title: The Captive Temple author: Jude Watson
The seventh installment in the Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series of young adult novels is titled The Captive Temple, and it was penned by Jude Watson. With the exception of the initial book, The Rising Force, which Dave Wolverton authored, Jude Watson wrote every novel in the series. These books delve into the escapades of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.
- Suitable for: Readers aged 9 to 12
- Format: Paperback, consisting of 132 pages
- Imprint: Scholastic Inc.
- Publication Date: April of 2000
- Spoken in: English
- ISBN 0590519700
Yoda has become the target of an assassination attempt, and the Jedi Temple itself is under siege. A hazardous intruder has managed to penetrate the Jedi's defenses.
Suspicion falls on everyone, and danger lurks around every corner. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn must uncover the truth behind the conspiracy before the Temple suffers complete annihilation from within.
Obi-Wan Kenobi has returned to the ranks of the Jedi Order. However, circumstances have shifted; his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, believes that Obi-Wan possesses the potential to become a formidable Jedi Knight, yet he harbors doubts about continuing to mentor Obi-Wan as his Padawan. They must now collaborate to investigate the recent assaults on the Jedi Temple, including the failed attempt to assassinate Yoda.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon join forces with Bant Eerin and the recently saved Tahl. They soon discover that Xanatos is the one who planned the Temple attacks, and that he has won over Obi-Wan's former rival, Bruck Chun, to his cause. Furthermore, it is revealed that Xanatos has further attacks planned, specifically targeting the reactor core of the Jedi Temple. In addition, Bruck Chun kidnaps Bant. Xanatos demands huge amounts of Vertex, a valuable crystal with a high monetary value, in exchange for Bant's release and the safety of the temple, in order to keep funding Offworld Mining Corporation.
While Obi-Wan is in pursuit of Bruck, Qui-Gon finds and battles Xanatos. Xanatos manages to get away, but not before setting the Temple up to be destroyed. In the meantime, Obi-Wan and Bruck engage in combat within the Room of a Thousand Fountains, where Bant is being held captive. Bruck loses his footing during their battle, and despite Obi-Wan's attempts to save him, he plummets to his death. Bant is rescued, and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon quickly discover the source of Xanatos's time bomb: the Fire Crystals, which are locked in the reactor core.
Even though the Temple is safe, Xanatos is still at large. Qui-Gon has only one clue: Xanatos might be on Telos, his home planet. Even though they are no longer master and padawan, Obi-Wan decides to accompany Qui-Gon on his mission. The Jedi Council places Obi-Wan on temporary probation.
The portrayal of Ki-Adi-Mundi as a member of the Jedi Council was inaccurate. The Evil Experiment corrects the error by stating that Mundi would substitute for Micah Giiett during his absences.