The Day of Reckoning(28)

Qui-Gon saw the distress in Obi-Wan’s face. The hand holding the lightsaber trembled.

“Don’t listen,” he said quietly. “Don’t listen, Obi-Wan.”

The steam was sucked back into the fissure. At the same moment, Xanatos leaped forward. Still shaken, Obi-Wan was caught off guard. He barely was able to parry Xanatos’ blow with his lightsaber. Xanatos whirled, one leg kicking out, sending Obi-Wan flying backward.

Then Xanatos leaped after the fallen boy.





Chapter 17


“No!” Qui-Gon cried. He reached out to the rocks and vegetation that surrounded him, for the current that connected him to all things, that connected him to Obi-Wan.

He hit Xanatos in midair. Their bodies connected like mountains of hard rock. There was no give to Xanatos’ muscles, no yielding in Qui-Gon. The clash was titanic. Qui-Gon felt the shock of it move through his bones. For a mo ment, Xanatos gripped Qui-Gon’s arm, forcing them to remain entangled.

“You brought me to this,” he said, his midnight eyes burning.

They landed inches apart, lightsabers already engaged. The lava was slippery and Qui-Gon had to avoid the fissures of steam. He saw Obi-Wan beginning to struggle to his feet.

“So the pupil has learned from the teacher,” Xanatos went on relentlessly. “Lie about your feelings while you talk of Jedi honor. Leave murder in your wake.”

“You are responsible for Bruck’s death,” Qui-Gon told him as they fought. “Not Obi-Wan. You corrupted the boy, exposed him to the dark side. He followed you blindly.”

Obi-Wan limped slightly as he headed toward them. He had turned his ankle. His face still looked naked and young, still stung by what Xanatos had flung at him.

Qui-Gon thought that Obi-Wan had come to terms with what had happened. He had regretted and mourned Bruck’s death, for even though Bruck had done evil, there was still hope for him while he was alive. Obi-Wan had not seemed to blame himself.

Yet somewhere inside, he had. A life had been ended. That was a loss not easily absorbed. Qui-Gon knew that well. And Xanatos would see that hesitancy in Obi-Wan, and would use it to taunt him. He would see weakness where Qui-Gon saw strength. Such was the nature of evil.

Courage, Obi-Wan. Grab your conviction. Know what you know. Do not let him reach you.

“I see my words have touched you, Obi-Wan,” Xanatos said in the silky, insinuating tone he used to manipulate those around him. “Can it be because I’m right?”

“No, Xanatos,” Obi-Wan said. “I grieve for a life lost. And I thank all who taught me for my grief. It does not make me weak. It makes me strong.”

Suddenly, Obi-Wan’s lightsaber whirled. Qui-Gon was astonished at how quickly and gracefully the boy moved, leaping off a mound of lava to strike at Xanatos. Xanatos stumbled backward from the ferocity of the attack. A cloud of steam suddenly erupted, and he quickly lurched to one side, losing his balance and landing on one hand.

“Stronger than you,” Obi-Wan added fiercely, leaping after him.

Qui-Gon followed, admiring Obi-Wan’s focus. Now the two fought as one. Xanatos had weakened, and they used this to drive him back, back against the black pool. If they could get his back against it, they would be able to disarm him or defeat him. It would be his choice.

Two swoops suddenly appeared from behind the pool. Andra and Den had found them. They landed and ran to help, their blasters at the ready.

“You will pay, Xanatos!” Andra shouted. “We will take you back to Thani for trial!”

Xanatos stood at the edge of the water behind him. He had no hope of escape. He was surrounded, and there was nowhere to run to. His gaze traveled from Den to Andra to Obi-Wan, finally resting on Qui-Gon. The depths of his hatred turned his gaze as black and foul as the steaming pool.

“You will never have the satisfaction of killing me, Qui-Gon Jinn,” he said softly. “And I will never submit to anyone’s laws. Your hate drove you, though you won’t admit it. You destroyed me because you could not save me. I am your biggest failure. Live with that. And live with this.

“No!” Qui-Gon cried, starting forward.

But he was too late. With a cruel smile that stretched his lips over his teeth like an animal, Xanatos took two quick steps backward and leaped into the boiling black pool. Andra cried out as he disappeared.

“He can’t survive,” she whispered. “The acid will strip the flesh off his bones.”

Obi-Wan shuddered. He had seen what the pool could do. Xanatos was pure evil. But he was a living being, and he had gone to a horrible fate. Qui-Gon seemed frozen, staring at the murky, stinking pool.

Slowly, something stirred in the water, spiraling upward. It was a black cape. As they watched, it disintegrated before their eyes.