Jinn, Luke thought. He remembered the name but returned to the archives to confirm. An hour later, he went to the ruins of the Jedi temple, the name Qui-Gon Jinn in his mind. Ben's former master, a Sith? His mind swirled with the possibilities.
Qui-Gon Jinn was killed battling a Sith apprentice named Darth Maul. There was some speculation after his death but nothing became of it. Ben always spoke fondly of his old master. Probably the same way I speak of Ben, Luke thought. From Ben's journals, he knew Master Jinn was a bit of a rebel, but an extremely gifted and well-respected Jedi. The paintings gave Luke his first images of the man. Seeing him and knowing what he did about the man, he discounted the notion this Master Jinn and the Sith trainee Jinn were one in the same. Still it was too much of a coincidence to brush off completely.
He entered the temple ruins quietly. He'd cleared them earlier, one of the first projects after the fall of the Empire. He felt a need to do it, and though it was back breaking work, once finished, it became his favorite place on the planet.
All that remained of the temple was the main hall, a large empty space with old marble floors and a few remaining pillars that supported the original structure. The scrollwork on the pillars was intricate; ornate designs all but hidden in the rubble. It surprised him that an order known for its simplicity would have such ornate carvings in the support structures. Ben had explained long ago that these carvings helped promote patience and attention to detail. They still impressed Luke and he would often run his fingers over the ridges to center himself and 'connect' with the Living Force.
Luke sat in the center of the room and placed the holoprojector in front of him. Selecting one of the vid-chips, he placed it inside, letting her voice echo through the chamber. This Shara Kender was older, maybe her late 20's:
"I've made my decision Ben. After this mission, I will take a padawan learner. I've spoken with Master Windu and Master Rees. They both believe it is past time that I begin training an apprentice. Still, Master Yoda has his reservations, not about my abilities or my fitness as an instructor, but about the timing of the whole thing. He asked me to delay visiting the academy until after this mission, when I am to be promoted to Master through a special dispensation. I agreed, knowing this mission would be difficult for a new apprentice." She smiled. "I've missed you these past months, Ben.
It seems that between the missions we've been assigned and your training of Anakin, we've hardly had time to speak, let alone see each other. I joked with Master Rees, saying the council was doing this purposely. He gave me that imperious look he gives so well and reminded me that the life of a Jedi is dedicated to service. He then added you and Anakin would be on Coruscant when I returned, and Anakin would be involved in a training exercise with other apprentices that would take him off-planet for about two weeks, perhaps longer. He read my pleasure and then my embarrassment very clearly. He then suggested I check on the old house during that time, since I would not be able to visit the academy until the instructors returned. I said I would; after all, being a proper Jedi means following a council directive."
Another sweet smile. "I won't be able to contact you for the next few weeks, but when I return, I hope we'll be able to make time for each other. I miss you love. Until then."
Luke rubbed his temples, trying to focus. He needed to speak with Master Yoda again about her. Yara's description gave him a basic idea of what she was, but gave him no insight on who she or this mysterious Jinn was. He knew if he found out who Jinn was, he could find out what happened to Shara.
Breathing deeply, he focused on the energy in this room. There was the same safe, comfortable feel to it he had on Tatooine. He let the force flow through him, exploring every inch of the room, reaching out to his former master. He suddenly felt a presence, unfamiliar but not hostile.
"Who are you, young padawan?"
Luke was greeted by a tall, dignified man with long hair pulled back away from his face. He had very regal features; a strong jaw covered by a well-kept beard, piercing eyes and a gentle smile that conveyed both confusion and amusement. Dressed in traditional Jedi robes, Luke recognized him from the other portrait and surmised this was Ben's former master, Qui-Gon Jinn. This was the first time he'd ever met him in any form, though from Ben's descriptions, he felt he already knew the man. Clearing his throat, he got to his feet and spoke.
"Master Qui-Gon, I'm Luke Skywalker," he said.
The man smiled widely then. "Anakin's son. I finally meet you."
Luke nodded. "Yes master. My father speaks fondly of you." Anakin Skywalker told Luke how Qui-Gon found him and freed him those many years ago.
Qui-Gon relaxed his stance. "Why have you called me?"
Luke sighed. "I was trying to speak to Master Yoda. I needed more information on a friend of Master Obi-Wan's."
"Then you should speak to Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said pleasantly.
Luke bowed his head. "He won't speak to me about this."
"Speak to you about what," Qui-Gon asked, remembering Obi-Wan's stubbornness. "Perhaps I can help."
Luke stared at the Jedi Master a moment, weighing his options. He then said, "I need to know about Tal-Ishara Kender."
Qui-Gon's expression showed his confusion. "Ishara Kender," he repeated.
"Yes master," he said, "And the Sith trainee who betrayed her."
Qui-Gon's eyes widened in shock. "What Sith trainee?"
Luke hesitated again. Studying Qui-Gon's reactions, he said, "A man named Jinn."
Qui-Gon gave him a dagger-like stare. "Who told you this?"
Qui-Gon's emotions were very hard to read. Deciding caution would serve him better than truth, he answered, "It came from the Imperial records."
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. Then standing to his full height, he walked over to where Luke stood. Glaring down at him, he said quietly, "Would you like to try again?"
Luke swallowed hard. "Why would I lie?"
"Well," Qui-Gon said, with just a hint of menace in his voice, "because I was one with the Force before she reached her knighthood. So I'll ask again, who told you this?"
Luke shook his head, no closer to an answer now then he was when he came here. "A student of mine, a former witch of Dathomir, told me this."
Satisfied, Qui-Gon folded his arms across his chest. "I did not betray Ishara, nor would I ever have betrayed her. Both Obi-Wan and I owe her a life debt."
"A life debt?" Luke repeated, wondering about this new piece of information. "How?"
Qui-Gon looked at Luke, weighing his answer. "What do you know of her," he asked.
Luke answered, "I know she was once a Jedi Knight, was promoted to Master, then disappeared during a council mission. Four years later she reappeared and was killed in an Imperial facility for being a grey witch. She'd been dismissed from the order." He watched the older man's expression change from acknowledgement to shock, then sadness.
Qui-Gon shook his head. "When her energy faded, I'd wondered what had happened to her." He lowered himself into a seated position across from Luke, who followed his example. Qui-Gon asked, "Obi-Wan never spoke of her to you?" Luke shook his head, waiting for the master to speak.
He sighed, then began his tale. "As Jedi we all have force enhanced
skills;
you, Anakin and Obi-Wan were talented pilots and mechanics; Obi-Wan and I
were great swordsmen. Before she was knighted, Ishara was already a very
gifted healer."
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