2.

Master Con and Qui-Gon fished the future man from the pit and laid him out onto the floor. They circled around him. The future man had on a long brown robe and an off white tunic over a black under shirt and pants with black boots. On each arm he had a brown leather wrist guards. He had on a wore brown leather belt with a lightsaber and a sword. He was human with red-brown hair and a short beard. He looked to be in his early thirties. Overall, he seemed like a typical human-Jedi. The only odd thing about him was the sword. Jedi usually preferred the lightsaber as their weapon of choice.

Obi-Wan stated the obvious, "He's a Jedi."

Master Con replied, "I'm not surprised. The Temple has stood for centuries. It makes sense that there would be Jedi in the same place in the future."

Qui-Gon said, "Yes, well perhaps, but we don't know if he's really from the future."

Master Con was appalled and said, "Of course, he's from the future!"

The man groaned.

Obi-Wan said, "Look. He's waking up."

The man groaned again and slowly rolled onto his front and grabbed his head. He sat up and shook his head. He opened his eyes and stared up at the three men.

"What happened? Where am I?"

Master Con was overjoyed and smiled brightly and said, "Now, now there is no need for alarm. I am Master Con. You are among friends."

The man frowned and stumbled as he rose up and hopped over to a pillar for support. He leaned against it heavily. He continued to hold his head. He felt dizzy. He's senses were cloudy. There was an overwhelming darkness present. It was close but yet out of reach like a phantom in the concern of his eye. His chest felt heavy. He thought he was going to be sick.

He pressed his forehead against the cool stone pillar to ease his headache. The cool surface was such a refer. He closed his eyes and rubbed his brow against it.

Qui-Gon noted the man's discomfort and approached him. "Are you all right? I can take you to the infirmary."

The man replied, "No...I'm quite alright. You needn't be concerned. I only need a moment."

Meanwhile, Master Con could hardly contain himself. He stepped forward and placed his hand on the man's shoulder to turn him around. His grip was tight and strong. Master Con twisted his robes. He pushed his back against the pillar and grabbed his collar.

"Now! Tell me! Tell me did the prophecy come true? Did the Chosen One appear? Did he restore balance to the Force or not? Is he real? Tell me!"

"Gal-Qin, that's enough!" shouted Qui-Gon.

However, the force of Master Con's shove snapped the man to attention. He reached up and grabbed hold of Master Con's wrist and used his foot to knock him off balance. The Jedi fell to the ground. The man drew his lightsaber in a flash and pointed it at Master Con's throat. The blue lightsaber hummed and shone against the Jedi Master's dark face.

"Let him go," spoke Qui-Gon in a calm tone.

Obi-Wan inched closer and had his hand over his lightsaber. He looked at his master for a cue, but the elder man shook his head. He raised his hand and slowly circled around to face the man.

"There is no need for violence. Put the weapon down."

The man met Qui-Gon's gaze. He had bright gold eyes. They caught the light from the torch and shone like an animal. He wasn't human. He realized he was wrong in assuming that he was.

"What is going on here? What do you want from me?"

The elder man paused. He had to consider the man's prospective. Being plucked from your time period and transported against your will was rather rude. And to make matters worse, Master Con was less than hospitable to their guest. It was true, he shared his friend's enthusiasm for prophecy, but attacking a stranger was going too far.

"Please, let go of my friend and I will answer your questions. Please, put the lightsaber down."

The man regarded Qui-Gon with is amber-eyes before deactivating his lightsaber with a vroom. He kept the weapon in his hand. He stepped over Master Con without another thought.

"Where am I? How did I get here?"

Qui-Gon said, "You're at the Jedi Temple. You were brought here in a rather unusual method."

"Unusual? What?"

The man shook his head. He couldn't concentrate. He felt drained. He felt like he'd been run over by a transport. He could hardly focus. He closed his eyes and shook his head. His thoughts felt thick and heavy. No matter how much he tried to block out the darkness, he couldn't. He's mind was a swirl of negativity and chaos.

Qui-Gon saw the man's suffering and said, "It can wait. You need rest."

He reached out to place his hand on the man's shoulder, but he shook him off like he'd been burned. Qui-Gon was surprised by his reaction.

He frantically said, "Don't touch me! The voices! The darkness! I can barely keep it out."

The man then grabbed his head and shut his eyes tight. Qui-Gon disobeyed. He placed his hand onto his shoulders and for a moment read his thoughts. Qui-Gon gasped in pain and felt the darkness rip through the Temple like tissue paper. It was overwhelming ; a tidal wave. It was unimaginable that such a strong power could go ignored. There were only a few specks of light in the darkness. Qui-Gon realized them as fellow Jedi. He looked towards Obi-Wan. His Padawan had rushed to him after he gasped.

Obi-Wan grabbed Qui-Gon and pulled his hands off the unknown man. The two stumbled back. They fell to the floor. Meanwhile, the man had reached a strange sense of calm. His amber-eyes were closed and his head was tilted back. He had dropped his lightsaber onto the ground, but his arms were free at his sides.

"This presence...this presence I have not felt in such a long time."

He drew in a deep breath and the torches began to dim as he opened his amber-eyes. His eyes glowed more in the darkness. Qui-Gon felt a chill run down his spine as the man began to manipulate the Force in the entire chamber. He raised his hand and summoned his lightsaber back to his palm and clipped it onto his belt. He then began to march out of the chamber and into the hall.

"Quickly, Obi-Wan. We need to go after him."

XXX

He raced through the Temple and down several corridors until he reached the entrance at the Temple steps. There the cool Corescant night air greeted him with the sights and sounds of the city all around. He wasted no time. He used the Force to leap onto a passing transport and hitched a ride straight to the Senate.

After a few minutes, he found himself in front of the Senate building. The stately large building loomed ominously against the night sky, but nothing would stand in his way. Nothing would stop him from hunting and slaying his prey. He felt his target mingling among a folk of sheep.

The man jumped out from the shadows and prepared to strike down the Dark Lord with a quick beheading, but was stopped by Master Qui-Gon. The group of Senators screamed and began to panic as they fled. Obi-Wan was fast to direct them to safety.

Master Qui-Gon swung his lightsaber against the strange future man's. Sparks fell as they dueled in the streets. The man was strangely focused. He blocked every single one of Master Qui-Gon's attacks.

"What are you doing? Stop this."

"I'll have the Dark Lord's head."

"The Dark Lord? You mean a Sith?"

"Yes."

Qui-Gon shook his head and said, "But that man isn't a Sith. I don't sense anything."

"Yes, you did."

Qui-Gon's eyes widen in shook. He meant the strange overwhelming darkness he had felt in the sub-chamber at the Temple. He realized it was the Force-presence of a Sith. Qui-Gon's face harden as he circled closer to the man.

"Who are you?"

"I am a Jedi."

Qui-Gon shook his head and said, "Yes, I can see that. What is your name?"

Suddenly, a broad smile spread across the man's face. "You mean you don't recognize me? The son of the Great General? The Lord of Blackswan? No? It doesn't ring any bells?" At Qui-Gon's baffled expression, the man was utterly deflated. "Oh, well never mind. My name is Master Jinn."

Qui-Gon lowered his deactivated his lightsaber and approached him. "I think you better come with me. I think Master Yoda would like to hear your story."

Jinn shook his head and turned to go. "I've no time for stories. I must hunt the Dark Lord and slay him. It is my duty as a Jedi."

Qui-Gon shouted after him and said, "Yes, but you've been transported to the past."

Jinn stopped cold in his tracks. He narrowed his brow and turned to face the other man. He deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it back onto his belt and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Alright, prove it."

"What?"

"Prove it."

"Alright, the year is-"

Jinn held up his hand to shook his head. "No. Let me ask you a few questions instead. Who is the Grand Master?"

"Master Yoda."

Jinn stroke his beard in thought and said, "Who is Princess Leia?"

"Never heard of her."

"Lord Master Blackswan?"

"You said that name before. Isn't he you?"

"No, I'm-never mind. It isn't important. Alright, I believe. I'll go with you."

"Good. We'll take a transport."

Jinn fell into step beside Qui-Gon. Just then Obi-Wan appeared with his lightsaber drawn.

"Master! I'm here to help."

"Good. Get us a transport. We're heading back to the Temple."

Obi-Wan was confused for a moment. He thought he was headed for a fight. He deactivated his lightsaber and sprinted ahead to do as his master instructed and hail a transport. He noted that the strange man was with them and being very quiet.

"Master?"

"Later, Padawan."

XXX

TBC

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