Revenge

Disclaimer: It still belongs to Lucas.. Although he may not want it when I'm finished with it. *evil laugh*
Notes: This is from Obi-Wan's POV. We all saw how anger affected him at the end of The Phantom Menace.. So, I'm going to go a little bit farther with that, and pretend he's susceptible to fear and doubt, as well. If it sounds too much like Anakin.. Just imagine it with the Obi-Wan accent. I'm still my own beta, so any glaring errors are entirely my fault, and I apologize if it hinders your enjoyment.
(new notes after story)


Chap. III

I was shamed. Sore. Angry. And I put every negative emotion that I should have released to the Force behind my gaze. For the first time since he'd released them, I moved my aching arms. It was this motion that seemed to break him out of his stillness. And consequently.. mine.

I unfolded myself, shoving him away, in the process. The pain that resulted from his rough exit of my body, caused me to momentarily forget my anger. That, it seemed, was all the time he needed, to find a stone large enough.

When I awoke, it was to sunlight burning down into my eyes. With a low groan, I brought my sleeve up, shielding my face from the offensive rays, while I gathered my scattered wits. There was no sudden remembrance of the previous nights' happenings. No, I had never forgotten for an instant. Waking, outside, with a throbbing head, and an aching backside would ensure that.

I didn't concern myself by checking, about me, for this man, either.. This "Lord Vader". If he had wanted me as a prisoner, he'd had his chance. Which left the obvious question.. 'didn't he want me dead?' Was he the master of the sith I destroyed? Come to avenge his apprentice.. No, he had said that 'I' was his master. And that I had betrayed him.. That just didn't make sense.

It would all have to be determined later. No doubt, my absence has been noted, back at the palace. It was at least midday, and my new padawan was not one to lay about, sleeping in.

Standing, I finally took in my numerous hurts and discomforts. Both wrists were scratched and bruised.. as was my left thigh. There was a good size knot on my head where I'd been hit, and bits of moss and dirt in my hair. I tried to right my disheveled clothing, while noticing stains, both curious and incriminating. And then my eyes fell on-

...Qui-Gon's saber. Yes, and this would be that painful epiphany that tears through you, the morning after. I gathered the two pieces, reverently, and stowed them in my cloak. It was not reparable.

The Paán section of the gardens seemed so peaceful, now. The sun-dappled ground, and the sound of running water.. Not very common to the system these trees represented.. but suiting, all the same. Only a sharp eye would have detected signs of a recent struggle.

The council would have to be informed... They do seem to thrive on petty information that doesn't truly concern them. If I weren't already feeling so wretched, I'm sure I would chastise myself for that thought. As it is, though..

I was not looking forward to it, of course. They would riddle me with questions about the encounter. Things I would rather not recall, myself. All of this, while the keenest eyes of the galaxy pierced through my skin, searching for lies or omitences, and bringing them forward, as well. *

There would be no pity, or compassion offered. They would want to know how I lost the initial fight. Well.. I suppose he had more skill than I did. What if they asked why I allowed him to.. to... Was that a simple matter of strength? Could I have thrown him off? What if they wanted to know why I had allowed myself to be aroused by him? ...For that matter why was I arous- Memories of phantom images flooded back to me. The face I had seen behind tightly closed eyes. Qui-Gon.

The council would sense all of this.. My own weakness, and selfishness at not accepting his death. To let myself, a Jedi for Force sake!, be dominated by a self-proclaimed Sith.. and fantasize that he was my master.

Certainly, if the council knows this, they will think me unworthy of the rank of knight... Can they take it back? Say it was bestowed to hastily upon me? And undeserved, aside? My master is dead.. I can not simply return to being a padawan.. Would I be expelled from the Jedi order, entirely?

My feet, by now, had carried me most of the way back to the palace. Down a well tended pathway, to the looming, and suddenly unpleasant walls that had shaded evil deeds. I could see the small form of a boy near the enormous archways that led to the gardens.

Anakin.. What would happen to him? If I was forced from the order, surely no one else would take him on. They all sensed him as being too dangerous. Even I had felt it.. and, if truth be told, still do, on occasion. I swore to Qui-Gon Jinn that I would teach him. It was his dying wish.

I cannot afford to let anything stop me from honoring my promise.

"Master Obi-Wan, sir!" the child's running at me when I finally make my decision.

The council will not be informed.. And I have research to do.

***

When I returned to our chambers, it was discover I had a message. I had to convince Anakin that I wasn't trying abandon him (if he only knew the half of the obstacles I was jumping, to keep him under my charge) and that I'd simply fallen asleep by one of the falls, soothed by the calmness of the night. It sounded blatantly false to my own ears, but I believe he accepted it. At any rate, he quickly left, heartened by the assurance of his apprenticeship.

Queen Amidala, obliging young lady that she is, has promised him a tour of her palace. I must say, Anakin is entirely enamored of her. She seems equally amused by his antics. I only hope he will be able to adjust so well on Coruscant.

Having showered, mindful of my cuts and bruises, and changed into clean clothing, I listened to the message. It was a hologram, but I kept my eyes shut, my headache not quite having faded, yet.

"Obi-Wan," it was Master Windu's voice. "Three days ago, several members of the council experienced a strong disturbance in the Force." I couldn't help but open my eyes at that, a cold sweat starting on my forehead. They weren't talking about-?

"It was late morning when this first occurred," I felt my shoulders sag in relief.

"Directly after, there was calm again, but we fear the Force is yet unbalanced. And worsening. You are ordered to return to Coruscant, directly, with your padawan. Once at the temple, you shall report to Master Yoda. He has questions for you, concerning the disturbance."

With that, the miniature image of Mace Windu wavered before disappearing. For a long moment, I couldn't move. Would Yoda know? I couldn't help but feel it would be easier to tell just one member, than the entire council. But, maybe I was wrong. Perhaps I was jumping to conclusions.

Or perhaps not.*

***

Our farewells were made soon, and by nightfall, Anakin and I were well on our way to Coruscant. At the queen's insistence, we accepted rooms on a very comfortable transport.. as opposed to the cargo ship I had planned to barter passage on. The cargo ship had been scheduled to leave an hour earlier, and I was inclined, at first, to turn down Amidala's offer. I had been ordered to return, directly, and a matter of comfort would not be an acceptable excuse for delay. But Anakin's disappointment at leaving even a few minutes earlier than necessary eventually decided me. That is to say, I was too weary to argue about it. Or, rather, too weary to teach Anakin not to argue.

Once I was sure he was fast asleep in his own small cabin, I made my way to mine.. slightly larger, but sparse enough to be thoroughly depressing. It wasn't as cold as it should have been, deep in space. For some reason, I found that unsettling. The council will not be pleased that I accepted these rooms. I really shouldn't have.

I suppose I'll simply have to become more firm in my handling of Anakin. Just one of the countless burdens having a padawan, has heaped on top of me. I can't help but feel a bit exasperated by the sudden responsibility. As far as I know, I'm not only the youngest to have ever taken on a padawan.. but the only to have taken one on before having officially graduated from the rank of padawan, himself.

Contemplation of such things were better left to daylight.. Glancing out the small porthole window at the endless expanse of inky space, I couldn't help but wonder if daylight would ever come again, though.

The bed was wonderful. Much too big for a person committed to public service, and stoic surroundings.. but soft, and warm.. It wasn't long at all before sleep took me.

> Only a few hours after I'd drifted off, the sound of my door opening woke me. I turned over, expecting to see Anakin, for whatever reason, but froze, before I could even raise myself into a sitting position. It was 'him'.

He stood, motionless, for only a moment. Tall and imposing, cast in the shadows that distant stars let through the window.

He came gracefully across the room, straight at me, but I couldn't make myself move. I couldn't retrieve my lightsaber (just two feet away, next to Qui-Gon's destroyed one.) Couldn't defend as he pulled me up, roughly by my shoulders, into a fierce embrace.

Everything felt so surreal. Hot and hazy. His prosthetic hand, though, was cold against the back of my neck, and I hissed at the sensation, arching away from it. My own hands clutched at his shoulders, pushing his tunic away. Memorizing and forgetting the scars on his back and arms. My mind screamed for me to stop, as I felt myself pulling him down onto the bed, which creaked just once under the sudden added weight. It was as though I was watching myself, possessed, from above.

This time, it was me pinning him, hoping to cause as much discomfort as I'd experienced. All the while, wanting him to feel the pleasure and shame I had. With the darkness of the room, it was just as difficult to make out any facial features as it had been on Naboo. That didn't stop me. There was no want to learn the intimate details of this creature under me. Let him remain a faceless monster.

I bent down, biting at the juncture of neck and shoulder, almost pleased when I drew away and saw blood, black in the dark room. Felt it's coppery tang on my tongue. Sending my own blood racing. He was moving beneath me.. moaning, caressing my bare skin.. When had I taken my clothes off?

My confusion must have shown because he laughed at me.. A soft, almost boyish chuckle that infuriated me beyond reason. It nagged in my mind, not quite a memory, but familiar all the same. I wanted nothing more than to stop that laugh. Draw it from his very mouth, and crush it between my teeth.

Instead, I held him down with more strength than was necessary. He didn't seem, at all, likely to suddenly leave. The tables turned, in a way, I reached down, grasping his fully erect cock, stroking once. He bucked under me, mumbling something too low and fast for me to understand.

I could hear another voice, quietly, as though from a distance. It took me a long moment to realize it was my own voice. Questioning what I was doing. But I ignored it. When the man was still again, I positioned myself over him, waiting.. For what, I didn't know.

"Master.. please." My own arousal wavered at that. I couldn't stand that word.. Qui-Gon.. I hadn't thought of him.. Why couldn't I move on, without being reminded at every turn of my weakness.

"Don't. Call. Me. That." I ordered through gritted teeth, fury apparent in every word, as I sank back onto his length. There had been no preparation. No oil, or even spit to ease the way.. So why did it feel SO good? Too good.. And much too familiar for just that one time of half consent.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?" asked, even while I began to move, tearing at my bottom lip, as he filled me. He didn't answer. Only grunted at the increasing pace, pushing up, even as I pressed down.

"Leave me alone!" and it sounded like an odd thing to demand, as I rode him harder, sweat running down my back. Thighs locked around his waist, so I wouldn't slide off when he arched.. So close.. The room was filled with the sound of harsh breathing, and suppressed moans. It smelled of sweat, and sex.

I watched my hands, white-knuckled as my nails dug into his shoulder. Even as he held my hips, painfully, forcing the pace just that much faster.. That much harder, until I was coming apart, crying out in frustration, and pleasure. Falling forward..>

I landed, more or less, on my face. On the cold hard ground of my cabin, trembling and sweating, and covered in my release. Alone.

Picking myself up with shaky limbs, I managed to seat myself on the edge of the bed, trying to catch my breath. It had felt so real. Right down to the aches that dreams don't cause. But the door was still securely locked, and I couldn't sense that anyone had been here, aside from me.

Falling onto my back, with my feet still planted on the ground, I stared at the ceiling. I wouldn't be getting to sleep, any time soon.

TBC...

****

Dream sex is still sex. The next chapter will deal with Obi-Wan's return to Coruscant, and his mission to discover who this Lord Vader is. It will probably be angsty, but I'm sensing the possibility of some humor, there.
This is the first story I've written more than two chapters for, and I'm typing them as soon as inspiration comes... Or as soon as I have any vague idea, that can be tweaked later.
As always, I love to hear comments/reviews/criticisms. But, I hope I haven't made anyone feel they need to comment in order for me to continue this. I promise I will finish this story (though I've only just started to think about how it will end).

** On a more shameful note. I used 'omitences' as a word, above. I have not been able to find it in a dictionary (either on-line, or of my own paper collection) but I would prefer to keep it in the story. If it caused any confusion, I'm sorry. It seemed to me that using one word (even one not widely considered a factual word) would be better than using multiple ones for the same purpose.

Also, I had Mace Windu say the disturbance was felt 'yesterday' which was a huge error. I have fixed that, and hopefully new readers won't know of my mistake... until they read this here.. of course.. *cough*