Taran was the first to attack them as a massive Force push shot Dooku, Savage and Ceran back to the far wall. Immediately droids sentries of all kinds began to pour in, mostly battle droids. They began firing directly at Taran, but Taran just smiled. He lifted up his hand and the blaster rounds all came to his hand and seemed to disappear. Taran had absorbed them with the Force.
"Too easy," said Taran. He assumed a bender stance and metal from around the room began to fly. Pieces of metal began to fly from the walls, the floor, and even the binders off Obi-Wan and Anakin. They flew around in a circle around him, deflecting the blasters rounds. They began to spin faster and faster till it was hard for the naked eye to fix on one object for too long. Then with a wave of his hand the metal flew out in all directions. Droids fell by the score as metal sliced into them, cutting many in half or jutting from their bodies. A few were decapitated and others were in pieces.
Savage had his lightsaber on and had sliced through all the ones aimed for him and Ceran did the same, protecting himself and Dooku. Taran looked in their direction and grinned. He launched a large fire stream at them, which Ceran blocked with a fire shield.
"Ring or no ring, I can take you on," said Ceran, drawing his lightsabers.
"How wrong you are," said Taran darkly. He stretched out both his hands as if calling for something. His two lightsabers spun into his hands, igniting the second they made contact with his skin. "Except you alone won't be much of a challenge, how about tattoo boy get in here as well."
Savage growled and activated his double-sided lightsaber. He charged first and swung with all his might. He was taken aback, however, when Taran met it without any difficulty, and with only one of his lightsabers and one-handed. Ceran pressed in as well and a two-one-one battle commenced. Taran's lightsabers were blurs, launching attacks and counterattacks faster than ever before. He was everywhere as he kept Savage and Ceran on the very edges of their defense. The worst part was, Taran showed no signs of exhaustion as if he was never tired in the first place.
"This isn't even remotely hard," said Taran, flipping over the both of them whilst attacking, making them do upper blocks. His lightsabers lashed out again seconds before his feet even touched the ground and both acolytes felt the small slashes on their sides as they both fell to the ground from the pain. Then a huge chunk of metal hurtled at them and slammed them both into the wall, knocking them out.
"Pathetic," said Taran, turning away from them and facing Dooku.
"And just what will I do to you?" he said menacingly as he advanced on the Count. Dooku raised his hands and Force lightning shot towards Taran. Taran crossed his lightsabers together in an X and caught the arcs into the focal point. He yelled and a massive blast of Force energy pushed everyone in the room back, with Dooku sent flying to the hallway.
Ahsoka watched the whole thing with horror. She couldn't believe that this person was the person she loved. This couldn't be him, but something else taking his place. Obi-Wan and Anakin were beside themselves as well. Clearly the ring was an unimaginable weapon that in the wrong hands would make the wearer the most powerful being in the galaxy, maybe even the entire universe.
"Not so smug to see someone you deemed inferior to you finally stronger huh Count?" said Taran as he sheathed one of his lightsabers and lifted up Dooku with the Force and making him flip around in mid-air.
"Put me down Cyneran!" Dooku demanded.
"Last I remember, I was like this with you numerous times and you showed no remorse. We have this ideal on my planet called karma. What goes around comes around, so according to this, what you do to me I do to you," said Taran. His hand made a squeezing motion and soon Dooku began to gasp as he felt as if a hand was closing on his throat. Taran's face showed he was ready to kill and not feel any remorse afterwards. In fact, it looked like he was happy to do this.
Suddenly an arc of lightning slashed Taran's shoulder. His hold on Dooku released as he clutched his shoulder from the burning pain, Dooku falling to the ground panting.
"Who dares.." said Taran before he found himself body slammed by Ceran. Ceran landed on top of him and the two began to wrestle on the ground. Dooku, seeing his chance, made his way out of the room.
"Obi-Wan, what do we do?" said Anakin.
"Get Ahsoka and you two find a ship to get us out of here. I'll stay here and try to help Taran as much as I can," said Obi-Wan.
"It's too dangerous. Taran isn't in his right mind. He might.."
"I know, but I have to try. He's my padawan, I have to help him no matter what," said Obi-Wan. The two shared a look and Anakin went over to Ahsoka's side.
"Ahsoka, we have to go. Obi-Wan's going to stay here to help Taran," said Anakin.
"But Taran.."
"I know. Once we find a ship we'll come back for them," said Anakin as he helped up Ahsoka.
"I can't just leave him like this. I might be the only one who can bring him back," said Ahsoka.
"You're in no condition to do so. We have to go now," said Anakin, glancing over to where Taran and Ceran were fighting and watched as it turned into a bending battle.
"But Master.."
"Snips, please. I feel the same way as you, but I have faith in Obi-Wan. We'll be back soon," said Anakin as he half-supported her. Though she strongly didn't want to, she nodded and the two began to make their way down a different hallway. Anakin nodded towards Obi-Wan as they went and Obi-Wan nodded back before turning his eyes back to Taran.
An air wave from Taran had sent Ceran to the wall again and he slumped to the wall seemingly unconscious. Taran turned and his eyes fixed on Obi-Wan.
"Hello Master," he said in a voice that sent chills up Obi-Wan's spine.
"Taran, we have to go," said Obi-Wan.
"Why? I'm perfectly fine where I am Master," said Taran.
"Taran, please listen to me. You have to see what you are," said Obi-Wan, edging closer to Taran.
"What I am? I know exactly what I am Master. I'm the instrument of life and death itself. I'm the most powerful being in the galaxy," said Taran, quite triumphantly and reveling the title.
"Listen to me Taran! This isn't you," said Obi-Wan.
"Oh but it is me Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's what I've been unknowingly suppressing all these years. I know what I must do now," said Taran as he began to walk away from Obi-Wan.
"Taran, please don't do this," said Obi-Wan. "I forbid it." When those words left his mouth, Taran stopped. He slowly turned his head towards Obi-Wan, annoyance and anger apparent.
"You forbid it? You forbid it? Do you know how many times you've always tried to keep me back? Always never letting me do what I thought best, chained to your side like a pet! I will have no more of this, and if you continue this," said Taran, taking out both his lightsabers, "then I'll have to end you."
Obi-Wan could not believe this. His own padawan was about to attack him. Thinking fast he looked and saw one of Ceran's lightsabers and summoned it into his hands, the yellow blade coming forth when it made contact with his skin.
"Taran, I don't want to do this," said Obi-Wan.
"No choice, Master," said Taran, saying the last part with some spite. He charged in and the blades crashed together.
Anakin and Ahsoka continued down the hallway. They were weaponless and exhausted, with Ahsoka still in pain from the amount of time Sith lightning. Anakin was wondering how they were even going to get out of this. Suddenly, he remembered something and his breath seized in his throat.
"Rex and Cody," he thought. Using his senses he tried to find where they were. For some reason, he couldn't sense them. He could sense Obi-Wan and Anakin's presence and to his horror, they were fighting.
"No," he said silently to himself. They were running out of time. He began to to start running, with Ahsoka trying to keep up as fast as she could, despite the pain shooting throughout her body.
Down a hallway, a droideka spotted them and began rolling towards them.
"Come on Snips," he said as he doubled his speed. She did too, though there were times she had to be be carried a little by Anakin before having to resume. No matter what little pattern they worked out, the droid was gaining. Anakin knew the threat was apparent when he took a quick glimpse and the droid was ten feet away.
The droideka popped out of it's traveling form and into battle mode and fired off a few rounds. They all missed the two running Jedi, thank the Force, and because it had sacrificed the time it took to get into this mode and to fire, they two Jedi had made good ground. It got back into its ball form and continued the chase.
Anakin and Ahsoka ran into random hallways and corridors to throw the droid off them, but the the droid was very resilient, never giving up the chase for a moment. Suddenly, it veered off down another hallway. Anakin thought that for a moment, they had lost it. He and Ahsoka continued to run, Ahsoka finding herself unable to keep up much longer, causing Anakin to slow down.
"Don't worry Ahsoka, we're almost there," said Anakin. Ahsoka nodded and the two continued on their way to find the ship's hangar. They took turn after turn after turn, running into more security droids, but able to get past them and give them the slip, but there were a few close calls. As they continued, Anakin saw a hallway up ahead and what appeared to be starships in a large room.
"We're almost there," he said to Ahsoka. Suddenly they both fell down in pain as a salvo of blast rounds shot off, with one bolt hitting each of their legs. They were downed instantly, unable to even stand up. They looked back to see the same droideka that had been pursuing them. It advanced on them now, blasters ready for the kill.
"Ahsoka, I'm sorry for getting you into this, and I'm sorry for not being the best I could be," said Anakin as he and her realized it was the end.
"You were always the best Master, always," said Ahsoka as the droideka's blasters prepped.
"I'm sorry Taran, and know that I'll always love you," she thought as she closed her eyes for possibly the final time. Shots rang out, but they were not from the droideka. The droid fell down to the ground, shot down by two men holding blasters.
"Rex! Cody!" said Anakin, happy to see the two clones safe and sound.
"Thought we'd find you here," said Rex. "By the way, we got these for you." He and Cody both had Anakin and Ahsoka's lightsabers, giving them to the two of them.
"Thanks, where'd you find these at?" said Ahsoka.
"It's a funny thing really, we saw Commander Taran's lightsabers fly right out of a room we were passing. Speaking of which, what's going on? Where's General Kenobi and Commander Taran at?" said Cody. Anakin reluctantly told them what was happening.
"So then that ring is evil," said Rex.
"We need to go help them," said Cody.
"No, for now we need to find a ship that can get us out of here, then I'll go back for them," said Anakin.
"I sure hope General Kenobi's alright," said Rex.
Obi-Wan was thrown clear across the hall from the massive blast of air that launched from Taran. He hit the wall, hard, slipping down to the floor before he began to rise steadily.
Taran advanced swiftly, his lightsabers coming down just as Obi-Wan blocked up. The two lightsabers clashed with such force that it was a wonder that they didn't shatter from the impact. Taran pressed his lightsaber harder onto Obi-Wan's, making the blades go closer to his face. Obi-Wan strained to keep them away, but he was failing.
Ultimately, Obi-Wan kicked Taran behind his knee to force him down from him. Taran growled and began to press his attacks. Obi-Wan dodged, deflected, and matched blow-for-blow.
"Taran, it's me Obi-Wan. You're my friend," said Obi-Wan as he was forced back by Taran's ferocious blows.
"Shut up! Do you know what it's like to be your own apprentice? How everyday I trained (slash) fought (slash) and nearly got myself (punch) killed to impress you and get your approval!" yelled Taran, his yellow eyes glowing menacingly as he attacked Obi-Wan furiously.
"And what thanks do I get? Nothing but a short recognition. Have you ever told me you were proud of what I did?" he continued, launching a massive stream of fire from a kick that caused Obi-Wan to duck, but caught a part of his sleeve on fire.
"Have you ever told me that how I've surpassed your own expectations of me?" said Taran, shooting Obi-Wan back into the wall with a Force push, dazing the Jedi Master.
"Well then, Master, tell me!" he yelled, attacking Obi-Wan with unrelenting fury. Obi-Wan could barely block his attacks.
"Tell me how proud you are!" A few of chunks of metal detached from the walls and pelted Obi-Wan in the gut and chest.
"Tell me!" he yelled as he weaved inside Obi-Wan's defense and the next thing Obi-Wan knew he was on the ceiling, coughing out the small amount of blood that entered his mouth. He fell to the ground, but hovered in mid-air as Taran held him there with the Force.
"TELL ME!" bellowed Taran as he let Obi-Wan go, slashed his shoulder, and use a Force push so massive that it sent Obi-Wan into a wall forty yards away and dented the wall he crashed into. The Jedi Master slumped to the wall, nearly unconscious. His vision blurred and distorted he managed to lift his head to see Taran advancing on him, anger apparent on his face.
He halted before the Jedi Master, lightsabers in hand. Disarming one and hooking it to his belt, he used his free hand to hold Obi-Wan by the front of his robes and lift him up, his lightsaber poised dangerously close to his Master's neck.
Obi-Wan looked up to his face, sadness clear in his features.
"I'm...sorry," said Obi-Wan. Immediately there was a shocked expression on Taran's face.
"What? What did you say?" said Taran.
"I'm sorry Taran. For anything I might have done to make you this way. I know the ring has brought this out, and I had no idea you were harboring those feelings inside you. I am proud of you, Taran, and I always have been after you've shown yourself time and time again in every situation, and I'm honored to have you as my pa-no, my friend," said Obi-Wan.
Taran's eyes widened at Obi-Wan. His very reason to continue to the dark side was gone. He felt a new feeling welling inside of him, but it wasn't pride nor any other selfish feeling, it was happiness. He felt the dark control of the ring begin to slip, and the good that was inside of him gained new strength. He felt his eye color changing without fully realizing it, he just lowered his lightsaber away from Obi-Wan's neck, letting go of his robes.
"Obi-Wan," he said softly, backing away from him with pure shame and regret for being unable to stop the dark energy that had went into him, "I'm sor-"
A red bar of energy pierced into his side, causing him to yell from the sheer pain of it, and then he felt someone clutch his throat.
"I'll be taking that," said Savage Oppress, grabbing Taran's hand and taking the ring from him, throwing him to the wall as Taran clutched his side from where the lightsaber had pierced it.
Savage put on the ring and immediately, the ring's effects took form. His muscles bulged even more than usual, his horns grew three more inches to the point that they looked like a crown. His eyes turned an even darker shade of yellow than they were.
"Finally, the power I've always wanted!" he yelled as he flexed off his new powers. Taran's head was swimming as he tried to stand, but his wound was way too serious. He laid on the floor breathing heavily.
Obi-Wan steadily got up, taking up the lightsaber Taran had dropped on the ground when he was. When Savage saw the Jedi aster standing up, he laughed.
"You think you can stop me Kenobi? I am much more powerful that you've ever dreamed. What can you do to stop me?" Savage mocked.
"I don't know, but you're not getting out of here with that ring," said Obi-Wan. Savage activated his twin-sided lightsaber and attacked. Obi-Wan made sure that the fight occurred away from Taran to keep him out of harm's way. Normal stabs like that would normally kill people, but Obi-Wan knew Taran wasn't a regular person. He deflected a slash aimed for his head and twisted one end of the lightsaber in the wall using a twisting motion with his lightsaber that not only blocked the blow but redirected it somewhere else. Seizing this chance, Obi-Wan ran down the hallway, Savage in hot pursuit. Soon, they were lost to sight.
Taran steadily managed to get on his feet, using the wall for a lot of support, his right hand clutching his wound as his left loosely held his lightsaber., hoping to catch up with Obi-Wan.
"Must..get..t-to...him," he thought as he fought to stay conscious enough to even move. Black spots kept forming up in his vision, and he could barely breathe. As he rounded the corner that Obi-Wan and Savage disappeared down, he fell to the ground, rasping and completely out of energy. He tried crawling send, only succeeding in getting ten feet before he couldn't move anymore.
As he lay on the ground, he heard the sound of footsteps coming for him, walking leisurely as if they did this all the time.
"You know it's quite sad to see you like this Taran; kind of heart wrenching to watch actually," said Ceran. Taran knew this was the end for him.
"You won't get a clearer shot than this Ceran," he said, his voice ragged and sounding like he was dehydrated. He heard Ceran take something out and he closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.
Suddenly, he felt water around his wound and felt the wound slightly healing. His eyes shot opened and he watched as Ceran used his waterbending to heal his wound for ten seconds before putting the water back into a compartment on his belt.
"I only healed you enough to get you off your feet, don't ask for anymore," said Ceran, walking away. Taran stared in shock at him.
"Ceran, w-"
"Get going hero, your master needs you now, and by the looks of it you don't have a lot of time," said Ceran, still walking away. Taran, still unsure, got up and found that he could stand, though his wound still ached and still made him a bit dizzy.
"Ceran, wait!" he managed to say. To his astonishment, Ceran stopped. He turned around, and for the first time, there was no rage nor anger in his eyes. They were just neutral.
"Why?" said Taran.
"Maybe I'll get lucky and you both ending up dying, or maybe you can kill him. Either way, I get no satisfaction from it. Now go," said Ceran, taking out his lightsaber and pointing in his direction. "Or else I'll make you."
Taran still stood there, thinking this was all a trick or one big hallucination. After standing there for about five seconds as Ceran glowered in his direction, he turned and started to run towards where Obi-Wan and Savage had left. Ceran watched him leave, deactivating his lightsaber as he did so. He stared in his direction for a few more moments before he turned around and began to walk towards the hangar.
"Aw!" yelled Obi-Wan as Savage beat him to the floor. Thier duel had taken them all the way to the ship's engine room. The turbines surrounded the power supply to which the duel had gotten to.
"Still can't keep up, can you Kenobi?" said Savage mockingly, looking down on the defeated Jedi Master. Obi-Wan was bleeding and bruised, and looked like he was about to pass out at any moment. For once, the clever could not bring any words to bear against his stronger foe.
"For my brother," said Savage as he raised his lightsaber to deal the final blow, a fireball slammed into his back, burning it. Savage holwed in pain and turned around to see who it was.
It was Taran, standing ready with his lightsaber. Not giving a second thought, Savage charged at him.