.Two.

The presence of a Sith Holocron deep beneath the Jedi Temple was never far from Obi-Wan Kenobi's mind. It mocked him during his studies, invaded his dreams at night, and distracted him during his lightsaber training as well. At the age of seventeen, during his fourth year as an apprentice, he and a friend of his by the name of Bruck Chun, snuck away from their studies to try and get a look at it themselves.

Unlike Obi-Wan, Bruck was ambitious. He'd heard rumors of the dark power that emanated from the object, of how the thing would actually speak to you and call you by name; and that the Holocron contained the very essence of the Dark Side. If a Jedi could control it, there was no telling how powerful they could be!

Power wasn't what Obi-Was interested in. He was a student of the Light and an apprentice to one of the best swordsmen in the Order. Qui-Gon Jinn had already been disappointed by one of his apprentices. Obi-Wan refused to become the second.

All he wanted to do was look at the thing, to make sure it was safe from those who would use it for ill will, or even try and control it as his friend Bruck thought he could.

The problem was, he knew better. His Master had taught him well enough to understand that the Dark Side was a flattering temptress who whispered sweet nothings in your ear and called you to her like a lover, only to snag you with its menacing claws and torment you for the rest of your days. He was going to avoid such a dreadful end at all costs. Flirting with the Dark only resulted in madness or death.

Such was the case of his own Master's first student. Xanatos was a headstrong but powerful apprentice who ended up having to choose between loyalty to his father, a wealthy and corrupt politician, and the Jedi. In the end, the young man had chosen his father, who ended up attacking Qui-Gon.

According to the archived accounts (which Obi-Wan had read many times), his Master had no choice but to defend himself and Xanatos' father died. The man was a tyrant, a murderer, and a danger to his own people. Master Jinn had done what he had to and yet, his actions had driven his former student mad with hatred. Xanatos was determined to avenge his father's death.

Though the rogue Jedi had set out to kill his old Master, once he'd come face to face with Qui-Gon, he'd been unable to complete the task. Instead, the young man sacrificed his own life by flinging himself off a walkway and down into a pool of acid. Separated by some distance, Qui-Gon had been unable to stop him and had been suffering from guilt ever since.

Obi-Wan was doing everything he could to make up for Xanatos' failures. Tempting the Dark Side was not in his best interests.

And yet, the closer he drew to the secured location where the Holocron was kept, the more it seemed to lure him in. If he didn't know any better, he could've sworn someone had just said his name.

"Did you hear that?" he asked Bruck, who was more concerned with how to get past the Security Jedi on duty.

"I don't hear a thing except your bloody heart racing!" Bruck complained. "What are you so nervous about? We're not going to steal it or harm it! We're just going to take a look at it!"

All Jedi had talents that others did not. It was the way of the Light – to instill different qualities in its warriors in order to provide the most effective group of defense against evil. Bruck had the gift of creating a distraction and he used it at that moment to cast the sound of someone needing help, further back amongst the shadowy lines of columns that supported the massive Temple structure above.

"Now's our chance!" Bruck told Obi-Wan in a hoarse whisper once the guard had left his post.

He knew it was wrong. He knew he would be in so much trouble if his Master found out! And still, he followed his friend and entered the chamber that was now unguarded.

Bruck activated one of the green glowlights he kept in his utility pouch attached to his belt and they both gazed into the dimly lit space. Before them was a steep path of steps that led down into a pitch-black pit. The sight of it made Obi-Wan more nervous than he already was, and still, Bruck urged him on, although he didn't actually volunteer to head down first.

Tentatively, both young Jedi ascended deep into the bowels of the Temple, coming upon rows of what appeared to be tomb-like openings embedded within the surrounding walls. Stored inside every wide crevice was a historic artifact of some type. Each was inspected by the two, and after about half an hour, Bruck began to complain quite loudly that they were never going to find they came down here for.

And then suddenly it appeared, almost as if it knew they were about to give up. In the middle of the space further back in the dark was a pointed object that had begun to glow faintly. Obi-Wan approached first. It was a lot smaller than he had imagined. How could something so insignificant be considered so dangerous?

"Hurry!" Bruck announced suddenly, rushing forward in an effort to the Holocron from its stone perch. Obi-Wan stopped him with an arm slamming against the older boy's chest. That didn't stop Bruck from arguing.

"If we take it with us, we can take our time looking at it!" Bruck insisted although Obi-Wan would have nothing to do with that idea. He was too focused right now on the fact that the thing seemed to be moving, and the closer he got to it, the more animated it became until the entire tetrahedron lit up, vibrating upon its base, the dark gem inside beginning to put out a strange, eerie light.

Bruck froze in place while Obi-Wan continued to stretch his arm out. He wasn't going to take it, but he had to touch it. He had to touch it because it was telling him to.

Slowly but surely, the young man reached forward without fear, even when tendrils of amber light reached out to wrap around his fingers; and even after the whispers became more clear and his name was repeated.

Somewhere in the distance, his friend was telling him to run away, to leave the thing alone, but he had no choice now. A powerful command was urging him forward, speaking words he shouldn't be able to understand but surprisingly could.

"Woyunoks…owomu…di hadzusha. Osûjontû iswi kyusha…"

The tendrils of black and amber continued to twist around his fingers and work their way up to his hand. The glow of the internal component of the Holocron filled Obi-Wan's sight until all of a sudden the spell was broken. The tendrils retreated, the voice was silent, the lights went black and Obi-Wan's head hit the floor.

The young man awoke to the sound of murmurings just behind him. He recognized both voices immediately. One belonged to his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, and the other to the oldest and wisest of their Order, Grand Master Yoda.

He shouldn't have been eavesdropping but figured if they didn't wish for him to hear, then they shouldn't have been standing so close by!

Only after opening his eyes did Obi-Wan discover he wasn't in his bed after all. The growth of vines trailing amongst the lattice across the ceiling overhead fed by the sunlight streaming through the windows above that made him aware that he was in the Healer's Hall. How long he'd been there, he had no clue. Perhaps the conversation occurring nearby would help him figure things out and so the apprentice listened carefully, one word in particular, striking him like a bolt of electricity.

"Tainted," Master Yoda had just said.

Was the Wise One talking about him? Had Obi-Wan been tainted by Dark? How? He hadn't even touched the Holocron! Sure, he'd gotten close to it, but he hadn't been affected by it. He didn't feel any different. He wasn't suddenly wishing to go on a murderous rampage. What was Yoda talking about?

"Master?" Obi-Wan said, his voice coming out in a sheepish manner that he detested.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said with a sigh. "You're awake. I'm glad."

The softness of the striking blue eyes hovering over him provided Obi-Wan some relief. Perhaps things weren't as bad as he'd thought.

"How are you feeling?"

Obi-Wan performed a quick bodily self-check and then nodded his head confidently. He still possessed all his extremities and his mental faculties seemed adequate. He knew his full name, his Master's name, as well as his naming day, and where he lived, although he wasn't particularly sure why he was in the Healer's Hall. "I'm all right, Master," he reassured the older man. "What happened?"

The relief which had been momentarily revealed on his Master's face was quickly dissipating and in its place was a brewing a dangerous storm. The older man's brow had turned thunderous and his lip had curled. Obi-Wan hadn't seen such a look on Qui-Gon's face since he'd caught his apprentice kissing the princess of Bakura behind her father's throne. The scene had been completely innocent; he was only fourteen at the time, but his Master had been furious and had lectured Obi-Wan for hours afterward on the dangers of causing a civil war with a single misstep in diplomacy.

"What were you thinking?" Qui-Gon boomed above him. Master Yoda, usually more supportive and soft spoken was standing by, refusing to say a word. It appeared Obi-Wan was going to have to face his Master's wrath on his own.

"Allow me to alter that statement," the older man said, shaking his head in frustration, causing his long dark hair to whip around into his face which only frustrated him all the more. He spat out the stray strands and wiped the comical expression off his student's face in an instant by bending low to peer dangerously into his apprentice's face. "You deliberately disobeyed me, the council, and risked all your years of training! Your very place and position here! That infernal object is kept in the lowest levels of the Temple and guarded for a reason! We've talked about this!"

Obi-Wan listened to every word, though some were so loudly spoken they were hurting his ears. Only when his Master paused did Obi-Wan attempt to say anything in his defense.

"It called to me," he said so softly that Qui-Gon had to ask him to say the words again.

Obi-Wan repeated his claim which caught the attention of the oldest Master in the room. Yoda limped his way over to the bedside, his large green eyes revealing the utmost concern.

"Hear what, did you?" the ancient, raspy voice asked him.

Before he answered the Grand Master's question, Obi-Wan had something important to tell his Master.

"I've discovered my gift," he said simply; an announcement that would've brought joy to his Master at any other time. Perhaps he should've waited to reveal it until this unpleasant business had passed.

Qui-Gon stared down at him without a hint of encouragement or interest. He was obviously still livid regarding his student's rebellious act. Obi-Wan had no other choice but to blurt it out.

"Apparently, I have the ability to read and understand the ancient Sith language."

The information came as a shock to both Masters who glanced at one another with the evidence of their surprise in their expressions.

It was Master Yoda who finally spoke up. "How know you this?"

"Because," Obi-Wan answered him, excited about the discovery. "When I approached the Holocron, it began speaking to me. I shouldn't have been able to, but I understood every word, as well as the runes written on the pyramid itself!"

"You must've picked up the knowledge someplace else," Master Qui-Gon argued, defiantly crossing his arms as he towered over Obi-Wan's bed.

"The language of the ancient darkness, we do not speak here," the wizened Grand Master noted seriously, leaning forward on the curved handle of his walking stick. "This language, conjure up evil spells it can. Tell me, what say to you did it?"

Obi-Wan glanced out the window of the infirmary and saw that the sun was setting on Galactic City. He and Bruck had decided to sneak into the archives early that morning just after first meal. That meant he had been out of it all day long and honestly, the details of his interaction with the Holocron were beginning to fade.

"Something about embracing the darkness? That it was my destiny."

Never before had Obi-Wan seen Qui-Gon so despondent. One of the man's large hands flew to his mouth and he paced away in an aggravated manner only to return, this time his sharp gaze full of pained realization.

Suddenly, his and Bruck's escapade didn't seem like such a good idea. He should've listened to his heart and refused to go, even though the experience had revealed his Gift. However, the newfound and vital knowledge wasn't justifying the pained look on his Master's face.

"Yoda's right," Qui-Gon told him quietly, emotionally. "You've been touched by the Darkness, Obi-Wan. You'll never be the same."

He didn't understand and the young Jedi struggled to find an explanation in the lines of the Grand Master's face. This particular Jedi had been serving the Light for nearly eight hundred years. Surely, he wouldn't judge him as harshly as his own Master was! Qui-Gon had been rejected and humiliated before and was simply protecting his pride. That's all there was to it. Wasn't it?

"What does that mean?" Obi-Wan asked Master Yoda although Qui-Gon answered him instead.

"It means we must go before the Jedi High Council, Obi-Wan. Only they can decide your fate."

Notes:

"Woyunoks owomu di hädzusha. Osûjontû iswi kyusha." Come little one into the Darkness. Embrace your destiny.