[Jedi Quest] - 08(13)

“Oops, I dropped my scarf…”

Done.

Obi-Wan closed the holofile, slid the office shelf back into the cabinet, closed the false front, adjusted an urn, closed the cabinet, threw himself into a chair, and swept the sweets off the tray. He stuffed some down his tunic and two in his mouth just as they walked in the doors.

“Mmmfffphhh,” he said to Siri.

She sighed. “I knew it! You ate them all! So rude, I have to apologize for him. We’ll be going now.”

Giving Hue a last flirtatious smile, Siri beckoned to Obi-Wan. Followed by the heavy tread of the Phlog, they accessed the front door and escaped into the sunlight.

“That had better be worth it,” Siri said.

“It was,” Obi-Wan said. “Zan Arbor is planning something. I made a copy of a work disk. Some of the files are coded. I can try to crack them back at the villa.

Siri shuddered. “I think that Phlog left fingerprints on my arm.”

“Oooh,” Obi-Wan teased.

Siri raised an eyebrow at him as they walked. “If you want to stay alive,” she warned, “don’t ever make that sound again.”





CHAPTER SIX


They had seen the rich part of the city, so Anakin and Ferus searched out the scruffier streets, the places where commerce took place. Here there were small shops and businesses and warehouses, the engine that made the city run. It didn’t take them long to realize how great the poverty of the workers was in contrast to the grand palaces in Teda’s section of the city, and they weren’t even outside the city walls yet.

Anakin’s heart swelled with disgust. He had to concentrate to keep his breathing even. He had grown up with injustice. He had tasted it in his mouth like the sand that filled the air of Tatooine. The hatred he felt was bred in his bones.

“I hope one day Teda will pay for his crimes,” Ferus said quietly. “He is robbing his citizens.”

“He is killing them,” Anakin said fiercely. “You don’t know what it’s like to be them. I do.”

He had spoken angrily, dismissively. But Ferus didn’t take offense. He merely nodded.

“Yes, you do,” he agreed. “That is your great strength, Anakin.”

His strength? Anakin had always thought of it as his weakness.

They were close to the wall now. They didn’t want to get too close, for fear of alerting the security droids to their presence. Still, they wanted to observe the checkpoints. If access to their ship was suddenly cut off, would they be able to slip out of the city and disappear?

A shadow seemed to pass over him, although the bright sun was overhead. Anakin felt a Force surge, a warning. “Someone is tailing us,” he told Ferus.

Ferus didn’t turn. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“I feel it.”

After a moment, Ferus spoke. “I feel it, too.”

“Let’s lead whoever it is on and then double back and see who it is,” Anakin suggested.

They picked up their pace slightly, weaving in and out of alleys and staying in the shadows of the buildings. This close to the security wall, the section was run-down. Water ran down the gutters and pooled in the cracking pavement. Warehouses looked old and badly in need of repair. Occasionally they heard the scuttling of rodent creatures.

They turned a corner to a short block. Ahead, three dark alleys radiated out and were swallowed up in darkness. Perfect.

They didn’t have to talk. They both began to run. They darted into the middle alley. Using cable launchers, they climbed to the top of the warehouse. From this vantage point they would see whoever was tailing them.

Below they saw a Romin cautiously move forward, gazing around with every step. He looked familiar. “It’s Hansel,” Anakin said. “Come on.”

He jumped to an overhang below, then down to the street directly in front of Hansel. Ferus followed a split second later.

Hansel gave a small yelp and jumped backward in fright.

“Looking for us?” Anakin asked.

Hansel tried to disguise his involuntary start of fear. He coughed and straightened his robes. “Ah, as a matter of fact, yes.” He looked at them, his golden eyes speculative. “I did not expect to have to follow you here.”

“Just doing a little sight-seeing,” Ferus said.

“Let me assure both of you,” Hansel said, “there are better sights to be seen. A curious choice, on your part.”

“We got lost. What can we do for you?” Anakin asked.

“I am to deliver an invitation,” Hansel said. “To Slam and Valadon. And the two of you, of course. Great Leader Teda is having a reception tomorrow evening and wishes you all to attend. Everyone will be there. You will meet many like yourselves.”