She said yes.
As they walked the short distance to the museum, Qui-Gon had to discipline himself severely to recall his Jedi training. He knew that his Padawan was troubled by his behavior. It was true that for the first time since he was a young Temple student, he was having trouble with his focus.
In the midst of every battle, every trouble, Qui-Gon had always been able to find his calm center. When he reached for it now, it was gone.
Replacing it was a core of turbulent, angry chaos, fueled by his guilt and his fear.
This was the time he must operate at the peak of his efficiency. This was the time that called for his most intense focus.
The cold fear that lay deep within him was not just for Tahl. He was also afraid of his own doubt.
He had never been so at a loss because he had never felt like this before. Only hours ago, he and Tahl had pledged their lives to each other.
The emotion and the need had surprised them both. Once they had accepted it, it had felt like the most natural thing in the world. Qui-Gon was astonished to discover that he had found one person who mattered to him more than anything else in the galaxy.
And now he had lost her.
'Qui-Gon?'
Obi-Wan jolted him out of his jumbled thoughts. He saw that he had paused in front of the museum's wide double doors.
'The museum is closed,' Obi-Wan said. 'It's too early.'
'It opens in fifteen minutes. No doubt the guides are here.'
The museum had been built shortly after the government of Apsolon reorganized and became New Apsolon. As a show of good faith, the government opened the doors of the hated headquarters of the Absolutes. People were free to come and acknowledge the horrors that had been done there. It was, the leaders felt, a way to prevent the horrors from happening again. Former victims of Absolute repression had come forward and obtained jobs as guides to the complex. This was how the Jedi had met lrini.
Qui-Gon pressed the off-hours signal button. He heard it ring inside.
No one came.
Qui-Gon pounded on the door. He could not wait fifteen minutes. He could not wait one second more than he had to.
The door slid open. Irini stood in her guide uniform. She glowered at the Jedi.
'The museum is not open yet.'
'We saw that,' Qui-Gon said, striding past her.
'This is outrageous,' lrini said. 'I came to you with information about Roan's murder. I trusted you. The next thing I knew, you ran off and security threw me out of the Governor's house.'
'Balog has kidnapped Tahl,' Qui-Gon told her, his voice struggling to remain even.
Irini gasped. Then, after a visible struggle, her face resumed its smooth mask. Her voice hardened. 'I see,' she said after a moment. 'So Balog is the traitor to our cause. He is the one behind the kidnapping of the twins and Roan's murder.'
Despite Irini's control, Qui-Gon sensed that this news had deeply upset her.
'He will be a formidable enemy,' she murmured.
'The only thing we know for sure is that Balog kidnapped Tahl,' Obi- Wan said. 'We don't know why.'
'We need a probe droid,' Qui-Gon said. 'It's the fastest way to track Balog. Alani told us Lenz could get one.'
'Lenz does not keep me informed as to his movements,' Irini said brusquely. 'I am not his keeper.'
Qui-Gon felt his impatience tighten another notch. Every minute that ticked by took Tahl farther from him, made her trail colder. Irini stood in the way.
He studied her for a moment. Irini's navy tunic was buttoned up to her neck, and her black hair was slicked back severely. There was not a flicker of warmth in her eyes. She was dedicated to the Workers' cause, and thought the Jedi were too friendly to the Civilized faction. Qui-Gon knew from experience how tough Irini could be. But he would not go away until he got what he wanted.
She saw something in his gaze and quickly turned away. 'I have to work,' she said.
'No.' Qui-Gon's voice was soft, but it stopped her in her tracks. He told himself to go slowly. Irini would not respond to threats or intimidation. She would dig in her heels.
'Just hours ago you came to us with information,' he said. 'You trusted us. We trusted your information.'
'Your Jedi has been kidnapped,' lrini said, her head still turned away and her voice muffled. 'I am sorry for that, but I am not responsible.
It is Jedi business. One thing I do know-the Absolutes do not take kindly to betrayal.'
'How did you know that Tahl infiltrated the Absolutes?' Qui-Gon asked urgently. He took three steps toward her in order to see her face. 'And why do you think they had something to do with her kidnapping?'
She lifted her chin defiantly. 'What does it matter? We are not on the same side, Jedi.'
