Disclaimer: All the places and characters belong to George Lucas except for Keyn, Shen and the Senator

Disclaimer: All the places and characters belong to George Lucas except for Keyn, Shen and the Senator.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Padawan Nik-ka and my brother for working out the plot with me.

Chapter 1

Obi-wan Kenobi disconnected the power cell from its recharging unit. He screwed the cell back onto his lightsabre carefully, then checked his work. Shen Ly'an, the cream-and-tan furred Bothan initiate, sat beside him, also screwing on his lightsabre's power cell.

"Shen," Obi-wan started hesitantly, "how long more do you have until your birthday?"

"Only a month and a half," the Bothan sighed. "You were lucky Qui-gon chose you."

Obi-wan nodded silently. He had been apprenticed to Qui-gon Jinn for nearly three years now, and had formed a close bond with his master. Shen was nearly thirteen already, and if he wasn't chosen by a master soon, he'd be sent off to be a farmer, his dreams of being a Jedi Knight totally shattered. Obi-wan had been in that dilemma once, but it had turned out for the better. Perhaps, Shen would be as fortunate.

The door hissed open and Obi-wan's master, Qui-gon Jinn, stood in the doorway. He was a strong, capable man, a truly formidable opponent in any lightsabre fight. His blue eyes shone with a kindness that came form his acute connection with the Living Force, but Qui-gon was a decidedly private man, sharing his thoughts and feelings with few people.

"The council wishes to see us in five minutes," Qui-gon announced and nodded at Obi-wan and Shen. The two younger Jedi obediently got to their feet and followed Quie-gon as he exited the room.

Obi-wan wondered why the council wanted to see them. AS far as he knew, his master had been fairly observant of the rules this time, so they certainly wouldn't get reprimanded. Perhaps the council was assigning them a new mission.

Shen had his own thoughts. He knew that if he wasn't picked by a master soon, he'd never become a Jedi Knight. The future looked bleak – coaxing a good crop from arid land – but the Bothan told himself to be optimistic. A lot can happen in six weeks, he thought, but then again, nothing can happen at all.

They reached the council room in exactly five minutes, Shen and Obi-wan having difficulty keeping up with Qui-gon's long strides. The door hissed open and they followed the Jedi Master into the circular, glass-panelled room. The council – wise, respected Jedi clothed simply in cloaks and tunics – was seated in chairs along the perimeter of the room.

All three Jedi bowed to the Council, then straightened up. Mace Windu, a dark, wise Jedi Master fixed them each with an intense stare before beginning in a straightforward manner:

"Senator Jy'are came earlier today with a request for Jedi protection. She has been fairly active in arresting members of a Rebellion on her home planet, and is, perhaps, the Rebellion's worst enemy. Just a few days ago, her aide was ambushed by an attacker who threatened to kidnap the Senator if she refuses to release the Rebel prisoners in one week. The Senator, for obvious reasons, cannot and will not do this."

"Why seek Jedi protection then?" Obi-wan asked quietly, "aren't her normal body guards enough?"

Mace Windu shook his head and explained, "The situation is a bit more complex, I'm afraid. The attacker was reported to have, in his possession, a lightsabre."

Qui-gon, Obi-wan and Shen were visibly surprised.

"Sith?" Qui-gon asked quietly.

"Not likely," Jedi Master Ki-adi-mundi answered. "The Sith have been gone for millennia."

"Believed he stole the weapon, it is," Master Yoda said softly.

"You will provide Jedi protection for Senator Jy'are and try to uncover the attacker's identity at the same time," Mace Windu told the three Jedi, "The senator is waiting outside. Pack your things and leave immediately. May the Force be with you."

The three Jedi bowed then left the room.

Keyn dragged his fingers through his jet-black hair and removed the leather thong that tied it back. The first stage of his recently-acquired assignment was completed and two thousand credits had been deposited into his account. He'd have about five days before he had to kidnap Senator Jy'are and deliver her to his employers. Keyn already knew the Senator would not give in to the demands of the Rebels. She was a strong-willed person and didn't cower easily.

He shook his head as his ship entered hyperspace. The Senator's personality and what she chose to do were not his concern. He was only a bounty hunter, and he was paid to do his job.

Keyn had joined the trade five or six years ago – he couldn't quite remember. He was known as a bounty hunter who never accepted assignments that forced him to kill anyone. However, Keyn's services were good and many people paid him for live captures. He managed to earn more than enough to keep his ship running and buy more effective weaponry and equipment. Unlike most bounty hunters however, Keyn didn't really seem to be driven by money. Instead, he loved the thrill and danger of hunting down his prey.

Rubbing his eyes tiredly, Keyn decided to take a rest. He tied back his hair and programmed his ship's systems to warn him when it was exiting hyperspace. Only then did he close his eyes and rest. In the bounty hunter trade, you were only relatively – and not totally – safe in hyperspace.

"I'll never become a politician when I grow up," Obi-wan Kenobi announced when they finally reached their living quarters. The three Jedi had followed Senator Jy'are around the whole day, and it had been distinctly boring.

"Each to his own," Qui-gon Jinn chastised his protégé gently. The Jedi Master possessed an infinite amount of patience, which neither Obi-wan nor Shen cared to acquire.

"Will we have to do this every day?" Shen asked. "I mean, Master Qui-gon, did you do anything to the Council that they didn't like lately?" The Bothan's words incited a laugh from his companions.

Qui-gon smiled, "No, I haven't done anything wrong. I have good news though, we'll be leaving Coruscant tomorrow for Senator Jya're's homeworld."

"I only hope it's more exciting than walking around the same building a hundred times a day," Obi-wan muttered dryly. Following some Senator around a building was not his idea of a mission.

"Senator Jy'are was given a week to release the prisoners before her kidnapping would be attempted. The one week expires in one standard days' time," Qui-gon changed the subject.

"Who would kidnap her?" Shen wondered aloud, his fur rippling with curiosity.

Qui-gon frowned, thinking. Finally he said, "I think it may be a bounty hunter. The Rebel leaders wouldn't dare to come so close to such high-security areas."

Obi-wan shook his head, "Bounty hunters carry lightsabres?"

"Either way," Shen pointed out, "We'd better be on our guard."

"Grab some sleep now," Qui-gon advised. "Tomorrow will probably be a long day." The three Jedi retired to their bunks to rest.

By afternoon the next day, Obi-wan, Shen and Qui-gon were looking out of a Republic Cruiser's transparisteel viewport at Senator Jy'are's homeworld, Rinsiel.

Rinsiel was a fairly large planet, half-covered in lush tropical rainforest which had been cleared in certain areas to build cities, towns and spaceports. Large expanses of ocean covered the other half of the planet.

Most of the people on the planet were off-worlders. They fell neatly into three categories: Rebels, traders – and smugglers – and residents. The natives were a secretive species who lived in the rainforests.

"Good afternoon," Senator Jy'are joined the three Jedi at the viewport. "How do you find Rinsiel."

Obi-wan looked at Qui-gon for permission to answer the question. The elder Jedi nodded once. "I find it very different," Obi-wan began politely, "so natural and yet so technologically advanced."

The Senator nodded her assent. "The bio-engineers are good. The Rebellion is less of a threat now that I've had many of its leaders and members arrested."

Shen stared out at the planet for some time, before he asked, "Where will we be landing?"

Senator Jy'are walked towards the viewport and pointed at a fairly large spaceport – a distant speck of dull grey against the planet's mainly green and blue surface. "There. We'll land there, and travel by land-speeder to the place I live."

Something drew Shen's attention. A slight flicker in the Force. It was gone in a flash, but it left the Bothan with a gut feeling he couldn't shake. As though someone was waiting, waiting for them to arrive …

To be continued …

There's a lot more coming, I promise. Just tell me if you want it.