Джуд Уотсон: Jedi Apprentice 7: The Captive Temple

Tahl was checking on the status of the search teams when they arrived.

She looked up at them, her lovely face worried. Obi-Wan hadn't seen her since Melida/Daan.

She'd been ill after her rescue, thin and drawn. Now her extraordinary green-and-gold striped eyes were sightless, but they gleamed against the dark honey tones of her skin.

"Nothing yet," she said by way of greeting. "Who is with you, Qui-Gon?"

She paused. "It's Obi-Wan, isn't it?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said hesitantly. He was worried about her reaction to his presence. After all, in order to blow up deflection towers for the Young, he'd stolen the transport intended to spirit her off the planet.

Would she hold a grudge? But relief flooded him as her face broke into a smile.

"Good. I'm glad." She made a wry face. "You have a knack for rescuing me. It could come in handy. No luck here, I'm afraid."

"I have news," Qui-Gon said crisply. Quickly, he outlined his suspicions about Xanatos.

Obi-Wan could see as Qui-Gon spoke that Tahl was dubious about this supposition. Even as Qui-Gon was finishing, she was slowly shaking her head.

"You're basing much on a leap of logic, my friend," she said.

"It is a fact that Xanatos was known for his technological genius,"

Qui-Gon argued.

She waved a hand. "As are countless others in the galaxy."

"None as good as a Jedi," Qui-Gon pointed out. "Except one who was a Jedi. We must look into Xanatos' recent whereabouts. There could be a clue there."

"I'm not saying you're wrong, Qui-Gon. But what if you are? If we concentrate on one suspect, we could waste time."

The indicator light over Tahl's door went on, announcing a visitor. At the same time, a muted bell sounded. Impatiently, Tahl stabbed at the door access that was at the keyboard on her desk. The door hissed open.

"Yes, who is it?" she asked brusquely.

Obi-Wan was surprised to see that the visitor was Siri.

"I was told by Miro Daroon that Qui-Gon Jinn would be here," Siri said.

"Obi-Wan told me to contact you if I remembered anything strange about Bruck."

"Yes?" Qui-Gon asked kindly. "Anything could help."

Siri took a step into the room. "It could be nothing… but a few months ago, I had a strange conversation with Bruck. He told me about his father."

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged a startled glance. Those who were chosen by the Jedi gave up their birthright. The Temple became their home. That way, their loyalties could not be divided or exploited in any way. They committed themselves to the larger, deeper connection, the Force. It was highly unusual for a Jedi student to mention — or even think of — a parent, especially at Bruck's age.

"I didn't understand how he knew about his father, or why he was so interested," Siri went on. "I asked him why he felt this new compulsion. The Temple is our home, the Jedi are family. These are the bonds we renew day by day. By now they are the strongest things in our lives. But not only was the mention of his father strange, his attitude was as well." Siri hesitated.

"Yes?" Tahl prompted gently.

"It seemed to me that it wasn't so much that he felt a need for a father, or wanted to contact him in any way. He just wanted to brag about him. Bruck discovered — and I don't know how, because he wouldn't say — that his father had become a powerful person on another planet."

"Which planet?" Tahl asked. "Can you remember?"

"One I never heard of," Siri answered. "Telos."

Tahl stiffened. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon exchanged another glance. Qui-Gon had his proof. Telos was Xanatos' home.

Yet satisfaction did not register on the Jedi's rugged face. Only disquiet.

"Thank you, Siri," Qui-Gon said. "You have been of more help than you know."

"I am glad to hear it." Siri gave Obi-Wan a quick glance, but he couldn't tell if it was a challenge or apology. She left, the door hissing behind her.

"Well, I should know better by now than to doubt you," Tahl said to Qui-Gon. She let out a long breath. "Xanatos."

"No wonder the student records were stolen," Qui-Gon said thoughtfully.

"Any changes in the status of students' families are recorded in their files. Somehow, Xanatos got to Bruck through his father. He most likely intrigued the boy, planting longings for power in his head, working on Bruck's anger and aggression until he turned him to the dark side. The same thing," Qui-Gon murmured, "that Xanatos' own father had done to him."

"And most likely Xanatos taught Bruck how to conceal the dark side as well," Obi-Wan added. He remembered during his own meeting with Xanatos how Qui-Gon's powerful enemy could manipulate the truth. His silky manner hid a devious purpose. He had placed doubt in Obi-Wan's mind about Qui-Gon.

"True, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon nodded. "Bruck would have to be practiced at concealment. Because he was a senior student, he was given more freedom. That helped him, too."

"So now we know our intruder," Tahl said.

"I suggest we divide the investigation into two parts," Qui-Gon stated.

"Obi-Wan and I must discover where Xanatos and Bruck are hiding."

So he would be included! Obi-Wan felt a surge of quiet satisfaction.

"Tahl, you must find out everything you can about Xanatos and Offworld.

It will be tricky — he's very secretive. But your investigative powers are a legend around here. Start working your galactic network."

"There's no need to flatter me," Tahl said dryly. "I can hardly crawl around tunnels with you and Obi-Wan."

Qui-Gon paused. Obi-Wan saw concern suddenly etch his features. He wasn't sure why. Qui-Gon often told him he was not connected enough to the living Force. There was something in the exchange between the two friends that had hurt Tahl, and Qui-Gon had just realized it.

Tahl turned her head, her hand almost knocking over a cup near her elbow. Lightning reflexes caused her to catch it before it fell. Her face flushed deeply.

Then Obi-Wan realized what Qui-Gon had seen. Tahl had only recently lost her sight. She had once been a brilliant warrior. Now she must feel as though she was being shuttled to the sidelines. But Qui-Gon was right. Tahl could not crawl through ducts and look for physical clues.

He watched as Qui-Gon moved closer to Tahl's desk. "Clues are found in many ways, Tahl," Qui-Gon said quietly. "The right information can save a mission more surely than a battle."

Tahl nodded. Obi-Wan could see the struggle on her face. Qui-Gon's fingers brushed her shoulder in a swift, compassionate touch.

"It will be a challenge," he said. "Whatever clues there are will be well buried. Offworld is made up of a pyramid of false companies, phony titles. Their assets are hidden carefully. No one knows where their headquarters is."

Tahl's eyes gleamed. "No one so far," she said.

Obi-Wan noted her new determination. Qui-Gon had done this. He had not dwelt on her dissatisfaction. He had acknowledged it compassionately, then flung out a challenge to engage her.

/ have so much to learn from him, Obi-Wan thought. And it is not only about battles and strategies and the Force. It is about the heart.

The door hissed open. "Sir Tahl! I am back from my errand. Here are the extra data sheets you asked for." TooJay, Tahl's navigation droid, hurried into the room.

Tahl raised her eyebrows to let Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan know that she had created the errand to get TooJay out of her hair. The navigation droid was designed to help Tahl, but often was just a source of great aggravation to a person who preferred to do everything herself.

"I'll leave you to your task," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan and I have work to do."

On their way out of the room, they almost collided with Bant, who was rushing through the open door.

"I think I know how Bruck and the intruder are navigating through the Temple!" she cried.