Hey, it's Blazer with this new Star Wars story. I know its been forever since I updated this, but thanks for being patient and thanks for the reviews, especially Woman of the Dunedain, who reviewed the prologue seconds (literally) after I posted it. Oh, yeah, I gave it a new title. I hope you enjoy it, and again, I'm sorry that I took so long to post it.

A/N: Obi-Wan is about nineteen, and Bant's Master is that Kit Fisturo (I don't have the book with me, I think that's the wrong last name) introduced in the JA special 'The Followers'.

Disclaimer: whatever you see that you don't recognize, it's probably mine. Otherwise, it belongs to George Lucas.

~Blazer~

DECADENCE

CHAPTER ONE

~*~*~*~

His entire body screamed and throbbed with pain. He couldn't stop it. His mind begged and begged for the torture to end, but it would not. The laugh sang in his ears. He could feel the blood trail from his chest, his neck, his arms. He cried out again and again as the pain intensified. And still the laugh rang in his ears, taunting him, weakening him. "No!" he screamed. He wanted it to end. Prayed for it to end. But it wouldn't…

~*~*~*~

Qui-Gon looked at his apprentice with worry. Obi-Wan looked awful. There were purple bags under his eyes, and his color was pale, his eyes red and torn looking. He looked half-dead as he took his jacket and prepared to leave. "Wait," Qui-Gon said softly. "What's the matter?"

Obi-Wan turned his eyes to Qui-Gon, and Qui-Gon saw the struggle on his face. "Nothing, Master," he said in a tired voice. "I've just had trouble sleeping. Its nothing." He prepared to leave again.

"Is that all?"

Obi-Wan looked at him. "Yes, Master. I promised I'd meet Bant this morning. I'll be late if I don't leave now." He turned and left.

Qui-Gon bit his lip. This was not like Obi-Wan, and for the past few weeks he had suffered from nightmares that he thought Qui-Gon knew nothing about. Qui-Gon didn't want to pry, but this was bothering his Padawan, and they had a meeting with the Council this afternoon. Qui-Gon closed his eyes.

He had a fair idea of when the nightmares had started. It had been two weeks since, and Qui-Gon got the impression that they were all the same, and that they involved something terrible. I need to talk to him about it. He may need help.

With the thought of out his head, he turned to prepare for his meeting with the Council.

~*~*~*~

"I'm fine," Obi-Wan said. Bant rolled her eyes. "Don't," Obi-Wan warned. He rubbed his eyes. "There's nothing wrong. I've just had trouble sleeping, that's all." He saw her skeptical look. "C'mon, Bant, please. It's nothing. Really."

Bant looked out onto the lake. The sparkling water made her silver eyes radiate and gleam. "Something's wrong, Obi-Wan. Just tell me." Obi-Wan turned to the lake. Bant saw the closed up look in his eyes and sighed. "You're so forlorn."

"I am not," Obi-Wan said softly.

"You are too," Bant argued. "I just haven't been able to understand you this past week."

"I haven't seen you that much this past year," he retorted. "I've been on missions. People change. I'm just having trouble sleeping, that's all."

"That's not all!" Bant cried. "What's wrong with you? Something happened." She saw the look on his face. "No way. Don't lie to me."

"Nothing happened, Bant. Can we just leave it at that, please?"

"No, we can't, because you're my friend."

Restlessly, Obi-Wan stood up, than sat down. Her eyes pleaded with him. "I've been having dreams, that's all."

"What kind?"

"Nightmares. I've had them all week. I have them all the time, but these past weeks they've gotten worse. And it's the same one."

"What happens in them?"

Obi-Wan looked at his chrono. "I have to go. Qui-Gon and I have to meet with the Council." He stood up and walked away before she could protest.

~*~*~*~

"For you, we have a mission," Yoda said. Mace Windu leaned forward, his fingers interlocked. The Council members were all present, but some, like Adi Gallia, looked apprehensive. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed, their arms crossed. "On Textri, it takes place"

Obi-Wan gazed at Yoda without blinking. Depa Billaba looked relieved. Mace Windu glanced at Yoda, who looked back knowingly. Qui-Gon closed his eyes for a second, bowed his head, then looked at Yoda. Obi-Wan didn't do anything, but he knew, and it confused him.

"This mission is very delicate," Mace Windu said. "It involves a group of beings called the Averni. In the Textrian culture, the word is used to describe the Underworld. They are a band of outlaws that despise the King and Queen. They continue to attempt coups d'etat whenever their number is high enough for an attempt. So far, none have been successful. The security force on the planet has not been able to catch these beings. The King and Queen have asked for our assistance to capture these individuals.

"The Averni also are a terror on the planet. A deadly force. They are stealthy and sneak into the homes of the citizens on Textri. They steal the children, then tour from planet to planet, meeting with black market dealers who buy these children. Your mission, Qui-Gon, is to dismantle the Averni. To stop this child stealing, and to capture the Averni. Textri is a day away. The Queen and King are expecting you late tomorrow or early the following day."

Qui-Gon nodded. Mace Windu hesitated. "Your Padawan is not being allowed to go along."

Obi-Wan jerked at the words. He stared at Mace Windu. "Masters need to go missions alone, as well, Obi-Wan," Mace Windu said. "This is Qui-Gon's mission." Obi-Wan continued to stare, disbelief in his eyes.

Qui-Gon nodded at Obi-Wan. "Padawan," he said softly, "please leave us. I need to discuss things with the Council." He gave Obi-Wan a compassionate look. "I will speak to you later."

Obi-Wan gave him a cold look, then bowed to the Council members. Then he turned and left.

~*~*~*~

Obi-Wan stormed out, his head whirling. What? He was being banned from a mission? It didn't make sense. Qui-Gon going on a mission alone? Why? He needed to go along. He was nineteen, he was nearing adulthood. He should be allowed. He had been Qui-Gon's apprentice for six years. They'd never gone on missions separate from each other. Why now?

Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel hurt. The Council probably thought him to be too childish. But why? He had proven himself in battle, in missions. He deserved to go. You need to look at the root of the problem, he thought, as he bumped into Bant.

"Oh, hey!" she greeted him, then saw the distraught in his eyes. "What happened?"

"Nothing," he replied, trying to move around her. He wanted to be alone. Bant was his best friend and he loved her, but right now he couldn't bear to be around anyone. Bant, he knew, had been left at the Temple while her Master went on missions, but he claimed ignorance of the fact as he watched her face work into an expression of annoyance. "Bant, what? Nothing happened. Let me pass through."

"No!" she cried. "Tell me."

He gave her an evil eye. "Tell you what? Let me pass, Bant!" She blocked his every move to get around her. Finally he gave up and headed back the way he came, towards the turbolift. He dashed inside it and programmed it for the Room of a Thousand Fountains. She came running after him, and he urged on the doors with a swipe of the Force.

"Why can't you talk to me?" he heard her yell as the turbolift trolled down.

Why can't I? he thought as the turbolift brought him to the Room of a Thousand Fountains. He walked quickly down a path to the shore of the lake. She'd come looking for him, no doubt, but she'd probably look in his quarters first. That gave him a couple of minutes of peace.

You can't dodge her forever, he thought. He didn't even know why he wanted to. He' d wanted to be alone lately, but he didn't know why. He picked up a rock and skipped it across the water. He watched it hit the rocks on the waterfall, then bent down to pick up another.

"Obi-Wan!" He jerked up. Bant was running towards him, and he groaned, then looked up to the sky.

And almost fainted.

A man, his black cloak pulled around him tightly, was aiming a blaster at Bant from the rocks near the top of the waterfall. He suddenly felt the dark ripples in the Force, like a dark wave. He wanted to shoot himself. Had he been so trapped in thought he hadn't been on attention?

No time to think about it now. Bant was running at him, and she did not feel the darkness. "Bant!" he shouted, running to her. He saw with a sinking feeling she didn't have her lightsaber. He pumped himself into a dead run, and activated his lightsaber as he ran. She stopped, then looked around, just as an array of shots fired out.

~*~*~*~

I know that was boring, but the chapter is necessary. Please review and if you have advice, it's welcome. Thanks.

~Blazer~