Echo - Chapter Three

Qui-Gon Jinn's mind raced as he walked back to the fighter.  What he had seen made no sense.  The Commerce Guild, though politically powerful and tremendously greedy, had always made sure to work within the system where the Republic was concerned.  Tales of their strong-arm tactics outside the jurisdiction of the Republic were becoming quite commonplace but a move of this sort was contrary to their nature.  While they had become increasingly aggressive, the main goal of the Guild was profit and asset protection.  An attack on two Republic Senators during a treaty signing would cause them far more problems than it was worth.

Was this simply a set-up by another group to discredit the Guild?  Plenty of organizations had both reason and motive to see the Guild embroiled in scandal.  The near stranglehold the Commerce Guild had on raw materials, the under the table bribes to ensure their interests were well looked after in the Senate, and their use of automata to bully smaller businesses into Guild membership ensured there were many with an interest in seeing them fall.  The Trade Federation was jealous of the Guild's political power and wanted a piece of the new shipping lanes that would be opened as a result of the treaty with the Tanthal Alliance.  Black Sun was a factor in any terrorist activity.  There was always a chance – no matter how small - that this was purely the work of pirates that happened to obtain Guild ships.  Why would someone choose Rhen Var and this particular treaty delegation?  Bail Organa was still new to the Senate and Doman Beruss was well known to be a man of integrity.  Both were well loved by their constituents and an attack on either would bring a public outcry.

Perhaps the Senators were a part of the equation?  Did the Guild have some interest in the worlds of the Tanthal Alliance?  Nothing had revealed itself during negotiations but that didn't mean that the Guild had not attempted to sway the proceedings.  Qui-Gon now knew Bail Organa well enough to know that, while young and somewhat green, the man was not the sort to take a bribe.  The Prince had his own means and was, therefore, not as susceptible to the needs of campaign funding that drove many a Senator to questionable alliances.  Qui-Gon had known Doman Beruss for years and the man would have laughed in the Guildsman's face and promptly informed Qui-Gon about the subversion attempt.  Had an effort to influence the negations failed and forced the Commerce Guild's hand?

There were just too many variables and not enough information to make an assessment.

No, Qui-Gon needed more data if he was going to make sense of the situation.  Unfortunately, he had little time in which to obtain it.  The sun was setting and a storm was almost upon him.  The delegates would be getting nervous about the situation.  He would have to go back to them and make some kind of report – but what was there to say?  The investigation team would take a least two standard days to be dispatched and reach Rhen Var.  Somehow, in that time, Qui-Gon was going to have to keep the delegates safe and find out the nature of the threat.  Neither was a simple task.

Qui-Gon climbed into the fighter and started it up.  As he nudged the controls and took to the sky, he reached out with his mind searching for his Padawan.  This storm was going to complicate matters for Obi-Wan and the Prince.  He wondered, for a moment, if he shouldn't have gone out to search for them but pushed the thought aside.  No, if he had done that the storm would have covered the wreckage and he would have had even less information than he did now.

The wind buffeted the fighter as the storm advanced.  Qui-Gon banked slightly to compensate.  Obi-Wan was somewhere to the north and east.  The lingering feel of his Padawan in the Force seemed strained and tired but Qui-Gon sensed nothing to indicate injury or distress.  No, he was right, Obi-Wan was capable of caring for himself and Senator Organa.

It was time to get back to the delegates.

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A dark figure stepped out of the shadows of a half collapsed archway as Qui-Gon's fighter took flight.  Clothed head to foot in black, it cautiously moved forward and pulled a set of electrobinoculars from the folds of its robes.  It watched until the fighter was completely out of range.

The electrobinoculars were exchanged for a comlink.  "Master, the Jedi live."

"That is unfortunate."

"Shall I kill them?"

"No.  Continue to observe, my Apprentice.  This situation may work to our advantage yet.  It could prove an interesting test."

"The Guildsmen?"

"I will deal with our inept and profit driven friends.  They will pay dearly for their failure."

"Yes, Master."

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The wind whistled through the small vent holes Obi-Wan had placed in the exterior of the small shelter.  Condensation from the melting snow accumulated on the domed roof densely enough to create fat drops of water.  They fell intermittently, spattering softly on the floor before refreezing.

Obi-Wan moved in and out of light meditation as the storm howled across the flat plain.  He was tired but couldn't afford the luxury of deep stasis or true sleep.  To allow himself to sink that far into unawareness would be inadvisable given the circumstances.  The elusive feeling of wrongness that floated around the edges of his consciousness continued.  Master Yoda always said that one must be mindful of such things – that they were portents of future events.  Master Jinn, while never directly contradicting Master Yoda, often admonished Obi-Wan for focusing too frequently on such feelings.  Live in the present moment and be mindful of the Living Force was Qui-Gon's mantra.  No matter what Master Yoda said, however, Obi-Wan had to admit that Qui-Gon was normally right – keeping oneself focused in the present moment allowed one to be ready for anything.

Periodically, the Jedi opened his eyes to check on the Senator that was now his charge.  Bail Organa slept fitfully, curled on his side wrapped in the thermal blanket they had found in the emergency pack.  Obi-Wan had draped the thing over the Prince to keep the falling water from waking him.  The man was exhausted, emotionally and physically, and Obi-Wan needed to be sure he would be ready for whatever might happen come morning. 

Obi-Wan had done his best to keep Bail distracted until he fell asleep.  The Prince had broken open one of the ration packs and offered half to Obi-Wan as they huddled together in the small shelter.  The Jedi rejected the offer explaining that he wouldn't require much to eat and that it was best to have Bail keep up his strength.  The comment had reminded the man of their circumstances and elicited a frown.  Bail then began asking probing questions as he ate.  What would they do when they reached the ruins?  How would they rejoin the rest of the delegates?  Would a team be dispatched from Coruscant?  How long would they be stranded on the planet before that team arrived?  What would happen when their rations ran out?

During the three standard months of their acquaintance the Prince had shown himself to be pragmatic and realistic about most situations.  Obi-Wan took the risk that this trait would continue to apply in spite of the harrowing events of the last day.  He had done his best to answer Bail in a frank manner.  Bail, for his part, had received the answers calmly in spite of the fact that they were not always positive.

"What about Master Jinn?  Do you think he and Doman Beruss escaped?"

"I am uncertain of Doman, but my Master remains on the planet.  He has not been harmed."

"How do you know that?"

Obi-Wan had responded.  "If something had happened to him, I would know."

Bail had sat silently for a moment, pondering Obi-Wan's response.  He had asked no more questions after that.

It wasn't long before Obi-Wan suggested the Prince try to rest.  Bail didn't argue and quickly curled up in his heavy fur-trimmed robes.  It took little time for the overwrought Prince fall asleep. 

All things considered, Obi-Wan had to give Bail Organa credit.  The man had managed to keep his composure despite their circumstances.  The brief period of panic Bail had exhibited when the shelter was sealed passed quickly enough, though Obi-Wan was certain the Prince still felt very uncomfortable.  He wondered, as he often had over the last few months, at how different the Bail he had come to know was from the man the press made him out to be.  There was something indefinably fascinating about Bail Organa.  It wasn't simply that he was physically attractive – and he was that – it was something else. 

And Obi-Wan desperately wanted to understand that something.

Opening his senses, Obi-Wan once again closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift in the upper register of his awareness.  Perhaps focusing his meditation on his strange fascination with the Senator would grant him some insight.  He simply couldn't afford, or admit, the word that another might use to describe the emotions he felt. 

Attachments were forbidden for a Jedi Padawan – they were created by desires and desires generated greed.  Often Master Yoda would teach the younglings the basics of renunciation of self and Obi-Wan could still hear the ancient Master's voice in his mind, chiding, "Possessions need you not!  When attached you are, tied to greed you become.”  Yoda would punctuate his words with a sharp rap of his gimer stick on the floor.  “Greed leads to hatred.  Hatred the Dark Side is."

As Obi-Wan searched his heart, the storm raged.  The green glow of the phosphorescent gel in the lantern dimmed, flickered, and finally died plunging the shelter into darkness. 

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"Senator Beruss, might I have a word?"

While the guards had managed to scavenge enough wood to burn, they had come up wanting in the area of food.  Qui-Gon had taken the emergency kits from the fighter but they contained only enough rations to last the group a standard day.  Potable water wouldn't be a problem but, if it took the team as long as Qui-Gon anticipated to arrive on Rhen Var, food would rapidly become an issue.

The cloaked Jedi steered Damon Beruss away from the fire and out of earshot.  Qui-Gon was going to need an ally. 

"What is it, my friend?"

"Doman, have you heard any of the Tanthalan Ambassadors mention the Commerce Guild?"

The Senator looked at Qui-Gon quizzically, "No."

"What about Senator Organa?"

The question shifted Doman's expression to a frown.  "No.  Qui-Gon, what is this about?"

Folding his hands into the sleeves of his robes, Qui-Gon replied, "I am not certain yet."

"You are not certain yet?"  Doman shook his head angrily.  "That's Jedi-speak for 'I have information I don't want you to know.'  This is exactly the reason half the Senate doesn't trust the Jedi, Qui-Gon!  You and your Almighty Council think you know what is best for the whole of the Republic; that your Force sensitivity makes you enlightened and superior to the rest of us poor Force-blind beings.  I don't mind saying that I am terribly disappointed."

Qui-Gon sighed.  "Doman..."

"That's SENATOR to you, Master Jinn."

"Senator, this is not the time or place for your longstanding debate regarding the purpose and place of the Jedi in the political arena."  Qui-Gon's words were short and clipped.  "I respect you and your opinion on the matter regardless of the fact that I find your views narrow and ill advised.  We have a pressing problem at the moment, one which might be resolved faster if you assist me instead of try to bait me into a pointless argument."

"I hardly find it pointless."  Doman's voice raised a notch causing the nearby guard to look toward the pair.  "If you want my cooperation then you should expect to parlay and put trust on the negotiation table.  Is that not so?"

"Doman, I honestly have nothing to tell you."  Qui-Gon's allowed his exasperation to show.  "I see no reason to share what is little more than wild speculation on my part.  When I have something factual, rest assured that I will share it.  You must trust my judgment."

"If you have nothing factual then why are you asking about the Commerce Guild?"

"Because I need to know if they would have any motive to try to kill you."

Doman Beruss was stunned to silence.  He stood there, staring at Qui-Gon Jinn for a long time before saying quietly, "I see."

"No, Senator, you do not see.  But that is not important.  If we are all going to survive this, I am going to need your help.  Can I count on you?"

"Of course you can count on me, Qui-Gon.  The day you and I stop trusting one another will be a sad day indeed."  Doman sighed and looked back toward the fire and the rest of the delegates.  "Tell me what you want me to do."

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A static filled blue hologram hovered just above the metal that comprised the bridge of the Commerce Guild ship.  "You have not fulfilled your part of our agreement."

"It was not our fault! The Jedi..."

"Silence!  I am uninterested in your excuses.  Your failure has caused me to reevaluate our arrangement."

"And exactly what do you mean by that?"  Iaco Stark stood, feet apart, not far from the hologram.  The pirate turned Guild businessman had a score to settle with the Republic and the Jedi but he wasn't interested in taking the fall for someone else.  "We've put ourselves on the line here and we expect you to keep your end of the bargain."

"That is no longer possible."

Shu Mai stepped from behind the Guild President toward the Hologram.  She had not worked to become Chief of Property Resources only to have the Guild be banned from doing business with the Republic.  She had plans.  "And what might make it possible?"

"If the team arrives and there is no one to tell them of your organization's involvement in this incident."

"Are you insane!"  Iaco took an aggressive step forward in spite of the fact that the cloaked person before him was only an image.  "You're talking about killing almost three hundred Republic citizens and taking out a Trade Federation orbiter!"

The hologram shrugged indifferently.  "That is not my problem.  I am not the inept parasite that bungled their part of the agreement."

"And if no one can connect us to this?"  Shu Mai pressed on, trying to find a way to salvage the situation. 

"Then, I might feel...benevolent."

The hologram shimmered and disappeared as the connection severed.  The three Guild officials stood on the bridge, stunned.  A hit and run attack on the delegation was one thing, but destroying a Republic cruiser, the Tanthalan Alliance ship, and the orbiter supplied by the Trade Federation would be quite another.

Iaco Paced back and forth in front of the Guild President, "I told you we should never have agreed to this!"

"It's too late now.  We have only one choice," The President shook his head slowly, but it was a motion of resignation.  "We must destroy the ships and leave before the Jedi team arrives."