Disclaimer: George Lucas (Lucasfilm) own the rights to the Star Wars Universe. The only profit I make is the joy I have in writing :)
Summary: Qui-Gon puts his past behind him
Author's note: Spoilers for the Jedi Apprentice books by Jude Watson.
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VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED
Qui-Gon Jinn found a quiet room in the Jedi Temple and let his chocolate brown cloak fall to the floor. Dressed in a lose pastel green tunic, he placed a light pillar shaped candle in the centre of the room, igniting the fuzzy wick.
The Jedi Master sat down cross legged in front of the candle and fussed until his position felt comfortable, though his mind was not. He slowed his breathing, so quiet, he could not even hear it and he closed his tired eyes.
"Still brooding, Qui-Gon?"
Any other person, even a Jedi would have perhaps gasped, started, at the very least exclaimed the intruder's name in disbelief.
Qui-Gon opened his eyes, slowly standing to face the newcomer.
"Xanatos."
"Glad I'm finally dead, aren't you?"
A silence between the two followed.
Qui-Gon broke it, though he spoke quietly. "Despite what you may think, Xanatos, I never wanted to kill you."
Xanatos' glowing form scoffed. "Oh, excuse me, only to stop me from carrying out my *evil* plans."
"You would have destroyed your own home world to get to me. You knew sooner or later I'd come, just like you tried to destroy the Jedi Temple."
"You should feel flattered, Jinn ... Anyway, if I hadn't have told you about the Temple, this room would be a pile of rubble. Yoda and the Jedi Council would all be dead, and I doubt that would have done wonders for the Jedi Spirit."
The Jedi Master refused to let Xanatos bait him as he had tried so many times before. "You know perfectly well the only reason you told me was to save your own neck."
The violent flash of anger in Xanatos' eyes was gone as suddenly as it appeared. "Pity, it would've been interesting."
"Why are you here, Xanatos? To gloat? Claim victory for my failure to train you?"
Xanatos gave a disdainful snort. "*Your* failure ... It's always about you, isn't it? Poor me, my Padawan betrayed me. Poor me, he turned to the Dark Side. Poor me, all my wisdom and time wasted..."
"It hurt," Qui-Gon admitted, "but it was never about me, Xanatos, it was about you. I-"
"*You* again-"
"Shut up and listen."
The spectre's eyebrow raised a tad. "Getting feisty in your old age?"
"Even in death you taunt me," Qui-Gon said, dryly.
A short silence followed. "For a long while I blamed myself ... But what could I have done? I understand now that you, Xanatos, were never destined to become a Jedi, no matter how good a master you had."
Xanatos gave a disdainful smile and shook his head. "Gods you were such a pushover sometimes, Jinn."
"And I allowed you to wrap me around your little finger, determined to look past your failings and shortcomings... That was my failing."
"And what, make a Jedi out of me? Make me into a serene goody two shoes?"
"Believe about the Jedi what you will, Xanatos, but I realise now you had your own agenda, your own ideals. You placed wealth and power above life and love."
"And now look at me," Qui-Gon's former apprentice scoffed. "It's your fault I'm dead."
Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "My fault."
Silence followed. "*You* chose your path, Xanatos. A path of greed, power, corruption and fame. *You* chose to harm, destroy and corrupt people, worlds for your sordid exploits. As much as you'd like to believe I came after you to ease my bruised ego, I came after you because you would not stop, even if you had killed me, you would continue to make others suffer."
"Oh of course ... oh so eeeeevil Xanatos ... You always thought you'd be the one to do it, didn't you?" Thought *you'd* kill me didn't you, thought you had to do it because of the pain I'd caused *you* ... What would you have done if your child Padawan had killed me? I'd bet you'd be secretly jealous."
Qui-Gon folded his arms. "You're still trying to make me lose it, aren't you? All those jibes carefully designed to hurt my feelings and piss me off ... Your one last chance to make me lose my cool, so what ... you can gloat to the Lords of Hell that *you* Xanatos were the one who made Qui-Gon Jinn fly into a fit of rage?"
Xanatos' face twisted. In the next moment he smiled. "It was worth a try ... So no parting words of wisdom, *Master?* No regrets, huh?"
"Do not expect me to mourn for you, Xanatos. I mourn for the person you could have been."
Before the look of disdain, Qui-Gon caught the flicker of pain in the other's cobalt eyes.
The darkened floor began to shimmer ever so slightly. Xanatos stepped back, although fleeting, Qui-Gon saw his fear clearly.
Xanatos spoke so quietly, anyone else would have had to ask him to repeat the two words he barely uttered.
"I cannot help you, Xanatos," Qui-Gon said, softly. "There was a time when I could have helped you, but you didn't want it. You chose your path."
"So ... you're sayin' I'm an evil sonofabitch and I'm goin' to Hell."
Qui-Gon gave a small smile. "That's essentially it ... I cannot interfere, Xanatos. Your fate is up to the Forces of the Underworld."
A cold shiver traversed the spirit
"I'm sorry," Qui-Gon said softly.
"I chose my path, right?" Xanatos snorted.
The Jedi Master sensed the fear in his former apprentice. "Yes, and now you must face the consequences."
Another silence followed.
Xanatos's features softened and he spoke softly. "Qui-Gon ... I'm sorry ... I know that I hurt you and I-"
"Anyone else may have found that convincing, even comforting, but I know you too well, Xanatos."
Xanatos looked annoyed.
"It's to my shame that you fooled me before and I'll be damned too if I let you fool me again. Perhaps in time you will relent, but in death you must answer for the pain and suffering you have caused in life. The Force forbids me to interfere and I agree. This is your journey. I can no longer guide you, nor can I save your soul. Perhaps we shall meet again in another time."
Xanatos let Qui-Gon's words sink in and realised with somewhat of a shock, even after all this time and the irreparable rift between them, on a deep subconscious level, he still thought of Qui-Gon as his Master, and had despised the Jedi all the more for it. Though now he looked at his former Master and saw no hatred or anger, only compassion and sorrow and wondered.
Qui-Gon gave an answering smile. "When you understand that, Xanatos, you will be free."
The former Jedi Padawan shivered as the swirling Vortex began to engulf him.
In the split second before he disappeared into the netherworld, Qui-Gon saw a crystal tear streak Xanatos' pale cheek and pass over the broken circle. He sensed a void from his former Padawan and could not be sure if the tear was genuine. For Xanatos' sake, he hoped so.
The Vortex disappeared as quickly as it had come, the candle in the room flickered out.
A cold chill encompassed the Jedi Master which did not lessen when he donned his thick robe.
Another being appeared before Qui-Gon, clad in black and silver.
"Hades."
"Xanatos is in my hands now. You need not trouble yourself, Qui-Gon Jinn."
The Jedi Master nodded and gave a small smile. "I still can't help but think that I-"
"There was nothing you could have done, Qui-Gon," Hades assured. "Xanatos did not believe in Karma. You could not have taught him otherwise."
"Thank you."
"I must leave you now, Qui-Gon. Running an underworld can be quite chaotic."
The Jedi Master smiled. "I can imagine."
"Xanatos will learn his lesson one way or another," Hades promised.
"Watch him," Qui-Gon warned. "Don't make the mistake I did."
Hades gave a nod. "He will be allowed to leave the realms of Tartarus when he has paid for his crimes and when he is ready."
"I trust your judgement, Hades Lord of the Underworld."
"And I respect your compassion, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn."
With those parting words, Hades vanished.
Qui-Gon realised he felt warmer, gathered his candle and prepared to leave the room, not sure if he could meditate here again any time soon. What he needed, he decided was a good long sleep.
As he turned, the door began to glow.
Who is it this time, Qui-Gon wondered, although he sensed no danger.
In an instant a large opening was cut out of the metal door. The smouldering metal clanged to the floor, Qui-Gon, well out of its way, looking a little bewildered.
Obi-Wan burst into the room, lightsaber blaring. "Master! ... I was worried about you ... I sensed darkness and couldn't reach you ... or open the door ..."
"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon had been so deep in thought, he realised he hadn't heard his Padawan's voice in his mind.
Obi-Wan looked around, feeling sheepish. "This was a test, wasn't it?" He disengaged and holstered his lightsaber.
Qui-Gon smiled. "No, my Padawan. Your instincts serve you well. There was darkness here ... Xanatos came to pay a final visit."
Obi-Wan's eyebrows raised.
"Through his gloating, he wanted me to help him ... but I couldn't."
"He chose his path, Master, and he has to answer for it."
"I told him that ... He's scared, but he knows he has to face it. He's in Hades' hands now."
A short silence followed.
"Uhh, Master ... what are we going to tell them about the door?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "Tell them I forgot my keys. It's happened before."
Obi-Wan laughed, then realised his Master wasn't kidding. "*You* forgot your keys?"
The Jedi Master smiled again. "When you're out saving the Universe, Padawan, it's easy to forget your keys."
The young Jedi chuckled. "It's definitely bedtime for you."
Qui-Gon smiled. "Yes, Master."
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Author's Note II: I envision Hades from Xena: Warrior Princess, portrayed by Erik Thomson and in later series, Stephen Lovatt. Very sexy in black ;)
The Xenaverse is owned by Universal. However Hades is a God and is owned by no one :)
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