Jedi Quest_ The Dangerous Games Part 5

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 pa.s.ses 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 j.i.z.z-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 gla.s.s 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 Ken.o.bi, 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 friends.h.i.+p."

"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 a.s.sure 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 friends.h.i.+p 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 partic.i.p.ant 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 s.h.i.+p'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 s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p careened down the road, clipping branches, signs, and narrowly missing buildings. Then the pilot reversed the engines and zoomed down another s.p.a.celane.. 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 pa.s.sed 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 pus.h.i.+ng a machine to its limits as he negotiated tight s.p.a.ces 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."