A Fate Redone
Summary: What if Obi-Wan got a vision on Qui-Gon's death even before they were sent to Naboo? Follow the race against time as Obi-Wan tries to find a way to stop the future from happening.
Timeline: During TPM
Spoilers: If you haven't seen The Phantom Menace, I do not recommend you to read this fic. See the movie first unless you want to know things before you've seen it.
Ratings: T just in case. Lots of angst and lots of cuddly Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moments. Not as lovers, can't imagine that, but as a father and son.
I do not own Star Wars. I make no profit for writing this stuff; I do because I want to.
Just so you know, I haven't read many Star Wars books, only heard about them. I have a little background about Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon but expect I'll leave most of that stuff in the shadows so to speak. I may make some things up, so don't be angry on me for that. It follows the movie, mostly, but I will change some things.
Enjoy this fic. Centred on Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, mostly. Anakin is important as well.
-
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Talking into someone's mind"
/Speaking through bond/
Flashback
Visions
Chapter 6: The Fight for Survival, The Fight for our Loved Ones
Anakin woke up to the sounds of horns. He sat up, disoriented for a few minutes before everything flashed back to him. he scrambled up to his feet and looked around. Everyone was in motion, running or barking out orders. He saw Jar Jar prepare shields for his people a bit away; the Gungan looked haunted in the same way Obi-Wan looked sometimes. The boy whipped his head around, trying to find the two Jedis. Too many people and Gungan were around, so Anakin decided this way a good way to train one of the things Yoda wanted him to train. To reach out with his mind.
Anakin closed his eyes and emptied his mind. He imagined threads coming out from him, threads made by the Force, and searching for Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. He had to make a few attempts, and thought he would not succeed when suddenly he felt the Padawan's Force nudge his and his eyes flew open. He whipped his head around and saw Obi-wan coming towards him. The young man was smiling as he stopped.
"Seems you are quite like a Jedi", Obi-Wan said with tilted head.
"Not as good as you were", Anakin retorted.
"Ani", the man said and crunched down. "What I am about to tell you is something master Yoda once told me. Never compare yourself to others. That's very important. If you always compare yourself to someone else, you fail to see your own strength."
Qui-Gon looked on from afar as his apprentice talked to Anakin. The boy hung to every word that left the young man's lips and the Jedi master chuckled as Anakin reminded so much about Obi-Wan. Both of them were curious and fast learning. He had felt the tugging on his Force as Anakin had reached out and was impressed.
Obi-Wan finally stood up and Anakin grinned at the man before racing off. The Padawan walked back and the older man said:
"What made Anakin run like the universe was after him?"
"In hunt for breakfast", the apprentice replied and Qui-Gon laughed.
-
Padme watched the two Jedis as they made their way over the clearing. They would leave in a matter of minutes for Theed, the capital of Naboo and the place where the Federation was.
Qui-Gon was walking with a shield of calm and wisdom resting around him. Obi-Wan was radiating strength and hope. Her people seemed to gain confidence just seeing them. The young queen smiled as she saw Anakin run up to them with a smile. Even when the boy knew that he would never see some of the people ever again, he succeeded keeping a smile on his face. Remarkable.
-
All too soon they moved to head out. The Gungans went to the field they were going to meet with the droid army, and the humans got into their pods to get to the city. The two Jedis and Anakin rode with Padme and Panaka together with three others, including Sabé, the handmaiden that usually disguised as queen Amidala when needed. Obi-Wan kept his head bowed and Padme was wondering if he were asleep. That changed when Qui-Gon said to the Padawan:
"What can you feel?"
"They're preparing for battle", the younger man and looked up in the sky. "The Federation is sending out almost all their forces to meet the Gungans."
The queen looked at the apprentice with wide eyes. Qui-Gon quietly said:
"Your highness, sensing something as big as an army of droids is nothing for Obi-Wan. That was what we were hoping for that they would do, but will the Gungans be safe?"
"We can only hope", Padme said with a sad frown. "I've heard that they are strong, and they rely on us to destroy the control ship before anything bad happens. We are the one who must not let them down."
Obi-Wan put a hand to his forehead and said:
"Jar Jar…"
"A vision?" the older Jedi said.
"I truly hope not", Obi-Wan said.
"Why?" Anakin said.
"If it was a vision, then there is a big chance he will die."
Padme looked at the Padawan, who stared out on the plain with hard eyes. Qui-Gon squeezed his apprentice's arm and said:
"Jar Jar will be fine. You told him to be careful, and you know how much he likes to follow your orders. Has he broken one of them yet?"
"… No", Obi-Wan said softly. "He hasn't."
-
The city Theed was quiet. Only the occasional marching of droids broke the silence. The viceroy was sweating and continued to pace back and forth. The Sith, Darth Maul, was anxious as well. It had been days ago since they had any contact from Darth Sidious. The Dark Lord had not even given them any orders about what to do when the queen had landed, so they had taken matters in their own hands. Reluctantly though.
-
Padme ran silently through the streets of her beloved city, the Jedis, Anakin and several of her men not far from her. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were protecting the small boy in case they would be attacked. Yet so far, they had not been interrupted from their run. After a while, Anakin thought he would not be able to run anymore and was ready to collapse any second. Suddenly he was lifted up and he stared startled at Obi-Wan, who shifted the boy in his arms so that he would not feel uncomfortable. The Skywalker boy buried his head into Obi-Wan's robe, breathing deeply to memorize the smell of the Padawan. He knew that many could die this day. He knew Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon could die today. Padme could die. He did not want them to die. He liked them all. Qui-Gon was like a father he never had, Obi-Wan like the best big brother and Padme the nice big sister.
"Hopefully we won't die", Obi-Wan suddenly said to him and Anakin's head snapped up. "You thought too loudly little Ani."
"You never know", Anakin said and gripped the robe. "Anything can happen!"
"Yes", Obi-Wan said, "anything can happen. That's why you must look at it from every direction. We may die, we may be injured or we may live. To tell you, I hope it will be the last option since I have no big wish to die yet."
Anakin looked at the Padawan, who concentrated to look around. Finally they stopped and the boy was let down. He still gripped the robe tightly and Obi-Wan gently nudged him so that he would be protected from all directions. Padme softly spoke into a communicator and soon a fire was shot at the droids. She turned around and nodded. The Jedis drew their lightsabers and Obi-Wan was the first to attack. He made a back-flip and sliced right through three droids. Qui-Gon swirled around, destroying four machines with one delicate swing. They moved towards the palace, Anakin with a soldier who made sure no harm came to the child.
They got into the hanger and Padme screamed out orders. Qui-Gon quickly turned to Anakin and said:
"I need you to hide until it's safe."
"But…"
"Ani, listen to master!" Obi-Wan said as he finished off a droid. "Please, we don't want you to get hurt."
Anakin looked at the two of them and then ran off together with Artoo to obey the order. He ducked underneath shots and away from droids. He finally got to a small, forgotten ship that was of the same model off the others that the Naboo pilots got into. They were going to outer space to try destroy the control ship. Anakin got into the cockpit and hoped he would not get hit.
-
Obi-Wan sent two droidekas flying into the wall opposite him with a powerful Force thrust and looked around. The Naboo crew had gotten ridden off all the others and the area was quiet. Padme immediately directed them towards the fastest way to get into the palace. Anakin made a move to get out when Qui-Gon said:
"Stay where you are, Ani."
"But I want to help", the boy said.
Obi-Wan was the closest to the door while Padme and her people together with the arguing Qui-Gon and Anakin was still far back. He froze as he felt the Dark Force pouring out from the other side of the door, and quickly made a sign to make Padme stop. She complied, confused. He shrugged off his robe and the door slid open. There stood the Sith apprentice, Darth Maul.
-
Padme froze as she saw the man. Obi-Wan slowly turned around to face him and lightened his lightsaber. For a while the silence was deafening. Then the Dark Jedi attacked with his double-bladed lightsaber. Obi-Wan made a movement so fast no one could see and blocked the attack. The Sith looked surprised and Obi-wan pushed back.
"Your highness!" he called out. "Move on!"
"We'll take the long way", she said and quickly they moved.
Qui-Gon came slowly walking with lightsaber in his hand and Darth Maul looked at them both. He had not fought with the young one for many moments, but felt the Force was strong within him. he narrowed his eyes and decided to kill the Padawan first, and attacked yet again.
And yet again Obi-Wan blocked. Qui-Gon quickly attacked from the other side, and Maul jumped aside. He cursed underneath his breath and looked at them both. The older one had more experience, but the younger one had stealth. It would be a hard battle.
-
Anakin had no idea why the hell he had put on the engine to the ship; he was only aware he was in outer space and towards a place where battle raged. He had a helmet on and was slightly happy that Artoo was with him. He saw the battle from far away, blending in with the stars and gulped.
-
Sweat beaded down Obi-Wan's face as he fought the Sith. Qui-Gon had been thrown down from the ramp they were fighting on to another ramp. The said Jedi tried to get up to help his Padawan.
Maul was growing more and more frustrated with the Padawan; he always blocked the attacks, no matter where they came from. If he slashed out behind the man, Obi-Wan twisted around in unnatural speed and blocked it before delivering a powerful attack to the Sith. If he attacked from the sides, Obi-Wan's blue lightsaber always got there before his could do any damage.
Qui-Gon jumped up and attacked Maul, giving Obi-Wan some space to breathe out. The Padawan took it a lot easier as Qui-Gon almost took over fighting the Sith and began to form his plan. He could not allow the vision about his master's death come true.
-
Padme, Panaka and a troop of soldiers were working their way to the throne room, where the viceroy would be. Sabé and another troop were on their way though another path, where they most likely would not be interrupted. The queen was worried about many things as she ran down the hall; the look of horror crossing the young Padawan's face had made her breath hitch. Then the coldness that made Obi-Wan's eyes sparkle had made her heart beat faster in fear. As the robe fell to the ground and he took out his lightsaber, the young queen had realized that it could be the last time she would see the Padawan alive. When the door opened to reveal Darth Maul, her legs were trembling.
Padme closed her eyes for a brief second and then opened them again. As she had run away, she had tuned around and saw the apprentice and the Sith fighting with Qui-Gon slowly walking towards them. She had sent a silent prayer that she would be able to see Obi-Wan's smile again and hear Qui-Gon's soft laughter. She had only known them for a few weeks, but they had left a remarkable impression on her. She did not want them to die.
-
Anakin raced through the space, shooting down enemies whenever he could.
"This is far more interesting than podracing!" he exclaimed.
Artoo let out a long rant of furious beeps and Anakin said:
"Master Qui-Gon told me to stay in the cockpit, and I am in the cockpit! If he wanted me to stay in the cockpit on the ground, he should have told me so!"
-
Jar Jar looked helplessly on as droids lined them up to be led to the Federation and probably killed. So many Gungans laid dead on the ground. The clumsy Gungan himself were thinking off the Jedis and little Anakin. How he had promised Obi-Wan to be careful. How Anakin promised he would teach the Gungan to drive a pod. Seeing Qui-Gon's amused look as he had done yet another of his tongue tricks by the table. Jar Jar loved seeing the Padawan smile. It made him look so small and childlike. The Gungan had from the first moment he had seen Obi-Wan liked the young man. He would really miss the young Jedi.
-
Obi-Wan stumbled to his knees as a vision on death surged through him. Qui-Gon laid unable to move just a few metres away from them. Maul stepped up as Obi-Wan clutched his head in agony and said:
"The little Padawan can't even fight off a vision? Pathetic."
The young man slowly began to form a plan. What if he could push this feelings into the Sith? All the agony, fear and sorrow he had held during these days? One hit, and maybe the Sith will be so disoriented so Obi-Wan could get a chance to land a fatal blow.
Maul smirked, wanting to drag it out and said:
"How about we start? What do you want cut off from your apprentice first, Jedi?!"
Qui-Gon tried to get up, tried to do anything, and the Sith laughed. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and gathered each off his visions, dragging out the pain, sorrow, fear and agony from each of them. His Force suddenly became very shallow and both Sith and Jedi master looked at him; Sith in surprise while Jedi in alarm.
"Are you dying on me, little Jedi?" Maul said.
The Padawan needed the Sith to touch him, and decided to the most sure way. He let his body relax, all until it fell backwards and hit the metal floor. Qui-Gon's heart stopped and his breath hitched. What was his apprentice doing?!
Maul looked at him for a while, and then fisted his hands into the tunic.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he screamed to Obi-Wan's face.
The Padawan opened his eyes and slammed each of his palms on either side off Maul's temples and released all the pain and suffering along with heart-breaking sorrow and trembling agony into the Sith's mind and soul.
Maul was silent for a moment, blank eyes meeting Obi-Wan's and Qui-Gon wondered what was going on and did not notice he could move. Then the Sith started to shake. Obi-Wan held his hands steady, feeding the dark man feelings not even he could handle. Finally he screamed out loud but Obi-Wan did not lessen on his grip. Maul screamed out in agony, in pain and suffering, in fear and sorrow, and the Jedi master could hear the echo of Obi-Wan's voice in the Sith's and realized what his Padawan was doing.
Maul was desperate for something to stop it. He grabbed his lightsaber with a shaking hand, knew his time was in, knew he was going to die, but he would not go down quietly, he would not go down alone. With his last powers, he thrust in his lightsaber, glowing red, into Obi-Wan's abdomen.
-
Jar Jar cheered with the rest of the Gungans as the droids stopped functioning but could not help but feel that something was very wrong.
-
Anakin landed on the platforms inside the hanger again, and pilots came to cheer on him. They seemed even more impressed as they saw he was only a child, and cheered on him even more. They were all jumping in joy, and Anakin was hugged by everyone.
Suddenly they heard a scream, colder than ice, ripping through the air. They all froze. They all felt the surge of the Force coming from the generators in the lower levels and felt themselves almost being dragged with it. Whoever did this was stronger than Yoda. That was the only thought that ripped through the young Skywalker.
Then the Force died down in an instant, and was replaced by another scream, far worse than the first. A scream that made Anakin's heart stop:
"OBI-WAN!"
-
Panaka was shaking Padme's hand as they had forced the viceroy to surrender. Sabé and all the other handmaidens were jumping, cheering and smiling.
Suddenly the Force changed. Normal persons should not be able to feel the Force, but now they did and quite strongly they did. The Force was dragged towards the generators, as someone or something was dragging it towards them. Padme fought hard to keep herself on her feet as her eyes widened at the sheer power. This was the same as when Obi-Wan had screamed. All the Force and power had been dragged towards him.
Then they heard a scream. A scream that symbolized so many things; fear, sorrow, agony, pain and suffering. The young queen thought she heard a faint echo of Obi-Wan's voice inside that scream.
In an instant, the Force died down with the voice. Silence for a moment before they heard another scream, a cry from a person in so much fear, pain and sorrow, and a cry Padme had feared:
"OBI-WAN!"
-
A nightmare, it had to be a nightmare. Qui-Gon never realized he had gotten up until he kicked away the Sith's corpse from his apprentice, his Padawan, his child, and his child was not moving. He was not breathing, no heartbeat was heard and the Force had gone oddly quiet inside the young body. Qui-Gon took out the lightsaber from Obi-Wan, it should not have killed him, right? Obi-Wan could not be dead.
/O-Obi-Wan?/
No answer to his pleading, no teasing Force that tickled his mind or a feeble smile that lit up his heart. Nothing. Qui-Gon shook his Padawan's body and said:
"Wake up! Don't die on me!"
No answer. Qui-Gon was hardly aware he was crying, was hardly aware he was shaking, all he wanted to see was those eyes opening and that mouth forming that shy smile to him. That's all he wanted.
"Little one, wake up", he cried. "Wake up, my most precious, wake up my Obi-Wan."
He did not know how long he sat there, rocking the body and telling the Padawan to open his eyes.
Then he heard a faint heartbeat and straightened up from where his head had fallen down to Obi-Wan's chest.
Those wonderful blue-grey eyes were looking at him. His most beloved child's, or rather his only child's, eyes were open and looking at him. Alive.
"M-master?" Obi-Wan said feebly. "I-it's cold on the f-floor."
Qui-Gon could not find words. Hearing his Padawan speak, that soft voice, was the most wonderful things for the Jedi master at the moment. He quietly brought back their weapons with the Force and gently took away the stubborn string of blood on the corner of Obi-Wan's mouth with his thumb.
"Master?"
"It's alright", he got out. "You're alright, you did it, you defeated him."
How his Padawan succeeded he did not know, but Obi-Wan got up his arms and hugged his master tightly.
"In my vision", he spoke gently into the man's ear, "you died in the hands of Darth Maul not far from here. I refused to let that happen to my master."
Qui-Gon gripped Obi-Wan and said:
"You saved me then. Thank you."
The Jedi master got up, and held Obi-Wan close.
"You think you survive until we get to a sickroom?" the older man said.
"I almost died", Obi-Wan said. "You weren't there and it was dark and the Sith was there. I didn't like it, I knew that the darkness was meant for him and not me and if I had waited a little longer, the light would have come for me but I didn't want to… so I came back. I won't go there again for a long time."
Qui-Gon smiled and kissed Obi-Wan's forehead.
"I am so glad you are a stubborn person, little one."
-
Padme had met Anakin down in the hanger, in front of the door that the Jedis and Sith had disappeared into ad waited. Panaka had come as well, and many others stood around the place. The conversations were hushed. Anakin tried not to cry as he had tried reaching out for the Force earlier, and only found Qui-Gon's. Padme was holding the boy tightly and prayed that the young Jedi was alright.
The door started to slide open and everyone looked towards it. As it had fully opened, many people gasped.
Qui-Gon Jinn stood his ground, holding his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. Blood covered the younger man's tunic and dripped on the floor. His eyes were closed.
"Qui-Gon?" Padme said. "Is he--?"
She could not finish. Qui-Gon looked at her and then smiled. He looked down at Obi-Wan and said:
"Seems you gave someone more than me quite a scare, Obi."
To everyone's relief, and especially Anakin's and Padme's, Obi-wan opened his eyes and turned his head slowly.
"Sorry", he said with a weak smile.
Anakin ran forward and gripped the Padawan's hand tightly. Qui-Gon looked at Padme and said:
"He needs to get treatment pretty fast."
"I'll arrange that, come with me", she said.
-
All over Theed was talking, laughter and a big feast. There were dance and song and music for everyone, Naboo-people or Gungan; the differences were not so serious at the moment. The city's spirit had been lifted to float higher than the clouds. Even as night fell, the feast continued.
Not for a few people though. The queen had to inspect the city before interrogate the Federation. She had Panaka and Sabé with her all the way through the long night.
Soldiers, few as they were, were cleaning away the droids from the streets with a few Gungans helping them.
Anakin looked on all the spectacle from a window before turning to the single bed in the room. Obi-Wan had been first priority since the battles; his abdomen wound was not to take lightly on. Now he was resting with Qui-Gon by his side. Jar Jar had fallen asleep on a chair next to Anakin. The Skywalker got up and went to the bed.
"How is he?" he said to the older Jedi.
"Despite the circumstances, he's doing great", Qui-Gon said. "He should be allowed from bed in a few days."
"Was it scary to look?"
"What?"
"When you thought he was dead…" Anakin looked intently at Obi-Wan's face.
Qui-Gon was silent for a moment and said:
"Have you ever felt so sad that you think your heart will break any second?"
"Not that sad, but I've been close. Why?"
"Double it five times, and you will know how I felt", the older man said. "I was holding him and he wasn't breathing. I held my hand on his chest, and he had no heartbeat. I called on him through our link, and not even a shred of his Force answered me."
Anakin looked at Qui-Gon but his eyes were on Obi-Wan.
"Then I'm really happy Obi is alive", Anakin whispered. "Because I don't want to know how it feels to be that sad."
"I hope you will never feel that kind of sorrow."
The room fell silent, but not uncomfortable. The peoples' laughter's echoed through the streets, the voices created a lulling sound for the boy. He was vaguely aware that Obi-Wan's eyes fluttered opened for a moment and Qui-Gon's silent reassurance.
It was alright now. Everything was alright now.
-
Only the Epilogue left now! That one will be short.
Hope you guys have liked the story otherwise; I had a great time writing it, although slowly --;
Ja,
Tiro