This is the full description of the book:
The dark is everywhere. From the darkest recesses of your soul to the brightest smiles. It is patient, and it is generous. Everything it touches, it plants seeds of doubt. And when the rain comes, those doubts flourish. When they are ripe, it takes its due.
The Dark always wins. And why, you might ask?
Because even the stars die, and the brightest of lights cast the darkest of shadows.
One such star is extinguished.
...
The bright and shining career of Obi-Wan Kenobi is ripped away when Satine Kryze is tragically murdered in front of him, sending him spiraling down a dark path, completing Maul's perfect revenge.
Left grieving his love, Obi-Wan Kenobi must reconcile with the fact that the Light left him, or perhaps, he left it. Holding a crowd of thorns and a bleeding lightsaber, he must choose his next move in the grand game of Dejarik.
To be the pawn or the puppeteer. Sith!Obi
- Cross-posted on AO3 and Wattpad
Maul was patient. He had learned patience long ago, starting on Lotho Minor where he had been discarded by his former master, half the man he used to be, driven into the depths of madness. Only by sheer willpower had he lived, sustained on only one thought: Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan Kenobi's name was a curse. He had first heard it on Naboo, where they had met for the first time in the palace hangar bays on Naboo. It had since then been with him, forever looped in his mind as the fires of insanity consumed him over time.
Now… now he could get his revenge. Ever since recovering his wits, he wanted to make Kenobi share his pain, suffer how he suffered. That was the original plan on the cargo ship on Raydonia, but his vengeance was stolen by the Dathomirian witch, Ventress.
However, he gleaned some knowledge about the Jedi Master. It was all too easy to get Kenobi to give into his anger on that ship, merely by talking about how he killed his late master, Qui-Gon Jinn. If he could get his mortal enemy to fall, that… that would be sweetest revenge of all. Watching the Jedi's golden child descend into the pits of darkness, mad and raving, out for revenge.
To his delight, he discovered how close Obi-Wan Kenobi had been the Duchess of Mandalore. They were quite close. One could even say he had an… attachment to her. It was perfect. Looking down at the Duchess, to the side of his throne, he knew that there was only one way this could play out.
Icy blue eyes met burning yellow ones.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Maul chuckled darkly, unable to suppress the smile that spread across his face. He could already envision what was about to transpire and it warmed his cold heart. "You should be."
"And why should I?" the proud woman challenged, staring at him defiantly from her place on the floor.
"Because I have taken everything from you. Your planet lies in ruins, your people bow to me, and your beloved Kenobi…" He cackled. "…is in my dungeons, powerless, waiting to be brought here. And now, Duchess, I have you."
"Obi-Wan won't listen to you," she said, despite her features paling significantly.
Maul hummed in agreement. "Perhaps not. But he will listen to you."
Her breath hitched ever so slightly, and he caught that. He rose from his throne, almost doubling over to meet her pale blue gaze. "Duchess Kryze," he began, gripping her chin firmly when she began to look away from him. "I have waited years for this. Years of torment. Years of agony. Do you understand what it means to survive on nothing but hatred? To be reduced to less than a man, discarded like… nothing, and yet to crawl back from the brink, driven only by one thought? One name?"
The dark side coiled in response to his rising fury, seeking a target to release all its wrath upon. The Duchess happened to be the ideal target, but he forced the darkness down. For now. He could not, would not, allow himself to lose control and ruin his grand plan.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," he growled, his voice taking on a venomous quality. "He is the bane of my existence. And you…" His eyes smiled, conveying all the malice that he promised for her lover. "…you are his weakness."
"Obi-Wan is stronger than you think," she hissed, eyes slitting as she glared at him hatefully. It seemed the proud woman had a spark that would probably never be extinguished. It was irritating yet admirable.
The Zabrak laughed dryly. "No Jedi is infallible, Duchess. Not even him." He released her chin and took a step back. "I have so many plans for him, my dear. Plans to break him. Slowly. Painfully. To take everything he holds dear, piece by piece, until there is nothing left of the man you know. Only then will he understand what it means to suffer as I have."
He leaned so close that their faces were merely inches away. "And you, Duchess," he continued in a silky voice, "will be the reason for his downfall."
She shook her head, her voice trembling as she spoke. "No… I won't betray him."
Maul chuckled. "Betray him? Oh, no, no, no. You misunderstand. You will not need to betray him. Your very existence is enough. You are the tether that binds him to the mortal plane and the thread of attachment that he cannot sever. And when he sees you here, at my mercy, he will do what all Jedi fear most."
He spread his arms wide, grinning manically. "He will feel. He will fall. And he will be mine."
"You underestimate him."
The Dathomirian sneered, taking his place on the throne once again. Glancing at his brother, Savage, he saw that the Zabrak was just as eager as he was for his revenge. "No, Duchess. No… I do not."
He drummed his fingers on the armrest of the throne, waiting for Obi-Wan to be brought to him. Soon, the double doors at the far end of the hall groaned open, and he immediately straightened. The Jedi Master was dragged in by two of his commandoes, gripping his arms tightly.
Despite being restrained by his soldiers, Kenobi carried himself with that same infuriating Jedi calmness. That would soon change.
"Satine," Obi-Wan managed to utter her name. "Are you alright?"
The Duchess managed to nod. "I'm… fine, my dear."
The display irritated Maul. He, the architect of this entire spectacle, was being overlooked. If Kenobi would not give him his attention, Maul would take it.
Raising a hand, the Sith Lord mimicked the gesture of grasping something in the air. "Your noble flaw is a weakness shared by you… and your Duchess."
Slowly, Maul rose from his throne, eyeing the Duchess struggling against the Force. Her feet dangled as an invisible force constricted her throat. Her hands clawed desperately at her neck, but there was nothing to grasp, or to fight against.
Kenobi's reaction was immediate. He attempted to move, only to be restrained by one of the commandos next to him. He descended the stairs, feeling his mortal enemy's anger rise to the surface.
"You should've chosen the dark side, Master Jedi."
The Jedi's face twisted into anger, and he could sense he was battling against it, trying to push it back down. He would not allow it! Kenobi's fists clenched and he looked as if he were about to tackle him to the ground but thought the better of it.
"Your emotions betray you," he continued silkily. "Your fear, and yes…" Satine's struggles intensified as she continued to lose more and more oxygen. "…your anger."
The Jedi Master looked away, finding the ground a more interesting spot to stare at.
"Let your anger deepen your hatred," he hissed.
"Don't… listen to him, Obi…" the Duchess manage to say through a strangled gasp.
"Quiet." A backhand from Savage quickly silenced her, leaving a red mark from where he hit her. Another spike of anger. All he had to do was extract these dark emotions that had been simmering for years, suppressed and thought buried.
"You can kill me but you will never destroy me. It takes strength to resist the dark side, only the weak embrace it." Finally, he looked up with anger filled eyes, trying to repress a snarl. It was delightful, watching his mortal enemy struggle with his emotions.
"It is more powerful than you know."
"And those who oppose it are more powerful than you'll ever be."
Maul growled dangerously, starting to get fed up with the Jedi's preaching. He clenched his fists, having the urge to silence the insufferable man with a single stroke of the Darksaber. Before he could say or do anything rash, Kenobi continued with his speech.
"I know where you're from. I've been to your village," Kenobi stated, his tone having a venomous undertone.
His rage flared, the flames of the dark side rising in response. It infuriated the Zabrak. What did he know about him! Nothing. This fool knew nothing of the suffering and the pain that he had endured. But he would.
"I know the decision to join the dark side wasn't yours. The Nightsisters made it for—"
"Silence!" Maul roared, spinning on his heel to face his nemesis, his yellow eyes blazing with fury. He descended the steps in just a few strides, pointing an accusing finger at the man. "You think you know me?
"It was I who languished for years thinking of nothing but you!" His voice grew louder and past a growl. "Nothing but this moment! And now… the perfect tool for my vengeance is in front of us. I never planned on killing you, but I will make you share my pain, Kenobi."
Maul pointed at his nemesis' beloved Duchess, his lips curling into a cruel grin. "I will make you suffer as I have suffered."
Maul saw it in his eyes. Everything clicked. His eyes went wide as he realized what was about to happen. Kenobi lunged forward but one of the commandos struck him across the temple with the butt of a blaster, sending him to his knees. Blood trickled down the side of his face, but his gaze never left Satine, who struggled in the chokehold.
Time seemed to slow. Maul's vision blurred, and suddenly, the galaxy whispered to him in a deafening roar. The Force screamed warnings, flashes of possible futures blazing through his mind. Each vision was worse than the last. The threads of destiny unraveled before him, a thousand strings snapping one by one.
The Force is denying me my revenge.
The realization clawed at him like a wild beast. Maul gritted his teeth and shoved the visions away, stuffing them deep into the recesses of his mind. He would not be denied. The Force be damned—he would have his vengeance. He deserved it.
A cruel grin spread across his face as he turned back to Satine. The Darksaber ignited with a snap-hiss. The Jedi attempted to rise, only to be struck down again, collapsing onto all fours. Horror shone in the Jedi's eyes as he reached out to his beloved, powerless to stop what was about to unfold.
Maul used the Force to propel her forward and pivoted, driving the saber through her chest. Her strangled gasps were the only things that could be heard as everyone held their breaths. So many delightful emotions flashed across Kenobi's face as he released her.
Her wide, shocked eyes met Obi-Wan's, the light in her gaze began to fade. Kenobi caught her just before she hit the floor, cradling her in his arms. His trembling hands brushed the strands of hair from her face.
"Satine…"
The broken tone of his mortal enemy was like music to his ears.
Maul ascended his throne, savoring the scene before him. He got comfortable once again and leaned back with a cruel smirk that could never be erased, watching as Kenobi clung to the Duchess's limp body, murmuring words only he would ever hear.
The last of her life drained away, extinguishing a star, and with it, something in the Jedi seemed to go out.
The Force was disturbed. It was subtle at first, like the faint vibration of a plucked string. However, it started to grow, deepening into a surge that sent shockwaves through the Force. It felt alive, writhing like a wounded beast.
Reality warped. There was a… shift. The Force darkened around him; voices screaming, crying, and pleading before dissolving into incoherent whispers. Maul tried to focus, to push through the noise, but it was as though the Force itself was shattering and reforming in ways he could not comprehend.
Then, he could see clearly. His focus cut through the very living Force that surrounded him, and he could suddenly see the lines. They were isolated moments of time and space that surrounded him, shifting with every second that ticked by.
The lines would connect and interconnect and align, forming the essence of the man before him. But it was all wrong. These lines were broken and dark, twisting and turning much like the Force around him. None of them aligned, interlocking in way that was flawed. It was like a key in the wrong lock.
The Force converged all into one location, seeping into the very cracks of the broken shield forming around Kenobi's essence, desperately trying to hide the wound. Through it all, in the chaotic swirl of the Force, he could see a flickering flame. It was strange. Black, outlined in blue.
A vision exploded before his eyes.
Piles of bodies, blood everywhere. On top of the heap lay a woman, body broken and bruised, pale eyes barely open. Her skin was glowing, almost ethereal, mist swirling behind the paper-thin skin. Lips trembled and glassy eyes bore into his soul.
It's a lie.
The void around him fell away.
It was daytime, but the sky was filled with thousands of glittering stars. They hung in the air, suspended in time, until they began to fall, turning the horizon into a burning inferno. People screamed and ran for their homes, anything that could shelter them, clinging to their beliefs, but it always ended in silence.
Armored hands gripped blasters, promising lies, aiming just above the eyes. Only faceless, black visors stared back as red consumed his vision.
And then—
Flames of a darkened inferno consumed an ashen planet. Buildings burned, people screamed, running away from the great shadow falling across the land. A red lightsaber cut through darkness, followed by a horrible laugh.
Golden eyes met his. Smoldering with hatred, filled with nothing but a desire to destroy. The sword cut through friend and foe alike, killing all those who had a hand in her death.
A hand on his arm snapped him back into reality, and Maul nearly batted away the hand, twisting to the right to see his brother looking at him concerned. The Zabrak straightened, pulling his arm away from Savage.
The Sith Lord stared down at Kenobi, who brought his love's hand to his lips, tears slipping out of his eyes. A whisper warned him to tread carefully, lest everything he worked so hard for unravel before his very eyes.
The lines were no longer there. The Force had stilled, going deathly silent. It did not respond to him when he drew upon it, only recoiling as if it had been burned. Maul did not like what he was feeling, and even Savage seemed to be disturbed.
If it weren't for the Force ruining the moment, he would have enjoyed this much more.
"Do we kill him now, brother?"
After a second's hesitation, Maul shook his head, drinking in the scene before him. "No… imprison him below. Let him drown in his misery." The commandos obeyed, roughly prying Kenobi away from Satine's body. "Take him in his cell to rot. I will visit him later."
The Force quivered, and the room seemed to drop in temperature. Coldness seeped through every crevasse, curling around them.
In the blink of an eye, Kenobi was free with a lightsaber in his hand. He impaled the first guard through the chest, cutting upward. The second one fell to a sai cha strike, his body following the head once the claws of gravity took hold.
And then Maul felt it.
The emotions that had simmered beneath Kenobi's surface exploded into the Force like a supernova. The dark emotions rolled off his nemesis in waves, not unlike his own. Anger. Hatred. Grief. An all-consuming desire for vengeance.
It was not unlike what he felt after he killed Qui-Gon Jinn from the Jedi apprentice. He knew that Kenobi had tapped into the dark side to defeat him, and he knew how seductive the darkness could be. Perhaps the man struggled with it, whether he would admit it or not.
This was everything he had wanted. No, it was more. It was exquisite. The raw emotions emanating from Jedi lapped hungrily against the edges of Maul's awareness in the Force. It was intoxicating. And yet… something felt off.
The dark energy that Maul had cultivated and wielded so expertly for years recoiled from away from the furious man wielding Savage's lightsaber. It roared and twisted, pulling away from the man. It was strange, but he shoved the feeling aside. It doesn't matter, he thought.
Maul watched with morbid fascination as Kenobi's fiery gaze locked onto Prime Minister Almec, who stood frozen in place, absolutely terrified. Almec's lips parted, forming a desperate plea, but the words never left his mouth.
A blade sliced him cleanly in half, from head to groin, leaving the two halves to peel away and fall to the ground.
"So now we see the true face of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the one that hides behind the mask of wit." Maul grinned. It faded when he saw Kenobi turning and setting his sights on Savage, who was unarmed.
"Brother, move!" Maul barked, leaping from his throne. He ignited the Darksaber just in time to block the strike meant for Savage's neck. Their blades locked, and for a moment, the two combatants were face to face. In his eyes, there was only darkness.
"You wanted me to feel your pain," Kenobi growled, his voice low and venomous. He leaned into their locked blades, forcing Maul back another step. "Now you'll feel mine."
The Jedi Master broke the saber lock and pulled away, twirling his lightsaber. Anger filled blue eyes narrowed and with incredible speed, he attacked him again. Maul blinked and Kenobi was gone. He frantically searched for the man, then spotted him coming behind Savage.
The Sith Lord pushed his brother out of the way, barely blocking the strike. It grazed his right shoulder, eliciting a hiss from him. He drove Kenobi away, kicking him in the chest. The Jedi was quick to recover and unleashed a flurry of attacks on him.
Maul blocked each one, forcibly pushed back against the wall. He quickly jumped out of the way of another strike, barely blocking another one from where Kenobi had popped out of nowhere. Suddenly, the floor disappeared from underneath him.
The Force wrapped him in its cruel tendrils, and he slammed into the throne with a bone-rattling thud, sending cracks spidering up the ornate structure. He groaned, momentarily dazed, as the Darksaber slipped from his grasp and clattered noisily to the floor.
He was lifted again, slammed into the walls of the castle. Again and again. Glass shattered as he was thrown and dragged across the series of windows lining the walls, the glass cutting into his skin. Abruptly, he was released and fell to the ground in an undignified heap. Through blurry, shifting vision, Maul could barely make out Savage battling Kenobi.
He groaned, trying to get up. Pain lanced through his body, agonizing and painful. It reminded him of his former master's torture sessions.
A chilling cackle echoed around him as lightning arched through his body, muscles locked up and he spasmed, screaming in agony as the electricity coursed through him. All while cruel yellow eyes stared down at him.
Maul got to all fours, looking up to see Savage stealing a glance at him. Perhaps it was to seek guidance or reassurance or to check if he was alright, but the distraction cost him dearly. His brother roared in pain and fury, clutching the stump where his arm had been seconds ago.
It was the same arm that Kenobi had removed at Florrum. Gritting his teeth, Savage extended his remaining hand, summoning the fallen Darksaber to him with the Force. The black blade ignited just in time to meet the Jedi's next vicious strike.
Kenobi easily batted away Savage's weak attempts to fight and used the Force to knock the lightsaber out of his hand. He landed near the spot where Satine Kryze had fallen. Maul's eyes went wide. This was not how it was supposed to go! The Duchess had been right, he had underestimated Kenobi.
"No!" Maul growled, forcing himself to his feet despite the pain that lanced through his body. "Savage, get out of there!"
His brother got to his feet, using the Force to grab the Darksaber once again. He charged at the Jedi with an angry bellow, wielding the saber like a club. Kenobi moved in a blur of motion and cleaved Savage in two, exactly what he had done to Maul on Naboo.
Maul heard a strangled sound escaping his throat as he watched his brother collapse to the ground. The Sith Lord was on his feet in an instant, managing to get to his brother's side. Somehow, the Zabrak was still alive, though he knew it wouldn't last long.
The green magick of the Nightsisters seeped out of his severed waist, pale eyes staring up at him. His features changed, softening and becoming thinner. His horns grew smaller and his upper half less hulking. He was so… young. And small. Not unlike him when he was taken away by Sidious.
He didn't know. He had just accepted his brother for what he was, rather than asking who he had been. It brought painful memories of him being stolen away from his brothers and the torture that was inflicted upon him.
Lips twitched weakly, trying to convey something. "I… I wasn't strong enough."
"No," Maul growled, shaking his head fiercely. "You were strong, brother. Stronger than anyone. This is not your failure—it's mine."
"I… only wanted to stand beside you… to be the apprentice you needed." His breathing grew more ragged, and a hand weakly wrapped around his own. "I'm sorry… I couldn't…"
Maul opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't get any words out. His chest rose and fell one last time before going still. The Sith Lord was brought out of his stunned state when he heard a loud groan from above him.
His gaze followed the sound, where he saw the chandelier swaying threateningly from its post on the ceiling. He scrambled to his feet, seeing that Kenobi was attempting to bring it down on him. Crystals rained down on the ground and loud crack followed the pitter-patter of the breaking glass.
The Dathomirian dove out of the way right as the chandelier dropped onto the floor where he had just been half a second ago. He cried out in agony as the massive thing landed on a part of his leg, crushing the metal. He hissed, trying to tug the limb out from underneath.
Maul heard a soft thud and glass sprinkling onto the floor. He looked up to see Kenobi standing atop of the grand chandelier, lightsaber reigniting. The Sith Lord looked into those eyes and saw his death. He realized he wasn't going to get out of this alive. He was never meant to get out of this alive.
The Force had warned him, and he had ignored it. But he couldn't deny the results of his revenge, despite losing his brother. A strange feeling twisted his heart. Perhaps he was a fool for not listening to the proud woman, but he had gotten one thing his way.
Knowing he was going to die and join his brother after having his vengeance, even if it wasn't going the way he had envisioned it, he would go with the satisfaction of bringing the former Jedi into the dark with him.
And death was better than having to face him. At one point or another, his former master would have come for him and Savage. Unwittingly, the former Jedi was going to be giving him death—a mercy—from the torment that he would have to endure from Sidious.
Kenobi jumped down, hitting the floor. He raised the Savage's lightsaber high, preparing to drive it into his heart. Maul, however, felt no fear. Instead, he grinned, blood staining his sharp teeth as he looked up at the man who had caused his torment for so many years. Now, he would finish the job to the bitter end.
"If only you had embraced the darkness long ago, Master Jedi," he drawled mockingly. "Perhaps you could've saved your beloved. Tell me, how did it feel losing her? Was it a knife stabbing your heart over and over again? Wrenched out only to go back in?
"Did it feel the same way when I took Qui-Gon Jinn from you? How about your light?" He cackled in delight at the way the Jedi's face contorted.
The golden tendrils that were already weaving their way through the oceans of Kenobi's azure eyes grew, consuming the blue with a glowing intensity that could match his own. A red rim formed around the corrupted eyes, all the hatred that had been festering for years, ever since he had taken Qui-Gon from his mortal enemy.
A single tear fell down the Jedi's face.
The Sith Lord laughed, drinking in the sight like it was the finest wine he had ever tasted. This was it. His revenge was complete. He had succeeded in breaking the Jedi, dragging him into the abyss. Kenobi's transformation was everything Maul had dreamed of in the past few months. Though he was disappointed that he could not enjoy it any longer.
Even in the certain face of death, the Zabrak found himself at peace. He had no regrets, no doubts, no fear. He and Savage had fulfilled their purpose. Together, they had dismantled the Jedi's greatest champion, leaving him as broken and consumed by darkness as they had once been.
His revenge was better than he could've possibly imagined, looking into piercing yellow eyes filled with darkness.
Even in death, he always got the last laugh.
"I'll see you soon, brother," Maul whispered, closing his eyes. He wondered if this is what the Jedi felt in the faces of their deaths. So peaceful and serene. It was an odd thought that would accompany him to his grave.
The blade came down, and the Force screamed.
Dooku Serreno walked through the halls of Sundari Palace, coming to a stop at the door of the palace. Inside, he could sense great darkness, although it seemed smothered by something. The Sith Lord drew on the Force, channeling it into the door and forcing it open.
Inside, he saw a mess. There was broken glass everywhere, likely from the large chandelier that was broken, lying on its side on the floor. Windows were empty hollows, allowing a cool breeze to air the room.
But that's not what made it cold.
Dooku's eyes flitted over the scorch marks on the wall, made from blaster bolts and most notably, a lightsaber. On various parts of the floor, there was blood splattered and pieces of armor. Yet no bodies were to be found.
The Sith Lord reached out to the Force, and he immediately heard the screams. They echoed out into the Force, drowning out anything else. It started to writhe and twist, almost as if it were in pain before going silent. The man jerked away from the pain in the Force before he could be consumed by it.
Dooku's gaze drifted to the man on the cracked throne, lounging comfortably. Normally impeccable golden hair was in disarray, falling over Obi-Wan's face, hiding most of his eyes. Although he could not sense his Grandpadawan, he had an idea of what he might find.
This was the disturbance he had sensed two days ago.
A long lightsaber lay on the armrest of the throne, one that was too long and inelegant to be Kenobi's lightsaber. Another one hung from his belt, replacing his old saber. Staring at it, he noticed the string with horns on it, hanging loosely from the belt. It almost looked like beads that non-human Padawans would wear.
It did not escape the Sith Lord's attention that the former Jedi was not wearing the traditional robes of the Jedi, instead, wearing a full set of crimson and black Mandalorian armor. It was scratched and scorched, having darkened flakes of what he suspected was dry blood on it.
"How kind of you to pay condolences," a raw voice said, coming from the man staring at the floor. His voice sounded like he had been screaming nonstop. Perhaps he had been. "Although you missed the funeral. It just happened a few hours ago."
"I wasn't aware that there was a funeral," Dooku replied, humoring Obi-Wan Kenobi. "My sincerest condolences."
There was a dry laugh. "I doubt you would be. To what do I owe the displeasure?"
Dooku ignored the jab. "My master has sensed a disturbance in the Force. Naturally, I was sent to investigate, as he is otherwise… occupied." The Sith Lord stepped closer to the throne, sensing that the darkness there was strongest. "Imagine my surprise to find you here, Grandpadawan."
Obi-Wan twirled something flat—the Darksaber—in his hand, chuckling once again. "Send your master my regards."
Dooku ignored the comment. "What happened here?"
"Oh you know," Obi-Wan drawled, leaning back in his seat with feigned nonchalance. He didn't look at him. "Kidnapping, murder, overthrowing governments. More murder." He ticked off fingers as he listed everything. "Oh… what was that other one? I can't quite seem to remember."
Golden eyes meet his gaze. It almost froze his blood, seeing the chilling gaze. Only a few times had he seen it before, and only on his master. Seeing it on Kenobi's face was unsettling, even to him. Although, this was what he wanted.
With those words, Obi-Wan flicked at the looped string of horns hanging from his belt. "Oh, and Maul sends his regards as well. Though, fortunately, he won't be saying much else these days."
The Sith Lord raised a brow, surprised. This… was an interesting turn of events. Never had he thought that his Grandpadawan could be capable of such cruelty. "I would have expected the Jedi Council to come investigating by now," he remarked casually.
"I'm sure they would have, if they knew where I was."
Dooku was surprised. Obi-Wan, the perfect Jedi, had defied the Council. It was uncharacteristic, unlike his old master, who had made a career out of challenging authority. Perhaps his Grandpadawan was more like Qui-Gon than he originally thought.
"You've gone rogue, then? I must admit, I didn't expect such defiance from you, Kenobi. That was always Qui-Gon's specialty."
That seemed to irritate the man before him, and a thin smile spread across his face. "Get to the point, Dooku. Why are you here?"
"I want to offer you a proposition."
"Oh, this is going to be good," the man said sarcastically, golden eyes glinting. "You probably want me to join you in ruling the galaxy as a benevolent pair of overlords. How imaginative."
The Count ignored Kenobi's insolence. "I want you to join me in destroying my master."
Shock passed over the other man's face and briefly, he looked taken aback before he managed to regain control of himself. "And why, pray tell, would you want to overthrow the great Darth Sidious? I thought the two of you shared a grand vision of galactic domination."
"We do not share the same vision as I previously thought," Dooku said evenly, watching the younger man's face carefully.
Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed. "I can't worry about having other things added to my plate. I have other… duties now." He gestured vaguely outside the window. "To the people of Mandalore. I killed the former wielder of the Darksaber in combat. Although not in honorable combat per say, according to Mandalorian customs, I am now Mand'alor because of it."
There was a dry chuckle. "Bo-Katan supports me, thus keeping the people from rising against another aruetii. Outsider." His eyes drifted to the window. "I must kill his loyalists. They are tearing apart Mandalore, and they were involved in her death." A dangerous edge seeped into his tone, his features hardening.
The room fell into silence. Dooku took advantage of the man trailing off, and asked, "Do you want to end the war, Kenobi?"
The former Jedi scoffed. "What kind of question is that? Of course I want to end the war. No one likes war, Dooku."
The Sith Lord saw the opening. "My master has plans—plans that do not align with peace, despite what he claims to me. The war is a means to an end for him, and that end will plunge the galaxy into chaos."
Obi-Wan took a long, slow breath. "And you expect me to believe that you, Count Dooku, would bring peace to the galaxy?"
"I expect nothing from you, Kenobi," the Sith Lord said flatly. "But consider this: if Sidious is not stopped, the galaxy will suffer under his rule. I offer you a chance to stop that."
"And to replace one Sith Lord with another?" Obi-Wan asked bitingly.
The comment went ignored. "Think of what could be achieved if we worked together. You and I, with Mandalore's strength, could end the war on our terms."
The man fell silent, watching him intently with those chilling golden eyes. Dooku took the silence as an opportunity to press forward. "My master has plans to seize control of the galaxy, Kenobi. He will declare himself its sole leader, a tyrant with no equal. If he is not stopped, this future will become a reality."
"And how can you be so certain he will succeed?"
"Because I know who my master is. He controls the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Every move made in this war serves his greater design. He has positioned himself to win, no matter which side claims victory."
The Sith Lord could practically see Obi-Wan's thoughts drift back to their conversation all those years ago on Geonosis. "You said he controls the Senate."
Dooku made a noncommittal noise. "I told you all you needed back on Geonosis all those years ago, Grandpadawan."
His face contorted into that of a scowl. "Are you going to tell me who he is?"
Dooku hummed. "That depends on whether you accept my proposition or not."
His Grandpadawan let out a short laugh. "Of course. How convenient for you. I should have expected nothing less."
The young man looked as if he was about to lash out at him, but thankfully he didn't. Instead, he rose off his throne, descending the steps gracefully, lightsabers swaying with the rhythm of his gait. Dooku stared at the sabers, knowing that Obi-Wan a master of Soresu. With his fall, he didn't want to know how his lightsaber skills had improved. He'd prefer to avoid confrontation, if possible.
"Do you have a plan to defeat your master, then?" Obi-Wan asked, stopping a few paces away from him.
"Perhaps." Dooku resisted the urge to smile at the look of irritation that flashed over his features.
Obi-Wan groaned and opened his mouth, ready to deliver a sharp retort. But Dooku spoke first, cutting him off.
"My master has his claws dug deeply into both sides of this conflict—the Separatists and the Jedi alike. He manipulates them with ease, steering them toward his desired outcome. There will be no peace, no treaties, no compromises. He will allow nothing that could jeopardize his plans."
"And the Jedi? Why haven't they seen this, according to you?"
"They are too blind to see it, Kenobi," Dooku said sharply. "And the way they fight him, they will never succeed. They cling to outdated doctrines, fighting a war they cannot win against an enemy they do not even recognize. Even if they discovered the truth, they would fail to act decisively."
"If you're so convinced of his power, why haven't you challenged him yet?" Obi-Wan snapped. "Surely you, the great Count Dooku, could—"
The Sith Lord scoffed. "He is far too powerful for anyone to take on alone, Kenobi. No one can face him and hope to succeed. Even I, with all my influence and resources, could not hope to defeat him without help. You've seen how he remains hidden, unchallenged, manipulating the galaxy without consequence."
Obi-Wan hummed thoughtfully. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. If you're telling the truth, your master has managed to hide himself among the Republic for years. His deceit would require unmatched skill and cunning."
"Indeed."
"And you think I'm the one to help you stop him?" Obi-Wan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Who better than you?" the Sith Lord responded. "You now command thousands of systems as Mand'alor. You are no longer bound by the Jedi's dogmatic restrictions. You've taken a path they cannot follow. Your power base could disrupt my master's carefully laid plans."
His features hardened. "I see how it is. The moment I get control of Mandalore and her systems, I am of value to you. Am I only a means to an end?" He didn't let him answer and continued spitefully. "No doubt, it is the Sith way."
"I only want to bring peace and order to the galaxy," Dooku responded coolly. "The Republic is a stagnant beast, festering with corruption and parasites. You've seen it, I'm sure." He watched as Kenobi started pace the length of the room. "It must be put down."
Golden eyes flashed dangerously.
"My master did not foresee this," the Sith Lord continued, taking a step back for safe measure. "Your fall could disrupt his plans."
"Oh, I'm sure he sees a many great things," Kenobi remarked bitingly, smiling thinly. "He must've saw when Maul killed Qui-Gon. Or… or—"
"You're angry," Dooku pointed out calmly.
"Of course I am!" Obi-Wan stopped, spinning on his heel to face him. A tear fell down his face. "My world has just fell out underneath me! I just lost someone very close to me, by the very same monster that took my master from me! What do you expect me to feel? Peace, serenity?"
The Force seemed to tremble under the weight of his words, drawing close to the Jedi in a storm. Still, he could not sense the man before him.
"You are behaving rather un-Jedi like."
"I-I…" The man faltered, and a realization seemed to dawn upon him. Closing his eyes, Kenobi looked away, wiping away the tears that fell. "I'm not a Jedi. Not anymore. Not after what I've done." His voice was quiet, and he seemed to deflate. Dooku was satisfied that he recognized what he is not. "I killed all of them."
But then, he straightened, golden eyes blazing with righteous fury and voice rising as he moved close to Dooku. "Maul. Savage. Almec. Every traitor, every conspirator who had a hand in her death, in overthrowing her rule. I slaughtered them all." His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "And the rest of them have to die too."
The Sith Lord found that he was perfect. Oh how far Kenobi had fallen from the golden boy he once was. Blindly obeying the Order, even if it was wrong, always keeping the Code, always the model Jedi. He, whether willingly or not, had broken his own chains.
The fallen Jedi smiled bitterly, and Dooku sensed the shields were lowering. The darkness in him unfurled its wings, rising to the surface. It was a violent thing, hungering for destruction. It needed to tempered and trained, leashed and put under control, lest it consume him. He could help with that.
Dooku peered into the Force and saw the lines that was present at all times. But these were broken, twisted one, churning and smashing against each other, not quite able to fit together. It was curling around him, trying to shield the flickering flame within.
The Living Force itself was converging on him, almost like a…
Vergence.
It was impossible, yet what he was seeing defied the very word.
"What would your master say to you, if he saw how far you've fallen?" Dooku taunted, managing to regain his composure.
It took the younger man a moment to respond. "He's dead. It wouldn't matter whether he saw you or me falling. If he were alive, I'd expect he'd turn this into a lesson and drag me by the ear back to the Temple."
"I have no doubt," Dooku said fondly, remembering his former student. It saddened him to know what happened to him, but it was necessary, he'd often have to convince himself.
Obi-Wan took a breath to calm himself, running a hand over his face. "What you propose is madness."
Realizing they were back on topic, Dooku chuckled darkly. He had his Grandpadawan's attention. "Perhaps. But you, Kenobi, are no stranger to madness. Look at all you and Skywalker have done during this war, in the name of peace."
The younger man grimaced. "That was mostly Anakin."
Dooku continued, ignoring the protest. "Think about it, Grandpadawan. The war you despise can all end, but only if you act."
Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "Give me time to think about it."
"What is there to think about?" the Sith Lord questioned.
"Oh, plenty."
"You have nowhere to go, and it doesn't seem like you had any plans to return," Dooku remarked, crossing his arms.
"How could I?" The former Jedi shook his head. "How could I return after everything I've done? Most likely, they would arrest me on account of many charges. The greatest of which, is falling to the dark side, once they find out of course."
"So you'd rather sit here on your hands and watch Sidious win?"
"I never said that!" Obi-Wan snapped, glaring at him. The darkness seemed to rise with the anger he felt, swirling around him, ready to lash out if he would allow it. "I never said anything about that. All I want is some time to consider your offer."
"Very well," Dooku acquiesced with an incline of his head, unwilling to provoke the man's wrath right now. "I shall give you three days."
"A week."
The Sith Lord raised a brow, but did not protest. He didn't want to risk losing Kenobi, as he was valuable. "Do not keep me waiting longer than that, my patience is not infinite. I shall await your answer. You know where to find me."
There was no response from Obi-Wan, not that he expected one. Turning on his heel, he left the throne room. Now, to find security footage, he thought with a small smirk.
I originally posted this story a while ago but took it down after reading the cringy writing on the one-shot I created for his fall. I decided I didn't like it and rewrote it after getting some inspiration from the fanfiction, always is too long my dear by Purple4275. I've always had a desire to write a Dark/Sith Obi-Wan fanfiction, since there isn't much of him out there.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think :)
Update: I started to write out the storyline and I decided it was shit. I hated it, so I rewrote some of the first part of this chapter and completely redid the second part. Chapter 2 is also redone, to make it a more flexible storyline to work with.
Also, I suck at writing fight scenes, especially that of a lightsaber duel because I have no idea what to write. That's why there wasn't much of that in this chapter, though I'll try to improve. I'd appreciate any tips to been me.