Saturday, December 29, 2007

Voices in the Dark

Anakin jumped off the Rancor, and spun his light saber with unneeded zest. "Well that was too easy."

"Easy for you to say>" The Rancor's head rested on my legs as I looked up at Anakin.

"Oops, let me help you there." He gave the head a lift with Force and helped me out from under the massive head. Anakin shook his head. "Nasty things."

"Quite." I looked at the massive creature. "I wasn't aware they could live here as well." the hallways was strangely quiet after the sounds of the fight.

"They should be in the city. They must have smuggled it in," He said. "But down here in the underbelly, you can hide anything."

"Unfortunately. We need to continue and this time without interruptions I hope."

"Not likely," Anakin stated. "After you. There is a hallway in the back. I see it as I was on top of the Rancor."

I merely nodded and followed the dark and damp pathway. The walls were narrower here and the smell of stale air made it harder to breathe. The temperature grew warmer as well.

Anakin made strange breathing noises behind me and I could hear him insert his rebreather.

Something rose from the floor vents in front of me, a gas like substance, and before I could react I was pulled back by my belt.

"You are right?" He asked.

My head felt foggy and Anakin’s voice seemed to come from far away. His touch however made me want to shake him off. "I am fine." I growled.

"Your face is white," He told me. "I don't think that was poison."

"Nothing wrong with me." I shoved his hand away.

"All right then, if you are sure." Anakin stared at me for a second before he stepped around me and continued down the passage.

//Remember how Qui Gon dismissed you for Anakin//
I shook my head. No it wasn’t there, the voice did not exist.

//Don't deny it. He hurt you and you know it.//

"No, he did not." I said out loud.

The uneasy feeling tickled my neck. I looked over my shoulder at Obi-Wan as he spoke. "What did you say?"

"Nothing and it’s none of your business." Why did I talk to him that way?

//You have always resented training the boy.// she whispered.

"NO!" I said forcefully.

Anakin flinched and frowned at me.

"For Force sake, Obi-Wan!" He snapped.

//Admit it. YOU only fulfilled a dying man's wishes.// she continued.

"I will not listen to you." my head pounded.

"Master?" Anakin stopped walking to face me. His face was a mask of confusion.

//Don't give into him. He has never respected or accepted you as his Master.// her voice penetrated my mind with an intensity to which I could no longer resist.

I know that Anakin reached out with the Force to detect what was wrong in his opinion. Obviously he could not sense anything because he just stared back at me.

//Be careful or he will lead you into a trap, a trap set for you.// she insisted.

"Master?" He waved his hand in front of my face.

"No, he is not like that." I replied making a last attempt to rid myself of her.

"Who is not like what?" He shook my arm. "Obi-Wan!"

//Don't give in to his cunning nature. He will destroy you.// her voice grew stronger, more persistent.

"YOU." a growl escaped my chest as my hand found my saber.

"Whoa!" He jumped back and stared. "What is the matter with you? Have you lost your mind?"

//Now is your chance to rid yourself of him. You need neither him nor your Jedi friend Adana.//

I ignited my weapon, memories flooding my mind, memories of Master Jinn, my childhood, his death.

Anakin hesitated to reach for his saber. He stilled his hand. "Whatever you hear, it’s not real. You know that."

"Don't mock me Anakin." I stepped toward him. "At least defend yourself." I listened to my voice as if it did not belong to me.

//Yes, that is right. NOW// it was as if she stood next to me. I could sense her to a point I could smell her perfume.

"Mock you? I'm not mocking you! Don't make me defend myself!" He stared hard at me. "One of us won't walk away from it. Think, man, whatever that gas was, whatever you are thinking, its not you!"

"You don't respect me and you have rejected my teaching ...always." Speaking seemed to be more difficult than I remembered. "And now you shall pay for all of your deceit." I raised my weapon toward his neck.

Anakin’s saber shot into my hand, blade ready. He blocked mine. "Listen to me! Stop and think! Block it out! You don’t want to do this!"

"Yes, I do. It's imperative that I make an end to this charade." A quick turn of my hand and my weapon cut through his tunic sleeve.

I could see the pain in his face. Anakin swung his blade, knocking the hilt of my saber from my hand. It tumbled to the floor. It was too easy. He reached out before I could retract and slammed my body hard against the wall, holding me still with his hand, and lifted his blade. "Snap out of it!" He shouted in my face.

"Out of what? You disillusioned fool, don't you understand? It's over." I tried to pry his hands of me. "LET ME GO."

"No, you will listen. That gas is doing this to you! Whatever your hearing are lies. Think! Why are we here? What we doing? Who ARE YOU?"

//You are stronger than he is. He is still a boy. Remember that night so long ago.// her voice had lost the sharp edge.

"I am Obi Wan Kenobi and you have betrayed me from the beginning. Only because of you did I lose Master Jinn."

"Because of me? I didn't kill him! I wasn’t even there! Remember!" I shook him.

"You were because he made every attempt to rid himself of me. And if his mind had been clear he would not have died." my words poured out as if my mouth had a mind of its own.

Anakin stared at me in disbelief. "He loved you. He thought you were ready! I had nothing to do with it!

"Yes, he did and I loved him. He was like a father to me." I finally freed myself of him and called my weapon to my hand.

//This is a good Jedi.// he voice was enticing and sweet.

Anakin jumped back. "Do you think he would be happy to see you lose your control and attack the man you call your brother?" I lifted my chin. "I loved him too."

"No, you didn't. You didn't even know him. And Adana has betrayed my friendship as well. Oh, yes, she is there when you need her but that is all. Both of you can go to hell."

"I didn't? That man saved me from a life of slavery! I didn’t know him long but I loved him! And I love you!"

"Lies, lies, all lies. You have listened to Adana for too long. I know you confide in her." My blade sprang to life again.

"Lies? Fine!" He tossed my saber on the floor at my feet. "Strike me down then. I won’t stop you." He glared. "Do it!"

I lifted my saber, ready to strike him when suddenly the world around me went black.
Posted by Master Obi-Wan :: 7:55 PM :: 5 comments

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