The Desperate Mission Page 7

  bodies. Obi-Wan frantically searched through the document, looking for

  clues.

  Who would be taken? When? He could find no information. It was as

  though the order had already been given....

  The troops in the hallways. The sense he had of something about to

  happen....

  Suddenly, Obi-Wan felt a surge of the dark side of the Force.

  That meant that the full might of security would come crashing down on

  Obi-Wan's head within seconds.

  He shut down the computer bank. Obi-Wan kept the cylinder in his palm

  and slipped out the door. A troop of officers was marching by, and he

  joined it. He was lost in a sea of uniforms. As they passed an equipment

  bin, he dropped the code cylinder in it. No one must know he had been here.

  No one must know he had seen that file.

  He felt that Malorum was close.

  A clanging noise came over the speakers. A voice announced, "Order

  Thirty-Seven has begun. Please report to your stations. Repeat: Order

  Thirty-Seven has begun."

  The hallways were suddenly flooded with storm-troopers. Obi-Wan was

  swept along in the tide.

  He burst out of the garrison. He stayed with the troopers as they

  marched across the Commons and spilled into the streets, patrols splitting

  off from each other to cover more ground. A few people stopped to stare

  while others began to hurry, trying to outwalk the stomping boots.

  An elder Bellassan stopped to watch the stormtroopers, concern on his

  face. To Obi-Wan's shock, a stormtrooper hit him with a stun baton. He

  fell, writhing, to the ground. The baton was set for a severe shock.

  Obi-Wan started forward, but he knew he could not help. A woman

  stopped to try, and another stormtrooper hit her with the baton. She fell

  over the paralyzed man.

  Holding pens with repulsorlift engines streamed from the garrison,

  piloted by more troopers. One after another they rumbled through the

  streets. As the stormtroopers moved through, striking down any pedestrian

  in their way, the carts picked up the bodies. Screams filled the air.

  Rage and helplessness made Obi-Wan shake. There was nothing he could

  do. Never had he felt so alone. Once he could have done something, could

  have used his position as a Jedi to interfere, to call for reinforcements.

  Now he could only watch.

  Cries rolled up from the streets, from the buildings, as entire

  families were taken. Anyone who protested was struck down. Children,

  elders, women, men.

  Were these the bodies the file was talking about? Could the Empire

  truly do this? Could they assassinate so many for no reason? Or was there a

  reason? To crush Ferus and anyone like him.

  Obi-Wan hurried through the streets. He had tracked an escape route

  back to the safe house of the Eleven. His uniform gave him cover from the

  troopers as well as the pedestrians he met. Frightened, they ran from him.

  He couldn't wait to remove it. It felt as though it burned his skin.

  After finding his Jedi robes where he'd hidden them, he circled around

  to the back of the safe house. The house had been chosen carefully with an

  eye for privacy. There were no windows, no doors overlooking the back

  entrance. Obi-Wan entered the code he'd been given and slipped through the

  gate. In a moment, Wil had opened the door to the house.

  "We've heard the news. Mass arrests."

  Obi-Wan took several breaths, trying to compose himself. "They are

  taking anyone in their way - "

  Wil drew him in and closed the door. "I'm happy to see you are safe."

  Obi-Wan still felt the drum of the marching feet, saw the anguished

  faces, the still-twitching bodies being tossed into the holding pens. "You

  should be worried for yourselves," he said.

  A shadow of deep concern was on Wil's face, and Obi-Wan realized it

  wasn't for him. "What is it?"

  "We have heard something. Ferus is in greater danger than we knew."

  "What?"

  "They haven't released the information that Roan has escaped, first of

  all. They want Ferus to think he's still being held. And we were contacted

  by several of the clients of Roan/Lands. Stormtroopers are visiting each of

  them, searching and in some cases destroying their houses. We can only

  assume that the Imperials have the secret list of the clients of

  Olin/Lands. We don't know how. If what we suspect is true - if Ferus is

  hiding with one of them..."

  "It will not take them long to find him," Obi-Wan finished.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Obi-Wan hurried into the interior room where Amie Antin sat with Roan.

  "They used a combination of Loquasin and Titroxinate," Obi-Wan said.

  He repeated the levels to the doctor. "Then, on the last day, they

  administered Skirtopanol."

  "It wasn't a new drug. It was a new combination," Dr. Antin breathed.

  "That explains his state now. But that combination... they must be mad."

  "They were desperate," Obi-Wan said.

  "This gives me what I need," she said, already crossing to the med

  kit. "You two, go relax or something. I'll find you if he wakes. I need

  quiet here."

  Obi-Wan trailed after Wil down the hall to the kitchen. The house was

  soundproof, but they all knew what was going on outside.

  Wil put his head in his hands for a moment. "To go out there would be

  madness. To stay inside... it will drive me mad."

  "There is nothing we can do," Obi-Wan said. "We can only wait for more

  opportune moments."

  Wil raised his head. His gray eyes were bleak. "Why now?" he asked

  softly. "There's been no unrest, no battles. I don't understand the mass

  arrests."

  "Are your people safe?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "The core group was all here for a meeting. And we moved our families

  out of the city long ago. I was able to get Amie's son away, too. He's

  safe. But there are many others, spread out all over the city.... We won't

  hear word until later." He sat at the table, his hands gripping his

  blaster. "I don't know where all of this will end."

  Obi-Wan didn't know what to say. He had no answers. The galaxy was in

  the grip of a darkness that was vast and complete. The Sith had triumphed.

  "I don't believe they will rule forever," he said finally.

  Wil gestured toward some food, but Obi-Wan shook his head. Somehow it

  seemed wrong to take comfort in a warm kitchen, when outside the doors so

  much horror was taking place.

  "No. And it will take more than we can possibly imagine to defeat

  them," Wil said. "More than we think we are prepared to do. And yet I hope

  I'm still here to see it."

  Obi-Wan silently agreed. He thought of the children, Luke and Leia,

  growing up on separate planets. He hoped to see them as adults, committed

  to the fight. The thought of that lifted some of the helplessness he felt

  earlier - and also made him aware of the need to return to Luke soon.

  Arnie Antin appeared in the doorway. "He is awake."

  Obi-Wan rose quickly. "That was fast."

  "He is very strong. His mind is active, but his body will need time.

  At least a week before he can stand, I think. The drugs were powerful.

  Come. I c
an give you both a minute."

  Obi-Wan and Wil followed behind her. When they walked into the room,

  Roan was struggling to rise. "Ferus," he said.

  "He isn't here," Wil said. "But we know he is safe."

  Gently, Arnie pushed Roan back against the pillow. "You will be weak

  for some time. It is better that you stay flat."

  Roan obeyed her. His powerful body must have been fragile, for even

  Amie's gentle touch sent him backward onto the sleep couch. The look he

  sent toward Obi-Wan brimmed with the strength his body didn't possess. "Who

  is this?"

  "I am a friend of Ferus's from long ago," Obi-Wan said.

  "You are a Jedi," Roan guessed.

  "I came to help him, if I can."

  "I have nothing to tell you."

  Obi-Wan pushed a chair over and sat down. "I think you do," he said.

  "I think you know where he is."

  Roan stirred restlessly. "I'll recover soon. If he needs help, I can

  give it."

  "Dr. Antin thinks it will take you a week."

  "Dr. Antin is wrong."

  "She is an expert on neurotoxins."

  "She's not an expert on me, though." Roan's mouth tilted, almost a

  grin.

  "For the record," Arnie broke in, "I'm never wrong."

  "Are you willing to gamble on Ferus's life?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "Roan, we need to know where he is," Wil said. "We have reason to

  believe that the Imperials are searching for him at the homes of all your

  old clients. They have a list."

  "The list will do them no good," Roan said. "He is safe where he is.

  Forgive me, Wil, but Ferus and I took an oath. No one is to know. Not even

  the Eleven." His gaze was steadfast, but Obi-Wan suddenly saw the color

  drain from his face, and he closed his eyes.

  "He needs rest," Arnie said.

  Wil started reluctantly for the door. Obi-Wan went with him, but

  paused at the door. "I just need another moment," he said in a low tone to

  Arnie and Wil.

  "Only a moment," Arnie said.

  "I know him," Wil said. "He will tell you nothing. Can you blame him?

  Somehow the Imperials found their case files. We could have a spy in the

  organization. We must investigate this."

  Quietly, Wil and Arnie left the room.

  "I think I know who you are," Roan said, without opening his eyes. "He

  had no secrets from me. You are the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, member of

  the Jedi High Council - former member, that is. He described you perfectly.

  "

  "How was that?"

  "Tall and stubborn. And stiff."

  "Stiff?"

  "Stiff." Roan twisted in the bed and opened his eyes, his gaze

  suddenly penetrating. "The Jedi were wiped out, and yet you live. Why is

  that?"

  "I was able to... avoid what happened." Roan didn't drop his gaze.

  "How fortunate."

  "What are you saying?"

  "I've heard that some Jedi turned... they went to the dark side. How

  do I know you did not?"

  "You don't," Obi-Wan said. "But the Ferus I knew had good instincts.

  Once, I did not listen to him, and I am sorrier about that than you'll ever

  know. He knew, better than I did, how to listen to instincts. If you know

  him well, you know that, too."

  He saw that Roan was hesitating. Despite Roan's words, Obi-Wan saw

  that the young man was aware that he would not be able to leave his bed for

  some time.

  "I will not tell the Eleven. I'll tell no one. You must trust me,"

  Obi-Wan said. "Ferus trusted me once. I am the one to do this. The struggle

  for this planet could be mirrored on thousands of other planets. We need to

  make a decisive move now, to show that the Empire cannot destroy the

  people's will."

  "Ferus and I had a pact - "

  "And do you think he is keeping it? He thinks you're still in prison.

  Do you think he's going to stay away?"

  Roan closed his eyes again. "No," he said softly. "He won't stay away.

  "

  "I can't give you facts. You must make this decision based on nothing

  but your feelings."

  "Now you sound like Ferus." Roan gave a deep sigh, and looked up at

  the ceiling. Obi-Wan could see the struggle on his face. "He is in the

  mountain region of Arno," he said. "I'll give you the coordinates. Find

  him. He won't admit it, but I'm sure he could use the help."

  He waited for nightfall. During the daytime, the streets were too

  dangerous. Rilla gave him new ID docs and arranged for a starfighter to

  transport him - something that required her to call in all of her favors.

  He would be a businessman from Raed-7. The Eleven didn't know where he was

  going, but they would help him get there. They all agreed that until they

  knew if they'd been infiltrated, it was better to keep information safe.

  "We still do much business with Raed-7," she explained. "They are

  building a pipeline network outside the city. They will question you, but

  your papers are in order. If they thought you had no reason to be here,

  they might detain you at the spaceport."

  "This is the best way to leave Ussa," Wil agreed. "I'm sure, after

  today, outlanders will want to leave the city. There will be others there

  for cover."

  Obi-Wan slipped the papers inside his traveling cloak.

  "Safe journey," Rilla said.

  "Tell Ferus not to return," Wil said. "If he is safe, then let him be

  'safe. Tell him we will smuggle Roan out to him. He need not come back. He

  must know that Roan is safe."

  "I will find him," Obi-Wan promised.

  He walked to the spaceport. The streets were dark; the moon was

  covered with clouds. There were lights inside the buildings, but they were

  faint, as though the Bellassans inside were afraid to show too much

  evidence of their presence. Occasionally he would hear a patrol and melt

  back into a doorway or alley.

  When he reached the spaceport, Obi-Wan was surprised to see that it

  was bustling. Beings pressed toward the checkpoint, many with bundles and

  baggage.

  An Imperial officer with a malicious expression walked to the front.

  "All Bellassans must return to their homes. No Bellassans will be allowed

  to leave the planet. Ussa is in lockdown. Outlanders may approach the

  checkpoint."

  "But my wife is in the Anturus system!"

  "I have exit papers from the Imperial government on Coruscant!"

  The cries erupted from the crowd.

  The officer and his soldiers drew their blaster rifles and aimed them

  straight at the crowd. "Return to your homes!"

  Obi-Wan saw a woman next to him tremble. A man put his hand on his

  young son's shoulder. Slowly, the residents began to move back, shouldering

  their baggage and herding their children.

  He could not imagine why they thought they could get out. But they

  were desperate and willing to try anything.

  Obi-Wan saw a squad of men dressed in dark traveling clothes peel off

  from the few remaining beings at the checkpoint. He knew immediately they

  were Imperial spies, dressed to blend in. The Bellassans surging back

  toward the exit did not notice as the men slipped into their midst. They

  would follow them home. They would get their names. The
Bellassans who

  tried to leave would go on a list, a list that would track them now as

  possible threats to the Empire.

  "You there!" The officer pointed at him.

  Obi-Wan stepped forward, holding out his ID does. The officer jerked

  his head, pointing to the checkpoint. Obi-Wan handed over his ID does.

  He breathed evenly as the officer scrutinized them. He had to trust

  Rilla and Wil. It had been some time since he'd trusted anyone but himself.

  "You've got the DP-x Explorer," the officer said. "Nice transport for

  a businessman."

  "Got it in the Raed-7 spaceport. market sale after the end of the

  Clone Wars," Obi-Wan replied, putting on a hearty voice. "What a sweet

  deal. Lots of beauties for sale back then. The pilots are dead - bad for

  them, good for me!"

  "Right," the officer said expressionlessly. "You can proceed."

  Obi-Wan walked off, tucking his ID does back into his belt. He had

  only taken a few steps before he heard his name called.