Qui Gon was sitting quietly in an empty room with Obi Wan.

The meeting had gone badly. Jemba wanted the Arconans to work for him. In exchange, he would give them the dactyl they needed so terribly to survive. They had refused and the meeting had ended.

Qui Gon knew he should go back to Leila. But he needed a moment to think.

Leila was lying on her bed when the deeper pain began. She gasped aloud as what felt like fire poured into her stomach and lower back and slowly began rising.

Darkness began clouding her vision. Large tears filled her eyes where she realized what happened. She was bleeding internally.

Obi Wan looked at Qui Gon. "I could go back into the Offworld territory," he began slowly. "I know the layout by now.

Qui Gon closed his eyes for a moment, as if Obi Wan's suggestion had pained him as much as his wound. "No," he said flatly. "You will not." The boy was making reckless plans, letting his eagerness take over his judgement. Of course, Qui Gon had to admit, the plans where no more reckless that some of those Qui Gon had thought up in his youth. Still, he felt a disappointment so keen that is surprised him. Were his feelings continually to take him unaware when it came to this boy? "What Jemba is trying to do it wrong."

"I've never seen anyone who was so evil," said Obi Wan.

A sad smile touched Qui Gon's face. "And you have been so many places, young Obi Wan?"

Obi Wan said nothing.

"I for one, have seen far worse."

"How can we make him give the dactyl back?" asked Obi Wan quietly.

"You can't," said Qui Gon. "You can't force people to be just and decent. Such qualities arise from within-they cannot be forced from without. For now, I chose to wait. Perhaps Jemba will have a change of heart."

Obi Wan raised an eyebrow.

Qui Gon shrugged. "Or perhaps some darker fate awaits him. In either case, killing him is not the solution."

Obi Wan's eyes narrow suspiciously. "Are you testing me?" he demanded to know. "Because if you are…"

Qui Gon shook his head and cut Obi Wan off. "No!" he said firmly. "I'm not testing you, Obi Wan. Life tests you! Every day it brings you new chances for triumph or defeat. And if you pass the test, it doesn't make you a Jedi. It makes you human."

Obi Wan stepped back as if Qui Gon had slapped him. Then his eyes narrowed. "I was not going to ask that!" he exploded. "There is something wrong with you. Very wrong. Every time I open my mouth, you think I am pleading and begging you to take me as your Padawan. The decision has been made and I have accepted that! But you haven't!"

Qui Gon stared at him.

"I understand, Qui Gon Jinn. I understand that you cannot let go of the past. You cannot let go of your last Padawan. And I do feel sorry for you. What a terrible thing is must be to be bound by the past." He turned and strode to the door. He stopped and turned.

Qui Gon studied him with new eyes. He now saw something that he had not seen before. The boy had understood that his decision had been final. Qui Gon knew he should have been relieved. The boy's anger had left him. But something else was gone from his eyes as well. Obi Wan's hopes for the future was also gone. Qui Gon watched as Obi Wan turned and wiped his face with his sleeve. Was the boy crying? Had he hurt him so deeply?

But when Obi Wan turned back around, the sweat was gone and his eyes where clear.

Qui Gon now saw the worst kind of defeat. And it stung him deeply. After all his noble talk of winning the hearts of enemies, he realized that he had crushed the heart of a boy who had only hoped to become his ally.

"I was speaking of a test," said Obi Wan, calmer than before. "If this was indeed a test from you, I do not want to take it. Si Treemba's life is at stake here. And I do not take tests with the lives of my friends." He turned back to the door and opened it. "I'm going to check on Leila."

Obi Wan was still frowning when he opened the door where Leila was. He was annoyed with Qui Gon. So annoyed he couldn't even put it into words.

But all that annoyance left him in one breath when he saw Leila.

She was pale as death. And her lips where blue. Her long dark eyelashes where the only color on her face.

"Leila!"

Slowly her eyes opened and flickered to him.

Obi Wan ran to her and grabbed her hand. It was freezing. He rubbed. "Leila, what happened?"

"It hurts," she whispered. "So bad." She groaned softly and her eyes slid close again.

"Leila!" Obi Wan touched her face. It was warm. Too warm. "What hurts, Leila?" he tired. "What hurts?"

But she didn't move.

Obi Wan stood there for a spilt second. "I'll be right back." He turned and ran from the room.

Qui Gon's head came up when the door banged open.

Obi Wan was standing in the doorway.

Qui Gon felt his alarm and stood slowly. "What's happened?"

"It's Leila."