Chapter 2 – Ghost

How little it seems now to tell you of it. So much of such great significance that affected the people I love and the peoples of Naboo. In a few short pages, I have told you how the hero of a nation, the Jedi, came to die. In just a handful of pages I have written the doom of my love. These things destroyed Qui-Gon and I, put fear in the hearts of the resistance and it gave the enemy a victory. I ache to tell of these things, I grieve as I write because now he knows it all, Qui-Gon knows all of the lies I told. I have wounded his heart and his pride.

Qui-Gon had believed he knew me inside and out, he believed he could see behind the façade and knew Obi-Wan, not just one of my masks. Yet, he did not discern anything of my deceit, he perceived no falsehood from me as I told him about the Spider and so now he thinks he was wrong, that he did not know me at all. But it is in this that he is wrong; he did know me, and he did see through to the heart of me. He saw me as the man I am and I loved him truly for it and I pray for him that as time passes he will come to realise that, and although it still may not be enough to bring him back to me, I hope that it will bring him the same comfort in his bitterness as it does me in my loneliness.

I believe it best not to dwell on the pain I have inflicted upon both of us, it is entirely my own doing and if I allow it to swell up into my mind I do not think I'd have the strength to continue for the tears in my eyes.

The characters of this tale, Qui-Gon, MacLeane, Maul, Amidala, Travin, myself and the man who named himself Spider, were scattered by circumstance; we were so many with huge distances between us, so what then could have set us all on the same path that ultimately led us back together? Guess if you can. Imagine, what could have brought Qui-Gon back from his vengeful crusade to the province of Tatooine, what could have led Amidala to desert the safety of her haven in Coruscant and what could have led the Spider to finding his grave? Only the one thing could have been the catalyst for all this.

We all live in this story for one reason, our names only known to you because of a single link; the Jedi. News of a rescue, tales of a cloaked man, a story of a hero once more journeying into the country of the oppressed, yes it all began again in Tatooine with the Jedi doing what it was he had been created to do, what he was meant to do. Not fighting a war, leading a rebellion, protecting a Queen or sparring with the Spider. I think I forgot that, I'm not sure when, but when I awoke from my death I realised that the powerful vied for power, but the innocent suffered still and so the ghost of Jedi could not rest.

In Tatooine, what remained of the League was in trouble. The rebels had been discovered and were forced to retreat to the inhospitable desert of the province, they were in hiding; Guards, soldiers and even Palpatine's Liberators hunted them in the sandy dunes. It would not be a typical rescue for the Jedi, but in doing so the rumours I so desired would begin. I went to Tatooine, alone, and extended my legend to beyond the grave itself. Less than a month after my murder I was in Tatooine's waste lands and like a ghost I struck, silent and deadly and I brought my wrath with me and delivered my vengeance.

I found the camp of the roaming resistance and ragged remains of my once vibrant League. I watched from shadows as they raided government caravans and intercepted official messages. They fought with the soldiers in the towns and spread the seeds of doubt to the people, but these rebels, the ones I watched in that tireless week, were not the men and women I had once known; the spark of hope seemed to have deserted them, they lingered on, fighting their war because there was simply no other choice.

On the day the camp was attacked I had followed the soldiers from the city of Mos Espa in solitude. I trailed one of their parties as they split up into small groups so that they could surround and surprise the rebel base camp, a place of dwelling, not just to warrior, but of women and children also. It was a small town of tents and horses; it would be a slaughter. As dusk fell I used the night to approach the line of soldiers whose party I had followed. In silence I reached out to one of their number and alone in darkness he died by my hand with barely a struggle and with no discernable sound.

I disappeared back into the darkness, returning to the line of soldiers only to attack and deprive them of one more of their number. The body of the third was in my hands when a cry finally went up into the ambivalent skies. Fear now resided in the hearts of the men, so much so, the officers feared desertion. I allowed them to wait out the rest of the night, allowing their fears to mount. I allowed my shadow to flicker into their peripheral eye line, but would disappear as they turned to search for a physical form. As I played my game mummurs grew of a ghost that walked among them.

Dawn approached and in the sun's early light I struck again. Three more I killed, their blood forever on my hands, and in their wake five more deserted, to escape the angry murderous phantom. Those that remained shuffled forward, their fear now a living thing amongst them. The officers who commanded them could not quell their fears, nor their own. As the sun rose and the signal for the attack reached their ears, Palpatine's troops that had positioned themselves on the opposite side of the rebel camp attacked, never guessing what had transpired in the dead of night to their allies.

Instead of being trapped, surrounded by enemy soldiers, the rebels were able to flee through what remained of one part of the line and disappeared into the desert they had spent their lives in. The soldiers were left in their wake, bewildered and broken. When at last they returned to the small barracks on the outskirts of Mos Espa, they found a message scrawled across its wall in letters six feet high; the writing as black as the void of death. They stared at it mutely and those who had lived prayed in thanks and for mercy for they realised that they had escaped the hand of vengeance. They knelt in the streets and gazed upon the stone, the words forever burned into their minds, words that no one in Naboo will ever forget. The writing proclaimed: there is no death, only freedom.

News spread fast, whispers grew and rumour swept gradually, but determinedly across the country. When he heard of the events in Tatooine, Qui-Gon was in Theed still under the leadership of Count Dooku, but by then the stories of a masked hero saving the lives of rebels was weeks old. I wonder if Qui-Gon was surprised or perhaps he was so far into his grief he did not allow for hope. MacLeane, knowing my friend as well as I do, I am sure was a little surprised; he knew that I would strike, expected it even, however not so soon. He had thought I would allow the dust to settle over my grave before my mysterious return. Well I had waited, longer than my adventurous heart could bear, after all a month is too long to be without adventure.

Funny how, even now, I seem to be the Jedi within; I think like him still, but he is gone as is the need for him and all that remains is the ghost of a voice within my mind. And I think that a phantom of him still lingers within Qui-Gon's mind in the form of memories past when our love was newly started out and he joined in my game for the first time. The memories linger on as a reminder of a time of innocence, when we had love and trust and the daring to take on the world and hope to win. Dreams are a fickle thing, for we did win against the world, and yet it was not enough.

In many ways I was starting my quest a new, building anew legend, a new copycat hero who believed as the Jedi had. No one would know, or indeed guess, it was in fact the same man who wore the mask of justice and who risked his life. It was only those who had been truly close to the Jedi that would suspect that it was I, through some trick or restored from the grave to complete my deed, unable to rest in peace until the blood of innocents cease to be shed. There were also those, who had never truly believed the Jedi had left them. Despite all this, despite all the rumours and hearsay, the myth of the Jedi had been destroyed, broken by a sword blade in a distant prison. Few still clung to a thin hope, but for most the Jedi was gone, which is what I had intended.

Upon hearing the news of the new, masked devil, Qui-Gon informed Dooku that he was going to Mos Espa to determine if there was truth in what the peasants were saying. Qui-Gon did not give Dooku time to object and in truth I do not think Dooku could have. The Jedi and his League had been Qui-Gon's responsibility; it remained so, even in death. MacLeane had arrived in Theed in time to find Qui-Gon pacing. He, too, had heard the stories and he hoped to be in time to prevent Qui-Gon from doing anything foolish. If I could have, I would have told him he stood no chance of stopping Qui-Gon from whatever course of action he had chosen. Qui-Gon is a stubborn man, yes, I admit I am a stubborn man, too, which is why I could have told MacLeane to save his breath. The man never learnt; he worked with me for years and often tried to dissuade me. MacLeane is a good and loyal friend. He ever tried to protect me, and later Qui-Gon, also. He was never able to protect me from myself and it appeared he was doomed to the same fate with Qui-Gon.

"I take it you have heard," Qui-Gon said by way of greeting as his Lieutenant entered.

"The rescue, you mean?" MacLeane asked as casually as he dared.

"Of course."

"It happened in Tatooine," he said. "That is all I know."

"Is it really?" Qui-Gon sneered, not bothering to hide his sarcasm, nor his anger.

"Yes," MacLeane said quietly, but firmly. It was not a lie, not really; he did know nothing about my action at Mos Espa. "What are you suggesting?"

"I do not like being lied to, MacLeane. Do you know something?"

MacLeane is a far better man than I, and I have come to believe a braver man also. I have seen Qui-Gon angry, I would not want to face that, not as an ally at least. As an enemy anger always amused me, but that anger pointed at you by a man who is you friend is damn near terrifying.

"I swear to you, Qui-Gon, I know nothing of the events in Tatooine other than what I hear in the rumours." Again this was mostly true. I had not told MacLeane because I knew that he was finding it increasingly difficult to lie to Qui-Gon. He did know it really was the Jedi, but that was an old lie, buried deep within, ingrained by instinct; a lie he had been telling for years to protect his friend.

"It's not the League?"

"Not as far as I am aware."

"I'm going. I've told Dooku." Qui-Gon had relaxed slightly as MacLeane swore his ignorance, but although he was no longer angry he was still tense and on edge.

"Wha…?" MacLeane has a reputation of being unflappable, a quality I greatly admire and was one of the reasons he was chosen to infiltrate the NIA, but Qui-Gon's announcement did surprise him; the rescue had been weeks ago. "What do you hope to find?"

"What do you think?"

"That's why I am asking."

"The Jedi, the Spider," Qui-Gon shrugged. "Either."

"Is this a good idea?"

"Why shouldn't I go?" Qui-Gon demanded. "I was the Jedi hunter, I know more about him than anyone else and I am part of the investigation into the Spider. I should go."

MacLeane looked at Qui-Gon and saw beneath the layer of anger. Grief still remained in Qui-Gon, deep and raw and still bleeding. Qui-Gon was trying to convince himself of his duty, not his Lieutenant. If MacLeane had not been so loyal to me I think he would have broken at that moment and told Qui-Gon everything, anything to get rid of that look with those beautiful blue eyes.

"Very well," MacLeane said, some how managing to mask his own grief, not for my death, but for the end to a pure love. He knew that even after the fight was over the love Qui-Gon held for me would never be the same. He grieved for that love, he grieved for Qui-Gon and he grieved for me who had had no choice, but to give up the purest of love.

"I was not asking your permission."

MacLeane did not argue further, he did not have the heart to, nor was there any real reason why he should. When I first began implementing my plan to die I had told MacLeane that if Qui-Gon once again decided to gadabout the countryside in search of a shadow then he should let him. So, MacLeane helped Qui-Gon prepare for his journey and watched him leave the city. Deep within his heart he felt a sense of foreboding, it source he could not determine, but for whatever reason fear was stirred within him.

"Mace."

"MacLeane."

The two men met in the halls of the palace, although the centre of Palpatine's tyranny, meeting elsewhere would have been suspicious. Meeting in the halls of the palace offered a strange kind of security, especially with Maul away attending to the King's dirty work outside the country. With Palpatine's killer gone, the ever present danger was considerably less.

"Qui-Gon's gone to Mos Espa," MacLeane told Mace with no preamble.

"I heard." Mace looked amused.

"Follow him," MacLeane ordered. "Make sure he doesn't get into trouble.

"How much trouble could he get into?"

MacLeane's face was enough to ask the question, 'what, are you joking?' Mace decided not to push the other League member, he looked a little tense.

"And what will you be doing?"

"I'm going to find the Jedi."

"Good luck with that," Mace said, completely unsurprised to hear there leader was still alive. "He's in the city?"

MacLeane just smiled before leaving to let the Guard make his own arrangements. Before MacLeane had joined the NIA, he and Mace had been the closest of friends, but for their safety and for others they had to let their friendship fall by the way side. Guilt at what my friends and companions have had to give up gnaws at me often. I see their losses in their eyes. It had been along time since Mace and MacLeane had been friends, but Mace still could read his old friend and if he had not known I could take care pf myself that smile would have made him fear for my safety.

Qui-Gon and Mace were not the only ones to make the journey to Tatooine after the rumours of the Jedi reached them; in their wake came Count Dooku, who came believing that the Spider would appear where news of the ghostly Jedi emanate from and he refused to allowed the glory of catching such an illustriously murderer go to someone else. He had ambitions and he wanted the Spider for himself.

And yet another followed them; in Shadows and night the Spider crept, in step with Qui-Gon the entire journey. Just as Count Dooku thought he would, although his motives were not what Dooku believed. The Spider has heard the tales of the Jedi-esc adventure from Tatooine before Qui-Gon and so, as quickly as he was able, he sought out Lord Jinn and watched him; watched to see if any recognition flickered within his eyes. When Lord Jinn did finally hear the news, all the Spider saw and heard was genuine; Qui-Gon's actions were not those of a skilled actor. The Spider was not deceived by Qui-Gon, because there had been no deception; as I had intended.

I wonder now, as I recall this tale, if Qui-Gon knew of his stalker or if he even questioned his motivations for going, for deserting his new appointment. Investigating the undeniable echo of a Jedi rescue was surely reason enough for him to go, wasn't it? But why? Why did he go to a place that would taunt him of memories of his dead beloved. Did he hope that the Jedi still lived, as some hoped? Did he believe, as Dooku did, that a Jedi imitator would lure the Spider out? Was that his only purpose, to seek his revenge and bring justice upon a man he believed was a betrayer of the people as he had once believed of me?

I know Qui-Gon prided himself on his ability to read people, it was what had made him such a successful agent of the NIA, and being able to see beneath my masks he took particular pride it, but I am just as guilty as my beloved in my arrogance of assuming I knew what he did and why. Yet, after my death I am incapable of guessing his reasons and Macleane, as close as he had become to Qui-Gon, could offer no explanation either. Maybe, if anyone had asked my beloved, Qui-Gon, too, would have had no answer.

The Spider had waited, watching, wanting to see what Lord Jinn would do. There were questions that lingered, questions that hunted both of their minds; did the Jedi still live? Did Obi-Wan?

"Obi-Wan!"

"MacLeane," I greeted him, ignoring his obvious annoyance. To most, MacLeane is a dispassionate man. I, on the other hand, have found the opposite to be the case; I seem to have the knack of making him furious. "What brings you here?"

He had found me in one of the boltholes I had in Theed. It wouldn't have taken him long, even if he had checked everyone of them. Since my untimely death at the hands of the dreadful Spider and the subsequent distraction of the League, the number of places I had to hide in were significantly narrowed.

"Qui-Gon has gone to Mos Espa," he said, trying to ignore his anger as I had done. I do not think I helped him any with my complete lack of surprise.

"Good."

"I sent Mace to keep an eye on him." He was watching me carefully and I think he only told me about Mace to try and get a response out of me. We've played this game before, many times over the years, I always win; I cannot help my competitive nature.

"Even better."

We stood, staring at each other, his anger beginning to boil over and I as impassive as ever.

"Will you tell me nothing of your plans?" he finally asked, anger now touched with hints of desperation.

"In time, MacLeane." I allowed him the small comfort. "But for now I need you to go to Beli'ay."

"Coruscant?"

"Yes, indeed. You are to fetch Amidala and escort her wherever she wishes to go, preferably to the palace."

He drew in a deep breath, once again completely in control; he knew what this assignment meant.

"It has come to it then, at last?"

"Yes, I believe that it has."

He left quickly after that. I watched him go, wishing all the luck of the Jedi to go with him. He would need it, as would Amidala. Finally, after all our years of struggle, the beginning of the end was upon us. Ironic really, that my crusade had been leading to this and yet I would not been fighting with Amidala and the rebellion, I would be elsewhere, dealing with a different threat. Not Palpatine, for all his evil he was a visible target, no, my adversary was not tyranny, but deceit in the shadowy form of the Spider.

Across the ocean, in the lands of my birth, others were also hearing news of the Jedi; they heard and they waited. Travin waited for instructions from his master, the Spider, on what he should do next. My hope that doubt would delay his attempts of Amidala's life had paid off. Maul waited in Beli'ay, knowing that his king would demand answers soon, answers to the questions: who was the Jedi? And was he really dead? And finally, Amidala waited. She had heard the news and knew, with a shrewd political instinct, that time was closing in and that soon she, too, must make a journey, one into the dangerous territories of her homeland.