Full summary: Without the other, both will die.
The twins are born, the action's over and, though Anakin and Padme slip easily into their new roles, all Acacia feels is restless confusion. She doesn't doubt her brother's love – that his family is her family – but there's gotta be more out there for her than screaming infants and constant diaper changes. She just doesn't know where to find it.
Meanwhile, Anakin searches for Choler's spy, the mysterious woman in the Nabooian Senate cloak. He doesn't want to believe that someone Padme trusts would betray them, but he can't ignore the facts.
The Dark Side closes in; the battle draws near. The siblings deepest desires pull them planets apart, but only together can they survive.
Author's Note: Hey peoples! I wanna thank all my old readers for coming back and reading the next installment in my Star Wars saga. It seriously means the world that you enjoy my writing! I love you all!
To my new readers, welcome! Just so you know, this is the sequel to Blood of the Family which is the sequel to Burned by the Dark, so you might wanna read those two first. Otherwise, you'll likely be really confused.
Oh also, little disclaimer here: I don't own Star Wars (obviously). That honor goes to Disney, I believe. Lucky them.
Without further ado, here is the beginning of the (I hope, lol) much-anticipated Sweat of the Battle.
Prologue
"Any progress?"
The masked man breathes out in a nervous p-woosh, his ventilator amplifying the sound. "No, my Master."
The scarred man whirls around, yellow teeth barred, face twisted in a mask of malice. "And... why... not?" he asks, carefully enunciating each word.
"Rest assured, Master, she's doing her best. But she has to be careful; she must ensure the Skywalkers do not sense the truth of her loyalties."
"Bah!" The Emperor sneers and turns away. "You should have captured them a month ago. You have done nothing, nothing." The Dark Lord whips back around, fury sparking in his saffron eyes. "Are you even trying anymore?"
Vader nods slowly, using the Force to cloak his emotions: anger, fear, a sprinkle of hate - gladness that, with his mask, he doesn't have to worry about his face giving him away. "The agent is trying, my Master, and we have a plan. The Skywalkers will be in your power soon."
"You would do well to hope, Lord Vader, that your version of soon and mine are very, very similar."
"I'm sure they are, M'lord."
"Good." The Emperor sinks into his chair - his throne, as he likes to think of it. "It would be a shame if I had to take over your operation... as I did last time."
Vader pauses. "Last time was a mistake," he admits finally, the last word bitter in his mouth. "My agent was careless, she trusted the wrong people-"
"And their incompetence nearly ruined everything! Had I not turned the situation to our good..." The scarred Sith trails off, knowing his apprentice will take each accusation to heart. That each reminder will provoke him, compelling Vader to bring the task to fast and flawless completion.
"I am aware of your involvement and the need behind it, Master," Vader replies. "Such a situation will not arise again."
The Emperor nods, smiling slightly. "I take you at your word, Lord Vader." In a nanosecond, the smile slips to a frown. "Do not fail me again."
Though he knows his master believes the conversation over, the masked man has more to say. Silently, he weighs his options, then plunges forward. "If I may pose a question?"
His Master waves a hand, and Vader takes this for an affirmative. "Do you still wish Anakin to join us? Or should we kill him as well?"
"Anakin will join us," Sidious replies. "Eventually. But do not allow that to mitigate your efforts. You survived burning in lava, after all." Vader resists the urge to wince at the memory. "I am sure Anakin can do something similar - or greater - should his desire for life be strong enough.
"What I want is to remove all distractions, to kill everyone he loves, to destroy any place he feels safe. Essentially, Lord Vader, you and your agent are to break him.
"And then, when he has nowhere left to go, Anakin will crawl to the Dark Side, begging me to make his worthless life meaningful once again. To help him forget what was stolen, to give him anything to ease the pain."
Vader frowns behind his mask. "Forgive me, Master, but why would Anakin come to you if you took away everything he loves?"
"Because he will not care. Because he will be so broken, so utterly shattered, he will feel he has nowhere else to go.
"I know Anakin; I have since before he was born. Eventually, a more desperate desire will usurp his hate, his thirst for vengeance. The Dark Side is already in him; it will whisper that I can fulfill all his wants. When Anakin drags himself into my presence, I will.
"And then, he will forget all that was before."
Vader nods. "If you say so, Master."
"I do," Sidious snaps. "You are sure your agent is on the job?" he adds, and Vader knows the former strain of conversation is over.
"I'm positive. Do not worry, Master; we are closing in. The Senator and the children will not be alive much longer."
Sidious cackles. "And then Anakin will be mine."
Thanks for reading and please review!