The current swept them toward the pipes. As they got closer, they felt themselves being sucked along even faster. Now the danger would lie in being slammed up against the filters.
As they approached the pipes, Adi motioned to them to fight the current. Waving their arms to slow their pace, they managed to gently bump against the giant filter. Already Qui-Gon had reached for his vibrocutter.
He and Adi went to work as their Padawans hung on to the grates.
Quickly, they sliced a hole in the filters and motioned their Padawans through first. Immediately after entering the pipe, they were sucked along by the action of the water, bumping on the sides of the pipe, turning and tumbling until Qui-Gon did not know which way was up. His shoulder wound cried out at the twisting motion. By the time he spilled out into a giant tank, he was overcome with dizziness.
He felt Obi-Wan touch his shoulder. His Padawan had noticed his distress. Qui-Gon nodded to let Obi-Wan know he was all right even as he fought his queasiness.
They quickly swam to the side of the tank and swung themselves up and over the side. They were in a large viaduct made of stone. Banks of equipment surrounded the tank. Further on the water was treated, but here, machines took random samplings of its quality.
Adi pointed to a tech console nearby. While Adi, Obi-Wan, and Siri kept watch, Qui-Gon pressed buttons and levers until a long panel slid open. A storage unit held vials of water samples, labeled by date.
"We'll never get out the same way," Qui-Gon said to Adi as he tucked the samples into his tunic. "We'll have to find some tech jackets and pose as workers."
She nodded. "There's got to be a supply closet."
Suddenly, a red light on the console pulsed. A few seconds later, they heard the sound of approaching droids. "I think it's time to leave,"
Qui-Gon said, reaching for his lightsaber. "Let's do this quickly, before the Belascan guards arrive."
The guard droids wheeled around the corner, blasters held high. The Jedi charged as one spinning block, lightsabers in constant motion. Qui-Gon took out two droids with one stroke. Adi flipped over the group and attacked from behind. Siri went down on one knee and came up with a mighty swing that knocked one droid over and cut the other in two. Obi-Wan went for the droids on Qui-Gon's left side, slicing the top off of one droid and burying his lightsaber in the control panel of the other.
In just seconds, it was over.
"Belascan guards will be here soon," Qui-Gon said, breathing heavily.
"Never mind getting out quietly. Let's just get out."
Together, he and Adi cut a hole in the durasteel exit door with their lightsabers. A siren began to clang. With the noise ringing in their ears, the Jedi leaped through the hole in the door and raced for the high fence.
Qui-Gon reached out for the Force. He needed it desperately if he were to make it over that fence. He heard blaster fire ping near his ear.
Obi-Wan and Siri sailed over the fence, clearing it by several centimeters.
He saw that Adi had slowed her pace to make sure that he would be able to clear it.
With a mighty effort, Qui-Gon forced his tired muscles to cooperate.
His feeling of the Force surged, helping his leap. Still, he slammed against the top of the fence and had to haul himself over by hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Adi sail over.
Qui-Gon landed heavily and a little off balance. He raced for the treeline. He ignored the blaster fire behind him, counting on Adi to expertly divert any fire that came too close.
He reached the safety of the trees and glanced back. "They are not following. They don't have to. They know who we are."
Adi tucked her lightsaber back into her belt. "It won't take long before Min K'atel orders us off the planet. I think we just wore out our welcome."
Chapter 18
Qui-Gon leaned against the trunk of a tree, his eyes closed, as Adi ran the samples through an analyzer and then sent the data to Tahl.
Obi-Wan approached him and sat down gingerly. He knew that Qui-Gon did not want him to speak. But he was worried.
"You have not regained your strength, Master," he said quietly. "Are you sure that — " He stopped. Qui-Gon had opened one eye. That was enough to stop his voice in his throat.
"Winna Di Uni told me it would take time," Qui-Gon said. "It is doing so." He closed his eyes. "Do not worry, Padawan. This will be over soon.
Then I will rest."
Obi-Wan nodded, even though Qui-Gon did not see him. He had observed his Master tired and in pain before, but never so diminished. It was a strange feeling. If Qui-Gon could weaken, any Jedi was vulnerable.
Adi's comlink signaled, and she quickly pressed the holo function.
Tahl appeared.
"The bacteria have been bioengineered," she said without any preliminaries. "It has been cleverly done. The measures taken to restrain it actually caused it to grow."
Qui-Gon sat up, alert. "Can you tell the scientists here how to control it?"
"They already know," Tahl said. "A scientific research company on Belasco announced a discovery just a few hours ago. They now know how to neutralize the bacteria. They also have found a way to treat those who are already sick. They will make a fortune."
"A fortune," Obi-Wan repeated softly. "And a piece of a fortune was offered to Ona Nobis if she came back."
Adi leaned toward Tahl. "Can you trace the company back to — "
"Zan Arbor Industries? I already have," Tahl said.
Siri slapped a hand on her leg. "We've got her." "Now we have to find her," Adi said.
"I'll be standing by," Tahl said, and her image faded.
Qui-Gon stood. "Let's head back to the royal grounds. I'm certain the answer is there."
The sun was lowering as the Jedi hurried through back streets toward the palace gates.
Streams of Belascan citizens were heading there as well. They realized quickly that news had spread about the discovery. The people were gathering to celebrate. They would have plenty of cover.