***Prologue***
A small band of Naboo pilots and guards rush through the hangar, led by two Jedi. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. As they reach the lift the doors open, and in the doorway stands the most hideous looking creature. His eyes gleam yellow amid his red and black tattooed face. He pulls away the hood of his cloak, revealing his horned head. "We'll handle this," Qui-Gon says, commanding the others to back off. The trio drop their cloaks and ignite their lightsabers. The horned nemesis swings his duel-bladed lightsaber casually before the two Jedi. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan slowly approach, watching and sensing through the Force the movements of the other and their adversary.
They close in and lightsabers clash. The Jedi work together, confidently, aware of the others movements before they happen. Their adversary is quick, and carries an evil confidence. He is clearly filled with the dark side of the Force. He is well trained and is not swayed by duel opponents. He seems to welcome the challenge. It is obvious that he had trained for the day when he would have the opportunity to clash with Jedi in battle.
The three fight their way across the hangar with amazing skill, leaping, somersaulting, and continually pressing their way. The evil attacker blocks every blow, looking for an opening in their defense. The Jedi realize this will not be a battle easily won and settle in to a pattern, working together looking for an opening. The battle continues past the hangar and into a power station riddled with catwalks and overhangs that crisscross a pit of generators.
The nemesis leaps to a higher catwalk and the Jedi follow. The evil creature is now between the two Jedi, but Obi-Wan is caught off balance and with a powerful kick from the tattooed man, he is knocked off the railing. He falls for a bit, but manages to grab another catwalk and pull himself up. Qui-Gon forces their opponent off the railing as well and when he lands it is clear he is slightly stunned. Qui-Gon leaps down, wanting to end the confrontation, ignoring his own exhaustion as he hopes to take advantage of his enemy's shift in power.
Obi-Wan makes his way back to where Qui-Gon is engaged in battle, but is far behind. Obi-Wan yells for his Master, but Qui-Gon does not slow. The three make their way into a small corridor filled with pulsing lasers. The lasers kick in and trap the three in various parts of the corridor. The tattooed man and Qui-Gon are separated by only one laser, and almost to the end of the corridor. Obi-Wan finds himself trapped by the very first laser, not even past the first wall. Qui-Gon drops down to meditate until the lasers cycle off. Obi-Wan can only watch and wait as the tattooed man paces, glaring at the Jedi.
The lasers cycle off, freeing the man and Qui-Gon first, who immediately go into battle. Obi-Wan waits impatiently for his laser to go off. As soon as it does, he sprints down the corridor as quickly as he can, but is stopped short by the very last laser. He can only watch helplessly as Qui-Gon battles the evil man alone. Obi-Wan watches intently as he waits for his chance to join the battle when his heart sinks. Qui-Gon is caught in the midsection by the tattooed man's saber. "Noooooo," screams Obi-Wan.
Nineteen-year old Lexi wakes up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily, still hearing the sound of Obi-Wan's scream in her head. Fiery red curls cling to her face. "What's wrong, Love?" Obi-Wan's soft voice sounds in the darkness as he sits up and pulls her into his arms. It takes a moment for Lexi to realize what she witnessed was nothing more than a nightmare. She wasn't in a hangar on a distant planet, she was in her room at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. She had returned to the Temple earlier that evening after several weeks away on a mission with her Master, Mam 'Oru.
Obi-Wan turns on the light, his grey-blue eyes meeting her silver eyes with concern. Lexi's eyes were only silver when she was very upset.
Too shaken from the dream to speak, Lexi buries her head in her best friend turned boyfriend's muscular chest and silently reminds herself the future is fluid, changing. Just because she had what might be a vision, doesn't mean it will actually happen. It couldn't happen.
Though Qui-Gon was Obi-Wan's Master, Lexi also had a very special bond with him. Qui-Gon had rescued her at the age of four and brought her to the Jedi temple. He had watched over her ever since that day, coming to her aid whenever she needed him.
Obi-Wan slowly lowers both of them back down on the pillows and strokes her hair from her face. "It's alright," he whispers softly, "we will talk about it when you are ready." He softly kisses her forehead. Lexi takes comfort in his embrace. Listening to his heart, she steadies her breathing to his. She twirls his Padawan braid through her fingers and eventually drifts off into a dreamless sleep.
