[Jedi Quest] - 02(27)

“Do you think Granta Omega is a Sith?’

“No,” Obi-Wan said, “If he were, we would have known it. Ithink he is an ordinary being with a gift for concealment ona very deep level. He could have dealings with a Sith, or aSith cult. But he himself is not a Dark Lord. I think hewanted us to find this case. He wants us to know exactlyhow dangerous he is, and how far he is willing to go.”

Obi-Wan gazed down the mountain and took in the loweringsky. Clouds rumbled, and snow suddenly began to fall, thickand fast.

“We have a new enemy, Padawan.”





Chapter Seventeen


Anakin put his hand on his lightsaber hilt. “I am ready,Master.”

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at him. “ready for what?”

“To go after Granta Omega.” Anakin swallowed against theacid in his throat. The power of the Sith case was fading.He could face whatever Granta Omega would throw at them.

“We’re not going after Omega,” Obi-wan said. “He’s longgone. We’d never be able to track him through the galaxy.”

“Never? One should not use absolute statements,” Anakinsaid. One corner of his mouth twitched, a sure sign he wastrying not to grin.

“It would be extremely difficult, then,” Obi-Wan amendedwith a small smile. “And we have a wounded Jedi to see to.Have you forgotten that, Padawan?”

“We could drop Wren off at the Temple and retrace oursteps,” Anakin said. “We can’t just let Omega go!”

“That’s exactly what we can do,” Obi-Wan said firmly. “Donot chase trouble, Padawan. There are not many guaranteesin the galaxy, but I guarantee you this: Trouble will findyou.”

Anakin pressed his lips together. He did not agree with hisMaster’s decision. They had stumbled on a powerful evil.Was it right to let it slip through their fingers? Itwasn’t like Obi-Wan to turn away from danger.

Unless he fears I cannot handle it.

Another doubt. They were crowding his mind on this planet.Was this the true purpose of the training exercise?

Obi-Wan knew how unnerved Anakin had been during theirencounter with the Holocron. Perhaps he was afraid thatAnakin would not be able to handle another mission dealingwith the Sith or Sith followers so soon. He had almost nottold Anakin what he had found. Anakin has seen that. Eventhough they had not encountered a Sith since the mission toNaboo, Anakin had been rocked by the dark evil of the Sithjust being near the order’s artifacts.

He is always trying to protect me. He does not trust me.What is the good of this exercise if Obi-Wan still doesn’thave faith in me?

The thoughts crashed against his skull. Anakin tried toquiet them, to find the clarity and peace that Obi-Wanseemed to carry with him so easily, like a tool on hisutility belt.

Obi-Wan slid the case into his cloak. “We will bring thisback to the Temple and deposit it with the Sith Holocron.That will keep it safe. Now, let us return to Coruscant.”

Wren was weakened but already beginning to recover when theyreturned to him. He was able to walk to the cruiser. Theysettled him inside and Obi-Wan administered more bacta.

“We’ll be in Coruscant by morning,” he told him.

Wren gave him a wan smile. “I will be glad to see theTemple. This exercise did not go as I expected.”

“Yes, you must be surprised,” Anakin agreed with a straightface. “After all, I found you on the first day, just as Ipromised.”

“I hardly think it counts,” Wren said, drawing the blanketaround his shoulder huffily.

“I don’t see why not,” Anakin said, flashing Obi-Wan a quickgrin.

Obi-Wan grinned back. “I think we should let Wren rest.Maybe you should concentrate on piloting the ship.”

They picked up the body of the Tursha and shot out of thesparkling green-blue atmosphere of Ragoon. The trip toCoruscant went quickly. Anakin admired the bounty hunter’ssleek, fast ship.

“These sublight engines are tweaked,” he said as he easedinto a shipping lane on Coruscant t dawn. “Any chance wecan confiscate this ship for the Temple?” He gave a quickglance at Obi-Wan. “okay, okay. I know. We have to turnit over to the Senate .”

“We have to turn in Floria and Dane, too,” Obi-Wan saidsoftly.

“What?” Floria had come up behind them. Her mouth was openand her cheeks were pink.

“You broke any number of galactic laws,” Obi-Wan said. “Youtried to kidnap two Jedi. You sabotaged a cruiser. You-“

“But we helped you!” Floria protested.

“You didn’t have much choice,” Obi-Wan pointed out. “Don’tworry, I’m sure the security authorities won’t detain youfor long. They will try to place you with a family forrehabilitation.”