Title: Strength over fear
Author: ewan's girl
Chapter 25:
Ferus Olin unconsciously wrung his hands, he had spent his entire life learning to overcome his emotions, espcially his fear yet today he found himself more frightened than ever before. He was not only worried about the welfare of the other Jedi that were left inside the Temple, but he was scared to death of having to rebuild the order himself if needs be, he for the first time in his life doubted his abilities.
He kept a very careful visual of the underground entrance to the Temple, ready to give the word for the children to flee if an enemy found their way down, or help the survivors that he was sure were still on their way. He stole a quick glance back to Darra Thel-Tanis, who seemed to have taken a shine to keeping the children calm, she had a distinctly maternal instinct and Ferus knew she would make a great master someday. The young Jedi knight looked at the children and marvelled at how well they were handeling the situation, only a few had burst into tears while the rest tried to remember the teachings they had learned from their crech masters. Ferus took a mental count of the children, it broke his heart to realize that only ten had survived the invasion of the Temple.
He suddenly felt a disturbance through the Force and quickly rose to his feet, his hand on the hilt of his light saber. He looked back again at Darra who was pushing the children into a corner, and pulling out her own light saber. Ferus' muscles eased when he saw the familiar form of Obi Wan Kenobi leading a small group of Jedi into the sewer with him; eight knights in all, and the only masters were Kenobi and Kit Fisto, Ferus closed his eyes in sorrow.
Obi Wan walked up to him, trying to catch his breath and clapped him on the shoulder. "Good job protecting the children." He exclaimed.
Ferus looked up at Obi Wan, and noticed the sorrow in his own eyes. "So few survived." He blurted out. "Could you save no others?"
Obi Wan looked at the small group of Jedi and sadly shook his head, he then noticed that Mace and Siri were no where to be found. "Master Windu and Tachi have not returned yet?" He asked quickly.
Ferus looked at Obi Wan, confused. "They haven't; weren't they with you?" He asked.
"They went to gather holocrons and credits." Kit Fisto explained.
// I'm so sorry Obi Wan. // Siri's voice rang through Obi Wan's head.
Obi Wan closed his eyes, trying to hold onto the small bond he shared with Siri. // Siri? // He called out through it, but recieved no answer, he looked at the group of Jedi, then locked eyes with Ferus. "I'm going back." He stated assuridly.
"Do not let your personal feelings get in the way Master Kenobi." Kit Fisto reminded him. "We have a duty to the children."
"We have a duty to the Jedi Master Fisto, and as such I believe we should attempt to save as many as possible." Obi Wan shot back, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I'm going back." He stated, heading for the entrance to the Temple.
"I'm going with you." Ferus stated, running to catch up to Obi Wan.
Kit Fisto sighed and glanced back at the small group of Jedi. "Stay with the children." He commanded and followed the two human men back into the Temple.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Siri dropped to her knees in a dark corner, and Yoda climbed off of her back, the two had been running non stop since Yoda saved Siri, and they had also run into several clones along the way. Siri tried to catch her breath, and regain some of her fleeting strength; her body was aching from the lack of sleep and extreme physical demands she'd been put through, not to mention her wounds though minor were slowing her down. She looked at Yoda and noticed he too had his own set of wounds, he also in that moment looked older than she had ever seen him (something she didn't think would be possible).
Yoda looked up at her. "Get up you must, continue on we should."
Siri attempted to force her legs to move, but they wouldn't. "I'm trying master." She stated, falling back to the ground.
"Do, or do not. . ."
Siri nodded. "There is no try." She finished Yoda's famous saying. "Yes master." She complied and took a deep breath and rose to her feet, then stooped over so Yoda could climb onto her back.
They continued their trek down the dark halls of the Temple trying to keep their presence unseen, making their way to the unground tunnel. As they drew closer to the entrance they could feel a dark presence seeking them, Siri involuntarily shuddered, knowing exactly where the presence was coming from. As they rounded a corner they noticed a large battalion of Storm Troopers blocking their way.
"Proceed we must." Yoda whispered in her ear. "If die we do, the will of the Force it is."
Siri took a deep breath and gathered the Force around her, she at that moment reached an inner peace and was prepared to die. She pulled out her light saber and glanced back at Yoda. "May the Force be with us."
Siri turned and raced around the corner, her light saber blazing, cutting down two troopers with one flick of her wrist. Yoda came into view and Force pushed several other clones who were about to fire at Siri. More and more soldiers began to apear and Siri knew they were inormously out numbered, then out of the corner of her eye she noticed a blaze of blue light, followed quickly by two green lights. She turned and watched as Obi Wan, Ferus and Kit Fisto jumped into the fray, taking out clones. Ferus jumped, kicking out with both his legs and knocking two clones off their feet. Kit used his double bladed light saber and plunged it into the chest of one clone, while bringing it back out quickly, twirling it and driving it into another one. Obi Wan sliced through a trooper's blaster and Force pushed him into a far wall, then turned and noticed a clone aiming for Siri he quickly threw his light saber, impailing the trooper in the chest and called back his weapon in time to deflect a blast from another clone.
When the entire squad was dispatched the Jedi gathered in the center of the room, Obi Wan stealthly grabbed Siri's hand and noticed Yoda for the first time. "We send you off with one high Council member and you return with another?" He asked Siri, half joking half not.
Siri looked down at Yoda, then removed her hand from Obi Wan's grip. "Master Windu is in the Council chamber, he needs our help." She exclaimed, heading towards the door.
"One with the Force Master Windu is." Yoda exclaimed sadly, forcing everyone to look at him.
The small group stood in silence for a moment, not a single one of them sure what to say next. Obi Wan cleared his throat, and broke the silence. "We must get moving, more soldiers will arrive here shortly."
The Jedi all agreed and Ferus stooped down and helped Yoda onto his back. Obi Wan let Siri lean on him for support as they began to make their way back underground. Suddenly several loud bangs were heard on the other side of the door, the Jedi all knew it meant a squadren were attempting to shoot their way inside.
"Go." Kit Fisto turned to Obi Wan.
"What?" Obi Wan looked at him in a state of shock.
"You must lead them on, get the children out of the Temple Obi Wan, that's all that matters now." Kit insisted.
"We cannot leave you." Siri argued.
"I will draw their attention, it is the only way." Kit explained. "Now go, there isn't much time."
Obi Wan hesitated, then noticed that Ferus had already made his way to the underground entrance. Siri looked up at Obi Wan, her eyes actually glossy from unshed tears. Obi Wan tightened his grip around her and began to lead her away from the room. "May the Force be with you Master Fisto." Obi Wan stated as he left the green alien to his demise.
Kit watched them go, and then stepped in front of the hallway, preparing himself for death. As the doors blasted open Kit posistioned himself in a defensive stance as about fifty storm troopers entered the small space. Kit ran towards them, his light saber swinging, taking down several in one swift motion. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain errupt just below his right shoulder, he glanced down and realized he had been shot. He then grabbed his saber in his left hand and continued to fight, taking out two more clones. He then felt searing pain on his left side, he fell to the ground momentarily, his vision blurring from the pain. He then summed up his strength and stood again, cutting off the head of one trooper, and slicing the arm off another, he then felt a blast bolt hit him in the stomach. Jedi Master Kit Fisto dropped to his knees, still clutching his light saber.
His spirit was prepared to become one with the Force, yet his body wasn't ready to give up. He tried to lift his saber one last time, but found that he was just too weak. He slowly lifted his head and watched as a tall figure dressed in black armor entered the room. The Sith lord stared at the dying Jedi he then walked past him, ignoring his pain. Kit helplessly watched as the rest of the Storm Troopers walked past him, following their leader and entering the hallway that would lead them to the other Jedi. Kit closed his eyes and fell to the ground.
**************************************************************************** *****
The four Jedi ran as best they could through the murky water, hoping they would be able to escape. None of them knew what would await them on the outside of the Temple, but they knew they had to stay in the moment. As they neared where the children were hiding Obi Wan suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.
Siri looked at him with a confused look on her face. "Ben?" She asked, remembering his request to be called by his birth name. "Are you alright?"
Obi Wan didn't answer her, he closed his eyes and listened to the Force. Ferus also stopped and Yoda looked at Obi Wan with worry on his face. Obi Wan then opened his eyes, and held an expression of someone who was lost, he looked at the other Jedi. "Go, I'll meet up with you in a minute." He stated.
"What?" Siri asked.
"I. . .I have to check something." He vaugly answered, taking her arm off of his shoulder. "Just go, I'll be right behind you."
"No." Siri argued.
Obi Wan looked at her. "For once in you life please do what I request." He pleaded with her.
Siri was taken back by this, but didn't argue. She then watched as Obi Wan headed back in the direction of the Temple.
"Master Tachi, we have to go." Ferus exclaimed, his worry getting the best of him.
Siri slowly nodded not taking her eyes off the direction Obi Wan had disapeared to.
**********
Obi Wan raced back towards the Temple, not sure what was calling out to him, commanding him to return. He rounded the last corner and just inside the entrance he noticed a large, dark figure holding a blood red light saber at his side. Obi Wan stared at the creature and listened to the errie sound of his breathing. The Jedi felt the dark side radiating off this man, yet something was also familiar about him.
"I knew if I called you through the bond you wouldn't be able to resist me." Vader stated with a chuckle. "So terribly predictable as always Obi Wan."
Obi Wan stared at the Sith. "Who are you?" He asked, although somewhat afraid of the answer.
"I am Darth Vader, lord of the Sith, a servant to the true power of the Force. I am also known as the Chosen One." Vader explained, taking a step towards Obi Wan, who seemed frozen in place.
"No." It came out as a whisper.
"I was the most powerful Jedi ever, until I learned what true power is." Vader continued.
"It cannot be." Obi Wan protested, feeling unwanted tears stinging his eyes. "You fell."
"You thought you could defeat me; it would take a Jedi much more powerful than you old man." Vader took another step towards his former master.
********
Siri stopped in her tracks, and looked back to the direction Obi Wan had gone. "I have to go after him." She announced.
Ferus and Yoda stopped and looked back at her. "But Master Tachi, he said. . ." Ferus tried.
"Yeah well I've never listened to that stuborn gundark before and I'm not about to now." She exclaimed, taking off in the opposite direction.
Ferus looked back at Yoda who shook his head and sighed.
************
"It is over Obi Wan, you have lost." Vader taunted. "The Jedi have been destroyed."
"How could you do this?" Obi Wan blurted out. "Anakin, I know you are in there somewhere, so many people are dead, and for what?"
"You did kill someone on that mountain Obi Wan, and you did it well." Vader explained.
"No, I refuse to belive the man I knew is gone, fight it Anakin." Obi Wan refused to give up. "look at what you have done; the little boy I met all those years ago would never hurt people like this." He stopped, trying to gauge if his words were having any effect. "What would your mother think of all of this?"
Vader stared at him, and stayed silent.
"And the man who loved Padme, he would never do such evil acts!" Obi Wan continued, praying it would work.
"You are playing to emotions that I no longer have Obi Wan." He held out his light saber towards the aging Jedi. "Anakin Skywalker is dead."
The usually collected Jedi couldn't stop a tear from falling down his cheek. "Then you have become what you always loved my old friend. . .a machine."
Vader raised his light saber to give a killing blow when the ground above them shook, causing the water pipe to burst. Water rained down on them, soaking them to the bone. Obi Wan pulled out his light saber just in time to deflect a series of blows. The two fought in what almost seemed like a well rehersed dance. They knew each other's moves, but Vader was not the man Obi Wan knew and loved, the Sith had much more power and rage behind his swings. Obi Wan didn't know how long he'd be able to hold his own against him.
The ground above them shook again, this time enough to cause some of the beams that held up the temple to come crashing down, Vader quickly moved out of the way, but Obi Wan wasn't as lucky, he found himself trapped beneath the rubble.
Siri rushed over to the pile of rubble just as the dust finshed clearing, she had watched it tumble on top of Obi Wan, and knew the water was rising quickly. She used the Force to try to move some of the pieces, but she couldn't concentrate enough to move the larger ones. She frantically reached towards him and was able to breifly grip his fingers before he slipped under the water completely. She took a deep breath and dove under the water to try to free him, she tried to physically move some of the debris, but she wasn't strong enough. She looked at him, and he reached out towards her, she grabbed his hand and tried to pull him out, but it was no use. She swam back to the surface and took a gulp of air before returning to his side. She again tried desprately to free him, and he grabbed her arm, stopping her. They stared at each other for a moment, Siri knew his air supply was running very thin. Suddenly they felt a surge through the Force, and the pile began to move. Siri quickly grabbed Obi Wan by the arm and helped him swim up to the surface, where he took a huge gulp of air. The two soggy Jedi stared in disbelief as Yoda and the group of younglings used the Force to lift up the debris, Yoda offered them a sad smile.
"This is not over Kenobi!" Vader called to him over the sound of rushing water. "One day we will finish this, and you will die on my blade." The Sith lord then turned and left.
**************************************************************************** **************
Obi Wan moved a sewer cover and checked for any disturbances, he helped the small band of Jedi out onto the lower levels of Courascant. He then scanned the crowd, making sure there weren't any soldiers heading their way when his attention was draw to the east. What was left of the Jedi all stared in disbelief as the only building they've ever called home was suddendly engulfed in flames. Ash fell all around them, and smoke filled the air, they also could sense through the Force any Jedi that were in the Temple, injured were slowly being burned alive. All the Jedi hung their heads in sorrow.
Siri closed her eyes, not sure how much more she could watch, yet she didn't want to leave. She then glanced back at Obi Wan who was the only one not staring at the burning building, instead he was checking his now fried light saber and then placed it on his belt. She saw a strange look on his face, and it worried her. She then looked around her at the group of Jedi and noticed most of the children were on their knees, crying. She looked over at Ferus and for the first time in the span of their entire relationship together she saw tears falling down his cheeks.
"Ferus, get the children on their feet." Obi Wan's voice broke the errie silence.
The Jedi all looked at him, with a confused look. "We can't go yet." Ferus exclaimed, pointing towards the Temple.
"Dawn is swiftly approaching, and it won't take them long to figure out where the tunnel leads." Obi Wan explained. "There is nothing we can do." He motioned towards the Temple.
"Correct Master Obi Wan is." Yoda stated, as Ferus let him on his back again.
Obi Wan took the lead and the weary group followed him, Siri caught up to him, and waited to speak to him.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"We need a transport to get off of Courascant." Obi Wan stated.
"How exactly will we do that? I'm sure they have the space ports guarded by now." Siri answered.
"There might be someone who can help us." Obi Wan stated, turning a corner.
"And just who might that be?" Siri asked, and Obi Wan pointed towards a diner in the distance.
"Dex."
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TBC: Well, I hope this chapter turned out ok. Please read and review and let me know what you think.
Author: ewan's girl
Chapter 25:
Ferus Olin unconsciously wrung his hands, he had spent his entire life learning to overcome his emotions, espcially his fear yet today he found himself more frightened than ever before. He was not only worried about the welfare of the other Jedi that were left inside the Temple, but he was scared to death of having to rebuild the order himself if needs be, he for the first time in his life doubted his abilities.
He kept a very careful visual of the underground entrance to the Temple, ready to give the word for the children to flee if an enemy found their way down, or help the survivors that he was sure were still on their way. He stole a quick glance back to Darra Thel-Tanis, who seemed to have taken a shine to keeping the children calm, she had a distinctly maternal instinct and Ferus knew she would make a great master someday. The young Jedi knight looked at the children and marvelled at how well they were handeling the situation, only a few had burst into tears while the rest tried to remember the teachings they had learned from their crech masters. Ferus took a mental count of the children, it broke his heart to realize that only ten had survived the invasion of the Temple.
He suddenly felt a disturbance through the Force and quickly rose to his feet, his hand on the hilt of his light saber. He looked back again at Darra who was pushing the children into a corner, and pulling out her own light saber. Ferus' muscles eased when he saw the familiar form of Obi Wan Kenobi leading a small group of Jedi into the sewer with him; eight knights in all, and the only masters were Kenobi and Kit Fisto, Ferus closed his eyes in sorrow.
Obi Wan walked up to him, trying to catch his breath and clapped him on the shoulder. "Good job protecting the children." He exclaimed.
Ferus looked up at Obi Wan, and noticed the sorrow in his own eyes. "So few survived." He blurted out. "Could you save no others?"
Obi Wan looked at the small group of Jedi and sadly shook his head, he then noticed that Mace and Siri were no where to be found. "Master Windu and Tachi have not returned yet?" He asked quickly.
Ferus looked at Obi Wan, confused. "They haven't; weren't they with you?" He asked.
"They went to gather holocrons and credits." Kit Fisto explained.
// I'm so sorry Obi Wan. // Siri's voice rang through Obi Wan's head.
Obi Wan closed his eyes, trying to hold onto the small bond he shared with Siri. // Siri? // He called out through it, but recieved no answer, he looked at the group of Jedi, then locked eyes with Ferus. "I'm going back." He stated assuridly.
"Do not let your personal feelings get in the way Master Kenobi." Kit Fisto reminded him. "We have a duty to the children."
"We have a duty to the Jedi Master Fisto, and as such I believe we should attempt to save as many as possible." Obi Wan shot back, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I'm going back." He stated, heading for the entrance to the Temple.
"I'm going with you." Ferus stated, running to catch up to Obi Wan.
Kit Fisto sighed and glanced back at the small group of Jedi. "Stay with the children." He commanded and followed the two human men back into the Temple.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Siri dropped to her knees in a dark corner, and Yoda climbed off of her back, the two had been running non stop since Yoda saved Siri, and they had also run into several clones along the way. Siri tried to catch her breath, and regain some of her fleeting strength; her body was aching from the lack of sleep and extreme physical demands she'd been put through, not to mention her wounds though minor were slowing her down. She looked at Yoda and noticed he too had his own set of wounds, he also in that moment looked older than she had ever seen him (something she didn't think would be possible).
Yoda looked up at her. "Get up you must, continue on we should."
Siri attempted to force her legs to move, but they wouldn't. "I'm trying master." She stated, falling back to the ground.
"Do, or do not. . ."
Siri nodded. "There is no try." She finished Yoda's famous saying. "Yes master." She complied and took a deep breath and rose to her feet, then stooped over so Yoda could climb onto her back.
They continued their trek down the dark halls of the Temple trying to keep their presence unseen, making their way to the unground tunnel. As they drew closer to the entrance they could feel a dark presence seeking them, Siri involuntarily shuddered, knowing exactly where the presence was coming from. As they rounded a corner they noticed a large battalion of Storm Troopers blocking their way.
"Proceed we must." Yoda whispered in her ear. "If die we do, the will of the Force it is."
Siri took a deep breath and gathered the Force around her, she at that moment reached an inner peace and was prepared to die. She pulled out her light saber and glanced back at Yoda. "May the Force be with us."
Siri turned and raced around the corner, her light saber blazing, cutting down two troopers with one flick of her wrist. Yoda came into view and Force pushed several other clones who were about to fire at Siri. More and more soldiers began to apear and Siri knew they were inormously out numbered, then out of the corner of her eye she noticed a blaze of blue light, followed quickly by two green lights. She turned and watched as Obi Wan, Ferus and Kit Fisto jumped into the fray, taking out clones. Ferus jumped, kicking out with both his legs and knocking two clones off their feet. Kit used his double bladed light saber and plunged it into the chest of one clone, while bringing it back out quickly, twirling it and driving it into another one. Obi Wan sliced through a trooper's blaster and Force pushed him into a far wall, then turned and noticed a clone aiming for Siri he quickly threw his light saber, impailing the trooper in the chest and called back his weapon in time to deflect a blast from another clone.
When the entire squad was dispatched the Jedi gathered in the center of the room, Obi Wan stealthly grabbed Siri's hand and noticed Yoda for the first time. "We send you off with one high Council member and you return with another?" He asked Siri, half joking half not.
Siri looked down at Yoda, then removed her hand from Obi Wan's grip. "Master Windu is in the Council chamber, he needs our help." She exclaimed, heading towards the door.
"One with the Force Master Windu is." Yoda exclaimed sadly, forcing everyone to look at him.
The small group stood in silence for a moment, not a single one of them sure what to say next. Obi Wan cleared his throat, and broke the silence. "We must get moving, more soldiers will arrive here shortly."
The Jedi all agreed and Ferus stooped down and helped Yoda onto his back. Obi Wan let Siri lean on him for support as they began to make their way back underground. Suddenly several loud bangs were heard on the other side of the door, the Jedi all knew it meant a squadren were attempting to shoot their way inside.
"Go." Kit Fisto turned to Obi Wan.
"What?" Obi Wan looked at him in a state of shock.
"You must lead them on, get the children out of the Temple Obi Wan, that's all that matters now." Kit insisted.
"We cannot leave you." Siri argued.
"I will draw their attention, it is the only way." Kit explained. "Now go, there isn't much time."
Obi Wan hesitated, then noticed that Ferus had already made his way to the underground entrance. Siri looked up at Obi Wan, her eyes actually glossy from unshed tears. Obi Wan tightened his grip around her and began to lead her away from the room. "May the Force be with you Master Fisto." Obi Wan stated as he left the green alien to his demise.
Kit watched them go, and then stepped in front of the hallway, preparing himself for death. As the doors blasted open Kit posistioned himself in a defensive stance as about fifty storm troopers entered the small space. Kit ran towards them, his light saber swinging, taking down several in one swift motion. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain errupt just below his right shoulder, he glanced down and realized he had been shot. He then grabbed his saber in his left hand and continued to fight, taking out two more clones. He then felt searing pain on his left side, he fell to the ground momentarily, his vision blurring from the pain. He then summed up his strength and stood again, cutting off the head of one trooper, and slicing the arm off another, he then felt a blast bolt hit him in the stomach. Jedi Master Kit Fisto dropped to his knees, still clutching his light saber.
His spirit was prepared to become one with the Force, yet his body wasn't ready to give up. He tried to lift his saber one last time, but found that he was just too weak. He slowly lifted his head and watched as a tall figure dressed in black armor entered the room. The Sith lord stared at the dying Jedi he then walked past him, ignoring his pain. Kit helplessly watched as the rest of the Storm Troopers walked past him, following their leader and entering the hallway that would lead them to the other Jedi. Kit closed his eyes and fell to the ground.
**************************************************************************** *****
The four Jedi ran as best they could through the murky water, hoping they would be able to escape. None of them knew what would await them on the outside of the Temple, but they knew they had to stay in the moment. As they neared where the children were hiding Obi Wan suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.
Siri looked at him with a confused look on her face. "Ben?" She asked, remembering his request to be called by his birth name. "Are you alright?"
Obi Wan didn't answer her, he closed his eyes and listened to the Force. Ferus also stopped and Yoda looked at Obi Wan with worry on his face. Obi Wan then opened his eyes, and held an expression of someone who was lost, he looked at the other Jedi. "Go, I'll meet up with you in a minute." He stated.
"What?" Siri asked.
"I. . .I have to check something." He vaugly answered, taking her arm off of his shoulder. "Just go, I'll be right behind you."
"No." Siri argued.
Obi Wan looked at her. "For once in you life please do what I request." He pleaded with her.
Siri was taken back by this, but didn't argue. She then watched as Obi Wan headed back in the direction of the Temple.
"Master Tachi, we have to go." Ferus exclaimed, his worry getting the best of him.
Siri slowly nodded not taking her eyes off the direction Obi Wan had disapeared to.
**********
Obi Wan raced back towards the Temple, not sure what was calling out to him, commanding him to return. He rounded the last corner and just inside the entrance he noticed a large, dark figure holding a blood red light saber at his side. Obi Wan stared at the creature and listened to the errie sound of his breathing. The Jedi felt the dark side radiating off this man, yet something was also familiar about him.
"I knew if I called you through the bond you wouldn't be able to resist me." Vader stated with a chuckle. "So terribly predictable as always Obi Wan."
Obi Wan stared at the Sith. "Who are you?" He asked, although somewhat afraid of the answer.
"I am Darth Vader, lord of the Sith, a servant to the true power of the Force. I am also known as the Chosen One." Vader explained, taking a step towards Obi Wan, who seemed frozen in place.
"No." It came out as a whisper.
"I was the most powerful Jedi ever, until I learned what true power is." Vader continued.
"It cannot be." Obi Wan protested, feeling unwanted tears stinging his eyes. "You fell."
"You thought you could defeat me; it would take a Jedi much more powerful than you old man." Vader took another step towards his former master.
********
Siri stopped in her tracks, and looked back to the direction Obi Wan had gone. "I have to go after him." She announced.
Ferus and Yoda stopped and looked back at her. "But Master Tachi, he said. . ." Ferus tried.
"Yeah well I've never listened to that stuborn gundark before and I'm not about to now." She exclaimed, taking off in the opposite direction.
Ferus looked back at Yoda who shook his head and sighed.
************
"It is over Obi Wan, you have lost." Vader taunted. "The Jedi have been destroyed."
"How could you do this?" Obi Wan blurted out. "Anakin, I know you are in there somewhere, so many people are dead, and for what?"
"You did kill someone on that mountain Obi Wan, and you did it well." Vader explained.
"No, I refuse to belive the man I knew is gone, fight it Anakin." Obi Wan refused to give up. "look at what you have done; the little boy I met all those years ago would never hurt people like this." He stopped, trying to gauge if his words were having any effect. "What would your mother think of all of this?"
Vader stared at him, and stayed silent.
"And the man who loved Padme, he would never do such evil acts!" Obi Wan continued, praying it would work.
"You are playing to emotions that I no longer have Obi Wan." He held out his light saber towards the aging Jedi. "Anakin Skywalker is dead."
The usually collected Jedi couldn't stop a tear from falling down his cheek. "Then you have become what you always loved my old friend. . .a machine."
Vader raised his light saber to give a killing blow when the ground above them shook, causing the water pipe to burst. Water rained down on them, soaking them to the bone. Obi Wan pulled out his light saber just in time to deflect a series of blows. The two fought in what almost seemed like a well rehersed dance. They knew each other's moves, but Vader was not the man Obi Wan knew and loved, the Sith had much more power and rage behind his swings. Obi Wan didn't know how long he'd be able to hold his own against him.
The ground above them shook again, this time enough to cause some of the beams that held up the temple to come crashing down, Vader quickly moved out of the way, but Obi Wan wasn't as lucky, he found himself trapped beneath the rubble.
Siri rushed over to the pile of rubble just as the dust finshed clearing, she had watched it tumble on top of Obi Wan, and knew the water was rising quickly. She used the Force to try to move some of the pieces, but she couldn't concentrate enough to move the larger ones. She frantically reached towards him and was able to breifly grip his fingers before he slipped under the water completely. She took a deep breath and dove under the water to try to free him, she tried to physically move some of the debris, but she wasn't strong enough. She looked at him, and he reached out towards her, she grabbed his hand and tried to pull him out, but it was no use. She swam back to the surface and took a gulp of air before returning to his side. She again tried desprately to free him, and he grabbed her arm, stopping her. They stared at each other for a moment, Siri knew his air supply was running very thin. Suddenly they felt a surge through the Force, and the pile began to move. Siri quickly grabbed Obi Wan by the arm and helped him swim up to the surface, where he took a huge gulp of air. The two soggy Jedi stared in disbelief as Yoda and the group of younglings used the Force to lift up the debris, Yoda offered them a sad smile.
"This is not over Kenobi!" Vader called to him over the sound of rushing water. "One day we will finish this, and you will die on my blade." The Sith lord then turned and left.
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Obi Wan moved a sewer cover and checked for any disturbances, he helped the small band of Jedi out onto the lower levels of Courascant. He then scanned the crowd, making sure there weren't any soldiers heading their way when his attention was draw to the east. What was left of the Jedi all stared in disbelief as the only building they've ever called home was suddendly engulfed in flames. Ash fell all around them, and smoke filled the air, they also could sense through the Force any Jedi that were in the Temple, injured were slowly being burned alive. All the Jedi hung their heads in sorrow.
Siri closed her eyes, not sure how much more she could watch, yet she didn't want to leave. She then glanced back at Obi Wan who was the only one not staring at the burning building, instead he was checking his now fried light saber and then placed it on his belt. She saw a strange look on his face, and it worried her. She then looked around her at the group of Jedi and noticed most of the children were on their knees, crying. She looked over at Ferus and for the first time in the span of their entire relationship together she saw tears falling down his cheeks.
"Ferus, get the children on their feet." Obi Wan's voice broke the errie silence.
The Jedi all looked at him, with a confused look. "We can't go yet." Ferus exclaimed, pointing towards the Temple.
"Dawn is swiftly approaching, and it won't take them long to figure out where the tunnel leads." Obi Wan explained. "There is nothing we can do." He motioned towards the Temple.
"Correct Master Obi Wan is." Yoda stated, as Ferus let him on his back again.
Obi Wan took the lead and the weary group followed him, Siri caught up to him, and waited to speak to him.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"We need a transport to get off of Courascant." Obi Wan stated.
"How exactly will we do that? I'm sure they have the space ports guarded by now." Siri answered.
"There might be someone who can help us." Obi Wan stated, turning a corner.
"And just who might that be?" Siri asked, and Obi Wan pointed towards a diner in the distance.
"Dex."
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TBC: Well, I hope this chapter turned out ok. Please read and review and let me know what you think.