Author's Note: I know this part of the story seems, at first glance, to be a rewrite of the movie script. I also know that whenever I see that in someone's story, my eyes glaze over and I skip down to the first original scene below it. In this case, however, there are changes within this scene, which is why it's "redone" here. I didn't feel I could adequately address those changes without showing the entire scene, which is why it's all here. If you skip to the bottom you will miss what changed and how, and it might get a bit confusing.

Part II

Qui-Gon Jinn glanced to his right, making sure Anakin was still in the cockpit where he'd told him to stay. He hadn't been entirely sure the boy would follow his order; he knew he hadn't wanted to. Training him was going to be a very different experience from training his current padawan, that much was certain.

His eyes flicked back to the front, raking across his surroundings. The momentary thought about the Chosen One had taken only a fraction of a second; his senses were keen and alert. The small task group had gained the hangar bay of the palace easily enough; it should be a short matter to reach the throne room through the city power center - the queen had codes to the inner doors that would let them through that way. But something felt out of place. He'd thought at first it might be the boy trying to follow, but evidently it was not - and the more he examined it, the more he realized it couldn't possibly be the boy. It felt more like ...

The door before them swished open to reveal a single figure silhouetted inside: A man in a hooded cloak, dressed all in black. The hood masked his features, but the Force signature was unmistakable: It was the Sith Lord he'd fought on Tatooine.

"We'll handle this," he told the queen quietly.

Amidala accepted his statement without question.

"We'll take the long way," she told the others. They darted off to the left, leaving Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan alone with their adversary.

The Sith removed his hood, allowing Qui-Gon a first good look at his face. On Tatooine, he'd simply gotten a blurred impression of bright red skin with some dark markings; now he saw that the man was a Zabrak who had evidently tattooed his entire head - arcane black symbols on a red ground. The effect was horrifying, as it was doubtless meant to be. Before him, the tattooed man removed his cloak, drawing out a lightsaber with an unusually long hilt.

In unison, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan shed their cloaks as well, powering their weapons on even as the man before him powered his. As the red blades shot from both ends of his weapon, the older Jedi raised an eyebrow. The Jedi swordmaster had such a weapon, though he rarely used it. Some of the more avid swordsmen had trained with him on it, but neither Qui-Gon nor Obi-Wan was one of them. It could prove deadly against a single opponent in the hands of someone who knew how to use it, the swordsmaster had informed him when he'd related the struggle he'd had in his fight on Tatooine. Fortunately for now, he thought, he and Obi-Wan made a good team.

All this passed through his mind as the Sith Lord leapt to engage them. Obi-Wan vaulted forward, attacking from the enemy's rear. They parried the red blade in tandem, swords clashing, then thrust forward to meet their opponent once more. Over and over again they fought, the sound of the energy beam fight behind them of little consequence, so focused were they on their duel; nothing approached them from behind, that much they both knew, and that was all they needed to know for now.

The hangar bay quieted, the only sound the locking of their blades as they struck. He and Obi-Wan pushed forward; the Sith fell back along a littered path; Qui-Gon felt the rise in the Living Force; the battle had turned in their favor, at least for the moment. But the enemy didn't falter. He Force-pushed the debris out of his way and ducked inside the door from which he'd entered. Both of the Jedi ran after him.

The inside of the power plant was a cavernous space, traversed by catwalks at various heights, suspended over the central power core far below. They met their quarry on a widened area on one of the catwalks which formed a small platform. He countered their blows easily, but the two managed to push him back into a corner, with nothing behind him except the abyss. They moved in closer ...

And he Force-leapt onto an overhead catwalk, back-flipping easily to land balanced and ready for them. Again, together, they followed.

The fight grew more heated and intense as they pushed on. The Sith Lord retreated, but the catwalks were endless. Back and forth, back and forth, their blades clashed and sang. A pillar drew near to the enemy's back. He sensed it, altering his move. Qui-Gon felt the change coming and parried; Obi-Wan was not so lucky. He blocked the saber blow but lost his footing. And as he fell, the dark lord kicked him into empty space. His master felt him fall ...

But pressed his own advantage, not permitting himself to be distracted. Instead he renewed his own attack, knowing he would now have to make up for two until Obi-Wan could rejoin him - if the Force willed that he should.

The lack of reaction surprised the Sith Lord, and he fell back. Qui-Gon took advantage of his lapse, and knocked him over the edge as well; unlike the Jedi Master's apprentice, however, the dark lord landed on his feet on the walkway immediately below. Qui-Gon braced himself to follow ...

And stopped abruptly as an old woman appeared before him, her hand held up in restraint, the expression on her ancient features grave and imperious. He drew back, blinking, wondering if what he was seeing was real - surely no one could stand where she stood - as he studied her, he saw that the hem of her robe (he couldn't see her feet) hung out over the abyss. But he also saw that her robe was that of a Jedi - a pure, unbleached white, though not as white as the long hair she wore braided on the crown of her head.

He chanced a look beyond her, seeing the Sith Lord standing on the catwalk below, staring up, waiting. He realized the other man could also see the apparition - for she was no more substantial than a thick gauze curtain. Glancing back at her face, he saw that her deeply hooded dark brown eyes were now closed in silent meditation. Her hand remained in the same position, however: palm facing him, the hand sign for stop. Clearly she intended to prevent him from pursuing the Sith Lord. But why?

A movement from further down on the lower catwalk caught his attention. Obi-Wan had recovered from his fall, his master was glad to see. His eyes snapped back to the ghostly woman, but she had disappeared. He pondered this momentarily, suddenly realizing she'd meant for him to wait for Obi-Wan, and, as one, they leapt down to the ledge to meet him.

The Sith Lord had seen everything, of course, and had by now retreated to the far end of the narrow walkway. They ran after him together.

He ducked inside a service hatchway before they could reach him. As they entered the confined area, a laser shield suddenly appeared between them and their quarry. He whirled to face them on its opposite side, snarling into their faces as he tapped the shield with the end of his light saber. Both knew he was trying to rile them; trying to bring them to anger. Both knew the danger that posed - the man before him used anger to fuel his dark use of the Force; should they react in anger, it would benefit him, not themselves. Deliberately, Qui-Gon knelt, closing his eyes in silent meditation to connect more fully once again with the Living Force. Beside him, he felt Obi-Wan follow his example.

The force-field cycled through and winked out. Both men leapt through the opening, again just missing their quarry, who had no doubt felt the cycle ending in the Force as they had. They met up with him in a circular chamber where the access corridor ended - a smelting pit where the metal waste from the city was re-processed. The center of the room dropped away into nothingness; the actual smelter was as far below as the bottom of the canyon around which the crescent-shaped city was built. They re-engaged their adversary on the railless ledge which ran around the perimeter of the chamber.

The place had no exit, save the way they had entered. There was no way any of them would be able to make a quick retreat that direction; the laser fields prevented anything so spontaneous. The Sith Lord understood this as well - it was here in these dangerous close quarters where he meant to make a stand, and he fought now with renewed vigor. Qui-Gon had just begun to wonder if it had been his intention to lead them here from the first when the dark lord abruptly smashed the centerpiece handle of his blade into the Jedi Master's face. Staggering, Qui-Gon reeled back, stunned, his own weapon flying from his hands. He shook his head, momentarily dazed, hearing a parry nearby. Blinking, he saw Obi-Wan fighting the enemy alone.

The old woman appeared once more - if she'd ever truly left. Smiling now, she held something out to him - a light saber. Without thinking, he took it; as he did so, her image vanished. With it, he felt something else change, though he wasn't quite sure what it was, and didn't have time to ponder its meaning. He powered on the light saber he'd been handed and struck the dark lord from behind with its blue blade.

The man went down, a surprised look on his face; his weapon flickered out and clattered over the edge of the precipice. Both Jedi powered theirs off as well, approaching the other man with caution, for he wasn't quite yet dead. He stared up at them, his eyes still a menacing yellow, and grimaced. Then, with the last of his strength, he hove himself into the pit.

Together, they watched him fall. When at last they looked up at each other, Qui-Gon said, "Did you see her?"

"See who?" asked Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon looked down at the weapon in his hand; it was not his. The hilt was smaller and lighter, though well-balanced; the light saber of a woman. His large hand nearly swallowed it. The bright utilitarian lighting picked out the engraved initials L.S.S. inside the cowling of the hilt.

"Where did you get that?" Obi-Wan asked him. "I saw him kick yours off the ledge."

"No doubt why I was able to surprise him."

"Well, yes, but ..."

"She gave it to me."

"Who is this 'she' you keep talking about?"

Qui-Gon glanced at his padawan and sighed.

"A Jedi," he said, hesitating a moment before adding, "But not any known to me."

"Then it must be her light saber," Obi-Wan concluded, choosing not to pump his master for information he knew would be forthcoming if the man so chose to provide him with it.

"Oh, no doubt," Qui-Gon agreed, turning the hilt over in his hands. It was an unusual design - a smooth cylinder with an elliptical cowling to protect the nozzle. "She kept us from getting separated. When you fell." He looked up.

At one time, Obi-Wan would have apologized for his misstep; Qui-Gon was glad to see he'd progressed beyond that now. Truly he was ready for his trials, he thought.

"Master," the younger man began uncertainly, "When he struck you, I parried his blade away. If I hadn't been there ..."

"I would have been killed," Qui-Gon finished for him. "Interesting."

"Interesting?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously.

Ignoring his tone, Qui-Gon calmly replied, "If she hadn't stopped me, I would have jumped immediately down to re-engage him. He and I would have been far ahead of you, and the laser fields in that access corridor..." - he pointed - "... would have separated us."

Obi-Wan didn't reply.

"It was as if she knew ..." Qui-Gon ruminated to himself.

"You think she deliberately acted to prevent your death?"

"Possibly both our deaths," Qui-Gon suggested. "Remember, she handed me this..." - he held up the light saber - "... when you were fighting alone." He turned it over in his hand a final time, then hooked it onto his belt. "I think it far more likely she meant to ensure that Anakin is trained by the Jedi."

"Oh, not that again," said Obi-Wan tiredly. "Master, you can't be thinking of saying such a thing to the Council, surely."

Qui-Gon regarded his pupil silently. Obi-Wan was a grown man now, and ready for the trials, as he had told the Council himself. It was unlikely that, in the time left to him as his master, he would be able to influence his opinion on this subject, since he had not so far managed to do so. Time would instead prove his decision the correct one, if the Force willed it so. He therefore made no reply to his padawan's question.

"There is one immediate need this event has pointed out to me," he said as he started for the exit passage.

"And what is that?"

The older man stopped and looked back at his apprentice.

"If I should die," he said, "I would like for you to ensure Anakin is trained."

The other's eyes grew round.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You're well able to train a padawan of your own, once your trials have been passed - and they will be very shortly."

"I wish you wouldn't ask that of me, Master."

"I know you do," came the equitable reply as the laser shield cycled to the off position and they stepped through. "However, there is no one else I can ask. You wouldn't want my old master to train him, would you?"

"Dooku?" asked Obi-Wan, aghast. "No, of course, not." Then, evidently realizing that what he said might be a bit harsh, tried to qualify his reaction with, "I mean ..."

"No need to explain," Qui-Gon cut him off. "Dooku is far too cynical where the Jedi Order is concerned. It would be nearly as bad as having the Sith train him."

At the younger man's shocked expression, the Jedi Master laughed.

"No, I guess not quite that bad," he admitted jokingly as they re-entered the cavernous power center. Then he grew serious once more. "It hadn't escaped my attention that both times this Sith Lord appeared, Anakin was very close at hand. First on Tatooine, Anakin's home planet, right as the ship carrying him was taking off. And he met us in the hangar bay here, when Anakin was with us."

"With due respect, Master, that doesn't prove anything," Obi-Wan countered. "Several people were present both times, including Queen Amidala."

"But it is a possible conclusion, is it not, Padawan?"

Obi-Wan conceded that it was.

"Therefore it is possible that the Sith are already aware of Anakin's presence," Qui-Gon continued. "And that whether the master or the apprentice is the one remaining, he or she will now be looking for a new apprentice."

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan's tone again bordered on incredulity. "Forgive me, Master, but if they are aware of him, then I can see them wanting to kill him, yes. But deliberately turn him? Wouldn't that be dangerous if the prophecy says he will ultimately cause their destruction?"

"The Sith are known for their passions," the Master replied. "They will be destroyed regardless, whether sooner or later. Even if they manage to kill Anakin, the Force will simply send another to take his place. No, it would no doubt amuse them greatly to turn an instrument of the Light to the darkness."

They walked a few steps in silence, until finally Obi-Wan spoke.

"The Council is afraid he might turn to the darkness without any help from the Sith," he offered.

"Without help?" Qui-Gon scoffed. "I doubt it." He stopped walking and faced his grown apprentice squarely. "But I do acknowledge that it will not be easy to train him, for many of the reasons the Council has cited."

Obi-Wan's face lifted.

"And that is why I will need your help," his master concluded. "While he is not 'too old' to train, he is starting much later than any of the other padawans his age. That missing time must be made up, not just by you and me, but by many of the other Jedi at the temple. The Council will resist this; I need you firmly on my side until they can be brought around."

Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan fought to wipe the pained expression from his face. Hesitantly, he opened his mouth to speak, but his master pre-empted his concerns.

"I don't expect you to defy the Council, Obi-Wan," he assured him. "Simply help with his training; don't take a padawan of your own until he has caught up with the others, not just in being able to manipulate the Force (at which I suspect he will quickly excel), but in all aspects of our training. Be there for him to support him when I cannot. Be a role model. You may not realize it, but you yourself are far closer to the Jedi ideal than many of those on the Council."

Mollified, Obi-Wan nodded.

"Thank you, Master, although I can't agree with your assessment of the Council's worthiness. But I had not planned to take a padawan for a few years at least. Helping you with yours would be quite welcome as training for when I do."

Qui-Gon smiled.

"It's settled, then," he said, clapping the younger man on the back. "Let's go see how the queen made out. Something tells me her plan was a success."