Suddenly, the door flew open.

Leila turned.

A young man stood in the doorway. His shiny black cape was lined in a deep blue that was so dark it looked black. A broken circle scar marked his cheek.

Qui Gon turned. His gaze locked with the intruder's. The moment hung suspended in the air. Then to Qui Gon's surprise, Xanatos broke into a delighted grin.

"Old friend! So you are here! I hardly dared to hope!"

So this was Xanatos. Leila studied him carefully. She felt her Father's alarm. But my, he was handsome. His black hair flowed to his shoulders and his dark blue eyes matched the lining on his cape.

His eyes landed on her. They lit up. "Ah, you must be Leila Jinn. I've heard great tales of you."

"They could be lies," said Leila calmly.

"From the look of you, I doubt it," said Xanatos with a pleasant smile. He turned and gave the Meerian sign of greeting to SonTag, then bowed. "Governor, I must apologize for my lateness. My transport was held up in an ice storm. But I can assure you, getting here on time was very important to me."

SonTag greeted him. "I see that you already know Qui Gon and his daughter."

"Yes, I have had the good fortune to know Qui Gon but I haven't seen him in many years. But…" Xanatos turned to Leila. "I hope that I will have the good fortune to know his daughter a good deal more."

Leila merely regarded him with curiosity.

Xanatos bowed to them both.

There was no mockery in the bow, Qui Gon noted. Just respect. His suspicion grew. What game was this? "I got your message on my arrival," he said neutrally.

"Yes, I had heard you were dispatched from Coruscant," said Xanatos. "And then I received word that I was to be appointed the Offworld representative here. Nothing gave me more satisfaction." He looked at Leila for a long moment, studying her carefully. "I had not, however, heard that you where coming."

"I'm sorry if you're not pleased," said Leila, not meaning it a bit.

Xanatos' smile widened. "I'm sure."

Qui Gon studied Xanatos. His every word rang with sincerity. What was going on?

Leila glanced at her Father. She read his thoughts in his eyes. She looked at Xanatos again, studying him carefully. Yoda had told her much about him, far more than her Father had or probably would have liked.

"I see you mistrust me," said Xanatos, his gaze flickering to Qui Gon. His midnight-blue eyes beamed a keen look at his former Master. "Your sense of caution hasn't changed. But surely other Jedi apprentices have left the path of the Jedi without your mistrust?"

"Every apprentice is free to leave at any time. You know that," said Qui Gon evenly.

"If they leave honorably, there is no mistrust," said Leila.

"And so I left. It was best for me and the Jedi Order," said Xanatos quietly. "I failed to lead that life. Yet it isn't a source of regret. I w s not meant to live the life of a Jedi." Suddenly, he turned and flashed a smile at SonTag, Clat'Ha and VeerTa. "I value my training as a Jedi, but it didn't prepare me the shock of reentry. I must confess that I went astray for a few years. That's the last time Qui Gon knew me."

Qui Gon's eyebrow rose slightly. Is that how Xanatos thought of that time?

"But I've changed. Offworld has given me that chance." Xanatos sat down. He leaned forward, his gaze on VeerTa. "That's why I admire you, VeerTa. Offworld sent me to tell you that the company will not interfere with your project. Rather, more secure Bandomeer is best for us all. I admire your leadership because I love my home planet too. Telos is always in my heart."

At that, Leila's eyes narrowed. This did not seem like the man her Father and Yoda had described to her.

Xanatos turned to SonTag. "Perhaps if Offworld donated ten percent of its profits to Bandomeer reclamation effort, it would convince you of our sincerity?"

The Force surrounding Leila, bent. Her head came around and she looked at the window.

SonTag look flustered. Qui Gon knew that even ten percent of Offworld's profits was an enormous sum. Offworld had never given away any profits to a charitable cause.

The offer had to be a trick. Qui Gon didn't trust it. But he could see that Xanatos had reached SonTag and VeerTa. Only Clat'Ha still looked wary. But then, she had more reason to doubt Offworld. She had tangled with them recently.

Leila's mind was only half on what Xanatos had offered but she had indeed heard it. She was staggered by the offer even though it didn't show. But she still kept her eyes on the window. Something…was wrong. She took a step toward the large window.

Xanatos picked up on Clat'Ha's mistrust and turned to her. "Our actions on Bandomeer are our first demonstration of Offworld's new policy. Offworld has come into new hands."

SonTag nodded. "It's a wise course."

Leila, who had turned and to look at Xanatos, closed her eyes for a second. Then they popped open and her head snapped around.

Qui Gon felt her alarm and turned to look at her.

SonTag was almost beaming at Xanatos. "Bandomeer would be grateful for you help in-"

Suddenly, a huge explosion rocked the room. VeerTa was knocked to the floor. Leila was thrown backward as the window exploded inward. Glass showered everywhere.

Before the others could react, Xanatos was on his feet. He went straight to Leila and knelt next to her.

Qui Gon had his lightsaber in his hand.

Leila sat up slowly.

Xanatos lifted her to her feet and brushed the glass from her.

Qui Gon hurried to her but she was going back to the window. She gasped.

VeerTa had struggled to her feet and was standing next to her.

At first, a large black cloud completely enveloped the view of the city below. Then the wind picked back up, clearing the view.

Qui Gon put his lightsaber away. He rested his hands on Leila's shoulders.

A plume of smoke rose from a minefield. Qui Gon could see the rubble of a large building. One mine towers was down and the other was leaning dangerously. Even as they watched, it tipped and fell, demolishing a shabby building next to it. Probably worker housing, thought Qui Gon. He saw figures stumbling, running away from the disaster. There would be others trapped inside.

Then the sirens began, high pitched and wailing.

"What was that?" asked Leila.

VeerTa was pale. "It was the Home Planet Mine."