Bant stood, her arms folded, her eyes on the brilliantly lit cafc.
Obi-Wan wondered how to start a conversation. Suddenly, after years of talking to Bant about everything that was on his mind, he had to struggle to find something to say.
Bant held her slight body rigid. Her stare was as fierce as Mace's.
Her stiffness and concentration made it even harder for him to break the silence.
Then he noticed that she was not as contained as she appeared. Her hands were gripped together tightly. He realized that far from being lost in concentration, Bant was struggling to maintain her composure.
When he looked closer, he saw that her eyes were full of tears. She was struggling to keep them from falling.
'Bant.' He said her name gently. He didn't know what else to say.
'She should be here,' Bant said in a choked voice. 'It seems impossible that she's not here. I can't believe she won't come around the corner any second. I keep hearing her scold us for making such a big fuss and coming here to save her.' The tears tumbled down her face. 'It hurts so much, Obi-Wan. I can't find peace in her death. I know I'm supposed to accept it. I can't.'
It was the longest flood of words she had spoken since she'd arrived.
Obi-Wan realized that Bant had said all the things he had been feeling. It did seem impossible that Tahl was dead. He knew that part of him hadn't absorbed it.
He knew that he was focusing on his worries about Qui-Gon so that he wouldn't have to.
'I know what you mean,' he said. 'When we found her, and she was so weak, I never for one moment thought she could die. Tahl was so strong. She was as strong as Qui-Gon.'
'Did she say anything?' Bant asked timidly. 'Anything before…'
'She was too weak to talk when I saw her,' Obi-Wan said. 'Qui-Gon was with her when she died.'
'I'm glad such a good friend was there,' Bant said.
Obi-Wan hesitated. He did not know whether he should speak. But didn't he owe Bant his confidence? Maybe it would help to close the gap between them.
'I think Qui-Gon and Tahl had become more than friends,' he told her.
'Here on New Apsolon, something changed. That's why Qui-Gon is grieving the way he is.'
Bant turned, surprised. 'You mean they loved each other?'
Obi-Wan nodded.
Bant looked down at her clasped hands. 'Then it is even more sad, isn't it?'
'Yes,' Obi-Wan said. 'It's the saddest thing I've ever seen. That's why I'm worried about Qui-Gon.'
Bant reached out and squeezed his arm. Obi-Wan was happy to feel the spontaneous gesture. 'We will help him, Obi-Wan,' she promised. And for the first time, Obi-Wan felt that maybe they could.
Just then Mace emerged from the cafc, his robe swirling around his ankles. He crossed the road and came up to them.
'I haven't learned much,' he admitted. 'But I did pick up an item of interesting gossip as I was leaving. Just today Legislator Pleni has announced that she will run for Supreme Governor. She has kept a low profile in the Legislature, so this was surprising. In just an afternoon, she managed to sway some powerful Legislators to support her.'
Mace saw the look of puzzlement on the faces of Bant and Obi-Wan.
'Her sudden bid for power and the quick support she received could mean that she bought the list from Oleg,' he told them. 'At any rate, it is worth investigating.' Mace gathered his cloak around him. 'If she has the list, she could be in danger. Whoever has possession of it could end up like Oleg. Come. Her residence is not far.'
Mace's long stride covered more distance than Obi-Wan could make at a slow run. He and Bant had to jog to keep up with him.
Legislator Pleni lived alone in a small, elegant dwelling made of the gray stone that so much of New Apsolon was built with. All the lights inside the house were on. Mace pressed the illuminated bar that would alert her that she had visitors. They waited by the panel to announce themselves, but there was no answer.
'She could have left the lights on when she went out,' Mace said.
'But let's explore just the same.'
The look on his face was uneasy. Mace had a deep connection to the Force. Obi-Wan had felt nothing, but now he focused his attention on the Force, reaching out around him. He did not pick up anything.
They walked around the perimeter of the dwelling. Mace seemed to grow more worried as they walked. When they reached the back, Obi-Wan felt it, too — a disturbance in the Force. He glanced at Mace, who saw traces of a probe droid's entry into a high window.
The door was secured, but Mace didn't hesitate. He cut a hole in it with his lightsaber and strode in. Obi- Wan and Bant followed.
The stone floors gleamed. Not an item seemed out of place. They walked through the empty rooms in the eerie silence. Then they mounted the stairs.
Upstairs, they finally saw evidence of a struggle. Furniture was overturned. Large crystal vases were smashed.
Mace looked up to the ceiling. He pointed to several smudge marks.
