The Mark of the Crown(23)

“Gala will fall without you,” he said. “I must return. Come with me. Take a stand.”

Elan’s eyes were stormy as she turned back to face him. “I will not be a princess,” she warned.

“Nor should you be,” Qui-Gon replied. “Elan is enough.”

He couldn’t feel his feet. Obi-Wan slipped off his boots and rubbed them to restore circulation. He had been locked inside the freezer for hours now. He had kept walking continuously in order to keep warm. He had called on the Force and visualized it as heat as well as light.

He slipped his boots back on. He reached into the inner pocket of his tunic for the river stone Qui-Gon had given him on his thirteenth birthday, when he had officially become his Padawan.

The stone felt warm and he rubbed it between his palms.

He knew he was growing exhausted. He could not keep walking forever. He closed his eyes, sending a Force-amplified message to Qui-Gon. I am in trouble, Master. Come back.

What was Deca Brun planning? Did he realize that he was in league with a corrupt corporation that would plunder his planet? Did he know how evil Xanatos truly was?

Obi-Wan’s biggest worry was that Deca would contact Xanatos and tell him he had a Jedi locked in his freezer. Once Xanatos heard Obi-Wan’s name, he would know that Qui-Gon was near.

And once Xanatos knew that, he would try to trap Qui-Gon. He had sworn to destroy him.

Obi-Wan had to escape. He had to warn Qui-Gon that Xanatos was involved.

He heard faint noises outside the freezer door. Perhaps someone was coming to release him! Obi-Wan sprang to his feet. He pressed his ear against the door, ignoring its coldness.

The voices came to him dimly. He used the Force to help him screen out the other noises: the constant hum of the freezer, his own breathing. He focused on what was happening outside.

“I don’t care,” someone said. A boy’s voice. “I’ve got my job, too. I’ve got a turbo cart full of meat here to deliver. It’s already paid for. There will be no meals for a week if I don’t get it in that freezer. You can answer to Deca Brun. I won’t.”

“No one goes in or out,” the guard answered gruffly.

Obi-Wan focused the Force like a laser. Then again, we all need to eat.

“Then again, we all need to eat,” the guard said. “Don’t move, there! I’ll push it inside.”

Obi-Wan heard the lock fall away. He stepped away from the door. It opened, and a cart began to roll toward him, completely filling the doorway.

Obi-Wan sprang forward. He pushed against the cart with all his strength, again using the Force to help him. The heavy cart shot back, straight into the guard.

The delivery boy gave the cart an extra shove as it flew by. It slammed against the wall, pinning the guard. He let out a cry of anger and pushed against the heavy cart. It didn’t move.

The delivery boy took off his long-billed cap. It was Jono.

“Nothing like teamwork,” he told Obi-Wan, grinning.

“Thanks for the rescue,” Obi-Wan said gratefully.

They ran down the hall and burst into a deserted office. The faint streaks of a rising sun filtered through the window. Obi-Wan hesitated.

“My lightsaber,” he said. “And my comlink - “

“We can’t search now,” Jono interrupted. “They’ll all be here soon.” He tugged at Obi-Wan’s elbow. “Prince Beju has jailed the Queen. She’s refused all food. I’m worried, Obi-Wan. I think she’s dying. Come on!”

***

An early-morning hush lay over the city. The gray light was tinged with pink. Galacians were beginning to stir. Cafes were beginning to open along the main boulevard as they hurried by.

“I spoke to the other Council members,” Jono told Obi-Wan. “It was a risk I had to take. They want you to meet with them to discuss what to do about Giba. They’ve formed an alliance against him. Imprisoning the Queen was a mistake. Giba and Prince Beju have gone too far.”

“First I have to see someone,” Obi-Wan told Jono.

Jono shot him an incredulous look. “But there’s no time to lose. Today is election day, Obi-Wan!”

“This is important, Jono,” Obi-Wan said firmly. “I have to stop at the substance analyzer’s. If he’s identified the agent, we’ll have proof that the Queen is being poisoned. We need that proof.”

Jono shook his head. “We can’t, Obi-Wan. The Council Ministers are waiting. I promised to bring you there immediately.”

“If we know what is poisoning the Queen, there might be an antidote,” Obi-Wan argued.

Jono bit his lip. “But…”

“It’s this way,” Obi-Wan said, pointing down a side street. He turned the corner, knowing Jono would follow.