Conflicting Promises

Hello, Qui-Gon:

My name is Ennis Jinn. You probably don't know me because it's been a long time since the Jedi took you away. So let me just be simple with it: I'm your older brother. Our parents died ten years ago and our sister is married to the Senator of our home planet. But that's not the reason why I'm contacting you now after all these years. As a matter of fact, by the time you get this message, I'd probably be dead. You see, our planet is flooded with poisonous gamma-radiation that is killing everyone. My family and I have become exposed. My wife succumbed to the radiation poisoning first. My son, Len, five years later and I'm sure to be next. Thankfully, my youngest child, Ni'Yosha has not been exposed. But staying on this planet is not safe for her. I need you to rescue her and take her in as your own. Please, Little Brother. I know the Jedi have their rules. But I want my daughter to live a normal life, a long life. Please, help me.

Your brother, Ennis.

Qui-Gon Jinn couldn't stop looking at that message. Just a while ago, Master Yoda had informed him that his older brother, Ennis, sent him a message after all these years. But the message wasn't a happy one. According to his brother, his home planet suffered lethal amounts of gamma radiation shortly after a civil war. Although the war ended three years ago, the aftermath was still devastating. And now, his brother is dying and his only surviving child has nowhere to go. Qui-Gon was caught between his commitment to the Jedi Order and saving a niece he just found out existed.

He felt a familiar somewhat comforting presence through the Force. Qui-Gon didn't have to turn around; he knew who it was.

"Come in, Tahl."

Tahl opened the door and found Qui-Gon sitting on his meditation couch but he wasn't meditating. He was staring at a message and was repeating it over and over.

"Qui-Gon, are you all right?"

"I'm not sure."

Tahl came over and sat beside her best friend. She saw the troubled look on his face and realized he was torn up about something. It probably has something to do with his talk with Master Yoda. She thought.

"What did Master Yoda tell you?" Tahl asked.

Qui-Gon said nothing.

"Qui-Gon, I can't help you if you keep quiet like this."

The tall Jedi looked at his friend. He knew Tahl cared for him, she always have. But how can he break this to her? Will she even understand?

"Qui-Gon, you can tell me." Tahl assured.

Qui-Gon let out a long breath he didn't know he was holding and proceeded to tell Tahl what happened. "My older brother sent a message to me." He said. "He's dying from radiation poisoning. And he wants me to watch after his daughter."

"Daughter?" Tahl gasped. "You have a niece?"

Qui-Gon nodded.

"Whoa…and I thought my life was crazy."

Qui-Gon snickered. "You sure have a way with cheering people up."

"Sorry," Tahl smiled sheepishly. "So, have you told Xanatos yet?"

"Told me what?"

Qui-Gon and Tahl turned around and saw Xanatos DeCarion standing behind them with a confused look on his face. With him, was Leiasha Kenobi who also shared the same expression.

"Xanatos, Leiasha," Qui-Gon greeted. "I…didn't see you come in."

"Well, you didn't show up in the battle room like you promised," Leiasha explained. "So, Xani and I came here."

"Master Windu said that you went to see Master Yoda," Xanatos pointed out. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, Padawan." Qui-Gon assured. "I just have to go to Khios."

"Khios? Isn't that where you were born?"

Qui-Gon nodded.

"Why are we going there?"

"I am going, Xanatos. You're staying here at the Temple."

Xanatos looked at his Master in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

"Khios is full of gamma radiation. I don't want you exposed to that kind of poison."

"All the more reason for me to go with you!"

"I agree with Xanatos," Leiasha said. "The Khios War may be over, but the planet is still in disarray. At least that's what Master Mundi tells me."

Qui-Gon looked from Xanatos to Leiasha to Tahl. And back at Xanatos again. Sighing, he got up from his couch and came over to his brooding Jedi Apprentice.

"I'm very sorry, Xani." He apologized. "If the situation were any different, I would take you. But this is a personal matter that I have to deal with alone. You understand?"

The 17-year-old reluctantly nodded. "Yes, Master. Just be careful."

Qui-Gon smiled. "I will."

Qui-Gon finished loading his ship, making sure he had everything for a one-person trip. Unless the situation becomes complicated, then it would have to be a two-person trip. Qui-Gon gathered the last of the necessities he needed for his voyage and climb onto the ship. When he got to the cockpit, he nearly had a heart attack when he saw who was in the pilot's seat.

"What are you doing here?" He snapped.

"Hello, to you too." Tahl mused, rolling her golden green eyes.

"You can't come with me, Tahl."

"And why not?"

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. Didn't she hear anything he was saying to Xanatos yesterday?

"This is a family matter." He explained. "And Khios is flooded with radiation poisoning. I can't take you with me without risking your life."

"Aw, Qui-Gon." Tahl smiled. "I knew you cared, but I didn't realize how much. Thanks, but I can take care of myself."

"I never doubted you about that. But it would be safe if you stayed here with Xanatos and Leiasha."

"Xanatos is almost eighteen and Leiasha is tough girl; they'll be fine. I'm going with you to Khios." Qui-Gon started to object but Tahl placed a finger over his lips. "That wasn't a suggestion."

Qui-Gon shook his head and chuckled. When Tahl made up her mind on something, there was no stopping her. It was no use arguing with her now. "All right," He conceded. "You can come along but I still think this is a bad idea."

"I'll stay out of trouble, Qui."

"Just stay close to me."

Khios. A planet torn apart by war, poverty and death. Although the planet was torn apart by the aftereffects of the war, the citizens there were working as hard as they could to rebuild the planet. Qui-Gon landed his cruiser in one of the docking spaceports. He was soon greeted by a one of the pilots. She was an average-height woman with fire red hair and brown eyes. Her skin was a sandy brown. She approached Qui-Gon and Tahl.

"Welcome to Khios, Master Jedi." She greeted. "I am Michal Vhasti, pilot and lead supervisor of Spaceport Cyprus."

"I am Master Qui-Gon Jinn," Qui-Gon bowed. "This is Master Tahl. I've come here on some important business."

Michal's eyes grew wide. "What did you say your last name was?"

"Jinn. Qui-Gon Jinn."

"You're Ennis and Astrid's younger brother?"

"I believe so."

"Then, you're the one I'm expecting." She looked at Qui-Gon, amused and slightly attracted. "Ennis told me you were studying to be a Jedi Knight. I knew you'd be an attractive man, I had no idea how attractive."

Qui-Gon blushed slightly at the woman. "I'm flattered."

Tahl rolled her eyes at Michal's advances toward Qui-Gon. Why would this woman flirt with a Jedi Knight at a time like this? She thought. "Forgive me for interrupting," She interjected. "But why did Ennis send you to wait for Qui-Gon? Why couldn't he come to this spaceport himself?"

"Believe me, Ennis would've been more than happy to greet you both," Michal explained. "But, his condition has gotten worse."

"How worse?" Qui-Gon asked.

Michal's expression sobered to a grim demeanor. "He can't even get out of bed."

The house was modestly small but the inside was very spacious. Michal, Qui-Gon and Tahl came to the front of the house where a tall, lanky woman who was terribly thin greeted them. From what Tahl could see, the woman bore a striking resemblance to Qui-Gon. Her golden blonde hair was tied in a tight French bun and she had the same blue eyes as Qui-Gon. The woman saw her guests and immediately rushed to meet them.

"Michal!" She greeted. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show!"

"It is good to see you, Astrid." Michal greeted warmly. "How's Ennis?"

"Doing better today but I don't believe he'll make it through the week." Astrid's gaze turned to the two Jedi. "Who're the Jedi?"

Michal turned to Qui-Gon and Tahl as she introduced them to the Senator's wife.

"Qui-Gon, Tahl this is Astrid Chaka," She introduced. "She's the wife of Odeon Chaka, the Senator here." To Astrid, she said: "Astrid, these are Jedi Masters Tahl and Qui-Gon Jinn."

Astrid walked slowly over to Qui-Gon, staring at him for a very long time. After a good ten minutes, Astrid thrust her arms around the tall Jedi, breaking down into sobs. Qui-Gon, for his part, just looked confused.

"Thank the Gods," Astrid cried. "You have returned; after all these years!"

Qui-Gon looked at the Senator's wife in bewilderment.

"Mrs. Chaka, I'm afraid this is highly…."

"My whole name is Lady Astrid Verona Jinn de Chaka." Astrid informed. "I am Ennis' younger sister."

Qui-Gon gasped. "So, that makes me…"

Astrid smiled, tears shining her eyes. "My younger brother."

Qui-Gon's grip tightened around Astrid as their embrace grew stronger.

"Oh, Force." Astrid breathed. "It is a miracle that you'd come to us, brother."

"Where is Ennis?"

"He's resting in his Garden Villa."

"Stubborn man," Michal admonished. "He shouldn't be outside, Astrid and I keep reminding him that it'll only make his sickness worse."

"So why he keeps doing it?" Tahl asked.

"It brings him peace." Astrid replied. "At least, that what he says."

"Can you take me to him?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Of course, brother."

Qui-Gon and Tahl followed Astrid and Michal to the Garden Villa. When they got there, they saw a tall, burly man in his mid-40's confined to a bed. He bared an uncanny resemblance to Qui-Gon except his eyes were a dark shade of green and his hair was black. Astrid came over and knelt beside him.

"Ennis," She whispered in his ear. "There's someone very important to see you."

Ennis Jinn opened his eyes and saw his youngest brother peering down at him. He slowly sat up and smiled.

"Qui-Gon," He greeted, his voice sounding weak. "My brother."

Ennis stretched his frail arms to Qui-Gon, welcoming him. Overcome with mixed emotions, the young Jedi Master fell into his dying brother's embrace crying softly.

"Oh, Ennis," He wept. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know…."

"Shh, shh." Ennis hushed, holding him firmly. "Do not blame yourself. There was nothing you could've done." He turned his gaze to the women. "Would you please leave us alone for a few minutes?"

Astrid and Michal nodded silently. Tahl, however had her concerns, which Qui-Gon sensed immediately.

It's all right, Tahl. He Force-thought. I just want to talk to him; I won't be long.

"Would you like to meet Ni'Yosha?" Astrid offered.

Tahl looked at the young diplomat and smiled. "That would be lovely."

After the women left, Ennis lifted Qui-Gon's head up to look at him.

"You've done well for yourself, Qui-Gon." He said. "You look just like Father."

"What was he like?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Strong but gentle. Strict yet understanding. He would've been proud of you."

Qui-Gon stood up and took a seat next to his brother.

"Why now, Ennis?" He asked. "You had all this time to get in touch with me. Why now?"

"Life wasn't chaotic back then," Ennis explained. "Of course there was the war and everyone was trying to get their lives back to normal. But when Khios was flooded with radiation poisoning, everyone started getting sick, dying. Within ten years after the war ended, more than half of the population died due to the poisoning."

Qui-Gon didn't say anything for a while. The Khios war was devastating. But the aftermath was even worse. It made him wonder why the Jedi didn't do anything to help them.

"The Jedi should've gotten involved," He said, almost to himself. "Had I known how bad the situation was, I would've taken the matter up to the Council."

Ennis placed a pale hand over Qui-Gon's. "Don't be so hard on yourself," He comforted. "We are reconstructing very well under the circumstances. Odeon has done his best to rebuild what's been destroyed, form new communities and give compensation to the men that fought in the war."

"Still, the Jedi should've came to your aid."

Sensing his brother's guilt, Ennis decided to change the subject. "Enough about me," He said, cheerfully. "Let's talk about you. How is life at the Jedi Temple?"

"Calm," Qui-Gon replied. "Lull and sleepy at times. But never boring."

Ennis laughed. "Well, I'm sure the Temple would be a fit place to raise Ni'Yosha."

Qui-Gon's smile faded. "Ennis, I don't know if I'm able to fulfill your promise."

"What do you mean?"

"The Jedi have certain rules about intimate relationships. I don't believe that the Council would approve of me adopting Ni'Yosha."

"She is all that I have, Qui-Gon. She's the only one in our family that hasn't been exposed."

"The only one?"

Ennis nodded sadly. "Astrid is also dying as well as Odeon. They never had any children. My wife and son are dead and my time is almost up." He looked straight in his brother's blue eyes, his dark green ones beseeching him to grant his dying wish. "Please, Qui-Gon. I don't want my Yoshi to live a short life."

Qui-Gon saw the desperation in Ennis' eyes. He didn't want to boldly disobey the Jedi Code but at the same time, he wanted his only niece to live a long, productive life. This little girl was his family, at least what's left of it. Qui-Gon looked at his brother.

"You have my word, Ennis." He promised sincerely. "Ni'Yosha will be safe with me."

Ennis smiled and embraced Qui-Gon, weeping softly.

"Thank you, Qui-Gon." He cried. "Thank you."