Disclaimer: We don't own Star Wars.

Full summary: Sequel to The Seeds of Darkness. In Chosen's finale: the Clone War is no longer about Republic and Separatists. For the Jedi it has become a battle of Light and Dark. Yet it is also the impromptu front for Anakin's soul, Qui-Gon's heart, and Obi-Wan's sanity. The end is nigh.

Warnings: Slash, JA reference, drugs, noncon, and violence

Pairing(s): Qui-GonxAnakin, GarenxObi-Wan, Obi-WanxQui-Gon

Fic type: AU, romance

Bizarre speaks: Friday, February 17th. Thursday, February 23. Friday, February 24th.

Chosen
Volume Six
Into Ashes
Chapter VIII: Secondary Impact

Master Qui-Gon returned without fanfare or reception. He quietly left the ship to the refit crew and started out of the dark hangar. He hoped to reach his apartment unseen. Anakin sensed his arrival, however, and came running.

"Master!" the young Jedi Knight cried, so relieved to see the old man alive. He'd feared the worst. "Are you alright?" He embraced Qui-Gon fondly.

"Yes, Anakin," the big fellow said, gently disengaging from the youth.

Skywalker gave him a long look. The Master was not alright…

"Glad to see you I am, Qui-Gon," Master Yoda's high squeaky voice reached them then.

"Master," Qui-Gon would not meet Yoda's piercing gaze.

"Found Obi-Wan you did," Yoda shook his head sadly. The Force still wept around old Qui-Gon. "Difficult this meeting was."

"Yes, Master," Qui-Gon whispered.

Anakin glanced between the grim elders. What did they know? "Master?" he asked tentatively.

"Time Master Jinn needs now, young Skywalker," Yoda hobbled over to take Anakin's sleeve. "With me you will come and in peace leave him."

Ani gave Qui-Gon a pitiful look but nodded in compliance. "Yes, Master Yoda."

Qui-Gon turned on his heel and left then, without another word.

"Master," Anakin began as Yoda led him from the hangar.

"Hold your questions you must, Skywalker," Yoda said not unkindly. His tone implied no further discussion, however.

"Yes, Master."

The Council chambers were solemn. Many of the Masters sensed Qui-Gon's torment, though they knew not the details. Yoda would say nothing of his trial. The elderly Jedi now stood before them. Ready at last to report, though some guessed his hard news.

"Obi-Wan has joined the Sith." Qui-Gon's pain was palpable.

There was silence. What did this mean? Palpatine's chosen a Dark Lord…

"The boy, Shaden, was with them as well." Qui-Gon had seen the Sith youngling, though Cormin had been trying to hide from the old man.

"Tragic this is," Master Yoda said sadly. Young souls lost…

"With Dooku's backing Grievous has amassed an army of battle droids, Destroyers," Qui-Gon informed them of what he'd seen. "I suspect the Sith are planning a major offensive."

"Grave news, Master Jinn," Mace Windu rubbed at his temples. Things were already going badly. More and more systems were in open rebellion. The Clone troops spread thin and the Jedi greatly diminished. Now the Separatist movement had even more support, more droid forces at their disposal. The dark hand of the Sith was closing tightly to crush the Republic.

"Grateful we are, Qui-Gon, for your…sacrifice," Yoda said sincerely. The old fellow had suffered greatly. Yoda feared Jinn might be broken beyond repair. "Go you may, old friend, rest now."

Anakin was waiting outside the Council halls for him.

"That was fast," he said lightly. His debriefings seemed to take forever, the Masters grilling him on every detail.

Qui-Gon made no reply. He wouldn't even look at Anakin. The two of them walked on in silence for a time. Ani wasn't sure what to do, what to say. Something heavy hung over Master Qui-Gon.

At the bottom of the grand stairs they ran across Garen Muln. The Jedi Knight looked at Qui-Gon with a pained expression.

"He's not coming back is he?"

"No, Garen," Master Jinn said quietly. "I am sorry, he is lost."

Garen shook his head angrily then looked at Anakin. He growled something under his breath and fled.

"What?" Anakin asked, though he knew very well that it was Obi-Wan's descent into darkness they were talking about. He'd known since Mustafar that Kenobi had turned, but no one would listen to him. He just didn't understand his place in all this. What had he ever done to Obi-Wan? He glanced at Qui-Gon in question.

"He cares for Obi-Wan deeply, Anakin," was the Master's reply.

"I know," the youngster sighed. It was hard to see someone you loved in trouble. Like Qui-Gon obviously was. "Tell me what happened, Master," he urged gently. Perhaps if Qui-Gon shared his pain Ani could bear some of it for him. "What happened with Obi-Wan?"

Qui-Gon cringed visibly. "It does not concern you, little one."

"Stop calling me that!" Anakin had enough of this. "I am not a Padawan, not a child anymore, Qui-Gon," he grabbed the big man's shoulders and forced the elder to face him. "I am a Jedi Knight! The 'Chosen One', destined to bring justice to the galaxy, remember!" He was shouting now and passers by stopped to gawk. "You yourself named me thus. Now give me a chance to decided what concerns me or not!"

The Master stood there silently, a startled look on his face. Another powerful apprentice had hold of him, wanted something terrible from him…

Anakin let go quickly, feeling Qui-Gon's dread waft over him. "Master," he started miserably. "I'm--I'm sorry."

Qui-Gon simply walked off, leaving the abashed Knight staring after him helplessly.

x

"Kenobi is hopeless," Grievous grumbled. Since letting that old Jedi fart go, the one time Knight had been in an uncontrollable state. He was often found in a drugged haze, brutalizing poor little Shaden. The cyborg General had no patience for such weakness. "We are better off without him."

"Obi-Wan has valuable insights into the Republic's strategy, Grievous," Count Dooku pointed out.

"Bah!" a mechanical arm gestured fiercely. "We don't need inside intelligence to defeat their copycat soldiers," he rumbled. "Our abundance of droid forces will grind them to dust." It was true. Their numbers grew daily while the Clone troopers took a long time to grow. Certainly longer than it took to kill them.

"Have you no faith in my plans, Grievous?" Lord Sidious spoke very quietly.

The cyborg's labored breath quickened in fear. "No, Master," he stammered hastily. "I meant no such thing."

"Good," Sidious said mildly. "I would hate to have to replace you."

"Of course, Master," Grievous bowed his heavy head and was silent.

"Kenobi will do as I command," the Dark Lord assured them. "When I command." He wasn't worried about Obi-Wan's degenerating mental health. The crazier the man became, the better. His plans called for it, in fact. Kenobi must be pushed to the very limits. Ready for release from his torment…

x

Obi-Wan howled in climax. Shaden was white knuckled in pain, gripping the headrest. The man was an animal.

"Aaargh!" the youth screamed. "Stop, please!"

Kenobi pushed off him with a grunt. "Shut up," he snarled shoving the kid over. "You love it."

Cormin curled into a ball moaning. A small cough sounded at the doorway. Both Sith servants turned to see their Dark Master standing there.

"Master," Obi-Wan bowed, grinning. Blood stained his loins…

"Do you really think that is a productive use of your energies?" Sidious asked pleasantly.

"Is there something else you would have me do, Master?" Obi-Wan smirked. "Or someone else."

Sidious gave him a cold stare. "Get out," the Dark Lord gestured to the cowering boy.

Shaden jumped up, wincing at his sore backside. "Yes, Master," he stammered. Grabbing his clothes he slipped past them, casting a tacit glance at Obi-Wan.

"The time is at hand, Kenobi," Lord Sidious informed his servant plainly.

Obi-Wan's smile was a terrible thing to behold.

His evil Master laughed.

To Be Continued...