Star Wars - Kenobi

later the landspeeder ground to an anguished halt on the rough terrain, eighty meters from their position. Orrin’s children stepped out and looked around warily.
    The warrior quietly set down her gaderffii. There was a rifle behind her. She reached for it, but Ben touched her gloved hand. “You can’t,” he said. “They have Annileen!”
    “She does not matter,” A’Yark whispered to Ben.
    “I decide that.”
    A’Yark shook her head. Madness . The humans were arming themselves. Would more follow soon?
    Held by Orrin, Annileen yelled out. “Ben—if you’re here, stay away!”
    A’Yark couldn’t hear what Annileen’s captors said to her after that, but it was clear they were doing nothing to keep her from yelling.
    “They mean to flush me out,” Ben whispered. He felt for the lightsaber beneath his cloak—and then withdrew his hand. “I can’t endanger Annileen.”
    “Then I attacks.” A’Yark clutched Ben’s wrist. “You, too. You have a duty.”
    “Don’t worry.” Ben looked behind, to where three children were cowering beneath an overhang. “I told you, I’ll protect your people if Orrin should—”
    “Not that.” A’Yark looked at Ben, searchingly. Can he not know what all Tuskens knew?
    She spoke quietly but quickly. “Orringault showed his true face. You kills him now, or he pursues you forever!” She pointed to the suns. “It is the way of skybrothers.”
    Ben stared. “This—this is another legend?”
    “It is the legend.”
    A’Yark watched Ben, who contemplated the story. After a moment, he shook his head. “I won’t leave this undone. But I won’t risk Annileen, either.” He looked to the left, to the forest of monoliths piled against the western mount. “Stay here,” he said, crawling away behind cover. “I have an idea!”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
    ORRIN SAW NO COLOR in the place, apart from the landspeeder. Even its showroom shine was gone now, buried beneath dust. Veeka knelt beside it, examining an undercarriage battered from the raucous ride up the mountain.
    “Will she run?” Orrin asked, still holding Annileen.
    Veeka shook her head. “Stabilizers are gone,” she said. “You could fly it, if you don’t care where it goes.”
    “There’s nowhere to go,” Mullen said, looking warily around the abandoned camp. “How can anyone live in a place like this?”
    “I wouldn’t call it living.” Orrin sneered contemptuously. He shoved Annileen toward Mullen. “Hold her.”
    Orrin scanned the bases of the stony pylons around them. Reaching a decision, he checked his flak vest and blaster. “Veeka, forget the speeder and watch for snipers. I’m going to try something.”
    Cautiously, he walked across the rubble toward the center of the clearing. A sad well sat there, little more than a jagged hole surrounded by dented tin pots. He turned. “Kenobi!” he yelled.
    Nothing but echoes.
    And Annileen. “He’s too smart for you,” she said.
    Orrin looked back and scowled. “Shut up.”
    He turned his attention back to the perimeter. Something was moving out there, on both sides of the clearing. He could hear it. But as soon as he looked in either direction, the noise stopped, too.
    This is no good, Orrin thought. He looked back at the route they’d taken to get here. He wished he had some idea what was happening in the battle below. Could he and the kids bring down Kenobi’s body and blame the mess on him? Or did they need to keep moving, perhaps crossing enough of the Jundland to reach freedom? He stalked around the well, kicking a pail.
    From behind a boulder, a spiky reptilian half a meter long bounded into the clearing. A massiff! Dark-eyed and big-jawed, it charged straight for Orrin, who quickly drew a bead and shot. Struck by the orange energy, the massiff squawked and fell to the ground.
    Orrin looked back at Mullen and Veeka. “Thanks for the assist,” he said drily.
    “We’re watching for the big game,” Mullen said. He had Annileen’s arm in one hand and his blaster in the other, as his eyes continued to scan their surroundings.
    Orrin looked at the smoking creature and got an idea. Checking first that he was covered, he holstered his weapon and stepped toward the oozing massiff. He lifted the carcass. “Let’s do some home improvement,” he said loudly. Arriving back at the well, he dangled the dripping body theatrically over the hole. “Down you go—”
    “Don’t!” Ben’s voice called out from afar.
    Orrin lifted the