The Death of Hope

15

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan waited a moment, then slipped out of the tunnel.

Obi-Wan could see that his Master was disturbed by this turn of events.

They kept a good distance between themselves and Eritha and her guards, but kept her in sight. The guards marched her farther inside the cave until they came to another high-security entrance to a tunnel. One of the guards accessed the security panel and punched in a code, then pressed his eye against the sensor. When the sensor cleared him, they half-carried Eritha through the opening and down the tunnel.

“They could be keeping Tahl there,” Obi-Wan said. “No doubt it’s where they take prisoners.”

“Most likely,” Qui-Gon said. He studied the tunnel entrance. “But this time we are not so lucky. The sensors are well placed. We won’t be able to get in without attracting attention. When those sensors go off, we could be putting Eritha’s and Tahl’s lives in danger. And the Absolutes aren’t stupid. They probably suspect that Eritha wasn’t alone when she infiltrated the cave.”

“Any other ideas?”

“I think there’s only one thing to do,” Qui-Gon said. “We need a diversion.”

They retraced their steps back to the weapons tunnel. Using the same method, they propelled themselves past the sensors and safely into the tunnel. Then they ran back to the room where the explosives were kept.

Qui-Gon quickly read the labels on the various bins. “We must be careful,” he warned. “Too much, and we risk collapsing the cave. But there has to be enough to cause confusion and chaos.”

Obi-Wan was not an expert on explosives. He let Qui-Gon choose what they needed. Qui-Gon handed him a supply of small explosives.

“We’ll have to set these up away from here,” Qui-Gon said. “If we’re too close, it could cause a chain reaction.”

He tucked more explosives inside his tunic along with timing devices.

“This should do it. No one should get hurt, but there will be confusion. That’s all we’ll need. As soon as we get Tahl and Eritha, we’ll head to the cave entrance.”

“What if we’re spotted?” Obi-Wan asked. “No doubt everyone will be heading there.”

“We’ll have to get a tech jacket for Tahl. We’ll just have to count on the smoke and confusion.”

Obi-Wan remembered what Lenz and Irini had said about the drug that was used to paralyze subjects inside the deprivation device. He was prepared for the fact that Tahl might not be able to walk or move. Qui-Gon did not seem to want to deal with that possibility.

“Hurry, Obi-Wan. We need to get to Eritha before they do something to her.”

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon back to the cave. They set a small amount of explosives farther down the cave, toward the entrance, then a second at the entrance to the tech-control tunnel. Then they hurried back toward the transport pen.

“We’ll set these to go off later,” Qui-Gon said. “It will be a small explosion, but it should destroy most of the transports. Just in case we’re followed.” He grabbed another tech jacket and rolled it up, shoving it inside his own. “Now let’s get back to where they took Eritha.”

Obi-Wan had seen his Master focused before. This was different. His gaze was intent, his every movement economical. Although Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon’s anxiety, there was no trace of it in his speech or his actions.

He appeared completely calm. Where did the desperation go? Obi-Wan admired how his Master had taken his emotion and given it discipline and purpose.

It was a supreme example of how a Jedi should act.

They were steps away from the first tunnel offshoot when the initial explosion went off. The cave seemed to rock for a moment, the walls and rocks shuddering. A siren wailed, and suddenly Absolutes appeared in the cave halls, running out from the various branches and tunnels.

“It’s back that way!” Qui-Gon shouted. He feinted a move in that direction and he and Obi-Wan ran a few steps. They let themselves be overtaken before turning back the way they were headed.

Smoke began to drift back toward them. Obi-Wan saw a figure appear and disappear ahead of them amid the drifting smoke.

“I think it’s Balog,” he said to Qui-Gon. “He’s headed toward the explosives tunnel.”

They melted back against the cave wall and watched as Balog went through the retinal scan and hurried back toward the tunnel.

“Should we follow?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Let’s wait here. We know Tahl isn’t back there. When he returns, we’ll follow him,” Qui-Gon said.

Another explosion split the air. Smoke rolled back toward them.

“That should be the tech center,” Qui-Gon said.

Suddenly Balog appeared, darting out of the side tunnel. Obi-Wan recognized his squat, muscular body and powerful stride. Ignoring those who were rushing toward the cave entrance, he headed in the opposite direction.

Qui-Gon nodded grimly. “When one’s home is burning, one goes for the most valuable item.”

“He’s heading for Tahl,” Obi-Wan agreed.

The two Jedi followed him. Obi-Wan expected Balog to turn toward the tunnel where Eritha was being held, but he kept going. Another explosion rocked the cave. This time it was followed by another, smaller boom.

“The fuel tanks of the vehicles,” Qui-Gon said.

They passed a side tunnel with a readout sign: UW BASE ENTRANCE. Obi-Wan took note of it as he passed. It had to be the entrance to the underwater part of the secret complex.

Balog abruptly turned into a small tunnel without security sensors.

They plunged into the tunnel behind him. The glow rods were not operational, and the darkness was almost complete. They could only see the gleam of a durasteel door just ahead.

Balog paused outside the door to access it. Obi-Wan hesitated, unsure of what to do. But beside him, Qui-Gon was already moving. His Master put on a burst of speed as Balog slipped through the door. With a mighty leap, Qui-Gon followed him, and the door slid shut.