Chapter 14~Learning the Truth

"Master jedi!"

Qui-Gon woke up immediately.

"Master jedi, we are under attack!"

"Where?"

"On the outskirts. At least 100 troops have attacked our soldiers."

Qui-Gon was up in a flash. He put on his tunic and robe and went to get Xanatos.

"Xanatos wake up!"

"Well good morning to you to master."

"Xanatos King Morton's soldiers are under attack."

Xanatos got up hurriedly, but reluctantly and got changed.

Qui-Gon was waiting outside his padawan's room, talking to a guard when Xanatos came out.

"Okay Master I'm ready."

"Very good." He said and turned to the man he was talking to. "Tell whoever is in charge that my padawan and I will be there momentarily."

"Yes master jedi."

Xanatos noted that the soldier was no older then himself.

"This is terrible. They are sending men my age into battle."

"I agree, but king Morton needs all the help he can get."

* * *

Back at the temple Yoda was meditating. Flashes of death and darkness ran through his mind.

A mark of the crown.

An heir to the thrown.

Anger.

Pain.

Suffering.

The Dark Side.

Suddenly he opened his eyes. The room he was in was empty. But he had felt a presence.

Something terrible was going to happen.

* * *

"Xanatos do not engage in battle! Only use your weapon to protect yourself!"

Qui-Gon was yelling instructions to his padawan over the noise of the cannons and blasters.

The two jedi fought side by side for what seemed like an eternity until David DeCruet made his presence known. Qui-Gon's eyes fell on him. And in one swift motion he found himself in battle with DeCruet for something more then land. Xanatos.

Feeling his masters distress Xanatos raced to Qui-Gon's side.

"Xanatos." David said and backed away from Qui-Gon.

"How do you know me?"

Before answering, David met the piercing gaze of Qui-Gon Jinn.

Cringing, as if he was in pain, David turned his gaze back to Xanatos.

"I'm your father."

So that was it. That explained everything to the young apprentice.

Qui-Gon was so absorbed in his padawan's emotions he almost didn't react in time when David attacked him.

Xanatos didn't know what to do. His master was fighting his father. The man that he was a part of.

"Stop!" Xanatos yelled.

The two men stopped and looked the boy facing them.

"I don't know what to do."

"Xanatos, let's just leave this place. I can contact the council and."

"NO! He is my son and you stole him from me!"

"I did not! You agreed to let him go to the temple to be trained."

"And that was a mistake!" He spat back at the jedi in front of him.

Xanatos looked from his master to his father. Then a blaster shot hit Qui- Gon in the arm. David saw it as a time to attack.

Feeling the attack coming, Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber and David ran right into it.

"No!"

Qui-Gon pulled his lightsaber out of his attacker's torso and stepped back.

Xanatos ran to his father's fallen body and pulled him into his arms.

"Father?"

"Xanatos. Please. Make me proud."

And those were David DeCruet's last words.

* * *

"Master?"

Mace Windu walked in the room Yoda was meditating in and sat.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Much pain young Xanatos is in. Death. Suffering."

"Is he hurt?"

"Hmmm, hard to tell, it is." "Is Qui-Gon with him?"

"Yes. Much fear and worry coming from Qui-Gon."

Mace considered this and meditated himself.

~TBC~