Star Wars - Jedi Apprentice #1 - The Rising Force Read online

  All around the cave, Arconans began to moan. Some of them turned over and began to crawl painfully toward the Hutt with his offers of dactyl.

  Disgust filled Obi-Wan. He leaped to his feet. Stop this! he shouted. Before he knew it, his lightsaber was out. He covered fifty meters of ground, leaping over dozens of poor Arconans, until he stood before the monstrous Hutt. He flashed the lightsaber overhead in a practice swing. The sluglike Hutt could be seen clearly in its light. A dozen other Hutts and Whiphids filled the tunnel behind him, but Jembas bulk would make it difficult for them to shoot.

  Well, well, Jemba roared. Im glad to see that you are brave, even when your Master is not at your back!

  Leave, Jemba, Obi-Wan managed to say. He was choking on his anger, and because his voice was changing, it cracked comically.

  At his back, ClatHa appeared, blaster drawn. Hes right. Youre not welcome here.

  Very well, Jemba boomed. If thats what you want, Ill gladly leave your friends to die.

  Leave them the dactyl! Obi-Wan ordered. He gripped the lightsaber, could feel its heat warming the heavy handle. The blade thrummed in the air, and his every muscle ached to leap forward and begin slicing. Sweat poured down Obi-Wans face, and he gritted his teeth.

  Isnt this amusing! Jemba rumbled to his cohorts. He is not a Force used, this one. Its in the ships records. He is nothing more than a farmer, a reject from the Jedi Temple.

  Obi-Wan fought back his rage at Jembas taunt. For long seconds he struggled as he sought within him a place of calm, of peace. Then he remembered Qui-Gons words. Jemba was not the true enemy. Anger was.

  At last he found the calm he needed. He reached out with his senses to touch the Force. He felt it now, around him, in Jemba, in the stones, in the Arconans fading so fast behind him. He felt it and gave himself to it.

  Qui-Gon! Obi-Wan shouted in surprise.

  Hed been so focused on calling to the Jedi Master for help that he felt astonished to suddenly feel something else Qui-Gon was calling to him for help.

  Jemba, get out of my way! Obi-Wan said. Qui-Gon is in danger!

  Hah! Hah! the great Hutt roared. He slapped his sides as if the laughing pained him. Why does that not surprise me? Maybe its because I sent my men to kill him!

  But it wasnt just Qui-Gon. Danger was coming to all of them. Qui-Gon wasnt just calling for his help. He was trying to warn Obi-Wan.

  I mean it, Jemba, Obi-Wan warned. Were all in trouble!

  What would you have of me, little one! Jemba asked. Do you want me to look down at my shoes so that you can stab m e? Ho, ho, ho! That trick wont work on me. Hutts dont have feet!

  He was wasting time. Obi-Wan somersaulted once in the air, and landed in front of Jemba. Then, using the momentum of his landing, he sprang over the Hutts head. Obi-Wan landed on Jembas back, and the Hutt howled.

  You have been warned! Obi-Wan shouted, gripping his lightsaber tightly. Then he raced down Jembas tail and sprang over the heads of the surprised Whiphid guards.

  One Whiphid fired his blaster at Obi-Wans retreating form, but Obi-Wan managed to bring his lightsaber over his back and deflect the blow. He raced through the tunnels, past the startled Hutts and Whiphids. His need to find Qui-Gon was overpowering. He was astonished to feel the Jedi Knights warning call, to feel this connection.

  Behind him, a few Whiphids roared war cries, but Jemba shouted above the rest, No! Leave him to me! The boy id mine!

  Chapter 21

  There my friend, Qui-Gon said to the draigon. He pointed toward the caves. The dozen passages to the cavern were all set within a single hill, and from the sky the cave mouths looked like wormholes.

  Qui-Gon fought to control the draigons mind, bring it safely to the ground. He was worried. As far as the eye could see, draigons flocked toward the caves. Their roars were deafening as they called to each other.

  Qui-Gon had seen the giant trees in the Silver Forest of Dreams on the planet Kubindi. Some of their vast leaves could be twenty meters wide, and when they fell in the autumn, they floated like giant rafts through the sky. That is what the draigons reminded him of. They dropped through the leaden skies, just as the leaves floated from the Kubindi forests.

  Yet these creatures were deadly; and like Qui-Gon, they were headed toward the caves.

  Qui-Gon called with his mind, warning young Obi-Wan Kenobi again of the danger. Then he waited as the draigon wafted downward, close to the narrow ledge outside the caves. Qui-Gon chose his moment, then sprang off the back of the beast. He landed on the ledge, steadying himself with a hand against the outside wall of the cave. The draigon flew off with a soft confused cry, his mind released.

  Qui-Gon had taken two steps toward the cave when he saw Obi-Wan race from its mouth, lightsaber held high.

  Obi-Wan ran from the cave only to stop short. He stared at the sky in horror.

  At first, hed thought it was just dark clouds. But now he realized that scores of draigons were blocking the sun. And they were all winging toward the caves.

  Never in his young life had he imagined such terror. His legs went weak, and his mind was suddenly blank. He didnt know what to do.

  The he saw Qui-Gon heading toward him. Relief flooded him. The Jedi looked battered and bloody, and he was holding one shoulder stiffly. Still, he was alive.

  Did you get the dactyl? Obi-Wan called.

  Qui-Gon nodded. The Arconans?

  Still alive, but barely. Go, Qui-Gon. Ill hold the mouth of the cave.

  Obi-Wan expected Qui-Gon to argue, to send him back into the cave with the dactyl. The Jedi Knight merely gazed at him for a tenth of a second. In the masters eyes, Obi-Wan saw respect and acceptance.

  I will return, Qui-Gon promised, and rushed into the caves.

  In seconds, the draigons were on Obi-Wan. His lightsaber slashed and burned, sizzled and shrieked. Draigons roared in pain and fell before him. He was fighting better and stronger than he ever had, ever thought he could.

  But he knew he could not hold the draigons off for long.

  Qui-Gon raced through the caves, past Whiphid and Hutt guards, carrying his bag of dactyl.

  Such was the look of purpose in his eyes that no one dared to stop him. Instead, Jembas guards cowered in fear, until Qui-Gon, halfway through the tunnel, meet Jemba himself.

  Halt! the enormous Hutt ordered. Where are you going?

  Qui-Gon stared evenly at Jemba. You had better get your guard to the mouths of the caves, Qui-Gon warned. Were in trouble.

  Hah! Jemba laughed. Your foolish pupil already tried that trick!

  Suddenly a draigon roared near the mouth of the tunnels. The sound was astonishing. The cave trembled. Bits of dust shook loose from the roof.

  It has started, Qui-Gon said evenly.

  He shouldered past the enormous Hutt and raced to get the dactyl to the Arconans.

  Grelb squeezed between two flat rocks and lay for a moment, his heavy blaster in hand, staring down at the caves. Hed missed his chance to kill Qui-Gon Jinn. The big Jedi had already raced into the caves. But his pupil guarded the moth of the cavern, lightsaber ready.

  He wanted the Master, but the pupil would have to do for now.

  Draigons hurtled from the sky by the dozens, converging on the lad. Even Grelb had to admire the young Jedis skill. His lightsaber struck again and again, and the boy showed no sign of tiring. It was almost a pity to kill him.

  Lightning split the sky. Rain pounded the stones over Grelbs head. One good thing about hiding under these rocks - at least it was dry.

  He raised his blaster rifle and tried to aim at the young Jedi. The boys lightsaber flashed among the draigons.

  All I need now, Grelb thought, is one brief moment to pull of my shot. Just one . . .

  Chapter 22

  The battle was like none Obi-Wan had ever imagined. He felt no fear. He had accepted his death. The odds were just too great against him. Now he only fought to protect the Arconans. He felt no anger. He did not hate the hungry beasts that drop
ped endlessly from the blackened skies.

  The Force was his ally.

  He could feel it moving him, moving through him, and through the draigons. He leaped and somersaulted. He spun and slashed through muzzles and claws. The battle became a dance of sheer survival.

  As he danced, Obi-Wan changed. He felt subtle promptings hed never felt before. He saw attacks before they came. He sensed the flail of a tail before it happened. The muscles of the draigons seemed incredible defined, so that he could read tiny flickers of movements that revealed which way a draigon would turn. Dead draigons piled on the ground around him. He gave himself entirely to the dance.

  After several long minutes, he began backing toward the mouth of the cave. He had an idea. If he could kill the draigons at the very mouth of the cave, the bodies would block the entrance. If enough entrances were blocked, they might have a chance.

  He fought his way back ferociously. He had just gained the entrance when he heard a familiar laugh.

  Well done, little one! Jemba chortled. The enormous Hutt slithered from the shadows farther back in the cave. He held an oversized blaster rifle.

  Obi-Wan barely had time to glance at the Hutt, for three draigons had gathered at the mouth of the cave.

  Help me! Obi-Wan called to Jemba as he fought. It would be easy for the Hutt to shoot the draigons. He could help with his plan. Obi-Wan knew he wouldnt care to save him, but Jemba would certainly want to save himself.

  Of course, Jemba chortled. Ill help you - to death! He raised his blaster rifle and aimed.

  Grelb huddled beneath his rock. Draigons lay at Obi-Wan Kenobis feet. The boy stood with the mouth of the cave yawning wide behind him.

  The Hutt chuckled softly. He saw his chance and squeezed the trigger of his blaster.

  The bolt shot out - but the Grelbs surprise, young Obi-Wan must have sensed it coming, for he dodged to the side. The bolt barely missed him.

  Grelb shouted in rage and prepared to fire again. This time, he would not miss. But suddenly, he felt huge teeth rip into his tail.

  He had been concentrating too hard. He had forgotten to keep a lookout. A draigon had found him.

  He barely had time to cry out before the draigon yanked him from under his rock.

  Obi-Wan stood panting. Hed felt the Force, had dodged as the blaster bolt came from nowhere and sizzled past his head. Perhaps no one felt as surprised as Jemba the Hutt.

  The enormous Hutt took the blaster bolt in the chest. For the briefest moment, Jemba stared down at his wound in disbelief. Well, ha! he laughed in horror.

  His surprised eyes stared into Obi-Wans for a moment. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed. Then Jemba slumped onto the muddy ground and died.

  A draigons cry wrenched Obi-Wans attention back to his situation. He barely had time the thrust his lightsaber at the huge attacking mouth, then jump back.

  That was a little to close, Id say, Qui-Gon remarked from behind him. His lightsaber powered up and glowed green. I think you could use some help.

  Chapter 23

  Together, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon jinn fought side by side. The Forced pulsed between them. They knew without speaking where the other would move, when the other would strike. When Qui-Gon moved forward, Obi-Wan sprang back to protect his flank. When Obi-Wan leaped to the right, Qui-Gon made sure he was covered from the left.

  ClatHa joined them, a blaster in each hand and a spare strapped to her leg. Qui-Gon and ClatHa had worked quickly to administer the dactyl to the Arconans, and they had revived enough to stand together and fight. Si Treemba and a group of Arconans handled any draigons who dared breach the opening.

  Obi-Wans plan worked. Draigon bodies piled up at the entrance, blocking it. Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and ClatHa left a small squad to protect it and raced to the next cave opening. Then the battle began all over again.

  Before his death, Jemba had ordered the Whiphids and Hutts of Offworld Corporation to defend the cave where they had gathered. He instructed them to fire from the rocks outside the cave. It was a foolish strategy. Hundreds of miners had been slain. Finally, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon convinced them to fight at the cave entrance and use the draigon bodies as shields.

  T he Offworld miners and the Jedi worked to guard the cave entrances, but draigons dug new entrances through the rock, so that at times they broke through and came at the miners from above or behind. Thats where the Arconans came in handy. By evening, it was evident to every Hutt and Whiphid on that rock that the Arconans were not cowards. They were creatures born to caves and darkness, and when it came to time to fight in their own element, they proved themselves to be ferocious and cunning.

  No draigon that tunneled through a caves roof caught an Arconan by surprise. Indeed, the Arconans were so fierce that the Whiphids and Hutts finally retreated and left them to finish the battle.

  Near nightfall Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were still battling at the last entrance to the caves. Smoke rose from the draigons mouths as they let out their piercing cries in the dusky air. But the cries had changed from war cries to signals. Suddenly, what was left of the flock roared and leaped into the air. The draigons circled the island twice, then flew off in defeat.

  When a ragged cheer went up from the surviving Hutts and Whiphids, Obi-Wan thought that it was merely a cheer of relief. But when a huge Whiphid came out of the cave and gave him a rough pat on the back, and when Hutts actually circled him and began to clap, Obi-Wan realized that these were not cheers of relief. Their former enemies cheered for the Jedi.

  And later, when he and qui-Gon went into Jembas chamber of the cavern and took the rest of the dactyl back for the Arconans, no one tried to stop them.

  Because of Jembas orders, over three hundred Offworld miners were killed in the battle. Eighty-seven Arconans had lost their lives. The caves filled with the Arconans hum of mourning.

  Obi-Wan lingered at the cave, watching his friend grieve with his fellow Arconans. It was time for Si Treemba to be with his people. Obi-Wan put a hand on his shoulder and pressed gently, then walked away.

  The miners work force was nearly cut in half. While the Arconans grieved, ClatHa made plans for their future. She went to one of Jembas chieftains, a Hutt named Aggaba, and said, Aggaba, I want to hire you and your people.

  Which ones? Aggaba asked suspiciously.

  All of you, she said. Youre temporarily the head of these men, until you reach Bandomeer. Ill buy out your contracts.

  And then what? Aggaba asked. He had a cunning look in his eyes, as if he wondered how he might make a profit.

  Ill offer all of you an invitation to work for our mining company, ClatHa said. We share the profits, so its a step up for you. Think about it. When we get to Bandomeer, your bosses there will demote you, put someone else in over your head. This is your chance to escape from Offworld Mining, get decent jobs that will pay you better now, and in the long run.

  Aggaba licked his lips and stared around like a cornered Jawa. Out contracts would not be cheap, he said. I would want, say, two thousand per worker.

  Any money I give you, ClatHa countered, would just go back to your corporate headquarters. So how about I make you a better offer. Ill give you twenty for each worker, and a personal bonus of twenty thousand just for signing with me.

  Aggabas eyes grew wide with delight. ClatHa hid her own glee. Aggaba would accept the deal out of greed. But the rest of the workers would have their freedom.

  Chapter 24

  Qui-Gon knew when to admit he had been wrong. He had underestimated Obi-Wan Kenobi.

  The repairs were almost done. They were scheduled to leave at dawn. Qui-Gon left the ship to take a last look at the great sea. He needed a moment to consider all that has happened.

  The surf pounded the rocks around him as he gazed at the planets five multi-colored moons, already beginning to dim with the rising light. He thought about Yodas words, spoken only three says ago By chance alone we do not live our lives. If take an apprentice you will not, then, in time, perhaps fate will
choose.

  Qui-Gon still wasnt sure if fate had appointed Obi-Wan as his Padawan, or if it had just thrown them together for one odd adventure. Hed thought it coincidence that both he and Obi-Wan Kenobi were going to Bandomeer. After all, Yoda had sent the boy to Bandomeer, while Qui-Gons orders come from the Senate - from the Supreme Chancellor himself! There was no way that Yoda and the Supreme Chancellor could have plotted this together.