The Only Witness Read online

  everything. Walking more quickly and scanning the park for Lena, Obi-Wan

  realized his resolve to help her was stronger than ever. Whether or not his

  judgment had been clouded by affection, he knew that Lena was on the side

  of rightness.

  For the first time in hours, Obi-Wan felt clear. And he was more

  certain than ever that Lena was doing the right thing. She was fighting for

  peace and justice, and not just for herself. For her entire planet. As a

  Jedi it was his duty to help.

  As these thoughts formed in his mind, a new one floated over them

  like a dark cloud: They were running out of time.

  CHAPTER 12

  Qui-Gon pulled his comlink from his utility belt. He was about to

  activate it and summon Obi-Wan when his Padawan appeared, walking toward

  him on one of the paths.

  "There he is," said Mica a moment later. She craned her neck to see

  what Qui-Gon already knew. Lena wasn't with him, either. The three of them

  had scoured most of the enormous park, but Lena was nowhere to be found.

  Mica and the Jedi left the park and walked back to the deserted

  warehouse in silence. Qui-Gon tried to stretch out with his feelings, to

  get a sense of whether or not Lena was in danger, or even alive. But he

  felt nothing.

  The dim evening light made the hideout look less welcoming than it

  had early that morning. Qui-Gon strode into the room ahead of the others,

  and immediately saw a figure sitting on the couch in the darkness.

  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 compassion. 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 embarrassed 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

  assent.

  "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 ships 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 u
p 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