Текст книги "Jedi Apprentice 3: The Hidden Past"

Автор книги: Джуд Уотсон

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Chapter 14

The marketplace was crowded the next morning, even though there was even less for sale. The desperation on the faces of the Phindians mirrored Qui-Gon's. He paced impatiently, waiting for Duenna to appear.

Finally, he could wait no longer. «I'm going to headquarters myself,» he told Guerra and Paxxi grimly. «I'll find a way.»

«Wait, Jedi-Gon,» Guerra pleaded. «It is hard for Duenna to slip away, but she always manages it.»

«And so there she is!» Paxxi cried.

Duenna threaded through the crowd toward them. She was not wearing her coat, but a cloak and hood. She carried a large satchel.

«Any news of Obi-Wan?» Qui-Gon asked as soon as she came up to them.

She put a hand on her heart to catch her breath. «Headquarters in on high alert. Prince Beju arrives tomorrow?»

«What about Obi-Wan?» Qui-Gon barked impatiently.

«I am trying to tell you,» Duenna said. «I have never seen them act so fast. He? he was taken to a cell.»

«Where?» Qui-Gon asked urgently.

«He is there no longer,» Duenna said, laying a gentle hand on his arm. Suddenly, Qui-Gon noticed that here eyes were full of pity for him. His heart fell.

«What happened?» he asked hoarsely.

«He was renewed,» she said, her voice breaking. «Last night. And transported off-planet at dawn this morning.»

Paxxi and Guerra peered around the corner into the room where Qui-Gon sat, eyes front, cross-legged, not moving. Duenna had to return to headquarters, so they had gone straight to Kaadi's house. Being on the streets was dangerous during the day.

As soon as they entered the house, Qui-Gon had gone to the spare room where they slept. He sat down in the middle of the floor, not speaking. He had remained there for an hour. The brothers had left him alone for a time, but he could feel their anxious eyes on him.

Without opening his eyes, he said, «I'm not giving up. I'm forming a plan.»

«Of course, Jedi-Gon,» Guerra said, relief coursing through his voice. «We knew this.»

«Yes so,» Paxxi agreed. «We know Jedi do not give up. Although, we must admit we worried a tiny bit. It is such bad news about our friend Obawan.»

Qui-Gon opened his eyes. He saw the same haunted desperation in the eyes of the Derida brothers that he felt in his heart. He had had to struggle to overcome his anger at himself. It had taken time to calm his mind. Time and again he had tried to formulate a plan, only to be filled with anguish at the thought of Obi-Wan's plight. He was rocked to the core. The thought of Obi-wan without his memory, without his training, was unbearable.

He had failed his Padawan. He should have known the Syndicat would move fast. He should have tried to rescue him last night. Now Obi-Wan was doomed to a life so empty it made Qui-Gon shudder every time he tried to conceive of it.

What of Obi-Wan's Jedi training? All of that, lost. What would the boy become? He would still be Force-sensitive, for the Force was not dependent on memory. But how could Obi-Wan use it without the lessons of the Temple to guide him? If he discovered its power, he would have it without allegiance. Would he become a lost, neutral warrior for hire? Would he use the Force for darkness, like Qui-Gon's old apprentice, Xanatos?

He did not believe that could happen. He would not believe it. If Obi-Wan had lost his memory, surely he would still retain his goodness.

Yes, Qui-Gon was full of worry. But he was also heartbroken. The boy he knew was gone. The diligent boy, so curious and intent on knowledge. The quick study. The boy who wanted to learn.

Qui-Gon refused to believe that all that was gone. He had to hope still that somehow the memory wipe would be reversible, if he could find Obi-Wan.

«And so what are you thinking, Jedi-Gon?» Guerra asked tentatively.

«We must act tomorrow,» Qui-Gon said. «We must break them wide open. What better time to act then when they are trying to impress Prince Beju? First of all, they will be distracted. And second, we can destroy their alliance with the Prince before it even begins.»

«It is true so,» Paxxi breathed.

«We must open the warehouses when the Prince arrives,» Qui-Gon said quietly. He had formed the plan in his mind, and he believed it could be done. «Can Kaddi rally the people?»

«Yes so,» Guerra said, nodding.

«That will be our diversion,» Qui-Gon said. «The people will rush into the warehouses. The Syndicat will panic. There will be chaos in the streets. We will go straight to headquarters with the anti-register device. That's when we'll steal the treasury.»

«In the daytime?» Paxxi asked. «But it will be dangerous. And Duenna cannot help us then.»

Qui-Gon turned to look at them. His blue eyes burned across the room. «Are you with me?» he asked.

The two brothers looked at each other. «Yes, so,» they said together.

Chapter 15

The hum from the engines underneath Obi-Wan throbbed against his skull. He had been thrown on the floor of the transport, locked into cargo hold. He kept his eyes closed. He had to keep his concentration strong. He felt completely drained. Exhausted. Sick.

But he remembered.

They had not broken him. They had not won.

They had entered, and he hadn't even looked up, not even when they laughed at him. He slipped the river stone into the pocket of his tunic quickly, so they would not see it and take it away. The stone kept a steady glow of heat against his heart. He had drawn strength from it. It was tangible proof that the Force was with him.

While they set up the memory-wipe droid, he had built Force walls inside himself. He had enshrined every memory, even the haziest one. He had embraced the painful with the good.

His first day at the Temple. He had been so young, so frightened. His first glimpse of Yoda, coming forward to greet him, his heavy-lidded eyes looking sleepy. «Far to come, far to go it is,» he had said. «Cold and warm, it is. Seek what you are looking for, you will. Find it here, you shall. Listen.»

The sound of the fountains. The river that ran behind the Temple. The chimes that the cook had hung in a tree in the kitchen gardens. He had noticed those things then, and something in him had uncurled. He had thought, for the first time, that he could feel at home there.

A good memory.

Twin metal rods were screwed against his temples. The electro-pulsers.

The stone glowed against his heart.

A visit home. His mother. Softness and light. His father. A laugh, full-bodied, joined by his mother's, just as full, just as rich. His brother, sharing a piece of fruit with him. The explosion of sweet juice in his mouth. Soft grasses underneath his bare feet.

The droid activated the memory wipe while the guards watched. A strange sensation began in his temples and moved inward. Not pain, not quite…

Owen. His brother's name was Owen.

Reeft never got enough to eat.

Bant's eyes were silver.

The first time he'd drawn his lightsaber. It had glowed as he activated it. Most of the Temple students had been clumsy. He had never been clumsy. Not with his weapon. The lightsaber had always felt right in his hand.

Pain now. White hot.

The Force was bright, too. He pictured it, golden, strong, glowing, forming a barrier around his memories.

They are mine. Not yours. I'll keep them.

The Syndicat guards were surprised to see him smile.

«Happy to see that memory go, I guess,» on of them said to the other.

No, it is not going. I have it. I'm holding it now…

Rough linen against his hands. He clung to his mother. The end of the visit. Yes, he had wanted to go back to the Temple. It was a great honor. They knew they could not keep him from it. He wanted it so much. Yet good-bye was so painful, so hard. A soft cheek pressed against his.

I carry you always.

The way dusk fell at the Temple. Slowly, because of all the lights and white buildings of Coruscant. Light took long to leave. That's when he'd go to the river with Bant. Bant loved the water. She grew up on a humid world. Her room was kept supplied with steam. She swam like a fish in the River. As dusk fell, the color of the water would match her eyes.

Pain. He felt sick. Consciousness was slippery. If he passed out, he would lose.

Yoda. Yoda he would not lose. Strength you have, Obi-Wan. Patience you have as well, but find it, you must. It is there within you. Search you will, until you find it and hold it. Learn to use it, you must. Learn that it will save you, you will.

How would not lose Yoda's lessons. He created a Force barrier around them. Pain crested again, sending dissiness through him. He could not last much longer.

«What's your name?» the guard asked harshly.

Obi-Wan rolled blank, sick eyes toward the guard.

«You name,» the guard repeated.

Obi-Wan pretended to search, pretended to panic.

The guard laughed. «This one is cooked.»

The droid detached the electro-pulsers. Obi-wan slumped to the floor.

«He's sleep now,» the guard said.

«He won't dream,» the other added.

But he did.

He was hauled to his feet. A Syndicat guard leered in his face.

«Ready to face your new life?»

He kept his face blank, dazed.

«I've got money riding on this,» the guard said. «You won't last three days on Gala.»

Gala! Obi-Wan kept a neutral look on his face as relief surged through him. What a stroke luck! At least on Gala he could find a way to help Qui-Gon.

He knew Prince Beju's plans. Perhaps he could find someone on Gala, one of the rival politicians running for governor, to help.

The landing ramp slid down. He could see a gray stone spaceport lined with battered starfighters, A number of checkpoints prevented anyone from entering. Obi-Wan remembered what Qui-Gon had said. The royal house had plundered the planet. Rival factions fought for control. The people were close to revolt.

«Have fun!» the Syndicat guard chortled, and gave him a push down the ramp.

A probe droid buzzed behind Obi-Wan made his way cautiously through the spaceport hanger. When he reached the checkpoint, the guard waved him through. No doubt the Syndicat had bribed them to let him through without a challenge. Once he hit the streets of Gala, their fun would begin. They were betting on how long he'd survive.

Obi-Wan plunged into the teeming streets of Galu, the capital city of Gala. The small probot followed behind. Obi-Wan knew he had a camera trained on him at all times. It was hard to know what to do. How would he react to such a city if he had no memory of what he knew.

The city of Galu had once been grand and impressive. But the great stone buildings were crumbling. Obi-Wan could see the holes and depressions where ornaments had been stripped off the facades. Trees had once lined the streets, but now there were only twisted stumps.

The Galacians were humanoids whose pale skin had a bluish cast. Sunlight on the planet was limited and they were often called «moon people» due to their fair, luminous skin. Obi-Wan could see evidence of poverty everywhere. Where the atmosphere on Phindar was one of fear, here on Gala, Obi-Wan picked up anger.

Obi-Wan kept a confused look on his face. He stared into shop windows, trying to seem as though he'd never seen the items inside before. He avoided looking into strangers' eyes, wandered the streets without seeming to have a destination. All the while, however, he was heading toward the gleaming building he saw in the distance, guessing it was the grand Palace of Gala. Blue and green gemstones embedded in the towers caught the weak sunlight and made the place seem to sparkle.

Suddenly, a gigantic Galacian man blocked his path. «You,» he said, placing a meaty hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. «Do you know what I told myself when I woke up this morning?»

The probot buzzed around Obi-Wan. He resisted the temptation to react as a Jedi. He would not look into the man's eyes with clear steady courage. He would not speak firmly but respectfully in an attempt to defuse the situation. He must react in fear and confusion.

And hope he didn't get killed.

Obi-Wan let apprehension show on his face. «What?» he answered.

The huge man squeezed his shoulder painfully. «That I would slit the throat of the first hill person that I saw.»

«I–I'm not a hill person,» Obi-Wan said. Then he realized that without his memory he wouldn't know if he were a hill person. He pretended to look suddenly confused.

«You look like one,» the Galacian said. He reached for the vibro-shiv on his belt. Obi-Wan heard it leave the sheath with a slithering noise. The blade sounded very long.

Obi-Wan's hand instinctively moved toward his lightsaber. But of course he didn't have one? the Syndicat had confiscated it. And he would tip off the probot camera if he used it anyway.

«People say I look like one,» he said quickly. «All the time. I just don't understand it.»

The man frowned. «You don't?»

«Because I may be ugly, but I'm not that ugly,» Obi-Wan said. He had no idea what a hill person was. Or what they looked like. But he knew that the only way to talk his way out of this was to make friends with his enemy.

The large man stared at him blankly. Then he threw back his head and laughed. He hand dropped from Obi-Wan's shoulder.

Obi-Wan took a step back, smiling along with the man's laughter. He began to edge away. Still laughing, the man tucked his vibro-shiv back into his belt and walked on.

He kept a look of fright and confusion on his face for the benefit of the probot. He had to lose the droid, he realized. If he had to rely on his wits to survive, he'd be dead by sunset.

That thought made Obi-Wan begin to smile, but he quickly masked it by coughing into his hand. He ducked down a side street. While he walked, he used the Jedi technique of looking without seeming to look. He gathered information, waiting for his chance.

Ahead, a cart loaded with vegetables was standing outside a caf?'s kitchen door. A cook stood outside, arguing with the driver. Obi-Wan saw a speeder bike turn the corner ahead. This could be his chance.

He quickened his pace. When he got closer to the cart, he stumbled, keeping the dazed, confused expression on his face. His fall sent him squarely into the path of the speeder bike. He saw the driver's surprised expression before the driver turned the bike quickly to avoid running over Obi-Wan. He sideswiped the cart, which overturned. The driver of the cart began to scream at the speeder bike rider, who gunned the motor and kept going.

The cart driver pursued him, picking up vegetables as he ran and throwing him at the speeder. One of the vegetables hit the probot, which let out a warning beep and swerved in the air. Obi-Wan quickly rolled behind the cart, then ran, doubled over, into the kitchen of the caf?. He darted past a surprised worker stirring soup and ran into the caf? itself. He headed for the door and ran out into the street. Quickly, he ducked into the shop next door.

A moment later he saw the probot fly out the door. It hovered on the street, revolving slowly. The camera scanned the passersby. Obi-Wan stayed hidden in the shop. Slowly, the probot began to cruise the street, revolving carefully. Obi-Wan quickly faded back into the store, then ran by the surprised shop owner and left by the alley exit.

The palace of Gala wasn't far. Obi-Wan hesitated at the ornate jeweled gates, wondering what to do. He could hardly walk in and announce himself. He assumed that the various ministers and candidates for governorship must come to the palace for meetings about the upcoming elections. Should he just stop the nest important-looking person and tell him why he was there?

Obi-Wan wished Qui-Gon was with him. The Jedi Knight would know what to do. Obi-Wan's mind was too filled with possibilities and guesses. He felt exposed here on the street outside the place. He was afraid the probot would return at any moment.

Still wondering how to proceed, Obi-Wan drifted back to stand underneath the shadow of a building overhang. He watched as a small passenger spaceliner glided down from the sky. It seemed to be headed straight toward him. Obi-Wan tensed, then realized he was standing next to a small spaceport hanger.

He moved forward, still keeping in the shadow of the overhang, to watch the ship land. The ramp lowered, and the pilot got out. Someone moved forward to greet him. It was young man dressed in a long cloak and a wrapped headdress.

«I have been waiting for three minutes,» the boy snapped as the pilot approached him.

«My apologies, my Prince. Equipment check took a bit longer than usual. But we are ready to fly.»

Obi-Wan stiffened. It must be Prince Beju!

«Don't bore me with the Obvious,» the Prince snapped. «are my supplies loaded?»

«Yes, my Prince. Is your royal guard ready to board?»

«Don't bore me with questions? just obey me!» Prince Beju ordered. «I expect takeoff in two minutes. I will be resting during the flight, so do not disturb me.»

Prince Beju flung his cloak behind a shoulder and stalked off. It was clear to Obi-Wan that the Prince must be heading to Phindar for the meeting with the Syndicat. Should he prevent the Prince from leaving?

No, Obi-Wan thought. He would just end up in prison, this time on Gala, if he interfered here. Better to show aboard and see if he could get back to Phindar.

Obi-Wan watched as Prince Beju disappeared up the exit ramp. He was surprised to see that Beju wasn't much older than he was. He was the same height as Obi-Wan as well, and had the same sturdy frame…

The idea flashed into Obi-Wan's mind like a powered-up lightsaber. Was it too risky? Should he attempt it?

He had only minutes to decide. Cautiously, he slipped onto thew ship. Prince Beju was nowhere in sight. Obi-Wan realized that the Prince was nowhere in sight. Obi-Wan realized that the Prince's transport that had been converted for his royal use. It was fitted with every luxury. Prince Beju was probably in his stateroom, behind the gilded door immediately to Obi-Wan right.

Obi-Wan quickly went into the cockpit. He sat for a moment, familiarizing himself with the controls. He had piloted cloud cars and air-speeders and once, a huge transport ship. This shouldn't be too hard.

He headed back into the stateroom again an opened a closet door. One held supplies, but he found what he was looking for in the next? a row headdresses similar to the one the Prince wore. Obi-Wan quickly slipped one on his head, then wrapped the deep purple cloak in a rich fabric around his shoulders.

He returned to the cockpit and sat in the pilot seat. He saw the pilot heading for the ship, along with three royal guards. Quickly, Obi-Wan deactivated the exit ramp and started the ion engines. The pilot looked up, startled.

Obi-Wan could see the puzzlement on his face. The Padawan had counted on the fact that the headdress and cloak would confuse the pilot and the guards. They would assume that Prince Beju was piloting the ship. Not for long, perhaps? but if Obi-Wan was lucky, he would have enough time to take off.

The comlink suddenly blared to life. «Two minutes are up!» Prince Beju barked. «Why are we not taking off?»

«Immediately, my Prince,» Obi-Wan said crisply. He started preparations for takeoff. The ion engines revved. The pilot and the guards moved closer, trying to get a better look. Obi-Wan saw one guard's hand move to his blaster.

«Now,» he muttered, and the ship blasted out of the atmosphere of Gala. He waited until they were in deep space. Then he tossed the headdress and cloak aside, for the moment.

A weapons cabinet was mounted on the wall of the cockpit. He selected a blaster. Then he made his way back to the Prince's stateroom.

The Prince was reclining on a sleep couch when he entered. «I said I didn't want to be disturbed!» he snapped, not looking up.

Obi-Wan walked closer. He placed the blaster under the Prince's chin. «So sorry.»

The Prince twisted around to look at Obi-Wan. «Guards!» he screamed.

«They decided to stay on Gala,» Obi-Wan said.

«Get off of my ship!» Prince Beju blustered. «I'll see you dead! Who are you? How dare you!»

«Don't bore me with questions,» Obi-Wan said, hauling the Prince to his feet. «Just obey me.»

Chapter 16

Qui-Gon, Paxxi, and Guerra found a place to hide behind a pile of repair equipment in the Syndicat hanger. They had found out from Duenna when the Prince was scheduled to arrive. Baftu and a troop of assassin droids and Syndicat guards waited on the landing platform.

The Derida brothers and Qui-Gon wore their stolen Syndicat armor coats. Even though the coats gave them some protection, it was better to keep out of sight.

Kaadi had entered enthusiastically into their plan. She, too, thought the Prince's visit would be a perfect time to strike. She had contacted her rebel operatives. All they would need was a signal from her when the warehouses were open. She had designated people to find weapons and distribute them, find good, find supplies. And when the bacta was loaded onto the Prince's ship, she would make sure that the Phindians saw it happen.

Qui-Gon couldn't imagine the fury of a people deprived so long of what they needed to live. Surely the capital would explode. That would give them plenty of diversion to break in and steal the treasury. Once the Syndicat was destroyed, peace could return to Phindar at last.

So why was he so uneasy? Qui-Gon wondered. Perhaps it was because the plan seemed so simple, yet was so dependent on their guesses. What if the Prince went to headquarters first? What if Baftu double-crossed him and withheld the bacta? What if Paxxi's anti-register device didn't work? Qui-Gon had tested it on a security lock of Kaadi's, but what if the warehouse locks were different? It would have been dangerous to test it first, but should they have tried?

Perhaps he was allowing his worry about Obi-Wan in interfere with his judgement. He was anxious to bring about the Syndicat collapse so that he could find his Padawan. But was he acting rashly?

«You are worrying, Jedi-Gon,» Guerra whispered. «You should not. Everything will be smooth. Paxxi and I have always been lucky.»

Qui-Gon had certainly not seen any evidence to support this. But Guerra was trying to be helpful, so he nodded in thanks.

«Yes so, we guarantee this,» Paxxi added in a whisper. «The Syndicat will be weakened, maybe collapse, and Prince Beju will take off with no bacta and no alliance. Just so!»

«There is the ship!» Guerra hissed.

The Prince's ship came into view, sleek and white. It glided to a perfect landing. The ramp slowly lowered. Qui-Gon tensed. Now everything would begin.

The Prince slowly walked down the ramp alone. First, Qui-Gon was surprised. He had assumed the Prince would arrive with a royal guard.

Then he felt a rush of familiarity. But why? It took him several long seconds to realize that it was Obi-Wan in disguise.

Joy filled his heart. His Padawan was alive!

But quickly, joy was followed by confusion. Had Obi-Wan lost his memory and somehow become mixed up in affairs on Gala? That would be an incredible coincidence. How had he met Prince Beju?

«Look at him,» Paxxi said in disgust. «You can tell the brute is evil.»

«Look closer. The boy is Obi-Wan,» Qui-Gon murmured.

Paxxi gasped. «Yes so, I thought he seemed handsome and brave,» he added quickly. «And what royal bearing he has!»

«Obawan! I am overjoyed!» Guerra exulted, hid voice a whisper. Then his face fell. «But what can we do, wise Knight Jedi-Gon? We can't follow our plan now. If we alert the people that the Prince id taking the bacta, we will put Obi-Wan in great danger.»

«Do you think Obawan had been memory-wiped?» Paxxi whispered. «What if the Syndicat is using him?»

«I don't know what to think,» Qui-Gon said quietly, his eyes on Obi-Wan as the boy greeted Baftu.

There was only one thing he could do. Qui-Gon concentrated and reached out to the Force. He gathered it in, then directed it toward Obi-Wan like a cresting wave.

He waited, every muscle tense, every cell on alert. His heart cried out for his Padawan to hear him.

He felt Obi-Wan catch the Force and send it back to him. It broke over him like a glorious waterfall.

Qui-Gon closed his eyes in sweet relief. «It is all right,» he told Paxxi and Guerra. «He has withstood the memory wipe.»

Paxxi and Guerra exchanged stunned glances.

"No one has ever done this completely.' Paxxi said.

«I knew he could,» Guerra affirmed. «Not so, I lie. I feared for my great friend Obawan. And now I feel relief and joy.»

«Me as well, good brother,» Paxxi said. The two brother looped their long arms around each other and hugged, their faces close together and smiling.

But Qui-Gon was worried. Guerra was right. They could endanger Obi-Wan with their plan. But did Obi-Wan have his own plan? Had the boy gotten himself into deeper trouble?

Qui-Gon sighed. He would have to wait. He must take no action until he knew what Obi-Wan had in mind.

One of the Jedi lessons Qui-Gon had impressed upon the boy again and again was the necessary activity of waiting. Activity can endanger, he had told him. To wait and to watch is the more difficult task, yet it is one we must master.

If only he had taught himself the lesson as well.

Obi-Wan felt the Force hit him like a wave. The knowledge that Qui-Gon was near gave him courage.

He had worried that Terra might change her mind and appear at the platform to greet Prince Beju. She would recognize him instantly, he was sure. And though he had locked the Prince in storage in the cargo hold, he worried that the Prince would be able to make enough noise to carry beyond the ship. He needed to get Baftu away as soon as possible.

«Welcome, Prince Beju,» Baftu said as he approached. «I'm surprised to find you alone. Did you pilot yourself?»

«I thought it best to come alone,» Obi-Wan said in a loud voice, hoping that Qui-Gon could hear. «I must confess that I have doubts about this alliance.»

Baftu's smile faded. «But we have agreed on all terms.»

«Yes, but I risk more than you,» Obi-Wan said. «You make grand claims that I must trust you can fulfill. You speak of goods I have not seen.» Obi-Wan waved a hand. "You talk of bacta supplies, of a great treasury you will share to help me win back Gala. But I have not seen them.

Baftu's smile was strained. «But of course you shall. To headquarters, then. We can take refreshment, and?»

«No. The bacta first,» Obi-Wan interrupted sharply.

«But I have prepared a feast,» Baftu said. «We can go over details. Wasn't it you who said you would need refreshment after the journey?»

«Do not bore me with question!» Obi-Wan snapped. «Just obey me. The bacta first. Then the treasury. Or I will bet back on my ship and return home.»

Baftu's annoyance was visible. «Did we not agree that it would be better to load the bacta under cover of darkness? If my people see the amount of bacta we have, it could be dangerous for both of us.»

Obi-Wan flung the cape over his shoulder. «Can you not control your people, Baftu? Are you afraid of them? This makes me uneasy.»

For a moment, Obi-Wan thought that Baftu would strike him down. But the alliance was all important to him. Baftu's small, cunning eyes narrowed, and he forced a smile. «As the Prince whishes, of course. Let us load the bacta.»

«Excellent,» Qui-Gon said to Guerra and Paxxi in a low voice. «Obi-Wan is stalling for time. We'll have to change our plan. First the treasure, then the warehouses. Alert Kaadi that the Prince will be loading the bacta. And the, follow me.»