He burst out on the landing platform in time to see Krayn hurrying toward his ship. The pirate carried a blaster in one hand and a vibro-ax in the other.
Anakin raced from the opposite end of the platform, his lightsaber already activated. Krayn saw him and quickened his pace.
But Anakin was faster. With a leap, he landed in front of Krayn.
"It is time to pay for your crimes," he said.
"Not by the likes of you, boy," Krayn sneered.
Anakin attacked. He felt no fear. There was something in his blood, something strange, as though ice now moved through his veins. It was not anger, he told himself. It did not feel like anger. It felt like justice.
Purpose.
All the lives below in the factories, all the lives he had known on Tatooine, his mother, Hala, Amee, all who had suffered, they were in his hands. Everyone he'd lost, everyone he'd loved. Even Qui-Gon was here, urging him on, he felt sure.
He slashed out at Krayn. The pirate was quicker than he expected.
Blaster fire singed the sleeve of Anakin's tunic. Anakin reversed and kicked out, hoping to dislodge the weapon from Krayn's meaty fist. But the pirate absorbed the blow and held on.
The ping of blaster fire followed Anakin as he somersaulted and landed to Krayn's left. The pirate dodged the first lightsaber pass and Anakin tossed the lightsaber to his other hand and came at him from a surprising angle. Krayn bellowed as the lightsaber grazed him.
He lifted the vibro-ax as though it were a toy, and came at Anakin from below. Startled, Anakin twisted away, but not before the vibro-ax grazed his wrist. The pain was blinding. If Krayn had been a centimeter or two closer, he would have severed his hand.
Anakin tossed the lightsaber back to his good hand. He leaped around Krayn and attacked from behind. Krayn turned and aimed the blaster. Anakin dodged the fire and moved forward, forcing Krayn to back up.
He felt righteousness pump through him. From now on, he would make no mistakes.
Memories pounded in him, of his mother, of Amee's tears for months after Hale was captured. He matched Krayn's viciousness with his own, driving him back toward the wall so he would have him at bay. He saw the first flicker of fear in Krayn's eyes and he enjoyed it.
"You will die at my hands, Krayn," he said through his teeth. "You will die at the hands of a boy."
Krayn was too exhausted to answer. His hair was wet and matted, and his powerful arm shook as he tried to raise the vibro-ax against Anakin.
Anakin had him now. He would show no mercy. Krayn deserved none. There was no capturing him. There was only killing him.
Obi-Wan had followed Siri from the conference room. As soon as they were alone, he whipped off his mask.
"I thought so," Siri said. "You were never good at disguise."
"I fooled you," Obi-Wan said. "Admit it."
She bared her teeth at him. "Never."
He followed her at a run to Krayn's quarters. He was not in his receiving room, or in the control center.
"He wouldn't go down to the factory," Siri said. "He wouldn't want to be anywhere near the rebellion."
They exchanged glances.
"The landing platform," Siri said, and took off.
They pounded through the corridors and burst out the exit. At the opposite end, Anakin held Krayn at bay. The pirate was bent over, breathing heavily. As they watched, a vibro-ax fell from his bleeding hand and clattered to the ground. He lifted his face to his attacker.
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan shouted. He started toward him. Siri circled in case she needed to flank him for support.
His Padawan did not hear him. On his face was an intensity that Obi- Wan had never seen before.
Anakin raised his lightsaber to deliver the fatal blow.
"Don't!" Obi-Wan shouted.
The lightsaber slashed downward. Anakin sunk it in Krayn's chest.
Krayn's mouth opened in a wordless scream. He locked eyes with Anakin. Then he toppled to the ground.
EPILOGUE A few days later, Obi-Wan and Siri sat with Anakin and watched as the sleek silver transport set down on Krayn's landing platform.
"We'll certainly be returning to Coruscant in style," Siri observed.
She looked more like her old self now, dressed in a simple tunic, her face scrubbed clean, her blond hair tucked behind her ears and gleaming in the weak sun.
"It's not often that a Senate delegation comes to congratulate us on a mission and give us a lift home," Obi-Wan said. "As a matter of fact, it's never."
"I guess they are grateful for the liberation of Nar Shaddaa," Siri said.
"Not to mention the downfall of Krayn and his pirate empire," Obi-Wan said. "The galaxy will be safer for many."
Anakin nodded. Obi-Wan studied his face. It was so boyish and open.
The glimpse he had seen of something dark, something feral, in the fight with Krayn was fading. The boy he knew had taken its place. Anakin had explained that Krayn still held a blaster. His life had been in danger. He had not violated the Jedi code by killing him.
Yet Obi-Wan still felt doubts. Doubts he could not share. Siri had not seen the expression on Anakin's face.
"Come, let's greet them," Obi-Wan said as the landing ramp came down.
"Wait, there's Mazie and Berri," Anakin said. "I have to say hello."
"Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine has come here himself," Obi-Wan reminded him.
Anakin grinned and ran his hand over his hair. "I know."
Obi-Wan nodded. Anakin was right. Because of Mazie and Berri, they had succeeded in their mission. The politicians could wait.
Mazie and Berri approached. Mazie was limping slightly. She had been wounded in the battle.
"We know you are leaving," Mazie said. "We could not let you leave without thanking you." She was speaking to all of them, but her gaze remained on Anakin. "You freed us all."
"You freed yourself," Anakin corrected. "It is I who should be thanking you." He turned to Berri. "And you, Berri. I'm glad to meet you at last. You showed great courage in helping Siri and me escape."
"I did only what I could," Berri said.
"That was a great deal," Siri said.
"The Colicoids have offered us wages to remain," Mazie said. "We will do so until we have enough to get off-planet. Nar Shaddaa is no place to live."
"Perhaps the Jedi can help with relocation and transport," Siri said.
"We'll be in contact after we reach the Temple."
Mazie and Berri exchanged happy glances. "That would be very good,"
Mazie said. "Safe journey home."
Berri smiled. "You won't have to worry about pirates."
Mazie reached out and grasped Anakin's shoulders in a sudden display of emotion. "You have guaranteed our safety and our lives by killing Krayn.
We will never forget it."
"I will never forget you," Anakin said.
The three Jedi turned and headed for the Senate delegation. Chancellor Palpatine smiled and held out his hands.