The Prince slowly walked down the ramp alone. First, Qui-Gon was surprised. He had assumed the Prince would arrive with a royal guard.
Then he felt a rush of familiarity. But why? It took him several long seconds to realize that it was Obi-Wan in disguise.
Joy filled his heart. His Padawan was alive!
But quickly, joy was followed by confusion. Had Obi-Wan lost his memory and somehow become mixed up in affairs on Gala? That would be an incredible coincidence. How had he met Prince Beju?
“Look at him,” Paxxi said in disgust. “You can tell the brute is evil.”
“Look closer. The boy is Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon murmured.
Paxxi gasped. “Yes so, I thought he seemed handsome and brave,” he added quickly. “And what royal bearing he has!”
“Obawan! I am overjoyed!” Guerra exulted, hid voice a whisper. Then his face fell. “But what can we do, wise Knight Jedi-Gon? We can’t follow our plan now. If we alert the people that the Prince id taking the bacta, we will put Obi-Wan in great danger.”
“Do you think Obawan had been memory-wiped?” Paxxi whispered. “What if the Syndicat is using him?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Qui-Gon said quietly, his eyes on Obi-Wan as the boy greeted Baftu.
There was only one thing he could do. Qui-Gon concentrated and reached out to the Force. He gathered it in, then directed it toward Obi-Wan like a cresting wave.
He waited, every muscle tense, every cell on alert. His heart cried out for his Padawan to hear him.
He felt Obi-Wan catch the Force and send it back to him. It broke over him like a glorious waterfall.
Qui-Gon closed his eyes in sweet relief. “It is all right,” he told Paxxi and Guerra. “He has withstood the memory wipe.”
Paxxi and Guerra exchanged stunned glances.
“No one has ever done this completely.’ Paxxi said.
“I knew he could,” Guerra affirmed. “Not so, I lie. I feared for my great friend Obawan. And now I feel relief and joy.”
“Me as well, good brother,” Paxxi said. The two brother looped their long arms around each other and hugged, their faces close together and smiling.
But Qui-Gon was worried. Guerra was right. They could endanger Obi-Wan with their plan. But did Obi-Wan have his own plan? Had the boy gotten himself into deeper trouble?
Qui-Gon sighed. He would have to wait. He must take no action until he knew what Obi-Wan had in mind.
One of the Jedi lessons Qui-Gon had impressed upon the boy again and again was the necessary activity of waiting. Activity can endanger, he had told him. To wait and to watch is the more difficult task, yet it is one we must master.
If only he had taught himself the lesson as well.
Obi-Wan felt the Force hit him like a wave. The knowledge that Qui-Gon was near gave him courage.
He had worried that Terra might change her mind and appear at the platform to greet Prince Beju. She would recognize him instantly, he was sure. And though he had locked the Prince in storage in the cargo hold, he worried that the Prince would be able to make enough noise to carry beyond the ship. He needed to get Baftu away as soon as possible.
“Welcome, Prince Beju,” Baftu said as he approached. “I’m surprised to find you alone. Did you pilot yourself?”
“I thought it best to come alone,” Obi-Wan said in a loud voice, hoping that Qui-Gon could hear. “I must confess that I have doubts about this alliance.”
Baftu’s smile faded. “But we have agreed on all terms.”
“Yes, but I risk more than you,” Obi-Wan said. “You make grand claims that I must trust you can fulfill. You speak of goods I have not seen.” Obi-Wan waved a hand. “You talk of bacta supplies, of a great treasury you will share to help me win back Gala. But I have not seen them.
Baftu’s smile was strained. “But of course you shall. To headquarters, then. We can take refreshment, and –“
“No. The bacta first,” Obi-Wan interrupted sharply.
“But I have prepared a feast,” Baftu said. “We can go over details. Wasn’t it you who said you would need refreshment after the journey?”
“Do not bore me with question!” Obi-Wan snapped. “Just obey me. The bacta first. Then the treasury. Or I will bet back on my ship and return home.”
Baftu’s annoyance was visible. “Did we not agree that it would be better to load the bacta under cover of darkness? If my people see the amount of bacta we have, it could be dangerous for both of us.”
Obi-Wan flung the cape over his shoulder. “Can you not control your people, Baftu? Are you afraid of them? This makes me uneasy.”
For a moment, Obi-Wan thought that Baftu would strike him down. But the alliance was all important to him. Baftu’s small, cunning eyes narrowed, and he forced a smile. “As the Prince whishes, of course. Let us load the bacta.”
“Excellent,” Qui-Gon said to Guerra and Paxxi in a low voice. “Obi-Wan is stalling for time. We’ll have to change our plan. First the treasure, then the warehouses. Alert Kaadi that the Prince will be loading the bacta. And the, follow me.”
Chapter 17
Paxxi and Guerra tried their emergency signal to get Duenna’s help, but after waiting a few minutes, Qui-Gon determined that they would have to get inside Syndicat headquarters without her.
“But how, Jedi-Gon?” Guerra asked. “Blast our way in? Create a diversion?”
“Let’s hope there’s some confusion since the Prince is here. Things won’t be routine. So we’ll just walk in,” Qui-Gon said, lowering his dark visor.
They strode past the guard with a nod. The second one was harder. He asked for their order number.
“Prince Beju has changed plans. He wants to load the bacta first,” Qui-Gon answered. “Baftu has sent us here.”
“Without an order number?” the guard asked skeptically.
“Yes, we’ll go in,” Qui-Gon said, bringing the Force to bear on the Phindian.
“Yes, go on in,” the guard said, waving them through.
The security beams were turned off on the rear entrance, most likely because so many guards were going in and out. They were not challenged as they made their way down the halls toward the staircase to the lower level.
Qui-Gon led them to the secret room and activated the wall shift. Quickly, they headed for the security door.
“Now, it’s your turn,” Qui-Gon said to Paxxi. He fervently hoped that Paxxi’s device would work.
Paxxi jacked into the security panel. Qui-Gon heard a series of electronic beeps. Then he pressed his thumbprint against the transfer register. A beep followed. Then the light turned green, and the door opened.
“It worked, good brother!” Guerra cried. Qui-Gon wished he didn’t sound quite so surprised.
The room was filled with treasures. Gems, spice, currencies, rare metals.
“We’ll need transport,” Qui-Gon said. “We can’t get all of this out of the building, so we’ll have to hide it.”
Paxxi and Guerra hurried back to the holding pen at the staircase to get the floaters they’d hidden there. Qui-Gon stacked the materials. Then they loaded them onto the floaters and took them to the supply closet. The closet could barely hold everything, but they were able to shut the door.
“Now we have to get to the warehouses,” Qui-Gon said.
Paxxi closed the security door and reset the transfer register. They quickly left the secret room and closed the wall again. They hurried up the stairs and took the back entrance.
As they rounded the corner of the grand mansion toward the front gates, Qui-Gon held up a hand. “Wait,” he murmured.
Baftu’s gold speeder pulled up. Baftu and Obi-Wan emerged, Followed by the assassin droids.
“It is better to let my guards load your ship,” Baftu was saying to the boy he thought was the Prince. “They will do it quickly and efficiently, I assure you. Now you will view the treasury.”
“I am pleased,” Obi-Wan replied.
“You see, Jedi Gon??
?? Paxxi whispered. “Our plan is working.”
“We are lucky brothers,” Guerra agreed.
Just then, Terra emerged from Syndicat headquarters. She started down the stairs. Obi-Wan reached behind him to draw his cloak up around his face, but it was too late.
Terra pointed. “You are not Prince Beju!” she cried.
Chapter 18
Obi-Wan’s mind worked quickly. Terra had recognized him. But it was still her word against his. He would have to bluff his way through.
He turned to Baftu. “who is this who dares to challenge me?”
“My partner, Terra,” Baftu said. “What are you saying?” he asked Terra fiercely. “You have never met the Prince.”
“This man is a rebel.” Terra insisted, drawing her blaster. “I ordered his memory wipe myself.”
In the shadows, Qui-Gon’s hand wen to his lightsaber. Paxxi and Guerra drew their blasters, prepared to fight. They followed Qui-Gon’s lead, waiting to see what Obi-Wan would do.
“If I resemble some petty criminal on your world, that is not my affair,” Obi-Wan said contemptuously. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Baftu. “Is this a ruse to deflect me from inspecting your treasury? I am already unsure about this alliance. . . .”
“No, no,” Baftu soothed. “Do not listen to my partner. Let us go down to the vault.”
Obi-Wan nodded shortly.
“I’m coming, too,” Terra said grimly.
“What shall we do, Jedi-Gon?” Guerra whispered. “Danger is not past for Obawan.”
Qui-Gon had already decided. “Paxxi, go to the warehouses with your device and open them. We must proceed with the plan. Contact Kaadi and start distributing food and weapons.” Qui-Gon put a hand on Paxxi’s shoulder. “I know you want to stay and help Obi-Wan. But a diversion will help him more than you can here.”
Paxxi nodded and fled.
“Guerra, come with me,” Qui-Gon said.
They attached themselves to the rear of the groups with Baftu and Obi-Wan.
“Terra is excitable,” Baftu said to Obi-Wan. “Do not listen to her.”
“So you have an excitable partner who is not to be listened to,” Obi-Wan said. “That does not sound wise.”
Terra drifted closer to them. When Baftu turned to give an order to a droid, she murmured in Obi-Wan’s ear, “No matter what Baftu thinks, I know you’re a fake. I don’t know how you resisted that memory wipe, but I’ll find out. And I’ll kill you in a heartbeat.”
“Only droids downstairs,” Baftu ordered briskly as they approached the stairs to the storage room. “Guards, wait here.”
Qui-Gon and Guerra waited until the group was all downstairs. Then they crept after them, keeping out of sight.
Baftu activated the sliding wall. They entered the sanctuary. Qui-Gon and Guerra hovered outside, waiting. They peered inside the crack in the wall as Baftu pressed his print against the transfer register. The security door opened.
They heard Baftu’s cry of dismay. Terra rushed forward.
“What is this?” she exclaimed. “Where is the treasury?”
Baftu turned to her. His face was a mask of rage. “Now I see why you were against this meeting. And why you accused the Prince of being an imposter. You had already stolen my treasure!”
“Your treasure! It is as much mine as yours!” Terra said angrily.
“So you admit that you stole it,” Baftu said. His voice had dropped to a low, threatening tone.
“Of course I didn’t steal it!” Terra said, exasperated. “Something is going on here, Baftu. This Prince is an imposter. Someone is trying to discredit me, or you – listen to me!”
Baftu turned. He nodded at the assassin droids.
It happened before anyone could move or even blink. The assassin droids fired their built-in blasters at Terra. There was a moment where she stood, her expression blank and uncomprehending.
“You fool.” She said to Baftu, and fell.
Baftu stepped over her body as though it was stray garbage on the street. He placed his hand on Obi-Wan’s elbow. “Come, Prince Beju. I have taken care of the traitor. It is a matter of time before I find where she hid the treasury. This is nothing. It will not interfere with our plans.”
Qui-Gon had to pull at a shocked Guerra to get him to fade back into the next room. They waited there while Baftu left with Obi-Wan and the assassin droids. They could hear Baftu still reassuring Obi-Wan as they walked away.
As soon as they were out of sight, Qui-Gon and Guerra rushed into the sanctuary. Terra lay in the doorway of the treasury room.
Guerra knelt next to her. Tenderly, he reached one long arm underneath her body and raised here to cradle her against him.
Terra looked up at him. The light in her bright orange eyes was fading. “You don’t remember me,” Guerra said brokenly.
Terra’s eyes cleared. For a moment, they blazed bright as memory rushed back. “No so, brother,” she said softly. She reached up a trembling hand and touched Guerra’s cheek. “No so.”
Her eye lids fluttered closed. She curled one arm around Guerra’s neck, rested her head against him, and died.
Chapter 19
They heard a cry behind them. Qui-Gon turned. Duenna stood in the doorway, her hand at her heart.
“My good mother,” Guerra said, his orange eyes full of tears. “Our Terra is gone.”
Duenna knelt beside her daughter. Guerra put Terra in her arms.
Qui-Gon touched Guerra’s shoulder. “We must go, my good friend,” he said. “If a battle begins, Obi-Wan will be in great danger. Your people will think he’s taking all the bacta.”
Duenna looked at her son as she cradled Terra. Her eyes were clear. “Yes so, my son. You must go. Your sister must not die in vain.”
Qui-Gon only paused to lift Obi-Wan’s lightsaber from the weapons rack near the door. They hurried through the street toward the warehouses.
They heard the commotion from blocks away. Blaster fire and shouting punctured what sounded like one continuous roar of rage. Qui-Gon and Guerra began to run.
As they drew closer, they began to see Phindians, their arms full of supplies, rushing past them. Qui-Gon knew the plan Kaadi had devised. She had designated runners to deliver food and medicine to the sick and restock the hospitals with med supplies.
They rounded the last corner to the warehouses. Qui-Gon saw in a quick glance that Paxxi and Kaadi had done their work well. They had passed out weapons to the rebels, who held a line of resistance against the Syndicat guards. Behind that line, Phindians passed supplies from hand to hand, passing the supplies to runners who took off with them.
He saw Paxxi toss a proton grenade into a sea of Syndicat guards. Kaadi ran forward with a force pike and attacked a guard trying to blast a runner with her hands full of medpacs.
Qui-Gon quickly made his way to Paxxi’s side. “Have you seen Obi-Wan?”
Paxxi shook his head. “Maybe his is by his ship.”
But then Qui-Gon saw him in the midst of the Syndicat guards. Baftu stood nearby, watching the battle. Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan slipped a blaster from a guard’s holster without him noticing. Qui-Gon sent out the Force to his Padawan, and Obi-Wan looked over the crowd straight at him. He nodded.
Qui-Gon powered up both lightsabers. They arced green and blue, glowing in the gray air. Obi-Wan leaped forward over the Syndicat guards. Qui-Gon tossed his Padawan’s lightsaber high in the air. It revolved slowly, turning in a graceful arc. Obi-Wan reached out his hand and the hilt of his lightsaber landed in his palm. As he landed, he slashed out at the front line of Syndicat guards. Baftu gaped at Obi-Wan, frozen with shock to see the boy he knew as Prince Beju on the attack.
“Kill him!” he screamed at the guards.
Qui-Gon was already moving forward himself, adding to Obi-Wan’s assault with his own frontal attack. They now knew where the Syndicat guards were vulnerable, and they did not waste time directing blows at their armor. Instead, they slashed out at ankles and necks
, and managed to flip off the armored visors so they would have clear shots to disable them.
The Force was around them, guiding them. Obi-Wan felt its power as it battled against the dark side of the cruel Syndicat guards. He felt to good energy of the Phindians at his back, helping him. His blows landed where he aimed, and he evaded blaster fire with the help of the Force, which told him when to twist, move, leap, and block.