LianneZ4 – The past gave me some trouble. Anakin was the obvious guide for the future because I knew I could play on Vader to bring some fear into Xanatos.
Scfilover – Yes, the path won't be easy though.
Chapter 5
Madness – that was the only explanation for what he was doing.
Fortunately, in his time as a padawan, Xanatos had become an expert at sneaking in and out of the Jedi Temple. He kept his cloak pulled tightly around him and his head bowed. Equally, he wrapped the Force around himself to conceal his presence. It would not do to have anyone know he was here.
Few paid him much attention as he wound his way through the Temple corridors. It was not unusual for a knight to keep to himself and even heavily shield, especially after a trying mission. Neither did he encounter any resistance in the creche levels. Many knights and masters chose to conceal their presences when visiting the younglings so as to avoid rumors about who might be choosing a padawan.
As he slipped down hallways and spied into the classrooms filled with younglings, Xanatos began to wonder if Obi-Wan Kenobi's quarters would actually be where he had seen them in his visions. Sure enough, he found the placard right where he had seen it would be. Unfortunately, no one was there. He paused for a moment before opening the door and stepping inside.
The room was no different than the quarters he remembered before Qui-Gon had taken him as a padawan. A small sleep couch, desk and chair furnished the small space. The only personal effects were a few starship models that hung from the ceiling.
"You're too late."
Xanatos turned at the sound of the small yet determined voice. A young Mon Calamari girl – the one from his vision – stood in the doorway.
"Obi is already gone."
She was trembling ever so slightly, tears pooling in large silver eyes. Her grief was evident as was her sweet, gentle spirit, something he had not sensed in his vision. Proof that he had found his heart again, it was breaking.
"Where has he gone to, Young One?"
"They sent him to Agri-Corps – on Bandomeer."
Xanatos let out a sigh. It came back to Bandomeer once again. He had thought perhaps he should just go there straight from Telos, but the Force had directed him to Coruscant instead.
"Tell me, has Initiate Kenobi turned 13 years old yet?"
"No, not yet," the child whispered.
"Then I am not too late."
"Are … are you going to take him as your padawan?" she asked hopefully.
"That's complicated," Xanatos replied. He wasn't ready to admit that he wasn't a Jedi Knight. "But I promise I will do all in my power to see that he is trained."
She smiled at him.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Bant – Bant Eerin."
Xanatos placed a hand on her shoulder and offered a smile of his own. "You are a good friend to him. Now why don't you run along. You will see him again."
She nodded before scampering out the door. Xanatos took another deep breath. Now he was committed. He had just made a lofty promise and one thing he kept was his word. The fallen Jedi dropped down to his knees to think about his next course of action and seek guidance from the Force. That's when he heard the tapping begin.
Xanatos checked his shields and found them intact. Damn – how had the troll found him?
The fallen Jedi waited until he sensed the master's immense presence fill the small room.
"How did you find me?"
"Hide from me you may, but hide from the Force you cannot, Xanatos," the ancient master offered. The gentle tone of voice troubled Xanatos. It was not the sort of greeting he had expected. "Told me it did that here you would come. Now only why remains."
"I am here because the Council has apparently gone mad by sending a promising young initiate off to Bandomeer of all places," Xanatos snapped. "One would wonder if you are trying to kill him off."
"What know you of initiate Kenobi?" Yoda asked pointedly. There was a hint of fierce protection in the aged master's voice.
"I have seen visions … of the past where I failed … of the present and the precipice of choices that are about to be made … and of a future filled with so much darkness I could barely breathe." Xanatos shuddered at the memory.
"Darkness you say?"
"The Sith are coming back," Xanatos whispered.
"A bold statement that is Young One."
"It is the only way I can explain what I felt – what I saw. And this boy, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is the only ray of light I saw in that darkness." Before Yoda could hamper his bold momentum with some Jedi platitude, Xanatos continued. "Which is why I will take the boy away from Agri-Corps and train him myself if I must."
"To Qui-Gon Jinn the task of training Obi-Wan should fall – the will of the Force that is." Yoda nodded his head, his ears drooping in a way that revealed weariness and worry. It was something Xanatos had never associated with the aged master. Then again, Qui-Gon's stubbornness could do that to someone. "Hope I do that this mission to Bandomeer will bring Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan together."
"And if it doesn't?" Xanatos challenged.
"Other choices for a master young Kenobi has."
"What?" Xanatos snapped angrily. He bit back a few choice curses. As much as he had anticipated this line of reasoning, he still felt as though he had been slapped.
"Knows that trained he must be the Council does …"
"You cannot play psychotic little mind games like that with a child! Did you ever stop to think of the hell he must be going through with feeling unwanted?"
It was something Xanatos remembered well from his own upbringing. It was desire for long sought out approval from his father that had prompted him to betray everything he had believed in and give up his soul.
"Accepts circumstances a Jedi …"
"Typical," Xanatos spat. "I will never understand how the Council expects children to act like Jedi Knights before they are even trained."
"Sensed I did that face danger Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan would – that draw them together it would." Yoda tapped at the floor with a toe, obviously agitated. "Changed that has ... though how I cannot see."
Xanatos let out a dry chuckle. "That's probably because of me."
"Sent to negotiate with a company named Offworld Qui-Gon was."
"I am Offworld," Xanatos said bluntly. "But it now seems the nature of my interest in Bandomeer has changed. No danger awaits them on Bandomeer."
"Then closed Qui-Gon's heart will remain," Yoda said sadly.
"Unless I can make him see reason."
Xanatos' course was now clearly marked in front of him. Qui-Gon expected to negotiate with Offworld, and Xanatos intended to keep that appointment.
"A difficult task the Force has given you," Yoda murmured.
"You could say that." Xanatos let out a weary chuckle. "All I have to do is convince someone who doesn't trust me and who lives for the moment that his actions in this moment are very important to the future."
"Convince him only of the Force you must," Yoda said gently, resting a clawed hand on Xanatos' arm. "Ignore the Force forever Qui-Gon Jinn cannot."
***
Xanatos hurried toward where he knew the meeting between Offworld and the Home Planet Mine would take place. He had just arrived on Bandomeer, but it was long enough to realize his operation was in chaos. There was much to consider, not least of which was the amount of explosives he had stockpiled on planet. They would need to be safely disposed of. There was also a myriad of situations that needed solutions and prompt action. It would all have to wait.
For one who usually prided himself on being prompt and being several steps ahead of everyone, making up a plan as he went along was more than distasteful. Xanatos paused outside the door of the meeting room. He sensed Qui-Gon and three others. The boy was not with them. There would also be time to discuss the boy later. He just needed to survive the next several minutes without incident.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Xanatos swept through the door. The shock from Qui-Gon instantly reverberated through the Force and mistrust from the others hovered over the room like storm clouds. He had at one time reveled in the effect he had on others.
"Xanatos," Qui-Gon said, vocalizing his shock.
"Forgive my tardiness." Xanatos extended his hands, palms up in the traditional Meerian greeting, trying not to make eye contact with Qui-Gon. "I am Xanatos Marojni, owner of Offworld Corporation."
More shock and more mistrust. Xanatos was not surprised in the least.
"Have you and Qui-Gon already been introduced?" SonTag, governor of Bandomeer, asked.
"You could say that," Xanatos offered. "Master Jinn raised and trained me until I betrayed him and left the Jedi Order several years ago."
That brought silence over the room and even more scrutiny from Qui-Gon. His old master was probably trying to discern what sort of game he was playing. Honesty, Xanatos had decided, was best.
"I will come right out and admit that as I have just arrived on Bandomeer, I am in no way prepared for this meeting. Is it possible to reschedule for tomorrow?"
"If the others have no objections?" SonTag voiced, glancing over to VeerTa and Clat'Ha, the representatives of the Home Planet Mine. The two ladies nodded in agreement. "We will reconvene same time tomorrow then."
"Thank you, ladies," Xanatos said, offering a polite nod of his head.
The three women filed out of the room, leaving Qui-Gon alone with Xanatos. He wished Qui-Gon would leave also and allow him to gather his thoughts but highly doubted that would happen. Xanatos ran a hand across his eyes.
"You seem troubled," Qui-Gon said in a neutral tone.
"The past few days have been interesting, to say the least," Xanatos murmured. How else could he describe it? "Where is the boy – the one you came to Bandomeer with?"
"He's none of your concern," the Jedi master responded cooly.
"I heard of the pirate attack. Is he safe? At least tell me that."
"Yes."
Xanatos allowed a sigh of relief as he sank down to one of the cushions that lined the small meeting room. "I should like to meet him. Would you object to evening meal at Offworld Headquarters?"
"I am not sure …"
"You are right to not to trust me – I completely understand," Xanatos conceded. "But there is much we need to discuss. If a meal is not acceptable, perhaps a meeting at a neutral location of your choice? In either case I will surrender my saber to you when you arrive."
Qui-Gon remained silent, obviously surprised and confused by his former apprentice's behavior. "I will consider your offer if you will be up front about your intentions for Bandomeer," the Jedi master finally said.
"You have no doubt researched Offworld and the many atrocities it has committed on this planet and others. I intend to rectify those. That's all."
"Why do you care?" Qui-Gon challenged coolly.
"The Force has recently gone to great lengths to remind me that I do indeed have a heart." Xanatos glanced up to where Qui-Gon continued to study him with narrowed eyes. Xanatos made no attempt to shield from his former master, knowing that Qui-Gon needed to sense his sincerity. "I know - a shock."
"Evening meal is acceptable."
"Wonderful," Xanatos beamed rising to his feet. "I will go see that preparations are made for you … and the boy."
"Why are you so interested in the boy?"
"He is important to the Force, Master Jinn," Xanatos said before quickly slipping out the door and leaving Qui-Gon to ponder those words.