The Path of Loneliness

Chapter One: The Past Returns

He stood watching the Jedi Temple from a distance. He ignored those that passed him, trying to get home before the rain that fell soaked them. However he ignored that too. He never felt the cold drops that fell upon his face and soaked his clothing. His eyes were glued on the Temple before him.

Soon, as though upon their own initiative, his feet carried him forward. He didn't want to go back. He had promised himself he would never return; yet here he was. Almost before he realized he was moving forward, he found himself standing outside the Temple doors.


The rain still fell around him, as he gazed at the silent Temple. He turned as though to leave, when the Temple doors opened, revealing a small figure. He turned back and stared and waited. He knew he has no right to be here any longer, but he knew he HAD to be here.

"Knew you would return I did. Come we must meet with the Council. Dark times lie ahead," Yoda stated.

He followed the older Master in to the Temple, wondering to himself if this had been such a good idea.

**
Qui-gon awoke with a start, and sat up in his bed. Something had pulled him from his sleep. Using the Force to calm himself, Qui-gon reached through his bond with Anakin and sighed with relief when he felt Anakin was still asleep.

He pulled himself out of bed, and walked over to the fresher and splashed some water on his face. He glanced up and looked in the mirror at his reflection. What he saw surprised him though.

Instead of his own reflection, he saw the face of Obi-wan his former apprentice staring at him. Quickly stepping away from the mirror, he closed his eyes hoping to stop the flood of emotion and memories from re-surfacing.

However he was unable to stop it and was taken back to the exact moment he had lost part of himself.

5-years before:

Qui-gon could only watch in horror as Obi-wan jumped in front of the blade meant to kill him. He could see the tip of the crimson blade sticking out of Obi-wan's chest. And could only watch in horror as Obi-wan slumped to the floor, holding the wound in his chest.

Qui-gon quickly deflected the blow that tried to cleave his head from his shoulder. He quickly attacked trying to find an opening, but was blocked at every turn by the Sith blade.

Qui-Gon didn't try to strike low - he knew the Sith would simply leap above the blows. Qui-Gon changed his tactics, trying to use his greater skill against the acrobatic abilities of the Sith

He cuts were small and precise, not allowing the Sith to really take advantage of his greater acrobatic skills and forcing him to fight, for the most part, Qui-Gon's way.

The Sith blocked blow after blow as did Qui-gon. After some well-placed moves, Qui-gon was able to cut the Sith's double bladed saber in half, causing him to lose his advantage.

However Qui-gon soon found that the Sith wasn't as helpless as he thought. The warrior soon went on the offensive, striking high, and quickly following with a strike to his legs. Qui-gon leaped up to prevent the blow from landing, but as he landed, the Sith struck out and kicked his feet out from below him, causing him to lose his balance and fall. His saber fell out of his hand and rolled away. He watched helplessly as the saber rolled off the edge of the platform and into the pit.

The Sith smiled and began to advance on him. Backing away he tried to figure away out of this mess.

Then the thought hit him: Obi-wan's lightsaber. Glancing over at his fallen Padawan, he saw the saber lying on the ground. Taking a quick glance at the dark lord walking towards him, he reached out with the Force and called the lightsaber to his hand and used it to quickly cut the Sith in half.

Qui-gon watched with grim satisfaction as the body fell into the pit, never to be found again. Quickly shutting off the saber, he ran to Obi-wan's side clutching him to his chest.

"Obi-wan," Qui-gon said as he clutched him tighter to his chest.

"Thank you Master. Now you can freely train the boy," Obi-wan softly whispered.

"No, Obi-wan. Please stay with me," Qui-gon begged as he could feel Obi-wan slipping away from him.

"I'm sorry, Master."

"Sorry for what, Padawan?"

"Sorry I never got to be a knight and you getting to see it. But now with the boy you can. I..," Obi-wan stated, before gasping in pain.

"Obi-wan you have nothing to be sorry for. You will be a knight one day. I promise. Please just stay with me. I can't lose you," Qui-gon said as the tears began to flow.

" I love you Master," Obi-wan whispered as he let go of life.

"OBI-WAN!! NO," Qui-gon shouted as Obi-wan died.

Qui-gon shook himself out of that horrible memory as his comm signaled. Quickly wiping away the tears that had started to flow again, he answered the page.

"Jinn here."

"Come to the Council Chambers immediately," Yoda stated. 

"Very well, I will be there once I have awoken Anakin."

" No, come alone you must. Discuss something with you alone we must," Yoda said.

"Very well, I will be there in ten minutes, Jinn out," Qui-gon stated as he cut the link.

He quickly washed his face and pulled his robe on. Using the Force he did a quick little mediation, checked on Anakin and then quietly left the apartment.

He arrived at the chambers, and was let in by the on duty Padawan. He stepped inside and found only Yoda and Mace and a lone figure dressed in a black robe awaiting him. Giving the figure a quick glance, he bowed to both Yoda and Mace and waited.

He kept taking sly glances at the figure trying to figure out who it was. Finally the figured sighed and spoke.

"I do believe it is rude to stare Master Jinn," the figure stated as he pulled back his hood.

Qui-gon gasped in shock. In five-years the figure standing before him had changed. Instead of the boyish features he once had, he now had the face of a person who had seen too many rough years and horrible things. His ginger-colored hair now rested in cascading waves across his back. Qui-gon stared into the gray-colored eyes and what he saw surprised him. Instead of love, he found nothing but pain and suffering.

Finally able to speak, he spoke one name he never thought he would speak again.

"Obi-wan."