Covered with grime, the Jedi wearily made their way to the governor's palace. There, they found SonTag in conference with VeerTa and Clat'Ha.

Leila and Obi Wan collapsed on cushions from sheer exhaustion.

"There was an emergency evacuation at the mine," SonTag told them, frowning worriedly. "Yet our sensors show nothing wrong."

"We just replaced and double-checked them yesterday," added Clat'Ha

"And we also received word that Offworld had a problem on their deep-sea mining platform," VeerTa said. "The miners electro collars all malfunctioned. They revolted and abandoned the mine. Their leader, Guerra, said to tell you he's okay."

Obi Wan and Leila exchanged weary smiles. Guerra was at last free.

"Not that we sympathize with Offworld," Clat'Ha said with a grin. "It's a good thing. Those miners were slaves. But why are we all having sensor malfunction?"

"Equipment failure is not your only problem," Qui Gon told them. "I'm afraid I have a more painful failure to reveal." Quickly he told them what had happened the mine.

"So Xanatos was behind the first explosion," SonTag said, grief in her eyes. "If only we hadn't trusted him."

"I knew we shouldn't have!" VeerTa spat out, her eyes flashing.

Clat'Ha was watching Qui Gon. "What do you mean when you say you must reveal a more painful failure?" she asked suddenly.

Leave it to Clat'Ha to jump to the next step, Qui Gon thought admiringly. He studied her for a long moment. What a Jedi she would have made.

"Someone close to you has betrayed you," Leila said quietly.

"They are in league with Xanatos. They betrayed Bandomeer for personal gain and told him about the ionite," said Qui Gon.

VeerTa went pale. "but who would do such a thing?"

Qui Gon's gaze remained on her.

Slowly her paleness was replaced with a flush of color.

Clat'Ha followed his eyes. "VeerTa?"

"It was good for Bandomeer!" VeerTa cried. "That's what he told me. If Offworld was secretly behind the Home Planet Mine, it was sure to be profitable."

"Did you really think he would allow us to own the mine?" Clat'Ha asked her furiously.

"There is something else," said Qui Gon. He told them of Xanatos' back up plan with the scattered black boxes. "Somebody helped him smuggle those boxes into the domes."

"He said it was mining equipment for future operations," whispered VeerTa.

"Bandomeer was almost destroyed," SonTag said, her voice sharp as the edge of a vibroable. "If it weren't for the Jedi…"

"There was no way I could have known!" cried VeerTa. "Why would Xanatos destroy Bandomeer? He would have destroyed his own profits!"

Qui Gon said nothing. He knew that if there was one thing stronger than greed, it was revenge. Xanatos had plotted for this very day. He had used VeerTa. He knew that Qui Gon would have died knowing he had been unable to save countless lives. It was the most painful death Xanatos could have arranged for him. Qui Gon would have died, unable to save the thousands living on Bandomeer, or Obi Wan…or his own daughter. Qui Gon realized he had underestimated Xanatos once again. He had not realized that his former apprentice was just as much a slave to the past as he was. No, Qui Gon corrected himself. His own past no longer held him. He would leave it buried on Bandomeer.

Clat'Ha rose and moved stiffly away, as though she could no longer breathe the same air as VeerTa. "Where is Xanatos now?" she asked Qui Gon.

Qui Gon was lost in thought.

"He has escaped," said Leila. "His plans where already made. He thought he would be leaving a destroyed planet."

"Perhaps he is at Offworld's home base," said VeerTa.

Ckat'Ha shot her a look of disgust. "No one knows where that is. Mark this, VeerTa. You will pay for your crime. Your friend will not."

"Yes," said Leila. "He will."

Gurra had come to see Obi Wan.

Leila and Qui Gon waited in the hallway.

"Will he come back with us?" Leila asked softly.

Qui Gon looked at her for a long moment. "I don't know."

Leila looked at him stricken.

Qui Gon glanced at her and then moved off down the hall.