The Past Returns
Chapter Eleven
-Abandonment -
Journal Entry 16: "I have just completed my mission in the Empress Teta System. The two Jedi are dead and I have pleased my Master. He says that he is impressed with my skills but that I still need to work on not letting the Jedi get to me. Though I hate to admit it, I think that there is still something left inside me that doesn't want to kill Jedi and hurt Damon, but I will suppress that. And it will not take long to accomplish. I will train harder and I will go back to Ambria to meditate in the ruins of the ancient temples. That will help focus my power."
* * *
Damon stood out on his balcony, trying to hold back the wave of tears and pain that threatened to overtake him. He had just been informed of Ulian and Neelah's deaths, something that he had already felt. His lip quivered and he bit it, trying to cry. He closed his eyes, bowing his head, the tears streaming down his face. Why Ben, why? How could you do this to me? What have I done to invoke such hatred? Why can't you just leave me be? I want to hate you, that's the frustrating part, but I can't. I don't hate people. But I still don't understand why you have to do this? Have you really become that ruthless and uncaring? Do you have any heart left to in you? I don't think you have. I think the dark side had consumed you, once and for all. One thing is for sure. Damon opened his eyes, looking out at the gardens. He set his face in determination. I'm not falling for another one of your sob stories. You fooled me once into believing that you had repented but you're not going to fool me again. You're no longer part of my life.
* * *
Three years later, when Ben was thirty-six, he began his carefully planned strike against Damon, after much hard training. And he'd be using Ben's own son against him. Obi-Wan was now fifteen and growing strong in the Force. But, this was the stage where one is most susceptible to the dark side. Any doubts Ben had had about using the dark side were gone. He was devoted to his master and had finally embraced the dark side, getting in return all the power he could imagine and it was all so easy.
As a disguise, he wore Jedi clothing. The only thing that might warn someone that he was a Sith, would be if they were so perceptive that they could sense the dark aura around him but he was very good at shielding himself that he wasn't worried.
* * *
Damon sat in his room, lying on his sleeping pallet, staring up at the ceiling. Six peaceful years. Maybe it'll last but it's probably wishful thinking. Damon glanced to his right at a picture frame he had turned face down years ago. Dust had piled on top of it. Damon sat up and picked up the picture frame, wiping the dust from it. As he looked at it, memories of his childhood flooded back. It was a picture of Ben and him just before their lives were changed forever. It had been Ben's birthday and one of the happiest days of both of their lives. Now all of that had changed. Damon looked at Ben's face, the innocence on it.
Then he closed his eyes, remembering the look on Ben's face as he had confronted Damon; the look of pure hatred and disgust. Those awful scars that crossed Ben's face would always be in Damon's memory. Ben had gone from a sweet, friendly kid with a temper once and a while to a cruel, ruthless, heartless, and twisted man. Damon had thought he might have been able to help Ben, but he had failed. Ben didn't want to be changed. He had hurt so many people and destroyed so many lives as a Sith. And he was still out there. Somewhere. He had thought Ben had been saved, at the very end, but then he disappeared. And now, probably brainwashed by Palpatine, he was out there, seeking revenge on the Jedi.
Damon set the picture back on the dresser and stood, his Jedi cloak floating around him. Damon tucked a long blond strand of hair behind his ear. Damon walked over to his door and opened it. He stepped out into the hallway and nearly crashed into a man that had been walking down the corridor. "I'm sorry," Damon said as the man turned to face him. The man had short black hair cut in the Padawan style with the ponytail and braid, and he wore a dark brown Jedi tunic. He must be a new trainee, Damon thought. "Are you new?"
The man blinked, looking at Damon. "No, why?"
"I don't remember seeing you here."
"I usually go unnoticed."
Damon looked over the man and then into his green eyes. He looked so much like Ben, except for the fact that Ben had those awful scars. Damon swallowed down his hope. The Ben that had been Damon's best friend was gone.
"I just have this feeling that we've met before. You remind me of someone."
"Oh, and who is that?"
"A man named Ben Kenobi."
"I see. Is he also a Jedi?"
"No, he's not. When we first got here, he was seduced by the dark side. By the time I realized how far down he had actually fallen, it was too late to help him. He's probably out there somewhere, ruining other's lives."
"What do you mean by that?"
"He's a Sith."
"I thought they were extinct."
"Well, I guess not."
"Do you plan to keep trying?"
"I don't know, I really don't. And, though I hate to say it, I don't know if I really want to."
"Why not?"
"He's changed so much and has become so selfish and self-centered that I can't even talk to him without him screaming at me. I don't think he wants to be changed. I don't even think he cares any more about anything except power."
"Maybe you can help him though. If you did though, how would you do it?"
"Like I said, I don't know. A . . . accident happened a while back and I'm afraid Ben will never forgive me. I know he didn't die and his master, whoever that is, probably saved his life with dark powers so I think he's lost now."
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too."
"Would you like to join me at dinner tonight? It'd be in the chamber hall."
Damon thought about it. He had stayed in his room for days on end. Everyone was worried about him. Damon had just needed time to think. He hadn't gone out with anyone to any place for weeks because of what had happened to Ulian and Neelah. After losing so much, he hadn't had the heart to go on. It'd be nice to go out for a change, maybe patch up some of the friendships he had been ignoring the past few weeks. Damon looked at the man. "Sure."
"How about 6:15?"
"Okay. I'll see you then." Damon turned to leave and then stopped; turning to ask the man's name but the man beat him to it.
"What's your name?"
"Damon. What's yours?"
"Luke."
Damon nodded and walked away, disappearing around a bend in the corridor.
* * *
Ben stood there, watching as Damon walked away. He smiled, concealing his laughter. Damon may have been forty-one, but he was still as gullible as always. Damon actually thought that Ben's name was Luke. Then Ben's face turned cold. Ben hated him so much. Damon didn't even want to save him anymore. If Damon really cared, he would have helped him a lot earlier. Ben walked away and found a room that he could stay in. He dressed for dinner, strapping his lightsaber on the belt that was around his formal clothing.
Journal Entry 17: "Damon fell for it! My plan is working out accordingly. I will soon have Damon in my grasp and then, he will be gone. Obi-Wan's growing strong in the Force. I'd have to keep an eye on him. But once Damon is gone, Obi- Wan will be mine."
Ben met Damon outside the chamber hall. He watched Damon's face as he discreetly made sure Damon saw his lightsaber. "What's wrong?" Ben asked insincerely.
Damon looked up at Ben. "Ben had a lightsaber just like that."
"I'm sorry. If I had known -"
"It's okay. Besides, I shouldn't be complaining to you Luke. It's a great night tonight and let's not waste it on the past. Let's go eat."
* * *
As they ate dinner on the outdoor patio, Damon told Ben his version of their story. "I really, truly didn't know he needed me so much when he was sick. If I had known, I'd have spent night and day with him. I just got so wrapped up in what I was doing that I didn't realize the pain and suffering he was going through. Maybe if I could just do it differently, Ben wouldn't be where he is."
"You tried, Damon. That's all that counts. It's okay." He's so pathetic. Ben thought. Damon's making him out to be a monster. He probably tells this story to everyone who asks, trying to get people to sympathize with him.
"I know I was hard on him before we left but when I tried to apologize, he completely blew me off. I heard of the missions that he had gone on. He murdered ruthlessly and he killed my wife."
"Oh no, I'm so sorry."
"But that's not even close to what other destruction he's caused. He also managed to kill Master Tahl's apprentice. After that, he disappeared for years and the next time I saw him, it was too late. He had drifted over to the dark side and I tried to help him, but he left before I could do anything. Off and on I heard of missions where a Dark Jedi had been involved. I finally got my first contact with him in years. He challenged me to a duel and the truth is, I was more concerned for his safety that mine. Then, when he had knocked me over the edge of a landing platform, I managed to leap up with my lightsaber. I had had it activated to defend myself. When I saw him spin towards me and towards my blade, I moved to shut mine down but he spun into the blade just as I was deactivating it. The look on his face as he realized what had happened haunted me for a long time. But I was foolish enough believe that he had given up the dark side. I had gone into the Temple to get help because he wasn't dead yet, but when we came out, he had disappeared. I didn't hear anything from him for years. Then, a couple of years ago, he killed my best friend and his apprentice."
Ben's eyes went wide. "That had to be hard."
"It was. I'm still not quite over it."
"Do you have any ideas on where he might be?"
"He's probably with his master, somewhere. I just hope that he doesn't harm any more people. I still remember the look on his face when he withdrew into unconsciousness. It was a look of hope and peace and maybe, someday, he'll find it."
* * *
Two days later, after Ben had returned to his Master, Ben was planning on going on another mission. Ben was starting his ship when he heard a loud "crack!" in the back of his ship. Ben got up and left the cockpit, his black cape swirling behind him. When he entered the engine room, it was filled with smoke. Ben waved his hand in front of his face, coughing. When he got to the engine, he only saw a charred, smoking heap of what had once been the hyperdrive.
Ben let out an exasperated sigh and left the room. He'd have to replace it. Now he'd be delayed. Ben took his speeder and headed to the tower where Darth Sidious stayed. As he walked through the corridors, heading to his master's private chambers to tell him he'd be delayed, Ben heard him talking to someone. Ben hid in the shadows outside the door, listening. Their voices were muffled but he heard one part clearly and that's all he needed to hear. "So, how are you going to correct it? You have two apprentices and you know you are allowed only one," the other voice asked.
"Obviously we'll have to get rid of one, now won't we? I have trained Lord Maul since he was an infant. Ben, well, he was all ready too old. I only took him in because of his anger and the potential I saw in him."
"Who will you eliminate?"
"The kid, obviously. Lord Maul is much better trained and I suspect he will be more useful to me then the kid was. The boy has a high mission failure rate. Nearly every time he came up against the Jedi, he has yielded and weakened. Every time. I cannot have an apprentice that will weaken when faced up against his foes. That will not do. Lord Maul is much more devoted and loyal then the boy ever was."
Then their voice grew softer again and Ben leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. He was going to kill him? After all he had done? He was so stupid to think that Darth Sidious actually needed him. Then Ben looked down, the truth sinking in. He had been used and he was such a fool that he hadn't even realized it. Then Ben looked around. Damon. He would help me. I know he would.
Ben ran down the corridor, heading for his speeder. As he entered the hanger, a group of droids surrounded him. "You are in a restricted area. Please leave immediately," the head droid said.
"My speeder is here. I need to leave," Ben said. He tried to push past it but it pointed a blaster in his face.
"Step back."
Ben looked out the corners of his eyes, measuring how far his speeder was away and if he could take on the droids without causing too much noise. From what he could see, there was a squad of eight. He looked back at the droid, raising his arms. As he backed away, in one lightning-fast, fluid move, Ben activated his lightsaber, flipping away. Ben tore through three droids.
As they ran at him, shooting, Ben jumped up, and did a spread eagle, kicking two in the face, knocking them down. With the Force, he stretched out one hand and Force pushed two to the side. They collapsed in a heap. The leader came at him and he deflected the bolts it shot at him. One hit it in its vulnerable spot and it blew apart. Ben ran for his speeder, deactivating his lightsaber. Darth Sidious must have known he was there, or else this wouldn't have happened.
He climbed onto his speeder and raced away, heading for the Temple.
When he reached the Temple, he ran inside and to Damon's room. He knocked on his door. It opened, revealing Damon in his Jedi tunic. "Can I help you?" Damon asked coldly.
"It's me. Ben." Damon moved to slam the door shut but Ben put his foot in the doorway. "Please Damon. Listen to me," Ben pleaded.
Damon looked around and then back at him, his blue eyes cold as ice. "Come in," he said finally, in a cold voice. Ben swallowed and walked in. He sat down on a chair by the wall. Damon sat on his bed, taking out a data pad and typing in numbers. "What do you want?" Damon finally asked, looking up at Ben, his face hard as stone.
"I've come to apologize. For everything."
"That won't fix what you did. You can say those words but that can't heal the wounds you've caused or the harm you've done to so many people as a result of your selfishness. The damage is done and it's too late to fix it."
"Why are you being so cold? Damon, we're best friends."
"Were, remember?" he asked coldly. "I even tried to be nice to you and all I got was slapped in the face."
"Damon, please. I just found out what Darth Sidious really plans to do. I found out that he's been using me."
Damon sneered. "You've finally figured that out? I've been trying to tell you that the moment I realized that you were with him, but you wouldn't have any of it."
"I've come here to become a Jedi."
"That's not possible. You're tainted by the dark side. Master Yoda said that if once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. He told me that in my training. And it's true. No matter what you say, the dark side will forever taint your future."
"But I can work really hard. Please, help me."
"Why should I?"
"Because you're my brother."
"You betrayed me, brother," Damon spat. "You killed my wife, my son, and my best friend. Are you so stupid and naive that you'd actually believe that I'd forgive you for what you've done? You murdered Jedi ruthlessly. You killed millions of people just because you felt like it."
"Damon, I'm different."
"Hah!" Damon laughed. "That's a really funny joke." His face grew cold. "Do you really think I'm going to trust you? For all I know, this could be part of your plan to get to my remaining son or the other Jedi."
"It's not!" Ben cried, tears springing to his eyes.
"Stop the water-works. It's not going to work on me. I once tried to be warm and receptive to you. I cared a lot about your safety and I tried to warn you ahead of time. It made me feel so guilty when I thought you had died on my account. I had cared so much about you and I was ready to do anything to save your life, even give up my own. Now I realize that it would have been pointless." Ben tried to say something but Damon held up his hand. "I tried to help you, but you, stubborn as always, wouldn't see the truth in my words. Now you're paying for it and you're crawling back to me for help. When we were still on Earth, I once thought that you were the nicest, most caring person I had ever met. Maybe you had a temper, but hey, I had one too. You always seemed to be helping people and I had thought you'd do almost anything for me. Now I see your true self. That the whole routine was always a cover up to hide the selfish, ruthless, uncaring, heartless, cold-blooded person you really are."
"No!" Ben cried, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"No matter what you say, I'll never forgive you so you might as well give up trying. I tried to help and instead I got slapped and my heart torn apart and so, I'm not going to help you anymore. You've already hurt me too much." He stood and opened the door. "I'm sorry Ben, but after what you've done and are capable of, I can't trust you. I mean, you murdered millions of innocent people and innocent Jedi, you didn't even care. You didn't even look back. You don't care anymore, and now I see you never did. There's nothing you can do that will make me trust you. You've broken that bond of trust and nothing can put that trust back together. Once trust is broken, it can never be healed. Goodbye." The next word he said cut through Ben like a lightsaber. "Forever."
Ben's eyes blurred with his tears and he stood, walking towards the door. Ben wiped them away to see Damon looking at him coldly. Ben tried to touch his arm, but Damon jerked back as if Ben's hand was on fire. Fresh tears sprang to Ben's eyes and he looked away, walking down the corridor. Ben heard Damon's door slam behind Ben and Ben began running.
Chapter Eleven
-Abandonment -
Journal Entry 16: "I have just completed my mission in the Empress Teta System. The two Jedi are dead and I have pleased my Master. He says that he is impressed with my skills but that I still need to work on not letting the Jedi get to me. Though I hate to admit it, I think that there is still something left inside me that doesn't want to kill Jedi and hurt Damon, but I will suppress that. And it will not take long to accomplish. I will train harder and I will go back to Ambria to meditate in the ruins of the ancient temples. That will help focus my power."
* * *
Damon stood out on his balcony, trying to hold back the wave of tears and pain that threatened to overtake him. He had just been informed of Ulian and Neelah's deaths, something that he had already felt. His lip quivered and he bit it, trying to cry. He closed his eyes, bowing his head, the tears streaming down his face. Why Ben, why? How could you do this to me? What have I done to invoke such hatred? Why can't you just leave me be? I want to hate you, that's the frustrating part, but I can't. I don't hate people. But I still don't understand why you have to do this? Have you really become that ruthless and uncaring? Do you have any heart left to in you? I don't think you have. I think the dark side had consumed you, once and for all. One thing is for sure. Damon opened his eyes, looking out at the gardens. He set his face in determination. I'm not falling for another one of your sob stories. You fooled me once into believing that you had repented but you're not going to fool me again. You're no longer part of my life.
* * *
Three years later, when Ben was thirty-six, he began his carefully planned strike against Damon, after much hard training. And he'd be using Ben's own son against him. Obi-Wan was now fifteen and growing strong in the Force. But, this was the stage where one is most susceptible to the dark side. Any doubts Ben had had about using the dark side were gone. He was devoted to his master and had finally embraced the dark side, getting in return all the power he could imagine and it was all so easy.
As a disguise, he wore Jedi clothing. The only thing that might warn someone that he was a Sith, would be if they were so perceptive that they could sense the dark aura around him but he was very good at shielding himself that he wasn't worried.
* * *
Damon sat in his room, lying on his sleeping pallet, staring up at the ceiling. Six peaceful years. Maybe it'll last but it's probably wishful thinking. Damon glanced to his right at a picture frame he had turned face down years ago. Dust had piled on top of it. Damon sat up and picked up the picture frame, wiping the dust from it. As he looked at it, memories of his childhood flooded back. It was a picture of Ben and him just before their lives were changed forever. It had been Ben's birthday and one of the happiest days of both of their lives. Now all of that had changed. Damon looked at Ben's face, the innocence on it.
Then he closed his eyes, remembering the look on Ben's face as he had confronted Damon; the look of pure hatred and disgust. Those awful scars that crossed Ben's face would always be in Damon's memory. Ben had gone from a sweet, friendly kid with a temper once and a while to a cruel, ruthless, heartless, and twisted man. Damon had thought he might have been able to help Ben, but he had failed. Ben didn't want to be changed. He had hurt so many people and destroyed so many lives as a Sith. And he was still out there. Somewhere. He had thought Ben had been saved, at the very end, but then he disappeared. And now, probably brainwashed by Palpatine, he was out there, seeking revenge on the Jedi.
Damon set the picture back on the dresser and stood, his Jedi cloak floating around him. Damon tucked a long blond strand of hair behind his ear. Damon walked over to his door and opened it. He stepped out into the hallway and nearly crashed into a man that had been walking down the corridor. "I'm sorry," Damon said as the man turned to face him. The man had short black hair cut in the Padawan style with the ponytail and braid, and he wore a dark brown Jedi tunic. He must be a new trainee, Damon thought. "Are you new?"
The man blinked, looking at Damon. "No, why?"
"I don't remember seeing you here."
"I usually go unnoticed."
Damon looked over the man and then into his green eyes. He looked so much like Ben, except for the fact that Ben had those awful scars. Damon swallowed down his hope. The Ben that had been Damon's best friend was gone.
"I just have this feeling that we've met before. You remind me of someone."
"Oh, and who is that?"
"A man named Ben Kenobi."
"I see. Is he also a Jedi?"
"No, he's not. When we first got here, he was seduced by the dark side. By the time I realized how far down he had actually fallen, it was too late to help him. He's probably out there somewhere, ruining other's lives."
"What do you mean by that?"
"He's a Sith."
"I thought they were extinct."
"Well, I guess not."
"Do you plan to keep trying?"
"I don't know, I really don't. And, though I hate to say it, I don't know if I really want to."
"Why not?"
"He's changed so much and has become so selfish and self-centered that I can't even talk to him without him screaming at me. I don't think he wants to be changed. I don't even think he cares any more about anything except power."
"Maybe you can help him though. If you did though, how would you do it?"
"Like I said, I don't know. A . . . accident happened a while back and I'm afraid Ben will never forgive me. I know he didn't die and his master, whoever that is, probably saved his life with dark powers so I think he's lost now."
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too."
"Would you like to join me at dinner tonight? It'd be in the chamber hall."
Damon thought about it. He had stayed in his room for days on end. Everyone was worried about him. Damon had just needed time to think. He hadn't gone out with anyone to any place for weeks because of what had happened to Ulian and Neelah. After losing so much, he hadn't had the heart to go on. It'd be nice to go out for a change, maybe patch up some of the friendships he had been ignoring the past few weeks. Damon looked at the man. "Sure."
"How about 6:15?"
"Okay. I'll see you then." Damon turned to leave and then stopped; turning to ask the man's name but the man beat him to it.
"What's your name?"
"Damon. What's yours?"
"Luke."
Damon nodded and walked away, disappearing around a bend in the corridor.
* * *
Ben stood there, watching as Damon walked away. He smiled, concealing his laughter. Damon may have been forty-one, but he was still as gullible as always. Damon actually thought that Ben's name was Luke. Then Ben's face turned cold. Ben hated him so much. Damon didn't even want to save him anymore. If Damon really cared, he would have helped him a lot earlier. Ben walked away and found a room that he could stay in. He dressed for dinner, strapping his lightsaber on the belt that was around his formal clothing.
Journal Entry 17: "Damon fell for it! My plan is working out accordingly. I will soon have Damon in my grasp and then, he will be gone. Obi-Wan's growing strong in the Force. I'd have to keep an eye on him. But once Damon is gone, Obi- Wan will be mine."
Ben met Damon outside the chamber hall. He watched Damon's face as he discreetly made sure Damon saw his lightsaber. "What's wrong?" Ben asked insincerely.
Damon looked up at Ben. "Ben had a lightsaber just like that."
"I'm sorry. If I had known -"
"It's okay. Besides, I shouldn't be complaining to you Luke. It's a great night tonight and let's not waste it on the past. Let's go eat."
* * *
As they ate dinner on the outdoor patio, Damon told Ben his version of their story. "I really, truly didn't know he needed me so much when he was sick. If I had known, I'd have spent night and day with him. I just got so wrapped up in what I was doing that I didn't realize the pain and suffering he was going through. Maybe if I could just do it differently, Ben wouldn't be where he is."
"You tried, Damon. That's all that counts. It's okay." He's so pathetic. Ben thought. Damon's making him out to be a monster. He probably tells this story to everyone who asks, trying to get people to sympathize with him.
"I know I was hard on him before we left but when I tried to apologize, he completely blew me off. I heard of the missions that he had gone on. He murdered ruthlessly and he killed my wife."
"Oh no, I'm so sorry."
"But that's not even close to what other destruction he's caused. He also managed to kill Master Tahl's apprentice. After that, he disappeared for years and the next time I saw him, it was too late. He had drifted over to the dark side and I tried to help him, but he left before I could do anything. Off and on I heard of missions where a Dark Jedi had been involved. I finally got my first contact with him in years. He challenged me to a duel and the truth is, I was more concerned for his safety that mine. Then, when he had knocked me over the edge of a landing platform, I managed to leap up with my lightsaber. I had had it activated to defend myself. When I saw him spin towards me and towards my blade, I moved to shut mine down but he spun into the blade just as I was deactivating it. The look on his face as he realized what had happened haunted me for a long time. But I was foolish enough believe that he had given up the dark side. I had gone into the Temple to get help because he wasn't dead yet, but when we came out, he had disappeared. I didn't hear anything from him for years. Then, a couple of years ago, he killed my best friend and his apprentice."
Ben's eyes went wide. "That had to be hard."
"It was. I'm still not quite over it."
"Do you have any ideas on where he might be?"
"He's probably with his master, somewhere. I just hope that he doesn't harm any more people. I still remember the look on his face when he withdrew into unconsciousness. It was a look of hope and peace and maybe, someday, he'll find it."
* * *
Two days later, after Ben had returned to his Master, Ben was planning on going on another mission. Ben was starting his ship when he heard a loud "crack!" in the back of his ship. Ben got up and left the cockpit, his black cape swirling behind him. When he entered the engine room, it was filled with smoke. Ben waved his hand in front of his face, coughing. When he got to the engine, he only saw a charred, smoking heap of what had once been the hyperdrive.
Ben let out an exasperated sigh and left the room. He'd have to replace it. Now he'd be delayed. Ben took his speeder and headed to the tower where Darth Sidious stayed. As he walked through the corridors, heading to his master's private chambers to tell him he'd be delayed, Ben heard him talking to someone. Ben hid in the shadows outside the door, listening. Their voices were muffled but he heard one part clearly and that's all he needed to hear. "So, how are you going to correct it? You have two apprentices and you know you are allowed only one," the other voice asked.
"Obviously we'll have to get rid of one, now won't we? I have trained Lord Maul since he was an infant. Ben, well, he was all ready too old. I only took him in because of his anger and the potential I saw in him."
"Who will you eliminate?"
"The kid, obviously. Lord Maul is much better trained and I suspect he will be more useful to me then the kid was. The boy has a high mission failure rate. Nearly every time he came up against the Jedi, he has yielded and weakened. Every time. I cannot have an apprentice that will weaken when faced up against his foes. That will not do. Lord Maul is much more devoted and loyal then the boy ever was."
Then their voice grew softer again and Ben leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. He was going to kill him? After all he had done? He was so stupid to think that Darth Sidious actually needed him. Then Ben looked down, the truth sinking in. He had been used and he was such a fool that he hadn't even realized it. Then Ben looked around. Damon. He would help me. I know he would.
Ben ran down the corridor, heading for his speeder. As he entered the hanger, a group of droids surrounded him. "You are in a restricted area. Please leave immediately," the head droid said.
"My speeder is here. I need to leave," Ben said. He tried to push past it but it pointed a blaster in his face.
"Step back."
Ben looked out the corners of his eyes, measuring how far his speeder was away and if he could take on the droids without causing too much noise. From what he could see, there was a squad of eight. He looked back at the droid, raising his arms. As he backed away, in one lightning-fast, fluid move, Ben activated his lightsaber, flipping away. Ben tore through three droids.
As they ran at him, shooting, Ben jumped up, and did a spread eagle, kicking two in the face, knocking them down. With the Force, he stretched out one hand and Force pushed two to the side. They collapsed in a heap. The leader came at him and he deflected the bolts it shot at him. One hit it in its vulnerable spot and it blew apart. Ben ran for his speeder, deactivating his lightsaber. Darth Sidious must have known he was there, or else this wouldn't have happened.
He climbed onto his speeder and raced away, heading for the Temple.
When he reached the Temple, he ran inside and to Damon's room. He knocked on his door. It opened, revealing Damon in his Jedi tunic. "Can I help you?" Damon asked coldly.
"It's me. Ben." Damon moved to slam the door shut but Ben put his foot in the doorway. "Please Damon. Listen to me," Ben pleaded.
Damon looked around and then back at him, his blue eyes cold as ice. "Come in," he said finally, in a cold voice. Ben swallowed and walked in. He sat down on a chair by the wall. Damon sat on his bed, taking out a data pad and typing in numbers. "What do you want?" Damon finally asked, looking up at Ben, his face hard as stone.
"I've come to apologize. For everything."
"That won't fix what you did. You can say those words but that can't heal the wounds you've caused or the harm you've done to so many people as a result of your selfishness. The damage is done and it's too late to fix it."
"Why are you being so cold? Damon, we're best friends."
"Were, remember?" he asked coldly. "I even tried to be nice to you and all I got was slapped in the face."
"Damon, please. I just found out what Darth Sidious really plans to do. I found out that he's been using me."
Damon sneered. "You've finally figured that out? I've been trying to tell you that the moment I realized that you were with him, but you wouldn't have any of it."
"I've come here to become a Jedi."
"That's not possible. You're tainted by the dark side. Master Yoda said that if once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. He told me that in my training. And it's true. No matter what you say, the dark side will forever taint your future."
"But I can work really hard. Please, help me."
"Why should I?"
"Because you're my brother."
"You betrayed me, brother," Damon spat. "You killed my wife, my son, and my best friend. Are you so stupid and naive that you'd actually believe that I'd forgive you for what you've done? You murdered Jedi ruthlessly. You killed millions of people just because you felt like it."
"Damon, I'm different."
"Hah!" Damon laughed. "That's a really funny joke." His face grew cold. "Do you really think I'm going to trust you? For all I know, this could be part of your plan to get to my remaining son or the other Jedi."
"It's not!" Ben cried, tears springing to his eyes.
"Stop the water-works. It's not going to work on me. I once tried to be warm and receptive to you. I cared a lot about your safety and I tried to warn you ahead of time. It made me feel so guilty when I thought you had died on my account. I had cared so much about you and I was ready to do anything to save your life, even give up my own. Now I realize that it would have been pointless." Ben tried to say something but Damon held up his hand. "I tried to help you, but you, stubborn as always, wouldn't see the truth in my words. Now you're paying for it and you're crawling back to me for help. When we were still on Earth, I once thought that you were the nicest, most caring person I had ever met. Maybe you had a temper, but hey, I had one too. You always seemed to be helping people and I had thought you'd do almost anything for me. Now I see your true self. That the whole routine was always a cover up to hide the selfish, ruthless, uncaring, heartless, cold-blooded person you really are."
"No!" Ben cried, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"No matter what you say, I'll never forgive you so you might as well give up trying. I tried to help and instead I got slapped and my heart torn apart and so, I'm not going to help you anymore. You've already hurt me too much." He stood and opened the door. "I'm sorry Ben, but after what you've done and are capable of, I can't trust you. I mean, you murdered millions of innocent people and innocent Jedi, you didn't even care. You didn't even look back. You don't care anymore, and now I see you never did. There's nothing you can do that will make me trust you. You've broken that bond of trust and nothing can put that trust back together. Once trust is broken, it can never be healed. Goodbye." The next word he said cut through Ben like a lightsaber. "Forever."
Ben's eyes blurred with his tears and he stood, walking towards the door. Ben wiped them away to see Damon looking at him coldly. Ben tried to touch his arm, but Damon jerked back as if Ben's hand was on fire. Fresh tears sprang to Ben's eyes and he looked away, walking down the corridor. Ben heard Damon's door slam behind Ben and Ben began running.