THE CALL TO VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 1

The light tubes in the large  dwelling  were  powered  down  to  half

strength and set to a faint blue hue. The hallways  were  hushed  and  dim.

Beyond a pair of opaque glass double doors, a single glass column stood, as

tall as a human figure. It gave off a soft, steady glow.

Blue was the color of mourning on the planet of  New  Apsolon.  Glass

columns were used  to  commemorate  those  who  had  lost  their  lives  to

injustice. This slender shaft of pure light was for the Jedi Knight Tahl.

Manex, the brother of Roan,  the  late  ruler  of  New  Apsolon,  had

offered the Jedi his own home in which to mourn Tahl. Manex  had  tried  to

save Tahl by summoning the best med team in New Apsolon to treat her.  When

she had died, he had made the appropriate arrangements. He himself had gone

to find the column of light to mark her spirit.

Obi-Wan Kenobi struggled to feel grateful. He did not trust Manex. He

did not trust the man's great  wealth  or  his  character.  Manex  was  not

interested in anyone's well-being but his own. Why was he being so kind  to

the Jedi?

Obi-Wan wished he could talk to his Master about it. But Qui-Gon Jinn

was unreachable. He had gone inside the room with  Tahl  and  had  remained

there ever since.

Obi-Wan sat on the floor outside.  He  had  begun  by  standing,  but

exhaustion finally forced him to sit. He wanted to lie down, but  he  would

remain upright as long as he could. It was the only thing he could think of

to do for his Master.

The  shock  was  wearing  off,  but  Obi-Wan  still  had   difficulty

understanding that Tahl was gone. It meant looking ahead to a  future  that

did not hold her spirit, her humor, and her fierce intelligence. There  had

been so many times that a kind word or a quick smile had restored him. Tahl

knew his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, better than anyone else. She had helped Obi-

Wan to understand Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan even suspected that  she  had  played  a

role in bringing the two of them together after he had left the Jedi order.

That had been a deep rift, hard to heal. Yet Obi-Wan had always taken great

comfort from the feeling that Tahl wanted Qui-Gon to take him back. She had

comprehended more clearly than anyone why he had done what he did. She knew

he had truly learned an important lesson about his own character,  and  she

wanted Qui-Gon to give him a second chance.

He had learned many things as a Jedi student - how to turn fear  into

purpose, how to deepen discipline into will. But how could  he  turn  grief

into acceptance? There could be no acceptance of this. Yet somehow he  must

keep going until he found it.

At first he had been filled with  such  pain  that  he  could  hardly

think. Tahl had been kidnapped by Balog, the Chief Security  Controller  of

the planet. He had drugged her and imprisoned her in a sensory  deprivation

device used for torturing political prisoners. She had been weak when  they

had released her. But Obi-Wan had felt certain that Tahl's  great  strength

combined with her Jedi powers would save her. Never for one second  had  he

considered the possibility that she would die.

Neither, he was sure, had his Master. When he  had  run  into  Tahl's

room at the med center, he had seen Qui-Gon bent over Tahl's still body. He

saw the sensors stream by in flat, crisp  lines,  showing  that  her  vital

signs were gone. Still Qui-Gon did  not  move.  He  held  Tahl's  hand  and

pressed his forehead against hers. Obi-Wan had not only seen his grief,  he

had felt it like a living shadow in the room. He realized  at  that  moment

that Qui-Gon's feelings for Tahl were deeper than friendship. They were  as

deep and complex as the man himself. Qui-Gon had loved her.

There was nothing Obi-Wan could do to help his  Master  now.  Qui-Gon

had not responded to his words or his presence. Obi-Wan desperately  wished

he were older than sixteen. Maybe with more maturity he would know  how  to

comfort someone whose world had collapsed.

It hurt him to see Qui-Gon suffering. His Master had only left Tahl's

room once, to rush out on a mysterious errand. He had tersely told  Obi-Wan

when he returned that he had managed to find two more probe droids. He  had

sent them to track down Balog. Now he would return to Tahl's side.

"Is there anything I can do, Master?" Obi-Wan had asked.

"Nothing," Qui-Gon had replied, and closed the door behind him.

Obi-Wan was used to silence between them. It  was  often  a  form  of

communication. He had come to understand that his Master was a man  of  few

words. But this silence was different. He could not read it. Over and  over

the words Qui-Gon had spoken at Tahl's deathbed ran in his head:  There  is

no help for me now. There is only revenge.

Revenge. Obi-Wan had never heard Qui-Gon use that word. It was not  a

concept the Jedi would ever endorse. No revenge, only justice.  That  creed

was written on the heart of every Jedi. Revenge led to the  dark  side.  It

twisted the mind and crippled duty into something full of ego and darkness.

Was Qui-Gon battling the dark side inside himself?  Balog  had  taken

away what was most dear to him. He had  done  it  in  the  most  cruel  way

imaginable. He had drained Tahl minute by minute of her strength.

Had Qui-Gon sent out the probe droids in order to find Balog so  that

he could kill him?

Obi-Wan pushed the thought away. He had to trust his Master.  Qui-Gon

would find the calm center he needed to proceed. They must find Balog,  but

in the interest of justice, not revenge.

If a Jedi died during a mission, the Jedi Council was supposed to  be

contacted immediately. Obi-Wan, in the first period  of  deep  shock  after

Tahl's death, had roused himself to ask Qui-Gon about this. Qui-Gon had not

answered. Obi-Wan could see how little procedure meant to Qui-Gon  now.  So

the apprentice had been the one to contact the Jedi Council and inform them

what had happened.

Yoda had been shocked and deeply distressed, for he had  cared  about

Tahl, too. A Jedi team would be sent immediately. Over the  course  of  the

day, Obi-Wan had wondered who it would be. If they had left immediately and

taken a fast ship, it wouldn't be long until they reached New  Apsolon.  He

wasn't sure how he felt about that. A Jedi team would be reassuring...  but

would they notice that Qui-Gon was not acting like himself?

Manex appeared in the hall, and Obi-Wan scrambled to his feet.

"Has he come out?" Manex asked, his plump face creased in worry.

"Not for hours," Obi-Wan replied.

"Please let me know if I can be of service. I must go to  the  United

Legislature. They've called for  me.  Things  are  very  unsettled  in  the

government right now. I  will  be  back  as  soon  as  I  can.  I've  given

instructions to security to show your Jedi team in as soon as they arrive."

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon stepped into the hall seconds after Manex left.

"I heard voices," he said heavily.

"Manex has gone to the United Legislature," Obi-Wan said.  "Is  there

anything I can get you, Master?"

"No. Have the probe droids returned?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I'll notify you  as  soon  as  they  do,  of

course. But I think there are other things we  can  do  to  capture  Balog,

Master. We don't have to wait for the probe droids."  He  spoke  hurriedly,

before Qui-Gon could turn away and go back inside the room. During the long

wait, Obi-Wan had been thinking about their next  step.  It  was  the  only

thing that pushed away the pain.

"Eritha is  still  staying  with  Alani  in  the  Supreme  Governor's

Residence," he went on. "She is concealing the  fact  that  she  knows  her

sister is in league with the Absolutes, hoping to  gain  more  information.

She promised to be a spy for us. Alani might know where Balog is."

"So we must wait for that, too," Qui-Gon said.

"But we could investigate the tie between them," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"How was the alliance formed? What does Alani expect from Balog? What  does

he want in return? Where did the Absolutes retreat to after their base  was

destroyed in the quarries? And what about the list of the Absolutes' secret

informers? Balog doesn't have it, because he's looking for it. We know that

the Worker  Oleg  might  have  had  it  before  he  disappeared."  O    bi-Wan

swallowed. Qui-Gon's gaze went dim. The reason they knew that  was  because

Tahl had told them. He pushed on.

"If we can find the list first, we can set a trap for Balog. And what

about Manex? What reason does he have for being so kind to  us?  There  are

many leads to investigate. I'm sure there must be rumors  swirling  at  the

United Legislature. Some of them should be followed up on - "

"We are here to find Tahl's killer, not get  involved  in  politics,"

Qui-Gon said sternly. "Our main object is the pursuit of Balog. As soon  as

we get information on him, I can leave."

"You mean  we  can  leave,"  Obi-Wan  amended,  watching  his  Master

carefully.

Neither one of them had heard the footsteps approaching.

"We came as soon as we could," a deep familiar voice said.

Obi-Wan turned. The Jedi team had arrived. To his relief, he saw  his

good friend Bant. But his relief turned to disquiet when he  saw  the  Jedi

Master was next to her. It was Mace Windu.

CHAPTER 2

Mace Windu took only the most crucial missions now. His duties on the

Jedi Council were many. Obi-Wan realized more fully how important the  loss

of Tahl was to the Jedi. He had been thinking of himself and Qui-Gon  only,

of the friend they had lost. But  Tahl's  influence  ran  much  deeper  and

wider.

Mace gave both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan a long, measured look.  He  seemed

to capture their weariness and grief as well as the tension  between  them.

Obi-Wan wondered how much of their  discussion  Mace  had  heard.  He  grew

uncomfortable under that all-seeing glance.

He turned with relief to his  friend  Bant.  They  had  gone  through

Temple training together, and she was the being he most relied on  for  her

support and understanding. But there was something cool  in  the  way  Bant

returned his  regard.  Obviously,  she  was  upset.  She  had  been  Tahl's

apprentice.

"We are sorry to be here under such tragic circumstances," Bant  said

to Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan even picked up a hint of coolness in her greeting to Qui-Gon.

That was a bigger surprise. Bant revered Qui-Gon, and Qui-Gon had a special

place in his heart for Obi-Wan's friend.

Qui-Gon did not seem to notice the change. He was too consumed by his

own grief, Obi-Wan knew. He nodded at Bant.

"Tahl is inside," he said.

"We will see her for a moment," Mace  said.  "Then  I  would  like  a

briefing on where we stand."

Qui-Gon gave a heavy nod. Mace  and  Bant  disappeared  inside.  They

returned after a few minutes. Bant looked shaken. Mace  closed  the  double

doors behind them quietly and moved farther down the hall.

"This Chief Security Controller, Balog, was responsible," Mace  said.

"We know this for sure, yet we don't know where he is. Correct?"

Qui-Gon did not speak, so Obi-Wan said, "Yes."

"Tell me what happened," Mace said, his eyes on Obi-Wan. He seemed to

understand that Qui-Gon did not want to talk. Qui-Gon's eyes  were  on  the

door to the room where Tahl was, as though only  the  slimmest  whisper  of

respect was keeping him in the hall.

"Once we knew that Balog had captured Tahl,  we  obtained  two  probe

droids to track him," Obi-Wan explained.

Mace frowned. "Aren't probe droids now illegal on this planet?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said, swallowing. He was well aware that Jedi were not

supposed to break laws on other worlds. "But you can buy them on the  black

market. It was our only chance to find Tahl. We had good reason to  believe

she would be in a sensory deprivation device, so we knew that the longer it

took to find her, the more danger she would be in. The probe droids told us

that Balog had struck out across open country and entered the quarry region

of the planet. Eritha, one of the  daughters  of  the  late  ruler,  Ewane,

followed us. She had discovered that her twin sister, Alani, was in  league

with the Absolutes. This was a shock, because both  Eritha  and  Alani  are

Workers. When the Civilized were in power,  they  used  the  Absolutes  for

surveillance and torture of Workers - including Alani and Eritha's father."

"I know the Absolutes were the secret police of  New  Apsolon,"  Bant

said hesitantly. "I didn't get a chance to be thoroughly  briefed.  Weren't

they outlawed after Ewane was elected?"

"Yes. But the Workers suspect that the secret police never disbanded,

" Obi-Wan said. "We discovered that they are right. But we never  suspected

Balog was in league with them. He's a Worker and was a  prot©g©  of  Ewane.

Now we know from Eritha that Alani arranged the kidnapping of  herself  and

her sister to throw us off the track and gain public sympathy. At the  same

time, we believe it was a  trick  to  lure  Roan  into  the  hands  of  the

Absolutes. Roan was elected after Ewane was killed."

"Roan was a Civilized, not a Worker," Bant said.

"Right. But he had great sympathy for the  Worker  cause  and  worked

closely with Ewane to bring  about  justice  for  all  the  people  of  New

Apsolon. He even took in the twins when Ewane was murdered."

"And Alani betrayed  him,"  Bant  said  slowly.  "She  must  be  very

corrupt."

"We stumbled onto a village of Rock Workers while  we  were  pursuing

Balog," Obi-Wan went on. "Their entire village was  destroyed  in  a  raid,

except for one Rock Worker, Yanci. She's the one who  helped  us  find  the

secret headquarters of the Absolutes. That's how we rescued  Tahl.  But  it

was too late. Qui-Gon brought her back here, but the damage to her internal

organs was too severe...."

"Balog killed her slowly," Qui-Gon said. His voice sounded hoarse and

rusty.

"He escaped in an underwater aqua skimmer," Obi-Wan  added.  "He  was

impossible to track, and we needed to get Tahl to safety."

"And now?" Mace asked. "We see on the streets that  there  is  unrest

here. If Alani is  planning  some  sort  of  takeover,  it  will  be  soon.

Immediate pursuit of Balog is wise."

"That is what we think," Qui-Gon said.

"Yet attention to the mission at hand will also bring results,"  Mace

went on. "If Balog is now in  hiding,  we'll  need  to  track  him  by  his

ambitions. Ambitions reveal direction."

"The Workers contacted me," Obi-Wan said. "They investigated all  the

file systems in the Absolute headquarters. Everything had been wiped clean.

We don't have much to go on."

"We have our instincts," Mace said. He turned to Qui-Gon. "Is there a

place we can speak alone, Qui-Gon?"

Reluctantly, Qui-Gon nodded. He turned and led the way down the hall.

As soon as they were alone, Obi-Wan turned to  Bant.  "I'm  so  sorry

about Tahl," he said in a rush. "I know how you must feel - "

"I don't think so." Bent's tone was flat. She looked at him  steadily

with her large silver eyes. Mon Calamari had  extraordinarily  clear  eyes,

and Obi-Wan had always been able  to  read  Bant's  emotions.  Now  he  was

confused by the anger he saw there.

"Your sympathy comes too late," Bant continued. "How could  you  keep

the fact that Tahl had been kidnapped from me, Obi-Wan? You know  that  you

and Qui-Gon should have contacted the Temple immediately."

"I know," Obi-Wan said.  "But  so  much  happened  so  fast.  Qui-Gon

thought that more Jedi might endanger Tahl's life. We decided  that  if  we

couldn't rescue her in twenty-four hours, we  would  contact  the  Temple."

Actually, it had been Qui-Gon's decision to wait. But  Obi-Wan  would  take

responsibility for it, too. He could have argued with Qui-Gon. He had not.

"That wasn't your decision to make," Bant interrupted.  Her  normally

gentle voice was crisp with anger. "How would you feel if another Jedi team

had done that to you, Obi-Wan? What if Qui-Gon had been kidnapped?"

Obi-Wan felt shame wash over him. Qui-Gon had been kidnapped once, by

the scientist Jenna Zan Arbor. If he  hadn't  been  involved  in  Qui-Gon's

rescue, he would have gone crazy.

"We didn't think it through," he admitted.

"I'll say," Bant said bitterly. She had never taken such a harsh tone

with him. "Did you think of me at all, Obi-Wan?"

"Of course," Obi-Wan said. "I thought I  would  save  you  a  day  of

worry. If we couldn't rescue Tahl, we would have called in a Jedi team."

"But you didn't rescue Tahl," Bant said evenly.  "At  least,  not  in

time. Did you?"

Obi-Wan was stung. Bant had  said  nothing  more  than  the  terrible

truth, but it wasn't like her to hurt him that way.

She seemed to realize how severely her words had  wounded  him.  "She

was my Master, Obi-Wan," she said in a slightly softer  tone.  "She  needed

me. I wasn't there. You can't imagine how that feels."

"No," he said quietly. "And I never would want to. I am truly  sorry,

Bant. You are right. We should have contacted you."

Bant nodded stiffly. Obi-Wan's actions had caused  a  rift  in  their

friendship. He didn't know how deep that rift was, or  how  long  it  would

last.

Tahl was dead. Qui-Gon was like a stranger. And  now  Obi-Wan's  best

friend had turned away from him.

He had never felt so alone.

CHAPTER 3

The last thing Qui-Gon wanted was a private talk with Mace Windu.  He

felt such a heaviness of spirit that it was all he could do to be courteous

to the  Jedi  Master.  The  pain  inside  him  ebbed  and  flowed  like  an

unpredictable tide. Sometimes it reared up so fiercely that it tore at  his

insides like a beast.

Out of all the Jedi, why did Mace have to take  this  mission?  There

was a great deal of respect between the two Jedi,  but  Qui-Gon  had  never

felt particularly close to his formidable colleague.

The door slid shut behind them. Even here in  his  private  reception

room, Manex had turned the lights to pale blue. It gave an  eerie  cast  to

the gleaming black stone that covered the walls and floors, and turned  the

bright vivid greens of the seating areas and lush  pillows  into  a  sickly

hue.

"Do you wish to accompany Tahl's  body  back  to  the  Temple?"  Mace

asked. "Bant, Obi-Wan, and I can remain here and conduct the mission."

Qui-Gon saw that Mace was trying to be kind. There was deep  sympathy

in his sober gaze. He felt a rush of relief that Mace did not inquire  into

his feelings, or ask if there had been  something  deeper  than  friendship

between Qui-Gon and Tahl. Qui-Gon suspected that Mace  already  knew  these

things without words.

Qui-Gon did not intend to give up the search for Tahl's  killer.  But

he needed to be careful. He could not tell Mace that his need to find Balog

was burning inside him. His anger might show in his voice or his face. Mace

might think that the anger was not under control. He would  not  understand

that despite his grief, Qui-Gon's control was complete.

It is because it has to be. It's the only way I can go on.

"Thank you for the offer," he said. "But I must continue the  mission

in order to honor Tahl's memory."

To Qui-Gon's relief, Mace nodded. He was not going to argue with him.

Tahl would have. She always knew when he was trying  to  sidestep  his  own

feelings. A fresh spurt of agony caused him to clench  his  hands  together

into fists by his side. If Mace noticed, he did not comment.

The light over the door flashed,  then  slid  open  partway.  Manex's

protocol droid, fashioned of highly polished black plastoid, hovered.

"Manex has returned and would like a word with the Jedi," it said.

Glad for the interruption, Qui-Gon turned. "Please tell him  to  come

in."

A moment later the door opened wider and Manex  entered,  along  with

Obi-Wan and Bant.

"Excuse the interruption please," Manex said, running a hand  through

his cropped curly hair. For the first time, Qui-Gon  noticed  that  it  had

begun to turn gray like his brother's. "I have just come  from  the  United

Legislature, and I have some news that I thought you needed  to  hear.  I'm

glad to see the new Jedi team has arrived."

"I am Mace Windu and this is Bant," Mace said.

Manex bowed his greeting. "I'm honored to have distinguished Jedi  in

my home. But I'm afraid that my news is  not  good.  Information  has  been

leaked to the Senators that Tahl was helping  the  Absolutes.  There  is  a

holotape of a meeting that she chaired in which she  is  discussing  taking

over the government."

"Tahl was working undercover in order to expose the Absolutes,"  Obi-

Wan explained.

"The Senators don't know what to believe," Manex said.

"How did this tape get circulated?" Mace asked.

"Balog," Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon said together.

"Obviously it's been leaked by him," Obi-Wan continued. "He needs  to

discredit the Jedi in order to prepare the way to return to power."

"It doesn't matter," Qui-Gon said. "We'll clear Tahl's name  when  we

find Balog."

"If you can find him quickly," Manex said gravely. "My fear  is  that

he will come to, power and we won't be able to charge him with anything. Do

you know who is backing him? Whoever it is, he or she must be powerful."

"We are not certain of anything," Mace said. The Jedi were not  ready

to confide in Manex. He knew nothing of Alani's treachery. He might even be

an ally of hers.

"I have further news," Manex said.  "I  have  been  appointed  Acting

Supreme Governor until the  elections  are  held.  I  haven't  sought  this

position, nor do I want it. I'm a businessman, not a  politician.  But  the

Senators prevailed on my love of my planet and my desire  for  peace.  They

feel that Roan's brother has the best  chance  of  holding  the  government

together. No doubt the election period will  be  volatile.  I've  tightened

security and closed the Absolute Museum. We are mainly trying to  keep  the

people calm. And there's one more thing. As Acting  Supreme  Governor,  I'm

making an official request to  the  Jedi.  I'd  like  you  to  oversee  the

preparations for the upcoming elections. We are holding them in three days.

We can't afford to wait. It's the only way to keep the peace."

"But not everyone trusts the Jedi," Obi-Wan said. "I'm sure the  Tahl

holotape didn't help."

"There are enough who do," Manex said. "And once you find  Balog,  as

you said, Tahl's name will be cleared.  Until  then,  you'll  have  all  my

support. I've instructed World Security to give you cooperation."

Mace nodded. "Then we accept."

Qui-Gon bristled. Mace had not even glanced at  him,  or  sought  his

opinion. He would have been against the acceptance.

"I'll leave you, then," Manex said. He  rushed  out,  his  gold  robe

swirling around his soft, polished boots.

Qui-Gon knew he should speak diplomatically, but he didn't have  time

for tact. "This is a mistake," he told  Mace.  "Overseeing  elections  will

divert  us  from  the  investigation  of  Tahl's  death.   We   should   be

concentrating on finding Balog."

Mace took Qui-Gon's stern tone in stride. "I disagree," he said. "The

political situation is part of the pursuit of justice for Tahl's killer. It

is all  tied  together.  We  will  be  in  the  perfect  position  to  gain

information. Not to mention that our overall mission  was  to  restore  New

Apsolon to stability. If the  Supreme  Governor  requests  our  help  in  a

legitimate cause, the Jedi must agree."

Qui-Gon pressed his lips together. He knew better than  to  push  the

argument further. But he was furious at Mace's decision. He wanted to stalk

out of the room, out of the house, and keep going. He  wanted  to  push  an

airspeeder as fast as he  could,  even  without  a  direction.  Frustration

boiled inside him. With every second that ticked away, he could feel  Balog

slipping out of his reach.

CHAPTER 4

"I suggest that we find our quarters and take some refreshment," Mace

said, turning to Bant. "We had a long journey, and we don't know when we'll

get a chance to rest. Then we'll head to the  United  Legislature  and  get

started."

Obi-Wan had felt Qui-Gon's displeasure with Mace's decision.  It  was

clear how deeply he disagreed with Mace. Obi-Wan knew that Qui-Gon saw this

as a waste of time. But his Master had not  come  up  with  an  alternative

plan, either.

Mace lifted an eyebrow at Qui-Gon. "If you had  an  idea  of  Balog's

whereabouts, or a way to find him, we would delay and follow your lead. But

until then, the only course open to us is to gather information."

Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon. His Master had not told  Mace  about  the

probe droids he'd sent out to find Balog. It was one  thing  to  break  the

laws of a planet because a Jedi was in immediate danger of  death.  It  was

another to employ them in tracking a citizen of the planet where they  were

illegal. He wasn't sure how Mace would react, which  was  most  likely  why

Qui-Gon did not tell him. The Jedi were already on uncertain footing on the

planet.

Mace and Bant left the room. The tension did  not  dissolve.  Qui-Gon

paced, brooding. Clearly, he did not want to talk.

Manex's protocol droid once again hovered in the doorway.  "So  sorry

to intrude. Another visitor. She says you know her, so I took the  liberty.

Her name is Yanci."

"Yanci? Show her in, please," Obi-Wan said, surprise  in  his  voice.

Yanci was the Rock Worker medic who had fixed his  leg  after  a  rock  had

crushed it. She had come after them and begged for their help in  resisting

an Absolute attack on their settlement. Obi-Wan and  Qui-Gon  had  returned

with her, but it was too late. Every man, woman, and child had been killed.

Yanci's terrible grief still burned in Obi-Wan's memory.

Yanci entered the room. Obi-Wan  could  see  at  once  that  she  had

changed in the course of two days. The massacre of her fellow Workers along

with the death of the man she loved had etched sorrow  into  her  features.

Her eyes were different. He could see the loss there.

For the first time since Tahl's death, Qui-Gon's  distraction  lifted

and he truly seemed to focus on another person. It was as  though  the  two

recognized each other immediately as fellow sufferers. He moved forward and

took her hand. "It is good to see you," he murmured.

She stared into his face. "I heard about Jedi Knight Tahl.  You  have

my deepest sympathy."

He pressed her hand, then dropped it. Obi-Wan saw  that  Qui-Gon  did

not need words with Yanci.

She turned to Obi-Wan. "And how is that leg?"

"All healed, thanks to you."

"And you. I have great respect for the Jedi powers of recuperation. I

am sorry to come at such a time. I'm living with the Workers  in  the  city

now." Yanci's voice lowered. "I heard something that I thought  might  help

you. It is about a Worker named Oleg."

Obi-Wan's senses sharpened. Oleg was the Worker who they believed had

the list of Absolute informers. He had been seen with Tahl, which  was  why

Balog suspected that he had passed off the list to  her.  Instead,  he  had

disappeared.

"I heard that Balog is chasing Oleg," Yanci went on.  "I  don't  know

why, and I don't need to know. But I recognized that  name.  Several  weeks

ago, the Rock Workers were contacted by the Workers in the city. They asked

if they could send a Worker to us who needed to  go  into  hiding.  It  was

Oleg. He had infiltrated the Absolutes and needed a place to hide once  his

mission was completed. They weren't  sure  when  he  would  be  coming.  We

agreed, of course. Later we got word that his cover had been blown and that

he was being sent immediately. But he never showed up.  We  were  concerned

and searched the quarries, but we don't think he ever left the  city.  Then

we ourselves were attacked. As you know."

"Thank you for coming to us," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan  could  hear  the  disappointment  in  his  voice.  He   felt

disappointed as  well.  The  information  was  interesting,  but  not  very

helpful. It didn't lead them any closer to Balog.

"But that is not all I have come to tell you," Yanci said. "There was

a reason the Workers were sending him to us. They knew that I had  training

in a specific medical condition that Oleg has. He got it  as  a  result  of

being imprisoned by the Absolutes years ago. It's  a  form  of  hibernation

sickness that recurs regularly, requiring treatment. I happen to be able to

provide treatment  because  several  of  our  Rock  Workers  had  the  same

syndrome. But there are only a few med clinics in the city that  can  treat

it. So I thought... I thought it would be a way to track Oleg, if you  were

looking for him. It could be a way to find Balog."

Yanci reached inside her cloak and took out a durasheet.  She  handed

it to Qui-Gon. "Here is a list of the clinics."

Obi-Wan felt his spirits rise. If they could  track  Oleg,  no  doubt

they would find Balog. Qui-Gon appeared frozen, transfixed by the  list  in

his hand.

"Do you think it could be helpful?" Yanci asked. "Yes," Qui-Gon said.

"Very."

Qui-Gon clutched the list, staring  at  it  so  fiercely  that  Yanci

glanced at Obi-Wan, concerned.

Obi-Wan moved forward to thank her. "This  will  help  us,"  he  told

Yanci. "Thank you for coming. I'll see you out."

He walked her to the front door and bid her good-bye. He hurried back

down the hall to Qui-Gon, eager to discuss their next step.

But when he opened the door to  the  sitting  room,  his  Master  had

disappeared.

CHAPTER 5

Qui-Gon knew he  should  not  have  left  Manex's  residence  without

telling Obi-Wan or Mace where he was going, but he did not regret it.  More

talk meant more delay. If he had taken Obi-Wan with him, he would have  put

his Padawan in a bad position. If Qui-Gon was going to have conflicts  with

Mace Windu, he did not want Obi-Wan to be involved in them.

And, truth be told, his instincts told him that he needed to do  this

alone. Four Jedi equaled four opinions,  more  talk,  more  discussion.  He

didn't have the time. If he were going to find Balog, he had to move fast.

His comlink signaled. It was the third time in an hour.  He  knew  it

was Obi-Wan. He could feel that his Padawan wanted urgently to  speak  with

him. Qui-Gon hesitated and then shut his comlink off. He would contact Obi-

Wan when he had hard information. His Padawan would understand, he hoped.

Yanci's information could be useless. It wouldn't take  him  long  to

check out four clinics. In the  meantime,  Mace  could  go  to  the  United

Legislature and talk all he wanted.

So far he had been to three clinics.  Oleg  was  not  listed  on  the

roster of patients. Of course, Oleg could have used an  assumed  name,  but

that would be hard to do. Medical treatment was free on  New  Apsolon,  and

records were kept on all citizens who needed treatment.  The  records  were

accessed by retinal scan. When Oleg needed treatment, the clinic would need

his records in order to treat him. No doubt  he  would  have  to  take  the

chance and use his own name.

Qui-Gon approached the last clinic on the outskirts of the  Civilized

Sector. So far it had been easy to determine whether or not Oleg had been a

patient at a clinic. Qui-Gon had been able to bluff or charm his  way  into

getting the information out of the clerks. The clinics were not run on high

security. He expected the last one to be easy as  well.  Soon,  if  he  was

lucky, Balog could be within his grasp. His hopes rose as he strode  toward

the entrance.

A woman stood outside, hesitating. Qui-Gon moved forward to open  the

door, then saw that she was blind. He stopped and watched  as  she  reached

out, searching for the door access panel.

How many times had Tahl snapped  at  him  to  let  her  do  something

herself? He had learned to let her pour the tea, access  a  datafile,  lead

the way to the lake.

I can't bear it when you hover, she would say. I know I'm blind,  but

I still have a sense of direction.

Even the smallest memories of Tahl brought him such great pain. Maybe

the small memories were the worst. It was thousands of such small  memories

that made up their long friendship. For the rest of his  life,  they  would

swim to the surface of his consciousness. He would  remember  things  about

her he had forgotten. Each time would be agony.

"To your left," Qui-Gon said politely.

"Thank you," she murmured.

The woman reached for the door access panel and  pushed  the  signal.

The door slid open. She moved through and proceeded to the desk, which  was

straight ahead. Qui-Gon could now see that she was  using  a  laser  sensor

device to guide her movements. As a Jedi, Tahl had decided to rely  on  her

other senses so that she would not have to depend on such technology.

The woman spoke briefly to the clerk, who directed  her  in  a  loud,

careful voice to  a  seat.  Looking  at  the  clerk's  thin-faced,  haughty

expression, Qui-Gon sensed he would have trouble. He glanced at the clerk's

name plate and walked forward.

"Good day, Vero," he said. "I'm hoping you can  help  me.  My  nephew

Oleg is missing. I think he's a patient here. It would help if I knew - "

Vero interrupted him immediately. "No release of any med  information

without the proper authorization."

"I appreciate your attention to the rules," Qui-Gon said. "However  -

"

"No exceptions." Vero turned away. He barked out the name of the next

patient, ignoring Qui-Gon.

This was certainly a different experience. In the other clinics, he'd

found sympathetic clerks who had listened to his story and  tried  to  help

him. Qui-Gon could have used the Force on Vero, but he knew  that  everyone

in the clinic  was  listening.  If  the  rude  Vero  suddenly  changed  his

approach, they would think it odd. Still, he  wasn't  about  to  walk  away

without finding out what he needed to know.

Suddenly a loud clatter came from behind him.  The  blind  woman  had

upset her chair, then the one next to her. She began to try to right  them,

getting in the way of another patient. An argument began.

"Stop, stop! This is a clinic! What are you doing? Don't touch  that!

Don't move!" Vero hurried around the counter, upset at the commotion.

With a keen gaze, Qui-Gon saw the woman deliberately upset  a  flower

vase.

"Not my ginkas!" Vero screamed, diving for the flowers.

She was doing it for him, Qui-Gon knew. She was giving him  a  little

time.

He reached over the counter and swiveled Vero's  datascreen  to  face

him. Quickly, he clicked in Oleg's name. To his relief, his records  showed

up. Oleg had given an address close to the clinic. His next appointment was

in two weeks.

Qui-Gon quickly swiveled the datascreen back into position. He walked

past Vero, who was picking up flowers and scolding the woman for  upsetting

them. Qui-Gon righted a chair and gave a hand to the woman to help her  sit

down. He bent close to her ear. "Thanks for your help."

"You know when to give help, and when  not  to,"  she  said.  "That's

rare."

"I had a good teacher."

Qui-Gon walked out quickly. The door slid shut  behind  him,  sealing

off the commotion. He had memorized the address and remembered the  street,

which he'd passed on the way to the clinic. Qui-Gon quickly  made  his  way

there.

The address was a small hotel. Qui-Gon asked for Oleg and was told he

had checked out, but to try the caf© around the  corner.  A  bit  surprised

that Oleg was not more discreet, Qui-Gon headed to the caf©.

The owner was wiping down tables in the front. Qui-Gon asked for Oleg

and was directed to a table in the rear.

A slight, blond man sat at the table, his hands curled around  a  cup

of juice. Qui-Gon sat down opposite him.

"It's about time," Oleg said nervously. "I've put  myself  in  danger

every minute."

"I got here as soon as I could," Qui-Gon said.  Obviously,  Oleg  had

been waiting for someone he did not know.  That  explained  why  he  hadn't

bothered to use an assumed name. It was just as apparent  to  Qui-Gon  that

this young man was not used to dealing with  danger.  His  head  constantly

swiveled, looking for trouble. Anyone looking for him would have picked him

out immediately.

"I have the file," Oleg said. "It's not on me, but it's not far.  But

I'm warning you, if you try anything, I'm prepared to shoot. I have  to  up

the price."

"Why?" Qui-Gon asked. He would play this out. He assumed, of  course,

that Oleg was talking about the list. He didn't want to buy it from him. If

Oleg still had it, that meant that Balog didn't.

"I have to leave the planet," Oleg said, wiping his wet forehead with

his napkin. "Do you think this is easy? Too many people are  searching  for

me now."

"I might be able to come up with more," Qui-Gon said.

"Decide now," Oleg snapped. "I have no time to  waste."  His  comlink

signaled, and he listened for a  moment.  With  his  eyes  on  Qui-Gon,  he

replied, "Yes, that's right. I still have it. Will you meet my price? Good.

I'll meet you there, then. Can't you make it earlier? All right."

He shut off the comlink. "There are others who will pay, as you see,"

he said. "I made an appointment, but you can buy it first. So decide.  It's

now or never."

"Never," Qui-Gon said. "The price is just too high. Sorry." He stood.

Oleg looked even more nervous. "Listen, I don't have to sell to  this

guy. I don't like him. He's an Absolute, and I hate them.  They  ruined  my

health. I'd rather the list end up with a Worker, believe me. I look like a

traitor, but I'm just looking out for myself. Maybe we can negotiate."

"Sorry," Qui-Gon  said  again.  He  turned  and  left  the  caf©.  He

positioned himself out of sight of Oleg, but was able to  see  him  through

the reflection of the caf© window. Was the bidder on the comlink Balog?  He

had a strong feeling it was. Oleg had broken out into a sweat. And  he  had

said he didn't want the list in the hands of the Absolutes.

Qui-Gon was close now. He could feel it. All  his  concentration  was

centered on that slight, nervous man in the caf©. The anger  and  grief  he

had compressed into a burning ball inside him threatened to flame  up,  and

he tamped it down. Patience, he chided himself. Balog  would  be  his  very

soon.

CHAPTER 6

Qui-Gon did not think it possible that a being could nurse a glass of

juice as long as Oleg. He did not seem to notice the  surly  stare  of  the

caf© owner, or the press of customers who came in, looking for a  table  as

the caf© grew crowded.

Qui-Gon began to feel conspicuous, so he  moved  down  the  alley  to

another window. After a few minutes he moved to the back,  where  he  could

see the interior through a small, grimy window. He kept up his post  there,

pretending to loiter until people began to come home from work and  windows

lit up across the alley. Qui-Gon headed back to the front and  crossed  the

street. He stationed himself at a juice bar with a good angle on the  front

of the caf©. Dusk fell. His patience wore  thin.  Was  the  conversation  a

bluff? Had Oleg merely been trying to get Qui-Gon to meet his price?

Qui-Gon was beginning to consider approaching Oleg again when he  saw

him head out of the caf©, glancing nervously  over  his  shoulder.  Qui-Gon

joined the stream of people on the walkway and followed him.

At first, it was easy to keep  Oleg  in  sight.  The  people  on  the

streets were good cover. But as Oleg crossed over into the  Worker  Sector,

the crowd grew larger. Oleg was a slight young man, and he soon got lost in

the crowd. It was difficult to keep him in sight without running into him.

Gradually, Qui-Gon became aware that he was not the only one  tailing

Oleg. He did not turn his head or alter his stride in any way, but he threw

his attention around him like a net. Someone was tailing Oleg  from  across

the street.

It was Balog. He saw  him  reflected  in  the  shiny  surface  of  an

approaching landspeeder. He  recognized  the  stocky  frame,  the  way  the

muscular legs seemed to power the body forward like a machine, not a man.

Qui-Gon did not know if Balog had seen him. Perhaps his focus was  on

Oleg. If he was lucky, that would be the case. But he  could  not  rely  on

luck. His heart began to pound, and he had to discipline  himself  to  keep

his focus. He wanted to turn and rush at Balog in a full-scale  attack.  He

wanted to make him pay for every breath

Tahl had struggled to take, every  second  her  life  systems  slowly

failed. He would make each moment of Balog's suffering an eternity....

Where did that thought come from? The ferocity of it shocked him.  It

had risen from the depths of him. It sounded like  vengeance.  He  did  not

know such an emotion could exist inside him. The knowledge made him uneasy.

I can control it. It will not take me over. I can capture  Balog  and

not let my anger overtake me.

He said the words to himself, just the way he would have said them to

Obi-Wan. He was a Jedi. His training would keep him on the right  path.  It

had to.

His hands trembled, and he clasped them together for a  moment.  Help

me, Tahl, he said fervently. He had never said such a thing to her when she

was alive, though now he realized how many times he had  gone  to  her  for

help. She had known that it was hard for him to ask for it. It was the  one

thing she had never teased him about. Instead, she  had  simply  given  him

whatever he needed: information, assurance, compassion.

To his left, Balog speeded up. Qui-Gon melted back. Now he must  keep

both Balog and Oleg in sight.

Oleg entered a warehouse. Balog hurried down an alley to the side  of

the building. There was no question in Qui-Gon's mind which one to  pursue.

He headed down the alley after Balog.

When he got to the back, he found himself in a small fenced area.  It

was empty. All the windows looking out from the warehouse were  dark.  Qui-

Gon tried the door. It was locked.

It was a flicker in the corner of his eye that alerted  him,  nothing

more. But it was enough. He was already  turning  and  had  his  lightsaber

activated when the first probe droid attacked. Blaster fire pinged  by  his

ear. He felt the scorch near his shoulder. He reached up to bring  it  down

with a swipe, but it veered off.

Blaster fire to his left, then to  his  right.  Behind  him,  Qui-Gon

counted seven droids, now in attack mode. Their sensors glowed red as  they

pinpointed his location. Blaster fire rained around him like a cage. It was

almost impossible to dodge it.

Qui-Gon ran at the wire fence.  He  shifted  his  body  horizontally,

calling on the Force to help him scale it  without  using  his  hands.  His

balance was perfect as he hit the top. He gave a backward leap and took two

probe droids out with one single downward stroke.

Before he hit the  ground,  he  twisted  in  midair  to  land  a  few

centimeters away, confusing the probe droid that fired at the spot where he

should have landed. He ran at the warehouse wall now, straight up, and then

flipped backward, swiping a glancing blow at the third  droid.  It  buzzed,

blaster fire erupting in a series of  flashes.  Then  it  began  to  smoke,

spiraling down until it crashed.

Qui-Gon fought in a  frenzy,  mindful  that  Balog  was  inside  that

warehouse. The probe droids were slowing him down, and  frustration  boiled

inside him at their insistent buzzing.

He attacked with a new ferocity. He launched himself off  the  fence,

kicking out with one leg to send one droid flying while  thrusting  a  blow

straight into the heart of another. It gave an anguished squawk and fell to

the ground at top speed, crashing and bursting into flames.

Qui-Gon hit the ground, lightsaber held  high,  ready  for  the  next

challenge. But to his surprise, the remaining  two  probe  droids  suddenly

wheeled away and flew off into the darkness.

He didn't hesitate a moment. He cut a hole in the  locked  door  with

his lightsaber and charged through. He ran  down  the  corridor,  searching

room after room. The rooms were filled with tools, equipment, and durasteel

bins. He found nothing until he ran into a small room near the turbolift.

There was Oleg, lying on the floor, arms outstretched, mouth open. He

had a surprised expression on his face. But he would never  feel  surprised

again.

CHAPTER 7

Mace had not shown any emotion when Obi-Wan gave him the news of Qui-

Gon's disappearance. He had simply nodded. "We  will  hear  from  him,  I'm

sure," he had said.

But when they discovered that Qui-Gon had switched off  his  comlink,

Mace's disapproval was obvious.

"We must proceed without Qui-Gon," he said. "I think we should  split

up. I'll go to the United Legislature and gather information. Obi-Wan,  can

you find this medic, Yanci? We need another copy of that list."

"I think so," Obi-Wan said.  "She  said  she  was  staying  with  the

Workers, and I can trace her through lrini and Lenz."

"Good. Then you and Bant must find her and join Qui-Gon  in  tracking

Oleg. No doubt you could run into Qui-Gon at the same time. As soon as  you

find either Oleg or Qui-Gon, contact me."

Obi-Wan nodded. Mace left them, hurrying out of Manex's residence and

striding down the street. Some of the passersby glared at him,  seeing  his

Jedi robes. No doubt they  had  heard  the  rumors  being  spread  of  Jedi

treachery. Obi-Wan was certain Mace noticed this, but he walked on with  no

hesitation visible in his stride or expression.

"Where are we headed?" Bant asked. There was a new crispness  in  her

voice.

"The Worker Sector," Obi-Wan said. "We can catch a  public  transport

this way."

As they walked, Obi-Wan thought he could not bear it if they  weren't

able to be friends again. He needed things to be open and easy  with  Bant.

With Qui-Gon gone, things were so confused. He was worried about the reason

Qui-Gon left without him. Was Qui-Gon driven by vengeance? Was that why  he

hadn't wanted Obi-Wan along?

Obi-Wan missed his Master. It was hard to have to  miss  his  friend,

too. Especially when she walked beside him.

They swung aboard an almost empty airbus. Obi-Wan looked out  at  the

streets as they passed, hoping to catch a glimpse of his Master.

"He's out there somewhere," he said.  He  didn't  know  if  Bant  was

speaking to him, but he was so in the habit of confiding in  her  that  the

words tumbled out before he could stop them. "And I don't  know  what  he's

thinking or planning. He could be walking into danger. He could need me. If

anything happens..."

Bant turned cool silver eyes on him. "If  anything  happens  to  your

Master, you'll feel as I do." She turned her face forward again.

Obi-Wan felt as though she had slapped him. Of course she was right.

What was there to say? He had already apologized. He  felt  sincerely

sorry he had not considered Bant's feelings. The only thing he could do was

agree.

"Yes," he said. "Then I'd know exactly how you feel."

It was rare on a mission when  something  went  exactly  the  way  it

should. Yet this time, luck was with them. Obi-Wan remembered exactly where

he and Qui-Gon had gone to meet Lenz. It had only been a few  days  before,

but it felt like a lifetime ago. Luckily Lenz was still living in the  same

quarters. He usually moved often to escape  the  surveillance  of  the  new

Absolutes.

Lenz willingly gave them the address where Yanci was staying a  short

distance away. Yanci greeted Obi-Wan with tired affection and printed out a

copy of the list on a durasheet. They were back on the street  and  heading

for the address of the first med clinic in a short period of time.

They had no trouble with the first three clinics. The  clerks  freely

told them that Oleg was not a patient. But the fourth clinic was staffed by

an arrogant clerk named Vero. Puffed up with self-importance, he refused to

give out any information.

"I don't know what med clinics do in  the  Worker  Sector,"  he  said

haughtily, "but here, we are Civilized, and take our  jobs  seriously."  He

eyed Bant with disdain. "Obviously, you  are  new  here.  On  your  planet,

things are no doubt more primitive. You might  not  be  familiar  with  our

procedures."

Bant's skin flushed pink with anger. "Listen, you - "

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said quickly, pulling Bant away from the desk.

"Getting into a confrontation isn't going to help," he  whispered  to

her. "We'll have to think of another way."

Bant eyed the clerk. "How about lightsabers? Is that primitive enough

for him?"

Obi-Wan grinned. Bant was the most gentle creature he knew,  but  she

had her limits. "He's probably never seen a Mon Calamari before," he  said.

"New Apsolon doesn't get many tourists. There are plenty of good Civilized,

but I'm sure there are plenty of ones like Vero, too."

"How are you at using the Force to  affect  his  mind?"  Bant  asked,

frowning. "I don't know if I could manage it. Vero is stupid, but he  seems

stubborn."

Obi-Wan doubted that he would be successful, either. "And the waiting

room is so small - everyone would overhear," he murmured.

Bant's silver gaze roved over the. group. "Everyone is staring at us.

"

"They've probably never seen a Mon Calamari before, either,"  Obi-Wan

pointed out.

Something sparked in Bant's eyes. "That gives me an idea."

Suddenly, she weaved and began to gasp.  "I'm  over  my  limit,"  she

said. "Help me. I need water."

Obi-Wan supported her as she slumped over. "Water!" she cried.

Vero looked over at them, his expression  a  mix  of  irritation  and

alarm. "What is it? The medics are busy."

"She's a Mon Calamari," Obi-Wan said frantically. "She can't stay out

of water for more than four hours. We need to immerse her, now!"

"I can't authorize that," Vero said, shaking his head.  "She'll  just

have to wait"

"She'll die!" Obi-Wan cried. Bant cooperated by  slumping  down  even

farther.

"I've heard about Mon Calamari," someone spoke up  from  the  waiting

area. "What he says is true."

"This will be on your record!" Obi-Wan warned Vero. He'd nearly  said

conscience, but he wasn't sure if Vero had one. "Do you want that?"

At the mention of his record, Vero looked alarmed.  "All  right,  all

right," he said. "There's an immersion tub in back. I'll take her."

Obi-Wan handed Bant over to Vero, who took her arm with distaste.  He

half dragged her back toward the med cubicles.

Obi-Wan wasted no time.  He  moved  stealth-fully  to  the  desk  and

quickly accessed the holofiles.

Yes! Oleg had been here, just a few days before.  And  there  was  an

address listed. Obi-Wan quickly memorized it, then hurried  back.  He  slid

into a seat in the waiting area just as Vero returned.

"Your - friend is having her swim," Vero said with a frown.

Bant emerged a few minutes later, still damp. Obi-Wan nodded  at  her

to let her know he had succeeded. Quickly, they left the clinic and  headed

for a street map kiosk on a nearby corner. They pinpointed the address.  It

was only a few blocks away. The address was for a small  hotel,  but  their

search ended when they discovered that Oleg had checked out.

"Too many questions about that one," the  owner  of  the  hotel  said

darkly. "And I've got no answers for you."

Disappointed, Obi-Wan stopped  on  the  walkway  outside.  He  had  a

feeling that Qui-Gon had not given up so easily.

"I guess we could stake the place  out,"  Bant  said  dubiously.  "Or

stake out the clinic."

"His  next  appointment  isn't  for   two   weeks,"   Obi-Wan   said,

discouraged.

"Well, let's contact Mace  and  tell  him  it's  a  dead  end,"  Bant

suggested.

Obi-Wan wasn't thrilled at giving Mace that news, but he reached  for

his comlink.

When Mace answered, he quickly explained the steps they had taken and

where they were.

Mace sounded  odd.  "Give  me  your  location  again."  When  Obi-Wan

repeated it, there was a long pause. "I've just received word that  a  body

was found nearby. Meet me there. I am leaving now." Mace gave  Obi-Wan  the

address and signed off.

Obi-Wan looked over at Bant. He knew what they both feared. He  could

not speak the fear aloud, but it rose inside him, draining him of strength.

The body was Qui-Gon.

Without a word, they turned and ran toward the address Mace had given

them. It was only a few blocks away.

They stopped in front of a warehouse. Security vehicles  were  parked

outside, and officers walked in and out.

Obi-Wan strode forward as if he  belonged  there.  He  couldn't  wait

another second.

"We are Jedi. Manex has given us the authority  to  investigate,"  he

said firmly.

To his surprise, the security officer waved them inside.  Manex  must

have followed through and demanded access for the Jedi.

The body lay under a tarp in the hallway. Obi-Wan felt  relief  drain

the remaining strength from his muscles. He could  already  tell  from  the

outlines that the body was too short and slight to be Qui-Gon's.

He bent over and lifted a corner of the tarp anyway. Mild  blue  eyes

stared up at him in surprise. No matter how many times Obi-Wan had seen it,

he never got used to death.

He guessed who the young man was. "Do you have an  ID?"  he  asked  a

nearby officer.

"Name was Oleg," the officer replied as he entered something  into  a

datapad.

"Was anything on the body?" Bant asked. "Just a blaster. Never got  a

chance to use it, did he? A probe droid got him first."

While they waited for Mace, Obi-Wan and Bant explored  the  area.  At

first they found nothing to indicate a struggle, no clues to send them in a

new direction. Then they came to the back door. The panel was peeled  back,

leaving an opening wide enough for a man to step through.

Mace's voice came from behind them. "A light-saber, no doubt."

"It could have been a vibrotorch," Obi-Wan suggested. Suddenly he did

not want Mace to think that Qui-Gon had been there.

Mace didn't answer. His eyes narrowed, and he moved forward to  pluck

something off the sharp end of a broken hinge. He held it up to Obi-Wan and

Bent. It was a piece of a Jedi robe.

He turned and looked  through  the  opening  cut  in  the  door.  The

security officers had left bright glow rods to illuminate the back area.

"There was a battle with probe droids," Mace said.  "See  the  scorch

marks on the pavement? Maybe four or five or even more." He turned to  Obi-

Wan. "Did Qui-Gon employ probe droids to track Balog?"

Obi-Wan swallowed. He could not lie to Mace. "Yes," he said.

Mace stood holding the scrap of fabric. His face  showed  nothing  of

what he was thinking. But Obi-Wan could guess.

Was Qui-Gon involved in Oleg's death? Had his grief and  rage  turned

him to the dark side? Would he not care who was in his way in his quest  to

avenge Tahl's death? Obi-Wan feared the question was in  Mace's  mind.  His

bigger worry was that it was in his own.

CHAPTER 8

Qui-Gon moved swiftly through the dark streets. The clue he had found

at the site of Oleg's killing led him on. By Oleg's side, he  had  found  a

slender chain and pendant. The chain had been broken. He had recognized the

pendant immediately. Irini had been at the warehouse.

He stood for a moment  outside  Lenz's  dwelling,  wondering  how  to

proceed. Irini did not volunteer information  freely.  But  his  impatience

allowed no time for persuasion.

Then he saw Irini heading toward him, her arms filled with a  bag  of

food. Her steps slowed for an instant when she saw Qui-Gon. Then she  moved

forward briskly to hide her hesitation. In  that  moment,  Qui-Gon  decided

that his best chance was to bluff.

"So we meet again tonight," he said.

She eyed him warily. "Again?"

"You were at the warehouse tonight with Oleg. So was I."

She swallowed. Her eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

"Did you get the list?"

She let out a breath. "No. He didn't have it. I  posed  as  a  buyer,

hoping to get it. If not, I wanted to protect him."

"But he betrayed the Workers," Qui-Gon said.

"He saw a way to make his fortune, yes," Irini  said  wearily.  "Many

Workers are desperate that way.  Despite  our  hopes,  the  wealth  of  the

Civilized has not trickled down to us. But Oleg is still a Worker,  and  we

know he was being pursued. My job was to bring him in."

"Did you see what happened?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Two probe droids attacked, so I got out," she said. "I'm sure it was

Balog who sent them."

"Balog was there, too," Qui-Gon said. "I saw him."

Irini dropped the bundle she held. Fruit and  protein  packs  spilled

onto the pavement. "Balog was there? Did he get the list?"

"You said Oleg didn't have it," Qui-Gon said.

She shook her head rapidly, suddenly concerned. "I didn't see it. But

maybe I overlooked something..."

"I don't think Oleg had the list  on  him,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "He  was

worried about his safety. I also think it's possible that he'd already sold

it."

"Then why would he meet another buyer?" Irini asked.

"As you say, he wanted his fortune," Qui-Gon said. "He could sell the

list several times and make enough to live out the  rest  of  his  life  in

luxury."

Irini pressed a hand against her eyes. "So several people could  have

the list, then. I hadn't thought of that."

"The question is: who?" Qui-Gon said. "And if  Balog  does  have  it,

what is his next move?"

"I can't answer those questions. I'm as much in the dark as you are."

Irini bent down and began to retrieve her food. Qui-Gon bent to help her.

"We are after the same thing, lrini," he said, placing a  package  of

tea into her bag. "It might be a good idea if you helped me."

Suddenly a look of sadness came over Irini's usually impassive  face.

"I would if I could," she said. "I have to get these to  Lenz  now."  Then,

cradling the package in her arms, she walked off.

Qui-Gon contemplated his next move. It was  hard  to  keep  his  mind

clear. He felt as though he were stumbling around in the dark. So  much  of

his pursuit of Balog was based on guesswork.

But it was all he had.

The list was still the key. Even if Balog had it, his next move would

be to consolidate his power. If Oleg had already sold it, who would  be  in

the market to buy it?

The answer was easy. New elections were about to be held.  Those  who

would benefit most by the list, or be the most threatened by it,  would  be

politicians. A Legislator who held that list would hold great power.

He hated to admit it, but Mace had been right. He needed to go to the

United Legislature. It was night now; he wouldn't have  much  luck  finding

Legislators. But surely there was something he  could  accomplish.  Qui-Gon

turned and headed back to the Civilized Sector.

CHAPTER 9

Obi-Wan and Bant stood outside the Luster, an opulent caf©  near  the

United Legislature building. Inside under the great domed lamps they  could

see the elite Civilized at polished tables, laughing, eating, and  talking,

their heads together in government gossip. Chairs were drawn up at  already

crowded tables, making it difficult to move around the  room,  but  no  one

seemed to mind.

Mace was somewhere inside, trying to gather information. He had  said

that the two could wait in more comfortable quarters at Manex's  residence,

but neither Obi-Wan nor Bant wanted  to  leave.  There  was  a  feeling  of

urgency, as though every moment counted.

Bant stood, her arms folded, her eyes on the  brilliantly  lit  caf©.

Obi-Wan wondered how to start a  conversation.  Suddenly,  after  years  of

talking to Bant about everything that was on his mind, he had  to  struggle

to find something to say.

Bant held her slight body rigid. Her stare was as fierce  as  Mace's.

Her stiffness and concentration made it even harder for him  to  break  the

silence.

Then he noticed that she was not as contained as  she  appeared.  Her

hands were gripped together tightly. He realized that far from  being  lost

in concentration, Bant was struggling to maintain her composure.

When he looked closer, he saw that her eyes were full of  tears.  She

was struggling to keep them from falling.

"Bant." He said her name gently. He didn't know what else to say.

"She should be  here,"  Bant  said  in  a  choked  voice.  "It  seems

impossible that she's not here. I can't believe she won't come  around  the

corner any second. I keep hearing her scold us for making such a  big  fuss

and coming here to save her." The tears tumbled down her face. "It hurts so

much, Obi-Wan. I can't find peace in her death.  I  know  I'm  supposed  to

accept it. I can't."

It was the longest flood of words she had spoken since she'd arrived.

Obi-Wan realized that Bant had said all the things he had been feeling.  It

did seem impossible that Tahl was dead. He knew that  part  of  him  hadn't

absorbed it.

He knew that he was focusing on his worries about Qui-Gon so that  he

wouldn't have to.

"I know what you mean," he said. "When we found her, and she  was  so

weak, I never for one moment thought she could die. Tahl was so strong. She

was as strong as Qui-Gon."

"Did she say anything?" Bant asked timidly. "Anything before..."

"She was too weak to talk when I saw her," Obi-Wan said. "Qui-Gon was

with her when she died."

"I'm glad such a good friend was there," Bant said.

Obi-Wan hesitated. He did not  know  whether  he  should  speak.  But

didn't he owe Bant his confidence? Maybe it would help  to  close  the  gap

between them.

"I think Qui-Gon and Tahl had become more than friends," he told her.

"Here on New Apsolon, something changed. That's why Qui-Gon is grieving the

way he is."

Bant turned, surprised. "You mean they loved each other?"

Obi-Wan nodded.

Bant looked down at her clasped hands. "Then it  is  even  more  sad,

isn't it?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "It's the saddest thing I've ever  seen.  That's

why I'm worried about Qui-Gon."

Bant reached out and squeezed his arm. Obi-Wan was happy to feel  the

spontaneous gesture. "We will help him, Obi-Wan," she promised. And for the

first time, Obi-Wan felt that maybe they could.

Just then Mace emerged from the caf©, his robe  swirling  around  his

ankles. He crossed the road and came up to them.

"I haven't learned much," he admitted. "But I did pick up an item  of

interesting gossip as I  was  leaving.  Just  today  Legislator  Pleni  has

announced that she will run for  Supreme  Governor.  She  has  kept  a  low

profile in the Legislature, so this was surprising. In just  an  afternoon,

she managed to sway some powerful Legislators to support her."

Mace saw the look of puzzlement on the faces  of  Bant  and  Obi-Wan.

"Her sudden bid for power and the quick support  she  received  could  mean

that she bought the list from Oleg," he told them.  "At  any  rate,  it  is

worth investigating." Mace gathered his cloak around him. "If she  has  the

list, she could be in danger. Whoever has possession of  it  could  end  up

like Oleg. Come. Her residence is not far."

Mace's long stride covered more distance than Obi-Wan could make at a

slow run. He and Bant had to jog to keep up with him.

Legislator Pleni lived alone in a small, elegant dwelling made of the

gray stone that so much of New Apsolon  was  built  with.  All  the  lights

inside the house were on. Mace pressed the illuminated bar that would alert

her that she had visitors. They waited by the panel to announce themselves,

but there was no answer.

"She could have left the lights on when she  went  out,"  Mace  said.

"But let's explore just the same."

The look on his face was uneasy. Mace had a deep  connection  to  the

Force. Obi-Wan had felt nothing, but now he focused his  attention  on  the

Force, reaching out around him. He did not pick up anything.

They walked around the perimeter of the dwelling. Mace seemed to grow

more worried as they walked. When they reached the back, Obi-Wan  felt  it,

too - a disturbance in the Force. He glanced at Mace, who saw traces  of  a

probe droid's entry into a high window.

The door was secured, but Mace didn't hesitate. He cut a hole  in  it

with his lightsaber and strode in. Obi-Wan and Bant followed.

The stone floors gleamed. Not an  item  seemed  out  of  place.  They

walked through the empty rooms in the eerie silence. Then they mounted  the

stairs.

Upstairs, they finally saw evidence  of  a  struggle.  Furniture  was

overturned. Large crystal vases were smashed.

Mace looked up to the ceiling. He pointed to  several  smudge  marks.

"Probe droids."

The disturbance in the Force was now more than a ripple for  Obi-Wan.

It was a cresting wave. He moved forward, his hand on his lightsaber  hilt.

He turned a corner into Legislator Pleni's bedroom. It was untouched except

for a halfway ajar door riddled with blaster fire.

Obi-Wan walked forward slowly, dreading what  he  would  find  behind

that door. He nudged it open with the toe of his boot.

Legislator Pleni lay curled up in the corner, her hands  clutching  a

blaster. A probe droid lay at her feet. She was dead.

Mace came up behind him noiselessly. Obi-Wan heard his deep sigh.

"We are always one step too late on New Apsolon," Mace said.  Obi-Wan

could locate in his voice the determination that this would  no  longer  be

the case.

They heard noises below, and the sound of feet on the stairs. Minutes

later, a security squad burst in.

"She is in here," Mace said.

He brought  Obi-Wan  and  Bant  downstairs,  where  the  evidence  of

Legislator Pleni's horrible death was not in front of their eyes. They were

questioned by the security squad, then told they were free  to  go.  Still,

Mace lingered.

When the security squad came downstairs at last, having completed its

investigation, Mace stopped the head officer.

"Any conclusions?"

"Yes," the officer said, brushing past them.

Mace stood in front of him, effectively blocking his path. "You  know

that Manex has ordered the security squads to cooperate with the Jedi."

The officer hesitated. A gleam of malice lit up his eyes. "Fine.  Let

me tell you what we discovered then. Legislator Pleni was killed by a probe

droid. We have been able to trace its owner."

"You have a name?" Mace Windu asked.

"Certainly." The security officer bared his teeth in a  smile.  "Your

Jedi friend, Qui-Gon Jinn."

CHAPTER 10

Qui-Gon got started early the next morning. He had spent most of  the

night going from caf© to caf©, trying to gather information. As  the  hours

got later, tongues grew looser, but he did not discover anything  that  put

him on Balog's track. Gossip swirled about  Alani's  bid  for  the  Supreme

Governor position and a growing swell of support for Manex. Neither  helped

him at all.

He spent the rest  of  the  night  on  a  bench  in  a  grassy  park,

impatiently waiting for dawn. He could feel Balog out  there,  maneuvering,

scheming, plotting his next move. He could feel the absence of Tahl  as  an

ache so deep he could not face it directly. When he  thought  of  her  last

days, what Balog had put her through, he would have to move, have to get up

and walk through the park, driving himself to exhaustion so that  he  would

not think of the dark vengeance that burned inside him. He  would  have  to

conquer it... somehow. He pushed his mind to numbness. It was the only  way

he could go on. Before long he had explored every path in the  large  urban

park. He could draw a map of it blindfolded.

The suns rose, and people began to trickle out into the streets. Qui-

Gon saw the morning begin with relief. He went to a caf©  across  from  the

Legislature for a light breakfast and watched and waited until the official

buildings were full of people beginning their day.

Qui-Gon was still dressed in a traveler's cape  over  his  tunic.  He

hoped he would not be recognizable as a Jedi.  He  decided  to  pose  as  a

businessman looking for new opportunities on New Apsolon.

Just as he was about to leave, he  overheard  a  conversation  behind

him. Two aides had just greeted each other. He heard the  name  "Legislator

Pleni." And then he heard the name "Qui-Gon Jinn."

Qui-Gon bent over, pretending to sip his tea, while he  filtered  out

the noise of the caf© and concentrated on the conversation behind  him.  He

then received the unwelcome shock of discovering that he was wanted for the

murder of a Legislator.

Which  might  make  his  intelligence-gathering  plans  in   official

buildings of the Legislature  this  morning  more  difficult  than  he  had

anticipated. Qui-Gon had great respect for the  security  officers  on  New

Apsolon. He was certain that every one of  them  had  a  detailed  physical

description of him. And the Legislature's offices were guarded by  security

officers.

Qui-Gon's hands curled around his teacup. He had to place them in his

lap. The urge to smash the cup into tiny pieces was too  great.  It  seemed

that every time he wanted to take a step forward,  he  was  kicked  a  step

back.

He let out air through his nose, breathing quietly and  steadily.  He

was not thinking like a Jedi. Frustration must  be  controlled.  There  was

always a way.

The streets were still crowded, but he needed to keep moving. He also

needed a better disguise than a cloak. He could not hide his size,  but  he

could transform himself in different ways. Qui-Gon left the caf©  and  went

shopping.

Within a half hour, he  had  transformed  himself  into  a  dark-eyed

businessman in a veda cloth robe. His long hair was concealed by a  wrapped

cloth headpiece favored by the elite of the planet of Rorgam. He had  found

it in a small shop selling used items. It would be good cover to pose as  a

citizen of Rorgam, a world  made  up  of  immigrants  from  many  different

worlds.

Qui-Gon headed for the halls of the Legislature. Because New  Apsolon

was a tech center for this corner of the galaxy, many deals were made here.

With the growing instability of the planet, there was a certain  frenzy  in

the air.

A security officer stood at the  first  checkpoint.  Qui-Gon  had  no

choice but to walk through.  If  he  couldn't  walk  through  the  hallways

without a challenge, he wouldn't be able to do anything.

He was relieved when he made it past the security officer, who merely

gave him a bland look and moved his gaze to sweep the visitor  behind  him.

He was lucky that Manex had not instituted higher security procedures  that

required text docs for admittance.

There were several things he needed to know. Why was he a suspect  in

Pleni's death? He had never heard of her until that morning. Was her  death

connected to Oleg's? Had she, too, tried to buy the list?  Qui-Gon  decided

that the only course open to him was to present himself as a possible buyer

as well. If the word got out that a prosperous businessman from Rorgam  had

money to spend, sooner or later someone would come forward  with  something

to sell.

Drawing his robe around him, Qui-Gon plunged into the throng.

He was deep in conversation with an important Legislative  aide  when

he saw Eritha and Alani heading down the hall. Alani  was  talking  with  a

group of admirers who clustered closely around her.  To  his  relief,  they

turned off down the hall. Eritha brought up the rear, and she spotted  Qui-

Gon. A look of surprise, then greeting, came over her face. Qui-Gon ignored

her.

Eritha hesitated. Then her face smoothed out and  became  emotionless

when she realized he did not want her to recognize him. All  of  this  took

only a beat of a moment. Once again Qui-Gon had cause  to  admire  Eritha's

cleverness. The girl had good reflexes.

Eritha signaled him discreetly and moved into a  side  hall.  Qui-Gon

wrapped up his conversation with the aide and casually strolled after her.

The hallway was empty, and she  made  sure  he  had  followed  before

accessing a door. He followed her inside into a small conference room.

To his surprise, Eritha threw herself in his arms. "I'm  so  glad  to

see you," she said. "I was so worried." He patted  her  shoulder,  and  she

stepped back. "You shouldn't be here. Do you know that  you're  wanted  for

murder?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Do you know why? I've never  met  Legislator  Pleni.

Did Balog set this up?"

"I don't know," Eritha said. "Possibly. I know that Alani is still in

touch with him. I'm here trying to get information. I think I have a  lead.

But I have to be careful. I don't want Alani to suspect, so I'm  pretending

to completely support her candidacy. And there's a rumor going  around  the

Legislature that you should know  about.  Manex  has  the  list  of  secret

Absolute informers."

"Manex?"

Eritha nodded.  "I  have  a  feeling  that  Roan's  brother  is  more

ambitious than he pretends. He wants to hold on to his power."

"I'll need to be able to get in touch with you,"  Qui-Gon  told  her.

"I'll be moving around frequently."

Eritha bit her lip. "Can you wait here for just a  few  minutes?  I'm

close to finding out where Balog is hiding. This conference room isn't used

much anymore. I can be back within ten minutes."

"If you're delayed - "

"I won't be," Eritha said confidently, and hurried out the door.

Qui-Gon sighed. Eritha had all the impatience and optimism of  youth.

If she didn't return, he would have no way to get in  touch  with  her.  He

would have to sneak into the Supreme Governor's residence.

There was nothing to do but wait.  He  could  spare  ten  or  fifteen

minutes. Qui-Gon settled himself into a chair, going over what had happened

that morning. He had dropped hints about how he was looking  to  buy  power

and would pay handsomely for it. He had even hinted at the existence  of  a

list. Now and then he had caught a spark of interest in a Legislator or  an

aide, but he wasn't sure if it was based on knowledge  or  simply  on  pure

greed.

Five minutes passed. Qui-Gon  got  up  restlessly  and  went  to  the

window. He looked down below at the crowded street beyond  the  Legislature

wall. Was Balog moving about freely, or was he hiding during  the  daylight

hours, letting his allies like Alani prepare the way for his return?

The door hissed open. But instead of Eritha, a confused-looking  aide

stood in the doorway. "I'm  sorry  -  isn't  this  where  the  Rock  Mining

Development Act subcommittee is meeting?"

"I'm afraid not," Qui-Gon said.

"Oh. Sorry again." The young man nodded and withdrew,  and  the  door

hissed shut behind him.

An innocent  interruption,  Qui-Gon  thought.  But  perhaps  not.  He

thought carefully about the young man's appearance. He wore the navy  tunic

of an aide, but...

His boots. They were the boots that the security  officers  wore.  He

was doing a check of the rooms. And he could have recognized Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon withdrew his lightsaber in one quick motion. He would have to

contact Eritha later. He cut a neat hole in the glass and  stepped  through

onto the ledge. Using his cable launcher, he lowered himself  down  to  the

pavement behind the wall.

"There he is!" Chips from the wall flew as blaster fire hit on either

side of him. Qui-Gon looked up. Two security officers aimed their  blasters

at him.

"Don't move!" one of them shouted.

Qui-Gon ran. He deflected the blaster fire as he zigzagged  down  the

short passageway between the wall and the  Legislative  building.  Then  he

leaped to the top of the wall and jumped over.

Pedestrians scattered as he landed. They looked at him curiously, but

he matched his stride to theirs and continued  walking.  He  increased  his

pace as they lost interest and turned down a side street. He weaved through

the blocks surrounding the Legislature, finding a deserted  alley  to  shed

his overcloak and cap. No doubt a  complete  description  of  him  was  now

updated on every security officer's data-pad. He would blend in  better  in

his traveler's cloak.

Qui-Gon caught a repulsorlift airbus and stayed on it until  the  end

of the line. He resolved  to  go  back  and  find  Eritha  under  cover  of

darkness.

Balog had always been one step ahead of him. This time,  he  resolved

that he would be first.

CHAPTER 11

The holotape of Tahl as an Absolute  had  hurt  the  Jedi.  Qui-Gon's

arrest warrant made it worse. Mace ran into roadblocks whenever he tried to

gather information. The support of Manex was no longer enough.

Obi-Wan saw the frustration tighten Mace's  features.  He  knew  that

Mace was deeply concerned that Qui-Gon had not surfaced to clear his  name.

He, too, wondered what his Master was thinking. In rare moments of rest, he

reached out with the Force, trying desperately  to  connect.  At  times  he

thought he could feel Qui-Gon, but it was not a strong, clear sensation. It

was murky and gray. He knew his effort to  reach  his  Master  through  the

Force would not work. They would not connect. There was too much unresolved

emotion swirling around Qui-Gon, too much he was trying to hide.

"You need rest," Mace said at the end of a long, fruitless day. "Both

of you."

But neither Bant nor Obi-Wan wanted to retire to their quarters. They

sat in Manex's private sitting room. Since Manex's favorite color was green

and he believed in indulging himself, every cushion,  every  seating  area,

was a different shade of the color.       The floors  were  of  highly  polished

black stone. Obi-Wan felt almost dizzy sitting in the center  of  all  that

bright color, but Manex had insisted on giving the Jedi his favorite  room,

and they felt they could not refuse.

Manex returned from the Legislature only a few moments after the Jedi

had. He rushed into the room, his curls waving, looking agitated.

"Qui-Gon was spotted at the Legislature. There was a blaster battle."

Obi-Wan felt a silent cry of protest rise  inside  him.  He  couldn't

bear it if something happened to Qui-Gon now. His body went instantly cold.

Bent moved closer to him, her shoulder touching his.

Mace stood. "What happened?"

"He escaped, of course."

Obi-Wan let out a long breath. Qui-Gon was safe. He felt Bant relax a

fraction, and she gave Obi-Wan a look of pure relief.

Manex mopped his brow with a pale gold handkerchief. "What a  day.  I

must tell you that there is a movement afoot to draft me for the elections.

It is not a job that I seek. But I am thinking about it. Maybe it is time I

got involved. I used to think my brother was the hero, the public  servant.

I used to say I was only here to make money." Manex shoved the handkerchief

in his pocket. "Maybe I became the way I  am  because  my  brother  was  so

noble. Now I am no longer sure what my role is. Maybe the time  to  abandon

my principle of self-protection is here."

"What about Alani?" Obi-Wan asked. "Would  it  be  hard  for  you  to

oppose her?" Manex did not  know  of  Alani's  tie  to  the  Absolutes.  He

professed affection for the twins.

Manex hesitated. "I have to think of what is best for  New  Apsolon,"

he said. "And I've realized one thing. We cannot form a solid government  -

whether with me or another leader - if we  do  not  expose  Balog  and  the

Absolutes. I have a plan."

Obi-Wan tried not to look dubious. He couldn't imagine what  sort  of

plan Manex would devise.

"I will act as a decoy," he declared. "I'll let it be known that  the

list of secret informers has come into my possession."

Mace shook his head.  "No,  it's  too  dangerous.  You  realize  what

happened to the last two beings who claimed this?"

"They are dead. Yes, I realize this very  well."  Manex  clasped  his

hands together. "I'm trying not to think about it. And, actually, you can't

say no, because I've already spread the rumor."

Obi-Wan saw how Bant watched the faces of the two  men.  She  usually

did not speak in meetings, but she was the most intent listener  he'd  ever

seen. He could learn from her stillness, he suddenly thought.

"This may not be wise," Mace said, frowning.

"You're telling me," Manex snorted. "I'm hardly a courageous man. But

I'm hoping that with Jedi protection, I'll be all  right.  If  we  can  get

Balog to expose himself, we can catch him. Don't you  want  to  clear  Qui-

Gon's name?"

"Of course. But it is not clear if this is the way to  do  it,"  Mace

said.

"It is the only way," Manex insisted. "You know it is."

Obi-Wan's gaze went from Manex to Mace. Of course he knew  that  Mace

had to agree to protect Manex. It had been a foolish move on Manex's  part,

but no one wanted Obi-Wan's opinion. Now they would have to baby-sit  Manex

in the hope that Balog would show up. Was that what Manex  wanted?  Did  he

want to tie up the Jedi's time until he could consolidate power? Perhaps he

was in league with Balog.

Obi-Wan reminded himself that  Qui-Gon  had  trusted  Manex.  He  had

gently pointed out that just because a man enjoyed his wealth did not  make

him a man of bad character. Qui-Gon had seen something likeable in  Manex's

happy pursuit of his own pleasures.

"All right, we'll protect you," Mace said.  "But  we  will  form  the

plan."

The lights were still powered down  in  the  house,  as  a  house  of

mourning. Manex sat at a table in his garden, nervously fiddling with a cup

of "the finest juice on New Apsolon - can I fetch the Jedi  some  glasses?"

The Jedi had long ago refused, and Manex had hardly been  able  to  eat  or

drink himself.

"Look relaxed," Mace told him in a low tone.

"I'm trying," Manex said between his teeth.

Mace stood behind a screen of bushes. Obi-Wan was a few  yards  away.

Bant was on the opposite side of the small clearing where  Manex  had  laid

stone over the grass for an outdoor seating area.

If there was to be an ambush, Mace wanted plenty of room to maneuver.

He had decided that Manex would eat  his  evening  meal  outside  and  then

linger as the suns set. Manex had picked at his food and now was  making  a

weak attempt to sip his juice in a serene fashion.  He  only  succeeded  in

spilling it down his tunic.

The suns set, and the darkness grew. Only a small light on the  table

illuminated the area. Obi-Wan kept himself attuned for the sound  of  probe

droids approaching. He was determined not to let Balog slip  through  their

fingers. Once he was in their hands, they would have justice for Tahl.  And

Qui-Gon would return. Obi-Wan would never admit it to anyone, but he  would

feel better if they were the ones to catch Balog, not Qui-Gon.

Mace had linked the house's security system to his comlink.  It  must

have vibrated an alert, for  he  turned  to  Obi-Wan.  "Security  has  been

breached on the east wall," he said.

"What?" Manex asked.

"Move closer to us as though you are  looking  at  the  stars,"  Mace

ordered quietly.

Manex pushed his chair back. He rose, still clutching  his  cup,  and

pretended to look at the sky. Obi-Wan knew that Mace wanted Manex close  to

cover if anything happened. There was a low stone wall that they could push

him behind in just a few seconds.

Obi-Wan felt a surge in the Force and saw a shadow  flit  across  the

lawn. It could have been a night bird or a shadow across the moon.  But  it

wasn't.

He and Mace sprang forward together. Bant came around the other  side

in a flanking motion. Obi-Wan pushed Manex behind the  wall  as  he  darted

closer. Three lightsabers were activated as the Jedi advanced.

"Good to see you, too," Qui-Gon said, stepping into the light.

"Master!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.

He looked at Manex peeking over the wall at the three Jedi. "So I see

it's a trap. Looks like I fell for it, not Balog."

"Qui-Gon," Mace began sternly, "what are you - "

He stopped abruptly. He and Qui-Gon looked toward the  front  of  the

dwelling. It took another beat or two, but Obi-Wan  heard  it,  too.  Angry

pounding at the front door. A few seconds later Obi-Wan saw security forces

pounding down the hall while Manex's  protocol  droid  waved  his  arms  in

protest.

Mace hurried forward, saying over his shoulder to Qui-Gon, "I suggest

you find another exit."

Drawing his robes around him, Mace quickly entered  the  house.  They

heard the angry voice of a security officer.

"I know he is here. We have our proof! He bought the probe droid that

killed Legislator Pleni!"

Qui-Gon was screened by the  elaborate  bushes  of  the  grounds.  He

hesitated, listening to the officer.

"Qui-Gon, you must go," Obi-Wan urged. "I'll come with you."

Qui-Gon hesitated. He met Obi-Wan's gaze. "No. I'm sorry I've  caused

you worry, Padawan," he said. "I must do this my way."

"But - " Obi-Wan began. Before he could finish,  he  felt  his  words

snatched away by the wind, even before he had a chance to form them.

Qui-Gon had become a shadow  again,  moving  across  the  soft  green

grass. Then he disappeared.

CHAPTER 12

Qui-Gon ran through the darkness, grateful for  the  new  moons  that

made the night so dark. He moved from shadow to shadow noiselessly. When he

had put a good deal of distance between himself and Manex's  residence,  he

finally slowed down.

He was tired, but he wanted to run again. Pushing his  body  was  the

only time his mind had  a  chance  to  empty  out.  Facing  Mace  had  been

difficult. Facing Obi-Wan had been worse. He  knew  he  belonged  with  the

Jedi. Yet he could not seem to  stop  himself  from  going  on  alone.  His

emotions were too large right now, too raw. Around the  Jedi  he  felt  too

exposed. Mace would see how difficult it was for him to maintain  serenity.

He could even order Qui-Gon back to the Temple.  Qui-Gon  could  not  allow

that.

The truth was, he dreaded the moment he  would  walk  back  into  the

Temple and know that Tahl's footsteps would never echo in its halls  again.

The Temple would never again welcome him in the same way. Loss would be  as

much a part of it as shelter.

His fever to catch Balog battled with his fear of  the  future,  when

this mission would be over. He would be faced with only his grief to  bear,

and he would have to look ahead to empty years. What would  happen  to  him

then?

A deep chill caused him to shudder. The  cool  wind  was  drying  his

sweat. He saw a security patrol  ahead  and  quickly  turned  down  a  side

street. Once again he would not sleep tonight. He would have to keep alert.

Every officer in the city was now looking for Qui-Gon Jinn.

But he had learned something. They had tied him to the murder through

the probe droids. He could not understand why the probe droids had attacked

someone instead of tracking Balog, as they had been programmed  to  do.  He

wondered if the two droids that had  veered  off  when  attacking  him  had

actually been his own droids. It had been strange that  they  had  suddenly

gone away. Did that mean that his droids had attacked  Oleg,  too?  Someone

had reprogrammed them.

He needed answers, and for once he knew where to find them. He  would

pay a visit to the black-market dealer, Mota, who had sold him the  droids.

If they were  reprogrammed,  Mota  was  undoubtedly  the  link  to  whoever

reprogrammed them. And if that person was Balog, he might  have  a  way  to

contact him.

Qui-Gon circled back  and  glanced  down  the  street.  The  security

officer was gone. He struck out across the road into the park.  There  were

more places to hide here in case he was spotted.  And  cutting  across  the

park would bring him closer to the Worker Sector.

Qui-Gon suddenly sensed that someone was  behind  him,  matching  his

footsteps and trying to match his speed. Qui-Gon melted off into the trees.

He made an arc and came up behind his pursuer. He saw a glint of gold  hair

in the darkness. It was Eritha.

He strode forward and grasped her arm. She gasped, then  saw  it  was

him. She was breathing hard, as if she'd just had a hard  run.  "I've  been

following you since you left Manex," she  said.  "Or  at  least  I've  been

trying to. I lost you and kept circling around. Finally I thought I saw you

enter the park."

"Why are you following me?"

She leaned  over,  trying  to  catch  her  breath.  Her  braids  were

unraveling, and her face was flushed.

"Does Manex have the list?"

"No. Was that why you are following me?"

Eritha shook her head.  "It's  because  I  couldn't  wait  until  you

contacted me. I guessed you  would  go  to  Manex  tonight.  I've  got  the

information you need. I overheard Alani. I know where Balog is. I can  take

you there."

CHAPTER 13

The Jedi still kept watch over Manex, who  had  now  retired  to  his

reception room for a rest. Mace covered the front of  the  residence  while

Bant stayed outside in the rear. Obi-Wan was positioned behind the  curving

stairway. From here he had a vantage point to the  door  of  the  reception

room. He had a feeling it would be a long night.

Use your time. You'll find one day that you have too little of it.

Qui-Gon's words rose in his mind. Obi-Wan was still  going  over  and

over what he should have done when he saw his Master. The  cloudy  aura  he

felt around Qui-Gon had worried him deeply. He sensed confusion and static,

and it prevented him from truly connecting. It had shaken him. Maybe it had

prevented him from acting more quickly. Should he have followed

Qui-Gon, gone with him no matter what he said?

Use your time...

Obi-Wan didn't think he could. His thoughts were too confused.

That is the time you need discipline most. That is what your training

is for.

All right, then. He would stop the voice of Qui-Gon in  his  head  by

obeying him.

Although he was tired, although he felt that he  had  gone  over  the

events of the past days too many times to count, Obi-Wan focused  his  mind

and started again. He went over  every  event  since  he  and  Qui-Gon  had

stepped foot on New  Apsolon.  He  turned  things  over  in  his  thoughts,

searching for inconsistencies. He considered every unanswered question  and

every possible answer.

lrini had sworn that she wasn't the one who  had  fired  on  them  on

their first day. They had never discovered who it had been for sure. Balog?

They hadn't yet been a threat to him, had they?

Was it just a coincidence that security showed  up  at  Mota's  while

they were buying the probe droids? It seemed likely now that Alani had told

them about Mote in order to trap them. She could have been the one to alert

security that the Jedi were buying illegal goods.

The droids must have been reprogrammed to attack Pleni.

Obi-Wan pushed these questions aside. He did  not  think  they  would

bring him closer to Balog. If only the answers were  clear.  If  only  they

could get a solid lead. If only Eritha had come through with information on

Balog. She had been at her sister's side for more than two days now. Surely

she must have learned something.

Would it prove too difficult for Eritha to betray her sister?

But she had already taken a step she could not retake, Obi-Wan  knew.

On finding out that her sister was behind Tahl's kidnapping, she  had  gone

in search of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. She had risked much to do so.  She  could

easily have lost her life in the cave. Obi-Wan remembered how afraid Eritha

had been as the explosives were going off and the cave was  collapsing.  He

admired how she'd been able to go on so bravely despite her fear. He  still

remembered her scream. They forgot me! They left without me!

Obi-Wan concentrated for a moment. There was something about the  way

Eritha had sounded that bothered him now. What was it? The emotion that was

driving her was slightly off from what he would expect.

Astonished. She'd been astonished. And betrayed.

They forgot me!

As if they shouldn't have, as if she were  somehow  privileged,  even

though she was a prisoner.

If she had been a prisoner...

And why had she been heading toward the back of the cave?

Yes, the smoke had been  thick  near  the  front  of  the  cave.  But

wouldn't she have tried to push through?

She was heading for the other exit near the back of the cave, Obi-Wan

realized. But how had she known about it? They had not found it when Eritha

had been captured. She should have had no way of knowing how deep the  cave

was.

Slow down, Obi-Wan warned himself. There could be other  explanations

for what had happened. Eritha had been  panicked.  She  was  reacting,  not

thinking.

But since the suspicion had been lodged in  his  mind,  Obi-Wan  went

back to Eritha's  behavior  while  they  were  together.  He  concentrated,

bringing the memory back moment by moment, as fresh as if it  had  happened

that morning.

Eritha had seemed sincere when  she  caught  up  with  them.  Shortly

after, they'd been attacked by the Rock Workers. Eritha had been  genuinely

surprised by the attack, Obi-Wan was sure, and genuinely afraid. When  Qui-

Gon had warned her to stay behind them, she had readily agreed.

So why then did she suddenly dodge forward when their probe droid was

in sight? She had forced them to protect her.  As  a  result,  Obi-Wan  had

received a leg injury and their probe droid had been  destroyed.  Could  it

have been a desperate attempt to destroy  their  only  method  of  tracking

Balog?

And what about the attack on the Rock Worker settlement? Qui-Gon  had

told him that he had met up with Eritha before dawn. She had been  planning

to refuel the speeders. Or so she had said. But what if she'd actually been

planning to leave? If she and Alani were plotting against  the  Jedi,  they

had done their work. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were without a probe  droid.  They

had no way to track Balog. Eritha had not known that Obi-Wan was better and

was able to travel. She would have most likely assumed that  Qui-Gon  would

stay in the settlement.

Maybe she was leaving because she knew of the attack.

Could it be possible? Obi-Wan wondered.

Could Eritha have misled them into thinking that  she  was  the  good

sister? Were both sisters out for the power they could grab?

There was one last thing. When Obi-Wan and Eritha had arrived back in

New Apsolon, Eritha had been furious that Manex had stepped in and  offered

his own med team for Tahl. Obi-Wan had seen it in her eyes. He had  thought

it was because she held the same distrust for  Manex  as  he  did  and  was

concerned about Tahl's recovery. But what if the opposite were  true?  What

if she didn't want Tahl to recover?

What if he had suspected the wrong person? What if  Manex  was  good,

and Eritha was bad? Never had he longed for Qui-Gon more.

When Manex had told them of his decision to run for  office,  Obi-Wan

had brought up Alani. Why had Manex hesitated? Was there a  reason  he  was

running against Ewane's daughter?

Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes. The lack of sleep and rest  was  getting  to

him. His thoughts whirled. He didn't know if he  was  constructing  a  case

against Eritha on no evidence, or whether  this  was  worth  pursuing.  Why

would the twins call for Tahl's help in the first place, if they planned  a

power grab all along? It didn't make sense.

Obi-Wan knew his mind would not rest until  he  had  found  out  some

answers. He went to the door of Manex's  reception  room  and  pressed  the

indicator light that would alert Manex that he had a visitor.

The door hissed open a  few  seconds  later.  "Is  it  Balog?"  Manex

whispered from the darkness.

"No. I need to  ask  you  some  questions,"  Obi-Wan  said,  stepping

inside.

Manex powered up a low light by his sleep couch. He  swung  his  legs

over and rubbed his eyes. "I am at your service."

"Why did you insist on your own med team  for  Tahl?"  Obi-Wan  asked

bluntly. "Surely the team for the Supreme Governor is just as good."

"But mine is better," Manex said. "Don't you remember that I have the

best of everything?" He tried to say this jokingly, but it sounded hollow.

"Is there some reason you don't  trust  Alani  and  Eritha?"  Obi-Wan

asked. "If so, you must tell the truth. If you have a suspicion,  you  must

name it."

Manex looked away for a moment, thinking. "I have no real proof,"  he

said slowly. "I did not think it fair to speak until I had  some  evidence.

Those girls have been through so much. First the  death  of  their  father,

then their protector. At first I thought I was crazy to suspect them."

"Suspect them of what?" Obi-Wan demanded.

"Of  working  with  the  Absolutes,"  Manex  told  him.  "A  terrible

accusation for the daughters of a Worker hero. But that is why I am running

for Supreme Governor against Alani. I can't watch the government fall  into

the hands of the corrupt again."

"What makes you suspect them? And are you sure it is both of them?"

"Alani does not make a move without Eritha," Manex said. "And  Eritha

does not make a move without Alani. As I said, I  have  no  proof.  Just  a

couple of overheard words. Unguarded moments. The way they  communicate  to

each other. I sensed a falseness in their grieving  for  Roan.  And  today,

when I heard that Qui-Gon had been in the United Legislature, I also  found

out one thing - he had been with Eritha just before the security squad  was

sent after him."

"Do you think she turned him in?"

"I don't know," Manex said. He spread his hands. "I'm sorry. It isn't

much to go on. You see why I didn't want to say anything.  I  know  nothing

for sure. It is all instinct."

"I believe in instinct," Obi-Wan said, and headed for the door.

He took the back exit of the dwelling. He didn't  want  to  run  into

Mace. Bant came forward out of the shadows as he hurried across the lawn.

"Obi-Wan, where are you going?"

"Tell Mace I need to talk to Eritha," Obi-Wan said.

"But can't it wait?" Bant asked, frowning.

"No. Nothing can wait. I'll explain later. Tell Mace that I'm  gone."

Obi-Wan did not think that Balog would attack tonight, but he knew Mace and

Bant could handle it if it happened. He was  more  worried  about  Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon still trusted Eritha.

The Supreme Governor's residence was close by. Obi-Wan circled around

the building to the back. If he remembered the layout  correctly,  Eritha's

room was at the back. She had no reason to  think  that  Obi-Wan  suspected

her. She would join him outside, and then he could question her. If he  had

the slightest feeling that his doubts about  her  were  correct,  he  would

demand that Mace let him find Qui-Gon.

When he reached the back area, he saw that someone was walking  along

the dark lawn. At first he didn't know which twin it was. But as  she  came

forward, he knew for certain it  was  Alani.  The  two  girls  were  almost

identical. Perhaps they could fool others. They were not able to fool him.

"Good evening, Alani," he said.

"I see you couldn't sleep, either," Alani said. "Tomorrow  is  a  big

day. My name is being presented to the people for the vote. I'll fulfill my

father's legacy."

Obi-Wan decided on the spot to be bold. He  would  not  get  anywhere

playing games with Alani. "Your father's legacy?" he asked. "But Ewane  was

never in league with the Absolutes. They just imprisoned and tortured  him.

You have changed his legacy, I think."

Alani looked deeply shocked for just a moment. Then she forced out  a

laugh. "You're joking."

"No. I'm making a point." Obi-Wan took another step  toward  her.  "I

believe you are nothing like your father."

Alani took an involuntary step back. Then she  gathered  her  courage

and raised her chin. "It doesn't matter what you think. Eritha told me that

we have nothing to fear from the Jedi any longer. Your  friend  is  chasing

air. Soon you'll be too busy trying to get him out of jail. And I will rule

New Apsolon."

"Are you so sure of yourself?" Obi-Wan asked. "Are you  so  sure  you

won't be exposed?"

"Exposure is no longer possible,"  Alani  said.  "The  Jedi  have  no

proof. The people of New Apsolon love me. Eritha was right."

"So Eritha is your ally."

"She is my sister and my protector. She is part of me,"  Alani  said.

"She told me that she was smarter than the Jedi, and  she  was  right.  She

told me not to worry. I can rule New Apsolon with her by  my  side.  Eritha

doesn't like the limelight, but she wants the power. I like it when  people

are around me and want to talk to me. So I will rule, and she will tell  me

what to do the way she always has. She told me she would take care of  Qui-

Gon, and she is doing just that. It was so simple a child could do it.  And

we are not children anymore. We never had a childhood. Our mother died. Our

father was imprisoned. Then he became ruler, and we never saw  him.  So  we

can take the only thing he left us, his good name, and  make  something  of

ourselves. That's what Eritha says."

He had to keep her talking. Alani, he  saw,  was  not  as  clever  as

Eritha.

"What about Tahl?" he asked, ignoring the surge of anger that  rocked

him when he mentioned her name. The anger would flow through him and  pass.

"She was kind to you and you betrayed her."

"She was useful," Alani said, coloring for a moment. "I didn't  think

she would die. But Eritha says that she will be useful  again.  Because  of

Tahl, Qui-Gon will trust Eritha without  thinking.  He  will  go  with  her

wherever she wants, even to World Security headquarters itself. That is how

smart my sister is. She planted a tracking device on Qui-Gon today  at  the

Legislature. We've known where he is at all times. She will lead him  right

to security headquarters, and he will follow her! If he escapes, it doesn't

matter. They'll find him anyway. Isn't that a clever plan?"

It was all he needed. Without another word, Obi-Wan whirled and ran.

"You're too late, Obi-Wan!" Alani shouted after him. "Just  like  you

were too late for Tahl!"

CHAPTER 14

Obi-Wan raced down the wide boulevard,  heading  for  the  government

buildings. He fervently hoped he wasn't too late.

The World Security headquarters loomed ahead, a squat gray  building.

He saw two figures hurrying toward it. On one side of the  building  was  a

large pen that held hovercraft and swoops. On the other side was  the  high

stone wall that separated the parkland from the road.

"Qui-Gon!" he shouted.

Qui-Gon turned and saw him. Eritha touched his arm, obviously  urging

him to ignore Obi-Wan and enter the building. Obi-Wan put  on  a  burst  of

speed and reached out to the Force. He leaped.

At the top of his leap, the doors to the security  headquarters  flew

open. Officers and attack droids spilled down the stairs.

The Force must have warned Qui-Gon, for his lightsaber was  activated

and in his hand before Obi-Wan hit the ground near him. With one hand, Qui-

Gon pushed Eritha out of the danger and leaped forward to cover her.

By now Obi-Wan was close enough to speak to Qui-Gon. "They won't harm

her. She betrayed you," he said, taking up his position next to Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon didn't react. He kept his eyes on the  officers  and  droids,

which were wheeling in formation in front.

"We must take out the droids,"  Qui-Gon  told  him.  "Don't  harm  an

officer. I'm wanted. They're only doing their job.  As  soon  as  the  last

attack droid goes down, we leave. What do you say we take the offensive?"

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan leaped together in one motion. The  droids  began

to pepper them with blaster  fire.  The  security  officers  stayed  behind

duraplast shields, waiting for the droids to do their work.

The Jedi's lightsabers moved in tandem,  blocking  blaster  fire  and

sending it zinging back in the droids'  direction.  The  security  officers

ducked behind their shields at the surprising return of fire.

The droids fanned out in a flanking  maneuver.  Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon

split up. Obi-Wan took the left,  Qui-Gon  the  right.  One  by  one,  they

smashed their way through the line.

Initially, the officers kept behind their shields. But as the  battle

waned and the blaster fire petered out, they  grew  more  bold.  Some  drew

their blasters and fired.

"Now, Padawan!" Qui-Gon shouted, deflecting fire.

The two Jedi leaped over a line of security  vehicles.  Blaster  fire

ripped into the vehicles a split second later.  With  another  great  leap,

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon landed on the other side of the park wall. Obi-Wan  had

just enough time to see Eritha's twisted  look  of  rage  as  they  reached

safety. That told him everything he needed to know.

They took off through the darkness of the  park.  Obi-Wan  heard  the

distant sound of a revving hoverscout.

"Master, Eritha planted a tracking device on  you  somehow,"  Obi-Wan

said. "At the Legislature today."

"When she embraced me," Qui-Gon said. As he ran,  he  carefully  felt

his clothing and skin. He found the whisper-light device on the back of his

utility belt. He threw it away into the darkness, then veered  off  in  the

opposite direction.

The bright lights of the hoverscout swept the  park,  but  it  turned

toward the tracking device. Now they could hear security officers  crashing

through the trees. The attackers would follow the device for a time.

The Jedi kept under the cover of giant trees with leaves that offered

a degree of protection. The trees were planted so close together that  even

swoops would have a hard time maneuvering through them.

Qui-Gon led them along a zigzagging path through  the  park,  ducking

when he saw lights overhead and then moving on. He seemed to know the  park

well, Obi-Wan noted. Soon they were close to the other  end  of  the  park.

They leaped over the wall and hurried down the dark streets.  After  a  few

blocks Obi-Wan recognized where he was. Qui-Gon had  brought  them  to  the

Worker Sector.

They paused to catch their breath in the shadow of an  alley  between

two tall buildings.

"Thank you, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "I did not think I  needed  help.

Obviously, I did. How did you know that Eritha would betray me?"

"Instinct," Obi-Wan said. "Alani confirmed it. They are not afraid of

anything, let alone the  Jedi.  Alani  said  that  they  no  longer  feared

exposure."

"That must mean they are in possession of the list,"  Qui-Gon  mused.

"So we can stop chasing it."

"Alani gave the impression that Balog is not the killer of  Oleg  and

Pleni," Obi-Wan said. "She said you were chasing air."

"But I saw him right before Oleg was killed," Qui-Gon said.

"Maybe he wasn't after Oleg. Maybe he was after you," Obi-Wan pointed

out.

"That is possible," Qui-Gon said slowly.

"Where to next?" Obi-Wan asked. He hoped his Master would  allow  him

to stay by his side. He had already decided that if  Qui-Gon  told  him  he

must return to Mace, he would not go.

"Mota," Qui-Gon said. "He holds the key."

Qui-Gon activated the laser pointer to indicate to Mota that  he  had

visitors outside. It seemed a long time before the  door  slid  open.  Mota

stood in the doorway.

"I'm closed," he said. "Even I need my rest. Come back tomorrow."

Holding out a hand, Qui-Gon used the Force to  keep  the  door  open.

Mota stared at the door, then at Qui-Gon. He shrugged.

"On the other hand, why should I turn down business?"  he  asked.  He

turned and disappeared into the warehouse.

The Jedi followed him. They knew the way down the ramp to  the  lower

levels where Mota kept his stash of black-market items.

Mota was waiting. Instead of the Worker unisuit he  had  worn  to  do

business, he was now dressed in a sleep tunic, his white legs thrust into a

threadbare pair of slippers.

"What is it this time,  Jedi?  Another  probe  droid?  Did  you  lose

another one? You have the worst luck of anyone I've ever met."

"We want information," Qui-Gon said.

Mota eyed him. "Information has a price, too."

Obi-Wan saw his Master's frustration boil over.  He  had  never  seen

Qui-Gon this angry before.

"The price will be that I do not  break  apart  every  item  in  this

warehouse," Qui-Gon said, taking a step toward Mota.

The man suddenly looked frail in his  nightshirt  next  to  Qui-Gon's

size and strength. "N-now, relax, we're all friends here," he stuttered.

"I'm not your friend, and I'm not here to relax!" Qui-Gon  thundered.

"I'm here to find out why my droids were reprogrammed.  And  you  have  the

answer."

Mota backed up until a table was between him and Qui-Gon.

"I'm not sure what you mean," he said.

Obi-Wan spoke quickly, wanting to give Qui-Gon a  moment  to  control

his anger. If he could control it. Obi-Wan's worry increased.  This  was  a

Qui-Gon he had never seen. Qui-Gon's  sense  of  urgency  had  always  been

controlled. If anger came, it  came  in  flashes  of  lightning  that  left

serenity behind.

"We know that the probe droids were reprogrammed, Mota," Obi-Wan said

in a calmer tone. "They  never  went  after  Balog  at  all.  Instead  they

attacked two other beings. The question is, did you do it?"

Mota swallowed. "It wasn't me," he said quickly. "I don't know who it

was. Someone broke into my files. I have a warning system built  in,  so  I

knew the next time I accessed them."

"When?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Within hours after you left," Mota said. "I don't know how. Or  who.

You can't trust anyone these days."

"How did the security forces  know  that  Qui-Gon  had  bought  those

droids?" Obi-Wan asked.

"They asked me," Mota said in a  small  voice.  "All  my  droids  are

coded. They tracked the droids here. I  told  them  the  Jedi  Qui-Gon  had

bought them. I had to tell the truth. You wouldn't want me to land in jail,

would you?" Mota tried to smile.

Qui-Gon gave him an even stare. Mota backed up even farther.  "Ah,  I

guess I should have mentioned to the officers that I suspected  the  droids

were reprogrammed. But when speaking to security officers, it's better  not

to answer questions they don't ask. They might have  gone  through  all  my

files. I wouldn't be able to protect my clients. And  I  would  be  out  of

business. Nobody wants that.  You  might  need  another  probe  droid,  for

example - "

"We need access to your computers," Obi-Wan  said  brusquely.  "Right

now."

"Of course, help yourself." Mota hurriedly pointed to his datascreen.

"Just don't erase any profits, heh heh."

Qui-Gon immediately began clicking keys and accessing datafiles. "Did

you try to trace the break-in?"

"No," Mota admitted. "I'm not that advanced. I just know how to track

inventory and money."

Qui-Gon continued to  move  through  Mota's  files  with  astonishing

speed. Obi-Wan knew he was missing nothing.  He  could  see  the  level  of

concentration on his Master's face.

Qui-Gon hit a few keys,  activating  a  search  mode  Obi-Wan  didn't

recognize. Within seconds, he got a reply.

"Do you recognize this code?" he asked, pointing to the datascreen.

Mota leaned closer. "It's the Worker data address,"  he  said.  "It's

already in my files." "Who uses it?" Qui-Gon asked.

Mota's face was tinged blue from the data-screen. "Irini  and  Lenz,"

he said.

CHAPTER 15

Obi-Wan dashed after Qui-Gon. His Master had moved so quickly he  had

not had time to gather his thoughts  or  decide  on  a  direction.  He  had

expected him to head for the ramp to the street, but instead Qui-Gon ran to

the lower level. He needed fast transport.

"Open those bay doors!" Qui-Gon yelled to Mota as he ran.

Unease thudded with every heartbeat as Obi-Wan chased after  Qui-Gon.

He had never seen his Master like this. Qui-Gon seemed to  barely  register

his surroundings or Obi-Wan's presence. All his will was  directed  at  his

goal.

It was the goal that worried Obi-Wan. Was it justice... or revenge?

By the time they reached the lower level, the door at the end of  the

long warehouse space stood open. Qui-Gon jumped into an airspeeder. Obi-Wan

barely had time to scramble into the passenger seat when Qui-Gon  throttled

the engines and zoomed down the tunnel.

The engines were pushed almost to full, much too fast to maneuver  in

the tunnel. Obi-Wan could see that the bay doors at the end of  the  tunnel

had not had a chance to open. Still Qui-Gon did not reduce his speed.

Obi-Wan whipped his head around to  face  him.  Qui-Gon  wasn't  just

pressing his luck. This was pure recklessness. "Master!"

Qui-Gon's face seemed carved from the gray stone of New Apsolon.  His

lips were a thin line. His hands stayed steady on the controls.  He  seemed

not to hear Obi-Wan.

A crack of gray light appeared ahead.  It  widened.  The  doors  were

opening, but too slowly for Obi-Wan's comfort.

"Hang on!" Qui-Gon warned.

Obi-Wan just had time to clutch for support as  Qui-Gon  flipped  the

airspeeder sideways.  Without  slackening  speed,  he  zoomed  through  the

opening, clearing it by centimeters. They flew into the dark night.

Obi-Wan pressed himself back into  the  seat,  trying  to  still  his

ragged breathing. Qui-Gon seemed poised on the  brink  of  losing  control.

There didn't seem anything Obi-Wan could do or say to stop him or  get  him

to slow down. Obi-Wan tried to stifle his own panic. He had  to  trust  his

Master.

But for the first time in their long partnership, he didn't think  he

could. That knowledge made fear grasp him by the throat.

Qui-Gon piloted the craft expertly through the deserted  streets.  He

pulled up in front of Lenz's hideout and flew up the stairs. He pounded  on

Lenz's door. They heard the creak of a floorboard.

"Don't try your escape route," Qui-Gon warned. "We'll find you."

The door opened. Lenz looked at them warily.  He  looked  more  frail

than usual, his skin pale and shiny. "It's the middle of the night."

Qui-Gon slammed the door open wider and strode  inside.  "I  need  to

speak with you and Irini. If she's not here, contact her."

"She is here. But you can't see her," Lenz said quietly. "She's ill -

"

Qui-Gon ignored him and pulled open a closed door. He stopped  short.

Obi-Wan came up behind him. lrini lay  on  a  sleep  couch,  covered  in  a

blanket. She was shivering, and her face shone with  sweat.  "What  is  it?

What's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked. Lenz pushed past  him  to  kneel  by  Irini's

side.

"A blaster attack. She won't see a medic." Obi-Wan  hurried  forward.

"She needs bacta." "I know," Lenz said.

"Who  did  this?"  Qui-Gon  demanded.  "Balog,"  Irini  said  through

clenched teeth. "He has the list now."

"So you had the list all along?" Qui-Gon asked her.

"No. I stole it from Legislator Pleni."

Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon. Did that mean that lrini had reprogrammed

the droids to attack the Legislator? Was she a murderer?

She saw the look that passed between them. "I... had to  get...  that

list," she said, in obvious pain. "I didn't  want  anyone  to  die.  But  I

couldn't let anyone stand in my way, either."

"And you wanted me to get blamed for it?" Qui-Gon asked.

She shook her head. "I was surprised at that. But I could hardly come

forward to clear you."

Qui-Gon bent down and swiftly  examined  lrini's  wounds.  His  anger

seemed to have drained away at the sight of her distress. She needed  help.

"Your wounds won't kill you if  you  see  a  medic.  But  I  see  signs  of

infection already."

"That's what I told her," Lenz said. He brushed back damp  hair  from

Irini's forehead. "She still refuses."

"Did you send your probe droids after Oleg, too?" Obi-Wan asked.

Irini nodded. "I was tracking him. I told Qui-Gon I wanted to protect

Oleg, but it was a lie. He betrayed us. We needed the list. If he had  only

given it up... if Pleni had only given it up... none  of  this  would  have

happened."

"Why?" Obi-Wan asked. "You said you had renounced violence."

Irini pressed her lips together and did not answer.

"She did it for me," Lenz said.

"Lenz - " Irini began warningly.

"It has gone too far, Irini." Lenz's  voice  was  tender.  "You  have

protected me too long. Do you think I will watch you die for me,  too?"  He

turned to the Jedi. "My name is on the list."

"You were an informer?" Qui-Gon asked.

"He was tortured," Irini said. She let out a small  gasp  and  closed

her eyes in pain. "What they did to him... no one should have to endure."

"That is not an excuse," Lenz said firmly. "I confessed to Irini, and

she forgave me. Others would not. I gave the Absolutes information - "

Irini struggled to sit up, but the pain  made  her  lie  flat  again.

"Don't tell them, Lenz," she begged. "It is our secret. It can  remain  our

secret. Your career is too important. You are a great leader - "

"No," Lenz said sadly. "I am no longer, if I ever  was.  The  Workers

will go on without me." He turned to the Jedi. "This was  five  years  ago.

The Absolutes raided a meeting place. Two Workers  were  killed,  the  rest

imprisoned. They let me go." He looked at Irini sadly. "Now  we  both  have

two deaths on our conscience, Irini."

He stood. "I am going to call a med team." lrini protested, but  Lenz

went on firmly. "Balog has the list now. He has won. He will remove his own

name from the list, and all the secrets will be revealed. He will discredit

his enemies, including me." Lenz looked  tenderly  at  Irini.  "As  for  my

Irini, I would rather have her alive and imprisoned than dead."

Irini turned her face to the wall. Obi-Wan saw  her  shoulders  shake

with sobs.

Lenz turned to the Jedi. "I did not know what Irini had done, and I'm

sorry to hear that you were blamed for her crimes. We owe you our help  now

more than ever. You know  that  Alani  is  running  for  Supreme  Governor.

Recently we have realized that though she wants Worker  support,  she  does

not need it. Someone else is supporting her - with finances that we do  not

have. This has made us suspicious. I have received news  tonight  from  our

spy in the Supreme Governor's residence. He's discovered that  there  is  a

secret tunnel between the residence and the Absolute  Museum.  In  the  old

days it was used when those captured were secretly transported to  Absolute

headquarters. The museum is closed now. It is just a guess, but wouldn't it

be the perfect place for Balog and the Absolutes to hide? The  twins  could

smuggle him in and out easily until Alani is elected tomorrow."

It made sense, Obi-Wan realized. It would be like Balog  to  hide  in

the one place so obvious that they would never think  to  look  there,  the

site of the recording of the great wrongs the Absolutes had visited on  New

Apsolon.

By the look on his Master's face, Obi-Wan could tell that Qui-Gon had

reached the same conclusion.

"We must go tonight," Qui-Gon said. "Tomorrow will be too late."

CHAPTER 16

They sped through the dark,  empty  streets  back  to  the  Civilized

Sector. Obi-Wan knew that Qui-Gon felt that Balog was in their  grasp.  And

right now Qui-Gon was giving every sign of a man bent on revenge.

He was almost afraid to say anything. The look on Qui-Gon's face  was

so forbidding. The years of  experience  with  his  Master,  the  closeness

they'd shared, it all seemed to evaporate in the  night  air.  Qui-Gon  was

like a stranger.

He had thought that if only he could be with his Master, he would  be

able to help him control his ravaged feelings of grief and  anger.  He  had

spent the past days in torment, thinking that he needed to be by  Qui-Gon's

side. Now he saw that his presence had no meaning for Qui-Gon.  His  Master

was lost in his own quest. If he was bent on revenge, Obi-Wan might not  be

able to interfere. Qui-Gon's will combined with his great skills might make

him impossible to stop. Obi-Wan felt chilled at the thought. He would  have

to try.

Tonight he could lose his Master to the dark path. The impossible had

become possible. He could feel it in the  dark  energy  within  the  Force,

swirling and crashing around Qui-Gon. Never had he felt so helpless.

Obi-Wan gathered his own connection to the Force. He resolved that no

matter what, he would remain by his Master's side. He could not lose  hope.

He would protect his Master from himself if he had to. He  would  not  lose

Qui-Gon on this dark night.

Qui-Gon pulled up in front of the Supreme Governor's residence.

"Master, we should contact Mace Windu," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon leaped out of the speeder. "Whatever you want."

Obi-Wan activated his comlink as he jumped out of the speeder and ran

after Qui-Gon. He spoke hastily into the comlink to Mace  about  what  they

had learned.

"Wait for us," Mace said. "We're close."

"It's too late," Obi-Wan said, as Qui-Gon began cutting a hole in the

front door of the residence with his lightsaber.

He shut off the comlink and followed Qui-Gon through  the  hole.  The

security devices sounded an alarm, and a security officer emerged from  the

booth. He eyed the Jedi but did not draw his blaster.

"Lenz called ahead," he  said.  "I'll  shut  these  down.  I  already

disabled the link to World Security."

Qui-Gon nodded. Obi-Wan was glad for this bit of luck.  The  Workers'

spy was on duty. Of course the twins had heard the commotion, but at  least

security reinforcements wouldn't be called. They would only  have  to  deal

with the security in the residence itself, at least for a time.

Lenz had given them details on how to reach the tunnel.  Qui-Gon  ran

toward the back of the house, Obi-Wan matching his stride.  They  knew  the

entrance was in a storage area for the Kitchens.

They burst into the storage area. Eritha stood casually in the middle

of the floor, holding two blasters aimed at their chests.

"You have to kill me to get through that door," she said. She  looked

older than her years. Her face was pale, and her eyes glittered.  Her  gold

hair straggled down her back.

"I am prepared to do that," Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan did not  glance  at

his Master. He hoped Qui-Gon was bluffing. He did not know how close to the

edge Qui-Gon was. He couldn't sense his Master any longer. There  was  only

grayness and static between them.

"You think I will not attack because you are a young  girl,"  Qui-Gon

said. "But the moment you set out on your path to power, you  took  on  the

consequences of an adult. You are responsible for Tahl's death."

"I am not responsible!" Eritha said shrilly.  "Others  have  survived

the sensory deprivation device. Why couldn't she? She was a Jedi!"

"She was locked in it for days," Qui-Gon said. "Far longer  than  any

Absolute prisoner."

He spoke in a flat, unemotional tone. Somehow  he  had  pushed  grief

down so far that it did not tinge his words. That worried Obi-Wan more than

his earlier display of anger. Did this mean that Qui-Gon had  now  accepted

his revenge and was willing and ready to act on it?

"I didn't have  anything  against  Tahl,"  Eritha  said.  "She  is  a

casualty of war. We brought her  here  because  we  knew  she  would  come.

Everything was all planned. We needed a Jedi presence at first to cover for

us. With Jedi support the rest would be easy. Balog  would  kidnap  us  and

Roan would resign. Alani would run for his post. Then we  found  out  about

the list. Balog was on it. We knew Roan had it, and we knew he was  waiting

to expose Balog. He thought Balog had been his friend. He  didn't  want  to

expose him, but he would. Everyone  would  know  that  Balog  had  been  an

Absolute. It would have spoiled our plans! We had to get that  list.  You'd

think as head of World  Security  that  Balog  would  be  helpful.  He  was

useless. He leaked the information to the Absolutes, and someone stole  the

list. Only he didn't bring it to Balog. He kept it so he could sell it.  We

didn't know who it was."

"Oleg," Obi-Wan said. He wanted to keep Eritha talking. He was uneasy

about how Qui-Gon's urgency had changed to a deadly  calm.  He  could  feel

through the Force that there was no serenity  in  this  calm.  Qui-Gon  was

staring at Eritha as though she were an obstacle, not a person.

"Yes. Just our luck-the Absolute who gets his hands on the list turns

out to be a Worker spy," Eritha said.  "But  all  we  knew  then  was  that

someone had it. We needed help - more help than Balog  could  give  us.  We

needed someone with brains and courage. It was lucky that Tahl was  coming.

I knew we could get her to help us without knowing  it.  She  was  generous

that way. She would do what we asked. She still thought of us  as  helpless

young girls with no mother or real father."

Qui-Gon closed his eyes.

"We let her think it was her idea to  infiltrate  the  Absolutes.  We

knew she'd find out about the list and try to get it for us."

"She trusted you," Obi-Wan said.

Eritha shrugged. "Everyone trusts us. That's our  advantage.  We  are

the daughters of the great hero Ewane. The great hero who barely spent  one

day in his daughters' presence but passed them off to strangers  to  raise.

The great hero who only thought about his planet, not  his  own  flesh  and

blood." Eritha's lip curled. "Why shouldn't we use  that  trust?  Tahl  did

everything we asked and more. When she was  seen  escaping  with  Oleg,  we

thought she had the list. But she didn't bring it to us, so we had to  take

it. Everything was completely logical. If Tahl had only told us the truth -

that she didn't have the list - she wouldn't be dead."

"Balog would have killed her anyway," Obi-Wan said.

"You don't know that," Eritha said craftily. "He might have  let  her

go."

"You're lying," Qui-Gon said flatly.

"Maybe." Obi-Wan was shocked at the cruelty in Eritha's eyes, like  a

large creature playing with a tiny one before gobbling it up. "You'll never

know. Maybe it's your fault that Tahl is dead, Qui-Gon."

Obi-Wan saw the color drain from Qui-Gon's face. He saw his hand move

toward his lightsaber. Obi-Wan could  wait  no  longer.  He  threw  himself

forward at Eritha, who had locked eyes with Qui-Gon, taunting him.

His leg shot out, knocking one blaster from her  hand.  She  screamed

but he was already twisting  behind  her,  grabbing  her  other  wrist  and

wrenching the blaster from it. He tucked both in his belt.

"You hurt me!" she cried, grabbing her wrist.

"Qui-Gon, hurry," Obi-Wan urged. His Master hadn't moved. But at  his

words he rushed forward toward the tunnel entrance.

"You killed  her,  Qui-Gon!"  Eritha  screamed  after  them  as  they

accessed the tunnel door. "Live with that, if you live at all!"

CHAPTER 17

Qui-Gon had no doubt that within minutes Eritha would  send  security

attack droids after them. He knew that ahead of them, the  Absolutes  would

be well armed. He gave no more thought to the obstacles  than  to  a  pesky

insect. He did not strategize. He would charge ahead,  and  he  would  win.

That was all he knew.

Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan give a quick glance at him. He told  himself  not

to display the temper he had showed at  Mota's.  His  Padawan  was  worried

about how quick to anger he was. Qui-Gon himself had been surprised at  how

his anger had continued to rise. He knew  he  was  feeding  it  instead  of

letting it go. It gave him speed and focus.

He knew his attitude was bringing him dangerously close to  the  dark

side. He knew with a chance for silence and stillness he would be  able  to

see this. But he didn't have the luxury.

He would have to count on his own ability to control his anger at the

proper time.

The tunnel ran below the governor's residence. It had been unused for

many years, and was dark and stuffy. Qui-Gon ran by the light of his saber.

He knew Obi-Wan was behind him. His Padawan would give him support, but  he

knew he did not need it. This was between him and Balog.

Eritha's words had stunned him, but he had filed them  away  for  the

long sleepless nights ahead of him. Balog was his object.

The tunnel ended in a durasteel door.  Qui-Gon  cut  through  it  and

stepped inside. He was in the lower level of the museum.

"Droids behind us,  Qui-Gon,"  Obi-Wan  spoke  quietly  in  his  ear.

"Coming from the residence."

A nuisance. They would have  to  be  dealt  with  before  they  could

proceed.

Qui-Gon turned as the  first  droids  tumbled  through  the  opening,

already engaging them in blaster fire. They were  lucky.  The  droids  were

programmed to advance, but they were not  programmed  to  strategize.  They

simply took the easiest route to their prey and poured through the  opening

in the door, where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were waiting.

Obi-Wan deflected fire while slicing at the droids. Impatiently, Qui-

Gon swung his light-saber like a club. He  had  no  time  for  finesse.  He

needed to cut down as many droids as possible in  the  shortest  amount  of

time.

Obi-Wan was a  blur  by  his  side.  Qui-Gon  was  grateful  for  his

Padawan's speed. Soon the floor was littered with smoking droids.

There were only two more left. "Take them down,"  Qui-Gon  told  Obi-

Wan, and raced away.

It was lucky that he and Obi-Wan had taken the  tour  of  the  museum

upon their arrival on New Apsolon. He could remember each level  and  room.

This level was used for storage, so they hadn't toured it. The  floors  and

walls were bare and damp. On the floor overhead were the cells and  torture

rooms, as well as the offices. No doubt the Absolutes  were  camped  there.

Including Balog.

Qui-Gon accessed the turbolift to the next level. He strode out  into

the hall. He saw a figure ahead. It was a man dressed in a navy  tunic.  An

Absolute. He froze when he saw Qui-Gon. Then he doubled back  and  ran  the

way he had come.

Qui-Gon chased after him. No doubt he had gone to  spread  an  alarm.

The Absolutes weren't expecting invaders, but they  would  meet  them  with

resistance.

He burst into the room just as the Absolute activated a row of attack

droids that had been on display. To Qui-Gon's surprise, the  attack  droids

immediately lined up. They were operational. The Absolutes  had  armed  the

displays in the museum.

This was more sophisticated weaponry than  Eritha's  droids.  Blaster

fire was erratic and came from the droids' chests,  foreheads,  and  hands.

They could wheel and maneuver and twist themselves into flexible positions.

Qui-Gon was outnumbered, but he refused  to  be  outmatched.  Blaster

fire rocketed toward him  in  a  fiery  curtain.  Every  part  of  him  was

vulnerable. His lightsaber had to keep pace with the rapid fire as he  took

evasive action. He had a shock when he  realized  that  he  might  have  to

retreat.

He felled two droids, but the others  were  relentless.  Some  rushed

toward him, blasting fire. The others flanked him and aimed as  they  tried

to get behind him. Qui-Gon felt sweat roll down his forehead, stinging  his

eyes. He used the Force to smash one against the wall, but it reformed  and

came after him again. He used his lightsaber to cut it in half.

He had never been happier to see Obi-Wan in  his  life.  His  Padawan

suddenly leaped into the fray, lightsaber swinging.  With  Obi-Wan's  help,

Qui-Gon was able to regroup and smash the two droids to his left.  The  two

Jedi swung wide and came at the droids'  line  from  each  end.  They  each

felled two, then leaped toward the center of the line to destroy  two  more

droids as they shifted into position.

Smoke rose, choking them. Obi-Wan took out the last droid,  and  they

stumbled out of the small room.

Obi-Wan leaned over to take a breath of pure air. "Where do you think

Balog is?"

The question seemed to echo inside Qui-Gon's brain. He realized  that

he hadn't given much thought to Balog's whereabouts. He  had  just  charged

ahead. That wasn't like him.

I am not thinking clearly,  he  told  himself.  /  am  reacting,  not

acting.

He realized this meant he was on the edge of his control. But even as

he recognized this, he recognized something equally chilling:  He  did  not

care.

And suddenly, he knew where Balog might be. Remembering the tour,  he

recalled a tech center on this floor. Since Balog had recently  stolen  the

list from Irini, he was most likely accessing it on a datascreen. He  would

certainly waste no  time  erasing  his  name  and  looking  for  others  to

denounce.

Before he could answer Obi-Wan, more droids wheeled around the corner

behind them. They felt a warming in  the  Force  before  the  blaster  fire

began. Once again, Qui-Gon  and  Obi-Wan  had  to  use  every  particle  of

concentration to defeat the agile droids. The blaster fire seemed  to  come

from everywhere.

The droids were between them and the data center. Rage filled Qui-Gon

at the delay. Every second that passed meant that Balog would have a chance

to escape.

He charged at the droids, swinging his lightsaber in a constant  arc,

hardly noticing when blaster fire zinged near his ears or barely missed  an

arm or hand. He savagely swung at the droids, destroying one after another.

Obi-Wan tried to protect him as best he could, but even he could  not  keep

up with the fierceness of Qui-Gon's attack.

Qui-Gon broke through the line  of  droids,  kicking  one  aside  and

cleaving it in two. He had always thought that giving in to rage would make

him sloppy. Instead, he felt precise. He felt powerful. His rage filled him

with purpose.

The droids were defeated, in pieces, smoking around  him.  He  dashed

ahead.

"Qui-Gon, wait!"

But he ignored his Padawan. He could not wait.

With this new sharpness of mind, he remembered the exact location  of

the data room. He did not hesitate but threw open the door. He  could  hear

Obi-Wan only steps behind him, and he felt a  stab  of  disappointment.  He

wished Obi-Wan had stayed behind.

He wanted to meet Balog alone.

The squat, powerful man sat at a tech console. He spun around in  his

chair, a look of surprise on his face. So Eritha had not been able to reach

him.

Qui-Gon took in the small dark eyes,  the  small  pursed  mouth,  the

round head. He focused his hatred on this man. Here was  the  man  who  had

watched Tahl's health deteriorate slowly, day by agonizing  day,  and  felt

nothing. Here was the man  who  had  not  recognized  that  he  was  slowly

crushing an extraordinary spirit.

This little, evil man.

The injustice of it staggered Qui-Gon. This man was alive.  Tahl  was

dead. His vision blurred at the emotion that roared inside him.

Balog rose, kicking his chair out of his  way.  He  reached  for  the

blaster on his belt.

Qui-Gon smiled.

Obi-Wan stood next to him, his lightsaber held in a defensive stance,

waiting for Balog to make the first move.

With one hand, Balog reached over to activate the comm  unit  on  the

tech console. "I need help in the data center. Send attack droids - "

With a casual gesture, Qui-Gon buried his lightsaber in the  console.

Sparks flew, and smoke curled from the circuits.

Balog fired. Obi-Wan sprang forward to deflect it.

The blaster fire was nothing to Qui-Gon. It was  merely  a  momentary

barrier between himself and Balog. Balog was his prey. A collection of skin

and muscles and bones that must be brought down in a heap.

His lightsaber moved like a trick of light, so fast that each  stroke

was a memory. It was so easy to deflect Balog's pathetic fire.  Panic  rose

in Balog's eyes and made him clumsy. He dropped his blaster.  He  tried  to

run, but his legs tangled in the chair he had kicked away. He fell  with  a

crash to the floor.

At last, Qui-Gon's enemy lay at his feet, just as he'd  imagined.  He

stood over Balog, his lightsaber high, prepared for the stroke  that  would

bring him so much satisfaction.

"No, Qui-Gon."

The voice seemed to come from far away, yet it was so  close  to  his

ear. It confused him.

He turned and met Obi-Wan's eyes. He felt he was seeing  him  from  a

great distance. Confusion swept over him.

Then it was as though clouds parted, and clarity came. He saw so much

in a  moment.  In  his  Padawan's  steady  glance  he  saw  both  fear  and

compassion.

He was no longer far away. The distance compressed, and he was in the

same room with Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon returned to himself, and saw how far he had

gone. The dark side had risen in his blood. He had known it and  encouraged

it. Shaking, he deactivated his lightsaber and tucked it back in his belt.

He had come close to taking a life out of revenge. Only he would know

how close. He would never forget it. He would never allow himself to forget

it.

Balog closed his eyes in relief. Obi-Wan stood over him  and  reached

for his comlink as Mace and Bant entered the room.

CHAPTER 18

The four Jedi stood on the landing platform high above  the  city  of

New Apsolon. Qui-Gon looked down at the stately gray buildings, the curving

streets and wide boulevards. From high above it was easy to tell where  the

grand Civilized Sector began and the smaller, twisting neighborhoods of the

Workers ended.

Manex had lent them the finest consular ship on New Apsolon, as  well

as his personal pilot. Tahl's body had been loaded aboard in a  small  room

fragrant with native flowers. The Jedi would  accompany  her  on  her  last

journey back to the Temple.

They left behind them a government still  torn  by  division.  Alani,

Eritha, and Balog had been arrested. There had been a huge  outcry  at  the

arrest of the twins. Both Workers and many Civilized did not  believe  they

could be corrupt. Not the daughters of Ewane. lrini was recovering in a med

center, but charges had been filed against her.  The  Worker  movement  had

lost lrini and Lenz in  one  stroke.  They  were  struggling  to  find  new

leaders.

The turbolift doors opened and Manex stepped out. He was dressed in a

rich robe of his favorite shade of green. He walked forward  and  bowed  to

the Jedi.

"The people of New Apsolon owe you a great debt," he said.

"There  is  still  unrest  on  New  Apsolon,"  Mace  said.  "But  the

government will proceed with honesty."

Manex nodded. "The  elections  are  now  set  for  next  week.  Other

Legislators have stepped forward to run. I know the Absolute  movement  has

been damaged, but it has not disappeared completely. We still have  enemies

to fight. No doubt there are  more  troubles  ahead  as  the  Committee  to

Reinstate Justice deals with the list of Absolute  informers.  But  I  have

committed myself to my world. If I'm elected, I'll take up where Roan  left

off."

"If you need us again, we will come," Mace told him.

Qui-Gon turned away. / will not be the one to come,  he  thought.  He

would never return to New Apsolon again.

"We thank you for your transport," Mace said to Manex. "And  for  all

you have done."

Manex's brown eyes were full of sorrow. "I cannot  begin  to  replace

what you lost here. I can only promise you my service for the  rest  of  my

life, should you need it."

Manex signaled the pilot on board to lower  the  ramp  of  the  ship.

Then, with a final bow, he walked away.

Qui-Gon stood a short distance from the  others.  He  saw  Bent  move

closer to Obi-Wan.

"Is Qui-Gon all right?" she asked in a low, concerned tone.

"I don't know," his Padawan said. "But he will be."

Will I? Qui-Gon wondered with a curious detachment.

Obi-Wan glanced at Bant. "Are we all right?"

Qui-Gon felt that if it were possible for his heart to be touched, it

would be, at the warm look in Bant's eyes. He remembered when he  and  Tahl

had been that close.

"Of course," she told Obi-Wan.

He owed Obi-Wan a word, too. He called him over to his side.

"I need to thank you," he told him. "When I  stood  over  Balog  with

hate in my heart, you saved me. It was the sound of my name that brought me

back to myself."

Obi-Wan looked at him, puzzled. "But I didn't speak."

Qui-Gon's heart swelled. It had been Tahl.  Of  course  it  had  been

Tahl. The voice had been so near and yet so far away.  It  was  her  voice,

soft and warm, a voice he had heard rarely, and a tone,  he  now  realized,

she had reserved only for him.

She was still with him. It should have helped him to know  that.  But

instead, fresh agony ripped through him. It was  not  enough  to  have  her

voice in a time of need. He needed her physical  presence.  He  needed  her

warm and breathing, close enough  to  touch,  near  enough  to  exchange  a

private smile.

Obi-Wan must have seen something on his face. He  placed  a  hand  on

Qui-Gon's shoulder. Qui-Gon did not feel the pressure. He did not  want  to

feel his Padawan's touch. He was grateful to Obi-Wan for his compassion. He

owed a debt to Mace and Bant for their silent understanding.

Yet he could not stand to be with them.

Qui-Gon turned away from them and strode up the ramp. He would  spend

the journey back to Coruscant watching over Tahl alone.

He knew one thing: This grief must be borne, and it would  not  be  a

load that lessened with time. It would appear and reappear. It would gather

and lose strength, and when he thought it was diminishing,  it  would  rise

again. It was too big for Jedi acceptance to contain it.

And what does that mean, to be a Jedi and be unable to  accept?  Qui-

Gon wondered. It was a question for another time.

He entered the ship and did not look behind him. He  was  leaving  on

New Apsolon the possibility of a different life, a life that he had  looked

forward to with a joy he did not know  existed  in  the  galaxy.  He  would

return to the life he had, a life of solitary  service.  He  did  not  know

where else to go.

He hoped to find satisfaction in that service again someday. That day

seemed far away. For now, he headed for the small room where Tahl  lay  for

his last, long good-bye.