ALTERNATE ENDING: -begins at Chapter Fifteen-

Qui-Gon's eyes flew open to reveal the round room that they were physically seated in, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had just been thrown on him. His eyes immediately traveled to Obi-Wan's body.

"No!" He cried, jumping up.

Obi-Wan's body was nearly gone. Only an extremely faint outline could be seen on the table. He tried to grab his padawan, but his hands went straight through Obi-Wan's body. "No! Obi-Wan!"

"It failed," Han'yaie whispered in a dejected tone. His padawan crossed over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders in a silent gesture of support.

"Qui-Gon..." Kyran tried to console Qui-Gon, but he would not let his friend touch him.

"Obi-Wan! Come back to me, Padawan! Stay with me!" he cried as tears rolled down his cheeks. He did not wipe them away--he did not care to. All he knew was that he had failed Obi-Wan and now his padawan was to pay a price that was unfair.

"Qui-Gon, sorry I am," Yoda's voice came to him as if from a great distance. "Mourn him we will."

"Go away," Qui-Gon whispered, numb. "Just go away." He didn't hear their footsteps, but he did hear the closing of the door.

Obi-Wan faded a bit more in the gloom of the room.

"Oh, padawan," Qui-Gon whispered to Obi-Wan, longing to hold him close to him to keep him beside him. "What can I do to help you? I have no ideas left...nothing left to offer...no brilliant scheme.

"You were a good padawan. Did I ever tell you that? If I did, then never enough. You fought to prove to me that you were worthy to be my padawan, but I never had a doubt. Why could I not tell you that, especially after Melida/Daan?"

He didn't know if Obi-Wan could hear him, but he was determined to tell his padawan everything he could before Obi-Wan was lost to him. Already, Obi-Wan was mostly gone, passed from the physical to the spiritual world, and not even into the Force for Qui-Gon couldn't feel him there.

Swiftly he continued, ignoring the tears running down his cheeks. "I admire your ability to stand up to me, Obi-Wan. At first, I have to admit that it alarmed and shocked me. The only one to stand up to me like that was Han'yaie and he's known me since I was in the crèche. But I grew used to you—or rather, you grew in my heart. After Xanatos I never wanted to grow close to another padawan again. I even drew away from Kyran, though he forced me to face him.

"Then you came along. The Force plainly wanted me to save you from the farmer's path, but I resisted. I'm so glad that Yoda hit me with his gimmerstick and made me see reason before it was too late. You..." Now he choked up. He cleared his throat and rasped, "You would have made a fine Knight. I would have been proud to know you as my former padawan--as my son."

The only response to his words was a glimmer as Obi-Wan's body completely disappeared as if it had never been. Qui-Gon did not yell or scream like he so badly felt like doing. Instead, he laid his head down on his arms and wept.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Make sure you let me know how you like the alternate ending!