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
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 -