I Know↠Obikin

Chapter 8

Darth Vader sensed Obi-Wans arrival on the Death Star.
The warm presence of Obi-Wan resounded through the Force.
He had not sensed him in what felt like a million years.
Vader inhaled sharply, his respirator rasping against his raw throat.
His old lover was still alive.
The man he once loved, but now he swore to destroy him.
"I sense something..." he spoke to the nearby General.
"Someone I haven't felt since..." Darth Vader's memories flooded back.
Betrayal.
The fear of losing Obi-Wan that caused his downfall.
The epic battle on that burning planet.
The pain of being burned alive.
The even worse pain of being cut down by someone you love.
He turned away.
"Search the ship. They are probably here to rescue the princess. Find them." he said, and with a swish of his cloak, he walked away.
Obi-Wan would come to him.
He knew what the old man wanted.
Darth Vader would have smiled at that moment, if he still had lips.
His black mask glinted eerily under the white lights.
Obi-Wan would come to fight him.
Darth Vader knew that he would.
And then Obi-Wan would die.

Ben felt Vader through the Force.
Anakin's force signature had been happy and light, but Vader's was cold.
It was cold with hatred.
The Dark Side was strong with Vader.
He strode down the gray hallways, avoiding storm troopers.
Luke and the smuggler, Han, would rescue the princess.
Luke's destiny was unclear to Ben, but he would play an important role in defeating the Empire.
The dark lords would eventually fall.
Ben's hand found his light saber at his belt.
Even after all these years, Ben had kept it impeccably clean.
The metal handle glinted in the light.
Ben knew he would be using it soon.
Vader was approaching.
He heard the heavy mechanical footsteps from down the hallway.
Ben took deep breaths, calming himself.
He knew that Vader would not hesitate to kill him.
Ben was ready to become one with the Force.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi" Darth Vader spoke, appearing from around a corner.
"I've been waiting for you. We meet again at last."
He says in his raspy voice.
Ben was heartbroken to see his lover confined to a black shell.
After all these years, Ben thought his love for Anakin had diminished, but seeing him again brought all these emotions back.
Love still burned in his heart.
"Darth Vader." Ben spoke softly.
His blue blade ignited, and clashed against Vader's.
Their duel was slow, weakened with age and time.
Ben still recognized Anakin's bold fighting style.
"You should not have come back. I will be forced to kill you now." Vader spoke, his voice tinged with something almost akin to... sadness?
Ben couldn't tell, and their mental bond had shattered long ago on that hellish planet.
"Anakin you don't have to kill me! I still love you!"
"Anakin Skywalker is DEAD! He was weak, so I destroyed him." Vader yells, bring his Crimson light saber down hard.
"You cannot win, Vader. If you cut me down, I will become even stronger than you could ever imagine."
These words shock Vader.
Should he still kill Obi-Wan?
He wanted to desperately.
Obi-Wan was a traitor and a liar.
He needed to kill him.
But at the same time, seeing his love after all this time stirred feelings of love in his cold heart.
No.
Sith Lords do not love.

Ben looked across the hangar and saw Luke, and Han with the Princess. They had successfully rescued her.
He gave one more sad look at Luke, and raised his blade, exposing his torso to Vader's blood red blade.

Vader hesitated for a moment. He almost felt some emotion towards Obi-Wan.
He almost still loved him.
But almost is not enough.
He hesitated for a split second longer, and then sliced his blade through Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Like Obi-Wan had done to him all those years ago.
Obi-Wan smiled as his body vanished, and his soul ascended into the Force.
He watched his whole life once again.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan rescuing Anakin from a lifetime of slavery.
Qui-Gon's death by Darth Maul.
Anakin rescuing him and Padmé from that arena on Genosis.
The first time Anakin and Obi-Wan had kissed.
The Clone Wars.
Those awful years where all Anakin and Obi-Wan had had was each other.
Anakin's turn to the Dark Side.
That battle on Mustafar.
Training Luke.
All these things had lead up to this moment.
Obi-Wan smiled as his soul became one with the Force.
He was free.

Darth Vader stomped on Obi-Wan's robe.
He had vanished completely.
Obi-Wan's words still resounded in Vader's head.
"I still love you!" Obi-Wan had said.
Darth Vader responded to Kenobi's words as he picked up his lights are.
"I still love you!" Obi-Wan had said.
"I know" Darth Vader whispered quietly.
"And that was your downfall."
Vader turned and strode down the hall, his black cape billowing behind him.