“I know she’ll be fine, Padawan,” Qui-Gon replied with great confidence, “just as I know in my heart that the villains who wounded her will be brought to justice.” “Which villains?” Obi-Wan asked. “The factory droids, the Bartokks, or the Trade Federation?” “I believe they’re all connected,” Qui-Gon mused, stroking his beard. “Each bit of information is like a puzzle piece. The Trade Federation ordered fifty droid starfighters from Trinkatta’s factory; When Trinkatts refused to install hyperdrive engines, his test pilot vanished, scaring Trinkatta into building the star fighters. Someone found out about the star1ighters and was worried enough to send a data card to Coruscant, alerting the. Jedi Council. Now it seems the starfighters have vanished as well.” “Don’t forget the Bartokks,” Obi-Wan added. “They broke into the central droid control room so they could reprogram Trinkatta’s droids to take over the starship factory.” “But why?” Qui-Gon pondered. “What did the Bartokks want? The droid starfighters are no longer in the factory. Why would they?”
“If you’ll excuse me,” Trinkstts interrupted, “I’ve got travel plans. I’m getting off this planet before the Trade Federation comes looking for their starfighters!” Suddenly, Qui-Gon Jinn’s eyes went wide. “There’s a good chance we might still be able to find the starfighters,” he mused. “How’s that?” Trinkatta inquired, blinking his reptilian eyelids. “The Bartokks travel in hives of fifteen,” Qui-Gon noted, “but only two remained at the observation tower. The other thirteen Bartokks must still be on Esseles!”
“Why would they still be here if the starfighters are gone?” Obi-Wan asked, bewildered by his Master’s logic. “The starfighters are gone from Trinkatta’s factory,” Qui-Gon stressed, “but they haven’t left Esseles!” Seizing Trinkatta by the shoulders, Qui-Gon lifted the Kloodavian and deposited him in the back of the landspeeder.
“We’re not parting company yet, Trinkatta,” the Jedi Master said solemnly. “You’re going to help us find the droid starfighters.”