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Author Topic: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xan. Updated 11/7 Xan and Obi encounter
jacen200015  4777 posts
Registered: Jan '02
6129_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/16 1:22pm Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xan. Updated 11/7 Xan and Obi encounter - Date Edited: 11/7 8:00pm (19 edits total) Edited By: jacen200015
Title: Descent Into Darkness
Author: jacen200015
Timeframe: AOTC
Genre: AU
Characters: Obi-Wan, Zane (OC), Anakin, Padme, Xanatos and others.
Summary: The Senate is terribly divided and the Separatists threaten war. As the Republic descends into chaos, Padawans Anakin and Zane find themselves making choices that could affect the future of the Republic and the Jedi Order. Sequel of Family Bonds.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, I’m just borrowing it for a while. I also don’t own any of the Dune quotes and any other things of Dune that creep in.
Note: Did you know that George Lucas got a good portion of ideas from Dune? I didn’t realize this until now, there are so many similarities.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Here is a picture of Obi-Wan and newborn Zane that earlybird-obi-wan created.


Here is a picture of Qui-Gon and Zane meditating that earlybird-obi-wan created.


Prologue

Zane lay on the soft grass of the garden and enjoyed the humid warmth and the singing birds. It was his favorite place to come to early in the morning, before everyone else woke up. He felt at peace here in the garden. Here he let his worries and frustrations drain away. But it only lasted for a short time, for when he left the garden to begin his daily routine, all the worries and frustrations would come rushing back to him.

He had spoken to Anakin about this and he agreed, for he felt the same way. A brief period of peace and then it felt like the darkness was trying to drag them into its current. It was worrying, and didn’t help all the other concerns in a Jedi’s life. Privately Anakin had told him how, ever since he left Tatooine, a coldness gripped him. Anger still came easily to him, and Zane confessed silently that anger came easily to him as well. Oh, but he wasn’t about to let his master or his father find out.

His father did know about Anakin’s anger issues and attempted to have Zane go on most of their missions with them in hopes that his presence would help Anakin to think before he reacted. Alas, it has not solved the problem, only dampened it. Of course, having two boys with anger issues each trying to keep the other from doing something stupid didn’t really work. A few bad events were avoided, but it wasn’t the best way of dealing with the issue.

The darkness was ever pulling at them, ever grabbing at them with its sharp claws of power. The darkness tempted Anakin to strike down the slave trader Krayn, but Zane asked Anakin if the slave trader deserved a quick death and so Anakin backed off. The slave trader was brought to trial, but on his way out of the courtroom he was shot and killed by a relative of one of his former slaves.

There were other incidents on other missions that were close ones, but there were the missions where Zane would be the one getting into trouble before Anakin. They got yelled at more than once, but Obi-Wan always had a valid reason to being angry and frustrated at them. No matter how hard they tried, something would set them off and they would go headlong into something without informing Obi-Wan.

There was a time when Anakin tried to humiliate Ferus, who had improperly fixed Tru’s lightsaber by not saying anything, but Zane had seen the mistake and fixed it. Later on, Anakin realized how stupid he was after a vicious battle. Ferus was using Tru’s lightsaber – and if it had gone out, someone would have gone to defend him and probably would have been shot to death in the process due to the viciousness of the fight. It was a secret kept between him and Anakin after that.

Then, there was Qui-Gon, Zane’s master. He just knew something was wrong with him, but he would act as if nothing was wrong, and Obi-Wan would not reveal anything. It was annoying – at seventeen years old he wasn’t a child anymore. He could take it. Why did they refuse to say anything to him? He saw through the excuse that the Council wanted Qui-Gon to stay in the Temple and teach classes. He was not dumb. Qui-Gon never went on missions anymore, not since Naboo ten years ago. Even when Zane went to get his lightsaber crystal, he went with Obi-Wan and Anakin under the excuse that Obi-Wan wanted to be the one to do it since Zane was his son.

The list could go on and on. Over the years he had finally come to the conclusion that the Jedi were a bunch of hypocrites. He had told Anakin this and he agreed. Anakin had come across an interesting statistic that actually showed that there had been a decline in the amount of Jedi in the Order over the years. Together they concluded that the Order was dying.

Research was done on several Jedi who lived hundreds of years ago. Simikarty, they found, had written papers about the Jedi code that became highly popular and influenced the future Jedi of his time. Part of his texts included things like how masters should have limits in their number of apprentices and that there needed to be an age limit where padawans could and couldn’t be taken to be trained. Eventually his writings were fully accepted as canon.

Then there was Jedi Master Kagoro, who insisted that Jedi should not have personal belongings. Jedi Master Odan-Urr, however, was more heavily scrutinized, for it was he who revised the code almost four thousand years ago in an attempt to make it easier for Jedi to understand. Unfortunately it was not at all clearer, but for some reason, Jedi had accepted the new version for almost four thousand years now. The original code before that, however, had existed for more than four thousand years!

In the old days, Jedi got married and had kids. In the old days, there were dark Jedi like there were now. In the old days there were Sith roaming about as was the case now. The change in the code, the attempt to make it clearer, had not done an ounce of good, and yet the Jedi still followed it.

The original code read: Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force. It had a different meaning than the current code: There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force.

The original code accepted that there is emotion, but one can be at peace, whereas the current code seemed to reject the idea of emotion and said that there was only peace. The contrasts could go on. Master Odan-Urr did write some helpful teachings but his view of the code and what it means was flawed. Anakin thought he could correctly explain the original code in a way that was understandable, but he felt that he was not the right person to do it. Even if he was, he said, it was not the right time.

As he pondered these things, Zane found himself engulfed in a vision.

Water dripped slowly down a rock wall, falling and bursting as it hit the water below, causing ripples to form and spread outward. His vision flashed with a bright light as the image shifted and changed. People he knew and didn’t know and places he knew and didn’t know flashed before him. He saw an explosion of a ship, saw Shmi Skwalker take her last breath, a desert planet with two moons, the current chancellor in his office sitting at his desk, Xanatos staring out his window in his office, the death of many Jedi, hundreds and hundreds of battle droids.

As quickly as the vision came, it left, leaving Zane sweaty and breathing heavily like he had just run a marathon. He wiped the sweat from his face with the sleeve of his cloak and then simply remained still as he evened out his breathing. He closed his eyes again and drew on the Force to help calm him and to help him relax despite the disturbing vision that he just had.

“What are you doing?”

Zane slowly opened one eye and then the other and saw a familiar face with dark brown eyes, black hair and light brown skin looking down at him. “Aren’t you up early?” he asked the four year old.

Mari giggled and shook her head. “It’s after 0800.”

Oh frell. I’m late! Zane quickly got up and straightened his tunic and robe, brushing off bits of dirt and grass that clung to his clothing.

A small hand tugged at his cloak. “Will you eat lunch with us later?”

Zane glanced down and saw a mop of auburn hair and a pair of gray eyes peeking through the bangs of the four-year-old. “Maybe tomorrow. Now I really got to get to class.”

“You said that yesterday,” Mari said, crossing her arms.

“Yeah, I heard you say it,” stated Chian, a light brown nikto with green eyes.

Zane sensed the other members of the bear clan start to approach him and quietly groaned. Twenty against one, better make a run for it. He pried Thaddeus’ hand off of his cloak and then ran for the garden’s exit.

The bear clan younglings watched Zane run off before going back to finding a meditation spot. Thaddeus’, nicknamed Tad, walked over to Mari, who had a datapad in her hand. “Where did you get that?”

“It was in Zane’s pocket,” Mari responded as she examined the simple, black, rectangular pad.

“He’s gonna miss that,” Chian stated, his face serious.

Mari smiled. “I know.”

Tad frowned, looked back over his shoulder, and then back to Mari. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Mari shrugged and handed Tad the datapad. “Keep an eye on it for us.”

Taking the datapad, Tad retreated deep into the garden, where his favorite meditation spot was. He glumly sat on a smooth rock that was just his size, next to a small rippling brook. He turned the pad over and over in his hands. It was Zane’s class pad that contained homework assignments, papers, reading material, and even a private journal. Zane was not going to be happy at all. Worst off, Tad would automatically be blamed for swiping the datapad since he had it in his possession.

He attempted to meditate, or at least stay still and quiet, but he was filled with too much nervous energy. Making a decision, Tad hopped off of the rock and dashed for the garden’s exit, but didn’t have to go far before he saw Zett walking past the garden’s exit. “Zett!” He called.

Zett stopped and looked at Tad. “Yeah, aren’t you supposed to be with your group?” the seven-year-old asked.

Tad nodded. “Yes, but Zane dropped this after he left the garden.” He handed Zett the datapad.

Zett hesitated before taking the datapad. “I’ll get this to Zane for you.” Noticing Tad’s worried expression he added, “I won’t tell him it was you who gave it to me.”

“Thank you,” Tad said with a smile and then dashed back into the garden.

~*~*~

Anakin paced the cockpit with a restless energy before sitting back down in the cockpit chair and resetting the hyperspace coordinates for the final jump. There was a nagging feeling in the Force, a sense of foreboding. Almost like the feeling he was getting in his dreams about his mother, but this one was different, not at all related to the dream.

Patience, he reminded himself, but it did little to settle him. Leaning back into the chair, Anakin mentally examined the different possibilities for the nagging sensation.

He had been having some disturbing dreams about his mother. In his dreams, his mother would become as fragile as glass and then would shatter. Over and over again, this dream kept playing in his head – every night for the past two weeks, give or take a couple of days. But as he noticed earlier, the nagging feeling was not related to his mother, although he did feel a great amount of worry and concern for her.

Maybe it had something to do with Padme being on her way to Coruscant to address the Senate based on a rumor he had heard over the comms.? No, somehow he knew that she was safe – the nagging feeling felt more like someone was in danger, someone very close was dying.

“You reset the coordinates!” Obi-Wan Kenobi said to the young padawan.

“Just to lengthen our time in hyperspace a bit,” he explained. “We’ll come out closer to the planet.”

Obi-Wan gave a great and resigned sigh as he sat down in the co-pilot’s seat and looked again at the coordinates Anakin had plugged in. There wasn’t anything that could be done now since they had already made the jump. “We cannot exit hyperspace too close to Coruscant’s approach lanes. There’s too much congestion for a safe flight. I’ve already explained this to you.”

“But—”

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan said pointedly, as if he were scolding a pet perootu cat, and he tightened his wide jaw and stared hard at his padawan.

“Yes, Master,” Anakin said, obediently looking down.

Obi-Wan held the glare for just a moment longer. “I know that you’re anxious to get there,” he conceded. “We have been too long away from home.”

Anakin didn’t look up, but Obi-Wan could see the edge of his lips curl up in a bit of a smile.

“Never do this again,” Obi-Wan warned, and he turned around to leave the shuttle’s bridge.

“Even if someone we know is dying?”

Obi-Wan halted midstride and spun around, his shoulder length hair flying.

Anakin looked out of the viewport and his gaze took on a distant look. “It was a small nagging sensation before, but as we get closer to Coruscant it almost feels like a sucking void in the Force.” Anakin sighed and shook his head. “I’m not sure how to describe it. The sensation is different when a non-Force-sensitive dies.”

Obi-Wan made his way back to the co-pilot’s seat and slowly sat down, noticing the expression one has when they fall into a trance-like state.

With an extremely loud, sharp intake of breath, Anakin came out of his trance, his eyes wide and his heart pounding furiously.

That was when Obi-Wan felt it, an irregular pulse of his bond with Qui-Gon.

Together they voiced Qui-Gon’s name in horrified realization.

Obi-Wan looked back at the coordinates again, forgetting the scolding he had just given Anakin. “How much longer before we reach Coruscant? Can we get there any faster?”

“About five minutes,” Anakin said as he automatically moved his hands over the controls to find a lane that was not usually very busy so that they could get through Coruscant’s traffic congestion to get them home even faster.

 

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If I review then PM me when you update. thanks so much.
Send me your completed 'the saga' stories! happy
Check out my new story Descent Into Darkness
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Do or do not, there is no try.
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Ganki  665 posts
Registered: Jan '02
20874_Obi-Wan Kenobi
Date Posted: 3/16 1:31pm Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
Addicted already happy Ironic being that I just read and finished the prequel to this, lol.

Leaving it like you did though is cruel now I am dieing to know what is wrong with Qui-Gon and what will happen to Zane if he ends up dieing? (so many questions....)

Looks like this fic is promising, great post.

Looking forward to more (aka. hopefully soon) happy

 

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“The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.” ~Norbet Platt
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Valairy_Scot  4119 posts
Registered: Sep '05
Date Posted: 3/16 3:26pm Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
Oh,my, all these little twists to events from JA and all. So, Zane is 17 and Naboo was 10 years ago - now I finally know how old Zane was in the first story!

But what's going on with Qui?

 

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http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_resource/b10304/25405090/p3/?52 Prolific Author thread: list & links there.
Muse fueled by coffee. Often AWOL despite frequent sipping.
Writes on inspiration, not a schedule.
2007-2008 the quality years
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snowspeeder_gunner  1629 posts
Registered: Apr '07
Date Posted: 3/16 9:24pm Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
This is Qui-Gon's illness, right? worried

I do love dynamic going on between Zane and Anakin- I'm interested to see where this will lead.

Also, Anakin is Paul! Kinda. tongue

 

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haha! it's like the stars are my icon!
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Yoda-i_am  272 posts
Registered: Jun '06
48149_Yoda (42109)
Date Posted: 3/17 11:18am Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
NOT QUI GON!!!!!


Already addicted if you do have one please put me on the pm list.

thanks in advance

Y

 

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"Difficult to see, the future is"
"May the Force be with you"
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jacen200015  4777 posts
Registered: Jan '02
6129_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/18 7:22am Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
Ganki: Addicted already Ironic being that I just read and finished the prequel to this, lol. heehee happy

Leaving it like you did though is cruel now I am dieing to know what is wrong with Qui-Gon and what will happen to Zane if he ends up dieing? (so many questions....) Well, i can say that it has to do with the disease he found out about in Family Bonds.

Looks like this fic is promising, great post. Thank you happy

Looking forward to more (aka. hopefully soon) Maybe by tomorrow. I want to get another chapter finished before i post so that i can stay ahead.

Valairy_Scot: Oh,my, all these little twists to events from JA and all. So, Zane is 17 and Naboo was 10 years ago - now I finally know how old Zane was in the first story! Yeah, he had his birthday when they arrived on Tatooine. More twists will be revealed later happy

But what's going on with Qui? His illness from Family Bonds.

snowspeeder_gunner: This is Qui-Gon's illness, right? Yep sad

I do love dynamic going on between Zane and Anakin- I'm interested to see where this will lead. Indeed.

Also, Anakin is Paul! Kinda. Well, in this fic he is and he isn't.

Yoda-i_am: NOT QUI GON!!!!! I'm afraid so sad


Already addicted if you do have one please put me on the pm list. I sure can happy

thanks in advance Your welcome.








Attention, any name that has a star next to it has too many unread messages from me.

PM List:

Jainasolorocks
snowspeeder_gunner
Force_Chick
Valairy_Scot
EGKenobi
DanaeMariSkywalker *
lilacph
Yoda-i_am

 

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If I review then PM me when you update. thanks so much.
Send me your completed 'the saga' stories! happy
Check out my new story Descent Into Darkness
Don't quote me the odds. I shall do as I must.
Do or do not, there is no try.
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EGKenobi  783 posts
Registered: Apr '05
18921_Obi-Wan Kenobi
Date Posted: 3/18 12:36pm Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
Great start.

Can't wait to see where this one ends.

Didn't get my PM for this one though sad

Still found it though ;-)

EG

 

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Force_Chick  131 posts
Registered: May '08
15155_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/18 6:43pm Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
Excellent start! I'm betting that Zane and Anakin get into much trouble together whistling

 

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When Facism comes to the United States, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. - Sinclair Lewis
Duct Tape is like the Force.
It has a Light Side and a Dark Side
And it holds everything together.
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jacen200015  4777 posts
Registered: Jan '02
6129_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/18 8:37pm Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/16
EGKenobi: Great start.

Can't wait to see where this one ends. Thanks happy

Didn't get my PM for this one though

Still found it though ;-) I thought you might see the link to the sequel by the time you read the last chapter of Family Bonds. Sorry sad

Force_Chick: Excellent start! I'm betting that Zane and Anakin get into much trouble together Of course wink

 

-----signature-----
If I review then PM me when you update. thanks so much.
Send me your completed 'the saga' stories! happy
Check out my new story Descent Into Darkness
Don't quote me the odds. I shall do as I must.
Do or do not, there is no try.
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jacen200015  4777 posts
Registered: Jan '02
6129_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/19 6:29am Subject: RE: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/19 - Date Edited: 3/20 11:22am (4 edits total) Edited By: jacen200015

Here is another picture earlybird-obi-wan created for me for the fic.



Chapter 1

Zane found the bear clan after his last class and headed straight for Mari, who was playing a ball game with a Wookiee and a Nikto. “Mari, where is my datapad?”

Mari threw the ball to her Wookiee friend. “You didn’t eat lunch with us.”

“That’s not a good excuse,” Zane said sourly.

“I saw Tad with it while we were in the garden,” Mari said as she caught the flashing brown ball before it sailed over her head.

Breathing out a sigh of frustration, Zane looked for Tad and found him drawing on a large sheet of paper in the corner of the room while lying on his stomach.

“Thaddeus, where is my datapad?” Zane asked, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice.

“I saw Zett Jukassa take it,” Tad said after briefly looking at Zane.

Turning about on his heel, Zane stormed out of the bear clan quarters and headed for the clan he vaguely remembered Zett being a part of. This is ridiculous.

He entered the Draigon Clan quarter’s and immediately found Zett studying a solar system coming from a small projection. “Zett, did you by any chance find my datapad?”

Zett looked up and frowned, “Didn’t Whie Malreaux get it to you? After one of the younglings in the bear clan gave it to me, I bumped into Whie. He said he could take it to you for me.”

Of all the rotten luck. What is this, a bantha chase? “Do you happen to know where Whie usually is at this hour?” he asked the brown haired, blue eyed boy.

“He’s probably in the south riverbed garden,” Zett answered.

Zane nodded his thanks and left. Yes this is a bantha chase, but it better not be wild if it turns out the bear clan still has it.

Forty-five minutes later, after talking to four more initiates and three padawans, Zane found out that his datapad was now safely in the quarters he shared with his Master.

“Rough day?” Qui-Gon asked as Zane entered the apartment.

Zane plopped down on the couch, causing the abused seat to squeak in protest, and laid his head back. “If I had gone on that mission with Obi-Wan and Anakin, then I wouldn’t have had a rough day!” he answered, his annoyance leaking through his shields.

Qui-Gon set the datapad he was reading on an end table beside his chair and studied Zane. “Calm yourself. Getting angry doesn’t fix anything.”

“I’m not angry, just annoyed,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“It’s close enough,” Qui-Gon responded. “Would you like some tea? There is some hot water on the stove.”

“No thanks.” Zane stood up picked up his datapad from the coffee table and headed for his room.

Qui-Gon sighed and stood up to go make himself some tea. He made it halfway to the kitchen when a sharp, numbing pain ran through his body, taking his breath away. He stumbled and leaned against the doorway as he struggled to regain his breath. The room tilted before him and his ears rang. His legs failed him and he crumbled to the ground.

Zane sensed that something was wrong through the Force and tossed his datapad on the bed before running out of the room. He found Qui-Gon on the floor and saw that he was unconscious. “Master?” He checked his pulse and found it faint.

Taking his comlink off his belt, he keyed in the code for the healers and quickly told the receptionist that Qui-Gon needed medical help.

~*~*~

Anakin landed the ship in the Temple’s hanger and then quickly initiated the shutdown. Obi-Wan was already headed for the ramp and was halfway through the hanger by the time Anakin caught up to him. They raced to the healers’ ward, where they sensed Qui-Gon and Zane, all the while being careful not to knock anyone down.

They slowed as they approached the room Qui-Gon was in and entered. Inside, they found Qui-Gon hooked up to monitors, with a breathing mask over his nose and mouth. Zane was sitting in a chair next to Qui-Gon, watching his master.

“Zane, how is he?” Obi-Wan asked, placing a hand on Zane’s shoulder and looking at Qui-Gon’s pale face.

Zane wiped the tears off of his face and continued to watch his master as he spoke. “The healers say that he might not make it through the night.” He looked up at his father, his eyes shining with tears. “How long? How long has he been sick?”

Anakin looked sharply at Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon was sick and Obi-Wan hadn’t told him?

Obi-Wan looked down at Zane. “Qui-Gon has a disease called Kiercheuliu. He’s been getting treatments for it for ten years, but there is no cure for the disease and the treatments only work for so long. He didn’t want you or Anakin to know. At the time before the treatments began, he was only given five years to live. Due to the new treatment the healers had developed, they were able to extend that time.”

Zane looked back at Qui-Gon, his heart aching, his gut twisting, and anger simmering below the surface. Fresh tears ran down his cheeks and then he fled the room.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Anakin asked, glaring at Obi-Wan through his tear-filled eyes.

Obi-Wan sat down heavily in the chair Zane had vacated and looked up at Anakin. “Qui-Gon wanted to continue living a normal life as much as possible.”

Not wanting Obi-Wan to see him cry, Anakin quickly left the room.

~*~*~

Aeryn finished climbing to the top of the tallest tree in the Healing Springs garden and hung on tightly to a thick branch as the tree bent a little at her weight. Her waist-length braided blond hair was a mess, covered with bits of bark and leaves from where her braid got snagged a couple of times during her ascent. Sweat matted her bangs against her forehead, and her blue-green eyes were intense as she focused on keeping her balance.

“I still think this is a bad idea,” Whie called up to her, having not gotten past the second branch.

Scout peered down at him from halfway up the tree. “It’s a climbing tree. The branches are thick and strong.”

Whie grumbled to himself and climbed onto the second branch. “Yeah, well I think Aeryn is disproving that idea. Did you feel the tree tilt?”

Scout brushed a few leaves and twigs out of her shoulder-length red hair with her fingers. “It was only a small tremble.”

“Younglings! Come on down from there. You’re not supposed to be climbing that tree, or any tree in the garden for that matter,” Barriss told them from below.

The younglings climbed back down the tree and stood before the senior padawan.

“We won’t climb the tree again,” Aeryn promised.

“Or any of the other trees,” Whie added, earning a glare from Aeryn.

Satisfied, Barriss left and continued her walk in the garden.

Scout clapped her hands together and looked at Aeryn and Whie. “I have a good idea. Let’s go swimming.”

“Sounds like fun,” Whie agreed.

Aeryn sighed and released her irritation into the Force. “Okay then, we’ll go swimming.” As they left the garden, she sensed the faint presence of her brother somewhere nearby.

~*~*~

Zane crawled into the opening of a grove of dwarf trees in the garden and sat in the small bare space in the middle of the grove. Branches and needles poked at him, but he paid them no mind. Drawing his knees to his chest, he wrapped his arms around his legs and touched his knees with his forehead.

He sat this way for a couple minutes, until he was able to get some semblance of control over his emotions. He sensed Barriss nearby, but remained in his little secluded spot. He really didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.

“You can’t remain in there forever, you know,” Barriss stated. The grass rustled as Barriss’ weight settled upon it. “I heard about Qui-Gon.”

“Did you know he was sick?” Zane asked, his voice almost a whisper.

“I knew that he was coming to the healers’ wing for treatments, that’s all,” Barriss answered.

Zane stayed silent, not wanting to say anything that he would regret later. After a while, he heard Barriss stand up.

“Don’t waste your time brooding. Your master is not gone yet. Be grateful that you have a little more time to spend with him.” With that said, she continued on with her walk.

Zane emerged from the grove of trees and wiped away the dirt that clung to his cloak and pants. Taking a deep breath, he slowly let it out, at the same time letting the Force wash through him to help relax and calm himself even more. She was right. He should be grateful, even though it wasn’t fair.

He walked slowly out of the garden and met up with Anakin, who had just come out of a meditation room.

“How are you feeling?” Anakin asked.

Zane shrugged. “Better, I think.” Zane looked at Anakin. “What about you?”

“I still think we should have been told, but then no one knew what would happen on Naboo, and he could have easily died then.” A smile twitched on Anakin’s lips. “With what we know now, it wouldn’t have been fair if he had died on Naboo. He has given my master a lot of advice regarding my training, he has trained you, and he has been given the chance to spread his wisdom among the younger padawans and initiates in his classes, and he would patiently listen to my grumbling about my training and give me advice and encourage me.”

“Well if you put it that way...” Zane smiled. “Then we really, really should be grateful.”

“Indeed. While I was meditating, a saying my mom used to quote to me came back to me. I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

Zane stopped in his tracks. “How did you manage to forget that?”

Anakin turned to face him, a frown on his face. “I don’t know. I thought I still remembered everything my mom taught me, but now I’m not so sure. It’s troubling, how much have I forgotten?”

A chill swept through both of them as they stood frozen in the hallway. Something was coming. What it was they did not know.

“Anakin, Zane,” Obi-Wan called, snapping them out of whatever held them in place. He walked up to them. “We have been given a mission.”

Anakin shook his head in an effort to clear the haze in his mind. “A mission? Master, we just got back.”

“I can’t go on a mission now, my master is dying!” Zane protested.

“We have been requested personally, and Zane, the Council believes it is best that you accompany us,” Obi-Wan explained. “Senator Amidala is on Coruscant and has already narrowly avoided an assassination attempt. We are to go immediately to provide her with additional protection.”

Oh, well if it’s a mission involving Padme, then I don’t mind another mission so soon. Anakin thought to himself.

“How can it be best that I go on this mission? I should be with my master,” Zane responded.

“We will be nearby,” Obi-Wan said with a gentler voice. “We will be leaving in thirty minutes, that’ll give you some time to spend with Qui-Gon before we leave.”

Zane nodded and then swiftly walked away and headed for the healers’ ward. When he entered Qui-Gon’s room, he saw that his master was awake. “Master, how are you feeling?”

Qui-Gon’s dull eyes flicked up at Zane. “Tired.”

Zane sat down on the chair next to the cot and placed his hand on Qui-Gon’s shoulder. “You should sleep, get your strength back.”

Qui-Gon gave a weak smile and reached up with a trembling hand to cup Zane’s cheek in his hand. “There’s no death…there is the Force. I am…proud of you.”

Qui-Gon’s breathing sounded heavy and harsh to Zane’s ears. Fresh tears threatened to spill from his eyes. He took his master’s hand and kissed it. “Why does it have to hurt so much?”

“It will pass…in time.” Qui-Gon said as his eyelids fluttered closed.

A tear escaped Zane’s eyes and landed on Qui-Gon’s hand. He laid his master’s hand back onto the bed and gave him a kiss on the forehead. The monitors continued to beep and Qui-Gon’s chest continued to rise and fall, but in the Force, Zane felt the end drawing near for his master.

 

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Valairy_Scot  4119 posts
Registered: Sep '05
Date Posted: 3/19 7:55am Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/19
Aw... a hard way to find out, but the boys have worked through it. Indeed, Qui has accomplished a lot in the additional years since Naboo.

 

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http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_resource/b10304/25405090/p3/?52 Prolific Author thread: list & links there.
Muse fueled by coffee. Often AWOL despite frequent sipping.
Writes on inspiration, not a schedule.
2007-2008 the quality years
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GeneralKenobi7  842 posts
Registered: Jan '09
23552_Obi-Wan Kenobi
Date Posted: 3/19 8:02am Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/19
Great start! applause
But you wouldn't let Qui-Gon die, would you? worried
Can you please add me to your PM list? praying

 

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love Ewan
Mace:"Sometimes a Jedi's most important duty is to stand and wait.
I presume you've mentioned that to Anakin on occasion?"
Obi-Wan: "Not more than twice a day."
Proud Padawan to EG Kenobi happy
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Ganki  665 posts
Registered: Jan '02
20874_Obi-Wan Kenobi
Date Posted: 3/19 10:26am Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/19
WOW the boys where left in the dark for 10 years? Ouch not a fun way for them to find out but i can see why Qui wouldn't tell them.

Now off to see Padme, I wonder how Ani will react?!

Can you also add me to your PM list, thanks.

 

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“The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.” ~Norbet Platt
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Force_Chick  131 posts
Registered: May '08
15155_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/19 11:45am Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/19
cry Oh the pathos of that chapter! I need to learn to release it to the Force laugh

 

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Duct Tape is like the Force.
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jacen200015  4777 posts
Registered: Jan '02
6129_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/20 6:39am Subject: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/19 - Date Edited: 6/14 10:17am (3 edits total) Edited By: jacen200015
Valairy_Scot: Aw... a hard way to find out, but the boys have worked through it. Indeed, Qui has accomplished a lot in the additional years since Naboo. Indeed.

GeneralKenobi7: Great start! Thank you happy
But you wouldn't let Qui-Gon die, would you? I wouldn't be a very good author if i kept bringing favorite characters back from the brink of death now would I? Will he live? hmm. Keep reading and find out.
Can you please add me to your PM list? Sure happy

Ganki: WOW the boys where left in the dark for 10 years? Ouch not a fun way for them to find out but i can see why Qui wouldn't tell them. Yeah sad

Now off to see Padme, I wonder how Ani will react?! Well... grin

Can you also add me to your PM list, thanks. I sure can happy

Force_Chick: Oh the pathos of that chapter! I need to learn to release it to the Force *hands over a box of tissues*






PM List:

Jainasolorocks
snowspeeder_gunner *
Force_Chick
Valairy_Scot
EGKenobi
DanaeMariSkywalker *
lilacph
Yoda-i_am
GeneralKenobi7
Ganki *

 

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jacen200015  4777 posts
Registered: Jan '02
6129_Anakin Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/27 4:01pm Subject: RE: Descent Into Darkness AOTC AU A/P, Z/?, O/S, Xanatos. Sequel to Family Bonds. Updated 3/27 - Date Edited: 3/27 4:10pm (1 edits total) Edited By: jacen200015
Chapter 2

Xanatos sat at his wooden dark brown desk and slowly opened a container filled with tiny packages of an orange substance. What was it the woman had called it? Natural mélange? He took one of the packages and unwrapped it; it was the size of his little finger. A cinnamony smell tickled the hairs in his nose as he took a whiff of it.

Popping it into his mouth, he chewed the mélange and marveled at the delightful taste. It was pleasurable and exciting and dangerous at the same time. Soon he would be on Coruscant, delivering Qui-Gon a box of mélange. He would make Qui-Gon addicted to them and be the only person who had any source of mélange for him.

It was a clever idea, especially since it was possible that the mélange could cure Qui-Gon. Ah, but the cure had a cost, for once one was addicted they could not stop taking it or even try weaning themselves off it, because if they did they would die. Qui-Gon dependant on him for survival – it was perfect revenge.

Xanatos closed the box. It wouldn’t do if he himself became addicted to it, but it tasted so good. It made him feel good. It had been many years since he had contact with the Jedi except for Zane and Anakin, who contacted him somewhat frequently when they were in between missions.

The boys were still totally oblivious to his deviousness. Powerful as they were, they were still so gullible.

Soon he would have his revenge. Soon.

~*~*~

Ob-Wan, Anakin, and Zane navigated their way through the Senate apartment complex for the turbolift they needed to take to Senator Amidala’s apartments. Zane and Anakin walked behind Obi-Wan, still in a solemn mood except for Anakin – whenever he turned his thought to Padme, his mood lifted. In the Force it was like someone turning a lightswitch on and off.

Zane chewed on his tongue, trying not to let Anakin’s sudden mood changes bother him. By the time they reached the turbolift, Zane had had enough. “Will you make up your mind already, Anakin?”

Anakin gave a little jump and looked at Zane with a startled expression. “What?”

Obi-Wan entered the turbolift and looked at Anakin and Zane. “Both of you need to be paying attention to the here and now. We have a mission to complete, that is our focus.” He pressed a button to keep the doors from closing. “Now let’s go.”

Anakin and Zane entered the lift and the doors closed behind them. Zane chose to stand facing away from Obi-Wan and Anakin, staring out of the clear glass of the turbolift that provided a view of the descending night. Normally he had fun watching and feeling Anakin’s different moods through the Force, but today it just grated on his nerves. He could shield, but then Obi-Wan would question him about it, and he really didn’t want to talk with his father yet.

“You seem a little on edge, Anakin,” Obi-Wan noted as the turbolift began to climb.

“Not at all,” Anakin replied, not sounding at all convinced. He had tried to focus on the mission as Obi-Wan had told them to, but then he started wondering – would Padme recognize him? Would she still like him?

“I haven’t seen you this nervous since the incident on Tysoon eight.”

Anakin shook his head and focused instead on the conversation, a smile twitching at his lips. “That was different. The Mayor’s daughter was plain creepy and I was younger then.” And I shouldn’t be as nervous as I was then. I know Padme, she is loving, caring, and keeps her promises. I know that she is a good person.

A smile twitched at Obi-Wan’s lips and Zane just frowned at the conversation, his mood darkening further.

“You’re sweating,” Obi-Wan noted. “Take a deep breath. Relax.”

“I haven’t seen her in ten years.” Bad excuse.

“Anakin, relax,” Obi-Wan reiterated. “Clear you thoughts. Don’t leap over the pond or you’ll fall in. Take the stepping stones across.”

Anakin took another deep breath and focused on the meaning of Obi-Wan’s words. One step at a time. Next step is to exit the turbolift.

Obi-Wan glanced over at Zane, who was pointedly ignoring them. “Zane—” He walked the short distance over to him and placed his hand on Zane’s shoulder.

“I should be with him,” Zane said.

Obi-Wan sighed and looked out the turbolift to see the Temple in the distance. “Do you remember when you told me about the teacher you told to go to the healers because you felt that something was wrong with her?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Zane said in a tear-choked voice.

“She went to the healers and told them what you said. It turned out that she had the same illness Qui-Gon had, except it was more advanced when she found out. Based on what she told the healers about what you said, they were able to develop a better treatment, but because her illness was so advanced, the treatment didn’t work. The healers used this new treatment on Qui-Gon, giving him ten more years – ten more years, Zane,” Obi-Wan told him.

Zane swallowed hard. “I know I should be grateful, maybe I did help extend his life, but…” He paused and then looked at Obi-Wan. “My bond with him is slowly fading, strands slowly breaking away, his presence is so weak.”

“I know,” Obi-Wan replied, brushing a tear off of Zane’s cheek with his thumb. “It doesn’t make it any easier. Some say this way is better than a swift break, but I think it depends which one someone experiences first. We have said our goodbyes but he’ll always remain in our hearts.”

Zane nodded, taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it. I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

As Obi-Wan talked with Zane, the lift doors opened and Anakin stepped outside, thinking it best to let them talk in private. Anakin had only stepped halfway to the door across the way when it slid open and a finely dressed Gungan, wearing red and black robes, stepped into the corridor.

The Gungan studied Anakin for a moment before he lost all sense of proper manners for a diplomat and shrieked. “Nooooooooo!” He clapped his hands together. “Ani? Nooooooo! Little bitty Ani?” Jar Jar ran forward and grabbed the padawan in a tight embrace before pushing him to arms length and studying him from head to toe. “Noooooooo! Yousa so biggen! Yiyiyiyi! Ani! Mesa no believen!”

Anakin’s cheeks grew red in embarrassment. “Hi, Jar Jar.”

Jar Jar swept Anakin in a hug again and then spotted Obi-Wan come out of the turbolift. The Gungan abruptly released Anakin and started leaping as if the floor had suddenly turned into hot coal. “Obi! Obi! Obi!” he cried, tongue and ears flapping, as he rushed forward to hug Obi-Wan. “Mesa so smilen to see’en yousa! Wahoooo!”

Obi-Wan smiled politely as Jar Jar released him, though his brief glance at Anakin showed that he was a bit embarrassed. “It’s good to see you too, Jar Jar.”

Zane, meanwhile, had snuck out of the turbolift behind Obi-Wan until he was facing the Gungan’s back. “No hug for me?”

Jar Jar spun around, almost hitting Obi-Wan with his ears and stopped dancing around as he studied the third person. He took a good hard look and his eyes widened. “Little Zane? Noooooo! Little bitty bitty Zane? Noooooo.”

Zane’s cheeks grew red as he smiled politely. “That’s me, except the little part.”

Jar Jar squashed Zane into a bone crunching hug.

Obi-Wan chose that moment to intervene and gently but firmly grabbed Jar Jar by the arm. “We have come to speak with Senator Amidala. Could you show us to her?”

Jar Jar backed away from Zane and his duck-billed face took on a more serious expression. “Shesa expecting yousa. Ani! Zane! Mesa no believen!” His head bobbed a bit more, then he grabbed Anakin and Zane by their hands and pulled them along.

Thankfully, Jar Jar let go of them once they neared the living area of the apartment. Zane looked around and saw that the room was very tasteful, with cushy chairs, artworks, and cheerful colored walls. He saw one of the handmaidens and Padme’s security captain. The captain wore the regular Nubian military garb: a blue uniform under a brown leather tunic, with black leather gloves and a stiff cap to complete it. The handmaiden standing next to him wore the regular handmaiden clothing that all of Padme’s handmaidens wore.

Then he saw Padme, who was taller than he remembered, wearing black and deep purple robes, no face paint, with her hair piled neatly on top of her head. He glanced at Anakin and saw that he was absorbing her with his eyes.
“Mesa here. Lookie! Lookie! Jar Jar screeched, even though Zane sensed that the Gungan was trying hard to keep himself under control. “Desa Jedi arriven.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, M’Lady,” Obi-Wan said, moving to stand before the beautiful young senator.

Anakin and Zane stayed behind Obi-Wan, one on either side of him.

Padme took Obi-Wan’s hand in her own. “It has been far too long. But I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary.”

“I am sure that the members of the Jedi Council have their reasons,” Obi-Wan replied.

Zane continued to watch Anakin out the corner of his eye. Yep, he still likes her. Now will he avoid tripping over himself?

Padme wore a resigned, accepting expression at that answer, but a look of curiosity replaced it as she glanced behind the Jedi Knight, to the young padawan standing patiently. She took a step to the side, so that she was directly in front of Anakin. “Ani?” she asked, her expression purely incredulous, her smile and the flash of her eyes showed that she needed no answer.

Anakin’s heart pounded hard in his chest and he sensed her spirit leap, the slightest of flickers, but he sensed it.

“Ani,” Padme said again. “Can it be? My goodness, how you’ve grown!” She looked down and followed the line of his lean body, tilting her head back to emphasize his height, and he realized that he now towered over her.

Zane watched in interest, mentally giving Padme and Anakin scores. One point for Padme.

“So have you,” Anakin answered awkwardly, as if he had to force each word from his mouth. “Grown more beautiful, I mean.” He cleared his throat and stood taller.

Negative two, Anakin, but one point for trying to save yourself, Zane thought.

“And much shorter,” Anakin continued teasingly, trying unsuccessfully to sound in control. “For a senator, I mean.”

Anakin, you just screwed yourself, negative two points for you.

Anakin noticed Obi-Wan’s disapproving scowl and sensed Zane’s hidden laughter, but Padme laughed any tension away and shook her head.

“Oh, Ani, you’ll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine,” she said.

Zane bit his tongue hard to keep from laughing out loud. Five points for Padme. So the total is Anakin negative three and Padme six.

Anakin looked down at the floor, his embarrassment only heightened by the looks he knew that both Obi-Wan and the Captain were throwing his way, as well as the hidden laughter he sensed from Zane.

“Our presence will be invisible, M’Lady,” Anakin heard Obi-Wan assure Padme.

“I’m very grateful that you’re here, Master Kenobi,” the Naboo Captain put in. “I'm Captain Typho, head of Her Majesty's security service. Queen Jamillia has been informed of your assignment. The situation is more dangerous than the senator will admit.”

“I don’t need any more security,” Padme said, addressing Typho initially, but turning to regard Obi-Wan as she continued. “I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me. I believe that there might lie an issue of utmost importance to the Senate. There is something more here…” She stopped as a frown crossed Obi-Wan’s face.

“We’re here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation,” he said in calm and deliberate tones.

Tired of being completely ignored, Zane spoke. “Of course that could change. If another assassination attempt were to happen and we got a lead of some kind, the Council may extend our duties to investigate.”

“Shouldn’t we have a better idea of what might be going on, Master?” Anakin said, looking at him inquiringly. “I mean, I’m sure there are people already looking into this, but what if the senator is correct and there is something more sinister going on? A weed continues to reappear until it’s yanked by its roots, and if you don’t take care of that one weed, soon there will be many with deep roots.”

“We will do as the Council has instructed,” Obi-Wan stated. “Unless the situation changes, we are simply to protect.”

Anakin and Zane accepted Obi-Wan’s response, although they felt that they should do some form of investigation anyway.

Padme smiled at them. “If you’ll excuse me, I will retire.”

They all bowed as Padme and Dorme exited the room.

“Well, I know that I’m glad to have you here,” Typho offered, moving closer to the group. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but the senator can’t have to much security right now. Your friends on the Jedi Council seem to think that miners have something to do with this, but I can’t really agree with that.”

“What have you learned?” Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan folded his arms into the sleeves of his tunic. Maybe a little more information wouldn’t hurt. But this still was not to be an investigation.

“Not much,” Typho admitted. “Senator Amidala leads the opposition to the creation of a Republic army. She’s very determined to deal with the Separatists through negotiations and not force, but the attempts on her life, even though they’ve failed, have only strengthened the opposition to her viewpoint in the Senate.”

“And since the Separatists would not logically wish to see a Republic army formed…” Obi-Wan reasoned.

“We’re left without a clue,” Typho said. “In any such incident, the first questioning eyes turn toward Count Dooku and the Separatists.” A frown crossed Obi-Wan’s face, and the captain quickly added, “Or to some of those loyal to his movement, at least. But why they’d go after Senator Amidala is anyone’s guess.”

“And we are not here to guess, but merely to protect,” Obi-Wan said, in tones that showed he was finished with this particular line of discussion.

Typho bowed, hearing him clearly. “I’ll have an officer on every floor, and I’ll be at the command center downstairs.”

After Typho left, they began to do security checks and become familiar with the chambers in the apartment.

 

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If I review then PM me when you update. thanks so much.
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