The brilliance of the light hurt his eyes.

Well that's good to know. I'm still sensitive to things. Maybe I'm not dead.

Obi Wan looked down at his frame.It was healthy …weird…. There was not a trace of blood marring his skin. No signs of torture or malnourishment. He reached up to touch his neck. Force! There wasn't even a trace of his old acne scars

He felt... different, somehow. Almost ethereal…

Awww geeez… I'm dead.

Well standing…er…floating?...ok…being here won't get me anywhere.

He tried to take a step forward. The light began to swirl around him and Obi Wan found himself drawn further into its embrace. The more he resisted, the stronger his compulsion to follow the light became.

But I don't want to go yet, he heard his mind shout. Somewhere deep down he knew it was impossible to go back from here. That same somewhere was telling him he couldn't stay where he was….wherever that actually was….

Turning his head, Obi Wan felt a wave of dizziness overwhelm him. When he was looking forwards, the light seemed warm and inviting, tempting him closer. However, when he tried to turn away from this direct path, the once peaceful light became a chaotic haze of colours. Trying to look at them brought a stabbing pain to his head, which only stopped once he had trained his eyes straight ahead again. Moving his legs any direction but forward felt like fighting against a current, one that threatened to sweep him off his feet at the first sign of weakness

I'm beginning to think forwards is the way to go….

Torn, Obi Wan struggled for what seemed like an age. Giving up living had seemed like a fine thing to do, when he was trapped in a hostile environment with no hope of rescue. But now, it just felt too final to give up and accept death. It scared him. Beyond that light, there was no Qui Gon to comfort him. Perhaps he could just stay in this limbo of lights, resisting the urge to be completely absorbed into the light, into the Force that connected all living things.

I know it's childish at a time like this… to try and argue with the Force… but I think I'd rather not. Yes. I really do think I'd prefer to stay where I am, thank-you very much. I don't want to become one with anything, let alone the universe. I like me. I like being alive. I'm not ready to die yet, so sorry, but no. I don't want to. So, I'll just stay here if you don't mind…

Not the normal conversation a teenage padawan tends to have very often. Then again, of late Obi Wan's life had been a tad unusual to say the least. He wasn't sure you could reason with the Force, but it was worth a shot….he hoped.

Obi wan jerked as the intensity of the light's pull rapidly increased, until was mentally straining just to remain stationary.

So that'd be a no…

It was a fight he was losing. It was like the universe had run out of patience waiting for the padawan to feel ready. Obi wan could no longer resist. He was mentally fatigued from the constant exertion and knew his time had come. Whatever was on the other side of that light wanted him there, and who was he to not oblige. But it would be on his terms.

Ok, if you want me so bad…I will come. But let me come on my own.

The disappearance of the pulling was so shocking he nearly stumbled backwards. The confusing swirl of colours had stopped, and in the distance he could see a small glow, acting like a beacon in the fog. He had given his word. Sure, it was to a spiritual, Living Force that liked technicolour, but it was still a promise.

Obi Wan slowly began walking towards the glow. A feeling of warmth spread through his body as he neared his goal. The closer he came, the more he realised it wasn't the idea of entering into harmony with the rest of the force that made him apprehensive, it was the fact that previously he was being coerced into that action.

Lost in thought, he hadn't realised the glow was so close. It was a pace away. A single golden orb hung mid-air in front of him, humming.

Humming? Oh, please don't say I'm about to be trapped in an afterlife musical. I always got given the role of a tree, or a boulder…except for that one time, when I played the 2nd townsperson in our annual younglings' play….

And with these noble thoughts running through his head, Obi Wan reached out his hand to touch the ball of light.

Then he heard something in the distance...

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Fools the lot of them! Why am I surrounded by incompetent imbeciles? Just goes to show, if you want something done right, do it yourself.

A cloaked figure stormed down the clinical white hallways of the base. His aggravated mood was betrayed by his purposeful stride, not to mention the trail of flickering lights he left in his wake. His innate ability to connect with strong emotions had always worked in his favour, his Sith powers strengthened by their intensity. However, as the light fittings began to shatter and walls buckle from the extreme force pulse radiated, he mentally cursed his wilfulness. Reining in his power was always difficult; it felt like stifling the one part of himself that had always belonged solely to him.

As he clenched his fist, the shimmer in the air began to dissipate and the lighting returned to normal. The alarm had sounded less that a minute before, but already he feared he was too late. If this Jedi should die before the Master's plan could come to fruition, he would be punished for the incompetence of others. That was not acceptable. He Force-pushed the prison doorway open and stretched out his senses to find the cause of the disturbance.

Panic, blood, the stagnant smell only looming death could bring; ah yes, he could almost taste it. The prison consisted of numerous floors of cells and holding rooms, with their entry points clustered around a vast centralised pit, but the radiating chaos made the Jedi's cell easy to locate. It was several floors down, but there was not a moment to lose. Darth Maul approached guard wall, and without a second glance, stepped out into the abyss.

With his cape fluttering, what would have been a fatal plunge transformed into a thing of beauty. His decent slowed and with barely a sound he landed on the correct platform. The smallest smirk appeared on his face, before quickly reverting to the impartial stone visage he had worked so hard to perfect.

His head jerked up. Something was wrong. A faint flicker of panic rushed through him and he rushed into the cell.

Dammit, I'm too late…..

The sight that met his eyes was almost pitiful. In the centre of the room the Jedi lay connected to countless machines that emitted an eerie constant beep. His head had rolled backwards and his eyes were shut.

Oh shit.

Various medical droids sat useless in the corner, some medics using them for cover, terrified of his wrath.

That's right you worthless pieces of shit, try and hide. Can't even keep one stupid Jedi breathing. Bunch of fucking useless cowards.

One medic was pushed in front by his fellows, trembling as he raised his eyes to met his master's.

"My lord, he just…..we couldn't save...we just lost him….p-p-please.. have mercy, I beg you…" His eyes dropped to the floor in submission.

Maul's eyes gleamed. "Did you say he just died?"

"Yes m'lord. Barely a minute before you entered…I'm sorr-"

"Shut up you snivelling coward"

"Yes m'lor-"

"SHUT UP" Maul bellowed.

Maul bent over Obi Wan's frail body and held his hand directly above the lifeless eyes. His brows narrowed and his lips pursed together in thought.

It could work… he's not that far gone yet. I've only ever heard of it being successfully done once before, but maybe… there's no time to call my master. If this is the course of action I am to take, then I must do it quickly……alright… I will try…

"Leave me" he commanded.

"B-b-but my lord, we must remove the dead body and…"

Maul raised a hand and gave a sharp gesture. The medic stopped mid-sentence, jerked and fell to the floor.

"There is your body, now LEAVE".

Maul could hear the scrabbling medics flee the room, but his eyes remained trained on the pale face of his Jedi.

His breathing became shallow as he reached out with his mind, searching for the traces of Obi Wan's spirit. If he was too late, if the soul of this Jedi had already passed through the initial stages of death, then there would be no hope of returning his spirit to the mortal realm. And if he went too far into the depths of the dead himself, then his spirit would also be lost. Currently it was only the Force strength of his body and the determination of his mind that anchored him to life.

Maul could feel the current urging him forwards, yet he had to make progress slowly or he risked losing himself. Although the bright lights seemed gentler in this version of death, it was nearly impossible to make out the path Obi Wan would have taken.

Maybe Jedi have a different afterlife to us Sith. I remember a different atmosphere last time I was here. …

Maul shuddered. The last time he was in death his master had been chasing him back from the brink after a particularly nasty training session had gone wrong.

…..the chaos, being sucked into death's cold embrace…I never knew it could be so…tranquil…It doesn't matter. I still need to find the Jedi.

Sapping more energy from his rapidly depleting reserves he sent out a pulse of pure Force energy.

He waited.

And waited.

There! He was there! A faint surge had returned to him. Wasting no time, Maul ignored the danger and plunged head first towards the weak beacon that was Obi Wan. The signal was so faded, that an icy terror crept into his mind. He had come so far, what if he lost the Jedi now? He shoved these thoughts away.

Obi Wan was on the threshold and about to cross over. As the bright light intensified, it appeared that Obi Wan was fading away, becoming one with the light that surrounded both Sith and Jedi. He was going to lose the Jedi, and without the strength a Force-strong Jedi could lend him, he now didn't have enough strength to return to his body. He was trapped in death.

"WAIT!"

Maul was nearly close enough to touch Obi Wan; just a little closer and he would be there. Obi Wan was facing the light that was slowly enveloping him, silhouetted by its glory.

The mind scream echoed, and for a brief moment Obi Wan turned his head. The Jedi stopped moving forwards. He felt a shift in the atmosphere, then the lights intensified ten fold and the familiar chaos returned, stinging Maul's eyes.

Just a little further…..

Suddenly pure white rays past by…..through…..Obi Wan, and directly into the unwary Maul.

Visions danced in Mauls head. Losing a tooth. His first day at the temple. When he broke his arm. His first kiss with a kitchen girl. When the other younglings were jealous he had been chosen as a padawan. His first mission off world. The first night he and Qui Gon spent together, trapped deep in enemy territory. Sleeping beside his lover on a cold night….

Maul shook his head.

What in the Force was that?

He was so close. He could do this. Maul reached out his hand to touch the Jedi, just as Obi Wan turned around. Their eyes met. Their souls brushed.

And then there was darkness.

……………..

Two pairs of eyes jerked open at the exact same time.

Obi Wan gasped for breath, as Maul stood over his limp body.

"You will never escape me, Jedi." He whispered, before walking out of the cell, closing the door with a flick of the switch.

He checked the corridors were empty, before sliding down the other side of the metal door, mentally and physically exhausted. He was allowed only a moment of rest before the familiar throb in his mind signalled a call from his master. Stifling a groan, Maul rose and composed himself. He would have some explaining to do.

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In a galaxy far, far away, there was a Jedi on his knees.

His reason to live was gone. The man had a constriction around his heart and it hurt. Sith, it hurt so much.

He had been in a trance for hours. A frog like creature stood, waiting beside him, just watching the warrior grieve for the love of his life.

Suddenly his head snapped up.

"ARWAH, yousa scaredy me" Jar Jar cried.

With a huge grin, Qui Gon rose to his feet. "He's back, I don't know how….but he's alive!"

"nowa we can goes to mesa city?"

If Obi Wan was alive and that meant he could still be rescued. The plan was back on. "Yes Jar Jar, there's no time to lose".

As he and his amphibious companion returned to their hike, Qui Gon looked up and sent a thank you into the heavens to whatever or whoever saved his beloved. His heart full of joy, he couldn't wait to do it in person.

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Authors note:

I'm so sorry for not updating in so long. Senior year was a nightmare for finding time for the things you love doing. Hopefully, I'll get the story moving again. Thanks for the people who added this story to their faves, you are what kicked me back into writing so THANK YOU.

Reviews let me know how much time I should spend on writing this story!!