Star Wars: Fallen future

Part I: Path of Shadows


Chapter VI: The Path of Shadows

-It can't be… It can't be! – Qui-Gon Jinn

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Qui-Gon knew the second that he entered The Room of a Thousand Fountains that the souse of his bad feeling was coming from in here. He looked across the room as Anakin ran up behind him, in the middle of the raised path that was the main walkway through the room, two combatants where locked in a fierce dual, Red clashed against green in a deadly dance of skill and power. The room's artificial lighting was switched off and so the room was almost completely dark, but Qui-Gon was sure it was Master Antara – one of the temples lightsaber instructors – duelling the dark Jedi, whose identity it was hard to even guess as he or she wore a billowing cloak that hid his body completely.

Even as – with a brief nod to Anakin – he and his Padawan sprinted towards the fight, Antara seemed to gain the upper hand, flooring her opponent with a vicious blow to the head with her lightsaber hilt. But in that moment the dark Jedi kicked her in the knee which dislocated with a loud pop sending the master herself to her knees. The dark Jedi sprang to his feet and sliced her head off, the lightsaber instructor's head rolled to a halt at Qui-Gon's feet, her face forever frozen in pain and shock. Anakin gave a gasp of surprise.

"YOU!" snarled the Dark Jedi as he turned to face them, His voice one of unspeakable rage. "Master Jinn." He spat, his voice lent a mocking ring.

"Wha- Who are you?" asked Qui-Gon in confusion, It couldn't be Xanatos… he was dead, he had died over fifteen years before on Telos. No Qui-Gon was sure he had no idea who this person was, although evidently the intruder knew him.

"Oh aren't I privileged?" said the other man sarcastically "You don't even recognize me… Well let's just say that I am someone you betrayed. Master Jinn." He turned to Anakin with – what Qui-Gon imagined he would have seen had the intruders face not been covered by his hood – a cold sneer. "I wouldn't trust Jinn here if I where you, boy." He said, "Did you know that he failed and betrayed two of his former apprentices? And that he turned on me and left me to die?"

Anakin shook his head "your wrong." He said firmly, the dark Jedi ignored the response and turned back to Qui-Gon. "But I survived Qui-Gon, I'm not the same person you betrayed now, I'm someone stronger… and now I'm going to show you why when you betray and attack someone you should always make sure they're DEAD." He made a motion as if to clasp his hands together and the next thing Qui-Gon knew he was instinctively diving out of the way of a dark sphere of energy that the Dark Jedi had thrown at him. Qui-Gon turned his dive into a shoulder roll and came up in his feet just as the energy ball hit a fountain some distance behind him. The structure exploded as if it had been hit by a bomb. A feeling of cold descended on Qui-Gon – that fountain could have, would have been him if his excellent reflexes hadn't reacted in time and thrown him out of harms way.

-Watch out for any more sneak attacks Padawan.- he called to Anakin through the bond, -We'll take him together, try to keep him between us at all times.-

Anakin nodded and the both of them threw themselves at the dark Jedi, Anakin going for a low swing at the man's left, Qui-Gon going high on the right. Their opponent looked as calm as one crossing a country lane, he simply stepped out of the way of Anakin's strike and blocked Qui-Gon's with a casual deflection before swinging around at Anakin's head. Even as his apprentice was ducking under the attack, Qui-Gon was launching a vertical attack at the dark Jedi's head, who brought his blade around and parried it with out so much as batting an eyelid.

The fight continued on like this; the three of them trading blows, Qui-Gon moving in a dazzling array of strikes in his favourite Form IV, Anakin swinging heavily at their opponent with basic form V. While the dark Jedi moved in a strange mixture of Form II and III making no great effort to attack, or move from between the two Jedi. At first Qui-Gon thought that this was simply because they where overwhelming him, but quickly realized that although they where taxing him a little, he was mostly just humouring them. Trying to lull us into a sense of false security. He realised. Obviously his opponent didn't know him as well as he thought if he thought that he'd take the bait. But then, he mused, the technique seemed to be working well on his apprentice; frustration and impatience radiated through the bond like a heat, and Qui-Gon was sure that somehow the dark Jedi was aware of this and was baiting him further by angling himself so that his back was almost constantly turned to Anakin, creating the impression that he wasn't taking the twelve year old seriously.

-careful Padawan- called Qui-Gon to Anakin -Don't do anything rash…- he was too late as Anakin sprang at their opponent's back, his sabre raised back past his shoulder as if to simply bludgeon his way through, leaving himself wide open for attack. Fortunately the other man was blocking a strike from Qui-Gon and so couldn't get his lightsaber around; instead he kicked back violently, catching Anakin right in the stomach, sending him flying.

The next thing Qui-Gon knew he was on the wrong end of a flurry of blows as his opponent switched from defence to attack, switching to form IV as he did so. As he was pushed back Qui-Gon found that he was anticipating his opponents moves, the style was eerily familiar, almost exactly the same as… something clicked in Qui-Gon's mind, he knew this style, had trained it's wielder since he was a chid, his opponents hood slipping from his face as he ducked an attack from Qui-Gon left no doubt. The ginger hair, the blue/green eyes, the features of…

"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon breathed as the two of them locked sabres. He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it, but here the proof was staring him right in the face. "Please, tell me it's not true." How could have good, kind Obi-wan turned dark? It seemed to defy logic. Apparently Obi-Wan derived a different meaning form Qui-Gon's words though, because his eyes flashed dangerously.

"What's the matter Master Jinn? Are you that surprised to see me still alive?" Qui-Gon's onetime Padawan sneered in a voice so dark and cold that it seemed no wonder that Qui-Gon hadn't recognized it. "It takes more than a little fall to get rid of me!"

Their sabres where still locked as Qui-Gon saw Anakin creeping up behind Obi-Wan, at the last second the boy leaped at the fallen Jedi igniting his lightsaber has he jumped, Obi-Wan's eyes widened as he pulled back from Qui-Gon, reversing his grip on his lightsaber…

Anakin gave a grunt of pain as the momentum of his jump carried him into Obi-Wan's reversed blade, impaling him through the stomach. "NO!" Qui-Gon heard himself scream, Looking up from Anakin's crumpling form to Obi-Wan's face, a face which wore a mocking sneer of triumph. How could you?

For an impossibly long moment time seemed to freeze, Anakin hit the floor with a dull thud, Qui-Gon's gaze was torn between him and Obi-Wan's dreadful sneering face. But then Obi-Wan went on the attack again, driving Qui-Gon back away from Anakin, and up to the top of a small cliff – a waterfall running down the front. The same cliff that Bruck fell to his death from in his fatal dual with Obi-Wan. he dimly realized, that seemed like so long ago now. It was ironic that this dual would finish – one way or the other – at the same spot. He wondered if Obi-Wan had simular thoughts.

He stepped backwards into the water where it flowed through its shallow creek bed before tipping over the waterfall; he continued back through the water, Obi-Wan followed him. The two of them slipped and stumbled on some of the more slippery rocks as they stepped up the other side. Obi-Wan all the while continuing his flurrying assault. Qui-Gon leaped over a low swing before aiming a blow at Obi-Wan's head, which was deflected and Qui-Gon found himself defending an attack at his waist. He parried a second attack at his other side and then swung at Obi-Wan's arm which was skilfully evaded.

Qui-Gon took another step back and felt the ground crumble away from under his heel; he was at the edge of the cliff. Obi-Wan came at him with a powerful overhead strike and Qui-Gon raised his own blade to meet it. But just as the two blades where about to touch, Obi-Wan's red blade disappeared as he deactivated the weapon and Qui-Gon's blade passed right through where it would have been, throwing him off balance for a crucial second, in that time Obi-Wan reignited his blade and battered Qui-Gon's from his grip. It flew off into the bushes. Qui-Gon sunk to his knees in surrender.

"There!" gasped Obi-Wan, panting heavily, holding his lightsaber to Qui-Gon's neck.

"If you hate Jedi so much, why did you come back to the temple after three years?" asked Qui-Gon also panting

"I was looking for something."

"Did you find it?"

"Possibly."

"And what where you looking for?" asked Qui-Gon "Old memories?" he laughed bitterly. A strange shadow passed over Obi-Wan's face.

"What I'm looking for is none of your business." He said in his most dangerous whisper, a voice so cold it made Qui-Gon flinch.

"Did you plan to kill me in the same place you killed Bruck on purpose?" asked Qui-Gon changing the subject "You've always been one for irony." For a second he was sure that he saw a flicker of confusion in Obi-Wan, but such a thought – if indeed he did see it – was quickly squashed.

"I have nothing more to say to you." Said Obi-Wan, raising his lightsaber. But as he held it there, poised to strike down through Qui-Gon, the two of them heard steps in the corridor outside the room of a thousand fountains, as well as several snap-hisses of lightsabers springing to life. It sounded like a couple of dozen people coming, rapidly. Just for a second Obi-Wan froze, his eyes locked with Qui-Gon's and a message conveyed between them, you can't win said Qui-Gon's eyes. "We'll meet again." whispered Obi-Wan. He sprang back, deactivating his lightsaber, and was instantly swallowed up by the surrounding darkness.

Anakin! Was the first thing to enter Qui-Gon's mind, he scrambled to his feet and sprang down the cliff – using the force to break his fall – and hurried over to his injured apprentice. The lightsaber wound ran right through him from his stomach and came out just to the side of his spine. Qui-Gon winced; the wound had to be extremely painful.

Anakin's eyes fluttered open and met with Qui-Gon's own. "Did you… Get him…," he asked, obviously struggling to get the words out. He tried to rise but Qui-Gon pushed him back down firmly.

"Shh, settle down." Said Qui-Gon "Save your strength, concentrate on using the Force to heal." He bowed his head, "As for your question, no, he escaped."

"I… I'm sorry… M-Master." Whispered Anakin, "I… I'll try to heal…"

"Do, or do not." Said a gravely voice and Qui-Gon and Anakin looked up to see Yoda walking toward them, "There is no try."

"Master Yoda." Croaked Qui-Gon, the little green master nodded.

"Yes, here I am." He placed a hand on Anakin forehead "Sleep, you should." He said, giving the boy's mind a gentle prod and sending him into unconsciousness. Yoda closed his eyes and Qui-Gon could feel him sending healing waves through Anakin's body. Pulling out his communicator, Qui-Gon spoke into it "Can we have a healer to the Room of a Thousand Fountains please?"

"Already here master Jinn." Spoke a raspy voice behind him.

"Bant." Said Qui-Gon, turning to look at the Mon Calamari who was now one of the main healers; and also one of Obi-Wan's oldest friends. She nodded slightly and then turned to Anakin "What happened?" she asked.

"A dark Jedi." Said Qui-Gon quietly, he couldn't tell her it was Obi-Wan, not yet. Bant nodded and moved to assist Yoda with Anakin. "Qui-Gon." Called a voice, and Qui-Gon turned to see Mace Windu beckoning. With a groan he got up and walked over to him. Mace didn't dillydally "What happened here?" he asked as soon as Qui-Gon reached him, "Fountains smashed, Walkways mangled, three Jedi dead here, plus two more in the archives and I'll be a Taun-Taun if they aren't connected, and…"

"And an Apprentice severally injured." Interrupted Qui-Gon hoping that he would take the hint and leave him to go back to his Padawan, unfortunately he didn't. "Yes, and Anakin's injury." Agreed Mace either not picking up the subtle protest, or ignoring it, Qui-Gon didn't know and cared even less which. "So what happened?"

"It would appear that a dark Jedi broke in." Said Qui-Gon in a dry tone that almost bordered on disrespect. He watched as the healers rolled Anakin onto a stretcher – Yoda, still deep in meditation healing him. Qui-Gon turned back to Mace "And apart from wrecking havoc with a lightsaber, it seems that he used some sort of Force Energy-ball on the fountain, and it seems the walkway probably received the same treatment."

Mace raised an eyebrow, "Force Energy-ball." He asked incredulously

"Like a ball of pure energy that exploded on contact with solid surfaces." Replied Qui-Gon, giving his best description of the ability that Obi-Wan seemed to have picked up somewhere along the line. "He seemed to create them through the Force." He made no effort to hide the impatience that tugged at every fibre in his body; he should be with Anakin, not talking about details that could be discussed later.

"Who is this guy?" exclaimed Mace "Using the Force like that to create such destruction? He's obviously no slouch with the blade either." He shook his head "It takes someone a cut above the ordinary to beat Soara Antara, or disarm you for that matter." He finished with a pointed glance at Qui-Gon's empty lightsaber clip.

Qui-Gon shifted uncomfortably. "I was… distracted." He shrugged. He didn't want to have to tell the council about Obi-Wan being the intruder just yet, apart from just plain not wanting to talk about it, what would the council say about another of Qui-Gon's apprentices turning dark? Would they take Anakin from him? He knew that such where selfish thoughts, but at the moment he didn't care – Anakin seemed about the only thing in his life that was going right at the moment, and even that had taken a major blow with his severe injury, it would be a large blow to the boy confidence, even assuming that there was no permanent physical damage.

"Know you do, who did this." Stated Yoda from behind him, causing him to jump; he hadn't sensed the old master approaching. Qui-Gon looked around at him and also spotted the healers begin to leave for the healers ward. Qui-Gon made to follow them, but was stopped by Mace resting his hand on his arm. "Qui-Gon, this is important." He said.

"As is my apprentice." Said Qui-Gon irritably, wanting nothing more than to be with Anakin at the moment.

"Qui-Gon." Said Mace warningly.

"Alright yes, we've met before." Qui-Gon's temper was rising "now can I go and look after my Padawan? I want to be there when he awakens."

"Wake up soon, he will not." Said Yoda flatly, "Vital it is, that the identity of our attacker is known-"

"FINE! IT WAS OBI-WAN!" snapped Qui-Gon much louder than he'd meant to. Everyone in the room stopped whatever they where doing to look at the three of them. Partly no doubt to watch the extraordinary sceptical of a Jedi Knight shouting at two senior council members, but also because of the words that he had said; the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi was a rather well known story; the tale of how Qui-Gon had lost two padawans, both on what would have been their final mission before knighting. "OBI-WAN WAS THE DARK JEDI, HAPPY NOW?" he continued venting all his confusion worry concern and annoyance. "CAN I GO AND LOOK AFTER MY PADAWAN NOW?"

Whatever response Mace and Yoda had been expecting it certainly wasn't that. Yoda's face showed no surprise, but his ears drooped as if someone had tied weights to them. Mace wore an open look of surprise, his eyes wide and his mouth was hanging slightly open, Qui-Gon would have found it rather funny had he not been so cross with him. The worst response though, came from Bant,

"NO! It couldn't be!" Qui-Gon looked around and saw Bant standing where she and the other healers had been tending to Anakin – she stood alone now as the other healers had left with Anakin, not wanting to incur Qui-Gon's fury – she had tears surfacing in her large silver eyes, "It couldn't have been him, Obi-Wan would never… could never to do this." She waved a hand around at the destruction of the temple.

Qui-Gon softened his expression "I'm sorry Bant." He said, and then stalked off after the healers before anyone could stop him.

"I don't know whether we should feel relieved that Obi-Wan's alive, or horrified that he's turned dark." Said Mace, once Bant too, had left. "I remember all to well you saying that Obi-Wan might be the only one who can truly aid the chosen one in his quest."

Yoda shook his head. "hrmm, if once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny." He said "Stopped he must be, powerful young Kenobi is, much destruction he could cause…"

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AN: And with those foreboding words, I'll finish off this chapter. Bet you didn't expect me to do that to Anakin did you? Will he survive? Ha! I'm not going to tell you… well not yet any way. This marks the end of the first part of the story, from here, we move onto the search and eventual confrontation between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Also in the next few bits some important characters will be introduced that although only have a small part in this story will have much larger parts later on in the series, most of the characters you will recognise from Jedi quest if you have read that, as well as a few OCs. Also Jango starts questioning Ken's (Obi-Wan's) loyalty to Sidious and Siri will re-enter the story. I appreciate all the reviews – it's really encouraging, I always tend to think of my stories as a bit of a drabble, so thank you to every one who praises the story. The constructive criticism is really… well, constructive too. Please more.