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by Dave Wolverton 

Dana 
 
Page 33-36   
    
Qui-Gon and Yoda talk  
   
Qui-Gon Jinn could not get the sight of Obi-Wan's despairing face out of his mind. The boy had struggled not to show it, but it was written on his every feature.   
    
Qui-Gon sat quietly in the star map room.  Among all the rooms in the Temple, this was his favourite.  A velvety blue ceiling curved above him in a dome.  The only light came from the stars and planets that surrounded him, pinpricks against the blue in all the glowing colors of the spectrum.  He had only to reach out a hand and touch   
a planet for a hologram to appear, detailing its physical properties, its surrounding satellites, and its form of government.   
    
Knowledge was so easily obtained here.  But when it came to the heart, so much was a mystery.   
    
Qui-Gon told himself that he had made the correct decision.  The only decision.  The boy fought well, but too fiercely.  There was danger there.   
    
"The boy is not my responsibility," Qui-Gon said aloud.   
    
"Certain are you?" Yoda asked from behind him.   
    
Qui-Gon turned, startled.  "I didn't hear you," he said politely.   
    
Yoda walked farther into the star map room.  "A dozen boys fought for you.  If you do not choose a Padawan today, the dreams of at least one of those boys will die."   
    
Sighing, Qui-Gon studied a bright red star. "There will be more boys next year.  Perhaps then I will choose a Padawan." In his visits to the Temple, Qui-Gon always valued his time spent with Yoda.  Now he wished the Master would go away.  He did not want to discuss this.  But he knew Yoda would not leave until he had made his point.   
    
"Perhaps," Yoda agreed.  "Or perhaps still reluctant, you will be.  What of young Obi-Wan?  Well he fought."   
    
"He fought.......ferociously," Qui-Gon agreed.   
    
"Yes," Yoda said.  "Like a boy that I knew long ago -"   
    
"Don't," Qui-Gon interrupted.  "Xanatos is gone.  I don't want to be reminded."   
    
"Not speaking of that one," Yoda said.  "Of you I spoke."    
    
Qui-Gon didn't answer.  Yoda knew him too well.  He could not argue.   
    
"Strong in the force he is," Yoda remarked.   
    
"And angry and reckless," Qui-Gon said, a trace of irritation beginning to edge his tone.  "And likely to turn."   
    
"Not all angry young men to the dark side turn," Yoda said calmly, "Not if a proper teacher they have."   
    
"I will not take him, Master Yoda," Qui-Gon said evenly.  He knew Yoda would hear the strong will in his words.   
    
"Very well," Yoda said.  "But by chance alone we do not live our lives.  If take an apprentice you will not, then, in time, perhaps fate will choose."   
    
"Perhaps," Qui-Gon agreed.  He hesitated.  "What will happen to the boy?"   
    
"For the Agricultural Corps he will work."   
    
Qui-Gon grunted.  "A farmer?" Such a waste of potential.  "Tell him.... that I wish him luck."   
    
"Too late," Yoda said.  "On his way to Bandomeer he is."   
    
"Bandomeer?" Qui-Gon asked in surprise.   
    
"Know the place you do?"   
    
"Know it?  The Senate has asked me to go there.  I'm leaving now.  You knew this, didn't you?" Qui-Gon eyed the small Master suspiciously.   
    
"Hmmm..." Yoda said.  "I knew it not.  But more than coincidence  this is.  Strange are the ways of the Force."   
    
"But why send the boy to Bandomeer?" Qui-Gon asked.  "It's a brutal world.  If the weather doesn't kill him, the predators will.  He'll need all of his skills just to stay alive - never mind the Agri-Corps!"   
    
"Yes, so the Council thought," Yoda said.  "Good to grow crops Bandomeer may not be.  But a good place for a young Jedi to grow it is."     
    
"If he doesn't get himself killed," Qui-Gon growled.  "You must have more faith in him than I do."    
    
"Yes my point that is," Master Yoda said, chuckling.  "Listen harder, you must."   
    
With an exasperated sigh, Qui-Gon returned his attention to the stars.  
   
"Study the stars you may, Qui-Gon," Yoda said as he left.  "They have much to teach you.  But will it be what you need to learn?" 
  
 

 

by Jude Watson 

 

Qui-Gon Jinn's past is not at rest. How can he forge a bond with young  Obi-Wan Kenobi while he is haunted by the betrayal of his first apprentice  — Xanatos.? Xanatos was also a promising student...until the dark side of  the Force intervened. Qui-Gon thought he was gone forever.   But now Xanatos is back.   And he wants revenge.

 

Bee-ee-eep! We're sorry, but we can't rmember where the heck we put the commentary for this particular novel. So I guess you'll just have to subscribe and find out where it is for yourself, hmm? *wicked grin* 
 

Bee-ee-eep! We're sorry, but we can't rmember where the heck we put the commentary for this particular novel. So I guess you'll just have to subscribe and find out where it is for yourself, hmm? *wicked grin*

Bee-ee-eep! We're sorry, but we can't rmember where the heck we put the commentary for this particular novel. So I guess you'll just have to subscribe and find out where it is for yourself, hmm? *wicked grin*

 

by Jude Watson 

Dana 
 
Page 137-140 

Great almost angsty moments - the Decision 

 
"No," Qui-Gon said angrily.  "No, Padawan.  I will not make your betrayal easy for you.  If you try to take this step, know what a hard one it is."   

Neither had moved a muscle.  Yet Obi-Wan knew that Qui-Gon was just as prepared as he was to fight.  The Force swirled around him, but it was a disturbed Force, neither dark nor light.  He   
tried to tap into it and could not.  It was like trying to squeeze a handful of fine sand as it streamed out through the cracks in his fingers.   

He had no choice.  The world around him was dying.  He had to save it.  He had to fight Qui-Gon.   

Obi-Wan went for his lightsabre.  Qui-Gon moved only a fraction of an instant later.  Because of his quickness, his lightsabre activated at the same time as Obi-Wan's.   

Qui-Gon's green beam shot up, glowing in the gray light.  Obi-Wan felt his own lightsabre pulse in his hand.  Qui-Gon kept his eyes on Obi-Wan.   

Here was the moment.  He had only to step forward and challenge his Master.  He had only to move one muscle for it to be taken as an offensive move.  Then the battle would begin.    

Obi-Wan met Qui-Gon's gaze and saw the same anguish he felt.  He felt something within him crack, and his resolve slowly drained away.  He could not do this.   

Simultaneously, they both lowered their weapons.  The lightsabres deactivated with a faint buzzing sound.   

For a moment, all Obi-Wan heard was the lonesome wind, howling through the canyon.   

"You must choose, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon told him quietly.  "You can go with me now, or stay.  Know that if you stay, you are no longer a Jedi."   

No longer a Jedi.  Was he prepared to take that step?  Is this what he had come to?   

The moment spun out, became timeless to Obi-Wan.  Time meant nothing.  The confrontation with the man he had pledged to study under, learn from, defend and support suddenly felt unreal.    
How did he get there?  What was he doing?   

But through his confusion he saw Cerasi's fierce glowing eyes, heard Nield's fervent words.  He still smelled the smoke of battle, heard the desperate cries.  He saw barricaded streets and Elders too blind with hatred to notice that they were killing their planet, piece by bloody   
piece.  He saw them killing their own children.   

He could tell Qui-Gon about the battle he had seen.  He could try.  But he had tried before.  Qui-Gon was right.  He must make his choice.   

Obi-Wan grasped the rock of his conviction and felt his confusion drop away.  Here on Melida/Daan he had met a reality that was stronger than anything he'd known.   

"I have felt something here more important than the Jedi code," Obi-Wan said slowly.  "Something not only worth fighting for, but worth dying for."   

Obi-Wan handed his lightsabre to Qui-Gon.   

"You may go, Qui-Gon Jinn.  But I will stay." It was as though the words hit Qui-Gon in the face, for he flinched.  He stared down at Obi-Wan's lightsabre in his hand, not speaking.  A great struggle seem to be going on within the Jedi Knight's powerful body.    

Obi-Wan had hurt him.  He longed to take the words back.  He could not.  They had been said.  He had meant them.  Qui-Gon did not look at him.  He did not say a word.  He turned and strode   
up the ramp, into the starfighter.    

Obi-Wan stood back as the engines powered up. The starfighter rose cleanly form the canyon and shot off into the upper atmosphere.  He stood watching until it was out of sight.  

Where are my tissues (sob).   
 

Bee-ee-eep! We're sorry, but we can't rmember where the heck we put the commentary for this particular novel. So I guess you'll just have to subscribe and find out where it is for yourself, hmm? *wicked grin* 

Dana 
 
Page 127-129   
   
Great almost slashy moments: 
  

"You are to meet the Council soon," Tahl said at last.  "If you decide to take Obi-Wan back as your Padawan, it will help him.  The Council would most likely allow him to come back."    

"I know," Qui-Gon said.   

"Especially considering all he has done," Tahl added.   

"I am well aware of all he has done."   

Tahl sighed.  "You are a stubborn man, Qui-Gon."    

"No," Qui-Gon protested.  "Not stubborn. Cautious.  I must be sure, Tahl.  What if taking Obi-Wan back is not fair to the boy, or to the Jedi?  If I cannot give Obi-Wan my trust, our Master-Padawan bond will eventually break."   

"And you feel you cannot rebuild that trust?" Tahl asked.   

Qui-Gon looked down at his hands in his lap.  "It is my flaw, I know."   

Another silence stretched between them.  Then Tahl picked up her cup and ran her fingers around the smooth surface.  She held it up to the light she could not see.  "This is a beautiful cup,"   
she said.  "I know this even though I can't see it.  I can feel it." It was beautiful, Qui-Gon saw.  The material was so thin it was almost translucent, the colour a blue so pale it was almost white.  The shape was simple, with no handle or curved rim.   

"I use it even though I may break it,"she said.  She placed it down carefully.  "Have you ever heard of the planet Aurea?"  "Of course,"Qui-Gon said.  "Aurea is noted for its fine artisans."    

"They have the best glass workers in the galaxy there," Tahl went on.  "Many have wondered why this world has advanced the art so much.  Is it the golden sands, the temperature of the fires, the long tradition?  Whatever it may be, they make the most beautiful vessels in the galaxy, so highly prized that they are priceless objects.  But occasionally, someone is careless, or an accident occurs, and one is broken."    

Tahl picked up her cup again.  "Just like I could break this cup.  But these artisans have a greater art than the fashioning of the vessels.  They remake the shattered ones.  And in that remaking they find their highest art.  They take the pieces of something beautiful that has been smashed and create something even more beautiful.  You see the seams of the break, but the piece is flawless.  Because it had once been broken, it becomes more valuable than before."   

Tahl placed the cup before Qui-Gon.  The Jedi sat in silence, absorbing the lesson.  Could it be, he wondered slowly, that the process of rebuilding his trust with Obi-Wan would not be painful, but satisfying?   

He picked up the delicate cup.  It almost disapeared in his large hand.  His fingers closed around the fragile shape, yet the cup did not break.  He could not make again what he'd had.    
But what if the new thing he made was stronger than before, because it had once been broken?  

Fantastic analogy, the relationship with Obi-Wan likened to great art "beautiful,  priceless,  valuable".  Ooooh, and another thing, if you replace all the words Trust, that are used tween Qui and Obi and use Love instead it's almost like reading a romance.  Of course, obviously I  have nothing better to do (lol).  I have quite a few other moments on disk, I typed them in as I read the series, will add them on later.   

Dana (who has a sick mind)

  

Dana 
 
Spoilers for JA 8 
  
I've finally, finally gotten around to reading the demise of Xanatos in JA8, Day of Reckoning.  I liked this one, it's probably my third fave, after "Dark Rival" and "Defenders of the Dead" (which I loved for the Angst value).   
    
Some really kewl diologue and a couple of nice preslash scenes, OK, I do try, very, very hard to read the series with a innocent child's view every time I start a JA book, but it's just so damn hard - of course   
going straight from reading the day's slash on M/A to the Watson's series is not the best way to achieve this.   
    
Man oh Man, why the hell did Xanatos (as much I love the dude) had to walk in on Qui's apologetic fit to Obi during the cell scene "I have come to see that my reaction was due to my own failings, not yours.  I  haven't had a chance to tell you that. I -"  WHAT, WHAT - almost, very almost threw the book across the room at that stage.  OK, SOMEONE, and this being the best forum as we have so many good writers here (sucking up time), PLEASE come up with what he would have said if Xani had been a little later, best ending will recieve my never-ending gratitude.   
    
Xanatos death.  First of all,   the cutest line, even if it's said in a not nice way   
    
Xanatos to Qui-Gon about Obi -    
    
"Look, here comes your young puppet."    
    
Awwww, how sweet!  Of course when I first read that line I read puppet as poppet and I was like whoah, way to go Xani.  But puppet is cute enough, of course I'm thinking of my cute little possum furry puppet  I had as a child.  I know Xani wasn't really meaning it in that way - he was obviously jealous, but I like to think there might have been another meaning.  And what does one do with a puppet anyway (not going   
there, nope, not at all).   
    
OK, and the question, if Obi-Wan was not there,  would Xanatos be so willing to topp himself?  Xanatos's whole focus was on Qui-Gon all the way, but he obviously resented Obi and was using him as a bit of  weakness.  OK, Watson portrayed him as "pure evil", but I'm not believing that for a second, he was bad, no mistake there - but I didn't see him as beyond redemption, or deserving of the fate he was dealt.  But couldn't Qui say something nice to him?  Perhaps if Obi-Wan was a little late in coming, if Xanni had not witnessed Qui's obvious concern for Obi ..... so many ifs, buts or maybes.   
    
But one thing Xani was on the ball about, Qui had certainly set out to kill him, he was pretty adament about that towards the end of  "The Captive Temple", even if he didn't actually use the K word, methinks   
we could be safe to assume that Qui was pretty much out to kick Xani arse in seriously fatalistic way.    
Of course not that we can blame Qui, I mean Xani did try to kill his little puppet, was responsible for Bruck's death and almost iced Bant.  However, his resolve did lesson with the confrontation, oh poor Xani, poor Qui sniff, (pulls out the tissues).   
   
And what's with this line:  "You destroyed me because you could not save me".  Heh, something tells me, and maybe it's just my wishful little imagination, that Xani wanted to be saved, even if just a little bit.   
    
Now I have one question, can I be Qui's puppet?   

 
 

Bee-ee-eep! We're sorry, but we can't rmember where the heck we put the commentary for this particular novel. So I guess you'll just have to subscribe and find out where it is for yourself, hmm? *wicked grin*

Chesh 

Okay, so as we all know from the scholastic.com's  
transcription of the first chapter, Obi and Qui have  
arrived on Rutan hoping to prevent a war between them  
and their neighbor, Senali.  The royal children are  
exchanged to be raised on the opposite planets in  
order to foster understanding, as well as providing a  
safe-guard against the other planet attacking the home  
of their child and heir.  

Obi and Qui arrive just in time to disrupt the  
sport-hunting of the King of Rutan, whose name is  
Frane. The king is furious with them for disrupting  
his sport.  The Rutanians are made to look very  
barbaric, sort of medieval actually. Although they  
have space travel, they still roast their meat over an  
open fire and have big, castle-style dining halls with  
long-dead trophy animals looking down from the walls.  
Qui-Gon reflects that for once Obi-Wan's ravenous  
appetite is quelled.  

King Frane's main beef with his neighboring planet is  
that his son, who was fostered there in the  
traditional way, hasn't come home.  The son, Leed,  
says that he is happy on his adopted world and doesn't  
want to come back to Rutan, but the king believes he  
is being coerced and forced to stay. The Jedi meet the  
King's second son, Taroon, who in my opinion, is a  
right bastard. You'll find out why later.  

Both of the royal Rutanians are extremely rude to the  
Jedi and it takes all of Qui's composure not to walk  
out and leave them to themselves.  

Accompanied by Taroon, the Jedi go to the neighboring  
planet, Senali, only to find that Leed has run away.   
Taroon immediately blames the Senali Royal Family and  
thinks that they've kidnapped him.  

The three of them go to meet Leed's adopted family,  
who are numerous and boisterous.  Qui establishes some  
rapport with the children, while Obi and Taroon just  
sort of stand there awkwardly.  Once they leave, they  
turn and watch the oldest daughter, Drenna, sneak out  
the back.  Thinking she will lead them to Leed's  
hiding place, they follow her.  But... (drum roll) she  
leads them into a trap and they are caught by the  
rising tide and have to scale the cliffs in order to  
survive.  Leed has been watching, however, and rescues  
them.  Then they all have some nice bonding time  
swimming, catching fish, and generally just messing  
around by the seaside.  Taroon manages to fall in love  
with Drenna, and Leed is sort of jealous, even though  
she's his adopted sister.  It's messed up.  Obi, of  
course, doesn't notice a thing and just thinks they're  
fighting for other reasons.  Qui *gasp* actually gets  
it. He actually tells Obi "perhaps if you were  
older..." *snicker*  

Anyway... Leed is kidnapped by what appears to be  
Senali clansmen and they go rescue him before his  
father, King Frane, can attack Senali.  However,  
meanwhile, the daughter of the king of Senali has also  
been living on Rutan, just as Leed was fostered.  King  
Frane, in anger at Leed's kidnapping, throws her into  
prison.  

They all return to Rutan and Leed reluctantly agrees  
to take his place in the succession.  Obi feels  
conflicting emotions, just like on M/D.  Leed is also  
having to choose between his heart and his duty.  They  
stage a rescue of the Senali girl from the prison,  
she's only ten and is just a tad freaked out when the  
Jedi cut their way into her cell with their sabers.    

Drenna agrees to take her place in the fostering thing  
and will stay on the Royal grounds at the hunting  
lodge... (another drum roll) But Taroon doesn't know  
this and is plotting a wee coup.  Turns out, he wanted  
to rule all along and had Leed kidnapped on Senali.   
But the Jedi foiled his plan when they rescued him.  
He's planning on blowing up the hunting lodge, but  
doesn't realize Drenna is there.  Obi and Qui fly out  
to question him and when he realizes what he's done,  
they all get back, hot foot, to the hunting lodge to  
disable the explosives.    

After such a busy display of manliness, it's nice to  
have some contemplation at the end, and they do.   
All's well that ends well and King Frane decides to  
let Taroon become King since he wants it and Leed  
obviously doesn't.  Drenna will stay on the royal  
grounds and, so they hint, will later marry Taroon.   
This is where Obi's like "what? when did that happen?"  
and Qui does his little "maturity" speech.  

Leed, who prefers the quiet, contemplative world of  
Senali to his brutal homeworld, will return there as  
the first 'goodwill ambassador' and they all lived  
happily ever after.  

THE END  
 

Okay, so much for the summary... my thoughts on it:   

I liked it, I really did.  Don't get me wrong at all.    
There was a lot of action, lots of lightsabre swinging   
and dart shooting on the part of Drenna.  And Jude   
Watson managed to tie in Obi's experience on   
Melida/Daan without appearing to beat the subject to   
death.  Qui admits that he has just as much to learn   
about being as Master as Obi has to learn about being   
a Padawan.  They are starting to talk to each other,   
which is also a bonus, although Obi is afraid that if   
he reveals his true feelings, Qui will be reminded of   
the M/D disaster and won't like him anymore.  They   
have a nice moment when Qui assures him that he won't   
hold his thoughts against him and opinions do not   
necessarily lead to actions.   

Along with all the action, there was also an equal   
amount of dialogue and discussion, which was nice,   
although the plot was a little slow starting out.   

Overall, I'd give it 4.5/5 stars. 

by Jude Watson  

Chesh

 The book starts out with a very weary and much 

                 While Obi-Wan's main desire is to return to the Temple  
                 and get a hot meal and a much needed rest, Qui-Gon  
                 expresses his desire to visit an old friend.  Obi-Wan  
                 is disappointed, but agrees to accompany his Master.   
                 Qui-Gon tells him a little about his friend, Didi  
                 Oddo.  He runs a café and is an information dealer on  
                 the side.  He has been a friend of the Jedi for some  
                 time, supplying them with information from the more  
                 unsavory elements of society.  

                 Obi-Wan senses that Qui-Gon his fond of his long-time  
                 friend and decides this might be an interesting detour  
                 after all.  And since he runs a café, Obi-Wan's  
                 prospects for a meal are improved - until Qui-Gon  
                 tells him "Whatever you do, don't eat the food."  

                 Didi is thrilled to pieces to see Qui-Gon - so much so  
                 that he gives him a hug.  Obi-Wan is shocked, but  
                 Qui-Gon returns the hug and pounds Didi on the back.   
                 This only serves to shock poor Obi that much more.  

                 Didi explains that he is being stalked by a bounty  
                 hunter.  A woman who wears a plastoid-armor plate  
                 attempted to kidnap him recently.  Didi is convinced  
                 that the woman must be mistaken, she has apparently  
                 confused him with someone else.  He asks Qui-Gon to  
                 check into it for him.  Obi-Wan does not approve and  
                 sees the matter as a waste of their time, but dutiful  
                 as always, he follows along.  Obi-Wan asks why they  
                 are doing this.  Why does Qui-Gon trust Didi since  
                 he's obviously a very shady character?  Qui-Gon says  
                 simply, "Because he's my friend."  

                 Then the two Jedi go to the Soft Landings Inn - the  
                 one mentioned in the back of #10 - to try to talk to  
                 the bounty hunter.  They find her, but she attacks  
                 them with a laser-whip and then slithers out a small  
                 gap in the window.  This slithering is important,  
                 Qui-Gon notes.  She must be from the planet Sorrus, as  
                 the people there have a compressible skeletal system.   
  

                 The Jedi return to Didi's café to seek medical care,  
                 as the spikes on the Bounty Hunter's whip tore into  
                 Qui-Gon's shoulder.  Didi cares for Qui-Gon's wound,  
                 and Obi is surprised at the gentleness in his touch.   
                 He begins to reconsider his feelings about the man.  

                 They all sit around discussing who could have put the  
                 death warrant on Didi's head.  Qui calls up Tahl to  
                 help.  She, too, is a friend of Didi's and is willing  
                 to help.  She says she has heard of this bounty hunter  
                 before - she is very talented at deception - and very  
                 good at killing.   

                 Didi passes along two tips of information - this is  
                 where the story gets complicated and hard to re-tell -  
                 one is that a senator named Uta S'orn is resigning.   
                 The other is that some Tech Raiders - black market  
                 traders - are moving base to Vandor-3, a satellite of  
                 Coruscant.  

                 Didi's daughter, Astri, comes in.  She is a much  
                 better cook than her father, although she does not  
                 approve of his information-brokering sideline.  She  
                 gives Obi some soup, which he finds surprisingly good.  
                  Not wanting to scare Astri in regards to her father's  
                 death warrant, Qui lies and tells her they're just  
                 making a friendly visit.  She informs them that she's  
                 got a big catering gig lined up with Jenna Zan Arbor,  
                 a famous scientist - this'll be important later, trust  
                 me.  

                 Poor Obi protests that they've been away too long and  
                 need to return to the Temple to report.  Qui tells him  
                 to relax, Yoda will understand… after all, he's a  
                 friend of Didi's too.  They need to investigate  
                 further and meet with Didi's contact, a man named  
                 Fligh.  Obi-Wan again protests.  Qui tells him "it  
                 will give you a chance to see the seamier side of  
                 Coruscant" and Obi replies "just what I've always  
                 wanted."  Hey, I laughed.  

                 Fligh is a bit of a coward and it is easy for Qui to  
                 convince him to tell them what they want to know.  He  
                 admits that he pilfered a data pad from Senator Uta  
                 S'orn.  The Jedi go to see her, and she is surprised  
                 that they know she is resigning.  She admits that her  
                 data pad was stolen, but she didn't report it.  Her  
                 friend's pad was stolen too - her friend Jenna Zan  
                 Arbor.  (drum roll)  

                 Then they visit a seedy establishment deep in the  
                 lower levels of the city called the Splendor Tavern.   
                 It's filthy, disgusting, unsanitary, and downright  
                 nasty.  Obi-Wan comments that it hardly lives up to  
                 its name.  Qui replies "Don't worry.  It's worse than  
                 it looks."  They meet with Helb, a Neimoidian, who is  
                 involved with the Tech Raiders.  Helb tells them that  
                 Fligh owes an impressive debt to the Tech Raiders, but  
                 he wouldn't put a contract out on Fligh - he'd never  
                 get paid then.  

                 The Jedi leave the seedy tavern, but notice an old man  
                 watching them.  The old man turns out to be the bounty  
                 hunter in disguise.  They give chase, to no avail.  

                 They return to Didi's café, pissing off Astri who is  
                 trying to get the place ready for her big party with  
                 Jenna Zan Arbor.  She says 'you are always welcome -  
                 except not now' and shoos them into the back where  
                 Didi is waiting.  

                 They tarry just long enough to see the party arrive.   
                 They look slightly surprised - apparently they had  
                 expected a grander restaurant than the dodgy  
                 establishment they see.  

                 Qui and Obi enter the back room to find Didi sobbing.   
                 He informs them that Fligh is dead - murdered.  

                 Obi and Qui go to the place where Fligh was murdered.   
                 They find a full-scale investigation in progress and  
                 they talk to the head security guy.  He tells them  
                 that the body was completely drained of blood -  
                 creepy, eh?  And to make matters worse, he tells them  
                 that over the past year or so they've found half a  
                 dozen lowlifes and drifters dead - also drained of  
                 blood.  

                 They return to Didi's café to find it deserted.   
                 Frightened for Astri and Didi they hurry inside.  It's  
                 been trashed and Astri's guests are no where to be  
                 seen.  They run up the back stairs and find Astri  
                 unconscious and Didi being held by the bounty hunter.   
                 There is a battle, plenty of action, and then the  
                 bounty hunter gets away again.  

                 Once they find out that Didi and Astri are going to be  
                 fine, they suggest that they pack up and leave  
                 Coruscant.  Didi has a home in the Cascardi Mountains  
                 on a nearby planet that he won in a gambling game.   
                 They decide to go there.  

                 Finally, after such an exhausting day, they return to  
                 the Temple.  Obi-Wan takes the chance to run to the  
                 dining hall and scarf down some food while Qui talks  
                 to Tahl and Yoda.  Tahl teases him about letting Obi  
                 get malnourished since he never gives him the chance  
                 to eat.  

                 Tahl and Yoda inform him that the original Senator Uta  
                 S'orn had a Force Sensitive baby.  She gave him to the  
                 Temple, but couldn't stand to be parted from him and  
                 took him back.  He became a drifter, not in tune with  
                 the Force but still aware of it.  He recently turned  
                 up dead - also drained of blood.  

                 Qui-Gon hurries back to find Obi in the dining hall.   
                 Obi scrambles to his feet, taking his dessert with him  
                 - practical boy, this.  The two of them go meet with  
                 Senator Uta S'orn.  She tells them that Jenna's data  
                 pad was stolen too.  The Jedi go to see Jenna Zan  
                 Arbor.  Obi feels very uncomfortable in her office and  
                 she isn't very nice.  She tells them that when she  
                 went to the dinner at Didi's café that the food sucked  
                 and her guests were unhappy so they came back to the  
                 luxury hotel.  She tells the Jedi she doesn't like  
                 them insinuating that she's somehow involved in  
                 Fligh's murder.  She gets angry with them.  She tells  
                 them that she's a scientist and cannot be involved in  
                 such petty concerns.  However, she also lets it slip  
                 that somewhere on the missing data pad is proposed  
                 legislation regarding the Tech Raiders.  Obi and Qui  
                 decide that it's too late to find Helb, the Nemoidian  
                 informant guy, and decide to return to the Temple.   
                 They leave the hotel, only to discover that their  
                 speeder is blocked in.  Asking the attendant to move  
                 the others, they get in.  The attendant backs another  
                 speeder into theirs as Obi is climbing in and he's  
                 knocked backwards.  Turns out the attendant is the  
                 bounty hunter in disguise - again.  He slides down the  
                 back of the speeder, and Qui reaches for him, but he  
                 can't get to him in time.  Obi slides clean off the  
                 edge of the parking platform, falling into space.   

                 Thinking quickly, he activates his liquid cable thing  
                 and manages to save himself - barely.  His ordeal is  
                 quite taxing and the two of them return to the Temple  
                 exhausted.  Oh, and they don't have shared quarters -  
                 at least, not yet.  Qui-Gon has a hard time sleeping,  
                 his mind is busily going over the day's activities,  
                 and he's worried about his friends.  

                 The next morning, they try to find Helb, but they  
                 can't.  The Jedi travel to the Tech Raiders base on  
                 Vandor-3.  Helb admits that he got Fligh to steal the  
                 data pad for him, and grew angry when Fligh didn't  
                 turn it over, but assures the Jedi that he wouldn't  
                 put a death warrant on his head for something so  
                 trivial.  

                 Then Helb admits that he won the house in the Cascardi  
                 Mountains from the old man (that is, the bounty hunter  
                 in disguise) at the Splendor Tavern.  Obi and Qui are  
                 like "oh no!" and run out of there in search of Didi  
                 and Astri.  

                 They land on the planet and find the cottage in the  
                 mountains.  They think it looks safe enough and Didi  
                 and Astri assure them that they're fine, when suddenly  
                 the bounty hunter appears.  Astri admits that she  
                 didn't follow her own advice and was involved in some  
                 information dealing too.  She admits that Fligh gave  
                 her a data pad for safe keeping.  Finally the Jedi  
                 understand why the bounty hunter is after Didi and  
                 Astri.  She wants that pad - it belonged to Jenna Zan  
                 Arbor.  Thinking quickly, Qui transmits the info to  
                 Tahl so they'll have a backup copy… but the bounty  
                 hunter doesn't know it.  

                 There is another flurry of fighting and Obi and Qui  
                 are both wounded, but not too badly.  They run out to  
                 the transport, only to discover that the bounty hunter  
                 has sabotaged it.  The four of them run for the bounty  
                 hunter's transport, but she beats them to it.  She  
                 separates the Jedi from Didi and Astri and goes after  
                 them.  Obi launches himself at her, cutting the whip  
                 out of her hand.  She speaks for the first and only  
                 time, saying "You will pay" to Obi-Wan as she sticks  
                 her wounded hand into the snow.  She has a thing on  
                 her belt that homes in on her transport and jerks her  
                 up towards it.  Qui-Gon gives a gigantic leap and  
                 manages to land on the ramp - just like in the movie…  

                 Anyway, he's standing on the ramp and Obi is looking  
                 up at him from the ground.  Blaster fire rings out  
                 from somewhere inside the ship and Qui tumbles inside.  
                  The ramp seals up and the transport zooms away.   
                 Obi-Wan screams out "MASTER!" from the side of the  
                 mountain.  

                 THE END  

                 Yup, folks, she's done it again.  Grrr. But the  
                 preview for #12 promises some good Qui-torture so  
                 there's hope for us all. 

by Jude Watson  

Nezad 

Chapter 1 -- Qui-Gon awakens to find himself the subject of  
scientific experimentation.  His captor turns out to be the  
scientist, Jenna Zan Arbor.  After informing him that the worst of  
his wounds have been healed, she proceeds to take a sample of     his blood.  

Chapter 2 -- Meanwhile, back at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Obi-Wan  
and Astri sit in vigil for Didi, who's critically ill.  Master Yoda  
tells them and Knight Tahl, that Zan Arbor's lab, the *only* lab that  
creates the antitoxin Didi needs for his infection, has suddenly shut  
down.  This raises the Jedi's determination to crack the code on her  
recovered datapad, in hopes of finding Qui-Gon and the medicine. 

Chapter 3 -- Qui-Gon discovers that Zan Arbor is investigating the  
Force itself, seeing it as "the most powerful energy in the  
universe."  Qui-Gon makes a deal with her: he will use the Force to  
heal himself and she will let him out of his chamber for two hours a  
day.  Otherwise, he will let himself die.  She agrees, but to one  
hour. 

Chapter 4 -- After Astri falls asleep, Obi-Wan reaches for the river  
stone Qui-Gon gave him. In his pocket, he also finds a durasheet  
listing the names of Zan Arbor's guests for the party held at Didi's  
Cafe.  Wondering why Qui-Gon asked for the list at all, Obi-Wan  
copies the fading names onto a fresh durasheet and leaves to look  further into them. 

Chapter 5 -- Obi-Wan speaks with two of the guests still on  
Coruscant.  They tell him about a scientist that neither of them had  
known, although Zan Arbor had complimented her highly.  Obi-Wan  
realises that he also saw this woman, named Reesa On, at the  
restaurant -- and that she is the bounty hunter.  He heads off to her  
lodgings.  He senses no-one inside, but is then blasted at from  
behind.  

Chapter 6 -- The attacker turns out to be Astri, who, finding the old  
list Obi-Wan had thrown away, asked her father's criminal contacts  
about the people named.  Reesa On was the only one of the guests who  
had no financial transactions.  Having bypassed the room's security  
lock, Astri found a travel bag with unused personal items and  
surmised that the address was a cover.  Obi-Wan can't dissuade her  
 from coming with him, so he leads them back to the Temple to get  
Astri a weapon she can better handle, a vibroblade.  Tahl, meanwhile,  
finds out that Reesa On means "Catch me" in the language of a tribe  
on Sorrus, the bounty hunter's home planet.  Obi-Wan convinces Tahl  
to let them go there. 

Chapter 7 -- Released for the first time since his capture, Qui-Gon  
uses his free time to talk some more with Zan Arbor.  He takes the  
opportunity to discreetly observe the lab for possible escape.  But  
his weak attempt to use the Force (and his supposed inability to use  
more) angers the scientist.  She has him put back in the chamber. 

Chapter 8 -- Having arrived on Sorrus, Obi-Wan and Astri end up  
walking in an arid desert region with no sign of Reesa On's tribe.  
Suddenly they are attacked by a group of Sorrusians, who turn out to be the tribe they've been seaching for.  They inform Obi-Wan and  
 Astri that they have been starving because a dam built by the  
government has taken away what little water they had, and they are  
too poor to bribe the necessary officials.  The leader refuses to  
tell them anything about Reesa On, but a boy offers information in  
exchange for Obi-Wan's lightsaber. 

Chapter 9 -- Let out for the second time, Qui-Gon finds out that Zan  
Arbor has been deliberately infecting people with diseases she  
already had the antidote for.  Thus she received funds for her secret  
research on the Force.  Also, she previously conducted experiments on  
the son of her friend, ex-Senator Uta S'orn, as he was a Force- 
sensitive.  Finally, Qui-Gon senses that there is another Force-user  
nearby, who is very weak. 

Chapter 10 -- Astri convinces the boy that if he tells them about the  
bounty hunter, she will show them how to find food and how to cook  
it.  She'd studied the desert foods of another part of Sorrus to  
prepare at the restaurant.  (Having always cultivated crops before  
the draught, the tribe had no knowledge of them.)  The tribe leader  
tells them that Reesa On's real name is Ona Nobis and that she had  
received payment to convince her people to vote for the dam, though  
with no intention of helping them.  Though she's left, One Nobis  
still keeps a hideout (found by the tribe) in the canyons.  Astri  
finds a datapad which holds the bounty hunter's files on her clients;  
her current job is to go after Cinnatar's governor.  Contacting Tahl  
with the news, she tells the two about Zan Arbor's code being broken  
and about the experiments she is conducting on the Force.  The  
connection to Uta S'orn's son, Ren (whose corpse was found on Simpla- 
12 drained of blood) makes it even more probable that she's holding  
Qui-Gon prisoner.  So, should they go to Cinnatar or Simpla-12?  
Despite Tahl's suggestion, Obi-Wan's instincts are to go the latter  
planet. 

Chapter 11 -- An apparent attempt to escape proves to be a situation  
set up by Zan Arbor, so that she could cause Qui-Gon to call upon the  
Force.  He is recaptured and returned to the lab. 

Chapter 12 -- On Simpla-12, Obi-Wan and Astri find three of Ren  
S'orn's friends, Cholly, Weez, and Tup.  They ask them about Ren's  
last days.  After he'd left the experiment, Ren had hid with another  
friend, Tino.  On their way to see him, Obi-Wan and Astri spot Ona  
Nobis preparing to attack Tino. 

Chapter 13 -- After a dangerous fight, they manage to save Tino, and  
get the bounty hunter's whip as well.  Tino tells them much the same  
infomation as Cholly, Weez, and Tup, adding that he'd previously told  
his story to the security officer, Captain Yur T'aug, whom Qui-Gon  
and Obi-Wan met when investigating Fligh's murder on Coruscant. 

Chapter 14 -- Zan Arbor prepares to conduct the final phase of  
experiments on Qui-Gon. 

Chapter 15 -- A tense conversation with Captain Yur T'aug reveals  
that he stopped the investigation of Ren's murder at the request of  
his mother,  Uta S'orn.  Obi-Wan and Astri tell the ex-Senator that  
 they believe Zan Arbor was involved with her son's death.  Shocked,  
she gives them her son's few belongings in hope of finding further  clues to the lab's location.  They go to Didi's Cafe to begin looking  
through the box. 

Chapter 16 -- Having caught Cholly, Weez, and Tup spying at the  
window, Obi-Wan and Astri let them look through Ren's belongings,  
since they couldn't find anything helpful.  The trio want to see if  
they can find the lab because Ren told them that it had valuable  
medicines, which they could steal and sell.  Finally, on a deck of  
sabacc cards, an address to a building located on Simpla-12 is found. 

Chapter 17 -- Informing Tahl of their returning to Simpla-12, she  warns Obi-Wan not to be impulsive.  Cholly, Weez, and Tup have  
gathered a disguise for Astri so that she can impersonate Ona Nobis.  
With Obi-Wan pretending to be her prisoner, they are allowed into the  
 lab, but the security guard's suspicions are quickly triggered.  
 Restraining him, Obi-Wan and Astri find Qui-Gon in his holding  
chamber.  But Zan Arbor's entrance precludes their taking any action. 

Chapter 18 -- Announcing her intention to kill Qui-Gon, Zan Arbor  
leaves to go speak with the supposed Ona Nobis.  Obi-Wan quickly lets  
his Master free.  So weak he can't move far, Qui-Gon asks his Padawan  to help him.  Together, they work at gathering the Force, causing it  
 to flow into Qui-Gon.  They then go in search of the antitoxin Didi  
needs to recover, and are attempting to escape, when the real bounty  
hunter announces her arrival. 

Chapter 19 -- The Jedi and Astri overhear a conversation between Zan  Arbor and Ona Nobis.  The latter refuses to help Zan Arbor capture  
them, saying she has her own plans for Obi-Wan; she simply wants her  
payment.  When they are steps away from the exit, Zan Arbor uses the  
building monitors to tell the group that if Qui-Gon leaves the lab, a  
transmittor in his body will trigger another transmittor, which will  
poison another subject in the lab.  Qui-Gon tells Obi-Wan and Astri  
to go with the medicines.  His Padawan gives him his communicator and  
his lightsaber, and reluctantly obeys.  
 
 

If Qui-Gon were dead, he would know it.  He would feel it.  
(page 10) 

He reached into his tunic to remove the Force-sensitive stone that Qui-Gon had given him.  He often found comfort in turning the smooth stone around in his hand.  It made him feel closer to Qui- Gon.  (page 26) 

 "I have to find my Master, Tahl," Obi-Wan said steadily.  "I  
  feel him.  I know he needs me.  Let me go."  (page 44) 

The vapor rose around him as the walls surrounded him.  Qui- 
Gon felt despair rise with the enclosing walls.  
*I need you, Obi-Wan.  Find me soon.*  (page 52) 

Obi-Wan had to agree that he was following the slenderest of  
threads.  He tried to call Qui-Gon, reaching out to the Force.  He  
felt nothing.  He touched the stone inside his tunic and felt its  
reassuring warmth.  He could not shake the feeling that every step he  
took brought him closer to his Master.  (page 88) 

He approached the transparent chamber.  He put his hands on  
the smooth wall. Qui-Gon floated, his eyes still closed.  Obi-Wan  
felt choked with anguish at the sight.  He knew his Master was  
alive.  Yet he felt as though he had witnessed his death. 
He didn't think his voice would penetrate the chamber.  Obi- 
Wan spoke his Master's name quietly.  "Qui-Gon." 
Qui-Gon's eyes opened.  He saw Obi-Wan.  He smiled.  He  
mouthed the words.  
*I knew that you would come...* (page 134)  

As soon as she was gone, Obi-Wan hurried over to Qui-Gon.  He  
knew now that if he let Qui-Gon remain in that chamber, his Master  
would die.  He activated his lightsaber and cut a hole in the  
chamber.  The vapor escaped, and Qui-Gon began to fall.  Obi-Wan  reached in to help support him.  Qui-Gon half fell and Obi-Wan half  dragged him to the floor. 
"Master," Obi-Wan murmured brokenly.  It was shocking to see  
Qui-Gon so weak.  He always counted on his Master's strength. 
"You...must...help me, Padawan," Qui-Gon said, his white lips  
barely moving.  His face was very pale.  He held up his hands, palms  out.  Obi-Wan pressed his own palms against Qui-Gon's. 
He felt his Master's power flicker and reach out toward him.  
The Force moved between them.  Obi-Wan gathered it around him.  He felt the Force grow with their combined effort, felt it flow from his fingers into Qui-Gon. 
After a moment, the cloudiness in Qui-Gon's eyes  vanished.  "I can walk now," he said.  He rose to his feet.  Obi-Wan rose with him.  (page 136)  

"But you have no real evidence that someone else is here,"  
Obi-Wan said desperately. 
"But I know someone is," Qui-Gon said.  He turned to Obi- 
Wan.  He saw the desperation and dread in his Padawan's eyes.  "You  know what you must do, Padawan." 
"No," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head violently.  "I will not  
 leave you."  (page 143)  

Obi-Wan handed Qui-Gon his conlink.  Then he gave him his  
lightsaber.  It was the greatest gift one Jedi could give another.  
Qui-Gon placed his hand on the hilt. 
"I will keep it safe until you return for it," he said.  "Now  go." 
Astri hurried forward.  She pressed the button to access the  
door.  Fresh air rushed in with the scent of coming rain. 
Obi-Wan looked back at Qui-Gon.  Qui-Gon saw anguish and  
heartbreak on his Padawan's face.  "I will return." 
He nodded.  "I will be here."  (page 144)  
 
 

by Jude Watson  

Nezad

Obi-Wan Kenobi heard the door slide shut behind him.  The   
locking system clicked and whirred.  
He stopped short as a wave of helplessness overwhelmed him.  
"No," he said.  
His companion, Astri Oddo, turned.  "What is it?"  
Obi-Wan faced the closed door with despair.  "I can't leave him."  
"But he ordered you to go."  
Placing his hands against the door, Obi-Wan shook his  head.   
"I can't."  
Astri waited a moment.  She did not move, but he felt her   
impatience.  Her newly-shaven head gleamed in the faint gray light.   
A heavy mist fell like rain and gathered in droplets on their skin.   
"Obi-Wan, we don't have time," she said.  "I have to get to   
the Temple."  
Astri's father, Didi Oddo, was dying at the Jedi Temple.   
Astri carried the antitoxin that would save him.  Astri had been a   
chef at her father's cafe, and she had bravely joined Obi-Wan in his bold plan to break into Jenna Zan Arbor's secret lab.  
They had succeeded in only part of their mission.  They had   
retrieved the needed antitoxins.  But Obi-Wan's Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, was still inside.  
Obi-Wan spun around and gazed quickly down the dark street,   
searching every shadow.  "Where are Cholly, Weez, and Tup?  They can  arrange transport for you."  
"They're not here," Astri said, anger tightening her voice as   
she scanned the steet.  "I knew we couldn't trust them."  
Obi-Wan dismissed the thought of the three scoundrels.  They   
had agreed to watch for Ona Nobis, the bounty hunter who Astri had impersonated to get inside.  They were supposed to warn Obi-Wan and Astri if she arrived, but they had not.  As a result, Jenna Zan Arbor had known that intruders were inside, and Qui-Gon had been trapped.   
Obviously, Cholly, Weez, and Tup had fled.  
But they weren't important to Obi-Wan now.  Getting Astri   
back to the Temple was.  As was getting himself back into the secretlab so that he could fight side by side with his Master.  
"Let me contact Tahl," he said.  Astri handed him her   
comlink.  He had already given his own to Qui-Gon, along with his lightsaber.  
Jedi Knight Tahl's crisp voice came through a moment  later.  "I'm here," she said tersely. Quickly, Obi-Wan outlined the situation. "Jenna Zan Arbor is holding another prisoner who she claims Qui-Gon doesn't know, but who   
is close to him.  What do you think that means?"   
"I have an idea," Tahl said.  "Go on."  
"Poison will be released in the prisoner's bloodstream if Qui-  
Gon leaves the building.  He ordered me to leave the lab and conduct Astri back to the Temple.  He said that safe passage for the antitoxin was the most important thing.  I ... felt I had to go,   
Tahl."  
"Of course you did," Tahl said.  "Qui-Gon was right to order   
you.  But I don't want you to leave Simpla-12."  
Obi-Wan felt relief flood through him.  He was only a Padawan   
Learner.  He would need the permission of a Jedi Master in order to disobey Qui-Gon, even if his Master was currently a captive.  
"What about Didi?" Astri asked urgently.  
"Don't worry, Astri.  Jedi Master Adi Gallia and her Padawan,   
Siri, are due to arrive on Simpla-12 at any moment.  You should see their ship in a few seconds.  The pilot can bring you back to the Temple with the antitoxin.  Obi-Wan, you will work with Adi Gallia and Siri to rescue Qui-Gon.  We'll start with a small team, but we're sending more Jedi to Simpla-12 in case you need them."   
Obi-Wan saw a glint of silver in the leaden sky.  "I see   
their ship.  I'll get back to you."  
He ended the communication and watched as the small, sleak   
transport landed in a dirt field nearby.  He had worked with Adi andSiri before.  Adi was a brilliant and resourceful Jedi with a gift   
for intuition.  Siri was a tough fighter and faced danger without   
ruffling a hair.  The relations between the two Padawans could be bumpy, but he could not ask for a better team to rescue Qui-Gon.  
He saw Adi's familiar regal figure stride down the landing   
ramp.  The smaller, blond Siri followed.  Adi's sharp gaze scanned the surrounding area, missing nothing.  They she hurried toward Obi-Wan and Astri.  
She nodded at Obi-Wan and turned her gaze to Astri.  "The   
transport is waiting.  May the Force be with you."  
Even at a moment of great urgency, Astri thought of others.   
She put her hand on Obi-Wan's arm.  "I know Qui-Gon will be safe."  
"And I know Didi will be well," Obi-Wan told her.  
They had been through much together.  Astri had no Jedi   
training, no Force-sensitivity, and could barely manage to hit a   
target with blaster fire.  Yet Obi-Wan had come to admire her manyskills.  Her fear was obvious but she never failed to charge ahead.  
Now she fumbled as she withdrew the vibroblade from her   
belt.  "Here.  You might need this."  
He took it from her.  "Thanks.  I'll see you back at the  Temple."  
Biting her lip, Astri nodded.  Then she rushed off, wobbling   
a bit in the thigh-high boots she had donned to impersonate Ona Nobis.  
Siri's hand rested lightly on her lightsaber hilt.  Her   
bright blond hair was combed straight back and tucked behind her ears.  Her no-nonsense appearance matched the way she attacked a problem.  She did not waste time.  
"Tahl contacted us a moment ago," she told Obi-Wan.  "Zan   
Arbor has blocked out all communications from the lab, but Qui-Gon managed to get a last message through to the Temple.  Zan Arbor has locked herself in with the other prisoner.  If Qui-Gon attempts to   
come through the door, she will kill the captive.  He is searching   
for another way inside that room."  
"Did he see the other prisoner?" Obi-Wan asked.  
Siri shook her head.  
"We think we know who he is," Adi said.  "He is a Jedi   
Master."  
Obi-Wan was startled.  "She was able to hold *two* Jedi   
Masters hostage?"  How could such a thing happen?  
"Noor R' aya is an elder Jedi," Adi explained.  "He does not   
 live at the Temple.  He no longer goes on missions, but he chose to live out his remaining days in seclusion and meditation on his home planet.  He disappeared several weeks ago, and we've been searching for him."  
"We've traced his disappearance to the bounty hunter, Ona   
Nobis," Siri explained.  "As soon as we told Tahl this, she told us   
of Zan Arbor's involvement.  Noor R' aya must be the other being Qui-Gon sensed in the lab."  
"Our first problem is getting in," Obi-Wan said.  "There are   
no windows and only one door.  Other Jedi teams are on their way, but he more we delay, the more we risk Qui-Gon and Noor R' aya's lives.   
And Simpla-12 has no security police.  It's just us."   
"It's not a problem," Adi said serenely.  "We have a way in." 
 
Ch. 21 
 

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Siri, and Adi stood outside the small building near the Senate on Coruscant. 

"Ready?" Astri called. 

"Ready," Qui-Gon answered. 

Astri flipped a switch. Halo-lights glowed, spelling out 

                                            DI I'S NEW CAF 

Astri sighed. "I guess it still needs work. That's what I get for using Fligh as an electrician." 

"At least the food is good," Cholly said. He held up a chunk of spice ahrisa. "This is the best I ever tasted." 

"Mmmph," Tup agreed, his mouth full. Weez handed him a napkin. 

Astri beckoned the Jedi inside and placed them at a center table. Shepoured tea for them. 

"I don't like having Fligh as a partner, but he promised he would go straight," Astri said. "And he did find investors for us." 

The cup stopped halfway to Qui-Gon's mouth. "Legitimate investors?" 

"Of course!" Didi bustled forward from the bar. He had lost some  weight during his illness, but had regained his rosy cheeks and merry temperament. "Fligh and I have learned our lesson." 

"I hope so," Astri murmured. "All I know is, I'm keeping the financial records." 

"I'm sure you'll be a great success," Adi said, toasting her. 

Astri sat down at the table with them. "Have they set the punishment for Zan Arbor and S'orn?" 

Qui-Gon nodded. "They have been exiled to a prison world for the rest of their lives." 

"I can't believe Uta S'orn was an accomplice," Astri said, shaking her head. "Her best friend killed her son, and she still continued to do business with her!" 

"Never underestimate the power of greed," Adi said soberly. "Uta S'orn wanted to make a fortune. Jenna Zan Arbor offered her that opportunity. She was the backing behind the scientific company on Belasco." 

"Their plans nearly went awry when Zan Arbor was sidetracked by her interest in the Force," Qui-Gon added. "The fact that her friend had a Force-sensitive son was too tempting for Zan Arbor to resist. And when Uta S'orn found out what happened, her greed overcame her anger and grief." 

"They are quite a pair," Siri said, grimacing. 

Astri got up to fix the lunch she had promised to the Jedi. Siri beckoned to Obi-Wan and drew him into a quiet corner. 

"I just wanted to say I was glad to see you turn up on the roof to help me fight Ona Nobis," she said. "I guess I thought less of you for fleeing the battle on Sorrus. I did not understand how powerful she was. She could have killed me, Obi-Wan." 

"I cannot imagine that," Obi-Wan said. The embarrassment on Siri's face made him want to smooth over the situation. "You are the best Padawan fighter I've ever seen." 

"Except for you," Siri said. "I have fought you in Temple exercises many time, Obi-Wan. I should not have questioned your ability or your nerve. I was wrong." The words seemed torn from her reluctantly. 

"I have been wrong myself," Obi-Wan said lightly. "As well you know." 

"Adi says I have learned an important lesson," Siri went on. She made a wry face. "And I hate learning lessons. I thought too much of my own abilities. Even though I'm a Jedi, I am not invincible. There are many in the galaxy who can defeat me. Now I understand why we were  taught over and over that our motive must be sure, our concentration total. I underestimated the dark side of the Force. I will try not to do that again. And I know now that I will not always be strong. I will not be afraid to recognise when I am weak." 

"An important lesson for Padawans," Adi said, overhearing them. 

Obi-Wan threw a glance at Qui-Gon. "And for stubborn Jedi Masters." 

Qui-Gon took a placid sip of tea. "I have no idea who you mean," he said, his eyes twinkling. 

by Jude Watson  

Cheshire Cat  

I read JA 14 today and ... WOW.  I think Jude Watson 
 has outdone herself. 

 The book was written for a slightly more mature 
 audience than the usual 9-12 year old crowd, which 
 will please all those other readers (like us) who do 
 not fall into that category. 

 Time has passed since last we saw our heroes.  Obi-Wan 
 is now sixteen and is "coming into manhood" as they 
 say.  He and Qui-Gon's relationship has progressed to 
 something beyond Master and Apprentice - Obi-Wan 
 states that he can now look forward to the day when 
 they will stand beside each other as equals, as 
 Knights - although he realizes that he has a long way 
 to go before he gets there. 

 The book opens with the pair of them on a wilderness 
 planet, testing out their survival skills.  Qui-Gon's 
 version of "amusement".  Then Qui-Gon has a vision of 
 Tahl in trouble - the first of many - and the two of 
 them make for the Temple straight away. 

 Tahl is requesting permission from the Council to go 
 to this planet where they assisted a new government 
 coming to power six years ago.  At the time they 
 worked closely with a pair of female twins - aged ten. 
  Now the girls are 16 (I think that it's important 
 that they're the same age as Obi-Wan, although he 
 never talks to them in this book.) 

 The girls' father has been assassinated and they are 
 living with his sucessor.  There is much political and 
 social unrest and it's too involved to describe here.  
 Suffice it to say that friends turn out to be enemies 
 and vice versa. 

 Anyway, the most momentous moment for all fan-fic 
 authors is when Qui-Gon asks to speak privately with 
 Tahl (Obi feels snubbed at the time) and once they are 
 alone he declares that she owns his heart.  They 
 pledge themselves to each other, to spend the rest of 
 their lives together.  It's very cute. 

 The only problem is that Qui-Gon sends Tahl off to a 
 peace-negotiation, only to later discover that her 
 security detail is working for the enemy.  Obi-Wan is 
 shocked when his Master loses control and starts 
 breaking things. 

 That's the end.  Shocking, isn't it? 

 I, for one, will be waiting on pins and needles until 
 the next book comes out. 

Jennie 

 I read it last week, and while agreeing with everything you said, have to admit that I'm also disappointed (and not just because of my slashy worldview). 

 When Lucas made ANH over 25 years ago, he did know that he was telling the middle of the story first but had not at that time fleshed out the beginning.  So while it can be disconcerting to remember Obi-Wan referring to Yoda as his master in ANH yet seeing that his Master is Qui-Gon in TPM, we can rationalize it within the context of the universe by saying that Yoda was *one* of many masters Obi-Wan had in his youth while at the same time realizing that Lucas had no farging idea that he was going to invent the Qui-Gon character at the time ANH was first released. 

    I'm afraid I can't give Watson that pass.  She's working up to a known point:  TPM.  And in TPM, there is no Tahl.  As readers, we're left speculating why.  Did something bad happen to her in the interim (maybe in JA15)?  Maybe nothing bad has happened to her, but bad timing and whatever have conspired so that she and Qui-Gon never become more central to each others lives?  Maybe we're supposed to believe that at the time of TPM they're still intimately involved but that their current assignements have temporarily taken them in separate directions, such that he never speaks of her or to her, and she doesn't come to his funeral even though a delegation from Courascant does? 

    My other problem is that I'm starting to think that Tahl's first name is Mary-Sue.  From a Jude Watson interview she gave a while back (I read it at: 
 http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/features/jude_watson/): 

   Q:  What were the inspirations behind the new characters like Xanatos, Siri, Tahl and Bant? 
   W:  ...As for Tahl, she was originally just a plot device -- a Jedi who needed rescue in The Defenders of the Dead. I didn't have a notion of who this Jedi was. This was one example of that happy event in every writer's life -- when a character appears and just takes over. When Qui-Gon opened the door to her cell to rescue her, a wisecrack came out of her mouth. She hasn't stopped since. She's had this tragic accident and lost her sight, and it's deepened her, but it's made her cranky at times, too. I liked the idea of giving Qui-Gon a peer who he would actually listen to and take advice from, and I wanted her to be as different from Qui-Gon as possible. Often reserved people choose outgoing smart mouths as good friends. She's allowed to tease Qui-Gon, and I like that, too. 

    I personally think that at this point, Tahl has gotten away from Watson. Frankly, for a series of books called "Jedi Apprentice", I think that this original character is getting too close to upstaging said apprentice.  I like a rich universe; I like that she's created a rich back story with characters like Bant, Bruck, Xanatos, Paxxi, Guerra, etc., and, yes, Tahl. But I also think that Obi-Wan is one of two central characters in the entire SW universe (the other being Anakin/Vader), and I'm afraid that Watson is starting to care more about her own original character than the characters I'm reading her books to see:  Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. 

 Of course, YMMV.

by Jude Watson  

©2000