Before he could answer Obi-Wan, more droids wheeled around the corner behind them. They felt a warming in the Force before the blaster fire began. Once again, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had to use every particle of concentration to defeat the agile droids. The blaster fire seemed to come from everywhere.
The droids were between them and the data center. Rage filled Qui-Gon at the delay. Every second that passed meant that Balog would have a chance to escape.
He charged at the droids, swinging his lightsaber in a constant arc, hardly noticing when blaster fire zinged near his ears or barely missed an arm or hand. He savagely swung at the droids, destroying one after another.
Obi-Wan tried to protect him as best he could, but even he could not keep up with the fierceness of Qui- Gon's attack.
Qui-Gon broke through the line of droids, kicking one aside and cleaving it in two. He had always thought that giving in to rage would make him sloppy. Instead, he felt precise. He felt powerful. His rage filled him with purpose.
The droids were defeated, in pieces, smoking around him. He dashed ahead.
'Qui-Gon, wait!'
But he ignored his Padawan. He could not wait.
With this new sharpness of mind, he remembered the exact location of the data room. He did not hesitate but threw open the door. He could hear Obi-Wan only steps behind him, and he felt a stab of disappointment. He wished Obi-Wan had stayed behind.
He wanted to meet Balog alone.
The squat, powerful man sat at a tech console. He spun around in his chair, a look of surprise on his face. So Eritha had not been able to reach him.
Qui-Gon took in the small dark eyes, the small pursed mouth, the round head. He focused his hatred on this man. Here was the man who had watched Tahl's health deteriorate slowly, day by agonizing day, and felt nothing. Here was the man who had not recognized that he was slowly crushing an extraordinary spirit.
This little, evil man.
The injustice of it staggered Qui-Gon. This man was alive. Tahl was dead. His vision blurred at the emotion that roared inside him.
Balog rose, kicking his chair out of his way. He reached for the blaster on his belt.
Qui-Gon smiled.
Obi-Wan stood next to him, his lightsaber held in a defensive stance, waiting for Balog to make the first move.
With one hand, Balog reached over to activate the comm unit on the tech console. 'I need help in the data center. Send attack droids — '
With a casual gesture, Qui-Gon buried his lightsaber in the console.
Sparks flew, and smoke curled from the circuits.
Balog fired. Obi-Wan sprang forward to deflect it.
The blaster fire was nothing to Qui-Gon. It was merely a momentary barrier between himself and Balog. Balog was his prey. A collection of skin and muscles and bones that must be brought down in a heap.
His lightsaber moved like a trick of light, so fast that each stroke was a memory. It was so easy to deflect Balog's pathetic fire. Panic rose in Balog's eyes and made him clumsy. He dropped his blaster. He tried to run, but his legs tangled in the chair he had kicked away. He fell with a crash to the floor.
At last, Qui-Gon's enemy lay at his feet, just as he'd imagined. He stood over Balog, his lightsaber high, prepared for the stroke that would bring him so much satisfaction.
'No, Qui-Gon.'
The voice seemed to come from far away, yet it was so close to his ear. It confused him.
He turned and met Obi-Wan's eyes. He felt he was seeing him from a great distance. Confusion swept over him.
Then it was as though clouds parted, and clarity came. He saw so much in a moment. In his Padawan's steady glance he saw both fear and compassion.
He was no longer far away. The distance compressed, and he was in the same room with Obi-Wan. Qui- Gon returned to himself, and saw how far he had gone. The dark side had risen in his blood. He had known it and encouraged it. Shaking, he deactivated his lightsaber and tucked it back in his belt.
He had come close to taking a life out of revenge. Only he would know how close. He would never forget it. He would never allow himself to forget it.
Balog closed his eyes in relief. Obi-Wan stood over him and reached for his comlink as Mace and Bant entered the room.
Chapter 18
The four Jedi stood on the landing platform high above the city of New Apsolon. Qui-Gon looked down at the stately gray buildings, the curving streets and wide boulevards. From high above it was easy to tell where the grand Civilized Sector began and the smaller, twisting neighborhoods of the Workers ended.
Manex had lent them the finest consular ship on New Apsolon, as well as his personal pilot. Tahl's body had been loaded aboard in a small room fragrant with native flowers. The Jedi would accompany her on her last journey back to the Temple.
