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: Epilogue will be...soon. I had planned for Wednesday, but maybe I'll be kind and do it sooner.
Chosen
Volume Six
Into Ashes
Chapter X: Boiling Point
Another explosion sent bodies flying everywhere. The Clone trooper beside Anakin screamed and stumbled into him, blood pumping from severed arms. The Jedi Knight stepped nimbly over the corpse and sprinted for cover.
This battle was another disaster.
As Master Qui-Gon had feared, they had indeed walked into a trap. The overwhelming number of droid forces had them scattered and running for safety. The Dark Legion had booby traps and pitfalls set up to catch them as they tried to escape.
Things looked very bad for the forces of the Republic.
"Anakin!" Master Jinn's voice reached him over the blaster fire and the sounds of dying men.
"Here, Master!" Ani called, peeking up from behind the charred speeder he'd ducked behind. Next to him, a badly wounded Clone raised his blaster rifle to fire on the approaching droids, covering the General. His head exploded in a spray of blood.
Qui-Gon appeared out of the smoke. Dodging and blocking incoming bolts with his lightsaber. "This way!" he shouted as he ran past Anakin.
The young Knight took off after his Master, Clone troopers leapt to follow them.
x
In their base hidden far below the earth the servants of darkness watched the carnage on flickering view screens. As they listened to the ravaged cries of dying clones they knew all was in order.
"It's time, dear," Obi-Wan called to Aurelia.
"Must I go?" she pouted.
"Yes," Kenobi stroked her cheek. "You have work to do."
"I don't want to leave you," she wound her arms around him sinuously.
Obi-Wan kissed her fiercely. "Go now!" His order hammered at her mind and she stumbled off.
An escape ship waited to carry the scheming lady away from New Apsolon, back to Coruscant, to continue with their insidious plans.
"The Jedi approach, Lord," tiny Shaden called excitedly to Obi-Wan.
"I know."
x
They were surrounded. Destroyers picked off the Clones one by one. Qui-Gon and Anakin did what they could to secure an escape path for their remaining men. It was hopeless, though…
"Hold," Obi-Wan's voice brought a halt to the endless stream of laser fire. The Destroyers whirred into lock-down mode, humming with menace. The one time Jedi Knight strolled casually out from behind the line of stilled mechas.
"Obi-Wan," Master Qui-Gon started. He was not sure why he even bothered to try, but it was his last chance.
Anakin snarled and launched himself at Kenobi before anyone could react. "I will kill you!"
In his peripheral vision Qui-Gon saw motion and turned to see the Sith minion, Cormin, coming for him. He twisted away as the boy vaulted through the air towards him. Blades gleaming in each hand…
The nimble little fellow had been training with Obi-Wan and knew what to expect from the aged man now. Qui-Gon winced as the boy cut him across one shoulder. His arm went numb as the sharp blade scraped against bone.
Shaden came to land right beside him. "Not so fast are you, old man," the Sith chuckled and swept Qui-Gon's legs out from under him.
The big Jedi rolled away as he fell, despite the stinging pain of his sliced shoulder. He scrambled to his feet quickly, weapon at the ready.
"Don't make me kill you, son," he said evenly. Beyond Shaden he could see Anakin and Obi-Wan as they dueled. He would kill this boy if it meant he could save either of his Padawans.
The little Dark Lord saw his distracted look and went for the old man again.
x
"You are going to pay, Kenobi," Anakin growled as the two clashed, weapons screaming and hissing.
"Oh," Obi-Wan said calmly as he rolled inside and shoved Anakin backward with a wave of one hand. Force power sent Skywalker head over heels. His opponent flowed after him with deadly intent.
Anakin sprang to his feet with a surge of mechanized legs and met Obi-Wan's charge. Lightsaber darting out to stab.
Kenobi had to twist sideways or be impaled. The front of his chest was singed as it was. He snarled in pain and kicked at Skywalker's legs. The durasteel shins bit at him and he staggered away.
"Your handiwork," Anakin grinned viciously, pressing his attack then. The only time he would be ever be grateful to Obi-Wan for severing his natural appendages.
The two slashed and dodged beneath the flaring and sparking of their lightsabers…
x
"Come on, old man," Shaden hissed in Qui-Gon's ear. The vile little monkey had managed to disarm Master Jinn. Blood flowed down both Qui-Gon's arms. Now Cormin straddled the big Jedi's back. Choke hold around Qui-Gon's neck, legs wrapped around the Jedi's middle. "I was expecting more of a fight from you."
Qui-Gon relaxed and slumped forward, thinking to toss the kid over. Shaden was ready this time. His grip tightened and he rolled with the old man.
"Fool me once," the little villain giggled, squeezing tighter as they came to a jarring halt, still locked together. Qui-Gon was heavy atop him now, but Shaden stayed calm and increased the pressure with arms and legs. "Time to go night, night."
Qui-Gon sensed his peril and went limp, feigning unconsciousness. The Sith let go and began to wiggle free. Qui-Gon slammed an elbow into Shaden's face suddenly. The kid howled in pain as blood burst from his nose.
"You fucker!" he screamed, scrabbling away from Qui-Gon as the big man slowly got to his feet. "You broke my nose!"
The old Jedi paid him no mind as he looked about blearily for Anakin and Obi-Wan. Just as his head turned the two young men clashed for the final time…
x
Anakin's lightsaber plunged into Obi-Wan's chest with a hiss. Kenobi's Sith tainted eyes went wide. Skywalker made to stab him again, but he spun to one side and Ani's weapon missed. Kenobi's speeding blade whipped around…taking Skywalker's head.
Obi-Wan managed a rough chuckle of triumph before he too collapsed to the ground.
When the bodies fell, Qui-Gon and Shaden's battle became unimportant. Both rushed towards the pair of corpses, oblivious of each other.
Master Qui-Gon stood numbly looking down at the bodies. His dear Padawans, gone…this was all his fault…He heard a choked sob that was not his own and he turned slowly.
"You will pay for this," Shaden snarled before darting off. He would find his way back to Lord Sidious. They would destroy the Jedi and their precious Republic, he would take revenge for his dark brother!
The shattered Master knelt before his fallen apprentices' silently. There was a painful swell of emotion as he gazed at Ani's severed head, then to Obi-Wan's face, a ghastly rictus mortis frozen there forevermore…
When Qui-Gon rose, two lightsabers weighed down his inner pocket. This was all he had left of them now…
To Be Concluded...