[Jedi Apprentice] - Special Edition - 02(12)

The pilot pointed to a small box in the corner. “You should find everything you need in there,” she said.

Obi-Wan brought the tools over to his Master and crouched down beside him. “This symbol is becoming familiar,” he noted. “But the device itself does not look too sophisticated.”

“It should not be a problem to defuse,” Qui-Gon said, casting a glance toward the captain. “But I’m not so sure about our pilot’s temper.”

Obi-Wan cracked a smile. Leave it to Qui-Gon to find humor in a moment like this.

Qui-Gon opened the tool kit and pulled out a long, slender pick. After carefully inserting it into the side of the bomb casing, he slid it back and forth until he heard an audible beep. The box opened and several strands of colorful wire popped out. A timer behind the wires indicated that the bomb would go off in less than a minute.

“Not much time,” Obi-Wan murmured quietly.

Qui-Gon knew his Padawan was right, and he had not expected to see so many different colored wires inside the bomb. It was a more complicated design than he’d originally thought.

Focusing his energy on the bomb, he snipped all of the red wires. But the timer did not switch off. It now read forty seconds, and was counting down.

“Perhaps it is this black wire,” Obi-Wan suggested quietly.

Qui-Gon did not think this was likely. It was the only black wire, and too obvious a solution. But as he studied the wire, he sensed that there was indeed something significant about it. Still, he wasn’t sure that cutting it was the right thing to do.

“Twenty seconds,” Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon looked at the bomb more closely. One end of the black wire ran directly into the metal inside the casing. At the other end the black plasticoating ended a few millimeters before the wire touched the metal. Underneath the missing black coating was a series of bright yellow wires. They fanned out to form a row and slid neatly into a metal jack.

“Ten seconds.”

Qui-Gon reached down and placed his thumb and forefinger on either side of the yellow wires. Closing his eyes, he twisted them away from the jack. There was a small popping sound as the wires pulled free.

The timer on the bomb continued to count down. But when it reached one second, it suddenly stopped.

“You did it, Master,” Obi-Wan said, sounding relieved.

Qui-Gon opened his eyes and saw the number frozen on the timer. “With time to spare,” he said wryly.

“I guess you Jedi are good for something,” Elda grumped. But there was humor in her voice, and she was smiling broadly. “Thank you,” she added quietly.

Qui-Gon put the tools back into the case and got to his feet. “You’re welcome,” he said.

Back in the hold, Qui-Gon closed his eyes and started to meditate for the second time that day. The planted bomb was something else to consider. Was it meant to kill them, or simply throw them off guard? And who had planted it? It must have been someone who was following them closely, someone who was highly prepared. Not much time had elapsed between the Jedi arranging their travel and their subsequent takeoff.

Qui-Gon began to breathe deeply, letting his mind clear and then focus. But something was interfering with his concentration. His Padawan was pacing.

Qui-Gon opened an eye. “Why don’t you try some meditation?” he asked.

Obi-Wan nodded and sat down. Even after he had stopped pacing the room, Qui-Gon could tell he was still agitated. With both eyes open now, he studied his Padawan. Obi-Wan sat cross-legged in a chair with his eyes closed. But his shoulders were tensed, and beneath his eyelids Qui-Gon could see movement.

“Are you all right, Obi-Wan?” Qui-Gon asked softly.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and met his Master’s gaze. “Yes,” he said slowly. And then, “Well, I don’t know.”

“You are afraid,” Qui-Gon stated plainly.

A look of shame came over Obi-Wan’s face, but he did not deny it. “My heart is full of dread,” he admitted. “I wish we were on another mission - any other mission. I am not sure I have the courage to face the Holocron… “

Qui-Gon leaned toward his apprentice. “You have every right to be afraid,” he said quietly. “Allow yourself to feel the fear - really feel it - and then let the emotion go. If it comes back, feel it again and let it go again. There should be no shame in one’s emotions.”

“I am not at fault if it comes back?” Obi-Wan asked, looking up.

“No, Padawan,” Qui-Gon replied. “We cannot control how we feel. Only how we choose to handle our feelings.”

A look of true relief crossed Obi-Wan’s face, and he smiled slightly. His shoulders relaxed and he closed his eyes. Qui-Gon could almost see the fear leaving his Padawan. He was glad his advice had provided some relief.