The Captive Temple(14)

ing style well. If Xanatos were to spring, Qui-Gon had only to shift slightly in order to meet the attack.

Qui-Gon didn’t answer Xanatos. His face was a study in composure. He didn’t appear to have heard Xanatos at all.

Obi-Wan knew they could not attack while Xanatos remained in the water. If they jumped in after him, their lightsabers would short out if the activated lasers came into contact with water. Xanatos knew it, too. Perhaps that was why he taunted Qui-Gon, goading him to attack.

“You don’t even answer me?” he called. “Still holding a grudge? What a hard heart you have, Qui-Gon.”

“I wasn’t aware we were having a conversation,” Qui-Gon answered. He moved forward a step. “That was always the way with you, Xanatos - you prefer the sound of your own voice.”

Obi-Wan saw a momentary flush on Xanatos’ cheeks. Then he laughed. “How tiresome you are, Qui-Gon. Your petty taunts still miss their mark. You never were very clever. And you still rely on children to do your work. You never would have figured out the water tunnels on your own.”

Suddenly, he flew through the air in a great leap, propelled by the Force. His black cape

streamed water as he activated his lightsaber in the blink of an eye. Obi-Wan was ready, stepping forward even as Xanatos touched down on the platform.

He saw Bant make a running dive off the platform. She was unarmed, and no doubt was swimming for help. She had only waited for Xanatos to move.

Xanatos’ red lightsaber crashed against the green glow of Qui-Gon’s. The angry buzz echoed through the tunnel. Xanatos had landed to Qui-Gon’s left, and Obi-Wan raced to cover the Jedi’s flank.

Xanatos was a skilled fighter. His strength was staggering. When Obi-Wan’s lightsaber tangled with his, the shock nearly sent him flying backward. It was all he could do to keep his feet. The platform soon grew slick with their wet footprints and the water from their clothes. It was hard for Obi-Wan to keep his footing.

Xanatos was as quick as he was strong, already whirling away from Obi-Wan’s attacks to strike at Qui-Gon.

Gradually, Obi-Wan became aware that Qui-Gon had

succeeded

in manipulating Xanatos, getting him close to the narrow stairs. Xanatos took a step down, then another, as Qui-Gon stepped up the fierceness of his attack. Obi-Wan saw the reason for the strategy. If Xanatos

got close enough to the tank, he would have to swing back to gain momentum for his blows. Xanatos would run the risk of shorting out his lightsaber or weakening his attacks.

The strategy could not be obvious, he knew. They had to distract Xanatos with countermoves so that he wouldn’t realize how close he was to the water below.

Obi-Wan joined in the attempt, trying to keep Xanatos off-balance while driving him toward the water. The steps were slippery. It was difficult to get enough grounding to lend strength to his blows. He was tiring, but Qui-Gon remained focused, moving gracefully, forcing Xanatos down another step.

As he fought side by side with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan felt the familiar rhythm pulse between them. The Force was strong, bonding them together as one unit.

Over the sound of the battle, the sizzle of the lightsabers, and his own heavy breathing, Obi-Wan heard a noise. It started as a rumble in the distance. Within seconds, it was a roar.

It was the water flushing the system. A giant tidal wave of foaming water rushed toward them from a conduit in the tank.

“Jump, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon ordered. Using the Force, they made a simultaneous leap onto the platform above.

Immediately, Obi-Wan whirled to face Xanatos, who was no doubt behind them.

But Xanatos had not leaped to safety. Grinning, he deactivated his lightsaber, then jumped off the step just as the torrent roared through. Within the flicker of an eyelash, he was swept away.

“He’ll drown,” Obi-Wan said, astonished at Xanatos’ action.

“No, he won’t,” Qui-Gon said grimly, his eyes on the white water. “We shall meet him again.”

The battle had not tired Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan could see that it had only fueled his determination to catch Xanatos and defeat him.

“Let’s search the area,” Qui-Gon told him. “I have a feeling that Xanatos allowed me to maneuver him down the stairs. It was almost too easy.”

“He had planned his escape,” Obi-Wan suggested.

“Yes,” Qui-Gon agreed. “But with Xanatos, there is always a double motive. He was trying to lead us away from something.”

Obi-Wan walked to the opposite edge of the platform. “There’s a ladder here,” he called.

A slender metal ladder was tucked against the wall. It had been hidden by the platform’s edge. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan climbed down. When they were just above the surface of the