Here is the next chapter I hope you enjoy it, the final confrontation is but 2 chapters away. As always enjoy reading and review If you like
LD: I do not own Star Wars.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Star Wars AU))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
The shuttle flew one of the extensive forest of Serenno just outside the capital, it would be a while before they could carry out their plan so Qui Gon decided to meditate. Becoming one with the Force and letting it guide him into a deep meditation he found himself in peace with himself, ready for whatever destiny decided to throw at him. Suddenly he felt a Darksider's presence, being in an extracorporeal experience and in another realm of reality, he turned around confident that the Force would protect him and saw the figure of his former master approaching him.
"Master" He spoke wearily. The older man smiled a little, it wasn't the smile he'd seen when he was a padawan when he'd seen his master as a kind man and a father figure. This one was darker, much more evil, it certainly belonged to a sith.
"Qui Gon" the older man greeted casually, it was clear that the man had meaning for this meeting to happen.
"What do you want?" Qui Gon asked as collected his strength to control his feelings
"I come to you to make you an offer my old apprentice" Dooku spoke. "Surrender I wish not to harm you or your companions."
"For someone not looking to harm us, you sure put a lot of effort into doing so." Qui Gon replied, with a voice full of accusations.
"It was something I was ordered to by my master. I never wished for your death." Dooku explained like he'd explained many things when he taught Qui Gon something seemingly unaffected by his Padawan's tone. "But you were and still are standing between what my master wants and him."
"Your master?" Qui Gon asked. "The Sith Lord behind the Naboo Crisis."
Dooku nodded. "He is a very powerful and devious character."
"I figured." Qui Gon replied. "And what is it that she wants with me?"
"He wishes to turn your great Padawan into his new apprentice." Dooku replied. "He is very interested in young Skywalker."
Qui Gon froze. The Sith Lord was interested in Anakin? Had he come into contact with the boy without his knowing? No, Anakin had not been too far from the Jedi temple for the first few months and after that he'd been on missions with Qui Gon, it was impossible that he had met the Sith Lord without Qui Gon knowing not even during the mission in Naboo.
"I know you find this hard to believe, but my master is a very resourceful man and he's known of Anakin since even before you found him." Dooku continued. "You could say the boy is destined for greatness within the ranks of the Sith order."
"You surely are delusional if you think I will give you my Padawan." Qui Gon said.
"What is the life or destiny of one boy compared to the lives of you four even if he is the chosen one according to an ancient prophecy that might or might not be true." Dooku taunted.
"Even if he wasn't the chosen one he would still be my Padawan and I wouldn't abandon him." Qui Gon replied with a determined look on his face. "If you can't understand this then you are no longer the master I knew." Qui Gon said this with sadness. Dooku smiled bitterly at his former apprentice.
"Not even for her" Dooku said as an image of Sarah appeared. Qui Gon looked at his former master with a confused expression.
"What does her have to do with everything." He asked.
"This woman, you care for her." Dooku said. Qui Gon's eyes went wide. "It's still a small feeling but it's the same feeling you had long ago for Tahl."
"Don't bring Tahl into this!" Qui Gon shouted furiously, the memory of his former best friend, his first love still brought pain to his chest.
"Alright let's go back to the Captain. It is obvious that the she cares for you. And even though you won't recognize it yet you care for her in the samw way."
"The Jedi are forbidden to form attachments." Qui Gon replied as he reflected on the Count's words.
"It's an stupid rule and you too used to consider it as such." The Count said calmly. "Plus you wouldn't want her to die as well would you? I've seen what that kind of thing did to you in the past." Qui Gon wanted to reply something but it was clearly true that the Captain and him had bonded as with the time they passed together and that Qui Gon had entertained the idea of getting to know her once the mission was over. Was Dooku right? Could he be having feelings for this woman? He didn't really know
In that moment the image of Sarah came to his head and he was reminded of the concern she'd shown for everyone in the group and the sadness she'd felt for her deceased crew. No matter how he felt for the woman and how she felt about him, Sarah wouldn't forgive him if he abandoned Anakin for her sake.
"Captain Sunn is a member of the Judiciary forces of the Republic." Qui Gon said with his gaze hardening. "Her only concern is to bring you to justice, as it's mine."
"A pitty" Dooku replied in a mocking tone. "Then perhaps when you've lost her, when you've lost them all we'll talk again. Who knows perhaps you will be more receptive to a Sith's offers then." Dooku spoke although Qui Gon could see he did not mean it, both knew Qui Gon would never fall, even though he'd come pretty close when Tahl died he made a promise to himself and to her after that he would never give in to temptation.
Qui Gon awoke from his meditation trance and looked at Obi Wan. 'It's time' He told his former Padawan who nodded and proceeded to contact Siri.
Meanwhile on Dooku's palace the Count awoke from his own meditation. His encounter with Qui Gon in the other realm had not been intended, in fact he'd been pretty surprised, perhaps that's why he'd decided to use such petty tricks to see if his former apprentice would surrender and hadn't been surprised when Qui Gon rejected his offer.
The meeting hadn't been a complete failure though. Whatever reparations or worries the Count still had for the upcoming fight against his padawan were gone. For the first time since the mission started the Count saw Qui Gon as an enemy, a Jedi. And all jedi had to be eliminated.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Star Wars AU)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Siri maneuvered the freighter after receiving the message from Obi Wan until she was positioned it behind the shuttle. Obi Wan had told her they wanted the shuttle taken down, Qui Gon and Obi Wan would form a Force shield to prevent it from exploding when it crashed, but there was always the possiblity that if she used her laser the ship would explode middair. The only way to bring it down would be with an ion cannon. She looked at Ferus as the shuttle began trying to get away from the larger ship.
"We'll used the the ion cannon" Siri told him. Ferus nodded and activated said weapon which was located right under the cockpit of the freighter. Siri began to concentrate to lock on the shuttle. She would lie if she said that the enemy pilot, or rival pilot, was a bad flyer but with a shuttle like that his options of shaking the freighter away. Siri waited for the weapons to lock on the target and when thy did, shot the ship four times.
The Shuttle, like it was normal when a ship was hit by an ion cannon, didn't explode but losing all power began falling from the sky and losing altitude fast. Siri imagined the poor pilots trying to get the uncooperative ship to work. However as it was near the ground, the descent some slowed and the ship landed softly in a clearance of the forest surely lead by Qui Gon and Obi Wan. Siri followed.
"Go pick up two blasters, we are going in" She said as she landed near the downed shuttle. Ferus nodded and left. Siri headed for the entrance for the exit and opened the ship's doors just as Ferus returned with the blaster. "Set it to Stun. We don't want to kill them.
"Yes Master" Ferus said as he followed her outside the ship. None of the shuttle's occupants had exited the shuttle yet, but they didn't have to wait too much for that to happen. Two members of the security forces came out firing the blasters at both of them, both Siri and Ferus engaged them running for cover. The fight didn't last long and a few minutes later the two members of the security forces laid unconscious on the ground.
Siri made a signal to Ferus and young Padawan advanced covering his master as they looked into the shuttle. Ferus pointed his blaster at the pilots but both seemed unconscious, he guessed Master Jinn or Knight Kenobi had something to do with that. Siri checked on their fellow Jedi. Neither them nor Sarah seemed harmed although Obi Wan showed signs of having seen better days, his wounds seemed somewhat healed, he would require to rest a knight on the healing chambers Siri supposed and more importantly his Force presence was regular again
"Well I'm glad that worked out." She said as the group stood up.
"I had confidence you could pull it off." Qui Gon said smiling at the woman.
"More like only you and your barbaric methods could pull this off." Obi Wan teased as he looked at her blaster.
"That's enough" Qui Gon said in a tone he hadn't used with them in a long time, both knights smiled. Qui Gon motioned Sarah to come closer. "I believe you haven't been formally introduced, this is Sarah Sunn, Captain of the Ship "Hammer" of the Judiciary corps.
"Nice to meet you." Siri greeted smiling at the other woman. "I'm Jedi knight Siri Tachi."
"Nice to meet you too Knight Tachi." Sarah greeted her.
"Just Siri is fine." Siri replied, she didn't like to much being called by her rank.
"Then you can call me Sarah." Sarah replied and Siri nodded.
"Well then let me introduce you my Padawan" Siri began but Ferus wasn't really paying attention at the adults.
"It seems you are tough to kill Skywalker." Ferus spoke. "Tell me how did you mess things up this time?"
"Oh Why Ollin? It seems that our last confrontation wasn't enough" Anakin replied. "Perhaps I should send you to the healing wing again"
Kiara sighed, there they went again, Anakin and Ferus could not stand each other's guts and had made their life mission to compete with each other or provoke each other every time they met. And the worst part that they sometimes made her part of it and while Anakin was her best friend and she appreciated him, Ferus was also a friend to her and she didn't want any part in their stupid relation which was completely different with the sane competition encouraged in Padawans which was what Kiara shared with them.
"Guys, stop it." Kiara spoke trying. "We are all on the same boat here."
"He started it" Ferus and Anakin said pointing at each other.
"Well I'm ending it" Qui Gon interrupted. Both boys looked at the Master Jedi and all the adults who were looking at them with stern expressions. "We have a mission to accomplish and you two will have to colaborate. If you don't think you can tell me now and I'll leave you two in the ship when we go after the Count." He scolded. " Do you think you will be able to colaborate until this mission is over?"
"Yes Master" Both boys said in unison.
"Good" Qui Gon and then looked at the rest. "Let's go"