"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
he guessed that the pirate would not remain on Nar Shaddaa. As soon as Krayn knew the rebellion could not be put down, he would head for his transport. Anakin intended to stop him.
He burst out on the landing platform in time to see Krayn hurrying toward his ship. The pirate carried a blaster in one hand and a vibro-ax in the other.
Anakin raced from the opposite end of the platform, his lightsaber already activated. Krayn saw him and quickened his pace.
But Anakin was faster. With a leap, he landed in front of Krayn.
"It is time to pay for your crimes," he said.
"Not by the likes of you, boy," Krayn sneered.
Anakin attacked. He felt no fear. There was something in his blood, something strange, as though ice now moved through his veins. It was not anger, he told himself. It did not feel like anger. It felt like justice.
Purpose.
All the lives below in the factories, all the lives he had known on Tatooine, his mother, Hala, Amee, all who had suffered, they were in his hands. Everyone he'd lost, everyone he'd loved. Even Qui-Gon was here, urging him on, he felt sure.
He slashed out at Krayn. The pirate was quicker than he expected.
Blaster fire singed the sleeve of Anakin's tunic. Anakin reversed and kicked out, hoping to dislodge the weapon from Krayn's meaty fist. But the pirate absorbed the blow and held on.
The ping of blaster fire followed Anakin as he somersaulted and landed to Krayn's left. The pirate dodged the first lightsaber pass and Anakin tossed the lightsaber to his other hand and came at him from a surprising angle. Krayn bellowed as the lightsaber grazed him.
He lifted the vibro-ax as though it were a toy, and came at Anakin from below. Startled, Anakin twisted away, but not before the vibro-ax grazed his wrist. The pain was blinding. If Krayn had been a centimeter or two closer, he would have severed his hand.
Anakin tossed the lightsaber back to his good hand. He leaped around Krayn and attacked from behind. Krayn turned and aimed the blaster. Anakin dodged the fire and moved forward, forcing Krayn to back up.