"Our destines lie along different paths, Obi Wan. Now is the time for you to get to know the people that you will serve." Qui Gon shook his head sadly. "You must forget about me, Obi Wan. You must serve the Jedi in ways other than as a Knight. There is honor in that, too."

For a moment Obi Wan was angry. He had not even asked for that! "I did not ask if you where here for me," he said a bit sharply. He sat up and leaned against the wall. He didn't want to admit it but Qui Gon's words had struck him like a blow. It was crystal clear that Qui Gon wanted nothing more to do with him. And the more Obi Wan saw of Qui Gon, the less he wanted to do with the powerful man. Obi Wan could not fight Qui Gon's past nor did he have any desire to.

Qui Gon studied him for a long moment. "I…"

"I see that you are a man who clings too tightly to the past," said Obi Wan firmly. "And I am not sure that I would even want such a man for my master. If you cannot let go of the past, you can not move ahead."

Qui Gon stared at him.

The door opened and Leila came in.

Obi Wan put a smile on his face and took the cup from her hand.

She sat down next to him and leaned her head against his shoulder. "You where terribly sick, Obi Wan," she said softly.

Obi Wan wrapped an arm around her and smiled. "But I always recover." He looked up at Qui Gon and coolness entered his eyes again. "And I have you Father to thank for it. But his first concern should be his mission. I thank you, Qui Gon, for taking time out of your valuable schedule to help me."

Leila stared at him. She had never heard him speak so coldly. She looked at her Father and saw he had a stunned look on his face.

Just then the door opened a crack.

Obi Wan looked past Qui Gon. "Well, come in."

An Acronan edged into the room. He was slightly shorter than the others they had seen, with skin that was more green than gray. "We did not mean to disturb…"

"It's all right," said Obi Wan kindly.

"We were told to met Clat'Ha here. She has a situation she needs to discuss. We heard that a young boy faced a Hutt in a great battle and survived," said the Arconan said softly. "We wanted to see the great hero. We are sorry to disturb."

Obi Wan started to look over the Arconan's shoulder before he remembered that they always referred to themselves as "We." They did not have a sense of individual self and lived all their lives in colonies.

Obi Wan smiled slightly. "I think I'd better set you straight. First of all, it wasn't a great battle. The Hutt just picked me up and strangled me until I passed out. I am no hero."

"That you survived at all is a credit," observed Qui Gon. He admired Obi Wan's humility. It was an important trait. One that Xanatos had not posed at all.

"Exactly," said the Arconan. It took several steps forward. "The Hutts inspire great terror in us. You showed strength and courage. We admired that. You are a hero."

Obi Wan looked at Leila helpless. She dimpled a smile up at him.

Qui Gon turned and hid his smile.

"Well, sit down and introduce yourself," said Obi Wan. "In this place, I need all the friends I can get."

"Our name is Si Treemba. We know yours is Obi Wan Kenobi. We would be honored to be your friend."

"Well, Si Treemba, this is my good friend, Leila Jinn," said Obi Wan. He glanced at Qui Gon. "And that's her Father, Qui Gon."

"I'm honored to meet you, Si Treemba," said Leila.

Just then Clat'Ha strode in with an impatient expression. She looked at the Jedi. "We have a problem. Someone has tampered with our equipment. We have three Arconan tunneling machines in stock and all three have been sabotaged."

"How?" asked Qui Gon.

Si Treemba stepped forward. "The thermocoms that monitor the temperate have been removed, sir."

Leila's raised a dark eyebrow. "I think we all know who's responsible."

A door boomed from the open door. "Are you talking about me, the Great Jemba?"

They all turned.

The Hutt outside the door was enormous. Hutts can live for hundreds of years and they never stop growing. Jemba's mouth was so huge he could swallow three full grown men whole. His huge face and eyes filled the doorway.

Leila came off the bed slowly. "Yes, we are talking about you. Come in…" Her eyes lit with a wicked light. "If you can."

Jemba snorted. "It has been many years since I could squeeze through such a small hole, Jedi. Why don't you come out here?" He licked his lips. "You, the little girl. I like the look of you. Come here."

Leila moved over the doorway and faced him. Her hands where folded into her wide black sleeves.

Qui Gon moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You have been accused of sabotaging the tunnelers."

Jemba drew back a pace and placed a hand over his uppermost heart to indicate his innocence. "Never! Do I look like the kind of creature who would sneak around sabotaging other people's equipment?"

Leila actually laughed. The thought of the Hutt sneaking anywhere was too much for her. "Of course we're not stupid enough to think that you did it personally!"

Jemba sighed. "Why does everyone think I am evil just because I am a Hutt?" he demanded. "I am an honest businessman."

Leila dimpled a smile up at him. "I have had dealings with Hutts before, Jemba. The great Jabba the Hutt is a friend of mine. And even he does not have the impertinence to claim to be honest."

"Enough of this," said Clat'Ha, her face full of disgust. "Of course it was one of his crew."

"I swear, I know nothing of this matter!" roared Jemba. "We have not even reached Bandomeer and her voice is already full of disrespect!"

"I may not respect you, Jemba! You lies as pathetic as your denials," snapped Clat'Ha.

Jemba let out a roar of anger and launched himself at Clat'Ha. He hit the door frame, which began to crack and splinter under the pressure.

Leila and Obi Wan stared in fascination.

Qui Gon dragged Leila back several paces from the doorframe.

Leila and Obi Wan exchanged glances. The Hutt could bring down the entire sickbay!

Si Treemba, terrified, hissed and pressed himself against the wall.

Clat'Ha drew her blaster but Qui Gon stepped in front of her and raised his hand. Then he turned and locked eyes with the Hutt.

Slowly Jemba stopped pushing against the doorframe. He knew he could not get at Clat'Ha.

From his bed, Obi Wan admired Qui Gon's skill. He felt a pang of regret but kept his face expressionless. There was so much he wished he could learn from this Jedi.

"Now," began Qui Gon in a reasonable tone. "Let us review the situation. And let us do so without frightening my daughter."

Leila's eyes where wide and her face was gone rather pale when the doorframe had started cracking. But her Father's solid presence calmed her.

"The machines where sabotaged," continued Qui Gon, his hands once again resting on Leila's small shoulders. "There is nowhere to take this except open warfare. And that is something no one wants, I'm sure."

"Jedi," said Jemba, "you think yourself to be a fair man." He glanced at Leila. "And you as well, little girl. But when Hutts and Humans argue, even the fairest of men join sides against my kind." The Hutt's tone of voice was full of venom as he looked at Clat'Ha. "If its war she wants, war will come. And if you take her side, I swear I will squash your daughter, the boy and you like pta fruit! Your Jedi statues does not protect you here."

Menace hung thick in the air. It was clear the Hutt meant every word he had spoken. He was willing to kill anyone who stood against him.

It would have been so easy to solve the situation, Obi Wan thought. The Hutt was vulnerable, trapping in the small hallway outside the sickbay. Qui Gon or even Leila could have drawn their lightsaber, lunged forward and sliced the Hutt in half.

But Qui Gon merely nodded. "Thank you for the warning."

"You did not speak the truth, Jemba," said Leila clearly. "I would not have take the side of my own kind if they had been wrong. But I am not here to take sides. I am here to bring peace. Not war. Honor, not hate. And strength, not fear."

Jemba looked at her for a long moment, then grunted. "It is not hard to see why the great Jabba the Hutt has favored you, little one." Then he turned and slithered down the hall.

Clat'Ha let out a long breath. "Well, that went well," she muttered. She hurried to the door. "I have to go and warn my people. If this isn't war, its something very close to it." She ran down the hall.

"It wouldn't be hard to find out who really sabotaged those tunnlers," said Obi Wan.

Qui Gon raised an eyebrow at him. "This isn't your affair," he warned. "If you went looking for those thermocoms, all you would find was trouble. You must stay out of this."

"And please stay away from the Offworld side of the ship," said Leila. "You're not fully recovered yet."

Obi Wan looked at her for a long time. Then he smiled. "What will you do, I wonder Leila, when you leave Bandomeer and I stay behind? Whose well being will you watch out for then?"

Leila's face went dark at the mention of leaving Obi Wan behind. She truly couldn't imagine her life without him. "That does not even bear thinking about," she muttered. "Now, get some rest."