Part Two: We Meet Again
The rain was begin to subside. Obi-Wan was the first to leave the cave, but not without keeping his senses alert. He sensed something. Elsewhere. The air was colder, but it smelt clean. He felt cold. His body froze. He peered over his shoulder, and saw a dark hooded figure standing behind him, a lightsaber held firmly in his hand.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan," the figure spoke, heavily.
Obi-Wan shook away the image of his apprentice, but it wouldn't go away. He could feel a cloud of darkness around his opponent. Obi-Wan cautiously removed his lightsaber, but didn't ignite it. The figure slowly approached him, igniting the blue haze of a lightsaber in his right hand. The hand was no longer his own, but a robotic arm that reached up into the comfort of his cloak. His face consumed by the confides of a dark mask. A suit of armor hidden underneath the cloak to provide the only source for the figure to live. He breathed deeply, taking in the air around him.
Obi-Wan had been suffering several dreams about seeing a man consumed in a dark body suit. A black mask covered his face, and a very deep breathing came from the man. He didn't know exactly who it was, but time was beginning to give him answer. Now, he knew exactly who it was.
"Don't do this. I can't let you destroy what you've worked so hard to reach, Anakin." Obi-Wan caught his breath.
"That name has no meaning to me now. It died right along with the body I once had. With who I once was. He died when you destroyed everything, Obi- Wan."
"No, you're still Anakin Skywalker. You've only forgotten what you've made of that name. Please, Anakin."
"No. The only thing I remember was watching your face as I was engulfed in that fiery grave. But, I'm back. Back to seek my revenge."
Obi-Wan staggered back. His dark apprentice's movement forced him back. To escape. To flee. He saw an image of a fiery pit play on his mind, eating him up from the inside. He watched his apprentice sink into its inferno of evil. Into death.
"No." He blinked away the image. "It wasn't my fault. I tried to save you, Anakin. I tried to stop you, but you let go."
"So, you do remember the day quite well, Obi-Wan?" he breathed. He circled around his old master. He could feel his master's fear feed into him, like energy for his evil form. "You will be destroyed and the Jedi will fall to my power. The Republic will be in my power. It's my Empire."
"No. Come back with me, Anakin. Stop it from getting any worst. We can end this right here. Right now."
"We can. Here and now." The dark figure lunged forward.
Obi-Wan jumped away and rolled into a fighter stance, his lightsaber ignited.
"Bow down before me. Bow down before your new master, Obi-Wan."
"Never. I won't, Anakin."
Anakin growled and swung at the older Jedi. "Stop calling me that. That name no longer means anything to me. You will only know me as your new emperor and master, Lord Vader."
Obi-Wan caught the blow and pushed his old apprentice back. He circled around him to get into a better attack position. He could feel the evil in his Padawan, but he wasn't going to give up. There was tension tightening in Obi-Wan's throat. Vader got to his feet and laughed.
"That's right, Obi-Wan. Give into your anger. Give into that anger you had when Qui-Gon died."
Obi-Wan grew furious at the sound of those words. Give into that anger you had when Qui-Gon died. He knew if he gave into that same anger, someone wasn't going to be standing, and he'd be making one closer step down the Dark Path. The image of two skilled opponents, good vs. evil, clouded his vision. He was helpless to save his Master, behind the energy wall that separated him from battle and safety. The Jedi Master blocked away the first blow but the other slipped by his guard and struck him in the midsection. Obi-Wan dropped the image just in time to pull away from another deadly blow.
Vader sent three more blows toward the Jedi, but Obi-Wan was quick to push them all away. Obi-Wan swung high, but Vader ducked to avoid the blow. Vader countered with a low parry, but Obi-Wan jumped away. They alternated parries and attacks, but none seemed to penetrated the other's shield of defense.
"You fight well, Obi-Wan. But it isn't enough to save you," Vader exclaimed.
"You can try all you want, Anakin. I will never fall and will never bow before you, Vader."
Vader grew with rage by the sound of his true name. He attacked Obi-Wan, sending the Jedi to the ground barely saving himself from the deadly blow. His ankle fell victim to pain. Vader's saber hovered over Obi-Wan's neck. Obi-Wan froze, his arm holding his only means of escape was pinned down by Vader's boot.
To be continued.....