Title: Five Deaths to Die
By: Cassia
Email: cassia_a@hotmail.com
Category: Angst, Drama, Adventure, H/C, character torture... Did I mention ANGST?
Rating: PG 13 (violence, death)
Archive: Jedi Apprentice, Early Years & Quigonfic
Spoilers: Minor ones for the JA books
Disclaimer: All recognizable Star Wars characters are the
exclusive property of George Lucas. All others belong to me.
I have no official permission to use these characters, but
I'm not being paid for it either, so that's okay.
Feedback: Yes Please!
Time Frame: 7 years before TMP. Obi-Wan is 18.
Summary: An enemy from Qui-Gon's past threatens to ruin his future. With Obi-Wan's life at stake, Qui-Gon must try to end the time-continuum he finds them both stuck in before it's too late. Will he succeed, or will he find himself facing a tomorrow without his Padawan?
ANGST ALERT! This story is a MAJOR tear-jerker. At least, I think so. I wrote parts of it with tears streaming down my face if that's any
indication... (pathetic, yes, I know)
It involves character torture and death (no, I'm not going to tell you
if they STAY dead, you'll have to read and find out for yourself).
but if this would in anyway upset, depress or generally bum you out,
stop now. Otherwise...
The street was alive with the bustle of people as
Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi crossed the
busy intersection on the designated crosswalk, headed for
the Malti-Venba Embassy. Separated slightly by the press
of the crowd, Qui-Gon reached the other side first and
turned to wait for his Padawan, who was only about halfway
across, to catch up.
Suddenly, the desperate shriek of a warning horn split the air and Qui-Gon watched his life fall apart before his eyes.
The pedestrians scattered in terror from the street as a huge, out-of-control public transport barreled down the middle of the road, headed right for the intersection. Both Jedi were taken completely by surprise. They had felt no warning, no indication of what was coming. A sudden dread washed over Qui-Gon, but it all unfolded too fast for him to move, think, or even breathe.
Obi-Wan shoved the lady next to him, throwing her clear, and then intended to jump out of the way himself, but something went wrong. Terribly wrong.
It was barely a second from the time the wailing blast sounded to the instant it was upon the crosswalk, but it should have been enough time for a Jedi, it should have, if everything were right, but all was not right. For a split instant Qui-Gon saw a look of confusion and alarm spread across his apprentice's face as something actually froze Obi-Wan in place, delaying him from action for that critical split-instant until it was too late.
The Transport streaked through the intersection, plowing through everything in its path, including Obi-Wan, before smashing into the side of a building on the other side of the street.
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon cried out in horror, his legs in motion before the Transport had even finished its disastrous course across the intersection.
The impact had knocked the eighteen-year-old Jedi halfway across the street.
Qui-Gon knelt beside his Padawan. "Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan!" he said in soft alarm. For a moment he hesitated to touch the boy, not wanting to do more damage by moving the apprentice before he was stabilized. But when Obi-Wan murmured Qui-Gon's name, reaching out weakly towards him, Qui-Gon threw caution to the wind and pulled the injured Padawan into his lap, holding Obi-Wan gently in his arms. The readings Qui-Gon was getting through the Force about Obi-Wan's injuries filled the Master's heart with dread as he cradled the young man close.
Obi-Wan gazed up at Qui-Gon with shocked, pain-filled eyes. "Master," he whispered softly, his crushed chest impeding his ability to speak. "I don't understand... I-I couldn't move..."
"Shh, shh," Qui-Gon stroked Obi-Wan's hair gently, cupping the apprentice's head in his hand. "It'll be okay, the medi-teams are on their way," he tried to sooth, pouring strength into his Padawan's failing body. But Obi- Wan's body was like a sieve, and his life was draining away too fast to stop.
"I'm going to die, aren't I Master?" Obi-Wan whispered softly as the realization of his own injuries pressed in upon him.
"No!" Qui-Gon shook his head, tears in his eyes because he could not believe his own words. "No, Obi-Wan! You're going to be all right, it's going to be all right!"
Obi-Wan smiled faintly and shook his head as much as his injuries allowed. "You've never lied to me before Master," he gasped as his lungs shut down. "Don't start now."
"Your focus determines your reality Padawan," Qui-Gon said, his voice thick. "You cannot die, you cannot!"
"There is no death," Obi-Wan said faintly, his eyes beginning to glaze. "There is the Force... I'm sorry, Maste...r," Obi-Wan's voice trailed away and his eyes closed in eternal sleep as his spirit fled away from his broken body.
"No! No!" Qui-Gon hugged Obi-Wan's lifeless body to his chest, but it was no good. He could not recall Obi- Wan's spirit. It had fled beyond the grave and he would not see the boy again until he too, became one with the Force.
The sirens of the medi-team wailed, announcing their approach. The lights on their vehicles flashed red as emergency workers poured out of the doors, but Qui-Gon did not notice. He did not register the motion and noise around him; it was all unreal, like a dream. But it was no dream; it was a waking nightmare.
Obi-Wan was gone. Qui-Gon felt as if a huge piece of his heart had just been ripped out of his chest, leaving a gaping hole inside him, the sheer emptiness of which threatened to crush him.
The medi-teams gently tried to take Obi-Wan's body, but Qui-Gon would not let go, so they moved on to help the other victims who could still be saved.
Qui-Gon was reeling in shock. This was all wrong! All wrong! It should not have happened, he felt sure of that. It was not just his need to deny the reality of the tragedy that had just taken place that made him feel so either. Something deep inside was telling Qui-Gon that this was all terribly wrong. It was not supposed to happen. After all the dangers they had faced together, all the life-threatening situations they had survived, to lose the boy this way, so pointlessly, was devastating.
"Sir, we can't leave him here in the street, I'm sorry sir, I'm very sorry," the young paramedic was saying to Qui-Gon, once more trying to get him to relinquish Obi- Wan's body.
Numbly, Qui-Gon let go, let them take the shell that had been his Padawan only a few short minutes ago. He rose to his feet, amazed that he remembered how to do so.
Qui-Gon stood still in the middle of the street, life rushed by about him, but he seemed to have lost his grip on the flow of it all and it passed him by too fast to comprehend. He felt numb with grief and was not sure what he was doing or where he was going.
"You seem lost Master Jinn," a deep voice made him turn. It spoke softly, but there was no compassion in its tone. "Could it be that you now see how painful it is to lose someone you care for?"
Qui-Gon found himself facing the shadowy figure of a tall man in a dark, hooded cape. At least, it was shaped like a man, but he could not see the fellow's face under the hood. The presence seemed vaguely familiar to Qui-Gon, but he did not know why, and was in no mood to ponder riddles.
"What are you talking about? Who are you?" Qui-Gon asked, somewhat sharply. "How do you know who I am?"
"We've never met before," the being said. "But I've watched you for many years Qui-Gon Jinn. It should not be so hard to figure out, I am a Dacca, and how many Dacca's have you ever encountered? Come now, don't tell me you've forgotten Aminorthini? It's unseemly to kill someone and then forget all about it," bitter hatred seeped into the being's tone.
*Dacca, Aminorthini...* Qui-Gon's brow furrowed deeply. That was so long ago it took him a few moments to remember. Then it came back to him. Aminorthini, a green little planet in the Rim Territories. He had not been there in over thirty years, but he remembered what had happened there well enough. He had lost his best friend on Aminorthini.
"Yes, you see? You do remember," the being said with cold satisfaction. "My name is Rylos, offspring of Benthon, whom you murdered Jedi."
Rylos' voice brought the memories rushing back to Qui- Gon. Benthon and apparently Rylos as well, were of a rare, but extremely powerful race called the Dacca. They had abilities and powers beyond what even the Jedi had ever seen. Dacca had no male or female, but when they were ready, they bore a single offspring. Knowing their great power was above that of most mortals; they had strict rules about interference with other sentient life and for this reason were rarely, if ever, seen. Benthon was a renegade who did not agree with the Dacca rules. He saw no reason why he could not use his great power for his own gain. He was the only Dacca Qui-Gon had ever encountered, and the memory was entirely evil.
Aminorthini was Qui-Gon's very first mission after he became a Knight, which is why he had been paired with Muuli, who was also a new Knight. They had been best of friends during their Temple, and Padawan days and both thought it wonderful that they should share their first mission together. It would also be Muuli's last.
No one had known that an evil Dacca was causing the problems on Aminorthini, and by the time the Jedi found out, it was too late. There was a confrontation and Muuli was killed. Qui-Gon had faced the greatest challenge of his life that day in overcoming the deep desire for revenge that burned inside him because of his friend's death. Yet in spite of it all, Qui-Gon had conquered his hate and subdued the Dacca by tricking Benthon into using his own power against himself. But Benthon did not want to be sent back to his own people for justice and had turned on Qui- Gon at the last moment, forcing the young Knight to defend himself and kill the evil Dacca.
Qui-Gon had grieved for a long time for Muuli, but he had thought that that whole, terrible episode was ancient history, until now, when it came back to haunt and hurt him all over again.
"I did not murder Benthon, Rylos. He tried to kill me and I defended myself," Qui-Gon shook his head, still trying to figure out the connection between that and what had happened today.
"You lie Jedi," Rylos hissed darkly. "My parent would never have done such a thing! You were mistaken about him, but even after you knew the truth, you still killed him out of vengeance, murdered in cold blood while he was your prisoner! And after you murdered him, you spread your filthy lies about him to cover yourself and sullied his name until it may not even be spoken among my people! For this, I swore my revenge," Rylos' voice sunk low and menacing. "I swore that someday you would hurt the way you made me hurt, I just wanted you to know that Jinn. Wanted you to know *why*."
All at once it made terrible sense to the Jedi Master. "You did this," Qui-Gon breathed, suddenly finding his air very short. "You kept Obi-Wan from being able to get out of the way in time!"
He still could not see Rylos face, but he got the distinct impression of a satisfied smirk from the Dacca. Incredible rage welled up in Qui-Gon's heart. He tamped the anger down, but the pain remained, threatening to choke the life out of him.
"You speak of murder Rylos, but you have killed an innocent boy today!" Qui-Gon seethed. "Obi-Wan had nothing to do with any of this, he was not even born yet when it took place! If you wanted to punish me, why hurt him?!"
"Because it hurts you worse this way. He was the closest thing you have to a son and by Dacca law I may claim his life to pay your debt. Blood for blood Jedi," Rylos hissed with evil satisfaction.
"Blood?" Qui-Gon asked, his voice dangerously low. "You have blood all right Rylos, blood of the innocent! It stains your hands like a curse! What does Dacca law say about that? What does Dacca law say about interfering in the lives of other sentients not on your level?!"
"It is justified," Rylos' voice was tight. "But I am not unfair Jedi, you say you want the boy spared? I'm going to give you a chance, no, five chances, which is more than you gave Benthon, and more than you deserve! You're going to live this day five times, this was day one. I'm going to give you four more chances to relive these last 24 hours; the outcome of it depends on you. If you can change the way this day ends, I will renounce my claim to the boy's blood and leave you in peace. Save him if you can! If you cannot, if you fail, then when the sun sets on the fifth day, whatever has happened, will be fact, and will be the way it stands for all eternity.
This is for you alone to know, the boy must know nothing of what has passed between us or it is all forfeit. Four tries Qui-Gon Jinn, four more tries..." Rylos' voice faded away and he vanished with it, like grey mist blown on the wind, leaving Qui-Gon alone under the shadow of the skyscrapers.
DAY TWO:
Qui-Gon sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. Next to him, in the bed against the far wall, he felt Obi-Wan's sleeping presence. Sliding quickly out of bed Qui-Gon crossed the room, laying his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder to assure himself that the young Jedi was really there. Last night, when he had finally drifted into a troubled, fitful sleep, Obi-Wan had been dead, but this morning, here he was, sleeping soundly.
Qui-Gon realized that, true to his word, Rylos was giving him the day to do all over again. Qui-Gon's hand tightened on Obi-Wan's shoulder. He would not let his apprentice fall prey to the Dacca's twisted sense of justice again.
The motion woke Obi-Wan up. The teenager rolled over, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with a yawn. "Master?" he asked, slightly blearily. Obi-Wan was not a morning person, well, not if he didn't have to be anyway. "Time to get up already?"
Qui-Gon nodded, his heart tightening at the familiar sound of his apprentice's voice, one which he had thought lost to him forever. "Yes, Obi-Wan. Get dressed. I am calling a service-driver to take us to the Embassy."
"I thought we were going to walk," Obi-Wan said, rolling out of bed and stumbling over to the 'fresher.
"I've decided we'll take a cab," Qui-Gon said quietly.
"You'll hear no complaints from me," Obi-Wan flashed Qui-Gon a bright-eyed I'm-still-waking-up smile before disappearing into the bathroom.
The cab ride was uneventful, except that Qui-Gon insisted, much to Obi-Wan's puzzlement, that they take a roundabout route to get to the Embassy, avoiding the main street.
"Master?" Obi-Wan asked as he held the door for Qui- Gon to get out. "Forgive me, but you seem disturbed, or distracted, is anything wrong?"
"We must be attentive Padawan. We must be careful," was all Qui-Gon said. They had avoided the situation of yesterday, but Qui-Gon was wary. It had been too easy and Qui-Gon doubted that Rylos intended to let him off so simply.
"Yes, Master, of course," Obi-Wan nodded. He was still puzzled, but he attributed Qui-Gon's concern to the volatile situation they were walking into here at the Embassy, as well as to the fact that they had had to relinquish their lightsabers because no weapons were allowed within two miles of the Embassy, especially not today.
Today, the Malti-Venba Government was holding a huge commencement to officiate the new order that had been created on the planet. The new order rose up from a stained history of brutal warfare and genocide, promising freedom from the brutalities of the past. However, it did not rise unopposed. Since it's formation six months ago, the leaders had been assailed with threats from dissenters who did not want to see democracy come to Malti-Venba. The situation had grown so serious, that they had finally called on the Jedi to oversee their commencement celebration. If ever there was going to be a terrorist strike, it would be now.
Qui-Gon knew it was both dangerous and yet vital that with such a threat, no one carry weapons of any sort into the Embassy today. He had tried to see if he could have their lightsabers excepted, but was refused because the new leaders said that they must not show special treatment to anyone, they had just fought a war against an old régime who had done so unjustly and the wounds were too fresh.
As concerned as Qui-Gon was about keeping Obi-Wan safe, he could not neglect their duties. They must go to the Embassy today, and they must go unarmed.
Side by side, the two Jedi headed up the steps of the huge Embassy building. Nearby, the Governor's personal hover-car pulled up and the soon-to-be-appointed head of state got out.
Above them, on the roof, two Venbian dissenters lay flat on their stomachs, long-range blaster rifles pointed down at the stairs below. One of them set their sights on the Governor.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both felt the prick of warning an instant before the shot was fired. Grabbing the Governor, Qui-Gon pulled him down, making the shot miss its mark. The Jedi sorely missed his lightsaber.
At the same instant the second sniper fired. This one was not off mark and the blast headed straight for the middle of the big Jedi's back, even as Qui-Gon pulled the Governor down. Qui-Gon felt it coming, but not in enough time to change direction.
"Master!" Obi-Wan cried, leaping in front of Qui-Gon and pushing him out of the way at the last moment. The shot caught the young Jedi directly between the shoulder blades instead, throwing him forward.
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon shouted in anguished horror as his apprentice crumpled to the ground and rolled down the stairs, landing in a sprawl at the bottom.
The Governor's guard's opened fire on the roof, driving the sniper's heads down. Dozens of security officers hurried to take charge of the Statesman, ushering him safely into the building while Qui-Gon rushed down the stairs, three at a time, to Obi-Wan's side.
"Oh, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said gently, taking his apprentice's hands in his. He knew the boy had only moments left. *"You shouldn't have done it Obi-Wan!"* he cried in his heart. *"Why did you have to be so noble?"*
Not for the world however, would Qui-Gon taint Obi- Wan's last moments with any word of reprove, it was the same thing he would have done anyway if positions were reversed, so the Master just held the young Jedi's hands tightly, feeling the pain of loss all over again.
"Are you all right Master?" Obi-Wan asked faintly, his eyes closing.
"I'm all right Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, his voice cracking despite himself. It was hard to believe that this could hurt so much again. This was what Rylos had meant. It was not going to happen the same way each time, only the outcome was the same.
"Good," Obi-Wan murmured. "Good..." the young man shuddered slightly and his hand slid out of his Master's.
It was quicker this time, but no less heartbreaking.
Qui-Gon knew that, just like this morning, Obi-Wan would be alive once more tomorrow morning, that was the way that Rylos had set it up, but even that knowledge did not soften the pain of watching his Padawan die again.
The attack and Obi-Wan's death shook the confidence of the Malti-Venbian leaders and the ceremony was postponed until the following day. Qui-Gon took the news in grim silence. It mattered little to him, because this day had not really happened. Tomorrow, he would live it all over again. Only he would not fail Obi-Wan again. He was going to do whatever it took, but he would not let this happen again.
TBC...
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