The Dark Rival(27)

Quickly, Qui-Gon told them what had happened at the mine.

“So Xanatos was behind the first explosion,” SonTag said, grief in her face.

“if only we hadn’t trusted him!”

“I knew we shouldn’t have!” VeerTa announced, her eyes flashing.

Clat’Ha simply watched Qui-Gon. “What do you mean when you say you must reveal a more painful failure?” She asked.

Leave it to Clat’Ha to jump to the next step, Qui-Gon thought admiringly.

“Someone close to you has betrayed you,” he said. “Someone was in league with Xanatos. They betrayed Bandomeer for personal gain and told him about the ionite.”

VeerTa went pale. “But who would do such a thing?”

Qui-Gon let his gaze remain on her. Slowly, her paleness was replaced with a flush of color.

Clat’Ha turned to her. “VeerTa?”

“It was for the good of Bandomeer!” VeerTa cried. “That’s what he told me. If Offworld was secretly behind the Home Planet Mine, it would be sure to be profitable.”

“Did you really think that he would allow us to own the mine?” Clat’Ha asked her furiously.

“There is something else,” Qui-Gon said. “Xanatos had a back-up plan. He wanted to blow up most of Bandomeer. Those black boxes were planted next to explosive is all the Enrichment Zones, plus the mining platforms. Somebody helped him smuggle those boxes into the domes.”

“He said it was mining equipment for future operations,” VeerTa whispered.

“Bandomeer was almost destroyed,” SonTag said, her voice as sharp as the edge of a vibro-blade. “If it weren’t for the Jedi …”

“There was no way I could have known!” VeerTa cried. “Why would Xanatos destroy Bandomeer? He would destroy his own profits!”

Qui-Gon said nothing. He knew that if there was one thing stronger than greed, it was revenge. Xanatos had plotted for this very day. He had used VeerTa. He knew that Qui-Gon would die knowing he had been unable to save countless lives.

It was the most painful death Xanatos could arrange for him.

Qui-Gon had underestimated Xanatos once again. He had not realized that his former apprentice was just as much a slave to the past as he was.

No, Qui-Gon corrected. His own past would no longer hold him hostage. He would leave it on Bandomeer.

Clat’Ha rose and moved away stiffly, as if she couldn’t breathe the same air as VeerTa. “Where is Xanatos now?” she asked Qui-Gon.

“He has escaped,” Obi-Wan reported. “His plans were already arranged; he thought he would be leaving a destroyed planet.”

“Perhaps he is at Offworld’s home base,” VeerTa said.

Clat’Ha shook her head in disgust. “No one knows where that is. Mark this, VeerTa. You will pay for your crimes. Your friend will not.”

“Yes,” Qui-Gon said softly, “he will.”

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan returned to their chamber to gather their belongings. There was a transport ship leaving in a few hours.

“Yoda has another mission for us,” Qui-Gon explained to Obi-Wan.

Us, Obi-Wan felt a thrill at the word.

Qui-Gon stood unmoving, staring down at his sleep-couch. A piece of paper had been stabbed to the cushion with a vibro-shiv. Obi-Wan crossed the room to read over Qui-Gon’s broad shoulder:

If you are reading this, I suppose I underestimated you. I won’t next time. I enjoyed our adventure together, Master. I am certain you will have the pleasure of meeting me again.

Obi-Wan couldn’t read his Master’s features. He tested the Force, searching for the waves of Qui-Gon’s anger. He felt nothing. Was Qui-Gon containing his anger, shielding Obi-Wan, once again, from his emotions?

“I’m not angry, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon said. “Xanatos is gone from me. He is just another enemy now. The hate is all on his side. I am prepared to fight the evil he does. He may kill me one day, but he will never wound me again.”

Qui-Gon turned. “You showed me this. In the mine, when you reached out with the Force and showed me how light can always battle dark. My anger left me. In the end, you taught me something about myself. And when the Padawan teaches a Master in turn, the partnership is right.”

“You called me Padawan in the mine,” Obi-Wan said hopefully.

“You would have died for me,” Qui-Gon said. “Your courage is extraordinary, even for a Jedi. I would be honored to accept you as my Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

Obi-Wan felt warmth fill him. He didn’t feel the pride he thought he’d feel, hearing those words. But the Force moved around him, and he felt a deep sense of home. He swallowed. “I accept, Master Qui-Gon Jinn.”