The Consequence of Romance
The Consequence of Romance
Author: Dove
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PART 8
"Dread Encounter"

The vile hand of Lord Sidious gripped the crown of the kneeling Jedi's head as if he was the arm rest of his chair. His fingers squeezed into him, his voice liquid evil. Obi-Wan had been led from his cell to this shuttle in the middle of the night, by a close guard of darkly robed soldiers led by Darth Vasal. The Sith Lord had merely tapped the handle of the dormant lightsabre strapped to his side as a warning not to resist.
Only hours had passed since the death of Lady Érmioné. The Jedi had been placed in the holding cell immediately after - where he had waited, in vain, for the Jedi Council to intervene for him to the Supreme Chancellor. He knew then that he was completely isolated. All he could see before him was Érmioné's face in his arms, lifeless - just as Qui-Gon's had been ten years before. Again and again he saw the last moments - how could he have reached her sooner? This time, there was no enemy to condemn - only his own actions which had left her open to danger. From this there was no escape.
"Had I known your seduction would have been so entertaining, young Kenobi, I would have commenced earlier." Sidious brought him back to the present. The Jedi's eyes were closed defiantly as he focused away from his revulsion. Qui-Gon had prepared him well when he was younger to block the whisperings of the Dark Side, which beckoned potential converts from amongst the apprentice Jedi. He would think upon Anakin. Perhaps there was some chance that he still might reach him in time. It was essential that any hope, no matter how remote, must be maintained.
Again the voice spoke. "Fool, do you think I cannot perceive your thoughts? You waste your time if you plan to reunite with your Padawan. I have reached him already."
At this, the Jedi's eyes shot open... don't lose control... it's a deception.
Sidious was quick to respond. "Yes, Kenobi, you are realising the truth. You know how tenuous your hold has been upon the boy lately." His stench was putrid as he breathed behind the ear of his captive.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes once more - he would not succumb to this. Dark phantoms had previously been defeated by him, whether in dreams or in consciousness. The physical touch of Lord Sidious, though, was affecting him deeply as he felt contamination steal through every part of his body. His eyes were jerked open again by Sidious pulling him harshly along the hairline. "You will watch the gift I have prepared for you, Kenobi, and then we will see how you maintain your composure..."
Through fogged eyes, he blinked slowly to focus on the sharpening tele-image before him. "What is it you behold, Kenobi?" Sidious was anticipating with satisfaction the Jedi's reaction. When his focus finally came together, he could not believe the sight before him. Anakin and Amidala were standing together, newly wed, accepting the congratulations of the people. "It is not an illusion, Kenobi..."
He was struggling to get to his feet, but the Dark Lord's hands held him down. "This image is only days old...Do you think differently now?" He was again close behind the Jedi's ear, clutching his face within his hands...As you can see - while you fought to find a way to reach your apprentice - he was, even then, betraying you...He has gone against your wishes and married and is on his way to his new Master in Coruscant. You will never again have influence over him."
No....not possible...despair was eating into his mind. Deep remorse crept over him as he at last acknowledged that Anakin may not reach the eminence foreseen by Qui-Gon. He had given his life in duty to bringing up this young man who had thrown it back at him, making his own path by putting the self first. Lord Sidious was softly laughing as he drew his fingers down the Jedi's hair. He knew exactly the thoughts gaining victory over his new conquest. Sidious would gather both Jedi to his side. It was time for Obi-Wan to let go of trusting that his Master had been correct about Anakin all those years ago. The grief of the realisation swelled over him as his own forgotten dreams now demanded recognition - and visible foremost amongst them was his love for Érmioné.
All he had promised to his Master, all he had sacrificed himself for, it could not be lost - he would not be lost to this creature of evil. There was so little left for him to draw upon but he searched his entire being to stand up, one last time if it must be so.
He broke free from the hands of Sidious, and spun around to confront him.
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Before he had a chance to move further, the Sith Lord reappeared and kicked him sideways to the floor. Darth Vasal stood with his foot upon the Jedi's shoulder - lightsabre aglow in his hands. As Obi-Wan's head rolled back to the floor, Sidious strode up to his opulent seat upon the audience platform.
"If you insist on fighting me, Kenobi, it will be your last choice. Surrender to me now, or I shall let my apprentice take revenge for his compatriot."
"You know my answer to that." His strength was almost gone, but he would never yield.
It was then, to Obi-Wan's astonishment, Sidious threw Qui-Gon's lightsabre down to land near the Jedi's side. Darth Vasal shot a sideways glance to his smirking Master. "You will learn the best way possible, my apprentice..."
Obi-Wan rolled immediately to his feet, lightsabre ready as the Sith responded and dived across the floor, giving himself room to make a charge. The Jedi knew his situation was dire. His body and mind were virtually broken from recent events. He called on his Master's hand to guide him, and lunged forward into battle.
Darth Vasal circled around this attack, and continued to circle at speed, spinning his lightsabre in a dervish movement with the purpose of confusing his opponent. The resulting dizziness made Obi-Wan momentarily unsteady, but he recovered by breaking out of the circle and turned to strike against the Sith - his expertise carrying him through to fight essentially by instinct. In the ensuing deadly yet hypnotic surge across the chamber they engaged in a relentless series of strikes and blocks. Obi-Wan fought as hard as he ever had, but was becoming desperately fatigued - and Darth Vasal saw it. The Sith threw itself forwards over Obi-Wan's head, and turned to strike its fatal blow.
The impact struck the Jedi across the shoulders and back . He had turned just in time to block the assault to his chest. It was enough to knock him forwards and the lightsabre skidded away from his hands across the floor -whereby an amused reaction emanated from Sidious and echoed throughout the chamber. Darth Vasal paced slowly on the spot, maliciously deciding whether or not he would allow the Jedi to reclaim his weapon and continue. Obi-Wan drew on his last remaining resources to focus off the pain shooting through his upper back and summoned the lightsabre into his hands. The Sith was upon him immediately, intending to finish this fight quickly. It was the same mistake shown by Darth Maul back on Naboo - overconfidence. Darth Vasal did not expect him to have anything left and underestimated the strength of the Force within his opponent, the years of experience the Jedi held over him. Facing his final moments, the Force did not allow Obi-Wan to be lost - his destiny was not yet complete. A wave of energy broke through him and he leapt over the Sith and ran him through the back before he could turn. It was the same manoeuvre, in reverse, which had resulted in the death of Qui-Gon.
Sidious leapt to his feet at the demise of another apprentice to this reviled Jedi, and threw open the lock to the floor of the dark chamber. Kenobi and Vasal both spilt out along the smoothly inclined surface, and dropped to the surface of Naboo. The shuttle had been hovering there the entire duration of the encounter with Lord Sidious. He had intended to drop the body of the Jedi to the Naboo as a warning to other Jedi. To his irritation he had to use the hatch instead as a means of protecting himself, without the aid of his apprentice, from the wrath of Kenobi. It was a safety measure he had planned but had not expected to need.
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