Jedi Quest 6: The Shadow Trap (звёздные войны)

by Jude Watson

  A pair of dusty, muddy boots appeared. Obi-Wan crouched down.

  "Something terrible has happened," he said. "I felt the Force surge, and then retreat, like a vacuum. Tell me."

  "Master Yaddle is dead," Anakin said, his voice muffled.

  Obi-Wan breathed in, absorbing his shock. "How?"

  Anakin told him the story in a neutral tone. If he added his feelings to the telling, he would not be able to finish.

  Obi-Wan was silent for long moments. He sat back on his heels and looked up at the sky.

  "She went below for me," Anakin said. "She saved me first. If I hadn't been captured…"

  "Stop." It was Obi-Wan's sternest tone. "Jedi do not go down the path of 'ifs.' You know that, Anakin. You choose in each moment what your next step will be. You do not look back in judgment."

  Obi-Wan stood. "Yaddle made the only choice she could, and she made it freely."

  Obi-Wan reached down. Anakin's lightsaber was in his hand.

  "We will mourn her, but not now. Now it is time to be a Jedi."

  Anakin took the lightsaber. He rose and tucked it into his belt. His Master's words should have made Anakin feel better, but they hadn't. They had almost seemed automatic, as though Obi-Wan didn't really mean them.

  Even Obi-Wan thought Anakin was responsible for Yaddle's death.

  Sorrow and guilt filled him up so far he felt he was drowning.

  And then there was an explosion of light and sorrow… He had lost, in fact, everyone he loved, including Obi-Wan.

  The vision had been right.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Obi-Wan contacted Yoda on the emergency channel. He hated having to be the one to break the news. He would bring Yoda great pain. He felt the pain himself, in the way his body moved like lead. He had barely been able to summon up the right words to say to Anakin, and he knew his words had not reached him.

  All he could think of was Yaddle. She had been part of his life from his earliest memory. She had taken special delight in the young Jedi students. She had turned a blind eye to their pranks. She had hidden sweets in their pockets. Her touch on the top of his head had felt like the most comforting thing in the world.

  And then he had grown, and things at the Temple had become more serious. There were hard lessons to learn. Yaddle had been there, in a different way. There had been so many times when he had knocked respectfully on her door with a problem he did not want to trouble Yoda with. Obi-Wan realized how exceptional it was that a member of the Jedi Council had allowed herself to be so available to every student. Obi-Wan had not been the only one to seek her counsel, to look for comfort there.

  He had lost something so precious. It had been a part of his life for so long he hadn't seen it clearly. Yaddle had just been there, with her quiet wisdom. It was almost as bad as losing Yoda would be.

  He gave Yoda the details quickly, knowing he would want to hear everything.

  Yoda's voice was liquid with sorrow. "Felt the Force move, I did. Know I did that she was gone. Prepared my transport for Mawan, I already have.

  Her work, we must carry on. May the Force be with us."

  They hadn't slept since Coruscant, but there was no time for sleep.

  With Yaddle's death, the fragile coalition she had formed threatened to fall apart. News of the bioweapon had spread, and the Mawans were close to panic. If Granta Omega had a weapon that devastating, who could say that he did not have another?

  Within hours, the Senate went back on their pledge to send a security force and sent word that they would await further developments. They would not commit an army to an unstable situation.

  Anakin dropped his head in his hands at this news. "Isn't the instability the point? That's why we need them!"

  Obi-Wan sighed. "Yes, but if the security force is beaten by crimelords, the Senators are afraid it will look bad for them. Their image is more important than Mawan's security."

  "What can we do?" Anakin asked.

  "That's the simple part. Present them with an easy win," Obi-Wan answered. "The hard part is setting that up. Granta Omega has become our biggest problem."

  "He would be happy to hear that," Anakin said.

  They sat in a small office in the makeshift command center the Senate Provisional Committee had set up. Now that the power grid was functioning, they could monitor the streets through a system of security cams set up around the city. Many had been smashed, but some were still functioning, enough to give them a sense of what was going on. The streets were eerily quiet. Criminal activity had either retreated into buildings or gone underground. The sun was just rising, penetrating the gray with a blush of pink. Obi-Wan wished he felt as hopeful as the scene painted.

  Euraana Fall entered, her face pale with fatigue and worry. "Feeana Tala is close to deserting the city and pulling her patrols. She doesn't think we can hold the city against an attack by Omega."

  "That means the city will be left without security," Anakin said.

  "Which means everyone will retreat belowground again, and we'll be back where we started," Euraana said, lowering herself into a chair. She bent forward to lean her forehead against her clasped hands. She closed her eyes. "I'm hoarse from talking and reasoning. I don't know what else to do.

  I've been in communication with the Senate representative. He refuses to reconsider the decision to pull back the Senate security force."

  "I will speak with him," Obi-Wan said. "And I'll handle Feeana as well. Let's go, Anakin." It seemed a great effort to haul himself out of his chair. Obi-Wan felt the fatigue deep in his bones. "We'll grab some food on the way," he said to Anakin, and saw the boy's face brighten slightly.

  They headed to the cafc on the second level. Once it had served the many Mawans who had flocked to the hall for music and lectures, and its extensive stoves and cooling units spoke of the array of foods that had once been offered. Now the shelves were bare. At least there was hot tea and a tray of muja muffins.

  Anakin picked one up. "Stale," he said, disappointed. "Why do the bad guys get all the good food?"

  Obi-Wan held up his tea. "That's what dunking is for. Another Jedi lesson for you."

  Anakin tried to smile. It was the first light moment they had exchanged since Yaddle's death. But a moment later, Anakin's face darkened again.

  Something is very wrong, Obi-Wan thought. It wasn't just the aftermath of Yaddle's death. Why was it that whenever he needed to talk to his Padawan, circumstances got in the way? There was always a mission to complete, and then, these days, as soon as they were done, there was somewhere else important to go, another crucial battle to fight.

  Across the empty tables Obi-Wan spied Feeana Tala, slumped over a mug of tea. This was a bit of luck. He could approach her informally. Sometimes that was better when you were trying to hold on to a deal. It would be easier to ensure the Senate's support if he could be sure Feeana would not fold.

  Feeana looked as tired as Euraana had. She waved Obi-Wan off as he approached. "Go away."

  Obi-Wan sat down, summoning up a cheerful smile. He motioned Anakin to do the same. He dunked a piece of muffin into his tea. "Good morning to you, too."

  "Don't bother with the pleasantries," Feeana said. "I know why you're here. You're going to tell me that my cooperation is essential in holding the city. You're going to say that as a Mawan I owe it to my home planet.

  You're going to say that if I take my gang and retreat belowground that eventually I'll be imprisoned." She stirred her tea moodily. "I know all those things. But I've got my soldiers out on the streets, and there's not enough of them to hold the city against Striker — or Omega, as I hear his name is. What am I supposed to do? Send them to their deaths?"

  "I would not ask you to continue patrolling the city if I thought that," Obi-Wan said. "I am not willing to sacrifice so many lives to get what we need."

  "But Decca and Omega — "

  "We can handle Decca and Omega."

  She placed her spoon down carefully. "So you say.
And yet a Jedi Master evaporated into dust particles just a few hours ago."

  "Yaddle died in order to protect your soldiers and the people of Mawan," Obi-Wan said sharply. "That should tell you how far the Jedi are willing to go."

  There was a short silence. Feeana sipped her tea and made a face.

  "It's cold," she said. Then slowly, she nodded. "All right," she continued quietly. "I'll remain."

  With Feeana's cooperation and the promise of Yoda's arrival, Obi-Wan was able to convince the Senate to aid Mawan. He found it difficult to keep his temper cool and speak reasonably. He wanted to shout at everyone that Yaddle had sacrificed herself for their peace and security, so the least they could do was follow through. He knew that grief was making him short- tempered. His heart was heavy, and he was angry, too, angry that Yaddle had to die.

  These were emotions he could not carry with him, for they would drag him down. He had to absorb them and let them go. Yet he felt as though he was struggling against a rising tide.

  Anakin said so little. He could not get up the energy to address his Padawan's need, either. And somewhere below, Granta Omega was biding his time, concocting his plan for revenge, and he would surely try to exploit Anakin's sadness for his own ends. Omega had already killed a member of the Jedi Council. That had been his great goal, and he had achieved it.

  How could Obi-Wan get rid of his anger when he knew of Omega's satisfaction?

  A silver streak in the sky told them that Yoda was arriving. They were on the lookout for it, and they hurried toward the landing site. The day had dawned gray and cold. A sudden dip in temperature had kept most beings inside. It was a lucky break. If Feeana's security patrols didn't have to worry about petty crime, it would be easier to keep them at their posts.

  Yoda alighted from the cruiser. His gaze immediately went to Anakin.

  "First, see it, I must."

  Anakin nodded. He knew immediately what Master Yoda was asking. Yoda wanted to see the place where Yaddle had died.

  For long moments, Yoda stood underneath the spot where Yaddle's life had ended. He leaned his head back as if to taste the air. He closed his eyes as if to feel the presence that still lingered. Obi-Wan imagined that he was saying a private, final good-bye to the friend he'd had for so long.

  He turned away, wanting to give Yoda the moment. Anakin's gaze rested on the ground.

  At last Yoda turned. "Ready, I am," he said.

  They headed back toward the command center. They found Swanny and Rorq waiting for them, sitting on the steps. They stood as the Jedi approached.

  "Bad news," Swanny said. "Decca and Omega have settled their feud.

  They've formed an alliance."

  "I was afraid of this," Obi-Wan said.

  "It gets worse. Now Omega has access to Decca's fleet, and Decca has access to Omega's weapons. They are planning an assault on the city."

  "We have no way to protect the city," Obi-Wan told Yoda. "All we have are security patrols."

  "Then prevent the attack we must," Yoda said. "The strengths they have are transports and weaponry? Then strengths we must attack."

  "I'm getting tired of saying that's impossible," Swanny said. "But this time, it really is. Decca just got a big shipment of fuel. It was part of the partnership deal — Omega supplied it. They just brought it below."

  "A shipment of fuel," Obi-Wan murmured. "That might help us."

  Swanny looked at him, incredulous. "I don't see how. But I have a feeling I will."

  "Keep the information about the alliance quiet for now," Obi-Wan said.

  "If Feeana gets wind of this — "

  "Uh, I think it might be too late," Rorq said. He pointed to the distance, where Feeana was striding toward them, an angry look on her face.

  "They have formed an alliance!" she exclaimed as she walked up.

  "We know," Obi-Wan said.

  "And you are just standing here?" she demanded. "A suggestion, you have for us?" Yoda asked mildly.

  She noticed him for the first time. "Who's this?" "Jedi Master Yoda,"

  Obi-Wan said. "One of our most esteemed Masters."

  "Whatever," Feeana said. "Maybe he can tell me what I should do when Omega and Decca attack my troops with transports and missile tubes?"

  "Stop the attack before it starts, we will," Yoda said. "How?" Feeana demanded. "If you expect me to cooperate, I need more to go on."

  "Just trust us," Obi-Wan said. "We need you to patrol all the airlift tube exits. As soon as we have control belowground, we will contact you."

  "I guess I have no choice," Feeana said.

  "Choice, you always have," Yoda told her. "But the best one this is."

  A struggle still on her face, Feeana strode away.

  "Well, I guess we'll just say good-bye and good luck," Swanny said, beginning to head off. Obi-Wan caught him by his collar.

  "Not so fast," he said. "You're coming with us."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Anakin was glad to go belowground. Being under the open sky where Yaddle had died had affected him. The sky had seemed to hang over him, pressing against his shoulder blades. Below in the tunnels, he felt safer.

  Revenge was on his mind, and it frightened him. He hated Granta Omega, hated him with a burning rage that threatened to go out of control. He was grateful that Yoda had joined them. The presence of the great, perhaps the greatest, Jedi Master was as deep and huge as Anakin's rage. Surely it would keep his anger in check. He would look to his Master and Yoda for the control he needed.

  He knew that Yoda and Obi-Wan also felt anger and grief. He saw it in their eyes, felt it in the air around them, noted it in the way they moved and spoke. Yet they were not deflected from their mission. He had watched in awe as they exchanged information. Their shared glances told him that they had both come up with the same plan, at the same time. Yoda was obviously grief-stricken, yet he had traveled here to finish a job that Yaddle had begun, and he would let nothing stand in his way, not even his own sorrow.

  He had been so wrong, Anakin thought suddenly. On Andara, he had briefly imagined what it could be like to have no Master, no Council to answer to. But he needed the Council. He needed his Master. They showed him how far he had to go.

  Their inner calm was something he desperately wanted. He would learn, he promised himself. On every mission he was brought up short and shown what he needed to concentrate on. But he would learn.

  If I can get Obi-Wan's trust back.

  Anakin felt as though he were drowning. Drowning in his guilt.

  Everything had changed for him now. Master Yaddle had died before his eyes, and it had marked him forever. He knew that as firmly as he knew his own name. As surely as he knew he would do anything now to be a Jedi Knight.

  "Okay, here we are," Swanny said, standing in front of a map of the wastewater transport system. "What do you have in mind? Are you going to flood the fuel depot?"

  "We'd never get away with that," Obi-Wan said. "Too many people around. I had something else in mind." He pointed to the map. "Here's Decca's fuel depot. Where are the fuel storage tanks?"

  Rorq pointed to a spot several levels above. "Here. The fuel is pumped into a big storage tank here, then into the individual tanks in the depot."

  Obi-Wan turned to Swanny. "Is there anyplace where the wastewater pipes come close to the fueling pipes between storage and the depot?"

  "Sure," Swanny said. "The pipes run this way and cross the wastewater pipes here." He stabbed at a spot on the map.

  "Where is that?" Obi-Wan asked. "Is it in Omega's or Decca's territory?"

  "No, it's close to where the Mawan tent city was," Swanny said. He whistled. "I think I'm getting this." "Is it possible?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "We'd have to cut through the pipes and do some hydro-welding," Swanny said. "But that's like a walk in the park for us."

  "It's almost too simple," Rorq marveled.

  Yoda nodded. "The best plan, the simple one is," he said.

  Anakin saw
what Yoda and Obi-Wan had already figured out on the surface. Decca's fleet would fuel in the depot. But if they could replace the fuel with wastewater before it reached the depot, she would fill her transports with water instead of fuel. That would immobilize them completely. Even if they pumped out the tanks, it would take them days to dry out. Any water in the fuel would cause problems with the engines. It was beautifully simple.

  "We'll need to know if they start refueling, though," Swanny said. "If we're working on the pipes at the same time, we could end up hip-deep in fuel."