The one question that he continued to ask in his mind was: how could things have gotten out of control so quickly? Qui-Gon sat at the console of the multi-comm station on the transport that he had boarded only hours before, waiting to be patched through to the Temple on Coruscant. Obi-Wan was still down on Attica. Xanatos and Jibril would no doubt make their move to reclaim their son now that Qui-Gon was out of the way but a new threat had also risen. Attica had called off the peace negotiations with Tenedos. War was imminent. The Jedi Master needed to consult with the council on what his next move should be.
The light on the console that indicated an incoming transmission began blinking. Qui-Gon's fingers flew over the console bringing up the miniature, transparent figures of Mace Windu and Adi Gallia. Qui-Gon bowed his head slightly to the two Council Members. "We were very distressed by the nature of your transmission, Master Jinn." Adi said in a solemn tone.
Mace nodded his agreement, "Yes, and after discussing the situation with the rest of the Council we have decided that the best thing for you to do at this point is to return to Coruscant." The dark skinned Master said curtly.
The abrupt answer caught Qui-Gon off guard. "Master Windu, I believe I made it clear that Padawan Kenobi was still on Attica in the transmission I sent you. I can not return to the temple without him with me."
"We share your concern, Master Jinn, but our first priority is to the planet. You were sent to maintain the peace and now that has been jeopardized. You must return to Coruscant so the Council can discuss with the Senate on what must be done."
"But Obi-Wan—"
"Padawan Kenobi is in no immediate danger. Xanatos and Jibril will not hurt him. That is not their objective."
"No, what they will do to him is much worse." Qui-Gon said quietly. "Mace," dropping the formality of 'Master'. No longer talking to a member of the high Jedi Council but instead pleading with his friend. "I cannot let Obi-Wan fall like his father before him. I cannot fail him."
"We all failed him, Qui-Gon." Adi injected quietly. "By not telling him the truth about who he is. By not telling him who Xanatos and Jibril are and explaining the circumstances surrounding the affair. They could tell him anything now and he won't know the difference from the truth."
Qui-Gon remained silent, a faint feeling a hope rising in his chest as he waited for Adi to continue. "The planet's situation is volatile at the moment. We have to get padawan Kenobi off that planet first then we shall determine what shall be done about Attica. Qui-Gon, return to the planets surface and find out Obi-Wan's where-a-bouts but keep a low profile. The punishment for returning will no doubt be much worse this time." Adi glanced over at Mace, "We will be arriving shortly to help you."
Qui-Gon let out a breath that he hadn't even been aware that he had been holding and nodded his thanks. "Thank you, Masters. May the force be you."
"May the force be with you too, Qui-Gon and young Obi-Wan." Mace replied and then the transmission was cut leaving the Jedi master with only his thoughts. He could tell that it wasn't going to be easy from here on out. He was going to have to meet up with Xanatos. Face his past. Something that he had been dreading since the day that his last padawan had drawn his lightsaber against him so many years ago on Telos. No training that the Temple offered could prepare him for what was to come but he had to do it for Obi-Wan's sake.
***
Obi-Wan quickly turned around and scuttled back, not going very far before his back was pressed against the rough stones that made up the wall. He stared up at the stranger that stood before him. His ebony hair feel to his shoulders and his blue eyes seemed to glow in the darkened catacombs. No this man was not a stranger. This man seemed familiar in the same way the Jibril had seemed familiar to him. His force presence was strong and tainted with darkness that brushed against Obi-Wan's mind like cold fingers. They had a bond. It was weak but it was there nonetheless. He had the feeling that he knew why.
The young Jedi watched the man with a wary gaze as he stepped closer to the boy. A smile crossed the man's face and Obi-Wan got the distinct feeling that he could feel the apprehension that was rising in the young padawan and that was what he was smiling about. "I'm not going to hurt you, Obi-Wan." The man said in a calming voice that had a hint of amusement in it.
Obi-Wan's pride didn't miss the tone of amusement in the man's voice. He was making fun of him. The boy straightened up from the ground and faced the man, show that he wasn't afraid. "Who are you?" He demanded in confident voice.
"Someone who is very close to you in many ways. My name is Xanatos."
Obi-Wan was taken back by that answer but he didn't let it show but kept his features expressionless. Like Master Jinn would though from the amused look on Xanatos face that appeared again, he doubted that he had mastered it as well as Qui-Gon had. "You were Master Jinn's last padawan?" It was another of the many stories that Obi-Wan had heard while growing up in the Crèche. More of a rumor rather then a story really. There were several versions that floated around the Temple's gossip pools. The most popular being that Xanatos had died during the mission that would be his last before the trials to become a full Jedi Knight. "You can't be him." Obi-Wan stated matter-of-factly, "Xanatos died on his last mission. Everyone knows that."
Xanatos laughed, "Is that so?" He looked thoughtful for a moment, "I suppose if you look at it from a certain point of view I did die and Qui-Gon was the one who killed me."
"That's not true!" Obi-Wan shot back. Though he was uncertain himself. With all these new truths that were being revealed to him it was hard to determine what was true and what were the lies. Though above everything he couldn't see Qui-Gon hurting his padawan. That wasn't the legendary Jedi that Obi-Wan had remembered from the stories of the crèche and wanted nothing more then to be a great Jedi like him. "Qui-Gon's apprentice betrayed him and disgraced the order."
Like him. That unpleasant thought came out of no where. Obi-Wan pushed it to the back of his mind. He didn't want to think about that right now. Right now he needed to get out of this alive. Though Xanatos had said he wouldn't hurt Obi-Wan, the boy still had a feeling of dread that held tightly to his gut.
Xanatos shook his head sadly at Obi-Wan's foolishness. "More lies. Like you, Obi-Wan, I am a victim of the Order. Like you I followed them faithfully but then my eyes were opened, Obi-Wan and I saw the Order for what it really is. The High Jedi Council will tell you that what they decide is in your best interest. For your own well being but in reality, Obi-Wan, they are only looking about for their own well being."
Obi-Wan let his gaze wander to the dirt ground as he took all this in. He didn't want to believe it. Didn't want to believe that the parents that he had such sweet memories of when he was very young had betrayed him. He didn't want to believe that the order that he had devoted his life to had betrayed him. He didn't want to believe that Qui-Gon had betrayed him. But he couldn't find any deception in what Xanatos was saying. That either meant that it was true or Xanatos had forced himself to believe it was true.
"Look at me, Obi-Wan." Xanatos' firm voice cut into his thoughts and Obi-Wan looked up to met the older man's blue gaze. "I will not lie to you. I will tell you everything that the Council was too afraid to."
Obi-Wan waited for him to continue, tears brimmed his eyes as he tried desperately to deny these things. "What Jibril—your real mother—said was the truth. The Jedi have abandoned you. They consider you a mark of shame to their Order. They wanted to hide your true identity but now I have found you and together we can make them pay for these injustices."
Xanatos' certainty washed over Obi-Wan, sweeping him away. The uncertainty that he felt before left him and a kind of rage at the injustices that had been done to him, to his family began to rise. Xanatos smiled and it wasn't the mocking smile that Obi-Wan had come to recognize but one of pride. "That's my boy."