The red barrier slid shut again just as Obi-Wan was about to pass the last one. Helpless, he could only watch as Qui-Gon was forced to face the red and black Sith monster on his own. Frantically, the young Padawan searched for a way to open the barrier and get through, to help his Master, to do anything at all besides stand uselessly on the sidelines. Before he could do anything, however, the Sith created an opening in his fierce duel with Qui-Gon and managed to pierce the wizened Jedi through his upper abdomen.

"NOOOOO!" Obi-Wan cried. This couldn't have happened--it was just impossible! Qui-Gon was the greatest Jedi that Obi-Wan knew. He was like a father to him, and now … he was hurt. Dying. Dead already? No! Obi-Wan could still feel him through their bond, faint, but there. Obi-Wan could do this. He had to save his Master!

The barrier slid open, and Obi-Wan was loose. Immediately, he engaged the Sith in battle. However, the creature was fast, athletic, powerful--and Obi-Wan was already weakened by their earlier dueling. However, he pressed himself to move faster, to feel the Force coursing through his body, guiding him, strengthening him. In the heat of his grief and anger, however, the Force had begun to run cold. Obi-Wan almost faltered as he reached out for it, surprised by the sudden chill, but he pushed through it anyway. It had to be the presence of the Sith; there was no other explanation.

Thus, with the Force at his side, Obi-Wan slowly began to gain the upper hand--that was, until the Sith knocked him over the edge of the massive pit in the center of the room. Obi-Wan just barely managed to grab ahold of a ledge a short ways below the uppermost lip of the hole, but his lightsaber had fallen far below.

Struggling to hang on, Obi-Wan attempted once more to center himself in the Force. This time, however, the chill threw him off more than ever. It dug into his skin, his bones, his mind, and refused to let go. Gasping, the young Padawan strained to rediscover the warmth of the Light, but his efforts were fruitless. All that remained was the deep freeze of the Dark Side. Curse this Sith! Obi-Wan growled mentally. If only he could release all of his negative feelings as he normally would. There is no emotion, there is peace, there is no passion, there is serenity. It wasn't working. No matter what, Obi-Wan was unable to shake the hold of the Darkness. Frustrated, he reached out heedlessly for the only power he could grasp. With it, he was finally able to augment his strength and leap up out of the pit, flipping over the surprised Sith and calling Qui-Gon's lightsaber to his hand. It ignited with a clear snap-hiss, and the battle resumed.

The Sith snarled at Obi-Wan, his red and yellow eyes flaring with untamed power. Obi-Wan launched a fierce offensive, flipping over and around the Sith with refined Ataru movements. As lightsabers clashed, green against red, all Obi-Wan could focus on was anger and grief--and it fueled him. His form was fluid and graceful, energy pouring endlessly into his being, heightening his senses, improving his reactions. The Sith began to fall back, his smugness flickering to doubt for just a moment before being replaced by pure, unadulterated rage. Kenobi, however, would not back down. Finally, he backed the creature up against the pit and, with a decisive swipe of his saber, bisected the Sith and cast him down to the depths below.

With the press of a button, Obi-Wan deactivated his Master's saber and fell to his knees. His breath came in short, ragged gasps as slowly, his senses and rationality returned to him. There is no emotion … there is no passion … no emotion … He had failed. Obi-Wan had, in a moment of foolish desperation, called upon the Dark Side of the Force. He hadn't realized it at first, but he knew now. He was disgusted with himself and did everything he could to recall the warmth of the Light, shaking away the cold vestiges of Darkness. No matter what he did, however, there was still something off. A slight chill in his heart. A pale quality to the usual comfort of the Light. It wasn't the same. However, he couldn't focus on this now.

Turning, Obi-Wan laid his eyes upon his Master. Qui-Gon lay limp on the ground, his breathing shallow and weak. Quickly, Obi-Wan scrambled to his side, kneeling down and lifting him partially into his arms.

"I-it's too late," Qui-Gon managed weakly.

"No!"

"Obi-Wan … Promise me you will train the boy."

"Yes, Master."

"He is the Chosen One. He … will bring balance. Train him …"

Qui-Gon's eyes slid shut. All Obi-Wan could do was cradle his face, his insides burning with sorrow and agony. Qui-Gon … Qui-Gon, no … Why?!

He was gone. Obi-Wan's Master, the man who saved him from the Agri-Corps, taught him the ways of the Jedi, and raised him for the past thirteen years was truly, irrevocably gone. The cold still lingered in Obi-Wan's chest, festering, growing, spreading, and at the moment, he couldn't care less.

Several days later, Obi-Wan was the last to leave Qui-Gon's funeral pyre. At Naboo's victory celebration, his face was an emotionless mask. Young Anakin stood at his side and grieved as well. Obi-Wan could sense in him the same chill he felt within himself, albeit less prominent. Was he prone to the Dark Side as well? Was this young, innocent little boy whom he had promised to train destined to Fall? For despite Obi-Wan's very best efforts, he still could not shake the cold. Every day since Qui-Gon's death, he had meditated, focused intently upon the Light, but his efforts were in vain.

As Obi-Wan, now newly knighted, sat in his small quarters aboard the transport back to Coruscant, he continued to meditate. The colors of the Force swirled sluggishly. He relived his battle with the Sith play-by-play, evaluating every move and reaction. His thoughts, his feelings. And then he remembered the power he had felt. When he accepted the Dark Side within himself, his strength had seemed to multiply instantly. That sickly-sweet feeling running through his veins, fueling the swings of Qui-Gon's saber, giving him focus and clarity unlike any he had ever had with the Ligh--No! These were dangerous thoughts. Anger leads to the Dark Side. The Dark Side is pain, suffering, and death. Obi-Wan could not allow himself to entertain these fantasies of power and invulnerability. A Jedi had no need for such things. He needed only to serve the Light and protect the greater good--but wouldn't that be easier if he had greater power?

Obi-Wan groaned, falling out of meditation. His thoughts were only leading him in circles. He realized that frankly, the Jedi simply did not know much about the Dark Side other than it was bad and evil. He needed to do some research. With a course of action set, Obi-Wan was finally able to relax somewhat. However, sleep was not an option at the moment, so Obi-Wan ended up sitting at a small terminal hooked into the wall of his quarters to browse the public Jedi archives through the holonet. He would be able to do a more thorough search upon his return to the Jedi Temple.

Hours slipped by unnoticed, and despite the burning in his eyes from staring at the screen, he was fully engrossed in the hunt for information. However, there was disappointingly little to find. Early into the morning (according to the transport's local day/night cycle), Obi-Wan was interrupted in his search by his door sliding open. Looking over with rather bloodshot eyes, Obi-Wan saw young Anakin standing in the doorway. He appeared bedraggled and his eyes were rimmed with red, and Obi-Wan instantly understood what was wrong.

"Master Obi-Wan? I didn't think you'd be up."

Obi-Wan shook his head tiredly, finally powering off the terminal and sliding away from it. "Just doing some research, young one. What brings you here?"

"I couldn't sleep. I … I miss him, Master."

Obi-Wan collapsed slightly on the inside. However, he couldn't allow his grief to affect Anakin's training. "There is no death. There is the Force. Qui-Gon--he is with the Force now." Did he really believe that, though? He had to. He couldn't imagine anything else for his former Master. The idea of him simply fading out of existence … No. He was with the Force now.

"You mean like a ghost? Can I see him if I use the Force?" The young boy was so hopeful. Innocent. But Obi-Wan could still sense that darkness in him, lurking just below the surface. Dormant, but ready. He really was too old to be trained, but … Obi-Wan had made a promise, and he would be damned if he wasn't going to keep it.

"No ghosts, Anakin. I'm sorry. But he is out there. Every time you reach for the Force, know that he will be there to lend you his strength."

Anakin nodded, still rather subdued, but Obi-Wan hoped to think that he was feeling at least somewhat better. "I'll remember that. I'll make Master Qui-Gon proud, Obi-Wan. He wanted me to be a Jedi, and I'll be the best that I can be. No matter what the Council says. I'll prove them wrong. I'll be the best Jedi ever."

Obi-Wan was too tired to lecture his new Padawan on ambition, so instead, he just nodded. "I am sure that you will make a fine Jedi someday. Now, however, I must rest. Return to bed, my young Padawan."

Anakin stood there for a moment longer, then nodded. "'Night, Master Obi-Wan."

"Good night, Anakin."

At last, Obi-Wan collapsed into bed. His eyes shut almost instantly, and soon he had drifted off into sleep. However, he was cold throughout the rest of the night, no matter that he slept under three layers of blankets. And so the cold remained and would remain.