9

"So you see our plan? If we can liberate the goods, we can show the people that the Syndicat had been depriving them of food and medical supplies. They will rise in revolt! All we need is your help."

Qui-Gon sat in the meditative position on the floor in Kaadi's house. He had tried to meditate, but his mind would not clear. His heart would not let him focus on anything but his padawan. Was Obi-Wan still alive? Where did they send him? The boy had acted like a Jedi. He did the only thing that he had been trained to do. He acted with selflessness, but did he know what would happen? When Obi-Wan sacrificed himself for Guerra did he know that he would be renewed? Would he have done anything different if he had? That question he at least could answer. No, of course not. The Jedi Master had not known Obi-Wan long, but he could already see that Obi-Wan would give up anything to help others; especially to help a friend.

New questions formed in his mind. Now that Obi-Wan was gone how many people would die because he wouldn't be there to save them? Qui-Gon knew in his heart that Obi-Wan would be a great Jedi. He had known from the time he had first watched him fight. It wasn't exactly a vision. It was a feeling. The boy was so young then. The boy didn't stick out in his memory then. He was just another initiate who waited for the honor of becoming a padawan. Not his. Every time Qui-Gon Jinn looked at a young boy he was reminded of the loss of his padawan. He did not choose a padawan. He watched them fight at the request of Yoda.

When Qui-Gon watched Obi-Wan fight he knew in his mind that the boy would be picked to become an apprentice. Another knight was bound to see the potential. Another knight could train him, but not him. It was a shock to Qui-Gon to hear from Yoda's own words that Obi-Wan was to become a farmer because no one had picked him. He had felt pity for the boy and an almost outrage at fate. He also felt a sense of guilt. He had not chosen the boy either and now instead of saving the innocent from the evils of the galaxy the boy would be growing crops. The galaxy needed farmers as much as it needed knights. There are some who say it is more noble than being a knight. Evil came and went, but hunger never went away. No one resented a farmer for raising crops. If there wasn't enough food to feed everyone no one blamed the farmer. The farmer did the best they could. They understood this. It was not so with being a Jedi Knight. Qui-Gon learned from an early age that he could not save everyone. There were always casualties no matter how hard he tried. Many times he was blamed and almost hated because he could not save a loved one. A farmer was never blamed.

Qui-Gon thought back with a bitter smile about how Yoda had to practically force them together (as if the will of the Force wasn't enough). He still hadn't figured out if Yoda had conspired with the Supreme Chancellor to get the two going to the same planet. When Yoda wanted something to happen he usually got his way. He always ordered Qui-Gon to watch the young apprentices fight. After each time he had asked Qui-Gon if he had chosen another padawan. Each time Qui-Gon said the same thing. "No. Maybe next year..."Obi-Wan was the first boy that Yoda had ever mentioned by name. He had a feeling that deep within the troll's heart there was a deep compassion for the boy.

How painful would it be for him to learn that the Obi-Wan he helped guide for many years was gone? Did Yoda already sense it? Obi-Wan had not in the literal sense died, but ceased to exist. How hard would it be to tell Yoda? The boy certainly had friends too. How would they react when they heard the news?

Qui-Gon fingered his comlink lightly. He didn't know if he should tell the Jedi Council now of his failure or wait until the situation on Phindar was resolved. The Council would undoubtedly need to know that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had been side tracked from their original mission and they had to know the truth about Obi-Wan… But it could wait. Let Obi-Wan's friends be happily ignorant for at least one more day. Qui-Gon wasn't sure he could stand the shame of reporting that he had already lost his padawan. He didn't really have a good record with his padawans. One turned to the dark side while the other sentenced to a life of emptiness.

What of the boy's training? Years spent at the Jedi temple in order to teach him patience and the ways of the Force, all gone? Was that all for nothing now? All of the struggles and triumphs wiped away as if they didn't exist! Every failure he learned from, every achievement he made no matter how small, every bit of wisdom the Jedi masters strove to teach him, gone. What would Obi-Wan become then? He would still have the Force. He was Force sensitive and perhaps that gave him a better chance to survive, but he had no knowledge of how to use it. He would one day discover he had some power by accident and maybe even try to hone that power. Without the Jedi he would never accomplish it fully. He would try to master the power and not become one with it. He needed guidance, Qui-Gon's guidance.

Would he turn to the dark side like Xanatos? The side that offered the easy way out and the easy explanations was easy to take. No one was incorruptible. Qui-Gon immediately dismissed that idea. Obi-Wan lost his memory, not his heart. No memory wipe could take away his goodness.

'But there was the anger. You felt it when he fought for you. The anger that he hasn't mastered yet. The anger that made you not take him as your padawan. What of that? Anger is the path of the dark side.' His thoughts spoke.

Qui-Gon shook his head. He refused to believe such a thing.

He knew that he should be formulating a plan, but every idea he had seemed to evaporate into the air. There was nothing he could do for Obi-Wan now. If he tried to find him he would sentence the Phindians to their tyrannical government's control. They would be sentenced to death or a fate worse than death, renewing. Qui-Gon knew that he would have to wait to rescue Obi-Wan. To leave the planet would not only be selfish, but unjedi-like. He could only hope that Obi-Wan was safe and that some kind soul had taken pity on the boy and taken him in. Perhaps if the boy was showed kindness he would thrive and find a portion of the self he had lost. Compassion always brought out the best in people.

Qui-Gon's thoughts were drifting hopelessly in circles. The boy was gone. He had to help the boy. He had to help Guerra and Paxxi first. Where did they send the boy? The boy was gone. How was he going to find where they sent him? Help Guerra and Paxxi... The logic was simple. He couldn't help Obi-Wan unless he helped Guerra and Paxxi. This logic was not helping him though. An hour passed and Qui-Gon was no nearer a solution for both problems. Meditation wasn't helping. Well, that wasn't completely true. He would actually have to clear his mind for mediation to work.

He sensed the eyes of the two brothers on him. They were probably wondering if the Jedi Knight had lost his mind. He was sitting there, unmoving. They probably assumed that he had given in to despair, but Qui-Gon was too much of a Jedi to give in to such an emotion. He could feel their anxiety as much as his own. They had placed great hope in him and Obi-Wan and risked much to get them here. They didn't want to watch their gamble slowly deflate around them. They were showing better poise than the Jedi. That was one of the greatest things about the mystery of the Living Force. Ordinary beings doing ordinary things could sometimes become even more powerful than a Jedi. That is why he often put trust into what some would call 'pathetic life forms'. He knew if the Living Force pulsed strongly within them without the dark stain of pride getting in the way much could be accomplished.

Guerra and Paxxi were such. They were so ordinary on the surface, but deep down they were quite different. Alone they weren't much, but together they were as strong and unmovable as a mountain. They looked to him for help just as young Obi-Wan had looked to him for guidance. He couldn't help the boy, but he vowed to help the brothers.

"I am not giving up," Qui-Gon said with his eyes still closed. "I'm forming a plan."

Qui-Gon couldn't see their faces, but he sensed their relief.

"Of course Jedi-Gon," Guerra said with a sort of breathy quality. "We knew you wouldn't abandon us."

"Yes so!" Paxxi chorused. "We know Jedi don't give up."

"We were worried a tiny bit." Guerra admitted.

"Yes so."

The brothers seemed reluctant to mention Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon didn't know whether he was grateful or disturbed by this. Did they think he was weak? Did they think he would blanch when he heard the boy's name? Qui-Gon couldn't help but wonder if it was true.

"It is such bad news about our friend Obawan." Paxxi said.

Qui-Gon monitored his feelings. Despair did not sink in. He still felt guilt, but he understood that now was not the time. There was much to do and the quicker it was done the faster he would find the boy. The better chance he would still be alive.

'Unless it is already too late.' The sinister voice inside of him said again.

Qui-Gon ignored the voice and held back his worry. He had to trust that there was a solution to both problems. He had to let the Force guide him. There was only one thing he could do, listen. Qui-Gon closed his eyes. There must be a reverse to the memory wipe. There must be a way to break the Syndicat's control on the planet. The two problems were closely linked. The Syndicat gained their power through fear; fear of death and the memory wipe.

The two brothers exchanged a glance with each other. The Jedi seemed to have reverted back into himself again. They didn't know if this was a good or bad thing. They decided to bring him back to real life. There was no time to idle around. They knew this. It was a lesson they had to learn many times over. If they had grieved every time a friend or family member was lost they would be dead by now. They were not heartless; far from it. They cared too much for their friends, for themselves. Moving on was a way to help them and they needed to help them. Guerra needed to bring the Syndicat down to make sure Obi-Wan's sacrifice was not in vain just as much as Paxxi needed to make sure that no one else ended up like his friend Nivva. They needed to know that all the pain and misery that they and others went through was worth it in the end.

The Jedi could help them. They knew this. They somehow felt it with their hearts. When Obi-Wan showed up on the mining platform on Bandomeer it was only a few days before he had freed himself and Guerra. The Jedi could do amazing things.

"And so what are you thinking Jedi-Gon?" Guerra asked.

It was at that moment when everything fell into place. The idea sprung into Qui-Gon's head like someone had just now whispered it into his open ear. He basked in the warm light of the Force and turned back to Guerra and Paxxi.

"We must act quickly. Tomorrow, no later. Timing is going to be very crucial for this. They will be distracted, almost frantic because Prince Beju is arriving. What better time to reveal to the people that there is no food and supply shortage?" Qui-Gon said.

Paxxi nodded.

"They will be angry. They will see that there is no reason to be hungry." Paxxi commented.

"This shortage has lasted for months and the only reason no one has openly revolted is because they're afraid that it won't change anything. They're afraid that they'll be just as hungry then as they are now." Qui-Gon continued.

"Show them a reason. Open the warehouses when the Prince arrives. He will see the confusion, the mob and will shy away from the alliance. Wait for the people to see precious and desperately needed bacta being loaded on to an outsider's ship. This alliance with Beju will be destroyed before it has even begun."

The brothers nodded.

"Can Kaadi rally the people?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Yes so." Guerra answered. "She knows a good idea when she sees it."

"That is so." Paxxi agreed. "She will love this."

Qui-Gon stroked his chin and looked deep in thought.

"That will be our diversion. The people will flood the streets and take out the supplies of the warehouses. The Syndicat will panic at this revolt. It will be total chaos. They'll need to send every available guard just to keep the mob in line. We will take advantage of this and go straight to headquarters with the anti-register device. That's when we will steal the treasury."

There was a short silence as the brothers processed the plan in their head.

"In the daytime?" Paxxi asked skeptically.

"It will be dangerous." Guerra said.

"Yes so, and Duenna will not be able to help us." Paxxi furthered.

Qui-Gon knew they were afraid. Much could go wrong. There was a chance that many Phindians will die with this diversion, but there was no time for disagreeing. Qui-Gon did not dispute the fact that it was going to be dangerous.

"Are you with me?"

Qui-Gon eyed the two with a hard stare. He knew that he didn't have to intimidate them. The brothers would agree because they felt they must.

"Yes so." They chorused together, resolve strengthening their words.

The Jedi smiled. This was the first step towards getting the boy back. He felt it. He wished the Force had shown him the whole picture and not just part, but the Force was wise. It had shown Qui-Gon exactly what he needed not to get distracted. Qui-Gon sighed. Tomorrow would be a long day.

A/N: Well, this took longer than expected, but oh well. Wow, I didn't expect anyone to answer my question… I don't know why. You guys rock! Spellcaster Hikaru: Nivva isn't in the book, but he should be! Tiamath: Yes, Obi-Wan does retain some muscle memory. I'm glad you picked up on that.