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Full summary: Sequel to Immolated Destiny. As the Clone Wars rage around them, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi attempt to rebuild the broken bridges between them. But the Master's romantic entanglements with Anakin Skywalker continue to cloud his judgment...even when Obi-Wan's life is on the line.
Warnings: Slash, JA reference, drugs, and violence
Pairing(s): Qui-GonxAnakin (subdued GarenxObi)
Fic type: AU, romance
Bizarre speaks: -jumps up and fucking down.- LOOK HEY. LOOOOOOOK. The next Volume has a rating UP. UP TO MATURE. LISTENING TO ME? ARE YOU? VOLUME SIX, THE FINAL VOLUME WILL BE OUT FRIDAY WITH A MAAAAATUUUURE RATING. It's going to have baaad language, noncon, drugs, violence, and all around not niceness. If YOU DON'T WANT TO READ IT, DON'T. kthx.
Chosen
Volume Five
The Seeds of Darkness
Chapter VII: Splice
Master Qui-Gon briefed commander Cody on their plan for the attack that night. The next morning they moved out silently. The plan was simple. The Jedi would get in and disable the shields, then join the troopers in assailing the droid army and their human counterparts. Moving from plan to practical application was the tricky part. Anakin, at least, was confident of success. Almost recklessly so. He wanted a shot at the villainous maiden, Asajj Ventress!
They were met in the wee hours of the morning by the promised specialists. The hacker was a tiny dark haired woman and her compatriot, the security systems expert, a sturdy blue Twi'lek named Sorn. He and Obi-Wan exchanged a knowing look, indicating prior contact, but said nothing outright.
"Everyone ready?" Garen called to the assemblage. The squad leaders and Jedi nodded. The operation was officially under way.
Getting inside the complex was slow work. The Separatists had a makeshift command center and staging area set up below the soaring mountain peaks. The Jedi were charged with infiltrating so the specialists could deactivate the security systems.
Patrol droids and armed guards were everywhere. The Jedi were hard pressed to take out the rebel soldiers without giving away their presence. The number of security forces increased as they neared the control center.
Had the Jedi not been along it would have been next to impossible to penetrate the heavily guarded control vault. The support crew worked as stealthily as possible, but they were eventually detected. The Jedi had to fight furiously to cover the pair.
The hacker worked desperately to disable the alarms and soon got the blaring clarion wail to stop. She and the tech specialist then sliced into the perimeter screens and the base was wide open.
Anakin grinned at their success as he cut down the last of the patrol droids. His lightsaber a gleaming arc of blue destruction. With the defenses disabled the comm. expert keyed in a communications patch and called for the Clone troopers to move in. Then the wholesale battle began.
"Go!" Master Jinn instructed the techies to find cover. "We will hold them."
The massive Sorn refused, firing his blaster at droids and human guards alike. The little woman slipped behind them and made her way to the advancing line of Republic troops.
It was mere moments later when the dark Jedi appeared. She came vaulting from behind a line of her own forces to confront the Jedi.
"What have we here?" she hissed in evil delight.
Anakin started forward eagerly.
"Anakin!" the Master shouted for him to wait, but it was useless. The Padawan was sharply focused on his goal now. Redemption!
Qui-Gon watched in dismay as the apprentice closed with the deadly Sith. He almost missed blocking the blaster fire that came at him and had to yank his attention back to his own peril. He would just have to trust that Anakin could handle her.
Anakin Skywalker and Asajj Ventress clashed in a shower of sparks. They spun and leapt about each other. Strikes and parries so fast that it was nearly impossible to follow. Both were expert swordsmen and both filled with a passion to destroy the other.
The conflict raged around them unnoticed by either. Finally, a strident cry pierced the battle din. For a stunned moment there was silence. The rebel forces were staring in horror at the dueling ground.
Anakin stood there panting and exhausted, but alive. He carried a fresh burn across one eye and a feral grin of triumph. The dark Jedi was a smoldering corpse at his boots.
The droids continued to fight having no other commands to follow. The Clone troopers and their Jedi commanders took out the mechanical soldiers swiftly. Seeing their leader defeated the remaining Separatists surrendered.
Master Qui-Gon left Obi-Wan and Garen to see to the prisoners and went to check on Anakin.
"I got her," the Padawan said proudly. Then he collapsed into his Master's arms.
When he came to, he was on the ship, headed back to Coruscant. He cautiously touched the itching scar on his face.
"Leave it, Anakin," the Master's voice reached him then and he turned his head to see Qui-Gon sitting there. Though the old man regretted the blood now staining Ani's hands, he was very proud of his Padawan. It showed on his face.
"I really thought I'd dodged that," the youngster said with a grimace.
"You have earned that mark, Anakin," the Master smiled fondly. "Wear it with honor, my young Jedi." He knew the boy would not be his apprentice much longer.
He was right.
The Council summoned them shortly after they returned. Anakin was shocked. He'd not even considered Knighthood when he'd gone after Ventress. That was not his goal. Was it? The young man was torn by feelings of exhiliration, pride and dread.
Would he be forced to leave Qui-Gon's side now? Where would he be sent? What kind of assignments would he be given now? Would Obi-Wan still be his friend…?
These things mattered not.
He was a Jedi Knight!
Master Windu handed Qui-Gon a small knife with which to sever the Padawan's braid.
The aged Jedi Master felt some of the same thrill and dread as Anakin in that moment. He was very happy for the boy. But, he wasn't ready for Ani to go…
With the Council watching Qui-Gon sliced the braid.
To Be Continued...In Volume Six: Into Ashes