Текст книги "Jedi Apprentice 3: The Hidden Past"

Автор книги: Джуд Уотсон

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Chapter 17

Paxxi and Guerra tried their emergency signal to get Duenna's help, but after waiting a few minutes, Qui-Gon determined that they would have to get inside Syndicat headquarters without her.

«But how, Jedi-Gon?» Guerra asked. «Blast our way in? Create a diversion?»

«Let's hope there's some confusion since the Prince is here. Things won't be routine. So we'll just walk in,» Qui-Gon said, lowering his dark visor.

They strode past the guard with a nod. The second one was harder. He asked for their order number.

«Prince Beju has changed plans. He wants to load the bacta first,» Qui-Gon answered. «Baftu has sent us here.»

«Without an order number?» the guard asked skeptically.

«Yes, we'll go in,» Qui-Gon said, bringing the Force to bear on the Phindian.

«Yes, go on in,» the guard said, waving them through.

The security beams were turned off on the rear entrance, most likely because so many guards were going in and out. They were not challenged as they made their way down the halls toward the staircase to the lower level.

Qui-Gon led them to the secret room and activated the wall shift. Quickly, they headed for the security door.

«Now, it's your turn,» Qui-Gon said to Paxxi. He fervently hoped that Paxxi's device would work.

Paxxi jacked into the security panel. Qui-Gon heard a series of electronic beeps. Then he pressed his thumbprint against the transfer register. A beep followed. Then the light turned green, and the door opened.

«It worked, good brother!» Guerra cried. Qui-Gon wished he didn't sound quite so surprised.

The room was filled with treasures. Gems, spice, currencies, rare metals.

«We'll need transport,» Qui-Gon said. «We can't get all of this out of the building, so we'll have to hide it.»

Paxxi and Guerra hurried back to the holding pen at the staircase to get the floaters they'd hidden there. Qui-Gon stacked the materials. Then they loaded them onto the floaters and took them to the supply closet. The closet could barely hold everything, but they were able to shut the door.

«Now we have to get to the warehouses,» Qui-Gon said.

Paxxi closed the security door and reset the transfer register. They quickly left the secret room and closed the wall again. They hurried up the stairs and took the back entrance.

As they rounded the corner of the grand mansion toward the front gates, Qui-Gon held up a hand. «Wait,» he murmured.

Baftu's gold speeder pulled up. Baftu and Obi-Wan emerged, Followed by the assassin droids.

«It is better to let my guards load your ship,» Baftu was saying to the boy he thought was the Prince. «They will do it quickly and efficiently, I assure you. Now you will view the treasury.»

«I am pleased,» Obi-Wan replied.

«You see, Jedi Gon?» Paxxi whispered. «Our plan is working.»

«We are lucky brothers,» Guerra agreed.

Just then, Terra emerged from Syndicat headquarters. She started down the stairs. Obi-Wan reached behind him to draw his cloak up around his face, but it was too late.

Terra pointed. «You are not Prince Beju!» she cried.

Chapter 18

Obi-Wan's mind worked quickly. Terra had recognized him. But it was still her word against his. He would have to bluff his way through.

He turned to Baftu. «who is this who dares to challenge me?»

«My partner, Terra,» Baftu said. «What are you saying?» he asked Terra fiercely. «You have never met the Prince.»

«This man is a rebel.» Terra insisted, drawing her blaster. «I ordered his memory wipe myself.»

In the shadows, Qui-Gon's hand wen to his lightsaber. Paxxi and Guerra drew their blasters, prepared to fight. They followed Qui-Gon's lead, waiting to see what Obi-Wan would do.

«If I resemble some petty criminal on your world, that is not my affair,» Obi-Wan said contemptuously. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Baftu. «Is this a ruse to deflect me from inspecting your treasury? I am already unsure about this alliance….»

«No, no,» Baftu soothed. «Do not listen to my partner. Let us go down to the vault.»

Obi-Wan nodded shortly.

«I'm coming, too,» Terra said grimly.

«What shall we do, Jedi-Gon?» Guerra whispered. «Danger is not past for Obawan.»

Qui-Gon had already decided. «Paxxi, go to the warehouses with your device and open them. We must proceed with the plan. Contact Kaadi and start distributing food and weapons.» Qui-Gon put a hand on Paxxi's shoulder. «I know you want to stay and help Obi-Wan. But a diversion will help him more than you can here.»

Paxxi nodded and fled.

«Guerra, come with me,» Qui-Gon said.

They attached themselves to the rear of the groups with Baftu and Obi-Wan.

«Terra is excitable,» Baftu said to Obi-Wan. «Do not listen to her.»

«So you have an excitable partner who is not to be listened to,» Obi-Wan said. «That does not sound wise.»

Terra drifted closer to them. When Baftu turned to give an order to a droid, she murmured in Obi-Wan's ear, «No matter what Baftu thinks, I know you're a fake. I don't know how you resisted that memory wipe, but I'll find out. And I'll kill you in a heartbeat.»

«Only droids downstairs,» Baftu ordered briskly as they approached the stairs to the storage room. «Guards, wait here.»

Qui-Gon and Guerra waited until the group was all downstairs. Then they crept after them, keeping out of sight.

Baftu activated the sliding wall. They entered the sanctuary. Qui-Gon and Guerra hovered outside, waiting. They peered inside the crack in the wall as Baftu pressed his print against the transfer register. The security door opened.

They heard Baftu's cry of dismay. Terra rushed forward.

«What is this?» she exclaimed. «Where is the treasury?»

Baftu turned to her. His face was a mask of rage. «Now I see why you were against this meeting. And why you accused the Prince of being an imposter. You had already stolen my treasure!»

«Your treasure! It is as much mine as yours!» Terra said angrily.

«So you admit that you stole it,» Baftu said. His voice had dropped to a low, threatening tone.

«Of course I didn't steal it!» Terra said, exasperated. «Something is going on here, Baftu. This Prince is an imposter. Someone is trying to discredit me, or you? listen to me!»

Baftu turned. He nodded at the assassin droids.

It happened before anyone could move or even blink. The assassin droids fired their built-in blasters at Terra. There was a moment where she stood, her expression blank and uncomprehending.

«You fool.» She said to Baftu, and fell.

Baftu stepped over her body as though it was stray garbage on the street. He placed his hand on Obi-Wan's elbow. «Come, Prince Beju. I have taken care of the traitor. It is a matter of time before I find where she hid the treasury. This is nothing. It will not interfere with our plans.»

Qui-Gon had to pull at a shocked Guerra to get him to fade back into the next room. They waited there while Baftu left with Obi-Wan and the assassin droids. They could hear Baftu still reassuring Obi-Wan as they walked away.

As soon as they were out of sight, Qui-Gon and Guerra rushed into the sanctuary. Terra lay in the doorway of the treasury room.

Guerra knelt next to her. Tenderly, he reached one long arm underneath her body and raised here to cradle her against him.

Terra looked up at him. The light in her bright orange eyes was fading. «You don't remember me,» Guerra said brokenly.

Terra's eyes cleared. For a moment, they blazed bright as memory rushed back. «No so, brother,» she said softly. She reached up a trembling hand and touched Guerra's cheek. «No so.»

Her eye lids fluttered closed. She curled one arm around Guerra's neck, rested her head against him, and died.

Chapter 19

They heard a cry behind them. Qui-Gon turned. Duenna stood in the doorway, her hand at her heart.

«My good mother,» Guerra said, his orange eyes full of tears. «Our Terra is gone.»

Duenna knelt beside her daughter. Guerra put Terra in her arms.

Qui-Gon touched Guerra's shoulder. «We must go, my good friend,» he said. «If a battle begins, Obi-Wan will be in great danger. Your people will think he's taking all the bacta.»

Duenna looked at her son as she cradled Terra. Her eyes were clear. «Yes so, my son. You must go. Your sister must not die in vain.»

Qui-Gon only paused to lift Obi-Wan's lightsaber from the weapons rack near the door. They hurried through the street toward the warehouses.

They heard the commotion from blocks away. Blaster fire and shouting punctured what sounded like one continuous roar of rage. Qui-Gon and Guerra began to run.

As they drew closer, they began to see Phindians, their arms full of supplies, rushing past them. Qui-Gon knew the plan Kaadi had devised. She had designated runners to deliver food and medicine to the sick and restock the hospitals with med supplies.

They rounded the last corner to the warehouses. Qui-Gon saw in a quick glance that Paxxi and Kaadi had done their work well. They had passed out weapons to the rebels, who held a line of resistance against the Syndicat guards. Behind that line, Phindians passed supplies from hand to hand, passing the supplies to runners who took off with them.

He saw Paxxi toss a proton grenade into a sea of Syndicat guards. Kaadi ran forward with a force pike and attacked a guard trying to blast a runner with her hands full of medpacs.

Qui-Gon quickly made his way to Paxxi's side. «Have you seen Obi-Wan?»

Paxxi shook his head. «Maybe his is by his ship.»

But then Qui-Gon saw him in the midst of the Syndicat guards. Baftu stood nearby, watching the battle. Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan slipped a blaster from a guard's holster without him noticing. Qui-Gon sent out the Force to his Padawan, and Obi-Wan looked over the crowd straight at him. He nodded.

Qui-Gon powered up both lightsabers. They arced green and blue, glowing in the gray air. Obi-Wan leaped forward over the Syndicat guards. Qui-Gon tossed his Padawan's lightsaber high in the air. It revolved slowly, turning in a graceful arc. Obi-Wan reached out his hand and the hilt of his lightsaber landed in his palm. As he landed, he slashed out at the front line of Syndicat guards. Baftu gaped at Obi-Wan, frozen with shock to see the boy he knew as Prince Beju on the attack.

«Kill him!» he screamed at the guards.

Qui-Gon was already moving forward himself, adding to Obi-Wan's assault with his own frontal attack. They now knew where the Syndicat guards were vulnerable, and they did not waste time directing blows at their armor. Instead, they slashed out at ankles and necks, and managed to flip off the armored visors so they would have clear shots to disable them.

The Force was around them, guiding them. Obi-Wan felt its power as it battled against the dark side of the cruel Syndicat guards. He felt to good energy of the Phindians at his back, helping him. His blows landed where he aimed, and he evaded blaster fire with the help of the Force, which told him when to twist, move, leap, and block.

The success of the Jedi empowered the Phindians. The surged forward, crying in rage. Qui-Gon saw Baftu suddenly pale as the line of Syndicat guards broke. Guerra was the first to leap forward, a blaster in one hand and a bowcaster in the other. He drew back the bow of the bowcaster, and the laser shot out, straight at Baftu.

Baftu cried out and grabbed a Syndicat guard. He blocked the blow with the guard, who fell. Baftu turned and ran, with Guerra in pursuit.

Obi-Wan leaped over a pile of fallen Syndicat guards and took off after Baftu and Guerra. Qui-Gon evaded a blow from a force pike easily and swiveled, looking for Paxxi.

He spotted Paxxi and Kaadi off to his right. They had been surrounded by Syndicat guards with electro-jabbers. Qui-Gon cut down a guard heading toward him and leaped high over whoever was in his way. He hit the ground and used the momentum to leap up onto a partially collapsed wall.

But he was too late. A Syndicat guard jabbed Paxxi, whose arm went numb, and he dropped his blaster. Kaadi rushed to help Paxxi as another guard fired.

The blaster fire hit Kaadi, and she fell. With his good arm, Paxxi threw the anti-register device he held at the guard. Blaster fire hit the device, causing it to ricochet back at the guard. Qui-Gon leaped into the fray, his lightsaber humming. He struck the killing blow at the guard, then turned to the next. Together, he and Paxxi finished off the rest of the guards.

Paxxi knelt by Kaadi.

«Don't look so sad,» Kaadi said weakly. «I'm still alive.»

Qui-Gon quickly tossed two blasters to Paxxi. «Stay with her,» he told him.

Quickly, he turned and ran. He found a medic who was distributing supplies and directed her toward Paxxi and Kaadi. Then he headed for the spaceport.

When he reached it, Baftu was surrounded by assassin droids and Syndicat guards. Prince Beju's ship stood, half loaded with bacta. While the guards protected Baftu, Phindians hurriedly unloaded the bacta from the cargo hold under fire. More and more rebels appeared to cover the line of those unloading bacta. Guerra and Obi-Wan were in the thick of it. Qui-Gon saw the blue glow of Obi-Wan's lightsaber slashing and jabbing as the boy moved, evading blaster fire.

Qui-Gon hurried to support Obi-Wan. But before he could strike a single blow, Baftu suddenly turned and dashed toward the entry ramp of the ship.

«He's trying to escape!» Guerra shouted. He turned to the guards. «You see where your leader's loyalty lies? with himself only!»

Baftu stumbled as he reached the ramp. The Syndicat guards turned. The closest one tackled Baftu and brought him down. They both rolled to the bottom of the ramp.

Guerra hurried forward. He placed his blaster against Baftu's head. «I arrest you in the name of the Phindian people,» he cried.

«Kill the rebel!» Baftu screamed at the guards.

The Syndicat guards exchanged glances. Their arms dropped to their sides.

«Destroy him!» Baftu screamed again, this time to the assassin droids.

But Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon leaped as one from opposite ends. Lightsabers flashing, they cut the droids down like twigs.

Ion engines suddenly roared to life. The ship began to move.

«Prince Beju,» Obi-Wan said. «He must have escaped from the cargo hold.»

The ship rose slowly, jerkily, into the air.

«Let him go,» Qui-Gon said. «His fate lies elsewhere.»

Chapter 20

The following week, Obi-Wan Qui-Gon, Paxxi and Guerra stood in the town market. Around them the same stalls that had been empty so long were heaped with abundance. Supplies, fresh fruit, circuits for navi-computers, bedding, blankets. Phindians milled about with baskets on their arms brimming with fresh food and flowers.

Yoda had asked the Jedi to remain on Phindar until the provisional government had been set up. The process had taken a few days to arrange. Currently, a coalition of former council members and the last official governor of Phindar were running the planet's affairs. Elections were planned for the following month for the next official governor.

Baftu and his tops lieutenants were being held in a high-security prison awaiting trial. Most of the Syndicat guards had been memory-wiped by Baftu, and some had returned to their families in hopes that love and care would restore any memories remaining.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had met the Derida brothers in the marketplace in order to view Paxxi's monument. He had destroyed the memory-wipe droid and mounted the scraps on a pedestal for all Phindians to see. The shuddered at the sight of it, and were fervently glad it had been dismantled for good.

«It was an excellent idea, good brother,» Guerra said the Paxxi. «Evil must be faced in order to be conquered.»

«Yes so, good brother,» Paxxi agreed.

«How is Kaadi?» Qui-Gon asked. «Better, I hope.»

Paxxi grinned. «Already ordering her medics around. She will be back at home at the end of the week.»

Guerra glanced around the marketplace, a look of sudden sadness on his face. «I am content,» he said. «Not so, I lie. So much evil has been conquered, yes. But on this day I hoped also to have Terra with us as she was.»

«She died as she once was, good brother,» Paxxi said, his face a mirror of Guerra's sadness. He slung his long arm around his brother. Guerra did the same. They faced each other and sighed.

«We are sad, yet not so.» Guerra said.

«Yes so,» Paxxi said. «Our world is free, and we have the wise Jedi-Gon and the brave Obawan to thank.»

«There's only one problem,» Obi-Wan said. «Now that there is plenty for all again on Phindar, there's no black market. What will you do?»

«Excellent point, Obawan,» Guerra said. «I, too, have wondered this. Especially since my good brother destroyed the anti-register device.»

«He saved Kaadi's life,» Qui-Gon pointed out.

«Just so,» Guerra admitted. «Yet the sale of the device would have brought us great riches.»

«It would have brought about your downfall,» Obi-Wan said. «There was evil surrounding that device. You were able to use it for good. But most would not.»

«As usual, you are most wise, Obawan,» Guerra admitted with a sigh. «Yet it was so much fortune to lose.»

«And we still do not know what we shall do,» Paxxi said. «We have been rebels for so long, and thieves even longer. There is no place for us here on our beloved world.»

Qui-Gon looked amused. «I wouldn't say that. What about the upcoming elections? Phindar will need a new governor. You two are heroes at the moment. Why doesn't one of you run for the post?»

Guerra laughed. «Me, governor? Ha, I laugh at Jedi-Gon's joke! I would make such a terrible politician. Wait, I lie! I would be magnificent!»

«You would make the better governor, good brother,» Paxxi said. «Wait, I lie as well! I would be better! I shall run!»

«Well, you'll have to decide between yourselves,» Qui-Gon said. «It is time for us to part. Obi-Wan and I must get to Gala.»

«I will take you!» Paxxi cried. «It would be my happiness!»

«Thank you, but we have a transport ship,» Qui-Gon said. «This time, I would like to reach my destination.»

Guerra reached out to clasp Obi-Wan's hands. «You are my great good friend, Obawan. If you ever need the service of the new governor of Phindar, you have only to ask.»

«To ask me!» Paxxi said cheerfully.

«Not so, my good brother,» Guerra said. «Me.»

«Farewell,» Qui-Gon said. «We will meet again, I'm sure.»

The brothers said good-bye by wrapping their long arms around the Jedi at once and squeezing three times. When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walked away, the Derida brothers were still arguing over who would return for governor.

Qui-Gon was still smiling as they headed for the spaceport. "Our next mission will be far more difficult, I fear,' he said. «But the stability of Gala is crucial to this star system. We're needed there more than ever.»

«I'm not looking forward to meeting up with Prince Beju again,» Obi-Wan admitted. "I hope he doesn't win the election.'

«We are there merely to observe,» Qui-Gon reminded him.

«Yes, that is always true,» Obi-Wan said. «Yet we always seem to end up in the middle of things.»

They entered the spaceport where their transport was waiting.

«I'm glad of one thing, Padawan,» Qui-Gon said. «You have held on to your memories.»

«Your river stone helped me,» Obi-Wan said, placing his hand over his inner pocket. "I did not realize the stone was Force-sensitive. I should have known you would have given me something of great value.'

«Force-sensitive?» Qui-Gon frowned. «What do you know. I thought it was just a pretty rock.»

Obi-Wan gave him a startled glance. Qui-Gon's face was impassive as he strode toward the transport. Was his Master kidding or serious? He had no idea.

They started up the entry ramp. A smile stole over Obi-Wan's face. Another mission lay ahead. Perhaps through its trials he would grow to understand Qui-Gon. But somehow he thought not. It would likely take a lifetime before he figured his Master out.