decided that if Qui-Gon told him he must return to Mace, he would not go.
'Mota,' Qui-Gon said. 'He holds the key.'
Qui-Gon activated the laser pointer to indicate to Mota that he had visitors outside. It seemed a long time before the door slid open. Mota stood in the doorway.
'I'm closed,' he said. 'Even I need my rest. Come back tomorrow.'
Holding out a hand, Qui-Gon used the Force to keep the door open.
Mota stared at the door, then at Qui-Gon. He shrugged.
'On the other hand, why should I turn down business?' he asked. He turned and disappeared into the warehouse.
The Jedi followed him. They knew the way down the ramp to the lower levels where Mota kept his stash of black-market items.
Mota was waiting. Instead of the Worker unisuit he had worn to do business, he was now dressed in a sleep tunic, his white legs thrust into a threadbare pair of slippers.
'What is it this time, Jedi? Another probe droid? Did you lose another one? You have the worst luck of anyone I've ever met.'
'We want information,' Qui-Gon said.
Mota eyed him. 'Information has a price, too.'
Obi-Wan saw his Master's frustration boil over. He had never seen Qui-Gon this angry before.
'The price will be that I do not break apart every item in this warehouse,' Qui-Gon said, taking a step toward Mota.
The man suddenly looked frail in his nightshirt next to Qui-Gon's size and strength. 'N-now, relax, we're all friends here,' he stuttered.
'I'm not your friend, and I'm not here to relax!' Qui-Gon thundered.
'I'm here to find out why my droids were reprogrammed. And you have the answer.'
Mota backed up until a table was between him and Qui-Gon.
'I'm not sure what you mean,' he said.
Obi-Wan spoke quickly, wanting to give Qui-Gon a moment to control his anger. If he could control it. Obi- Wan's worry increased. This was a Qui-Gon he had never seen. Qui-Gon's sense of urgency had always been controlled. If anger came, it came in flashes of lightning that left serenity behind.
'We know that the probe droids were reprogrammed, Mota,' Obi-Wan said in a calmer tone. 'They never went after Balog at all. Instead they attacked two other beings. The question is, did you do it?'
Mota swallowed. 'It wasn't me,' he said quickly. 'I don't know who it was. Someone broke into my files. I have a warning system built in, so I knew the next time I accessed them.'
'When?' Qui-Gon asked.
'Within hours after you left,' Mota said. 'I don't know how. Or who.
You can't trust anyone these days.'
'How did the security forces know that Qui-Gon had bought those droids?' Obi-Wan asked.
'They asked me,' Mota said in a small voice. 'All my droids are coded. They tracked the droids here. I told them the Jedi Qui-Gon had bought them. I had to tell the truth. You wouldn't want me to land in jail, would you?' Mota tried to smile.
Qui-Gon gave him an even stare. Mota backed up even farther. 'Ah, I guess I should have mentioned to the officers that I suspected the droids were reprogrammed. But when speaking to security officers, it's better not to answer questions they don't ask. They might have gone through all my files. I wouldn't be able to protect my clients. And I would be out of business. Nobody wants that. You might need another probe droid, for example — '
'We need access to your computers,' Obi-Wan said brusquely. 'Right now.'
'Of course, help yourself.' Mota hurriedly pointed to his datascreen.
'Just don't erase any profits, heh heh.'
Qui-Gon immediately began clicking keys and accessing datafiles. 'Did you try to trace the break-in?'
'No,' Mota admitted. 'I'm not that advanced. I just know how to track inventory and money.'
Qui-Gon continued to move through Mota's files with astonishing speed. Obi-Wan knew he was missing nothing. He could see the level of concentration on his Master's face.
Qui-Gon hit a few keys, activating a search mode Obi-Wan didn't recognize. Within seconds, he got a reply.
'Do you recognize this code?' he asked, pointing to the datascreen.
Mota leaned closer. 'It's the Worker data address,' he said. 'It's already in my files.' 'Who uses it?' Qui-Gon asked.
Mota's face was tinged blue from the data-screen. 'Irini and Lenz,'
he said.
