon  turned  to  Didi.

"Fligh stole two data pads. We think  one  of  them  is  the  key  to  your

problem. He must have given one to you, Didi. Did he leave  a  case,  or  a

bin, or anything with you? Could he have hidden something  when  your  back

was turned?"

"I would never turn my back on Fligh," Didi said. "You have asked  me

this already, my friend. I give you the same answer. Fligh gave me nothing.

"

Obi-Wan noticed a flush spread over Astri's cheeks.

"What about you, Astri?" he asked.

She glanced at her father. "Well. Sometimes I  used  Fligh  for  more

than sweeping."

"You used Fligh?" Didi asked,  incredulous.  "After  you  told  me  I

should not associate with him?"

Astri looked uncomfortable. "We were not getting enough business. I'd

spent so much money on the caf©. If it closed you'd never let me forget it.

And I knew that Fligh hung around the Senate. I paid him to pass along tips

to me about which Senators would be hosting important dinners. Then I could

have a head start and bid on the job. Recently Fligh came to  me  with  two

pieces of information: one, that someone might throw Senator S'orn a going-

away party soon, and two, that Jenna Zan Arbor was  hosting  a  testimonial

dinner. I paid him for both tips."

"You paid him for information? Ha!" Didi cried. "I am  not  the  only

one in this family to stretch the truth a bit!"

"This isn't the time to reproach Astri," Qui-Gon said sternly.

"I am not reproaching! I am congratulating," Didi insisted.

Astri's cheeks were pink. "Anyway, Fligh  gave  me  a  data  pad  for

safekeeping. He told me he had just traded for it. He asked me to  keep  it

for him. I was in the middle of something, so I stuck  it  in  one  of  the

ovens. The oven was broken," she added hastily. "To tell you the  truth,  I

forgot about it until the night we left."

"Where is it now?" Qui-Gon asked urgently.

"Here," Astri said. "I brought it with us. My data pad  was  smashed,

so I thought I'd use this one."

She reached over to a nearby table  and  handed  it  to  Qui-Gon.  "I

haven't had a chance to see what's on it yet."

Qui-Gon quickly accessed the files on the data pad.  A  strange  code

streamed across the screen.

"The files are all coded," he mused.

"They must be Jenna Zan Arbor's,"  Obi-Wan  said,  looking  over  his

shoulder. "These are probably formulas."

"Yes. Let me send it to Tahl. She can take it to our  code  experts."

Qui-Gon jacked into the data pad and transferred the files to his own corn-

link. He then contacted Tahl.

"Sure, send it along," Tahl said. "I'll get right on it  and  contact

you as soon as we break it."

"This is high priority,"  Qui-Gon  told  her.  He  switched  off  the

connection. "I don't think we should wait. I have several  destinations  in

mind. There are contacts who can hide you," he told Didi and Astri.

"I won't mind leaving this place," Astri said with  a  shiver.  "It's

awfully lonely. Just us and  the  lonesome  wind.  The  caretaker  told  us

there's no one here at this time of year.  At  first  we  thought  this  an

advantage."

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon froze.

"Caretaker?" Qui-Gon asked.

"She came with the place," Didi said. "Relax, Qui-Gon. She's at least

a hundred years old."

"Where is she?" Qui-Gon asked, his hand on his lightsaber.

Astri looked puzzled. "She brings provisions once a  day.  She's  not

here now."

Qui-Gon's uneasy feeling changed to alarm.  Simultaneously,  the  two

Jedi activated their lightsabers.

"Let's get to the cruiser," Qui-Gon said. "But our things -  "  Astri

began.

"Leave them."

They started toward the door, but it was too late.  At  that  moment,

durasteel coverings on the windows slid down with a clang. They  heard  the

harsh sound of locks snapping throughout the house. The snug  hideaway  had

turned into a prison.

They were trapped. And Qui-Gon had no doubt that  the  bounty  hunter

was in the house with them.

CHAPTER 15

"What's going on?" Didi whispered.

"Where is the lighting console?" Qui-Gon asked Didi.

"Over there." Didi pointed to a console that was mounted on a table.

Qui-Gon strode over and powered down all the lights. Darkness dropped

like a curtain. Obi-Wan could not see a thing, but he waited,  knowing  his

eyes would adjust.

"Remember how she fought last time, Padawan," Qui-Gon said to him  in

a murmur. "Her strategy is to attack those we defend in order  to  keep  us

busy. Expect her to move in their direction first. Watch her  shoulders  to

tell you which way she will move."

"I have the data pad, Qui-Gon," Astri whispered. "It's in my tunic."

"Keep it safe," Qui-Gon whispered back. "We don't  need  it  anymore,

but it is our insurance. If the bounty hunter thinks we can tell her  where

it is, she won't kill us."

"Ah, reassuring news," Didi said. His voice shook with terror.

"Stay between us," Qui-Gon  instructed  Didi  and  Astri.  "We  can't

protect you if you stray. We're going to cut through those window shields."

They moved forward with Astri and Didi between them. Obi-Wan's vision

had adjusted and he kept his eyes moving around the  room,  waiting  for  a

shadow to move and materialize into the bounty hunter.

But even he was not prepared for how fast she struck. The laser  whip

came out of nowhere, spiraling in the  air  toward  Astri.  Qui-Gon  leaped

forward, lightsaber already slashing downward. It collided with the whip. A

harsh buzzing sound rose from the contact.

The whip curled back and struck again, this time toward Didi. Obi-Wan

was prepared, stepping into  his  left-to-right  sweep.  The  whip  wrapped

around his lightsaber and smoked before uncurling and flying backward.  The

lightsaber could not cut it.

He could see her now. At least he could see the shape of her body. He

could not see her eyes. She was dressed all in black; it was hard to  track

her as she moved. Only the slight gleam of her boots  and  armor  told  him

where she was heading. She did not make a sound.

The whip unfurled again, dancing over their heads as though it were a

living thing. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan kept their lightsabers  moving,  twirling

them above their heads to fend off the lethal whip. All the  while  Qui-Gon

pressed steadily forward.

Suddenly Astri began to fire her blaster. Her shots went  widely  off

the mark, peppering the durasteel over the windows. The  blasts  ricocheted

back toward them. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had to move quickly to deflect  them.

In the meantime, the whip snaked out again and  knocked  the  blaster  from

Astri's hand. It skittered across the floor.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan kept moving toward the windows. The bounty hunter

realized their objective and sprang forward, somersaulting in a blur toward

them. Her move ended in a sharp kick, close enough to land a glancing  blow

at Astri's ribs. A slight clang resulted from the sole of her boot  hitting

Astri's tunic. Obi-Wan saw the knowledge in the bounty hunter's  face.  She

knew that Astri had the data pad.

Pushing Astri behind him, Qui-Gon launched an attack  at  the  bounty

hunter. She kept the whip moving in a blur of light. Suddenly  she  flipped

backward in a series of fast moves, eluding the Jedi. She was still between

them and the windows. In a quick reversal of strategy, Qui-Gon pushed Astri

and Didi up the ramp.

"Run," he directed.

The bounty hunter was still flipping over, thinking she needed to put

distance between herself and the Jedi. She would need time to find her feet

and reverse again to face them.

"Run, Padawan," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan dashed up the ramp. He guessed what Qui-Gon was thinking.  If

they could get to the windows above, they could cut through the  durasteel.

From there it would be an easy drop to the landing platform. He heard  Qui-

Gon hit the ramp behind him.

As they reached the upper level, their keen hearing  told  them  that

the bounty hunter was in fast pursuit. Quickly, Qui-Gon opened  a  shelving

unit with various cubbyholes that ran along the wall with the windows.

"Don't come out until I get you," he told  Didi  and  Astri,  herding

them inside.

He shut the doors after them and motioned to Obi-Wan to get  to  work

on the durasteel blocked windows. Then he rushed forward to meet the bounty

hunter as she ran up the curving ramp. She came into sight in  seconds  but

instead of meeting Qui-Gon she gave a leap in the air. She grabbed onto the

system of conduit pipes near the ceiling and used her momentum to fly  over

Qui-Gon's head, straight at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan kicked out with one leg as he  tried  to  turn  to  meet  the

attack. He had been in an awkward position, just beginning to  cut  through

the durasteel with his lightsaber. He felt the studded spikes on the end of

the whip catch his leg as he turned. The  pain  seared  him,  but  he  kept

moving, raising his lightsaber to meet the flashing whip.

Without Astri and Didi to defend, the Jedi were now free  to  attack.

They moved toward the bounty hunter as one unit, lightsabers  whirling  and

arcing, anticipating her moves and the striking, curling whip.

Obi-Wan remembered Qui-Gon's directive to watch the  bounty  hunter's

shoulders. Her footwork was fast but she had a tendency to  lean  into  her

moves.

She began to retreat backward, though the action of her whip did  not

falter. In the  glow  of  the  lightsabers  and  whip,  he  could  read  an

expression on her face: sheer rage. No doubt she had never fought Jedi like

this before.

When at last she stood at the edge of the curving ramp, Obi-Wan  made

a bold move. He copied her action, leaping up  to  grab  onto  the  conduit

pipes overhead, then as the whip snaked and curled around him,  drove  into

her with both feet.

She let out a surprised sound as she flew back, high above the  ramp.

She landed with a solid thud, then continued to skid  down  the  ramp.  She

tried to stop her descent but  the  smooth  stone  was  slippery.  Her  leg

twisted underneath her and  her  head  hit  the  stone  wall  with  another

sickening thud.

She lay still.

"Hurry, Padawan." Qui-Gon strode to the windows. Together  with  Obi-

Wan he cut through the durasteel. It peeled back, leaving  an  opening  big

enough for them to get through.

Qui-Gon threw open the cubbyhole doors. Quickly, Obi-Wan helped  Didi

and Astri to the window ledge.

"You'll have to carry Astri," Qui-Gon told him. "I'll take Didi."

Without pausing to reply, Obi-Wan swept up the slender Astri  in  his

arms. Qui-Gon picked up plump Didi with the same  ease.  Then  they  leaped

into the air and landed softly on the ground below.

Qui-Gon jumped into the pilot seat of their cruiser. He fired up  the

engine. Red warning lights flashed, and there was  no  answering  surge  of

power.

"She tampered with it," he  said  tersely.  "Let's  try  ours,"  Didi

suggested, already running toward his own cruiser.

They followed, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were not surprised when Didi's

cruiser would not operate.

"She has to have transport nearby. If we - " Qui-Gon began,  but  his

words were drowned out by a piercing, animallike cry.

For a moment, the light was blocked out as the  bounty  hunter  threw

herself out the window above. Her lips were curled back in a snarl.

She landed on one leg, whip flashing, and went straight for Obi-Wan.

CHAPTER 16

Qui-Gon sprang forward to  place  himself  between  Obi-Wan  and  the

bounty hunter as Didi and Astri leaped back to get out of his way.  Obi-Wan

used the opportunity to quickly scan the mountainside. It was crucial  that

they locate some form of transport. They had to get Didi  and  Astri  away,

even if he and Qui-Gon had to hold off the bounty hunter  long  enough  for

Didi and Astri to take off.

At first he couldn't distinguish anything. The  snow  was  thick  and

blindingly white, dotted with boulders and crags. The sun bounced  off  the

snow, hurting his eyes.

He had only seconds. Obi-Wan drew the Force  around  him,  connecting

him to everything he saw, from the craggy peaks and  rocks  to  the  fresh,

dense snow.

He only saw a slight irregularity in the surface of the snow hundreds

of meters below him.

Then he snapped his gaze back. It was a small cruiser. It was  white,

and it nestled in the snow, but he made out its outlines.

"Down there," Obi-Wan  told  Didi  and  Astri  crisply  as  Qui-Gon's

lightsaber tangled with the bounty hunter's whip. "Below that crag."

"I see it," Astri said.

"Go," Obi-Wan urged,  already  spinning  to  cover  Qui-Gon's  flank.

"Don't wait for us!"

Didi and Astri stepped off the landing platform onto the  snow.  They

sank into the snow up to their knees. They pushed through, making their way

slowly across the side of the mountain. Drifts alternated with  patches  of

ice, but they pushed on.

The bounty  hunter  redoubled  her  efforts,  suddenly  launching  an

offensive that sent Qui-Gon and  Obi-Wan  back  against  the  edge  of  the

landing platform. She had grabbed Astri's blaster and let loose a stream of

fire from one hand while the other expertly plied her whip.

Their lightsabers were a blur as they fought off the frenzied attack.

She pushed her advantage, and they stepped off the  landing  platform  into

the snow.

Now their footing was uneven. Obi-Wan expected  an  attack,  but  the

bounty hunter changed her tactics. Instead of pressing on, she  turned  her

back and raced to the other end of the landing platform.

She poised on the edge and pressed a device in her  utility  belt.  A

thin material skin shot out from  her  shoulders  and  thighs,  creating  a

cradle around her. She leaped into the air and came down on the snow on her

back. Then she dug her heels into the snow and Obi-Wan could see that there

were now spikes protruding from her boot soles.

"She is prepared, as usual," Qui-Gon said.

She pushed herself off and flew down the mountain in  the  improvised

sled, gaining speed as she went.

"She's going to come at Didi and Astri  from  below,"  Obi-Wan  said.

"She'll be between them and the transport."

"Exactly. We must reach them first."

Didi and Astri  had  made  some  progress.  Though  the  footing  was

treacherous, desperation had fueled their speed.  They  had  not  seen  the

bounty hunter yet.

Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon  hurried  down  the  steep  incline  in   their

direction, carefully negotiating the ice and drifts. Obi-Wan  glanced  down

the mountain at the bounty hunter. He  could  not  imagine  how  she  would

manage to stop her descent. But as she slid, she unfurled her whip.

With an expert flick, the whip arced in the sky and looped  around  a

craggy boulder. As the whip went taut, she dug her heels into the snow. Her

treacherous slide was halted. She rolled to her side and  sprang  up,  then

detached the sled and began to race across the mountainside.

She made good progress as she moved across and up  the  face  of  the

slope. Qui-Gon called out to Didi and Astri, alerting them to the fact that

their enemy was now below them.

They hesitated, not knowing which way to go. Holding each other, they

stood in the shadow of a crag. If they continued their descent, they  would

walk straight into the bounty hunter. The crag was too steep to climb.

Didi looked over at Qui-Gon helplessly.

"Stay there!" Qui-Gon shouted as he pushed through a drift. "We  will

come to you."

Obi-Wan wasn't worried. They were closer to Didi and Astri  than  the

bounty hunter was. They would be able to reach them before she did, he  had

no doubt.

They were almost to the pair when the bounty hunter cracked her  whip

and sent it flying toward Astri. It lengthened farther than they  had  ever

seen it go, growing longer and longer as it sailed through the air. It  was

not in laser mode, so it did not cut her. Instead, it  whipped  around  her

ankle. Didi desperately tried to hold on, but Astri was yanked off her feet

and slid down the mountain, straight at the  bounty  hunter.  At  the  same

time, the bounty hunter reached down to her holster,  withdrew  a  blaster,

and shot Didi. He fell softly, silently, into the snow.

"She knows Astri has the data pad," Qui-Gon  said  tersely.  "See  to

Didi. I have an idea."

Qui-Gon activated his lightsaber again. He kept it in front  of  him,

sweeping the snow with each stride to cut a narrow path through it. The ice

melted in seconds, and he was  able  to  hit  firm  ground.  He  made  fast

progress down the mountain. But not fast enough.

Obi-Wan used the same technique to get to Didi. He fervently hoped he

was still alive. He fell to his knees by Didi's side and  reached  for  the

emergency medpac on his belt. He saw the spreading stain of blood on Didi's

tunic and ripped it open. He quickly poured bacta into the wound.

Didi's eyes fluttered open. Despair pooled in his  deep  brown  gaze.

"Astri," he murmured.

Obi-Wan turned. Qui-Gon had not yet reached the  bounty  hunter,  but

Astri had. She lay at their enemy's feet. The bounty hunter had one  booted

foot on her chest. She reached down for the data pad, which had slipped out

of Astri's tunic. Astri held the data pad in a deathgrip. The bounty hunter

set the whip to laser mode and it glowed red.

Qui-Gon was too far away to stop her. "Astri," Didi moaned.

Obi-Wan summoned the Force. He felt the power in his  muscles  as  he

leaped from Didi's side onto the crag. He scrambled to the top in  seconds.

Then he bent his knees and gathered power for the spring. He leaped high in

the air, so high that the bounty hunter sensed his presence in the sky  and

looked up, confused. She only had time to raise her arm  back  before  Obi-

Wan, in the same maneuver he had used in the house, came straight  at  her,

feet first. He hit both of her shoulders with a mighty blow that  sent  her

backward onto the snow. Obi-Wan landed in the snow,  his  feet  planted  on

either side of her body, his lightsaber raised.

"Enough," he said.

She lay rigid, but he felt a flicker of movement in her  right  hand.

He saw the glint of a vibroblade. Moving only her fingers, she  flicked  it

with expert aim toward Astri.

Obi-Wan's blow with the lightsaber was only a split second too  late.

It grazed the bounty hunter's fingers in a searing wound. At the same  time

he leaped backward, twisting in midair to try to catch the blade  with  his

other hand. He used his Jedi reflexes to slow time down,  allowing  him  to

eye exactly where to grab it. The hilt thudded into his hand.

The bounty hunter stuck her  wounded  fingers  in  the  snow  for  an

instant. Her teeth sank into her lower lip.

The pain must have been terrible. She spoke for the first  time.  Her

eyes blazed hatred at Obi-Wan. "You... will... pay."

Suddenly a lunge line shot out from her utility belt. It had a homing

beacon to her cruiser, attaching itself to it and yanking her backward. Her

body bounced across the ice. It must have been excruciatingly painful.

"Stay with them," Qui-Gon directed, and took off after her.

Obi-Wan watched as Qui-Gon gained on the bounty hunter. She scrambled

into her cruiser. The engines fired and the loading ramp began to close  as

Qui-Gon gave a great leap and landed.

Horrified, Obi-Wan saw the flash of blaster fire. Qui-Gon staggered.

"Master!" Obi-Wan screamed.

Qui-Gon  fell  backward  into  the  bowels  of  the  ship.  The  ramp

retracted. The  ship  rose  in  the  air  and  shot  away  into  the  upper

atmosphere.

Obi-Wan could hear as if for the first time the wind whispering along

the surface of the snow. Astri raggedly breathed behind him.  The  echo  of

his own anguished cry reverberated off the mountain as he watched the  ship

disappear.

Had Qui-Gon been captured by the bounty hunter, or  had  he  captured

her? Was he mortally wounded? Was he alive - or dead?

The anguish of not knowing made Obi-Wan want to crash to  his  knees.

But there were wounded he had to care for. Qui-Gon had told him to stay.

"Don't lose heart, Qui-Gon," he whispered. "I'll find you. Hold on."

He would find a way to bring back his Master.