Chapter 2

By the time Obi Wan arrived, Qui Gon had merged with the Force, leaving a beaten body where he had fought. Near Qui Gon, Jar Jar lay on the ground whimpering. Through the emotions lancing through him, Obi Wan went to Jar Jar.

"Jar Jar, what happened here?" He tried to keep his voice steady.

There is no emotion; there is only peace. He reminded himself.

Jar Jar kept looking around wildly, not speaking anything coherently. Obi Wan grabbed him by the collar of his vest and, as evenly as possible, repeated the question.

"Mesa no know. First da Jedi doins good, then the Jedi dead. Mesa no know. Poor Qui Gon get maxy big beatens by red Jedi."

Blast his infernal gibberish!

"Are you saying a Jedi killed Qui Gon?"

"Yah! A Jedi beatens Qui Gon. He was all reddens with a big otello lightsaber."

This makes no sense...

"Where is the handmaiden?" Obi Wan asked, still puzzled over what he was hearing. The markings on Qui Gon's body only confirmed what the shocked Gungan was saying.

"Bombad Jedi takens her to Naboo. He told me to tellens you." Obi Wan handed the care of Jar Jar over to one of the Queen's security personnel. The last of the Queen's personal belongings had been taken by eopie back to Mos Espa for storage. As Obi Wan started carrying Qui Gon's body back to the ship, a Toydarian and two Gamorrean guards rode up on a landspeeder.

"Chuba! Koona t'chuta? Where do you think you are going?" The Toydarian demanded.

The Toydarian seemed to be ignoring the fact that his former business partner was slung over the young man's shoulder.

"The ship is yours, but I need to send a message to Coruscant before you take it." And Obi Wan started back with his trek towards the ship.

"I don't think so, outlander. You want to send a message from my ship then you are gonna pay me, and not in Republic credits like your friend there."

With Obi Wan's free hand he called his lightsaber to it and drew the weapon next to the Toydarian's throat. "Hogwa boska punyoo!" He shouted at the Gamorreans. "I think you are failing to notice the bad day I seem to be having. I'm going to send a message from that ship, eniki?" Trying to sound threatening, he tried his best to summon as much Huttese from his old lessons as he could.

The Toydarian stuttered, "Ootmian J-jedi...Of course. My ship is your ship."

Obi Wan retracted his blade and pulled out his comm as he thanked the Toydarian.

"Commander Typho, I will meet you at the rendezvous in one hour. Keep the Queen hidden."

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Aboard the ship, the holocomm was alive, showing the faces of Masters Yoda and Windu. Their faces echoed the disturbance that they must have felt at Qui Gon's death. The council was never too keen to accept his stubborn nature, but he was still their friend. At the moment though, they were contemplating this news of how he had died. Obi Wan had appraised them of the situation and now it was simply a matter of what to do next.

"If kill Qui Gon this enemy could, then dangerous he truly is," Yoda interrupted their contemplation. "Reckless Qui Gon was, yet just as skilled as well. Dangerous an opponent with the Force can be. Caution we must excercise."

"Obi Wan, we will send you a shuttle to take back to Naboo. We want you to form a resistance. You are not to hunt down this assailant. Do I make myself clear?"

Obi Wan clamped down on his emotions, "Yes, Master. What of his kidnapping of the handmaiden though? What is her significance in this?"

Master Windu stroked his chin as he answered. "We are playing sabaac with a formidable opponent. Too many things fail to make sense. Maybe during your forming of the resistance you can come to an answer to our questions. Until then we shall consult the Force."

Yoda broke in at this point, "Remember Obi Wan, vengence the path to the dark side that is. Turn you into the enemy that you seek that path will. Destroy Qui Gon's memory vengence will."

Obi Wan knew Yoda was reading him fairly more accurate than he had been willing to admit before, and Yoda's words rang true. "Yes, my masters. I will take care. May the Force be with you."

As he reached to shut off the transmission, Yoda interrupted again. "If succeed you do, then considered your trials this will be."

Obi Wan nodded his thanks and closed the transmission.