Chapter 29 Love Against Hate
The door slid closed behind Obi-Wan as he walked into the office. The smoked-glass window allowed little light so the room was almost completely dark with the exception of a blue glow in the far corner; it was Baylor Grant holding an ignited lightsaber.
"Now where did you get that, Baylor; that wouldn't belong to my Padawan would it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Why would you think that, Obi-Wan?" Baylor answered. "I am a Jedi, or at least I was, until you managed to have me expelled."
"Because you would not have been able to leave the Temple with it." Obi-Wan replied ignoring Baylor's final statement.
"Well, by rights, I should have one." Baylor said. "So, I think I shall keep this one."
"I will not fight you, Baylor." Obi-Wan told him.
"Then, I am sorry, old friend, you will die." Baylor answered as he made a diving leap towards him.
Obi-Wan anticipated him, however, and stepped to one side; Baylor lashed out at empty air, "Stop this, Baylor." Obi-Wan said as he turned to face him.
"Fight me, you coward." Baylor demanded as he took another swipe and Obi-Wan.
"I understand your hatred, Baylor." Obi-Wan replied, "But as I tried to tell you so many years ago, Qui-Gon sought me out."
"You are lying; you were always jealous of me because I was always stronger. You knew I wanted to be Qui-Gon's apprentice and you ruined that. You made me become angry so that I would do something to get me expelled; you provoked me." Baylor claimed.
"You have become so twisted by your own hate that you have distorted the truth, Baylor. Qui-Gon asked me many times to become his apprentice and I turned him down every time because I did not wish to hurt you." Obi-Wan answered.
"If I am twisted, it is because of what you have done." Baylor rebutted. "I am what you made me."
"Then I'm sorry." Obi-Wan said.
"TOO LATE!" Baylor screamed and threw himself at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan barely had time to move out of his way and Baylor singed the arm of his tunic; with a sigh, Obi-Wan drew his own weapon and ignited it. He had no other recourse.
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Anakin watched as Padme and Bail, carrying Zak on his back, left the warehouse. When they were gone, he turned his attention to the now-closed office door. It was locked from the inside, Anakin would have to break the lock code or cut through the door with his lightsaber.
"I wish Artoo were here." He said aloud as he pulled his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. This would take time, precious time that he did not have.
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Obi-Wan let Baylor come, waiting until the last moment to parry the attack he knew was coming. Zak's blade clashed with his as Baylor tried to cut him in half. He felt the block in his injured shoulder, "Oh, that hurts does it not?" Baylor remarked as he swung at him again.
Obi-Wan parried him again while trying to block out the pain that now reverberated from his shoulder and down his arm, "Shall I try that again?" Baylor taunted, swinging the weapon again.
Once again, Obi-Wan blocked the shot and, in an attempt to get a respite from the fight, Force pushed Baylor back into a corner. The fight had barely started, and already he was breathing hard and his shoulder throbbed. Anakin had been right; he was not ready for this, "I don't wish to fight you, Baylor; stop this now." Obi-Wan said.
"You only say that because you are losing, Obi-Wan. You would just love to kill me right now; would you not?" Baylor answered as he regained his footing.
"You know that's not true, Baylor; I did not want to fight you in the first place. We can end this now; come back with me and I will see that you get a fair hearing." Obi-Wan replied.
"You fool; I know what you are trying to do. If I surrender, you will kill me." Baylor countered.
"We were friends once, Baylor; I have no wish to see you dead." Obi-Wan told him. "Please, give up now."
Baylor's answer was a charge toward him, lightsaber raised for a killing blow that Obi-Wan blocked with some difficulty. Baylor laughed, sensing Obi-Wan's weakness and struck again. A block and yet another Force push threw Baylor back. However, Baylor was undeterred and threw his weight towards Obi-Wan.
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Mace, Yoda and Anakin were all working on burning through the door. They could here the sounds of muffled fighting inside the office. Anakin could sense Obi-Wan's strength gradually lessening. With renewed vigor, he attacked the door. Yoda felt Anakin's desperation, "Calm yourself, Anakin." He said. "Help him you can, but only when you are calm."
"He's weakening, Master Yoda; how much longer can this go on?" Anakin asked.
"Long enough, Anakin. Focus you must on getting through this door." Yoda replied.
"I'm trying, Master Yoda." Anakin answered.
"Then try harder you must." Yoda said.
Anakin nodded as he tried to block out Obi-Wan's pain and weakness.
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Baylor crashed into Obi-Wan, sending them both to the floor with Baylor on top. A Force push by Obi-Wan shifted Baylor's weight enough so that he could move. Baylor rolled into a squat and stood up; Obi-Wan was slower and had to scramble to block an attempt by Baylor to take off his head. His arm was now almost useless and he was forced to resort once again to Force pushing Baylor away from him.
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At last, it seemed as if they were making some headway; Mace had managed to cut completely through the door, now they would only need to cut an opening. Padme had returned with two of the Clones.
"What are you doing back here, Padme?" Anakin asked without turning. "I told you to wait outside."
"I was worried. I thought this would be over by now." She answered.
"Well, it's not; Baylor has locked the door and Obi-Wan is alone inside with him." Anakin informed her.
"Is he alright?" Padme asked.
"Padme, what do you think?" Anakin asked impatiently.
"Oh…I…" Padme stammered.
"I'm sorry, Padme; I should not have been so cross. Obi-Wan is not doing well; we must get in there as soon as possible." Anakin told her softly. "Where did you leave Zak?"
"Bail is with him in the transport; poor thing, he can barely talk." Padme said, almost crying. "How could he have been so cruel?"
"Hate does that; he hates Obi-Wan so much that he thought he could hurt him with his cruelty toward Zak." Anakin explained.
"Anakin, I think we almost have it." Mace said.
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Baylor came at him again, Zak's lightsaber poised for another strike. Obi-Wan moved toward the window to avoid having his head taken off again; but Baylor adjusted and tried to hit him again. Obi-Wan blocked it one-handed and Force pushed him back. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the glow of hot metal on the door; Anakin was trying to get in. Baylor noticed this too.
"Well, well, well; it looks as if your hound is coming to your rescue. How touching." He said. "Too bad; he will be just a little too late."
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"Chancellor." Zak whispered.
"Zak, you should not try to talk." Bail told him.
"But, Master Obi-Wan." He whispered.
"He will be just fine, Zak. Master Anakin is going to help him, remember?" Bail assured him. "You should rest."
"I can't." Zak whispered.
"Then at least rest your throat, Zak." Bail said.
"Alright." Zak whispered and then closed his eyes.
Bail watched him as he fell asleep and he felt a small pang of regret; he and his wife had so wanted to have children, but three failed pregnancies and a near death experience had ended their dream. Perhaps, he thought, they might consider adoption.
Slowly, the hole in the door became larger; only a little more and it would be large enough. Despite Anakin's pleas, Padme remained with them; concern for her husband and her husband's close friend outweighed any care she might have for her own safety. She could tell, by Anakin's posture, that he was deeply worried about Obi-Wan locked in the office with Baylor and she wondered what Obi-Wan's death would do to him.
"He's not going to die, Padme." Anakin said. "So stop thinking like that."
There were a many things she would have liked to say in response, but she chose to say, "I'm sorry, Anakin."
"It's alright, Padme; but you must not think he'll die." He replied. "Now, get away from the door, we are just about to open the hole so I can get through."
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"You are not looking very well, Obi-Wan." Baylor taunted. "Maybe I should put you out of your misery."
"How can I make you understand, Baylor? I never intended to hurt you." Obi-Wan said.
"You are such a liar, Obi-Wan. Why can you not just admit it?" Baylor asked.
"Admit what? You had a chance to be apprenticed and you turned it down. Your anger drove you to break the Jedi Code; that was not my doing." Obi-Wan answered. "Now, please; power down and give up."
"Not until you are dead." Baylor replied and attacked again.
Obi-Wan managed a two-handed parry, but it cost him; he could no longer block the pain in his shoulder. "Hurry up, Anakin." He thought as he Force pushed Baylor back yet again. Then, before Obi-Wan could defend himself, Baylor threw his full weight at him in another attempt to throw him to the floor. The momentum threw them both into the window.
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Zak suddenly sat bolt upright, breathing hard, "Master Obi-Wan?" He asked in a whisper.
"No, he has not come out yet. Go back to sleep, Zak." Bail said calmly.
"No, I have to help him." Zak whispered as he attempted to get out of the seat.
"Master Anakin is helping him. You must stay here." Bail told him, pushing him back down.
"He needs me." Zak replied. "Let me go."
"I cannot do that, Zak. You were told to stay out here." Bail insisted.
Zak quit struggling, "But he needs me." He repeated.
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At last, the hole had been enlarged so that Anakin could get through; but before he could slip through, he felt….something, "Get out of the way, Padme!" He cried urgently as he threw her to the ground and covered her with his own body.
The office window shattered as Baylor's leap carried him and Obi-Wan through it. Obi-Wan had been able to twist just enough to prevent Baylor from landing on time of him for the second time, and he rolled to prevent impaling himself on his own weapon. Baylor landed awkwardly on his stomach and cried out in agony. For a moment, time seemed to stand still and no one moved.
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"Please, I need to go back." Zak pleaded as he tried once again to get up.
"No, Zak; Master Obi-Wan has enough to worry about. Stay here out of harm's way." Bail replied holding him down.
"Master Obi-Wan needs my help." Zak insisted.
"Master Obi-Wan wants you be safe, Zak. Now, stop fighting me and lie still."
"But he really does need me." Zak said one more time as he gave up and relaxed.
"I know." Bail replied.
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Obi-Wan turned his head; Baylor was lying motionless next to him. He powered down his lightsaber, sat up and rolled Baylor over gently. Baylor had fallen on Zak's weapon and it had opened a gaping wound in his midsection. He was dying. Obi-Wan cradled his head in his lap, "I'm sorry, Baylor; I am so sorry." He said softly.
Baylor opened his eyes as stared up at him. The hate was gone, replaced with a look of sorrow and regret.
"No…Obi-…Wan…I….am…sorry." He stammered. "You…were…my…forgive…"
Obi-Wan nodded vigorously, "Yes, Baylor. It's alright. I understand." He answered tearfully.
"Thank…you…my…friend." Baylor replied, smiling.
Obi-Wan felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Anakin standing behind him, "Are you alright, Obi-Wan?" He asked.
Obi-Wan looked back at Baylor and then up at Anakin, "I…yes…I think so." He said.
Baylor's breathing became erratic. He tried to say something, but could not and died; Obi-Wan bowed his head in grief and could not move.
"Come, Obi-Wan; there's nothing more for you to do here." Anakin told him quietly.
"He was my friend, Anakin. How could this happen?" Obi-Wan asked.
"It was the hate, brother. You know that. I have seen that kind of hate…in my nightmares; it's destructive, and it destroyed him." Anakin answered. "Now, come on; Zak is probably worried about you."
Obi-Wan laid Baylor's head gently back down on the floor and allowed Anakin to help him stand.
Yoda, Mace and Padme, who had been standing back, now came forward and together, they left the building. The two Clones who had come back in with Padme picked Baylor's body up and carried it out to the waiting transports.
