Author's note:  One of these days I'll find a way to please everyone J  Until then, the length of the story chapters will be differing.  I'll eventually find a happy medium I'm sure.  Thanks again for all of the reviews, and please feel free to email or IM me if you have questions or just want to chat.  The yahoo group is on my list of things to do, but right now the big move is taking up a lot of my time.  Thanks!

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They say that whenever a person faces a dangerous situation, they respond by either "fight" or "flight." Well, I guess this is yet another case where I am not quite normal. I just stood there. I didn't really know what to do. Here I am, trained for this very sort of thing, and I was frozen. Part of me was saying "get the heck out of here!" and the second half was telling me that this is exactly what I had come looking for. So I guess when that first punch came at me, I was still too busy trying to decide what to do that I didn't even try to block it. Or maybe that second half of me was really right…

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As the lift carried him down to the lower levels, Qui-Gon centered himself within the Force and again attempted to reach Obi-Wan through the bond. Although he still could not break through the shielding, he was soon close enough to get a fix on the errant Padawan's location. \Obi-Wan, what in the galaxy are you doing in that neighborhood at this time of night?\ Qui-Gon groaned internally, fervently wishing the lift would move faster.

Although he was quite pleased with his Padawan's progress with his 'saber skills and hand-to-hand fighting, Qui-Gon knew that Obi-Wan was not yet ready to face such terrible conditions alone. A trip to the lower levels at such a time of night was practically guaranteed to result in some from of a crime, and the Master had to wonder just what it was that his apprentice had been seeking. He knew Obi-Wan was not looking to buy any illicit substance, so that left only one reason for the young Padawan to have wandered into such danger. \Oh Padawan, why didn't I try harder to get you to talk to me?\

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The first hit wasn't even that bad. I guess my wonderful "defensive training" came in useful for something… it taught me how to accept the pain of a non-pulled punch. But then they just kept coming, and coming, and soon something in me snapped. Maybe I suddenly realized that I wanted to live, or maybe my mind just shut down and my body decided to take over in self-preservation. Regardless, I suddenly started to fight back… only it was just a bit too late.

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The little Jedi was proving to be a boring fight. Noci had always heard that Jedi were fearsome and powerful warriors, but this weakling wasn't doing a thing except standing there. Granted, he hadn't yet made a single sound of pain, but what was the fun in pounding on a silent statue?

Just as he had decided to call his men off and end things then and there, the Jedi began to fight back. Noci stepped back toward the shadows of the alley, watching and appraising the boy's skills as he took on the remaining four members of the gang. The boy's moves were considerably slowed by the obvious agony he was in, and his automatic protection of his wounded ribs left many openings, but the youngling was still quite the fighter. It was only when Quist brought a pipe down on the little Jedi's head that the gang again had the upper hand in the fight. The blood streaming down the boy's face had blocked his vision, and it was apparent that he was fighting the pull of unconsciousness.

Debating whether or not to call off the fight and allow the boy the chance to live, Noci stepped forward toward the center of the battle. Just as he was about to step into the light, he caught sight of a blur in the main street just beyond the edge of the alleyway. Something told him to remain hidden in the shadows, and he listened to his instincts, slipping back farther until he could barely see the members of his gang and the rapidly approaching figure. He had just come to a stop deep within the shadowed depths when the apparition appeared at the end of the alleyway.

With long hair flowing behind him, and dangerously lit blue eyes surveying the fight, the man suddenly held up a glowing rod of fire and all of the gang's attention was drawn to the dark avenging angel.

"Touch him again, and you will pay with your lives."

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The lift finally reached the level where Obi-Wan's presence was the strongest, and Qui-Gon sprinted from the car almost before the doors had finished opening. Calling on the Force to enhance his speed, he ran down the narrowly twisting street, homing unerringly on the signature of his apprentice. Though he could not make contact with his Padawan, the swirling emotions of anger and hate were enough to tell him that Obi-Wan had met with trouble, and that no more time could be wasted.

As he drew nearer to the dark mouth of one of the dead-ended alleyways, Qui-Gon reached to his belt and unfastened his lightsaber. Though a Jedi rarely, if ever, took an armed offense, the Master refused to risk his apprentice's life simply for the sake of the code. Holding the unlighted hilt in the palm of his hand, Qui-Gon slowed until he was just barely at a jog, drawing closer and closer to the obvious sounds of a struggle.

Just as he reached the edge of the dark alleyway, the sounds ceased and an eerie red light filtered through the murkiness. Reaching to ignite his own 'saber, Qui-Gon was halted at the familiar voice that then spoke: "Touch him again and you will pay with your lives."

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The pain had increased exponentially until he thought that there was no possible way he could bear it any longer. Even with the help of the Force, Obi-Wan was still in unbearable agony. Just when he thought his situation couldn't possibly get any worse, it began to get better. It was as if he had managed to disassociate completely from his own body, freeing his mind from the torture he should've been experiencing

As his vision began to fog and his tenuous grip on consciousness began to slip something changed. Fighting back the gripping claws of oblivion, Obi-Wan lifted his heavy lashes to focus on the vision before him. Though the film of blood over his eyes painted the world a hazy red, Obi-Wan was certain that the lightsaber he saw being held just over him was crimson in color. \But my Master doesn't have a crimson 'saber\ he thought wearily as he struggled to focus in on the face of his savior.

Just as his battle with unconsciousness failed, the name that went with the fierce face of his rescuer slipped past his bruised and swollen lips. "Xanatos…"