[Jedi Apprentice] - 16(18)

Mace had linked the house’s security system to his comlink. It must have vibrated an alert, for he turned to Obi-Wan. “Security has been breached on the east wall,” he said.

“What?” Manex asked.

“Move closer to us as though you are looking at the stars,” Mace ordered quietly.

Manex pushed his chair back. He rose, still clutching his cup, and pretended to look at the sky. Obi-Wan knew that Mace wanted Manex close to cover if anything happened. There was a low stone wall that they could push him behind in just a few seconds.

Obi-Wan felt a surge in the Force and saw a shadow flit across the lawn. It could have been a night bird or a shadow across the moon. But it wasn’t.

He and Mace sprang forward together. Bant came around the other side in a flanking motion. Obi-Wan pushed Manex behind the wall as he darted closer. Three lightsabers were activated as the Jedi advanced.

“Good to see you, too,” Qui-Gon said, stepping into the light.

“Master!” Obi-Wan exclaimed.

He looked at Manex peeking over the wall at the three Jedi. “So I see it’s a trap. Looks like I fell for it, not Balog.”

“Qui-Gon,” Mace began sternly, “what are you - “

He stopped abruptly. He and Qui-Gon looked toward the front of the dwelling. It took another beat or two, but Obi-Wan heard it, too. Angry pounding at the front door. A few seconds later Obi-Wan saw security forces pounding down the hall while Manex’s protocol droid waved his arms in protest.

Mace hurried forward, saying over his shoulder to Qui-Gon, “I suggest you find another exit.”

Drawing his robes around him, Mace quickly entered the house. They heard the angry voice of a security officer.

“I know he is here. We have our proof! He bought the probe droid that killed Legislator Pleni!”

Qui-Gon was screened by the elaborate bushes of the grounds. He hesitated, listening to the officer.

“Qui-Gon, you must go,” Obi-Wan urged. “I’ll come with you.”

Qui-Gon hesitated. He met Obi-Wan’s gaze. “No. I’m sorry I’ve caused you worry, Padawan,” he said. “I must do this my way.”

“But - ” Obi-Wan began. Before he could finish, he felt his words snatched away by the wind, even before he had a chance to form them.

Qui-Gon had become a shadow again, moving across the soft green grass. Then he disappeared.





CHAPTER 12


Qui-Gon ran through the darkness, grateful for the new moons that made the night so dark. He moved from shadow to shadow noiselessly. When he had put a good deal of distance between himself and Manex’s residence, he finally slowed down.

He was tired, but he wanted to run again. Pushing his body was the only time his mind had a chance to empty out. Facing Mace had been difficult. Facing Obi-Wan had been worse. He knew he belonged with the Jedi. Yet he could not seem to stop himself from going on alone. His emotions were too large right now, too raw. Around the Jedi he felt too exposed. Mace would see how difficult it was for him to maintain serenity. He could even order Qui-Gon back to the Temple. Qui-Gon could not allow that.

The truth was, he dreaded the moment he would walk back into the Temple and know that Tahl’s footsteps would never echo in its halls again. The Temple would never again welcome him in the same way. Loss would be as much a part of it as shelter.

His fever to catch Balog battled with his fear of the future, when this mission would be over. He would be faced with only his grief to bear, and he would have to look ahead to empty years. What would happen to him then?

A deep chill caused him to shudder. The cool wind was drying his sweat. He saw a security patrol ahead and quickly turned down a side street. Once again he would not sleep tonight. He would have to keep alert. Every officer in the city was now looking for Qui-Gon Jinn.

But he had learned something. They had tied him to the murder through the probe droids. He could not understand why the probe droids had attacked someone instead of tracking Balog, as they had been programmed to do. He wondered if the two droids that had veered off when attacking him had actually been his own droids. It had been strange that they had suddenly gone away. Did that mean that his droids had attacked Oleg, too? Someone had reprogrammed them.

He needed answers, and for once he knew where to find them. He would pay a visit to the black-market dealer, Mota, who had sold him the droids. If they were reprogrammed, Mota was undoubtedly the link to whoever reprogrammed them. And if that person was Balog, he might have a way to contact him.

Qui-Gon circled back and glanced down the street. The security officer was gone. He struck out across the road into the park. There were more places to hide here in case he was spotted. And cutting across the park would bring him closer to the Worker Sector.