Chapter 15: The Way of the Sith
The month passed too quickly for Obi-Wan. He only saw Quinlan one day, as the Kiffar proved to be a quick learner and didn't need more than a few hours to grasp how to keep the Dark Side out, and after that time, Quinlan would have no more studying. It left Kenobi a good deal of time to return to the Forbidden Archive several times, slowly reading texts in Sith as his language skills improved, which, in turn, improved his grasp of the language. Jocasta simply waived him through when she saw him, the Librarian no longer suspicious or concerned and foregoing the need for the Temple guards. He had become completely fluent the week before they left, and he began spending all his time in the Archive, either reading or in deep meditation, concealing the Dark Side within him and gathering his focus to tame and control it, the darkness bending to his will as he sharpened his focus.
It was a few days before the mission when he had pulled a thin, dusty book from one of the top shelves, the little thing out of sight behind a larger tome and only discovered when Obi-Wan ran his hand over the top shelf, groping for manuscripts he could not see over the shelf. The small black book was emblazoned with a faded red symbol on the front, a hexagon with six beams radiating from its corners. He recognized this as the symbol of the Sith Empire. Kenobi flipped the little book open, and quickly read it, devouring every word and blue eyes widening as he realized what this was.
The Code of the Sith.
The dark counterpart to the Jedi Code, and he held it in his hands. He read it over several times, and each time his eyes ran over the ancient hieroglyphs, the more he agreed with the words in the book.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall set me free.
It was all true, wasn't it? His eyes flashed in the low light, and he had to take long, deep breaths to calm the Dark Side within him, but he couldn't, feeling the dark swell and rise within him. Ever since he let the Dark Side in, he had felt stronger, more balanced than he ever had, and the rush of emotions within him, the feelings of pleasure that flooded him when he let the darkness in was undeniable. It was...liberating. As the Sith Code said. His head was swimming, and he grasped the ladder he was standing on tightly for fear that he would fall. He leaned his head against one of the rungs, his arms shaking as he felt his connection to the Dark Side strengthen, the Force running cold, but the power within him flooding him with pleasure.
He felt this way on Dathomir when Talzin had urged him to let go, and he did completely, surrendering himself to the Dark Side and allowing the power to flow through him freely, leaving him in ecstacy.
This time, it was more intense, and he managed to drop from the ladder before he fell, his shaking legs unable to hold him for long, and he fell to his knees. He could feel the Dark Side speak to him, urging him to surrender, and he couldn't resist the pull of the Force on his mind. He placed his hands on the cold floor, long fingers trying to grip on to the unyielding marble surface, and with a shiver, he used the Dark Side to conceal the presence of the free-flowing power, begging the Force to let the deception work. Hoping the Dark Side was concealed, Obi-Wan let go completely.
Pleasure shot through him, hot and burning and raging and so unlike the cold chill of the Force that gripped him. The Dark Side that flooded him now was not derived from pain, or anger like it had been before. This was blinding pleasure, ecstacy and passion made raw power as Kenobi understood that his chains were breaking, and the Force was setting him free, just as the Code had promised.
"Nwûl tash. Dzwol shâsotkun." Peace is a lie. There is only passion. He felt it, and he knew it to be true, could not deny it when the Jedi was on his hands and knees and shaking with mind-numbing pleasure as the Dark Side took over. The Dark Side was pain and anger, yes, but it was also pleasure, raw and carnal, and Obi-Wan felt it now as his pulse quickened and his breathing came fast and uneven as power flooded his being.
"Shâsotjontû châtsatul nu tyûk." Through passion, I gain strength. There was no denying that one. Without passion, with a Jedi's cool detachment, the Force was warm, comforting, but now, fueled with the Dark Side and everything that went with it, the Force was pure power, and he felt himself grow stronger. Even now, as he clung to the floor, he knew he was stronger than he ever was. And when he mastered control of the Dark Side, when he could let darkness overcome him, but not master him, he would be unstoppable.
"Tyûkjontû châtsatul nu midwan." Through strength, I gain power. Kenobi moaned loudly, his face flushed and a maddening burning raging in his chest and behind his eyes. He gasped helplessly and rolled onto his back, his hands in his hair and blazing eyes focused at the tall, domed ceiling. The Dark Side was seductive, he had always known that, but he thought it was just the promise of power that made it so. He was learning very quickly it wasn't the case. The Dark Side seduced with power, yes, but also with mind-numbing pleasure that bordered on sexual ecstacy. Kenobi was trapped in it, he knew, but he didn't care.
"Midwanjontû châtsatul nu asha." Through power, I gain victory. He had that as well. On Dathomir, against Darth Maul, getting his way with the Council, gaining the knowledge he needed. It all led him here, to this moment, where he found the Code, and he understood. The effect was intoxicating, and Obi-Wan wanted it to carry him away, didn't care if the Dark Side dominated him so long as he could feel this.
"Ashajontû kotswinot itsu nuyak." Through victory, my chains are broken. The pleasure did not stop, but slowly, Obi-Wan began to focus, his eyes still burning as he sat up, breathing deeply, and regaining his Jedi control. The Jedi Code were his chains, and he was breaking them. There was passion, and it fueled him, giving him power as his quick mind slowly began to look at the Jedi Code and carefully, logically, picking it apart. There was emotion, there was passion, and though Jedi sought to rule over them, true power awaited those who would harness those emotions, not blindly avoid them.
"Wonoksh Qyâsik nun." The Force shall set me free. And it would. It did. As he sat there in the Forbidden Archive, his knees drawn to his chest and arms holding him tightly, he focused on the power within him the that ran freely, wild, untamed, but carefully leashed by the Jedi. His focus gave him power, the burning, aching pleasure reminding him why he continued relenting to the Dark Side, and the undercurrent of cold fury fueling the Dark Side that gripped him. The Jedi Code was flawed, he saw that now. He could be so, so much more were he to adhere to the Code of the Sith.
What was even better was that the two Codes didn't completely contradict each other. They disagreed on one aspect of the Jedi Code, but the rest had no conflict at all. His Jedi training was an asset, as Talzin had said, and he found strength in the calm, removed mentality of the Jedi that served as a leash on the raw, pure power of rage and passion. Obi-Wan gasped softly as pleasure burned in his chest, willing the Dark Side to obey him, and it did. He felt the darkness surround him, and though it felt wild and untamed, he knew he was its Master. Kenobi finally managed to push himself to shaking feet, his hand running through his hair as he closed his eyes, willing the burning behind his eyes to cease.
This happened on Dathomir because the very planet was a raw source of Dark Side power, but why was this happening here, in th Jedi Temple? Could the words themselves possess power? It was possible, but it seemed unlikely that simply accepting the Code of the Sith would render him mewling and whimpering before the power of the Dark Side, inviting it in, begging it to take him completely. It seemed more likely it was more than that, something...something...Obi-Wan snarled. It was just out of reach, but he felt it. Something was here, in the Temple, something dark and pulsing like a heart beat and so very, very alive...
He needed to meditate on this new Code, and the just out of reach darkness he felt. With any luck, he would have his new defenses in place by the time his mission began, and an idea of the dark beast that dwelled within the Temple.
Obi-Wan arrived at the flight deck fifteen minutes before the large cruiser was slated to leave for Athiss. Quinlan wasn't there, but his Padawan Aayla was. Despite his irritation that his partner in this mission was absent, Kenobi smiled as he approached the Twi'lek. "Quinlan's been talking about you again," she drawled as he came near.
"Do I want to hear it?"
She smiled. "No, probably not. I hear you and my Master are going to be away for a long time." Kenobi nodded.
"Yes, it's an extended mission. I'm sorry I am taking him for so long, I did not ask for him."
"That's alright. The Council will have me train with Master Shaak Ti while you are gone."
Obi-Wan smiled broadly. "That's fantastic! Master Shaak Ti is a powerful Jedi, when I get back, you and I will be equals!"
She scoffed, her lekku twisting slightly. "That will never happen."
"Of course it will." He smiled, grabbing her hand. "Aayla Secura, I'm not better than you. You are a rare talent, powerful in the Force, gifted with a lightsaber and you're going to be an amazing Jedi Knight."
The Padawan turned a darker shade of blue as she blushed deeply. "Obi-Wan, you are a legend. You killed a Sith, are hunting them now. How could any of us match up?"
"...come with me." She looked at him, brown eyes wide, and Kenobi smiled softly. "When I get back...this won't be my last mission. On my next one, come with me."
She didn't say anything. She just threw her arms around his neck, head resting against his chest and lekku twisting with excitement.
"I knew it!"
At once, both Jedi groaned as they parted, glaring in the direction of Quinlan Vos, Master of bad timing. "You're late," Obi-Wan growled, but Quinlan ignored him, laughing loudly as he came near them.
"Aayla, you minx!"
"We have been over this, Master..."
"I was wondering where you've been," he drawled lazily, draping his arm over the irritated Kenobi's shoulders, his large hand laying on Obi-Wan's chest. "Getting a piece of the Sithkiller, hmm? Is he any good?"
"Better than you," Kenobi growled, and Quinlan just laughed.
"Is this what sex does to people?" Secura drawled lazily, regarding her Master with bored, brown eyes. They have had this conversation before. Many times. "You are a great incentive to keep strictly to the Code, Master."
"Then I have taught you very well." Quinlan grabbed his apprentice and held her tight. "Good luck in your training, Aayla, Shaak Ti is a harder Master than me. When I come back, you had better have some influence with the Council. I need someone there to cut me some slack."
She smiled softly, gently stroking his cheek. "Thank you, Master. May the Force be with you on your mission." And with that, she turned and left, not looking behind once, and Obi-Wan could feel through the Force the young woman letting go of her Master with such ease, and he couldn't help but feel envy for her ability to adhere so well to the Jedi Code. It was...impressive.
Both men watched her until she was gone from sight and Quinlan turned to his companion and opened his mouth to speak, but Kenobi's hand quickly shot out, catching him around the throat and pushing him up against the ship's landing supports. "Listen up, Quinlan," Obi-Wan growled, hand tightening around the other's neck. "If I hear one more thing from you about sex in any way, I'm going to throw you out of the kriffing airlock." The Master tried to respond, but Obi-Wan grabbed him harder. "I'm sure it's great, being so aloof and detached as you are, but I can't do that. I get attached. Understand? Nod if you understand."
Quinlan nodded, and the Knight released him and strode up the ramp onto the ship, leaving the Master to rub at his neck and the already darkening bruises that were forming. With a sigh, he followed Kenobi into the ship and stepped into the cockpit, where the other man sat in the pilot's seat.
"I'm driving," Vos grumbled, and Kenobi laughed harshly.
"That's the worst Idea I've ever heard."
"Look, Obi-Wan, I'm sorry," the Master said quietly, settling into the co-pilot's seat. "I didn't know. You're just...such a model Jedi, so..."
Kenobi sighed. "You had no way of knowing. I apologize as well. I shouldn't have lost my temper. I'm...not as good of a Jedi as you think. I struggle. Often."
Quinlan smiled, watching the other Knight power up the ship, the engines humming to life. "I think we all struggle. You know I do, I'm not shy about it, but you..." He grinned as he watched the sandy haired man smirk slightly. "You're this super Jedi, you know? Obi-Wan Kenobi, legendary Jedi, Sithkiller, and paragon of the Code. I'm sick of hearing about it. Nobody is that good, they can't be, not when I struggle the way I do."
Quinlan watched Kenobi lift the ship off the ground, retract the landing supports and begin the ascent into the Coruscanti sky. Obi-Wan didn't say anything, and Quinlan couldn't help but notice that the clear blue eyes seemed...heartbroken.
"Is it the girl?" Kenobi finally looked at him, confused and a little uneasy. "The one you said you were with. Did you love her? Is that how you struggle with the Code?"
Kenobi looked back to the flight console, piloting them out of Coruscant's atmosphere and taking them toward the hyperspace route. "...that's certainly part of it," he said after a long while, hand clutched tightly around the acceleration lever. "I did grow attached to her, yes. But it's ultimately unimportant. It doesn't bother me if I don't think of it."
Quinlan nodded. "You got it, boss." He stretched out, hands behind his head and smiling warmly, the tension between the two completely gone. "So what's the plan?"
"The Perlemian Trade Route to Felucia. From there it's a bit more complicated. We'll have to take several smaller routes to get where we need to be. I'm thinking it's the Shaltin Tunnels to Syngia, and then it's open space to Moraband."
Quinlan hissed. "We shouldn't even be near Moraband, that place is forbidden."
"I know, but we may end up there."
"This is going to be a long trip."
"Well, there aren't any hyperspace lanes into Sith Space. Once we're actually in the Esstran sector, there are smaller routes connecting the different systems, but getting there is going to be tedious."
"Think this ship is big enough for the both of us?" Vos asked slyly, watching Kenobi's features light up with the same mischievous light that Quinlan often had on his own face.
"Oh, I don't know, Quinlan. The stories I have heard about you make it seem you can't be taken anywhere without making a mess." He smirked, a wicked light in those blue eyes. "I take care of messes."
Quinlan got out of the co-pilot's seat, his hand gripping the arm of the pilot's seat and leaning in close to Obi-Wan. "Are you sure we can't talk about sex, Kenobi? More specifically, how it relates to you and me..."
"Oh, we can talk about it, Quin," Obi-Wan purred, leaning up to the Master, their faces inches apart, but this time, Quinlan did not back down. Obi-Wan smirked as he pulled the acceleration, engines roaring as the ship made the jump into hyperspace, and Quinlan Vos went flying out of the cockpit toward the back of the ship, landing hard against a steel bulkhead and sliding down to land in a crumpled heap. "Not going to happen, Quinlan!" Kenobi could be heard shouting from his command console, laughter in his voice.
He leaned back in his seat, watching the light and blue of hyperspace pass him by. After checking that everything was running well and their course was set, Obi-Wan got out of the seat and headed down the halls, turning into the room that he had selected for himself earlier. He grabbed his pack, which he had tossed onto his bed and removed a dark, wooden box from it as he sat cross-legged on the floor, tossing the pack back on the bed as his long fingers opened the bronze latch. Inside was the bisected saber of Darth Maul, the functioning end longer than the lesser half, the cut end repaired into a proper hilt.
He took out the broken half, opened a smaller compartment in the box, and removed a leather bag, the sound of metallic components clashing and rolling against each other as he handled it. Obi-Wan pushed the box to the side as he emptied the bag on the floor before him, the pieces ranging from little rounded cylinders to bigger, smooth grips. Kenobi smiled softly, using the Force to move the pieces around, raise them up, examine them carefully. It had been a long time since he had constructed his own lightsaber, and now that he sat to construct another, he had felt it was second nature, like he had done it a thousand times before.
Leaving the pieces on the ground, he held the broken saber in his hand, levitating it with the Force, turning it over in the air, examining it carefully, admiring its construction. When he understood the method of the weapon's construction, he used the Force to swiftly take it apart, smoothing unscrewing and twisting it apart, sliding pieces out of their rightful place and letting the unnecessary parts settle inside the empty bag at his side. The lightsaber deconstructed, he opened his eyes and stared at the red kyber crystal floating in the air before him, the blazing glow of it reflected in the smooth, metallic pieces on the ground.
It was...breathtaking. He had seen many kyber crystals in his time, and each one he felt was beautiful, stunning, powerful, but this one was different. Obi-Wan could feel the power coming off it in waves, felt the Dark Side in him stir and awaken and the sight of it, and he reached out and gently closed his hand around it. His breath hitched at the contact as his heart raced, the Dark Side roaring within him, but the Jedi kept it leashed and controlled. His month of study had given him much greater control over the passions and desires of the Dark Side, for the most part. He would still lose control, as he did a few days ago in the library, but the uncontrolled surrender to the Dark Side was becoming less common.
He could feel the Force rushing through the crystal in his palm, pulsing as if it had a life of it's own, and he grinned, eyes flashing dangerously as he observed it. The kyber crystal housed in his own lightsaber filled him with peace and calm, the warm breath of the Force gently washing over him like a breeze. This one was all passion and rage and power that drove a cold spike through him, the Force around it whipping like a storm. It was power, and it was perfect.
He closed his eyes and opened his palm, the crystal floating before him again as the pieces on the ground rose up, swirling around the red stone like planets around a sun. He had been meaning to construct a new saber after he achieved knighthood, but his duties had kept him from it. His own saber was modeled after Qui-Gon's, and given their current rift, he found it extremely necessary to craft a new one, one that was his. Finding time to get to Ilum to get a new crystal just wasn't feasible when he was hunting the Sith Lords, but this...this was working out just as well.
The pieces began snapping into place, the Force guiding their correct placement and alignment as the other pieces surrounded it. The Jedi constructed the weapon quickly, small pieces fastening themselves to the inner workings, the bigger plates rising to become the outer covering. Everything clicked and shifted, rotating into it's proper place and when the innards were complete, it slipped into the inner covering, sliding snugly into place as the saber rotated, the Jedi examining his work. Satisfied, he raised the outer covering, the two pieces coming together and locking, the completed weapon coming to rest in Obi-Wan's open palm.
It looked a great deal like his old one, the black and silver weapon heavy and perfectly weighted in his hand. This one was more elegant than his other, more suited to his evolving fighting style, and right away, he knew that the other would have to be rebuilt if he was going to use both weapons and feel balanced. He unclipped his old saber from his belt, feeling the weight of it, frowning as it felt...off. Compared to his new one, it was clearly inferior. He needed to rebuild it. Now.
He laid his old saber out next to his new one, observing them both carefully, and he smiled in satisfaction. The designs were very similar. With a few adjustments, he could make his old weapon identical in design to his new one. He held up his Jedi weapon, using the Force to quickly disassemble it, and he grabbed the kyber crystal in his hand, the warm breath of the Force washing over him. Observing the pieces in the air, he slowly began to sort through them, removing pieces he did not need, refitting others to compliment a sleeker design, readjusting others to fit his focus on Soresu.
It was at that moment that Quinlan barged into the room, Obi-Wan narrowing his eyes in concentration so the pieces did not drop, his hand carefully cradling the glowing blue crystal. "Please, tell me when you will learn to knock so I can prepare myself, because I don't think my heart could stand the shock."
Quinlan quickly knocked on the wall before he leaned in the doorway. "What are you up to, sweetheart?"
"Just adjustments," Kenobi mumbled quietly. "I was going to do this before we left, but I lacked the time." Quinlan scoffed.
"How could you lack for time, we had a month."
"Neyo la yud masur kee, tah uhnah kahru lur shu, Quinlan. I had a language to learn!"
"You keep talking to me dirty, Obi, and I'll have to ravage you right there."
Kenobi rolled his eyes. "One month of study and meditation, I had no time to construct a lightsaber. But I do have the time now, so if you'd leave me to it..." Quinlan sat, legs crossed and hands on his knees, watching him closely. "Obi-Wan sighed. "You're never going to leave me alone, are you?"
"Aw, honey, I can't do that."
"Fine, just...shut up while I do this." He closed his eyes, feeling the Force around the pieces and opened his palm, the crystal floating to join the dissembled saber. It was easier this time, like the Force itself knew exactly what he wanted, remembered his previous effort, and all the pieces slid effortlessly into place. From his corner, Quinlan scoffed.
"Did you really need me to be quiet for that? That took literally no effort."
"No, really, it was very difficult," Kenobi said softly, grabbing his saber from the air and flicking it on, the deep thrum of the blue blade igniting as Obi-Wan felt the weight and balance of it and approved. It was an exact match for the one he made earlier, the weapon feeling natural in his grip, a vast improvement on his previous heavy blade.
Quinlan held out his hand. "May I?" Obi-Wan laughed.
"Uh, no. You are never touching my stuff, not with that power of yours."
"Uh, I don't have to use it, dummy!"
"But you will," Obi-Wan smirked, powering down the lightsaber. "You know you will, you nosey bastard."
Vos huffed, crossing his arms. "Fine, maybe I would. If you aren't going to let me play with your lightsaber, what do you want to do."
"Meditate," was his swift reply as he placed both lightsabers and the bag of spare parts into the wooden box.
"Ugh, that's boring! Come on, let's do something!"
Obi-Wan grinned maliciously, a wicked idea entering his mind. He had been wanting to test his powers on another person, and who better than on another Jedi Knight? After all, if he could succeed against a Jedi, using it against others should be child's play. And Quinlan, while strong in the Force, had his talent in psychometry, but the rest of his powers were not terribly powerful. It was perfect.
"Let's play a game..." Obi-Wan purred, standing up, and the other Jedi stood as well, facing him quickly. "It should help you prepare for our mission as well."
"Alright! I'm ready!" His hand darted to his lightsaber, but Obi-Wan shook his head.
"You won't be needing that, Quinlan." The Master dropped his hand, looking at Kenobi suspiciously. "I'm going to try to get into your head. You keep me out."
Quinlan rolled his eyes. "You aren't going to be able to, Kenobi. This game isn't fun."
"Just try it then." Quinlan smiled easily, leaning against the wall and relaxed, nodded to the Knight to give it a shot. Obi-Wan took a deep breath, closed his eyes and held out his hand before him. His blue eyes shot open, and, through the Force, he reached out toward Quinlan.
The Kiffar went ridged as he was slammed back against the wall, brown eyes wide as he felt Kenobi's presence in his mind. Closing his eyes, he tried to force Obi-Wan out, but found that he could not.
The younger Jedi gasped, eyes dilating and focus narrowed as his mind was flooded with visions of a young Quinlan, Padawan braid thrown carelessly over his shoulder as he started fights, both in places where fighting was permitted, and in places it was most certainly not, and trips to the Temple Library under the guise of studying, but actually using the time to nap, head hidden behind heavy books.
His hand shook with the strain of the Force, and with a gasp, he closed his hand, the weight of the Force easing off the Kiffar, and the Master had to lay his hands on the wall to support himself.
"How,"he snarled, breath coming out ragged and uneven. "How are you doing that."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I've been studying. This is a...modification of the mind trick."
"And you taught yourself this?" Kenobi nodded. "Hit me again."
Obi-Wan looked at him skeptically. "You sure?"
"Oh yeah. I can do this." He braced himself, brown eyes intent and focused, and Obi-Wan raised his hand.
It was easier the second time.
The Force tore through Quinlan's mind like it was nothing, and Kenobi was flooded with visions of Quinlan's Master Tholme, of the brutal Trial the Kiffar faced, of his secret missions on behalf of the Jedi Council, of the women that he had bedded to fit in with his undercover roles. He stopped, pulling away when Quinlan doubled over with the effort at trying to repel the intruder in his mind.
"We can stop, Quinlan."
"No!" His eyes were fierce, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. "If I can't resist you, how am I supposed to resist the Dark Side in the things we find on Athiss? I should have spent more time studying with you." He braced himself, eyes narrowed in concentration. "I'm ready." Kenobi nodded and felt the Force run through him, reaching into Quinlan's mind and sending the Master to his knees.
This time, it was the harsh landscape of Ryloth he saw, and the dangerous mission that brought Quinlan and Aayla together, the two of them bonding closely before he could bring her to the Temple, and Obi-Wan could feel their bond through the Force, watched it grow and develop as he dug through the Master's mind. He only stopped when Quinlan emitted a strangled cry as the Force tore through him, helpless to repel it. With the pressure off him, Quinlan slumped to the floor, breath ragged and eyes open, but staring at nothing.
"Quinlan?" Obi-Wan asked carefully, but the Master said nothing. He touched the Kiffar's pulse, closed his eyes and reached to him through the Force and found the man unharmed, just unconscious from the effort.
Kenobi sighed, brushing his hand through his hair. His experiment was more successful than he could have hoped for, and he felt the Dark Side within him pulse, hum with satisfaction, washing the Jedi's body in waves of pleasure. The Dark Side powered him, allowed him to dominate the will of others, and while he was cloaking his presence, it seemed as though the nature of his powers were difficult to detect. Kenobi was fueled by the Dark Side, yes, but he had stayed calm, emotionless, distant, and it made him undetectable.
He reached out his hand and used the Force to call his lightsaber to him, gasping it and powering it on, the hiss and low thrum of the weapon filling the silence as the blade cast the room in red light.
