Ghost of Nightmares Past/Chapter 12

THE FALL OF A JEDI

Yoda clutched his chest suddenly, and, instantly, Palpatine turned to look at him, as did Shaak Ti. He shook delicately, as he felt the Jedi's presence start to leave the World of the Living. "Master Yoda?" Palpatine asked, taking the old Jedi's hands. "What is the matter?"

"Gone, he is," Yoda said sadly. "One with the Force, he is now."

"Who?" Shaak Ti asked, sitting next to him.

"Passed from the world of the living, Obi-Wan has." Yoda answered. "With his Master now, Obi-Wan is."

Bruck sighed with relief, as the hand fell to the floor, and Obi-Wan became still. He stood, and smiled at Grevious, who stomped over and picked up Obi-Wan's sabre, and added it to his belt. "What shall we do with the body?"

"Carry it; I want the Clones and the others to see his dead body."

Grevious lifted Obi-Wan into his arms, and Bruck took a comm. Link, and they walked out of the control room, where the sounds of battle were beginning to deplete. Bruck smiled at the droids, as they chatted about the Jedi that Grevious was carrying. They followed behind them, as the doors opened, just as the rest of the Jedi and clones approached it. Bruck smiled, and touched a button on the comm. Link, causing a few holograms of the Jedi High Council to appear. He flung the comm. Link to the ground in front of the Clones, as four Jedi pushed to the front; Ahsoka, Mace Windu, Siri and a now awake Anakin. Bruck smiled, before shouting, "See the body of the Great Negotiator now!"

Grevious threw Obi-Wan to the ground, and he laid, before the hologram and the others, motionless, a smouldering sabre wound in the centre of his chest. Ahsoka burst into tears instantly, and Anakin rushed forwards, and grabbed his master, trying to wake him. "Obi-Wan?" He begged, "Please!"

"Too late," Bruck said, smiling. "I have completed my mission to kill Kenobi, and now, I am more powerful than any of you!"

"We will see about that!" Mace roared, and he rushed forward, only to get pushed back by Bruck's force push, causing him to land hard near Obi-Wan's body. Bruck laughed, and shouted, "Who will challenge me now?"

None of the clones or the Jedi spoke, both were too preoccupied with the death of one of their own. Bruck stared at the image of Yoda, and said, "Now, what do you think of me?"

"An evil monster, you are," Yoda said, his voice strangely calm.

"Thank you," Bruck said, bowing slightly, as Ahsoka joined Anakin's side, as he cradled Obi-Wan's body in his arms. "Now, will no one challenge me?"

"Challenge this!" A clone wearing blue shouted, and he shot at Bruck, who blocked the blow with his red sabre. Anakin instantly looked up at it.

"That's mine!"

"Whoops," Bruck said, faking a shocked look, "Hope you don't mind me using it, will you?"

"You son of a..." Anakin snarled.

"I wish I had another choice," Bruck said, extinguishing his blade and placing the sabre back to his belt. "But, he killed me, so I killed him. An eye for an eye." He smiled. "Will you fight me oh fabled chosen one?"

Anakin stood, and, using the force, summoned Obi-Wan's sabre into his hand from Grevious' belt, and ignited it. He suddenly stopped, staring down at it, and extinguished it, before falling to his knees next to his Master's body. "I knew none of you will face me," Bruck said, addressing them all. "You are all a bunch of cowards! The so-called protectors of the Peace! Because of you, one of your own lies before me! So, who will fight me? Who will give me a real fight?"