Author's notes:

This story takes place in 34 BBY, two years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and five years after Obi-Wan and Siri's breakup in Secrets of the Jedi. Obi-Wan is 23, Siri is 21. I set the events of Obi-Wan's mission to Mandalore (where he met Satine) as 36 to 35 BBY, one year before this story takes place. The idea for this story came from one too many sessions of playing Star Wars: Bounty Hunter on the PS2 (I've had mine for 15 years) and wondering what would happen if Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Adi Gallia, and Siri found themselves quelling a prison riot on Oovo IV similar to that depicted in the game. One idea led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. I aim for a darker, grittier, more real-world-like interpretation of the Star Wars universe in my writing, with shades of James Bond and Indiana Jones thrown in. Still, I see my work as something of a love letter to the Jedi Apprentice series. Enjoy!

Prologue

A Shot in the Dark

What a place to work in.

Flickering neon signs chirped in a mechanical crackle, casting light onto the beings below them and giving their flesh an odd, multicolored glow. The stench of a nearby storm drain hung in the air, along with the faint sounds of music from a cantina at the edge of the street. Occasionally, drunken laughter rang out from its barely-lit interior. The whirring of passing speeders and the odd buzzes and beeps of droids could be heard at intervals. At some corners, figures lurked in the shadows, clearly waiting for a customer, or a victim. Amongst the crowds were scattered groups of underworld police, clad in their distinctive helmets and masks. Some of the figures in the shadows would gently back away and attempt to look inconspicuous as they saw the police officers walk by. The Twi'lek sat in a well-lit café, taking it all in. Coruscant's lower levels. The place the tourists, the wealthy, and the Senators all ignore. Even the Jedi Council isn't too keen on this place, or on me. No matter. We all swore to uphold peace and justice in the galaxy, and this is my way of doing just that, where no one else will. Master Figaro Leet was a native of the Coruscant undercity, and he knew its savagery better than most Jedi ever would. Although taken as an infant, as all Jedi were, he had family still living on the lower levels, and many of his relatives had chosen far darker ways of living. A number of his cousins had died running with gangs, and his younger sister took to prostitution to survive. She became a spice addict, and one day angered the wrong client. Leet's mind immediately went back to that grim day in the hospital, where he saw his sister for the first time in his life, her face scorched by acid and her mind barely able to comprehend the world around her. He remembered catching the man that did it during a police raid on a spice den, and holding his lightsaber to the man's neck. How I hated him, how I wanted to see him suffer for what he did…Leet suddenly realized where his mind was going, and released his anger into the Force. That won't help. What happened was terrible, but the dark side is never the answer. Leet had put all his energy into fighting gangs alongside the Coruscant Security Force's Anti-Gang Unit, and the AGU counted him as a member in all but name. The Jedi Council had always been suspicious of his motives (attachment, after all, was forbidden for a Jedi) but they never argued with his helping get criminals off the streets. Leet suspected that this was their way of getting rid of him. Better to put my skills to use in some unsung job rather than put themselves at loggerheads with a perfectly able Jedi. Returning to the moment, Leet saw a man with a familiar face approaching him. The man sat down next to him and spoke.

"Buy me a drink?"

"What would you like?"

"Corellian rum. Straight."

"Put it on my tab."

"Good to see you, Leet."

"Likewise, Clooso."

Inspector Clooso was one of the AGU's most accomplished officers, and Leet's best friend and constant companion in the undercity.

"Let's go for a walk, Leet."

The two rose from their seats and walked into the street.

"So, what have you found out, Clooso?"

"Your suspicions were correct, Leet. Ni'Pa's boys are definitely selling Sith artifacts."

Leet felt a surge of dread at the news. He quickly cleared his mind and focused on the task at hand.

"Very well. Do you have any idea where they're getting these artifacts? The Hutts certainly have power, even here, but Sith artifacts still aren't easy to acquire, much less sell without attracting the Order's attention."

"We have some leads. I've got my best officers working on them now, but it'll be some time before we have anything conclusive."

"Do you have any leads in particular that seem promising?"

"Well, I don't want to get your hopes up, but there is one in particular that looks like it might break this case."

"Who's your suspect, then?"

The two beings had stopped in the middle of the street, and the Gran could tell they were discussing something important. Not beings, just targets. Remember your fundamentals of marksmanship. He dropped his finger into the trigger guard of his rifle as he centered his crosshairs on the Twi'lek's head. Contract said that he's a Jedi, so I should take him out first. Then, I nail the human. The scope's targeting computer automatically focused it in on the Twi'lek's head as the Gran prepared to take the shot, the display flashing green as he aligned the rifle. Now, breathe. Slow and relaxed. That's it. He paid attention to his heartbeat and slowly began drawing his finger back. Then, he noticed a slight variation in the heat on the Twi'lek's face. He knows I'm here. The Twi'lek whipped around, staring right into his killer's face as the Gran felt the trigger break.

Clooso looked intently at his friend, who was now turned towards the distant rooftop. He had abruptly ended their conversation, and something on his face said that he sensed danger. The Force…I never really understood it. Glad that's his domain. The back of Leet's head suddenly burst open, and he fell to the ground like a puppet. Clooso could only stare at his friend's corpse, now lying before him with a surprised expression on his face and a small hole in his forehead. Clooso quickly regained his senses. Sithspit…sniper. Got to find cover…He instinctively ran for a nearby alleyway. The last thing he felt was a blow to his head.

The human fell face-first into the alleyway, his legs still in the street. Pedestrians, seeing the shooting unfold, now ran in every direction. The Gran lowered his rifle and headed for the stairs, disassembling it as he went. Inside the stairwell, he took his now broken-down rifle and put it in its place in his backpack, sealing and slinging the pack once he had finished. Great. Just need to get to my speeder, let the client know that his contract is complete, and get my credits.

Obi-Wan Kenobi awoke to a pounding sound on his door. "Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan? Are you awake?" He recognized the voice of his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. "Coming, Master. Coming." He groggily swung himself off of his cot and went to the door of his room. He opened it to see Qui-Gon standing there, fully dressed with his lightsaber hanging from his belt. "What is it, Master?"

"Get dressed and get ready to head out into the city. We're being sent to a crime scene."

"Crime scene?"

"Yes. A Jedi Master was just murdered."