The Death of Hope

17

Qui-Gon felt disoriented, as though he were in a dream. He was living inside his vision. His greatest fear had visited him. He thought he had known desperation in that vision, but the living reality was far worse.

Tahl’s eyes closed, and she slumped against him. He felt her muscles go slack, and she melted against him as though she no longer had bones. He had never realized Tahl could feel so soft against him. He had only known her strength. He held her against his chest.

“You should leave me,” she whispered. “I don’t have long…”

He leaned his head down to speak into her ear. “No. It is not too late. You never give up. The Force is still with you. I am with you. You cannot leave me now. Not now.”

“I… will try, for you,” she breathed. “Qui-Gon, we must go,” Obi-Wan said desperately.

He nodded and let his Padawan lead the way. Tahl was no burden. She felt light in his arms.

Fissures had opened in the ceiling, and water streamed in from above.

The cave was slowly collapsing. Water poured out of the side tunnel where Balog had left.

“Do you think we can reach the cave entrance?” Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon eyed the water pouring from the ceiling and the thick smoke ahead. “Doubtful. We can try to find another way out.”

“There is another… exit,” Tahl said. Qui-Gon had to bend down to hear her. “To the underwater base.”

“I saw it,” Obi-Wan said. “Let’s try it. But what about Eritha?”

Qui-Gon hesitated. “Let’s get to the entrance to the underwater base first.” He did not want to have to decide between Tahl’s life and Eritha’s.

But he knew he could not leave without looking for the young girl.

Tahl stirred again. “Eritha is here? We can’t leave her, we must…”

Each word seemed to cost her a great effort.

Qui-Gon stilled her with a hand on her hair. “We won’t.”

The cave had been evacuated. Another explosion shook the cave and they staggered with its power. More water streamed from the ceiling.

They reached the side tunnel that led to the underwater structure.

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon anxiously as the water grew deeper, now swirling around their knees. It was icy cold.

“The tunnel where Eritha was held is just ahead,” Qui-Gon said. “Try there first. I will stay here with Tahl. If Eritha is not there, come back here.” If necessary, he would get Tahl out and return for Eritha. He could feel how weak Tahl’s connection to the Force was. It frightened him.

Obi-Wan turned to hurry away, but from the smoky dimness they suddenly saw a figure pushing through the water toward them. It was Eritha, her braided hair now loose and wet.

“They left me! They forgot about me!” she screamed, almost collapsing in Obi-Wan’s arms. “They set off explosives. The cave is collapsing!”

“It’s all right,” Obi-Wan told her. “We’ll get you out of here.”

He supported her and brought her back to Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon accessed the entrance to the underwater structure. They squeezed through quickly to prevent more water from flooding the connecting tunnel.

The relative dryness of the connecting tunnel was reassuring. Smoke had not penetrated, and they breathed easier. The Absolutes had not chosen to blow up the underwater structure... yet.

The connecting tunnel was fabricated from white duraplast, with occasional transparent viewscreens that allowed watery light to filter in from above. They passed through it quickly and entered the main structure.

This was obviously where the majority of the tech centers were housed. The cave had been used for storage. They passed room after room of holofile cabinets and computer banks. The offices were empty. No doubt this part of the complex had been evacuated as well.

“Do you think Balog is planning to blow this area, too?” Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon.

“Possibly. But he might not have had time. We need to find the ramp that can get us to shore.” Qui-Gon knew the shore of the lake was to his right. As soon as they found a main corridor, it would lead to the ramp exit.

Obi-Wan ran ahead with Eritha. When they came to a main corridor, Qui-Gon was glad to see his Padawan turn right. He relaxed a bit, allowing his Padawan to lead them. He turned his attention to Tahl.

He could see a pale blue vein throb near one of her closed eyes. It reassured him. Her life systems were still operating, her body still functioning. The weakness he felt could be reversed. Her systems had been shut down for several days. It would take time for her to regain her strength. That was all she needed. Time. He held her more securely against him.

Ahead, he saw Obi-Wan stop at the ramp control. He pressed his eye against the panel. “There’s an electroscope,” he said, drawing away as Qui-Gon came up. “I don’t think we can activate the ramp. We’d be spotted easily.”

Qui-Gon leaned forward and put his eye against the electroscope. It gave a view of the shore and the cave entrance. Smoke continued to billow out from the cave. Absolutes gathered on the shore. Someone was organizing a retreat with the remaining functioning vehicles. If they activated the ramp, they would land right in the middle of them. Obi-Wan was right. Qui-Gon felt sure that even if the Jedi weren’t recognized, Eritha or Tahl would be. Eritha had lost her tech jacket. Tahl was in no condition to walk.

“We have to swim,” Qui-Gon decided. “If we swim far enough away, we can skirt those boulders and pass through the canyon to our vehicles.” He hesitated. “Can you?” he asked Obi-Wan. “Your leg…”

“I can,” Obi-Wan said firmly. “I’ll give my breather to Eritha.”

Qui-Gon lowered Tahl carefully to the floor. Her feet couldn’t hold her, so he laid her gently down. He took out his breather from his utility belt.

“Tahl?”

Her head turned. Qui-Gon’s heart broke at how lackluster her response was.

“We have to swim. Can you use a breather?”

There was a quirk at the edge of her lips. Almost a smile. “Only since I was three.”

He smiled and gently fitted the tube on her. “When we get to the beach, we’ll have a short way to walk. I’ll carry you. Our transports aren’t far.”

She nodded slightly. He knew she was saving her strength.

Qui-Gon motioned to the emergency exit lever. Eritha had donned Obi-Wan’s breather. Qui-Gon knew that it would be a long swim for Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan was a powerful swimmer, but the leg injury worried Qui-Gon.

They accessed the door, which opened into a small chamber. There was a panel in the ceiling. Slowly, the chamber began to fill with water. The water was cold, and Qui-Gon felt Tahl’s involuntary shiver. They floated up toward the ceiling. Qui-Gon nodded at Obi-Wan and the two Jedi took their deepest breath. The panel slid open and they swam out.

Qui-Gon did not feel the cold water. He did not feel fatigued. Tahl felt buoyant in his arms, so buoyant that he felt his hopes rise. He swam with his Padawan by his side. Both of them kept their eye on Eritha, with Obi-Wan drifting back to help her if she lagged.

His lungs began to ache. The smoke had weakened them. Qui-Gon peered ahead, but couldn’t see the shoreline. There would be no gradual rise, since the pit was dug for mining purposes. His speed was hampered by being able to use only one arm, but his kicks were powerful and propelled him forward.

At last Obi-Wan’s feet touched bottom. He surfaced, then quickly signaled an okay. Qui-Gon surfaced as well, taking deep lungfuls of air.

Obi-Wan was doing the same.

Even as they took deep breaths, they moved toward the shore. The Absolutes were lining up to be transported away. No one noticed them as they ran up the short distance to the boulders. From there it was easy to slip into the narrow crevices between the high cliffs. The rough ground made for hard walking. Qui-Gon’s arms began to ache with the effort of holding Tahl. Obi-Wan was limping slightly, but he still was able to move quickly.

“Almost there,” Qui-Gon told Tahl. He did not know if she was conscious.

They found their transports where they had left them. Relief flooded Qui-Gon. His last fear was that the Absolutes would have found them.

“Take my landspeeder, Qui-Gon,” Eritha offered. “It is faster than yours.”

“Thank you.” Qui-Gon gently placed Tahl in the companion seat.

He swung into the pilot seat and glanced over. As always, she could sense when he was looking at her. And as always, she could sense his mood.

“Stop being so worried,” she said quietly. “I’ll try.”

“I’m gaining strength every moment from your strength.”

He took her hand. He called up the Force from the air around them. He felt her do the same, though her hold on the Force was weak. It was all right. He would provide the extra strength she needed. He felt their power combine.

Eritha came to stand by the speeder. “Go directly to the Supreme Governor’s residence,” she said. “I will call ahead and have med care waiting for you.”

Qui-Gon nodded his thanks. He activated the engines.

“I will see you in New Apsolon,” he told Obi-Wan. He reached inside his tunic and handed Tahl’s lightsaber to Obi-Wan. “Until yours recharges.”

“I will guard it with my life.” Obi-Wan swallowed. The concern in his eyes was all for Tahl. He gently touched her shoulder. “Safe journey.”

Tahl answered weakly. “Thank you for finding me, Obi-Wan.”

“May the Force be with you,” Obi-Wan said. “It is,” Qui-Gon said confidently, and raced off.