"Yes," Qui-Gon agreed. "Let's find UniFy. We must move as quickly as we can."
They left the dome and started down
the main boulevard. The streets were strangely
deserted. Qui-Gon imagined that most
of the population was in the Katharsis Dome.
Did they suspend work during Katharsis
days?
He and Obi-Won passed a large, impressive
building with blue-veined stone
columns in front. A silver plaque read
THE XANATOS INSTITUTE FOR HEALING.
"He has certainly made his mark," Qui-Gon murmured.
"Look at the library across the street,"
Obi-Wan said, pointing. "He funded that as
well."
"The problem will not be finding him,
obviously," Qui-Gon said. "The challenge will be
to expose him for what he really is.
The people love him. He has made sure of that.
He has protected himself better by
staying in the open than by hiding."
Obi-Wan scanned a sign that announced
that Xanatos was providing the funds to
restore a large city park. "He must
have a reason behind all this," he observed.
"He always has a reason," Qui-Gon agreed.
"Naturally he wants to exert influence on
Telos. But that is too broad a goal
for him. We shall have to discover exactly what he
intends."
"Hey, genius guys!"
They turned to see Den heading for them.
"I thought you might need help finding
UniFy," he said. "I realized that there's
no sign on the building."
"What about your lottery?" Obi-Wan asked. "Isn't today your lucky day?"
"All my days are lucky, kid," Den said,
falling into step next to them. "But I don't get a
chance to do a good deed often enough."
"We were just noticing all the buildings
Xanatos has built in Thani," Qui-Gon
remarked. "He has been a true benefactor."
Den waved an arm. "In the past few years
he's supported parks, libraries, med
centers, the big healing institute
— he's made a fortune in mining throughout the
galaxy, but he doesn't hoard it. He
spreads it around. That's more than any of those
lottery winners will do, let me tell
you."
They passed one of the pale blue information
kiosks. Qui-Gon glanced at the
information board on the front. To
his shock, he saw his own face.
"Is this the main park in Thani?" he
asked Den, sweeping an arm to the opposite
side of the street where a path beckoned
beneath spreading trees.
Den turned away, as Qui-Gon had hoped
he would. "No, it's one of the smaller ones.
The largest is on the east side of
the city."
The diversion gave Qui-Gon enough time
to study the notice on the wall. After his
picture faded on the screen, Obi-Wan's
appeared. WANTED. GALACTIC
CRIMINALS. REWARD. He read the words
in a flash.
So that was why the security police hadn't given up!
There could only be one explanation:
Xanatos. He had arranged this. Now Qui-Gon
understood his smile. He knew that
it was only a matter of time before Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan were captured.
Even as he walked and exchanged conversation
with Den, Qui-Gon's mind sifted
through his options. Being on the street
was not safe. Luckily, most people were in
the Katharsis Dome, or they would have
run the risk of being recognized. They
needed to find somewhere safe, and
then find a way to disguise themselves.
Qui-Gon raised his hood. It would conceal
his face somewhat. "It's getting chilly," he
remarked.
"We're almost there," Den replied.
He led them a few blocks on. A tall
gray tower was surrounded by a high polished
gate of bronze metal.
"Well, here we are. Do you have an appointment?"
Den asked. "They won't let you in
without an ID tag. It's top security."
Qui-Gon eyed the sleek façade
of the building. There were no windows and there
appeared to be only one entrance. Once
they got in, they would have to get out the
same way.
"Our appointment is for tomorrow," he said. "We just wanted to see where it was."
"Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
Den asked. "I live in a place where you can
rent guest rooms. It's close to here."
Qui-Gon hesitated. It had not slipped
his notice that Den seemed to appear
whenever they needed help. He did not
sense danger from him, but he was still wary.
But an uneasiness that had nothing to
do with Den had been ticking away inside him.
Obi-Wan was now a wanted criminal.
They had barely been on Telos an hour, and
already the situation had escalated
out of control. Qui Gon had felt sure back on
Coruscant that if events got out of
hand, he would be able to order Obi-Wan back to
the Temple. Now the boy was traped
on the planet. He would not be able to pass
through security in order to leave.
He had brought the boy into danger.
He had done it with his eyes open. Guilt pierced
him. He had to protect Obi-Wan now.
He could not let his passion for bringing
Xanatos to justice interfere with the
boy's safety.
"Well, come along and have a look, at
least," Den urged in a friendly way. "I'm only a
few blocks away."
Qui-Gon nodded. He could see that Obi-Wan
looked tired, and suddenly reflected
that the boy had not eaten a bite since
breakfast. Obi-Wan needed rest and food. He
could find that for him at least.
He would trust his instincts. Den might
be a gambler, but he didn't seem like such a
bad character.
Den turned off the main road and led
them down an alley that twisted behind the
buildings. The structures grew more
modest as they entered a residential area. Den
led them to a shabby building painted
in various shades of green, blue and red.
"My landlady is paying me to paint the
place, but she can't decide on a color," he
explained with a grin.
He opened the door and ushered them
into a small anteroom. "Riva?" he called
toward the back of the house. "I brought
guests. Paying guests." He leaned closer to
them. "That will bring her on the run."
As if on cue, Qui-Gon heard the soft sound of running feet.
Den grinned broadly. "See what I mean?"
"That's coming from outside." Qui-Gon
strode to the window and moved the curtain a
fraction to look at the street outside.
Security police were racing silently
down the street. An officer signaled for them to
surround the building.
Qui-Gon's hand fell onto the hilt of
his lightsaber. His instincts had been off. Den had
betrayed them. He had led them into
a trap.
