everything. Walking more quickly and scanning the park for Lena, Obi-Wan
realized his resolve to help her was stronger than ever. Whether or not his
judgment had been clouded by affection, he knew that Lena was on the side
of rightness.
For the first time in hours, Obi-Wan felt clear. And he was more
certain than ever that Lena was doing the right thing. She was fighting for
peace and justice, and not just for herself. For her entire planet. As a
Jedi it was his duty to help.
As these thoughts formed in his mind, a new one floated over them
like a dark cloud: They were running out of time.
CHAPTER 12
Qui-Gon pulled his comlink from his utility belt. He was about to
activate it and summon Obi-Wan when his Padawan appeared, walking toward
him on one of the paths.
"There he is," said Mica a moment later. She craned her neck to see
what Qui-Gon already knew. Lena wasn't with him, either. The three of them
had scoured most of the enormous park, but Lena was nowhere to be found.
Mica and the Jedi left the park and walked back to the deserted
warehouse in silence. Qui-Gon tried to stretch out with his feelings, to
get a sense of whether or not Lena was in danger, or even alive. But he
felt nothing.
The dim evening light made the hideout look less welcoming than it
had early that morning. Qui-Gon strode into the room ahead of the others,
and immediately saw a figure sitting on the couch in the darkness.
In a flash, he activated his lightsaber. Its green blade cast an
eerie light over the room, illuminating the sparks in Lena's eyes. Qui-Gon
quickly switched off the blade just as Obi-Wan and Mica came into the room.
"Lena," Mica cried when she saw her cousin. She hurried forward and
sank to her knees in front of the couch. "Lena, we were so worried. Where
were you?"
"I'm sorry I ran off," Lena said, looking from one person to the
next. "I didn't want to worry you, but I had to be sure that the package
was from Rutin. I had to know...." Lena trailed off.
Mica rose to turn on the light. Back on the table, next to the
wrappings, were the contents of the package: the pair of waterproof boots,
the small light, the beam drill, and the vial of dirt.
The objects made no sense to Qui-Gon. What did Lena have to know? And
where had she been? Qui-Gon felt betrayed. She was not telling them the
whole truth.
Although Lena appeared to be upset, Qui-Gon did not wait for her to
calm down. "Where have you been?" he demanded.
Lena looked up, surprised by the stern tone of the Jedi's voice.
"Wandering," she replied. "I - I needed to be alone."
Qui-Gon was not satisfied. "Alone? Or just away from us?"
Lena's lip trembled and Qui-Gon noticed Obi-Wan was staring at him.
He softened his tone slightly, but pressed on. "Why did you take the
contents of the package with you?"
"That package is from Rutin," Lena said after a moment, struggling to
control her voice. "He sent it to me before he..." She fought again for
composure. "But how did he know he was going to die? And why didn't he tell
me?"
Lena lost the struggle to suppress her frustrated grief and dropped
her head into her hands. "He's trying to give me a message," she said after
a moment, struggling to control her voice. "But I can't figure it out! It's
as though he's speaking to me, and I can't hear him." Lena lost the
struggle.... "He really is gone forever."
Mica and Obi-Wan rushed to join her on the couch, anxious to offer
support. Qui-Gon stumbled back until he was sitting, facing the other
three. Lena looked so much smaller than she had before. Less capable of
deception, somehow.
Qui-Gon felt himself diminish as Lena's waves of grief washed into
him, adding to the sea of sadness that never stopped pounding in his heart.
Her words touched him deeply, and he had no more doubts about her
sincerity. He, too, knew how the fact of a loved one's absence could strike
with as savage a blow as the first realization. He knew that moment when
the future ahead seemed empty and impossible to bear.
"The loved ones we have lost are always with us," Qui-Gon said. He
was surprised to hear himself speaking, and surprised by his words. But
they rendered comfort. Suddenly, it did feel as if Tahl were nearby, and
the storm inside of him quieted a little.
There was a moment of thoughtful silence in the room. Obi-Wan gazed
at his Master, his eyes full of compassion. And for the first time Qui-Gon
did not feel the need to look away.
Lena's grief seemed to lift, and she looked at the Jedi Master
gratefully. "It's true," she said, nodding. "Rutin is looking after me even
now. He must have sent this package some time ago and arranged to have it
delivered today. I'm sure it is meant to help me find evidence. He must
have known that any information on the computer would be a target. He knew
I would need something more."
Qui-Gon noticed that Mica paled as Lena spoke of the computer. He
wondered if she was embarrassed that her plan hadn't worked, or frightened
by the possibility that more evidence existed.
The young widow took no notice of her cousin. Her tears had stopped
and the familiar strength was returning. Lena gathered the boots from the
table and held them in her lap. "I haven't figured out the clue yet, but I
will," she said firmly.
"Just please don't rush off like that again," Mica told her. "You
scared me to death. We searched the park for hours."
Lena frowned. "The park..." she murmured.
Obi-Wan stared at the strange items on the table, then suddenly
spoke. "Rutin had the package delivered to you here. So, he must have known
about the hideout."
"Of course," Lena said. "Rutin was the one who secured this place. He
was planning to hide here himself while he waited to be smuggled off the
planet."
Suddenly, Lena leaped to her feet, knocking the boots aside. "I
almost forgot," she cried, pulling a datapad from her pocket. "While I was
out I went by my apartment to see if I'd received a message from Zanita.
She sent this."
CHAPTER 13
The sky outside the warehouse had darkened to a milky gray. Qui-Gon
peered around the portal screens that masked the people inside from the
streets below. It was getting late and the alleys were deserted.
"Meeting with Zanita is an unnecessary risk," Qui-Gon stated as he
left the portal and paced the floor. He suddenly felt that leaving the
planet as soon as possible was the best course of action. "We have the
clues from Rutin, and should work with that. We do not need to place you or
your mother-in-law in further danger."
"She's taking a risk because I asked her to," Lena argued. "I can't
just let her wait in vain."
With a frown, Qui-Gon looked at the message on the datapad again.
TRANSPORT LOADING STATION, DOCK 12
10 P.M. TONIGHT
ALONE
FOR RUTIN
"I never should have gotten Zanita involved," Lena lamented. "But it
is too late to change that now. If I can go alone, I can talk to her and
convince her that I've changed my mind. I'll tell her I'm scared and have
decided to leave the planet. Then we will all be safer."
Qui-Gon had to admit that it was not a bad plan. It would buy them
some time and could even help them get off planet easier. He nodded his
assent.
"But we won't let you go alone," Obi-Wan said. Mica looked relieved
to hear this.
"Of course not," Qui-Gon echoed. "It is not safe."
"It is the only way I can convince Zanita," Lena argued. "She saw you
at the estate. Surely she knows you are here representing the Galactic
Republic. I will not be able to convince her I've changed my mind if she
sees I am accompanied by Jedi!"
"We are here for your protection," Qui-Gon said firmly. And to make
sure you are what you say you are. Learning that Lena had returned to her
apartment when she was alone had once again aroused Qui-Gon's suspicions.
She could have done any number of things while she was there. Though he
accepted the sincerity of her grief, he would not lose sight of the fact
that there could be pressures on her that he knew nothing about.
"I'm afraid you're stuck with us until we all arrive safely back on
Coruscant." Obi-Wan smiled. "We will remain hidden, but we will not allow
you to go alone."
Lena returned Obi-Wan's smile. "All right," she said. "We'd better
hurry so we are first to arrive. It's not very far."
"Be careful," Mica said, embracing her cousin. "I'll be here if you
need me. I'll always be here if you need me."
Lena touched her cousin's cheek. "I'll be right back!" she promised.
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Lena left the warehouse and made their way
through the dark streets, lit only by the occasional light of the planet's
two moons. Now that daylight had faded, Frego seemed a less inviting place.
It was as though the darkness brought out the lies and deceit that pervaded
the planet.
As the three neared the station, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fell back into
the shadows. Lena insisted on walking boldly in the middle of the street,
under the glowing lights.
"She should be more careful," Obi-Wan muttered.
"No, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "She should not appear as if she has
anything to hide. Besides, her presence will help to diminish ours."
Dock 12 was eerily silent. Low buildings rimmed a giant landing pad
where huge transport ships were loaded with goods. The edges of the pad
were almost completely dark.
Obi-Wan motioned to his Master and both Jedi leaped noiselessly onto
a low rooftop. After making his way to the edge, Qui-Gon lay down next to
Obi-Wan and the two watched Lena walk slowly into the orange square of
light in the center of the landing pad. From their perch the Jedi could see
everything, and they could be at Lena's side in a moment.
Although Lena's was the only shape Qui-Gon could make out in the
darkness, he sensed they were not alone. He had felt another presence
almost from the moment they had left the hideout, but now the feeling was
stronger, more threatening.
From the opposite side of the pad, Zanita stepped into view. Lena
moved with both arms out to greet her mother-in-law.
But Zanita did not raise her arms or offer any greeting. After taking
one more lurching step forward, the reason became clear.
Zanita's mouth was covered with a gag, and behind her, holding her
bound arms firmly pressed against her back, was her oldest son, Solan
Cobral.
CHAPTER 14
Obi-Wan leaped to his feet as three more figures emerged behind Solan
and Zanita. But Qui-Gon pulled him back down.
Obi-Wan wrestled his arm free of his Master. He had to protect Lena.
She was unarmed facing two droids, Solan Cobral, and his brother, Bard. The
young widow was no match for men evil enough to hold their own mother
captive, or order the death of their own brother.
"Not yet," Qui-Gon said softly. "I'd like to see what these men have
Obi-Wan sank to his knees. He would wait, for now. But if anyone made
a move toward Lena, not even Qui-Gon would be able to stop him.
In the orange light of the landing pad Lena took a few steps back.
"Solan," she said. Her voice sounded strange to Obi-Wan, almost full
of guilt. He wondered if she felt responsible for what was happening to
Zanita.
"You were supposed to come alone," the crime boss boomed.
"I did," Lena replied without flinching.
Nervous that they had been spotted, Obi-Wan felt for his lightsaber.
He tried to rise but Qui-Gon's hand on his shoulder pushed him back to his
knees.
"Not us," Qui-Gon whispered.
"Don't hurt her," a voice cried in the darkness below. "She didn't
know I was coming." Obi-Wan recognized the voice immediately. It was Mica.
A moment later she was standing beside her cousin. Obi-Wan had not known
she was there.
"Please, don't hurt Lena. She would never turn against the Cobral.
She's only been trying to cover for me. I am the one you want. I am the one
who knows how you operate. I am the one who wanted to testify against you."
"Mica, no. Be quiet," Lena whispered in an attempt to stop her
cousin's outburst.
"Don't listen to her," Lena told the Cobrals. "She is protecting me.
She doesn't know that I came tonight to tell Zanita I've changed my mind. I
was a fool to think I could go against the Cobral. Solan, please hear me.
You and Bard and Zanita are all I have left of my precious husband, Rutin.
I realize that I need to hold on to the family I have, now more than ever.
Where will I be if I drive you away? No matter what has happened in the
past, we will always be family. And family is more important to me than
anything."
"How wise," Solan replied, chuckling. He shoved Zanita toward Bard,
who caught her with one hand. He held a blaster in the other.
"I'm touched that you still want to be a part of the family," he
continued, taking a step closer. "And I'm grateful that you came together,"
he continued, walking closer still. "It will make cleaning up the mess
you've made that much easier."
Solan dived toward Lena and Mica as the two droids closed in on
either side.
Up on the roof, Obi-Wan knew it was time. Qui-Gon was at his side as
he leaped off the roof and sprinted toward the helpless cousins.
Mica was caught in Solan's grasp, but Lena pulled away just in time.
She turned to run and found herself face-to-face with a lanky but
potentially lethal droid.
The one-eyed droid's arms shot out from its sides and began to wrap
themselves around her. Lena ducked at the same moment Obi-Wan's lightsaber
blade severed one arm, and with a mighty backswing separated the droid's
head from its body.
Obi-Wan pushed Lena behind him and rushed to meet the other droid.
Beside him, Qui-Gon deflected a bolt from Bard's blaster, sending it
toward Solan's feet. Solan struggled to hold on to Mica and train his
blaster on the Jedi. He did not notice Lena sneaking u
p behind him.
Lena grabbed Solan's blaster. Mica whipped her body back and forth,
delivering a sharp blow with her elbow to Solan's jaw. He lost his grip on
both Mica and the weapon.
The second droid fired rapid bolts at Obi-Wan, who deflected them
easily. Though the bolts turned and rained back on the droid, it did not
show any damage. It continued to spray the pad with fire while rapidly
extending a long arm to grab Mica.
Qui-Gon dispatched the arm with an elegant sweep of his lightsaber