Chapter 2 Trouble from the Start

Obi-Wan and Zak met Clive and Ferri the following morning in the docking bay. Ferri, recalcitrant as ever, refused to even acknowledge Zak's presence. Clive gave Obi-Wan and apologetic look and shrugged his shoulders as they boarded the cruiser. Deferring to Obi-Wan's superior position, Clive indicated to Ferri that they should sit in the passenger seats behind Obi-Wan and Zak; an idea that Ferri loudly protested.

"That's not right; you should at least be sitting next to Master Kenobi." He objected.

"Under the circumstances, I do not think it would be a good idea for you to sit next to Zak at this time." Clive explained calmly.

"What do you think I'm going to do? Throw him out the airlock?" Ferri asked sarcastically.

"You will hold your tongue and learn your place; is that clear, Padawan?" Clive ordered.

Ferri looked down at the floor, "Yes, Master." He mumbled.

"Good; now strap yourself in and prepare for take off." Clive instructed.

"Yes, Master." Ferri repeated quietly as he fastened his harness.

Zak sighed and shook his head as he tightened his own harness in preparation for leaving the docking bay.

Obi-Wan fired up the engines and maneuvered the craft out of the bay; once it was clear, he turned the controls over to Zak who expertly guided the ship into the upper atmosphere above the planet.

"That's not right; why are you letting him fly?" Ferri objected again.

"Ferri; it is not your place to question Master Kenobi's judgment." Clive corrected sternly, "It's quite obvious that his Padawan knows what he's doing."

"Sorry, Master." Ferri replied, insincerely.

"Where are we off to first, Master Kenobi?" Clive asked, ignoring him.

"Verdant; it's where Devan is from." Obi-Wan answered.

"Do you really think she'd be stupid enough to go back there?" Clive wondered.

"I don't know; but she was stupid enough to get involved with these illegal hunts, so it's possible." Obi-Wan replied.

"True enough; and she might think her family's money and connections will be able to protect her." Clive added, "Do you think this Kien will have gone with her?"

"Possibly; or he may have gone to his own home system, or they may have both gone there. I suppose we'll have to wait to find out." Obi-Wan said.

"What do we need to know about Verdant?" Clive asked.

"Zak has scanned the data pad; I will let him fill you in when we have reached hyperspace." Obi-Wan answered.

"Zak, Zak, Zak; you'd think he was…." Ferri began.

Clive cut him off, "Ferri! You are trying my patience; if you had been the least bit ambitious, you would have been able to counsel us on it. This mission is going to be dangerous; if you cannot put aside your animosity, then we should just return to Coruscant now before someone gets killed." He said sternly.

Ferri opened his mouth to object and closed it when he saw the looks on both Obi-Wan and his own master's faces; instead, he nodded and turned his eyes to his lap.

Obi-Wan entered the coordinates for Verdant into the nav-computer and Zak sent them into hyperspace before turning to face Clive and Ferri, "Verdant is a prosperous system; most of the population is involved in one way or the other in the shipping industry which is the mainstay for the economy there. They are governed by an inherited monarchy; and it seems to work, so the citizens are content with it. The climate is mild and most of the planet is covered in grasslands and forests. They grow their own crops and have surplus enough to sell some of it offworld; they also have several highly populated cities. There are two moons in the system and both of them support active mining operations. Devan's family is one of the richest, thanks to her grandfather who started the family shipping business." He explained.

"Which is?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Carlyle Shipping." Zak answered.

"Very good, Zak." Obi-Wan complimented.

"Thank you, Master." Zak replied, "Oh, there is one other thing; it's customary to shake hands as a greeting there; bowing is only done in the presence of the royal family."

"That's an important thing to remember, thank you, Zak." Obi-Wan told him.

Zak just nodded while Ferri folded his arms and said nothing much to Clive's relief.

"And it was her family that paid for her defender?" Clive asked.

"Apparently, yes; but I have a suspicion that she convinced her family that Moran coerced her into joining his hunting party. I do not think they would support her desire to hunt illegally." Obi-Wan answered.

"Not to mention hunting people." Ferri put in.

"Yes, that goes without saying, Ferri." Obi-Wan replied.

"So do you think her family would continue to protect her if they knew the truth?" Ferri asked.

"Well, I would hope not; however, it is always difficult to predict what families will do." Obi-Wan said.

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Anakin sat straight up in bed, breathing hard and sweating profusely. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and held his head in his hands for a moment. Padme stirred next to him, "Annie? What is it?" She asked, reached out to stroke his back.

He took a deep calming breath and turned his head, smiling reassuringly, "Nothing, my love; just a dream, that's all." He answered.

Padme sat up and moved toward him; reaching around to embrace him from behind, "A bad dream; what was it?" She asked as she rested her head on his back.

Anakin shook his head, "Yes, a bad dream; it…it was not about you or the children." He assured her.

"Then what was it?" Padme asked, "The old nightmare? Has that started again?"

"No, I haven't had that one for a long time now." Anakin replied, rubbing his flesh hand along her arm, "Obi-Wan's mission is in danger."

Padme tightened her grip on her husband, "His mission, or his life?" She asked.

Anakin squeezed her arm, "Both." He answered.

"Tell me, Anakin." Padme urged.

"He and Zak were on a forested planet; they could not feel the Force just like…." Anakin began and could not finish.

"Like when they were given that drug on Belarid." Padme finished.

"Yes, like that; only this was different." Anakin replied.

"Different how?" Padme asked.

"I don't know." Anakin answered shaking his head in frustration, "Just different; but those hunters were there, just waiting for them."

"But surely Obi-Wan knows how dangerous they are; if they are going to set a trap don't you think Obi-Wan would know that?" Padme pointed out.

"Not if he can't feel the Force, Padme;" Anakin replied, "and there's something else…blast, I can't remember now."

Padme pressed against him, "Then maybe you should warn him, Annie." She suggested.

"And have him accuse me of treating him like an old man? I don't think he'd listen to me." Anakin told her.

"Well, I know you; you can't just sit here and do nothing. Maybe you should at least contact Master Yoda." Padme said.

"Yes, I can do that." Anakin agreed.

"Do it now, Annie." Padme said releasing him and giving him a push.

"Yes, you're right, I should do it now; it should be about mid morning there." Anakin replied, standing up to slip a tunic over his bare chest.

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"Anakin! Good it is to see you; congratulations I offer on the birth of your son." Yoda said.

"Thank you, Master Yoda; he is very strong in the Force." Anakin replied.

"Hmm…yes, like his father he is in that way. But sense that contact me about that you have not." Yoda answered.

"No, Master; I…I have had another dream." Anakin told him.

"A prophetic one, hmmm?" Yoda asked.

"I think so." Anakin answered.

"Tell me then, you must." Yoda prompted.

"I think Obi-Wan's mission is in danger." Anakin said.

"His life as well, maybe, hmmm?" Yoda added.

Anakin looked down at the floor, "Yes, Master." He admitted.

"I thought so; had this discussion before we have, Anakin." Yoda replied.

"I know, Master; I just thought maybe if he…if you could warn him that something could happen." Anakin answered.

"Tell him yourself you should." Yoda said and then seeing Anakin shake his head added, "Ah, understand I do; afraid he will not listen you are."

"Yes, Master." Anakin admitted again.

"And listen to me he will, do you think, hmmm?" Yoda asked.

"Maybe you could just call him back to Coruscant." Anakin suggested.

"Do that I cannot, Anakin; you know this." Yoda answered.

"But, Master, he could be killed." Anakin said.

"Killed any of us could be at any time." Yoda reminded him. "Tell me your dream."

"He is on a forested planet with Zak…." Anakin started and finished a few minutes later.

"Hmm…interesting this is, but to Myrkr they are not going." Yoda assured him.

"Myrkr?" Anakin repeated, questioning.

"Yes, learned of it you should have in your studies." Yoda told him.

"Is that where the ysalamiri are?" Anakin asked, "The creatures that can push back the Force?"

"Yes, create pockets void of the Force they can if more than one there are in one area. Dangerous it is for the Jedi on Myrkr." Yoda answered.

"Then I'm sure that's not where he was in my dream." Anakin said with certainty.

"So sure of that are you?" Yoda asked, "If to Myrkr he is sent, contact you I will, Anakin."

"Thank you, Master." Anakin answered.

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"What did he say?" Padme asked as Anakin climbed back into bed.

"That the planet sounded like Myrkr and if they are sent there, he will let me know." Anakin answered and had just settled in when Hadrian began to cry, he sighed and started to get out of bed again, "I'll get him; I don't think I could get back to sleep now anyway."

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Devan pushed her way through the crowded bar to reach the table where Kien was seated, "Well, did you talk to him?" Kien asked.

"Yeah, no problem; he said it should be fun." Devan said as she sat down, "And that he can be there by this afternoon."

"And he understands what we want?" Kien asked.

"Yes, Kien; and he says it won't be a problem. No one saw him because he left the hunt early." Devan replied.

"Good; and he won't get caught?" Kien asked.

"Kien, you worry too much; he will be in and out of that medical center and off the planet before anyone even knows he was there. And he knows exactly where to find us." Devan assured him.

"Are you sure it's a good idea for him to bring that kid here? What if that Hutt finds out?" Kien asked.

"He won't; Tyrien said he'll just meet us at the spaceport. He won't even get off his ship." Devan informed him.

"Alright, and that will be?" Kien asked.

"Some time early tomorrow morning; it all depends on how long it takes him to figure out the security arrangements at the medical center and when he can get the kid alone." Devan answered, "He said he'd contact us once he is safely out of the Alderaan system."

"I see, so we have to wait." Kien replied.

"Yes, we wait." Devan said as she pushed away the hand of a nearby customer who had started to caress her shoulder, "Get away from me, you filthy mott."

"Easy there, lil' lady; I wuz jus' bein' friendly-like." The man slurred drunkenly.

"Well, I'd prefer it if you would be a little less friendly." Devan answered, pushing the hand away for the second time.

"No need ta' git hostile, now; I dint mean no harm." The man replied, running the back of his hand down her arm.

Devan stood up, gave him her devastating smile and drove her fist into his chest as she brought her knee up between his legs, "Get the hint now, mister?" She asked as the man dropped to his knees, his face turning sickly pale.

"Yeah, I….I got it." The man gasped as he fell over and curled into a ball.

"Oh, that was wicked, Devan; remind me not to get friendly with you." Kien said as he watched the man whimpering on the floor.

Devan smiled sweetly at him, leaned down and tickled his chin, "You, Kien, can get friendly with me any time you want." She said as she kicked the man lying on the floor, "Come on; let's go find someplace to hole up until Tyrien contacts us."

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The trip to Verdant was relatively short, and by midday, they had come out of hyperspace. After securing permission to land, Zak began the landing sequence and set the cruiser down in the bay assigned to them.

A security force was waiting for them as they stepped off the ship and a young man approached them, "Master Kenobi, I presume." He said extending his hand.

Obi-Wan grasped his hand, "Yes, and this is Master Clive Maru, his apprentice, Ferri Cortis and my apprentice Zak Perrin." He said, introducing each of them in turn.

The man shook hands with each of them before introducing himself, "I am Captain Steg; I'm here to assist you in any way I can." He informed them.

"Forgive me, Captain; but is there a reason for all this security?" Obi-Wan asked, "We have not come here to cause trouble."

"Oh, forgive me, Master Kenobi; they are not here to guard you. I understand you are looking for two fugitives; I thought you might want some help." Captain Steg answered.

"I see, thank you; with your assistance, we should be able to conduct our search more swiftly. We are looking for these two." Obi-Wan said, pulling out a data pad with the images of both Kien and Devan, "The woman is Devan Carlyle and the man is…"

"Excuse me, did you say Devan Carlyle?" Steg asked.

"Yes, do you know her?" Clive asked.

"I know of her; well of her family if she is related to the Carlyle Shipping family." Steg replied.

"She is a member of that family, yes; is that a problem?" Obi-Wan confirmed and asked.

"Well the Carlyles are one of the wealthiest families on Verdant; I can't imagine one of them involved with anything illegal." Steg explained. "What is she is supposed to have done?"

Clive looked at Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan nodded, "She has been involved in illegal hunting practices offworld." He began.

"That's it? The Chancellor sends four Jedi to arrest a respected family member, a woman at that, because she's been doing a little illegal hunting?" The captain asked in surprise.

"Well the hunting this respected family member was engaged in involved hunting people." Clive answered, "That's not very respectable, is it?"

"If it's true, no, it's not; but…." Steg admitted.

"There is no 'but', Captain; Master Kenobi was…" Clive began.

Obi-Wan interrupted, "Devan Carlyle's actions have been witnessed by the Chancellor himself; surely, you do not think the Chancellor is lying. But in any case, the fact is, we are here to arrest her and her companion if he is with her."

"I'm sorry; I did not mean to question your authority or the validity of the charges." Steg replied apologetically. "Where would you like to begin?"

"I believe her family would be the best place to begin." Obi-Wan said.

"Yes, of course; the family estate is right outside the city. I can take you there myself." The captain offered.

"Thank you; that would be helpful." Obi-Wan answered.

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Tyrien docked his ship; being a respectable businessman, he had no trouble obtaining landing clearance. He backed his speeder out of the ship's cargo bay and traveled into the city, heading for the medical center.

Once there, he mingled among the staff and visitors, observing the security practices before slipping, unnoticed, into one of the staff locker rooms; quickly gaining access to one of the lockers, he removed the lab coat and identification badge. Stuffing both into a satchel he had brought with him, he waited until the hallway was clear before he slipped back out and left the building. Throwing the satchel into the speeder, he returned to his ship and removed the identification badge; he only needed to change the image on the badge to match his own and then he would be able to move about the hospital easily. The young bounty hunter would be on his way to Nar Shaddaa before anyone realized he was missing; and no one would suspect Advar Tyrien.