“Okay,” Anakin said cheerfully.
He joined up with Obi-Wan and Den, who was concluding the tour. As soon as they were outside, he repeated the conversation to Obi-Wan.
“I’m telling you, something’s up with this guy,” Den said. “Readout tech workers are totally separate from motor experts. They don’t know about sublight engines. They just send the information to the mechanics.”
“He could have worked on engines before,” Obi-Wan pointed out.
“But it doesn’t say that in his text doc,” Den shot back.
Obi-Wan frowned. “I know. Let’s go back to my cabin.”
It was at times like this that Obi-Wan missed Tahl. When he’d been with Qui-Gon, they could always rely on Tahl to do an exhaustive search, using all her contacts. She inevitably turned up clues that brought them to the next step. And she’d done it fast.
He didn’t know Tnani Ikon, the Jedi Knight now in charge of computer searches at theTemple. But Obi-Wan called him and quickly told him that they needed deep research on Kern, sending Tnani all the text-doc information they already had. He asked for priority, but he could never be sure what other Jedi missions were at stake. Obi-Wan cut the communication but did not put away his comlink.
“What is it?” Anakin asked.
“I have an idea.” Obi-Wan contacted Tnani again. “While you’re doing the search, can you also investigate any Kerns who have died within the last twenty years?”
The impassive Jedi Knight did not question Obi-Wan. “I will do so.”
Obi-Wan cut the communication again. Den looked at him quizzically.
“What was that about? Sure, the guy is ugly, but he doesn’t look dead,” Den said.
“I’m still thinking about that high security clearance,” Obi-Wan said, tucking his comlink back into his utility belt. “I remember that Qui-Gon told me that there are secret operatives called “no-names” who are used by the Senate. They use fabricated identities that are retired when they die. Except Qui-Gon knew of several cases where if someone had enough money or influence they could buy a retired identity.” Obi-Wan shrugged. “Maybe Kern is a purchased identity. It’s worth checking into.”
“I knew I needed you!” Den said, clapping Obi-Wan on the back.
“But if Kern is a bought identity, that means that somebody powerful wanted him to infiltrate this ship,” Anakin said. “Who could it be? And why?”
“That,” Obi-Wan said, “just might turn out to be the most important question of all.”
CHAPTER 17
Den had to return to his job—”They’ve got me raising vegetables, can you believe that?”—so while he was waiting for Tnani to reply, Obi-Wan suggested to Anakin that they strike up conversations with some of the residents of the BioCruiser. They spoke to as many beings as they could—a librarian, a tech worker, a teacher, a former ruler of her planet who was now an administrator aboard ship. Each of them spoke glowingly of Uni and their life aboard the BioCruiser. Each of them looked at their decision to leave their worlds as a kind of salvation.
“What do you think?” Obi-Wan asked Anakin as they headed to a nearby café for themiddaymeal. “Do they seem brainwashed to you?” He was always curious about Anakin’s perceptions. Often he was startled to discover they were sharper than his own. Anakin saw things intuitively, while Obi-Wan knew he had a tendency to overanalyze.
“Not brainwashed,” Anakin said.”Just sad, somehow.”
“Sad?”
“Well, they gave up. That’s always sad, isn’t it? And leaving your family and friends behind makes you sad, too. They push it way down. But it’s there. It’s there in their dreams. Where else can it go?”
Intrigued, Obi-Wan mulled over Anakin’s words. He would not have phrased it that way or perhaps even formed the same thoughts, but Anakin had put his finger on what was bothering him.
The only trouble was, they couldn’t bring a charge of “instituting sadness” back to the Senate. They hadn’t really found any evidence against Uni.
A group of security officers suddenly wheeled around the corner in lockstep. Obi-Wan watched them curiously at first. Then his instinct kicked in. The officers were coming for the Jedi.
The officers were armed with blasters (still in their holsters) and electro-jabbers (in their hands). Anakin had picked up on the disturbance in the Force a beat later than Obi-Wan. He tensed and glanced at his Master, uncertain of what to do. Obi-Wan didn’t want to engage with security aboard the vessel. This was to be a peaceful investigation, nothing more.