The Evil Experiment

17

Obi-Wan hailed an air taxi to transport the group to the Temple. As they zoomed through the crowded air lanes, he turned to Cholly, Weez, and Tup.

“I need your help. But we’re not going to steal the medicines in order to sell them,” he told them. “It would be wrong.”

Cholly, Weez, and Tup looked at one another as if this concept was new to them.

“But we helped you,” Cholly pointed out, disappointed.

“Why should we keep helping you, if we don’t get anything?” Weez asked plaintively.

“This scientist has a bounty hunter working for her named Ona Nobis,” Obi-Wan said. “There’s a reward for her capture.”

“Hey, wait a second,” Astri said. “That reward is mine!”

Obi-Wan shot her an impatient look. “You can share it. We need their help. And we need it now.”

Astri’s aggrieved look faded. “You’re right.”

Obi-Wan scrawled a few items on a durasheet and handed it to Cholly, Weez, and Tup. “Once we get to Simpla-12, we need you to find these items as quickly as you can. Then you’ll meet us at the address.”

Cholly looked at the list, puzzled. “Obviously, you are crazy, my friend.” Then he grinned and tucked the durasheet into his tunic. “But perhaps you will make our fortune. So we’re with you.”

Obi-Wan had called ahead to alert Tahl that they were coming. He saw her erect figure on the landing platform as they docked. She had agreed to supply him with air transport back to Simpla-12.

Astri leaped from the air taxi as soon as it docked.

“My father?”

“The same,” Tahl said. “Obi-Wan, who is with you?”

“Some new friends,” Obi-Wan explained. He drew Tahl aside and told her what he’d discovered. “I don’t know for sure if Zan Arbor’s lab is on Simpla-12,” he said. “But there’s a chance it could be. And there’s a good chance that the antitoxin Didi needs is still stored there—along with Qui-Gon.”

“A slight chance is better than none,” Tahl said thoughtfully. “If you feel strongly that you must pursue this, then you should do so. But if you find that you are right, contact me immediately. If Jenna Zan Arbor knows that someone has found her, she could kill Qui-Gon.”

“I know,” Obi-Wan said quietly. “But if I could get inside and find Qui-Gon without alerting her, we would have the information we need to send in the Jedi.”

“But how could you do this?” Tahl asked. “And are you sure you could get out again?”

He wasn’t sure if he could. But it didn’t matter. He had to save Qui-Gon and Didi. That was most important. Obi-Wan glanced at Astri. “I have a plan.”

“Do not take any impulsive action, Obi-Wan,” Tahl warned. “Simpla-12 is not far. I can send several teams to you if they are needed. And make sure there is no surveillance on the building from the outside. Nothing must alert her that you are there.”

“I would never endanger Qui-Gon’s life,” Obi-Wan told her soberly. “But I feel that the longer he remains her captive, the more danger he is in.”

“I believe this, too,” Tahl said softly. Her comlink signaled, and she frowned. “Now I must go. Several teams are pursuing important leads. May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan.”

Tahl hurried away. Obi-Wan climbed into the transport, where Astri and the others were waiting. He powered up the engines and headed straight for the upper atmosphere. With every second, he felt Qui-Gon’s life was dwindling. With all his heart, he begged Qui-Gon silently to hold on.

Quad Two was on the very outskirts of Sim-First. Here, any attempts to keep order or cleanliness were abandoned. Many of the buildings were sealed with durasteel sheeting. An occasional speeder flashed by, but there were no pedestrians on the walkways.

Astri squinted through the drizzle. “I didn’t think Sim-First could get any worse,” she murmured.

Obi-Wan consulted a handheld nav computer. “Block Unit Three is this way.”

As they walked, the neighborhood deteriorated further. Clouds thickened until the day turned as dark as evening. It was easy to stay concealed. The area was all shadow. Many of the glow lights overhead had not been maintained. Occasionally one would send a weak spot of illumination onto the walkway.

Obi-Wan stopped. A short distance away, across the walkway, was a large, windowless building made of shiny black metal. It took up an entire block unit. He pulled Astri back into the shadow of an overhang.

“That’s it.”

Remembering Tahl’s instruction, Obi-Wan left Astri to watch the entrance and skirted around the side of the building. He moved from shadow to shadow, checking for surveillance devices. He climbed onto the roof of a nearby building to inspect the roof below. He could see no evidence of guards. He used his macro-binoculars to study the building from all sides.

He returned to Astri. “Security must be inside. There’s a visual monitor by the front door. There’s no thumbprint register or retinal scan. That’s good. I have a feeling about this, Astri. This must be the lab.”

She looked behind them. “Are you sure you can trust Cholly and the others to come through?”

“Don’t worry. They’ll do anything for credits,” Obi-Wan said.

They didn’t have long to wait. Before long, they heard footsteps approaching. Cholly, Tup, and Weez hurried down the street, casting apprehensive glances around.

“Woosh, I’m glad we found you,” Tup said as they approached. His round eyes were full of anxiety. “I didn’t know Sim-First could be so scary.”

“Did you get what I asked?” Obi-Wan inquired.

Cholly unloaded a number of items from his pack. He handed one to Obi-Wan. “Hope it fits.”

“It’s for Astri,” Obi-Wan said as he handed the black visor to her.

Astri fitted it over her head. It obscured her features and gave her a menacing look. “It’s fine,” she said.

She took it off and shook out her long, curly hair. Next Obi-Wan handed her a pair of high leather boots. Shrugging out of her tunic, she buckled her utility belt tighter around her waist and pulled on the boots.

“One more thing,” Obi-Wan said. “I’m sorry, Astri, but—”

She gritted her teeth. “Go ahead.”

Using a vibro-razor Cholly handed him, Obi-Wan first trimmed, then carefully shaved off Astri’s pretty curls.

“Such a shame,” Tup murmured.

Astri’s face was set in determined lines. “It’s worth it.”

When he had finished, Astri fitted the dark visor over her eyes. Her shaved skull gleamed. Obi-Wan handed her Ona Nobis’s whip. She coiled it and fastened it to her utility belt. With the extra height of her heeled boots, she resembled the bounty hunter.

“I just hope they don’t look too closely,” Obi-Wan said. He turned to Cholly, Weez, and Tup. “You stay here. If the real Ona Nobis turns up, do your best to keep her out of the building. She’s very fast, very clever.”

“It’s three against one,” Cholly said. “How can we fail?”

“You have surprise in your favor,” Obi-Wan said. “I gave you a contact number for Tahl at the Temple. If Astri isn’t out again in ten minutes, call Tahl and tell her to send the teams after us.”

“We will take care of everything,” Weez assured them.

Obi-Wan wasn’t so sure, but he hoped that Ona Nobis wouldn’t show up at all. He didn’t need much time.

He and Astri strode across the walkway to the building entrance.

“What did you mean, if I don’t come out?” Astri asked him under her breath. “What about you?”

“If we find Qui-Gon and can’t release him, you must leave without me, ” he told her. “Contact Tahl and tell her what happened.”

“I can’t leave you, Obi-Wan—”

“You have to,” he said firmly. “I am your prisoner. Hand me over if you have to, then look for the medicines. Then leave. Promise me. You could be Qui-Gon’s last hope.”

He couldn’t see her eyes behind the helmet, but Astri pressed her lips together grimly. “I promise.”

She pressed the button. Obi-Wan noted that her fingers were shaking.

What if Ona Nobis was already inside? Once again, Obi-Wan marveled at her courage. Astri accepted her fear and charged ahead.

“You’re as good as a Jedi,” he told her softly.

He could not see her expression under the visor, but she reached out and briefly squeezed his hand in thanks.

The face of a guard appeared on the screen. Obi-Wan recognized the fine, feathery fur and the triangular eyes of a Quint.

“It’s me,” Astri said bluntly, pitching her voice low.

“What are you doing here?” the guard asked.

“I have a Jedi prisoner,” Astri barked impatiently. “Let me in.”

The screen went blank. Obi-Wan felt the seconds tick away. Would they be allowed to enter?

The door hissed open. Obi-Wan saw Astri take a deep breath. Then they walked together into the secret lab.

The door shut behind them. They stood in a narrow hallway with a smooth polished floor. There was one double door ahead of them with a small viewing window. They started toward it.

The door suddenly opened and the same Quint guard who had appeared on the monitor hurried toward them.

“We’re busy here, you know,” he snapped. “You’ll have to bring the prisoner to holding room C yourself.”

“I don’t take orders from you,” Astri snapped back.

“Why isn’t the prisoner restrained?” the Quint asked suddenly, his steps slowing. “You always use servo-cuffs with prisoners.” His hand went for his blaster.

In another moment, Astri’s real identity could be discovered. He had hoped to get farther than this, but at least they were inside. Obi-Wan reached out and unfurled Astri’s whip in one smooth gesture. He snapped it overhead, aiming for the Quint guard. It wrapped around his ankle and Obi-Wan pulled back with a jerk. The Quint went down with a howl. Obi-Wan jumped forward and quickly wound the whip around the guard, restraining his arms and legs. Then he dragged him past the double doors into a long hallway. Astri ran ahead and accessed a door, which hissed open, revealing an empty holding room. Obi-Wan dumped him inside.

“We’d better hurry,” he said. “No doubt he’s supposed to report back. And there are probably more guards.”

There were hallways to the left and to the right, and one door at the end of the hallway straight ahead. It was broken and had been left slightly open, its frame bent. Obi-Wan felt the Force surge. His Master was beyond that door.

Obi-Wan motioned to Astri to hang back. Hugging the wall, he moved silently toward the door. He inched over to peer through the opening.

The lab was bright white and filled with equipment. At first he thought no one was there. Then he looked again at a transparent chamber filled with vapor. Through the clouds of gas Obi-Wan clearly saw his Master, imprisoned. Qui-Gon’s eyes were closed. He could even be dead.

Obi-Wan wanted to rush into the lab and smash the chamber into a thousand pieces. But he remembered Tahl’s warning to be careful. He took a breath and let his anger go. He must concentrate, he must be calm.

He signaled to Astri to follow him and entered.

He approached the transparent chamber. He put his hands on the smooth wall. Qui-Gon floated, his eyes still closed. Obi-Wan felt choked with anguish at the sight. He knew his Master was alive. Yet he felt as though he had witnessed his death.

He didn’t think his voice would penetrate the chamber. Obi-Wan spoke his Master’s name quietly. “Qui-Gon.”

Qui-Gon’s eyes opened. He saw Obi-Wan. He smiled. He mouthed the words.

I knew that you would come…

Obi-Wan put his hand on his lightsaber. “Obi-Wan!” Astri hissed. “Someone’s coming!”

He hesitated.

“You can’t release him yet,” Astri whispered. “If anyone knows we are here, we might not be able to get out again.”

Obi-Wan looked desperately at Qui-Gon. He had come so far. He had made so many decisions. He did not know what to do now.

Wait, Qui-Gon mouthed. He signaled with a glance that Obi-Wan should hide.

Obi-Wan heard footsteps. He whirled and grabbed Astri’s hand. They dove behind a pile of equipment just as the scientist walked in.