[Jedi Apprentice] - 13(28)

After a few moments Uta S’orn emerged and took the route Obi-Wan had predicted. Obi-Wan and Siri headed back the way they had come. They waited at the curve of the tunnel.

“What if Ona Nobis comes from behind us?” Siri whispered.

“We run,” Obi-Wan whispered back.

To Obi-Wan’s surprise, a small vent in the ceiling over the food trays opened. Ona Nobis slithered through, her Sorrusian skeletal system compressing to allow her to fit through the tiny space.

Siri’s hand went to her lightsaber. She began to draw it out. In a swift move, Obi-Wan put his hand on her wrist to stop her. She glared at him, but he did not let go.

Ona Nobis picked up the sweet fruit tart from one tray and popped it in her mouth. Quickly, she gobbled up the second tart, then wiped her fingers delicately on her tunic.

“Sneak,” Siri whispered in Obi-Wan’s ear.

Ona Nobis pushed the food trays through the vent overhead. Then she hoisted herself up and through.

“We should have attacked,” Siri whispered fiercely after Nobis disappeared.

“Siri, Qui-Gon told us not to,” Obi-Wan said irritably.

“But we were so close! And she didn’t have her whip,” Siri argued. Her blue eyes glinted a challenge in the darkness of the tunnel, and she     thrust her chin at Obi-Wan. “Or were you afraid to meet her again?”





CHAPTER 19


Adi and Qui-Gon listened to Siri and Obi-Wan’s story. Adi gave a satisfied nod.

“They’re here. That means that Noor is here as well.” Adi glanced at Qui-Gon. “We have enough to speak to the Leader. We must take the risk.”

“I agree,” Qui-Gon said. “If we are lucky, we will avoid a battle. Whether Uta S’orn is being forced to hide Zan Arbor or not, he must be told.”

Around them, preparations for a celebration had begun. The Leader had decided to throw a grand party for the city of Senta. More and more of the population streamed into the royal grounds. The gardens glowed with candles and lights. Musicians were beginning to set up near the flower garden. Servants, officials, and townspeople milled about on the lawns, fragrant with evening dew.

Min K’atel sat, beaming, with his wife. Their daughter sat between them, wrapped in a warm quilt. Uta S’orn sat to their right. As the Jedi walked toward him, Min K’atel’s wide smile faded and he fixed them with a stony glance.

“I have received a report that saboteurs broke into the water purification center, no doubt to reintroduce more deadly bacteria,” he said. “My security chief tells me these saboteurs were Jedi. Either you are impersonating Jedi, or everything I know of your order is wrong. Which is it?”

The Leader gave a signal, and the gleaming guard droids appeared, flanking the group of Jedi.

“We are neither saboteurs nor impersonators,” Adi said in her strong, commanding voice. “We are Jedi Knights, come to find one of our own and to investigate your troubles.”

“We do not need your help,” Min K’atel said haughtily.

“But you need to know what we discovered,” Qui-Gon said. “The bacteria in your water supply was deliberately introduced.”

“You are strangers here,” Min K’atel replied stonily. “You do not know that on Belasco, this bacteria arrives every seven years.”

“We do know this,” Qui-Gon said. “As did the person who bioengineered the bacteria to reproduce. She knew that you would not suspect that it was artificially introduced into your system because it was something you had seen before. But this bacteria was different. It was meant to multiply in response to the attempt to contain it.”

Min K’atel stared at them. “And who would do this thing, and why?”

“Someone who stood to profit by eliminating it,” Adi replied. “A brilliant scientist named Jenna Zan Arbor. She is behind the scientific group who will cure it, and she will make a fortune, enough to help her escape justice and remain a fugitive.”

“She is not Belascan,” Min K’atel guessed. “How could she do such a thing without help?”

“She had the help of a prominent Belascan who had access to areas of the highest security,” Adi responded. She fixed her commanding gaze on Uta S’orn.

S’orn did not bluster or deny the charge. She raised an eyebrow and looked disdainfully at the Jedi.

Min K’atel glanced at S’orn. “This is preposterous,” he said. “You try to cover your own involvement by accusing one of Belasco’s finest citizens! I will contact the Jedi Council. I will not let this accusation stand!”

“Uta S’orn is hiding Jenna Zan Arbor and the Jedi Master she is holding hostage,” Qui-Gon stated. “If you would give the order to search her quarters, you would find them.”