Spoilers: Only the obvious one from TPM and some from the
original trilogy
Summary: Obi-Wan's thoughts as he faces Darth Vader on the
Death Star.
Feedback: is gratefully accepted :)
Notes: This is the sequel to Afterthoughts. Sorry sa, no sex. I
tried but they wouldn't cooperate. Thanks to Lori for giving
this a quick beta.
So it has come to this.
Standing in this sterile corridor I face my former apprentice.
It was inevitable I suppose. There is far too much between us
that remains unfinished.
He senses it too. His voice when he speaks is powerful and
commanding, in direct contrast to his wheezing breath. A
booming bass mechanically amplified and projected, calculated
to be the most intimidating it can be. He still manages to
sound like a spoiled child.
"I've been waiting for you Obi-Wan. We meet again at last. The
circle is now complete. When I left you I was but a learner.
Now I am the Master."
I search the form encased in black metal and silk that steps
toward me with his light saber raised looking for at least a
trace of the boy I had known. But it is hopeless. The boy I had
trained, the boy that my Master had seen such promise in, is
totally gone.
What I had told his son had been the truth: Anakin Skywalker is
dead, and it is the man who stands before me, Darth Vader, who
killed him.
And that is how I addressed him as I spoke; he did not deserve
the other name anymore. "Only a Master of evil, Darth."
I lunge at him and he parries and the battle is joined.
As we exchange blows, feeling out each other's strengths and
weaknesses after such a long time, I begin to feel something
else as well.
It is a strange sensation, a presence in the Force, at once
both familiar and alien, and a... lightening of spirit, as if
all my burdens were dropping away, one by one.
We come to one of those natural pauses that happen in fights
like this, each taking a step back. That is when I see it: the
faint shimmering just beyond Darth that is slowly growing more
solid.
I feel my heart speed up in a way that the fight alone is not
able to cause. It can't be...
Can it?
But it is; the shimmering was gradually resolving itself into
the shape of Qui-Gon, my Master, smiling at me over Vader's
shoulder.
Vader is taunting me but his words barely register. "Your
powers are weak old man."
I almost laugh. At that moment, seeing my Master, I feel like
there isn't anything I can't do. "You can't win Darth," I tell
my erstwhile apprentice, my eyes still on Qui-Gon. "Strike me
down and I shall become more powerful than you can possibly
imagine."
Vader strikes at me then and I parry automatically. Qui-Gon
shakes his head at me with mock sternness and his lips form the
word, "Focus." Even without sound I can understand him clearly.
The fight. Right. Tearing my gaze from my Master's form I force
my concentration back onto the duel.
My opponent stands between me and the hanger where the ship
awaits. So as we fight I gradually turn, switching positions
with him, then I start to back up, step by step towards escape.
All the while I am aware of Qui-Gon's presence, hovering just
on the edge of my sight, standing there watching the fight,
watching me.
Waiting for me.
Just like he promised.
We reach the entrance to the hanger; if I turn my head I can
see the ship waiting. But with every second that passes I am
becoming increasingly sure that I will not reach it. That in
fact, I will not survive this fight.
The thought fills me with conflicting emotions, even though I
have been sensing this moment for some time. It is why I told
Luke that his destiny lay along a different path from mine, why
I did not take him with me.
But still, my responsibility to him remains. I have barely even
begun to teach him the basics. To deprive him of his teacher
now...
You have set his feet on the Path, Obi-Wan. My Master's
voice ringing in my head, as clear as my own thoughts. It is
up to another to guide him further.
I parry a few more blows from Vader as I try and come to terms
with that. Will I be able to meekly step aside and let another
finish Luke's training, I wonder. I look at Qui-Gon waiting
patiently. How can I not when to refuse to do so is to deny my
Master?
Another pause in the fighting. I can feel Vader's gaze probing
at me, seeking a way through my defenses. He is puzzled I can
tell. He senses my attention is not fully on the fight and
doesn't understand why.
I wonder how he would react if I tell him who it is that is
distracting me.
"You should not have come back," Vader says. In pity? Triumph?
Contempt?
Not that it matters. Regardless of why he said it, he is wrong.
I had to come back here, had to face him, had to fight him
again. This is unfinished business, it has to happen before I
am free to move on.
Vader attacks again and I sense that this fight is nearing its
end. So short. How different from the last time we faced each
other, when it went on for hours. At the time it had seemed
like forever.
But not this time. This time I can feel the seconds ticking
away, bringing its end closer and closer with each one.
Bringing my end too, I suppose. But I am not afraid.
Somehow over the hum of our sabers and the crash and crackle
when they meet I hear it. A soft voice full of recognition and
disbelief.
"Ben?"
I turn and look; sure enough there is young Luke in the middle
of the hanger gaping at me in shock. Behind him I can see the
others making a run for the ship while the guards are
distracted. Including Luke's sister.
Somehow they had managed to rescue her. Good.
My attention focuses back on Luke. I meet his eyes and realize
that my Master is right. I had helped begin Luke's journey but
it is not my place to share it with him. I am suddenly
confident that he will find another teacher. I even believe I
know who it will be.
It is time, Obi-Wan. I look back at Qui-Gon, who has
moved closer and now is standing directly in front of me. I
would hardly have to reach out a hand to touch him.
He opens his arms, beckoning, waiting. I can't help but smile
at him, at the gesture. I feel an incredible peace settle over
me as I salute him with my saber and close my eyes. Our waiting
is finally over.
I hear the hum of Vader's light saber cleaving the air as it
comes towards me and I brace for the pain, the feel of it
biting into my flesh. Instead what I feel are warm familiar
arms closing around me in a tight embrace.
I open my eyes and look up into my Master's smiling face.
"Welcome, Obi-Wan," he whispers softly, giving my braid a
playful tug and I realize I am once again the young man I had
been when I was his Padawan.
Before I can answer he closes the remaining distance between us
and kisses me.
Instantly I am lost in the sensation, and feel a bolt of pure
joy shoot through me as it slowly sinks in. Finally, after all
this time I am in my Master's arms, with his mouth pressed to
mine. I tighten my own grip on him as I kiss back as
passionately as I am being kissed.
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