Jedi Quest 8: The Changing of the Guard (звёздные войны) Read online

  She joined Anakin and Ferus a moment later.

  "I've discovered something," she said. "Charm is exhausting. And something else. Flattery works. I've learned some things. Half the surveillance droids are fakes. Every day more officers are deserting the army. They haven't been paid in months. Teda's running out of wealth. He can't afford to prop up his government much longer, so he's looking for income wherever he can find it. In the meantime, he's cutting back."

  "I've found a way out if we have to escape," Anakin said. "It would be difficult, but not impossible. There's a part of the wall that's less heavily guarded. It's behind a dense thicket of bushes with bright flowers and thorns a meter long. We could use the Force to jump over the thicket, then activate cable launchers in midair, scale the wall, and take out droids with our lightsabers as we climb. I'm not sure what we'll find on the other side. Guards are no doubt patrolling outside the palace as well."

  "All in all, we just have to hope Obi-Wan doesn't get caught," Siri said.

  "I'll do my best," Obi-Wan said as he came up behind her. "But in the meantime, we have another problem. The Slam gang is here. The real one."

  "That's not good news," Siri said. "Does Teda know?"

  "Not yet. There's interference in the comm systems. Joylin's work, no doubt. I tried to give Slam a warning about approaching him tonight. But I doubt it will keep them apart for long. Teda is making the rounds."

  Siri frowned. "Time just ran out."

  "This is all the more reason to help with the revolt," Anakin said.

  "If it's successful, we won't have to worry about Teda or the Slams."

  "Still, we can't take a risk for all of us," Obi-Wan said. "This party suddenly got very small. The three of you should head back to the villa and prepare for a quick departure with Zan Arbor. I'll steal the codes, meet up with Joylin, and join you at the villa."

  Anakin shook his head. "I'm not leaving you here, Master."

  "Yes, you are, because I'm ordering you to," Obi-Wan said. "Remember, my young apprentice. The mission is first."

  Obi-Wan put a hand on Anakin's shoulder briefly. The gesture told Anakin that he appreciated his support, but his decision was firm.

  But Anakin still didn't want to go.

  "Obi-Wan is right," Siri said. "But nevertheless, we are not leaving."

  Obi-Wan looked annoyed. "Siri, I don't have time to argue."

  "Precisely. You need us to remain. We'll watch out for the Slams. As soon as you get the codes, we'll all go." "I don't like this," Obi-Wan said.

  Siri was adamant. "Too bad."

  Only a slight pressing of his lips showed Obi-Wan's displeasure. He turned abruptly and disappeared into the crowd.

  Ferus let out a breath. "Whatever happened to flattery to get what you want?"

  "Flattery doesn't work on Obi-Wan," Siri said. "Speaking of which, I'll track down Teda. I'll keep him away from the Slams. You two stay close to his office in case Obi-Wan needs you."

  Anakin and Ferus moved off. The crowd was denser now; more beings had arrived. They were louder and giddier. The music was wailing, and some guests were dancing. Anakin could see only bright colors and faces red with a forced gaiety he found distracting. He began to feel an edge of uneasiness. They were risking exposure with every step. His Master was breaking into the secret files of a head of state. And Siri was trying to divert a madman with charm.

  Slow down. Breathe. The Force will help you.

  "I always hated parties," Ferus said. "I never knew how to have fun at them."

  Anakin felt his nerves tighten. He saw Obi-Wan approach the two guards at the corridor's entrance. He waved his hand, and even across the room, Anakin felt the power of the Force.

  The guards nodded. Obi-Wan slipped around them and was gone.

  "Only a few minutes to go," Anakin said.

  Ferus and Anakin waited. When Obi-Wan appeared in the corridor, they were to approach the guards and use the Force to divert them. Then Obi-Wan could simply walk out with the security codes, and they would leave the party. Simple.

  Except it wasn't. Two minutes later, the security alarm went off.

  Chapter Eleven

  Obi-Wan couldn't believe it. Of course, he was no criminal mastermind, but he felt he was capable, with the help of the Force, of lifting a file of secure codes in a guarded office. He had missed a silent trigger somewhere, one that Joylin's spy hadn't known about.

  Any moment the guards would come pounding in. Obi-Wan drove his impatience with himself out of his mind. It was a distraction. He was only halfway through his task. Alarm or no alarm, he had to complete it.

  He entered the security code Joylin had given him. He opened the paneled drawer at the side of the ornate desk Teda used. To his surprise, it was a mess. Durasheets, holobooks, disks, wrappers from some sort of sweet. Some of the sweet had melted and pooled in a sticky mess, gluing the durasheets together.

  "Nothing worse than a messy dictator," Obi-Wan murmured. He lifted a red slipcase with a disk inside. Joylin had told him that it was the security codes.

  The alarm ringing in his ears, he felt the Force surge as the first sentry droids flew through the door. He vaulted over the desk, lightsaber already activated, and cut them down. Four more flew in, firing in a spinning arc that lit up the room with blaster fire. Obi-Wan deflected the fire and charged toward the door. But before he could reach it, a panel rattled down, blocking his exit. Another slid down over the only window.

  Obviously the plan was to trap the intruder inside with the lethal droids.

  Meanwhile, blaster fire continued to ping in transecting lines that were designed to pinpoint his location and blast him to smithereens. Obi- Wan launched himself at the droids, simultaneously taking out Siri's lightsaber and Force-jumping high overhead to cut them down. By the time the droids lay smoking at his feet, he heard the sound of guards outside the door and shuttered window.

  Question. Should he cut a hole in the window or door sheeting and charge out, meeting the blasters head on? Or should he wait for them to enter?

  Obi-Wan decided to wait. He would have a few seconds of surprise on his side. They would enter expecting to find him dead or badly wounded.

  He backed up against a cabinet, out of immediate sightline of the window and doorway. He pressed back against the cabinet. To his surprise, it moved.

  He jumped away as the cabinet wall slid back. Becka stood there. Obi- Wan quickly tucked the lightsabers out of sight.

  Becka took in the sight of the smoking droids. "Stars and novas, you're good." He beckoned. "This way."

  Obi-Wan hesitated.

  "If you go out that window, you'll be met with half the security force. The other half is on the other side of that door. They're waiting for the droids to kill you before they open the panels. You've got about twelve seconds. Do you have the codes?"

  "Yes," Obi-Wan leaped into the secret passageway. "I assume you're my spy."

  "I work with Joylin. We're going to come out in the hallway near the kitchens. Just stay with me." "I have to find my gang."

  "I'd say you have to get out of here, but all right. They might lock down the compound once they find the room is empty."

  Becka led him through several turnings. They reached a panel outlined in yellow. He pressed a button and the panel slid open.

  Obi-Wan found himself in a small closet, crowded with wraps and cloaks.

  Becka opened the door slightly. "Go."

  Obi-Wan eased out. Becka followed.

  The crowd was nervous. Obi-Wan could smell the panic. No doubt a crowd of criminals did not feel secure when a security alarm was going off. Then it stopped abruptly, and the silence was worse.

  "False alarm, folks!" Becka called. "Just enjoy yourselves!" He motioned to the musicians. "Great Leader Teda orders you to keep playing!"

  The sight of someone in an official uniform had some effect. The musicians began to play, and the guests began to murmur.

  "This way." Becka led Obi-Wan down a
hallway and then into the great room from another door. He saw Anakin and Ferus, still monitoring the corridor where Obi-Wan had disappeared. Obi-Wan knew his apprentice was close to charging down the corridor after him.

  He hurried over. "It's all right. Becka is going to help us. Where is Valadon?"

  "She's outside, ready to cover you in case you come out the window."

  Becka, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ferus hurried outside. Lights illuminated the wall. Droids buzzed overhead. They saw Siri on the side of the palace, standing just outside the ring of guards surrounding the window. The durasteel panel had risen, and some of the guards had leaped inside the room.

  Obi-Wan sent out a call to Siri, using the Force. She turned and saw him. He saw the relief on her face. She started toward him.

  Becka was watching the placement of the guards carefully. Suddenly, a group of them turned and started toward the gates. Lights began to blink rhythmically on the top of the wall.

  "Not good," Becka said. "They're going into lock-down."

  Obi-Wan looked around. "Any ideas?"

  "I scouted out the back wall," Anakin said. "I think we can make it."

  "I don't think you should try it," Becka said. "If they see you, it will just make things harder. Security will be looking for you until they catch you. Leave this to me. All we need is a little panic for cover."

  The crowd was on the edge of panic already. They didn't know what was going on. Security guards were now storming through the place, checking ID docs. Flocks of sentry droids buzzed overhead. The sumptuous party had turned into a replica of a prison — a place nobody at the party was particularly interested in revisiting.

  "Just wait here for a moment," Becka said.

  He went from group to group, speaking quietly. As soon as he left them, the groups talked among themselves, and then to others. Soon, voices began to rise. "This is outrageous!"

  "I will not be detained!"

  "I came to this planet for security and peace…." Becka reappeared at Obi-Wan's side. "Just walk out with the others."

  "No one is leaving."

  "You lead the way. The guests will follow. I've told them that Teda is keeping them indefinitely for interrogation. They are furious and afraid.

  Teda will have to let you leave. He depends on their bribes to survive. He won't stop them. You'll see. Go."

  Siri looked at Obi-Wan and shrugged. "Worth a try." Obi-Wan drew his cloak around him. "I for one won't stand for this," he said loudly. "I'm leaving!"

  "Yes, let's leave immediately," Siri agreed.

  Heads turned. As Obi-Wan and Siri stalked off, followed by Anakin and Ferus, some of the braver guests followed. At first it was a trickle, then a wave.

  Everything happened as Becka said it would. The crowd approached the nervous security guards at the gate. They drew their blasters but did not fire them as Obi-Wan and Siri continued to stride ahead. One officer spoke quickly into a comlink. Obviously, he was contacting Teda.

  In just seconds, the security gates opened. Teda could not compromise his treasury by angering those who propped up his regime.

  So Obi-Wan and the Jedi left the palace compound in a fashion they hadn't suspected when they'd arrived — leading a large group of angry criminals straight out the front gates.

  Joylin was waiting for the Jedi in the prearranged spot, in a narrow alley behind the exclusive shops on the boulevard.

  "Heard you had a rough time," Joylin said.

  Obi-Wan handed him the codes.

  Joylin quickly accessed the small disk and scanned its contents. "It's all worth it." He looked up. "Our operatives are in place. We're going to hit the security center first and knock out the CIP Then we'll take over the rest."

  "Remember," Obi-Wan said, "we want Zan Arbor."

  Joylin nodded. "Part of the deal. We won't go back on it. We'll contact you at dawn and you'll tell us how you want to proceed. Your ship will be fueled and you'll have permission to leave, if that's what you want. We have plans to confiscate all other transports, so you'll be the only ones allowed to get off-planet."

  Obi-Wan nodded. Good. That way, the Slams would be Zan Arbor's only choice.

  "Until then, my suggestion is for you to go back to your villa and lie low. Things are going to get worse before they get better."

  "I thought you said this would be a bloodless revolution," Ferus said.

  "I said I intended it to be," Joylin said. "I still do." He looked overhead. Sentry droids were beginning to patrol the streets, sweeping dark areas with panels of light. "Now I'd better knock out that CIP"

  He turned and disappeared down the dark alley. Obi-Wan and Siri exchanged a worried look. They had rarely seen a government takeover that was easy or bloodless.

  Yet all they could do was wait.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Jedi did not take Joylin's advice and return to the villa. They remained on the streets to monitor the progress of the revolt, keeping concealed.

  Sentry droids were so thick in the air that a constant humming noise filled the streets. Teda's government was on full alert after the theft in his office.

  They knew the instant the CIP had been hit. The sentry droids crashed to the ground, lifeless.

  Within minutes, however, the army flooded the streets. The Jedi retreated before them as they headed for Cloudflower Wall, trying to quell the resistance.

  They arrived just in time to see the Romin workers burst through the security gates. The mass of beings was like a huge moving mountain. The Jedi were now swept along as the determined group marched toward Teda's palace, pushing the army back in a hard battle.

  Obi-Wan had hoped to see joy and liberation on this dark night.

  Instead, he saw only rage. Sick at heart, the Jedi watched as the looting and violence began. The Romins had been deprived of too much for too long.

  They had lived with fear as a constant companion. They had watched their children suffer.

  The anger fed on itself and grew. They wanted to destroy what had destroyed them.

  Transparisteel shattered. Monuments fell. Even trees were hacked down.

  Fires were lit in the exclusive shops, the businesses that catered to the wealthy, the banks, the assembly halls, even the hospitals. Citizens who had profited from the Teda regime were dragged into the streets and slaughtered.

  The Jedi could not be everywhere. It all got out of control too fast.

  Siri and Obi-Wan were shaken. They had taken the risk. They had hoped for the best and seen the worst.

  Obi-Wan saw the horror through Ferus's eyes. Siri's apprentice grew silent. Obi-Wan saw him shudder as he saw the things he had feared would happen.

  "We did this," Ferus said.

  "No," Anakin said. "They are doing this."

  "We have to help," Ferus insisted.

  "We'll help where we can," Siri told him. "We can't stop it, Ferus."

  They found cowering workers and brought them to shelter. They tended to the wounded and prevented violence where they could.

  The night stretched on. The sounds of destruction grew soft as the Romins raged in other parts of the city. They heard the muffled thuds of explosions. The crash of transparisteel. The far-off noise of an alarm. A cry that could have been a bird. But they knew it was not.

  By dawn the Jedi had established their villa as an outpost that they guarded from the mob and used to monitor Zan Arbor's villa, which seemed untouched so far. As long as she remained there, Obi-Wan was content to do likewise. Scores of Romin citizens sat in their garden, refugees from homes that had been looted and burned. The Jedi could not begin to sort out who had been involved in Teda's government and who had merely lived and worked in the city. They allowed anyone fleeing to come in and take shelter.

  The rising sun brought a kind of calm to the streets. The resistance workers patrolled now, trying to restore order. Obi-Wan and Anakin sat outside, ready for trouble, though they had received no threat for hours now.

  "A long night," Anakin sai
d.

  "Yes."

  "Even after this night, I still think we weren't wrong."

  Obi-Wan sighed. He tried to smooth the trampled grass underneath his hand. "Wrong or right — I'm not ready to make that call. We made the decision using the facts we had."

  "But we were right," Anakin insisted.

  Obi-Wan saw the will Ferus had been talking about, the need to bend the situation to Anakin's own vision of it. The need to be right.