Before - Legends Until the Dawn - Xan AU - 12/18 Author's Thankyous Epilogue and teaser

Title: Until The Dawn
Author(s): Seraphena
Timeframe: pre-tpm
Characters: Xanatos, Obi-wan, Qui-Gon, Originals
Genre: AU, Action, drama
Keywords:
Summary: One twist of fate and the universe changes, even if there are people who don't want it to.

Notes:





Author's Note: GL created the world and Obi-wan, and their was much rejoicing. JW created JA, and we borrowed Xanatos. What's theirs is theirs and I make nothing.

Characters: Xanatos, Obi-wan, Qui-Gon. Other canon character and several Originals.
Genre: AU and JA until they tell me I'm done


Summary: An instant is all it takes, to make one a hero or a demon, but it might just take a lifetime to change.

Thanks to all who encouraged me to write this. Special thanks to DantanaSkywalker.


Notes:
Italics: thoughts.
/ <stuff> / telepathy
* * memories.
__________________

Chapter 1

<Thump>.

Cannons fired, their shells slamming against walls. Stone trembled, buildings fell, but the walls stood firm.

<Thump>.
Brother fought brother. The lines drawn in ephemeral sands.

<Thump>.
One stood and watched. Dark sapphire eyes took in the pain and screams. They took in the wave of fanaticism and belief.

<Thump>.

Raven hair stirred in the wind. Smells assaulted his senses. Blood and gore, chemicals and earth.

<Thump>

The green glow of a lightsaber drew his eyes. Brown stood against black. A face twisted with hate and something else attacked one serene and calm.

<Thump>

The attacker fell to the unforgiving blade. Wind rushed through his throat and distantly he heard the scream. He pushed through the soldiers and stared up at the man he thought he knew. The man who raised him.

<Thump>.
Well trained arms gathered the dead man to his chest. Tears flowed down to splash against cooling skin.
?Why?? he asked sobbing. The darkness stirred.

<Thump>.
?We are leaving.? His Master commanded. Midnight eyes looked up at the tall man.
?No.? The young man whispered
<Thump >
The expression never changed, the apprentice might have only been disagreeing about the sunshine for all the outward signs. But ice blue eyes gazed down at him.
?We are leaving.? His Master repeated.

The youth?s hand crept towards his lightsaber.
< >
It would be so easy, take you lightsaber and strike him down. Avenge your father. He held those thoughts close and griped the cool metal cylinder.
/Xani please./.

That woman's cry pulled him back, he closed his eyes and him mind against the words whispering to him. When he looked up he saw a Jedi Master, not his.
?No, Master Jinn. You are leaving.? His dark blue eyes full of pain and grief, he turned his back on the shocked man. ?And you are never coming back to Telos again.

 

UP

 

i got the first reply. This looks good. more soon please.

Edit: no, i got beaten to it by a minute.
well now you have two readers now.

 

No I did lol
Sorry I could not help myself.

Great post Seraphena welcome to our board.

 

Jacen200015: thanks and I am working on the next chapter now, it might take a bit.

PattyBO123: demanding aren't we, just kidding. Thanks for the welcome.

More soon to come, if and when the muse strikes.

 

A Xan fic is always a good thing!

 

obi_ew: definately.

 

Night covered the sky with its stars, a cool wind blew through heavy curtains and over the restless sleeper. Sweat beaded his brow. Under closed eyelids his eyes danced. He mouthed a word, said so softly it was almost impossible to hear, repeated again and again.

?Rayn!? Xanatos flung himself up and reaching out desperately only to have his hand capture nothing.
Midnight eyes blinked away sleep and confusion, he starred at his hand and wondering what woke him. Now to unnerved to sleep, he moved to a chair by the window and looked up at the night sky. It was much clearer than Coruscant?s, the stars so much brighter. High on the horizon, the red stars blazed in the constellation the Cross of Fire.

Memories awoke.
Screams of women and children. Fighting and of engines. Standing on the ramp of a shuttle he looked down into violet eyes and a hand reached out to him. She desperately grasped one support that had broken away, her eyes wide with fear. He watched in horror as a boot kicked out at her hand. The hand spasmed releasing its grip. Falling those eyes still held his, quiet sadness lingering. They closed before she was encased in the fire below.

His chest heaving with fear he clutched at the windowsill. Was it just a dream? She had been at the temple when they had left. Safe at the temple. Chosen just a few days apart, they were family.

/* They watched the ceremony quietly. His master gripped his shoulder, their bond full of laughter and pride. His padawan brother, Qui-Gon?s first apprentice, loomed over the tiny girl. Kneeling next to her they seemed part of the same shadow, of the same person. Blond hair was braided into dark brown as they spoke the vows that would bind them together.
Xanatos remember the words, he had spoken them just yesterday. Still they had the power to move him and he hoped they would always. */

His unease continuing to grow Xanatos paced his room. When the sun finally return he could sleep safe in its warmth.

He was rushed to get ready for the funeral. Elaborate clothing was given to him as he dressed. Escorted to the site Xanatos found an area for him. Lesser family and close friends of his father sat near by. Sitting straight and tall he ignored the feel of all those eyes on him. It soon ended when the music of the choir started.
While the music was moving and appropriate, it was the long line of speakers that had the former Jedi twitching. Apparently Funerals on Telos ran long, very long. All the speeches seemed to focus one of two things. Political allies of his father called out in ringing voices for Crion to be remembered for his noble sacrifice. Opponents called for his life to serve as an example as well, for peace.
By the third hour Xanatos turned to every lesson in patience ever taught to keep from yawning. Sapphire eyes drifted from the current speaker to the cloth draped bier.

His father. Nothing stirred at the thought, no pride or love. The man under the purple cloth was the man who sired him, who occasionally wrote to him, and the man who persuaded him to betray the only family he ever had.
The man who was killed in cold blood. Jinn was unarguably one of the best swordsmen in the Jedi, no match for a tired old man with a blaster. He could have disarmed the Governor, he did have to kill him.
He didn?t seem to care. There had been no expression on Jinn?s face, no remorse, no nothing. This from the man who would pick up pathetic creatures of every description on almost every planet they visited. And he could not show the least little compassion, caring, sympathy when he sliced in half a man, the man who was his padawan?s father.

The next few hours past in a blur. So many people came before him, to pay their respects, to offer condolences, to look over the young man who had stopped the war cold. He did not notice that some hung back, he reveled in the respect that was offered, they sympathy, never seeing the apprehension.

 

Interesting! Wonder who cares about him?

 

Saw 'Xanatos' in the title bar and had to check it out!
So, who is Xan's older Padawan brother?

~Bek

 

obi_ew: besides all of us Xan fans, we'll see.



Bekah_K: All will be clarified, I promise.

 

OOOHHHH!

Looks good. Is the guy an older Obi-Wan?

(Like, did you mix up the times and make Obi-Wan older than Xanatos?)

 

Xanatos_son_of_Crion: what a great idea, (plot bunnies are runing) but no, he's about 6 at the start of the story.

 

Author's Note: I'm posting this since it's at the point that I'm fussing over it. Thanks again to all my readers, if there is something specific you want to comment on or give me feedback on please feel free to either post it here or private message me. I can use all the help I get. Hopefully this post will answer your questions, but I also know that it will raise a bunch more. I'm not going to set a date for updates, just when they are done.

Gets the shield ready.
Again GL owns it all, I just get to play. here we go
______________________
Chapter 3

The sharp staccato of boot heels on marble echoed through the halls. Several of the initiates looked up from their work at the sound but the harsh glare of their teacher redirected their attention.
Closest to the door, a small boy with bright ginger hair tried to keep his attention on his work. The sound had stopped just outside the room. He tried hard not to fidget, but it was hard.
He switched his datapad screen back to the message he had found on it this morning.
Happy Birthday Obi!!

It made him feel good that someone besides his teachers and his class mates remembered.


Outside the room a pair of eyes watched, their color softened to a warm lavender. Her gaze seemed to linger on one student more than another, it was understandable. The boy seemed surrounded by the light and his large eyes and impish features promised the child would grow into a handsome young man. But she could feel the turmoil and sadness within him, and nothing she did seemed to help. Adrayn Rannik, leaned her head against the cool stone. Padawans learned early about the futility of fighting the will of the Force, but who could look at those eyes and not want to keep this one safe.

She drifted down to the gardens. The Temple was rife with such. Places to meditate, places to play, places to get lost, and places to loose one?s self.

Her favorite was an odd shaped area that few came to. Here she could curl up under a tree or even in one of the bigger trees and just listen the music the Force made in her mind.

Her nights were unsettled, filled with dreams she could barely remember. Several nights ago she remembered seeing Xani, but not being able to touch him. Something oozed around him, touching, caressing. He had started to reach for it. She remembered screaming and then waking up.
Last night?s was so chaotic and odd that the pieces she did remember made no sense. Pushing it way she sought to center herself. A cold knot twisted in her stomach, nervousness and apprehension had plagued her all day. The upcoming mission, her first with Master was giving her butterflies.
She was leaving tomorrow, a mission under the eyes of another Knight. It took all of her will to keep from jumping for joy when the Council informed them. The look of pride and the pulse of warmth through their bond from her Master almost made her lose what control she managed to save.

Resting her head on her knees she looked up at the busy sky. Rayn wondered idly how Xanatos and her grandmaster were doing. If she remembered correctly it was a three day trip to Telos and the mission was suppose to last a few days.

She smiled and leaned back against the tree. The Telosian apprentice was one of the few that she felt comfortable around. He was the person she went to for things that she could not ask her Master. He was her older brother. The good and the bad.

*Hurrying through the halls, she tried to look serene and like she was not running. ?Padawan Rannik.? A ringing voice called out.

Stifling a curse she turned but only to see dark sapphire eyes laughing at her.
?Ha ha ha Xan. Can?t think of anything more original.?

The older padawan glared down from his lofty height. ?Keep it up runt and we?ll see how smart you sound when I kick your butt around the arena.?
She just couldn?t keep her mouth shut. ?Do you need separate beds for you and your ego??

They glared at each other, testing for the slightest w

 

ooo, she's mad at Jinn. i would be mad at him too. I believe i know who called Xani. it would serve Jinn right if his first apprentice abandoned him to be with Xanatos along with his own padawan.

 

jacen200015 - yep De'valin called him, and it would serve Qui-Gon right, but no I have something more than that planned. Might have new chapter posted today, we'll see how revisions go. Thanks for the feedback, I can alway use new ideas.

 

Author's Note: Wasn't too sure how to write this, but did it anyway. Same disclamers.

// // - force vision

_________________

His nights too disturbed by dreams to rest, Xanatos had taken to working late into the night. He reviewed accounts and legislation. He wrote out questions and ideas to hand over to his secretaries and researchers. Mentally exhausted he fled to the large workout room and pushed himself through kata after kata until he could barely stand. Only then could he hope to have dreamless rest. It had worked, sort of, the past weeks his nights had been dream-free, but as the large circles under his eyes could attest exhaustion was slowly creeping up on him.

He was learning more about patience and humility now then in all of Jinn?s lessons combined. But it was those dreams that still disturbed him. Were they even dreams, or something else? He had dealt with Force visions before. As an initiate he had to struggle with them and worried constantly about separating them from nightmares. Jinn hadn?t helped either. The Jedi was too wrapped up in his Moment to even look at possible futures.
?Be mindful of the Moment.? If I had heard that once?

Pouring himself a cup of Stim Tea, Xanatos pulled together the day?s news.
I could have gone to someone else for training. Master Yoda made the offer more than once. I?ll have to work on it, hopefully no one has to pay for my lack. Except Jinn, that I wouldn?t feel guilty about at all.

Leaning against the counter he read the day?s new. Several ?nets carried stories on an uprising on Vegeris.
?Fighting continues for the third day as Extremist continue their march on the capital city. Over half of the planet?s imperial center is burning-?

//Darkness and torment, pain. Flames licked at his skin and burned all around him. The heavy smoke obscured his vision. Pushing through it he came across a still figure. Her violet eyes stared up blankly at the sky, blank and glassy. Unable to move, he could only stare. Her chest never moved and the flames crept closer. //

In the silence, his cup shattered against the floor. He ignored it and raced to the comm. Frantic fingers dialed a number he had memorized without thought of using.

Answered unhurriedly they stared at each other, drinking in the details that each was still alive, still whole. De?valin looked tired, Xanatos didn?t care for the time difference just that De?valin was there, where Master there be padawan.

?I need to talk to Rayn.? He said in a rush the Force yelling in his mind.
Concern filled the other man?s light blue eyes. ?She?s not here, what?s wrong Xan??
?Where is she. I need to check-?

De?valin?s eyes widen, the depth dark with sudden shock
?Rayn.? The Jedi whispered voice thick with emotions.
?Dev?? Xan called to him, concerned.

The Master slid down the wall and curled into himself. Frantic Xan wished he could reach his brother, touch him, comfort him..

His mind working in a thousand directions, Xanatos cut the connect and dialed another number, one that he barely remember.

?Master Yoda.? He began without preamble. ?Get to De?valin. Something?s happen to Rayn.?
The wizened council member looked out of the comm with sorrow in his very body language.
?Know we do. Master Windu and Master Koon are on their way to him.?
He struggled to put everything aside. ?What happen??
?Jedi matter this is.?
He deserved that. ?Master Yoda please.?
The ancient Counsel member sighed, but relented. ?Vision you had??
?Yes? Xanatos answered honestly.
?True it was. On a mission to Vegeris with Knight Ferin she was. She is dead.?

The connection closed between them. Cursing Xan threw the datapad still clenched in his hand across the room. The sound of it shattering brought some measure of comfort.
I saw it, I knew something was going to happen. And I let her down. Master Yoda had probably known, and did nothing. The Jedi did nothing! They were suppose to keep her saf

 

Wow! Poor Xan!

 

jacen200015: hope you like this.
obi_ew: thanks for reading. And yes, Poor Xan.

_______________________________________


By moonrise the building was quiet. The others had left long ago, but as usual Xanatos worked late. So much of his day was filled with rebuilding the war torn planet and keeping his father?s company from going under that little time during the light was left for anything else.
Evening and night were turned over to his other projects. He leafed through his reports from his operatives with a contented expression. Once again his Jedi training had served him well, but in a way the Council had never envisioned. Years under the tutelage of one of the most active diplomats/negotiator the Jedi had to offer taught him much. Every organization had a weak point, so area where information could be extracted. Whether it was a government, a business, or the Jedi. Currently the information was a little thin, but he was patent, it would grow.

Now was also the time he had to delve into the giant thing that was Offworld. That was the genius of the whole corporation. Covering various fields from the mundane to the theoretical hundreds of smaller companies were nestled under the umbrella of it shadow, and most were totally unaware of it.

Of all the companies, one area had always fascinated him and here was the perfect place for it, the research and development. In its long history the medical branch had several projects that benefited the galaxy as a whole. It was the cutting edge of medical and genetic research. Hundred of worlds came to Gentech for genetic research and testing. Doctors often consulted with their colleges at Tenison Medical to develop new technique and combat new ailments.
For all of these projects and public humanitarianism, their was also Offworld Research. It hadn?t been until well after that first board meeting that a report had been quietly handed to him. From that report and the woman who delivered it, the head of the entire project, that he had learned of its existence. And it was to that report that Xanatos had devoted the rest of his evening.

Several projects had been started under his father that just now were beginning to show results. The reported detailed each and worked to rationalize uses for some in the public market. It was definitely interesting reading.

?Because of the uncertainty of regeneration technique currently in place the development of a process that can utilize stored DNA or even recreate such has been deemed a vital need. Progress in the first part, from stored, has been advancing rapidly and we feel that this process can be released to the medical concerns shortly. It is the other aspect of this research that I feel we must continue to keep within the company. The ability to recreate a person down to the genetic level is one that has been talked about and theorized for centuries. Different that mere cloning, this process will allow the resequencing of an individual?s genetic structure. A small sample of their or even of a related gene match (from a parent or sibling) could provide sufficient information to allow us to reconstruct the original. However it must be said that this process can only be utilized on someone of the same species. Testing continues, but so far we continue to be pleased with the results. ?

He set down the datapad and looked at the holopic on his desk. Caressing it gently he smiled wistfully. Two Jedi padawans smiled out of it, happy. He smiled at the grin on his own face, but it was those violet eyes that drew him back again and again.

I wish I was still as happy. He thought to the image.

A knock on his office door interrupted his musings. Startled he looked at the monitor. His assistant waited patiently several items in his hands. A fellow Telosian of roughly the same age Thane had worked just as hard as his boss and in some cases even harder, especially on their little side projects.
?Come in.? he said unlocking the door. There was an en

 

Hmmm. something big is up.

 

Do I smell a clone on the horizon?

 

*whistle innocently.* and wonders off to continuing working on the next post.
Serious thanks to you both for being such great readers. Hope you enjoy the plot twists. Let me know if you have any advice.

 

Author's Note :Went a head and updated this. Of everything I have written for this story so far this was a challege. Trying to balance subtlty and flow meant a lot of rewriting. I hope you all enjoy.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I mean temple.
__________


It seemed that all the joy was gone now. There was an emptiness in his heart where a small girl used to reside.

With no body or even her lightsaber Rayn?s funeral consisted of nothing more than dedicating a memorial plaque in the Garden of Sorrow. From sunrise to sunset had stood, head uncovered, mostly alone, never disturbed.

The simple service had been left to others, to organize, to gather and to speak, for he would not, could not. One of Rayn?s teachers spoke about losing such a gifted student. Knight Ferin had shakily spoke about Rayn?s dedication. The horror of the even still fresh in her mind, it was almost unbearable for him to stand their quietly and not ask question that would most likely have no good answers. The simple ceremony was heartrending. Several time he had to choke back his sorrow and release it to the Force. Just looking at her name etched in the silver threaten to reduce his Jedi control to almost nothing.

Though their bond was broken, it didn?t seem real some how. De?valin could almost feel her presence and so wanted to reach out to her. He would wake up from dreams in which she had stood by his side, older, the braid cut by his hand. Healer Tyra had told him that it was natural in situations where no physical remains could be brought home. Closure was a word he was beginning to hate. It had been his first and last session.

There had been several glaring absences from the rite. Xanatos?s absence from the Order still bothered De?valin, but the Telosian had sent a brief message. Qui-Gon hadn?t even bother with that much. He was not sure if his former Master had even heard the news or if Jinn cared. Two days after Rayn?s departure the older Jedi had requested and received mission after mission in the farthest flung reaches of known space. Evidently Jinn had been reporting to the Council since he was still active. But one would like that such a kind, compassionate man who be there to support his former padawan, evidently not.

Then again De?valin was not sure that Qui-Gon would have helped. Over the course of his apprenticeship it had been quite apparent to him, that Qui-Gon?s strengths were definitely not in things emotional. The few times he had gone to his master for some sort of emotional support, the experienced Jedi Master, so calm and serene about had a case of the hives. De?valin had learned quickly to find another to turn to.
In his Master?s defense, something he was having a harder time doing there was the little matter of what was becoming known as ?Xanatos?s betrayal.?

Xanatos. De?valin had just finished speaking with his padawan-brother before returning to the Garden. Better than any session or platitudes, both men had worked through the raw edges of their grief. It wasn?t gone, probably never would be, but it no longer hurt with every heartbeat.


As beautiful as the Garden of Sorrow was, it was almost always empty. No one came here unless they had a reason. Some would bring flowers or a memento to honor the anniversary of a fallen comrade or master. The Order professed that there was no death. Such a stunning reminder of all those that had died in the Order?s service would be more than most Jedi could handle. The sunlight glittered off thousands of plaques each with the name, date, and brief message about those in the last five hundred years that had died serving the Force.

The soft scrape of shoes on gravel drew his attention. Above the tops of the small hedges that lined the paths the mop of penny bright hair was barely visible. De?valin did not move and lessened his breathing to barely perceptible as the boy rounded the hedge. He couldn?t be more than six or seven, but those blue/gray eyes seemed so lost, confused. De?valin smothered a la

 

That Obi scene was so sweet. *sniffles.*