Chapter 8

"The Sith and Dark Jedi have separated," the Supreme Leader said, having focused on driving the speeder, his hood now covering him. "You two would have some time with each other to go on a scavenger hunt in Khoonda plains."

"Hmph, and one would have thought they would have stayed together," Siri noted flatly, arching her eyebrow in curiosity.

"Far from what you believe, the Sith could hardly tolerate the Dark Jedi. Additionally, this Dark Jedi would be targeting innocent people while the Sith have some more class than that." Vader responded. "I take it you have the care to protect the innocents."

"Our primary goals are to protect the innocent, Vader, even if that isn't something you believe," Obi-Wan responded distastefully.

"I never said the Jedi wouldn't, but this is different from Republic's citizens," Vader pointed out with a smirk.

"That doesn't matter," Siri persisted.

The two Jedi watched as Vader stopped the speeder in Khoonda plains, finding a beautiful town, no doubt constructed or updated by the Dominion's, given the modern technology.

"Prove it then," Vader responded. "Prove to the Dominion and the people of Dantooine themselves that the Jedi cares. Not all knows how to shoot a blaster, but you'll find my patrol at these coordinates."

He quickly touched his comlink which both could now follow.

Obi-Wan bit his lip, and he looked over to Siri.

"You'll see," she responded with determination. "As members of the Jedi Order, we will prove how wrong you are."

"It's not me that you have to prove that to, Siri," Vader responded with disappointment. "Many people in the Outer Rim lost faith in the Jedi Order long ago. Convince them that they are worth something."

Obi-Wan and Siri nodded and turned around while Vader drove off afterwards, leaving the two Jedi who walked into the city.

"His philosophy is confusing," Siri commented to her friend with a frown.

"Do you believe that Vader is not a threat?" Obi-Wan queried, putting a hand on his chin in contemplation.

Admitting there were more questions to be asked, Siri acknowledged. "I will grant you that he didn't seem like he cared about the Jedi." She looked around to see children playing harmlessly, their parents offering smiles.

Everything seemed to be bliss under the Supreme Leader's rule instead of outright a dictatorship. There had been guards for sure in the city who were determined to keep these people safe.

Obi-Wan walked up to the guard who offered him a frown. He could see it was a young man, armored up well, having a big carbine in his hands along with others standing behind him.

"Greetings-" Obi-Wan said.

The man replied in a tone that was no-nonsensical. "My name is Sergeant Remy and I take it by your robes you must be the Jedi."

"Indeed," Obi-Wan responded.

The man grumbled. "I don't know what you two have to offer."

He shrugged, "but what are your orders?"

"Uh, relocate the innocents into the houses and keep them from coming outside until we give the word."

Remy frowned before touching a button and followed the command. Fortunately, Vader seemed to have taught them when danger was coming, for seconds later the formerly beaming parents relocated the children inside, much to their protests.

"You should go into hiding too," Siri said, relieved that the people would be safe from the Dark Jedi for the time being.

"With respect, ma'am, we defend our home," someone behind Remy responded with conviction - a Chev at that. "Anyone who threatens one of us threatens us all."

Understanding that they don't have the time to talk them down, Siri nodded. "Very well but stay behind us at all times. This threat is dangerous."

Less than a minute later, they followed them down the city.

They could feel eyes landing on them from people still moving inside of their homes, and while Remy and the soldiers appeared to be undisturbed, the two Jedi couldn't help but frown. Word had spread about them really quickly it seemed, and many of them stared upon them... with nothing short of contempt and rage?

Why?

A sharp looking male Togruta stared at them in the middle of the street, fierceness in the corner of his eyes.

"Sir," Remy said, "please evacuate the premise. There is an active threat in the-"

"Are we sure it's not them kriffing bastards?!" The Togruta snapped, indicating to both of the Jedi. "They might work for the remaining Hutts and their lackeys to bring us back into slavery!"

Obi-Wan looked at Siri, equally stunned.

"They operate under Lord Vader for the time being," Remy replied. "He will apprehend them if they attempt to do anything treasonous to us."

"We will not harm you," Obi-Wan attempted to negotiate, putting up his hand. "We would protect the innocent."

"Oh please, where were you when we needed you half a decade ago? The only one who has my respect is the Supreme Leader. The Jedi can rot in the Nine Corellian Hells!" He spat.

"We are always doing good," Siri replied, keeping her voice as serene as possible.

"Ha, you Jedi always comes around when no one needs it and stirs up a bunch of trouble," the Togruta snapped, receiving cheers by others, as he stormed away, ignoring Obi-Wan's shocked stare. How could someone presume that they would want to enslave them? Based off the cheers, were there many others who presumed that the Jedi were like that too?

"Well, he seems like a nice person to talk to," Siri quipped when the man was out of sight.

Remy scowled. "But he's not entirely wrong. Lord Vader told us before that you Jedi may view him as a threat because he chose to free us. How could we trust you when you left us in slavery? Most of us had never had a normal childhood and would have never seen a life outside of slavery if not for him."

Obi-Wan admitted. "I never... viewed it that way. I thought he was just..."

"That he was just someone who killed for the hell of it," Remy snapped, his eyes now glaring at them. "Let me make this clear, Jedi, if you threaten Lord Vader, we will come for you. All of us. And there are over thousands of us at this point."

"But we would not attempt-" Siri attempted to argue.

"Do I make myself clear?" Remy interrupted, glaring at them along with the rest of his battalion, some of them even going as far as to raise their blasters at their direction.

They sensed no threat, yet it had been a reminder about what could happen if Vader simply gave the word, or the Republic hastily attacked.

Obi-Wan and Siri nodded in defeat.

Remy smirked and motioned them to lower their blasters. "Carry on."

Komari Vosa would not admit that she loved drinking. Before, much to her old Master's displeasure, she would often find herself in a Coruscant's bar, ordering the best drinks that they could offer.

So, when she went inside of the cantina while the Sith was off to find the Supreme Leader, she had to admit enjoying the dignities.

Sidious wouldn't be pleased to know of her current activities, but what he doesn't know right now wouldn't hurt him.

Still, Komari swore to keep each drink light. No need to vomit and cough away her drunkenness when she would fight a Jedi soon.

After drinking an average amount of drinks, she was gone again, sensing the forms of the two Light Siders getting closer. Hopefully, they were Jinn and Kenobi. Killing her old Master's legacy would fill her with a satisfaction that she'd needed.

She sensed others but she could easily deal with them. Two of her allies that had been selected chose to rush forward. Vosa almost facepalmed.

The soldiers came on alert and began firing at them. In mere seconds, they were gunned down.

The Dark Jedi launched on top of the building and looked down, attempting to find the source of the Force sensitive, before seeing a young man along with a young woman.

The young man must be Kenobi.

But who was that woman? And oh, did Kenobi care about her? She only came to the conclusion that there had been something... there.

It almost filled up for the disappointment of Jinn not being present.

That gave Vosa the idea.

She ripped forward her fist and sent a blast through the Force, knocking each of the people onto their asses.

The two Jedi frowned as they looked around, but Komari launched to the female Jedi who only barely managed to snap up her purple lightsaber in time to block.

The two lightsabers did cause her to stagger, but she had only taken several steps back. Komari struck again, but Kenobi came to the woman's side, deflecting the blow before she could have done some significant damage to the winded Jedi.

Komari retreated, causing Kenobi to strike out at her. The female Jedi came at her, twirling her lightsaber next to her to send a volley of strikes at Komari.

Fortunately, she had training from Sidious, and that training saved her life.

Just as the soldiers got back to their feet, Komari had to jump in the building again, and rapidly blocked blaster bolts back at them.

One by one, they were falling, yet not all of them were dead as the armor protected some of them from fatal shots. She sensed that much.

The female Jedi threw a hand to her direction and applied a push through the Force, knocking her off.

Komari allowed herself to land on her feet, red lightsabers poised on the ground.

The two Jedi approached along with the remaining soldiers, their weapons trained on her.

Komari smirked and raised her hands, sending nearby objects such as a part of a pipe in the city at their direction, forcing them to dodge.

The two Jedi attacked, causing Vosa to parry both of them, cackling maniacally as she'd enjoyed the call for combat.

The Dark Jedi kneed the male Jedi in the thigh, causing him to fly back, but the female one kept pressing, her attacks growing intense as if anything.

Something close to rage flashed in her eyes. Force, if she pressed any further, her eyes might turn a bright golden.

"Ah, so you love him," Komari mocked, a smirk behind her hooded gaze.

The Jedi didn't rise to the bait and continued to advance, her Form suggesting a mixture of Juyo and Ataru. She had by no means been a Master of the blade, but still a decent competition.

Their lightsabers battered at one another. Vosa's red lightsabers fell into waves in front of her. The blades blocked whoever came forward and knocked them back, only stopping short of harmful blows.

Kenobi lunged at her direction, forcing her to refocus on him, missing him by the head. Now back on the offensive, both Jedi had their lightsabers pressing against one another.

"We know of your attempting to come after the Queen. It will not succeed." The female Jedi stated, spelling of typical Jedi arrogance.

"You are foolish," the Dark Jedi responded. "I'm not here about the Queen." She turned to the male Jedi. "I want your former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, so I can rip his eye out of his socket!"

Both Jedi were stunned.

"What did Qui-Gon ever do to you?" Kenobi spat defensively, angling his lightsaber at her, signifying a still sloppy form of Soresu.

"Not your Master but his before him!" Vosa hissed like a mad animal, drawing on the Dark Side and allowing it to pour through her, her eyes burning a hot crimson. "The fool thinks I'm loyal to him, but he will pay for what he did to me. First, I want to kill his pathetic Padawan along with his entire lineage!"

Even though the man was a Sith, she still loathed him behind a carefully instructed shield that she'd formed.

Kenobi responded, determined. "Well, you are in for a disappointment. It won't happen."

"Am I?"

Unbeknownst to the Jedi, throughout this entire battle, she had been summoning up the Dark Side within her. Her hatred of Dooku, of everything he represented, everything that Sidious taught her... she would not perish easily today.

She sensed more of the soldiers approaching, having recovered from the previous blows.

Komari gave a mini grin as the female Jedi seemed to sense it in the last moment.

"Duck!"

Too late.

The whirlwind of grass came at them, blinding many of them at her sight.

Vosa began running, looking at the two Jedi who threw up their hands, managing to keep her sandstorms under her control.

Obi-Wan looked after the Dark Jedi and turned on Siri who had been pushing aside the sandstorm along with him.

Once the wave ended, the Jedi Knight was fearful about the condition of Siri.

Not like Cerasi...

The mention of her brought a pang to his soul.

Once he found Siri who was fortunately alright, he told her after doing a brief inspection of the injured. "Siri, tend to the wounded. I'll go after her."

Siri seemed like she wanted to argue but she knew that Obi-Wan could take care of himself, so she nodded before dropping next to a wounded Twi'lek who appeared to have suffered a sprained leg.

Obi-Wan ran in the direction of the source of darkness, his lightsaber still angled at his side to be prepared for any threat that the Dark Jedi may send in his direction.

"You should have retreated when you got the chance..." A voice taunted from the shadows, seemingly all around him, and Obi-Wan registered they were in a secluded area now of the city. "But now you will die."

Obi-Wan turned around, his lightsaber aimed in front of him. The Dark Jedi had great skill and seemed to have some training in martial arts.

Footsteps vibrated, and Obi-Wan pivoted around in the opposite direction.

He kept moving, his hands clenching tighter over his lightsaber.

He flipped around in the last second, coming in blows with red lightsabers, strained against one another.

She had a smirk across her lips as she continued to press against him.

Obi-Wan deflected each of the assaults, finding himself struggling even more, but thankfully the defensive form had been saving his life.

The woman had been powerful, her attacks continuing to knock Obi-Wan back.

Damn, if Obi-Wan hadn't learned some things from Vader as much as he hated to admit it, he might have been on the ground.

Regardless, this was taking a toll on him, as the Dark Jedi continued to bring her lightsabers down to his direction. Obi-Wan countered every blow.

Their lightsabers again interlocked, and their blades continued to move in tandem.

Obi-Wan was surprised how exhilarating this felt, despite seemingly being on the losing side.

"Tell me, have you ever met Dooku?" She continued to bring her lightsabers down with every word as they continued to spark against one another. "Have you felt the judgment he cast upon you?! Have you ever wondered why he couldn't be pleased?!" Seriously, why was she so obsessive about Qui-Gon's Master? "Answer me, Jedi!"

Obi-Wan didn't rise to the bait, instead moving around her red lightsabers again to prevent himself from getting stabbed through. The Dark Jedi kicked him in the stomach and had the Jedi Knight flipping in the air, just as she continued to press against him, enclosing him in more and more.

The Jedi hadn't allowed his defenses to loosen completely despite the toll that being taken upon him. The Dark Jedi hadn't been packing any punches and advanced.

Obi-Wan had been backing up more and more, finding his frustration rising as she swung her lightsabers around, almost knocking the lightsaber out of his hand.

'Oh, Siri, where are you?'

The Dark Jedi slammed her head against Obi-Wan and had him reaching for his nose

The Dark Jedi continued to press against him, her lightsabers whirling around, getting closer.

"After I kill you, I'll go for your friend and your Master..." Kenobi's eyes snapped at her. "And I'll make their deaths slow and painful."

Obi-Wan's body became rigid. On the surface, everything but his eyes were a mask of serenity as his attacks grew weaker. Beyond the exterior however, it was a whole other story. There had been something within him. Dark. Truth be told, it had always been there.

Pure anger seethed deep within the Jedi, like a raging sea. 'Make an example of Qui-Gon?! Of Siri?!' The thought of this witch hurting his Master... and his friend... He won't allow it! This sadistic, sick woman wouldn't!

The Jedi Code demanded that he stayed at his Master's side. Kept him safe...

Obi-Wan felt his strength growing stronger as the lightsabers continued to press back against him to the point where heat almost burned his flesh.

The look in Obi-Wan's eyes became chilling and harder than beskar. He heard a cackle from his opponent, as the woman looked at him, before her eyes widened.

"Oh, you touch the-"

For the young Jedi, it felt strange, especially since he never touched it before. He was aware of the darkness surrounding him, of the anger delving inside of him, and he had only been reduced to drawing upon it-something that he knew deep down was wrong.

Does this allow him to feed upon his emotions? It brought out every feeling for Qui-Gon, including a deep-sorted resentment that he had buried for years due to his reluctance from the Jedi Master wanting him as a Padawan at first. Yet, despite that, it also had an overprotective fury at wanting to keep him safe. Their relationship had improved throughout the years-even after Kenobi was granted the rank of Jedi Knight when they still went on missions together.

And then there had been Siri, one of his few friends at the Temple aside from Garen, Reeft, Luminara, Quinlan, and Bant. There had been others, but they were the ones who ranked superiority in his mind. Around her, he felt something deep within him, along with the Duchess of Mandalore. They had a rough friendship at first, but they became closer through time, and yet Obi-Wan felt himself desiring for something.

What Vader told him a few days ago... that had been beyond typical advice Master Yoda or Windu would have given him. And at this time, Obi-Wan was beyond thinking coherently.

He smiled spitefully at the woman. Obi-Wan's mind was made up, and for the first time in ages it was clear.

He felt the Force moved around him. He didn't know what it was, but at last he recognized it. The Dark Side... it wrapped around him in soothing understanding, making promises to keep his loved ones safe. After all, Vader didn't seem like a madman so perhaps the Dark Side wasn't that bad. A small part of him told him he was falling! Regardless, it was too late to take it back as Kenobi allowed the Force around him to explode, knocking her back.

Not having seen this coming, the Dark Jedi had only a second to grasp her side, as Obi-Wan charged forward to the Dark Jedi, bashing his lightsaber down on her, and retaliate with his own on great amounts of redirection, parries... he continued to slam his lightsaber against her.

The Dark Jedi allowed herself to fall back and sent a blast of energy which admittedly caught Obi-Wan off-guard. Barely, he contained his scream as he fell on the ground, teeth grounded together, jaw clenched tightly as the lightning continued to tear against his robes.

In that instant, his mind had been moving around in loops. He was now containing an immense amount of the Force energy. Thanks to Vader's advice in using the Force for the past few days, Obi-Wan had learned more abilities than he expected. If only he had this power when he was with the Young back in the Melida/Daan war, perhaps he would have been able to save Cerasi and all the others he lost.

This karking bitch threatened Siri and... Qui-Gon! And Obi-Wan won't allow for them to be died! Deep down within the Knight, he knew he would be lost without them.

Obi-Wan cried in denial and centered a blast around him, sending her own Force lightning back. His fist drew together, exploding against the Dark Jedi.

The Dark Jedi was sent flying back surprised, her own lightning now cutting through her. Seconds later, she was gone, leaving behind Obi-Wan who breathed heavily.

He looked for her body, any source of her being alive, but upon unable to find it, he walked absent-mindedly over to the Dark Jedi and saw that only a small semblance remained.

He gripped the lightsaber and closed his eyes. The dark shadows still bit away at him. A creature with demon red eyes stared hungrily at him.

His predator...