The Dangerous Games

  buy back his speeder instead."

  Obi-Wan saw the datapad tucked under Didi's arm. "Let me see that."

  There was a chance that someone on the Games Council knew the events

  were rigged. This might be an easy way to find out. He quickly accessed the

  information on Bog's system and flipped through random files. There didn't

  seem to be anything amiss. One file was labeled WAYS TO ADVANCE. Obi-Wan

  accessed it and read through a list of instructions Bog had written to

  himself.

  BE FRIENDLY TO ALL!! THOSE WHO CANNOT HELP YOU TODAY CAN HELP YOU

  TOMORROW!!

  DO MENIAL TASKS FOR IMPORTANT BEINGS!! IT MAKES YOU INDISPENSABLE!!

  NEVER CONTRADICT A SUPERIOR!!

  FOLLOW THE POWER!!!!!!!

  "You see what I have to put up with?" Didi sighed. "My poor Astri."

  Obi-Wan accessed another file marked GAMES COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITIES.

  He scanned the notes carefully. It appeared that Bog's only job on the

  Games Council was arranging VIP seating. He had made lists matching

  Senators with exclusive gallery skyboxes for various events. So much for

  his importance.

  Obi-Wan shut down the datapad. He tucked it inside his tunic.

  "I was going to sell that!" Didi protested.

  "It's not yours to sell. Didi, I know you won't take my advice. But

  things just might be more complicated than you realize. I'd advise you to

  stay away from betting."

  "I assure you I will," Didi said, his brown eyes sincere.

  Obi-Wan's comlink signaled. Jocasta Nu's voice came through crisply.

  He spoke so that Didi could not hear. "I found out who Quentor is. Were you

  playing a joke on me, Obi-Wan?" Jocasta Nu asked.

  "No, of course not."

  "There was no record of him anywhere, so I did the usual criminal

  search. Then a deep background trace. Nothing appeared."

  "So he is an underground figure."

  Jocasta Nu chuckled. "Not exactly. He's a yellow-tailed summerbird."

  "He's a bird?"

  "An unofficial pet of the Senate. He lives in the eaves of the

  building and the Senators leave him fruit and crumbs to feed on. If he's

  one of your suspects, I must warn you, he hasn't left Coruscant. He's most

  likely nibbling on muja fruit right about now."

  Obi-Wan groaned, then thanked Jocasta Nu and cut the communication.

  Fligh had lied to him. That wasn't surprising. It was a lie worthy of

  Fligh, one calculated to delay him and amuse him.

  But he wasn't amused.

  He turned to Didi. "Do you know where Fligh is staying?" Didi shook

  his head. "A guest house, I suppose. A hovel, I'm sure. Fligh is very

  cheap."

  "Find out."

  "Ah. Yes, Obi-Wan. I can see in your eyes that you need this

  information and I will not fail you." Didi bowed and rushed away.

  Obi-Wan knocked on the door to Yso's shop, duplicating Didi's rhythmic

  knock. Someone hurried out, his face turned away. No one wanted to be

  recognized in this kind of place. Obi-Wan pretended to examine a beat-up

  swoop with a dented handlebar while he listened to the other occupant of

  the shop approach Uso Yso.

  "I'd like to buy a swoop."

  "At what price?"

  The bettor named a figure, then said, "I'll take it to the blaster

  skill event where I hope to see Wesau T'orrin of Rezi-9 win."

  "That is a good plan." Uso Yso slipped the credits into a wide belt he

  wore around his waist and entered some information into a datapad. He

  handed the bettor a small durasheet. "Here is your receipt."

  Obi-Wan waited until the bettor had left the shop, then approached.

  "I'm here for a swoop," he said, looking up at the tall being. He waved a

  hand. "I would like to see your datapad."

  Uso Yso snorted. "You don't need to see my data-pad to buy a swoop.

  Which do you want?"

  Obi-Wan waved his hand again. Uso Yso was unusually resistant to Jedi

  mind suggestion. "I'd like to see your datapad first."

  "If you don't want to buy a swoop, you can leave," Uso Yso said, his

  eyes narrowing in suspicion.

  Obi-Wan suppressed his slight disappointment. No matter how adept a

  Jedi was or how strong the connection to the Force, sometimes mind

  suggestion just didn't work.

  Obi-Wan followed the lead of the bettor, naming a figure, then saying,

  "I plan to take the swoop to the Podrace and hope that Deland Tyerell will

  be the winner."

  Uso Yso shook his head. "There's been a last-minute change. A new

  driver. Do you still want the swoop?"

  "Who is the driver?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

  Yso consulted his datapad. "Anakin Skywalker."

  Obi-Wan felt the shock shimmer inside him, but he did not register

  surprise on his face.

  "Well?" Yso demanded impatiently.

  Before Obi-Wan could answer, a small, slight being with four eyes, two

  of them set on the sides of his head, slipped inside the shop. "Security

  patrol outside."

  Uso Yso pushed a lever and a wall slid back, revealing more swoops in

  various stages of repair. "Besum!" He tossed a tool kit to his assistant.

  "Start working."

  "I don't know how to fix a swoop!"

  "I don't care," Yso snarled. "Just do it." He turned to Obi-Wan.

  "Security makes patrols every once in a while. Nothing to worry about."

  Now that Yso was in danger of losing Obi-Wan's business, he was

  suddenly friendly. He had also left his datapad angled toward Obi-Wan, and

  the notations were easy to read. In the time it took for Yso to check on

  Besum's activities, Obi-Wan had scanned the file and memorized it.

  To his surprise, the letters and numbers looked familiar. It took him

  only a moment to realize that they were similar to the notes recording the

  skybox seating on Bog's datapad.

  Which meant that Bog wasn't recording seats for Senators. He was

  recording bets.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Obi-Wan left the shop and found a quiet alley to peruse Bog's files.

  He read the names of the Senators who had the same notations as Yso's

  datapad. Some of the names he didn't recognize, but many he did. They were

  among the most illustrious and revered members.

  He had no illusions about corruption in the Senate. But he was shocked

  to find that so many Senators would be involved in an illegal scheme such

  as this one. Among the names was Bail Organa, the Senator from Alderaan

  Obi-Wan had always respected for his integrity. Why would someone like

  Organa risk his career in order to make a few credits on a bet?

  The bets had to be substantial, he supposed. Or else the Senators have

  no fear that they'll be caught.

  He had to deal with Anakin, but he had to pursue this first. Obi-Wan

  found Bog in a VIP box watching a match of krovation. When Astri saw him,

  her smile was wide and welcoming.

  "Obi-Wan! How good of you to come by. The match is almost finished."

  Obi-Wan looked at the two teams vying with poles on the field. "As

  much as I like krovatin, I have to decline. I'm here on business. I need to

  speak with Bog."

  Astri's smile dimmed at the look on his face. She frowned and stepped

  aside. "Please join us."

  Obi-Wa
n walked into the box. Bog fastened the jeweled clasp to his

  dark red septsilk robe as the Jedi approached.

  "How can I help you, Obi-Wan?"

  Obi-Wan hesitated, his hand on the datapad in his inner pocket. "If

  you prefer to speak alone..." Bog smiled. "I hide nothing from Astri."

  His smile showed not a trace of worry, but Astri walked to his side.

  Her eyes were grave now. Astri was perceptive, and she knew Obi-Wan well.

  "What is it, Obi-Wan?"

  Obi-Wan withdrew the datapad. "I have something of yours."

  Bog hurried forward. "You found it? Where? Thank you!"

  Obi-Wan sidestepped the question of where he had found it. He slipped

  the datapad back into his pocket. "I'm afraid I can't return it just yet. I

  must confess that I took a look at your files, Bog."

  Bog looked disconcerted. "Well, I see. I suppose that is all right. I

  have no secrets."

  Obi-Wan was puzzled. Bog did not seem guilty or worried. "I accessed

  the file referring to the work you've done for the Senators."

  "Yes, I arranged special seating for them," Bog said, nodding. "Is

  there a problem with some of the skyboxes?" He looked puzzled. "I didn't

  know Jedi cared about such things."

  "We don't," Obi-Wan said quietly. "But you did not arrange skyboxes

  for the Senators. You placed bets for them on events in which the outcome

  is assured. This is not only illegal, but it has the potential to spark

  conflict among the member worlds."

  "Obi-Wan, I don't know what you're talking about," Bog interrupted,

  shaking his head. "The Games are fixed? Senators betting? I can't believe

  that. All I did was place orders for special seating. You must be mistaken.

  "

  Obi-Wan studied Bog as the crowd around them roared at a player's

  score. "If you are not involved, you are being used. Where did you get the

  instructions on how to proceed? How did you know which Senators to find

  seating for?"

  "Liviani gave me the list of Senators," Bog said. "That is standard.

  The head of the Games Council always gets a list of important beings

  throughout the galaxy to accord special favors to. I used the Council funds

  to pay the Ruling Power for the skyboxes. You see, the Ruling Power makes

  the seating available. They have all the stadium plans. Arranging seating

  may seem trivial, but it's a very important task."

  "So who did you contact to arrange the skyboxes?"

  "As it turned out, I didn't have to contact anyone. He came to me. An

  odd four-eyed creature. His name was Boosa... no, that's not it. Beesa..."

  "Besum?"

  "That's it." Bog nodded as the crowd jeered a questionable play. "I

  transferred the credits and ordered the seating from Boosa... ah, Besum,

  and he handed me the receipts."

  "Do you have them?"

  "No. I placed them in the welcome packs for the Senators." At last the

  seriousness of the matter began to penetrate Bog's self-absorption. "I only

  followed protocol," he said nervously.

  Obi-Wan frowned. Why would the Senators want receipts to be placed in

  their welcome packets? Anyone could see them. He would think they would go

  to great lengths to hide the fact that they were betting on the Games.

  Could it be that the Senators themselves don't know about this?

  Could it be that the Ruling Power has arranged this in order to

  disgrace them?

  But why?

  Bog grew restless at Obi-Wan's silence. "I didn't place any bets! I'm

  sure this is a misunderstanding."

  "I'm sure it isn't," Astri said to her husband. "Obi-Wan knows what

  he's talking about." She turned to Obi-Wan. "Is Bog in trouble?"

  Bog swallowed. "If I am, I will face it."

  "We will face it," Astri said, putting her hand on Bog's arm.

  "Together."

  Obi-Wan saw the look that Bog gave Astri, a look of tenderness and

  devotion. He saw that Bog did love Astri, and his instincts told him that

  Bog had been used as a pawn in the scheme. No doubt whoever was behind it

  did not care if Bog took the fall.

  Looking at the love on Astri's face for her husband, Obi-Wan decided

  that he would do anything in his power to make sure that did not happen. He

  remembered a time long ago when Astri had cut off her pretty curls, shaved

  her head, and learned how to shoot a blaster in order to help him track

  down Qui-Gon. She had not thought of herself as a brave person, but she had

  faced down blaster bolts and a laser whip, and had never left his side. No,

  he would not let anything happen to Astri.

  "Bog will not be in trouble if he didn't do anything wrong," Obi-Wan

  told the couple. "I will make sure of that. Now, please excuse me."

  Obi-Wan stepped outside, leaving the sounds of the match behind him.

  He quickly contacted Jocasta Nu at the Temple.

  "I am sending you a list of Senators. I need to know if there is any

  link among them." Obi-Wan waited for her to read the list of names. "Does

  anything come to mind right now?" he asked.

  "Nothing," Jocasta Nu said. "There are many ways Senators can be

  linked, Obi-Wan. Through sponsoring legislation. Committees. Subcommittees.

  Special hearings. Oversight subcommittees on special hearings - "

  "I get the picture," Obi-Wan said. "Just do the best you can, as

  quickly as you can. Can you also look into the Ruling Power, and see if

  there is some connection with those Senators?"

  "Of course. I'll contact you as soon as I have information."

  Obi-Wan thanked Jocasta Nu and cut the communication. He leaned

  against the railing and looked out over the sprawling city. Beings streamed

  through the streets, and he could hear the distant roar of a crowd in the

  nearby stadium. If the betting were exposed, the Senators involved would be

  drawn into a scandal. It would not matter if they were guilty or innocent.

  Their reputations would suffer. Was that the goal?

  An insider, Fligh had said. It could be someone in the Ruling Power.

  Or someone close to the Games themselves.

  He called up Bog's file on his datapad again. He flipped through the

  holographic files, remembering the notations on Uso Yso's screen.

  The bets had been placed on the bowcaster skill contest, the obstacle

  course race, and the Podrace. The same events that Aarno Dering had on his

  data-pad.

  Obi-Wan contacted Didi on his comlink. "Have you found out where Fligh

  is staying?"

  "The Sleek Cruiser Inn on Grand Eucer Street," Didi said. "Room 2222.

  But let me assure you, my friend, this inn is no sleek cruiser. More like a

  garbage barge."

  "Just make sure Fligh doesn't go off-planet," Obi-Wan told Didi.

  "Contact me if he does."

  "I am your servant, Obi-Wan."

  Obi-Wan tapped his finger on his comlink, planning his next move. He

  could handle Fligh, but on the other hand, this was more than a pesky

  problem. It was time to call in the other Jedi teams.

  He activated his comlink and contacted Siri. He filled her in on what

  he had discovered.

  "It seems as though the Ruling Power could be behind this," he said.

  "They might want to blackmail Senators in order to gain power in the

 
Senate, getting appointed to powerful posts. But we have no real proof, and

  we don't have much time. All three events are scheduled to take place this

  afternoon."

  "What do you need?" Siri asked, getting to the point as quickly as

  possible, as she usually did.

  "I have to pay a visit to Fligh, and I'd like some company," Obi-Wan

  said. "I think some additional Jedi presence is needed."

  "I'll be there. And I'll contact Ry-Gaul," Siri said.

  The problem of Anakin entering the Podrace had never left Obi-Wan's

  mind. Why had his Padawan done such a thing without telling him? It was not

  the first time Anakin's impulsiveness had worried and alarmed Obi-Wan.

  His comlink signaled. Anakin was calling. Obi-Wan answered.

  "Master, things have developed here," Anakin said.

  "Sebulba has recognized me. Because of that, Deland stepped in to

  avoid a fight and was injured. He cannot race. I... I offered to race in

  his place. Doby and Deland are trying to free their sister - "