The Only Witness

14

Obi-Wan leaped to his feet as three more figures emerged behind Solan and Zanita. But Qui-Gon pulled him back down.

Obi-Wan wrestled his arm free of his Master. He had to protect Lena.

She was unarmed facing two droids, Solan Cobral, and his brother, Bard. The young widow was no match for men evil enough to hold their own mother captive, or order the death of their own brother.

“Not yet,” Qui-Gon said softly. “I’d like to see what these men have in mind.”

Obi-Wan sank to his knees. He would wait, for now. But if anyone made a move toward Lena, not even Qui-Gon would be able to stop him.

In the orange light of the landing pad Lena took a few steps back.

“Solan,” she said. Her voice sounded strange to Obi-Wan, almost full of guilt. He wondered if she felt responsible for what was happening to Zanita.

“You were supposed to come alone,” the crime boss boomed.

“I did,” Lena replied without flinching.

Nervous that they had been spotted, Obi-Wan felt for his lightsaber.

He tried to rise but Qui-Gon’s hand on his shoulder pushed him back to his knees.

“Not us,” Qui-Gon whispered.

“Don’t hurt her,” a voice cried in the darkness below. “She didn’t know I was coming.” Obi-Wan recognized the voice immediately. It was Mica.

A moment later she was standing beside her cousin. Obi-Wan had not known she was there.

“Please, don’t hurt Lena. She would never turn against the Cobral. She’s only been trying to cover for me. I am the one you want. I am the one who knows how you operate. I am the one who wanted to testify against you.”

“Mica, no. Be quiet,” Lena whispered in an attempt to stop her cousin’s outburst.

“Don’t listen to her,” Lena told the Cobrals. “She is protecting me. She doesn’t know that I came tonight to tell Zanita I’ve changed my mind. I was a fool to think I could go against the Cobral. Solan, please hear me. You and Bard and Zanita are all I have left of my precious husband, Rutin. I realize that I need to hold on to the family I have, now more than ever. Where will I be if I drive you away? No matter what has happened in the past, we will always be family. And family is more important to me than anything.”

“How wise,” Solan replied, chuckling. He shoved Zanita toward Bard, who caught her with one hand. He held a blaster in the other.

“I’m touched that you still want to be a part of the family,” he continued, taking a step closer. “And I’m grateful that you came together,” he continued, walking closer still. “It will make cleaning up the mess you’ve made that much easier.”

Solan dived toward Lena and Mica as the two droids closed in on either side.

Up on the roof, Obi-Wan knew it was time. Qui-Gon was at his side as he leaped off the roof and sprinted toward the helpless cousins.

Mica was caught in Solan’s grasp, but Lena pulled away just in time.

She turned to run and found herself face-to-face with a lanky but potentially lethal droid.

The one-eyed droid’s arms shot out from its sides and began to wrap themselves around her. Lena ducked at the same moment Obi-Wan’s lightsaber blade severed one arm, and with a mighty backswing separated the droid’s head from its body.

Obi-Wan pushed Lena behind him and rushed to meet the other droid.

Beside him, Qui-Gon deflected a bolt from Bard’s blaster, sending it toward Solan’s feet. Solan struggled to hold on to Mica and train his blaster on the Jedi. He did not notice Lena sneaking up behind him.

Lena grabbed Solan’s blaster. Mica whipped her body back and forth, delivering a sharp blow with her elbow to Solan’s jaw. He lost his grip on both Mica and the weapon.

The second droid fired rapid bolts at Obi-Wan, who deflected them easily. Though the bolts turned and rained back on the droid, it did not show any damage. It continued to spray the pad with fire while rapidly extending a long arm to grab Mica.

Qui-Gon dispatched the arm with an elegant sweep of his lightsaber and stepped forward to finish the job. A slashing blow to the machine’s midsection finally brought the droid down.

While Qui-Gon took care of the droid, Obi-Wan quickly surveyed the scene. Behind him Mica appeared to be in shock. She lay on the ground, staring into the darkness. Lena bravely held her blaster on Solan.

Suddenly, Obi-Wan leaped high in the air over Lena’s head. He knew what was going to happen before it happened, but still was not in time to deflect the blast. From his spot deep in the shadows, still holding the bound-and gagged Zanita, Bard fired his blaster straight at Lena.

Mica dived Lena screamed. And the bolt found flesh.