Disclaimer: all hail almighty Lucasworld and its attendant
minions. And also please note: this story is not for profit,
only written for the satisfaction of my readers.
Archive: MA archive?, personal homepage
Pairing: Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
Rating: NC-17 (for violence)
Warning: is there such a thing called an A/U TPM?
Summary: well, this is my take on the fight scene in The
Phantom Menace: Qui-Gon doesn't die (joy!), Darth Maul get
sliced (of course). This is a sort of sequel to the
'Lycanthrope' series. Yeah, I know its pretty predictable =)
Acknowledgements: a big thank you to those who wrote to me and
encouraged me to write more on the 'Lycanthrope' series!
Feedback: yes! yes! yes!
I.
They raced through the metallic cavern, lightsabers crashing.
Qui-Gon Jinn met each blow of the red lightsabers of his enemy,
the red-and-black faced Sith who fought like a demon, flamed by
the rages of the Dark Side. The devilous visage leered at him,
taunting and mocking him. The Jedi Master had to use every
ounce of his strength to fight back.
Next to him, he knew that with the arcs of bright blue, Obi-Wan
was applying all his skills as a Jedi. He could feel the Force
swirling around the young man; indeed, Obi-Wan moved with a
graceful ability.
(Like a dancer), Qui-Gon permitted himself to admire his
apprentice for a blessed second before he was called back to
the present with a roar of clashing lightsabers.
((Thank you )) An hint of amusement marked Obi-Wan's mental
voice through the connection they had as Master and Apprentice.
Qui-Gon smiled inwardly as he countered yet another brutal blow
from the Sith. Obi-Wan had grown, matured. He was still solemn,
always observant and acerbic. Yet the Jedi Master knew
something else. They moved in tandem now, each intricately
aware of one another. Their link was stronger now, more
intimate. Powerful.
(If we ever get of this alive, I am going to talk to him about
the life bond if we ever get out of this )
He stemmed the thought angrily, feeling the ripple of rage
coursing through his body. Already he could feel the beast
dying to get out, struggling in its cage constructed with iron
mental control.
II.
They spent days on his 'condition' after Obi-Wan brought him
back to Coruscant. He was reluctant to leave his refuge in the
cave but he made a promise to his Padawan. And he kept his
promise, permitting the healers to examine his hand and the
Jedi Masters to evaluate the changes within him. It wasn't
easy. It was akin to the effect of removing something
physically from him. He had to tell them that he had it under
strict discipline, able to transform to his Alter self in a
blink of an eye. Yes, they called his 'animal' form an 'Alter'
now. It was a matter of semantics anyway. Clinical, sterile.
Trying to define something beyond control.
The day that he, Jedi Master Jinn, stood under the scrutiny of
the Council members, remained vividly in his mind. In their
eyes, he was always the rebel, the impatient one. Now they were
more nervous, more anxious over his 'condition'. He could still
see Obi-Wan standing respectfully beside him, his hands folded
under the Jedi robes. He looked peaceful, centered. The slash
wounds on his face were healing perfectly. But there would be
scars to remind Qui-Gon of the potential danger inherent within
him.
"Show us your 'Alter'," Master Windu said softly.
He could feel Obi-Wan shift ever so slightly. A tinge of unease
was felt and quickly extinguished.
Well, it never occurred to Qui-Gon that the Council members had
never seen him change up close before. For a while, he
experienced frustration rise up. He was like some exhibit at a
freakshow and he found it intensely unpleasant.
But he did, letting the (still) alien instincts take over. He
felt his human form disappear, heard the swift intake of breath
from the Council. Immediately, his senses became sharpened. He
could smell the different sorts of scents in the air. He could
smell something else: fear. It was there, a barely noticeable
current wafting across the Council room. He growled deep with
amusement and detected a ripple of anxiety in one or two
Council members.
Master Yoda was the first to recover his faculty of speech.
"Formidable, he looks."
"A beast, nonetheless." Someone said quietly.
(I will like to refute that, my Jedi colleague ), Qui-Gon
broadcasted his thought aloud.
The expressions on some of the faces were priceless. They
looked as if they had walked into their rooms and had seen
their pet canines using the personal databases. Once again, he
was angry. Jedi or not, they were still given to base
prejudices and assumptions.
(Do not judge mere appearances), he continued, looking around
the room. Obi-Wan remained silent.
Qui-Gon found his presence comforting. With a sigh, he reverted
back to his normal self. There was a moment of chill silence as
he picked up his robes and put it on. When he finished, he
regarded all of them intently.
"Well," he said casually as if the entire incident was like a
stroll in the Jedi Temple gardens.
"It would seem that you have kept your 'condition' under tight
control," Mace remarked. "But it is still dangerous, Master
Jinn. " Look what you did to your Padawan, implied the
expression on his face.
"The efforts of the healers seem useless," Qui-Gon drew himself
to his full height proudly. "The more they subject me to the
meditation techniques, the more the 'condition' becomes more
entrenched in me."
"So you are saying that you and the animal are one and the
same?" Another voice spoke out.
"Yes and no," he whirled around and gazed quietly at the
speaker.
III.
Qui-Gon channeled all his energies into his lightsaber. The
Sith didn't seem to know the meaning of giving up! He battled
on, swinging that abomination, that two-sided lightsaber.
The Jedi Master realized that he was fighting the Sith alone.
Belatedly, he was conscious that he was separated by a red
energy barrier. He could see Obi-Wan faintly behind the
crackling curtain. Fear filtered through the mind-link: fear
for his Master. There was more though. Fear and love.
The Sith chuckled menacingly.
With a sudden chilling thought, Qui-Gon realised that he might
not see Obi-Wan again.
There was a flash, an arc of red ---
Something in him responded viscerally as Obi-Wan shouted in his
mind: Noooo!!!
Suddenly, the Sith was falling back, hesitant. Qui-Gon smiled
grimly. He shook himself almost with an air of luxury while the
Dark warrior accessed this new thing before him with a furious
glower.
He stepped gingerly away from the pile of clothing on the floor
and began to circle around the Sith Lord warily.
IV.
Throughout the entire trip in the Republican cruiser, Qui-Gon
had mused on the Council's decision to send him and his
apprentice. With his 'condition', he wasn't exactly the best
person to be deployed as a diplomat. But he had the experience
and wisdom needed to mediate the situation.
Things became more complex.
They had managed to evade the battle droids, escaped to Naboo
and met up with the local Gungans. Rescued Queen Armidala and
her entourage. Gone to Tattoine and picked up young Anakin
Skywalker who held so much, so much potential.
It was a miracle that he managed to keep his 'Alter' from
making a startling (not to mention, shocking) appearance. The
sounds, the sights and the smells of battle and new
environments were devastatingly tempting. Compounded with the
roar of the stadium at the Podrace and his heightened senses,
things were magnified to fever pitch. He ended up having a
splitting headache.
He almost almost shifted into 'the snow-wolf' in the forest
Well, almost
Obi-Wan didn't say anything about his 'condition'. He seemed
resigned now, grudgingly accepting this new development. Yet,
the lad was uncomfortable around Anakin
Jealous.
V.
The Sith lunged at him with the double-ended lightsaber and
Qui-Gon leapt into the air, hitting out with his front paws.
Talons tore into the skin, drew darkish red blood. Immediately,
he retreated while the Sith screamed his rage to the heavens.
A blindingly flaming arc came at him and he dodged, the blade
nearly singeing his fur. His ears lowered even he ducked,
growling. He saw an opening and took it, going for the jugular.
Blood, bitter metallic, poured into his throat as he sank his
fangs into the precious artery. It was eerily refreshing, the
taste of blood in his mouth, the joy of the hunt pounding in
his veins. He pressed deeper, held on, bringing the Sith down.
The Sith is much smaller, he noted absent-mindedly.
It was then Obi-Wan entered the fray ---
Intense heat coursed through his body and Qui-Gon understood,
painfully, that the Sith had somehow injured him with his
damnable lightsaber. He whimpered in agony and instinct
screamed at him to retreat.
((MASTER!))
The pain was bearable and he hunkered down at a corner, using
the Force to staunch the bloodflow. It was one of his paws
again. Dimly, he heard the battle continue, Obi-Wan's blue
lightsaber glowing and clashing with the Sith's.
Yet the Sith was weakening, due to the open wound in his
throat. Qui-Gon saw Obi-Wan kick out and slice the Dark lord
into two. The Sith flailed in the air, once twice. Then he fell
into the chasm his upper torso tumbling first into the
darkness, then followed by his lower half. The smell of blood
was strong in the air.
"Master?"
It was Obi-Wan, holding him gently, almost cradling him.
Qui-Gon struggled onto his feet, give his fur a good shaking
and made a face. The taste of the Sith lingered in his mouth.
It was disgustingly foul, reminding him of rusted metal nails
and rotting meat.
((I am alright)), he said, rubbing his snout vigorously with
his good paw. ((Just let me get the taste of Sith off me
first))
Obi-Wan chuckled. His blue eyes sparkled.
The transformation back to human form was slower this time,
given the injury in his paw. Then Obi-Wan pulled him firmly
onto his two human feet and draped his clothing around his
shoulders. For a while, they sagged against each other wearily.
The battle with the Sith had taken a toll on both of them.
It was Obi-Wan who spoke first. "Remind me to prepare you a hot
bath the moment we get back to civilization."
"Oh, I smell of Sith blood."
"Also remind me not to kiss you when you smell."
"Impertinent."
They staggered towards the portal.
"The moment I get back, I am going to sink myself into the
bath." Qui-Gon murmured. He reeked dismally with the rank odor
of the Sith. "And sit there for hours."
They were going to have an interesting future ahead of them.
Once back on Coruscant, he would have to convince the Jedi
Council to let him and Obi-Wan train young Anakin. He would do
it with tooth and claw. He grinned to himself at the imagery.
And Obi-Wan. The lad had the spirit of the noble in him and
something more. Qui-Gon would have to convince the Council to
let them carry out a life-bonding ceremony.
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