Prompt from Disco_Potato: How about everyone in the council chamber meeting in TPM (including Anakin) is taken to the clone wars, captured by Maul, and they're saved by Obi-wan and Anakin. And they watch how Obi-wan just sasses maul while battling away from the holding area while Anakin frees them. P.S could you have Maul be droning on and on about revenge and none of them have any idea why. Lol just a thought also a very sassy obi means happiness!
…..
The council meeting wasn't going according to plan.
As soon as he presented them with the evidence of Anakin being the Chosen One, Qui-Gon expected the Council to agree to his training.
Obi-Wan was ready… no matter what the little voice in his head said.
But the Council had refused, a bright blue light had blinded them and now they were here…. Wherever here was.
"Stay close…." He gently ordered Anakin, already expecting Obi-Wan to be near him, "… Master Yoda, what- "
"-Unsure, I am." Yoda interrupted, tension evident in his voice, which the rest of the Council were quick to pick up on, "Danger, I sense."
Everyone fell silent as a chuckling sound echoed throughout the room.
"Well, well, well…" a sinister voice came from the shadows, along with a Force Signature that was very familiar to Qui-Gon, "…what have we here?"
His uneasy feeling was confirmed as a light appeared above them, and the Sith from Tatooine stepped forwards into it.
But he didn't remember the Sith having legs like that.
When the creatures' eyes landed on Qui-Gon, a confused look flashed across his face and his eyes narrowed at him. "… Haven't I- "
And then he spotted Obi-Wan… and a cruel, wicked grin spread across his face.
"Oh…" he whispered, "… this is just perfect. After years of going after you and having you evade me at every turn, you practically land on my doorstep. Just as my nightmares remember you as."
Before Qui-Gon could say anything, the creature's hand darted out and grabbed Obi-Wan by the arm, pulling him close as a red lightsaber appeared near the padawan's vulnerable neck.
"MASTER!" "OBI-WAN!"
Qui-Gon moved forwards, hand already flying to his own lightsaber as the Sith readjusted Obi-Wan, pulling the younger boy's back to his chest, red blade still hovering centimetres from his neck.
"Ah, ah, ah…" the Sith Lord tutted, tightening his grip on Obi-Wan, "… let's not be hasty now. If I see one lightsaber, or feel like anyone is planning to use the Force on me, then I'll remove his pretty head from his body. Understood?"
At first, Qui-Gon was ready to disagree, willing to take the risk if it'd mean his padawan was safe and out of harm's way.
It was only Mace's hand that stopped him.
"We understand…" the dark-skinned Jedi Master stated calmly, "… We apologise if we've trespassed, but it wasn't our intention. We- "
"- enough!" The Sith Lord clearly didn't want any apologies, "Move over to the corner…. Drop your lightsabers on the ground."
With one of their own so close to danger, the rest of the Jedi nodded in acceptance, removing their weapons from their belt and placing them on the ground, before moving over in the direction that the creature indicated to.
Once they were in the corner, laser bars surrounded them…. Qui-Gon felt his heart sink to his stomach. If the Sith Lord did try anything against Obi-Wan, there was nothing he could do.
All he could do was watch and listen.
"I have dreamed of this day for years…" the Sith muttered, moving away from Obi-Wan, keeping the red blade close to the young man's neck, "… I remember the pain, I remember the anger… I remember the fear!"
Obi-Wan was silent, his face twisted slightly in confusion as the rant continued.
"Revenge shall finely be mine…. The perfect revenge!" The Sith chuckled, "And I thought killing your older self would have been the highlight of my life, but you…. Oh you are even better."
Whilst Qui-Gon couldn't take his eyes away from his poor padawan, the rest of the Council were glancing at each other in confusion.
'Older self?' Did they hear that correctly?
"Tell me Kenobi…" the creature hissed, "… do you fear me?"
"…. No." Obi-Wan straightened up, "Fear can lead to the Dark Side… I sense you must have been a very scared child once upon a time."
Silence.
/Padawan… \\ Qui-Gon growled over the fragile bond, /… remember what I said about your mouth getting you into trouble one day? Why do you feel to make a situation worse? \\
/I think Master Yoda referred to it as a… 'defense mechanism'. \\
/Very reassuring. \\
Their mental chat was broken as Obi-Wan suddenly yelped in pain, his arm having been slashed lightly by the Sith Lord.
"I see you were always like this…" the creature hissed in anger, a vicious smirk on his face, "… we didn't really get a chance to talk when you were like this… before you sliced my legs off!"
Another fact that sent shockwaves rippling through the room.
Every Jedi grew up knowing that using the lightsaber in such a way was practically forbidden…. That it was seen as a dark manoeuvre.
Obi-Wan was the last person they expected to use it.
However, before the Sith could give them any more information, a side door opened and another figure, very similar looking to the red Sith, entered the room.
"They're here…" he muttered, automatically moving closer to the corner where the other Jedi were being held, "… General Skywalker and General Kenobi."
The Force seemed to surge around the room, as the Council all glanced at each other, with many turning their attention to Anakin below them, who was still clinging onto Qui-Gon's legs
General Skywalker.
Suddenly, the door slammed to the ground and two figures leapt into the room, their lightsabers already ignited as they moved into defensive positions…. Only for their eyes to widen in shock at the sight of Obi-Wan standing there, the red blade near his throat.
"Is that…. Who I think it is?" the younger of the two men asked in disbelief, eyes darting over to the bearded man beside him, "Or am I seeing things."
"No… your eyes are working fine." The bearded mans eyes darted over to the Jedi who were trapped behind the lasers… and then a familiar smirk appeared on his face.
With a jolt, almost like a bolt of lightning hit him, Qui-Gon realised exactly who this man was.
He'd seen the same smirk on a much younger face as pirates tried to hold them hostage… or when they were in mortal danger.
"Oh please don't…." he whispered under his breath, shaking his head and hoping that the man spotted it… that the older version of his padawan spotted, "… don't do it."
Master Kenobi didn't listen.
"Bravo Maul…." He mock-congratulated him, "… I'm not sure if this little plan of yours is genius or pathetic."
Even Maul looked a bit stunned by the comment, the red blade lowering slightly in shock.
"I mean, really…" Master Kenobi continued, "… getting revenge on a younger, more unskilled version of myself in order to make yourself feel stronger is very clever…. And yet, very disappointing as well."
Maul snarled in fury, launching into a rant about 'his right to revenge', or how he'd 'dreamed of this moment for years', with Master Kenobi occasionally injecting with a comment of his own.
Only Qui-Gon noticed General Skywalker… Anakin sneaking towards them.
Even the second Sith seemed fascinated with the argument.
"That is so weird…." General Skywalker muttered as he tinkered with the locking device of the cage, occasionally glancing over at little Anakin, "… maybe this is all just a dream. All just a dream."
Keeping his own eyes on the older man, little Anakin tugged on Qui-Gon's robes. "Is that really me?" he whispered in shock, "I thought I wasn't going to be a Jedi?"
Qui-Gon didn't answer…. He was far too concerned with the fact that his padawan was inches away from death… and the little discussion with the young man's older self didn't seem to be calming the situation down.
"Note to self…" he muttered to himself, "… add in another few hours of meditation and stress the importance of learning to keep your mouth shut during difficult situations."
/Master… \\ his padawan's voice nervously came over the bond, /…. Is that really me? \\
/Every word is causing me undue stress Padawan… yes, I think it's you. \\
/Oh…. Sorry. \\
"- The pleasure of seeing you fade into nothingness, as I slice through this pretty- SAVAGE, STOP HIM!"
Seconds after Maul realised exactly what was going on near the cage, the laser bars disappeared, and they were free.
Qui-Gon's gaze instantly fell on his padawan, lightsaber flying to his hand as he went on the defensive, Master Kenobi and General Skywalker falling into place beside him.
"Let. Him. Go." He growled, sending waves of reassurance towards his padawan, "Let him go!"
Maul knew he was outnumbered as he slowly backed away, keeping his grip firm on Obi-Wan's arm… for a minute, it looked like he was going to surrender… and then a wicked smirk spread across his face.
"I will have my revenge!" he hissed, causing everyone to tense.
In one swift movement, Maul pulled Obi-Wan back, causing him to stumble slightly as the Sith spun his lightsaber around, clearly aiming for the young man's abdomen.
"NO!" Both General Skywalker and Qui-Gon cried out, both seeing exactly what was about to occur…. That wound could be fatal.
Obi-Wan's eyes were wide in fear, mixed with a little bit of acceptance.
However, seconds before the blade could make the fatal wound, Maul was flung to the side, impacting heavily with the wall.
"Never again."
Everyone turned to Master Kenobi, who had his hand outstretched…. A frown on his face, and a look of grief in his eyes.
"You'll never do that to anyone ever again."
Filled with a sense of relief, Qui-Gon charged towards his padawan, wrapping him up in a hug, before turning his attention to Master Kenobi.
"I- Thank you." He whispered, his voice heavy in relief.
Master Kenobi accepted the thanks with a simple nod, his eyes slightly glazed over with an unseen grief. "Well…" he chuckled lightly, "… I can't argue it wasn't in my best interests as well."
Before Qui-Gon could answer, a blue light suddenly appeared above their heads… it seemed as though their time was up.
"Don't worry…"
Everyone's attention turned to Master Kenobi, who was looking at his younger self, a warm, understanding smile on his face.
"… hope is not lost. Things will get better."
And then they were gone.
