Qui Gon's eyes narrowed. His thoughts ran rapidly. "I didn't start it," Xanatos would always say whenever a fight broke out between him and another apprentice. His blue eyes would blaze with sincerity and sorrow. And like a father, Qui Gon would always try and believe him.
Leila turned and looked at Xanatos.
He looked at her.
Her gaze was unreadable. It was neither accusing…nor gentle.
VeerTa's hands curled into fists. She let out a choked shout and threw herself at Xanatos.
Without seeming to move, Qui Gon between them, holding VeerTa off. It would do no good to attack Xanatos. Qui Gon knew first hand how fierce and volatile a fighter he was.
VeerTa struggled against Qui Gon's iron grip. "You did this!" she spat at Xanatos. "You'll pay for it!"
Leila pierced Xanatos with her sharp violet eyes. "What do you have to say, Xanatos?" she asked quietly.
Xanatos was pale. "I assure you, Offworld had nothing to do with this. I'm confident that the facts will prove this…"
"Enough of you lies!" shouted VeerTa.
"Let us be calm," SonTag said urgently. "VeerTa, we must get to the mine. They'll need our help."
"Yes, the miners," said VeerTa. She rushed from the room with SonTag and Clat'Ha.
Qui Gon looked at Leila. "Stay here."
"No," said Leila. "They need help."
"Leila, I cannot watch you down there," said Qui Gon. "The wreckage is still dangerous."
"But…"
"You will stay here," said Qui Gon firmly. "Out of the way…"
"I'll stay with her," said Xanatos.
Qui Gon looked at him. Instantly, he thought of dragging Leila down to the wreck with him.
Leila looked at him as well. She calmed slightly. "Very well." She looked at her Father. "If Xanatos will stay with me, I will stay."
Qui Gon's eyes narrowed and darkened as he glared at Xanatos.
Leila touched his arm. "Go."
Qui Gon's thoughts where dark as even as he helped stack dead bodies in the yard. He had seen the effects of explosions before. They were always terrible. Lives were lost, bodies maimed, sprits broken. But his mind was only half on what was before him. He couldn't believe he had left his daughter with…he sighed.
The explosion had touched off in one of the tunnels. The main administration building was completely destroyed, as well as the dwellings surrounding the mine.
Obi Wan was sitting on the transport when the news exploded over the intercom about what had happened at the mine. He went pale. He turned to the man sitting next to him. "Did we just come from…"
The man was pale. "Yeah. If we had stayed another hour there, we would be dead."
Obi Wan's hands where shaking as he pulled the comlink from his pocket.
Leila went to the window and watched as her Father disappeared amid the wreckage. "Did you do this?" she asked calmly.
"No," said Xanatos.
At last she turned and faced him. She studied him for a long moment. "For some reason, I almost believe you."
"You believe me because I had nothing to do with it."
"Are you going to help them with this?" asked Leila. "The costs to rebuild…"
"I will certainly help," said Xanatos.
Just then Leila's comlink vibrates. She continued looking at Xanatos for a long moment. Then she reached into her robes. "Hello?"
"Are you alright?"
Leila smiled slightly.
Xanatos pulled his own comlink and moved to the door.
Leila listened.
"…accident has occurred. There was a massive explosion. What can we do to help…" He disappeared into the hall.
"Yes, Obi Wan, I'm fine," she said hurriedly. "And I've got to go."
"Call me later."
"I will."
Leila put the comlink away and went back to the window. She looked out and down. It wasn't far to the ground. She grabbed the sill and swung herself out. She dropped quietly to the ground and landed lightly in a swirl of her black robes.
Qui Gon was covered with dust and blood as he entered one of the untouched buildings with VeerTa. Clat'Ha was right behind him.
"Our dream is dead," said VeerTa.
"No," said Clat'Ha, her voice filled with determination. "That's what they want. We can rebuild."
The door opened and Qui Gon turned. Instantly he was on his feet. "What the…"
Leila came through. She was dusty and her hair was coming down from its braid. Xanatos was behind her, just as dusty.
Leila eased herself into the chair next to her Father.
Qui Gon shot Xanatos a glare and bent over her. "Are you alright?"
"Of course. Tired, but alright," said Leila. In truth, she had never seen anything like what she had seen out there. All that death in one place. The mangled and bloody bodies she had seen floated in front of her.
"I thought you where going to stay with her and keep her inside!" exploded Qui Gon at Xanatos.
"It's not his fault," said Leila. "I came out the window.
Qui Gon was aghast. "Out the window…"
"I came in from talking with my superior and she was gone," said Xanatos. "It was only by chance I found her working among the wreckage. It was a good thing she was wearing all black or I never would have found her."
The door opened again and SonTag entered. She too had helped at the mine. "We have news of the cause," she announced quietly.
The whole room went quiet.
SonTag looked at Xanatos. "It wasn't Offworld. There was a mixture of gases in a sub-level tunnel."
VeerTa half rose to her feet. "Impossible!" she cried. "We have sensors…"
"The sensor was inoperative," said SonTag. "Strictly a mechanical failure. The engineers are certain of it."
Qui Gon was staring at Xanatos.
Xanatos met his gaze for a long moment. Then he turned to Leila, pressed a note into her hand and slipped quietly from the room.
Only the two Jedi noticed him leaving.
Leila stared after him for a long moment, then opened and read the note.
The others where staring at SonTag in disbelief. "So its our fault?" asked VeerTa numbly.
SonTag nodded and spread her hands. "Mechanical failure is one of the hazards of mining."
Qui Gon wasn't so sure. Something was far from right here.
Leila rose slowly to her feet and held up the note. "Xanatos has offered the resources of Offworld to help rebuild the mine. Money, droids, anything you will need. Plus, he'll house any displaced workers in Offworld housing."
So he was sincere," said VeerTa in surprise.
Qui Gon was greatly disturbed by that news. His eyes narrowed. If this was a trap, it was a costly, elaborate one. Were the stakes so high for Xanatos? Surely he wouldn't go through all this trouble just to get revenge on Qui Gon. The site of the meeting had been moved at the last minute. The main building had been completely destroyed. If SonTag hadn't changed her mind, they would all be dead. Qui Gon's face went pale as that thought dawned on him. Xanatos was playing a game. Qui Gon only wishes he knew what the goal of the fame was. He was sure of one thing though: when it came to Xanatos, games had no rules.