Jedi Quest 8: The Changing of the Guard (звёздные войны)

by Jude Watson

  "Anakin, sometimes sureness is not what you should strive for. A little confusion in your mind can be a good thing. Will we be proved right ultimately? I hope so. Did we do the best we could? Yes. That I firmly believe. That's enough for now."

  Siri called them from the villa. "The vidscreen is broadcasting. The resistance now has control of the communication system. Joylin is going to speak."

  Obi-Wan and Anakin hurried inside. Siri, Ferus, and some of the refugees were crowded around the vidscreen. Others began to pour through the doors, and still others stood outside the windows so that they could hear.

  Joylin appeared on the screen. Even on vidscreen, his magnetism was clear. His clothes were stained and rumpled. His face was drawn. Yet strength radiated out from his body, and his eyes were resolute.

  "Romin is now in the hands of its people," he said.

  A sound rose from the crowd, half gasp, half cry. No one had liked living under Teda. Yet the liberators had come close to destroying the city. How safe were they?

  "The Citizens' Resistance is now occupying the palace of the tyrant Teda as well as the government buildings. We have control of communications and transportation. Order has been returned to the streets. Some regrettable looting and burning has occurred, but it has been stopped. No one will be granted exit from Romin without the permission of the Citizens'

  Resistance. The army of the Great Leader has deserted or joined us. Let us rejoice, citizens, in our victory. Our tyrant is finished."

  A woman standing next to Obi-Wan began to weep. A man turned away, his hand at his mouth.

  "Although we begin today as the first day of a government of justice and peace, the tyrant who abused our trust, our people, our wealth, our cities, our lands, is still at large. He has fled, like the coward he is."

  Obi-Wan and Siri exchanged a glance. So it was not over, then. As long as Teda remained at large, the resistance's hold on the government was shaky at best.

  "Teda has fled along with the few who continue to support him. Among them are his chief of staff, General Yubicon, and the galactic criminal Jenna Zan Arbor."

  Anakin punched the wall with his fist. It was a rare display of anger.

  Zan Arbor had slipped through their fingers again.

  "Teda is now a wanted criminal. We hereby charge him with crimes against Romin. And so we announce this. We hold the rest of his senior staff and government officials in custody. If Teda does not surrender to us, we will execute them. One by one."

  Joylin stared into the camera. His eyes were burning. "Watching, caring, protecting. Roy Teda loves his people. Prove to us you are not a monster. Save those who were loyal to you. And meet the justice of the people you claim to love. We await your surrender. The first execution will take place in one hour. Your first aide, Hansel, will be the first to die."

  The screen went to static.

  Ferus looked at Obi-Wan. His face was white. He shook his head and turned away.

  All night Obi-Wan had consoled himself with the thought that things had to get better with the dawn. Instead, things had gotten worse, more horribly than he could have imagined.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Obi-Wan was happy to shed the fine robes of Slam. Siri bundled up her shimmersilk dress, now stained and torn, and threw it away.

  "I'm glad to be a Jedi again," she said.

  Leaving Anakin and Ferus in charge, they hurried down the deserted streets toward Teda's palace.

  "It's not that I'm surprised at what has happened," Obi-Wan told Siri.

  "It's just that I had hoped for better."

  "It is always better to prepare for the worst," Siri said. "I'm glad we contacted Master Windu before the revolt."

  "It will still take some time for the Jedi re-enforcements to reach us," Obi-Wan said. "Mace said he would come personally. I don't imagine he'll be in the best of moods. He wasn't happy about this plan from the beginning."

  "Neither was Ferus," Siri said. "He was right about the revolt. It got out of control too easily. He thinks if we hadn't helped, maybe they would have postponed the revolt. Maybe Teda would have fallen without being pushed. I tell myself that he doesn't have the experience to realize that sometimes you have to make a hard decision and accept the consequences. And then I think… what if he was right?"

  "If he was right, then we were wrong," Obi-Wan said. "That's all. Do you think the Jedi are always right?"

  Siri sighed. "Sometimes you sound so much like Qui-Gon."

  "After all these years, finally a compliment," Obi-Wan said.

  He was glad to see that the remark lightened Siri's expression. "Don't let it go to your head," she growled.

  "Ferus is wise beyond his years," Obi-Wan went on. "He thinks deeply.

  But even though an outcome may seem likely, sometimes one has to risk for the right result."

  "Yes, Ferus is reluctant to risk too much. Not like Anakin," Siri said. "He's willing to risk everything."

  She meant it as a compliment, Obi-Wan knew. Siri admired Anakin's daring, his sureness, how fluidly he used the Force. It was unusual for Siri to second-guess a decision, just like Anakin. In some ways, Obi-Wan was more like Ferus. How odd that he and Anakin had become a team. Their temperaments were so different.

  Choose the Master, the Padawan does.

  Yoda had said that to him many times, from when he himself was an apprentice. The old Jedi Master believed in most cases that the Force drew the Master and his apprentice together for reasons they couldn't see themselves. Obi-Wan felt strongly that this was true.

  Joylin must have been waiting for them, because his security guards let them through without a problem. A tall guard led them to Teda's inner office, where Obi-Wan had stolen the codes. On the way, they saw resistance members wandering about the palace, staring at the fine things. Many had pulled colorful cloaks and tunics over their own threadbare attire.

  Obviously, they had raided the palace closets. The remnants of the grand party still lay about, food half-eaten on plates, musical instruments abandoned, drinks spilled. There was a strange energy here. The people seemed dazed rather than energized.

  Obi-Wan and Siri walked into the inner office. Joylin had cleared out most of the fine furniture and rolled up the rug. Along with an assistant, he was methodically going through Teda's datafiles.

  "I have enough here to convict him on state crimes ten times over, and I've only just begun an hour ago," Joylin said. In person, Obi-Wan could see both fatigue and triumph on his face. Joylin didn't look at them, but spoke as he flipped through files. "I suppose you heard about Zan Arbor.

  She escaped with Teda. Believe me, we tried to trail them. I don't know yet how they got away. Or where they are. Her ship was destroyed when the rioters hit the landing platform. Don't worry — I was able to stop them before they destroyed your ship. I even had it refueled for you."

  Joylin looked up at last. "I did what I could. I assume you came for the last half of your payment."

  "We don't care about the payment," Obi-Wan said. "We'll give you back what you paid us already. Put it toward restoring the hospital."

  For the first time, Joylin seemed to notice the difference in their appearance.

  "Who are you?" he asked. His eyes narrowed.

  "We are Jedi," Obi-Wan said. "We have the authority of the Senate."

  "We've come about the executions you plan," Siri said. "You cannot do this."

  Joylin's skin seemed to tighten over his bones. "I am the leader of Romin. I can do anything I want."

  "That tone is familiar," Obi-Wan said. "Recognize it, Joylin?"

  "I am not Teda," Joylin said. He shook his head at them. "How dare you," he continued softly. "You arrived on my world two days ago. You've seen nothing. You know nothing. You have not seen the prisons, filled to overflowing with those who Teda felt threatened by, filled with those who displeased him. You have not seen even one corner of the misery he has caused."

  "This does not justify murder," Siri said. "You
are judge, jury, and executioner for these people. That goes against galactic law."

  "They are all murderers!" Joylin exclaimed. "Don't you understand? If Teda is allowed to go free, we will never be safe. Our movement will collapse. We don't know how many of the army deserted or how many went with him. If I don't do this, we could lose control of the government!"

  "Delay," Obi-Wan said. "The Jedi can help you. More are arriving."

  "I did not call for the Jedi."

  "I did," Obi-Wan said. "The Senate has approved."

  Joylin stood. "This is my world," he said, his voice steely. "I have worked and sacrificed for twenty years to stand here. I will not risk the collapse of a government by the people."

  "Excuse me," Obi-Wan replied. "From where we are standing, it appears that you are the government."

  Joylin planted his fists on the desk and leaned forward. His face was composed, but his eyes shone bright and hostile.

  "Your interference is unwelcome. I have nothing more to say. Go, or I'll have you thrown out."

  Obi-Wan was perfectly aware that no one in the palace had the power to throw them out. Yet a battle now would do no good. He and Siri turned and walked out.

  On the way back to the villa, they talked over what to do next. It was clear that they had antagonized Joylin. They didn't know how much longer he would allow them to remain on Romin. That didn't mean they had to leave. It would just make things more difficult.

  "I think our best bet is to find Teda," Obi-Wan said. "If Zan Arbor is with him, it will solve two of our problems."

  "Agreed," Siri said. "But where can we look where Joylin's people haven't already?"

  They walked past the gates of the villa. Ferus hurried toward them.

  "We just received a message," he said. "It's from Teda and Zan Arbor.

  They request a meeting with the Slams. And since the revolt took place before the real Slams met Teda, that's us."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Teda and Zan Arbor were at a safe house well outside the city. The Jedi borrowed a Gian airspeeder from one of the refugees they'd taken in.

  The house was in a forest so densely wooded that they had to abandon the speeder and hike in to the prearranged coordinates. They were met by General Yubicon, Teda's chief of staff.

  "It's just a quarter kilometer this way," he said.

  Anakin could tell that the general led them in a way designed to confuse them. He did not realize he was dealing with Jedi. Anakin knew he could find his way back easily.

  They came to a small clearing. The house in front of them was made of prefabricated plasteel materials so it could be dismantled and moved quickly. That must have been Teda's secret. His safe house never stayed in the same place.

  Guards encircled the house. Anakin knew more were positioned in the woods. He couldn't see them, but he knew they were there. Obviously, Teda had retained at least part of his army.

  A guard at the door ushered them in. They were expected.

  The house was tiny compared to the palace, but it was not rustic. It was furnished sparely but lavishly, with plush seating and thick rugs. The rooms flowed into each other, forming a square around a central courtyard that was open to the sky. They were led to the courtyard, where they found Teda and Jenna Zan Arbor waiting for them.

  Teda seemed a bit shaken, but Zan Arbor was composed. Not a hair of her perfect coiffure was out of place. Wearing his mask once more, Anakin kept to the rear with Ferus as Obi-Wan and Siri moved forward. As one of the lesser members of the Slam gang, he hoped to escape Zan Arbor's notice completely. He still remembered the intense focus she had given him as she questioned him about the Force. He wasn't afraid of her, but he wouldn't mind staying out of her way.

  As Anakin expected, Teda and Zan Arbor were totally focused on Siri and Obi-Wan, the leaders of the gang. The Jedi had changed back into their Slam wardrobes. Siri was wearing another revealing robe, this time in a pale pink. She had complained about having to don her attire again, but you'd never know it now by the way she drifted forward and let her hand rest in Teda's in greeting. You'd never suspect that she held the leader in contempt as she smiled, turned so that her skirt flared out, and settled herself in a chair, coyly crossing her legs. Obi-Wan, too, managed to continue his part of the farce, smiling graciously as he sat to the sound of his jingling robes.

  "Thank you for coming," Teda said. "Of course you realize that this so-called revolt of the people is a temporary situation only. It will all go away, I assure you."

  "But that is not why you are here," Zan Arbor said, obviously bored by the subject of the revolt. "You came to me yesterday and offered me a chance to join you in an enterprise. Unfortunately, I had to refuse you.

  Now I ask for the chance to tempt you instead."

  Obi-Wan tilted his head. "I'll try to forgive you for refusing me.

  Please continue."

  Siri gave Teda a glance through her eyelashes. "I love to be tempted."

  Zan Arbor looked annoyed at Siri's flirtatiousness. "Teda and I have been working together on a certain enterprise — "

  "Excuse me," Teda said. "But I haven't lost my title, you know."

  Out of Teda's sight line, Zan Arbor rolled her eyes. "Great Leader Teda and I are partners together in an enterprise. Because of the sudden, surprising nature of the revolt, even though there was enough warning if you were clever enough to catch it, and the complete inability of Romin's supposedly great army to retaliate — "

  Interesting, Anakin thought. Zan Arbor isn't afraid of Teda in the least. She's taunting him, right to his face. And he's taking it.

  " — we find ourselves in a situation in which we are in need of your help. Thus we are able to offer you a chance to join with us. In short, we need false text docs, very complete, which I understand is your specialty."

  "That would not be a problem," Obi-Wan said. "We just need access to our ship and our files. Our ship has survived the revolt, I'm happy to say.

  " "Mine did not," Zan Arbor said, flicking an angry gaze at Teda. "It was a Luxe Flightwing. Completely destroyed."

  "Ah. So you are stranded on Romin." Obi-Wan clucked his tongue. "How unfortunate."

  "Naturally, we will pay you your normal fee," Teda said. "Or a little more," Obi-Wan said with a grin. "Considering the circumstances."

  Zan Arbor nodded, an acceptance of Obi-Wan's point that they had no one else to turn to. "We also need your heist skills for a particular job.

  Or rather, this is not just a job. It's an opportunity to change your lives. The scope of it means that if we are successful, you can retire and live very well for the rest of your lives."

  "We already live well," Siri pointed out.

  "You will live better," Zan Arbor snapped.

  "And you will not be a fugitive," Teda said in a voice like honey.

  "You will have plenty of systems to choose from to live in." He winked at Siri. "Just tell me where you choose, so I can visit."

  "In other words, you are in the right place at the right time, for once," Zan Arbor said. "You have a chance to change your destiny as small- time crooks."

  "Jenna, Jenna," Teda chided. "You are talking about the Slams. They are brilliant masterminds."

  Zan Arbor waved a hand. "I mean no disrespect. I speak the truth. I am offering them something they would never be able to contemplate by themselves. Slam, even though you lie for a living, you should respect that I won't lie to you. Now, where is your ship?"

  "It's at the main landing platform. Fueled and ready." "Good. So, are you in?"

  "Whoa, let's pull back on the throttle a bit. I haven't heard enough yet," Obi-Wan said. Anakin knew what his Master was thinking. He had to get more information, information that Zan Arbor and Teda wouldn't want to part with. This must be the scheme that Zan Arbor was working on with Granta Omega.

  "We're intrigued," Siri chimed in. "We need a few more details. What is the nature of the job?"

  "You don't need to know that yet," Zan Arbor s
aid. "Are you well financed?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "That is not a problem," Zan Arbor assured him. "Do you have other partners?" Obi-Wan asked. "One other," Zan Arbor said reluctantly.

  Siri fixed her blue gaze on Teda. "I hope that this partner's stature is as great as yours. Though I can't imagine it."

  "It is," Teda boasted, before Zan Arbor could stop him. "He is the most powerful business power in the galaxy. He — "

  "That is enough," Zan Arbor interrupted. She turned to Obi-Wan. "Now, our first step is to get off-planet. We must get to your vehicle."