As they passed by the vast arching struts that held up the dome, Qui-Gon felt a sudden surge in the dark side of the Force. Alarmed, he stopped and faded back into the shadow of a thick durasteel strut. Obi-Wan had felt the surge as well and moved with him.
Qui-Gon gave his surroundings a sweeping glance. He knew what he was looking for.
A black shape detached from a shadowy passageway entrance. Xanatos strode across the empty space, the deep blue lining of his dark cape swirling around him, his black hair flowing to his shoulders. Suddenly, he stopped.
As a former Jedi, Xanatos was also Force-sensitive. He had stopped so abruptly that Qui-Gon had no doubt that he had felt the presence of the two Jedi. But would he interpret what he felt to mean that Qui-Gon was near?
Xanatos stood in the harsh overhead light. The scar that formed a half-circle on his cheek stood out, whiter than his pale, translucent skin. He surveyed the crowd a few meters away as they surged toward the food stalls. His gaze moved slowly over each form. Then he stopped and turned. His eyes swept the empty space, the arching struts, the corridors leading out in all directions.
Qui-Gon did not move. He did not even breathe. Obi-Wan was trying to be just as still beside him. Not with the flicker of an eyelash would they disturb the deep shadows.
Xanatos did not see them. But a slow smile spread over his face.
Qui-Gon knew what the smile meant. Xanatos knew they were here.
The battle had begun.
Chapter 4
Chuckling, Xanatos swiveled and strode back into the central dome.
“He knows we’re here,” Obi-Wan said quietly.
“Yes,” Qui-Gon agreed. “Let’s find UniFy. We must move as quickly as we can.”
They left the dome and started down the main boulevard. The streets were strangely deserted. Qui-Gon imagined that most of the population was in the Katharsis Dome. Did they suspend work during Katharsis days?
He and Obi-Won passed a large, impressive building with blue-veined stone columns in front. A silver plaque read the xanatos institute for healing.
“He has certainly made his mark,” Qui-Gon murmured.
“Look at the library across the street,” Obi-Wan said, pointing. “He funded that, too.”
“The problem will not be finding him, obviously,” Qui-Gon said. “The challenge will be to expose him for what he really is. The people love him. He has made sure of that. He has protected himself better by staying in the open than by hiding.”
Obi-Wan scanned a sign that announced that Xanatos was providing the funds to restore a large city park. “He must have a reason behind all this,” he observed.
“He always has a reason,” Qui-Gon agreed. “Naturally he wants to exert influence on Telos. But that is too broad a goal for him. We shall have to discover exactly what he intends.”
“Hey, genius guys!”
They turned to see Den heading for them. “I thought you might need help finding UniFy,” he said. “I realized that there’s no sign on the building.”
“What about the lottery?” Obi-Wan asked. “Isn’t today your lucky day?”
“All my days are lucky, kid,” Den said, falling into step next to them. “But I don’t get a chance to do a good deed often enough.”
“We were just noticing all the buildings Xanatos has built in Thani,” Qui-Gon remarked. “He has been a true benefactor.”
Den waved an arm. “In the past few years he’s supported parks, libraries, med centers, the big healing institute - he’s made a fortune in mining throughout the galaxy, but he doesn’t hoard it. He spreads it around. That’s more than any of those lottery winners will do, let me tell you.”
They passed one of the pale blue information kiosks. Qui-Gon glanced at the information board on the front. To his shock, he saw his own face.
“Is this the main park in Thani?” he asked Den, sweeping an arm to the opposite side of the street, where a path beckoned beneath spreading trees.
Den turned away, as Qui-Gon had hoped he would. “No, it’s one of the smaller ones. The largest is on the east side of the city.”
The diversion gave Qui-Gon enough time to study the notice on the wall. After his picture faded on the screen, Obi-Wan’s appeared. Wanted. Galactic criminals. Reward. He read the words in a flash.
So that was why the security police hadn’t given up!
There could be only one explanation: Xanatos. He had arranged this. Now Qui-Gon understood his smile. He knew that it was only a matter of time before Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were captured.
Even as he walked and exchanged conversation with Den, Qui-Gon’s mind sifted through his options. Being on the street was not safe. Luckily, most people were in the Katharsis Dome, or they would have run the risk of being recognized. They needed to find somewhere safe, and then find a way to disguise themselves.