Qui Gon shook his head. He went to the window and pushed the heavy curtain aside. He could just make out the mine towers in the gray light. Bandomeer was nothing but mines and scattered farms.
Obi Wan stirred in his sleep. Qui Gon turned to watch the boy, but Obi Wan slept on. And Qui Gon let him. Today would mark the start of their separate missions on this planet. There was a part of him that hoped Yoda himself would call the boy back to the Temple for reassignment. Qui Gon forced himself to be honest. The reason he didn't feel close to Obi Wan because he would not allow himself to. Certainly, the boy had impressed him on the rough journey here. But he knew that Obi Wan had still too blindly guided by ambition and anger. Those were the two qualities that had led to Xanatos's undoing. Qui Gon could not get invalid in such a situation again. He knew how treacherous it could be to rely on an apprentice.
So he would keep his distance from Obi Wan. Soon, he would be sent to observe the Agricultural Crops work on the planet. And Qui Gon would be left with his daughter by his side. Where he preferred her to be.
Their mission was not clear. They had been called on by the Jedi Council to act as Guardians of the Peace at the local government's request. He wasn't sure why though. Most of the people on the planet worked in the mines. Saving as much as they could in order to transport off the planet as soon as possible. No one, save the government, cared what happened to Bandomeer. But recently, that had begun to change. The Meerians had become partners with Arconanas. The two groups had formed a cooperative mine. And all profits where shared. Some miners had already switched over from the main mines, owned by the mighty Offworold Corporation. Qui Gon had a feeling that was why Jedi had been called. Offworld never took well to those who encroached on its territory.
Qui Gon's thoughts drifted once again to Xanatos' surprise message: I've been looking forward to this day.
The message had included a small drawing of a broken circle next to Xanatos' name-there was a gap where the ends should have met.
It was a reminder to Qui Gon. A taunt. Xanatos had a scar on his cheek in that form. Suddenly Qui Gon went cold with a thought. He could be walking into a trap. Or Xanatos could be playing a game with him. He could be galaxies away right now, smiling at the idea that he made his former Master shudder at the sight of his name. That would be something Xanatos would do: confuse Qui Gon, slow him down. Xanatos was clever, and often used that cleverness to concoct cruel games. Qui Gon knew that he did not ever want to meet Xanatos face to face again.
He turned and looked at Leila and Obi Wan, both peacefully sleep. His heart clenched. He didn't want either of them to have to either.