Hey I'm back! I know I haven't posted like I planned, but life is busy busy busy. Anyway, I have a few reader questions that I would like answered:
1. Would you like a sequel to this (a prequel is currently waiting for my writer's block to leave)?
2. Does anyone even read this story?
3. Would any of you be interested in me writing for other fandoms (JAG, Final Fantasy X)?
That's it, onto the next part of the story (maybe last). . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kenobi gave over his map, "Each red mark represents where an explosive is to be set. All are connected by primer cord. ou can cut the cord and take off all the bombs except for one that is set to go off by trigger. It can't be tampered with without going off."
"I'm not too sure about this."
A grim look came over Obi-Wan's face, "I know, but it's the only way. I don't want to place anyone else in danger, Jedi or no. Alright, we need to find some equipment. You need cutters, and I need to figure out how I'm going to get in that coucil room."
Zarid shrugged, "Why not go in the regular way? Xanatos won't expect it."
"See that's the thing. His expectations are way different from what you'd expect. Also, I'm suffering from lack of weapon syndrome."
The other boy chuckled, "Well, what's that blaster for?"
"Xanatos is a former Jedi apprentice. Somehow I don't think a blaster will cut it," Obi-Wan smiled. "Let's go get those tools."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xanatos grinned. Everything was going perfectly; he had even seen the brat, and much to his advantage, so did Qui-Gon. "Qui-Gon, I hope you enjoyed your last look at the boy while he was still unbroken."
"If Obi-Wan can avoid you for this long, I'm confident he'll be fine."
Annoyance played in, "You don't get it do you?! I've been toying with Oafy-Wan. Having my fun before I get down to buisness."
"What planning, are you?" Yoda demanded.
"To be revealed. Practice that Jedi patience you love so much."
The room fell into silence once again. Some were thinking about what Xanatos could be planning, others trying to find a way out of their current situation, and yet others wondering about the boy who was trying to save them all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'There is no escape. It's time for you to die, Oafy-Wan Kenobi.'
"Get out of my head," the boy muttered as he gulped and shook.
"Huh?" Zarid asked.
Obi-Wan looked up, "Oh, nothnig."
The two were searching for a supply closet in one of the spires. Without decent weapons it was decided it wasn't safe hanging around the council room. Obi-Wan recognized the hallway as one that led to the hangar bay; he knew there would be a closet somewhere close.
"There!" Zarid pointed.
Sure enough, there was a closet. The pair rushed in, Zarid finding the neccessary bolt cutters and Obi-Wan finding a grappling gun. "Hmm..." an idea came. The boy also swiped a metal bar.
As Obi-Wan entered the hallway he commented, "I wonder what happened to Xanatos' patrol?"
"Maybe you were right about them being there to keep you away from your master," Zarid offered. "They're probably gone guarding the explosives."
Kenobi seemed to accept the answer. Slowly he removed his blaster, "Here. You'll need this more than I will." Turning, he ran down the hall to the hanger, "Go! I'll be fine!"
'No you won't.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was it and I knew it. I was finally going to face Xanatos. I never said anything to Zarid, but I was very shocked. He never knew that Xanatos should've died a year ago, even if I did mutter out loud. How did he survive anyway? I still don't know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wind blew at his hair and ruffled his clothes, well, what was left of them. He stood on a platform near one of the spires surrounding the council chambers. The late afternoon sun made him feel warm as he breathed in air smelling life speeder fuel. The sensation he enjoyed the most though, was being able to feel the Force again; he could as soon as
he left the temple. Wrapping it around himself, he prepared for what would come ahead.
Obi-Wan held the grappling gun and the bar. Ahead in the council chambers he could see a man in black shouting at the members. Obi-Wan knew Qui-Gon was in there as well; he could feel it now, but he couldn't see him. The boy smiled to himself, wondering how only a few hours had gone by, even though it was like he had been running forever.
With a deep breath, he shot out the line so it connected just above one of the giant chamber windows, after which he anchored the other end to the platform. Holding the bar above the live with one hand on each side, Obi-Wan jumped. He glided slowly at first, but it kept getting faster and Obi-Wan realized he wouldn't be able to stop. The air whoosed by so fast tha he had to squint to try and dim it's effects on his eyes.
Finally, he let go and covered his head as he smashed through the window. Over and over the Padawan rolled before coming to a halt. Obi-Wan opened his eyes only to see a red blade centimeters from his face. . .
"So, we've reached the end, Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's time for you to die."
Qui-Gon stood up.
"Don't count on it," the boy retorted, very mindful of death looming before his face.
Xanatos backed up and Obi-Wan stood. "Oh, but my plan in foolproof."
Obi-Wan smirked, "You mean blowing up the temple, right? Sorry, but I can't let you do that."
"Really now? You know the only way to stop me is to kill me."
Qui-Gon took a step forward, "No, Xanatos! Leave him alone!"
"SHUT UP QUI-GON! Sit down and watch your precious student die," as Xanatos said this, Qui-Gon suddenly dropped to the floor and didn't move.
"Master?!"
'You can't win. No one will save you now.'
Obi-Wan began to shake, and the council members couldn't help but think he was going into shock. After all, the boy was hurt and soaking wet. But that wasn't the case at all. "I don't know how you're doing it Xanatos, but GET OUT OF MY MIND!! Get out get out get out get out get out!" Kenobi's face scrunched as his shaking became worse.
"My, your standards have lowered Yoda," Xanatos reprimanded. 'You're allowing crazies to become Jedi."
"I AM NOT CRAZY! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zarid's theory proved true; the henchmen were in the basement. As best as he could tell, sixteen: three setting explosives and the others guarding.
'This could be a problem.' Ducking out of the entrance he lent up against the hallway wall. Sixteen to one, and all he had was the blaster and wire cutters. 'Definetely not good.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon groaned as he sat up, wishing it had all been a dream. That came crashing down when he realized his hands were stll tied in front of him, as were all the council members'. And something was poking into his legs; a piece of glass. Slowly he picked it up and discreetly began to cut his bonds.
A small smile played on Xanatos' lips, "Alright, you want me out of your mind?"
"Yes."
"You want me gone along with my force? You want the Force back?"
"Yes."
A full fledged grin now, "Then fight me. I win: I get my revenge. You win: You get everything I said."
"No, Obi-Wan," Mace pleaded. "It's a trick."
"But it's the only way," a satisfied dark Jedi taunted.
"One stipulation: I get the Force back. You have yours, so give me mine and we'll be at even odds."
Xanatos shook his head, "Oh no, you'll never equal me in odds. But I suppose I'll give the baby his Force back."
"Obi-W-"
"I hate to admit it, Master Windu, but he's right. It's the only way to save everyone."
Qui-Gon stood again, "Xanatos, fight me instead."
The younger man said, "Sit down! I already told you my plans for you." He looked at Obi-Wan, "You wan't the Force back? Done."
The Padawan's eyes filled with relief as he recieved the prized gift back. Before he knew it a lightsaber lay at his feet; it was Qui-Gon's. He looked at his opponent.
The two circled each other, weapons ignited but neither willing to make the first move.
Xanatos moved left, and then faked to the right. Obi-Wan spun to his right, missing the blade by a good foot. The opponent leaped up and almost came down directly on the boy. Kenobi dove backwards knocking the lightsaber out of his path so it gouged the floor slightly. Obi-Wan's step faltered, allowing the dark one to make another attempt at killing him. The Padawan moved, but didn't bring his blade up fast enough. He cried out as his left shoulder was grazed.
The figure moved, slashing at his exposed chest. Obi-Wan pushed away his pain and moved to block, sending the bar back at his attacker. Together, thought not working for the same side, the fought in a dance. Parry, parry, thrust, spin, flip, parry, and on the game went. Xanatos was clearly winning, as the younger one's exhausted state caused him to make mistakes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zarid readied his blaster, taking a deep breath. This would require precise shooting or he could hit and explosive, ending his life as well as everyone's in the temple.
He grit his teeth, rounded the corner, and began shooting. Ducking behind each pillar as he went, Zarid sent off shots at the guarding thugs. The sound of blaster fire echoed in the area as one by one enemies fell. 'Hopefully not dead.'
Rushing to the center, he swung the blaster at the head of one man while kicking out at a Bith. Soon all were either shot, knocked out, or dead.
Sighing, he set about disarming the bombs. Zarid had the sense that he should be proud of what he did, but the nagging feeling of guilt kept him from self-praise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Almost done,' Qui-Gon thought. His fingers bled from the glass cutting into him as he cut. 'Now, how do I get the Force back?'
He thought back to how Xanatos looked when he gave the power back to his apprentice. It didn't seem that Xanatos did it mentally, for then he would have had to have done it for the entire temple. That could only mean that he had done it by remote. 'But how? It's not possible to deflect a Jedi's Force abilities with a remote. Force-inhibiting collars maybe, but not remote.'
Deciding to worry about it later, he concentrated on cutting his ropes. Partially because he didn't want to slit his wrists, and because Qui-Gon wouldn't just sit there and watch his Padawan die. Normally, he wouldn't worry, but any Jedi could see that the boy had reached his limit in stamina.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The evil lightsaber moved left, then right, too fast for the green one to follow. Hot pain flamed through his right shoulder as he collapsed on the ground. In his haze, he thought he heard Qui-Gon cry out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qui-Gon's ropes snapped, and he looked up in time to see Obi-Wan struck down. He stood up lightning fast, "Obi-Wan!"
Xanatos didn't turn, too overconfident to believe his former master had gotten out of his bonds. He didn't find out until he felt the Force inhibition device pulled from his left pocket. The evil Jedi had programmed the device to block out al the Jedi's Force abilities in the temple, except his. And also Obi-Wan's, for he had been expecting a duel.
Qui-Gon took a moment to look for the correct switch, VERY mindful of the furious former apprentice. The master thumbed the switch and threw the device out the broken window. Almost immediately, the Force warned him of oncoming danger. Jinn ducked and rolled, calling for the lightsaber next to his crumpled Padawan's form.
Qui-Gon used it to block the next assault and leap across the chambers before tossing it to Yoda. He could kill Xanatos for hurting his son, and he knew until he could release those emotions, he most likely would.
Going into Obi-Wan's direct line of vision, he said softly, "Hold on, Padawan. . . "
TBC
My only final improtant note is that the next installment should be the last. It's all a matter of finding time to type. Would someone please review. Just one, that's all I ask.
snow
1. Would you like a sequel to this (a prequel is currently waiting for my writer's block to leave)?
2. Does anyone even read this story?
3. Would any of you be interested in me writing for other fandoms (JAG, Final Fantasy X)?
That's it, onto the next part of the story (maybe last). . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kenobi gave over his map, "Each red mark represents where an explosive is to be set. All are connected by primer cord. ou can cut the cord and take off all the bombs except for one that is set to go off by trigger. It can't be tampered with without going off."
"I'm not too sure about this."
A grim look came over Obi-Wan's face, "I know, but it's the only way. I don't want to place anyone else in danger, Jedi or no. Alright, we need to find some equipment. You need cutters, and I need to figure out how I'm going to get in that coucil room."
Zarid shrugged, "Why not go in the regular way? Xanatos won't expect it."
"See that's the thing. His expectations are way different from what you'd expect. Also, I'm suffering from lack of weapon syndrome."
The other boy chuckled, "Well, what's that blaster for?"
"Xanatos is a former Jedi apprentice. Somehow I don't think a blaster will cut it," Obi-Wan smiled. "Let's go get those tools."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xanatos grinned. Everything was going perfectly; he had even seen the brat, and much to his advantage, so did Qui-Gon. "Qui-Gon, I hope you enjoyed your last look at the boy while he was still unbroken."
"If Obi-Wan can avoid you for this long, I'm confident he'll be fine."
Annoyance played in, "You don't get it do you?! I've been toying with Oafy-Wan. Having my fun before I get down to buisness."
"What planning, are you?" Yoda demanded.
"To be revealed. Practice that Jedi patience you love so much."
The room fell into silence once again. Some were thinking about what Xanatos could be planning, others trying to find a way out of their current situation, and yet others wondering about the boy who was trying to save them all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'There is no escape. It's time for you to die, Oafy-Wan Kenobi.'
"Get out of my head," the boy muttered as he gulped and shook.
"Huh?" Zarid asked.
Obi-Wan looked up, "Oh, nothnig."
The two were searching for a supply closet in one of the spires. Without decent weapons it was decided it wasn't safe hanging around the council room. Obi-Wan recognized the hallway as one that led to the hangar bay; he knew there would be a closet somewhere close.
"There!" Zarid pointed.
Sure enough, there was a closet. The pair rushed in, Zarid finding the neccessary bolt cutters and Obi-Wan finding a grappling gun. "Hmm..." an idea came. The boy also swiped a metal bar.
As Obi-Wan entered the hallway he commented, "I wonder what happened to Xanatos' patrol?"
"Maybe you were right about them being there to keep you away from your master," Zarid offered. "They're probably gone guarding the explosives."
Kenobi seemed to accept the answer. Slowly he removed his blaster, "Here. You'll need this more than I will." Turning, he ran down the hall to the hanger, "Go! I'll be fine!"
'No you won't.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was it and I knew it. I was finally going to face Xanatos. I never said anything to Zarid, but I was very shocked. He never knew that Xanatos should've died a year ago, even if I did mutter out loud. How did he survive anyway? I still don't know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wind blew at his hair and ruffled his clothes, well, what was left of them. He stood on a platform near one of the spires surrounding the council chambers. The late afternoon sun made him feel warm as he breathed in air smelling life speeder fuel. The sensation he enjoyed the most though, was being able to feel the Force again; he could as soon as
he left the temple. Wrapping it around himself, he prepared for what would come ahead.
Obi-Wan held the grappling gun and the bar. Ahead in the council chambers he could see a man in black shouting at the members. Obi-Wan knew Qui-Gon was in there as well; he could feel it now, but he couldn't see him. The boy smiled to himself, wondering how only a few hours had gone by, even though it was like he had been running forever.
With a deep breath, he shot out the line so it connected just above one of the giant chamber windows, after which he anchored the other end to the platform. Holding the bar above the live with one hand on each side, Obi-Wan jumped. He glided slowly at first, but it kept getting faster and Obi-Wan realized he wouldn't be able to stop. The air whoosed by so fast tha he had to squint to try and dim it's effects on his eyes.
Finally, he let go and covered his head as he smashed through the window. Over and over the Padawan rolled before coming to a halt. Obi-Wan opened his eyes only to see a red blade centimeters from his face. . .
"So, we've reached the end, Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's time for you to die."
Qui-Gon stood up.
"Don't count on it," the boy retorted, very mindful of death looming before his face.
Xanatos backed up and Obi-Wan stood. "Oh, but my plan in foolproof."
Obi-Wan smirked, "You mean blowing up the temple, right? Sorry, but I can't let you do that."
"Really now? You know the only way to stop me is to kill me."
Qui-Gon took a step forward, "No, Xanatos! Leave him alone!"
"SHUT UP QUI-GON! Sit down and watch your precious student die," as Xanatos said this, Qui-Gon suddenly dropped to the floor and didn't move.
"Master?!"
'You can't win. No one will save you now.'
Obi-Wan began to shake, and the council members couldn't help but think he was going into shock. After all, the boy was hurt and soaking wet. But that wasn't the case at all. "I don't know how you're doing it Xanatos, but GET OUT OF MY MIND!! Get out get out get out get out get out!" Kenobi's face scrunched as his shaking became worse.
"My, your standards have lowered Yoda," Xanatos reprimanded. 'You're allowing crazies to become Jedi."
"I AM NOT CRAZY! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zarid's theory proved true; the henchmen were in the basement. As best as he could tell, sixteen: three setting explosives and the others guarding.
'This could be a problem.' Ducking out of the entrance he lent up against the hallway wall. Sixteen to one, and all he had was the blaster and wire cutters. 'Definetely not good.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon groaned as he sat up, wishing it had all been a dream. That came crashing down when he realized his hands were stll tied in front of him, as were all the council members'. And something was poking into his legs; a piece of glass. Slowly he picked it up and discreetly began to cut his bonds.
A small smile played on Xanatos' lips, "Alright, you want me out of your mind?"
"Yes."
"You want me gone along with my force? You want the Force back?"
"Yes."
A full fledged grin now, "Then fight me. I win: I get my revenge. You win: You get everything I said."
"No, Obi-Wan," Mace pleaded. "It's a trick."
"But it's the only way," a satisfied dark Jedi taunted.
"One stipulation: I get the Force back. You have yours, so give me mine and we'll be at even odds."
Xanatos shook his head, "Oh no, you'll never equal me in odds. But I suppose I'll give the baby his Force back."
"Obi-W-"
"I hate to admit it, Master Windu, but he's right. It's the only way to save everyone."
Qui-Gon stood again, "Xanatos, fight me instead."
The younger man said, "Sit down! I already told you my plans for you." He looked at Obi-Wan, "You wan't the Force back? Done."
The Padawan's eyes filled with relief as he recieved the prized gift back. Before he knew it a lightsaber lay at his feet; it was Qui-Gon's. He looked at his opponent.
The two circled each other, weapons ignited but neither willing to make the first move.
Xanatos moved left, and then faked to the right. Obi-Wan spun to his right, missing the blade by a good foot. The opponent leaped up and almost came down directly on the boy. Kenobi dove backwards knocking the lightsaber out of his path so it gouged the floor slightly. Obi-Wan's step faltered, allowing the dark one to make another attempt at killing him. The Padawan moved, but didn't bring his blade up fast enough. He cried out as his left shoulder was grazed.
The figure moved, slashing at his exposed chest. Obi-Wan pushed away his pain and moved to block, sending the bar back at his attacker. Together, thought not working for the same side, the fought in a dance. Parry, parry, thrust, spin, flip, parry, and on the game went. Xanatos was clearly winning, as the younger one's exhausted state caused him to make mistakes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zarid readied his blaster, taking a deep breath. This would require precise shooting or he could hit and explosive, ending his life as well as everyone's in the temple.
He grit his teeth, rounded the corner, and began shooting. Ducking behind each pillar as he went, Zarid sent off shots at the guarding thugs. The sound of blaster fire echoed in the area as one by one enemies fell. 'Hopefully not dead.'
Rushing to the center, he swung the blaster at the head of one man while kicking out at a Bith. Soon all were either shot, knocked out, or dead.
Sighing, he set about disarming the bombs. Zarid had the sense that he should be proud of what he did, but the nagging feeling of guilt kept him from self-praise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Almost done,' Qui-Gon thought. His fingers bled from the glass cutting into him as he cut. 'Now, how do I get the Force back?'
He thought back to how Xanatos looked when he gave the power back to his apprentice. It didn't seem that Xanatos did it mentally, for then he would have had to have done it for the entire temple. That could only mean that he had done it by remote. 'But how? It's not possible to deflect a Jedi's Force abilities with a remote. Force-inhibiting collars maybe, but not remote.'
Deciding to worry about it later, he concentrated on cutting his ropes. Partially because he didn't want to slit his wrists, and because Qui-Gon wouldn't just sit there and watch his Padawan die. Normally, he wouldn't worry, but any Jedi could see that the boy had reached his limit in stamina.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The evil lightsaber moved left, then right, too fast for the green one to follow. Hot pain flamed through his right shoulder as he collapsed on the ground. In his haze, he thought he heard Qui-Gon cry out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qui-Gon's ropes snapped, and he looked up in time to see Obi-Wan struck down. He stood up lightning fast, "Obi-Wan!"
Xanatos didn't turn, too overconfident to believe his former master had gotten out of his bonds. He didn't find out until he felt the Force inhibition device pulled from his left pocket. The evil Jedi had programmed the device to block out al the Jedi's Force abilities in the temple, except his. And also Obi-Wan's, for he had been expecting a duel.
Qui-Gon took a moment to look for the correct switch, VERY mindful of the furious former apprentice. The master thumbed the switch and threw the device out the broken window. Almost immediately, the Force warned him of oncoming danger. Jinn ducked and rolled, calling for the lightsaber next to his crumpled Padawan's form.
Qui-Gon used it to block the next assault and leap across the chambers before tossing it to Yoda. He could kill Xanatos for hurting his son, and he knew until he could release those emotions, he most likely would.
Going into Obi-Wan's direct line of vision, he said softly, "Hold on, Padawan. . . "
TBC
My only final improtant note is that the next installment should be the last. It's all a matter of finding time to type. Would someone please review. Just one, that's all I ask.
snow