Blaze: this is the last chapter and the next chapter is the Epilogue
Darth: wow, this is a short story
Blaze: yup
Tigerstar: way shorter than Shadows of Alontia
Blaze: once again, yup
Tigerstar: so this is the last chapter?
Blaze: well technically the next chapter is
Tigerstar: so Anakin is…
Blaze: (ignites lightsaber)
Tigerstar: (swallows, runs off, trips over Blondie and goes rolling into a pool of chocolate)
Blondie: ow!
Blaze: sorry about that, here's chapter seven and I hope that you like it
Seven
Anakin knew something was up but he just couldn't figure out what it was as he attempted to avoid Nylan who was scowling angrily at him. Though Anakin was weaponless, he still had the agility to keep himself moving and way from the blaster that had knocked Vrylt unconscious.
To say the least, his plan backfired on him, he honestly hadn't expected Nylan to be waiting for him to try and escape. Anakin narrowed his eyes before dodging out of the way to avoid a stun bolt that was sent ricocheting off of the walls of the stone building. He now knew that he was in a headquarters of some sort but he honestly didn't know where he was.
"Who exactly are you?" Anakin asked dodging out of the way before flipping backwards to avoid two stun bolts sent at him.
"That is none of your business, stay still and I will not harm you," Nylan snapped.
"I'm going to just sit aside and watch you murder my master," Anakin snapped not realizing he had said 'my master' instead of 'Obi-Wan' and he felt as if he truly meant what he said when he did realize it. Obi-Wan was his master, even if he didn't want him, and Anakin couldn't just stand by and watch his master get murdered.
Nylan snarled in fury. "He doesn't want you," he snapped. "He only did it because he had to. That's right," he added in response to the shocked look in Anakin's eyes, "I know all about that. I know that Kenobi was only honoring his master's last wishes, Sidious told me everything."
How the Force did this Sidious know all this? Anakin wondered silently and Nylan's words distracted him just enough and a stun bolt caught Anakin in the side and sent him skidding to lie beside Vrylt.
"Sleemo," he snapped though he couldn't raise his head. The stun bolt only paralyzed him temporarily and Anakin had to hope that Obi-Wan decided not to ignore Anakin's warning and stay away from this place
Unfortunately, that wasn't true for a lightsaber suddenly ignited behind Nylan and he whirled around in time to see Obi-Wan walking calmly into the headquarters, his gray-blue eyes were narrowed and his posture suggested that he was ready for battle.
"How the kriff did you get passed the guards?" Nylan snarled.
A small smile crossed Obi-Wan's facial features. "They were easily persuade to stay out of my way," he said. "Now then, I came for Prince Vrylt and my Padawan so if you will kindly hand them over, I'll leave in peace."
Nylan snarled. "You will do no such thing," he said angrily before pressing a button on his wrist and the sound of rolling came to Anakin. He glanced up, his eyes widening in shock when he saw the destroyer droids, droidekas, roll into the room.
"Master, destroyers!" he called hoarsely and Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes as he examined the droidekas that were rolling into the room.
"So this is how you plan to kill me?" he asked and Anakin felt satisfaction rise up inside him at the shocked look on Nylan's face. The moment of distraction was just enough and Obi-Wan flipped forward, his blue lightsaber flashing rapidly as he attacked the droidekas before they had a chance to unroll and activate their shields.
Nylan's eyes flared with anger as he glared at Anakin who, with the stun wearing off, was starting to sit up. "You!" he hissed angrily. "You warned him!"
"No, he just happened to know what was going to happen," Anakin retorted his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Anakin, stop antagonizing Nylan," Vrylt moaned as he stirred, blinked open his eyes and sat up slowly, his hand resting on his head.
"Couldn't help it," Anakin replied with a shrug. He smiled gently at Vrylt. "Sorry I got you into that mess."
Vrylt smiled back. "It was my idea to try and take back our weapons while you distracted Nylan so I guess this is partially my fault," he said.
Anakin smiled before glancing at Obi-Wan who had managed to destroy the last of the droids and was now facing Nylan, his eyes narrowed. "I'll ask once again, Nylan, what do you plan to gain from this? If you do manage to kill me, you will have to face the entire Jedi Order who will be seeking to bring you to justice," he said.
"Master, I think that's why they brought Vrylt," Anakin called. "They plan to blame the Alzarians for your death and my capture and then lie their way out of the mess by saying they tried to stop the attack but weren't able to do so."
"What?" Vrylt exclaimed. "The Alzarians have always been friendly toward the Republic and the Jedi Order, we would never do such a thing."
Nylan snarled. "It would have worked perfectly if you hadn't warned your precious master," he hissed glaring at Anakin. "You still did this even though your master never wanted you? You warned the master that doesn't even care about you? Wouldn't you be glad to see the master that never wanted you to be killed?"
Obi-Wan had flinched at those two jibes but Anakin held Nylan's gaze definitely. "I admit that I am pretty upset that my master doesn't care about me or want me but he is my fellow Jedi and it is only for the Jedi Order that I stick up for him now," he said.
He was surprised when he felt pride come at him from Obi-Wan but he pushed it away as he continued to hold Nylan's gaze. Vrylt had disappeared from his side and was slowly making his way over to where Anakin's lightsaber was lying. Anakin had given Vrylt the signal to start moving when he started speaking and Vrylt seemed to be wasting no time.
"Very well then, I know I will not get my payment but you two are starting to annoy me," Nylan sneered before he let loose a series of blaster bolts toward Anakin who squeezed his eyes shut and prepare himself for the pain…that never came.
Anakin's eyes shot wide with shock when he heard the hum of a lightsaber and saw his master's blue blade in front of him, easily deflecting the three shots that had been aimed at him. He stared at his master in shock but Obi-Wan's eyes were locked on Nylan as the kidnapper snarled before letting loose another series of blaster bolts.
At that instant, Vrylt managed to grab Anakin's lightsaber. "Anakin!" he shouted before tossing the lightsaber into the air and Anakin stretched out with the Force before pulling the lightsaber to him. He ignited the brilliant blue blade before leaping forward as Nylan, sneering in fury, sent a series of blaster bolts at Vrylt.
Anakin easily deflected them as he remembered the training sessions he had with Master Yoda back at the Jedi Temple. Nylan managed to push another button on his remote before muttering something Anakin couldn't understand into the comlink and four more people, dressed similar to Nylan, emerged from nearby rooms and doorways, each of them had blasters in their hands.
"You are outnumbered, you will not be able to escape from this," Nylan snarled in fury and the room instantly exploded with a volley of blaster fire.
~*~
Obi-Wan had to take a deep breath to calm himself as blaster bolts upon blaster bolts flew at him. He deflected them swiftly as he and Anakin slowly backed up, keeping Vrylt in between them. Vrylt had managed to get his hands on a blaster and was releasing blaster bolts toward anyone that he could see.
Obi-Wan admired Vrylt's courage and he felt pride go through him at Anakin's rapid movements to keep the blaster bolts from getting past them and hitting Vrylt. He will become a great Jedi Knight someday, Obi-Wan thought as he continued to block bolt after bolt after bolt as they flew rapidly at him.
Unfortunately, one blaster bolt got past Obi-Wan's lightsaber and sank deep into his shoulder, a small cry of pain tore from Obi-Wan's lips and his lightsaber fell out of his grip, deactivating before it hit the ground. At a quick warning from the Alzarian Prince, Obi-Wan dropped to the ground and Vrylt instantly fired on the person that had fired at Obi-Wan, catching him right in the chest and sending him flying backwards.
Nylan chuckled sinisterly. "You are weaponless, Obi-Wan," he said and Obi-Wan whirled around in time to see Nylan with his blaster pointing to Anakin's head. Vrylt had his blaster trained on Nylan but with Anakin in the way, Obi-Wan knew he couldn't take the shot.
Obi-Wan gazed around and noticed one of the three remaining people had grabbed his lightsaber and was holding it tightly. He also realized that the woman who had grabbed his lightsaber was Siri. Siri nodded once before melting into the shadows and Obi-Wan smiled slightly, knowing what Siri was trying to tell him.
"Release the boy and you win," Obi-Wan said turning his gaze to Nylan.
"Master no," Anakin protested struggling in Nylan's grip.
Nylan chuckled. "You're giving your life for this pathetic boy, you are more of a fool than I originally thought," he said coolly.
"I did not say I would give my life," Obi-Wan said. "All I am saying is you are right, I am weaponless and I'm sure you would like to take the shot yourself instead of having your imbecile lackeys doing it." He made a mental note to apologize to Siri for calling her an imbecile lackey.
Nylan smiled coolly. "I kill you, I take the boy to my payer, I get paid my due, sounds reasonable," he said before he pushed the boy away and fixed his blaster on Obi-Wan.
Get Prince Vrylt out of here, Obi-Wan called silently to Anakin, his hand grasping Siri's lightsaber that he had hidden up the sleeve of his cloak.
I'm not leaving to let you get killed, Anakin protested silently.
Then tell Vrylt to get out of here, Ani, and get ready to defend yourself, I'll be fine, Obi-Wan replied silently. He could sense that Anakin was torn but he nodded once before murmuring something to Vrylt who protested before scowling and nodding when Anakin said something else. While Nylan's attention was on Obi-Wan, Vrylt sneaked past him, slammed the blaster against the head of one of the lackeys and hurried out of the room. The other two didn't even notice and Obi-Wan had a feeling Siri had something to do with that.
Nylan smirked. "Any last words to your precious Padawan?" he asked.
"Only this, Anakin, now!" he shouted and Anakin nodded before igniting his lightsaber and leaping at Nylan's last lackey. When Nylan snarled in fury and released the blaster bolt at Obi-Wan, he instantly ignited Siri's purple lightsaber and easily deflected the blow, sending it ricocheting off of the floor and down a nearby hallway.,
"What the…?" Nylan exclaimed but kept shooting, blaster bolts upon blaster bolts flying at Obi-Wan who instantly deflected them even with the pain in his shoulder. Anakin had knocked the last lackey unconscious and Siri had disappeared down a nearby hallway. Anakin flipped over Nylan before pointing his lightsaber to Nylan's throat and Obi-Wan did the same.
"You…you tricked me!" Nylan exclaimed.
"No, I merely stretched the truth," Obi-Wan replied calmly. "Now then, Anakin, Prince Vrylt and I are leaving. If you do not attempt to stop us, we will let you go."
Shock glittered in Nylan's eyes and even Anakin glanced at him in shock. "What?" Nylan said.
"I said, if you let us go without trying to kill us, I will not tell the Republic, and the Jedi Order, of your location," Obi-Wan replied calmly. The main reason he was doing this was because he knew it was Siri's mission to find out the next location of Nylan's headquarters and he wasn't going to jeopardize his friendship with Siri by solving her mission for her.
Nylan snarled but nodded once. "Fine, I agree," he said.
"Your blaster?"
Nylan glared at Obi-Wan before placing the blaster in Obi-Wan's hand. Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber before nodding to Anakin to do the same. Anakin hesitated but did as he was told and Nylan glared once again at Obi-Wan before he turned around and ran as fast as he could down the hallway Siri had taken.
"Why did you let him go?" Anakin asked, his voice was subdued with the sadness that he felt ever since Obi-Wan told him that he never wanted him as his Padawan and Obi-Wan felt a pang at that. He was going to have to talk with his Padawan but now was not the time.
Obi-Wan smiled. "A Jedi does not take a life unless he absolutely needs to," he replied. "Come, let's get going and bring Prince Vrylt back to his father."
"Okay," Anakin murmured before leading the way out of the stone building. Obi-Wan walked at the rear of the group, struggling to gather his thoughts and he thought about what Siri had told him.
Anakin doesn't understand that you had to come to terms with your new position, it was as if you were walking through a maze of darkness, the darkness being your grief at your master's death and the maze being the twists and turns you've been facing as you try to come to terms with being Anakin's master, she had said and Obi-Wan knew now that she was right and he also knew that he had overcome the maze, he had found his way out of the darkness that was his own grief and he escaped the maze that was the twists he's been facing and overcoming.
Siri was right, Obi-Wan had to travel through a maze of darkness in order to come to terms with being Anakin's master and now he had done that and he had to hope he'll be able to train Anakin to the best of his ability, just as Qui-Gon had done with him.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: next is the epilogue and it takes place a day later
Darth: that's cool
Blaze: yeah
Darth: is this a short author's note?
Blaze: yup cause I don't feel good
Tigerstar: what's the matter?
Blaze: I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT! (Pulls out chain saw and saws Palpypie in half)
Hades: stop doing that!
Blaze: please review and I'll post the Epilogue as soon as I possibly can
