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They ran down the last section toward the landing platform. Their transport sat waiting. The landing platform was deserted.
Suddenly Obi-Wan sensed danger. This is a public landing platform. Why is it deserted? he wondered.
He and Qui-Gon activated their lightsabers in one simultaneous motion. Qui-Gon pushed Yaana toward a stack of container boxes. "Get behind them," he ordered crisply.
In the next split second, blaster fire erupted from around the corner of a tech shed. The ship was peppered with blasts.
They rushed forward, lightsabers activated. A row of guard droids was emptying weaponry into the transport. Blaster fire hit the fuel tank, and it went up in an explosion.
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Dre
"Well done," a familiar voice said.
They turned to see King Frane standing with the royal guard. "A pleasure to watch, in fact." He glanced at Dre
One of King Frane's nek battle dogs suddenly leaped forward, barking, with its long, deadly teeth bared.
"Back!" the king called to the ferocious dog.
Dre
"You're not a killer. Just misunderstood," she cooed.
"Tell that to a kudana," King Frane said. "Now, where is Meenon's daughter?"
Qui-Gon stepped in front of Yaana, who had emerged from behind the boxes. "We will not let you take her again," he told King Frane. "The Jedi are here at your request. They will not stand by and watch you violate diplomatic law."
King Frane stared him down. "Foolish words. I decide the law on Rutan."
"No, Father." Leed stepped forward. "There is no need to threaten my friends the Jedi. I see I have no choice. I will stay on Rutan."
"At last you see your duty," King Frane said, satisfied.
"Are you sure, Leed?" Qui-Gon asked. "I promised you that we would not allow your father to force you to remain here."
Leed shook his head. "I am not forced. I see now that my legacy is a burden I must accept. Not to do so would be selfish. Perhaps my father was right about that."
"Perhaps?" King Frane asked irritably. "Of course I'm right!"
"And you will allow us to take Yaana back to Senali?" Qui-Gon asked the king.
King Frane shook his head. "Then I will have no Senalis here. I need leverage with Meenon. No. She remains."
"Meenon has set his conditions to avoid war," Qui-Gon said. "One of them is the return of his daughter. I do not think Leed remaining here will change that. Once you threw his daughter in prison, he ceased trusting you."
"Let him attack! What do I care? We will pulverize them!" King Frane cried angrily.
Dre
King Frane looked at her curiously. "And who are you, besides being such a good shot?"
"I am Dre
"I am not afraid of his attack," King Frane said scornfully. He eyed her. "Still, it is a solution. All right. I accept."
"You will not imprison her?" Qui-Gon asked warningly.
"No. She will live on the royal grounds, where I can keep an eye on her," King Frane said with satisfaction, turning back to Dre
"Taroon goes to Senali?" Dre
King Franc shrugged. "Good. Then I know he will return."
He turned abruptly. "All is over. Now, it's time for the hunt. Come, Leed."
Leed walked closer to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. He placed a hand on each of their forearms. Sadness was on his face, but he nodded at them in a dignified way. "I will never forget all you tried to do for me."
"You may call on us again if you need us," Qui-Gon said.
"I am sorry, Leed," Obi-Wan said.
"Duty is more important than feelings," Leed said. "That is what I must learn. I wish you ease and serenity."
He left them to join his father. With a sad glance of good-bye at the Jedi, Dre
"At least Dre
"Is that what you hoped would happen, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked. "This time you must tell me the truth."
So Qui-Gon had known he had evaded his question back on Senali. "At first I did not want to tell you that I sympathized with Leed," Obi-Wan admitted. "I thought it would remind you of my decision to stay on Melida/Daan and leave the Jedi. I thought it might give you pause about my commitment to you."
"We have put that matter behind us, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "Do not be afraid to share your feelings with me. I would never hold them against you."
"My feelings seemed to change from day to day," Obi-Wan admitted. "When King Franc spoke to Ibis son, I was moved by his argument, too."
"That is because there is no clear answer," Qui-Gon said. "Emotions are tangled, as I said in the begi
"Well, there won't be a war," Obi-Wan said in conclusion. "I'm sorry for Leed. But at least the planets remain peaceful."
"You are wrong, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, his eyes on the king's transport as it rose in the air. "The mission is not over. And I fear the two worlds are closer to war than ever."