[Jedi Quest] - 00(16)

He was exploring the third corridor, running as fast as he dared, when he heard the unmistakable quick metallic steps of a troop of attack droids. Obi-Wan had only seconds to decide whether to engage them or run. With Anakin still on the loose, he chose to double back and duck into the adjacent corridor.

But this one wasn’t empty. It was full of pirates.

There were at least twenty of them. They were just as surprised as he was and fumbled for their weapons. Obi-Wan leaped forward, activating his lightsaber, ready for the first assault.

As the pirates registered his lightsaber, they seemed stunned. To Obi-Wan’s surprise, a group in front slowly lowered their weapons. Every pirate in the room followed, laying his or her weapon on the floor.

One of the pirates stepped forward. Obi-Wan noted that his tunic was almost in rags.

“We are at your mercy, Jedi,” he said.

Warily, Obi-Wan kept his lightsaber activated.

The pirate spoke in a hushed tone. “I am Condi, from the planet Zoraster. I am not a pirate. I am a slave. As are my companions. Stolen from our home worlds by Krayn. Under penalty of death, we have been assigned guard duty aboard the ship.” Condi looked at him eagerly. “Thank the moons and stars, we have rescue in our grasp at last.”

Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber. The naked desperation on Condi’s face unnerved him. It was mirrored in the faces of his companions. All of them had obviously suffered great deprivations.

“I am sorry,” he said. “I have not come on a rescue mission.”

Condi’s face fell, then brightened. “But you can take us with you. We will help you fight.”

“I cannot.” Obi-Wan felt these two words were the most difficult he had ever said. “I have only a small ship, big enough for me and my companion.” He wanted to promise them he would return, but how could he make that promise? If he got off the ship safely with Anakin, Krayn would be gone. The ship could hide anywhere in the galaxy. He believed too strongly in a Jedi promise to make one he did not know if he could fulfill.

Someone spoke from the back. “So you leave us here, like this?”

Obi-Wan did not know how to answer. “I will do my best to help you,” he finally said. “But not here. Not now. In order to help you, I must get off this ship.”

Condi swallowed. “Then we will help you.”

“No.” Obi-Wan shook his head firmly. “That I will not allow. It will put you in danger. The best thing we can do for each other is part ways here.”

Condi’s face was full of anguish, but he nodded with dignity. “We have never seen you, Jedi.”

“Thank you.” Obi-Wan caught a flicker of movement at the end of the corridor. Anakin!

He raced through the slaves and toward his Padawan. Anakin saw him and stopped. He knew better than to run.

Obi-Wan came up. “Anakin, I have no time to argue with you. We must go.”

“There are patrols everywhere,” Anakin told him. “I can’t find Krayn.”

“Our best chance to destroy this operation is to leave this ship at once,” Obi-Wan told him urgently.

“But he’s here, now!” Anakin argued. “We can destroy him.”

“Marking a being for death is not the Jedi way,” Obi-Wan told him severely.

“Even when that being enslaves others, kills them as if they were nothing, imprisons them against their will?” Anakin argued. “I heard the slaves beg you to help them. I saw you turn your back on them. How can you abandon them to such misery? Every day for a slave is another chance to die. Killing Krayn will free them. How can you do this?”

“Anakin, you must be logical,” Obi-Wan said, struggling to hold on to his composure. “How can I help them? If we want to bring down Krayn’s empire, we must have a plan. We can’t just sneak aboard his ship and hope to run into him.”

“It seems as good a plan as any.”

“It’s not. And it could result in our deaths, and the deaths of many. If one miscalculation or mistake on our part occurs, Krayn will take his revenge on those he controls - the slaves. Our best plan is to leave now and get the Council to pledge their resources to bring down Krayn. There will be no more arguments here. Time is running out. Guards are most likely searching for us now, and I don’t think the Colicoids will wait for our return much longer. Now come. You must understand that this is the best way.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t understand!” Anakin shouted.

Obi-Wan was startled at Anakin’s vehemence, but he kept his gaze on him, willing him to obey.

Anakin hesitated. He cast his eyes down sullenly. He would not disobey a direct order. Reluctantly, he nodded. Obi-Wan could tell that fury and frustration boiled within him.