just got in the way. So Samdew could have been shooting at Mezdec because Mezdec was the spy. But what about Samdew activating the fire system?'
'We only have Mezdec's word for that, too,' Obi-Wan said. 'We only have Mezdec's word for everything, including the disabled transport.'
'Do you think he's the spy?' Anakin asked. 'I don't know,' Obi-Wan said.
Shalini had seen them talking, and she slid into a seat next to Obi- Wan. 'Everything all right?'
Anakin glanced at his Master. Mezdec was Shalini's husband. As the head of the group, she had a right to know what they were thinking. But where would her loyalties lie?
'Fine,' Obi-Wan said. 'Tell us something. Did you have any other evidence that Samdew was the saboteur?'
'What more evidence did we need?' Shalini said. 'He killed four of us.
' 'What do you think his plan was before he was interrupted?' Obi-Wan asked.
'We knew he was beginning his transmission to the Vanqor fleet,'
Shalini said. 'Luckily Mezdec intervened before they got a lock on our position. I imagine that his message would be that we had the invasion plans. Then he would kill us and take off.'
'In the disabled transport?'
'The Vanqors would send a transport, I suppose,' Shalini said. 'What are you suggesting?'
'It seems an inefficient way for a spy to behave,' Obi-Wan said. 'Far better to alert the Vanqors that their plans had been retrieved, then stay in place and hope for more chances to betray Typha-Dor.'
'Maybe he was an inefficient spy,' Shalini said. 'Maybe his mission was over. Maybe he was tired of the cold.' She eyed Obi-Wan curiously. 'Why don't you say what you mean?'
'There could be another spy,' Obi-Wan said. 'Or Samdew might have been innocent. He did not get a chance to defend himself.'
'He shot Thik!' Shalini said.
'He was aiming at Mezdec,' Obi-Wan reminded her. 'The only person who had identified him as a spy.'
'What are you saying?' Hostility tinged Shalini's words now.
Shalini's voice had risen, and Thik and Olanz looked over. Rajana and Mezdec could not hear.
'We're just going over what happened,' Obi-Wan said. 'We want to make sure that what you think happened really happened.'
'I know what happened,' Shalini insisted.
'You know what Mezdec told you,' Obi-Wan said. 'There is a difference.
It could be a crucial one. Are you willing to gamble your planet's freedom on your faith in him?'
'Yes,' Shalini said with complete certainty.
'I'm not,' Olanz said quietly, coming up with Thik. 'The Jedi might have a point, Shalini. We are relying on Mezdec for our proof.'
Shalini looked at the two of them with disbelief. 'Mezdec is not a traitor. He is as loyal to Typha-Dor as I am, as committed to bringing the plans back as I am.'
Anakin noticed that she touched her utility belt when she spoke.
'May we see the disk?' he asked.
Shalini looked at him angrily, but she reached into a hidden pocket on her belt and handed Obi-Wan the disk.
Obi-Wan accessed it on his datapad. It was empty of information.
Shalini stared at the disk in shock. 'I don't know how…'
'Was the disk ever out of your sight?' Obi-Wan asked urgently.
She bit her lip. 'No, never. But Mezdec checked my blaster and my emergency supplies on my utility belt before we left. He said he wanted to do it, to make sure I would be safe….' Her voice trailed off. 'I have a second disk. I didn't tell Mezdec. The invasion plans are safe.'
Rajana's voice rose. 'I'm getting radar activity. I think it's a destroyer.'
'Where is Mezdec?' Shalini cried. Mezdec had disappeared.
Anakin and Obi-Wan sprang up. 'Emergency pod,' Obi-Wan said.
They raced to the rear of the ship. Mezdec was accessing the emergency door. He ran inside.
The ship suddenly shook as laser cannonfire erupted.
'We're under attack!' Rajana shouted from the cockpit. 'I need help here!'
Both Jedi leaped toward the closing door to the escape pod. It locked down before they could reach it. Obi-Wan swept his lightsaber down the door and the metal peeled back. But he was too late. Mezdec blasted out into space.
Chapter Five
