Star Wars_ Darth Maul 02_ Shadow Hunter - Michael Reaves [105]
Lorn staggered forward. One of the senators, a Gran, saw him coming and reacted with a bleat of fright. Several of the guards moved in to protect their charges, drawing blasters.
“Wait!”
The command came from the senator whom Lorn had recognized. He stepped forward, his expression one of concern.
“What’s the matter, my good fellow? What brings you here in this extreme state?”
Lorn pulled the crystal from his pocket and held it out. He saw the other’s eyes narrow as he recognized it.
“A holocron crystal?”
“Yes,” Lorn gasped, dropping it into the senator’s outstretched hand. “It must reach the Jedi. Very important.”
The senator nodded, and quickly tucked the holocron away in a fold of his robe. Then he noticed the stump where Lorn’s other hand had been. “You’re injured!” He turned to one of the guards, summoning him with a quick, imperious gesture. “This man requires hospitalization immediately! And protection from assassins, as well, by the look of it.”
Lorn sagged into a chair. As the others came forward he risked a glance over his shoulder at the service port where he had entered. There was no sign of the Sith.
Relief flooded over him. The nightmare was over, at last.
He felt his consciousness starting to slip away and realized that for the first time in days he could allow himself the luxury of exhaustion. “Make sure … the holocron …,” he mumbled, but was too tired to finish the sentence.
His benefactor leaned over him and smiled. “Don’t worry, my brave friend. I’ll take care of it. Everything will be all right now.”
Lorn managed to mumble, “Thank you,… Senator Palpatine.” And then everything faded.
When Obi-Wan Kenobi reached the Temple he could tell immediately that something was wrong. It wasn’t just the ominous reverberations in the Force that pulsed invisibly all around him; the Padawans and messengers he passed in the hallways all wore looks of concern and concentration. One of them saw him and stopped.
“Padawan Kenobi, you are to report to your Master immediately.” Then he continued on his way before Obi-Wan could ask what was causing the palpable air of tension.
He found the door to Master Qui-Gon’s domicile open. The Jedi was inside, loading his utility belt with field items such as an ascension gun and food capsules. He evidenced relief when he saw Obi-Wan standing in the doorway.
“Excellent. You have returned just in time.”
“What’s happened, Master?”
“The Trade Federation has blockaded Naboo. You and I have been selected as ambassadors to the Trade Federation flagship to settle this.”
Obi-Wan felt stunned at the magnitude of this news. “Surely the Republic Senate will condemn such an action!”
“I suspect the Neimoidians are counting on the senate’s past record of being … less than effective in such matters. In any event, we must leave immediately.”
“I understand. But I must tell you—Master Anoon Bondara and his Padawan, Darsha Assant, are both dead. There is no doubt of this.”
Master Qui-Gon paused in his packing and looked at Obi-Wan. The Padawan could see the sadness in his mentor’s eyes.
“And the cause of this tragedy?”
“I’m still not certain, although I suspect Black Sun involvement.”
“I want to hear all about it,” Master Qui-Gon said, “and so will the council. But speed is of the essence now. You will make your report to them via holotransmission once we are on our way.”
“Yes, Master.” Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon Jinn as the latter strapped his belt around his waist and left the room.
He would do as his Master said, of course. Obviously this new crisis superseded the events that had taken place in the Crimson Corridor. As he followed Master Qui-Gon, ObiWan wondered if he would ever know the complete story of what happened to Darsha and Master Bondara. She had had the potential to be a good Jedi