AN: It's time for the next chapter. Something I'd been thinking about doing was naming chapters. So, I finally did. I've edited all my previous chapters to add titles as well. Unfortunately, FFN doesn't make it easy to retitle things that have already been posted, so I'll just continue with the normal convention for labels, and then name chapters in the story. Anyway, hope everyone's still enjoying the story, and thanks for all the support.
Chapter 28 - Euceron Justice (Galactic Games Part IV)
Anakin 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, Anakin's old rival and Hekula's father.
It all felt so familiar. He could be back in the Mos Espa Grand Arena again. His mother was watching. Qui-Gon and Padmé 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 Podracer, 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. Next to Tru were Ferus and Knight Baylan Skoll, though Anakin had never been formally introduced to the rather strong looking Knight, but he'd heard of him, and had always heard good things. Ferus was looking concerned, while Baylan had an untroubled look on his face as he gazed around.
"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 ground quake. Beside himself, Hekula, and Aldar Beedo, Anakin recognized Gagano, Elan Mak, and Ody Mandrell. The last two Podracers were Scorch Zanales, a Daimlo, and Will Neleunf, 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, dull red of the cave walls, the smell of the fuel 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. 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, through a series of dips and rolls, and 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, so Anakin stayed close on Hekula's tail, avoiding the firing engines. The other Podracers were reluctant to get too close. Anakin knew from experience how the engines would move as Hekula maneuvered. It was his old podracer that Hekula was driving after all. Qui-Gon had sold it, but Anakin hadn't known that he'd sold it to Sebulba at the time. Now he wished they'd sold it to someone different. Still, Anakin knew every inch of the craft he had built with his own two hands. 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, especially if he was the one cheating, which Anakin was sure of. 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 he 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, and 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 driver who 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 bouncing 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 no 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 allow Hekula to 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 on screen. 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 near-180-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. Obi-Wan was right again.
*The Will of the Force*
Obi-Wan had run off the edge of the platform and made a midair leap into a box of surprised VIP spectators, knowing that Kastor would take care of Maxo Vista. As he dashed into the stadium hall, he was met by Siri and Finn Ertay, who he'd met briefly when they were both Padawans. She was a few years older than he was and had been a Senior Padawan when Obi-Wan and Siri had only been midway through their Padawan years.
"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 Kastor had Maxo Vista in custody and was taking him off the field in disgrace. When he saw Obi-Wan, his eyes burned with hatred.
Siri reached into Vista's tunic pocket, ignoring his angry protests and Kastor used his physical strength to keep Vista from moving. She tossed the Vista's 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 mecha-"
"I know!" Anakin shouted. "Its 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."
"Not yet they're not," Kastor said, giving Obi-Wan a comforting look. "Trust in the Force. You, and Siri need to get down there now. I've got Vista here, and Finn can back me up."
Obi-Wan nodded and he and Siri ran off, Obi-Wan praying that the Force would look out for his Padawan.
*The Will of the Force*
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 nav 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 nav 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.
*The Will of the Force*
"Kas," Rhys's voice came through the communicator, and Kastor picked it up, knowing that Finn had a close watch on Vista.
"I hear you Rhys," Kastor answered, moving away so that Vista wouldn't be able to listen in.
"Yso's gambling ring is about as saturated as it will get. Now's the time to strike."
Kastor grimaced knowing that this wasn't a great time, but it never was. Besides, Finn could easily handle Vista, and there were enough Jedi swarming the Podrace.
"Do you have a plan?" Kastor asked.
"Yso only has himself and one shop hand," Rhys responded. "Stunning them won't be hard. Thanks to Obi-Wan and Siri's efforts earlier, I've spent the last couple hours decrypting all his information, and I'll be able to wirelessly transfer the electronic credits if I can get direct access to his terminal and have his biometrics on hand, which we will. As for the physical credits? I've managed to rent a speeder for the next couple hours and there's a private landing platform near his shop. We just need to move the Ebon Hawk, jam the sensors, and scramble the Hawk's signature, and we'll be able to transport the funds to the Hawk within a few trips."
"What's the take?" Kastor asked.
"Upwards of 900 million," Rhys responded.
"900 million! Rhys, we can't make 900 million disappear all that easily," Kastor responded surprised. "Even if I only give a small portion of that to the Order, they'll want to know why we don't have any arrests, and if we arrest Yso, he'll definitely talk about the amounts missing."
"We can't arrest anyone, which is why we have to make it all disappear," Rhys responded. "Sure, this ledger shows some of the big names we'd expect. Players from Crimson Dawn, the Pykes, the Hutts, but there are hundreds of others, including government officials. Almost all of the Ruling Power has paid into this ring. They won't arrest Yso because they were going to profit off him. Trust me, I have a plan."
Kastor grimaced. Gambling was hardly what Kastor would consider a crime. Sure, it could be, when greedy parties did their best to rig events, but otherwise Kastor couldn't fault beings who enjoyed games of chance, even if he himself cared not for it. If they took that amount of money, Yso would not survive. On the other hand, that type of money being seized from criminal parties was too good an opportunity to pass up. That type of money would help many of those criminal elements spread pain and suffering.
"I'll head back to the Hawk and I'll head your way," Kastor finally said before he returned to Finn and Vista.
"Can you escort him to the Ruling Power?" Kastor asked, surreptitiously putting a listening device on Vista with the Force.
"Of course, Master Shan," Finn responded, and Vista grinned viciously at her.
"Well, she's a definite improvement to the other Jedi I've met," the man sneered with a grotesque leer.
Kastor shook his head in disgust as Finn's nose upturned in disappointment. He knew Finn would show Vista the error of his ways if he attempted to flee her control, and he would learn that male or female, alien or human, he was no match for a Jedi.
*The Will of the Force*
Obi-Wan and Siri hurried out of the stadium. They 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 them and pointed to a speeder by her side.
"Is everything all right? Is Maxo Vista involved?" she asked.
"I'm afraid so. Kastor is taking him to the Ruling Power," Obi-Wan said.
Astri handed him a small viewscreen. Obi-Wan could see 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 a speeder. Siri quickly jumped in on the other side.
Astri 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."
"Oh, of course she did," Siri said in frustration.
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 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 Vista had agreed to take part.
"No wonder Liviani Sarno had been so concerned about the theft of Bog's speeder," Siri muttered, and Obi-Wan nodded. "She knew the information on Bog's datapad could be traced back to her once the bets 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. Obi-Wan returned his focus to reaching the caves. Siri reached over and put a comforting hand on his leg.
"He's going to be okay, Obi," Siri said. "Trust in Anakin and trust in the Force."
Obi-Wan nodded, and thought about how strange it had been that he'd pulled a thread and the plot had come undone. Didi's bet 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.
He felt Siri's understanding flash through their bond as she must have been listening into his thoughts.
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 with Baylan."
"That's where it will happen. I'll be there soon."
Obi-Wan pushed the engines to the maximum. The boulevard ended and they zoomed along a dusty road, then over to the rolling hills. He remembered exactly where the cave entrance was and barely reduced speed as they 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 in 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, Baylan, and Ferus approached Obi-Wan and Siri.
"We can do nothing now," Ry-Gaul said, "except be prepared to use the Force to shield the spectators."
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 brilliantly scarlet and the thick veda cloth was embroidered with orange septsilk thread.
Obi-wan took off, and Siri moved with him, feeding off of his reaction. He hurdled over some Pit Droids coiling a lubrication hose and avoided a disabled Podracer 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 spectators stands, and then a short distance to the finish line.
He strode forward and put his hand on Sarnos arm. She looked up at him, surprised and, for a moment, frightened.
"I'll take that datapad," he said, as Siri grabbed her and contained her.
"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, but Siri held her firmly. "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.
"I'm afraid that whatever happens will happen to us all," Siri replied.
It is up to you now, Anakin. I failed to stop her. I cannot help you. There is only the Force.
*The Will of the 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, not when the Force was with him.
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 of 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 Anakin. Instead, he began to 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, using the Force to help, and he felt the Force from other Jedi assisting him.
His 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, clearly being detained by Siri and Baylan Skoll. 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 Podracer. They could not completely rely on getting the track information first. They had to destroy their closet 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 advanced 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 I was the one 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, figuring they were just cheating at a podrace. 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. Baylan, Ry-Gaul and Siri were guarding Liviani Sarno, but Siri threw him a supportive look. Baylan gave a knowing nod.
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 four Jedi Knights. He had come so close.
Obi-Wan's voice was gentle. "Come, Padawan. There is a mission to complete."
*The Will of the Force*
"You know, Achilles, I seem to remember you saying it was just Yso and one guard," Kastor said sarcastically as he exchanged shots with the six, yes six, guards that were in addition to Yso Uso and his pal, both of whom had been caught in Kastor and Rhys's initial breach.
"Sorry, Ajax," Rhys replied, an unrepentant grin on his face, since the six they were fighting were clearly trained killers which meant they didn't really have to hold back. "They certainly weren't here earlier."
"Huh, I guess it is quite odd for a man to call in extra guards after duty hours to protect upwards of 900 million credits," Kastor replied dryly as he managed to finally hit one of their opponents in the chest, which Rhys capitalized on to kill two more.
One of the remaining three pulled out a thermal detonator and threw it at Kastor, but Kastor just used the Force and sent it right back at the now slack jawed man and his two compatriots who didn't shake their surprise off quick enough to avoid the blast which killed the thrower immediately and blew the other two into two different walls hard enough to crack the walls and kill them both as well.
"We'll need to move fast, since this noise probably attracted some notice," Kastor said. "You transfer the electronic credits through the different shell accounts and I'll crack the safe."
"Go into the backroom, pull up the rug and you'll find a trap door," Rhys called as he hit Yso and Besum with two more stun blasts just to be safe and moved to Yso's datapad.
Kastor moved quickly, using a small handheld EMP to completely disable any security cameras or systems that might have been in the room. They didn't want any security footage of this heist getting out. They already planned to leave enough subtle hints to point the finger towards the Whitescar Syndicate which was active on Cato Neimoidia. Most people didn't realize that the Whitescar Syndicate really answered to the Trade Federation, and was their way of profiting off the Criminal Underworld without dirtying their own hands.
The major syndicates were well aware of the fact, which meant that when Rhys and he wire transferred and laundered the credits through a dozen routers before getting to one that was operated by the Trade Federation before disappearing again, the finger would be pointed in the direction that they wanted. It didn't hurt that the Federation was one such entity that could make almost a billion credits disappear.
If their "attempts" to hide their actions were found and read as they should be, the Syndicate would be wiped out by a combination of the Hutts, Pykes, Crimson Dawn, and Black Sun. Dirty, but effective. The Jedi and Judiciary forces couldn't fight all the syndicates easily, and sometimes it was better to pit them against each other, as long as innocents weren't caught in the crossfire. Trade Federation personnel involved with the Syndicate were hardly innocent. This would likely remove a criminal organization and cut into the profit margins of the Trade Federation. A win-win scenario.
Kastor used the Force to move the rug, exposing the trap door. He used the Force again to open the trap door before he leapt down into the dark room, finding a quite large vault door awaiting him. Yso must have taken a huge loan to get this vault on the expectation of an incredible payout, which he would have had. If the books were accurate, based on lost bets and bookie fees, Yso would have made almost a hundred million off of running this gambling ring, after he paid off everyone that fronted him money for the ring . . . which also included many of the larger syndicates.
Kastor put his hand up against the safe and felt into the locking mechanism with the Force. Slowly, but surely, with the Force as his guide, he turned the locking mechanisms until they all aligned and the door swung open, revealing large stacks of credits and rare metals.
Kastor used the Force to steadily levitate the whole mass past him and up out of the vault room where he let it settle on the floor above. Quickly, he relocked the vault and then jumped back up into the garage before shutting the trap door and covering it back up with the rug.
Rhys was clearly just finishing up planting small pieces of evidence that, while still not easily found, would all together clearly paint the picture they were hoping to paint.
Kastor levitated the credits and metals into the back of the speeder that Rhys had rented and pulled into the garage through the back.
"Transfers work?" Kastor asked, and Rhys nodded happily.
"Just short of 727 million credits that are currently being routed around and around before they'll finally make it to our shell account and then they'll get sent to the Banking Clan. If Yso's books are right, then you should have recovered roughly 190 million in credits and precious stones."
"This is huge for us," Kastor had to admit, especially since Rhys's enthusiasm was infectious.
Rhys loved when a mission hurt criminal networks, especially when it could possibly hurt the Trade Federation, and he was just as committed to Kastor's preparations as Kastor was. This mission would take them from hopefully being able to afford a few light cruisers or escort craft to being able to afford several capital class cruisers or dreadnaughts. Plus, with how much they'd be giving to the Banking Clan, their interest yields would go up drastically. This score right here might be able to provide for whatever secret Order or Jedi rebellion the future might hold, especially when added to their other scores, both from what they'd done and from what some of their allies had given them.
"The shop's all locked up except for the bay door we need to go out of," Rhys said. "Get the speeder out and I'll lock up the shop which should give us another couple hours of silence before Yso awakes."
Kastor nodded and hopped into the speeder. A minute later they were speeding their way to the close, nondescript landing pad that just happened to belong to Uso Yso.
Kastor pulled up to the garage, having signaled Wrench to open the bottom bay doors so that he could fly up into the Ebon Hawk. From there, it was a quick process of downloading the stolen funds and storing them in the various smuggling compartments. When all was said and done, they barely fit between them and even some in his and Rhys's rooms, which was a good problem to have in his book. Once done, Rhys returned the speeder while Kastor returned the Ebon Hawk back to the original landing pad before getting in contact with Obi-Wan and Siri.
It seemed his good fortune wasn't completely shared by his fellow Jedi.
*The Will of the Force*
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 other testimonies before he gave his own. The Ruling Council also decided that only he needed to present the case for all the Jedi, rather than each provide a testimony, something he found odd and a bit alarming. It was how hearings were conducted on Euceron, apparently. 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, especially since it is corroborated by several other Jedi," Obi-Wan replied.
"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," Obi-Wan replied politely.
"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, Siri, Ferus, Kastor, and Rhys were waiting for him.
He quickly explained what had occurred, and watched fury appear on his Padawan's face, controlled anger show on Ferus's and Rhys's, and resigned sadness appeared on Siri's and Kastor's.
"How can they do this?" Anakin demanded. "Vista and Sarno are guilty and yet they walk free?"
"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."
"Oh, it will be," Kastor said firmly. "I made sure that Bail Organa was made aware of what nearly happened here, even if he understands that it won't be public. I gave him the recordings that I got off of listening in on Vista, even if the Ruling Council considered it inadmissible. Regardless, the Commerce Guild is going to find that it has made itself a lot of enemies with this move."
Obi-Wan smiled a bit at that.
"But Aarno Dering? Maxo Vista will get away with murder!"
"That is the hardest of all," Obi-Wan said solemnly, and he felt Siri provide a comforting brush through their bond.
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."
"You will always have friends in the Jedi, Astri," Kastor said softly, and she glanced at him and then at Siri who nodded in agreement before she nodded with a slight smile, and then 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? He fought off the melancholy and turned to his companions, feeling the disappointment from his Padawan. He knew his young charge was still beating himself up about not seeing Deland and Doby were using him. He would comfort him on the way back to Coruscant, but he knew Anakin wouldn't open up in front of everyone else . . . or at least not Ferus.
"Anakin, would you go prep the ship for takeoff?" Obi-Wan asked, and the boy nodded at him and then eagerly hurried away after saying a quick farewell to Siri, Rhys, and Kastor.
"Ferus, you mind helping me prep the Ebon Hawk? We've got to be ready for Wrench to dock the Shadow Hawk," Rhys said to Siri's Padawan and he nodded in agreement and the two walked off, leaving Siri, Obi-Wan, and Kastor together.
"So, I guess this means you won't be returning to the Temple?" Obi-Wan asked, looking at Siri. He'd known that Kastor wasn't as soon as Kastor showed up to Euceron with two other Jedi.
"Ferus and I have been ordered to join Kas's mission," Siri said, and he felt a hint of mischief fill her. "We'll be going to Mandalore."
Obi-Wan faltered slightly. "Mandalore?" he asked blandly.
Kastor grinned. "Eventually. We've a long journey that will require a lot of successes before we reach Mandalore, but the end goal is getting a formal agreement between Mandalore, the other planets in the Mandalorian Sector, and the Jedi Order. I also hope to get some help from the Mandalorian network in tracking down Magus. That rat has remained hidden for too long. So, eventually we will be talking to Duchess Satine. I hear you had a good . . . relationship with the woman."
Obi-Wan did his best to control his slight blush and shot a slightly concerned look at Siri, but all he saw was her trying to contain a laugh.
"That was a long time ago," Obi-Wan finally said. "If she hasn't changed, then you'll find she's very strong willed and isn't going to want to deal with the warrior clans that were exiled, last I heard."
"She really won't," Kastor confirmed with a sigh, "but I know that she has one radical group that is deliberately trying to bring down her rule, while the other clans have either followed her or remain on other Mandalorian planets and avoid Mandalore itself. I'm hoping to help her see that it's nearly impossible to erase the warrior spirit, but perhaps her ideals and the traditionalist ideals can be fused to make a Mandalorian people that can grow strong, be strong, and yet not be a threat to the galaxy. We'll see, but I have hope."
Kastor grinned and then glanced at Siri. "I'll be on the ship when you're ready."
With that, Obi-Wan watched as his friend and mentor nodded his head with a grin and walked off in the direction that Rhys and Ferus had gone.
Obi-Wan turned back to Siri who smiled.
"I'm not mad if that's what you're worried about," Siri said, and Obi-Wan felt some relief. "I'm quite confident of how you feel about me, and just because you at one time felt something for this woman does not mean that I am going to turn into a snarling, jealous, possessive monster. That wouldn't be very Jedi-like."
Obi-Wan snorted. "No," he agreed. "Perhaps not." He sighed. "It was about a year and a half after us. Satine and I were constantly on the run from bounty hunters during an extended mission, and generally separated from Qui-Gon. We grew close, and I did care for her, and still do to an extent, and I'm sure she does for me, but she and I never had what you and I had and once again have. Our relationship, while certainly fueled by our respect for one another, was mostly one of circumstance. Besides, her and my ideals would never have worked out if we'd given it a go. I respect her and admire her, but we would have grown bitter with each other's ideals eventually," Obi-Wan admitted.
Siri tilted her head curiously and smiled. "Thank you for telling me about this."
Obi-Wan nodded, and then she grinned devilishly.
"I'm looking forward to meeting another woman that caught your eye. What are the chances I get her to tell me some good stories?"
Obi-Wan blanched. "You wouldn't dare."
"Oh, my dear, Obi-Wan," Siri said, approaching and putting one hand on his jawline. "We both know that I would indeed dare." She learned forward and brushed a light kiss against his lips and smiled before turning and walking away, smiling wide at the amused and only slightly worried feeling she could sense through their bond.
Obi-Wan shook his head, knowing this was not the last time this would be brought up. If anything though, he really felt sorry for Satine. He suspected that she would not like what Kastor would bring to her door, even if it probably was in her world's best interest.