The Last Attempt

Part II

By Don J'Bar

Raindrops fell silently in the Theed courtyard, matching the somber mood of the lone inhabitant, Obi-Wan Kenobi. His emotions were threatening to boil over. It was all he could do to suppress them, knowing that down that path lay the Dark Side. He would not be another claimed by the Sith, as was his former Padawan, who grew more powerful and dangerous by the moment under the tutelage of the vile Darth Sidious.

Just then the silence was broken by the brash and infuriatingly clumsy Jar Jar Binks. The Gungan came rushing in and tripped and flew headlong into an ornate flower urn, spilling the contents to the tile floor. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes in dismay. He was hoping not to be disturbed by anyone, least of all the Gungan.

"What is it Jar Jar? Can't you see that I am meditating?" Obi-Wan spoke out, closing his eyes feigning meditation.He felt bad about misleading the creature, but knew he would never get any rest if Jar Jar could help it.

"Howsa yousa knows's me Obi-Wan? Mesa not said no words to you?" Replied the Gungan, wiping the mud from his stained clothes.

"You stand out in a crowd Jar Jar, let alone when we're here by ourselves," replied the Jedi, opening one eye. "What is it?"

"The Queensa sent a message from Alderaa for you. She saysa yousa gotta go right now! Shesa in big doo doo!" Jar Jar finally intoned.

The Jedi's eyes opened wide at this revelation. Since Darth Vader had slain his only love, Abrynne, sister of the Senator of Naboo, any threat to her family instantly got his attention.

"What exactly did she say, Jar Jar? I need all the details! Now!" said Obi-Wan coming to his feet quickly, almost sending the Gungan to the dirt again, who by this time had arrived at the Jedi's side.

"Thatsa all shesa say, Obi-Wan. Yousa goto Alderaa. Shesa explain all when you get there!" Jar Jar replied, while the Jedi was already half way across the courtyard. The clumsy Gungan could barely keep up to the speedy, confident warrior. Obviously he had a destination in mind. "Wait for me Obi-Wan, mesa comin' too"

Obi-Wan did not miss a step, or waste his breath replying, heading for the space hangar and his awaiting Nubian Starfighter, newly equipped with a hyper-drive. He wouldn't waste time or compromise the secret hideout of the Naboo senator with sending any messages. He already feared it was a trap set by Emperor Palpatine to lure him out of hiding, but he would not let any harm befall Padme, as he had failed her sister. He still felt he should have defeated the Sith Lord while he had the chance. Or at least died trying. Which, upon further contemplation, would likely have happened anyway, he thought wryly. Despite all that had happened to him, he still had a sense of humour.

"Mesa comin' too, Obi-Wan!" the grating voice of the Gungan brought the Jedi back out of his reverie. He had almost forgotten about his friend. He could be so annoying sometimes.

"Jar Jar, there is room only for me and my astromech on this journey. I sense a great disturbance in the For......"

Obi-Wan did not complete the sentence, for up ahead through the stone archway leading out of the garden and into the streets of the city, the hum of a lightsaber could be heard. Obi-Wan readied for combat. The Sith had at last found him! He knew it had only been a matter of time. He just hoped it wouldn't be Vader himself, merely one of his clone warriors, who lacked much when it came to creativity in battle.

"Get back, Jar Jar. Now!" the Jedi yelled, as his lightsaber hummed to life, the blue blade shimmering brightly on the overcast day. Finally he could see the blade of his mysterious foe awaiting him on the other side of the archway. The Sith, who now knew the element of surprise was not with him, charged wildly through the archway, attempting to end the battle before it even began.

Jar Jar, startled, could not get his knees to stop shaking and buckled to the ground, cowering in fear. "Wesa goners, Obi-Wan," he finally sputtered.

The Sith took one contemptuous look in the direction of the Gungan, and paid him no more attention, focussing it more where it was needed, on the Jedi Master in front of him. Many of his comrades had paid the ultimate price for taking the Jedi too lightly. He would not do the same. With a primal scream, he engaged his enemy with a roundhouse swing that would have severed the Jedi in two, had he still been there. Instead all he found was empty space, where only milliseconds before the Jedi had been standing.

Obi-Wan expected the big slash, and was already well beyond the range of the deadly weapon, moving with the speed of the Force! His body, through the rigorous workouts he had been taking lately, was like a finely coiled spring of shigawire. He used the momentary surprise of his foe to his advantage, somersaulting over him, and knocking the butt of his lightsaber into the back of the Sith, knocked him off balance. Obi-Wan knew that the advantage wouldn't come so easily again, and pressed the attack. He came inside for a quick thrust to the clone's neck, but was parried at the last second, by the orange blade of the Sith warrior, who had turned around with incredible speed as well. Perhaps enough to match even that of the Jedi Master!

Obi-Wan stepped back, his blade ready to defend against the inevitable attack forthcoming from the Sith in front of him. He found that the one thing that was common to all of the cloned Sith, was their impatience in battle. It had been the source of much of their numbers' undoing.

This one proved no exception, and came at him straight on, with a thrust to the midsection, but again all that he struck was thin air, Obi-Wan was already over to the side and sending a short swing to his opponent's midsection. The Sith recovered quickly, but not quickly enough.

With a short spray of blood, the Sith's left arm flew off into the distance, severed just below the elbow. With a howl of pain and anger, the Sith used the Force to stop the flow of blood, and taking his own saber, finished cauterizing the wound. He looked at he Jedi with new found respect. It was no wonder so many of his comrades had perished. After all, this was the man who had trained his Lorship himself, Darth Vader!

Obi knew that from here on in the fight would be much more deadly. He could feel the cold, dark anger emanating from the warrior in front of him. He knew that ultimately it would be the creatures' undoing. But he still had to defend himself against a stray stroke connecting. And with that thought, he pressed his attack once again. This time the Sith knew he was coming and wasn't in the least surprised. He jumped forward and engaged.

The overcast day was lit up by the furious slashing and cutting of the colourful weapons of light. If it had not been so deadly, it would have been a most beautiful sight. Neither of the combatants was giving ground to the other. Even without having his left arm, the Sith was still formidable.

Obi-Wan struck repeatedly to the clone's left side, knowing that there was more chance to get a killing blow through on that side, because there was less "protection" to the vital body parts.

Finally, after a battle seemingly lasting hours, but in reality, only a couple of minutes, the Sith stumbled, and lost his balance slightly. It was all the Jedi Master needed, and sent a devastating uppercut thrust that took the Sith in the throat! The blue blade could be seen protruding through the back of the Sith's head.With a flash of recognition, the warrior's eyes widened. He knew it was all over.

Obi-Wan fingered the switch of his weapon, deactivating it. The Sith melted to the ground, a two inch hole in his throat!

Jar Jar finally regained some of his composure, but still sobbed quietly. "Yousa saved me again, Obi-Wan. Mesa gotsa 'nother life debt to you. Mesa gonna be at your side always! Mesa never gonna be outta your sight."

Obi-Wan had forgotten about his friend in the heat of the battle, and only now looked over at him. The creature was still cowering, and couldn't stand up yet, his knees were still shaking. Obi-Wan gave Jar Jar a hand up, rolling his eyes at the words he had just heard the Gungan sputter. A lot of good this fellow would be in the battle raging across the galaxy.

"It is my job as Jedi to protect you, Jar Jar, you do not have to repay me. I have taken an oath to protect all living sentients from aggression. I don't need you in my way. Besides you see how trouble follows me around, you would only be asking for some of it, too."

With a look of hurt and despair, the Gungan started bawling again."But mesa got no one else, Obi-Wan!"

Obi-Wan felt sorrow at this, because of the truth in it. He was he last one of his race. Palpatine had exterminated his clansmen after the Trade Federation debacle. The Jedi knew he could not leave the creature behind. "Come, Jar Jar, we go now to Alderaa. Padme needs us. I feel she is in deep trouble. I sense it in the Force. There isn't much time"

Cast

Obi-Wan Kenobi-Jedi Master
Jar Jar Binks-Gungan citizen of Naboo
Unnamed-Sith Clone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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