Chapter Fifteen
Aboard the gunship, Obi-Wan felt his heart stop as he watched Everett fall towards the sand.
"Put the ship down!" Anakin ordered the pilot. No! They couldn't do that. Obi-Wan looked to Anakin.
"Don't let your personal feelings get in the way. Follow that speeder!"
"Lower the ship!" Anakin snapped.
"Anakin! I can't take Dooku alone. I need you. If we catch him, we can end this war right now. We have a job to do."
"I don't care!"
"You'll be expelled from the Jedi Order."
"I can't leave her."
"Come to your sense. What do you think Padmé would do if she were in your position." Anakin paused, a resigned expression overcoming his face.
"She would do her duty."
Obi-Wan nodded, turning away from his Padawan. He looked out the side of the ship to see Dooku's speeder parking outside the tower. He sent a small prayer to the force for Everett, then steeled his expression.
The gunship landed beside the speeder and the two Jedi leapt down and ran inside. They caught sight of Dooku, who was messing with a control panel. His ship was parked nearby.
"You're going to pay for all the Jedi you've killed today, Dooku," Anakin snarled.
"We'll take him together," Obi-Wan said. "You go slowly on the—"
"No! I'm taking him now!"
"Anakin! No!"
Anakin charged across the open floor at Dooku, who smiled faintly. Just as Anakin raised his lightsaber, Dooku thrust out his arm, unleashing a blast of lightning. Anakin was hurled across the room, slammed into the opposite wall. Dooku gave him a small smirk, then moved towards Obi-Wan.
"As you can see, my Jedi powers are far beyond yours."
"I don't think so."
The two Jedi ignited their lightsabers and circled each other slowly. Obi-Wan was the one to attack, swinging at Dooku's head. Dooku parried the cut easily. The two continued to swing at each other as Obi-Wan studied Dooku's style. He was the complete swordsman, elegant, graceful, classical. A master of the old style.
"Master Kenobi, you disappoint me," Dooku said. "Yoda holds you in such high esteem." He parried another cut and then thrusted forward. Obi-Wan stepped back, panting for breath. "Come, come, Master Kenobi. Put me out of my misery."
Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan adjusted his grip on his lightsaber, then he rushed forward again. For a moment he drove Dooku back, but it didn't last long before he was forced to retreat. He could feel himself being pushed to the limit to defend himself as Dooku pressed forward.
He let out a gasp as Dooku's lightsaber cut him in the shoulder, then the thigh. He stumbled back against the wall, tripping and fall to the ground. His lightsaber went skittering across the floor. Dooku raised his lightsaber and Obi-Wan looked up at him helplessly. He allowed Everett's face to flash across him mind as Dooku's lightsaber descended.
When the blade did not cut him, Obi-Wan willed Everett away to see Anakin over him, blocking Dooku's lightsaber.
"That's brave of you, boy, but foolish," Dooku said. "I would have thought you'd have learned your lesson."
"I'm a slow learner."
As the two moved away from Obi-Wan. He reached out his hand.
"Anakin!" he called out. Using the force, he tossed his lightsaber to Anakin, who caught it just as Obi-Wan's eyes closed from the pain. He took a deep breath, groaning out as Anakin's body came flying into his. He could feel his Padawan's pain and desperately wished he could help him. But the pain was too much and Obi-Wan could feel himself drifting away. His eyes opened for a brief moment, seeing Yoda battling Dooku. He swallowed harshly, then allowed the darkness to take him over.
When Obi-Wan awoke, he found himself in the medical wing of the Temple. Everett was asleep in the chair beside him, head laying on his mattress. His movements must have awoken her because her eyes opened to meet his.
"What happened?" he croaked out. She sat up, grabbing a nearby glass of water for him. He gulped it down as she answered him.
"Master Yoda managed to save you and Anakin but had to let Dooku escape."
"Where is Anakin?"
"In his room, getting fitted with a mechanical hand." Obi-Wan gripped the glass a little tighter. His poor apprentice. His poor brother. "He's already thinking about upgrades," Everett remarked.
"Of course, he is."
His eyes closed as she brushed a piece of hair out of his eyes.
"I was so worried for you," she admitted. He reached up, grabbing her hand with his free hand. He brought it to his lips.
"I love you, Everett Alvera." She squeezed his hand lightly.
"I love you, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
How Obi-Wan wished they were anywhere but the Jedi Temple. He knew that a secret like this would be forbidden for Jedi do not love. They do not form attachments. Yet here he was, desperately in love.
"When do you return to Naboo?" he asked.
"I don't," she answered. "Padmé and I decided that I am used to being here and us switching places would only serve for confusion… Although, I'm sure this war will take me away from Coruscant plenty of times."
"And myself," thought Obi-Wan. He and Anakin would likely be sent to the frontlines of whatever battle the Council deemed for them to go. She leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"I have to go, I promised Eiraté I'd return when you awoke." He tightened the grip on her hand, pulling her down to meet his lips. His hand wrapped around her head, fingers tangling in her hair.
"May I visit you tomorrow?" he murmured against her lips.
"Anytime you wish," she replied.
A few days later, Obi-Wan walked down a hall with Yoda and Windu.
"Do you believe what Count Dooku said about Sidious controlling the Senate?" Obi-Wan asked. "It doesn't feel right."
"Becoming unreliable, Dooku has," Yoda said. "Jointed the dark side. Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now."
"Never-the-less," Windu cut in. "I feel we should keep a closer eye on the Senate."
"I agree," said Yoda.
Pursing his lips, Windu looked at Obi-Wan.
"Where is your apprentice?"
"On his way to Naboo. He is escorting Senator Amidala home. I have to admit, without the clones, it would not have been a victory."
"Victory?" Yoda repeated. "Victory, you say?" Obi-Wan turned to look at the Jedi Master. "Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun, this Clone War has!"
And so, the Clone Wars have begun. I will not be going through the animated TV shows as I am focusing on the movies. Be on the look out for A Time to Love and A Time to Hate!
-Amy Thorton.
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