Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 09_ Edge of Victory 02_ Rebirth - J. Gregory Keyes [44]
Brought in in stun cuffs, Anakin and Tahiri had been hauled through a lower floor seething with judicials, prisoners, and clerks to this nearly abandoned area of the building. There the two Jedi had been separated and placed in different rooms. He could still feel Tahiri’s presence, of course, and not far away, which was comforting.
“We have witnesses now who substantiate the charge of murder,” the judicial with the bruised eye—Lieutenant Themion, as it turned out—informed him.
“Right. They killed the Rodian,” Anakin said.
“I’m talking now about the man you killed.”
“We didn’t kill anyone,” Anakin protested. “We saw someone in trouble—”
“A Jedi, like yourself.”
“Yes. We were trying to help him when the Peace Brigaders starting blasting at us.”
“The way I hear it, you attacked them.”
“My friend drew her weapon, yes,” Anakin replied. “They were murdering the Rodian.”
“Then you charged them, fought, and shot one with a blaster.”
“No!” Anakin said. “How many times do I have to tell you this? One of them shot at me, missed, and hit the other guy. I didn’t kill anyone, and neither did my friend.”
“We have witnesses who saw it differently.”
“You mean the other Peace Brigaders, don’t you?”
“And some of the vagrants in the crowd.”
That took Anakin aback. “Why … why would any of them say that?” he wondered.
“Maybe because it’s true,” Themion suggested.
“No, it’s not true. They’re lying, too. Maybe the Peace Brigade forced them to.” Or maybe you did, Lieutenant Themion.
“Let’s back up,” Themion said. “You saw the Rodian struggling with the Peace Brigaders. Rodians are a vile, murderous lot. Did it ever occur to you that maybe he had done something? That the officers of the Peace Brigade were just doing their duty?”
“The Peace Brigade is a collaborationist organization,” Anakin said hotly. “They sell us out to the Yuuzhan Vong.”
“The Peace Brigade is a registered organization,” Themion informed him. “They are licensed to make arrests, and to deal with those who resist arrest.” He scratched his chin. “They are certainly entitled to defend themselves against offworld, troublemaking Jedi,” he added.
Uh-oh, Anakin thought. So his suspicion had been correct. The police and the Peace Brigade were in this together.
“Am I entitled to an advocate?” Anakin asked.
“One has been assigned you.”
“When can we meet?”
“Not until your trial, of course.”
“You mean my sentencing.”
The officer smiled. “It might go easier on you if you tell us the rest. Who sent you. Which ship is yours. Your name.”
“I want to see the ambassador from Coruscant.”
“Yeah? I’m afraid I don’t have that comm ID handy. If you want to call someone on your ship, and have them contact the ambassador, that’s fine.”
Right. Then they’ll get Corran, too.
“No, thanks,” Anakin said.
The officer stepped forward quickly and slapped him so hard his head rang.
Tahiri, wherever she was, felt it. She responded in the Force in one of those rare, clear-as-transparisteel moments.
Anakin! And pain, and fear, and anger.
“Tahiri!” Anakin shouted. “No!”
“Your friend has already confessed,” Themion said. “She was stubborn, too.” He hit Anakin again. This time Anakin faded a little from the blow to reduce the impact, but it still hurt.
Somewhere near, a storm was gathering.
“Don’t hit me again,” Anakin said sternly.
Themion misunderstood. “Aw, does that hurt, little Jedi? Try this.” He pulled a stun baton from his belt.
“Really,” Anakin said.
Themion raised the weapon. At the same moment, the door wrenched open with a squeal of metal. Tahiri stood there, a blaster in one hand.
“Do-ro’ik vong pratte!” she shouted.
Themion, open-mouthed, turned to face her and she hit him with a Force blast that threw him three meters. He would have gone much farther, but the jaundiced wall stopped him with prejudice, and he collapsed, groaning.
“I warned you,” Anakin said.
Tahiri rushed to his side. “Are you all right?” she asked. “I felt them