Qui-Gon would have liked to stay and talk to the students in Dr.

Lundi's class, but the professor's surprise announcement changed everything. Dr. Lundi was up to something, and the most important thing was to find out what it was and where he was going.

The Quermian moved surprisingly quickly for someone his age, but the Jedi kept up easily. Qui-Gon followed Lundi into a terminal and watched him board a midsize craft. Not knowing where the transport was going, the Jedi had no choice but to follow him aboard.

Once inside the transport it became clear that the vessel was a private, no-frills charter. The main hold had been outfitted with close rows of seats filled almost to capacity. Both the seats and the passengers looked like they had seen better days.

"Are you going to Lisal?" a voice growled from a dim corner near the entrance.

"Yes," Qui-Gon answered quickly. The ship's destination sounded familiar.

"Tickets?" the voice demanded.

"Two please," Qui-Gon answered.

"It's too late to buy them now." The surly captain stepped out of the shadows to reveal his bad breath and broken teeth to the Jedi. "If you don't have any you'll have to pay double."

"We'll be happy to pay the regular fee," Qui-Gon replied, calmly looking into the pilot's beady eyes.

"Two at the regular price, then," the captain said. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out two grimy stubs. "You'll have to sit in the back."

Obi-Wan handed the captain a few credits while Qui-Gon scanned the crowd for Murk Lundi. He was not sitting with the rest of the passengers.

But with so many eyes on them the Jedi did not dare search the rest of the ship for him. At least not yet.