Another sleepless night had passed by. Terrible visions and all-too- familiar scenes insisted upon being re-played over-and-over again in his weary mind. As much he tried to dismiss the taunting thoughts, they continued to haunt him.

"Master Qui-Gon, sir, when can I stop running? I'm very tired, sir." Anakin called.

Qui-Gon peered down from the rooftop at the boy. How long had he been running? Once again, he hadn't being paying the appropiate amount of attention to the boy. For that matter, he hadn't really been paying any attention to young Anakin. His thoughts were always preoccupied.

"Just one more lap around the house, Annie, that's all." Qui-Gon replied. Anakin gave a reluctant sigh, but he obeyed his master. Qui-Gon silently scolded himself for not focusing all his attention upon the boy's training. He had ruined his and Obi-Wan's life for this, so he should give every single bit of attention to it.

Oh, if only it were that easy. He remembered when Obi-Wan was young and hated to do his morning run. Of course, he would obey his master and run the numerous laps around the jedi temple. "But, why, Master? The Force can't speak to me if I'm too tired from running to listen!" he would say in his untamed accent. Qui-Gon would laugh at this and explain how a jedi must be in the best physical condition in order to properly follow the will of the Force. Obi-Wan never seemed too content by that reply until much later when he was able to fight with ease and near grace.

"Okay, Master Qui-Gon, sir, I'm finished!" Anakin called.

Again the boy awakened Qui-Gon from his wandering thoughts. Again Qui-Gon scolded himself for allowing memories to control his mind. He quickly refocused his attention to the boy. Anakin, although a completely different boy, had certain qualities that reminded Qui-Gon of his beloved Obi-Wan. They both hated to run. They both asked lots of questions, although Obi- Wan's questionings became deep interrogations since he was such a bright child.

"Master Qui-Gon, sir?" Anakin called again.

And yet again he let his mind drift.

"Sorry, Annie. I'm a little tired this morning, you'll have to forgive me. Now, let's try something else," he said as his weary eyes scanned the area for something useful. He spotted a broom handle and lightly tossed it down to Anakin. "Hold this as your weapon. Deflect whatever comes at you."

Anakin nodded and held the broom handle like a light sabre. It was quite an awkward sight. Yet another thing that brought back memories of Obi-Wan. Qui- Gon shook his head and cleared his thoughts. He made a few small rocks fly slowly toward Anakin which he eaisly deflected. He sent a small box toward him, which he also deflected. A few other random items soared near him, which he eaisly deflected.

"Now, close your eyes and try it." Qui-Gon said.

"But, Master Qui-Gon, sir, how will I deflect things with my eyes closed?" Anakin inquired.

"The Force will tell you what to do, just listen to it." Qui-Gon stated.

Anakin nodded and closed his eyes. He deflected the first item by pure luck, for he wasn't really focusing. The next items Qui-Gon allowed to tap the broom handle, in hopes of drawing Anakin's attention. However, Anakin was completely unprepared for the pebble that struck him lightly on the back of his neck.

"Hmm.. let's try this another way." Qui-Gon suggested. Obi-Wan had struggled in this lesson as well. The only way it ever got through to him was by placing a helmet upon his head with the visor down. It kept him from being injured while blocking out the distractions around him. "Go get your podracing helmet and put it on."

Anakin nodded and quickly ran inside the house. He returned moments later with his beloved helmet placed proudly upon his head. He secretly hoped this lesson would involve podracing, but the Force didn't have to tell him it wouldn't.

"Now, put the visor down, and we'll try again." Qui-Gon said.

Anakin held a quizzical expression upon his young face, but he did as he was told. With the visor down and broom handle in his grasp, he prepared himself from whatever Qui-Gon might throw at him.

Rock flew. Hit.

Box flew. Hit.

Bolt flew. Hit.

"Clear your mind. Listen to the Force." Qui-Gon instructed.

Rock flew. Hit.

Box flew. Hit.

Bolt flew. Hit.

"Pay attention." Qui-Gon stated.

Rock flew. Hit.

Box flew. Hit.

Bolt flew. Deflect.

"That's right." Qui-Gon said.

Rock flew. Deflect.

Box flew. Deflect.

Bolt flew Deflect.

Slowly Anakin began to realize which was the Force talking and which was just his stomach. Deflecting the objects became easier and easier. There was a long pause which Anakin responded to by removing his helmet and staring up at Qui-Gon for futher instruction.

"That was easy, Master Qui-Gon, sir!" Anakin announced proudly.

Another rock flew and hit the back of his neck.

"We weren't finished, Obi-Wan. I'll let you know when your training for the morning is complete." Qui-Gon said.

"But, Master Qui-Gon, sir, I'm not Obi-Wan." Anakin said.

"Hm?" Qui-Gon inquired.

"You... you called me Obi-Wan, sir. I'm Anakin." he said.

"Oh.. I'm terribly sorry.." Qui-Gon said, pondering as to whether or not he had really adressed the boy by his former padawan's name. His thoughts began to jumble together. "Well, why don't you go inside and rest for a few minutes, hm? We'll continue your exercises in a little while."

"Yippie!" Anakin exclaimed as he gave a quick bow then darted inside.

Qui-Gon stood upon the roof for awhile. A few minutes had turned into a few hours. His eyelids were growing weary from constantly staring upon fixed points, but Qui-Gon didn't pay any attention to them or anything else. Guilt was beginning to become more than he could handle. Having a grip upon the Force was one thing, but being able to control one's own guilt was quite another.

Simple thoughts turned into daydreams. Daydreams turned into visions. Visions turned into what Qui-Gon thought to be reality.

"Master!" he swore he heard Obi-Wan call in a tone of pure horror.

He turned suddenly but, of course, Obi-Wan wasn't there.

"Master.... my poor Master... He is dead. No, the Sith didn't kill him. I knew that was fake all along. Would you like to know what truly killed my poor Master?" the Obi-Wan of his vision stated tauntingly, "His guilt. His guilt drove him to pure madness. Pity... pity..."

"Obi-Wan...." Qui-Gon whispered, unsure of what was vision and what was reality.

"If I'd had the chance I would've gladly put him out of his misery. I would've taken his own lightsabre, chopped him up into little pieces, and blasted him into oblivion." the taunting voice of Obi-Wan stated, "However, his madness eventually lead him to his deathbed before I got the chance to get my revenge."

"No... Obi-Wan..." Qui-Gon said.

"Perhaps I should go join him in hell. I suppose the dark side will lead me there eventually, whenever another jedi comes along and kills me or perhaps my desire for revenge will lead me to the same fate. Either way, I shall see you in hell, Qui-Gon. In the midst of the flames, pain, and suffering, I shall see you.... and you shall die a thousand deaths for what you've done to me.... a thousand deaths...." he taunted.

"No... No!!" Qui-Gon stammered as he ran to escape the vision, but ended up against the wall.

"Master.... Master, where are you? I've come to deliver a thousand deaths upon you. Master.... Master.... you can't escape from me again. Master...." the voice hissed as it slowly faded away.

Night had fallen over the Skywalker home and gently covered Qui-Gon with its dark cloak. Shmi nervously glanced at the mad jedi, but thought it would be best to leave him alone to fight his battles.

He had finally fallen into a sleep, although restless and taunting it was a much-needed sleep. Even in the depths of slumber, his guilt haunted him.