[Jedi Quest] - 05(28)

“They’d have to count on a great deal of chaos and confusion,” Siri said. “There are many tests that can be done to determine identity.”

“The secret squad is going to help start a war between Andara and the rest of the planets in the system,” Obi-Wan said. “They may not realize it, but they will. That will certainly create chaos.” He suddenly realized what Ferus, brooding in this damp cell, had already put together. “They just need a body.” He thought back to the information he had on Gillam, to the boy’s height and weight and coloring. “And they’ve chosen - “

“Anakin,” Ferus said.





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


“If this doesn’t work, I don’t know you,” Rana Halion said. Her spiky white hair seemed to bristle like fur as she surveyed the secret squad.

Marit nodded. “Understood.”

“But it had better work,” Rana Halion added. “It will,” Rolai said.

Rana Halion’s transparent blue eyes swept the group. She sighed. “If you didn’t come so highly recommended, I wouldn’t believe it,” she murmured. “You look like a bunch of kids.”

Anakin had to agree. Rolai was skinny and pale beneath his Bothan mane. Ze was plump. Tulah always looked as though he had just woken from a nap, and Hurana appeared slight and shy.

But he had seen that Rolai was tough, almost ruthless, Ze could dissect and solve any technical problem in five minutes or less, Tulah had a brilliant mind for strategy, and Hurana had convictions and no fear. Marit was smart and resourceful. He would put his own trust in this squad.

Rana pushed a contact button on her gold cuff and watched as a digital coded message flashed at her. “I don’t have much time. Who is your lead pilot?” Anakin stepped forward. “I am.”

Rana looked at him intently. Anakin thought it could have been the most intimidating glance he’d ever experienced - if he hadn’t grown up at the Temple. Once you’ve faced Jedi like Mace Windu, no one else could intimidate you. He did not drop his own gaze and met hers without flinching.

She gave a short nod. “You seem competent. Can you pilot a starfighter?”

“I can fly anything.”

“I almost believe it,” she murmured, giving him another glance. “Do you know how to fire laser cannons at a target?”

Anakin glanced at Marit. “I thought there was to be no active firing.”

Rana looked exasperated. “Who’s in charge here?” “We all are,” Rolai broke in crisply. “And we all know how to fire laser cannons. We’ve been over this.”

“Have you thoroughly briefed the squad?” Rana asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

“Not with the final details,” Rolai said smoothly. “We were waiting for the exact time of departure and target details.”

Rana glanced at her cuff again. “Do it then. You can inspect the starfighters. You leave in thirty minutes.”

Marit exploded as soon as Rana was out of the room. “What was that all about? What do you mean, you haven’t briefed the squad? What do you know that we don’t know? We’re supposed to vote on everything!”

“Calm down,” Rolai said with a glance at the door to make sure Rana was out of earshot.

“Don’t tell me to calm down,” Marit answered hotly. “Tell me the truth!”

“The mission just changed a bit,” Rolai said. “We’re supposed to fire on the fleet.”

“Fire on the fleet?” Anakin asked. “But that’s a declaration of war!”

“That’s not our problem,” Rolai said. “We’re hired to do the job. That’s all.”

“Wait,” Marit said. “Why didn’t you tell us this?” She looked at Ze, Hurana, and Tulah. Their gazes slid away. “You all knew, and I didn’t?”

“I didn’t know, either,” Anakin pointed out.

But no one was paying attention to Anakin. “We all voted to wait to tell you until we got here,” Hurana said. She didn’t meet Marit’s hot gaze.

“We thought you might object,” Rolai said. “After the last mission, you had some misgivings about organic damage.”

“Organic damage?” Marit said in disbelief. “Is that what you’re calling it now? They were living beings!”

“Marit, what do you think we’re doing?” Rolai asked. “This isn’t school. It isn’t a game. We all agreed we would start this as a business and run it as a business. We all agreed that we would make our own destinies.”

“That’s the point,” Marit said angrily. “We all agreed. We didn’t leave someone out.”