The Dangerous Rescue

2

“We’ve learned through our contacts that someone is looking for a large shipment of black market assassin droids for protection on Simpla-12,” Adi said. “We know this person is Jenna Zan Arbor. We’ve tracked down the droid dealers. Now we just need to get the dealers to agree to smuggle us inside along with the shipment.”

“When is the transfer supposed to happen?” Obi-Wan asked anxiously.

“As soon as possible,” Adi replied. “The droid sellers got the definite impression that Zan Arbor is planning to leave the planet. She could have lied, but I’m guessing her departure plans are behind the urgency of the request. She needs protection in order to leave and she needs protection wherever she goes. She knows the Jedi are on her trail.”

“If she’s planning to leave, we can’t wait for reinforcements,” Obi-Wan observed.

Adi nodded grimly. “I agree. Let’s head for the warehouse where the droids are being loaded. The sellers are waiting for us.”

The warehouse was a dingy metal structure that tilted alarmingly to one side. The foundation was sunk deep into the mud. Simpla-12’s constant cloud cover made for frequent rain, and Obi-Wan, Siri, and Adi slogged through ankle-deep mud to reach the entrance.

As Obi-Wan pushed open the door, he heard familiar voices.

“Gibbertz and ham, these droids are old. Couldn’t you have found some newer models?”

“Oh, of course, why didn’t you say so? Let me reach into my deep pocket full of credits and pay for them.”

Obi-Wan groaned aloud. “You don’t mean to tell me,” he said to Adi and Siri, “that the droid sellers are Cholly, Weez, and Tup?”

“You know them?” Adi asked.

Just then, Cholly caught sight of Obi-Wan. “My friend!” he cried in a warm voice that did not disguise his nervousness.

“Jedi Kenobi!” Weez echoed as Tup slid behind him to hide. “We did not expect you!”

“Why?” Obi-Wan asked, walking toward them. “Because you thought I was Zan Arbor’s prisoner? Because you said you would prevent Ona Nobis from approaching the building, and ran away instead?”

“Well, no,” Weez said, shifting his feet nervously. “I wouldn’t say that’s why.”

Tup peeked out from behind him. “We are on your side, Obi-Wan.”

“As long as you don’t have to risk your own necks,” Obi-Wan observed.

“Well, of course,” Weez said. “But we are like that with everyone!”

“Wait, let me think. Did we ever say we were brave? I don’t think so!” Cholly pointed out.

“And Ona Nobis was a very frightening being,” Weez said.

“Woosh,” Tup said, blowing out a breath. “You must admit that. But we did follow her!”

“You did?” Obi-Wan asked sharply. “Where did she go?”

“To her own transport,” Cholly answered. “She left Simpla-12, we know that.”

At least they had given him one piece of information. Ona Nobis was gone for good. She had told Zan Arbor that she would not work for her any longer. She had more profitable clients.

“You can make it up to me now,” Obi-Wan said, frowning. “You let the Jedi down once. Do not do it again.”

“Never, never, never,” Weez said, shaking his head.

“Unless there is terrible danger,” Tup added quickly.

“This shouldn’t be dangerous for you,” Adi said. “All we want you to do is let us hide in your shipment of droids to Zan Arbor. We will find a way to sneak out after you have left.”

“Ah,” Cholly said. “That would be after we get paid, then?”

“Yes,” Adi said impatiently. “We just need a way into the building.”

Cholly, Weez, and Tup exchanged glances. “Excuse me so much for asking this,” Cholly said. “But what is in it for us?”

“In other words, it sounds risky,” Weez explained helpfully. “And there’s no reward for our risk.”

“Well, we’re not going to pay you,” Adi said. She fixed her dark, commanding gaze on the three, who squirmed at her scrutiny. “Is that what you are suggesting?”

“Of course not,” Tup said stoutly.

“Unless, of course, getting into the lab is very important to you—important enough to pass along a few credits…” Cholly’s voice trailed off when Adi continued to stare at him. “It was just a thought,” he added weakly.

“How about this,” Siri suggested in a pleasant tone. “You help us or we’ll smash all your droids.”

“Siri!” Adi’s voice was sharp. “Jedi do not threaten.”

Siri’s mouth closed, but she continued to stare fiercely at Cholly, Weez, and Tup, her hand on the hilt of her lightsaber.

“I have two reasons you should help us,” Obi-Wan said, trying to keep the impatience from his voice. They did not have time for this delay.

“First, because you owe me. And second, because Jedi make better friends than enemies. And you three can use friends, I think.”

“That is true, since everyone despises us,” Tup agreed sadly.

“All right, we’ll help you,” Cholly decided. “But wait until we’re out of the building before you start your Jedi saber rattling.”

Siri paced around the gravsled hauler, where the three had been loading droids. There was no exterior shell on a gravsled, just a platform and a windscreen. “But how can we hide? They’ll see us at once.”

“Don’t you have a covered vehicle, like a skiff?” Adi asked.

“We could barely afford the gravsled,” Cholly said. “But let me show you something. First, we have to unload the droids. Weez, Tup!”

Cholly, Weez, and Tup unloaded the handful of droids that had already been loaded onto the gravsled. Then Cholly pressed a lever, and a hidden compartment in the gravsled slid open. It was cleverly disguised so that it appeared to be part of the vehicle’s shell.

“We occasionally have the need for secrecy in transporting objects,”

Cholly explained. “You mean smuggling,” Siri said.

Adi peered into the opening. “Not much room, but I think we can all fit.”

“You have to hide first. Then we load the droids,” Weez explained.

“That means you have to unload the droids before we can get out,”

Siri observed with a frown.

Adi drummed her fingers on her holster. “Not the ideal situation. You’ll have to offer to unload the droids as soon as we get inside.”

Cholly did not look happy at this, but he nodded.

“What about programming the droids?” Adi asked. “Did Zan Arbor already give you instructions?”

Weez shook his head. “She’s going to program them herself.”

“Offer to do it. Make something up,” Adi suggested. “Then sabotage them in some way. Better for us not to face twenty attack droids.”

“We’ll do our best,” Cholly said. “You’d better get inside or we’ll be late for our appointment.”

Adi folded her long, elegant body into the small compartment and lay flat. Siri followed. Obi-Wan squeezed inside.

“Oof,” Siri muttered. “Watch your elbows.”

“I’ve got no place to put them,” Obi-Wan responded.

“Quiet, you two,” Adi said. “We won’t be here for long.”

Tup’s cheerful face loomed above them. “I’m going to shut the panel now. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of ventilation.”

“I hope so,” Obi-Wan said softly as the panel slid closed just millimeters from their upturned faces. “I don’t like having to put our trust in these three.”

“Maybe because your friends seem so untrustworthy,” Siri said.

“They aren’t my friends,” Obi-Wan muttered. Why did Siri always have to needle him?

For long minutes, they listened to Cholly, Weez, and Tup loading the droids, quarreling and fussing all the way.

“The more we fit, the more she’ll take, if we’re lucky!” Cholly exclaimed. “Don’t put them in that way, Tup, you’re taking up too much room.”

“Woosh, I’m doing the best I can.”

Adi sighed. “This is taking too long.” She thumped on the top of the panel. “Hurry it up!” she shouted.

“Yes, yes, we’re hurrying. Only a few minutes more,” Cholly called.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes. Why was he always asked to be patient at the moment he was jumping out of his skin? Every second of delay was frustrating.

Adi spoke quietly. “Knowing Qui-Gon, I am sure that he has his own plan, Obi-Wan. We are not his only means of rescue.”

“I am sure that he does as well,” Obi-Wan said, grateful for Adi’s words of reassurance.

“There is just one thing that troubles me,” Adi murmured. “I only hope his plan does not collide with ours.”