"Yes," Shalini said with complete certainty.
"I'm not," Olanz said quietly, coming up with Thik. "The Jedi might have a point, Shalini. We are relying on Mezdec for our proof."
Shalini looked at the two of them with disbelief. "Mezdec is not a traitor. He is as loyal to Typha-Dor as I am, as committed to bringing the plans back as I am."
Anakin noticed that she touched her utility belt when she spoke.
"May we see the disk?" he asked.
Shalini looked at him angrily, but she reached into a hidden pocket on her belt and handed Obi-Wan the disk.
Obi-Wan accessed it on his datapad. It was empty of information.
Shalini stared at the disk in shock. "I don't know how…"
"Was the disk ever out of your sight?" Obi-Wan asked urgently.
She bit her lip. "No, never. But Mezdec checked my blaster and my emergency supplies on my utility belt before we left. He said he wanted to do it, to make sure I would be safe…." Her voice trailed off. "I have a second disk. I didn't tell Mezdec. The invasion plans are safe."
Rajana's voice rose. "I'm getting radar activity. I think it's a destroyer."
"Where is Mezdec?" Shalini cried. Mezdec had disappeared.
Anakin and Obi-Wan sprang up. "Emergency pod," Obi-Wan said.
They raced to the rear of the ship. Mezdec was accessing the emergency door. He ran inside.
The ship suddenly shook as laser cannonfire erupted.
"We're under attack!" Rajana shouted from the cockpit. "I need help here!"
Both Jedi leaped toward the closing door to the escape pod. It locked down before they could reach it. Obi-Wan swept his lightsaber down the door and the metal peeled back. But he was too late. Mezdec blasted out into space.
Chapter Five
"We should have been prepared for this," Obi-Wan said.
"He won't get very far very fast," Anakin said. "I disabled half the power. I also cut the comm unit. I'd better get to the pilot seat."
Anakin whirled and charged back toward the cockpit. Obi-Wan followed.
Their best chance of escaping the Vanqor bombardment lay with his Padawan at the controls.
Their chances weren't good. At half-power, the ship could not possibly outrun the Vanqor ship, and it would also be hard to maneuver.
Obi-Wan hurried back to the cockpit, where the others stood nervously around Anakin as he took over the controls. The Vanqor ship was behind them, a monster assault ship clad in black and silver. A flash came from the side of the ship.
"Torpedo," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin made a hard right. The ship shuddered as it turned. The torpedo missed them.
Laser cannonfire began to boom. Anakin put the ship into a dive, but Obi-Wan could feel how the ship trembled. He exchanged a look with his apprentice. Anakin's lips thinned. Obi-Wan knew he was determined to get them through. But even Anakin couldn't work miracles. Obi-Wan began to study the map charts, looking for a place to set the ship down.
Unfortunately, the closest planet was Vanqor itself. "Hang on!" Anakin shouted.
The ship staggered from a direct hit. Blue lightning skittered along the console.
"Ion blast," Anakin said. "We've lost most of our computer systems."
He turned the ship again, trying to stay a moving target. He threw a glance at Obi-Wan. "We've got to get the ship down."
Obi-Wan looked at the others. "Our only choice is Vanqor."
The group exchanged glances. They had been through so much and accomplished so much. Landing on Vanqor and being captured could mean the end for all of them. But when they turned to Obi-Wan, not one of them looked afraid.
"If it is our only choice, let us take it," Thik said.
Anakin dipped the ship into the planet's atmosphere. "Can you give me a coordinate?" he asked Obi-Wan. "I don't have much time to maneuver, but I'll do what I can."
Obi-Wan didn't have time to consult the onboard references. He thought back on the holomaps he had studied. "Our best chance of evading capture is to land on the outskirts of the Tomo Craters," he said. "It's rugged terrain. We might be able to lose them there, if you can guide us to a safe landing." Obi-Wan quickly sat down at the computer and brought up the coordinates.
Anakin nodded briefly, too intent on keeping the ship on course to waste any movement. The ship rocked and shuddered under his hands. Suddenly it began to list to one side.
"The left stabilizer is failing," he muttered. "Everyone strap in.
We're going to have to crash-land."
Vanqor loomed below, a large, multicolored planet. Obi-Wan knew from his research that it was primarily made up of deserts and dry, high plateaus. Cities were midsize and strung out along the few fertile valleys.
The Tomo Craters area was a remote section that thousands of years ago had been hit by a meteor shower. Deep craters and fissures marked the dry land.
Suddenly an alarm began to sound. Red lights flashed in the cockpit.
Another bank of lights lit up. Anakin didn't say a word. He didn't have to.
Everyone knew what it meant: The ship was failing.
Instead of slowing, Anakin pushed his speed. Obi-Wan admired his cool.
He knew what Anakin was counting on. The faster they got down, the better.
He just wasn't sure what would happen when they got closer. Anakin would try to hug the surface, hiding from the ship above until he could land.
Normally, Anakin would relish this challenge and perform it flawlessly. But with a wounded ship, he was taking big chances.
Obi-Wan prepared himself. They passed over a green valley, and Anakin brought the ship closer to the surface. The entire frame was shaking.
Sirens blared and red lights flashed. The surface loomed closer. Red dirt was kicked up by their turbulence. It looked as though they were about to crash into boulders as big as buildings. The ship rolled to one side, nearly sending them into a massive rock formation. Anakin corrected it.
Sweat beaded his upper lip.
Obi-Wan saw a smooth plateau ahead. Anakin would try to land there. He slowed his speed, and the ship wobbled, rolling from side to side. If they hadn't strapped in, they would have been flung against the walls.