by Jude Watson
They could see the lights and hear the noise before they even passed through the security check. Teda’s villa was ablaze with colored laserlights. Tableaus of different worlds renowned for their natural beauty were arranged on the grounds. Each scene was a small-scale replica of that world’s greatest landmarks.
“Dremulae, Off-Canau, Xagobah, Belazura,” Ferus said, naming the worlds as they walked by. Native flowers from each of the worlds wafted delicate scents into the air. Servers walked about with repulsorlift trays carrying an array of native foods.
The biggest tableau was for Romin itself. A small-scale replica of Eliior had been built out of massed flowers. There were models of Teda Park, the Teda Institute for Advanced Study, and the Roy Teda Colored Fountain of Lights. At the party, the Cloudflower Wall was actually fashioned out of cloudflowers. To reach the Romin display, the guests walked under a large arch upon which laserlights spelled out the message THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF ALL WORLDS.
The party was crowded with Romins and others who lived in the palace district, all dressed in their finest. The Jedi had likewise worn the rich robes of the Slams, wanting to blend in. Siri had chosen a shimmersilk sleeveless tunic in colors that shifted from blue to green to silver as she moved, the colors of the sea as the day moved from dawn to twilight. She had refused to wear the matching green slippers, however, pulling on her travel boots instead.
“Just in case I have to run from Teda,” she said.
Obi-Wan felt awkward wearing a heavy septsilk tunic in one of the purple shades that Slam was so fond of. It was heavy and stiff, embroidered with gold thread and tiny jewels. Anakin and Ferus had dressed in less elaborate fashion, pulling on simple tunics in navy and gold.
“The security is tight,” Obi-Wan said as his eyes noted the many agents, some overt and some secret, in the throng.
“Just what we’d expect,” Siri said. “Joylin told us that the door to his study won’t be armed.”
“Let’s hope he’s right. But first, we’d better say hello to our host.”
“Do we have to?” Siri groaned.
It wasn’t easy to find Teda in the crush of the crowd. They bumped into Becka, the officer who had checked them in at the spaceport. He greeted them happily, with a flushed face and outstretched arms.
“My new arrivals! How glad I am that you are here! Have you tried the delicacies from the different worlds? Can I get you a plate of food?”
“We’re looking for Great Leader Teda,” Obi-Wan said. “We’d like to thank him for his hospitality.”
“I saw him in the house,” Becka said. “He checks every detail. How lucky we are to have such a leader! Let me take you to him.”
Becka led them quickly through the throng. The grand palace was decorated as lavishly as the grounds. Banks of flowers were massed in the hallways. Tables with punch and food were set up in every corner. Different bands of musicians played in different rooms, so that the hallways were a mass of noise in which one couldn’t pick out a single tune. It was as though one party wasn’t enough for Teda. He had to pile ten parties on top of one another to make one big extravaganza. There was so much food and drink and music and so many flowers that guests lurched about in a daze, as though they were droids with overloaded sensors.
They saw Teda’s broad back ahead. Obi-Wan heard his voice above the crowd. He was berating a server in a white tunic.
“You were instructed not to serve the dameapple turnovers until after the skewered runis!” he said. He wasn’t shouting, but the words were hissed in such white-hot anger that they seemed charged with turbo power.
The server’s face now matched his tunic. “I was told in the kitchen—”
With a casualness that shocked Obi-Wan to the core, Teda lifted a small electrojabber and struck a hard blow against the server’s knees. The server crumpled, eyes wide. He knew better than to cry out against the pain.
Becka, too, went pale.
“Our leader, so forceful, so strong,” he murmured. “How lucky we are to have him.” Becka backed away and disappeared into the crowd.
Obi-Wan didn’t blame him. In a world ruled by an unpredictable tyrant, citizens had to rely on an instinct for flight to stay healthy.
Teda turned. Obi-Wan was surprised again. There was no sign of anger on his face, just a slight tautness around his mouth. It was as if the rage had never existed.
He held out his arms to the Jedi. “Welcome, Slams! Now the party can begin! Have you eaten? Have you met new friends?” He came forward and put his arms through Obi-Wan’s and Siri’s. It took an effort for Obi-Wan to allow it. He knew Siri felt the same.
Other servers had rushed to help their fallen comrade. They half carried, half dragged him toward the kitchens.
“The theme of the party is paradise,” Teda continued. “I’ve gathered all the best of the galaxy for the citizens of Romin. Even though the best of the best is already here, ha-ha!”
Not all the citizens. Only the ones that you favor, Obi-Wan thought as he said, smiling politely, “Thank you for inviting us.”
Teda withdrew his arms from theirs. “Now, don’t get stuck talking to an old man like me. Go enjoy yourselves!” He smiled at Siri meaningfully. “I will check on you later.”
Teda hurried over to greet some new arrivals.
“I can’t believe what I just saw,” Ferus said. “He hit that server with an electrojabber with no more emotion than if he were swatting a squeeterfly.”
“And you doubt that we are doing the right thing in helping the revolt?” Anakin asked.
Siri changed the subject. “Ferus and I will check out the security on the target,” she said.
“I’ll check out the perimeter of the palace,” Anakin said. “We should map out an escape route just in case. Let’s remember: We don’t have much time.”
That left Obi-Wan without much to do. Joylin had told him that he could not attempt a theft of the codes until after midnight. He had time to kill.
He moved through the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of Jenna Zan Arbor. He didn’t know if he would approach her, but he wanted to keep tabs on her, just the same. He wondered what her relations with Teda were. It seemed from the files he’d read that Teda had invited her to come to Romin after she was forced to flee Vanqor. Was there a connection to Omega? Had Omega pressured Teda to invite Zan Arbor?
Obi-Wan drifted toward a table with assorted drinks. He chose a glass of juice made from the native quint-berry fruit of Romin. He took a sip and made a face. It was very sweet.
Joylin had given him explicit instructions on where to find the codes and where the security triggers would be. Joylin was counting on Slam’s conning expertise to get past the guards. Obi-Wan would simply use the Force. If he was lucky, he could be back in the villa very soon after the theft. But if the revolt really did take place that night, he would go another night without sleep.
Suddenly, his senses went on alert. A young man with a tired, handsome face was heading toward the drinks table.
Obi-Wan knew that face from text docs he had studied. He did not need the Force to warn him.
He looked around. There was nowhere to go.
“Hey, a fellow thirsty traveler,” the man said to Obi-Wan, pouring a glass of juice. “Some party, huh? I’m Slam.”
Chapter Ten
Obi-Wan thought quickly. By the open, unguarded look on Slam’s face, he doubted that Slam knew someone was impersonating him.
“I’ve only just arrived,” Slam said in an amiable way, leaning back against the bar and sipping his juice. He made a face. “Whoa, sweet. Just like my landing spot.”
“So you like Romin already?” Obi-Wan asked.
Slam gave a half smile. “Let’s say it likes me. The rest of the galaxy isn’t too…welcoming. Hey, nice tunic.”
If Slam had noticed that Obi-Wan hadn’t given his name, it clearly didn’t concern him. Obi-Wan imagined that in Slam’s universe, many beings did not use names or discuss their occupations.
> “I just got here yesterday myself,” Obi-Wan said.
Slam waved a glass of juice at the throng. “Interesting party.”
“Paradise, I hear,” Obi-Wan said. “At least, that’s the theme.”
Slam laughed. “Well, it looks like paradise to me. It was a rough trip for me and my friends.”
So his gang is here, too. They must have escaped again. Tyro told us that escapes are common now. I have to warn the others.
“I’m supposed to meet Teda tonight. And pay the usual bribes, I’m sure things seemed a bit disorganized at the landing platform. They were having trouble with comm transmissions.”
Joylin, Obi-Wan realized. They had started to disrupt communications.
“We never got a chance to get our official entry docs,” Slam continued. “So, what’s the Great Leader like?”
Obi-Wan spoke lightly. “Oh, he’s just your average everyday dictator.”
“So I hear. But for beings like me, your average everyday dictator comes in handy.”
“A word to the wise, though,” Obi-Wan said casually. “I wouldn’t try to meet him tonight. He’s in a bad mood. I just saw him use an electrojabber on a waiter.”
Slam winced. “Ouch. Thanks for the tip. Well, I think I’ll try the food tables instead, then.”
The real Slam moved off.
Obi-Wan glanced at his chrono. He had barely ten minutes before he had to lift the codes. He had to find the others. The party was over for the Jedi.
Ferus spoke quietly, incredulously, to Anakin. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
Anakin gulped. “I think so.”
“She’s…flirting.”
“It looks like it.”
“She’s…flattering people.”
“Yes.”
“And she’s…smiling.”
“It’s not just that she’s smiling,” Anakin added, in the interest of accuracy. “She’s gushing.”
Siri stood in the middle of a group of admirers. Someone had tucked a bright red flower behind one of her ears, and, as Ferus had hissed to Anakin in a fierce undertone, Siri left it there! Anakin watched as she placed a hand on a security officer’s coat sleeve and leaned over to whisper in his ear. He leaned back and roared with laughter.
Whoever would have believed, Anakin thought in amazement, that Siri Tachi could be charming?
It was a night of wonders. His own Master was wearing a cloak with jeweled embroidery and pretending to love parties.
He had to laugh at the look on Ferus’s face. After a moment, Ferus broke down and grinned, too. “I think Siri is just pretending to hate this,” he said. “I think she’s enjoying herself.”
“I think you’re right,” Anakin said. He glanced at his chrono. “We have about seven minutes. We should get into position.”
Just as he said it, Siri said one last remark that caused the group of males around her to laugh uproariously. Then she turned away graciously. She joined Anakin and Ferus a moment later.
“I’ve discovered something,” she said. “Charm is exhausting. And something else. Flattery works. I’ve learned some things. Half the surveillance droids are fakes. Every day more officers are deserting the army. They haven’t been paid in months. Teda’s running out of wealth. He can’t afford to prop up his government much longer, so he’s looking for income wherever he can find it. In the meantime, he’s cutting back.”
“I’ve found a way out if we have to escape,” Anakin said. “It would be difficult, but not impossible. There’s a part of the wall that’s less heavily guarded. It’s behind a dense thicket of bushes with bright flowers and thorns a meter long. We could use the Force to jump over the thicket, then activate cable launchers in midair, scale the wall, and take out droids with our lightsabers as we climb. I’m not sure what we’ll find on the other side. Guards are no doubt patrolling outside the palace as well.”
“All in all, we just have to hope Obi-Wan doesn’t get caught,” Siri said.
“I’ll do my best,” Obi-Wan said as he came up behind her. “But in the meantime, we have another problem. The Slam gang is here. The real one.”
“That’s not good news,” Siri said. “Does Teda know?”
“Not yet. There’s interference in the comm systems. Joylin’s work, no doubt. I tried to give Slam a warning about approaching him tonight. But I doubt it will keep them apart for long. Teda is making the rounds.”
Siri frowned. “Time just ran out.”
“This is all the more reason to help with the revolt,” Anakin said. “If it’s successful, we won’t have to worry about Teda or the Slams.”
“Still, we can’t take a risk for all of us,” Obi-Wan said. “This party suddenly got very small. The three of you should head back to the villa and prepare for a quick departure with Zan Arbor. I’ll steal the codes, meet up with Joylin, and join you at the villa.”
Anakin shook his head. “I’m not leaving you here, Master.”
“Yes, you are, because I’m ordering you to,” Obi-Wan said. “Remember, my young apprentice. The mission is first.”
Obi-Wan put a hand on Anakin’s shoulder briefly. The gesture told Anakin that he appreciated his support, but his decision was firm.
But Anakin still didn’t want to go.
“Obi-Wan is right,” Siri said. “But nevertheless, we are not leaving.”
Obi-Wan looked annoyed. “Siri, I don’t have time to argue.”
“Precisely. You need us to remain. We’ll watch out for the Slams. As soon as you get the codes, we’ll all go.”
“I don’t like this,” Obi-Wan said.
Siri was adamant. “Too bad.”
Only a slight pressing of his lips showed Obi-Wan’s displeasure. He turned abruptly and disappeared into the crowd.
Ferus let out a breath. “Whatever happened to flattery to get what you want?”
“Flattery doesn’t work on Obi-Wan,” Siri said. “Speaking of which, I’ll track down Teda. I’ll keep him away from the Slams. You two stay close to his office in case Obi-Wan needs you.”
Anakin and Ferus moved off. The crowd was denser now; more beings had arrived. They were louder and giddier. The music was wailing, and some guests were dancing. Anakin could see only bright colors and faces red with a forced gaiety he found distracting. He began to feel an edge of uneasiness. They were risking exposure with every step. His Master was breaking into the secret files of a head of state. And Siri was trying to divert a madman with charm.
Slow down. Breathe. The Force will help you.
“I always hated parties,” Ferus said. “I never knew how to have fun at them.”
Anakin felt his nerves tighten. He saw Obi-Wan approach the two guards at the corridor’s entrance. He waved his hand, and even across the room, Anakin felt the power of the Force.
The guards nodded. Obi-Wan slipped around them and was gone.
“Only a few minutes to go,” Anakin said.
Ferus and Anakin waited. When Obi-Wan appeared in the corridor, they were to approach the guards and use the Force to divert them. Then Obi-Wan could simply walk out with the security codes, and they would leave the party. Simple.
Except it wasn’t. Two minutes later, the security alarm went off.
Chapter Eleven
Obi-Wan couldn’t believe it. Of course, he was no criminal mastermind, but he felt he was capable, with the help of the Force, of lifting a file of secure codes in a guarded office. He had missed a silent trigger somewhere, one that Joylin’s spy hadn’t known about.
Any moment the guards would come pounding in. Obi-Wan drove his impatience with himself out of his mind. It was a distraction. He was only halfway through his task. Alarm or no alarm, he had to complete it.
He entered the security code Joylin had given him. He opened the paneled drawer at the side of the ornate desk Teda used. To his surprise, it was a mess. Durasheets, holobooks, disks, wrappers from some sort of sweet. Some of the sweet had melted and pooled in a sticky mess, gluing the durash
eets together.
“Nothing worse than a messy dictator,” Obi-Wan murmured. He lifted a red slipcase with a disk inside. Joylin had told him that it was the security codes.
The alarm ringing in his ears, he felt the Force surge as the first sentry droids flew through the door. He vaulted over the desk, lightsaber already activated, and cut them down. Four more flew in, firing in a spinning arc that lit up the room with blaster fire. Obi-Wan deflected the fire and charged toward the door. But before he could reach it, a panel rattled down, blocking his exit. Another slid down over the only window. Obviously the plan was to trap the intruder inside with the lethal droids.
Meanwhile, blaster fire continued to ping in transecting lines that were designed to pinpoint his location and blast him to smithereens. Obi-Wan launched himself at the droids, simultaneously taking out Siri’s lightsaber and Force-jumping high overhead to cut them down. By the time the droids lay smoking at his feet, he heard the sound of guards outside the door and shuttered window.
Question. Should he cut a hole in the window or door sheeting and charge out, meeting the blasters head on? Or should he wait for them to enter?
Obi-Wan decided to wait. He would have a few seconds of surprise on his side. They would enter expecting to find him dead or badly wounded.
He backed up against a cabinet, out of immediate sightline of the window and doorway. He pressed back against the cabinet. To his surprise, it moved.
He jumped away as the cabinet wall slid back. Becka stood there. Obi-Wan quickly tucked the lightsabers out of sight.
Becka took in the sight of the smoking droids. “Stars and novas, you’re good.” He beckoned. “This way.”
Obi-Wan hesitated.
“If you go out that window, you’ll be met with half the security force. The other half is on the other side of that door. They’re waiting for the droids to kill you before they open the panels. You’ve got about twelve seconds. Do you have the codes?”
“Yes.” Obi-Wan leaped into the secret passageway. “I assume you’re my spy.”
“I work with Joylin. We’re going to come out in the hallway near the kitchens. Just stay with me.”