I Fell For Love
Chapter 2
Obi-wan guided his Interceptor down through the cover of clouds blanketing the skies above Corellia's surface.
The massive planetary capital—Coronet dominated the landscape surrounded by wooded regions and lush valleys. Obi-wan skimmed through the information on his target one last time before veering off course from the city towards the woods on the western edges of the bustling metropolis. Obi-wan waited patiently for Corellian Air-Space Control to hail him.
The call never came. It seems like the Imperials have silenced them to my activities.
He glided over the treetops and brought the interceptor down in a field in the middle of the woods. He flicked a switch and a door snapped open off of the main hold of the cruiser, a speeder bike hovering out of the storage unit.
Obi-wan swung his leg over the side and guided it down the ramp, his ship sealing itself.
He pulled on the throttle, zipping towards Coronet his eyes on the neat cluster of apartments and homes where Eren should be located. By the time he reached the city streets, the lanes were filled with speeders and pedestrians cutting across streets in all directions.
He swerved off of the streets down an alleyway that opened up into a side street. He scanned the crowd of citizens looking for any sign of Eren. His eyes caught the back of his head rounding a corner at the last possible minute. He followed him at a distance watching him enter a home a few houses down from him, promptly sealing the door behind him.
"Perhaps he's smarter than he looks," said Obi-wan.
Obi-wan disengaged his speeder bike on the side of Eren's house. He glanced up at the open window on the house's second floor. He sighed and gathered the Force, vaulting towards the wall of the adjacent building and back flipped off of it into the window, landing in a roll.
Obi-wan got to his feet finding himself in some sort of study. His eyes drifted towards the floor, hearing movement directly below him.
Obi-wan silently crossed the room and took a seat in the lavish armchair behind the desk taking advantage of the dark room. He stared at the door intently waiting as a hand gripped the door, forcing it open slowly.
Eren stepped into the room, not seeing Obi-wan and moved to close the window with his free hand, a drink clutched in his other hand.
"Pretty nice place you have here," said Obi-wan quietly. Eren whirled on him, lashing out with the Force. Obi-wan caught the telekinetic blast with ease and redirected it straight into his chest with twice the strength blasting him into the wall. Eren's glass shattered as soon as it struck the floor.
Eren made a move for the study's doors and Obi-wan locked them with a wave of his hand, "Leaving so soon?"
"Obi-wan?" asked Eren squinting through the darkness.
"It's Lord Verrat now," replied Obi-wan, he reached for the saber hilt hanging from his waist and activated it, bathing the room in bloodred light.
"I don't understand," said Eren confused.
"I'm here to kill you," said Obi-wan, "The Emperor has forced my hand."
"You don't want to do this," said Eren calmly.
"You're right but I have no choice."
"There's always a choice," retorted Eren, activating his cobalt blue lightsaber.
"You wouldn't understand," croaked Obi-wan, taking a step forward trembling, emotion just now beginning to rise up.
Eren sighed and sprinted across the room locking sabers with Obi-wan. Obi-wan forced him back and retaliated with a sweep at the knees. Eren parried and lunged forward his blade poised for his throat.
Obi-wan froze in silent horror and weakly brought up his hand and contained the blade with the Force, sparks flying in all directions off of the barrier protecting his flash.
Obi-wan desperately reached out with the Force, hurling a sculpture at Eren. Eren slashed it in half with a laugh, "You're off your game old man."
"Please don't make me do this."
Eren went on the offensive again hacking and slashing in an attempt to overwhelm Obi-wan's defenses. Obi-wan expertly blocked every blow and brought his right foot into Eren's side sending him staggering away from him.
Eren rolled aside and leapt to his feet. Obi-wan felt a voice start to echo all around the room, strikingly similar to Sidious'.
"Do it. Finish him and surrender yourself to the dark side."
"Never," muttered Obi-wan, lowering his guard.
"You must remember only one of you can leave here alive and if you want to save Skywalker, than you're going to have to kill the Jedi."
Obi-wan froze at the mention of Anakin. "No there has to be another way," said Obi-wan. Eren stared at the Sith Lord strangely as he continued talking to himself.
"I can take the pain away. Let the hate flow through you and it will be all over soon."
"Really?" asked Obi-wan, starting to feel sick.
"Of course, would I ever lie to you?"
Obi-wan closed his eyes letting a river of images and jumbled memories flow through him. He saw Maul kill Qui-Gon, Anakin in pain when his hand was cut off by Dooku, the Council asking him to spy on Anakin, and image after image of Palpatine.
Eren decided to make his move and end the fight and lunged to run him through with his lightsaber. One last image of Palpatine drove Obi-wan over the edge.
Obi-wan's eyes snapped open, an amber gleam now present. Eren hesitated, startled by the sudden change in Obi-wan.
Obi-wan let out a terrible scream of rage and raised his hand, sending eight bolts of lightning into Eren's chest. Eren smashed into the wall, screaming in agony, smoke streaming off of his clothes.
He raised his lightsaber weakly to defend himself as Obi-wan lunged and slapped his saber aside and rove his crimson blade straight through Eren's heart. Eren let out a gasp and succumbed to the darkness closing in around him.
Obi-wan switched off his lightsaber, the amber gleam in his eyes fading away. Obi-wan stared down at Eren in horror and stepped away from the corpse, smoke still streaming off of his burnt skin and clothes.
"What have I done," he croaked, tears streaming down his face.
Footsteps downstairs caused panic to flare in Obi-wan's chest. "Corellian Security Force," barked a man from downstairs, "We received a noise disturbance report, is anyone up there?" he called up.
Obi-wan snatched up both lightsabers and hooked them onto his equipment belt, threw open the window and dropped down onto his speeder bike tearing off down the alley.
Obi-wan stared emptily at the trees flashing by, tears still streaming down his face.
He guided the speeder up the ramp, and warmed up the Interceptor eager to leave Corellia behind. He struggled to regain at least some measure of composure before his inevitable conversation with the Emperor.
His holocommunicator chirped an alarm at him; Obi-wan accepted the transmission and the image of Sidious appeared.
"Have you killed the Jedi yet Verrat?" asked Sidious.
"Eren Jaeger is dead, my Master," said Obi-wan.
"Prove it," hissed Palpatine in disbelief.
Obi-wan showed Palpatine Eren's lightsaber hilt before returning it to his waist.
"You've done surprisingly well Master Jedi," sneered Sidious.
"I'm not a Jedi," said Obi-wan quietly.
"Please the only reason you still stick around is because of your disgusting infatuation with your former apprentice," snapped Sidious.
That one struck home hard and it must have appeared on his face because Sidious smiled cruelly at him.
"He will never love you as you love him. He'll never truly get over Padme, and there's nothing you can do to save him Kenobi. He's mine," continued Sidious cackling, his horrible laughter echoing everywhere.
Obi-wan remained silent, "What is your bidding my Master?" he asked.
Sidious' sneer quickly turned into a frown, "Return to Coruscant, there's going to be a meeting at Imperial Command concerning the activities of a fledgling resistance force," he ordered, "I expect you to attend."
"As you wish," said Obi-wan ending the transmission and plotted the return course for Coruscant into his navicomputer.
Ashoka followed Bail through the Felucian village anxiously. Her eyes avoiding the curious stares projected towards their way.
Her hand slowly reached inside the fold of her flight jacket where she kept her lightsabers concealed, watching the Felucians ahead of them, her eyes watching their every move and the crude blades hanging on their backs.
Bail placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "It'll be fine, they're just really protective of Master Ti," he muttered to her.
Ashoka brought her hand back to her side, still not convinced. "I hope it's really her," she said with a sigh. The Felucians led them over a hill overlooking a massive Sarlaac pit. A hooded figure sat at the edge, her back turned to them.
The Felucians walked down to her barking something. The cloaked figure rose to its feet and pulled down its hood. Shaak turned towards Bail and Ashoka walking up to meet them.
"Ashoka?" asked Shaak in disbelief.
Ashoka smiled weakly, as waves of memories at the Jedi Temple washed over her. Shaak embraced her, "I'm so glad you're safe."
"But you're not Master Ti," said Ashoka, "We have to leave here."
"I can't yet Ashoka, Maris is still out there in the fern jungles," protested Shaak.
"Maris?" asked Bail quietly from behind Ashoka.
"My Padawan," replied Shaak gazing towards the fauna dotting the rocky hillsides all around them for any sign of her.
"When did she leave?" asked Ashoka.
"A little over an hour ago."
"Hopefully she'll be back soon," said Ashoka.
Ashoka spun on her heel, hearing the hum of two lightsabers above her and activated her own fending off her attacker. She rushed forward her blades a blur as she hacked and slashed at the mysterious assailant.
"Maris that's enough, they're not Palpatine's agents," barked Shaak in disapproval.
Maris eyed Ashoka cautiously, "Are you sure Master?"
"Positive," snapped Ashoka irritably.
"We need to leave right away," ushered Bail eyeing the sky above for any spacecraft.
"Why?" asked Maris, "Did you bring some of your Imperial lackeys with you?"
"No," growled Ashoka, "but we believe Imperial Intelligence is onto your location and that means that Vader will be here soon."
"Where will we go?" asked Shaak after a moment of thinking.
"Dantooine," answered Bail and Ashoka in unison.
Vader stood alone at Imperial Command, the meeting room similar to Palpatine's old office in the Senate Rotunda.
He stared out the viewport watching ten thousand crew members board a brand new Star Destroyer fresh from the Kuat Shipyards.
Grand Moff Tarkin entered the room, "Greetings Vader."
"What's this meeting even about Tarkin," asked Vader not bothering to return the greeting.
"The activities of a group dubbing themselves as the Rebel Alliance," said Tarkin, "You can see why this could pose a problem to the security of the Empire?"
Vader nodded, "Though I'm sure once you finish your precious superweapon you put so much faith into, it will end the Rebel threat," he said.
Tarkin's lips creased to a thin line of disapproval, "Why of course."
Vader paid no attention to Tarkin, staring out the viewport as Obi-wan's crimson Interceptor streaked past the viewport.
"I see Lord Verrat has arrived," said Moff Kalast smirking as he entered the room surrounded by the other moffs and generals.
"Good to see your eyes still do work," said Vader with a false smile. Tarkin chuckled remembering the incident above Sullust, where the Moff had wrecked two Victory Destroyers with his Star Destroyer in a freak accident.
Moff Kalast glared at Vader and took his seat as six Imperial Guard entered the room standing by the door. The Emperor and Lord Verrat entered the room, and the Emperor took his seat at the head of the table beside Tarkin, Verrat and Vader standing silently behind him.
"I want to know everything we have on this so-called Rebel Alliance," said Palpatine, his eyes darting between everyone present.
Tarkin cleared his throat before speaking, "We believe that a group of Senators and other various figures of authority across the Galaxy are planning to overthrow the Empire and restore the Republic."
"Do we know which Senators are responsible for this treason?" asked Palpatine darkly.
"Not yet your Excellency, but we have our suspicions that they use the clamor in between sessions at the Senate to recruit others and discuss details with other politicians. However at the moment, Imperial Intelligence is diverting its assets to locating their hidden base," replied the director of Imperial Intelligence.
"You're wasting your time Director," said Vader, "The Rebels probably have moles in Intelligence or higher up in the chain of command to give them warning to change the location of their base before the Navy can strike. It's a pointless exhaustion of your resources, you should instead focus your efforts as to finding out the identities of the Rebel leader and sympathizers."
"No offense Lord Vader, but I don't tell you how to kill Jedi," said the director coldly.
A small chorus of laughter echoed around the table. Obi-wan glanced towards Anakin worried, feeling his anger rising up. Anakin lashed out as the laughter started to fade lifting the Director from his seat with the Force. The Director's hands scratched at this throat, gasping for air. Obi-wan placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Let him go Anakin," low enough for no one else to hear.
Vader dropped him back into his chair without another word. "Tarkin, have you anything to report on the Death Star?" asked Palpatine ignoring what had just happened.
"We are nearing the final stages of its construction, your Majesty, the fire control room should be ready for use within the next few days," he reported.
"Excellent," cackled Palpatine, "I want the rebels found as well as the location of their base. I need something to test the Death Star on after all."
Silence only greeting him, "Then this meeting is adjourned," said Palpatine, dismissing everyone. Vader was the last to leave not noticing Verrat staying behind.
Obi-wan remained beside Palpatine, "What is it Lord Verrat?" asked Palpatine with distaste.
"I wish to visit the Jedi Temple," said Obi-wan, "I would like to see what happened with my own eyes, and here's how this trip can benefit you: I can open the Black Vault while I'm there."
"The Black Vault?" asked Palpatine curiously.
"It's where the Jedi have hidden away any Sith artifacts, holocrons, and texts over the last thousand years, only Jedi Masters had access to the vault," answered Obi-wan.
"Fine," said Palpatine after a moment, "Take a squadron of shock troopers with you. I want them to bring what you find to me."
Obi-wan nodded and left the room. He turned towards one of the passing colonels, "The Emperor has requested a squadron of shock troopers to be placed at my command," he ordered.
"Of course," replied the colonel in understanding comming the orders in.
"A dropship is prepping for takeoff on the airstrip, the shock troopers will be waiting for you there," said the colonel.
"Thank you colonel," said Obi-wan entering a turbolift to take him to the airstrip.
Vader entered the meeting room finding Palpatine alone. "Where did Lord Verrat go?" asked Vader confused.
"He requested permission for an excursion into the depths of the Temple's ruins. He took a squadron of shock troopers with him," he said pointing out the dropship already gliding away towards the Temple in the distance.
Vader's face paled and he raced from the room sprinting for his personal landing pad. "I can't let him do this. It will destroy him."
He jumped into his airspeeder and weaved through the traffic in the skylines veering off towards the Temple. He brought the airspeeder down next to the dropship.
A platoon of stormtroopers approached, letting him pass as he came close, "Lord Vader?" they said in confusion as he passed.
Vader sprinted towards the Archives, passing two sentries. He burst into the corridor leading to the Black Vault finding it open. He burst into the Vault only finding shock troopers boxing up artifacts and holocrons.
"Where's Lord Verrat?" he demanded.
"He said he needed to go for a walk," said the commander shrugging.
Vader left the room in a rush racing upstairs for the Council chambers. He nearly tripped over a skeleton sticking out from beneath a pile of rubble and recoiled in horror, his boot ripping the ribcage apart.
He burst into the Council chambers, panting for breath. He found Obi-wan kneeling in front of the obelisk. Anakin quietly approached hearing the sobs coming from Obi-wan.
"I'm so sorry," he choked out to no one, "I failed you Master Yoda."
Anakin crouched beside Obi-wan placing a hand gently on his shoulder. Obi-wan jumped to his feet recoiling from his touch, "Don't touch me," he growled pointing a finger at Anakin.
Anakin took a step back, pain welling up in his chest, he reached out for Obi-wan, "Obi-"
"Don't. Just stop Anakin, there's nothing you can say to change what you did."
"You think I don't know that," said Anakin weakly.
"You betrayed your family for him. You fell for his lies!" bellowed Obi-wan.
Anakin backed away from Obi-wan as he took a step forward, shocked at the scene unfolding, "They didn't even trust me," protested Anakin.
"I did," said Obi-wan, "Wasn't that enough for you."
Obi-wan ran his fingers through his hair furiously, "If you would have listened to Mace for one blasted moment. None of this would have ever happened," he said jabbing a finger into Anakin's chest.
Anakin stared sadly back at Obi-wan, "Are you finished yet? Let it out," he croaked, biting his lip.
Obi-wan stared up at Anakin, resting his head against his chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Anakin wrapped his arms around Obi-wan holding him tight, "Please don't ever leave me," he whispered, "I don't know what I would do if you vanished like Padme."
Obi-wan glanced up at him his answer in his eyes. He knew what would happen Anakin would fall completely to the dark side's treacherous hold and Palpatine would win. I can't let that happen.
"I won't ever leave you."
A/N: Well another chapter down, plenty more to go. Hopefully the length of the chapter will make up for the minimal AniObi present. I promise the smuttiness will begin next chapter. I just felt like this was the perfect place to end the chapter.
Anyway, review. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. You have no idea how much it means to me, all the positive response got me to quickly put together this wonderful chapter for you. I'm going to get chased with torches and pitchforks by the fans of Love and War though because I put that on the backburner to write this instead XD
I promise I will update today or tomorrow, I'm a little stuck on the next chapter for Love and War :/