Hopes

Chapter 31.

Obi-Wan's POV

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"Nooooo!!!"

The red blade struck her, the force with which it was thrusted enough to make her crumple. The burning saber buzzed as it pierced her back, uncaring of my cries for it to stop. Its wielder completed the task with grim expression, also deaf to my pleas, hand steady as he took from me the one love I had left in this cruel, cruel galaxy. She was my rock, my wisdom, my joy, and my life. She was my everything. I had promised to cherish her, to provide for her, and to protect her all the days of my life. I had promised to love her, "'til death do us part." But I had failed her in my duty of care and my duty of protection. Or had I?

Was there not one path that offered a power as yet unbeknownst to me? Was there not strength where once weakness prevailed? Was there not hope where formerly hopelessness reigned? Was there not a way to play death at his own game ... and win?

But what was the cost? What would it cost me? What would it cost us?

How could I even consider the cost of something that may never happen when I was faced with the cost of something that was happening right before my eyes? My wife was dying, just as my master Qui-Gon had, and was I just going to sit quietly and let my one opportunity of saving her pass me by? I had to do something!

The small voice in my head squirmed at my thinking, throwing conflict into the mix, fighting my newfound but unstable resolve. Didn't Anakin do this? Didn't he lay himself down to save his dying wife? But she wasn't dying. And that was where we differed. What he was afraid was happening to him was actually happening to me. He had chosen a path that couldn't help him because no help was necessary. I had no such luxury.

Igniting my lightsaber, I dashed forwards, fuelled by a cold force I had tasted but never been submerged in. Now it surrounded me like a black cloud, gnawing like a blackhole inside, but it focused me, offering new strength and unlimited power. That little voice berated me for my decision, but somehow it was easier to ignore with the power flowing through my veins. I could flick it to the side, pondering whether to pick it up later, and immerse myself in the job at hand. I could justify my decision later. 

My initial target was to remove Solus as far from Satine as possible, but Maul stepped in the way, throwing his saber up to stop me killing him on the spot. Both his hands clenched his hilt, and the yellow of his eyes shone with a wild frenzy of delight and ... something else.

"How the mighty have fallen!" he crowed, engaging in a rapid duel with me. "Look at what you've become! Oh, but how righteous you must feel! For you're doing this for your family, aren't you? Your wife and unborn child need you."

I growled, shoving a fierce thrust at his side, then flung my hand up at his chin, using the Force to give me enough power to break his jaw. "Stay away from them," I spoke in a low voice, watching as he stumbled backwards, hissing in pain. "You will not take them from me, just as you took my master. Now when you speak, you will experience the same pain as your words cause those around you. But don't fear. I'll put you out of your misery soon enough. Such a disgusting creature as yourself doesn't deserve to live on this beautiful planet any longer."

He tripped over himself, his metal feet unable to keep balance, and his saber slipped from his hand, clattering harmlessly to the ground. He stared at me as I stood over him, his eyes misty with pain and clouded with fear.

I aimed the tip of my saber at his neck. "You hadn't expected your plan to go this way, had you? You thought you were stronger than I. You thought you could beat me, no matter what game you forced me to play. But I warned you once; you mustn't have heeded it. Don't underestimate me, Maul. I mustn't have taught you enough of a lesson last time."