Chapter 25
Once the turbolift stopped at the next floor, Raven put one foot out the door and looked around for someone to help her rescue Nev-Kwellen. When she spotted Master Yoda, she let out a relieved breath. "Master Yoda!" She shouted, waving to him. "Nev-Kwellen's in trouble."
The wizened Master, with the aid of the Force, reached her within seconds as he sensed Nev-Kwellen's rapid descent down the shaft without the aid of a turbolift. Yoda entered the lift, pressed the button for the next level down and then jumped up to the roof of the turbo lift.
Raven pressed her lips together in a firm line as the turbolift stopped at the next level. A minute later, she heard Nev-Kwellen's protests as Yoda slowed Nev-Kwellen's descent.
"I could have done it myself!" Nev-Kwellen snapped, humiliated by the thought of an alien, not quite making it to his waist, and a Master, was able to slow him down from having a painful, embarrassing death.
Yoda simply raised an eyebrow and lowered Nev-Kwellen into the lift.
Nev-Kwellen's feet had barely touched the floor when Raven began to speak. "You could have been killed."
"Excuse me, it's not my fault that the turbolift system here is way different from the one in the Sith Temple." Nev-Kwellen remarked.
"Did you ever care to ask first?" Raven asked, her arms crossed.
"Like children you both are acting." Yoda scolded, hopping down the hole. Conflicting feelings I sense, what they are tell I can not. Yoda hobbled out of the lift, leaving two very irritated individuals in his wake.
Anakin found Bant monitoring Xanatos's medical status as soon as he entered the room.
Bant looked up from her datapad at Anakin. "Are you sure about this?"
Anakin nodded his head and approached the opposite side of the medical cot. "Yes. If Xanatos is ever going to wake up then this must be done."
"Where's Tru?" Bant asked as she adjusted some equipment.
Anakin grabbed a stool and sat down. "We think that we found who the Sith is. Tru is confirming our suspicions." Well, that's not exactly a lie. More like, as Red.Obi-Wan would say, a certain point of view.
"You're not going to tell me who the Sith is, are you?" Bant asked as she grabbed a stool and sat next to Anakin.
Staring at the door, Anakin replied, "It would be best." Turning to look at Bant, his face an emotionless mask he continued, "The danger is too great. The less people who know, the better. I'm sorry."
Bant shook her head. "I understand. No need to be sorry. Still, to think that a Sith has been among us for who knows how long, is disturbing."
Anakin snorted. "Now you know how the Sith feel, except they would be more than disturbed, they would be outraged." Bant began to protest the feelings part but Anakin added, "And they do have feelings. They just don't admit it."
"At one time, the Jedi would not admit that they had feelings." Bant gave a soft laugh and shook her head. "It is interesting what similar things there are among the Jedi and Sith."
The door to the room suddenly slid open and Anakin looked up to see a tall man with almost silver hair, mustache, and beard, step into the room.
Bant was quickly on her feet and walking over to their unexpected guest. "Master Jinn, what brings you down here at this hour?"
"I received a call from Padawan Veld. He told me that I am needed here." Qui-Gon replied, walking over to Xanatos' beside. "He didn't tell me why, but I can guess."
Anakin nodded, his face betraying nothing. "I need someone to be my anchor while I attempt to wake Xanatos up."
Qui-Gon looked at him skeptically as he replied. "What makes you so sure that you can do what all the other healers have failed to accomplish?"
"They didn't realize exactly what they were dealing with." Anakin coolly responded. "Xanatos is in a state called black sleep. In it he believes that he is awake, so every time a healer tries to arouse him he simply ignores them."
"Very well, then. I will help you." Qui-Gon told him as he took a seat next to Anakin and Bant went to monitor the machines.
Anakin nodded in acceptance, and closing his eyes, he instructed Qui-Gon in what he needed to do.
As soon as Anakin was certain that everything was set, he sank into the current of the Force and let it fill him. Slowly, carefully, Anakin approached Xanatos' mind, his mental fingers probing for the area where the black sleep had been sent.
After searching the surface of Xanatos' mind for the third time, he finally found a tiny, almost unnoticeable black stain imbedded in Xanatos' mental shields. Summoning the Force to him, Anakin filled the stain with light and slowly pulled.
Bant looked at Anakin in concern as she saw him sweat and grit his teeth. One of the monitors beeped just as Xanatos began to convulse.
Anakin swore to himself as he lost his grip on the stain and it imbedded itself deeper into Xanatos' mind.
Qui-Gon tightened his grip on Anakin as he once again attempted to grab the stain. /Xanatos, please wake up padawan mine. You need to fight this thing in your mind./ His Force senses screamed as he began to lose his grip on Anakin.
Trapped. Anakin struggled against the black stain as it sucked him in. His concentration was lost as the black stain coiled around his mental awareness. I can't give up, I won't fail! Pain filled his senses as he felt the stain shift its attention totally on him. His body began to convulse violently, like he was being struck with lightning.
Anakin felt his anchor to Qui-Gon break and found himself sucked totally into the stain. Everything went completely dark as he continued to twist and turn in an effort to remove his mental awareness from the stain's icy grip.
Kenshin sank into the flowing stream of the Force, his thoughts tormented by visions of death and darkness. He stretched his awareness throughout the Temple, satisfied that everything was okay.
A sudden chill gripped him and before he could discern its source, the coldness disappeared. Shaken by the encounter, Kenshin carefully searched in and around the Temple.
He paused when he sensed Anakin's bright presence, that not many days ago had been dark and cloudy like a brewing storm. Like a Teruna bug entranced by light, Kenshin watched Anakin's glowing aura.
Minutes slipped by and slowly Kenshin felt his tension ease as he lived in the moment, forgetting the past and not thinking about the future.
His calm was broken when Anakin's aura shifted, and his presence began to fade. A sudden panic gripped Kenshin at that moment and, without so much as a thought, he reached for Anakin's presence.
A white glow surrounded him as he focused on Anakin's fading presence. As soon as he made contact with Anakin's mind, brief mental images flashed into his mind, revealing what was wrong.
Frowning in concentration, Kenshin sent waves of energy to Anakin and anchored him back to his body. A half an hour later, when Kenshin was certain Anakin would be all right, he withdrew his presence.
"Dark days are coming for the Jedi." The older teen told the younger.
The fourteen year-old boy looked up into the blue eyes of his friend. "We will be ready."
A corner of the older boy's lips rose in a half smile. "Are you sure?"
"I." The boy ran a hand though his short black hair and sighed. "I suppose one can never be fully prepared for the future."
The older boy chuckled. "Indeed. You are learning well."
The two boys walked down the deserted hallway, precisely stepping in tune with each other.
"I wish you would stay here." The black-haired boy commented in a wishful tone.
The other boy shook his head, "I can't. My destiny lies elsewhere."
"Then I could come with you." The younger boy spoke.
The blue eyed boy gave a sad smile as he answered. "Your path lies away from mine. When we part, our paths will not meet again until we are one with the Force."
"How can you know that for certain?"
"Do you know what your name means in the ancient language?" The older boy asked instead. When his young friend shook his head, he proceeded to explain. "Tos means gate and Xan means keeper. You, my young friend, have a great path set before you, I have seen it. How and when you will fulfill your destiny is hard to see, but you will have an impact on the future. You may not notice it, you may miss it completely, but know this, somehow, sometime you have completed your destiny."
Xanatos saw the faraway look in his friend's eyes and asked, "How do you do it? How can you bare the burden the Force has put on you?"
Blue eyes looked into Xanatos' own, a haunted expression lurking in them. "I see it more as a gift then a burden. However, there are times I do wish I could wish it away along with all of my emotions."
"Can you explain the second prophecy of the Skywalkers and Shadowalkers again to me one more time before you leave?" Xanatos asked.
"The time is coming when darkness will fall,
flashing like daggers in the night.
Those who have gone astray will stand tall,
arrogantly they will fight.
The shadows will betray them to their enemies,
when they seek shelter from the storm.
The skies will darken with anger at their pleas,
as their enemies are informed.
Betrayal versus betrayal,
revenge versus revenge.
Dark these times will be,
the light all but blown out.
Unless sky and shadow agree,
hope will be in doubt.
Agree to free the light they may,
agree to stifle the light they could.
To save those who have gone astray,
or suppress that which is good."
The older boy was silent for a moment before continuing. "This prophecy can refer to the past, present, or future. The Great Sith War is one of the times when this prophecy came to pass. The last two sentences, I feel, will connect somehow to what happens in the future. There will be conflict between the two Chosen and the end result of this conflict will determine the future of the Jedi and the galaxy."
Xanatos nodded his head. "I think I am beginning to understand now. It's just so hard to take in."
Placing a hand on Xanatos's shoulder, he smiled down at him. "Nothing is ever easy, but it is how we all learn and grow in so many ways."
"My Master likes to remind me of that. I won't forget any time soon." Xanatos said with a laugh.
They opened the doors to the entrance of the Temple and walked outside into the night.
"Have a safe journey and may the Force be with You." Xanatos told his friend as he stopped walking down the path and his friend went a few steps further before turning around.
"Thank you, my friend. May the Force be with you, too." The older boy replied before continuing down the path.
As the distance between them grew greater, Xanatos heard one last message from his friend through their bond.
/Remember, there is always a back door, no matter the situation./
Xanatos mentally acknowledged his friend's reminder and remained where he was until he felt his friend leave the planet. Tears pricked Xanatos's eyes as he looked up into the star littered sky, feeling a great sense of loss at his friend's departure.
A breath caught in Xanatos throat as the stars began to wink out one by one, followed by the moon. He turned around to see that the dim glow that came from the Temple had also gone out.
He let out a startled gasp as he felt his hair touch his neck, no longer short. He reached for his padawan braid but found only unbound hair.
"What's happening?"
/Wake up my friend. Your sleep has ended, you must fulfill the rest of your destiny./
"What do you mean? I am awake, aren't I?" Xanatos asked with near panic in his voice.
/Calm Xanatos. Let the Force fill you, search your memories./
Xanatos took a deep breath and slowly let it out and at the same time, reaching out to the Force and searching within his mind.
Memories long forgotten rushed through him. He saw his first meeting with a boy called Obi-Wan Kenobi, his Master cutting his braid at his knighting ceremony, rescuing Obi-Wan from drowning, feeling his best friend's death, the birth of his daughter and the death of his wife, the mission to Naboo, the fight with the Sith, falling down a reactor shaft, his padawan leaving thinking that he was dead, calling out to Qui-Gon, blacking out once Naboo security officers rescued him.
Tears flowed freely down Xanatos face as he called to his dead friend. "How long has it been? Why is it that I now remember?"
/You were in a black sleep for ten years, no more will I say than that. Awaken Xanatos, they are waiting./
Long black lashes fluttered as Xanatos opened his eyes to the dimly lit room that had the distinct med center odor. The slightest movement of his eyes caused him to feel dizzy and when he opened his mouth to speak, he found it difficult to do so. Voices reached his ears and slowly he made out what they were saying.
"Is he okay?" Qui-Gon asked Bant after they had lifted Anakin onto a spare cot and Bant had started examining him.
Bant finished checking Anakin's pulse and after a Force scan made a brief report. "I think so. I won't be able to tell until he wakes up. His heart rate has slowed to a regular rate and his breathing has steadied."
Qui-Gon felt a familiar brush of the Force and leaving Anakin's side, walked quickly over to Xanatos. A large smile spread across his face and tears of joy fell from his eyes as he embraced his former padawan. "You're awake."
Seeing that Xanatos was awake, Bant began to run some scans and a few tests.
Xanatos tried again to speak and in a very strained dry voice he managed to say, "Master."
Qui-Gon sat down in the chair that he had been sitting in earlier and held Xanatos's right hand in his own hands. "I'm so glad you're back."
Studying his former Master, Xanatos noticed that Qui-Gon had a few white streaks combined with the gray hair. Somewhat clumsily, Xanatos drew on the Force and opened his end of the bond and noticed that Qui-Gon had already done the same. /How long was I asleep?/ He asked although he already knew the answer.
"Ten years." Qui-Gon answered.
Xanatos briefly closed his eyes and then looked back at Qui-Gon. /What happened after I was rescued?/
"Once the Sith had left the system, Dooku and I brought you back to the Temple. Two days after we arrived at the Temple, you slipped into a coma. It wasn't until Anakin came that we found out that you were actually in a black sleep." Qui-Gon explained, already dreading what Xanatos was going to ask next.
/What happened to my Padawan, Obi-Wan, and Garen?/ Xanatos asked, dread coiling in his stomach.
Qui-Gon took a deep breath before slowly answering. "They joined the Sith."
Xanatos's face paled as he looked at Qui-Gon in shock. "No." He managed to voice verbally, How could this have happened?
"All is not what it seems Xanatos." Anakin said as he got off the spare cot and walked over to him.
If Xanatos's face could have gotten paler, it would have when he saw Anakin. Sweet Force! He was saved from trying to speak as Anakin continued.
"Obi-Wan, Bruck, and Garen left the Jedi to save me from the Sith. They did not turn - not exactly. You'll have to ask Bruck." Anakin informed Xanatos.
Xanatos turned his gaze back at Qui-Gon and asked/Where is Bruck now?/
"He's been placed under arrest." Qui-Gon responded, his heart twisting in pain at what this information was doing to his former padawan.
Bant glared at Qui-Gon and Anakin when Xanatos heart rate sped up even more. "All right you two, it's time for you guys to leave. Xanatos needs to rest, he's had enough information for today, and I need to get him moved to another wing."
Anakin nodded his head in consent and left the room without a word. Qui-Gon idled for a few more seconds before he finally left.
Once Qui-Gon departed, Bant got some fresh water along with a straw for Xanatos. Raising the cot to bring Xanatos to an almost sitting position, Bant helped him take a sip of water. "Don't drink to fast." She cautioned.
Xanatos gratefully accepted the water and slowly sipped at it until he was satisfied.
Bant place the cup on a nearby table and lowered the upper half of the cot.
"How is Raven doing?" Xanatos asked, his voice not as strained as before.
Bant retucked Xanatos in as she prepared him to be moved to a new room. "She's doing well, considering certain circumstances."
"What do you mean?" Xanatos asked as he watched Bant out the corner of his eye.
"Master Tahl disappeared about five years ago during a mission." Bant informed him, as she fiddled with some instruments.
Xanatos drew in a sharp breath at this news. So much has happened. Why couldn't I have been awakened sooner? I should have been there for my daughter and my former Master.
"Go to sleep now or I'll have to sedate you. I would rather not, your body needs natural sleep." Bant told Xanatos, leaving no room for argument.
Xanatos closed his eyes and slowly managed to push aside his questions and concerns and was soon in sleep's warm embrace.