'Do you know your location?'
'I crossed to the Worker Sector. I went four blocks south, three blocks east. I am concealed in a memorial, you know the ones with the standing columns?'
'Yes.' Qui-Gon was already walking rapidly toward the Worker Sector.
'I'm hiding between the glass columns, but it won't take long before the probe droids locate me. There are many beings on the streets, so that will confuse them for a time, but — '
'We are on our way.'
Qui-Gon quickly explained the situation to Obi-Wan, and they began to run. Tahl could not sense the droids through the Force, and this made her predicament all the more dire. He remembered precisely the location of the Absolute headquarters.
Was this it, was this the meaning of his vision? Would he find Tahl curled up between the columns? Would the probe droids have found her?
Her eyes were black and dull, but they sparked to life when she saw him..
He had seen Tahl's eyes in the vision, and they were dark, the color of the lenses she had donned to conceal their distinctive color. Qui-Gon remembered this detail like a blow. Did that mean the rest of the vision would come true?
'Qui-Gon, we're here.' Obi-Wan spoke quietly by his side, his breath roughened by the hard run. 'We should be cautious now. The probe droids might be searching for us, too.'
It was a good point. He should have thought of it. He slowed his pace to a walk so that they were not obvious among the passersby. Then they gradually increased their speed, mingling with the crowd. Because of the unrest concerning the twins' disappearance, the streets were crowded.
Qui-Gon counted off the blocks, struggling not to run. Attuned to the air above, he did not see any probe droids. He did not know whether to be reassured or worried by this.
At last they reached the corner where the monument to the dead Workers stood. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hurried toward the glowing columns. They searched through the rows, at last finding Tahl near the back, at a place where she was hidden but still had room to escape the cube and run.
She turned her face up at the sound of their footsteps. Her eyes were dark, but not dulled with pain. She was fine. Her wry smile tore at his heart. 'Thanks for coming.'
Qui-Gon crouched down and signaled to Obi-Wan to do the same. 'There are many on the streets. It will be hard for the probe droids to track you.
I think the safest place for us now would be with Roan. Even if he is behind the kidnapping, he must maintain the illusion that he is not. Since your cover is blown, it doesn't matter who knows that you are Jedi.'
'True,' Tahl said. 'Let's go.'
Obi-Wan scanned the sky. 'Surveillance will be heaviest around here.
Once we get into the Civilized Sector, the probe droids might give up.'
'Stay between us, and stay close,' Qui-Gon told her.
They made their way cautiously out from the glowing glass columns, then into the flow of pedestrians. Gradually it became clear that the passersby had a destination.
'They are heading somewhere,' Qui-Gon murmured.
'Probably a demonstration,' Tahl guessed.
The demonstration turned out to be only a few blocks ahead. The crowd all turned toward the small park where Workers were massing. Qui-Gon, Obi- Wan, and Tahl were left alone.
'We could hide in the crowd,' Qui-Gon said in a low tone.
'But we would just have to leave it later,' Obi-Wan said.
'Maybe the probe droids will give up.'
'No,' Tahl said. 'The Absolutes never give up.'
'I say we go now,' Qui-Gon said. 'It's not far to the Civilized Sector and Roan. The kidnappers could be contacting him at anytime. He has agreed to a Jedi presence.'
'I agree,' Tahl said, and Obi-Wan nodded.
Quickly they turned away from the demonstration and headed toward the Civilized Sector. They had gone a short distance when Qui-Gon felt a presence.
'I feel it,' Tahl said.
'Something is nearby,' Obi-Wan agreed.
The probe droid zoomed into view, flying lower to get a fix on the three. Qui-Gon leaped up without warning, slashing out with his activated lightsaber. The probe droid crashed to the ground, smoking.
'There will be more now,' Tahl muttered.
They quickened their pace. Soon three probe droids approached.
Blaster fire erupted around them. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan kept close to Tahl, moving forward while deflecting the fire.
Qui-Gon was worried. If more probe droids arrived, he and Obi-Wan would not be able to deflect that much firepower. Already their pace had to slow to protect Tahl and ensure her safety.
