"Don't worry," Obi-Wan said. "We'll get up a faster way."

This time, they did not follow the trail. They used the cable launchers to vault straight up the cliffs. From that spot, they were able to hike above the tree line. The air was thin and cold here, and Obi-Wan and Anakin paused to don their thermal capes. The snow was ankle-deep on the trail.

"There's a good chance he'll be wary," Obi-Wan told Anakin. "We must pretend to be Dan and Floria's prisoners until the last possible moment. I don't have to tell you that we need to take Granta Omega alive. Perhaps more important than catching him will be finding out why and how he targeted us."

Floria and Dane slipped laser cuffs over Anakin and Obi- Wan's wrists but did not seal them. It would appear that the two were prisoners. They marched ahead of Floria and Dane.

"Wasn't it your idea to become bounty hunters?" Floria grumbled to her brother as she pushed her way through the snow. "Floria, we can see that galaxy. Floria, it will be fun. Floria, it's an easy way to make a fortune — "

"Floria, you're driving me crazy," Dane interrupted.

"We're getting closer, you two," Obi-Wan warned from behind them. "Try to act like professionals. We could be under surveillance."

"Master, there is someone ahead," Anakin said under his breath.

A humanoid male sat on top of ice-encrusted snow ahead. He was dressed all in white, and had blended in with the snow.

"It must be Hunti Pereg," Dane murmured to them. "He's the only bounty hunter left."

The stranger did not move as they approached.

"Greetings," Dane called. "We are Dane and Floria, bounty hunters. We have caught the Jedi."

The man smiled pleasantly. "I can see that. Congratulations. I am Hunti Pereg. Bounty hunter as well."

Obi-Wan was poised for an assault. Surely the fearsome Hunti Pereg would not let two children take away his prize. His face looked fierce and frightening. It had the patched- together of a recent application of synth-flesh, as though he had been badly injured.

The scars of life as a bounty hunter, Obi-Wan thought. It bothered him to think of young Floria and Dane continuing with such a life. Despite their grumbling and their tricks, they were not bad creatures.

And they are exactly the sort of beings Qui-Gon would have befriended. And I would not have understood why. Now I do, Qui-Gon. Now, I do.

"Don't worry, kids" Pereg told them. "I won't interfere with your prize."

"I'm glad to see you abide by the rules of honor." Dane said.

"It's not that," Pereg said, "I can't move my legs. That scoundrel son of a gravel-maggot Teleq shot me with a paralyzing dart four hours ago. So it looks like you've won."

"Is there anything we can do for you?" Floria asked politely. "It's awfully cold up here."

"Very kind of you to ask," Pereg said. "after you collect the reward, if you wouldn't mind sending a ship back for me, I'd appreciate it. Professional courtesy. I'll make it worth your while."

"Have you seen Granta Omega, by any chance?" Floria asked him.

He shook his head. "Sorry. It's just been me and the mountain."

They left Hunti Pereg behind and continued to the rendezvous point. They were almost at the top of the mountain now. The sun had slid behind the peak, and the wind had picked up. A few snowflakes drifted down from a white sky. Floria wrapped her cloak tighter around her.

They stopped at the coordinates Granta had given them. They looked up at the sky, waiting to see a ship. Dane got out a tarp with thermal coils and spread it on the ground. He and Floria sat, trying to keep warm. Obi-Wan and Anakin stood, holding their arms so the laser cuffs were visible. Obi-Wan did not feel the cold.

The minutes ticked by.

"He isn't coming," Obi-Wan said at last.

"Do you think he knows it was a trick?" Anakin asked.

"There's no way to know," Obi-wan said. "But a storm is coming, and we need to find help for Wren. We'll have to track Omega after we get Wren to safety."

"How?" Anakin asked. "we don't have a ship."

"We'll have to take another look at Teleq's," Obi-Wan decided.

Floria stood. "At least I can get off the mountain."

"Well, at least all the bounty hunters have been accounted for," Anakin said. "We don't have to worry about being attacked."

They started back down the trail, their footsteps crunching through the thin skin of ice into the densely packed snow."

Obi-Wan heard a slight whistling noise behind him. A small metal ball whizzed by his ear and caught the light as it arced through the air.

"Hit the ground!" Obi-Wan shouted as he vaulted forward and pulled Floria and Dane down underneath him.

The explosion sent a shower of snow high into the air. Obi- Wan lifted his head. The thermal detonator had hit thirty meters away. That was close. Detonators had a twenty-meter radius of destruction.

Three Attack Droids headed toward them, gliding just above the surface of the snow with repulsorlift engines.

There was no cover. They could not avoid this battle, even if they'd wanted to. They would have to protect Floria and Dane and foil their attacker. He or she was fighting wisely, attacking without advancing.

At this point, Obi-Wan was getting a little tired of bounty hunters.

Obi-Wan put his hand on Dane's back. "Stay down," he ordered him swiftly. "We will take care of this."

Dane nodded and covered Floria protectively with his own body.

Anakin's lightsaber blazed in his hand. Obi-Wan nodded and they raced toward the advancing droids, swinging their lightsabers to deflect the blaster bolts. They had to be careful. A stray bolt hit Dane, who was out in the open.

Anakin leaped toward the first droid. He cut it down in one stroke. Blaster bolts melted the snow around him, but Anakin was already twisting in midair to get out of the way. He landed in precisely the right spot to launch another attack.

He had factored in the icy skin on top of the snow, but his foot still slipped slightly. Anakin took a moment to get his balance. He had forgotten about the thermal detonators. Obi-Wan saw two balls whizzing toward Anakin. There was no time for him to reach the spot. He reached down and scooped up two large rocks. He threw one with each hand. Each rock flew unerringly toward its target, hitting the thermal detonators in midair, causing them to veer off course. They sailed by on either side of Anakin's head and fell twenty- five meters away. Too close.