Obi-Wan strode away. Anakin let out a long breath.
“I have more things to learn about patience,” he said. “I don’t know how you keep your temper sometimes, Master.”
“Indulging momentary irritation is nothing more than a distraction,” Obi-Wan answered. “Liviani is worried that if disruptions occur it will reflect badly on her. We have more important things to do. When Aarno Dering left his room, did you notice anything significant?”
He watched as his Padawan frowned, thinking. Then Anakin’s face brightened.
“He was just sliding his datapad into his tunic with his left hand. He dropped it when he saw us. It fell in the doorway and the door did not shut.”
“Exactly,” Obi-Wan said. “I think we might want to take a peek into the life of Aarno Dering.”
They passed through the security gate again and quickly made their way to Dering’s room. It was only a matter of time before the security officers arrived. Obi-Wan wasn’t sure how cooperative they would be with the Jedi.
The datapad lay in the doorway. Obi-Wan handed it to Anakin and reached down for a small folder that had been dropped as well. In it was a text doc ID for someone named Ak Duranc.
“It’s a false text doc for Aarno Dering,” he told Anakin. “Often new identities use the same initials as the being’s real name. It helps them to remember their new identity.”
“But what does it mean?” Anakin asked. “Why would Dering want a new identity?”
“There’s only one reason,” Obi-Wan said. “He was afraid he would get caught. The question is why.” He tapped the text doc thoughtfully against his leg. “Beings don’t go to this much trouble without cause. He was afraid. But of what?”
Obi-Wan surveyed the room. It was small and neat. Everything was put away. A closed travel pack sat on a table. Two chronos sat by the sleep couch. Obi-Wan picked them up.
“They are set to wake him up,” he said. “He used two so that he would not oversleep.” He placed them back where he’d found them. “Interesting. A chrono expert who does not trust chronos.”
“Master, look at this.” Anakin bent over a holofile. “He didn’t code any of his files.”
“He was worried enough to get a new identity, but he didn’t have time to code his files,” Obi-Wan mused. “That meant he was once confident that he wouldn’t get caught.”
“He’s noted the events that he’s set up the timing system for. The bowcaster skill contest and holographic obstacle course are the only ones left. But Master…” Anakin looked up. “The Podrace is here, too.”
Obi-Wan came over and studied the file. “So. Whoever is behind fixing the games could be fixing the Podrace, too.”
Anakin tapped the datapad. “This means that Doby and Deland don’t stand a chance. The winner has already been chosen.”
“Possibly. We don’t know anything for sure yet.”
“What I don’t understand is how a Podrace can be fixed,” Anakin continued. “It’s not like an obstacle swoop race, where individual segments are timed. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins. You can’t guarantee that someone won’t crack up or crash. I wouldn’t take the bet, even if someone told me the race was fixed.”
Obi-Wan nodded. “I see what you mean. But it can’t be a coincidence that the corrupt timing judge has agreed to time the race.” He stared at the neat belongings of Aarno Dering while he considered their next step. He knew it was inevitable, but he didn’t like it. He would have to send Anakin back to the Podracers.
“This could be a larger-scale operation than I thought,” he said aloud. “No doubt Fligh didn’t tell us everything. And no doubt there are parts to this that even Fligh doesn’t know. I will contact Siri and Ry-Gaul to see if they have discovered anything. Anakin, you must go back to the Podracers.” Obi-Wan did not like the way Anakin’s face brightened at this. “You have made friends with Doby and Deland. See if they know how the race could be fixed and if there is heavy betting going on.”
“And what will you do, Master?”
“I’m going to work from the opposite end. If we want to find out who is fixing the events, we have to find out who benefits. That means that someone, or a group of beings, are placing bets on the outcome.”
“But how can you discover who that is?”
“I have to reacquaint myself with Uso Yso.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Anakin piloted Doby and Deland’s speeder back to the Podrace hangar, leaving Obi-Wan as he checked in with Siri and Ry-Gaul to see if other complications had sprung up. Anakin was glad that the investigation had allowed him to return. He already felt that Doby and Deland were friends. He’d made a promise to them, and he intended to keep it. The best part was that he could do this and still follow Obi-Wan’s instructions. Working on their Podracer would be the perfect cover for him to keep his eyes and ears open.