The Heart of Destiny
Author: Laura Kenobi
Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, I don't own Star Wars. I do, however, own any original characters, planets, etcetera that I created for this story.
Archive: Please contact me first!
Comments/Reviews: You can email me through my profile, and you can always leave a review!
Author's Notes: ((italics)) represents thoughts and / italics / represents communication through the Force.
This story was first published in its original version beginning on June 21, 2001. In July 2005, I decided that since four years had passed and my skills as a writer had undoubtedly improved since this story was first written and posted, it might be refreshing to return to this story and give it a fresh look and an update. For the most part the overall story remains the same - my goal has been to improve on and expand on the original, so I hope the result will prove enjoyable to all of you who are wonderful enough to read and review. The version of this story below is the updated version. Call it the "Special Edition" version of this story.
Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn start out on a mission, and a lifetime of memories follow.
Chapter Twelve
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--- Six Months Later ---
Obi-Wan Kenobi ran down the streets of Trassent – a volcanic planet on the outer rim – as fast as he could possibly run. Ignoring stares from passing pedestrians, he tried to keep the speeder in view. That speeder held Anakin Skywalker – his Padawan Learner. It had appeared out of nowhere, swooping out of the sky to grab his apprentice. He would not let them get away!
He chased it for what seemed like hours. The chase ended when the speeder flew into the crater of the local volcano, Mount Alesa. Obi-Wan climbed the mountain as fast as he could, which was not particularly fast, so when he reached the top there was no sign of the speeder, or Anakin.
Breathing heavily, he took in his surroundings. It was exceptionally hot, and smoke billowed from the crater. It was not expected to erupt soon, but Obi-Wan knew he needed to be careful. Anything could happen in a place such as this.
His eyes scanned the sides of the crater. Suddenly, he saw Anakin. He was lying on his face in a heap on a ledge to the right. Obi-Wan gasped. He looked dead. As quickly as he could, he made his way over to his fallen Padawan. He knelt down beside Anakin.
"Anakin, can you hear me? Padawan..." Obi-Wan couldn't see Anakin's face. He reached out to turn his Padawan over.
Without warning, and as fast as lightning, Anakin moved. He flipped to his feet, kicking Obi-Wan over. A beam of brilliant red extended from his hand. Obi-Wan didn't want to think about it.
"Anakin..." Obi-Wan climbed to his feet. Something was not right about the young man standing before him.
"You fool! You didn't see this coming, did you?" His voice was loathing.
"Padawan, I have not the slightest clue what you're talking about. Where did you get that lightsaber?" Obi-Wan was in denial. He couldn't believe his eyes.
His blood ran cold at the look in his Padawan's eyes. "It's mine Obi-Wan. My Sith weapon. I am a Sith." Darkness radiated from Anakin in waves. Obi-Wan could barely breathe.
"Anakin, you don't know what you're saying. You're injured. We need to get out of here."
"No. I'll never go anywhere with you again. I am no longer a Jedi, and definitely no longer your Padawan Learner. And you, old man, will never make it out of here with your life."
"Anakin..." This wasn't the man he knew. This wasn't the boy from Tatooine.
"My name is Darth Vader. Lord of the Sith."
Obi-Wan's knees felt weak. This could not be happening, not to Anakin – his Padawan, his friend, his son. He loved Anakin as if he was a son. At the thought, his thoughts shifted to Mara and Gwen. He had to make it out of here alive.
It was then that Anakin struck, seeing the distraction in Obi-Wan's eyes. Lunging at Obi-Wan with a cry of anger, his eyes were full of hatred. Obi-Wan pulled his lightsaber from his belt and quickly parried the attack.
"Anakin," he called over the clashing of their lightsabers, "you don't know what you're doing! Padawan... think of Padmé! Your wife! What will this do to her?"
Anakin laughed then; a horrible, cold laugh that answered the question without words.
"She is a fool. You are a fool. And for that you will die," he paused momentarily, "where did you think I was going all those nights when I wasn't home a curfew? I was meeting with my real Master... and you were too blind to see it. You're a fool, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Qui-Gon would be ashamed of you."
Those words hurt Obi-Wan more than physical pain ever could, and Anakin knew it.
A quick surge in the Force was all the warning they recieved. Rocks the size of speeders began to fall from all directions, falling from higher on the summit. Obi-Wan had to keep continually moving to keep from being flattened.
Anakin's lightsaber appeared out of the dust, aimed straight at his head. He ducked, and kicked out with all his strength, knocking Anakin down. Just as the female Sith had been months and months ago, Anakin was momentarily stunned. But Obi-Wan couldn't hurt his Padawan, and most definitely not kill him. Instead he leapt back, trying to catch his breath.
"Stupid move. One you'll pay for. You should have killed me, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
As the battle raged on, Obi-Wan succeeded in breaking his right arm as a falling rock caught him off guard. He knew it was broken; he had heard the sickening cracking of bone. He assumed that some of his ribs were broken, due to another falling rock, and a nasty gash split his forehead. His entire body seemed to be bruised and bloody.
Anakin, Darth Vader, had Obi-Wan trapped. Behind him was a pool of molten rock, in front of him was a monster that had once been his Padawan. He had nowhere to go. His heart twisted in pain. What should he do?
Anakin made the choice for him. He came charging at Obi-Wan, eyes blazing, lightsaber raised. Images flashed across Obi-Wan's mind. Gwen, Qui-Gon, Padmé, Mara...
As Anakin leaped at him, flying through the air like a dragon, Obi-Wan dove out of the way, then turned to watch his beloved Padawan plummet into the molten lava below.
"Anakin," The scream tore from his throat. "NOOOO!"
The ground beneath his feet jolted suddenly, almost sending him to meet his apprentice. He tore himself away from the hell his Padawan had tumbled into, and practically dragged his injured body back to the town where his ship was docked.
Once aboard his ship, he took off and set the coordinates for Coruscant. Then, he leaned forward in his chair lost consciousness from the physical pain that engulfed his body.
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End Chapter 13.
Another eventful chapter! I know the lava pit theory is not very original (Edit note: I wrote this long before Revenge of the Sith), but I liked the idea. Thanks for reading! Please review! - Laura