"I left him at the food hall," Qui-Gon said. "I am sure he's on his second helping by now."
"No news have you?" Yoda asked. "Concerned we are about Didi. A scoundrel he may be, but a friend to the Temple he is."
"I am sorry to report that things are worse rather than better," Qui-Gon said. Quickly, he filled them in on the murder of Fligh and the attack on Astri and Didi.
"Fligh's body was drained of blood?" Tahl frowned. "That sounds familiar."
"There have been a half dozen similar cases on Coruscant over the past year," Qui-Gon said. "Mostly drifters, beings with no ties to anyone."
"Yes, I know that," Tahl said. "It is something else." Her frown deepened. "There is one more thing. I did some more investigating on your bounty hunter. It seems she is a master of disguise. She uses wigs, synth-flesh, prosthetics. that is how she moves about undetected."
"I am not surprised to hear it," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan saw her turn from an elderly man back into a young woman."
"Say you did that Fligh stole a data pad from a Senator," Yoda said. "Who?"
"Someone I did not know," Qui-Gon said. "Senator Uta S'orn from the planet Belasco."
"By the way, I contacted the security police," Tahl told him. "Senator S'orn never reported the theft. It might not be significant. The Senate is full of petty thieves. I'm sure many thefts do not get reported. Still, I thought I'd mention it. Senator S'orn also announced her resignation today. She said it was for personal reasons."
"Know Senator S'orn, I do," Yoda said. "Several talks she had with the Jedi."
Startled, Qui-Gon turned to Yoda. "About what?"
"A son she had," Yoda continued. "Ren S'orn. Force-sensitive, he was. Accepted him for training, we did. Part with him, his mother could not. Harness the Force, understand it, he could not. Wandered he did through the galaxy."
Tahl gave a sharp intake of breath. "Of course," she whispered. Yoda nodded.
"What is it?" Qui-Gon asked, leaning forward urgently. He saw that Yoda and Tahl knew something important.
"Ren became a lost being, a drifter," Tahl said. "He lost contact with his mother. At last she came to us for help. Several teams of Jedi were sent to find him and help him. He rejected them."
"Hoped we did that he would reach out one day," Yoda said. "Feared we did that he would use the Force for evil. Yet the Force merely confused and angered him. Different he was. Different he did not want to be. Peace he could not find."
"Such a tragedy," Tahl said. "He could not find a way to flourish. He could not find a place that felt like home. So as it often happens he fell in with bad companions. We received word that he had been killed."
"Not long ago, it was," Yoda said. "Six months, I think. On Simpla-12."
"This is sad news," Qui-Gon said. "But why is it significant?"
"Because of the manner of his death," Tahl said quietly. "Ren had been strangled. And his body had been drained of blood."
Chapter 11
Obi-Wan saw at once from Qui-Gon's grim face that he would not get to savor his tart. He scrambled to his feet.
"I am sorry, Padawan. But it is time to go," Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan snatched up the tart and wolfed it down while they walked. Qui-Gon checked out a speeder from the transport pool. Within seconds, they were heading back toward the Senate building.
It was late evening, and the air lanes still buzzed with traffic. The glow lights made the buildings and walkways blaze as bright as daylight. Beings strolled below them, crowding the restaurants and walkways.
"What did Yoda and Tahl say?" Obi-Wan asked, swallowing the last bite of his tart.
"I don't have a clear picture yet," Qui-Gon told him. "But somehow Senator S'orn is either connected to Fligh's death or involved in it. Her son died the same way Fligh did." Qui-Gon explained the story of Ren's confused life and tragic death.
"But what does that have to do with Didi?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Maybe nothing." Qui-Gon guided the transport along the crowded air space surrounding the Senate.
"But it doesn't make sense," Obi-Wan said. "Her son died on another planet. And Didi has never met Senator S'orn."
"It doesn't make sense, true," Qui-Gon answered. "But it has to, somehow. We just have to figure out the connection."
Qui-Gon left the speeder in the Senate landing area. He strode into the Senate building. The usually crowded hallways were almost empty. Their footsteps echoed on the slate floor.
"What makes you think she'll be here so late?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Because her resignation was announced," Qui-Gon answered. "No doubt she had a busy afternoon. And she seems the kind of Senator to work late. Most of them leave as soon as Senate business has concluded." Qui-Gon paused, then remarked, "The Senate is not what it was. And it is getting worse. It has lost one idealist after another."
They made their way to the Senator's office. The outer office was dark, but Qui-Gon knocked on the inner door.
"Come in."
They entered. Only one light was on in the office. Senator S'orn sat in a chair, staring out at the bright Coruscant night. "Yes?" she asked without turning.
Qui-Gon closed the door behind them. "We regret having to disturb you."
She spun the chair around and sighed. "It has been a day of disturbances. I didn't expect my announcement to cause such a stir. I guess there's not much else going on."
"I do not wish to bring up something that is no doubt painful for you," Qui-Gon said gently. "But is your son's death the reason you are leaving?"
Senator S'orn's face changed. Her features hardened and her lips thinned. "Yes, I know why you are here. I should have given him up for Temple training. I was selfish."
"No," Qui-Gon said quickly. "Not at all. Many parents choose to keep a Force-sensitive child. There are many paths in life. You make the best choice you can for your child."