The sights and smells were familiar and oddly comforting, though they had haunted his dreams for over thirty years. The slightly pungent tang of the water and the strong odor of the nearby peat conspired to bring forth memories he did not wish to recall. Taking a deep breath of the aromatic air of the swamp, he worked to calm himself. There is nothing here to worry about… yet

"I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight someday." A voice beside him spoke, pulling him from his turbulent thoughts and reminding him that he had "entered" in the middle of that conversation.

Focusing his eyes on the face he couldn't have ever forgotten, yet had never been able to quite recall, he smiled. "Thank you, Master. I appreciate all that you have done for me, and all of the sacrifices you have made in your life so that I could be a part of it. Now is probably not the best time to tell you this, but I want you to know just how much you mean to me. I don't know my real father, but I know he could never mean anything more to me than you do."

Obi-Wan had had years of self-flagellation and isolation to recreate that one moment in time that had haunted him throughout his life, and yet, though he had known exactly what he would say, he could not stop the flood of tears that came to his eyes. "I love you Master."

Taken aback, and slightly shocked by the sudden outpouring of emotions over a bond that had been mostly closed since the transport from Coruscant, Qui-Gon didn't react at first as Obi-Wan threw his arms around him in an embrace. After only a few seconds time, the Master recovered and returned the hug. "I am so proud of you, Obi-Wan. You are truly my son, in every way except for blood."

Before either Jedi could make any response, they were interrupted by the appearance of Jar Jar Binks. And now it begins… Obi-Wan sighed as he watched his Master resume his stolid Jedi mask and set to the task at hand. Only this time, I will make certain that my Master survives this day

*********************************************

The meeting with Boss Nass had gone exactly as Obi-Wan remembered it, the only difference coming from the slight banter he and Qui-Gon kept up over their bond. The last time, the training bond they shared had been tightly shielded from both ends, and neither Jedi had even made an attempt to contact the other.

\\Do you suppose she actually thought she was fooling us with that handmaiden stunt?\\Obi-Wan asked, raising an eyebrow as he turned to regard his Master.

\\Perhaps… though I might have added to her belief while we were on Tatooine\\ Qui-Gon responded in his typical light tone.

\\Oh?\\ Obi-Wan questioned, delighting in the levity he was sharing with the man he had though he could only dream of speaking to again.

\\Well, it was much easier to get things done if I was only relying on the word of a handmaiden and not the Queen\\

Laughing softly, Obi-Wan redirected his attention to the scene playing out before them. Boss Nass was partaking in his salivation routine, while Queen Amidala tried to smile despite her obvious disgust. At least Jar Jar doesn't drool… Obi-Wan thought, watching the thick streams of… something… fly from the Gungan leader's mouth. Turning his head away before he became nauseated, he found his gaze locked on the sandy-haired boy that stood beside him.

If I killed him, I'd be doing the galaxy a favor… Watching the smile that shined over the young boy's angelic features, Obi-Wan had to admit to himself that he could never harm Anakin Skywalker, even if he was doomed to become Darth Vader. But this time will be different! He swore to himself, drawing a strange look from his Master at the determined expression on his face. Easing it with a slight smile, he forced his attention away from the future Sith and back to the proceedings at hand.

*********************************************

He knew every move the Zabrak would make, and he was prepared to counter every one. Fighting with a desperate fervor, and with the skill of a Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi forced the Sith apprentice through the laser shielded hallway and into the generator room. Qui-Gon followed just behind, covering his shock at his Padawan's sudden leap in skill level by focusing solely on the "here and now."

\\Don't let him lure you into that room alone!\\ Qui-Gon urged through the bond, as he was trapped at the laser guarding the entrance to the short hallway. \\He will try to separate us, and you must not let him\\

\\I will handle this Master\\ Obi-Wan replied, not even pausing to look over his shoulder at the harried from of the elder Master. He knew that Qui-Gon didn't stand a chance of getting through the laser grid in time to assist him, and he was glad. He had managed to drain quite a bit of the Sith's energy during their frantic fight across the crosswalks, and he knew that even should he die, Qui-Gon would easily be able to fight the Zabrak with so much of his dark energy depleted.

\\Padawan, I order you to wait for me!\\ Qui-Gon shouted as he heard the buzz that indicated the grid would soon be opening.

Ignoring his Master's plea, Obi-Wan shot from the hallway and immediately engaged the Sith in battle once again. Drawing on the skill he had learned during his many years as a General of the Republic Army, Obi-Wan easily kept the Sith off balance and off guard.

"Who are you?" the Zabrak hissed, as he pulled back from the flashing azure blade of the talented young Jedi.

"I am the man who has waited his entire life for this moment," Obi-Wan responded, closing the distance between the two of them. "And I am the last sight you will ever see."

In a flash of brilliant blue, only hindered briefly by the defensive crimson, Darth Maul was defeated once again by Obi-Wan Kenobi.