Star Wars

Jedi Quest

Book 3

The Dangerous Games

by Jude Watson

source: IRC

uploaded: 09.I.2006

CHAPTER ONE

The spacelanes of the planet Euceron were jammed with vehicles. In the

upper atmosphere, large transports and sleek passenger  liners  chugged  in

orbit. Despite the heavy presence of spacelane  officers  on  high-altitude

swoops, tempers flared as star cruisers  and  shuttle  craft  jockeyed  for

position outside the landing platforms.

Fourteen-year-old Anakin Skywalker swerved the  Galan  starfighter  to

avoid a cruiser trying to cut in the line waiting to land. "Watch  it,  you

gravel-maggot!" he yelled, even though he knew the pilot couldn't hear him.

Beside him his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, cleared his throat.

"I know, I know," Anakin said. "Feel my anger, and let it go. But do I

have to be a Jedi all the time, even in space traffic?" He flashed  a  grin

at his Master. He knew the answer.

"You are a Jedi  every  moment,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "Even  when  another

cruiser is sneaking in to your right."

"What?" Anakin wrenched his attention back to his piloting.  A  silver

star cruiser was attempting to nose in - Anakin swerved  to  the  left  and

then slid neatly into the empty slot ahead.

Obi-Wan leaned back in his seat. "If you allowed  someone  to  cut  in

line, we would lose five minutes' time. Would that be so bad?"

His Master could always find an opportunity for a lesson,  even  while

waiting to land in a crowded space-lane. "I guess not," Anakin said. "We're

not in a hurry. But it's not right for  them  to  try  to  sneak  ahead  of

others."

"No," Obi-Wan said. "But that is the other pilot's choice.  By  trying

to prevent him, you are feeding your own anger and impatience. Perhaps that

is worse."

Anakin saw his Master's point. That was the  trouble.  Obi-Wan  always

made sense. The only problem was that Obi-Wan didn't understand how good it

felt when Anakin had zoomed ahead, preventing the cruiser from cutting in.

The spacelane officer ahead signaled to Anakin. A new lane had  opened

up for landings. Anakin slid the craft neatly into place. Now that  he  was

first in line, he could look around and enjoy the sight  of  so  many  star

cruisers in one atmosphere.

"I knew it would be crowded on Euceron, but  I  didn't  expect  this,"

Anakin said. "At least on Coruscant the  traffic  is  strictly  controlled.

This is a mess."

"Euceron isn't used to such traffic,"  Obi-Wan  agreed.  "Beings  come

from all over the galaxy to the Galactic Games."

"I didn't realize they would all arrive at once." Anakin wasn't really

grumbling. He enjoyed the chaos, the scramble for lane space, the chance to

see so many different kinds of star cruisers.

When he had first  learned  of  the  mission  ahead,  Anakin  couldn't

believe his luck. All he and his Master had to do was patrol  the  Galactic

Games, keeping alert for any signs of trouble. The Galactic Games were held

every seven years, and planets all over the galaxy competed to  become  the

host planet. The Games were exciting  and  sometimes  dangerous,  with  the

fastest and most skilled competing in races and contests.  Anakin  couldn't

wait to see the various events.

The government of Euceron had asked for Jedi help in order to keep the

peace. In only seven years, the  galaxy  had  changed.  New  trouble  spots

erupted far too often. Some systems had grievances with  the  Senate;  some

planets had trade conflicts with other planets. Beings from many  different

worlds would be in close quarters, some of them hostile to one another.  It

could be a volatile mix.

Then again, everyone was coming to have a good time. Anakin knew  that

he was. The Galactic Games had been started over eight  decades  before  in

order to promote peace through sport. Winners became famous both  on  their

own planets and in places they had never  traveled.  Even  as  a  slave  on

Tatooine, Anakin had heard tales of their determination and mastery.

"Euceron is trying its best to keep  things  under  control,"  Obi-Wan

observed. "The leaders of the Ruling Power don't want anything to go wrong.

They are trying to gain more power in the Senate, to be put  on  some  very

important committees. This is a crucial way to show that  their  planet  is

stable."

Anakin nodded, a bit bored by Senatorial  politics.  He  was  notified

that he could land now on the Euceron City landing platform.  A  series  of

laser signals told him which slot  to  take.  He  came  in  fast  and  low,

executing  a  quick  turn  that  dropped  the  starfighter  into   position

perfectly. He glanced over at his Master, knowing he had been a  bit  of  a

show-off, but Obi-Wan was already beginning arrival procedures.

Anakin reached for their survival  packs  and  activated  the  landing

ramp, which led to  the  greeting  center  high  above  the  capital  city,

Eusebus. He couldn't wait to get going.

"This will be a good opportunity for you to  reflect  on  a  new  Jedi

lesson," Obi-Wan said. "Connection with the Living Force. There are  beings

from all over the galaxy here. You'll pick up many kinds of energies.  With

such a variety of beings crowded onto one planet, there is much to learn."

"Yes, Master." Anakin hovered  by  the  doorway,  waiting  impatiently

while Obi-Wan double-checked to make sure the  cabin  of  their  craft  was

secure. He made sure to keep his body still, however.  He  might  not  have

conquered his agitation though he had learned to mask it.

But it was rare that his Master did not pick up on his feelings.  Obi-

Wan noted his impatience. "All right, young Padawan. Let's go."

Anakin walked out onto the landing ramp, his eyes eagerly sweeping the

platform. Star  pilots  chatted  in  small  groups,  children  dashed  past

parents' reaching fingers, air taxis unloaded  passengers  who  lunged  for

their luggage - Wookiees and Babbs  and  everything  in  between.  Everyone

seemed in a terrific hurry to get somewhere. And  the  Games  had  not  yet

begun!

"Are you picking up anything about the mission ahead?"  Obi-Wan  asked

him curiously. His Master often asked the question as soon as they  stepped

foot on a planet. Sometimes he even asked it  before  they  landed,  if  he

sensed that Anakin was swept by intuitions about the mission to come.

Anakin reached out to the Force. Sometimes it felt so easy. The  Force

was there, right within his grasp, and he could fold it around  himself  as

easily as slipping into his travel cloak.

"I don't feel darkness here," he said. "I feel tremendous  energy.  It

is not all good, but it isn't dark. It's just. ."

"Life,"  Obi-Wan  finished.  "Emotion,   expectation,   hope,   worry,

excitement."

"It feels more intense," Anakin said slowly as they walked through the

crowd.

"Because it is," Obi-Wan said. "We are all packed into one small city,

waiting for a big event." He paused to consult  a  coordinates  kiosk.  "We

will be staying in the official Games quarters, but  let's  explore  a  bit

first."

They squeezed aboard a crowded turbolift that brought them  down  from

the greeting center to the surface of the planet. They spilled out onto the

main boulevard of Eusebus. The streets were crowded with speeders of  every

kind and description, and the many beings jostled and pushed their  way  to

their destinations. Large overhead signs blinked out directions and routes,

such as STADIUM ONE: LEFT ON  USIRINE  STREET  or  STADIUM  TEN:  TAKE  AIR

TRANSIT GREEN.

The aroma of the various food  stands  wafted  toward  them.  Anakin's

stomach growled. Meat sizzled on grills and sweets hung from slender  poles

that danced in the brisk wind, tantalizing him. He had  eaten  his  morning

meal only an hour before, but he suddenly felt hungry.

"Look around," Obi-Wan directed. "Tell me if you see anything  out  of

the ordinary."

The ordinary? There didn't seem to be  anything  ordinary  in  Euceron

City. It was a city built entirely of plastoid materials, since  there  was

no native stone. The buildings were brightly colored  and  no  higher  than

twenty stories. Eucerons were a humanoid species with large domed heads and

delicate limbs. They dressed in  neutral  colors  as  if  to  offset  their

colorful structures.

But Obi-Wan had  seen  something  Anakin  should  have  noted.  Anakin

screened out his rapidly growing appetite and opened his  mind  to  careful

observation. It took him a few minutes, but then he felt it.

"There are security officers everywhere," he said. "They  are  not  in

uniform, but they are patrolling." He could tell they were security only by

noting their watchful eyes constantly sweeping the crowd.

"Yes. Nicely  observed,  Padawan,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "Euceron  has  the

largest security force in the galaxy for its size. The Ruling  Power  needs

the  security  officers  to  keep  the  population  under  control.  It  is

government by repression and intimidation. The Ruling Power is made  up  of

ten rulers who make all laws and decisions. The  city  looks  peaceful  and

prosperous, but the Ruling Power has been working for years to make it look

that way. They are cultivating an image, and they are typically  aggressive

about their methods."

"So why should the Jedi help them?" Anakin wondered.

"The Ruling Power is not the  kind  of  government  the  Senate  would

normally support," Obi-Wan agreed. "But the safety of many  beings  depends

on the Games proceeding well, and that is important for the continued peace

of the galaxy itself. So don't forget that this mission is a  serious  one.

There are always beings in the galaxy who use these  large  gatherings  for

their own ends. Sabotage is always a possibility, so the Jedi are needed."

"Are we supposed to meet with the other Jedi teams?" Anakin asked.  He

hoped to see Tru Veld, a fellow Padawan and one of his few friends  at  the

Temple.

"Yes. We'll need to coordinate our patrols," Obi-Wan said. "We'll  see

them at our quarters later."

Obi-Wan did not break  his  stride,  but  suddenly  his  concentration

shifted. Anakin could see the change.

"Something is wrong," he murmured.

Anakin threw his own attention out like a  net.  He  was  aware  of  a

change in the sound of the crowd. "A disturbance," he said.

"This way." Obi-Wan stepped up  his  pace.  He  threaded  through  the

pedestrians.

Ahead was a large square. Food stalls  were  packed  in  tightly,  and

caf©s ringed the edges.

Anakin saw a knot of beings across the square.  They  were  packed  so

tightly it was difficult to see what they were looking at.

He heard a roar of anger. He did not know the  language,  but  it  was

easy to guess the intent.

"Hurry." Obi-Wan tried to make it through the crowd,  but  the  beings

were crowded so densely now that it was impossible.

"Get out of my way or I'll kill you!" Someone  shouted  the  words  in

Basic.

Now Anakin could see  a  Phlog,  a  giant  being  with  a  vibrosword,

standing over a small Ortolan, a blue-furred creature armed with only a cup

of juice. The Phlog waved the vibrosword  close  to  his  neighbor's  nose.

Instead of retreating, the crowd surged forward, interested in  a  possible

fight.

"Go ahead, you tub of bantha fat," the Ortolan sneered.

"This isn't good," Obi-Wan muttered.

Suddenly the Phlog took his vibrosword and  slashed  through  a  small

stone table. The group who had been sitting at it  fell  backward.  One  of

them sprang up and withdrew a blaster. The giant Phlog  grabbed  both  huge

slabs of stone and lifted them over his head.

"I'll kill you all!"

Frustrated, Obi-Wan tried to get through the  crowd.  The  beings  had

formed a solid wall of flesh and muscle. The Jedi could not move. But  they

weren't about to fail in their objective before the Games had even begun.

CHAPTER TWO

Anakin saw a sudden flash of blue. A lightsaber danced in the air  and

came down, slicing expertly through the thick slabs of stone. The  movement

was so fast that a tiny  curl  of  smoke  was  the  only  evidence  of  the

lightsaber's trail. The slabs dissolved into  rocks  and  dust.  The  Phlog

howled as one of the stone pieces fell on his foot.

"That should slow you down a minute."

Jedi Knight Siri's tone was pleasant, but it rang with the shimmer  of

durasteel. Next to her stood Ferus Olin, her Padawan.  His  lightsaber  was

raised and ready, his expression hard. He was prepared to spring if  anyone

moved, and everyone seemed to know it. A hush settled on the crowd.

The Phlog stood  awkwardly,  holding  his  foot.  "Who  are  you?"  he

bellowed.

The Euceron whose table had been pulverized quickly shoved his blaster

into his belt. "Ah, Jedi. Just  defending  myself,"  he  muttered,  backing

away.

The Ortolan nodded rapidly, his blue fur flying. "Easy in such  crowds

to bump by accident."

"Exactly," Siri said. "So an apology  is  called  for."  "Sorry,"  the

Ortolan said quickly.

"By both of you," Siri said meaningfully, her gaze boring into  Phlog,

who towered several meters over her blond head.

The Phlog hesitated. He was not  accustomed  to  apologizing  for  his

temper. Even with a lightsaber centimeters from his neck.

For a moment, it seemed that the Phlog would launch an attack on Siri.

She was ready.

By now Obi-Wan and Anakin  had  snaked  through  the  crowd  and  were

standing by, close enough to spring forward if needed. With a look, Obi-Wan

told Anakin to hang back.

Ferus Olin stepped forward. "Think twice, my friend,"  he  said  in  a

soft tone. "Then think again."

Anakin saw the admiration on his Master's  face  at  the  coolness  of

Ferus's approach. A flare of jealousy rose inside him.  Ferus  always  knew

the right thing to say and the right way to say  it.  Ferus  was  only  two

years older than Anakin, but he was known for his maturity.

"Well, well, my fault," the Phlog said in false cheerfulness. "Let  me

buy you another juice."

He bent over the small Ortolan and led him into the caf©.

Siri deactivated her lightsaber. "There. Everyone is  sorry.  Incident

over." Her clear voice sailed out over the crowd. "We can all get  back  to

what we were doing."

The crowd that had been eager to witness a brawl suddenly melted away.

Siri caught sight of Obi-Wan.

"Just a minute too late, as usual," she said.

"We were just waiting to see how you'd handle it,"  Obi-Wan  answered.

"I always wanted to see you go against a Phlog."

Anakin watched Obi-Wan and Siri. A stranger would never know that they

were old friends.

He nodded a greeting at Ferus, who nodded stiffly back. There  was  no

need to pretend that they liked each other. Ferus had warned him once  that

he did not trust him and would keep an eye  on  him.  This  had  infuriated

Anakin, and he still wasn't over it. He had  let  his  anger  go,  but  his

resentment still simmered. He knew how a Jedi was supposed to handle  that,

but he couldn't.

He could not speak to Obi-Wan about it, either.  He  didn't  want  his

Master to know  that  a  fellow  Padawan,  especially  one  as  gifted  and

respected as Ferus, did not trust him.

He turned his attention back to Siri and Obi-Wan, who were talking  in

low voices.

"... with the crowds like this," Obi-Wan was saying. "It was  hard  to

get to you at all."

"And where was security?" Siri  asked.  "I  saw  officers  all  around

undercover, but when they were needed, they were strangely absent."

"Perhaps fewer of them should be undercover," Obi-Wan suggested. "Some

should be more visible."

Siri frowned. "The Eucerons  hate  the  security  forces.  That's  why

they're undercover. But still, with so many visitors, keeping the peace  is

the first order of business."

"I'll talk to Liviani Sarno about it," Obi-Wan said, referring to  the

head of the Games Council.

Anakin couldn't believe it. Obi-Wan hadn't seen Siri in a  while,  and

he only spoke of the  mission!  Anakin  had  great  respect  for  Obi-Wan's

wisdom, but sometimes he wondered how  his  Master  could  connect  to  the

Living Force when his feelings were kept so tightly under wraps.

"Anakin!" Anakin heard the  cheerful  voice  behind  him  and  quickly

turned. Tru Veld was loping across the plaza next to his Master,  the  tall

and silent Ry-Gaul. Tru extended one long, flexible arm in  a  floppy  wave

that conveyed his excitement and happiness at seeing his friend. He and Tru

had been in the same year of training at the Temple, but  they  had  become

friends after they had been chosen as Padawans.

Ry-Gaul nodded at Obi-Wan and Siri as they came up, but gave no verbal

greeting. The three Masters huddled together for a discussion, leaving  the

three Padawans to talk among themselves.

"I can't decide, can you?" Tru asked Anakin, his  eyes  dancing.  They

were the color of the silver seas of Teevan, his home planet, and  when  he

was excited they sparkled like sunlight on waves.

Anakin was used to Tru starting  a  conversation  midway  through.  He

lifted an eyebrow at him.

"Which Game events to attend," Tru explained. "They all sound fun."

"We are here to keep the peace," Ferus said. "Not to have fun."

Annoyance ran through Anakin. Ferus could spoil a  good  mood  quicker

than a double nova. Tru merely shook his  head  good-naturedly  and  nudged

Ferus with a shoulder. "Relax, friend. I can keep the peace and  watch  the

Games, too. Even our Masters will allow that."

"We haven't received our instructions," Ferus said.

"I am sure our instructions will be to avoid having a good time at all

costs," Tru said to Ferus in a mock-serious tone, his eyes still  twinkling

with silent amusement.

Ferus sighed. "Padawans are always trying to  get  me  to  relax,"  he

said. "I'm just not made that way."

Siri, Ry-Gaul, and Obi-Wan  turned  away  from  their  conference  and

approached their Padawans.

"We've decided that you three can go off on your  own  for  a  while,"

Obi-Wan told them. "But be sure your comlinks are functioning at all times.

"

Anakin and Tru exchanged an excited glance. They hadn't expected  this

good fortune. They had hoped to run into each other,  but  now  they  could

actually attend at least some of the Games together! Anakin would even  put

up with Ferus if it meant he could spend time with Tru.

"I contacted Liviani Sarno. She's on her way here," Obi-Wan told them.

"After we receive a briefing, you'll be free to go.  Then  we'll  all  meet

back at the Games quarters for the evening meal."

Within moments they saw a tall female Euceron heading toward them. She

was dressed in a scarlet robe embroidered with orange and gold threads, and

her crown of braids was woven with bright jewels.  Liviani  Sarno  was  not

hard to spot.

Traveling in  her  wake  were  three  other  beings,  and  Anakin  was

surprised that he knew two of them. He had met Didi  and  Astri  when  they

still owned the Coruscant caf© that Dexter Jettster now ran. He  knew  that

they had been close to Qui-Gon Jinn and were friends with Obi-Wan as well.

Didi's round brown  eyes  widened  when  he  saw  Obi-Wan.  Astri  ran

forward, her pretty face flushed.

"Obi-Wan!" Dark curls flying, Astri threw herself at Obi-Wan, wrapping

her arms around him. Anakin was surprised to see his reserved Master  break

out into a huge smile and hug Astri back. Didi came up  and  tried  to  hug

both of them, but his plump arms were too short. He  settled  for  thumping

Obi-Wan on the back.

"This makes my eyes new and my heart glad!" Didi cried.

"It is so good to see you!" Astri exclaimed.

"It is good to see you, too," Obi-Wan said. "You are here to  see  the

Games?"

"In an official capacity," Astri  said.  "I'd  like  you  to  meet  my

husband, Bog Divinian. He's on the Games Council. Bog, this  is  the  great

Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Bog Divinian was a tall, handsome man  in  a  plumfruit-colored  tunic

almost as bright as Liviani Sarno's.

"I am honored to meet a Jedi," Bog said. "Do you know Liviani Sarno?"

"This is our first  meeting,"  Obi-Wan  said  with  a  quick  nod.  He

introduced the Padawans. Siri coolly assessed the Council  member.  Ry-Gaul

stood silent.

"We are glad the Jedi accepted the request  of  the  Ruling  Power  to

monitor the Games," Liviani said. "We can use the help. Many more came than

we expected."

"We have to keep things running  smoothly,"  Bog  added.  "Liviani  is

doing an amazing job of organization."

Liviani inclined her head in  the  fashion  of  one  who  is  used  to

compliments.

"If you need an insider's perspective, I'll  be  glad  to  help,"  Bog

added, speaking to Obi-Wan. "Because you're such a good friend of  Astri's,

I'll make time for you."

Obi-Wan's polite expression did not falter, but Siri's  ice-blue  eyes

flashed at the notion that Bog would only help the Jedi because one of them

was a personal friend. Ry-Gaul just blinked impassively.

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said smoothly. No doubt he  had  noticed  Astri's

embarrassment.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi is the  greatest  of  all  Jedi  Knights,"  Didi  said

proudly. "He will not need our help, I  guarantee."  He  suddenly  realized

that he had insulted Siri and Ry-Gaul and turned to them quickly. "Not that

Siri and Ry-Gaul aren't equally great. All Jedi are great!" Didi beamed  at

all of them. "Even Padawans!"

"How  are  the  preparations  going?"  Obi-Wan  asked  Liviani.   "Any

problems?"

"So smoothly, no problems," Bog Divinian answered. "The Games  Council

is handling everything beautifully. Maxo Vista is a native of  Euceron  and

on the Council, and he has been very helpful. You know of him, of course."

Obi-Wan shook his head politely. Anakin couldn't  believe  his  Master

didn't know the great Euceron hero who had stunned the galaxy  seven  years

before by winning five events at the Galactic Games on Berrun.

"But everyone knows Maxo Vista!" Bog said, surprised. "He is  renowned

throughout the galaxy! He might not be wealthy, but he is famous. And he is

a good friend of mine, so if you need an introduction..."

Siri snorted, then tried to turn it into a  cough.  Anakin  remembered

that Obi-Wan had told him that  Siri  had  never  done  very  well  in  her

diplomacy classes at the Temple.

Even Didi looked embarrassed at Bog's bragging. He smiled at the  Jedi

in turn. "Who needs galactic heroes when we have Jedi?"

"Precisely," Liviani said crisply. "And Bog is  wrong  about  our  not

having problems."

Bog looked crestfallen at having disappointed Liviani. "I know  of  no

problems, Liviani."

Liviani ignored Bog and turned to the Jedi.  "There  are  rumors  that

there will be an illegal Podrace on the outskirts of the city."

Anakin suddenly became very interested.

Siri frowned. "We had not heard this."

Liviani nodded. "Podracers from all over the galaxy have been  spotted

arriving on Euceron. We have heard that they are gathering  on  the  city's

northern border in the Great Dordon Caves,  whose  extensive  tunnels  are,

unfortunately, ideally suited for this suicidal sport."

"Podracing is illegal in the Core Worlds,"  Bog  said  disapprovingly.

"If I were Senator - I am running for Senator of my home planet of Nuralee,

by the way - - I would consider  introducing  a  law  to  outlaw  Podracing

galaxy-wide. It only promotes gambling and  violence."  Bog  gave  a  quick

glance at Liviani to see if she approved of his declaration.

Liviani continued to ignore him, however. "You see our  problem,"  she

said to the Jedi. "The Ruling Power is worried about bad publicity,  so  it

wants us to ignore the rumors. If Podracers die in the caves, no  one  will

care, officially." Liviani's delicate eyebrows drew together in  a  worried

frown. "But the authorities underestimate  how  popular  these  races  are.

Beings will hear of them. Betting will take place, and spectators - some of

them quite important on their home planets - will find the race. We  cannot

guarantee safety and crowd control."

"The Games must proceed smoothly," Bog added. "Absolutely."

Anakin barely heard their voices. His brain had  started  to  buzz  as

soon as he'd heard the word Podrace. He hadn't seen or been in one since he

was a slave on Tatooine.

It was as though the thick clouds overhead  parted,  for  suddenly  he

felt the blow of the hot suns of Tatooine on the back of his neck. He could

taste the grit of sand between his teeth. And he could feel the rise of the

same fierce desire that had filled him as a young boy, the  simplest,  most

powerful feeling he knew: the will to win.

Anakin felt his Master's eyes on him, as though the surge  of  feeling

had touched Obi-Wan like a warning finger. A mask of serenity dropped  over

Anakin's face. He could call it up at will for times such  as  this,  times

when his blood seemed to race closer to his skin.

Liviani was speaking, and Obi-Wan turned back to her. Anakin kept  his

expression calm but interested, Like a Jedi would be. But inside...  inside

he was a slave boy, on fire to race again.

CHAPTER THREE

Does he really think he's fooling me?

Obi-Wan's exasperation with his Padawan did  not  show  on  his  face.

Anakin's attempts to hide his excitement may have tricked the  others,  but

Obi-Wan felt it charge the air. He had  never  seen  Anakin  compete  in  a

Podrace, and Qui-Gon had not given  him  many  details,  but  he  knew  how

outrageously dangerous Podracing was. Pilots sat in open  cockpits,  racing

fragile crafts that were powered by massive engines tethered to  the  racer

by flexible cables. Obi-Wan could imagine that the prospect of Anakin  once

again pitting his skills and reflexes and daring in such a  race  would  be

irresistible.

But it would not be worthy of a Jedi. Jedi did not seek thrills.

Obi-Wan could understand a momentary tug toward  the  past.  He  would

expect his Padawan to overcome it. A longing for such things was  childish,

in his opinion. As soon as they were alone, he would speak to Anakin  about

it....

"Obi-Wan, my friend?" Didi spoke in a low tone at his elbow. "A word?"

Liviani had received a call on her comlink and  had  turned  away,  so

Obi-Wan followed Didi a few paces away from the others.

"I just wanted to say," Didi began, smoothing  his  tunic  with  plump

fingers, "how my entire being is convulsed with joy to  see  your  handsome

and noble face once again - "

"You want a favor," Obi-Wan said flatly. He was fond of Didi,  but  he

did not for one second think that Didi would hesitate to take advantage  of

their friendship.

Didi looked wounded. "Not a favor. Some company on a little errand - "

Obi-Wan began to turn away in dismissal.

"All right, all right! The truth! A  favor!"  Didi  said  quickly.  He

spread his hands, palms out. "But such a tiny one it hardly qualifies."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a second in irritation. Qui-Gon would  ask

for my patience. "What is it?"

"Shortly after arriving in Eusebus, I bought a swoop bike," Didi said.

"I thought it would make navigating  these  crowded  streets  much  easier.

However, hardly had I gone two meters when the engine... whoosh,  ka-blam!"

Didi's fingers traced an explosion in the air. "I want my money back, yet I

fear that slimy son of a monkey-lizard will refuse me."

"But not if a Jedi is along," Obi-Wan said wearily.

"You would not  have  to  do  a  thing!  Just  stand  there  and  look

invincible. Maybe casually take your lightsaber out and test it..."

"No. No lightsaber."

"Then your presence only." Didi put his hands together.  "Such  a  big

favor it would be, and I would repay it a thousand times over."

"Do you really think," Obi-Wan said, exasperated, "that I have time to

help you make up a bad deal?"

"Of course not, you are so busy being strong  and  good,"  Didi  said.

"But while we are together, I can give you a behind-the-scenes,  sneak-peek

look at the Games. Bog is my son-in-law and on the Council. I have a unique

perspective." Didi could see that Obi-Wan was unmoved. "Now,  don't  do  it

for Qui-Gon's sake. I would never want you to remember how much he loved me

and how many times he helped me. Don't even mention his beloved name!"

"I don't have to," Obi-Wan said. "You just did." But he knew from  the

first moment that Didi had drawn him aside that  he  would  help  him.  The

truth was that Obi-Wan had a soft spot for Didi just as vulnerable as  Qui-

Gon's had been. And he had come to see that it wasn't such a bad thing,  to

feel affection for a worthless scoundrel with a big heart.

Still, there were limits.

"I will give you ten minutes," Obi-Wan said. "You  are  the  best  and

kindest friend I ever - " "Nine minutes, fifty-seven seconds - "

Didi's mouth snapped shut. "I will tell Astri. One moment."

Didi dashed off, and Siri came up next to Obi-Wan. "You are worse than

Qui-Gon," she said in an amused tone

Obi-Wan shrugged. "I am still his Padawan in many ways."

"Ry-Gaul and I are going with Liviani. She has some  swoops  available

for us so we can get an overview of the area. We're  sending  the  Padawans

off on their own. The opening rituals will begin in a few minutes."

"I'll keep in touch and meet up with you," Obi-Wan said.  "This  won't

take long."

Siri cocked her head. Her hands slid into the pockets of  the  unisuit

she wore instead of a tunic.  "The  amazing  thing  is  that  you  actually

believe that," she said.

CHAPTER FOUR

When Anakin had first seen Tru, he had  immediately  wanted  to  spend

time with him. Now he could hardly wait to leave him  behind.  This  wasn't

Tru's fault-Anakin just wanted time alone to explore. About Podracing.

He walked alongside Ferus and Tru. The streets were crowded  and  they

had trouble staying together. Ferus didn't seem to notice. He strode  ahead

at the pace he always set, talking without making sure the others were able

to hear.

"The opening rituals are at Stadium One," Ferus said. "We  could  take

an air taxi, but there don't seem to be many around."

"We can get there  on  Transit  Yellow,"  Tru  said.  "Four  stops.  I

memorized the transit system maps on the way here."

"It's the perfect opportunity for us to see all sorts of  beings  from

all over the galaxy," Ferus said. "We should observe customs and protocol."

Leave it to Ferus to have a lesson  plan  for  the  afternoon,  Anakin

thought.

As if he had read Anakin's thoughts and was afraid he would speak them

aloud, Tru extended one flexible arm and slid his hand over Anakin's mouth.

Anakin batted it away with a grin. No doubt Tru was remembering  their

mission to the planet Radnor, when Anakin and Ferus had argued  every  step

of the way. But Anakin had no desire to argue with Ferus again.  He  didn't

care about him enough to argue.

He had more important things to do - like  check  out  the  Podracers.

Anakin told himself that someone  on  the  Jedi  teams  needed  to  do  so.

Logically, he was the best candidate. He was the only one  who  had  raced,

and he was sure to know some of the beings involved. He hadn't raced  since

he was eight years old, six and a half years ago. But the racers tended  to

keep racing, if they weren't killed.

Of course, Obi-Wan hadn't asked him to check out the Podracers. But he

had left him free to choose what he wanted to see. Anakin  assured  himself

that he wasn't disobeying Obi-Wan by going.

Still, he didn't want to advertise his plans to his  fellow  Padawans.

He could trust Tru, but Ferus was another matter. It  would  be  just  like

Ferus to make a big deal of it.

"I'll catch up with you  later,"  he  told  Ferus  and  Tru.  "I  have

something I need to check out first."

Disappointment clouded Tru's silvery eyes. "Oh?"

Anakin knew that Tru had been looking forward to  spending  time  with

him, too. When you made friends among the Jedi, you treasured the times you

were together because they could be rare.

Ferus gave him a glance that was more pointed. "Obi-Wan asked  you  to

do something?"

Anakin could not lie. Not even to Ferus. He pretended he had not heard

him over the noise of the crowd. He turned to go, and Tru leaned  over  and

spoke softly in his ear. "Transit Red, end of the line."

So Tru did know where he was headed.

"You're a good friend," Anakin said as  he  dashed  off  before  Ferus

could say anything more.

Eusebus had converted its largest air taxis to a free transit  system.

He found Transit Red and hopped aboard. He didn't mind missing the  opening

rituals, which no doubt would be filled  with  parading  teams  and  boring

speeches. The real fun was taking place elsewhere

At the last stop on Transit Red, the buildings ended  abruptly.  There

was no gradual thinning of structures. An apartment block ended,  the  road

narrowed, and the horizon was before him. There appeared to be  nothing  in

sight but bare hills.

Now what? Anakin wondered as he descended from the air taxi and looked

from right to left.

He closed his eyes and summoned the Force. He felt it  rise  from  the

red dust and bound off the hills back at him. And then he felt  the  Living

Force as a wave that gathered momentum and broke over him in  a  shower  of

light.

There.

He took off toward the hills to his left. Well, if  this  mission  was

supposed to teach him about the Living Force, he doubted there was much  to

learn. Sometimes he thought he was in better touch with  the  Living  Force

than his Master. Obi-Wan lived in his head.  His  emotions  were  reserved.

Anakin often had no idea what his Master  felt  or  thought.  Sometimes  he

seemed to respond to the beings they met on their travels simply as ways to

get something accomplished. A scrappy pilot with  hair-raising  stories  of

smuggling tech parts through the Outer Rim systems was just a means to  get

from the Manda spaceport to Circarpous Major. A tavern owner who  kept  pet

dinkos was a contact to discover the location of a possible weapons  cache.

A young brother and sister bounty-hunting team  was  taken  along  just  to

provide an answer to the mystery of who was behind a Jedi's kidnapping.

It wasn't that Obi-Wan lacked compassion, Anakin mused.  It  was  just

that there was a little more distance between him and other living  beings.

Qui-Gon had not been able to pass along his connection to the Living  Force

to his Padawan, Anakin felt.

Anakin treasured his Master. But sometimes he wondered what  it  would

have been like to have Qui-Gon as a  Master  instead.  Would  Qui-Gon  have

shared his feelings more easily? Anakin had felt a  connection  to  Qui-Gon

from the start. It had taken more time with Obi-Wan. It  was  still  taking

time.

He reached the hills, which were covered with thorny green bushes  and

small, squat trees. Anakin followed the hillside until  he  spotted  scorch

marks, then an abandoned hydrospanner. He was close.

He strode forward ten meters, pushed aside a dense covering of leaves,

and found the cave opening. He walked inside, already feeling the  presence

of living beings. The cave opened out as he walked. There were two security

guards, but they were unaware of Anakin's silent tread.  Soon  the  ceiling

soared a hundred meters over his head.

He heard the clang of metal. The muffled sound of shouts  and  curses.

The whine and sputter of engines being  tuned  and  tweaked.  The  roar  of

powerful turbines. Someone whistling off-tune and someone else shouting  at

him to stop or he'd shove an oily rag down his slimy throat.

Anakin smiled. It sounded like home.

The cave opened out and he saw a makeshift pit hangar  set  up  ahead.

Podracers  were  parked  haphazardly  while  beings  of  every   size   and

description and varying degrees of oil-soaked clothing worked on them.  Pit

droids scuttled about, hauling huge lubricant hoses and tugging power  cell

chargers.

He stopped at the edge and watched for a moment. Hydrospanners clanged

and macrofusers flew. Someone  yelled  for  a  fusioncutter.  Some  of  the

Podracer pilots sat on elaborate folding chairs, sipping grog  or  tea  and

keeping a watchful eye on their  mechanics.  Other  pilots,  not  yet  rich

enough to have someone else to tweak their  engines,  worked  steadily  and

with enormous concentration. The smallest mistake could cause a Podracer to

turn a fraction too sluggishly, resulting in a spectacular crash.

Anakin recognized Aldar Beedo, a Glymphid he had raced against several

times. He was surprised Beedo was still alive, let alone racing. Beedo  had

never been particularly skillful, but he'd been cunning  and  fearless  and

willing to cheat, and that had made him more successful at  Podracing  than

he had any right to be. Anakin would have thought he'd have crashed or been

run out of the Podraces  by  this  time.  Then  again,  there  wasn't  much

policing of Podracing. Race  officials  attempted  to  keep  some  sort  of

control, but Podracers schemed to get away with as much as they could.

Anakin noticed a Podracer mechanic nearby. He could only see a pair of

short legs sticking out from underneath while another mechanic  stood  near

the console, pushing buttons in what appeared to be a random  fashion.  The

two mechanics were Aleenas. He recognized their three-toed feet and  bluish

scaly skin. The Podracer  looked  familiar.  It  had  been  re-painted  and

buffed, but he was sure he recognized it. He took a couple of steps closer.

"Doby, hand me that hydrospanner,  will  you?  I've  almost  got  this

fused. Then we can start her up again."

A hydrospanner twirled through the air, nearly taking off the  tip  of

Anakin's nose. A hand reached up from underneath the  Podracer  and  caught

it.

"Go ahead and use it, but I'm telling you, Deland, it's not the joint,

" the mechanic at the console said. "No chance, never ever. If  the  engine

overheats during gear switches, it's got to be a sensor problem."

"But the sensor doesn't show a problem, blope-head."

"That's the problem,  bantha-breath.  If  you'd  just  let  me  finish

checking out the sensor suite..."

"I've been doing this longer than you have, baby brother, so slap your

flapping lips shut."

"You're only fourteen months older..."

"Fourteen and a half. And I'm the pilot. You're the mechanic."

"My point exact - "

"Got it!" A face stained with grease  appeared  in  a  pair  of  grimy

welding goggles. Deland sprang to his feet in one motion. "Let's  fire  her

up."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Anakin said.

Doby and Deland peered at him from behind their goggles.

"And we should listen to you because?" Deland asked.

Anakin took a step closer. "Because  if  your  engine  is  overheating

during gear changes, the problem could be in the current filter.  Have  you

used an impulse detector?" The words flowed easily, like a native  language

he had not spoken in years but would never forget.

"Not that it's your business, but yes," Doby  said.  "It  didn't  show

anything wrong."

"Then it's definitely the current filter," Anakin said. "It's clogged.

"

"Slap it shut, you son of a durkii," Deland warned his brother.  "This

guy could be working for another Podracer. He's just trying to spook us."

Doby leaned toward his brother and said in  a  whisper,  "Haven't  you

noticed? He's a Jedi."

"He's a fraud and a fake," Deland hissed. "Sebulba probably hired him.

"

Anakin felt a rush of heat that made his face flame. Back on Tatooine,

Sebulba the Dug had tried to cheat his way to victory  in  the  Boonta  Eve

race and nearly killed Anakin in the  process.  They  had  always  sparred,

though Sebulba had never taken him seriously enough  to  worry  about  him.

Until the race on Boonta Eve, when he'd beaten him in  an  extremely  close

race. "Sebulba is still racing?"

"Everybody knows that," Deland said. "Now I know you're  lying.  Doby,

fire up that engine!"

"You're going to blow out the intake valves on the  turbines,"  Anakin

warned.

In answer, Deland reached over and flipped on the engine.  Anakin  had

already stepped out of the way. Aloud explosion blew Deland back  onto  the

ground. Doby was almost blasted by a roar of fire from  the  left  turbine.

Anakin reached over and shut off the engine.

"I'll be a Kowakian monkey-lizard!" Doby cried. "You were right!"

Deland picked himself up and dusted off his leggings. "Lucky guess."

"Are you two related to Ratts Tyerell?"  Anakin  asked  curiously.  "I

think I recognize this Podracer."

Doby nodded proudly. "He was our father. He died in the  great  Boonta

Eve Classic six years ago. Did you know him?"

"I raced against him in that race," Anakin said. "He was  one  of  the

fastest.  Incredibly  quick  reflexes."  "Not  quick  enough,"  Doby   said

sorrowfully.

"Lying again," Deland said to Anakin. "No human can be a Podracer."

"One was," Doby said. "A human child. A slave. He won his freedom, and

after the race he disappeared. His name was - "

"Anakin Skywalker," Anakin supplied. "Pleased to meet you."

"Now you're a Jedi?" Doby asked in disbelief. "And you were a slave?"

"It's a strange galaxy," Anakin said with a grin.

"Totally true," Doby agreed.

"Don't want to interrupt this getting-to-know-you gush, but we have  a

job to do," Deland said gruffly.

"I'll help you if you want," Anakin said spontaneously. He'd  love  to

get his hands on a  Podracer  engine  again,  but  he  knew  Obi-Wan  would

certainly disapprove.

"What's in it for you?" Deland asked suspiciously.

"Who cares?" Doby asked. "He beat Sebulba, Deland! Now we have to." He

turned to Anakin. "After our father died, we had no  money,  so  our  uncle

sold our sister into slavery. Djulla's master is now Sebulba.  We  have  to

get her out of his clutches! We bet our Podracer that we'd win. Sebulba bet

Djulla's freedom. This time, though, he's not racing. His son Hekula is."

"I'm sorry that your sister is a slave," Anakin  said.  "Do  you  know

Shmi, my mother? She's a slave, too. Or she was, when I saw her last."

Doby shook his head. "Mos Espa is full of beings. We don't  know  them

all."

Anakin blinked as tears filled his eyes, surprising him. For a moment,

Shmi had seemed so close. But she was as far away as  she  always  was.  He

turned away quickly, his gaze  roaming  around  the  makeshift  hangar.  He

didn't see Sebulba. But he did see something familiar - his  old  Podracer.

Could it be?

"Whose Podracer is that?" he asked, pointing it out.

"Hekula's," Deland said, giving it a glance.

Yes, it was definitely Anakin's  old  Podracer,  a  customized  Radon-

Ulzer. It had  been  painted  and  retooled,  but  he  would  recognize  it

anywhere. He knew Qui-Gon had sold the Podracer, but not to  whom.  Sebulba

must have bought it. Anakin burned at the thought  of  Sebulba  owning  the

Podracer he had built and maintained so lovingly.

A tall young Dug suddenly moved into Anakin's field of  vision.  "What

are you looking at, spy?" he shouted.

"What I look at is not your concern," Anakin shot back.

"When it's my Podracer it is," the Dug hissed back. "Spy!"

"It's Hekula," Doby warned Anakin in a whisper. "Be careful."

Anakin looked at Sebulba's son carefully. He felt the dark side of the

Force shimmer off him. He had taken after his father, that was clear.

A movement caught  his  eye.  Another  Dug  had  scuttled  across  the

distance toward him.

Anakin found himself face-to-face with his old enemy, Sebulba.

CHAPTER FIVE

Anakin's fingers itched for his lightsaber. The last time Sebulba  had

threatened him, he'd been just a child and untrained. Now he could dispatch

Sebulba before the Dug could manage to blink.

But he saw immediately that Sebulba didn't recognize him. His gaze was

hostile, but the hostility wasn't personal. He had no idea that Anakin  was

the young slave boy who had humiliated him in a race years before.

Anakin smiled again.

The smile infuriated Sebulba. "What are you smiling at? And  how  dare

you bully my son!"

"He's wasn't bullying me, Father," Hekula whined  in  Huttese.  "I  am

bullying him!"

"You were doing a very poor job of it," Anakin  answered  in  Huttese.

"But that doesn't surprise me."

"How dare you!" Sebulba roared. "Prepare to die!"

Deland quickly moved between them. "Who's  talking  about  dying?"  he

said in a jovial tone. "Let's save that for the Podrace. Right, Hekula? I'd

worry about crashing more than spies, if I were you. I've seen you race!"

Hekula's long head thrust toward Deland. "You'll choke on my dust, son

of a Raft!"

Sebulba was more clever than his son. He grinned craftily and  shot  a

look at Djulla, who was standing by Hekula's Podracer,  preparing  a  snack

for the two Dugs. "I hope you're alive to see your sister  wipe  the  floor

under our feet," he hissed. "For the next fifty years!"

Anakin and Deland both tensed, ready to  strike.  In  Sebulba's  taunt

Anakin heard every cruelty he and his mother had ever endured.

Doby grabbed the hems of Anakin's and Deland's tunics. "Just let  them

go," he murmured. "We'll win the race. That is our better best revenge."

Anakin saw Deland's hand  clench  and  unclench.  His  own  fingertips

burned to slip his lightsaber from its sheath.

"Let's leave the cowards to  their  play,"  Sebulba  sneered.  He  and

Hekula slithered off, their footfalls clattering on the stony ground.

Deland wiped his oily hands with a rag  viciously,  as  though  wiping

away the memory of Sebulba's taunt. "We've got to beat them. We've got to."

"He's fast," Doby said, watching Hekula and Sebulba  return  to  their

entourage. A look of pain crossed his face as Djulla handed Hekula a cup of

juma juice and Hekula spat it out while shouting an insult. "He's  just  as

cruel and dangerous as his father. Maybe more so,  because  he  takes  more

chances."

Temptation loomed before Anakin. He could help Doby  and  Deland  beat

Hekula. He knew it. It was not part of his mission here.  But  Obi-Wan  had

allowed him to have free time. What better way to use it than free a  slave

from the grip of a harsh master?

"Sebulba taught him how to cheat, too," Deland said  worriedly.  "Come

on, Doby. Let's get back to work."

"You can beat him." The certainty  in  Anakin's  voice  made  the  two

brothers turn to face him. "With my help. Hekula has  my  old  Podracer.  I

built it with my own hands. They may have painted it and buffed it,  but  I

still know those engines. I know its weaknesses. I know how Sebulba cheats.

I can help you win."

Doby and Deland exchanged a glance. "We can't ask  you  to  do  that,"

Deland said.

"You're not asking."

"We can't pay you," Doby said. "All of our credits are tied up in  the

Podracer. We barely have enough to get home."

"I don't need credits. And I don't need thanks," Anakin said. "I  just

need you to win."

CHAPTER SIX

"So you promised me inside information," Obi-Wan said  to  Didi.  They

could not locate an air taxi, and all the Transits were full, so  they  had

to walk to the swoop seller. Obi-Wan didn't mind. It gave him a  chance  to

get a feeling of the streets. He reached out  to  the  Force  and  received

nothing alarming back.

"My son-in-law is an idiot."

"That's not exactly the kind of information I had  in  mind,"  Obi-Wan

said mildly.

Didi sighed. "You'd think Astri would have more sense. Did I raise her

to fall for the first tall, handsome idiot who walked through  my  door?  I

did not! Is it my fault she picked  such  a  stiff-necked,  rule-following,

small-spirited, mid-Rim, mid-minded, puffed-up bonehead?"

"Well, at least he's not  a  criminal,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "Maybe  Astri

wanted a quieter life. Maybe she was tired of dealing with a rule-breaking,

truth-stretching, scam-running scoundrel of a father."

"So it is my fault," Didi sniffed.

"Astri has always made her own choices, Didi. And  they  are  hers  to

make. Now, you said you had insider news on the Games."

"Bog thinks that by serving on the Council for the  Games,  he'll  get

the backing of some important beings in  the  Senate,  and  that  he'll  be

assigned important committee assignments. All he does is talk,  talk,  talk

about how important his role is and what it will mean for his future." Didi

mimicked a snore. "Honestly, I don't know how Astri stands it. His big  job

has been arranging the seating for some big-shot Senators. Hoo diggety-hoo.

"

"Didi,  you  said  you  had  information,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "This   is

complaining."

"I have plenty of information," Didi said. "How can I not?  Bog  never

stops talking. But he never says anything worth  listening  to.  Oh,  look,

here we are." Didi  paused  in  front  of  a  shop  with  closed  durasteel

shutters.

"It doesn't look open," Obi-Wan observed.

"Oh, it  is.  The  seller  just  doesn't  want  to  attract  too  many

customers."

"Really. That doesn't sound typical."

"It's a very exclusive shop." Didi turned to him. "Remember, you don't

have to say anything. Just stand there and give that Jedi-ish look."

"I think I can manage it," Obi-Wan said  dryly.  "Tell  me  something,

Didi. If you want to return a swoop, shouldn't you  have  brought  it  with

you?"

"I can fetch it in moments. No need to worry."

Didi rapped a rhythmic knock on the door. Several  seconds  later  the

door slid open. Obi-Wan realized that the pause of the  few  seconds  meant

that they had just undergone some sort of security  check.  Was  the  shop-

owner concerned about vandalism or theft? It was  possible,  since  Eusebus

was crowded with strangers.

But the security measures seemed excessive for a swoop seller. Obi-Wan

stepped into the dim interior, fully aware that Didi could be  leading  him

into his usual swamp of deception. Didi didn't so much lie as leave crucial

pieces of information out.

You owe me one, Qui-Gon.

"Good afternoon, good afternoon," Didi said to a massive creature  who

suddenly loomed out of the shadows in the shop. The being  was  two  meters

taller than Obi-Wan. Each fifteen-fingered hand was the size  of  a  bantha

haunch.

There were six swoops parked in  a  random  fashion  around  the  open

space. There were no other customers and no sign of business  that  Obi-Wan

could see.

"You may remember me," Didi said. "Didi Oddo. I was in yesterday."

The massive creature said nothing, just watched Didi with flat eyes.

"Then again, you may not," Didi said nervously. "This is my very  good

friend, the great Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan, this is  the  swoop

seller, Uso Yso."

The creature did not shift his gaze from Didi's face.

"Obviously you are a creature of action and I should get right to  the

point," Didi said. "The swoop I bought yesterday... I have changed my mind.

"

A flicker of alertness lit Uso Yso's opaque gaze.

"I would like my money back," Didi said,  trying  to  sound  forceful.

"The swoop is not... not what I expected. No doubt I  will  return  another

day to buy a... different swoop, but not this one."

Finally, Uso Yso spoke. "No."

Didi took a delicate step backward. "One moment."

He leaned  back  and  whispered  to  Obi-Wan.  "Can't  you  draw  your

lightsaber or Jedi-move something? You don't have to kill him."

"No," Obi-Wan said.

"A deal is a deal," Uso Yso said, crossing his  huge  arms.  "You  are

insulting me with your presence. I do not like to be insulted."

"Ah, no insult intended. None at all,"  Didi  said  rapidly.  "Just  a

polite  request.  Surely  there  beats  a  heart  underneath   that     .   ah,

magnificent physique."

"Two hearts, actually," Uso Yso said. He  withdrew  an  electro-jabber

from his belt. "Would you like to continue the argument?"

Didi froze, staring at the weapon. He  took  another  step  back.  "No

argument. Just a thought. Such a pleasant afternoon. We must be going."

Didi almost ran from the shop. Obi-Wan followed. The  door  slid  shut

behind them, and Obi-Wan turned to Didi disgustedly.

"That was no swoop seller," he accused him.

"An unusual type, yes," Didi said. "Most helpful. Well, it's been such

an unexpected pleasurable experience to see you, my friend, but I  must  be

going - "

Obi-Wan stepped into his path. "Explain."

"Most happy to oblige, Obi-Wan," Didi said. "It is possible  that  the

swoop seller might have an additional business."

"Ah," Obi-Wan said.

"Perhaps he sells swoops - I am sure he does, in fact, a few here  and

there - but that was not my business with him," Didi  said  evasively.  His

eyes darted about as if trying to find an escape route.

"Your business with him was?" Obi-Wan asked.

"A small bet," Didi said. He held up his hands as Obi-Wan glowered  at

him. "Such a tiny bet! On one of the events. Even  the  Jedi  must  realize

that such an opportunity exists here on Euceron and there will be many  who

wish to place a wager."

"Certainly we realize that," Obi-Wan said. "It is  also  illegal.  The

Senate has banned gambling on the Galactic Games, and for good  reason.  It

attracts criminals." He underlined the  last  word,  giving  Didi  a  sharp

glance.

Didi nodded, frowning. "True. It would attract the wrong sort.  Unlike

me, who only places a bet now and again for the fun of it."

Obi-Wan sighed. "So why did you try to get your money back?"

"I was too impulsive," Didi confessed. "One of my faults,  along  with

my generosity, that gets me into trouble. I made a wager and then my  guilt

overwhelmed me."

"Since when have you felt guilty about breaking the law?"

"I prefer to think I bend it, Obi-Wan. But that's not what  caused  my

great guilt. It is because the credits I used were not mine."

"Whose were they?" Obi-Wan sensed he was nearing  the  real  story  at

last.

"Bog and Astri's." Didi hung his  head.  "It  was  wrong.  You  cannot

reproach me more than I have reproached myself.  But  they  have  a  little

wealth hidden away for some land Bog wishes to purchase, and this  purchase

will not be made for some time. The credits were just lying there!  Such  a

waste. I assumed I could  take  the  credits,  make  the  bet,  collect  my

winnings, and return the credits I borrowed without Astri knowing."

"And what if you lost?"

"I had such a sure tip, I did not think it possible."

Obi-Wan tapped a finger on his belt. Drawing information out  of  Didi

was like trying to siphon water from sand. "If it is such a sure thing, why

do you want your money back?"

"My guilt happened!" Didi said, his brown eyes wide. "I can't do  that

to Astri."

"And you also discovered that Bog and Astri  would  need  the  credits

sooner than you thought," Obi-Wan guessed.

"Well, they happened to meet the owner of the land they  want  to  buy

here at the Games, and he is willing to sell at last..."

"So they will find the credits missing."  Obi-Wan  sighed.  "There  is

only one thing to do. Confess what you've done to Astri. She  will  forgive

you. She always does."

"Yes, doesn't she? That is a good idea, my  friend.  That  is  exactly

what I will do."

Obi-Wan knew perfectly well that Didi would do nothing  of  the  kind.

"And do not involve me any further in your schemes," he said sternly.  "You

are on your own from now on. You cannot use  the  Jedi  Order  to  threaten

others."

"Not I!" Didi exclaimed in a hurt tone. "How can you say this, when  I

am the biggest supporter of Jedi in the galaxy?  I  did  give  you  insider

information, after all," he pointed out. "You now know the  most  important

bookie at the Games."

"Am I supposed to thank you now?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously.

"No, no, of course not. Thanks is never what I want."

"Thanks are never what you deserve," Obi-Wan murmured.

"Ah, you joke." Didi smiled. "Then you are not angry with me.  What  a

noble being you are, Obi-Wan Kenobi! How lucky  I  am  to  have  you  as  a

friend!"

"Not for much longer, if you try this again," Obi-Wan said. "Now  I've

wasted enough time. I must do my duty."

"Of course. Vastly more important than  my  humble  problems.  Do  not

worry about me. I will be fine," Didi said bravely.

Shaking his head, Obi-Wan left  Didi,  no  doubt  to  concoct  further

schemes to get himself out of trouble. The gleam in Didi's  eyes  told  him

that.

Which reminded him of his Padawan. The  gleam  in  Anakin's  eyes  had

clearly told Obi-Wan that his Padawan would not be able to resist the  lure

of Podracing for long.

No doubt he was there now. After checking in with  Siri  and  Ry-Gaul,

Obi-Wan squeezed aboard a crowded Transit Red. By the time it  reached  the

northern edge of the city he was the only one aboard. He jumped out and  it

turned around to speed back to the city. Obi-Wan stood in the center  of  a

dusty road. Hills shimmered in the distance.  He  saw  no  sign  of  living

beings.

He summoned the Force. As clearly as a directional  laser,  the  Force

told him where the cave entrance would be.

He struck off toward the hillside and climbed until he found a  screen

of thick green foliage. He pushed the  bushes  aside  and  found  the  cave

entrance. Obi-Wan hiked inside. The coolness of the air felt  good  on  his

warm skin.

He found the pit hangar easily. His Padawan stood over  an  engine,  a

hydrospanner in his hand.  Obi-Wan  came  up  behind  him.  Anakin  was  so

absorbed that his usual sensitivity to his Master's presence was absent.

"It's got to be calibrated exactly right," Anakin was  saying  to  two

young Aleena mechanics standing nearby. "We might have to do it fifty times

to get it right. Or we might get lucky and get it right in two."

"I hope it's the latter," Obi-Wan said. "Because there  is  a  mission

you should be attending to."

Anakin stood up so abruptly that he banged his head  on  the  turbine.

"Master! I didn't see you."

Obi-Wan examined the Podracer. "I see that you're busy."

"I thought I'd lend a hand to Doby and Deland. They're from Tatooine."

Anakin looked uncomfortable. "If they win, they free their sister. She's  a

slave."

"I see." Obi-Wan nodded at the two brothers. "I wish  you  good  luck.

Anakin, may I speak with you a moment?"

He drew Anakin aside. "You know this is wrong," he  told  his  Padawan

with a frown. "I'm sure you are helping for the right reasons. But this  is

not our mission. We have more important things to do. And may I remind  you

that Podracing is illegal?"

"But the Ruling Power is looking the other way  -  "  "But  the  Games

Council is concerned. As should you be. Once word gets out, spectators will

arrive. This could turn into a dangerous situation. Do you  know  what  the

course will be?"

"Through the caves," Anakin  said  excitedly.  "Can  you  imagine  the

difficulties? And they've already thought  about  the  spectators.  They're

going to set up a viewing stand near the finish line."

"That  doesn't  mean  that  they  will  be  safe."  Obi-Wan's  comlink

signaled, and he answered it brusquely.

The unfamiliar voice was frantic with urgency. "There is an  emergency

- "

"Who is this?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Bog. It's Bog. You must come immediately. The Official Quarters."

"What is wrong?"

"Come now!" Bog shouted, and the line went dead.

CHAPTER SEVEN

"We need transport," Obi-Wan said to Anakin.

Doby approached them. "We have  an  airspeeder,"  he  said.  "You  are

welcome to borrow it for as long as you need it. Anakin has helped us  with

no thought for himself, and we wish to repay him however we can."

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said. Although he was irritated with  Anakin  for

heading straight to the Podraces, he was always glad to  see  how  Anakin's

generosity endeared him to others. Strangers became friends quickly for his

Padawan.

Anakin connected to the Living Force as Qui-Gon had. He had that gift.

What he needed to develop was Qui-Gon's wisdom. That would only  take  time

and missions.

And mistakes. He could hear Qui-Gon's dry tone in his head.

The speeder was tweaked to run smoothly at high speeds, which  Obi-Wan

would expect from two Podracer owners. He  sped  back  to  the  city  core,

Anakin at his side. He did not speculate on what was wrong. Whatever it was

that had caused the panic in Bog's voice, he would  know  soon  enough.  He

hoped nothing had happened to Astri or Didi.

They passed through the high-security gate on  the  outskirts  of  the

Games Quarters, where athletes  and  officials  were  housed.  Obi-Wan  was

relieved when he arrived to see Astri  and  Didi  standing  nearby  as  Bog

talked earnestly to Siri and Ferus. Tru stood next to Ry-Gaul. Siri  turned

to greet him with a thinly disguised look of disgust on her face.

Obi-Wan leaped out of the speeder. "What happened?"

"Bog's speeder was stolen," Siri said. "He felt an alert to  all  Jedi

teams was justified." Ry-Gaul sighed.

Obi-Wan gave Bog an exasperated  glance.  "You  called  in  Jedi  help

because of a missing speeder?"

"You don't understand," Bog said. "The speeder was in a  secure  area.

This is serious. I would think the Jedi would be concerned."

"There will always be petty crime at a large  event  like  this  one,"

Siri said. "Everyone should be careful with their personal property."

"Petty?" Bog flushed. "I don't call this petty."

"What Siri means is  that  this  is  really  a  case  for  the  planet

security," Obi-Wan said.

Bog flourished his comlink. "Really? Let's see what Liviani says  when

she arrives."

"You called Liviani?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Of course. As the head of the Council of the  Games,  I  thought  she

would want to know," Bog said. "I must remind you that I am a member."

"I don't think you need to remind them," Astri said  in  a  low  tone.

"You keep mentioning it."

A gleaming black airspeeder drew up, and Liviani slid out. "I received

your message," she told Bog in  a  concerned  tone.  "Tell  me  again  what

happened and what exactly is missing."

Bog threw the Jedi a triumphant look. "The speeder was gone when Astri

and I returned from the opening rituals," he said. "As  I  told  you,  some

personal possessions were inside. My green cloak - the only one  I  brought

for warmth - and a box of my favorite figda candy, as well as  my  datapad,

my travel kit... and I am sure other important things."

"This is very bad," Liviani said. "I'm glad you contacted me." Obi-Wan

was surprised at the concern in her tone. He had  expected  her  to  be  as

annoyed as they were. "Members of the Council for  the  Games  deserve  the

highest consideration." She turned to the Jedi. "You must investigate  this

at once."

Siri looked startled. "Investigate a speeder theft? It's  a  waste  of

our time."

Siri was never one to hide her feelings. "Surely there are better uses

for our time," Obi-Wan said in a more conciliatory tone.

"I don't think so," Liviani said flatly. "Begin at once."

"We don't take orders from you," Siri said. Her face was calm but  two

bright red spots appeared on her cheeks. "We are here at the Ruling Power's

request."

"Then I shall contact the Ruling Power," Liviani snapped, reaching for

her comlink. "All I have to do is contact Maxo Vista. He will go to them at

once, and they will order you."

"No one orders the Jedi." Ry-Gaul spoke at last. His  soft  voice  was

measured, but with a core of strength that made everyone stop and  look  at

him. "We accept requests. Then we decide."

Liviani struggled to control her irritation. It  was  clear  that  Ry-

Gaul's authoritative tone had made her realize it was time  to  back  down.

"Of course," she said through tight lips. She shoved her comlink back  into

her cloak pocket. "Then I request that this be investigated." She spoke  in

a more conciliatory tone. "Think about it. This area is under top security.

Yet a thief entered and stole a valuable item. The athletes and workers are

under my care."

Obi-Wan nodded shortly. "In that case, we  accept  your  request.  One

Jedi team will investigate."

Liviani swept off in a swirl of robes and scarves. Siri drew closer to

Obi-Wan.

"I still say this is a waste of time," she said. "Who knows  how  long

it will take to investigate a theft?"

"I do," Obi-Wan said. "It will take  exactly  ten  seconds."  Then  he

looked hard at Didi, who coughed and looked away.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Anakin saw his Master signal to Didi. Didi tried to ignore the signal,

but Obi-Wan strode over. Anakin followed curiously.

Obi-Wan drew Didi aside. "You'd better start talking fast,"  he  said.

"And no excuses. No diversions. Just the truth."

"I didn't steal it, I borrowed it," Didi said.

Didi had stolen his own son-in-law's speeder? Anakin couldn't  believe

it.

"I was going to return  it,"  Didi  said  quickly,  as  he  noted  the

thunderous expression on Obi-Wan's face. "The same way you  were  going  to

return the credits?"

"Ah, you see!" Didi cried triumphantly. "My point exactly! How could I

return the credits if I didn't steal the speeder?"

"Explain your logic," Obi-Wan said. "Nobody else can follow it."

"I was going to take your excellent advice and confess  everything  to

Astri," Didi said. "I was on my way to find her and I saw  the  speeder.  I

began to reflect on the amount of credits I had borrowed, and the fact that

if Bog found out  he  would  no  doubt  banish  me  to  wander  the  galaxy

friendless and alone. So I thought it best to return  the  credits  without

his ever finding out."

"So you stole his speeder."

"Borrowed. But only so I could repay the credits! You see?"

"Well," Obi-Wan said, "you're just going to have to return it."

"Ah," Didi said. "Another excellent suggestion. Except it's too  late.

I've sold the speeder."

"At least then you can give them the credits,"  Obi-Wan  said  with  a

sigh.

"But I can't! I have to place another bet!"

Obi-Wan turned away. "Fine. I'm no longer involved.  I'm  telling  Bog

who stole the speeder, and you can explain it any way you want."

"Wait!" Didi screeched hurriedly. "My good friend, Obi-Wan! You  don't

understand! I will return the speeder most definitely! My  bet  is  a  sure

thing."

"No bet is a sure thing, Didi," Obi-Wan said. "When are you  going  to

learn that?"

"But this one is! I promise!"

Obi-Wan paused. Anakin watched his face. He had expected his Master to

walk away, but something Didi said had  stopped  him.  It  seemed  a  minor

problem to Anakin. Why was Obi-Wan getting involved?

"How do you know the bet is a sure thing?" Obi-Wan asked.

Didi looked uncomfortable under Obi-Wan's scrutiny. "Well.  You  might

say I have a tip."

"What kind of tip?" Obi-Wan frowned.

"A tip that an event is fixed," Didi admitted. "From a source I trust.

"

"Who?" Obi-Wan demanded.

"Someone you know," Didi said. "Fligh."

Obi-Wan groaned. "Not Fligh. Is he on Euceron?"

"Of course," Didi said. "Isn't everyone? And you  can't  beat  Fligh's

information. If there's a nasty, secret bit of business, you can bet  Fligh

knows about it. So how could I ignore his advice? The swoop  obstacle  race

is fixed and I know the winner. If you'd let me make  the  bet,  everything

will be fine. My problems will be solved, and I  know  how  much  you  want

this.

"Wait here," Obi-Wan told him sternly.

He drew Anakin aside. "I think we should pursue this,"  he  said.  "If

some of the events are fixed, it could cause major trouble. It could  be  a

serious disruption of the peace."

We're wasting time on this. I could be with the Podracers. I could  be

helping Doby and Deland. They are trying to  free  their  sister.  Didi  is

trying to win a bet. Which is more important?

Anakin hid his disappointment with a frown.  "Who  is  Fligh?  Do  you

trust him?"

"Trust him?"  Obi-Wan  grimaced.  "Not  at  all.  But  if  he's  heard

something, we could have problems even if his information is  false.  Fligh

hangs around the Senate. He knows everyone and passes along information for

credits. If he's heard an event is fixed, he isn't the only one who  thinks

this." He sighed. "As much as I'd like to walk away from this,  I'm  afraid

we'll have to investigate." Obi-Wan gave Anakin a careful  look.  "What  is

wrong, Padawan?"

"It seems... a waste  of  time  to  me,"  Anakin  said,  reluctant  to

contradict his Master. "We are here as peacekeepers. There is a better  use

of Jedi time." He did not mention Doby and Deland, but he knew  his  Master

would know what he was not saying.

Obi-Wan nodded as if considering Anakin's opinion. "What do you  think

would be a better use of our time?" Anakin looked down and said nothing.

"Tell me," Obi-Wan continued, "what do you think would  happen  if  it

was discovered that some of the events are fixed?"

Anakin shrugged. "Some will be upset. Especially those who have placed

illegal bets."

"What about the  planets  involved?  If  it  appears  that  some  have

cheated, or conspired to defraud the Games, how will  other  worlds  react?

Each world sends the very best of its athletes to  compete  in  the  Games.

These beings are often great heroes on their home-worlds. What if they  are

denied their victories because an event is fixed?"

"I guess it could create some unrest," Anakin said, after a pause.

"Yes, young Padawan," Obi-Wan said. "Hundreds of thousands  of  beings

are crammed into one city. All have come to cheer  their  heroes  or  their

future heroes. It may not seem an important lead  for  us  to  follow,  but

missions don't always start out with a battle. Sometimes  they  begin  with

something insignificant. Some-thing unimportant. Part of being a Jedi is to

recognize the small thing that can change everything."

"If it is so small, how can we recognize it?"

"We take ourselves out of what we are looking at," Obi-Wan answered.

Anakin scowled. "I don't understand."

Obi-Wan put his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "I know. That  is  why  you

are still a Padawan. Someday you will."

CHAPTER-NINE

Obi-Wan didn't blame Anakin for  his  puzzlement.  Didi's  bet  didn't

appear to be worth Jedi investigation. But instinct was ticking inside Obi-

Wan, telling him that this was something to pursue. He had learned  not  to

ignore that small voice. Qui-Gon had taught him that.  If  he  could  teach

Anakin one thing, it would be to slow down enough to  hear  that  insistent

sound, sometimes no more than a whisper, that said, follow this.

Didi nervously scuttled through the crowded streets,  his  eyes  alert

for the security force he was sure would be pursuing him soon.  "It  occurs

to me that Fligh might not be too pleased to hear that I have involved  the

Jedi," he said. "Perhaps it would be better if you went on alone."

"No, it wouldn't," Obi-Wan answered firmly.

Didi stopped and turned. "Do not take this wrong.  I  am  honored  and

blessed with your presence. But being friends with you is  not  easy,  Obi-

Wan."

"I know."

Didi turned into a crowded open-air plaza.  Fountains  played  in  the

center, each one displaying the colors of a different world and changing in

the next instant to another, so that the sparkling  water  seemed  to  glow

with a thousand colors at once. Trees and bushes from  planets  around  the

galaxy had been placed in huge stone urns that offered shade for the chairs

and tables set up underneath. A large screen flashed the opening  times  of

various events, as well as the best routes to get to  them.  Other  smaller

screens showed events taking place in the  various  stadiums.  Beings  from

around the galaxy sat watching the screens, sipping juice  or  tea,  eating

sweets, and watching children play in the multicolored fountains.  A  four-

piece band played soft jizz-wail music.

Obi-Wan's glance swept the plaza. Although he had not  seen  Fligh  in

many years, he recognized him immediately. He sat with his back to  a  wall

snaked with blooming vines, tapping one long foot to the music.  He  sipped

from a glass of bright yellow juice. He was as thin and  spidery  as  ever,

and his long ears appeared even longer, the lobes resting on his shoulders.

A tuft of graying yellow hair sprouted from his balding head. Several  gold

rings were stacked on his long fingers. As they came  closer,  Obi-Wan  saw

that Fligh had replaced his pride and joy - his fake green  eye  -  with  a

bright gold one.

Obi-Wan had first met Fligh when he was Qui-Gon's Padawan.  Fligh  had

sworn to help his best friend Didi even as he squirmed out of  telling  the

truth to the Jedi and faked his own death. Getting the whole truth  out  of

Fligh wouldn't be easy.

His pleasant expression darkened with apprehension  when  he  saw  the

Jedi, but he quickly turned it into a welcoming smile. "Didi!  Old  friend!

Such a surprise to see you on Euceron! Though everyone  who  is  anyone  is

here, so there you go, not such a surprise after all."

"Do you remember Obi-Wan Kenobi, the great Jedi Knight?"

"Ah, but he was just a Learner when I knew him," Fligh said. "Obi-Wan,

what a fortunate meeting! It is my luck to  be  able  to  renew  our  great

friendship."

"We were never friends," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"We weren't, it's true, and that is a pity," Fligh agreed sadly.  "But

now we have a second chance. I see that now  you  have  a  Padawan  Learner

yourself."

"I am Anakin Skywalker," Anakin said.

Fligh turned to examine him curiously with his good eye. "I have heard

about you."

Anakin looked defensive. "What have you heard?"

"Whoa-hoa, relax, young friend," Fligh said. "It was all good  things,

I assure you. Yes, promising Jedi, amazing talents, there you go."

"Didi tells us you have some information about some of the  events  at

the Games," Obi-Wan said.

Fligh narrowed his eye at Didi. "Do I?  I  hear  things,  but  nothing

important enough to involve the Jedi."

"That is not what Didi said." Obi-Wan stood casually, as though he had

all the time in the world, but he was prepared to pressure  Fligh.  He  was

impatient to get to the bottom of this. He didn't want to waste more of the

day.

"All right, all right," Didi said when Fligh shot him another look. "I

told him. But he's a Jedi, Fligh. You can't lie to a Jedi."

"I don't see why not," Fligh shot back, too angry to watch his  words.

"They're no different from anybody else."

"Oh, yes," Anakin said stridently. "We are."

Fligh's head whipped around, his ears taking a  moment  to  catch  up.

They bobbed gently and came to rest on his shoulders. His gaze  flicked  to

the lightsabers tucked into Obi-Wan's and Anakin's belts. "Errrrr,  you  do

have a point. There you go. I concede it. In that case  -  and  considering

our deep friendship which I cherish despite your refusal to acknowledge  it

- I will tell you what I know. I heard a rumor that one of the  events  was

fixed. I told Didi about it. After all, why shouldn't my  friend  benefit?"

He gave Didi a hard stare. "If I'd known that friend had such a big  mouth,

I might have reconsidered."

"Are you involved in this?" Obi-Wan asked him. "Do you know who  fixed

the obstacle race, and how?"

"I know nothing except this - the participant from Alderaan will win."

Obi-Wan frowned. How could a swoop obstacle race - a series  of  timed

individual races against the clock - be fixed? "How do you know?"

"I don't have to tell you that," Fligh said defiantly. "That's  true,"

Obi-Wan said. "But you will have to tell the security force for the  Ruling

Power."

Fligh broke into a smile. "No need for that!  I'd  much  rather  share

with friends! I was told by Quentor. A being very much like  me,  who  does

similar work."

"Another thief?"

"Another businessman like myself, who buys and sells  information  and

the occasional valuable item that  might  find  its  way  into  our  hands.

Quentor would not tell me how he knew, but he  swore  the  information  was

true, and I believed him. A clever one, that Quentor. He  would  not  steer

you wrong. He swore that there is an insider at the Games who has  arranged

to fix an event. A good way to make a quick fortune, isn't it? I thought it

was a rumor worth a few gambling credits for myself and my friend."

Obi-Wan considered this. Fligh was calling it a rumor, but he had told

Didi to bet and no  doubt  had  placed  a  bet  himself.  But  that  didn't

necessarily mean the rumor was true. Didi had placed plenty  of  bad  bets,

some of them on Fligh's advice.

Fligh saw Obi-Wan's  hesitation.  "You  might  want  to  place  a  bet

yourself, my friend. Even the Jedi can use wealth. You could stop  hitching

rides and have your own transports, maybe invest in some new robes - "

Obi-Wan turned and searched the event board. "The  event  is  starting

soon."

"Yes, unfortunately too late for you to do anything about  it,"  Fligh

said. "So sorry. There you go."

"Stadium Five. It's not far," Obi-Wan said. "Come on, Anakin. You too,

Didi."

"Not me, surely," Didi said. "I need to visit with  my  old  friend  -

000000hhh!" Obi-Wan had grabbed his collar and yanked him into step next to

the Jedi.

"We can make it," Obi-Wan said. "We have four minutes."

They hurried from the plaza. The streets had emptied as various events

had begun. Obi-Wan and Anakin quickened their pace, so Didi had a hard time

keeping up. Obi-Wan was reluctant to let him go. There was no way  to  keep

track of Fligh, but they could at least keep hold of  Didi,  their  tie  to

Fligh.

"There's an air taxi!" Didi called, breathing hard. "I beg  you,  Obi-

Wan, take it!"

Obi-Wan signaled and the air taxi zoomed  to  a  stop.  It  was  empty

except for the pilot.

"The swoop obstacle course event, Stadium Five," Obi-Wan said.

The pilot nodded without turning and glided back into  the  air  lane.

Obi-Wan settled back into a seat next to Anakin.

"What will we do when we get there?" Anakin asked him in a low tone.

"I'm not sure yet," Obi-Wan said. "We can't say for sure the event  is

fixed. We can't make that accusation without more proof."

The ship's velocity pushed him back against the seat. Buildings were a

blur of bright color as they flashed by.

"Isn't he going  a  trifle  fast?"  Didi  asked,  pressing  his  hands

together.

"Master, I feel a disturbance in the Force," Anakin murmured.

Obi-Wan had been startled by the same feeling.  He  rose  and  started

toward the pilot, but the cruiser jerked  violently  to  the  left,  almost

throwing him to the floor. He grabbed a  pole  and  righted  himself,  then

started toward the pilot again. The ship veered to  the  right,  grazing  a

sign. Metal shrieked and the cruiser lurched again. Didi fell off his  seat

with a yelp.

Obi-Wan fought his way to the front of the taxi as the  ship  careened

down the road, clipping branches, signs, and  narrowly  missing  buildings.

Then the pilot reversed the engines and zoomed down another spacelane.. the

wrong way.

Cruisers were heading straight for them. The pilot pushed the speed to

maximum and jumped to his feet. He balanced for a moment on the lip of  the

air taxi, then calmly leaped into the air.  He  was  wearing  an  anti-gray

propulsion belt, so he dropped quickly but safely to  the  ground,  leaving

them in a runaway cruiser screaming the wrong way down an air lane.

"We're going to die!" Didi screamed.

CHAPTER TEN.

Anakin vaulted over the rows of seats and landed in the pilot's chair,

his hands already outstretched for the controls. In  midair,  he  had  seen

precisely what he needed to do.

A less-experienced pilot would have immediately reduced speed.  Anakin

knew better. He needed  the  speed  to  avoid  the  collision.  Instead  of

slowing, he made a hard right. The cruiser passed them by, so close  Anakin

could see the fearful gaze of the pilot, who  did  not  have  the  time  or

reflexes to alter his course.

The air taxi was slower and clumsier than a Podracer, but Anakin  felt

the familiar thrill of pushing a machine to its  limits  as  he  negotiated

tight spaces at high speeds.

As soon as they were past the  cruiser,  Anakin  reduced  speed  while

turning to the left. He had just enough speed to avoid the next  collision.

Then he kept the air taxi turning until they were  facing  in  the  correct

direction. Anakin calmly joined the stream of traffic.

Didi spoke from the floor, his head in his hands. "Are we dead yet?"

"Good piloting, Padawan." Obi-Wan sank  into  a  seat  behind  Anakin.

"That was close."

Didi rose shakily to his feet. "What kind of a pilot tries to crash an

air taxi and then jumps off? I've had some bad air-taxi drivers, but.."  He

looked at the Jedi. "No. No, no."

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "It was deliberate. We were definitely  targeted.

Most likely by Fligh."

Didi shook his head. "Not Fligh. He's my friend."

"Well, your friend told someone we were on our way  to  the  stadium,"

Anakin said. "That empty air taxi didn't show up by accident."

Warning lights suddenly flashed behind them and a voice boomed.  "Pull

over. Ruling Power security. Repeat. Pull over."

"You'd better do it," Obi-Wan told Anakin. "We're  going  to  have  to

explain this."

"Security!" Didi exclaimed. "You don't need me, do you, Obi-Wan? I can

go to the stadium and report to you what goes on - "

"If I hear you placed a bet, you will regret it," Obi-Wan warned him.

"No bets!" Didi stood by the door, waiting for Anakin to  slow  enough

for him to jump off. "Promise!"

Anakin slowed the craft, and Didi leaped off and disappeared into  the

crowd as the security officers exited their Flash  Speeder  and  approached

the Jedi.

The security officer was dressed completely in black.  He  flipped  up

the visor of his shiny helmet.

"We received reports of a runaway air taxi endangering traffic."

"We are Jedi," Obi-Wan said. "The pilot exited and disappeared, and we

got the taxi under control."

The officer studied them for a moment, then  entered  the  information

into his palm-sized datapad. "Description?"

Obi-Wan gave his estimates of height and weight. "He  was  dressed  in

the regulation air-taxi pilot uniform," he said. "He had a reflective visor

on his helmet, so his features were obscured,  but  he  appeared  to  be  a

humanoid. Left earlobe slightly larger than the right. A tear on the  third

knuckle of his right glove. He was right-handed."

"One boot had a two-centimeter slash in the leather near the  instep,"

Anakin supplied. "Dark matter on the right glove."

"Possibly blood, but there was no evidence  of  injury,  so  we  could

assume it  was  from  another  being,"  Obi-Wan  interjected.  "Sour  smell

indicates he had recently exerted  himself.  Perhaps  from  the  battle  to

commandeer the air taxi. You'll probably find an injured air-taxi pilot."

"We already have. He gave a description. He said the  guy  was  tall."

The officer tucked the datapad into his belt. "Never  believed  that  stuff

about Jedi. Now I do. Larger left earlobe, huh?" He shook his  head.  "It's

good information, but the city is packed. We might not find  him.  You  can

proceed."

Stadium Five was now only  steps  away.  Obi-Wan  and  Anakin  hurried

through the tall arches and into the open-air arena. Their ears  rang  with

the noise of a roaring crowd. The race had already begun.

Didi had entered the  same  way  and  was  waiting  for  them  by  the

refreshment stand while watching the race on a monitor.  Obi-Wan  saw  that

the large circular track was made up of many levels, from the floor of  the

arena to the top. Each level had a series of holographic obstacles for  the

swoops to avoid or evade, such as trees, creatures, and  traffic  officers.

He hurried over. "Did they ask about Bog's speeder?"

"No, they were only interested in the air taxi,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "Has

anything odd happened?"

"Nothing that I can see. All  the  swoops  are  performing  well.  The

Alderaan pilot is in the lead." Didi wrung his hands. "And to think I could

have bet on him!"

Obi-Wan strode toward a viewing  platform.  The  noise  of  the  crowd

reverberated off the walls of the  stadium  and  caused  the  air  to  ring

against his ears. He was high above  the  race  below.  The  agile  swoops,

wearing different planetary colors,  zoomed  around  holographic  obstacles

that suddenly appeared in their paths. The crowd roared approval or fury at

the spectacle.

Obi-Wan  watched  carefully.  The  swoops  seemed  to  be  functioning

perfectly. The pilots were battling with every ounce of concentration  they

possessed.

"It has to be the timers," he murmured to Anakin. "Someone  must  have

tampered with them. Only a hundredth of a second off, and the race will  be

won."

"Are the timers controlled by one person?" Anakin asked.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan said. "But we can find out."

The race ended with the Alderaan pilot zooming past the finish line to

cheers and boos. Beside Obi-Wan, Didi groaned.

"There goes my fortune," he said.

A viewing platform glided into the center  of  the  stadium.  A  tall,

handsome Euceron male held a flashing hologram embedded in crystal over his

head. It was the first-place award. The crowd went wild.

"It's Maxo Vista," Didi breathed in tones of awe. Anakin peered across

the distance. "He's older than I thought."

"He is magnificent," Didi said.

"Didi, I want you to do something for me," Obi-Wan said,  turning  his

back on the award ceremony. "First of all, stay  out  of  trouble.  Second,

stick close to Fligh. I might need to talk to him again."

"All right, Obi-Wan. I will do what you say. My  fate  is  intertwined

with your desires," Didi said, his sad eyes still on the ceremony.

"Let us go, Padawan," Obi-Wan said. "I'd like to have a word with  the

timekeeper for this event."

On the way to the exclusive VIP skybox on Level Twenty where the Games

Council members and other officials sat, Obi-Wan contacted  the  keeper  of

the Archives, Jocasta Nu, at the Temple.

"Can you do a quick search for me on a being named Quentor? Your basic

operator who hangs around the Senate. He trades in information  and  stolen

goods."

"What do you need to know?" Jocasta  Nu  asked.  "I'm  not  sure.  His

whereabouts, for one thing. Any ties he might have to the Ruling  Power  of

Euceron or the Galactic Games."

As he spoke, Obi-Wan stepped inside the Council skybox. In  the  first

row of the box, Maxo Vista was talking to a tall Euceron dressed in a  long

white robe. Obi-Wan assumed the Euceron was a Ruler,  but  he  didn't  know

which one. He hung back for a moment.

"Can we meet him? Can we meet Maxo Vista?" Anakin whispered, close  by

his side. He had heard stories of how Vista performed in the last Games.

"Maxo Vista?" Jocasta Nu asked, overhearing Anakin. Her voice lost its

businesslike quality. Obi-Wan had never heard her sound so warm. "Have  you

met him?"

"No," Obi-Wan said.

"You don't know who he is, do you?" Jocasta Nu demanded.

"Can you retrieve that information for me?" Obi-Wan asked irritably.

"Yes, Obi-Wan. I'll do what I can." Jocasta Nu's  voice  brimmed  with

humor, an unusual occurrence.

Maxo Vista caught sight  of  them  and  came  forward  with  the  tall

Euceron. "I have hoped to meet the Jedi," he said. "This  is  Ruler  Three,

one of the esteemed Ruling Power."

Obi-Wan  introduced  himself  and  Anakin.  Maxo   Vista   flashed   a

charismatic smile, his vivid green eyes shining. "We are grateful that  the

Jedi have graciously agreed to attend the Games. With so many worlds coming

together for these Games, it holds out a promise for peace  throughout  the

galaxy."

Ruler Three bowed. "Our government thanks you. Now I must  attend  the

next event."

As soon as Ruler Three had left, Obi-Wan turned back  to  Maxo  Vista.

"We would like to speak with the official timekeeper for this event."

"Of course." Maxo leaned forward to  touch  a  glowing  screen.  "That

would be Aarno Dering." He peered over at a glass skybox with an  excellent

view of the action. "He's already left, I'm afraid. But I can give you  his

room number at the official Games quarters."

"We'd appreciate it."

Maxo Vista hesitated. "Is anything wrong?"

"Just a routine check," Obi-Wan assured him.

He nodded and  consulted  the  screen  again,  then  gave  them  Aarno

Dering's location. Obi-Wan and Anakin hurried out of Stadium Five. The  air

taxis were full of the departing crowd. Obi-Wan and Anakin threaded through

the crowd, moving quickly and easily through the crush.

"I can't believe I actually met Maxo Vista," Anakin said. "I'll  never

forget his performance in the swoop races in the last Games.  And  did  you

see him in the holographic obstacle course? He set a new galactic  record."

Obi-Wan's face was blank, and Anakin sighed. "I  can't  believe  you  don't

know who he is. Everybody - "

" - knows Maxo Vista," Obi-Wan  finished.  "But  right  now  I'm  more

interested in Aarno Dering."

At the quarters, they  passed  the  security  checkpoint  and  quickly

accessed a map for directions to Block Seven, Room 4116.

"This way," Obi-Wan said.

They hurried down the outdoor  walkways  that  connected  the  various

temporary buildings built of hard duraplastoid materials in bright  colors.

When they reached Block Seven, they took a moving walkway up to the  fourth

story.

"Room 4116 should be at the end of the walkway," Anakin said.

A tall humanoid male came out of a door at the end of the walkway.  He

paused while he carefully placed various personal items in  different-sized

pockets. His neutral gaze slid over the surrounding area  and  lit  on  the

Jedi.

He jumped and a look of  surprised  panic  lit  his  eyes.  He  turned

abruptly and headed the other way.

"Aarno Dering?" Obi-Wan called, quickening his  pace.  "We'd  like  to

talk to you."

Dering began to run. Obi-Wan and Anakin leaped forward in a  surge  of

speed.

Dering had a good head start, but he was no athlete.  He  leaped  onto

the moving walkway and zigzagged past athletes and  workers,  pushing  some

aside roughly. Obi-Wan leaped off the second story and  landed  lightly  on

the ground. Anakin followed.

When Dering raced out an exit from the quarters and into  the  street,

Obi-Wan was merely steps away. Suddenly, a  fast-moving  airspeeder  headed

straight for Dering. Obi-Wan reached out, ready to grab the waving  hem  of

the man's tunic, but the speeder struck the slight man first,  sending  him

flying through the air. Aarno Dering landed with a sickening thud.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Go to him," Obi-Wan ordered Anakin tersely.

Obi-Wan jumped after the speeder. Landing on the  speeder's  outrigger

component, Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber and severed it with one stroke.  The

speeder veered and crashed into a bright yellow bench, and the pilot leaped

out. Obi-Wan recognized him  instantly  as  the  pilot  of  the  air  taxi.

Something about the way he held his body alerted him.  His  movements  were

quick and powerful, but loose and graceful as well.

The pilot leaped over the speeder and raced down the  street.  Without

breaking stride, he shot a  cable  launcher  up  to  the  roof  of  a  high

building. The cable launcher pulled him up  and  he  disappeared  onto  the

roof.

Obi-Wan activated his own launcher and followed, the wind rushing past

his ears. He jumped onto the roof just as the  pilot  leaped  to  the  next

building. Obi-Wan followed.

The pilot never looked back. Obi-Wan noted his  coolness.  There  were

not many, being pursued, who did not pause to  check  on  the  location  of

their pursuer. Obi-Wan was gaining and the pilot seemed to know it, for his

pace quickened as he leaped to the next roof. It was twenty  meters  below,

but he landed easily and kept on running. Obi-Wan summoned  the  Force  for

his jump and landed.

The pilot raced to the edge of the roof that  overlooked  the  street.

Obi-Wan could hear the noise of a crowd and as he drew closer he saw that a

stadium below was emptying. Air taxis were lined  up  awaiting  passengers.

The pilot paused and activated his anti-gray propulsion  belt.  It  allowed

him to drop off the roof and land safely on the walkway below.

Obi-Wan leaped down and had to swerve at the last moment  to  avoid  a

child who suddenly darted out from between her mother and father. He landed

hard. He was just in time to see the pilot get swallowed up by the  surging

crowd.

Irritation flamed and died away. He would have liked  to  have  caught

the pilot. It did not happen. On to the next.

He made his way back to the quarters. Anakin knelt  by  Aarno  Dering,

his hand on the man's shoulder. Obi-Wan knew immediately that he was dead.

He walked to Anakin and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. They stood

for a moment, a linked chain of commemoration.  A  Jedi  always  paused  to

reflect on a life lost, even if they did not know the spirit who had left.

"There was nothing I could do." Anakin's face was pale.  He  had  seen

death before, but he was still affected by it.  Obi-Wan  was  glad  to  see

this. He hoped Anakin would never lose that particular vulnerability. There

had been a time when he had wondered if Anakin failed to  connect,  a  time

when he had seen a curious blankness on the boy's face after he had  killed

in battle. Since that time, Obi-Wan had watched Anakin carefully.  When  he

saw his Padawan feel the enormity of a life lost, he was reassured.

A security speeder pulled up, its signal lights flashing. Close behind

was the sleek black airspeeder of Liviani Sarno. When she  jumped  out,  it

was clear she was livid.

"First an air-taxi driver is badly beaten, and now this," she snapped,

standing over the body of Aarno Dering. "How will you explain this  to  the

Council?"

Anakin flushed  with  anger,  and  Obi-Wan's  hand  tightened  on  his

shoulder. Liviani Sarno's words had offended Obi-Wan as well.  She  treated

the death of a fellow being as a nasty inconvenience.

"Obviously the Jedi cannot fulfill their promises," Liviani continued.

"The Jedi promised nothing except our presence," Obi-Wan said.

Her lips pressed together. "In that  case,  I  am  calling  for  extra

security."

"That is a good idea," Obi-Wan answered. He was nettled at  her  tone,

but extra security was not a  bad  idea.  He  didn't  want  to  reveal  his

suspicions to Liviani yet. Officials had a tendency to get in the way. Obi-

Wan wanted to make sure of what he was dealing with first.

Liviani turned to confer with a security officer. "I suggest you  find

an event to attend," she said over her shoulder to the  Jedi.  "Just  stand

around and do nothing. If you can manage that much."

Obi-Wan strode away. Anakin let out a long breath.

"I have more things to learn about patience," he said. "I  don't  know

how you keep your temper sometimes, Master."

"Indulging momentary irritation is nothing more than  a  distraction,"

Obi-Wan answered. "Liviani is worried that if  disruptions  occur  it  will

reflect badly on her. We have more  important  things  to  do.  When  Aarno

Dering left his room, did you notice anything significant?"

He watched as  his  Padawan  frowned,  thinking.  Then  Anakin's  face

brightened.

"He was just sliding his datapad into his tunic with his left hand. He

dropped it when he saw us. It fell in the doorway  and  the  door  did  not

shut."

"Exactly," Obi-Wan said. "I think we might want to take  a  peek  into

the life of Aarno Dering."

They passed through the security gate again and quickly made their way

to Dering's room. It was only a matter of time before the security officers

arrived. Obi-Wan wasn't sure how cooperative they would be with the Jedi.

The datapad lay in the  doorway.  Obi-Wan  handed  it  to  Anakin  and

reached down for a small folder that had been dropped as well. In it was  a

text doc ID for someone named Ak Duranc.

"It's a false text doc for Aarno Dering," he told Anakin.  "Often  new

identities use the same initials as the being's real name. It helps them to

remember their new identity."

"But what does it mean?" Anakin asked. "Why would Dering  want  a  new

identity?"

"There's only one reason," Obi-Wan said. "He was afraid he  would  get

caught. The question is why." He tapped the text doc  thoughtfully  against

his leg. "Beings don't go to  this  much  trouble  without  cause.  He  was

afraid. But of what?"

Obi-Wan surveyed the room. It was small and neat. Everything  was  put

away. A closed travel pack sat on a table. Two chronos  sat  by  the  sleep

couch. Obi-Wan picked them up.

"They are set to wake him up," he said. "He used two so that he  would

not oversleep." He placed them back where he'd found them. "Interesting.  A

chrono expert who does not trust chronos."

"Master, look at this." Anakin bent over a holofile. "He  didn't  code

any of his files."

"He was worried enough to get a new identity, but he didn't have  time

to code his files," Obi-Wan mused. "That meant he was once  confident  that

he wouldn't get caught."

"He's noted the events that he's set up the  timing  system  for.  The

bowcaster skill contest and holographic obstacle course are the  only  ones

left. But Master..." Anakin looked up. "The Podrace is here, too."

Obi-Wan came over and studied the file. "So. Whoever is behind  fixing

the games could be fixing the Podrace, too."

Anakin tapped the datapad. "This means  that  Doby  and  Deland  don't

stand a chance. The winner has already been chosen."

"Possibly. We don't know anything for sure yet."

"What I don't understand is  how  a  Podrace  can  be  fixed,"  Anakin

continued. "It's not like an obstacle swoop race, where individual segments

are timed. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins. You can't  guarantee

that someone won't crack up or crash. I wouldn't  take  the  bet,  even  if

someone told me the race was fixed."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I see what you mean. But it can't  be  a  coincidence

that the corrupt timing judge has agreed to time the race."  He  stared  at

the neat belongings of Aarno Dering while he considered their next step. He

knew it was inevitable, but he didn't like it. He would have to send Anakin

back to the Podracers.

"This could be a larger-scale  operation  than  I  thought,"  he  said

aloud. "No doubt Fligh didn't tell us everything. And no  doubt  there  are

parts to this that even Fligh doesn't know. I will contact Siri and Ry-Gaul

to see if they have discovered anything. Anakin, you must go  back  to  the

Podracers." Obi-Wan did not like the way Anakin's face brightened at  this.

"You have made friends with Doby and Deland. See if they know how the  race

could be fixed and if there is heavy betting going on."

"And what will you do, Master?"

"I'm going to work from the opposite end. If we want to find  out  who

is fixing the events, we have to find out who  benefits.  That  means  that

someone, or a group of beings, are placing bets on the outcome."

"But how can you discover who that is?"

"I have to reacquaint myself with Uso Yso."

CHAPTER TWELVE

Anakin piloted Doby and Deland's speeder back to the  Podrace  hangar,

leaving Obi-Wan as he checked in with Siri and  Ry-Gaul  to  see  if  other

complications had sprung up. Anakin was glad  that  the  investigation  had

allowed him to return. He already felt that Doby and Deland  were  friends.

He'd made a promise to them, and he intended to keep it. The best part  was

that he could do this and still follow Obi-Wan's instructions.  Working  on

their Podracer would be the perfect cover for him to keep his eyes and ears

open.

But if he were honest with himself, Anakin had to admit that it wasn't

just his promise and the mission that drove him back to  the  Podracer.  It

was how good it felt to be here. Here he did not have to worry  if  he  was

good enough. He did not need to question himself.

All he had to do was make something go very, very fast.

He saw Doby and Deland working on the engine as he parked the  speeder

and hurried over. Deland raised a grease-stained face. "Am I  glad  to  see

you! We have a rotor problem we can't seem to fix."

"Let me have a look." Anakin leaned over the engine. "This could be  a

connector problem. Let  me  take  a  look  at  the  valves.  Hand  me  that

hydrospanner, will you?"

Anakin took the hydrospanner from Doby and bent over the engine. "Have

you run the track in a speeder yet?" he asked. "An advance look is always a

good idea." The more information he got about the race, the easier it would

be to figure out how it was fixed.

"Can't," Doby said. "The Podracers won't know the track until  they're

racing."

Anakin looked up. "What do you mean?"

"The onboard nav computer will flash us the next  area  of  the  track

every three minutes," Deland explained. "We have to race  and  navigate  at

the same time. It's a new innovation that Sebulba dreamed up."

"He knows Hekula can do it, with his reflexes," Doby said. "Plus  they

have such a maneuverable Podracer. The rest of us have had to reconfigure a

bit, but it sure does make the race more exciting."

Anakin tinkered with the valves. Could this be the key to how the race

was fixed? What if Sebulba's Pod-racer got  the  track  information  before

anyone else? That would definitely give Hekula an edge.

"Who sends the route to the onboard computers?" he asked.

"The official timekeeper set up the program," Doby said.  "Don't  know

his name."

But I do. It's Aarno Dering. And Aarno Dering is  dead.  Someone  else

will have to run the program. But who?

"Who's the favorite?" Anakin asked. "How are the odds running?"

"Ten to one for Hekula," Deland said. "Rumor has it that  Sebulba  has

bet a fortune on his son."

Of course he has. He knows Hekula will win.

Anakin glanced over the hood of the  Podracer  to  where  Sebulba  was

sitting, sipping tea while the pit  droids  worked  on  Hekula's  Podracer.

Sebulba looked over  and  met  his  eyes.  Something  happened  behind  the

creature's bulging eyes. Memory clicked in.

He rose, his front arms waving, and approached. "Now I recognize  you,

slave boy. All you needed was a little grease on your  face."  He  laughed.

"What an unfortunate surprise. I thought you were dead."

"Not yet, Sebulba," Anakin shot back. "I'm here to make sure your  son

loses the way you did back on Tatooine. Badly."

"Luck was on your side that day, slave boy," Sebulba hissed. "You  are

just a human, slow and clumsy as a bantha. I should have killed you then."

"You tried," Anakin said coolly. "But you failed. Failure seems to  be

your destiny."

"Insolent boy!" Sebulba hissed, raising his hand for  a  blow.  Anakin

had no doubt that his blow would still  be  powerful  enough  to  send  him

flying.

But he was a Jedi now. Sebulba's arm moved so fast it was a blur,  but

to Anakin it looked like slow-motion. He easily stepped aside in time.  The

wind fanned against his face. Sebulba staggered, his balance upset. He  had

expected to land the punch.

"You can't touch me," Anakin  said.  He  whispered  the  words,  close

enough now to smell Sebulba's rank scent. "You were never fast enough.  You

still aren't."

"Slave boy!" Sebulba went toward him again. This time  Anakin  whirled

and delivered a kick that sent Sebulba flying.

Enraged, Sebulba started toward a waiting  Anakin,  but  suddenly  the

Glymphid Aldar Beedo stepped between them.

"You're disturbing my concentration," he said  to  Anakin,  tapping  a

blaster on his belt.

"He's a Jedi," Doby whispered. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"All beings are the same once they're  dead,"  Beedo  said,  his  eyes

cool.

Anakin hesitated, not sure what to do. The situation now threatened to

spiral out of control. Hekula was starting across to join in.  If  a  fight

began, others could be hurt, including Doby and Deland.

"Master!" Suddenly Djulla appeared and tugged at  Sebulba's  robe.  "I

have made fresh tea."

"So what?" Sebulba said furiously. "Get away from me, slave!"

He struggled to kick Djulla aside with his hind legs while keeping his

eyes on Anakin. Deland jumped forward to protect his sister. Sebulba's kick

connected and Deland flew through the air, smashing against the cliff face.

He landed awkwardly on his arm with a cry.

"Deland!" Djulla ran toward her brother. She knelt beside him. "You're

hurt!"

"Get away from him!" Hekula suddenly roared,  rushing  forward.  ''You

take orders from us! Get back to your post!"

Djulla hesitated. Aldar Beedo shrugged and turned  away,  tucking  his

blaster back into his belt. "This is a family matter,"  he  said.  "I  have

work to do."

Deland's teeth gritted. "Go back," he  told  his  sister.  "I  am  all

right."

Hekula turned to Anakin. "If you keep  insisting  on  making  trouble,

you'll be sorry."

Anakin trembled with the effort of holding himself back. He thought of

Obi-Wan's coolness. He could not feel it, but he could imitate it.  It  was

better to let this particular moment pass. He was not a slave boy, he was a

Jedi. He could not  pick  a  fight  because  two  bullies  deserved  to  be

humiliated.

Djulla hurried away. Doby helped his brother to his feet. Deland  held

his arm carefully.

"Better get the medic, boy!" Sebulba called before scuttling  back  to

his Podracer. "It looks like you won't be able to pilot your Podracer."

"He's right," Deland said through gritted teeth. "It's broken."

"What are we going to do?" Doby whispered. "This was our last  chance.

What can we do for Djulla now?"

Anakin saw the desperation on the two brothers' faces. Once again,  he

was faced with a choice. He had to make it for himself. He had  to  do  the

right thing and trust that Obi-Wan would understand.

"I can pilot the Podracer," he said. "If I win, your  sister  will  go

free."

"But that isn't fair," Doby said. "Why would you do such a thing?"

"Because it is the right thing to do," Anakin said. He knew that  from

the bottom of his heart. But he still had to tell his Master.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Obi-Wan stood across the street from Uso  Yso's  swoop  shop.  He  had

disguised himself as a space traveler, pulling on a dull gray cloak  and  a

wrapped headdress. As he watched, a steady stream of visitors  entered  and

left the shop. None of them left with a swoop. Apparently Yso was  doing  a

thriving business in taking illegal bets.

Obi-Wan saw a short, plump figure suddenly dart across the street  and

head for Yso's dark front door. He sprinted across the street to catch up.

He yanked Didi back by the collar of his tunic. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing. At least, nothing now, since you  are  holding  my  collar,"

Didi said.

"You said you were going to buy back Bog's speeder," Obi-Wan accused.

"I tried! I did! But the cheating monkey-lizard I sold it to upped the

price," Didi told him. "I couldn't afford to buy back  my  own  speeder!  I

need to raise a little cash, so I thought I would sell  Bog's  datapad  and

buy back his speeder instead."

Obi-Wan saw the datapad tucked under Didi's arm. "Let me see that."

There was a chance that someone on the Games Council knew  the  events

were rigged. This might be an easy way to find out. He quickly accessed the

information on Bog's system and flipped through random files. There  didn't

seem to be anything amiss. One file was labeled WAYS  TO  ADVANCE.  Obi-Wan

accessed it and read through a list of  instructions  Bog  had  written  to

himself.

BE FRIENDLY TO ALL!! THOSE WHO CANNOT HELP  YOU  TODAY  CAN  HELP  YOU

TOMORROW!!

DO MENIAL TASKS FOR IMPORTANT BEINGS!! IT MAKES YOU INDISPENSABLE!!

NEVER CONTRADICT A SUPERIOR!!

FOLLOW THE POWER!!!!!!!

"You see what I have to put up with?" Didi sighed. "My poor Astri."

Obi-Wan accessed another file marked GAMES  COUNCIL  RESPONSIBILITIES.

He scanned the notes carefully. It appeared that  Bog's  only  job  on  the

Games Council was  arranging  VIP  seating.  He  had  made  lists  matching

Senators with exclusive gallery skyboxes for various events.  So  much  for

his importance.

Obi-Wan shut down the datapad. He tucked it inside his tunic.

"I was going to sell that!" Didi protested.

"It's not yours to sell. Didi, I know you won't take  my  advice.  But

things just might be more complicated than you realize. I'd advise  you  to

stay away from betting."

"I assure you I will," Didi said, his brown eyes sincere.

Obi-Wan's comlink signaled. Jocasta Nu's voice came  through  crisply.

He spoke so that Didi could not hear. "I found out who Quentor is. Were you

playing a joke on me, Obi-Wan?" Jocasta Nu asked.

"No, of course not."

"There was no record of him anywhere, so  I  did  the  usual  criminal

search. Then a deep background trace. Nothing appeared."

"So he is an underground figure."

Jocasta Nu chuckled. "Not exactly. He's a yellow-tailed summerbird."

"He's a bird?"

"An unofficial pet of the  Senate.  He  lives  in  the  eaves  of  the

building and the Senators leave him fruit and crumbs to feed  on.  If  he's

one of your suspects, I must warn you, he hasn't left Coruscant. He's  most

likely nibbling on muja fruit right about now."

Obi-Wan groaned, then thanked Jocasta Nu and  cut  the  communication.

Fligh had lied to him. That wasn't surprising.  It  was  a  lie  worthy  of

Fligh, one calculated to delay him and amuse him.

But he wasn't amused.

He turned to Didi. "Do you know where Fligh is  staying?"  Didi  shook

his head. "A guest house, I suppose. A  hovel,  I'm  sure.  Fligh  is  very

cheap."

"Find out."

"Ah. Yes, Obi-Wan.  I  can  see  in  your  eyes  that  you  need  this

information and I will not fail you." Didi bowed and rushed away.

Obi-Wan knocked on the door to Yso's shop, duplicating Didi's rhythmic

knock. Someone hurried out, his face turned  away.  No  one  wanted  to  be

recognized in this kind of place. Obi-Wan pretended to  examine  a  beat-up

swoop with a dented handlebar while he listened to the  other  occupant  of

the shop approach Uso Yso.

"I'd like to buy a swoop."

"At what price?"

The bettor named a figure, then said, "I'll take  it  to  the  blaster

skill event where I hope to see Wesau T'orrin of Rezi-9 win."

"That is a good plan." Uso Yso slipped the credits into a wide belt he

wore around his waist and entered  some  information  into  a  datapad.  He

handed the bettor a small durasheet. "Here is your receipt."

Obi-Wan waited until the bettor had left the  shop,  then  approached.

"I'm here for a swoop," he said, looking up at the tall being. He  waved  a

hand. "I would like to see your datapad."

Uso Yso snorted. "You don't need to see my data-pad to  buy  a  swoop.

Which do you want?"

Obi-Wan waved his hand again. Uso Yso was unusually resistant to  Jedi

mind suggestion. "I'd like to see your datapad first."

"If you don't want to buy a swoop, you can leave," Uso Yso  said,  his

eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Obi-Wan suppressed his slight disappointment. No matter  how  adept  a

Jedi was or  how  strong  the  connection  to  the  Force,  sometimes  mind

suggestion just didn't work.

Obi-Wan followed the lead of the bettor, naming a figure, then saying,

"I plan to take the swoop to the Podrace and hope that Deland Tyerell  will

be the winner."

Uso Yso shook his head. "There's been  a  last-minute  change.  A  new

driver. Do you still want the swoop?"

"Who is the driver?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

Yso consulted his datapad. "Anakin Skywalker."

Obi-Wan felt the shock shimmer inside him, but  he  did  not  register

surprise on his face.

"Well?" Yso demanded impatiently.

Before Obi-Wan could answer, a small, slight being with four eyes, two

of them set on the sides of his head, slipped inside  the  shop.  "Security

patrol outside."

Uso Yso pushed a lever and a wall slid back, revealing more swoops  in

various stages of repair. "Besum!" He tossed a tool kit to  his  assistant.

"Start working."

"I don't know how to fix a swoop!"

"I don't care," Yso snarled. "Just  do  it."  He  turned  to  Obi-Wan.

"Security makes patrols every once in a while. Nothing to worry about."

Now that Yso was in  danger  of  losing  Obi-Wan's  business,  he  was

suddenly friendly. He had also left his datapad angled toward Obi-Wan,  and

the notations were easy to read. In the time it took for Yso  to  check  on

Besum's activities, Obi-Wan had scanned the file and memorized it.

To his surprise, the letters and numbers looked familiar. It took  him

only a moment to realize that they were similar to the notes recording  the

skybox seating on Bog's datapad.

Which meant that Bog wasn't  recording  seats  for  Senators.  He  was

recording bets.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Obi-Wan left the shop and found a quiet alley to peruse  Bog's  files.

He read the names of the Senators who  had  the  same  notations  as  Yso's

datapad. Some of the names he didn't recognize, but many he did. They  were

among the most illustrious and revered members.

He had no illusions about corruption in the Senate. But he was shocked

to find that so many Senators would be involved in an illegal  scheme  such

as this one. Among the names was Bail Organa,  the  Senator  from  Alderaan

Obi-Wan had always respected for his  integrity.  Why  would  someone  like

Organa risk his career in order to make a few credits on a bet?

The bets had to be substantial, he supposed. Or else the Senators have

no fear that they'll be caught.

He had to deal with Anakin, but he had to pursue this  first.  Obi-Wan

found Bog in a VIP box watching a match of krovation. When Astri  saw  him,

her smile was wide and welcoming.

"Obi-Wan! How good of you to come by. The match is almost finished."

Obi-Wan looked at the two teams vying with poles  on  the  field.  "As

much as I like krovatin, I have to decline. I'm here on business. I need to

speak with Bog."

Astri's smile dimmed at the look on his face. She frowned and  stepped

aside. "Please join us."

Obi-Wan walked into the box. Bog fastened the  jeweled  clasp  to  his

dark red septsilk robe as the Jedi approached.

"How can I help you, Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan hesitated, his hand on the datapad in his  inner  pocket.  "If

you prefer to speak alone..." Bog smiled. "I hide nothing from Astri."

His smile showed not a trace of worry, but Astri walked to  his  side.

Her eyes were grave now. Astri was perceptive, and she knew  Obi-Wan  well.

"What is it, Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan withdrew the datapad. "I have something of yours."

Bog hurried forward. "You found it? Where? Thank you!"

Obi-Wan sidestepped the question of where he had found it. He  slipped

the datapad back into his pocket. "I'm afraid I can't return it just yet. I

must confess that I took a look at your files, Bog."

Bog looked disconcerted. "Well, I see. I suppose that is all right.  I

have no secrets."

Obi-Wan was puzzled. Bog did not seem guilty or worried.  "I  accessed

the file referring to the work you've done for the Senators."

"Yes, I arranged special seating for them,"  Bog  said,  nodding.  "Is

there a problem with some of the skyboxes?" He looked  puzzled.  "I  didn't

know Jedi cared about such things."

"We don't," Obi-Wan said quietly. "But you did  not  arrange  skyboxes

for the Senators. You placed bets for them on events in which  the  outcome

is assured. This is not only illegal, but it has  the  potential  to  spark

conflict among the member worlds."

"Obi-Wan, I don't know what you're talking  about,"  Bog  interrupted,

shaking his head. "The Games are fixed? Senators betting? I  can't  believe

that. All I did was place orders for special seating. You must be mistaken.

"

Obi-Wan studied Bog as the crowd around  them  roared  at  a  player's

score. "If you are not involved, you are being used. Where did you get  the

instructions on how to proceed? How did you know  which  Senators  to  find

seating for?"

"Liviani gave me the list of Senators," Bog said. "That  is  standard.

The head of the Games Council  always  gets  a  list  of  important  beings

throughout the galaxy to accord special favors to. I used the Council funds

to pay the Ruling Power for the skyboxes. You see, the Ruling  Power  makes

the seating available. They have all the stadium plans.  Arranging  seating

may seem trivial, but it's a very important task."

"So who did you contact to arrange the skyboxes?"

"As it turned out, I didn't have to contact anyone. He came to me.  An

odd four-eyed creature. His name was Boosa... no, that's not it. Beesa..."

"Besum?"

"That's it." Bog nodded as the crowd jeered a  questionable  play.  "I

transferred the credits and ordered the seating from  Boosa...  ah,  Besum,

and he handed me the receipts."

"Do you have them?"

"No. I placed them in the welcome packs for the Senators." At last the

seriousness of the matter began to penetrate Bog's self-absorption. "I only

followed protocol," he said nervously.

Obi-Wan frowned. Why would the Senators want receipts to be placed  in

their welcome packets? Anyone could see them. He would think they would  go

to great lengths to hide the fact that they were betting on the Games.

Could it be that the Senators themselves don't know about this?

Could it be that the Ruling  Power  has  arranged  this  in  order  to

disgrace them?

But why?

Bog grew restless at Obi-Wan's silence. "I didn't place any bets!  I'm

sure this is a misunderstanding."

"I'm sure it isn't," Astri said to her husband.  "Obi-Wan  knows  what

he's talking about." She turned to Obi-Wan. "Is Bog in trouble?"

Bog swallowed. "If I am, I will face it."

"We will face  it,"  Astri  said,  putting  her  hand  on  Bog's  arm.

"Together."

Obi-Wan saw the look that Bog gave Astri, a  look  of  tenderness  and

devotion. He saw that Bog did love Astri, and his instincts told  him  that

Bog had been used as a pawn in the scheme. No doubt whoever was  behind  it

did not care if Bog took the fall.

Looking at the love on Astri's face for her husband,  Obi-Wan  decided

that he would do anything in his power to make sure that did not happen. He

remembered a time long ago when Astri had cut off her pretty curls,  shaved

her head, and learned how to shoot a blaster in order  to  help  him  track

down Qui-Gon. She had not thought of herself as a brave person, but she had

faced down blaster bolts and a laser whip, and had never left his side. No,

he would not let anything happen to Astri.

"Bog will not be in trouble if he didn't do anything  wrong,"  Obi-Wan

told the couple. "I will make sure of that. Now, please excuse me."

Obi-Wan stepped outside, leaving the sounds of the match  behind  him.

He quickly contacted Jocasta Nu at the Temple.

"I am sending you a list of Senators. I need to know if there  is  any

link among them." Obi-Wan waited for her to read the list of  names.  "Does

anything come to mind right now?" he asked.

"Nothing," Jocasta Nu said. "There  are  many  ways  Senators  can  be

linked, Obi-Wan. Through sponsoring legislation. Committees. Subcommittees.

Special hearings. Oversight subcommittees on special hearings - "

"I get the picture," Obi-Wan said. "Just  do  the  best  you  can,  as

quickly as you can. Can you also look into the Ruling  Power,  and  see  if

there is some connection with those Senators?"

"Of course. I'll contact you as soon as I have information."

Obi-Wan thanked Jocasta  Nu  and  cut  the  communication.  He  leaned

against the railing and looked out over the sprawling city. Beings streamed

through the streets, and he could hear the distant roar of a crowd  in  the

nearby stadium. If the betting were exposed, the Senators involved would be

drawn into a scandal. It would not matter if they were guilty or  innocent.

Their reputations would suffer. Was that the goal?

An insider, Fligh had said. It could be someone in the  Ruling  Power.

Or someone close to the Games themselves.

He called up Bog's file on his datapad again. He flipped  through  the

holographic files, remembering the notations on Uso Yso's screen.

The bets had been placed on the bowcaster skill contest, the  obstacle

course race, and the Podrace. The same events that Aarno Dering had on  his

data-pad.

Obi-Wan contacted Didi on his comlink. "Have you found out where Fligh

is staying?"

"The Sleek Cruiser Inn on Grand Eucer Street," Didi said. "Room  2222.

But let me assure you, my friend, this inn is no sleek cruiser. More like a

garbage barge."

"Just make sure Fligh  doesn't  go  off-planet,"  Obi-Wan  told  Didi.

"Contact me if he does."

"I am your servant, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan tapped his finger on his comlink, planning his next  move.  He

could handle Fligh, but on the other hand,  this  was  more  than  a  pesky

problem. It was time to call in the other Jedi teams.

He activated his comlink and contacted Siri. He filled her in on  what

he had discovered.

"It seems as though the Ruling Power could be behind this,"  he  said.

"They might want to blackmail Senators  in  order  to  gain  power  in  the

Senate, getting appointed to powerful posts. But we have no real proof, and

we don't have much time. All three events are scheduled to take place  this

afternoon."

"What do you need?" Siri asked, getting to the  point  as  quickly  as

possible, as she usually did.

"I have to pay a visit to Fligh, and I'd like some  company,"  Obi-Wan

said. "I think some additional Jedi presence is needed."

"I'll be there. And I'll contact Ry-Gaul," Siri said.

The problem of Anakin entering the Podrace had  never  left  Obi-Wan's

mind. Why had his Padawan done such a thing without telling him? It was not

the first time Anakin's impulsiveness had worried and alarmed Obi-Wan.

His comlink signaled. Anakin was calling. Obi-Wan answered.

"Master, things have developed here," Anakin said.

"Sebulba has recognized me. Because of  that,  Deland  stepped  in  to

avoid a fight and was injured. He cannot race. I... I offered  to  race  in

his place. Doby and Deland are trying to free their sister - "

"And is that your mission on Euceron, to free Djulla?"  Obi-Wan  asked

sternly.

"No," Anakin said. "But was it Qui-Gon's mission to free me?  Must  we

follow a mission so exactly that we turn our backs on beings who need help?

Every mission has a detour. You've told me that."

"I've also told you that it is the mark of a Jedi to recognize whether

or not to follow the detour," Obi-Wan reminded him.

"Then I ask you to let me make this choice," Anakin replied.

His Padawan's voice was firm. There was no pleading,  no  uncertainty.

He wanted what he wanted. Was that the right thing in this circumstance?

Obi-Wan pondered the problem. "Have you  learned  anything  else?"  he

asked.

"The Podrace is scheduled to take place this  afternoon  at  three.  A

viewing area has been set up  for  spectators  in  the  underground  caves.

Sebulba has placed enormous bets on his son to win. The official timekeeper

is supposed to send the Podrace route directly to onboard computers. But  I

don't know who will takeover the job now that Dering is dead. I  think  the

best way I can find out how the race is fixed and who is behind  it  is  to

enter it myself."

"All right," Obi-Wan said reluctantly. He did not like  the  sound  of

pleasure in Anakin's voice. He would ask Siri and Ry-Gaul to send Ferus and

Tru to observe while Anakin piloted the Podracer. He  could  not  be  there

with his Padawan, but he did not want Anakin to be alone.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"I got it!" Anakin crowed. He tweaked the last screw  to  the  energy-

binder plate. "We're set."

"Whew," Doby said, pushing his goggles to the top  of  his  head.  Two

round circles of grime circled his eyes. "I was getting worried."

"Maybe I should  give  the  computer  system  another  check,"  Anakin

wondered.

"I did it," Deland said. "You've done enough, Anakin. I actually think

we're ready." He patted the Pod-racer with his good hand. His other arm was

encased in a rigid bandage from elbow to fingers.

Anakin jumped off the scaffold he'd used to work on the  turbines.  "I

know I am."

Suddenly, his smile dimmed. He spied Ferus and Tru threading their way

toward him through a sea of pit droids and mechanics and pilots, the  usual

frenzy of a pit hangar before a race.

My Master sent them. He doesn't trust me. The thought seared  Anakin's

mind before rationality set in. It would be helpful to have backup, he told

himself, trying to be logical. There was nothing wrong with that. He dodged

a lubricant hose and went forward to meet them.

Tru's head swiveled, taking in the excitement. "Strange, if you  think

about it," he said to Anakin. Anakin wiped his hands on a rag. "What?"

"That Podraces are so dangerous, but nobody looks scared," he said.

"There are beings who equate danger with pleasure,"  Ferus  said,  his

eyes dark with disapproval. "It is a mistake easily made for those  who  do

not think deeply." He gave Anakin a cool look.

"Well, there's such a thing as fun, Ferus," Tru  said  amiably.  "Even

you have to admit that."

"Yes," Ferus said. "But not here." His cool gaze did not falter as  he

studied Anakin. "I'm not clear on why you are racing, Anakin."

"It is the best way to discover how the race is fixed," Anakin said.

Ferus shifted his gaze to take in Doby and Deland  and  the  Podracer,

then scanned the rest of the hangar. "I see. Our Masters have told us  that

it is possible that advance knowledge of the track will be sent to one Pod-

racer's nav computer seconds before it is given to the rest.  Do  you  know

which Podracer that is?"

"Hekula," Anakin said. "The Dug. The third Podracer down on the left."

"You know this for sure?"

"It is a guess," Anakin admitted. "Based on my knowledge of him."

Ferus turned back. "And that is all?"

"Sebulba, his father, proposed the new rule,"  Anakin  said.  "Sebulba

never proposes anything unless he knows he can profit by it."

"Do you know when and how the information will be transmitted  to  the

nav computers?"

"At the start of the race, and then at three-minute intervals," Anakin

said.

"So how do you propose to beat him?" Ferus asked.

"By being faster and better," Anakin answered. "I  have  something  he

doesn't have. I have the Force."

"Who is the timekeeper?" Tru asked. "Do you think he is  the  one  who

will transmit the information?"

Anakin nodded. "A race referee. The  computer  system  is  already  in

place. Dering has already designed  the  program.  This  person  will  just

follow instructions."

Ferus frowned. "Isn't there any way to tell whoever is  in  charge  of

the race what is going on? Surely it would be better to simply  cancel  the

race. Did you think of that?"

Anakin's cheeks flushed. Ferus was questioning every detail of what he

had learned as though he were a Jedi Master and Anakin was his Padawan.

"I'm sure Anakin thought of it," Tru said. "But we can't be  sure  who

knows that the program is a cheat. Whoever it is  could  alter  it  with  a

keystroke and we'd never know who was behind it, or why."

"Maybe there is still some way to find out," Ferus said.  "Tru  and  I

will investigate." He glanced at the Pod-racer. "You can go  back  to  your

energy-binder plate."

Tru hung back as Ferus walked off. "He's just being careful," he  told

Anakin.

Anakin's teeth gritted. "Is that what you call it?" "You'll understand

him one day," Tru said. "After you become friends."

"I will never be friends with Ferus Olin," Anakin answered savagely.

Tru studied him for a moment.  "I  feel...  some  darkness  from  you,

Anakin. Your enemy is here. But Sebulba cannot hurt you anymore.  Remember,

Jedi do not have enemies."

"I just want to win," Anakin said.

"You mean you  want  to  prevent  injury  and  ensure  fairness,"  Tru

corrected.

Anakin nodded. "That too."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Sleek Cruiser Inn was just as Didi had described it, a dilapidated

building made of patchwork plasteel sheeting. Seeing a way to rake in  more

credits, the owner had leased  out  space  in  the  hallways  and  closets.

Travelers from around the galaxy had stashed gear in every spare space  and

were cooking up meals on portable stoves in the hallways. Others had rolled

themselves in bedrolls in various corners and were trying to  catch  a  nap

between events. The smell of bodies, food, and dust was overwhelming.  Even

this far from the Games, the hum of the  crowds  in  the  arenas  could  be

heard. Obi-Wan, Siri, and Ry-Gaul picked through the mess  and  knocked  on

Fligh's door.

"I said I would settle the bill on the way out!" Fligh  yelled  behind

the door. "Such a hospitable establishment, I can't  wait  to  return!"  He

flung the door open and saw the Jedi. He swallowed.  "Ah,  Jedi.  Always  a

good sign."

He stepped aside and let them enter. Belongings were stuffed  into  an

open case. Still-wet laundry spilled out of a  travel  pack.  A  half-eaten

meal was spread on the sleep couch. It was clear  that  Fligh  was  in  the

midst of a hasty departure.

"Leaving so soon?" Obi-Wan asked. "The Games have just begun."

"I'm not a fan," Fligh said, shrugging. "There you go."

"Yet you came here to see the Games," Obi-Wan pointed out. "Don't  you

want to see how your bets turn out?"

Fligh laughed. "Why? You have made sure I don't win.  I  may  as  well

return to Coruscant and make my living honestly, as a thief."

Siri and Ry-Gaul closed the door and stood in  front  of  it.  Obi-Wan

casually flung one leg over a stool and sat. "A funny thing happened  after

we left you this morning. We took an air taxi - "

"Always a good  idea,"  High  said  nervously.  "The  streets  are  so

crowded."

" - and the pilot tried to crash it," Obi-Wan went on.  "Odd  that  he

knew just where we were and where we were headed."

"Maybe you were just lucky."

"Maybe you'd like to accompany us to the security office of the Ruling

Power and talk about it," Obi-Wan said. It was a bluff. He did not want the

Ruling Power to know that they were investigating.

Fligh gave a squeak of disappointment and threw himself  down  on  the

unmade sleep couch. "I knew I'd never make it off this blasted planet.  All

right. When you came to ask me about the fixed events, you made me nervous.

Why wouldn't I be? I saw my fortune disappearing in front of my eyes. So  I

might have alerted someone as to your presence. They  weren't  supposed  to

kill you. Just delay you. I swear! Didi is my friend. I would  never  allow

harm to  come  to  him.  And  if  you  think  I'd  tangle  with  Jedi,  you

underestimate my cowardice."

"Yet you lie to us," Obi-Wan said.

"And that is never a good idea," Siri said.

Ry-Gaul did not have to say a word. His fierce looks spoke for him.

"Yes, I see what you mean," Fligh said,  backing  away  on  the  sleep

couch.

"Now, tell me again about your friend Quentor," Obi-Wan said,  leaning

forward.

"Ha ha," Fligh said. "I see you know about my little joke.  I  thought

it better to protect a friend than expose him."

"Who?" Obi-Wan asked softly. "And tell me the truth this time."

"Aarno Dering," Fligh said. "Weeks ago, I was  contacted  anonymously.

Through messages on my data-pad. I was asked to find someone who could  rig

a false timing device for a major race. Credits were  transferred  into  my

account with a promise of a sure bet to come. I happened to know  just  the

person they needed. Aarno had been the timekeeper for races  in  the  Outer

Rim. He was  known  for  a  certain...  uh,  casualness  when  it  came  to

scorekeeping. Then the anonymous person said they would hire Aarno for  the

Galactic Games. The Galactic Games! I had no idea it was for  something  so

grand."

"How could he pass scrutiny?" Siri wondered. "The  timers  and  judges

are screened very closely."

"That was just my question," Fligh said, nodding. "They told me not to

worry about it. To my great surprise, Aarno was hired for  several  events.

To Aarno's surprise as well."

"That's why you concluded that an insider had to be involved," Obi-Wan

said.

Fligh nodded. "Who else could get Aarno hired, with his record? So  we

came to Euceron and Aarno got his instructions. It seemed like  a  deal  as

sweet as a piece of blumfruit. Aarno would  find  a  way  to  shave  a  few

seconds here and there and we'd take off with a  small  fortune.  I  didn't

expect anyone to get hurt. Didi was almost killed, and Aarno got  run  over

by a speeder." Fligh shivered. "I'm going back to Coruscant, where I'll  be

safe. I just paved the way for some bets to be placed. I didn't want anyone

to get killed."

"You got the false text docs for Dering," Obi-Wan guessed. "Why did he

suddenly want to get off-planet?"

"I guess he lost his nerve," Fligh said with a nervous glance  at  Ry-

Gaul.

Siri had moved so that she was now sitting in front of  Fligh  on  her

haunches, her hands dangling. Her bright blue gaze was piercing. "There  is

something you're not telling us. Why was Aarno so afraid?"

Fligh fingered one of his long ears. "I had an appointment to drop the

text docs off to Aarno right after the swoop race. As soon as you  left,  I

went to his quarters and waited for him. He was in a  big  hurry  to  leave

Euceron, and I asked him why. He said if I knew what was good for  me,  I'd

leave too. Of course, I had to pressure him. I withheld the text docs until

he told me. He thought he had been hired just to fix the events.  But  then

he found out something else. Something's going to happen during  an  event.

Something will go wrong. They want people to get killed during an event  so

that the Senators will be blamed."

"Which event?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I don't know," Fligh admitted. "Aarno didn't tell me. He found out by

mistake. He was afraid they would come after him because he knew."

"Who are they?" Siri barked in frustration.

"I didn't ask," Fligh said with a shudder. "I don't want to know.  I'm

in over my head. And if I know anything about anything - which I don't, but

I know about this - sooner or later it's going to occur to them that I know

too much. And it's going to be sooner, not later. All in all I'd rather  be

on Coruscant, so if you don't mind - "

Obi-Wan, Siri, and Ry-Gaul turned toward the door at the same instant.

The surge in the Force had warned them. At the  same  time,  the  sound  of

heavy rolling could be heard in the corridor outside Fligh's room.

"Hey, I'm over here, guys," Fligh said. "Are you going  to  answer  my

quest - "

Before Fligh could finish the word, the door blasted apart and a squad

of droidekas appeared in the smoldering opening.

CHAPTER SEVETEEN

Fligh  dived  behind  the  sleep  couch  as  the  Jedi  ignited  their

lightsabers. The droidekas  unfurled  and  snapped  into  attack  position,

blaster bolts firing. Obi-Wan's lightsaber was  an  arc  of  moving  light,

deflecting the shower of blaster fire. Beside him Siri's  lightsaber  swung

in a continuous arc of precise movement, with Siri's  two-handed  grip  and

her graceful footwork. Ry-Gaul did not move. He did not need to.  His  long

arms were a blur in the air as his lightsaber shifted from hand to hand.

The  three-legged  droidekas  were  built  for  battle  and  close  to

invincible but these droidekas weren't shielded. Their heavy  armor  shells

and volts of firepower as well as their maneuverability made  them  capable

of cutting down opponents with fearsome efficiency.

It wasn't as though their power alarmed Obi-Wan. But he still was  not

especially pleased to see them. There were twelve of them, so he  was  glad

to have Ry-Gaul and Siri by his side.

The air filled with smoke as the blaster bolts zinged,  but  the  Jedi

deflected them and struck blow after blow at the heavy armor plates on  the

droids. Because the doorway was narrow, the droidekas began firing  through

the wall itself, quickly tearing gaping holes in  the  structure.  After  a

sweep from Siri's lightsaber, one droideka smoked and  fell,  and  another,

its legs gone, bobbled and spun until it crashed against  a  wall.  Obi-Wan

sliced a droideka in two and sent one piece flying over the sleep couch and

crashing into the wall. Fligh shrieked as pieces of hot metal  rained  down

on him.

Droidekas had control centers, not brains. They could not feel fear or

apprehension. The amazing  skill  of  the  Jedi  was  lost  on  them.  They

continued to advance and fire, continued to  evade  by  rolling  themselves

into balls and repositioning themselves to fire again. Time after time they

attacked, and time after time the Jedi struck blow  after  blow  until  the

harsh smoke and the heat caused Fligh to have a coughing fit. The Jedi  did

not react to the smoke. Their minds and bodies were focused on battle,  and

nothing else mattered but the moment.

Suddenly all three Jedi exchanged a glance. They leaped  back  as  the

flimsy wall collapsed on the remaining  droidekas.  Ry-Gaul,  Obi-Wan,  and

Siri finished the rest off, disabling them with lightsaber thrusts. At last

the droidekas lay around them in pieces. Fligh raised his head from  behind

the sleep couch.

His voice was hoarse. "Can I go now?"

"He can't help us," Obi-Wan told the others. "He's told us  everything

he knows." He deactivated his lightsaber. "Yes, Fligh. You can go."

"Until next time, Obi-Wan," Fligh said fervently.

"I certainly hope not," Obi-Wan answered. Wherever Fligh was,  trouble

was soon to follow.

With a last bow, Fligh ran from the room, his belongings trailing from

his packing case.

"If they're sending Destroyer Droids,  they  must  be  worried,"  Siri

said. "Whoever they are."

"One of us should attend each event," Obi-Wan said. "The Padawans  are

already at the Podrace and it's scheduled to begin in...  fifteen  minutes.

Can you head out there, Ry-Gaul? I'll contact  Anakin  and  tell  him  that

something is supposed to go wrong, but I'd feel better if you were there."

Ry-Gaul gave a short nod and left the room, stepping over  a  pile  of

droidekas in the doorway.

"I'll take the bowcaster skill contest," Siri said. "It's  at  Stadium

Seven."

"That leaves me with the  obstacle  course,"  Obi-Wan  said,  nodding.

"Stay in touch."

"I just wish I knew what I was looking for," Siri said. Obi-Wan tucked

his lightsaber into his belt. "That makes two of us."

Obi-Wan was able to give Anakin an update on the way to Stadium  Nine.

There was nothing much for Anakin to do except what the rest of  them  were

doing - being mindful, and watching.

Obi-Wan strode into the stadium. He felt the heat and the noise  of  a

crowd eager for the event to begin.

As the Euceron hero and  record-setter  for  the  event  in  the  last

Galactic Games, Maxo Vista was here as well. Obi-Wan found a seat as  close

to the judges as he could  and  watched  on  a  viewscreen  overhead  while

Vista's podium zoomed to the center of the stadium.

"Welcome, all," he said, his voice amplified throughout  the  stadium.

"I'd like to introduce myself. I am - "

"MAXO VISTA!" the crowd roared.

"You may not remember me - "

The crowd roared once again.

- but I was at this event seven years ago - " A cheer went up.

" - I didn't do too badly - " Vista paused and waited for  the  cheers

and laughter "- - and I truly hope that today, my record  will  be  broken.

I'm just a Galactic Games official now, seven years older and  seven  years

slower, so I'd better make way for the next generation of athletes."

The broad grin still on his  face,  Vista  suddenly  vaulted  off  the

platform. The crowd gasped, but a cable launcher hidden in Vista's belt let

out a long line, and he bounced at the end of  it,  only  centimeters  away

from the ground. With a powerful thrust, he flipped his body  upward,  then

twisted, flew through the air, and landed on his feet. His  movements  were

so graceful it was more like a dance than an athletic feat.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. The cheers went on and on.

The cheers fell away for Obi-Wan. He heard only the absence of  sound,

the silence of concentration and revelation.

The lines of Vista's body were suddenly familiar, the fluid,  powerful

way he moved. The way  he  made  something  that  took  great  effort  look

effortless.

Maxo Vista was the air-taxi pilot who had tried to kill them.  And  he

was the speeder driver who had run down Aarno Dering.

Which meant that the great hero of Euceron was  the  insider  who  was

behind fixing the Games.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

It was his fault. If he hadn't been so irritated at  not  knowing  who

Maxo Vista was, he would have looked closer at him. He had made  a  mistake

worthy of a Jedi Temple student, not an experienced  Jedi  Knight.  He  had

allowed his own perspective, his own emotion, to color his perception.

Perception comes from not one but all angles at once.

Yes, Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan raced down the moving walkway that circled the stadium. He had

to make it down to Level Twenty, where Maxo Vista would enter the VIP  box.

He could not risk losing Maxo Vista the way he had lost Aarno Dering.

He was almost at the door of the box when  Astri  dashed  toward  him,

curls bouncing and robe swirling. "Obi-Wan!"

"Later," he said tersely, striding toward the door.

She grabbed his arm. "You  must  know  this!  The  Podrace!  Something

terrible is going to happen!"

He half-turned and searched her dark eyes. "How do you know this?"

"Bog," she said. "He went to Maxo Vista  to  tell  him  what  you  had

discovered - "

Obi-Wan almost groaned aloud.

" - Vista wasn't there, and so Bog accessed his data-pad.  He  thought

as a fellow Council member he could do this - " Her  hand  to  her  throat,

Astri got the words  out  fast,  between  her  panting  breaths.  "  -  and

discovered that the Podrace is not only fixed, but booby-trapped.  The  nav

computer will lead the Podracers close to the city's hub. The lead Podracer

will get taken over by the nav computer. It will be made to crash into  the

crowd! We don't know if Vista himself is aware of this, it could have  been

sent to his dataport without his knowing. We cannot believe that Maxo Vista

would be involved. Bog replaced the datapad and told me what he'd seen.  He

is going to tell Liviani Sarno. But I came to you."

"Does Vista know about this?" Anakin is in danger. Obi-Wan reached for

his comlink as he asked the question.

"I didn't. But now I do." Vista's  voice  came  from  behind  him.  He

smiled as Obi-Wan turned. "I promise you, I can  explain  everything.  This

way, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan hesitated.

"Trust me." Maxo Vista  had  a  blaster  pointed  at  Astri,  but  the

friendly grin was still on his face. Astri could not see the blaster, which

was on his other side.

"This way," he repeated meaningfully to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan stepped inside. He would follow Maxo Vista's instructions, but

only for a few seconds. He had to make sure Vista would not hit anyone with

blaster fire.

The floor moved under his feet. He realized that he  had  not  stepped

out into the VIP box, but onto a moving podium. It suddenly zoomed  to  the

center of the stadium. Vista's hand dropped and the blaster was lost in the

folds of his cloak.

"It is a long-range model, and it is still pointed at Astri," he  said

pleasantly.

Obi-Wan tried to signal Astri to move, but she stood watching him from

afar, not knowing the blaster was pointed at her. He could  reach  for  his

lightsaber, but he wasn't sure if even he could be fast enough to block the

shot.

Light suddenly hit his eyes, dazzling him for a  moment.  "Welcome  to

the exhibition match!" Maxo Vista's  voice  was  amplified  throughout  the

stadium. "Jedi against athlete! Let the event begin!"

The crowd roared. A cube of white light settled over Obi-Wan.  Another

flashed over Maxo Vista. A holo  -  graphic  image  of  a  treton,  a  wild

creature from the planet Aesolian, appeared in front of them. On the tip of

one pointed ear a green laser glowed. His snarl was  amplified  and  echoed

through the stadium. There was a collective 00000hh of  fear.  Even  though

the spectators knew the treton  was  holographic,  its  fierce  battle  cry

struck terror into their hearts.

An announcer's steady voice boomed over  the  stadium.  "Ten  seconds.

Contestants, prepare...."

Obi-Wan reached for his comlink to contact Anakin, but  it  was  dead.

Now he remembered that in the stadium center a jamming device was  employed

so that no contestants could use  hidden  devices  to  aid  them  in  their

events. Maxo Vista had trapped him, no doubt in order to buy time.

Obi-Wan judged the distance back to the stadium. It was too  far.  The

podium was too high for even a cable launcher. He would have  to  wait.  He

was now officially in the obstacle course, and subject to its rules. He was

trapped. And Anakin was just about to begin the Podrace.

"Welcome to my world, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Maxo Vista whispered. "I had  a

feeling the Jedi would show up, so I've been planning this. Sorry it had to

be this way, but at least you'll have some fun before you die."

"Five seconds, contestants..."

A lightweight weapon emerged out of the platform  floor  in  front  of

Obi-Wan. He grabbed it. At the tip was a green laser. Obi-Wan guessed  that

in order to score points, he would have to hit the laser  on  the  hologram

with the laser tip of his weapon. He  wished  he  had  seen  a  holographic

obstacle course before. He had no idea what was in store.

"Yes, Obi-Wan. Something will go  wrong  and  you  will  die  in  this

stadium. You won't know when it will come, or how to fight it." Maxo  Vista

smiled. "May the best man win. Which means me, of course."

"Begin!" the announcer said.

The treton rushed forward. Maxo Vista was prepared. He  charged  ahead

and slashed at the Treton even as it zoomed upward and around  in  a  crazy

evasive dance that no bulky treton would ever  accomplish.  Vista  hit  the

creature precisely on the ear and a  loud  joyful  clang  clang!  resounded

through the stadium.

"Point, Vista," the voice announced. The stadium erupted in cheers for

the favorite.

Obi-Wan's laser  tip  now  glowed  pink.  The  edge  of  the  platform

elongated into a ramp that rose almost  straight  upward.  Vista  began  to

bound ahead.

After a second of hesitation, Obi-Wan followed. He had no  choice.  He

would have to hope that somewhere in the course he would be able  to  break

free.

Obi-Wan gained on Vista easily. At the top of the  ramp  six  snarling

holographic neks sat guard. At the center of their collars, a laser  glowed

like a pink jewel.

Now Obi-Wan knew that he had to hit each of  the  creatures  precisely

with the tip of his weapon, laser to laser, in order to progress.

Vista sprang forward as the nek on the far left lunged,  teeth  bared.

Vista twisted, but the holographic teeth grazed his ankle. A  harsh  buzzer

sounded.

"Minus point five," the announcer said.

Obi-Wan somersaulted, avoiding the two neks who flew at him.  He  used

the weapon like a lightsaber, touching the collars lightly. Two loud  clang

clang! clang clang! noises sounded, and he whirled and  touched  the  other

collars just as delicately, even as Vista was  moving  toward  them.  Clang

clang! The neks dissolved in a shower of light.

"Six points, Visitor."  This  time  the  cheers  were  not  nearly  as

deafening.

The laser shifted to blue. Ahead was a cliff face with shallow  ledges

forming  a  pathway  upward.   At   the   top   were   three   multi-clawed

ravenscreechers, large birds from the Outer Rim planet  Wxtm.  Each  had  a

large wing span and six legs with claws half a meter long.  Instead  of  an

eye, a bright blue laser spot winked at Obi-Wan from each bird.

Vista hurled  himself  at  the  cliff  and  began  to  climb.  Obi-Wan

followed. Vista reached out a leg and tried to kick him. The  crowd  hissed

disapproval. No doubt Vista was risking the displeasure  of  the  crowd  in

order to vent his anger at Obi-Wan defeating all the neks.

Yes, you are  a  record-holder,  Obi-Wan  thought.  But  you've  never

competed against a Jedi.

Accessing the Force, he vaulted into  the  air,  bypassing  Vista  and

landing on a ledge close to the edge. The ravenscreechers took off,  diving

toward him.

While the crowd roared and cheered, Obi-Wan  held  on  with  only  one

hand. He slashed at one holographic bird, touching its eye  and  gaining  a

point, then hit the next one on a backswing without even turning. Using the

momentum, he swung himself up to the top of the cliff and hit the third one

as it rose to attack him.

Clang clang! The points rang up on the screen. His laser  tip  flashed

yellow. Now more of the crowd was on his side, and Maxo Vista was  furious.

His face was bright red as he scrambled from  ledge  to  ledge,  racing  to

catch Obi-Wan.

On top of the ledge sat  two  swoops.  Obi-Wan  was  about  to  spring

forward when a tentacle bush appeared, its branches reaching out  for  him.

It took him a moment to locate the tiny glowing tip of the yellow laser  in

the heart of the bush. If one of the other branches hit him, he would  lose

points.

He could feel Vista behind him and was  not  surprised  when  the  man

launched himself at the bush. He knew Vista was furious,  and  anger  would

make him careless. He would give Vista the first chance at the bush, but he

would not allow him to beat him to the swoops.

The branches moved like the arms of dancers, fluid and  graceful,  yet

lethal in their striking motions. In his fury, Vista tried  to  attack  the

bush with stabbing motions, but the waving branches kept him  just  out  of

reach. His movements were as fluid as that of the branches, and  the  crowd

began to chant his name.

Obi-Wan leaped. He somersaulted in midair,  keeping  his  legs  tucked

close to his body to avoid the waving branches. When  he  was  dead  center

over the bush, he reached down amid the cluster of wildly  waving  branches

and touched the glowing laser with his weapon. Then he landed precisely  on

one of the swoops, legs astride, and took  off.  The  whole  operation  had

taken less than three seconds.

The crowd was stunned into silence. The noise of the announcer  echoed

through the nearly silent stadium.

"Point, Visitor."

The crowd went wild.

Obi-Wan did not think about what was behind him. Only what was  ahead.

The minutes were ticking away, and he had  to  contact  Anakin.  The  worry

ticked away inside him, but his  movements  did  not  betray  him.  Vista's

warning that something would occur on  the  course  didn't  worry  him.  He

trusted in the Force to warn him.

Ahead were glowing  circles  of  light.  Holographic  humming  peepers

twittered overhead. Each held a tiny violet laser in its beak. Obi-Wan  saw

that he would  have  to  navigate  through  the  spinning  circles  without

touching the edges of each one, hitting  as  many  humming  peepers  as  he

could. This obstacle did not require strength, but agility and precision.

He did not look behind him, but he knew Maxo  Vista  was  pushing  his

swoop to maximum speed. Obi-Wan only saw the glowing obstacles and the tiny

birds. He dived through the first hoop and delicately touched the tiny bird

with his weapon. The clanging noise sounded, then sounded  again  a  second

later. Vista, too, had scored a point.

Vista piloted the swoop as if it were part of his body. He leaned over

and scored another point, then flipped the swoop to quickly zoom through  a

circle. The crowd kept up a steady roar now. Vista pushed his swoop, aiming

for the back of Obi-Wan's. He bumped Obi-Wan's swoop but it appeared he was

only attempting to get through the  next  loop.  Obi-Wan  knew  better.  He

dived, engines screaming, then came at the next loop from an extreme  right

angle. He zoomed through the loop with a centimeter  to  spare.  Taken  off

guard, Maxo Vista brushed against the  side  of  the  loop  and  lost  five

points.

Obi-Wan zigzagged through the air of the stadium, sailing through  the

loops and hitting the laser targets. Vista gave up trying to unseat him and

concentrated on gaining points. Soon the humming peepers had all been  hit.

The glowing hoops dissolved into particles of light.

The stadium went black. Obi-Wan immediately pulled back on the swoop's

power and hovered in the air, waiting.  Below,  on  the  mid-level  landing

platform, a group of holographic Gladiator Droids appeared.  Bright  orange

erupted from flame projectors in their fists. A bright red laser winked  in

the center of their foreheads.

Obi-Wan flew down to the landing platform and leaped  off  the  swoop.

The Gladiator Droids shot blaster fire at  him,  just  harmless  points  of

light. The flames licked close to him but there was no heat. He  could  not

use the race weapon or his lightsaber against light, so he had to dodge the

flames and blaster bolts.

This obstacle was similar to an exercise called Art of Movement at the

Temple, introduced to him when he was just a  student,  even  younger  than

Anakin. The students were required to keep moving, dodging  both  lines  of

light that zigzagged the room  and  points  that  scampered  randomly.  The

objective was simply to get  from  the  door  to  the  opposite  wall.  The

exercise required split-second timing and an agile body. Some students were

better than others at compressing  their  limbs,  jumping,  and  flattening

themselves against the floor. As a human, Obi-Wan was hampered by his solid

skeletal frame, but he had practiced for hours until  he  could  judge  the

best way to move with  a  minimum  of  effort.  He  had  even  had  private

tutorials with the Jedi Knight Fy-Tor-Ana, known for her grace.

All of the lessons came back to him in a rush. He had not trained  for

this specifically, as Maxo Vista  had.  He  hadn't  practiced  the  Art  of

Movement in years. But he could feel his body respond and move even as  the

laser points skittered around him. Using the Force, he was  able  to  gauge

where the pinpoints of light would hit.

Maxo Vista had trained for this. He was adept at movement.  The  crowd

gasped at the flexible grace of the two opponents. Obi-Wan got close enough

to one Gladiator Droid to score a point. Vista scored another. In  the  dim

light, the shimmering outlines of the  Droids  melted  against  the  velvet

darkness.

Obi-Wan could feel the Force  around  him  and  feel  the  ripples  of

disturbance. Maxo Vista's surprise was near. Even as he  dodged  the  light

and moved in to strike another blow at a Gladiator Droid, he knew what  was

coming.

One of the Droids was real.

Obi-Wan had to use the Force. It was too dark to be  absolutely  sure.

The lights exploding around him could be lethal or not. He noted  now  that

Maxo Vista was pretending to be slow, keeping Obi-Wan between him  and  the

fire.

He saw a Gladiator Droid well behind the others, its blasters  firing.

That was the one.

He unsheathed his lightsaber. With his lightsaber in one hand and  his

event weapon in the other, he leaped. With one  hand,  he  hit  each  laser

target on each droid, twisting and hanging in midair. With  the  other,  he

deflected the real blaster fire.

He ended with a midair somersault and sank  his  lightsaber  into  the

real droid's control panel.

The counter rang furiously. The scoreboard lit up. The  crowd  was  on

its feet now, stamping its approval.

The lights in the stadium came up. Maxo Vista raised his head from his

position crouching on the floor. He blinked, surprised  to  hear  the  boos

directed at him.

The crowd screamed for the Jedi. But Obi-Wan had disappeared.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Doby and Deland paced nervously by  the  Podracer.  "Maybe  we  should

check the intake valves again," Doby said.

"We've checked them three times," Anakin said.  "Everything  is  fine.

We're ready to go."

He was strapped into his seat, his goggles pushed up on his head.  The

official starter  stood  talking  to  the  Podrace  organizer.  Hekula  was

receiving last-minute instructions from Sebulba.

It all felt so familiar. He could be back in the Mos Espa Grand  Arena

again. His mother was watching. Qui-Gon and Padm© were there. He wanted  to

do his best for them.

Anakin swallowed against the emotion that swelled in him. He was older

now. Things were more complicated. His emotions would never  be  so  simple

again. But here in the cockpit doubt  fell  away  and  uncertainty  had  no

place. Left behind was only one goal: winning. "All  right,  then,"  Deland

said. He held his arm carefully against his side, and his  face  was  pale.

"Good luck, Anakin. We won't forget this. Neither will Djulla."

"We shouldn't have let you, but we had to." Doby leaned in to speak to

him earnestly. "Don't worry. You're going to win. Just don't crash."

Anakin grinned. "Right."

"Come on, Doby, you're making him nervous." Deland yanked his  brother

away.

Ry-Gaul approached Anakin. He stood by the Pod-racer,  his  gray  eyes

scanning the spectators who had gathered on  the  stands  near  the  finish

line. "You must use the Force to stay ahead. There is darkness here, but  I

cannot locate it."

It was the longest speech Anakin had ever heard Ry-Gaul  give.  Anakin

nodded. "I feel it,  too."  But  along  with  the  darkness,  he  felt  the

excitement of the race to come.

Tru waved at him from the sidelines. Anakin gave him a thumbs-up, just

as he had to his best friend Kitster so many years ago.

"Start your engines," the race official called.

Anakin engaged his engines.  They  roared  to  life.  Ry-Gaul's  mouth

moved, but he couldn't hear the words. It didn't matter. He knew  what  Ry-

Gaul had said. May the Force be with you.

The noise of the powerful engines of eight Podracers was deafening. It

bounced off the high cave  walls.  The  floor  shook  like  a  groundquake.

Besides himself, Hekula, and Aldar Beedo, Anakin recognized  Gasgano,  Elan

Mak, and Ody Mandrell. The  last  two  Podracers  were  Scorch  Zanales,  a

Daimlo, and Will Neluenf, heir to the first great  Tatooine  Podracer,  Ben

Neluenf.

Anakin felt the power of the engines under his hands. He felt warm and

liquid, alert and calm. His senses were hyperaware. The shimmer of the air,

the dull red of the cave walls, the smell of the fuel - it filled his  head

and sharpened his focus. He was ready.

He kept his eye on the starting light. It turned from red to yellow...

Green! Anakin pushed the throttle and the engines roared in  response.

He had always believed in a quick start. His old Podracer had been  tweaked

to allow for maximum fuel flow. Deland's Podracer surged forward in a  pack

with the others, but slightly ahead. He allowed himself one glance over  at

Hekula. Sebulba's son bared his teeth at Anakin.

Anakin checked the nav computer. In a glance he saw the  route  ahead.

Down a long underground canyon, then through a series of  dips  and  rolls.

Then he needed to take a sharp left down a narrow passage.  After  that  he

would receive the next stage of the course.

The cave walls were a blur of dusty red and the screaming engines were

just a backdrop of constant sound  as  Anakin  raced  through  the  canyon.

Hekula pulled ahead, the double engines of Anakin's old pod bobbing on  the

air current created by his speed. Anakin stayed  close  on  Hekula's  tail,

avoiding the flying engines. The other Podracers were reluctant to get  too

close. Anakin knew from experience how the engines  would  move  as  Hekula

maneuvered. He dared to race snug against the back  of  Hekula's  Podracer,

knowing he was making Hekula angry and nervous.

The dips were ahead. Anakin pulled back suddenly, and Hekula  shot  in

front. Anakin dived, timing his movement so that  he  was  able  to  barely

scoot underneath Hekula's Podracer and then rise up  before  the  dip  rose

into a small hill.

He was in the lead. But Hekula had the next part of the course by now.

He was most likely already planning his strategy  for  the  next  round  of

challenges. Anakin would have to rely on his instincts to keep him  in  the

lead

Behind him, Ody  Mandrell  couldn't  make  the  sharp  turn  into  the

passage. Anakin heard the shriek of  metal  and  the  crash.  Smoke  rolled

toward him and he pushed the engines as hard as he dared, trying to  outrun

the smoke before it blinded him.

Hekula was pulling slightly to the left. Anakin didn't  know  why  but

guessed he was preparing to pass him on the  next  segment...  whatever  it

was. Just then the nav computer blinked, showing him the next part  of  the

course. He just had time to register the details, but it was as  though  he

had already seen the track.

He turned sharply on the first corner, then turned again to the  left,

then the right. Hekula kept up with his every move. Anakin  could  see  his

face when he glanced behind, could almost hear Hekula's cackling laugh.

Behind them, Elan and Aldar Beedo collided, after Elan made a move  to

cut off Aldar. The others had to scramble to  avoid  hitting  them  or  the

drivers, who had crawled from the wreckage to accuse each other. The  sight

was gone in a moment as Anakin whipped around another corner.

The controls shook in his hand  at  the  constant  turns.  Hekula  was

gaining. He needed all his concentration for the next segment...

His comlink signaled.

Anakin considered not answering it, but he knew he must. It  could  be

his Master.

He released the control for an instant and pressed the activation key.

He strained to hear his Master over the noise.

"... nav computer... accident... prepare for..."

Anakin kept one hand on the controls and snatched the comlink. He held

it tight against his ear. "Repeat!" he shouted into the comlink.

Now Obi-Wan's voice was clearer, but he still lost some words over the

noise rebounding off the cave  walls.  "One  of  the  Podracers  is  booby-

trapped...  nav  computer  will  lead...  Eusebus...  the  lead  Podracer's

steering mechanism will blow. It will be made to crash into a crowd... hear

me, Anakin?"

"Copy that!" Anakin shouted. He threw the comlink back down.

The lapse in concentration had cost him. As his Podracer burst out  of

the maze, Hekula passed him on the inside and took the lead.

His nav computer flashed. The course now would wind through  a  series

of turns, then open out into  a  large  tunnel.  Then  the  five  remaining

Podracers would burst out of the tunnel onto the city streets. So Obi-Wan's

prediction was right.

Anakin quickly turned to the left before the cave wall curved. He  was

able to pass Hekula easily. Obviously, Hekula was not as adept a  racer  as

his father. With advance knowledge of that turn, he should have hugged  the

wall to prevent Anakin's maneuver. Hekula tried to bump  him  from  behind,

but Anakin pulled ahead.

He raced through the tunnel, wondering what to do when he reached  the

city streets. If he slowed, the others would pass him, and there  would  be

more danger to the pedestrians. The best he could do was stay ahead to lead

the pack away from pedestrians and hope he could master the  Podracer  when

its steering blew.

As Anakin zoomed onto the streets, he saw astonished faces and  beings

quickly running to get out of the way. He slowed slightly, but  not  enough

to let Hekula pass him.

Suddenly Hekula pulled up next to him. He tried to use an old trick of

his father's, flashing  Anakin's  engine  with  side  vents  so  that  he'd

overheat. Anakin pulled ahead slightly to avoid the steam.

The next segment flashed onscreen. Down a boulevard, then up  a  steep

hill and down the other side. The  boulevard  would  then  narrow  into  an

alley, then open up once again.

The  turn  onto  the  boulevard  would  be  tricky,  a  near180-degree

maneuver. Anakin eased to the right so he would be able to make  the  turn.

Hekula kept going straight. When the turn appeared, Anakin took it  easily,

but Hekula had to struggle to keep his Podracer on course.

Engines screaming, they raced up the hill. Speeders accelerated to get

out of their way, and pedestrians scattered. Anakin's hands began to shake,

and he realized  that  his  controls  were  vibrating.  His  warning  light

suddenly flashed red.

The steering mechanism was failing.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Obi-Wan had run off the edge of the platform and made  a  midair  leap

into the box of surprised VIP spectators.  Then  he  dashed  out  into  the

stadium hall and was met by Siri.

"Not much excitement at the bowcaster skill event, so  I  thought  I'd

see how you were doing," she said. "I didn't realize you'd be competing."

Obi-Wan made the  call  to  Anakin  warning  him  about  the  steering

mechanism.

"We have to get down there."

"Where?" Siri pointed out. "We don't know  where  the  Podracers  will

emerge from the caves. Nobody knows the track."

"Maxo Vista does."

They raced down to the exiting area, where Maxo Vista was hurrying off

in disgrace. When he saw the Jedi he tried to flee,  but  Siri  took  three

strides forward and pinned him to a wall.

"Not so fast," she said. "We have some questions for you."

"I don't have anything to say." Maxo Vista's eyes burned  with  hatred

for Obi-Wan.

Siri reached into Vista's tunic pocket. "We'll let your datapad do the

talking."

She tossed the datapad to Obi-Wan  and  he  quickly  accessed  Vista's

files. Obi-Wan felt the urgency as he called up  holofile  after  holofile,

but his hands were steady and his eyes never stopped moving.

"Here," he said. "Here is the route. The steering mechanism will  fail

after the hill."

"Does it say which Podracer will be affected?" Siri asked.

"No." Even as he was speaking, he was contacting  Anakin.  "After  the

steep hill," he said quickly into his comlink, "the steering mech - "

"I know!" Anakin shouted. "It's mine! I can't - " Anakin's words  were

drowned out by a loud crash and the comlink went dead.

Maxo Vista smiled. "It appears you were too late."

The crash occurred between Gargano and Zanales, who had  been  closely

tailing Anakin and Hekula. Anakin did not look back to make  sure  that  no

one was hurt. He was too busy trying to bypass the steering  mechanism.  He

guessed that it had been wired to blow through the nay computer.

He was controlling the Podracer through the engines now, just managing

to keep it on course. Hekula had zoomed ahead.

A crowd of spectators stood on a corner ahead,  right  after  a  sharp

curve. Anakin saw clearly that he could not control the  Podracer  on  that

turn. There was only one thing to do.

He shut off the nay computer to send the energy  to  the  engines.  He

would have to rely on the Force.

Immediately the steering  hummed  with  power  again.  He  pushed  the

engines and in a burst of speed made the turn and cut Hekula off. He was in

the lead again.

Slowing his speed just a fraction, he glanced in his rearview  mirror.

Hekula was going to attempt to pass him. Anakin would allow him to  do  so.

He'd need to follow Hekula now. He had to  let  Hekula  guide  him  to  the

finish line, then find a way to get  ahead.  His  first  objective  was  to

protect the spectators, but Anakin had not forgotten for a moment  that  he

meant to win.

Now he did not have to worry about injuring anyone. He had solved  the

problem of the steering. He just had to  follow  the  course.  His  comlink

activated again, but it was on the floor of the Podracer. He could not bend

down to retrieve it. He would lose precious seconds. Now Anakin was focused

on only one thing: the need to win.

"I'm sure he is all right, but you might as  well  go  to  the  finish

line," Siri said when Anakin didn't answer. "I'll stay with Vista."

"Bring him to the Ruling Power," Obi-Wan said. He knew Anakin was  all

right. He had to believe he would feel it if it weren't so.  "I'll  contact

you after Anakin finishes the race."

Maxo Vista smirked as Siri  led  him  away.  "Good  luck!"  he  called

cheerily to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan hurried out of the stadium. He would have to get to the finish

line on a swoop or speeder. It would be the fastest way to travel.

Astri was waiting outside, her eyes searching the crowd anxiously. She

waved at Obi-Wan and pointed to a speeder by her side.

"Is everything all right? Is Maxo Vista involved?" she asked.

"I'm afraid so. Siri is taking him to the Ruling Power," Obi-Wan said.

Astri handed him a small  viewscreen.  Obi-Wan  could  see  the  three

Podracers roaring through the streets of Eusebus.

"They are selling these on the streets," she said. "Anakin  seemed  to

have trouble, but he's in second place now."

Obi-Wan nodded, taking the viewscreen and jumping into the speeder.

She put her hand on the speeder for a moment.  "Vista  used  Bog.  Bog

admired him."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Bog will be all right. He  just  needs  to  tell  the

truth."

Biting her lip, she nodded.

Obi-Wan took off. His comlink signaled, and he answered it.

"I have information for you on those Senators," Jocasta Nu said. "They

aren't on a committee together. But they have all taken the  same  position

on the same issue. The Commerce Guild is proposing legislation  that  would

give them control of banking  practices  in  the  Core  Worlds.  It  is  an

enormously profitable contract."

"Do the Senators oppose it?"

"Of course. It's a terrible  idea  to  consolidate  power  that  way,"

Jocasta Nu answered. "Rumor has it that many have been  bribed  to  support

it. The vote will be close. But the list of Senators you gave me have sworn

to block it."

"Are the Ruling Power of Euceron involved?"

"No. But don't you want to know who is a member of the Commerce Guild?

"

"Maxo Vista?"

"Indeed," Jocasta Nu said,  sounding  disappointed  that  Obi-Wan  had

guessed. "He was recently invited to join. Do you  know  who  proposed  his

candidacy?"

"No, and I don't have time to guess - "

"Liviani Sarno."

Obi-Wan let out a breath. So  his  worst  suspicions  were  true.  The

treachery had begun at the top. The Commerce Guild  would  do  anything  to

ensure that the legislation would pass.  As  head  of  the  Games  Council,

Liviani Sarno was in the perfect position to concoct a scheme to  discredit

the Senators who opposed it. Eager to join the Guild, no doubt  Maxo  Visto

had agreed to take part.

No wonder Liviani Sarno had been so concerned about the theft of Bog's

speeder. She knew the information on Bog's datapad could be traced back  to

her once the bats were discovered.

He ended the communication and concentrated on getting to  the  finish

line as fast as he could. He would not feel easy until he saw Anakin  cross

the line, safe.

He contacted Siri. "Don't let Liviani Sarno interfere," he  told  her.

"She may have been the one behind everything."

"I haven't seen her,"  Siri  said.  "But  Vista  seems  pleased  about

something. That must be it. He must think Sarno will save him."

Obi-Wan returned to his piloting. He was almost at the caves  now.  It

was strange how he had pulled a thread,  and  the  plot  had  come  undone.

Didi's bet had led to a web of treachery. It never failed to surprise  him,

just a little, how far beings would go to advance their interests, how much

they would risk for an easy gain. Together Liviani Sarno and Maxo Vista had

wealth and prestige, yet it was not enough. And poor Aarno Dering,  just  a

petty criminal with nothing to lose except his life. Obi-Wan  thought  back

on his few possessions, his neat quarters. Dering was  probably  hoping  to

have enough credits to support himself for the rest of his life.  No  doubt

he had taken pride in what he did. Obi-Wan thought back on the two chronos,

set for morning. Dering must have  been  good  at  his  job.  He  knew  the

importance of backup.

He knew the importance of backup.

Obi-Wan grabbed the screen and peered at it as he  drove.  Anakin  was

staying close to the rear of Hekula's Podracer. He tried to contact him  on

his comlink, but Anakin did not answer.

Answer it, Padawan. You know it is me.

Obi-Wan contacted Ry-Gaul. "Something  else  is  going  to  happen  to

Anakin's Podracer," he said.

"The Force is still disturbed," Ry-Gaul agreed. "Where  are  the  most

spectators?"

"At the finish line. I am there."

"That's where it will happen. I'll be there soon."

Obi-Wan pushed the engines to maximum.  The  boulevard  ended  and  he

zoomed along a dusty road, then over to the rolling  hills.  He  remembered

exactly where the cave entrance was and barely reduced speed as he  crashed

through the branches and slid' into the tunnel.

He halted the speeder  in  the  pit  hangar.  Groups  of  Pit  Droids,

mechanics, and members of the Podracing teams were crowded  well  clear  of

the finish line, view-screens in hand. He spotted Doby and Deland.

"He's still second," Doby fretted. "He's not  going  to  win.  And  it

looked like he almost crashed. I don't understand this!"

"All we can do is wait," Deland said, with a glance at his sister.

Sebulba had already called to Djulla to break out the food  and  drink

for the celebration.  He  leaned  over,  watching  his  viewscreen  avidly.

"That's my boy!" he cackled. "Smash them all!"

Ry-Gaul, Tru, and Ferus approached Obi-Wan. "We can do  nothing  now,"

Ry-Gaul said.

Obi-Wan scanned the crowd.  Each  being  was  staring  intently  at  a

viewscreen. Some crowded around one small screen, others shared with one or

two friends. He had to be right. There had to be someone who would activate

the backup system by hand.

One being sat alone. A plain brown robe swept down  to  the  floor.  A

hood hid a face bent intently over a viewscreen. Then a hand moved to reach

inside the robe toward a pocket. A datapad appeared. In that brief movement

Obi-Wan glimpsed a robe underneath the plain brown  cloak.  The  color  was

brilliant scarlet and the thick veda  cloth  was  embroidered  with  orange

septsilk thread.

Obi-Wan  took  off.  He  hurdled  over  some  Pit  Droids  coiling   a

lubrication hose and avoided a disabled  Pod-racer  being  wheeled  into  a

transport. Startled gazes followed him as he rushed toward the seats.

The noise of the Podracers suddenly echoed  through  the  caves.  They

were close. The spectators stood.

He knew, even as he ran, that he was too late. His throat  constricted

with pain.

Liviani Sarno touched the screen on her datapad, then slipped it  back

into a pocket. She quickly rose and jumped to the floor, hurrying away from

the stands. She kept the viewscreen in front of her so she could  keep  her

eye on the Podracers.

Obi-Wan took a quick look at his  own  viewscreen.  They  were  close,

racing now down a straightaway. There was one sharp turn right  before  the

spectator stands, and then a short distance to the finish line.

He strode forward and put his hand on Sarno's arm. She  looked  up  at

him, surprised and, for a moment, frightened.

"I'll take that datapad," he said.

"What are you doing?" Liviani hissed. "I  am  here  undercover.  I  am

observing. Go away."

"What did you just do?"

"Nothing," she said, her eyes on the screen  as  the  Podracers  raced

down the last straightaway. She struggled to get away. "Let me go!"

"If you did nothing, why  are  you  so  afraid?"  Obi-Wan  asked.  The

Podracers approached the last curve. He kept his hand on her wrist.

"Let me go!" Liviani screamed, her eyes wide with fear.

It is up to you now, Anakin. I failed to stop her. I cannot help  you.

There is only the Living Force.

Anakin was on a straightaway, but he  knew  his  steering  had  failed

completely as soon as it happened. He knew his braking system  had  shorted

as well. The warning lights  stayed  green.  No  red  lights  flashed.  The

Podracer did not wobble or shift. But the Force had gathered like a  sudden

storm cloud and filled his vision. He could see clearly and yet he knew the

cloud was there.

This time the problem would not be easy to fix. It  had  not  happened

through the nav computer. He flipped switch after switch, but some kind  of

override had been programmed into his Podracer.

The turn was ahead. He was still hugging Hekula's tail.  He  had  been

preparing to make his move and pass him just before the turn. Now  he  knew

he'd never make it. Instead, the Podracer would not turn. It would  go  out

of control and crash into the stands.

He felt the Force around him and in him. In moments like this,  Anakin

felt capable of anything. The Force was like a  gifted  companion,  a  far-

seeing guide, a power that gave his muscles strength and his mind and heart

vision and will. He felt at the center of the moving Force. Ready.

There was only one thing to do, and he knew it. He saw the steps ahead

that he needed to take. He saw the difficulties and the odds. He  even  saw

the possibility of his own death. It did not matter.

He made his move. He slammed himself against the side of the  Podracer

and pushed the engine so that he maneuvered close to the left side  of  the

tunnel wall.

Then he accelerated and came up neck  and  neck  with  Hekula  on  his

right. Engines screaming, he was less than a centimeter from being  smashed

against the cave wall.

Hekula shot him an incredulous glance. It was  as  though  Anakin  was

inside his mind. Hekula could take the opportunity to make one quick swipe,

forcing him against the cave wall,  and  Anakin  would  be  a  fireball  in

seconds. But if Hekula did that, Neluenf, who was close behind them,  would

swing out to the right and no doubt win the race.

Revenge or victory? Anakin had bet on the answer.

Hekula did not turn his Podracer to  sideswipe  Ana-kin.  Instead,  he

began the turn. Victory was too close for him to take the chance.  Anakin's

Podracer was so snug against Hekula's that it was forced to  turn  left  as

well. Sparks flew as his Podracer scraped along the wall.

The shell of the Podracer began to smoke. Anakin tasted smoke and fire

in his mouth. He did not let up on his speed. If he did, he would be dead.

The spectators gasped as the two Podracers  rounded  the  left  curve,

seemingly one connected beast. The flat straightaway was ahead, the  finish

line crowded with the Podracer teams and  spectators  who  had  risked  the

anger of Podracer security and jumped out of the stands.

And there was his Master, looking straight at him.  The  Podracer  was

barreling toward him at 600 kilometers an hour. And he had no brakes.

Anakin pushed the speed, passing Hekula. Then he  cut  the  power  and

slammed all his weight to one side.

His Podracer began to spin. He crossed the finish  line,  spinning  so

wildly that neither Hekula or Neluenf could pass him.

The Podracer came to a slow stop. At first Anakin could not  hear  the

cheers over the ringing in his ears. He had won. And no one was dead.

Suddenly, he felt very tired. He saw the  faces  as  a  blur.  Liviani

Sarno, looking strangely pale. His Master, looking grave but relieved.  And

Sebulba, snarling at him, waving his arms and crying "Foul!"

Hot anger spilled through Anakin. He threw off his goggles and vaulted

out of the Podracer.

"You!" he thundered at Hekula and Sebulba. "You're the cheats!"

Because of them, countless innocent beings  might  have  been  killed.

Anakin had no doubt that Sebulba had been the one behind  the  sabotage  of

Deland's Pod-racer. They could not completely rely  on  getting  the  track

information first. They had to destroy their closest  rival.  It  was  just

like Sebulba to go that one, cruel step further.

The red mist he had come to  recognize  as  rage  filled  his  vision,

driving out the memory of the clarity of the Force. He  could  see  nothing

but his rage against Sebulba, at anyone who would risk so many  lives  just

to win.

"Slave boy! You have to cheat to win! There's no mother watching  this

time to disapprove!"

The taunting words filled his head and the red  mist  grew  dense  and

hot.

He reached down for his lightsaber, but a strong hand closed over his.

"No, Padawan."

Obi-Wan's voice reached him as if from a long distance.

"He did it." Anakin struggled to keep the rage away. He  pictured  the

red mist leaving him, floating over a distant  hill.  "He  deserves  to  be

punished."

"No." Obi-Wan's voice was stronger still. He drew Anakin away. "Listen

to me, Padawan. Sebulba did not cheat. It was Doby and Deland."

Anakin blinked. He could not absorb the words. "It was...

"They made a deal with Maxo Vista. They would have  advance  knowledge

of the Podrace track. What they didn't know was that  Vista  was  going  to

sabotage the Podracer. He wanted  a  fireball,  a  tremendous  accident  to

occur."

"That means that... 1  was  getting  advance  track  information,  not

Hekula," Anakin said slowly. "It wasn't just  the  Force."  That  explained

Hekula's sometimes puzzling failure to get ahead. He looked around.  "Where

are they?"

"They've disappeared with Djulla," Obi-Wan said. "I am sure  they  did

it to save their sister. She has been freed, and they are gone.  They  most

likely hid a transport nearby."

Sebulba was still watching him. Hekula sat slumped  in  his  Podracer,

too stunned to emerge. "You'll pay for this, slave boy!" Sebulba snarled.

Anakin took a step toward him but again his Master stopped him.

"He is my enemy," Anakin said.

"You are a Jedi," Obi-Wan told him. His voice was low and pitched only

for Anakin. "You are a Jedi," he repeated.

The mist in Anakin's head cleared. He took a breath and looked around.

Ferus Olin was watching him, as he always was, his dark eyes gleaming  with

secret knowledge, as if he had glimpsed the  red  mist  that  was  Anakin's

rage. Tru nodded at him, his expression showing only loyalty and affection.

Ry-Gaul appeared to be guarding Liviani Sarno.

Nothing was as he thought it would be. He felt his legs trembling.  He

had almost lost control in front  of  his  fellow  Padawans  and  two  Jedi

Masters. He had come so close.

Obi-Wan's voice was gentle. "Come, Padawan.  There  is  a  mission  to

complete."

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The hearing was presided over by Ruler Three,  Ruler  Six,  and  Ruler

Seven. The entire Games Council was allowed to attend.

Obi-Wan was not allowed to hear the testimony before his. It  was  how

hearings were conducted on Euceron. He  watched  Maxo  Vista  emerge,  then

Liviani Sarno, then Bog. At last he was called.

Obi-Wan laid out the details of what he  had  discovered.  He  accused

Liviani Sarno and Maxo Vista of conspiring  to  disgrace  the  Senators  in

order for the Commerce Guild to  pass  legislation  that  would  earn  them

fortunes beyond measure. He accused Maxo Vista specifically of  the  murder

of Aarno Dering.

"Have you evidence of this?" Ruler Three asked.

"The files on Liviani Sarno's and Maxo Vista's datapads were timed  to

erase themselves," Obi-Wan admitted. "And no one saw Maxo  Vista  run  away

from Dering but me."

"Did you see his face?"

"No," Obi-Wan said. "He wore a concealing helmet. Yet I  knew  it  was

him."

"So we  have  only  your  word  that  the  hero  of  Euceron  and  the

illustrious head of the Games are guilty," Ruler Three said.

"My word is all you need," Obi-Wan answered.

"Perhaps on Coruscant," Ruler Three said coolly. "But not on  Euceron.

You claim that the Podracer was programmed to crash into a  crowd.  But  it

did not crash."

"Only thanks to the skill of my Padawan."

"You claim Aarno Dering fixed three events, yet Aarno Dering is  dead.

Maxo Vista and Liviani Sarno have denied all charges. The Games Council has

backed them up."

"Didi Oddo can confirm the events were fixed -  "  "He  has  left  the

planet."

That was not a surprise.  "Bog  Divinian  saw  the  files  on  Vista's

datapad," Obi-Wan said.

"He has denied seeing them,"  Ruler  Seven  said.  Obi-Wan  remembered

Bog's sad notes on how to succeed. NEVER CONTRADICT A SUPERIOR!! FOLLOW THE

POWER!!

He had been foolish to imagine that Bog would not give in to  pressure

from Maxo and Liviani.

He gazed at the faces of the Council. None of them met  his  eyes.  No

one wanted the scandal to see the light. Not  the  Ruling  Power,  not  the

Games Council. And no doubt Bog Divinian had just ensured that he would  be

elected Senator on his homeworld. The Commerce Guild would see to that.

This is what the galaxy is becoming, Obi-Wan thought  with  a  sudden,

sharp sadness. Those with power hide the truth, and the weak  go  along  in

hopes they will become the strong.

"I can see there is no more I can do here," Obi-Wan  said.  He  strode

off the platform and left the room.

Anakin was waiting. When he told him what had  occurred,  his  Padawan

was furious. "How can they do  this?  Maxo  Vista  and  Liviani  Sarno  are

guilty! And they are going to walk free! This is  an  injustice!"  Anakin's

words echoed off the hard plastoid walls of the Grand Court.

"It is a hard thing to see happen,"  Obi-Wan  agreed.  "But  sometimes

even when the mission is successful, justice is not done.  It  happens.  At

least the Commerce Guild did not get what they wanted. No  spectators  were

killed and their legislation may  be  defeated  by  those  they  wished  to

disgrace."

"And Aarno Dering? Maxo Vista will get away with murder!"

"That is the hardest of all," Obi-Wan said.

They walked down the hall toward the exit. As they pushed through  the

heavy metal doors, they saw Astri waiting, leaning against  the  rail.  She

came toward them slowly.

"I am sorry, Obi-Wan," Astri said. "I offered to testify, but I didn't

see the datapad myself, so the Ruling Power would not allow me. It  was  my

word against Bog's. Didi wanted to  help,  but  Bog  said  he  would  press

charges for the theft of the speeder. So Didi thought it best to leave  the

planet. You know he has no moral courage." Astri shook her head. "I seem to

have married a similar man. Bog isn't bad. He was pressured by Liviani  and

he worships Maxo Vista. He swears to me that when  he  becomes  Senator  he

will do good."

Obi-Wan nodded sadly. "I'm sure he believes that,  Astri.  But  he  is

already in debt before he starts. He has done  a  favor  for  the  Commerce

Guild, but he has lied in a hearing. So they have something  on  him.  That

will corrupt him."

"I am frightened for my future," Astri said, her dark eyes bleak. "But

I have no choice but to go on."

Obi-Wan touched her cheek. "Your loyalty is what drives you, Astri.  I

would not like to see you lose that."

"So we are still friends?"

"We will always be friends."

Astri nodded and slowly walked down the steps. Soon she  was  lost  in

the swirl of the crowd. Obi-Wan felt a sudden pang. Would he ever  see  her

again?

"Nothing has turned out as I thought," Anakin said.  "I  was  here  to

work on my Jedi lesson of connection to the Living Force. If that is  true,

I've failed. I judged everyone wrong. I did not see that  Doby  and  Deland

were using me. I trusted my instincts, and they betrayed me."

"Do not judge yourself  so  harshly,  Padawan,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "Your

mistake was one of the heart.  You  allowed  your  emotion  to  cloud  your

instincts. You allowed what your heart wanted to be true to make  it  true.

Connections to other beings, good and bad, must be pure and free  of  one's

own desires. You wanted Sebulba to be the culprit, so you made him one."

"I thought my connection to the Living Force was clear, and  it's  not

at all," Anakin said moodily. "I have such a long way to go."

"If it makes you feel better, I made the same mistake with Maxo Vista,

" Obi-Wan said. "Jedi lessons are learned by Masters as well as Padawans."

"Wisdom comes with time and missions,"  Anakin  said,  repeating  Obi-

Wan's own words.

Obi-Wan smiled gently. "And mistakes," he said.