The Togorian warship exploded in a burst of light. The last of the pirates blasted into hyperspace, never guessing they had been bested by an almost thirteen year old boy.

The ship is falling apart," said Obi Wan.

"We have to land now, Obi Wan," said Si Treemba.

"Land where?" asked Obi Wan.

Suddenly Si Treemba jumped to his feet. "There!"

Obi Wan could just glimpse a planet ahead, a blue marble, the color of water, shot through with the white of clouds. "How do we know we can breathe the air? The atmosphere might be poison. And the planet itself could be hostile."

"It has got to be better than breathing in a vacuum."

"Alright"

Ten minuets later, Obi Wan flew over a water world in a night lit by five glowing moons. Clinging to the manual controls, with the ship bucking and rattling, Obi Wan could only see ocean in every direction. But then on the horizon ahead, he glimpsed one small rocky island, waves breaking against it shore.

He aimed the ship at the rock, held tight to the controls and almost groaned aloud with the effort of trying to slow the ship's fall.

Qui Gon was sitting in his room, Leila lying the bed. She had regained consciousness. He was waiting until the others were attended but they where done now and the medic droid was hovering by Leila.

Clat'Ha came in. "Obi Wan landed the ship. The crew have gone to start repairing."

"Where is…"

The door opened and Obi Wan came in. He stopped still when he saw the man. Then his eyes flickered to Leila and his face drained of color. "What…"

Qui Gon held up his hand. "She'll be alright," he said gently. "She had a bad nose bleed, three busted ribs and a bad gash across her stomach. But other than that, she's fine."

"I'm fine, Obi Wan," said Leila quietly. Slowly she turned her head and looked at him. Her eyes where dark from pain, but right then, they twinkled. "Good flying."

The medic then turned to Qui Gon.

Slowly Leila sat up.

"Careful," admonished Qui Gon.

The medic sprayed a disinfectant bandaged over Qui Gon's wound. Then he began gluing it closed. The ax had slashed Qui Gon across the back of the shoulders, down to the ribs. The medic finished and then looked at the two Jedi. "Are you sure you don't want anything to ease the pain?"

"No," said Leila.

"I'll be fine," said Qui Gon, his voice steady. He turned to Clat'Ha. "Now will you go and get some rest."

She nodded wearily. "I'll check back with you later." The doors hissed closed behind her and medic.

Leila tried to sit up straight but went deathly pale from the effort. "Master Windu will have me in a back brace when we get back to Temple."

Qui Gon looked at her. "Your back hurts?"

"I hit the wall hard. Too hard."

Qui Gon eased himself carefully into a chair. His blue eyes turned to Obi Wan and he studied him keenly. "Obi Wan, when you accelerated the ship, what thoughts did you have?"

"Thoughts?" asked Obi Wan doubtfully. "I wasn't think much of anything. I hoped that only pirates would get sucked out and that you and Leila would be far from the doors." He was too exhausted to care too much about giving a wrong answer. Better to just speak to the blunt truth. He discovered he really didn't care if Qui Gon approved or not. He was sick and tired of trying to please the man.

"Where you frightened or angry?" asked Qui Gon.

Leila carefully sat back and winced at the pain in her back. She was tired. Very tired. There was a dull pain burning in her stomach. She frowned slightly and shifted. It dulled slightly.

"Both," said Obi Wan. "I fired on the pirates." His eyes flickered. He realized he had killed. The thought turned him slightly cold. He had taken life. "I killed," he said slowly. "But I didn't do it in anger I did it to save lives."

Qui Gon nodded. "I see," he said softly. It was the answer he had been looking for. It demonstrated that Obi Wan was growing stronger in the ways of the Force. Yet, Qui Gon felt strangely dissatisfied. He tested his heart. Had he actually wanted to boy to fail his test? Qui Gon frowned at himself. That would be a grave flaw for Jedi. But Obi Wan had done honor, great honor, to his training.

Suddenly, there was a viscous pounding at the door.

Leila had been drifting off but she sat straight up at the sound and cried out in pain.

Qui Gon's head came around.

Obi Wan hurried to the door and jerked it open.

Si Treemba rushed in.

Leila was waving her Father away. "Leave me be!"

"What's wrong?" asked Qui Gon, turning. He stood and tenderly stretched his shoulder, to see how well the glue had set.

"Please come quickly," said Si Treemba. "Jemba has stolen out dactyl!"

Leila frowned. "Dactyl?"

"The yellow crystal that they eat," said Qui Gon quietly. "They need it to survive."