The door to Leila's room opened and Qui Gon came out with Leila bundled up in his arms.
Clat'Ha found him coming down the hall. "Where are you going?"
"I'm taking her off the ship," Qui Gon said quietly. "Where's Obi Wan?"
"I don't know. But you must get her to high ground. The tide is coming in. And it may swamp the ship. The engines are down for repair and we may not be able to get them up in time."
"Where are we to go?"
"Into the hills," said Clat'Ha. "The crew found some caves up on higher ground. We must reach them before the sun is in the sky and the draigons are awake." Clat'Ha looked at Leila. "Did you find…"
"Yes," said Qui Gon. "She's got internal bleeding."
Clat'Ha looked at him for a long moment. "Is there anything we can do?" she asked softly.
"She needs dactyl," said Qui Gon quietly.
"You're kidding me."
"No," said Qui Gon. "Where's Jemba?"
"I don't know."
"How soon do the Arconans need dactyl?"
"Some of them are already beginning to fade. If they don't have any by tonight, they'll start to sicken and fade."
"So soon." Qui Gon sighed. He hosted Leila higher and glanced out the window. He frowned at what he saw. An odd yellow mist clouded his vision. He wasn't getting enough sleep. Suddenly, he blinked. A yellow haze…Realization sparked within him. "I need you to do something for me." He looked at her. "I'm going to leave Leila in your and Obi Wan's care. You must watch her. She's getting worse."
"Of course I'll stay with her. But…"
"I'm going to put her in a cave," said Qui Gon. "Keep The Hutts away from her."
"I will. But where are you going?"
"I think I may know where the dactyl is. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I'll come with you."
"No," said Qui Gon. "I need someone I trust to stay with my daughter."
"Obi Wan."
Obi Wan turned. He was standing in the largest of the caves.
Si Treemba was with him.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Obi Wan.
Carefully Qui Gon set Leila on the ground. "She has internal bleeding," he said quietly.
"What can we do?"
"Master Yoda told me we needed three chemicals." Qui Gon held up two bottles that contained two of them they needed.
Obi Wan looked at the two bottles, then at Qui Gon. "Where's the other?"
"It's dactyl."
Obi Wan sagged against the wall. "That's not good."
"No, it's not. But I think I may have found where Jemba hid the dactyl." Qui Gon knelt next to Leila. "Leila," he said softly. "Leila."
Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at him for a long moment. "I had a terrible dream," she whispered.
Qui Gon's heart broke for her.
"I dreamed I had fallen into dark water. There was no bottom. And there was no surface."
Qui Gon forced a slight smile. "Leila, you must listen to me."
Her violet eyes focused on his face. "You have to leave, don't you?"
"I do. I must go and find the dactyl. We need it make you better."
"Go."
Qui Gon looked at her for a long moment.
"Go now," she whispered. "The Arconans…they need it. Or they'll die."
Qui Gon leaned down and kissed her hot forehead. "I'll be back." He stood quickly and strode from the cave.
Obi Wan looked at Leila, then rushed after him. "Qui Gon."
Qui Gon turned.
"Hurry back."
Grelb the Hutt was watching through binoculars as Qui Gon climbed the hill right below him quickly and without tiring. He continued climbing, inching around a narrow ledge in order to reach the side of the mountain without being seen.
Grelb sighed. Ever since he had almost strangled that little Jedi boy to death, his troubles hadn't ended.
He would have gladly slithered after the Jedi and shot him, but he didn't dare do so with Jemba's permission. He reached down to his comm unit and pushed a button. In seconds, Jemba answered.
"What?"
"The Jedi Knight is heading up the mountain," Grelb said.
"Where is he going?" Jemba barked. He sounded frightened and for good reason. Stealing the dactyl with a Jedi Knight and two younger Jedi on board, was a dangerous thing for even him to do.
"I don't know. But I don't like it," Grelb answered.
Jemba hesitated only a moment. "Take some reinforcements with you and see that he doesn't return."