Chapter 34
Thunder vibrates from above, rain dripping down toward the buildings and those little commoners who are still outside in the night after a long day in their work profession. The little amount only makes his job easier as a result.
Ignoring the current rain drenching him as well as the thunder that cackles about, Bulduga sneaks into the building that is 500 Republica, knowing that the Senator of Naboo who has come to replace him would be a valuable target, but not believing that getting past her security detail would be simple. He knows that he should never be too careful, but his client is adamant in wanting the Senator to be eliminated.
For what he would not ask but undoubtedly a way to gain more power.
This is an assignment Bulduga would take to his greatest pleasure. Those politicians are infuriating and it's always good to kill a senator, watching their expressions morphing up into horror before pulling the trigger in your hands. Sure, this one may as well be deep in her sleep, but he would love to shoot her in her sleep as quickly as he killed others.
He was one of several who was lucky enough to not be in the Tatooine's palace months prior, having previously worked for Jabba the Hutt and being wanted by the rulers of the planet. Although they are forced to hide these days, they can still carry out their fair share of battles.
Bulduga slips inside the elevator, clicking the button which takes him to the desired floor. He knows that there is always the likelihood of battle. He tears out his blaster and aims it, the safety no longer on, and prepared to fire. While he doubts the senator would be in the living room currently, the bounty hunter could never be too certain.
There certainly have been smooth operations in the past that she has never thought easy.
The moment the elevator's doors open, he is surprised to see no guards present, not even in the living room. Who would have thought they would leave the senator in such a valuable position? Those imbeciles could hardly even do their damn jobs which is why missions like this are easy for bounty hunters like him.
Shaking his head slightly and smirking, Bulduga has hideous thoughts about how he can proceed to terminate the Senator. It crosses his mind to use one of his grenades and blows up this entire building. Coruscant is one of the planets he hates the most alongside others where the rich rule and the poor are forced to live onto their tactics and skills honed from their own personal training.
Bulduga slips out of cover, making little noise possible as he crouches to the senator's room, having previously been warned by her client about where this senator's room is located. He peers behind every corner, staring up to make sure no one has spotted him, aiming his blaster every so often but not yet finding use to discharge his prized weapon.
This is the part where he needs to be careful.
There are undoubtedly the senator's servants in the other rooms that could hear him at any moment and warn the entire building which would provide the senator a chance to escape. That is not something he will allow, especially since the next time would be far more complicated since they would be alert that there is a death sentence for the senator which would cause his client to grow displeased with him.
Bulduga drops to the floor and slides across it, knowing that the tiny footsteps may alert anyone of his presence, slipping behind cover just when he thinks he has heard the slightest noise. After a moment of believing it is all his imagination, he grasps his knife and chops the controls which would allow him access to the quarter of the senator's, before opening up the door and entering.
Making his way to the senator's bedroom and dropping the knife, he takes out his blaster and open fire without a shadow of a doubt, assuring that he shoots her in the chest first before the head, bringing an end to her pitiful life.
"Well done," a cold feminine voice says from the shadows. "You have killed the senator."
At that moment, the doors shut behind him, and the lights switch on. He is about to move for her sidearm but stops when he feels nothing there. What the kark?
"Take a look at the one who you have killed, Bulduga the Ithorian," the same voice continues.
Not even asking how this female from the shadows knows his name, at the dominant voice, he steps forward and removes the sheets, surprised to see pillows underneath the blanket. The senator was supposed to be sleeping soundly before her quick death! If anything else, where the kriff is she?!
"That is why you should always have backup, bounty hunter," the woman stresses from the shadows.
"Show yourself!" Bulduga hisses in his Ithorian tone, not even caring that his life is currently been threatened, as the temptation to turn was too much.
"Very well." At last, emerging from the shadows is a young woman with brown hair, and white skin, with a fairly muscular status. It is obvious that she is well-built, and that the deadly spark in her eyes is something that he has seen many times before in bounty hunters she has associated with in the past.
Alongside her are terrifying figures. He stares at them all, noticing cold indifference in each of their eyes, but also in their appearances. They are young women who appear and one of them had a lizard on her shoulder which appears to be matching the glare of its master.
"We have been reviewing you for the past days, and you have managed to escape from the massacre on Tatooine, but what's ironic is that you fall for the oldest trick in the book. Did you really believe that you wouldn't have been spotted on our security cameras-that we wouldn't be waiting for you?"
Bulduga backs slowly to the window, noticing that there is no escape given that six women are currently surrounding him, blasters raised in the bounty hunter's direction.
All except one...
He focuses primely at one and that one alone, something from within his spine telling him that she is different from the rest. The female staring coldly at him makes him tense up and shiver. She appears entirely careless and emotionless about the predicament, regarding him as if he is some sort of a secret project.
"You are the same type of scum that have gotten people who I loved killed," the woman continues sharply, a certain click within her tongue. "You don't care about anyone but yourself and you would doom the entirety of Naboo without any regard about who you are hurting, bounty hunter. You're a poison that must be destroyed."
The woman scoffs, and he realizes he is being aimed at with his own blaster! "You should have kept your blaster in your hands, something that every bounty hunter would logically do, but no you are too proud and prideful to do such a thing. Arrogance surrounds the likes of you which only confirms that you are nothing but an idiot."
Swallowing his ego being pressed on, Bulduga is not willing to go down without a fight. He would have to just wait for the right time to strike.
"Hopefully other bounty hunters would take this as a lesson, Ithorian, that Naboo is not going to be threaten ever by the likes of you!" She sighs, seeming to be resigned. "One chance: surrender or die."
He places his hands up as if he is submitting to arrest before he reaches down quickly for his spare knife and throws it at the woman, not caring that he would die. He would bring the bitch with him. He would not be arrested and thrown in a cell where he would be interrogated for the attempted murder of a Senator.
Black webs tangle the knife, halting it before the figure could have been stabbed through in the chest. The bounty hunter soon learns the source of why those webs just appeared out of nowhere, for there is one of the ladies with a wrist-implanted web that she has used many times before.
"I have given you a chance to live and repent, but I guess you would rather choose death."
Quickly, she fires at his chest twice, causing the Ithorian to take several steps backward, a pool of blood leaving his mouth. He never in his life felt so much pain. It is never supposed to be him.
"You should never be too careful."
Due to this bitch from the shadows and her pathetic followers, all of his hunts as well as accomplishments are meaningless as he would die in a pitiful way.
The glass shatter as he crashes against the window, feeling the cracks forming around him. All the while, while he slowly accepts his fate among the pain that courses through his body in his final moments, Bulduga can only lament his failure, the fate that he would be-
"He failed us!"
The Dark Lord of the Sith watches as the young Governor of Eriadu is releasing his anger. The waves of sulking emotions radiating from him are something that the Muun can only bask in. The vile emotions are something the Muun should be feeling as of now, but he cannot find it within himself to do so.
Tarkin could be the one who leads the military. He is strategically capable of doing so fairly easily without losing battles. While it is obvious that he hardly tolerates failure, much like him, which is why he is displeased to begin with, how evident it is that he wishes to gain power quickly and with little to no problems.
Plagueis closes his eyes and delves deep into the Force, smirking at the presence of the former Queen of Naboo and her handmaidens bringing an end to the bounty hunter despite how much it hinders the plan. Vader's influence has already crawled over each of the Nubians, meaning that they could be beneficial to their future Empire.
"Of course he did," the Muun responds, "the senator's guards have lured him into a trap, unknowingly challenging him so he wouldn't be able to fight and ending him immediately. He has been an idiot for thinking that such an assassination would have been simple."
"You knew?" Tarkin hisses, glaring at the Sith Lord, appearing to believe that Plagueis wouldn't attempt any further action. If eyes could kill, Plagueis would have been disintegrated and nothing but mere ashes.
"Of course," Plagueis responds, his amused expression never lingering, "no person as intelligent as the senator would have been gullible enough not to check her security recordings. Queen Amidala and her former handmaidens were there to intercept and pose as means of bodyguards. These are veterans of Naboo who have encountered war itself and seen what it could do to a person as well as being far more cautious, for they have learned much from Vader himself."
Tarkin clenches his hands up into fists, speaking coldly. "They must be eliminated then too. We could not allow them to stand in the way for any of our future plans to be successful."
"Oh, but why do you wish death among the senator?" The Muun muses. "While she stands for Naboo and democracy, no mere senator such as her would be able to stop our rising darkness. If she does, we shall do away with her."
"You know the Trade Federation demands her head on a silver platter as for revenge after Gunray's attempts on Naboo have been a failure," Tarkin snaps back, unable that the once ancient Sith who has been described as powerful is now nothing but manipulators who prefer patience rather than taking care of the Jedi quickly.
Another reason why the Sith must fall.
"We mustn't dwell on that inconsequential planet any longer. The viceroy of the Trade Federation is beginning to become a feeble issue who believes that subverting his foolish authority over us would, at last, allow him to be granted with the opportunity of killing a broken Queen of Naboo and the senator just to fracture the planet further. While I have little doubt that Naboo would grieve over their deaths, they would recover and grow stronger. Underestimating the people in the galaxy is a mistake that many of my predecessors have made."
"The senator would have to die or else we would have more difficulties in recruiting more systems to our cause. Either that, or you wish to doom our entire plans just before they have begun." The acrimony within his tone is not surprising. Tarkin knows - no doubt - about the true embodiment of the Sith, who do not only commit abominable deeds but also utilize other necessary mechanisms that have been set into place, as well as Sith, are spreading from within the heart of the Republic.
In all other cases, the Sith tended to be their own worst enemy. Killing their Masters only weakened the Sith as fear of betrayal has been on the forefront of many Sith. There need not be slaves, but rather harnessing loyalty to him and him alone, the only advantage that the Jedi has over their ancestors.
This is why Plagueis teaches all of those Sith who have fallen under his influence to control the dark side within them before that is a repeated mistake within the second Sith Empire ever established. This time, there would be no Republic, no matter how hard they would fight, as the Sith Empire would not rule from afar but on this very world where Jedi would be turned by instructors.
The Sith would not fall again. They would be an Order once more without treachery minds exchanging from their comrades. They would now rule supreme, not on Korriban where they would fail again, but as the Jedi Council stands now, their future seats are awaiting them."
Tarkin scowls. "You would have to be more cautious. While I do not relish in joining with those traitors, they could lend us over the army alongside the Clones that would, for all intents and purposes, be the face of our army. The galaxy would have to fear both armies, believing they would drive each other to devastation, until they betray all what they believe to be and without the people having the manpower."
"Your views of politics," Plagueis responds, sounding dissatisfied with the response offered by Tarkin, "is by use of dictatorship with predictably tragic results. You terrorize the people, and they would fight as they always have. Our Empire would be pulverized without the galaxy to back us up, making our forbearance and otherwise all but completely meaningless. You have to understand that the heart of the people shall rely on the Empire, meaning that we would have to make them believe that the Republic ignored them. We must reinforce to the galaxy we would defend them from traitors and law-breakers, proving that our Empire is powerful and is prepared to follow its own laws."
"We mustn't be weak-"
"And we don't have to be," Plagueis interrupts, placing both hands behind his back, "a more or less moral system would not make us weak. The opposite in fact, it would only make us stronger and gain more supporters for us to exploit. They would be our tools and would be pulled into our manipulations without knowing it."
Around him, the dark side of the Force glows significantly at the words and the thoughts of the treachery he can present to the Republic. By the shiver coursing through the man standing aside him, the Sith knows he has made his point clear.
"Do you know what happened to past Empires even those without the involvements of the Jedi or Sith and even minor ones on planets that were never able to spread wide? They died, either betrayed by the people who they have wronged whether that involves the galaxy or the people of their worlds. We mustn't make the same Empire, Governor Tarkin. It is not a stretch to conclude that our Empire would not successful wholly, but even should we fallen, the galaxy would mourn and demand that we rise again which would make any other system to be all but an impossibility. Any new Republic or any other system would only die by the people should our Empire lives up to their expectations."
The Muun retorts pointedly, knowing that Tarkin is far from incompetent as anyone else - the Sith Lord wouldn't have recruited him otherwise - but his doubt about authorizing civilians any sort of free will is outright foolish. The fact that they would have to have permission from the galaxy, as well as their endorsement, is not something which he relishes, but it is a willing sacrifice to sustain their whole over the galaxy and not allow their Empire to just be another failed disaster as the past ones were.
Tarkin obviously is frustrated with Plagueis's lectures. He is a man surrounded by ambition as well still learning ways to be cunning, but his youthful disadvantage is also obvious. The battle wounds across his body prove that he is physically strong, and that is one of Tarkin's many methods of living conditions that would benefit their plans.
"I would not pretend that I am fully knowledgeable about everything, Darth Plagueis, but I know that any sort of independence from those of our Empire would only create Rebellions. We may not be able to destroy them all either way, but we would have to destroy any regime that could become as dangerous as the Trade Federation." Tarkin responds, heaving a sigh as well as a deep temptation telling him to shoot the Sith Lord, but knowing that the Sith would detect his threat and, in mere seconds, all of his plans would collapse with his death. "We do not need another Sith Empire, but rather an Empire ran by businessmen and expected politicians such as myself. We need to assure that we can build a weapon that would make countless systems fall into line along with the people in those said systems. Counting on the galaxy to assure the stability of our Empire would only lead to failure."
Anyone else who has talked to him in such a manner and dared to question one of the Masters of the Dark Side would have been disposed of without a second thought, his body cast aside like garbage, and move onto another.
Killing those who disagree with you would not send a good message to your underlings. It is possible that those of his Empire could betray him if they hear that he is notorious for killing those who challenge his beliefs, meaning that Plagueis's plans would fail simply because he couldn't control the bubbling dark side within him. At the end of the day, it is better to have someone who can have contrary views to your own instead of someone who agrees with your every method and have little to no independence.
From the fools that Plagueis have exploited for the past many years, all of them either died because they lacked the qualities that show any sort of competence, or plans have been left in shambles because their ego is too strong and wishing total victory in one battle.
"Your beliefs are of someone who believes the people of the galaxy would just allow themselves to be controlled. Certainly, while many may support us - the entire galaxy perhaps - but how far until the Empire grows bland and outdated? The galaxy has the capability of communicating, have the capability to rebel against any system which is what have built the Trade Federation to begin with." Plagueis responds.
"We are in a new galaxy, Darth Plagueis. You, my friend, and the allies you have acquired is all that is left of the Sith's religion," Tarkin responds, planting his hand on his chin in deep thought. "Your ancestors know death and war, and you know that the weakness such a moral Empire can pose. Allowing ourselves to limit to answer the people would only make us weaker, not stronger."
Darth Plagueis smirks, and Tarkin feels his fists clenching as the air grows colder around him. Speeding up the creation of that army would be wise, especially since the Sith can dispose of him any day now.
Plo Koon had been friends with Qui-Gon Jinn for so many years, and no matter how the Council may believe otherwise, no matter what Vader had done with Windu on Tatooine, those feelings of companionship and friendship between him and the other Jedi Master is not something Plo Koon can forget.
Legally speaking - in the eyes of the Republic - Windu attacked Vader and he was only defending himself from a Jedi Master who was persistent in bringing an end to him. Despite how some Jedi believe Vader is a fallen Jedi and others a Sith Lord, normal people would only believe that he is defending himself against a mad Jedi Master, especially those in the Outer Rim who would only see the Jedi as fossilized fools who would only strike out against the defenders of so many lives.
Vader has broken no law, and many questions would now be targeted at the Jedi's sight because they would fail to name any crimes that have been committed from within the Outer Rim, which would bring about a now darker light to the Jedi Order. For the future of the Order, this isn't good, as the galaxy would not be able to trust the Jedi in the same manner that they have once done.
He wonders when would he be able to see Qui-Gon again and be able to speak with him about the current events. On the battlefield where they fight of all things with him having to bring him in? In his cell awaiting a trial from the Jedi Council? Where one of them is on the ground and has last words while the other is holding them? Or perhaps they would be able to have a civil conversation over a mere cup of tea?
By the Force, Plo Koon wants the last one to happen, but a Jedi corrupted by the dark side would present a great danger. Have Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan truly descent that far into the dark side of the Force or has Vader not yet truly corrupted them yet?
Moreover, is Vader himself corrupted by the shroud of the dark side? Aside from the slavers and those who followed them - many who are not clean of blood - and the slaves shall see Vader's actions as heroic, but it is notable that Vader hasn't killed any innocents yet let alone children. Darth Revan murdered innocents when he was a Sith, and the same can be said for Darth Malgus.
Already have there been talks about formulating another strike team but how many strike teams would they send before this pointless war comes to an end? Would the entire Jedi Order collapse before the Masters would be able to get the message that leaving Vader and his companions is the wiser decision?
Sighing at that thought, the Kel Dor Jedi is not surprised by the immediate presence at his door, opening in a second and allowing the individual from the other side to enter.
Plo Koon sighs with a smirk behind his mask. "Have you ever heard the art of knocking, little 'Soka?"
The youthful Togruta smiles sheepishly, rubbing her shoulder slightly awkwardly. Whenever this girl is present, Koon always feels his heart skipping a beat, for she has that effect on people, even on the other Jedi and teachers in the Order which did allow her to get away with far too many 'mischievous deeds' in her time of becoming a Padawan, her light blue eyes which have always been kind and compassionate which only made the Kel Dor all but proud of her, her soft presence radiating nothing but light.
Already is she showing great powers for her age and true loyalty to the Jedi. Ever since Plo Koon brought her to the Jedi Order at the tendered age of three from a group of pirates, he has always shown confidence that she would be a great Jedi, a great Master in her later years that would only rise to replace Shaak Ti's rank among the Council, and most of all in the woman she could become, in the best she would do to the galaxy. Perhaps even more powerful Plo Koon himself.
Immediately, sadness fills the Jedi Master, not only because of what happened to Qui-Gon Jinn, but the Togruta could also be dragged onto the battlefield against Vader and follow a similar fate to Windu. The thought of Ahsoka's fate being decided by the Force makes him sick especially since most of those visions are not good.
Would she be embraced by the dark side, or worse-killed by Vader and his companions when she is among the countless strike teams after Vader? Would Vader go against his seemingly moral codes to avoid bloodshed of children and end the child?
Ahsoka would never be powerful to defeat Vader, no matter how powerful she would become. And with the prophesied Chosen One fully trained, she may be able to challenge him but she would be cast aside without effort. He couldn't allow them to fight in battle without him being present, no matter what the attachments rule decreed.
He would protect this girl with his life, even if it costs him his, or even cost him his role among the Council.
"Well, I had tried to touched you through the Force but you are cutting me off..." Ahsoka mumbles though the smile appears to be sadder now. The child is only 10, nearing 11, but she is still deeply attuned to being kind and considerate of everyone else. This only proves that she definitely has the potential to be the greatest of the Jedi. "Master Plo, what is it?"
"Have you ever heard of Qui-Gon Jinn?" Koon queries after a moment, knowing that she wouldn't stop inquiring about him until he satisfies her with a response. That is another reason why Koon sees a great Jedi within her that could come to challenge even Yoda. This child may one day be the Master of the Order or better yet the Grandmaster. He can definitely see it when the time comes.
"I heard about him. Is he on the Lost Twenty-One?" Ahsoka queries, her young eyes curious and interrogating.
That reminder causes the Jedi Master to grimace as the Council has already decreed that his old friend was lost. Surely, they wouldn't give up on one of their own like that, but the fact that the Jedi Masters don't appear to care enough to help one of the Jedi who have rebelled from the Order for reasons of his own sickens Plo Koon. He couldn't ever allow himself to refer to his friend as another lost Jedi who has swayed to the dark side but rather a Jedi Master who has been dragged in the middle of this and only wanted to protect his Padawan instead of allowing him to be imprisoned in some sort of secret prism.
Plo Koon has been the only one alongside Yarael Poof and Yaddle who have disagreed with that course of action against their own but they have been outnumbered by a reluctant Yoda and the rest of the Council. They all believed they were making the correct choice by imprisoning two Jedi who have been around someone deeply attuned to the dark side since his arrival despite his claims to the contrary.
"Yes," Koon responds softly, placing his hands in front of his chest, "but there is more that you do not know about Qui-Gon. While the Order would only tell their younglings that he have fallen and it is simple as that, the whole story about what happened to him was far more complex. He has come to follow Vader along with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and to this day they travel the galaxy, declared an enemy to both the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic, but heroes in the Outer Rim."
Ahsoka gasps. "Why are they referred to as heroes?"
"They are to be apprehended for wiping out slavers-slaughtering innocents and beginning an unnecessary," Koon replies hesitantly.
Ahsoka's eyes narrow. For a child, she is still smart and she hardly finds Vader's actions along with the other two fallen Jedi unjustified. She is someone who has been seconds away from being enslaved by pirates when she was younger. They haven't killed anything but scum, yet the Order and Republic would berate them because they have done only the right thing.
"And the Order and the Republic considers that horrible and wishes for them to be brought into custody?" She demands, her lips pursing up. "They have done what we should have done." Something dark surrounds her for a brief moment. "Why haven't we been told that slavery is still happening when the Republic outlawed it centuries ago?"
The Kel Dor sighs. "Little 'Soka, while the thought of slavery may irritate you, and while I understand and sympathize with you, you would have to remember that none of us are judge, jury, or executioner. The Senate is authorized to decide what would be done about that particular subject, and the death of Jabba the Hutt warrants charges as well as the demise of the Hutt Clans. It is only so long they exploit their powers onto others - innocents perhaps."
"We have the authority to fight for our morals," she bites back furiously, having the defiance and predatory nature that came naturally to her species. "Isn't that what the Order is supposed to be, someone who fights for peace and justice and defends those who are innocent no matter where they are born? With all due respect, that is not the way of the Jedi..."
"No, it is not, but we do not abuse the Force for personal beliefs let alone dictate the fate of others," the Jedi Master replies, even though he knows how pathetic that sounds knowing that the Council has their reasons for why they are doing this. "Their passions would lead to the dark side which is why the Council have wanted to restrained Vader years back. While I know the thought of slavery disgusts you since you have been almost captured by slavers, you have to understand that the Republic have come to an agreement with the Hutts and now Vader and his allies are starting a risky gamble. They have dismantled the Hutt Clans but slavery still rules strong and now there is a likely chance that there would be a war where slavers shall accuse the Jedi of overstepping their boundaries."
"Passions are not the same as doing the right thing, Master," Ahsoka replies, her voice cold as steel. "While I might be disappointing you currently, I would not pretend that the Order is flawless. I do not wish to follow down their paths but them exterminating a threat in the galaxy is not a crime at least not in my eyes. These charges are trumped up, the Senate wishing to silence them."
The Kel Dor can admit that he wholeheartedly agrees with the Togruta. His doubt shatters through, and he knows he would have to find a way to locate Qui-Gon. Their bond has been closed off by the Maverick Jedi Master but his presence has never changed. If anything, it appears to have grown lighter.
While there is conflict within his heart, that said conflict is not with the struggle between the light and darkness but with him touching emotions that have never been permitted when he was a Jedi.
"You would understand one day why the Council agrees with the Senate about this. Now, you would not question us again."
The Togruta closes her eyes and looks away, while Plo Koon feels remorse for how he has just mistreated the child who he has all but adopted at a young age.
"Ahsoka," the Kel Dor decides to offer little comfort to her, putting a soft hand on her shoulder. "You may think that they're doing the right thing, but genocide is not a good thing to commit. You are still learning to be a Jedi and, while it may be slow, I have confidence that you would grow wiser through the times."
Though Ahsoka openly shows her conceding to his words, behind her thoughts is a different story.
For the first time in a seemingly long time, Obi-Wan Kenobi awakes, burning fear making way immediately. What happened? And where in the Force is he?
Something from within him feels strange yet at the same also different. It feels as if his galaxy just collapsed around him, and it only makes his wound only feel worse.
Obi-Wan feels the tubes connected to him, feels his rapid breathing and sees the monitors which is a telltale sign of his current health. So, he assumes he is in a hospital and has been laying here for a long time. He can see a bacta tank in the corner, undoubtedly for medical reasons.
Kenobi inspects the blue uniform clasped across his body, and he wonders if he is in some kind of hospital.
The former Jedi Padawan moves to the mirror and sees himself in his reflection. What he sees has a robe much like his Jedi robes, but it also had the fit model of someone who was as blonde as Kenobi. He can still feel the scars he received as well as what must be a prosthetic arm attached to his arm. The lower piece radiates the sound of breathing entering the room. His breathing sounds like a rasp over wood.
It almost looks like a Jedi outfit despite the armor being a telltale sign of injury. The Jedi has been able to scar him and Anakin. He has been mutilated by someone who he thought he trusted, and something burns from within him, wanting nothing but revenge against those who have done this to him.
Obi-Wan examines the thing he has become. His complexion is almost as paled as bone - and as a result, scars are across his forehead. His hair has been trimmed down short, his beard being the only similarity that he has before he had been badly scarred. He feels the urge to run into the shadows and hide, his hideous appearance filling him with the deepest of insecurities.
Suddenly, the thought of wiping out the Jedi has become something a lot more enthralling than ever before. How could he not want to kill them? They did this to him! Sure thing, killing younglings or Padawans is immoral but the rest of them can burn for all that he cares! He would make sure they do! They would pay for their injustices against him!
At that moment, something cuts through the thought.
"Ah, at last, you're awake."
At the sound of the passive voice, Obi-Wan diverts his stare from the mirror to face the strange being. Through the Force, the former Jedi Padawan can tell that the being is not a threat despite its strange appearance. He still didn't know how should he react especially since the last time he has been in a battle.
"Easy now. You are on Polis Massa. Lord Vader has brought you here so you wouldn't die."
Obi-Wan nods though he is not certain if the alien has seen it.
"In order to give you the capability of being able to speak permanently, you... will find yourself encountering changes that would be difficult to accustom to." The Polis Massan declares. "We were able to save your life just in time. Without us, you would have died, I'm afraid."
"What about this?" Obi-Wan demands, feeling a chill in his spine, beginning to hate that constant breathing more and more.
"We encountered… complications when we attempted to heal your chest injury," the alien explains, her voice steady and calm despite how there is a slight quivering. "Your scar was severe, I'm afraid, so much so we had to ripped your stomach apart just to save your lungs. Unfortunately, the vital area has been struck and so that means you have to wear a respirator, or else there is a possibility that you would die because incapability of able to breathe properly."
Something dark as a dagger rises from within him, and he clenches his hands up into fists.
"And Vader brought me here in the belief that you would heal me completely!" Obi-Wan exclaims, knowing how uncharacteristic he is being right now but he cannot help but wish he had died on Tatooine. He knows all too well from his time as a Jedi and his own moral codes that taking this out on the doctor is wrong, but to have him live like this... it is a wound that would always be there…
"I'm sorry, Master Kenobi," the alien responds, appearing to realize that his anger is justified, and it isn't a struggle to keep her temper under check. "We tried every ethical technique that we knew in the medical field, but an injury to the chest without loss of life means there would have to be mannerisms to speak and breathe. However, it wasn't a total loss."
"Elaborate."
"You see, while the damage to your chest was severe, and believe me while I say that it is indeed a miracle that you could even survive such damage, we were able to issue some repairs. While only temporary, you can speak and breathe for ten standard hours every day without the suit. It is recommended though not required that you use means of retirement in a bacta tank..."
"Are you sure that there is no other way?" Obi-Wan growls, even now feeling the hot white pain burning from his chest. He knows that would be a scar that would hinder him for months, but hopefully, there would be a way out of this hell that the Order whom he served once a long time ago has placed him in.
"...I'm afraid that otherwise, the results would be detrimental for your health. And unless you wish to live off tubes for the rest of your life..." The words are left unsaid.
"Anything else?" Kenobi asks heatedly.
"It is wise that you take into consideration about your respirator. If you will, do be careful when to remove your mask. Create a schedule. I say that you have least to worry about. Your human friend, Vader, appears to know about this condition and I have little doubt that you would be left in good hands, my friend."
Obi-Wan sighs, only being concealed by the rhythm of breathing. "And what about me eating? Would I have to use tubes for that as well?"
A peaceful smile crosses the lips of the alien once more. "We were able to completely repair your oesophagus. You would be able to eat normally."
Kenobi is happy at that, but compared to everything else, it's nothing but cold comfort.
"How long was I asleep?" Obi-Wan asks, still grimacing at his voice. How could this have happened to him? What in the name of the Force has he done to deserve this?
"An entire week, ten hours, and twenty standard minutes," the native replies as she walks up and places a hand on his back. "Your recovery rate is truly remarkable given the injury you sustained. Vader has come and proceeded with some experiment on your body which may have increased the speed of your recovery. Whatever his methods were, it worked throughout your countless surgeries."
While this news is grating on him, Obi-Wan is grateful that he didn't suffer a fate worse than this. Things would never be the same again with him, but he would have to accustom to these changes even if he doesn't want to do it.
An hour later, Vader walks in, his Force Signature seeming nothing short of remorseful. Kenobi finds himself unable to face him without feeling the urge to lash out.
"I wish to apologize to you for my failure," Vader says, his voice sounding softer and more sympathetic than he had ever heard from the man before. "I failed you."
"You did," Kenobi growls, his eyes burning with nothing short of anger, feeling blood coming from his chest but he is too angry to comment on it. "It is due to you that I ended up in this kriffing contraption. It should have been you who was injured. You are the one who deserve it. All I did was follow you in the hope you would morph the Jedi into a better Order. I didn't know this would happen to me!"
"And I regret that," Vader responds, his voice seeming quieter and more muted despite undertones of what can easily be mistaken as sympathy for him. "You have no idea how much I wished it had been me who was maimed, Obi-Wan. The Jedi had played into my cards but even I have not foreseen you being maimed by your former comrades. I didn't think of them so callous enough to injure one of their own to the point where you needed a respirator."
Once Kenobi feels the Force fueling him, he finds himself trying to use those power against the man standing across him, but even so, those attempts are total disasters, for Vader didn't even move a step.
"I'm your pet no more; I would roam down my own path."
Vader frowns and looks down, appearing to be staring past his soul. "And go where? The Jedi and Republic would be hunting you down after you served me. I wouldn't stop you if you feel this is right, but I still want to rearrange the Order and system to our design."
Kenobi breathes heavily, feeling as if he just wasted his energy despite not even being in conflict.
Vader sighs, seeming to come to some sort of understanding. He pulls out something and places it into Kenobi's palm before placing his temple on top of the endpoint. It is none other than a lightsaber, not yet activated.
"I would give you what your fellow Jedi always want."
Kenobi's eyes go wide. Is Vader seriously giving him a decision to finish what many could not? To run him through and stop him from spreading across the galaxy?
After a full minute of silence and not making the decision, both men are in the same position.
"Are you going to make it?" Vader asks, his voice echoing on Kenobi's eardrums.
Kenobi growls as his entire body trembles, his fingertips lingering over the ignition button...
"If you loathe me so much, then end me. I would not resist you killing me, Obi-Wan. In some ways, you are my only weakness, someone who I care about unconditionally."
Obi-Wan, for the first time since coming under Vader's service, is allowed to make a choice.
And he does...