Chapter 12

Somewhere a clock is ticking

PRESENT

It was as if he had never existed. Before this moment he knew nothing.

However, at the same time, it felt as if he had been here throughout all existence. He was here, there, everywhere. He was the very ground he was walking on, he was the air he was breathing. He simply was.

It was intoxicating.

He could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. There were no limits. He was the limit. He was the force.

But there was one flaw.

"Master?"

"Yes?" Xanatos said looking up from a pile of papers he was signing. They were in a dark room with only the light of a single glow lamp to keep the darkness at bay.

"What would you have me do today?"

Maybe it was the way that Xanatos quirked up one side of his mouth arrogantly every time he asked him this question; maybe it was the way the man looked at him as if he owned him. But no matter what it was, he hated this man; very deeply.

As soon as he could, he would find the thread that connected them and he would severe it so completely that the vile man before him would beg for mercy as he, bit by bit, tore away at what the man held so dear: power.

That power then would be his. Then the entire universe would be his to rule. He could feel it. He was so close, yet so far.

"I want you to…" Xanatos paused dramatically. "Persuade some of my friends, show them who is really in charge."

He smirked. He knew his master's plan. It was foolish at best. Of course, with his special perspective, he knew these things. Xanatos had none of the abilities that he had. Because of this all his plans would fail. That and he would be doing his very best to thwart the other man's plan's himself.

"As you wish my master," he bowed.

Xanatos only smirked and waved him off.

Xanatos would regret the casual way in which he treated him. Once he figured out how to override whatever method of control Xanatos was using to keep him in line, then that man would pay.

…It's too horrible to imagine. Someone with that sort of power? Unthinkable! The havoc they would wreak would be insurmountable. They would be unstoppable. I only hope that I can stop that person. My dreams tell me that that is what I have to do. I only wonder what I will have to sacrifice in order to do it…

Qui-Gon shivered involuntarily as he read those lines. How could Obi-Wan ever hope to overcome someone with as much power as he was describing? Surely this was a task for someone much more experienced such as Master Yoda or Master Windu. What cruel intentions did the force have for his Obi-Wan?

"I don't think it's a good time to start doubting the force," Tahl said breaking into Qui-Gon's thoughts.

Qui-Gon turned to her as she took the book from him and closed it, setting it on the table in between them.

She took a deep breath as Qui-Gon leaned back into the couch and looked over to the window beside them. Outside, the evening traffic rush was beginning.

"I don't know what to do Tahl," he said, not looking at her.

She followed his gaze.

"We'll figure something out."

Qui-Gon turned sharply.

"What if we don't?"

Tahl looked to him angrily.

"Don't think that way," she scolded. "The force obviously has a plan," she said motioning to the book. "Maybe all we are supposed to do is be patient until there is something for us to do."

Qui-Gon was silent as he stood up and left the room.

Tahl shook her head as she watched his exit. He never was a man of many words.

"Chancellor Vallorum!" the shocked senator burst out as he rushed to stand up, knocking over a large stack of papers and spilling his drink all over his lap. "I didn't know you made personal visits!"

Said chancellor smirked in enjoyment of the scene before him.

"I might have let you know I was coming if I would have known my arrival would prove to be such a surprising prospect."

The senator chuckled nervously at the chancellor's attempt of setting him at ease before remembering to offer him a seat.

"W-what brings you here today chancellor?" the senator asked, his hands busily trying to recollect the displaced papers.

The chancellor gazed thoughtfully at the pictures around the room before addressing the senator.

"Word has come to me that you are working with a certain fallen Jedi," he looked into the eyes of the senator, letting the words hang in the air between them.

"No, I…how…you know…I would…never," the senator babbled.

"A certain Xanatos from Telos," the chancellor said.

The senator was thoughtful for a moment, having been caught in his denials.

"Ohhhhh him," he said faking innocence, "I assure you I had no knowledge-"

At this the chancellor raised his hand.

"I have no problem with that."

The senator raised his eyebrow.

"In fact, I highly approve."

The senator seemed to take a double take at the man's words.

"I don't see why you would…I mean…I don't want to work with the man," he looked around himself as if to reassure himself that he was still safe, "He had those two senators killed."

The chancellor leaned forward in interest.

"Really?"

The senator nodded, "He sent his apprentice, or whatever you call them," he said, "The boy was brutal." He shook his head, "I'm getting out now, I don't want any part in this, I assure you chancellor."

The chancellor chuckled.

"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong."

With that he let his guise drop.

"Who are you?!" the senator said bolting from his seat, "How did you-"

"Well, I would say I'm pretty brutal."

With that, the senator was thrown into the wall by an unseen hand.

"Please!" the senator screamed, "I'll do whatever he wants!"

"Too late."

Obi-Wan reached down and picked up the senator by the neck. The only sounds coming from the senator now were gasps.

"This is what Xanatos does to those who don't want to share."

Within minutes the man went limp.

"All too easy." he furrowed his brows, then quickly stuffed the dead senator under the large table. From the door, the body couldn't be seen. Then he took a seat and watched as the door opened.

"Senator?" a small aid asked peering in.

"Yes?"

"Is everything alright in here?" she asked walking into the room.

He stood up. "I was moving some boxes around," he motioned over to the stack of boxes by the door, "I just lost grip of one them."

Satisfied with the answer the aid smiled. "Next time, ask for help. We wouldn't want you hurt your back again."

"Sure thing" he replied as she left the room and closed the door behind her.

"All too easy," Obi-Wan muttered. He was now for all intents and purposes, the senator he had just disposed of. This power sure was useful. He would be having lots of fun with this.

Weeks passed on in silence. Nothing of note happened following the assassination of the two senators. It was as if Xanatos had gone into hiding, taking Obi-Wan with him. They were at a loss of where to go, what to do.

"Useless you are, if continue to stay here you do," Yoda said with finality.

"I have to find him," Qui-Gon protested resolutely.

"Qui-Gon," Mace Windu started. "You have no leads, no where to start. Xanatos has all but disappeared, your padawan as well. We are wasting the abilities of one of our best Jedi by letting you wallow about the Temple."

Qui-Gon's mouth closed firmly in a tight line.

"How long will you be this way? How long will you wait for something to come up?" Kai Audi Mundi added. "The boy is gone. You are no longer responsible for him or his actions."

Qui-Gon looked down. The anger beneath the seemingly calm exterior was beginning to come through.

"You would have me abandon the boy in his time of need?!" Qui-Gon shouted.

"Beyond you, this is," Yoda countered. "Require more than just you, to fix this, this problem does."

Qui-Gon shook his head.

"Qui-Gon!" Mace shouted. "Are you even listening?!"

Qui-Gon looked up. "I am listening, but that doesn't mean I agree."

Yoda hrumped.

"Though central you may be in the long run, needed right now, you are elsewhere."

Qui-Gon cocked his head to the side. "Master Yoda that is one thing that I whole heartedly agree with."

Yoda narrowed his eyes.

"I need to do this," Qui-Gon said, "If you cannot understand this, then I will do this without your help."

Yoda spoke quickly.

"If want this you truly do, then stop you I will not."

Mace turned sharply to Yoda angrily.

"Stop you WE will not" Yoda said looking at Mace pointedly, "Made up your mind you have, face the consequences you will."

Qui-Gon bowed and left without a word.

Once he was gone, Mace burst out.

"You're just going to let him go like that?"

"Stubborn he is," Yoda answered. "But right he is, in a way."

At this Mace raised his eyebrows.

"Help him we cannot," Yoda said, "Outside the walls of this temple, his journey lies."

Mace could only sigh and hope that once again, Yoda was and would be right.

"You are very wise to accept," Obi-Wan said.

The man before him lay quivering in the corner of the room. He was a pudgy man, wearing a suit coat that was a size or two too small for him. He was sweating like a pig too.

"A-any-th-thing, for Xa-Xan…him" the man stuttered.

Obi-Wan cocked his head to the side. "Tsk tsk, senator, you're making me think that you are too weak to possibly be of use."

At this the man's eyes bulged.

"N-No!" the man shouted, "I have the power to get those contracts!"

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.

"I know people in high places!"

"You and every senator in this building," Obi-Wan said boredly.

The senator was quiet. It was easy to see that he was frantically thinking of something that would stop his impending demise.

"I…I…I can get him his own planet!"

Obi-Wan looked thoughtful at that.

"A planet?"

The senator nodded vigorously.

Quicker than the man could blink, Obi-Wan had grabbed the man's hair and was in his face.

"You think I don't know that?" he whispered darkly. "Xanatos knows everything."

The man started shaking.

"You're pathetic you know," Obi-Wan said taking a step back from the man, "You must really know some high people to have gotten to where you are now."

The man looked affronted at this, but didn't say a word.

"Well, I need this planet right away," Obi-Wan said. "You on the other hand need a vacation. In fact I would say you need a very looooooong vacation."

The man gulped.

Obi-Wan smiled.

It was another sunset, the end of another day. Time had passed on as it always did. Obi-Wan was still out there. And he was still here at the temple. But that was all going to change. In the morning he would be leaving; a fresh start. He didn't know when he would be coming back, if ever, but he knew that this was what the force wanted. He could do nothing for Obi-Wan here. It was out in the world that he would help him.

Down below, he could see the crowded space lane and reflecting sunlight off the glass of the beautiful buildings around the temple. Unseen was the dark abyss below, down below the fast ships and shiny buildings, down below the rule of the law. That was where he was going.

Sighing, he looked away, and pulled the curtain over the window. Here in Obi-Wan's room, nothing looked amiss.

Sitting down on Obi-Wan's bed, Qui-Gon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Hopefully it wouldn't be long until Obi-Wan would be back in here throwing his tunics into the corner and not making his bed in the mornings. Qui-Gon smiled at the thought.

He missed the boy so much. He would do anything to get him back.

And that was just what he was going to do.

Standing up, he took one last glance around, and left the room. It wasn't going to be pleasant but it had to be done.

Grimly he walked into the bathroom, grabbed a pair of scissors and began to cut.

The only vestiges left of his life as a Jedi were the combat boots he wore. Gone were the tan robes and traditional tunic. Gone was the long brown hair and beard that set him apart from the others.

He now had short bristly hair, a clean face, and dark wardrobe that told those around him to stay away. He had to admit that losing the hair made him look years younger.

He shook his head. Here he was thinking about his looks, when his padawan was somewhere out there needing his help. He shook his head and regained the serious composed look he was known for.

He wasn't sure what he would be doing, or if it would even be approved of by the council if they were to ever find out, but he was going to do something, once he figured it all out. Hopefully he wouldn't lose himself in the process.