Jedi Quest 2: The Trail of the Jedi (звёздные войны)

by Jude Watson

  "What now?" Anakin wondered. "We're stuck on the planet with no comm unit."

  "We have one last sabaac card to play," Obi-Wan said. He turned to Floria and Dane.

  "What?" Floria shifted nervously. "We told you everything we know."

  "I don't think so," Obi-Wan answered. "If you had captured us, where would you have taken us?"

  "To Granta Omega, of course," Dane answered.

  "How would you have contacted him?" Obi-Wan asked. "You must have some sort of prearranged loine of communication."

  Floria and Dane gave each other a nervous look.

  "Because you're going to use it. You're going to contact him and tell him that you've captured us," Obi-Wan said. "And you're going to ask him to meet you on Ragoon-6."

  "What if we do?" Floria asked. "Do you think we're crazy enough to contact Granta Omega and lie to him?"

  Obi-Wan merely look at them. It was enough.

  "All right, all right," Floria muttered. "We'll contact Granta Omega and lie to him. Just arrange a really nice funeral for us, will you?"

  Obi-Wan shook his head. "No funerals. But the game is over. We're not chasing any more bounty hunters. Granta Omega will come to us."

  Floria agreed grudgingly. "I guess we'll cooperate. I'm tired of trying to outthink you, anyway. Obviously, we're outmatched. Besides, I'm starting to like you. And I bet Dane is, too."

  Dane groaned. "Guilty. Some bounty hunter we are. We befriend our prey instead of betraying them. Okay." He gazed seriously at Obi-Wan. "If we do this, will you protect us?"

  Obi-Wan nodded. "You have my word."

  Slowly, Dane withdrew a comlink from a hidden pocket in his cloak. "It's only got one channel," he said. "It's a direct line to Omega." Dane activated it and inputted a code.

  "We have the Jedi," he said. "But lost our transport. You must come to us."

  He listened for a moment, then shut off the comlink. "He's agreed to meet us. He sounded surprised that Floria and I were the ones to catch you. Kind of insulting, actually. But he's coming." Dane looked at his sister. "Unfortunately, he wants to meet us at the top of the mountain."

  Floria groaned. "Not again."

  "Don't worry," Obi-Wan said. "We'll get up a faster way."

  This time, they did not follow the trail. They used the cable launchers to vault straight up the cliffs. From that spot, they were able to hike above the tree line. The air was thin and cold here, and Obi-Wan and Anakin paused to don their thermal capes. The snow was ankle-deep on the trail.

  "There's a good chance he'll be wary," Obi-Wan told Anakin. "We must pretend to be Dan and Floria's prisoners until the last possible moment. I don't have to tell you that we need to take Granta Omega alive. Perhaps more important than catching him will be finding out why and how he targeted us."

  Floria and Dane slipped laser cuffs over Anakin and Obi- Wan's wrists but did not seal them. It would appear that the two were prisoners. They marched ahead of Floria and Dane.

  "Wasn't it your idea to become bounty hunters?" Floria grumbled to her brother as she pushed her way through the snow. "Floria, we can see that galaxy. Floria, it will be fun. Floria, it's an easy way to make a fortune — "

  "Floria, you're driving me crazy," Dane interrupted.

  "We're getting closer, you two," Obi-Wan warned from behind them. "Try to act like professionals. We could be under surveillance."

  "Master, there is someone ahead," Anakin said under his breath.

  A humanoid male sat on top of ice-encrusted snow ahead. He was dressed all in white, and had blended in with the snow.

  "It must be Hunti Pereg," Dane murmured to them. "He's the only bounty hunter left."

  The stranger did not move as they approached.

  "Greetings," Dane called. "We are Dane and Floria, bounty hunters. We have caught the Jedi."

  The man smiled pleasantly. "I can see that. Congratulations. I am Hunti Pereg. Bounty hunter as well."

  Obi-Wan was poised for an assault. Surely the fearsome Hunti Pereg would not let two children take away his prize. His face looked fierce and frightening. It had the patched- together of a recent application of synth-flesh, as though he had been badly injured.

  The scars of life as a bounty hunter, Obi-Wan thought. It bothered him to think of young Floria and Dane continuing with such a life. Despite their grumbling and their tricks, they were not bad creatures.

  And they are exactly the sort of beings Qui-Gon would have befriended. And I would not have understood why. Now I do, Qui-Gon. Now, I do.

  "Don't worry, kids" Pereg told them. "I won't interfere with your prize."

  "I'm glad to see you abide by the rules of honor." Dane said.

  "It's not that," Pereg said, "I can't move my legs. That scoundrel son of a gravel-maggot Teleq shot me with a paralyzing dart four hours ago. So it looks like you've won."

  "Is there anything we can do for you?" Floria asked politely. "It's awfully cold up here."

  "Very kind of you to ask," Pereg said. "after you collect the reward, if you wouldn't mind sending a ship back for me, I'd appreciate it. Professional courtesy. I'll make it worth your while."

  "Have you seen Granta Omega, by any chance?" Floria asked him.

  He shook his head. "Sorry. It's just been me and the mountain."

  They left Hunti Pereg behind and continued to the rendezvous point. They were almost at the top of the mountain now. The sun had slid behind the peak, and the wind had picked up. A few snowflakes drifted down from a white sky. Floria wrapped her cloak tighter around her.

  They stopped at the coordinates Granta had given them. They looked up at the sky, waiting to see a ship. Dane got out a tarp with thermal coils and spread it on the ground. He and Floria sat, trying to keep warm. Obi-Wan and Anakin stood, holding their arms so the laser cuffs were visible. Obi-Wan did not feel the cold.

  The minutes ticked by.

  "He isn't coming," Obi-Wan said at last.

  "Do you think he knows it was a trick?" Anakin asked.

  "There's no way to know," Obi-wan said. "But a storm is coming, and we need to find help for Wren. We'll have to track Omega after we get Wren to safety."

  "How?" Anakin asked. "we don't have a ship."

  "We'll have to take another look at Teleq's," Obi-Wan decided.

  Floria stood. "At least I can get off the mountain."

  "Well, at least all the bounty hunters have been accounted for," Anakin said. "We don't have to worry about being attacked."

  They started back down the trail, their footsteps crunching through the thin skin of ice into the densely packed snow."

  Obi-Wan heard a slight whistling noise behind him. A small metal ball whizzed by his ear and caught the light as it arced through the air.

  "Hit the ground!" Obi-Wan shouted as he vaulted forward and pulled Floria and Dane down underneath him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The explosion sent a shower of snow high into the air. Obi- Wan lifted his head. The thermal detonator had hit thirty meters away. That was close. Detonators had a twenty-meter radius of destruction.

  Three Attack Droids headed toward them, gliding just above the surface of the snow with repulsorlift engines.

  There was no cover. They could not avoid this battle, even if they'd wanted to. They would have to protect Floria and Dane and foil their attacker. He or she was fighting wisely, attacking without advancing.

  At this point, Obi-Wan was getting a little tired of bounty hunters.

  Obi-Wan put his hand on Dane's back. "Stay down," he ordered him swiftly. "We will take care of this."

  Dane nodded and covered Floria protectively with his own body.

  Anakin's lightsaber blazed in his hand. Obi-Wan nodded and they raced toward the advancing droids, swinging their lightsabers to deflect the blaster bolts. They had to be careful. A stray bolt hit Dane, who was out in the open.

  Anakin leaped toward the first droid. He cut it down in one stroke. Blaster bolts melted the snow around him, but Ana
kin was already twisting in midair to get out of the way. He landed in precisely the right spot to launch another attack.

  He had factored in the icy skin on top of the snow, but his foot still slipped slightly. Anakin took a moment to get his balance. He had forgotten about the thermal detonators. Obi-Wan saw two balls whizzing toward Anakin. There was no time for him to reach the spot. He reached down and scooped up two large rocks. He threw one with each hand. Each rock flew unerringly toward its target, hitting the thermal detonators in midair, causing them to veer off course. They sailed by on either side of Anakin's head and fell twenty- five meters away. Too close.

  Obi-Wan charged forward. The remaining two droids were trying to outflank the Jedi. He fanned out and Anakin did the same. Then they ran toward each other, each targeting a droid as they jumped, their lightsabers held high. The droids fell with a sizzle in two smoking piles into the snow.

  Obi-Wan could see their attacker now. It was another bounty hunter. He was tall and lean and dressed in plastoid armor. Two harnesses were slung crosswise around his body, filled with a variety of weapons. Attached to his belt were more thermal detonators.

  He flipped one toward the Jedi. Obi-Wan and Anakin could not deflect it with their lightsabers. They would not be able to get close enough. They had exactly six seconds to move out of the way.

  Obi-wan reached for the cable line on his belt. He lassoed the detonator and jerked the line, sending it in the opposite direction, back toward the attacker. He saw the attacker bare his teeth in an admiring smile at the Jedi's skill even as he reached up to catch it in his bare hand. Then he flung it backward, where it detonated harmlessly.

  The attacker did not have to move. His weapons could be launched from a distance. But Obi-Wan and Anakin had to maneuver through thick snow to get to him. Anakin had his cable line out and was ready to lasso the next detonator. Obi-Wan ran through the snow. The wind had formed deep drifts, and he had to use the Force to guide him. He used his lightsaber to melt the snow when it piled up against him.

  The detonators flew toward them furiously. Occasionally they could hit one with a rock or lasso one. But mostly the two Jedi had to outrun them.

  Obi-Wan's legs were beginning to tire from struggling against the snow. He could hear the rasp of Anakin's breath. How long could they keep this up? Obi-Wan wondered.

  Beside the attacker, Obi-Wan saw steam rising from the snow. He caught a glint of water and realized it was a thermal spring.

  "Anakin, head right," he called to his Padawan.

  They moved silently to the attacker's right. Every time they moved, they brought him closer to the spring.

  Ten detonators left on his belt. Obi-Wan took a chance and leaped, ducking to avoid a detonator headed his way. It exploded and he felt shock ways against his skin. He landed on the snow awkwardly and slid down the slope toward his attacker.

  Anakin leaped in order to land in front of him, blocking his descent. Two detonators headed their way, and Obi-Wan lassoed one and sent it crashing into the other. The two smoking orbs fell into the deep snow.

  "The thermal pool," he said to Anakin. "Drive him toward it."

  Anakin nodded. He looked tired. Obi-Wan was, too. Yet he knew that beyond their fatigue lay their stamina.

  When they were close enough, Obi-Wan risked a leap straight at their attacker. He knew he would cause him to back up, and the attacker did. He slid on the ice and fell back, crashing into the spring.

  The attacker slipped beneath the surface of the water, then emerged, treading water. He shook the hair out of his eyes and gazes at Obi-Wan with a hostile look.

  Obi-Wan stood at the edge. He held out a hand. "You have about ten seconds."

  "Yes."

  The attacker knew the extreme heat would cause a fusion reaction. The thermal detonators would blow.

  His eyes were a vivid color between silver and lilac. There was a scar on his upper lip. His hair was long and tied back with a silver cord.

  "Come on," Obi-Wan said, keeping his hand steady. We won't hurt you."

  "Not you, but another," the bounty hunter said. "If I return to him without you, he will kill me anyway. I will have an easier death this way. You don't know his power. It comes from the pyramid itself."

  "You don't have to return to him," Obi-Wan said.

  "Ah. But he will find me." The bounty hunter closed his eyes.

  Obi-Wan reached out over the water. "You must give up!"

  "I cannot," the bounty hunter replied, his eyes still closed. "And I must tell you this — neither will he."

  Obi-Wan leaped into the pool. But it was too late. The thermal detonators exploded. Water rose and hit Obi-Wan in the face. He choked and slipped beneath the water, then surfaced, struggling against the waves created by the explosion. Smoke rolled toward him.

  The smoke cleared. Deep below the clear surface of the water, he saw the bounty hunter's body spiral down, down, to a bottomless pool beneath.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Anakin hurried over to the thermal pool. His Master had hauled himself out and stood at the edge. The steaming water pooled at his feet, melting the snow.

  Through the smoke and the steam, he could see the sadness on his Master's face. The Force was strong here. His Master was reaching out to it and gathering it around, as though warming himself. Obi-Wan's gaze was far away.

  "Master? Are you all right?"

  "I am saying good-bye to a being I did not know," Obi-Wan said softly.

  The reverence in his tone surprised Anakin. "He could have killed you."

  "Yet he did not. There is always a need for grief when a being dies, Padawan. Qui-Gon taught me that." Obi-Wan looked down into the steaming pool. "I saw someone take his own life in a pool like this one. It was Xanatos, Qui-Gon's greatest enemy. A being who hated Qui-Gon and who would stop at nothing to destroy him. Still, when he took his own life, Qui-Gon stopped to mourn his life's passing. I will never forget it."

  Anakin nodded, though he did not understand. His greatest enemy so far in his life had been a slave trafficker named Krayn. When he had died, Anakin had not paused to mourn. Far from it. He had rejoiced in his death. It could only be good for the galaxy that such a terrible being had ceased to exist.

  Something to meditate on in my next session, he thought. I'll add it to the list. The difference between Anakin's thoughts and Obi-Wan's lessons was sometimes more than he wanted to examine. It was a struggle to reconcile them.

  "Why do you think the bounty hunter did that?" he asked.

  "That is the crucial question," Obi-wan said. "He preferred to end his life rather than meet his fate with Granta Omega. That should tell us something."

  "It tells us that Omega is very powerful," Anakin said. "And very cruel."

  "Yes, but there is more," Obi-Wan said, as though to himself.

  Anakin wanted to stamp his foot in frustration. What? What are you thinking? But Obi-Wan did not add to his statement. He just looked wise and thoughtful, as usual.

  "There must have been six bounty hunters, then," Anakin said. He counted them off on his fingers. "the bounty hunter with the Stokhli stick. Floria and Dane together. Mol Arcasite. Teleq. Hunti Pereg. And now this one. That makes six. Floria and Dane were wrong."

  "Perhaps," Obi-Wan said in the same thoughtful tone.

  Annoyed, Anakin spun on his heel and trudged off to find Floria and Dane. They had gone off the trail and had hiked up a small rise, where a space cruiser was nestled in a small hollow.

  "We have to get off-planet," Floria said excitedly. "This must be his ship."

  Anakin nodded. "Who was he? Do you know?"

  Dane shook his head. "We were positive there were only four other bounty hunters. It was important for all of us to know exactly how many bounty hunters were involved. We all insisted on that. If Granta Omega had lied to us, we wouldn't have been happy. Even Omega wouldn't want beings like Hunti Pereg and Mol Arcasite as enemies."

  Obi-Wan walked up. "It's time to leave Ragoo
n-6."

  "The best word I ever heard," Floria said with a shiver. Night was falling. Blue shadows smudged the snow.

  Anakin swung himself aboard the cruiser. He searched the cockpit, then motioned to Obi-Wan.

  "Master, I found something strange. This cruise belongs to — "

  "Hunti Pereg," Obi-Wan finished.

  "Yes," Anakin said. "But why is it up here, at the peak? Why isn't it the last bounty hunter's ship?"