Ona Nobis or pursue any lead unless you contact me.'
'The same goes for you, Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon told him. 'Ona Nobis will have revenge on her mind if she knows you are on Sorrus. Keep a low profile. Do not cause any disturbance. And contact us immediately after you see Astri. Now let's find you some transport.'
Chapter 7
Sorrus was a large planet in a busy system, and it was easy to find a hauler making a direct run. After landing at the capital city of Yinn La Hi, Obi-Wan and Siri thanked the pilot.
'Now we'll have trouble,' Obi-Wan said to Siri as they exited the busy landing platform area. 'There are no signs in the cities on Sorrus, and we have to find our way to the Med Center.'
'Why don't we just ask someone?' Siri asked.
'We won't get very far. Sorrusians don't like strangers.'
'You make everything so hard, Obi-Wan,' Siri scoffed. 'You just have to be polite.' She approached a Sorrusian couple, their arms filled with produce from the open-air market.
'Excuse me,' Siri said. 'Can you tell us where the Med Center is located?'
The couple gave her a blank stare, then moved on, chatting in Sorrusian as if Siri didn't exist.
'That was rude,' Siri said. She hailed a young Sorrusian who was strolling by, his hands tucked into his tunic pockets.
'Excuse me. My companion and I are strangers here. We need directions to — '
The young man wheeled about and walked away from them.
'Do you believe me now?' Obi-Wan asked. 'Are you sure you were polite enough?'
'They're positively paranoid,' Siri grumbled, running a hand through her hair. 'How are we going to find the place?'
'The center should be fairly large, and on a main street,' Obi-Wan said, his eyes scanning the street ahead. 'And the pilot said he thought it was close to the city center. It should be right around here.'
After only a few minutes of quick walking, Obi-Wan and Siri found the complex. Yinn La Hi was a teeming city, and the Med Center was spread out over a large area. Soon it would take up even more space. A new wing was under construction.
'Now we'll have to get someone to tell us where Astri is,' Siri observed as they walked through the doors into a gleaming atrium that swarmed with Sorrusians.
'Why don't you try?' Obi-Wan asked. 'You did so well earlier.'
Siri gave him an irritated glance. Obi-Wan walked ahead to the reception desk.
'I received a message from No Muna that Astri Oddo was brought here for treatment.'
The Sorrusian clerk behind the desk said nothing, just continued tapping on the keyboard.
Obi-Wan leaned over the desk in frustration. He spoke clearly and insistently. 'My friend is hurt and I must see her!'
The clerk looked up at him warily. 'What did you say your name was?'
'Obi-Wan Kenobi.'
A spark of recognition lit the clerk's blank gaze. 'Ah, I was told to expect you. Please see Medic Rai Unlu. He is waiting for you over there.'
Obi-Wan saw a short, slender Sorrusian standing by a pillar. He wore a med smock and carried a small datapad. Obi-Wan and Siri hurried over, and Obi-Wan introduced himself.
'Oh, yes, Astri Oddo. Sad case. We do not know how she received her injuries,' the Sorrusian doctor said gravely. 'Let me check to see her status.' He pressed several keys. 'Ah. She has regained consciousness. That is a good sign.' I must see her,' Obi-Wan said.
'Of course. But first you must fill out registry information. All foreigners must do so on Sorrus. You will have to go to Wing A, Level 27, Room 2245X. Astri is in Wing M, at the opposite end of the complex. After you fill out the information, you can ask for directions to her room at the Registry Office.'
'Good luck,' Siri muttered.
'But that will take too much time!' Obi-Wan objected. 'I need to see her now.'
'Why don't I fill out the papers while Obi-Wan visits Astri?' Siri suggested. 'Would that be all right?'
Rai Unlu looked uncertain. 'It is not procedure — '
'I've come so far to see her,' Obi-Wan said persuasively. 'And she's been badly hurt.'
'All right,' Rai Unlu said, looking around furtively. 'But don't tell anyone. I will take you to Astri. Your companion can follow signs to Wing A. There will be signs to the Registry Office from there.'
Siri nodded. 'Good luck, Obi-Wan. I will come to Astri's room as soon as I am finished.'
Siri strode off, and Rai Unlu beckoned to Obi-Wan. 'This way.'
Obi-Wan followed him from the soaring atrium through a series of gleaming corridors. They stepped onto a moving ramp and were swept through wing after wing.
At last, Rai Unlu stepped off the ramp at Wing L. 'We must walk from here.'
