So many times before, Obi-Wan had felt the conflicting urge to either be near the stranger who had entered his life, or flee.
He finally listened to the latter- bolting as a primal fear overtook him.
He was so foolish, so foolish for thinking he could take on a sith! The dark being barked out a laugh as faster, longer steps joined Obi-Wan's. He really really should have figured this out before impulsively going after a being who's sole purpose was to kill Jedi. Focus! He didn't have much time, but if he could find one of the sub-level lifts, even an emergency exit, there was a chance-
There! Almost falling, the youngling veered left down an isle of storage units, seeing an adjoined corridor and lifts beyond that. Heart pounding, he pushed himself, the lightsaber swinging wildly in his death grip. I can make it! If I shut the entrance on the way through, that'll give me enough-
Something dark and huge grazed his right shoulder, and he instinctively dived to the side, deactivating the saber in the process. As he fell, he watched as a storage cube three times his size sailed passed, slamming into the access panel with a resounding BANG. With a cry, Obi-Wan scrambled up and started to run again as the entrance moved to shut per emergency protocol. "No no no no-!" He banged against the blaster panels just as they closed. The access plate was destroyed- the wall and vent nearby completely dented in from the force of the container impacting the wall. The destruction of the panel like that will have caused every entrance in the hanger to be locked down- only a Jedi Knight or Master would have the codes. Chest heaving, Kenobi spun around to face his pursuer.
The man was now walking almost leisurely toward his quarry. The hood had flown back earlier, allowing the youngling to see a satisfied smirk playing across roguish features. "Come now, Kenobi." He tilted his head to the side, his cloak swirling around the dangerous red glow. "Where'd all that bravado I admire go to? Aren't you going to fight me?"
Obi-Wan was more of the opinion right then that he was going die. No, he thought wildly. Qui Gon wouldn't give up! A padawan wouldn't give up! What else can be done?! His thoughts spun desperately, feeling overwhelmingly helpless before a brazen plan began falling into place. He recalled the times Bruck Chun had cornered him, had goaded him into fighting. "On the contrary, you've played right into my hand." He berated himself when his voice cracked too much in fear. You can do this, Obi-Wan. You have to.
The man let out another long laugh, the harsh sound cutting through the entombed room. "I cannot believe you!" Amusement danced briefly through his features. "Played into your hand? I think, youngling, that it's you who played into mine."
"If you're assuming that you have me cornered, I would have to disagree." Obi-Wan raised his saber back up and took a ready stance, activating the weak weapon and holding it as steady as he could. The child kept his gaze focused on the enemy, not letting on to his plan.
"Oh really?" The sith raised his saber into the same stance, mocking the boy. "Please, do enlighten me."
Obi-Wan stared at him for a few tense moments, mustering up his courage. This is such a bad idea, this is such a bad idea. "Actually, I'll do quite the opposite." In one fluid motion, Obi-Wan redirected the saber backwards, thrusting it into the light panel behind him while taking in the surprised expression that crossed the intruder's face. Immediately the lights blew out from the destroyed voltage box, and Obi-Wan Kenobi deactivated his saber, sprinting away on almost silent feet as he kept the sight of the dark red light at a distance.
He felt somewhat satisfied as the man began to cuss at his audacity. "You have a terrible habit of being difficult, Obi-Wan."
"So I've been told." He answered flippantly, immediately distancing himself from the location he spoke. Carefully, keeping track of the Sith's location, he pulled out his communicator. Ensuring that it was muted, he reopened the channel for communication, immediately seeing Master Jinn try to reach him. Please hurry, Master Jinn!
Qui Gon and several other knights moved restlessly across the fourth sub-level, still having no success, but the urgency of the situation stronger than ever. Based on Garen's explanation, Obi-Wan had left less than ten minutes ago- and had turned off his communicator only a few minutes earlier. Personally, Qui Gon was beginning to feel rather frustrated with the level of incompetency all these search groups seemed to have. How did a youngling slip past all of them? He of course knew- he had felt the sith himself shielding the boy's force signature from those that would help him. It didn't make him any less affronted that an initiate got the better of an entire temple.
His communiatcor let off a beep telling him a call had been opened. He looked down and immediately stopped, quickly accepting the call. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, where are you? Do not go any further and send your exact-"
"Sorry for leaving you in the dark like this, but I figured you'd be more comfortable."
Qui Gon paused, a frown etching into his features. "What? Initiate Kenobi, I asked for-"
"Oh, I'll adapt fine. But hiding in the darkness like this, isn't that a bit of a sith trait, Kenobi?"
Qui Gon drew in a sharp breath, realizing that Obi-Wan was not in a position to talk right then.
"I'd prefer not to." Obi-Wan's voice echoed off the walls, edged with tension. "But you happened to lock us both in this storage unit, here on the south side, 6G level. I had to improvise."
Qui Gon felt a flair of respect for the youngling. "Clever." He started off, Mace following quickly behind him. "He's trying to lead us to his location. Have the search parties on the nearby floors converge on the 4G southside, we'll utilized the facilities lift there."
There was a moment of static before the sith's voice played over the communicator, more distant. "What are you playing at?"
"I could ask you that- a sith stalking around a Jedi temple."
Qui Gon felt a hand on his shoulder and turned towards Mace. "A reading just came in from one of the temple droids that a detected power surge happened in the fourth storage wing of that floor." A grim smile etched onto the stoick master's face. "We got him."
As one the two rushed to meet the other grim masters, Qui-Gon keeping the communicator on so they could continue to listen in. "If that initiate can get out of this safely, I'm of half a mind to congratulate him on such a sneaky tactic." Jinn murmured in appreciation. "Kenobi is by far the most polite troublemaker I think this temple has ever seen."
"And you wonder why we pushed him towards you." Windu retorted.
Obi-Wan tried to stay calm. The blinking on his communicator indicated that at the very least, Qui Gon was listening on the other end. Even if he was clear across the temple, surely he would raise the alarm? Alert those close by to come and find them? All Kenobi had to do now was buy time. Just like all those fights with Bruck- if he didn't goad too much, the teacher would eventually find them and put an end to it.
Oh yes, such a similar situation. He thought half-hysterically, watching from the shadows as a red saber slowly moved about the room, avoiding it's red haze. He could see the outline of the Sith, how relaxed the profile was, how his eyes seemed to glow in the light. If anything looked like a predator, it was this being.
And Kenobi was the prey.
Quietly, he took a calming breath, centering himself. He's made a mess of things, but if there was ever a time to get answers, it was now. "Why," he called, watching the saber stall in it's movement. "why did you go through the trouble of deceiving me? Of breaking into the temple?"
He skirted around a series of containers as the blade-and it's owner- grew closer. He continued to move away, even as the Sith responded. "I'm curious to know what you think, youngling."
Obi-Wan's heart pounded. Ever since the lights had gone initially out, the man had been eerily calm. It only made his fear grow more. Stall until they get here, help is coming. "I think…" He eyed the saber as it stayed in place, waiting. He thought back to the nightmares, the visions. "I think you want the end of the Jedi."
"A vague truth- what sith wouldn't? Do you know what I think, Obi-Wan?" He watched as the man turned, facing him dead on even as the child hid in the dark. "I think you've been held back long enough. These Jedi can't even see your potential- they've left you without a master, destined to rot away on some farming planet." He held the saber up slightly higher, the light washing across his handsome features. "You've been chosen, Obi-Wan. But the ideals of this dying order are holding you back, and I intend to fix that." With a smile, he deactivated his saber.
Now left in the complete dark, Obi-Wan felt panic wash over him anew. Sithspit! Depending solely on the force, he maneuvered back towards the door that had been locked, changing directions when he heard containers fall, or soft steps on the ground. He was doing his best to trust in the force, but fear was steadily clouding his judgement. He backed away a few more steps, taking quiet, shuttering breaths. Nothing warned him when he heard the activation of a saber, nor watched the red light bathe the world behind him. Whirling, he froze at the sight of the sith, mere feet from him, his grin twisted by the shadows.
"Found you."
Obi-Wan activated his saber and swung wildly at the Sith, yelling out in fear. The Sith parlayed his attack easily, accepting the increasing blows the boy threw at him with that same eerie, predatory calm. Master Jinn! Master Jinn where are you?! He panted, heaving himself at his enemy with the gut certainty if he slowed, the Sith would end him.
Help would not arrive in time.
"You're so afraid…" The Sith murmured to himself, eyes flashing in the red and blue light. "You should be." In a burst of movement, he began his own pressing against Obi-Wan's attacks. "It's alright, Kenobi. Give in to your fear, let it make you stronger, use it." The Sith's swings continued relentlessly, and the youngling had a sickening realization that his initial strikes had been pointless- because even now the Sith was clearly toying with him. Gasping, he watched as the dark being flicked his wrist in a particularly graceful cut, and seared Garen's practice saber in two.
Kenobi flung the smelting metal away on instinct, quickly backing away from the lightsaber that now threatened to do the same to him.
"Surrender to me." The man's expression became imperceptibly softer, and that murky feeling of give in began to invade the initiate's senses again. "I don't want to fight you, Obi-Wan. I've moved galaxies to find you again. To have you return to my side."
"No!" Kenobi pushed at the desire to listen, to be calm when everything around him thrummed in fear. He stepped back from the enemy's steady approach, belatedly realizing he was almost against the blaster door. As his eyes returned to the threat before him, he saw the smashed remains of the vent to the side. "I saw the visions of what you'll do! I saw the bodies! You killed everyone…" His words seemed to bring the Sith up short, his eyes widened, and a phantom feeling so vulnerable passed through the boy that he had to quickly blink away tears. "I won't let you hurt my family."
He had one last chance.
With a shout, he did his best to gather the force to him once more, pushing it out and away, towards the Sith. The man, still shocked by his earlier words, felt the blast full on and was sent sprawling into the storage crates, several above teetering dangerously before plunging down.
Obi-Wan saw nothing more, hurriedly using the last of the saber's light to rush towards vent. He felt his communicator unhinge as he barely squeezed through but couldn't turn back for it. He set off blindly fumbling for any entrance in hopes it could be opened, but too afraid to stay still for long. A roar of fury echoed behind him, and he moved with renewed fear. Crawling blindly, he didn't realize until it was too late that there was no floor ahead of him, and with a cry fell further into the belly of the temple.
It's not a lot, but it's something. More on the way; and we have about three chapters left before 'part 2'.
My question to you is: would you prefer it to be one huge fic, or should I separate it into an additional fic that continues Thicker Than Blood?
