expected that a short stop to meet Didi would spiral into a twisting
mystery they would be forced to solve.
"I did not plan for this, Padawan," he told him. "I just wanted to
stop by to say hello to a friend."
Obi-Wan nodded. "But a friend was in danger. You could not refuse to
help."
"You did not approve," Qui-Gon said.
He saw the hesitation on Obi-Wan's face. He knew the look well. Obi-
Wan hated to disappoint him. But he never lied to him.
"No," he said. "Not at first. But now I do. You say I need to connect
to the living Force. More and more I see what you mean. My first impulse
was to turn away from Didi." Obi-Wan met his Master's eyes. "I was tired
and hungry and I did not like Didi. I thought of my own needs. Now I see
what you see. Didi has faults, but he is a good being. It just takes me
longer to see these things. I wish," Obi-Wan said with difficulty, "it did
not."
"You are too hard on yourself, Padawan," Qui-Gon said quietly. "That
can become a fault if you are not careful, for anger at oneself is a
destructive thing. Every living being can be impatient, can turn away at a
first glance, can avoid getting involved. It is a natural impulse. We are
all creatures who want peace and comfort. Yet we are Jedi. Our own peace
and comfort is not what drives us. We are dedicated to a larger good. But
always remember that the peace and comfort of just one being is what drives
us, too."
Obi-Wan nodded. Qui-Gon put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Get something to eat, Padawan," he said. "I am going to speak with
Yoda and Tahl."
Qui-Gon could see Obi-Wan's hunger and fatigue battle with his desire
to remain by his Master's side. "Are you certain you won't need me?"
"I will find you when I need you," Qui-Gon said. "What you need is a
bit of rest and food. Then we'll continue."
He left Obi-Wan at the juncture toward the food hall. Then he made
his way to the Room of a Thousand Fountains, where he was to meet Yoda and
Tahl. He had contacted them on his comlink to arrange the meeting.
The cool, moist air revived Qui-Gon better than a meal would have.
His eyes rested on the multitude of shades of green in the plants and trees
that were arranged amid the winding paths. He paused for a moment to
register the beauty around him. He drew a long breath, then another,
concentrating on the shades of green, the murmuring fountains, the scent of
growth and flowers. He let the moment matter, fill his heart and mind.
Refreshed, he headed down the winding paths toward Yoda and Tahl.
They sat on a bench that Yoda favored, where water ran over smooth
white pebbles, making a musical sound. Tahl must have heard his step, for
she turned her head toward him.
"I hope you allowed Obi-Wan to get a decent meal," she called in a
humorous tone before he could speak. "That poor boy is always hungry."
Qui-Gon grinned. Tahl never said hello. Instead she always launched
right into a conversation. "Do you realize," he said, seating himself on a
bench opposite them, "that you always give me an accusation, never a
greeting?"
Tahl smiled. "Of course. How else can I keep you on your toes?"
Qui-Gon let his eyes rest on Tahl's lovely face. Her sightless green-
and-gold striped eyes were alive with humor. Once he had not been able to
look upon her without pain. Just the sight of the white scar that marked
her dark honey skin had grieved him. But he had come to realize how Tahl
had accepted her fate, how she had allowed it to deepen her. Her friendship
was invaluable to him.
"I left him at the food hall," Qui-Gon said. "I am sure he's on his
second helping by now."
"No news have you?" Yoda asked. "Concerned we are about Didi. A
scoundrel he may be, but a friend to the Temple he is."
"I am sorry to report that things are worse rather than better," Qui-
on Astri and Didi.
"Fligh's body was drained of blood?" Tahl frowned. "That sounds
familiar."
"There have been a half dozen similar cases on Coruscant over the
past year," Qui-Gon said. "Mostly drifters, beings with no ties to anyone."
"Yes, I know that," Tahl said. "It is something else." Her frown
deepened. "There is one more thing. I did some more investigating on your
bounty hunter. It seems she is a master of disguise. She uses wigs, synth-
flesh, prosthetics. that is how she moves about undetected."
"I am not surprised to hear it," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan saw her turn
from an elderly man back into a young woman."
"Say you did that Fligh stole a data pad from a Senator," Yoda said.
"Who?"
"Someone I did not know," Qui-Gon said. "Senator Uta S'orn from the
planet Belasco."
"By the way, I contacted the security police," Tahl told him.
"Senator S'orn never reported the theft. It might not be significant. The
Senate is full of petty thieves. I'm sure many thefts do not get reported.
Still, I thought I'd mention it. Senator S'orn also announced her
resignation today. She said it was for personal reasons."
"Know Senator S'orn, I do," Yoda said. "Several talks she had with
the Jedi."
Startled, Qui-Gon turned to Yoda. "About what?"
"A son she had," Yoda continued. "Ren S'orn. Force-sensitive, he was.
Accepted him for training, we did. Part with him, his mother could not.
Harness the Force, understand it, he could not. Wandered he did through the
galaxy."
Tahl gave a sharp intake of breath. "Of course," she whispered. Yoda
nodded.
"What is it?" Qui-Gon asked, leaning forward urgently. He saw that
Yoda and Tahl knew something important.
"Ren became a lost being, a drifter," Tahl said. "He lost contact
with his mother. At last she came to us for help. Several teams of Jedi
were sent to find him and help him. He rejected them."
"Hoped we did that he would reach out one day," Yoda said. "Feared we
did that he would use the Force for evil. Yet the Force merely confused and
angered him. Different he was. Different he did not want to be. Peace he
could not find."
"Such a tragedy," Tahl said. "He could not find a way to flourish. He
could not find a place that felt like home. So as it often happens he fell
in with bad companions. We received word that he had been killed."
"Not long ago, it was," Yoda said. "Six months, I think. On Simpla-
12."
"This is sad news," Qui-Gon said. "But why is it significant?"
"Because of the manner of his death," Tahl said quietly. "Ren had
been strangled. And his body had been drained of blood."
CHAPTER 11
Obi-Wan saw at once from Qui-Gon's grim face that he would not get to
savor his tart. He scrambled to his feet.
"I am sorry, Padawan. But it is time to go," Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan snatched up the tart and wolfed it down while they walked.
Qui-Gon checked out a speeder from the transport pool. Within seconds, they
were heading back toward the Senate building.
&n
bsp; It was late evening, and the air lanes still buzzed with traffic. The
glow lights made the buildings and walkways blaze as bright as daylight.
Beings strolled below them, crowding the restaurants and walkways.
"What did Yoda and Tahl say?" Obi-Wan asked, swallowing the last bite
of his tart.
"I don't have a clear picture yet," Qui-Gon told him. "But somehow
Senator S'orn is either connected to Fligh's death or involved in it. Her
son died the same way Fligh did." Qui-Gon explained the story of Ren's
confused life and tragic death.
"But what does that have to do with Didi?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Maybe nothing." Qui-Gon guided the transport along the crowded air
space surrounding the Senate.
"But it doesn't make sense," Obi-Wan said. "Her son died on another
planet. And Didi has never met Senator S'orn."
"It doesn't make sense, true," Qui-Gon answered. "But it has to,
somehow. We just have to figure out the connection."
Qui-Gon left the speeder in the Senate landing area. He strode into
the Senate building. The usually crowded hallways were almost empty. Their
footsteps echoed on the slate floor.
"What makes you think she'll be here so late?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Because her resignation was announced," Qui-Gon answered. "No doubt
she had a busy afternoon. And she seems the kind of Senator to work late.
Most of them leave as soon as Senate business has concluded." Qui-Gon
paused, then remarked, "The Senate is not what it was. And it is getting
worse. It has lost one idealist after another."
They made their way to the Senator's office. The outer office was
dark, but Qui-Gon knocked on the inner door.
"Come in."
They entered. Only one light was on in the office. Senator S'orn sat
in a chair, staring out at the bright Coruscant night. "Yes?" she asked
without turning.
Qui-Gon closed the door behind them. "We regret having to disturb
you."
She spun the chair around and sighed. "It has been a day of
disturbances. I didn't expect my announcement to cause such a stir. I guess
there's not much else going on."
"I do not wish to bring up something that is no doubt painful for
you," Qui-Gon said gently. "But is your son's death the reason you are
leaving?"
Senator S'orn's face changed. Her features hardened and her lips
thinned. "Yes, I know why you are here. I should have given him up for
Temple training. I was selfish."
"No," Qui-Gon said quickly. "Not at all. Many parents choose to keep
a Force-sensitive child. There are many paths in life. You make the best
choice you can for your child."
"So I chose to keep him with me, and that decision destroyed him,"
Senator S'orn said bitterly. "I chose a path that led to death."
"No, Ren chose his own path," Qui-Gon said firmly. "Senator S'orn, I
do not know you. But I have known many Force-sensitive children. There is
no more guarantee a Force-sensitive child will grow up to find happiness
than one who does not have that ability. Many do not choose the Jedi path.
Some flourish outside the Temple, and some do not. We are not here to
question your decision or blame you."
"There is no need. I blame myself," Senator S'orn said bleakly. "Ever
since I heard the news of Ren's death, I have been unable to focus, unable
to do my job the way it needs to be done. I have managed to concentrate for
only brief periods of time. What right have I to serve my people when I
could not save my son?"
"I cannot answer that question for you," Qui-Gon said. "But perhaps
you are right to take time apart from your life's journey. I have found
such a time helpful, if you can look at your choices with forgiveness and
calm."
"Forgiveness and calm seem very far away when your son is dead,"
Senator S'orn said in a choked voice. She spun her chair around so that her
back was to them. When she turned again, she had composed herself. "But if
you didn't come here to blame me, you certainly didn't come to counsel me,
Qui-Gon Jinn. What is it that you are looking for?"
"I'm not quite sure," Qui-Gon said honestly. "Tell me something. When
your data pad was stolen, why didn't you report the theft?"
She shrugged. "The chances of Senate security finding it were slim.
My friend's data pad was stolen as well. Jenna didn't think it worthwhile
to report. We were both too busy to bother."
Qui-Gon's watchful gaze turned alert. "Jenna?"
"Jenna Zan Arbor," Senator S'orn said. "She's a friend of mine,
visiting the Senate for a conference. Surely you've heard of her. She's the
foremost transgenic scientist in the galaxy, and a great humanitarian."
"Of course," Qui-Gon said. "You were together when the theft
occurred?"
"It was in one of the hall caf©s," Senator S'orn said. "We were
having lunch."
Obi-Wan controlled his excitement. Something was about to break. He
knew it. Fligh stole the data pad, and Jenna booked Didi's for an important
dinner. Was this a connection that would lead them somewhere? As Qui-Gon
had said earlier, it didn't make sense, but it had to.
"Was there anyone else in the caf©?"
Senator S'orn sighed. "Do you mean, was the thief there? I assume so.
Don't you think I've gone over this? The caf© was crowded. I didn't notice
anyone suspicious."
"How about a tall, slender human male with one dark eye and one
bright green eye?"
Senator S'orn looked startled. "Yes. But he couldn't be the thief.
He's a Senatorial aide. Or at least he said so. We were discussing a dinner
that Jenna was going to host for the other scientists attending the
conference. He handed out a card for a restaurant nearby that he said was
excellent. Jenna took the card. I had never heard of it, but Jenna said she
would look into it."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance.
"Was that the thief? Should I report him?" Senator S'orn asked.
Qui-Gon stood. "It would be to no purpose. He is dead. Thank you for
your time, Senator."
Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon from the office. "So we have a connection,"
he said. "Fligh and Didi to Jenna Zan Arbor and Senator S'orn."
"Not to mention to Ren S'orn," Qui-Gon said. "No doubt Jenna Zan
Arbor knew about Senator S'orn's son."
"But I still don't see what it all means," Obi‑Wan said, frustrated.
"It's all so confusing." "Ask yourself this question, Padawan. Who would
benefit from Fligh's death? Or Didi's?" "No one," Obi-Wan said. "Not now,
anyway. Unless there is something else on that data pad that we don't know
about."
"Exactly," Qui-Gon said. "Either data pad - remember, we now know
that Jenna Zan Arbor's data pad was stolen, too."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I have a feeling I know where we're heading next."
"Yes," Qui-Gon said. "To see Jenna Zan Arbor."
CHAPTER 12
Obi-Wan stood uneasily in the lobby of the luxury hotel. He had been
in palaces and grand houses before. He had seen luxurious surroundings,
thick carpets, fine metals, ornately carved furniture. He had observed
without feeling part of it, as a Jedi should. He had never felt awkward,
even in the palace of a queen.
But here he felt differently. The walls were of a white polished
stone with veins of pinkish gold. The floor under his feet was black hard
stone, polished to a high sheen. He was afraid to sit on the plush sofas
and chairs. He suddenly noticed the stains of his dessert on his tunic.
The rich swirled around him, coming to and fro from the many
restaurants off the lobby, or picking up mail and keys. Their eyes slid
past him, as if he was not worth their notice. Their voices were low and
hushed, unlike the busy chatter on the crowded streets.
As usual, Qui-Gon looked perfectly at ease. He walked to the desk and
asked the clerk to ring Jenna Zan Arbor's room.