Three days on the planet had gotten the Jedi nowhere. Vaski 4 continually
denied the prince's claims, and the prince never changed his story. Qui-Gon
decided that it was time for a change.
"Anakin?"
"Yes, Master?"
"The man. We need to go talk to the man. He may know valuable information."
The Padawan nodded.
"We'll search for him, then. Let's go."
The Jedi went to the garage, hopping on two swoops. They stole quietly away
into the city.
The leader of the people watched over the makeshift shelter. No longer were
they under the Prince's control. Now the people looked to him.
He sighed. The man hated it, and now that the Jedi were against him, he
didn't know what to do.
The Force surged around a small warehouse in a deserted area of town. The
Jedi stopped and got off of their swoops. Qui-Gon felt the leader's
presence in his mind.
And the leader could feel the Jedi.
He warned his people, but sent calming reassurance through the Force as he stepped outside to greet the Jedi master. He held a vibroblade in his hand, ready to leap into action if necessary. He checked his mental shields, which were, as usual, up at maximum. "Master Jedi," the leader bowed, greeting the man yet again. He looked at the elder Jedi with determination. Qui-Gon could feel a small conflict inside the leader before the stranger tightened his mental shields. Qui-Gon was surprised by the man's strength yet again. "You are Force-trained," Qui-Gon commented simply. "I was..taught by the best," the leader said quietly. "What do you want with me?" asked the leader quizzically. He sensed no immediate danger through the Force, and his mind overflowed with possibilities. "We wish to speak with you. I am Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my apprentice, Anakin Skywalker." The leader shifted uncomfortably as Qui-Gon spoke, but the elder Jedi could not penetrate the younger man's mind. "Well, then speak we shall." He put his vibroblade away, ushering the Jedi indoors. The people rushed to him in confusion, thinking that he needed help. "It's okay," the leader said gently. "They may be able to help." The Jedi were led to a small office in the back of the warehouse. The leader sighed as he slumped to his chair, gesturing for the Jedi to do the same. The leader had not taken off his hood, which made Qui-Gon wonder for a moment, but he was quickly distracted. "Speak," the leader demanded calmly. Qui-Gon felt the powerful Force radiating throughout the man's body. He wondered who had trained him.
He warned his people, but sent calming reassurance through the Force as he stepped outside to greet the Jedi master. He held a vibroblade in his hand, ready to leap into action if necessary. He checked his mental shields, which were, as usual, up at maximum. "Master Jedi," the leader bowed, greeting the man yet again. He looked at the elder Jedi with determination. Qui-Gon could feel a small conflict inside the leader before the stranger tightened his mental shields. Qui-Gon was surprised by the man's strength yet again. "You are Force-trained," Qui-Gon commented simply. "I was..taught by the best," the leader said quietly. "What do you want with me?" asked the leader quizzically. He sensed no immediate danger through the Force, and his mind overflowed with possibilities. "We wish to speak with you. I am Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my apprentice, Anakin Skywalker." The leader shifted uncomfortably as Qui-Gon spoke, but the elder Jedi could not penetrate the younger man's mind. "Well, then speak we shall." He put his vibroblade away, ushering the Jedi indoors. The people rushed to him in confusion, thinking that he needed help. "It's okay," the leader said gently. "They may be able to help." The Jedi were led to a small office in the back of the warehouse. The leader sighed as he slumped to his chair, gesturing for the Jedi to do the same. The leader had not taken off his hood, which made Qui-Gon wonder for a moment, but he was quickly distracted. "Speak," the leader demanded calmly. Qui-Gon felt the powerful Force radiating throughout the man's body. He wondered who had trained him.