The Ties That Bind Read online

  If they refuse, we will go back to Coruscant and only return here if an

  official request for Guardians of the Peace comes to us."

  Qui-Gon thought for a moment. "I don't suppose there is any chance of

  persuading you to leave Absolute headquarters right now."

  "None at all," Tahl said.

  "Then I accept the compromise. And may the Force be with us."

  His Master's words seemed heartfelt, no mere matter of formal

  blessing. His worry lay over them like a heavy fog. Obi-Wan could tell that

  Tahl was annoyed by it. Without another word, she headed back toward

  Absolute headquarters. Qui-Gon turned to watch her until she was swallowed

  up by the dark.

  CHAPTER 12

  Qui-Gon found a guesthouse where they could spend the night. His

  Padawan fell deeply asleep, but he lay awake. He could not decipher what

  hung on his heart. He could not fathom why he felt so angry at Tahl. He had

  lost his calm judgment. He had never felt less like a Jedi.

  His vision had disturbed him, yes. But he had thought this gnawing

  feeling would settle once he had found Tahl and embarked on a path to help

  her. It had not. What was he overlooking?

  He wrapped his blanket around his shoulders and turned on his side.

  There was a small window set high in the wall. Through it he could see one

  of New Apsolon's three moons. Tonight it was full and brilliant, with a

  slight pinkish cast. Qui-Gon meditated on its beauty while he tried to

  empty his mind. He tried to eliminate thoughts of tomorrow and what it

  would bring, tried not to think of Tahl in the midst of those fanatical

  followers.

  He turned again.

  "Qui-Gon? Is everything all right?"

  From the sleep-couch in the opposite corner, Obi-Wan's sleepy voice

  interrupted his thoughts. He was disturbing his Padawan. And they needed

  rest.

  "Nothing. Go to sleep."

  Qui-Gon willed his body to stillness and asked his mind to obey. His

  stubborn mind defied him, and sleep did not come. Instead, he stared at the

  moon.

  If Obi-Wan noticed Qui-Gon's haggard looks the next morning, he did

  not mention it. His Padawan silently took the responsibility for their

  morning meal, disappearing and bringing back tea, bread, and fruit.

  Qui-Gon was as grateful for Obi-Wan's silence as his consideration.

  They dressed, shouldered their packs, and set out for the address that Tahl

  had given them.

  Manex, the brother of Roan, lived near the residence of the Supreme

  Governor. His home was vastly larger, built not of the gray stone they had

  come to know but of dazzling white and black stones arranged in patterns.

  The home was more like a palace, trumpeting its size and sheer audacity

  between its somber, stately neighbors.

  "He certainly doesn't mind advertising his wealth," Qui-Gon remarked

  as he activated the chiming device to announce their entrance.

  A protocol droid with a highly buffed, black metallic body answered

  the door. Qui-Gon announced their names and that they were Jedi. He saw no

  need for concealment now. Both the Absolutes and the Workers knew that Jedi

  were on New Apsolon. Tahl felt certain that her identity was secure. If

  they worked fast, they would not endanger her position.

  Manex received them in a small room with walls, floor, and a ceiling

  of black stone. Thick green carpets were scattered on the gleaming floor,

  and the room was filled with overstuffed benches and seating areas, all

  upholstered in different shades of vivid green. Large pillows the color of

  new grass were thrown about on the floor. Thick emerald curtains hid the

  windows.

  A tall, plump man was lying on one of those pillows, propped up on a

  long, low sleep-couch. He jumped up when they entered the room. His black,

  curly hair was cut short and covered his head like a cap. His eyes were

  blue and friendly.

  "Welcome, Jedi. How nice of you to call. I'm delighted to see you."

  Qui-Gon bowed. He felt a bit overwhelmed by the room and the effusive

  greeting. He had not expected it. He'd imagined Manex to be a cool,

  ruthless businessman.

  "I was just doing my morning meditation. I understand you do the

  same." Manex's eyes were merry. "I meditate on all the beautiful things I

  must have. No doubt my process is different from yours."

  "Yes," Qui-Gon said.

  Manex noted Obi-Wan's fascination with the room. "Green is my

  favorite color. I can afford to indulge all my pleasures. Aren't I lucky?

  Sit, sit!"

  Qui-Gon took a seat on the companion sleep-couch across from the one

  where Manex now lolled. He sank down into the plush upholstery. Obi-Wan sat

  next to him, trying to keep his spine straight. It was difficult on such a

  luxurious piece of furniture.

  Manex gestured to a gold tray with sweets arrayed on it. "I have the

  best pastry chef on New Apsolon. Try one." He popped a fruit tart in his

  mouth.

  Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan eye the beautiful sweets hungrily, but his

  Padawan did not take one.

  "What can I do for you?" Manex asked, dusting crumbs off his gold

  robe.

  Qui-Gon had thought about how best to proceed. He wasn't sure what

  they could learn by simply talking to Manex. After all, he would hardly

  admit to being corrupt. Yet beings often gave away clues to their true

  nature without knowing it. In the end, Qui-Gon had decided his route would

  be honesty.

  "I was part of the original Jedi team sent here to monitor the

  elections six years ago," Qui-Gon said. "I am not here now on an official

  mission, but I was curious to see how New Apsolon had fared. I must say

  what I have seen is cause for disquiet."

  Manex sat up, as if speaking of serious things caused his spine to

  straighten. "Ewane's murder was a tragedy. New Apsolon was thriving. There

  was no need for unrest. We were just getting the economy to be as good as

  it was before all the troubles. Worker and Civilized alike stood to have

  their lives improved as the wealth began to pour in again. The galaxy lost

  faith in our products and is just now beginning to regain it. We lost our

  prosperity through conflict once. It is a great shame that we risk it

  again."

  "Wealth is important to you," Qui-Gon said neutrally.

  "Yes." Manex met his gaze serenely. "I enjoy having it. There are

  those who say I amassed my wealth through corruption and contacts. I assume

  that is what you are referring to."

  Qui-Gon was impressed. He had a glimpse of the businessman now. Manex

  would speak plainly, or at least appear to.

  "Contacts, yes. Why shouldn't I? My brother was highly placed in

  government. I took advantage of those trying to get on his good side. But

  that is different from corruption. I saw ways to improve business here. As

  a Civilized, I was allowed to trade off-planet. Workers were not. The law

  was unfair, but I would have been a fool not to profit by it. I was able to

  open up vast trade markets in the galaxy for the goods of New Apsolon. I

  had a network of info-tech contracts. So I was happy to see a Worker

  elected and the gov
ernment stabilized."

  "You did not join your brother in calling for unity at the time,"

  Obi-Wan pointed out.

  "My brother is the hero. I am the businessman."

  Qui-Gon picked up a pastry. He did not want it. He took it because it

  had been offered, and Manex was obviously proud of what he had. Qui-Gon

  wanted to show respect and keep this meeting cordial. He popped the small,

  delicate sweet into his mouth. Instantly it melted into a silken explosion

  of taste - tart, sweet, complex.

  Manex smiled, for Qui-Gon could not keep the surprise off his face.

  "I did not exaggerate. The best."

  "Yes."

  "I only call what I have the best if it is. I do not fool myself

  about anything. Take my brother." Manex crashed back against the soft

  pillows. "He is noble. Courageous. Dedicated to the common good. All the

  things I am not. I should despise him, for I'm told brothers become jealous

  when one is vastly superior to the other. Yet I don't despise Roan. I'm

  glad beings like him are on this world. They make it possible for me to

  live well."

  "Since your brother is now Supreme Governor, you stand to profit even

  more," Qui-Gon pointed out. "You would not gain anything by despising him."

  "I could despise him and still exploit him," Manex shot back. "Surely

  you have seen enough of the galaxy to know that, Jedi."

  "Yes," Qui-Gon admitted.

  "You are suggesting that I am behind the murder of Ewane," Manex said

  shrewdly. "I know others believe this. But why should I endanger my fortune

  in such a way?" Manex shook his head. "I like my comfort too much to risk

  it."

  "Besides, it would be wrong," Obi-Wan pointed out.

  "That too."

  "Do you think your brother had anything to do with Ewane's murder?"

  Qui-Gon asked. "There are those who believe that, too."

  "Roan?" Manex shook his head. "He loved Ewane like a brother. Look

  how he took in those girls."

  "That could be to get sympathy on his side," Obi-Wan said.

  Manex did not seem disturbed by this suggestion. He leaned forward.

  "You must understand something. Duty is everything to my brother. He feels

  responsible for Alani and Eritha."

  "There are those who say the twins are in danger, living in the house

  of one who is a suspect in their father's killing," Obi-Wan said.

  "There are those on New Apsolon who will say anything right now to

  get what they want," Manex said evenly. "Those girls are free to go, and

  yet they stay. They know Roan better than they knew their own father. All

  this grief they are displaying - who is it for? They never knew their

  father. Ewane was in prison for all the years of their childhood. Then he

  was Supreme Governor and had his hands full. He never really knew his

  daughters."

  "One cannot fault a child's grief for a father, no matter how distant

  the relationship," Qui-Gon said.

  "Of course not. I am sure the twins are sincere." Manex sat up and

  pushed the plate of pastries toward them. "Such somber talk for such a

  beautiful morning. Please, eat. I'll send for some tea."

  Qui-Gon stood. "We must be going. Thank you for your hospitality."

  "I am delighted to receive the Jedi. You may return anytime." Manex

  stood to bid them good-bye.

  The same protocol droid led them to the door. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan

  paused on the steps. Qui-Gon took a deep breath of morning. It was

  encouraging to feel the cool air and sunshine, but he felt no closer to

  helping Tahl.

  "What do you think?" he asked Obi-Wan as they returned to the street.

  "I found him unpleasant," Obi-Wan said. "He could have the cunning to

  engineer an overthrow of the government. But I can't see him having the

  energy to do so. He would have to get off his sleep-couch."

  "You are allowing dislike to color your perceptions, Padawan," Qui-

  Gon said disapprovingly. "Remember it takes energy to amass wealth. Manex

  had it easier than most, but he did build an impressive financial empire."

  "Which he uses for his own pleasure," Obi-Wan said disgustedly.

  "I have seen men and women of vast wealth who did not enjoy their own

  comforts," Qui-Gon remarked. "At least Manex enjoys what he has built. His

  choices are not our choices. Do not let his enjoyment of pleasure blind you

  to his merits."

  "You see merits there?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously. "I see

  corruption."

  "I see a man who lives the way he wants to live and makes no

  apologies. The question is, how desperate is he to maintain his life of

  wealth and comfort?" Qui-Gon wondered. "If Manex seems weak, I suspect he

  is not. Despite his denials, he could secretly hate his brother. But we

  still should not discount his perspective, Padawan."

  Qui-Gon reached inside the pocket of his robe. "And he reminded me of

  something important." "A clue?"

  He handed Obi-Wan a pastry he had plucked from Manex's tray on the

  way out. "Even in the middle of a mission, don't neglect to taste the

  pastries."

  CHAPTER 13

  "Let's head to Roan's," Qui-Gon suggested next. "It's time we met the

  Supreme Governor."

  The official residence was close by. Qui-Gon thought over the

  conversation with Manex. He wished he had learned more. He had hoped to

  take some information to Tahl. Instead, he had only vague feelings.

  "Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan said softly, "look ahead. Ten meters to the right,

  near that monument."

  Qui-Gon glanced over. His Padawan's keen gaze had picked out a small

  tracking droid. It hovered in the grassy square across from the residence

  of the Supreme Governor. He had not noted it. He sternly told himself to

  focus on each moment. He could not let his worry distract him this way.

  "Do you think it's looking for us?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "No. It is watching the residence. It's not a probe droid. It could

  be used just for security." Qui-Gon searched the area carefully, dividing

  it into quadrants and examining every meter. "There. By the trees in front.

  Another."

  "Roan has stepped up his surveillance."

  "Or someone has stepped up surveillance on Roan. I don't like what

  we're seeing. I'm feeling a disturbance in the Force. Come, Padawan."

  Qui-Gon strode toward the residence. When they stepped up to the door

  and pressed the security button, a guard did not materialize onscreen. The

  blank screen merely shone blue.

  Qui-Gon's foreboding changed to alarm. He pushed against the door,

  but it would not open.

  "We could try the gardens," Obi-Wan suggested.

  A high wall separated the front of the residence from the gardens

  behind. The top was ringed with electro-wire. It was not a challenge for

  the Jedi. Summoning the Force, the two leaped high and cleared the wall

  easily. They landed softly on the grass.

  They ran alongside the great mansion toward the back, where the

  gardens were. As they ran Qui-Gon searched for access to the house but

  there were no windows on this side. Perhaps the residence was built with

  exits only in the front and back. It made it easier to defend.

  They burst into the gardens. A
t first Qui-Gon could only pick out a

  riot of color from the masses of flowering bushes surrounding them. Paths

  ran through the bushes, narrow and twisting. It was impossible to get a

  view of any kind.

  "See if you can glimpse the back wall," Qui-Gon directed Obi-Wan.

  "Look for signs of entry."

  Qui-Gon scanned the back of the house. Everything looked quiet and

  serene. Not a curtain stirred. At first glance, there was no sign of

  distress or danger. Then Qui-Gon noticed that a door was slightly ajar.

  "Qui-Gon!"

  Qui-Gon turned and raced down the path. He caught up to Obi-Wan as

  his Padawan raced through the twisting paths. "I saw something ahead -