Part Two
Chapter 2 - Theed
The games had been well underway when Palpatine and his Jedi Warriors had arrived. The slaver was not entitled to one of the better holding areas with a practice courtyard. However, with the famous champion at his side, the organisers had reshuffled some of the Jedi who were already in residence and Palpatine found himself with a private viewing box and more than adequate accommodations for his fighters.
Palpatine stood in his box, his head apprentice ready in case he needed anything, and at his side stood his two stars. It was midmorning and the first battle of the day was about to commence.
Qui-Gon looked around at the other owners' boxes and noticed that none of the other Slavers allowed Jedi in their boxes to watch.
"It is to show his power and our alleged loyalty." Ben walked up behind Qui-Gon, out of earshot of their owner. He held a drink in each hand. He gave one to Qui-Gon, who took a sip without looking to see what it was. The General closed his eyes as the wine entered his mouth. Theed was a place of riches and the wine in the capital was the best in the Empire.
Qui-Gon looked at his companion. He was not dressed in his usual attire. It was still tight and functional, but it was also designed to reveal and tease. Palpatine had dressed up his Champion in leathers, which made Ben look both deadly and desirable. Qui-Gon was dressed in Jedi tunics, but instead of the usual course wool, his were made of soft white silk
"We're on display."
"Yes," The Champion said and smiled. "Don't worry you won't have to fight in it."
"That's a relief."
"You looked nice though, Qui-Gon." Ben looked at the floor as he spoke and seemed almost shy.
"And you, Ben, look stunning." Which was true. Palpatine had taste. He flaunted his property and he made sure they never looked cheap.
"Would you like to make a wager, Qui-Gon?" Ben's attention was once again focused on the sands.
"What do you have in mind?" Qui-Gon moved so that they stood shoulder to shoulder.
"My freedom."
The General tried not to jump in surprise at the softly spoken words, but the way they had been said scared him.
"I realise my waiting is over. You can give me all that I seek. You could kill me in battle or you could complete me. The end is coming for the Nameless Jedi one way or another. If I win this bet I wish you to free me in whichever way you can."
"And if I win?"
"What is it that you desire?"
"I don't know...perhaps...perhaps to hear your name." Qui-Gon waited as the Jedi thought through what had been said and then Ben nodded.
"Agreed."
By this time the two Jedi teams had made their way out onto the Arena floor and stood ready, waiting for the Emperor to begin the day's competition.
"I choose the Blue team."
"And I the Yellow."
The Coliseum waited for Emperor Maul to arrive.
"Now that that is out of the way, let us discuss your escape." Ben turned to the royal box. "The ceremonial gong is opposite the Emperor's box. You are going to have to make your way there unseen, after you slip away from here, that is."
"From your tone I am guessing you have a suggestion," Qui-Gon said as he studied the other Jedi.
"Of course. I will distract Palpatine and his guards, and you, my friend, will run."
"Are you going to tell me how you plan to do that?"
"You taught me to resist and to not give in."
The Crowd waited for the Emperor of Naboo, but still he did not come.
From nowhere a knife appeared in Ben's hand. With a lunge, the Nameless Jedi threw himself at Palpatine's apprentice, his weapon raised and ready to strike. Both men tumbled to the floor as Ben made impact. Before a guard could enter the box, the Champion plunged his knife into his opponent's chest and killed him. Blood seeped onto the stone floor as it fled the lifeless corpse of another nameless man. The Champion turned his attention to his owner. Chaos was let loose as guards arrived, rushing into the private box after hearing the cry of the murdered man. Palpatine screamed at them not to hurt his Champion as the guards desperately tried to wrestle the knife from the struggling Jedi.
From behind six armed men, Ben saw Qui-Gon slip out unnoticed. He struggled a little longer making sure the General had plenty of time to escape. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it all ended. The Champion threw his weapon to the guards and waited.
"What was that in aid of, Ben?" Palpatine asked from behind the wall of guards. The Nameless Jedi did not speak, he just shrugged. "Sit down, Ben."
The Champion obeyed without complaint and did not resist when he was tied securely to his chair.
"Now you shall watch and then we shall discuss your punishment." The Jedi smiled at him and for the first time in his life, Palpatine felt doubt. He turned quickly only to find his other prizefighter gone. "No! Qui-Gon! Find him," he ordered. "Find him, now." the Guards fled in the face of his consuming anger. The slaver was left alone with his Champion. They stared at each other.
The Force crackled around them and Palpatine was amazed to see the dark shroud lift from the warrior, leaving only the light. And then the Nameless Jedi began to laugh.
*****
The Emperor's brother waited impatiently for Maul. Xanatos hated the games, but he attended everyday with his brother because the Blood Rite Gong was opposite the Emperor's box in the Coliseum. He had waited months for Qui-Gon to return to him and Naboo. Through Panaka he had learnt that the death of Qui-Gon had not been real. The General had escaped and was out there somewhere, making his way to the capital.
"Perhaps he has chosen to simply disappear," Anakin Skywalker, Xanatos' personal bodyguard and supporter of Qui-Gon, had once said.
"No," Xanatos had exclaimed. "He will come." Such was his belief that he sat through hours of death and bloodshed just in case today would be the day the gong would sound out proclaiming the return of Naboo's true Emperor.
Throughout the Empire there had been anger and surprise when Maul had stepped up into his father's place. All had expected Yoda to name General Jinn. The world was changing around them and they needed a man with compassion to guide them through. Qui-Gon's supporters had waited for him and now they thought him dead.
"Come brother, they are waiting," Xanatos once again called out.
"I am ready, Xan."
Together the two brothers made their way from the grand palace to the dominating Coliseum.
*****
Qui-Gon hurried away from the busier tunnels under the Coliseum and into the dark, dusty walkways. He came to a stairway that went both up and down. Under or over? He was less likely to run into people running along the top of the Coliseum, however, it would take longer.
From far away came the cheers of the crowd as the Emperor arrived and started the games. He wanted to see him; Qui-Gon wished to see his brother again. With no second thoughts, the General sprinted up the stairs.
The view from the top was staggering. Qui-Gon was struggling for breath after the climb, but even if he hadn't been, the sight laid out before him would have stolen it. The crowd spread out before him and far below him he could see the two teams of Jedi fighting. He squinted into the sun trying to make out their coloured armbands and see who was winning. He could not tell.
With determination, Qui-Gon looked into the Emperor's box. He could just make out Maul seated on his throne and at his side a tall man with familiar, flowing black hair.
"Xan."
He hated the games. He is waiting for me. With purpose, Qui-Gon began his long journey around the top of the largest and most famous of the arenas ever built in the Empire.
*****
"Are you enjoying yourself, Ben?" The Champion had turned his keen attention to the sands the moment the fighting had begun and by that time Palpatine had regained some of his composure. The Nameless Jedi watched, transfixed, waiting to see who would win and if he would be free. Ben seemed not to notice as guards untied him and pulled him from his chair, nor when he was forced to his knees and his wrists tied once again. He remained focused on the fight on the sands.
He did not feel the first blow nor would he have felt the second if all was not interrupted by the crash and ringing of a gong being struck hard.
All eyes in the Coliseum looked upon the Blood Rite platform and beheld a lone man, silver hair flying free, dressed in Jedi tunics. With the sun at his back, club in his hand, he looked like the avenging god of old, with the wrath of the spirit world at his back.
The people of Naboo saw Qui-Gon Jinn, and to the shame of Maul, they cheered.
*****
Qui-Gon looked about him and saw eyes upon him. He looked to Palpatine's box and saw Ben looking back at him. With a loud voice that the great stone structure would carry for all to hear, he proclaimed,
"I am General Qui-Gon Jinn, Leader of the Nabooan army, Defeater of our enemies, Nephew to Yoda and true Emperor to Naboo." He looked to the man who had killed his mentor and friend. "I challenge you to the Blood Rite, Maul. A tradition upheld by our laws and our ancestors. Prove your worth and fight me."
Maul stood and hushed the crowd who began to chant Qui-Gon's name.
"You forget something, Brother, you need to be seconded by another with a right to the throne to challenge the Emperor."
"I second him." Xanatos said, standing proud. "My father confided in me his desire to have his adopted son on the throne and I will see it done. I second Qui-Gon Jinn whose power you usurped."
Maul looked around in a fury at the crowd. He had no choice and he knew it.
"I accept. We will decide this here, Qui-Gon, on the sands of the Coliseum. Do you agree?"
"With honour."
Maul left the box and Qui-Gon the podium. Both men made their way down to the arena floor where they would meet and duel.
*****
Palpatine watched it all unfold.
"We are leaving," he declared.
"What about him?" one of the guards asked as he pointed to the kneeling Champion.
"Sell him. I don't want to risk Qui-Gon coming after him."
"He may yet lose." The Guard was hesitant to let the Champion leave their company.
"He won't. The only man that could ever defeat the General is that man who kneels at your feet. And even if by some miracle Qui-Gon were to die, Ben would no longer be of any use, he has waited too long for the other half of his soul to watch him die and therefore be forever alone. He'd die right along with him. Sell him."
Ben was left in the owners' box as the slaver made preparations to leave. He had the perfect place to watch and know the future.
Chapter 2 - Theed
The games had been well underway when Palpatine and his Jedi Warriors had arrived. The slaver was not entitled to one of the better holding areas with a practice courtyard. However, with the famous champion at his side, the organisers had reshuffled some of the Jedi who were already in residence and Palpatine found himself with a private viewing box and more than adequate accommodations for his fighters.
Palpatine stood in his box, his head apprentice ready in case he needed anything, and at his side stood his two stars. It was midmorning and the first battle of the day was about to commence.
Qui-Gon looked around at the other owners' boxes and noticed that none of the other Slavers allowed Jedi in their boxes to watch.
"It is to show his power and our alleged loyalty." Ben walked up behind Qui-Gon, out of earshot of their owner. He held a drink in each hand. He gave one to Qui-Gon, who took a sip without looking to see what it was. The General closed his eyes as the wine entered his mouth. Theed was a place of riches and the wine in the capital was the best in the Empire.
Qui-Gon looked at his companion. He was not dressed in his usual attire. It was still tight and functional, but it was also designed to reveal and tease. Palpatine had dressed up his Champion in leathers, which made Ben look both deadly and desirable. Qui-Gon was dressed in Jedi tunics, but instead of the usual course wool, his were made of soft white silk
"We're on display."
"Yes," The Champion said and smiled. "Don't worry you won't have to fight in it."
"That's a relief."
"You looked nice though, Qui-Gon." Ben looked at the floor as he spoke and seemed almost shy.
"And you, Ben, look stunning." Which was true. Palpatine had taste. He flaunted his property and he made sure they never looked cheap.
"Would you like to make a wager, Qui-Gon?" Ben's attention was once again focused on the sands.
"What do you have in mind?" Qui-Gon moved so that they stood shoulder to shoulder.
"My freedom."
The General tried not to jump in surprise at the softly spoken words, but the way they had been said scared him.
"I realise my waiting is over. You can give me all that I seek. You could kill me in battle or you could complete me. The end is coming for the Nameless Jedi one way or another. If I win this bet I wish you to free me in whichever way you can."
"And if I win?"
"What is it that you desire?"
"I don't know...perhaps...perhaps to hear your name." Qui-Gon waited as the Jedi thought through what had been said and then Ben nodded.
"Agreed."
By this time the two Jedi teams had made their way out onto the Arena floor and stood ready, waiting for the Emperor to begin the day's competition.
"I choose the Blue team."
"And I the Yellow."
The Coliseum waited for Emperor Maul to arrive.
"Now that that is out of the way, let us discuss your escape." Ben turned to the royal box. "The ceremonial gong is opposite the Emperor's box. You are going to have to make your way there unseen, after you slip away from here, that is."
"From your tone I am guessing you have a suggestion," Qui-Gon said as he studied the other Jedi.
"Of course. I will distract Palpatine and his guards, and you, my friend, will run."
"Are you going to tell me how you plan to do that?"
"You taught me to resist and to not give in."
The Crowd waited for the Emperor of Naboo, but still he did not come.
From nowhere a knife appeared in Ben's hand. With a lunge, the Nameless Jedi threw himself at Palpatine's apprentice, his weapon raised and ready to strike. Both men tumbled to the floor as Ben made impact. Before a guard could enter the box, the Champion plunged his knife into his opponent's chest and killed him. Blood seeped onto the stone floor as it fled the lifeless corpse of another nameless man. The Champion turned his attention to his owner. Chaos was let loose as guards arrived, rushing into the private box after hearing the cry of the murdered man. Palpatine screamed at them not to hurt his Champion as the guards desperately tried to wrestle the knife from the struggling Jedi.
From behind six armed men, Ben saw Qui-Gon slip out unnoticed. He struggled a little longer making sure the General had plenty of time to escape. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it all ended. The Champion threw his weapon to the guards and waited.
"What was that in aid of, Ben?" Palpatine asked from behind the wall of guards. The Nameless Jedi did not speak, he just shrugged. "Sit down, Ben."
The Champion obeyed without complaint and did not resist when he was tied securely to his chair.
"Now you shall watch and then we shall discuss your punishment." The Jedi smiled at him and for the first time in his life, Palpatine felt doubt. He turned quickly only to find his other prizefighter gone. "No! Qui-Gon! Find him," he ordered. "Find him, now." the Guards fled in the face of his consuming anger. The slaver was left alone with his Champion. They stared at each other.
The Force crackled around them and Palpatine was amazed to see the dark shroud lift from the warrior, leaving only the light. And then the Nameless Jedi began to laugh.
*****
The Emperor's brother waited impatiently for Maul. Xanatos hated the games, but he attended everyday with his brother because the Blood Rite Gong was opposite the Emperor's box in the Coliseum. He had waited months for Qui-Gon to return to him and Naboo. Through Panaka he had learnt that the death of Qui-Gon had not been real. The General had escaped and was out there somewhere, making his way to the capital.
"Perhaps he has chosen to simply disappear," Anakin Skywalker, Xanatos' personal bodyguard and supporter of Qui-Gon, had once said.
"No," Xanatos had exclaimed. "He will come." Such was his belief that he sat through hours of death and bloodshed just in case today would be the day the gong would sound out proclaiming the return of Naboo's true Emperor.
Throughout the Empire there had been anger and surprise when Maul had stepped up into his father's place. All had expected Yoda to name General Jinn. The world was changing around them and they needed a man with compassion to guide them through. Qui-Gon's supporters had waited for him and now they thought him dead.
"Come brother, they are waiting," Xanatos once again called out.
"I am ready, Xan."
Together the two brothers made their way from the grand palace to the dominating Coliseum.
*****
Qui-Gon hurried away from the busier tunnels under the Coliseum and into the dark, dusty walkways. He came to a stairway that went both up and down. Under or over? He was less likely to run into people running along the top of the Coliseum, however, it would take longer.
From far away came the cheers of the crowd as the Emperor arrived and started the games. He wanted to see him; Qui-Gon wished to see his brother again. With no second thoughts, the General sprinted up the stairs.
The view from the top was staggering. Qui-Gon was struggling for breath after the climb, but even if he hadn't been, the sight laid out before him would have stolen it. The crowd spread out before him and far below him he could see the two teams of Jedi fighting. He squinted into the sun trying to make out their coloured armbands and see who was winning. He could not tell.
With determination, Qui-Gon looked into the Emperor's box. He could just make out Maul seated on his throne and at his side a tall man with familiar, flowing black hair.
"Xan."
He hated the games. He is waiting for me. With purpose, Qui-Gon began his long journey around the top of the largest and most famous of the arenas ever built in the Empire.
*****
"Are you enjoying yourself, Ben?" The Champion had turned his keen attention to the sands the moment the fighting had begun and by that time Palpatine had regained some of his composure. The Nameless Jedi watched, transfixed, waiting to see who would win and if he would be free. Ben seemed not to notice as guards untied him and pulled him from his chair, nor when he was forced to his knees and his wrists tied once again. He remained focused on the fight on the sands.
He did not feel the first blow nor would he have felt the second if all was not interrupted by the crash and ringing of a gong being struck hard.
All eyes in the Coliseum looked upon the Blood Rite platform and beheld a lone man, silver hair flying free, dressed in Jedi tunics. With the sun at his back, club in his hand, he looked like the avenging god of old, with the wrath of the spirit world at his back.
The people of Naboo saw Qui-Gon Jinn, and to the shame of Maul, they cheered.
*****
Qui-Gon looked about him and saw eyes upon him. He looked to Palpatine's box and saw Ben looking back at him. With a loud voice that the great stone structure would carry for all to hear, he proclaimed,
"I am General Qui-Gon Jinn, Leader of the Nabooan army, Defeater of our enemies, Nephew to Yoda and true Emperor to Naboo." He looked to the man who had killed his mentor and friend. "I challenge you to the Blood Rite, Maul. A tradition upheld by our laws and our ancestors. Prove your worth and fight me."
Maul stood and hushed the crowd who began to chant Qui-Gon's name.
"You forget something, Brother, you need to be seconded by another with a right to the throne to challenge the Emperor."
"I second him." Xanatos said, standing proud. "My father confided in me his desire to have his adopted son on the throne and I will see it done. I second Qui-Gon Jinn whose power you usurped."
Maul looked around in a fury at the crowd. He had no choice and he knew it.
"I accept. We will decide this here, Qui-Gon, on the sands of the Coliseum. Do you agree?"
"With honour."
Maul left the box and Qui-Gon the podium. Both men made their way down to the arena floor where they would meet and duel.
*****
Palpatine watched it all unfold.
"We are leaving," he declared.
"What about him?" one of the guards asked as he pointed to the kneeling Champion.
"Sell him. I don't want to risk Qui-Gon coming after him."
"He may yet lose." The Guard was hesitant to let the Champion leave their company.
"He won't. The only man that could ever defeat the General is that man who kneels at your feet. And even if by some miracle Qui-Gon were to die, Ben would no longer be of any use, he has waited too long for the other half of his soul to watch him die and therefore be forever alone. He'd die right along with him. Sell him."
Ben was left in the owners' box as the slaver made preparations to leave. He had the perfect place to watch and know the future.