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"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 tu
Qui-Gon paused. Obi-Wan saw concern suddenly etch his features. He wasn't sure why. Qui-Gon often told him he was not co
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.
Bant's silver eyes met each of their glances. "I was thinking about all the different attacks," she said eagerly. "They all took place near water.
Think about it — Yoda was attacked in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. The turbolift controls are by the lake. And you could reach the tech center itself through the water purification tanks."
Qui-Gon nodded. "A series of water tu
"They are," Bant assured him. "I use them. It's against the rules, I know," she added sheepishly. "But if I'm late for a class, it's so much faster for me to swim than walk."
"The sporting gear," Obi-Wan said suddenly. "The kit must have several breathers."
"Good work, Bant," Tahl said approvingly.
"Excellent deduction." Qui-Gon put his hand on Bant's slender shoulder.
She smiled shyly.
Jealousy trickled through Obi-Wan. He fought against it. Jealousy was not an appropriate emotion for a Jedi. Yet he couldn't dampen it, or make it go away. Bant had always trailed after him. She'd worshipped him. Now, in the short time he'd been gone, she'd grown up. Her mind was agile and clever, and she wasn't afraid to challenge him.
And Qui-Gon saw how special she was.
Obi-Wan felt a shock as he realized that if Qui-Gon didn't take him back, he most likely would want another Padawan. Was he thinking of Bant?
"Bant, can you show us the tu
Bant nodded. "Of course."
"If any trouble crops up, I want you to fade back," Qui-Gon warned.
"Don't engage with Xanatos. He is extremely dangerous."
Bant nodded solemnly. Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan. "We'll need breathers."
"I brought some," Bant told him. "I thought you'd want to go right away."
"That was quick thinking," Qui-Gon said approvingly.
Obi-Wan trailed after Qui-Gon and Bant. Now I'm the one who is tagging behind her, he thought, entering the turbolift with them. They took the lift to the cordoned-off lake area.
"I found the tu
It's easy to get out in time, or there are plenty of places to climb to when the water flushes through."
She dove under the surface. Obi-Wan followed the trail of her bubbles.
Bant was so graceful underwater that she soon pulled ahead. When she realized this, she stopped and waited for them.
They wound through a grotto of underwater rocks. A panel was cleverly hidden in the face of a large boulder. Bant accessed the panel and swam through. Qui-Gon followed, and then Obi-Wan.
They surfaced in a large tu
"This services the fountains and reflecting pools in the wing," Bant explained, her voice echoing against the tiled surface. "There are landing platforms every thousand meters or so. Some of them are high enough to conceal someone who wants to hide. I'll stop as we go along."
Qui-Gon nodded. Bant took a breath and dove under the water. They followed.
Obi-Wan followed Bant's waving pink-orange legs through the crystal water. She led them down tu