by Jude Watson
And the bounty hunter was a master of disguise...
Obi-Wan looked over at Astri. She was sleeping peacefully. He could
leave her for a short time.
He crossed to a small desk in the corner. Quickly, he copied the
fading names onto a fresh durasheet and tossed the old one in the trash
container.
He headed out the door. It wasn't much to go on, but it was a
direction.
CHAPTER 5
Yamele Polidor
Nontal Quincu
Aleck W'a Ni Odus
Dobei Eranusite
B'Zun Mai Reesa On Von Taub
Obi-Wan took an air taxi to the Official Committee Liaison Office at
the Senate. This office handled the transportation and residence needs of
the many committees from around the galaxy that came to petition the
Senate. Since it was a Jedi request, he was given the home-worlds and
contact information of each being on the list.
Quickly, Obi-Wan scanned it. Only three of the guests were still
staying on Coruscant. The others had returned to their homeworlds. He would
start here. If he found nothing, he would move on. If he had to travel to
the Outer Rim for a clue, he would do it.
Yamele Polidor and Von Taub still had business with the Senate and
were staying in a guesthouse nearby. Obi-Wan went there first. He found
them together in the sitting room, going over the record of the meeting
they had attended that day.
Obi-Wan explained that he was on a Jedi mission to discover who had
broken into Didi's Caf© after their group had left.
Yamele Polidor was a petite Rindian with pointed ears and two eight-
fingered hands. She nodded politely at Obi-Wan. "Of course I will be glad
to help."
The Corweillian Von Taub nodded. "As will I." "Did anyone come into
the caf© while you were there?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Just the members of our own party," Yamele Polidor answered in the
low, singsong manner of a Rindian.
"Did you notice anyone on the street outside?"
Von Taub shook his head. "We left, and the owner of the caf©, a young
woman, locked the door after us. Jenna Zan Arbor was very upset with the
service and food. I didn't think it was that bad, myself." He smiled.
"Maybe I'm more used to disorganization. But Jenna is a scientist who can't
tolerate disorder."
"Do you know the other names on this list well?" Obi-Wan asked. He
handed the list to them.
Yamele Polidor ran one of her long fingers down the list. "I know all
of these scientists personally, except for Dobei Eranusite and Reesa On."
"I know Dobei quite well," Von Taub said. "Reesa On was a stranger to
me as well."
"Did anyone know her?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Jenna Zan Arbor," Yamele Polidor answered.
"Yes, they worked on a research project together," Von Taub added.
"Jenna was very complimentary about her skills as a scientist. None of the
rest of us knew her."
Obi-Wan kept his voice steady despite his rising excitement. "Do you
remember what she looked like?"
"Not really," Yamele Polidor said with a shrug. "Tall, maybe? She was
humanoid. That, I remember."
"Very striking," Von Taub said. "She wore a silk turban and a lovely
septsilk robe."
Obi-Wan realized he had seen her himself. He had a vague memory of a
woman in a jeweled turban. He pushed his urgency away and left his mind
open, let the memory come as it would, as he had been taught. The
information he sought would come to him.
He and Qui-Gon had been talking to Astri when the guests arrived. He
remembered the look of distaste on Jenna Zan Arbor's face. And one tall
woman had gathered her rich robe around her as if it would get dirty from
touching a chair or the floor. She had very strong hands...
It had been her. The bounty hunter.
He was sure of it. And now he had a name.
"One last question," Obi-Wan said. "Do you know if Zan Arbor has more
than one lab? I know that her main lab is on Ventrux."
Both the scientists looked puzzled. "But why would she need another
lab?" Von Taub asked.
"I have never heard such a thing," Yamele Polidor added.
"Thank you for your help," he said, rising and bowing. He hurried
outside and immediately summoned Tahl on his comlink.
"We could have a lead," he said. "I think the bounty hunter posed as
a scientist named Reesa On. Most likely she disguised herself in order to
steal the datapad back from Didi and Astri. She would have if Qui-Gon and I
hadn't returned and surprised her. The Senate still lists her as being on
Coruscant. She's supposed to inform them when she returns to her home-
world. I have the address."
"Don't go alone," Tahl warned. "Wait, and I'll send a team to you."
"I can't wait," Obi-Wan argued. "She's listed at a lodging only a
short distance from here. Let me at least see if she's there."
"Do not engage her in battle or even show yourself," Tahl warned.
"She could lead us to Qui-Gon."
"I won't," Obi-Wan promised. "I'll just keep her under surveillance."
"I'll see what I can discover from here," Tahl told him. "Good work,
Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan cut the communication and headed down the walkway that led to
Vertex, the street that was listed as Reesa On's address. He drew his robe
around him and lifted his hood to cover his face. He must follow Tahl's
advice. He knew Tahl was just as anxious as he was to find Qui-Gon. If she
urged caution, it was only because being careful would bring them to Qui-
Gon faster.
The inn where Reesa On was staying was similar to the one he had
left. Many small guesthouses existed around the Senate to cater to wealthy
guests with Senate business that required long stays. It was a far cry from
the shabby, decrepit inn where he'd had his first confrontation with the
bounty hunter.
And it had security. Guests used swipe cards to enter. All others had
to be announced.
He loitered outside the building, wondering what to do. Most likely
he would not be lucky enough to see her enter or leave. And would he
recognize her even if she did? She had impersonated an old man, a wealthy
scientist, and a young boy parking speeders at a grand hotel. Her powers of
transformation were incredible.
The door to the house slid open, and someone stood on the threshold.
Concealed behind a row of speeders, Obi-Wan looked carefully. A Rodian
stood for a moment as if to test the weather. Even a master of disguise
could not impersonate a Rodian. This one was bulky and short, with green
skin and the usual ridge of spines along his skull. No, this was not the
bounty hunter.
Quickly, Obi-Wan stood and crossed the walkway. He headed up the ramp
and nodded at the Rodian, then walked through the open door. It slid shut
behind him.
The guesthouse was operated by automation. He glanced around quickly
at the terminals set in the walls. Here guests used their cards to pick up
messages. He spied a keyboard and quickly typed in Reesa On.
ROOM 1289
PLEASE SWIPE SECURITY CARD
FOR MESSAGE ACCESS
Obi-Wan took the turbolift to the twelfth floor. He moved quickly
down the hall and stood in front of Room '1289. He pressed his ear to the
door, every sense alert. Listening was a Jedi skill that was honed in
exercises during Temple training.
He heard the soft whisper of fabric. Its regular movement told him
that it was just a curtain stirring with a breeze. He could not hear
footsteps or even breathing.
What now? Obi-Wan knew that it would not be the last time he would
ask himself that question. Without Qui-Gon, he was unsure of every step.
Obi-Wan was concentrating so hard on the sounds behind the door that
he heard the opening of the turbolift just a second too late. He felt a
surge in the Force, warning him an instant before blaster fire slammed into
the door over his head.
CHAPTER 6
Obi-Wan ducked and rolled, reaching for his lightsaber at the same
time. It was activated and ready for the next round of fire even as he
leaped in the air toward his assailant.
"Obi-Wan, no!" Astri screamed.
She fell backward, the blaster flying from her grasp. Her feet flew
up, barely missing the blade of the lightsaber. Obi-Wan quickly deactivated
it. She landed with a thump and a cry that must have been heard by every
guest on the floor.
"What are you doing here?" he hissed.
"What are you doing here?" she shouted at the same time.
Obi-Wan silenced her with a gesture and pointed to Reesa On's door.
Astri stood, straightening her tunic.
"She's not there. I already checked the room." "What?"
Down the hallway, a door slid open a few centimeters, and two orange
eyes peered out at them.
"Come on," Obi-Wan muttered. "We can't talk here."
He grabbed Astri's blaster and tucked it into his utility belt. He
didn't speak while they were in the turbolift. Astri stole a few glances at
him. She opened her mouth once or twice, but decided to stay silent.
He waited until they had left the guesthouse and had walked a short
distance from it. He struggled to gather his patience. He did not want to
show his anger. But he did not have Qui-Gon's gift for serenity.
"What were you doing there?" he demanded. "You could have ruined
everything!"
"I thought you would need help - "
"You're a cook, not a Jedi!" Obi-Wan burst out. "How did you find me,
anyway? Did you follow me?"
"I read that durasheet you left," Astri said. "I recognized the
names. They were the guests at Jenna's dinner party at our caf©. And you
think the bounty hunter was one of them."
Obi-Wan stared at her in disbelief. "So how did you find out where
Reesa On was staying? And how did you find out that the bounty hunter is
Reesa On? Did you go to the Senate Liaison Office, too? That could tip her
off!"
Astri waved her hand. "I don't have to go through official channels.
I'm Didi's daughter, remember? Everyone who comes to the Senate doesn't
just go through a security check. They go through a criminal check."
"You mean they're scanned for outstanding warrants?" Obi-Wan asked.
She grinned as she sidestepped a group of tourists. "No, they're
checked out by criminals. Nanno L'a and his gang keep tabs on all Senate
petitioners and commission members who visit from other worlds. You never
know who might have something worth stealing. So I talked to Nanno. He'd do
anything for Didi. He gave me the rundown on the names on the list. His
gang had copies of the textdocs on each of them. The only one who came up
blank was Reesa On. She had a couple of ID facts in her textdoc, but no
record of financial transactions. For someone with plenty of wealth, that
seemed odd. So I figured Reesa On was a false identity. Nan no knew where
Reesa On was staying. So I went there."
"How do you know she wasn't in her room?" Obi-Wan asked. He felt a
little irritated that Astri was able to focus on Reesa On quicker than he
had.
"These guesthouses all use the nearby caf©s and restaurants for food
service," Astri explained. "I went to the Galaxy Grill down the street and
asked my friend Endami for the service code. Then I pretended to have a
meal delivery and punched in the code." She shrugged. "That got me inside.
The service code will also tell you who is staying in what room. It was
easy."
Easy! "So did you break into her room?" Obi-Wan asked irritably.
"I knocked and said I had a food delivery," Astri said. "No one
answered, so I opened the door."
"But it was locked."
Astri smiled. "I learned how to bypass a basic security lock when I
was seven, Obi-Wan. My guess is she's not coming back. There was a travel
bag there, but it's filled with things that are supposed to make you think
someone is there."
"If that makes sense, I'd sure like to hear why," Obi-Wan grumbled.
"It's got a new personal care kit with soap and bath items, but they
haven't been used. A couple of fresh tunics and sleepwear that haven't been
worn. My guess is that the bounty hunter never even stayed there at all -
she just paid up for her two week minimum so that she'd have an official
address."
Astri was probably right, Obi-Wan thought.
They were no closer to finding Reesa On's true identity. In
frustration, he turned away and started to walk.
"Where are we going?" Astri asked.
"You are going back to the Temple," Obi-Wan said. "I'm trying to find
Qui-Gon. This is Jedi business."
"This is my business." Astri stopped short, forcing Obi-Wan to stop,
too. "Didi isn't waking up, Obi-Wan," she said, her dark eyes serious. "Not
without that antitoxin. You and I both know that. And Reesa On is our first
clue to where Jenna Zan Arbor is. You think she is holding Qui-Gon, right?"
Obi-Wan nodded reluctantly.
"So I have just as much reason to find Reesa On as you do. The bounty
hunter could lead us to Zan Arbor. And I have another reason. Nanno told me
that because of Fligh's murder and Qui-Gon's disappearance, a warrant has
been issued for the bounty hunter's arrest by the Coruscant security
forces. There's a reward, too. Don't you see?" Astri tossed the curls out
of her eyes impatiently. "This is the only thing I can do for Didi. I can
find the antitoxin and get us a new stake. All I have to do is find Reesa
On."
He shook his head. "It's too dangerous." "I can help you, Obi-Wan."
"What are you going to do, cook us out of danger?" Obi-Wan asked
skeptically.
"There are other things I can do!" Astri protested. "Do I have to
point out that I found Reesa On quicker than you did? You have to admit I
have some skills."
"Not with a blaster," Obi-Wan muttered. He thought for a moment. He
knew Astri well enough to guess that if he didn't include her, she would
try to find the bounty hunter on her own. She would be safer with him.
"We can team up, but I need a couple of conditions," he said. "First
of all, you don't use a blaster."
"But I need protection," Astri protested. "And I'm getting better at
aiming."
Obi-Wan winced. "Sure. You came within five centimeters of killing me
instead of six. I'll make a deal with you. We have to wait until Tahl comes
up with information about Reesa On. I'll go back to the Temple with you and
choose a new weapon. We'll see how you do with a vibroblade. You should
have some kind of protection, I suppose."
"What's the other condition?" Astri asked.
"If things get dangerous, I'm going to ask you to return to the