[Jedi Apprentice] - 16(24)

It was the goal that worried Obi-Wan. Was it justice… or revenge?

By the time they reached the lower level, the door at the end of the long warehouse space stood open. Qui-Gon jumped into an airspeeder. Obi-Wan barely had time to scramble into the passenger seat when Qui-Gon throttled the engines and zoomed down the tunnel.

The engines were pushed almost to full, much too fast to maneuver in the tunnel. Obi-Wan could see that the bay doors at the end of the tunnel had not had a chance to open. Still Qui-Gon did not reduce his speed.

Obi-Wan whipped his head around to face him. Qui-Gon wasn’t just pressing his luck. This was pure recklessness. “Master!”

Qui-Gon’s face seemed carved from the gray stone of New Apsolon. His lips were a thin line. His hands stayed steady on the controls. He seemed not to hear Obi-Wan.

A crack of gray light appeared ahead. It widened. The doors were opening, but too slowly for Obi-Wan’s comfort.

“Hang on!” Qui-Gon warned.

Obi-Wan just had time to clutch for support as Qui-Gon flipped the airspeeder sideways. Without slackening speed, he zoomed through the opening, clearing it by centimeters. They flew into the dark night.

Obi-Wan pressed himself back into the seat, trying to still his ragged breathing. Qui-Gon seemed poised on the brink of losing control. There didn’t seem anything Obi-Wan could do or say to stop him or get him to slow down. Obi-Wan tried to stifle his own panic. He had to trust his Master.

But for the first time in their long partnership, he didn’t think he could. That knowledge made fear grasp him by the throat.

Qui-Gon piloted the craft expertly through the deserted streets. He pulled up in front of Lenz’s hideout and flew up the stairs. He pounded on Lenz’s door. They heard the creak of a floorboard.

“Don’t try your escape route,” Qui-Gon warned. “We’ll find you.”

The door opened. Lenz looked at them warily. He looked more frail than usual, his skin pale and shiny. “It’s the middle of the night.”

Qui-Gon slammed the door open wider and strode inside. “I need to speak with you and Irini. If she’s not here, contact her.”

“She is here. But you can’t see her,” Lenz said quietly. “She’s ill - “

Qui-Gon ignored him and pulled open a closed door. He stopped short. Obi-Wan came up behind him. lrini lay on a sleep couch, covered in a blanket. She was shivering, and her face shone with sweat. “What is it? What’s wrong?” Obi-Wan asked. Lenz pushed past him to kneel by Irini’s side.

“A blaster attack. She won’t see a medic.” Obi-Wan hurried forward. “She needs bacta.” “I know,” Lenz said.

“Who did this?” Qui-Gon demanded. “Balog,” Irini said through clenched teeth. “He has the list now.”

“So you had the list all along?” Qui-Gon asked her.

“No. I stole it from Legislator Pleni.”

Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon. Did that mean that lrini had reprogrammed the droids to attack the Legislator? Was she a murderer?

She saw the look that passed between them. “I… had to get… that list,” she said, in obvious pain. “I didn’t want anyone to die. But I couldn’t let anyone stand in my way, either.”

“And you wanted me to get blamed for it?” Qui-Gon asked.

She shook her head. “I was surprised at that. But I could hardly come forward to clear you.”

Qui-Gon bent down and swiftly examined lrini’s wounds. His anger seemed to have drained away at the sight of her distress. She needed help. “Your wounds won’t kill you if you see a medic. But I see signs of infection already.”

“That’s what I told her,” Lenz said. He brushed back damp hair from Irini’s forehead. “She still refuses.”

“Did you send your probe droids after Oleg, too?” Obi-Wan asked.

Irini nodded. “I was tracking him. I told Qui-Gon I wanted to protect Oleg, but it was a lie. He betrayed us. We needed the list. If he had only given it up… if Pleni had only given it up… none of this would have happened.”

“Why?” Obi-Wan asked. “You said you had renounced violence.”

Irini pressed her lips together and did not answer.

“She did it for me,” Lenz said.

“Lenz - ” Irini began warningly.

“It has gone too far, Irini.” Lenz’s voice was tender. “You have protected me too long. Do you think I will watch you die for me, too?” He turned to the Jedi. “My name is on the list.”

“You were an informer?” Qui-Gon asked.

“He was tortured,” Irini said. She let out a small gasp and closed her eyes in pain. “What they did to him… no one should have to endure.”