Part Fourteen
Note: Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been super busy. I hope you like this chapter. It's not as good as the others, but it at least sets everything up for the climax. Thanks for reading my story!
To say that the Republic was in disrepair was being generous. The fast crumble was due to the slowly growing factions and dissatisfaction of its members.
And it was all foreseen by Darth Sidious, who had lead the downfall himself, without the Jedi ever realizing.
*************************************************************************************
Coruscant did not seem so different from ship level, but they all knew that it was partially deserted, and filled with the minions of Sidious and the soldiers of The Independent Systems.
Anakin was quietly fuming, and the others were in a similar inward state. Obi Wan sat next to Buffy, his hand resting millimeters from hers, but not touching. She stared at the floor. He wanted to say something to her but he didn't know what to say. How did he comfort her over the lose of her best friend? He had had friends at the Jedi Academy but he had never stayed out long enough to have lasting friendships.
"So what happens after today?" Xander spoke up at long last. "If we win, do we keep fighting until the whole thing is squished? If we lose, do we hide? Do we abandon the republic? Have we signed up for a losing battle?"
He said what they were all wondering and hadn't the nerve to put to thought. They looked to Mace Windu who had been seeing the Republic falling part from long before they had. "Master Windu?" Obi Wan prompted.
"The Jedi will do what we have always done. We will fight for the Republic, no matter what happens." He didn't say anything more.
"This actually reminds me a lot more of slaying than I thought." Buffy mused to herself."
*************************************************************************************
It was the second time in as many weeks that Master Yoda had to take up the light saber to defend all that he had worked for over the last few centuries. "Darth Sidious, meeting you, a rare occasion it is."
"Master Yoda." The Sith Master growled. "I can't say it is a surprise."
"Win this you will not. The Republic is far larger than you imagine." A smug smiled played on the shadowed face of Yoda's opponent.
"That's what you think." The Sith hissed, with a painful cry he lashed out with the force. Yoda yelped as the man tried to squeeze him with his mind. Wrenching free Yoda whipped out his light saber. "The thing about you Yoda," Darth Sidious started, as he parried with his saber, "Is that you always believe in the good of everything and fail to see the bad until it is to late. Centuries old and you haven't learned." Toda frowned. Could this Sith be speaking the truth?
"Who are you?" Yoda asked.
*************************************************************************************
Spike felt the dread returning to the pit of his stomach. He hated Coruscant. He had no sun to fear, so he rather liked Tattoine. But he hated the cramped, crowded planet with a passion. At least he had some strange alien drink in his stomach. It helped to calm his nerves.
Even if he was evil, and boy did it feel good to be evil, something had gone through him when he killed Willow, some shadow of a doubt that reminded him of his past love for Buffy. He could have killed her right there as she threw herself on top of the body, but he had fled. Every time they met he fled.
He knew that was why he hadn't killed the woman, or successfully ruined the boy, but that would chance, he vowed, that would change. He would make sure that he never felt anything more for Buffy Summers, ever again.
*************************************************************************************
"It's scary to think that we came here, and we fought, and we saw a bigger picture, but there was still a bigger picture over that that just like crushed our picture. It's like an ant and a magnifying glass. You aren't following me."
"No Dawn. Not even close."
"A good Jedi always tries to see the bigger picture, and identify the evil." Obi Wan said, to ease the Slayer's sister's tension. Dawn stuck her tongue out at Buffy.
"That's why you'll always be at home Dawn." Buffy reminded her.
"Leave her alone Buffy." Xander said quietly. "Just don't."
"If things get bad you're all invited back to Naboo. We survived attacks before, we can do it again. You can have protection there." Amidala said.
"We'd probably be safer back on earth, in our homes, away from the Empire. I mean Republic." Buffy said coldly. Willow's death was affecting her slowly, numbing her more to the pains of the universe each second as she felt the mixed emotion for her friend billow up inside her heart and cause more pain and confusion.
"Can I talk to you in private Padawan Buffy? Anger gets you nowhere." Obi Wan said. Buffy nodded and slid from her seat, to follow him to the other room. "I haven't known you very long but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you are not usually discouraged by bad odds."
"I'm not. On earth Obi Wan. This is to big for anyone, especially one little organization of knights, no matter how good, to deal with on their own."
"We have the Republic."
"No you don't. God, wake up Obi Wan! The Republic that you love so well is run by the bad guys. There's a saying on earth. 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.' You're true enemies lie not just with the Independent Systems but within the Republic itself." Buffy looked at Obi Wan, openly, without hate, just with knowledge. He watched her watching him, sorry but certain, and he knew, he couldn't deny it, and shove it away anymore, he knew that he was terribly ignorant. And it would cost him and his fellow Jedi more than they would ever know.
Obi Wan trembled and Buffy held her arms out to him. He silently let her fold him into her small but strong arms, as he wept bitterly for the lose of the world he had tried to save. Suddenly, Buffy felt an overwhelming need to have him, there was something so right, so true, and so familiar with him.
"Come back to earth with me…And don't think of it as abandonment. Think of it as saving yourself for the future. You can help me on earth. You can be with me. They'll be no ties of time and space to bind us. No horizon we could not pursue. Could you let the Jedi rules that bind you unravel?" Buffy brushed her fingers through his hair, which still had flecks of sand in it. She smiled to herself, through the sadness that prevailed.
Obi Wan pressed himself against her as if he could meld himself to her, and learn some of what she knew so he could have peace within himself. Unlike Anakin who could easily toss his destiny aside for love, Obi Wan's course seemed as set as the stars themselves. It had been since he had been born, and it could not be denied forever. Not forever, but maybe for a little while. He raised his head so his blue eyes met her eyes.
"How are you so certain that the risk would be worth it?"
"It's your choice. I gave you my offer." She said nothing more to help him. The ship lurched, and suddenly they were thrown against each other.
"I hate to interrupt Master Kenobi, but the ship is under attack." Buffy watched as the mask slipped back over her Jedi Master's face.
"Thank you Anakin. See that the Droids are working. I'll be there in a minute."
"Yes, sir." Obi Wan looked at Buffy.
"It was a stupid question in a time of need, for us both. Good luck Obi Wan." Buffy slipped past him and Obi Wan cursed himself because he let her walk.
*************************************************************************************
Darh Sidious was strong with the Force, but Yoda had more experience, more time to hone his skills and learn the patience needed to control it. Well Sidious had learned more patience since the last time they had met, when he was still young, and Yoda, well he was less old.
"You will never win."
"I already have Yoda."
"The Jedi will never die. We may recede into the background of the galaxy, but we will never die." Yoda promised the Sith Master, scared that the painful truth was, well the truth.
"That's the pesky thing about your kind."
"Chancellor Palpatine, Darth Sidious, Jedi will know and stop you, even if I do not. This vowed I have."
"Your Jedi are being taken out one by one by my people."
"Believe you I don't."
"Don't then." They parried back and forth, Yoda focusing all his heart on beating the Sith, and Chancellor in one. If he could kill him then he may be able to savage what was left of the Republic.
The Sith's com link turned on and Yoda jumped forward, using the momentary distraction to cut the Sith across the ankles.
"This isn't over!" The Sith warned, using what was left of his strength to propel him and his bleeding feet away. Yoda stood panting, a tear in his eye. He had never cried in his life.
Note: Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been super busy. I hope you like this chapter. It's not as good as the others, but it at least sets everything up for the climax. Thanks for reading my story!
To say that the Republic was in disrepair was being generous. The fast crumble was due to the slowly growing factions and dissatisfaction of its members.
And it was all foreseen by Darth Sidious, who had lead the downfall himself, without the Jedi ever realizing.
*************************************************************************************
Coruscant did not seem so different from ship level, but they all knew that it was partially deserted, and filled with the minions of Sidious and the soldiers of The Independent Systems.
Anakin was quietly fuming, and the others were in a similar inward state. Obi Wan sat next to Buffy, his hand resting millimeters from hers, but not touching. She stared at the floor. He wanted to say something to her but he didn't know what to say. How did he comfort her over the lose of her best friend? He had had friends at the Jedi Academy but he had never stayed out long enough to have lasting friendships.
"So what happens after today?" Xander spoke up at long last. "If we win, do we keep fighting until the whole thing is squished? If we lose, do we hide? Do we abandon the republic? Have we signed up for a losing battle?"
He said what they were all wondering and hadn't the nerve to put to thought. They looked to Mace Windu who had been seeing the Republic falling part from long before they had. "Master Windu?" Obi Wan prompted.
"The Jedi will do what we have always done. We will fight for the Republic, no matter what happens." He didn't say anything more.
"This actually reminds me a lot more of slaying than I thought." Buffy mused to herself."
*************************************************************************************
It was the second time in as many weeks that Master Yoda had to take up the light saber to defend all that he had worked for over the last few centuries. "Darth Sidious, meeting you, a rare occasion it is."
"Master Yoda." The Sith Master growled. "I can't say it is a surprise."
"Win this you will not. The Republic is far larger than you imagine." A smug smiled played on the shadowed face of Yoda's opponent.
"That's what you think." The Sith hissed, with a painful cry he lashed out with the force. Yoda yelped as the man tried to squeeze him with his mind. Wrenching free Yoda whipped out his light saber. "The thing about you Yoda," Darth Sidious started, as he parried with his saber, "Is that you always believe in the good of everything and fail to see the bad until it is to late. Centuries old and you haven't learned." Toda frowned. Could this Sith be speaking the truth?
"Who are you?" Yoda asked.
*************************************************************************************
Spike felt the dread returning to the pit of his stomach. He hated Coruscant. He had no sun to fear, so he rather liked Tattoine. But he hated the cramped, crowded planet with a passion. At least he had some strange alien drink in his stomach. It helped to calm his nerves.
Even if he was evil, and boy did it feel good to be evil, something had gone through him when he killed Willow, some shadow of a doubt that reminded him of his past love for Buffy. He could have killed her right there as she threw herself on top of the body, but he had fled. Every time they met he fled.
He knew that was why he hadn't killed the woman, or successfully ruined the boy, but that would chance, he vowed, that would change. He would make sure that he never felt anything more for Buffy Summers, ever again.
*************************************************************************************
"It's scary to think that we came here, and we fought, and we saw a bigger picture, but there was still a bigger picture over that that just like crushed our picture. It's like an ant and a magnifying glass. You aren't following me."
"No Dawn. Not even close."
"A good Jedi always tries to see the bigger picture, and identify the evil." Obi Wan said, to ease the Slayer's sister's tension. Dawn stuck her tongue out at Buffy.
"That's why you'll always be at home Dawn." Buffy reminded her.
"Leave her alone Buffy." Xander said quietly. "Just don't."
"If things get bad you're all invited back to Naboo. We survived attacks before, we can do it again. You can have protection there." Amidala said.
"We'd probably be safer back on earth, in our homes, away from the Empire. I mean Republic." Buffy said coldly. Willow's death was affecting her slowly, numbing her more to the pains of the universe each second as she felt the mixed emotion for her friend billow up inside her heart and cause more pain and confusion.
"Can I talk to you in private Padawan Buffy? Anger gets you nowhere." Obi Wan said. Buffy nodded and slid from her seat, to follow him to the other room. "I haven't known you very long but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you are not usually discouraged by bad odds."
"I'm not. On earth Obi Wan. This is to big for anyone, especially one little organization of knights, no matter how good, to deal with on their own."
"We have the Republic."
"No you don't. God, wake up Obi Wan! The Republic that you love so well is run by the bad guys. There's a saying on earth. 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.' You're true enemies lie not just with the Independent Systems but within the Republic itself." Buffy looked at Obi Wan, openly, without hate, just with knowledge. He watched her watching him, sorry but certain, and he knew, he couldn't deny it, and shove it away anymore, he knew that he was terribly ignorant. And it would cost him and his fellow Jedi more than they would ever know.
Obi Wan trembled and Buffy held her arms out to him. He silently let her fold him into her small but strong arms, as he wept bitterly for the lose of the world he had tried to save. Suddenly, Buffy felt an overwhelming need to have him, there was something so right, so true, and so familiar with him.
"Come back to earth with me…And don't think of it as abandonment. Think of it as saving yourself for the future. You can help me on earth. You can be with me. They'll be no ties of time and space to bind us. No horizon we could not pursue. Could you let the Jedi rules that bind you unravel?" Buffy brushed her fingers through his hair, which still had flecks of sand in it. She smiled to herself, through the sadness that prevailed.
Obi Wan pressed himself against her as if he could meld himself to her, and learn some of what she knew so he could have peace within himself. Unlike Anakin who could easily toss his destiny aside for love, Obi Wan's course seemed as set as the stars themselves. It had been since he had been born, and it could not be denied forever. Not forever, but maybe for a little while. He raised his head so his blue eyes met her eyes.
"How are you so certain that the risk would be worth it?"
"It's your choice. I gave you my offer." She said nothing more to help him. The ship lurched, and suddenly they were thrown against each other.
"I hate to interrupt Master Kenobi, but the ship is under attack." Buffy watched as the mask slipped back over her Jedi Master's face.
"Thank you Anakin. See that the Droids are working. I'll be there in a minute."
"Yes, sir." Obi Wan looked at Buffy.
"It was a stupid question in a time of need, for us both. Good luck Obi Wan." Buffy slipped past him and Obi Wan cursed himself because he let her walk.
*************************************************************************************
Darh Sidious was strong with the Force, but Yoda had more experience, more time to hone his skills and learn the patience needed to control it. Well Sidious had learned more patience since the last time they had met, when he was still young, and Yoda, well he was less old.
"You will never win."
"I already have Yoda."
"The Jedi will never die. We may recede into the background of the galaxy, but we will never die." Yoda promised the Sith Master, scared that the painful truth was, well the truth.
"That's the pesky thing about your kind."
"Chancellor Palpatine, Darth Sidious, Jedi will know and stop you, even if I do not. This vowed I have."
"Your Jedi are being taken out one by one by my people."
"Believe you I don't."
"Don't then." They parried back and forth, Yoda focusing all his heart on beating the Sith, and Chancellor in one. If he could kill him then he may be able to savage what was left of the Republic.
The Sith's com link turned on and Yoda jumped forward, using the momentary distraction to cut the Sith across the ankles.
"This isn't over!" The Sith warned, using what was left of his strength to propel him and his bleeding feet away. Yoda stood panting, a tear in his eye. He had never cried in his life.