Chapter 6 - A Shadow Seen

Despite the boy's initial joy at his freedom and dream of becoming a Jedi coming true, Anakin's steps dragged as each one took him further from his mother. Qui-Gon was silent as he walked by his side, allowing the boy time to morn the loss of his place at his mother's side and to accept that all that had been gained was not some vicious trick and would not be snatched back before he could lay his hands upon it.

Qui-Gon allowed him this time knowing it would be the only chance he would have. On the ship he would be surrounded by strangers and Padme; a girl he had an affection for. Once they reached Coruscant he would have to be tested by the Jedi council and he must be dedicated to the path at his feet.

Qui-Gon also used the tome of silence to quietly think though all that had happened since Tyron. The question of the bounty hunters had not entered his mind since reaching Naboo. It all seemed unimportant to the immediate threat, to the Queen and the paradise planet.

And then there was the presence he had felt. His Force sense stretched outwards. Whatever it had been, it was gone now. Tatooine's desert was silent and seemingly empty. He was withdrawing from the Force when he felt another presence. This one was dark and malevolent. Without thinking his lightsabre came to his hand and acting on instinct he deflected the blow from a red 'sabre blade.

"Run, Anakin. Get to the ship." He made sure the boy had started running before turning back to face his foe, shouting as he did so. "Tel them to take off."

With the boy gone Qui-Gon was better able to concentrate on the fight with the mystery warrior. The wave of darkness he felt when fighting stunned him for a moment, as did the aura of the tattooed man. It was darkness itself, no light lurked at its centre, no compassion, no love, only hare and anger, a desire to destroy and conquer; a desire for power.

The Dark side of the Force started to reach out to the Jedi Master, he could feel it calling, taunting. It was draining him, demanding he turn from the Light and reach for it instead.

Qui-Gon wonder if this was the presence he had felt following him, although he felt sure he would have sensed this kind of darkness. No it seemed unlikely that this man was the entity. If he was, why had he waited until now to attack or alternatively why was he attacking at all having managed to remain virtually undetected?

Qui-Gon knew he could not win this fight now, not so unprepared. Still he must but time for the Queen to escape.

The two lightsabres clashed; blood red and living green. Qui-Gon looked at the weapon and felt horror followed by grief. He looked into the cold yellow eyes and knew what it was he was fighting.

'Sith.'

The Darkness tried to latch into the moment of fear, however he was a Jedi Master and pushed it back ruthlessly, meeting another downward blow as he did so. Physically pushing back the Sith warrior as he mentally pushed back the Dark side of the Force.

The ship was taking off, although it seemed too slow for Qui-Gon. Sand blew up in their faces as the powerful thrusters propelled the ship away from the ground. The two Force sensitives felt it at the same time; a tremendous stirring in the Force. A figure, also decked in black, leapt over the dunes. In his hand was an upraised lightsabre. The swirling sands, the glow of the blade and his sudden appearance made the new comer appear almost as if he was an apparition of the past, when the Jedi were powerful and their numbers greater.

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Maul knew instantly that who ever this was he had been the reason for the warning in the Force. He did not have much time to get rid of the Jedi Master, seeing Qui-Gon momentarily distracted, Maul took his chance and aimed the tip of his blade at the Jedi's chest. He was surprised to find his blade met only air as the new arrival pushed the Jedi Master out of the way.

Master Jinn sat sprawled on the ground with a stunned look on his face. The man who had saved his life stood in front of him, a fierce protectiveness in his eyes.

"Obi-Wan?"

"Qui-Gon, go!" the man in front of the Sith ordered without looking around.

The Sith warrior's mind brought up an image. He knew about Qui-Gon and he knew that his last apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, disappeared five years ago, not long after his knighting. The blue and red light from the two lit blades created an unnatural glow and the shadows created crossed the fine feature of the lost Jedi, but beneath that hood, Maul could see fiery green eyes and a young man's face that matched the holo documents.

Jedi and Sith stood frozen, both waiting for the other to move.

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"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said again. He had known the moment he saw the figure jump form the dunes that his rescuer was his lost apprentice. The pain and joy in his heart briefly bewildered him.

"There is no time now," Obi-Wan spoke without looking at him, keeping his gaze firmly on Qui-Gon's attacker. "Go now, get the Queen out of here."

Cautiously Qui-Gon stood. The Sith made no move towards him; he too was focused on his opponent. The sound of engines broke Qui-Gon from his daze.

"Go!" Obi-Wan shouted before darting forward to engage the dark warrior in battle.

Qui-Gon obeyed this time without thinking. He jumped and landed on the extended boarding ramp as it flew past. He rolled and was caught by Captain Panaka. Those in the cargo bat watched as the doors closed the duel being fought on the desert below them.

"Who was that?" Panaka asked.

"Knight Kenobi."

"Why did you not tell us there was a second Jedi?" the angry, accusing words came from Padme who stood beside Anakin.

"I did not know. Although I think he has been following me since my last mission."

"For what reason?"

Qui-Gon considered this question and suspected he knew the answer. He smiled.

'It would explain a great deal.'

But should he tell these people? What Obi-Wan was, was clearly a secret from everyone, including his own Master. It was not his place to tell.

"I have my suspicions, although I must speak to the Council before I can speak further to you."

The ship carried them out of orbit and towards the Republic's capital. Qui-Gon had been able to sense Obi-Wan as he had jumped into the fight, he could not sense the presence now, but he did not need to because now he knew he was leaving him behind.

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Maul knew what fear was. He had seen it in the eyes of those he had tortured and killed. He felt it in the air of a planet in the grip of war; he saw it everywhere he went. He himself had only felt fear once before in his life; when Darth Sidious found him and took him as his apprentice. Soon after his being had been consumed by hate.

For the second time in his life he felt fear. Not for his life, for he was prepared to die for the Darkness he served, not for his Master who he realised now could be defeated. He feared the Light that was ablaze in the man before him. He feared the Light would consume his own Darkness and that there would be nothing remaining. He feared what this man could do.

The fear turned to anger and hate. He threw himself into the fight with the Jedi, as he had never done before. He used his skill in the Dark side to seek out and corrupt. He used it to move faster that a normal person could see. He rained blows upon his adversary. To his surprise and wonder the Jedi met each blow squarely. He defeated each swing and defended himself with ease.

Maul looked into green eyes as dark as the forests on Endor. He had not fought a Jedi before this night. Fighting the Master had been as he had expected, what he saw in those green eyes was different; this Jedi was enjoying the fight. No. More than that, this Jedi loved to fight.

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Obi-Wan saw Qui-Gon jump into the hovering ship. As he did he felt his own gift stir; the flow of the Force though his body altered, the feel of it different. Long Obi-Wan had hidden in shadows, but finally his enemy was before him and he was the Jedi Warrior, protector of those who protected the innocent and preserved the peace of the galaxy.

The Chosen One may have been found and he may bring balance, but he would need help, he would need someone to protect him. His Master, Qui-Gon would do that as would the other Jedi to a degree, however they did not have war in their blood. Deep in Obi-Wan's soul was the song of battle. He understood it and felt its flow like no other. He was still needed with Qui-Gon and with Anakin.

He felt the ship that carried the Queen, Qui-Gon and the boy fly away, up and out of the planet's atmosphere. He smiled; enough time has been brought. He disengaged from his opponent and pulled back. The Sith look amazed at his withdrawal. Obi-Wan's smile boarded before he turned and ran back to Mos Espa and back to his ship.

Maul watched him go, unsure of weather he should follow. The Queen was escaping and she was his primary mission. This Jedi was an enigma; nevertheless it was one that would have to wait. He would return to his ship and report to his Master.

Obi-Wan got back to Mos Espa without trouble and was soon entering lightspeed, following Qui-Gon to Coruscant and back to the Jedi temple.