Obi-Wan had followed Siri from the conference room. As soon as they were alone, he whipped off his mask.
"I thought so," Siri said. "You were never good at disguise."
"I fooled you," Obi-Wan said. "Admit it."
She bared her teeth at him. "Never."
He followed her at a run to Krayn's quarters. He was not in his receiving room, or in the control center.
"He wouldn't go down to the factory," Siri said. "He wouldn't want to be anywhere near the rebellion."
They exchanged glances.
"The landing platform," Siri said, and took off.
They pounded through the corridors and burst out the exit. At the opposite end, Anakin held Krayn at bay. The pirate was bent over, breathing heavily. As they watched, a vibro-ax fell from his bleeding hand and clattered to the ground. He lifted his face to his attacker.
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan shouted. He started toward him. Siri circled in case she needed to flank him for support.
His Padawan did not hear him. On his face was an intensity that Obi- Wan had never seen before.
Anakin raised his lightsaber to deliver the fatal blow.
"Don't!" Obi-Wan shouted.
The lightsaber slashed downward. Anakin sunk it in Krayn's chest.
Krayn's mouth opened in a wordless scream. He locked eyes with Anakin. Then he toppled to the ground.
EPILOGUE A few days later, Obi-Wan and Siri sat with Anakin and watched as the sleek silver transport set down on Krayn's landing platform.
"We'll certainly be returning to Coruscant in style," Siri observed.
She looked more like her old self now, dressed in a simple tunic, her face scrubbed clean, her blond hair tucked behind her ears and gleaming in the weak sun.
"It's not often that a Senate delegation comes to congratulate us on a mission and give us a lift home," Obi-Wan said. "As a matter of fact, it's never."
"I guess they are grateful for the liberation of Nar Shaddaa," Siri said.
"Not to mention the downfall of Krayn and his pirate empire," Obi-Wan said. "The galaxy will be safer for many."
Anakin nodded. Obi-Wan studied his face. It was so boyish and open.
The glimpse he had seen of something dark, something feral, in the fight with Krayn was fading. The boy he knew had taken its place. Anakin had explained that Krayn still held a blaster. His life had been in danger. He had not violated the Jedi code by killing him.
Yet Obi-Wan still felt doubts. Doubts he could not share. Siri had not seen the expression on Anakin's face.
"Come, let's greet them," Obi-Wan said as the landing ramp came down.
"Wait, there's Mazie and Berri," Anakin said. "I have to say hello."
"Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine has come here himself," Obi-Wan reminded him.
Anakin grinned and ran his hand over his hair. "I know."
Obi-Wan nodded. Anakin was right. Because of Mazie and Berri, they had succeeded in their mission. The politicians could wait.
Mazie and Berri approached. Mazie was limping slightly. She had been wounded in the battle.
"We know you are leaving," Mazie said. "We could not let you leave without thanking you." She was speaking to all of them, but her gaze remained on Anakin. "You freed us all."
"You freed yourself," Anakin corrected. "It is I who should be thanking you." He turned to Berri. "And you, Berri. I'm glad to meet you at last. You showed great courage in helping Siri and me escape."
"I did only what I could," Berri said.
"That was a great deal," Siri said.
"The Colicoids have offered us wages to remain," Mazie said. "We will do so until we have enough to get off-planet. Nar Shaddaa is no place to live."
"Perhaps the Jedi can help with relocation and transport," Siri said.
"We'll be in contact after we reach the Temple."
Mazie and Berri exchanged happy glances. "That would be very good,"
Mazie said. "Safe journey home."
Berri smiled. "You won't have to worry about pirates."
Mazie reached out and grasped Anakin's shoulders in a sudden display of emotion. "You have guaranteed our safety and our lives by killing Krayn.
We will never forget it."
"I will never forget you," Anakin said.
The three Jedi turned and headed for the Senate delegation. Chancellor Palpatine smiled and held out his hands.
"The Jedi have brought freedom to Nar Shaddaa at last," he said. "Now we can begin to clean up this world. The Colicoids need our help, and we need theirs." He shrugged. "It is the price we pay for the liberation of Nar Shaddaa and the end of Krayn. The Senate thanks you for your great service to the galaxy."
The Jedi nodded respectfully.
"Now, come aboard. We have everything prepared for a comfortable journey back to Coruscant," Palpatine said. Putting a hand on Anakin's shoulder, he led the way to the ship.
Obi-Wan hesitated, Siri by his side. He watched as Palpatine bent his head close to Anakin's to speak to him. What was making him uneasy?
Was it the memory of what he'd seen on Anakin's face in the battle with Krayn? His Padawan had been in the heat of battle and afraid for his life. He felt that Krayn was about to shoot. He had every reason to kill him. He had not killed him out of anger and revenge.
Yet when Anakin had turned to face him fully, his expression had been so empty. His gaze held neither triumph nor distress. Only blankness.
He had been numb from the experience of battle, Obi-Wan told himself.
He himself had felt the same at times.
I will not abandon him, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan privately vowed. I see what you see. I see how he struggles. I see his immense capacity for good.
Siri moved closer to him. "It appears that your Padawan has impressed the Chancellor. He has great gifts."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed. "Yet he has so much to learn.
The vision of Qui-Gon in the cave of Ilum rose in his mind. He didn't know what the vision was trying to tell him, except to go on. He would go on. He would guide his gifted Padawan as best he knew how. He would not fail.