Disclaimer: Sadly i do not own Star Wars or any of its characters, they belong to Disney!
AN: I hope you like it so far and I'd be happy about any comment you leave. But enough of this now, enjoy! ;)
False Evidence Appearing Real
It hurt. There was just no other way to describe it. He felt betrayed, cast away and unwanted and just because of a little boy they picked up on some strange planet. Granted, it was not the boy's fault, Obi-Wan would never blame the boy, but it still hurt to be replaced by a child.
Obi-Wan sighed. The young man had been trying to meditate during the trip back to Naboo, but his thoughts and focus were elsewhere. He leaned back, his head resting on the wall behind him and staring at the ceiling. Just a few feet away laid the cause of his troubles. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, an unorthodox Jedi with long brown hair that started to turn grey and with midnight blues eyes. The Jedi was fast asleep, completely oblivious to his Padawan's inner turmoil. Not that he would have noticed when he was awake. The Jedi Master hardly cared about his Padawan anymore; his focus solemnly was with the 'Chosen One'.
"No," Obi-Wan scolded himself, "it is not the boy's fault!"
With a last glance at the sleeping form of his Master, the young man sat up and silently stepped out of the room, he couldn't bear staying in the same room as his Master anymore.
He aimlessly wandered through the ship until he came to a secluded area where he sat down on one of the boxes, tugging his braid behind his ear. This little motion once more reminded him of his Master and he silently cursed himself for his weakness.
"I knew that he always hated me," the apprentice mumbled in self pity.
"Who hates you?" a small voice suddenly said.
Obi-Wan looked up startled at the voice of their new attachment, Anakin Skywalker. The boy looked up innocently at the older boy and Obi-Wan found himself once more confirmed that this little boy was not to blame.
"Just somebody I thought I know… but do not worry about it," Obi-Wan forced himself to smile, "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a look around. I found an old droid in this storage. He does not work, so I decided to work on it…," he trailed off.
Obi-Wan hummed in agreement.
"Hey, you repaired our hyperdrive generator didn't you?" Anakin suddenly asked with hopeful eyes.
"Yes," the young Jedi replied hesitantly.
"Do you want to help me?" the young boy asked, his eyes shining and Obi-Wan found himself unable to decline.
"Alright," he sighed.
Anakin cheered and immediately grabbed the young Jedi's hand, who let himself be pulled to the sad remains of a droid. He kneeled down and looked at the droid, trying to figure out what was wrong with it, when he saw Anakin shiver. He shrugged off his coat and laid it over Anakin's tiny frame. The boy looked quizzically up at him before grinning and thanking Obi-Wan.
"Now let's see what we got here," the older boy retorted and together they went to work.
When they landed on the little planet, Anakin and Obi-Wan had repaired the droid to a point where it could be activated again. Obi-Wan's tunic spotted some stains, but he didn't care. Instead he talked and laughed with Anakin, who was still wearing the young Jedi's robe, which was way too large for his small frame.
The queen and her handmaidens laughed at the comical sight, Jar Jar said something about shrinking Jedi and Qui-Gon merely raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"He isn't so dangerous after all, is he?" the man teased his Padawan, while the ginger haired boy retreated his robe and put it on again.
Obi-Wan chose to ignore his Master and turned to Jar Jar to talk to the Gungan. He didn't notice the hurt look on the older man's face nor the pain that was send through the bond, which Obi-Wan had blocked on his side.
The two Jedi did not exchange a single word, not even after the meeting with the Gungans. Obi-Wan didn't care, he would soon be replaced by another apprentice, who he still thought was highly unbalanced and therefore dangerous. Anakin was nice and friendly, but he also was angry, sad and conflicted. If the boy was truly trainable it had to be by Master Yoda. Obi-Wan doubted anybody else could direct the boy on the right path.
Qui-Gon on the other hand started to worry. His Padawan was behaving strange and he didn't know the cause of it or how to approach the younger man. He had tried to corner him twice, but Obi-Wan had always slipped away somehow and the older Jedi Master's patience was slowly running thin.
"Obi-Wan!" he called out and the younger boy turned to him with an unreadable expression. "On a word Padawan!"
Qui-Gon turned around then to get a little space between him and the others. He knew, even without turning around, that Obi-Wan was following him. The boy was always obedient, he was the picture of a perfect apprentice.
The pair stopped a few metres away from the others and Qui-Gon examined the young man before him for a moment, before starting to speak, "What is the matter with you?"
Obi-Wan just looked at him and Qui-Gon almost believed the other male hadn't understood what he said, when Obi-Wan finally opened his mouth to answer, "Even if something were the matter, why should you care?"
Qui-Gon was taken aback by the cold answer and it took him a moment to form a reply, "I care because I am your Master."
It had obviously been the wrong thing to say. "Well, in this case, you do not have to worry. Everything is fine."
Qui-Gon did not believe a word of what his young apprentice had said. "Obi-Wan, tell-"
"I mean it Master!" he was interrupted. "It is nothing of your concern."
"You are my Padawan-"
"For a few more weeks, then I have my trials and will be knighted and you can completely focus on your new apprentice," the ginger haired man said in a calm voice.
"So, this is what this fuss is all about. You are jealous of Anakin!" Qui-Gon concluded.
"I am not jealous of Anakin! In fact I only feel sorry for him!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Qui-Gon was getting irritated and annoyed at his Padawan.
The younger male only shrugged. "If you don't know…," he trailed off and turned away from Qui-Gon. "I just hope that Anakin will be a better Padawan than I was!" and with that the younger man walked away, leaving a stunned Qui-Gon back.
The older man was about to call out and stop his apprentice, but right then Jar Jar and Anakin more or less demanded the young Jedi's attention.
Not another word had been exchanged between the two Jedi, Obi-Wan had not even so much as looked at the older man and Qui-Gon had decided that he definitely would need a heart to heart with his apprentice after this mission was over. And if he had to lock himself and Obi-Wan in a room until everything was settled between them.
"I feel a great disturbance in the Force," said a voice next to him and when Qui-Gon turned, he saw his Padawan walking to his left.
"Excuse me," he had been too deep in thoughts to register what the young man had said.
Obi-Wan looked at him with a raised eyebrow before repeating what he had said, "I feel a great disturbance in the Force… something dark is awaiting us."
"Maybe the creature that attacked us on Tatooine," the long haired Jedi mused.
The young man's expression darkened. "Yes, on Tatooine…"
Qui-Gon was about to scold his Padawan, for he was sure that Obi-Wan was referring to Anakin, but the ginger haired man beat him to it, "Too warm and too much sand for my liking… I swear that I still find sand in places it shouldn't be!"
Qui-Gon laughed at that. "At least you where in the ship that has a cooling system, I had to run in the open and do hard work!"
"Talking with gangsters and watching a Pod Race is not what I would call hard work."
"Brat," Qui-Gon said and playfully pulled at the Padawan's braid.
"Your education."
"I hardly doubt that!"
"Well, maybe it WAS hard work, but then again, you ARE getting old!" Obi-Wan said matter of fact, earning him another, harder pull at his Padawan braid.
"Ow!"
The young man looked up at his Master with a grin and a sparkling in this blue-green eyes and he grabbed the taller man's hand to prevent Qui-Gon from tugging at his braid again.
Qui-Gon's expression softened, maybe it had been only the hormones that had caused such a strange behaviour from his Padawan. He was about to say something, when a smaller voice, that sounded almost fearful, beat him to it.
"Will I be forced to have a braid too?"
The two Jedi looked back startled, only to be greeted by an almost scared looking boy and their rather amused looking companions.
Obi-Wan stopped walking and knelt down to be on eye level with the small child.
"This braid is a symbol of commitment. It represents the Force, the Master and the Padawan. All are one and act as one. The Padawan is guided by the Master, yet the Master learns from the Padawan too. Both are instruments of the Force that guides its children, but at the same time the Jedi are able to wield the Force to their will. A braid like this shows that you are an equal to the Force, it shows your commitment to it and is a great honour to wear," he hesitated for a moment and sheepishly glanced back at Qui-Gon, "Traditionally the braid is behind a Padawan's right ear and if you walk to your Master's right, you should be relatively save!"
Anakin and Qui-Gon laughed at the last part, but then the boy turned serious, "I will wear it with honour then!"
Obi-Wan nodded his approval and stood back up to resume walking, he hadn't forgotten the dark presence that still lurked here. Qui-Gon gave him an approving smile, which Obi-Wan couldn't return quite as enthusiastically.
They continued their way and Qui-Gon eventually ordered Anakin to hide. The boy hid himself in a cockpit and somehow Obi-Wan had the feeling he wouldn't stay there for long. Their little group walked up to a closed door, which suddenly opened to reveal a dark figure. The same creature that had attacked Qui-Gon on Tatooine and its dark aura send chills down Obi-Wan's spine. The young Jedi immediately reached for his lightsaber, just as his Master did.
"We'll deal with him." Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan was barely aware of the answer Padme gave, his focus was solemnly on the dark creature before him that fixed him with his cold eyes.
A moment later the dark being drew his double bladed lightsaber, his gaze still resting on Obi-Wan.
The two Jedi attacked as one, dancing around their opponent, lightsabers clashing. They were venturing further into the compound and fighting on narrow platforms, making it hard to manoeuvre.
Obi-Wan barely dodged a kick aimed at his head that surely would have had him tumbling down of the platform. His Master however, wasn't so lucky.
From the corner of his eyes, the young Jedi saw that Qui-Gon has been able to grab the edge of another platform further down, so the ginger haired man decided to dash forward, keeping the attacks up.
He was so focused on the fight at hand and the Force surrounding him that Obi-Wan almost ran straight into a laser shield, which now separated him and the creature. He looked back when his bond with Qui-Gon trembled with worry, the older Jedi stood at the beginning of the corridor and send warnings and the command to wait through the bond. Obi-Wan ignored it and knelt down to take a few calming breathes and to find his centre again. The dark creature was pacing behind the shield, obviously anxious and impatient.
The young Jedi knew that the creature had wanted to separate him and his Master, but for some odd reason he didn't care. He felt at ease with the situation what brought him a high advantage over his opponent. The dark creature became more and more frustrated with the situation, which caused him to lose focus.
Obi-Wan wasn't sure about the outcome of this fight, but even that didn't bother him. Nothing bothered him anymore actually. It felt strange to be free of all emotions, but at the same time familiar, almost as if he was supposed to be a complete instrument of the Force.
Obi-Wan felt it before he actually saw the shield opening. Almost immediately he was back on his feet, lightsaber activated. His mind was clear of all thoughts and his heart free of all the pain and doubt he had harboured since Qui-Gon's betrayal. He was completely devoted and his body was used by the Force.
Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon's annoyance when he was once more stopped from the very last shield, but also the man's worries. It startled Obi-Wan for a moment. Why did the man feel so worried?
This little moment of distraction was all the Sith needed, he pushed his weapon forwards and Obi-Wan had barely been able to escape the deathly stroke. Pain erupted from his right side, but was quickly erased from his consciousness. Once more completely focused, the young Jedi's attacks strengthened and quickened, or the creature's movements weakened and slowed, Obi-Wan wasn't sure about it.
The creature, no, the Force called it Sith, stumbled back a few steps and Obi-Wan took the chance. His lightsaber cut right through the hold of the Sith's lightsaber, cutting it in half in the process. Now it was one blade against one, red against blue, Sith against Jedi, dark against light. Their deadly dance continued and for a moment it seemed as if the Sith was winning, but the Jedi's defences didn't waver. Both fighters wanted to win, failure was not an option and neither of them noticed the shield that opened and the older man entering their arena.
Qui-Gon hesitated. He could hurt his Padawan when he interfered, especially since they fought at an inhuman speed. Without the help of the Force, Qui-Gon wouldn't have been able to see them properly. He felt proud at his Padawan, never before had he seen a Jedi in such a deep connection with the Force. It should have been impossible, yet here he was, the living proof that it was indeed possible. The Jedi Master wondered for a moment what Master Yoda would say could he see Obi-Wan and if Anakin would be able to do that as well.
Anger and the feeling of betrayal were send through the bond and the older Jedi Master stumbled back in shock. Had the feelings come from his Padawan or were these feelings what Obi-Wan felt from the dark creature? He reached through the bond, intending to find the source of these emotions, but promptly strong shields blocked his way. To his surprise, the long haired Jedi found himself unable to weaken the shield's, let alone penetrate them and he looked at his Padawan with a mixture of shock and disbelief. Had Obi-Wan always been able to put up shields that could easily rival Master Yoda's and if so, why did he never use them? Had his trust in his Master been so great that he simply thought them unnecessarily? And why did he use them now? Suddenly Qui-Gon was reminded of the strong emotions that had poured through the bond, could these really have been Obi-Wan's?
A cry of pain brought the long haired Jedi Master out of his musings and he turned around, fearing that his Padawan had been hurt and the picture that greeted him, surprised him greatly. The dark being was kneeling before his Padawan, his left hand clutching the remains of his right arm and looking at Obi-Wan with pain-filled and angry eyes. Qui-Gon shuddered at the gaze, but Obi-Wan didn't even flinch.
The dark creature was furiously whispering something to Obi-Wan and the young man's grip tightened on the hilt of his lightsaber. He raised it to the throat of the creature and Qui-Gon found himself almost frozen in shock.
"Obi-Wan don't! It's not the way of the Jedi!"
The being's eyes narrowed and his grin turned feral as he said something else that Qui-Gon couldn't hear.
"I am no ones pet, nor am I a slave!" replied the young Jedi in a cold tone.
"Could have fooled me!" the being's laugh was cold and without any joy in it.
Something felt greatly wrong. Since Qui-Gon had sent his thoughts over their bond, Obi-Wan felt wrong. His connection to the Force had wavered, before it had changed. He had tried to let go of his emotions, to let them flow into the Force, but somehow the Force didn't accept them. The anger wouldn't disappear, nor did the betrayal. The pain was becoming worse and the Sith's word were of no help. There was something that he missed, but he couldn't detect it. It was almost as if his body was suddenly controlled by something or someone else and it definitely wasn't the Force.
"Obi-Wan, step away from him. Jedi do not kill unarmed opponents," scolded the older man, causing Obi-Wan's anger to flare up again.
"Do as your Master says, pet. Or are you too weak to make your own decisions? Obedient to the last, even to a Master that betrayed you and casted you away," the Sith whispered so that only Obi-Wan could hear him.
The man in return tightened his grip on his weapon so that his knuckles were turning white. He slightly turned around, enough to see his Master.
"Padawan," Qui-Gon looked at him with an unreadable expression.
"How does it feel to be a cast away, to be worthless?"
"Shut up!" the young Jedi mumbled and turned back around.
"And what if I do not? Will you kill me? Are you even capable of killing me? You are too weak are you not?"
Suddenly another, a much colder voice sounded in his head, "Do it! He will be a threat as long as he lives. But you have the power to end his life and to keep your loved once save. Use you hate and anger, let it guide you and strike him down. Don't listen to his words, he is trying to unbalance you so that you will make a mistake. He will not hesitate to use this mistake in his favour. He will strike so why don't you?"
"Why indeed?" Obi-Wan mumbled to himself.
His eyes narrowed and instead of trying to get rid of his emotions, he collected them. The Force vibrated around him, familiar but at the same time like a total stranger. It suddenly send a warning towards him and with one swift motion, the Sith's head tumbled to the ground, a few feet away from its body.
Qui-Gon Jinn stood frozen in shock. His apprentice had just killed an unharmed and defeated opponent. He had openly defied his Master's order as well as the Jedi Code. What had become of the young boy he had thought was a great Jedi?
He didn't register the young man's horrified and haunted expression nor the violent trembling of the young body. All he saw was another failure of his, another Padawan he had failed, another son he had lost, another Xanatos. Both, Master and Padawan, stood frozen where they were. Neither of them moved or said a word, both were too deep in thoughts and too consumed by their emotions. The silence hung heavily between them.