by Jude Watson
"Should we try to find him?" Anakin asked.
Obi-Wan sighed. "He's not going anywhere. And we'd better see what's happening with Floria and Dane."
They walked into the building. It was a basic prison, but the security wasn't sophisticated. The cell was a small room in a corner with a durasteel door and a basic security coded lock. There were no official guards, no data-screens, no evidence of record-keeping or comm devices. Obviously this was used as a holding cell until the villagers decided on their own brand of justice.
The locals sat around a massive wooden table, drinking tea and grog and arguing. Obi-Wan stepped forward. "We would like to see our friends."
"They are our prisoners." This was growled from the largest villager who sat at the head of the table.
Obi-Wan dug into the bag at his side and threw the skin of a laroon on the table. They had brought skins and furs with them to cover their identities.
"We would like to see our friends," he repeated.
The fur of the laroon was inspected with knowing fingers. Then the villager nodded. He rose slowly, ambled to the lock, and keyed in the security code. The door slid open.
Dane was pacing in the cell. Floria sat quietly on the one chair provided. The door slid shut behind the Jedi.
"Thank the stars you are here. They are going to kill us," Dane said.
"Don't be so dramatic," Floria said. "You don't know that."
"Let me think. They just debated on whether to use blasters or do it slowly by lowering us into a laroon den. What's your conclusion?" Dane asked fiercely.
"They can't just kill us without a trial," Floria said. Obi-Wan noted that she had regained the color in her cheeks. Floria had been a pretty girl. Now she was a beautiful woman.
"Of course they can! This is Null! They don't bother with trials here!" Dane cried.
"Floria, Dane, if you could stop arguing for a moment," Obi-Wan said, holding up a hand. "Do they have evidence against you?"
"I found the body, and Dane came up right after," Floria said.
"In other words, they don't need evidence," Dane said. "We're outlanders. We were in the vicinity. That's all they need to know." He slumped against the wall of the bare cell and drifted down until he was sitting on the floor.
"We will protect you from the villagers," Obi-Wan said. "But you must help us."
"You were Kash's bodyguards," Anakin said. "You must have a few likely suspects. Who would have hired that assassin?"
Floria shook her head. Dane shrugged.
"No one and everyone," Dane said. "He didn't have any particular enemies. He had brought prosperity and peace to his people. But with this Separatist thing, everything changes. It could have been Dooku himself. It could have been one of the other members of the alliance, Telamarch or Uziel, if they wanted to control the alliance."
"You didn't mention Lorian Nod," Anakin said.
"Him too, I guess." Dane looked gloomy. "I don't trust anybody."
"Not Lorian Nod," Floria spoke up. "They started the alliance together."
Obi-Wan crouched down near Dane. "Dane, you said the assassin looked familiar. You have to remember where you met him."
Dane buried his head in his hands. "Floria and I have been all over the galaxy. I've met so many beings. He's one in a line of awful ones. I really need to retire." He looked up. "Hey, how's my swoop, by the way? Is it safe?"
Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged a glance.
"Well, it's definitely not going anywhere," Anakin said. "We ran into a reclumi," Obi-Wan said. ,
"Web!" Dane shouted.
"Yes, a big one —"
"No, Web! That's his name! The assassin," Dane said. "I met him about two years ago. Robior Web. We had auditioned for the same job but he didn't get hired. The thing about him was, he got started as a security officer but the security force was disbanded on his planet so he found himself out of a job. He's got a reputation for taking on big jobs, assassinations, things like that. He used to be a Guardian on Junction 5."
Obi-Wan slowly rose.
"There is our connection to Lorian Nod," he said.
CHAPTER No. 24
Promising to return, Obi-Wan and Anakin raced out of the prison and into the inn. They found Lorian in a secluded area of the lobby, deep in conference with the rulers of Bezim and Vicondor. Obi-Wan and Anakin hovered unseen, able to pick up some of their conversation.
"What is happening?" Yura Telamarch asked, his voice full of distress. The ruler of Bezim was a tall humanoid with a domed head and a grave manner. "Do you think Count Dooku is behind the murder of Kash?"
"I don't know, Yura," Lorian said. "They've arrested Samish's bodyguards. It could be an internal plot of Delaluna."
"We are not safe here," Glimmer Uziel, the ruler of Vi-condor, said. She had a musical voice and pale gold skin. Four tiny tentacles waved delicately in the air, like fronds. "What if this is a trap? There are those among my aides who say that Count Dooku will not show up. He has lured us here to kill us all and take the space station by force."
"Without Samish, our alliance is weaker," Yura said. "No doubt the pressure will increase. What do you think, Lorian?"
"I think we trust Dooku for now," Lorian answered. He stood. "I suggest you get some rest. The meeting is scheduled to take place in an hour."
Reluctantly Yura and Glimmer rose and headed for the stairs. As soon as the rulers were out of sight, Obi-Wan and Anakin walked up to Lorian. "Trust Dooku?" Obi-Wan asked sardonically. "Good advice, Lorian."
"What did you expect me to say?" Lorian asked. "Dooku must not suspect that I am against him."
"Are you against him?" Obi-Wan asked. "Things have changed now that Samish Kash is dead. If someone wished to drive a wedge through the alliance, it has worked."
"Are you accusing me of killing Samish? He was my friend."
"So you say. Have you ever heard of Robior Web?" Obi-Wan asked.
Lorian frowned. "The name is familiar, but . .." "He was a Guardian."
"I could hardly be expected to remember every Guardian."
"He is now working as an assassin."
Lorian took several moments to reply. "He is on Null?" "Yes. Dane recognized him."
Lorian nodded slowly. "You think this Web killed Kash, and I hired him to do it."
Obi-Wan said nothing.
"I did not," Lorian said. "And if you think about it for a moment you will see that if someone wanted to smash the alliance, the way to do so would be to kill one member and pin the murder on another. It is no accident that the assassin is a former Guardian. Naturally you would suspect me."
"Naturally," Obi-Wan said.
"And that is exactly what Dooku would want Yura and Glimmer to do," Lorian continued. "This is how he works. He waits. He watches. He likes to undermine loyalties. He likes to fracture bonds. He likes to encourage betrayal."
All of this was true, but it didn't mean Lorian wasn't guilty. Just clever.
"There is more going on here than the Force can sense," Lorian said. "And more than your logic can decipher. There are feelings here, Obi-Wan. And among those feelings are mine for Samish. I did not do it."
"We have only your word for it, along with everything else," Obi-Wan said. "That is the problem."
"There is only one solution to the problem, then," Lorian said. "You must trust me."
"Can you give me any reason to do so?" Obi-Wan asked.
Lorian hesitated. "No. I cannot prove my honesty."
"Then we'll continue to suspect you," Anakin said.
"We come from the same place," Lorian said, looking at them both. "I was raised in the Temple. I fell away from its teachings for a time. Why? I was afraid. I was young and alone and I took a step forward, the only step I felt I could take. Then I took another, and another, and I ended up in a life I didn't recognize."
"These are excuses," Obi-Wan said. "Tell that to the people of Junction 5. Tell that to Cilia Dil."
"I harmed my people," Lorian admitted. "And I m
ust say that Cilia is not one of my supporters. She can't forget what I was. I know all I have are excuses. When you live a life filled with wrong, what else do you have but excuses and blame?" He paused. "Do you believe in redemption, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan had been asked the question, but it was Anakin who spoke up. "I do."
"I do, as well, young Anakin Skywalker," Lorian said. "It is what keeps me going. At the end of my life, I will do good. That's all I can tell you for now."
"Do you believe him?" Anakin asked as they walked outside the inn.
"I think he talks well," Obi-Wan said. "And I don't know what to believe. Not yet." Would Qui-Gon have known? He had always seemed to know who to trust.
"You are too hard on beings sometimes," Anakin said. "Mistakes are made. Things happen. That means that change can happen, too."
"The meaning of life is change," Obi-Wan said, startled at Anakin's characterization of him. The charge stung. He did not think he was hard on other beings. Perhaps that had been true once, but he had learned from Qui-Gon. "I didn't say I didn't believe Lorian. But I can't discount the rest of his life just because he tells me I should. If he is in league with Dooku, we should find out what they are planning. And if he is not in league with Dooku, we should still find out."
"So what's our next step?" Anakin asked.
"Do you have any suggestions?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I have a question," Anakin said. "If Robior Web was hired to kill Samish Kash, he has accomplished his objective. Why is he still on Null? Assassins seldom hang around after they finish an assignment."
"He was going to meet Lorian and give his report," Obi-Wan said.
"That could be true," Anakin said, "but usually that is done by comlink or dataport. Usually an assassin and his employer don't like to be seen together."
"So if he's still on Null, he could have another assignment to accomplish before the meeting," Obi-Wan said. "Maybe we should find him."
"Sure," Anakin said. "But how? It's a big mountain."
"Exactly," Obi-Wan said. "If I were Web, I'd want transport. His was destroyed. I'd need to do it without attracting any attention, so that lets out stealing one from a villager or an aide. But he knows where another one is —"
Anakin grinned and finished the sentence. "— just hanging around."
When they got to where Dane's speeder was hanging emeshed in the spiderweb, Robior Web was in the tree, trying to slice the web with his vibroblade. It was clear he had been trying for some time to release the swoop. His hands and tunic were covered with the sticky, ropy web. He had managed to free the back of the swoop, and it hung suspended from the handlebars, which were covered in the sticky goo. Below on the ground, a dead reclumi spider lay in pieces, a victim of the same vibroblade, no doubt when it tried to defend its web.
Robior Web consulted a chrono, then attacked the web even more fiercely. He succeeded only in winding a large tendril of the web around his arm. They could not hear his curses, but they could see his frustration.
"Time is running out," Obi-Wan murmured. "My guess is he has an appointment."
With one last savage thrust, Robior Web managed to cut loose a ropy tendril, but it flopped away, then smacked back against the body of the swoop. Now it was more enmeshed than ever.
With a strangled cry, the assassin dropped from the tree and hit the ground. He began to run.
Obi-Wan and Anakin followed. They had to keep well behind, but it was easy to track his progress through the forest. He was heading around the mountain but climbing steadily.
"I think he's heading for the landing platform," Obi-Wan said. "We'll be coming at it from above."
After a hard climb, they realized Obi-Wan was right. Robior Web climbed over a peak and disappeared below. Obi-Wan and Anakin waited a moment, then climbed behind him and peered over the edge. Web was moving down toward the landing platform below.
Suddenly the sun was blocked out overhead. They looked up. A large transport was hovering. Robior Web quickened his pace and almost slid down to the deserted landing platform.
Behind the large transport, a sleek interstellar sloop dropped down from the sky, a sail ship, like none other in the galaxy.
"Dooku has arrived," Obi-Wan said.
The solar sailer landed. The landing ramp slid down and the tall, elegant figure of Count Dooku emerged. Obi-Wan felt Anakin tense. Unconsciously, he touched the metal hand that had replaced the one Dooku had severed.
"So Dooku hired the assassin," Obi-Wan muttered as Robior Web skidded to a stop in front of Dooku, then bowed. "With or without Lorian, we don't know."
Distracted, he had not realized Anakin was rising until his Padawan was almost to his feet.
"Anakin what are you doing? Get down!"
"Let's get him now," Anakin said.
"Get down!" Obi-Wan insisted. To his relief, Anakin crouched down again. He faced him, his eyes full of fire and purpose.
"We have our chance to end it here," Anakin said. "Let's kill him. We can take him together. We won't make the same mistakes this time."
"Like being reckless and rushing him without a plan?" Obi-Wan asked pointedly. "It is what cost you your hand last time, and you are doing it again, Padawan."
"What are we waiting for?" Anakin asked. "We missed him at Raxus Prime, but we won't here. If we kill him, we kill the Separatist movement. What is one life against thousands? Maybe millions?"
"Anakin —"
"He killed our brothers and sisters on Geonosis," Anakin said bitterly. "Have you forgotten how they died?"
"I remember it every moment," Obi-Wan said. "But this is not the time. This is not the way."
"You don't know what I can do," Anakin said, and there was an ominous tone in his voice. "My connection to the Force is stronger than yours. I'm telling you I can do it! No matter what you say."
Obi-Wan was shocked. "You are still my apprentice," he said sharply. "I am your Master. You must obey." The set of Anakin's mouth was sullen.
"Anakin, you must trust me," Obi-Wan said forcefully. "There will be another time to face Dooku. This is not the time.
Anakin looked at him. The sullen look was gone. His gaze was clear and cool. Obi-Wan could almost read contempt in it. But as the thought occurred to him, the look was gone. Had he really seen it?
"Look below," Obi-Wan said. "What do you think is in that transport? Super battle droids. We would be dead before we took two steps on that platform. They're being unloaded now."
Anakin looked down at the platform. Lines of droids clicked into formation as they rolled off the transport. Obi-Wan could see the way Anakin's mind focused on the immediate problem. He could almost feel Anakin's anger drain away.
But why had it been there in the first place? Obi-Wan had a feeling he had seen a flash of something much deeper than he'd ever known before.
"He is taking no chances," Obi-Wan guessed. "If things do not go his way at the meeting, he will use force."
Reluctantly, Anakin tore his gaze away. "We should warn them."
"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "But who? Any one of them could be secretly in league with Dooku. We must consider our next step carefully. We must figure out who to talk to first."
"I say we talk to Floria," Anakin said.
"Why Floria?" Obi-Wan asked, puzzled. He didn't know what Anakin was thinking. He rarely did, anymore. But at least he was glad they were talking.
"I sense she is not telling all she knows," Anakin said. Obi-Wan thought back. He realized that he had picked up something from Floria, too. But he had been too focused on Lorian to consider it.
Your mind must be everywhere at once, Padawan. The truth has many sides.
Yes, Qui-Gon.
"There is more going on here than the Force can sense," Anakin said, repeating Lorian's words. "Feelings, he said. What did he mean?"
"I don't know," Obi-Wan said.
"That is why we must talk to Floria," Anakin said. He rose to his feet in one quick movement and began to run. Obi-Wan had to
put on a burst of speed to catch up.
"Do you remember," Anakin said, "how upset she was when the body of Samish Kash was found?"
"She had failed in her mission to protect him," Obi-Wan said.
"I think the loss was more personal," Anakin said. "And later she called him 'Samish.' Dane always calls him 'Kash.' I think she's in love with him."
"How is that relevant to our mission?"
Anakin shot him a sidelong look. Amazing that they were running hard down a mountain, and Anakin could still have the energy for a healthy dose of scorn.
"Love is always relevant, Master," he said.
CHAPTER No. 25
Another bribe got them access to the cell.
"Take your time," the villager said, waving a hand as the door slid open. "We've decided to kill them at dawn."
The rest of the villagers roared and pounded the table. They had been drinking grog for some time now. The door slid shut, drowning out their laughter.
"Did you hear that?" Dane hissed at Floria.
"She's not afraid," Anakin said. "Why is that, Floria?" "I am not panicking like my brother, it's true," Floria said.
"And you are no longer grieving," Anakin said. "Why is that?"
Floria turned her extraordinary sky-blue eyes on Anakin. They looked at each other for a long moment. "You love him," Anakin said.
"Of course she loves me," Dane said. "I'm her brother." Another long silence. Anakin waited her out. Obi-Wan kept very still.
"I love Samish," Floria admitted. Her chin lifted and her eyes flashed, as though to say the words out loud had given her great pleasure.
"You love who?" Dane shouted.
"And he is still alive," Anakin said.
Floria nodded.
"What?" Dane cried, leaping in front of Floria. "You love Samish Kash, and he's still alive?"
"Dane, stop. He was shot, but he survived," Floria said. "He decided to let everyone think he was dead after the attempt on his life. He wanted to find out who had put a price on his head and why. The alliance is very important to him, and he doesn't trust Dooku."
"He was our employer!" Dane said. "We worked for him. You were his bodyguard. You went against all professional standards —"