Alex Rider: Jedi Knight
Jedi Goat
Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider or Star Wars.
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Chapter 17: The Duel
Two days later, Alex decided to try to talk to Obi-Wan about his father. He waited until the afternoon—his shift time- and crept out into the corridor.
To his surprise, it was Ferus who sat outside the door.
"Where's Obi-Wan?" he asked immediately.
Ferus shrugged. "He left back to Coruscant. Sith activity was reported there."
"He left without us?" Alex couldn't believe it.
He was his Padawan, and Obi-Wan had left him here and gone after the Sith?!
"I guess -" Ferus suddenly froze. Alex tested the Force, and he sensed it too: a sinister, cold wave. The dark side.
"Get Sabina," Ferus hissed. Alex nodded and raced back into his room. He found Sabina lounging in her cot, reading.
She glanced up when he entered. "Alex! What-?"
He helped her up. "Sense the Force," he ordered.
Sabina paused, and then she looked up, frightened. "It's…cold."
Alex nodded. "The dark side. The Sith are here."
A moment later Ferus joined them, taking up a defensive position in front of them.
Abruptly the door burst open and a familiar figure stepped inside.
"Hello, friends," Anakin Skywalker drawled.
"What are you doing here?" Alex growled, instinctively moving in front of Sabina.
Anakin smiled darkly. "Making sure the last of the Jedi die." He advanced, fire in his eyes. "There is no escape, Padawans. Your Masters are most likely dead by now."
"Why don't you shut up and die, traitor," Sabina snarled, snatching up Alex's lightsaber.
Without warning, she charged, slashing quickly.
Ferus reacted rapidly, rushing to join her. Alex cast around the room for a weapon. He remembered a supply closet nearby and rushed over to it, pulling out a mop. He returned to the battle just as Anakin knocked Sabina aside and whacked Ferus in the head with his lightsaber hilt. The Padawan stumbled away, stunned.
Alex called on the Force, sending the flower vase flying into the Sith. Anakin's eyes widened and he tried to defend himself, but the vase smashed into him and shattered. The shards caught in his black robes, drawing blood.
Alex advanced with his mop while his friends were still recovering. Anakin lashed out with his blade and he blocked. His rival spun and slashed again, right through the mop.
Alex winced, discarding the two broken pieces of his makeshift weapon. He backed up, out of Anakin's reach.
"Alex!" Alex looked up and caught the lightsaber Ferus tossed to him. He nodded, igniting it in time to block the next blow. Swinging the humming golden blade around, he took the offensive.
Alex struck, whirled around, and cast a quick glance around the room. Sabina had regained her footing and was creeping up behind Anakin. Ferus had a giant purple bruise growing above his left eye, and he was crawling across the chamber to where the medical supplies were kept.
Gritting his teeth, Alex focused on the battle. He allowed Anakin to take the upper hand, forcing him back. Anakin swung hard at his shoulder; Alex's blade clashed against his a few inches from his face.
Across the lightsabers, Anakin leered at him with eyes of cold blue fire.
"You'll die first," he snarled. You pitiful, show-off excuse for a Jedi."
"I'm more of a Jedi than you," Alex shot back, twisting Anakin's lightsaber downward.
At that moment, Sabina attacked. Her lightsaber sizzled through the air, burning into Anakin's leg.
With a furious yell, Anakin abandoned his lightsaber and punched her in the head. Sabina reeled back, dazed. He prepared to lash out again.
"Leave her alone!" Alex flung himself at Anakin, bowling him over. For a moment they rolled, throwing vicious punches and kicks at each other. Then Anakin flung him off.
Alex stumbled to his feet, panting. Blood dripped from his nose, and his side ached when he breathed in too deeply. But he had gotten some good shots in against Anakin, too. His blood boiled with rage as the Sith struggled up, bracing his injured leg against the bed.
Alex reached out for the Force, trying to drown his anger.
The Force rose up against him, ganging up on him. At the last moment he saw Anakin's smirk. Then he was flying through the air, dragged by some invisible force.
Glass shattered at his back and Alex dimly realized he had hit the window. He covered his head as he fell through.
Sabina's scream echoed in his ears as he fell through empty air. Wind rushed by, buffeting him. Alex closed his eyes and reached out to the Force…
"No!" The yell tore from her throat. Sabina advanced, hoping to do something, anything, but it was too late. She whirled on Anakin, who stood, smirking.
"You…" Sabina searched for a word horrible enough to describe the hatred she was feeling.
Something metal flashed at the edge of her vision, and she glanced up.
WHAM! A cart filled with sharp medical instruments collided with Anakin. His eyes opened wide as the instruments pierced him, blood spewing from all over. The cart rumbled forward and slammed him up against the wall. Then Anakin slumped forward, dead.
Sabina exhaled a long, shaky breath. She glanced away from the gruesome figure to see Ferus looking as white and terrified as she did. "I didn't think-" he began.
"It's okay," Sabina assured him. She caught sight of the window, broken and bloody. Alex…no! She shut her eyes as tears welled up in them. Needing to get away, she walked out into the hallway.
The hospital hall was as well lit as ever, a hint of normality in this nightmare. Sabina leaned against the wall, shivering despite the warmth. She could feel the dark side receding…and with it, it took her heart.
With a shudder, she let the tears fall. Hot tears streamed suddenly down her face, tasting like ash. She couldn't believe that in a single moment Alex had gone. She had thought he was strong, strong enough to bring her through anything! Now everything was gone; her world was shattered around her.
"Sabina?" Ferus appeared in the hall. Awkwardly, he touched her arm. "It's all right. It's all over now."
Looking up, he froze. "What-?"
Sabina turned. Through her tears, she could barely make out a thin trail of blood. "Oh, God, no," she whispered.
Ferus strode down the hall. Warily, Sabina followed him.
Turning the corner, Ferus went rigid. "Master!"
The pain in his voice was all too obvious. Bracing herself for what she was about to see, Sabina rounded the corner after him.
The scene was horrifying all the same; she clutched the wall to remain upright.
Master Siri Tachi was propped against the wall, her life force ebbing. Sabina could sense her feeble presence in the Force, almost as gripping as the blood that pooled around her from the wound in her side.
"Master!" Ferus repeated, pleading this time. He choked back a sob, kneeling beside her. Siri's pale blue eyes flickered at him. "Padawan," she rasped. "Thank you… thank you for coming."
Her eyes closed briefly; when she reopened them, the fierce, lively spark had almost returned. "My lightsaber…take it. Don't … don't let the Sith win."
"Yes, Master." Ferus's voice caught in his throat, and with a jolt, Sabina realized that he was crying, too.
"You were a great student," gasped Siri. "A great…great honor to teach."
"Not good enough, Master."
"No!" Siri grabbed his arm. "You always gave…gave more than I asked. You will be a grand Knight. I can sense it."
She gasped for breath. "The Sith," she whispered, her voice so soft Sabina had to move closer to hear. "Going to…Temple. Stop them. Save the Jedi."
"Yes-" Ferus began, but Siri had one last message.
"You are the last of the Jedi. Be strong." Closing her eyes for the last time, Siri Tachi died.
"Yes, Master. Goodbye, Master." Ferus bowed his head, kneeling beside his mentor. After a few long moments, he stood, pocketing Siri's lightsaber.
"Come on," he instructed Sabina, brushing away his tears. "Let's go. I know where she kept the spare ship."
Sabina closed her eyes briefly. We're doing this for you, Alex. And Siri.
Then she turned and followed Ferus away.
To be continued...
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Wow, that was a depressing chapter...