Chapter 27 Lyman Malta
Dena entered the healers' quarters and opened the door to the treatment area. She peered in tentatively and Anakin turned as he sensed her presence behind him, "Come in, Dena; we are just waiting for the test results." He said.
"Test results? What's wrong?" Dena asked.
Anakin smiled, "Hopefully nothing; but the contents of that spray were more dangerous than we first suspected. Master Declan wants to be sure nothing of it remains in them; and so he is testing their blood to be sure." He explained.
"Well, what if there is? Is there a way to counter it?" Dena asked.
"Yes, that's why I'm here." Anakin answered, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.
"Oh, I see; and what about Zak's eyes? Are they alright?" Dena asked.
"Master Declan says there is slight chemical burning; but nothing that will not heal with proper treatment." Anakin replied, "And how are you doing?"
Dena looked at him in puzzlement, "I wasn't injured, Master Skywalker." She said.
"No, but you are facing a difficult decision; how are you dealing with that?" Anakin asked.
"I don't know." Dena sighed and then turned away.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Anakin asked.
Dena shook her head, "No; this is…I made this mess; I have to clean it up." She answered.
Anakin put both hands on her shoulders, "You don't have to do it alone, Padawan." He told her.
Dena felt her fragile control begin to falter, "I…I don't know what to do." She said as her tears welled up.
"Have you talked with your parents?" Anakin asked.
"I can't; they'll be disappointed in me." Dena replied.
"Why?" Anakin wondered.
"Because I've failed." Dena answered as she stared down at the floor.
"Failed? Dena, have you spoken with Master Yoda?" Anakin asked.
"Yes." Dena admitted.
"And did he tell you that you have failed?" Anakin asked.
"Well, no; he told me….he told me that I…." Dena stammered.
"That you're on a different path; isn't that right?" Anakin finished.
Dena shook her head, "But my parents will never understand that." She argued.
"Why not? Don't they love you?" Anakin asked.
Ferri scratched his forehead, "I think your parents will be much more understanding than mine were." He interjected.
"Well, you have to tell them eventually, Dena." Zak said.
"I know." Dena admitted with a sigh.
"Alright; I suggest you ask Master Yoda to be with you when you speak with your parents. You can talk things over with them, and then you will be better prepared when you face the Council." Anakin said.
Dena nodded thoughtfully and then frowned and added, "What about Master Heth? I've failed her as well."
Ferri laughed, "You have no idea what failure is, Dena." He countered.
Dena glared at him, "There's a difference between failure and betrayal." She retorted.
"Dena!" Zak exclaimed as Ferri turned away from all them.
Anakin pursed his lips and shook his head, "I think you had better leave now, Dena." He told her sternly.
Dena's face reddened as she covered her mouth, "I'm sorry, Ferri; I should not have said that." She said.
Ferri remained with his back to them, "Maybe you shouldn't have; but it's obviously what you were thinking. I guess I will never be able to atone for what I did." He replied.
"I really am sorry, Ferri." Dena repeated as she backed toward the door, nearly bumping into Declan who had just entered the room, "Excuse me, Master Healer; I really hope you both will be alright."
"What was that all about?" Declan asked as Dena disappeared quickly through the open doorway.
"Dena has opened up an old wound." Anakin answered as he placed one hand on Ferri's shoulder and squeezed, "You have more than made up for Myrkr, Padawan."
"Not in her eyes; how many more Jedi think like her?" Ferri wondered.
Anakin sighed and shook his head, "Not enough to matter, Ferri." He assured him.
Zak stood up and moved to stand in front of his friend, "Your betrayal was against me and my master; and as far as I'm concerned, you atoned for what you did when you helped us find Master Anakin four years ago; and I know Master Obi-Wan thinks the same. We have gone on many missions together, you and I; and I trust you with my life, my friend." He said as he placed both hands on Ferri's shoulders.
Ferri managed to smile a little, "I know; thank you, Zak." He replied.
"Well, now that you've settled that; I thought you might like to know that it appears nothing of the compound is present in either of you. So, aside from Zak taking it easy for a day or two to rest his eyes, I see no reason to keep you here any longer." Declan announced.
"Good news, Declan!" Anakin exclaimed and then addressed the two apprentices, "Zak, I want you to remain here; Ferri and I will go to help Obi-Wan."
"Oh no; there's no way I'm staying here. My place is beside my master." Zak protested.
"I'm giving you an order, Padawan." Anakin told him.
"One that you will force me to disobey." Zak threatened.
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Obi-Wan guided his speeder into the parking deck below the housing complex where Lyman Malta resided. Glancing at the data pad once more to recheck the suite number, he hopped out of the speeder and headed for one of two lifts located in the parking deck. He took the lift to the floor and walked down the broad corridor to the suite located near the end of the hallway. Reaching out through the Force, he could feel the presence of one occupant in the flat; bracing himself for what he suspected could very well become a violent confrontation, he hit the buzzer next to the door, "Who is it?" The voice inside inquired.
"I am Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I would like to ask you a few questions." Obi-Wan replied calmly.
"Questions? I don't know anything; go away." The voice ordered.
"I mean no disrespect, but you do not even know what I wish to ask you." Obi-Wan answered politely.
There was silence for a moment, and Obi-Wan sensed that Malta was trying to decide what to do, "Lyman?" Obi-Wan called when the silence persisted.
The inquiry was followed by the sound of the door as it slid open, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to be rude. Since my wife…." Malta trailed off with a sigh.
"My condolences; I am actually here to try to shed some light on the being responsible for her death, and I was hoping you could help me." Obi-Wan replied, "May I come in?"
"Well, I don't know how I can help you; my wife was working when….I don't really know that much about what she did." Malta answered.
"Really? But from what I understand, you visited her there frequently." Obi-Wan countered.
"Oh, well, yes; but only to take her to lunch." Malta corrected hastily.
"And to drop presents off to her?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Sometimes." Malta admitted as his eyes narrowed, "Is that a crime?"
Obi-Wan smiled, "Only if the presents prove to be….fatal." He said.
"Are you accusing me of killing my own wife?" Malta demanded.
"Where did you meet her, Lyman?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't remember exactly; what difference does it make?" Malta answered defensively.
"What do you do for a living?" Obi-Wan asked, "It's funny, the Vice Chancellor wasn't even sure."
"What? I don't have to answer any more of your questions." Malta replied indignantly and started to turn away.
As he did, Obi-Wan noticed several traveling bags stacked neatly in the corner, "Going somewhere, Lyman?" He asked.
"Yes, my wife is dead; I need to get away from here." Malta told him.
"I imagine you do; since you will not answer any more questions, then why don't we sit down, and I'll tell you a little story." Obi-Wan suggested, taking Lyman by the arm and guiding him to the nearest seat.
"I have to catch a flight; I don't really have time." Lyman said nervously.
"You're sweating, Lyman; why is that?" Obi-Wan asked.
"You make me nervous." Lyman answered.
"Do I? Why would that be? Is it because you know you've been caught?" Obi-Wan wondered.
Lyman laughed, "Caught? I don't know what you're talking about." He lied.
"Oh, I think you do; why don't I tell you what I think." Obi-Wan replied, "I think you came to Coruscant to kill the Chancellor."
Lyman's laugh turned high pitched, and he wiped his brow, "That's ridiculous; I've lived her for almost two years." He said.
"Oh yes, I know you have; but it's interesting, Lyman, that we have no information about you at all prior to that time. No one knows where you came from, or what you did before you came here; in fact, no one really knows what you've been doing here for two years. You live comfortably enough; and yet you don't seem to have a source for your income. So you came here to kill the Chancellor; but you had to get close to him, didn't you. So you checked everything out thoroughly; and you decided if you could get close to the Chancellor's aide, you could get to him. The trouble was, the Chancellor's aide was a happily married woman, and you knew that wouldn't work. So you turned your eye toward the Vice Chancellor's, knowing that if you could get to her, you could get to the Chancellor through her. And you set about to seduce that poor young woman; tricking her into thinking you loved her." Obi-Wan began, "How am I doing so far?"
Lyman smiled, "You weave a pretty tale, Master Kenobi; completely ridiculous, but it's a good one." He answered.
"So you plied her with presents, and lunches and completely swept her off her feet; and you charmed the Vice Chancellor as well, knowing how close she and her aide were. I don't know if marrying her was actually in your original plan, or it was something you had to do to keep up your ruse; but the presents and the lunches continued and no one thought anything of you stopping by to see her. Then one day, probably sometime last week, you granted her one last present; and she never had a chance to take that one home did she? Or did you ask her to keep it with her as a reminder of you? In any case, that last gift destroyed the Vice Chancellor's offices and killed her." Obi-Wan continued.
"If I was after the Chancellor, then why kill the Vice Chancellor?" Lyman asked.
"Oh, did I say you were trying to kill the Vice Chancellor?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Well, I supposedly planted a bomb in her office; wouldn't that be my intention?" Lyman asked smoothly.
"But it was Kilda who was killed; were you tying up your loose ends, Lyman?" Obi-Wan asked.
Lyman stood up, "I don't have to take this." He answered angrily.
"Sit down." Obi-Wan commanded.
Lyman turned his back on him, "You should have quit while you could." He said, suddenly very calmly.
"Why is that? Have I become a loose end?" Obi-Wan asked, equally calm, "You do realize that the Jedi Order, the Vice Chancellor and the Chancellor know where I am, don't you?"
Lyman laughed and turned around, "It won't matter; I'll be gone, long gone." He replied as he trained his weapon on the Jedi Master.
"So, how far off was I, Lyman?" Obi-Wan asked, undisturbed by the weapon pointed at him.
"You're good, Jedi; I didn't think anyone would have been able to figure it all out." Lyman answered.
"But it all started falling apart when your Clone assassin decided to play things his way, didn't it. Framing the Chancellor's stepson was a foolish plan; I'm guessing that was not your idea." Obi-Wan surmised.
"No, that was too messy; but he was confident it would work." Lyman admitted, "And it almost did."
"Yes, until the Chancellor's stepson bolted and your assassin took matters into his own hands; had we not been close by, there would have been two more loose ends to clean up. Things really were getting messy weren't they." Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, and that's when I knew it was time to cut my losses and run." Lyman answered.
"Cut your losses? Then someone else hired you?" Obi-Wan questioned.
Lyman laughed again, "What reason would I have to kill a politician?" He asked.
"I see; it makes sense now why we have no information on you." Obi-Wan replied with a nod, "But you haven't finished your job, Lyman; that's not very good business, is it?"
"This isn't over yet; do you think Black is the only mercenary in this galaxy?" Lyman asked, "Once I'm out of this system, all I have to do is hire someone else to finish the job."
"If you make it out of the system; and I don't think there's much chance of that even if you do succeed in killing me." Obi-Wan told him.
"But I'm not going to kill you; at least not yet. I need your help first." Lyman replied.
"Well, I fear you are out of luck, because I have no intention of helping you." Obi-Wan stated.
"I'm not giving you a choice." Lyman answered.
"Ah, then you will have a difficult time; because I will not cooperate. And if you shoot me with that weapon, I will lose consciousness, and if your intention is to use me as a hostage, then you will be forced to carry or drag me. Do you really think you have that much time, Lyman?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'll take my chances." Lyman answered and fired the weapon at his captive.
The dart lodged in Obi-Wan's shoulder, "That was your last…mistake." Obi-Wan slurred as he slumped forward.