Master Apprentice Archive For the Greater Good Quick search:

For the Greater Good

by Krystine (Krystine3@worldnet.att.net)

Archive: MA, anyone else please let me know
Category: Angst, No-Sex
Rating: PG
Pairing: QG/CD briefly mentioned but nothing graphic
Spoilers: for TPM and ATOC
Warnings: None
Feedback: All comments are greatly appreciated.
E-mail: Krystine3@worldnet.att.net
Disclaimer: The characters and general plot of this story belong to Mr. Lucas, no offense (or profit) is intended.
Notes: Many thanks to Master Ferfer and Crystal for their greatly appreciated suggestions and help.
Summary: Believing he can no longer trust the Council, Qui-Gon leaves the Jedi, only to discover that the Sith are closer than he thinks.

It wasn't supposed to happen this way, I thought, as the ship broke free of the atmosphere, leaving Geonosis and its devastation behind. I was not supposed to witness the slaughter of my fellow Jedi, the wounding of my padawan and his padawan. Had it not been for Master Yoda's intervention, two more would have been counted in the death toll.

I had thought that by taking this course, I could halt the growth of the dark side. The personal cost of my sacrifice had been great, but it was for the greater good, or so I believed. In the end, my actions did help -- help the very group I was trying to subdue.

It seems a lifetime has passed since I last called myself Jedi. In truth, it has been only been ten years since I left the Order after my master had come to me seeking aid.

"The Sith have returned, Qui-Gon," he had said. "The Senate is under their control. Greed and corruption disguise their presence, but I assure you, they are there."

"How can that be, Master?" I had argued, stunned that a long extinct enemy could suddenly have return. "Surely the Council would have detected their presence."

"The Council is blind," he scoffed. "Their arrogance has led then to believe that the Jedi are infallible, yet even now as we speak, the Sith are growing stronger. Indeed, at this moment, a dark Jedi is sitting on the Council."

I was speechless. I was not so naïve as to believe the dark side could not touch a Jedi, for I knew very well that it could. My fallen second apprentice had painfully proven that. What I could not accept, however, was that the Sith could operate undetected. The strength and wisdom of the Council was tremendous. It was incomprehensible that one of them could serve the dark side.

Ignoring my shock, my master had continued. "I need your help, Qui-Gon. Join me, and together, we will defeat the Sith."

My master had only recently left the Jedi Order, claiming he could no longer serve a group that supported the corruption of the Senate. His leaving had greatly saddened and disturbed me. He was legendary among Jedi. Powerful in the Force, he was a cunning negotiator, and when required, a highly skilled warrior. I was honored to be his apprentice. Under his tutelage, I had come to understand that the Force was dynamic, ever fluid, and changing. To hear it, one must listen carefully. When he felt it call him away from the Jedi, he left, leaving behind the teachings and commitments he had spent his lifetime serving.

I had refused him initially. Although I understood his reasons, I did not feel that same call. I could not leave. I had an apprentice to train and missions to attend to. I would continue my work as a Jedi, following the will of the Force. My master's path was different from my own.

"Very well, but guard yourself, Padawan," he had warned. "Your strength and defiance make you dangerous to the Sith. They will try to destroy you before you can expose them."

With that, he left and I returned to my duties, his words filed away but not forgotten. It was not until Obi-Wan and I were on our return journey to Naboo that I again considered my master's words and warning.

I was certain it had been a Sith I battled in the Tatooine desert, yet the Council, Mace Windu in particular, dismissed my account as nothing more than a fanciful tale. My plea to train Anakin had been refused; again a matter of Mace Windu's influence. While it was not unusual for me to be at odds with the Council, they had previously always given consideration to my findings and suggestions. Their immediate dismissal this time was confusing and upsetting.

Perhaps Mace was the dark Jedi my master had spoken of. I did not want to believe my age-mate could have turned, but of all of the Council members, he was the one most adamant about not investigating the possibility that my conclusions were correct. An investigation, I realized, would have brought with it the risk of exposure.

With these thoughts weighing on me, I sought seclusion in a wooded area after we had landed on Naboo. Since my meeting with the Council, I had felt a strange undercurrent in the Force, but I could not determine its cause. I had hoped that meditation would provide an answer.

I was surprised to find my master waiting for me in the quiet Nubian woodlands. He was standing with his back to me when I entered the sunny clearing. Tall and commanding in his fine clothes and cloak, he continued to fill me with awe, just as he did when I was his padawan.

"The Sith know, Qui-Gon," he had told me. "They know you are aware of their presence. That is why you were attacked on Tatooine."

"How did you know?" I questioned, though I was not surprised by my master's knowledge.

"I have contacts monitoring and informing me of the Council's actions. Your encounter did not happen by chance."

"The attack was an attempt on the queen," I clarified, ignoring the persistent thought that I knew this not to be true.

"Was it?" he asked as he turned to face me. "The Sith warrior knew the queen's location. He could have easily defeated the queen's guard and fought your padawan. Were the queen his target, he would not have wasted time by attacking you."

My master's point was valid. A skilled assassin would have focused on the objective rather than take unnecessary risks by attacking me. Perhaps I was the target. It was unlikely the Toydarian had hired the assailant. The fee for a mercenary of this caliber would have been far greater than the value of a slave boy and hyperdrive generator. No, my assailant knew me to be Jedi, a fact I had tried to conceal during my time in Mos Espa. Our meeting was not coincidental.

"The Sith warrior is waiting for you in Theed. Your life is in danger," he casually informed me.

"I do not fear death," I told him. "If it is the will of the Force that my life ends, I accept that fate."

"And what of your padawan?" my master asked. "His life is in danger also. Do you accept his death as easily as you accept your own?"

I started at that. While danger was always a close companion to the Jedi, we did not focus on it. Emotions were released; there was no death. I could not abandon a mission because my life or my padawan's life was in danger. And yet, had I not sworn an oath to protect my padawan with my own life if necessary? Obi-Wan was everything to me: my future, my legacy, my beloved. To knowingly lead him into danger, a danger that was meant for me -- I could not do it.

Desperate for guidance as to how to proceed, I sought the wisdom of the man who had trained me. "What would you have me do?"

"Join me," he said, his voice calm but still expressing the urgency of the situation. "I cannot defeat the Sith alone. I need you, Padawan."

His response was as I expected.

"My actions will appear suspect if I leave."

How could I justify my decision to leave? To simply claim I could no longer follow the Jedi calling was a feeble excuse and would easily be seen through, causing more damage than the benefit.

"The Sith must be convinced you are no longer a threat."

Curious as to how my master planned to accomplish that, I asked him.

"Why, through your death, of course," he responded.

My death ... of course. His smile was unsettling, and for a moment, I wondered if he was serious. Was death the aid he required of me?

My confusion must have amused him because he chuckled. "I did not literally mean your death, Qui-Gon. You know I would never harm you. You do trust me, don't you?"

"Of course, Master," I replied, embarrassed by my earlier thought. My master had always shown great care with me. It was absurd to think he would harm me.

"Then, you will join me?" he asked hopefully.

I paused as I again considered his request. It was obvious the Sith had returned. Action needed to be taken now to contain the enormous threat that they posed. The Council could not be relied on, not when they were under the influence of the dark side. The Force, when I looked to it, was strangely silent as to the correct course of action. It appeared I had no other choice.

Sighing deeply, I gave him my reply. "Yes."

His wide smile told me he was delighted with my decision. I had always worked hard to please my master, and his rare praise or smile was the reward for my efforts. Seeing that smile, my immediate reaction was to pledge myself to making him proud. I felt like a padawan again, never mind that I had completed my apprenticeship more than twenty years ago.

Shaking myself out of my wandering thoughts, I realized there was a great deal I did not know of what my master required of me. "How do you propose to convince the Sith of my death?"

His reply was cryptic. "Leave that to me."

He bowed then, formally concluding our meeting, and disappeared into the woodlands, leaving me to wonder uncertainly at what I had just agreed to.

A few moments later, I sensed Obi-Wan as he entered the clearing. Still staring into the wooded area my master had disappeared into, I waited for Obi-Wan to speak first.

My apprentice was deeply hurt by my actions in the Council chambers. He thought I was abandoning him for the Chosen One. I had acted in haste and misspoke when I claimed Anakin as my padawan learner. I was desperate to see the boy trained, but I would not have relinquished my responsibility to Obi-Wan.

While I knew this to be true in my heart, this was not what I had said. I proposed that Obi-Wan take his trials. When that was rejected, I protested that there was little more he would learn from me. I might as well have turned around and struck him. A physical assault would have been no worse than the verbal one I inflicted upon him.

The Council quickly put an end to my insult by ordering us back to Naboo under the pretense of protecting the queen. On the landing platform, Obi-Wan tried once more to reason with me, claiming that Anakin was dangerous. I had had enough of the Council's nonsense; I would not tolerate any from my padawan. Curtly, I told him the Council would decide Anakin's future and that should be enough for him, then I ordered him onboard. Obi-Wan looked at me for a moment, stunned by my dismissal. I waited for him to argue that he was no longer a child and I had no right to treat him as one. The argument never came. Instead, he turned around and walked up the ship's ramp with his shoulders slumped in defeat.

The sound of Obi-Wan's voice brought me from my memories as he reported Jar Jar's actions. After a slight pause, he asked my opinion of the queen's plan. I did not answer him right away.

I was torn as to whether or not I should tell Obi-Wan of my acceptance of my master's request. I knew he would follow me if I left the Jedi, his loyalty to me greater than his dream of becoming a knight. I was truly honored by his devotion, but I could not allow him to give up his future for me.

He would be safer if he remained with the Jedi, I believed. Only a padawan, he was not a threat to the Sith. Once I was gone, Master Yoda would watch over him. And, he could train Anakin in my absence.

During our journey to Naboo, Obi-Wan never said a word about what happened in front of the Council, but it had driven a wedge between us. It was my responsibility to set things right, but I did not. Instead, I decided to use that wedge to further distance myself from him. It was necessary if my defection was to be successful.

Still looking away, my response was cold and aloof. "The Gungans will not be easily swayed." I turned briefly to look at my apprentice. He was watching me expectantly, but I could see the hurt reflected in his eyes. I turned away before my resolve broke. "And we cannot use our power to help her."

Silence passed between us for a few moments, and then he did something I never expected. He apologized to me, apologized when he had done nothing wrong. I had always encouraged him to be mindful of the Force and question something he did not feel was right. He had done that with my decision to bring Anakin to the Jedi, and I reprimanded him for it. Now, he was seeking my forgiveness, when it was I who should have sought his.

Despite my earlier intent, I could no longer treat him with such cruelty. Turning to face my student, my voice became softer as I reassured him. "You've been a good apprentice, Obi-Wan." I smiled as I placed my hand on his shoulder. "And you're a much wiser man than I am. I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight."

Obi-Wan's face brightened at my words. My praise had always meant a great deal to him. I should have been freer with it, I realized. While I wanted to say more, I could not. A sudden emotional display from me would have been suspicious, and would have alerted Obi-Wan that something was wrong beyond the Council's refusal to accept Anakin

Having made our peace, we followed Queen Amidala to the meeting with the Gungans, and after securing their help, proceeded to Theed. In the palace hanger, we fought against battle droids and succeeded in getting the fighters into space. After making sure Anakin was safe, I led the group to the exit, intent on moving to the throne room and capturing the viceroy of the Trade Federation. On the other side of the exit door, the Sith warrior was waiting for us, just as my master had said.

"We'll handle this," I told the queen, who did not argue and merely acknowledged the need to go another way. The Sith warrior dropped his black robe and brought his lightsaber into position, silently challenging us with his dual-bladed weapon. Obi-Wan and I dropped our robes and raised our lightsabers as well, accepting his challenge.

Things moved quickly from there. The Sith fought with greater skill than he had when I faced him on Tatooine. Defeating him would not be easy, but I was determined he would not win. From Obi-Wan's expression and stance, I knew he felt the same way.

Fighting together, Obi-Wan and I had driven the Sith into an adjacent hanger. The crackle of clashing blades echoed in the open space as we crossed the wide expanse. Distracted by a movement behind one of the massive pillars to our side, the Sith took advantage of my lapse of attention. With a kick, he sent me skidding across the floor as he lured Obi-Wan through another door into the power station.

I stood quickly and moved to rejoin them when I was blocked by the figure whose movement had first distracted me. I was shocked to see my twin standing in front of me. Before I could say a word, I heard my master's voice.

"It is time, Qui-Gon. The clone will take your place."

I struggled desperately as my master restrained me while the clone took my lightsaber and ran to join the fight. "Obi-Wan," I gasped, "I cannot leave him to fight the Sith alone."

"You can control the actions of the clone. He will fight for you," my master said as he moved us to an alcove where we could watch the battle without being seen. "Look into the Force and you will find his presence. Once you grasp it, you will control his mind and actions."

Too desperate to waste time by arguing, I did as my master said. Reaching to the Force, I found the clone's signature. It was nearly identical to mine. Latching onto it, I entered his open and waiting mind and immediately became part of the clone with his eyes providing vision for both of us. My instincts took over then, directing his strikes and blocks as the Sith moved the battle from one platform to the next. Concentrating on the battle, Obi-Wan was not aware that the man fighting beside him was not his master.

As the battle wore on, I recognized Obi-Wan's growing impatience by the way he twirled his saber. While his lightsaber skills were impressive, he still had difficulty controlling his impatience at times. It was something we had worked on throughout his apprenticeship. His control had greatly improved over the years, but it was not perfect. He was weakening now, and such a loss could get him killed.

I increased the complexity of my attack as I became more accustomed to controlling the clone, hoping to divide the Sith's attention and allow Obi-Wan the opportunity to deliver the killing blow. We moved to the center of one of the upper platforms, Obi-Wan on one side of the Sith, my clone on the other. An ill-timed strike from me left Obi-Wan scrambling to counterstrike. The Sith easily blocked both blows and delivered a vicious kick to Obi-Wan's side, sending him over the edge of the platform.

I was furious as I watched Obi-Wan fall, and my anger bled into the clone's actions. With as much strength as the clone could muster, he backhanded the Sith and knocked him down one level. Immediately I sent the clone after him. This needed to end now. Obi-Wan was injured. I could feel his pain through the bond we shared. If he rejoined the battle, I feared he would not survive.

The Sith quickly regained his footing, and the clone drove him back towards the entranceway to the melting pit. I sensed when Obi-Wan leapt to the catwalk and ran to rejoin the battle, but by the time he reached the entranceway, the laser walls had cycled. Each of us was trapped until the walls cycled down.

I used the break to refocus my thoughts and plan a new strategy, the clone manifesting my actions by kneeling in apparent meditation. The Sith paced in front of the red wall separating us, glaring as he probed it with the tip of his blade, clearly annoyed by the disruption. Obi-Wan followed my lead and refocused, sending his pain into the Force.

The laser wall receded without warning, but I was ready. Immediately the clone sprang to his feet and once again engaged the dark warrior, the battle returning to its prior intensity. Having moved out of my area of direct vision, I was forced to completely rely on the clone's senses for information. In my mind, I heard the lasers recycle and was glad to see that Obi-Wan was again trapped behind them. There was still a chance to end this before he was released.

My connection to the clone weakened as he maneuvered around the melting pit. The amount of energy required maintaining the link was draining me, particularly since the distance between us was greater than before. My connection wavered for a moment, but it was enough to allow the Sith to pass through the clone's defenses and stab him with one end of the deadly blade.

I felt the ghost pain sear across my abdomen as the clone dropped to floor, but I did not acknowledge it. I was horrified by the way the battle had turned. Now Obi-Wan would be left to face the dark warrior alone.

Although I could no longer see him, I felt Obi-Wan's anger over our bond. When the lasers cycled down, he pounced at the Sith with a series of furious blows which were easily deflected. I tried to go to him, fighting off my master when he moved to intercept me.

"Qui-Gon, no!" my master yelled. "You cannot interfere. It must be this way."

My master's strength was far greater than my own at that moment. Defeated, I stopped struggling and turned my attention to the monitor my master had turned on. Connected to the palace security systems, it displayed the events in the melting pit. In terror, I watched as Obi-Wan was Force-pushed into the pit.

Barely managing to grasp a metal rung projecting from the side, Obi-Wan struggled to hold on as the Sith paced above him, taunting him with a shower of sparks. I sent as much strength as I could through our bond, my fear that Obi-Wan would fall to his death growing with each passing second. To my immense relief, he rallied his strength and propelled himself out of the pit. Calling my saber to his hand, his strike caught the Sith unaware, the surprised expression etched into the tattooed face as the dark warrior fell into the melting pit.

Extinguishing the saber, Obi-Wan raced to what he thought was my limp figure on the floor. Carefully lifting my clone into his arms, he cradled the body, allowing me to see him once again through the clone's eyes. I could feel him send healing pulses into the damaged body.

"No, it ... it's too late," I told him through the clone, and it was true. The clone was dying, as he was meant to.

"No!" he protested, sending an even stronger pulse.

I didn't have much time; my energy could not support the clone for much longer. It was imperative that Anakin be trained. Knowing my student would not refuse me, I pressed him with my final request.

"Obi-Wan. Promise ... promise me you will train the boy."

"Yes, Master."

Through the clone, I reached to wipe the single tear from his cheek. "He is the chosen one. He ... will bring balance. Train him."

I watched as Obi-Wan nodded, readily agreeing to my request. The clone was draining me, pulling me with him as he grew ever nearer to death, but I had to tell Obi-Wan of my love for him. Looking into his tear-filled eyes, I was about to confess when my master pulled me back, breaking my connection with the clone.

Frantic, I tried to reestablish link, but it was useless. Deprived of the energy sustaining him, the clone died the moment I pulled back. In guilt, I realized my last words to Obi-Wan were of the boy. I did not have the chance to tell Obi-Wan how proud I was of him, or of the happiness he had brought me. Instead, I made him promise to train a boy whose presence he had argued against.

Staring at the monitor, I watched as Obi-Wan lowered his head against the clone and wept. "No!" I wanted to shout, and perhaps I did. I was not dead. I could still make things right. I turned to move out of the alcove we had hidden in, but my master stopped me before I could take another step.

"We must leave now, Padawan," he said, strengthening his words with a Force suggestion. "We cannot risk detection."

Unable to resist, he led me through a secret passage to the ship he had hidden in the forest surrounding the palace. After strapping me into the co-pilot's chair, he knelt next to me and rubbed my shoulder.

"I know it is difficult, Padawan, but it must be this way." His voice was soft, comforting. I had never before heard him speak in such a manner. "Things will be better in time. Sleep now."

I could not fight the command. As my eyes closed, I remembered Obi-Wan's grief-stricken face. Knowing I was fully responsible, I embraced sleep and the escape it offered.

All too soon, the gentle rocking of the ship slowly roused me from my dreamless slumber. Not fully awake, I was confused by my unfamiliar surroundings. Automatically, I reached for my bond with Obi-Wan only to discover it was not there. I panicked then, struggling to free myself from the harness restraining me.

"Calm yourself, Padawan. All is well."

Hearing the familiar, commanding voice, I immediately ceased struggling. I turned to find my master seated in the pilot's chair next to me. His expression was solemn as he checked the ship's controls. Satisfied that we were following course, he turned to me.

"Come, Qui-Gon. We have much to discuss."

Shaking off the last of my sleep-caused confusion, I pressed the release mechanism and easily freed myself from the restraining harness. As I followed my master to the small eating area, images of the battle with the Sith came back to me. I remembered my anger and frustration at having to watch as my clone fought alongside of my padawan. I remembered my fear as I watched Obi-Wan battle the Sith alone, his actions fueled by anger. Finally, I remembered the look on Obi-Wan's face as he wept for his slain master.

I took a seat in one of the chairs surrounding the small table at my master's urging. While he prepared a beverage, I asked him about my broken bond.

"I am sorry, Qui-Gon. It was necessary," he said as he placed the steaming mug in front of me. "When the clone died, the training bond you shared with your apprentice was severed."

"But I didn't cut it," I protested. "I didn't even feel it break."

"You were sustaining the clone and he was pulling you towards death. When I broke your connection to him, I also severed your bond. In your weakened state, it's likely you were not aware."

I sat there stunned. Only the Council combined had the strength to sever a bond. It shocked me that my master could do it, and without my being aware.

"It was necessary," he offered as a consolation. "You must understand this."

As much as I wanted to deny it, I knew he was right. If I had actually died, the bond would have broken the moment I entered into the Force. The bond had to be severed. Knowing this, however, did not abate my anger, or my guilt, at having it done without my knowledge.

"You had no right," I accused, my voice heavy with pain and anger. "I would have severed the bond."

My master moved next to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. His voice was soft with understanding and compassion. "Padawan, you had just been through a great trial. I did not want to add to your distress by forcing you to sever the bond. My actions were done only out of consideration for you."

I rubbed my hands over my face, trying to dispel the fatigue that suddenly seemed to overwhelm me. My master brought the mug to my lips and I drank. It was chai, my favorite. He remembered.

He watched as I finished the spicy tea. Although he didn't say a word, I found his presence soothing. When the last of my drink was gone, he motioned for me to rise and follow him.

"You need to rest, Qui-Gon," he said as he led me into a small cabin.

I wanted to protest that there was still much I needed to know, but he silenced me with a stern look. His next words were said to placate me, as though he had read my thoughts.

"When you awaken, we will discuss our plans. Sleep now."

Another Force suggestion accompanied his order. I thought to fight against it, but I could not. Instead, I found myself welcoming it and the familiarity that it brought.

As a young padawan, I often had trouble falling asleep. The Living Force hummed around me, distracting me with its excitement and vitality. During those early years, my master often eased my restlessness with sleep suggestions. As my skills grew, I learned to control my focus and needed less of my master's assistance. Receiving that familiar touch now made me feel safe. My master was here. Nothing would harm me.

I slept for nearly one standard day. When I awoke, I found my master preparing late meal. I joined him, and he explained how he had first heard rumors of the return of the Sith. Investigating isolated leads, he had learned through a former Trade Federation official that a Sith Lord was controlling the Senate, but the informant did not know the identity of the Sith. My master had also learned of a work order for the creation of a clone army, which he then traced back to the Jedi Council. When he had visited the cloning facility, he realized the threat of the dark side and sought my assistance. Later, he used that same facility to produce my clone.

Our difficulty lay in determining who the other Sith was, for there were always two, a master and an apprentice. My master felt that it was the apprentice Obi-Wan had fought and killed. The Sith master's identity was unknown. Unless we could draw him out, we would have to wait for the Sith Lord to make his presence known.

That was what my master's plan hoped to accomplish. It was revolutionary: he sought to draw systems from the Republic and create a separate alliance. Under my master's leadership, the movement would weaken the Senate and force the Sith Lord to take action in order to regain his power.

I was not comfortable with this plan. It was my duty to protect the Republic. The very thought of a separatist movement violated the core of my beliefs. I had told my master this and said I would do nothing to break apart the Republic.

He argued that the Sith were doing that very thing, using greed and corruption as the weapons. By creating an independent state, the Sith would lose power and be forced to take action. Once the Sith were eliminated and the Senate cleansed of its corruption, the separate alliance would rejoin and the Republic would again be whole.

Although I was loath to admit it, my master's plan had valid points. Action needed to be taken now while the Sith master was weakened from the loss of the apprentice. The creation of an independent alliance would take time. We needed to move carefully and not draw attention too quickly.

One element that greatly concerned me, though, was the power my master would have as leader of this movement. With that power, would come temptation. It would be difficult to fight the forces that would draw him to the dark side. That was where my presence was required, he had told me. I would anchor him to the light.

I reluctantly agreed to help him form this new state, and for the next three years, I carefully studied the political and economic attitudes of the worlds that belonged to the Republic. I read over Senate transcripts, noting the vote of each representative. My master and I used this information to select systems that would be beneficial to our cause. Once the list was ready, we made our move.

My work kept me very busy as I traveled with my master and accompanied him to meetings with representatives from the selected planets, but I often found myself thinking back to what I had given up. I had missed Obi-Wan's knighting. My master told me that Obi-Wan had chosen not to have a formal ceremony. Guiltily, I wondered if it was because of my death. He had also chosen not to have a formal acceptance ceremony for Anakin. Again, I wondered if it was because of me.

Unlike my master's claim, things did not get better over time. I regretted not being able to tell Obi-Wan of my love for him. The clone had died too soon. My loneliness grew until I could no longer fight it.

On the few occasions I was on Coruscant, I attempted to contact Obi-Wan and Anakin through the Force. Obi-Wan's shields were too strong; I could not penetrate them. Anakin's, on the other hand, were wide open and I could easily slip into his subconscious. In his dreams, he told me about his training and the few missions that he had been on. I missed them terribly, and the small contact I was able to make with Anakin was comforting.

As the years passed, the Separatist's Movement, as it was called, grew. Thousands of systems belonged to it. My master's reputation as a political idealist brought him to the forefront of the Senate's attention. He used the publicity that accompanied his position to further the Separatist cause, never hesitating to charge the corruption in the Senate to those responsible.

Out of necessity, I remained out of the public's eye. Although my appearance had changed after my staged death, we could not take the risk. It would not due for me to be recognized as a supposedly dead Jedi Master.

I remained in seclusion, and the isolation began to wear on me. Separated from the companionship I had always known, I longed for contact with another. It didn't take long before my relationship with my master became physical. He was surprisingly virile, and I greedily anticipated and savored his touch when he returned from his travels. I found myself growing dependent on him, though I couldn't fully understand the reason for it. I knew it wasn't because of love. I loved my master, but I was not in love with him. The object of that love was a knight who believed me to be dead.

No, my dependence was more out of my need for emotional security. I craved the touch of another much like a spice addict craved the relief the drug offered. Loneliness became my companion, and I did not care for its company. I reminded myself that everything I had done was for the greater good, but it did not help.

Perhaps I was too concerned with stopping the dark side, or maybe I just did not want to see it, but my master was slowly changing. He spent more time away crusading his cause. When he did contact me, the information he shared was vague, where as at one time, it had been specific. There was an air about him that I did not recognize. When I looked into his eyes, I saw a glint that did not belong.

It was by chance that I learned Obi-Wan and Anakin were on the Outer Rim planet I had hidden on for the last few years. Their shuttle had stopped for emergency repairs, and they would be stranded for at least one cycle. It would be difficult to meet with them, but I had to. I could no longer trust my master or my instincts. I needed to tell Master Yoda of everything that had taken place. Obi-Wan could carry the message for me.

Clearing my mind, I reached out to the Living Force and found Obi-Wan's presence, but again he was heavily shielded. I then looked for Anakin. His presence was like a beacon in the Force, brightly shining and warm, just as it had been when I first found him. I latched onto that light and was relieved not to find barriers preventing contact. Lacking a bond with him, I could not speak directly to him and had to send images of the small square where I wanted to meet. I tried to convey the importance of going there, but I could not be sure how well it was received. I had to trust that Anakin understood what he was seeing.

I went to the square and waited. Sitting on an old wooden bench, I watched as a flock of mynee birds searched for seeds among the blades of dry grass. A large caa suddenly screeched and flew from a nearby tree, landing in the center of the flock. The mynee birds, frightened by the appearance of the night predator, fled to the safety of the surrounding trees, their shrieks breaking the quiet of the afternoon. The ebony caa seemed to look at me for a moment, and then disappeared as suddenly as it had arrived. The locals believed the appearance of the reclusive caa during the daytime warned that danger was close by. I wondered briefly if the superstition was true.

As the minutes passed into hours, I found myself losing hope that my Jedi would come. Time was growing short. The guards my master had assigned to me would become suspicious if I remained much longer. My excuse of meditation would only fool them for so long. My master was not aware that I knew he was watching me. I feigned innocence at the reason for the presence of his "associates." It was another sign warning me that something was not right.

Periodically, I would send small Force probes as I waited, in the vain hope that Anakin could not find the secluded place. Each time, the probe met with emptiness. The latest probe had just returned when I heard a familiar voice.

"What are you doing here, Qui-Gon?"

Startled, I turned and looked into the angry face of my master. I had not felt his approach. I tried probing with the Force, and I was shocked to find his presence was completely masked. No Force-sensitive being should be able to completely hide himself. That my master was able to do this spoke of him using a power that did not belong to the light. It was then that I realized I could no longer deny what I had not wanted to see -- my master served the dark side.

Knowing he was expecting an answer, I gave him the excuse I had given the guards. "I was meditating, Master."

His eyes narrowed, and I knew he did not believe my lie. "You were waiting to meet someone, weren't you?" he accused, his voice deep with anger.

I denied it, but he was not so easily fooled. "I should kill you right now for this," he said as he grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet, "but I still have need of you." He pulled me along the path, his actions rough where they had once been gentle.

As we left, I felt two Force-sensitive beings approach. I turned and stared into a pair of blue-green eyes that I had not seen in more than seven years. Though his hair was longer and he now had a beard, Obi-Wan was just as beautiful as I remembered him to be. He stopped and glanced at me, his expression unreadable. Anakin stopped next to him and appeared to be searching the square for someone. Perhaps he was searching for me.

"If you draw attention to us, I will kill them both," I heard inside my head. The warning was clear enough. I did not dare try to alert them, for I knew my master would do as he threatened.

My glance at Obi-Wan lasted only a few moments. I wondered if he recognized me. I did not think so, and I hoped that he didn't. My master would not have hesitated to kill Obi-Wan if he had tried intervene. I could not bear the thought of being responsible for his or Anakin's death.

I looked away and continued to walk with my master, acting as though everything was fine. I could feel a subtle Force suggestion being sent to Anakin, telling him that the person he was searching for was on the far side of the green. Anakin immediately began running to the opposite side of the square, and Obi-Wan followed his suddenly excited padawan. My master smiled, pleased that his deception had worked so easily.

As he led me through the city to the main hanger, I realized what I had done. I had helped the dark side. Boarding the ship, I wondered when my master had turned. Had he already been an agent for the dark side when he first recruited me? I did not want to believe I had been a fool from the beginning.

"Why?" I asked after the ship had taken off. My voice betrayed none of the shock, anger, or hurt I felt. Although I had left the order, I was still a Jedi and I would honor the teachings I had embraced my entire life. It was not lost to me that many of those lessons were taught to me by the very man who had deceived me.

"Have you ever known true power?" he asked as he lips curled into a smile that sent chills through me.

"A Jedi does not seek power," I countered.

His smile only widened at my remark. "My poor apprentice. How much you do not understand. There is much I have to teach you."

His voice was filled with pity and this angered me. "I am not your apprentice," I snapped. "There is nothing I will learn from you."

He laughed at my certainty "You are my apprentice, and you will learn in time."

"Never!" I vowed and turned away, determined to do all I could to make up for my failure.

With reflexes faster than any I had ever seen, he raised his arm and sent a charge of electricity into my body. I couldn't help crying out as my body convulsed in agony. I had never felt anything like it before. As quickly as it started, the agony stopped, though my muscles still continued to twitch.

"You see, Qui-Gon, I am still your master. You will learn what I have to teach you."

He kissed me then, and for the first time, I could feel the darkness flowing through him. His hands groped me and I was repulsed by it. I struggled under his dark onslaught, but it was futile. I was like an infant, weak and helpless. The kiss ended but he remained close, his hot breath blowing against my skin.

"I am your master," he whispered into my ear and sent a strong sleep suggestion with it. The last thought I had before I succumbed was that I no longer knew this man. My master was dead.

Time passed much in a blur after that. My former master, for I could no longer call him my master, kept me with him at all times. Much like a favorite pet, or whore, I accompanied him on his travels, but I was never permitted in public. He didn't trust me, and he was right not to. I would have tried to expose him or escape any chance I had.

I refused to turn to the dark side, though he did not stop thinking of new and tortuous ways to try to convert me. Often, he drugged me, and for days at a time, my connection to the Force would be blocked. Vulnerable, he would enter my mind and alter my memories to confuse me. The confusion lasted only until the Force returned to me. With the light once again flowing through me, the truth refused to be replaced.

I did not give much thought to the planet my former master had taken us to. Imprisoned in the holding cell on his ship, I was used to being taken from one part of the galaxy to another. As was usual with all our travels, he had drugged me with a Force-blocking agent.

I was surprised when his droid entered my cell and placed a small monitor in front of the chair I was bound to. "He thought you would like to watch," the droid said in its mechanical voice as it turned the monitor on.

The image flickered for a moment then cleared, displaying a man suspended in a force field restraint. Blue bands of electricity wrapped around his wrists and ankles. Although the prisoner's back was to the monitor, I immediately recognized my padawan. Fear clutched me as my former master strode into the cell Obi-Wan was being held in.

"My friend, this is a mistake!" I heard my former master say.

Obi-Wan was not fooled. "I thought you were their leader here, Dooku."

I sat quietly and watched as the exchange took place.

"It's a great pity our paths have never crossed before, Obi-Wan," my former master said.

I was suddenly grateful that he had never taken an interest in any of my padawans the way his master, Yoda, had taken an interest in me. I sometimes wondered the reason for it, but I never found the time to ask him.

"Qui-Gon always spoke very highly of you. I wish he were still alive. I could use his help."

I was sure that the turn of the conversation was done more to taunt me than for Obi-Wan's benefit. I could see the pain and guilt in Obi-Wan's eyes at the mention of my name. I had always been vulnerable to my padawan's pain. The most effective way of hurting me was to hurt him, a ploy that my former master was more than willing to use.

"Qui-Gon Jinn would never join you," Obi-Wan hissed.

I closed my eyes as I listened to Obi-Wan defend me. It wasn't true. I did join Dooku. Being forced to listen while my padawan defended me was far worse than any physical torture I had suffered previously. It hurt knowing that I had unintentionally betrayed him.

I tried to block out the remaining part of the exchange, but my former master's cry of "You must join me, Obi-Wan, and together we will destroy the Sith," struck me just the same as if it had been a physical blow.

Please, I begged of Obi-Wan, even though I knew he could not hear me. Do not join him.

"I will never join you, Dooku!" was Obi-Wan's response.

The relief I felt at Obi-Wan's vow was immediately replaced by fear for his life. He was a threat, and I did not believe that my former master was inclined to hold him prisoner, as he had done with me. Caution dictated that any threat must be quickly eliminated. Obi-Wan was going to suffer the fate I had tried to save him from many years ago.

The picture on the monitor faded as my former master left Obi-Wan's holding cell. I sat there in silence, contemplating everything I had done. After a time, my master entered my cell, a wide smile gracing his aged face. He walked to my side and caressed my cheek with mock affection. If he noticed my glare, he gave no indication.

Waving his hand at the monitor, the screen lit up and showed Obi-Wan chained to a large pillar in the center of an arena. In horror, my eyes moved from the monitor to my former master.

"What is this?" I demanded.

"An execution. The Geonosians convicted the Jedi Knight of espionage and have sentenced him to death," he calmly explained.

"No!" I protested. "They can't."

"Ah, Padawan. His is just the first death of many," he said as he moved out of the cell. "Soon the Jedi will be no more."

I struggled against my bindings, but it was useless. I could not escape, as I already knew. All I could do was watch the monitor in front of me.

A cart moved into the arena carrying two more prisoners to their executions. My horror intensified as I realized one of them was Anakin. The young lady I did not recognize.

The probe droid transmitting the events in the arena was too far away to pick up the conversation between Obi-Wan and Anakin, so I had to read their lips in order to understand what was being said. Obi-Wan was angry with Anakin, that much was obvious. Anakin's response was lost as his back was to the probe droid, but I could clearly see Obi-Wan's retort of "Good job." It appeared my apprentice hadn't lost his sarcastic sense of humor.

Several moments passed in silence, and then both Anakin and Obi-Wan stiffened. By the look on Obi-Wan's face, I knew he was formulating a plan, probably against their would-be executioner. He shouted orders to Anakin, and the padawan asked about Padmé, whom I now understood to be the third prisoner. The former queen of Naboo had already released one of her manacles and was atop the pillar, ready to fight.

Three large beasts sauntered into view, each one preparing to attack the helpless prisoners bound in the center of the arena. It was truly barbaric, and I once again struggled to free myself. I could not sit by and watch as Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé were torn apart. I had to help them.

My struggles only accomplished tiring me. Without the Force, I was powerless to help them. Ceasing my movements, I calmed my racing thoughts and tried to center myself. Before I could free myself, I had to purge the drug from my system. Each of my past attempts at purging the drug had been unsuccessful, but I could not fail now. More than just my life depended on my success.

Ignoring the scene on the monitor before me, I closed my eyes and withdrew deep into myself, seeking the autonomic controls for my bodily functions. Without the Force to guide me, I struggled to make the necessary connections. My apprehension at what was happening in the arena plagued me, and frustrated, I ended my first attempt after only a few minutes.

I opened my eyes, surprised to see the arena alive with activity. Sometime during my attempt, a team of Jedi had arrived to rescue their captive brothers. Dread filled me as I watched the battle droids fiercely attack the Jedi. Everything happened very quickly, but I could see Obi-Wan and the determination he fought with, just as he had against the Sith. I was proud of the great knight he had become.

Suddenly, the battle ended. The Jedi and Padmé were forced into the center of the arena, surrounded by battle droids. I watched as Obi-Wan bent to check the pulse of the wounded Jedi lying next to him. By the look on his face, I could tell the young man was dead. Sadly, I recognized him as Obi-Wan's age-mate and friend, Garen Muln.

The sight of the slain Jedi spurred me into once again trying to purge the drug. There wasn't much time left, if it wasn't already too late. Closing my eyes, I focused inward and probed through layers of thoughts and memories. I felt as though I was walking through a thick fog, searching for a place I was not sure I could get to.

I refused to let frustration hinder me, and I pushed through, determined to succeed. At last, I became aware of my body on a level I had never known before. I could feel my heart beat, but unlike before, I could feel each of my heart valves open and close, directing blood into the chambers with each contraction. I was also aware of the blood coursing through my body and of the minute movements of my stomach and intestines as digestion took place.

The sensations were incredible, but I did not linger on them. It was with a specific reason I had entered this plane, and I moved to the area that controlled my metabolism. With a gentle nudge, I increased the rate at which my body processed the drug. After several minutes, I returned the level to its previous rate. I did not want to risk burning myself out. I wasn't concerned with harming self, but rather, I feared not being able to help Obi-Wan and Anakin if I overdid it.

Removing myself from my trace-like state, I could vaguely feel the Force around me. My connection was tenuous at best. It was more than I had before, but not enough to release my bindings. I looked to the monitor then, and was confused by what I saw. The brightness of the arena had been replaced by dark, and at first, I thought the probe droid had been destroyed.

As my eyes adjusted, I saw Obi-Wan and Anakin emerge from a corridor with their lightsabers ablaze. The probe droid moved and expanded its angle so I now had a view of the entire chamber. I could see my former master standing on the far side, regarding the two Jedi as though he had expected them. I could also see a ship off to the side, a ship I recognized to be the one I was currently held in. My heart raced as I realized Obi-Wan and Anakin were very close by.

As I watched, Obi-Wan turned to say something to Anakin, then shouted as Anakin rushed forward to engage the enemy. I shouted also, for I knew what the enemy was capable of. An arc of blue electricity shot forth and ensnared the young padawan, lifting him and sending him crashing into the rocks at the far side of the chamber. Obi-Wan was left to face the Sith alone, just as he had years earlier.

I reached unsteadily to the Force, trying to wake Anakin as I watched Obi-Wan battle my former master. Though a powerful knight, Obi-Wan was exhausted from the battle in the arena. He struggled to block each attack as my former master taunted him with both words and strikes. Soon though, I feared his foe would tire of the game and kill him.

With each passing minute, my connection to the Force continued to improve, but it still wasn't enough to help Obi-Wan. I was desperate. I had to wake Anakin. The boy was slowly starting to return to consciousness, and I continued to poke at him with small Force jabs.

Returning my attention back to Obi-Wan, I could see that the exertion was quickly draining him. The attack was growing more demanding, and he was having a difficult time deflecting the blows. I thought to help him and sent a pulse of strength to him. My touch startled him, and in horror, I watched as his blade was forced down and he missed the blow aimed at his shoulder. He cried out in pain as the red blade slashed his upper arm, and then pulled back and struck his thigh. Dropping his lightsaber, he collapsed to the ground.

"No!" I screamed as I watched my former master stand over Obi-Wan, ready to deliver the final blow. I pushed the last of my strength into one more Force jab. "Anakin!"

As the red blade came down, it was met and driven back by a green one. Anakin propelled his foe away from his wounded master. I don't know if it was my jab, Obi-Wan's cry, or a combination of the two that brought him to rescue his master at that exact moment, but I was grateful. Without him, Obi-Wan would be dead.

Exhausted by my activities, I could only watch what was taking place just outside of the ship. Obi-Wan struggled to get up, but his wounded leg would not support him. Reaching out, he used the Force to call his lightsaber to his hand and threw it to his padawan. Anakin easily caught the saber and powered it on, never removing his eyes from the threat.

Anakin and his opponent circled, each waiting for the other to make the first attack. Suddenly, both moved at once, red blade meeting the blue and green ones. Anakin's skills were impressive. He was a very talented swordsman and had learned much from Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan, clutching his wounded thigh, watched the battle from where he lay on the ground. The worry he felt for his padawan was evident in his anguished eyes. I knew how it felt to watch your padawan battle a powerful foe and be powerless to help him. I sent the last of my strength to Anakin, willing him to defeat the Sith.

As the combat took the fighters around the small chamber, their blows became stronger. My former master was able to maneuver his strike and cause Anakin to lose his green blade. With a downward sweep, Anakin's blue blade cut through the thick power cable, and the cavern suddenly was flooded in darkness.

The intensity of battle increased from there, with red and blue lights swirling in the darkness. Anakin's strength was slowly being spent. As powerful as he was, he was expending more energy with his strikes and parries than his elder opponent, and could not continue to meet the demands of the confrontation much longer.

Anakin whirled around, intent on bringing his blade in a downward side-strike, when his defenses slipped. His opponent took advantage of the opening and brought his blade forward in a controlled motion, severing Anakin's right forearm from the rest of his body. An evil smile appeared on my former master's face at Anakin's scream of pain, and he Force-pushed the wounded padawan across the cavern to land against his wounded master.

With his blade at his side, my former master stalked towards his defeated opponents, smiling in anticipation of their deaths. He had taken no more than a few steps when he stopped and turned around to face the entrance to the cavern. In the dimness, a small figure slowly entered to stand before him.

"Master Yoda," my former master acknowledged, unconcerned by the appearance of his former master.

"Count Dooku," Yoda returned. His voice was calm, but I could hear the tinge of sympathy or perhaps sorrow that was reflected in it. As a padawan, I had spent much time with Master Yoda while my own master was away on missions deemed too dangerous for me. I had grown close to him, and as such, I learned to sense his emotions by his gestures or tone of voice. I could see now that he was greatly saddened by what had taken place.

Five generations of Jedi were in this chamber, although my former master and I were the only ones to know it. Undoubtedly, my former master viewed Yoda's presence as an unwelcome interference, but it filled me with hope, and I thanked the Force for his arrival.

As if sensing something, Yoda looked up and focused in the direction of the ship. His large eyes narrowed and my heart leapt at the thought that perhaps he could feel me. My former master intervened before Yoda could say anything.

Waving his hand, a piece of machinery pulled free from the ground and flew across the cavern towards the small Jedi master. Yoda calmly motioned the machinery aside. Another object was Force-thrown and was again easily blocked. Undeterred, the dark foe raised his hand and sent a bolt of blue electricity, which was easily deflected. Stronger bolts continued to be sent, but each one was deflected or absorbed with ease.

Realizing knowledge of the Force would not procure his victory, my former master used his skill with a lightsaber to engage his former master in a furious battle. Calling on the Force to aid them, the cavern erupted in a frenzy of activity. Their movements were too difficult to follow as Yoda whirled around his larger opponent, his green blade flashing to meet and push back the red blade. It would have been a truly spectacular sight if not for the deadliness with which the battle was fought.

As it continued, neither side was able to gain an advantage. Long experienced in combat, my former master was wise enough to understand the necessity of retreat. Reaching out, he pulled free one of the massive pillars and hurtled it towards Obi-Wan and Anakin, knowing Yoda's attention would be focused on saving the threatened knight and padawan.

Taking advantage of Yoda's rescue, my former master quickly entered his ship and powered the engines, taking off before the heavy pillar was safely placed on the ground. I could feel his anger permeate throughout the small ship, and I knew it would not be long before he would extract punishment for my hand in what had taken place. Perhaps this time he would finally do as he always threatened and kill me.

As the ship lurched in its jump to hyperspace, grief swelled in me. While I was immensely grateful that our distance ended the immediate threat to my beloved Jedi, it also extinguished any chance I had of being rescued. Death was the best I could hope for, but I did not believe it would be granted.

With a sigh of regret, I resigned myself to my fate. I knew there was no hope for me, not for the damned.

Finis