Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival

The Dark Rival by Jude Watson is the second in the young readers Jedi Apprentice series. All of the books in the series are written by Jude Watson, except for the first book, The Rising Force, which was written by Dave Wolverton. The series explores the adventures of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi prior to the events of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

A backstory from this book later became the basis for the comic Star Wars: Jedi—The Dark Side.

Editions

 * ISBN 0590519255 & ISBN 0439012872; Scholastic, June 1999, 122-page paperback
 * ISBN 0613168496; Sagebrush Corporation, March 2001, Turtleback

Publisher's summary
'''Peace over anger. Honor over hate. Strength over fear.'''

''Qui-Gon Jinn's past is not at rest. How can he forge a bond with young Obi-Wan Kenobi while he is haunted by the betrayal of his first apprentice—Xanatos? Xanatos was also a promising student—until the dark side of the Force intervened. Qui-Gon thought he was gone forever.''

But now Xanatos is back.

And he wants revenge.

Plot summary
The tale begun in Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force continues in Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival. While thankful for Obi-Wan's life-saving help on the trip to Bandomeer, Qui-Gon must put aside his mixed feelings over the young apprentice and take care of his peace mission. But he soon finds out that he's been tricked—not only did the planet's government not call for him, but the request may have come from his former-apprentice-gone-to-the-dark-side, the sinister Xanatos. Qui-Gon stays on Bandomeer to help rival mining companies there negotiate and to find out more about his fallen Jedi Padawan. Obi-Wan and Si Treemba investigate a secret annex Argi-Corps giant dome located in the Eastern Enrichment Zone, which he suspects belongs to the Offworld Corporation. Xanatos finds Obi-Wan in the annex, Offworld security guards battle and capture Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan is sent to the Great Sea of Bandomeer as a prisoner to become a miner on a deep-sea mining platform. He meets Guerra a Phindian who he works with to try an escape. Guerra then betrays Obi-Wan while trying to steal equipment from the guards. Obi-Wan is thrown off the platform for punishment, but Guerra supplied a net, saving him from the fatal fall. Qui-Gon comes to save Obi-Wan, and they drive off to the mines to try to stop Xanatos. When they get there, a vision Qui-Gon had came true. As they run into the mines, Xanatos confronts them, and they have a brief lightsaber duel. Xanatos retreats out of the mines, leaving Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to die. They find bombs inside an Offworld mining box, meaning they were all over Bandomeer. Qui-Gon diarms the bomb, Xanatos gets away, and Qui-Gon accepts Obi-Wan as his apprentice.

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the different cover variations of Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival.