"Cold Revenge"

Shakespeare's Fury

Summary: After Anakin's death Obi-Wan is sucked into a portal that brings him to Earth along with an enemy the Avengers know far too well. Obi-Wan and the Avengers join forces against their common enemy, and in the end they must choose between justice and revenge.

A/N: This story is set during Star Wars Episode III and about a year after the events of The Avengers.

Chapter One "Into Uncertainty"

An unknown planet on the outer rim.

Obi-Wan Kenobi ran down the dimly lit corridor, lightsaber in hand. The sound of his boots on the metal floor echoed off the walls. His former padawan Anakin Skywalker was behind him as intent on the mission as he was: find Chancellor Palpatine's murderer and stop him from enslaving the galaxy.

The man had brought the Republic to its knees with little effort by seizing control of the clone army. Then he had promptly ordered the annihilation of the Jedi order. Some had managed to escape and they joined together with a band of rogue clones in one last effort to save the Republic.

Obi-Wan and Anakin had been separated from the others and were trying to rejoin them when they had caught sight of him. There was no calling for help because communications had been jammed, so they had pursued him, not knowing what dangers could lie ahead.

"I think we lost him," Anakin said as they stopped at an intersection of corridors.

Obi-Wan looked down each possible route before closing his eyes. "Feel, don't think, Anakin."

There was a long moment of silence as Anakin struggled to concentrate. "I'm not getting anything."

"That's because your mind is clouded with thoughts of revenge."

"My thoughts are on completing this mission."

"And if that means you get revenge on the man that killed your friend, the chancellor, then you're all for it?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

"What about all the Jedi he's killed. They deserve to be avenged."

"Avenging is not the Jedi way. You know that, Anakin."

"Our way of life doesn't matter anymore. We've lost everything; can't you see that?"

"What matters is that you don't forget who you are and what you have learned. When that happens all is truly lost." Obi-Wan finally opened his eyes. "This way."

Anakin looked at him skeptically. "You can sense that?"

"Yes. Well, actually he left directions on the wall."

Anakin looked down the corridor to the right where Obi-Wan indicated. Just visible, burned into the metal, were the words, This way if you dare ~ L

Without another word both Jedi took the dare and sprinted into uncertainty.

Obi-Wan had a bad feeling about this. It was all too easy. Directions on a wall. Meeting with no resistance. Just a clear pathway to the man they were after. If he had learned anything during the years of the Clone Wars, it was that nothing was ever so easy.

Before long they arrived in a large hall lit by circular fixtures hanging from the high ceiling. Everything in the room was black except the checkered floor which alternated with black and white tiles. Obi-Wan sensed the cold, unsettling atmosphere of the room, along with a big disturbance in the Force, who was perched atop a long, metal table.

A slight smile crossed the man's thin lips as he stood. "Please sit down," he said, gesturing toward the table. "I hope you found my directions clear enough."

"You wanted us to find you," Anakin said. It wasn't a question. He already had his lightsaber in hand, but it wasn't activated. "Why?"

"I was in a hurry," the tall, pallid man said as his smile broadened. "And I just couldn't wait to meet you."

"Me?" Anakin sounded surprised.

The man turned to Obi-Wan. "I mean no offense of course," he said. "But considering the circumstances, it's only natural."

"What circumstances?" Obi-Wan asked. He was feeling increasingly disconcerted about this situation.

"It is a very long story. I have invited you to sit if you wish."

"I think we'll stay where we are."

The man nodded. "Very well. My name is Loki. I come from a world called Asgard, far away from your galaxy. I was banished here because I tried to better another world near mine. They did not appreciate my help even though I was once considered a god among them. My own people sent me here in hopes that I would disappear into another society, find my place, as it were. They left me with nothing. I was injured and alone on a strange desert planet when I met a woman. While others had ignored me and left me to die, she showed me great kindness. She loved me when no one else had—for a time." A dark look crossed Loki's eyes. As he was speaking, he continued to stare at Anakin. "However, we were cruelly separated, and I never saw her again. At that time, I was already busy working on my plans to take control of this clone army in order to take them back to my own galaxy and finish the job I started there."

"You mean to take the clones to enslave another galaxy?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I mean to liberate them from the oppression of their quixotic ideals."

"Just as you liberated the Republic?" Anakin said with a snarl.

"I have very little use for this Republic of yours," Loki said. "The only reason I'm still here is that I was waiting for you."

"What do you want with me?"

"Have you not surmised? The woman I spoke of was your mother. I want you to join me, Anakin. To bring light to the far reaches of the universe. Your power is too great to waste on the pathetic efforts of the Jedi. You were born for more than this."

"I'm not joining the Dark Side no matter how many lies you come up with."

Loki laughed. "I am not lying, but your narrow focus reflects your training. I am not a part of the Dark Side. This Force you claim to serve is small in comparison to my glory. But you are my son. That is the only reason you and your friend are still alive."

"You murdered the chancellor and destroyed the Republic," Anakin said. "Even if you were my father, I would never join you."

"Well that is a pity. I was prepared to offer you worlds to command. Now, I am afraid you will be lost with the rest of your miserable crew."

"What makes you think you'll get away so easily after you killed the chancellor?"

"Oh, I thought you knew. Your precious chancellor? He left this when he died." Loki pulled out a lightsaber and activated it. The red beam lit up his face with a fiery glow.

Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "Palpatine was the Dark Lord?"

Loki grinned. "You should thank me for saving your Republic from his influence. I'm sure they will rebuild themselves once I have taken the clones to Earth. I have an old score to settle there."

"We are not letting you leave to spread your destruction elsewhere," Obi-Wan said, drawing his own lightsaber.

"You cannot stop me," Loki said.

Anakin also lit his lightsaber. "That's what you think."

"Have you not realized that I am far more powerful than you could ever imagine?" Loki took a step toward them. "I have taken control of an entire galaxy with no one the wiser, and it was I who sent the sand people to take revenge on your mother for betraying me."

Obi-Wan barely had a chance to register the murderous look in Anakin's eyes before he leapt onto the table and rushed at Loki. Obi-Wan looked on in horror, unable to move as if his feet were cemented to the floor. That split second of indecision was all it took for the other two men to meet at the center of the table. Sparks shot from their lightsabers as they clashed. Obi-Wan hurried to join Anakin, but as he did, Loki suddenly appeared to split and become multiple versions of himself. They surrounded Anakin, who began to swing wildly at the illusions.

Obi-Wan reached out with the Force trying to discern which Loki was real. He could sense that Anakin was not feeling or thinking. He was reacting. Obi-Wan pushed down the fear that welled up inside him at the thought of what had happened the last time Anakin let someone's words dictate his actions. That time he had only lost his arm; this could be much worse.

Obi-Wan still couldn't tell which of the projections was the real one. Anakin obviously couldn't either. Loki was playing games with them.

Suddenly, all the illusions disappeared, and Anakin let out a strangled cry as Loki thrust the red lightsaber into his opponent's stomach. Then Loki withdrew his weapon, and Anakin crumpled to the floor. His eyes still open, the anger and hatred still evident in his features.

Obi-Wan could not scream. The familiarity and agony at the sight left him frozen in place. He began to feel the emotions he had so often denied trying to take control of him.

Loki looked from Anakin to Obi-Wan. "Oh, how thoughtless of me," he said. "Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to slice him in two." For a second, Loki looked genuinely curious, and then he smiled. "You've had a very colorful history. I have enjoyed watching it unfold."

Obi-Wan wondered how Loki knew all this. Where would he have gotten that information about how Qui-Gon died or how Obi-Wan killed Darth Maul?

Loki seemed unconcerned with Obi-Wan. He stepped over Anakin's body, jumped from the table, and headed toward the other end of the room opposite from the entrance.

"You will not kill me," Loki said. "Even if you were able, you cannot taste the sweetness of revenge."

Obi-Wan shook his head, watching Loki carefully. "There is nothing sweet about revenge," he said with a slight hitch in his voice.

"You don't really believe that." Loki turned back to face Obi-Wan with his hand resting on a small control panel. "You say you do, and you are far more convincing than any of your associates have been, but I know very well that you cannot believe that. I have just killed your friend after all. And you cared for him deeply, did you not? As a brother perhaps?" Loki laughed humorlessly. "I had a brother once. He betrayed me, just as Anakin would have betrayed you eventually. You must have sensed he was already leaning toward the Dark Side. With the influence of Chancellor Palpatine, he would have turned. It was only a matter of time. But I have spared you that. You should thank me, actually. I can't say it was easy. He was my son, you know."

Obi-Wan knew what Loki was trying to do. He wanted to make him angry just as he had done to Anakin. Obi-Wan would not give him the satisfaction of showing the warring emotions raging within him.

Loki turned back to the control panel and adjusted a few knobs before pulling a lever. Suddenly the whole end of the room turned into a swirling portal. Obi-Wan felt a slight pull from the gaping hole.

Loki smiled. "Now I will take my clone army to Earth where I will have my revenge."

Obi-Wan brought his lightsaber in front of him. "I'm not letting you destroy another world," he said.

"Ah, so noble. You are a rare breed, aren't you? Or think you are."

"You think nothing can stop you, but I am not going to rest until I do."

"Just like Thor," Loki mumbled. "Protecting worlds that are neither yours nor need your assistance. Quixotic."

Obi-Wan had been watching the portal. He saw his chance to stop Loki's plan for good, but he would probably die in the attempt. He had come too far to give up now. With Loki's back turned, Obi-Wan circled around to where he had a clear shot at the control panel. Then he stretched out his hand and called Anakin's discarded lightsaber to it.

Using the Force, Obi-Wan leapt into the air, over Loki's head, and used both blue lightsabers to slash into the control panel. He caught a glimpse of horror in Loki's eyes before the man swung his own lightsaber at Obi-Wan's head. The Jedi was able to deflect the blow, but the force of Loki's superior strength sent him reeling backward into the rapidly collapsing portal. With one last burst of energy, Obi-Wan kicked Loki's legs out from under him and the self-proclaimed god was drawn into the portal as well.

There was a blinding light behind his eyes, and then Obi-Wan knew no more.