by Jude Watson
smashed their way through the line.
Initially, the officers kept behind their shields. But as the battle
waned and the blaster fire petered out, they grew more bold. Some drew
their blasters and fired.
"Now, Padawan!" Qui-Gon shouted, deflecting fire.
The two Jedi leaped over a line of security vehicles. Blaster fire
ripped into the vehicles a split second later. With another great leap,
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon landed on the other side of the park wall. Obi-Wan had
just enough time to see Eritha's twisted look of rage as they reached
safety. That told him everything he needed to know.
They took off through the darkness of the park. Obi-Wan heard the
distant sound of a revving hoverscout.
"Master, Eritha planted a tracking device on you somehow," Obi-Wan
said. "At the Legislature today."
"When she embraced me," Qui-Gon said. As he ran, he carefully felt
his clothing and skin. He found the whisper-light device on the back of his
utility belt. He threw it away into the darkness, then veered off in the
opposite direction.
The bright lights of the hoverscout swept the park, but it turned
toward the tracking device. Now they could hear security officers crashing
through the trees. The attackers would follow the device for a time.
The Jedi kept under the cover of giant trees with leaves that offered
a degree of protection. The trees were planted so close together that even
swoops would have a hard time maneuvering through them.
Qui-Gon led them along a zigzagging path through the park, ducking
when he saw lights overhead and then moving on. He seemed to know the park
well, Obi-Wan noted. Soon they were close to the other end of the park.
They leaped over the wall and hurried down the dark streets. After a few
blocks Obi-Wan recognized where he was. Qui-Gon had brought them to the
Worker Sector.
They paused to catch their breath in the shadow of an alley between
two tall buildings.
"Thank you, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "I did not think I needed help.
Obviously, I did. How did you know that Eritha would betray me?"
"Instinct," Obi-Wan said. "Alani confirmed it. They are not afraid of
anything, let alone the Jedi. Alani said that they no longer feared
exposure."
"That must mean they are in possession of the list," Qui-Gon mused.
"So we can stop chasing it."
"Alani gave the impression that Balog is not the killer of Oleg and
Pleni," Obi-Wan said. "She said you were chasing air."
"But I saw him right before Oleg was killed," Qui-Gon said.
"Maybe he wasn't after Oleg. Maybe he was after you," Obi-Wan pointed
out.
"That is possible," Qui-Gon said slowly.
"Where to next?" Obi-Wan asked. He hoped his Master would allow him
to stay by his side. He had already decided that if Qui-Gon told him he
must return to Mace, he would not go.
"Mota," Qui-Gon said. "He holds the key."
Qui-Gon activated the laser pointer to indicate to Mota that he had
visitors outside. It seemed a long time before the door slid open. Mota
stood in the doorway.
"I'm closed," he said. "Even I need my rest. Come back tomorrow."
Holding out a hand, Qui-Gon used the Force to keep the door open.
Mota stared at the door, then at Qui-Gon. He shrugged.
"On the other hand, why should I turn down business?" he asked. He
turned and disappeared into the warehouse.
The Jedi followed him. They knew the way down the ramp to the lower
levels where Mota kept his stash of black-market items.
Mota was waiting. Instead of the Worker unisuit he had worn to do
business, he was now dressed in a sleep tunic, his white legs thrust into a
threadbare pair of slippers.
"What is it this time, Jedi? Another probe droid? Did you lose
another one? You have the worst luck of anyone I've ever met."
"We want information," Qui-Gon said.
Mota eyed him. "Information has a price, too."
Obi-Wan saw his Master's frustration boil over. He had never seen
Qui-Gon this angry before.
"The price will be that I do not break apart every item in this
warehouse," Qui-Gon said, taking a step toward Mota.
The man suddenly looked frail in his nightshirt next to Qui-Gon's
size and strength. "N-now, relax, we're all friends here," he stuttered.
"I'm not your friend, and I'm not here to relax!" Qui-Gon thundered.
"I'm here to find out why my droids were reprogrammed. And you have the
answer."
Mota backed up until a table was between him and Qui-Gon.
"I'm not sure what you mean," he said.
Obi-Wan spoke quickly, wanting to give Qui-Gon a moment to control
his anger. If he could control it. Obi-Wan's worry increased. This was a
Qui-Gon he had never seen. Qui-Gon's sense of urgency had always been
controlled. If anger came, it came in flashes of lightning that left
serenity behind.
"We know that the probe droids were reprogrammed, Mota," Obi-Wan said
in a calmer tone. "They never went after Balog at all. Instead they
attacked two other beings. The question is, did you do it?"
Mota swallowed. "It wasn't me," he said quickly. "I don't know who it
was. Someone broke into my files. I have a warning system built in, so I
knew the next time I accessed them."
"When?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Within hours after you left," Mota said. "I don't know how. Or who.
You can't trust anyone these days."
"How did the security forces know that Qui-Gon had bought those
droids?" Obi-Wan asked.
"They asked me," Mota said in a small voice. "All my droids are
coded. They tracked the droids here. I told them the Jedi Qui-Gon had
bought them. I had to tell the truth. You wouldn't want me to land in jail,
would you?" Mota tried to smile.
Qui-Gon gave him an even stare. Mota backed up even farther. "Ah, I
guess I should have mentioned to the officers that I suspected the droids
were reprogrammed. But when speaking to security officers, it's better not
to answer questions they don't ask. They might have gone through all my
files. I wouldn't be able to protect my clients. And I would be out of
business. Nobody wants that. You might need another probe droid, for
example - "
"We need access to your computers," Obi-Wan said brusquely. "Right
now."
"Of course, help yourself." Mota hurriedly pointed to his datascreen.
"Just don't erase any profits, heh heh."
Qui-Gon immediately began clicking keys and accessing datafiles. "Did
you try to trace the break-in?"
"No," Mota admitted. "I'm not that advanced. I just know how to track
inventory and money."
Qui-Gon continued to move through Mota's files with astonishing
speed. Obi-Wan knew he was missing nothing. He could see the level of
concentration on his Master's face.
Qui-Gon hit a few keys, activating a search mode Obi-Wan didn't
recognize. Within seconds, he got a reply.
"Do you recognize this code?" he asked, pointing to the datascreen.
Mota leaned closer. "It's the Worker data address," he said. "It's
&
nbsp; already in my files." "Who uses it?" Qui-Gon asked.
Mota's face was tinged blue from the data-screen. "Irini and Lenz,"
he said.
CHAPTER 15
Obi-Wan dashed after Qui-Gon. His Master had moved so quickly he had
not had time to gather his thoughts or decide on a direction. He had
expected him to head for the ramp to the street, but instead Qui-Gon ran to
the lower level. He needed fast transport.
"Open those bay doors!" Qui-Gon yelled to Mota as he ran.
Unease thudded with every heartbeat as Obi-Wan chased after Qui-Gon.
He had never seen his Master like this. Qui-Gon seemed to barely register
his surroundings or Obi-Wan's presence. All his will was directed at his
goal.
It was the goal that worried Obi-Wan. Was it justice... or revenge?
By the time they reached the lower level, the door at the end of the
long warehouse space stood open. Qui-Gon jumped into an airspeeder. Obi-Wan
barely had time to scramble into the passenger seat when Qui-Gon throttled
the engines and zoomed down the tunnel.
The engines were pushed almost to full, much too fast to maneuver in
the tunnel. Obi-Wan could see that the bay doors at the end of the tunnel
had not had a chance to open. Still Qui-Gon did not reduce his speed.
Obi-Wan whipped his head around to face him. Qui-Gon wasn't just
pressing his luck. This was pure recklessness. "Master!"
Qui-Gon's face seemed carved from the gray stone of New Apsolon. His
lips were a thin line. His hands stayed steady on the controls. He seemed
not to hear Obi-Wan.
A crack of gray light appeared ahead. It widened. The doors were
opening, but too slowly for Obi-Wan's comfort.
"Hang on!" Qui-Gon warned.
Obi-Wan just had time to clutch for support as Qui-Gon flipped the
airspeeder sideways. Without slackening speed, he zoomed through the
opening, clearing it by centimeters. They flew into the dark night.
Obi-Wan pressed himself back into the seat, trying to still his
ragged breathing. Qui-Gon seemed poised on the brink of losing control.
There didn't seem anything Obi-Wan could do or say to stop him or get him
to slow down. Obi-Wan tried to stifle his own panic. He had to trust his
Master.
But for the first time in their long partnership, he didn't think he
could. That knowledge made fear grasp him by the throat.
Qui-Gon piloted the craft expertly through the deserted streets. He
pulled up in front of Lenz's hideout and flew up the stairs. He pounded on
Lenz's door. They heard the creak of a floorboard.
"Don't try your escape route," Qui-Gon warned. "We'll find you."
The door opened. Lenz looked at them warily. He looked more frail
than usual, his skin pale and shiny. "It's the middle of the night."
Qui-Gon slammed the door open wider and strode inside. "I need to
speak with you and Irini. If she's not here, contact her."
"She is here. But you can't see her," Lenz said quietly. "She's ill -
"
Qui-Gon ignored him and pulled open a closed door. He stopped short.
Obi-Wan came up behind him. lrini lay on a sleep couch, covered in a
blanket. She was shivering, and her face shone with sweat. "What is it?
What's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked. Lenz pushed past him to kneel by Irini's
side.
"A blaster attack. She won't see a medic." Obi-Wan hurried forward.
"She needs bacta." "I know," Lenz said.
"Who did this?" Qui-Gon demanded. "Balog," Irini said through
clenched teeth. "He has the list now."
"So you had the list all along?" Qui-Gon asked her.
"No. I stole it from Legislator Pleni."
Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon. Did that mean that lrini had reprogrammed
the droids to attack the Legislator? Was she a murderer?
She saw the look that passed between them. "I... had to get... that
list," she said, in obvious pain. "I didn't want anyone to die. But I
couldn't let anyone stand in my way, either."
"And you wanted me to get blamed for it?" Qui-Gon asked.
She shook her head. "I was surprised at that. But I could hardly come
forward to clear you."
Qui-Gon bent down and swiftly examined lrini's wounds. His anger
seemed to have drained away at the sight of her distress. She needed help.
"Your wounds won't kill you if you see a medic. But I see signs of
infection already."
"That's what I told her," Lenz said. He brushed back damp hair from
Irini's forehead. "She still refuses."
"Did you send your probe droids after Oleg, too?" Obi-Wan asked.
Irini nodded. "I was tracking him. I told Qui-Gon I wanted to protect
Oleg, but it was a lie. He betrayed us. We needed the list. If he had only
given it up... if Pleni had only given it up... none of this would have
happened."
"Why?" Obi-Wan asked. "You said you had renounced violence."
Irini pressed her lips together and did not answer.
"She did it for me," Lenz said.
"Lenz - " Irini began warningly.
"It has gone too far, Irini." Lenz's voice was tender. "You have
protected me too long. Do you think I will watch you die for me, too?" He
turned to the Jedi. "My name is on the list."
"You were an informer?" Qui-Gon asked.
"He was tortured," Irini said. She let out a small gasp and closed
her eyes in pain. "What they did to him... no one should have to endure."
"That is not an excuse," Lenz said firmly. "I confessed to Irini, and
she forgave me. Others would not. I gave the Absolutes information - "
Irini struggled to sit up, but the pain made her lie flat again.
"Don't tell them, Lenz," she begged. "It is our secret. It can remain our
secret. Your career is too important. You are a great leader - "
"No," Lenz said sadly. "I am no longer, if I ever was. The Workers
will go on without me." He turned to the Jedi. "This was five years ago.
The Absolutes raided a meeting place. Two Workers were killed, the rest
imprisoned. They let me go." He looked at Irini sadly. "Now we both have
two deaths on our conscience, Irini."
He stood. "I am going to call a med team." lrini protested, but Lenz
went on firmly. "Balog has the list now. He has won. He will remove his own
name from the list, and all the secrets will be revealed. He will discredit
his enemies, including me." Lenz looked tenderly at Irini. "As for my
Irini, I would rather have her alive and imprisoned than dead."
Irini turned her face to the wall. Obi-Wan saw her shoulders shake
with sobs.
Lenz turned to the Jedi. "I did not know what Irini had done, and I'm
sorry to hear that you were blamed for her crimes. We owe you our help now
more than ever. You know that Alani is running for Supreme Governor.
Recently we have realized that though she wants Worker support, she does
not need it. Someone else is supporting her - with finances that we do not
have. This has made us suspicious. I have received news tonight from our
spy in the Supreme Governor's residence. He's discovered that there is a
secret tunnel between the residence and the Absolute Museum. In the old
days it was used when those captured were secretly transported to Absolut
e
headquarters. The museum is closed now. It is just a guess, but wouldn't it
be the perfect place for Balog and the Absolutes to hide? The twins could
smuggle him in and out easily until Alani is elected tomorrow."
It made sense, Obi-Wan realized. It would be like Balog to hide in
the one place so obvious that they would never think to look there, the
