Chapter 17

Years later, Obi-Wan Kenobi would hardly remember what he felt at that moment, that time and place where he has slipped against the dark side of the Force, his love for his friend who has been buried, coming into existence for those who are among the Force to see.

Even though the Council would most definitely not be happy with him touching the dark side, at the moment, Obi-Wan Kenobi is not willing to allow Qui-Gon Jinn to die and for this Sith to win this battle no matter what.

In his lunge forward towards Darth Maul, his lightsaber hisses to life wildly as the stun Zabrak barely can rotate his lightsaber around just in time to parry the assault as the two clash blades, saving his Master by a mere second, but there is still the risk that the Jedi Master will perish in the upcoming battle.

Obi-Wan wants to avoid this at all costs.

This blow alone forces him to switch the grip he has over his lightsaber, the Zabrak barreling to the front of them to get a better grip on his lightsaber, twirling the lightsaber in his grip. Abandoning any pretense of observing even the slightest caution, he barrels into Darth Maul with such fury that he almost knocks both of them off the railing and into the abyss of the power generator. He strikes at the Sith Lord with his lightsaber as if his own safety meant nothing, lost in a red haze of rage and frustration, consumed by his grief and fear for Qui-Gon and his attempt failing to prevent his father figure's fall.

Before Qui-Gon can react and lock blades with Darth Maul in the hope to help his Padawan which would unknowingly lead to an untimely death, Obi-Wan pushes his exhausted and worn out Jedi Master into the wall, causing him to collapse onto the ground, unconscious just as the Zabrak is mere seconds away from sending another killing strike.

Horror crosses his expression as the Jedi Padawan stares down at the Maverick Jedi Master who hits his head hard, the memory insulting the Padawan repeatedly. What's worse is that Obi-Wan knows that memory will always vibrate inside of his thoughts.

Rather if it is compassion or some sort of twisted manipulation, Vader assures in a soft-spoken tone, "But he is alive and will be able to live yet another day."

The Jedi Padawan is regretful of maiming his father figure, but as much as he loathes to admit it, Vader is again right. At least he would survive and live to fight another day, at least he won't lose the closest man to his father figure.

"Preserve your mind on the present, Padawan," Vader's soft voice states, almost sounding like Grandmaster Yoda himself and the other Masters in the Temple.

Obi-Wan dodges to the right, making it apparent he is going down the right way, but at the last moment, he arcs his lightsaber in the hope to stab his heart. The Zabrak corrects his swing accordingly, his attack nearly making the Jedi Padawan flip around, evading to the left and swiftly countering the assault. Dodging under an assault, the Jedi Padawan lunges forward, attacking swiftly and hacking away at the Zabrak, each of his blows being easily parried and blocked.

Lightsabers scraps and grate against each other, and the chamber echoes with their fury. Lunging and twisting, Darth Maul regains the offensive and counterattacks, using both ends of his lightsaber to cut Obi-Wan's legs out from under him. Obi-Wan jumps back, barely managing to avoid this before he parries another assault, noticing out of the corner of his eyes the reactor shaft beneath.

Maul presses against the Jedi Padawan, staring down at him with a mocking sneer. An impossible strain for Obi-Wan to break free from, but Obi-Wan stares back defiantly, before chopping underneath, swinging at the Zabrak, each of his blows being deflected without effort. Obi-Wan senses his body weakening, and his fear of what it will mean if he, too, is to fall, begin to grow.

'Never!' he swears furiously.

Qui-Gon's words come back to him. 'Don't center on your fears. Concentrate on the here and now. He struggles to do so, to contain the emotions warring within and bearing him down. Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan. Be strong.'

Sensing his opportunity slipping away from him and his strength waning, Obi-Wan mounts a final assault. He rushes the Sith Lord with a series of side blows designed to bring the two-bladed lightsaber horizontal. Then he feints an attack to his enemy's left and brings his own lightsaber over and down, though the blow is blocked.

Crying out in fury, he cut triumphantly at the Sith Lord's horned head, a killing blow. And misses completely.

Darth Maul, anticipating the maneuver, steps smoothly away. He counterattacks swiftly, striking at Obi-Wan with enough force that he knocks the young Jedi sideways and off-balance. Quickly he strikes him again, harder still, and this time Obi-Wan lost his balance, but surprisingly, just as it appears he is about to fall to the shaft below, the Jedi begins ascending up on the other side, breathing heavily, and he feels himself releasing his lightsaber by the pressure on his muscles.

"He's too strong," Obi-Wan murmurs as the Zabrak closes in on him and he feels himself backing up as the blows batter him back. Soon, the Zabrak would either cleave him in two or impale his lightsaber through his torso because this Assassin is obvious to experience and train.

'You are fatigued."

Obi-Wan nods slightly as he staggers some, backing away from the Zabrak's blows, feeling his energy dwindling rapidly, eyes of Obi-Wan Kenobi switching from their normal brown to a sickly crimson. Breathing heavily and bringing his saber backward out of the lock, Obi-Wan unleashes a swift barrage of strikes at the Assassin in an attempt to drain him of his energy. The Zabrak meets each saber strike with one of his own, slowly but surely gaining the upper hand.

"Your inexperienced light side is not enough to defeat him. You have to trust me. I will save your Master."

The Force rings true around Vader's words. Cold logic strokes the Jedi; if Vader wants him to become an apprentice of darkness, would he have seized the chance to manipulate him earlier? Vader might be the only person who can help him. He has given him half control, not allowing him to draw on the dark side that is within him... that is within every Jedi.

He has been trained as a Jedi, has been trained to resist the dark side, to never draw on it. The Sith teachings are banned for a reason. But what if he needs the darkness to stop this monster and save his Master? A little voice questions him in the back of his head.

Finally, Obi-Wan lowers his shields further, and he can feel someone else taking full control, feels the power of the dark side - the power he has been avoiding for years channeling all into one. Obi-Wan is at peace as memories insult him that are quickly silenced before he could comprehend them. All that he feels is someone else pressing against his darker emotions.

Maul sees the crimson glint in his eyes alas, no longer transforming but remaining that precise color, but he cannot reflect on it for long as the Jedi Padawan begins swiping furiously at him mercilessly.

The violent side of the Force begins to fuel through Kenobi; it feels good and reassuring. It nags at him like never before, immediately seizing control instead of attempting to lure him as it had done many times to his fellow Jedi. Despite the Sith being extinct, the dark side itself never vanished from the Jedi for thousands of years.

Darth Maul aims for his stomach and is seconds away from impaling him in the torso. Just as it appears that he would have been cut down, the Jedi Padawan is gone, disappearing. The Zabrak sees the Padawan floating behind him, lightsaber still aims upwards at him while endless beads of sweat course down his face.

He grins sadistically at the Padawan; there have been Masters and Knights who did combat with him before, each fallen to his lightsaber and meeting the power of the dark side. Yet, this Jedi is proving to be a greater challenge than supposedly the most experienced in his Order, but then again, that can be partly due to Darth Vader's stench ringing around Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The two begin to hack away at each other for many minutes, spark waves ringing through the Force. He loses none of his iron will, and quickly withdraws his saber and attacks again, this time from the sides. The Jedi Padawan dodges underneath Darth Maul before he can cleave his head from his shoulders, the intensity of the lightsaber making him grimace, breaking off from the assault and slicing at his knee, causing Maul to counter the assault.

Blurs of cerulean and crimson vibrate through the chamber, them hacking relentlessly at each other. The Zabrak is forcing him back, and the Jedi Padawan is barely able to parry each of his assaults. Obi-Wan lifts up the lightsaber, but Maul jerks up his handle against his chin stunning him.

Just as the lightsaber is about to descend onto him, and because he is dazed, Obi-Wan can only raise his left hand. A crimson barrier surrounds the Jedi Padawan surprisingly, blocking the fatal blow before blasting the stunned Zabrak away slightly, watching as he slid away, double-bladed lightsaber poised in front of his chest and sneering lips.

Lightsaber still moist as he clutches his side, Obi-Wan lunges forward, aware that he has to be careful 'less Maul will run him through with his lightsaber.

Maul saw the skill in Vader in their last battle on Tatooine and his impressive prowess with a lightsaber. And now his essence is running through the younger of the Jedi surprisingly quickly, but his strength could not be underestimated. Maul has to be swift with his strikes because every time he proved too slow, Vader who is guiding Kenobi would catch his blade and overpower him.

Maul's weight shifts almost imperceptibly and Obi-Wan turns the weight of his full attention on the man. The Zabrak takes a single step forward and stops, eyes tight. He is looking for an opening.

The two lock blades repeatedly, anger obvious as the power crystals bend within their lightsaber, but eventually, Maul gains the upper hand, deactivating both lightsabers and slamming the hilt into the spine and paralyzing him temporarily.

Regaining his concentration, Obi-Wan clutches his lightsaber just as he dodges under a fatal blow before darting forward, swinging his lightsaber at the Zabrak, deflecting each of his blows with similar mastery before they lock blades, having no opening. He is not the impulsive boy the Zabrak have once fought. The mere child who he was besting minutes ago is now replaced by a monster, someone who is bloodthirsty, seeking his blood, his crimson eyes bearing into the Zabrak.

Maul tightens his grip on his saber and rushes forward, streaking across the floor like a blur. He comes with his lightsaber ready for what looked like a thrust, only to twist his wrist at the last second and bring it down towards his opponent's knees, causing him to grunt at the pressure. Obi-Wan steps back and blocks the blow, their sabers hissing and spitting energy and sparks as they collide briefly before the two men separate, observing each other again before he swipes at the downer blade with such force that he severs the other's weapon.

Their respite is brief, and then Obi-Wan is pressing the attack, two hands on his blade coming down in an overhead blow. The Zabrak smirks, shifting his stance to meet him head-on and doing so successfully.

Steps quick, Obi-Wan makes space between them and raises his hand, Force Energy flickering into existence and arcing from his fingers like vipers ready to strike.

Maul brings his saber up into the path of the Force Assault, shrugging it to the side. The energy crackles between them for several long seconds, making the shadows near the shaft dance madly, but then it is gone and the Padawan's hand comes down weakly.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan returns his saber's point to the floor as it has been at the beginning, his imposing form unwavering as he raises his lightsaber in front of his face. He launches forward along with the Zabrak, them locking sabers right in front of the shaft constantly before the Zabrak forces him back into the wall, dazing him and nearly knocking him unconscious.

Obi-Wan stands weakly, only for the Zabrak to be right in front of him now, beginning to punch him in the face, before grasping his head and rotating him into the air, causing him to scream as he crashes into the wall, grunting as the impact rips into his bones badly. He groans, his head ringing madly, hair disheveled and going down his bruised face.

"Remember what your teachers taught you, reach out to the Force, use your surroundings and objects. Look closely."

Although certainly cryptic, it strangely sounds like Jedi teachings that have been bred into many of the members. He delves deep into his surroundings with the Force, finding nothing that could be helpful, and noticing the Zabrak is beginning to pace like a mad animal, obviously ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

With ragged breathing, Obi-Wan forces himself up, staring around his surroundings before his crimson eyes linger over at Qui-Gon's lightsaber near its unconscious owner and seize the hilt with the Force, activating the crystal green lightsaber and holding them in front of him as an X, the two blades that are a mixture of green and blue reflecting off his face, showing Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan and a new version of Obi-Wan that is far stronger and more powerful than his Jedi counterpart.

There is no conflict between the Jedi-Dark Jedi. Obi-Wan Kenobi has touched the dark side fully in one day whereas it has taken Maul years to master such anger, something that he finds to be quite intriguing.

To Maul's astonishment, the Padawan is against him in mere moments, striking his lightsabers in an upwards arc to catch him off guard, attacking furiously and mercilessly. The Zabrak backs up, rotating his single-bladed lightsaber to block every single hack sent at his way by the Jedi Padawan before their blades interlock.

With a scream of pure fury, Obi-Wan breaks out of the saber lock and advances on the Zabrak, swinging his and his Master's blade in deadly explicit arcs, each blow being blocked with extreme difficulty.

The Zabrak blast a round of Force Energy towards the Jedi Padawan which he promptly dodges, swinging again with relentless hacks and arcs, in which the Zabrak counterattacks, now no longer testing his intrigue and seeking to kill. One of his strikes catches him in the hand wielding the blue lightsaber and destroying it, shocking Obi-Wan for a brief moment long enough for the Zabrak to impale his double-blade onto the ground before his throat is constricted into the air as he grasps desperately at the strain.

'Focus.'

And Obi-Wan does, closing his eyes, hot white energy sprouting from his hand and rippling through the Force Illusion that is placed around him. He charges him, to not show any pain even as his scarred hand didn't exactly support him at the moment, but the Zabrak simply just parries each assault, swinging around the Jedi Padawan, redirecting his blade to reveal his legs.

He realizes his mistake. He attempts to step back, to sidestep, and whilst he saves himself from amputation, Obi-Wan is still granted a reward for his cockiness. The Zabrak's crimson blade cut through Obi-Wan's Jedi robe with stunning ease, slicing a nasty wound into his right thigh and tearing the fabric off his robe, causing blood to form as he finally collapses onto the ground.

Darth Maul sickly grins at the Jedi Padawan. He offered a great amount of resistance yet his power is no match for the true power of the dark side.

He supports challenges and is willing to grant the Jedi a respectful kill...

Obi-Wan coughs up, feeling the urge to just throw up at the aching unmerciful pain that is vibrating through his body, taking all that he has to stand back up, emerald lightsaber posing to protect his upper body.

"It's painful but your pain can be used as a weapon. He's growing cocky and arrogant. Use it against him."

Simply, although with much pain from his Jedi counterpart, the powerful version of Obi-Wan grimaces slightly and places the battered and bloody hand behind his back, forcing himself to move and marches up without hesitation, almost as if he is outwardly enjoying the pain brought on by the assault, closing his eyes as the blood continues to pour from the blow to his thigh.

The scar...

It somehow appears to brighten as if it is intensifying in power.

He charges this rival furiously, swinging his weapon as if he is chopping air itself with each strike that he sends. Aggression is not the way of the Jedi but this one is different from the rest that Maul has ever killed, something that amuses the Jedi Padawan as soon as he senses it. That means he would be able to disarm the Zabrak with his unpredictability itself instead of allowing him to gain the advantage.

As time pass, Obi-Wan's aura grows ever the more powerful, removing his hand and allowing the blood to pour. He is stunned, yet somewhat gratified by this sudden outburst of anger from the Jedi Padawan. He would make a fine apprentice for...

Pain! Agonizing white fury javelins through him in an instant. And suddenly, several of his horns are on the floor, and a large gash is across his head. This makes him ever the angrier as he glares at the Jedi Padawan, lunging at him with his damaged lightsaber swinging almost without weakness in his defense, driving him back and stumbling him before Obi-Wan strikes at the floor and the debris that slams into the Zabrak's eyes, forcing him to jump away, landing on his feet roughly.

Utilizing this, Obi-Wan lunges forward, deadly hacking away at him and forcing him to block the attack at the last minute, recalling his training with the handmaidens as Maul pulls a similar tactic to Sabé in faking a downer blow. Looking back, Obi-Wan realizes that such a blow could be his death, meaning he would have to be more cautious and careful.

Instead of falling into the trap, the Jedi Padawan kicks him away, forcing the Sith Assassin to skid across the ground, breathing heavily and repeatedly as he glares at Darth Maul, the lightsaber in his hand suddenly weighing heavier than he remembers.

Obi-Wan slices at his throat, in which the Zabrak parries with effort, falling right into the trap, opening up his defense long enough to be slipped through by the Jedi Padawan, the lightsaber striking Maul's shin, leaving a gaping hole in that particular area, before performing several jumps onto the floor and managing to back away before getting harm himself.

Now that he is cornered as Maul recovers, Obi-Wan finds himself struggling once more, having to watch out for whatever tricks the Sith may throw at him next. He would have to fight carefully unless the Zabrak may be able to use his lack of ground against himself.

Obi-Wan pushes himself against Maul, staring down at his Master's limp body on the floor before glaring into the two golden pairs that appear to be testing him more and more.

"Make him regret testing you like you are a science project."

Once more, the bitter voice chews against him, showing little to no mercy. Vader has always advised wisdom before touching the power of the dark side, but the far more insidious voice is proving to be merciless and craves for him to touch the darker side of the Force completely. It wants for him to fall, promising the death of this animal as long as he is left unreserved and unbalanced for the dark side to exploit against this.

Each of Maul's strikes is as brutal as the last ones, showing little to no mercy. The sheer amount of force in the strikes would have killed anyone, but Obi-Wan continues to ripple around the side of him, evading the blow, and bring the emerald lightsaber across Maul's arms, severing his hands from his body, hands erupting with intense blood as seconds later as the result of the blow going lower, slicing his left ankle and decapitating the skin along with impaling the Zabrak in the abdomen.

The shock of the blow, as well as the pain, forces Maul to his knees before Obi-Wan. Above him, the stone-emotionless face Jedi stares on as the crimson lightsaber flies in the air, and he catches it, activating the crimson lightsaber, holding both in manners of detainment.

Finally, Obi-Wan feels the dark side within him retreating as he stares down at his foe, the darkness evaporating slowly at first before it leaves him entirely in control of his body, though in his faint outlines, there is a crimson still within his eyes that fade a second later one wouldn't have been able to see it.

Obi-Wan Kenobi returns.

In the eyes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the man is shocked to see Darth Maul, once standing tall and asserting his dominance over both of them, is now at his knees, at the mercy of the Jedi. To think, this is the Jedi's first sight of their ancient enemy in thousands of years, excluding Vader, but he highly doubts even in the state he just was in, he will have been able to best Vader whose aura alone shaken the entire galaxy. Someone like that would require the entire Jedi Order to defeat them. Perhaps that isn't even enough.

About to make an arrest, he points both lightsabers at the Zabrak's throat at what would happen if he attempts to resist, try any tricks, or attempt to run. Through the Force, he can sense the Zabrak's rage and anger for him, amber eyes flashing, seeking vengeance against the individual who has bested him for the first and only time for many years.

"I will not force you in deciding what decision you make," the voice of Vader vibrates in his head. "But it is time you put an end to this madness. You must dispose of him."

"It is not the Jedi way," Obi-Wan growls, rage flashing across his expression as it appears he is trying to convince himself more than the man who is speaking to him with the Force. He is not willing to allow Vader to pull off such trickery as he did when he convinced him to call upon his guidance through the Force.

"True."

Surprisingly, the man is standing beside him, causing the Jedi Padawan to feel the urge to move it at his throat and cleave Vader into two. However, he can sense by the Force that this isn't real.

The Zabrak, too exhausted, drained, and render defenseless from the battle, is incapable of countering with the Force so he is brought down fairly easy, a sneer on his lips as he stares up at the Jedi, the two lightsabers reflecting off of his face.

"But would he show the same self-control to your Master were he in your position? It is possible to claim a life and resist the darkness. One life touches many others in both good and bad, Kenobi. A good decision does not avert an evil outcome. Because of mercy, the Jedi have been purged by their ancient enemy multiple times."

"The Jedi Council would deal with him in correct accordance with Jedi tradition," Obi-Wan corrects in a calm chilling tone, glaring at what he knows is the Force Projection of Vader but keeping his lightsaber direct at the Zabrak's neck. Projection is an advanced Force power that allows a user to create a short-lived duplicate of him- or herself or an external object that was visually distinguishable from the real item through the Force that can be transmitted across vast distances. He has heard of such an ability before but it is forbidden due to the Jedi fearing the treachery that it involves will lead to the dark side.

"Truth but what if he's able to escape from the Jedi's cell? We both know he is the apprentice which means his Master would come for him and break him out. Your Master's life will be threatened. Moreover, more Jedi will die. Obtaining the moral high ground is good in definite cases; this however is not one of them. You have life and death within your grasps. Surely, you have felt the intentions of this being."

"He is not your apprentice?" Obi-Wan asks, raising his eyebrows. He knows treachery is the way of the Sith which means if he claims his life, he would probably form a bond with Vader that will drive him to the dark side and to do unimaginable things.

Vader huffs, exhaling a sharp response and his eyes hardening into one would call glass. "Any individual that is trained by me would be more powerful than this pathetic bug. Additionally, I do not betray any of my acolytes; I have learned to be a master and mentor. This... animal has no restrains. This is accurately why I refuse to align myself with Jedi and Sith; both orders maintain codes that restrain you from making decisions of your own that you know deep down is right." His sharp tone becomes smoother. "The choice is yours to make. I will not strike you down as other Sith do in recent history when they fail to lure Jedi because you believe taking him in is the conventional choice."

"You finally are willing to admit to being a Sith?"

"No, but your mind will not be altered of this; this is what I know. Your narrow-minded ways of the Force would hopefully be improved one day. You would be a magnificent Jedi; in some ways what a Jedi should be, but what you decide here would not change who you are. This light and dark have results. Sparing does not cause a light outcome."

Obi-Wan pauses for a moment, unwinding thoughts filling his mind. What if Vader is right? What if-what if killing him would be the right choice?

"In allowing him to live would be granting a death warrant for your Jedi. Your Jedi will interrogate him in every way but would get nothing, and by the time they fail, he would be out of his cell and killing your fellow Jedi. Of course, be a Jedi, Obi-Wan. Allow your fellow Jedi who you claim is your brothers and sisters to die. The future can change. Right now, you hold life and death in your hands." Vader says.

And Obi-Wan trembles, conflict immediately burning inside of him, knowing that whatever outcome this is would lead to permanent scars on him both permanently and mentally. However, this animal would threaten his fellow Jedi and he is meant to serve them, protect them, and assure the Jedi are not endangered.

They are the people who accepted him at a young age even when they were seconds away from sending him to be a mere farmer. This causes a hidden rage, for the first time in a long time, to build up in him... at the Jedi? But Master Yoda always said not to focus on mere what-ifs and that that the future is always in motion.

That destiny was avoided for him and he did indeed become a Jedi despite slimly averting a different path.

"Would... he really threatens all of my fellow Jedi?"

"Yes. His master would give him orders and he would follow without protest; your kind would be purged from the galaxy; he would eventually become Emperor and he would torment others because that is what he can do. And your Jedi's descendants who survive his Master's wrath on the first purge would accuse you, loathing you for not putting an end to this beast."

And as much as the Jedi Padawan doesn't want to believe it, he can feel the Force itself supporting Vader in his words. Is that what he's supposed to do? Follow the living Force?

"You are capable of making your own choices. Remember, a good decision does not avert an evil outcome. You are human. The choice is yours."

Obi-Wan blinks slightly, knowing that every word is true. He has always been loyal to the Jedi Council and follows their codes. Ever since a young age, he exhibits a dry sense of humor and sarcastic wit, with a rebellious nature, and has to deal with much emotional anxiety. Despite Obi-Wan's honor and good morals, Qui-Gon believes he rarely does the right thing, due to him blindly following rules and orders.

Obi-Wan stares back at the Zabrak, emerald and crimson lightsabers still by his throat, unmoving, flames burning in his eyes.

A swift Sai Cha next, and the Zabrak's head rolls down the reactor shaft to the abyss below.

And his eyes widen as he falls back, sweat beginning to rain down his face, intense heavy breathing following shortly after.

He releases the grip of the crimson lightsaber, allowing it to descend to the abyss below along with the Zabrak's head before clutching his head with both hands, aware of his Master's cylinder hilt resting in his hands before deactivating the lightsaber and allowing a scream to form on his lips before dropping his Master's lightsaber, it deactivating as it crashes onto the ground.

"What-what have I done?"

Vader felt that same horror a long time ago when he became Darth Vader. Now a similar terror is flashing across the face of the younger man of his brother who helped him become one with the Force. By the Force, what is wrong with him? He promised to become a greater person and help this dimension but now he is going to repay someone who helped him after sacrificing himself to the Emperor in spite of all of his deeds with trauma.

However, the expeditious animal would have gone on to lead the greatest campaign outside of the Clone Wars and massacred endless camps and people in the hope to lure out Obi-Wan. Now, their lives can be spared due to Obi-Wan carrying out his death instead of believing he is dead.

The Zabrak would have also intervened with Vader's future plan so he killed two Tuskens with one stone, ridding the galaxy of the Zabrak while also assuring when the time comes a lesser individual wouldn't be able to intervene with him seizing power for a better cause.

"You have done the right thing. He was too dangerous to be left alive." Vader replies, grimacing how he sounds like Sidious, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

Vader opens up the bond slightly, allowing compassion and serenity to flow into the Jedi's aura at his heavy breathing, his conflicted emotions leaving him into a valuable state where he can fall to the dark side. Won't that be a good thing? A treachery voice echoes inside of his head. To allow him to touch whatever emotions, allow him to break and feel nothing but worthlessness, and then he gets involved, works on redoing all that the Jedi forced down his throat that ultimately led to his untimely demise.

Thoughts of Siri Tachi and Duchess Satine, two people who Vader placed aside for a long time, of how the Jedi and inadvertently Obi-Wan allowed the latter to die in a distinct future to the same animal that now lays before them, dead, fly through his head. At that rate, Obi-Wan will be freely allowed to touch the dark and the light without consequence.

No. Despite how Palpatine would have used this as a chance to manipulate the Jedi Padawan, Vader is not Palpatine; he will not convert his former Master from another time to the dark side because he cares for his brother and he doesn't want him to become a machine in all but appearance like Vader once was for two decades. He wishes to break him away from the Council but not break his personal vows and who he is to the completion. He will allow him to make his own decisions.

"Easy for you to say. He was an unarmed prisoner. I shouldn't have done that. It is not the Jedi way."

Vader snorts. "And allow your Master to die? Allow that animal to slay your Master without mercy, along with the rest of your fellow Jedi."

Before the Jedi can offer a response, Vader allows himself to disappear, smirking at what must be an angry snarl of Sidious right now with the death of his pet and his failure in killing at least one Jedi. He allows himself to breathe a sigh of relief as it appears that the Force didn't want to allow Qui-Gon to perish a second time.

While Obi-Wan feels horrified right now, Vader knows that he wouldn't be hunted by Qui-Gon's death. The dark side within him managed to save Qui-Gon, and Vader exploited it for any obstacles to be destroyed. It has always been Obi-Wan's destiny to encounter Maul, rise above his inner demons, and defeat him. And while the dark side does taint Obi-Wan, it is a better outcome than the original timeline.

Vader doesn't trust events to play out the exact same as they did in the original timeline so he craved on his former Master's deep fears and bring them to light deeper than the former Sith ever thought possible with his former Master due to the same man often warning him of the dangers of using the dark side in another timeline.

At the very least, his younger self wouldn't have to deal with being around self-loathing, sensing the failure and nightmares that plagued Obi-Wan's nights constantly, sensing his loss for his Master.

He calls on the dark side to see if his Master is corrupted by the choice, but while Obi-Wan is conflicted about his choice, he hasn't fallen. Of course, the Jedi won't know this, but he has just fallen into the dark similar to his apprentice of another time, and returned simply due to the love and attachment he has for his Master that he has buried deep upon surrendering his life to the Jedi.

This would leave trauma for sure for possibly the rest of Obi-Wan's life, but it is better than the alternative.

After seconds of hesitation, Obi-Wan rushes immediately to Qui-Gon. Kneeling at the Jedi Master's side, he lifts his head and shoulders and cradles him gently in his arms.

"Master!" he breathes in a whisper.

"Obi-Wan, what happened?" Qui-Gon asks, eyes confuse as the enormous tingling in his head make it hard for him to remember.

In some ways, Obi-Wan is relieved that his Master does not remember the deepest sin his Padawan made, the Padawan who he worked for hours, bred endless teachings and knowledge of the Jedi into him, falling to the dark side even briefly.

"The Sith-he was about to kill you, Master. I Force Pushed you into the wall and fought him." Obi-Wan responds, eyes flashing with conflict as he turns to stare at the body, sweat still coursing down his head.

Qui-Gon sees the regret on his Padawan's face and arches his eyebrows. He knows from an ancient history lesson that once a Jedi kills the Sith, they would feel a slight struggle with the dark side, but he senses his Padawan winning over those inner demons, silencing them. A true Jedi to no end. Yet there is a dark hole deep within him.

"It's alright, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon reassures, knowing they could get nothing out of the body but at least they can confirm the mysterious warrior is the Sith. "You have done what you believe is right. Come, we should go see if the Queen is successful in her mission."

Calmly, Obi-Wan helps his Master up, handing him the lightsaber which he takes and clips to his belt.

Obi-Wan didn't respond and instead follow him out of the reactor shaft, grabbing the broken pieces of his lightsaber and his crystal with the Force and pocketing them, eyes falling over the Sith Apprentice as they walk out. Why did he listen to Vader?

Obi-Wan's eyes flash with regret and remorse. The Masters warned him countless times about the dangers of touching the dark side, but he has just drawn on the dark side to save Qui-Gon, meaning he has turned his back on the code and the Order that he promised to stay loyal to.

Today, Obi-Wan Kenobi betrayed all that he swore to.