A/N: I just wanted to clarify a few things before I begin, just so the reader doesn't get lost from this point on in the story. This is where history begins to deviate from the original canon timeline. I'd like to think that I am fairly familiar with the surrounding lore, however, if I use a bit of information or fact about characters outside my story that aren't exactly correct please let me know as a review. I'll do more research and if it checks out, I will make the corrections. The best stories are accurate and give justice to the source material, and that's what I want mine to have. Also! I give very extra care for the small details, so keep an eye out for the small discrepancies from the main timeline and this one, they will make sense later on in the story! Thanks again to all of you who read, follow and favorite FRACTURED!you guys keep me writing! Enjoy!
Captain Panaka, Padme, and an entourage of guards stormed down into the chamber where the fated duel had taken place. "I'm sure they should have passed through here." Panaka exclaimed. Inspecting around, Padme noticed Obi-Wan starkly laying on the ground. "Obi-Wan?" Padme called out alarmingly. "I was not able to save him in time..." The words startled the young Padme as she turned to see Qui-Gon, eyes closed while resting on his knees once more in meditation. Padme returned her glance to the young Jedi, now noticing the cauterized cuts of a lightsaber. She dropped her blaster and covered her mouth in disbelief, "No…"
Captain Panaka seemed more interested in the still unconscious Maul, lying down with detached legs. "Is he…?" "He is still alive. Just unconscious." Qui-Gon said coldly. Panaka gave Jinn a condescending stare, "Wait, you let him live? Are you nuts!?" Panaka drew his blaster with the muzzle aimed down to the zabrak's forehead. "Stop." Qui-Gon interrupted. Panaka angrily shot his eyes back to the meditating Jedi, "I had the opportunity, why do you think I went for his legs and not his neck? I admit there was a moment where I wished to give in to that dark impulse, believe me. But then, where would we be? We would have no idea what his plans were or where he came from, let alone if there are more. Keeping him alive is not only the wisest course of action but the most peaceable, it is the will of the living force." Qui-Gon deeply exhaled as the captain growled and eventually slid the blaster back into its holster, "Fine. Guards, bring a stretcher and bind him."
Maul eventually regained consciousness. He was powerless. Who wouldn't be, having been chained to a stretcher with about 10 blasters trained on them? "Make sure he gets back to Coruscant in one piece…" Panaka scoffed, "… I doubt he'd want to lose anymore." The transport's rear gate closed, silencing the roars of the defeated Sith. The heavily armored transport ascended as it hovered then sped off into the sky. Captain Panaka returned to walking beside Qui-Gon Jinn and the daring child pilot, Anakin Skywalker. In front of them were the captured Viceroy, Nute Gunray and his right hand, Rune Haako. The neimoidians dawdled in shame among the cheers of the delighted citizens of Naboo's capital of Theed. They were soon greeted by the now supreme chancellor, Sheev Palpatine. He gave Qui-Gon and Anakin a warm smile of gratitude. Qui-Gon returned the gesture with one of his signature passive, half-smiles. Anakin carried the same annoyed face. Palpatine rested his hand on Anakin's shoulder in admiration, "Well done my boy! We will watch your career with great interest." After a few lingering seconds, Palpatine excused himself from the two to offer his praises to Queen Amidala.
Since the senate's casting vote of no confidence against the former Supreme Chancellor Valorum, initiated by Queen Padme Amidala and Sheev Palpatine, the position had become barren. It was the sympathies of the senate toward the prospective Palpatine that won him the position. With his home world nearly in shambles by the invasion, who couldn't be moved by his plea for justice? Besides, rumors had circulated for years against Valorum's corruption. His refusal to send aid to Naboo in its most desperate hour only validated those rumors. The galaxy was ready for a new, pure chancellor. All the pieces were in place. It was only a matter of time. There was, however, one loose end that needed tying up. One that could threaten the years of cautious planning. Fortunately, it had just left on its way to the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center in the Galactic City of Coruscant.
At morning, two days later, Qui-Gon took a deep breath and walked through the double doors into the circular room where all of the members of the Grand Jedi Council had awaited for him. "Hello, Qui-Gon. Hearing with the council, you have. Speak, old friend."
Jinn hesitated as he saw the same empty seat he had seen on his last few times before the grand council.
"Thank you, Master Yoda, we initially arrived on Naboo to liberate the capital from the trade federation's hands and we were confronted by the same Sith we encountered on Tatooine. Our battle was long and well fought but… My padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi did not survive." A silence took the room. "Kenobi was… a valiant Jedi. His sacrifice and honor will remain with us for all time." Master Ki-Adi-Mundi said consolingly. "I was able to capture the Sith alive. He is being held and interrogated currently in the Detention Center within the city. However, I was able learn two frightening truths myself, during our battle…" "And what are these 'truths' Qui-Gon?" Master Mace Windu asked, breaking the silence.
"Firstly, when Obi-Wan and I initially brought this Sith to your attention, I had mentioned that I believed we had encountered a Sith Lord." "Yes, and?" "I no longer believe he is a Lord of the Sith, but actually the apprentice to the Lord." Gasps filled room. "Apprentice, says you?" Master Yoda intervened, "What evidence, have you of this?" "Our battle revealed much about his nature, he was very easily provoked. His anger and rage burned fiercely. He had a clear opportunity to kill me but spent it reveling on his victory of our downfall, a novice mistake. Compared to the holocrons of data we have on the nature and actions of cold, tacticians of Sith Lords, he was more than lacking. There must be another who took him on as an apprentice."
"Sound, this logic is." "I agree… but it now opens a frightening reality, there is more than one Sith in the galaxy." Mundi said. "The rule of two. Live by this principle, the Sith do. A master to hold the power. An apprentice to crave it. The way of the Sith, this is." "Yes. But what could be their goal? Certainly not to recreate their Empire, right?" Another council member asked. "That is the second truth I had learned." Qui-Gon answered. "Just before he was going to strike me down, he had mentioned something, 'Your precious Republic is going to burn from inside out.'" "Wait, you couldn't possibly mean…" "A spy? In the senate?" Mace asked nervously. "I do not know. However, I also do not think he used these words with caution. He had already accepted victory. In his mind, he had already slain us, so there was no reason to lie or deceive a dead man." "Frightening, this revelation is… With great caution, we must proceed. Speak of this, to no one, you all must." Yoda ordered the Jedi. "And for you, old friend. A mission. Follow the clues. Lead you to the truth, they will."
"I accept. There is, however, another matter I wished to discuss with the council, Master Yoda." The master gave a puzzling hum. "I realize the counsel and I haven't always seen eye to eye on matters regarding the Force... I realize I am thought of as impulsive and unconventional but Anakin, the boy from Tatooine… He is the chosen one. Though not directly, my padawan gave his life so that the way could be made for this child to find his way to the Jedi. It is the will of the living force. I will train the boy, with or without the council's consent…" "Our approval, you have. Trained in the ways of the force, the boy will be."
Even Qui-Gon was taken aback by the words. "I don't know what to say… Thank you for seeing to reason." Jinn gave them a respectful bow.
"Wait, Qui-Gon. Trained, will the boy be. However, not by you." He immediately brought his head back up from the bow, "Wait what? I do not understand. Why wouldn't I train the boy?" "Qui-Gon please, you have just lost your own padawan. The council doesn't think it wise to just give you another so soon. Especially not in a case such as Anakin's. Remember, he is very late in age, he will be much more cumbersome to train than other younglings his age. Besides, this mission we have assigned you takes top priority. You will not have the time to train the boy." "But I must! No one understand the midi-chlorians as I do. I have studied them, if there is anyone qualified to train Anakin, it must be me." "Our decision is final." Mace interjected. "The boy is in good hands, don't worry." "And in whose hands would that be?"
"In mine, evidently." Qui-Gon turned, surprised to see the familiar face walking through the dual doors, "Master Dooku?"