This came out of nowhere… ayup, most things that come out of nowhere are bound to be short; sorry.
"He's dead," Qui-Gon said quietly. Standing three feet away, Xanatos felt a lump form in his throat. He was only 13. He had never watched a victim die before. He had always hoped to prepare himself for the time when he would have to watch anyone die, but there was no time.
It had happened so quickly. The blaster fired, Qui-Gon leapt to help, but it was too late. The fire had cleaved through leather clothes and skin to burrow deep in the stomach. Then another shot ripped right through the heart, and dark blood oozed out of the wound. He remembered it in striking detail, and he would always remember it that way. It was imprinted on his mind in awful, horrific clarity.
Suddenly a hand was on his shoulder. Xanatos turned to face his Master, vowing not to cry. If he did... he couldn't. At the same time, he needed to.
"Remember this, Padawan," Qui-Gon said gently. "An innocent life was taken."
An innocent life was taken.
"Yes, Master."
Qui-Gon didn't shed a tear, but Xanatos was ready to overflow with them. He blinked them back, vowing them to just dry away.
"It's alright to cry," Qui-Gon said carefully. "But don't dwell on it. And still remember it. Remember what has happened."
"Yes, Master," Xanantos repeated numbly.
He didn't remember what Qui-Gon said after that. He still obeyed his Master's instructions. He remembered what had happened and how awful it was at the same time.
OOOOO
Now he knew how naïve he was, though. The Jedi were stupid. If no one died, the galaxy would be a filthy, wrecked mess.
But only some deserve to die, he thought as he pulled the trigger. Innocent or otherwise.
"This is for you, Father."