Title: Titled Confusion
Author: Mlinyaia
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters :)
A.N: In this story Xanatos is Qui-Gon's first padawan.
Chapter 1
Qui-Gon awoke from his dreamless sleep, the same as he usually did every morning. He stood up off of his hard sleep couch and walked over to his small desk. He picked up the cold mug of tea he had not finished the previous night and drank it down. He grabbed a crisp, clean white towel from the end of the couch, and continued to walk towards the small refresher, his night robes swinging round his ankles with the movements he made. He walked into the small room and stripped off his night robes and entered the small shower cubical. A few minutes later he exited the refresher wearing the now damp an dripping towel around his waist. He slowly dried his body and slipped into his light, pale undertunic, then adjusting it to secure his comfort he placed his overtunic over the top of these. He gathered up his cloak and placed it over his broad shoulders and huddled himself into it. Pulling the hood over his eyes, he went to sit back on his sleep couch and begin a meditation.
Qui-Gon Jinn was a Jedi Knight, he had not yet made it onto the ranks of Jedi Master, and the cause of it would be his downfall. It had been little over a month since his first Padawan, Xanatos, betrayed him. It is always a fear of a Jedi taking a Padawan that their Apprentice would die before Knighthood, but a bigger fear and a far worse fate that they will turn to the Dark Side of the Force. This fear had turned into reality for Qui-Gon, Xanatos had turned.
Only 6 weeks ago, Master Yoda had informed Qui-Gon that Xanatos would be tested in their next mission, that it would be a trial for Knighthood. They were sent to Telos, the homeworld of the Padawan, they were to bring down the corrupted figurehead of a civil war that had brewed there. They arrived and soon foudn their intended target. There was a problem though, the figurehead was Crion, Xanatos's father. When faced with the decision Qui-Gon took it upon himself to deal the killing blow, severing the ring off of the fallen governors finger. Xanatos was angry and seeked revenge on Qui-Gon for killing his father, he hurt him in the only way he knew how, he picked up the moldering ring and imprinted it on his cheek as a reminder of the life his own Master took, the life of his own father! Then he left the Jedi Order, unable to control his anger and hatred, he became a Dark Jedi.
Qui-Gon shuddered as he reminded himself of the circumstances that had led him to this self imposed exclusion. His small, no longer shared Master/Padawan quarters, had become a prison he had placed himself in for the past 5 weeks, only to come out occasionally for a Council meeting to discuss the situation. His friend and Jedi Master, Tahl bought him a meal every evening and stayed with him to meditate. He was certain that she was reporting their conversations back to the Jedi High Council but was inable to keep anything from the beautiful woman. Her green and gold stripped eyes, the appearance of the Noori, made that inpenitrable gaze more welcoming. Qui-Gon and Tahl had spent many days discussing the situation that Qui-Gon was now in.
There was a soft knock on the door, Tahl was waiting to come inside the small quarters. Qui-Gon was awoken from his meditation and graciously went over to the door to let the waiting Knight in.
"Hello Tahl, it is good to see you." Qui-Gon greeted with a rather neutral sound in his voice. "What brings you here?"
"Hello Qui-Gon, I'm just wanting reassurance that you are ok"
"Well I can assure you I am fine." Annoyance was in his voice, he didn't mean to voice it aloud to the Master but he had and mistakes can not be corrected once they had joined the past. "The Council have sent you haven't they!"
"Yes Qui-Gon but you must understand, it is not often that a Padawan turns. They are concerned for you well being, as you were the most directly involved."
"Tell them I am ok and I am trying to continue with my life."
"That is not the truth Qui-Gon, they know you are not yourself." She paused trying to comfort Qui-Gon was tiring, he had been sulking for weeks now. It was understandable that he would grieve the loss of his Padawan Learner but how could he move on if he was stuck focussing on it. He needed to get out of the room, but she always failed to convince him of the benefit of some fresh air.
"Qui-Gon why don't you come outside, take your mind off of things, the Council are worried as you haven't left your room for over a month."
"Then let the Council worry! I am dealing with all of this fine! Please Tahl just tell them to leave me"
Sensing the anger in his voice, Tahl hurriedly left the small dormitory and headed to report to Master Yoda on their discussions, leaving Qui-gon in the dark once more.