Disclaimers: George Lucas (Lucasfilm) owns the Star Wars
Universe.
No
profit is being made from this writing.
It is written for the enjoyment of those who wish to share it. :)
Summary: AU:
Qui-Gon finds a new Chosen One, but that's only half of it. And the Sith are interested in the Chosen
One too …
Warnings: Death and resurrection.
Rating
M
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROPHECY
Obi-Wan sat in the shuttle with his Master before they took off. "So what did the Council have to say about this?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" the young Jedi said
with raised eyebrows. "I find that
very strange. In fact I find the whole
thing very strange myself."
Qui-Gon
nodded. "As they say 'truth is
stranger than fiction.'"
"So what did Master Yoda say?"
"Nothing."
"What?
Nothing? Nothing at all?"
"That's right. The Council were too busy to see me. I'll
tell them when I get back."
"What?!" Obi-Wan's eyes were as
wide as planets.
Qui-Gon
simply smiled while his young Padawan shook his head.
"Master you really have gone too far
this time."
"You said that last time we took off
together and we saved nine planets from the brink of war … " Qui-Gon
paused. "I feel so strongly about
this …You've no idea."
"As strongly as you felt about
Anakin?" There was a slight edge
to Obi-Wan's voice.
"Stronger," Qui-Gon replied.
Obi-Wan's
eyebrows raised once more.
Qui-Gon nodded then spoke. "I know how you feel about Anakin,
Obi-Wan."
"Do you?"
The
older Jedi placed his hand on his young Padawan's shoulder. "Anakin set balance in motion before he
died."
"Before or after he turned to the Dark
Side?" The edge was more prominent this time.
Qui-Gon
tried not to feel hurt. "From
birth he was destined to bring balance,
Obi-Wan. Do you regret having to kill him?
The
young Jedi paused before he spoke. No, Master, it needed to be done. I do regret not being able to turn him
back."
"I don't blame you for what you had to
do," Qui-Gon said.
"Thank you, Master."
"The Force had a greater purpose in
mind."
A
pause followed.
"So Master, are we all set to
leave?"
Qui-Gon
nodded.
"So let me get this straight - we're
going to travel to a mythical galaxy which may not exist, to a mythical planet
which may not be there to find one half of a prophecy which may not come to
pass."
"That's essentially it."
Obi-Wan
sighed. "When do we leave?"
"Right about now."
Qui-Gon
started the controls and the shuttle took off.
"I still can't believe you talked me
into this … And I still can't believe you didn't tell the Council…"
"I'll tell them later and don't worry,
I'll take the rap."
Obi-Wan
smiled and shook his head. "I'll
back you up, Master."
"Thank you. I knew I could count on you."
Obi-Wan
chuckled. "Are you ready to create
the wormhole rift, Master?"
The
older Jedi nodded.
"Here goes everything." Gently, he
touched three buttons in a pyramid formation.
"It's beautiful …" was the first
thing Obi-Wan said as a rainbow cloud appeared before them, growing
larger. Qui-Gon smiled warmly and
nodded in agreement as he flew the shuttle in.
As
the shuttle entered, Obi-Wan pointed to a bright spiral galaxy. "At least it's there."
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Why do they call it the Milky
Way?"
"Something to do with one of their
ancient Goddesses. I believe Hera was
her name."
"Don't get too excited yet,
Master. We still have to find the right
planet in over a hundred billion stars and then the someone who will make this
prophecy come to pass … You're so sure about this aren't you?"
"I've never been so sure."
"With all due respect, Master, what if
it turns out that-"
"There is no prophecy?"
Obi-Wan
nodded.
"Then I'll cross that bridge if I come
to it."
The
shuttle sped into the galaxy passing many beautiful stars and planets.
"There," Qui-Gon said pointing to one star. We've reached the right solar system."
"You're sure?"
"I feel my whole body ablaze."
"Are you sure that's not because we're
rather close to that star?" Obi-Wan joked.
Qui-Gon
chuckled. "I'm sure. We're looking for the third planet from the
sun."
The
shuttle came upon a beautiful blue, green and white world, calm and peaceful
looking.
"I'm starting to feel something
too," Obi-Wan said. "Master,
you have my permission to say 'I told you so.'"
Qui-Gon
smiled. "I'll spare you this
time."
"And we still have to find this
prophecy of yours."
The
Jedi Master nodded. "Engage the
cloaking device."
Obi-Wan
did so as they glided through the atmosphere.
The
Jedi Master landed the shuttle in a deserted forest. "I hope you're up for a long walk."
"How long?"
"More than a day."
"Now he tells me," Obi-Wan
chuckled. "Well let's get going then."
Qui-Gon
rather enjoyed the walk, but he sensed Obi-Wan wanted to find what they were
looking for and go home.
The
next afternoon, the two Jedi came upon a busy city.
"Master, surely you won't find your
prophecy here…"
"I'm sensing something," Qui-Gon
said. He closed his eyes. "So many people feel lost and alone
here …"
"And I feel for them, Master, but we're
not here to save this planet."
"Perhaps we are." Qui-Gon pointed to a second hand bookshop
and the Jedi walked in. Qui-Gon could
tell Obi-Wan was doubtful, but he strode to the back of the shop and saw a
young woman sitting down, looking at the science-fiction and fantasy books.
//She feels so alone … so lost in this
world…//
//Master with all due respect, I know you
care for these people, but we're not here to help hard luck cases. We're here to find a prophecy.//
//You don't need to remind me, Obi-Wan, but
I feel a need to help her … I feel drawn to her.//
Obi-Wan
sighed. //Nothing I say will change
your mind, will it?//
//Nope.//
Obi-Wan
smiled and shook his head. Qui-Gon
looked down at what the girl was reading.
A copy of a book called 'Soul Music' by someone called Terry
Pratchett. Qui-Gon watched her for a
few more moments. She seemed engrossed in the book and unaware of him.
Qui-Gon
suddenly jerked. //She's the one!//
//Are you sure, Master?//
//Positive.//
//Out of the millions of people in this
city? The billions on this planet?//
//She's the one. I'd stake my life on it.//
//Master, she hardly looks like a prophecy
…//
//What makes you say that, Obi-Wan? Because she's not as slender and attractive
as some of the ladies you've courted?//
Obi-Wan
became embarassed. //I'm sorry, Master
… She hardly looks like a prophecy … Well, if you're certain…//
//I definitely am.//
The
girl looked up, then she stared at the two Jedi.
"I …I hope we're not bothering
you," Qui-Gon said.
She
stood and shook her head, staring at the two Jedi. "Either you're Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor or you’re
really real…"
"We're real," Qui-Gon said. "I'm afraid I have no knowledge of the
other two you mentioned."
The
young woman reached out and touched Qui-Gon gently. A pleasant shiver ran down his body and he was touched by how
much love this woman had toward someone she had never met.
"You're real … Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan…"
"You know us?" Obi-Wan said,
flabbergasted.
"Of course …" The young woman went
onto explain about the Star Wars saga.
"Incredible," Qui-Gon said. "… You know so much about us and I know
nothing about you."
"My name is Seph," she said. "I'm thirty-two and I love Star
Wars. Especially
Qui-Gon
Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The Jedi smiled and Seph took them home.
"I'm so glad you didn't really
die," Seph said to Qui-Gon.
"So am I," he said with a smile.
"So then what happened to Darth
Maul?"
"He was wounded, but escaped,"
Obi-Wan explained. "He and his
Master are still at large."
"That's too bad."
"They'll be caught eventually and
brought to justice."
"I hope so. Well you boys must be starving after your trip."
"To tell you the truth," Qui-Gon
said. "I haven't thought about
food at all."
"You haven't?" Obi-Wan asked. "I feel I could eat a bantha or
two."
"Well I'm out of bantha, but I do have
some vegie burgers."
"That'll do nicely," Qui-Gon
said.
When
she went to heat the burgers, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon spoke softly.
"Master, you're sure about this aren't
you?"
"Yes."
"Need I remind you again that I had to
kill Anakin? I severed his head from
his shoulders."
"You do not need to remind me, Obi-Wan.
Don't worry. Seph will not turn. The prophecy states that her offspring will
bring everlasting peace to the Universe."
"Which leaves us with the other half of
the prophecy. So where do we look for
him?"
"I haven't the foggiest idea."
"What?!" Obi-Wan whispered,
incredulous. "We come all this way
and you don't have a clue?"
"The only thing I know is that he's from
another galaxy."
"Well that narrows it down,"
Obi-Wan said, sourly, folding his arms.
"Don't worry, Obi-Wan, I have a feeling
it will come to pass."
"And we're to rely on this
'feeling?'"
"It's all we've got."
"Master if I didn't love you so much
I'd strangle you."
"I know," Qui-Gon said, with a
smile.
Seph
brought out the vegetable burgers and salad.
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said. "I wish we could reimburse you."
"It's all right. I'm afraid republic credits are no good out
here either."
Qui-Gon
smiled. "I didn't think they would
be."
And
they began to eat.
"These are delicious," Qui-Gon
said after he swallowed his first mouthful.
"Thank you, but I just reheated
them."
The
Jedi Master kissed her cheek. "It's
the love that you put into them."
Seph
smiled.
After
dinner, Obi-Wan went for a scenic waterfall walk that Seph had told the Jedi
about, sensing his Master wanted to be alone with her.
Seph
placed her arms around Qui-Gon.
"I still can't believe you're
real."
Gently
he touched her cheek. "I knew you
were."
And
they shared a loving kiss.
Obi-Wan
returned from the walk. "It
really is a beautiful walk, Master. There are two lovely waterfalls."
"I'm in the mood for a walk,"
Qui-Gon said, holding Seph's hand.
Obi-Wan
smiled. "You two kids knock
yourselves out."
His
Master chuckled as he left with Seph.
Qui-Gon
and Seph strolled in the small forest.
" I can sense the nature spirits of this
place," he said, turning around.
"It's truly beautiful."
Seph
held him. "Yes, it is," she
said, leading him to the first secluded waterfall. There they sat and meditated for over an hour before walking to
the larger waterfall. There Qui-Gon
picked up Seph and twirled her around, then put her down and they shared
another kiss and remained by the waterfall until well after dark.
"I was beginning to think you'd taken
up residency there," Obi-Wan said when they returned.
Qui-Gon
smiled. "You were right. It was beautiful."
Qui-Gon
stayed with Seph until she had fallen asleep then found Obi-Wan.
"She's sleeping," he said.
The
younger Jedi nodded. "So what do
we do now?"
"We go to sleep and wait until
morning."
Obi-Wan
smiled.
The
following morning, Seph was up unusually early. She heard a knock at the door and went to open it. Sensing danger, at the last moment Qui-Gon
scooped her out of the way as she opened the door. Darth Maul ignited his lightsabre, running the Jedi Master through. Seph screamed.
"Master!" Obi-Wan exclaimed in
horror.
Darth
Maul disengaged his lightsabre.
"Idiot," Darth Sidious
hissed. "You almost killed
her."
"That was not my intention,
Master," Maul said, though he too was a little jarred by what had just
happened. He had meant to kill Qui-Gon,
but he certainly hadn't expected the Jedi Master to sacrifice himself.
Seph
wept by Qui-Gon's body. "Help me
get him to my room," she said.
Obi-Wan
knelt down and gently picked up his Master's body and carried him to Seph's
room. She could sense he was holding
back tears and would cry alone if he could get some time. He left Seph with Qui-Gon and went to face
the two uninvited guests. He glared at
them darkly. "What brings you two
here?"
"The prophecy," Sidious answered.
"What prophecy?"
"Don't play stupid with me Jedi. The same
prophecy that brought you two here. She
will change the Universe as we know it.
She will be untouched by man.
She will drink the blood of a Jedi.
She will wound a Sith Lord and she will raise the dead."
"You've got the wrong girl."
"That remains to be seen."
"Though wounding a Sith Lord sounds
good."
Sidious
ignored Obi-Wan as he sat himself down on Seph's sofa and waited.
* * *
Meanwhile
in her room, Seph gently removed hair from Qui-Gon's face and smiled
warmly. The young woman called upon her
patron God and he appeared before her eyes for the first time. He sat down on the bed next to her and
stroked Qui-Gon's head.
"Can you help him?" Seph asked.
"Yes," the God said. "It is not his rightful time to
die."
He
placed his hand on Qui-Gon's forehead and closed his eyes. The God took a deep breath and centred
himself.
Within
moments, Qui-Gon began to open his eyes.
He looked up at a smiling Seph and a God.
"We brought you back," the God
explained. "It was not your
rightful time to die."
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said, taking
his first breath since he had been run through.
"You will feel tired for some days,
perhaps weeks," the God explained.
"I suggest you take some rest."
"I'm not going to argue."
Seph
turned to her patron God. "Hades," she said, "why do most of the
world think you're evil?"
The
God smiled warmly. "I've always
been misunderstood, even in my own time," he said.
"But you're *not* evil, you're
not the devil and you're not hell."
"I know that and so do you and many
others. The time will come when the world will realise many truths."
Gently
Seph placed her arms around the God of the Dead.
"Thank you," she said.
"I must leave you now," Hades
said, then he disappeared.
"Wonders never cease," Qui-Gon
said, lying his head down on the pillow.
Gently
Seph kissed him.
* *
*
Sidious
had gone for a walk, while Maul and Obi-Wan were arguing.
"All you Jedi ever do is
meditate."
"All you Sith ever do is destroy. You didn't have to kill my Master, but oh
you wanted to, didn't you?"
"Yes," Maul said. "I did."
"But you weren't expecting Seph to open
the door and you weren't expecting my Master to sacrifice himself, were
you?"
"No," Maul admitted after a
pause. "Why would he do such a
thing for someone he barely knows?"
"You don't know my Master."
"Apparently not."
"But then you Sith would never
understand love."
"Love is weakness."
"Love is strength."
"Believe what you will, Jedi."
Seph
came out of her room and looked at the Jedi and Sith apprentice.
"Would you two please be quiet? Qui-Gon's sleeping."
And
she returned to her room.
"Wonderful," Maul said. "She's in denial."
"And whose fault is that?" accused
Obi-Wan.
Maul
glowered.
Seph
slept next to Qui-Gon that night and awoke with him the following morning. Qui-Gon began to get up.
"No, darling you're still very
tired."
"I need to bathe. I'm starting to smell like a sweating
bantha. "
"I hadn't noticed."
"You're just being polite."
Seph
smiled and helped Qui-Gon out of bed.
"Sidious, Maul and Obi-Wan have gone
out," Qui-Gon sensed.
"Not together I hope."
The
Jedi Master chuckled. "No."
"Is something bothering you?" Seph
asked.
Qui-Gon
sighed. "Are you sure you're not
Force Sensitive?"
Seph
smiled. "Perhaps a little."
"Obi-Wan didn't sense me," Qui-Gon
said. "He didn't sense me come
back to life."
"Perhaps he's just too upset."
Qui-Gon
nodded. "Yes, I know, but I would
have thought that he'd have sensed me."
Seph
nodded. "Perhaps he will at a
later stage. Right now he's
grieving. Let's run you a bath."
She
helped Qui-Gon up and lead him into the bathroom. Qui-Gon undressed and climbed into the bath. Seph stayed with him to make sure he was all
right.
"Maul's coming back," Qui-Gon
said.
"Quick, pretend to be dead," Seph
said. "We'll *show* them."
Qui-Gon
giggled, closed his eyes and let his body go limp. Maul entered the bathroom and became quite perplexed at what he
saw. "Excuse me," he said. "I didn't know you were in here."
"I'm giving Qui-Gon a bath," Seph
explained.
"But he's …"
"He's what?"
"He's … Never mind," Maul said,
leaving.
Obi-Wan
returned from a long walk down to the waterfall. He made sure he didn't look like he hand been crying when he
returned. Maul turned to face him.
"She's giving him a bath now," he
said.
"What?"
"She's in the bathroom, right now
bathing a corpse!"
"She is?"
"We must tell her the truth."
"No," Obi-Wan said. "It'll break her heart. She has to discover for herself."
"So we go along with this
charade?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"For as long as we need to."
"Wonderful."
"And where is that dastardly Master of
yours?"
"Force knows. He's prone to taking off for days at a time."
"We'll let's just hope he stays
gone."
Maul
grunted.
Seph
finished helping bathe Qui-Gon. He
climbed out of the bath and dried himself.
"I just got out of bed and I'm tired
again."
"You heard what Hades said, you'd be
tired for days, weeks even. To bed with
you, Mister."
"Yes, ma'am."
Seph
smiled. Qui-Gon leaned against her as
she opened the door and dragged him toward her bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Maul asked.
"Qui-Gon's tired, he needs some
rest."
"Let me help you," Obi-Wan said,
feeling ridiculous. "He looks very
tired."
He
helped Seph get his Master to her bedroom and laid him down on the bed.
"He is very tired," Seph
said. "Thank you."
"Make sure you take good care of
him," Obi-Wan said, tears welling in his eyes, but he willed them to stop
as he went to face Darth Maul.
"This is all your fault," he
hissed.
"All right, it's my fault. Just shut up. She'll come out again and rouse us."
Obi-Wan
managed a small smile, which quickly disappeared when Sidious returned.
"I was kind of hoping you'd taken off
for good."
"So sorry to disappoint you."
"I'll bet."
"Master," Maul said. "The woman is in denial. She believes Qui-Gon is still alive. Earlier today I found her bathing his
corpse."
"Wonderful. Do you see the mess you've gotten us into?" Sidious snapped
at his apprentice.
"I killed a Jedi and I get into
trouble."
Sidious
brutally backhanded him. "Don't
answer back. Well keep her happy. She's
our prophecy."
"How can you be so sure, Master? She has not done one of the things she's
supposed to have done. Drink the blood
of a Jedi. I would like to see
that." Maul smiled.
Sidious
grinned. "So would I, my young apprentice. Patience. I feel that she's the one."
"With all due respect, Master, the Jedi
are sure that she's their prophecy too."
"One of us is wrong."
Sidious
looked at Obi-Wan, who was now becoming unsure. What if she was the Sith's prophecy - but then would a Sith
prophecy fall in love with a Jedi Master?
And if she was the Sith's prophecy, where would that leave the
Jedi? His Master?
Seph
emerged from her bedroom.
"How is Qui-Gon?" Sidious asked.
"Fine, no thanks to you and your rabid
apprentice."
Maul
glowered.
"So what's he doing now?" the Sith
Master asked.
"Sleeping, so be quiet."
"All right."
"Can I get you anything to drink?
Tea? Coffee? Blood?"
"I'll settle for Qui-Gon's," Maul
said with a smile.
Sidious
hit the back of his head. Seph glared
at Maul. "Sorry I'm all out of
blood. It'll have to be herb tea,
coffee, milk, water or juice."
"Herb tea," Sidious said,
"and don't bother trying to poison it."
"I don't have any poison even if I
wanted to."
"And don't bother spitting in it
either," Maul said.
Seph
smiled. "Would I do such a thing?
Obi-Wan what would you like?"
"Some juice please."
"I have pomegranate or mandarin."
"Pomegranate please."
"Coming right up."
Seph
served the drinks and if she didn't know better the Sith actually looked like
civilised people. Obi-Wan finished his juice and poured himself another. He
hadn't felt like anything much after he felt his Master die, but this juice was
strangely comforting.
* *
*
The
next day, Sidious had taken off again.
Maul and Obi-Wan were talking about Qui-Gon.
"Then there was the time where he saved
a small butterfly whose wings had been stuck together by the rain."
"Why would he do such a futile
thing?"
"Because my Master cares."
"Most Jedi don't."
"My Master is more compassionate than
most."
"I can see that. My Master told me compassion is a
weakness."
"Your Master was wrong. Compassion is one of my Master's
strengths."
"Well most Jedi are out for their own
egos."
"Some are, unfortunately," Obi-Wan
said.
"But your Master isn't, is he? He really cares."
Obi-Wan
nodded. "And you killed him."
Maul
stood up and left, going for a walk to contemplate his feelings. When he returned, he sensed Obi-Wan having a
shower and Seph had gone to buy some groceries at the shopping centre down the
street. For Qui-Gon's dinner, no doubt,
he thought. He entered her room and
found Qui-Gon 'sleeping' and sat down next to him.
"You know your apprentice tells me that
love and compassion are strengths while my Master always said they were
weaknesses. Truth is I don't know what
to believe anymore. But it's too late
now, to change the past."
And
with that, he left. Seph returned.
"I was just saying hello to
Qui-Gon," Maul explained to her, "but he's sleeping."
Seph
nodded. "He's very tired, but I'm
going to make him some dinner."
She
began preparing a vegetarian meal for both of them.
"What about us?" Maul asked.
"I'm not your mother you can fix your
own dinner."
Maul
tried to glare at her, but had to stifle a smile.
Seph
took the meal to Qui-Gon who opened his eyes.
"Thank you, I'm starving."
And
they began to eat. When they had
finished, Seph took the two empty plates out of the room. Obi-Wan and Maul
assumed she had eaten both portions.
When she re-entered her room, the young Sith turned to Obi-Wan.
"What are we going to do? Sooner rather than later that corpse is
going to start to smell and fall apart."
"You should have thought of that before
you murdered my Master."
Maul
grunted.
Sidious
returned. "Does she still
believe-"
"Yes," Obi-Wan and Maul snapped.
"This charade has to end soon,"
the Sith Master said.
"I agree," Maul said. "Shall
we tell her?"
"No," Obi-Wan said. "Not yet. Perhaps tomorrow"
* * *
"Shall we tell them?" Qui-Gon
asked.
Seph
smiled.
"No, not yet, perhaps tomorrow."
* *
*
On
the morrow, the Jedi Master awoke.
"I feel like a new Jedi," he said.
Seph
smiled. "You're okay now."
He
yawned, stretched and nodded.
"It's time," he said, hearing the
Sith arguing with Obi-Wan.
He
emerged from the room, ruffling his hair, then looked at the three, staring at
him with open mouths.
"What's the matter?" he
asked. "You three look like you've
seen a ghost."
"We have," Maul said.
"Master …" Obi-Wan stammered.
"Yes, Obi-Wan?"
"You … you're alive…"
"Yes, of course I am."
Maul
stood. "But I ran you through
…" He poked Qui-Gon.
The
Jedi Master winced. "Do you
mind?! That's still tender. He lifted up his shirt, showing the scar.
"This calls for an explanation,"
Seph said.
"I should think so," Sidious said.
Seph
explained to them what had happened.
Sidious
smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant one.
"She will raise the dead," he said.
"A pity it had to be Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan
glared at him.
Later,
the young Jedi met his Master alone in Seph's room.
"I cried my eyes out down by the
waterfall and you were alive all this time?" He sounded a little angry.
Qui-Gon
sighed. "Yes, I was."
"Master, I was heartbroken."
"I know. I sensed your pain."
"Then why did you lead me to believe
you were dead?"
"Obi-Wan you did not sense my
resurrection. You did not sense me come
back to life."
The
young apprentice sighed. "And that
hurt you," he said.
Qui-Gon
nodded. Obi-Wan placed his arms around
his Master. "I'm sorry. I was too much in my own mind. It won't happen again."
"I certainly hope not. I don't want to go through that again, a
beautiful gift though it was."
Obi-Wan
smiled, then looked serious. "You're going out alone with Darth
Sidious?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure that's wise?"
"I sense no danger."
"The Sith are masters at hiding their
agendas."
"I know, but I sense he just wants to
talk, gloat more like."
Obi-Wan
sighed. "Are you sure about Seph?
I mean Sidious is sure she's their prophecy. She can't be both now, can she?"
"I'm not so sure."
"Master how can she be both? The Sith prophecy is worded rather …
darkly."
"I'm sure Darth Sidious will tell me
all about it."
"I'm sure he will. Be careful, Master, we wouldn't want to have
to resurrect you a second time."
Qui-Gon
chuckled. "Rest assured,
Padawan. I'll be on full alert."
"Behave yourself," Obi-Wan said
with a smile.
"Of course." Qui-Gon smiled back.
The
Jedi Master left with the Sith Master.
Worried, Obi-Wan watched them go.
Seph knew Qui-Gon would be all right.
She beckoned to Maul who was quite surprised that she wanted to talk to
him. She lead him down the corridor
then stopped abruptly and spoke to him softly.
"If you hurt my baby again, I'll rip
off your horns and gut you with them.
'Kay?"
"What?" Maul growled.
"'Kay?" She said pleasantly.
She
then turned to leave. She did not see
Maul smiling.
* *
*
Out
and about, Sidious smiled at Qui-Gon, but the smile was far from pleasant. "You've been given a rare gift, Jedi
Master."
"Yes, and I don't intend on wasting
it. Now what did you want to
discuss?"
"The prophecy."
"I thought so."
"She will raise the dead, which she has
done. She will wound a Sith Lord, Maul
probably and she will drink the blood of a Jedi. I do so hope it's yours."
Qui-Gon
smiled. "We'll see."
"What about your prophecy?"
Sidious asked.
"Her offspring will being everlasting
peace to the Universe."
"That's all?"
Qui-Gon
nodded. "No blood drinking. Sorry to disappoint you."
"Her offspring. Which implies there is another half of your
prophecy."
Qui-Gon
nodded. Sidious pondered.
"She can't very well be the same
prophecy then."
"I'm not so sure about that,"
Qui-Gon said.
"She also will be untouched by any
man," Sidious said after a pause.
"If you so much as *think* about it, I swear I'll sever your orbs
with my lightsabre."
Qui-Gon
chuckled. "You make it sound like
that's all I'm thinking about."
"Isn't it? You can't deny wanting to lie with her."
"No, I can't."
"My point proven."
"Is it? I take it you've never experienced love or sacred sex."
"Sex is a filthy, dirty business."
"My point exactly. You've never loved anyone."
"She was a whore on Coruscant's lower
level."
"That's hardly love. Sex can be sacred if it's with the right
person, someone you love dearly, but if you believe love is a weakness, you're
going to find it very, very difficult indeed."
Sidious
grunted as Qui-Gon left him.
* *
*
Obi-Wan
was glad and relieved to have his Master back alive and well. Neither him nor Sidious said anything upon
their return. Seph hugged Qui-Gon and
they shared a heartfelt kiss. Sidious
glared at Qui-Gon, who smiled back, deepening Sidious' hatred.
Against
Obi-Wan's better judgement, Seph went for a walk with Darth Sidious, though
Qui-Gon did not sense any danger.
"You haven't spoken to me in over an
hour," Sidious said, as they walked.
"What's there to say? You're evil you've never loved, you probably
don't even know the meaning of the word."
"Love is weakness."
"I bet that makes you popular with the
ladies."
Sidious
smiled, though again it was not pleasant.
He offered her his hand, but Seph refused it and she continued to walk,
the leaves crushing under her feet.
"I like the sounds of leaves crushing
under my feet," she said to him.
"I suppose you like the sound of people and planets crushing under
yours. Let alone wildlife and
nature."
"That isn't fair," Sidious
said. "You know so much about me,
My Dear, and I know so little about you."
"I'd like to keep it that way."
"Need I remind you that you will drink
the blood of a Jedi?"
"Not likely."
Sidious
smiled unpleasantly. "We will
see."
Obi-Wan
was relieved when Seph returned unharmed.
Qui-Gon too was happy to have her back, though he knew she had not been
in any danger. The Jedi Master was growing tired again, but he went to prepare
dinner. He began chopping vegetables
and accidentally sliced his finger.
Seph felt sorry for him and lovingly licked his wound. Sidious watched in disgust. After the bleeding had stopped, she placed a
Harry Potter band-aid around the wound.
Qui-Gon
went back to preparing the dinner. Maul
came to Seph and placed his hand upon her shoulder.
"What's for dinner?" he asked,
coming closer to her.
"Vegetarian."
"Great," he said with a smile.
Strange
Seph thought. Usually Maul hated what
he called 'rabbit food.' Seph then she realised, pushed his hand off her
shoulder and went to Qui-Gon, ignoring Maul.
Maul glared with hatred at the Jedi Master, then his expression softened
when he watched Seph instead. Sidious
watched with interested disgust. He
took Maul aside. "When the prophecy
is fulfilled, I want you to kill Qui-Gon again, Obi-Wan … and her also."
"Yes, Master."
"You hesitated before you answered
me. You've never had a problem with
killing before."
"Must we kill her too?"
"Yes, otherwise she'll just bring them
back."
"Yes, Master," Maul said. "It will be done."
* *
*
Seph
retreated into her room and lay on her bed.
She sensed someone lying in the covers.
The covers peeled themselves back to reveal Darth Maul. Seph looked at him.
"Qui-Gon, you've done something with
your hair, haven't you?"
No
sooner, Qui-Gon came into the room.
Maul
smiled. "I came to warn you,"
he said. "My Master wants you both
dead."
"I figured that," Seph said.
Maul
climbed off the bed and left.
"Thanks for the warning," Seph
called after him.
Qui-Gon
held her close.
After
dinner, Seph went walking to the waterfall with Obi-Wan.
"You are the prophecy," he said.
"So it appears, but I've never been
that important before."
He
took her hand. " Believe me, you are."
"So," Qui-Gon said to Darth
Sidious with a smile. "Has she
drunk the blood of a Jedi yet?"
"Yes," Sidious answered.
Qui-Gon
looked a little perplexed.
"Just now when she licked your wound,
effectively, she drank your blood."
Qui-Gon
smiled. "So it was my blood she
drank. Well it looks like one of your
fondest dreams have come true."
Sidious
glared at the Jedi Master.
"But Master," Darth Maul said,
"she still has to wound one of us if she is our prophecy."
"She did that when she rejected your
love."
Maul
squirmed. "I thought I hid it
pretty well."
"Hid it?" Sidious hissed with
disgust. "It stuck out like dogs'
bollocks."
Qui-Gon
smiled. "Well it's settled then
Seph is both our prophecies."
"So what now?" Sidious asked.
"We wait."
"We haven't got time to wait,"
Sidious snapped.
"We must wait," Qui-Gon said in a
tone that brooked no further argument
Sidious
turned to Maul. "So when did you
decide that you-" he started.
The
young Sith felt uncomfortable discussing this in front of the Jedi Master, but
he did anyway. "When she told me
she'd rip out my horns and gut me with them if I harmed Qui-Gon again."
Sidious
smiled. "She's an interesting
one."
Qui-Gon
smiled too.
* *
*
Just
after an hour later, Obi-Wan returned with Seph. Qui-Gon felt something as he walked toward her and took her
hand. His whole body began to tingle as
he retreated into Seph's room with her.
He stared into her sea green eyes.
"The prophecy is starting … But we have
not yet found the other half …"
Seph
started at Qui-Gon. "I feel it
now. The other half is you."
Qui-Gon's
eyes widened. "Me, but I … How can
I …"
"Qui-Gon, you're too modest."
Qui-Gon
smiled as he held her. The Force
caressed them in swirls of light, growing brighter and brighter.
"Something's happening," Sidious
said.
"I feel it too," Obi-Wan said.
Maul
nodded. Sidious marched to Seph's room
and flung open the door to find both Seph and Qui-Gon in each other's arms,
waves of light swirling around them. It
was the most beautiful thing the Sith Lord had ever seen, but he refused to
admit it.
A
large wave of light swirled around them.
Qui-Gon and Seph touched it gently, knowing that this was their
offspring, a being made of pure love and the Force. The wave took off to fulfil the prophecy. Qui-Gon held Seph in his arms and he noticed
both wounds had cleared up and there were no scars. Gently, he kissed her.
They both almost collapsed.
Obi-Wan caught them and lowered them to the floor. He picked up his Master and carried him to the
bed, then picked up Seph and placed her next to him.
"They must rest," he said, in awe
of what had just happened.
Maul
was too, but he said nothing as he left with his Master.
"After they have rested, I want you to
kill them both."
"Yes, Master," Maul said, without
hesitating this time.
* *
*
The
next afternoon, Seph awoke, and saw Qui-Gon was still sleeping. She smiled lovingly at him, but didn't want
to wake him. She went to find Obi-Wan.
"Qui-Gon's still asleep, would you join
me for a walk?"
"I'd be happy to," Obi-Wan
said. "You are truly a beautiful
person."
"Thank you, so are you and your
Master."
Obi-Wan
smiled as she lead him down to the waterfall.
This
time he could sense the nature spirits.
Maul
entered Seph's room with his Master.
Sidious stood in the doorway.
Maul approached Qui-Gon, who was awake, but too weak to defend himself.
"This time there will be no
resurrection," Maul said.
Qui-Gon
sensed there would be death, but he looked at the Sith Lord, unsure.
Maul
smiled. "Did you really think I
would let you live?"
At
the doorway, Sidious smiled too as Maul ignited his lightsabre.
"Come closer, Master," Maul
said. "Do you not want to see the
pain on his face when I slowly disembowel him?
Sidious
approached his apprentice, grinning evilly.
"Well get on with it. Kill
him."
"I intend to."
Without
warning, Maul ignited the other half of his lightsabre, running his Master
through. In shock, Sidious fell to the
floor.
"You disgust me," Maul
glowered. "You see the most
beautiful thing you have ever seen and you want to destroy it? You loved her too, didn't you? And you wanted her dead because you could
not have her."
Sidious
winced in pain as Maul withdrew his vermilion sabre.
"You despise Qui-Gon because you can
never be like him. You can never
experience love so you want to destroy it. Compassion and beauty will always be
a mystery to you, so you shun them."
"Look … how weak he is…" Sidious
rasped.
"Weak only in body which will pass soon
enough. Strong in spirit. And you are weak too, Master. Look at you grovelling on the floor beneath
my feet. You disgust me."
"Please..." Sidious rasped.
Maul
swung his lightsabre and severed his old Master's head from his shoulders. At that point Obi-Wan and Seph came rushing
in. Obi-Wan ignited his indigo
lightsabre.
"It's all right, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon
calmed.
"Master …"
Maul
disengaged his lightsabre. As did
Obi-Wan.
"I'll get rid of the body," Maul
said, bundling up Darth Sidious' body and head in his black robe and he left.
"Master … I sensed pain …" Obi-Wan
said, kneeling down next to the bed.
"What you felt was the Sith Lord's pain
and despair."
"But what if Maul intended to kill
you? We would have been too late."
"I was never in any danger, Obi-Wan,
otherwise the Force would have alerted you sooner."
The
young Jedi smiled. "You're wise,
Master."
"As are you, my young Padawan."
Seph
sat next Qui-Gon and held him.
Half
an hour later Maul returned. No one
wanted to ask him what he had done with the body.
"I will return to our Universe,"
he said, "and take an apprentice and teach him or her in the ways of the
Dark Side, but I will not train my apprentice to despise Jedi. The hatreds of the past are over."
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said, heartfelt. "It appears the prophecy has come to
pass."
Maul
left to find his ship.
* *
*
"I'm going to stay here with
Seph," Qui-Gon said. "At
least for a while."
"You're staying?" Obi-Wan sighed. "Hey, are you sure you don't just want to stay because you
don't want to face the Council when we get back?"
"Blast. You got me," Qui-Gon joked.
"Seriously, Master, are you sure?"
The
older Jedi nodded. "I love her too
much to leave her."
"I'll miss you so much."
"And I you, my young Padawan, but
remember we'll always be near."
Obi-Wan
hugged him and Qui-Gon returned the embrace.
He
told the good news to Seph.
"I'm delighted, but aren't you going to
miss your home?"
"Yes, I will, but I want and I need to
stay here with you."
"I'm not complaining."
Seph
smiled as she hugged her Jedi Master.
* *
*
When
he returned, Obi-Wan delivered his report to the Council.
"Told us he should have," Yoda
said.
"Yes, Mace said. "Something of this magnitude we should
have been informed, but Jinn has done it again."
Obi-Wan
smiled. "Indeed he has."
"The Universe is at peace at
last," Depa Bilaba said.
"Calls for a celebration this
does," Yoda said.
Obi-Wan
smiled again. "Let us all have a
night on the town."
"You're on," Ki-Adi Mundi said with
a smile.
The
Jedi Council members stood to have a great night out.
Obi-Wan
looked out of the window to a distant bright blue star, knowing his Master was
there in the arms of his love, knowing that his fondest desire of peace had
come true.