Ben meets Kell's eyes, the gaze between them steady, understanding. He lowers his lightsaber a few degrees.
"No one will pursue you," he says, addressing Barriss but with his gaze unflinching. "If you go now you may be able to get help, but you'll need to be quick."
He's no older than Obi-Wan Kenobi was when he watched Darth Maul cut his Master down. Ben can wait until he's gone.
Kell Daree holds her lightsaber in a similar position: held in front of her hips, blade pointed up, ready but not attacking. Around them the droids close in on Ibani, ignoring the Jedi Knight running towards the nearest starfighter, and the two Jedi Masters locked in a motionless tableau.
"Who are you?" she asks finally.
"A survivor," he says, raising his gaze to look vaguely around the Foundry, at what they're doing there.
He opens himself up, just a crack in the Force he shields himself with, gives her a glimpse of the pain he still carries. What it's like to lose ten thousand of his siblings: Masters and padawans and children in a matter of hours, cut down by the people they trusted most. He lets her catch a glimpse of that and he lets it go, fixing her in his sights again. His presence is still there, but it's dominated by understanding, compassion for her, and with hope for eventual peace.
Daree inhales slowly, lowers her head.
"I'm..."
"I know."
Barriss is long gone by now - he can't feel what happens next. Kell Daree lifts her head, raises her lightsaber to head level and throws herself at Ben Kenobi. His lightsaber flashes, moves as if to parry again, but slices cleanly into her, piercing her neatly in the heart.
He catches her in his off-hand and lowers her gently to the ground, hoping that at least at the end, she found that peace she needed.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-08-05 12:45 pm (UTC)"No one will pursue you," he says, addressing Barriss but with his gaze unflinching. "If you go now you may be able to get help, but you'll need to be quick."
He's no older than Obi-Wan Kenobi was when he watched Darth Maul cut his Master down. Ben can wait until he's gone.
Kell Daree holds her lightsaber in a similar position: held in front of her hips, blade pointed up, ready but not attacking. Around them the droids close in on Ibani, ignoring the Jedi Knight running towards the nearest starfighter, and the two Jedi Masters locked in a motionless tableau.
"Who are you?" she asks finally.
"A survivor," he says, raising his gaze to look vaguely around the Foundry, at what they're doing there.
He opens himself up, just a crack in the Force he shields himself with, gives her a glimpse of the pain he still carries. What it's like to lose ten thousand of his siblings: Masters and padawans and children in a matter of hours, cut down by the people they trusted most. He lets her catch a glimpse of that and he lets it go, fixing her in his sights again. His presence is still there, but it's dominated by understanding, compassion for her, and with hope for eventual peace.
Daree inhales slowly, lowers her head.
"I'm..."
"I know."
Barriss is long gone by now - he can't feel what happens next. Kell Daree lifts her head, raises her lightsaber to head level and throws herself at Ben Kenobi. His lightsaber flashes, moves as if to parry again, but slices cleanly into her, piercing her neatly in the heart.
He catches her in his off-hand and lowers her gently to the ground, hoping that at least at the end, she found that peace she needed.
Gently, he closes himself off again.