'Hold you hostage, he did not need to do,' Yaddle said. 'Talk to him, I would have done, if he had asked.'
'I guess he feels he needs some insurance that you will come alone,'
Anakin said. 'He's afraid that if he sets up a meeting he will be betrayed.
' 'I'm not afraid,' Omega hissed to Anakin. 'Just careful.'
'I can't tell you where I am, because I'm not sure,' Anakin said. 'We just moved to a new hideout. And I don't know how sincere Omega is about making a deal. He says he is, but I don't trust him.' Omega grinned at Anakin, not bothered in the least. 'It is up to you to decide, Master Yaddle. All I ask is that you do not come because of me. I am fine here.'
'So far,' Omega said so that Yaddle could hear. 'Come, I will,' Yaddle said. 'But inform Obi-Wan first, I must.'
'I have a list of coordinates,' Omega said to Anakin. 'I'll release them one at a time. If at any point it seems that Yaddle is not alone, I will disappear… with you.'
'Understood,' Yaddle said, after Anakin had conveyed this information.
Anakin clutched his comlink. He hoped they both had made the right decision. 'May the Force be with you,' he told Yaddle.
Omega rolled his eyes. 'Oh, please,' he said.
'Striker is Granta Omega?' Obi-Wan hissed into his comlink. He had concealed himself in the near-empty substation to watch the activity. The gang he had followed had come directly here, but it was obvious the main hideout had been moved. Now they were occupied in gathering up the last weapons and equipment and loading them onto speeders with cargo holds.
'Going to meet him, I am,' Yaddle said.
'I'm coming with you.'
'Best you do not,' Yaddle said.
'He is my Padawan — '
'And trust me with his security you do not?'
Obi-Wan held the comlink away and sighed. He rested his head against the smooth surface of the tunnel wall. It was hard being matched up with an esteemed Jedi Master like Yaddle. He would not win any argument.
'Moved his hideout, Omega has. It would take us too long to find it. A shortcut, this is.' Yaddle's voice softened slightly. 'Watch out for him, I will, Obi-Wan. But need you I do, to help with the Mawans. Agreed they have to go aboveground. The exodus is proceeding. A Jedi presence is needed here.'
Obi-Wan took a moment to accept this. It went against everything he wanted. He needed to see Anakin with his own eyes, to make sure he was safe and well. But Yaddle had told him that Anakin said he was fine, and his voice had sounded strong.
He needed to see Granta Omega, too. Anger rose in him, anger that made him want to put his fist through a wall. Anger he must learn to accept and release.
Omega had his Padawan. His most dangerous enemy had his most treasured companion. And instead of helping to release Anakin, Yaddle was asking him to shepherd complete strangers back to their homes.
It was that thought that helped him. He was a Jedi. The needs of strangers were most important. His own needs meant nothing in comparison to theirs. Obi-Wan repeated the words again in his mind, this time with the compassion and power that they warranted. He had to bring strangers safely to their homes.
'All right,' he said to Yaddle. 'But tell Omega that I will see him soon.'
'A threat that is,' Yaddle said sternly. 'And so deliver it I will not.'
Obi-Wan rested his head against the wall again. 'Unless I have to,'
Yaddle concluded.
Anakin stood, waiting for Yaddle. Omega was using tracking droids to make sure Yaddle came to each coordinate alone.
They were in one of the airlift tube stations, smaller than the one Anakin had used to come below only hours ago, though it felt like days. He guessed he was about twenty levels down, near the northeast quadrant of the tunnel system. If he had to find his way back to Obi-Wan, he might be able to.
'She's following my instructions,' Omega said.
'Smart.
'What did you expect?' Anakin said. 'She's not afraid of you.'
'Yes, I can always depend on Jedi arrogance,' Omega said. 'In an uncertain galaxy, it's so comforting to have one thing you can count on.
Tell me, Anakin. Have you thought about what I said? I'll make the deal with Yaddle and we can go to Tatooine tonight. You could see your mother as early as tomorrow. I have a fast ship.'
'I didn't need to think about what you said.'
'Ah, but you did think about it, I can tell. This is your last chance.
I hate to be dramatic, but..' Omega shrugged. 'Choose.'
'There is no choice,' Anakin said.
