As exciting as pod racing must be, you've committed yourself to learning all you can about the ways of the Jedi. You thank Watto and leave the junkyard.

"Tell me about your Master Qui-Gon, Ben."

"Qui-Gon was a great Jedi, although he was a little too rash. He could have become a member of the Jedi Council if he wasn't such a maverick. I wish I had learned more from his mistakes before I made the same ones myself..."

"We did not come to Tatooine willingly. We were forced to land here when our ship was damaged. We were escorting the Queen of Naboo. Qui-Gon met your father here in Mos Espa. He recognized how strong the Force was in him, and arranged for him to come with us."

"They made it back to the ship just in time. A Dark Jedi whom we had never heard of before attacked them. Qui-Gon fought him briefly before he got onto the ship. We learned later that his name was Darth Maul."

"Darth Maul," you echo. "What was he like."

"Impressive and scary. There's just something about a full-body tatoo and a double-bladed lightsaber that inspires fear in your opponents. He was a master of the Force, too. His movements, swordplay, anticipation, and levitation were all top notch."

"Qui-Gon learned all that from a brief battle?"

"No. When we returned to Naboo, Maul was waiting for us. We fought him together, and then he fought Qui-Gon alone while I was trapped by some stupid, pointless force fields that served no purpose other than to separate us. He ran Qui-Gon through with his lightsaber. I was helpless to prevent it."

"I'm sorry. Did he get away?"

"No. The force fields opened and I fought Maul myself. I cut him in half and sent him down a reactor shaft."

You reflect on Ben's story. Being a Jedi is more than practice and tricks. You may have to fight some day. You may have to kill or be killed. The thought chills you.

"Speak of the Devil," Ben mutters.

Speak of the Devil