Underneath a Sky of Dust-COMPLETE !!!!

You resurfaced! Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

Yup yup... I'm back.. and no fever this time!!

lol... warmth is definitely a good thing.. specally when its only october and my lawn is forsted over

Till Later~
Siri

 

Okay, that was one of my favorite posts so far. You did such a wonderful job with the interaction between Obi-Wan and Xanatos. They acted just like brothers there at the end sharing their private joke.

Unfortunately, I am having that Qui-Gon phobia again. While I have hope for him, I still think he will mess things up just a little. I don't think he will like Obi-Wan putting himself on the line by standing by Xanatos to the Council.

The only thing I know for sure is that wherever you take this story, it will be great. So far you are handling everything so beautifully that I am completely drawn into this story and your interpretation of these characters. Anxiously awaiting more whenever you can post.

By the way, everyone keeps talking about cold weather, frost and blankets. I just don't get it, I am perfectly happy in my shorts and t-shirt. Oh wait, but a cold front is coming, I think I can shut off the A/C tomorrow and open the windows to that balmy 75 degree seabreeze. Oh well, autumn in St. Augustine, Fl, you just gotta love it.

 

OK, 2 reasons I decided to respond...

1) Like everyone else, I loved the post!! When Obi-Wan said that he would stand by Xanatos in the Council meeting... It was really a lovely moment! I very much look forward to seeing how this all plays out, especially with Obi-Wan defying the Council (possibly).



2) Sheila, as a Midwesterner who is....well not enjoying, but living with, mid-40 degree weather, I have to say...

I HATE YOU!!



Just kidding, but seriously, you're way lucky!!!

 

We aren't even getting weather that nice in S. Calif. I have to make do with a cloudy 71degrees.

What a charming post. The conversstion between the two was priceless!

 

PK: 71 degrees eh? Your evil.

Its 28 with snow here in the middle of nowhere.

 

Just giving a little up to my Master.

Hmm, it's in the 50's here, which is

 

That was a great post! But, as far as I'm concerned, any post that has Xanatos, the Dark Prince, and Obi-Wan, the Prince of Light, in it is going to be great!

 

Jedi_Knight_Hunter Glad you enjoyed!No snow here yet !

Siri Glad you feel better!

Sheila Poor old Qui can't buy a break! Glad you have enjoyed so far. It's 35* here in Kansas and raining so don't rub it in!

astroanna It's always such a pleasant surprise when you delurk!

Padawan_Kitara California?

I know I told you no post today but schedule went pretty smooth for a change so I thought I'd give you this little piece of fluff to chew on!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Take another step Jedi scum and I seperate the kid's head from the rest of his body!" The bounty hunter snarled.

Qui-Gon halted his forward progress and locked eyes with his apprentice.Rich dark blue eyes peered out at him from between whisps of ink black hair.They glistened with unshed tears and fear.

Inhaling deeply, the Jedi again took a step forward but stopped when the bounty hunter pressed the ornate vibroblade he held against the boys throat.As a trickle of blood slid down the fragile throat,Qui-Gon's hand tightened desperately on the hilt of his lightsabre.

"Your fight is with me Inoda.Let the boy go.He's just a child." Qui-Gon urged the man.

Inoda was a brutal bounty hunter.An older human,he had recently begun picking off important government officials for money.He didn't care who they were or why they had been targeted as long as he got paid.Since his campaign began he had allready executed ten dignataries from as many different planets.

Qui-Gon had begun trailing him a month ago and so far had managed to disrupt his last five jobs.The most recent had occurred yesterday here on the planet Kyath.Enraged at once again being thrawted,Inoda had concealed himself outside the Jedi's rented rooms and had snatched Jinn's Padawan as the boy hurried to run an errand.

Qui-Gon knew he was fortunate that the bounty hunter hadn't killed the boy immediately in retaliation.Now he had to figure out how to retrieve the boy without harming him.

"Let him go and I'll put my lightsabre down.We'll settle this man to man." Qui-Gon promised.

A smirk curled the corners of Inoda's mouth as he gestured behind him with a jerk of his head.

"How about I toss him over this cliff and we see how powerful you Jedi really are."He offered.

Glancing down at the top of the boy's head the bounty hunter chuckled cruelly.

"You've interfered in my business too many times Jedi.Maybe I should just take the baby Jedi and sell him."

The bounty hunter stroked the boy's smooth cheek with the flat of his blade,leaving a path of smeared blood.

"He's pretty enough.I bet I could make a nice tidy profit."Inoda taunted.

Qui-Gon could only watch helplessly as the bounty hunter slowly backed toward the cliffs edge,dragging the boy with him.Stopping right against the edge he smiled at Qui-Gon cruelly.

"So which do you prefer Jedi? I slit his throat or I toss him over the side?"Inoda shrugged."Your choice.Either way he dies."

Frustration consumed Qui-Gon as he realised that the bounty hunter trully intended to kill the boy in order to hurt him.Looking once again into his Padawan's eyes he felt his heart stop briefly.

The fear had fled the blue orbs only to be replaced with a steely resolve.Unsettling to see in a nine year old boy.

Qui-Gon shook his head vehemently.

"No!" He ordered.

Inoda threw him a confused glance before shrugging.

"Fine you can't decide.I can respect that."He chuckled."I'll help you out and just do both."

Everything seemed to suddenly move in slow motion.Qui-Gon's muscles bunched as he launched himself forward,while Inoda's hand tightened on the blade.

A scream built in Qui-Gon's throat as his tiny Padawan suddenly propelled himself back against the bounty hunter with a Force enhanced shove.

"NO!" The Jedi screamed in anguish as he watched both figures disappear over the edge of the cliff.

As he reached the spot where they had stood only seconds earlier,he felt a powerful ripple in the Force.Falling

 

Jedi_Suzuran Thank you for the up Padawan!

Arwyn Glad you liked the Previous post! Yes I have also grown guite attached to one dark fallen Jedi!

 

WHOOO!!!

What a chapter..For A sec there I thought it was Obi-Wan

I have one question though....HOW CAN YOU MAKE ME LIKE XANI!!

Ok I admitt, I never liked him..but in this story I am seriously starting to like him

Good job..and glad you got to post today..

PT

 

Powerful stuff, OE. And addictive. And a lovely, compelling glimpse of the Xanatos that so enchanted his Master.

You continually remind us that there is no such thing as all good or all bad - that we are all composed of blends of light and dark - and that the Jedi are, perhaps, just as fallible as the rest of us - and just as harsh in rendering judgement.

Very well written.

CYN

 

*does a oe gave me my fix dance©*

That was lovely fluff, Master! I do like Qui in that post. Am I influencing you?



*does another happy dance with Obi plushie*

 

Very exciting, obi_ew.

You've done well at creating a some of Xani's past with Qui-Gon. I liked this peek at their master/padawan relationship.

 

Padawan_Travina How can I make you like Xan? Well it's all part of my master plan!

Cyn He not only enchants his Master but many of us as well,no? Sometimes when I write I forget he doesn't even exist on film.He seems so real to me!

Jedi_Suzuran Are you influencing me? More and more every story I read of yours Padawan!

Cas I'm glad this post has been well received so far.I really enjoyed it! I think someone needs to explore this complicated relationship from beginning to end.Any takers?

 

Any takers?

[face_shocked] Are you crazy? I'm having enough trouble trying to juggle two fics already. It's like I have to switch gears to go to the other one. Remind me never to try this again.

Maybe you should.

 

Great post! It is not often that we get a glimpse into the lives of Qui-Gon and Xanatos when Xani was just a young padawan. Truly wonderful insight into a very complicated relationship. More please!

By the way, I must apologize for mentioning the weather here in the Sunshine State, but you realize that I am not a writer, so I cannot release my evil into the force with Obi-Wan angst or cliffhangers. The Sith made me do it!

 

I'm a taker!

Mainly 'cause I never read those pre-TPM-books.Yes I Know shame on me.
I only know Xani from the fanfics.

But your post made me fully understand why Qui and Xan were so close and why Qui allowed him so many things he would not allow any other.

And finally it showed the reason he was so unwilling to see Xani's dark side and why he felt that betrayed that he was/is unforgiving.

I loved that wonderful post,Vadey

 

Wonderful, beautiful, heart-stopping post, Obi Ew! I loved it! As for writing a fic about Xani and Qui-Gon's relationship as Master/Padawan, I will admit I've been toying with that idea for quite some time.

 

Cas Me? You can't imagine how tempting the idea is! But I'm pretty much a one track mind writer!I would never attempt to try my hand at two fics at once!

Sheila Glad you liked little Xan!There are a world of possibilities with their whole story!

VadeyFan You would hate the Xan from JA land! He didn't have a shred of decency!

Arwyn You are one of the writers i had in mind for tackling that whole scenerio! Hum.Don't know when this is going to finish,how about you and yours?

 

Ohhh

 

I'm not sure when my two are going to be done, since I'm just following my Muse on both. But, if this idea keeps nagging me, may just have to start another one.

 

Padawan_Kitara Huh? ?

Arwyn

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Leaning on his cane,Yoda glanced up briefly at the silent figure who walked along beside him.Thin and pale from his ordeal,Xanatos was never the less well on his way to recovering.Winna had been reluctant to allow him out of her sight but had been unable to over ride the Jedi Master's request.

Dressed in sleep pants and top,barefoot and wearing a borrowed robe,the former Jedi had agreed to speak with Yoda.As they entered the Gardens Yoda allowed the young man to lead the way.

Stopping by the fountains,Xanatos looked around with a frown creasing his brow before shuddering slightly.Burrowing deeper into the robe he gracefully sank to his knees in the grass and stared at the cascading water fixedly.

Bright slitted green eyes studied the handsome young man for some time before Yoda finally addressed him.

"Tell me of this Sith will you?" He asked.

Long sooty lashes lowered to conceal the expression in the deep blue eyes.

"His troops ambushed me while I was here on business.They took me to some planet where I was locked in a cell until nighttime." Xanatos said as another shudder shook his body.

Gathering himself he continued.

"The Sith always came at night.He was heavily cloaked so I never got a glimpse of his face.He..he tortured me."

As the young man fell silent Yoda gently prodded him.

"Talk to you did he?"

"He knew everything about me." Xanatos whispered. "My apprenticeship with Jinn.The things I did those first few years I left the Order and the people I hurt.My anger and greed for power.He believed it would be easy to turn me." Xanatos told him.

"Wrong he was." Yoda assured him. "Remained strong you did."

As the young man finally turned to face him,Yoda saw something shift in the eyes that were as blue as the planet Alderaan when viewed from space.

"He almost succeeded.If I had remained there one more day I would have done whatever he asked just to make the pain go away." Xanatos admitted in a voice devoid of emotion.

"But fight you did.Refused to fall easily." Yoda told him.

The young man shrugged before turning back to observe the fountain.Yoda took a few minutes to gather his thoughts.

"Many mistakes I made with you.Wrong I was on so many levels.Deeply sorry for my actions I am." He stated quietly.

Silence greeted his confession and apology but his keen eyes noticed the sudden tightening of Xanatos' entire body.

"One day perhaps you will be able to forgive me." He sighed.

The dark head bowed,sending the long silky hair falling forward to hide the fallen Jedi's expression.

"I can understand your motivation." Xanatos eventually said."You have the entire Order to concern yourself with.But Qui-Gon's response and reaction I can not make peace with.I made a mistake by believing my Father and his twisted ideals.I discovered that and freely admitted it."

A slightly trembling hand reached up and brushed gently against the broken circle scar before falling limply into his lap.Raising his head he stared imploringly at Yoda.

"How could he flatly refuse to listen to me?Refuse to give me a chance to redeem myself?" Xanatos asked in a voice thick with emotion.

Sighing sadly Yoda closed his eyes against the despair that flooded the young mans face.

"Hurt and betrayed you both feel.Past time you spoke about this face to face.Find closure."He instructed gently.

Opening his eyes once again he saw a bone numbing weariness dull the exquisitely handsome features.

"Rest you need.Return we will or have my head will Winna." He teased.

A reluctant smile curved the full lips before Xanatos turned back to study the roaring fountains.

"I like it here.It's tranquail.Peaceful."He murmured.

Nodding in agreement,Yoda poked at the grass with his stick.

"Become off limits it has.Reserved for a certain Padawan." He said cryptically.

Xanatos climbed to his feet as quickly as possible in his weakened state.

"You should have said something!" He exclaimed."I don't wa

 

*blinks the awe away at the post*

Wow! That was great interaction between Yoda and Xani, Master.

I loved that post! And I can't wait for Qui and Xani to have a talk.

*does another happy dance at post*

 

::

OK...confession time....

!!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE XANI!!!!!!!!!!!!



You've really done it this time OE....

 

OK, had to delurk!

obi-ew, that was an amazing post, and can I just tell you something?

Every time Xanatos calls Obi-Wan "little shadow" I swear I tear up! That was a great term of endearment you came up with!

I am very much looking forward to the Obi/Xanatos interaction you come up with from here on out! I anticipate some friction between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, given Qui-Gon's feelings about Xanatos, but maybe the dream Qui had about Xanatos suggests a shifting in his feelings toward his former apprentice?

Well, either way, great work!