The Day of Reckoning(2)

Qui-Gon’s brows came together in a frown as he gazed at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan had no idea what he was thinking. Was he worrying about the mission ahead, or was he regretting Obi-Wan’s presence?

They had lost the connection they had once had. There had been fitful starts and shaky periods in their Master-Padawan relationship from the beginning. Still, there had been many times when Obi-Wan knew what Qui-Gon would ask before he asked it. And Qui-Gon often knew exactly what Obi-Wan was feeling without his having to say a word.

Now Obi-Wan felt a void.

He would be able to feel connected to Qui-Gon again, he told himself. It would just take time. Back at the Temple, the last expression of good-bye from his friend Bant had been one simple word: patience.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon hadn’t had time to resolve anything. They hadn’t had time to argue, or replay their decisions. The flurry of departure had consumed them. There had been information to gather, supplies to pack, and good-byes to be said.

The spaceliner drew closer to the towers of Thani, the capital city of Telos. It flew into a landing bay and docked with the gentlest of bumps. The public-address system announced that arrival procedures were now underway.

They stood and gathered their packs, then joined the stream of passengers heading for the exit.

Qui-Gon leaned in to speak to Obi-Wan softly. “No doubt he will be hard to find,” he said. “He knows that I will pursue him. We will have to flush him out.”

The announcement system informed them in a pleasant tone that there would be a slight delay in disembarking. Identification would be checked by security police on Telos. Everyone would have to be cleared before leaving the ship.

Passengers began to grumble. Why were security procedures suddenly so stringent? This would take time. They were anxious to reach their destinations.

“I hear they’re checking for some escaped criminals,” someone said near Obi-Wan’s elbow. “Bad luck for all of us.”

Through the crowd, Obi-Wan glimpsed the security police herding the passengers into orderly lines. Qui-Gon frowned.

“I wanted to slip in unobserved,” he said. “If they discover we are Jedi, it could tip off Xanatos. Tahl said he has bribed many officials here.”

With a slight movement of his head, Qui-Gon signaled to Obi-Wan. It was time for them to find their own exit.





Chapter 2


“Where are we going?” Obi-Wan asked as they moved fluidly through the pressing throng.

“When a big spaceliner docks, the kitchens have to receive new shipments of food,” Qui-Gon remarked. “When you want to leave someplace unobserved, pick the busiest spot.”

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon down several levels to the service area. Qui-Gon always explored any large transport soon after boarding. He knew where the tech and service levels were as well as all exits from the spaceliner. “Remember, Obi-Wan,” he had said, “if you are heading to a dangerous mission, the danger can begin before you are ready for it. Be prepared.”

The scent of roasting meat and baking bread filled Obi-Wan’s nostrils as they passed the kitchens. His stomach rumbled. Why was it that even during a hasty escape, he could still feel hungry? He was glad when the smells dissipated as they slipped into the storage areas.

Qui-Gon hurried past shelves and bins full of food until he came to the door that led to the loading bay. He glanced through the window to make sure there were no security personnel before accessing the door. It hissed open, and they stepped out onto the loading bay.

Workers were busily unloading supplies onto small gravsleds. A large hauler stood outside the ship, its port bay door yawning open.

“Grab a container,” Qui-Gon instructed as he bent down to hoist a box marked dried fruit.

Obi-Wan picked up a bin at his feet marked soli grains. He let out an oof as he hoisted it to his shoulder. Why couldn’t he have picked something light, as Qui-Gon had?

Quickly Qui-Gon strode toward the hauler. No one seemed to notice that they were carrying items out of the ship, not in. One of Qui-Gon’s many lessons to Obi-Wan had been that if you looked busy in an unfamiliar environment, you were often ignored.

They made it to the hauler without anyone giving them a glance. Obi-Wan put down his heavy bin with relief near the stacks of cartons and boxes. From here they could see the busy port station. Passengers who had been cleared were milling around, bargaining for local transportation. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan strolled toward them.

“You there! Stop!” The harsh command came from behind them.

“Don’t turn,” Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan in a soft voice. “Act as though you don’t know who they’re talking to.”

“Stop!” The sound of running feet came from behind them.