Obi-Wan's voice.
Was his grief so deep that he'd conjured an imaginary Obi-Wan, complete with Obi-Wan's maddening caution? Was it a manifestation of the Force?
Or was it Obi-Wan himself, dead and yet somehow still alive?
The time will come to speak the truth, the voice said. But not yet. Trust me. But not yet. Trust me.
For whatever reason, Ferus did.
Why doesn't he tell them? X-7 thought. He could tell from the look in Fess's eye, the tension in his spine, the careful way he avoided touching X-7 when they brushed past each other-Fess knew something was up. X-7 thought. He could tell from the look in Fess's eye, the tension in his spine, the careful way he avoided touching X-7 when they brushed past each other-Fess knew something was up.
But he said nothing.
Interesting, X-7 thought. X-7 thought. But how did he know? But how did he know?
This was the troublesome part. X-7's disguise was perfect. Certainly it should have taken more than a glance and a handshake for the stranger to see through him. As time passed, the struggle to maintain his disguise was proving to be more and more exhausting.
Had he finally slipped?
Perhaps it was simpler than that: After all, one fraud can almost always recognize another.
And if X-7 was sure of anything, it was this: Fess Ilee was a fraud.
Fooling most people was easy-you just manipulated their emotions, showed them what they wanted to see. But X-7 had no emotions, and X-7 wanted nothing. Not in the normal sense, at least.
Which meant he couldn't be fooled in the normal sense.
Apparently this Fess, whoever he was-whatever he was-couldn't be fooled, either.
If you're smart, you'll stay out of my way, X-7 thought. If not, I'll find out who you If not, I'll find out who you really are. really are.
And then I'll know how to destroy you.
CHAPTER TEN.
He watches her climb out the window and leap nimbly to the ground. She sprints into the shadows. shadows.
He follows.
Ferus knows he could alert Bail Organa to his daughter's departure-but that is not his job. He is only to observe and, when necessary, protect. his job. He is only to observe and, when necessary, protect.
He has observed a smart, headstrong girl. Too stubborn and too careless, with a fierce sense of justice. He has seen her pick a fight with a boy twice her size, avenging fierce sense of justice. He has seen her pick a fight with a boy twice her size, avenging the ill treatment of a wounded thranta. He has watched her do battle with her father over the ill treatment of a wounded thranta. He has watched her do battle with her father over etiquette and homework and when she will be permitted to accompany him to etiquette and homework and when she will be permitted to accompany him to Coruscant-but none of the arguments have changed the fact that she adores him, studies Coruscant-but none of the arguments have changed the fact that she adores him, studies every move Bail Organa makes, wants to be just like him when she grows up. every move Bail Organa makes, wants to be just like him when she grows up.
It is Ferus's job to make sure she has the chance.
Just a job , he reminds himself constantly. Leia charms everyone around her. Such a , he reminds himself constantly. Leia charms everyone around her. Such a serious face, such an intense will, in such a young girl. But Ferus knows well the dangers serious face, such an intense will, in such a young girl. But Ferus knows well the dangers of growing attached. It blinds the senses, dulls the instincts. Leia has a large family, a of growing attached. It blinds the senses, dulls the instincts. Leia has a large family, a full staff, an entire planet of people to love her. But she has only one who is solely full staff, an entire planet of people to love her. But she has only one who is solely dedicated to protecting her. Love is just a distraction. dedicated to protecting her. Love is just a distraction.
The shadows appear just as she approaches the deserted marketplace. For a second, Ferus imagines he sees a pack of wild taopari stalking the young princess. Then his Ferus imagines he sees a pack of wild taopari stalking the young princess. Then his vision resolves itself: They are men, three of them. vision resolves itself: They are men, three of them.
But they are stalking her nonetheless.
She notices nothing. She is nearly skipping down the street, arms outstretched to the darkness. He can feel the joy rolling off her in waves. Her anger at her father has darkness. He can feel the joy rolling off her in waves. Her anger at her father has dissipated, leaving behind a pure exuberance at being alone in the night. She is free, and dissipated, leaving behind a pure exuberance at being alone in the night. She is free, and the freedom is forbidden, making it all the sweeter. the freedom is forbidden, making it all the sweeter.
She doesn't sense the danger-but Ferus can. He activates his lightsaber. The blue blade shimmers in the night. Ferus stretches out with the Force, and the men's whispers blade shimmers in the night. Ferus stretches out with the Force, and the men's whispers tickle his ears as if he is standing invisibly in their midst. tickle his ears as if he is standing invisibly in their midst.
" Too risky, it's got to be a trap. Too risky, it's got to be a trap. " "
" Don't be paranoid, she's on her own. Now's our chance. Don't be paranoid, she's on her own. Now's our chance. " "
" She's just a kid. They wouldn't let her out alone like this. She's just a kid. They wouldn't let her out alone like this. " "
" Exactly, she's a kid, she probably ran away. They might not even know she's gone Exactly, she's a kid, she probably ran away. They might not even know she's gone yet, and by the time they do, we'll be long gone. yet, and by the time they do, we'll be long gone. " "
" It's still a risk. It's still a risk. " "
" No risk, no reward. And Senator Aak's going to pay big. No risk, no reward. And Senator Aak's going to pay big. " "
" Bold move, using Organa's daughter to blackmail him. Bold move, using Organa's daughter to blackmail him. " "
" Bold and brilliant-if the senator gets the kid, Organa will vote however he wants. Bold and brilliant-if the senator gets the kid, Organa will vote however he wants.
His power's gone. " "
" We're not gonna hurt her, right? She's a kid. We're not gonna hurt her, right? She's a kid.
" You said that already. You said that already. " "
" No, we're not gonna hurt her." No, we're not gonna hurt her."
" As long as she behaves. As long as she behaves. " "
Ferus strikes. He streaks through the dark night, invisible but for his glowing blade.
The blade swoops down in a graceful are, slicing through the largest man's blaster. In a single, fluid move, Ferus whirls around and jabs his foot into a soft, fleshy stomach. single, fluid move, Ferus whirls around and jabs his foot into a soft, fleshy stomach.
There is a quiet "oooof," "oooof," and the second man drops to the ground. Ferus steps down hard and the second man drops to the ground. Ferus steps down hard on his wrist, forcing him to drop the laser pistol he's just retrieved. on his wrist, forcing him to drop the laser pistol he's just retrieved.
The third man strikes at Ferus's head. The blaster hilt slams into his skull. Before Ferus can protect himself, another blow lands. There is sharp crack of durasteel on bone. Ferus can protect himself, another blow lands. There is sharp crack of durasteel on bone.
Ferus stumbles backward, dazed. His vision clouds over.
That shouldn't have happened , he thinks, lashing out blindly with his lightsaber. , he thinks, lashing out blindly with his lightsaber.
Perhaps the years of inaction have left him soft. Clumsy. Perhaps his connection with the Force is weakening. It wouldn't be the first time. Force is weakening. It wouldn't be the first time.
A laserbolt whizzes by, close enough that he can feel the heat against his cheek. He raises his lightsaber, stretching instinctively toward the incoming blasts. As he breathes raises his lightsaber, stretching instinctively toward the incoming blasts. As he breathes in deeply, trying to absorb the throbbing pain in his head, blast after blast sparks off the in deeply, trying to absorb the throbbing pain in his head, blast after blast sparks off the glowing blade. glowing blade.
One of the men he's knocked to the ground is climbing to his feet. He lunges toward Ferus. Ferus.
" No! No! " " shouts the man with the blaster. shouts the man with the blaster. " " You'll block the shot! You'll block the shot! " "
It is all the opening Ferus needs.
The first man throws a punch. Ferus ducks and grabs his forearm in a durasteel grip.
He pulls the struggling man into a tight embrace, using his body as a shield. The blaster bolts stop instantly. bolts stop instantly.
The pain in his head ebbs away, and the moment stretches. He is suddenly clear on how to end this. how to end this.
The Force is with him again.
Ferus grabs the thug he's using as a shield and flings him toward the man holding the blaster. It is a direct hit. They stumble backward and hit the ground in a tangled heap. blaster. It is a direct hit. They stumble backward and hit the ground in a tangled heap.
The blaster goes flying. Ferus lunges forward and snatches it out of the air. He grips his lightsaber, poised to strike. lightsaber, poised to strike.
But the men stay on the ground. They know this is over.
" I don't want to hurt you, I don't want to hurt you, " " Ferus growls, as the thugs cower beneath him. He Ferus growls, as the thugs cower beneath him. He suddenly realizes this is a lie. They are enemies of the princess-thus he wants to destroy suddenly realizes this is a lie. They are enemies of the princess-thus he wants to destroy them. them.
It is a dangerous emotion, and he allows it to flow through him, leaking away. He has seen what anger can do. It offers a sweet power that he never wants to taste again. seen what anger can do. It offers a sweet power that he never wants to taste again.
Only one of the men is still on his feet, and he takes a step toward Ferus, then thinks better of it. Ferus gestures to the ground with his lightsaber. The man drops down beside better of it. Ferus gestures to the ground with his lightsaber. The man drops down beside his fellow conspirators. his fellow conspirators.
Ferus feels a tinge of battle rush, the dizzy excitement that always follows a victory.
It's been so long since he has stood against an enemy face to face. So long since he's gripped his lightsaber with anything but nostalgia and regret. gripped his lightsaber with anything but nostalgia and regret.
His lightsaber...They have not seen his face, but they have seen his weapon. If stories spread of a Jedi wandering the streets of Alderaan, it will draw the Empire's scrutiny. He spread of a Jedi wandering the streets of Alderaan, it will draw the Empire's scrutiny. He has endangered himself. Which means he has endangered Leia. has endangered himself. Which means he has endangered Leia.
Vader would kill them , Ferus thinks suddenly. They are my enemies, they are Leia's , Ferus thinks suddenly. They are my enemies, they are Leia's enemies. Vader would argue that it is the only way. enemies. Vader would argue that it is the only way.
There was a time when dark thoughts like that bubbled up inside of him, disguised as his own. The dark side of the force lay at the bottom of a steep cliff, and he had come far his own. The dark side of the force lay at the bottom of a steep cliff, and he had come far too close to the edge. too close to the edge.
Those days are behind him.
He reaches out with the Force, shaping their minds to his will. " " You wish to leave this You wish to leave this planet, planet, " " he says without malice. he says without malice. " " Leave the system. You no longer wish to work for Leave the system. You no longer wish to work for Senator Aak, or anyone who would use a child as a bargaining chip. Senator Aak, or anyone who would use a child as a bargaining chip. " "
The men shake their heads, their gazes blank. " " We wish to leave this planet, We wish to leave this planet, " " they they chorus. chorus.
" No one attacked you tonight, No one attacked you tonight, " " Ferus says, retreating to the night. Ferus says, retreating to the night. " " There was no There was no Jedi. No lightsaber. You never even saw the princess. Jedi. No lightsaber. You never even saw the princess. " "
One of the men elbows another. " " Let's get out of here, Let's get out of here, " " he says, sounding confused. he says, sounding confused.
" What are we doing, helping some political hack use a kid as a bargaining drip? What are we doing, helping some political hack use a kid as a bargaining drip? " "
" Not just the planet, Not just the planet, " " another of the men says. another of the men says. " " Let's get out of the system. Let's get out of the system. " "
" Why are we even out here tonight? Why are we even out here tonight? " " the third says, as they wander off into the night. the third says, as they wander off into the night.
Ferus still needs to deal with Senator Aak, to make sure this never happens again.
That will not be as easy. But for tonight, he has succeeded. The princess is safe.
Ferus thought he had experienced too much grief in his life to ever hurt again.
Wrong.
His body felt wrenched out of shape, the absence of Obi-Wan as visceral as a missing limb. He somehow found enough strength to return to his own chambers, but once there, he was lost.
He had lived with an ever present ache for years, ever since Leia had grown old enough to take her own stand against the Empire. Ferus knew he couldn't follow her to the Galactic Senate, just as he couldn't follow her on Rebel missions. He had found the strength to let her go off on her own, but he had never found a way to make the agonizing worry fade.
Ferus had been in space when Alderaan was attacked. Terrified by reports that Leia's ship had been destroyed, Bail Organa had sent him to investigate. Ferus had long refused to join Organa's Rebel Alliance-however much he may have wanted to fight the Empire, his place was in the shadows. His role was protector, not warrior. But this wasn't about the Alliance, this was about helping Leia, and it was a request Organa knew Ferus would never refuse.
It was a request that had saved him. Shortly after Ferus lifted off, Alderaan had been destroyed. That same day, reports had surfaced that the princess was safe and sound.
Knowing that Leia was safe had offered Ferus his only consolation in the time of unthinkable tragedy.
It had never occurred to him that Leia wasn't the only one to worry about.
Like all Padawans at the Jedi Temple, Ferus had grown up without parents, without a family. But who needed a mother or a father, when you had Jedi Masters like Yoda, Siri Tachi, and Obi-Wan Kenobi shaping your path?
When Ferus had decided to leave the Jedi Order, Obi-Wan had accepted his decision.
Years away from the Jedi had not dimmed his respect for the great Master, tempered as it often was by irritation. The deep bond between them rested not only on their shared past, but on their future, and the fact that after Order Sixty-Six, each was all that the other had left.
"Never pause too long to mourn the dead, lest you do disservice to the living."
At the sound of the familiar voice, laced with dry wit and a hint of good humor, Ferus whirled around. And there he was. Well, not there there, exactly. Not in the full-bodied flesh.
Shimmering, translucent, present and yet somehow absent at the same time-but there there.
"Obi-Wan?" Ferus gasped. "But you're-"
"Dead. Yes." Obi-Wan smiled sadly. He seemed older than Ferus remembered, his face ravaged by age. Was it life that had been so hard on him, or death? "A necessary inconvenience."
"How is this possible?"
"The past is the past," Obi-Wan said brusquely. "We have much to discuss about our present dilemmas. First-"
"No!" It was so typical of Obi-Wan, this refusal to offer any "unnecessary"
explanation. The Jedi was just as infuriating from beyond the grave. "You expect me to act as if nothing of importance has occurred?"