“What are you thinking, Ferus?” Darra asked curiously.
“We need to examine this hideout,” Ferus said. “I have a feeling it has something to teach us.”
“What can it teach us?” Anakin asked. “That the raiders like riches?”
Darra ignored Anakin. “Remember what we heard? Evermore and Acadi and Montwin are probably street names. They’re not just striking randomly. They have a plan.”
Ferus nodded. “If we can figure out their plan, we can be ahead of them instead of behind them.”
“There’s got to be a datapad here somewhere,” Tru said, rising. “They left too fast to destroy their records.”
Anakin trailed after the others. His whole body itched to follow the raiders. He always felt more comfortable in physical activity. He always ached to move. But he hoped he was wise enough to realize when it was better to wait. He just wasn’t crazy about the fact that Ferus was the one to suggest it.
He knew what Obi-Wan would say. It didn’t matter who suggested it. The outcome was the goal. Resentment was ego. He knew all this, but it did not chase the resentment away.
You can feel the emotion, Obi-Wan would say. Just let it go.
Anakin gritted his teeth. I’m trying, Master.
“Over here!” Darra called. “I found their holofiles.”
The files had been concealed in a durasteel bin just like countless others that lined the walls.
“How did you find them?” Anakin asked.
Darra was already accessing the files. “I figured that they had been consulting the files while they were talking. The slight delay before they came to attack us meant they were concealing them. They had to be nearby.”
“Good thinking,” Tru said admiringly.
The Padawans bent over the files. Darra expertly accessed one after the other.
“These are lists of assets held by individual families,” Anakin said. “How could they have gotten them?”
“Look at these notations,” Tru said. “They’re coded ECC.”
“Emergency Command Center,” Darra murmured.
“These files were drawn up so that if the entire planet had to be evacuated, there would be records of what Radnorans left behind,” Tru said. “That way they could recover everything later.”
“So the raiders must have stolen these files,” Ferus added.
“Or bribed someone on the evacuation team to hand them over,” Darra said. “Look at this. This is what they were talking about. They have a list of how the evacuation is going to take place. The first group to be evacuated will be from the bloc between Evermore and Acadi. As soon as those families evacuate, the raiders will move in and clean them out.”
Tru gave a low whistle. “That’s some organized system. But why are they looting now?”
“Easy answer?” Darra shrugged. “Because they can.”
Anakin nodded. “The city is falling apart, and they see an opportunity. But are they counting on coming back to the planet for this stuff, or do they have plans to take it with them? It would be hard to smuggle it aboard the evacuation ship. The families are only allowed what they can carry.”
Tru reached around his head with one flexible arm to scratch his ear thoughtfully. “The raiders said something about ‘they’ had better come through on their promise to move the stuff. Who’s ‘they’?”
“Maybe they have a contact who will help them smuggle it,” Ferus said, frowning.
Darra looked up at them, her face tinged blue by the light cast by the holofile. “The important thing is that they have access to all the evacuation orders. That means someone on the inside is helping them.”
“Well, at least we know exactly what to do next,” Anakin said. “We have to find out who.”
He looked over at Ferus. He expected his fellow Padawan to argue, but Ferus nodded.
“And why,” Ferus added. “That might be the most important question of all.”
Chapter Nine
It wasn’t hard work, Obi-Wan told himself. It was just heartbreaking.
He and Siri moved through a landscape that reminded him of a desert moon. Yes, there were buildings. Homes. Businesses. Shops. But the eerie absence of lives being lived made the city a vast echo of sorrow.
They found the dead and they found the still-living. They brought the sick to the overcrowded med center, where medication only slowed the process of dying. Curi had had hopes that the medication could effect some cures, but so far it had not. The toxin did not respond.
Every so often Obi-Wan and Siri would see Ry-Gaul and Soara on their rounds. The four Jedi would simply nod at one another. There was nothing to say. No notes to compare. There was only death and the dying.
On their last trip to the med center, Siri watched as Obi-Wan deactivated his comlink after another unsuccessful effort to contact Anakin. “You seem worried,” she said.
Obi-Wan thought carefully how to reply. He didn’t want Siri to think he didn’t trust Anakin. How could she understand? Her Padawan was Ferus, who Obi-Wan knew as an assured, steady Jedi student. No one understood his brilliant, openhearted, complex Padawan like he did.
So yes, I’m worried, Obi-Wan thought. But I will only admit that to myself. I don’t worry that Anakin will fail. Or that he will let down the Order. But that he will try too hard. That he will go too far. That he will assume he can do what he cannot.
“I’d rather he was by my side,” he said. “That’s all.”
Siri nodded, her clear blue eyes holding a hint of skepticism. She knew he was not telling her the complete truth. Obi-Wan turned away. Sometimes old friends were hard to have around.
Suddenly, Curi hailed them from the steps of the med center. Her eyes were red-rimmed behind her bio-iso mask.
“The ambassador from Avon wishes to speak with you,” she said. “His name is Dol Heep. He was trapped here when he entered shortly before the toxin release. He wore a bio-iso suit so hasn’t been affected, but he can’t leave. He has a proposal.”
“Avon is a planet in your system,” Obi-Wan said. He remembered that the planet was only a day’s journey away.
Curi nodded. “He is waiting for you. You can use my office.”
They followed Curi’s directions to a small, cluttered office. Sleep mats were rolled up and stacked in the corners. Containers of food were scattered on a long table. Obviously the medics used the office to snatch quick meals and some rest when they could.
Dol Heep rose when they entered. He was a tall being with a large, domed head. He was dressed in a bio-iso suit, though for some reason he had attached his ornate septsilk cloak to it, which gave him a slightly ridiculous air.
He bowed. “A great honor to meet Jedi.” His voice boomed out, sounding too loud in the hushed setting.
Siri and Obi-Wan returned the bow.
“Unfortunate that it is under such circumstances,” Dol Heep continued. “No one in the government is available for us to speak with. Jedi are the only officials we can approach with this offer.”
“Yes?” Siri asked, inclining her head politely.
“Avon grieves at the tragic accident that has befallen our neighbor,” Dol Heep said in a slightly lowered tone, his prominent eyes staring at them from behind his mask. “We heard that there might not be enough room on the evacuation ships for everyone here.”
“That is a rumor,” Obi-Wan said. “It is false.”
“So you say. In case of some failure, Avon wishes to send an entire fleet to Radnor to airlift more sick off-planet. We took the liberty of sending the fleet already. Once in orbit, we’ll await orders. Of course, we’ll need Jedi help here on the ground to coordinate the rescue effort.”
“That is a kind and generous offer,” Obi-Wan said. “But there is no need for Avon to commit a fleet of vessels. There is enough space on the ships being sent by the Senate.”
“This information does not seem to have been accepted by the citizens of Radnor,” Dol Heep said. “Appearance is often reality. If more
ships are said to be arriving, the people will be more calm.”
Dol Heep had a point. Even the rumor of another rescue fleet could calm the population. But Obi-Wan felt uneasy. He wasn’t about to accept the offer until he knew more. He gave a quick glance to Siri. He could see the same doubt in her eyes.
“We will get back to you,” he said.
“My planet appreciates your consideration,” Dol Heep said. With another bow, he left the room.
Obi-Wan turned to Siri. “What do you think?”
“There’s something about this that isn’t right,” Siri said. “I just have a feeling about it.” Her blue eyes gleamed at him in a way he hadn’t seen since they’d arrived on Radnor. There hadn’t been much call for Siri’s quick wit. “I trust my instincts, but you know how I occasionally like to back them up with facts.”
“Until we have facts, let’s hold off, then,” Obi-Wan agreed. “We should investigate the offer further.”
Curi poked her head in the room. “Are you finished? I have some medics who need to eat or they’ll collapse.”
“Tell them to come in,” Siri said. “What do you know about Dol Heep, Curi?”
Curi tried to scratch her scalp through her bio-iso suit. “Not much. But what I know I don’t trust. Radnorans don’t trust the Avoni. They are aggressive colonizers. I made it a rule not to do business with them. I wouldn’t sell them weapons. Of course, there are many others, even on Radnor, who will.” Her face changed. “There were many others,” she added softly.
“Avon has offered a fleet of evacuation ships for Radnor,” Obi-Wan told her. “I don’t feel we should take the offer at face value.”
Curi looked puzzled. “What are you getting at?”
“For one thing, the offer could be a smokescreen for a planned takeover,” Siri said.
Curi frowned. “Why would Avon want to take over a planet where you can’t breathe the air?”
“A good point,” Obi-Wan said. “Maybe Avon doesn’t want to colonize Radnor. But they might be planning a temporary occupation. There are many tech labs on Radnor that can be plundered for data. Sometimes data can be more important than land.”
Curi just looked tired. “I can’t worry about this. I have sick people to take care of.”
Siri put a gloved hand on her shoulder. “We will handle it.”
Curi nodded and left. Obi-Wan and Siri headed out of the med center. He hoped it would not be a waste of time to investigate the Avoni.
The offer seemed a simple offer of help from a neighbor. But he had been on enough missions to know that there were veils behind veils, where somewhere the truth would lie.
Chapter Ten
The Padawans were heading into the Emergency Command Center when Ferus held up a hand. The Padawans stopped. Anakin nearly bumped into Darra. Annoyed, he stepped back.
“Before we meet with Galen, I suggest that only one Padawan conduct the questioning,” Ferus said. “We don’t want him to think we are accusing or bullying him. This should be done carefully.”
“You should do it, Ferus,” Darra said. “You have the most experience.”
Ferus nodded. “All right.”
Wait a second. Don’t I get a vote? Anakin wondered. What happened to Jedi cooperation?
But Tru was agreeing as well, so Anakin nodded.
Ferus led the way into the room, which had been a minister’s office before all the government officials had fled the planet. Now a row of datascreens glowed faintly as Galen sat on a repulsorlift chair, moving from screen to screen as he checked and matched lists.
“How is the evacuation coming?” Ferus asked politely as they entered.
Galen passed a harried hand through his hair. “All right. There are so many details. And I don’t have much help.”
“We’d be glad to assist you,” Ferus said. “How many workers do you have here?”
“Just me at the moment,” Galen said. “I had a staff, but they all left when the ministers did.” He gave the Padawans an impatient glance. “I can handle things here. You go ahead and keep patrolling the streets, or whatever you’re doing.” He turned back to the datascreens, dismissing the Padawans as though they were naughty children who had interrupted his work.
“Can you tell us who has access to this information?” Ferus asked. Anakin was surprised at his polite tone. How could he let Galen get away with patronizing them?
“The upper ministers of government had access,” Galen answered without turning. “And now I do. Why?”
“Is there anyone who would release that information?” Ferus asked.
Galen gave a weary sigh and turned around in his chair. “No, of course not,” he said. “It’s classified. Sensitive. If people knew in what order they would be evacuating, violence could erupt. The people at the bottom of the list will try to push themselves forward. I won’t post the lists until immediately before the ships arrive.” Galen looked at the Jedi curiously. “If there is something wrong, you must tell me. I am in charge of the city’s security. I don’t want the job, but I’m the only qualified one left.”
“I’m afraid we have reason to believe that the raiders have information about the evacuation,” Ferus answered. “We believe they are planning to plunder the homes of those who are leaving the planet.”
Galen looked at them sharply. “Are you sure about this?” At Ferus’s nod, he shook his head. “Still, at least they will have their lives.”
“But they will return to nothing,” Darra said.
“If we can return.” Galen looked away. “I have a feeling our beloved planet is lost to us for good.”
“You don’t know that,” Ferus said. “The toxin could have a half-life.”
“We don’t have time to investigate that,” Galen snapped. “Don’t you think we have enough to do?”
“We are not accusing you,” Ferus said politely.
“Maybe not. But you are wasting my time. I am trying to save lives here.” Galen waved at the datascreen.
“We need to find out who passed the information along,” Anakin said in a forceful tone. He was tired of letting Ferus ask all the questions. He was getting nowhere with that polite tone. “Whoever it was wanted to foster instability on the planet. I don’t call investigating that a waste of time. Do you?”
“Hey, there’s no reason to jump down my throat, kid.” Galen held up two hands, as if to fend Anakin off. “Look, I’d like to help. But there’s really no way to tell who passed on the information. Many of the ministers have gone to Coruscant. Some have scattered to other worlds to wait out the catastrophe in comfort.” He frowned at them. “You’re not thinking of leaving now that you’ve lost your Masters, are you?”
“We haven’t lost them,” Anakin snapped.
Ferus interrupted smoothly. “No, we’re not leaving. We’re to remain until the evacuations take place. Don’t worry. And we’ve destroyed many of the Prototype Droids that the raiders were using.”
“You kids did?” Galen looked impressed. “Maybe things are looking up.” Suddenly the communicator sputtered to life. It crackled and buzzed, but they could hear a voice calling for Galen to answer.
He quickly adjusted the chair to swing over to the comm unit. “Galen here. Galen here. Do you read? Do you read?”
“Ships…evacuation…engine shutdown needs repair…” The words came out in bursts of static. “Delay. Do you copy?”
“The ships are delayed? How long?” Galen asked desperately. “How long?”
But the comm unit went dead.
Galen turned to the Padawans. His face was pale. “That was the communication line of the Senate ship. Even a short delay will be fatal. The winds will shift in twelve hours. Without those ships, we’re dead.”
Chapter Eleven
In the Isolation Sector, the Jedi Masters met outside the med center to check in. Soara and Ry-Gaul were also hesitant about Dol Heep’s offer.
“The planet is extremely vulnerable now,” Soara said. “One day the survivo
rs will want to return, if they can. They should return to intact homes and businesses.”
“This will take further study,” Siri said soberly.
Ry-Gaul nodded.
Just then Curi hurried out of the building. “I’ve received a communication from the evacuation ships. It wasn’t very clear, but I do know this—the ships have been delayed. How long, I don’t know.”
The Jedi exchanged glances. Obi-Wan reached for his comlink and tried to contact Anakin. He was unsuccessful. He jammed it back into his belt with unnecessary force. Siri glanced at him, then turned back to the others.
“Now we must take Dol Heep’s offer seriously,” Siri said worriedly. “Lives are at stake.”
“The prevailing winds will shift in twelve hours,” Obi-Wan said. “We have to make a decision very soon.”
“By the way, we encountered something interesting,” Soara said. “We found someone who has been unaffected by the toxin.”
Curi’s worried expression changed to intent curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“A Radnoran named Wilk sneaked back into the Isolation Sector to see his wife two days ago. He didn’t have a bio-iso suit. His wife died, but he is completely healthy.”
“He has no symptoms at all?” Curi asked. “Are you sure?”
“We brought him here,” Soara told her. “We were just about to look for you.”
“We must study him,” Curi said, her voice rising with excitement. “He could have some sort of built-in immunity. This could help us.” She frowned. “I only have a few researchers here. My scientific skills are rusty, but we need to investigate this.”
“There isn’t much time,” Obi-Wan told her.
For the first time since they’d met her, Curi smiled. “Then I’d better get started.”
She turned and rushed back into the building.
A voice suddenly boomed out from behind them. “Jedi! Glad to find you here.”