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[Jedi Quest] - 03(28)



Tru hung back as Ferus walked off. “He’s just being careful,” he told Anakin.

Anakin’s teeth gritted. “Is that what you call it?” “You’ll understand him one day,” Tru said. “After you become friends.”

“I will never be friends with Ferus Olin,” Anakin answered savagely.

Tru studied him for a moment. “I feel… some darkness from you, Anakin. Your enemy is here. But Sebulba cannot hurt you anymore. Remember, Jedi do not have enemies.”

“I just want to win,” Anakin said.

“You mean you want to prevent injury and ensure fairness,” Tru corrected.

Anakin nodded. “That too.”





CHAPTER SIXTEEN


The Sleek Cruiser Inn was just as Didi had described it, a dilapidated building made of patchwork plasteel sheeting. Seeing a way to rake in more credits, the owner had leased out space in the hallways and closets. Travelers from around the galaxy had stashed gear in every spare space and were cooking up meals on portable stoves in the hallways. Others had rolled themselves in bedrolls in various corners and were trying to catch a nap between events. The smell of bodies, food, and dust was overwhelming. Even this far from the Games, the hum of the crowds in the arenas could be heard. Obi-Wan, Siri, and Ry-Gaul picked through the mess and knocked on Fligh’s door.

“I said I would settle the bill on the way out!” Fligh yelled behind the door. “Such a hospitable establishment, I can’t wait to return!” He flung the door open and saw the Jedi. He swallowed. “Ah, Jedi. Always a good sign.”

He stepped aside and let them enter. Belongings were stuffed into an open case. Still-wet laundry spilled out of a travel pack. A half-eaten meal was spread on the sleep couch. It was clear that Fligh was in the midst of a hasty departure.

“Leaving so soon?” Obi-Wan asked. “The Games have just begun.”

“I’m not a fan,” Fligh said, shrugging. “There you go.”

“Yet you came here to see the Games,” Obi-Wan pointed out. “Don’t you want to see how your bets turn out?”

Fligh laughed. “Why? You have made sure I don’t win. I may as well return to Coruscant and make my living honestly, as a thief.”

Siri and Ry-Gaul closed the door and stood in front of it. Obi-Wan casually flung one leg over a stool and sat. “A funny thing happened after we left you this morning. We took an air taxi - “

“Always a good idea,” High said nervously. “The streets are so crowded.”

” - and the pilot tried to crash it,” Obi-Wan went on. “Odd that he knew just where we were and where we were headed.”

“Maybe you were just lucky.”

“Maybe you’d like to accompany us to the security office of the Ruling Power and talk about it,” Obi-Wan said. It was a bluff. He did not want the Ruling Power to know that they were investigating.

Fligh gave a squeak of disappointment and threw himself down on the unmade sleep couch. “I knew I’d never make it off this blasted planet. All right. When you came to ask me about the fixed events, you made me nervous. Why wouldn’t I be? I saw my fortune disappearing in front of my eyes. So I might have alerted someone as to your presence. They weren’t supposed to kill you. Just delay you. I swear! Didi is my friend. I would never allow harm to come to him. And if you think I’d tangle with Jedi, you underestimate my cowardice.”

“Yet you lie to us,” Obi-Wan said.

“And that is never a good idea,” Siri said.

Ry-Gaul did not have to say a word. His fierce looks spoke for him.

“Yes, I see what you mean,” Fligh said, backing away on the sleep couch.

“Now, tell me again about your friend Quentor,” Obi-Wan said, leaning forward.

“Ha ha,” Fligh said. “I see you know about my little joke. I thought it better to protect a friend than expose him.”

“Who?” Obi-Wan asked softly. “And tell me the truth this time.”

“Aarno Dering,” Fligh said. “Weeks ago, I was contacted anonymously. Through messages on my datapad. I was asked to find someone who could rig a false timing device for a major race. Credits were transferred into my account with a promise of a sure bet to come. I happened to know just the person they needed. Aarno had been the timekeeper for races in the Outer Rim. He was known for a certain… uh, casualness when it came to scorekeeping. Then the anonymous person said they would hire Aarno for the Galactic Games. The Galactic Games! I had no idea it was for something so grand.”

“How could he pass scrutiny?” Siri wondered. “The timers and judges are screened very closely.”