Qui-Gon hadn't stopped to be angry with his old Master when he learned what he'd done. He'd made a beeline for the padawans' hall. It was easy enough to think like his apprentice, and he had to get there first.

In the corridor that held Sarah's chambers, he found it. Obi-Wan's lightsaber, next to a wall smeared with blood.

A cheap tactic, he thought, rather than allowing himself to feel.

He squatted by the saber, and ran his hand along the space above it. Yes. She'd definitely left something. A psychic imprint. But it wasn't strong enough to hurt him. He picked it up, and heard Everyx's voice in his head, a voice he hadn't heard for years.

You know where I am. Come alone.

There was no doubt in his mind. If he went alone, he'd die. But if he alerted the Masters and came with a squad, no matter how well they masked themselves, Everyx would sense them. The reach of her new body couldn't be fooled. Then the question was did he value his own life more, or the chance that she would release Obi-Wan, and that he could re-awaken Sarah?

No. The question was why was he wasting time in this hallway?

….

Qui-Gon was no padawan, so reentering the hangar where he'd literally shut himself down so many years ago was like a man in an invulnerable wet-suit entering a tub full of piranhas. The stench of the memories, rage, and horror nipped at him from every angle, but he was untouched. If he was to die here, he'd die a Jedi, and he'd die saving those who couldn't save themselves.

The place was unchanged. A long, dark platform from wall to wall, and an abyss beyond, above which hung many meat hooks. They were only used once a year, to dry out the holiday drist-na. He noted that Obi-Wan was not bound, and hanging from one of the hooks, like he'd expected.

The door shut behind him, leaving only the red-eye of a light above it to illuminate the scene.

Qui-Gon stretched out his senses like a field, but of course could feel nothing.

"Well, Everyx? I am here."

"No, you aren't."

He was lifted off his feet by an irresistible force, and thrown into the wall. When his vision righted itself, Sarah's face was hovering in front of him, barely discernible in the dim red glow.

"Not yet." said Everyx. "But it's my hope you'll join us soon enough."

"Where's Obi-Wan?"

Sarah's face winced.

"Are you sure you want an answer to that?" said Everyx. "Very well. Your padawan is safe inside the Temple. I stashed his unconscious body in Sarah's chambers. You are quite literally here for nothing."

Finally, Qui-Gon allowed himself to feel something, and it was relief.

Sarah's face smiled.

"There you are." said Everyx. "I knew you'd join us eventually."

…

Everyx swept her hands, and Qui-Gon's arms were pinned to his side. His struggles against her power were laughable. If he was a stream, she was an ocean. She suddenly realized she had no need for the binders she'd brought, and tossed them into the abyss with a flick of her mind. She could do it all herself. His body tipped upside down, and she locked his feet around a hook, and his wrists behind his back. Then she lifted herself off the ground, and hovered in front of him. There was nothing she couldn't do. The universe had suddenly become her toy. She chuckled, giddily.

"Hmm, I'm sorry that I don't have any pretty words for foreplay to this glorious event." she said. "You certainly gave mine plenty. But truth be told, I can't wait to begin."

"Sarah, I don't know what she told you to let her in, but it was a lie," said Qui-Gon. "She was a Sith who broke into our Temple to hypnotize younglings into joining her. She stole child after child, and slaughtered any guards we posted until I came along. We used every other method we could to get the location of the children out of her, until my Master gave up, and said torture was the only way. He told me to watch. He said I needed to learn to be unflinching-"

"Yes, I sympathize so deeply with your plight," said Everyx, "but I have to inform you that you're talking to no one. Sarah is gone. This body is mine now."

The ruby saber growled to life.

"And it shall do as I will."

She caressed his upper arm lightly with the humming blade. His teeth gritted, and the smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils.

"Sarah, if Everyx escapes, she'll slaughter Obi-Wan to further revenge herself on me, and any Jedi who gets in her path." he continued. "With your power, she'll be unstoppable. Fight her. You don't know the Force, but you know your own mind. You can't let her return to her Master."

Everyx felt something jerking at the back of her brain.

No. she thought. I will not let this space rat best me.

Determinedly, she put her blade to his other shoulder, and let it sink into the skin a bit this time. She felt Qui-Gon draw rigid with pain as she pulled it down.

Qui-Gon looked straight into her eyes.

"Help me." he said.

As if the words were the trigger behind the bullet, Everyx was thrown backwards. Her vision flickered in and out, and her grip on Qui-Gon released and re-tightened. She dropped the blade, and grabbed her head with both hands.

No, no, no! You are weak, you are weak!

The struggle froze. Then she was slapped out of the body, and thrown into the air. Just as she spun back around, she felt her incorporeal form suspended. An animal-eyed, sweat glazed Sarah had extended her palm, and was holding her in place.

"Two sides…but one goal?" said Sarah, between breaths. "But even the Jedi know you don't enter a mind against its will. And even the basest creatures know better than to risk it with me."

"I meant only to free you-"

"By enslavement?! Isn't that the Dark Side all over!"

"You cannot defeat me, little girl!"

Sarah clenched her fist, and Everyx was extinguished.

And then she seemed to collapse in on herself.

With the Force's aid, Qui-Gon fell to the platform. Sarah had fallen to her knees, arms braced against the floor, breathing heavily, and whispering something over and over. He knelt in front of her, took her into his long arms, and pressed her against his chest.

"-it's my mind, it's my mind, it's my mind!" she was saying over and over, her whole body shaking.

The Time Lady had come undone. He feared for her mental health.

"Yes, it is, and she's out of it," he said, rocking her back and forth.

"-she got inside my head, she used my head-"

"And you defeated her. You. defeated. her. I'm so sorry this happened to you, Sarah. But I swear to you, I will not let it happen again."

She balled her fists in his tunic, and closed her eyes. He continued to rock her until she stopped trembling.

AN: Reviews bring chapters!