by Джуд Уотсон
Then she spoke.
"Kodai is, in fact, covered by a giant sea — a sea that hundreds of years ago swelled so much that it drowned most of the planet's land- dwelling inhabitants," she reported. "Today there is only one pocket of land — a single city. It is sparsely populated by a few thousand Kodaians who spend most of their time trying to preserve their way of life on land, in spite of the fact that most believe that the sea will rage again and kill them all." Jocasta was silent for a moment. Qui-Gon guessed that she was reading ahead.
"Interesting," she murmured. "It seems that the sea has shown no signs of raging in the last hundred years. In fact, the opposite seems to occur. Every ten years, when the planet's two moons sync up, the sea experiences a spectacularly low tide."
"I see," said Qui-Gon, filing away this information.
"That's not all," Jocasta said. "What's particularly fascinating is that the planet's moons will be syncing up the day after tomorrow."
"Interesting timing," Qui-Gon agreed. It seemed obvious enough that Lundi's trip to Kodai at this particular moment and his search for mining equipment were not coincidences. But he was still not clear about why it had been so difficult to find a pilot to take them to Kodai.
Jocasta was quiet for several long moments while Qui-Gon digested this information. When she did not end the transmission, Qui-Gon guessed that she had more to tell him.
"Is there something else?" he finally asked.
"Yes," Jocasta replied slowly. "Another collection of Sith materials was found — this time on the planet Tynna in the Expansion Region. And a strange explosion has occurred on the peaceful planet Nubia. Nobody has come forward to take credit for the blast, but a drawing of a crude Sith Holocron had been scraped onto a duracrete wall outside the ruined building."
Qui-Gon closed his eyes for a moment. The discovery of the additional stash was not surprising. But an explosion was something new — something deadly. The situation was heating up, and he felt a great deal of pressure to defuse it.
"Thank you for the information," Qui-Gon told Jocasta. "We will be in touch if we need anything further."
"Of course, Qui-Gon. I will be here if you need me."
As Jocasta switched off her comlink, Qui-Gon felt a pang of sorrow.
He wished that those parting words had been spoken by the woman at the Temple who had helped him with research in the past — Tahl. Qui-Gon had been deeply in love with Tahl, and though she had been killed several months ago, her absence still felt like a blade in his chest.
Qui-Gon put away his comlink and sat down on the floor to meditate until the path was clear. He was just beginning to feel his body relax when Obi-Wan rushed into the hold.
"Master!" he shouted, alarmed. "There's a bomb on board!"
Chapter 9
Qui-Gon was on his feet in an instant. He followed his apprentice to the bridge, where the bomb had been planted underneath a low shelf. Bending down carefully, Qui-Gon examined the device. It was black and square with a simple timer on top — and a crude drawing of a Sith Holocron etched into the side.
"I suppose I should have expected something like this," Elda griped from her seat at the controls. "I just hope your famous Jedi powers can defuse that thing before it blows up my ship — and us along with it."
"I'll do my best," Qui-Gon said wryly. "Do you have a set of tools we could use?"
The pilot pointed to a small box in the corner. "You should find everything you need in there," she said.
Obi-Wan brought the tools over to his Master and crouched down beside him. "This symbol is becoming familiar," he noted. "But the device itself does not look too sophisticated."
"It should not be a problem to defuse," Qui-Gon said, casting a glance toward the captain. "But I'm not so sure about our pilot's temper."
Obi-Wan cracked a smile. Leave it to Qui-Gon to find humor in a moment like this.
Qui-Gon opened the tool kit and pulled out a long, slender pick.
After carefully inserting it into the side of the bomb casing, he slid it back and forth until he heard an audible beep. The box opened and several strands of colorful wire popped out. A timer behind the wires indicated that the bomb would go off in less than a minute.
"Not much time," Obi-Wan murmured quietly.
Qui-Gon knew his Padawan was right, and he had not expected to see so many different colored wires inside the bomb. It was a more complicated design than he'd originally thought.
Focusing his energy on the bomb, he snipped all of the red wires. But the timer did not switch off. It now read forty seconds, and was counting down.
"Perhaps it is this black wire," Obi-Wan suggested quietly.
Qui-Gon did not think this was likely. It was the only black wire, and too obvious a solution. But as he studied the wire, he sensed that there was indeed something significant about it. Still, he wasn't sure that cutting it was the right thing to do.
"Twenty seconds," Obi-Wan said.
Qui-Gon looked at the bomb more closely. One end of the black wire ran directly into the metal inside the casing. At the other end the black plasticoating ended a few millimeters before the wire touched the metal.
Underneath the missing black coating was a series of bright yellow wires.
They fanned out to form a row and slid neatly into a metal jack.
"Ten seconds."
Qui-Gon reached down and placed his thumb and forefinger on either side of the yellow wires. Closing his eyes, he twisted them away from the jack. There was a small popping sound as the wires pulled free.
The timer on the bomb continued to count down. But when it reached one second, it suddenly stopped.
"You did it, Master," Obi-Wan said, sounding relieved.
Qui-Gon opened his eyes and saw the number frozen on the timer. "With time to spare," he said wryly.
"I guess you Jedi are good for something," Elda grumped. But there was humor in her voice, and she was smiling broadly. "Thank you," she added quietly.
Qui-Gon put the tools back into the case and got to his feet. "You're welcome," he said.
Back in the hold, Qui-Gon closed his eyes and started to meditate for the second time that day. The planted bomb was something else to consider.
Was it meant to kill them, or simply throw them off guard? And who had planted it? It must have been someone who was following them closely, someone who was highly prepared. Not much time had elapsed between the Jedi arranging their travel and their subsequent takeoff.
Qui-Gon began to breathe deeply, letting his mind clear and then focus. But something was interfering with his concentration. His Padawan was pacing.
Qui-Gon opened an eye. "Why don't you try some meditation?" he asked.
Obi-Wan nodded and sat down. Even after he had stopped pacing the room, Qui-Gon could tell he was still agitated. With both eyes open now, he studied his Padawan. Obi-Wan sat cross-legged in a chair with his eyes closed. But his shoulders were tensed, and beneath his eyelids Qui-Gon could see movement.
"Are you all right, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked softly.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and met his Master's gaze. "Yes," he said slowly. And then, "Well, I don't know."
"You are afraid," Qui-Gon stated plainly.
A look of shame came over Obi-Wan's face, but he did not deny it. "My heart is full of dread," he admitted. "I wish we were on another mission — any other mission. I am not sure I have the courage to face the Holocron…
" Qui-Gon leaned toward his apprentice. "You have every right to be afraid," he said quietly. "Allow yourself to feel the fear — really feel it — and then let the emotion go. If it comes back, feel it again and let it go again. There should be no shame in one's emotions."
"I am not at fault if it comes back?" Obi-Wan asked, looking up.
"No, Padawan," Qui-Gon replied. "We cannot control how we feel. Only how we choose to handle our feelings."
A look of true relief crossed Obi-Wan's face, and he smiled slightly.
His shoulde
rs relaxed and he closed his eyes. Qui-Gon could almost see the fear leaving his Padawan. He was glad his advice had provided some relief.
Sitting back, he closed his eyes, too. He only hoped the advice would work as well for him.
Chapter 10
By the time the ship landed on Kodai, Obi-Wan felt refreshed and no longer afraid. He was ready to move forward with the mission.
Unfortunately, doing so was not going to be easy.
Although the Jedi were quite certain that they were on the right planet, it was not at all obvious where they should go or what they should do. It was only clear that they were running out of time.
Not to mention that wherever they went, they seemed to be attacked.
Their pursuer, or pursuers, would not be shaken and wanted them stopped.
After dropping the Jedi off on a tiny platform in the sole island city of Rena, Elda entered new coordinates into her navcomputer.
"Don't think I'm sticking around just because you diffused that bomb, " she grumbled, eyeing the shabby-looking city. "Good luck to both of you,"
she added, shaking her head. "I have a feeling you're going to need it."
"Thanks for the support," Obi-Wan said dryly as he and Qui-Gon walked down the ship's ramp. "And the transport, of course."
Out in the bright sunshine, the Jedi had to shade their eyes until they adjusted to the light reflecting off the vast sea. The city was small and appeared to have few inhabitants outside. There were cantinas, a single lodging house, and a marketplace where locals exchanged and bought food, most of which was harvested from the sea. Giant walls lined the streets — an attempt at flood protection, Obi-Wan guessed.
While the locals didn't stare at them — in fact, nobody looked at them at all — Obi-Wan got the feeling that they were definitely being noticed. The Kodaians were trying too hard not to look at them. As the Jedi approached they cast their yellow eyes downward or bent their slender necks to study the horizon in the opposite direction.
"Do you get the feeling they wish we were invisible?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Our presence seems to pain them."
"Exactly," Obi-Wan agreed. It was a strange feeling.
"Let's check the lodging quarters," Qui-Gon suggested. "We need a place to stay, and Lundi may be there as well."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement and they strolled into a shabby but clean lobby. A thin Kodaian sat on a stool behind a counter. When he saw the no- longer-disguised Jedi, he nervously got to his feet.
"May I assist you with something?" he asked, fiddling with his stubby fingers and gazing at the floor. Obi-Wan wondered if he was always this agitated around his customers.
"We would like to rent one of your spaces," Qui-Gon explained. "Do you have any to spare?"
The Kodaian closed his golden eyes for a moment, surprised by the question, and Obi-Wan guessed that Kodai and the quarters did not have visitors particularly often. After taking Qui-Gon's credits, the Kodaian placed a card with a door code on the counter. Their room was 4R.
"We are also looking for a Quermian guest we believe you have at the moment. A Doctor Murk Lundi."
The Kodian winced at the mention of Lundi's name. Without making eye contact he pointed to an old turbolift at the end of the hall. "His quarters are on the second floor, number 2F."
The Kodaian looked around to see if anyone was nearby before continuing, then leaned forward and addressed Obi-Wan's boots. "He's a fine guest. He hasn't spoken to anyone since he got here. Hasn't even come out of his room."
Obi-Wan thought this was interesting information. He had gotten the distinct impression that the professor liked an audience. Any audience.
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said, taking the key.
The Jedi made their way down the hall and stepped into the turbolift.
An older model, it shuddered as it moved up the single flight to the second floor.
Dr. Lundi's room was located at the end of the hall, and the room next to it was rented out. With the exception of breaking in or listening at the door, there was no way to know what was going on inside.
Obi-Wan put his ear to the door and focused his auditory senses, but found it difficult to concentrate. It almost felt as if something was blocking his connection to the Force. He could not hear anything on the other side.
"Why do you suppose he would hurry to get here only to lock himself up and do nothing?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We do not know what he is doing," Qui-Gon pointed out. "It's impossible to tell what is going on inside."
Another dead end. Obi-Wan let out a long sigh. Fear and frustration began to well in him once again, and he closed his eyes and relaxed his muscles until he felt these emotions fade. It was not easy, but he was able to do it.
Qui-Gon was smiling faintly and nodding at him when Obi-Wan opened his eyes. "Well done, Padawan." He pointed toward the turbolift. "Perhaps we can gather information if we talk to the Kodaians," he added, turning away from the closed door.
Obi-Wan followed. "Right," he said sarcastically. "After we get them to look deep into our eyes."
"So glad to see you are maintaining a sense of humor," Qui-Gon said as they stepped back into the turbolift.
Back outside, it quickly became clear that it would be nearly impossible to get Kodaians to talk to them openly.
"Excuse me," Obi-Wan said, trying to appear friendly as he approached a Kodaian woman.
The Kodaian stopped but did not look up at the Jedi. She stepped from one foot to the other as if unable to stand still. "Yes?" she whispered.
"We are looking for information about a Quermian visitor. A professor. He is here to dig up an artifact at the bottom of the sea — "
At the mention of the bottom of the sea the woman looked up, clearly alarmed. Her eyes were as large as saucers and her hands began to tremble.
"I cannot help you," she said. "I must go now."
Watching her hurry away, Obi-Wan wondered if her fear was caused by interaction with outlanders or the mention of the sea, the current state of the moons, and the impending low tide. Or perhaps Kodaians simply lived in a constant state of fear because of their difficult past. Whatever the reason, she clearly did not want to share information.
Obi-Wan was looking around for someone else who might talk to them when he spotted a young boy watching them from several meters away. Unlike the other Kodaians, he looked right at them and did not seem afraid.
"Have you seen a visitor with a long neck and many arms and hands?"
Qui-Gon asked, approaching the boy.
The boy nodded and pointed to the lodging quarters. "He's inside. But hasn't come out. If you want information, go to the cantina and ask for Reis. He'll tell you whatever you want to know."
Obi-Wan smiled down at the boy, grateful for the tip. "Thanks," he said.
Reis was not hard to find. He sat in a bare, dingy corner sipping a mug of drale, the only humanoid in the place. His gray hair was matted against his head and his face was unshaven.
But his dark eyes were sharp as he took in the approaching Jedi.
"Mind if we sit down?" Qui-Gon asked.
Reis continued to size up each of the Jedi in turn, pausing where their lightsabers hung from their utility belts. "Not at all," he said.
"I've always got time to talk to Jedi. Suppose you want to know all about the Holocron, eh?"
Obi-Wan felt a wave of shock at the mention of the word Holocron.
Finally, someone else said it first. Perhaps now they would get the answers they so desperately needed.
The Jedi were quick to sit down, and Reis smiled. "Thought that might get your attention," he said. He took a long swig of drale.
"It's there, all right," he said, putting the mug down. "Been there for thousands of years. Problem is, no one can seem to get it. Everyone wants it, but no one can get it. They try, but turn up dead or crazy every time."
"Yet attempts are still made to retrieve it?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Of course. People can't leave
that kind of power alone," Reis replied with a wave of his grubby hand. He leaned toward the Jedi, and Obi- Wan could smell the stale drale on his breath. "I've heard that somebody, somewhere has offered to pay an incredibly large fortune for the Holocron.
Nobody knows who it is. Still, it makes going after it a pretty desirable propo — "
Obi-Wan suddenly stopped listening when a familiar figure entered the bar. It looked like Omal, from Dr. Lundi's lecture on Coruscant. The younger Jedi squinted, but the cantina was dark and he couldn't be sure.