Big thanks to all you people who reviewed. I am really glad you enjoy this story. I must say that the first several chapters are already written, so they will come in quick succession. The following ones however will take much more time to come. This said now back to the story.
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"But what exactly should I do?"
Tarius folded his arms across his chest and looked at Obi-Wan like adults look at a silly child asking the obvious. "Listen to yourself and you'll know what to do."
Shooting him a dubious look Obi-Wan closed his eyes and listened the way he had listened to the Force when he had been a small child finding solitude and serenity in great gardens of the Jedi Temple. Temple Gardens… He had seen what Darkness had done to them, he had seen them turned into ashes, and it was one of those many terrible sights forever imprinted into his soul. Bitterness wove its acrid band into his thoughts, but he firmly pushed it away. The Temple was still standing, he told himself – and he now had a chance to keep it that way.
Knowledge came into his mind effortlessly as though it had been there from the very beginning – if not from the beginning of his life then at least from the beginning of his journey into the Force. He opened his eyes, sweeping the scene before him for the last time from this vantage point of no time, and stepped straight into the body that had once been his. A surge of something beyond recognition flared inside him, not quite painful but the feeling on the verge of it. Time, space and Force swirled around him in a wild dance of nameless colours, obscuring the two opponents on the other side of the ruby haze.
He blinked… and the scene came into motion. Loud hum of generator and clashing of two lightsabers behind the red curtain cascaded into his ears. Tarius was nowhere to be seen, but he was not Obi-Wan's concern right now. The Jedi's eyes travelled to the two combatants in the round room and never left them.
What to do?
He was trapped behind the energy wall – again. The sense of familiarity crashed into him, almost making him scream out of helplessness. He had to get through the red crackling wall. How?
And knowledge surged into him again. So easy! He sought the strength of his second self, the younger one. Entwined it with his own strength. Double power was almost agonizing in its intensity nearly tearing the body that was not used to such might. Gritting his teeth in incredible concentration Obi-Wan gathered the Force around himself, wrapped it like a cocoon and stepped through the laser wall.
Burning sensation spread throughout his body, eating him alive. It felt like walking through a red-hot durasteel wall, but he pushed forward with grim determination, knowing that if he stopped he would die. He could not lose. He would not! He closed his eyes in an attempt to spare them, but the blazing heat easily penetrated the weak protection of human eyelids. And still he moved onward.
It feels like midday on Tatooine, Obi-Wan thought wryly, never stopping the agonizingly slow movement.
Suddenly the heat ended, and he allowed himself one deep cleansing breath. Air felt crisp and slightly stinging to the abused lungs – and incredibly, impossibly sweet. But the moment ended and so did his rest. Opening his eyes Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber – and stepped into the fight. Once again he was to fight the Sith but this time he was more than willing to kill him, unlike Vader…
Out of the corner of his eye Obi-Wan caught Qui-Gon's surprised glance but let it pass for now, concentrating on the forgotten easiness of moves, letting the Force flow though him, guiding him through the intricate pattern of fight.
Swing. Block. Slash. Parry.
Vader's face – mask, he corrected himself – stood before Obi-Wan's eyes. He could not let Vader be, he could not let Qui-Gon die. The young and strong body was moving almost automatically leaping, twisting, wielding lightsaber with grace he regretted losing as an old man.
But as the battle raged on his thoughts took a path of their own. Over the years he had replayed this fight numerous times, trying to imagine how it could be different. Yoda was always reproachful of this habit, but Obi-Wan could no more stop himself from thinking than he was able to stop stars from shining. He now remembered how he wished to be in his Master's place – to die in his stead. Those thoughts never left him up to his own death. How would everything be if he were to die here and not Qui-Gon?
It seemed now he had a chance to see.
Qui-Gon was visibly tired. Abruptly Obi-Wan recollected that the other Jedi was not a young man, far from that, though he looked much better than Obi-Wan at the same age. Without a thought Kenobi shared his own energy with the Master, receiving a faint disapproval and gratitude through the training bond they shared. He smiled briefly at Qui-Gon over the Sith's crimson blade.
The foremost thought returned: he needed to save Qui-Gon. At any cost. Protect him with his own life if need be. But it was dubious even together they would be able to defeat this brood of Darkness. He spared a glance at the maw of the seemingly bottomless pit gaping open behind Maul. Jump at him? Kick him down?
And fall into the melting pit with him?
At any other time he would have been able to Force-push the Sith. But not now. He was drained, on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. Walking though the laser wall had taken more than he could imagine out of him.
Jump at him now? Easy solution. One move, and everything would be over.
"Pain." Obi-Wan remembered Tarius saying. "…It is either you bear the pain… or those around you."
If he were to die who would bear the pain? As though to answer his unspoken question Qui-Gon grunted under the pressure of Maul's rapid attack.
The easiest way was the easiest only for Obi-Wan himself.
"No, Tarius," Kenobi mumbled quietly. "I choose pain not for others."
Reaching deep into the very core of his being, gathering every bit of strength he possessed up to the last ounce, he somersaulted over unsuspecting Maul, cutting the double-bladed lightsaber in two. The enraged Sith threw the useless part off and gripped the remaining stump tighter. Obi-Wan doubled the speed of attack, using all the techniques he had learned during his life – the long life of an old Jedi Master. Somewhere on the periphery of his consciousness he caught Qui-Gon's surprise, but now was not the time for pretending or explanations. He drove the Sith forward viciously, mercilessly.
Maul relented, taking a few steps back, stunned. But his bafflement was short-lived, and he threw out a hand sending a tidal wave of dark Force at Obi-Wan. The Jedi stumbled, losing his concentration and nearly losing his waning strength as well. Scarlet blade swished past him, charring his tunic. Giving him time to recover Qui-Gon rushed to attack the Sith.
Acting in perfect tandem the two Jedi battled Maul, driving him steadily to the edge of the round pit. Avoiding a skillfully executed lock the Dark Lord brought his 'saber around, grazing Obi-Wan's arm. Kenobi hissed in pain and drew back instinctively. Qui-Gon quickly covered the forming opening to shield his lingering apprentice.
Two blades – blue and green – pierced Maul's abdomen at once. Three figures froze again for a split second. The Sith's yellow eyes, full of hatred, widened slightly, a bewildered expression appearing on his face. Simultaneously both Jedi jerked their blades free, and the dark warrior fell back into the melting pit soundlessly.
Strength left Obi-Wan all of a sudden, and he nearly followed Maul down the shaft. Qui-Gon's hand gripped his shoulder, stopping his fall.
"Obi-Wan?"
The concerned voice was like music to Kenobi's ears. He felt hot tears spring to his eyes. It had been so many years…
Obi-Wan Kenobi… Obi-Wan… Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time, Obi-Wan remembered himself telling Luke. Thirty two years… They did not exist now – they existed only in his memory.
"Obi-Wan?"
"I'm fine… Master." He sank to the floor bonelessly as his legs refused to support him.
Qui-Gon lowered himself onto the floor next to Obi-Wan and smiled, "We did it."
"Yes, indeed. He is dead and you… you're alive."
"Of course, I am alive. Why wouldn't I? Or did you see one of your so-called visions again, my young Padawan?"
Obi-Wan jerked at the 'young Padawan'. Involuntarily his hand strayed to the plaited piece of hair behind his right ear and grasped the slightly singed braid tightly. Thirty two years would never come again.
"Obi-Wan? Are you still here?"
"Yes… Perhaps I really saw a dream. A very peculiar dream. And I'm glad it will never come true."
"Obi-Wan, you pay too much attention to things you should not concentrate on. Come on, let's go find out what of the others. I suppose the Queen has already taken care of Viceroy. Can you stand?"
Obi-Wan nodded and stood up – not without Qui-Gon's help.
"We need to show you to the medics," the Master said, looking his counterpart over.
Obi-Wan made a frightened face, and both Jedi laughed. Opening a small auxiliary door Qui-Gon had to stoop in order to fit through it. Obi-Wan paused casting the last glance at the Generator Core room, then followed Qui-Gon.
Master, I could tell you what happened to others right now, but you would not believe me, would you? I could tell you of Anakin blasting the droid control station, of Gungans, of Padme… the queen. But you would only think I have hit my head harder than you assumed.
"Obi-Wan."
"Master?"
"Those techniques you performed during the battle. Where did you learn them? I'm sure I have never taught you those."
Of course, you haven't! "Ah, well, I guess I've seen them somewhere. At the Archives, perhaps."
Qui-Gon arched a graceful eyebrow at him. Obi-Wan pretended to not notice and the Master conceded for the time being. The narrow corridor was not the best place to talk, after all. They proceeded in silence. Qui-Gon was apparently worried about the battles going on outside these walls. Obi-Wan, on contrary, was concerned about only one thing – what the promised pain implied.