Qui Gon watched Bruck and Obi Wan fight with an expressionless look on his face.

Leila was standing beside him where he had ordered her to stay. She was seething inwardly that he had interfered with her and Bruck. She swore that she would teach Bruck a lesson that he would never forget the very next chance she got. If Obi Wan would not be her Father's Padawan, neither would he.

The fight finished with Obi Wan burning Bruck right in between the eyes.

Leila turned and faced her Father. "Well?"

"He attacked viciously."

"Of course," said Leila. "As do I."

Qui Gon looked at her. "You're different."

"And so is he. Different from Xanatos."

Qui Gon stiffened ever so slightly. "Leila…"

"He's going to…"

"No," said Qui Gon. "Go to the apartment. I will speak with you there."

Leila turned and left without another word.

Obi Wan had showered and changed into a fresh tunic. He was tossing his dirty one into the laundry container when Qui Gon entered the room. He started slightly.

Qui Gon was a big, powerful man, but his footsteps had been soundless. "Who taught you to fight like that?" asked Qui Gon. The Jedi had rough features, but his face was sensitive and thoughtful.

Obi Wan studied him for a long moment.

Qui Gon watched the boy study him carefully.

"What do you mean?" asked Obi Wan at last. He knew Qui Gon was a powerful Knight, and somewhat of a legend around the Temple. But there was something about him…that made Obi Wan feel strange.

"Students in the Temple rarely attack so viscously."

Obi Wan smiled slightly as he turned and picked up his lightsaber. "That's what comes from meeting with Leila too many times in the practice ring."

Qui Gon smiled slightly. "The students are usually taught to defend, to wear one another down. They conserve their strength, yet you fought…like a very dangerous man. You left yourself open to attack time and again."

Obi Wan met Qui Gon's eyes. "We always leave ourselves open to some kind of attack, no matter what we do."

"Your fighting style…is dangerous. Too risky," said Qui Gon.

"You could teach me better," said Obi Wan evenly.

Qui Gon studied Obi Wan, deep in thought. "Perhaps I could. But then, perhaps no one could," he said. "You were angry with the other boy. I sensed anger in both of you."

Obi Wan's eyes narrowed slightly. "I was angry with him because of the way he treated Leila. She means much to me. And that's not why I wanted to win, because I was angry with Bruck." He held Qui Gon's gaze steadily, letting him know that he had fought to impress him, to show him how well he could serve him.

Obi Wan realized what bothered him about Qui Gon. Qui Gon didn't want him for a Padawan. He had come to merely point out everything Obi Wan had done wrong. The thought gnawed at him. After he had fought so hard to impress him. But still…slight hope rose in Obi Wan. Perhaps he would ask him…

"In future fight, rein in your anger. A Jedi Knight never exhausts himself when battling a stronger foe. And never expect your enemy to do you harm." Then Qui Gon turned and headed for the door.

Obi Wan stood quite still for a second. But then he realized he couldn't let him go. He couldn't see his dream die. "Wait!" he called out. When Qui Gon turned, he dropped to one knee as a sign of humility. "If I was wrong, it only means I need the best teacher. Will you take me with you?" he asked.

Qui Gon eyed him. He frowned, deep in thought. At last he mummered, "No."

"Qui Gon, I will be thirteen in four weeks," said Obi Wan. To the tell the truth was his last hope. "You are my last chance to be a Jedi Knight."

Qui Gon shook his head sadly and folded his brown robes around him. "It is better not to train a boy to become a Knight if he has so much anger. There is the risk he will turn to the dark side." With that, he wheeled and strode for the door.

Obi Wan rose. "I won't turn," he said with quiet certainty. "Never." He stood there for a long moment, searching out his feelings. For some reason, the disappointment over not becoming a Jedi was not nearly as sharp as he had expected. The thought of loosing Leila plagued him even more. Of course the sorrow of loosing his dream was there. But he raised his chin. He would plead no more. Qui Gon was far too caught in the past. Obi Wan knew he had his future to look ahead to. He walked through the door of the Temple and didn't look back.

Qui Gon could not get Obi Wan's despairing face out of his mind. And now it was coupled with Leila's tear streaked face. He had gone back to the apartment and found her waiting patiently for him. When he had told her what he had told Obi Wan, she had stared at him as though he had slapped her. Then she ran from the room, sobbing. He had found her two hours later, in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, still crying. She had left the apartment right away and gone in search of Obi Wan but couldn't find him. She had refused to speak to him and had turned away when he had tried.

He was now sitting quietly in the star map room. among all the rooms at the Temple, this was his favorite. A velvety blue ceiling curved high above him in a dome. The only light came from the stars and planets that surrounded him. He had only to reach out a hand and touch a planet for a hologram to appear, detailing its physical properties, it 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.

Over and over again, Qui Gon told himself he had made the correct decision. The only decision he could have made. The boy had fought well, but too fiercely. There was danger there.

"The boy is not my responsibility," muttered Qui Gon aloud.

"Certain of this, you are?" Yoda asked from behind him.

Qui Gon whirled, startled. "I didn't hear you," he said politely.

"Your responsibility, Leila is," said Yoda. "Hurt deeply, she is."

Qui Gon said nothing and stared straight ahead stonily.

Yoda walked further into the star room. "A dozen boys fought for you. If you do not chose a Padawan today, the dreams of at least one of those boys will die."

Qui Gon sighed. "There will be more boys next years. Perhaps then I will chose a Padawan."

"Yoda snorted. "Say, this you do every year."

Qui Gon sighed again. In the time he spent in the Temple, he valued the time he spent with his daughter's master. But now he wished the Master would go away. He did not want to discuss this. But he knew that Yoda wouldn't leave until he had made his point. "Next year," he muttered. "I will look again."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps, still reluctant you will be. What of young Obi Wan? Well he fought."

"He fought…ferociously," said Qui Gon.

"Comes this does, of being repeatedly bested by your daughter," Yoda pointed out. "But, he fights like a boy that I knew long ago…"

"Don't," interrupted Qui Gon sharply. "Xanatos is gone. I don't want to be reminded."

Yoda frowned at him. "Not speaking of that," he snapped. "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," said Qui Gon, with irritation edging his tone. "And likely to turn."

"Not all angry young men to the dark side turn," said Yoda calmly. "Not if a proper teacher they have."

"I will not take him, Master Yoda," said Qui Gon evenly. He knew Yoda would hear the strong will in his words.

Yoda studied him for a long moment. "Thankful, not to be you, I am."

Qui Gon looked at him. "What's that's supposed to mean?"

"Not able to live with myself, I would, when tell this to Leila, I would have to do."

Qui Gon said nothing.

"And tell her this you must. Hopes, she still does."

"Then I will tell her. I am her Father and she will listen and respect my decision."

"Wrong, you are there," said Yoda. "Listen to it, she must. But respect it, she does not have to."

Qui Gon frowned.

"By chance alone, we do not live our lives, Qui Gon Jinn. If take an apprentice you will not, then, in time, perhaps fate will chose."

"Perhaps," said Qui Gon absentmindedly. He hesitated. "What will happen to him?"

"For the Agricultural Corps he will work," said Yoda.

Qui Gon grunted. "A farmer?" Such a waste of potential. "Where at?"

"On his way to Bandomeer, he is."

Qui Gon's head came around in surprise. "Bandomeer?" he asked slowly.

"Know the place you do?" asked Yoda innocently.

"Know it?" Qui Gon eyed Yoda carefully. "The Senate has asked me to go there. I will be taking Leila with me, if you allow it. I leave tonight." Suspicion crept into his eyes. "You knew this, didn't you?"

"I knew it not," said Yoda. "But more than coincidence this is. Strange are the ways of the Force."

Qui Gon's heart clenched. He knew all about Bandomeer. "What ever posed you to send him there?" he gasped. "It's a brutal world! If the weather doesn't kill him, the predators will. He'll need all of his skill just to stay alive-never mind that Agri-Corps!" His words trailed off as he saw something twinkling in Yoda's eyes.

"A good place for a young Jedi to grow it is," said Yoda calmly.

"If he doesn't get himself killed," muttered Qui Gon. "You must have more faith in him than I do."

"Yes, my point that is," said Yoda, chuckling. "Listen harder, you must."

Qui Gon sighed with exasperation.

"Help Leila through this loss you must."

"She'll get over it."

"Not as easily as you think. A strong bond, there is between those two. Known him she has since she was five."

Qui Gon began turning that fact over his mind. This could prove to be more difficult than he thought.

"Yes," said Yoda, reading his thoughts. "Much harder."