THE DEATH OF HOPE

CHAPTER 1

Obi-Wan Kenobi kept his eyes on his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. He did  not

like to break Qui-Gon's concentration, but he was impatient  to  know  what

his Master was thinking.

They sat in the small, elegant waiting room at the Supreme Governor's

residence on the planet of New Apsolon. A lightsaber lay on a  small  table

next to Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon didn't move his eyes from it. Every few minutes he

would pick up the hilt and hold it in his hand. He had even activated it  a

few times, losing himself in the sapphire glow. Then he would deactivate it

and, still holding it tightly, get up to pace the room. In just moments  he

would abruptly whirl, slam the lightsaber down on the table again, and sit.

The process had been going on for some time now.

Obi-Wan was sure that his Master was formulating a plan. Jedi  Knight

Tahl had been kidnapped. They knew who the culprit was - Balog,  the  Chief

Security Controller of New Apsolon. They just did not know  why,  or  where

Balog had taken her. Tahl had not been able to leave any clues behind.

Obi-Wan was trying to come up with the best course of action himself.

He hadn't gotten far. They both doubted that Balog was  acting  alone,  but

they didn't know who he was in league with. Confidently, Obi-Wan waited for

Qui-Gon to conclude his internal strategy session. He had seen  it  in  the

past. His Master would turn and look at him directly.  His  gaze  would  be

sharp and focused. He would crisply outline the best way to proceed.

Qui-Gon turned to him at last. "I should have gone with her  to  that

meeting," he said sadly.

Startled, Obi-Wan could only shake his  head.  Qui-Gon  never  wasted

time on what they should have done. "But Balog told us that only  one  Jedi

was allowed."

"I should have made her leave  the  planet  when  it  was  clear  her

identity was compromised." Tahl had gone undercover and pretended to be one

of the Absolutes. They had once been the secret police of New Apsolon,  and

had since  been  outlawed.  They  had  never  disbanded,  though,  and  had

continued to meet in secret, gathering power over the years.

"But she would not have left." Obi-Wan  spoke  patiently.  He  wasn't

telling Qui-Gon anything his Master did  not  know  already.  "We  need  to

contact the Temple. They will send help."

"Not yet." Qui-Gon's tone was firm. "We know now that there are  many

here who hate and resent the Jedi. If more Jedi arrive,  it  will  make  it

harder for us to find contacts to help us. Especially among the Workers."

"But a Jedi Knight is missing," Obi-Wan said.  "It  is  our  duty  to

contact the Council."

"And we will," Qui-Gon told  him.  "But  we  need  twenty-four  hours

first. We will find her, Obi-Wan. I can feel her. I know she  is  alive.  I

know she will find a way to help us once we  get  on  her  trail."  Qui-Gon

returned to his pacing. "We should talk to Balog's assistant again."

"We've already spoken to him twice," Obi-Wan said quietly.  "Both  of

us felt sure he had nothing more to tell us." It  would  feel  strange  and

awkward to tell his own Master to focus, as Qui-Gon had told  him  so  many

times. Yet Obi-Wan felt that Qui-Gon needed  to  slow  down.  His  Master's

thoughts were circling in a pattern that would lead nowhere.      Obi-Wan could

see it clearly, for he had been taught by Qui-Gon how to  think  calmly  in

the midst of panic, how to find a way out.

Qui-Gon knew this. Why couldn't he practice it?

Obi-Wan could see anguish and  desperation  on  Qui-Gon's  face,  and

something it took a beat for him to recognize - indecision. With a sense of

shock, he realized that Qui-Gon did not  know  what  to  do  next.  Qui-Gon

always knew what to do next.

Obi-Wan decided to use a method Qui-Gon had for helping to focus.  If

you don't know which way to turn, review what you know.

"This is what we know," Obi-Wan began, even though he could tell that

Qui-Gon was only half-listening. Obi-Wan was starting to  worry  about  his

Master, and that was taking his own attention from the task at hand. "There

are two factions battling for power on New Apsolon - the  Workers  and  the

Civilized. The government is in disarray. Before we arrived on New Apsolon,

the Supreme Governor, Ewane, was assassinated. He was a Worker who had been

imprisoned for many years by the Absolutes.  After  his  death,  his  close

ally, Roan, was elected. Though Roan was a Civilized, he had fought for the

Workers to become full citizens of New Apsolon. He  took  in  Ewane's  twin

daughters, Alani and Eritha. But Alani and Eritha still  feared  for  their

lives. They contacted the Jedi to escort them off-planet."

Qui-Gon stirred impatiently. "We know all this, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan had once been impatient when Qui-Gon repeated facts  to  him.

But Qui-Gon had always ignored his impatience and  continued.  Now  it  was

Obi-Wan's turn to push forward.

"Tahl  came  to  the  planet  alone  and  infiltrated  the  disbanded

Absolutes, who had gone underground. After we  arrived,  Eritha  and  Alani

were kidnapped. Roan disappeared to pay the ransom and was killed.  Shortly

afterward, the twins were released, which led us to believe that  Roan  was

the true target all along. Tahl's identity as a Jedi was discovered but she

escaped. She went to a peace negotiation meeting of Workers  and  Civilized

organized by Balog. Only we have discovered  that  there  was  no  meeting.

Balog lied in order to kidnap Tahl. The  question  is,  why?  Balog  was  a

Worker. It doesn't seem likely he'd kidnap a Jedi."

"Anything is likely on this planet,"  Qui-Gon  said  grimly,  shoving

Tahl's lightsaber into his belt.

"Another question is whether  Tahl's  kidnapping  is  linked  to  the

twins," Obi-Wan went on. "Was Balog responsible for that, too? If so, he is

most likely responsible for the murder of Roan.

Irini gave us information from the Workers that  suggested  that  the

person who masterminded the twins' kidnapping was in the inner circle here.

But why Balog?"

Qui-Gon's gaze was clear now. "We don't know the answers  to  any  of

these questions," he said. "But it seems clear that  it  is  all  linked  -

Ewane's assassination, Roan's murder, the kidnapping of  the  twins  -  and

that someone or some organization is behind these things. They want power."

"So kidnapping Tahl is a way for them to get that power? How?"

"Uncovering the answers will take longer than a day.  Time  we  don't

have. We need to find Tahl first." Qui-Gon turned back  to  Obi-Wan.  "What

was the principal method the Absolutes used to keep the Workers in line?"

"Probe droids," Obi-Wan answered after a moment. "The droids  on  New

Apsolon are technologically advanced. They can track subjects and attack to

stun or kill. The vital information of all Workers was kept in  files,  and

with that information a  probe  droid  could  be  programmed  to  target  a

specific person - " Obi-Wan slowly rose. "Of course. Balog is a Worker.  If

we can get his vitals - "

"And a probe droid," Qui-Gon finished.

A soft voice came from behind them. "But they are illegal now."

It was Alani. The slight sixteen-year-old stood in the doorway for  a

moment, dressed in a simple tunic,  her  golden  hair  braided  and  coiled

around her head. She had dark smudges under her eyes. The twins had  stayed

awake mourning Roan, and the news of Tahl's  disappearance  had  devastated

them. Tahl and the twins had a special bond.

She took a few steps into the room. "I didn't  mean  to  overhear.  I

came to see if I can bring you refreshment."

"We'd rather have a probe droid," Qui-Gon said.

"I might be able to help you with that  as  well,"  Alani  said.  "At

least, I know someone who can find one. Lenz."

"Lenz," Obi-Wan said, repeating the name. Lenz  had  been  among  the

Workers in a secret meeting he and Qui-Gon had overheard.

"He is the leader of the  Workers,"  Alani  said.  "He  will  say  he

doesn't know how to get one, but that's a lie. Tell him I sent you."

"You know him well?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Lenz took us in when our father was  imprisoned,"  Alani  said.  "So

yes, I know him well. We are not in touch anymore, but he will help you  if

I ask him to. The trouble will be finding  him.  He  moves  from  place  to

place."

"We have no time to waste," Obi-Wan said in frustration.  Would  they

need a probe droid to track Lenz, too?

Alani frowned, thinking. "Irini will know how to find him.  She  will

be at her job at the Absolute Museum by now."

The Jedi knew Irini. But knowing her didn't mean she would help them.

She was a prominent leader in the Worker movement,  and  she  had  made  it

clear that she did not consider the Jedi her allies. They suspected her  of

trying to kill them when they had first arrived on New Apsolon.  But  there

was no one else to turn to.

CHAPTER 2

It had been a time of great confusion for Qui-Gon.  It  had  been  as

though his body temperature had risen, as if  there  was  a  fever  in  his

blood. He had been restless and irritable.  Deep  meditation  was  hard  to

sustain. Tired of waiting for a mission to distract him, he had taken  Obi-

Wan on a survival trip to Ragoon-6, hoping the discipline  would  calm  his

mind and body. It had not.

The first vision appeared on Ragoon-6. He saw Tahl  in  distress.  In

his vision, he caught and held her. Her body felt so weak.  He  was  filled

with helplessness and fear.

When he returned to the Temple, anxious to find  her,  he  discovered

that Tahl was on the verge of leaving on a mission to New Apsolon.  Qui-Gon

could not interfere. Yet after she had gone he was once  again  visited  by

that same disturbing vision. He knew she was headed  for  danger.  He  knew

that she would need him. He knew she would resist his help.

He did not need Yoda to tell him that visions should not serve  as  a

guide for behavior. He did not listen to the Council  when  they  cautioned

him to wait. He left for New Apsolon, drawn by  a  compulsion  he  did  not

understand. He had to follow her.

But the most important thing  had  not  become  clear.  Why  had  the

visions of Tahl in trouble come to him, haunted him, driven  him?  Why  did

just the sight of her suddenly irritate him and warm him at the same time?

Then, in one blinding moment, he had received his answer. He had felt

a shock so deep it seemed his body could not contain it. He had found  that

he was not just a Jedi, but a man. And the fever in his blood was Tahl.

Courage was something a Jedi did not think about. It was  simply  the

will to do right. It was the discipline to move forward. Qui-Gon had  never

had to reach for it; it had always been there, ready for him.  It  deserted

him when he asked to speak to Tahl alone.

He had poured out his heart as only a quiet man could.  He  had  used

few words. The time it took for her to respond had seemed endless. Then she

had taken a step forward, taken his hand, and pledged her life to his. They

would have one life, together, she had said.

What an astonishing lesson, Qui-Gon thought, to  find  that  joy  was

such a simple thing. It sprang from a single, shining source. She said yes.

She said yes.

As they walked the short distance  to  the  museum,  Qui-Gon  had  to

discipline himself severely to recall his Jedi training. He knew  that  his

Padawan was troubled by his behavior. It was true that for the  first  time

since he was a young Temple student, he was having trouble with his focus.

In the midst of every battle, every trouble, Qui-Gon had always  been

able to find his calm center. When he reached for  it  now,  it  was  gone.

Replacing it was a core of turbulent, angry chaos, fueled by his guilt  and

his fear.

This was the time he must operate at the peak of his efficiency. This

was the time that called for his most intense focus.

The cold fear that lay deep within him was not just for Tahl. He  was

also afraid of his own doubt.

He had never been so at a loss because he had never  felt  like  this

before. Only hours ago, he and Tahl had pledged their lives to each  other.

The emotion and the need had surprised them both. Once  they  had  accepted

it, it had felt like the most natural  thing  in  the  world.  Qui-Gon  was

astonished to discover that he had found one person  who  mattered  to  him

more than anything else in the galaxy.

And now he had lost her.

"Qui-Gon?"

Obi-Wan jolted him out of his jumbled thoughts. He saw  that  he  had

paused in front of the museum's wide double doors.

"The museum is closed," Obi-Wan said. "It's too early."

"It opens in fifteen minutes. No doubt the guides are here."

The museum had been built shortly after  the  government  of  Apsolon

reorganized and became New Apsolon. As a show of good faith, the government

opened the doors of the hated headquarters of the  Absolutes.  People  were

free to come and acknowledge the horrors that had been done there. It  was,

the leaders felt, a way to prevent the horrors from happening again. Former

victims of Absolute repression had come forward and obtained jobs as guides

to the complex. This was how the Jedi had met lrini.

Qui-Gon pressed the off-hours signal button. He heard it ring inside.

No one came.

Qui-Gon pounded on the door. He could not wait  fifteen  minutes.  He

could not wait one second more than he had to.

The door slid open. Irini stood in her guide uniform. She glowered at

the Jedi.

"The museum is not open yet."

"We saw that," Qui-Gon said, striding past her.

"This is outrageous," lrini said. "I came  to  you  with  information

about Roan's murder. I trusted you. The next thing I knew, you ran off  and

security threw me out of the Governor's house."

"Balog has kidnapped Tahl," Qui-Gon told her, his voice struggling to

remain even.

Irini gasped. Then, after a visible struggle, her  face  resumed  its

smooth mask. Her voice hardened. "I see," she  said  after  a  moment.  "So

Balog is the traitor to our cause. He is the one behind the  kidnapping  of

the twins and Roan's murder."

Despite Irini's control, Qui-Gon sensed that  this  news  had  deeply

upset her.

"He will be a formidable enemy," she murmured.

"The only thing we know for sure is that Balog kidnapped Tahl,"  Obi-

Wan said. "We don't know why."

"We need a probe droid," Qui-Gon said. "It's the fastest way to track

Balog. Alani told us Lenz could get one."

"Lenz does not keep me informed as  to  his  movements,"  Irini  said

brusquely. "I am not his keeper."

Qui-Gon felt his impatience tighten another notch. Every minute  that

ticked by took Tahl farther from him, made her trail colder. Irini stood in

the way.

He studied her for a moment. Irini's navy tunic was  buttoned  up  to

her neck, and her black hair was slicked back severely.  There  was  not  a

flicker of warmth in her eyes. She was dedicated to the Workers' cause, and

thought the Jedi were too friendly to the Civilized faction.  Qui-Gon  knew

from experience how tough Irini could be. But he would not go away until he

got what he wanted.

She saw something in his gaze and quickly turned  away.  "I  have  to

work," she said.

"No." Qui-Gon's voice was soft, but it stopped her in her tracks.  He

told  himself  to  go  slowly.  Irini  would  not  respond  to  threats  or

intimidation. She would dig in her heels.

"Just hours ago you came to  us  with  information,"  he  said.  "You

trusted us. We trusted your information."

"Your Jedi has been kidnapped," lrini said,  her  head  still  turned

away and her voice muffled. "I am sorry for that, but I am not responsible.

It is Jedi business. One thing I do know-the Absolutes do not  take  kindly

to betrayal."

"How did you know that Tahl infiltrated the Absolutes?" Qui-Gon asked

urgently. He took three steps toward her in order to see her face. "And why

do you think they had something to do with her kidnapping?"

She lifted her chin defiantly. "What does it matter? We  are  not  on

the same side, Jedi."

"But we are," Obi-Wan said. "You are against the Absolutes.  If  they

kidnapped Tahl, she may know things that you want to know."

There was logic in what Obi-Wan said but Qui-Gon didn't  think  Irini

would care. Yet something in Obi-Wan's words caused her to  stop  and  give

them a hard stare.

"I might be able to find Lenz," she said reluctantly.

"Then let's go," Qui-Gon said firmly. He had to keep pushing forward.

He had to drown out his worst fears with action.

They had only caught a glimpse of Lenz the  first  time  they'd  seen

him, but Qui-Gon remembered him well. His was not a face to forget. It  had

been marked by suffering and illness, but there was nobility  and  strength

in it. His body was weak, yet his spirit had great power.  In  a  crowd  he

might be ignored, but Qui-Gon knew from the first  glance  that  he  was  a

leader.

Lenz stood as Irini led the Jedi into a  small  room  in  the  Worker

section of the city. She had alerted him by comlink that they were  coming,

and why.

Lenz gave Irini a questioning look. "Now you  trust  the  Jedi?  What

happened?"

"They have a good point," lrini said. "They have the best  chance  of

finding Tahl. If Balog betrayed us for the Absolutes, we need to know."

Lenz kept his gaze on Irini. Slowly, he nodded. "Maybe."

His nerves on alert, Qui-Gon  sensed  something  had  passed  between

Irini and Lenz. It had been a wordless exchange of information.  They  knew

each other very well, he realized. Well enough to speak without  words,  as

he and his Padawan could.

"Irini tells me you want a probe droid," Lenz said.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Alani asked that you help us."

Lenz smiled slightly. "When  both  Irini  and  Alani  ask  me  to  do

something, I have no choice but to obey." He gestured at them to sit  at  a

battered metal table. "I must  warn  you,  we  run  some  danger  of  being

arrested. Since Roan's murder the government  has  been  cracking  down  on

those who run the black market. Power is slipping out of their  hands,  and

they think a show of it will save them. The United Legislature is locked in

a battle to appoint Roan's successor."

"Many Workers think the time to strike is now,"  lrini  said.  "There

are those who want us to conduct another campaign of industrial sabotage to

get what we want. Of course we want a Worker to  be  appointed  as  Supreme

Governor, but Lenz and I are urging caution. We will lose our support among

the Civilized with another sabotage campaign. It worked once, but we do not

feel it will work again. We don't want civil unrest."

"Yet we are very close to it," Lenz said.

"Do you think Balog is an Absolute?" ON-Wan asked.

Lenz and Irini exchanged glances. "He was born a Worker," Irini  said

hesitantly. "And he was close to Ewane, the great Worker leader..."

"But yes, we think his allegiance has now changed," Lenz said grimly.

"Once you told us that he had kidnapped Tahl, it all clicked into place. He

has most likely been working for the Absolutes for some time. That's why he

kidnapped Alani and Eritha. He had always planned to let them go - his real

target was Roan."

"So he lured Roan to him through the ransom," Obi-Wan said. "Then  he

murdered him."

Qui-Gon remembered Balog's show of grief when they had  found  Roan's

body. Balog was a good actor. But he'd have to be,  if  he'd  been  working

with the secret organization of Absolutes all along.

"One thing puzzles me," Qui-Gon said. "Balog may be head of security,

but he's no match for Tahl. Even without her lightsaber. How could he  have

overpowered her?"

"The Absolutes often used a paralyzing drug," Irini said. "You remain

conscious but immobilized. It is easy to administer. If she turned her back

on him for a moment..."

"Is the drug  dangerous?"  Qui-Gon  asked  the  question,  though  he

dreaded the answer.

"Not with one dose," Lenz said. "Or even two. The trouble is that  it

wears off, and if it is reused many times - especially over a short  period

of time - it can result in permanent damage. Muscle  deterioration  is  one

side effect." Lenz pointed down at himself. "As you can see."

"Lenz was one of the lucky ones," Irini added quietly. "There can  be

permanent damage to internal organs. They completely waste away in a  short

period of time. There were many who..." Her  voice  trailed  off,  and  she

flushed.

She is telling me that Tahl could die. Underneath the table,  Qui-Gon

gripped his hands together. Thinking of Tahl helpless, her mind active  but

her body deteriorating, made him want to rip the room apart.

The vision that had beckoned him to New Apsolon came back to him now.

Tahl weak, her leg muscles unable to support her. She leaned  against  him,

her hand curling around his neck. It is too late for me, dear friend....

"You are hiding something from us," Qui-Gon said, gazing directly  at

Irini, then at Lenz. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Irini answered. "We have agreed to help you find  a  probe

droid - "

"Yet there is something about the kidnapping that you know and we  do

not," Qui-Gon said, the anger escalating in his voice. "You admit  that  we

stand the best chance of finding Tahl. Give us all the information we need,

and the chances are greater still." He leaned forward. The  time  had  come

for a little intimidation. He did not like to use it,  but  his  impatience

had run its course. He needed to act, and these people could not  stand  in

his way. "I remind you that it is never a good idea to cross the Jedi."

Obi-Wan picked up on his urgency. "We have lost one of our  own,"  he

said. "This is a serious matter to us."

The double  threat  from  the  two  Jedi  seemed  to  rock  Lenz.  He

swallowed. "It is not something we know. It is something we suspect."

"Lenz - "

"No, lrini. They are right. They should know." Lenz silenced her with

a look, then turned his attention back to  the  Jedi.  "We  know  that  the

Absolutes used secret informers when they were in power. There is a list of

those who informed. This list is encrypted so that  it  cannot  be  copied.

Only a few in the government knew of this list, even fewer  have  seen  it,

and we think most of them - maybe all of them - are dead. One of  them  was

Roan. Roan had it, but it was stolen before he died. We know that much."

"At first we thought Balog had been able to get it from Roan,"  Irini

said. "Now we don't think so. Someone else did."

"We think Balog is looking for it," Lenz said. "After all,  his  name

is on it. If that was discovered, he would lose all credibility  among  the

Workers. Our word against Balog will not be enough to turn  people  against

him. We need proof. He needs to destroy that proof. We think his  ambitions

lie higher than the office of Chief Security Controller.  Whoever  has  the

list has great power. It will be his or her choice to expose the  informers

or keep them secret, to bribe them for silence or  look  like  a  hero  for

exposing them. Careers and reputations will be destroyed. The list is  said

to contain some prominent names."

"What does Tahl have to do with this?" Obi-Wan asked.

"The list was in Absolute hands for a short time, then  disappeared,"

Irini said. "We know this for sure. What if Balog thinks that Tahl has  the

list? It's the only explanation as to why Balog would capture her  and  yet

keep her alive."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "If Tahl had the list, we  would  have  known

it."

"So you don't think she has it?" Lenz asked.

"Perhaps she doesn't know she has it," Irini  guessed.  "Perhaps  she

knows where it can be found. She just doesn't know the significance of it."

This news was disturbing. It meant that Balog could  be  keeping  her

alive only until he knew the truth. Tahl did not have that  list.  When  he

discovered that, he would kill her.

Qui-Gon saw by Obi-Wan's pale face that his Padawan had come  to  the

same conclusion. He stood. "If your theory is right, Balog won't have  much

patience. Neither do I. Let's get that probe droid."

CHAPTER 3

Lenz and Irini led  them  deep  into  the  Worker  sector,  near  the

outskirts of the city. The area had been  abandoned  by  the  Workers  when

better housing became available after the election of  Ewane.  Block  after

block of abandoned housing showed the  effects  of  neglect  and  disorder.

Half-demolished buildings stood next to  intact  ones  whose  windows  were

shattered or blown out completely. Rubble lay in the street, and stacks  of

durasteel sheeting were piled up in vacant lots.

"The government is planning to tear these down," Lenz said, gesturing

at the devastated buildings. "The lawmakers can't agree on  what  to  build

instead, so the project is left half finished. But it  has  become  a  good

place to hide for those who don't want to be  found.  Security  sweeps  are

made frequently, so we must all be alert."

"How will we program the droid to find  Balog?"  Qui-Gon  asked.  "We

don't have complete information on him. We know that vitals on Workers  are

stored somewhere. Who has access to them?"

"Everything you need you will be able to buy here," Lenz said.

He stopped in front of a partially demolished  building  and  took  a

laser signal from his tunic. He activated the laser point  and  blinked  it

several times in a pattern against the  stone  front  of  the  building.  A

concealed sensor in the wall caught the signal and, after a moment, blinked

twice.

"We can enter," Lenz said.

Obi-Wan glanced at his Master. He was relieved to  see  that  Qui-Gon

seemed himself again. Most likely it was because they had taken action.  He

could sense the frustration inside Qui-Gon -  as  well  as  something  else

there, some desperation that Obi-Wan didn't understand.  At  least  Qui-Gon

was back in control. He had found the calm he  needed  to  proceed.  Later,

when Tahl was safe, Obi-Wan would ask his Master why he'd had such  trouble

focusing. Qui-Gon would not mind the question. He knew that  Obi-Wan  would

only ask in order to learn.

Lenz pushed open  the  door  to  the  building.  Obi-Wan  noted  that

although the building appeared to be a ruin,  the  door  was  armored.  The

arming devices must have been released when  the  sensor  blinked  back  an

okay.

A staircase led upward, but Lenz turned to the side  and  accessed  a

doorway flush to the wall. A ramp led down to a lower level.

Lenz and lrini went first, and the Jedi followed. The  ramp  was  lit

with one dim glow rod attached to the wall. Obi-Wan strode down the sloping

ramp, ready for anything.

A figure stepped out of the dimness. "Lenz. We haven't seen you  here

in a while."

"Greetings, Mota. You know  I  have  forbidden  the  Workers  to  use

illegal means to achieve our ends," Lenz said. "But my  friends  here  need

your help."

The man stepped closer. He was dressed in the  unisuit  that  Obi-Wan

had seen many Workers wear. His gray hair was tied behind him, and his body

looked strong. There were two blasters tucked into his utility belt.

"You must be Jedi," he said, though Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were  dressed

in the garments of space travelers. "Never thought I'd see the day the Jedi

would need my help."

"We are grateful for anything you can provide us with," Qui-Gon said.

"Don't get me wrong. It will cost you. I'm in the  business  for  one

reason only. Credits. I'm the one who takes the risks. You can hitch  rides

around the galaxy, but my products aren't free."

"We are prepared to pay," Qui-Gon replied impatiently. "The speed  of

the transaction is more important than price."

"Then let's get to it."

Mota led the way down a long hallway into a large  open  space.  Long

metal tables stretched from one end of the space  to  the  other.  Isolated

pieces of merchandise  were  laid  out  on  the  tables.  There  were  some

communication devices, some weaponry, and some pieces of tech equipment.

"As you can see, our stocks are low," Mota said.

Lenz looked at him sharply. "I'll say. Who is buying your weapons?"

Mota's return gaze was neutral. "Whoever has the credits. I don't ask

questions."

"We need probe droids," Qui-Gon said.

"I only have one. Probe droids are hard to get."  Mota  strode  to  a

table and picked up a droid. "It's in good shape,  though.  All  ready  for

programming."

"They need the vitals of a citizen," Irini said. "Balog."

"The Chief Security Controller?" At last an  emotion  flickered  over

Mota's face: surprise.

But it smoothed out and became neutral again. "I have  his  stats.  I

can program the droid. The vitals will cost you more credits."

"They'll need swoops or landspeeders," Lenz said.

"Down below."

"Let's program the droid first," Qui-Gon said.

"Sure. Just let me see the credits." Mota named a figure, and Qui-Gon

counted out the currency.

Mota pocketed the credits without counting [hem and turned to a  data

screen. He began to access files.

"The vitals on every citizen were entered into the main files of  the

Absolutes in the old days," Irini told them in a low voice. "It is  illegal

to access those files  now,  but  that  doesn't  stop  Mota.  Having  exact

information on Balog will help greatly in tracking."

Mota downloaded the information in the data-pad into the droid,  then

programmed it. The probe droid beeped and revolved.

"When would you like to release the droid?" Mota asked.

"Immediately," Qui-Gon answered tersely.

Mota accessed a shuttered window, and the probe droid flew out.  Mota

handed the transmitter to Qui-Gon.

"Keep this on at all times, and the probe droid will find you. If the

droid is destroyed, it will tell you that, too. I've programmed  the  droid

to make a preliminary search. If it can't pinpoint Balog in  the  city,  it

will be able to pinpoint his point of departure."

Qui-Gon nodded and hooked the transmitter onto his utility belt. "Now

let's see about those speeders."

They followed  another  ramp  down  to  a  lower  level.  It  was  an

identically sized space, this one filled with surface transport vehicles  -

swoops, landspeeders, gravsleds.

"Our inventory is pretty full, so you can take your pick," Mota said.

Qui-Gon quickly chose a landspeeder and a swoop. "We might  need  the

agility for at least one of us," he told Obi-Wan. "The other will have room

for Tahl." He turned to Mota. "These are guaranteed?"

"They're a few years old, but they won't let you  down,"  Mota  said.

"My merchandise is the best."

"Glad to hear it," Qui-Gon said. "But we'll test them first."

Mota accessed double durasteel doors at the end  of  the  space.  "Go

through that door to the backyard. You can test them there. Just watch  out

for security patrols overhead."

Obi-Wan slung his leg over the swoop and adjusted the seat so that he

had easy access to the  controls  in  the  handlebars.  He  revved  up  the

repulsorlift engine as Qui-Gon started his land-speeder. He  followed  Qui-

Gon as he zoomed out the double doors. They passed into a short tunnel  and

then burst into the open air. They found themselves in an  open  yard  with

high security fencing surrounding it.

Obi-Wan had  ridden  a  swoop  before  and  was  used  to  the  extra

maneuverability. He pushed the swoop, making sharp turns  and  accelerating

rapidly. He was glad to see that the vehicle  handled  well.  Qui-Gon  also

seemed satisfied, and the two of them landed the transports and turned  off

the engines just as Irini and Lenz appeared in the yard.

"If you find the list with Tahl, what will you  do  with  it?"  lrini

asked them anxiously.

"The list is not our first concern," Qui-Gon said.

"You must realize how much power resides in that  list,"  Lenz  said.

"It cannot fall into the wrong hands."

"Do you promise to come to us first if you have it?" Irini asked.

"I cannot make that promise," Qui-Gon said. "But I will promise  that

we will keep it safe. The Jedi will volunteer to hold the list as a neutral

party until the government appoints a successor to Roan."

Irini nodded reluctantly.

Obi-Wan caught sight of a blur in the sky. "I think the  probe  droid

is returning already."

Qui-Gon looked up, his expression tense with expectation.  The  probe

droid settled on the ground in front of him. He quickly bent to examine the

readout.

"Balog has left the city," Qui-Gon said. "He's struck out  over  open

country."

"That's strange," Lenz said. "Why would he leave his base of support?

"

"Maybe he knows the Jedi are on his trail," lrini said.

Qui-Gon programmed the droid to continue tracking  and  sent  it  off

again. Then he programmed the coordinates of Balog's  last  stop  into  his

shipboard computer. He gave Obi-Wan the coordinates, and  Obi-Wan  did  the

same on his swoop.

Mota emerged from a door concealed in the wall of the building.

"How do you like the transports?" he asked. "They're fine. We have  a

deal," Qui-Gon said, counting out the additional credits.

Mota placed the credits inside a pocket of his unisuit. Suddenly, the

sensors on the wall began to glow.  Mote  watched  as  they  beeped  out  a

private code.

"Patrols in the vicinity," Mote said. "I suggest you leave."  Without

another word, he  swiftly  made  his  way  back  to  the  hidden  door  and

disappeared.

"Don't worry, Mota, we'll  be  fine,"  Lenz  muttered.  "Irini,  we'd

better get out of here." He nodded at the Jedi. "You should  take  off.  If

the security patrol sees  you  with  black  market  transports,  you'll  be

detained, possibly even arrested."

"Thank you for your help," Obi-Wan said hastily  as  he  mounted  his

swoop.

"Will you be all right?" Qui-Gon asked.

"We know this area well,"  Lenz  assured  them.  "There  is  an  exit

through that fence that will bring us safely home. If I were you I'd go out

the back way and stick to the alleys."

From a distance, they heard the sound of speeder engines.

"We'll be in touch," Qui-Gon told them.

The two transports lifted into the air. Qui-Gon led the way out.  The

narrow alley snaked out from the backyard of Mota's building, twisting  and

turning past the back sides of the crumbling  buildings.  They  could  hear

security landspeeder engines nearby, but could not see them.

Finally, they emerged on  a  deserted  street.  Qui-Gon  headed  east

toward the outskirts of the city. He pushed his engine to maximum and  Obi-

Wan followed.

With the security patrol well behind them, they reached the  edge  of

the city and took off over open country. Obi-Wan felt his spirits  rise  as

the wind blew in his face. He couldn't help but feel that Tahl  was  within

their reach.

CHAPTER 4

By the time they reached the coordinates that  the  probe  droid  had

given them, the droid had not returned with Balog's next position.

Qui-Gon halted his speeder, which hovered over  the  ground.  Obi-Wan

pulled up next to him. They were well outside the city  in  an  unpopulated

area. It was flat and dry, with only a few trees clumped here and there. In

the far distance, they could see hills.

"We could wait here for the droid," Qui-Gon said to Obi-Wan.  "Or  we

could track ourselves. If we're wrong, we'd have to double back.  It  could

waste time."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Then we can't be wrong."

By the look on his Master's face, Obi-Wan knew it was the answer he'd

wanted to hear.

Leaving the engines idling, the two Jedi jumped from their transports

and examined the ground. Obi-Wan had been taught tracking  at  the  Temple,

but he'd also recently been on a tracking exercise with Qui-Gon on  Ragoon-

6. He was glad he'd had a chance to brush up on his skills.

"The probe droid has told us that Balog is traveling  in  an  armored

hoverscout," Qui-Gon said. "We know he was last heading roughly east. If we

can find some evidence of scorch marks from the engine, we can track him. A

vehicle of that weight takes a bigger power drive.  There's  a  predictable

pattern of acceleration and release of excess exhaust."

Obi-Wan examined the ground as he'd been  taught,  dividing  it  into

sections and noticing each pebble, each disturbance of  sand.  He  crouched

down to examine a rock.

"Here," he said. He moved a step on. "And here."

Qui-Gon leaned over to examine the trail. "Yes. See  how  deeply  the

rocks have been marked. He accelerated here. Let's go."

They jumped back onto their transports and took off. Every  so  often

they stopped to examine the surrounding ground. True to the  pattern,  they

found evidence of exhaust on the rocks and  ground.  They  knew  they  were

still on Balog's trail.

The suns began to slip down into the sky. Obi-Wan scanned the horizon

ahead. He saw a black shape heading their way. He didn't say anything for a

moment. He hoped it was the droid but wasn't certain.

Qui-Gon's gaze was slightly sharper.  "Here  it  comes,"  he  called,

relief in his voice. He halted the speeder and  Obi-Wan  pulled  up  beside

him. In just minutes, the droid returned.

Qui-Gon consulted the readout. "He's stopped. Good. We might be  able

to catch up to him by dawn."

Qui-Gon released the probe droid again, then zoomed off to  the  next

destination. Obi-Wan pushed his engine to follow. Balog  was  within  their

grasp.

They rode all night. It was Obi-Wan's second night without sleep. The

three moons rose high in the purple sky, and the calls of  night  creatures

came to him faintly. When weariness overcame him, he  reached  out  to  the

Force to help him maintain a meditative  state.  He  was  alert  enough  to

drive, yet was able to allow his body to rest even  as  he  sped  over  the

rocky ground. Qui-Gon did not appear tired in the least.

Dawn broke quickly on this world. The horizon turned red-orange,  and

the blazing color spread into the dark purple of the sky as the  suns  rose

higher. The flat landscape had changed to foothills that  grew  larger  and

steeper as they rode. Trees were thick, and the Jedi had to use caution  to

keep up their speed.

"We are close, Padawan.  Let's  slow  down  a  bit.  Balog  could  be

breaking camp." Qui-Gon slowed his engine, and Obi-Wan followed suit.

"We should go on foot from here. He should be over that next hill."

Obi-Wan jumped off his swoop gratefully. His legs felt stiff. The air

was cold, and he moved quickly to warm his muscles.

They climbed the hill silently. Their footing had to be assured,  for

if they slipped, they could cause a small rock slide that would alert Balog

of their presence.

They neared the top of the hill and Qui-Gon dropped to his hands  and

knees. Obi-Wan did the same. He slithered up to the top and peered over.

All he saw was an empty plain. There was no sign of  Balog,  even  in

the distance. He must have left long ago.

Qui-Gon dropped his head into his hands.  He  did  not  speak  for  a

moment. Obi-Wan was disappointed, but he could  see  that  his  Master  was

distraught.

Obi-Wan was tired and hungry and cold. There  was  nothing  he  would

like better right now than to set up the condenser  unit  for  warmth,  eat

some rations, and settle on the ground for a good sleep of at least  a  few

hours.

Instead, he put his hand on  Qui-Gon's  shoulder.  He  spoke  softly.

"Let's keep going."

"Yes," Qui-Gon said, his expression fierce. "Let's move on."

CHAPTER 5

Before the morning had passed, the  probe  droid  returned  with  new

coordinates. Balog was traveling quickly, with barely  any  stops.  Obi-Wan

could see Qui-Gon's frustration harden into cold resolve. He would not rest

until they caught up with Balog. He would drive his body to the limit.

The temperature rose, and the combined power of the blazing suns bore

down on Obi-Wan. He took a swallow of  water  from  his  rations.  He  felt

light-headed from the heat and lack of sleep.

"Do you think Balog doesn't stop because he knows we're behind  him?"

he asked Qui-Gon.

"Or he has a destination in mind and knows he will  be  safe  there,"

Qui-Gon responded. "It would be best for us to catch up to  him  before  he

reaches it."

Obi-Wan wanted to ask Qui-Gon more  questions,  but  he  stilled  his

curiosity. He sensed that talk would disrupt  his  Master's  concentration.

They were using the probe droid, but they also needed  their  own  tracking

skills to keep moving. Time and  time  again  they  needed  to  exit  their

transports and make their way over the ground.  Obi-Wan  now  realized  how

different a training exercise was from reality. He had to  make  absolutely

sure that he didn't miss a thing, and that what he did read from the ground

was correct. Tahl's life depended on it.

As the first sun began to set,  the  probe  droid  returned.  Qui-Gon

consulted the readout and turned to Obi-Wan. His  face  was  streaked  with

dust, his tunic stained and filthy. Obi-Wan knew  he  must  look  just  the

same.

"We must travel through the night again, Padawan. Can you do it?"

Obi-Wan had reached a place where his body did not feel  fatigue.  He

knew it was there, deep in his muscles and bones, and that he would feel it

once this pursuit was over. Until then, he would not allow himself.

"I can do it," he said.

Qui-Gon nodded and sped off. Again, they rode through the dark night.

The cold air revived Obi-Wan and he took deep  breaths  of  it  to  restore

himself. The night streamed past in a blur  of  landscape  and  rising  and

setting moons.

The sky was just beginning to lighten when the probe droid  returned.

It had taken less time for its reconnaissance. That could be a  good  sign.

Obi-Wan kept his eyes on Qui-Gon as he quickly accessed the  readout.  When

Qui-Gon turned, his eyes gleamed in satisfaction.

"He has stopped. The droid has just left him, so he'll be there  this

time. We've  got  him."  He  leaped  off  his  speeder.  "We  must  proceed

carefully, Padawan. There is a small canyon just ahead. Balog is there."

They proceeded silently toward a rocky outcropping. Qui-Gon signaled,

indicating that they would find Balog around the rocks.

They moved silently but speedily. The darkness was starting to  lift,

but there were still deep shadows cast by the rocks and cliffs around them.

They moved into the shadows of the cliff. It would give them cover.

They climbed over some rocks and entered the canyon. Ahead they saw a

small fire burning. There was no sign of Balog's hoverscout, but  a  figure

lay near the fire, wrapped in a thermal quilt. Perhaps the  hoverscout  was

parked nearby, deep in the shadows. Obi-Wan focused on the figure near  the

fire. Was it Balog? Or could it be Tahl?

Qui-Gon's steps slowed. He peered ahead through the  dimness  at  the

figure on the ground. He put out a hand to slow Obi-Wan down.

"Something is wrong," he muttered. "Can you feel it?"

Before Obi-Wan could respond, two dark shapes in the sky swooped down

toward them. Probe droids.

And then Obi-Wan saw their own probe droid dart to the left, circling

the canyon. He pointed it out to Qui-Gon, who looked  up  at  it,  puzzled,

just as blaster fire ripped into the rocks behind them.

"It's a trap!" Qui-Gon shouted.

CHAPTER 6

Balog had fooled them. He was  gone,  but  he  had  left  two  attack

droids.

One of these droids peeled off and went after the Jedi's probe droid.

The other headed for the Jedi.

Their droid shifted into attack mode from the  threat.  Blaster  fire

pinged overhead as the two droids found each other's positions and battled.

"We can't lose that droid," Qui-Gon said urgently. He  activated  his

lightsaber and jumped behind a boulder for cover.  "Obi-Wan,  get  back  to

your swoop. One of us needs to fight the droids from the air."

Obi-Wan hated to leave his Master, but he saw the wisdom of Qui-Gon's

strategy. He sprinted toward his swoop. He could hear  blaster  fire  erupt

behind him, and had to discipline himself not to turn  and  check  on  Qui-

Gon's safety. He had to trust his Master to handle the situation until  his

return.

The wind whistled past his ears as he raced across  the  terrain.  He

leaped onto his swoop and pushed the engines to  maximum.  He  zoomed  back

toward the canyon.

Qui-Gon had jumped or climbed to a  narrow  ledge  above  the  canyon

floor. As the probe droid circled and dived, peppering Qui-Gon with blaster

fire, Qui-Gon used his lightsaber in a series  of  quick  defensive  moves.

Obi-Wan knew he was biding his time until the  droid  came  closer,  so  he

could leap toward it with his lightsaber. It was a waiting game.

"Get that other droid!" Qui-Gon shouted.

Obi-Wan wanted to protect Qui-Gon. But Qui-Gon was  right.  Losing  a

probe droid would drastically lower the odds of finding Tahl quickly.

He shot up to where the probe droids were battling and activated  his

lightsaber. It was hard, even from close range, to  tell  which  droid  was

theirs.

Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan's hesitation. "The one on the left, Padawan!"  he

called out.

Obi-Wan focused on the two droids, noting  any  nicks  and  scratches

that would identify the one he needed to destroy. Balog's droid had a  deep

scratch on one side. Confident now, Obi-Wan moved closer, angling  to  take

his first strike.

Balog's droid suddenly veered and dived, blasting fire  at  the  Jedi

droid.  The  droid  took  evasive  action,  blaster  fire  missing  it   by

centimeters. Obi-Wan gunned the motor and leaned to the right, angling  the

swoop closer. His balance had to be perfect or the swoop would  tumble  end

over end in midair. He made a sudden dive on top of Balog's droid,  swiping

with his lightsaber. But the droid had  already  reversed  course,  and  he

missed.

Obi-Wan righted the swoop and raced up toward  the  probe  droid.  He

could not let the droid get another shot out. At the same time  he  had  to

stay out of his own droid's angle of fire.

Balog's probe droid veered again. Obi-Wan followed. There was only so

much strategy a droid could have. Obi-Wan dived, anticipating  the  droid's

move. At the same time, the Jedi droid fired at Balog's.

"To the left, Padawan!" Qui-Gon shouted.

Without looking, without thinking, Obi-Wan pulled the  swoop  to  the

left, barely missing blaster fire from his own droid. Instead  of  righting

the swoop, he used the move to circle, then  zoom  up,  coming  at  Balog's

droid head on. He saw the red sensor blink as it computed his position.  He

had only seconds.

He rammed the engines into screaming full power and  leaned  off  the

swoop as far as he could, raising his lightsaber high. The lightsaber  came

down and cut the droid neatly in two. Sputtering and smoking,  it  fell  to

the ground below and crashed.

Obi-Wan turned the swoop again, this time heading for Balog's  second

droid. It had altered its flight plan to fly lower since it could not get a

good reading on Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan kept to the droid's left, leaving  Qui-Gon

room to maneuver.

He glanced quickly at  Qui-Gon,  who  nodded.  They  didn't  need  to

compare notes; they had arrived at the same plan. Obi-Wan  sent  the  swoop

into a dive at the same time as Qui-Gon leaped. The two Jedi soared  toward

the droid, their lightsabers pulsating. Together, they timed their blows  -

Qui-Gon an upward sweep, Obi-Wan a downward thrust. The probe droid had  no

way to escape. It fell under both blows and disintegrated in  a  shower  of

metal and sparks.

But what Obi-Wan hadn't taken into account was their own probe droid.

It had reprogrammed itself to attack the second droid,  and  fired  at  the

same time.

Obi-Wan felt a warning surge in the Force and quickly accelerated. He

was fast enough to avoid getting hit but not fast enough to bring the swoop

completely out of danger. He heard blaster fire  pepper  the  body  of  the

swoop. Immediately it began to smoke and sputter. Obi-Wan carefully  guided

it toward the ground.

Qui-Gon landed on his feet. Obi-Wan pulled up next to him.

Qui-Gon's face was  grimy  and  streaked  with  sweat  as  he  looked

impassively at the swoop.

"I'm sorry, Master," Obi-Wan said disgustedly as he  jumped  off  the

damaged swoop. "Too much of my focus was on Balog's droid."

"It's all right," Qui-Gon said in his quietest  voice.  Obi-Wan  knew

the setback had upset him. "You did well. We still have our probe droid."

Qui-Gon bent to examine the swoop. Part  of  the  control  panel  had

fused together. After a moment he lifted  his  head.  "It's  worse  than  I

thought. It will take some time to repair it. Or else  we  could  leave  it

here. But then there will be no room to bring Tahl back..."

"Unless we capture Balog and his transport."

"Which we can't count  on.  Getting  Tahl  to  safety  is  our  first

concern. We can't make another mistake."

Qui-Gon was still keeping his voice pitched low,  but  Obi-Wan  could

see the boiling frustration in his eyes. He  wished  he  could  replay  the

fight. He wished he had remembered to watch out for their own droid.

"Go on without me, Master," he said. "I'll stay and repair the  swoop

and catch up to you."

"No," Qui-Gon said. "I won't leave you alone in this area. Lenz  told

me that it is dangerous. There are Worker supporters and Absolute loyalists

who often meet in violent clashes. Besides, Tahl is too vulnerable. She  is

trapped, and if Balog gets one second free, he could inject her  again  and

possibly kill her. We need to do this together."

"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan said again.

Qui-Gon put a hand on his shoulder. "Enough. It is a  delay.  Nothing

more. Get the repair kit from the speeder. We are wasting time."

Obi-Wan ran back to the landspeeder, his heart pounding. Qui-Gon  had

said all the right things to reassure him, but he didn't feel  any  better.

Repairing the swoop could take several hours. If this delay meant that Tahl

was moved beyond their reach, he would feel responsible.

When he returned, he found  Qui-Gon  bent  over  the  figure  by  the

smoking fire. It was just a bundle of clothes wrapped in a thermal blanket.

Qui-Gon extracted a sensor.

"This is what confused the droid," he said. "It's an infrared sensor.

It thought Balog was still here. I had a feeling we  would  find  this.  It

should have  occurred  to  me  earlier."  Qui-Gon  squinted  at  the  empty

landscape. "He knows we're following. When his probe droids fail to return,

he'll know we won this battle. He will do something else to  delay  us.  We

must be on our guard."

CHAPTER 7

Qui-Gon sat in the star map room at the Temple. The soft  blue  light

surrounded him. The planet holograms swirled around him  in  the  fantastic

array of colors the galaxy provided. This was  his  favorite  room  at  the

Temple, yet recently he had not been drawn here. It was such a quiet place,

and Qui-Gon had sought to cure his restlessness with activity  rather  than

calm.

The door opened and Tahl entered, then stopped abruptly. Although she

could not see him, she knew he was there. Once, he had asked  her  how  she

knew him immediately - was  it  his  breathing  pattern,  his  scent,  some

betrayal of movement? She had only smiled. "It is just you," she'd said.

But there was no smile  today.  He  and  Tahl  had  been  arguing  or

avoiding each other for months. Whenever he returned  from  a  mission,  he

would go to see her, as he always had. But their conversations did  not  go

well. Lately, their arguments had circled around Tahl's treatment of  Bant,

her new Padawan. She  was  a  kind  teacher  and  respected  Bant's  unique

abilities, but she often left her behind and went on short missions on  her

own.

"I'm sorry," she said stiffly. "You came here to be alone."

So she could tell that, too. "Stay, please," he said.

She sat close to him, tucking her knees up to her chin in a  pose  he

hadn't seen since she was a young girl. "I'm disturbing your refuge.  Well,

sometimes you need disturbing, Qui-Gon."

"No doubt."

"You know, your calmness can be infuriating," Tahl  said.  "But  this

moodiness is worse. I'm trying not to take it personally,  but  either  you

avoid me or you smother me with concern because  of  my  blindness  or  you

attack me about how I am with my Padawan. If  you're  trying  to  test  our

friendship, you're doing a very good job."

She spoke lightly, but he knew she meant it.

What could he  say?  She  presented  a  good  front  to  others.  Her

extraordinary compensations for her blindness had convinced  everyone  that

she had come to terms with it. He knew the truth. He'd known her since  she

was a girl. Tahl was such an independent spirit. Now she disliked having to

ask for help or guidance. Yet there were times she needed it.

"I'm only trying to look out for you," he said carefully. "Then  when

I do, you push me away."

"Why shouldn't I push you away when you crowd me? You should be  used

to me by now You know I have to find my way. We all  do.  You've  had  more

experience as a Master, it's true. But you also know that each Master finds

a separate path with his or her Padawan."

"I do know that."

"Then why can't you let me find my own?"

The question hung between them. Qui-Gon realized he didn't  know  the

answer. He was not one to interfere in other  lives.  A  solitary  man,  he

respected privacy. But with Tahl, it was different. He had a  deep  feeling

that she needed protection, and he had been relieved when  she  had  chosen

Bant as her Padawan. But Tahl would not depend on Bant to help her, either.

Her friendship was the most important thing. He needed to back off.

"You're right," he said. "I was wrong."

"Stars and galaxies," she murmured. "I wasn't expecting an apology. I

was expecting another argument."

"Well, there are things I could say - "

She smacked his knee. "I know that. How about we just be  quiet,  for

once? We can't get into trouble that way."

So Qui-Gon sat with her, watching the hologram planets whirl. For the

first time in weeks, he felt at peace. Strange how her quiet presence could

soothe as well as irritate him.

It had been their last quiet time  together.  The  next  morning,  he

found out she was going on a quick mission to the  rough  satellite  planet

Vandor 3. She was leaving Bant behind.  By  the  morning  meal,  they  were

arguing again.

The delay caused by the damage to the swoop made them push themselves

even harder. The new coordinates the probe droid brought back spurred  them

on. By the next morning they had reached the  vast  rock  quarries  of  New

Apsolon, where the gray stone that had been used to build the  majority  of

the buildings in the capital city was harvested.

It was rough country, with vast boulders, cliffs, and deep pits, some

filled with water. A good place to hide, Qui-Gon thought. Perhaps they were

approaching Balog's destination.

Obi-Wan had been silent for hours, his face drawn. Qui-Gon  knew  his

Padawan still felt  badly  about  the  delay.  He  had  no  more  words  of

reassurance for him. Obi-Wan would have to look forward, like a  Jedi.  His

Padawan knew that Qui-Gon was frantic to find Tahl, but most likely thought

his zeal to find her had to do with their long friendship. He did not  know

how much of Qui-Gon's spirit was bound up in Tahl's safety.  He  could  not

know how full Qui-Gon's heart was, and how difficult that made it  for  him

to speak.

All will be well, Qui-Gon told himself, when I find her. When  I  see

her. When I know she is safe...

Qui-Gon wrenched his mind away from the future. It had been  worrying

him, how often his thoughts went to his reunion with Tahl. It  sprang  from

his need to see her safe. Yet it was dangerous for  him  to  dwell  on  the

future, he knew. Balog was still ahead of them. That was all he  needed  to

know. His  attention  must  be  on  each  present  moment.  His  focus  was

distracted, and he could be missing things  as  he  traveled.  He  was  not

thinking like a Jedi. How could he teach his Padawan when  he  himself  had

trouble reaching his calm center?

Qui-Gon drew his focus around him. His hands remained steady  on  the

controls of the land-speeder. His progress continued. Yet he  directed  his

concentration away from his piloting to take in the landscape  around  him,

the Force vibrating, present as it was always present, teaching him  as  it

always taught him.

Then he felt it. A flicker of something... danger, perhaps. He  might

have noticed it before. It might have been lurking underneath  the  surface

of his worry for some time. It was a separate worry from his distress  over

Tahl. Now he examined it fully, turning it over in his mind.  A  ripple  in

the Force, an undercurrent, a warning. A different energy was behind them.

Someone was tailing them.

He did not say anything to Obi-Wan. He cast his focus back, alert for

any clue. They drove on.

By dusk, he was certain. They were gaining on  Balog  now.  The  last

report from the droid told them that  their  ability  to  go  long  periods

without sleep had helped them. Balog had stopped, and  stopped  again.  The

distance was closing. This time, Qui-Gon believed it because he could  feel

it.

Yet the  fact  that  someone  was  behind  them  could  impede  their

progress. He sensed that this being was gaining on  them.  He  or  she  was

close now. If they were overtaken and attacked, they  could  lose  precious

time.

It was time to tell Obi-Wan.

"There is someone behind us, following us,"  Qui-Gon  said  the  next

time they stopped to check their position. "I think it might be  better  to

circle back and surprise them before they surprise us.  I  don't  like  the

delay, but it would be better in the long run to deal with this."

"I didn't sense anything," Obi-Wan said unhappily.

"It was a suggestion, nothing more. Very faint, but  it  grew.  Don't

dwell on your lapse, Obi-Wan. Look forward. This is a good lesson. Even  in

pursuit, your focus should be a wide circle, taking  in  everything  around

you."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Do you have any ideas about who it could be?"

Qui-Gon shook his head. "I wouldn't guess." "It could be Irini," Obi-

Wan said. "She seemed very anxious about that list."

"It could also be a comrade of  Balog's,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "If  Balog

knows we're gaining on him, he might call for help. I don't want to use the

probe droid to track our pursuer. We're going to have to do it ourselves."

"I'm ready," Obi-Wan agreed.

They turned back, making a wide circle to avoid being  seen.  Qui-Gon

pointed ahead to a cluster of hill formations formed from  solid  rock.  He

gestured that they should go around them. He remembered that they had  gone

through the formation in the center, where a rough passage was cut  through

the rock. He had a feeling their pursuer was inside that narrow passage. It

was a good place for them to ambush whoever it was.

They zoomed around the  formation,  then  headed  into  the  passage,

moving at top speed now. Ahead, Qui-Gon saw the reverberations of  a  fast-

moving landspeeder. He motioned to Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan guided his repaired

swoop high in the air. Qui-Gon pushed the engines faster as Obi-Wan  zoomed

above. Within seconds, they were on top of the other transport.

Their pursuer looked back in surprise. A gold braid whipped around in

the wind, slapping her in the cheek.

It was one of the twins - at this speed, Qui-Gon couldn't tell  which

one.

The twin stopped her landspeeder and leaped off. Qui-Gon  slowed  his

own engine. Obi-Wan landed the swoop. As she strode toward them, he saw  it

was Eritha. He was surprised. Alani had  been  the  more  forceful  of  the

twins. Eritha tended to stay in the background. Why had she  come  on  this

rugged journey?

"I'm so glad to find you!" she cried. "I've been traveling for  days.

I didn't know how to reach you. I found out who is backing  Balog.  I  know

who your enemy is."

"Who?" Qui-Gon asked.

Eritha hesitated a moment. Her lips pressed together in a thin  line,

as if she were reluctant to let the words out. "My sister," she said.

CHAPTER 8

"Alani is in contact with Balog," Eritha  continued.  The  words  now

tumbled out of her. "I heard her speaking to him on a comlink.  I  couldn't

tell where he was, or where he was headed. Tahl is alive, but he's  keeping

her contained in that horrible device."

Tahl is alive. Obi-Wan saw the relief transform Qui-Gon's face before

his Master turned his full attention back to Eritha again.

"Do you see what this means?" Eritha cried.  She  twisted  her  hands

together. "Alani must have lied to me all along! She convinced me that Roan

was behind our father's death. And I'm sure that  she  engineered  our  own

kidnapping." She went on angrily. "No wonder she was so strong  during  the

ordeal. After we were released, I was afraid they were tracking us to  kill

us. She kept telling me not to be afraid, not to worry...." Eritha's  voice

was full of disgust. "I thought she was so brave. And Roan - could she have

arranged to kill Roan? I can't believe that! He was so kind to us.  He  was

our father's best friend!"

"What is her goal?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Power. She wants to rule New Apsolon." Eritha shook  her  head.  "At

least that's what I think they are planning. Balog will back her along with

the Absolutes. I can't believe what I'm saying. I  can't  believe  I  never

knew my sister. I'm so ashamed."

"But you didn't do anything wrong," Obi-Wan said.

"Don't you understand? She is part  of  me.  I  should  have  known."

Eritha's gaze was bleak.

"Are you sure she gave no  clues  to  Balog's  whereabouts?"  Qui-Gon

asked urgently.

Eritha sighed woefully. "I'm sorry. I overheard the conversation, but

they never mentioned where he was."

"Thank you for coming and telling us this," Qui-Gon said. "You risked

much. Now you must return."

"I'm not going back."  Eritha's  jaw  set  stubbornly,  removing  the

softness that distinguished her from her more dynamic and electric sister.

"I am sorry," Qui-Gon said firmly, "but you must. Obi-Wan and  I  are

going ahead. It will be dangerous."

"I don't care. My sister has shamed my  planet.  I  must  restore  my

family's honor. She is a Worker and has betrayed the Workers by  making  an

alliance with the Absolutes. Do you see what this means?  She  thinks  that

because of who her father is, the Workers will accept her without question.

Even as we speak she is  maneuvering  to  get  the  United  Legislature  to

appoint her as Supreme Governor. I know how she is doing it, too -  I  know

her. She won't ask, she won't suggest. She'll be sweet and modest.  Somehow

those high up in the Legislature will think they came up with the  idea  on

their own. Just as she once made me  believe  that  Roan  was  involved  in

Ewane's death. Of course the Workers will support her - she is  a  heroine,

for surviving our father's death.

"Once appointed, she will bring back the Absolutes and slowly restore

the government to what it was. The Workers will be  trampled.  No."  Eritha

crossed her arms. "I will not return. My dead father is at my shoulder.  He

sacrificed too much. I am coming with you."

"Eritha, we think Balog is probably heading to  his  supporters.  You

are not trained for battle," Obi-Wan said.

"Oh, but I am." Eritha drew back her cloak, exposing the blasters and

explosive devices on her belt. "I have excellent aim."

"I admire your dedication," Qui-Gon said. "However - "

"Tahl was a great friend to me  when  I  needed  one,"  Eritha  said,

staring Qui-Gon down. "I can't desert her now. And you forget that  I  have

been through the same thing. I was trapped in that device. I know  what  it

does to you. I have to do this, Qui-Gon."

Qui-Gon was about to speak, but suddenly an explosion  shattered  the

rocks at their side. Shards flew out at  them.  Both  Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon

sprang forward to protect Eritha. Qui-Gon shielded her with his body  while

they leaped behind her speeder.

"Keep your head down," Qui-Gon ordered sternly. "It looks  as  though

our battle has found us."

CHAPTER 9

It wasn't Balog who was attacking. After the  dust  cleared,  Qui-Gon

and Obi--Wan caught a glimpse of a group of beings who blended in with  the

rocks and dirt. They wore gray unisuits and their skin was  the  same  ashy

color. They moved from boulder to boulder, trying to close in on the Jedi.

Obi-Wan saw a thin beam of light pulse over their  heads  toward  the

canyon wall. "Move back!" he shouted to Qui-Gon and Eritha.

They jumped back just seconds before a slide of rock and shale landed

where they had been.

"They're using a beamdrill to create rock slides," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon looked behind them. "They most likely are driving us into  an

ambush."

"What should we do?" Eritha asked. Her face was taut, her  eyes  wide

with fear.

Another pulse hit the rock face, and the three jumped back in time to

avoid another shuddering explosion of rock. The shards  flew  toward  them,

and they covered their heads until the dust settled.

"We need to get above the range  of  the  beamdrill,"  Qui-Gon  said,

scanning the canyon wall. "If we can get on top of  the  rock,  they  can't

follow us."

"Our cable launchers don't go that high," Obi-Wan said.  "We'll  have

to keep relaunching."

"And meanwhile they'll still be using that beamdrill," Eritha said.

"I think it's our only chance," Qui-Gon  decided.  "Stay  close,"  he

warned Eritha.

She shuddered. "Don't worry."

"Qui-Gon! Our probe droid is approaching!" Obi-Wan called.

"We need better cover!" Eritha shouted, panicked. She darted  forward

suddenly as the beam-drill pulse hit an area over their heads.

As rocks began to rain down, Qui-Gon leaped toward  Eritha  to  bring

her to safety. Obi-Wan followed, activating his lightsaber to  deflect  the

rocks from the probe droid.

Qui-Gon grabbed Eritha and landed safely behind  a  pile  of  debris.

Obi-Wan wasn't as lucky. He was seconds too late to save the probe droid. A

large boulder hit the droid straight on, shattering it. Obi-Wan barely  had

time to register this before he realized  a  shower  of  rocks  was  headed

toward him. He twisted in midair, but a large rock caught him in  the  leg.

He fell, and his leg gave way underneath him.

"Stay here!" Qui-Con roared to Eritha,  pushing  her  head  down.  He

raced forward, picked Obi-Wan up in his  arms,  and  with  a  mighty  leap,

landed beyond the safety of the new pile of rocks the attack had created.

"Master... the droid    I'm sorry..." Obi-Wan's breath  came  in  gasps.

His leg throbbed.

Qui-Gon felt the leg gently. "It's not broken. After you  catch  your

breath you might be able to stand on it. If not, I'll carry you."

Obi-Wan nodded. He gathered himself  to  accept  the  pain,  to  open

himself to the Force so he could begin to heal.

They were almost at the end of the narrow  canyon.  Obi-Wan  knew  he

would not be able to use his cable launcher to get above  the  beam-drills.

By the grim look on Qui-Gon's face, he knew his Master had already realized

this and was formulating another plan.

Suddenly two explosions went off farther down the narrow passage, and

a rock slide began, larger  than  the  ones  before.  Qui-Gon  and  Obi-Wan

covered their heads.

When they were able to see through the choking dust, the end  of  the

canyon was blocked off by a towering pile of rock and rubble.

"We're trapped," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon activated his lightsaber. "They still have to  come  and  get

us. And we have the cover of the landslides they've already created."

They heard a grinding noise, and a mole miner appeared at  the  other

end of the canyon. The utility vehicle lumbered toward them slowly.

"Mole miners can bore through solid rock," Obi-Wan said.  "Our  cover

is about to disintegrate."

Just then Eritha dashed over to them from behind her own cover. "What

is that?" she asked Qui-Gon.

"A mole miner," Qui-Gon said. "It's a utility craft used by miners."

"So our attackers are miners?" Eritha asked.

"I'd say yes," Qui-Gon said. "So far they've used mining equipment to

attack us. Maybe they don't have conventional weapons."

"That could be good news," Eritha muttered.

Suddenly, she scrambled over the rock pile.

"Eritha!" Qui-Gon yelled, reaching for her.

She jumped from the top of the pile to the  ground.  Then  she  threw

back the hood of her cloak and raised her hands.

"Stay here, Padawan." Qui-Gon leaped over the rock pile in one  fluid

motion. He stood with his lightsaber activated, ready to defend Eritha.

"Put away your weapon, Qui-Gon," Eritha said through her teeth.  "And

trust me."

The mole miner advanced a few meters, then stopped.

Slowly, Qui-Gon deactivated his lightsaber. Obi-Wan watched,  knowing

his Master could still attack in a movement faster than the eye could see.

Slowly, a hatch opened at the top of the mole miner. A ramp  emerged.

A man and a woman crawled out and walked down the ramp.

They faced Qui-Gon and Eritha and bowed.

"Daughter of Ewane, we are at your service," the  man  said.  Obi-Wan

now saw that their skin was gray with rock dust.

Eritha bowed in return. "I am Eritha."

The tall woman spoke. "We thought you were a team from the Absolutes.

We apologize. They have been raiding our settlements and stealing supplies.

"

"Who are you?" Qui-Gon asked.

"We are the Rock Workers. We are allies of the Tech  Workers  in  the

city. We are glad to see that you were not harmed."

"But we were," Qui-Gon said. "My Padawan is hurt. And our probe droid

was destroyed. It was tracking an Absolute."

"Then we are truly sorry," the man said,  distressed.  "If  you  come

with us to our settlement, we have excellent med care. We will help you any

way we can."

CHAPTER 10

The air was so crisp and clear on  Ragoon-6  that  it  gave  you  the

feeling you could see to the future, or back to the past. Tahl had proposed

the training exercise to Qui-Gon on one  of  their  rare  meetings  at  the

Temple. If they did not take the time now, when would they? she had pointed

out, her chin thrusting at him as it did when she wanted her own way.  Soon

they would both be sent on missions again.

He knew that she had proposed the trip because of what  had  happened

with Xanatos. His Padawan had  turned  to  the  dark  side,  and  weeks  of

meditation and talks with Yoda had  not  reconciled  Qui-Gon  to  that.  He

sensed that Yoda was concerned  about  his  progress.  Yet  he  was  stuck,

thinking over and over about everything  he  had  done  and  everything  he

should have done.

To his relief, Tahl hadn't  brought  up  Xanatos  once  on  Ragoon-6.

Instead they had concentrated on the exercise. The  landscape  of  Ragoon-6

was breathtaking, but it was difficult terrain. They pushed their bodies to

the limit as they scaled mountains and hiked rocky trails.

They paused to rest on a flat rock overlooking a deep valley.

"Do you see that flying irid?" Tahl  said,  pointing.  "Look  at  the

yellow on the underside of its wings."

Qui-Gon looked where she pointed. Tahl could always see farther  than

he could. He waited until his  eyes  could  track  the  bird,  a  flash  of

brilliant color in the blue sky. "Beautiful."

"Yes. But they are horrible birds. They attack their own  kind.  It's

strange, though. They nurture their young with great care. They teach  them

to fly, to hunt, to nest. Yet when their young reach maturity they are just

as likely to eat their parents as each other."

Qui-Gon stared out at the valley. "Are parables supposed to  make  me

feel better? I know you are talking about Xanatos. I nurtured  him  and  he

betrayed me. It was not my fault. It was his nature. Is  that  what  you're

saying?"

"I'm talking about irids," Tahl said composedly. "But  now  that  you

brought him up

"Excuse me, I didn't - "

"I'd like to make one point. You can't control everything you  touch,

Qui-Gon. And you can't make sense of everything, either, no matter how much

you analyze or meditate. Not even you."

"This is not about ego," he said.

She shot him a keen look, all emerald and gold. "Isn't it?"

Another delay. Qui-Gon wanted to bellow his rage to the sky. Instead,

he helped his Padawan to Eritha's Landspeeder and gently lowered  him  into

the seat. Obi-Wan's face was drawn with pain.

The last thing he wanted to do right now was take a detour from their

quest, but his Padawan needed care.

Eritha drove her landspeeder, and a Rock Worker took Obi-Wan's swoop.

Qui-Gon followed as they raced through the canyons toward the Rock Workers'

settlement.

He was glad that the distance wasn't far. The  settlement  lay  in  a

small valley surrounded by quarries. Walkways made of slate were  laid  out

in rows and led to residences, stores, a school, and a small med unit.

Obi-Wan was met by a young woman who hurried out immediately to  look

at his wound.

"I am a trained medic," she said. "My name is Yanci. I've  seen  many

wounds such as this in the quarries. This isn't too bad. Your  friend  will

mend quickly."

Qui-Gon nodded his thanks. Together he and Yanci helped Obi-Wan  into

the med center.

"I can take over from here," Yanci told him, setting out a splint and

beginning the procedure for a bacta bath. "The refreshment unit  is  across

the walkway. Why don't you rest, and I  will  come  over  and  give  you  a

progress report?"

Obi-Wan flashed Qui-Gon a grin that was also  a  grimace.  "I'm  fine

here."

Qui-Gon patted his shoulder in support, then left the  med  unit.  It

might be helpful to talk to the Rock Workers about the  Absolutes.  He  was

surprised to hear that the Absolutes had been conducting raids. That  meant

their numbers were bigger than he'd thought. That was most likely not  good

news for his mission. He felt frustration rise up  and  threaten  to  choke

him. He took a deep breath to calm himself. The frustration eased,  but  he

knew it still  simmered,  ready  to  boil  again.  He  wanted  to  continue

tracking, but he couldn't leave Obi-Wan without knowing the extent  of  his

injury.

Qui-Gon walked across to the refreshment unit. There he found the two

Rock Workers who had been inside the mole miner. They had brought  tea  and

food to Eritha. Qui-Gon shook his head at their offer as  he  took  a  seat

opposite them.

The tall female pointed to her companion. "I am  Bini,  and  this  is

Kevta," she said. "Again, we must  tell  you  how  sorry  we  are  to  have

mistaken you for Absolutes. We don't get travelers out in this area, so  we

jumped to conclusions too fast. How is your young friend?"

"It was an understandable mistake," Qui-Gon said.  "Obi-Wan  will  be

fine, according to your medic. She'll give me a report soon."

"Yanci has great skill. It is good that you brought him here."

"Tell me," Qui-Gon said. "You said that the Absolutes had raided your

camp. How many were there?"

Kevta stirred honey into his tea. "We were attacked  by  a  squad  of

maybe thirty, but when there are casualties, more take their place. We have

no way of knowing.  We  are  forty  here,  but  that  includes  elders  and

children. The Absolutes are also heavily armed. In  the  first  raid,  they

captured our small weapons - blasters and flechette missiles."

"You don't know where their headquarters are?" he pressed.

Bini cupped her mug of tea in her hands. Qui-Gon noted that her hands

were large and looked extraordinarily strong.  One  finger  was  black  and

blue, and there were old scars on her knuckles. Her hands told him how hard

the work conditions were at the quarries better than words could.

"We do not know," she said quietly. "We have searched. If they have a

base, it is well hidden."

Qui-Gon felt his irritation rise. There was so little information  to

be had. He couldn't get over the feeling that he was wasting time.  "Is  it

possible that they conduct their raids from the city?"

Kevta shook his head. "No. We know their  base  is  in  the  quarries

somewhere. Their raids are spaced too close.  Especially  lately.  We  have

been raided five times in the past month."

"Do you have weapons left?" Qui-Gon asked.

"We have a few blasters, not many," Kevta said.  "We  only  have  our

tools and the explosives we use in the quarries. They are expensive and  we

don't like to use them. But we  are  getting  desperate.  That  is  why  we

attacked you today. We have had enough. We know they are  after  our  large

explosives. If we lose  those,  we're  doomed.  This  mining  outfit  is  a

cooperative. We all share in the work and profits. If we lose our tools and

explosives, we won't be able to buy more."

"You  need  help,"  Eritha  said.  "Have  you  informed  the   United

Legislature? They could send a security force to protect you."

"We informed them weeks ago and have heard nothing," Bini said.  "The

troubles in the capital city have overshadowed ours."

Qui-Gon thought over what Bini and Kevta had told him. He  remembered

back to Mota, the black market seller with the empty tables  where  weapons

had once been for sale. The Absolutes were gathering  weapons  on  a  large

scale. They were ready to make their move. All of this had  coincided  with

Tahl's kidnapping. But was there a connection?

Restlessly, Qui-Gon drummed his fingers on the  table,  then  stilled

them. Eritha watched him over the rim of her mug.

The door opened, and Yanci strode in. She saw Qui-Gon immediately and

came over.

"Obi-Wan is a good patient," she said, "only stubborn.  He  wants  to

leave. But I am prevailing on you to reason with him. His wound will  heal,

but he needs time for the bacta to regenerate what he lost."

"How long?" Qui-Gon asked.

"A day. Maybe more. He will risk permanent damage if he does not stay

off that leg."

Qui-Gon nodded. Accepting the diagnosis was not easy. Every  part  of

him was screaming to leave, to rescue Tahl. He should at least  wait  until

morning before making a decision. He wanted to leave tonight. Right now.

Yanci seemed to understand.  "The  moons  are  waning.  It  would  be

difficult to track tonight. The quarries are treacherous."

"Do you have a probe droid you can lend us?"

Bini shook her head. "Probe droids are illegal. Absolutes  still  use

them, of course. We do not."

Qui-Gon saw he had no choice. Reluctantly, he rose. "May I  sleep  in

the med unit tonight? I don't want Obi-Wan to be alone."

"I'll make arrangements," Yanci promised. "And Eritha can sleep in my

unit," Bini said. "It is only one more day," Yanci said.

But one more day could mean everything. He could not  risk  Obi-Wan's

health. Qui-Gon pushed his decision off until morning. If Obi-Wan  was  not

better, he would consider going on alone and leave Eritha here with him. It

was not a choice he wanted to make.

And when the chase began again, he would not have the probe droid. He

would have to track Balog on his own. It would take longer.  He  might  not

succeed.

Tahl felt farther away than ever.

Be strong, Tahl. You pledged your life to me. I gave  you  my  heart.

Know that I will find you.

CHAPTER 11

Now that Qui-Gon had just become a Jedi Knight, Yoda had suggested it

was time he took a Padawan. Qui-Gon decided to go on one last mission while

he thought about it. He never did anything rashly.  He  had  a  Padawan  in

mind, and it was easier to consider him away from the Temple.

He had a stopover in Zekulae while he waited for transport. It was  a

barren world, noted for its mineral soil,  which  was  dark  and  rich  and

studded with blue crystals. The soil was so fine that within  days  it  was

everywhere - in his hair, in his mouth, in his boots.  Qui-Gon  found  that

his careful thoughts about his future had shrunk to a longing for his  next

shower.

He stopped in a caf© for a cool  drink.  He  sipped  it,  eyeing  the

locals. Zekulae was not overly dangerous, but you had to be  careful  here.

The government had a relaxed attitude toward rules and laws. Disputes  were

most often settled with fists or blasters.

Suddenly an argument broke out behind him. It was between two  beings

playing sabacc. One was a native of Zekulae, the other hidden by a  column.

The Zeku stood, scattering the cards.

"Strange that you're the one so upset, when I'm the  one  who's  been

cheated," a dry voice said.

Qui-Gon knew the voice, even though it had changed. He  hadn't  heard

it in years. It was deeper, huskier than he remembered.

Tahl rose from the table. He waited, watching her, as did everyone in

the caf©. She commanded attention. He didn't  know  her  mission  here.  It

might not be safe if she were seen talking to a Jedi.  She  was  wearing  a

traveler's cloak and boots, and her lightsaber was hidden.

The Zeku moved his hand toward his belt, but he didn't get  a  chance

to draw his weapon. Within the space of an eye blink, Tahl reached out  and

disarmed him, at the same time pressing one shoulder so that he was  forced

to sit back down in his chair, hard. Maintaining the pressure, she  scooped

some credits off the table.

"Let's call it even," she said. "And I'll buy you a  drink.  Wouldn't

you rather live to see the sunset?"

He nodded, his face contorted in pain. She called to  the  bartender.

"Something special for my friend here."

She tucked the credits inside  her  tunic,  released  the  Zeku,  and

walked on. Nobody in the caf© moved. No one spoke.  They  all  watched  the

woman who combined elegance and danger walk casually through them.

Qui-Gon watched her, too, admiring her toughness and  grace.  He  was

astonished at how lovely she was. Her extraordinary eyes and  the  strength

of her features had become dramatic and striking with maturity.

Then she saw him, and her face lost its severe cast. She came over to

his table and sat as conversations started up around them. The incident was

over.

"Well, it's you," she said. "It's been so long."

"Too long."

"I only have a minute," she said. "I'm on a mission."

Only a minute, when they hadn't seen each other in years!

"So tell me everything as fast as you can," she said, laughing.  "You

look well. I hear you are now a Knight."

"As are you," Qui-Gon said. "I'm thinking of taking a  Padawan.  Yoda

is urging me to consider it."

"Do you have a candidate?"

"Xanatos."

She nodded  slowly.  "He  is  gifted.  I  would  consider  carefully,

however. I'm not sure he's the right one for you."

"I haven't seen you in  years,  and  you're  giving  me  advice?"  he

teased.

"Who else in the galaxy  understands  you  so  well?"  she  answered,

smiling.

"No one," he admitted. "You were wrong about that. Remember what  you

said when we said good-bye?"

Her smile grew soft. "I am glad," she said, "to have been wrong about

that. I'm glad to still be the one who knows you best. And  we  never  said

good-bye. Remember?"

They sat for a moment in silence, remembering the  Temple,  the  days

when they had looked forward so eagerly  to  becoming  Jedi  Knights.  They

hadn't known then how hard it would turn out to be. Neither had they  known

how deeply satisfying it would be at the same time. Yes, a life of  service

suited him. Suited Tahl, he could see. And it was something, to  have  this

connection now, still so strong after so many years.

"I have to go," she said softly. "l will see you soon.  Missions  can

be short, you know."

He smiled, remembering the eager, young Tahl who  had  said  that  so

confidently years ago.

She stood. She did not say good-bye. He knew she  wouldn't,  no  more

than she ever said hello. With a last smile, she walked out of the caf© and

did not look back.

Dusk fell quickly. Qui-Gon checked on Obi-Wan and found him  in  deep

meditation. He quietly went out again, glad to see it. Obi-Wan was focusing

his mind on healing. Maybe his Padawan would be ready to travel by morning.

He had no doubts as to Yanci's diagnostic  abilities,  but  she  had  never

treated a Jedi before.

Qui-Gon strolled through the Rock Workers'  settlement,  taking  deep

breaths of the cool night  air.  He  was  impressed  with  its  design  and

organization. He could see that though the quarry work was  difficult,  the

Workers themselves had created a good life. They took care  of  each  other

and their young. Under other circumstances, he would have enjoyed the brief

stop. Now he only wanted to be gone.

He found Yanci, Bini, and Kevta sitting outside a small housing unit,

and they waved him over.

"We were enjoying the stars," Kevta said. "It  is  a  hard  life  out

here, but I tried city work. It didn't take."

"I'm glad to have run  into  you,"  Qui-Gon  said,  settling  himself

beside them. "Would you mind if I asked you more questions about the raids?

It might help us track the Absolutes."

"We will tell you what we can," Kevta said.

"I think I'll make sure Eritha is settled," Yanci said, rising. "Bini

and Kevta are the strategists here." Qui-Gon noted how her hand lingered on

Kevta's shoulder. He gave her a gentle smile as she left.

Qui-Gon questioned Bini  and  Kevta  closely.  By  listening  to  the

details, he was able to find a pattern in the direction of the attacks  and

the minimal amount of tracking the Rock Workers had done.

He left the two of them and walked  slowly  back  to  the  med  unit.

Without knowing it, Bini and Kevta had given him good news.  The  Jedi  did

not have to return to their last coordinates. They could track Balog from a

point a few kilometers from the Worker settlement. If Balog was heading  to

the Absolute camp, they should find some evidence of his route. There  were

only a few possible routes through the canyons.

Of course, it all depended on  whether  Balog  was  heading  for  the

secret hideout of the Absolutes.

It was a chance they had to take.

Qui-Gon checked on Obi-Wan, who was now sleeping deeply.  Good.  Qui-

Gon needed to do the same. It had  been  days  since  his  last  sleep.  He

quieted his mind, allowing sleep to come. He knew he had to operate at  his

peak, and his body told him that he needed rest.

He slept, but his dreams were vivid and disturbing. Once again he was

in the caf© on Zekulae. His heart lifted at the sound of Tahl's  voice.  He

rushed forward to greet her. But her gaze was lifeless,  her  eyes  a  dull

black color. He realized she could not move or speak.

He woke with a start, his heart pounding. It was still dark, but dawn

was near. He immediately swung his legs over his sleep couch  and  went  to

check on Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan seemed to feel his gaze. His eyes opened  slowly,

and then he came awake at once.

He tested his leg muscles, stretching beneath the thermal blanket.

"Better," he said.

He swung his legs over his sleep couch. "Take it easy," Qui-Gon said.

"Yanci thinks you need one more day."

Obi-Wan slid out of bed, holding one hand against the wall to  steady

himself. He walked around the room. "Much better," he said. "I am ready  to

travel."

Qui-Gon studied his Padawan to make sure he was telling the truth. He

knew Obi-Wan's desire to move on would be  greater  than  his  concern  for

himself. But his color was good, and there was no sign of pain on his face.

His gait was a bit stiff, but it was steady.

"We'll see what Yanci says," he said.

When Yanci arrived, bringing Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's breakfast, she was

startled at Obi-Wan's recovery.

"I guess I'm better than even I thought," she said cheerfully. "I see

no reason why you can't travel, Obi-Wan. Just try to rest the leg when  you

can, and apply bacta again tonight."

Qui-Gon left Obi-Wan finishing breakfast while Yanci added some items

to his medpac. The suns were just a suggestion of orange along the  horizon

as Qui-Gon hurried to the speeders. They would need to be  refueled  before

they took off. Every moment counted. And he should awaken Eritha.  Part  of

him wanted to let her sleep so that they could leave her  behind.  He  knew

she would insist on coming with them, and he worried about her safety. Tahl

was his first concern. Protecting Eritha would be a distraction  he  didn't

need. But if he did not wake her, undoubtedly she would try to  find  them,

and she could get into more trouble that way.

To his surprise, he found Eritha at the pen  where  their  transports

were kept.

"You're up early," he said.

She jumped. "You startled me."

"Obi-Wan is better."

She nodded. "I thought he would be. I came to start the refueling.  I

didn't want you to leave without me."

"I thought about  it,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "Then  I  thought  about  how

stubborn you are."

"It's a family trait." Eritha hesitated. "Tahl is  important  to  me,

Qui-Gon. I'd do anything for her. I promise I won't slow you down."

"I'll hold you to that," he said.

They completed the refueling in companionable  silence,  and  Obi-Wan

joined them. The stars had faded but the sky was still  gray  as  they  bid

good-bye to Bini, Kevta, and Yanci.

Qui-Gon thanked them for their courtesy, but his mind was already  on

the day ahead. The tracking would not be easy.

"We wish you luck on your quest," Bini  said.  "Don't  push  yourself

with that leg," Yanci told Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan thanked her and swung his leg a bit awkwardly over the saddle

of his swoop. Eritha fired up her engines, and Qui-Gon took the lead.

With a last wave, they headed out of the settlement.

Qui-Gon went to the coordinates where the Rock Workers had  lost  the

Absolute attack team the last time they pursued them.

"We need to find an indication that Balog headed this way  as  well,"

he told Obi-Wan. "The Rock Workers think the Absolutes took the west  route

through the canyons. Balog would have to change direction here."

"I don't understand," Eritha said. "The ground is sheer rock. How can

you see anything?"

But the ground wasn't sheer rock, not to a  Jedi.  Obi-Wan  left  his

swoop and began to search in ever-widening circles  with  Qui-Gon.  Qui-Gon

could see that his Padawan's leg was troubling him, but he focused  on  the

task.

Obi-Wan found the first clue. At first  it  appeared  to  be  a  mere

discoloration on rock. But further study told  them  it  was  the  mark  of

Balog's high-speed engine. They recognized it now.

Qui-Gon crouched over the markings on the rock. "Good work,  Padawan.

Balog is heading west. Look at the pattern of the exhaust. That way."  Qui-

Gon pointed to the crags in the distance. Beyond the crags, he  would  find

her. He could feel it. Her presence  suddenly  pulsed  inside  him  like  a

heartbeat.

Eritha watched them, mystified and impressed.

"Remind me never to hide from the two of you," she said.

They set off again. Without the help of the probe droid, it was  slow

going. They were  forced  to  dismount  time  after  time  to  check  their

progress. By midday, they had found the campsite where Balog had spent  the

night.

"He left this morning," Qui-Gon said quietly, studying the flat  rock

where Balog had placed his condenser unit for heat. He could see  a  scorch

mark and some boot marks in the surrounding dirt. "We are close." His  gaze

was fierce when he lifted his head.  He  looked  past  Obi-Wan  toward  the

rugged landscape. "Very close."

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon heard the noise of  the  transport  at  the  same

time. They both turned toward the source of the sound.

"What is it?" Eritha asked.

The speck in the distance grew rapidly and  turned  into  Yanci,  her

auburn hair flying in the wind as she piloted  a  swoop  at  maximum  speed

toward them.

"Something's wrong," Obi-Wan said.

Yanci pulled up so rapidly she almost tipped the swoop.  She  hovered

next to them.

"We need you," she gasped, out of breath. "A raid... a massive raid..

. like nothing we've seen - "

She bent over, trying to catch her breath. "This time they are trying

to destroy the entire camp," she said after a moment. "They are killing  as

many of us as they can.  Using  small  explosives  and  blasters.  We  have

rallied who we can and have made a last stand in an  outbuilding.  We  have

some weapons. Not many."

Eritha put her hands to her cheeks. "This is  terrible.  We  must  do

something."

"Of course we will come," Obi-Wan said.

"Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "May I speak with you." He turned to  Yanci.

"Just one moment, no more."

Obi-Wan dismounted from his swoop and went to join  Qui-Gon  a  short

distance away where they could not be overheard.

"You must return with Yanci," Qui-Gon told him. "I will go on. We are

too close to Tahl to turn back."

Obi-Wan stared at him, astonished. Qui-Gon understood  how  he  felt.

The Rock Workers were in desperate need of help. The  Jedi  were  asked  to

give it. He could not believe that Qui-Gon would turn away like  this.  But

how could he return when he felt Tahl's presence, when he knew she was only

hours away?

"It's hard to leave our pursuit of Tahl," Obi-Wan said. "But the Rock

Workers need us, Qui-Gon."

"They need Jedi help, it is true," Qui-Gon said. He put his  hand  on

Obi-Wan's shoulder. "You can provide this. But our first mission is to save

Tahl."

"Our first mission always is to save lives and promote justice," Obi-

Wan said, incredulous. "The Rock Workers need both of us, Qui-Gon."

"I am going forward," Qui-Gon said. His gaze was  as  flinty  as  the

rocks surrounding them. "I cannot turn back now." Tahl was close. He  could

feel her. And he could feel that she was slipping away from him.

"What about Eritha?" Obi-Wan  asked,  lowering  his  voice.  "If  she

returns with me, we will be putting her in danger. And if she goes on  with

you, she will not have the full protection she needs."

Obi-Wan was right. Qui-Gon struggled with the dilemma for  a  moment.

"She will go with you," he said. "But before you reach  the  Rock  Workers'

camp, you must leave her in a safe place. You must do  this,  Obi-Wan.  She

has no place in that battle. I will come when I can."

"Master," Obi-Wan said, his  eyes  locking  on  Qui-Gon's,  "this  is

wrong. You know it is. Tahl would say the same. How can you turn your  back

on these people?"

"Our mission is too important," Qui-Gon said.

"And Tahl..." His voice died away, and his  hand  dropped  from  Obi-

Wan's shoulder.

They stood not speaking for a moment. Qui-Gon felt the  gulf  between

them. His Padawan was filled with doubt  and  confusion.  But  he  couldn't

explain, not here, not now. He would have to go back to the vision  he  had

on Coruscant, how every event since  they'd  arrived  on  New  Apsolon  had

confirmed his dread. And he would have to tell Obi-Wan how  he  felt  about

Tahl. That was a conversation for another time.

His Padawan looked so confused that he relented. "Obi-Wan,  I  cannot

abandon her," he said, his voice low. His  gaze  pleaded  with  Obi-Wan  to

understand.

But he got no such understanding. Obi-Wan  shook  his  head.  "You're

wrong."

The flat words took him aback. It had been years  since  Obi-Wan  had

contradicted him so boldly. Qui-Gon flushed with an emotion he wasn't  sure

of himself.

He turned away without another word and headed to his landspeeder.

CHAPTER 12

With a grace surprising for a large man, Qui-Gon quickly sprang  into

the pilot seat, reversed the engines to turn the craft, and zoomed off.

Eritha ran toward Obi-Wan. "Qui-Gon isn't coming with us?"

"He has gone on with our mission," Obi-Wan said. "We will return with

Yanci. But you will remain hidden outside the Rock Worker  camp.  You  will

not get involved in this battle."

He spoke the words automatically, his eyes on Qui-Gon's transport  as

it dwindled in the distance. He wondered if Qui-Gon had formulated  a  plan

of attack for when they caught up to Balog.  He  assumed  so.  Yet  Qui-Gon

seemed so driven, so caught up in finding Balog, it did  not  seem  he  had

time to formulate a strategy. Obi-Wan had wanted to ask, but did  not  want

to insult his Master. Usually, Qui-Gon found his own time to inform Obi-Wan

what he was thinking.

But Qui-Gon had not found that time. Obi-Wan was just as confused  as

when they'd started. Now Qui-Gon was violating Jedi principles by  ignoring

a cry for help.

He had spoken bluntly to his Master, but he did not regret his words.

He was right. It was Qui-Gon's duty as a Jedi to turn  away  from  what  he

wanted in order to help those who needed him.

Obi-Wan had felt this way once before, long ago,  on  the  planet  of

Melida/Daan. There he had begged Qui-Gon to stay and help the  Young.  They

were being massacred by their own leaders and parents.  That  day,  Qui-Gon

had refused to help in the same way. And Tahl had  been  the  reason  then,

too.

Something in Obi-Wan's face  prevented  the  argument  that  rose  to

Eritha's lips. Instead, she pressed them together and nodded. "I'll do what

you say."

Relieved that he had won that battle, at least, Obi-Wan  signaled  to

Yanci.

"Qui-Gon has to go on, but I am coming with you," he  told  her.  "We

need to find a place close to the camp to conceal Eritha."

"I know a place," Yanci said, nodding. She swung a leg over her swoop

and waited for Obi-Wan and Eritha to mount their vehicles. Then, taking the

lead, she sped off.

Obi-Wan felt his muscles tense, and  his  leg  suddenly  throbbed  in

protest. He had to struggle for the Jedi calm  that  was  necessary  before

battle. He and Qui-Gon did not usually argue. Since their rupture  when  he

had left the Jedi order, they had learned to honor each other's  moods  and

inclinations. Even when they disagreed, they had found harmony. One of them

stepped back and let the other make the decision. Usually  it  was  Obi-Wan

who let Qui-Gon lead, as a Padawan should. But as he grew older, his Master

often let Obi-Wan choose, just as he had allowed Obi-Wan to choose  a  path

back on Ragoon-6 during their tracking exercise. They  never  separated  in

anger after a disagreement.

Obi-Wan was startled at how disappointed  and  angry  he  still  felt

about Qui-Gon's decision. The wind was cooling his hot cheeks, but not  his

disquiet.

Would this disagreement shake their union? He  didn't  know.  He  had

felt distance between them since they arrived on New Apsolon. Perhaps  this

would deepen it.

He couldn't worry about it. He had spoken the truth. But the distance

he felt from his Master saddened him.

Obi-Wan turned his mind away from the disagreement and used the  time

to focus. He would need a sure connection to the  Force.  His  wound  would

slow him down somewhat, and Qui-Gon would not be there  to  cover  him.  He

would have to rely on strategy more than speed.

They were approaching the Rock Worker settlement when Yanci  signaled

them. She turned the swoop away and led them toward  a  split  in  a  sheer

wall. Eritha's landspeeder cleared the opening  with  just  centimeters  to

spare.

"They won't find her here," Yanci said. "I doubt  they'd  be  looking

for  strays.  We  think  their  object  was  to  steal  our  most  advanced

explosives."

"I will contact you when the situation is safe," Obi-Wan told Eritha.

She looked reluctant, but she nodded.

Suddenly, he felt a surge in the Force. He whipped  his  head  around

and saw nothing.

Yanci zoomed out of the crack in the canyon wall, and he followed. He

quickly scanned the horizon and saw Qui-Gon's landspeeder in the  distance,

gaining fast.

Obi-Wan signaled to Yanci, then headed out to meet Qui-Gon.  When  he

caught up to the landspeeder, he hovered by Qui-Gon's side.

Qui-Gon looked at him directly. His face showed the signs of a  great

internal struggle. "I was wrong, Padawan. Thank you for pointing it out  to

me. My duty lies here. No matter," he said with difficulty,  "what  it  may

cost."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I'm glad you came back."

Gunning their motors, they caught up to Yanci.

"I'm taking you around a back way," she told them. "When I  left,  we

had managed to hold our position surrounding the unit  where  we  keep  the

supplies and explosives."

They didn't need the caution. They took a  roundabout  way,  skirting

the settlement. Yanci slowed her speeder as  they  approached  a  road  cut

through a narrow canyon.

Obi-Wan listened for the sounds of battle, but heard  nothing  except

the wind. The quiet was eerie. He glanced  over  at  Qui-Gon  and  saw  his

Master frown.

Something lay in the road ahead. Obi-Wan didn't need to  come  closer

to know what it was. The deep disturbance in the Force told him everything.

Yanci slowed to a crawl, almost stalling her swoop.  "It's  a  body,"

she said shakily.

Suddenly, she gunned the engine and zoomed ahead. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon

speeded up to catch her.

Yanci was off her swoop before it had  stopped.  It  kept  going  and

crashed, but she didn't react. She raced toward the body in the  road.  Her

cry was terrible.

"Kevta!" She bent over the body. With tears streaming down her  face,

she checked for his vital signs. She placed her hands on his chest. "Kevta!

" Her cry turned to a moan, and she collapsed, cradling his head.

Qui-Gon's face went pale. Obi-Wan saw that his Master could not  tear

his gaze away from the sight.

"Master," he said. "We need to go on, find out what happened..."

Qui-Gon's nod seemed to take forever. "One  moment."  His  voice  was

hoarse.

He got off the landspeeder and walked to Yanci's side. He crouched by

her and put a hand on her shoulder. He did not speak a  word.  He  let  his

presence balance her grief until she was able to lift her head.

"I left him," she said, her voice broken. "He made me go.  I  am  the

best on a swoop, he said. I am the one who knows the quarries best.  I  was

the one who could catch the Jedi. I left him!"

"You left in order to save your people," Qui-Gon said.

"And I failed them. If Kevta is dead, I don't want to see the rest of

the camp." Yanci gently laid her head on Kevta's chest. "I will stay  here.

I can't leave him."

Qui-Gon squeezed her shoulder. Then he stood. Wordlessly,  he  nodded

at Obi-Wan. The two Jedi knew what they were about to find. Death lay ahead

of them.

They walked farther into the camp. Some of the dwellings  were  still

smoking from fires the Absolutes had set. Bodies lay  alongside  the  road.

The Rock Workers still clutched the tools they had used as weapons.

Obi-Wan saw Bini on the ground. Her sightless eyes stared up  at  the

sky. He knelt beside her and gently closed her eyelids.  "Sleep  well,"  he

murmured.

Qui-Gon entered the school. Several long  moments  passed  before  he

exited. "It is better for you not to go in," he  told  Obi-Wan.  "The  Rock

Workers tried to hide the children there. The Absolutes left no one alive."

Obi-Wan turned away. Qui-Gon was right. He did not need to see it.

The sound of a speeder rose above the eerie quiet. Eritha rode slowly

toward them, her head turning to take in the devastation. She  stopped  the

speeder and got out shakily.

"This is what they are capable of," she  said,  her  face  ashen.  "I

didn't know. Alani can't be part of this. She must not know the things that

they are willing to do."

They continued their grim tour, looking for survivors. The death toll

was complete. There was not a living being in the camp.

As they started back, they saw Yanci walking toward  them.  Her  legs

moved, but she did not seem to be powering them herself. She moved  like  a

droid, with jerky, articulated motion.

"Everyone is gone," she said. "It was a massacre. There is nothing  I

can do. I can't find Bini - "

"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan said gently. "I found her."

Yanci bowed her head. "I was jealous of Bini. She was close to Kevta.

It was stupid of me. I can never tell her that." She wandered away and  sat

on the ground, her head in her hands.

"Yanci," Qui-Gon called. "Can you tell us  what  the  Absolutes  took

this time?"

She lifted her head. "Everything," she said numbly. "All our blasting

equipment is gone."

Qui-Gon nodded. It was what he had expected. "Let's look for  clues,"

he said in a low tone to Obi-Wan.

They started with the target of the Absolutes - the sheds  where  the

blasting equipment was stored. Here the fiercest fighting had taken  place.

Obi-Wan pushed down the revulsion  he  felt  rise  in  his  throat  at  the

desperate postures of the dead. They lay as they had died, fighting to  the

last.

He concentrated on the task, picking over the ground carefully,  then

moving into the shed.

Qui-Gon stooped and sifted something through  his  fingers.  When  he

held up his hand to Obi-Wan, his fingers were stained red.

"This soil is not from this area," he said. "The Absolutes tracked it

in. Look at the boot marks. They aren't  the  same  patterns  as  the  Rock

Workers'."

Obi-Wan bent and took a small sample of soil. He  tapped  it  into  a

specimen container from his utility belt. "Let's ask Yanci.  She  said  she

knew the quarries better than anyone."

They returned to Yanci, and Obi-Wan showed her the soil.  She  rubbed

it between her fingers.

"Red," she murmured. "I've seen this soil." She closed her eyes. When

she opened them, her gaze was filled with certainty. "I know exactly  where

their hideout is."

CHAPTER 13

Within minutes, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan,  and  Eritha  were  back  on  their

transports. They had entered the coordinates Yanci had come  up  with  into

their nav systems.

Qui-Gon turned to Eritha. "I cannot order you to  stay  here.  But  I

strongly recommend that you do so."

She shook her head. "You haven't been able to  get  rid  of  me  yet.

After seeing this, how can I stay behind?"

Qui-Gon turned away, displeased. It would be so much easier if he did

not have to worry about Eritha. Despite her strong words, he knew  she  was

not prepared for what they might find.

"The site is to the west, in the quarries abandoned years ago. As you

get closer, the canyons will narrow,"  Yanci  warned.  "You  will  have  to

abandon your vehicles, even the swoop. You must approach on foot. There  is

a road, but I'm sure it will be under surveillance. This is the best way to

approach without being seen."

"What will you do?" Obi-Wan asked, concerned. The  haunted  look  had

not left Yanci's eyes. She had been damaged and would never be the same.

"I will bury my dead," Yanci said.

"I contacted the Workers in the city," Eritha  told  her.  "They  are

sending help to you. They will be here by dawn tomorrow. Will  you  be  all

right?"

"I am with those I love," Yanci said. "I wish  you  success  on  your

mission."

Qui-Gon turned away. He felt a heaviness inside him.  For  the  first

time since he had become a Jedi Knight, he could not face someone's  grief.

Grief was part of life, and Jedi saw it more than most.  Qui-Gon  knew  the

forms it could take, how it could twist and spiral into rage or revenge  or

dead numbness. There had been times when sorrow had been so much a part  of

what he saw that it became the only thing he saw. Part of his training  had

been to see the joy in the galaxy that  existed  alongside  the  grief.  He

remembered early in his life as a Jedi Knight how he had  returned  to  the

Temple for long talks with Yoda. Yoda had helped him see the balance in the

galaxy, just as he had taught him the balance in the Force.

But now he looked at Yanci, and he saw a possibility of what he would

become. His eyes would be that empty. His heart would be that shattered.

Qui-Gon accelerated the engines. The wind blew in  his  face,  making

his eyes tear. He knew he was pushing his craft  in  order  to  outrun  his

fear, and he knew it was not what a Jedi should do. But at that moment, the

wind and the speed comforted him as no Jedi wisdom could.

Now that they had a clear direction, they made good time through  the

quarries. The landscape was  rough,  with  unexpected  looming  cliffs  and

canyons. Yanci had prepared them for switchbacks and sudden  huge  pits  of

water as large as lakes.

At last they reached an area where the canyons narrowed to mere slits

in the cliff walls. They abandoned their transports as Yanci had told them.

They proceeded single file through the narrow passages.

Qui-Gon took the lead. Ahead he saw a line of sky and ground and knew

that soon they would be through. He slowed his pace  and  drew  up  to  the

opening.

In front of him the cliffs widened to embrace a small canyon. A  deep

pit was to the right, filled with water. The soil  around  the  pit  was  a

muddy red dotted with huge boulders. Sunlight danced on the smooth  surface

of the water. Some distance to the left he could see the dark opening of  a

cave. He saw no movement, no sign of living beings.

Obi-Wan and Eritha crowded behind him to scrutinize the area.

"There's no one here," Eritha said, disappointed. "Yanci was wrong."

Obi-Wan spoke quietly. "What do you think,  Master?  Are  we  in  the

wrong place?"

Qui-Gon reached out for the Force. He tested the air,  searching  for

vibrations. He sent a message to Tahl. 1 am here.

He received something back a reverberation. Like a  gentle  touch  on

his cheek. Like a tiny sigh. Something

"No," he said. "This is the place."

Suddenly they saw the water ripple on the lake. The ripples grew into

waves. The two Jedi grew alert.

"We're wasting time. We should go back," Eritha said.

The two Jedi remained focused on the lake. "There is no  wind,"  Obi-

Wan said.

"Exactly," Qui-Gon murmured.

A structure rose from the surface. Water streamed off its curved top.

An opening slowly widened and a ramp emerged. It extended over the water to

dry land. A few seconds later, two tech vehicles sped down  the  ramp,  hit

land, and then headed for the cave. They disappeared inside. They  did  not

see the Jedi.

"Everything is hidden," Qui-Gon said. "The camp can't  be  seen  from

the air. Clever."

"How shall we infiltrate, then?" Obi-Wan asked.

"We'll have to start with the cave. The tech vehicles didn't seem  to

go through a checkpoint," Qui-Gon said,  scanning  the  cave  entrance.  "I

don't think there are sensors outside the cave." He turned back to  Eritha.

"Stay here until we send for you."

"No. If you go without me, I'll follow you." Eritha's jaw set.

Qui-Gon frowned. "Then stay behind us. Realize that you can  endanger

this mission if you act hastily. You will follow my orders. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Eritha flashed a shaky grin. "I'm  stubborn,  but  I'm  not

stupid."

"All right," Qui-Gon muttered. "Let's go."

CHAPTER 14

They kept close to the cliff walls and boulders for as long  as  they

could. Then they  purposefully  walked  the  short  distance  to  the  cave

entrance. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan checked for scanners as they moved closer but

saw none. Obi-Wan guessed that the Absolutes considered  their  hideout  so

well hidden that they did not need to install them.

They slipped into the darkness of  the  cave  entrance  with  relief.

Immediately to the right was a pen where gravsleds and small speeders  were

kept. There was a bin filled with tech jackets.  Qui-Gon  signaled  to  the

others, and they each donned one. Eritha hid  her  hair  under  a  cap  and

dirtied her face, so she was less recognizable.

Feeling a little less exposed, they proceeded farther into the  cave.

Glow rods set high in the walls gave faint  illumination.  They  could  see

that the small opening to the cave was deceptive. As they moved deeper into

it, the space widened and extended far in the distance.

"It goes out under the water," Qui-Gon said in a low tone.  "This  is

bigger than it appears."

Ahead a few Absolutes in the same tech jackets  came  walking  toward

them. Qui-Gon gave them an impersonal nod of greeting. They nodded back and

continued walking.

Eritha let out a shaky breath. "Whew."

"It appears that there are enough Absolutes  working  here  that  not

everyone knows one another," Qui-Gon murmured. "Good. Obi-Wan, look for any

high-security devices on the tunnels leading off the cave. That could  mean

that Tahl is being held there."

Obi-Wan could feel his Master's tension. They were so close  now.  He

reached out to the Force to help him with his perceptions. Nothing could go

wrong now. If they were captured, it would mean a  delay  that  could  cost

Tahl her life.

They paused by a tunnel that was lined with computer equipment. "This

must be the tech-control area," Qui-Gon said.  He  moved  away  quickly  as

someone walked out of a durasteel door and began checking the equipment.

They walked on, passing other beings  who  either  nodded  or  walked

quickly, focused on their business. Eritha kept her  face  turned  away  in

case she was recognized despite her  disguise.  Obi-Wan  noted  a  security

sensor bank near an offshoot tunnel. He pointed it out to Qui-Gon.

"Let's try it," Qui-Gon said.

Obi-Wan studied the offshoot tunnel entrance. "There's a retinal scan

grid to the right. If we pass through, an alarm will go off."

Qui-Gon studied the sensors and the  retinal  scan  carefully.  "They

mounted it too low," he said. "I think if we use cable  launchers,  we  can

swing over the sensors without tripping them.  They  probably  didn't  have

time to perfect the system. Look at the drill  marks  around  the  sensors.

This was done recently."

"Since Balog brought Tahl here?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Maybe." Qui-Gon turned to Eritha. "You must stay here, Eritha. Alert

us with the silent alarm on your comlink if there's trouble. We'll be  back

as soon as we can. If a patrol comes,  walk  away  as  though  you  have  a

destination, then circle back. If you hear an alarm sound,  hide.  It  does

not necessarily mean that Obi-Wan and I have been captured.  Turn  on  your

homing device on your comlink and we'll find you."

Eritha nodded. "I'll be all right."

Obi-Wan saw that Qui-Gon didn't like to leave her, but  they  had  no

choice. He watched  as  his  Master  aimed  carefully,  sending  his  cable

launcher high into the air to bite into the ceiling of the offshoot tunnel.

He activated the launcher and it carried him high above.  His  head  almost

bumped the ceiling of the cave, but he cleared the sensors  and  landed  on

the other side.

Obi-Wan hoped he would have the same graceful skill. He followed Qui-

Gon's lead, holding his breath until his own  cable  launcher  was  secure.

Then he activated the launch mode. It pulled him up quickly, and he scraped

against the rough ceiling. He was over the range of the  sensors,  and  was

pulled into the tunnel. He landed next to Qui-Gon.

They hurried down the tunnel. At the end was  a  durasteel  door  set

into the cave wall. There was no security panel outside the door.

"What now? If Tahl is in there, someone could be with her."

Qui-Gon closed his eyes. "I don't feel her," he said in a low  voice.

"But we need to find out why this tunnel has such high  security  when  the

others don't. We have to go in."

He activated his lightsaber and cut through the durasteel, making  an

opening big enough for them to walk  through.  Qui-Gon  ducked  inside  the

room, and Obi-Wan quickly followed.

They were in a storage area filled with bins and crates. There was no

sign of Tahl or of the sensory deprivation device she had  been  imprisoned

in. Instead, the room was filled with explosives.  Crate  after  crate  was

labeled, showing that there were extremely powerful devices within.

"This must be what they stole from the Rock Workers," Obi-Wan said.

"And some bought on the black market, as well," Qui-Gon added. "Look.

This is Mota's mark. They have enough explosives here to level the city."

Obi-Wan looked worriedly at his Master. "What does this mean?"

"That they are prepared to take over with violence,  if  they  must,"

Qui-Gon said. "But why the change in plan? As far as we knew, the Absolutes

were working to gain power through infiltration and deceit."

Qui-Gon gave a last swift look around. "Let's  go,  Padawan.  There's

nothing here to lead us to Tahl. And I don't like leaving Eritha back there

alone."

Not to mention that they had left a gaping hole in a  security  door,

Obi-Wan thought. As soon as that was discovered, the complex  would  go  on

alert.

They ran back down the tunnel toward the main cave. Suddenly, Obi-Wan

felt a disturbance in the Force. His steps slowed just as Qui-Gon's did.

They didn't need to compare notes. They both knew what they had felt.

Something had gone wrong.

They melted back against the  wall  of  the  tunnel,  then  proceeded

carefully. The  cave  came  into  sight.  They  saw  Eritha  surrounded  by

security. Obviously she was trying to bluff, and not succeeding.  She  gave

one last, desperate look down the tunnel.

Qui-Gon put his hand on Obi-Wan's arm to prevent him from moving.

"We can't," he murmured. "As soon as they see us,  they'll  sound  an

alarm. Whoever is holding Tahl will know the  cave  has  been  invaded.  We

can't risk it. Let's see how Eritha deals with this."

Eritha pitched her voice loudly, and it echoed off the walls  of  the

cave. "You fools, don't you know who I am? I am Eritha, daughter of  Ewane.

Contact my sister Alani right this minute. We are  helping  the  Absolutes,

you idiots!"

"You are a Worker - " one of the security officers started.

"I am a patriot!" Eritha shouted. "Now let me go!"

"We'll have to check this out first," the officer said. "You'll  have

to come with us."

"I will not forget this!" Eritha said  as  they  placed  her  in  the

center of the group and began to march her off. "I will get  each  of  your

names and you will be hearing from us!"

"She certainly didn't show fear," Obi-Wan said admiringly.

"Yes, she handled it well," Qui-Gon said as he stepped out  from  the

shelter of the tunnel wall. "Unfortunately, now we have two to rescue."

CHAPTER 15

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan waited a moment, then slipped out of the  tunnel.

Obi-Wan could see that his Master was disturbed by  this  turn  of  events.

They kept a good distance between themselves and Eritha and her guards, but

kept her in sight. The guards marched her farther  inside  the  cave  until

they came to another high-security entrance to a tunnel. One of the  guards

accessed the security panel and punched in a code,  then  pressed  his  eye

against the sensor. When the sensor cleared him, they  half-carried  Eritha

through the opening and down the tunnel.

"They could be keeping Tahl there,"  Obi-Wan  said.  "No  doubt  it's

where they take prisoners."

"Most likely," Qui-Gon said. He studied  the  tunnel  entrance.  "But

this time we are not so lucky. The sensors are well  placed.  We  won't  be

able to get in without attracting attention. When those sensors go off,  we

could be putting Eritha's and Tahl's lives in  danger.  And  the  Absolutes

aren't stupid. They probably suspect that  Eritha  wasn't  alone  when  she

infiltrated the cave."

"Any other ideas?"

"I think there's only one thing to do,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "We  need  a

diversion."

They retraced their steps back to the weapons tunnel. Using the  same

method, they propelled themselves past the  sensors  and  safely  into  the

tunnel. Then they ran back to the room where the explosives were kept.

Qui-Gon quickly read the labels on the  various  bins.  "We  must  be

careful," he warned. "Too much, and we risk collapsing the cave. But  there

has to be enough to cause confusion and chaos."

Obi-Wan was not an expert on explosives. He let Qui-Gon  choose  what

they needed. Qui-Gon handed him a supply of small explosives.

"We'll have to set these up away from here," Qui-Gon said. "If  we're

too close, it could cause a chain reaction."

He tucked more explosives inside his tunic along with timing devices.

"This should do it. No one should get hurt, but there  will  be  confusion.

That's all we'll need. As soon as we get Tahl and Eritha, we'll head to the

cave entrance."

"What if we're spotted?" Obi-Wan asked. "No doubt  everyone  will  be

heading there."

"We'll have to get a tech jacket for Tahl. We'll just have  to  count

on the smoke and confusion."

Obi-Wan remembered what Lenz and Irini had said about the  drug  that

was used to  paralyze  subjects  inside  the  deprivation  device.  He  was

prepared for the fact that Tahl might not be able to walk or move.  Qui-Gon

did not seem to want to deal with that possibility.

"Hurry, Obi-Wan. We need to get to Eritha before they do something to

her."

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon back to the cave. They set a small amount of

explosives farther down the cave, toward the entrance, then a second at the

entrance to the tech-control tunnel. Then  they  hurried  back  toward  the

transport pen.

"We'll set these to go off later," Qui-Gon said. "It will be a  small

explosion, but it should destroy most of the transports. Just in case we're

followed." He grabbed another tech jacket and  rolled  it  up,  shoving  it

inside his own. "Now let's get back to where they took Eritha."

Obi-Wan had seen his Master focused before. This was  different.  His

gaze was intent, his every movement economical. Although Obi-Wan could feel

Qui-Gon's anxiety, there was no trace of it in his speech or  his  actions.

He appeared completely calm. Where did the desperation go? Obi-Wan  admired

how his Master had taken his emotion and given it discipline  and  purpose.

It was a supreme example of how a Jedi should act.

They were steps away from the first tunnel offshoot when the  initial

explosion went off. The cave seemed to rock for a  moment,  the  walls  and

rocks shuddering. A siren wailed, and suddenly Absolutes  appeared  in  the

cave halls, running out from the various branches and tunnels.

"It's back that way!" Qui-Gon shouted. He  feinted  a  move  in  that

direction and he and Obi-Wan ran  a  few  steps.  They  let  themselves  be

overtaken before turning back the way they were headed.

Smoke began to drift back toward them. Obi-Wan saw  a  figure  appear

and disappear ahead of them amid the drifting smoke.

"I think it's Balog," he said to Qui-Gon.  "He's  headed  toward  the

explosives tunnel."

They melted back against the cave wall  and  watched  as  Balog  went

through the retinal scan and hurried back toward the tunnel.

"Should we follow?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Let's wait here. We know Tahl isn't back  there.  When  he  returns,

we'll follow him," Qui-Gon said.

Another explosion split the air. Smoke rolled back toward them.

"That should be the tech center," Qui-Gon said.

Suddenly Balog appeared, darting out  of  the  side  tunnel.  Obi-Wan

recognized his squat, muscular body and powerful stride. Ignoring those who

were rushing toward the cave entrance, he headed in the opposite direction.

Qui-Gon nodded grimly. "When one's home is burning, one goes for  the

most valuable item."

"He's heading for Tahl," Obi-Wan agreed.

The two Jedi followed him. Obi-Wan expected Balog to turn toward  the

tunnel where Eritha was being held, but he kept  going.  Another  explosion

rocked the cave. This time it was followed by another, smaller boom.

"The fuel tanks of the vehicles," Qui-Gon said.

They passed a side tunnel with a readout sign: UW BASE ENTRANCE. Obi-

Wan took note of it as he  passed.  It  had  to  be  the  entrance  to  the

underwater part of the secret complex.

Balog abruptly turned into a small tunnel without  security  sensors.

They  plunged  into  the  tunnel  behind  him.  The  glow  rods  were   not

operational, and the darkness was almost complete. They could only see  the

gleam of a durasteel door just ahead.

Balog paused outside the door to access it. Obi-Wan hesitated, unsure

of what to do. But beside him, Qui-Gon was already moving. His  Master  put

on a burst of speed as Balog slipped through the door. With a mighty  leap,

Qui-Gon followed him, and the door slid shut.

CHAPTER 16

Qui-Gon landed with his lightsaber already activated. Behind him,  he

heard the door close.

Balog stood in the center of the room between Qui-Gon and  Tahl.  The

sensory deprivation device was leaning against  the  cave  wall  with  Tahl

inside. He could only see her eyes through a small viewscreen. He knew  she

was alive. Her eyelids fluttered. She could still feel his presence, as she

always had. A slight tremor in the Force told him that she  was  trying  to

reach out to him.

Obi-Wan began to cut through the durasteel with his lightsaber.  Qui-

Gon could smell the melting metal. He kept his gaze steady  on  Balog,  who

was smiling faintly.

Then Balog laughed.

"You think you can threaten me? You think that  you  and  your  young

friend can frighten me? What you don't know is that I have  all  the  power

here." He held up a small transmitter. "I can take away her life."

Obi-Wan burst through the hole in the door  and  stopped  short,  his

lightsaber ready.

"Don't move, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said steadily.

"Do you see this?" Balog asked, holding the transmitter aloft. "I can

give your friend a last, lethal dose. She is very weak. I  wanted  to  keep

her alive, but I've come to realize that there is no need."

"What do you want?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Nothing from you," Balog said contemptuously.  "You've  done  enough

already. You found this place. Well, your Worker allies won't find anything

here when they arrive. No records. Nothing to spy on, nothing to steal."

"You set the weapons room to detonate," Qui-Gon guessed.

"I'll be gone before that happens. We have plenty of support  in  the

city. We don't need these followers to accomplish what we need to."

"You don't care what lives are lost."

"I care about Apsolon. My Apsolon," Balog  said  fiercely.  "Not  the

Apsolon the Workers want. You Jedi are in my  way."  He  stepped  back  and

accessed a door behind him. A tiny space contained a small transport with a

bubble-shaped top. Another door was cut into the far wall. No doubt it  was

to allow the exit of the transport into the lake. The interior  door  would

close, allowing the compartment to flood.

"Now I'm leaving. You may make it out of  here  when  the  explosives

room goes, but I doubt it - especially when you have to  drag  your  friend

along." Balog pointed to Tahl with his chin. "And believe me, she's  in  no

shape to walk. I made sure of that."

Qui-Gon tensed, then relaxed. It took an effort of will to absorb his

anger and continue to wait for his opening.

"I leave you to your fate," Balog  said,  stepping  back  toward  the

transport. His small, dark eyes glinted. "Don't move, either  of  you.  You

see my finger near this button? If you try to stop me and  are  a  fraction

off, if you stumble, if you give me only a split second, I can press it. If

you move toward me, I could flinch and press it. If, in short, one  of  the

thousand things that could go wrong does go wrong, Tahl will die."

Qui-Gon sprang. He had never moved faster or  more  surely.  He  knew

that Balog did not see him, that one moment he was standing meters away and

the next he was in the air next to him.  With  careful  precision,  Qui-Gon

brought his  lightsaber  down,  neatly  slicing  off  Balog's  finger.  The

transmitter fell to the floor.

"I guess you didn't flinch," Qui-Gon  said.  Howling  with  pain  and

rage, Balog backed up toward the transport as he fumbled  for  his  blaster

with his good hand. Obi-Wan sprang forward  as  Qui-Gon  headed  for  Tahl.

Another explosion rocked the cave, this one larger than before.  The  force

of the blast almost knocked Obi-Wan to the ground. The sensory  deprivation

device began to slide. Qui-Gon threw himself toward it and caught it in his

arms. He laid it down gently.

Instead of attacking Obi-Wan, Balog aimed his  fire  at  the  sensory

deprivation device. Qui-Gon ignored the ping of  blaster  fire  around  his

head; he knew his Padawan would deflect it. A chain of explosions went  off

and dirt began to rain down from the cave ceiling. Obi-Wan sprang into  the

tiny holding room as Balog scrambled into the transport.

"Leave him, Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon shouted. He put his lightsaber to work,

cutting away at the deprivation device.

Balog accessed the exit. Water poured into the  tiny  room,  knocking

Obi-Wan off his feet. His lightsaber shorted out.

Qui-Gon had a bigger worry: Soon the room would be flooded.

"Obi-Wan!"

Balog's transport took off underwater, bouncing wildly as  it  fought

against the impact of the water gushing toward the opening.

"Let him go!" Qui-Gon bellowed. "Tahl will  drown!"  The  deprivation

device was now floating. Qui-Gon held his lightsaber aloft. If  it  touched

the water, it would short out, too. Qui-Gon could feel  Tahl's  life  force

flickering. They had to get her out of here.

Obi-Wan struggled to his feet. The water was now up to his knees.  He

felt his leg ache as he pushed toward Qui-Gon, who had opened a seam in the

side of the device.

"That sounded like the main weapons room," Qui-Gon said tersely. "The

cave could collapse. Let's get Tahl out of here."

Water was  now  almost  to  their  waists.  Qui-Gon  deactivated  his

lightsaber and quickly tucked it into his belt. Desperately, he lifted Tahl

out of the device. She said nothing, her head flopping against his chest as

though she couldn't support it. To see  her  so  weak  sent  agony  ripping

through him. They struggled through the water toward  the  opening  Obi-Wan

had cut in the door.

Once they were through the opening, they were able  to  stand.  Water

was pouring through the opening,  and  the  door  was  starting  to  strain

against its bolts, but the water in the tunnel was only  ankle  deep.  They

ran, splashing through the flooding, and reached the dry area of the  cave.

The smoke was thick and acrid now, burning their lungs. The cave  area  was

deserted.

Qui-Gon allowed Tahl to slide down his body so that she  was  on  her

feet. Her legs immediately gave way. He picked her up again and cradled her

against him. He had to control his anger against Balog for her  sake.  What

she needed from him was calm.

"Tahl," he said gently. "We're going to get you out of here."

One hand curled around his neck. He felt the gesture, her  cold  hand

against his neck, and it curdled his blood. It was the same gesture she had

made in the vision, the gesture that had told him how close  to  death  she

was.

She managed to smile up at him. "It is too late for me, dear friend,"

she said softly.

CHAPTER 17

They knew the Jedi Masters were watching. They were  only  ten  years

old, too young yet to be chosen as Padawans. But they knew the  choice  was

coming soon. Some Jedi students had been chosen as young as eleven.

It was called Exhibition Day, and they had performed exercises  while

the Jedi Masters watched. Force exercises,  balance,  endurance,  climbing,

jumping, swimming. Sometimes they split into teams of two or four.  It  was

play, but it was also serious.

The last exercise was a series of training lightsaber  matches.  Some

were done blindfolded. Some pitted one student against two attackers.  Qui-

Gon won all his matches. It came down to him and Clee Rhara and Tahl.  Then

Tahl beat Clee Rhara.

"Guess that leaves us," she whispered as she  bowed  to  him  at  the

start of the final match. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."

They had been matched many times before. He knew how  fast  she  was.

She knew how strong he was. Knowing each other's strengths made  the  match

more interesting. Qui-Gon found fighting Tahl to  be  both  exhausting  and

exhilarating. It brought out his best skills.

They whirled around the space, using every inch of  wall  and  floor.

All the Jedi students admired Tahl's gymnastic abilities. She could run  up

a wall, twist, and come at you with a sweeping backhand twist that left you

dizzy.

Tahl fought hard. Qui-Gon admired how just when he  thought  she  was

tiring, she would find fresh strength. He could not match her agility,  but

he was able to surprise her with strategy.  He  saw  her  eyes  flash  with

astonishment and her teeth grit in determination as she parried  his  blows

and came at him with a series of twists and reversals.

The match was not timed. It would only end when one of them scored  a

blow. Exhaustion began to slow their moves, but they did not stop  or  make

mistakes. He could hear the murmur among the spectators, wondering how long

the two students could continue. He sensed more Jedi Masters arriving.

Tahl's face was a mask. She had gone deep within  herself,  past  her

exhaustion to a place of sheer will. Qui-Gon had never felt so  tired.  His

arm muscles shook. His legs felt watery. They trembled. Still  he  did  not

stop or make a mistake.

Then Tahl's foot slipped. Just a fraction, but  it  was  enough.  The

floor was wet with their sweat. She left herself vulnerable for  one  split

second, and he moved forward, kicking out with one  foot  and  driving  the

lightsaber from her grasp. At the same time he brought his  own  lightsaber

close to her. He did not touch her with it. He was not willing to give  her

even the slightest sting from the training saber.

"Match to Qui-Gon," one of the Jedi Masters spoke.

Qui-Gon and Tahl bowed to each other. Then they collapsed together on

a bench nearby.

"A good match," he said, panting.

"It would have been better if I'd won." He shook his head. "Don't you

ever give up?"

She wiped the sweat off her forehead with a towel. "Never"

Qui-Gon felt disoriented, as though he were in a dream. He was living

inside his vision. His greatest fear had visited him.  He  thought  he  had

known desperation in that vision, but the living reality was far worse.

Tahl's eyes closed, and she slumped against him. He felt her  muscles

go slack, and she melted against him as though she no longer had bones.  He

had never realized Tahl could feel so soft against him. He had  only  known

her strength. He held her against his chest.

"You should leave me," she whispered. "I don't have long..."

He leaned his head down to speak into her ear. "No.  It  is  not  too

late. You never give up. The Force is still with you. I am  with  you.  You

cannot leave me now. Not now."

"I... will try, for you," she breathed. "Qui-Gon, we must  go,"  Obi-

Wan said desperately.

He nodded and let his Padawan lead the way. Tahl was no  burden.  She

felt light in his arms.

Fissures had opened in the ceiling, and water streamed in from above.

The cave was slowly collapsing. Water poured out of the side  tunnel  where

Balog had left.

"Do you think we can reach the cave entrance?" Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon eyed the water pouring from the ceiling and the  thick  smoke

ahead. "Doubtful. We can try to find another way out."

"There is another... exit," Tahl said. Qui-Gon had to  bend  down  to

hear her. "To the underwater base."

"I saw it," Obi-Wan said. "Let's try it. But what about Eritha?"

Qui-Gon hesitated. "Let's get to the entrance to the underwater  base

first." He did not want to have to decide between Tahl's life and Eritha's.

But he knew he could not leave without looking for the young girl.

Tahl stirred again. "Eritha is here? We can't leave her, we  must..."

Each word seemed to cost her a great effort.

Qui-Gon stilled her with a hand on her hair. "We won't."

The cave had been evacuated. Another explosion  shook  the  cave  and

they staggered with its power. More water streamed from the ceiling.

They reached the side tunnel that led to  the  underwater  structure.

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon anxiously as the water grew deeper, now  swirling

around their knees. It was icy cold.

"The tunnel where Eritha was held is just ahead," Qui-Gon said.  "Try

there first. I will stay here with Tahl. If Eritha is not there, come  back

here." If necessary, he would get Tahl out and return for Eritha. He  could

feel how weak Tahl's connection to the Force was. It frightened him.

Obi-Wan turned to  hurry  away,  but  from  the  smoky  dimness  they

suddenly saw a figure pushing through the water toward them. It was Eritha,

her braided hair now loose and wet.

"They left me! They forgot about me!" she screamed, almost collapsing

in Obi-Wan's arms. "They set off explosives. The cave is collapsing!"

"It's all right," Obi-Wan told her. "We'll get you out of here."

He supported her and brought her back to  Qui-Gon.  Qui-Gon  accessed

the entrance to the underwater structure. They squeezed through quickly  to

prevent more water from flooding the connecting tunnel.

The relative dryness of the connecting tunnel was  reassuring.  Smoke

had not penetrated, and they breathed easier. The Absolutes had not  chosen

to blow up the underwater structure.yet.

The connecting tunnel  was  fabricated  from  white  duraplast,  with

occasional transparent viewscreens that allowed watery light to  filter  in

from above. They passed through it quickly and entered the main structure.

This was obviously where  the  majority  of  the  tech  centers  were

housed. The cave had been used for storage. They passed room after room  of

holofile cabinets and computer banks. The offices were empty. No doubt this

part of the complex had been evacuated as well.

"Do you think Balog is planning to  blow  this  area,  too?"  Obi-Wan

asked Qui-Gon.

"Possibly. But he might not have had time. We need to find  the  ramp

that can get us to shore." Qui-Gon knew the shore of the lake  was  to  his

right. As soon as they found a main corridor, it would  lead  to  the  ramp

exit.

Obi-Wan ran ahead with Eritha. When they came  to  a  main  corridor,

Qui-Gon was glad to see his Padawan turn right. He relaxed a bit,  allowing

his Padawan to lead them. He turned his attention to Tahl.

He could see a pale blue vein throb near one of her closed  eyes.  It

reassured him. Her life  systems  were  still  operating,  her  body  still

functioning. The weakness he felt could be reversed. Her systems  had  been

shut down for several days. It would  take  time  for  her  to  regain  her

strength. That was all she needed. Time. He held her more securely  against

him.

Ahead, he saw Obi-Wan stop at the ramp control. He  pressed  his  eye

against the panel. "There's an electroscope," he said, drawing away as Qui-

Gon came up. "I don't think we can  activate  the  ramp.  We'd  be  spotted

easily."

Qui-Gon leaned forward and put his eye against the  electroscope.  It

gave a view of the shore and the cave entrance. Smoke continued  to  billow

out from the cave. Absolutes gathered on the shore. Someone was  organizing

a retreat with the remaining functioning vehicles. If  they  activated  the

ramp, they would land right in the middle of them. Obi-Wan was right.  Qui-

Gon felt sure that even if the Jedi  weren't  recognized,  Eritha  or  Tahl

would be. Eritha had lost her tech jacket. Tahl  was  in  no  condition  to

walk.

"We have to swim," Qui-Gon decided. "If we swim far enough  away,  we

can skirt those boulders and pass through the canyon to our  vehicles."  He

hesitated. "Can you?" he asked Obi-Wan. "Your leg..."

"I can," Obi-Wan said firmly. "I'll give my breather to Eritha."

Qui-Gon lowered Tahl carefully to the floor. Her feet  couldn't  hold

her, so he laid her gently down. He took out his breather from his  utility

belt.

"Tahl?"

Her head turned. Qui-Gon's heart broke at how lackluster her response

was.

"We have to swim. Can you use a breather?"

There was a quirk at the edge of her  lips.  Almost  a  smile.  "Only

since I was three."

He smiled and gently fitted the tube on her.  "When  we  get  to  the

beach, we'll have a short way to  walk.  I'll  carry  you.  Our  transports

aren't far."

She nodded slightly. He knew she was saving her strength.

Qui-Gon motioned to the emergency exit lever. Eritha had donned  Obi-

Wan's breather. Qui-Gon knew that it would be a long swim for Obi-Wan. Obi-

Wan was a powerful swimmer, but the leg injury worried Qui-Gon.

They accessed the door, which opened into a small chamber. There  was

a panel in the ceiling. Slowly, the chamber began to fill with  water.  The

water was cold, and Qui-Gon felt Tahl's involuntary shiver. They floated up

toward the ceiling. Qui-Gon nodded at Obi-Wan and the two Jedi  took  their

deepest breath. The panel slid open and they swam out.

Qui-Gon did not feel the cold water. He did not feel  fatigued.  Tahl

felt buoyant in his arms, so buoyant that he felt his hopes rise.  He  swam

with his Padawan by his side. Both of them kept their eye on  Eritha,  with

Obi-Wan drifting back to help her if she lagged.

His lungs began to ache. The smoke had weakened them. Qui-Gon  peered

ahead, but couldn't see the shoreline. There  would  be  no  gradual  rise,

since the pit was dug for mining purposes. His speed was hampered by  being

able to use only one arm, but his kicks were  powerful  and  propelled  him

forward.

At last Obi-Wan's feet touched  bottom.  He  surfaced,  then  quickly

signaled an okay. Qui-Gon surfaced as well, taking deep  lungfuls  of  air.

Obi-Wan was doing the same.

Even as they took deep breaths, they  moved  toward  the  shore.  The

Absolutes were lining up to be transported away. No  one  noticed  them  as

they ran up the short distance to the boulders. From there it was  easy  to

slip into the narrow crevices between the high  cliffs.  The  rough  ground

made for hard walking. Qui-Gon's arms began to  ache  with  the  effort  of

holding Tahl. Obi-Wan was limping slightly, but he still was able  to  move

quickly.

"Almost there," Qui-Gon told  Tahl.  He  did  not  know  if  she  was

conscious.

They found their transports where they had left them. Relief  flooded

Qui-Gon. His last fear was that the Absolutes would have found them.

"Take my landspeeder, Qui-Gon," Eritha offered. "It  is  faster  than

yours."

"Thank you." Qui-Gon gently placed Tahl in the companion seat.

He swung into the pilot seat and glanced over. As always,  she  could

sense when he was looking at her. And as always, she could sense his mood.

"Stop being so worried," she said quietly. "I'll try."

"I'm gaining strength every moment from your strength."

He took her hand. He called up the Force from the air around them. He

felt her do the same, though her hold on the Force was  weak.  It  was  all

right. He would provide the extra strength she needed. He felt their  power

combine.

Eritha came to stand by the speeder.  "Go  directly  to  the  Supreme

Governor's residence," she said. "I will  call  ahead  and  have  med  care

waiting for you."

Qui-Gon nodded his thanks. He activated the engines.

"I will see you in New Apsolon," he told Obi-Wan. He  reached  inside

his tunic and handed Tahl's lightsaber to Obi-Wan. "Until yours recharges."

"I will guard it with my life." Obi-Wan swallowed. The concern in his

eyes was all for Tahl. He gently touched her shoulder. "Safe journey."

Tahl answered weakly. "Thank you for finding me, Obi-Wan."

"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan  said.  "It  is,"  Qui-Gon  said

confidently, and raced off.

CHAPTER 18

There was still a long journey ahead of them to New Apsolon.  Qui-Gon

would not stop. He would drive through the rest of the day and  the  night.

With the extra power of Eritha's land-speeder, he should be at the edge  of

New Apsolon by dawn.

Tahl slid into a deep sleep. That would restore her. Qui-Gon  reached

for a thermal cape and covered her. The temperature fell as the  suns  slid

down in the sky, melting over the horizon in tones of blazing red and gold.

The rocks and cliffs around him turned pink. For the first time in  a  long

while, Qui-Gon noticed the beauty. It was because Tahl was next to him, and

he wanted her to be a part of it. He did not wake her, but silently he told

her, Do not leave me. We have so much left to share together.

The moons rose, three delicate, luminous crescents. The stars  seemed

even more brilliant  next  to  the  waning  moons.  Qui-Gon  activated  the

speeder's protective dome and turned  on  the  heating  unit.  Whenever  he

reached over to check Tahl's pulse, the coldness of her skin  shocked  him.

He did not feel hunger but he ate a food capsule and drank water. He had  a

long night to get through.

Hours later, Tahl awoke. She pulled herself up a  little  straighter.

She looked more alert, Qui-Gon noted with relief.

"It's cold," she said.

Qui-Gon had felt too warm, but he set the heating  unit  to  maximum.

"It's the middle of the night."

"Thank you for everything you have done," Tahl said.  "I  don't  like

being rescued. I was furious at myself for being in that position again."

"Don't worry," Qui-Gon said. "You have rescued me in  the  past.  I'm

sure you will again."

"Balog wanted something from me. That's why he kept me alive."

"Don't talk now. Save your  strength.  There  will  be  time  in  New

Apsolon," Qui-Gon said.

"No, I need to tell you. There is  a  list  of  informers  among  the

Workers - "

"I know this."

"Balog thought I had it. Naturally I pretended I knew where  it  was.

So he kept me alive. But in that deprivation device I had  time  to  think.

Why did he believe I had the list?"

"Because you were undercover and  could  have  had  access?"  Qui-Gon

suggested.

"Is that reason enough to kidnap me?" Tahl shook her head.  "I  don't

think so. So I went over that last day undercover. I still don't  know  how

they found out I was a Jedi."

"Perhaps it was Alani," Qui-Gon said. "Eritha claims that Alani is in

league with Balog. She wants to take over as Supreme Governor."

"Alani?" Tahl asked, surprised. "But she found the way to smuggle  me

into the Absolutes in the first place."

"She had a reason to keep you there, perhaps,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "When

you were no longer useful, she betrayed you."

"And perhaps she hoped I would find  the  list,"  Tahl  said  slowly.

Every word was an effort. "Naturally I would tell the girls I had found it.

I trusted them."

"Do you remember anything significant about your last day?"

The thermal cape slipped off her shoulders, and Tahl drew  it  around

her. "So cold..." she murmured. "Someone helped me that  last  day.  I  had

seconds to get out of the hideout before they came for me.  I  ran  into  a

message runner named Oleg. He was a  low-level  member  of  the  Absolutes.

Instead of turning me in, he helped me. He showed me  a  door  the  message

runners used. When I asked him why he helped me, he said he  was  escaping,

too. He had been marked for interrogation by the Absolute leaders.  He  did

not know why, but he was leaving before he could find out."

"Look," Qui-Gon said. "The lights of the city are ahead."

It was still dark. The city lights on the  horizon  seemed  to  merge

with the stars.

"Almost there," Qui-Gon said. "Rest. We'll talk later."

Tahl's voice had been growing softer. Now she  closed  her  eyes  and

slid into sleep.

Dawn grew slowly. The landscape lightened. The city grew closer. They

were low on fuel, but the computer told him they would make it.

Tahl slept on as the suns broke free of the horizon. The orange  rays

lit her body, instantly  transforming  her  skin  into  its  usual  radiant

health. Qui-Gon knew it was an illusion, but he took comfort in the sight.

Qui-Gon  quickly  maneuvered  the  Landspeeder  through  the  crowded

morning  streets.  He  turned  down  State  Boulevard  toward  the  Supreme

Governor's residence. As he pulled up, a  figure  hurried  down  the  steps

toward them. It was Roan's brother, Manex.

"Eritha contacted me to say you were  arriving,"  he  said.  "I  have

arranged the finest med care in the city for Tahl. It is a  short  distance

away. If you'll follow me." Manex pointed to his own landspeeder.

Qui-Gon hesitated. It was odd that Manex had met them outside. Eritha

had promised them access to her own med care, which was  in  the  residence

itself.

Manex took note of his hesitation.  "You  must  trust  me,"  he  said

urgently. "Did I not tell you that I have the best of  everything?  My  med

care is exceptional. The med squad once worked on victims of the Absolutes.

They had the greatest success. The doctor knows Tahl's  condition.  He  can

help." Manex glanced at Tahl, whose head was back and her eyes were closed.

It was the compassionate, worried look in Manex's eyes more than  his

words that made Qui-Gon nod. His instincts told him that Manex was sincere.

Tahl needed the best care.

"Good,"  Manex  said  at  Qui-Gon's  nod.  He  sprinted  toward   his

landspeeder, moving quickly for a man of his bulk. He jumped  in  and  took

off.

Qui-Gon followed closely. Manex pulled up in front of  a  gray  stone

building a few blocks away.

Immediately the doors opened and a med team rushed out.

A doctor bent over Tahl.  Her  eyes  fluttered  open.  He  applied  a

diagnostic readout to the side of her neck and frowned at the results.

"Will she be all right?"

"We will do the best we can."

The med team transferred Tahl to a wheeled stretcher.  She  was  gone

before he had a chance to touch her hand or tell her he'd be waiting.  Qui-

Gon sat numbly in the  pilot  seat,  the  speeder  controls  solid  in  his

clenched fists, willing his own control not to slip away.

CHAPTER 19

Qui-Gon sat by the shore of the lake and stared  at  the  cliff.  The

rocky surface seemed completely sheer. The cliff looked impossibly big. But

most things looked pretty big to him. He was eight years old.

They had already climbed the  cliff  face  with  cable  launchers  in

class. They had learned to use their body's weight and hone their  balance,

correct their timing. They had done it over and over again. Next week, they

would do it without cable launchers under the supervision of a Jedi Master.

It would be one of their Force exercises.

He knew he should not be thinking of climbing  it  freehand.  But  he

was. Qui-Gon wanted to gobble up the challenges the Jedi teachers threw  at

the students. A week was too long to wait. It wasn't so very high,  really.

It was just a big rock. There were handholds  and  footholds,  even  if  he

couldn't see them. If he fell, he would fall into the lake.

If he were caught, he would be in trouble. Then  again,  he  wouldn't

get caught. It was dawn and the lake area was deserted.

He heard the rustle behind him and turned. It was a  fellow  student,

Tahl. She was in his class, but he didn't  know  her  very  well.  She  was

slight, smaller than the rest of them. She looked like  a  little  boy,  he

thought. He did not think of himself as a little boy.

She nodded at the cliff. "You thinking of climbing it?"

Startled, he was about to say no. But Jedi  did  not  lie,  even  for

small things. "Accustomed to the lie, you become," Yoda  had  warned  them.

"Easy it becomes to be false in big things, if false you are in small ones.

" So he said nothing.

To his surprise, she grinned.  "Come  on."  When  he  hesitated,  she

added, "Bet I can beat you to the top."

She ran and launched herself at the rock  face,  grabbing  her  first

handhold. He hesitated for just a moment,  surprised  at  how  eagerly  she

attacked the rock. Then she seemed to mold herself against it.  She  waited

until Qui-Gon ran forward and joined her.

It was harder than he'd thought. The handholds that seemed so firm to

him with a cable on his belt now  seemed  impossibly  tiny.  The  rock  had

become his enemy. It was tricky to keep his balance. Sweat  began  to  pour

down his face. His muscles  shook  with  effort.  He  forgot  about  Tahl's

challenge and concentrated on not falling off

He was three-quarters of the way to the top when he  looked  over  at

her. They were neck and neck. Her face was grimy and sweaty. She grinned.

The grin spurred him on. He found the next handhold, then  the  next.

She was behind him now, and he was almost there. He searched for  the  next

handhold, his face pressed against the rough rock.

Suddenly she was beside him, climbing easily. Then she was  ahead  of

him, her hand reaching for the top. She swung herself  up  and  over,  then

sat, breathing hard.

Qui-Gon followed, feeling furious and ashamed. She  had  beaten  him.

When he turned to Tahl, he expected to see triumph in her eyes. Instead, he

saw excitement.

"I felt it, Qui-Gon! I felt the Force!" She slapped the  ground,  her

green-gold eyes blazing. "The rock - it was part of me. I  was  part  of...

everything. Even the air! It was just the way Yoda said it would be."

Now he was envious as well as embarrassed.

"I can tell you what you did wrong," she said,  nudging  him  with  a

shoulder. "You hated the rock. You fought it. I did, too, in the beginning.

You need to love the rock."

Love the rock? That sounded silly. Qui-Gon wanted to tell  her  that.

But he knew what she meant. And  suddenly,  he  didn't  want  to  hurt  her

feelings.

Tahl stood. "Now for the reward. Come on!" She ran forward and leaped

off the end of the rock, straight into the shimmering green water.

Qui-Gon followed. It was a long drop, but the shock of the water felt

refreshing. Tahl waited underwater for him. She grinned, and Qui-Gon smiled

back. The cool water felt so good, and he had climbed the rock.  Next  time

he would do better. Next time, he would love the rock.

They burst up to the surface. Tahl's dark hair was slicked  back  off

her forehead. Now she looked like a water creature, sleek and supple.

Suddenly, she frowned. "Someone's coming," she murmured. "Do you see?

Down by the path."

Qui-Gon said nothing. But a fraction of a second later, he noticed  a

disturbance in the overhanging leaves, far down the path.

"We're supposed to be in meditation right now," she whispered.

"This way," he said. He stroked to the edge  of  the  lake,  where  a

rocky outcropping would shield them.

They waited in the shadows, shivering a little from the  coolness  of

the water. They heard the unmistakable sound of Yoda's shuffling  step.  Of

all the Jedi Masters, for Yoda to catch them!

Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed in concern, but Tahl  looked  as  though  she

would burst out laughing. Qui-Gon  placed  a  hand  over  her  mouth,  and,

grinning, she did the same to him.

Yoda stopped on the path over their  heads.  They  did  not  breathe.

After a moment, he moved on.

After Yoda had moved away, Tahl dropped her hand, and Qui-Gon dropped

his.

"You know, you almost beat me to the top," she  said.  "We  could  be

rivals. But l think it would be better if we were friends."

"Let's be  friends,"  Qui-Gon  agreed.  He  spoke  soberly.  He  took

friendship seriously. Already he knew he wanted to  be  friends  with  this

girl.

As if she couldn't contain herself any longer, Tahl dived  underwater

and moved away from him. She came  up,  shaking  off  water.  The  sun  was

shining, and the rays made the droplets shimmer.

"Friends forever!" she called to him, treading water. "Deal?"

"Deal," he said.

Forever.

Qui-Gon was still waiting when Obi-Wan burst into the  small  waiting

area in the med complex a few hours later.

"Any news?"

Qui-Gon shook his head. "They are still with her."

"Have you seen her?"

"Not since I got here. Soon, they say." Eritha hurried  in.  "How  is

Tahl?"

"She is holding her own," Qui-Gon said. "Other  than  that,  I  don't

know."

Eritha paced in front of him. "I don't understand why Manex  had  you

bring her here. Well, I do. He always thinks what he has is the best. Where

is he?"

"He waited with me for some time," Qui-Gon said. "He left  to  attend

to some things at his home. He said he would be back."

She sat down and pressed her palms together. "I hate waiting. I  know

the Jedi don't feel that way."

"We hate it, too," Obi-Wan said. "We are just better at it."

Not so, Qui-Gon thought. The past two hours had been the  hardest  of

his life.

Eritha waited for some minutes, then restlessly got up. "I need  some

air. Will you contact me as soon as we know something?"

Obi-Wan assured her that they would. He remained next to Qui-Gon, not

speaking. Qui-Gon felt his Padawan's sympathy and concern. He was  grateful

for his presence. It was easier not to wait alone.  He  knew  that  Obi-Wan

loved Tahl, too.

"Did Tahl say anything  about  the  kidnapping?"  Obi-Wan  asked  him

quietly.

"Balog was looking for the list of informers, just as Irini and  Lenz

thought," Qui-Gon said. He briefly told Obi-Wan what Tahl had told him.  He

had trouble concentrating on the whys of Tahl's kidnapping. There would  be

time for that, as soon as he looked into her face and saw that she was  her

old self again.

"The message runner could be the key," Obi-Wan mused.  "We  know  the

list was stolen and could have been in Absolute hands. What  if  Oleg  took

it? If Tahl was spotted escaping with him, they  would  of  course  suspect

that she had it. Tahl said that the Absolute leaders wanted to  interrogate

Oleg. If they couldn't find him, they would turn to Tahl."

Qui-Gon was barely listening. "It is a theory, Padawan. We shall see.

"

The doors slid open, and the med team emerged.  Qui-Gon  and  Obi-Wan

stood. The doctor went straight to Qui-Gon.

"Her vital signs are dropping. We did everything  we  could  do.  The

damage to her internal organs was severe. She will see you now."

Qui-Gon searched the doctor's face. "So she will recover."

"Her damage is severe," the doctor repeated. His weary eyes were full

of sadness as he looked at Qui-Gon.

"She will recover," Qui-Gon repeated. This time there  was  certainty

in his voice.

He strode past the doctor and hurried to  the  room  where  Tahl  was

kept. She lay in a diagnostic bed. He ignored the readouts and sensors.  He

took her hand, and she turned her head slowly toward him. He  was  relieved

to see that the med team had removed the disguising lenses from  her  eyes.

He had missed seeing Tahl's lovely green and gold eyes.  Now  the  face  he

loved was before him, just as he had always known it. He  knew  every  line

and curve, every strong feature, every soft hollow.

He took her hand, but received no answering pressure. Qui-Gon ran his

fingers down her bare arm to feel her skin. It was cold. So cold...

Her lips parted. He had to bend his head to hear her. "Wherever I  am

headed, I will wait for you, Qui-Gon. I've always been a solitary traveler.

"

"Not anymore," he said.  "Remember?  We  will  go  on  together.  You

promised," he teased. "You can't back out now. I'll never  let  you  forget

it."

Her smile and the slight pressure of her fingers seemed to cost her a

great effort. Panic shot through him.

He brought his face close. He placed his forehead against  hers.  Her

skin was so cool against his. He willed his own warmth and energy into  her

body. Of what benefit was his great strength, what was it good for,  if  it

could not heal her? Qui-Gon called on everything  he  knew,  everything  he

believed in - his connection to the Force, his great love  for  Tahl  -  to

enter her and give her strength.

He felt a small sigh flutter against his cheek. Her  fingers  pressed

his again. He knew that she had felt what he had tried to give her, and had

received comfort from it. He had never felt so attuned to her, so close. If

he could breathe for her, he would.

"Let my last moment be this one," she said. He felt her breath go in,

then out, soft against his cheek. Then it did not resume.

CHAPTER 20

Obi-Wan sat, his head in his hands.  Suddenly,  he  straightened.  He

felt a disturbance in the Force. Something had been sucked out of the  air,

a powerful energy collapsing, leaving a vacuum.

When he heard the cry from the other room, at first he did  not  know

who could have made it.

Then he realized it had been his Master.

He heard running feet in the corridor outside the waiting  room.  The

med team.

He dashed to the door and activated it, then followed  the  med  team

into Tahl's room.

Two of the team checked the monitoring equipment.  The  doctor  stood

by. He did nothing.

That was when Obi-Wan fully understood that Tahl was gone.

The med team stood back from the equipment. No one tried to move  the

large man bent over the body in the  bed.  His  grief  was  too  huge,  too

private.

Tahl's eyes were closed. Her hand rested in Qui-Gon's. A slight smile

was still on her face. His forehead was pressed against hers.  He  did  not

move a muscle. He did not let go of her hand.

Obi-Wan was staggered by the pain he felt  in  that  room.  The  very

lines of Qui-Gon's body told him of an agony so immense he could not  grasp

it. The intimacy of Qui-Gon's posture, the way his forehead rested  against

Tahl's, suddenly told Obi-Wan that he had not begun to realize  the  depths

of Qui-Gon's feelings.

With that knowledge, his heart broke for his Master.

He took a step closer. How could he help Qui-Gon? What could he do?

Qui-Gon turned. Obi-Wan saw a face that had  changed.  Something  was

gone or something was added, he did not know. But it was no longer the face

he knew so well. Grief had marked it forever.  Obi-Wan  knew  that  in  his

bones.

He would have his own grief for Tahl. It would never match Qui-Gon's.

He approached the bed slowly. He had no words for  this.  Nothing  he

had learned at the Temple, nothing Qui-Gon had taught him, had prepared him

for it.

He placed his hand on Qui-Gon's shoulder. "Let me help you, Master."

Qui-Gon's eyes were dead. "There is no help for me now."

Qui-Gon looked down at Tahl's lifeless body. His hand  still  clasped

hers. "There is only revenge."