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"Okay, some stress," Ferus said with a worried smile.
They could see outside the windows of the communication center that the population of the Clear Sector was begi
"Our first step is to follow through and make sure the evacuation takes place peacefully," Ferus said. "We have to monitor the two checkpoints. Galen gave us the locations.
Let's go."
Anakin trailed after the others. Once again the Padawans split into teams to cover the two evacuation points. He headed for his designated spot with Tru. So far the lines were proceeding with little incident. Names were being checked off on datapads. The skiffs from the ferry ship had not yet arrived. There was little he and Tru could do.
Anakin still wasn't happy with their decision.
"We have to find out what's really going on," Anakin said restlessly to Tru. "Our Masters could be in danger."
"It doesn't seem in character for them to just give up,"
Tru said.
"Our Masters?"
"The raiders," Tru mused. "Think of all the goods in that warehouse. They went to a lot of trouble to steal it.
Remember the Manikons? No thief likes to leave their plunder behind."
"Why are you worrying about the raiders?" Anakin asked.
"They're the least of our problems."
"Maybe they're part of our problem, only we don't know it," Tru said. "They have access to the evacuation files.
They've been able to breach security and steal some major Battle Droids. We know they're co
"They're co
Tru shrugged. "Maybe. It's worth checking out. Considering the greed of the raiders and their willingness to take advantage of their devastated fellow citizens, they'd hardly leave the planet without all the things they stole."
"You're right," Anakin said excitedly. "They might return to that warehouse." He eyed Tru. "Ferus won't like it."
"As you keep pointing out, Ferus is not our leader," Tru said. "So let's go."
Anakin felt a surge of excitement as he and Tru hurried through the streets to the warehouse. This was more like it.
Jedi didn't sit passively by and wait for events to unfold.
They made things happen. Tru understood that.
The population of Tacto was begi
No one seemed to be helping anyone else. Each Radnoran was focused on his or her place on the evacuation ship and getting there as quickly as possible.
Anakin wasn't sure how long he and Tru would be willing to wait at the warehouse. They really shouldn't have left their posts at all. The Force was dark on this planet. Violence could erupt at any time.
But they were lucky. When they slipped inside the warehouse, they found one of the raiders already there He was loading a gravsled with stolen goods as quickly as he could. Because of his haste, he stacked the goods clumsily. Some durasteel bins fell off the back of the gravsled, scattering their contents.
"Need some help?" Anakin asked impulsively.
He and Tru activated their lightsabers and stood before the raider. They knew they would not have to use them.
The Radnoran was small and slight. He looked from Anakin to Tru and back again. Then he tried to smile.
"Greetings. The name is Ruuin. My buddy told me that he left some of his things in this warehouse. Gave me a key, so I — "
"Save it." Anakin deactivated his lightsaber. "Time's up.
The evacuation is begi
"Or we can stick you in a detention cell," Tru said.
"And things are so confusing around here, we just might forget to get you out before the winds shift," Anakin said.
Ruuin's eyes darted nervously. "C'mon. You wouldn't do that. You're Jedi."
"Technically, we're not," Anakin said. "We're training to be Jedi."
"There's quite a difference, actually," Tru said. He shrugged. "We're just learning the rules."
"So let me think. Is it against Jedi rules to leave a suspect imprisoned when we know a deadly toxin is in the air?" Anakin frowned, pretending to ponder. "You have any idea, Tru?"
"I think I skipped that class," Tru said.
"Wise guys. I always meet up with wise guys," Ruuin said under his breath. "All right, all right. What do you want to know?"
"Who are you working for?" Anakin asked.
"How do I know? Some guy," the Radnoran said. He quickly put his hands up in protest as both Anakin and Tru took a step toward him. "I'm telling the truth. I was paid a wage and a share of the spoils. The guy's name is Nonce, if that helps you. If you were security police, you'd know him. He's been in detention most of his life. But somebody hired him.
I don't know who. Now can I go?"
"How did you get access to the evacuation plans?" Anakin asked.
"I didn't. Nonce did. And I don't know how he got them.
Now can I go?"
"If you stayed around long enough to raid all those homes and businesses, how could you be sure to get a place for the evacuation?" Tru asked.
There was a subtle shift in Ruuin's gaze. He did look away. But something changed. Anakin knew he was about to lie.
"We would have been done in time."
"No, you wouldn't," Anakin said. "And you wouldn't endanger yourself and your new riches by taking a chance. So what was the plan? How were you going to get off-planet?"
"The same way everyone else is," Ruuin said. "Those ferry ships. Can I go now?"
Anakin didn't know what to do. It was obvious that Ruuin wasn't going to tell them the truth. He was more afraid of someone else than he was of the Padawans.
Suddenly, Tru reached over and snatched Ruuin's datapad from his belt. "Maybe this will tell us something."
"Hey! Hey! That's my property!"