They set off. Because it was market day, the road was crowded with beings heading into Settlement 5. That was lucky. The crowds gave them plenty of cover.
The marketplace was set up around the landing platform, which was another lucky break. Stalls and vendors crowded the square where ramps and lift tubes led to the landing platform several stories above. Siri, Obi-Wan, and Taly blended in with the others in their plain robes and hoods. Siri and Obi-Wan kept their gazes constantly moving but they did not catch a glimpse of the bounty hunter. Nor did the Force give them a warning.
The freighter was docked and ready for loading. One passenger ramp was already down. It would be easy to board and search for seats, but Obi-Wan thought it best to wait until the last possible moment.
They saw metal bins being carried to the back ramp, fresh fruit and vegetables spilling over the top. Obi-Wan watched for several minutes as they milled through the crowd, pretending to study the wares set up in booths and spread out on tables. The bins were carried by workers who plodded back and forth up the ramp. When they disappeared inside the freighter, they were usually gone for a minute or so. That would easily give Obi-Wan, Siri, and Taly a chance to pick up a bin and bring it aboard. If they timed it right, they could pull it off.
Obi-Wan nudged Siri. “There. They’re loading the fresh food. If we pick up a bin we could get aboard. Nobody is really watching.”
Siri nodded. Then suddenly she paled. “He’s here.”
“Where?”
“I feel him.” Siri’s gaze raked the crowd. “There.” Obi-Wan looked where Siri’s gaze was resting. Magus was across the square. He stood in a clever spot, right where the sun was in shadow, behind a bin of vegetables that were a popular item for shoppers. It would have been hard to pick him out if Siri hadn’t felt his presence.
“It’s all right,” Obi-Wan said. “He’s searching the crowd. Now’s our chance.”
Siri swallowed. She kept her head down. “He’s standing with the vendor I bought the food from. He knows we’re here, Obi-Wan!”
Obi-Wan looked again. He realized that vendor standing next to Magus was also watching the crowd. Magus was smart. While the vendor concentrated on the passenger ramp, his own flinty gaze roamed. Now Obi-Wan saw how the bounty hunter kept his eye on the cargo ramp as well as the food ramp. There were now less than a dozen bins to carry. Time was running out.
“What are we going to do?” Taly asked.
Obi-Wan knew it was hopeless. There was no way they could board without Magus spotting them. No matter how cleverly they tried. Yet staying on the planet wasn’t a good idea. Sooner or later, Magus would find them. And it would probably be sooner.
The panic in Taly’s eyes made Obi-Wan angry. They had to protect him. They had to get him to a place that was safe.
“If he’s here, that means his ship is unguarded,” Obi-Wan said.
A flash illuminated Siri’s blue gaze. “You want to steal his ship?”
“The freighter is due to leave in five minutes. We’ve got to find it first.”
“It will be close,” Siri guessed.
“Come on.”
They threaded through the crowd with a purpose now, but were careful to move with the flowing surge. Obi-Wan checked out the possibilities. It would make sense for Magus to keep the cruiser near. Usually there was a holding pen for star cruisers near landing platforms. He hadn’t noticed one here, but there should be one somewhat close.
“There,” Siri breathed.
Around a corner, down an alley, a clearly marked space. It was empty but for one cruiser, the light freighter they knew belonged to Magus. They hurried toward the durasteel gate.
There was no time to lose. Obi-Wan cut a hole in the gate with his lightsaber and they squeezed through.
He prowled around the outside of the ship. Siri did the same.
“There should be an exterior control panel for the ramp,” he said.
“Here it is.” Taly’s voice came from underneath the ship. “Sometimes these SoroSuubs are refitted with foiling devices. I can cross the wires and tinker with the controls here….”
“Taly, let me,” Obi-Wan urged.
The ramp slid down. “No need.” Taly slid out and jumped up, dusting off his hands, a huge grin on his face. “We’re done.”
They ran up the ramp. Obi-Wan slid into the pilot seat.
“Wait.” Taly ducked underneath the control panel. “Let’s make sure there’s no locking device. I can bypass the access code.”
“Are you sure?” Siri asked.
“Easy as cutting through air.” Taly took a small servo-driver from his utility belt. “Standard security devices… Code deactivated… Remote tracking device cut… Okay. Let’s go.”