A few things for this chapter before we get started on R2R, this chapter here focuses on Qui-Gon and Xanatos, we will get back to Obi-Wan in the next chapter.

Also WARNING: did that get your attention? There is a WARNING for this chapter only, there are some references made that are a bit gruesome, (no, it is not a sexual reference!!) but they may be seen as gruesome for a few ppl, so you are warned!

Updates will be like this, on the weekends, unless the work week goes really well and I'm home early enough to write on weekdays, but other than that, expect one update a weekend.

R2R: my ever faithful reviewers

Mellaithwen-

Yes, I am still waiting for an update, but take your time, writer's block can be a nasty thing, it's what I got with the unseen danger. If you ever want help with anything, feel free to give me a mail and I'll do what I can. And I did use the cat like creature from that scene in episode two, but the Monoshiva is a bit different, and you'll learn more about it in later chapters. I like young Obi-Wan as well, but I don't mind Ben Kenobi either. I don't like him in episode two though…

Halfling-

Evil cliffie…I know J

If I couple errors slip by me, they do real well in doing so, I always read through stuff several times during writing, and I do checks as well, so if one or two slip by, they were hidden quite well, it also goes to show I'm not perfect, and therefore human. But otherwise, I hope you like the more speedier updates!

Chapter Four

As soon as the cuffs fell free, Qui-Gon grabbed the chain and twisted it around the pole as it slid into the ground. The chain caused the pole to stop, and the pressure slowly tore the chain apart. From the corner of his eye he could see the cat-like creature racing toward him, it would be on him in mere seconds.

The chain broke just as the cat made his last leap towards him. Qui-Gon sidestepped the creature, wrapping one end of the chain around his wrist, watching as Riso turned swiftly, coming back for another run. With a quick flick of his wrist, Qui-Gon sent the chain out at the creature. The sharp snap caused the cat to back up a few steps with a hiss.

A cheer rose from the crowd, as they began to chant something Qui-Gon couldn't make out. With another hiss, Riso started forward again, only to be stopped again from the chain. It seemed confused mostly, and uncertain. Qui-Gon was certain he was the first human to face such a creature, and if he wasn't he was the first one to stand against him. Uncertainty gave him an advantage, as of now he would take all he could get.

The last snap of the chain caught the creature above the eye, and with a growl it raced forward. Qui-Gon used the force to jump over the animal, landing safely behind him. He shook his head softly, muttering to himself, "Bad idea."

If Riso wasn't mad now, he certainly was now. As the cat ran toward him, Qui-Gon snapped the chain once again, but this time, the beast dodged it, and smashed into the Jedi's right flank. The blow knocked the man to the ground, leaving him struggling to his feet.

The creature pounced on him again, its claws raking deeply into his back. The cheers grew louder at the sight of fresh blood. Qui-Gon flipped over, somehow pushing the larger creature off. He stood and backed off quickly, holding one hand to his chest. The blow had been severe to his ribs, if none were broken than there were badly bruised. On top of that his back felt as if it was on fire. A quick guess left him with the assumption the beast had venom in its claws.

The crowd was roused, their first assumption was that this man would be torn in two in a matter of seconds. Using the chain was a clever idea, and after the creature was on top of him, they expected it to be over. Now that the man was back on his feet left them thirsting for more.

Riso circled his opponent, to him it was little more than a hunt for food. The guards did not feed him well, that way he would kill more willingly. He had been bred for this sport, and it was all it had know for its life. He had been in many fights, escalating to Monoshiva only when he outranked the other creatures in the near death traps they used for training. He had cost his owners a lot of money, due to his skill, and now he would fight here everyday until he died. The owners couldn't afford to loose anymore money.

Qui-Gon jumped clear as Riso charged again, the cat turned quickly, swiping out a paw and knocking the man over once again. With a lunge he bit deeply into the shoulder of the man. Qui-Gon gasped as pain flooded his vision, but as soon as it came it left. He tried to kick the creature off, but the animal held fast as it tore the fabric from his tunic around his shoulder.

Qui-Gon could hear the screams from the crowd, waiting for the big finish. Qui-Gon pushed the animal halfway off and tried to sit up, but the creature continued to tear at his shoulder, desperate for the blood and flesh he smelled, a meal he had waited for. A meal he hadn't had in days.

Mustering his strength, Qui-Gon threw the chain over the shoulders of the beast, doing his best to grab the other end with his bad arm. Irritated the animal backed off some, allowing Qui-Gon time to finish wrapping the chain around the creature's neck.

The animal, finding a sudden restriction in his airway, began to panic. He had dealt with many wounds before, during fights, but never had this happened. Rearing up on its hind legs, Qui-Gon was pulled sharply to his feet. He cried out as his bad arm was yanked as the creature began to claw at the chain about its neck.

With a forceful tug, Qui-Gon brought the creature down to all fours, pulling the chain tighter, choking the creature. Suddenly Riso took off, running around the arena, dragging the man behind him. All Qui-Gon could do was to hold on, and keep the chain tight, the animal would eventually run out of air.

By the time the creature stopped, his chest was heaving as it choked. It turned feebly and glared at the strange two-legged creature before collapsing to the ground. To weak to stand or even sit up, Qui-Gon held the chain fast, listening intently to the labored breathing of the creature. Even when the breathing stopped Qui-Gon held the chains fast, until he was certain it was indeed dead.

Qui-Gon let go of the chains, laying his head down on the dirt and closing his eyes, as the crowd sat stunned. He didn't care, he was in too much pain to even try and care that he was still alive, that he had made it.

"In a world such as this, one must be the hunter, or become the hunted. If one does not kill, then it is he who will be killed," he could hear Xanatos telling the crowed. "We have a winner, for now, it seems as if the match may become a draw. Until tomorrow then, the Monoshiva has ended."

It was the last Qui-Gon heard before slipping into darkness.

The first thing he was aware of was the pain. It was not concentrated pain, but widespread. In fact his entire body was on fire. He had trouble remembering where he was, or why he was hurting. Qui-Gon took a deep breath, letting it go and slowly tried to sit up.

"Stay still," a sharp voice commanded, a hand pressing him back down. Qui-Gon recognized the voice as he opened his eyes. Xanatos knelt above him, tying a bandage off, his hands covered in blood. Qui-Gon's blood. Xanatos glared at him, shaking his head.

"Can't afford to lose you yet," he said with a small smile. "You made me quite a sum today. No one actually expected you to win. Not even me at first, but you did better than I expected. Not that you'll survive next time, but I'll make what I can:'

Xanatos sat back with a sigh. "None of the medic guards would tend to you, far to afraid of what you could do, even unconscious. So simple minded, don't you realize what you can do, what you can become?"

"You?" Qui-Gon answered quite blankly when he was certain his voice would not break. "I think I'll pass up your generous offer."

"Jedi are so doltish, all they do their entire life is help others, they never think for themselves. They have all this power, power they could use to rule worlds, and accomplish things beyond their very dreams, and yet, they waste it all on the weak. You have seen what I have been capable of, and I alone. Think of the power we would have if we joined forces!"

Qui-Gon quirked a smile, closing his eyes. "After all these years you are still nonsensical. I truly wonder how you have been able to keep it up." It was hard to keep his voice steady with all the pain. He took a slow breath as another wave passed through his body.

"You are still quite like yourself, might I add," Xanatos answered. "The choice is yours, you fight until you die, or you can join forces with me. Although I doubt you would. You know, I have some arrangements prepared, and you're invited. Couldn't have it without you, you're the main guest of honor. It's sort of a, celebration funeral, you may call it. You see, once you are dead, I will have you beheaded, and I will mount your head up on the wall with the other famous warriors from the Monoshiva. That is if you have a head left, I plan to use glass eyes though, nothing personal, just never been fond of yours."

Qui-Gon grimaced as Xanatos explained the details with a little too much glee. "Glad to know my body will be of good use after I'm dead."

"That's not the best part," Xanatos continued as if he hadn't even heard Qui-Gon. "I'll send whatever is left of your body back to the temple, that way they can stop searching for their poor departed Jedi Master. I may have to label you though, not sure if they would recognize you are not."

Qui-Gon opened his eyes. "That is just sickening," he replied, turning his head to see him better. The thought did not really frighten him as Xanatos had intended to do so. He knew that he had sealed his death when he agreed to go with him. So this was not much of a surprise.

"Yes, I got the idea from the Planet of Marone, when we were there to investigate all those murders."

"You actually remember that?" Qui-Gon asked, slightly surprised. Xanatos had been barely 9. The council had disapproved of Qui-Gon for taking the boy when he was so young. He wasn't ready, they had said. But they could not argue with the master's choice over an apprentice. Their first mission had been to the Planet of Marone, a single planet in system of many, which relied upon one another to survive. Each planet held a key to the other's survival, and bitter warfare broke out often when one planet held back a needed resource.

At that time, there had been a sudden rise in killings, even though there wasn't any war going on at the time. Temperament there was short, civilians were frightened. The killings were always different, one day a Farmer, the other, a group of kids playing in the streets. Guns, bombs, assassin darts, every time a different weapon was used. It was believed that another planet was responsible for the attacks, trying to frighten the planet into surrender so they could take over.

It was a mission Qui-Gon wished they were never sent on. There were many things there that Xanatos needed protecting from, and he was unable to provide that protection. The boy saw many things he should not have.

"Yes, why should I not remember it?" Xanatos responded, breaking his thoughts.

"You were so young, that's all," Qui-Gon said, his breath catching against the pain.

"You find me worthless? Is that why you betrayed me? Perhaps that is why you betrayed Obi-Wan as well, because you saw him as worthless?" Xanatos spat out, angry now.

"No," Qui-Gon said quickly. "I did not betray you Xanatos, nor did I to Obi-Wan."

"Obi-Wan is dead now because of you," the younger man stated.

"No,' Qui-Gon whispered, "you are the killer, not I." But the sting returned to his heart. It was the same thought that had entered into his mind more than once. It couldn't be true, could it?

"You are supposed to protect and guide your padawan, not send him out as bait, as you did to Obi-Wan. You sent him to me, maybe he thought you were giving him a chance to prove himself, but I know why. You did not wish to have him by your side anymore. You knew I would kill him, you sent him off to his death."

Qui-Gon shook his head. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't.

"He is dead because of you, and you will have to live with that fact for the rest of your life. Which won't be very long, you have my word on that." With that, Xanatos turned and left him alone.

It was late, that's all he knew. He wasn't sure how late it was, or how long he had been sitting there, watching the older Jedi sleep. It was a restful sleep now, unlike earlier, full of fever and pain. The man's wounds were severe, severe enough that it would have killed anyone ordinary. But Qui-Gon wasn't ordinary, Xanatos knew that.

He sighed and leaned back against the wall, the cell quiet except for his own soft breathing mingled with that of his former Master's. Xanatos wasn't sure when the change occurred, he had been so certain before, so sure, that this was what he always wanted. Now seeing Qui-Gon like this, he felt a nagging in his mind, as if he wasn't sure anymore.

So sure, you are. Turn back, you would not? Xanatos dropped his head in his hands, groaning slightly. After all these years he still wasn't able to banish the old gnome's words. They had stuck to him like glue, whenever he felt himself doubting something, one of Yoda's sayings would arise in his mind. It drove him senseless, Jedi were weak-minded souls who didn't know how to handle the power they had, no, couldn't, couldn't handle the power. Qui-Gon had shown him that more than once.

Qui-Gon had never cared for him, he was only the Master's toy. Qui-Gon cared for no one but himself. But then why did he look so pained when he accused him of the boy's death? Did Qui-Gon actually care for him, as he once did for…no, it wasn't possible. Qui-Gon only used him. Xanatos was by far more powerful than Qui-Gon, and he was jealous. Xanatos could see it.

He ran his fingers through his black stringy hair with a sigh, stopping the movement as his fingers passed the scar on his right cheek. With a breath he traced the broken circle, the ring from his father, and became angry as he was reminded why he was doing this. It was Qui-Gon who took him away, Qui-Gon who had made his suffer, and in doing so, he would return the favor.

"My Lord," a voice broke through his thoughts. Xanatos looked up to see a small being standing before him. "There has been an unidentified landing," he sputtered, "In the jungles."

Xanatos nodded. "We wouldn't want our new guests to feel left out, would we? Gather a group of soldiers, and give them a warm welcoming."

The small creature nodded, and shuffled away. "Only seven days Qui-Gon, not bad for Jedi. But they will wish they never came," Xanatos said with a small smile. "Yes they will."

TBC