The Defenders Of The Dead(26)
He zigzagged on the descent, pushing the ship as much as he dared. The floaters hung back and fired, afraid of colliding with the starship. Using the Force as a guide, Obi-Wan was able to avoid the worst fire.
As he got closer, the speeders grew more daring. One came at him dead-on, firing as it went.
“Ready-” Obi-Wan shouted.
At the last moment, he flipped the starfighter over and dived under the floater, maneuvering the craft so that it had a clear shot at the tower.
Nield and Cerasi fired. The deflection tower blew, scattering metal and parts. Obi-Wan flipped the starfighter right-side up and climbed at top speed. The floaters frantically dived to avoid getting hit.
“Everyone okay?” Obi-Wan asked.
“Dizzy, but okay,” Cerasi said, wiping sweat off her forehead. “That was incredible flying.”
“Okay, follow the wall,” Nield directed. “We’ll hit the towers one by one around the perimeter.”
The military floaters pursued them, but they could not fly as high or go as fast as a starfighter. More floaters joined the chase as they flew. To hit each deflection tower, Obi-Wan had to practice the same too-fast maneuvering to avoid being blasted by the speeders or colliding with them. Their advantage was the speed and agility of the starfighter and the incredible accuracy of Cerasi and Nield.
One by one, they destroyed each tower, the speeders hard on their flank. The speeders tried to capture Obi-Wan in a pincer movement, but he was too quick for them.
When they saw the last tower go up, the three let out a whoop of exultation. Cerasi leaned over and hugged Obi-Wan. Nield pounded him on the back.
“I knew we could count on you, friend,” he said joyfully. He checked his laser cannon. “We have plenty of firepower left. What do you say we blow the Halls of Evidence into nanospecs?”
Cerasi frowned. “Now? But Nield, we need to get back. We have to hit both Melida and Daan for peace negotiations while they’re weak.”
“And besides, there could be people inside,” Obi-Wan pointed out.
Cerasi looked at Nield. “We said we would do this without taking a life.”
Nield bit his lip as he glanced out the spaceport down to the surface of Zehava. “The sooner those halls of hate are blown up, the sooner everyone on this planet can breathe again,” he murmured. “I despise everything they stand for.”
“I know,” Cerasi said. “So do I. But let’s take one step at a time.”
“All right,” Nield agreed reluctantly. “But let’s do one last thing. Before we land, let’s do a quick loop over the countryside. Deila was waiting to pass the message that the perimeter shields had been blown. The Scavenger Young should be mobilizing.”
Obi-Wan flew in widening circles over the countryside. Everywhere they saw young people, boys and girls, streaming out from farms and villages and woods. They were already beginning to clog the road into Zehava. Some rode on battered landspeeders or souped-up turbo-tractors. Those who walked formed columns, marching in military style. When they saw the starfighter overhead, they waved and shouted greetings the three could not hear. Obi-Wan dipped his wings in a return salute.
Tears stood in Cerasi’s eyes. “I will never forget this day,” she said. “And I will never forget what you did for us, Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Obi-Wan turned the starfighter back toward the landing area. He didn’t care how angry Qui-Gon was, or if he got sent back to the Temple. This moment was worth it.
Qui-Gon had woken early and checked on Tahl. She was sleeping deeply. That was good. Sleep was the best healer until he could get her to Coruscant.
He saw that Obi-Wan had disappeared, along with Nield and Cerasi. No doubt he wanted a last outing with his friends before he left. Qui-Gon would let it pass. He knew it was hard for the boy to leave them.
And he had a plan of his own.
He had asked a quiet girl named Roenni to watch over Tahl. Then he’d traveled through the tunnels to the route he had mapped out last night, slipping away while the rest of the Young were celebrating their victory.
When he emerged above ground in the abandoned neighborhood at the border of Melida and Daan territory, it was still dark. A few stars
still twinkled in a navy sky that shaded to gray at the horizon.
Qui-Gon had waited in the alley until he was sure all the people he’d invited had arrived. Then he walked to the partially bombed out building on the corner.
Last night he’d sent a note to Wehutti by one of the Young messengers. He had asked for a meeting between the Melida Council and the Daan Council. He had suggested that it was in their best interest to attend. He had news of the Young that they must know.
Until now, he hadn’t been sure if anyone would show up. He still wasn’t sure if one side or the other would try to capture him. It was a desperate gamble. He was prepared for anything. But he had to make a last try for peace before he left Melida/Daan. He had seen the heartbreak on Obi-Wan’s face. He would do it for his Padawan.