by Джуд Уотсон
"Straighten your tunic," he admonished. "And wash the grease off your hands."
Anakin scurried to comply, runningto the sink in the corner. His quarters were crammed with tools and droid parts. Pieces of a probe droid were scattered over his sleep-couch. A pair of legs for a bipedal droid sat in a corner. Obi-Wan knew that Anakin had found these things by sneaking out of theTempleand dealing in the thriving black market of Coruscant. He preferred to turn a blind eye. So far, Yoda and Mace Windu did as well. But it did not help Anakin's reputation with the Council.
Anakin cleaned up and hurried to keep step with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan could tell that he was bursting with questions, but uncharacteristically, he did not ask them. Obi-Wan could not have answered them if he had.
Yoda awaited them in a meditation room, the place he favored now for conferences. Obi-Wan knew that Yoda had often met Qui-Gon at his favorite bench in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Yoda never sat there now. It was the only visible sign that Yoda still was in deep mourning for his friend.
"A request the Council has for you both," Yoda announced without preliminaries.
Anakin could not contain his excitement."A mission?"
Yoda blinked his gray-blue eyes and did not answer. He studied Anakin for a moment. Obi-Wanwas often charmed by Anakin's enthusiasm, but it seemed to worry Yoda.
"A mission it is not," Yoda said. "But a voyage you must take. Request we do that you travel to a starship called the BioCruiser, a permanent home for a group of people gathered from many worlds in the galaxy. Those on the ship have come from damaged worlds-planets that have become toxic or ravaged by disease or torn apart by criminal gangs or civil war. Land on other worlds they do not. Roam the galaxy they do."
"You mean they live on board a ship?" Anakin's gaze grew wider. "Lucky."
"How do they manage it?" Obi-Wan asked. "What about food and supplies?"
"Grow their own food they do," Yoda answered. "Self-sustaining, they are. But stop they must for fuel and for occasional supplies. Meet them you will at the next docking point. Complaints the Senate has received from the families of those aboard." Yoda drew his robes around him. "Fear they do that their loved ones have been coerced or brainwashed."
"Who leads this group?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Uni is the name he goes by," Yoda answered. "No text doc information can we find about him. Agreed Uni has to a Jedi inspection to calm the worries of the Senate. Danger for you we do not anticipate. Only a few days should this require."
Obi-Wan nodded and kept his skepticism to himself. He had heard these words before, and had been plunged into danger and disarray.
"So we are to travel far away to a ship where people might be held hostage," Anakin said shrewdly. "It sure sounds like a mission to me."
"A request only," Yoda corrected. Telling them that he would provide further details of the rendezvous soon, Yoda dismissed them. Anakin was silent as they left.
As soon as they rounded the corner, he turned to Obi-Wan, a delighted grin on his face."My first mission!"
"Request," Obi-Wan said sternly. But he saw Anakin shake his head and silently mouth the word "mission" with a smile.
Chapter 12
The next scheduled fuel stop for the BioCruiser was on the planetHilo. Yoda arranged for a transport to pick up Obi-Wan and Anakin at the landing platform.
Obi-Wan stood, looking up last-minute information aboutHiloon his datapad. Anakin's gaze remained fixed on the skies of Coruscant; every so often he exclaimed about a ship that zoomed by in the crowded space lanes.
"Master, look at that starship!" he called suddenly. "Have you ever seen such a beauty?"
Obi-Wan looked up. A sleek starship was negotiating the tight traffic lanes, jockeying for position. "A diplomat or Senator's transport, most likely," he said, noting the chromium trim on the sleek black ship. He watched as the skillful pilot found space to slide into the teeming lane, then made a sharp turn to come toward them. To Obi-Wan's surprise, the beautiful ship landed on the Jedi platform.
"Maybe that's our transport!" Anakin cried.
The ramp lowered and a familiar figure strode down toward them.
"Garen!" Obi-Wanwas overjoyed to see his friend. It had been several years since Garen had been to theTemple. He hurried toward him, and the two friends clapped their arms around each other in a fierce hug. "This is a surprise," Obi-Wan said, quickly taking in his friend's appearance. He was relieved to see that Garen looked as fit and healthy as ever. His hair was still worn long and loose, waving past hiscollar, and his gaze was as open and warm as Obi-Wan remembered. He knew that Garen had been on a difficult mission in the Outer Rim, though he didn't know the details.
"You look older," Garen said. "But wiser? I'll have to hope for that." His eyes danced.
Obi-Wan grinned. "You haven't changed at all."
"I was sorry to hear about Qui-Gon," Garen said, his mood abruptly changing. "I would have come, but…"
"It is all right, my friend. It was a great loss for the Jedi."
"And for you."
"Yes. He was my friend as well as my Master," Obi-Wan said. He did not speak of Qui-Gon to many people. He still found it too painful, even after all this time. "But let me introduce you to my Padawan."
"How strange it is to hear you say that," Garen said, smiling. "Now we are old enough to have our own Padawans. Who would have thought it?"
Anakin had been hanging back, studying the ship with avid eyes. When he saw Obi-Wan's welcoming glance, he hurried forward.
"Is this your ship?"
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said reprovingly. "This is my good friend, Jedi Knight Garen Muln. Garen, this is Anakin Skywalker."
"I am honored to meet you at last," Garen said. "No, this isn't my ship. It's a royal starship from the Bimin Three system, on extended loan for the Jedi."
"I knew you'd end up with a starship somehow," Obi-Wan said.
Garen nodded ruefully. Obi-Wan knew he had been bitterly disappointed when the Jedi decided to end the starfighter program. But Garen had gone on to become Clee Rhara's Padawan and had distinguished himself on missions throughout the galaxy.
"It turned out for the best," Garen said. "I think in the end the Council was right to oppose the starfighter pilot program. A fleet of starfighters would have brought us trouble."
"Do you mean the Jedi once had a program for starfighter pilots?" Anakin asked, stunned at this news.
"Yes, Anakin, long ages ago, back when Obi-Wan and I were only a little older than you," Garen said, laughing.
"And they cancelled it?" Anakin's face showed clearly what he thought of that decision.
"It was for the best," Garen said. "But I must admit it was fun while it lasted."
Anakin gazed at the ship. "How fast does she go?"
"As fast as you want," Garen answered. He looked at Anakin curiously. "Why do you like to go fast, Anakin?"
The dreamy, shuttered look came over Anakin's face. "Because I can leave myself behind," hesaid, his eyes on the ship.
Garen glanced at Obi-Wan. He raised one eyebrow. It was not a Jedi answer. Obi-Wan frowned, troubled by it. There were still places in Anakin he could not reach.
No. You will reach them. Yoda and Mace Windu are wrong. Qui-Gon was right. Anakin is not too old to learn.
Garen put his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "Let me show you the ship."
"We're waiting for our transport toHilo," Anakin said, disappointed. "I don't think my Master will allow it."
"Oh, I think he will," Garen said. "I'm your transport toHilo."
Anakin seemed stunned at his good fortune. A delighted grin lit up his face, and he ran ahead to race up the ramp.
Garen picked up Obi-Wan's survival pack. "He seems very young," he observed.
Obi-Wan sighed. "He is getting older every day."
They came out of hyperspace to a rush of stars. It was Anakin's favorite moment, Obi-Wan knew. He watched the boy's face, alert with interest as Garen piloted the ship toward the atm
osphere ofHilo.
Garen whistled. "There she is."
The largest ship Obi-Wan had ever seen rose ahead of them. It seemed to be many ships welded together, made up of different metals and rivets and fasteners, so that dull green gave way to flashing silver to gleaming black. It chugged in a slow, lazy orbit around the planet.
"We're supposed to land onHiloto pick up a transport back to the ship," Garen said. "Apparently they don't allow outsiders to dock on the ship."
"I've never seen anything like that," Anakin said. He got up from his seat to stand close to the cockpit viewport. He grinned and shot a mischievous look back at Obi-Wan. "It looks like something I might have built."
Obi-Wan had to agree. It had the chunky, cobbled-together look of some of Anakin's practice constructions.
The landing platform loomed ahead, a light freighter parked to one side. As they drew closer, Obi-Wan could see that supplies were being loaded. Garen made his usual perfect landing. He helped Anakin and Obi-Wan gather their packs and walked them down the ramp.
Obi-Wan and Garen exchanged a look of friendship and farewell, one they had exchanged many times over the years.
"May the Force be with you," Garen said. "I can transport you back if you need me. I'll be in this quadrant for a bit."
"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan told him.
Garen turned and strode up the ramp. He did not turn for a final good-bye. He never did. Only Obi-Wan knew that his old friend hated farewells.
"You are the Jedi inspection team." The tone was curt and businesslike. Obi-Wan turned to see a tall, balding human in a unigarment of pale blue.
"I am Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is Anakin Skywalker," Obi-Wan answered.
"I am Nort Fandi," the man said. "I am the freighter pilot. We are scheduled to depart. Board the craft. We do not linger on other worlds."
There was no trace of friendliness or courtesy in Nort Fandi's curt tone. Obi-Wan and Anakin boarded the freighter and found seats. In just a few minutes, Nort Fandi and two crew members joined them. Within seconds, they blasted off toward the BioCruiser.
"Will you be taking us directly to Uni?" Obi-Wan asked Nort Fandi.
He did not turn. "No. You will be given instructions."
He did not say another word. As they approached the BioCruiser, hatch doors slid open in the main ship and Obi-Wan saw the landing area. Nort Fandi slid the freighter inside. The engines powered down.
A short woman in the same pale blue unigarment stood waiting as they walked down the ramp.
"I am Deleta," she said. "I am to show you to your cabins."
"Will we meet with Uni after that?" Obi-Wan asked.
Deleta led them to a bank of turbolifts. "He will contact you shortly."
Obi-Wan picked up no fear or anxiety in the many beings they passed on the way to their sleeping quarters. There were beings from across the galaxy, some wearing the same pale blue garments, some in tunics, some sporting a headdress or leggings from their home worlds. They appeared busy andcalm, and he could discern no evidence of thought control. Their gazes were clear and focused as they regarded Obi-Wan and Anakin with lively curiosity.
The Jedi's quarters were small and spare, but with a shared small library, a cubicle for showering, and even a small cooler with fresh juices and snacks.
"Meals will be brought to you," Deleta said. "Do not wander the ship alone. If you wish a tour, one will be arranged for you shortly."
"How can I contact Uni?" Obi-Wan asked.
"He will contact you shortly," Deleta answered serenely, and left.
"So what do you think "shortly" means here on the cruiser?" Anakin grumbled. He lay back on his sleep-couch on his elbows, his expression sulky."A year? More?"
"It's been two days," Obi-Wan said. "Each mission takes its own time." He repeated the words automatically. Like Anakin, he, too, felt frustrated. Any additional requests he had made to speak to Uni or even to get a tour of the ship had met with the same "You will be contacted shortly." When he and Anakin had ventured out on their own, they had been politely and firmly escorted back to their quarters and told they would be contacted… "shortly."
At first Obi-Wan had been reluctant to press the issue. They were guests of the BioCruiser, and he never liked to start out a mission by being insistent. But he had his limits, and he had reached them. Obi-Wan pressed the button on the built-in message console. As always, he was addressed by a pleasant, neutral voice.
"May I be of service?"
"I would like to leave a message for Uni," Obi-Wan said.
"He will contact you shortly-"
"Fine. Please inform him that if he does not meet with us in ten minutes I will call back my transport and the full power of the Senate will be unleashed against the BioCruiser."
Obi-Wan did not wait for a reply but cut off the connection.
Anakin was now sitting erect. "Will you really do that?"
"Jedi do not threaten," Obi-Wan said. "We inform." He sat calmly, but his eyes were on the chrono. Anything could happen. They could be locked inside their quarters. Or Uni could decide to boot them off the ship to the nearest planet.
In exactly eight minutes, the door hissed open. Deleta stood with the same neutral expression on her face.
"Uni will see you now."
Obi-Wan and Anakin followed her through a maze of corridors to a single turbolift. It brought them to a higher level of the ship. They emerged into a deserted hallway.
Deleta accessed a door at the far end of the corridor. They walked into a round room lined with low seating and recessed glow lights. The walls, floors, and furniture were pale blue. Deleta left, the doors hissing shut behind her.
"Do you think this is Uni's private quarters?" Anakin asked in a hushed tone.
"Most likely," Obi-Wan answered.
The doors opened behind him. Obi-Wan saw a tall, slender human walk in. His hair was close-cropped and as white as a moon. His eyes were clear and very blue.
"I am Uni," he said.
But Obi-Wan knew immediately that it was Kad Chun.
Chapter 13
Obi-Wan felt as if his throat had been squeezed. His feet were planted on the floor, or else he could have sworn that he staggered.
"Kad Chun." Obi-Wan spoke his name numbly.
Kad looked just as surprised. He gathered himself with a visible effort."Obi-Wan Kenobi. I am Uni now."
Kad approached until he was standing close to Obi-Wan, closer than Obi-Wan liked. His pale eyes flickered as he registered the signs of maturity in Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan remembered the face of the boy, burning with hatred in a Senate hearing room.
"So they sent you."
"Yes."
"I suppose they do not know who I am."
"No."
"Kad Chun is no more."
Obi-Wan's curiosity overcame his caution. "How did you come to be here?"
Kad turned and began to stroll about the room. He did not give Anakin a glance, but the boy watched him steadily.
"After the hearing, my father and I returned to Telos. We led a quiet life, recovering from our double tragedy-the loss of our son and brother, and the inability of the Senate to bring his killer to justice."
Obi-Wan stiffened, but Uni did not look at him, just strolled about, picking up an object here or there, studying it and putting it down.
"Many good things happened on Telos. I understand you were there at the beginning. A new government was formed, and the reclamation of our natural resources began. But as the years passed it became clear that the corruption that had destroyed our institutions and government had taken a deeper hold than the good people of Telos imagined. Special interests again took over. Telos began a steep decline. Corporations owned our natural resources and plundered them."
"I am sorry to hear this," Obi-Wan said.
"I found myself in a position of some leadership," Kad went on. "I gathered followers. I knew it was too late to save Telos. We were wasting our time. We could never fight that kind
of power. In order to save the remaining examples of responsibility and honor on Telos, we had to bring the last of the best with us. Which we did. We boarded a ship, taking our plants and minerals with us. We traveled through the galaxy. We did not look for another world. We did not need one. As we traveled I saw that Telos was not unique. So many worlds in the galaxy are corrupt. The noblest beings protest and are drowned out. We welcomed them aboard. Our core ship began to grow. We have the most brilliant scientists, the greatest innovators, teachers, poets, musicians, doctors. We all believe that given the state of the galaxy the only choice for the best of us is to disengage from it completely. After the galaxy destroys itself we will be the seed for a new community."