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novelmonger · 2 years

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Thoughts on Jedi Apprentice 8: The Day of Reckoning

A suitably epic title for an epic book. I remember that I liked this one quite a bit, because Xanatos is just a really cool villain. But other than a bit at the beginning and a bit at the end, I actually don't remember a whole lot of details as I sit here and look at the cover. I'm sure it'll all come flooding back to me as I get into the book, though. Let's forge on!

Jedi Apprentice #8: The Day of Reckoning by Jude Watson

Chapter 2

As Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan make their way to Telos, Xanatos' home planet, we get a quick overview of the events leading up to this book, which are peppered with sad thoughts from Obi-Wan about his current standing with Qui-Gon: "But Obi-Wan did not want to leave his side. ... Obi- Wan could regain what he had, but he could not seem to regain Qui-Gon's trust. Something essential between them had been violated. Now they were just feeling their way along. On this mission, Obi-Wan hoped to show Qui-Gon that they could restore the bond they had started to form. ... Still, there had been many times when Obi-Wan knew what Qui-Gon would ask before he asked it. And Qui-Gon often knew what Obi-Wan was feeling without his having to say a word. Now Obi-Wan felt a void."

When they land on Telos, they hear that the police are looking for some escaped criminals and will be checking all the passengers as they disembark. Not wanting to draw undue attention to themselves in case it would tip off Xanatos, they slip out of the ship through the loading bay. But as they hit the streets, they keep on being pursued by some very persistent police. Hoping to shake them, they go into a huge dome where lots of people are heading. The dome is called Katharsis, which appears to be some sort of competition that people can bet on. Apparently, every Telosian is entered into a lottery, and in the final round of each game, only the people whose names have been drawn in the lottery are able to bet on the winner. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan try to lose themselves in the crowd, but the police spot them anyway and come after them. Just at the last minute, someone offers them seats in his floating box, and they're able to escape pursuit just in the nick of time.

Chapter 3

Okay, I don't really remember much about this Den guy who helped them out, but I already like him. There's something about him that's a little reminiscent of Guerra and Paxxi. He jokes and laughs a lot, and makes ironic and sarcastic comments about the leaders of the planet. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan try to play it cool, like they're just here on Telos for business with UniFy (a company that's a front for Offworld) and decided to see what Katharsis is all about. It's a series of dangerous, almost gladiatorial challenges, like duels or free-for-all fights with vibroblades, or fights atop swoops, that kind of thing. Apparently the proceeds from Katharsis are used to maintain the natural beauties of Telos, in place of the taxes the citizens used to pay. That, as well as the chance to win oodles of credits, are why it's so popular.

But...surprise surprise! The games are introduced by the planet's treasurer, Vox Chun. Yep, that's right: Bruck Chun's father! That's why Bruck was starting to boast about his father; he really has become an important figure on this planet. But an even bigger surprise is the introduction of the "first citizen, our most beloved benefactor," who has supposedly done a lot for the planet: none other than Xanatos himself. It's ingenious. Xanatos has made himself untouchable.

Chapter 4

During a break, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan try to slip out unnoticed. Unfortunately, they come across Xanatos, and have to hide from him. He doesn't see them, but it's clear he can sense their presence. He knows they're around now.

As they head out onto the street, Den comes after them, offering to guide them to the main UniFy building, where they're pretending to have a business meeting the next day. On the way, Qui-Gon notices wanted posters with his and Obi-Wan's faces. They're the wanted criminals the police were looking for earlier, and that's why they had such a hard time shaking them.

"Obi-Wan was now a wanted criminal. They had barely been on Telos an hour, and already the situation had escalated out of control. ... He had brought the boy into danger. He had done it with his eyes open. Guilt pierced him. He had to protect Obi-Wan now." - Oh my heart! Protective parental Qui-Gon is the best Qui-Gon ಥ﹏ಥ

Chapter 5

Den leads them to his home, where he says they'll be able to rent a room from his landlady. But as soon as they get there, the police show up. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan assume Den has betrayed them, but he earnestly assures them he's on their side, because he's a criminal "too." There's no time to hear his whole story, though, so they have to trust him long enough to follow his lead as they make their escape. He takes them down a garbage chute (quintessential Star Wars right there), through a garden, and then through a (probable) sewage pipe into another alleyway that appears to be safe.

"Jedi! Whoa! I mean, I knew you were weird, but I didn't know you were Jedi." - This line of Den's made me laugh out loud XD

Okay, how on earth did I forget about Den?! He's hilarious and I LOVE HIM. (The rest of this chapter's notes is just going to be me gushing over Den.)

Obi-Wan: "And why should we believe you?" Den: "Um, let's review. Because you're a criminal, too?"

"They heard the sound of banging and a small ow! Then Den's voice came to them hollowly. 'Uh, not that I want to tell two Jedi what to do, but you might want to speed it up.'"

Den: "Look, you still don't trust me? Kill me now. Go ahead. Put me out of my misery. Run me through with that glowy tube thing if I'm wrong. No? Okay, come on."

"He didn't know why Qui-Gon always seemed to give his trust to the scoundrels they met. Yet when it came to Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon was strict and unbending." - A decade or so later, Obi-Wan will still be wondering this as Qui-Gon continues to find "another pathetic life form" to join their party.

Obi-Wan: "What do we do now?" Den: "Um, let me think. Run?"

Den: "We can outrun them. At least they're not on speeder bikes." *three speeder bikes start chasing them* "Oops." - I laughed out loud at this one too :D

Qui-Gon: "Will you be safe from here?" Den: "Joke, right? You can't leave me now! I'm not finished saving your necks yet."

In conclusion: Den is the best supporting character in this series, Change My Mind.

Chapter 6

"Still he liked the comforting hand on his shoulder. It almost felt as though Qui-Gon and he were Master and apprentice again." - Eeek! Ow! My heart! :'3

Den leads them to a secret hideout, where they meet Andra, the leader of the POWER party, a political group that's been outlawed for raising alarms about what UniFy is doing with Telos's natural resources. Suspicious activity has been going on in the nature preserves, and when members of their party went to investigate, they died in a suspicious accident. Qui-Gon tells them about their suspicions that UniFy is a front for Offworld, which would mean that UniFy is probably mapping the nature parks for mining operations. The planet's population is so obsessed with Katharsis that hardly anyone seems to notice or care what UniFy is doing. Den is a thief/smuggler that Andra has hired to help them find evidence and expose UniFy once and for all.

"'Excuse me for needing money to live, Captain Integrity,' Den said to Andra. 'Not everyone can live on ideals. Especially when they don't pay rent.' ... 'What's in it for you, Den? Why would you take the risk of breaking in again?' 'Because I didn't finish the job you paid me for,' Den told her. 'I feel badly about that. I have my integrity, you know.' 'You're a thief!' Andra cried in exasperation. 'Exactly!' Den exclaimed. 'So let me steal!'" - Den remains a very fun character ꒡◡꒡ His occupation, as well as his banter with Andra (who has brown hair in a bunch of braids coiled around her head), really puts one in mind of the bickering of Han and Leia. Wonder if that was the inspiration.

Chapter 7

"For some reason, Qui-Gon had decided to trust this Den character. And the Jedi Council thought he was too impulsive." - Bahaha! XD

"'Can you imagine what you could do with that [Force mind-suggestion], if you had a little larceny in you? Hey, do you think your Jedi Temple would take a guy like me?' 'No,' Qui-Gon said shortly." - Quick! Somebody write a Jedi!Den AU!

Den, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan use some uniforms and security passes he'd stolen to sneak into the UniFy building, and into the file room where they start going through files to see if they can find any evidence backing up their suspicions. They don't find anything conclusive before their monitors suddenly freeze, and Den high-tails it out of there. Security shows up and arrests them. Looks like Den betrayed them.

P.S. I still really like Den even though he threw them under the bus like this :P

Chapter 8

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are thrown into a holding cell, denied legal counsel and a call back to the Temple to get things sorted out. Nevertheless, Qui-Gon isn't worried, sure that things will work themselves out one way or another. In the meantime, they discuss how UniFy may be trying to cover up their connection with Offworld by the sheer volume of paperwork and meaningless correspondence.

"I didn't learn anything except that people who work for companies send too many memos." - Welcome to office work, sweet summer child ಥ◡ಥ

As they wait in captivity, Qui-Gon apologizes to Obi-Wan for the way he's treated him since Melida/Daan. The two of them more or less say all the things we've been privy to in their thoughts for the past three books, but they're cut short! >:O Stupid Xanatos has to show up right in the middle and tell them that there was a trial they never attended, and they've been sentenced to death for their many crimes across the galaxy. He also throws in a gibe about Bruck's death: "Poor Bruck. I always thought he needed just a little push to succeed. How was I to know that Obi-Wan Kenobi would deliver it?"

Best line in this chapter, hands-down, is Obi-Wan telling Qui-Gon: "I am where I should be. By your side."

Chapter 9

"It was the duty of every Jedi to accept death when it came. Yet Qui-Gon could not be calm. It was not his time. It was not Obi-Wan's. He saw that Obi-Wan was struggling to contain his fear." - :< Poor boy. How many times has he faced certain death by this point?! No wonder he can quip and make sarcastic comments about it by the time he's an adult....

What would Star Wars be without its thwarted execution scenes? Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are to be beheaded in an energy cage suspended above a cheering crowd. The cover is a bit inaccurate in its portrayal of this scene; there are no townspeople with burning torches, and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan don't cut through the bars with their lighstabers, nor is Xanatos watching from a huge screen. Rather, when the executioners open the cage to come inside, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fight past them. Just then, Den and Andra show up on swoops, catching them and carrying them to safety.

Chapter 11

Back at the hideout, they discuss what to do next. Den admits (after Qui-Gon calls him out) that he wasn't looking for Offworld files like the Jedi. He was messing around with Katharsis files, to find out how to rig the lottery so he could win. Pushing past everyone's outrage at this, he lets them know that the whole contest is already rigged. UniFy selects the winner ahead of time, bribes/threatens them to hand back half of their winnings, and gives the other contestants faulty equipment so they're highly unlikely to win. So part of the plan is going to involve Den rigging the lottery to make himself the winner. Another part of the plan is to go back to the Sacred Pools and re-gather the dirt on UniFy that was lost in the "accident." Qui-Gon suggests Andra call on the other members of the POWER party to help...only to discover that the few members they had fell away after the accident. Andra is the only member of the POWER party left. So now it's down to Andra and Obi-Wan to go find evidence, and Qui-Gon will accompany Den and make sure he sticks to the plan.

Andra: "If you cared about anything more than yourself, you'd understand." Den: "I understand that you'd do anything to get what you want. We're more alike than you want to admit, Andra." Andra: "I'd rather be compared to a dinko." Den: "Sure, I can do that. A dinko is a creature with fangs and a nasty disposition. The problem is, how are you different? Let me see your teeth." - Apart from just being fun and hilarious, this whole back-and-forth is reminding me once again of Han and Leia. ("I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie." "I can arrange that.") Fitting, because as Qui-Gon observes the way they talk to each other, he realizes that Den, at least, loves her.

Chapter 13

"'I know all these things,' Obi-Wan said. He felt frustrated and disappointed. ... Qui-Gon nodded. 'I know you do. It is my own unease that makes me repeat these things. I trust you, Obi-Wan.' The words trickled through Obi-Wan and filled him with warmth. 'I will not fail,' he said. 'Just be safe,' Qui-Gon responded." -

Obi-Wan and Andra head to the Park of the Sacred Pools where, sure enough, they find a mining operation in full swing. I really like the description of all the natural beauties - at least, before they were polluted by Offworld. There were hot springs, a lush forest, and a rare black stone so smooth and shiny you can see your reflection in it. Truly a tragedy to just mine it all away and destroy it for a profit. They're able to record evidence of the destruction of the parks, as well as equipment marked with the Offworld logo. Of course, they run into some mishaps along the way, having to fight off a group of surveillance droids. Then they lose their swoops, have to disguise themselves as workers, and sneak into a hangar to steal a skyhopper, and they barely make it out with their skins intact.

Chapter 14

"'It is not too late, Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon had said. 'There will be no shame if you remain here. It will not interfere with what happens with us later. I promise you that. It is better for you if you stay.' He remembered the clear resolution in Obi-Wan's gaze. 'I can't say that you need me, Qui-Gon. I know you can do this on your own. But I will help.' Now Qui-Gon admonished himself. He had thought then that he could not prevent Obi-Wan from coming. He had taken the resolution in the boy's gaze to mean that even if he insisted, Obi-Wan would not walk back into the Temple and remain. But was that true? Was his own quiet gratitude what had been most important at that moment? Again, it was his own emotion that had swayed him. Should he have taken a firm stance and insisted Obi-Wan remain? Had he been selfish? ... Yet Obi-Wan was so sure. The boy still had things to teach him about certainty. About trust." - I love these two. So, so much. I love every single time big, strong, confident Qui-Gon starts fretting over the boy who's basically his adopted son by this point, and also starts admiring him as so much more than just a boy. Ugh, my heart.... T^T

As planned, Obi-Wan and Andra meet Qui-Gon and Den in the Katharsis dome with the footage they recorded of what's being done to Telos. Den has hacked into the lottery and selected himself to be one of the winners, so as soon as Obi-Wan and Andra show up, they can make sure their footage will be shown on the big screens, rather than the usual pictures of how beautiful everything used to look. For some reason, I remember quite vividly the whole sequence where Qui-Gon uses the Force to convince the technician (who is eating a greasy meat pie) to put on their footage.

"The governor announced the names of the lottery winners. ... When he announced Den's name, Den shot to his feet, yodeling wildly." - Den yodels. He yodels XD

A really good bit of insight into Qui-Gon's nature: "Qui-Gon wanted to tell him that sometimes he found it easier to read strangers than those close to him. When his heart wasn't involved, his instincts told him who could fail him, who could be true."

Anyway, after more brutal games are played, Den is finally announced the winner. Xanatos begins his speech, and just as planned, the footage of the ruined natural beauties is played. The crowd starts demanding an answer, but Xanatos plays on the trust he's built up among his people, blaming Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan for trying to trick them and turn them against each other. And before the two of them can get away, they're spotted.

Chapter 17

Den to the rescue! As the winner, he draws the attention of the crowd back to himself, then (in a thrilling moment of selflessness) proclaims for everyone to hear that the lottery is rigged and they're all being manipulated and lied to. Surprisingly, Xanatos doesn't protest or deny anything that's being said. He just jumps on a swoop and races out of there.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan pursue Xanatos to the Sacred Pools, where it's clear that Xanatos is trying to make it to the hangar Obi-Wan and Andra found, to a transport that can take him off-world. But the Jedi manage to cut him off, and an epic battle ensues on the edge of the polluted pools of acid. Truly an epic battle that I wish we could see on the big screen. Xanatos keeps taunting Obi-Wan about Bruck's death, sensing that it still troubles him.

"Qui-Gon thought that Obi-Wan had come to terms with what had happened. He had regretted and mourned Bruck's death, for even though Bruck had done evil, there was still hope for him while he was alive. Obi-Wan had not seemed to blame himself. Yet somewhere inside, he had. A life had been ended. That was a loss not easily absorbed. Qui-Gon knew that well. And Xanatos would see that hesitancy in Obi-Wan, and would use it to taunt him. He would see weakness where Qui-Gon saw strength. Such was the nature of evil." - Ooooh, I really like this. Especially those last two lines.

"'No, Xanatos,' Obi-Wan said. 'I grieve for a life lost. And I thank all who taught me for my grief. It does not make me weak. It makes me strong. Stronger than you.'" - That's my boy.... My brave, strong, wise little boy.... ಥ^ಥ

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fight Xanatos as a team, knowing exactly where the other will strike, just as it was always meant to be. Den and Andra show up, blocking off any retreat, and they back Xanatos up against the pool of acid. But, instead of letting himself be killed by his enemies or taken into custody by the people he despises, he leaps backwards into the pool and lets the acid dissolve his still-living body. Is there a rule somewhere that if you embrace the Dark Side of the Force, your death has to be Extra™?

Chapter 18

Everything is a bit chaotic on Telos, now that Xanatos' scheme has been exposed, but things are looking up as they try to restore both their beautiful landscapes and their government and economy. Den and Andra say goodbye with a few final quips: "'Whoever would have thought that a thief and a dinko would be the grand heroes of Telos?' Andra threw a pillow at him. 'I'm glad all the attention hasn't gone to your head.'"

Can I just...like...quote the rest of the chapter? ;^; It's another one of my absolute favorite moments in the entire series, one of those scenes that's stuck with me all these years. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are heading back to Coruscant, discussing Xanatos and talking about how they're not exactly at peace with the deaths of Bruck and Xanatos, but though they're a weight they'll have to carry, they won't be haunted by them like Xanatos would have wished, because they recognize that those deaths were a result of Bruck and Xanatos' choices. And then they talk about how both of them are going to return to the Temple for a time of training and reflection.

Here, I think I am going to just quote the rest of the chapter now, because it's just...it's so heartbreaking and sweet and poignant and just...I just love these two, okay? I love them so much ;_;

“You will be at the Temple too?” Obi-Wan asked. Qui-Gon nodded. “It is time for reflection for me as well. And I will help you with the Council. They must understand why you made the decision to leave. I have come to understand it.” “You have?” “I was slow to do so, I admit,” Qui-Gon said. “But yes, I have.” He paused. “I know you are on probation and can't be my official apprentice. But you are my Padawan, Obi-Wan. I do not need the Council to tell me so.” Obi-Wan took a deep breath. “Then you'll take me back?” “We will take each other back,” Qui-Gon said. Obi-Wan had hoped for this. He had tried to control his impatience for it. Now here it was, and he found he had no words. He was too deeply moved to form them. “I fought our bond from the first,” Qui-Gon said. “But you knew something I didn't. You knew that some things are meant to be. Now I know it, too. You will make a fine Jedi Knight. I would be proud to continue the journey we started together.” Obi-Wan lifted his head. Now he, too, saw the beauty of the day. The sky was dazzlingly clear. For the first time in what felt like a long while, the future was clear as well. “I am not saying the way will be easy,” Qui-Gon added. “We have different temperaments. No doubt we will clash. You will come to challenge me again.” “I will try not to,” Obi-Wan told him earnestly. “You don't understand, Padawan,” Qui-Gon gave the smile he gave so rarely, a full smile that lit up his blue eyes and caused them to sparkle with warmth. “I look forward to it.”

#star wars #jedi apprentice #obi-wan #obi-wan kenobi #qui-gon #qui-gon jinn #xanatos #this book is so great you guys ;_;#probably in my top three from this series #den is hilarious #xanatos is chilling #the fights are epic #and qui-gon and obi-wan make the best jedi team ever #love it love it love it

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