The Death of Hope

  toward them, her head turning to take in the devastation. She stopped the

  speeder and got out shakily.

  "This is what they are capable of," she said, her face ashen. "I

  didn't know. Alani can't be part of this. She must not know the things that

  they are willing to do."

  They continued their grim tour, looking for survivors. The death toll

  was complete. There was not a living being in the camp.

  As they started back, they saw Yanci walking toward them. Her legs

  moved, but she did not seem to be powering them herself. She moved like a

  droid, with jerky, articulated motion.

  "Everyone is gone," she said. "It was a massacre. There is nothing I

  can do. I can't find Bini - "

  "I'm sorry," Obi-Wan said gently. "I found her."

  Yanci bowed her head. "I was jealous of Bini. She was close to Kevta.

  It was stupid of me. I can never tell her that." She wandered away and sat

  on the ground, her head in her hands.

  "Yanci," Qui-Gon called. "Can you tell us what the Absolutes took

  this time?"

  She lifted her head. "Everything," she said numbly. "All our blasting

  equipment is gone."

  Qui-Gon nodded. It was what he had expected. "Let's look for clues,"

  he said in a low tone to Obi-Wan.

  They started with the target of the Absolutes - the sheds where the

  blasting equipment was stored. Here the fiercest fighting had taken place.

  Obi-Wan pushed down the revulsion he felt rise in his throat at the

  desperate postures of the dead. They lay as they had died, fighting to the

  last.

  He concentrated on the task, picking over the ground carefully, then

  moving into the shed.

  Qui-Gon stooped and sifted something through his fingers. When he

  held up his hand to Obi-Wan, his fingers were stained red.

  "This soil is not from this area," he said. "The Absolutes tracked it

  in. Look at the boot marks. They aren't the same patterns as the Rock

  Workers'."

  Obi-Wan bent and took a small sample of soil. He tapped it into a

  specimen container from his utility belt. "Let's ask Yanci. She said she

  knew the quarries better than anyone."

  They returned to Yanci, and Obi-Wan showed her the soil. She rubbed

  it between her fingers.

  "Red," she murmured. "I've seen this soil." She closed her eyes. When

  she opened them, her gaze was filled with certainty. "I know exactly where

  their hideout is."

  CHAPTER 13

  Within minutes, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Eritha were back on their

  transports. They had entered the coordinates Yanci had come up with into

  their nav systems.

  Qui-Gon turned to Eritha. "I cannot order you to stay here. But I

  strongly recommend that you do so."

  She shook her head. "You haven't been able to get rid of me yet.

  After seeing this, how can I stay behind?"

  Qui-Gon turned away, displeased. It would be so much easier if he did

  not have to worry about Eritha. Despite her strong words, he knew she was

  not prepared for what they might find.

  "The site is to the west, in the quarries abandoned years ago. As you

  get closer, the canyons will narrow," Yanci warned. "You will have to

  abandon your vehicles, even the swoop. You must approach on foot. There is

  a road, but I'm sure it will be under surveillance. This is the best way to

  approach without being seen."

  "What will you do?" Obi-Wan asked, concerned. The haunted look had

  not left Yanci's eyes. She had been damaged and would never be the same.

  "I will bury my dead," Yanci said.

  "I contacted the Workers in the city," Eritha told her. "They are

  sending help to you. They will be here by dawn tomorrow. Will you be all

  right?"

  "I am with those I love," Yanci said. "I wish you success on your

  mission."

  Qui-Gon turned away. He felt a heaviness inside him. For the first

  time since he had become a Jedi Knight, he could not face someone's grief.

  Grief was part of life, and Jedi saw it more than most. Qui-Gon knew the

  forms it could take, how it could twist and spiral into rage or revenge or

  dead numbness. There had been times when sorrow had been so much a part of

  what he saw that it became the only thing he saw. Part of his training had

  been to see the joy in the galaxy that existed alongside the grief. He

  remembered early in his life as a Jedi Knight how he had returned to the

  Temple for long talks with Yoda. Yoda had helped him see the balance in the

  galaxy, just as he had taught him the balance in the Force.

  But now he looked at Yanci, and he saw a possibility of what he would

  become. His eyes would be that empty. His heart would be that shattered.

  Qui-Gon accelerated the engines. The wind blew in his face, making

  his eyes tear. He knew he was pushing his craft in order to outrun his

  fear, and he knew it was not what a Jedi should do. But at that moment, the

  wind and the speed comforted him as no Jedi wisdom could.

  Now that they had a clear direction, they made good time through the

  quarries. The landscape was rough, with unexpected looming cliffs and

  canyons. Yanci had prepared them for switchbacks and sudden huge pits of

  water as large as lakes.

  At last they reached an area where the canyons narrowed to mere slits

  in the cliff walls. They abandoned their transports as Yanci had told them.

  They proceeded single file through the narrow passages.

  Qui-Gon took the lead. Ahead he saw a line of sky and ground and knew

  that soon they would be through. He slowed his pace and drew up to the

  opening.

  In front of him the cliffs widened to embrace a small canyon. A deep

  pit was to the right, filled with water. The soil around the pit was a

  muddy red dotted with huge boulders. Sunlight danced on the smooth surface

  of the water. Some distance to the left he could see the dark opening of a

  cave. He saw no movement, no sign of living beings.

  Obi-Wan and Eritha crowded behind him to scrutinize the area.

  "There's no one here," Eritha said, disappointed. "Yanci was wrong."

  Obi-Wan spoke quietly. "What do you think, Master? Are we in the

  wrong place?"

  Qui-Gon reached out for the Force. He tested the air, searching for

  vibrations. He sent a message to Tahl. 1 am here.

  He received something back a reverberation. Like a gentle touch on

  his cheek. Like a tiny sigh. Something

  "No," he said. "This is the place."

  Suddenly they saw the water ripple on the lake. The ripples grew into

  waves. The two Jedi grew alert.

  "We're wasting time. We should go back," Eritha said.

  The two Jedi remained focused on the lake. "There is no wind," Obi-

  Wan said.

  "Exactly," Qui-Gon murmured.

  A structure rose from the surface. Water streamed off its curved top.

  An opening slowly widened and a ramp emerged. It extended over the water to

  dry land. A few seconds later, two tech vehicles sped down the ramp, hit

  land, and then headed for the cave. They disappeared inside. They did not

  see the Jedi.

  "Everything is hidden," Qui-Gon said. "The camp can't be seen from

  the air. Clever.
"

  "How shall we infiltrate, then?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "We'll have to start with the cave. The tech vehicles didn't seem to

  go through a checkpoint," Qui-Gon said, scanning the cave entrance. "I

  don't think there are sensors outside the cave." He turned back to Eritha.

  "Stay here until we send for you."

  "No. If you go without me, I'll follow you." Eritha's jaw set.

  Qui-Gon frowned. "Then stay behind us. Realize that you can endanger

  this mission if you act hastily. You will follow my orders. Agreed?"

  "Agreed." Eritha flashed a shaky grin. "I'm stubborn, but I'm not

  stupid."

  "All right," Qui-Gon muttered. "Let's go."

  CHAPTER 14

  They kept close to the cliff walls and boulders for as long as they

  could. Then they purposefully walked the short distance to the cave

  entrance. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan checked for scanners as they moved closer but

  saw none. Obi-Wan guessed that the Absolutes considered their hideout so

  well hidden that they did not need to install them.

  They slipped into the darkness of the cave entrance with relief.

  Immediately to the right was a pen where gravsleds and small speeders were

  kept. There was a bin filled with tech jackets. Qui-Gon signaled to the

  others, and they each donned one. Eritha hid her hair under a cap and

  dirtied her face, so she was less recognizable.

  Feeling a little less exposed, they proceeded farther into the cave.

  Glow rods set high in the walls gave faint illumination. They could see

  that the small opening to the cave was deceptive. As they moved deeper into

  it, the space widened and extended far in the distance.

  "It goes out under the water," Qui-Gon said in a low tone. "This is

  bigger than it appears."

  Ahead a few Absolutes in the same tech jackets came walking toward

  them. Qui-Gon gave them an impersonal nod of greeting. They nodded back and

  continued walking.

  Eritha let out a shaky breath. "Whew."

  "It appears that there are enough Absolutes working here that not

  everyone knows one another," Qui-Gon murmured. "Good. Obi-Wan, look for any

  high-security devices on the tunnels leading off the cave. That could mean

  that Tahl is being held there."

  Obi-Wan could feel his Master's tension. They were so close now. He

  reached out to the Force to help him with his perceptions. Nothing could go

  wrong now. If they were captured, it would mean a delay that could cost

  Tahl her life.

  They paused by a tunnel that was lined with computer equipment. "This

  must be the tech-control area," Qui-Gon said. He moved away quickly as

  someone walked out of a durasteel door and began checking the equipment.

  They walked on, passing other beings who either nodded or walked

  quickly, focused on their business. Eritha kept her face turned away in

  case she was recognized despite her disguise. Obi-Wan noted a security

  sensor bank near an offshoot tunnel. He pointed it out to Qui-Gon.

  "Let's try it," Qui-Gon said.

  Obi-Wan studied the offshoot tunnel entrance. "There's a retinal scan

  grid to the right. If we pass through, an alarm will go off."

  Qui-Gon studied the sensors and the retinal scan carefully. "They

  mounted it too low," he said. "I think if we use cable launchers, we can

  swing over the sensors without tripping them. They probably didn't have

  time to perfect the system. Look at the drill marks around the sensors.

  This was done recently."

  "Since Balog brought Tahl here?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "Maybe." Qui-Gon turned to Eritha. "You must stay here, Eritha. Alert

  us with the silent alarm on your comlink if there's trouble. We'll be back

  as soon as we can. If a patrol comes, walk away as though you have a

  destination, then circle back. If you hear an alarm sound, hide. It does

  not necessarily mean that Obi-Wan and I have been captured. Turn on your

  homing device on your comlink and we'll find you."

  Eritha nodded. "I'll be all right."

  Obi-Wan saw that Qui-Gon didn't like to leave her, but they had no

  choice. He watched as his Master aimed carefully, sending his cable

  launcher high into the air to bite into the ceiling of the offshoot tunnel.

  He activated the launcher and it carried him high above. His head almost

  bumped the ceiling of the cave, but he cleared the sensors and landed on

  the other side.

  Obi-Wan hoped he would have the same graceful skill. He followed Qui-

  Gon's lead, holding his breath until his own cable launcher was secure.

  Then he activated the launch mode. It pulled him up quickly, and he scraped

  against the rough ceiling. He was over the range of the sensors, and was

  pulled into the tunnel. He landed next to Qui-Gon.

  They hurried down the tunnel. At the end was a durasteel door set

  into the cave wall. There was no security panel outside the door.

  "What now? If Tahl is in there, someone could be with her."

  Qui-Gon closed his eyes. "I don't feel her," he said in a low voice.

  "But we need to find out why this tunnel has such high security when the

  others don't. We have to go in."

  He activated his lightsaber and cut through the durasteel, making an

  opening big enough for them to walk through. Qui-Gon ducked inside the

  room, and Obi-Wan quickly followed.

  They were in a storage area filled with bins and crates. There was no

  sign of Tahl or of the sensory deprivation device she had been imprisoned

  in. Instead, the room was filled with explosives. Crate after crate was

  labeled, showing that there were extremely powerful devices within.

  "This must be what they stole from the Rock Workers," Obi-Wan said.

  "And some bought on the black market, as well," Qui-Gon added. "Look.

  This is Mota's mark. They have enough explosives here to level the city."

  Obi-Wan looked worriedly at his Master. "What does this mean?"

  "That they are prepared to take over with violence, if they must,"

  Qui-Gon said. "But why the change in plan? As far as we knew, the Absolutes

  were working to gain power through infiltration and deceit."

  Qui-Gon gave a last swift look around. "Let's go, Padawan. There's

  nothing here to lead us to Tahl. And I don't like leaving Eritha back there

  alone."

  Not to mention that they had left a gaping hole in a security door,

  Obi-Wan thought. As soon as that was discovered, the complex would go on

  alert.

  They ran back down the tunnel toward the main cave. Suddenly, Obi-Wan

  felt a disturbance in the Force. His steps slowed just as Qui-Gon's did.

  They didn't need to compare notes. They both knew what they had felt.

  Something had gone wrong.

  They melted back against the wall of the tunnel, then proceeded

  carefully. The cave came into sight. They saw Eritha surrounded by

  security. Obviously she was trying to bluff, and not succeeding. She gave

  one last, desperate look down the tunnel.

  Qui-Gon put his hand on Obi-Wan's arm to prevent him from moving.

  "We can't," he murmured. "As soon as they see us, they'll sound an

  alarm. Whoever is holding Tahl will know the cave has been invaded. We

  can't risk it. Let's see how Eritha deals with this."

>   Eritha pitched her voice loudly, and it echoed off the walls of the

  cave. "You fools, don't you know who I am? I am Eritha, daughter of Ewane.

  Contact my sister Alani right this minute. We are helping the Absolutes,

  you idiots!"

  "You are a Worker - " one of the security officers started.

  "I am a patriot!" Eritha shouted. "Now let me go!"

  "We'll have to check this out first," the officer said. "You'll have

  to come with us."

  "I will not forget this!" Eritha said as they placed her in the