Scions of the Dark Side

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything recognizable as Star Wars, but the idea of Nekima is mine.

A/N: Back to the present. And more is revealed. Enjoy, and feedback is appreciated.

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Xanatos was pulled out of his memories when Obi-Wan softly called his name. He got up and settled on the edge of the bed, one hand brushing over his mate’s cheek. “Good morning Kobi. How do you feel?”

The younger man smiled softly as he slowly opened his eyes. “I’m a little tired and I can’t seem to feel the Force but I’m thinking that’s just because I haven’t quite adapted to this body.” Obi-Wan noticed Xanatos was starting at him, a slight frown twisting his lips. “Xan, what’s wrong?”

The fallen Jedi shook his head. “I’m not sure. Yesterday your eyes were almost completely grey with some blue flecks. Now they’re the stunning bluish-green I fell in love with.” He ran gentle fingers through Obi-Wan’s hair. The strands that had been a grayish blonde yesterday were slowly changing color, back to the reddish-brown he was used to, and it seemed even the younger man’s facial features were slowly shifting to reflect his lost body “I don’t know if these changes are being caused by the Force or something else. I want you to rest today. I have some business to take care of but I’ll make sure to come back and check on you.”

Obi-Wan leaned up and pressed a kiss to the corner of Xanatos’ mouth before falling back on the bed, drawing the blanket back up. “Normally I would fight with you but right now going back to sleep seems like a really good idea.”

Xanatos stayed with his mate until he fell asleep again. Once he was certain Obi-Wan wasn’t going to wake back up he quickly showered and pulled his execution clothing out of a hidden drawer in his wardrobe. He pulled on the black dewback leather pants and fastened the red straps over his shins before pulling his boots on. With a little struggling and some use of the Force to hold the buckles in place he managed to get the straps fastened. Brushing his hair quickly he striped the ends of his hair with red and silver dye.

He glanced back at the bed, glad to see that Obi-Wan wasn’t showing any signs of waking, even after all the clanking around he’d been doing. Pulling a small box out of the wardrobe he opened to reveal a spill of jewelry of various types and sizes. After several minutes of sifting through the mess he lifted out his favorite necklace, a large dark blue, almost black stone hanging from a slim silver chain. He fastened it around his neck before pulling out two silver bracelets inscribed with Sith symbols and a torque for his arm that was shaped like lightning.

Sighing tiredly he slipped the jewelry on and pulled his belt on, fastening the Nekima shaped buckle. He fastened his lightsaber to the belt and strode out of the room, nearly tripping over his major domo.

The older man scrambled out of his master’s way, bowing low. “I’m sorry My Lord. I was coming to-” He stopped talking when he realized what Xanatos was wearing. “Ah. I take it you want me to gather everyone in the courtyard?”

“Yes. And have Shimsa brought out. He isn’t unconscious is he?”

The man bowed again. “No My Lord. After your visit last night the doctor assumed that you didn’t want Shimsa to receive any more treatment.”

Xanatos nodded, absentmindedly fiddling with his bracelets. “Good. I’ll be there soon. I have some business I need to attend to.” He strode past the man and to a small communications center hidden behind a plastisteel door that could only be opened by someone Force sensitive. Flicking on the lights he settled in front of a small screen and turned the communications relay on, watching as it bounced along an untraceable line to a small apartment not far from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Several minutes later the screen flicked on to reveal a Mirilian in the traditional Jedi robes, his lightsaber at his side. Bright blue eyes widened in shock and his yellowish-green complexion darkened slightly as he unconsciously rubbed at the tattoos on his chin. “Xanatos, nice to see you. It’s been awhile.”

The fallen Jedi smirked, blue eyes icy. “A year at the least Marett. It’s good to see you keeping up your pretense as a Guardian of the Peace.” He and the Mirilian had been in the same year and they both had many of the same thoughts on the universe and the Jedi Order. However, when Xanatos had left the Order Marett hadn’t followed and remained with the Jedi, though he didn’t believe in many of their teachings. Xanatos had enlisted him as a spy as soon as Offworld had gotten stabilized and now Marett was one of his most trustworthy contacts.

“I have been, although people are starting to question me more then they used to. It’s kind of unnerving.” Marett sat down in his chair, eyes never leaving the screen. “How have you been? I was worried when you went underground and then the Council sent Jinn and Kenobi to find you.”

Xanatos smiled slightly. “They did find me, but I’m fine. Actually, they’re why I called. I take it you know what happened?”

The Mirilian nodded. “Yes. Something about Jinn attacking you and you grabbing Kenobi to use as a shield just as Jinn went for the killing blow. A terrible tragedy. I always liked Kenobi.”

The dark Jedi laughed. “That is simply what the Council wants you to think. Obi-Wan did take the killing blow, but not because I used him as a shield. He willingly jumped in front of me, to save me from his Master. Obi-Wan and I have been bonded since he was fifteen, but for three of those years it was one sided. I claimed him on this eighteenth birthday and we’ve been fully bonded since. He has also gone against the Council on some of their rules, namely love and dealings with fallen Force users. However, Obi-Wan is fine and resting quite comfortably in my bed.”

“I won’t tell you how Obi-Wan survived, because this is not a social call. I want to know how the Temple and Council is handling having one of their precious prodigies fall.”

Marett sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “Not well. Jinn has locked himself in his quarters and will not emerge, no matter how much Windu asks. Yoda has been making rounds through the younger apprentices, consoling them and telling them to remember the good things about Kenobi. And Kenobi’s age mates have been getting together and telling stories. Except some woman named Siri. She refuses to speak of him. There are some rumors going around that she was in love with him or they were sleeping together. No one is sure.”

Xanatos shrugged. “Well, you know what is true but that is beside the point. Keep your ears open and I’ll contact you later. I have some business to attend to.” He switched off the vid screen and stood, smoothing out his shirt. It wouldn’t do any good to look like a slob in front of his employees.

-----

When he entered the courtyard everyone bowed to him and remained that way until he got to the top of the dais. Vinylas was curled in one corner, watching the crowd with penetrating white eyes, her tail beating a random tattoo against the duracrete. Shimsa was standing as far away from the Nekima as possible, trying not to look nervous and failing horrible. Xanatos could feel the fear radiating off the man, and it was like an aphrodisiac.

He gave the man a feral grin. “Lovely day isn’t it Shimsa.” Facing the crowd he raised one hand, silencing the nervous muttering that had started up. “I take it you all know why you are here.” Everyone nodded. The only time the whole household gathered was when Xanatos had something to tell them or he had found someone thinking of betraying him.

Vinylas got to her feet and padded over to Xanatos where she sat next to him, rubbing her head against his side. The fallen Jedi smiled as he stroked her ears. “Vinylas attacked Shimsa when she sensed his betrayal against me. She mauled him in an attempt to save me, for which I am grateful. Those of you who have been here for a long time know what must be done. For you people new to my service, this will be your only warning.”

He turned slightly to look at Shimsa who was trembling. “Shimsa, come forward.” When the man didn’t move Xanatos reached out a tendril of the Force and drove it into Shimsa’s mind, forcing the man to move forward in a stumbling halting manner. He forced the man to his knees, forehead touching the dais. Sighing softly he rested his foot on the back of Shimsa’s neck. “I don’t know why you are fighting me. Nothing you do is going to save you.”

Tapping into the Force he lifted the man off the ground until, his toes several inches above the dais. Shimsa looked over the crowed, eyes pleading with the crowd. No one was willing to meet his eyes, for which Xanatos was glad. He would have hated to have to get a completely new staff and have to instill them with terror.

Xanatos stepped in front of Shimsa, forcing him to look at him. He leaned forward slightly, a wild grin on his lips. “You never had any chance of collecting the bounty on my head. You aren’t smart enough and you didn’t reckon with my control of the Force.” He reached into Shimsa’s chest with the Force and started squeezing his heart, grin widening at the panicked look on the other man’s face when he realized how he was going to die.

“Please don’t! I wasn’t thinking. I don’t want to die. I promise I’ll be your most loyal servant. You’ll never have to worry about my loyalty again.” Tears were running down Shimsa’s face and the sharp tang of urine filled the air. He desperately struggled against his bonds, making it look like he was fighting an invisible opponent.

The fallen Jedi shrugged as he increased the pressure on the laboring muscle. “I shouldn’t have had to worry about your loyalty in the first place.” With one final surge of power he squeezed Shimsa’s heart, causing the muscle to explode. Blood leaked from the man’s nose and Xanatos dropped the body. Facing the crowd he was glad to see the rest of his workers had taken the lesson to heart. “I don’t really think anything needs to be said.”

He descended from the dais, Vinylas following him down. The crowd parted as he passed through, bowing reverently. Halfway through the crowd Vinylas stopped a growl rumbling in her chest as she stared at Xanatos’ major domo. She stalked up to man the man and stared at him, fangs bared. Xanatos turned back, eyes icy. “I’m going to assume she doesn’t like you, because if I find out you are planning on betraying me your death won’t be as nearly as clean as Shimsa’s. Vinylas, leave him alone. He’ll be yours later.”

The Nekima heaved a sigh before bounding back over to her master, curling around his legs like a giant kitten. She looked up at the fallen Jedi and sent a wave of hunger through their bond. He gently ruffled her ears. “Go. There have been some herds of Boma around lately. I’ll catch up.” She bowed before dashing out of the court yard.

-----

Obi-Wan looked up from the data pad in his lap when he heard the door slid open; a slight smile curling his lips at the sight that greeted him. Xanatos was covered in dirt and his hair looked like a small animal had taken up residence in the ebon strands. “Should I even ask, or is it safer to just come up with my own ideas about why you’re covered in dirt?”

Xanatos groaned in frustration as he undid the straps on his shirt and pulled it off, to reveal several light scratches across his chest. “Vinylas went hunting and I went with. After she caught and ate the Boma she decided that she wanted to play with me. She stalked me for awhile before rolling me through the dirt. Of course, now she’s going to be impossible to deal with.”

The younger Force user slipped out of the bed and shrugged on Xanatos’ red robe on, tying the sash to keep it from falling off. He crossed the room and leaned against his mate, wrapping his arms around his waist, head resting on his chest. “Should I be jealous of this Vinylas?”

The fallen Jedi kissed Obi-Wan on the top of the head. “No. She’s more like an annoying little sister then anything. Let’s go shower then you can meet her. I think she’ll like you, but be careful. She has a tendency to think that things have to go her way.”

-----

Obi-Wan wasn’t sure what to make of the giant Force sensitive Nekima that was staring at him. He knew she wasn’t going to attack, but the knowledge didn’t make him feel any better. She was big enough to just sit on him and crush his chest.

“Vinylas, stop staring at Obi-Wan like he’s going to betray me. Come over here and introduce yourself.” Xanatos smiled at the look on his mate’s face. “I promise she’ll behave.” He shot a stern look at the Nekima, sending a suggestion that she behave or she wouldn’t be allowed of her courtyard for several days.

Vinylas sighed in frustration as she got up, crossing the courtyard. She stopped in front of the two men and bowed low, eyes never leaving Obi-Wan. Moving closer she pressed her nose to Obi-Wan’s chest and sniffed deeply, imprinting his scent. With a low growl resonating in her throat she rolled on to her back, showing her stomach and approval.

“You’d best scratch her stomach. She’ll get petulant if you don’t.” Xanatos smiled as Obi-Wan dropped to his knees, hands rubbing through the soft fur. “I nearly didn’t survive my first encounter with her. The engines on my ship were malfunctioning and I had to land on Chalacta. The moment I stepped off the ship she was on top of me. I didn’t have time to get my lightsaber. She sat on me for nearly three hours before she got off.”

He could feel Obi-Wan’s shock through their bond. It had been only days after Obi-Wan’s eighteenth birthday and he’d blocked Obi-Wan, despite the fact he wasn’t sure how strong the bond was over that great of a distance. It had been easier to simply block the bond then to have his mate worry. “When the ship I’d called for arrived she followed me on and curled up at my feet, watching the crew like they were going to hurt me.”

“It wasn’t until I got back here that I knew what had happened. It turns out Nekima are Force sensitive. She bonded with me. The bond we have is something like a very new training bond, nothing more than impressions and emotions but it has saved my life several times. Nekima are fiercely loyal and will defend their bonded to the death. They usually live as long as their bond partner. And they have the intelligence of a seven year old human and are slightly sentient, making them even more difficult.” He stroked his hand through Obi-Wan’s hair. “We’ll head back there once you get the Force back. I have some Offworld business to deal with but it shouldn’t take too long. We’ll take a speeder out later.”

------

Xanatos stared at Obi-Wan’s back, eyes drifting along the faint scars. It had been nearly eight months since the younger man’s death and resurrection and still the Force hadn’t returned to him. For the first month after the accident it hadn’t been so much of a problem since Obi-Wan had still been adjusting to the body switch. However, once he’d gotten over the change things had gone down hill.

They’d started sparring with wooden staves once Obi-Wan was strong enough. He knew his mate was chafing at the use of something so simple but he wasn’t going to let the younger man use a lightsaber even on training power, at least not until he’d regained some of his grace. His mind might have been willing but his body wasn’t the honed fighting force that managed to bring his enemies to their knees that he was used to. Obi-Wan had finally bowed to the necessity but Xanatos had felt his mate’s anger through their bond.

He’d also started teaching the younger man various martial arts and other lightsaber forms. His head of security had taught Obi-Wan how to use blasters. When he’d started getting bored with all of the physical training he’d taken up learning several languages and was fluent in Huttese, spoken Ryl and the ancient Sith language, though he wasn’t sure why his mate had chosen that. Honestly he didn’t care what Obi-Wan took up as long as it kept him from focusing on his loss.

Obi-Wan shifted on the bed and Xanatos got to his feet, clipping his lightsaber to his belt. As much as he loved the other man he was finding it was easier to spend as little time around him as possible. Everyday Obi-Wan’s anger grew, most of it focused at Xanatos.

The younger man saw him as the root of all his problems. He hadn’t meant to pry, but Obi-Wan’s shields were nonexistent and the emotions from the bond were too intense to miss. Obi-Wan had pinned the blame on him for everything, from the first bond he had practically forced on the man when he was fifteen, to the soul bond that had developed, for his death, even if he had been the one that had jumped in front of Qui-Gon and of course his loss of the Force.

He did his best to keep from using the Force around Obi-Wan but sometimes he’d forget and remember at the last minute, just in time to catch the flicker of pain and anger in his eyes. Obi-Wan’s hands were bruised most of the time since he’d taken to slamming his hands into the wall whenever Xanatos used the Force, never enough to break bones but he’d sprained most of his fingers more then once.

When he felt Obi-Wan sliding out of sleep he sent a feeling of love along the bond before leaving the room, unable to face his lover’s anger.

-----

“I want to spar.”

Xanatos looked up from his data pad, eyes narrowed. Obi-Wan was sitting in front of the windows of their room watching the storm that had been raging for nearly three hours. Water was sheeting off the windows and lighting was flashing every few seconds. He set the pad aside and got to his feet. “Fine.”

Obi-Wan turned to look at him. “Not in the gym. I want to go fight in the rain. And not with staves. I want to use sabers.”

The older man sighed to himself. He had been expecting this to happen. He knew the moment would come when he would be forced to give into his mate’s wishes. And he knew someone was going to hurt. He crossed to the closet and stripped before changing into worn clothing that was patched together and had faded from its normal black to a dull grey. He decided putting boots on wasn’t worth it. The rain was warm and the wet grass would add an element of danger to their fight.

He felt Obi-Wan pause behind him and he spun around, his fingers closing around his mate’s wrist. With a sharp twist he forced the smaller man against the wall hand trapped against the small of his back. He sank his free hand into the long reddish-brown strands and jerked his head back until his neck was a painful arch, the tendons standing out under his pale skin. “The sabers will remain on training power. I don’t care if you’re feeling up to anything more. If I so much as see a power fluctuation on it I will not hesitate to teach you who is in charge. Do you understand?”

Obi-Wan attempted to push Xanatos off and froze when he felt the bigger man apply more pressure to his wrist. “Yes. Now let me go you bastard.” He pulled his hair back in a quick braid before kicking off his own shoes.

“Good.” He tossed a lightsaber to Obi-Wan before picking his own up to dial down the power. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end when he heard his mate activate his saber. Since he’d left the Order twelve years ago he’d never had anyone with a lightsaber behind his back and it was setting him on edge.

The lightsaber Obi-Wan was using had been his before he’d left the Jedi. He’d seen making a new lightsaber, this time with a dark red, almost black blade, as a ritual way to sever his ties to Qui-Gon and every other Jedi. His old lightsaber had been tossed in the closet, a silent reminder of the people who had ruined his life.

Crossing the room he opened one of the windows and stepped out instantly soaked through by the rain. He gestured to Obi-Wan and closed the window before vaulting over the edge of the balcony. It was a little over five feet to the ground, an easy drop for anyone that knew how to land properly. He was about to call Obi-Wan a coward when the smaller man landed lightly next to him.

“I knew what you were going to say.” Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber and took a half step back from the other man.

Xanatos thumbed the switch on his and fell back, resting his weight on his left foot. “I’m sure you did. After all, Qui-Gon always said I talk too much and you are his Padawan.”

Obi-Wan snarled and lunged, his saber coming down hard on Xanatos’, their blades hissing and spitting under the rain. “I stopped being his Padawan the moment his lightsaber pierced my chest.”

The taller man twisted his wrist, bringing his saber down in an arch towards Obi-Wan’s stomach as he ducked under the continued path of the bluish-green blade. “Good, because you certainly haven’t been acting like a Jedi as of late.” He circled his mate, reaching out at random times, always to be met by the other blade. “Of course, since you can’t touch the Force you aren’t much of anything besides a little farmer boy. Maybe I should have left you on Bandomeer.”

“Maybe you should have. I would still be able to touch the Force.” He flicked his braid over his shoulder. “But then again, if you weren’t so incompetent you wouldn’t have tripped over a rock, forcing me to sacrifice myself to save you. I’m sure everyone would love to know the great Xanatos was nearly killed because of a rock. In the end it’s your fault I’ve become a shadow.”

Xanatos surged forward, driving Obi-Wan back under a flurry of blows his lightsaber a dash of color against the dark sky. “Blame me. I can tell you want to. Anything to make you feel better. Why don’t you just tell me you hate me? I can feel how much you do, how much you want to kill me.”

A cry ripped itself from Obi-Wan as he slipped on the wet grass and went down. He rolled away, barely managing to avoid burning himself on the lightsaber. Slowly he got to his feet, breathing harsh as he watched Xanatos stalk closer, blue eyes dark with anger.

“It’s a good thing you’re too weak to be of any danger to me.” He ducked the lightsaber that flew at his head. “Such a juvenile move.”

Obi-Wan threw himself at Xanatos, sliding under the man’s arms as he tackled him to the ground. He caught the man’s wrist in one hand and pressed his fingers against the soft skin, hitting a nerve. The lightsaber rolled from limp fingers and Obi-Wan slammed his fist into the man’s face, a red haze obscuring his sight. Without thinking he hit his mate three more times, splitting his lip, bruising a cheek and blackening his eye.

“Stop.”

The single word, reinforced by Xanatos’ pushing him away with the Force lifted the haze from Obi-Wan’s eyes. He stumbled to his feet, eyes focused on the bloody face. “It was your fault and I do hate you.” He kicked the man in the ribs once before slowly making his way towards the door.

Groaning in pain Xanatos rolled on to his side, hand clenching his ribs as he watched the younger man go inside. “You may hate me little one, but you love me just as much. You’ll eventually come to see that.”