Jedi Apprentice: The Defenders of the Dead

• ISBN 0590519565 ; Released in December of 1999 by Scholastic Inc., presented as a 144-page paperback edition.
• ISBN 0439014492 ; Published on February 19, 2000 through Scholastic Inc., also a 144-page paperback.
• ISBN 061322440X ; Available from May 2000, via Sagebrush as a School/Library bound edition.

The Defenders of the Dead are stuck in the past, and in doing so are actively destroying the future. They are confronted by a rebellion of the Young, a group of insurgents spearheaded by Cerasi and Nield, who are both teenagers.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, a thirteen-year-old, and his Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, are expected to maintain neutrality in all conflicts. However, upon meeting Cerasi and Nield, Obi-Wan feels compelled to join their cause, even though Qui-Gon explicitly forbids it.

This rebellion has now become a personal matter.

Consequently, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon find themselves on opposing sides.

The planet known as Melida/Daan is embroiled in a civil conflict. The Melida and the Daan factions have been engaged in deadly combat for centuries. During attempts at peace negotiations, a female Jedi named Tahl is captured by the Melida. Subsequently, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are dispatched to secure her release.

Their Melida contact, Wehutti, guides them towards a meeting with the Melida Council, which turns out to be a setup. The Melida's intention is to use three Jedi hostages to pressure the Galactic Republic into supporting their side of the war. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon manage to escape with assistance from Cerasi, who leads them to the sewers where The Young are hiding. The Young consist of orphaned Melida and Daan children, who are determined to put an end to the war being waged by their Elders, regardless of the cost.

Obi-Wan is deeply moved by the Young's mission and resolve, and he decides to join them when they stage a fake attack on Daan territory. This incites another battle between the two factions. While the sides are distracted, Cerasi escorts Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to the location where the Melida are holding Tahl. To gain access, she reveals that she is Wehutti's daughter and simulates attacks to mislead the guards into believing that the Daan are attacking.

Qui-Gon locates Tahl, who is injured and blind, and they return her to the Young's hideout. There, Nield, the leader of the Young, reveals that during the fighting, while the Jedi were rescuing Tahl, the Young seized the Daan's weapon stores while the Melida destroyed theirs out of fear. The Young then send disarmament demands to the Melida and Daan, which are ignored.

Following this, the Young issue a declaration of war. Nield and Cerasi plan to dismantle the deflection towers that separate Melida and Daan territory. Success in this endeavor would allow the Young living in the countryside to join them with their weapons, giving them a numerical advantage over the Elders. Obi-Wan takes possession of the starfighter Queen Veda gave the Jedi.

Qui-Gon has secretly arranged a meeting between the Melida and Daan Council, and he warns them that if they don't form a coalition government, the Young will win the war. As they speak, the Scavenger Young march into the city. The Melida and Daan want to join forces, but Qui-Gon convinces them not to fight their own children and acts as their emissary to the Young.

Nield and Cerasi, however, are skeptical of their offer of peace. Qui-Gon realizes Obi-Wan risked their only way offworld to destroy the deflection towers. Obi-Wan is sorry for betraying Qui-Gon's trust, but he isn't sorry that he helped the Young.

The Elders launch an assault on the Young. Obi-Wan attempts to use the starfighter to defend the Young, but Qui-Gon is using it to transport Tahl offworld. They draw their lightsabers. Qui-Gon tells that if he does not come with him, he can no longer be a Jedi, and Obi-Wan hands him his lightsaber before returning to battle.

This section presents a collection of various cover designs for Jedi Apprentice: The Defenders of the Dead.