He'd worked for years to break through the barrier between the living and the dead. All his energy was sustained in seperating his entity from the swirling embrace of the Force. Now that he finally could communicate with a living person, he faltered.

Who?

Yoda would be the easiest to reach, being so attuned to the Force. Yet Yoda was too detached from the situation to be of any help. For all that the relationship between Yoda and Anakin was far more pleasant than any other Council Member (save his Master), Yoda would primarly care only of the Jedi potentially lost and not enough for the fallen himself.

The bond he had with Mace was still intact on his side. It wouldn't be too difficult to reach him, but Anakin's relationship with Mace was distrustful at best. Master Windu, for all his power and wisdom, would not help.

There was Padme, if anyone could pull the Chosen One back from the dangerous edge he balanced precariously on, Padme could. But she couldn't see him, and thus he couldn't warn her.

He'd tried to contact Anakin himself, but that had failed. Anakin was more than preoccupied with all his various conflicting duties and shielding all his secrets from his Master and other Jedi. Any attempt to reach Anakin was denied without the Chosen One even being aware of it.

He felt like a chess piece asked to make a crucial move that would swing the game away from the Dark and into the Light's advantage. Only everywhere he moved, another piece was there to counter his attack. Darth Sidious seemed the ultimate strategist.

Qui Gon sighed. He'd never been all that good a chess player. It'd been Obi Wan's game. He could still remember about a month or two into the Master/Padawan relationship, he'd asked his little apprentice if he'd fancied a chess game. He'd immediately felt an eagerness course through Obi Wan but the responce was the same as always; a calm "Yes, Master." He'd been shocked when the same thirteen-year-old solidly and soundly beat him.

Obi Wan.

Despite some of his actions and more of his words, Anakin truly did love his former Master. He had difficulty understanding Obi Wan, but then who didn't? Qui Gon himself could remember thinking he had Obi Wan all figured out only to balk as Obi Wan baffled him yer again. And as for Obi Wan, it was obvious to anyone who cared to observe that Obi Wan loved his apprentice the way a fond older brother would love his reckless little brother. He'd be Jedi enough to control his own horror in the face of evil, and yet caring enough to draw Anakin away from the dark. He'd be more than easy to contact as well, as the bond in Qui Gon's mind was still just as strong as it was in life.

He smiled. After all, Obi Wan had always been good at chess.

"So uncivilized..."

"Still indulging in battle humor I see."

Perhaps that wasn't the thing to say to your living apprentice when you've been dead for more than a decade, but Qui Gon couldn't help the amusement that bubbled up when Obi Wan whirled around with that boyish shock plastered all over his usually stoic face.

"M-Master? What are you-"

"There isn't much time, Obi Wan. You have to listen to me."

The accomplished Jedi Master that Qui Gon couldn't be more proud of came out. A serious and concentrated look stole of the face of his former apprentice.

"The Force has given me a special blessing, to be able to communicate with you. I may be able to do this someday for longer, but not for right now. You have very little time. You have to get back to Corusant and stop Anakin. Your Sith Lord is Chancellor Palpatine and as we speak, he is attempting to turn Anakin. You must stop him before it's too late, you're one of the only ones who can."

Obi Wan already had his comm unit out.

"R4 bring my fighter to docking bay 2274. Do you copy?"

After the affirmative whistle Obi Wan looked up. Agony reflected in Obi Wan's eyes, but his face betrayed nothing but incredible determination.

"Will I be able to do it?"

Qui Gon closed his eyes. Being not completely one with Force had it's disadvantages and he couldn't see much farther into the future than the average Jedi could, however his visions tended to be much more accurate. It would work, but Obi Wan would die before Anakin would be spurred to action. Checkmate would occur, but they'd loose quite a valuable piece, and the victor of the game, Anakin, could very well turn anyway if he succumbed to the pain.

Yet, the light side still had another piece to bring into play. Padme. Her very presence radiated light and she would hold to her ideals and morals more tightly then Anakin.

To Anakin, his decision wasn't as much Dark or Light, but Padme or Obi Wan. He would choose Padme everytime even knowing the consequenses of such a choice would tear him apart. The problem was, Obi Wan and Padme were on the same side. Anakin needed to see that.

"Yes. But just to be sure, I'd bring his wife with you."

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