Jedi Apprentice 3: The Hidden Past

Guerra and Paxxi were silent for a moment. Both of them reached out and wrapped one long arm around Kaadi's slender frame

"Her father is one of the renewed," Guerra explained to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "He was sent to Alba."

Qui-Gon nodded sympathetically. Alba was a world in the midst of a bloody, chaotic civil war.

She gazed at him with her clear yellow-green eyes. "Yes, it is bad there. But to be Phindian is to hope."

"Yes," Qui-Gon said quietly. "You must always hope."

"But let me talk of why I chased you," Kaadi said. "I must tell the Derida brothers that you have been spotted. The Syndicat knows you have returned. Efforts have been redoubled to capture you."

"We are not afraid," Guerra said. "Not so, I lie!"

"Do you mean all that activity down there had to do with Guerra and Paxxi?" Qui-Gon asked.

Kaadi shook her head. "Not only. They are looking for the Jedi, too. But also, anyone they know to be a rebel. Terra and Baftu are beginning mass arrests. An important visitor is arriving, and they want to be sure there is no trouble. They are proclaiming that any acts of sabotage or disruption will be met with death or renewal! Even if you a suspected of such things."

"Who is arriving?" Qui-Gon asked curiously.

"Prince Beju from the planet Gala," Kaadi answered.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan glanced at each other.

"Out spies tell us that an alliance is planned," Kaadi said thoughtfully. "The Syndicat will fund the Prince's mission to retake the governing of his planet. The Prince has already created a false shortage of bacta on his planet."

"That's an awful thing to do," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon had to agree? bacta was a medical miracle, healing even the most serious of wounds. "The injured on Gala will suffer needlessly," he observed.

"Yes, the Prince had no conscience, just like Baftu and Terra," Kaadi said. She pressed Guerra's hand for a moment. "I am sorry to say this. Now the Prince will return to Gala with the bacta from Phindar. He will be a hero to his people. The Syndicat will move in. They will control Gala as they control Phindar. It is planned so."

"And then they will take over the star system, one planet at a time, yes?" Guerra said softly. "Using fake shortages of what the people need. Wiping their memories. Assassin droids will kill opposition and others will be renewed." He blinked at Qui-Gon. "We have seen how quickly this method can work."

It was a cold-blooded plan. Qui-Gon knew that Guerra was most likely right when he said Gala would be only the first step.

He had tried to keep his distance from Paxxi and Guerra's schemes. Now he saw that there was more at stake than he'd thought. If they could destroy the Syndicat's grip on Phindar, his mission on Gala would be easier. He and Obi-Wan had to ensure that free elections would take place.

But there was more. Qui-Gon felt a deep stirring of anger. Kaadi's bravery in the face of her distress about her father had touched him. Even Guerra and Paxxi had moved him. Behind their clownish behavior was deep suffering. He could feel it. The living Force pulsed in the brothers, strong and pure. He didn't know if he could trust them completely, but he knew they deserved his help.

Sometimes, Qui-Gon reminded himself, fate finds you.

"We'll help you," Qui-Gon said to Paxxi and Guerra. Before the brother's could speak, he held up a hand to stop them. "But you must promise me something."

"Anything, Jedi-Gon," Guerra vowed.

"You will tell me the complete truth always," Qui-Gon ordered the sternly. "You will not withhold information, or shade it, or twist it. You will obey the Jedi rule to tell the clear, solid truth."

"Yes so, Jedi-Gon!" Guerra rushed to assure him while Paxxi nodded energetically. "For a hundred moons I would not lie to you again!"

"Never mind the hundred moons," Qui-Gon said. "Just do as I say."

Obi-Wan shot his Master a questioning glance. Qui-Gon could see that the boy didn't understand his decision. His interpretation of the rules was too strict. But he would follow his Master nonetheless.

"It is better to act quickly," Guerra said. "We should break into Syndicat headquarters tonight."

Kaadi looked pale. "Break into headquarters when you have price on your head? Who thought of that?"

"I did," Guerra and Paxxi said together.

"Very brave plan, so?" Paxxi asked her.

"Maybe brave," Kaadi said. "Or maybe crazy."

"Brave or crazy, we shall see," Guerra said, unconcerned. "With Jedi along, what can go wrong?"

Qui-Gon gave the Derida brother's a look of rueful exasperation. "We'll find out tonight, I'm sure," he said.

Chapter 8

The Syndicat headquarters were housed in a once grand but now crumbling mansion with extensive security. There were heavy gates to get inside the compound, and a laser security beam over each door and window.

"All you have to do id get us by the two guards," Guerra whispered to Qui-Gon. "we'll do the rest."

Qui-Gon hated having to rely on Guerra's honesty, but he had come too far now to turn back. He nodded.

Paxxi and Guerra led the Jedi around the compound to a back entrance. There, a guard in the usual long silver coat and dark visor stood, hand on a blaster slung in a holster crossed over his chest.

There was nothing to do but walk straight up to him. "Good evening," Qui-Gon said. "We have an appointment."

The guard's head tilted to take in the two Jedi and the two Phindians. They couldn't see his eyes. "Move along, worm."