Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force

Keep peace over anger. Keep honor over hate. Keep strength over fear.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, a twelve-year-old, has a strong desire to become a Jedi Knight. Having spent years at the Jedi Temple, he understands the power that the lightsaber and the Force possess. However, he struggles to manage his own anger and fear. Due to this inability, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn is hesitant to accept him as a Padawan apprentice.

Obi-Wan is now on the verge of experiencing true evil for the first time. He will be forced to confront unexpected adversaries, as well as his own inner darkness.

Only after this experience can his Jedi training truly commence.

Under Yoda's watchful eye, Obi-Wan engaged in a sparring match with Bruck Chun, another Jedi apprentice. Throughout the duel, both Bruck and Obi-Wan became increasingly enraged, but Obi-Wan eventually gained the upper hand, exhausting his opponent to the point of surrender. Yoda offered insightful guidance, but neither apprentice heeded his words. After Yoda departed, Bruck provoked Obi-Wan into another unsanctioned fight. The two boys battled until they were completely drained. Obi-Wan left the training area and returned to his quarters, while Bruck went to the infirmary, whispered Obi-Wan's name, and feigned unconsciousness: his scheme was to discredit Obi-Wan all along.

Later that evening, as Obi-Wan tended to his injuries, his clan Master, Docent Vant, arrived bearing surprising news: Vant's datapad contained orders for Obi-Wan to report to the freighter Monument for transport to the Agricultural Corps. Obi-Wan protested this decision, asserting that he still had the potential to become a Jedi Knight, but Docent remained resolute, and Obi-Wan eventually relented. After packing his belongings and sharing a heartfelt farewell with his Mon Calamari friend Bant, he went to bed feeling dejected, his world now devoid of purpose.

The following morning, Obi-Wan prepared for his departure. After receiving treatment for his burns from the medics, he proceeded to the refectory for one final meal at the Temple. During breakfast, he bid farewell to his friends Garen Muln and Reeft, as well as Bant. Despite their attempts to comfort him, he remained unmoved by their words. However, the taunts of Bruck Chun and his friend Aalto struck a deeper chord. Although Reeft lightened the mood with some well-timed humor related to food, it was evident that Obi-Wan felt utterly hopeless.

Meanwhile, atop one of the Temple's highest towers, in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, Yoda was advocating for him. While Mace Windu initially expressed skepticism, the testimony of Advanced Jedi Training Droid 6, who witnessed the fight, swayed his opinion. Yoda proposed that both Bruck and Obi-Wan be given the opportunity to spar for Qui-Gon Jinn that afternoon.

Later that day, Obi-Wan and Bruck engaged in a sparring match. Obi-Wan fought skillfully, but knowing that this was his last chance to be chosen as a Padawan, he launched a sudden, furious attack, defeating Bruck. Confident that he had now proven himself, he approached Qui-Gon Jinn, hoping to be accepted as a Padawan. However, Qui-Gon disapproved of his aggressive fighting style and rejected him, stating that Obi-Wan was at too great a risk of succumbing to the dark side. Silently, Obi-Wan left the Temple, feeling more despondent than ever before.

Concurrently, Qui-Gon entered the Map Room, troubled by the memory of Obi-Wan's expression. Yoda approached him and confronted him, warning that if he did not take Obi-Wan as a Padawan, Obi-Wan's aspirations would be extinguished. Qui-Gon hesitated, suggesting that he might choose a Padawan in the future. Yoda reproached him for his reluctance, reminding Qui-Gon that he too had struggled with anger as a young boy. Nevertheless, Qui-Gon remained unwilling to take Obi-Wan. Yoda cautioned him that if he did not select an apprentice, he might end up with one regardless. Qui-Gon inquired about Obi-Wan's assignment. Yoda revealed that he was to work with the Agricultural Corps on Bandomeer, a revelation that surprised Qui-Gon, who had just been assigned a mission on the same planet. Yoda explained that Bandomeer was an ideal place for young Jedi to learn, and advised Qui-Gon that he too still had much to learn.

Both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan embarked on the Monument for Bandomeer, which also carried miners from the Offworld Mining Corporation and Arcona Mineral Harvest Corporation. Due to their mutual hostility, the two companies remained segregated on opposite sides of the ship. However, when Arcona Mineral Harvest's thermocons went missing, Obi-Wan and his Arcona friend Si Treemba ventured to Offworld's side of the ship in search of them. Si Treemba was captured by Grelb the Hutt, forcing Obi-Wan to reveal himself in order to rescue him. This incident further strained relations between Offworld, Arcona Mineral Harvest, and the two Jedi.

During the journey, the Monument was attacked by Togorian pirates. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon collaborated to defeat the criminals, although Qui-Gon sustained injuries and many Offworld slaves were killed. The Arconas, however, remained hidden and unharmed. To compensate for the slaves lost in the attack, Jemba the Hutt seized all the dactyl on the ship, forcing the Arconas to either serve him or face starvation. Obi-Wan and Clat'Ha persuaded the Arconas to delay their decision.

The damaged ship made an emergency landing on an island on an unknown planet. As the tide began to rise, the crew and passengers sought refuge in a network of caves in the hills. Qui-Gon deduced that Jemba had concealed the dactyl in the cliffs and went to retrieve it. Grelb and a group of Whiphids ambushed him, opening fire as he climbed, but they were forced to retreat when the native predators, the draigons, attacked them.

Qui-Gon successfully recovered the dactyl, only to sense Obi-Wan's distress through the Force. He used the Force to tame a draigon and rode it down to the caves, where the Arconas were becoming increasingly ill. Meanwhile, more draigons began to swarm the caves. Qui-Gon sent a warning to Obi-Wan, who leaped over a gloating Jemba to fend off the draigons at the cave entrance. Qui-Gon delivered the dactyl to the Arconas.

Grelb attempted to shoot Obi-Wan in retaliation, but his shot missed and struck Jemba, killing him. Grelb himself was devoured by the draigons. Qui-Gon and the miners assisted Obi-Wan in defending the caves until the draigons dispersed at nightfall. Clat'Ha purchased the Offworld contracts of Aggaba the Hutt, who assumed control after Jemba and Grelb's deaths, and his workers, thereby liberating them.

At dawn, the ship resumed its journey to Bandomeer, where Qui-Gon discovered that the planet did not require Jedi assistance after all. It was all a deception orchestrated by Qui-Gon's former padawan, Xanatos.

• ISBN 9780590519229 ; Released on May 3 , 1999 ; Published by Scholastic Inc. ; US paperback edition [1]