He was either dreaming or somebody was playing tricks with his mind, Obi-Wan was absolutely sure about this. Why else should he be running through a foggy landscape? Granted, 'landscape' might not even be the right word for it. If he was being honest, then there was nothing, absolutely nothing that could be called anything. As far as he could look, there was just that Force forsaken fog. It was the thickest at his feet and the further it was from the ground, the better Obi-Wan could see. It was not very far though.

Something else bothered the Jedi Master greatly. Is this was a vision, it would feel different. If it were a mere dream, he wouldn't be able to question it like this and he would dream about the events of the previous day, perhaps the Council meeting or even the hilarious dialogue between Ben and Mace. Neither was the case however, therefore it could only be an outside source that was playing with his mind. If he concentrated enough, another thing that would not have been possible in a mere dream, he could even feel darkness somewhere at the edge of his awareness.

"Darkness you say? But what exactly IS darkness anyway?" an accented voice said from seemingly nowhere. A moment later a figure with sandy hear, a beard and with dirty golden eyes came out of the fog. The man was wearing black Jedi tunics. For a moment Obi-Wan thought that the figure was Ben, who had decided to 'visit' his dream world, but upon closer inspection, the Jedi Master could see that this was not the case. Actually the mysterious figure looked more like him...

"You have not answered my question," the figure stopped only a few feet away from Obi-Wan. There was a predatory grin on his features that caused a bad feeling to stir in the Jedi's gut.

"Who are you?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," the figure shook his head, "Answering a question with another question is not very polite." The way he tilted his head, crossed his arms and really just stood there, made Obi-Wan feel unsure. Which sane and good man appeared out of a fog, looked like a dark version of oneself and acted as if nothing was wrong?

Nevertheless the Council member decided to play along for now, "Darkness describes the absence of light."

The other one hummed, "And is the root of all evil."

"I did not say that," the Jedi protested, but only half-heartedly.

"You didn't have to," the darker being shrugged, "It was clearly written on your face. And here is where you are also wrong. Darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good. Darkness and light are both in all beings. It is true that most beings prefer one side and therefore they use it more, but every organism has the potential for both."

"That is indeed an interesting theory," but not one he really wanted to discuss with a stranger who had invaded his mind nonetheless. It was a conversation he would like to have with Ben however.

"Not a theory, the truth... but you will realise this soon enough on your own."

"Whatever are you talking about?" The darkness was getting closer; Obi-Wan could feel it. But it irritated him that the darkness seemed to come from everywhere around him at once. It was almost suffocating and he felt panic rise in his chest.

"Poor Obi-Wan," his dark copy taunted, "look around you. Nobody is here besides you, you are all alone in the dark." He was right, realized the ginger haired Jedi Master suddenly. He was absolutely right... or was he not?

"I am not alone; I have Anakin and Ahsoka... for example."

The figure laughed, but it was without any joy, "Do you now? Face it Obi-Wan, you have a former Padawan, who'd rather have had Qui-Gon as his Master and that young Togruta girl only looks up to you, because of all the heroic things you did. And not to forget that brother of yours, who's only goal it is, to pull you into the dark or to destroy you if you don't move." He shook his head and when he continued, his tone was final, "You nave no one, they all just pretend to care, because you are useful to them. As soon as you aren't useful anymore, they will cast you aside. It was that way with your precious Qui-Gon and it was what Anakin recently did and even the Jedi Order has cast you aside, have they not? Do you remember?"

Of course he remembered. Melida/Daan came unbidden to his mind. He had just done what Qui-Gon would have done... hadn't it been for Tahl that is.

His dark counterpart remained silent for a little while. But the silence was worse than the poisoning words, because this way, he could not stop his thoughts from running wild and in unbidden directions. In a way the dark being was... right... wasn't he? Obi-Wan was not sure. He couldn't think straight anymore. Was this the dark being's influence or something else entirely. And what by the nine Sith hells was wrong with this fog? It was getting thicker and somehow even... darker. Did that even made sense? Obi-Wan wasn't sure about anything anymore.

"They are taking everything you do and everything you have done for granted. Don't you see it? They are just using you." Was it just his imagination or was the fog actually closing in on him? And why could he not defend himself, not against the fog and not against the other's words either? It didn't make sense. He was the Negotiator, even though he hated that title. He should be able to retort something... unless they had lied about that as well.

"You deserve so much better, you deserve someone, who cares about you. You deserve someone, who sees just how precious you really are... someone like... me!"

Only now did Obi-Wan realize what was happening. For one, this fog was tainted with the dark side and a Force suggestion had been hidden between those venomous words. Sadly, it was already too late, the ginger haired Jedi found himself unable to move while the dark being, on whose face appeared an ugly grin, came closer and closer.

"Resistance is futile," the other's voice suddenly sounded much different, a lot colder and it send shivers down the Jedi Master's spine. Still he could not move. Panic – which was obviously fuelled by the mysterious fog – grew in his chest and the ginger haired man was slowly losing his the last of hope. The only thing he was still capable of, was asking for help through the Force. And even that was hard work.

"There will be no help," his dark copy had almost reached him at this point, "or have you already forgotten? You. Are. All. Alone."

With dread watched the Jedi Master how the other's hand was now only mere inches away from his head. Would this truly be his end? And what kind of end would this be? His death or perhaps some darker path... Whatever it would be, they result stayed the same. He did not want to end like this, be it death or him tainted. But what there that he could do? It was clear that he could not compete with the intruder, not when he was alone and certainly not, when he couldn't move a single muscle. Where was help when you needed it the most? And why hadn't he realized sooner what was happening?

"Questions over questions. Have you learned nothing yet? Isn't that what your precious Qui-Gon always preached? Live in the moment, the here and now. And NOW you will be mine!"

I hope you liked this chapter. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!^^