Jedi Apprentice_ The Ties That Bind Part 2

"Tahl?"

He nodded.

"I'll come with you."

He was about to argue, but he saw the resolute look in Obi-Wan's eyes. He kept on walking, and Obi-Wan swung into step beside him.

This time, Qui-Gon took the time to request permission to enter. He needed the Council on his side. It was granted.

He strode into the room, suddenly glad to have Obi-Wan with him.

"I wish to inform the Council that I am following Tahl to New Apsolon," he said without preliminaries.

"What is the reason for this action?" Mace Windu asked. He knitted his long fingers together and frowned at Qui-Gon.

"Tahl promised to keep in contact with the Council. She has not. It has been nearly three weeks since she left. She said she would be back in under a week."

"Jedi Knights are not required to conform to a schedule," Mace Windu said. "And missions reveal their own time frame. The Council members are not concerned."

"But I am," Qui-Gon stated firmly. "Complete this mission alone, Tahl wanted," Yoda said. "Best it is for her, we think."

"I have tried to honor her wishes," Qui-Gon said. "I feel that there is danger there. I have seen it."

"A vision?" Yoda asked. "Know you do that visions can lead us astray as well as guide us."

"This one must guide me," Qui-Gon said.

"You know that secrecy is crucial to Tahl's mission," Mace Windu said. "She could have already started her journey. She could have the twins with her. We will wait for her next communication."

"I will not," Qui-Gon said.

Yoda exchanged a glance with Mace Windu. It was clear they were surprised and displeased.

"Noted we have your concern for Tahl over the years since she was blinded," Yoda said. "Natural, it is. But good for her, it is not. Find her own way, she must."

"I am going," Qui-Gon insisted.

"Qui-Gon," Mace Windu warned, "you are not listening to our counsel. It is clear that you made a decision and will not be swayed. It is not like you to close your mind, nor is it like a Jedi."

Qui-Gon said nothing. He would not argue with Mace Windu. But he would not abandon his plan.

"You must open your mind to other opinions. We sit here on the Council because our vision is a wider one than that of any individual Jedi. "

Qui-Gon stirred impatiently. "I am wasting time," he said.

Obi-Wan looked at him, startled. Qui-Gon knew he had been rude, but he was on fire to leave the Temple. No matter what the Council said, he was going.

Mace Windu looked thunderous. "Counsel with us is wasting your time?" He pointed his finger at Qui-Gon. "Know this, Qui-Gon Jinn. If you leave to find Tahl, you do it against our wishes and direction."

It was the strongest condemnation Mace Windu could give, short of forbidding it. Qui-Gon nodded curtly. He turned and left the chamber, feeling Obi-Wan at his heels.

He did not stop but stepped immediately on the turbolift. Obi-Wan had to jump to accompany him.

"I have never seen you act so impolite," Obi-Wan said, running both hands through his hair. "You defied Mace Windu!"

The turbolift opened. Qui-Gon strode out.

"Qui-Gon, wait. Can't you talk to me?"

He stopped and turned. His Padawan's face was full of worry. He could see how torn he was. Obi-Wan did not understand how a vision could touch you so deeply that it was as though the real world dropped away and you were living in another reality. Qui-Gon had to get to Tahl. He had to see her, grasp her hands, look into her face. He had to know she was alive.

"You are going to New Apsolon today?" Obi-Wan asked.

"As soon as I can arrange transport."

"Then I will get my survival pack and meet you at the landing platform."

Qui-Gon took a breath to compose himself. "No, Padawan," he said as gently as he could. "You must remain behind. I cannot ask you to defy the Council on my behalf."

"You are not asking me," Obi-Wan said. "There are reasons to stay.

I will not be gone long."

"That is what Tahl said."

Qui-Gon sighed. "Unlike Tahl, I will remain in touch with you. I will call for you if I need you." He held Obi-Wan's gaze. "You know that I will. "

Obi-Wan's gaze did not falter. Qui-Gon could see that his Padawan did not understand. Yet he would not back down.

"My place is by your side," Obi-Wan said. Qui-Gon took a deep breath. "Then let us depart."

CHAPTER 4.

Before landing on New Apsolon, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan changed from their Jedi tunics into the common street wear of travelers, hooded short robes of dark cloth with leather trousers tucked into boots. Qui-Gon would be careful to wear his hood while on the planet. He did not think many would remember him, but he would take no chances.

They set down their craft at a landing pad on the outskirts of the capital city, also called New Apsolon. The city was a large one, spread out over many kilometers. The rest of the small planet was devoted to its second-largest industry, harvesting the gray stone that was used in most of the buildings. There were a few small cities and villages, but the majority of the population lived in the teeming capital city.

They paid the owner to hold the transport, then took a turbolift to the surface of the planet.

They arrived in the Worker Sector of the city. The buildings were no taller than six stories, many built cheaply of durasteel. Others were built of native gray stone with small windows and rounded roofs. Qui-Gon recognized the style as one for those which sometimes lacked heat in winter. Ahead they could see the tall elegant buildings of the Civilized Sector. Although the Worker Sector was cleaner and better maintained than Qui-Gon remembered, its poverty was in marked contrast to the gleaming city they could glimpse ahead.

New Apsolon did not show many of the effects of the civil disturbances that had rocked the government six years before. Qui-Gon had visited worlds that had destroyed their cities through years of conflict.

He had seen evidence of ruin - buildings that had been transformed into rubble, formerly blooming squares now mere patches of dirt. New Apsolon showed none of this destruction. The Civilized Sector still gleamed. The city had always been a tech center, and the buildings were tall, impressive structures. Any evidence of street fighting had long since been removed.

One thing Qui-Gon did not remember from his last visit was the presence of slender gla.s.s columns about his own height, lit from within.

The columns appeared on street corners or in public squares. Sometimes they were arranged in groups; occasionally they stood alone. Some were glowing white, some ice-blue.

"What do you think they are?" Obi-Wan asked. "They don't seem to have any function,"

Qui-Gon recognized a street crossing. "This is where the energy wall to the Civilized Sector used to be." The largest cl.u.s.ter they'd seen yet of the glowing columns stood ahead in a small plaza. "Let's take a closer look at those columns."

The columns were arranged only a few centimeters apart. Together, they formed a tight glowing cube. Near the front of the cube Qui-Gon saw a polished black slab with words chiseled in its smooth surface.

HERE WE COMMEMORATE OUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WORKERS ALL, FORTY IN.

NUMBER, WHO WERE SLAIN BY THE ABSOLUTE FORCES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BREACH.

THE ENERGY WALL.

Obi-Wan counted the columns. "There are forty columns. One for each Worker. These are memorials."

"Every spot where a Worker died is commemorated," Qui-Gon guessed.

The two Jedi gazed at the glowing columns. Now they seemed to take on the presence of living beings. Qui-Gon could imagine the forty Workers, striding toward the energy wall. Perhaps their arms had been linked together.

"I remember on our mission to Melida/Daan how shocked I was at the devastation in the city," Obi-Wan said. "Every ruin held so much sadness.

You could see the lives lost and disrupted. This feels just as terrible, somehow. The city has not been touched, yet so many beings are gone. And life continues to go on around them." Obi-Wan touched the gla.s.s. "It is good to see what has been lost."

"Yes, I feel that, too." Qui-Gon also felt moved by the mute testimony of the standing columns.

They walked on, past the site of the old energy wall. The checkpoint was still standing, a security booth covered in armor. Across the front someone had scrawled ROAN KILLS.

As they walked into the Civilized Sector, they saw more evidence of the same graffiti. ROAN MUST GO read some. EWANE LIVES ROAN MUST DIE read others.

Workers in coveralls were busy trying to scrub the graffiti off the polished stone.

"There is unrest here below the surface," Qui-Gon said.

"I sense it," Obi-Wan agreed. "The people are not easy in their minds."

The streets became more crowded, the difference between the Civilized and the Workers perfectly clear. The Civilized had all the trappings of wealth - fine clothes and gleaming airspeeders. Since it was the middle of the day, the rich were on the streets, talking in small groups or lingering in the opulent cafes that lined the broad boulevard.

The Workers were dressed in plain tunics and trousers and seemed to be hurrying to fulfill duties, not strolling and enjoying the day.

"We must report for a security check," Qui-Gon said. "It is required of all visitors. Just a formality, but perhaps we can learn something."

The government buildings were cl.u.s.tered in one grand neighborhood, all built around a series of interlocking large squares filled with flowers and benches. Unlike the gleaming tall structures around them, the buildings were not very tall and were built with more ornamentation, columns and ledges and sweeping grand staircases leading up to gleaming metal doors.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were welcomed cordially at the front desk of the Administration Services Building, then led to the office of the Chief Security Controller. He was a short, balding man with a powerful chest and shoulders. He stood and nodded.

"I am Balog, your official greeter. Welcome to New Apsolon. We thank you for obeying our check-in procedures promptly. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

"We have heard of the pleasures of New Apsolon," Qui-Gon said. "We are here as tourists."

Balog nodded. "Tourism has not been forbidden... yet. But I must warn you that the government is close to issuing an official warning to all who plan to travel here. New Apsolon is now a dangerous place for any foreigners. Our leader is under siege, and there is unrest here. Tempers are high. The society is volatile. I cannot guarantee your safety."

"We are not looking for guarantees," Qui-Gon said. "We do not plan to stay long, and we will be careful."

Balog nodded. "Then enjoy your stay."

Qui-Gon started toward the door, then pretended to hesitate. "You mention that your leader is under siege. We have heard that the former leader was a.s.sa.s.sinated. Do you feel that Roan is in danger as well?"

"There are some who believe that he placed the order for the death of Ewane," Balog said. "Of course this is false. Yet that is where the danger lies. These people want revenge. We have it under control. Ewane was a great man, but Roan is as well. He is a Civilized with great wealth, yet even before the bloodless revolution he defied members of his party to champion the Workers. I am an example of that. Roan was the one to raise me to this position. He has done the same for others. Roan has support among the Workers. Those who suspect him of murder are a small but vocal minority."

"Ewane's daughters are in hiding, are they not?"

Balog looked surprised. "Not at all. They were taken in by Roan after their father's death. They are living in the official residence, two blocks away."

CHAPTER 5.

Obi-Wan looked at his Master as they left the security building. He could see that Qui-Gon was worried. If the twins were safe, why did they summon Tahl?

"Do you think the twins don't want anyone on Apsolon to know that they are afraid?"

"Most likely," Qui-Gon said. "Still, it is odd that they lied about being in hiding. I think it's time we saw them."

They asked a pa.s.serby for directions. Everyone knew where Roan's residence was. It was a gracious building built of the same mellow gray stone, not far away. Qui-Gon threw back his hood as he entered. He knew he would have to give his true ident.i.ty in order to be allowed to see the twins.

At the security checkpoint, the screen flashed blue and a voice asked for his name. Qui-Gon gave it, explaining that he was friend of Eritha and Alani.

"Step forward for a retinal scan."

Qui-Gon, then Obi-Wan, did so. Qui-Gon didn't object. He was glad to see that the security was tight.

At last the door opened and the two were ushered into the private quarters of the residence. There, two young women waited in a brightly furnished room with a cheerful fire. They were identical, with long, braided blond hair and narrow faces enlivened by bright dark eyes. They both broke into dazzling smiles when they saw Qui-Gon.

"Qui-Gon!" they cried together, and hurried toward him.

Qui-Gon bowed. "I was not sure you would remember me."

"Of course we do." Qui-Gon was not sure which one had spoken. Six years ago, Alani had been slightly taller than Eritha, but now they were the same size.

As if recognizing his difficulty, the other girl smiled. "I am Eritha. This is my sister Alani."