Chapter 21: Chapter 20: Let the Dark Side flow, Obi-Wan!

« Cooling circuit failure on deck 16, engineers requested! »

The loud announcement refuses to stop and cycles through several messages. An alarm screams. A screeching sound comes up from the pipes. Obi-Wan hides behind a door. Automatic turrets fire at him relentlessly, while robotic hands try to grab his legs. The endoskeletons in medical bay pound on their door. Each droid emits a dreadful groan, followed by a gleeful laugh. The padawan is on verge of a nervous breakdown!

The object that drew him here was a morality key. The Jedi Order has always been against the use of these things, but necessity of the moment has overruled common sense. Normally a droid is not allowed to commit a « criminal » act, or even to obey an illegal directive. All manufacturers in the galaxy incorporate this requirement into their designs. Only the Hutts, Mandalorians and Dals have discovered a loophole and exploit it without hesitation. They control the outcome of every battle by putting their opponents in a position where the only option is criminal behavior. As a result, droids stop obeying.

It was the sterilization of Geonosis, which the feds had to sacrifice to slow down the Hutts, that convinced the Republic to abandon its moral rectitude. The Senate agreed to pass a law allowing senators to lend « morality keys ». A quick spin through a dedicated interface and droids are no longer bound by Republican law. Of course, a special immunity protects commanders, who can do whatever they deem necessary for their victory, without legal consequences. Technically, as soon as someone turns one of these devices, droids' artificial intelligence can commit any atrocity.

After this point, the Trade Federation no longer gave up any more territory. They even forced the Mandalorians into an armistice! If war fanatics are backing down in front of an interplanetary corporation, then you can tell the tide has turned. The Republic looks the other way, as Hutts' plight moves no one, but the Jedis know that news from any battlefront could make even a sociopath sick. This is usually what happens when a conflict leads both sides to abandon all forms of restraint. The sad thing is that none of the knights intervention has helped, quite the opposite.

A blaster shot nearly hits Obi-Wan in the head. His makeshift cover falls to pieces. A droid crawls out of a pipe: the padawan turns on his lightsaber and strikes. The weapon goes off halfway through. Cortosis has a devastating effect on it, not to mention the fact that it's just a modified training model. This machine could just as easily pulverize an armored door or fail to cut a piece of wood. The young man still has the vibroblade he picked up earlier. He grabs it and slices through the robot. That object is incredibly sharp, despite its age.

His lightsaber remains useful, however: it effectively repels blaster beams. The padawan stands up, weapon in each hand, deflecting fire with his saber and destroying each turret with the vibrating blade. His sudden confidence is immediately shattered as a dozen of cannons descend from the ceiling to shower him with greenish beams. The teenager has just enough time to throw himself into an empty room. Only a true knight would stand a chance in this death row! The medical bay access door bursts loudly, as the endoskeletons begin to slowly arrive towards his position. There is no way out. Obi-Wan is doomed.

« Well, what a rare feeling! I would never have imagined that another Force user might take over one of my old creations. The cosmic stream can be unpredictable. » The voice, somber but noble, seems to come from all directions simultaneously.

Whoever is that person, he has a soft tone. A doctor's whisper... or a teacher's. The adolescent asks:

« Who...who is speaking? » He can no longer hear himself in the deafening commotion. Heavy footsteps approach.

« Some humble Force user, just like you! I am connected to your mind through that artifact in your hand! Do you have a name? »

An irresistible pressure compels him to answer, immediately:

« I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi knight! »

The stranger bursts out laughing, then retorts:

« With a terror-filled aura? Oh, no! You're just a padawan at best! It is a crime for the Order to impersonate a senior, if my memory serves me right. »

Obi-Wan panics: the droids are coming! He doesn't know how to fight such huge robotic monsters in an environment that blocks the use of his powers. Perhaps by strengthening his muscles and relying on speed? Is such a strategy even possible in a corridor made impassable by automatic turrets?

« You seem to be in a very delicate situation. »

« If you have nothing useful to say, shut up! » The young man gets angry, desperate.

« I know how to be useful. »

Suddenly, the gate closes. This miraculous event gives the teenager some respite. The droids begin to attack the door without delay. It will take them several minutes to get in.

« How... »

« Do you want to survive, Obi-Wan? »

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The vibroblade is covered in smoke. The young man flinches, but his wrist refuses to move. Fumes seep into his skin. The adolescent resists, but as before with the key, this struggle proves hopeless: his hand tightly grips the pommel rather than let it go.

« I... there's nothing you can do for me! »

« On the contrary! I can free you from fear! Ask, go ahead! »

« I... want... »

The pressure is enormous. A phrase painfully makes its way into Obi-Wan's mind. The padawan must face it, fight this desire, but fails:

« Survive... I want to survive! »

The young man gets to his feet. He feels something controlling him. His legs move of their own accord!

« Pay attention, child-sorcerer, for I only offer my lessons once! »

A movement of his palm is enough to blow the door open and push the droids back down the passage. All turrets are crushed! The padawan grabs a giant humanoid robot by the throat and throws, sending it flying across the medical bay to smash into a wall. Obi-Wan turns and dismembers his opponents with his vibroblade in an instant. He moves as fast as Qui-Gon! The Force flows through his veins with unprecedented intensity.

« The Jedi Order does not teach its apprentices the whole truth. It believes the youth incapable of enduring it. In order to maintain a stranglehold on the galaxy, its 'masters' dis-harmonize the children's 'inner force' until it becomes a cacophony. This divine power that allows us to annihilate armies is transformed into some vulgar magic trick. The chosen ones who successfully pass initiation and become knights will get the honor to free themselves, to face reality. Do they fail? Their state becomes permanent. This is the heinous crime of the Jedis: their so-called 'training' serves only to prevent those who lean to the 'wrong' side from prospering. I have broken the shackle in you. Breathe in! Feel the cosmic stream! »

The teenager slaughters droids by the hundreds. Seconds become minutes, giving him time to react. His rage drives him to destroy every single machine. The young man feels like he could wipe out the Republican Guard with no effort! An entire division of synthetic soldiers arrives at the intersection. A snap of his fingers is enough to crush them all. Obi-Wan bursts out laughing: he feels immortal, godlike! A demented smile spreads across his face, as the padawan ravages the vessel interior.

« What secret are the Jedi hiding that warrants such extreme caution? That the Force is not this marvel of balance touted to fools, but an angry cyclone. It personifies the eternal struggle between motion and stillness. When you look up at the night sky, on one side is an ocean of darkness and on the other, the insular brightness of stars. Such is the cosmic stream! In a way, it is like a tree: the heretical Jedi protects the leaves, because he likes them, but despises the roots! My companions and I revere these roots. We nurture their vitality and allow the plant to grow freely. »

The padawan climbs back up, ravaging deck after deck. Nothing can stop him. He enters the engine room like a tornado and pulverizes the main reactor. The roar of alarms finally ceases. The ship go dead silent again, for good this time. Obi-Wan feels as if he is now dancing on the edge of an abyss, one false step and he falls into the dark void.

« Peace is an illusion. A myth Jedis exploit to make their lies look elegant. Siths are following the true path, Obi-Wan! Our prophet freed the galaxy from ignorance. He was the founder of the First Order of Force users, original custodian of its cult. Let the flames of cosmos flow through your veins! Draw near to their source, let them whisper the truth in your ears: true faith is to foster conflicts, not extinguish them! Our creed leads to a sublime future, the Star Wars! An endless battle where life purifies itself of its weaknesses, for eternity! »

Without realizing it, the adolescent has just reached the surface. His eyes turn and notice Jar Jar Binks, on verge of being killed by some droids. Should this upset him? Why are his thoughts so muddled? The young man remembers his master's instructions. They still make sense! This realization is like a breath of fresh air: he can hold on to his duty!

He charges forward with gigantic velocity, smashing robots to dust with his lightsaber rather than his vibroblade. Jar Jar looks at him, dazed. He seems to be talking, but Obi-Wan hears nothing. The only answer that passes his lips is a distortion of Qui-Gon Jinn's words:

« My master has asked me to no longer hold back my blows... and I fully intend to respect his wishes. »

The inner voice chuckles. Sternly, the young man says:

« You haven't told me who you are. »

« Oh, really? How rude! The galaxy knows me by many names, most of them insulting. Corellians like to call me their 'god of nightmares'. My fellows affectionately refer to my person as 'the wise'. My true name, however, is Darth Plagueis. »

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