Brotherhood

Chapter 36 - Double Agent

Obi-Wan lingers behind the droids, discomfort churning within him as he watches the clones being shot down. He wishes he could help them; he always does, but such is the cost of war. Honestly, he's glad that he's not being sent to the front lines like Anakin and Ahsoka. Overseeing and directing the space battles is hard enough, because he's still responsible for so much death, even if it's not directly. Much as he's tried to keep himself balanced, Obi-Wan has noticed how much darker he's become since the beginning of the war, how much more willing to make necessary sacrifices if it means that he'll be protecting his family.

Anakin and Ahsoka are all he has left now, and he would rather die than let them come to harm. While he has something of a relationship with Dooku and even Ventress, it's far more professional. He doesn't consider either of them friends. He's still mulling over his position in the galaxy when he feels Siri arrive.

Her Force presence is light, though infused with anger. She cuts down the rest of the first wave of droids, blue eyes unerringly zeroing in on him. Her initial anger evaporates, shock replacing it, but just as suddenly, her expression hardens, and she stalks towards him, violet blade still ignited, gesturing to her clones to continue the fight.

"You," Siri says bluntly. "What are you doing here?"

"I think it should be quite obvious," Obi-Wan replies mildly, crossing his right arm and stroking his beard with his left hand. It puts him in closer proximity with his lightsaber, and he will draw it should the need arise.

"You're a traitor to the Jedi," Siri states coldly, something akin to hurt flickering through her expression. "You're not the man I befriended." She swings her lightsaber towards him, and he reacts on instinct, springing backwards and igniting his own lightsaber to block her.

"Siri, listen to me!" Obi-Wan protests, defending himself from her attacks, though he doesn't make a move to fight back against her. He won't let her hurt him. "It doesn't have to be like this. I'm doing what I have to do for the galaxy. The Republic is corrupt! It cannot be saved."

"And you think that the Sith can fix it?" Siri demands scornfully, shaking her head, blonde hair falling loose around her face. "Then you're more delusional than I believed. You can leave. Come with me. Talk to the Council. We can only fix things together."

Obi-Wan might have been tempted by her offer in another time, but he doesn't even need to consider it. "No," he states quietly and with conviction. "I won't. I'm not leaving Anakin. He needs me." It's the absolute truth, and maybe he's a terrible Jedi for loving Anakin so deeply and fiercely, but so be it. He refuses to betray Anakin, no matter the cost to himself. Anakin has lost so much already – even his humanity – he doesn't need to be betrayed by one of the people he loves and considers a friend.

Siri scoffs. "That's your attachment talking, Obi-Wan," she informs him. "I knew you were struggling, but this is a new low, even for you. You're protecting a murderer! He's a monster! I might have once thought that he could change, but you know how much damage and devastation he's caused. He's proud of it, isn't he?" Obi-Wan doesn't answer her tirade, slowly drawing in a breath to maintain his calm. If he loses his composure now, it won't be good.

His silence is, he supposes, answer enough. "He is," she states scornfully, glaring daggers into him, lightsaber poised for another attack. "There's a kill-on-sight order issued by the Jedi Council for him. He's dangerous, Obi-Wan, even if you choose not to accept that."

"I know Anakin," Obi-Wan replies with conviction. "He's not my superior. He's not my captor. He's my friend." It feels so good to say that. It's like a reaffirmation of their connection. Their bond which seems to transcend everything. He'll never forget his vision shortly after Anakin was adopted to Palpatine. It was a warning from the Force itself that he and Anakin belong together. They always have. They always will. He won't betray Anakin for anything. Not now.