The Dark Rival(16)

He’d heard from SonTag that Xanatos had since returned.

Yoda had told him not to confront Xanatos directly. But that was before he knew that Obi-Wan had been kidnapped. The rules of the game had changed.

Of course, he should contact Yoda with an update and await instructions from the Council. But he wouldn’t. He was tired of being played with. This wasn’t just a game. Xanatos was taunting him, daring him to risk open confrontation, and now he had involved the boy.

As an apprentice, Xanatos’ chief failing had been overconfidence. Qui-Gon hoped it still was.

Qui-Gon knew that Xanatos was overseeing the operation of Offworld’s largest azurite mine on the outskirts of Bandor. He waited until dusk.

He watched Xanatos leave the small cramped administration building that served the mine and the adjoining smelting plant. The shifts had just changed, and the area was clear of miners. All the administrative workers had left. Just as Qui-Gon had hoped.

Slag piles rose around the yard. Offworld never bothered to keep the mining area clean of debris. The sky was dark gray fading to black. Yet the lights had not been turned on in the yard, probably to save money. Anyone arriving late for a shift would have to feel their way to the mine.

Qui-Gon waited until Xanatos had crossed the yard. Then he moved from the shadows of the slag pile into Xanatos’ path.

Xanatos stopped. There was no surprise on his face. He wouldn’t allow himself to show it, not even in a deserted yard at near dark when his oldest enemy appeared out of nowhere.

Qui-Gon expected no less. “If you have plans for Bandomeer, you should know I am here to stop you,” he said.

Xanatos flung one side of his cloak behind him. His hand rested casually on the hilt of a lightsaber. Xanatos had broken a solemn rule by leaving the Jedi and retaining it.

Xanatos patted the lightsaber. “Yes, I still have it. After all, I trained for all those years. Why should I give it up like a thief, when I deserve to carry it?”

“Because you deserve it no longer,” Qui-Gon answered. “You shame it.”

A flush spread over Xanatos’ face. Qui-Gon’s comment had hit its mark. Then he relaxed, smiling. “I see you are still a hard man, Qui-Gon. Once that bothered me. Now it amuses me.”

Xanatos began to circle around him. “We were friends at the end, more than Master and apprentice.”

“Yes,” Qui-Gon said, tracking him, moving with him. “We were.”

“All the more reason for you to betray me. To you, friendship is nothing. You enjoyed my suffering.”

“The betrayal was yours. As was the enjoyment of suffering. That is what you discovered on Telos. Yoda had already seen it. And that is why he knew you would fail.”

“Yoda!” Xanatos spat the word. “That knee-high troll! He thinks he has power.

He hasn’t dreamed of a tenth of the power I know!”

“You know?” Qui-Gon asked mildly. “How do you know such power, Xanatos? A mid-level manger of a corporation, sent to do the board’s bidding?”

“I do no one’s bidding but my own.”

“Is that why you’re here? Is Bandomeer a your of your abilities?”

“I don’t take test,” Xanatos snapped. “I make the rules. Bandomeer is mine.

All I have to do is reach out my hand and take it.”

He circled closer, his cloak swirling and brushing against Qui-Gon. “It’s a tiny planet. Galactically insignificant. Yet it pours forth wealth into my hands. If you would only lose the tiresome rules of the Jedi, it would do the same for you. But no, Qui-Gon is too good. He is not tempted. He is never tempted.”

“Bandomeer is not yours to own.” Qui-Gon pulled an arm’s length away from Xanatos. “You were always overconfident. You have gone too far this time.”

“No.” Xanatos’ dark blue eyes glittered. He drew his lightsaber. “Now I have gone too far.”

In a flash, Qui-Gon’s lightsaber hummed to life. When Xanatos leaped to deliver his first blow, Qui-Gon was already moving to deflect it. The sabers met and sizzled. Qui-Gon felt the power of Xanatos’ stroke move up his arm.

Xanatos had not lost his fighting edge. He had only grown more powerful, moving with economy and grace. His lightsaber flashed, he thrust again, always with a surprising twist or direction.

Qui-Gon moved defensively. He knew he would not be able to tire Xanatos, one method of Jedi strategy.

Xanatos had more than physical skill. Qui-Gon could feel the power of his mind.

Xanatos was till in touch with the Force. He had gathered the energy of darkness, not light.

Qui-Gon leaped aside to avoid another blow. Xanatos laughed. It was time to change the rules of engagement. Enough defense.