The Deadly Hunter

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The Deadly Hunter Page 6

by Jude Watson


  expected that a short stop to meet Didi would spiral into a twisting

  mystery they would be forced to solve.

  "I did not plan for this, Padawan," he told him. "I just wanted to

  stop by to say hello to a friend."

  Obi-Wan nodded. "But a friend was in danger. You could not refuse to

  help."

  "You did not approve," Qui-Gon said.

  He saw the hesitation on Obi-Wan's face. He knew the look well. Obi-

  Wan hated to disappoint him. But he never lied to him.

  "No," he said. "Not at first. But now I do. You say I need to connect

  to the living Force. More and more I see what you mean. My first impulse

  was to turn away from Didi." Obi-Wan met his Master's eyes. "I was tired

  and hungry and I did not like Didi. I thought of my own needs. Now I see

  what you see. Didi has faults, but he is a good being. It just takes me

  longer to see these things. I wish," Obi-Wan said with difficulty, "it did

  not."

  "You are too hard on yourself, Padawan," Qui-Gon said quietly. "That

  can become a fault if you are not careful, for anger at oneself is a

  destructive thing. Every living being can be impatient, can turn away at a

  first glance, can avoid getting involved. It is a natural impulse. We are

  all creatures who want peace and comfort. Yet we are Jedi. Our own peace

  and comfort is not what drives us. We are dedicated to a larger good. But

  always remember that the peace and comfort of just one being is what drives

  us, too."

  Obi-Wan nodded. Qui-Gon put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

  "Get something to eat, Padawan," he said. "I am going to speak with

  Yoda and Tahl."

  Qui-Gon could see Obi-Wan's hunger and fatigue battle with his desire

  to remain by his Master's side. "Are you certain you won't need me?"

  "I will find you when I need you," Qui-Gon said. "What you need is a

  bit of rest and food. Then we'll continue."

  He left Obi-Wan at the juncture toward the food hall. Then he made

  his way to the Room of a Thousand Fountains, where he was to meet Yoda and

  Tahl. He had contacted them on his comlink to arrange the meeting.

  The cool, moist air revived Qui-Gon better than a meal would have.

  His eyes rested on the multitude of shades of green in the plants and trees

  that were arranged amid the winding paths. He paused for a moment to

  register the beauty around him. He drew a long breath, then another,

  concentrating on the shades of green, the murmuring fountains, the scent of

  growth and flowers. He let the moment matter, fill his heart and mind.

  Refreshed, he headed down the winding paths toward Yoda and Tahl.

  They sat on a bench that Yoda favored, where water ran over smooth

  white pebbles, making a musical sound. Tahl must have heard his step, for

  she turned her head toward him.

  "I hope you allowed Obi-Wan to get a decent meal," she called in a

  humorous tone before he could speak. "That poor boy is always hungry."

  Qui-Gon grinned. Tahl never said hello. Instead she always launched

  right into a conversation. "Do you realize," he said, seating himself on a

  bench opposite them, "that you always give me an accusation, never a

  greeting?"

  Tahl smiled. "Of course. How else can I keep you on your toes?"

  Qui-Gon let his eyes rest on Tahl's lovely face. Her sightless green-

  and-gold striped eyes were alive with humor. Once he had not been able to

  look upon her without pain. Just the sight of the white scar that marked

  her dark honey skin had grieved him. But he had come to realize how Tahl

  had accepted her fate, how she had allowed it to deepen her. Her friendship

  was invaluable to him.

  "I left him at the food hall," Qui-Gon said. "I am sure he's on his

  second helping by now."

  "No news have you?" Yoda asked. "Concerned we are about Didi. A

  scoundrel he may be, but a friend to the Temple he is."

  "I am sorry to report that things are worse rather than better," Qui-

  Gon said. Quickly, he filled them in on the murder of Fligh and the attack

  on Astri and Didi.

  "Fligh's body was drained of blood?" Tahl frowned. "That sounds

  familiar."

  "There have been a half dozen similar cases on Coruscant over the

  past year," Qui-Gon said. "Mostly drifters, beings with no ties to anyone."

  "Yes, I know that," Tahl said. "It is something else." Her frown

  deepened. "There is one more thing. I did some more investigating on your

  bounty hunter. It seems she is a master of disguise. She uses wigs, synth-

  flesh, prosthetics. that is how she moves about undetected."

  "I am not surprised to hear it," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan saw her turn

  from an elderly man back into a young woman."

  "Say you did that Fligh stole a data pad from a Senator," Yoda said.

  "Who?"

  "Someone I did not know," Qui-Gon said. "Senator Uta S'orn from the

  planet Belasco."

  "By the way, I contacted the security police," Tahl told him.

  "Senator S'orn never reported the theft. It might not be significant. The

  Senate is full of petty thieves. I'm sure many thefts do not get reported.

  Still, I thought I'd mention it. Senator S'orn also announced her

  resignation today. She said it was for personal reasons."

  "Know Senator S'orn, I do," Yoda said. "Several talks she had with

  the Jedi."

  Startled, Qui-Gon turned to Yoda. "About what?"

  "A son she had," Yoda continued. "Ren S'orn. Force-sensitive, he was.

  Accepted him for training, we did. Part with him, his mother could not.

  Harness the Force, understand it, he could not. Wandered he did through the

  galaxy."

  Tahl gave a sharp intake of breath. "Of course," she whispered. Yoda

  nodded.

  "What is it?" Qui-Gon asked, leaning forward urgently. He saw that

  Yoda and Tahl knew something important.

  "Ren became a lost being, a drifter," Tahl said. "He lost contact

  with his mother. At last she came to us for help. Several teams of Jedi

  were sent to find him and help him. He rejected them."

  "Hoped we did that he would reach out one day," Yoda said. "Feared we

  did that he would use the Force for evil. Yet the Force merely confused and

  angered him. Different he was. Different he did not want to be. Peace he

  could not find."

  "Such a tragedy," Tahl said. "He could not find a way to flourish. He

  could not find a place that felt like home. So as it often happens he fell

  in with bad companions. We received word that he had been killed."

  "Not long ago, it was," Yoda said. "Six months, I think. On Simpla-

  12."

  "This is sad news," Qui-Gon said. "But why is it significant?"

  "Because of the manner of his death," Tahl said quietly. "Ren had

  been strangled. And his body had been drained of blood."

  CHAPTER 11

  Obi-Wan saw at once from Qui-Gon's grim face that he would not get to

  savor his tart. He scrambled to his feet.

  "I am sorry, Padawan. But it is time to go," Qui-Gon said.

  Obi-Wan snatched up the tart and wolfed it down while they walked.

  Qui-Gon checked out a speeder from the transport pool. Within seconds, they

  were heading back toward the Senate building.

&n
bsp; It was late evening, and the air lanes still buzzed with traffic. The

  glow lights made the buildings and walkways blaze as bright as daylight.

  Beings strolled below them, crowding the restaurants and walkways.

  "What did Yoda and Tahl say?" Obi-Wan asked, swallowing the last bite

  of his tart.

  "I don't have a clear picture yet," Qui-Gon told him. "But somehow

  Senator S'orn is either connected to Fligh's death or involved in it. Her

  son died the same way Fligh did." Qui-Gon explained the story of Ren's

  confused life and tragic death.

  "But what does that have to do with Didi?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "Maybe nothing." Qui-Gon guided the transport along the crowded air

  space surrounding the Senate.

  "But it doesn't make sense," Obi-Wan said. "Her son died on another

  planet. And Didi has never met Senator S'orn."

  "It doesn't make sense, true," Qui-Gon answered. "But it has to,

  somehow. We just have to figure out the connection."

  Qui-Gon left the speeder in the Senate landing area. He strode into

  the Senate building. The usually crowded hallways were almost empty. Their

  footsteps echoed on the slate floor.

  "What makes you think she'll be here so late?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "Because her resignation was announced," Qui-Gon answered. "No doubt

  she had a busy afternoon. And she seems the kind of Senator to work late.

  Most of them leave as soon as Senate business has concluded." Qui-Gon

  paused, then remarked, "The Senate is not what it was. And it is getting

  worse. It has lost one idealist after another."

  They made their way to the Senator's office. The outer office was

  dark, but Qui-Gon knocked on the inner door.

  "Come in."

  They entered. Only one light was on in the office. Senator S'orn sat

  in a chair, staring out at the bright Coruscant night. "Yes?" she asked

  without turning.

  Qui-Gon closed the door behind them. "We regret having to disturb

  you."

  She spun the chair around and sighed. "It has been a day of

  disturbances. I didn't expect my announcement to cause such a stir. I guess

  there's not much else going on."

  "I do not wish to bring up something that is no doubt painful for

  you," Qui-Gon said gently. "But is your son's death the reason you are

  leaving?"

  Senator S'orn's face changed. Her features hardened and her lips

  thinned. "Yes, I know why you are here. I should have given him up for

  Temple training. I was selfish."

  "No," Qui-Gon said quickly. "Not at all. Many parents choose to keep

  a Force-sensitive child. There are many paths in life. You make the best

  choice you can for your child."

  "So I chose to keep him with me, and that decision destroyed him,"

  Senator S'orn said bitterly. "I chose a path that led to death."

  "No, Ren chose his own path," Qui-Gon said firmly. "Senator S'orn, I

  do not know you. But I have known many Force-sensitive children. There is

  no more guarantee a Force-sensitive child will grow up to find happiness

  than one who does not have that ability. Many do not choose the Jedi path.

  Some flourish outside the Temple, and some do not. We are not here to

  question your decision or blame you."

  "There is no need. I blame myself," Senator S'orn said bleakly. "Ever

  since I heard the news of Ren's death, I have been unable to focus, unable

  to do my job the way it needs to be done. I have managed to concentrate for

  only brief periods of time. What right have I to serve my people when I

  could not save my son?"

  "I cannot answer that question for you," Qui-Gon said. "But perhaps

  you are right to take time apart from your life's journey. I have found

  such a time helpful, if you can look at your choices with forgiveness and

  calm."

  "Forgiveness and calm seem very far away when your son is dead,"

  Senator S'orn said in a choked voice. She spun her chair around so that her

  back was to them. When she turned again, she had composed herself. "But if

  you didn't come here to blame me, you certainly didn't come to counsel me,

  Qui-Gon Jinn. What is it that you are looking for?"

  "I'm not quite sure," Qui-Gon said honestly. "Tell me something. When

  your data pad was stolen, why didn't you report the theft?"

  She shrugged. "The chances of Senate security finding it were slim.

  My friend's data pad was stolen as well. Jenna didn't think it worthwhile

  to report. We were both too busy to bother."

  Qui-Gon's watchful gaze turned alert. "Jenna?"

  "Jenna Zan Arbor," Senator S'orn said. "She's a friend of mine,

  visiting the Senate for a conference. Surely you've heard of her. She's the

  foremost transgenic scientist in the galaxy, and a great humanitarian."

  "Of course," Qui-Gon said. "You were together when the theft

  occurred?"

  "It was in one of the hall caf©s," Senator S'orn said. "We were

  having lunch."

  Obi-Wan controlled his excitement. Something was about to break. He

  knew it. Fligh stole the data pad, and Jenna booked Didi's for an important

  dinner. Was this a connection that would lead them somewhere? As Qui-Gon

  had said earlier, it didn't make sense, but it had to.

  "Was there anyone else in the caf©?"

  Senator S'orn sighed. "Do you mean, was the thief there? I assume so.

  Don't you think I've gone over this? The caf© was crowded. I didn't notice

  anyone suspicious."

  "How about a tall, slender human male with one dark eye and one

  bright green eye?"

  Senator S'orn looked startled. "Yes. But he couldn't be the thief.

  He's a Senatorial aide. Or at least he said so. We were discussing a dinner

  that Jenna was going to host for the other scientists attending the

  conference. He handed out a card for a restaurant nearby that he said was

  excellent. Jenna took the card. I had never heard of it, but Jenna said she

  would look into it."

  Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance.

  "Was that the thief? Should I report him?" Senator S'orn asked.

  Qui-Gon stood. "It would be to no purpose. He is dead. Thank you for

  your time, Senator."

  Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon from the office. "So we have a connection,"

  he said. "Fligh and Didi to Jenna Zan Arbor and Senator S'orn."

  "Not to mention to Ren S'orn," Qui-Gon said. "No doubt Jenna Zan

  Arbor knew about Senator S'orn's son."

  "But I still don't see what it all means," Obi‑Wan said, frustrated.

  "It's all so confusing." "Ask yourself this question, Padawan. Who would

  benefit from Fligh's death? Or Didi's?" "No one," Obi-Wan said. "Not now,

  anyway. Unless there is something else on that data pad that we don't know

  about."

  "Exactly," Qui-Gon said. "Either data pad - remember, we now know

  that Jenna Zan Arbor's data pad was stolen, too."

  Obi-Wan nodded. "I have a feeling I know where we're heading next."

  "Yes," Qui-Gon said. "To see Jenna Zan Arbor."

  CHAPTER 12

  Obi-Wan stood uneasily in the lobby of the luxury hotel. He had been

  in palaces and grand houses before. He had seen luxurious surroundings,

  thick carpets, fine metals, ornately carved furniture. He had observed


  without feeling part of it, as a Jedi should. He had never felt awkward,

  even in the palace of a queen.

  But here he felt differently. The walls were of a white polished

  stone with veins of pinkish gold. The floor under his feet was black hard

  stone, polished to a high sheen. He was afraid to sit on the plush sofas

  and chairs. He suddenly noticed the stains of his dessert on his tunic.

  The rich swirled around him, coming to and fro from the many

  restaurants off the lobby, or picking up mail and keys. Their eyes slid

  past him, as if he was not worth their notice. Their voices were low and

  hushed, unlike the busy chatter on the crowded streets.

  As usual, Qui-Gon looked perfectly at ease. He walked to the desk and

  asked the clerk to ring Jenna Zan Arbor's room.

 

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