by Jude Watson
patrolling guard droids in the factory. He stealthfully slipped next to
Mazie on the assemblyline, hoping the guards would not do a sudden head
count
Quickly, he explained the situation and what he needed.
She gazed at him, amazed. "You really do mean to break out, don't you.
"
"Not alone," Anakin said. "With all of us, together."
"I can't do it, Anakin," Mazie said in a low tone as her fingers
continued to work. "I can't ask them to risk so much."
"All we have to worry about is the droids. The Nar Shaddaa guards will
look the other way."
"The droids are enough."
"What if I created a diversion? An explosion? I know where the
explosives are kept in the caverns."
Mazie bit her lip. "I don't know.." she murmured.
"It's the only way, Mazie. Do you want to end your life here, like
this? Do you want Berri to live as a slave?"
"You're not fair."
"But I'm right."
"Perhaps... perhaps there is a core group who will revolt," she said
slowly.
"You will contact them?"
She nodded.
"Others will see us succeed and will join us," Anakin said
confidently.
"I hope you are right," Mazie murmured. Her hands now trembled as she
worked.
Anakin slipped away. The end of the shift was only minutes away.
Everything depended on Siri now.
CHAPTER 19
Unable to find Anakin or Siri, Obi-Wan had to report to the Colicoid
delegation or risk blowing his cover. He was just beginning his report when
Siri burst in.
Relief flooded Obi-Wan as he saw she was safe. He stepped back against
the wall so that she would not be distracted if she recognized him. He saw
determination on her face - Siri had a plan.
"You must excuse me for coming uninvited to this meeting," she said,
turning to Nor Fik. "I come to you without Krayn's knowledge."
Nor Fik looked surprised but immediately tried to hide it. "Go on."
"It is my belief that if you allow Krayn to keep control of the spice
factories on Nar Shaddaa, you will lose them and we will all lose the
enormous profits we gain from them," Siri said.
"And why should we listen to you?" Nor Fik asked in a frosty tone.
"Because I know more about Krayn's operations than he does," Siri
said. "The slaves are poised to revolt. He doesn't have enough security to
handle it."
Nor Fik turned to Obi-Wan. "And what do you think, Bakleeda?"
"What I've seen supports what she says," Obi-Wan said shortly. He knew
that if he said too much it could backfire.
Siri looked at him curiously. She knew something was off, but she
hadn't recognized him. Obi-Wan was tempted to reach out through the Force,
but resisted. She didn't need to know who he was. He had guessed her plan
and would follow her lead.
Siri's fingers hooked into her utility belt as she waited for Nor Fik
to make a decision. Obi-Wan saw her finger tense, then relax. He glimpsed a
signaling device tucked inside.
She was sending a signal. That could only mean one thing. Anakin.
"This needs further study," Nor Fik said. "We cannot make a decision
based on a few opinions. We are not prepared to take over the entire
operation of Nar Shaddaa."
"But you expect to someday," Siri guessed shrewdly. "You won't cut
Krayn in forever. You will observe his methods and how you can improve
them, and you will move in. He will be no match for you. It is my belief
that the spice factories can be run more efficiently with workers rather
than slaves. The help you would receive from the Republic would be of
enormous benefit. You already have great power in the Senate."
"You speak eloquently, Zora, but again, I must - "
Nor Fik's words were drowned out by a sudden explosion. Siri was
almost thrown to the floor, but kept her feet. One of the Colicoids tumbled
off his chair and quickly righted himself, embarrassed.
Siri, Obi-Wan, and Nor Fik hurried to the window. They had a panoramic
view of the spice processing plant below. A large column of smoke was
snaking up from one of the buildings.
"The rebellion has begun," Siri said. "Do you believe me now?"
Nor Fik stared down at the factory. A moment later, the doors opened
and slaves spilled out. Some of them carried weapons they had stolen from
the Nar Shaddaa guards.
"Where is Krayn?" Nor Fik asked Siri.
"In his quarters."
"Perhaps it is time he was... detained."
Siri put a hand on the hilt of her lightsaber. "I can arrange that."
CHAPTER 20
Anakin had gathered the team of slaves to set the explosives. He had
destroyed a small squad of guard droids with a combination of the Force and
his lightsaber. The victory over the guard droids had caused a giant cheer
to rise among the slaves, and soon they stripped the droids of weapons and
fashioned their own. The rebellion spread.
Anakin stopped only long enough to ensure that the explosion had
worked and that the slaves had the upper hand in the battle. The Nar
Shaddaa guards all quickly put down their blasters and left the area. The
slaves picked up the weapons and turned on the droids.
Anakin raced from the factory toward the turbolift. If he knew Krayn,
he guessed that the pirate would not remain on Nar Shaddaa. As soon as
Krayn knew the rebellion could not be put down, he would head for his
transport. Anakin intended to stop him.
He burst out on the landing platform in time to see Krayn hurrying
toward his ship. The pirate carried a blaster in one hand and a vibro-ax in
the other.
Anakin raced from the opposite end of the platform, his lightsaber
already activated. Krayn saw him and quickened his pace.
But Anakin was faster. With a leap, he landed in front of Krayn.
"It is time to pay for your crimes," he said.
"Not by the likes of you, boy," Krayn sneered.
Anakin attacked. He felt no fear. There was something in his blood,
something strange, as though ice now moved through his veins. It was not
anger, he told himself. It did not feel like anger. It felt like justice.
Purpose.
All the lives below in the factories, all the lives he had known on
Tatooine, his mother, Hala, Amee, all who had suffered, they were in his
hands. Everyone he'd lost, everyone he'd loved. Even Qui-Gon was here,
urging him on, he felt sure.
He slashed out at Krayn. The pirate was quicker than he expected.
Blaster fire singed the sleeve of Anakin's tunic. Anakin reversed and
kicked out, hoping to dislodge the weapon from Krayn's meaty fist. But the
pirate absorbed the blow and held on.
The ping of blaster fire followed Anakin as he somersaulted and landed
to Krayn's left. The pirate dodged the first lightsaber pass and Anakin
tossed the lightsaber to his other hand and came at him from a surprising
angle. Krayn bellowed as the lightsaber grazed him.
He lifted the vibro-ax as though it were a toy, and came at Anakin
from below. Startled, Anakin twisted away, but not before the vibro-ax
grazed his wrist. The pain was blinding. If Krayn had been a centimeter or
two closer, he would have severed his hand.
Anakin tossed the lightsaber back to his good hand. He leaped around
Krayn and attacked from behind. Krayn turned and aimed the blaster. Anakin
dodged the fire and moved forward, forcing Krayn to back up.
He felt righteousness pump through him. From now on, he would make no
mistakes.
Memories pounded in him, of his mother, of Amee's tears for months
after Hale was captured. He matched Krayn's viciousness with his own,
driving him back toward the wall so he would have him at bay. He saw the
first flicker of fear in Krayn's eyes and he enjoyed it.
"You will die at my hands, Krayn," he said through his teeth. "You
will die at the hands of a boy."
Krayn was too exhausted to answer. His hair was wet and matted, and
his powerful arm shook as he tried to raise the vibro-ax against Anakin.
Anakin had him now. He would show no mercy. Krayn deserved none. There
was no capturing him. There was only killing him.
Obi-Wan had followed Siri from the conference room. As soon as they
were alone, he whipped off his mask.
"I thought so," Siri said. "You were never good at disguise."
"I fooled you," Obi-Wan said. "Admit it."
She bared her teeth at him. "Never."
He followed her at a run to Krayn's quarters. He was not in his
receiving room, or in the control center.
"He wouldn't go down to the factory," Siri said. "He wouldn't want to
be anywhere near the rebellion."
They exchanged glances.
"The landing platform," Siri said, and took off.
They pounded through the corridors and burst out the exit. At the
opposite end, Anakin held Krayn at bay. The pirate was bent over, breathing
heavily. As they watched, a vibro-ax fell from his bleeding hand and
clattered to the ground. He lifted his face to his attacker.
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan shouted. He started toward him. Siri circled in case
she needed to flank him for support.
His Padawan did not hear him. On his face was an intensity that Obi-
Wan had never seen before.
Anakin raised his lightsaber to deliver the fatal blow.
"Don't!" Obi-Wan shouted.
The lightsaber slashed downward. Anakin sunk it in Krayn's chest.
Krayn's mouth opened in a wordless scream. He locked eyes with Anakin. Then
he toppled to the ground.
EPILOGUE
A few days later, Obi-Wan and Siri sat with Anakin and watched as the
sleek silver transport set down on Krayn's landing platform.
"We'll certainly be returning to Coruscant in style," Siri observed.
She looked more like her old self now, dressed in a simple tunic, her face
scrubbed clean, her blond hair tucked behind her ears and gleaming in the
weak sun.
"It's not often that a Senate delegation comes to congratulate us on a
mission and give us a lift home," Obi-Wan said. "As a matter of fact, it's
never."
"I guess they are grateful for the liberation of Nar Shaddaa," Siri
said.
"Not to mention the downfall of Krayn and his pirate empire," Obi-Wan
said. "The galaxy will be safer for many."
Anakin nodded. Obi-Wan studied his face. It was so boyish and open.
The glimpse he had seen of something dark, something feral, in the fight
with Krayn was fading. The boy he knew had taken its place. Anakin had
explained that Krayn still held a blaster. His life had been in danger. He
had not violated the Jedi code by killing him.
Yet Obi-Wan still felt doubts. Doubts he could not share. Siri had not
seen the expression on Anakin's face.
"Come, let's greet them," Obi-Wan said as the landing ramp came down.
"Wait, there's Mazie and Berri," Anakin said. "I have to say hello."
"Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine has come here himself," Obi-Wan reminded
him.
Anakin grinned and ran his hand over his hair. "I know."
Obi-Wan nodded. Anakin was right. Because of Mazie and Berri, they had
succeeded in their mission. The politicians could wait.
Mazie and Berri approached. Mazie was limping slightly. She had been
wounded in the battle.
"We know you are leaving," Mazie said. "We could not let you leave
without thanking you." She was speaking to all of them, but her gaze
remained on Anakin. "You freed us all."
"You freed yourself," Anakin corrected. "It is I who should be
thanking you." He turned to Berri. "And you, Berri. I'm glad to meet you at
last. You showed great courage in helping Siri and me escape."
"I did only what I could," Berri said.
"That was a great deal," Siri said.
"The Colicoids have offered us wages to remain," Mazie said. "We will
do so until we have enough to get off-planet. Nar Shaddaa is no place to
live."
"Perhaps the Jedi can help with relocation and transport," Siri said.
"We'll be in contact after we reach the Temple."
Mazie and Berri exchanged happy glances. "That would be very good,"
Mazie said. "Safe journey home."
Berri smiled. "You won't have to worry about pirates."
Mazie reached out and grasped Anakin's shoulders in a sudden display
of emotion. "You have guaranteed our safety and our lives by killing Krayn.
We will never forget it."
"I will never forget you," Anakin said.
The three Jedi turned and headed for the Senate delegation. Chancellor
Palpatine smiled and held out his hands.
"The Jedi have brought freedom to Nar Shaddaa at last," he said. "Now
we can begin to clean up this world. The Colicoids need our help, and we
need theirs." He shrugged. "It is the price we pay for the liberation of
Nar Shaddaa and the end of Krayn. The Senate thanks you for your great
service to the galaxy."
The Jedi nodded respectfully.
"Now, come aboard. We have everything prepared for a comfortable
journey back to Coruscant," Palpatine said. Putting a hand on Anakin's
shoulder, he led the way to the ship.
Obi-Wan hesitated, Siri by his side. He watched as Palpatine bent his
head close to Anakin's to speak to him. What was making him uneasy?
Was it the memory of what he'd seen on Anakin's face in the battle
with Krayn? His Padawan had been in the heat of battle and afraid for his
life. He felt that Krayn was about to shoot. He had every reason to kill
him. He had not killed him out of anger and revenge.
Yet when Anakin had turned to face him fully, his expression had been
so empty. His gaze held neither triumph nor distress. Only blankness.
He had been numb from the experience of battle, Obi-Wan told himself.
He himself had felt the same at times.
I will not abandon him, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan privately vowed. I see what
you see. I see how he struggles. I see his immense capacity for good.
Siri moved closer to him. "It appears that your Padawan has impressed
the Chancellor. He has great gifts."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed. "Yet he has so much to learn.
The vision of Qui-Gon in the cave of Ilum rose in his mind. He didn't
know what the vision was trying to tell him, except to go on. He would go
fail.