Drenna laughed. “I like the idea of one tiny creature causing all that trouble.”
Leed grinned at her. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it myself. They turned off the system until they caught the bird. Everyone forgot about me - I was in the warden’s office, since they were about to release me. That’s when I noticed something. When the guards change shifts, they remove their weapons belts if they are leaving and the guards on the new shift buckle on their own weapons belts. They do this in the weapons supply room, which is kept locked. When they shut the system down, the weapons supply room goes into automatic lockdown. That’s in case there’s a real breakout. They don’t want the prisoners to get access to weapons.”
Qui-Gon had already reached Leed’s conclusion. “So if the system was shut down during a changeover, there would only be a reduced guard staff on duty with no access to additional weapons.”
“Three guards per block, to be exact,” Leed said, nodding. “It’s a flaw in the system. I tried to tell my father upon my return, but… well, let’s just say he wasn’t in the mood to listen.”
“I don’t understand,” Drenna said. “How can we get a bird to invade the system?”
Qui-Gon smiled. “We don’t need a bird. I think Leed has an idea.”
“When I arrived, they pretended I was a lawbreaker, just as my father wanted,” Leed said, leaning forward with his excitement. “I was led to the booking area, then the holding cell. I had to pass at least ten to fifteen sensors during the whole process.” Leed looked at Drenna. “Who has the best aim on Senali?”
“You do,” she said promptly.
He shook his head, smiling. “Who tied for first place with me last year in the All-World Games?”
“I did,” she said with a grin. “Almost beat you, too.”
“You’ll be our bird,” he said. “All you need is this.” He handed her a tiny dart shooter. “With some Jedi help, and a bit of bluffing on my part, I think we can bring this off. You can shoot darts at the sensors as you move through the hallways.” He reached in a pocket of his tunic and withdrew some darts. They were tiny and made of transparent material. “These will stick in the wall, but no one will be able to see them.”
“But how will we all get inside?” Drenna wondered.
Qui-Gon’s eyes shone bright. “That’s the easy part. We’ll get arrested.”
Leed split off from them as soon as they landed. He headed toward the prison. He would pretend to do a spot inspection as part of his royal training. King Frane had lost no time in announcing to the Rutanians that the prince had returned and would take up his legacy.
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Drenna moved through the crowded streets of Testa. The buildings were carved of enormous blocks of stone in somber colors. The city had a teeming population, and in an effort to retain order there were strict controls on behavior. Qui-Gon felt it would be an easy task to get arrested. He had insisted on avoiding any violence or destruction of property. Instead, they merely needed to find an open park or plaza.
Drenna pointed ahead. “I see a place.”
They made sure a pair of security police were nearby as they strolled through a plaza planted with green grass and shrubs. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan casually unfurled their survival tent and began to set up a condenser unit. Drenna unpacked some food.
Within minutes, the two security police appeared.
“What do you think you’re doing?” “Cooking,” Drenna said brightly.
“Loitering is against the law,” one of them said. “So is cooking outdoors. Move along.” “But we’re hungry,” Obi-Wan said.
“We won’t be long,” Drenna said.
Apparently Drenna’s youth and winning smile had an effect. The tall Rutanian policeman looked at his companion, a female even taller than he was. They both shrugged.
“End of my shift,” the male murmured.
“I’m too tired for this,” the female said. “If we arrest them, I won’t be home for dinner.”
“We didn’t see you, okay?” the first one said, and turned away. “Just pack up and get lost.”
The Jedi and Drenna exchanged surprised glances. They had thought this would be the easy part of their plan.
“We’re staying,” Drenna insisted quickly.
“And we’re going to feed everyone in the park!” Obi-Wan added. “We brought plenty of food. We can stay until sunset.”
Slowly, the two officers turned back.
The female sighed. “Are you going to make this hard or easy?”