The Falleen looked around. "I know a back way to the cloud-bus stop from here," she said. "I'm Mazara, by the way."
She gazed at them curiously.
"We arrived on Falleen recently," Siri said. "Looking for jobs."
"We'd better hurry," Obi-Wan said. "It won't take them long to look further."
Mazara took them on a different path through the maze of alleys that ran behind the factories. They had to scale the locked gates between the properties, but they saw no new evidence of tracking droids.
Mazara waved at the surrounding plains as she walked. "This is why Falleen is so ideal for them," she told them. "There is plenty of land outside our city. Transports can land and take off without being logged in.
Waste can be dumped or offloaded onto orbiting platforms." Her voice was full of disgust. "Not to mention that as Falleen, we don't like to raise our voices. The population is growing distressed with the situation, but no one says anything. It is not 'appropriate, — she said, giving a wry twist to the word. "Believe me, I'm not an activist. I was a journalist, before I got fired for writing an article on Blackwater. Both our land and our skies are becoming dumping grounds. I've seen it happen to other worlds. I can't watch it happen to my homeworld."
"Why did you target Blackwater Systems?" Obi-Wan asked.
"They are the worst offenders," Mazara answered. "The factory was built quickly, with little regard for basic safety practices. Enormous bribes were paid to inspectors to overlook violations that are part of the laws of Falleen. There have been several deaths at the facility and each time an investigation is done the result is the same — the worker was at fault."
"Do you know who the owners are?"
Mazara sighed. "It is the usual game of company behind company. But this muddle seems murkier than most. I've been investigating almost since they arrived, and I don't have any answers. What I do know is that their security is extraordinary. Those attack droids are programmed to shoot blaster fire. Not to stun, to kill."
Suddenly Mazara stopped and gave them a shrewd look. "Attack droids don't usually crash into each other."
"Yes, it's an unusual sight," Siri said.
She looked at them carefully. "I've traveled widely. I've seen enough to know you aren't workers. You took those droids down, didn't you?"
The Jedi said nothing, but Mazara nodded, as though they had confirmed her guess.
"You are Jedi," she said.
"Why do you say that?" Obi-Wan asked.
"There is word on the street that those who identify Jedi will be paid for it," she said. "Don't worry, you can trust me. What are you doing on Falleen? Have you come to help us?"
"We've come to investigate several of your factories," Siri said carefully.
"That will help us, no matter what your purpose," Mazara said. "You can take word of what is happening back to the Galactic Senate."
Anakin exchanged a quick glance with Obi-Wan. He knew that like him, his Master had his doubts that the Senate would be able to stop what was going on here. The Senate was roiled with its own problems as the new movement of Separatists was fraying old loyalties and creating new alliances. Very little legislation was being enacted, and petitions for help from many worlds were delayed by procedure.
"Have you heard of someone called Granta Omega?" Obi-Wan asked casually.
Mazara shook her head.
"How about Roy Teda?"
"Yes, of course, the deposed dictator of Romin. He's here." Mazara grimaced. "Falleen seems to attract the worst of the galaxy, these days."
"Do you know where he is?" Siri asked.
"Of course. He's staying in the kind of reclusive hotel reserved for the ultra-rich. I learned about it back in my investigative days."
"Is he staying with anyone else?"
Mazara shook her head. "Not that I know of."
Obi-Wan glanced at Siri. Roy Teda and Zan Arbor had split up, most likely.
"You said that there were deaths at the Blackwater facility," Ferus pointed out.
Mazara nodded. "And rumors of sicknesses that cannot be diagnosed.
Rumors that Falleen are forced to work in water tunnels. We are able to stay underwater for long periods of time."
"Water tunnels?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin felt a surge of excitement. So they were on the right track after all. They knew that Zan Arbor was trying to perfect the transmission of her Zone of Self-Containment through water.
"That wing of the factory is restricted. It's set up for transmission experiments," Mazara said. "Workers are forced to sign a statement of confidentiality, and so far, no one has dared to contest it. The penalties are unknown, but they must be severe."
"We would like to examine that wing," Obi-Wan said. "Can you get us inside the factory?"
"That is easy," Mazara said. "There are Falleen in the employment office who will help us. I can get you inside as workers. After that, the rest is up to you."
Chapter Three
Mazara was as good as her word. She arranged an interview for Obi-Wan and Anakin that she promised would be a mere formality. Meanwhile, Siri and Ferus decided to stake out the exclusive hotel where Teda was staying and see what they could learn.
The four Jedi split up in the early morning. Their breath clouded from the cold air as they paused in the main square of the city to say good-bye.
"So how come I get to freeze on a factory floor while you hang around a luxury hotel?" Anakin grumbled good-naturedly to Ferus.
Ferus grinned. "Just lucky, I guess."
Obi-Wan was glad to see the ease between them. Ferus had unburdened himself on Romin and spoken to Obi-Wan of his fears about Anakin. Obi-Wan had been both irritated and alarmed by Ferus's insights. But it was as though passing along his worries had freed Ferus to unbend around Anakin.
As a result, the tension between the two Padawans had lessened considerably.
"May the Force be with you," Siri told them.