Angel of Death

Chapter 5 - Falling

Author's Note: I hope this chapter answers all of your questions. If not, everything should make sense in the sixth and final chapter. :D

~ Amina Gila

Red clashes against blue as the two combatants lock together in a furious duel to the death, or at least it seems that way, though Anakin hopes desperately that isn't what will happen. He doesn't think he could endure it. "You don't have to do this!" he screams, blocking Obi-Wan's blows. "You can stop. You can walk away. We can walk away!"

It's all he wants in this moment. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that his former master could Fall like this. He didn't think that he could ever Fall. And the worst part is that Anakin doesn't even know what prompted such a thing. He still wants answers, answers which he may never get. Not anymore.

He had to come here after Obi-Wan, after the new Sith apprentice who wiped out the Jedi, while the remaining survivors went after Sidious. It would have made more sense, he thinks, for him to have fought the Sith Master... and yet, no other Jedi would be willing to show Obi-Wan mercy.

"We can't," Obi-Wan retorts harshly, eyes glowing a sickly gold as he hammers at Anakin's defenses, pushing him backwards along the catwalks near the factory on Mustafar.

"Master, please," Anakin begs. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Oh, you won't have to, because I'm not going to let you," Obi-Wan replies, the strange self-confidence in his voice scaring Anakin more than anything else ever could. "Sidious told me – he told me that if I wanted to save you, I would have to kill you."

Horror flares within Anakin as he sloppily counters a blow from Obi-Wan's blood-red blade. "You don't want to do to this," he protests.

Obi-Wan pulls back for a moment, looking him up and down, his lips pressing together. "You're right," he agrees. "I don't, but I'd rather kill you than let Sidious lay a hand on you."

"We can destroy him together!"

The Fallen Jedi shakes his head, something akin to sadness flickering across his face. "We can't." He hardly even seems to notice the way the structure around them is crumbling from the heat of the lava river below them.

"It wasn't supposed to end this way," he continues as everything lurches.

Anakin dives forwards before he even registers moving, tackling Obi-Wan to the floor and covering him with his own body as molten hot metal comes crashing down right where the Sith was just standing. "This is insane," he mutters, glancing at the chaos all around them. They really need to get out of here.

Obi-Wan shoves him off without so much as a 'thank you,' fixing him with a scowl. "That was unnecessary," he states flatly, calling his lightsaber back to his hand.

"No," says Anakin, dropping his own hilt. "I won't fight you, Master."

Obi-Wan reaches out with the Force calling Anakin's lightsaber to his other hand, turning the hilt over. "This weapon is your life, Anakin," he chides mildly.

Before Anakin has a chance to respond, the Force flares with warning. He turns, instantly ready to act, but a Force shove takes him by surprise. He's hurled backwards, slamming into the doorframe of the factory as the entire structure collapses, plummeting downwards towards the lava river below. Including Obi-Wan.

For a moment, it's as if time stands still, and Anakin screams. He scrambles closer to the edge of the structure, feeling his former master touch his mind briefly in a silent apology as their bond shatters. Obi-Wan saved his life. He saved him, sacrificing himself so Anakin would live. He said that he had to kill him... but he didn't. He didn't, and Anakin was right. Obi-Wan wasn't lost, not the way the Jedi like to think he was.