The Duel

She could sense his approach and felt an irrationally relieved that she could still feel him, even though they were now on opposite sides of The Force. She felt such a potent mixture of love and hate for this man that she did not know if she would be able to do what she planned.

She shook her head. What she felt for him could not guide her now. He had given his love elsewhere and, if she did not do what she had to do here, Palpatine would kill her babies or, at the very least, kill her and keep her babies for his own. What was Obi-Wan's life or her soul to Lucina and Leia? She closed her eyes, let the dark bloom within her like some obsidian flower, and prepared for battle.

She met his ship and watched him come toward her with eyes that glowed with the red of the lava. There was no pity in her and no weakness but the turbulence and uncertainty within her former master and friend radiated toward her. She let him speak first.

"Anakira," he said, "it is still not too late. Tell me why you joined the Dart Side and I will help you, bring you back."

"I don't think so, my master," she sneered, "it is you and the Council who are wrong…"

Before she could continue, a small, slender figure emerged from the ship and the sight of Padme Amidala fueled Anakira's rage.

Anakira scowled and continued, "Why would you care, anyway, Obi-Wan? You love her, not me."

Padme stood up straight and there was steel in her brown eyes when she looked at the younger, taller woman and said, "DO not listen to her, Obi-Wan. You saw the security holo. She is lost to us." She raised her blaster and continued, "I knew I was right to come. If you do not have the will to do your duty as a Jedi Knight, I will do mine as a Senator of the Republic."

Anakira laughed, "The Republic is dead and surely even you are not so much of a fool that you think you can defeat me when he can not."

Obi-Wan was an experienced and confidant fighter, at least when it came to the light saber, but being stuck between two women, one with a blaster and the other with the elegant weapon of the Jedi, java him pause. He decided he had to do something before Anakira destroyed Padme.

He addressed Anakira first, "I would not be so sure of being able to defeat me, Padawan." He turned to Padme and said, "Padme, I asked you stay on the ship." His voice cracked when he continued, "I can't believe that Anakira, our Anakira who we have known since she was eight years old, is lost."

Padme shook her head and said, "Obi, she slaughtered younglings." The Senator raised her blaster and fired.

Anakira gave a small, mechanical laugh and easily sent the blast back to its source, solidly hitting Padme in the shoulder. She appeared emotionless as she watched the woman who had helped raise her crumple to the ground. The look in Obi-Wan's eyes and the sound of his voice screaming Padme's name could have undone her at one time but not with the babies at stake. "Now, my master," sneered Anakira, "we can proceed without interference."

"Anakira, don't do this," pleaded Obi-Wan.

They fought and she could feel him holding back while she fought with all the love and fear she had for her babies and her strong belief that the only way to peace was Empire. Still, she almost felt guilty for what she was about to do. Almost.

They fought and she gave no quarter but she could feel Obi-Wan holding back, just the smallest bit. She was tall and graceful as she fought and quicker than her former master. It was pleasing to see how she was now stronger than him but it was time to finish this and she had discarded Obi-Wan's foolish ideas of chivalry.

She decided to tell him what he desired to know, "You wanted to know why I went to the Dark Side? You are not the only Jedi to violate certain rules. I have babies. They should have been yours,"

Shock made Obi-Wan's hesitate for an instant but that was all it took. Anakira plunger her light saber into his chest.

He was trying to speak to her with his least breath and she leaned close to hear. She owed him that, no matter how wrong and blind he had been.

He whispered, "I have failed you, Anakira…failed..."

As she watched the light fade from those blue eyes she had seen twinkle so often, the enormity of it all came over her. He had been her teacher, her best friend, her brother. She had wanted him to be more. She loved him. She knew this could not have ended differently but grief, unbidden as it was, overwhelmed her. She knelt next to his body and wept.

Palpatine. This was because of him and how much safer would the babies be if their mother was Empress. She composed herself and clamped a tight shield on her thoughts. She would need surprise. She was her own woman now and not beholden to the rules of the Jedi Order or Palpatine's commands. Anything he could teach, she could eventually discover for herself, she was certain. She felt a sense of triumph at that determination. She let the triumph burn through. Let him think it was for her defeat of Obi-Wan. She thought, "I'm coming, my lord…I'm coming…"