DISCLAIMER: Star Wars and all publicly recognisable characters, names and references, etc are the sole property of George Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd, Lucasarts Inc and 20th Century Fox. This fan fiction was created solely for entertainment and no money was made from it. Also, no copyright or trademark infringement was intended. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. Any other characters, the storyline and the actual story are the property of the author.
Obi-wan was brought back to a semi-conscious level. He could hear the voices, sense another presence in the room, see the green glow. His mind snapped at the sudden realization...’Master?!’ the thought went through his throbbing mind.
He felt Qui-gon sending him strength though the Force. The sensation lasted only for a second, then there was pain again. He groaned and fell to the cold floor, landing hard on his shoulder. But with the slight touch of the Force that his master had given him, Obi-wan felt some hope. And as long as there was hope, there was life. And as long as there was life left in him he would stand by his master.
Although Qui-gon was facing his main threat in this mater, he let his attention go to his main concern, Obi-wan. He scanned the room and found his Apprentice. The weary boy noticed him, and Qui-gon sent him ripples of energy through the Force. Yet to his horror Obi-wan gave a quiet cry of pain and collapsed.
“You are causing your Padawan pain, my friend.” Jaron stated with a mocking tone. “You seem to have that way about you, wouldn’t you say?”
Lights abruptly jolted on. Although they were dim, they were enough to see by. For the first time since he had entered this dark place Qui-gon could see, with his own eyes, his one time close friend. He looked the same as he had remembered, except he no longer wore his hair in the Jedi Padawan style as it was the last time Qui-gon saw him. Yes he was the same on the outside, but the inside was a different matter. Was there any of the Jaron he remembered left in there? Hidden deep away for no one to see.
He looked beyond his one time friend now. Just behind him, laying crumpled on he floor unmoving, was his young apprentice. Once again the guilt washed over him. Jaron saw his change, using it against him.
“Quite a remarkable young boy.” Jaron said gesturing to the semiconscious Obi-wan behind him.
“Let him go.” Qui-gon said, knowing his words would mean nothing. “This has nothing to do with him, and everything to do with me.”
“Oh but you are wrong, Master Qui-gon.” Jaron said, a small smile appearing. “Master and Padawan are as one person. What affects one will affect the other. I found this out many years ago on this day. You do remember what happened on this day, do you not Qui-gon?” Jaron met Qui-gon’s gaze and held it. It had been so long since he had looked into those green eyes, now he wished that they would just go away. “I died that day along with my master, although it was not in body, but in spirit. And no one seemed to care, not the counsel, and not you.” Qui-gon listened hurtfully, but he pushed it away. He must think, he cleared his mind as best he could, he must get Obi-wan out of here. “So did I plan for you and your young apprentices.” Jaron continued. “However I discovered the length of his potential, it would be a shame to waist it.” Qui-gon snapped to attention at the sound of these words. “I will look forward to completing his training once you are gone.” Bits of anger came though the calm state of mind that Qui-gon had managed to put himself it. Obi-wan? An Apprentice to the evil that had enveloped his friend? It could not be. He would never allow that to happen. The anger was peaking though him now, it seemed to make the darkness around him swirl. Jaron’s smile widen, “Do your thoughts betray you my friend?”
Qui-gon thought, anger would get him no where. Jaron would feed off of it, as would the darkness. He calmed his mind once more. And although the darkness was tugging at him, he managed a small amount of peace of mind. “It has been many years Jaron. You have let your own hate consume you, it led you to darkness. But you can be led back into the light.” Qui-gon said, still believing that there must be some ounce of good left in Jaron. “Let me help you.”
Jaron gave a quick laugh, “Is this our old friendship you speak of, brother?” Jaron said, using their nickname from long ago. “Our promise to always help each other. You already broke that promise.”
“You asked me to do something that I could not do.” Qui-gon said shaking his head. “Think of your Jedi Training Jaron. All that your master had taught you. That fear, anger, hate, and revenge, all lead to the Dark Side. You were asking me to follow you there, and I could not do it. But I can help you know. You have been consumed by the darkness, but there is still light. One can’t exist without the other, this you know. Therefore there is hope that you can come back into the light. As long as there is the Force there his hope.”
“Do not lecture me Qui-gon. I have heard this before. I am one with the darkness now. It has given me power, power enough to stop those who have made me suffer so they can suffer the same.” Jaron said, his voice never faltering. “All those who refused to help me became my enemy...you became my enemy Qui-gon.” Jaron’s voice was icy, his eye’s locked with Qui-gon’s, glaring.
Qui-gon remembered what Yoda had told him about the Dark Side when he was but a boy in the Jedi Temple, ‘Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.’ Although Qui-gon realized this, he always assumed that there was some way to bring someone who was lost to it back into the light. Now he wasn’t so sure. With all that he had said, Jaron hadn’t even heard him. Qui-gon realized then and there that the Jaron that he had once known was gone, perhaps for good. Even though it was hard, he must accept that.
Obi-wan stirred in the background. Qui-gon’s eye’s drifted to the boy. Jaron may be lost, but his Apprentice wasn’t. The good person Obi-wan was would not be taken by the Dark Side. His Padawan was stronger than that, and he himself would not allow that to happen.
Obi-wan’s enthusiasm, his want to learn, his strength, his very presence, had always been able to bring Qui-gon out of any dark time he found himself in. Obi-wan had said that Qui-gon had done so much for him. But in truth, the apprentice had done just as much for the master.
‘And that is what matters now.’ Qui-gon thought silently. ‘Jaron and I may have been “brothers” many years ago. But Obi-wan is my *son*. And I will not fail him.’ With that though, Qui-gon was now confident that he could face whatever came before him now.
Once again Jaron sensed his change. His time for talking was over. From under his cloak a lightsaber appeared in his hand. Yet this was not the lightsaber that Qui-gon remembered from their childhood. And as Jaron ignited it, the orange blade that had been so vivid in his memory did not appear. Instead a black stream of light came from the weapon. Qui-gon was taken back with the sight of the black lightsaber, but hid his emotions and ignited his own weapon. Jaron smiled. “I’ve waited a long time for this.” he said.
In a blink, the lights in the room went out. Qui-gon realized that he could not see Jaron or his weapon. He could only hear the hum of the dark saber. A pang of panic came to him, but he pushed it aside. He had the Force to guide him.
Jaron was striking at him before he knew it. Qui-gon managed to block the lightning fast blows, but only just. His ability to use the Force as his guide was clouded with darkness circling around him. The darkness combined with the heightens lightsaber battle, Qui-gon was finding it seemingly difficult to use the Force. Yet he still matched Jaron blow for blow. Avoiding the kicks that were thrown at him as well as the hot dark light that seemed to come closer and closer to him with every strike.
“You destroyed everything for me.” he heard Jaron say. “My master is gone, I begged for your help yet you ignored it.”
More blows, more strikes, stronger, quicker now, and he still could not see from where they came. He let the Force tell him where his lightsaber should land. Jaron was strong. Although he could feel himself weakening he still matched Jaron. The fight was no where near over.
Again and again the lightsaber crashed and sizzled together, hissing apart, then coming together once more. Even though Jaron seemed to have all the advantages in the battle, for the movement they were evenly matched
They broke away from each other, both breathing hard. The match still far from over, at least in Qui-gon’s mind. He could feel another presence in the room stir, besides the darkness. He realized that it was Obi-wan who was rising to his slowly feet. His Padawan’s movements gave him more strength, he felt he could go on for as long as he was needed.
Just then he felt the dark energy in the room spinning and move toward Jaron. He was collecting the darkness now, he would use it in the battle. Jaron was now sending the darkness back at him. A wave of darkness meant to push him back. Qui-gon braced himself for the impact, but to his surprise the darkness went right passed him and hit his apprentice instead.
Obi-wan cried out as he was swept off of his feet by the darkness and smashed into a near by wall and then crashed to the ground.
Shocked and horrified at what had just unfolded, Qui-gon didn’t sense Jaron’s advance on the attack. Before he had time to block, his lightsaber was kicked from his hand. Without a second thought he jumped back quickly, yet it was not quick enough. Jaron slashed with his lightsaber, and Qui-gon found pain connect with him. Jaron’s blade had caught him across his midsection. It was a fairly bad burn and laceration, it would heal with time, yet now it would lead to his undoing. For as he tried to control the pain to continue with the battle, his concentration wavered. Suddenly he felt a powerful kick to his jaw. He fell backward, hitting the floor with a thud.
His mind dazed, and with spots dancing in front of his eyes, Qui-gon forgot where he was for a second, but was called back again when he heard a familiar laughter. He tried to stand, but was forced back down when Jaron’s foot slammed on his midsection where his wound was still sizzling. Qui-gon cringed in pain, the sound of Jaron’s laughter became more mocking in tone.
“The Great Master Qui-gon Jinn, killed in the very place the Great Master Dundeen Hunen. You should feel proud.” Jaron said. He then rose his lightsaber into the air. Through the pain and the dark Qui-gon could see the outline of Jaron, arms raised ready for the kill. ‘I’m sorry Obi-wan.’ he willed toward his Apprentice. Still struggling under Jaron’s weight, Qui-gon readied himself for the final blow.
Obi-wan remembered this touch. It was the same one as on Constun that had happened what seemed like decades ago. The darkness, the invisible hands that grabbed him. But this time the hands pushed him, with all of their might. He didn’t feel himself hit the wall, he only heard the sound his body made at the impact.
He was on the floor again, he was conscious, but only just. Something was happening around him, something was going terribly wrong.
He heard something clink to the ground beside him. He looked with blurred vision. He could hardly make out the lines in the dark, but he knew instantly what it was. Qui-gon’s lightsaber. Panic surged through him. His master never dropped his weapon. Not when there seemed to be no chance left, not when the fight didn’t seem worth fighting anymore. His lightsaber was always in hand, always ready. But there it lay. Then Obi-wan realized, so did Qui-gon.
Obi-wan remembered the image of his master falling dead in the darkness. The image had not been real, and he would not let it become real. Qui-gon had known that Jaron had set a trap for him. Yet dispite that he came to his Padawan’s aid, as he had done countless times before.
Now Qui-gon was in danger. Obi-wan could hear the sound of Jaron’s laughter, see him rays his lightsaber high above his head. Obi-wan could just hear his master’s voice in his mind, sending him a plea of forgiveness.
He had only seconds he knew. He called on the Force, bending it to his will. The dark things in his mind crawled at him once more, screaming in his mind. ‘Silence!’ He demanded at them. ‘You are of no part of me, and I want no part of you!’ The screaming became only a whisper ,allowing him for the first time enough peace of mind to use the Force as he needed.
Then, with all of the strength left in him, he let the Force flow through him, and flung the weapon that lay near him into his master’s hands.
Qui-gon felt his lightsaber once again in his hand. He ignited the weapon, and before Jaron could come down on him, the green blade went though the man’s chest. Qui-gon instantly pulled it away, stunned at what he had just done.
Jaron took a step back then stumbled to the ground. “Well old friend.” Jaron said weakly. “I suppose...” he continued, pausing for a breath in his pierced lungs. “I underestimated you.” He breathed again, wincing at the efforts. “ I didn’t think...you had it in you.” His energy was fading now, the Force in him leaving him.
Qui-gon looked sorrowfully at the fallen man who had once been his dearest and most trusting friend. “Rest now Jaron.” Quietly, and even now with care in his voice. “Go back to the Force. Perhaps you will find peace there.”
“Yes...” Jaron said, his voice becoming even weaker. “You are....most likely right...you always...were about....that sort of thing. Weren’t you?” With those words, the last of Jaron’s energy left him, and his green eyes closed forever.
After a reflectful moment, Qui-gon quickly turned his attention to his fallen Apprentice. Obi-wan lay still, not sure if the boy was even breathing. Qui-gon turned him to his back, cradling the boy by his shoulders. Yes, he was breathing. Although his body was wracked with pain, knowing that his Padawan was alive eased some of the pain in his mind.
“Obi-wan?” he called to the silent form in his arms. The boy stirred and moaned. “Obi-wan?” Qui-gon said again. Obi-wan’s mind was still distant, perhaps in another time and place.
Obi-wan could hear his master calling to him. He wanted to reply, to know finally that everything was all finally as it should be. But he surpassed the urge. Because still nothing was as it should be. Something was still very wrong. The voice came back to him, echoing in his mind.
“Even a Jedi Master can only hold off thirty well trained Mandorian guards firing at him at point blank range for so long.” The voice said, Jaron’s voice.
“Even a Jedi Master can only hold off...”
Then...he knew...