Chapter Ten: Shattered

Anakin's face remained one of dread, fear creeping into his voice despite the fact he was trying to conceal it, "That's not…it can't be…."

Darth Caedus grinned coldly, "Perhaps it is impractical to one who is blinded by what they believe. Sometimes what is in plain sight is the truth."

Anakin scowled, "You can't be real. You're supposed to be dead."

"Indeed, I am. Much like your father though, I have been resurrected through furtive means." His Uncle replied.

Anakin was still uneasy and unsure whether his Uncle was actually resurrected or just an illusion.

He realized it wasn't an illusion once his Uncle's fingers splayed Force Lightning in his direction. Anakin was taken off-guard and stumbled to the floor before having a chance to block the attack. His body ached, the jolt of electricity still sending aftershocks through him.

Jashakyrr glanced over his shoulder to check on Anakin, but that split second was a mistake as he was slammed against the Temple's wall and almost instantly his lightsaber was spiraling to the floor; his hands out of his control, gripped his throat.

Caedus's grin was wide, his expression clearly showing he wasn't about to realease the Force Grip he had on the Wookiee. Anakin observed the scene from the ground, he had to do something. He ached, but managed to stand. The room appeared to be swirling and it was difficult to concentrate, but he rammed himself into Caedus.

The two fell to the temple's floor and Caedus's Force Grip was severed. "Get off me!" Caedus hissed through gritted teeth.

"I would if I could see clearly, then I'd finish you off. You and Uncle Caedus both," Anakin retorted.

Caedus's laugh made the hairs on Anakin's neck stand on edge, "You couldn't even if the galaxy depended on it."

Caedus shoved his brother away from him and brought his lightsaber's blade inches from his brother's chest. "Any last words you wish for me to keep recorded? This would be an excellent story to tell my new apprentice."

Anakin raised an eyebrow, "New apprentice? Aren't you an apprentice yourself?"

"True, but once I become a Sith Lord I will be in need of an apprentice, and Ciell fits just perfectly. Anger from being an orphan, awful temper towards society, and then hatred once you're killed," Caedus replied.

Anakin's vision was a hazy red, fury welling up inside of him, "She'll never turn! She'll never be your apprentice!"

"That's not your decision, is it?" Caedus asked skeptically and slid the lightsaber's blade over to Anakin's right shoulder.

The blade penetrated through the flesh and bone. Anakin bit his tongue to keep from showing weakness. His brother was abusive…becoming a monster…

A thought abruptly crossed his mind….where had their Uncle gone?

He got his answer when a booted heel drove into his abdomen and his clavicle was scorched by the blade of a lightsaber. Hot tears formed in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.

"Pathetic." Darth Caedus commented.

The next moment Anakin realized something wasn't right. His Force abilities had been drained while he lay pathetically on the temple's floor. His opponents were clearly far more powerful than he or Jashakyrr had presumed them to be. He had been foolish to forget that his Uncle had the ability to sever someone's Force connection.

He had barely recovered his thoughts after being severed from the connection to the Force when he saw the blood-red blade that belonged to his brother's lightsaber come tumbling towards him. He rolled to the side so the blade barely missed him. "Wait! Before you kill me, I have urgent news! You know this can't be a ploy due to the fact even if I wanted to harm you I'm practically incapable of it in this state."

Caedus nodded, but didn't deactivate his lightsaber, "Logical point. What's so important you must delay your death?"

"Saar'ii," Anakin replied.

The name made Caedus flinch, "What about her?"

"She's gone into some mental state and desires nothing aside from seeing you again." Anakin said hastily.

"What would she want to see me for? We haven't spoken for three years. What's changed her mind?" Caedus said in disbelief.

"No idea, she just kept repeating she had to find you and nearly killed anyone who tried to stop her." Anakin said.

"Saar'ii's in trouble?" Caedus looked upset.

"Why does it matter to you?" Anakin asked curiously.

"She's the only friend I ever had aside from Inferno…it's just the friendship we once had keeps me concerned." Caedus replied.

"I was beginning to believe you didn't care about anyone. You wanted to be a Sith, didn't you?" Anakin argued.

Their Uncle observed the conversation in silence. He knew one thing that Anakin didn't, but he would never admit to it. His apprentice was talented and it was enjoyable seeing how he handled the situation between his twin. It was very different than any exchange he and Jaina had had once he'd become Darth Caedus.

"Of course I want to be a Sith." Caedus scowled.

"You've found your sacrifice then. You have to sacrifice someone you love, and even I can tell you love her." Anakin responded, a smile forming his cracked, bloody lips.

"No, I could…never kill her," Caedus replied, his eyes glistened.

"Return to the light side then. Leave this path of destruction behind. You could be reunited with Saar'ii and love her without the fear of having to kill her." Anakin said brightly.

"Perhaps…" Caedus pondered over the suggestion.

Anakin was surprised to find his brother's hand outstretched to him. He stared at it for a moment then accepted it. His brother helped him stand and Anakin grinned, "Glad you agreed to be redeemed before you were too far in this ridiculous path. Now help me get Jashakyrr out of here."

He started to walk over to Jasahkyrr's unconscious form when a sharp pain pierced his lower back. "Stang…"

Caedus removed the hilt of the shikkar he had injected into his brother's back. The glass blade remained inserted into Anakin's back. Caedus grinned as his brother fell to the temple's floor in defeat once again, "Uncle Caedus was right…you are pathetic." Caedus said with an amused chuckle.

"I thought…" Anakin sputtered.

"You thought wrong, dear brother. Can't even tell lies apart from the truth. I'm never returning to the path of a Jedi. Becoming a Sith has shown me what I'm meant to be. I can finally save the galaxy from destruction, and you will die before you can stop me from accomplishing that goal." Caedus replied.

The last thing Anakin remembered was that cold smile across his brother's face and the image of his deceased Uncle standing as menacing as ever behind him.