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"This is outrageous," lrini said. "I came to you with information about Roan's murder. I trusted you. The next thing I knew, you ran off and security threw me out of the Governor's house."
"Balog has kidnapped Tahl," Qui-Gon told her, his voice struggling to remain even.
Irini gasped. Then, after a visible struggle, her face resumed its smooth mask. Her voice hardened. "I see," she said after a moment. "So Balog is the traitor to our cause. He is the one behind the kidnapping of the twins and Roan's murder."
Despite Irini's control, Qui-Gon sensed that this news had deeply upset her.
"He will be a formidable enemy," she murmured.
"The only thing we know for sure is that Balog kidnapped Tahl," Obi- Wan said. "We don't know why."
"We need a probe droid," Qui-Gon said. "It's the fastest way to track Balog. Alani told us Lenz could get one."
"Lenz does not keep me informed as to his movements," Irini said brusquely. "I am not his keeper."
Qui-Gon felt his impatience tighten another notch. Every minute that ticked by took Tahl farther from him, made her trail colder. Irini stood in the way.
He studied her for a moment. Irini's navy tunic was buttoned up to her neck, and her black hair was slicked back severely. There was not a flicker of warmth in her eyes. She was dedicated to the Workers' cause, and thought the Jedi were too friendly to the Civilized faction. Qui-Gon knew from experience how tough Irini could be. But he would not go away until he got what he wanted.
She saw something in his gaze and quickly turned away. "I have to work," she said.
"No." Qui-Gon's voice was soft, but it stopped her in her tracks. He told himself to go slowly. Irini would not respond to threats or intimidation. She would dig in her heels.
"Just hours ago you came to us with information," he said. "You trusted us. We trusted your information."
"Your Jedi has been kidnapped," lrini said, her head still turned away and her voice muffled. "I am sorry for that, but I am not responsible.
It is Jedi business. One thing I do know-the Absolutes do not take kindly to betrayal."
"How did you know that Tahl infiltrated the Absolutes?" Qui-Gon asked urgently. He took three steps toward her in order to see her face. "And why do you think they had something to do with her kidnapping?"
She lifted her chin defiantly. "What does it matter? We are not on the same side, Jedi."
"But we are," Obi-Wan said. "You are against the Absolutes. If they kidnapped Tahl, she may know things that you want to know."
There was logic in what Obi-Wan said but Qui-Gon didn't think Irini would care. Yet something in Obi-Wan's words caused her to stop and give them a hard stare.
"I might be able to find Lenz," she said reluctantly.
"Then let's go," Qui-Gon said firmly. He had to keep pushing forward.
He had to drown out his worst fears with action.
They had only caught a glimpse of Lenz the first time they'd seen him, but Qui-Gon remembered him well. His was not a face to forget. It had been marked by suffering and illness, but there was nobility and strength in it. His body was weak, yet his spirit had great power. In a crowd he might be ignored, but Qui-Gon knew from the first glance that he was a leader.
Lenz stood as Irini led the Jedi into a small room in the Worker section of the city. She had alerted him by comlink that they were coming, and why.
Lenz gave Irini a questioning look. "Now you trust the Jedi? What happened?"
"They have a good point," lrini said. "They have the best chance of finding Tahl. If Balog betrayed us for the Absolutes, we need to know."
Lenz kept his gaze on Irini. Slowly, he nodded. "Maybe."
His nerves on alert, Qui-Gon sensed something had passed between Irini and Lenz. It had been a wordless exchange of information. They knew each other very well, he realized. Well enough to speak without words, as he and his Padawan could.
"Irini tells me you want a probe droid," Lenz said.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Alani asked that you help us."
Lenz smiled slightly. "When both Irini and Alani ask me to do something, I have no choice but to obey." He gestured at them to sit at a battered metal table. "I must warn you, we run some danger of being arrested. Since Roan's murder the government has been cracking down on those who run the black market. Power is slipping out of their hands, and they think a show of it will save them. The United Legislature is locked in a battle to appoint Roan's successor."
"Many Workers think the time to strike is now," lrini said. "There are those who want us to conduct another campaign of industrial sabotage to get what we want. Of course we want a Worker to be appointed as Supreme Governor, but Lenz and I are urging caution. We will lose our support among the Civilized with another sabotage campaign. It worked once, but we do not feel it will work again. We don't want civil unrest."
"Yet we are very close to it," Lenz said.
"Do you think Balog is an Absolute?" ON-Wan asked.
Lenz and Irini exchanged glances. "He was born a Worker," Irini said hesitantly. "And he was close to Ewane, the great Worker leader…"
"But yes, we think his allegiance has now changed," Lenz said grimly.
"Once you told us that he had kidnapped Tahl, it all clicked into place. He has most likely been working for the Absolutes for some time. That's why he kidnapped Alani and Eritha. He had always pla
"So he lured Roan to him through the ransom," Obi-Wan said. "Then he murdered him."
Qui-Gon remembered Balog's show of grief when they had found Roan's body. Balog was a good actor. But he'd have to be, if he'd been working with the secret organization of Absolutes all along.
"One thing puzzles me," Qui-Gon said. "Balog may be head of security, but he's no match for Tahl. Even without her lightsaber. How could he have overpowered her?"
"The Absolutes often used a paralyzing drug," Irini said. "You remain conscious but immobilized. It is easy to administer. If she turned her back on him for a moment…"
"Is the drug dangerous?" Qui-Gon asked the question, though he dreaded the answer.
"Not with one dose," Lenz said. "Or even two. The trouble is that it wears off, and if it is reused many times — especially over a short period of time — it can result in permanent damage. Muscle deterioration is one side effect." Lenz pointed down at himself. "As you can see."