The Call to Vengeance Page 7

  over what he should have done when he saw his Master. The cloudy aura he

  felt around Qui-Gon had worried him deeply. He sensed confusion and static,

  and it prevented him from truly connecting. It had shaken him. Maybe it had

  prevented him from acting more quickly. Should he have followed

  Qui-Gon, gone with him no matter what he said?

  Use your time...

  Obi-Wan didn't think he could. His thoughts were too confused.

  That is the time you need discipline most. That is what your training

  is for.

  All right, then. He would stop the voice of Qui-Gon in his head by

  obeying him.

  Although he was tired, although he felt that he had gone over the

  events of the past days too many times to count, Obi-Wan focused his mind

  and started again. He went over every event since he and Qui-Gon had

  stepped foot on New Apsolon. He turned things over in his thoughts,

  searching for inconsistencies. He considered every unanswered question and

  every possible answer.

  lrini had sworn that she wasn't the one who had fired on them on

  their first day. They had never discovered who it had been for sure. Balog?

  They hadn't yet been a threat to him, had they?

  Was it just a coincidence that security showed up at Mota's while

  they were buying the probe droids? It seemed likely now that Alani had told

  them about Mote in order to trap them. She could have been the one to alert

  security that the Jedi were buying illegal goods.

  The droids must have been reprogrammed to attack Pleni.

  Obi-Wan pushed these questions aside. He did not think they would

  bring him closer to Balog. If only the answers were clear. If only they

  could get a solid lead. If only Eritha had come through with information on

  Balog. She had been at her sister's side for more than two days now. Surely

  she must have learned something.

  Would it prove too difficult for Eritha to betray her sister?

  But she had already taken a step she could not retake, Obi-Wan knew.

  On finding out that her sister was behind Tahl's kidnapping, she had gone

  in search of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. She had risked much to do so. She could

  easily have lost her life in the cave. Obi-Wan remembered how afraid Eritha

  had been as the explosives were going off and the cave was collapsing. He

  admired how she'd been able to go on so bravely despite her fear. He still

  remembered her scream. They forgot me! They left without me!

  Obi-Wan concentrated for a moment. There was something about the way

  Eritha had sounded that bothered him now. What was it? The emotion that was

  driving her was slightly off from what he would expect.

  Astonished. She'd been astonished. And betrayed.

  They forgot me!

  As if they shouldn't have, as if she were somehow privileged, even

  though she was a prisoner.

  If she had been a prisoner...

  And why had she been heading toward the back of the cave?

  Yes, the smoke had been thick near the front of the cave. But

  wouldn't she have tried to push through?

  She was heading for the other exit near the back of the cave, Obi-Wan

  realized. But how had she known about it? They had not found it when Eritha

  had been captured. She should have had no way of knowing how deep the cave

  was.

  Slow down, Obi-Wan warned himself. There could be other explanations

  for what had happened. Eritha had been panicked. She was reacting, not

  thinking.

  But since the suspicion had been lodged in his mind, Obi-Wan went

  back to Eritha's behavior while they were together. He concentrated,

  bringing the memory back moment by moment, as fresh as if it had happened

  that morning.

  Eritha had seemed sincere when she caught up with them. Shortly

  after, they'd been attacked by the Rock Workers. Eritha had been genuinely

  surprised by the attack, Obi-Wan was sure, and genuinely afraid. When Qui-

  Gon had warned her to stay behind them, she had readily agreed.

  So why then did she suddenly dodge forward when their probe droid was

  in sight? She had forced them to protect her. As a result, Obi-Wan had

  received a leg injury and their probe droid had been destroyed. Could it

  have been a desperate attempt to destroy their only method of tracking

  Balog?

  And what about the attack on the Rock Worker settlement? Qui-Gon had

  told him that he had met up with Eritha before dawn. She had been planning

  to refuel the speeders. Or so she had said. But what if she'd actually been

  planning to leave? If she and Alani were plotting against the Jedi, they

  had done their work. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were without a probe droid. They

  had no way to track Balog. Eritha had not known that Obi-Wan was better and

  was able to travel. She would have most likely assumed that Qui-Gon would

  stay in the settlement.

  Maybe she was leaving because she knew of the attack.

  Could it be possible? Obi-Wan wondered.

  Could Eritha have misled them into thinking that she was the good

  sister? Were both sisters out for the power they could grab?

  There was one last thing. When Obi-Wan and Eritha had arrived back in

  New Apsolon, Eritha had been furious that Manex had stepped in and offered

  his own med team for Tahl. Obi-Wan had seen it in her eyes. He had thought

  it was because she held the same distrust for Manex as he did and was

  concerned about Tahl's recovery. But what if the opposite were true? What

  if she didn't want Tahl to recover?

  What if he had suspected the wrong person? What if Manex was good,

  and Eritha was bad? Never had he longed for Qui-Gon more.

  When Manex had told them of his decision to run for office, Obi-Wan

  had brought up Alani. Why had Manex hesitated? Was there a reason he was

  running against Ewane's daughter?

  Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes. The lack of sleep and rest was getting to

  him. His thoughts whirled. He didn't know if he was constructing a case

  against Eritha on no evidence, or whether this was worth pursuing. Why

  would the twins call for Tahl's help in the first place, if they planned a

  power grab all along? It didn't make sense.

  Obi-Wan knew his mind would not rest until he had found out some

  answers. He went to the door of Manex's reception room and pressed the

  indicator light that would alert Manex that he had a visitor.

  The door hissed open a few seconds later. "Is it Balog?" Manex

  whispered from the darkness.

  "No. I need to ask you some questions," Obi-Wan said, stepping

  inside.

  Manex powered up a low light by his sleep couch. He swung his legs

  over and rubbed his eyes. "I am at your service."

  "Why did you insist on your own med team for Tahl?" Obi-Wan asked

  bluntly. "Surely the team for the Supreme Governor is just as good."

  "But mine is better," Manex said. "Don't you remember that I have the

  best of everything?" He tried to say this jokingly, but it sounded hollow.

  "Is there some reason you don't trust Alani and Eritha?" Obi-Wan

  asked. "If so, you must tell the truth. If you have a suspicion, you must

  name it."

  Manex looked away for a moment, thinking. "I have no real proof,"
he

  said slowly. "I did not think it fair to speak until I had some evidence.

  Those girls have been through so much. First the death of their father,

  then their protector. At first I thought I was crazy to suspect them."

  "Suspect them of what?" Obi-Wan demanded.

  "Of working with the Absolutes," Manex told him. "A terrible

  accusation for the daughters of a Worker hero. But that is why I am running

  for Supreme Governor against Alani. I can't watch the government fall into

  the hands of the corrupt again."

  "What makes you suspect them? And are you sure it is both of them?"

  "Alani does not make a move without Eritha," Manex said. "And Eritha

  does not make a move without Alani. As I said, I have no proof. Just a

  couple of overheard words. Unguarded moments. The way they communicate to

  each other. I sensed a falseness in their grieving for Roan. And today,

  when I heard that Qui-Gon had been in the United Legislature, I also found

  out one thing - he had been with Eritha just before the security squad was

  sent after him."

  "Do you think she turned him in?"

  "I don't know," Manex said. He spread his hands. "I'm sorry. It isn't

  much to go on. You see why I didn't want to say anything. I know nothing

  for sure. It is all instinct."

  "I believe in instinct," Obi-Wan said, and headed for the door.

  He took the back exit of the dwelling. He didn't want to run into

  Mace. Bant came forward out of the shadows as he hurried across the lawn.

  "Obi-Wan, where are you going?"

  "Tell Mace I need to talk to Eritha," Obi-Wan said.

  "But can't it wait?" Bant asked, frowning.

  "No. Nothing can wait. I'll explain later. Tell Mace that I'm gone."

  Obi-Wan did not think that Balog would attack tonight, but he knew Mace and

  Bant could handle it if it happened. He was more worried about Qui-Gon.

  Qui-Gon still trusted Eritha.

  The Supreme Governor's residence was close by. Obi-Wan circled around

  the building to the back. If he remembered the layout correctly, Eritha's

  room was at the back. She had no reason to think that Obi-Wan suspected

  her. She would join him outside, and then he could question her. If he had

  the slightest feeling that his doubts about her were correct, he would

  demand that Mace let him find Qui-Gon.

  When he reached the back area, he saw that someone was walking along

  the dark lawn. At first he didn't know which twin it was. But as she came

  forward, he knew for certain it was Alani. The two girls were almost

  identical. Perhaps they could fool others. They were not able to fool him.

  "Good evening, Alani," he said.

  "I see you couldn't sleep, either," Alani said. "Tomorrow is a big

  day. My name is being presented to the people for the vote. I'll fulfill my

  father's legacy."

  Obi-Wan decided on the spot to be bold. He would not get anywhere

  playing games with Alani. "Your father's legacy?" he asked. "But Ewane was

  never in league with the Absolutes. They just imprisoned and tortured him.

  You have changed his legacy, I think."

  Alani looked deeply shocked for just a moment. Then she forced out a

  laugh. "You're joking."

  "No. I'm making a point." Obi-Wan took another step toward her. "I

  believe you are nothing like your father."

  Alani took an involuntary step back. Then she gathered her courage

  and raised her chin. "It doesn't matter what you think. Eritha told me that

  we have nothing to fear from the Jedi any longer. Your friend is chasing

  air. Soon you'll be too busy trying to get him out of jail. And I will rule

  New Apsolon."

  "Are you so sure of yourself?" Obi-Wan asked. "Are you so sure you

  won't be exposed?"

  "Exposure is no longer possible," Alani said. "The Jedi have no

  proof. The people of New Apsolon love me. Eritha was right."

  "So Eritha is your ally."

  "She is my sister and my protector. She is part of me," Alani said.

  "She told me that she was smarter than the Jedi, and she was right. She

  told me not to worry. I can rule New Apsolon with her by my side. Eritha

  doesn't like the limelight, but she wants the power. I like it when people

  are around me and want to talk to me. So I will rule, and she will tell me

  what to do the way she always has. She told me she would take care of Qui-

  Gon, and she is doing just that. It was so simple a child could do it. And

  we are not children anymore. We never had a childhood. Our mother died. Our

  father was imprisoned. Then he became ruler, and we never saw him. So we

  can take the only thing he left us, his good name, and make something of

  ourselves. That's what Eritha says."

  He had to keep her talking. Alani, he saw, was not as clever as

  Eritha.

  "What about Tahl?" he asked, ignoring the surge of anger that rocked

  him when he mentioned her name. The anger would flow through him and pass.

  "She was kind to you and you betrayed her."

  "She was useful," Alani said, coloring for a moment. "I didn't think

  she would die. But Eritha says that she will be useful again. Because of

  Tahl, Qui-Gon will trust Eritha without thinking. He will go with her

  wherever she wants, even to World Security headquarters itself. That is how

  smart my sister is. She planted a tracking device on Qui-Gon today at the

  Legislature. We've known where he is at all times. She will lead him right

  to security headquarters, and he will follow her! If he escapes, it doesn't

  matter. They'll find him anyway. Isn't that a clever plan?"

  It was all he needed. Without another word, Obi-Wan whirled and ran.

  "You're too late, Obi-Wan!" Alani shouted after him. "Just like you

  were too late for Tahl!"

  CHAPTER 14

  Obi-Wan raced down the wide boulevard, heading for the government

  buildings. He fervently hoped he wasn't too late.

  The World Security headquarters loomed ahead, a squat gray building.

  He saw two figures hurrying toward it. On one side of the building was a

  large pen that held hovercraft and swoops. On the other side was the high

  stone wall that separated the parkland from the road.

  "Qui-Gon!" he shouted.

  Qui-Gon turned and saw him. Eritha touched his arm, obviously urging

  him to ignore Obi-Wan and enter the building. Obi-Wan put on a burst of

  speed and reached out to the Force. He leaped.

  At the top of his leap, the doors to the security headquarters flew

  open. Officers and attack droids spilled down the stairs.

  The Force must have warned Qui-Gon, for his lightsaber was activated

  and in his hand before Obi-Wan hit the ground near him. With one hand, Qui-

  Gon pushed Eritha out of the danger and leaped forward to cover her.

  By now Obi-Wan was close enough to speak to Qui-Gon. "They won't harm

  her. She betrayed you," he said, taking up his position next to Qui-Gon.

  Qui-Gon didn't react. He kept his eyes on the officers and droids,

  which were wheeling in formation in front.

  "We must take out the droids," Qui-Gon told him. "Don't harm an

  officer. I'm wanted. They're only doing their job. As soon as the last

  attack droid goes down, we leave. What do you say we take the offensive?
"

  Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan leaped together in one motion. The droids began

  to pepper them with blaster fire. The security officers stayed behind

  duraplast shields, waiting for the droids to do their work.

  The Jedi's lightsabers moved in tandem, blocking blaster fire and

  sending it zinging back in the droids' direction. The security officers

  ducked behind their shields at the surprising return of fire.

  The droids fanned out in a flanking maneuver. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon

  split up. Obi-Wan took the left, Qui-Gon the right. One by one, they