Disclaimer: I wish I could take credit for creating Star Wars, but alas, I am not George Lucas, and I have no intention of getting sued. However, I do own Creche Master Ado Staet.
Summary: As Qui-Gon, Anakin, and Bant protect the Republic from Darth Sidious, another Sith Lord emerges – Qui-Gon's presumably dead, former apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. Can the Jedi save the Republic, or is it already too late? The third story in the Jedi Trials series.
Author's Notes: Hello all! I was going to wait until tomorrow to upload this chapter, since tomorrow is the one year anniversary of this part of the story, but as tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday, I decided to update a day early for all you football fans...or commercial fans. I'll be honest...I usually only watch for the commercials, though I am rooting for the Colts. But I digress...enjoy!
Revenge and Regret
By Kekelina
-----
Chapter Ten: The Beginning of the End
-----
"Traitor."
"Dementor…you're alive."
"Surprised, Master?"
A pause. Then, "On the contrary, my Apprentice. I knew you would pass this final trial. You are now a true Sith."
He laughed hollowly, cruelty springing forth from the deepest reaches of his being. He was not a brainwashed pawn in Sidious's grand scheme. He had been fooled once by the Jedi – only a true fool would allow himself to be fooled twice.
Darth Dementor was no fool.
"I must say, Sidious, it was a brilliant plan." Cold, calculating eyes met his own. "You had me convinced right until the Jedi arrived. Oh, by the way, I'm afraid Master Unduli will no longer be in the service of the Jedi, since her head has somehow become detached from her body. She was always a bit, er, scatterbrained."
The only thing perhaps more unnerving than his calm, dry demeanor was his sneer. It was cruel, evil.
Sinister.
"There was an unexpected visitor as well: Qui-Gon Jinn. I was unable to greet him properly, but I'm sure we'll be seeing each other soon enough.
"He seemed quite shocked to see me – even fell to his knees. Can't imagine why…" He was taunting Sidious with his tone, baiting him. Of course, a powerful Sith Lord such as the Dark Lord did not easily falter by words and tones, but it created a sort of vindictive pleasure for Dementor nonetheless.
Revenge, in a mild form, soon to be joined by something bigger, more powerful…brutal.
A cackle from Sidious filled the void where silence had reigned only seconds before. He was rising from his chair ominously, the eyes beneath his hood calm, if not mildly amused.
Dementor did not falter.
This was a battle of wits.
"Dear boy, it appear I overestimated your powers…" He resisted the urge to ask him to explain. Yet, it seemed Sidious would with or without an inquiry. "After all, I give you three powerful Jedi for you to…take care of, yet you only manage to destroy one. How disappointing…" The corners of his mouth turned upward into a sneer.
Rage coursed through him, barely suppressed by a clenched fist, knuckles white as the frigid snow on Hoth. Not now, not yet…
"The art of lying seems to be leaving you, Palpatine. That's the best you can do? A Crecheling could see through that pathetic attempt." With mild pleasure, he saw the Sith Lord clench his jaw. "Nevertheless," he continued, "you wish me disposed. I don't blame you, since I am planning your downfall. You see, I have plans of my own, and I'm afraid they don't include you." He waved his hand distractedly. "I'm sure you already know this – why else would you be willing to have the Jedi kill your best and most powerful Apprentice – but I felt you deserved to hear it from my own mouth before I kill you."
They were circling the room now, like hunting bat-hawks on Coruscant, enraged yellow eyes locked with devious golden orbs. "Your arrogance blinds you, Dementor. I am more powerful than you will ever be. You cannot possibly hope to win."
Dementor grinned maliciously. How little he knew… "I am more powerful than you think, Master."
His hands sprung from his side, and the Dark Side of the Force poured from his fingertips in the form of white-hot lightning. Sidious, caught unawares, collapsed to the ground, wriggling and writhing in pain. The Dark Side surged around him like a crashing Nabooian waterfall.
It was delicious.
He saw everything. He controlled everything. He was everything.
-----
Darkness was replaced by darkness.
The galaxy shuddered.
-----
"Shh, young ones," Creche Master Ado Staet spoke gently to his charges. They wailed in pain and desperation, their cries becoming one hopeless scream.
They had felt the disturbance in the Force.
"Don't worry, little ones. The Force will protect us."
But would it?
-----
"Master, what was that?"
"I don't know, Tru. But it may be the beginning of the end."
-----
Dark and dangerous times lie ahead.
-----
"Obi-Wan…what have you done?"
-----
Yoda was waiting for them on the landing pad when they returned. One green claw lay on top of the other, both resting on the gimer stick in front of him. His eyes were closed, his facial features relaxed, the perfect picture of a serene Jedi Master.
But inside, questions churned, yearning to be answered.
The ship landed in front of him. His eyes, now open, flickered to the body of Luminara, to Yaddle's weariness, and finally, to Qui-Gon.
"Death, I feel, and terrible pain. What has happened?"
-----
His feet pounded on the carpeted halls in rhythm with his frantic heart. Whispers followed him, but whether they were spoken or inside his own mind, he didn't know.
Either way, they wouldn't be silenced.
"He's alive."
The words escaped his lips before he realized, and they were followed by another thought – a dark, painful one:
He's turned.
He didn't want to believe it. But…
He'd talked to Yaddle, who'd seen…who'd seen the monster he'd become.
It was true.
He felt sick.
He was my best friend. He was my best friend, and now he's…
Gone.
Dead once more. Consumed by the power of the Dark Side.
No longer a Jedi Knight, a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy, but a creature of darkness, of evil…
A Sith Lord.
The pain hurt worse this time.
"Garen!"
Sith. He skidded to a halt, turning ever-so-slightly to glance the face of his summoner.
Bant.
In his desperation to flee the Temple and his inner turmoil, he hadn't noticed passing her on his way to the turbolift, nor had he realized he and she were on the same floor.
"I've just returned from the Med Center," she was saying, her large, silver eyes filled with worry and sorrow that aged her salmon-colored face. "They brought us Luminara…" Garen nodded slowly. "We've known Palpatine's the Sith Lord for quite some time, but still…I can't believe he would betray the Republic like that – betray us."
His throat constricted. The news of Obi-Wan's turning had yet to spread throughout the Temple, and Bant has been confined to the Healer's ward since Yaddle and Qui-Gon's return in any case.
Why did the Force have to be so cruel as to make him tell her?
"Bant…" He took a deep breath, trying hard and failing miserably to release his emotions into the Force. This wasn't fair…
It rarely is.
The voice of his Master, Clee Rhara, filled him with the strength that had been evading him only moments ago.
Release your pain, your anger, and your sorrow. Obi-Wan has made his choice. Will you follow him?
No, he thought grimly.
"Luminara wasn't killed by Palpatine." His voice was calm and quiet. He had to do this.
Bant shook her head. "I don't understand. She was killed by a lightsaber. Are you suggesting Yaddle or Qui-Gon killed her?"
I might as well be… He hesitated, the words struggling to form. "Obi-Wan killed her."
"That's not funny, Garen," Bant replied after a moment of incredulous silence. Her face was set and her eyes hard. For all her quiet kindness, Bant Eerin was a force to be reckoned with.
"It's not," he agreed. There was nothing remotely funny about it at all.
"Obi-Wan is dead, and you're making jokes about him? Why would you do something like that?"
A long, weary sigh escaped his lips. "I'm not making jokes. Obi-Wan's alive – and he's a Sith. Yaddle told me."
"Stop, Garen. Don't dishonor his memory with such lies."
"Obi-Wan turned to the Dark Side," he repeated, louder than before, taking a step towards the Mon Calamari. She backed away quickly.
"Please, Garen…"
Garen's gaze dropped to the floor as he rubbed his temple. Obi-Wan…why? Why did he cause them so much pain? Didn't he realize how much they already hurt? They had already lost so many friends…yet this pain ran far deeper than any death.
This was what betrayal felt like.
-----
The Other Author's Notes: I just want to point out that the line 'Dark and dangerous times lie ahead' is a modified version of the line from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (movie), "Dark and difficult times lie ahead, Harry."
Thanks to all my lovely reviewers for their continued support! I still can't believe it's been a year since I uploaded the first chapter of Revenge. The board has been set and now the game is commencing. I hope you'll all stick around for the ride, and as always, don't forget to review!
Author's Edit: 8-21-2007