Chapter Seven



Obi-Wan's breath was shallow. He heard the drone of a shuttle above his head and he knew that Vader had found him. He leaned forward in his bike and squeezed the last bit of speed out of it, but knew as soon as he did it that it was be futile. Taking a deep breath, he slowed to a stop and jumped off the bike. He stood next to it casually, as if he had all the time in the world. The shuttle landed not too far off and Obi-Wan watched, with a growing sense of panic, as the doors opened to reveal a towering, black-clad figure. His eyes widened as Vader neared him.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan breathed. "What have you done to yourself?"

"It's not what I did to myself, it's what you did to me," Vader answered.

"Your voice..."

"Transformed by the air filter I have to use. My arms, my left leg, all mecha. Did I ever send you a thank you card, Master?"

"It must have gotten lost in the mail."

"Actually, you forgot to leave a forwarding address when you ran like a coward."

For a split second, Obi-Wan's face contorted with anger as old feelings of survivor's guilt rose up inside him, but he got control of it and allowed the Force to calm him to serenity. Vader saw it and he laughed maliciously.

"The suffering you could have avoided had you joined us," he said pityingly. "There's still time, Master Obi-Wan. Darth Sidious would be more than happy to have you join our little flock."

"I would rather die."

Obi-Wan could feel the anger radiating from Vader at his answer and he unconsciously put a hand on the handle of his lightsaber. Vader stalked towards him.

"That can be arranged."

In unison, they drew their lightsabers.

"We don't have to do this, Anakin," Obi-Wan tried one last time. "You can still go back to the light. You can still be one of the greatest Jedi that ever lived."

"Jedi? You are extinct in this universe. It is you that should change, my old master. The Sith are more powerful than the Jedi ever were. They were just forced to hide because the Republic worshipped the Jedi Order. Never again. You can be a great Sith Lord, Obi-Wan. Join us. Join me." A note of wistfulness entered Vader's voice. "Remember how it used to be, Master. The team that we made. We can be that again."

Obi-Wan shook his head, his expression pained. He did remember those times, and he did miss his Padawan, but too much had happened. There was too much between them now. He also remembered the Jedi dying by the thousands and the explosions he had felt in the Force when they had died at Vader's hands.

"Anakin....I can't."

"Then, we finish this now."

Vader lunged forward with his red lightsaber, but Obi-Wan blocked it easily. They exchanged a few light blows until Vader decided to play the offensive. He attacked aggresively and Obi-Wan had to react quickly to avoid being skewered. Vader allowed hatred to power his movements and he could see Obi-Wan weakening. That only made him hit harder. Gone was the desire to bring Obi-Wan over to the dark side. Now, he only wanted him dead.

Then, he stopped, his lightsaber falling from his grip. Obi-Wan had been anticipating a blow and he nearly lost his footing as he moved to meet a lightsaber that wasn't there. He looked at Vader curiously then he knew why their battle had stopped. He turned and saw that Padmé had stopped not too far behind him, her blaster drawn. But, she slowly lowered it as she stared in shock at her husband.

"Anakin," she breathed. "What have they done to you?"

She had heard the stories of the Emperor and his monstrosity of an apprentice, but she had not expected this. The Anakin she had known was truly gone and in that knowledge, she felt her soul shatter. Obi-Wan started to go to her, but the look she threw him stopped him in his tracks.

"Blame Obi-Wan," Vader retorted. "But it's still me underneath this suit, Padmé, my Angel."

"Don't call me that," she spat. "Don't ever call me that again. You're not the man I married."

Vader visibly recoiled from her words. "I am, Padmé. I haven't changed inside. Believe me. I did all this for us. The Republic was going to fall and I had to do this to protect us."

"I've been in hiding for the past five years!" Padmé shrieked, her anger surprising even herself, but she could not stop. "You did not do this for us. You did this for yourself. The Anakin I fell in love with would never have turned his back and murdered the people who cared about him. He never would have betrayed me, his master, his friends to evil. You are NOT my Anakin. You are Darth Vader." She raised her blaster. "I don't know you."

She fired before Obi-Wan or Vader could say or do anything. Vader blocked the shot easily with his lightsaber as he had called it into his hand in the blink of an eye. She fired again and again as she came towards him. Her tears had stopped falling and had dried on her cheeks. Instead of tears, a look of complete determination filled her eyes and she went to stand beside Obi-Wan.

"Get out of here," he hissed out of the corner of his mouth.

"I'm not leaving you," she answered defiantly, her face inches from his. "You get out of here."

"I'm not leaving you," he echoed.

Her hand found his unerringly and their eyes met. They were both ready for this.

"What is this?" Vader yelled, jealousy bringing his rage to a boiling point.

Padmé threw him a heated look, but let go of Obi-Wan's hand. "I don't know you," she repeated.