[Jedi Apprentice] - Special Edition - 02(6)

Obi-Wan nodded and moved quietly down the corridor, away from Qui-Gon. He tried doors and reached out with his senses. Lundi had such a strong presence that Obi-Wan did not think he would be hard to find.

After a few minutes Obi-Wan saw the open doors to the ship’s bridge. Pressing himself against the corridor wall, he paused and listened. The captain was at the helm, of course. But someone else was there as well.

It only took Obi-Wan a moment to realize it was Lundi. But what was he doing at the ship’s controls?

Looking around, Obi-Wan quickly spotted a maintenance ladder. It led to a catwalk that trailed over the bridge and toward several hyperdrive access panels. If he pulled himself along on his stomach, and the captain and Lundi did not look up, he could get close enough to hear what they were saying. Obi-Wan climbed up.

“You don’t seem to be understanding me, captain,” Lundi said in a low, menacing voice. “I am not asking you to stop on Nolar. I am telling you.”

“And you don’t seem to understand that this ship is not going to Nolar. It’s going to Lisal!” the captain bellowed. He slammed a meaty fist down on the controls, sending a small piece flying.

“But I don’t need to go to Lisal,” Lundi said, holding his ground.

Obi-Wan inched farther out on the catwalk until he was almost directly over Lundi and the captain.

Lundi’s head moved slowly back and forth as he fiddled with something under his robe. The captain followed the Quermian’s small head with his eyes.

“I will only say this once more,” Lundi said, his head still swaying. “The equipment I need is on Nolar. You will stop on Nolar. I will make it very worth your trip.”

With a great effort the captain looked away from the Quermian’s face and down at the folds of the professor’s robe.

Obi-Wan could barely see something sparkle in Lundi’s hands - he could have had something very valuable. Whatever it was, it seemed to change the captain’s mind.

“I’ll stop, but I’m not waiting,” the captain finally spat.

“You will not regret it,” Lundi growled back.





CHAPTER 5


The ship landed on Nolar within an hour. Obi-Wan barely had time to find his Master and brief him on what he’d heard on the bridge.

After Lundi quickly disembarked on Nolar, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon pushed their way past the puzzled captain. The Jedi followed as the professor made his way into a tiny, adjoining hangar. There was one small ship inside, and Lundi spoke briefly with its pilot before leaving the hangar.

“It looks like he just booked continuing passage,” Obi-Wan said thoughtfully as the Jedi followed Lundi into the city. “But I was under the impression that Nolar was his final destination. Where do you think he’s going?”

Qui-Gon let out a slow breath. “We shall soon see.”

The capital city of Nolari was bustling. There was a great deal of both air and foot traffic. The city was populated by beings from many parts of the galaxy.

Obi-Wan tried to stay close to his Master, who strode purposefully ahead.

It wasn’t difficult to keep track of Murk Lundi. His long neck, multiple arms, and tiny head made him an easy visual target, even in a densely populated metropolis like Nolari. But it was not long before an uneasy feeling came over Obi-Wan. He sensed that someone or something was following them. But what, or who?

Without slowing down, Qui-Gon turned back to his apprentice. “Stay close to me,” he said quietly. “I think we are being followed.”

“I feel a presence too, Master,” Obi-Wan replied. “But I am not getting any sense of who it might be.”

Qui-Gon began to move more quickly through the crowds. Obi-Wan was accustomed to his Master’s long, powerful strides, but he found it difficult to move inconspicuously. In spite of the varied populace, their smelly mechanics’ uniforms seemed to stick out.

Looking fleetingly over his shoulder, Obi-Wan suddenly spotted their pursuer - a humanoid figure wearing a long cape and a helmet.

“I see him, Master,” Obi-Wan spoke quietly. “About forty paces behind us, to the right.”

Qui-Gon nodded curtly. “We’re going to have to split up,” he said. “I will follow Murk. You should lead our new friend away from me, and then double back to see who he or she is.”

Obi-Wan nodded. He looked over his shoulder a second time. By the time he cast his eyes forward again, Qui-Gon had disappeared into the throng.

Obi-Wan made a sharp left turn. Using his peripheral vision he saw his pursuer stop for an instant, as if unsure of which way to go. A moment later, he continued to follow Obi-Wan.

Relieved, Obi-Wan moved ahead. He zigzagged through a crowded marketplace, barely pausing to look at the delectable fruits and vegetables sold at various stands. Several vendors called out to him, aggressively trying to sell their foods. Obi-Wan’s stomach growled. Unfortunately there was no time for a snack.