The Dangerous Games

  "And is that your mission on Euceron, to free Djulla?" Obi-Wan asked

  sternly.

  "No," Anakin said. "But was it Qui-Gon's mission to free me? Must we

  follow a mission so exactly that we turn our backs on beings who need help?

  Every mission has a detour. You've told me that."

  "I've also told you that it is the mark of a Jedi to recognize whether

  or not to follow the detour," Obi-Wan reminded him.

  "Then I ask you to let me make this choice," Anakin replied.

  His Padawan's voice was firm. There was no pleading, no uncertainty.

  He wanted what he wanted. Was that the right thing in this circumstance?

  Obi-Wan pondered the problem. "Have you learned anything else?" he

  asked.

  "The Podrace is scheduled to take place this afternoon at three. A

  viewing area has been set up for spectators in the underground caves.

  Sebulba has placed enormous bets on his son to win. The official timekeeper

  is supposed to send the Podrace route directly to onboard computers. But I

  don't know who will takeover the job now that Dering is dead. I think the

  best way I can find out how the race is fixed and who is behind it is to

  enter it myself."

  "All right," Obi-Wan said reluctantly. He did not like the sound of

  pleasure in Anakin's voice. He would ask Siri and Ry-Gaul to send Ferus and

  Tru to observe while Anakin piloted the Podracer. He could not be there

  with his Padawan, but he did not want Anakin to be alone.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  "I got it!" Anakin crowed. He tweaked the last screw to the energy-

  binder plate. "We're set."

  "Whew," Doby said, pushing his goggles to the top of his head. Two

  round circles of grime circled his eyes. "I was getting worried."

  "Maybe I should give the computer system another check," Anakin

  wondered.

  "I did it," Deland said. "You've done enough, Anakin. I actually think

  we're ready." He patted the Pod-racer with his good hand. His other arm was

  encased in a rigid bandage from elbow to fingers.

  Anakin jumped off the scaffold he'd used to work on the turbines. "I

  know I am."

  Suddenly, his smile dimmed. He spied Ferus and Tru threading their way

  toward him through a sea of pit droids and mechanics and pilots, the usual

  frenzy of a pit hangar before a race.

  My Master sent them. He doesn't trust me. The thought seared Anakin's

  mind before rationality set in. It would be helpful to have backup, he told

  himself, trying to be logical. There was nothing wrong with that. He dodged

  a lubricant hose and went forward to meet them.

  Tru's head swiveled, taking in the excitement. "Strange, if you think

  about it," he said to Anakin. Anakin wiped his hands on a rag. "What?"

  "That Podraces are so dangerous, but nobody looks scared," he said.

  "There are beings who equate danger with pleasure," Ferus said, his

  eyes dark with disapproval. "It is a mistake easily made for those who do

  not think deeply." He gave Anakin a cool look.

  "Well, there's such a thing as fun, Ferus," Tru said amiably. "Even

  you have to admit that."

  "Yes," Ferus said. "But not here." His cool gaze did not falter as he

  studied Anakin. "I'm not clear on why you are racing, Anakin."

  "It is the best way to discover how the race is fixed," Anakin said.

  Ferus shifted his gaze to take in Doby and Deland and the Podracer,

  then scanned the rest of the hangar. "I see. Our Masters have told us that

  it is possible that advance knowledge of the track will be sent to one Pod-

  racer's nav computer seconds before it is given to the rest. Do you know

  which Podracer that is?"

  "Hekula," Anakin said. "The Dug. The third Podracer down on the left."

  "You know this for sure?"

  "It is a guess," Anakin admitted. "Based on my knowledge of him."

  Ferus turned back. "And that is all?"

  "Sebulba, his father, proposed the new rule," Anakin said. "Sebulba

  never proposes anything unless he knows he can profit by it."

  "Do you know when and how the information will be transmitted to the

  nav computers?"

  "At the start of the race, and then at three-minute intervals," Anakin

  said.

  "So how do you propose to beat him?" Ferus asked.

  "By being faster and better," Anakin answered. "I have something he

  doesn't have. I have the Force."

  "Who is the timekeeper?" Tru asked. "Do you think he is the one who

  will transmit the information?"

  Anakin nodded. "A race referee. The computer system is already in

  place. Dering has already designed the program. This person will just

  follow instructions."

  Ferus frowned. "Isn't there any way to tell whoever is in charge of

  the race what is going on? Surely it would be better to simply cancel the

  race. Did you think of that?"

  Anakin's cheeks flushed. Ferus was questioning every detail of what he

  had learned as though he were a Jedi Master and Anakin was his Padawan.

  "I'm sure Anakin thought of it," Tru said. "But we can't be sure who

  knows that the program is a cheat. Whoever it is could alter it with a

  keystroke and we'd never know who was behind it, or why."

  "Maybe there is still some way to find out," Ferus said. "Tru and I

  will investigate." He glanced at the Pod-racer. "You can go back to your

  energy-binder plate."

  Tru hung back as Ferus walked off. "He's just being careful," he told

  Anakin.

  Anakin's teeth gritted. "Is that what you call it?" "You'll understand

  him one day," Tru said. "After you become friends."

  "I will never be friends with Ferus Olin," Anakin answered savagely.

  Tru studied him for a moment. "I feel... some darkness from you,

  Anakin. Your enemy is here. But Sebulba cannot hurt you anymore. Remember,

  Jedi do not have enemies."

  "I just want to win," Anakin said.

  "You mean you want to prevent injury and ensure fairness," Tru

  corrected.

  Anakin nodded. "That too."

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The Sleek Cruiser Inn was just as Didi had described it, a dilapidated

  building made of patchwork plasteel sheeting. Seeing a way to rake in more

  credits, the owner had leased out space in the hallways and closets.

  Travelers from around the galaxy had stashed gear in every spare space and

  were cooking up meals on portable stoves in the hallways. Others had rolled

  themselves in bedrolls in various corners and were trying to catch a nap

  between events. The smell of bodies, food, and dust was overwhelming. Even

  this far from the Games, the hum of the crowds in the arenas could be

  heard. Obi-Wan, Siri, and Ry-Gaul picked through the mess and knocked on

  Fligh's door.

  "I said I would settle the bill on the way out!" Fligh yelled behind

  the door. "Such a hospitable establishment, I can't wait to return!" He

  flung the door open and saw the Jedi. He swallowed. "Ah, Jedi. Always a

  good sign."

  He stepped aside and let them enter. Belongings were stuffed into an

  open case. Still-wet laundry spilled out of a travel pack. A half-eaten

  meal was spread on the sleep couch. It was clear that Fligh was in the

  midst of a hasty depar
ture.

  "Leaving so soon?" Obi-Wan asked. "The Games have just begun."

  "I'm not a fan," Fligh said, shrugging. "There you go."

  "Yet you came here to see the Games," Obi-Wan pointed out. "Don't you

  want to see how your bets turn out?"

  Fligh laughed. "Why? You have made sure I don't win. I may as well

  return to Coruscant and make my living honestly, as a thief."

  Siri and Ry-Gaul closed the door and stood in front of it. Obi-Wan

  casually flung one leg over a stool and sat. "A funny thing happened after

  we left you this morning. We took an air taxi - "

  "Always a good idea," High said nervously. "The streets are so

  crowded."

  " - and the pilot tried to crash it," Obi-Wan went on. "Odd that he

  knew just where we were and where we were headed."

  "Maybe you were just lucky."

  "Maybe you'd like to accompany us to the security office of the Ruling

  Power and talk about it," Obi-Wan said. It was a bluff. He did not want the

  Ruling Power to know that they were investigating.

  Fligh gave a squeak of disappointment and threw himself down on the

  unmade sleep couch. "I knew I'd never make it off this blasted planet. All

  right. When you came to ask me about the fixed events, you made me nervous.

  Why wouldn't I be? I saw my fortune disappearing in front of my eyes. So I

  might have alerted someone as to your presence. They weren't supposed to

  kill you. Just delay you. I swear! Didi is my friend. I would never allow

  harm to come to him. And if you think I'd tangle with Jedi, you

  underestimate my cowardice."

  "Yet you lie to us," Obi-Wan said.

  "And that is never a good idea," Siri said.

  Ry-Gaul did not have to say a word. His fierce looks spoke for him.

  "Yes, I see what you mean," Fligh said, backing away on the sleep

  couch.

  "Now, tell me again about your friend Quentor," Obi-Wan said, leaning

  forward.

  "Ha ha," Fligh said. "I see you know about my little joke. I thought

  it better to protect a friend than expose him."

  "Who?" Obi-Wan asked softly. "And tell me the truth this time."

  "Aarno Dering," Fligh said. "Weeks ago, I was contacted anonymously.

  Through messages on my data-pad. I was asked to find someone who could rig

  a false timing device for a major race. Credits were transferred into my

  account with a promise of a sure bet to come. I happened to know just the

  person they needed. Aarno had been the timekeeper for races in the Outer

  Rim. He was known for a certain... uh, casualness when it came to

  scorekeeping. Then the anonymous person said they would hire Aarno for the

  Galactic Games. The Galactic Games! I had no idea it was for something so

  grand."

  "How could he pass scrutiny?" Siri wondered. "The timers and judges

  are screened very closely."

  "That was just my question," Fligh said, nodding. "They told me not to

  worry about it. To my great surprise, Aarno was hired for several events.

  To Aarno's surprise as well."

  "That's why you concluded that an insider had to be involved," Obi-Wan

  said.

  Fligh nodded. "Who else could get Aarno hired, with his record? So we

  came to Euceron and Aarno got his instructions. It seemed like a deal as

  sweet as a piece of blumfruit. Aarno would find a way to shave a few

  seconds here and there and we'd take off with a small fortune. I didn't

  expect anyone to get hurt. Didi was almost killed, and Aarno got run over

  by a speeder." Fligh shivered. "I'm going back to Coruscant, where I'll be

  safe. I just paved the way for some bets to be placed. I didn't want anyone

  to get killed."

  "You got the false text docs for Dering," Obi-Wan guessed. "Why did he

  suddenly want to get off-planet?"

  "I guess he lost his nerve," Fligh said with a nervous glance at Ry-

  Gaul.

  Siri had moved so that she was now sitting in front of Fligh on her

  haunches, her hands dangling. Her bright blue gaze was piercing. "There is

  something you're not telling us. Why was Aarno so afraid?"

  Fligh fingered one of his long ears. "I had an appointment to drop the

  text docs off to Aarno right after the swoop race. As soon as you left, I

  went to his quarters and waited for him. He was in a big hurry to leave

  Euceron, and I asked him why. He said if I knew what was good for me, I'd

  leave too. Of course, I had to pressure him. I withheld the text docs until

  he told me. He thought he had been hired just to fix the events. But then

  he found out something else. Something's going to happen during an event.

  Something will go wrong. They want people to get killed during an event so

  that the Senators will be blamed."

  "Which event?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "I don't know," Fligh admitted. "Aarno didn't tell me. He found out by

  mistake. He was afraid they would come after him because he knew."

  "Who are they?" Siri barked in frustration.

  "I didn't ask," Fligh said with a shudder. "I don't want to know. I'm

  in over my head. And if I know anything about anything - which I don't, but

  I know about this - sooner or later it's going to occur to them that I know

  too much. And it's going to be sooner, not later. All in all I'd rather be

  on Coruscant, so if you don't mind - "

  Obi-Wan, Siri, and Ry-Gaul turned toward the door at the same instant.

  The surge in the Force had warned them. At the same time, the sound of

  heavy rolling could be heard in the corridor outside Fligh's room.

  "Hey, I'm over here, guys," Fligh said. "Are you going to answer my

  quest - "

  Before Fligh could finish the word, the door blasted apart and a squad

  of droidekas appeared in the smoldering opening.

  CHAPTER SEVETEEN

  Fligh dived behind the sleep couch as the Jedi ignited their

  lightsabers. The droidekas unfurled and snapped into attack position,

  blaster bolts firing. Obi-Wan's lightsaber was an arc of moving light,

  deflecting the shower of blaster fire. Beside him Siri's lightsaber swung

  in a continuous arc of precise movement, with Siri's two-handed grip and

  her graceful footwork. Ry-Gaul did not move. He did not need to. His long

  arms were a blur in the air as his lightsaber shifted from hand to hand.

  The three-legged droidekas were built for battle and close to

  invincible but these droidekas weren't shielded. Their heavy armor shells

  and volts of firepower as well as their maneuverability made them capable

  of cutting down opponents with fearsome efficiency.

  It wasn't as though their power alarmed Obi-Wan. But he still was not

  especially pleased to see them. There were twelve of them, so he was glad

  to have Ry-Gaul and Siri by his side.

  The air filled with smoke as the blaster bolts zinged, but the Jedi

  deflected them and struck blow after blow at the heavy armor plates on the

  droids. Because the doorway was narrow, the droidekas began firing through

  the wall itself, quickly tearing gaping holes in the structure. After a

  sweep from Siri's lightsaber, one droideka smoked and fell, and another,

  its legs gone, bobbled and spun until it crashed against a wall. Obi-Wan

  sliced a droideka in two and sent one piece flying o
ver the sleep couch and

  crashing into the wall. Fligh shrieked as pieces of hot metal rained down

  on him.

  Droidekas had control centers, not brains. They could not feel fear or

  apprehension. The amazing skill of the Jedi was lost on them. They

  continued to advance and fire, continued to evade by rolling themselves

  into balls and repositioning themselves to fire again. Time after time they

  attacked, and time after time the Jedi struck blow after blow until the

  harsh smoke and the heat caused Fligh to have a coughing fit. The Jedi did

  not react to the smoke. Their minds and bodies were focused on battle, and

  nothing else mattered but the moment.

  Suddenly all three Jedi exchanged a glance. They leaped back as the

  flimsy wall collapsed on the remaining droidekas. Ry-Gaul, Obi-Wan, and

  Siri finished the rest off, disabling them with lightsaber thrusts. At last

  the droidekas lay around them in pieces. Fligh raised his head from behind

  the sleep couch.

  His voice was hoarse. "Can I go now?"

  "He can't help us," Obi-Wan told the others. "He's told us everything

  he knows." He deactivated his lightsaber. "Yes, Fligh. You can go."

  "Until next time, Obi-Wan," Fligh said fervently.