The novel The Hidden Past, penned by Jude Watson, represents the third installment within the Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series geared towards young readers. This series delves into the exploits of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the time preceding the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.
- ISBN 0590519336 ; Released in August of 1999 by Scholastic , this edition is a 138-page paperback.
- ISBN 0606170405 ; Published in April 1999 by Demco Media , this version is a Turtleback edition.
- ISBN 0613170180 ; Available since June 2001 through Sagebrush Corporation, this is a school/library binding.
After Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are diverted to the world of Phindar, they discover they are ensnared within a chaotic reality. The ruling Syndicat maintains control over the populace by systematically erasing their memories. The sole glimmer of hope for the planet resides in a group of rebellious thieves.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan become entangled in a mental conflict.
Unless they exercise caution, their own personal histories risk being permanently eradicated.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are dispatched to Gala. The Beju-Tallah dynasty is relinquishing power as the planet prepares to hold democratic elections. This marks their first official assignment as master and padawan.
En route to Gala, their vessel is commandeered and diverted to Phindar by their Phindian pilot, Paxxi Derida, who is the brother of Obi-Wan's acquaintance Guerra. He uses a fabricated fuel leak as the reason. The brothers then confess to abducting the Jedi warriors because they require their assistance in toppling the criminal syndicate that has taken over Phindar. The Syndicat possesses the capability to wipe the minds of prisoners, releasing these "renewed" individuals either into the streets or onto war-ravaged worlds across the galaxy, where they gamble on their survival time.
The Jedi and the Derida brothers come under attack from assassin droids dispatched by the Syndicat. They manage to escape and encounter the Deridas' friend Kaadi, who informs them that the Syndicat is conducting mass arrests due to the impending arrival of Prince Beju of Gala. Beju and the Syndicat have struck a bargain: the Syndicat will assist Beju in securing victory in the upcoming election, and in return, he will cede Gala to them.
The Jedi agree to lend their aid to the Deridas and Kaadi. That night, they infiltrate the Syndicat headquarters with the intention of opening the Syndicat's vault, which is stocked with food, medical supplies, and weaponry. However, they find themselves unable to access the treasury without Paxxi's anti-register device, which is necessary to deceive the vault into accepting their prints. The Syndicat had stolen it from him, but it is not in the headquarters as they believed.
Duenna, the Deridas' informant within Syndicat headquarters, reveals that everything has been relocated to the spaceport for loading onto Prince Beju's transport, bound for Gala. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Terra, a leader within the Syndicat. The Jedi and their companions are compelled to conceal themselves until Duenna and Terra depart. The Derida brothers then disclose to the Jedi that Duenna is their mother and Terra is their sister, who underwent renewal at the age of eleven and exclusively remembers the Syndicat.
The following night, they infiltrate the spaceport, disguised as Syndicat guards, and locate the anti-register device. When Guerra is summoned to report to security, Obi-Wan exchanges disguises with him and is escorted to headquarters, where his Human identity is exposed. Weutta, the head of security, presents him to the Syndicat leader Baftu. Baftu declines to meet with him, however, and Terra assumes responsibility for determining that Obi-Wan will undergo renewal and be transported off-planet.
Obi-Wan employs the Force to shield himself from the memory wipe, but he feigns its success and is transported to Gala. He successfully evades the probot trailing him. He encounters Prince Beju en route to his ship, which Obi-Wan commandeers, piloting it back to Phindar. He confines Beju within the cargo hold and assumes his identity.
The Derida brothers arrange a meeting the next day with Duenna, who reports that Obi-Wan's sentence has already been executed. Qui-Gon is devastated and formulates a plan to strike the Syndicat upon Prince Beju's arrival, capitalizing on their anticipated distraction and embarrassment. Kaadi mobilizes the rebels to join their cause.
Qui-Gon recognizes Obi-Wan upon his arrival, prompting him to revise the plan. They launch an assault on the Syndicat headquarters while Baftu conducts a tour for "Beju," but Terra recognizes Obi-Wan and attempts to expose him as an imposter. Obi-Wan pretends to believe that this is a ploy to divert him from inspecting the treasury and voices his reservations about the alliance. Baftu reassures him, though he is unable to dissuade Terra.
Qui-Gon and the Deridas empty the treasury before Paxxi proceeds to the warehouses with the anti-register device to distribute the food and weapons. Upon discovering that the treasury is empty, Baftu concludes that Terra was attempting to delay him earlier and orders her execution. In her final moments, Terra recovers her memories and reconciles with her family.
Now armed, the Phindar rebels initiate an uprising against the Syndicat. Qui-Gon entrusts Obi-Wan with his lightsaber, and they participate in the battle. Kaadi sustains an injury, and in her defense, Paxxi hurls his anti-register device at a guard, shattering it. When Baftu attempts to flee aboard Beju's ship, his guards turn against him, and Guerra apprehends him on behalf of the Phindian people. Prince Beju, having escaped the cargo hold, flies away on his own.
The Jedi remain on Phindar until the provisional government is established. They bid farewell to the Derida brothers, who inform them that Kaadi is recovering, before departing for Gala.