"Who are you to tell me my duty?" Anakin spat out. "You betrayed us all. You turned your back on the Jedi and embraced the dark side. Now you are Krayn's spy. The ally of a slave trader, the most contemptible, despicable being in the galaxy "
A low chuckle reached his ears. Anakin sputtered to a stop as Krayn stepped around the corner.
"Such praise," he said mockingly. "How lucky I am to be such an icon of evil to my property. It means I am doing something right."
"I was just reprimanding this slave," Siri said. "He is new and did not know the rules."
Krayn turned to her and his expression was no longer amused. "So you are a Jedi. What did he call you? Siri?"
"No longer," Siri said. "I left them long ago, but they have this ridiculous code of loyalty. They think they own me. No one owns me!"
"Ah, you forget something," Krayn said. "I do." Siri's eyes blazed.
"No one owns me, Krayn." Suddenly guard droids appeared around the corner and surrounded them.
"I left the Jedi for good," Siri said. There was no trace of begging in her voice. "I have been your loyal associate, Krayn."
"Yes, the best I ever had," Krayn said sadly. "Yet I cannot take the chance that you are a spy. Whether you are loyal or not doesn't matter you are a risk. You were the one to advise me about taking unnecessary risks, Zora. Isn't it ironic that you will be put to death because of that?
" He turned to the droids. "These two are Jedi. Take them into the security prison to await execution." He smiled at Siri. "I think a little show for the Colicoids might be a good start for our partnership."
The guards surrounded Anakin and Siri in a tight circle. They marched the two prisoners down the row toward the exit. Mazie looked at him furtively and tried to give him a smile of support. He gave her a meaningful glance.
The guards marched Anakin and Siri to Krayn's complex high above the factory floor. Anakin was surprised that Siri did not try to resist. He wondered if she still had her lightsaber somewhere. If she had, surely she would use it.
They were locked together in the lowest level of Krayn's complex in a high-security cell. Anakin put his palms on the door as if he could force it open.
"The Colicoids are already here for the meeting," Siri said. "It might not be too long."
Anakin didn't speak to her.
The guards had stripped Siri of her weapons, but she reached into a slit in her utility belt and came up with a small device. She activated it.
"No listening devices," she murmured. "Good."
Anakin said nothing. If she thought he was going to speak to a traitor, she was crazy as well as evil.
"Anakin," Siri said quietly, "I am still a Jedi. I am working undercover."
He turned, surprised. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"You don't. You have to trust me. Even Obi-Wan didn't know. No one at the Temple does, except for the Jedi Council. This was our final attempt to clean up Nar Shaddaa and end Krayn's reign of terror."
Anakin waited as Siri's words sunk in. His brain did not weigh her words. He allowed himself to feel them, to tap into Siri's essence.
"I believe you," he said at last.
"Good." She sat cross-legged on the floor. "Not that my being a Jedi helps us at the moment. But it makes things a little more pleasant in here.
" Anakin was suddenly stabbed with guilt. "I blew your cover!"
She waved a hand. "It's all right."
"It's not! I compromised the mission. Obi-Wan has always instructed me to be careful with what I say in anger."
"I am sure that he also told you that I am responsible for my own risks," Siri said firmly. "And I'm sure he advised you to recognize the danger of your impulsiveness and then move on without blame, only wisdom."
Anakin smiled. "You sound just like him."
"I know him well. He has this habit of telling you the truth just when you don't want to hear it." Anakin laughed and discovered that he liked Siri.
He sat down opposite her.
"I've been keeping an eye on you, Anakin," she said. "I'm impressed with your kindness and bravery. I saw how you tried to help the weak ones when you could."
Anakin's grin faded. "I know what it's like to be a slave."
"Yes. And it is unfortunate that events placed you here. You have shown remarkable patience and strong will. I believe you'll make a fine Jedi."
"If I'm not executed first."
"It's not over yet," Siri said. "Obi-Wan is somewhere
on Nar Shaddaa, I'm sure. The Council sent him here."
Anakin brightened. "He is? But how can he get to us?"
"He'll find a way."
"So Krayn is in league with the Colicoids," Anakin said. "That's why Captain Dec was here."
"The Colicoids are taking over the spice trade, and they need to make a deal with Krayn to process the spice here on Nar Shaddaa. The leader of Nar Shaddaa will look the other way, as he always does."
Anakin nodded thoughtfully. What Siri had just told him reinforced his own suspicions as well as the forming of his plan.
"We can't afford to wait here for rescue," Anakin told Siri. "If the Colicoids are here on Nar Shaddaa, we have to act now."