[Jedi Quest] - 07(10)

“Maybe he was an inefficient spy,” Shalini said. “Maybe his mission was over. Maybe he was tired of the cold.” She eyed Obi-Wan curiously. “Why don’t you say what you mean?”

“There could be another spy,” Obi-Wan said. “Or Samdew might have been innocent. He did not get a chance to defend himself.”

“He shot Thik!” Shalini said.

“He was aiming at Mezdec,” Obi-Wan reminded her. “The only person who had identified him as a spy.”

“What are you saying?” Hostility tinged Shalini’s words now.

Shalini’s voice had risen, and Thik and Olanz looked over. Rajana and Mezdec could not hear.

“We’re just going over what happened,” Obi-Wan said. “We want to make sure that what you think happened really happened.”

“I know what happened,” Shalini insisted.

“You know what Mezdec told you,” Obi-Wan said. “There is a difference. It could be a crucial one. Are you willing to gamble your planet’s freedom on your faith in him?”

“Yes,” Shalini said with complete certainty.

“I’m not,” Olanz said quietly, coming up with Thik. “The Jedi might have a point, Shalini. We are relying on Mezdec for our proof.”

Shalini looked at the two of them with disbelief. “Mezdec is not a traitor. He is as loyal to TyphaDor as I am, as committed to bringing the plans back as I am.”

Anakin noticed that she touched her utility belt when she spoke.

“May we see the disk?” he asked.

Shalini looked at him angrily, but she reached into a hidden pocket on her belt and handed Obi-Wan the disk.

Obi-Wan accessed it on his datapad. It was empty of information.

Shalini stared at the disk in shock. “I don’t know how…”

“Was the disk ever out of your sight?” Obi-Wan asked urgently.

She bit her lip. “No, never. But Mezdec checked my blaster and my emergency supplies on my utility belt before we left. He said he wanted to do it, to make sure I would be safe….” Her voice trailed off. “I have a second disk. I didn’t tell Mezdec. The invasion plans are safe.”

Rajana’s voice rose. “I’m getting radar activity. I think it’s a destroyer.”

“Where is Mezdec?” Shalini cried. Mezdec had disappeared.

Anakin and Obi-Wan sprang up. “Emergency pod,” Obi-Wan said.

They raced to the rear of the ship. Mezdec was accessing the emergency door. He ran inside.

The ship suddenly shook as laser cannonfire erupted.

“We’re under attack!” Rajana shouted from the cockpit. “I need help here!”

Both Jedi leaped toward the closing door to the escape pod. It locked down before they could reach it. Obi-Wan swept his lightsaber down the door and the metal peeled back. But he was too late. Mezdec blasted out into space.





CHAPTER FIVE


“We should have been prepared for this,” Obi-Wan said.

“He won’t get very far very fast,” Anakin said. “I disabled half the power. I also cut the comm unit. I’d better get to the pilot seat.”

Anakin whirled and charged back toward the cockpit. Obi-Wan followed. Their best chance of escaping the Vanqor bombardment lay with his Padawan at the controls.

Their chances weren’t good. At half-power, the ship could not possibly outrun the Vanqor ship, and it would also be hard to maneuver.

Obi-Wan hurried back to the cockpit, where the others stood nervously around Anakin as he took over the controls. The Vanqor ship was behind them, a monster assault ship clad in black and silver. A flash came from the side of the ship.

“Torpedo,” Obi-Wan said.

Anakin made a hard right. The ship shuddered as it turned. The torpedo missed them.

Laser cannonfire began to boom. Anakin put the ship into a dive, but Obi-Wan could feel how the ship trembled. He exchanged a look with his apprentice. Anakin’s lips thinned. Obi-Wan knew he was determined to get them through. But even Anakin couldn’t work miracles. Obi-Wan began to study the map charts, looking for a place to set the ship down.

Unfortunately, the closest planet was Vanqor itself. “Hang on!” Anakin shouted.

The ship staggered from a direct hit. Blue lightning skittered along the console.

“Ion blast,” Anakin said. “We’ve lost most of our computer systems.” He turned the ship again, trying to stay a moving target. He threw a glance at Obi-Wan. “We’ve got to get the ship down.”

Obi-Wan looked at the others. “Our only choice is Vanqor.”

The group exchanged glances. They had been through so much and accomplished so much. Landing on Vanqor and being captured could mean the end for all of them. But when they turned to Obi-Wan, not one of them looked afraid.