Chapter 1

Star Wars and all its characters do not belong to me they belong to George Lucas. Not mine, his. Don't sue me.

Obi-Wan fought on and on, trying his hardest no to let his anger and sorrow get the better of him. He tried no to think of the situation he was wallowing in. He wouldn't let himself fall as Anakin had. Anakin was fighting with his anger, his hate, and his grief.

Obi-Wan leapt back onto another droid hovering above the lava river to get a break. To catch his breath. To get away for a few moments. Never had he fought so hard before, and the heat of the volcanic planet wasn't helping. Still facing Anakin, he held his lightsaber in front on him, concentrating on breathing evenly and keeping his feelings in check. If he let them out now he knew he would regret it. Later he would meditate it all out of his system.

If he survived.

That was exactly what was bothering him. He and Anakin had often sparred before. Both he and Anakin were excellent swordsmen, but with the power of the Dark Side, Anakin was getting faster, stronger, more powerful. Though Obi-Wan was matching Anakin's efforts and skill now, he was tiring. If they were back at the Temple…

Back at the Temple. He thought of the Room of a Thousand Fountains, of his friend Bant's still form lying on the floor, a lightsaber wound in her chest…

The Temple was gone. Anakin. Anakin had destroyed it. He had killed every single Jedi, and in their own home. Obi-Wan sorrow and anger swelled up in him as he saw his former apprentice standing before him, but he pushed it down as far as he could.

"This is the end for you my Master," Anakin growled, hate filling his eyes. Obi-Wan gritted his teeth at the comment and held his lightsaber up, ready for the anticipated attack. Anakin shot into the air and landed on the droid next the Obi-Wan. He swung his lightsaber at Obi-Wan's head, but Obi-Wan brought his up to block it. The strength behind the blow was so powerful, though, that Obi-Wan almost lost his balance. Anakin continued to swing his weapon relentlessly, picking up on Obi-Wan's growing weakened state, knowing that his strength would eventually drive Obi-Wan over the edge of the droid's surface.

Desperate for a way out, Obi-Wan glanced around for somewhere else he could jump on. He looked to his left and saw the lava stream's bank. He mustered up all the strength left in his legs and flew into the air, landing higher up on the bank.

"It's over Anakin. I have the high ground," he said loudly down to his former apprentice, still standing on the droid.

"You underestimate my power," he snarled hatefully at Obi-Wan. He prepared to leap.

"Don't try it," Obi-Wan warned him. But Anakin flew towards him with a magnificent leap with his lightsaber still drawn, ready to strike. Though Obi-Wan did not want to harm his former student at all, he would not let himself be killed. He swung his blade at Anakin. The blow connected. Anakin's legs were severed from his body.

Broken off from his leap, Anakin fell from the air and rolled dangerously close to the lava stream. He screamed and moaned in agony and looked up at Obi-Wan, almost begging his former Master to help him. Those eyes, though stained yellow with hate and anger, held Obi-Wan's heart and tore it in two at the same time. His feelings that had been bottled up inside broke free.

"You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith not join him!" Obi-Wan cried over the roar of the lava that was rising higher towards the stumps of Anakin's legs. "Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!" This man had betrayed the Republic, betrayed the Jedi, betrayed Padmé…

Betrayed him.

"I hate you!" Anakin screeched at Obi-Wan in agony. He clawed desperately at the bank, trying to pull himself from heat of the lava that he continued to slide towards.

"You were my brother, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, his face contorted in emotional pain. Never had he felt so…torn. "I loved you."

All the years that Obi-Wan had nurtured, raised, taught this man everything he knew of the Force, of life itself, had been wasted in a matter of days. All the times Obi-Wan had been more of a father than a Master to this man, forgotten in minutes. All the feelings of love and trust they had had for one another…shattered in seconds.

How could he still love this man? This…monster? Anakin had destroyed everything that Obi-Wan loved. He had even destroyed himself.

You have to kill him. He is a threat to the galaxy, his own family…everything. You must obey your Master's orders…do it. Do it. Do it…

Anakin started to scream. The lava had crept up to his legs, burning the already damaged skin. He reached out a trembling hand towards Obi-Wan in his suffering.

Obi-Wan didn't know what to do. His strict orders, along with his hate and sorrow, commanded him to rid the galaxy of this monstrosity once and for all. But deep down, his own love forbade him from even raising his ignited lightsaber. I can't… All his emotions welled up inside, all screaming so many different things in his head…

A mysterious and elusive hum swiftly echoed through the skies. Confused, Obi-Wan looked above to where he thought the sound was coming from. There was nothing he could see, but his heart was suddenly filled with the sickening feeling of darkness. He could feel the Sith nearby…his worry and determination as he landed his ship and began to look for his apprentice.

Anakin's screaming had turned to a low moan. Obi-Wan's heart fluttered in his chest. The fire was still slowly creeping up Anakin's back, burning him, yet he had stopped making noise all together. Obi-Wan, frightened now of what he had most dreaded, slid down the dirt bank to his former friend's side. He had not wanted to watch his former friend die, no matter how much contempt he might have for Anakin for what he had done. Obi-Wan put out the fire on Anakin's back, then reached a hand out to touch his neck.

As soon as he made contact, Anakin half screamed half snarled at him…again.

Oh yes, he was alive.

Obi-Wan felt the dark presence getting nearer still…he had a choice to make. Take Anakin with me and possibly regret it…not take him with me and…definitely regret it for the rest of my life.

Yes, Anakin had betrayed the Republic and joined the Sith in his quest to rule the galaxy. Yes, he had betrayed Obi-Wan and broken every thread of trust they had. Yes, he had betrayed and murdered the Jedi…

I won't lose him too.

Obi-Wan picked up Anakin's lightsaber, and scooped Anakin up in his arms, not wanting to risk using a large amount of the Force to pick him up and give away their location to the nearby Sith. He did have to do one thing with the Force though.

Obi-Wan tentatively placed a hand on Anakin's forehead, enveloping his being in the living Force, which would hide him from the Sith for the moment. Anakin moaned and shuttered as Obi-Wan touched his burns in an effort to lift him, but he could do nothing more than that. He did not even struggle.

Obi-Wan trudged along Mustafar's terrain, wondering what Yoda would have to say about their enemy he was carrying home with him. He sighed inwardly. He could barely think. All he knew was to get back to the ship and get away. That was it. No fancy escape plan, just to get out. Go someplace safe. He didn't know where, and he knew deep down that the Sith would find Anakin wherever he went. And Anakin might want to go with him.

What would Anakin do?

Right now, of course, he didn't do anything. His mind was so twisted and saturated with the Dark Side of the Force that Obi-Wan could not even begin to predict how he would act. All he could hope for was that Anakin would come to his senses and realize that Obi-Wan was only trying to help him. Somehow, though, Obi-Wan didn't think that was very likely to happen.

Obi-Wan finally came to the landing platform where Padmé's Naboo star skiff was parked. He walked, exhausted, up the landing ramp and into the ship.

C3PO met him at the entrance. "We already have Miss Padmé on board. Let's leave this dreadful place before someone else gets hurt." Only then did he notice Anakin in Obi-Wan's arms. "Oh my! Master Ani! What happened to him?" the droid asked in horror, looking upon his creator with his artificial eyes. Obi-Wan walked past him without answering. Stumbling over his own feet and completely ignoring Threepio's ceaseless chatter, he made his way to the back of the ship where he carefully placed Anakin on a medical bed. Obi-Wan walked out and closed the door. Threepio followed him, still talking.

"Poor, poor Master Ani. I couldn't imagine what could have happened to him. He looks absolutely dreadful! I-"

"Threepio." The protocol droid looked up at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan waved him tiredly out of the room with one hand, the other hand covering his eyes as he allowed himself to slump to the floor, leaning his back against the wall. "Just…just drive the ship please?"

Threepio nodded and began heading towards the cockpit. He paused though, turning around again. "But, where to, Master Kenobi?"

"Anywhere."

"Anywhere, sir?"

His own answer now sounded a bit vague when he stopped and thought about it. I must be really tired…I'm not planning ahead or making sense of anything. Obi-Wan did remember now that Yoda had mentioned a place to meet, a place to go to when their battles were over.

Had Yoda survived?

A sense of dread came over him. Yoda had to have survived. He was the greatest Jedi Master of their Order. Or, he had been. If Yoda had not survived, he would be the very last Jedi alive in the galaxy. The thought itself distressed him.

"Master Kenobi?" Threepio asked again. Obi-Wan had been staring at the opposite wall for some time now. Threepio knew humans well enough to know that their minds did not take this long to conjure up an answer…unless something was wrong. "Are you all right?"

Obi-Wan looked up at him from the floor. He stopped, again, to think about Threepio's question. He nodded. "Yes Threepio. Head the ship towards Polis Massa please."

Threepio nodded and without another word headed towards the control room to fly them to Polis Massa, a band of slowly floating asteroids in the Outer Rim. It was not highly populated at all, and they would be safe there for the time being.

Though he was tired, Obi-Wan forced himself off the floor to go see Padmé. He found her in another medical recovery room in the ship. She looked so peaceful in her unconscious state, but Obi-Wan knew better. Padmé's heart had been crushed after learning Anakin had turned. Of course, his had been too.

He laid a hand on her shoulder, simply looking at her beautiful face. He had no attraction to her; she was simply a good friend, though he still felt a duty to protect her from her own husband. Padmé's eyes fluttered open, and she turned to him.

"Obi-Wan…" Padmé said in recognition. "Is Anakin…all right?" Before he could answer, she slipped into sleep once more. Not that Obi-Wan would have answered. He just didn't feel like talking.

Obi-Wan reached out and ran the back of his hand along her cheek, feeling guilty for everything that had happened. I failed Anakin. I wasn't a good enough teacher. His fall was my doing…I should have seen it coming. I shouldn't have let this happen. Now she is suffering for it, the Jedi are dead, and the Sith is in control of everything. If only I had listened to my instincts...

Stop.

Obi-Wan was so surprised at a different voice in his head that he stumbled back slightly. That wasn't me…

No, it wasn't. It was me, Padawan.

"Qui-Gon…?" he whispered aloud. "That's not possible. You're..."

Dead? His old Master's amusement filled the room. That is true, Padawan, but let me ask you a question. Do spirits die?

Obi-Wan stood corrected. "I still don't understand how you are in my head."

I'm not in your head, Obi-Wan. I am in the Force. You are in the in it as well. And let me tell you, you just broadcasted your thoughts to all of us.

"Us?" Obi-Wan snapped his mouth shut as Padmé stirred in her sleep. He quickly left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. He walked down the hall to an empty room and closed the door. "Us?" he repeated incredulously.

Yes, Padawan. Us. When I said "spirits" in plural form, I meant it in plural form. There is not just me. There is all of us.

"All?" Obi-Wan murmured in awe.

Yes Obi-Wan. You do not have to repeat everything I say.

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak.

But I suppose you may if you wish.

You did not fail as a Master, Obi-Wan. Anakin's fall was his choice, not your mistake. You are a great teacher. I could see it. I could always see it in you, even when we were young.

"Bant?" Obi-Wan whispered as he recognized the soft, friendly voice of his friend.

Yes? came the shy voice.

"Bant…you're there. I can feel you." Obi-Wan closed his eyes. In memory he could see her clearly. Her silver eyes shone with joy. I'm not alone.

You are never alone Obi-Wan. We will always be with you.

Horrendousscreams broke Obi-Wan's thoughts. Things crashed in the medical room in the back of the ship. "Oh boy," Obi-Wan murmured to himself. This was the moment of truth, or not. Will he turn back to the light? Was my choice the right one? He did not get a verbal answer, only a feeling that those he loved were with him, helping him. It was enough.