Jedi Apprentice(15)

Yoda was waiting as they entered the white chamber.

“Door to close in approximately two seconds,” TooJay told Tahl.

“TooJay -” Tahl said impatiently.

“I shall wait outside, sir,” TooJay answered.

The door hissed shut behind them. Yoda looked grave.

“Bad news, I have,” he said. “Another theft to report. Stolen this time are the healing crystals of fire.”

“The crystals?” Qui-Gon asked, stunned. “But they’re under the highest security.”

Tahl let out a breath. “Who knows?”

“The Council only,” Yoda said. “But fear we do that word will get out.”

Every time Qui-Gon thought the situation could not get worse, it did. The seriousness of the thefts was escalating. Which could be the point.

There is the pattern, Qui-Gon thought. This isn’t random. It’s planned.

This time, the thief had struck at the very heart of the Temple. The healing crystals of fire had been a Jedi treasure for thousands of

years. They were held in a meditation chamber that was accessible to all students. The room’s only heat and light source was from the crystals themselves. Embedded in the heart of each rock was an eternal flame.

When the students discovered them stolen, it would surely rock their belief in the Temple’s invincibility. Maybe it would test their belief in the Force itself.

“Find who did this you must,” Yoda told them. “But something more important you must find.”

“What is that, Yoda?” Tahl asked.

“You must find why,” Yoda said urgently. “Fear I do that in why the seed for our destruction lies.”

Yoda walked out. The door hissed behind him.

“First step?” Tahl asked Qui-Gon.

“My quarters,” Qui-Gon answered. “I have notes on my datapad. And from now on, we should carry our notes on us at all times. If the healing crystals are vulnerable, so are we.”

Qui-Gon and Tahl entered the chamber. Qui-Gon had worried that his datapad would be missing, but it was right where he had left it, in a drawer by his sleep-couch. There were no locks or safes at the Temple.

“All right,” he said. “Let’s get back to -“

He stopped to watch Tahl. It was obvious his friend wasn’t listening to him. She stood in the middle of the room, a look of intense concentration on her face. He waited, not wanting to interrupt.

“Do you smell it?” she asked. “Someone has been here, Qui-Gon. There is your scent in the room … and something else. An intruder.”

Qui-Gon looked around the room. Nothing had been disturbed. He activated his datapad. All his coded notes were still there. Interviews with students, security procedures. Could someone have broken the code and read them? It didn’t matter much. He hadn’t recorded speculation, only facts. But still, someone had been here.

Sudden excitement rippled through Qui-Gon. Tahl turned, catching the change in his mood. More and more, it was extraordinary what she could pick up without seeing.

“What is it?” she asked.

“You just found a way to catch the thief,” Qui-Gon replied.

Obi-Wan, Cerasi, and Mawat emerged from the tunnel only a block from the Hall of Evidence. Obi-Wan had alerted all members of the Security Squad to meet him there. He did not want to use violence, but a show of weapons could come in handy. A showdown must be avoided at all costs.

But they were too late. A showdown was already in progress.

Wehutti and the Elders had formed a human chain around the Hall. They stood shoulder to shoulder facing Nield and his helpers.

Nield had apparently started the demolition before being outmaneuvered by the Elders. Some markers had been dragged out and partially demolished. Floaters packed with beamdrills and other demolition equipment were parked outside the human wall. Obviously, Wehutti and the Elders had managed to get between Nield and the equipment.

Cerasi and Obi-Wan hurried over to Nield.

“Look at them,” Nield said disgustedly. “Protecting their hate with their lives.”

“This is a bad situation, Nield,” Obi-Wan said.

“Thanks for the information,” Nield said sarcastically. Then he sighed. “Look, I know it’s bad. Why do you think I’m standing here, not doing anything? If we use force to break through them, it can backfire. But we can’t let them win. We have to destroy the Hall.”

“Why?” Cerasi asked.

Nield whipped his head around. “What do you mean? You know why.”

“I thought I did,” Cerasi said. “I’ve been having second thoughts, Nield. Is it wise to destroy the only place we have collected our history?”

“A history of death and destruction!”