by Jude Watson
The door hissed open. But instead of Eritha, a confused-looking aide
stood in the doorway. "I'm sorry - isn't this where the Rock Mining
Development Act subcommittee is meeting?"
"I'm afraid not," Qui-Gon said.
"Oh. Sorry again." The young man nodded and withdrew, and the door
hissed shut behind him.
An innocent interruption, Qui-Gon thought. But perhaps not. He
thought carefully about the young man's appearance. He wore the navy tunic
of an aide, but...
His boots. They were the boots that the security officers wore. He
was doing a check of the rooms. And he could have recognized Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon withdrew his lightsaber in one quick motion. He would have to
contact Eritha later. He cut a neat hole in the glass and stepped through
onto the ledge. Using his cable launcher, he lowered himself down to the
pavement behind the wall.
"There he is!" Chips from the wall flew as blaster fire hit on either
side of him. Qui-Gon looked up. Two security officers aimed their blasters
at him.
"Don't move!" one of them shouted.
Qui-Gon ran. He deflected the blaster fire as he zigzagged down the
short passageway between the wall and the Legislative building. Then he
leaped to the top of the wall and jumped over.
Pedestrians scattered as he landed. They looked at him curiously, but
he matched his stride to theirs and continued walking. He increased his
pace as they lost interest and turned down a side street. He weaved through
the blocks surrounding the Legislature, finding a deserted alley to shed
his overcloak and cap. No doubt a complete description of him was now
updated on every security officer's data-pad. He would blend in better in
his traveler's cloak.
Qui-Gon caught a repulsorlift airbus and stayed on it until the end
of the line. He resolved to go back and find Eritha under cover of
darkness.
Balog had always been one step ahead of him. This time, he resolved
that he would be first.
CHAPTER 11
The holotape of Tahl as an Absolute had hurt the Jedi. Qui-Gon's
arrest warrant made it worse. Mace ran into roadblocks whenever he tried to
gather information. The support of Manex was no longer enough.
Obi-Wan saw the frustration tighten Mace's features. He knew that
Mace was deeply concerned that Qui-Gon had not surfaced to clear his name.
He, too, wondered what his Master was thinking. In rare moments of rest, he
reached out with the Force, trying desperately to connect. At times he
thought he could feel Qui-Gon, but it was not a strong, clear sensation. It
was murky and gray. He knew his effort to reach his Master through the
Force would not work. They would not connect. There was too much unresolved
emotion swirling around Qui-Gon, too much he was trying to hide.
"You need rest," Mace said at the end of a long, fruitless day. "Both
of you."
But neither Bant nor Obi-Wan wanted to retire to their quarters. They
sat in Manex's private sitting room. Since Manex's favorite color was green
and he believed in indulging himself, every cushion, every seating area,
was a different shade of the color. The floors were of highly polished
black stone. Obi-Wan felt almost dizzy sitting in the center of all that
bright color, but Manex had insisted on giving the Jedi his favorite room,
and they felt they could not refuse.
Manex returned from the Legislature only a few moments after the Jedi
had. He rushed into the room, his curls waving, looking agitated.
"Qui-Gon was spotted at the Legislature. There was a blaster battle."
Obi-Wan felt a silent cry of protest rise inside him. He couldn't
bear it if something happened to Qui-Gon now. His body went instantly cold.
Bent moved closer to him, her shoulder touching his.
Mace stood. "What happened?"
"He escaped, of course."
Obi-Wan let out a long breath. Qui-Gon was safe. He felt Bant relax a
fraction, and she gave Obi-Wan a look of pure relief.
Manex mopped his brow with a pale gold handkerchief. "What a day. I
must tell you that there is a movement afoot to draft me for the elections.
It is not a job that I seek. But I am thinking about it. Maybe it is time I
got involved. I used to think my brother was the hero, the public servant.
I used to say I was only here to make money." Manex shoved the handkerchief
in his pocket. "Maybe I became the way I am because my brother was so
noble. Now I am no longer sure what my role is. Maybe the time to abandon
my principle of self-protection is here."
"What about Alani?" Obi-Wan asked. "Would it be hard for you to
oppose her?" Manex did not know of Alani's tie to the Absolutes. He
professed affection for the twins.
Manex hesitated. "I have to think of what is best for New Apsolon,"
he said. "And I've realized one thing. We cannot form a solid government -
whether with me or another leader - if we do not expose Balog and the
Absolutes. I have a plan."
Obi-Wan tried not to look dubious. He couldn't imagine what sort of
plan Manex would devise.
"I will act as a decoy," he declared. "I'll let it be known that the
list of secret informers has come into my possession."
Mace shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous. You realize what
happened to the last two beings who claimed this?"
"They are dead. Yes, I realize this very well." Manex clasped his
hands together. "I'm trying not to think about it. And, actually, you can't
say no, because I've already spread the rumor."
Obi-Wan saw how Bant watched the faces of the two men. She usually
did not speak in meetings, but she was the most intent listener he'd ever
seen. He could learn from her stillness, he suddenly thought.
"This may not be wise," Mace said, frowning.
"You're telling me," Manex snorted. "I'm hardly a courageous man. But
I'm hoping that with Jedi protection, I'll be all right. If we can get
Balog to expose himself, we can catch him. Don't you want to clear Qui-
Gon's name?"
"Of course. But it is not clear if this is the way to do it," Mace
said.
"It is the only way," Manex insisted. "You know it is."
Obi-Wan's gaze went from Manex to Mace. Of course he knew that Mace
had to agree to protect Manex. It had been a foolish move on Manex's part,
but no one wanted Obi-Wan's opinion. Now they would have to baby-sit Manex
in the hope that Balog would show up. Was that what Manex wanted? Did he
want to tie up the Jedi's time until he could consolidate power? Perhaps he
was in league with Balog.
Obi-Wan reminded himself that Qui-Gon had trusted Manex. He had
gently pointed out that just because a man enjoyed his wealth did not make
him a man of bad character. Qui-Gon had seen something likeable in Manex's
happy pursuit of his own pleasures.
"All right, we'll protect you," Mace said. "But we will form the
plan."
The lights were still powered down in the house, as a house of
mourning. Manex sat at a table in his garden, nervously fiddling with a cup
of "the finest juice on New Apsolon - ca
n I fetch the Jedi some glasses?"
The Jedi had long ago refused, and Manex had hardly been able to eat or
drink himself.
"Look relaxed," Mace told him in a low tone.
"I'm trying," Manex said between his teeth.
Mace stood behind a screen of bushes. Obi-Wan was a few yards away.
Bant was on the opposite side of the small clearing where Manex had laid
stone over the grass for an outdoor seating area.
If there was to be an ambush, Mace wanted plenty of room to maneuver.
He had decided that Manex would eat his evening meal outside and then
linger as the suns set. Manex had picked at his food and now was making a
weak attempt to sip his juice in a serene fashion. He only succeeded in
spilling it down his tunic.
The suns set, and the darkness grew. Only a small light on the table
illuminated the area. Obi-Wan kept himself attuned for the sound of probe
droids approaching. He was determined not to let Balog slip through their
fingers. Once he was in their hands, they would have justice for Tahl. And
Qui-Gon would return. Obi-Wan would never admit it to anyone, but he would
feel better if they were the ones to catch Balog, not Qui-Gon.
Mace had linked the house's security system to his comlink. It must
have vibrated an alert, for he turned to Obi-Wan. "Security has been
breached on the east wall," he said.
"What?" Manex asked.
"Move closer to us as though you are looking at the stars," Mace
ordered quietly.
Manex pushed his chair back. He rose, still clutching his cup, and
pretended to look at the sky. Obi-Wan knew that Mace wanted Manex close to
cover if anything happened. There was a low stone wall that they could push
him behind in just a few seconds.
Obi-Wan felt a surge in the Force and saw a shadow flit across the
lawn. It could have been a night bird or a shadow across the moon. But it
wasn't.
He and Mace sprang forward together. Bant came around the other side
in a flanking motion. Obi-Wan pushed Manex behind the wall as he darted
closer. Three lightsabers were activated as the Jedi advanced.
"Good to see you, too," Qui-Gon said, stepping into the light.
"Master!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.
He looked at Manex peeking over the wall at the three Jedi. "So I see
it's a trap. Looks like I fell for it, not Balog."
"Qui-Gon," Mace began sternly, "what are you - "
He stopped abruptly. He and Qui-Gon looked toward the front of the
dwelling. It took another beat or two, but Obi-Wan heard it, too. Angry
pounding at the front door. A few seconds later Obi-Wan saw security forces
pounding down the hall while Manex's protocol droid waved his arms in
protest.
Mace hurried forward, saying over his shoulder to Qui-Gon, "I suggest
you find another exit."
Drawing his robes around him, Mace quickly entered the house. They
heard the angry voice of a security officer.
"I know he is here. We have our proof! He bought the probe droid that
killed Legislator Pleni!"
Qui-Gon was screened by the elaborate bushes of the grounds. He
hesitated, listening to the officer.
"Qui-Gon, you must go," Obi-Wan urged. "I'll come with you."
Qui-Gon hesitated. He met Obi-Wan's gaze. "No. I'm sorry I've caused
you worry, Padawan," he said. "I must do this my way."
"But - " Obi-Wan began. Before he could finish, he felt his words
snatched away by the wind, even before he had a chance to form them.
Qui-Gon had become a shadow again, moving across the soft green
grass. Then he disappeared.
CHAPTER 12
Qui-Gon ran through the darkness, grateful for the new moons that
made the night so dark. He moved from shadow to shadow noiselessly. When he
had put a good deal of distance between himself and Manex's residence, he
finally slowed down.
He was tired, but he wanted to run again. Pushing his body was the
only time his mind had a chance to empty out. Facing Mace had been
difficult. Facing Obi-Wan had been worse. He knew he belonged with the
Jedi. Yet he could not seem to stop himself from going on alone. His
emotions were too large right now, too raw. Around the Jedi he felt too
exposed. Mace would see how difficult it was for him to maintain serenity.
He could even order Qui-Gon back to the Temple. Qui-Gon could not allow
that.
The truth was, he dreaded the moment he would walk back into the
Temple and know that Tahl's footsteps would never echo in its halls again.
The Temple would never again welcome him in the same way. Loss would be as
much a part of it as shelter.
His fever to catch Balog battled with his fear of the future, when
this mission would be over. He would be faced with only his grief to bear,
and he would have to look ahead to empty years. What would happen to him
then?
A deep chill caused him to shudder. The cool wind was drying his
sweat. He saw a security patrol ahead and quickly turned down a side
street. Once again he would not sleep tonight. He would have to keep alert.
Every officer in the city was now looking for Qui-Gon Jinn.
But he had learned something. They had tied him to the murder through
the probe droids. He could not understand why the probe droids had attacked
someone instead of tracking Balog, as they had been programmed to do. He
wondered if the two droids that had veered off when attacking him had
actually been his own droids. It had been strange that they had suddenly
gone away. Did that mean that his droids had attacked Oleg, too? Someone
had reprogrammed them.
He needed answers, and for once he knew where to find them. He would
pay a visit to the black-market dealer, Mota, who had sold him the droids.
If they were reprogrammed, Mota was undoubtedly the link to whoever
reprogrammed them. And if that person was Balog, he might have a way to
contact him.
Qui-Gon circled back and glanced down the street. The security
officer was gone. He struck out across the road into the park. There were
more places to hide here in case he was spotted. And cutting across the
park would bring him closer to the Worker Sector.
Qui-Gon suddenly sensed that someone was behind him, matching his
footsteps and trying to match his speed. Qui-Gon melted off into the trees.
He made an arc and came up behind his pursuer. He saw a glint of gold hair
in the darkness. It was Eritha.
He strode forward and grasped her arm. She gasped, then saw it was
him. She was breathing hard, as if she'd just had a hard run. "I've been
following you since you left Manex," she said. "Or at least I've been
trying to. I lost you and kept circling around. Finally I thought I saw you
enter the park."
"Why are you following me?"
She leaned over, trying to catch her breath. Her braids were
unraveling, and her face was flushed.
"Does Manex have the list?"
"No. Was that why you are following me?"
Eritha shook her head. "It's because I couldn't wait until you
contacted me. I guessed you would go to Manex tonight. I've got the
inf
ormation you need. I overheard Alani. I know where Balog is. I can take
you there."
CHAPTER 13
The Jedi still kept watch over Manex, who had now retired to his
reception room for a rest. Mace covered the front of the residence while
Bant stayed outside in the rear. Obi-Wan was positioned behind the curving
stairway. From here he had a vantage point to the door of the reception
room. He had a feeling it would be a long night.
Use your time. You'll find one day that you have too little of it.
Qui-Gon's words rose in his mind. Obi-Wan was still going over and
