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.