The School of Fear

by Jude Watson

Tyro handed it to him. "What is it?"

  Obi-Wan took out his own comlink and contacted Aiam Syk at the Temple.

  "Can you run a trace on this?" he asked, reading off the data from Tyro's

  comlink.

  Within seconds, Alam answered, "It's got a trace on it. Coming from...

  the Senate. Hang on.." Obi-Wan heard data keys clicking. Alam could trace

  any signal. " Hmmm. Do you know a Senator Sano Sauro? It looks like he's

  interested in what Tyro Caladian is up to."

  Obi-Wan tossed the comlink back to Tyro. "There's your answer. I

  suggest that you do a routine sweep of your comlink transmission security

  in the future."

  "I was never important enough before to need to do so," Tyro said. "I

  guess that's a good sign."

  "Except that we lost our chance to trap Sauro," Obi-Wan said.

  Across the quad, a disgusted Rana Halion strode off and hailed an air

  taxi.

  "What next?" Tyro asked. "I doubt Sauro will use any of the usual

  places again."

  "Which is why it's time to confront him directly," Obi-Wan said. "Time

  is running out for Gillam."

  Sano Sauro was at a Senate function attended by many dignitaries. Obi-

  Wan and Tyro slipped easily into the crowd. Obi-Wan spotted Sano Sauro and

  made his way over to listen. Tyro joined a group surrounding Berm Tarturi.

  "So glad you could join us after all," a Senator was saying to Sauro.

  "The commemoration of the dedication of the plaque on the south-facing wall

  of the main north-south corridor of the northeast wing of Complex Bis an

  important step forward in promoting the harmony of the galaxy."

  "I agree," Sauro said smoothly. "Another plaque with a quotation

  concerning the necessity for peace will certainly heal the many bloody,

  savage conflicts."

  The other Senator proudly puffed out his scaly green cheeks. "The

  artisans of my home system were responsible for the plaque."

  "Then I am doubly sure it will do its job," Sauro answered. There was

  no trace of irony in his tone, Obi-Wan noted, but Sauro managed to convey

  it. Yet the apparent sincerity of his tone would make it difficult to

  challenge him. So did his impassive expression. The skin was stretched so

  tightly over the bones of his face that he rarely registered an emotion.

  He caught sight of Obi-Wan. "Will you excuse me?"

  Sauro suddenly headed for the exit, slithering through the crowd with

  the expertise of one used to escaping dull gatherings. Obi-Wan started

  after him, but suddenly Berm Tarturi's voice boomed out. Sauro stopped

  abruptly but did not turn.

  "How kind of you to say that," Berm said to the group of Senators

  surrounding him. "No, I'm trying to keep it very quiet. It is a private

  matter. Yet others seek to exploit my sorrow. Oh, it's not that I expect

  special treatment, but those who would take advantage of a father's

  despair..." Tyro raised his eyebrows at Obi-Wan. Obviously, Tarturi

  abandoned discretion when he could gain sympathy.

  Obi-Wan saw Sauro's sneer. He was contemptuous of Tarturi's tactics.

  Sauro turned. His voice, hard as ice, cut through Berm's blustering

  like a laser. "Yes, anyone who exploits private pain is despicable." He

  gave Tarturi a withering look. "No matter who does it."

  The Senators looked back and forth between the two enemies, some with

  apprehension, others avidly looking forward to a war of words. Tyro's eyes

  gleamed, no doubt hoping Sauro would let something slip in anger. But Sauro

  simply turned his back on Tarturi and slipped off through the crowd, a slim

  figure in black.

  A group of Senators suddenly converged on Berm Tarturi while others

  faded back, and it took Obi-Wan several precious seconds to extricate

  himself from the crowd. When he pushed his way out the door, Sauro had

  already disappeared. Obi-Wan headed toward Sauro's suite of offices.

  As soon as he entered, Sauro's personal assistant stood up. "He isn't

  here."

  "Did he tell you to say that?" Obi-Wan brushed past him, heading for

  the door.

  "I am calling security."

  "Your choice." Obi-Wan had no more patience for protocol. He waved a

  hand and used the Force to slide open the door to Sauro's inner office.

  Sauro turned, startled, as Obi-Wan strode in. "This is outrageous!" he

  sputtered, losing his usual cool.

  "You are meeting with Rana Halion secretly," Obi-Wan said.

  "You don't have any evidence of that," Sauro said, regaining his

  composure.

  "I have evidence that you put Tyro Caladian under surveillance," Obi-

  Wan continued.

  Sauro stood behind his long desk. He was not a tall man, but the desk

  was low to the ground in order to give that impression. The tall red thorns

  of the claing bush rose from the corners, stabbing the air. His thin lips

  twisted as he leaned forward, resting on his knuckles. "And why shouldn't

  I? I don't take kindly to being investigated by young upstart attorneys. I

  have a legitimate concern as to who exactly this Caladian is and what he

  wants. The risk of assassination and sabotage are part of this job, and I

  must take any steps I can to protect myself. If you wish to take it up with

  the Senate security committee, do so."

  "You rely on those committees," Obi-Wan said. "No doubt because you

  have bribed your way onto most of them."

  "What is this personal vendetta you have against me, Kenobi?" Sauro's

  voice purred now. "I must confess, I don't understand it. I've done nothing

  to antagonize you. Perhaps I should bring you up on charges."

  "What charges?"

  "Breaking and entering, for one," Sauro said, his gaunt face

  expressionless. "The Force is a weapon like any other."

  "The Force is not a weapon," Obi-Wan snapped. "Let me warn you, Sauro.

  I am investigating Gillam Tarturi's kidnapping. If I find you had anything

  to do with it - "

  Sauro laughed. "A child's kidnapping! Hardly something I would dabble

  in. You are grasping at straws, Kenobi. And once again you are wasting my

  time." He picked up his comlink and stabbed at a button with his index

  finger. "I think I will report you for harassment. Perhaps a few hours of

  being detained by Senate security will help you calm down."

  "Your threats reveal your fear," Obi-Wan said. "I'll be back."

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Marit's friends sat together on the athletic field outside. They

  seemed to be expecting Anakin. He noted one friend looking him over

  carefully, from the top of his head to his boots. The student, a Bothan,

  stood as soon as they came up.

  "So this is the one," he said. He was short, shorter than Marit, and

  the curling hair down to his shoulders gave him a soft look that was

  undercut by his shrewd gaze. This was clearly not someone to underestimate.

  "This is Anakin," Marit said. "Anakin, meet Rolai Frac. And this is

  Tulah, and Hurana, and Ze."

  "Have you ever ridden a swoop?" Ze asked. He was a humanoid, short and

  plump, with close-set green eyes and two pigtails that hung down his back.

  He seemed eager for action.

  "A couple of times," Anakin said.

  "We were going to have a swo
op race," Tulah said. Anakin recognized

  the elongated head and pale skin of a native of Muunilinst. Tulah was tall

  and skinny, with a shock of bright yellow hair that stuck straight up from

  his head. His voice was all business. "Do you want to join us?"

  "Just once around the school grounds," Marit said. "Sounds like fun,"

  Anakin said.

  "The only thing is, it's technically against the rules," Hurana said.

  She gave him a shy smile, but he could tell he was being tested. "You're

  going to have to avoid the roving surveillance droids."

  "Sounds even better," Anakin said.

  Marit pointed to a nearby swoop with her chin. "That's yours, then.

  Watch out for professors and security cameras. Let's go."

  Marit and her friends slung their legs over their swoops. Anakin

  followed. He took a moment to get used to the swoop controls and was a few

  seconds behind them. He wasn't worried. He knew how to fly a swoop faster

  than anyone.

  He took off after them, streaking across the gray sky. Ahead was a

  security checkpoint. Anakin could see the camera lenses revolving. Marit

  gunned her motor and flipped her swoop sideways to avoid being tracked.

  A second later, Hurana dipped below it, missing it by only a fraction.

  Anakin saw her grin and knew she had timed it that way. The others followed

  expertly.

  Anakin was impressed. He increased his speed, timing his approach with

  the revolving camera lenses. He pulled the swoop up and then down quickly,

  missing the lens by a comfortable half second.

  He pushed the engine to maximum and quickly caught up to the others.

  He didn't slow down but zoomed by them. He saw Rolai's surprised face, but

  Marit looked worried.

  He saw why. Below him a group of professors had paused on the stairs

  outside one of the academic buildings, talking. Any moment they would see

  him.

  He turned the swoop to the left and headed for the dense branches of

  an enormous tree. Behind him, he saw Marit pull her swoop up and circle out

  of range of the professors.

  Anakin could hover in the branches, but he was too impatient. He

  dipped below one branch and zoomed up to skim above another. He snaked in

  and out of the thick branches, leaning his body first one way, then the

  other. He did not make even one leaf tremble. The professors continued to

  talk, completely unaware of the swoop above them.

  The others skirted the trees, looping around to avoid the professors

  and adding crucial minutes to their times.

  He cleared the grove of trees out of sight of the professors, as well

  as Marit and her friends. A surveillance droid revolved ahead, surprising

  him for only an instant. Anakin pulled the swoop to a hard right, avoiding

  the rotating sensors. Then he dove beneath the droid and zoomed on.

  Grinning, Anakin leaned over the handlebars and gunned the motor. He

  skirted a security camera and dove beneath a tractor beam. This was child's

  play for him.

  The others were in sight again but still well behind him as he cleared

  a rooftop and did a quick triple loop dive to avoid being seen by a class

  of students playing laserball below. Then he dropped from the sky and

  landed in the same precise spot he had left from. He sat down and crossed

  his legs in a leisurely fashion.

  A short two minutes later, Marit and the others pulled up. Anakin was

  surprised at their speed. They were almost as fast as a Jedi on a swoop.

  Marit swung off her swoop and strode toward him, tossing her braid behind

  her shoulder.

  "Okay, hotshot," she said. "You win."

  "What do I win?" Anakin asked. "If it's the chance to break out of

  here," he joked, "count me in." He spoke lightly, but he could feel how

  close he was to being accepted. He didn't need the Force to pick up on the

  humming energy among the group of friends. Something was definitely up. Had

  he found the secret squad the Jedi High Council spoke of?

  "You see?" Marit said to Rolai. "I told you he could fly.

  "He can fly," Rolai agreed.

  "He's almost as good as me," Hurana said. Her pale gold eyes held a

  new respect.

  "We have a sort of club," Marit said. "Not a school club. A serious

  club. Are you interested?"

  "I'm not sure yet," Anakin said. "Why don't you tell me about it?"

  "We take on assignments from outsiders. Beings who need a little help.

  We use our skills to aid them. If my friends and I have one thing in

  common, we don't like to see others get kicked around. I think you're that

  way, too."

  "I am," Anakin said. "What exactly do you do? Rescue fluffkits from

  trees?"

  Rolai looked annoyed. "This isn't a joke. Two weeks ago on Tierell, we

  changed the course of a planet's history."

  "And made a bundle of credits," Tulah said. "Don't forget that."

  "We do whatever is needed," Marit said quickly. She gave Rolai a

  warning glance, as if he'd said too much. "You'll learn more if you join

  us. Look, I told you how it works here. They only run the scholarship

  program so that they'll look good. They don't care about us. They won't

  help us. No one will. We have to help ourselves. Why should we wait around

  to get passed over for good jobs when we can start our lives now?"

  "I agree," Anakin said. "But how do you get off campus? You'd have to

  violate security."

  Marit shook her head. "We're able to conduct the missions on our free

  days. We have permission to leave. We just have to be sure to be back in

  time. And there are ways to trick security." She grinned at Rolai. "Rolai

  is our security expert and financial officer. Ze handles communications."

  Ze nodded. "Comlinks, datapads, holo transmissions. Traces and

  countertraces. There are plenty of frequencies to hide in, if you know how.

  "

  Anakin was impressed. Even he didn't know how to navigate the

  complicated process of concealing a transmission origin.

  "I'm transportation," Hurana said. "I get us in and out, and fast."

  Tulah lifted a finger. "I'm battle strategy. But mostly I'm comic

  relief."

  Tulah spoke lightly, but something in his face told Anakin that his

  joking was a pose to hide a serious purpose.

  "And I research the proposals," Marit said. "I'm the galactic politics

  expert."

  "So what am I?" Anakin asked.

  "We need someone who knows something about sophisticated air transport

  like starfighters," Hurana said. "I know some, but Marit has been watching

  you, and she says you know more."

  "I don't know about that," Anakin said. "But I did grow up fixing

  engines. So how do you decide what you're going to do?"

  "We consider proposals and vote on them," Hurana said. "Everyone's

  vote is equal."

  "And every decision is unanimous," Tulah said. "If one of us doesn't

  want to take an assignment, we pass on it. You'd get an equal vote, too,

  fly-guy. Just try to vote with me."

  Unlike the others, Rolai's look was cool. Anakin had the feeling that

  he would have to prove himself to the Bothan before he welcomed him. It

  didn't bother him. He might feel that way himsel
f with an outsider.

  "The kind of assignments we take on are important," Marit said. "We're

  just starting, but already what we can do has spread to the right beings.

  We're on the side of justice in the galaxy. The powerful exploit the weak.

  We try to tip the balance. In one of our last missions we broke into the

  records of a company that was dumping its toxic garbage on a neighboring

  planet's moon. We exposed them and got paid for it. We can get away with a

  lot because adults tend not to notice kids. They underestimate us."

  Rolai grinned. "Big mistake."

  To his surprise, Anakin found himself liking what he was hearing. It

  was almost like being a Jedi, but without Masters. No one told the squad

  what to do. They picked their own missions and were responsible only to

  themselves.

  "Count me in," he said.

  CHAPTER-NINE

  Anakin met Ferus at their prearranged spot in the computer lab during

  their free time before lights out. Most of the students were in their own

  rooms, studying or talking. No one liked to venture out into the halls at

  night, no matter how good security was now. The computer lab was open but

  empty. They spoke in low voices in a corner.