Disclaimer: See previous chapters
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-Jedi-
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I have been preparing for this moment for a long time. For a long while, I dreaded it as well. But dread was brushed aside and fear was replaced with serenity. I had completed my mission in deactivating the tractor beam on the Death Star, which would allow the others to escape. But I would not be joining them. My place was here.
Facing him…
Standing across from me was the man that had once been my student…and best friend. But all traces of him were gone, replaced by this new dark creature. Cloaked in black, wearing a mask that embodied the terror and dread of the Sith, and holding a crimson lightsaber in his iron grip.
The Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader…
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"There is no emotion; there is peace."
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Strangely enough, seeing him like this made it easier to face him. He began to move toward me, his metallic boots slamming the floor underneath as he approached. I activated my lightsaber and held it forward in ready stance, awaiting what was to come.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last." he spoke, in a deep graven voice. He lifted his saber to me, nearly crossing mine. "The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master."
Looks like his basic nature remained unchanged. Still confident in his abilities despite all that happened to him. But like then, he had a reason to be confident. The Force was still strong with him, shimmering around him like a dark storm. But it wasn't as turbulent and wild as before. It was more controlled, focused.
A storm with a purpose…
"Only a master of evil, Darth."
With that, I struck first and out sabers clashed fiercely. Our fight began immediately and felt the power in his attacks. Our movements were slower, but they were no less powerful. We attacked and counterattacked and I saw that he had learned a few new tricks, governed by the Dark Side of the Force. After dodging one of his strikes, our blades silently crossed again.
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"There is no ignorance; there is knowledge."
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"Your powers are weak, old man."
I focused on his eyes, at least what I could. "You can not win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful that you can possibly imagine."
I lunged again and we locked together. We continued to strike at each other, neither of us losing ground in the exchange. I could imagine that he was surprised by this. I wasn't without my own tricks after all. My long years of exile on Tatoonie had shown me many new uses of the Force, due to my old master Qui-Gonn. I was able to keep up with his strikes, but even so, I knew how this battle was to play out. After dodging one of his strikes, our blades silently crossed again and he backed away slightly.
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"There is no passion; there is serenity."
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I could feel his anger, his rage build up. He wasn't ready to be defeated again, not after all he believed he had learned. The Dark Side swarmed around him greatly as he spoke.
"You should not have come back."
Now it was his turn to attack. I met the charge and he came again and again. His attacks had become even stronger and they were beginning to affect me now. Blow after blow, he continued and I found myself being driven back in the corridor. But this did not scare me. If anything, I felt little. Just a sense of calm that circulated through me like a river. Our fight continued through the corridor and we soon found ourselves at an entrance near the Millennium Falcon. I took a brief glance off to the side and saw what I hoped the see. The smuggler, Han Solo, along with his Wookie co-pilot Chewbacca, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.
The one who I put all my hopes on now…
Vader chose this moment to lunge at me and this forced me to defend awkwardly and reverse positions. The stormtroopers came in close to watch, giving the group a chance to reach the ship. But Luke stopped upon seeing me.
"Ben?"
I cast another look at him. He was much like his father. Strong in the Force, a talented pilot… and a bit reckless. But he wasn't his father. And it's this fact that allowed me to have hope once again. Looking back at Vader, I smiled; something I haven't truly done in a while. To know that I had done my part in things, to know that my time had come and that I could rest from my pain. To let go of everything. I lifted my saber in salute and closed my eyes, content in the fact that soon, I would be free. I wasn't even aware of Vader's movement as he reeled back his saber, ready to finish me. I wasn't gloating when I would become more powerful. It was the truth. Pain never even registered as his blade touched and ran through me and in that instant, it was over.
My fight was over...at last.
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"There is no death; there is the Force."