Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had lovely time over Christmas and into the New Year. 2012! Wow I still remember when 2000 came around as though it were yesterday and suddenly 12 years have past. I feel very old :/

I'm very sorry for abandoning this for so long and not updating. The last three weeks of term last year were horrendous for me (so much work/deadlines/ drama etc) and I had no time to sleep let alone write. Then the family of course descended for the holidays and New Year so time was taken up there. But now before I return to Uni and more work I felt I must update! So here we are :D Thank you for everyone who reviewed, read and waited so patiently for this- my love to you all. And we've reached 100 reviews! Yay *little skip for joy* Thanks you guys! :D

Without further ado (disclaimer: I own nothing in Star Wars) here's the next and long awaited chapter!

Chapter 11- The Depths of the Mind

Parry, block, defend, move, parry, block, defend, move. Obi-Wan's world had condensed down to those few words as he battled against the fallen Jedi. It was not a battle; there was no way Obi-Wan could hold his own against a Master for more than a few minutes. He was on borrowed time. He could barely hold up against Qui-Gon when he and his Master sparred in the Temple. The red lightsaber taunted and teased as it flashed towards him increasingly faster and in more aggressive moves. Obi-Wan could feel the heat from the blade as it passed ever closer to him.

Twirling his lightsaber, Sony-Da easily blocked the Padawan's attacks. He had not been a Master with the lightsaber for nothing. His red saber crackled down on Obi-Wan's sending jolts up the younger man's arms as he desperately tried to keep his enemy at bay.

"You're weak, still weak," Sony-Da smirked as he battled, almost toying with his prey. Since he had left the Temple he had discovered so much more than what the precious Temple offered. The power that he had at his fingertips now was tenfold what he had originally. A hundredfold even! Now he could match the great Qui-Gon Jinn- perhaps even Master Yoda himself! The red saber gave him so much more power, so much more strength than he could have ever imagined.

"I'm not weak!" Obi-Wan shot back as he parried another taunting slash. Beads of sweat dotted his brow and slipped frustratingly down his cheek but he dared not to pause to wipe it away. His moves were getting sloppy and he knew Qui-Gon would be disapproving of his footwork but there was no time to think about that!

"Qui-Gon Jinn was not worthy to teach such potential," Sony-Da continued as though Obi-Wan had not spoken. "And he was disposed of."

Obi-Wan faltered, his body almost forgetting how to move as the words rang in his ears. A blur of hot, red light flashed towards him and by reflexes along he jumped, avoiding certain amputation of his legs as the red sabre arched down in a deadly wheel. Qui-Gon…gone…Master…please…MASTER!

"It's not true, you're lying! You have no proof," Obi-Wan managed to retort as he stumbled backwards, unable to defend himself as he felt his heart was about to stop. Qui-Gon could not be dead. Sony-Da was lying. He had lied before, Qui-Gon wasn't dead, Obi-Wan would have felt it. He hadn't said goodbye…he had failed his Master.

Sony-Da's lightsaber hummed by his side as he approached the young Padawan. "I do not lie Obi-Wan. This is one thing I am very truthful about. Your Master died as soon as I stepped out here. He watched you, you know, since you entered the warehouse. Sadly, you were too late to save him. Or yourself."

With that, Sony-Da unleashed a wave of Force energy that sent the padawan flying backwards along the catwalk. Obi-Wan had no time to dodge as the Force cried out a warning before he was slammed backwards, flying along the catwalk. Suddenly, he came to a jarring, agonisingly painful stop as he hit a metal support frame that held up the platform above. Immediately pain flared through his body as he impacted it, slumping to the floor as his muscles screamed their distress. Dizziness creeping in on his vision where his head had hit the metal stand, Obi-Wan fell forwards onto his knees, lightsaber deactivating and clattering away.

"He made you weak," Sony-Da snorted in contempt as he slowly advanced. "Qui-Gon failed a padawan before and you would have headed down exactly the same road as your predecessor. Your training has already suffered enough. Without me you will never be the Jedi you are capable of becoming!"

Sony-Da sneered as he looked down on the padawan on his knees in front of him. "You are a fool Obi-Wan Kenobi. A blind fool." He summoned Obi-Wan's lightsaber to his hand, activating it smoothly, considering the design for a few moments with a faint look of curiosity before his face hardened. The blue blade crackled down to rest beside the side of Obi-Wan's head. "And you will pay for that."

Obi-Wan raised his head slowly. "Qui-Gon is the only Master I need. You are blinded by the dark side," he managed, his ears still ringing. "You will never train me again." Obi-Wan could feel the heat from his own sabre on his cheek as his breathing quickened. He could not believe it had come to this. He was going to die at the hands of this madman- there was no way he was a Jedi- not even able to save his Master. If Obi-Wan died, who knew where to look for Qui-Gon? Or Qui-Gon's body even…But life without his Master- Obi-Wan didn't want any other Master.

He steeled himself, looking directly up at Sony-Da.

Qui-Gon could not breathe. His Padawan was fighting for his life and he, the Master, was helpless to defend his Padawan. It should be him Sony-Da was fighting, not Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan had many, many years ahead of him to train, develop, learn and become a far better Jedi than Qui-Gon. His heart was in his throat as he watched his apprentice barely deflect Sony-Da's lightsaber in time, barely avoid being amputated or killed…

Uselessly he tugged at his chains, barely able to move without the pain lancing through his body. -Do or do not- there is no try- the age-old saying came back to him as he slumped in his bonds. Trying to get out of the chains would not save Obi-Wan. Concentrate, he had to…concentrate. Even as his vision blurred at the edges with the strain on his body, Qui-Gon strained to reach the Force. He felt so disconnected without it, as though his insides had been ripped away and he was just a hollow shell.

"You are a fool Obi-Wan Kenobi. A blind fool." The menacing, final tone struck Qui-Gon's very soul and he looked up at the screen. There was Obi-Wan, kneeling on the ground, chest rising and falling so quickly he looked as though he was hyperventilating. Qui-Gon could see the calm however on his Padawan's face, the acceptance in his eyes.

No, Obi-Wan could not die. Not now. Not whilst Qui-Gon still had breath left in his body, he would defend his Padawan. He dug deep, deep into the reserves of energy he had left, sinking down through his mind to his very essence. There he would find the power; the Force could not desert him fully. With that thought firmly in his mind, Qui-Gon tugged hard, straining to reach the Force that whispered at his fingertips. The rocks were powerful Force inhibitors indeed but they did not totally rid him of the Force.

"And you will pay for that."

"Qui-Gon is the only Master I need. You are blinded by the dark side. You will never train me again." Obi-Wan's voice rang with that assurance even as he stared his death in the face, blue eyes shimmering with a hard steel Qui-Gon had never seen before.

With a cry of denial, torn from cracked lips and a battered body, Qui-Gon brought the Force to bear on his manacles, feeling them twist under the Force's grip, bending and flexing as he pried them apart. All of a sudden, the metal gave way and the Jedi Master's hands were freed.

No longer being held up, Qui-Gon collapsed to the floor, his legs unable to support him.

Qui-Gon had to be found. Even…even if it were only his body- Obi-Wan would not leave it here in this ruined, squalid, abandoned building far from Coruscant. Qui-Gon deserved more than that. Obi-Wan owed him more than that: and so dying was not an option for Obi-Wan. At least -not yet.

As Sony-Da began to move the blue blade, Obi-Wan threw himself to the other side, the sabre passing through the air where less than a second ago his neck had been. Not even pausing to breathe, Obi-Wan rolled to the side and pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the scream of his shoulder and summoned Sony-Da's red sabre to his hand, it flying from the fallen Jedi's belt where he had clipped it before attempting to behead Obi-Wan with the Padawan's lightsaber. The red blade ignited and Obi-Wan brought it up just in time to defend himself.

Sony-Da's eyes widened in brief confusion and fury as the Padawan escaped death and even had the audacity to snatch his lightsaber from him. Now it was blue against red, fallen Jedi against Jedi Padawan. Sony-Da smirked. If he wanted it this way…

Parrying defensively, for that was all he could do, Obi-Wan continued to back along the catwalk, relying heavily on the Force, using it as his ally- only ally in this fight; the red lightsaber feeling very different in his hands, unusual and heavier than his own hilt, more awkward to wield. Yet he had no choice as he continued to fight- his life ultimately depended on this evil weapon. Sparks flew as the lightsabers ricocheted off the metal and Obi-Wan ducked as Sony-Da's blue blade narrowly missed shaving a good portion of his head off. He could feel the heat as it swept over him and could feel the panic welling up.

"Are you frightened little padawan?" Sony-Da sneered as he easily kept the younger Jedi at bay. He knew Obi-Wan was on the defensive- the boy did not have time to draw breath to plan his offensive. It was easier than the blonde ex-Jedi had even thought it would be.

"No," Obi-Wan managed through gritted his teeth. He was not frightened- that was true. He had passed that stage long ago. It did him no good to be frightened. However he was desperate. Qui-Gon could be anywhere; he needed to get to his Master. Who knew what evil tortures Sony-Da had inflicted on Qui-Gon? And the more time that Obi-Wan fought with the blonde madman, the less time his Master had.

"I grow bored of your little tricks," Sony-Da growled as Obi-Wan continued to evade him. "You shall now see a Master at work."

In three quick moves, Sony-Da had completely knocked the fight out of Obi-Wan, sending the Padawan tumbling backwards as the red lightsaber fell from his hand, skittering away over the catwalk with a well-aimed kick from the former-Jedi.

Dazed, Obi-Wan looked around for the lightsaber, just in time to see it falling from the catwalk down into the depths of the warehouse below. Now weapon-less, Obi-Wan realised that his time was now up. He had delayed the inevitable for a time, but he was now out of options. He was leaning against the metal railings of the narrow catwalk. A brief glance over his shoulder showed the roiling, bubbling, liquid metal vats burning below. He shivered and turned to face the fallen Jedi.

"You are no match for me little Padawan," Sony-Da jeered. "Not even your Master was enough to stop me." He lunged towards Obi-Wan, arm outstretched, ready to wring the life from the boy who had taken everything from him. He had made him suffer, killed his Master and now it was finally the boy's turn to leave this world; leave knowing he had failed.

Obi-Wan had seen this move a few times before, had been brought down by this move a few times in the Temple. Just as Sony-Da's hand reached to close around his throat, he ducked down, damping down the pain in his body as he lashed out with one leg at Sony-Da's feet.

The look of shock passed over Sony-Da's face again as for a second time the Padawan outwitted him, knocking his legs out from under him. The blonde former Jedi stumbled backwards, arms flapping uselessly before he hit the metal railings a few feet away. Centre of balance completely lost, gravity taking over, Sony-Da began to topple backwards, body arching over the railing as he fell. For one infinitesimal second, his dark eyes caught Obi-Wan's.

"Feel proud Obi-Wan- for killing a fellow Jedi," Sony-Da hissed. "Murderer…"

"NO!" Obi-Wan realised what was happening. He couldn't kill him, not in this way…

In shock, Obi-Wan lunged forward in an attempt to grab the front of the former Jedi's robes and pull him back but his fingers closed around empty air as Sony-Da plunged off of the platform, releasing a terrible cry as he went. Unable to move, Obi-Wan was forced to watch as the twisting body of his once former lightsaber master fell away, down, down before he hit one of the enormous vats of boiling machinery oil and the agonizing scream was cut off. Obi-Wan closed his eyes in despair and horror, unable to watch the end.

Sony-Da was dead.

He hadn't meant to kill him.

He wasn't a murderer.

Murderer…

NO!

Unable to support his body, his legs collapsed beneath him and Obi-Wan crumpled into a heap at the edge of the platform, one hand still clutching at the railings as he leant his head against the metal as the maelstrom of thoughts blasted through his mind. He had killed a Master. He had killed a Jedi. He was unworthy. How could he call himself a Jedi? How could he ever become a knight when he had killed a fellow Jedi? He was the lowest…worst Jedi…

I killed him…I killed him… the thought made Obi-Wan supress a groan of despair. Now Qui-Gon definitely would not want him- not when his padawan was…tainted so. Obi-Wan's insides cringed and his body trembled as he shook violently. He would be cast out, unwanted, unloved.

And he deserved it.

There was one final thing that he needed to do first. One thing before he could finally put all to rest.

He needed to find Qui-Gon Jinn.

Obi-Wan felt his stomach rebel as he pushed himself off his knees. The world tilted violently to his left as he struggled to remain upright, sagging against the railing as he did so. Taking deep breaths, he was able to right himself, forcing the ground to remain stationary beneath his feet. A sharp pain radiated up through his side as he gingerly checked the wound. The lightsaber burn inflicted by the now dead Sony-Da had been a vicious sweep across the ribs and hurt like Sith.

He would not be weak. Not when he had to find his Master.

Where was Qui-Gon? Obi-Wan prayed to the Force that his Master was alright. Sony-Da might have lied- Qui-Gon could still be alive. The padawan had only felt a flicker and a shallow dream of the pain that had been inflicted on his Master at the hands of Sony-Da. The real torture must have been far worse. However, he could feel no bond- his mind was empty where once their bond had glowed. And here Obi-Wan was nearly crying over a small lightsaber burn.

He was pathetic. He had to be stronger than that. He had to be.

Carefully, Obi-Wan made his way along the platform, one hand still clutching the railings as he hobbled along, furious at his body's lack of response. He leaned against the railings, looking down at the rest of the plant spread out below him. There were other walkways, all crossing over each other, kept away from the vats of bubbling liquids beneath. His eyes swept the plant, looking for any sign of life, any movement that would indicate another presence.

That was when Obi-Wan spotted the figure. It was collapsed face down on a catwalk beneath him, a few hundred metres away, lying utterly still. Above them the great cooling fans rotated slowly in the gloom, sending large whooshes of air through the dingy plant as the blinking lights crackled above, flickering ominously. Water dripped from the metal railings above, accentuating the otherwise silent and empty power plant.

"No…no…Master?" Obi-Wan called frantically, leaning over the railings as far as he dared. "Master!"

Ignoring his own side injury and pounding head, Obi-Wan stumbled along the catwalk as fast as he could go, feet splashing through puddles, as he approached a flight of metal stairs and all but slithered down them before landing on the correct catwalk. Forcing his reluctant body to keep moving he dropped down ungracefully beside the motionless body that was indeed Qui-Gon Jinn.

Obi-Wan spotted the most obvious injuries first; a nasty gash on the side of his Master's head that was still oozing blood; his left arm was at an odd angle by his side- most definitely broken. Lacerations cut the top of his Master's tunic to near ribbons, the slashes still seeping, the red blood mixing with the water on the floor in swirling crimson patterns.

"Master! Master can you hear me?" Obi-Wan tapped the man's shoulders; anxiously awaiting a reaction, own heart in his throat as he pleaded silently for a response. Please, please, please… he thought desperately. He bent down, placing cheek near his Master's mouth. The smallest breath of air touched Obi-Wan's cheek and he sobbed in relief, dizzy with the roaring emotion, as he felt a thready pulse beneath his fingers. He was still alive.

Barely alive.

"Master, I have to get you out of here," Obi-Wan continued talking to the unconscious Master. He had to save Qui-Gon. After all his Master had done for him, Obi-Wan owed him this much. No- it wasn't his duty. Obi-Wan wanted desperately to save his Master. "I'll take…take you to the healers. It'll be fine, it'll be fine," the Padawan murmured, mainly trying to convince himself at the moment. Carefully, he began to roll the larger man onto his back, so he could better take care of the injuries, hissing and sucking in his own breath sharply as his side radiated unbelievable pain at the movement.

Qui-Gon's front was almost as damaged as his back. His forehead bore a shallow cut from his left eyebrow to right temple, sluggishly still pumping blood. Bruises and other shallow scrapes decorated the master's cheeks and the front of his tunic was as badly ripped and shredded as the back. Whip marks and electric pike burns, Obi-Wan noted with a frown of rage at the damage Sony-Da had inflicted on his Master. The agony must have been unbearable and Obi-Wan had barely felt a ripple of it.

He was ashamed of himself.

At the movement, Qui-Gon's eyes weakly fluttered and cracked open, slits of confused blue blearily trying to gauge the situation. "Wh…Obi…" the Master groaned in confusion as the pain hit him hard, making his body tremble and shake.

In an instant as their eyes met and Qui-Gon's hand touched his arm, Obi-Wan felt the bond flicker back into life, illuminating in his mind. However, Obi-Wan almost wished it had not. The pain that howled through their bond made nausea roll in his stomach and he fought for control. Qui-Gon's use of the Force control was almost non-existent and waves upon waves of pain crashed through into Obi-Wan's mind, almost overloading his own body.

Obi-Wan could almost feel the anger through the bond as well as the pain which flared in his mind. He barely supressed a flinch. He deserved it anyway, he realised numbly. "It's alright, I've got you, it's ok," Obi-Wan's voice nearly cracked as he assured his Master, moving so he was in the older Jedi's line of sight. "You're injured… badly, I'm going to stabilise you -get you out of here. Master!" he tapped Qui-Gon's cheek as the older Jedi's eyes began to close. "Stay awake? Please?"

"N-no…leave," Qui-Gon swallowed, his voice very quiet as his body shook with the pain as he raised his good arm to the younger Jedi's chest, intent on pushing him away, though he had not the strength to do it. He was going into shock, Obi-Wan thought in despair and alarm.

/ Please…Padawan…go…. /

"Not going to leave Master…," Obi-Wan ignored the order and tried to keep his voice steady, despite the enormous lump in his throat, threatening to choke him. "I'm going to save you. Master listen to me!" the command at the end came out more as a pleading sob than anything else. It didn't matter what Qui-Gon thought of him- just as long as lived. His Master had to live.

Qui-Gon shook his head, the movement was miniscule. "It's t-too late…Padawan…" His green eyes slowly slid shut as the hand tightened around Obi-Wan's tunic briefly before falling limply to the ground as the last breath escaped the Master's lungs.

/ I love…you…my padawan…/

I update and it's a very despressing chapter :/ Oh wells. It can only get better right? Actually knowing me and my love for hurt/comfort it probably won't. Poor Qui and Obi. But at least the wicked witch is dead! (You know what I mean) *rings bells* He's dead! Good news! Goooood news! (I went and saw Wicked the musical before Christmas)

Hope you liked the chapter and it made sense. My writing skills have become rusty with disuse :( I shall have to write more often to make sure they improve! Please review :D

AldabaranFox