Qui-Gon's grip tightened as he zoomed in on the sight. It was Obi-Wan! Guards were jabbing him with the dull ends of electro-jabbers, pushing him toward the edge of the platform. They were going to push him off!

Qui-Gon gunned the motor. It was already at top speed. In despair, he realized that he was too far away. His only hope was that Obi-Wan would survive the fall, and he'd be able to pick him ip.

H raced across the flat sea, closer and closer. Obi-Wan was at the very edge. Qui-Gon's heart contracted with pain. To loose him this way! He would never forgive himself.

But as he raced toward Obi-Wan, a movement caught his eye from a lower level of the platform. Someone had fashioned a kind sling out of a spun carbon tarp. He was tying it to the struts that supported the main platform. As Qui-Gon watched, two long, flexible arms shot out, positioning the sling in midair.

Obi-Wan fell. Qui-Gon watched the fall through the electrobinoculars. Obi-Wan's face was grim but composed, free of terror. Determined to fight to the last, but accepting death if it came.

Like a Jedi.

Then Obi-Wan saw the sling below. Across the distance, Qui-Gon felt ripples of the Force originating in Obi-Wan. He focused his own will to meet it, concentrating the Force, willing Obi-Wan's body to twist toward the tarp.

Obi-Wan seemed to grab on to thin air and pull himself to the left, shifting in mid-fall. He bounced onto the middle of the sling. In another second, those long arms shot out and pulled Obi-Wan to safety.

Qui-Gon was almost to the platform now. He heard the furious cries of the guards as they saw what had happened. They turned away, racing toward the lift tube to the lower floor.

Qui-Gon pulled up, bobbing in the sea as he quickly threw carbon-rope over one of the struts and tied the craft securely. The he threw another rope on the platform where Obi-Wan had disappeared. He tested it, then climbed up.

Obi-Wan was racing down the hallway with the long-armed creature. Suddenly, he stopped, as if Qui-Gon had called his name, though he'd said nothing. Obi-Wan turned to see Qui-Gon leap over the railing.

"I hoped you would come," he said.

Qui-Gon nodded. "Almost too late. Hurry."

"This is Guerra," Obi-Wan said, pointing to his rescuer.

"Bring him. The guards are coming," Qui-Gon said urgently. "They saw what happened."

Guerra's hands flew to his collar. "I can't leave. Neither can you, Obawan."

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon. "It's an electro-collar. It will blow us up if we leave."

Qui-Gon nodded. He concentrated the Force on Obi-Wan's collar first. He sent neutral energy to the transmitter.

Obi-Wan touched the collar. "The buzzing is gone."

"We'll have to find a way to remove it on the mainland," Qui-Gon said.

"That's where the transmission signal is," Guerra explained. "The guards in the security office on the Bandor loading dock carry the transmitter."

Qui-Gon brought the Force to bear on Guerra's collar but wheeled suddenly. Behind him, the lift tube opened. Blaster fire zinged past his ear.

"You'll be needing this," he said to Obi-Wan and tossed him his lightsaber.

Two lightsabers hummed in unison as they turned to face the guards. The four Imbats hesitated. They had never seen such weapons. But, still infuriated at Obi-Wan's escape, they rushed forward.

Qui-Gon leaped onto the railing, somersaulted in the air, and landed behind them. Obi-Wan charged from the front. They moved in a graceful duet, advancing, retreating, forcing the guards back toward the lift tube and deflecting blaster fire with ease.

"More guards coming, Obawan!" Guerra yelled.

Fifteen guards shot out of the stairwell at the far end of the platform, firing as they ran.

"Time to go," Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan.

With a cry, Guerra crumpled, hit by blaster fire. He looked up at Obi-Wan. "Just a graze," he said. "Go. I'll hold them off for you."

Obi-Wan pressed a blaster in his hand. "No, you go. Up the stairwell. And hide. In an hour, your collar will be deactivated for good. Trust me."

Guerra smiled weakly. "I… trust… no one,' he said softly. But as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon deflected blaster fire, he managed to limp to the stairs. Guerra turned. "Not so, Obawan! I trust you."

Obi-Wan vaulted over the fallen guards, climbed onto the rail, and jumped toward the rope. He slid down and landed in the hydrocraft.

Qui-Gon followed. He gunned the motor. With blaster fire raining over their heads, they made for the open sea.

As soon s they were out of reach of blaster fire. Qui-Gon set a course for Bandor. Obi-Wan sat at his side, looking ahead. He did not know what to ask first.

"You said you hoped I would come," Qui-Gon remarked quietly. "Not knew, but hoped."

Obi-Wan didn't speak for a moment. "I need to know about Xanatos," he said finally. "He told me you betrayed him. That he was your apprentice, and he trusted you."

"Did you believe him?" Qui-Gon asked.

Obi-Wan paused. The wind blew his hair back from his face. "I don't think you would betray a Padawan," he said at last. "But I don't understand why he hates you so. Does he have cause, Qui-Gon? Did Xanatos arrange to have me imprisoned on the mining platform just to get back at you?"

The Jedi Master nodded grimly. "Yes I believe so. It's time I told you about him. I should have told you before."

Mist had begun to rise on the sea. Obi-Wan could taste the droplets on his lips. Gray surrounded him in a whirling circle, silver-gray mist above, dull gray sea below. Qui-Gon's words seemed to come at Obi-Wan from a past as misty as the surroundings, as far away.

"Each Jedi apprentice brings something unique to the Temple," Qui-Gon began. "Even at a young age, Xanatos stood out. His intelligence was fierce and quick and agile. He was a leader. I thought he was the most promising boy to come to the Temple in may years. So did Yoda."

Qui-Gon paused. He made a small correction to the steering of the boat. "Yet Yoda had questions. As Xanatos grew and I took him as my apprentice, I resented Yoda's hesitations. I thought Yoda was questioning my judgement. Of course, he was questioning the boy. He saw something that I did not. When Yoda suggested one last mission, I was glad. At last, I thought, I can prove to Yoda that I was right. Xanatos will prove himself, prove what I'd seen all along."