A/N: Here's the next completed chapter. I will post chapter eleven later today. I am hoping to continue this story soon. Hopefully I will be able to. Chapters ten and eleven are pre-written. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Ten

Darkness and shadows consumed the young Padawan. His forehead was drenched in sweat as he slept, tossing and turning, his dreams vivid.

"Obi-Wan, you don't seem like yourself, what's the matter?" Xantree was a Jedi Initiate again, like old times, like before.

Obi-Wan looked up at his old friend, shaken to the core, as he pulled his lightsaber. It was like his actions weren't his own. The scene changed. Xantree's face lost all color and his face was full of shadows as the blood red saber of the Sith beamed to life, and he struck.

Obi-Wan woke in a cold sweat, tears streaming down his face. What did his nightmare mean? In this dream it wasn't Xantree fighting him, but him fighting Xantree, and with a Sith's saber. It was all wrong!

In the cot next to Obi-Wan's, Qui-Gon slept on; the Force nudged his mind faintly, barely enough to alert the Jedi Master. Obi-Wan felt puzzled. What the Force was going on? This was unlike his master.

I guess I'll go for a walk; thought Obi-Wan. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him some good. He clipped his training saber to his belt, and grabbed his cloak as the door slid shut quietly behind him.

After, the young Padawan left the quarters; he walked around corners, until he got to the row of Initiate chambers. His steps were mechanical, and it was almost as if he was in a trance, until, that is, he got into the room. No new initiates had been assigned to the dorm he had once shared with his one-time best friend, and it looked the same as ever. Obi-Wan's model fighters still hung on the ceiling above his old cot, and the com link besides his cot was powered on. He sat on the cot, deep in thought. Xantree and he used to share this com link, but Xantree was always on the holo-net more than he. Only now, two months later did Obi-Wan wonder if he had been doing more than playing holo-games.

Obi-Wan sensed someone coming and quickly snatched the com-link off the nightstand and stood up, igniting his training saber.

"Who's there?" he called out.

"Padawan Kenobi, shouldn't you be in bed?" asked a familiar voice. Only then did he notice who it was.

"Oh, it's you Ta-Ree." Obi-Wan deactivated his saber before turning to face his friend.

"I should hope you are going back to bed Padawan Kenobi. Master Jinn is going to worry."

"I couldn't sleep." Obi-Wan confessed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Ta-Ree asked.

"No. I'm tired. I'm going to go back to sleep."

Ta-Ree nodded, taking Obi-Wan's hand and guiding him back to the quarters. Not a word was exchanged, but Ta-Ree was troubled the rest of the night.

"Master Jinn, Padawan Kenobi, a word if you don't mind." The next morning Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi found themselves face to face with Masters Yoda and Windu along with Ta-Ree Crec.

"Of course Masters. Do you wish to come in?" Qui-Gon asked.

The two Masters walked in without a word as Ta-Ree entered slowly behind them.

"Obi-Wan, how is everything going? Is there anything that's bothering you?" Master Windu asked.

Obi-Wan met the Master's gaze, and tried for an earnest look. "No Master Windu."

"Obi-Wan…" Ta-Ree looked at Obi-Wan pleading.

"Padawan, are you certain?" Qui-Gon asked.

"How many time do I have to say it?!" The boy stood shaking. "Nothing is wrong!"

Padawan! You will sit down this instant and listen to what the Masters and Ta-Ree have to say! The reprimand came like a slap, quick, cold and unexpected through the bond.

"Yes Master." Obi-Wan whispered, still seething. What right did they have to treat him like a child? He was no longer an initiate. He had no reason to have to answer things more than once. They had clearly heard him the first time.

"Padawan, I expect you to listen, and treat the masters with respect. Continue Master Windu." Qui-Gon said.

"Concerned we are about you youngling." Yoda said. "Stay with Knight Crec you must."

"We'll call you when we're ready Padawan." Qui-Gon said as they strolled out of the room.

"I don't know what's gotten into him Masters, and I apologize that you had to witness that." Qui-Gon said.

"Apology appreciated it is," Yoda replied "Unnecessary it also is." Yoda replied.

Qui-Gon looked at the small master incredulous. "What do you mean? He disrespected you completely. Surely you do not condone…"

"Peace Qui-Gon," Master Windu held up a hand. "No we do not, but given his current state, we cannot expect otherwise."

"What do you mean?" Qui-Gon asked. He was stupefied. What were these masters saying? What was wrong with Obi-Wan?

"We have reason to believe that he is being touched by the Dark Side." Master Windu replied.

The Dark Side. But how?

"Explain much it would." Yoda said. "Dark Side mysterious it is."

Qui-Gon nodded, thinking back to that day he had first met Obi-Wan to how he was now. The respectful, curious lad certainly didn't seem like his Padawan now. He distanced himself, and Qui-Gon had a harder time connecting to him through the Force. It was almost as if he had been shielding, and none of them had taught him that; and the visions. It was all making sense. The question was who was causing that pain to his Padawan, and Qui-Gon had every intention of finding out.

"Get Padawan Kenobi we must." Yoda said.

Ta-Ree noticed immediately that Obi-Wan was worn out. His braid was unraveled, almost to the point of being nonexistent.

"Obi-Wan, your braid." She laughed as she reached over to fix it.

"I can do it myself." Obi-Wan said, slapping her hand away.

Ta-Ree was taken aback. "Obi-Wan, what's wrong with you? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Obi-Wan said, before putting his hands on his head and collapsing onto the sofa.

"Obi-Wan! Master Jinn!" Ta-Ree ran into the opposite room where the Masters were conferring.

Qui-Gon head shot up at the girl's cry. "Ta-Ree, what's the matter?"

"It's Obi-Wan!"

The group of four ran to the adjoining room where the youngling lay unconscious on the sofa.

"As I feared it is." Yoda said. The diminutive master looked at the young Padawan, distress evident in his globe-like eyes.

"I am scared also. I'm certain this is the work of a Sith." Master Windu said.

"But Master Windu, aren't the Sith dead?" Ta-Ree asked even though she already knew the answer.

"I'm not sure Knight Crec."

It was then Ta-Ree remembered something. "Xantree."