Obi-Wan saw a small box in the corner that he had missed. This one had no label, only a metallic icon that served as a clasp. It was a broken circle.
He had seen enough for now. Obi-Wan slipped past the boxes to the door.
'What is it?' Si Treemba asked.
'Some kind of secret annex for Offworld,' Obi-Wan said. 'They're up to something.'
Si Treemba's greenish skill paled to a dull gray. 'Here? But they're forbidden.'
'Since when does that stop them?' Obi-Wan said grimly. 'Let's get back. I have to contact Qui-Gon.'
'You mean you're not going to do anything?' Obi-Wan demanded. Qui-Gon wavered in front of him in miniature hologram form.
'There is nothing to do,' Qui-Gon said. 'Did you say the wall turned transparent with the Force?'
'I've never seen anything like it,' Obi-Wan answered. 'Have you?'
Qui-Gon ignored the question. 'The information is interesting, nothing more. There's no real proof that Offworld is interfering with Agri-Corps research.'
Obi-Wan wanted to howl in frustration. 'They shouldn't be here at all! I should return to Bandor. Offworld is planning something… something big. We need to investigate this!'
'There is no need,' Qui-Gon said crisply. 'Your mission is to report back on the progress of Agri-Corps.'
'What about the broken circle on the box?' Obi-Wan asked urgently.
'Obi-Wan, follow your orders,' Qui-Gon sternly replied. 'If you find proof of wrongdoing, contact me immediately. Do not take any action on your own.'
'Qui-Gon — '
'Did you hear me, Obi-Wan?'
'Yes,' Obi-Wan murmured reluctantly.
'Now, I must go. Keep me informed.'
The hologram wavered, then disappeared. Obi-Wan stared at the empty air where Qui-Gon's image had hovered. Once again. Qui-Gon had shut him out.
Chapter 7
There was a time when the circle was not broken. There was a time when everything was as it seemed. When there were no secrets.
The broken circle. Had Obi-Wan mistaken it? Or was Xanatos involved in Agri-Corps?
He couldn't ell the boy. Obi-Wan would demand answers that Qui-Gon wasn't willing to give. It was better to keep the past in the past.
Besides, the boy must learn patience.
Qui-Gon headed for the Home Planet Mine. It was amazing how much work had been done since the explosion. The mine was scheduled to go back into operation in only a week. Offworld had followed through on its promise, and had given money and droids. They had already cleared away debris from the tunnels, and were working on shoring them up again.
Clat'Ha waved at him from across the yard. She was heading into the mine with her workers. She'd barely stopped to sleep or eat since the explosion.
Qui-Gon opened the door to the temporary office, a hastily erected metal shed. VeerTa sat at a monitor that recorded the details of the operation. When she spun around in her chair, he saw that her face was alight with excitement.
'There is good news,' VeerTa said in a low tone that throbbed with excitement. 'The explosion has done us a great service, Qui-Gon It blasted deeper into the ground than we've ever gone before. We've discovered a vein of ionite.'
Qui-Gon was impressed. Ionite was one of the most valuable minerals in the galaxy.
'Do you know what this means? No one has ever found ionite on Bandomeer. Traces, yes. But our main resources is azurite.' VeerTa leaned forward, her gaze intense. 'The Home Planet Mine will be the only source. The profits are potentially enormous. This can save the entire planet!'
'It is good news,' Qui-Gon agreed cautiously. It was one thing to find a valuable mineral. It was another to control who mined it.
'You already see the problems ahead,' VeerTa said shrewdly. Then we must keep this a secret. I haven't even told the members of the board. Only Clat'Ha knows. If Offworld discovers this, then they will easily drive us out of business and grab the vein for themselves. The explosion blew up all the azurite we've already mined. Technically, we're bankrupt.'
'What's you plan?' Qui-Gon asked.
'Thanks to Offworld, we have money,' VeerTa said. 'True, they gave it to us in order to buy our trust by helping us rebuild. But we can use it to mine the ionite. We just need a few weeks to get everything operational. Then Offworld can't stop us.'
VeerTa's face blazed with determination. Qui-Gon allowed himself to feel her enthusiasm. But at the same time, he wondered why VeerTa was letting him in on the secret. He waited, knowing there was more.
'Let me show you what we found,' VeerTa said, rising.
