It was some time before Obi-Wan was stirred from his kneeling position by the pit where he had lost his apprentice and, to some point, his faith. But over the feelings of despair and sorrow came a shock to the jedi, a tremor that threatened to shatter his Force senses and at the same time crept up his spine like a Darthomir cavern spider. He was on his feet immediate, reaching for the blade that was no longer at his side, for he knew. Mace Windu, his friend and occassional teacher, was dead. How had this happened? How? First the Clone Wars. The death of his old master, Qui-gon... Anakin's betrayal. Now this. For perhaps the first time in his life, Obi-Wan Kenobi wanted revenge on whoever had done all this. He wanted vengeance... He wanted to feel Sidious' bones crack beneath his hands... He...
He had to get a grip on himself. This foul place was polluting his mind. He shook his head, and began to walk back from the direction he came, towards the cavern entrance. Only to find it disappeared. In its place was an ancient door, covered in cuneiform that was distinctly well preserved and obviously Sith in nature. He turned again, and scanned for any trickery, or perhaps an assassin. But there was only the cold, empty air of the cave. His eyes did see another way out, however. Another door similar to the one that had appeared was located across from him, on the opposite side of the pit. This door was old too, but it showed more wear. Specifically, it looked as though someone had forced it open. The feeling of urgency was overriding his natural confusiona nd concern, and he ran to the door. After a moment's hesitation, he crawled inside, to find himself in a clearly unnatural tunnel.
"What's this?" He spoke to himself, nearly cringing when he heard his voice echo endlessly throughout the length of the tunnel. Not waiting for a reply, he ran farther down the temple. The feeling that he needed to make haste and find the surface prodded him on, and he ran down, to find a t-shaped room, outlets on two sides. He remembered hearing an old phrase that a sentient often chooses their dominant hand-side when confronted with a choice. He decided to ignore that stereotype and headed left. This took him through another tunnel, and in turn to another t-shaped room. He worked his way through the Sith tomb, which was unbeknowest to him the tomb of the late Ludo Kressh, and finally came to a sloped tunnel. Here he gave pause, and advanced slowly, suddenly very much on alert. The darkside was stronger here than he had ever felt in his life. He nearly gagged from the initial sensation. Finally, he overcame the sense of revulsion and moved on, coming into a chamber some thirty meters down.
This room suddenly solved the riddle for Obi-Wan, with the opened tomb before him, and the body of some humanlike sentient that was ravaged by time and mistreatment. A voice reached Obi-Wan's ears as he stood there in the doorway, examining everything for an exit.
"Go back from where you came, my padawan." Came the voice. A familiar voice that he hadn't heard in thirteen years. "Only the dead remain here."
From behind the central pillar came the figure of Qui-gon Jinn, late Jedi master and the mentor of Kenobi. He looked well except for a single wound in his midsection- the burn of a lightsaber. Naturally, Obi-Wan was speechless.
"So you have no words of welcome for me, my padawan? Has it been so long that you no longer respect my ways? That you no longer respect my wishes?" The spectre echoed.
Obi-Wan shook himself, and took a step back as the shade of Qui-Gon came forward a few feet. "Qui-Gon... It can't be... You're..."
"I'm quite well aware of what I am, padawan. No thanks to you, of course." The late jedi master's face came into the dismal light of the chamber, and it was then that Obi-Wan was confronted with the reality of the situation. This vision of Qui-Gon Jinn was very much not his master... The face was fleshless, and shimmering bone replaced the once-kind face of his old master. Fleshless hands grasped for the rusted lightsaber at the spectre's side, pushing past robes that were rotten through in places.
"No, never... I... what are you?"
The spectre came to a stop, and ignited the lightsaber, which glowed a dull green, as though the light protested being in this dark, evil place. "I am dead. And now you have gone back on my teachings and destroyed young Skywalker, who was our only hope!" The voice grew in strength and pitch. "Now he is gone! How will we defend ourselves from the Sith? You have thrown away the galaxy's last chance for peace! Now, you will pay for that mistake with your life!" And it leaped forward, saber moving like a blur.
But Obi-Wan had nothing to defend himself with. He ducked quickly, the spectral lightsaber surprisingly real as it singed the hood of his robe. He rolled to the side, and looked about for something -anything- to use as a weapon. The shade of Qui-gon slashed again, and Kenobi went into another combat roll, coming up with his back against a statue in the corner. The shade faded out suddenly, and Obi-Wan braced himself, backing against the statue. His hand behind him hit a cold, sharp surface, but before he could react the shade reappeared right before him, lightsaber raised for the killing cleave. His hand grabbed the object behind him, and he brought it about, to find he was holding an ancient sword by the blade. But that was the farthest thing from his immediate thoughts as the lightsaber of Qui-Gon decended, and he brought the blade up quickly, holding the blade flat against his palm and his other hand on the hilt, absorbing the downward blow. There was a spark, followed by a low hiss as the shade's weapon connected with the ancient sword.
Obi-Wan wasted no time. He grabbed the sword by the handle and struck, his swipe aimed at disarming the spectre and severing its boney swordarm.
But the Sith blade passed through harmlessly, and as Obi-Wan watched, the shade of Qui-Gon Jinn began to fade. Before it disappeared entirely, it spoke once, a voice barely heard above the jedi's beating heart...
"Remember always my lessons to you, my apprentice. Never give up hope, and never let the darkness consume you, or you have already lost."
The jedi looked down to find his hands covered in his own blood, and to see the ancient blade gleaming in the partial light. Finally, he looked up to see a doorway slide open before him, opposite of the direction from which he had entered. And a figure slipped into the room from the doorway, robed and walking briskly. It wasn't until they were a few feet away that Sidious looked up, stunned, to see Obi-Wan Kenobi standing where he had posted his new apprentice and his escape route. Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was standing there with bloodied hands an clutching an enchanted sith blade.
Whereas Sidious and Yoda had fought as opposing sides in this spiritual war, Dooku and Yoda fought heatedly. Dooku was no stranger to Yoda's methods in combat, having fought the ancient jedi master nearly three years ago. Since that encounter, Dooku regretted having to abandon the fight, to abandon his one chance to prove himself- or so he thought. But now, he could show Yoda once and for all just how powerful he had become. How he was the prodigy and the chosen one, and not this fool SKywalker. He would show them all that he had not earned his wealth and his title by birthright alone, and that he had not been a legendary member of the Order by being weak.
Yoda, for his part, was not fighting is old apprentice. He was fighting his enemy and an enemy of the Order. He had held hope that Dooku could be redeemed, that Dooku was not truly evil. But the cold murder of Mace Windu was proof enough that that was not the case. Thus, the old jedi master had no reservations in this battle. He gave it his all.
And the display was hypnotic in its fluidity and ease, as the red and green sabers clashed and struck, and as Yoda spun and flipped about Dooku while the taller count parried and swung, never really moving from his central position in the room. Whereas the duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin had been halfhearted on the part of the elder jedi, between Dooku and Yoda there was only one outcome- the other's utter defeat.
The routine stopped when a fortunate swipe by Dooku took his master's overextended arm from his body, just below the elbow. Despite the pain and shock he must have felt, Yoda reacted immediately, using a Force push to shove Dooku back. As the count slammed into the opposite wall, Yoda fell to his knees, clutching his new wound. This wound hurt so little compared to the hurt inside. His old apprentice was capable of murder, of trechery... and of killing his old master all in the name of power. Another thing dawned on the old jedi- he was too old for this. His breath was coming in gasps. Fighting Sidious had been more than he was used to, and fighting Dooku in that heated battle had nearly done him in.
"Dooku...." Came his voice, shaky through the pain. "What have you done?"
The Sith lord Dooku answered with a blast of Sith lightning, the wave coming across at Yoda, threatening to destroy him. But Yoda held up his one remaining hand, and caught the wave. A new battle had begun, as Yoda, panting and hurting, fought to repel Dooku's force assault...
--------------------------------------------------
"You!" Obi-Wan moved forward, his Sith blade at ready. Sidious, nonplussed at seeing Kenobi here, merely snarled in response.
"Stupid jedi! Do you not know when to die?! I suppose you destroyed young Skywalker, did you? Well, it will avail you not... Windu is dead, and Dooku is more than capable enough to defeat your precious master Yoda..." Sidious brought his hands up, and unleashed his hellish wave of lightning at Obi-Wan.
But the sith blade flashed in the dim light, and the lightning was caught by the blade, only to flash and disappear. Sidious dropped his hands, awestruck that his infamous lightning had no affect on the young jedi. Obi-Wan had not even staggered under the attack.
The jedi himself was just as surprised, but unlike Sidious he was not thinking about fleeing. He was thinking about revenge...
He came launching forward, his newly acquired sword streaking downward in a blow to end the Sith lord's life. Sidious' red lightsaber flashed to life, and came up to meet the attack. But Obi-wan's weight and the weight behind the sword met the resistance, and Sidious staggered. The jedi master went on into a rage-filled frenzy, the sith blade hitting at Sidious left and right. The Sith lord, surprised and offguard, could barely meet each blow as it came. The sword was like a living enemy itself, battering against Sidious' defense and with each strike the feeling of despair crept into his black heart. Finally, Obi-Wan extended himself too far, and Sidious Force shoved him back hard, slamming the jedi into a far wall.
"This has gone on long enough! I shall destroy you now!" He brought his saber to bear, but then the room was rocked by an enormous wave. The Sith lord was thrown off balance, and he fell promptly on the floor. When the massive quake had abated, Obi-wan was apparently unconscious.
Sidious was heavily debating on killing the jedi right then and there. But he did not want to risk staying in this retched tomb any longer. From the sounds above, Dooku and Yoda were plotting to bring the place down around their ears. Hissing in anger, he backed out of the doorway leading out to the cave, and he unleashed a wave of lightning, bringing down the ceiling to seal the entrance behind him. He needed to leave before things got any more out of hand then they already were...
(More later)
Yoda was buckling under the strain of the lightning, but hekept his one hand up, holding off the assault. His toe claws were digging into the hard stone of the floor. Dooku... He had never seen Dooku like this. The former jedi was straining himself, his face lathered in sweat, a mask of concentration. He was loosing lightning from both hands with great effect. And Yoda could feel his anger. But he would not give up.
"Why do you persist?!" The count cried over the din. "Why don't you just surrender?! I have beaten you!"
Yoda managed a slight smirk, and spoke in between gasps. "Much to learn... you still.... have..."
"Impossible! I have surpassed all the jedi! Even you!" Dooku snarled, and his anger flowed more into his assault. Yoda was pushed back up against the wall, still barely holding off the wave with his one hand.
"Dooku... This ends... here!" And then Yoda shoved forward, unleashing his own wave of power... A variation of lightning. It was something Yoda had sworn never to use in battle, or at all, for that matter. But he had made up his mind- he was still needed. Dooku was a Sith and he would work against the Order and harmony so long as he existed. It was a final measure, and it had to be done.
"What?!" Dooku's anger faltered as his old master loosed his own wave of lightning, pushing the center of balance back into the middle. The count had never seen anything like it before... Suddenly those old fears, those old insecurities crept into his mind. Perhaps Yoda had fooled him into showing his full measure, only to stomp him out like a candle. It was the beauty of the darkside, in that it grants power at the expense of one's own rational mind. Dooku became convinced that Yoda was toying with him. Little did he know that Yoda was on the verge of defeat.
But nonetheless, Dooku's concentration and power waned, and the wave of lightning slowly pushed its way back towards him. Master Yoda was now leaning forward, almost like shoving something before him, as he fought Dooku's power. Finally, the count realized he would be destroyed, and he summoned up the last ember of his anger, unleashing his lightning again. For a second, it held the advance of Yoda's own. But then, something happened that neither had expected... The energy crackled, and then exploded, sending waves of pressure everywhere. Yoda was sent flying back into the wall, as was Dooku opposite of him. The ground shook, the ceiling cracked, and sunlight peeked through the lines. The center of the room was scortched black, as though it had been roasted over the sun itself.
Count Dooku was the first to stand, although shakily. He was staggering like a drunk, his body drained from such full use of the Force. The fight had taken everything from him, and he cursed as he made his way down the hallway, past the body of Mace Windu, and out into the desert where his ship was landed. Yoda did not stop him, for the old master was crumpled up in the room, barely breathing, unconcious. As he sat in his chair, adjusting the controls of his small ship with twtiching hands, he realized that for the first time his arrogance had nearly been the death of him. And that thought stayed with him as he ascended into the atmosphere, engaging his cloaking device so he could slip past the approaching Republic fleet.
-----------------------------------------------------
Yoda opened his eyes to find Obi-Wan, covered in dust, leaning over him. Obi-Wan had found the main chamber via Sidious' little escape route, and he came across Yoda. Picking the old master up, Obi-Wan said nothing. His heart was heavy, for the loss today had been great. Perhaps far greater than he had ever expected.
Smiling weakly, Yoda patted him on the shoulder. "Worry not... about me, Obi-Wan... Live... I shall. But quickly... we must act. Or all else... is... lost." And he lapsed back into unconsciousness. Kenobi bowed his head, and made his way out of the entrance. The ship was a long distance from them, and the walk was silent, haunting. Korriban had changed them, and not for the better....
-------------------------------------
The sith lord was down on one knee, peering into the pitch black that seemed to flow out from the pit in the cave. He could feel Skywalker down there, somewhere. The young man had fallen, yes. But he was still alive. Ah, and there he was- clutching to a ledge with his artificial arm. Hatred for the Jedi and for Kenobi rolled off of him in tangible waves. But he was battered from his fall, and would need medical attention soon.
Sidious smiled to himself. So he had not lost Skywalker after all. If anything, he had gained through this misadventure. Anakin had passed his first trial... Dooku had slain Mace and probably mortally wounded Yoda. And he now had a wonderful Sith sword to add to his collection...
(FIN)
Holy -censor-.
You have Obi-Wan almost beating Sidious...wow Janus. Where the HELL did that logic come from?
Edit: Lol nevermind. I apologize. I read where you said Obi-Wan could not singularly take Dooku or Sidious. I am relieved. Sidious and Yoda are the most powerful in the Force. And Dooku and Yoda are the best duelists. And Obi-Wan and Mace and Anakin are...uh...well...um...
Anyways. You did it once again. I shall beat ye, Lord of Jawas. 😠
Originally posted by Darth Somebody
Holy -censor-.You have Obi-Wan almost beating Sidious...wow Janus. Where the HELL did that logic come from?
Edit: Nevermind. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you wouldn't dare think Obi-Wan and Sidious to be equals - merely that the Sith sword evened it all. But tread lightly, Janus. Sidious would pwn Obi Wan. And you know it.
But other than that, you wrote it very well. Linguistics, sentence structure, and all of the grammatical intracacies are well written and designed. You did well. Very well.
Relax... It was a combination of surprise, the sith weapon, and anger that gave Obi-wan the advantage...