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"You must be Jedi," he said, though Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were dressed in the garments of space travelers. "Never thought I'd see the day the Jedi would need my help."
"We are grateful for anything you can provide us with," Qui-Gon said.
"Don't get me wrong. It will cost you. I'm in the business for one reason only. Credits. I'm the one who takes the risks. You can hitch rides around the galaxy, but my products aren't free."
"We are prepared to pay," Qui-Gon replied impatiently. "The speed of the transaction is more important than price."
"Then let's get to it."
Mota led the way down a long hallway into a large open space. Long metal tables stretched from one end of the space to the other. Isolated pieces of merchandise were laid out on the tables. There were some communication devices, some weaponry, and some pieces of tech equipment.
"As you can see, our stocks are low," Mota said.
Lenz looked at him sharply. "I'll say. Who is buying your weapons?"
Mota's return gaze was neutral. "Whoever has the credits. I don't ask questions."
"We need probe droids," Qui-Gon said.
"I only have one. Probe droids are hard to get." Mota strode to a table and picked up a droid. "It's in good shape, though. All ready for programming."
"They need the vitals of a citizen," Irini said. "Balog."
"The Chief Security Controller?" At last an emotion flickered over Mota's face: surprise.
But it smoothed out and became neutral again. "I have his stats. I can program the droid. The vitals will cost you more credits."
"They'll need swoops or landspeeders," Lenz said.
"Down below."
"Let's program the droid first," Qui-Gon said.
"Sure. Just let me see the credits." Mota named a figure, and Qui-Gon counted out the currency.
Mota pocketed the credits without counting [hem and turned to a data screen. He began to access files.
"The vitals on every citizen were entered into the main files of the Absolutes in the old days," Irini told them in a low voice. "It is illegal to access those files now, but that doesn't stop Mota. Having exact information on Balog will help greatly in tracking."
Mota downloaded the information in the data-pad into the droid, then programmed it. The probe droid beeped and revolved.
"When would you like to release the droid?" Mota asked.
"Immediately," Qui-Gon answered tersely.
Mota accessed a shuttered window, and the probe droid flew out. Mota handed the transmitter to Qui-Gon.
"Keep this on at all times, and the probe droid will find you. If the droid is destroyed, it will tell you that, too. I've programmed the droid to make a preliminary search. If it can't pinpoint Balog in the city, it will be able to pinpoint his point of departure."
Qui-Gon nodded and hooked the transmitter onto his utility belt. "Now let's see about those speeders."
They followed another ramp down to a lower level. It was an identically sized space, this one filled with surface transport vehicles — swoops, landspeeders, gravsleds.
"Our inventory is pretty full, so you can take your pick," Mota said.
Qui-Gon quickly chose a landspeeder and a swoop. "We might need the agility for at least one of us," he told Obi-Wan. "The other will have room for Tahl." He turned to Mota. "These are guaranteed?"
"They're a few years old, but they won't let you down," Mota said.
"My merchandise is the best."
"Glad to hear it," Qui-Gon said. "But we'll test them first."
Mota accessed double durasteel doors at the end of the space. "Go through that door to the backyard. You can test them there. Just watch out for security patrols overhead."
Obi-Wan slung his leg over the swoop and adjusted the seat so that he had easy access to the controls in the handlebars. He revved up the repulsorlift engine as Qui-Gon started his land-speeder. He followed Qui- Gon as he zoomed out the double doors. They passed into a short tu
Obi-Wan had ridden a swoop before and was used to the extra maneuverability. He pushed the swoop, making sharp turns and accelerating rapidly. He was glad to see that the vehicle handled well. Qui-Gon also seemed satisfied, and the two of them landed the transports and turned off the engines just as Irini and Lenz appeared in the yard.
"If you find the list with Tahl, what will you do with it?" lrini asked them anxiously.
"The list is not our first concern," Qui-Gon said.
"You must realize how much power resides in that list," Lenz said.
"It ca
"Do you promise to come to us first if you have it?" Irini asked.
"I ca
Irini nodded reluctantly.
Obi-Wan caught sight of a blur in the sky. "I think the probe droid is returning already."
Qui-Gon looked up, his expression tense with expectation. The probe droid settled on the ground in front of him. He quickly bent to examine the readout.
"Balog has left the city," Qui-Gon said. "He's struck out over open country."
"That's strange," Lenz said. "Why would he leave his base of support?
" "Maybe he knows the Jedi are on his trail," lrini said.
Qui-Gon programmed the droid to continue tracking and sent it off again. Then he programmed the coordinates of Balog's last stop into his shipboard computer. He gave Obi-Wan the coordinates, and Obi-Wan did the same on his swoop.
Mota emerged from a door concealed in the wall of the building.
"How do you like the transports?" he asked. "They're fine. We have a deal," Qui-Gon said, counting out the additional credits.
Mota placed the credits inside a pocket of his unisuit. Suddenly, the sensors on the wall began to glow. Mote watched as they beeped out a private code.
"Patrols in the vicinity," Mote said. "I suggest you leave." Without another word, he swiftly made his way back to the hidden door and disappeared.