Authors Note: My earnest thanks to: Incognito12, Barranca, Jedi Ani Unduli, TamsynDell, Xan Fan and RankinP for kindly commenting.


As deserving of his status and pedigree, Sidious ordered attendants to efficiently strip, bathe and groom the unconscious Xanatos, afterwhich he was simply attired in a skin tight pair of leggings.

In addition to the effects of the anesthetic bullet, the Sith also induced a powerful sleep complusion which would keep the noble in deep quiescent repose till he chose the appropriate time to awaken him.

At the medical facility within Palpatine's secret Coruscant stronghold, a disquiet Ben sat manacled by suppression razor cuffs to a chair. He watched, along with the Dark Lord, as the inert body of his friend was conveyed, transferred and secured to the operating table.

Once the procedure on Xanatos was completed, the young man was to be given a partial wipe to expunge his most recently acquired recollections.

It was a virtuosic charade. The Supreme Chancellor's natural everyday appearance as any other high level posturing pompous politician was flawless. The deceptive guise masked an extraordinary odious Darkside power comparable to the Lightside strength of Master Yoda, with being neither benign nor benevolent, expertly wield whenever not cleverly shrouded from public scrutiny.

"Knight Kenobi, you must be fascinated by what is about to happen." The indulging Sith clued in. "You obviously, cannot remember, but the procedure will be identical to the one performed on you some time back in this very same operating theater. You were most uncooperative and defiant if I recall." He paced while prattling on. "No doubt, Xanatos will be just as difficult. I could have just had him wiped with undue haste, but I do so want to see what his reaction will be as he realizes he is mere moments away from losing his precious prestigious wellborn way of life forever."

/Spew all the baleful noxious hot air you want,/ Ben thought to himself, not interested in participating in any conversation at that point.

"Permit me to speak freely with the contented knowledge that you'll be swiped as clean as a pristine blank data slate soon enough." The droning continued, "I've been most industriously masterminding my cunningly audacious scheme...a plan within plans." He preened, "Imagine, by design, the outbreak of innumerable galactic civil wars through the secession of discontented planets and civilizations from the Republic, necessitating the mass production of battle droids as well as clones armies to proliferate them." Revelling at the ingenuity of his own brilliance, "Though it may take years in order to achieve full accomplishment, the crowning result shall yield a solitary throne of power for a singular Emperor."

"Namely you, I suppose."

Ben's leery look of apprehension, made the swaggering Sidious cut his festive boasting to the quick. "What a shame, we couldn't establish a workable association . You possess an incandescence and invigorating energy, I was inclined to exploit, but you cohesively cling to the Light as firmly as a starving swaddling babe to his adoring nursing mother."

"It breaks my heart as well."

Stroking his chin, the Sith mirthfully contemplated aloud. "I'm debating whether to have Gubatan ship you to either the Copper Pits of Poly Seti Midori or perhaps the Ash Caves of Epsilon TriFonseca for your next term of servitude. This time around, I shall make additional painstaking arrangements to ensure that Vidor won't mislay you again."

Glaring in response, the knight did not take kindly to the foreshadowing of his potential future.

"Don't feel too distressed though. Your fate will be fortuitous in that you will escape one of my foremost inspiring objectives. Which is the total extermination of the entire brotherhood of the Jedi."

A wary Ben gaped at the possibility of the prospect.

"Overreaching, you may reckon," submitted the Dark Lord, then ominously disclosed, "A dynamic daunting undertaking, for sure. However, with meticulous integrated preparation and the capable assistance of my new apprentice, we shall effectively rid the galaxy of every single Lightside Force user in existence."

The young man begged to differ. "If you thought me a problematic patient, you don't realize what you're up against." Maintaining boldly, "I know Xan. He will fight you tooth and nail, like I fought you before. You may erase his identity, but he'll never willingly consent to do any of your evil bidding."

"True as it may seem, I don't fully agree," smirked the self-righteous Sith, "I believe that he shall be much more amenable to the entire process than you ever were."

"And why is that?"

"The additional reason why you are here, sitting in this room right now, my good knight." Moving in closer, he elucidated with assurance, "He'll agree to do whatever I may desire of him...If he wishes to keep you alive."


Giddy with anticipation, Sidious rubbed his hands together. "Time to awaken, my sweet prince."

A subtle brush across the forehead lifting the lingering sleep suggestion began to revive the dormant noble.

Xanatos blinked...slowly coming to consciousness.

Immediately, he sensed that he was immobilized and had an accursed force inhibitor around his neck. Frustrated after testing his restraints with no success, he looked around to ascertain his surroundings.

"Had a refreshing rest, my boy."

Xan raised his head and saw the sanguine Sidious and reticent captive, Ben across the room.

"I take it, I passed the audition."

"Admirably," was the succinct reply. "Your swordplay is impressive, but will only improve under my tutelage." The Sith palmed one of three lightsabers dangling from his waist. "I look forward to returning your saber to you when we initially begin training together. Kenobi's...I shall add to his first that is already in my extensive souvenir collection."

"Planning a bit prematurely, aren't you?"

"It won't be long before the mind specialist arrives. On that account, you should appreciate the final moments you have as a...how shall I put it?...a free man."

"What's your hurry," Xanatos equivocated. "Even the condemned are entitled to a hearty last meal. And after participating in that free-for-all, you consider a duel, to tell you truth...a sumptuous feast would be more than adequately sufficient."

"There's no use trying to stall for time."

"Who's stalling?...I'm famished."

"I realize it might be a difficult proposition becoming my new Darth apprentice," a blithe and detached Sidious expounded, "but let me assure you that once the mind-wipe is complete, you won't miss your lavish lifestyle or playboy proclivities one whit."

"Care to place a wager on that?," was the discordant noble acid-tongued retort.

"At the start, my previous apprentice possessed an abrading rebellious streak, similar to yours, that took a protracted period to quell. Nevertheless, extinguish it, I eventually did." The fact was stressed with ardor, "Though it took a few cycles of torturous whipping, flaying, thrashing and pummeling to accomplish the deed, when Maul finallly broke he became as docile as a baby lambakin."

In answer, Xan vowed, with gallant grit and an impish grin, "You'll hear my last dying breath before you hear me say baa... to you."

"Your brazen audacity and intrepid pluck are both vexing and rousing," the chagrined Sith Lord admitted, "You don't know how much I relish a formidable challenge. It makes the inevitable conquest that much more exhilarating." He sighed in jovial expectation. "Oh, we are going to have so much fun together."


"Defiance is not an option for you, my cavalier Prince." Directly pointing a raised digit, the menacing voice dripped with lethal intimidation. "You shall submit to my every command unreservedly. Each and every stipulation will be obeyed to the minutest detail, no matter how intolerable, demanding or onerous to you."

The stubborn temerity exuding from the noble, precipitated the subsequent threat. "Defy me and know that not you, but Knight Kenobi will suffer most profoundly for your insolence."

Xanatos craned his neck to meet Ben's prominent arresting austere gaze. No words were necessary for communication. He needn't be a mindreader to know exactly what his friend expected of him. If roles were reversed, he would condone no less in return. 'No surrender' was the unmistakable clear and present message. Under absolutely, positively no uncertain circumstances was he to capitulate for his sake. Digging his heels in, he steadied himself for the trial of tribulation to follow.

Sidious could interpret the silent exchange as well and ignited his blood red lightsaber.

Approaching the knight apace, he grabbed a fistful of Ben's auburn hair, forcefully yanking his head back, exposing his vulnerable throat.

Facing the noble, he cruelly grinned. "It will give me the utmost greatest pleasure to rid the universe of this troublesome Jedi nuisance once and for all."

At the blatant nonresponse, the merciless Dark Lord decisively brought his crimson blade back to begin striking the mighty lethal blow.

Staid blue eyes riveted to the oncoming fiery cutlass as it made its decent.

Nearing mere inches from meeting its mark, Xanatos stridently called out, "Wait!"

Ben desperately implored, "Xan...don't"

Sidious jerked the knight's ginger head back further, "Silence."

"Why should I trust you...a Sith?"

The dastardly villain admired the noble's savvy prudence.

"It's true, I could still have Kenobi executed after the procedure was performed with you none the wiser... but, I won't." Believing himself munificent, he acquiesced. "Consider it my reward in compensation for your loyal fealty."

Defeat was a detestable bitter pill for Xanatos to swallow, yet without hesitation nor thought of regret, he downed it in one stiff shot.

Through clenched teeth, he folded, "You win."

"Say it...," was the low rumbled imperative order.

Uttered in a tone laced with contempt, "Master..."

Sidious beamed in glorious triumph.