The Death of Hope by Jude Watson
It was one of the twins - at this speed, Qui-Gon couldn't tell which
one.
The twin stopped her landspeeder and leaped off. Qui-Gon slowed his
own engine. Obi-Wan landed the swoop. As she strode toward them, he saw it
was Eritha. He was surprised. Alani had been the more forceful of the
twins. Eritha tended to stay in the background. Why had she come on this
rugged journey?
"I'm so glad to find you!" she cried. "I've been traveling for days.
I didn't know how to reach you. I found out who is backing Balog. I know
who your enemy is."
"Who?" Qui-Gon asked.
Eritha hesitated a moment. Her lips pressed together in a thin line,
as if she were reluctant to let the words out. "My sister," she said.
CHAPTER 8
"Alani is in contact with Balog," Eritha continued. The words now
tumbled out of her. "I heard her speaking to him on a comlink. I couldn't
tell where he was, or where he was headed. Tahl is alive, but he's keeping
her contained in that horrible device."
Tahl is alive. Obi-Wan saw the relief transform Qui-Gon's face before
his Master turned his full attention back to Eritha again.
"Do you see what this means?" Eritha cried. She twisted her hands
together. "Alani must have lied to me all along! She convinced me that Roan
was behind our father's death. And I'm sure that she engineered our own
kidnapping." She went on angrily. "No wonder she was so strong during the
ordeal. After we were released, I was afraid they were tracking us to kill
us. She kept telling me not to be afraid, not to worry...." Eritha's voice
was full of disgust. "I thought she was so brave. And Roan - could she have
arranged to kill Roan? I can't believe that! He was so kind to us. He was
our father's best friend!"
"What is her goal?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Power. She wants to rule New Apsolon." Eritha shook her head. "At
least that's what I think they are planning. Balog will back her along with
the Absolutes. I can't believe what I'm saying. I can't believe I never
knew my sister. I'm so ashamed."
"But you didn't do anything wrong," Obi-Wan said.
"Don't you understand? She is part of me. I should have known."
Eritha's gaze was bleak.
"Are you sure she gave no clues to Balog's whereabouts?" Qui-Gon
asked urgently.
Eritha sighed woefully. "I'm sorry. I overheard the conversation, but
they never mentioned where he was."
"Thank you for coming and telling us this," Qui-Gon said. "You risked
much. Now you must return."
"I'm not going back." Eritha's jaw set stubbornly, removing the
softness that distinguished her from her more dynamic and electric sister.
"I am sorry," Qui-Gon said firmly, "but you must. Obi-Wan and I are
going ahead. It will be dangerous."
"I don't care. My sister has shamed my planet. I must restore my
family's honor. She is a Worker and has betrayed the Workers by making an
alliance with the Absolutes. Do you see what this means? She thinks that
because of who her father is, the Workers will accept her without question.
Even as we speak she is maneuvering to get the United Legislature to
appoint her as Supreme Governor. I know how she is doing it, too - I know
her. She won't ask, she won't suggest. She'll be sweet and modest. Somehow
those high up in the Legislature will think they came up with the idea on
their own. Just as she once made me believe that Roan was involved in
Ewane's death. Of course the Workers will support her - she is a heroine,
for surviving our father's death.
"Once appointed, she will bring back the Absolutes and slowly restore
the government to what it was. The Workers will be trampled. No." Eritha
crossed her arms. "I will not return. My dead father is at my shoulder. He
sacrificed too much. I am coming with you."
"Eritha, we think Balog is probably heading to his supporters. You
are not trained for battle," Obi-Wan said.
"Oh, but I am." Eritha drew back her cloak, exposing the blasters and
explosive devices on her belt. "I have excellent aim."
"I admire your dedication," Qui-Gon said. "However - "
"Tahl was a great friend to me when I needed one," Eritha said,
staring Qui-Gon down. "I can't desert her now. And you forget that I have
been through the same thing. I was trapped in that device. I know what it
does to you. I have to do this, Qui-Gon."
Qui-Gon was about to speak, but suddenly an explosion shattered the
rocks at their side. Shards flew out at them. Both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
sprang forward to protect Eritha. Qui-Gon shielded her with his body while
they leaped behind her speeder.
"Keep your head down," Qui-Gon ordered sternly. "It looks as though
our battle has found us."
CHAPTER 9
It wasn't Balog who was attacking. After the dust cleared, Qui-Gon
and Obi--Wan caught a glimpse of a group of beings who blended in with the
rocks and dirt. They wore gray unisuits and their skin was the same ashy
color. They moved from boulder to boulder, trying to close in on the Jedi.
Obi-Wan saw a thin beam of light pulse over their heads toward the
canyon wall. "Move back!" he shouted to Qui-Gon and Eritha.
They jumped back just seconds before a slide of rock and shale landed
where they had been.
"They're using a beamdrill to create rock slides," Obi-Wan said.
Qui-Gon looked behind them. "They most likely are driving us into an
ambush."
"What should we do?" Eritha asked. Her face was taut, her eyes wide
with fear.
Another pulse hit the rock face, and the three jumped back in time to
avoid another shuddering explosion of rock. The shards flew toward them,
and they covered their heads until the dust settled.
"We need to get above the range of the beamdrill," Qui-Gon said,
scanning the canyon wall. "If we can get on top of the rock, they can't
follow us."
"Our cable launchers don't go that high," Obi-Wan said. "We'll have
to keep relaunching."
"And meanwhile they'll still be using that beamdrill," Eritha said.
"I think it's our only chance," Qui-Gon decided. "Stay close," he
warned Eritha.
She shuddered. "Don't worry."
"Qui-Gon! Our probe droid is approaching!" Obi-Wan called.
"We need better cover!" Eritha shouted, panicked. She darted forward
suddenly as the beam-drill pulse hit an area over their heads.
As rocks began to rain down, Qui-Gon leaped toward Eritha to bring
her to safety. Obi-Wan followed, activating his lightsaber to deflect the
rocks from the probe droid.
Qui-Gon grabbed Eritha and landed safely behind a pile of debris.
Obi-Wan wasn't as lucky. He was seconds too late to save the probe droid. A
large boulder hit the droid straight on, shattering it. Obi-Wan barely had
time to register this before he realized a shower of rocks was headed
toward him. He twisted in midair, but a large rock caught him in the leg.
He fell, and his leg gave way underneath him.
"Stay here!" Qui-Con roared to Eritha, pushing her head down. He
raced forward, picked Obi-Wa
landed beyond the safety of the new pile of rocks the attack had created.
"Master... the droid I'm sorry..." Obi-Wan's breath came in gasps.
His leg throbbed.
Qui-Gon felt the leg gently. "It's not broken. After you catch your
breath you might be able to stand on it. If not, I'll carry you."
Obi-Wan nodded. He gathered himself to accept the pain, to open
himself to the Force so he could begin to heal.
They were almost at the end of the narrow canyon. Obi-Wan knew he
would not be able to use his cable launcher to get above the beam-drills.
By the grim look on Qui-Gon's face, he knew his Master had already realized
this and was formulating another plan.
Suddenly two explosions went off farther down the narrow passage, and
a rock slide began, larger than the ones before. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan
covered their heads.
When they were able to see through the choking dust, the end of the
canyon was blocked off by a towering pile of rock and rubble.
"We're trapped," Obi-Wan said.
Qui-Gon activated his lightsaber. "They still have to come and get
us. And we have the cover of the landslides they've already created."
They heard a grinding noise, and a mole miner appeared at the other
end of the canyon. The utility vehicle lumbered toward them slowly.
"Mole miners can bore through solid rock," Obi-Wan said. "Our cover
is about to disintegrate."
Just then Eritha dashed over to them from behind her own cover. "What
is that?" she asked Qui-Gon.
"A mole miner," Qui-Gon said. "It's a utility craft used by miners."
"So our attackers are miners?" Eritha asked.
"I'd say yes," Qui-Gon said. "So far they've used mining equipment to
attack us. Maybe they don't have conventional weapons."
"That could be good news," Eritha muttered.
Suddenly, she scrambled over the rock pile.
"Eritha!" Qui-Gon yelled, reaching for her.
She jumped from the top of the pile to the ground. Then she threw
back the hood of her cloak and raised her hands.
"Stay here, Padawan." Qui-Gon leaped over the rock pile in one fluid
motion. He stood with his lightsaber activated, ready to defend Eritha.
"Put away your weapon, Qui-Gon," Eritha said through her teeth. "And
trust me."
The mole miner advanced a few meters, then stopped.
Slowly, Qui-Gon deactivated his lightsaber. Obi-Wan watched, knowing
his Master could still attack in a movement faster than the eye could see.
Slowly, a hatch opened at the top of the mole miner. A ramp emerged.
A man and a woman crawled out and walked down the ramp.
They faced Qui-Gon and Eritha and bowed.
"Daughter of Ewane, we are at your service," the man said. Obi-Wan
now saw that their skin was gray with rock dust.
Eritha bowed in return. "I am Eritha."
The tall woman spoke. "We thought you were a team from the Absolutes.
We apologize. They have been raiding our settlements and stealing supplies.
"
"Who are you?" Qui-Gon asked.
"We are the Rock Workers. We are allies of the Tech Workers in the
city. We are glad to see that you were not harmed."
"But we were," Qui-Gon said. "My Padawan is hurt. And our probe droid
was destroyed. It was tracking an Absolute."
"Then we are truly sorry," the man said, distressed. "If you come
with us to our settlement, we have excellent med care. We will help you any
way we can."
CHAPTER 10
The air was so crisp and clear on Ragoon-6 that it gave you the
feeling you could see to the future, or back to the past. Tahl had proposed
the training exercise to Qui-Gon on one of their rare meetings at the
Temple. If they did not take the time now, when would they? she had pointed
out, her chin thrusting at him as it did when she wanted her own way. Soon
they would both be sent on missions again.
He knew that she had proposed the trip because of what had happened
with Xanatos. His Padawan had turned to the dark side, and weeks of
meditation and talks with Yoda had not reconciled Qui-Gon to that. He
sensed that Yoda was concerned about his progress. Yet he was stuck,
thinking over and over about everything he had done and everything he
should have done.
To his relief, Tahl hadn't brought up Xanatos once on Ragoon-6.
Instead they had concentrated on the exercise. The landscape of Ragoon-6
was breathtaking, but it was difficult terrain. They pushed their bodies to
the limit as they scaled mountains and hiked rocky trails.
They paused to rest on a flat rock overlooking a deep valley.
"Do you see that flying irid?" Tahl said, pointing. "Look at the
yellow on the underside of its wings."
Qui-Gon looked where she pointed. Tahl could always see farther than
he could. He waited until his eyes could track the bird, a flash of
brilliant color in the blue sky. "Beautiful."
"Yes. But they are horrible birds. They attack their own kind. It's
strange, though. They nurture their young with great care. They teach them
to fly, to hunt, to nest. Yet when their young reach maturity they are just
as likely to eat their parents as each other."
Qui-Gon stared out at the valley. "Are parables supposed to make me
feel better? I know you are talking about Xanatos. I nurtured him and he
betrayed me. It was not my fault. It was his nature. Is that what you're
saying?"
"I'm talking about irids," Tahl said composedly. "But now that you
brought him up
"Excuse me, I didn't - "
"I'd like to make one point. You can't control everything you touch,
Qui-Gon. And you can't make sense of everything, either, no matter how much
you analyze or meditate. Not even you."
"This is not about ego," he said.
She shot him a keen look, all emerald and gold. "Isn't it?"
Another delay. Qui-Gon wanted to bellow his rage to the sky. Instead,
he helped his Padawan to Eritha's Landspeeder and gently lowered him into
the seat. Obi-Wan's face was drawn with pain.
The last thing he wanted to do right now was take a detour from their
quest, but his Padawan needed care.
Eritha drove her landspeeder, and a Rock Worker took Obi-Wan's swoop.
Qui-Gon followed as they raced through the canyons toward the Rock Workers'
settlement.
He was glad that the distance wasn't far. The settlement lay in a
small valley surrounded by quarries. Walkways made of slate were laid out
in rows and led to residences, stores, a school, and a small med unit.
Obi-Wan was met by a young woman who hurried out immediately to look
at his wound.
"I am a trained medic," she said. "My name is Yanci. I've seen many
wounds such as this in the quarries. This isn't too bad. Your friend will
mend quickly."
Qui-Gon nodded his thanks. Together he and Yanci helped Obi-Wan into
the med center.
"I can take over from here," Yanci told him, setting out a splint and
beginning the procedure for a bacta bath. "The refreshment unit is across
the walkway. Why don't you rest, and I will come over and give you a
progress report?"
Obi-Wan flashed Qui-Gon a grin that was also a grimace. "I'm fine
here."
Qui-Gon patted his shoulder in support, then left the med unit. It
might be helpful to talk to the Rock Workers about the Absolutes. He was
surprised to hear that the Absolutes had been conducting raids. That meant