PART FIVE Obi-Wan lay still in the dark because he could do nothing else. Somewhere, not far away, he could feel the suffering Therdaks' life-signatures growing weaker and weaker. The poor beings were starving, parching and suffocating to death slowly. It reminded him of being trapped on that forsaken rock somewhere in space between Coruscant and Bandomeer in the darkness of the caves, with the Arconians fading away around him... It made Obi-Wan feel so sad for the Therdaks, he wanted to help, but he was powerless... no, there was one way he could help them. Obi-Wan shuddered, remembering the pain it caused, but they were dying... "Itor," he whispered hoarsely, his own voice scratchy from lack of water. Then he gave up on speech, since they couldn't hear anyway, and communicated only on the telepathic level. It was too much effort now, to do both as he had been. *"Itor?"* *"Yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi?"* came the faint reply. *"I-I can't just let you all die..."* the young Jedi hesitated, grappling with his own fears, before pushing them away and continuing. *"Go ahead, and - and drink from me,"* he said softly, not knowing quite else what to call it. *"I-I'm strong enough, it won't kill me, I'll be okay,"* he offered bravely. *"We cannot do that young one,"* Itor said sorrowfully. *"It puts you in great pain and we will not harm you so again. But the generosity of your offer is appreciated,"* Itor croaked feebly. Just then there was a soft whooshing sound and Obi-Wan tensed. That was the sound that always proceeded Xanatos' entrance. Obi-Wan had fully expected to die here. He believed what he told Xanatos, that the Dark Jedi would never be back. The boy's heart clutched up for a moment. If Xanatos were returning, then that would have to mean that Qui-Gon was dead, and that thought cut Obi-Wan to the quick. He knew that Qui-Gon wanted nothing more to do with him, and Obi-Wan did not blame him for it, he knew he had blown his chance and no longer expected to be able to get it back. Still, Obi-Wan cared for Qui-Gon deeper than even he had realized and the thought that Xanatos might have succeeded in his wicked schemes came close to breaking the young Jedi's heart. Obi-Wan's blood ran cold when he saw Xanatos, once more eerily self-illuminated, but a moment later fear turned to joy as he saw Qui-Gon's tall, distinctive form appear behind Xanatos, also visible in his own light. Obi-Wan didn't realize it, but he too glowed faintly here, it was the effect that a force-sensitive being had on this empty dimension. Obi-Wan realized that Xanatos' hands were bound in front of him and Qui-Gon had a good grip on his shirt. "Master Qui-Gon!" Obi-Wan tried to shout in joy, but all that managed to come out was a faint croak. "Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon released Xanatos, and knelt down by the prostrate teenager. "Come, we must leave." He didn't like turning any of his attention away from Xanatos, but Obi-Wan looked like he needed him more at the moment. "I can't," Obi-Wan whispered weakly. "I can't move, I don't know what's wrong with me." "You're weak, you've been through a lot, we'll get you out of here and you'll be all right again," Qui-Gon said gently. Obi-Wan looked so fragile and pale, like a little child now, but the strength in his eyes was as steadfast as ever. Behind them, Xanatos began laughing. "A fool's hope Qui-Gon, a fool's hope! Do you forget what you saw on the recording? Oh yes, it was real, but do you see any marks on him now? No. This dimension may be his prison, but it is also the only thing that is supporting him. Just as I am the only one that can keep him alive." Qui-Gon rose to face Xanatos again. "What do you mean?" he demanded. "My, you are dumb if you can't figure something so simple out," Xanatos smirked. "He should have died when the My'nars were done with him, their poison and their bites should have killed him, but I brought him here, to this dimension that I discovered where the normal rules of our galaxy no longer exist. That supported him long enough for me to heal him somewhat. But make no mistake Qui-Gon; it is only by my strength and my intervention that he is still here. This dimension creates a statcious where he can subsist, and my hold on him keeps him alive, remove either, and he will die." Xanatos grinned. "He cannot leave this place, and if I withdraw my hold from him..." Obi-Wan's body tightened spasmodically and his breath became dangerously short. "Stop!" Qui-Gon demanded, pushing back a thrill of alarm as Obi-Wan's bright eyes started to glaze over. The Jedi Master struggled to reach in and wrestle control of Obi-Wan away from Xanatos, but Xanatos had entwined himself deeply around Obi-Wan's body. If Qui-Gon had had a training bond with the young Jedi, he could have gotten past that. If they had even the tentative link that they had had after Bandomeer, he could have taken over the control and supplied the strength that Xanatos was now depriving Obi-Wan of, the strength the boy needed to survive. But there was nothing there when Qui-Gon reached for it and Xanatos' words rang in Qui-Gon's head. *"You killed him, you did..."* Xanatos laughed at his former teacher's struggle. "You forfeited your ability to do that Qui-Gon," he shook his head. "Do you see the irony? I am now much more connected to him than you are; I hold his life in my hands. Undo me," he held out his arms. Qui-Gon hesitated and Obi-Wan's eyes started rolling back in his head. "All right, all right!" he said grimly, cutting Xanatos' wrists loose. Then he knelt to check Obi-Wan's vitals. Obi-Wan took a deep, shuddering breath and relaxed as the power that had been sustaining him returned. "Don't," he murmured softly, too soft for anyone but Qui-Gon to hear him. His earnest turquoise eyes pleaded with Qui-Gon. "Don't stop it, let me die. I-I can't live supported by evil, I can't..." Qui-Gon swallowed the lump in his throat, his hand tightening around Obi-Wan's. To be surrounded in and supported by so much Darkness, and yet cling so tenaciously to the Light took an incredible strength of spirit. Yet the struggle had left Obi-Wan drained and the boy knew he could not resist forever. Qui-Gon could see it in Obi-Wan's eyes. The young Jedi wanted to die before the Dark Side that Xanatos had already curled around his body could overcome his spirit. Xanatos grinned at his triumph and rubbed his wrists. "You see? I am always one step ahead of you. And now, Qui-Gon Jinn, you will die." Xanatos stepped back. "Therdaks, I have brought you more to feed upon!" he called into the darkness, sending his words to the Therdaks. "And this one, you don't have to stop short of killing." There was a soft rustle and the scuttle of insect-like feet on the floor. Qui-Gon could not see the beings, which seemed to create a void in the Force, but he could hear them approach. Rising to his feet and re-igniting his lightsaber, Qui-Gon slid instinctually into the ready position as he prepared to face whatever monstrosities Xanatos had dredged up. "Master Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan's weak voice said urgently. Looking down, Qui-Gon's eyebrows creased in confusion as Obi-Wan shook his head at him. *"No, Dark One,"* Itor's deep voice rumbled, Obi-Wan could hear the faint edge of weakness in the failing Therdak's voice, but there was an icy determination in place over it that sent a shiver up the boy's spine. *"You brought us here as captives, you took advantage of the fact that we would not use our natural abilities to harm anyone, including you, and then you lied to us!"* the angry Therdak accused. *"These are not food, these are sentient beings whom you bade us torture when we knew no better! No more Dark One. No more."* The Therdaks advanced slowly, menacingly, towards Xanatos. Xanatos backed up, shocked. "Now, now wait a moment..." *"No, we will wait no longer! We want to go home! Open the portal for us!"* they demanded. "Stay away from me you fools!" Xanatos said angrily, but with a touch of panic in his voice. The Dark Jedi made a break for the portal that would take him back to the ruins on Telos, but the Therdak were quicker. In an instant, they were on him. Left no option but to get rid of them to their home, or be eaten alive by the very helpers he had thought to tame, Xanatos tried to fling open the portal that led back to Dakia, which he had sealed with the Force after bringing the Therdaks here. But with his attention distracted by the Therdaks, which were beginning to drink from him, he opened not only the Dakia portal, but hundreds and hundreds of others that he hadn't even been aware existed. The ground began to shake ominously and bright flashes flared as a rumbling sound filled the air. The limbo they were in was not capable of containing so many portals at the same time and its unstable existence was preparing to collapse. |
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