Out of Time

Chapter 10

Location: Jedi Temple

Anakin slumped in his seat and muttered, "It's awfully quite, Master."

"Yes. It's too quite. I don't like it. I have a bad feelings about this," said Jinn.

Anakin frowned. "Don't you think your overreaction?"

"No. I always trust my intuition, Anakin. We have not heard yet from the other team and the day is almost over. I have a feeling that the Dark Lord will not take the bait. It can only mean that he has changed his tactics. The Sith is as clever as a snake. He may be just biding his time for a better opportunity. A time when our guards are down."

"Well, if that's true than keeping the Chancellor here is pointless. We can't keep him at the Temple forever. Eventually he'll have to return to the Senate and then the Sith Lord will tell him how to change the future. What are we supposed to do now?"

Jinn rose from his seat and began to pace and rub his chin. "He probably knows it's a trap. I've fought this Dark Lord several times while I was hunting him. He most likely knows how to read our tactics. He knows we are not typical Jedi. Perhaps, we could draw him out with a prize too tempting to pass up."

"And besides killing us, what do you suggest the Sith would want?"

Jinn then stopped pacing and turned to face the young Jedi and gave him a sly smile. "That's easy, the Sith only wants two things. First, to save his own skin and the second to get more power. What we have is his skin. Threaten to kill off his old hide and you threaten to end his existence. Though, we could offer him more power. I'm sure he'd love it if I turned to the Dark Side. Then he'd have an ally or more specifically a new apprentice."

Anakin was shocked and shot out of his seat. "What sort of plans are those! We can't kill a man in cold blood. We're Jedi, not murders. And join the Sith? Are you out of your mind? Are you even a Jedi?"

Jinn crossed his arms over his chest and then sighed. "I see now that I'm not making myself very clear. Yes, you are right. Killing Palpatine will not solve our problems. We need to capture the future Sith. However, a seemingly serious threat to end his form self's life will get his attention. What we need to do is travel back through time again and end this business before it even begins. Then, there are no disturbances and no alterations. And as to the second, I was serious about going to the Dark Side, but not as you think."

Anakin narrowed his brow and mirrored the young Master's stance. "What do you mean? As I understand it, once you turn you can never go back."

Jinn laughed in response and Anakin couldn't help thinking there was some sort of madness about this man. It sickened him to think of his Master's image laughed so irrationally, but finally then he stopped and said, "Yes, normally it would be quite difficult to return to the Light, but I am not just a Jedi. I am also a user of the ki. And as a channel-user I can harness all energies, even the Darkness. The trick to any channel is to not be overwhelmed by the flow."

The young Jedi shook his head in disbelief. "You can't possible turn and not stay that way forever. No one has that kind of control."

Jinn just gave Anakin a smile and patted his shoulder. "Do not fear the unknown, Padawan. One must understand all his nature before he can accept himself. By knowing what he does not want in himself, he can then learn to avoid it."

Anakin frowned and replied, "You almost sounded like a real Jedi Master then."

"Yes, and I almost thought you were actually listening. Its like I'm talking to a brick wall. I don't know how Father puts up with you."

Suddenly, an explosion erupts inside the Temple and the rooms began to shake. Alarms begin to sound and Jedi students begin to evacuate. The world for a moment is drowned in darkness until the emergency lights begin to power on.

Anakin rose from the ground and helps Jinn to stand. "What's happening?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out. Do not leave the Chancellor's side. Do not under any circumstances leave the Temple."

The young Jedi gives Jinn a nod and soon the time-traveler rushes out to investigate. He can't see much and hordes of Jedi students and knights begin to push by him as they run down the halls and move to safety. It's a swarm, but he notices that order is being maintained in the chaos.

Suddenly, out of the masses appears a Jedi Master calling to him. "Obi-wan! Obi-wan! What is going on? Why are you not evacuating?"

The Master Bant Eerin then grabs hold of Jinn's arm and then gazed at him in wide-eyed shock. "You are not, Obi-wan! Who are you?"

Jinn quickly breaks from the Master Eerin's hold and replies, "Impressive, but I really haven't the time to explain things, Miss. But, could you tell me what's happened? Where did the explosion was come from?"

"In the generator rooms in the sublevels, but I'm not going to just let you go there alone."

Jinn raised his eyebrow and smiled. "Who said anything about me going to the generator rooms? I'm not going."

The time-traveler's reply surprised Master Eerin. That wasn't the answer she was expecting at all. Was he that cowardly? She then noticed the strange Knight was pulling out his communicator and making a call.

"Who are you contacting?"

"My mother. I have a bad feeling that something isn't right."

Master Eerin was even more confused. What did this man mean he was calling his mother? He couldn't possible be serious. And out of the mouth of a man who looked like Obi-wan was just too weird.

Jinn ignored the other Master and spoke into the device, "Master, do you read me? Master, do you copy? Please respond."

Only the lone sound of static blared on the other side.

Frustrated, Jinn closed the line and opened another link to Master Windu. "Master Windu, do you read me?"

"…Obi-wan, is that you?"

"No, this is Jinn. Where is Lady Thrice?"

"She and Obi-wan should be arriving at the Temple soon. We heard an explosion and she and Obi-wan took off to investigate. What is your status?"

"The damage at the Temple seems minor. Reports on our status are still coming in. There has been no sightings of the Sith whatsoever. Have you seen him?"

"No. The Sith hasn't showed up here as well."

"Master, this situation is getting out of hand."

"Agreed, but stand your ground. Don't let anyone get near the Chancellor. Wait until Master Kenobi arrives and referred to him. Is that understood?'

"Yes, Master. Jinn, over and out."

The time-traveler snapped his communicator shut and groaned. He could not believe how wrong this was feeling. It was somehow all falling apart. He could feel that something grave was about to happen, but the Darkness was too strong for him to perceive clearly.

Under his breath he muttered, "By the seven rings of hell! What is that dog planning?"

Then, like a chill rolling up his spine. Jinn suddenly felt a sharp pain burn into his thigh. The young Master cried out in agony and grabbed the phantom wound with all his might. Master Eerin quickly took hold of the man and slowly brought him to his knees.

Franticly, the Master shouted, "Master Kenobi, what's wrong?"

Mournfully, the young Master howled. "No!"

The young Master had somehow transformed into a quivering mass, but desperately through the pain he tried to stand. And with the support of Master Eerin, he stood up and then his aura began to shift the very currents of the Force around them until they solidified into hate.

Jinn then violently held Master Eerin by the shoulders and said, "You must go to Anakin and help him protect the Chancellor. No one must find him. Inform Master Yoda, tell him he must guard him as well."

"And what about you?"

"I must go." Jinn then broke his hold and started to run down the halls, but Master Eerin was hot on his trail.

"You can't leave. Master Windu order you to stay."

"I don't care."

"But where are you going? What do you plan to do?"

However, the young Master did not reply but instead raced his way towards a speeder and roared the engine into the cold uncertain night.

***

Location: somewhere in the Coruscant streets

When the explosion occurred at the Temple, Lady Thrice feared the worst and decided to go and see if she could confront the Sith head on. She knew that not just anybody could slay a Sith and she feared that Sidious was actually planning on targeting Obi-wan. The only problem was that Obi-wan and Jinn had trade places. She knew that Jinn was strong, but two were better odds than one in a fight.

Maybe the Sith was going for the direct approach? Maybe he was setting his own trap? However, she didn't care. She could not take that chance. She had to meet her enemy no matter the cost. No matter the means. She could not fail.

"I must go!" she said.

"No!" shouted Obi-wan. "This is some kind of a trap. I have a bad feeling about this if you go."

"Damn you and your intuitions! If the Sith is there then he is mine."

Lady Thrice then jumped onto a speeder and started the engine. She didn't care much for games of cloak and dagger as Master Windu seemed to think. Tactics wasn't really her strong suit. Her husband Ben was the tactician. Lady Thrice primarily trusted her instincts and her strength. She was used to being in the field, not the planner in the wings. And with all the fiber of her being she knew that if she rode down this path then she would find the Sith. She felt him in the shadows. She felt him lurking in the darkness. She knew he had made her his prey.

***

Obi-wan could not believe how reckless Lady Thrice could be. How could she race towards danger so fool-hearty? She had to have known that the explosion was sort of trap. Moving from their positions was just a ploy to lure then away and out into the open.

Yet, a funny realization occurred to him. Maybe she did want to get caught. Perhaps she knew all long that this was a trap and just wanted to get the whole thing over with. Perhaps she knew that the Dark Lord would attempt such a distraction. Well, whatever the jeweled-eyed lady's reasoning were he had to lend her his support.

Obi-wan then mounted his own speeder and went after her as fast as he could. He would not let that sneaky witch face danger alone.

The Jedi Master whizzed by in a maddening pace through the over crowded streets and skyways of the too dense population of Coruscant. It was only through the benefit of his connection to the Force and years of city living that he was able to zoom without hitting anything at an unthinkable speed. Meanwhile just ahead the blacken darkness of the Jedi Temple stood foreboding in the horizon as the explosion appeared to have knocked out all the power from the main energy core. The stately Temple now stood in the shadows in a sea of twinkling artificial lights.

Obi-wan feelings of dread began to grow even greater as his journey progressed, but then abruptly a blood-chilling scream rang out into the night.

Immediately, the Jedi Master felt overwhelmed with fear for it was the same cry he had heard in his vision. This was his premonition made real.

Quickly, Obi-wan dismounted the speeder and ran to find Lady Thrice. He had to save her from the Sith. He had to try and stop the madness—but as he near the place of her adduction all he could find was the warrior-woman's sword thrusted firmly into a steel support beam. The single lone black blade was all that remained of the proud lady-warrior of a future time.

Then, from a distance Obi-wan heard the sound of another speeder approaching and he turned to face the intruder with his saber in hand. Obi-wan sensed darkness about this presence, yet as the mist cleared and lifted into the evening air, the Jedi Master saw that it was Jinn who was still disguised as himself.

"Mother! Mother where are you?" shouted the young warrior frantically into the disserted streets, but there was no answer to his desperate cries.

Obi-wan stood transfixed as he saw his own image stare in disbelief as young man's eyes finally fell onto the ebony blade. The young Master shook his head in defiance as slight tears began to fall from his false blue eyes. Slowly, he began to approach the saber until he seized it swiftly by the handle and drew it cleanly from the steel like it were made of paper and then clutched the sword mournfully to his chest and bowed his head.

"I pray by the stars in all the heavens, she cannot be dead…she-she can't be…."

Tentatively, Obi-wan took a step closer to the heartbroken man, but suddenly, Jinn then howled with rage into the night and a sea of fury began to ebb within the Force and then swallowed the world in darkness, but he did not care. All around them the winds began to churn and cry with wildness and wrath. Then, overcome with anger, the young Master raised the ebony sword up into the evening sky and he made a bone chilling pledge.

"I swear, I will have your black soul for this Sith! I will take your life! For this I swear on my mother's life! I will not rest until she is safe and sound or there will be no shadow black enough in all of time and space for you to hide."

The young Master then swung the black blade palm down and thrusted it into the earth below with a roar of Force-lightening. In that instant, the Darkness of the Force dissipated with a boom and the world once again began to flow naturally.

Meanwhile, Obi-wan was amazed. He had never felt anyone master the Force with such control before in all his life. Never in a million years did he ever dream of anyone even coming close to the level of manipulation that his young Master demonstrated. To be so immersed in such depths of Darkness and then to turn to a state of harmony was astounding that he wondered how he ever managed to stay in the path of the Light. He knew that both mother and son were no strangers to passions of any kind—they knew of the soulful joys of love and the anguished burn of hate. Yet, the Jedi Master did not know what prevented them from going too far. He did not know what prevented them from becoming Sith.

"Jinn?" said Obi-wan as he finally came to stand next to the young man's side. "Jinn, you must stay focused."

The young Master then turned his head and gazed at Obi-wan with sad eyes. "I—I feel like I've failed her, Father."

In response, Obi-wan felt unnerved as his heart sink a little deeper as he heard and saw the raw sorrow in the young man's voice and eyes. There was so much of himself in that sadness—so much of himself in those words. Obi-wan couldn't remember how many times he felt the same way about his own Master. Qui-Gon was like a father to him. And in truth, Obi-wan too felt he had failed Lady Thrice as well.

But, Jinn seemed to have finally snapped out of his grief and he shook his head at the slip of calling the other man father and said, "I'm sorry, Obi-wan. You're right. We need to keep our eye on the prize. We must return to the Temple and insure that Palpatine is still our prisoner."

Jinn then reached down and pulled the sword from the ground and tucked it securely at his belt. He then turned and made his way back towards the speeder.

Obi-wan then said, "Wait! Jinn, about your mother—"

"This isn't the time, Master," shouted the young warrior, but after a beat he sighed and he spoke in a softer tone, "And please, don't worry. You must have faith."

***

TBC

Thanks Jedi Angel001 for your review.

And I meant to post this chapter a bit later, but I'm in a good mood and I just couldn't resist. In this chapter I must say, has a lot of drama. I thought about writing out Thrice's fight with clone-Sidious, but nothing I could think of came out right. I felt it would be more dramatic if poor Jinn dressed as Obi would just see the sword and just know from that that she was gone. The abandoned sword in the wall said it all for me.

And on a side note, Thrice asked Obi to see into the Force for a prediction because she can't. Force-ki users can't see the future. It's an unwritten rule I just made up. In my universe, if a ki-user opened up all the doors inside themselves to see the future then they would be overwhelmed by the Living Force (universal atomic energy) and probably overload and die.

Thanks for reading and reviewing.