The Dangerous Games

  from the grip of a harsh master?

  "Sebulba taught him how to cheat, too," Deland said worriedly. "Come

  on, Doby. Let's get back to work."

  "You can beat him." The certainty in Anakin's voice made the two

  brothers turn to face him. "With my help. Hekula has my old Podracer. I

  built it with my own hands. They may have painted it and buffed it, but I

  still know those engines. I know its weaknesses. I know how Sebulba cheats.

  I can help you win."

  Doby and Deland exchanged a glance. "We can't ask you to do that,"

  Deland said.

  "You're not asking."

  "We can't pay you," Doby said. "All of our credits are tied up in the

  Podracer. We barely have enough to get home."

  "I don't need credits. And I don't need thanks," Anakin said. "I just

  need you to win."

  CHAPTER SIX

  "So you promised me inside information," Obi-Wan said to Didi. They

  could not locate an air taxi, and all the Transits were full, so they had

  to walk to the swoop seller. Obi-Wan didn't mind. It gave him a chance to

  get a feeling of the streets. He reached out to the Force and received

  nothing alarming back.

  "My son-in-law is an idiot."

  "That's not exactly the kind of information I had in mind," Obi-Wan

  said mildly.

  Didi sighed. "You'd think Astri would have more sense. Did I raise her

  to fall for the first tall, handsome idiot who walked through my door? I

  did not! Is it my fault she picked such a stiff-necked, rule-following,

  small-spirited, mid-Rim, mid-minded, puffed-up bonehead?"

  "Well, at least he's not a criminal," Obi-Wan said. "Maybe Astri

  wanted a quieter life. Maybe she was tired of dealing with a rule-breaking,

  truth-stretching, scam-running scoundrel of a father."

  "So it is my fault," Didi sniffed.

  "Astri has always made her own choices, Didi. And they are hers to

  make. Now, you said you had insider news on the Games."

  "Bog thinks that by serving on the Council for the Games, he'll get

  the backing of some important beings in the Senate, and that he'll be

  assigned important committee assignments. All he does is talk, talk, talk

  about how important his role is and what it will mean for his future." Didi

  mimicked a snore. "Honestly, I don't know how Astri stands it. His big job

  has been arranging the seating for some big-shot Senators. Hoo diggety-hoo.

  "

  "Didi, you said you had information," Obi-Wan said. "This is

  complaining."

  "I have plenty of information," Didi said. "How can I not? Bog never

  stops talking. But he never says anything worth listening to. Oh, look,

  here we are." Didi paused in front of a shop with closed durasteel

  shutters.

  "It doesn't look open," Obi-Wan observed.

  "Oh, it is. The seller just doesn't want to attract too many

  customers."

  "Really. That doesn't sound typical."

  "It's a very exclusive shop." Didi turned to him. "Remember, you don't

  have to say anything. Just stand there and give that Jedi-ish look."

  "I think I can manage it," Obi-Wan said dryly. "Tell me something,

  Didi. If you want to return a swoop, shouldn't you have brought it with

  you?"

  "I can fetch it in moments. No need to worry."

  Didi rapped a rhythmic knock on the door. Several seconds later the

  door slid open. Obi-Wan realized that the pause of the few seconds meant

  that they had just undergone some sort of security check. Was the shop-

  owner concerned about vandalism or theft? It was possible, since Eusebus

  was crowded with strangers.

  But the security measures seemed excessive for a swoop seller. Obi-Wan

  stepped into the dim interior, fully aware that Didi could be leading him

  into his usual swamp of deception. Didi didn't so much lie as leave crucial

  pieces of information out.

  You owe me one, Qui-Gon.

  "Good afternoon, good afternoon," Didi said to a massive creature who

  suddenly loomed out of the shadows in the shop. The being was two meters

  taller than Obi-Wan. Each fifteen-fingered hand was the size of a bantha

  haunch.

  There were six swoops parked in a random fashion around the open

  space. There were no other customers and no sign of business that Obi-Wan

  could see.

  "You may remember me," Didi said. "Didi Oddo. I was in yesterday."

  The massive creature said nothing, just watched Didi with flat eyes.

  "Then again, you may not," Didi said nervously. "This is my very good

  friend, the great Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan, this is the swoop

  seller, Uso Yso."

  The creature did not shift his gaze from Didi's face.

  "Obviously you are a creature of action and I should get right to the

  point," Didi said. "The swoop I bought yesterday... I have changed my mind.

  "

  A flicker of alertness lit Uso Yso's opaque gaze.

  "I would like my money back," Didi said, trying to sound forceful.

  "The swoop is not... not what I expected. No doubt I will return another

  day to buy a... different swoop, but not this one."

  Finally, Uso Yso spoke. "No."

  Didi took a delicate step backward. "One moment."

  He leaned back and whispered to Obi-Wan. "Can't you draw your

  lightsaber or Jedi-move something? You don't have to kill him."

  "No," Obi-Wan said.

  "A deal is a deal," Uso Yso said, crossing his huge arms. "You are

  insulting me with your presence. I do not like to be insulted."

  "Ah, no insult intended. None at all," Didi said rapidly. "Just a

  polite request. Surely there beats a heart underneath that . ah,

  magnificent physique."

  "Two hearts, actually," Uso Yso said. He withdrew an electro-jabber

  from his belt. "Would you like to continue the argument?"

  Didi froze, staring at the weapon. He took another step back. "No

  argument. Just a thought. Such a pleasant afternoon. We must be going."

  Didi almost ran from the shop. Obi-Wan followed. The door slid shut

  behind them, and Obi-Wan turned to Didi disgustedly.

  "That was no swoop seller," he accused him.

  "An unusual type, yes," Didi said. "Most helpful. Well, it's been such

  an unexpected pleasurable experience to see you, my friend, but I must be

  going - "

  Obi-Wan stepped into his path. "Explain."

  "Most happy to oblige, Obi-Wan," Didi said. "It is possible that the

  swoop seller might have an additional business."

  "Ah," Obi-Wan said.

  "Perhaps he sells swoops - I am sure he does, in fact, a few here and

  there - but that was not my business with him," Didi said evasively. His

  eyes darted about as if trying to find an escape route.

  "Your business with him was?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "A small bet," Didi said. He held up his hands as Obi-Wan glowered at

  him. "Such a tiny bet! On one of the events. Even the Jedi must realize

  that such an opportunity exists here on Euceron and there will be many who

  wish to place a wager."

  "Certainly we realize that," Obi-Wan said. "It is also illegal. The

  Senate has banned gambling on the Galactic Games, and for good reason. It

  attracts criminals." He underlined the last wor
d, giving Didi a sharp

  glance.

  Didi nodded, frowning. "True. It would attract the wrong sort. Unlike

  me, who only places a bet now and again for the fun of it."

  Obi-Wan sighed. "So why did you try to get your money back?"

  "I was too impulsive," Didi confessed. "One of my faults, along with

  my generosity, that gets me into trouble. I made a wager and then my guilt

  overwhelmed me."

  "Since when have you felt guilty about breaking the law?"

  "I prefer to think I bend it, Obi-Wan. But that's not what caused my

  great guilt. It is because the credits I used were not mine."

  "Whose were they?" Obi-Wan sensed he was nearing the real story at

  last.

  "Bog and Astri's." Didi hung his head. "It was wrong. You cannot

  reproach me more than I have reproached myself. But they have a little

  wealth hidden away for some land Bog wishes to purchase, and this purchase

  will not be made for some time. The credits were just lying there! Such a

  waste. I assumed I could take the credits, make the bet, collect my

  winnings, and return the credits I borrowed without Astri knowing."

  "And what if you lost?"

  "I had such a sure tip, I did not think it possible."

  Obi-Wan tapped a finger on his belt. Drawing information out of Didi

  was like trying to siphon water from sand. "If it is such a sure thing, why

  do you want your money back?"

  "My guilt happened!" Didi said, his brown eyes wide. "I can't do that

  to Astri."

  "And you also discovered that Bog and Astri would need the credits

  sooner than you thought," Obi-Wan guessed.

  "Well, they happened to meet the owner of the land they want to buy

  here at the Games, and he is willing to sell at last..."

  "So they will find the credits missing." Obi-Wan sighed. "There is

  only one thing to do. Confess what you've done to Astri. She will forgive

  you. She always does."

  "Yes, doesn't she? That is a good idea, my friend. That is exactly

  what I will do."

  Obi-Wan knew perfectly well that Didi would do nothing of the kind.

  "And do not involve me any further in your schemes," he said sternly. "You

  are on your own from now on. You cannot use the Jedi Order to threaten

  others."

  "Not I!" Didi exclaimed in a hurt tone. "How can you say this, when I

  am the biggest supporter of Jedi in the galaxy? I did give you insider

  information, after all," he pointed out. "You now know the most important

  bookie at the Games."

  "Am I supposed to thank you now?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously.

  "No, no, of course not. Thanks is never what I want."

  "Thanks are never what you deserve," Obi-Wan murmured.

  "Ah, you joke." Didi smiled. "Then you are not angry with me. What a

  noble being you are, Obi-Wan Kenobi! How lucky I am to have you as a

  friend!"

  "Not for much longer, if you try this again," Obi-Wan said. "Now I've

  wasted enough time. I must do my duty."

  "Of course. Vastly more important than my humble problems. Do not

  worry about me. I will be fine," Didi said bravely.

  Shaking his head, Obi-Wan left Didi, no doubt to concoct further

  schemes to get himself out of trouble. The gleam in Didi's eyes told him

  that.

  Which reminded him of his Padawan. The gleam in Anakin's eyes had

  clearly told Obi-Wan that his Padawan would not be able to resist the lure

  of Podracing for long.

  No doubt he was there now. After checking in with Siri and Ry-Gaul,

  Obi-Wan squeezed aboard a crowded Transit Red. By the time it reached the

  northern edge of the city he was the only one aboard. He jumped out and it

  turned around to speed back to the city. Obi-Wan stood in the center of a

  dusty road. Hills shimmered in the distance. He saw no sign of living

  beings.

  He summoned the Force. As clearly as a directional laser, the Force

  told him where the cave entrance would be.

  He struck off toward the hillside and climbed until he found a screen

  of thick green foliage. He pushed the bushes aside and found the cave

  entrance. Obi-Wan hiked inside. The coolness of the air felt good on his

  warm skin.

  He found the pit hangar easily. His Padawan stood over an engine, a

  hydrospanner in his hand. Obi-Wan came up behind him. Anakin was so

  absorbed that his usual sensitivity to his Master's presence was absent.

  "It's got to be calibrated exactly right," Anakin was saying to two

  young Aleena mechanics standing nearby. "We might have to do it fifty times

  to get it right. Or we might get lucky and get it right in two."

  "I hope it's the latter," Obi-Wan said. "Because there is a mission

  you should be attending to."

  Anakin stood up so abruptly that he banged his head on the turbine.

  "Master! I didn't see you."

  Obi-Wan examined the Podracer. "I see that you're busy."

  "I thought I'd lend a hand to Doby and Deland. They're from Tatooine."

  Anakin looked uncomfortable. "If they win, they free their sister. She's a

  slave."

  "I see." Obi-Wan nodded at the two brothers. "I wish you good luck.

  Anakin, may I speak with you a moment?"

  He drew Anakin aside. "You know this is wrong," he told his Padawan

  with a frown. "I'm sure you are helping for the right reasons. But this is

  not our mission. We have more important things to do. And may I remind you

  that Podracing is illegal?"

  "But the Ruling Power is looking the other way - " "But the Games

  Council is concerned. As should you be. Once word gets out, spectators will

  arrive. This could turn into a dangerous situation. Do you know what the

  course will be?"

  "Through the caves," Anakin said excitedly. "Can you imagine the

  difficulties? And they've already thought about the spectators. They're

  going to set up a viewing stand near the finish line."

  "That doesn't mean that they will be safe." Obi-Wan's comlink

  signaled, and he answered it brusquely.

  The unfamiliar voice was frantic with urgency. "There is an emergency

  - "

  "Who is this?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "Bog. It's Bog. You must come immediately. The Official Quarters."

  "What is wrong?"

  "Come now!" Bog shouted, and the line went dead.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  "We need transport," Obi-Wan said to Anakin.

  Doby approached them. "We have an airspeeder," he said. "You are

  welcome to borrow it for as long as you need it. Anakin has helped us with

  no thought for himself, and we wish to repay him however we can."

  "Thank you," Obi-Wan said. Although he was irritated with Anakin for

  heading straight to the Podraces, he was always glad to see how Anakin's

  generosity endeared him to others. Strangers became friends quickly for his

  Padawan.

  Anakin connected to the Living Force as Qui-Gon had. He had that gift.

  What he needed to develop was Qui-Gon's wisdom. That would only take time

  and missions.

  And mistakes. He could hear Qui-Gon's dry tone in his head.

  The speeder was tweaked to run smoothly at high speeds, which Obi-Wan

  would expect from two Podracer owners. He sped back to the city core,

  Anakin at
his side. He did not speculate on what was wrong. Whatever it was

  that had caused the panic in Bog's voice, he would know soon enough. He

  hoped nothing had happened to Astri or Didi.

  They passed through the high-security gate on the outskirts of the

  Games Quarters, where athletes and officials were housed. Obi-Wan was

  relieved when he arrived to see Astri and Didi standing nearby as Bog

  talked earnestly to Siri and Ferus. Tru stood next to Ry-Gaul. Siri turned

  to greet him with a thinly disguised look of disgust on her face.

  Obi-Wan leaped out of the speeder. "What happened?"

  "Bog's speeder was stolen," Siri said. "He felt an alert to all Jedi

  teams was justified." Ry-Gaul sighed.

  Obi-Wan gave Bog an exasperated glance. "You called in Jedi help

  because of a missing speeder?"

  "You don't understand," Bog said. "The speeder was in a secure area.

  This is serious. I would think the Jedi would be concerned."

  "There will always be petty crime at a large event like this one,"