AN: The Qui-Gon section in this chapter is for BOTH paths. I just wanted you to know that. I hope you like this chapter and please leave a review and some feedback behind.^^

Thanks for reading.

(Jinn/Kenobi quarters in the Jedi temple)

As if in daze, Qui-Gon Jinn was carried by Mace Windu towards his couch and was dumped onto it without further ado. The tall Master allowed his friend to take his robe and hang it over the back of a chair in the kitchen. Yoda had already vanished into the kitchen and was probably preparing tea. Not that Qui-Gon really cared. He was still trying to process what had happened in the last few minutes. Not that he had much success whatsoever.

Light:

Xanatos was not very talkative right now, not even when they entered the already familiar building that the young Padawan had got to know as the Sith headquarters, or at least Xanatos' makeshift hideout. Without speaking a word, Obi-Wan followed his new Master out of their transport. He waved Nishi goodbye, who sent him a quick smile and a little wave as well. Xanatos completely ignored this display of emotions. Obi-Wan was not even sure that the dark haired man had noticed what had happened right behind him, he seemed to be too deep in thoughts for that.

"Master," eventually the ginger haired teenager had enough of the silence.

Slightly irritated the older male stopped his restless pacing and faced the Padawan with an unreadable expression. "Has he already forgotten that I am here?" wondered Obi-Wan.

"What is it my apprentice?" Xanatos eventually managed to spit out. He quickly strode towards his desk and sat down behind it, all the while motioning for Obi-Wan to take a seat in one of the cushioned chairs as well. The Padawan chose to remain standing.

"You seem bothered by something," Obi-Wan simply stated without any kind of emotion in his voice.

"I am NOT bothered by anything!" With that the dark haired male with the scar on his cheek had stood up again. His hands rested on the wooden desk and he glowered darkly at the smaller male before him. The Padawan chose to remain silent; he just kept his eyes on his Master's second apprentice, who blinked, before seating himself with a sigh again. "Forgive me..." he pushed a few strands of his raven black hair out of his face and sent his young companion a toothy grin, "I am not making a good first impression, am I?"

"With all due respect, I think the time for 'first impressions' is long since over," Obi-Wan answered and he did sit down right in front of the desk after all.

Xanatos huffed in amusement and there was a strange sparkle in his eyes. "You're right... I want you to stay away from Dooku as much as possible," he eventually said.

"Why Maser?" the Padawan asked simply out of curiosity. He had no desire to stay with his Master's Master.

"Dooku is a very dangerous man," Xanatos suddenly leaned forward and he quietened his voice so that Obi-Wan too had to lean forward to hear him better, "Have you ever seen the large scar on Qui-Gon's chest?"

"Yes..." he replied hesitantly, not liking where this conversation was heading.

"Let's just say that this would be the least of your fears had you become his apprentice. It is good that Sidious values that... beast... as his favourite student. He also favours Dooku more than me..." he trailed off, but he did not need to elaborate things for the ginger haired male.

"Am I going to be his apprentice's lab rat then?" Obi-Wan could not help but ask.

"Most likely," Xanatos leaned back, but there was an earnest smirk on his features now, "don't worry though. You are much better than this stupid and single-minded monstrosity, which is why Dooku wanted to train you in the first place."

"That and probably because I used to be Qui-Gon's apprentice."

Xanatos hummed, "Just a tip, don't kill Maul should it come to a fight... otherwise you will find yourself with Dooku one way or the other."

"Understood," Obi-Wan nodded. He did not want to be anywhere near the man who had dared to hurt HIS beloved Master.

"Good, then let's turn to more enjoyable things," there was that mad sparkle in his eyes again.

Shadow:

The Zabrak boy was a about half a head taller than Obi-Wan and also much bulkier. His torso was bare and next to the countless scars that graced his skin, where strange words and symbols. Obi-Wan had no idea what they meant, but he had no desire to find out now. He was more focused on the being before him that seemed to be made simply out of bones, muscles and flesh.

"Brutal strength, but no strategist and not very fast... yet," Dooku said right into the young Padawan's ear. The teenager barely kept himself from huffing. He had expected that much. Somehow the Zabrak reminded him of Bruck Chun. The Initiate had always been more muscle than brain, which is why Obi-Wan had usually beaten him, unless he had allowed himself to get distracted. The latter certainly would not happen now.

"Any other things I should know?" the Padawan asked and walked towards a bench, where he discarded his robe.

"Do not let your emotions control you. Control them, harbour them and transform them into strength, but make sure that they do not overwhelm you," Dooku continued his small lecture.

"I won't," Obi-Wan promised not only to the bearded man before him. "Thank you for your support, Master."

"Just make sure you win. Having you as an apprentice should be rewarding enough," he turned away, but stopped midway, "And I would advise you, to get rid of this... creature."

The ginger haired teenager did not need to be told what the older man wanted him to do, "Understood, my Master." Seemingly satisfied with that answer, the older man walked away and joined Sidious and Xanatos, who were already sitting near the training field. Xanatos' cold gaze rested on Dooku, who just ignored the dark haired man. Sidious' eyes were on the two younger members of the Sith. His expression revealed that he was more than excited about the fight.

"You are the Jedi worm that has dared to challenge me?" Maul spoke in a taunting manner. He spoke loud enough for the small audience to understand his words.

"Actually I have challenged a Sith warrior and not some wannabe lightsaber wielder," Obi-Wan retorted. He was not in the mood for such stupid talk and if the Zabrak truly believed he could bring him out of his concentration with this, then he should think again.

Maul snarled in anger. It seemed he was not used to be taunted. Obi-Wan smirked, maybe this would be easier than he had first thought after all. Even more infuriated by the smaller male's smile, Maul activated his blood red lightsaber. "You will regret the day that you were born."

"Oh?" Obi-Wan huffed and activated his blue lightsaber as well, "That's sweet coming from somebody, who looks as if he fell right into a bucket full of paint."

Again the Zabrak snarled, but this time he lunged forward. Obi-Wan had predicted this move had easily dodged the angry attack. It was clear that he had the advantage in this battle, for the taller Sith apprentice had to fight two opponents in this battle, Obi-Wan and his own pride and anger.

"Was that all? Even my former Jedi Master could have avoided that attack?" and again the Zabrak attacked mindless. All Obi-Wan had to do was dodge and sometimes block one of the attacks. With this strategy, Maul would soon tire out and then it would be the ginger haired teenager's time to go into offense.

Soon the Sith apprentice was panting harshly, his chest having with every breath he took. Obi-Wan was barely out of breath, he could go on like this for quite some time still. Unfortunately for Maul however, the Padawan was growing bored of the one-sided battle and he suddenly changed tactics. At first Maul seemed too stunned to really react. All his movements and blocks were thanks to the long training he had sustained. At some point he had caught up with Obi-Wan's changed fighting style, but then the ginger haired teenager changed his technique again.

"Dooku had been right. Maul is really more muscle and strength than anything else. I wonder how he survived this long."

A loud scream full of pain and despair erupted through the hall. The small crowd looked surprised and delighted when one of the two opponents went to his knees, left arm clutching the remains of the right arm.

Suddenly Sidious began to rise from his seat and started clapping. The sound echoed from the empty walls of the hall. "Good, very good. We have a talented duellist in our midst," the last part was spoken to Dooku and Xanatos. "Now, end it." The man's ugly yellow eyes held bloodlust and darkness in them and the ginger haired male was fuelled by what he saw in the older man's gaze.

"As you wish, Lord Sidious," he slightly bowed and then turned towards the Zabrak boy, who gazed upon him with fear in his eyes.

"Master," Maul spoke up, his tone slightly begging, "you cannot do that."

"Wait!" Sidious voice stopped Obi-Wan in mid-strike and the Zabrak's eyes lightened up with hope. Sidious chuckled darkly, "I did not know that you were in the position to give me orders." His voice was rather silent, but it made it all the more frightening. The black and red boy had started to tremble, all his previous hope replaced by sheer fear.

"Forgive me, my Master. This was not my intention, I-"

"Silence," Sidious ordered and then he turned towards Obi-Wan. "Tell me, my young friend, what should we do with him?"

The ginger haired male thought for a moment. Somehow he had the feeling that this was a very tricky question. "Do not understand me wrong," he eventually began, choosing his words very carefully, "I do not care for him, nor do I want to give him a painless and quick death, but... but I do not want to spend another second in his miserable presence."

Sidious chuckled, "Nor do I, apprentice, but he needs to be punished." He motioned for Obi-Wan to continue and seated himself back on the chair, leaning back and folding his hands on his lap as if this were a simple business meeting.

Obi-Wan turned to the covering male before him, "How, my Lord?"

"Ah, I have forgotten that the Jedi do not teach their students such important lessons," he turned to Dooku, "I expect your future Master to remedy this mistake."
Dooku stepped forward and he looked extremely pleased, while Xanatos shot him and Obi-Wan evil glances. "It will be my pleasure, my Lord Sidious."

The Sith Lord nodded, "Well then young Kenobi, kill him." Obi-Wan did not hesitate another second and then a horned head was rolling on the floor and a heavy body landed on the dirty ground with a loud thud.

"Well done."