Jedi Apprentice 3: The Hidden Past
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Qui-Gon quickly tossed two blasters to Paxxi. "Stay with her," he told him.
Quickly, he turned and ran. He found a medic who was distributing supplies and directed her toward Paxxi and Kaadi. Then he headed for the spaceport.
When he reached it, Baftu was surrounded by assassin droids and Syndicat guards. Prince Beju's ship stood, half loaded with bacta. While the guards protected Baftu, Phindians hurriedly unloaded the bacta from the cargo hold under fire. More and more rebels appeared to cover the line of those unloading bacta. Guerra and Obi-Wan were in the thick of it. Qui-Gon saw the blue glow of Obi-Wan's lightsaber slashing and jabbing as the boy moved, evading blaster fire.
Qui-Gon hurried to support Obi-Wan. But before he could strike a single blow, Baftu suddenly turned and dashed toward the entry ramp of the ship.
"He's trying to escape!" Guerra shouted. He turned to the guards. "You see where your leader's loyalty lies? with himself only!"
Baftu stumbled as he reached the ramp. The Syndicat guards turned. The closest one tackled Baftu and brought him down. They both rolled to the bottom of the ramp.
Guerra hurried forward. He placed his blaster against Baftu's head. "I arrest you in the name of the Phindian people," he cried.
"Kill the rebel!" Baftu screamed at the guards.
The Syndicat guards exchanged glances. Their arms dropped to their sides.
"Destroy him!" Baftu screamed again, this time to the assassin droids.
But Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon leaped as one from opposite ends. Lightsabers flashing, they cut the droids down like twigs.
Ion engines suddenly roared to life. The ship began to move.
"Prince Beju," Obi-Wan said. "He must have escaped from the cargo hold."
The ship rose slowly, jerkily, into the air.
"Let him go," Qui-Gon said. "His fate lies elsewhere."
Chapter 20
The following week, Obi-Wan Qui-Gon, Paxxi and Guerra stood in the town market. Around them the same stalls that had been empty so long were heaped with abundance. Supplies, fresh fruit, circuits for navi-computers, bedding, blankets. Phindians milled about with baskets on their arms brimming with fresh food and flowers.
Yoda had asked the Jedi to remain on Phindar until the provisional government had been set up. The process had taken a few days to arrange. Currently, a coalition of former council members and the last official governor of Phindar were running the planet's affairs. Elections were planned for the following month for the next official governor.
Baftu and his tops lieutenants were being held in a high-security prison awaiting trial. Most of the Syndicat guards had been memory-wiped by Baftu, and some had returned to their families in hopes that love and care would restore any memories remaining.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had met the Derida brothers in the marketplace in order to view Paxxi's monument. He had destroyed the memory-wipe droid and mounted the scraps on a pedestal for all Phindians to see. The shuddered at the sight of it, and were fervently glad it had been dismantled for good.
"It was an excellent idea, good brother," Guerra said the Paxxi. "Evil must be faced in order to be conquered."
"Yes so, good brother," Paxxi agreed.
"How is Kaadi?" Qui-Gon asked. "Better, I hope."
Paxxi grinned. "Already ordering her medics around. She will be back at home at the end of the week."
Guerra glanced around the marketplace, a look of sudden sadness on his face. "I am content," he said. "Not so, I lie. So much evil has been conquered, yes. But on this day I hoped also to have Terra with us as she was."
"She died as she once was, good brother," Paxxi said, his face a mirror of Guerra's sadness. He slung his long arm around his brother. Guerra did the same. They faced each other and sighed.
"We are sad, yet not so." Guerra said.
"Yes so," Paxxi said. "Our world is free, and we have the wise Jedi-Gon and the brave Obawan to thank."
"There's only one problem," Obi-Wan said. "Now that there is plenty for all again on Phindar, there's no black market. What will you do?"
"Excellent point, Obawan," Guerra said. "I, too, have wondered this. Especially since my good brother destroyed the anti-register device."
"He saved Kaadi's life," Qui-Gon pointed out.
"Just so," Guerra admitted. "Yet the sale of the device would have brought us great riches."
"It would have brought about your downfall," Obi-Wan said. "There was evil surrounding that device. You were able to use it for good. But most would not."
"As usual, you are most wise, Obawan," Guerra admitted with a sigh. "Yet it was so much fortune to lose."
"And we still do not know what we shall do," Paxxi said. "We have been rebels for so long, and thieves even longer. There is no place for us here on our beloved world."
Qui-Gon looked amused. "I wouldn't say that. What about the upcoming elections? Phindar will need a new governor. You two are heroes at the moment. Why doesn't one of you run for the post?"
Guerra laughed. "Me, governor? Ha, I laugh at Jedi-Gon's joke! I would make such a terrible politician. Wait, I lie! I would be magnificent!"