#obi-wa

“Hello there,” the darkness purred. You stayed still but cursed yourself for not realizing someone else was in the room with you. The words of Senator Riyo Chuchi came to mind in that moment: promise you’ll be careful. These people will not fight fairly. She spoke those words to you just as she climbed into an escape pod and left you. 

You were supposed to accompany Senator Chuchi to a meeting about a Separatist weapon on a planet near Naboo. During your journey, the senator’s ship was taken by Separatist forces. Pulled in by a tractor beam, you had limited options and even fewer odds for success. Fortunately, you were able to cause enough of a distraction for the senator and her party to evacuate via escape pod. During the distraction, though, you were forced to stay behind on the Separatist carrier. 

You had no chance of fighting your way out. Instead, you had chosen to search the carrier for a smaller, one person ship to make an escape. Everything seemed to be going well until you tripped an alarm in the bottom sectors of the ship. The droids had backed you into a large storage room with towering stacks of different goods that were being transported. There were large boxes of all sizes stored here, and you had no trouble in finding a place to hide. The room reminded you of a maze and you hoped that you would be able to make a clean escape. 

Still, despite everything, you knew that this is what you were best at. The Jedi were supposed to be peacekeepers, but you were an excellent soldier and general. 

“I can hear your heart beating from here,” a whispered voice surrounded you in the dark. Something sinister seemed to creep along the back of your robes. Your hand went to your saber, but you withheld from igniting it. 

“Little one, stop hiding and come out. I am the only thing standing between you and the droids on the other side of that wall,” the voice sounded coaxing, welcoming. You stood, keeping your back to the shipping container and one hand on your lightsaber hilt.

“Well, hello there, master y/f/n y/l/n,” the voice said. You felt the ghost of a voice against your ear. You almost leaned into the feeling but you were startled by the sound of a saber igniting, filling the space with red light. 

“I’ve waited quite some time to meet you. Master y/n,” the Sith in front of you crooned, “the holograms of you do not do you justice.” You recognized the man in front of you: fallen Jedi master and now poster boy for the Sith, Darth Dominus stood grinning before you. You’ve never encountered him in person, but you had seen countless holograms of him. In fact, you had watched practically every hologram of Darth Dominus that you could get your hands on. His fighting tactic was immaculate, his swordsmanship was impressive and his demeanor was perfect in the middle of a fight. Still, you knew there was something else about him that caught your interest. You couldn’t explain it but every time you heard his name or saw a projection of his face, a small feeling inside of you began to stir.  

You watched him now, trying to put the strange feeling in your chest to rest. He seemed to notice your internal struggle, and his smile only widened. His golden eyes reflected the red lightsaber in his hands. You lit your own saber and positioned yourself for a fight. Dominus only laughed. 

“Master Kenobi,” you chose to use his Jedi name in the hopes of rattling him, “I’m afraid I’ve lost senator Chuchi. If you let me go, I would be happy to go find her.” 

“This was never about the senator,” he began to slowly move towards you.  

“Oh no? You’re not scared the senator would find out about the separatists’ new weapon?” You watched Darth Dominus’ face as it took on a hungry quality. You recognized it as you’d seen it on your own face when you were feeling restless. You felt it when meditation and peace wouldn’t quell the part of you that enjoyed games of strategy. 

“Why would I want the senator when I could get my hands on the Jedi order’s most talented negotiator? The tireless general that never seems to rest in battle?” Dominus moved towards you at a leisurely stroll, not even raising his ignited saber. You tried to speak, but he held up his hand and continued. 

“I’ve been watching you for some time. Your actions on the battlefield have often left the Separatist army - my army - in pieces. I must say that even I am impressed.”

“That’s some high praise from a Sith. But I’m sorry to say, Master Kenobi, that you’ve left me wanting.” You made your move then. With a faint to your left and a sudden sprint to your right, you tried to move past the Sith lord before he trapped you. Dominus was quick, though. He made a lunge towards you, not with his saber but with his open hand. He reached towards you but his fingers only grazed the fabric of your shirt. With your back to the escape route, you turned on Dominus and brought your saber down in a wide swing. He was so close to you now that you could feel the buzz of his saber. 

He dodged your swing and used the force to shove you back several paces. You fell back as you tripped over some smaller boxes. Scrambling to your feet, you heard Dominus coming towards you.

“You will not win here,” Dominus used the force to push you back farther, forcing you to fall to the ground. “You’re in a foreign space, you’re practically blind as you fight in the dark and you can’t win against me.” You weren’t going to give up easily. You rolled to your side and began to swing your saber as you made your way towards the Sith. To your surprise, Dominus turned his saber off. 

You froze, unsure what was happening. The space around you was filled only with your saber’s light. You could see Dominus’ eyes appraise you as you stood ready for battle. 

“You are hungry for a fight, aren’t you little one?” He used your momentary confusion to lift you off your feet with the force. You cursed yourself and tried to fight against the weightless feeling, but it did nothing. 

“Why aren’t you fighting me? I won’t tell you anything and I won’t-” you were cut off as you felt pressure around your throat build. 

Dominus chuckled as he pulled you down, forcing you into a kneeling position. With a cry, he grabbed your hand that was still clutching your lightsaber. He squeezed until you let it fall from your grip. It hit the floor and Dominus picked it up and attached it to his own hip. 

“Now that we’re being sensible,” He got down on one knee before you. With his own lightsaber hilt, he tilted your chin up to look at him. You tried to struggle against the invisible weight holding you in place. 

“I’ll happily accept your surrender,” You hiss through your teeth. Dominus let out a laugh that filled the large room. 

“Anakin trained you well,” Dominus admitted, “But you aren’t like him, you aren’t like the Jedi. I’ve been watching you and I can see how much you live for this war.” 

“I’m not like you,” you answered. You could feel where this conversation was going. Perhaps, you enjoyed being in the middle of a fight, but that didn’t mean you wanted war. You didn’t want to be an agent of chaos like the fallen Jedi before you. 

“You would be so much happier if you accepted it, y/n.” He was looking at you now with something you didn’t recognize. Was it hope?

“I can’t be here-” You let out a breath, the words falling out of your mouth. Of course you couldn’t be here, with a Sith lord. He was the enemy. 

“You feel it too,” Dominus let out a laugh, he seemed almost relieved. He leaned back and looked at you. 

“If you let me go, Master Kenobi,” You began, but Dominus only smiled like he knew a joke you’d never understand. He leaned towards you and rested his palm against your cheek.

“Darling, I’m not forcing you to stay here.” At his words, you realize that there was nothing holding you to the ground. You froze, understanding the depth to which you were distracted. How long have you been able to stand? 

You stood and Dominus rose with you. His hand fell from your face, but he grabbed your arm instead. With almost no room between the two of you, Dominus’ breath mixed with yours. 

“You and I are destined to be together,” Dominus whispered. You felt his free hand move towards your waist, but it never quite connected. He seemed to be waiting on something, a response from you or perhaps an outright denial. You held yourself still but could not allow yourself to give in. Not yet. 

And to your dismay, Dominus nodded and lowered his hand. 

“There is a vent in the back corner of this room,” Dominus said, pulling away, “if you crawl through, take two left turns and a final right. You’ll find the escape pods.” You stared at him a moment longer before taking a step back, reeling. He took your lightsaber from his hip and tossed it to you. As you began to back away, you found yourself smiling.

“Don’t worry, Master Kenobi,” You said over your shoulder as you turned away, “I’ll make sure to keep your little loss here a secret. I wouldn’t want anyone to ruin your reputation.” 

“That’s some big talk, y/n. Next time we meet, I’ll put that pretty mouth of yours to work,” Dominus said as you left, “and, I like it when you call me Master.” You laughed as you found the vent Dominus was talking about. Your escape was smooth sailing thereafter. 

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

Later, as you sat on the escape pod, waiting for someone to pick up your distress call, you tried to meditate. You were shaken by your encounter with the Sith lord. Something small and otherwise strange inside of you had finally snapped into place. What was this feeling? 

You were pulled out of your meditation when you thought you heard something from the shadows of the escape pod. However, when you looked, you found nothing. There was no one on this pod with you. That didn’t stop you from thinking you saw someone from the corner of your eye. 

Next time you see Master Yoda, said a familiar voice in your head, ask him what a dyad in the force is. The voice echoed and then faded from your mind but you knew where it came from. You had heard that voice a million times over the holograms. You would know Darth Dominus anywhere. 

But what was worse was that you knew what a Force Dyad was. You had known for a long, long time. 

Part 2!