The Seduction

by Nicole D'Annais ([email protected])

***

With Qui-Gon's help, it took only a few hours for the group of citizens to come up with a plan to get into the residence and get to the governor. Qui-Gon was fairly certain that Crion would be in his study when they attacked; however small groups were being dispatched to a few other key locations, just in case he was elsewhere.

In the time it had taken to plan, their ranks had grown to over sixty Telosians.

The blonde man who had first spoken to Qui-Gon had become the leader by default, as he'd explained while they walked to the makeshift headquarters. Denis had been a member of the volunteer peacekeeping force as part of the mandatory country service all Telosian citizens were required to perform. He and four other men joined Qui-Gon at the rough map he'd drawn of the governor's quarters.

"These are a few of my buddies from my peacekeeper days."

Qui-Gon glanced up at the group. "You were all peacekeepers?" At their nods, he turned to Denis, "Good. Send one with each detachment breaking off to find the governor." Denis agreed and began explaining the mission as they walked off, leaving Qui-Gon alone.

He took one last look at the map of the building he knew by memory. They were ready. Or as read as they could be. So why did he still feel so concerned?

Perhaps because he was sending over sixty mostly untrained citizens into a battle. Or at least aiding them in the fight. The fact that they would have gone anyway--and with fewer numbers and less preparation--was irrelevant. He had helped with the plan. Not to mention that his padawan was now one of Crion's greatest strengths.

"Master Jinn?"

Qui-Gon turned to see Denis heading toward him. "Yes?"

"It's time."

The entire group was looking at him as if waiting for something. He realized they were expecting him to say a few words before the battle. He'd heard leaders rally their troops on several worlds when he'd been sent in peace and war had broken out despite his best efforts, but he'd never had to do such a thing. Jedi were trained warriors, true, but taught to use that training in defense, not to lead attacks. But now...he had no choice, at least none that his conscience would allow. He was their best chance.

"One of the tenants the Jedi live by is peace over anger. I ask only that you keep that ideal in mind as we go into this. We are working for peace--do not allow your anger to rule you, or you become what you fight." He paused to let his words sink in. "May the Force be with us."

***

The rebels made it through the first line of defense on the outer perimeter of the residence without difficulty. Two of the search teams broke off to sneak in during the commotion the main group would make fighting their way into the front entrance. It was a good, sound plan based on what they knew of the governor's quarters and Crion's plans. It would have been nearly perfect.

If only Crion's hired army hadn't arrived ahead of schedule.

Qui-Gon had managed to subdue two guards when he looked up and realized there were suddenly far more defenders than there should have been. And they were wearing the wrong uniforms. One visual sweep was enough to tell him the odds were not in the favor of the rebels.

He found Denis fighting a member of the regular guard and grabbed him, knocking the guard out before pulling Denis away. "We have to pull back!"

"Why?"

"The hired army has arrived; we're outnumbered. We cannot win."

"Yes, we can!"

He tried to pull away, but Qui-Gon held his arm tightly. "No, we can't. Look!" The Jedi Master pointed at more reinforcements entering the front lawn. "We have to leave!"

After a moment, Denis relented. "Fine. I'll go after the groups that broke off. You get everyone else to safety." Before Qui-Gon could protest, Denis was running around the corner. To try to stop him would only call attention to his movements.

With a sigh, Qui-Gon began gathering the other rebels and ordering them back to the headquarters. As he found the last member in sight, Denis rejoined him. One quick look at the blonde man's face told Qui-Gon all he needed to know. "Come on," he said, clasping Denis' shoulder. "We have to go."

As they ran away, Qui-Gon looked back over his shoulder. A flash in one of the windows caught his eye. With a shock, he realized it was Xanatos, watching. And smiling.

He turned and ran without looking back again.

***

file://It was bliss. No, it was better than bliss. There were no words to describe the intense pleasure he felt as his padawan rose up and down above him, surrounding his hardened shaft in tight heat. Xanatos laughed, and Qui-Gon looked up to meet his padawan's eyes, surprised to see nothing there but coldness.

"Padawan?"

"You're a fool," he said, still laughing, his words completely at odds with his actions as he continued to ride his master. "You didn't listen. They tried to warn you, but you never see the future for your concentration on the present. And now they will all pay for your nearsightedness. *He* will pay. Now and in the future, and it will all be your fault. Take *that* to your death."

Before he could even raise a question, Xanatos' hands wrapped around his neck, cutting off his air. He struggled, but his padawan was too strong. He could feel his consciousness fading--//

"Master Jinn!"

Qui-Gon awoke with a jerk. He jumped up from his chair, nearly knocking over the table as he yanked his shoulder away from Denis' touch. "Sorry...I must have been dreaming."

"Must have been a bad one. I wasn't completely sure you weren't dying for a moment."

"That makes two of us."

"Excuse me?"

He shook his head as he sat down again. "Never mind. Has anyone else come back?"

"Three more. I think that's the last of them."

"Forty-four people. We lost twenty-one." The loss staggered him. So many...all his fault. With an effort, he banished the idea of blame. There was no use in blaming anyone. Blame only served to hinder rational thought and action. He had to live in the moment. Focus on the here and now.

file://'...you never see the future for your concentration on the present.'//

"How are you?" Qui-Gon asked, needing to concentrate on something other than his own subconscious. Denis had been subdued since they had returned to the headquarters. Not that such a reaction was a surprise. It was one thing to storm off to attack in the heat of rage; seeing the result of a battle was something else entirely.

"I'm hanging in there." Denis took the seat next to him. "It's strange...I wanted to take back my country. But now...is it worth the cost? So what if the governor gets rich? Telos gets rich right along with him. Is that such a bad thing?"

For a moment, Qui-Gon studied him. "Is that really how you feel?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." He ran his hand through his hair, eyes lowered to the table. "When I found the first group, I couldn't make myself believe it. They were lying there, and there was blood, and it was...it was horrible. I thought nothing could be worse."

"I know. It's never easy."

"I *knew* those people! They were my friends!" He took a deep breath. "And I sent them in there to die."

Qui-Gon put his hand over the other man's on the table. "They went in there of their own choosing. You did not choose for them."

"Then why does it feel like I did?" He didn't wait for an answer before he continued. "I thought that was the worst thing I'd ever see. And then I found the others. And they weren't all dead. Yet."

Denis met Qui-Gon's eyes, and the Jedi Master felt the hollow emptiness of that gaze down to his soul. "This guy came at them with a sword like yours. He sliced the two who were left down like they were nothing.

A sick feeling settled in Qui-Gon's stomach, one he doubted he'd ever be free of again. "What did he look like?"

"Black hair, pale. Like something out of a nightmare, or a vengeance play. He was pure evil, I can tell you that." Denis truly looked at Qui-Gon then. "Now you look like you've seen a ghost."

"Close enough. I know the man you saw. His name is Xanatos."

"Gone up against him before?"

"No. He was my student until yesterday." He didn't dare mention anything else about their relationship.

A frown settled on Denis' face. "You taught him...?"

"Not to be that way, if that's what you're thinking. He's also the son of the governor."

"I didn't even know the governor had a son."

"I took him away when he was just a baby."

Denis shook his head. "No offense, but I don't think whatever you've been teaching him all these years did a lot of good."

"I am aware of that." Qui-Gon softened his tone as he picked at an imaginary flaw on the table. "He wasn't always like this. Or maybe he was and I just didn't see it. I'm not sure anymore."

"Either way, he's going to be tough to beat now. Do you think you can do it?" It was clear Denis was doubting more than just ability.

"I will do what I must." He could do whatever needed to be done, if it came to that. But he hadn't given up all hope just yet. No matter what Denis had seen. "We should finish packing up," Qui-Gon said at last, getting up from the table. "We'll need to be out of here and heading for new headquarters in the next hour now that everyone's arrived."

The two of them headed towards the others, discussing the move, the revelation of Xanatos' origins buried, but not forgotten.

***

A month. Days and then weeks of fighting, of going up against Crion's hired army and being beaten every time. And now they'd reached the milestone no one had thought possible. A full month of fighting, and they were no closer to winning than they had been the first day.

Qui-Gon's eyes passed over the beds where wounded rebels lay, some healing, some dying. He knew there were several more rooms just like this one spread out in various planning facilities they'd set up in the outlying areas just beyond Thani, and it pained him; pained him more still to think of the graves they'd dug, the pyres they'd built, and the bodies they hadn't been able to get to in order to do either.

Thousands had died. And he'd sent them all to their deaths. Not because he was the leader--after that first battle he'd refused to lead, leaving Denis to take over those duties. But he'd stayed, despite Yoda and the Council attempting by every means short of a direct order to get him back to Coruscant. He'd stayed because it was his fault. He couldn't lead them, but he could help.

And his help had been so much good to them so far. He'd given such great assistance that there were fewer rebels now than ever, and less chance of them winning--if they'd really had a chance to begin with. But still he stayed. They all assumed it was because he wanted to help, and he truly did, but the look he often saw in Denis' eyes wouldn't let him forget the more compelling reason he'd stayed.

Xanatos.

Whether he was still trying to save the young man, or just wanted to see his mistakes through to the bitter end, even he didn't know. He only knew that he had brought this on, or at least had been partly responsible, through his blindness, and through his training of his apprentice, so he had to stay and do what he could to correct his mistakes. Xanatos' shielding abilities were better than he'd realized--or better than his apprentice had led him to believe--but he could still sense him sometimes, a fact that could lead to a tactical advantage for the rebels.

"Qui-Gon?" Denis laid a hand on his shoulder. "We're going out in full force at dusk."

He looked at the man who'd been so eager to fight a month before. Now...he just looked tired. And old. "The chances are not good, you know."

"Maybe," he said, his face tightening. "But if we don't win, then we'll die trying."

"Is that what they'd say if you asked them?" Qui-Gon challenged, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the wounded.

"No one is here by force. Anyone can leave whenever they like."

He started to argue then realized there was no point. "I'll be ready by dusk."

Denis nodded and took a step back as it to leave, but then stopped. "You understand why we have to do this, don't you?"

Qui-Gon nodded without looking up from the table. "But that doesn't make it any easier to watch people die in a futile effort I've seen far too many times on far too many worlds."

"It may not be so futile. You can't actually see the future, can you?"

"No."

"Then you never know. One man can make the difference against an entire empire if he just has the right weapon."

The corner of Qui-Gon's mouth lifted slightly. "I've seen that too," he admitted. A soft chuckle was Denis' only answer before his footsteps faded away.

***

The rebels met at dusk, leaving their various hideouts to join forces just on the outskirts of Thani, as close to the governor's quarters as they could gather without being discovered. Qui-Gon looked out at the assembled group, a smaller group than any they'd had since the first week. Many had died; others had fled back to their homes, the reality of war too different from the idea they'd joined up with for them to handle.

In truth, he was surprised at how many had stayed. These people were mostly scientists and management types, not trained soldiers, or even laborers. Their dedication to their country was admirable. That dedication, however, was killing them off at a rapid pace. He doubted that had been in Crion's plans, but he also knew the man wouldn't mind much. Less people to oppose him, and less people to share the wealth with after it was all over, for there was little doubt that Crion would win.

Unless someone got to him first.

Denis finished giving out orders and rejoined Qui-Gon at the front of the group. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as the Force has made me," Qui-Gon gave his standard reply, then added, "Let's finish this."

He received a quizzical look from Denis, but the leader said nothing, just gave the silent command to move forward.

They were spotted as they neared the residence, as usual, and met soon after by the hired army. It was always the same; only the direction of their arrival and the number of people fighting changed.

It was soon obvious the outcome would be the same this time as well. Qui-Gon fought the anger that rose up inside him at the futile efforts.

And then he saw Xanatos. His apprentice was standing with one of the generals of the hired army, giving orders. The young man stopped suddenly, head turning in Qui-Gon's direction as if he knew he was being watched.

Qui-Gon had shut down his side of the bond as much as possible, but he did not try to hide from his apprentice's view. After a moment Xanatos smiled, then turned to the general and said a few more words before turning away. He walked off toward the residence without another look back.

Once the young man was gone, Qui-Gon looked again at what he could see of the battle. There was no other way to handle this.

With a deep breath, he began to work his way around to the side of the battle, intent on making his way into the governor's quarters without being detected. This would end today. He would see to it.

END PART 11

~ proceed to Part 12 ~