Title: Malastare4
Author: Luna
Date: 5-21-00
Reviews: YES! Please! I need to know how I am doing! Tell me!
General disclaimer: see 1,2,&3….
***
Obi-Wan Kenobi sat at the table, his chin resting in his hand. It was late, and Anakin had long since gone to sleep. He got up and peered into the room his padawan occupied. The boy was curled up on a bed, obviously in a deep slumber. He looked peaceful, and so much younger than he really was. Obi-Wan gazed at him, his apprentice, his responsibility. Now he knew how Qui-Gon must have felt. A master's duty was not a light one. But he had come to accept it, welcome it even. Being a master was like being a father, and a teacher all at once. Love and discipline meshed together into one large complicated knot. At moments, Obi-Wan would want to indulge Anakin, let him be a boy, let him enjoy the little things so delightful to a child, but he knew that indulgence was dangerous, and would not prepare him for the hard life of a Jedi. He wanted nothing more than to see Anakin succeed; he feared nothing more than failure. Not Anakin's failure, but his own. If he failed… he would not fail. How could he? Anakin was so special, so gifted, he was destined for greatness. Greatness… on the light side, or the dark? Obi-Wan shook that thought from his head. It would do him no good to think negatively. But that was exactly what he had been doing all night. Thinking negatively, worrying, pacing, mumbling incoherent complaints under his breath… But what could he do? He greatly disagreed with Daylon. She shouldn't have gone alone, he knew that. Immediately after she left he had felt an intense ripple in the force, accompanied by what sounded like laughter. But Obi-Wan had discounted that. He never could trust his ears anymore – he was constantly hearing voices. Sometimes it was Qui-Gon's voice, imparting advice and comfort that only he could give. Other times it was the wisdom of Master Yoda echoing in his ears. But there were many voices… He had asked Master Yoda about the matter, and he had said that they were the voices of ancient Jedi. By using the temple records, Obi-Wan had been able to match the many voices to names… all except one. That one voice was not the voice of a Jedi. It was dark, heavy. It was the one voice he ignored and rejected, the voice he had just heard.
He tried to push those thoughts out of his mind, and concentrate on getting some rest, but it was futile. He paced relentlessly. The anxiety that he had felt when Daylon left returned now, full force. It knotted in the pit of his stomach, and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. I should go there. Just to make sure she's all right. He couldn't do that, though. So he settled for the next best thing. Picking up his comlink, he pressed the button to signal her. He heard a soft beeping from the other room, and followed the sound to Daylon's utility belt, slung over a chair. On it was her comlink, reporting Obi-Wan's call. He sighed deeply, frustrated to no end. I'll just have to wait. Patience. He returned to the sitting room, and slumped in a plush chair, closing his eyes.
**Obi-Wan! I need you! Please, help me!**
His eyes flew open, and he jumped up. He thought he had heard Daylon, but he wasn't sure… It was just a manifestation of your anxieties, providing you with what you wanted to hear… The message repeated, and this time he was sure. He grabbed his belt and saber from where they had been previously discarded, and rushed out the door.
Daylon backed away from Xanatos, trying to buy some time and space. He was still coming after her ferociously. If he keeps this up, I won't be able to defend myself much longer!
She closed her eyes, gathering the force. Xanatos laughed at her. "You Jedi are such fools! You fight with your eyes closed, and hope that the force will show you the way, but all you really do is blind yourselves to the attack." He sneered. Daylon ignored his taunts, and concentrated. Her body was tired, weakening. It had no fuel to run on, she hadn't eaten in a long while. But none of that mattered. All she needed was the force. She could feel it in her, flowing through her and around her. It spoke to her, telling her where to move, and what to do. She wasn't tired anymore. She opened her eyes, and they shone with fire. Xanatos saw this, and was startled. He had thought that she was on the verge of collapse; but now she was fighting strong. Daylon noticed his surprise, and hit him hard. He stumbled back, unsure now of what to do. But that soon passed. Daylon tried to remember what she knew about Xanatos, from what Qui-Gon had told her, and what she had learned from personal experience. "Xanatos will never give up. His is a quest fueled by vengeance, hatred, and greed. He is a master planner, always with an escape route, and a backup plan." Qui-Gon's words came to her. She thought about what Xanatos had hoped to accomplish on Malastare. Most likely to take over the planet, and use it as a quarry for his mining company, Offworld. But Xanatos liked double motives if he could get them. He had hated Qui-Gon, and wanted him dead. But Qui-Gon was gone. Now, all that he had left to ruin was Qui-Gon's name, or… or his apprentice. She drew in her breath in a sharp gasp. Xanatos had known they were on Malastare, and he had let them succeed in getting that chip, so that they would come to Rentilla, and walk right in to his trap. He wanted Obi-Wan. It was all too obvious to her now. It had been too easy! She should have seen it before. Now Xanatos would have Malastare, Obi-Wan, herself, and… Anakin. If he got near Anakin, it would be the end. Xanatos would surely recognize the power he had, and turn him to the darkside. All the more reason to keep trying… I will not give up, and I will not fail. I can't. The fate of the galaxy could depend on it.
She channeled her anxiety into concentrated energy, and used it to fuel her attack. She swung at him with deadly force and precision. All conscious thoughts left her, even the thoughts of the battle. It was just her and the force, moving as one.
Obi-Wan jumped out of the air transport and rushed to the building. To his surprise, all the lights were out, and it was alarmingly quiet. Like the building, the force around it was dark and filled with rage. He could also sense a great amount of fear. He snuck up to a large window and peered inside. There were a lot of people inside, but they weren't moving. Obi-Wan soon saw the reason why. Surrounding the crowd was a battalion of droids, armed and ready to fire if anyone moved. I'm going to have to sneak in…he thought, as his fingers brushed his lightsaber at his side. If only I had a little help…
**It's Xanatos, Obi-Wan. He's in the garden, on the NorthWest side of the building. He's waiting for you, be careful.**
Obi-Wan received Daylon's message clearly, and heeded it's warning. Xanatos… he hadn't heard that name in a long time. Not since he was a padawan. He started to make his way around the hall, but hesitated.
**Help the hostages** He sighed. She needed his help, obviously, but she was right, the hostages needed him more. She would have to try and hold out. If he hurts her… He picked up a good-sized rock, and threw it at a far window. The glass shattered onto the marble floor with a tremendous crash. The guards were alarmed, and went to check the area, which drew them away from the innocents. Obi-Wan made his move. He persuaded a guard to open the door from the inside, and let him in. He then rendered the guard unconscious by making him sleep. No need for violence. Though, it wasn't so much from his disdain for unnecessary maneuvers as from his distraction. He wanted to get to Daylon. That voice in his head had been right: He wanted to protect her. He remembered when they had been students at the temple. Bruck Chun had challenged Daylon to an unofficial, unfair fight. He was bigger, stronger, older, and more experienced than she was, but she still accepted. He had her pinned after ten minutes. But instead of letting her up, he touched the tip of his saber to her cheek, leaving a large crimson mark. It was a cruel act. The mark would stay there for over a week, and would serve as a painful reminder of failure. It had brought Daylon much shame and anguish. It had made Obi-Wan furious. That evening, he had tracked Bruck down, and expressed to him exactly how he felt about the matter. In other words, he had picked a fight. It got him in trouble, but it had been worth it. It vindicated her somehow.
He was now sneaking around one of the pillars in the ballroom, force-manipulating every guard he came to. There were only about four left now. But he was becoming impatient. So he casually walked up to the prisoners and said, "You are free to go now. Leave quickly, and quietly." He disposed of the four remaining guards in an orderly fashion, and hurried to the back of the building. There he saw the trail of the battle. He started to follow, but Daylon warned him again. **Circle around and flank him if you can.**
Obi-Wan obeyed. He saw the garden, and he saw Xanatos. Moving to the left, he ducked behind a large plant, and did his best to observe which way the fight was going. Actually, there wasn't much physical fighting at all. Xanatos was torturing her mentally, wearing her down.
"Give up. You know how this will end," he sneered, "Just like the last time."
Daylon said nothing, just kept parrying his blows. She could not look at his face though.
"What did you do after I left you, tied to that tree? Did you cry? Scream? It doesn't matter. All I cared about was seeing the look on Qui-Gon Jinn's face when he and his padawan found you there, tortured, abused, and nearly dead. I must admit, I did a good job with you. The hurt you inflicted on Qui-Gon…"
"The hurt you inflicted." Daylon said. It was barely above a whisper, but Obi-Wan heard it clearly. Those words betrayed all the anger Daylon felt. She had good reason. Xanatos had nearly killed her, not to mention all the mental scars he had left.
"When you attacked me, you made one mistake."
"Oh yeah? What was that?" he asked arrogantly. Xanatos would never admit to making an error.
"You forced me to see my weakness, to confront it. And only by confronting weakness, can one learn to overcome it," she said, quoting an old Jedi proverb, "I overcame, Xanatos. I am stronger now, wiser. And you will not defeat me." She said calmly.
Xanatos yelled in rage. "I will! I will defeat you! I will rip your body to shreds, and leave it on the front steps of the Jedi Temple for all to see! No one defeats Xanatos! No one!"
Obi-Wan decided that this was the best time to step in to help Daylon. He crept out from behind the bush and swung at Xanatos' back. He blocked, and whirled around to face his new opponent.
"Ah, young Knight Kenobi. I was wondering when you'd show up."
Obi-Wan clenched his jaw in reply, and tried to find a weak spot in Xanatos' defense. Daylon was busy on the other side, doing the same. He could see the panic in Xanatos' eyes now. He was looking for an escape. Obi-Wan was determined not to let him get away. Not after all that he had done.
He lunged at Xanatos' side, fighting crisply and efficiently. Daylon followed suite. They fought in perfect rhythm, each knowing the precise timing of the other's movement. They fought as a team. It was an experience like no other, one Obi-Wan hadn't felt since Qui-Gon died. One he had sorely missed. Obi-Wan faked left, and Daylon struck from the right. Xanatos managed to block, but was off balance. Obi-Wan moved for a killing blow, but Xanatos jumped up and over Daylon's head, an unexpected move. Before she had a chance to react, Xanatos swung out with his saber. It glanced her side, creating a large gash in her dress. She stumbled back a bit, but kept fighting. But she was losing strength fast. Obi-Wan saw this and compensated, attacking fast. But with one of them falling back, Xanatos had an exit. He turned and ran towards the far garden wall. Obi-Wan started after him. Daylon was only a step behind. She saw Xanatos reach the wall and scale it with ease. As he reached the top her turned and laughed. It only took a split-second for her to see. There was a bomb. Obi-Wan was only a few meters away now.
"Obi-Wan! There's a bomb!" she screamed. He stopped abruptly and turned with a look of confusion on his face that was quickly overshadowed by the glow of a huge explosion that knocked him off his feet and threw him back. Daylon ducked her head as debris rushed past with an intense wave of heat. As soon as it subsided she started running towards where Obi-Wan lay. Thick smoke filled the air, and she could hear him coughing. Thank the Force he's alive…
"Obi-Wan?" she said kneeling down beside him. He rolled over onto his back and coughed once more.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Me? You're the one who got blown up! That is so like you Obi-Wan."
He grinned, and coughed. The smoke was starting to clear, and Daylon could see a cut on his forehead that was already starting to bleed significantly.
"Daylon, your dress is in tatters." He said dazedly.
"Mmhmm, and I think you hit your head. You should probably see a medic."
"Nonsense, I'm fine," he said, trying to get up. She gently pushed him down.
"Let me up. I… where did Xanatos go?"
"He's gone, Obi-Wan."
"What? No! He got away?" he asked. He was having a hard time focusing his eyes, and his head was pounding.
"Yes, but it's all right."
"No, it's not!" he said, pushing Daylon's hand away and standing up. Dizziness overcame him though, and he fell back down.
"Just, stay here! You're in no condition to go chasing after him when he's already long gone."
He sighed, "I suppose you're right," he said. It was impossible for his eyes to focus now, and he felt really tired all of a sudden. Daylon had pulled him half into her lap, and was trying to comfort him.
"I'm going to close my eyes now," he said.
"Go ahead, I'll be right here."
He closed his eyes and drifted off.
Epilogue-
As soon as things on Malastare had been wrapped up, the two Jedi and their apprentice had been sent straight to Naboo, on a courtesy mission. Of course, Anakin had been thrilled to see Queen Amidala again. And Obi-Wan was glad to have some relatively free time. He was still recovering from a major concussion, and the frustration of losing the chance to stop Xanatos once and for all. As terrible as the whole ordeal had been, some good had still come of it. It had made Obi-Wan realize just what was important to him.
Standing in the doorway of the lush guest quarters in the Theed Palace, Obi-Wan watched as Daylon, sitting in the middle of an overly-soft bed, taught Anakin a meditation technique. He knew now that he would give his life to protect either one of them from harm. His padawan, and his friend.
Finis.