Title: The Shadow (4/4)
Author: Jaina C.
Summary: Qui-Gon's padawans are seriously injured when their ship 
blows up!
Rating: PG-13 (angst)
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to George Lucas! Enough said..
Note: This story is dedicated to Mr.McDonald (student english 
teacher) and Cassia (fellow writer and friend)

============

Qui-Gon put his hands on their chests and breathed in and out. He 
searched for them through the Force. It seemed like hours, which were 
only seconds, when he found them, and started to pull them back. He 
felt their chests begin to move, but just slightly. He opened his 
eyes and was glad to see that they were breathing again. He looked 
around the room and found the eyes of Vivica and Welian. They were 
filled with terror and relief. Vivica sat next to Qui-Gon and watched 
Jaina. For some reason, she had become attached to Jaina although she 
had never spoken to the young girl. They were about the same age, she 
guessed, Jaina looked maybe a little bit older, but she still felt a 
connection. Welian stood next to Vivica looking down at his sister 
then looked at Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was looking at Obi-Wan and Jaina with 
worried eyes. Welian shuffled his feet and then walked out of the 
room, knowing that Jaina and Obi-Wan were O.K., at least for right 
now. Vivica also got up. She thought that maybe Qui-Gon needed time 
alone with his kids. She shifted her blaster to her hip and brushed 
off her leather black pants that had collected some dirt off the 
floor, and left the room.
Qui-Gon breathed deeply and tried to keep back his tears. He had 
almost lost the only people who he thought as his children. The only 
people who he had thought as family, *his* family. He reached out and 
held Jaina's and Obi-Wan's hands. His large firm hands
engulfed their 
small strong hands. He felt a faint pulse, but was glad to feel 
anything. He put his head back and rested it on a small pillow Welian 
had brought in for him. It was plain and soft, the way he liked it. 
Elaborate things always seemed to be too much for him. He enjoyed 
nice handmade things, probably because they were made from the heart. 
He remembered some of the things his mother made for him. He never 
had met her, but before he had been given to his master, Yoda, his 
mother had given him a small blanket. She had made it herself. It was 
small, light blue, and plain. When Qui-Gon was a young boy, he had 
taken it everywhere. He never knew, until knighthood, his mother made 
it. His master never told him because Master Yoda feared it would 
lead to the darkside somehow. During his training though, Master Yoda 
had given him a gift; a gift made by Master Yoda himself! He had made 
him a wooden doll that was shaped as a Jedi Knight. Master Yoda had 
told him that the parents of his planet made a doll for their 
children when they turned 14 year old, in standard years. Master Yoda 
had thought of him as his child, as Qui-Gon does for Jaina and Obi-
Wan. // I'll have to make them something to symbolize their 
individuality. // He finally got up from his seat on the floor and 
went into the kitchen. It was dull from the lack of light and dirty 
dishes were still on the table. Welian and Vivica had gone to the 
market to get more food and supplies. They had left no more than an 
hour ago. Qui-Gon made his way to the cabinets to see if there had 
been anything left. He found a beat up looking book that looked like 
it had been rice of some kind, but now had turned into mold. He found 
some kind of soup, but didn't dare to eat it. The can had started
to 
rust, and he didn't want to see what the soup looked like or
taste 
like. He finally found some bread and decided that it would probably 
be the best he could find. Looked around to see if there was anything 
else that he could put on the bread, but, as he thought, there was 
nothing. He settled down on the couch in the living area. The couch 
was old and worn. The fabric was dirty and the color had faded along 
time ago. It once had been a beautiful couch with its vibrant red, 
orange, yellow, and green, but now it was filled with dirt and grime. 
Qui-Gon finished his last piece of bread and headed back to the back 
room where Jaina and Obi-Wan lay, still unconscious. His heart ached 
to see them like this. Never had Jaina and Obi-Wan had experienced 
such pain, and never had they been in coma that long. Usually when 
they had gotten hurt, they would wake up no more than 1 or 2 days 
after the accident. This had been too long. Three days have past and 
they showed no sign of waking up. Qui-Gon looked at them with worried 
eyes. They were beginning to fill with moisture. Blood still came 
from both of them, and the internal bleeding had not stopped. In a 
couple more days, they would not survive. He needed a transport of 
some kind, anything that could carry three passengers. He would need 
to ask Welian when he got back. Qui-Gon once again laid his head back 
onto the pillow. He needed more rest and fell asleep, but not fully. 
He kept his mind alert for anything. Leoon was not a planet to rest 
on peacefully. He only fell asleep for no more than an hour when he 
heard something. He quietly got up and unconsciously grabbed for his 
lightsabre, which was at his left side. He moved with grace to the 
doorway, making no sound at all as he walked. He looked at the figure 
that was standing at the entrance. It was a tall, brutal looking man 
that looked as if he hasn't shaved in a few days. His hair was
short 
and jet black and he had big bushy eyebrows. His clothes were in rags 
and at the side of his hip, hung a blaster. He was eyeing the money 
pouch Qui-Gon had left on the living area table. He moved without any 
grace, knocking over a pot and a glass from the end table. Qui-Gon 
moved fast and graceful and was in front of the man before he could 
come in reach of the pouch. The man reached for his blaster and sent 
a shot out, which was blocked by Qui-Gon's lightsabre. The
blaster 
bolt bounced off the lightsabre and hit the tall man in the leg. He 
howled in pain as he fell to the floor. He reached for his blaster, 
which was now a meter away. Qui-Gon then used the Force and the 
blaster was in his hand in a split nano-second. The brutal looking 
man looked at Qui-Gon with dark evil eyes and tried to get up. Qui-
Gon knew what was going to happen next and didn't need to do 
anything. The man steadied himself with the help of a chair and 
grabbed something from his belt. He pulled out a knife and raced 
towards Qui-Gon the best he could with his injured leg. Qui-Gon just 
moved out of the way and let the man make a fool out of himself. The 
man crashed into the wall, steadied himself once more, and again 
raced towards Qui-Gon. This time Qui-Gon didn't move. He grabbed
the 
man's arm, the one that held the knife, and twisted it back. He
heard 
a sick *crack* as the arm was bent in an awkward position. The man 
howled in pain and Qui-Gon pushed him towards the door. When they 
reached the small doorway, Qui-Gon unceremoniously pushed the man out 
of the home and into the dark, damp streets. The man looked back at 
Qui-Gon and then started to walk down the crowded street. Although it 
was late out many people and aliens were still out on the streets. 
Mostly gangsters, the homeless, smugglers out for the night spending 
their time in bars and sabacc tables, and maybe a few troublesome 
children who wore dark, stained clothes and their hair in outrageous 
colors (such as hot pink, neon green, repulsorjet blue, etc.) None 
noticed or cared that a man had tried to rob then kill another, and 
then howling out of a house. No one even looked in that direction. 
Qui-Gon shook his head and headed into the house. He was getting 
worried. Welian and Vivica had gone to the marketplace and hospital 
earlier that evening to get supplies and food, and hadn't
returned 
yet. He wanted to look for them, but he also didn't want to leave 
Jaina and Obi-Wan alone. // If they don't get back soon, I'll
have to 
go. // He walked back into the room where Jaina and Obi-Wan lay. Fear 
and worry filled his heart, but was gone as soon as it arrived, by 
the help of the Force. Qui-Gon checked their breathing and their 
bandages then decided he needed some rest. He kept his mind open, to 
kept aware what was going on around him. Soon he would have to get up 
and find Welian and Vivica if they didn't return soon.
888888
" Qui-Gon's padawans will never get off this planet alive," the
evil 
spirit Jasen Kun said with a smile across his face. He was enjoying 
seeing the suffering, the hurtfullness in Qui-Gon's eyes. The
fear 
that his padawans will not make it through another night. This all 
amused him, very much so. He watched Qui-Gon go into a healing 
trance, to try to heal his dying padawans, but the effort would be 
useless. Jasen Kun knew because he wasn't going to allow it. He
was 
going to do everything he could to keep those two in coma. He wanted 
them dead, but letting them sleep forever was going to have to do. " 
Now, what can I do to make it more interesting? Maybe I'll poison 
their food, no too easy, or maybe I'll make their own master kill 
them! Yes, that would be fun to watch. I'll sneak in to a dream
and 
while he sleeps, he will kill his two padawans. Yes that will do." He 
smiled to himself and thought how magnificent his plan was. " I will 
have my revenge Qui-Gon, I will have my revenge."
******
" Comon' Viv! It's late, and we havta get these supplies to
Qui-Gon 
asap!" Welian yelled behind him as he ran. Vivica tried to say she 
was coming, but was out of breath. She ran as fast as she could to 
catch up with her older brother. It was getting cold and she
didn't 
bring her jacket with her. She stopped and called for her brother to 
stop. He turned around and looked at her. Beads of sweat ran down his 
face. He wiped them off with his sleeve and then started to walk 
towards Vivica. Welian took off his jacket and pulled it over her. It 
took another hour before they reached their home. Vivica opened the 
door to let Welian in. He carried the supplies inside and settled 
them down on the kitchen counter. Vivica went in and put the rest on 
the table. She walked into the room Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jaina were 
in and yelled, "Qui-Gon no, stop!"
******
Walking down a dark corridor, Qui-Gon moved so quietly that the only 
sound you heard was the whip of his robe when he turned the corners. 
He was on a warship. Something was wrong, very wrong. Qui-Gon gripped 
his lightsabre hard. War had broken out in the Carida System. He 
turned the corner to see Cole, Qui-Gon's friend Jasen Kul's
Padawan 
Learner. Qui-Gon nodded to him to follow him and turned to walk 
farther to find what was wrong. He heard a snap-hiss behind him and 
turned back to face Cole. Cole looked at him with his dark green 
eyes. That's when Qui-Gon saw it. Darkness, hate, anger, and fear
in 
his eyes. All the things for the Darkside. Cole launched himself onto 
Qui-Gon, lightsabre high. Qui-Gon, surprised, was knocked down to one 
knee. Although surprised, Qui-Gon counter blocked the blow. It seemed 
like hours they had been fighting, but Cole didn't let up.
"You Jedi of Peace are weak," Cole sneered. " I will show you real 
power!"
Qui-Gon didn't answer or talk. He concentrated on the battle. He
led 
Cole into a corner with out him noticing. A surprised look came upon 
Cole's face when his back touched the cool metal. Qui-Gon
didn't want 
to kill him, but justice must take place and evil must be taken. Qui-
Gon was about to put down the killing blow when he suddenly 
heard, "Qui-Gon no, stop!"
********
Vivica watched as Qui-Gon was about to stab Obi-Wan with his 
lightsabre. She then noticed that his eyes were closed. //Is he 
sleeping? // Welian was by her side when Qui-Gon woke. His eyes were 
confused at first when his looked at his lightsabre and then at Obi-
Wan. He dropped his sabre and fell to the floor. Vivica and Welian 
rushed to Qui-Gon's side.
"What happened?" Welian asked. He looked at the lightsabre then back 
at Qui-Gon.
"I don't know. I almost…" He didn't want to finish the
sentence. He 
was sweating heavily. He looked at Jaina then at Obi-Wan. He had 
almost…*killed* Obi-Wan! // The dream. I was going to strike Cole
and 
in reality it was Obi-Wan. // Qui-Gon remembered that awful day he 
had to strike down Cole and see his best friend's face when he
did 
it. Jasen had battled Qui-Gon after that, but Qui-Gon didn't want
to 
lose another life. He stunned Jasen and left him on the warship. 
"Are you going to be alright?" Vivica asked Qui-Gon. Her eyes were 
filled with worry, and maybe…fear?
"Yes." Qui-Gon picked up his lightsabre and then Jaina and
Obi-Wan's. 
He handed them to Welian. "Take these to somewhere safe, but far from 
this room. I won't need them right now." Welian nodded and headed 
off. Vivica put her hand on his hand and looked at him, then left. 
Qui-Gon sat in-between Obi-Wan and Jaina, brushing their hair with 
his hands. Pain came to his heart when he thought, // I almost killed 
my son. //
******
"Agggg! So close! Those two are foiling my plan!" Jasen yelled 
angrily. "You will succeed to kill your enemy Qui-Gon, and when you 
do, you will destroy your precious padawans!" Jasen laughed evilly to 
himself.
TBC