The Captive Temple(16)

Suddenly, the lights in the tunnel dimmed to half-power. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged a concerned glance. A moment later, Qui-Gon’s comlink buzzed. Tahl’s crisp voice came through the unit. “We have some developments here.”

“I noticed. We’ll be right there.” Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan. He spoke gently to the boy to make up for his harsh words. “I don’t think Tahl is in league with Xanatos,” he said. “But you could be right about the spy. Let’s keep it in mind.”

Obi-Wan nodded. The boy was silent as they hurriedly made their way to Tahl’s quarters.

Tahl sat at her desk, a pile of data sheets on her lap. “I just spoke to Miro,” she told them. “He’s been trying to fix the air circulation system in the senior students’ wing. When he took the necessary steps, all the lights in the Temple went to half-power. Plus, the refrigeration unit in the dining hall failed. He’s working on it.”

“The lights are powered down on every floor?” Qui-Gon asked.

Tahl nodded. A ghost of a smile flitted across

her face. “Now we’re almost even, Qui-Gon. We both have to work in the dark.”

“Not quite even,” Qui-Gon said with a smile that was evident in his voice. “You’re still wiser than I am.”

Tahl grinned. “Speaking of which, that’s not the development I was talking about. I found out something about Offworld. Here, I printed it out for you.” She handed the data sheets to Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon stared at the sheets. There were columns of numbers and names of companies. “You’re going to have to tell me. You know I’m not good at galactic finance.”

“Offworld is not as solvent as they appear,” Tahl said, tapping her finger on the desk. “A futile mining operation on an inhospitable planet has drained its resources. Xanatos refused to accept defeat and just kept pouring more and more money into the operation. There’s a rumor that he’s secretly plundered the treasury on his home planet of Telos.”

Qui-Gon stared down at the numbers, which meant nothing to him. The figures weren’t important. Tahl’s findings were. If Xanatos was close to financial ruin, maybe his motive for storming the Temple had as much to do with money as revenge.

Always a double motive …

“The vertex,” he said softly.

“Of course,” Tahl breathed.

Obi-Wan looked at them, puzzled.

Qui-Gon thought for a moment. Yoda had told him a secret. But if Obi-Wan was to help them, he had to know. He filled Obi-Wan in on the story of the Jedi agreement to guard the vertex for a short time.

“We’ve been focusing too much on Xanatos’ revenge motive,” Qui-Gon said. “Xanatos is more complex than that. Why put himself in such danger if all he got out of it was personal satisfaction? But destroying the Temple and walking away with a fortune would be worth much more to him.”

“The treasury room is one half level below the Council room,” Tahl said. “Isn’t it strange how the wings have been shut down one after the other? Now everyone has been moved to the central building. This can’t be accidental.”

“Xanatos is planning something,” Qui-Gon brooded. “He hopes to contain us so that it will be easier to destroy us. But how?”

The door hissed open and TooJay walked in, carrying a tray. “I brought your lunch, Sir Tahl,” she announced.

“I’m not hungry.”

“There is a protein cake, fruit, and -“

“Just put it down,” Tahl ordered absently, her mind still on Xanatos.

TooJay set down the tray and began to straighten Tahl’s desk.

“Whatever he is planning, it will happen soon,” Tahl said.

TooJay moved one set of papers from one side of the desk to the other.

Qui-Gon stood. “Tahl, can TooJay fetch Bant? We need to talk to her.”

Tahl turned toward Qui-Gon, a surprised expression on her face. “Bant?”

Qui-Gon spoke in a meaningful tone. “I’ll explain when she gets here.”

“TooJay, please fetch Bant from the temporary quarters,” Tahl ordered.

“I can wait for your lunch tray, sir,” TooJay added.

“Now,” Tahl said firmly.

“I will return,” TooJay said, hurrying out the door.

As soon as the door closed behind the droid, Tahl turned to Qui-Gon. “What was that about?”

“How did you get TooJay?” Qui-Gon asked her.

“I told you, Yoda arranged for it,” Tahl answered.

“Did Yoda bring the droid himself?” Qui-Gon persisted.

Tahl nodded. “Why?”

“It was just a few days after you and I arrived

from Melida/Daan,” Qui-Gon mused. “Was the droid ever out of your sight?”