The three Jedi was quiet.
Then Leila rose to her feet. "There's the harbor."
"We have to get that transmitter," said Obi Wan. "I promised Guerra."
Qui Gon nodded and they bounded off the boat and headed toward the Offworld security office.
"Do you have a plan?" asked Obi Wan suspiciously.
"We don't have time for a plan," said Qui Gon. He raised his booted foot and planted it right in the middle of the door. It crashed open.
Leila's eyes where wide.
The three guards looked up in surprise.
Leila smiled beautifully and drew her lightsaber.
Three blasters raised.
Leila's purple blade flashed.
Three blasters clattered to the floor and three guards clutched their wrists and howled with pain.
"Transmitters, please," Qui Gon remarked pleasantly. When they hesitated, he casually brought his lightsaber down on the power terminal. It sizzled and collapsed into a molten heap.
The three guards exchanged frightened glances. Then they threw down their transmitters and dashed out the door.
"It's so nice when it's easy," said Qui Gon. He bent down and picked up the transmitters. Striding back onto the dock, he threw two in the sea. Then he pressed the button on the third. "Guerra is free," he said. "Now, let's see if we can get those collars off your necks."
Leila frowned. "I'm not sure…"
"Come here," ordered Qui Gon.
Slowly Leila stepped forward
Qui Gon paced his large hands around the collar, searching for a catch or seam. He could not break the collar, or twist it apart. He studied it for a moment. Then he drew his lightsaber.
"Like hell!" snapped Leila, jumping back.
"Leila."
"Hell no!"
"Come here."
"There's no way…"
Qui Gon's hand shot out and he wrapped it around Leila's small arm and hauled her over to him. She struggled. "Leila, hold still." He pierced her through with his blue eyes. "Trust me."
"I do,' said Leila. "But you never know…"
Qui Gon carefully lowered the power on his blade and set it against the collar. But it couldn't cut it. At last he lowered his blade. "I need a high power and that would injure you."
"Or behead her," Obi Wan pointed out, grinning.
Leila shot him a dark look.
Qui Gon smiled briefly. "We'll just have to find a way to get it off in Bandor." He tossed the transmitter to Obi Wan. "You'd better keep this until it's off."
Obi Wan tucked the transmitter inside his robes. "What now?"
Qui Gon's blue eyes gleamed. "Xanatos."
"We need to get back to Bandor," said Leila. She looked around. Then her eyes landed on an Offworld security landspeeder. "Let's go." She ran over to it and slid into the driver's seat. She powered it up.
Qui Gon out into the front seat and Obi Wan jumped into the back.
The landspeeder roared toward the city in the distance. As they neared the outskirts, Obi Wan saw a dot on the horizon.
"Someone's heading this way," he said.
"I know," said Leila grimly. "It's Xanatos."
"Are you sure?" asked Obi Wan.
"Yes." The Force was darkening the closer he got, Leila noted.
Within minuets, a speeder bike was upon them. They didn't even need to see the black cloak to know who was piloting it.
"He's in no mood to chat, Leila," said Qui Gon. "Go!"
"He's got laser cannons!" shouted Obi Wan.
Leila twisted the wheel and the speeder shot sideways. The blast from the cannon missed them by mere inches. "So I see." She wheeled the landspeeder again and shot upwards right over Xanatos's head.
He whirled and fired.
Leila dove and reversed in one smooth move and came up right behind him. Then she swung it sideways sharply. The jolt nearly sent Obi Wan flying out.
"Hang on," said Qui Gon.
Leila sped ahead, as low to the ground as she dared go. She kicked up a dust clod that blinded Xanatos. She shot out of the cloud. Just before she had kicked up the dust cloud, she had spotted mining towers ahead. It was the Home Planet Mine. She hoped fervently that there would miners there. Clat'Ha was her best hope. She shot into the yard but no one was there. Everyone was in the mine, she realized, working to repair it.
"You did well," said Qui Gon as he jumped out his side. "Master Yoda would be proud."
Obi Wan jumped out as well.
Leila rose and stood in her seat, her already ignited lightsaber glowing brightly.
"Leila!" shouted Obi Wan. "Get down!"
Qui Gon turned. "Leila!"
Xanatos roared into the yard and aimed straight for Leila at top speed.
Leila sprang into the air and dealt Xanatos a hard blow that sent him spinning almost out of control. Btu the impact sent her spinning backwards. She landed gracefully. But knew she couldn't fight Xanatos while he was on that vehicle.
Xanatos turned and roared back toward them.
Leila held her lightsaber with blow hands and gathered the Force around.
Qui Gon grabbed her around the waist and hauled her backwards. "Into the mines, Obi Wan!" he shouted. He knew they had no choice. He carried Leila with him as they dashed into the mine. She wasn't eating enough, he thought absentmindedly as he tossed her in front of him with a careless effort.
Leila turned, her face was pale. "We're doing it."
"Doing what?" asked Obi Wan.
Qui Gon realized what she was saying and turned. He went cold with the knowledge of what he had just done.
They where doing exactly what Xanatos had planned for them to do. They were playing his game.
"The back of the tunnel," said Qui Gon. "Go."
Leila and Obi Wan ran after him.
"Where are we going?" asked Obi Wan softly.
"There's another lift tube," said Qui Gon. "It should be fixed by now. Xanatos wouldn't know that. We have to get out of here." A nameless dread tugged at him as they went deeper into the mine. He frowned as he peered ahead. "VeerTa said this tunnel was completely blocked. Why…"
"Father!" cried Leila. "Wait!"
Suddenly, a shadow detached itself from the wall. Xanatos stood in front of him. "You make so many mistakes, Qui Gon," he said.
Behind him, Qui Gon heard the hums of Obi Wan and Leila's lightsaber.
"Which one of you shall I kill fist?" murmured Xanatos. "Leila, I will of course keep alive. She's beautiful and can be tamed. But which of you shall I kill first? You…or your clumsy boy?"
Leila stiffened and began sinking into darkness. The violet light faded from her eyes and replaced by blackness. Vaapad was even stronger in the dark.
Obi Wan lunged forward fiercely. He leaped onto a mining cart, which rolled toward Xanatos. At the last moment, Obi Wan sprang off. He flew over Xanatos' head striking down with his lightsaber as he did so.
Qui Gon and Leila both heard the flesh on Xanatos' hand sizzle. Xanatos almost dropped his lightsaber but caught it with his other hand.
Obi Wan landed and whirled, facing Xanatos. "Don't call me clumsy," he said.