Siri said. "Everyone should be careful with their personal property."
"Petty?" Bog flushed. "I don't call this petty."
"What Siri means is that this is really a case for the planet
security," Obi-Wan said.
Bog flourished his comlink. "Really? Let's see what Liviani says when
she arrives."
"You called Liviani?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course. As the head of the Council of the Games, I thought she
would want to know," Bog said. "I must remind you that I am a member."
"I don't think you need to remind them," Astri said in a low tone.
"You keep mentioning it."
A gleaming black airspeeder drew up, and Liviani slid out. "I received
your message," she told Bog in a concerned tone. "Tell me again what
happened and what exactly is missing."
Bog threw the Jedi a triumphant look. "The speeder was gone when Astri
and I returned from the opening rituals," he said. "As I told you, some
personal possessions were inside. My green cloak - the only one I brought
for warmth - and a box of my favorite figda candy, as well as my datapad,
my travel kit... and I am sure other important things."
"This is very bad," Liviani said. "I'm glad you contacted me." Obi-Wan
was surprised at the concern in her tone. He had expected her to be as
annoyed as they were. "Members of the Council for the Games deserve the
highest consideration." She turned to the Jedi. "You must investigate this
at once."
Siri looked startled. "Investigate a speeder theft? It's a waste of
our time."
Siri was never one to hide her feelings. "Surely there are better uses
for our time," Obi-Wan said in a more conciliatory tone.
"I don't think so," Liviani said flatly. "Begin at once."
"We don't take orders from you," Siri said. Her face was calm but two
bright red spots appeared on her cheeks. "We are here at the Ruling Power's
request."
"Then I shall contact the Ruling Power," Liviani snapped, reaching for
her comlink. "All I have to do is contact Maxo Vista. He will go to them at
once, and they will order you."
"No one orders the Jedi." Ry-Gaul spoke at last. His soft voice was
measured, but with a core of strength that made everyone stop and look at
him. "We accept requests. Then we decide."
Liviani struggled to control her irritation. It was clear that Ry-
Gaul's authoritative tone had made her realize it was time to back down.
"Of course," she said through tight lips. She shoved her comlink back into
her cloak pocket. "Then I request that this be investigated." She spoke in
a more conciliatory tone. "Think about it. This area is under top security.
Yet a thief entered and stole a valuable item. The athletes and workers are
under my care."
Obi-Wan nodded shortly. "In that case, we accept your request. One
Jedi team will investigate."
Liviani swept off in a swirl of robes and scarves. Siri drew closer to
Obi-Wan.
"I still say this is a waste of time," she said. "Who knows how long
it will take to investigate a theft?"
"I do," Obi-Wan said. "It will take exactly ten seconds." Then he
looked hard at Didi, who coughed and looked away.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Anakin saw his Master signal to Didi. Didi tried to ignore the signal,
but Obi-Wan strode over. Anakin followed curiously.
Obi-Wan drew Didi aside. "You'd better start talking fast," he said.
"And no excuses. No diversions. Just the truth."
"I didn't steal it, I borrowed it," Didi said.
Didi had stolen his own son-in-law's speeder? Anakin couldn't believe
it.
"I was going to return it," Didi said quickly, as he noted the
thunderous expression on Obi-Wan's face. "The same way you were going to
return the credits?"
"Ah, you see!" Didi cried triumphantly. "My point exactly! How could I
return the credits if I didn't steal the speeder?"
"Explain your logic," Obi-Wan said. "Nobody else can follow it."
"I was going to take your excellent advice and confess everything to
Astri," Didi said. "I was on my way to find her and I saw the speeder. I
began to reflect on the amount of credits I had borrowed, and the fact that
if Bog found out he would no doubt banish me to wander the galaxy
friendless and alone. So I thought it best to return the credits without
his ever finding out."
"So you stole his speeder."
"Borrowed. But only so I could repay the credits! You see?"
"Well," Obi-Wan said, "you're just going to have to return it."
"Ah," Didi said. "Another excellent suggestion. Except it's too late.
I've sold the speeder."
"At least then you can give them the credits," Obi-Wan said with a
sigh.
"But I can't! I have to place another bet!"
Obi-Wan turned away. "Fine. I'm no longer involved. I'm telling Bog
who stole the speeder, and you can explain it any way you want."
"Wait!" Didi screeched hurriedly. "My good friend, Obi-Wan! You don't
understand! I will return the speeder most definitely! My bet is a sure
thing."
"No bet is a sure thing, Didi," Obi-Wan said. "When are you going to
learn that?"
"But this one is! I promise!"
Obi-Wan paused. Anakin watched his face. He had expected his Master to
walk away, but something Didi said had stopped him. It seemed a minor
problem to Anakin. Why was Obi-Wan getting involved?
"How do you know the bet is a sure thing?" Obi-Wan asked.
Didi looked uncomfortable under Obi-Wan's scrutiny. "Well. You might
say I have a tip."
"What kind of tip?" Obi-Wan frowned.
"A tip that an event is fixed," Didi admitted. "From a source I trust.
"
"Who?" Obi-Wan demanded.
"Someone you know," Didi said. "Fligh."
Obi-Wan groaned. "Not Fligh. Is he on Euceron?"
"Of course," Didi said. "Isn't everyone? And you can't beat Fligh's
information. If there's a nasty, secret bit of business, you can bet Fligh
knows about it. So how could I ignore his advice? The swoop obstacle race
is fixed and I know the winner. If you'd let me make the bet, everything
will be fine. My problems will be solved, and I know how much you want
this.
"Wait here," Obi-Wan told him sternly.
He drew Anakin aside. "I think we should pursue this," he said. "If
some of the events are fixed, it could cause major trouble. It could be a
serious disruption of the peace."
We're wasting time on this. I could be with the Podracers. I could be
helping Doby and Deland. They are trying to free their sister. Didi is
trying to win a bet. Which is more important?
Anakin hid his disappointment with a frown. "Who is Fligh? Do you
trust him?"
"Trust him?" Obi-Wan grimaced. "Not at all. But if he's heard
something, we could have problems even if his information is false. Fligh
hangs around the Senate. He knows everyone and passes along information for
credits. If he's heard an event is fixed, he isn't the only one who thinks
this." He sighed. "As much as I'd like to walk away from this, I'm afraid
we'll have to investigate."
Obi-Wan gave Anakin a careful look. "What is
wrong, Padawan?"
"It seems... a waste of time to me," Anakin said, reluctant to
contradict his Master. "We are here as peacekeepers. There is a better use
of Jedi time." He did not mention Doby and Deland, but he knew his Master
would know what he was not saying.
Obi-Wan nodded as if considering Anakin's opinion. "What do you think
would be a better use of our time?" Anakin looked down and said nothing.
"Tell me," Obi-Wan continued, "what do you think would happen if it
was discovered that some of the events are fixed?"
Anakin shrugged. "Some will be upset. Especially those who have placed
illegal bets."
"What about the planets involved? If it appears that some have
cheated, or conspired to defraud the Games, how will other worlds react?
Each world sends the very best of its athletes to compete in the Games.
These beings are often great heroes on their home-worlds. What if they are
denied their victories because an event is fixed?"
"I guess it could create some unrest," Anakin said, after a pause.
"Yes, young Padawan," Obi-Wan said. "Hundreds of thousands of beings
are crammed into one city. All have come to cheer their heroes or their
future heroes. It may not seem an important lead for us to follow, but
missions don't always start out with a battle. Sometimes they begin with
something insignificant. Some-thing unimportant. Part of being a Jedi is to
recognize the small thing that can change everything."
"If it is so small, how can we recognize it?"
"We take ourselves out of what we are looking at," Obi-Wan answered.
Anakin scowled. "I don't understand."
Obi-Wan put his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "I know. That is why you
are still a Padawan. Someday you will."
CHAPTER-NINE
Obi-Wan didn't blame Anakin for his puzzlement. Didi's bet didn't
appear to be worth Jedi investigation. But instinct was ticking inside Obi-
Wan, telling him that this was something to pursue. He had learned not to
ignore that small voice. Qui-Gon had taught him that. If he could teach
Anakin one thing, it would be to slow down enough to hear that insistent
sound, sometimes no more than a whisper, that said, follow this.
Didi nervously scuttled through the crowded streets, his eyes alert
for the security force he was sure would be pursuing him soon. "It occurs
to me that Fligh might not be too pleased to hear that I have involved the
Jedi," he said. "Perhaps it would be better if you went on alone."
"No, it wouldn't," Obi-Wan answered firmly.
Didi stopped and turned. "Do not take this wrong. I am honored and
blessed with your presence. But being friends with you is not easy, Obi-
Wan."
"I know."
Didi turned into a crowded open-air plaza. Fountains played in the
center, each one displaying the colors of a different world and changing in
the next instant to another, so that the sparkling water seemed to glow
with a thousand colors at once. Trees and bushes from planets around the
galaxy had been placed in huge stone urns that offered shade for the chairs
and tables set up underneath. A large screen flashed the opening times of
various events, as well as the best routes to get to them. Other smaller
screens showed events taking place in the various stadiums. Beings from
around the galaxy sat watching the screens, sipping juice or tea, eating
sweets, and watching children play in the multicolored fountains. A four-
piece band played soft jizz-wail music.
Obi-Wan's glance swept the plaza. Although he had not seen Fligh in
many years, he recognized him immediately. He sat with his back to a wall
snaked with blooming vines, tapping one long foot to the music. He sipped
from a glass of bright yellow juice. He was as thin and spidery as ever,
and his long ears appeared even longer, the lobes resting on his shoulders.
A tuft of graying yellow hair sprouted from his balding head. Several gold
rings were stacked on his long fingers. As they came closer, Obi-Wan saw
that Fligh had replaced his pride and joy - his fake green eye - with a
bright gold one.
Obi-Wan had first met Fligh when he was Qui-Gon's Padawan. Fligh had
sworn to help his best friend Didi even as he squirmed out of telling the
truth to the Jedi and faked his own death. Getting the whole truth out of
Fligh wouldn't be easy.
His pleasant expression darkened with apprehension when he saw the
Jedi, but he quickly turned it into a welcoming smile. "Didi! Old friend!
Such a surprise to see you on Euceron! Though everyone who is anyone is
here, so there you go, not such a surprise after all."
"Do you remember Obi-Wan Kenobi, the great Jedi Knight?"
"Ah, but he was just a Learner when I knew him," Fligh said. "Obi-Wan,
what a fortunate meeting! It is my luck to be able to renew our great
friendship."
"We were never friends," Obi-Wan pointed out.
"We weren't, it's true, and that is a pity," Fligh agreed sadly. "But
now we have a second chance. I see that now you have a Padawan Learner
yourself."
"I am Anakin Skywalker," Anakin said.
Fligh turned to examine him curiously with his good eye. "I have heard
about you."
Anakin looked defensive. "What have you heard?"
"Whoa-hoa, relax, young friend," Fligh said. "It was all good things,
I assure you. Yes, promising Jedi, amazing talents, there you go."
"Didi tells us you have some information about some of the events at
the Games," Obi-Wan said.
Fligh narrowed his eye at Didi. "Do I? I hear things, but nothing
important enough to involve the Jedi."
"That is not what Didi said." Obi-Wan stood casually, as though he had
all the time in the world, but he was prepared to pressure Fligh. He was
impatient to get to the bottom of this. He didn't want to waste more of the
day.
"All right, all right," Didi said when Fligh shot him another look. "I
told him. But he's a Jedi, Fligh. You can't lie to a Jedi."
"I don't see why not," Fligh shot back, too angry to watch his words.
"They're no different from anybody else."
"Oh, yes," Anakin said stridently. "We are."
Fligh's head whipped around, his ears taking a moment to catch up.
They bobbed gently and came to rest on his shoulders. His gaze flicked to
the lightsabers tucked into Obi-Wan's and Anakin's belts. "Errrrr, you do
have a point. There you go. I concede it. In that case - and considering
our deep friendship which I cherish despite your refusal to acknowledge it
- I will tell you what I know. I heard a rumor that one of the events was
fixed. I told Didi about it. After all, why shouldn't my friend benefit?"
He gave Didi a hard stare. "If I'd known that friend had such a big mouth,
I might have reconsidered."
"Are you involved in this?" Obi-Wan asked him. "Do you know who fixed
the obstacle race, and how?"
"I know nothing except this - the participant from Alderaan will win."
Obi-Wan frowned. How could a swoop obstacle race - a series of timed
individual races against the clo
ck - be fixed? "How do you know?"
"I don't have to tell you that," Fligh said defiantly. "That's true,"
Obi-Wan said. "But you will have to tell the security force for the Ruling
Power."
Fligh broke into a smile. "No need for that! I'd much rather share
with friends! I was told by Quentor. A being very much like me, who does
similar work."
"Another thief?"
"Another businessman like myself, who buys and sells information and
the occasional valuable item that might find its way into our hands.
Quentor would not tell me how he knew, but he swore the information was
true, and I believed him. A clever one, that Quentor. He would not steer
you wrong. He swore that there is an insider at the Games who has arranged
to fix an event. A good way to make a quick fortune, isn't it? I thought it
was a rumor worth a few gambling credits for myself and my friend."
Obi-Wan considered this. Fligh was calling it a rumor, but he had told
Didi to bet and no doubt had placed a bet himself. But that didn't
necessarily mean the rumor was true. Didi had placed plenty of bad bets,
some of them on Fligh's advice.