[Jedi Quest] - 05(26)

“No, Reymet,” Obi-Wan said. “That’s why we came to you. We think Ferus is missing. We think it has something to do with what happened to Gillam Tarturi.”

“Will you help us?” Siri asked. “Ferus told us that you know secret things about the school.”

“I know some things,” Reymet said cautiously.

“We promise we won’t tell the school officials anything you show us,” Siri said.

Reymet still hesitated. “Unless you don’t tell us anything, and then we’d be forced to go to the school officials,” Obi-Wan pointed out.

“Whoa,” Reymet said. “In that case, I’d be happy to tell you everything I know.”

Obi-Wan noted that he sounded relieved. Maybe Reymet had a secret that had been a burden to keep, and that was why he kept hinting to Ferus that he knew something. “Follow me.”

The halls were emptying of students as Reymet quickly led them down to the ground level of the school.

“Class beginning. Mod seven.” The soft voice floated out from the speakers. “Mod seven. Class beginning.”

The hallway was empty. “Hurry,” Reymet hissed. “I only have a few minutes before I have to check in to my next class.”

He ducked into a storage closet, and Obi-Wan and Siri quickly followed. They crowded in next to him.

“Couldn’t you find a bigger place for us to hide?” Obi-Wan asked as he bumped into a durasteel toolbox.

“If you could just squeeze together, I can…” Reymet began to wiggle past them, then ducked down below them. “… okay, just a second… move your foot… no, the other way… thanks…”

Reymet unscrewed a panel from the wall. A large utility shaft opened up.

“In there,” he said.

“What’s in there?” Obi-Wan asked, peering in.

“When they renovated, they just built around all the old electrical and water systems,” Reymet explained. “It was cheaper than ripping them out. There’s a whole network of utility pipes still in place. They lead to the old system rooms.”

“Did you show Ferus this?” Siri asked.

Reymet nodded. “We were going to explore it together, during free time. I didn’t know he was missing. I would have looked for him - “

“Do you think he’s with Gillam?” Obi-Wan asked. He kept his gaze on Reymet.

Whatever reserve the young boy had crumbled. “I don’t know,” he said. “I think Gillam is still here, though. I saw him the night he disappeared. He knew about the old utility pipes, too.”

“Do you think Gillam is hiding?” Siri asked.

Reymet nodded. “I don’t blame him. With a father like that, I’d hide, too. That’s why I wouldn’t tell on him.” He looked uneasily at them. “But now I’m not so sure. I can see Gillam hiding, but I can’t see Ferus doing that. He isn’t mean like Gillam.”

“Gillam is mean?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have said that,” Reymet said. “He’s not mean, I guess. He’s just… not nice.” He shifted from one foot to the other uneasily. It was clear he was worried he’d said too much. “They’re doing extra security checks - and I’m late for class. One more demerit and I’m suspended. Not that having to leave this place would break my heart. But it just might break my old man.”

“Go,” Obi-Wan told him. “We’ll handle it from here.”

Reymet suddenly looked lost. “I really hope you find him. I like him a lot.” Reymet hurried out the door.

Obi-Wan peered into the pipe. He could see where the dust had been disturbed, but it was impossible to tell by whom or by how many.

“After you,” Siri said.

Obi-Wan climbed into the pipe. He had to stoop and move slowly because of his size. Siri had an easier time.

“Hurry,” she urged him.

“Would you like to go first?”

“If I could get around you, I would.”

Obi-Wan saw light at the end of the pipe and quickened his pace. He slid out of the pipe onto a springy floor. He realized that it was covered in moss. The large space had a damp, moldy smell. Mildew marked the walls in cloudy patterns. The smell was close and dank.

“This must have been some sort of holding tank,” Siri said. She took out a glow rod and held it up. “Makes sense if that was a water pipe.”

Obi-Wan felt the floor suck at his boots. “There’s a couple of passageways. Any ideas?” He turned to Siri, but he already felt the Force move in the space. She was looking keenly about her, sending out the Force, trying to reach her Padawan. Obi-Wan joined her, calling on the Force to help them locate Ferus.