Jedi Quest 5: The School of Fear (звёздные войны) Read online

  "I don't think that's necessary," Obi-Wan said. "You're forgetting the best thing about classes." "What's that?"

  A soft beeping signal came over the hidden speakers.

  "They end," Obi-Wan said.

  Just then a voice was broadcast, speaking in a quiet but insistent tone. "End of mod six class. Five minutes to mod seven. Five minutes."

  Suddenly the doors hissed open and students spilled out into the hall.

  Obi-Wan and Siri were pushed against the walls as students ran, jostled, tossed data-pads at one another playfully, or wolfed down a quick snack as they walked. Yet both Jedi could feel the effort and bravado in the calls and laughter. These students were afraid.

  Obi-Wan hailed a student who appeared to be about Anakin and Ferus's age. "Excuse me. Do you know Reymet Autem?"

  The tall Phlog nodded. "He's in my Current Galactic Political Trends class."

  "Can you find him for us?" Siri asked.

  "Not a problem. He's right there." The Phlog pointed to a boy across the hall who was tossing a small data-pad from one hand to the other as he walked.

  "Thanks." It was a lucky break. Obi-Wan and Siri headed toward Reymet.

  "Are you a friend of Ferus Olin?" Siri asked him.

  Reymet nodded proudly. "We're best friends." He eyed them carefully.

  "Hey, are you his parents? You look like you could be."

  "Yes, we're his parents," Siri said. "Have you seen him this afternoon?"

  "No, and that's weird, because he's in three of my classes," Reymet said. "Is he sick?"

  "No, Reymet," Obi-Wan said. "That's why we came to you. We think Ferus is missing. We think it has something to do with what happened to Gillam Tarturi."

  "Will you help us?" Siri asked. "Ferus told us that you know secret things about the school."

  "I know some things," Reymet said cautiously.

  "We promise we won't tell the school officials anything you show us,"

  Siri said.

  Reymet still hesitated. "Unless you don't tell us anything, and then we'd be forced to go to the school officials," Obi-Wan pointed out.

  "Whoa," Reymet said. "In that case, I'd be happy to tell you everything I know."

  Obi-Wan noted that he sounded relieved. Maybe Reymet had a secret that had been a burden to keep, and that was why he kept hinting to Ferus that he knew something. "Follow me."

  The halls were emptying of students as Reymet quickly led them down to the ground level of the school.

  "Class beginning. Mod seven." The soft voice floated out from the speakers. "Mod seven. Class beginning."

  The hallway was empty. "Hurry," Reymet hissed. "I only have a few minutes before I have to check in to my next class."

  He ducked into a storage closet, and Obi-Wan and Siri quickly followed. They crowded in next to him.

  "Couldn't you find a bigger place for us to hide?" Obi-Wan asked as he bumped into a durasteel toolbox.

  "If you could just squeeze together, I can…" Reymet began to wiggle past them, then ducked down below them."… okay, just a second… move your foot… no, the other way… thanks…"

  Reymet unscrewed a panel from the wall. A large utility shaft opened up.

  "In there," he said.

  "What's in there?" Obi-Wan asked, peering in.

  "When they renovated, they just built around all the old electrical and water systems," Reymet explained. "It was cheaper than ripping them out. There's a whole network of utility pipes still in place. They lead to the old system rooms."

  "Did you show Ferus this?" Siri asked.

  Reymet nodded. "We were going to explore it together, during free time. I didn't know he was missing. I would have looked for him — "

  "Do you think he's with Gillam?" Obi-Wan asked. He kept his gaze on Reymet.

  Whatever reserve the young boy had crumbled. "I don't know," he said.

  "I think Gillam is still here, though. I saw him the night he disappeared.

  He knew about the old utility pipes, too."

  "Do you think Gillam is hiding?" Siri asked.

  Reymet nodded. "I don't blame him. With a father like that, I'd hide, too. That's why I wouldn't tell on him." He looked uneasily at them. "But now I'm not so sure. I can see Gillam hiding, but I can't see Ferus doing that. He isn't mean like Gillam."

  "Gillam is mean?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "Maybe I shouldn't have said that," Reymet said. "He's not mean, I guess. He's just… not nice." He shifted from one foot to the other uneasily. It was clear he was worried he'd said too much. "They're doing extra security checks — and I'm late for class. One more demerit and I'm suspended. Not that having to leave this place would break my heart. But it just might break my old man."

  "Go," Obi-Wan told him. "We'll handle it from here."

  Reymet suddenly looked lost. "I really hope you find him. I like him a lot." Reymet hurried out the door.

  Obi-Wan peered into the pipe. He could see where the dust had been disturbed, but it was impossible to tell by whom or by how many.

  "After you," Siri said.

  Obi-Wan climbed into the pipe. He had to stoop and move slowly because of his size. Siri had an easier time.

  "Hurry," she urged him.

  "Would you like to go first?"

  "If I could get around you, I would."

  Obi-Wan saw light at the end of the pipe and quickened his pace. He slid out of the pipe onto a springy floor. He realized that it was covered in moss. The large space had a damp, moldy smell. Mildew marked the walls in cloudy patterns. The smell was close and dank.

  "This must have been some sort of holding tank," Siri said. She took out a glow rod and held it up. "Makes sense if that was a water pipe."

  Obi-Wan felt the floor suck at his boots. "There's a couple of passageways. Any ideas?" He turned to Siri, but he already felt the Force move in the space. She was looking keenly about her, sending out the Force, trying to reach her Padawan. Obi-Wan joined her, calling on the Force to help them locate Ferus.

  They turned at the same moment and headed for the passageway to their left. They could feel it now. The Force had entered the dank, dark space, and they knew Ferus was near.

  Siri held her glow rod aloft. "I think we're in the old water treatment system. See the inflow pipes'?"

  "These are holding pens for the water," Obi-Wan said, peering into the rooms as they passed. Some of the chambers still had their durasteel panel doors. Others had doors that were half rusted away, or had been removed.

  The Force grew stronger. Ahead they saw a chamber with an intact door.

  It was bolted to the wall with a new lock.

  Siri withdrew her lightsaber. Within seconds, the metal peeled back, giving them an entry to the chamber.

  Ferus sat in the middle of the room. He quickly stood, facing them. "I am sorry for needing rescue, Master," he said to Siri. "I am sorry, Master Kenobi."

  "We all need rescue sometime," Obi-Wan said.

  "Some more than others," Siri said, grinning at Obi-Wan.

  Ferus was so different from Anakin, Obi-Wan thought. Anakin would have smiled at him as soon as he entered. It's about time, he would have said.

  Or maybe, I hope you brought my lunch. He felt an intense need to find his own Padawan. Added to the feeling was the fury that he was gone at all.

  "What happened?" Siri asked Ferus. "Are you all right? Where is your lightsaber?"

  "It's hidden in my room." Ferus made a face. "One of several of my mistakes. I came down here looking for Gillam without stopping there first.

  I thought if I found him I could prevent Anakin taking off with the secret squad. Instead, Gillam found me."

  "Gillam?" Obi-Wan asked, surprised.

  Ferus nodded. "He was never kidnapped. He staged it himself."

  Obi-Wan felt a surge of impatience. He should have examined this possibility. He hadn't been able to imagine a son doing such a thing to his father. No matter how much he'd seen in his life, no matter what evil he'd face
d, he was still capable of surprise at a son's resentment of a powerful father. It always surprised him, how personal a betrayal could be.

  "I don't understand how he could have imprisoned you," Siri said with a frown.

  "I was exploring, and I found a hiding place," Ferus said. "It's just down this corridor. His datapad was hidden in a drain behind a lock, in a plastoid sleeve. I was just trying to access it when I heard someone coming. It was Gillam and a few members of the secret squad. I was able to conceal the datapad but they got my comlink."

  "What did they do?" Obi-Wan asked. He felt dread invade him. So the secret squad was involved.

  "They thought I was just a nosy student," Ferus said. "I decided not to resist because I didn't want to blow my cover, or especially Anakin's.

  They didn't know what to do with me. They were afraid I'd report them. They searched me, but I used the Force to redirect them, so I was able to hang onto Gillam's datapad. Then they put me in here. Gillam brought me food, but I haven't seen him in hours."

  Ferus held up the datapad. "They left me alone, so I was able to read this. First of all, look — it has a Senate seal."

  Obi-Wan took it. He recognized the symbol of Andara on the back. "This belongs to Berm Tarturi." He thought a moment. "Maybe Tarturi was right.

  Someone did break into his office and go through his things. But it was his own son."

  Ferus nodded. "That's not all. There are ransom notes on this pad. Two of them have been sent. I think Gillam plans to pin his own kidnapping on his father."

  "Why would he do such a thing?" Siri asked. "Does he hate him so much?

  " "He must," Ferus said. "But that's not the only thing. Are you in contact with Anakin?"

  Obi-Wan shook his head. "He hasn't reported in. He must be traveling or even on leria by now, but his comlink has been turned off."

  Ferus looked grave. "The last letter in the file takes responsibility for Gillam's death. It hasn't been sent yet, but it's timed to go out in five hours.".

  "He's going to frame his father for his own murder?" Obi-Wan said.

  "But how?" Siri asked. "He'll need a body. There will be some kind of investigation."

  "That's what I've been thinking about," Ferus said quietly. He ran his hands through his hair in a rare gesture of agitation. "What if Gillam planned to produce a body? Someone similar in age and build, someone who looks a little like him. They could plant text docs on the body, or near it."

  "They'd have to count on a great deal of chaos and confusion," Siri said. "There are many tests that can be done to determine identity."

  "The secret squad is going to help start a war between Andara and the rest of the planets in the system," Obi-Wan said. "They may not realize it, but they will. That will certainly create chaos." He suddenly realized what Ferus, brooding in this damp cell, had already put together. "They just need a body." He thought back to the information he had on Gillam, to the boy's height and weight and coloring. "And they've chosen — "

  "Anakin," Ferus said.

  Chapter Fourteen

  "If this doesn't work, I don't know you," Rana Halion said. Her spiky white hair seemed to bristle like fur as she surveyed the secret squad.

  Marit nodded. "Understood."

  "But it had better work," Rana Halion added. "It will," Rolai said.

  Rana Halion's transparent blue eyes swept the group. She sighed. "If you didn't come so highly recommended, I wouldn't believe it," she murmured. "You look like a bunch of kids."

  Anakin had to agree. Rolai was skinny and pale beneath his Bothan mane. Ze was plump. Tulah always looked as though he had just woken from a nap, and Hurana appeared slight and shy.

  But he had seen that Rolai was tough, almost ruthless, Ze could dissect and solve any technical problem in five minutes or less, Tulah had a brilliant mind for strategy, and Hurana had convictions and no fear.

  Marit was smart and resourceful. He would put his own trust in this squad.

  Rana pushed a contact button on her gold cuff and watched as a digital coded message flashed at her. "I don't have much time. Who is your lead pilot?" Anakin stepped forward. "I am."

  Rana looked at him intently. Anakin thought it could have been the most intimidating glance he'd ever experienced — if he hadn't grown up at the Temple. Once you've faced Jedi like Mace Windu, no one else could intimidate you. He did not drop his own gaze and met hers without flinching.

  She gave a short nod. "You seem competent. Can you pilot a starfighter?"

  "I can fly anything."

  "I almost believe it," she murmured, giving him another glance. "Do you know how to fire laser cannons at a target?"

  Anakin glanced at Marit. "I thought there was to be no active firing."

  Rana looked exasperated. "Who's in charge here?" "We all are," Rolai broke in crisply. "And we all know how to fire laser cannons. We've been over this."

  "Have you thoroughly briefed the squad?" Rana asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

  "Not with the final details," Rolai said smoothly. "We were waiting for the exact time of departure and target details."

  Rana glanced at her cuff again. "Do it then. You can inspect the starfighters. You leave in thirty minutes."

  Marit exploded as soon as Rana was out of the room. "What was that all about? What do you mean, you haven't briefed the squad? What do you know that we don't know? We're supposed to vote on everything!"

  "Calm down," Rolai said with a glance at the door to make sure Rana was out of earshot.

  "Don't tell me to calm down," Marit answered hotly. "Tell me the truth!"

  "The mission just changed a bit," Rolai said. "We're supposed to fire on the fleet."

  "Fire on the fleet?" Anakin asked. "But that's a declaration of war!"

  "That's not our problem," Rolai said. "We're hired to do the job.

  That's all."

  "Wait," Marit said. "Why didn't you tell us this?" She looked at Ze, Hurana, and Tulah. Their gazes slid away. "You all knew, and I didn't?"

  "I didn't know, either," Anakin pointed out.

  But no one was paying attention to Anakin. "We all voted to wait to tell you until we got here," Hurana said. She didn't meet Marit's hot gaze.

  "We thought you might object," Rolai said. "After the last mission, you had some misgivings about organic damage."

  "Organic damage?" Marit said in disbelief. "Is that what you're calling it now? They were living beings!"

  "Marit, what do you think we're doing?" Rolai asked. "This isn't school. It isn't a game. We all agreed we would start this as a business and run it as a business. We all agreed that we would make our own destinies."

  "That's the point," Marit said angrily. "We all agreed. We didn't leave someone out."

  "I get your point, Marit," Rolai said. "Now let's move on. Here we are. Are you going to join us, or not?"

  Anakin watched Marit's face. He could see that she was torn. No one cared what he thought, but he would throw his support behind Marit if she voted to back out.

  "I'm in," she said in a low tone.

  The group looked relieved. Even Rolai did, although he tried to hide it.

  "Hold on," Anakin said. "What about me? I'm part of the squad. Don't I get a vote, too?"

  Rolai gave him a glance that was so neutral Anakin felt a chill. It was as though Anakin wasn't even there.

  "We don't have time for this," Rolai said. "Let's inspect the starfighters."

  Rana Halion suddenly appeared again. "We have a slight change in the timing of the attack. We need to go over the coordinates and warning systems now. You'll have to come to the briefing room."

  Rolai gestured to the group. "Let's go."

  "While you're doing that, I'll check out the starfighters," Anakin said. "I need to look at the controls and see if I can handle them."

  Rolai gave him a glance. "I thought you said you could fly anything,"

  he hissed so that Rana could not hear.

  Anakin shrugged. "I sure hope I c
an," he murmured. "I don't tell you everything. But then again, you don't tell me everything, either. Do you?"

  Rolai shot him a murderous look. "We're coming," he called to Halion.