Archive of Our Own

The first time, Darth Sidious had been playing a game of Dejarik with adversaries none the wiser. The Senate, the Jedi Council, the Separatists… All just pawns advancing unknowingly on a board they couldn't even see fully.

In this timeline, Obi-Wan had joined the game.

He had spent twenty years advancing his own pawns discreetly to counter the Sith's plans, occupying the strongest possible positions on the board, strengthening his own strategies with every move, never taking his eyes off his adversary.

And he had been so close to winning the game.

Sidious hadn't accepted defeat though.

Sidious had been pushed from all sides by an invisible adversary until he was a cornered beast, making him desperate. Palpatine, who had always been so in control, planning discreetly with an iron fist and manipulating everyone with a velvet glove, had now foregone the glove and the discretion.

It was so out of character that it had taken Obi-Wan by surprise. So much by surprise that he wasn't even sure he would be on time to act.

While Obi-Wan had been his most charming and insufferable self with fellow Senators, pleasantly sipping his drink while thinking of his upcoming victory and staying in character a bit longer, Palpatine had left the party he himself had organized. A cover for a last desperate move.

Not expecting to be outsmarted so late in their game, Obi-Wan had reacted way later than he should have.

He cursed himself as he jumped into the speeder. Had he missed something? Had he underestimated his adversary? Obi-Wan scoffed at this idea. There was no way he would ever underestimate Sidious. Not after all he had done to his family. Surviving him for nineteen years in the desert with guilt and sorrow for only company hadn't made him smarter or more patient. It had only made him boldly determined. Had his maneuvers been too threatening then?

No matter, he thought. What mattered now was the fallout.

Palpatine hadn't accepted defeat, he hadn't even tried a counterattack. No. He had just flipped the board in a fit of rage. There was a new game starting and Obi-Wan was not sure what to expect of this new feral and unpredictable adversary. He didn't lose any more time and called back his pawns to place them back on the board, hoping this improvised backup strategy would suffice to counter Sidious.

Obi-Wan slowed down and jumped out of the speeder, landing on the platform of the Jedi Temple used for guests in a swift and graceful motion. He pulled out his saber - an accurate copy of the one he had had back in the Clone Wars - from the hidden spot in his Senatorial outfit and clicked it to his belt. The motion made him sigh in relief and his kyber sang in concert.

He was tired of his long-time acting performance. He was home now. He was a Jedi. Always had been.

Two Knights quickly came to him, as procedure willed it. They didn't ask for the reason of his visit though. "Senator, we must ask you to leave," the older one said, his voice as blank as he could keep it despite the tension his Force presence displayed.

His younger colleague was even less successful at remaining composed, distress contorting his every feature. "We don't receive visitors at the moment. The Temple is closing down."

Obi-Wan didn't reply, his attention already on the doors before them. The sound of battle droids was faint but unmistakable, at least for someone who had been through the Clone Wars. A war that would thankfully never happen in this timeline.

"Behind me," Obi-Wan said, instinctively using the commanding tone of voice inherited from his time as High General. He didn't bother to watch if he had been obeyed and lit his saber just when the doors opened on two full squads of droids. He immediately began deflecting the bolts aimed their way, sending them all back precisely in the weakest spots of the droids' armors. He had forgotten how unprotected the first B1 were. They had less power autonomy, were made of more fragile materials and were even less resourceful than the ones he had been used to defeat by thousands. But as weak as they appeared to him, they were still numerous and deadly. Mostly since most Jedi of this timeline had never been confronted with them.

When the droids began entering at a more erratic rhythm, Obi-Wan jumped forward, twirling his saber in fancy and elegant moves, his feet finding their way between the carcasses of the B1 in a feral dance. He sensed the awed stupefaction of the two Knights behind him but paid it no mind.

"Die, Jedi sc-" A bolt caught backwards with the blade of his saber landed in the droid's neck and Obi-Wan smirked. As if a B1 could outsmart him. Obi-Wan passed the doors, leaving the two Knights with only five droids for the two of them. Nothing they couldn't take care of by themselves.

Remains of droids scattered his path everywhere he went. He wasn't Anakin, he didn't count how many he slayed, his brain had more importants things to process. Instead, he focused on every information he could gather through the Force. Though he couldn't sense droids in the Force, he could feel the Jedi and, through what unshielded emotions he was able to perceive, he knew if they were fighting, hiding or running. It was not the most complete map he had been confronted with in a campaign but it would have to be enough.

The worst of the fight was happening in the main hall. There was also a battle between light and dark happening in the eastern corridor, two or three levels ahead, but it was a thought for another time. Yoda and Mace would have to face Sidious alone for now.

Obi-Wan hurried into the main hall. Dozens of Jedi were fighting entire battalions of battle droids. Obi-Wan froze, paling suddenly. His fellow Jedi were disseminated here and there, completely disorganized and some were lying down on the marble floor, motionless. His mind filled with the memories of both the first battle of Geonosis and the image of younglings and clones scattered on this same floor. A shiver ran through him at those thoughts, threatening to overwhelm him.

He took a deep breath in, pushing away his trauma. He had a job to do.

It didn't take him long to observe the situation - how many Jedi, which one stood where, the droids' deployment, the most exposed positions in the battlefield - and come up with a strategy. He jumped from the central catwalk and immediately resumed his destructive dance, forcing his way through the B1 to Plo Koon. "Master Koon," Obi-Wan called loudly, his saber slaying another couple of droids in a blur of blue light.

The Kel Dor Master stared at him and his lit saber with a bewildered expression Obi-Wan had never seen on him. "What- What is-"

"We don't have time for any of this," Obi-Wan countered before turning promptly. "Master Jinn!" The tall Master span around to look at him and he frowned, clearly recognizing his former Padawan, the one he had abandoned on Melida/Daan years ago. Obi-Wan wondered if he would have recognized him if not for the reputation he had as a Senator. But a diplomat like Master Jinn had inevitably heard of him and his disreputable career. "I need both your help," Obi-Wan continued now that he had both Masters' attention.

"Master Jinn, please gather every Junior Padawan and their Masters. Go get the younglings and fight your way through to the main hangar. Transports await you." At least, if his pawns in the Jedi Temple staff had been reliable enough despite the short timing and the current mayhem. He had to believe it would be enough. Even if they succeeded in killing Sidious - dear Force, he hoped so but he was no fool and knew the odds were not in their favor - they needed to get the youngling out. He didn't know what else Sidious' disturbed mind had planned if the Jedi stayed on Coruscant. "Use the west door, it will be longer but there are fewer droids up there. Master Koon, take the best pilots you can find and board your fighters. Escort the younglings off planet. Inform the Healers to join you there. I think their path is mostly clear. Just gather a few Knights to make a detour and help them leave unscathed."

"You're saying we should evacuate?" Plo asked, his eyebrows lifted.

Obi-Wan leaped and landed a few meters on his left lest the accumulation of debris at his feet would hinder his efficiency. "Yes!"

Qui-Gon scoffed as he dodged a deadly bolt, but Obi-Wan couldn't care less about his old Master's pride in this instant. "Coordinates are already set up." If his pawn inside the Temple had done his job right, Obi-Wan mused once more. "If you insist of not trusting me, then wait for Master Windu's confirmation." Please, Mace, stay alive a bit longer, he thought desperately, his mind temporarily drifting to the fight going on higher in the Temple. "Now, move, prepare for take off."

"And what about the Senior Padawans and other Knights?" Qui-Gon inquired with a cocked eyebrow, distrust spread across his face.

"Just tell them to gather next to the north entrance. I'll guide them." Kind of… But he couldn't afford to be more precise, lest Master Plo would not be very appreciative of his plan. The Jedi Master had always been overprotective of younger Jedi, anyone he had met as a youngling really. "They will meet you on the platform. You have to separate to confuse the droids." Otherwise, I can't prevent them for following you, he thought.

Obi-Wan stopped talking to focus an instant on a particularly intense influx of bolts. Droids had calculated him to be particularly dangerous and their basic programming made their attention turn more on himself. Good, he thought as he settled himself in a deeper battle meditation.

"Now I said I needed your help Master Plo, didn't I?" Obi-Wan's lips turned upright in the ghost of a smile then he suppressed a wince at having so naturally come back to old habits in using the Jedi's first name. He was too lost in battle to keep up with appearances. Anyway, why should he bother when his cover would be dead before sundown? And probably him with it… "I want you to communicate this plan to every one in this room." Master Plo's eyebrows rose as he understood he was talking about telepathy, a particular trait of the Kel Dor specie enhanced by his Force-sensitivity.

The two Jedi Masters exchanged uneasy glances in between twirls of their sabers and droids falling at their feet. Qui-Gon was frowning, not bothering to keep his face blank, and Plo's mask hid most of his expression but Obi-Wan knew him well enough to read acceptance.Communicating telepathically to the many was taxing but, with communications jammed, his strategy made sense. Obi-Wan jumped further left, placing himself before a Padawan who was panting from exhaustion, barely keeping his guard up. He deflected every bolt straight back at the droids with a perfect accuracy. "Now!"

Obi-Wan winced as he heard Master Plo's voice start to ring in his head, relaying his orders. He immediately slammed his shields up ro reduce the strength of the assault and fought his way here and there to defend other Jedi while they moved to position themselves as the Councilor had ordered. Incoming fire lessened considerably as the droids were perturbed by the sudden change in their adversaries' behavior. They started to regroup in small squadrons, trying to find a semblance of logic in the battle around. First generation B1 battle droids were really stupid, Obi-Wan mused as he jumped in the middle of a gathering of droids and twirled, destroying a dozen in barely more than a few seconds. He repeated this strategy twice, bringing chaos again in the droids' formation who scattered to avoid destruction.

He let a grin stretch his lips. Their programming was so unrefined.

Obi-Wan ran to join the many Knights who had regrouped next to the north's door. Plo and Qui-Gon were already fighting their way through the west one, which was the less crowded.

"Kenobi?" Obi-Wan frowned and turned to face a Knight about his age with white hair. He blinked. Bruck Chun. Right, another change he had been able to impart in the galaxy when he took care of Xanatos' little empire. Obi-Wan saw Kit further away with Nahdar, about only a year or two from being knighted. Too far and too concerned by his Padawan to be his interlocutor… Too bad. He would have preferred to make his strategy known to Kit or Ki-Adi or Shaak Ti who also were too far away, but Bruck would be as good as any. Or so he hoped.

"Bruck, guide this group through the north and to the main hangar through the long way. Avoid the upper wing. Going out in the open will only give them an advantage."

"What are you doing here, Oafy-Wan?"

Obi-Wan suppressed a snarl. He would have hoped his old bully had matured in twenty years. Bruck immediately seemed to regret his words as his eyes widened with something approaching shame. Obi-Wan didn't care. He just needed Bruck to do as he was told.

"Will you do it?"

"Yes," Bruck muttered.

"Then go!"

"What about you?" Bruck asked and Obi-Wan was almost shocked to see concern in his old bully's eyes.

"I'll keep them busy. Now, no matter what happens, run." Obi-Wan resumed his Soresu stance, watching the disorganized battle droids hesitate between the west exit and the north.

"Fight me!" he yelled, making himself a target.

The order was like an epiphany. Every droid turned his way, marching in close formation and firing on him specifically.

Obi-Wan ignored the awed whispers behind him. Guided by the Force, he twirled his saber with impressive speed learned from experience, leaving a trail of blue light in its wake that made him look like he was surrounded by an impenetrable shield. Which, in a way, he was. He focused on the Jedi behind him just enough to make sure Bruck was guiding them out.

He held out the fire just until they were all gone. Obi-Wan redirected a bolt on the control panel, frying it. The door closed in a long and loud hiss and Obi-Wan promptly ran towards the east doors. No matter how efficient he was in Soresu, deflecting so many bolts was tiring and he couldn't keep long this way lest he would risk taking a shot, something he definitely could not afford. He needed to be on top form for the next step of his desperate move. He had taken back control of some part of the board but the rules had changed and Sidious was still moving.

Just as he had hoped, battle droids were now only focusing on him, their programming too deficient to remember that other Jedi had been there minutes before. Obi-Wan smirked as he sealed the doors behind him. Geonosian technology had really improved battle droids' efficiency, another thing he had changed by discreetly negotiating more appealing contracts for the Geonosians, resulting in getting reliable allies for the Republic. And without Dooku to hinder his negotiations, Sidious had had no way to get them on Separatists' side, lest he revealed himself.

Obi-Wan ran through the Temple, focusing on the dark presence of the Sith and the three lights burning around him. Once upon a time, it would have been two dark ones and two wells of light, but he had prevented Dooku from turning his back on the Jedi by his actions on Galidraan and his tempering on Senate's missions for the Order.

He ran, fast and determined, destroying the few droids he encountered. When finally, he reached his destination, he froze at the sight of his fellow Jedi.

Yoda was panting heavily, on his knees and hands, his tunics revealing the characteristics burns of Sith lightning. Dooku was blinking in pain as he was lying on the side with a deep lightsaber burn on his right arm. Mace fell backwards, his bottom crashing on the marble floor in the least graceful move Obi-Wan had ever seen him do.

None of those three Jedi Masters had been through war, whether on one side or the other. They hadn't even known about the Sith's return. They had had no reason to train particularly in lightsaber combat and Obi-Wan cursed himself. He hadn't underestimated his adversary but he might have overestimated his allies, judging them for abilities their other selves had displayed in wholly different circumstances. He shouldn't have sheltered them so much. By wanting to protect them, he had made them vulnerable in a way he hadn't even thought possible.

Sidious brought his saber up, ready to slash and behead the Master of the Order.

"No!" Obi-Wan cried as he jumped, activating his saber just in time to block the red blade.

Bewilderment permeated the air from the four Force-sensitives around him.

"Senator Kenobi!" Sidious greeted without even trying to mask his disgust as he pulled out his saber. Obi-Wan imitated him, his kyber snoring gently as it was deactivated. "That's unexpected. I don't know whose saber you've picked up, but this is not a game for you, my boy. Step down." His voice adopted the fatherly oily tone Obi-Wan had heard him use so often. Oh how he hated that tone!

"Oh, I don't think so," he said, cocking his eyebrow in the most disdainful way.

Sidious snarled but Obi-Wan just offered him a smirk.

"If you don't mind, I have something to give to my friend Mace here before you behead him." Obi-Wan didn't wait for Sidious' reply and threw a datapad to a baffled and out of breath Korun Master.

There was not much to read. The file contained two pictures of the shelter Obi-Wan had built for the Jedi Order on Yavin IV, the deed of said shelter, a document certifying it was property of the Order if Obi-Wan died and a small comment he had quickly written on his way there : "Click on left button to send confirmation to Plo for them to take off. I'll stall for as long as I can while they reach the transports."

"Whatever you think you're doing, Senator, you're too late. This is the end of the Jedi Order." A creepy laugh escaped the Chancelor's lips. "I wouldn't have expected you to even care about the Jedi."

Obi-Wan's lips curved in a smirk. Of course, Palpatine hadn't expected him to. His cover had been thought carefully. A former Padawan, abandoned by the Jedi on a war torn planet, who had become a Senator of said planet and come back to Coruscant only to make his aversion for the Jedi known in his every allocution in the Rotonda.

"Oh, that's where you're mistaken, Darth." He smiled charmingly. "I never stopped caring about the Jedi. I didn't even stop being one."

Sidious's features contorted in a mix of anger and confusion. Obi-Wan smiled even wider and took a visiting card out of his Senatorial outfit. He threw it at the Sith, gauging his reactions.

Sidious caught it and his yellow gaze flamed at the sight of it. "You!" he growled.

"What do you mean, Darth? I never gave you my card before. Have you come across it in your travels, maybe?" He cocked an eyebrow, taunting his adversary. Sidious snarled and Obi-Wan noticed the way the Sith's finger spasmed against the activation button of his lightsaber. Obi-Wan was ready though. He knew giving the Sith the proof of everything he had done so far could prove too much for Sidious' nerves.

This card represented two twin suns in the light orange of the 212th and the heart of the Rebel Alliance's symbol cut in two in the middle, one in green to represent duty and the other blue for House Kryze. The background was white, symbol of a new start. Those four item were arranged to match Ahsoka's face markings.

A reminder of them all.

The two suns : Luke and Leia, Anakin's offspring, a gift from Tatooine's sand, his hopes to redeem his failures at the Jedi Order, at his family.

The Rebel Alliance - because he couldn't just place two wings, lest the connection with the Jedi would have been too obvious - : a reminder of Bail and what he had stood for till his dying breath, the continuation of a Jedi's aim, not as peacekeepers but as peace-seekers.

And Ahsoka, the light who had searched for his for so long after the Purge, who he had left in the dark of his own survival for both Luke's and her safety : a symbol of what it meant to be a Jedi, a testament of strength and commitment.

During the last twenty years, he had left this card everywhere on his path for Sidious to find it.

On Galidraan, where he had not only prevented the death of every True Mandalorian and Jango Fett's thirst for revenge, but also planted the first seeds of a now well established alliance between Jedi and Mandalorians.

On Tatooine, where he had used his knowledge of the planet to put an end to the worst of slavery by either gambling here and there, winning over and freeing slaves - among which Shmi Skywalker -, manipulating weak minds, tampering with the Hutt's empire until it was not much more than a small organization with barely more power than Jabba had sex-appeal.

On Maul's cold body, just before he could be sent after Qui-Gon during the debacle of Naboo - a debacle he hadn't tried to prevent, knowing Palpatine would find another way, maybe worse, to gain the Senate's sympathy and be elected Chancellor.

On the ruins of Zigoola's Sith Temple, which he had bombed from the sky beforehand while wearing a Force-suppressing collar to minimize the planet's dark influence.

On Kamino, every time he suppressed the data the Kaminoans were trying to regain by more and more experiments which Obi-Wan frequently tampered with, resulting in them being unable to clone human-being correctly. Building an army was definitely out of the question.

On a few datapads placed on Sidious's desk, just to take credit for his own actions. Like when he had discreetly tampered with many negotiations the Sith had lost.

On so many other places.

On Sidious' seat a few times, just out of spite. His favorite taunts being on his seat at the opera or once when the Chancellor had booked a table in his favorite restaurant in the upper levels.

Obi-Wan grinned. It was rewarding to see such anger on Palpatine's usually so composed face, mosty since it hadn't always been easy to tamper with Palpatine's plans without being discovered.

Obi-Wan had quickly needed to find his own way to earn money, through gambling mostly. Most of it had been used for the construction of the shelter on Yavin IV but another important investment had been a medical facility to change his face, like he had done in the Jedi Temple years ago to take on Rako Hardeen's features. He hated the feeling, it was like being skinned alive again and again, but it was necessary. At least now that he had lifted the veil on his own identity, it was a medical procedure he would never have to go through ever again.

When he had been able, he had chosen to handle things by giving informations here and there and let it ensue naturally. He had handled most of his negotiations through other Senators with said informations given carefully or by drawing attention on some major corruption issues within the Senate, just making sure the right person had the right informations at the right moment. Bail Organa, Satine Kryze and Mon Mothma had been his three most important allies. Distant and unaware allies though, because when it came to his real face, Senator Mothma ignored him, Bail looked at him like he was the most ridicule Senator ever and Satine despised him.

Even the Jedi he encountered regularly in the Senate looked at him with some half concealed disdain. It wasn't even concealed when it came to Mace actually… Thought considering every thing he had said against the Jedi Order, it was probably deserved. But it had been for a good cause and not just to stay in character. His allocutions against the Jedi had brought some distance between the Order and the Senate : a perfect cover and a particularly strategical move on their Dejarik game. A move he hadn't signed with his usual visiting card. No, this victory was the only one he had won with his own name. Senator Obi-Wan Kenobi.

As hard as it was to have betrayed every friendship he had ever cared about, his cover was too important to search for happiness. The only two friends he had in this timeline were Cerasi and Nield. But even then, it didn't feel true. They didn't know him for who he really was.

Tonight, he was finally revealing himself and it felt both daunting and liberating.

Sidious was glaring at him with disgust, clearly unable to fathom that he had been the one to do all of it.

Obi-Wan smirked. "You don't believe it was me?"

"This card can't be yours. It must be some information you came across while gossiping in the Senate," Sidious scoffed. "You're meaningless. You've only been chosen as your miserable planet's representative because they have been lost in war for too long to truly realize what politics are. Or maybe because they didn't know what to do with an abandoned Jedi and just sought to use you to get revenge at the Jedi Order for not helping them when they needed it."

Obi-Wan's eyebrows lifted in amusement. Maybe he had actually overestimated Sidious if the man really wasn't even able to see past his cover.

"Whatever," Sidious growled louder. "You're only a foolish young Senator with no ambition, a ridicule and wimpy politician with no actual relationships or influence in the Senate, an arrogant dandy more interested about his own looks and pleasure than anything else. I'll kill you, you and those three here. No-one will miss you."

Obi-Wan suppressed an amused smirk. Even facing the truth, Sidious remained blind.

"Tell me. Who is the more foolish here? Me? Or the one who believes himself to be the only one smart enough to use a cover? You, a Sith, acting like the gentle and concerned Chancellor he isn't or me, a Jedi, acting like a - how did you say? - oh right, an arrogant dandy? May I say, you forgot to precise handsome." Obi-Wan winked and suppressed his chuckle at Sidious' face turning even redder with anger.

Obi-Wan felt the confusion of his fellow Jedi behind him and fought a blush, wondering what the Mace and Yoda of his time would have thought of him for feigning to be fooling around with every willing woman just to secure his cover. Not that Jedi were supposed to be celibate but still.

"Well, I'll have you know," Obi-Wan continued with a smirk, "that this frivolous life gave me the perfect cover. While the Holonet was displaying my next scandalous affair, I was in fact just traveling across the galaxy to screw your plans."

"You don't think I thought of that possibility?" Sidious snarled. "I investigated every one of you! Every Senator, and more! But your bitches always corroborated your absences. It cannot be you."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Now now, Chancellor, there's no reason to be disrespectful. They made really nice company. A small Force suggestion was all I needed. And what if a few women think they had quality time with me when they actually just had some rest while I was away?" He lifted his eyebrows proudly in a suggestive way that caused Sidious' anger to burn even more.

"It doesn't matter. Moments from now, you will be dead," Sidious said, activating his saber.

Obi-Wan's left foot immediately stepped back to prepare for a Soresu lunge. He was ready but he needed to stall a bit longer. The younglings and the Halls of Healings were not evacuated yet and he didn't know how long he could survive in a fight against Sidious. He couldn't take the risk of having Sidious free to go after them and slaughter them. He couldn't fail the younglings.

The thought made him shiver and Sidious smirked, probably thinking he was afraid for his life. As if! He didn't care if he lived or died.

He probably would die actually. Whichever the timeline, Yoda hadn't been able to win over the Sith Master. How could he? But before he fought until joining the Force, he had to stall again, even if it meant revealing more than he had planned to.

"You're not even curious about how I knew how to screw your every plan?"

"Considering your love for gossips, you probably just came across some information you shouldn't have heard about," Sidious spat out with contempt, his face displaying only anger. But Obi-Wan wasn't fooled. Sidious was also very curious, even if he didn't show it. After all, Sidious knew how unlikely it was. The Sith was not one to just let those informations run wild at gossipers' ears.

"Then I'll tell you a story." Sidious hissed. "Oh, do not worry. I'm sure you'll find it fascinating," he continued with a confident smile. "Twenty years ago, I died."

Sidious frowned, his lightsaber projecting a red hue over his features. Confusion permeated the Force around him and Obi-Wan apologized internally for the shock he would give to Mace and Yoda. He released the hold on his skillfully shielded mind, blowing off his cover completely. Gone was the foolish Senator with a weak and unsteady hold on the Force. Instead stood a Jedi Master with years of experience, imposing command by his mere presence, fully immersed in a warm and steady light.

Obi-Wan ignored the sharp breaths behind him and Sidious' furious grimace.

"I died at fifty-seven galactic standard years old in a galaxy where you became Emperor and destroyed everything and everyone I've ever cared about." Obi-Wan tried his best to hide his sorrow and anger at this statement but he knew both his eyes and voice had betrayed him. It didn't matter. If Sidious tried to take advantage of his emotions to unbalance him, he was even more of a fool than he would have thought. Those emotions were part of him now, it had been long and painful before he was able to accept them but now that he had, they would never control him.

Suddenly, the loud rumble of many engines starting at once shook the Temple and Obi-Wan smirked proudly. Sidious grew even more furious as he sensed the lights of so many Jedi take off.

"Finish your story and be quick," Sidious ordered in a low and dangerous growl, his curiosity taking precedence over his anger. "Once you four are dead, I'll go after them. Don't think your stalling saved any of them."

"Fine," Obi-Wan snarled, tension seizing his body in prevention of the fight that would come soon. "I died and woke up in my thirteen years old body, determined to stop you."

"That's impossible," Sidious snarled.

"Perhaps. Nonetheless, I am here now."

"And here, you will die!"

"It may be so," Obi-Wan said, adopting his usual ready stance. "But I will die knowing I did what I had to do. You've lost your last advantage, Darth : your cover. You can hunt the Jedi down but you're only one against many and they know about you now." Or they would once on Yavin IV, with access to his entire data.

Sidious attacked in a blur. He was so fast Obi-Wan barely managed to deflect the powerful blow. Yet, he was perfectly in sync with the Force and his feet moved swiftly in mastered Soresu, parrying and deflecting every blow coming his way. Sidious' anger grew wild as he realized he had found a worthy adversary.

Obi-Wan was probably not able to win - definitely not, actually -, but his Mace hadn't called him the Master of Soresu for nothing. He would last as long as possible. Maybe even enough for Yoda and Mace to find some energy left in them to help him. From the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan saw Yoda watching him with deep interest but no, the old Master seemed really out of the fight, burned both in the flesh and in his power. And there was no way Dooku would be able to join, considering his arm was deeply wounded, so deeply it was worrying for the future use of his arm if he survived this encounter. Mace, on the other end, was focusing on his breathing in something appearing meditation and Obi-Wan knew the Korun Master was trying to regain enough strength and balance to join the fight.

Good. Maybe together, they would stand a chance.

Obi-Wan parried for what felt like hours, never trying to gain the upper-hand. He knew he couldn't. Sidious was drawing too much strength from the Dark Side and his anger fueled him even more. Obi-Wan's thighs were burning but he knew he could keep up. Even if he hadn't had sparring partners for almost forty years, he had worked hard to remain at his best.

He deflected another blow, pushing Sidious's blade on the left and unbalancing his adversary for a short instant. Maybe the Sith would tire before him, he hoped. Displeased by the outcome of his last blow, Sidious attacked with renewed strength and Obi-Wan had to admit how improbable it would be for him to win this fight. His impressive stamina was no match for Sidious' infinite well of anger.

Mace suddenly joined the fight and Obi-Wan tried to adapt to his old friend's style but it was hard, considering Mace's fighting style had evolved during the Clone Wars. Nonetheless, Obi-Wan had sparred with him enough to know the ins and outs of Vaapad and he was able to adjust quickly. He parried with equal fervor and efficiency than before, but he let Mace catch Sidious' most powerful blows, knowing the Korun Master was able to drive strength from dark attacks.

The fight continued for long minutes. With every new blow, Mace and Obi-Wan perfected their harmony, but they also lost energy under the unrelenting attacks of the Sith. Neither them nor Sidious was taking avantage in the fight.

From the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan saw Master Yoda raise his hand their way, trying to use the Force to help them but he quickly lowered it with an exhausted sigh. He probably had used everything he had to resist to and defend Mace and Dooku from Sidious' Sith lightning.

Yoda was really out then and, with only him and Mace, Obi-Wan feared there was no way they could win.

Obi-Wan lost himself deeper in his battle meditation transe, his mind opened to every nudge of the Force. Trusting his abilities to stay on track with the raging fight, he let part of his mind go forward through the depths of the Unifying Force to try and foresee his adversary's next move. His long time alone on Tatooine had honed his abilities, giving him more control than he had had during the Clone Wars. He knew he was able to explore further in time if he only pushed himself deeper into the Force. Deeper. Still deeper. There. An inch more and he would simply disappear and join the Force like he had done on the Death Star years ago. He was threading a too thin and dangerous line, but he had enough control and so he stayed on the edge, opening his mind to every path this fight offered. Obi-Wan's eyes opened wider as he noticed a pattern he could use.

Obi-Wan switched to attack, performing an impressive somersault to surprise his adversary and landing on him with a series of powerful blows.

Ataru. Djem So.

Flip swiftly. Slash strongly.

Before Sidious could adapt to his new strategy, Obi-Wan was back to Soresu.

Then, another leap. And another blow.

Agility and unpredictability. Agressiveness and vigor.

Ataru. Djem So.

Then back to Soresu.

He hadn't put that much strength in his blows, he knew he was nowhere near Anakin's abilities when it came to raw power but it gave Sidious the impression that he was about to face powerful attacks, forcing him to parry with unnecessary strength, just for Obi-Wan to casually switch back to Soresu.

Obi-Wan used the strategy again. And again, changing the rhythm of his attacks at random to keep surprising his enemy. Sidious snarled more dangerously, irritated. Now that Obi-Wan had Sidious' full attention, he pushed his Force presence back to the edge once more, asking the Force for guidance.

And the Force answered.

Obi-Wan knew what he had to do.

When the next blow came for him, he didn't even try to parry. The red saber, too happy to find no resistance, plunged in his chest while his arm slashed in a wide arc, his saber obeying his call and meeting Sidious' unprotected neck.

Darkness exploded all around them, immediately replaced by a burning light. Sidious' head fell on the floor with a low noise that was mostly smothered by Obi-Wan's knees smashing against the marble floor. Before he could collapse further, his upper-body met Mace's arms catching him. Obi-Wan blinked, his gaze lost on his friend's face.

"Mace," he whispered, a tear streaming his cheek.

Master Windu was watching him with a mix of feelings, confusion being probably the most present. A painful reminder that this was not his Mace.

"You're not him." Had the words really left his mouth? He didn't know. His consciousness was slipping through his grasp but Obi-Wan couldn't find enough strength to care. Nothing mattered anymore. He had no-one in this lifetime. He was nothing. He had done his best to save this lifetime but he was not a part of it. It didn't matter. He didn't matter. Now he was finally allowed to rest. Obi-Wan closed his eyes and took a deep painful breath, ready to push himself over the edge and join the Force.

His eyes snapped opened with a loud and painful gasp when he felt his heart pumping eagerly, calling him back to reality. It was like a claw had seized his heart, unwilling to let him go. Obi-Wan panted heavily, the pain of his wound catching up to him like lightning as he was pulled out of his transe.

"Going nowhere you are."

Obi-Wan met Yoda's eyes and realized the Grandmaster had anchored him in this reality. Pain writhed through him, almost drawing a cry out of him. Comfort was immediately sent his way, slamming against his shattered shields. Obi-Wan paid it no mind. He was tired of life. "I'm tired, Master." His voice was shaking. "Please, let me go." No, not just his voice. His whole body was shaking, now that he thought of it. "I- I don't belong here."

He was going to die anyway. His wound was too severe. Why not let him go? He had nothing here to hang on to.

"Stay with us, Sena-" Mace's voice cut short. "Um- Master Kenobi." Obi-Wan met Mace's eyes, both shocked and relieved to hear his title one last time. Silent tears rolled over his cheeks, unrestrained. His body tensed suddenly, his heart spasming in a frenzy rhythm. He barely registered the Force Suggestion urging him to sleep as he dozed off.