The Death of Hope

18

There was still a long journey ahead of them to New Apsolon. Qui-Gon would not stop. He would drive through the rest of the day and the night. With the extra power of Eritha’s landspeeder, he should be at the edge of New Apsolon by dawn.

Tahl slid into a deep sleep. That would restore her. Qui-Gon reached for a thermal cape and covered her. The temperature fell as the suns slid down in the sky, melting over the horizon in tones of blazing red and gold. The rocks and cliffs around him turned pink. For the first time in a long while, Qui-Gon noticed the beauty. It was because Tahl was next to him, and he wanted her to be a part of it. He did not wake her, but silently he told her, Do not leave me. We have so much left to share together.

The moons rose, three delicate, luminous crescents. The stars seemed even more brilliant next to the waning moons. Qui-Gon activated the speeder’s protective dome and turned on the heating unit. Whenever he reached over to check Tahl’s pulse, the coldness of her skin shocked him.

He did not feel hunger but he ate a food capsule and drank water. He had a long night to get through.

Hours later, Tahl awoke. She pulled herself up a little straighter.

She looked more alert, Qui-Gon noted with relief.

“It’s cold,” she said.

Qui-Gon had felt too warm, but he set the heating unit to maximum.

“It’s the middle of the night.”

“Thank you for everything you have done,” Tahl said. “I don’t like being rescued. I was furious at myself for being in that position again.”

“Don’t worry,” Qui-Gon said. “You have rescued me in the past. I’m sure you will again.”

“Balog wanted something from me. That’s why he kept me alive.”

“Don’t talk now. Save your strength. There will be time in New Apsolon,” Qui-Gon said.

“No, I need to tell you. There is a list of informers among the Workers—”

“I know this.”

“Balog thought I had it. Naturally I pretended I knew where it was. So he kept me alive. But in that deprivation device I had time to think. Why did he believe I had the list?”

“Because you were undercover and could have had access?” Qui-Gon suggested.

“Is that reason enough to kidnap me?” Tahl shook her head. “I don’t think so. So I went over that last day undercover. I still don’t know how they found out I was a Jedi.”

“Perhaps it was Alani,” Qui-Gon said. “Eritha claims that Alani is in league with Balog. She wants to take over as Supreme Governor.”

“Alani?” Tahl asked, surprised. “But she found the way to smuggle me into the Absolutes in the first place.”

“She had a reason to keep you there, perhaps,” Qui-Gon said. “When you were no longer useful, she betrayed you.”

“And perhaps she hoped I would find the list,” Tahl said slowly.

Every word was an effort. “Naturally I would tell the girls I had found it. I trusted them.”

“Do you remember anything significant about your last day?”

The thermal cape slipped off her shoulders, and Tahl drew it around her. “So cold…” she murmured. “Someone helped me that last day. I had seconds to get out of the hideout before they came for me. I ran into a message runner named Oleg. He was a low-level member of the Absolutes. Instead of turning me in, he helped me. He showed me a door the message runners used. When I asked him why he helped me, he said he was escaping, too. He had been marked for interrogation by the Absolute leaders. He did not know why, but he was leaving before he could find out.”

“Look,” Qui-Gon said. “The lights of the city are ahead.”

It was still dark. The city lights on the horizon seemed to merge with the stars.

“Almost there,” Qui-Gon said. “Rest. We’ll talk later.”

Tahl’s voice had been growing softer. Now she closed her eyes and slid into sleep.

Dawn grew slowly. The landscape lightened. The city grew closer. They were low on fuel, but the computer told him they would make it.

Tahl slept on as the suns broke free of the horizon. The orange rays lit her body, instantly transforming her skin into its usual radiant health. Qui-Gon knew it was an illusion, but he took comfort in the sight.

Qui-Gon quickly maneuvered the Landspeeder through the crowded morning streets. He turned down State Boulevard toward the Supreme Governor’s residence. As he pulled up, a figure hurried down the steps toward them. It was Roan’s brother, Manex.

“Eritha contacted me to say you were arriving,” he said. “I have arranged the finest med care in the city for Tahl. It is a short distance away. If you’ll follow me.” Manex pointed to his own landspeeder.

Qui-Gon hesitated. It was odd that Manex had met them outside. Eritha had promised them access to her own med care, which was in the residence itself.

Manex took note of his hesitation. “You must trust me,” he said urgently. “Did I not tell you that I have the best of everything? My med care is exceptional. The med squad once worked on victims of the Absolutes. They had the greatest success. The doctor knows Tahl’s condition. He can help.” Manex glanced at Tahl, whose head was back and her eyes were closed.

It was the compassionate, worried look in Manex’s eyes more than his words that made Qui-Gon nod. His instincts told him that Manex was sincere.

Tahl needed the best care.

“Good,” Manex said at Qui-Gon’s nod. He sprinted toward his landspeeder, moving quickly for a man of his bulk. He jumped in and took off.

Qui-Gon followed closely. Manex pulled up in front of a gray stone building a few blocks away.

Immediately the doors opened and a med team rushed out.

A doctor bent over Tahl. Her eyes fluttered open. He applied a diagnostic readout to the side of her neck and frowned at the results.

“Will she be all right?”

“We will do the best we can.”

The med team transferred Tahl to a wheeled stretcher. She was gone before he had a chance to touch her hand or tell her he’d be waiting. Qui-Gon sat numbly in the pilot seat, the speeder controls solid in his clenched fists, willing his own control not to slip away.