Anna Camp aka Obi-quiet: Thanks for the constructive criticism. I always worry that I'm pacing things too fast and tend to speed things up, so it's good to know I can slow things down a little. I'm really pleased you liked the little nods to the original movies, it's great fun coming up with those and hopefully they aren't too corny! Looking at your comment about the future Solo's, I really wanted to play with the idea that such a small change could lead to breathtaking consequences, and the force as an entity that has to adapt to these vicious and swift changes. Hope you like where they end is all headed. Thanks again for all the posts.
Du1387: Thanks for your comments, I really do appreciate it and more is on the way. It's just going to take a little while to get just how I want it!
Assassins Stole My Pants: Holy Commolly, well I hope the next part lives up to the rest of it, thank you! By the way, you have the best username ever!
As soon as the child opened his mouth, everything felt slightly off kilter for Sideous, and he could feel the living force swelling around him and the podium, making him feel confined and constrained somehow. So, Dooku was prepared to begin the end game, that much was obvious! But who here would truly listen to him? The Senate was so wrapped up in their own petty problems, he doubted they would take anything the old man said seriously. But with all the media holo-recorders floating around there was still the risk that someone might respond, so he kept his senses sharp, keeping the dark forces that ran through his veins in check even more so now he knew the power play was beginning.
He checked on his own force cocoon, making sure it was still intact and placed his focus on his most immediate threat, Count Dooku. The old man had now moved to the podium and was beginning to waffle on about peace, no hidden meaning to these fool words, that was clear. Perhaps he had underestimated the Count after all.
But then it happened, the claustrophobic feeling suddenly growing in intensity inside his head. This was wrong, very wrong. It was like something was pressing down on his cocoon and crushing it with a force he had not felt before. He had to remain calm as another floating camera swooped down at the group on the raised platform around him, and for an instant he thought that was the cause of the feeling, his dark inner persona ready to swat it away, but he had better control than that, and focused on maintaining the cocoon, even though it seemed to be reducing in size now from the suppression being caked onto it. His eyes darted around the scene, someone had to be doing this close to him to be able to be this powerful and Dooku was still talking, it was clear he wasn't the one behind this. It would take a massive amount of concentration to maintain the pressure, which was building by the second.
At first, Sideous let the compressing take place, he was capable of sinking further into himself like this and he knew the power behind this intrusion wouldn't be able to hold on for long. But his darker tendencies were becoming furious. The sheer arrogance of the invasion to his mind and attack on his force abilities was almost enough to have the persona lash out, but once again Palpatine held it in check.
The presence was becoming unbearable at this point, however. This was a strong mind he was up against, and one highly skilled with suppression techniques. Not Maul, the fool was too obvious for this and Sideous' own dark teachings always left his force signature on his students, which he didn't detect in this presence. There was, however, a familiar feel to it. He had to know who this person was, who had the audacity to challenge him at his own game. Not Jedi, but of Jedi, came a sudden phrase to his mind, an echo across the force flow and it struck him like a slap in the face.
Of course, it was so simple, Obi-Wan, formerly Latterie, an artist in the technique of force suppression. Now he was aware of it, the familiarity of the presence bloomed into understanding and Sideous knew he had his assailant identified.
Ever so slowly he drew the cocoon in. He carefully gave the impression that what Kenobi was doing was working, forcing Sideous down into himself. It was obvious what the dear boy was attempting, but that was just it, it was an attempt and not a very good one at that. Sideous would snare his prey soon enough and they could really talk. The presence continued to build as Kenobi pressed down, and Sideous allowed the presence to seep into his cocoon ever so slightly, just enough to build a grip on the force presence and hold it in place for when the time was right.
He suddenly felt like smiling as Dooku continued his long speech, the length obviously meant to give Kenobi enough time to get Sideous worked up enough to show himself. But plans change, dear boy, thought Sideous as he checked the firmness of his hold.
With a sudden punishing yank on his force cocoon, he had Kenobi off balance momentarily, but it was enough to scoop part of the boy's presence in through the cocoon where he could hold it more firmly.
/Now, now/ cooed Sideous, /you really didn't think that would work, did you?/
To Kenobi it felt like he had been sucked into a dark, twisting world of shadows, black spikes and shards of black glass and he shuddered both inwardly and physically on the platform. He was aware that Dooku was still talking, but everything had slowed to almost a standstill in that physical world. Now a part of him was trapped inside Sideous' mind and he needed a way out as soon as possible. Realizing that his plan would have to change rather quickly, he decided to keep Sideous distracted with his presence for as long as possible and indulge the mind of his enemy.
/Well, I'll admit this is not the outcome I had been expecting, but at least I'm saved from Dooku's ramblings! He does like the sound of his own voice, doesn't he? Something the two of you have in common./
Sideous smiled at the bold presence before him. Not what he ever expected from the stoic, silent Latterie. He almost regretted having to destroy this elegant mind. But all in good time.
/You are terribly predictable, I'm afraid. And not very subtle. I had expected more from you, I really had. Lord Maul still claims you a threat, but I find this to have been all too easy./
Kenobi felt the dark lord's presence swirl around him, attempting to suffocate him in this darkness, but Kenobi had his own light to shine and a brilliant light it was. Sideous winced as its intensity grew.
/I think you'll find I'm full of surprises./ He could feel his strength already suffering under this new sustained strain, but he for the time being he found he could keep up with the dark lord, /You might want to back off a little, I here force light burns itch something terrible!/ and he intensified his presence.
It was beginning to show physically, however, as the continued pressure to Palatine's psyche and his own battle behind enemy lines was taking its toll on his body and he was dimly aware of the sweat running down the back of his neck. It gratified him to be aware of Palpatine also showing physical signs of the strain, his eyes suddenly having a slight glazed look to them.
Within Sideous' mind there was now a battle on two fronts, one within the cocoon with Kenobi glowing like a winter festival ornament and one on his cocoon, the presence suddenly intensifying. How as Kenobi doing this? He knew the lad had gained strength since Geonosis, but this was something else, something new and the force itself was on Kenobi's side in this, Sideous could tell. Now his dark side could really sink his teeth into a worthy opponent and he tried to do just that with the glowing presence within his mind, but the intensity of Kenobi's persona increased again at the attack.
However, Sideous noticed something. A subtle draining in the presence after the attack, a weakening of the control Kenobi was displaying. Sideous attacked again, this time with his force presence and the dark memory shards strewn about him. Kenobi did well to deflect them, but the brilliant white beacon was becoming stained, yellowing ever so slightly from the onslaught. Sideous' physical form smiled as he sensed the physical form of Kenobi tensing, he was so tempted to turn to him completely to see the young man struggling so valiantly within his mind to the detriment of his physical form. But he kept his control, the cocoon closing in around them. Kenobi realized the problem with this as the dark shards encroached on his beacon like presence. But he couldn't let go now, not yet, he had to get Sideous to slip, he couldn't let this creature win here.
The cocoon was now causing their presences to come closer together and Sideous reached up to envelope the stained glow of Kenobi with his darkness, the sting of the light force burns becoming irritating but bearable. Kenobi tried to push his way out, but Sideous held him firm, the dark presence cooling the brilliance wherever it touched. Come on, Kenobi, he thought to himself, not like this, you are better, stronger than this, use it.
/If you don't mind, it's getting a little close in here,/ he sensed out to Sideous and reached inside himself for the connection to the living force he had been holding back on. The flowing green power around him fuelled his efforts and he struck out at the darkness, the shards shattering at the touch and Sideous' dark senses screamed in anguish and surprise at this new sensation.
/Fool!/ he screamed and lashed out like a whip at the now glowing green presence. Kenobi gasped as great welts of darkness appeared in his presence where Sideous struck out. Obi-Wan had not prepared himself for this and found he had shrunk down in his presence and tried to expand back out to defend against the next blow. Sideous chuckled and lashed out again at the shrunken former Jedi, relishing the mind scream he felt echo around his cocoon. Kenobi did his best to defend himself, but he knew he was losing this battle. At that moment, he also realized the consequences of Sideous' actions with this dark presence pounding into him. Soon he could let go, let it all go and stop the pressing down, oh so very soon. He just had to hold on a little longer while the darkness built up against him. He regrouped inside the darkness, realizing he had to keep Sideous attacking and building until the control of the Palpatine persona could be broken and all that was left was Sideous. Would it be enough? Could he just hold on for a few more strikes? Another crushing blow came to him from Sideous' darkness and Obi could feel his presence condense further, his grip on the situation slipping.
No! Too soon! He felt himself saying, only to hear Sideous chuckling and swelling inside the cocoon, ready to explode another savage attack on the shrivel of a presence Kenobi had left within Sideous' mind.
"Latterie!" exclaimed a physical presence too close to him for comfort, the hate and revenge soaked words expressed impossibly slowly, and despite the struggle in Sideous mind, Kenobi turned to the Republic Guard who had uttered the words. Something struck him in the left side and he looked down, the slowness of these physical movements in complete contrast to his mental faculties, which grieved at the terrible calling of his name.
He found himself stumble back from the force of the blow as the pike pierced his armor and drove through him to come out the other side, just below his ribs. All connection to Sideous was lost, the pressure on the dark lord released in an instant.
A wave of blue lightening struck at Obi-Wan from Sideous and then travelled down the pike to also assail the guard still clinging to the other end of it and the two seemed caught in the field for an impossibly long time, Obi-Wan's mind and physical presence paralyzed by the combination of the pike and the force lightening ripping through his body, his throat burning from the scream of defeat and horror at his situation. The two force lightening victims collapsed to the platform floor as Sideous stopped the flow, Kenobi's helmet falling away. The crowd, who had been holding its breath, erupted into screams of panic and outright fear at the sight of their exposed Chancellor, tearing away from the area in a confusing stampede, Palpatine still crackling from his display of force lightening, his cover totally blown.
Sideous lowered his hands, fully aware of the folly his involuntary actions had done as the cocoon had shattered outward once Kenobi had released him, his hate and humiliation of Kenobi's attack overpowering his self control. His hand whipped to his concealed saber, igniting it instantly and already fending off blows from both Dooku and Dooku's other bodyguard, now hideously revealed to him as Skywalker.
Obi-Wan gasped for breath through the building haze of pain pulsing through his body, but he could hear the clash of sabers and just made out the three force wielders facing off against each other. Boba was at his side immediately, pulling him away from the Republic Guard who was beginning to recover. The guard looked up to see the fight, all others who had been present on the platform already having fled and he turned to Boba, who was trying to drag the stricken Latterie from the platform. He removed his helmet, the young, scarred face full of horror at what he had done. Obi-Wan recognized him instantly, how could he have missed the presence of the young man?
"Nawe? Why?" he asked simply of his former subordinate. All Nawe could do was shake his head in disbelief. How he had hated Latterie for betraying them all and abandoning them when they needed him most. Palpatine hadn't abandoned him, he'd helped him see what Latterie really had been, a traitor all along, right? That was what he had been, wasn't it? Otherwise how could he have let Nawe fall into Maul's hands in that terrible hangar? It had all been Latterie's fault, right? He had to blame someone, that was it wasn't it?
But the pain in Obi-Wan's eye said it all and Nawe came to his senses for the first time in weeks, his new mentor revealed as a creature of pain and hate in an instant of clarification and the world of hate that Nawe had been living in only recently descended into a world of guilt. How could he have hurt his captain? It was horrific to see the man who had chosen Nawe from all the recruits in his class for the senator's entourage with his pike sticking out of his body. He moved to Latterie's side, only to be stopped by the child in a man's uniform.
"Help me," he demanded of Boba, who was already raising his small blaster at Nawe for his actions, but Latterie had taught Nawe well and he moved to duck away from any blast and swat the weapon from Boba's hand, but Boba held his ground, obviously also trained by the former security chief now bleeding profusely between them. Switching tactics, Nawe raised his hands.
"I was wrong, I made a mistake. Let's fix it, now!" he said in his most commanding voice.
Obi-Wan reached up to Boba' arm, his face contorted, but still holding onto the situation.
"I believe him," he said, the strain written into every word he spoke.
Boba looked from Ben to the guard and then nodded quickly. Nawe moved to Latterie's side, his first thought to remove the pike, but that would have been disastrous. Holding the weapon steady, he quickly snapped it off, which caused Obi-Wan to grimace and Nawe looked down on him with apologetic eyes.
"Sorry," he said weakly, and Obi nodded in understanding, the pressure from the weight of the whole pike easing now there was less bulk present. "We need to get him out of here."
He then hooked his arms under Obi-Wan's and lifted him to stand. Obi-Wan held back another cry as the movement sent waves of pain shooting through his body, but he channeled them out, the living force surrounding him, helping him find his feet.
"This way," said Boba and with Nawe on one side and Boba on the other, the three of them moved off the platform to a waiting Dex. He had seen everything unfolding and was already waiting for the huddled group, ready to blow the guard's head off when he got the chance, but for now the kid was helping, so he decided to see how far that would go.
"Temple healers," came Kenobi's voice barely a whisper, but all three unharmed people present nodded in agreement and they got Obi-Wan to Dex's transport. Obi-Wan couldn't help but let out another gasp of pain as he was directed to the seating in back, Boba keeping pressure on the wound on his side.
Once inside Dex brought his blaster up into Nawe's face before the Republic Guard could enter the ship.
"No!" exclaimed Obi-Wan from the back of the ship. He hissed back his breath as he had to lean forward to touch a hand to Dex's arm.
"Why not? Look what the fool did to you!"
"Kill me later, get him help first! You could be there by now!" came Nawe's cool reply. Dex grabbed Nawe by the neck and pulled him into the transport where he threw him onto the floor.
"If he dies," said the Baselisk, waving his blaster at Obi-Wan and then back at Nawe, "you won't die, kid, not for a very long time, but you'll wish that you had."
"Enough!" called Kenobi, as he suddenly felt a familiar metallic taste in his mouth.
Dex turned to the transport controls and the small shuttle hurtled to the temple. It was mere seconds away from them when a dark shadow suddenly over took the small craft and a separatist droid ship raced over them.
"What the - " was all Dex could exclaim as the drone ship released its missiles and they streaked across the sky, burying themselves into the side of the Jedi temple.
"No!" screamed Obi-Wan, as the building erupted into a flurry of masonry, orange flame and black smoke. An insant later, a rumble from behind them had boba looking back to see the senate building rocked by its own assault from droid controlled ships.
"What now?" exclaimed Dex.
"Temple, now!" called Obi-Wan, clinging to the physical world with utter desperation. What could have possibly gone so terribly wrong?
"The ship's caught in a tractor beam!" cried Dex as he tried to steer the craft, but it was being pulled straight up and into the ship above them. Obi-Wan felt a shiver go up his spine as the force sensitive on the bridge of that ship washed his presence over the depleted Obi-Wan.
"Maul! It's Maul!" he said and both Nawe and Boba flinched at his side.