These are just little random one-shots that I will be doing about the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. They will be updated as often as I can, and if any wants me to expand on any of them or if you have a prompt for me, just say in the review :)
/words\\ = Bond speak
Please read and review :)
Prompt from bluedragoninamber: What is the Jedi Apprentice novel "The Call to Vengeance" goes a different way? What if, instead of Tahl's spirit and Obi-Wan pulling Qui-Gon back from killing Balog and Falling to the Dark Side, what if Qui-Gon kills Balog and Falls? What if Obi-Wan flees with his master (because Obi-Wan would never abandon him, even if he Fell)? What if Obi-Wan calls for Dooku (because he knows the Order will want to execute Qui-Gon as a Fallen Jedi)? Maybe Dooku takes in the two of them (probably after paying off the planet due to Qui-Gon's murder of Balog), and they become Grey Jedi like Dooku? They make a Grey Jedi family on Serenno?
Brace yourselves everyone… this is a doozy of a chapter.
…..
"Qui-Gon, wait!"
Obi-Wan watched in dismay as his Master ignored him, continuing forwards to where Balog was. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as he followed the older man, his feet getting heavier and heavier with each step.
Everything seemed to be dyed the colour red as he walked through the door, igniting his lightsabre as Balog rose from his chair, reaching for a communicator.
Voices were muffled as Qui-Gon buried his lightsabre in the console, before Balog could call for help. Blaster shots were fired, and Qui-Gon deflected every one of them, a smirk on his face as Balog started to panic. When Balog tried to make a run for it, his legs got tangled in the legs of his chairs and he fell backwards.
At last, Qui-Gon's enemy lay at his feet.
"No, Master Qui-Gon!"
Obi-Wan felt as though he had been glued to the floor, watching as Qui-Gon raised his lightsabre above his head… and brought it down on Balog's throat, slicing through the vulnerable flesh and silencing any protests Balog might have made.
At that moment, Master Windu burst through the door, his face morphing into anger as he stared at the scene.
"OBI-WAN!"
"It wasn't my fault!" Obi-Wan tried to beg, "I tried to stop him!"
"YOU HAVE FALLEN! JUST LIKE XANATOS!"
"Please, no!"
Master Windu's voice seemed to echo all around the room, deafening Obi-Wan as he fell to the ground.
"OBI-WAN!"
"OBI-WAN!"
"OBI-WAN!"
Obi-Wan shot up in his bed, his head almost colliding with his Master's as he was startled out of his dream… memory… nightmare.
"Bad dream?" Qui-Gon asked, his tone knowing as he took a step back from the bed, his eyes tinged with a hint of yellow, signifying his descent to the Dark Side, "Breakfast is ready. Come down as quickly as you can. We need to get going soon."
That's all they'd been doing since Master Windu burst in on the gruesome crime scene and tried to have Qui-Gon brought in for a trial. When Qui-Gon refused to come quietly and grabbed Obi-Wan's arm, dragging him away and starting their life on the run.
And Obi-Wan hated it.
All this sneaking around and hopping onto transport after transport in order to avoid the Order. Qui-Gon was fallen, and therefore the Order would stop at nothing in order to catch him and execute him.
Maybe they would just let Obi-Wan go… or maybe they would execute him as well for willingly following his Master.
Because that what Obi-Wan had been doing… willingly following his Master, even when he had every opportunity to escape and make his way back to the Temple.
He was just as culpable.
….
"We need some more food…" Qui-Gon muttered, ignoring the leaking roof of the shack and turning to Obi-Wan, "… I'll be gone for about an hour. Open the door to no-one, understood?"
Obi-Wan silently nodded, keeping his eyes focused on the floor.
There was an audible sigh, before the door slid shut, leaving Obi-Wan alone with his thoughts.
It was less than half an hour later, when he heard the knock on the door.
Startled out of his morbid thoughts, Obi-Wan glanced up and frowned…. Qui-Gon wouldn't knock… he had the key to the shack.
Knowing that the possibility of the Jedi Order or bounty hunters or anything like that suddenly bursting in was high, Obi-Wan scrabbled up from his seat and hid behind the sofa, hand automatically reaching for his lightsabre.
Until they actually came through the door, he wasn't going to make a sound or a movement.
There was a soft clicking noise, before he heard the door creak open and a familiar, cultured voice echoing throughout the room. "Oh Qui-Gon…" the man whispered, "…. What has become of you?"
Recognising the voice for who it was, Obi-Wan cautiously peeked around the side of the sofa, frowning at the sight of Count Dooku, standing in the middle of the room and sneering at the leaks and ragged furniture.
Before he could duck down once again, Dooku eyes flickered in his direction and the man seemed to sigh in relief. "Obi-Wan…" Dooku took a deep breath, "…. Thank goodness."
"M-Master Dooku?"
Dooku opened his mouth to protest the incorrect title but chose not to say anything as he silently gestured for Obi-Wan to come closer, looking quite pleased when the young teen didn't budge.
"Cautiousness is smart at a time like this…" the older man praised, "… but rest assured, I am not here to bring you and Qui-Gon to the Order. I'm here to help."
"H-How?"
Dooku simply smiled at him, moving to sit down on the sofa… before changing his mind at the sight of something moving inside. "… Please tell me my mind imagined that."
"No…. that's Windu."
"Hmmm?"
"The rat… Master called it Windu."
Dooku couldn't help but chuckle at this, as Obi-Wan frowned. "If you don't mind me asking…. How did you know where to find us?"
"… I visited the Temple to celebrate your birthday." Dooku eventually stated, "Qui-Gon had mentioned it months ago, and yet, when I arrived, I was told that Qui-Gon had fallen and taken you with him."
At this, Dooku suddenly became very serious and looked Obi-wan straight in the eye. "I came to help Obi-Wan… however, if he's forcing you to be here, or hurt you in anyway, you need to tell me."
Obi-Wan frantically shook his head, "No, no, no…" he flushed in shame, "… I've been following him willingly. He hasn't done anything… except for the whole Balog thing."
Sighing in relief, Dooku nodded. "Good… then yes, I will help you and Qui-Gon."
"How? If you don't mind me asking?"
Dooku seemed thrilled at the question, pulling a lightsabre from his belt and igniting it, showing off a pure white blade. "Do you know what this means Obi-Wan?"
Transfixed by the lightsabre, Obi-Wan slowly shook his head, prompting Dooku to explain the meaning behind the colour.
"Having a white lightsabre means that I am not affiliated with either the Jedi or the Sith."
"So… y-you're- "
"- A grey Jedi, yes…. In the loosest sense of the term. I am neutral, unless me and the Council agree on a certain subject… only then, will I help."
At Obi-Wan's sudden panicked look, Dooku waved his hand in dismissal. "If I cannot rehabilitate Qui-Gon, then I will follow the Council's guidance…. But only then. For the time being, I'll see what I can do for him back on Serenno."
"B-But, what if someone sees Qui-Gon and calls the Council."
"They won't."
"But- "
"- I've bought off the relevant people on the planet. Law enforcement, security officers, high-ranking gang bosses… they'll help keep the news contained."
Before Obi-Wan could say anything, Dooku suddenly stiffened and positioned himself behind the front door, the prime ambush spot. Sensing that something was wrong, Obi-Wan dived back behind the sofa, tensing as the front door opened again.
"Obi- UGH!"
Obi-Wan winced at the familiar voice and the grunt of pain, peeking out from behind the sofa. Dooku didn't look apologetic as he stood over his ex-padawan, brow creased in disappointment as he shook his head. "Really Qui-Gon… why didn't you come to me in the first place? Why drag your padawan around the galaxy like this?"
Grunting in pain, Qui-Gon pushed himself to his feet, glaring at his old Master. "It was the only way to remain safe!"
"Why didn't you come to me?"
"You haven't exactly been there! You weren't there when Tahl was murdered!"
"Because I thought that you would have more success in expelling these feelings of grief into the Force! Our relationship hasn't been the best, but I thought I taught you better than to go on a quest for revenge, falling to the Dark Side!"
"I loved her!"
"You shouldn't have done!"
The pair stared at each other for a few moments, with Obi-Wan preparing to leap to one side if they did decide to fight. Thankfully, the tense situation passed and Dooku sighed wearily.
"I am here to offer you help Qui-Gon…" he sighed, "… You can either come with me, back to Serenno where I can train you in the ways of being a Grey Jedi…. Or you can live like this. Darting from planet to planet in order to avoid capture and execution."
Before Qui-Gon could answer, Dooku held up a hand. "You should know… should you decide to continue down this path, Obi-Wan will not be joining you."
"… What?"
Dooku gestured to Obi-Wan, a scowl on his face. "You cannot continue to drag Obi-Wan along with you. He has the potential to become something great, and I will not see you ruin that chance for him."
"You can't- "
"- Yes, I can Qui-Gon. He is my Grand-padawan, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure he achieves his very best."
There was another tense silence, before Qui-Gon practically deflated, nodding wearily. "Alright…" he whispered, "… alright. We'll go to Serenno with you."
…..
Master Yoda was immediately suspicious as he and Master Windu landed on Serenno.
Nobody seemed to be looking them in the eye, and several were whispering to one another, glares on their faces.
"Has Dooku turned them against us that much?"
"Suspicious they are. Ignore it, we must."
Cautiously, the pair made their way to the home of Dooku, knocking on the large ornate doors and waiting.
Due to the extravagance of the home, the pair were expecting a droid to open the door… however, it was a red-headed, young man… a very familiar young man.
It may have been over ten years since Qui-Gon's fall and his and Obi-Wan's disappearance, but Master Yoda recognised the young man instantly.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi…" he greeted, a frown on his face, "… a surprise to see you, this is."
Obi-Wan had gone slightly pale at the sight of them, but soon straightened up and stepped to one side. "I assume you're here to see Master Dooku?"
The young man tensed at the sight of Master Windu's hand inching towards his lightsabre, his entire body prepared to leap into action if the Jedi Master engaged his weapon.
For a time, everything was tense, until an imperious voice boomed throughout the hall.
"Stand down Mace!"
Dooku came storming down to the lower level, his cloak flowing behind him and a frown on his face. "Obi-Wan is on our side."
The two Jedi Masters' clearly didn't believe him, prompting Obi-Wan to slowly remove his lightsabre and engage it, showing off the pure white of his blade.
"He is a Grey Jedi, just like I am... just like Qui-Gon is."
Master Windu was outraged at this, opening his mouth, only for Master Yoda to hold up a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
"Fallen, Qui-Gon has. Grey Jedi, he cannot be."
"You are no expect on being a Grey Jedi Master Yoda…" Dooku scolded, "… Qui-Gon suffered a great tragedy, and yes, he reacted badly, but he has changed…. I can assure you of that."
As though speaking of the devil, Qui-Gon's voice was suddenly heard from the top of the stairs. "Obi-Wan! As I recall, we have a training session! Answering the door doesn't take that long!"
The words may have been stern, but the tone was fond…. Fonder than it had ever been during Qui-Gon's time in the Order. It seemed as though the Master/Padawan pair had grown closer.
"I think it's best you schedule an appointment with my personal assistant…" Dooku sighed, watching as Obi-Wan raced up the stairs, "… goodbye Master."
The Jedi pair hadn't realised that they were being backed back out of the mansion, until the door was shut in their faces.
"Do we call the Council?" Master Windu asked, already preparing to launch an attack.
"Alone, we should leave them…. In peace, they are."
