AN: Hey, remember that bit in Star Wars Rebels when Ahsoka connected with Vader, felt the power of the Dark Side, and went screaming in pain into unconsciousness? I remember that. And I take that shit seriously.
Chapter 7: Duel of the Fates
In hindsight, while this was the best plan, it was still a bad plan. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon crouched behind a sleek Naboo fighter with Padmé and her guards, the Jedi effortlessly deflecting blaster bolts form a seemingly endless army of battle droids. The droids were simple to dispatch of, but their numbers were becoming a problem. Kenobi deactivated his lightsaber, peeked out over the ship and extended his hand, willing the Force to push through the next battalion of mechanical soldiers coming through the hanger bay. The droids went sprawling, which gave the infiltration team a moment to regroup.
"This is not going well," Obi-Wan huffed, falling back against the ship next to his Master. He felt dizzy. Despite his attempts to connect with the Force, the chill through it distracted him, dividing his attention and leaving him unbalanced. Worse, his Master felt his disturbance.
"Focus, Obi-Wan, we cannot falter now."
"I'm trying, Master, but I-"
"I know, Obi-Wan." The Master closed his eyes, drew from the force and pushed one of the star fighters into the hanger bay door, the new blockage keeping out the recovering droids. "We need to get the Queen to the palace. Did you memorize the plans as I asked?"
The Padawan nodded, closing his eyes and breathing deep, then popping his head up over the ship and observing the hangar. "Master, the bay doors will lead to a secondary hangar, which will branch off into various maintenance areas. But that door over there leads to a service elevator that will lead to the palace."
Qui-Gon deactivated his saber as well. "Is it safe?"
"Safer than fighting through another hangar, certainly. The path is small, and it's unlikely to be patrolled by large forces. We might have a chance to sneak past the sentries that way and take the Viceroy by surprise." Qui-Gon's eyes drifted to a Naboo fighter on the far side of the hanger, his face filled with worry. "Master." The Jedi's eyes snapped back to his Padawan. "Anakin will be fine. If we are gone, the battle droids will have no cause to be here."
That was enough for the Master. With a nod, he and Obi-Wan vaulted over the ship and ran across the hanger, Padmé and her guards in tow. They were nearly halfway to the access doors when Kenobi stopped in his tracks and dropped to the ground, clutching his chest and gasping for air. Qui-Gon skidded to a halt and ran back to his Padawan, kneeling beside him and placing a hand on his shoulder. The other combatants stopped as well, keeping behind the Jedi.
"Master..."
"Hush, Obi-Wan."
"He's here." Qui-Gon's eyes shot up and looked at the ship that was previously blocking the hangar door and watched as it was lifted into the air and torn to pieces. The destroyed ship was thrown at the Jedi, but the Master reached out with the Force and caught them, redirected the rubble away from them and stood to face his enemy.
He stood in the hangar door, making it clear that none would pass him. The cloaked and hooded figure that Qui-Gon had faced in the desert stood before him now, but this time he was without the heavy black robes of before, revealing a thin, strong, athletic body. On Tatooine, his face was a picture of calm rage, but here, now, the red face was contorted in fury that could barley be contained. In his presence, Qui-Gon could feel the cold fury through the Force, and he quickly put up his defenses, steeled his mind for the fight ahead. He held a hand out to his apprentice, and Obi-Wan grasped his hand tightly, rising to his feet.
"Are you alright?" the Master asked as he shed his dark brown robe, and smiled softly as his Padawan did the same.
"Fine now, yes."
"Focus, Obi-Wan. We must be balanced if we are to win." The younger man nodded, resolute. "Your Highness, when we're out you go through those door, as planned."
Padmé nodded, looking between the two Jedi, and finally laying her hand upon Obi-Wan's arm. "Don't die," she whispered, and the Padawan just smiled sadly, advancing forward a few steps with his Master to stand between the Sith and the Queen.
The yellow eyes of the Sith Lord burned with the fires of the Dark Side, and as the Jedi advanced, a cruel smirk crossed his face. An old man and a man much too young stood before him, and the horned creature knew he could win. He extended his hand, his lightsaber clutched tightly in it and ignited the weapon, the blade extending long and crimson from one end, and then the ignition hissed a second time, a second blade extending from the other end. He laughed wickedly when both Jedi stopped in their tracks.
The Master was the first to draw his weapon, the green blade humming to life. "Do not be intimidated, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said softly, slowly stepping forward. "Don't let this beast shake your resolve."
"Yes, Master," Kenobi said softly, taking his own lightsaber in his hand and igniting it, blue blade blazing to life.
"May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan."
"And also with you, Master."
The two Jedi stepped forward to engage their foe. Qui-Gon lunged forward, and the Sith effortlessly parried his strike, giving Obi-Wan a split second to flip over the two combatants and flank the horned man, but he was ready for it, the other side of the double-bladed weapon blocking the Padawan's strike.
The dark warrior retreated into the second hangar, the two Jedi in pursuit and launching a vicious offensive against the Sith, but it was not enough. The tattooed creature was clearly trained for this purpose, and now that he stood facing not one, but two Jedi, he smiled wickedly as they fought, the blazing yellow eyes quickly observing and analyzing their every move. No strike was landing on the skilled foe, no parry or counterstrike could get past his incredible defenses.
Obi-Wan could see that they were seriously outmatched. Maybe if he had been at his very best, they might have had a chance, but more likely than not, it would only have made the battle last slightly longer. He was unbalanced in the Force, and he could not refocus, the combination of the creeping chill and his first very real, very lethal battle setting his heart racing and dividing his focus. At this rate, he would be the reason they lost this fight. His blue eyes narrowed as he swung down at his opponent, opening up to the Force so that he and Qui-Gon could launch a coordinated attack.
Those yellow eyes quickly flashed to Obi-Wan, and the Padawan suddenly found the adversary's black boot kicked into his chest, sending the apprentice flying back and leaving the Master to engage the foe alone. Kenobi grabbed his lightsaber as he jumped back to his feet and ran back in to the fight; it was as if the Sith had sensed his intentions, which, in all likelihood, was exactly what happened. The Sith continued to retreat, fighting his way across this hangar and toward a large, sealed door, which opened swiftly with a wave of his gloved hand, and the three fighters entered a power station, filled with generators and catwalks that extended far above and far below them.
His Master pressed hard, no doubt sensing the power of the Sith Lord and wanting to end the battle early, but it was clear that would not be happening. The battle had raged for some time and their opponent had left no opening at all, despite the relentless attack, and the horned man seemed to just be getting started. The narrow catwalks gave the Sith an advantage, and he pressed the attack, driving the Jedi further into the power station. Qui-Gon attempted to get around him so that he and the Padawan could flank the double-bladed menace, but the creature was having none of it, and managed to get Qui-Gon off his feet. Obi-Wan was there to defend his Master, keeping his blade close and defensive against the savage strikes as he covered Qui-Gon's recovery.
The power station echoed with the sound of clashing lightsabers, the lights flashing as the blades clashed and sparked, and Kenobi began to understand that they weren't going to survive this. He was far inferior to his Master, and he didn't want to think of how much better the Sith was. The wicked man was actively trying to separate them now, focusing on one while the other recovered and then quickly dividing them again. He had a plan, and while it wasn't a good one, it was the best he had. If he was going to die, it would be giving Qui-Gon the opening he needed to slay the beast.
Grasping his lightsaber tightly, he aggressively lunged at the Sith Lord, but the attack was anticipated and the creature ducked under the blade, planted a free hand on the ground and kicked up at Kenobi, catching the Padawan under the chin and sending him flying over the edge of the rail.
Obi-Wan fell past the lower catwalk, still recovering from the blow, but he managed to grab hold of the one below that one, pulling himself up with a grunt. Breathing heavily, he looked up at the catwalk above him, and saw the Sith Lord fall down on it. Not landing on it gracefully, falling on it hard. Kenobi smirked as he saw his Master land on the platform next to the dark creature, swinging down with his green saber and just missing as the fallen man rolled away. He had provided his Master with an opening, just as he wanted. He could do it again. Thrusting his hand out, he called his lightsaber into his hand and ran to a circular platform where he could jump up to the next level and join the battle again. He made one opening, he could make another.
Using the Force to augment him, he jumped up onto the catwalk above him in time to see his Master and the Sith retreating down a long corridor, lightsabers flashing as green and red struck fast and hard. He took a deep breath and ran after them as fast as his legs could carry him. Qui-Gon looked worn and tired, but the Sith was on the defensive at last, and the Master did not wish to waste the opportunity, relentlessly attacking the retreating man.
"Qui-Gon! Qui-Gon, wait!" Obi-Wan called after him, running as fast as he could, but it wasn't enough, and the Jedi Master did not slow. The young Jedi had to come to a screeching halt as red energy walls suddenly turned on, segmenting the corridor and preventing him from moving on. With an outraged cry, Obi-Wan began to pace, looking through to see his Master, and he sighted in relief. The wall was separating the Sith from the Jedi Master as well. He watched Qui-Gon kneel, the Sith Lord pace, and Obi-Wan could do nothing. He was unbalanced still, the Force betraying him in it's chill and he was shaking with adrenaline and anticipation.
The energy walls switched off, and Obi-Wan bolted forward, watching with intense focus as the Sith and Qui-Gon resumed their fight, both parties re-energized from the brief break in the fighting, but it would be over soon. Kenobi could feel it. He just needed to give his Master one more opening and-
The energy walls reactivated right before Obi-Wan could pass the last one, and he screamed in rage, activating his lightsaber and striking the red energy, the plasma blade repelling off the wall in a shower of sparks. They were right there and he could do nothing, mere feet from the fight and unable to help. As he watched, it was clear that they were no closer to victory than they were at the beginning of the fight. Worse, they were closer to losing. Obi-Wan knew he could not defeat the Sith, and Qui-Gon was looking weary, his relentless attack slowing into a more defensive posture.
He was trembling, tapping into the Force despite his unbalance, and was flooded with cold, making the hairs on his neck stand straight up. He couldn't help but reflect on the past few days and the whole mess that started this, the chill with him the whole time. It was too much to take, all the frustration, all the emotional turmoil that he couldn't help but feeling, the betrayal and confusion sending him careening off-balance.
The cold spiked, and in an instant, Obi-Wan's head cleared as he watched the Sith Lord fight. All his doubts cleared, all conflict gone in a flash and replaced by a maddening, blinding rage. All the emotions he had been trying to repress had broken through his defenses, and his blue eyes focused in on the Sith Lord, and nothing else mattered. He wanted that malicious creature dead.
The chill of the Force, so disconcerting before, suddenly felt comforting, a sharp contrast to the blazing fury that he felt within himself, and Kenobi suddenly recognized that while he had been sensing the Dark Side, the freeze in the Force, this cold was coming from deep within himself. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and let the darkness in.
The Sith blocked a downward strike from Qui-Gon, sending the Master off-balance, and those yellow eyes snapped to the apprentice behind the barrier when the Force itself trembled. He stabbed backwards at the Jedi Master and felt the saber pierce through the older man's body, but it had missed the critical strike, the blade cutting through his right side instead of fatal dead center. Qui-Gon went ridged with pain, and dropped to his knees when the Sith removed the blade to pace away and come before the Padawan, his focus changing as his interest peaked, predatory and dangerous. Yellow eyes observed the young Jedi with cruel curiosity, his attention diverted from finishing the Master off when the Sith felt the Dark Side surge around the younger man.
Obi-Wan watched his Master fall, trembling hands clutching the burning hole in his side, his lightsaber on the ground next to him. Sharp blue eyes snapped to the Sith Lord, and they did not leave his smirking, cruel features for a second. The fury built within him, and for the first time in a week, Obi-Wan felt balanced, the Force once again his ally, even though his heart was filled with darkness. His focus was singular; nothing else mattered but the death of this creature.
The Sith Lord felt the Dark Side surge, and he let out a deep, malicious laugh. He paced slowly before the Padawan, ignoring the pained groans of the Master behind him and reveling in the rage of the trapped boy.
The energy wall deactivated, and Kenobi was set loose.
The Sith Lord was unprepared for the fury of the attack as the Padawan's speed and power increased tenfold from what it was before. His lightsaber was blindingly fast, a blue blur that arched and spun and rained down blow after heavy blow on the twin sabers, and the horned man could do nothing but stagger back and defend himself, the young Jedi leaving no opening for attack. The Sith growled, finally regaining his focus and bringing his crimson blade down at blinding pace, only to be deftly blocked by the Jedi, the blue blade suddenly twisting and slicing up in a wicked slash that nearly struck the Sith Lord's face, connecting with the long handle of his red lightsaber instead and severing it in two, one end flickering uselessly before it shut off.
With a snarl, the horned man tossed the broken end to the side, grasping his now single blade in both hands as new fury raged through him. He rushed at Kenobi, but he was not fast enough, the Padawan ducking behind him and launching a new attack, his blue eyes never leaving the face of the Sith Lord and filled with silent, burning rage. They struggled against each other for a moment, both men on the offensive as reckless, killing blows met and were deflected away, only for the attacks to begin a new.
For a moment, the battle raged, the intensity shaking the Force as the Dark Side fueled both combatants, their quick, reckless footwork narrowly avoiding the open pit in the center of the room. While the Sith Lord was trained in the dark arts, the sudden and intense fury the Jedi Padawan was feeling was giving him an edge, blazing blade cutting lethal arcs in the air as he began blasting the Sith with the Force, the sheer intensity of it pushing the dark figure back and dangerously close to the pit.
The Sith howled furiously, the Jedi rushing him swiftly, and the red blade arched toward the Padawan's head. Obi-Wan planted his foot right in front of the Sith, stopping suddenly and ducking under the red blade, catching his own saber in a backhanded grip as he spun, lashing out with the blue blade.
Obi-Wan's piercing blue eyes locked with the Sith's yellow and watched as they went wide, shocked, as the Jedi's lightsaber bit through his body at the waist. He didn't look away for a moment, focus intense as the red saber dropped to the ground with a clang, and the dark robed figure fell back into the chasm, his body bisecting as it fell.
His hard, labored breathing quickly slowed to a shaking, shuddering pant, the rush of the Force silencing in his ears as Obi-Wan fell to the ground, dropping his lightsaber and shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't move for some time, his entire body numb from effort, his lungs burning with each breath. With a whimper, he managed to crawl to where his Master lay, collapsing right next to the man and, shaking, took his hand. Eyes closed, he reached into the Force and felt for Qui-Gon, found him in pain, badly wounded, but alive. Kenobi managed to smile through the weariness and the pain.
"Qui-Gon."
The Master trembled, breath hitching as his hand gripped Obi-Wan's tightly. "I-I'm sorry..."
"Shh..." The Padawan scooted closer, laying his hand over the wound in his Master's side, feeling the Force flow through him and to the injured Jedi. "It's over." He felt the Master shudder, laying his hand over Kenobi's, and neither Jedi could find the strength to move.
