by Джуд Уотсон
"It's a spillover," Qui-Gon called back to Obi-Wan. The area ahead was concealed by Qui-Gon's broad back. "And there's a duct here leading to the outside. I think — "
Suddenly, Qui-Gon paused. Holding onto the ladder with one hand, Obi-Wan leaned out to see.
Lashed against the wall was a small air-speeder.
"We've found his escape route," Qui-Gon said with satisfaction.
"Qui-Gon? Obi-Wan?" Bant's worried voice floated out to them.
"Here!" Qui-Gon shouted, and a second later her face appeared over the platform's edge.
"I brought Jedi security," she said. "Are you all right? Where's Xanatos?"
"He escaped," Obi-Wan told her. "He jumped into the water when the tunnel was flushed."
"Let's go back up," Qui-Gon told them. "Security can remove the airspeeder. At least Xanatos will be trapped inside the Temple."
They climbed the ladder back to the platform, and two members of Jedi security went down to take care of the speeder.
"I was so worried," Bant told them. "I hated to leave you, but I didn't have a lightsaber, and — "
"You did the right thing, Bant," Qui-Gon interrupted kindly. "When instincts are as good as yours, don't question them."
More and more Obi-Wan had to wonder if Qui-Gon was interested in Bant as his next Padawan. It certainly seemed that the Jedi singled her out.
Qui-Gon turned to him. "You fought well, Obi-Wan."
Normally, Obi-Wan would have felt deep satisfaction from Qui-Gon's praise. But now he only wondered if Qui-Gon was merely being nice, preparing him for the day he would be left behind.
Qui-Gon sent Bant back to brief Tahl on what had happened. Obi-Wan wandered off to the edge of the platform where Xanatos had thrown himself into the foaming torrent. He remembered the deep sense of unease he'd felt when Xanatos had risen out of the water, the black form containing a monstrous evil…
He'd been wearing a waterproof satchel on his back, Obi-Wan suddenly recalled. Why?
What if it had been no accident that Xanatos had appeared at the platform? What if he'd come to remove the evidence that showed he'd been there?
What if he'd been tipped off? He certainly had managed to stay one step ahead of the Jedi until now. That wasn't easy.
"I think there could be a spy at the Temple," Obi-Wan said slowly, turning back to Qui-Gon. "Xanatos has someone planted there, warning him of our next move. Why else would he have come here with a satchel on his back?"
"Many reasons, I suppose," Qui-Gon said.
"And remember that he said that you had to rely on children to tell you that he was using the tunnels? How did he know that Bant tipped you off?"
Qui-Gon frowned. "I'm not sure about this, Obi-Wan. The only ones who knew we were searching the water tunnels were Bant and Tahl. They are both completely above suspicion. Bant would never do anything to compromise the security of the Temple."
Stung by how quickly Qui-Gon had leaped to Bant's defense, Obi-Wan blurted, "And what about Tahl? Do you trust her so well?"
"With my life," Qui-Gon answered shortly.
"But you haven't seen her in years," Obi-Wan pointed out. "What if Xanatos got to her somehow?"
"No, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said curtly. "You are wrong. I am used to betrayal. I know exactly what it looks like." He gave Obi-Wan a hard look and turned away.
Obi-Wan felt a stab of pain. He knew Qui-Gon was talking about him.
The moment the words left Qui-Gon's mouth, he regretted them. His harshness had arisen more out of his frustration at Xanatos' escape than anything Obi-Wan had said. Yes, the boy had lost his trust. There was no need to torture him by continually reminding him of it. It was behavior unworthy of a Jedi.
It was his own flaw, Qui-Gon realized heavily. He was the one who could not take the leap to trust again. It was not Obi-Wan's fault. It was a combination of Qui-Gon's history and his nature. Although he felt a connection to other beings, he was slow to trust them. Once his trust was given, it was solid. When it shattered, he was at a loss as to how to refashion it again.
His problem. Not Obi-Wan's.
He needed to tell the boy this. The bond between Master and Padawan had to be one of total trust, and he didn't know if he was capable of giving it, even if Obi-Wan was. It wouldn't be fair to Obi-Wan to take him back under those circumstances. It might be better for Obi-Wan to find a new Master.
/ will speak to him. When I am sure what it is I want to say.
Suddenly, the lights in the tunnel dimmed to half-power. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged a concerned glance. A moment later, Qui-Gon's comlink buzzed. Tahl's crisp voice came through the unit. "We have some developments here."
"I noticed. We'll be right there." Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan. He spoke gently to the boy to make up for his harsh words. "I don't think Tahl is in league with Xanatos," he said. "But you could be right about the spy. Let's keep it in mind."
Obi-Wan nodded. The boy was silent as they hurriedly made their way to Tahl's quarters.
Tahl sat at her desk, a pile of data sheets on her lap. "I just spoke to Miro," she told them. "He's been trying to fix the air circulation system in the senior students' wing. When he took the necessary steps, all the lights in the Temple went to half-power. Plus, the refrigeration unit in the dining hall failed. He's working on it."
"The lights are powered down on every floor?" Qui-Gon asked.
Tahl nodded. A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. "Now we're almost even, Qui-Gon. We both have to work in the dark."
"Not quite even," Qui-Gon said with a smile that was evident in his voice. "You're still wiser than I am."
Tahl grinned. "Speaking of which, that's not the development I was talking about. I found out something about Offworld. Here, I printed it out for you." She handed the data sheets to Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon stared at the sheets. There were columns of numbers and names of companies. "You're going to have to tell me. You know I'm not good at galactic finance."
"Offworld is not as solvent as they appear," Tahl said, tapping her finger on the desk. "A futile mining operation on an inhospitable planet has drained its resources. Xanatos refused to accept defeat and just kept pouring more and more money into the operation. There's a rumor that he's secretly plundered the treasury on his home planet of Telos."
Qui-Gon stared down at the numbers, which meant nothing to him. The figures weren't important. Tahl's findings were. If Xanatos was close to financial ruin, maybe his motive for storming the Temple had as much to do with money as revenge.
Always a double motive…
"The vertex," he said softly.
"Of course," Tahl breathed.
Obi-Wan looked at them, puzzled.
Qui-Gon thought for a moment. Yoda had told him a secret. But if Obi-Wan was to help them, he had to know. He filled Obi-Wan in on the story of the Jedi agreement to guard the vertex for a short time.
"We've been focusing too much on Xanatos' revenge motive," Qui-Gon said. "Xanatos is more complex than that. Why put himself in such danger if all he got out of it was personal satisfaction? But destroying the Temple and walking away with a fortune would be worth much more to him."
"The treasury room is one half level below the Council room," Tahl said. "Isn't it strange how the wings have been shut down one after the other? Now everyone has been moved to the central building. This can't be accidental."
"Xanatos is planning something," Qui-Gon brooded. "He hopes to contain us so that it will be easier to destroy us. But how?"
The door hissed open and TooJay walked in, carrying a tray. "I brought your lunch, Sir Tahl," she announced.
"I'm not hungry."
"There is a protein cake, fruit, and — "
"Just put it down," Tahl ordered absently, her mind still on Xanatos.
TooJay set down the tray and began to straighten Tahl's desk.
"Whatever he is planning, it will happen soon," Tahl said.
TooJay moved one set of papers from one side o
f the desk to the other.
Qui-Gon stood. "Tahl, can TooJay fetch Bant? We need to talk to her."
Tahl turned toward Qui-Gon, a surprised expression on her face. "Bant?"
Qui-Gon spoke in a meaningful tone. "I'll explain when she gets here."
"TooJay, please fetch Bant from the temporary quarters," Tahl ordered.
"I can wait for your lunch tray, sir," TooJay added.
"Now," Tahl said firmly.
"I will return," TooJay said, hurrying out the door.
As soon as the door closed behind the droid, Tahl turned to Qui-Gon.
"What was that about?"
"How did you get TooJay?" Qui-Gon asked her.
"I told you, Yoda arranged for it," Tahl answered.
"Did Yoda bring the droid himself?" Qui-Gon persisted.
Tahl nodded. "Why?"
"It was just a few days after you and I arrived from Melida/Daan," Qui-Gon mused. "Was the droid ever out of your sight?"
Tahl groaned. "Are you kidding? TooJay is always underfoot." Then she frowned. "Except on the second day. I needed TooJay to guide me to the north wing. But I couldn't locate her for several hours. She said she had to attend some kind of indoctrination training. What are you driving at, Qui-Gon?"
Tahl looked mystified, but Obi-Wan saw where Qui-Gon was heading. "The droid appeared at the same time that the thefts began," he told her.
"Are you saying that TooJay is the thief?" Tahl asked. "That droid is pretty conspicuous."
"No, TooJay isn't the thief," Qui-Gon said. He glanced at Obi-Wan. "But I think we could have found our spy."
"We'll have to be sure," Obi-Wan said. "If we could shut TooJay down temporarily — "
"We could find the transmitter," Qui-Gon finished. "We can't have Xanatos know we suspect."
Tahl's mind worked quickly, absorbing Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's leaps of thought. "How can we shut TooJay down without arousing suspicion?"
Obi-Wan grinned. "That's easy. Just act naturally."
Tahl turned her head toward him. "What do you mean, Obi-Wan?"
"It's obvious that the droid annoys you," Obi-Wan answered. "Pick a fight and shut her down because you've had enough."
Slowly, Tahl smiled. "I've done it before."
"Very smart, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon approved. "Let's do it when she returns."
Within minutes, TooJay reappeared. "I cannot locate Bant. If I can say this, Sir Tahl, I do not think it advisable for me to be absent. You could need my assistance. For example, there are data sheets on the floor several centimeters from your I eft foot-"
"I know that," Tahl snapped. "Qui-Gon, those are for you. Why don't you sit here?" She stood, sweeping an arm toward a chair. The tray of food TooJay had brought earlier crashed to the floor. Obi-Wan sprang forward to help, but Qui-Gon held him back.
"Your lunch!" TooJay scurried forward. "It was ten centimeters to your right — "
"Enough, you driveling droid!" Tahl snapped. "If you don't shut your voice activator, I'll shut it for you!"
"But you won't be able to navigate!" TooJay protested.
"I'll be able to think!" Tahl shouted. She reached forward and deactivated the droid completely.
Silence fell. Tahl grinned. "Was that natural enough for you, Obi-Wan?"
Qui-Gon strode forward and began to examine TooJay. "Here," he said after a moment. "Right in the joint of the pelvic servomotor. A transmitter."
"Does it record and send simultaneously?" Tahl asked.
"Yes," Qui-Gon said. "I would guess that Xanatos has some sort of trigger on his end that alerts him if the conversation is important. He could have programmed several word triggers, like my name, or Yoda's, his, Bruck's — there could be any number of triggers. That way he doesn't have to listen to everything that happens to you — only what he needs." Qui-Gon examined the transmitter. "This unit transmits audio and visuals."
"So Xanatos has known what we were planning all along," Tahl said, sinking back into her chair. "He's been watching our every move. This is bad news."
"Not at all," Qui-Gon said softly. "Now we do not have to chase him. He will come straight to us."
Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan, I need you to go to the temporary dormitory. Pick a senior student with your height and build. Then come back here. And be as quick as you can."
Without taking time to respond, Obi-Wan raced out of Tahl's quarters and headed for the lift tube. He reached the level where the students had set up sleeping areas and hastily scanned the crowd. He already knew who he would choose. Not only was his friend Garen Muln his size, but Obi-Wan trusted his abilities as well.
"Obi-Wan! Are you looking for me?" Bant ran forward from a crowd of students who were busy unrolling bedding.
Obi-Wan continued to scan the sea of students. "I'm looking for someone to help Qui-Gon and me," he said.
"But I can help!" Bant's silver eyes shone eagerly. "I'd be glad to help Qui-Gon."
The jealousy that Obi-Wan had tried to smother suddenly leaped inside him. The hurt and longing he'd been feeling turned into something uncontrollable. The open eagerness in Bant's face made him more furious than ever.
"Yes, I'm sure you would," he told Bant savagely. "I'm sure you'd take any opportunity to show Qui-Gon how valuable you are. How much he needs you."
The light in Bant's eyes dimmed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean you want to be Qui-Gon's Padawan," Obi-Wan said fiercely. "It's obvious. You keep trying to impress him. You hang around him all the time."
Bant shook her head. "But I just wanted to help. I'm not trying to be his Padawan. You're his Padawan, Obi-Wan."
"No, I'm not. You made that clear to me. I let him down. So maybe he deserves you, instead."
Bant's eyes filmed over. "That's not so," she whispered.
Obi-Wan caught sight of Garen. He called his name and beckoned him over. "We need your help," he told Garen as his friend came up.
"Obi-Wan — " Bant began.
"I don't have time to talk," Obi-Wan said brusquely.
Bant nodded, her face full of hurt. Quickly, she walked away.
"What did you say to her?" Garen asked him, taking a step toward Bant.
"You hurt her feelings."
Obi-Wan grabbed his arm. "You don't have time to go after her now.
Qui-Gon needs you."
Obi-Wan led the way out of the dormitory. He felt guilty about his harsh words. Asking for Garen's help in front of Bant was a deliberate snub.
Garen's look of disapproval both irritated him and fueled his guilt.
His friend was silent as the lift tube hissed upward toward Tahl's quarters.
After this is over, I'll apologize to Bant, Obi-Wan thought. / let my jealousy take over. It was wrong. I'll make it right.
The lights in the hallway outside Tahl's quarters were still at half-power. Obi-Wan saw Qui-Gon standing by Tahl's door, his back to them.
"Qui-Gon, I brought Garen Muln," he called to him.
The tall man turned, and Obi-Wan saw it was Ali-Alann.
"I apologize," Obi-Wan said. "I thought you were Qui-Gon."
Qui-Gon stepped out from Tahl's open door- way. "That was exactly what you were supposed to think."
Qui-Gon studied Garen. "You'll do very well," he murmured.
"Qui-Gon, I am happy to help you, but what am I going to be doing?"
Ali-Alann asked respectfully.
"Not much," Qui-Gon answered. "You have to be me for a short time, that's all. And Garen, you will pose as Obi-Wan."
Garen nodded. Both he and Ali-Alann had caught Qui-Gon's seriousness.
"Obi-Wan and I will record a voice track," Qui-Gon went on. "You will activate it when you're sure that Tahl's personal navigation droid is nearby. Then you'll go on a search for the intruders. But you will not find them."
"Why not?" Garen asked.
"Because we will," Qui-Gon said, putting a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
His eyes glowed fiercely. "We will put an end to
this."
Qui-Gon's hand on his shoulder, his steady words, sent a shiver through Obi-Wan. He had been unfair to Bant. If Qui-Gon was encouraging to her, it was only because of his goodness. It didn't mean Qui-Gon wanted Bant as a Padawan any more than it meant that he still wanted Obi-Wan. It only meant that he was encouraging strength where he saw it.