Authors Note: My supreme thanks to all who've kindly responded including: MobiObi, Incognito12, Xan Fan, Annabel Willow, Jedi Ani Unduli, TamsynDell, Geri K, Guest and RankinP
MobiObi: I hope to continue if there's supporting interest. This is the penultimate post.
There was a formal customary meeting with the Jedi Council scheduled that had to be addressed, but first, a casual debriefing took place in Obi-Wan's apartment in the Knight's Tower.
Xanatos was in deep conversation with a previously reticent Mace Windu, who was now much more trusting and at ease with the Telosian noble.
"You thought both sets of tracking detectors were rendered inoperable?"
"Palpatine, for certain, had your Jedi sensors neutralized the moment we arrived at the Gala." Continuing to fill in the details, "Later on, after our little rumpus in the planetarium, when I awoke, incapacitated, moments away from being turned into the next newly christened deviant acolyte, I assumed my unique subcutaneous embedded tracers had failed as well."
"Tracking telemetry was lost due to technological difficulties with our antiquated equipment," was the councilman's explanation for the delay. "Your assistant, Renault was immediately contacted and with all due haste, managed to arrive bringing in specialized technical engineers who were able to diagnose, recalibrate and fine tune the receiving signal. Mobilized forces were rapidly deployed once we were able to reestablish your precise location."
/"Good old reliable Renault,"/ Xan thought to himself, before remarking, "It's a relief to know that I needn't send my entire Offworld research and development team packing or back to the drawing board." Curiously, he inquired, "Any updated news on our runaway Lord of Darkness?"
"Nothing significant. Local bureaucratic officials have informed us that the Supreme Chancellor has reportedly not shown up in his office for his orthodox duties and is presumed to be on an extended sabbatical somewhere. Logic dictates, in the meantime, he'll assign a puppet deputy appointee to temporarily fill in." Raising some interesting side news, "Anyhow, the Holonews gossip grapevine has rumors floating around inferring that the dignitary's absence from public appearances is due to some mysterious illness. Something as simple as Neimoidian Swine Flu to as drastic as Lympho-Treysarian Blood Syndrome."
"More likely, he's suffering from Sith Lord Psychosis." The former Jedi quipped as he tossed back a drink. "Were you able to dig up any hard evidence against our would be Emperor-in-waiting?"
Discouraged, the councilor grumbled. "He's far too intelligent, resourceful and underhanded. Unfortunately, all we have to show for everything is heresay from you and Obi-Wan and a routed secret compound, which, even that, we can't directly tie to him. The mind-wipe specialist, Abbasensen has absconded as well. Can't find a trace, hide nor hair of him."
Windu carefully cautioned. "The Sith have been around for over a millennia, Xanatos. They aren't going anywhere soon. We haven't seen or heard the last of Palpatine. That, I'm sure of."
"Hello, Obi-Wan," The tentive leonine Jedi master pleasantly approached the composed, fully restored knight. "It's wonderful, you're back to your old self again."
"Thank you, Qui-Gon," was the good natured reply. "Yes, it's a tremendous relief to have sustained my faculties and recovered all my memories intact." Politely, he offered his guest a beverage.
The older man declined, then conspicuously cleared his throat. "I was wondering where we now stand in our relationship." His demeanor was slightly taut. "Are we still on speaking terms?"
Sparkling aquamarine eyes were genial. "In a word...Yes. The discordant part of our past may be considered forgiven if not completely forgotten."
A sterling smile appeared and the tense body relaxed. "Let me profess my great regret that it took so long for us to address and attempt to ameliorte the critical issue."
"An unexpected positive outcome from my gruesome mind-wipe experience, I'd say."
Firmly gripping the young man's shoulder. "Never doubt the high regard I have for you, Obi-Wan. Know that like all my apprentices, I share a deep abiding respect, admiration, and I venture a voluminous encompassing affection for you all."
Espying Xanatos across the way, the young Jedi quiered, "Do you genuinely mean 'all'?"
"As an adept negotiator yourself, we both know how compromise can either be an easy or arduous process to weather. Sadly..." a wistful Jinn glanced over at his aristocratic former apprentice, "the resolution of some disputes seem destined to never see the light of day," Inadvertently, he confidentially revealed, "...and yet, even after all the provocation and disastrous events we've encountered at the hands of him...Even at his demonic worst, I never wholeheartedly stopped considering him as my...," all of a sudden, the man bit his tongue.
"As your...Go on..."
"Each one of you is like a son to me, Obi-Wan." Distinctly stressing, "You, Anakin, and yes, I'm including Xanatos also."
"You never totally gave up on Xan. Even at his absolute rock bottom worst?"
"Never...Even at his most fiendish darkest nadir, there was always a shred of hope that he would return to being the conscientious upright person he once was."
"I'm glad you admitted that."
"Why?"
"Because that's exactly the way Xan felt about his father when he was killed by you on Telos, lo those many years ago."
"Xanatos' father was insane." Jinn spoke in his own defense. "When we fought, it was over his obsessive desire to iron fistedly rule. Even if it brought about the destruction and ruination of the entire population of Telos." Additionally, he underlined, "In a despotic way, he was actually quite similar to Palpatine."
"Not unequivocally so," the knight calmly disputed. "There is one thing you cannot deny. And that is Governor deCrion loved Xan, which was partially the reason why he did some of the terrible things he did."
"Is there a point to all this, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon wearily sighed, "I daresay, I suspect Xanatos' sly persuasive influence has corrupted your thinking."
With a subtle shake of his head, "Not true. Allow me to indelicately put this another way. Hypothetically speaking, to use an extreme, but crude analogy,..." Momentarily hesistant, he proposed, "...What if someone you loved...Please forgive me for bringing her up. Force rest her soul...What if...Master Tahl had lost her grip on reality and wasn't in her right mind...What if I had no other alternative, but to fatally strike her down in front of you. Answer me truthfully. Would you forgive me? Could you instantly see the overall beneficial picture and accept the fact that the act was performed for the best...for the greater good?"
Reacting as if the recipient of an unforeseen hard slap across his cheek, the master's warm inviting temperment froze over as if a bucket of ice water had been abruptly flung in his face.
For a brief moment, anger flashed in his blue/grey eyes, but in meeting the knight's earnest gaze, sensitive pragmatic reason overrode his outrage as it slowly dissipated and dissolved as quickly as it arose.
"You want the unmitigated truth?"
The young man nodded.
After a short space of ruminate introspection, Jinn conceded. "Seeing you actually execute the deed would literally destoy me. Unbalance my universe, rattle my senses, confuse and drive me into a lunatic frenzy."
Enlightened after analyzing his own rational response, he smiled impressed and in proud approval. "Your negotiaing skills are exemplary, Obi-Wan. Frankly, I can see why you are such a success so early in your diplomatic career."
"I learnt from the best."
Observing the gravity of the Jedi master drawing towards them, Mace excused himself. A somber Qui-Gon stood in front of his fallen former apprentice and in a wholly unexpected and uncharacteristic act, completely lowered his shields, in order to totally bare his soul and emotionally expose himself.
"I am not naive enough to believe that a few consoling words or pleas begging for forgiveness would ever breach the cavernous abyss that divides us. However, I would ask that you simply allow me the courtesy to speak my peace, so that when we go our separate ways, you may truly know precisely what my feelings regarding you are now."
Xanatos wore an altogether unreadable expression, although his attention was rigidly transfixed.
"It was easy to judge and label you as misguided, ignominious and cruel. Past conduct seemed to only reinforce these negative notions that I've clung to, while holding myself up as a paragon of righteousness and honor. Only now, can I recognize with disappointment that I've merely lived in nothing but my own created vision of disillusionment concerning you.
I should never have walked away on Telos. Even though it reached a breaking point when we veritably drew swords upon each other and fought. I never should have turned my back and in essence abandoned you. It was simpler, I suppose, to believe that you always possessed a blackened heart and shallow twisted mindset rather than that I shared any modicum of culpability in the shaping of your maleficient behavior.
On Telos, I only saw duty on my horizon and my expectations of you were tantamount. There have always been strict rules on attachment, but typical Jedi weren't meant to have hearts made of cold stainless steel or rock hard marble. Within your heart beat the compassion of a cherished son for a disturbed father and in my blindness, I could not see that. All I unfairly saw, I'm ashamed to confess was my senior padawn's overreaction and weakness. Nevertheless, the most grievous inexcusable sin was not comprehending and addressing the burgeoning conflict within you. Or acknowledging the full extent of your anguish and pain, which I now can see still exists and haunts you to this very day.
The character assassination stops this instant. You are not a failure as an apprentice to me any longer, since I can clearly perceive my own dismal deficiencies as your master. Your recent actions in aiding and abetting Obi-Wan have only proven that you are a Jedi I can be proud to claim I had the fortunate role of teaching and training.
That's all I have to say."
A rapt Obi-Wan and Mace looked on, floored by the consolatory dialogue and sincere elocution from the contrite Qui-Gon Jinn.
All eyes focused on Xanatos, within whose mind a mental battle was basically underway.
Melancholic ambivalence and cynicism were waging war against grace and absolution.
It ultimately came down to the stark realization that Xan didn't want to prove that Obi-Wan's belief in him being a far stronger and better man was nothing but a load of bantha crap.
"Far be it for me to spoil the wise heartfelt prose of my erstwhile mentor." He broke his silence. "Short of totally letting bygones be bygones, I'll just say I do believe that this is the fresh start of a new planetary dawn."