Disclaimer: I do not own anything. It all belongs to Lucas.
A/N: Based on the Jedi Apprentice series. The idea came to me while watching Episode III for the second time. Please read and review.
A Friend Lost
Obiwan walked silently through the halls of the now deserted temple. Bodies littered the floor. Blood ran down the tiled floors and collected in small pools along the walls. The destruction was horrific. He shuddered when he saw a young boy's body with no head attached. Obiwan turned from the image.
Yoda paced alongside him. His eyes scanned the foyer and the bodies littered there. So much death. How could someone do such a thing? He knelt besides an older girl. Lyla, that had been the girl's name. She must have been no older than sixteen. Three gun wounds showed on her chest. Yoda tried to feel a pulse, but there was none. He sighed and turned away. Had it only been a month ago that he had conversed with the Lyla about her lightsaber techniques? Now she was dead.
A sharp gasp made Yoda look up at Obi-wan. He saw the young man leaning down over a dead body. Yoda drew in a breath- Bant. She had been one of Obi-wan's best friends. They had done practically everything together, from lessons to swimming to hanging out. Yoda sighed and shook his head sadly. Why did it have to come to this? Why?
Obi-wan leaned over Bant's still body, tears cascading down his pale face. Dead, she was dead. No, this couldn't be. He had just talked to her not even a few weeks ago. She had been about ready to go on a mission with some troops to the Daman system. Now, here she lay. Dead, her blood making a pool of crimson around her body. Her features were pale from the lack of moisture and as he touched her cheek, the skin cracked. No!
Obi-wan cried as he cradled her body. A lightsaber wound was evident in her stomach. Obi-wan looked at it, curiously for a second. A lightsaber wound? Another feeling of horror swept over him. A Jedi had done this. A Jedi had done this! Guessing from the number of trooper bodies lying around her, Bant had taken out a good portion of the invading army before dying. Obi-wan felt himself grow dizzy. Whoever had done this had killed her because she had refused to die.
"Oh, Bant." He whispered, heedless of Yoda a few feet away from him, watching. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could have been here. I wish I could have rescued you. I remember, I remember like it was yesterday. Rescuing you from the pool under the waterfall. I remember hoping I wasn't too late. And now, after that, being too late. I'm so sorry. How could you ever forgive me?" The words rushed into his mind and without any thought, he spoke them. "I love you." The flood of tears rushed strongly out and made streaks on Bant's pale skin.
"I promise. Whoever did this will pay. I promise, Bant." He gently laid her body down on the floor. Obi-wan looked at Yoda.
"Security cams show all. Yes, show all." Yoda said. Obi-wan nodded and they started walking to the security chambers. Yoda didn't tell Obi-wan that he had heard all that was said. The confession of love was shocking but not surprising. Yoda had long felt a special connection between the two. And now, it was too late. Too late for them all.
