159474808X by Ian Doescher Page B

and might.
Mine efforts to distort, blur, and confuse
Obscur’d the Jedi Order’s vision well;
Surrounded by disorder, they did choose
To hide within their Force-protected shell.
E’en now they start to bear the consequences—
Pursu’d throughout the galaxy by hate,
Intimidated, sans their strong defenses,
Cold is the end that they are spun by Fate.
Defeat the Jedi know, and these last two—
United in a fight unto the death—
Engage each other with a hate undue.
Lo, this is how sly Rumor takes their breath.
[Exit Rumor. Obi-Wan and Vader continue to duel, moving outside near the lava pits.
    VADER
[ aside: ] I shall pursue him, on the planet’s surface,
Where only these foul fires of Mustafar
Can match the bright inferno in my soul.
    OBI-WAN
[ aside: ] Now hath the time more desperate become—
Upon a precipice above the lava
The fight continues, we two balancing
As though we were some meat above a fire,
A skewer’d spit that slowly turns and roasts.
These huge machines perchance may be our death—
To mine advantage I must make them work.
The springs of gushing magma all around
Encompass us, an ’twere the light of hell
That shone upon our dismally join’d fates.
    VADER
[ aside: ] This platform is assail’d with lava rocks,
A’flying through the air like hailstones wild.
A momentary pause we must endure,
Ere we may fight again with vim renew’d.
    OBI-WAN
[ aside: ] Alas, we fall into the lava pit!
If we do not destroy each other, then,
Belike, this planet shall undo us both.
We float upon a sea of molten flame,
Yet still doth Anakin pursue my life.
O, what did I e’er do to raise his ire,
How did I so affront him, earn his scorn?
    VADER
[ aside: ] He leaps from this o’erleaning bit of tower,
Which soon shall be engulfèd in the fire.
A floating platform hath he found in time,
And so must I if I would yet survive.
[Obi-Wan lands safely on a floating platform; Vader leaps onto a droid floating over the lava. They resume their duel.
    OBI-WAN
[ aside: ] Ne’er have I, ere this skirmish, fought a fight
That was so plainly perilous as this.
Ne’er hath the setting for a battle been
So passing strange as here on Mustafar.
Ne’er hath the outcome been so very vital
For me and for my feelings personal.
Ne’er hath it been ere now and, yea, methinks
’Twill never be again, for ne’er shall I
Face him in mortal combat after this.
[ To Vader: ] ’Tis true that I have fail’d thee, Anakin—
Thy course is but a failure to my name.



VADER
I should have known the Jedi would attempt
To vanquish the Republic and seize pow’r.
    OBI-WAN
O, listen to thy words: the chancellor,
E’en Palpatine, ’tis he who evil is.
    VADER
Yet from a certain point of view—e’en mine—
The Jedi are the base and evil ones.
    OBI-WAN
Then art thou lost indeed, my onetime friend.
    VADER
Herein shall be the end of Obi-Wan:
My Master he, who died on Mustafar.
[Vader leaps onto Obi-Wan’s platform. They duel.
    OBI-WAN
[ aside: ] Upon this platform neither shall prevail—
I shall unto the rocky shore anon
And there possess position tactical.
[Obi-Wan leaps backward onto the rocks.
[ To Vader: ] ’Tis finish’d, Anakin, the triumph’s mine!
Here I do claim the high ground, yea, and all
The keen advantages it offereth.
    VADER
You underestimate my power with the Force.
    OBI-WAN
Do not attempt the jump, this I warn thee:
Thou shalt not have the legs to make the leap.
[Vader tries to leap over Obi-Wan, who cuts off his legs with his lightsaber. Vader falls to the ground, slipping toward the lava.
    VADER
O, bitter agony! O, man most cruel!
    OBI-WAN
Thou wert the chosen one, who should destroy
The Sith, not join their frightful company.
Thou shouldst have brought new balance to the Force,
Not leave it underneath a veil of dark.
    VADER
[ aside: ] I’d scream to him for help, yet he would smirk.
O, Master, hear your humble friend’s entreaty—
For mercy would I beg, if I did but
Deserve its quality, which is not strain’d
But droppeth as