The success of the Jedi empowered the Phindians. The surged forward, crying in rage. Qui-Gon saw Baftu suddenly pale as the line of Syndicat guards broke. Guerra was the first to leap forward, a blaster in one hand and a bowcaster in the other. He drew back the bow of the bowcaster, and the laser shot out, straight at Baftu.
Baftu cried out and grabbed a Syndicat guard. He blocked the blow with the guard, who fell. Baftu turned and ran, with Guerra in pursuit.
Obi-Wan leaped over a pile of fallen Syndicat guards and took off after Baftu and Guerra. Qui-Gon evaded a blow from a force pike easily and swiveled, looking for Paxxi.
He spotted Paxxi and Kaadi off to his right. They had been surrounded by Syndicat guards with electro-jabbers. Qui-Gon cut down a guard heading toward him and leaped high over whoever was in his way. He hit the ground and used the momentum to leap up onto a partially collapsed wall.
But he was too late. A Syndicat guard jabbed Paxxi, whose arm went numb, and he dropped his blaster. Kaadi rushed to help Paxxi as another guard fired.
The blaster fire hit Kaadi, and she fell. With his good arm, Paxxi threw the anti-register device he held at the guard. Blaster fire hit the device, causing it to ricochet back at the guard. Qui-Gon leaped into the fray, his lightsaber humming. He struck the killing blow at the guard, then turned to the next. Together, he and Paxxi finished off the rest of the guards.
Paxxi knelt by Kaadi.
“Don’t look so sad,” Kaadi said weakly. “I’m still alive.”
Qui-Gon quickly tossed two blasters to Paxxi. “Stay with her,” he told him.
Quickly, he turned and ran. He found a medic who was distributing supplies and directed her toward Paxxi and Kaadi. Then he headed for the spaceport.
When he reached it, Baftu was surrounded by assassin droids and Syndicat guards. Prince Beju’s ship stood, half loaded with bacta. While the guards protected Baftu, Phindians hurriedly unloaded the bacta from the cargo hold under fire. More and more rebels appeared to cover the line of those unloading bacta. Guerra and Obi-Wan were in the thick of it. Qui-Gon saw the blue glow of Obi-Wan’s lightsaber slashing and jabbing as the boy moved, evading blaster fire.
Qui-Gon hurried to support Obi-Wan. But before he could strike a single blow, Baftu suddenly turned and dashed toward the entry ramp of the ship.
“He’s trying to escape!” Guerra shouted. He turned to the guards. “You see where your leader’s loyalty lies – with himself only!”
Baftu stumbled as he reached the ramp. The Syndicat guards turned. The closest one tackled Baftu and brought him down. They both rolled to the bottom of the ramp.
Guerra hurried forward. He placed his blaster against Baftu’s head. “I arrest you in the name of the Phindian people,” he cried.
“Kill the rebel!” Baftu screamed at the guards.
The Syndicat guards exchanged glances. Their arms dropped to their sides.
“Destroy him!” Baftu screamed again, this time to the assassin droids.
But Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon leaped as one from opposite ends. Lightsabers flashing, they cut the droids down like twigs.
Ion engines suddenly roared to life. The ship began to move.
“Prince Beju,” Obi-Wan said. “He must have escaped from the cargo hold.”
The ship rose slowly, jerkily, into the air.
“Let him go,” Qui-Gon said. “His fate lies elsewhere.”
Chapter 20
The following week, Obi-Wan Qui-Gon, Paxxi and Guerra stood in the town market. Around them the same stalls that had been empty so long were heaped with abundance. Supplies, fresh fruit, circuits for navi-computers, bedding, blankets. Phindians milled about with baskets on their arms brimming with fresh food and flowers.
Yoda had asked the Jedi to remain on Phindar until the provisional government had been set up. The process had taken a few days to arrange. Currently, a coalition of former council members and the last official governor of Phindar were running the planet’s affairs. Elections were planned for the following month for the next official governor.
Baftu and his tops lieutenants were being held in a high-security prison awaiting trial. Most of the Syndicat guards had been memory-wiped by Baftu, and some had returned to their families in hopes that love and care would restore any memories remaining.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had met the Derida brothers in the marketplace in order to view Paxxi’s monument. He had destroyed the memory-wipe droid and mounted the scraps on a pedestal for all Phindians to see. The shuddered at the sight of it, and were fervently glad it had been dismantled for good.
“It was an excellent idea, good brother,” Guerra said the Paxxi. “Evil must be faced in order to be conquered.”
“Yes so, good brother,” Paxxi agreed.
“How is Kaadi?” Qui-Gon asked. “Better, I hope.”
Paxxi grinned. “Already ordering her medics around. She will be back at home at the end of the week.”
Guerra glanced around the marketplace, a look of sudden sadness on his face. “I am content,” he said. “Not so, I lie. So much evil has been conquered, yes. But on this day I hoped also to have Terra with us as she was.”
“She died as she once was, good brother,” Paxxi said, his face a mirror of Guerra’s sadness. He slung his long arm around his brother. Guerra did the same. They faced each other and sighed.
“We are sad, yet not so.” Guerra said.
“Yes so,” Paxxi said. “Our world is free, and we have the wise Jedi-Gon and the brave Obawan to thank.”
“There’s only one problem,” Obi-Wan said. “Now that there is plenty for all again on Phindar, there’s no black market. What will you do?”
“Excellent point, Obawan,” Guerra said. “I, too, have wondered this. Especially since my good brother destroyed the anti-register device.”
“He saved Kaadi’s life,” Qui-Gon pointed out.
“Just so,” Guerra admitted. “Yet the sale of the device would have brought us great riches.”
“It would have brought about your downfall,” Obi-Wan said. “There was evil surrounding that device. You were able to use it for good. But most would not.”
“As usual, you are most wise, Obawan,” Guerra admitted with a sigh. “Yet it was so much fortune to lose.”
“And we still do not know what we shall do,” Paxxi said. “We have been rebels for so long, and thieves even longer. There is no place for us here on our beloved world.”
Qui-Gon looked amused. “I wouldn’t say that. What about the upcoming elections? Phindar will need a new governor. You two are heroes at the moment. Why doesn’t one of you run for the post?”
Guerra laughed. “Me, governor? Ha, I laugh at Jedi-Gon’s joke! I would make such a terrible politician. Wait, I lie! I would be magnificent!”
“You would make the better governor, good brother,” Paxxi said. “Wait, I lie as well! I would be better! I shall run!”
“Well, you’ll have to decide between yourselves,” Qui-Gon said. “It is time for us to part. Obi-Wan and I must get to Gala.”
“I will take you!” Paxxi cried. “It would be my happiness!”
“Thank you, but we have a transport ship,” Qui-Gon said. “This time, I would like to reach my destination.”
Guerra reached out to clasp Obi-Wan’s hands. “You are my great good friend, Obawan. If you ever need the service of the new governor of Phindar, you have only to ask.”
“To ask me!” Paxxi said cheerfully.
“Not so, my good brother,” Guerra said. “Me.”
“Farewell,” Qui-Gon said. “We will meet again, I’m sure.”
The brothers said good-bye by wrapping their long arms around the Jedi at once and squeezing three times. When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walked away, the Derida brothers were still arguing over who would return for governor.
Qui-Gon was still smiling as they headed for the spaceport. “Our next mission will be far more difficult, I fear,’ he said. “But the stability of Gala is crucial to this
star system. We’re needed there more than ever.”
“I’m not looking forward to meeting up with Prince Beju again,” Obi-Wan admitted. “I hope he doesn’t win the election.’
“We are there merely to observe,” Qui-Gon reminded him.
“Yes, that is always true,” Obi-Wan said. “Yet we always seem to end up in the middle of things.”
They entered the spaceport where their transport was waiting.
“I’m glad of one thing, Padawan,” Qui-Gon said. “You have held on to your memories.”
“Your river stone helped me,” Obi-Wan said, placing his hand over his inner pocket. “I did not realize the stone was Force-sensitive. I should have known you would have given me something of great value.’
“Force-sensitive?” Qui-Gon frowned. “What do you know. I thought it was just a pretty rock.”
Obi-Wan gave him a startled glance. Qui-Gon’s face was impassive as he strode toward the transport. Was his Master kidding or serious? He had no idea.
They started up the entry ramp. A smile stole over Obi-Wan’s face. Another mission lay ahead. Perhaps through its trials he would grow to understand Qui-Gon. But somehow he thought not. It would likely take a lifetime before he figured his Master out.
Jude Watson, Star Wars - Jedi Apprentice 03 - The Hidden Past
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