[Jedi Quest] - 02(15)

“Of course, he has never met the Jedi,” Floria rushed toassure them.

Obi-Wan gave her an exasperated look. “Neither have you.If you had, you’d know we can see through flattery. Youthink Hunti Pereg can catch us.”

“Well, he is very good,” Floria said.

Obi-Wan stood, thinking a moment. Now that he knew thosevague feelings had a source, after all. He knew one thingfor sure: Wren had not left those clues. One of the bountyhunters had.

It was time to contact the Temple. A Jedi was in danger.He could feel it. But their comlinks had been blown up withthe ship.

“We were deliberately led into the malia den,” he toldAnakin. “And the cavern. Someone left those clues for ustp follow.”

“which mean that Wren …” Anakin began.

“Has been captured or possibly even killed,” Obi-Wanfinished gravely. “But why? Why is this Granta Omega afterus? What else do you know about him?”

“Not much. We’ve never seen him. We’ve communicatedthrough comm channels. The only thing that we know is therichest being in the galaxy,” Floria said.

“Not the richest,” Dane corrected. “You always exaggerate.”

“Okay, one of the richest,” Floria said.

“Why has he targeted the Jedi?” Anakin asked.

Floria and Dane shook their heads. “We don’t know,” Floriasaid. “In this business, you don’t ask too many questions.It’s better not to get too involved.”

“Speaking of which, hanging around with you too might bedangerous to our health,” Dane said. “So if you don’t mind,Floria and I will take our chances on Ragoon.” He grabbedFloria’s hand and began to edge away.

Obi-Wan blocked their path. “Not a chance,” he said firmly.”You’re not going anywhere until we find out exactly what’sgoing on. We might need your help.”

“What help could we possible be?” Floria asked. “We toldyou everything we know.”

“I’m sure you did not,” Obi-Wan said. “You know the bountyhunter who are after us. You’re not going anywhere until weknow mare about who is after us … and why.”





Chapter Nine


“So what now?” Anakin asked Obi-Wan.

“When you are the hunter, the best thing to do is turn thetables,” Obi-Wan said. “You must become the hunter.”

“Track the bounty hunters,” Anakin said.

Obi-Wan nodded. “We can start with the sleep bomb. It needa nearby power source, which won’t be far.”

“Whoa, wait a second,” Floria said. “I didn’t sign on forthis. If you’re going to chase down the rest of the bountyhunters, you’ve got to let us go. This could be dangerous.”

“Bounty hunting isn’t dangerous?” Anakin asked.

“We minimize our risk,” Dane said. He hooked his fingersinto his thick black utility belt. “Which doesn’t seem tobe a consideration for Jedi.”

“When it comes down to it, we just aren’t very brave.,”Floria confessed.

“Speak for yourself, Floria,” Dane said scowling.

Floria ignored him. “So it’s in your best interests to letus go. I tend to scream when trouble happens. And afterall, it isn’t fair. Bounty hunters are chasing you, not us.Why put us in harms way?”

“Let me ask you something,” Obi-Wan said. “Don’t you thinkthe bounty hunter knew you were aboard our ship beforeactivating the signal?”

Floria bit her lip. “You mean we’re a target, too?”

Obi-Wan shrugged. “Think about it. After all, the fewerbounty hunters there are, the easier it is to win theprize.”

“But there are rules!” Floria protested. “Bounty huntersare forbidden to attack one another.”

“In my experience, the larger the reward, the greater thechance that the rules will be broken,” Obi-Wan said.

“Granta Omega wouldn’t stand for it,” Floria said, but shesounded less certain.

“Would you bet your life on the ethics of a being who isusing bounty hunters to trap Jedi on a training exercise?”Obi-Wan asked mildly.

Floria was silent.

Obi-Wan waited while the sister and brother exchanged aglance. He was not about to let Floria and Dane go.Despite their assurances that they weren’t dangerous, thereward would still tempt them to make trouble for the Jedi.Obi-Wan had no doubt that he and Anakin could handle anyattack the bounty hunting team could launch at them, buthe’d rather not have to deal with it at all so that he couldfocus on rescuing Wren and getting to the bottom of who wasbehind this.

He wanted them close. But it was better that they think itwas in their best interests to stay with the Jedi.