Jedi Temple, Coruscant - Core Worlds
Dim orange light shone through the window blinds as the Coruscanti sun dipped beneath the horizon. In their quarters, the six younglings clambered into their beds at the end of yet another long day, tired and ready for sleep.
Jarik is sitting up in his bed, his back against the wall, the covers pulled up to his chin, staring forward aimlessly with a nervous expression on his face. As she moves over to her own bed, Rylla notices the boy and stops beside his bed in concern.
"Are you okay?" the girl asks.
"Mm hmm," Jarik meekly nods in reply.
Rylla frowns with a worried look on her face.
"If nightmares scare you maybe we could get a dream catcher," she suggests. "My planet had them."
"Really?" he asks, glancing at her.
"Yeah!" she nods.
She climbs into her own bed while Jarik ponders the idea.
"Maybe Master Irris could get one," Ahsoka says thoughtfully.
"That'd be nice," Jarik replies.
Ahsoka climbs into bed as well when Weron cupped his hands to his mouth.
"Good night everyone!" he yells.
"Good night!" Kurhran shouts back.
The rest of the younglings cringe at the sudden loudness, while the pair giggle to themselves—though not everyone is as amused.
"Shh, I'm trying to sleep!" Vifi growls at them.
They ignore her and continue whispering to themselves, but they don't yell again. The lights turn off, darkening the room. Ahsoka glances over to see Jarik lay back down in his own bed and offers him a tiny wave.
"Good night, Jari," she whispers.
"Good night, Soka," he whispers back.
Eventually even Weron and Kurhran's whispered chattering fades as they succumb to sleep, though Jarik's eyes remain open as he stares at the ceiling with the covers pulled up to his chin.
Despite the reassurances he's received from Ahsoka, Master Qui-Gon, and a few others, Jarik can't shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that something is going to go wrong. It just doesn't make sense; how can Master Qui-Gon be so calm after Jarik told him about the nightmare he had about him? How is he not afraid of the Shadow after everything it's done?
Maybe it's just because Master Jinn is such a great Jedi. That's gotta be it, right? A Jedi like him doesn't need to fear someone like the Shadow, no matter how scary he is.
At least, that's what he hopes.
Things will happen as the Force wills it. You must learn to trust it.
He can almost hear Master Jinn's voice in his head, repeating something that he told him once before. The words bring him some measure of comfort, but still he doesn't fully understand: how can he learn to trust the Force if he can't see it?
With these questions in mind, Jarik rolls onto his side and tries to drift off into an uneasy slumber.
Plasma Refinery Complex, Theed - Naboo
The fighting is intense as Jedi and Sith duel with all of their skill and power, seeking desperately to overcome the other. Their sabers clash together, illuminating the massive complex with sudden flashes of light in contrast to the consistent light of the buildings plasma beams.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fought together with such unity that most other Master and Apprentice duos could only dream of doing. While Qui-Gon maintains both solid offense and defense, Obi-Wan maintains a consistent defense while occasionally throwing a feint maneuver to try and throw their opponent off balance.
Despite their skills, however, the Sith assassin was proving to be more than capable of matching them both, defending himself any attack and lashing out with his own retaliatory strikes to put the Jedi on the defensive. As Qui-Gon lifts his saber to deflect an incoming blow, Darth Maul kicks his foot out and scores a brutal hit to Obi-Wan's face that knocks him off the platform. He falls dozens of feet but is luckily saved by a lower platform in his way. Though managing to soften his fall the impact still causes his shoulder to throb in pain and he just barely grabs onto the ledge before rolling off to find himself hanging over the great chasm below.
Qui-Gon glances over the ledge in concern for his apprentice and breathes a sigh of relief to see he stopped his fall. Maul lunges out to strike and he quickly pulls his focus back to the fight and deflects his blow; letting a bit of his emotions loose, Qui-Gon swings his arm for a hard punch to the jaw that likewise has Maul topple backwards and off the platform. He falls to a lower level so Qui-Gon drops down in pursuit but is met with a boot in his face upon landing.
Staggering back in surprise, Qui-Gon whirls around with his saber to retaliate but Maul gets up and blocks the strike. Undeterred, Qui-Gon now presses a fierce offensive that has the Sith backpedaling fast down the bridge.
Qui-Gon wields his blade with impressive speed, grace, and skill, proving his worth as a Jedi Master and surprising even the formidable Sith assassin. He swings left, right, up, down, jabbing his blade forward. Whatever he does, the Sith doesn't have a chance to retliate with an offensive strike; even so, his defense still remains strong. He's never before encountered an enemy combatant this formidable—even the dark adversary he fought on Reylea years ago did not show this level of skill with a blade, though scenario on that planet made things far different.
Returning his mind to the present, Qui-Gon calls upon all his Jedi training to wield against Darth Maul. He needs to defeat this Sith, now, not just to ensure victory for Naboo, but to solve the mystery of the Sith's return.
So caught up in his duel, Qui-Gon doesn't notice the change in location until a ray shield snaps to life, separating him from the dark warrior.
Startled by the red barrier's appearance, Maul angrily looks around at his surroundings while Qui-Gon keeps his gaze focused on him, reluctantly deactivating his lightsaber. Futher back at the entrance the remaining shields close off the passageway one by one and Obi-Wan is forced to a stop as well. He anxiously looks down the passageway where his master and the Sith warrior are separated by just one section.
Maul takes a swipe at the shield with his blade to test it, and begrudgingly deactivates his lightsaber when the shield holds strong. Likewise, Obi-Wan follows the example of the other two and turns off his own weapon.
Unable to do more than wait for the shields to open Maul starts pacing, glaring hungrily at the Jedi Master in front of him. He studies him for a moment, glancing farther back with minor satisfaction at seeing the Padawan to be stuck out on the bridge still—as long as he backs out fast enough, then he'll be able to keep them apart for just a bit longer: more than enough time for him to dispatch both Jedi with ease.
As Maul paced back and forth like a predator, Qui-Gon opted for a more serene method of waiting, kneeling down into a meditative pose. He closes his eyes and opens his mind to the Force, studying his dark adversary… as well as himself. He slows his breathing, taking controlled breaths to calm his nerves.
He can feel the Force whispering to him. Speaking to him.
The Sith warrior is young, but powerful.
And he is not acting alone.
He serves an even greater being...?
They are not after the Queen.
The Sith are here for something... But what?
The Sith are here for you.
...Why?
They duel for the fate of the Chosen One.
My future… it is clouded beyond here.
The outcome of this battle is undecided.
The Sith warrior has a familiar presence.
Not from Tatooine. From earlier.
I have felt it elsewhere…
A Shadow of it.
The Shadow from Chandrila?
The Shadow which haunts a young boy.
The Shadow of Jarik Shan.
Qui-Gon ponders what he is learning through the Force, becoming more and more troubled. His thoughts return to the mysterious circumstances that led to Jarik Shan being brought to the Jedi Temple. He was being hunted by someone...
He was being hunted by the Sith—this Sith.
They chose the boy for a reason. But what could that be? What is it that makes him so special…? What will he become?
"You are Sith," Qui-Gon says softly.
Darth Maul pauses in his step and stares intently at the Jedi Master, whose eyes were still closed. He sneers at the old man with contempt.
"And you are Jedi," Maul growls, somewhat mockingly.
"Then we are enemies," Qui-Gon replies calmly. "But you do not act alone, do you?"
Maul narrows his eyes and stops pacing, glaring down at the Jedi Master who, sensing his rage, still shows no sign of emotion. At the very end of the passageway—still on the bridge—Obi-Wan stood restlessly in front of the ray-shield, unable to hear the conversation between the other two.
"Not too long ago I brought a young boy to the Jedi Temple under rather strange circumstances. So I must ask..." Qui-Gon continues, finally opening his eyes. "...what is your interest in Jarik Shan?"
He regards the furious expression of the Sith warrior with a stern gaze.
"There are so many things you Jedi remain blissfully ignorant about..." Maul scowls at him, gripping his lightsaber in hand. "It is why your Order will fall in the end."
Qui-Gon frowns just slightly and silently observes the Sith apprentice for some time. The Sith apprentice continues to pace back and forth on his side of the shield, growing restless, and Qui-Gon closes his eyes again.
Is there any hope for the Order?
Their fate will be the same as yours.
My fate… can I stop what is to come?
You could. But at great risk.
Qui-Gon remains kneeling in place as he listens to the Force, contemplating his options. The more he understands, the more grim he becomes. If he survives this battle then he may be able to save the galaxy from a terrible fate. But if the Sith warrior kills him… somehow that means the galaxy is doomed to a dark future. It rests on him… not because of his own worth, but that of the two boys he has found. They need him to survive, but if he backs out now then the Sith may wreak havoc on another day…
What must he do?
…
The Force is silent now, when he needs guidance the most. It's almost frustrating, yet… maybe that is the point. He knows that a path lies ahead for them all, whether or not he succeeds. The choice on what that path will turn out to be rests with him. So he will fight for it.
Almost as soon as he makes that choice, the gates open.
In a flash of motion all three warriors ignite their lightsabers and move into action as though the battle had never been halted. Wielding his green lightsaber, Qui-Gon attacks Maul with a flurry of swift strikes that force the Sith apprentice onto the defensive. He swings his green blade up and down, right and left, though while it is always met by a shimmering red blade there aren't any chances for his opponent to go on the offensive. They exit the hallway and move into the facility's melting pit room. Moments after entering the chamber Qui-Gon hears the ray shields close shut once more, sensing Obi-Wan's frustration as he's stopped just behind the last one.
As Qui-Gon's strike is deflected once more he sees a faint, chilling, smirk on Maul's face.
Immediately the dark warrior alters his dueling strategy and starts to press an offensive. Qui-Gon is caught off guard by the change and backpedals, deflecting a series of jabs and slashes all aimed at vital points of his body with such speed and ferocity that he almost misses them. He immediately realizes the error in his own advance by being separated from his padawan, and anxiously adopts a more defensive strategy. Swinging his green blade back and forth he manages to hold the Sith apprentice at bay, using all of his skill to anticipate his attacks, but is still unable to keep himself from backing up continuously.
Maul swipes one side of his blade forward and quickly thrusts the other in an upwards strike but Qui-Gon deflects the first attack and spots an opening. Leaning away from Maul's thrust he aims at his exposed side with his own green blade, but just before it can connect Maul moves with great flexibility by twisting his arms over his back, blocking in what should've been an extremely awkward and unstable stance. Maul growls in annoyance and pulls his weapon back over his shoulder so that Qui-Gon's blade is shoved away, then takes a step back to regain his footing.
Qui-Gon similarly takes a step back to recuperate, both impressed and unsettled by the amount of skill and power Maul is showing. They stare at each other briefly, a snarl clearly visible on the Sith's face whilst the Jedi sports a stern yet clearly cautious expression, adopting his Ataru stance.
Behind the ray shield, Obi-Wan holds his breath.
Glaring hatefully at the Jedi Master, Maul grips his saberstaff tighter in his hands and resumes his offensive, attacking as a blur of motion. Qui-Gon hastily switches between both ends of the saberstaff in a defensive manner, his breaths falling short. Maul twirls his staff around and makes a move, which Qui-Gon readily anticipates with his own blade. But the movement was merely a faint, and instead of attacking with his blade Maul uses the staff itself to strike his chin, and Qui-Gon grunts in pain.
For Obi-Wan, time seems to slow down in that instant of vulnerability.
Grinning savagely, Maul spins around with his lightsaber and Qui-Gon gasps.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Obi-Wan screams.
The noise, full of anguish and pain, travels across the entire power generator building. Qui-Gon barely hears it, however, dropping to his knees with the saber still buried in his chest and a stunned expression on his face.
He failed...
Their fate has been decided.
Maul rips his saber out of Qui-Gon and whirls around to stare coldly at Obi-Wan, the Jedi Master already forgotten in his mind as he collapses limply on the floor.
Obi-Wan stares at Qui-Gon's body in horror and despair, a lump building in his throat. However, his grief quickly dissolves into boiling anger and he looks up to glare at Maul, his gaze full of hatred. Maul smirks at him in amusement and starts to pace in front of the shield again, waiting until he's free to kill the vengeful Padawan.
Jedi Temple, Coruscant - Core Worlds
An aging Jedi Master stands before the Great Tree, silent and calm, the visual personification of peace and wisdom to those who saw him. Underneath that visage, however, stands a troubled soul at war with himself. Master Dooku is torn between what he should do, and what he must do.
The Jedi in him is crying out for Dooku to go to the Jedi Council immediately and explain his turmoil, but more importantly expose the presence of the Sith Master he's been in communication with; he may present himself as a savior, but the Sith ultimately think inwards only of themselves and their quest for power.
However, the Jedi are not what they once were. They have fallen so far from what they are supposed to stand for, and the Sith Master is the only one who truly understands this to the same extent that he himself does. The Republic is corrupt, in part due to the Jedi's complacency. They will never change. But the Sith have.
The only other person who could possibly understand Dooku's plight is his own Padawan, Qui-Gon. But he's a target for the Sith.
Dooku is not blind to the fact that his Sith associate is more wary of Qui-Gon than any other Jedi, even Master Yoda. And now Qui-Gon will be confronting the Sith assassin head on.
He does not wish to see him die.
Dooku gazes up at the tree with timid eyes as his thoughts turn toward his former Padawan, a man he considers as...
He sighs.
"Forgive me. I should've come to you sooner about this," Dooku murmurs, shaking his head. "You would understand, more than anyone."
He continues to gaze at the petals on the tree, imagining Qui-Gon's presence as if he's there with him.
Suddenly, the Force darkens. He hears a man screaming out, his voice echoing with grief. Then, as though it were like glass, a thread in his mind shatters.
Dooku gasps in pain as the air rushes from his lungs and he falls to his knees, eyes wide in shock.
"Qui-Gon!" he cries.
He searches frantically along the thread which bonds him to his apprentice only to find nothing but a gaping void in his soul which claws at his heart.
"...my son..."
Tears stream from Dooku's eyes and he begins to sob, covering his face to try and prevent the tears from falling, but to no avail.
A couple of Jedi passing by notice the Master's plight and move toward him with concern, but he disregards their presence entirely. He doesn't know how long he's there kneeling on the ground, but at some point he vaguely registers a small three-fingered hand touching his shoulder.
"Master Dooku? Are you alright?" a female voice asks. "What is wrong?"
He doesn't answer her and continues to grieve. She shouldn't need to be asking him what's wrong, she should leave him alone! What does she care? She doesn't understand!
What do the Jedi know? They don't know emotion. No compassion. No love.
The tears stop streaming down Dooku's face and his sobbing fades as he takes deep breaths to control his breathing. Jedi do not grieve. His anguish is being replaced by something else now. But it is not peace. Instead, all he can feel is...
...rage.
Mists of darkness are enveloping him, turning the clouds from gray to black. It is cold and dreary.
"Qui-Gon Jinn..."
A haunting red glow emerges from within the clouds. Glaring yellow eyes appear to instill terror in the soul.
Something begins to cut through the darkness like a beacon of light. Qui-Gon pushes back the storm like a radiant angel.
But it is not enough.
The darkness begins to push back, surrounding Qui-Gon. in its deadly embrace.
"...cannot be allowed to endure."
Qui-Gon tries to fight back against the Shadow but it is a futile effort. The darkness is too strong.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
A man's cry echoes in the wind.
"Master!" Jarik cries out.
The boy sits up in bed breathing hard, his eyes flicking around in a panic as he tries to take in his surroundings. It's still dark, but not as dark as the shadow in his dreams. The air isn't cold.
"...Master Jinn?" the boy says nervously.
He hears a groan close by and flinches, turning in its direction, and sees the dim form of Kurhran shifting around in a bed close by, mumbling to himself. Jarik calms down a little bit, realizing he's in the Jedi Temple.
But there's something wrong. He knows it. He can feel it. And it's terrifying.
How is he supposed to get rid of this feeling? By the time he gets out of the nightmare Master Irris is already there to help him! Or even better, it's Master Qui-Gon! Is he okay? Why does he keep getting this nightmare?
If you are ever scared, lost, or experience a nightmare, come to this tree.
That's something Qui-Gon once told him. But how can he get there in the middle of the night? He might get in trouble if he goes out by himself, he doesn't want Master Irris to get mad at him.
No, she won't get mad, he has permission to go to the tree if he needs to go!
Jarik quietly slips out of his bed and looks around the room nervously to make sure he doesn't accidentally wake anyone up. He walks on his tip toes to the door and flinches when it slides up, glancing back at the sleeping younglings once more; when nobody wakes up still he sighs in relief and keeps going out the door.
After leaving his quarters he finds himself in the hallway and pauses, looking around in dismay.
Which way is the tree?
He almost changes his mind and gives up right then and there, but the lingering sensation in the back of his mind continues to flood his thoughts with anxiety and a terrible feeling. He'll never get back to sleep if he doesn't fix it. And something is wrong, he knows it! He can feel it! Has something happened to Qui-Gon? How can he know? Maybe the tree can help him. It has too!
Spurred on by his worry Jarik decides to start heading towards the classrooms in the hope of retracing his steps to the tree from there, feeling as though something might be guiding him.
Unbeknownst to him, the door to the Akul's living quarters slides open and Ahsoka peeks her head out with a troubled gaze.
Plasma Refinery Complex, Theed - Naboo
A spray of molten sparks falls down the reactor shaft and Obi-Wan flinches away from them as he grapples onto his small outcropping for dear life.
He looks up to where Maul is standing at the ledge and the Sith glares back down at him with a cruel sneer that contorts his devilish face. The Sith assassin growls in his throat, savoring the Padawan's panic. Whatever happens with the Viceroy is irrelevant, for he has accomplished his true mission. Now all that's left to do is fulfill his sadistic passions by tormenting the boy dangling helplessly beneath his feet.
Obi-Wan grits his teeth in frustration—he wants to scream, cry, vent, whatever he can to release his anger. But he can't. Not only would it not help him in the slightest to escape his predicament, he also refuses to give this Sith the satisfaction he craves. Additionally, giving into those feelings is not the Jedi way.
But is this really how it will end? It can't!l Despite the countless times of frustration he's felt with his master, Obi-Wan truly loved and cared for him. And to have him taken away by an enemy that should've been long dead… it's unfair. Wrong. And someone needs to pay.
Obi-Wan looks over to where Qui-Gon laid on the floor, unmoving—he can't see him, but he can feel him. He needs his help now more than ever... but what can he do? He's dying, and Obi-Wan is the only one who can help him.
What is it Qui-Gon taught him?
Focus on the moment. Be mindful of the Living Force.
This Sith is focused on none of that.
Fire starts to burn within Obi-Wan. Not necessarily rage, though it is there, but more so determination. Conviction.
He look up at Darth Maul once more with a fiery glare burning in his eyes. The fierce look gives the Sith pause and he frowns, glaring right back with narrowed eyes. Does he think to challenge him? The warrior who will usher about the Sith's vengeance?
Who does this boy think he is in comparison?!
Obi-Wan closes his eyes and focuses on the Force—the Living Force—sensing it's power within him, within Qui-Gon, within Qui-Gon's crystal. It calls back to him in turn, beckoning him to take it. His exhaustion is flushed away by the flow of new energy, strengthening his muscles; his senses.
He is a Jedi. And the Force is with him.
With a valiant cry Obi-Wan leaps out of the shaft and flips over the Sith assassin. Mauls leans his head to the side out of instinct but otherwise doesn't immediately react, stunned by the Jedi's bold maneuver despite lacking a weapon. When Obi-Wan drops behind and out of his view Maul jolts in realization and whirls around with a snarl, ready to slice the insolent upstart into ribbons.
Instead, he's met with searing agony in his waist that leaves him gasping for breath.
Obi-Wan glares at his enemy with a faint grin, seeing surprise and total bewilderment in the Sith's eyes. Maul can barely breathe or move, not registering the pain but instead just... confused.
Unable to comprehend what just happened, the Sith assassin fails to stop the world around him from turning upside down and falls backward into the deep chasm. He vaguely realizes that his own legs are spiraling down beside his head instead of attached to his body.
The triumphant Jedi stands there for a few seconds, awed by his victory over the dark warrior. He looks down at his master's blade, observing its green hue and gentle humming with pride and gratitude.
"Master Qui-Gon!" Obi-Wan gasps in realization.
He deactivates the saber and rushes over to his fallen teacher, dropping down to the floor beside him and cradles his head.
A very faint breath drifts from Qui-Gon's mouth as the Jedi Master still clings onto life. If he could, he would express great pride in his Padawan and congratulate him for his miraculous effort: he truly is a great Jedi.
"It is too late... It's..." he says weakly, mustering what little strength he has left.
"No!" Obi-Wan protests.
Qui-Gon offers a faint smile in response. There are no assurances he can give his Padawan right now. He's trained him well, and knows he will endure. His only regret is that he won't be able to keep the promises he made to Anakin and Jarik.
Oh, little Jarik, he fears how he'll react when he realizes Qui-Gon isn't coming home. But he can only hope that he will also endure. He has to.
"Jarik will need you... one day..." Qui-Gon whispers, as if making a realization one day. "And... you, him..."
"I don't understand..." Obi-Wan shakes his head.
Qui-Gon tries to reply but coughs, a terrible pressure crushing his torso. He tries to take a breath but practically no air fills his desperate lungs.
He's out of time.
"Obi-Wan, promise... promise me you will train Anakin..." he pleads, his voice a whisper.
"Yes, Master..." Obi-Wan nods immediately.
"He is the Chosen One... he will... bring balance... train him!"
Qui-Gon's eyelids flutter and then close and his chest falls as his breathing stops, and the Jedi Master lies still.
Tears stream down Obi-Wan's face and he cradles Qui-Gon's body, heartbroken. All on his own within the giant plasma refinery complex, with no one around him except the lifeless body of his teacher and the weight of his promise, Obi-Wan has never before felt so alone.
Jedi Temple, Coruscant - Core Worlds
The bad feeling in his mind is only getting worse. Something is wrong. But what?
Jarik's been moving through the Temple for what feels like ages now. His destination is so far away and he has no clue if he's even going to correct way; for all he knew, he's going in the complete opposite direction! He's already passed the classrooms and is now in completely unfamiliar territory, most likely lost. But he still keeps going anyways, feeling like he's on the right track despite having no way of knowing for sure.
It's incredible that he hasn't run into another Jedi at all yet. Is he just incredibly lucky or is something else going on? He doesn't really know.
The boy soon reaches a crossroads in the Temple and looks back and forth between the two directions presented to him, a deep frown on his face.
"Right, here... right? Left?" he mutters to himself.
Pointing back and forth between the two routes he finally chooses a path and starts rushing down it, though after about a minute his expression drops to one of dismay as he doesn't recognize the area he's in.
"Aww...!" he whines.
The nagging sense of wrong and bad in his head is very strong, and now that he's lost he almost wants to cry. But then a noise gets his attention, sounding almost like a person yelling. The noise echoes through the vast hallway and he shivers in unease.
"H-hello?" he calls out nervously.
There's no response, but he feels like he should keep going anyways. Maybe there's another Jedi that can help him? At least he's hoping they do...
"What're you doing?"
Jarik squeals and turns around to see Ahsoka standing behind him with her hands propped on her hips. She stumbles back in surprise at his reaction but quickly recovers with a pout on her face, showcasing her displeasure. After realizing who it was Jarik groans and looks at her in annoyance.
"Don't scare me like that!"
"We can't be out at night! Master Irris will kill us!" she retorts.
"Why'd you follow me?" he shoots back at her.
"I was worried!" she scowls at him. "What're you doing?"
Jarik holds his hands together and nervously looks at the ground, biting his lower lip.
"I'm looking for the Great Tree," he admits, adding onto it before she could reply. "Master Irris said I could go to it if I need to!"
Ahsoka opens her mouth but frowns, unable to argue.
"Do you know where it is?" she asks.
"Umm... I think it's close," he murmurs.
Ahsoka groans and throws her hands up in the air.
"What?" Jarik frowns at her in indignation and crosses his arms.
"We're gonna get in trouble!" she whines.
"No way," Jarik shakes his head and scoffs. "You can go back if you want."
"Nuh uh. I have to make sure you don't do stupid stuff!" Ahsoka points a finger at him.
Jarik looks at her finger in dismay but the feeling is brief, and he secretly feels a bit happier at knowing he he won't get lost alone.
"Oh, well... thanks!" he meekly says.
Ahsoka pouts in response but doesn't say anything back, giving a silent cue for them to get moving.
Jarik turns back around to look down the hallway; this time a sense of familiarity washes over him at his surroundings and a grin spreads across his face.
"This way!"
The two younglings resume their journey through the Temple. Up ahead the light starts to brighten just a bit more and elation fills the boy as he recognizes where their surroundings.
"I think we're close!" he says. "Just around the corner!"
A few steps before the reach the end of the corridor Ahsoka suddenly grabs his shoulder.
"Shh, I hear voices!" she warns him.
Jarik widens his eyes in surprise and they both stop for a few seconds and listen closely. Sure enough, the distinct sound of voices conversing with each other is audible in the air, though while Jarik can't seem to make them out the same isn't true for Ahsoka.
"I think it's Master Irris," she says.
"Really?"
"Oh, and Master Plo!" she grins.
"How do you know?" Jarik frowns.
"I can hear them," she points at her small montrals and frowns at him. "Can't you?"
"Well... not that well."
Jarik pouts in dismay at the idea of her hearing being much better than his. She doesn't even have ears! How does that make sense?
He shakes his head with a groan but ignores it for now.
"What're they doing here?" he asks.
He and Ahsoka creep closer to the end of the corridor and then peak around the corner to see the open courtyard and their place of interest, the Great Tree. Yet the sight of several Jedi in a heated discussion has their immediate attention.
Like Ahsoka said, Master Irris and Master Plo are both there, along with two others; Jarik recognizes one of them as Master Dooku, the older Jedi who taught Qui-Gon. The fourth Jedi they thought was Yoda at first, but upon closer inspection the small green person had long red hair, not white, and spoke with a female voice: Master Yaddle.
A bit closer to them Jarik can now hear their conversation much more clearly, and the two younglings quietly listen in. Whatever is being discussed, one thing is immediately clear: Master Dooku is furious.
"I warned you! Did I not warn all of you?!" he was saying.
"Dooku, please understand our position," Master Yaddle replies.
"Your position of what?! Cowardice?!" Dooku interrupts, practically snarling.
"There are many other things to consider—" Plo tries to say.
"There was NOTHING to consider!" Dooku roars. "You're a pack of fools, all of you! When will you ever learn to act on what's in front of you?!"
"I understand your frustration, Dooku, truly," Xudi says, almost pleading with him. "But there was little evidence before—"
Dooku wasn't having any of it.
"It was there! It's always been there!" he growls. "If you weren't so stuck in your dogma then you would've noticed right away, not until someone kriffing dies!"
Jarik widens his eyes and Ahsoka lets out a quiet gasp of surprise and worry.
"Someone... died?" she murmurs.
"Who?" Jarik asks.
The horrible feeling in his head starts to swell now, growing rapidly into a deep pit in his stomach as terrible thoughts race through his mind.
The Shadow has to be behind this, surely. But... who...? Who could he have killed?
He... he can't be... he can't have...
"Dooku, please, we all mourn him as well!" Yaddle tells the raging man.
"Not enough! You sent him there, knowing what could happen, without any remorse!" he snaps in reply.
Yaddle shakes her head in dismay and Plo's expression hardens, almost imperceptibly. Xudi looks at Dooku with a pained expression on her face, both angry at the accusation and heard by the very idea of it.
"That's not fair," she says quietly.
"It's the truth!" Dooku scowls at her with contempt. "If you would have listened to me from the start or, even better, not dismissed Qui-Gon's personal account of the situation, then he would still be alive!"
"You cannot hold his death against us," Plo states firmly.
"I can! And I will!" Dooku spits with rage. "Qui-Gon is dead because of you!"
Angry with the accusation, Xudi opens her mouth to argue.
"What!?"
The shrill exclamation of a boy interrupts Xudi before she could respond; she looks over and widens her eyes at seeing Jarik standing a short distance away by the entrance to the courtyard with Ahsoka, the latter covering her mouth in shock.
"Jarik?" Xudi says in alarm.
The other three Jedi Masters turn at the youthful cry as well, surprised to see the two younglings there. Though while concern immediately comes to the forefront of Masters Plo, Yaddle, and Xudi, Master Dooku feels something else.
Dooku narrows his eyes at the young boy whom Qui-Gon has seemingly taken under his wing over the past year, and his rage starts to boil even more. It was only yesterday that he carried rather pleasant feelings about the youngling who displayed great talent for the art of wielding a lightsaber. Now, however, all he feels is contempt for the boy who had stolen Qui-Gon's attention, the boy who he was so infatuated with for seemingly no reason, the boy who spurred Qui-Gon's suspicions about the Sith in existence in the first place. This boy... he's not innocent.
As for Jarik, he stood frozen in place. It felt as though the universe had gone still and the weight of the sun crashed over his head. The terrible feeling he's had all day finally erupts and he feels everything. Shock. Horror. Agony. Grief. It's too much.
It's impossible.
It's wrong.
How?! HOW?!
His body trembling, tears start to spill down his cheeks while his lip quivers. A sob bursts out of him, and his eyes are so wet he can barely see.
Qui-Gon is dead.
He ran. Anywhere he could get to. Any place he could get away from this nightmare, which has now become reality. He cries, practically screaming as he runs away.
"Jarik, wait!" Xudi calls out in a panic. "JARIK!"
She rushes after him and Ahsoka watches her go at first, still frozen in a state of shock as her mind tries to process what's happening. Finally she moves to chase after them but a hand grabs hold of her and she tries to pull away.
"Let go of me!" she exclaims.
"I can't do that, Little 'Soka," Master Plo tells her.
Ahsoka growls and tries to free herself, but to no avail.
"No! Jarik!" she wails.
The fleeing boy can't think of anything else, nor can he escape the pain no matter how hard he tries. He can't even hear the sound of himself sobbing.
Qui-Gon's not coming back...
Do not be afraid, Jarik, for I fully intend on coming back safe and sound.
He promised that he would come back. He promised him!
He broke his promise!
HE'S GONE!
Palpatine's apartment suite, 500 Republica - Coruscant
In the luxurious suite of a senator's apartment, a pleasantly intoxicated Hego Damask—who had wanted nothing more than to revel in the sweet taste of victory—was beginning to find Palpatine's performance exhausting.
He just wants to close his eyes and imagine his march into the Senate Rotunda; the looks of surprise, astonishment, and trepidation on the faces of the gathered Senators; his long-anticipated emergence from the shadows; his ascension to galactic power…
Unfortunately, the soon-to-be Chancellor wouldn't let him.
"That's enough for now," Damask tries one final time. "You should probably return home and get at least a few hours' rest before—"
"Just one more time—from the beginning," Palpatine urges.
Damask almost sighs in weary frustration, a hint of annoyance present in his gaze as his eyes turn a shade of yellow.
"The beginning?" he demands, his voice cold.
"Lord Plagueis, you said you wouldn't rest until our win was a matter of fact," his apprentice states firmly.
"So it is, and so I shall, Darth Sidious," the Sith Master admits in agreement.
"Then let us celebrate that, as well," Sidious smiles, gesturing to the servant droid. "Fill our glasses, droid."
With dreamy weariness getting the better of him Plagueis could barely lift the glass to his nose, and no sooner did he set the drink down than it tipped over; his eyelids began to flicker and close, and his breathing slowed. Unused to dealing with Plagueis in a sleepy state the transpirator repeatedly clicks in adjustment, almost as if panicked.
A few meters distant Sidious came to a halt, gazing at Plagueis for a long moment, as though making up his mind about something. Setting his own glass down he reaches for the cloak he has draped over a chair and puts it on. He continues to stare down at the drunkened form of Plagueis with growing excitement and fear.
The biggest decision of his life is yet to come. Perhaps it should be now.
He glances around the room, stretching his senses out into the Force. Briefly his gaze falls on the server droid, its glowing photoreceptors whirring to regard him in evident curiosity.
A look of sinister purpose contorted Sidious's face. Again, his eyes darted around the room, and the dark side whispered:
Your election assured, the Sun Guards absent, Plagueis unsuspecting and asleep…
He moves in a blur.
Crackling from his fingertips, a web of blue lightning sprang out onto the Muun's breathing device. Plagueis's eyes snap open, the Force gathering in him like a storm, but he stops short of defending himself.
What?
This being who had survived assassinations and killed countless opponents merely gazes at Sidious. Why? Sidious falters in his attack and gazes back at Plagueis with wide eyes, growing uneasy…
Then it hits him that Plagueis was… was challenging him!
Challenging him, by not defending himself!?
Momentarily taken aback, Sidious stands absolutely still. The Muun is confident that he can't be killed, and in denial that he is slowly suffocating; that he might be simply experimenting with himself, actually courting death to put it in its place. Is Plagueis so self-deluded as to believe that he had achieved immortality?
The question lingers in his mind for only a moment. Then Sidious sneers.
No he has not.
Assured in his judgment, Sidious unleashes a violent torrent of Force lightning at his former Sith Master, drawing more deeply on the dark side than he ever has before. In his addled state, Plagueis does absolutely nothing to defend himself from his apprentice, confident in his power, only to find that his faith is misguided. He screams in agony as Sidious relentlessly assaults him with lightning, torturing him for an entire minute before letting up. Plagueis collapses in his chair with a pitiful groan, wisps of smoke rising up from his skin.
"Let's go over the second part of the speech, shall we?" Sidious asks, smoothing his tousled cloak. "You useless old fool."
With a snarl, he throws the cloak back behind his shoulders and leans toward Plagueis, planting his palms on the low table that is now puddled with spilled wine.
"It was Hego Damask who made the deal with the Trade Federation to come to Naboo, determined to suck the planet dry of plasma. And all the while he—secretly the Dark Lord of the Sith and heir to the line of Bane—Darth Plagueis, set his sights on a confused young man and manipulated him into murdering his own worthless family."
Sidious stood to his full height, glaring.
"It was Darth Plagueis who took this young man as an apprentice, sharing some of his knowledge but withholding his most powerful secrets. He denied the apprentice his wishes as a means of controlling him, instilling in him a sense of murderous rage."
Sidious unleashes another spat of lightning and Plagueis yells in pain.
"Darth Plagueis, who turned away from the Grand Plan to focus entirely on himself in an egotistical quest for immortality."
Another crackle of lightning—
"Plagueis, who had the temerity to criticize his apprentice for seeking Revan's offspring, whilst also forsaking the lineage of Darth Bane."
Another scream of agony—
"Plagueis the Wise, who in his time truly was, except at the end, trusting that the Rule of Two had been superseded, and failed to realize that he would not be excused from it."
A weak moan escapes a failing respirator.
"Plagueis the Wise, who forged the most powerful Sith Lord the galaxy has ever known, and yet forgot to leave a place for himself; whose pride never allowed him to question that he would no longer be needed."
Still struggling for breath, Plagueis manages to stand only to collapse back onto the couch, knocking a statue from its perch.
"How often you said that the old order of Bane had ended with the death of your Master. An apprentice no longer needs to be stronger, you told me, merely more clever. The era of keeping score, suspicion, and betrayal was over. Strength is not in the flesh but in the Force."
The failing Sith Lord musters enough energy to glare hatefully at his apprentice, his rage equaled by his disbelief.
"Betrayer… you would… never… have survived… without me…" he seethes. "I gave you everything!"
Sidious moves in, his hands raised to deliver another bolt, his expression arctic enough to chill the room.
"You were far too trusting, Plagueis. No true Sith can ever really care for another. Malgus knew this when he killed his lover. He knew this because it has always been known. You understood this once, but you lost sight of that when you believed we could co-exist as equals," he sneers with contempt. "There is only one plan—one great design that will govern the universe—mine."
Plagueis tries to stretch his hand out, but it trembles and fails to rise.
"You lost the game on the very first day you chose to train me to rule by your side—or better still, under your thumb," Sidious says with a smirk. "Teacher, yes, and for that I will be eternally grateful. But Master—never."
Another blast of Force lightning. There isn't even a scream anymore.
"Rest easy in your grave, Lord Plagueis," he declares with triumph. "The Sith will have had their revenge, and in the end I will rule the galaxy as its Emperor."
No longer wielding the strength to even glare at his traitorous student, Plagueis slides down onto the floor. His breath rattles through his respirator before stopping completely and Darth Sidious finally halts his usage of Force lightning for good. A wicked smile of glee graces the face of Sidious and his eyes gleam a bright yellow, practically glowing beneath his hood.
After almost a century of scheming, studying, and manipulation, the shadowy Darth Plagueis was no more.
Sidious moves over to the wide window of his office, reaching a hand out to pull the drapes apart. He pauses, however, to look back at the lifeless corpse of his former Sith master with an analytical gaze, pondering the next course of action to take.
Hego Damask would appear to have died because of a malfunction of the breathing apparatus. He would have the droid alert the medtechs. But what of the burns suffered to the corpse? It's quite simple, really: no autopsy will be performed, and no inquest would follow. The Sith Eternal—his Sith Eternal—would make quite sure of that.
Holos of Damask's appearance with Palpatine at the Galaxies Opera would run on the HoloNet and pundits would weigh in. Senator Palpatine might garner even greater sympathy; his pride and joy in being elected to the chancellorship diminished by the sudden death of a powerful financial ally.
The Dark Lord of the Sith grins at the thought.
Sidious moves away from the window to take a closer look at Plagueis, unable to stop smiling. And yet, after a long moment of contemplation, that is exactly what happens. A frown graces the Sith's face as he feels something overcome him, a less distinct and discernible feeling. Turning away from Plagueis, he grabs the drapes and pulls them apart to stare out the window at the dim horizon.
Something doesn't feel right.
Something is shading his sense of triumph.
It is a fleeting thought, but it is noticeable. It is as if a power greater than himself is slipping by, whispering to him that he has lost. But what could this power possibly be? He, Darth Sidious, has just killed his master and now stands as the most powerful being in the galaxy, more so than even Master Yoda. There should be nothing greater than him. So why does he feel uncertain?
Another thought enters his mind, unsettling him. What if… what if Plagueis is not dead?
Sidious immediately turns to look at the scarred body of the Munn behind him, only to see that it is still there, smoking from the gruesome burns suffered, and very clearly dead. His body is a mere shell now, so it can't be him. Perhaps Plagueis is reaching out from the far side of death to vex him?
The Sith Lord scoffs in dismissal. A ridiculous notion to even consider.
And yet… he can't help but wonder.
Outside, the summits of the tallest buildings are gilded by the first rays of sunlight.
Author's Note: The sequence with Plagueis and Sidious in this chapter is heavily based on one of the final scenes of the novel, Darth Plagueis, by James Lucenco. All credit goes to him.
Poor Jarik. Can't even imagine how heartbreaking it must be for a child to lose somebody they view as a parent at such a young age.