Jedi Apprentice_ The Only Witness Part 5

In a flash, he activated his lightsaber. Its green blade cast an eerie light over the room, illuminating the sparks in Lena's eyes. Qui-Gon quickly switched off the blade just as Obi-Wan and Mica came into the room.

"Lena," Mica cried when she saw her cousin. She hurried forward and sank to her knees in front of the couch. "Lena, we were so worried. Where were you?"

"I'm sorry I ran off," Lena said, looking from one person to the next. "I didn't want to worry you, but I had to be sure that the package was from Rutin. I had to know...." Lena trailed off.

Mica rose to turn on the light. Back on the table, next to the wrappings, were the contents of the package: the pair of waterproof boots, the small light, the beam drill, and the vial of dirt.

The objects made no sense to Qui-Gon. What did Lena have to know?

And where had she been? Qui-Gon felt betrayed. She was not telling them the whole truth.

Although Lena appeared to be upset, Qui-Gon did not wait for her to calm down. "Where have you been?" he demanded.

Lena looked up, surprised by the stern tone of the Jedi's voice.

"Wandering," she replied. "I - I needed to be alone."

Qui-Gon was not satisfied. "Alone? Or just away from us?"

Lena's lip trembled and Qui-Gon noticed Obi-Wan was staring at him.

He softened his tone slightly, but pressed on. "Why did you take the contents of the package with you?"

"That package is from Rutin," Lena said after a moment, struggling to control her voice. "He sent it to me before he..." She fought again for composure. "But how did he know he was going to die? And why didn't he tell me?"

Lena lost the struggle to suppress her frustrated grief and dropped her head into her hands. "He's trying to give me a message," she said after a moment, struggling to control her voice. "But I can't figure it out! It's as though he's speaking to me, and I can't hear him." Lena lost the struggle.... "He really is gone forever."

Mica and Obi-Wan rushed to join her on the couch, anxious to offer support. Qui-Gon stumbled back until he was sitting, facing the other three. Lena looked so much smaller than she had before. Less capable of deception, somehow.

Qui-Gon felt himself diminish as Lena's waves of grief washed into him, adding to the sea of sadness that never stopped pounding in his heart. Her words touched him deeply, and he had no more doubts about her sincerity. He, too, knew how the fact of a loved one's absence could strike with as savage a blow as the first realization. He knew that moment when the future ahead seemed empty and impossible to bear.

"The loved ones we have lost are always with us," Qui-Gon said. He was surprised to hear himself speaking, and surprised by his words. But they rendered comfort. Suddenly, it did feel as if Tahl were nearby, and the storm inside of him quieted a little.

There was a moment of thoughtful silence in the room. Obi-Wan gazed at his Master, his eyes full of compa.s.sion. And for the first time Qui-Gon did not feel the need to look away.

Lena's grief seemed to lift, and she looked at the Jedi Master gratefully. "It's true," she said, nodding. "Rutin is looking after me even now. He must have sent this package some time ago and arranged to have it delivered today. I'm sure it is meant to help me find evidence.

He must have known that any information on the computer would be a target. He knew I would need something more."

Qui-Gon noticed that Mica paled as Lena spoke of the computer. He wondered if she was embarra.s.sed that her plan hadn't worked, or frightened by the possibility that more evidence existed.

The young widow took no notice of her cousin. Her tears had stopped and the familiar strength was returning. Lena gathered the boots from the table and held them in her lap. "I haven't figured out the clue yet, but I will," she said firmly.

"Just please don't rush off like that again," Mica told her. "You scared me to death. We searched the park for hours."

Lena frowned. "The park..." she murmured.

Obi-Wan stared at the strange items on the table, then suddenly spoke. "Rutin had the package delivered to you here. So, he must have known about the hideout."

"Of course," Lena said. "Rutin was the one who secured this place.

He was planning to hide here himself while he waited to be smuggled off the planet."

Suddenly, Lena leaped to her feet, knocking the boots aside. "I almost forgot," she cried, pulling a datapad from her pocket. "While I was out I went by my apartment to see if I'd received a message from Zanita. She sent this."

CHAPTER 13.

The sky outside the warehouse had darkened to a milky gray. Qui-Gon peered around the portal screens that masked the people inside from the streets below. It was getting late and the alleys were deserted.

"Meeting with Zanita is an unnecessary risk," Qui-Gon stated as he left the portal and paced the floor. He suddenly felt that leaving the planet as soon as possible was the best course of action. "We have the clues from Rutin, and should work with that. We do not need to place you or your mother-in-law in further danger."

"She's taking a risk because I asked her to," Lena argued. "I can't just let her wait in vain."

With a frown, Qui-Gon looked at the message on the datapad again.

TRANSPORT LOADING STATION, DOCK 12.

10 P.M. TONIGHT.

ALONE.

FOR RUTIN.

"I never should have gotten Zanita involved," Lena lamented. "But it is too late to change that now. If I can go alone, I can talk to her and convince her that I've changed my mind. I'll tell her I'm scared and have decided to leave the planet. Then we will all be safer."

Qui-Gon had to admit that it was not a bad plan. It would buy them some time and could even help them get off planet easier. He nodded his a.s.sent.

"But we won't let you go alone," Obi-Wan said. Mica looked relieved to hear this.

"Of course not," Qui-Gon echoed. "It is not safe."

"It is the only way I can convince Zanita," Lena argued. "She saw you at the estate. Surely she knows you are here representing the Galactic Republic. I will not be able to convince her I've changed my mind if she sees I am accompanied by Jedi!"

"We are here for your protection," Qui-Gon said firmly. And to make sure you are what you say you are. Learning that Lena had returned to her apartment when she was alone had once again aroused Qui-Gon's suspicions.

She could have done any number of things while she was there. Though he accepted the sincerity of her grief, he would not lose sight of the fact that there could be pressures on her that he knew nothing about.

"I'm afraid you're stuck with us until we all arrive safely back on Coruscant." Obi-Wan smiled. "We will remain hidden, but we will not allow you to go alone."

Lena returned Obi-Wan's smile. "All right," she said. "We'd better hurry so we are first to arrive. It's not very far."

"Be careful," Mica said, embracing her cousin. "I'll be here if you need me. I'll always be here if you need me."

Lena touched her cousin's cheek. "I'll be right back!" she promised.

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Lena left the warehouse and made their way through the dark streets, lit only by the occasional light of the planet's two moons. Now that daylight had faded, Frego seemed a less inviting place. It was as though the darkness brought out the lies and deceit that pervaded the planet.

As the three neared the station, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fell back into the shadows. Lena insisted on walking boldly in the middle of the street, under the glowing lights.

"She should be more careful," Obi-Wan muttered.

"No, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "She should not appear as if she has anything to hide. Besides, her presence will help to diminish ours."

Dock 12 was eerily silent. Low buildings rimmed a giant landing pad where huge transport s.h.i.+ps were loaded with goods. The edges of the pad were almost completely dark.

Obi-Wan motioned to his Master and both Jedi leaped noiselessly onto a low rooftop. After making his way to the edge, Qui-Gon lay down next to Obi-Wan and the two watched Lena walk slowly into the orange square of light in the center of the landing pad. From their perch the Jedi could see everything, and they could be at Lena's side in a moment.

Although Lena's was the only shape Qui-Gon could make out in the darkness, he sensed they were not alone. He had felt another presence almost from the moment they had left the hideout, but now the feeling was stronger, more threatening.

From the opposite side of the pad, Zanita stepped into view. Lena moved with both arms out to greet her mother-in-law.

But Zanita did not raise her arms or offer any greeting. After taking one more lurching step forward, the reason became clear.

Zanita's mouth was covered with a gag, and behind her, holding her bound arms firmly pressed against her back, was her oldest son, Solan Cobral.

CHAPTER 14.

Obi-Wan leaped to his feet as three more figures emerged behind Solan and Zanita. But Qui-Gon pulled him back down.

Obi-Wan wrestled his arm free of his Master. He had to protect Lena. She was unarmed facing two droids, Solan Cobral, and his brother, Bard. The young widow was no match for men evil enough to hold their own mother captive, or order the death of their own brother.

"Not yet," Qui-Gon said softly. "I'd like to see what these men have in mind."

Obi-Wan sank to his knees. He would wait, for now. But if anyone made a move toward Lena, not even Qui-Gon would be able to stop him.

In the orange light of the landing pad Lena took a few steps back.

"Solan," she said. Her voice sounded strange to Obi-Wan, almost full of guilt. He wondered if she felt responsible for what was happening to Zanita.

"You were supposed to come alone," the crime boss boomed.

"I did," Lena replied without flinching.

Nervous that they had been spotted, Obi-Wan felt for his lightsaber. He tried to rise but Qui-Gon's hand on his shoulder pushed him back to his knees.

"Not us," Qui-Gon whispered.

"Don't hurt her," a voice cried in the darkness below. "She didn't know I was coming." Obi-Wan recognized the voice immediately. It was Mica. A moment later she was standing beside her cousin. Obi-Wan had not known she was there.

"Please, don't hurt Lena. She would never turn against the Cobral.

She's only been trying to cover for me. I am the one you want. I am the one who knows how you operate. I am the one who wanted to testify against you."

"Mica, no. Be quiet," Lena whispered in an attempt to stop her cousin's outburst.

"Don't listen to her," Lena told the Cobrals. "She is protecting me. She doesn't know that I came tonight to tell Zanita I've changed my mind. I was a fool to think I could go against the Cobral. Solan, please hear me. You and Bard and Zanita are all I have left of my precious husband, Rutin. I realize that I need to hold on to the family I have, now more than ever. Where will I be if I drive you away? No matter what has happened in the past, we will always be family. And family is more important to me than anything."

"How wise," Solan replied, chuckling. He shoved Zanita toward Bard, who caught her with one hand. He held a blaster in the other.

"I'm touched that you still want to be a part of the family," he continued, taking a step closer. "And I'm grateful that you came together," he continued, walking closer still. "It will make cleaning up the mess you've made that much easier."

Solan dived toward Lena and Mica as the two droids closed in on either side.

Up on the roof, Obi-Wan knew it was time. Qui-Gon was at his side as he leaped off the roof and sprinted toward the helpless cousins.

Mica was caught in Solan's grasp, but Lena pulled away just in time. She turned to run and found herself face-to-face with a lanky but potentially lethal droid.

The one-eyed droid's arms shot out from its sides and began to wrap themselves around her. Lena ducked at the same moment Obi-Wan's lightsaber blade severed one arm, and with a mighty backswing separated the droid's head from its body.

Obi-Wan pushed Lena behind him and rushed to meet the other droid.

Beside him, Qui-Gon deflected a bolt from Bard's blaster, sending it toward Solan's feet. Solan struggled to hold on to Mica and train his blaster on the Jedi. He did not notice Lena sneaking up behind him.

Lena grabbed Solan's blaster. Mica whipped her body back and forth, delivering a sharp blow with her elbow to Solan's jaw. He lost his grip on both Mica and the weapon.

The second droid fired rapid bolts at Obi-Wan, who deflected them easily. Though the bolts turned and rained back on the droid, it did not show any damage. It continued to spray the pad with fire while rapidly extending a long arm to grab Mica.

Qui-Gon dispatched the arm with an elegant sweep of his lightsaber and stepped forward to finish the job. A slas.h.i.+ng blow to the machine's midsection finally brought the droid down.

While Qui-Gon took care of the droid, Obi-Wan quickly surveyed the scene. Behind him Mica appeared to be in shock. She lay on the ground, staring into the darkness. Lena bravely held her blaster on Solan.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan leaped high in the air over Lena's head. He knew what was going to happen before it happened, but still was not in time to deflect the blast. From his spot deep in the shadows, still holding the bound-and gagged Zanita, Bard fired his blaster straight at Lena.

Mica dived Lena screamed. And the bolt found flesh.

CHAPTER 15.

While Obi-Wan hurried toward the two women, Qui-Gon hit the ground running. He rushed toward Bard and his hostage, but could not see where they had gone in the darkness. He could merely hear the m.u.f.fled sounds of the footsteps fleeing ahead of him.

Qui-Gon raced behind a building in time to see Solan climb into a repulsorlift vehicle. Bard shoved his mother in behind his brother, and the engine gunned.