Jude Watson: Jedi Quest 5: The School of Fear

"But how?" Siri asked. "Security there is incredibly tight. And we don't look like students."

"I have an idea," Obi-Wan said.

Siri gave him a searching look. "I can tell I'm not going to like it."

"You're going to hate it," Obi-Wan said.

"Your excellencies," the president of the school said graciously. "How kind of you to consider the Leadership School for your son."

Obi-Wan and Siri walked into the inner office. It had taken only minutes to contact Tyro for some fast false text docs.

"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice," Obi-Wan said.

"The king and queen of Cortella are always welcome," the president said. "Now, how old is your son?" "Thirteen," Obi-Wan said.

"Eleven," Siri said at the same time.

They looked at each other.

"Two sons," Obi-Wan said quickly. "We have two. One for each of us,"

he added heartily.

"I see. And you wish to enroll both?"

"No," Siri said.

"Yes," Obi-Wan said at the same time.

"Remember, we talked about this, uh, dear?" Siri said, her eyes flashing a warning at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan tried not to smile. He couldn't help enjoying how much Siri was hating this.

"Of course. But you agreed with me, as you always do," he said.

Siri's gaze flashed sparks at Obi-Wan, but the president could not see. Siri inclined her head haughtily. She hadn't done much to change her appearance, merely slicked back her hair more severely, but she looked suddenly regal to Obi-Wan.

"Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the princes will both attend," she said in a distant tone. "We must be assured, of course, that the school is up to the highest standard."

"It must be suitable for our royal regal sons," Obi-Wan said. Siri shot him a look that said, Let me handle this.

"Of course," the president said nervously. "Shall we get started on our tour?"

Obi-Wan and Siri stood. "We would prefer to tour on our own," Obi-Wan said.

"We feel we will absorb the spirit of the place in that manner," Siri said. She indicated their traveler's tunics. "We dressed this way precisely so that we would not be conspicuous. We will not disturb your students."

"Uh, ah… this is not exactly customary…" the president stammered.

"Nevertheless, it is our wish," Obi-Wan said in a tone that implied that he was not used to being overruled.

"If there is a problem, we will go elsewhere," Siri said. "There is an excellent school on Alderaan — "

"No, no, no problem," the president said. He waved a hand. "You are free to explore. I will alert security that you are not to be disturbed."

Siri tilted her head again. Obi-Wan nodded. They swept out the door.

"If you ever get tired of being a Jedi, you'd make an amazing queen,"

Obi-Wan told Siri as soon as the door had slid shut behind them.

"And you'd make a terrible king," she said. "Royal regal sons?"

"I was trying to sound pompous," Obi-Wan said.

"Do you really think you need to try?" Siri asked. Her clear blue eyes held a mischievous glint. In the middle of any crisis, Siri was always able to joke. It never failed to take him by surprise. Now he realized with a sense of relief that her teasing was designed to tell him that she did not hold him responsible for the disappearance of Ferus. He was grateful to his old friend. He knew her so well. She would not speak of her feelings, but she would always manage to let him know what they were.

"Did you notice that the president seemed nervous?" Obi-Wan asked.

"And it wasn't just because he was meeting with a king and queen. The school must know Ferus is missing."

"And they want to keep it quiet," Siri said, nodding. "That's why they haven't put the school in lockdown. If it's discovered that there are two missing students, they could lose students… and revenue."

"Exactly. But the school must be looking for Ferus, too. They'll search the obvious places."

"So we have to get to the un-obvious ones," Siri said. "Where should we start?"

"I think we should try to find Reymet Autem," Obi-Wan said. "Ferus said several times that Reymet hinted at knowing something about Gillam's disappearance. And he also said he knew how to get around security. Ferus never found out if he really did, but…"

"He's our only lead," Siri finished.

They started down the halls. Most of the students were in class. The president must have alerted security, for they were waved through all checkpoints.

But with the halls empty, they would have no luck finding Reymet.

"We're not getting anywhere," Siri said, frustrated. "Maybe we need to go to registration. We can think of something in order to gain access to the class schedules — "

"I don't think that's necessary," Obi-Wan said. "You're forgetting the best thing about classes." "What's that?"

A soft beeping signal came over the hidden speakers.

"They end," Obi-Wan said.

Just then a voice was broadcast, speaking in a quiet but insistent tone. "End of mod six class. Five minutes to mod seven. Five minutes."

Suddenly the doors hissed open and students spilled out into the hall.

Obi-Wan and Siri were pushed against the walls as students ran, jostled, tossed data-pads at one another playfully, or wolfed down a quick snack as they walked. Yet both Jedi could feel the effort and bravado in the calls and laughter. These students were afraid.

Obi-Wan hailed a student who appeared to be about Anakin and Ferus's age. "Excuse me. Do you know Reymet Autem?"

The tall Phlog nodded. "He's in my Current Galactic Political Trends class."

"Can you find him for us?" Siri asked.

"Not a problem. He's right there." The Phlog pointed to a boy across the hall who was tossing a small data-pad from one hand to the other as he walked.

"Thanks." It was a lucky break. Obi-Wan and Siri headed toward Reymet.

"Are you a friend of Ferus Olin?" Siri asked him.

Reymet nodded proudly. "We're best friends." He eyed them carefully.

"Hey, are you his parents? You look like you could be."

"Yes, we're his parents," Siri said. "Have you seen him this afternoon?"

"No, and that's weird, because he's in three of my classes," Reymet said. "Is he sick?"

"No, Reymet," Obi-Wan said. "That's why we came to you. We think Ferus is missing. We think it has something to do with what happened to Gillam Tarturi."

"Will you help us?" Siri asked. "Ferus told us that you know secret things about the school."

"I know some things," Reymet said cautiously.

"We promise we won't tell the school officials anything you show us,"

Siri said.

Reymet still hesitated. "Unless you don't tell us anything, and then we'd be forced to go to the school officials," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Whoa," Reymet said. "In that case, I'd be happy to tell you everything I know."

Obi-Wan noted that he sounded relieved. Maybe Reymet had a secret that had been a burden to keep, and that was why he kept hinting to Ferus that he knew something. "Follow me."

The halls were emptying of students as Reymet quickly led them down to the ground level of the school.

"Class beginning. Mod seven." The soft voice floated out from the speakers. "Mod seven. Class beginning."

The hallway was empty. "Hurry," Reymet hissed. "I only have a few minutes before I have to check in to my next class."

He ducked into a storage closet, and Obi-Wan and Siri quickly followed. They crowded in next to him.

"Couldn't you find a bigger place for us to hide?" Obi-Wan asked as he bumped into a durasteel toolbox.

"If you could just squeeze together, I can…" Reymet began to wiggle past them, then ducked down below them."… okay, just a second… move your foot… no, the other way… thanks…"

Reymet unscrewed a panel from the wall. A large utility shaft opened up.