“What if we’re spotted?” Obi-Wan asked. “No doubt everyone will be heading there.”
“We’ll have to get a tech jacket for Tahl. We’ll just have to count on the smoke and confusion.”
Obi-Wan remembered what Lenz and Irini had said about the drug that was used to paralyze subjects inside the deprivation device. He was prepared for the fact that Tahl might not be able to walk or move. Qui-Gon did not seem to want to deal with that possibility.
“Hurry, Obi-Wan. We need to get to Eritha before they do something to her.”
Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon back to the cave. They set a small amount of explosives farther down the cave, toward the entrance, then a second at the entrance to the tech-control tunnel. Then they hurried back toward the transport pen.
“We’ll set these to go off later,” Qui-Gon said. “It will be a small explosion, but it should destroy most of the transports. Just in case we’re followed.” He grabbed another tech jacket and rolled it up, shoving it inside his own. “Now let’s get back to where they took Eritha.”
Obi-Wan had seen his Master focused before. This was different. His gaze was intent, his every movement economical. Although Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon’s anxiety, there was no trace of it in his speech or his actions. He appeared completely calm. Where did the desperation go? Obi-Wan admired how his Master had taken his emotion and given it discipline and purpose. It was a supreme example of how a Jedi should act.
They were steps away from the first tunnel offshoot when the initial explosion went off. The cave seemed to rock for a moment, the walls and rocks shuddering. A siren wailed, and suddenly Absolutes appeared in the cave halls, running out from the various branches and tunnels.
“It’s back that way!” Qui-Gon shouted. He feinted a move in that direction and he and Obi-Wan ran a few steps. They let themselves be overtaken before turning back the way they were headed.
Smoke began to drift back toward them. Obi-Wan saw a figure appear and disappear ahead of them amid the drifting smoke.
“I think it’s Balog,” he said to Qui-Gon. “He’s headed toward the explosives tunnel.”
They melted back against the cave wall and watched as Balog went through the retinal scan and hurried back toward the tunnel.
“Should we follow?” Obi-Wan asked.
“Let’s wait here. We know Tahl isn’t back there. When he returns, we’ll follow him,” Qui-Gon said.
Another explosion split the air. Smoke rolled back toward them.
“That should be the tech center,” Qui-Gon said.
Suddenly Balog appeared, darting out of the side tunnel. Obi-Wan recognized his squat, muscular body and powerful stride. Ignoring those who were rushing toward the cave entrance, he headed in the opposite direction.
Qui-Gon nodded grimly. “When one’s home is burning, one goes for the most valuable item.”
“He’s heading for Tahl,” Obi-Wan agreed.
The two Jedi followed him. Obi-Wan expected Balog to turn toward the tunnel where Eritha was being held, but he kept going. Another explosion rocked the cave. This time it was followed by another, smaller boom.
“The fuel tanks of the vehicles,” Qui-Gon said.
They passed a side tunnel with a readout sign: UW BASE ENTRANCE. Obi-Wan took note of it as he passed. It had to be the entrance to the underwater part of the secret complex.
Balog abruptly turned into a small tunnel without security sensors. They plunged into the tunnel behind him. The glow rods were not operational, and the darkness was almost complete. They could only see the gleam of a durasteel door just ahead.
Balog paused outside the door to access it. Obi-Wan hesitated, unsure of what to do. But beside him, Qui-Gon was already moving. His Master put on a burst of speed as Balog slipped through the door. With a mighty leap, Qui-Gon followed him, and the door slid shut.
CHAPTER 16
Qui-Gon landed with his lightsaber already activated. Behind him, he heard the door close.
Balog stood in the center of the room between Qui-Gon and Tahl. The sensory deprivation device was leaning against the cave wall with Tahl inside. He could only see her eyes through a small viewscreen. He knew she was alive. Her eyelids fluttered. She could still feel his presence, as she always had. A slight tremor in the Force told him that she was trying to reach out to him.
Obi-Wan began to cut through the durasteel with his lightsaber. Qui-Gon could smell the melting metal. He kept his gaze steady on Balog, who was smiling faintly.
Then Balog laughed.
“You think you can threaten me? You think that you and your young friend can frighten me? What you don’t know is that I have all the power here.” He held up a small transmitter. “I can take away her life.”