Disclaimers: Saint George (Lucasfilm) crated the Star Wars Universe. Lucasfilm owned by Disney. George Lucas created the Star Wars Universe. Movies by 20th Century Fox/Disney. I make no Republic Datari {Credits}, Peggats, Truguts, Wupiupi, etc from my fanfic/fanart/fanfunnies. Story written purely for enjoyment and the only profit I make is the happiness my writing brings. The Force is With You Always
Summary: AU:
Qui-Gon finds a new Chosen One, but that's only half of it. And the Sith are interested in the Chosen One
too
Warnings: Death and resurrection.
Rating M
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROPHECY
Obi-Wan sat in the shuttle with his Master before they took off. "So what did the Council have to say about this?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" the young Jedi said with
raised eyebrows. "I find that very
strange. In fact I find the whole thing
very strange myself."
Qui-Gon nodded. "As they say 'truth is stranger than
fiction.'"
"So what did Master Yoda say?"
"Nothing."
"What?
Nothing? Nothing at all?"
"That's right. The Council were too busy to see me. I'll
tell them when I get back."
"What?!" Obi-Wan's eyes were as
wide as planets.
Qui-Gon simply smiled
while his young Padawan shook his head.
"Master you really have gone too far
this time."
"You said that last time we took off together
and we saved nine planets from the brink of war
" Qui-Gon paused. "I feel so strongly about this
You've
no idea."
"As strongly as you felt about
Anakin?" There was a slight edge to
Obi-Wan's voice.
"Stronger," Qui-Gon replied.
Obi-Wan's eyebrows
raised once more.
Qui-Gon nodded then spoke. "I know how you feel about Anakin,
Obi-Wan."
"Do you?"
The older Jedi placed
his hand on his young Padawan's shoulder.
"Anakin set balance in motion before he died."
"Before or after he turned to the Dark
Side?" The edge was more prominent this time.
Qui-Gon tried not to
feel hurt. "From birth he was
destined to bring balance,
Obi-Wan. Do you regret having to kill him?
The young Jedi paused before he spoke. No, Master, it needed to be done. I do regret not being able to turn him
back."
"I don't blame you for what you had to
do," Qui-Gon said.
"Thank you, Master."
"The Force had a greater purpose in
mind."
A pause followed.
"So Master, are we all set to
leave?"
Qui-Gon nodded.
"So let me get this straight - we're
going to travel to a mythical galaxy which may not exist, to a mythical planet
which may not be there to find one half of a prophecy which may not come to
pass."
"That's essentially it."
Obi-Wan sighed. "When do we leave?"
"Right about now."
Qui-Gon started the
controls and the shuttle took off.
"I still can't believe you talked me
into this
And I still can't believe you didn't tell the Council
"
"I'll tell them later and don't worry,
I'll take the rap."
Obi-Wan smiled and
shook his head. "I'll back you up,
Master."
"Thank you. I knew I could count on you."
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Are you ready to create the wormhole
rift, Master?"
The older Jedi nodded.
"Here goes everything." Gently, he touched
three buttons in a pyramid formation.
"It's beautiful
" was the first
thing Obi-Wan said as a rainbow cloud appeared before them, growing
larger. Qui-Gon smiled warmly and nodded
in agreement as he flew the shuttle in.
As the shuttle entered,
Obi-Wan pointed to a bright spiral galaxy.
"At least it's there."
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Why do they call it the Milky
Way?"
"Something to do with one of their
ancient Goddesses. I believe Hera was
her name."
"Don't get too excited yet, Master. We still have to find the right planet in
over a hundred billion stars and then the someone who will make this prophecy
come to pass
You're so sure about this aren't you?"
"I've never been so sure."
"With all due respect, Master, what if
it turns out that-"
"There is no prophecy?"
Obi-Wan nodded.
"Then I'll cross that bridge if I come
to it."
The shuttle sped into
the galaxy passing many beautiful stars and planets.
"There," Qui-Gon said pointing to
one star. We've reached the right solar
system."
"You're sure?"
"I feel my whole body ablaze."
"Are you sure that's not because we're
rather close to that star?" Obi-Wan joked.
Qui-Gon chuckled. "I'm sure. We're looking for the third planet from the
sun."
The shuttle came upon a
beautiful blue, green and white world, calm and peaceful looking.
"I'm starting to feel something
too," Obi-Wan said. "Master,
you have my permission to say 'I told you so.'"
Qui-Gon smiled. "I'll spare you this time."
"And we still have to find this prophecy
of yours."
The Jedi Master
nodded. "Engage the cloaking
device."
Obi-Wan did so as they
glided through the atmosphere.
The Jedi Master landed
the shuttle in a deserted forest.
"I hope you're up for a long walk."
"How long?"
"More than a day."
"Now he tells me," Obi-Wan
chuckled. "Well let's get going then."
Qui-Gon rather enjoyed
the walk, but he sensed Obi-Wan wanted to find what they were looking for and
go home.
The next afternoon, the
two Jedi came upon a busy city.
"Master, surely you won't find your
prophecy here
"
"I'm sensing something," Qui-Gon
said. He closed his eyes. "So many people feel lost and alone here
"
"And I feel for them, Master, but we're
not here to save this planet."
"Perhaps we are." Qui-Gon pointed to a second hand bookshop and
the Jedi walked in. Qui-Gon could tell
Obi-Wan was doubtful, but he strode to the back of the shop and saw a young
woman sitting down, looking at the science-fiction and fantasy books.
//She feels so alone
so lost in this
world
//
//Master with all due respect, I know you
care for these people, but we're not here to help hard luck cases. We're here to find a prophecy.//
//You don't need to remind me, Obi-Wan, but I
feel a need to help her
I feel drawn to her.//
Obi-Wan sighed. //Nothing I say will change your mind, will
it?//
//Nope.//
Obi-Wan smiled and
shook his head. Qui-Gon looked down at
what the girl was reading. A copy of a
book called 'Soul Music' by someone called Terry Pratchett. Qui-Gon watched her for a few more moments.
She seemed engrossed in the book and unaware of him.
Qui-Gon suddenly
jerked. //She's the one!//
//Are you sure, Master?//
//Positive.//
//Out of the millions of people in this city?
The billions on this planet?//
//She's the one. I'd stake my life on it.//
//Master, she hardly looks like a prophecy
//
//What makes you say that, Obi-Wan? Because she's not as slender and attractive
as some of the ladies you've courted?//
Obi-Wan became
embarassed. //I'm sorry, Master
She
hardly looks like a prophecy
Well, if you're certain
//
//I definitely am.//
The girl looked up,
then she stared at the two Jedi.
"I
I hope we're not bothering
you," Qui-Gon said.
She stood and shook her
head, staring at the two Jedi.
"Either you're Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor or youre really
real
"
"We're real," Qui-Gon said. "I'm afraid I have no knowledge of the
other two you mentioned."
The young woman reached
out and touched Qui-Gon gently. A
pleasant shiver ran down his body and he was touched by how much love this
woman had toward someone she had never met.
"You're real
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan
"
"You know us?" Obi-Wan said,
flabbergasted.
"Of course
" The young woman went
onto explain about the Star Wars saga.
"Incredible," Qui-Gon said. "
You know so much about us and I know
nothing about you."
"My name is Seph," she said. "I'm thirty-two and I love Star
Wars. Especially
Qui-Gon Jinn and
Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The Jedi smiled and Seph took them home.
"I'm so glad you didn't really
die," Seph said to Qui-Gon.
"So am I," he said with a smile.
"So then what happened to Darth
Maul?"
"He was wounded, but escaped,"
Obi-Wan explained. "He and his Master
are still at large."
"That's too bad."
"They'll be caught eventually and
brought to justice."
"I hope so. Well you boys must be starving after your
trip."
"To tell you the truth," Qui-Gon
said. "I haven't thought about food
at all."
"You haven't?" Obi-Wan asked. "I feel I could eat a bantha or
two."
"Well I'm out of bantha, but I do have
some vegie burgers."
"That'll do nicely," Qui-Gon
said.
When she went to heat
the burgers, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon spoke softly.
"Master, you're sure about this aren't
you?"
"Yes."
"Need I remind you again that I had to
kill Anakin? I severed his head from his
shoulders."
"You do not need to remind me, Obi-Wan.
Don't worry. Seph will not turn. The prophecy states that her offspring will
bring everlasting peace to the Universe."
"Which leaves us with the other half of
the prophecy. So where do we look for
him?"
"I haven't the foggiest idea."
"What?!" Obi-Wan whispered,
incredulous. "We come all this way and
you don't have a clue?"
"The only thing I know is that he's from
another galaxy."
"Well that narrows it down,"
Obi-Wan said, sourly, folding his arms.
"Don't worry, Obi-Wan, I have a feeling
it will come to pass."
"And we're to rely on this 'feeling?'"
"It's all we've got."
"Master if I didn't love you so much I'd
strangle you."
"I know," Qui-Gon said, with a
smile.
Seph brought out the
vegetable burgers and salad.
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said. "I wish we could reimburse you."
"It's all right. I'm afraid republic credits are no good out
here either."
Qui-Gon smiled. "I didn't think they would be."
And they began to eat.
"These are delicious," Qui-Gon said
after he swallowed his first mouthful.
"Thank you, but I just reheated
them."
The Jedi Master kissed
her cheek. "It's the love that you
put into them."
Seph smiled.
After dinner, Obi-Wan
went for a scenic waterfall walk that Seph had told the Jedi about, sensing his
Master wanted to be alone with her.
Seph placed her arms
around Qui-Gon.
"I still can't believe you're
real."
Gently he touched her
cheek. "I knew you were."
And they shared a
loving kiss.
Obi-Wan returned from
the walk. "It really is a
beautiful walk, Master. There are two lovely waterfalls."
"I'm in the mood for a walk,"
Qui-Gon said, holding Seph's hand.
Obi-Wan smiled. "You two kids knock yourselves
out."
His Master chuckled as
he left with Seph.
Qui-Gon and Seph
strolled in the small forest.
" I can sense the nature spirits of this
place," he said, turning around.
"It's truly beautiful."
Seph held him. "Yes, it is," she said, leading him
to the first secluded waterfall. There
they sat and meditated for over an hour before walking to the larger
waterfall. There Qui-Gon picked up Seph
and twirled her around, then put her down and they shared another kiss and
remained by the waterfall until well after dark.
"I was beginning to think you'd taken up
residency there," Obi-Wan said when they returned.
Qui-Gon smiled. "You were right. It was beautiful."
Qui-Gon stayed with
Seph until she had fallen asleep then found Obi-Wan.
"She's sleeping," he said.
The younger Jedi
nodded. "So what do we do
now?"
"We go to sleep and wait until
morning."
Obi-Wan smiled.
The following morning,
Seph was up unusually early. She heard a
knock at the door and went to open it.
Sensing danger, at the last moment Qui-Gon scooped her out of the way as
she opened the door. Darth Maul ignited
his lightsabre, running the Jedi Master through. Seph screamed.
"Master!" Obi-Wan exclaimed in
horror.
Darth Maul disengaged
his lightsabre.
"Idiot," Darth Sidious hissed. "You almost killed her."
"That was not my intention,
Master," Maul said, though he too was a little jarred by what had just
happened. He had meant to kill Qui-Gon,
but he certainly hadn't expected the Jedi Master to sacrifice himself.
Seph wept by Qui-Gon's
body. "Help me get him to my
room," she said.
Obi-Wan knelt down and
gently picked up his Master's body and carried him to Seph's room. She could sense he was holding back tears and
would cry alone if he could get some time.
He left Seph with Qui-Gon and went to face the two uninvited
guests. He glared at them darkly. "What brings you two here?"
"The prophecy," Sidious answered.
"What prophecy?"
"Don't play stupid with me Jedi. The
same prophecy that brought you two here.
She will change the Universe as we know it. She will be untouched by man. She will drink the blood of a Jedi. She will wound a Sith Lord and she will raise
the dead."
"You've got the wrong girl."
"That remains to be seen."
"Though wounding a Sith Lord sounds
good."
Sidious ignored Obi-Wan
as he sat himself down on Seph's sofa and waited.
* * *
Meanwhile in her room,
Seph gently removed hair from Qui-Gon's face and smiled warmly. The young woman called upon her patron God
and he appeared before her eyes for the first time. He sat down on the bed next to her and
stroked Qui-Gon's head.
"Can you help him?" Seph asked.
"Yes," the God said. "It is not his rightful time to
die."
He placed his hand on
Qui-Gon's forehead and closed his eyes.
The God took a deep breath and centred himself.
Within moments, Qui-Gon
began to open his eyes. He looked up at
a smiling Seph and a God.
"We brought you back," the God
explained. "It was not your
rightful time to die."
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said, taking
his first breath since he had been run through.
"You will feel tired for some days,
perhaps weeks," the God explained.
"I suggest you take some rest."
"I'm not going to argue."
Seph turned to her
patron God. "Hades," she said, "why do most of the world think
you're evil?"
The God smiled warmly. "I've always been misunderstood, even in
my own time," he said.
"But you're *not* evil, you're
not the devil and you're not hell."
"I know that and so do you and many
others. The time will come when the world will realise many truths."
Gently Seph placed her
arms around the God of the Dead.
"Thank you," she said.
"I must leave you now," Hades said,
then he disappeared.
"Wonders never cease," Qui-Gon
said, lying his head down on the pillow.
Gently Seph kissed him.
* * *
Sidious had gone for a
walk, while Maul and Obi-Wan were arguing.
"All you Jedi ever do is meditate."
"All you Sith ever do is destroy. You didn't have to kill my Master, but oh you
wanted to, didn't you?"
"Yes," Maul said. "I did."
"But you weren't expecting Seph to open
the door and you weren't expecting my Master to sacrifice himself, were
you?"
"No," Maul admitted after a
pause. "Why would he do such a
thing for someone he barely knows?"
"You don't know my Master."
"Apparently not."
"But then you Sith would never
understand love."
"Love is weakness."
"Love is strength."
"Believe what you will, Jedi."
Seph came out of her
room and looked at the Jedi and Sith apprentice.
"Would you two please be quiet? Qui-Gon's sleeping."
And she returned to her
room.
"Wonderful," Maul said. "She's in denial."
"And whose fault is that?" accused
Obi-Wan.
Maul glowered.
Seph slept next to
Qui-Gon that night and awoke with him the following morning. Qui-Gon began to get up.
"No, darling you're still very
tired."
"I need to bathe. I'm starting to smell like a sweating bantha.
"
"I hadn't noticed."
"You're just being polite."
Seph smiled and helped
Qui-Gon out of bed.
"Sidious, Maul and Obi-Wan have gone
out," Qui-Gon sensed.
"Not together I hope."
The Jedi Master
chuckled. "No."
"Is something bothering you?" Seph
asked.
Qui-Gon sighed. "Are you sure you're not Force
Sensitive?"
Seph smiled. "Perhaps a little."
"Obi-Wan didn't sense me," Qui-Gon
said. "He didn't sense me come back
to life."
"Perhaps he's just too upset."
Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes, I know, but I would have thought
that he'd have sensed me."
Seph nodded. "Perhaps he will at a later stage. Right now he's grieving. Let's run you a bath."
She helped Qui-Gon up
and lead him into the bathroom. Qui-Gon
undressed and climbed into the bath.
Seph stayed with him to make sure he was all right.
"Maul's coming back," Qui-Gon said.
"Quick, pretend to be dead," Seph
said. "We'll *show* them."
Qui-Gon giggled, closed
his eyes and let his body go limp. Maul
entered the bathroom and became quite perplexed at what he saw. "Excuse me," he said. "I didn't know you were in here."
"I'm giving Qui-Gon a bath," Seph
explained.
"But he's
"
"He's what?"
"He's
Never mind," Maul said,
leaving.
Obi-Wan returned from a
long walk down to the waterfall. He made
sure he didn't look like he hand been crying when he returned. Maul turned to face him.
"She's giving him a bath now," he
said.
"What?"
"She's in the bathroom, right now
bathing a corpse!"
"She is?"
"We must tell her the truth."
"No," Obi-Wan said. "It'll break her heart. She has to discover for herself."
"So we go along with this charade?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"For as long as we need to."
"Wonderful."
"And where is that dastardly Master of
yours?"
"Force knows. He's prone to taking off for days at a
time."
"We'll let's just hope he stays
gone."
Maul grunted.
Seph finished helping
bathe Qui-Gon. He climbed out of the
bath and dried himself.
"I just got out of bed and I'm tired
again."
"You heard what Hades said, you'd be
tired for days, weeks even. To bed with
you, Mister."
"Yes, ma'am."
Seph smiled. Qui-Gon leaned against her as she opened the
door and dragged him toward her bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Maul asked.
"Qui-Gon's tired, he needs some
rest."
"Let me help you," Obi-Wan said,
feeling ridiculous. "He looks very
tired."
He helped Seph get his
Master to her bedroom and laid him down on the bed.
"He is very tired," Seph said. "Thank you."
"Make sure you take good care of
him," Obi-Wan said, tears welling in his eyes, but he willed them to stop
as he went to face Darth Maul.
"This is all your fault," he
hissed.
"All right, it's my fault. Just shut up.
She'll come out again and rouse us."
Obi-Wan managed a small
smile, which quickly disappeared when Sidious returned.
"I was kind of hoping you'd taken off
for good."
"So sorry to disappoint you."
"I'll bet."
"Master," Maul said. "The woman is in denial. She believes Qui-Gon is still alive. Earlier today I found her bathing his corpse."
"Wonderful. Do you see the mess you've gotten us
into?" Sidious snapped at his apprentice.
"I killed a Jedi and I get into
trouble."
Sidious brutally
backhanded him. "Don't answer back.
Well keep her happy. She's our
prophecy."
"How can you be so sure, Master? She has not done one of the things she's
supposed to have done. Drink the blood
of a Jedi. I would like to see
that." Maul smiled.
Sidious grinned.
"So would I, my young apprentice. Patience. I feel that she's the one."
"With all due respect, Master, the Jedi
are sure that she's their prophecy too."
"One of us is wrong."
Sidious looked at Obi-Wan,
who was now becoming unsure. What if she
was the Sith's prophecy - but then would a Sith prophecy fall in love with a
Jedi Master? And if she was the Sith's
prophecy, where would that leave the Jedi?
His Master?
Seph emerged from her
bedroom.
"How is Qui-Gon?" Sidious asked.
"Fine, no thanks to you and your rabid
apprentice."
Maul glowered.
"So what's he doing now?" the Sith
Master asked.
"Sleeping, so be quiet."
"All right."
"Can I get you anything to drink?
Tea? Coffee? Blood?"
"I'll settle for Qui-Gon's," Maul
said with a smile.
Sidious hit the back of
his head. Seph glared at Maul. "Sorry I'm all out of blood. It'll have to be herb tea, coffee, milk,
water or juice."
"Herb tea," Sidious said, "and
don't bother trying to poison it."
"I don't have any poison even if I
wanted to."
"And don't bother spitting in it
either," Maul said.
Seph smiled. "Would I do such a thing? Obi-Wan what
would you like?"
"Some juice please."
"I have pomegranate or mandarin."
"Pomegranate please."
"Coming right up."
Seph served the drinks
and if she didn't know better the Sith actually looked like civilised people.
Obi-Wan finished his juice and poured himself another. He hadn't felt like
anything much after he felt his Master die, but this juice was strangely
comforting.
* * *
The next day, Sidious
had taken off again. Maul and Obi-Wan
were talking about Qui-Gon.
"Then there was the time where he saved
a small butterfly whose wings had been stuck together by the rain."
"Why would he do such a futile
thing?"
"Because my Master cares."
"Most Jedi don't."
"My Master is more compassionate than
most."
"I can see that. My Master told me compassion is a
weakness."
"Your Master was wrong. Compassion is one of my Master's
strengths."
"Well most Jedi are out for their own
egos."
"Some are, unfortunately," Obi-Wan
said.
"But your Master isn't, is he? He really cares."
Obi-Wan nodded. "And you killed him."
Maul stood up and left,
going for a walk to contemplate his feelings.
When he returned, he sensed Obi-Wan having a shower and Seph had gone to
buy some groceries at the shopping centre down the street. For Qui-Gon's dinner, no doubt, he
thought. He entered her room and found
Qui-Gon 'sleeping' and sat down next to him.
"You know your apprentice tells me that
love and compassion are strengths while my Master always said they were
weaknesses. Truth is I don't know what
to believe anymore. But it's too late
now, to change the past."
And with that, he
left. Seph returned.
"I was just saying hello to
Qui-Gon," Maul explained to her, "but he's sleeping."
Seph nodded. "He's very tired, but I'm going to make
him some dinner."
She began preparing a
vegetarian meal for both of them.
"What about us?" Maul asked.
"I'm not your mother you can fix your
own dinner."
Maul tried to glare at
her, but had to stifle a smile.
Seph took the meal to
Qui-Gon who opened his eyes.
"Thank you, I'm starving."
And they began to
eat. When they had finished, Seph took
the two empty plates out of the room. Obi-Wan and Maul assumed she had eaten
both portions. When she re-entered her
room, the young Sith turned to Obi-Wan.
"What are we going to do? Sooner rather than later that corpse is going
to start to smell and fall apart."
"You should have thought of that before
you murdered my Master."
Maul grunted.
Sidious returned. "Does she still believe-"
"Yes," Obi-Wan and Maul snapped.
"This charade has to end soon," the
Sith Master said.
"I agree," Maul said. "Shall we
tell her?"
"No," Obi-Wan said. "Not yet. Perhaps tomorrow"
* * *
"Shall we tell them?" Qui-Gon
asked.
Seph smiled.
"No, not yet, perhaps tomorrow."
* * *
On the morrow, the Jedi
Master awoke.
"I feel like a new Jedi," he said.
Seph smiled. "You're okay now."
He yawned, stretched
and nodded.
"It's time," he said, hearing the
Sith arguing with Obi-Wan.
He emerged from the
room, ruffling his hair, then looked at the three, staring at him with open
mouths.
"What's the matter?" he asked. "You three look like you've seen a
ghost."
"We have," Maul said.
"Master
" Obi-Wan stammered.
"Yes, Obi-Wan?"
"You
you're alive
"
"Yes, of course I am."
Maul stood. "But I ran you through
" He poked
Qui-Gon.
The Jedi Master
winced. "Do you mind?! That's still tender. He lifted up his shirt, showing the scar.
"This calls for an explanation,"
Seph said.
"I should think so," Sidious said.
Seph explained to them
what had happened.
Sidious smiled, but it wasn't
a pleasant one.
"She will raise the dead," he said.
"A pity it had to be Qui-Gon."
Obi-Wan glared at him.
Later, the young Jedi
met his Master alone in Seph's room.
"I cried my eyes out down by the
waterfall and you were alive all this time?" He sounded a little angry.
Qui-Gon sighed. "Yes, I was."
"Master, I was heartbroken."
"I know.
I sensed your pain."
"Then why did you lead me to believe you
were dead?"
"Obi-Wan you did not sense my
resurrection. You did not sense me come
back to life."
The young apprentice
sighed. "And that hurt you,"
he said.
Qui-Gon nodded. Obi-Wan placed his arms around his
Master. "I'm sorry. I was too much in my own mind. It won't happen again."
"I certainly hope not. I don't want to go through that again, a
beautiful gift though it was."
Obi-Wan smiled, then
looked serious. "You're going out alone with Darth Sidious?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure that's wise?"
"I sense no danger."
"The Sith are masters at hiding their
agendas."
"I know, but I sense he just wants to
talk, gloat more like."
Obi-Wan sighed.
"Are you sure about Seph? I mean
Sidious is sure she's their prophecy.
She can't be both now, can she?"
"I'm not so sure."
"Master how can she be both? The Sith prophecy is worded rather
darkly."
"I'm sure Darth Sidious will tell me all
about it."
"I'm sure he will. Be careful, Master, we wouldn't want to have
to resurrect you a second time."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "Rest assured, Padawan. I'll be on full alert."
"Behave yourself," Obi-Wan said
with a smile.
"Of course." Qui-Gon smiled back.
The Jedi Master left
with the Sith Master. Worried, Obi-Wan
watched them go. Seph knew Qui-Gon would
be all right. She beckoned to Maul who
was quite surprised that she wanted to talk to him. She lead him down the corridor then stopped
abruptly and spoke to him softly.
"If you hurt my baby again, I'll rip
off your horns and gut you with them.
'Kay?"
"What?" Maul growled.
"'Kay?" She said pleasantly.
She then turned to
leave. She did not see Maul smiling.
* * *
Out and about, Sidious
smiled at Qui-Gon, but the smile was far from pleasant. "You've been given a rare gift, Jedi
Master."
"Yes, and I don't intend on wasting
it. Now what did you want to discuss?"
"The prophecy."
"I thought so."
"She will raise the dead, which she has
done. She will wound a Sith Lord, Maul
probably and she will drink the blood of a Jedi. I do so hope it's yours."
Qui-Gon smiled. "We'll see."
"What about your prophecy?" Sidious
asked.
"Her offspring will being everlasting
peace to the Universe."
"That's all?"
Qui-Gon nodded. "No blood drinking. Sorry to disappoint you."
"Her offspring. Which implies there is another half of your
prophecy."
Qui-Gon nodded. Sidious pondered.
"She can't very well be the same
prophecy then."
"I'm not so sure about that,"
Qui-Gon said.
"She also will be untouched by any
man," Sidious said after a pause.
"If you so much as *think* about it, I swear I'll sever your orbs
with my lightsabre."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "You make it sound like that's all I'm
thinking about."
"Isn't it? You can't deny wanting to lie with her."
"No, I can't."
"My point proven."
"Is it?
I take it you've never experienced love or sacred sex."
"Sex is a filthy, dirty business."
"My point exactly. You've never loved anyone."
"She was a whore on Coruscant's lower
level."
"That's hardly love. Sex can be sacred if it's with the right person,
someone you love dearly, but if you believe love is a weakness, you're going to
find it very, very difficult indeed."
Sidious grunted as
Qui-Gon left him.
* * *
Obi-Wan was glad and
relieved to have his Master back alive and well. Neither him nor Sidious said anything upon
their return. Seph hugged Qui-Gon and
they shared a heartfelt kiss. Sidious
glared at Qui-Gon, who smiled back, deepening Sidious' hatred.
Against Obi-Wan's
better judgement, Seph went for a walk with Darth Sidious, though Qui-Gon did
not sense any danger.
"You haven't spoken to me in over an
hour," Sidious said, as they walked.
"What's there to say? You're evil you've never loved, you probably
don't even know the meaning of the word."
"Love is weakness."
"I bet that makes you popular with the
ladies."
Sidious smiled, though
again it was not pleasant. He offered
her his hand, but Seph refused it and she continued to walk, the leaves
crushing under her feet.
"I like the sounds of leaves crushing
under my feet," she said to him.
"I suppose you like the sound of people and planets crushing under
yours. Let alone wildlife and
nature."
"That isn't fair," Sidious
said. "You know so much about me,
My Dear, and I know so little about you."
"I'd like to keep it that way."
"Need I remind you that you will drink
the blood of a Jedi?"
"Not likely."
Sidious smiled
unpleasantly. "We will see."
Obi-Wan was relieved
when Seph returned unharmed. Qui-Gon too
was happy to have her back, though he knew she had not been in any danger. The
Jedi Master was growing tired again, but he went to prepare dinner. He began chopping vegetables and accidentally
sliced his finger. Seph felt sorry for him
and lovingly licked his wound. Sidious
watched in disgust. After the bleeding
had stopped, she placed a Harry Potter band-aid around the wound.
Qui-Gon went back to
preparing the dinner. Maul came to Seph
and placed his hand upon her shoulder.
"What's for dinner?" he asked,
coming closer to her.
"Vegetarian."
"Great," he said with a smile.
Strange Seph
thought. Usually Maul hated what he
called 'rabbit food.' Seph then she realised, pushed his hand off her shoulder
and went to Qui-Gon, ignoring Maul. Maul
glared with hatred at the Jedi Master, then his expression softened when he
watched Seph instead. Sidious watched
with interested disgust. He took Maul
aside. "When the prophecy is fulfilled,
I want you to kill Qui-Gon again, Obi-Wan
and her also."
"Yes, Master."
"You hesitated before you answered me. You've never had a problem with killing
before."
"Must we kill her too?"
"Yes, otherwise she'll just bring them
back."
"Yes, Master," Maul said. "It will be done."
* * *
Seph retreated into her
room and lay on her bed. She sensed
someone lying in the covers. The covers
peeled themselves back to reveal Darth Maul.
Seph looked at him.
"Qui-Gon, you've done something with
your hair, haven't you?"
No sooner, Qui-Gon came
into the room.
Maul smiled. "I came to warn you," he said. "My Master wants you both dead."
"I figured that," Seph said.
Maul climbed off the
bed and left.
"Thanks for the warning," Seph
called after him.
Qui-Gon held her close.
After dinner, Seph went
walking to the waterfall with Obi-Wan.
"You are the prophecy," he said.
"So it appears, but I've never been that
important before."
He took her hand.
" Believe me, you are."
"So," Qui-Gon said to Darth Sidious
with a smile. "Has she drunk the
blood of a Jedi yet?"
"Yes," Sidious answered.
Qui-Gon looked a little
perplexed.
"Just now when she licked your wound,
effectively, she drank your blood."
Qui-Gon smiled. "So it was my blood she drank. Well it looks like one of your fondest dreams
have come true."
Sidious glared at the
Jedi Master.
"But Master," Darth Maul said,
"she still has to wound one of us if she is our prophecy."
"She did that when she rejected your
love."
Maul squirmed. "I thought I hid it pretty well."
"Hid it?" Sidious hissed with
disgust. "It stuck out like dogs'
bollocks."
Qui-Gon smiled. "Well it's settled then Seph is both our
prophecies."
"So what now?" Sidious asked.
"We wait."
"We haven't got time to wait,"
Sidious snapped.
"We must wait," Qui-Gon said in a
tone that brooked no further argument
Sidious turned to
Maul. "So when did you decide that
you-" he started.
The young Sith felt
uncomfortable discussing this in front of the Jedi Master, but he did
anyway. "When she told me she'd rip
out my horns and gut me with them if I harmed Qui-Gon again."
Sidious smiled. "She's an interesting one."
Qui-Gon smiled too.
* * *
Just after an hour
later, Obi-Wan returned with Seph.
Qui-Gon felt something as he walked toward her and took her hand. His whole body began to tingle as he
retreated into Seph's room with her. He
stared into her sea green eyes.
"The prophecy is starting
But we have
not yet found the other half
"
Seph started at
Qui-Gon. "I feel it now. The other half is you."
Qui-Gon's eyes
widened. "Me, but I
How can I
"
"Qui-Gon, you're too modest."
Qui-Gon smiled as he
held her. The Force caressed them in
swirls of light, growing brighter and brighter.
"Something's happening," Sidious
said.
"I feel it too," Obi-Wan said.
Maul nodded. Sidious marched to Seph's room and flung open
the door to find both Seph and Qui-Gon in each other's arms, waves of light
swirling around them. It was the most
beautiful thing the Sith Lord had ever seen, but he refused to admit it.
A large wave of light
swirled around them. Qui-Gon and Seph
touched it gently, knowing that this was their offspring, a being made of pure
love and the Force. The wave took off to
fulfil the prophecy. Qui-Gon held Seph
in his arms and he noticed both wounds had cleared up and there were no
scars. Gently, he kissed her. They both almost collapsed. Obi-Wan caught them and lowered them to the
floor. He picked up his Master and
carried him to the bed, then picked up Seph and placed her next to him.
"They must rest," he said, in awe
of what had just happened.
Maul was too, but he
said nothing as he left with his Master.
"After they have rested, I want you to
kill them both."
"Yes, Master," Maul said, without
hesitating this time.
* * *
The next afternoon,
Seph awoke, and saw Qui-Gon was still sleeping.
She smiled lovingly at him, but didn't want to wake him. She went to find Obi-Wan.
"Qui-Gon's still asleep, would you join
me for a walk?"
"I'd be happy to," Obi-Wan
said. "You are truly a beautiful
person."
"Thank you, so are you and your
Master."
Obi-Wan smiled as she
lead him down to the waterfall.
This time he could
sense the nature spirits.
Maul entered Seph's
room with his Master. Sidious stood in
the doorway. Maul approached Qui-Gon,
who was awake, but too weak to defend himself.
"This time there will be no
resurrection," Maul said.
Qui-Gon sensed there
would be death, but he looked at the Sith Lord, unsure.
Maul smiled. "Did you really think I would let you
live?"
At the doorway, Sidious
smiled too as Maul ignited his lightsabre.
"Come closer, Master," Maul
said. "Do you not want to see the
pain on his face when I slowly disembowel him?
Sidious approached his
apprentice, grinning evilly. "Well
get on with it. Kill him."
"I intend to."
Without warning, Maul
ignited the other half of his lightsabre, running his Master through. In shock, Sidious fell to the floor.
"You disgust me," Maul
glowered. "You see the most
beautiful thing you have ever seen and you want to destroy it? You loved her too, didn't you? And you wanted her dead because you could not
have her."
Sidious winced in pain
as Maul withdrew his vermilion sabre.
"You despise Qui-Gon because you can
never be like him. You can never
experience love so you want to destroy it. Compassion and beauty will always be
a mystery to you, so you shun them."
"Look
how weak he is
" Sidious
rasped.
"Weak only in body which will pass soon
enough. Strong in spirit. And you are weak too, Master. Look at you grovelling on the floor beneath
my feet. You disgust me."
"Please..." Sidious rasped.
Maul swung his
lightsabre and severed his old Master's head from his shoulders. At that point Obi-Wan and Seph came rushing
in. Obi-Wan ignited his indigo
lightsabre.
"It's all right, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon
calmed.
"Master
"
Maul disengaged his
lightsabre. As did Obi-Wan.
"I'll get rid of the body," Maul
said, bundling up Darth Sidious' body and head in his black robe and he left.
"Master
I sensed pain
" Obi-Wan
said, kneeling down next to the bed.
"What you felt was the Sith Lord's pain
and despair."
"But what if Maul intended to kill
you? We would have been too late."
"I was never in any danger, Obi-Wan,
otherwise the Force would have alerted you sooner."
The young Jedi
smiled. "You're wise, Master."
"As are you, my young Padawan."
Seph sat next Qui-Gon
and held him.
Half an hour later Maul
returned. No one wanted to ask him what
he had done with the body.
"I will return to our Universe," he
said, "and take an apprentice and teach him or her in the ways of the Dark
Side, but I will not train my apprentice to despise Jedi. The hatreds of the past are over."
"Thank you," Qui-Gon said,
heartfelt. "It appears the prophecy
has come to pass."
Maul left to find his
ship.
* * *
"I'm going to stay here with Seph,"
Qui-Gon said. "At least for a
while."
"You're staying?" Obi-Wan sighed. "Hey, are you sure you don't just want to
stay because you don't want to face the Council when we get back?"
"Blast.
You got me," Qui-Gon joked.
"Seriously, Master, are you sure?"
The older Jedi
nodded. "I love her too much to
leave her."
"I'll miss you so much."
"And I you, my young Padawan, but
remember we'll always be near."
Obi-Wan hugged him and
Qui-Gon returned the embrace.
He told the good news
to Seph.
"I'm delighted, but aren't you going to
miss your home?"
"Yes, I will, but I want and I need to
stay here with you."
"I'm not complaining."
Seph smiled as she
hugged her Jedi Master.
* * *
When he returned,
Obi-Wan delivered his report to the Council.
"Told us he should have," Yoda
said.
"Yes, Mace said. "Something of this magnitude we should
have been informed, but Jinn has done it again."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Indeed he has."
"The Universe is at peace at last,"
Depa Bilaba said.
"Calls for a celebration this
does," Yoda said.
Obi-Wan smiled
again. "Let us all have a night on
the town."
"You're on," Ki-Adi Mundi said with
a smile.
The Jedi Council
members stood to have a great night out.
Obi-Wan looked out of the
window to a distant bright blue star, knowing his Master was there in the arms
of his love, knowing that his fondest desire of peace had come true.
*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~