I don't own Star Wars.

"Of all the completely irresponsible, reckless, stupid things you could have done, this really takes the cake!"

"It wasn't my fault. You said to secure the gem!" Anakin protested.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath, releasing his frustration into the force. "I figured that giving all those briefings about the horrible things that happened to those who tough it, you would know not to touch it!"

"We seem to be fine, my former master."

"Just because we're not injured or dead it does not mean we're fine! We don't know where we are, for Force sake!"

Anakin looked around. "We seem to be on some kind of ship."

"Thank you, the clouds outside the windows didn't tell me that."

Anakin rolled his eyes, and lit his lightsaber.

"Why don't we just figure out where we are so we can get back to Coruscant."

"Why don't you tell us who you are instead?" The two Jedi leaped around.

Obi-Wan's breath caught in his throat.

Anakin leapt forward, snarling, aiming his lightsaber at the throat of the man. "How dare you impersonate a dead man!"

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan cried, reaching out to block the knight's lightsaber with his own.

Qui-Gon Jinn raised his eyebrows at the pair.

"Care to explain?"

"Why don't you explain first?" Obi-Wan said, fighting to keep his breathing even. "Why are you impersonating the late Qui-Gon Jinn? Is Dooku paying you? Is a third party? It couldn't possible be the Jedi."

The fake Qui-Gon snorted. "Is it really fair for you to be accusing me of impersonating someone when you're the ones who snuck onto my ship? I don't want to appear impatient, but if you don't tell me who you are right now I'm afraid I'll have to kill you."

Kill? More proof this was an imposter. Qui-Gon would never kill under any circumstance except self-defense or absolute necessity.

"Master." Anakin whispered. "His eyes..."

Obi-Wan's eyes flickered up to meet the man's own, and he stumbled back.

His eyes were pure yellow.

"You're a... Sith!" he exclaimed.

"Yes." Qui-Gon smirked. "And who might you be?"

Before Obi-Wan could think of an answer, he felt a deep, dark, intrusive presence in his mind, tearing past his shields and ripping its way through his memories.

He fell to his knees, and beside him, could sense Anakin doing the same, clutching his head in agony.

Finally, the pressure ceased.

"Oh my." Qui-Gon said in a shocked voice. "Not what I was expecting. You two certainly will be useful."

Someone came up behind him and Anakin, and as the world went dark Obi-Wan cursed himself for not paying better attention to his surroundings.

The Sith Qui-Gon was waiting for them when they woke up.

Anakin, it appeared, had woken up before Obi-Wan, and judging my the marks on his wrists, had already tested the bindings.

After making sure Obi-Wan was alright, Anakin turned to glare at the Sith.

"Okay, I want to know who you are and what the kriff is going on here!" The boy exclaimed.

The Sith chuckled. "It seems you had no more luck in controlling Anakin than I did, Obi-Wan."

The Jedi stiffened. they had not told the Sith their names.

"How did you-" Anakin started before being cut off by the Sith.

"The better question is, what should I do with you. If you could turn, then you would be extremely useful, but it seems many have tried and failed to do that. Right now, I am going to ease your nervousness and explain the situation to you."

Obi-Wan sat forward.

"It appears the two of you have come from a timeline where I die and you, Obi-Wan, train Anakin. This changes the whole future of our two realities. You see, in this world, Obi-Wan left the Jedi order when Anakin became my apprentice. A year later, Anakin ran away, seemingly to join him, according to the short note he left behind for his Master, being me, who was worried sick for him. Eventually the Clone War came around all the same, and my Former Master extended me a generous offer which I saw no reason to refuse, seeing as the Jedi were what drove my two Padawans away, and the Republic is clearly incompetent. For many years now I have been attempting to capture Obi-Wan and Anakin and get them to join us, so imagine my surprise when I bumped into the two of you. Future versions of the people I was trying to find, from a different timeline."

Anakin gaped in shock. "Why should we believe you? Sith are not to be trusted!"

Obi-Wan sat quietly, until asking: "What do you plan to do with us?"

Twisted Qui-Gon looked thoughtful. "I don't plan to keep you here forever. In fact, once I find your young counterparts, I plan to let you go. Until then, you will help me find them."

"And if we refuse?"

"Then I kill you, quite simply. I could find them without you. but you will speed the process along. But you have no reason not to accept my offer. What happens in this reality will not affect what happens in yours."

Anakin was about to argue, but Obi-Wan interrupted. "Fine."

Anakin stared at him in shock.

Qui-Gon smiled. "Wonderful. Pleasure doing business with you. I'll leave you to... talk."

He opened the door, and left.

I'm sure there are listening devices. Talk through the bond. Obi-Wan said.

MASTER, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING! WE CAN'T DO THIS!

Obi-Wan winced. Anakin spoke again, more quietly.

This is wrong. The young us clearly don't want to be found, and for good reason. This Qui-Gon is evil!

I know. But I can sense the Force has a reason for us to be here. I don't plan to give younger us to Qui-Gon and Dooku. That magic gem you touched is said to give help to those who need it, given that they deserve it. There are some theories that it sends people to help those in need. When you touched it, it sent you and anyone nearby, being me, to help those who needed it. Apparently that also includes people in alternate realities. If this is the case, then the sooner we help young us in this reality, it will move us on to the next, until we've helped everyone and can go home.

But how many people do we have to help before the Force thinks it's enough.

I don't know but we must trust the Force to bring us back when it is time. For now, we should get some sleep. Who knows what we'll encounter during the search for our younger selves.

So if we do find them, we won't give them to the Separatists?

Of course not. But lets cross that bridge when we come to it.