Anakin frowned. There were times he forgot he was a Jedi.
For a moment, he had been the slave boy on Tatooine, still bound by the rules of play on that harsh world. Those who find, keep. Those who hesitate, lose.
He wasn't a slave boy. He was a Jedi.
"I have a Protocol Droid with a bad motivator," Anakin said. "I really need this."
But Tru wasn't listening. He was squinting into the darkness. "Now we're in for it," he said in a low tone. He signaled to Anakin. A short distance away, Anakin saw a clump of moving shapes. Manikons.
"If we're very quiet," Anakin murmured, "they won't spot us." He took a step back, and his foot kicked a piece of durasteel scrap. It landed against another piece of junk with a loud clang.
"Is that what you call quiet?" Tru hissed.
The Manikons turned. They saw the Jedi.
"Maybe if we don't move, they won't come at us," Anakin breathed.
The Manikons surged forward.
"Interesting notion," Tru said. "Got any other ideas?"
Chapter Two
There was no question that Anakin and Tru would need their lightsabers. Before the thought had completely registered, Anakin found the hilt in his hand. He didn't think it was such a good idea to reveal the fact that two Jedi were scavenging beneath the city. But he didn't particularly want to be pummeled and blinded, either.
Tru jumped to his left, and Anakin immediately saw his strategy. He wanted to avoid the pummeling feet and the stinging venom, which could only be directed straight ahead.
Anakin followed Tru, leaping to engage the first Manikon. He knew he was a more aggressive fighter than Tru. He needed to avoid wounding or killing. He just had to frighten the Manikons enough to retreat.
"If we attack their bundles, they'll retreat," he told Tru confidently. "They won't want to lose what they have."
He leaped forward, going after the booty tied to their backs in large sacks. Whirling and dodging the flying feet, he slashed at the straps of leather tying the bags to their backs. The maneuver required the most precise of touches. A fraction off, and he could easily slice off an arm. This was why he loved the action of a lightsaber. It was the ultimate instrument. He had seen firsthand the mistake that many Jedi students made. They did not realize how delicate it could be, how you could use it like a breath of air. Like a feather, not a stick, the best lightsaber teacher, Soara Antana, had said.
Three bundles fell, scattering parts, and the Manikons howled in rage. They leaped over the parts and thundered toward Anakin and Tru.
Ffffffeewwwww!
Anakin had never heard the sound of a Manikon spewing venom before, but he didn't need a lesson.
"Whoa, really good plan, Anakin," Tru observed.
Anakin leaped to his right as a snarling Manikon approached, rearing up on two legs. Tru rushed forward and delivered a fast series of moves to push
back the Manikon.
"Okay, time," Tru said.
"Time for what?"
"New plan. Run."
"Good idea." Anakin took off after Tru.
The two of them leaped together, using the Force to help them gain the top of the junk heap in one bound. They sent a shower of debris down behind them, but they managed to keep their footing.
Below, the snarling Manikons began to scale the heap in their fury. But they were heavier and clumsier than the Jedi. The junk heap began to tumble and sway.
Anakin looked over at Tru.
"What now?"
"Jump?" Tru suggested.
"Sure. Any suggestions where?" They were surrounded by other junk heaps, all of them unstable. It was impossible to know if they would be able to land safely.
A huge Manikon was halfway up the slope when he dislodged a power converter fragment. The entire heap began to collapse.
"Anywhere!" Tru yelled, and leaped into the air.
Anakin followed. In midair, he had a second to decide on his landing spot. If he hadn't had Jedi training, chances were good that he would have landed on a spike or sharp piece of metal. But he was able to evaluate and direct his descent, even as he fell. Everything below him was suddenly sharp, suddenly clear. He felt he could see every pebble, every grain of dirt and debris. That was how clear the Force could make his vision.
It was moments like this that he lived for. The night air, so crisp in his lungs. Danger so near. The Force around him.
If he could hang in the air forever like this, he would.
He landed lightly, precisely, on the edge of a heap, then jumped the rest of the way to the ground. Beside him, Tru landed safely as well.
Ffffffeewwwww!
Anakin jumped, pulling Tru aside. The venom hit only millimeters away.
They looked behind them. Three furious Manikons were trying to slide down the heap toward them. Junked parts were shifting and sliding.
"Time to go," Tru panted.
They ran. Behind them, the enormous junk heap collapsed in a cloud of dust. The cry of the Manikons was terrible.
Choking, Anakin and Tru kept running. They didn't stop until they reached the relative safety of the walkway.
They paused to catch their breath. It had been a close call.
They struck off in the direction of the lift ramp to the upper levels of Coruscant.