There were no guards in the corridor.
"Krayn always trusts high-tech security too much," Siri muttered.
"Let's head for Aga Culpa." There were only three droid guards stationed in the entrance to the basement prison. Siri and Anakin paused after peeking around the corner to glimpse them.
"We don't have time for complicated strategy," Siri said. "Let's just charge them."
They activated their lightsabers again and were on the droids before they could respond to the attack. They both leaped high in the air and then came down, slicing their lightsabers through the droids and splitting them in half. As the third droid kept up blaster fire, it retreated to the console desk, no doubt to raise an alarm. Anakin cut down the droid while Siri whirled and buried her shaft in the console communication panel. It sizzled and smoked.
"We'd better hurry now," Siri said.
She led the way to an exit following a little-used passageway. "This is Krayn's private escape route," she told Anakin. "It leads to his landing platform, and it's only a short distance from there to Aga Culpa. Krayn insisted that Culpa enjoy the comfort of the complex, but actually he just wanted to keep an eye on him."
Anakin followed Siri to Krayn's landing platform and then to another walkway that led to another quadrant of the complex. Siri accessed the door and walked in.
They found Aga Culpa sitting in front of a holographic game.
"Busy as usual, I see," Siri said, striding in and shutting off the game.
Aga Culpa looked up. The expression on his face was such an odd mixture of outrage, embarrassment, and apprehension that Anakin was almost tempted to laugh. Culpa was a thin humanoid male with a slack-muscled body that he clothed in skintight tech fabric. He wore a tiny matching cap on his bald head.
"How dare you burst into my private quarters!" he blustered. Then he looked nervous. "Does Krayn want to see me?"
"No. I do." Siri sat astride a chair. "This is my slave, Anakin. We may speak freely in front of him."
Anakin bristled inside at being called a slave, but he understood the necessity for it.
"I've come to give you a message from the Colicoids," Siri said. "They are going to take over the factories of Nar Shaddaa. Naturally Krayn is not aware of this."
The apprehension on Aga Culpa's face changed to fear. "Take over?" he whispered.
"They have the power," Siri said. "And a close associate of Krayn's has agreed to help them. That's me. I always liked you, Culpa, so I'm giving you the opportunity to join us."
"Against Krayn?" Aga Culpa gripped the arms of his chair.
"It would be a smart move. And easy. All you have to do is nothing.
Tell the guards of the Nar Shaddaa factories not to interfere with the slaves."
"I can't do that," Aga Culpa said. "Krayn would kill me."
"Are you so sure that you're safe from the Colicoids if you do not?"
Siri asked pleasantly.
Aga Culpa's look of fearful unease intensified. He shook his head. "N- no. I can't go against Krayn."
Siri gave a quick look of exasperation at Anakin. Obviously Aga Culpa was too weak and paralyzed with terror to take a risk. She shrugged. Anakin knew what was in her mind.
He felt the Force gather in the room. It was powerful, and he admired Siri's grasp of it. She turned her attention back to Aga Culpa and passed a hand in front of his face.
"Contact the Nar Shaddaa slave guards. if there is a revolt, order them to do nothing."
"I will order them to do nothing. I will contact the guards." Aga Culpa's voice was toneless, but the mind suggestion had worked. On such a weak will as Culpa's, it had been easy.
"Do it now."
They watched as Aga Culpa activated his comlink and spoke to the commanding officer. He overrode the officer's expression of disbelief with a firm repeat of the order.
"Do it or suffer the consequences," Siri whispered. "Do it or suffer the consequences," Aga Culpa repeated. He shut off the communication.
"Thanks, Culpa. I appreciate your support." Siri sprang off the chair athletically and strode toward the door.
As soon as she and Anakin were outside, she frowned. "The Colicoids won't be so easy. Jedi mind tricks won't work. I'll have to go alone, Anakin."
"I need to talk to the slaves, anyway."
"I don't need to wish you luck," Siri said. "I know you can do it."
"Luck always helps. I'll wait for your signal." Anakin ran toward the turbolift. He had gained great confidence in Siri.
It took Anakin a few minutes of careful strategy to get around the patrolling guard droids in the factory. He stealthfully slipped next to Mazie on the assemblyline, hoping the guards would not do a sudden head count Quickly, he explained the situation and what he needed.
She gazed at him, amazed. "You really do mean to break out, don't you.
" "Not alone," Anakin said. "With all of us, together."
"I can't do it, Anakin," Mazie said in a low tone as her fingers continued to work. "I can't ask them to risk so much."
"All we have to worry about is the droids. The Nar Shaddaa guards will look the other way."
"The droids are enough."
"What if I created a diversion? An explosion? I know where the explosives are kept in the caverns."
Mazie bit her lip. "I don't know.." she murmured.
"It's the only way, Mazie. Do you want to end your life here, like this? Do you want Berri to live as a slave?"
"You're not fair."
"But I'm right."
"Perhaps… perhaps there is a core group who will revolt," she said slowly.
"You will contact them?"
She nodded.
"Others will see us succeed and will join us," Anakin said confidently.
"I hope you are right," Mazie murmured. Her hands now trembled as she worked.
Anakin slipped away. The end of the shift was only minutes away.
Everything depended on Siri now.
Chapter 19
Unable to find Anakin or Siri, Obi-Wan had to report to the Colicoid delegation or risk blowing his cover. He was just beginning his report when Siri burst in.