"No, it didn't" Obi-Wan spoke up. "first of all, we were attacked by assassin droids. Now we're stuck on Phindar with no way to get off."
"A, I've thought of this!' Guerra exclaimed. "true, it seems you are stuck. But en though the main spaceport is tightly controlled by the Syndicat, there are ways to get people off-planet, if you have enough money."
"But we're Jedi," Obi-Wan said impatiently. "We don't have much money. Maybe you should pay, since it's your fault that were stranded."
"True, Obawan! We should pay! Do you hear this, Paxxi?" Guerra asked, amused. He and Paxxi held on to each other's shoulders and laughed loudly in each other's faces.
When they stopped, Guerra wiped tears from his eyes. "Good joke, Obawan. Very funny. We have no money. But no worry, please. We have a way to get money. Much money. We can do this easily. Well, not so? we might need a little help from Jedi."
"Ah," Qui-Gon said lightly. He fixed his penetrating blue stare on Guerra. "Now we finally get to the truth. Why don't you tell us the real reason you brought us here… and why you want us to stay?"
Chapter 6
Guerra smiled at Qui-Gon. "Wait, my friend. You seem to say that we deceived you, yes? Me, deceive my friend Obawan? How could such a thing be?"
Qui-Gon waited.
"Oh, my, perhaps I did so," Guerra said. "But for such a good reason!"
"What's the reason, Guerra?" Obi-Wan asked. "And this time, tell the whole truth."
"I always tell the whole truth to Obawan," Guerra assured him. "well, not so. But now, I will for you, Jedi men of honor. But where to begin?"
"Why don't you tell us why there is a death order on your head," Qui-Gon suggested. "That seems like a good place to start."
"True, it is so! Well, I suppose the Syndicat would call me a thief," Guerra said. "And others as well."
"Not a thief, brother!" Paxxi interrupted. "A freedom fighter who steals!"
"True, thank you, brother," Guerra said, bowing to Paxxi. "That is what I am. And my brother as well. You see, the Syndicat controls everything. Food and materials, med supplies, heat, everything Phindians need to survive. Naturally, in such a situation, one must find ways to buy and sell things the Syndicat does not control."
"A black market," Qui-Gon supplied.
"Yes, so, a black market, you could say," Guerra agreed, nodding. "We steal a little here, sell a little there. But all for the good of the people!"
"An your own profit," Qui-Gon added.
"Well, that too. Shall we suffer more than we are already?" Paxxi asked. "But the Syndicat doesn't like this. If we are to steal, we must steal for them. This, we refuse."
"Why should we give our talents to a gang of thieves?" Guerra asked, pounding the table. "Of course, we are thieves ourselves. But honest ones!"
"So, my brother!" Paxxi agreed. "And we are not murderers and dictators."
"So, my brother!" Guerra nodded. "that's why we must free our beloved planet from the grip of these monsters. The Syndicat leader is Baftu. He is a gangster without a conscience. He enjoys seeing the people suffer!" Guerra's orange eyes were mournful. "And his assistant Terra is no better, I am sorry to say. For all her beauty, her heart is black and cold."
"They must be the Phindians we saw in the gold landspeeder," Obi-Wan said.
"They were in gold coats?" Paxxi asked. "Yes, they are the ones."
Guerra and Paxxi shared a sad look. They shook their heads, their cheerfulness gone.
"What about the people we saw on the street?" Qui-Gon asked. "The ones with the blank faces."
Paxxi and Guerra shared another mournful look. Guerra sighed.
"The renewed," he said softly. "So sad."
"So," Paxxi agreed.
"It is the method of ultimate control," Guerra explained. "You know the memory wipe?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "it's used to reprogram droids. It removes all traces of their memory and training so they can be reprogrammed."
Guerra nodded. "The Syndicat has developed a device to do this to Phindians who they consider enemies or agitators. They memory wipe the person, then drop them on another world, somewhere terrible. The person has no memory of who they are or what they can do. It is a game for the Syndicat. They bet on how long the person will survive. A probe droid follows them and sends back holo-pictures of what happens. Most do not survive."
Qui-Gon's face went very still. Obi-Wan has seen that look before, a look that spoke of how deeply Qui-Gon was outraged at injustice and sheer cruelty.
"And some are not sent off-planet," Paxxi said softly. "That is saddest of all, maybe. Phindar is full of rootless people who do not remember their families, their loved ones. Or the things they could once do. They are helpless. Now Phindar is full of those who pass their fathers, their wives, their children on the street and do not recognize them."
"So you seem" Guerra said, "the Syndicat will stop at nothing. Which brings us to how you can help."
"If the wise Jedi would be so kind," Paxxi added.
"You saw the signs in the shops, the market place," Guerra went on. "The Syndicat controls all the shortages. It is a method of time control, just as renewal is mind control. The shortages are fake. If the people are waiting in line all day just to feed their families, they don't have time to revolt you see. Do you ever get enough? Not so. Supplies are doles out carefully so that you have to wait in line the next day as well."
"The Syndicat has stored everything we need," Paxxi continued. "Food, med supplies, building supplies, everything. It is all hidden in warehouses. We know this."
"And some of it is held in giant storage rooms underneath their headquarter here in Laressa," Guerra said. "So you see our plan? If we can liberate the goods, we can show the people that the Syndicat has been depriving them of food and medical supplies. They will rise in revolt! All we need is your help. I saw the Jedi mind control on the mining platform. Obawan convinced the guards to let him into storage. You see, he can do the same here!"
"Stop," Qui-Gon said flatly. "First of all, Jedi Knights aren't thieves. Second, we have our own mission. We are not here to interfere in another planet's problems. And, just for argument's sake, how are you two planning to get all those goods out of the building without a fight? And why do you think this will break the back of such a powerful criminal organization? Surely the Syndicat has enormous sums at their disposal. Why would breaking into one storage area change anything?"
"Aha! Good, Jedi-Gon. So smart, just like Obawan!" Guerra said, nudging Qui-Gon with a friendly shoulder. "Let's discuss. First I must tell you that the storage area must have another entrance. How else could they sneak goods in and out? So all we have to do id get inside, find the other entrance, and so easy! We take everything out!"
"Not so east," Qui-Gon said.
"But worth the risk, I think," Guerra insisted. "Another point I must make? along with food, medical supplies, and weapons, Paxxi and I know there's a vault, too. All the Syndicate treasury is there!"
"A vault," Qui-Gon repeated. "That implies high security."
"Yes, so!" Guerra agreed happily. "But Paxxi and I have the key!"
"How did you get a key?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Ha! He asks how!" Guerra said to Paxxi.
"Ha!" Paxxi agreed. "Long story!"
"We have a way to get in the building, too," Guerra said. "You see? Easy. So? You will go?"
"Let me get this straight," Qui-Gon interrupted in disbelief. "You want two Jedi to help two common thieves steal a treasure from a bunch of gangsters?"
Obi-Wan was silent. He agreed with Qui-Gon. It was not a Jedi-style mission. Yoda would never approve. As much as he liked Guerra, he was glad the qui-Gon had raised the objection.
"Yes, exactly!" Guerra said, still cheerful in the face of Qui-Gon's irritation.
"Wait, brother, we should explain further," Paxxi said. "We should assure the Jedi that we are far more interested in liberating our people than in stealing treasure."
"So, of course!" Guerra agreed. "Not that a little treasure wouldn't help?"
Guerra was interrupted by a commotion coming from the caf?. Quickly, Paxxi slipped out of the room to investigate. Within moments, he was back.
"So sorry," he announced. "I'm afraid it's time to go. Assassin droids searching for us all, I fear!"
Chapter 7
Qui-Gon sprang to his feet. He was not anxious to meet up again with those deadly killing machines. "Is there a back door?"
"Better that that, Jedi-Gon," Guerra answered. "Follow me, please."
Guerra moved to the fireplace. He pressed something Qui-Gon could not see. The wall shifted, and an opening was revealed.
They heard a crash from the caf?. "Time to hurry, I think," Guerra remarked pleasantly. "You first, Paxxi. Show the way to Obawan."
Paxxi slipped into the opening, and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon followed. Guerra came last, shutting the opening behind him. The steps were stone with a depression in the center from the pressure of hundreds of years of footsteps. Paxxi moved quickly, Obi-Wan on his heels. At the top of the stairs he pushed through a grate and disappeared.
Qui-Gon climbed out and saw that he was on the roof, as he expected. The opening for the secret staircase was concealed as part of the venting system. Guerra slid the grate back into place.
Qui-Gon moved closer to the edge of the room and dropped to his knees. He lay flat, then moved forward a few inches to peer over the side.
Assassin droids patrolled the streets below with jerky movements. Silver-coated Syndicat guards directed them, waving blasters. Swarms of the droids entered one shop or business after another. They threw chairs, tables, shelving, personal items out into the street as they moved. It was like a tribe of insects, picking each area clean. Any Phindian who had the misfortune to find themselves on the street quickly scurried away before the assassin droids or the Syndicat guards could administer a blow with the butt of a blaster or a jolt from a force pike.
"It doesn't look like they're searching," Qui-Gon said in a low tone to Guerra, who had lay flat beside him. "It looks as though they mean to spread terror."
"Yes, so, Jedi-Gon!" Guerra agreed nervously. "And their plan is working."
Qui-Gon froze. "Footsteps,' he said in Guerra's ear. "Coming up an outside staircase."
"Time to go," Guerra said. He pushed himself back out of sight.
The gestured to Obi-wan and Paxxi to keep quiet. Using their long, powerful arms, the brothers swung themselves over to the next roof. Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan. The gap between the two roofs was wide. If Obi-Wan couldn't make the jump alone, Qui-Gon would have to carry him on his back.
He asked the question silently: Can you make it? Obi-Wan nodded instantly. Once again, Qui-Gon was impressed by his Padawan's sharp instincts. Obi-wan always seemed to know what he needed from him.
The boy hesitated only a fraction of a moment. Qui-Gon saw him gather the Force around him. Then he ran with quick, long steps up to the roofs edge and jumped. The Force and Obi-Wan's own strength propelled him safely to the other side.
Qui-Gon leaped after him. Obi-Wan courage often impressed him, as did his instincts.
The Derida brothers were already halfway across the second roof, using their long arms to push off from the ground, increasing their speed. Guerra glanced back to make sure the Jedi were following.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan caught up, and the four jumped to the next roof. There was a structure on top of this roof, a small power shield. They darted behind it. The four stood for a moment, listening, hoping their pursuer hadn't followed this far.
But they heard something leap onto the roof. Their pursuer was out of their line of sight, but gaining. Paxxi let out a soft groan. They moved quietly and quickly to the end of the roof. Guerra reached it first. He grabbed the edge of the roof and coiled his fingers around it, ready to leap.
Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed him by the neck. Guerra made a strangling noise. Qui-Gon whirled, ready the strike at the Phindian female who held Guerra.
"Guerra, it's me! Kaadi!" the female said.
"K-K-aaa?" Guerra answered.
"Oh. So sorry." She dropped her hand from around Guerra's neck. "Just trying to stop you. You run so fast!"
"Not fast enough, I see!" Paxxi said joyfully. "Lucky for us! We missed you, Kaadi."
Guerra, Paxxi, and Kaadi entwined their long arms around each other in a Phindian hug, squeezing three times to show their great affection. They pushed their faces close to each other and beamed smiles for a long moment.
Rubbing his neck, Guerra turned to the Jedi. "Good friends to us Jedi-Gon and Obawan, meet Kaadi, good friend also."
"Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon corrected.
"That is what I say," Guerra agreed. "Kaadi's father owns the caf? where we almost got captured. It has long been a meeting place for rebels. She fights the Syndicat, too."
Kaadi grinned. She was a small female, with jet-black hair and yellow eyes shot through with green. "I move goods. Do you need a spare part for a speeder? An energy battery?"
"No, thank you," Qui-Gon said politely. He seemed to be constantly surrounded by thieves on this planet.
"And any word of your good father Nuuta?" Paxxi asked sympathetically, ducking his head as that he could look at her directly.
Kaadi's smile faded, and she shook her head. "We will hear if he is no more, we think. News will reach us."
Guerra and Paxxi were silent for a moment. Both of them reached out and wrapped one long arm around Kaadi's slender frame
"No, thank you," Qui-Gon said politely. He seemed to be constantly surrounded by thieves on this planet.
"And any word of your good father Nuuta?" Paxxi asked sympathetically, ducking his head as that he could look at her directly.
Kaadi's smile faded, and she shook her head. "We will hear if he is no more, we think. News will reach us."
Guerra and Paxxi were silent for a moment. Both of them reached out and wrapped one long arm around Kaadi's slender frame
"Her father is one of the renewed," Guerra explained to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "He was sent to Alba."
Qui-Gon nodded sympathetically. Alba was a world in the midst of a bloody, chaotic civil war.
She gazed at him with her clear yellow-green eyes. "Yes, it is bad there. But to be Phindian is to hope."
"Yes," Qui-Gon said quietly. "You must always hope."
"But let me talk of why I chased you," Kaadi said. "I must tell the Derida brothers that you have been spotted. The Syndicat knows you have returned. Efforts have been redoubled to capture you."
"We are not afraid," Guerra said. "Not so, I lie!"
"Do you mean all that activity down there had to do with Guerra and Paxxi?" Qui-Gon asked.
Kaadi shook her head. "Not only. They are looking for the Jedi, too. But also, anyone they know to be a rebel. Terra and Baftu are beginning mass arrests. An important visitor is arriving, and they want to be sure there is no trouble. They are proclaiming that any acts of sabotage or disruption will be met with death or renewal! Even if you a suspected of such things."
"Who is arriving?" Qui-Gon asked curiously.
"Prince Beju from the planet Gala," Kaadi answered.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan glanced at each other.
"Out spies tell us that an alliance is planned," Kaadi said thoughtfully. "The Syndicat will fund the Prince's mission to retake the governing of his planet. The Prince has already created a false shortage of bacta on his planet."
"That's an awful thing to do," Obi-Wan said.
Qui-Gon had to agree? bacta was a medical miracle, healing even the most serious of wounds. "The injured on Gala will suffer needlessly," he observed.
"Yes, the Prince had no conscience, just like Baftu and Terra," Kaadi said. She pressed Guerra's hand for a moment. "I am sorry to say this. Now the Prince will return to Gala with the bacta from Phindar. He will be a hero to his people. The Syndicat will move in. They will control Gala as they control Phindar. It is planned so."
"And then they will take over the star system, one planet at a time, yes?" Guerra said softly. "Using fake shortages of what the people need. Wiping their memories. Assassin droids will kill opposition and others will be renewed." He blinked at Qui-Gon. "We have seen how quickly this method can work."
It was a cold-blooded plan. Qui-Gon knew that Guerra was most likely right when he said Gala would be only the first step.
He had tried to keep his distance from Paxxi and Guerra's schemes. Now he saw that there was more at stake than he'd thought. If they could destroy the Syndicat's grip on Phindar, his mission on Gala would be easier. He and Obi-Wan had to ensure that free elections would take place.
But there was more. Qui-Gon felt a deep stirring of anger. Kaadi's bravery in the face of her distress about her father had touched him. Even Guerra and Paxxi had moved him. Behind their clownish behavior was deep suffering. He could feel it. The living Force pulsed in the brothers, strong and pure. He didn't know if he could trust them completely, but he knew they deserved his help.
Sometimes, Qui-Gon reminded himself, fate finds you.
"We'll help you," Qui-Gon said to Paxxi and Guerra. Before the brother's could speak, he held up a hand to stop them. "But you must promise me something."
"Anything, Jedi-Gon," Guerra vowed.
"You will tell me the complete truth always," Qui-Gon ordered the sternly. "You will not withhold information, or shade it, or twist it. You will obey the Jedi rule to tell the clear, solid truth."
"Yes so, Jedi-Gon!" Guerra rushed to assure him while Paxxi nodded energetically. "For a hundred moons I would not lie to you again!"
"Never mind the hundred moons," Qui-Gon said. "Just do as I say."
Obi-Wan shot his Master a questioning glance. Qui-Gon could see that the boy didn't understand his decision. His interpretation of the rules was too strict. But he would follow his Master nonetheless.
"It is better to act quickly," Guerra said. "We should break into Syndicat headquarters tonight."
Kaadi looked pale. "Break into headquarters when you have price on your head? Who thought of that?"
"I did," Guerra and Paxxi said together.
"Very brave plan, so?" Paxxi asked her.
"Maybe brave," Kaadi said. "Or maybe crazy."
"Brave or crazy, we shall see," Guerra said, unconcerned. "With Jedi along, what can go wrong?"
Qui-Gon gave the Derida brother's a look of rueful exasperation. "We'll find out tonight, I'm sure," he said.
Chapter 8
The Syndicat headquarters were housed in a once grand but now crumbling mansion with extensive security. There were heavy gates to get inside the compound, and a laser security beam over each door and window.
"All you have to do id get us by the two guards," Guerra whispered to Qui-Gon. "we'll do the rest."
Qui-Gon hated having to rely on Guerra's honesty, but he had come too far now to turn back. He nodded.
Paxxi and Guerra led the Jedi around the compound to a back entrance. There, a guard in the usual long silver coat and dark visor stood, hand on a blaster slung in a holster crossed over his chest.
There was nothing to do but walk straight up to him. "Good evening," Qui-Gon said. "We have an appointment."
The guard's head tilted to take in the two Jedi and the two Phindians. They couldn't see his eyes. "Move along, worm."
Qui-Gon brought the Force to bear. He surrounded the Syndicat guard's mind with his own will. "of course, we may enter," he said.
The guard lowered his blaster. "Of course, you may enter," he repeated.
"You see, my brother Paxxi!" Guerra exulted. "The Jedi are powerful. I do not lie!"
"I see, brother Guerra," Paxxi said. "It is so!"
They walked quickly through a small yard packed with landspeeders, speeder bikes, and a few gravsleds. Another guard stood before a wide stone staircase leading to the back door of the mansion.
He stepped forward, raising his blaster. "Who are you and what is your mission here?" he challenged.
Again, Qui-Gon summoned the Force. With guards like these, it was easy to overpower their small minds. They were used to taking orders and rarely thought independently.
"We are welcome to look around," Qui-Gon said.
"You're welcome to look around," the guard said blankly, lowering his blaster.
They walked past him and up the stairs. Beams of laser security crisscrossed the doorway.
"Your turn," Qui-Gon said to Guerra.
"Ah, I do nothing," Guerra said. "You'll see."
A second later, the beams shut off. The door opened. An older Phindian woman with dark hair threaded with silver stood facing them. She wore the long silver coat of the Syndicat guards. Qui-Gon tensed, but she waved them inside.
"Quickly," she said.
They stepped into a grand room with gilded walls of brilliant green stone. Soft rich carpeting was under their feet, covering the floor. The windows were hung with shimmering tapestries.
"All looted from our citizens," Guerra murmured.
The woman led them down a hallway. It must have been built for droids or servants, for it was narrow and the floor was a dull gray stone. A long bin with various pegs and shelves held a number of weapons? blasters, force pikes, and vibo-shivs.
"For the guards to take as the go out into the streets," Paxxi explained. "They are always well armed."
"Yes so, just more weapons to shoot us with!" Guerra said cheerfully.
The older woman led them to a narrow door. "Here. No security downstairs now, but you must hurry. Now I must go," she said. Before any of them could thank her, she left, hurrying down the hall.
"She enjoys her work," Guerra said, watching her disappear. "She can't wait to return. No so, I lie," he said softly. "The silver coat she wears has a tracking device in the fabric. She is monitored all the time. If Duenna spends too much time in the wrong place, assassin droids will track her down and ask her politely to return to her post. Not so, I lie! They kill her on the spot."
Paxxi opened the door. A stone staircase led downward. Paxxi started along the way, and they followed.
The staircase took them to a large empty room.
"First storage space," Paxxi said. "Empty, my brother. Strange, or not so?"
"It is so," Guerra said. He walked through a doorway into another space. It was also empty. Hurrying now, Guerra and Paxxi passed from empty room to empty room in the vast storage level.
"All gone," Paxxi said.
"Yes so," Guerra agreed sadly.
"You risked all out lives for this?" Obi-Wan asked incredulous.
Qui-Gon was just as irritated as Obi-Wan, but he tried to keep calm. "Didn't you check your information? Or did your spy betray you?"
"Not so, Jedi-Gon!" Guerra cried, flustered. "Duenna is on our side!"
"How can you be so sure?" Qui-Gon asked. "Never mind. We have to get out of here."
Suddenly they heard a slight whirring noise. Qui-Gon cocked his head. He knew that noise. But something about it was strange. He did not expect to hear it indoors.
"Speeders," Obi-Wan said.
A small floater suddenly zoomed around a corner, driven by a Syndicat guard. Behind him appeared three more floaters. Guards drove the speeders, and each had an assassin droid behind him. The first guard maneuvered his speeder to get a clear shot at Paxxi.
"Move!" Qui-Gon shouted. He reached out with the Force and propelled Paxxi backward. The blaster fire missed him by inches as he slammed against the wall.
Obi-Wan's lightsaber was in his hand in a movement so fast it was just a blur of pulsating light. He slashed at the guard, but was only able to knock the hand behind him on the speeder. Qui-Gon leaped forward but the speeder zoomed ahead, almost knocking him down. Qui-Gon was only able to deliver a glancing blow to the guard.
Suddenly, a slender beam of light shot out from the wall, straight at Guerra. Guerra saw it a began to move. Qui-Gon saw the light, too, and summoned the Force to help. Guerra leaped over the beam just in time.
"Disruptor beams!" Qui-Gon shouted to Obi-Wan. The weapons had been outlawed on most worlds. It sent a visible blast of energy capable of cutting someone in two.
Obi-Wan charged at a floater heading for him and struck the driver across the neck with his lightsaber. The driver cried out and lost control of the floater, which crashed into the wall, knocking him unconscious. A disruptor beam suddenly shot out from the wall and hit the assassin droid, whose right-hand controls suddenly smoked and sputtered. The droid fell, but began to push off with his left-side controls. Meanwhile, the beam came straight at Obi-Wan, who leaped over it, twisting in midair to land safely next to Qui-Gon.
"The beams are triggered by movement," Qui-Gon said tersely. "Others are on constantly. Avoid them at all costs. Use the Force, Padawan." Qui-Gon turned and sliced at the assassin droid from the downed floater, cutting off its head. Then he leaped forward and lunged at the nest floater. He dealt a glancing blow to the guard as it zoomed past and leaped over a disruptor beam.
The beams left on were easy to avoid, if the Jedi didn't allow themselves to be maneuvered into them. It was harder to predict where the beams triggered by movement would strike. Qui-Gon reached out for the Force, drawing it around him, feeling it, gaining strength from it. He sent his senses out to meet Obi-Wan's so that the Force would multiply and fill the room.
A floater headed for Paxxi, who bounded away, using his arms to propel himself. Qui-Gon knew the brothers had no weapons. He leaped after the floater, avoiding a disruptor beam with a twist of his body. Obi-wan was already moving to the left, and the flanked the floater in a pincer movement, driving toward it with their lightsabers slashing. The guard fell backward from the blows, knocking himself and the assassin droid off the floater. Blaster fire came at Qui-Gon from his right, but he was already twisting to the left. He half turned to deliver a final blow to the guard.
The guards on the two remaining floaters were more agile. They drove Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan before them into the next room. Since the ceilings were high, the Syndicat drivers could easily avoid the disruptor beams by flying higher, then zooming down to assault Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
The drivers of the floaters drove them relentlessly. It became a game to them. They laughed as they aimed at the Jedi, sending them leaping out of the way.
Qui-Gon and Obi-wan developed at strategy born of desperation: run, turn, fight, reverse, and run again. Disruptor beams sizzled around them. One hit Qui-Gon's lightsaber and the shock sent a jolt of pain up his arm.
The faceless guards were determined, the assassin droids keeping up a steady stream of blaster fire. So far, the armor protected the Syndicate guards well. Qui-Gon began to deflect blaster fire at any part of them exposed, neck, wrist, their booted feet. Obi-Wan did the same.
Qui-Gon could see that Obi-wan was tiring. His own legs ached from the constant running and leaping to avoid the beams and blaster fire. They could not hold out for much longer. The guards drove them from room to room. Qui-Gon began to see that the rooms formed a kind of maze. He tried to keep his focus. He doubted that he remembered how to reach the exit. They had lost Paxxi and Guerra completely. He only hoped that the brothers had found a place to hide.