The Changing of the Guard Page 9

  “Just be glad you’re not in their place,” General Yubicon said.

  The prison rose ahead, long and low, built of dark green duracrete so that it would not be visible from above or from the road. The resistance had not gotten here yet. The Jedi passed through energy gates and into the compound. A door rose into the ceiling to admit them.

  The inside of the prison stank of dirt and rot. There were no windows. A security console ran along a blank wall. Droids that had not been affected by the revolt in the city sat monitoring the equipment. Their sensors flashed green as General Yubicon entered.

  Energy cages hung suspended from the ceiling. The walls and floors were stained with dark matter. Desperation and pain seemed to be as much a part of this structure as durasteel and duracrete.

  Obi-Wan looked at Anakin.

  Not yet, but soon.

  The guards flooded in behind them. Now they would not have to deal with the swoops overhead.

  The guards opened a second door, which also rose vertically. Behind an energy fence was an enormous cell. It was stuffed full of beings and aliens from many worlds. Most of them wore rags and were barefoot. They eyed the guards with hatred. Some of them looked cheered at the prospect of breaking in new prisoners.

  “When, Master?” Anakin asked urgently.

  “It seems to me,” Ferus said politely, “that now would be an extremely good time.”

  “Okay,” Obi-Wan said. “Now.”

  The four Jedi moved as one. There were twenty-two army officers in the prison and five prison droids within their sight. No doubt more droids were in the inner rooms of the prison. But now was as good a time as any to attack.

  Obi-Wan, Ferus, and Anakin went for the officers, using the Force to push the first line with such power that they bowled over their fellow officers. Blaster shots went wild and pinged on the prison walls. Siri whirled and kicked General Yubicon in the chest, knocking him backward. His head hit the duracrete floor, knocking him out with the stunned expression still on his face. She leaned over, deftly plucked the lightsabers from the satchel, and tossed them to the Jedi.

  Anakin leaped above the guards. He grabbed the bottom of an energy cage and flipped himself in a midair somersault, then landed behind them. From there it was easy to simply disarm two officers before they had a chance to turn around. Without their weapons, the guards turned, looked at General Yubicon on the floor, and simply ran out.

  Lightsabers blazing, the Jedi advanced through the rest of the officers and droids, deflecting fire. Behind them, the prisoners roared approval.

  Then Anakin heard a voice above the rest, coming from the holding cell. The prisoners were shouting, and it took him a moment to make out the words. “The stun nets!”

  More guards flooded the main room, stun net launchers in hand. They didn’t care that they would snare other guards. They let loose the nets with their electrical charges. The nets hung in the air for a split second. In a blink of an eye they would blanket the room.

  In that split second Anakin made his calculations. He knew if they were hit with the nets, the paralyzing charges could hamper them. The nets would ensnare them, and every time they moved, sensors would deliver another paralyzing charge. Better to avoid them completely then slash away with their lightsabers. The nets wouldn’t stop them, but they would slow them down.

  He stepped forward before the others could move. He held up a hand. He felt the Force in the room. Could he do it? He reached out with his mind, gathering in the Force. He thought of his lessons with Soara Antana. Everything in the prison became fluid to him. It was easy to move, easy to manipulate.

  Using the Force, he flipped each of the nets backward and onto the guards.

  The guards fell, shouting and kicking. Within moments, they were still, unwilling to cause another charge to jolt them.

  The prisoners sent up a roar.

  Suddenly, the prison wall began to glow. A red line appeared on the wall, moving upward quickly.

  “The army must be outside,” Obi-Wan said. “They’re using laser artillery. Watch out…the wall is going to come down!”

  They leaped backward as the entire entry wall suddenly fell with a crash, exposing the prison to the woods beyond.

  Then they got the bad news. Outside was an entire battalion of soldiers.

  “Surrender!” an amplified voice cried.

  “Let us out!” one of the prisoners cried. “Let us fight!”

  Obi-Wan leaped over and deactivated the energy fence. The prisoners rushed out, grabbing blaster rifles and stun batons from the fallen guards.

  “We can do it. Just give us a chance.” A short Romin in a tattered tunic stood next to Obi-Wan, a blaster in his fist.

  “We didn’t free you to see you slaughtered,” Obi-Wan said. “That’s an army out there. With grenade mortars and missile tubes.”

  “Surrender or die!” the voice repeated.

  Anakin looked at the prisoners. Their faces were grim. They were ready to face whatever came.

  “Do what you want,” the prisoner said. “We’ve been inside too long. We won’t surrender.”

  “We can win, Master,” Anakin urged.

  “There has to be a weapons room,” Obi-Wan said rapidly to Anakin. “Go with Ferus. Bring back what you find.”

  Anakin motioned to Ferus, and they leaped over the guards in the stun nets and ran down the hall. It wasn’t hard to find the weapons room. They found blaster rifles and more stun net launchers. The prisoners crowded in with them, quickly grabbing blaster rifles and stun batons. Anakin picked up a flamethrower. Then he and Ferus hurried back to Obi-Wan and Siri with the stun nets.

  “They’re re-forming their battle line,” Obi-Wan said. “They want to risk as few soldiers as possible. These stun nets can come in handy. But they don’t have much range.”

  “You wouldn’t have to worry about range from a swoop,” Ferus said. “There are some outside the front door.”

  “You’ll get blasted into the sky if you stick a toe out there,” Obi-Wan said.

  “Cover me,” Ferus said.

  Anakin would have just run. But Ferus waited to get Siri’s nod. He dashed toward the front of the building.

  “Anakin, use that flamethrower launcher,” Obi-Wan said. “Don’t hit the front line. Just keep it moving along so they back up. Try to drive them between those trees so that Ferus can drop the nets. Siri, come on.”

  Anakin powered up the flamethrower while Siri and Obi-Wan ran out. The army began to fire. Using wrist rockets and small missiles, the army tried to advance, as Anakin concentrated the flamethrower on the center of the line.

  Siri and Obi-Wan Force-jumped past the flames, aiming their lightsabers at the weapons the troops had left behind as they hurried to escape.

  Ferus flew overhead, piloting the swoop with one hand on the bars, using his knees to steer. With astonishing speed, he activated the net launchers, one after the other, and tossed them over the front lines.

  The soldiers fell, and the others behind were confused. They looked to their captain, but he had been diverted and was ordering the others to put out the fire that had started in the brush. Smoke began to roll over the soldiers, making them cough.

  Obi-Wan looked back at the prisoners. He held up a hand. “Now!” he shouted.

  With a cry, the prisoners surged forward. The Jedi had succeeded in confusing and disorienting the army. But it had not vanquished them. Mortar fire pounded and blaster fire shuddered. The Jedi moved, leading the charge, deflecting fire when they could and Force-pushing the troops away.

  Anakin felt his blood pumping with the challenge of facing an army. He felt certain of victory, yet he also saw that it would be difficult. Obi-Wan had been right. What kind of a victory would they have if the prisoners were slaughtered? They were falling around him, no matter how quickly he moved, no matter how many missile launchers he took out. There were too few Jedi and too many weapons.

  Just then, a sleek cruiser glowed red in the sky.
It dropped down like a stone to a perfect landing, like a feather on a blade of grass. Anakin felt a surge of relief. There were only two or three Jedi he knew who could land a plane like that. He was one of them. Another was Garen Muln, Obi-Wan’s old friend.

  The ramp slid down. Mace Windu, Bant Aerin, and Garen Muln charged down the ramp. Their lightsabers were a blur as they moved through the troops.

  The Force was strong now, compounded by them all fighting at the peak of concentration. They joined together, strategically targeting the army so that they separated divisions from each other and knocked out the leaders who tried to organize.

  Within a short time, the tide of the battle turned. When the captain of the troops found himself facing the Jedi personally, he laid down his weapon and surrendered.

  When the rest of the army threw down their weapons, Anakin could almost hear the sighs of relief. Everyone was tired of fighting. Everyone just wanted to go home.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Rescuing you is becoming a habit,” Garen said to Obi-Wan.

  Bant smiled her shy smile. “This time I came along for the ride.”

  Obi-Wan put his hands on her shoulders. He did not say a word. They smiled at each other. He hadn’t seen Bant in three years. They had worked out a system of communication, however. Whenever one of them was at the Temple, they would leave the other a message or a small gift. A river stone, a sweet, a dried flower, an odd turn of phrase they had learned in a new language, written on a folded durasheet and tied with a bit of fabric. So Obi-Wan had continued to feel her gentle presence in his life. But seeing her was better.

  “If you two wouldn’t mind curtailing the reunion, I’d like a status report.” Mace’s voice was dry. It was clear that he wasn’t very happy about having to disrupt his schedule to fly to Romin.

  “First of all, the real Slam gang is on Romin,” Obi-Wan said.

  “I know,” Mace replied. “Apparently they bribed the director of the prison.”

  “Teda and Zan Arbor are scheming to get off-planet,” Siri said. “They’re going to try to use the Slams’ ship. Joylin is still in power. The first execution is scheduled to take place in…about fifteen minutes.”

  “Then I think our first task is to demonstrate to Great Leader Teda the necessity of his surrender,” Mace said.

  They caught Zan Arbor and Teda as Teda was attempting to start an airspeeder piled high with cases and boxes. Garen landed the transport directly in front of them.

  “Do it!” Zan Arbor was shouting.

  “I’m usually driven,” Teda said. “I don’t usually drive.”

  “For galaxy’s sake, let me drive!” Zan Arbor yelled.

  Mace Windu swept up and buried his lightsaber in the airspeeder’s engine, effectively cutting off power in one stroke. “Don’t worry. You can ride with us.”

  Zan Arbor’s lips were white. Fury was evident in the strained muscles of her neck. Her veins protruded like ropes. “Jedi,” she spat out.

  “What did you do to my army?” Teda asked. “No one is answering my communications. You can’t interfere with a sovereign power!”

  “What’s left of your army has been destroyed and your commander has surrendered,” Mace said. “And I’m afraid I do have the authority to interfere. I am here on behalf of the Senate to negotiate the terms of your surrender.”

  “I will never surrender!” Teda cried.

  Zan Arbor began to climb out of the airspeeder. “I’m not part of this, so I think I’ll—”

  Mace Windu held his blazing lightsaber centimeters from her face. “I think,” he said softly, “you’ll do as you’re told.”

  Zan Arbor backed up and sat on the edge of the airspeeder.

  “Now,” Mace Windu said, “where are the Slams?”

  “How should we know?” Zan Arbor said sulkily.

  “My guess is that they’ve gone to get their ship,” Siri said. “No doubt they have plans to meet and transport Zan Arbor and Teda off-planet.”

  “Here’s what’s going to happen,” Mace Windu said. “We’re going to escort you to the headquarters of the new government of Romin.”

  “You mean bring me to my own palace?” Teda asked with a sneer. “So I can negotiate with thieves and murderers? Is that what the Senate sanctions these days?”

  “The Senate is supporting this revolt on the basis of your many crimes against your own citizens,” Mace thundered. “You are lucky the Jedi are here to ensure you won’t be torn limb from limb. Now let’s go.”

  Joylin was sitting with his closest allies eating a large meal in the dining area when the Jedi arrived with Teda and Zan Arbor in tow. He pushed away his food and stood.

  “So, you came,” he said, looking at Teda with hatred. “Not by choice, I see. Typical of your cowardice.”

  Teda looked at the meal. “That’s my food!”

  “It is the food of the citizens of Romin.”

  Zan Arbor rolled her eyes. “Ah, democracy,” she sneered.

  “Here is what the Senate requires,” Mace said. “No executions may take place. Trials must be held, evidence gathered. You cannot begin a new government using the tactics of the one you overthrew. Surely you can see that.”

  Joylin said nothing. He stared with hatred at Teda.

  “Give the order to stop the execution,” Mace said.

  Joylin did not move.

  “The Jedi have destroyed Teda’s army,” Mace said. “Would you like us to do the same to yours?”

  Ferus spoke. “Senate support will be crucial in building your new world,” he said to Joylin. “You have done so much. Your vision deserves the best chance to flourish.”

  Joylin turned. He blinked at Ferus, as though he had been disturbed out of a deep sleep. “Yes,” he said. He picked up his comlink. “Stop the execution. Teda has surrendered.”

  “I hope you won’t be putting me with the others,” Teda said. “I wouldn’t think they’d be very…pleased to see me.”

  “I think it’s the perfect place for you,” Joylin said. “Guards!”

  The guards led Teda and Zan Arbor away. Joylin leaned over to speak to an aide on the other side of the room.

  “I feel sorrow that lives were lost, but the outcome is good,” Mace said to the Jedi. “This change on Romin will make a better world.”

  He turned to Ferus. “You spoke well just now. You allowed Joylin to make his decision and save face in front of his supporters.”

  “There is a bit of pride mixed in with his politics,” Ferus said.

  “Ferus showed a greater grasp of this situation than we did,” Siri said lightly. “He predicted a chaotic takeover. He said that Joylin would surprise us, and he was right.”

  “Good, Ferus. We need to anticipate problems,” Mace said.

  Obi-Wan noted that Anakin looked unhappy. Mace had singled Ferus out for praise. He moved closer to his Padawan.

  “I am proud of you,” he said. “You fought well, with compassion and precision.”

  But Anakin was not listening.

  Something was wrong.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Anakin hung back, watching Joylin carefully. He knew the Force was helping him, he knew that this sudden power was a new side of the Force that he hadn’t yet tapped, and he was filled with a sudden sense of exultation. He had even more power than he knew. Suddenly, he saw into the heart of Joylin. He did not see just what Joylin wanted them to see, or didn’t care if they saw, but the most secret part of him. Joylin suddenly looked so small. He was such easy prey.

  I didn’t know this, Anakin thought. The Force isn’t just about manipulating objects. I can manipulate beings, too. I can use their fears and secrets.

  “You did it,” he said to Joylin. “You let him go.”

  The Jedi turned to look at him, surprised.

  “Those guards aren’t taking Teda to prison. You never wanted him to surrender,” Anakin said. “You knew he was too much of a coward to do so. You just gave him the ultimatum so you would
have an excuse to execute all his loyal followers. You were afraid if they survived they would build a power base and ultimately destroy you. You knew that Teda was nothing without them, that he wasn’t capable of running a government. He’s just a figurehead. You don’t fear him, so you don’t need him dead. You just need him gone. So if someone like Zan Arbor pays you enough, you’ll allow him to escape. She made the deal with you at the beginning of the revolt, didn’t she?”

  The Jedi turned back to Joylin. His angry silence told them everything.

  “Where are they?” Mace asked.

  “I’d guess Teda and Zan Arbor are heading for the Slams’ ship,” Anakin said. “And I would also guess that the Slams have permission to leave Romin, no matter what Joylin has told us. He has kept the permission order for the Slams to leave in place despite the lock-down.”

  “Withdraw that permission,” Mace ordered.

  “It is too late,” Joylin replied.

  With a withering look of contempt at Joylin, Mace led the Jedi out of the room.

  They rushed to the landing platform, zooming up in one of the turbolifts. When they reached the top, the Jedi quickly hid behind a gravsled stacked with equipment. They could see the Slams readying the ship for departure. Through a windscreen, Anakin saw a blond head.

  “They are still here,” Mace said. “Excellent work, Anakin. Let’s go.”

  “Wait.” Obi-Wan’s tone was sharp, and Mace turned, surprised. He was rarely told to wait.

  “We should let them go,” Obi-Wan said. “This is our chance. They are on their way to Granta Omega. It’s the only way we can find him. If we can get a tracking device aboard, we’ll have him.”

  “Obi-Wan, we have Zan Arbor here, now,” Mace said. “She is capable of doing great harm to many. Are you willing to risk letting her go for the sake of Granta Omega?”

  “I feel strongly that we must,” Obi-Wan said. “Omega is the bigger threat.”

  Ferus bit his lip, looking from Obi-Wan to Mace. Anakin waited, his hand on his lightsaber.

  Siri’s eyes blazed in agreement. “Obi-Wan is right. Ferus and I are ready to join them on this mission,” she told Mace.