TITLE: Dark Sacrifice  8/36

AUTHOR: Cara & Quintus

E-MAIL:  [email protected]

RATING: PG-13

CATEGORY: Pre-TPM, Jedi Apprentice, Original Characters

ARCHIVE: Yes. Please keep headers intact.

DISCLAIMER: Star Wars is the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. No copyright infringement intended, no profit is being made from this fiction. All original characters and story belong to the authors. 

FEEDBACK: Constructive feedback appreciated.

TIME FRAME:  Pre-TPM @ 1-2 years

SUMMARY:  When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan join a diplomatic mission to the planet Sahmly II, they uncover a strange vergence in the Force, centered around a young padawan whose actions may determine far-reaching changes in the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan’s decisions about the padawan could save the boy's life, or drive him to the power of the Dark Side.

DARK SACRIFICE

By Cara & Quintus

Chapter 8

Negotiation Chambers

Diplomatic Residence, Sahmly City

Master Toock twitched her nose, then one drooping ear, and sighed. “I think, perhaps, we should take a break before I give sector assignments.” She looked at the Jedi masters arranged before her and tilted her head. “Yes, most definitely a break.” She waited until the Jedi and Sahmlian representatives stirred, separated, and began to converse in small groups before she approached Qui-Gon. He sat at the long table, fingers steepled in front of him.

“Is everything alright, Master Jinn?” She hopped up into the chair beside the Jedi Master.

Qui-Gon looked up from his state of deep thought, startled. “Yes, Master Toock.”

“I only ask because I sensed a distinct lack of focus on your part. Your concentration on the negotiations is divided. That is unlike you.”

“I apologize for my inattention, Master Toock.”

“What has your thoughts so disjointed, Qui-Gon Jinn?” The little Master Negotiator tucked her furred arms inside the wide sleeves of her Jedi robes. Large, indigo eyes regarded the man quizzically. Their wide innocence disguised a mind every bit as complex as Master Yoda's.

Qui-Gon sighed, and rubbed a hand over his face. “I do apologize, Master Toock. My padawan was upset earlier, and I let it affect me.”

“I felt distress also. Another Master in this room is upset and attempts to hide it. Perhaps the upsets are related?” Toock’s floppy ears wiggled on the sides of her head, gathering in sound- and information. 

One could not be a master negotiator without being incredibly astute, both about people, and eddies in the Force. Qui-Gon was chagrined to presume he could have hid his pensive mood from the little Kushiban. “Yes, the upsets are related,” Qui-Gon answered honestly. “But I think it has to be worked out for itself. It should not have an effect on negotiations.”

Toock nodded. “Everything has an effect on negotiations, Qui-Gon Jinn. Even a mere padawan can send ripples into the Force, affecting everything in its path.” Her nose twitched as she regarded Qui-Gon. “Likewise, what touches the master touches the padawan.”

“I understand, Master Toock. But I do think things are under control, now.”

Toock looked from Qui-Gon to Ak’ra Dushiko, who stared out the window at the front of the meeting room. “These alterations in the Force, I do not like them. They muddy thought.” She took a breath. “This world is colored with the Dark Side... but it is such a subtle coloring, I cannot pinpoint the source. I feel it lurking beneath every word and every action. Some more than others.”

Qui-Gon nodded. “I feel it also. I think that is what is making everyone so edgy. It promotes... aggression.” His gaze involuntarily went to Dushiko.

Toock followed his gaze, tiny frown crossing her face, fur subtly changing to a slate blue. “If anyone in this room should be able to feel the Darkness on this planet, it is Ak’ra Dushiko. But I sense his concentration to be even more fragmented than yours, Qui-Gon Jinn. Perhaps I shall remind everyone of the need to meditate, and clear their thoughts of lingering negativity.” She straightened. “I have an Explorer on planet. I have assigned him to investigate this world more deeply. He will discover what we are unaware of, I am sure of it." One paw rubbed over an ear, and Master Toock's fur brightened to cerulean. "I expect to be informed of any problems you have on this world, Master Jinn. Do not make me seek you out. The smallest word or gesture or action can change negotiations, and alter the destiny of a planet.” She gave a small smile, nearly indistinguishable on her furred and whiskered face. “Likewise the smallest non-action.”

Qui-Gon bowed his head. “I understand, Master Negotiator.” He watched her bounce away, to where Dushiko still stared out the window. Her conversation with him was short. Dushiko stood with arms crossed over his chest, shaking his head to Toock’s queries. She left him there, moving to talk to the others. Qui-Gon had no intention of talking to Dushiko, but somehow he found himself up and moving towards the other man before he realized what he was doing. If Toock had inserted a suggestion in his mind, it had been masterfully done. Qui-Gon almost thought the encounter was his own idea.

Ak’ra Dushiko turned from the window as Qui-Gon approached, and raised an eyebrow. “Have you come to berate me about my lack of concentration also?”

“No, I came to commiserate. I was also taken to task,” Qui-Gon replied.

Dushiko turned his back on the other Jedi to stare out the window once again. “The Dark Side lurks out there, I can feel it. We would do more for these negotiations to seek it out than to be locked up in a room presenting countless factions demands.”

“It must be difficult for a Weapons Master to be stuck in a room… talking.” Qui-Gon moved forward to look out the window also. The view was magnificent; beyond the tops of the sapphire hedges the city laid spread below, a profusion of peach and gold tinged buildings brilliant in the early evening sun. The sky was luminous turquoise, tinged indigo at the edges. Beyond the city the rolling grasslands and savannah extended in all directions toward distant mountains. The tranquility the city projected hid a simmering unrest that was almost palatable, especially for the Force sensitive. Qui-Gon instinctively reached out with his senses, searching for that intangible thing that uniquely identified his padawan in the Force. He found it, and the residual tension that lurked there. Qui-Gon frowned, but withdrew. He sighed heavily and turned to find Dushiko watching him.

“So, I am not the only one that checks up on my padawan on a regular basis.”

“Obi-Wan was upset by what happened this afternoon. With Remii.”

“I was upset also.”

Qui-Gon waited, but Dushiko did not elaborate. Whether a tacit admission of guilt, or a statement of fact, Qui-Gon couldn’t discern. He couldn’t formulate a question or response that didn’t sound like an accusation. He finally settled on, “Is your padawan very young?”

Dushiko sighed. “Yes. He is a most definitely a youngling. I did not realize how much difference the years make."

“Obi-Wan is much older. Definitely not a youngling.” Qui-Gon smiled briefly at the offense his padawan would take at being thought a child. “He will be ready for the trials in a few years.”

“So soon?” Dushiko shook his head. “My former padawans progressed quickly also. This one grows very slowly. Sometimes I forget. I have never had an apprentice so immature.” He shook his head again.

Qui-Gon could feel the other master’s weariness. The subject of his padawan troubled Dushiko. Deeply. “Has the boy been your apprentice long?”

Ak'ra Dushiko rubbed a hand over his unbearded chin. "I have had Remii almost a year. And a rough time it has been."

"The first year is complex," Qui-Gon agreed. "And if you are unused to the antics of youngsters, it can seem doubly difficult."

"Even more so with this padawan." Dushiko took a deep breath as he faced the other master. He seemed to measure Qui-Gon with his eyes. After a moment, he nodded to himself and confessed, "I am Remii's fourth master."

Qui-Gon felt his eyes widen. "Fourth? You mean to tell me he was-"

"Returned," Dushiko finished. "Yes. He was returned to the Temple three times. His first master had him an eightday and brought him back. Of the other two, neither kept him more than six eightdays."

"No wonder you say it has been a rough year." Qui-Gon hesitated, then plunged ahead. He sensed the other man was willing to talk, perhaps even needed to talk. "That is highly unusual. Why was he returned?"

Dushiko gave a small smile. "For one, he refused to bond with his masters."

"Surely there was something there, or the Council would have never let him be paired."

"Remii is an eternal optimist. He wanted so desperately to be wanted he convinced himself there was something there... then convinced others." Dushiko looked at Qui-Gon, dark eyes unreadable. "I think need played a big part in the matches. His and others…" Dushiko slowly rubbed his right hand over his left forearm. "Remii also has a knack for pushing a master's buttons." He gave a perplexed smile. "I do not even think the boy is aware of how much Force ability he possesses. Or how he uses it."

"What do you mean that he pushes a master's buttons?"

Dushiko shrugged. "It's hard to explain. In any other Jedi, I would suspect attempted mind manipulation. But Remii seems totally oblivious. Like when I am upset… I feel the upset intensify, but a part of me knows it is not what I want." One hand rubbed his temple a moment. "It's like the emotion is channeled back into me to grow, instead of let out to dissipate. It is strange, and I know I do not explain it well."

"I would very much like to figure it out," Qui-Gon said. "It sounds like a curious use of the Force, reflecting a person's emotions back at them, like a mirror. It seems a defensive tactic destined for failure."

Dushiko looked up sharply. "I have thought the same thing. But it is elusive, and when I attempt to examine Remii's actions through our bond, it disappears."

Qui-Gon that asked a question that surprised even him by its intrusiveness. "Your bond is strong with the padawan then?"

Dushiko looked shocked, but the same compulsion that made Qui-Gon ask seemed to make Dushiko answer. "No, it is not. The Council created the bond. They promised it would be replaced by one of our own over time, but I have not seen it." Dushiko gave a small shrug. "Remii accepts things as they are. He does not seem to understand what was done."

"But you do?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I understand this youth is important to the Council's plans. I do the bidding of the Council, as we all do." Dushiko flashed that perplexed smile again. "Although, after our first month together I discovered other reasons Remii gave masters problems. He is very stubborn."

“Indeed?" Qui-Gon asked, intrigued.

"But he is an exceptionally talented youth, strong in the Force, and strong in character," Dushiko said softly. "He is compassionate, loyal, and eager to learn. Master Yoda asked me personally to take the boy on, to teach him discipline, and weapons skills. How could I refuse? 'A challenge he will be'," Dushiko said in imitation. “‘Learn to defend himself he must.'" Dushiko rubbed his face with one hand as if to wipe the memories away. "I enjoy a challenge as much as the next Jedi, but… I think Master Yoda has a perverse sense of humor…"

"I did not see an exceptional talent with a light saber on the practice field," Qui-Gon ventured cautiously. To his surprise, Dushiko threw back his head and laughed.

"I wish developing a potential Guardian was all I was tasked with," Dushiko said. "That I could do." He looked at Qui-Gon. "No, Master Yoda gave to me the responsibility of raising a Healer. A True Healer."

"A True Healer?" Qui-Gon sucked in his breath. Healing talent among the Jedi was very rare. And very valuable. No True Healers had been discovered in at least a century. Many Jedi with latent healing potential simply lost it as they entered their teens. Through trial and error, the Council discovered careful nurturing increased the odds that the talented padawan would reach his trials with at least some healing ability intact. Problem was, True Healers were extremely vulnerable. For some reason, Dark Siders gravitated to True Healers, and preyed upon them with a single-minded viciousness, as if the antithesis were too much for them to bear. A True Healer raised to Knighthood would help the Jedi Order tremendously.

So why was Remii with Akra Dushiko, a man whose skill with a light saber made him an exceptional Guardian?

Dushiko gave him a sardonic grin. "I can see the wheels turning, Qui-Gon Jinn. Why has this Warrior Jedi been entrusted with one of the Councils most valuable resources? I ask myself that question everyday, twice a day when Remii is particularly troublesome."

"If Master Yoda thought you were the best man for the job, then I'm sure he had a reason," Qui-Gon replied slowly.

"It would have been nice if he let me in on it."

"What, and ruin his reputation?" Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow at the other man. It faded as he thought about the pairing of Remii and Ak'ra Dushiko. It seemed odd on the surface, to pair a venerated Weapons Master with an empathetic neophyte healer. To be sure Remii could learn much from the older man. Another thought rose, unbidden. I wonder what the Council intended for Ak'ra to learn from this padawan? As Qui-Gon matured, he came to realize master-padawan pairings were seldom one-way affairs. Masters were never too old to learn. Although we are too often too caught up in our own importance to listen to what those younger than us are trying to say.  It was an idea that warranted further thought. Qui-Gon brought his attention back to the present and studied the Weapons Master opposite him. "Why does the Council want Remii to be so weapons proficient? He'll likely spend his knighthood in the Temple where it is safe-"

"If he makes it to his Knighthood," Dushiko interrupted. "I understand now why he was returned so many times. The boy does test a master's dedication." He turned abruptly and looked out the window.

Qui-Gon waited, but nothing else was forthcoming. “Many times I’ve found my patience sorely tested by my padawan also. Obi-Wan is responsible for most of the gray you see in my hair. But the joys have outweighed the frustrations.”

Dushiko turned around and smiled bleakly. "If I get out of this training with only gray hair, I will consider myself fortunate. The Council was not in total agreement that I be assigned to Remii. I do not think they know what they want to do with him. There was mention of the uncertainty of the boy’s path, Master Yoda said that much. And the Council did agree Remii needs discipline, and that my methods could teach him that." Dushiko spread his hands in a gesture of frustration. "I just am not sure why they think weapons training for this healer child is the way to go.”

"Protection?" Qui-Gon suggested.

"The child shows meager skill with a light saber. They would do better to assign him a full time bodyguard."

"Perhaps they did."

Dushiko looked up, eyes wide and dismay plain on his lined face, but before he could respond, Saa Duut clapped her hands sharply. Everyone fell silent.

"Masters and Ambassadors, please take your seats," Master Toock announced from her perch on a high stool. "I have just received word that fighting has broken out in the streets of Sahmly City." She held up a paw to quell the murmurs. "I will assign each Ambassador a Jedi escort. Please go out to your people and restore order. We cannot allow this unrest to continue, or it will only escalate. One moment, while I make the assignments." Master Toock turned to Saa Duut and her ever-present data pad.

Qui-Gon pushed down a twinge of impatience at not being able to talk with the Weapons Master further. But at least the lines of communication between himself and Dushiko were now open.

--Continued in Chapter 9--