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[Jedi Quest] - 02(22)



They spit up and searched the area thoroughly, but theycould not find the ship the bounty hunter had used.

“One of the other bounty hunters must have stolen it,” Obi-Wan said. “Mol Arcasite, perhaps.”

“Do you think she killed him?”

“Possibly,” Obi-Wan said. “But one of the others could havedone it. We have no way to know.”

“What now?” Anakin wondered. “We’re stuck on the planetwith no comm unit.”

“We have one last sabaac card to play,” Obi-Wan said. Heturned to Floria and Dane.

“What?” Floria shifted nervously. “We told you everythingwe know.”

“I don’t think so,” Obi-Wan answered. “If you had capturedus, where would you have taken us?”

“To Granta Omega, of course,” Dane answered.

“How would you have contacted him?” Obi-Wan asked. “Youmust have some sort of prearranged loine of communication.”

Floria and Dane gave each other a nervous look.

“Because you’re going to use it. You’re going to contacthim and tell him that you’ve captured us,” Obi-Wan said.”And you’re going to ask him to meet you on Ragoon-6.”

“What if we do?” Floria asked. “Do you think we’re crazyenough to contact Granta Omega and lie to him?”

Obi-Wan merely look at them. It was enough.

“All right, all right,” Floria muttered. “We’ll contactGranta Omega and lie to him. Just arrange a really nicefuneral for us, will you?”

Obi-Wan shook his head. “No funerals. But the game isover. We’re not chasing any more bounty hunters. GrantaOmega will come to us.”

Floria agreed grudgingly. “I guess we’ll cooperate. I’mtired of trying to outthink you, anyway. Obviously, we’reoutmatched. Besides, I’m starting to like you. And I betDane is, too.”

Dane groaned. “Guilty. Some bounty hunter we are. Webefriend our prey instead of betraying them. Okay.” Hegazed seriously at Obi-Wan. “If we do this, will youprotect us?”

Obi-Wan nodded. “You have my word.”

Slowly, Dane withdrew a comlink from a hidden pocket in hiscloak. “It’s only got one channel,” he said. “It’s adirect line to Omega.” Dane activated it and inputted acode.

“We have the Jedi,” he said. “But lost our transport. Youmust come to us.”

He listened for a moment, then shut off the comlink. “He’sagreed to meet us. He sounded surprised that Floria and Iwere the ones to catch you. Kind of insulting, actually.But he’s coming.” Dane looked at his sister.”Unfortunately, he wants to meet us at the top of themountain.”

Floria groaned. “Not again.”

“Don’t worry,” Obi-Wan said. “We’ll get up a faster way.”

This time, they did not follow the trail. They used thecable launchers to vault straight up the cliffs. From thatspot, they were able to hike above the tree line. The airwas thin and cold here, and Obi-Wan and Anakin paused to dontheir thermal capes. The snow was ankle-deep on the trail.

“There’s a good chance he’ll be wary,” Obi-Wan told Anakin.”We must pretend to be Dan and Floria’s prisoners until thelast possible moment. I don’t have to tell you that we needto take Granta Omega alive. Perhaps more important thancatching him will be finding out why and how he targetedus.”

Floria and Dane slipped laser cuffs over Anakin and Obi-Wan’s wrists but did not seal them. It would appear thatthe two were prisoners. They marched ahead of Floria andDane.

“Wasn’t it your idea to become bounty hunters?” Floriagrumbled to her brother as she pushed her way through thesnow. “Floria, we can see that galaxy. Floria, it will befun. Floria, it’s an easy way to make a fortune -“

“Floria, you’re driving me crazy,” Dane interrupted.

“We’re getting closer, you two,” Obi-Wan warned from behindthem. “Try to act like professionals. We could be undersurveillance.”

“Master, there is someone ahead,” Anakin said under hisbreath.

A humanoid male sat on top of ice-encrusted snow ahead. Hewas dressed all in white, and had blended in with the snow.

“It must be Hunti Pereg,” Dane murmured to them. “He’s theonly bounty hunter left.”

The stranger did not move as they approached.

“Greetings,” Dane called. “We are Dane and Floria, bountyhunters. We have caught the Jedi.”

The man smiled pleasantly. “I can see that.Congratulations. I am Hunti Pereg. Bounty hunter as well.”

Obi-Wan was poised for an assault. Surely the fearsomeHunti Pereg would not let two children take away his prize.His face looked fierce and frightening. It had the patched-together of a recent application of synth-flesh, as thoughhe had been badly injured.