Warning: The following story contains explicit depictions of a
homoerotic context. If you are easily offended by
homosexuality, please delete the entire thing from your memory.
Disclaimer: all hail the mighty Lucasworld. I don't earn any
profit from my writing because I am not a Ferengi.
Archive: personal homepage, the M_A archive.
Pairing: Qui/Obi.
Categories: angst, violence, m/m, part of a series.
Warnings: DARK imagery. Images of killing and lycanthropy are
involved in this installment.
Brief outline: "Prelude to A Storm" begins the second half of
the series. It was a moment of peace and tranquility in the
Republic and the lives of the Jedi. But was it going to last?
The Beast within seemed to have returned, stronger than ever.
The two men had given a new mission. "Observations From Afar"
sees Mace Windu pondering on his friendship with Qui-Gon. The
Jedi Master and senior councilor has misgivings. "The Hunt
Begins" sees the Jedi returning to the Lupen but there are
already dark clouds looming in the distance. Danger is apparent
in the appearance of more snow wolf-like creatures that seem to
form a hunting pack. The Jedi are put in grave danger in
"Quarry". The hunters begin their chase in deadly earnest.
Summary: Qui-Gon is forced to choose between his life and the
lives of his beloved and apprentice.
Rating: R.
(( )) and ( )denote telepathy.
The fanged jaws gleamed, wicked jagged edges dripping with
saliva. Qui-Gon managed to twist around in time, the Force
giving him agility. His head throbbed painfully as he landed
heavily on all fours. Around him, the beasts howled
simultaneously and the combined sound echoed in the night. He
realized that they were laughing at him, mocking him.
Adrenaline made his body tremble. The Alter roared within him,
Its jaws parted as well, Its very demeanor one of defense.
No, I am Jedi! He thought stubbornly and gritted his teeth. He
found himself running, the beasts giving chase immediately,
their furred bodies glistening. Even as he ran, his feet flying
above the earth, he was bombarded by wave after wave of pain.
Obi-Wan's pain.
He dreamed that he was afloat, drifting in mid-air. He shivered
with pleasure as the wind whispered against his skin.
Everything seemed so fluid around him, like water...only golden
in color. He stretched out his hands and the water-air sparkled
around his fingers like glitter. It was beautiful... surreal...
He dreamed that he was in bed with Qui-Gon. The room seemed
bathed in shadows, the only light offered by the thousands of
candles. The individual flames flickered in some unseen breeze.
He was being kissed senseless, his body afire with need...
Suddenly, a wave of terror ripped through him and the beautiful
dream disappeared in cobwebby shreds. The candles faded away.
Qui-Gon faded away. He realized that he was shaking and he
hurt.
And it was no dream.
He tried to open his eyes but found them covered with
something. Black cloth? He struggled against the oppressive
feel of darkness, extending out the Force. But the Force only
revealed nothing, only a bleak greyness. It chilled him to the
bones. He used his other senses, suppressing the urge to scream
out for help. His body throbbed. Bruises, he thought, pushing
down the automatic bile rising in his throat.
Images came back to him, snatches of color and sound. Anakin
was yelling something. The flash of his lightsaber...
His lightsaber!
It was gone. His heart ached and he clenched his teeth. Calm
down, Obi-Wan. Calm down...
Then, he recalled the blinding pain tearing in his body. He
attempted to flex his fingers; they seemed stiff. An electric
sensation lanced down his arms, the blood rushing back into the
fingers. His hands were bound.
Anakin...
He could hear noises now. The clang of machinery. The murmuring
of voices in the distance. Bootsteps nearby. A hand wrapping
around his neck. He held his breath. The hand travelling down
his body, down his belly and cupping his balls. Dread filled
his chest. But thankfully, the hand moved away...
((Qui-Gon?))
Just a yawning silence in his head. A terrible silence so deep
that he thought he had gone deaf.
Or, insane.
The clangs grew louder. There was a hiss, a burst of air. He
knew enough of ships to know what was going. He was onboard
some vessel and they were just about to land. The voices became
more excited. He tried to listen, extend his hearing
capabilities. Words, guttural and low, filtered through his
awareness...
And they sent tremors through his bruised systems...
They herded him right into the thick dark forest. He could hear
them everywhere. They seemed to be coming from all directions.
As he ran, his face whipped by stray branches and his robes
torn by unseen barbed thorns, he heard the pack following him,
their shapes grey shadows in the dark vegetation. He stumbled,
wincing under his breath as a sharp twinge was felt in his
abdomen. The rustling stopped immediately, the whines and the
soft yelps ceasing. The forest was suddenly silent.
He glanced around uncertainly. In this place, devoid of light,
he was a stranger.
I am not, the rough voice in him drily said and It growled
something else. They will rip your throat and dance in your
entrails! Use your senses! Smell! Touch! Taste!
He shifted, blending himself into the darkness, breathing
slowly. Leaves crackled as his hands brushed them. He smelled
the earthy scent of moss and fungi. Almost unbidden came a
memory of a sandy-haired boy, about seventeen, looking at him.
It was Obi-Wan, looking as haggard as a man of forty. He
remembered. They were running from the bloodthirsty death
soldiers sent by an irate ruler. They were hiding in the lush
forests famed for huge spiders and Obi-Wan had just killed one
with his lightsaber. The insect resembled matted hair, its
center smoking.
Obi-Wan...
The Force rippled. Something huge came hurtling out of the
darkness. Claws flashed, a glimpse of a lupine face twisted by
violent hunger... Hot fire burned across his chest and it was
only years of training that saved him from keeling over. He
rolled away, feeling the blood seep between his fingers.
A series of howls could be heard. In the pitch blackness, the
sound was eerie.
He could only draw in a shuddering breath. The slash wound on
his chest felt raw. He waited for the savagery to begin. But it
didn't. The forest remained silent. It was as if the beast had
never appeared.
Inside him, the Alter's growl grew louder, more insistent. It
didn't like to be hurt. It wanted to hurt. Its eyes glowed
feral gold, almost manic in Its brilliance.
You are me. I am you. It said in his own voice.
Qui-Gon Jinn grimaced and got up on his feet. The moment he was
up, the rustling could be heard once more. Rustling,
whispering, panting...
By dawn, it became evident to the exhausted Jedi that it was a
game. He was the one being hunted and the hunters were enjoying
themselves tremendously. At times when he thought that he was
safe, one or two of the beasts would attack him from nowhere.
He would use the Force to throw them off but they seemed
tireless, coming back again and again. He was now bruised and
slashed in various places. A huge portion of his tunic was
stained red with blood.
What they will never teach you in the Temple, he mused
ruefully, pausing to catch his breath. He had to get out of
here alive. He had to survive. He had to save Obi-Wan and
Anakin. He had to. The need beat a steady rhythm in his veins,
throbbing in his blood. It gave him strength and energy. He
inhaled a lungful of air, preparing himself for more encounters
with the pack.
A dark-grey shape loped past near him. He caught its scent:
male, musky. Young too, the Alter informed him.
He was about to gather the Force around him as a protective
cushion when a terrible pain hit him literally in the guts. He
doubled over, groaning. The pain roared into him, up his spine
and into his muscles. He began to shake almost uncontrollably.
Somewhere... somehow... Obi-Wan was crying out to him.
Q...ui...G...on...
The pain twisted, like a dagger. Turning in his already-sore
flesh. He gasped and shut his eyes, feeling automatic tears
roll down his face.
He could hear something snarl. From the corner of his eye, he
could see it. A huge wolf-like creature, its ears lowered. The
sharp teeth shone in the sunlight. This one was a brown, its
muscles rippling beneath a thick pelt.
Obi-Wan found himself hanging in mid-air.
He had managed to struggle out of unconsciousness. Drugged, his
mind had told him, speaking matter-of-factly.
His wrists were bound and held high above his head. As he moved
slightly, the cuffs bit into his flesh like knife-edges.
Gravity tugged at him, dragging down his weight. The more he
tried to pull himself up, the sharp cuffs would cut into the
skin. Already he could feel something liquid and warm trickling
down his arms.
He stilled his breathing, calming himself with self-control
mantras. Coolness breathed into him like a refreshing stream.
He examined his surroundings. Okay, he was only wearing his
tunic and trousers. At least, he was still wearing his boots.
He was in some kind of cargo hold. There wasn't any form of
lighting, except for a spotlight that hung above his head. A
strong metallic smell pervaded the entire place and it was
cold... His breath plumed white in front of him.
A door opened somewhere. A loud... almost rude... clang. A dark
figure stepped into the circle of light. It was wearing armor
of some sort. A helmet hid its face. It looked almost
artificial, mechanical.
Bounty hunter, Obi-Wan identified the strange garb of the
figure. Man? Woman? Neuter? Force help us... a bounty hunter...
"Jedi," it spoke in an odd voice. Almost nasally.
Obi-Wan only nodded stiffly. His wrists screamed. They were raw
now and gravity wasn't helping much.
"Your companion is rather resistant," the bounty hunter
continued.
Anakin!
"I expect high prices for the both of you."
"You spoke the truth," a new voice said, breaking the unnatural
silence. It was familiar. All the inflections... the cultured
tones... hinting of a Coruscant accent. Another figure glided
into view. It was robed and cowled like a Jedi...
Black robes, the color of night...
"You are strung up like a pretty necklace, young Jedi Knight."
The voice was sibilant, hinting of decadence. Of evil.
The voice... He had heard it somewhere before...
"I will pay you in full, bounty hunter. You have served me
well."
The helmeted face dipped, as if the hunter was bowing. "My
thanks, lord..."
Obi-Wan could only stare at the black-robed figure, realization
turning his insides into ice. It couldn't be. Images of a
red-and-black demon flitted across his mind, the double-sided
'saber glowing ruby-red...
"Look at me, young Jedi Knight. Believe that you are highly
fortunate..." The black-robed figure moved slowly, as if it was
admiring its prize. Lips could be seen licking. It was a highly
grotesque gesture and Obi-Wan shivered out of sheer disgust.
White skin flashed, a smile curling almost-pale lips. Then, the
black cowl hid everything again...
More rivulets could be felt moving down the underside of his
arms.
Obi-Wan shut his eyes and moaned softly. Qui...
The figure lifted its arms. Pale slender fingers peered from
the sleeves. Purple-colored sparks danced between the
fingertips...
And Obi-Wan's back arched in agony as electricity lanced
straight into his vulnerable body...
The beast flung himself at the Jedi, a flurry of fur and claws.
Qui-Gon backed away, understanding that the creature was only
toying with him. Like a feline with its tiny victim.
"Why do you not fight?" Words came from the beast. Words...
non-words. The growling was soft, the tone almost haughty. "Why
deny your nature?" The ears flickered challengingly. He was a
young one and he prided himself on his youth, his strength.
With a snarl, the creature attacked, his claws glistening,
tipped with blood.
The Alter within Qui-Gon snarled in response. Qui-Gon felt
himself shaking. His eyesight blurred, a hint of imminent
transformation. Already, his senses were heightened. His
self-control, which had been strengthened so many times,
wavered...
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