Disclaimer: Read the first chappy legal peeps. Too lazy to repeat :)
Dedicated To: Crydwyn, for her lovely e-mail :)
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Chapter Sixteen: Of Self-Revelations
"What you are saying isn't possible."
The reply came back quickly and scathingly, putting him in his place with a patronising tone, "Neither is the existence of the Sith, boy."
"That is evidently possible seeing as a killed your apprentice not five years ago, actually." Obi-Wan kept talking, wincing as the Sith mentally beat upon the reinforced shielding without rest, "What you are saying makes no logical sense."
"Then you admit the Jedi have a saviour?"
"I admit nothing."
The Sith stepped further into the shadows, completely disappearing from view. His words echoed around as if it was the litereal voice of the surrounding darkness. Quite apt, Obi-Wan mused absently, "Boy you are talking in more circles than your Master Yoda. I do not have time for this, you are not ready to know the truth."
"What truth, your truth? You'rea Sith, you know only lies."
"Another indoctrinated falsity the Jedi have drilled into you from day one, I'm afraid. We Sith are quite capable of truth, it just depends on your point of view."
Kenobi's eyes flicked about the area, having now lost the Sith who was still blocked from his Force senses. Indeed this was making him very uneasy and now he had a very bad feeling about the situation. Where was he? And what was this truth?
"You see, the truth is," A crimson lightsaber levelled itself at Obi-Wan's neck, "the Jedi will never beat me, not even you."
We must have strength over fear, he reminded himself, whilst the time-old weapon of the Order, once never split down the lines of Light and Dark, hovered a mere breath away from his neck, its searing heat singing the hair on his neck. "And why me?"
"You will never kn-" the Sith stopped, faltering, and his attentions diverted from bringing down Obi-Wan's shields to another source, one that he recognised all to well. Ashden! What was she doing here? Unadulterated fear shot through his heart and jolted his fingers even as they were locked by his sides. There were others with her, though he couldn't identify them in the light, assumed were her trusty friends, Thew, Sa-Bay, Amati and Uli. "-hello children.."
"Padawan, take your friends and go back to the Temple. Now."
Ashden stopped at the edge of the shadows that inked the walls, standing in the light and stared at the Sith holding Obi-Wan at 'saber point, "You're the one who's been hurting him," she said, "not Master Jinn. It's you, isn't it?"
What was she even doing here? He left her at the Temple for a reason! It was safe and guarded, especially in recent months, how in Force's name had five children not even thirteen circles old snuck out undetected? "Ashden take your friends and go home now."
It came out sharper than he intended, but there was no time to soften his words. They were in danger and were so because they disobeyed a direct instruction.
"Ah yes," said the Sith, "Padawan Ashden Fahaay, you've been Master Kenobi's apprentice for a few months now, haven't you? Interesting, isn't it Jedi, how children have the ability to see the obvious. I do believe it is called innocence… sad how it can be ripped away in an instant."
"Leave my Master alone, you, you, Sith!"
The being still behind him chuckled deep in his throat, and curled a finger inwards, bring Sa-Bay forward off the floor and into the air, hovering at a much higher height. Struggling against the invisible aggressor, Sa-Bay raised his hands to his neck in a pointless attempt to clear the path to his airway but it was no use. The remaining children screamed in shock, unawares that it could be done, and rushed forward but Obi-Wan knew it would be no use. They wouldn't be able to help him now. In fact, their despair for their friend seemed to amuse the Sith to greater heights because he toyed with the child for a few seconds, spinning him in the air as he was slowly choked to death.
High pitched screams rose as the human boy turned first red, and then a steadily growing blue whilst his lungs were deprived of vital air. In a sudden rush, the four children ran at the Sith, completely mindless of any danger to themselves. This was the outcome it wanted, with one violent push Sa-Bay was thrown to the opposite wall with a resounding crack and Obi-Wan knew that was the end of the young one's life. He felt it not only through the Force on a peripheral level, but also a deeper, more personal level he was becoming more accustomed too: Sa-Bay was not meant to die this day, yet he had. The Force was becoming unbalanced and he was standing there watching it happen, at lightsaber point or not. However, in the same moment that Sa-Bay had lost his life and these thoughts had occurred to Obi-Wan, the Sith had accumulated the strong concentration of Force power which resulted in an electric blue lightening.
Everything was happening so fast… the children were crying, rushing at the Sith but held at bay by its invisible wall.
Force lightening licked at the tips of the Sith's fingers, crackling with the dark anticipation that was filling the air with foul stench, and Obi-Wan knew what he had to do with the utmost clarity, knew how to do it, knew exactly when to execute the moves, knew exactly what could go wrong and what could go right, depending on the variables around him.
Slamming his own Force wall backwards, the searing burn of the 'saber on the skin of his neck was almost nothing to the sheer exhilaration of knowing this was right, what he felt was right. He drew his own 'saber, igniting it green in an instant and squared off with the Sith.
"Ashden, run home now. Take your friends and run, don't stop until you find Master Yoda, he'll be in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. I'll bring Sa-Bay as soon as I can. Don't question me, Amati, nor you Thew, just go. Now."
"But Master -" sniffed Ashden,
"Now, Ashden. Run, as fast as you can."
He didn't spare them another thought, the sound of their footsteps echoed into the distance and he was free to focus all of his concentration on the dark being before him.
Silence stretched between them for seconds leading to eternity, taking a step to the right, a few paces to the left, sizing each other up as opponents and mortal enemies.
The assault on his shields had lessened some, and in response Obi-Wan sent out his own more cautious probes to the dark beings mind but still found nothing as if he wasn't even there at all. Frustration threatened to shake the composure that blanketed his emotions; the answers to all his midnight thoughts, to all his nightmares and to so many of the unanswered questions many Jedi held in these dark times was stood barely six feet in front of him, hidden from visual sight in nothing more than a billowing cloak and overhanging hood.
He was so close!
In the end, it was the Sith that spoke first, breaking the almost intimate silence, "It's thrilling isn't it? That rush of power, knowing you can use it to any means."
"Is that what turned you, your thirst for power? Your need for control?"
"I was never turned, boy, I am what I am and always have been. To me, I wonder what it is that made you choose to turn to the weak. Now, shall we dance?"
The question, asked so lightly, posed an odd choice of words for the predicament both were in. A dead child lay behind Obi-Wan, whom was facing off with the Master Sith armed with nothing more than a lightsaber, and renewed sense of being, and whats more, the Sith held not only his own weapon, but a command over Force lightening which still crackled in one hand. Which would he use first? He could not fight in a 'saber battle with just one hand, surely that was simple impossible… although if there was one thing Obi-Wan was learning, it was that nothing was impossible.
"Lets."
A mere milli-second of a warning was all he received before the onslaught began. Electricity burned across the air, aiming directly for his chest and caused Obi-Wan to fall a step back, towards the oh-so-still body of Sa-Bay, under the pressure of its blow.
And so the dance began, the Sith coursing electricity to Obi-Wan, who either absorbed it completely with his 'saber, or deflected it away. But no good dance is monotonous, it has variety, such is the spice of life, and the sizzling crackle of lightsaber crossed with lightsaber soon rang through the dank and dismal area.
Time lost all meaning, only that he survived long enough to bring news to the Temple, which was more than surely four shocked little ones would be able to manage, and it would be unfair of him to expect that of them. Obi-Wan couldn't deny that the Sith was a master swordsman, accurate, focussed and determined -a deadly combination. But Obi-Wan had fought a Sith before, knew the style, knew to keep his composure, knew that to win, he'd have to use his opponents weaknesses against him. The only problem was, right now? He was rather preoccupied with merely staying alive, the base instinct all sentient beings shared.
Determined to survive, Obi-Wan began analysing everything he could about their fight, like the way every move he made, the Sith blocked perfectly, as if he knew them off by heart, had been practising for just as long as Obi-Wan had… which made sense. What better way for the Sith to beat its mortal enemies, the Jedi, than to literally know their every move? So what could he do, what could the Jedi do now?
Oh Force, what should I do?
How long they'd be fighting, Obi-Wan had no idea, his entire self was devoted to this battle, this second and the second ahead, but a fatal sense of hopelessness was starting to descent upon him. Every form he'd ever been taught was failing to even shake the Sith, yet they did serve to exhaust him much quicker.
Well then why are you doing it, Padawan? His Master's voice came unbidden to his mind, quiet and serene within itself.
Will come, answers, when mind is open.
Well I suppose I'll listen to my elders, he thought. Even though the prior was by no means in his good books, the advice his unconscious had provided was common sense. And so, against his usual better judgement, Obi-Wan stopped trying to beat the Sith, and simply fought him using his senses and his own body's agility.
Results appeared almost immediately, because as every good strategist knows: there is no defence against chaos. It wasn't long before the Sith had to put in effort on his own part, and the pair parried between the reversing positions of offence and defence.
To Obi-Wan it felt as if he were flying, the Force flowed through him without obstruction or hesitation, filling every crevice and fingertip, guiding his every move with lightning precision. His movements began to take a form of pattern unlike ever he'd ever practised as a Padawan, although he saw through strangely distant eyes that some were similar to the higher (much higher) levels of Kata's that some Masters and Knights attempted. Himself included. But whatever he was doing was working. The Sith was being forced into a more and more defensive position each minute, and in their more frantic and hurried bouts Obi-Wan knew he felt a glimmer of fear that the Jedi, he, would win this fight, but that fear was always soaked in an old rage, and ancient anger that bubbled and boiled within his oppositions being. It felt familiar, very familiar indeed. It felt like his nightmares, the nightly terrors that haunted his sleep on occasion, and it felt like the fight he'd witnessed not long ago. In the very Temple itself. The Sith was managing to influence the young Initiates to much greater anger than they should be capable of.
"As intriguing as this is my dear boy," panted the Sith, "I feel it is time for me to leave you -until we meet again. You've been of great help." With a Force-assisted jump, the Sith leaped backwards several feet, throwing out a smoke bomb laced with some kind of acid, because seconds later Obi-Wan's eyes were running near rivers as he attempted to rid them of the smoke.
That was it? How could- Why would- How did he- what? Obi-Wan's mind span nearly as much as the floor. Maybe if it stopped spinning it wouldn't feel as if his head was being smashed against the wall and mashed with a larger hydraulic hammer?
"Get a grip, Kenobi," he muttered, rubbing his streaming eyes once more, "You've got a job to do."
Tired and stumbling, Obi-Wan nearly collapsed next to the prone figure that lay on the cold floor. Ten cycles old… his life had barely begun before it ended. There wasn't any blood, nor any limbs at obscene angles, it looked like he was only sleeping, yet when Obi-Wan reached out a hand to smooth away the dark blonde hair he found skin that was much to cold, now turning a little to pale, and eyes that stared into nothing. Closing the boy's eyes, Obi-Wan gathered the last of his strength and lifted the young Jedi into his arms as carefully and gently as he could, and made his way home, praying the other children and his Padawan arrived there safely and into warm arms to care for them.
& & & &
Yoda paced the steps of the Jedi Temple at a deliberately slow pace, tapping his gimmer stick in rhythmic times hoping to ease the tension building up within the others around him inside the Temple. With him stood only Bant, all other Jedi were on full alert at either their sentry posts, posts outside of the Temple, or with the young ones.
Some hours had passed since Obi-Wan left the Temple, determined to get to the bottom of what he was no doubt feeling. The time Yoda had tried to plan for, for some twenty eight cycles, was fast approaching and, despite all his years of experience, the ancient Master had not decided how to tell the young man that he was the Chosen One. Chosen to bring balance to the Force, now falling ever faster out of balance, Chosen and fated many years ago by beings who'd never met the boy, nor the man he'd grown to be.
It was a heavy burden to carry. And though Yoda did not doubt Obi-Wan's ability or integrity or in any way at all, the child was completely of the Light that was the point, he doubted the fairness of it. It wasn't fair to place such a weight on any beings shoulders, and have the carry it simply because it was foreseen for them, ordained years before even Yoda existed.
No, what Yoda decided in the many cycles he'd had to mentally debate the issue, was that he would never break the news to Obi-Wan. Something so significant Yoda could never force on a person. When Obi-Wan came to him with questions, as he inordinately would, such was his nature, he would answer them and give information and council as he always did. And, if what he'd sensed through the Force was right, that time was very near, very near indeed. When the four children came running back to the Temple, ash-white and crying, the Master knew it was coming that very night. All were with their Care Master, or in young Ashden's case, former Care Master, and the Healers in attempts to sooth their terrified and grieving minds -from what they had stuttered, the Sith killed Initiate Sa-Bay Vour purely because he could. Because he knew it would hurt Obi-Wan and the Jedi. A completely pointless death, but in no way mindless.
A near-blinding presence to his Force senses bought Yoda out of his musings. There, in the distance, Obi-Wan Kenobi was running towards the Temple with a bundle in his arms.
"Returning to us, Obi-Wan is."
"Master, that's Obi? But his signature is so…"
Yoda looked up at the Calamarian Healer, still yet a Padawan, and spoke so seriously there was no doubt to his words, though they were not cruel in any way, just well and truly meant, "Tell people of this, you must not, explained later, all will be."
Face solemn, Bant nodded and bowed, "Yes, Master Yoda."
When Obi-Wan reached the steps, Bant sprinted down to meet him, taking the burden of the dead child from his arms as they slowly came back up.
"Take the child you will, prepare him for ceremony. Talk with Master Kenobi, I must."
Bant nodded silently and left the two alone, one shivering in a cold that wasn't present and the other observing with old eyes, saddened and worried. "Follow me, you will. Tea, what you need is."
Wordlessly the pair traversed the distance to Yoda's quarters, and still with no words they sat in the cushions as Yoda made and served a soothing tea.
"The Sith have returned, I fought the Master tonight," Obi-Wan stared into the tea, breathing slow, "He knew every Jedi move, every one, they were so easy for him, Master, it was as if he'd been practising them three life times more. I, I didn't know what to do… he was beating me without barely trying and, and he was enjoying it, Master… yet, I was not afraid. I felt the Force coursing through me, it was like, like air and blood and it was in me completely until I let it guide me without hesitation, without any thought -I stopped thinking and just, was, Master. It taught me how to fight in a new way, a way the Sith didn't, but I've never seen anything like it, Master Yoda, not even in the most accomplished swordsmen we have, it was only then that the Sith had to try, and try hard. But, he left -abandoned the fight before I could unveil his true identity."
Yoda grunted, his ears twitching, and motioned that Obi-Wan should finish his tea, before any further words were said.
"Noticed difference, in self, have you? Hmm?"
He nodded, but his sweat-soaked hair stayed stuck to his forehead, "I feel, different… stronger."
"Changed, signature has, amplified it has been."
"But it feels right, Master, how can that -" She never told anyone of the boy's true father, because she wanted nothing to do with him. And, well, when you came by, who could pass up an opportunity like that? Your ancient prophecy is well known throughout nearly every planet with space travel. Does the tale sound familiar, Jedi? "Master Yoda, the Sith said Shmi lied, that Anakin does have a father… that he isn't the Chosen One, how could that be? I tested his midi-chlorean count myself."
"Computer mistake, that was. Higher than average, young Skywalker's count is, but not unremarkable, it is not."
The pained expression of betrayal struck Obi-Wan's smooth features, his eyes becoming an even more tortured blue-grey as his mind tried to process the truth slowly unravelling before him, "Anakin isn't… was never… and you knew, this whole time?"
"Know, I did."
"Does Qui-Gon know… does he even suspect? Does anyone?"
"Great secret, this is, know of it only you, Mace, Shmi and I. Suspect, does anyone? Powerful thing, hope is. Taken it away from us, should I? Exposed truth to universe, should I?"
"The truth…" Obi-Wan trailed off, staring at a point in the distance, thought processes ticking over one acknowledgment at a time, "The Sith, he wanted me, has been trying to influence me for months. I confirmed who he was influencing and looking for tonight, didn't I?"
Yoda said nothing, his ears twitched briefly, but his doleful eyes never left the young Master before him. He had to come to his own decision.
"But, that wouldn't make any sense… my mother and father lived on Tatooine, they died years ago -I can't be who he's looking for. The Chosen One has to have no biological father. He made a mistake…"
"Fight him, you did? Feeling what?"
"I just wanted to get back here, Master. I didn't feel anything, otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here, would I?"
Shifting on the cushions, the little green Master grunted in response, neither affirming nor denying anything. The problem Obi-Wan was having at the moment, it seemed, was that he didn't want it to be true, he was helplessly flailing in denial, could no longer claim blissful ignorance.
"I felt the Force, can still feel it… Master, is that why you say my signature has changed? Been amplified? Through this, changed, connection?" With no response forthcoming, he was forced to talk through his thoughts one by one, for nearly an hour, until finally, he said nothing more and sighed. Yoda knew the time had come for explanations unto the revelations.
"What does it mean, Master? How could no one have known, until now?"
"Still, no one knows. Dampener, carry I do. Sensed your signature, only Padawan Erin and I did. Changed, it has not, re-asserted itself, it has. On birth, your mother and I knew who you were. Hide signature, we decided, knew it would not last forever. Broke through the cloak I had placed on you, it has. Put it back, I cannot. Learn to, you will, if wish to, you do -"
"But what does it mean, Master?" interrupted Obi-Wan, desperation and confusion colouring the room, "Who am I?"
"Hmphf." Yoda jabbed his stick at the younger Jedi and frowned deeply, "Changed, have you? Sense change in who you are, I do not. Thoughts changed? Feelings? Not who changed, nothing changed, Obi-Wan Kenobi are you. Simply truth found way out. True potential, now can you achieve."
Obi-Wan didn't look convinced, however he chose not to disagree with the wizened one.
"Decide what to do now, we must. Recommend your secret stay kept, I do, for your protection."
"So does Bant know?"
"Know only that your connection changed for battle, does Padawan Erin. Your decision, it must be, to tell any of your identity."
"And Anakin?"
"Know the truth, he must. Sense this, I do. Arrogance becoming of Jedi, it is not. Learn this, he has not and cannot while Qui-Gon also thinks Chosen One, he is. Lenient, he has become." Yoda set down the long empty cup with a gentle push through the Force, and stood, "Now, he sleeps. Tomorrow, choice he will make: Jedi or not."
"And what do we do now, Master?"
He walked through the doorway to the corridor outside without looking back, knowing in his voice, "Easy, answer is. Tired and upset, three Initiates and a Padawan are. Go to them, I will. Comfort, this time is. Lost dear friend at young age, they have."
Jumping to his feet, all battle fatigue disappearing in an instant, Obi-Wan joined Yoda with an energy he didn't know he had, "Ashden! Did she get back here okay?"
"Returned well, all did. Cared for, they have been, but need her Master, young one does. Ask her of her mission, you should. Interesting tale, it was. To help you, only what she wanted."
"Why would I need help?" he asked in disbelief some minutes later, apparently unable to find a suitable answer.
"Perceptive, children are. Sensed your pain, she did. Understand, she did not, the cause."
"The Sith…"
Yoda made a sound that was something akin to a snort and tapped his gimmer stick harder on the floor, "Forgot your Master, have you? Sort matters out, you must. Afford to be at odds with other Jedi, none of us can."
"I -"
"Arrived, we have."
Yoda stood solemnly at one side of the doorway to what used to be Ashden's shared bedroom with Sa-Bay, Thew and three other children who must have been temporarily moved in order to accommodate Amati and Uli.
Voice low he said, "Understand death, they did not. Tried, we have. Older two, understand now. Young ones, grasp why, they cannot."
Obi-Wan nodded, "Because there was no reason, not in their eyes."
"Yes, explain to Initiate Niiob, I will."
"And I Ashden."
It was at that moment, the children looked up from their Care Master to the doorwa and upon seeing her Master alive and well, the young Padawan leaped to her feet to embrace him as tightly as she good, as if assuring herself he was really in one piece, crying tears that he knew would have to be shed.
Picking her up like he had when he first met her, frightened and alone hearing everyone's thoughts, he nodded once to the Care Master and Yoda, and left, soothing the crying child as he did so. And it occurred to the Master, who in his hundreds of years as a Jedi, Master of over twenty apprentices and witness to all to many prophecy claims, that Obi-Wan was entirely true to his mother's nature and the name she gave him. Muriel's gift of the Light, to the Light. Balance would come.
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Author's Notes: um, forgive me? I plead insanity anda rather forgetful memory. I know where i'm going with this now (since my plan ran out quite a few chapters ago) and there's only two chapters left.. i'll tie up as of the loose ends as possible but some are just not meant to be done so in this story... some are for the sequel ;)
Review Thank Yous and Replies:
bluberry/n/cream: it would? well in my plan i've only got 2 chapters left so :) not long left now :D
Crydwyn
Psycho Zlaya: lol yeah i am a bit of a slow writer... i blame myself for staring at the screen and thinking about what to write next, rather than actually doing it lol :)
Jedi-Bant: yeh yoda is sooo underrated. i love yoda :D
brierhart
silverkitcat
passon (x2): it's fun listening to everyone's ideas... keep going :)
cravings: you can beg if you want i suppose... i'd rather you didn't, its kind of odd :) Its just nice knowing somebody likes the story :)
Itha Arrowland
Ranger000
SoloKenobi: You made me blush! Thank you so much:D
april
Dha-Gal: once again, loved the review :D
Lame Crown
SereneNuit: Heheheheh questions questions questions, have some been answered? Hope your patience hasn't worn off:D