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Author	Topic: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 11/2/09
DRS Registered: Dec '06	Date Posted: 4/29 4:28pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 9/22/08
	Aw, sorry to hear that diane. Hope things get better soon. -----signature----- .:}\DragonRidingSorceress/{:. Adoptee of evil-incarnate \\//, Live long and prosper MTFBWY! Star Gate doesn't have a catch-phrase, does it?
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 5/31 10:24am Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 9/22/08 - Date Edited: 5/31 4:44pm (1 edits total) Edited By: dianethx
	I know I haven't updated in almost a year. I had writer's block for the longest time but I had a more difficult problem. I've grown away from Star Wars. I know, I know. I never thought I would, either but I can pinpoint it very precisely – the day they killed off Jacen Solo in profic. I'd been reading the books for years, loving them, defending them when they got darker and darker. When they killed off Mara Jade, I thought it was a hard thing. I don’t think it was done well but she was a character who had been relegated to the sidelines for so long and it – sort of – made sense. But when they killed off Jacen in the same series, it was just too much. It was a like a switch flipped and I just couldn't take it any more. I dropped off the boards for the most part and stopped reading new stories. They are not less brilliant but I just can't. So, I will finish this and my Jacen story and maybe occasionally post on my drabbles thread maybe but that will be pretty much that. I'm hoping that someday the love will return but I'm making no promises. I'm really very sorry. Edit: for those who want to know what I'll be doing now that my Star Wars love affair has died, I'm still writing but for Merlin fandom instead. It's a new tv show starting June 21 on NBC but it's been playing in England since last year and I've seen all the episodes on youtube. I adore it so at least I'll still be writing. Thanks for asking. ardavenport – nope there isn't a whole lot of wiggle room on this one. I love writing Palpatine because he's so deliciously evil. Yes, Obi-Wan needs to avoid the dark but will he? You'll just have to wait and see. Loved seeing you at CC. It was great fun! Musing – I love cliffhangers. Palpatine is pretty much in charge with this scene. I don't know if he'll be worse off when we see him again. LOL on the cliffhangers. I'm resolving one in the coming post. Glad you enjoyed the story. Thanks for keeping up with it all these years. Jedi_Perigrine – I'm glad that you enjoyed this. I had a great deal of fun writing Palpatine. He's just so evil that I can really push the envelope with him. Sorry I didn't update sooner but… I'm hoping to update again more quickly this time. There's only a couple of more posts anyway. Thanks for reading. Valairy_Scot – sorry I haven't been keeping up with your story as I should. Like I said above, my love of SW has died and much as I've tried, I can't seem to get it back. Your stories are always so wonderful that I hope you keep writing and sharing your talent! And don't ever think your stories are less that terrific. You've always done beautifully in character, language or plot. As for Palpatine's voice, yes I got it from the novel. I thought I should include it a bit and give my story a bit of weight. Seremela – I love writing Palpatine because he's just so evil that you can go over the top a bit with him and it makes sense. He's a planner, although he doesn't know everything and in the end it's his downfall in ROTJ. So I like to make him almost superhuman but not quite. LOL on the cliffhangers. I love cliffies but since I'm coming to the end of the story, the cliffies will start to resolve themselves. Yes, next stop Naboo and we'll find out what happens with Maul and Mace and Anakin. Thanks for reading. Gkilkenny – I must admit that I do like Palpatine as a character. He's just so evil that it’s fun to write him. As for winning totally, we shall have to see. I'm one for happy endings usually but we'll have to see with this one. Thanks so much for reading. Leona – LOL on the evil one. He thinks he's won. We shall see. Ocelotl_Nesto – Thanks. Glad you liked Palpy's POV. We shall see if the Jedi triumph or not. Thanks. Kivas – The Jedi were ready for treachery but I'm not sure how ready they were for what they faced. Thanks for reading. jedidas3 – How are you doing?? I haven't seen any updates lately. I hope my not kicking butt is keeping you from writing. Glad you liked it. Kitara – gotta love cliffhangers!!! They are always such fun to write. Thanks for sticking with this for so long. Almost done. Nem – Sidious has his blind spots. He's not all powerful even in the movies. Tharten was his puppet for so long that he'd become the tiniest bit complacent but of course he had others waiting in the wing for her to slip up. As for the Jedi, they are bluffing a bit. Sle'fey isn't exactly in the light and he's been using people for years. We shall see if it will work out in the end. Yes, you are right about the rumors. There are always rumors. As for Amidala, do you think she'll walk in at the crucial moment? Hee! Thanks. I love cliffies. bek – LOL. It probably would have been better if he had sliced and diced the guard but then it wouldn't be so dire. Obi-Wan will be concerned about Qui and I'm sure he'll try and protect him if he can. As for the Jedi leading Palpatine on, they had to. I just hope they have enough backup to defeat him. It doesn't look good. Thanks for reading. Cole_Kenobi – LOL. Well, Sidious is the evil overlord. He might win after all. Glad you liked it. Darth_Leia_6669 – Thanks so much. It was really hard to write something so tense and yet I had to keep all of the threads in order. It was difficult. Thanks for reading. Ara-gon – yes this last post had no resolution but the next one will. I'm glad you liked it. As for Amidala, she really did need to show up since she's still Senator from Naboo and a friend of Qui-Gon's. Thanks so much. And thanks about the unemployment issues. I'm doing better than expected with it. Jaira – Thanks. Glad you liked it! Independence1776 – LOL. Palpatine does think he has the upper hand. Thanks! wolf_kenobi – I love writing Palpatine. He's just so creepy. Thanks. Yes, that was a cliffie but this next one resolves a few things. Thanks for reading. Tahi – I hope things are going better for you. LOL about the Jedi scum. Yes, Sidious really hates the Jedi but he does use them well and the Senate, too. Thanks about classic Sidious. He's just so much fun to write. Thanks. Glad you liked it. mujiapple-jiucey – Well, you'll just have to wait to see who died. Thanks. darshaassant – I am pretty darn cruel but I do love my cliffhangers. Thanks. DRS – sorry about the slow updates. If I could have, I would have. Thanks about the unemployment thing. It's better than I thought it would be. Kynstar – things are going well enough. Unemployment pays the mortgage and I'm much better off than most. Thanks. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 11/2/09 jedidas3's Master Merlin - Diplomatic Immunity - http://boards.theforce.net/nswff/b10808/30459852
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 5/31 10:26am Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 9/22/08 - Date Edited: 5/31 11:20am (2 edits total) Edited By: dianethx
	When last we saw Mace and Anakin, they were in the barn with Maul and the fight had just begun. Chapter 36 - Dance Macabre Death was rocketing toward them. Anakin stepped back, staring at the Treadwell as it tumbled madly through the air, its mechanical arms whipping about in a frenzy, its bulk careening into equipment and roof supports as it traveled the length of the barn. In its wake, a destructive chain reaction of metal and biologicals and half-shredded boards wrecked havoc as everything collapsed into chaos. Yet despite every obstacle, the Treadwell kept on coming. Beyond it, behind it, Anakin could almost see the great tidal wave of darkside energy gathering up the wreckage, a thousand sharp edges and shattered parts, and pushing it towards them. And somewhere in the gloom, a monster in black and red, was laughing. Anakin’s vision began to tunnel. That rsshak slime was mocking them, mocking him. Furious, he ignored the noise of collapsing droids, deranged glee, and exploding debris. He ignored the mountain of destruction bearing down on them both. He ignored the bright light of Windu's blade whirling in the darkness and his own lightstaff strobing madly in his hand. He could only think of one thing - the murderer would pay for this, would pay for everything. It was more than calling him Windu's pet or laughing at him. He'd hurt Le'orath, maybe killed her and he'd killed many others, Bendu and innocents alike, even Jedi. He would make sure the demon from hell didn't escape again and not even a storm of droid parts and rubble would stop him. It was justice, not revenge that drove him, no matter what Windu might say. Now the harsh whisper of righteous rage, seductive and strong, was growing. He could feel the strength of it, feeding on his determination, fueling his power. And he gathered it into himself; he knew he would need it to overcome that Zabrak slime. Another small voice in the back of his head was warning him that power was not enough, that rage was of the dark, but he shook it off. Now was not the time for doubt, not with danger coming toward him at breakneck speed. Gathering the Force, the immense energy surging under his grasp, he raised one hand in front of him, and shoved it back toward the debris storm. Invisible to the eye, he could feel it growing like a tidal wave and meeting the wreckage head on. Shattered parts and the bulk of the Treadwell slammed into the barrier. For a brief moment, it looked like it would not be enough. The debris was bulging toward him like some great hand pushing against melting flimsiplast. The sound, too, was hideous as more and more of the wreckage piled into the invisible wall of Force energy. He couldn't hear Windu but he knew the man was saying something, shouting at him. He didn't dare answer, instead poured ever more energy into the battle. And then everything, jagged metal parts and mechanicals and dirt, crashed to the ground. The sound of it filled the gloomy air. He sent a frantic glare toward Windu, just in time to see the man lowering his arm. As the noise subsided, Anakin could hear soft crying in the distance, a child's grief. Now that the Zabrak's attack had been foiled for the moment, he worried about Ben. The boy was stubborn and reckless at times. Ben might try and come out of his hiding place, might go after the monster who had hurt his mother and Anakin knew it would be disastrous if he did. They wouldn't be able to protect him and take down the killer at the same time, not without a great deal of luck. Anakin didn't believe in luck. Apparently, neither did Master Windu. "Ben, stay where you are." Hardly above a whisper, the man managed to make it sound like a command. There was a sniff of protest but it quickly subsided when Windu said, "We'll be as quick as we can but you have to stay hidden, Ben. It's important. You have to promise me, Ben." "Yes, sir." The kid sounded scared. Anakin didn't blame him but he was also relieved that Ben hadn't argued harder to help them. He certainly didn't want him to get in the way of this fight. There was too much potential for the boy to get hurt or killed. It was already more than a little dangerous, even with one of the finest swordsman in the Bendu group by Anakin's side. Now Windu turned on him. Winter cold, he said sharply, "Anakin, the dark side won't defeat him." "Master, I didn't...." He wanted to explain, wanted to tell the Bendu that it hadn't been darkness but justice motivating him. He didn't have a chance to finish because there was another crash of something at the far end of the building. Contemptuous laughter echoed past, filling the barn with scorn. "Perhaps I will have some sport after all," the voice sneered out. Waves of darkness were flowing into the Force, muddying his senses and Anakin couldn't pinpoint the Zabrak's location. "Your little pet may have a few paltry tricks, Windu, merely child's play. Shall I gut him for you as I did the woman?" A growl rumbled deep in Anakin's throat. In some remote part of his mind, he realized that his hands were aching; he was holding his lightstaff so tightly that he could feel the carvings imprinted into his skin. Hatred and a growing need to destroy the rsshak slime shook him to his core. Windu must have sensed it. He was shaking his head. "Focus, Anakin." "I am focusing." He tried not to sound furious but now was not the time for a damn lesson. "I'll go right and flush him out. You be ready...." "He's playing you, Skywalker." Distaste colored Windu's voice, frowned across his face. It was almost too much. Anakin had been trying to do the right thing and all he got was condemnation. He pushed down at the fury pounding into his heart, beating at his brain. He didn't believe Windu's claims that the monster was just trying to get to him, just trying to make him angry enough to make a mistake. He had felt the truth of what the slime had said, that he'd gutted Le'orath and laughed while he did it. "Skywalker...." "Don't!" Anakin did not want to hear one more word. A single breath from that sanctimonious overbearing man and he'd leave him behind and finish off the murderer all by himself, vision be damned. But Windu didn't know when to shut up. A snarl of whispered orders, and Anakin had had enough. Ignoring him, he started to turn away. He was going to find the Zabrak and kill him and Windu could shout himself hoarse for all he cared. Anakin sent his senses outward into the thickening shadows, looking for the center of it, knowing that the corrupt darkness would tell him exactly where the enemy was hiding. Then as he probed, he found the slime, could feel the murderer beginning to move toward Anakin's location. He tried not to gloat. There would be time enough for that later. Instead, he pulled himself upward, began to twirl his lightstaff as though to taunt his opponent, twisted forward to meet his fate. And his stupidity almost cost him everything. The Force shrilled a warning, giving him only nanoseconds to duck. Then there was no time left at all. A storm of metal shards sliced the air and embedded themselves into the wall behind him. For a brief moment, he didn't feel anything, thought the Zabrak had been stupid enough to miss him. After all, Anakin was one of the best Bendu apprentices at the Sanctuary and he was unmatched with a lightstaff. Surely he'd managed to destroy everything in his path and remained unscathed. Then agony blossomed in his left arm. Frowning down, he realized that he was pinned to the wall with broken droid parts. He'd managed to evade most of it. But he could feel the daggered metal cutting into muscle, see the blood soaking his sleeve. And the pain, his arm felt as if it were on fire. He was in trouble. Distantly, he could hear Windu shouting. But Anakin felt strange, black spots annoying his vision, an angry buzz whining in and out just beyond his reach. He blinked furiously, hoping to clear his head of confusion. There was a monster about to kill him and he couldn't afford to lose focus. He began to pull frantically at his arm, the pain driving him further into dark-edged bewilderment, his mind turbulent with warning. His right hand moved up; his lightstaff blazed with green light as he waved it drunkenly toward the growing danger. The scene blurred for a second and then there was a sweep of red fire coming toward him. In that instant, he knew he was going to die. And the realization that he'd failed Qui-Gon, failed Le'orath, failed Ben was almost more than he could bear. But as he flinched, waiting for the blow, suddenly Windu was there. Purple blazed across Anakin's perception. Mace shoved the Zabrak back with a vicious sweep of lightstaff and pure power. Anakin watched as he matched the killer, thrust for thrust. The dip and lift of colors were blinding, the plasma arcing between the blades a roar of sound. As Anakin's vision began to clear, he could see the killer giving way, his snarled fury cutting the air. Windu was forcing him back and back, was pushing the bantha slime at every turn, drawing him away from Anakin. It was a brave thing to do and foolish. Master Windu needed backup; he'd not be able to destroy the creature on his own. Anakin's visions had shown him that. Struggling to remain calm when all he wanted to do was rush into battle, knowing that every second was a second closer to destruction, Anakin pulled at one of the twisted metal shards pinning him in place. And with a fierce tug, the piece came free. Pain flared bright as blood. He ignored it, ignored the black spots that threatened to pull him into unconsciousness. He didn't have time. Impatient, he pulled the second piece of Treadwell out of his flesh, flung it to the ground. His fingers felt wet and warm, slippery with hurt and his arm was near-useless; all he could feel as he moved was thin-wire agony. But he was free. Free to stumble forward like a damn crècheling. Weak and worthless. Not for long. Anakin grabbed the Force with everything he had in him, used it to shove the pain aside, to push it into a little corner of his mind he could ignore it for now. No matter how much the agony might shriek across his skin. He would pay later, when he had time but Mace needed him. Le'orath needed him. And Ben. The few moments he'd taken were costly, however. Windu was at the far end of the barn, battering at the Zabrak but even Anakin could see that he was tiring a bit. The monster was not letting up, seemed to be reveling in his fight. The ghastly grin on his tattooed face was almost rabid with enthusiasm. When Mace sent a purple sweep aiming for the slimo's belly, he leapt high, reaching the second level and leaned against one of the vertical beams. Tattered black cloth and mottled skin and that damnable smile, he stared down at Mace and chuckled. "Is this the best you can do, Windu? I'd heard such praise of your talents. I am.... disappointed." There was no reply. Anakin half-staggered toward the pair but Windu waved him back. They both knew that the Zabrak's position gave him the advantage. High ground would be easy to defend. But they could not let him go, no matter what. "A final warning. If you surrender now," Mace said calmly, "I will guarantee you a fair trial." The slimo just laughed, mocking him with yellow-hate eyes. "I doubt if your little pet would agree." "Surrender and you have my word." Anakin just wanted to tear the monster apart and there was Master Windu negotiating. He didn't think he'd understand the Bendu Champion in a thousand years. But the slight lull meant that he could inch forward and maybe knock out the beam holding up the loft above, maybe bring the Zabrak to ground. "Jinn's whore screamed well enough. But Windu, your woman," another chuckle and then he said, warmly, "and those pathetic brats of yours might give me more sport." The Force was a sudden chaotic swirl of reds and dead blacks and cold, so cold. Shivering, Anakin turned a startled eye toward Windu. Even at this distance, he could feel the fury radiating off him but just as quickly, it vanished. There was still a hard set to his eyes and a thunderous frown on his face but it would seem the Bendu Champion had control again. "Their rotting corpses will make fine additions to my Master's collection." The killer kept trying to goad Windu, obviously hoping to drive him back into fury but without success. Mace's voice was flat and sure. "Surrender. I won't ask again." The black-shrouded Zabrak was still laughing when Windu made his move. Durasteel balance bars and exercise rings, used for training and chained high in the vaulted ceiling, began to plummet, swaying wildly as they reached the end of their tethers and then swinging, curving up toward the second level where their enemy stood. And as Anakin watched, Windu leapt high, his lightstaff a brilliant sheet of purple light. The Zabrak jerked backwards, obviously thinking that Windu was going after him. But instead, Mace swept through the balance bars, cutting them, halving them all, and melting the rings into sharp slag. The durasteel groaned as the pieces cooled but the attached chains kept them from crashing to the ground. Windu sent a wave of Force energy toward the ruined equipment and all at once, half-melted chunks of metals were swinging wildly, back and forth, up toward the second level where the killer waited. A curtain of giant elongated beads shuddering in the wind. It was almost comical to see their enemy trying to avoid getting hit by the heavy objects. His lightstaff was busy, coloring everything in a red haze. But slicing through the durasteel didn't reduce the danger, only increased the random nature of it all. It also gave Anakin a chance to go on the offensive. Rushing forward, his lightstaff ready, he began to push biologicals and the remnants of shattered machinery into the air, creating a storm of debris that he sent crowding toward the Zabrak. The killer snarled his annoyance and began to shove back, using the Force and flattened droid parts as shields against the blast of wreckage and swaying metal. But it seemed to be taking its toll on the creature. For all his bravado, he didn't seem to handle multiple attacks well this time around. Anakin let himself feel a moment of deep satisfaction before rushing forward. Perhaps they would destroy the rsshak slime after all. Windu was already in motion, grabbing onto one of the chains and using it to swing himself up to the second level. Far enough away from their enemy and out of the main target area of debris, he dropped lightly onto the floorboards. His purple lightstaff was brilliant in the shadows as he began to run toward the Zabrak. Wanting to shout to Windu not to approach the killer on his own, to wait for him, but knowing it would just distract the man, Anakin growled his impatience. It was clear that he would have to stop what he was doing. Sending wave after wave of scrap toward the killer would just wipe out any advantage it had brought to the fight. But that didn't mean that he'd stand aside and let Windu attack the Zabrak alone. Avoiding the still-swaying metal bars, Anakin gathered power into his hands and flung himself upward, landing at almost the same point Windu had been moments earlier. The pain he'd been ignoring so well flared suddenly, and black spots were beginning to threaten behind his eyes. But he shoved it all aside. There wasn't time. Mace was already fighting the slimo, trading blows almost too fast to see. The glare of purple and red was a residual wash of brilliance in the darkness and they were both hidden behind it; Anakin could track better the echoes of plasma spitting hate than clearly see what was going on. But even the sounds were desperate. Windu needed him. The second floor was a narrow space, used mostly for storage and this day wasn't any different. Anakin had a balance his way along the edge, hurrying, all the while trying to figure out how to get past the Zabrak and box him in. There wasn't enough room to leap over him and attack from the rear. And Mace was driving the killer back all on his own. All Anakin could do at the moment was distract the Zabrak. With a concerted Force effort, he pulled on the chains, sending the metal slag soaring upward once more. Aiming straight for the killer, toward his back, toward his head, any vulnerable part that could be used to disable him. The tattooed being must have felt the change, almost turned to combat the new menace and in that instant, Mace cut the Zabrak's lightstaff in half, straight down the center, at its most vulnerable point. Anakin wanted to cheer. The slimo would be powerless against them now. But the sound of triumph strangled in his throat. He barely had time to breathe before the Zabrak was pressing his attack again, battling Mace with all the power of the dark. "Look out!" Shouting a warning, there was little else Anakin could do but stand there and watch in horror. It wasn't possible. Instead of melted electronics or the sputtering of a single blade, the killer now had twin sabers, both still working, both still deadly. It shouldn't have happened. The weapon should have been rendered useless. Not like this. It wasn't possible! Mace was in trouble. A lightstaff was no match for dual sabers wielded by someone so well-trained. And Mace didn't have time to uncouple his own weapon and change it into two blades or else reach for the second lightstaff still tucked into his belt. Anakin grew desperate. Somehow he had to help Mace before it was too late. He grabbed at the half-melted training equipment with the Force, shoving them toward the Zabrak over and over again. But it didn't seem to faze the killer in the slightest. He was grinning that death's head smirk of his, avoiding all Anakin's attempts to dislodge or hurt him. Frustrated beyond measure, he pushed at the slagged rings, at the metal bars even harder, more ferociously, hoping to do something to turn the fight around. But instead, the chaos of chain and durasteel began to twist into themselves, knotting, rendering them all but useless. He didn't dare do more. He couldn't jump into the battle with his lightstaff in the narrow space, couldn't pull out his blaster and shoot the slimo for fear of hitting Mace or else having the bolts ricochet back. Instead, he did the only thing he could do – twist the latches on his lightstaff and pull it apart so that he had two lightsabers available to bring down the killer once he had the chance to get to him. All the while, he was looking around desperately for a chance to attack. A single strand was starting to unravel from the knot of durasteel chains. He knew he had to try and catch the Zabrak before it was too late. Using the Force, Anakin jerked the chain free, grabbing it, pushed off, swinging outward as fast as he could. He was just about to alight on the floorboards behind the killer and rush in to help when it happened. It was almost too blinding, too fast to see. Blood-red seemed to encase the Bendu, the flash of purple plasma interrupting the corrupt flow almost as an afterthought. Even as Anakin jumped free, the crowd of heated strikes grew closer, more focused and intense. Mace had his staff holding back one red saber but he couldn't quite reach the second. And in a blinding flash, the black-clad monster cut into Mace's chest. "No!" It was his nightmare all over again. Mace was falling, falling, furious red brilliance sliding through his chest and saber arm, blood boiling into a fine mist as he plummeted to the ground. The barn echoed with shredded screams and the hiss of a lightstaff still clutched in a cauterized hand. Anakin felt rather than heard Mace hit the floor but the agonized cries turned into silence and the frantic buzz of plasma cut off abruptly. He didn't dare look. The killer had twisted around, both of his sabers shrieking death; there was amused hunger in his eager eyes. "Your turn, little pet," he laughed, mocking him. Furious with grief and the knowledge that he was likely going to die in the next few moments, Anakin snarled back, "Come and get me, slimo." Then he jumped down, out of reach. He wasn't going to make his death easy or quick and maybe, just maybe he could take the Zabrak with him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the tattooed monster following. Already moving, Anakin leapt over Mace's still form, tried to ignore the bubbles of blood frothing at the open wounds in the Bendu's chest, tried not to vomit at the sight. He needed a clear space. If it was going to be a fight to the death, at least he would show that bloody fiend a thing or two. At the center of the barn, he turned around, thumbed on both sabers and stood there, watching his fate approach. The gloom had deepened and he could hear rain beating on the roof high above his head. The storm must have arrived while they were fighting and it seemed appropriate now, that the last thing Anakin would ever hear was the sound of falling water. He would have almost smiled at the irony if the situation hadn't been so dire. The Zabrak was stalking closer, looking so much the predator that Anakin shivered. The feral grin on his face, the way he spun each saber around spoke of hunger, of a lust for destruction unheard of among the Bendu. His yellow-hate eyes promised agony. "Foolish little boy," he snickered. "You should have run while you had the chance." "Bendu don't run from the dark. They defeat it." Even to his ears, it sounded stupid, like a child playing the holovid hero. But there would be no stirring climax, no happy ending. As Anakin straightened, his chin lifted in defiance, there was another mocking laugh and the Zabrak jumped for him. Twin lines of blood-red light promising death, twisting, swirling in the shadows. Anakin's green blades were busy, blocking, staving off bright plasma in a whirlwind of heat, and choking terror. Saber light was everywhere, chaotic, hated, and the damn slimo wouldn't stop smiling. Anakin stumbled backward, desperately trying to avoid getting skewered, wracking his brain trying to remember where Mace's body lay. He didn’t need to trip over him. He was having enough problems just staying alive. Back and back, frantic, growing more furious with every blow, Anakin was starting to shake. He'd lost a lot of blood and black spots threatened at the back of his eyes. But he refused to accept his defeat, refused to let this abomination win. He couldn't let him. Circling around the barn's center, one taunting endlessly, the other defending as he tried to find a way to take the killer down, they were both so focused on their battle that nothing else mattered at that moment, not Mace lying motionless a few inches away from Anakin's feet, not Le'orath's fate or Ben's. Anakin had to destroy him and soon before his strength gave out. Leaping forward, avoiding the twin slashes of bright plasma a hair's-breadth away, Anakin was frantic, looking for any way to bring down the slimo, pushing and prodding and letting his fury fill the universe. And it was working. The killer began to back up, his smirk gone. Reacting, Anakin shoved one blade forward and another swiped toward the Zabrak's head, so close, burning skin and carving through one horn. Snarling rage, the black-clad being met both blades with his own and sliced… Into Anakin's arm. The agony was red-tinged, his body on fire, his vision blackened and falling fast into the void. Anakin let out a howl, his other hand convulsing on the saber hilt, swinging it wildly toward his enemy. White noise, his throat raw with screaming. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe and still he stepped forward, trying to destroy the one who had done this. And in his confusion, as he charged the smirking animal, forced him back and back, there was a sound, the far-off impossible snap-hiss of a saber. Which couldn't be right because no one else was here but still he heard it and at the same moment, the Zabrak was screaming as the bright purple of Mace's blade sliced through his leg. The slimo tilted sideways, burnt meat and the spray of misty blood and as the sound of Mace's saber died, Anakin had just enough sense to lift his lightsaber and drag his blade across the tattooed throat. There was a moment of stillness, an infinity of surprise and fury as the universe held its breath. And then the snarling head toppled off and rolled away into the shadows and the body folded into oblivion across Mace's blood-covered chest. The murderer of Jedi and Bendu alike was dead. At last. Anakin's world was still racked with pain, but black-tinged vision and the feeling of spiraling into unconsciousness sent adrenalin-panic skyward. Falling to his knees, gathering what little strength he had left, he pulled at the meaty corpse and dragged it off Mace's body. Panting, his voice half-destroyed, he still managed to whisper, "Mace? Master Windu?" Impossibly, the man was not dead, although the rise and fall of ragged breath was growing fainter with every moment. "Skyw…?" "The killer's dead. But how?" Anakin knew there was only seconds but he needed to know. "You…." "Force… needed…me… help… togeth…." Hitching breath and a shuddering rise. "Trust… in… Force, Skywa…." There was only a slow exhale and then silence. And Anakin slid into black oblivion. ************************************* A slow drag upward. The sheeting agony of flesh cooked like meat. Anakin didn't want to rise into awareness. That way lay pain and defeat and the knowledge that he hadn’t been able to save…. Far off, or right next to his head, there were sounds of arguing and the whine of speeders nearby. His back hurt – odd since his arm was on fire and he felt bruises against his face. More whispers. Calling for back-up and healers and fire-suppression units. Thunder in the distance and the smell of charred wood and rain. Didn't want to think about what that meant. He tried to turn over and found himself tight against straps. Never liked to be tied down and his brain kept yelling at him to wake up, that there was something to be done. Ben. He needed to get to Ben. He couldn't… Qui-Gon would never forgive him. Ben. There was a cool spray of something against his neck and the fire in his arm subsided into mere pain. He blinked once, twice and damn if his mind didn't focus on the man looking down at him. Pavel, Parol… what was his name? He knew it, knew it well. And it was important to tell this person about Mace. Somehow. The man, Pavel or Parel or something, leaned forward, frowning. Mumbled nonsense about medication and arms and… he couldn't understand him but Anakin kept nodding. And then his mind drifted clear. Mace, Mace had died and that monster, too. He needed to get to Ben; the kid was in the barn and he was probably crying. Croaking out, Anakin said, "Ben, is Ben all right?" Pavel, Pavel Janson, that was his name, nodded. "Ben is fine. We've sent him to the Sanctuary. Your mom will be looking after him while you're at the healers." Anakin relaxed, his brain starting to glide back into the shadows again where softness lay and the absence of pain. But there was something else, something about…. Fear cutting into his head, frantic, he struggled against the restraints. "Le'orath, she's… that slimo said he…." Janson looked like he was going to vomit. He pushed Anakin back down and touched something cool to his neck again. The shadows drew closer. It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair to keep the truth from him. "Please, tell me. Is she…?" "Anakin, she's alive but just." The edge of his vision was blurring, black spots dancing in his head. He tried so hard to push it all away. "Alive?" "Yes, Anakin, alive. She's on her way to the Healer's ward, now. She's badly burned but…." Janson wouldn't stop babbling but he kept getting smaller and smaller and Anakin wanted to sleep and it really wasn’t fair because he wanted to know and…. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 11/2/09 jedidas3's Master Merlin - Diplomatic Immunity - http://boards.theforce.net/nswff/b10808/30459852
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Musing Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 5/31 11:25am Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	I got the first post!! And what a great post! Maul finally got what was coming to him, but at Mace's expense. Really tough lesson for Anakin, but it doesn't seem that he learns in any other way. Glad to hear that Le'orath survived, along with Ben. Although you didn't completely resolve this cliffhanger, dianethx... What happened to the baby? I'm sorry to hear about the demise of your affection for Star Wars, dianethx. No more stories from such a great writer like you is saddening, but understandable. I guess it's true that all good things come to an end eventually, but I hope it won't be forever.
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Seremela Registered: Jul '08	Date Posted: 5/31 3:54pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09 - Date Edited: 5/31 4:13pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Seremela
	dianethx posted: I've grown away from Star Wars. That's so sad to hear. I know it happens, but still, losing such a great writer as you is hard. Personally I never got into the EU, only read a few with Han Solo in them as a main character, as long as they were very close to the movies. And I'm reading JA, because they have Qui-Gon in them, but no, I just never managed to see the books as more than authorized fanfiction myself. The movies are Star Wars for me and I just can't get into all those new characters myself. But when you did get into them and liked them a lot, like you, than I can totally understand getting dissapointed when they go a way you can't follow. I'm very, very glad that you've decided not to just dissapear and leave your readers hanging, but finish your stories, that is wonderful and very gracious of you, thank you! And you came back to the story with a bang! What a really intense fight! I was at the edge of my seat the whole time and very, very worried. And now Mace! Anakin was so completely young and teenager here, I just hope that what Mace did will keep him in the light. And oh, there's still a tiny bit of hope for Le'orath. But the baby... choking up now -----signature----- Winner of WWTF round 2
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Healer_Leona Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 5/31 4:05pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Funny how easily it is to jump back into your fic Diane. That was fantabulous action, though I did tear up at poor Mace's demise. I thought for ha;f a sec he had been faking the severity of his injury, but no such luck. Things change Diane, but I understand losing the love of SW. I hope you have found a new outlet for your creativity then. -----signature----- Break away from everybody Break away from everthing If you can't stand the way this place is Take yourself to higher places
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Cole_Kenobi Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 5/31 6:42pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Wow. Just,wow. You've still got it. The writing in this chapter was awesome. Well done. And I'd like to say thank you for the update! I too, have lost interesnt in the Star Wars universe but story updates like yours just keep me coming back, so thanks for bringing me back, maybe it'll help me remember how much I liked these stories.
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Ocelotl_Nesto Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 6/1 9:57am Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Back! What a post!... Mace is down and out, Anakin pulls an upset. You may have some Mace fans who would claim that he could have rocked the Sith, but in this AU the Zabrack has had a ton of experience and is a killing machine. Definitely more dangerous than in the Phantom Menance. Very well done. Welcome back.
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jedidas3 Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 6/3 4:55am Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Ask me how happy I am to see an update for this story! You still amaze me, Diane. Your ability to paint a story with your words is truly a gift. It makes me so proud that I can say that I was your last Padawan! -----signature----- New Story: No Regrets http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29659791/p1/?18 See bio for complete list of stories
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ardavenport Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 6/3 8:41pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Aaaaaaaah, that's one Sith down. Whew. And mother and son are fine. Good for Qui-Gon. Very satisfying Of course,, there's that other Sith out there..... I wonder if Palpatine will realize that Maul is gone? And that was a nice CC. It was great sharing a room with you....and not just because of the DVDs of the Merlins you brought. But everything you've said about the darkening of the SW books just makes me extra glad that I gave up on the EU books back in the early 1990's. Not even Zahn's trilogy could get me very interested. Ah well. If the spark isn't there, it's not there. It's just gone somewhere else. -----signature----- Links to all fics -- http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=25405090&brd=10304&start=26223917 The Heart of the Jedi -- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26013327 ---- Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, JA and everything you wanted to know about lightsabers
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 6/4 6:20am Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Yay! Finally an update! Great job, Diane, I've been looking forward to a conclusion to this for a long time. How rude of you to keep us in suspense for so long. Great work! I love how it was teamwork that undid the monster, even between two men who didn't like each other much. Good stuff! I'm looking forward to the next update! -----signature----- Check out the Talons! They RULE! http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28126755/p1 I can't believe Darth Writer's Block only abandons me for NaNo. NaNo word count: 52,501
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Gkilkenny Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/8 3:55am Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	You write great stories. Thanks for writing them. -----signature----- Proud Padawan to p_stotts Peace over anger - honour over hate - Strength over fear. Links to Stories in my Bio. Obi-Wan forever.
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bek Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 6/21 5:37pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Oh, my gosh... That was intense! I can't believe Mace is dead, but then he went out as the Bendu he was. I'm glad Anakin and Ben are all right and that there's at least a chance, even if a slim chance, that Le'orath could live...but is the baby all right? I hope everything works out back on Coruscant. This was well worth the wait, Diane. And as far as your Star Wars writing days coming to an end...your creative story telling will be missed!! Good luck in your new fandom. -----signature----- Update 6/23/09 - Chap. 42 - Life Beyond the Code (OWK/Anakin) - Saga Update 9/3/08 - Strength to Begin Anew - (OWK/QGJ/Xan) - Saga Update 9/24/09 - Stuck in Yesterday - NM Sequel Update 11/10/09 - Somewhere in the Middle - (OWK/QGJ) - Before Saga
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Kivas Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 7/3 12:04pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	It's understandable that the passion for Star Wars has faded for you - it did seem way too quick to get rid of Mara and Jason in the same series. Please, please, please post an update soon Great post. -----signature----- Spectres they may be, Your spectres they are Hurt you they can.
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Jaira Title: FanForce Arkansas PR Officer Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 7/3 9:43pm Subject: Betrayal (Obi/Qui angst - very AU) Updated 5/31/09
	Holy cow! That was so intense, so wonderful! I hope you find time and bunnies for the next post soon... -----signature----- Where has all the Siriwan gone? Need a fun break? http://z9.invisionfree.com/Jello_Anarchy/
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