Chapter 14
A.N.: Ok everyone here it is. Finally. I want to apologize profusely for taking so long to finish this. Life has been… insane lately, to say the least. I know that's just an excuse, but I am commited to finishing this story one way or another. This chapter has been rewritten, dissected. Accidentally deleted (twice!), lost. Rethought, brought back to the original, and redone again. My muse and I have been locked in an all out war. I won this time, (I think) and I only hope that this chapter is worth the wait and the work that went into it. Also I had originally intended to continue on with this story going into what happens post but, between my muse and RL, I think that I will cut this off when it feels right, and leave further ideas for a possible (likely) sequel. We still have a couple chapters to go so were not done yet! Many thanks to all of you for your support and patience. If it wasn't for you this story probably would have been added to the evergrowing pile of 'complete someday's. So thank you, this is for you. I only hope that it's worth it.
The night cycle had long since fallen over Coruscant leaving the upper levels bathed in a sort of soft glow. The garish lights of the midlevels reflecting off the gleaming transparisteel to create a sort of aurora of light around the towering buildings of the upperlevel. Each tower reaching higher than the last till it seemed that they could touch the very stars.
The casual observer would be awestruck by the sight. Indeed Coruscant at night was something to behold, but, as is the way with many beautiful things, this was just the outer shell. If you went a little further beneath the surface into the mid-levels, you would find a completely different world then the serene elegance of the privileged upper levels.
Here, beneath the surface, the air buzzed with the noise of millions of beings crushed together in a teaming mass of anonyminity. Here, the night was almost brighter then the day, illuminated by thousands of garish neon lights. If anything the mid-levels were more active at night then during the day, millions of beings searching for an escape from the sheer drudgery of their lives in the dens of vice and iniquity that lined the airways.
Unnoticed by those beings, a single dark shuttle broke away from the streaming lines of traffic, diving deeper and deeper into the darkness. The pilot suppressed a shudder as the feelings of hopelessness, and despair. Desperation and fear, washed over him. Growing stronger the deeper he went. Then, suddenly the feelings were gone, the emptiness of the lowest levels almost comforting after the cloying sickness that he had just passed.
Deep within the bowels of the city planet, far deeper than even the most hardened of criminals would dare to tread, the shuttle came to a halt. A section of wall, appearing no different than any other, shuddered and slid slowly open, allowing the small shuttle to enter the hidden landing bay, and disappeared as though it had never been. In fact, anyone observing would have doubted that they had seen anything at all.
The docking bay doors slid shut behind him with a small whoosh of compressed air as Anakin moved silently down the short corridor that would take him to the labyrinth of tunnels that riddled the Imperial Palace . He snorted as he entered his personal code into the security pad. The Emperors paranoia was evident in the construction of these tunnels. To one unfamiliar with the twisting corridors and dead ends, the tunnels were essentially a death trap, and as far as he knew there were only a handful of people who even knew of the tunnels existence, let alone were familiar enough with them to navigate the narrow corridors.
The door gave way with a loud groan and a hiss. The stale scent of dust and reprocessed air assailed his nostrils as he stepped into the pitch-black interior of the tunnels. Anakin fumbled along the wall for a moment before his hand latched around one of the small glowlamps that were located to the left of every exit and entrance to the tunnels. The lamp whirred for a moment before snapping on and bathing the corridor with a dim light. He didn't waste time looking around, not that there was much to see. Narrow corridors of black stone extended as far as the eye could see in either direction. The pale light of the glow lamp reflecting dully off of the smooth black stone, and revealing the small eddies of that dust rose up around him as his cloak swirled over the floor.
He thought, not for the first time, that he was lucky he wasn't claustrophobic as the tunnel was so narrow that there was barely two inches between his broad shoulders and the wall on either side, and if he were to stand up straight his hair would brush the ceiling.
The only sound was the even rhythm of his breathing and the steady clomping of his boots echoing hollowly off of the narrow walls. Lost in these sounds he allowed himself to be submersed in the chaotic web of thoughts and emotions that swirled within him like an maelstrom. Everything was so uncertain right now. He wasn't sure where he stood. He wasn't the naïve young jedi that he had once been, could never be that man again. And yet he wasn't really Darth Vader any more either. He couldn't say when it had happened. Couldn't pick one moment and say that's it. That's when I changed. Rather it was more of a slow process. A lessening by degrees until that final click, holding Padme in his arms as she wept for all that had been lost.
Which is not to say that he was free from the darkness. Far from it. The darkness had always been within him, been a part of him, and likely it always would be. In a way it is the very essence of humanity. You cannot have the light without the dark, or vice-versa. In order to exist we need both.
This was all irrelevant however, because at the moment, both sides were focused on the one thing they agreed on. Padme, both loved her. One would give anything for her, the other do anything to keep her. And at the moment they both wanted revenge for what had been done to her. The darkness howled scratching beneath the surface, demanding blood, Palpatines blood.
He remembered the pain that had flown freely through their bond as she had spoken of her time in the medical center. He sensed that she hadn't been completely honest with him, he hadn't pushed her because he believed he knew what it was she was protecting, and while it gauled him no end that she felt she couldn't trust him he understood why she would feel the need to do so. Likely she was right anyway, if he had known for certain, there is a chancethat great harm would have befallen, the very thing she saught to protect.
There was no point thinking futher on this now, there would be plenty of time to deal with all of it after he had accomplished what he came her to accomplish.
He flicked the lamp off as he neared a dark alcove, nearly invisible to the naked eye. With the ease born of habit, he stashed the lamp on the shelf and pushed at several points in the stone. He reached out scanning the large chamber with the force, empty save for the dark void that signified the Emperors presence. No guards or companions, this might just be easier than he had anticipated. With a final push, the wall gave way with a click, popping back and sliding neatly into the wall.
The room was large and sparse as were most of Palpatines personal chambers. The room was barren of furnishings, save for the large throne that sat perched on a dais at the far end of the room. The throne was facing away from him, arranged to view the large array of viewscreens and control panels that made up the back wall of the room. From this room Palpatine could control the entire Galaxy, maneuvering worlds and people like pawns on Dejarik board. Anakin had taken only two steps into the room when the door slid shut behind him, locking with an audible click.
"So, my old 'apprentice' you have decided to betray me."
Anakin clamped down on his emotions, controlling his surprise, and fear for Padme at the Emperors words, as the large chair slowly turned to face him.
"You thought I wouldn't know what you were planning?" he asked his tone almost mockingly conciliatory. Then in a flesh his face twisted into an expression of rage. "I know everything! Nothing escapes my attention! Nothing! I knew your greed and lust for power would drive you to betray me one day" his tone softened once again. "Oh yes, I knew it from the first moment I met you. I know you. We are alike you and I. Do it. Strike me down and fulfill your destiny!"
He threw his hood back angrily, blue eyes blazing. "I am nothing like you! I will not become like you. Surrender yourself to me now and I will spare your life…"
"Palpatine was on his feet in an instant, unlit lightsaber clutched tightly in his gnarled hand. "Never!"
A slow grin spread across Anakin's face as he unfastened his cape allowing it to fall to the floor with a soft swish of fabric. "I was hoping you'd say that 'emperor'."
Palpatine launched himself at Anakin with a scream of rage, his blade held high for a killing blow.
In an instant Anakin's lightsaber was in his hand, the blade drawn and ignited in a fluid motion. A thrum of energy coursed up his arm as the familiar scent of burnt ozone teased his nostrils. Anakin swung his blade to meet Palpatines, easily countering the blow, forcing Palpatine to step backward sharply. Palpatine's twisted face contorted even further into a grotesque expression of rage. Battering his blade down on Anakin's again and again.
Sparks flew through the air as the two crimson blades locked and clashed in a deadly dance as the two opponents moved across the floor. Anakin was easily the better swordsman, his youth and agility giving him an advantage over the aged emperor. Palpatine had grown complacent in his power, his arrogance. He was fueled by a dark rage, the darkside almost a palpatable thing around him, it's presence thick and oily so you could almost taste it. His eyes lit with an unholy light as he brought his blade down on Anakin's again and again, sheer force of will keeping him from loosing his grip on the blade as Anakin easily countered his attacks time after time.
Palpatine snarled and through a burst of force lighting toward his opponent. Anakin's lightsabre deflected most of the energy, dispersing it into the air around him. The air crackled with electricity, the smell of burnt ozone, mingling with perspiration. The hair on his arms stood on end from the super charged air. Anakin's eyes gleamed brightly as he gathered the energy from the air reforming it into a single powerful burst of energy. The burst hit the emperor square in the chest sending him flying across the floor to slam into the dais with a dull thud.
Anakin moved toward him slowly as the Emperor began to recover looking around desperately for his lightsaber. Anakin spotted it first and sliced it in two as it flew through the air towards the Emperor. For the first time Palpatine felt real fear, his eyes were large as he scuttled backwards up the stairs his back pressing against the throne.
"Wait! Surely we can come to some sort of agreement! I have something you want…" Palpatine said placatingly.
"Oh what's that? Money? Power? My own planet?" he said sarcasticly.
"No… your wife."
Anakin froze midstep, his gaze narrowing sharply on the huddled Emperor who was trying to subtly ease himself back up onto the throne. "What did you say?"
"Your wife. She's alive, and has been my prisoner these past ten years." Noticing the look of anger on his face he continued hurriedly. "But if I die, she will be killed before you can ever find her." He finished more firmly, as he finally settled into the throne.
"Your wrong." Anakin said softly. In a move that was so swift he couldn't catch it, Anakin was on him. His blade slid through his abdomen like butter, neatly severing the spinal cord. Palpatine was frozen unable to move, only his eyes betrayed his fear as the slowly widened in knowledge that had come to late. Anakin's blade moved slowly upward towards the heart. The smell of scorched flesh filling the air. He moved closer and whispered sofly, "You never should have touched her." Then with a flick of the wrist it was over. The blade consumed Palpatine's heart with a burning fire, literally scorching it from his breast. The pupils dilated one last time, and it was done.
Anakin stepped back from the throne with a jerk. His breath coming in sharp gasps. The lightsaber fell from his nerveless fingers with a dull clatter. He realized with a start that he was shaking. He couldn't help feeling that it should have been harder. The man that had ruled his life for so long, had destroyed millions of lives on a whim, was dead. Perhaps that was the simple point of it. In the end Palpatine was nothing more than a man. He bled like any other,… died like any other. He stood like that silently staring at the emperors lifeless form, for how long, he didn't know. Silently, he scooped up the lightsaber, and turned walking from the room. He didn't look back. Not once.
I don't know exactly what it was that alerted me to his presence. I was lost in the bright sweep of stars and lights that spread out around me in a panorama of incredible beauty. It has been so long since I have had the privilage of simply sitting outside. Yet another of those foolish little things that you take for granted until they are gone. Really how many beings step outside and stop, overwhelmed in appreciation of what lays out before them. The sun and the moon, the twinkling stars, the wind, rain, trees, all of it. These are things that most people see every day, and simply take them for granted. I don't think I will ever be able to do that again. These things have become infinitely precious.
Lost in the vastness of the sky, I sit on the cool stone ledge of the balcony, idly running a brush through my still damp hair. That to was a great pleasure, the feeling of clean water running over my body. WARM water pulsing against my stiff muscles. I sigh softly with the memory. The sky seems so much bigger, and brighter than I remember. The lights of the city so much sharper. Traffic no longer passes around the apartment, and the buildings have grown up around it, towering over it and blocking out the sky in places. But not here. This building alone remains untouched, a silent sentinal, a reminder of what was… and perhaps will be again. I know that the pristine condition of the building, and the emptiness that surrounds it, are his doing. I feel oddly grateful for this, grateful that this place and all the memories that it holds have not been destroyed, buried under mounds of durasteel. At first I couldn't bear to face those memories and everything they embodied, but now I have come to realize that I need them. I lived so long without them, I survived because of that same mental distance, but I don't need to simply survive any longer. I have a chance, while not a great one, an opportunity to live again. To make a shot at having my family, my life. For the first time in a very long time, I have hope.
A tenseness moves into my muscles, the instinctive tightening of prey that has been spotted by a predator. I don't know how I didn't notice his presence, perhaps I was to lost in my thoughts. Slowly I turn to face him, his dark eyes locking with mine. The look on his face is one of extreme displeasure. The urge to squirm uncomfortably under that intense gaze fills me, but I refuse to give into it. I firm my spine and look him directly in the eye, unflinching. I am not to be cowed, I will bow to no man.
"What are you doing out here?" he asks sharply his voice tight with anger.
I open my mouth to speak but he doesn't wait for my answer.
"Do you realize what could have happened? Someone might have seen you. You could have been killed or worse. I told you not to leave the apartment, you are safe inside but I cannot protect you out here!" he says tightly as he starts to move toward me.
"No one did see me, and I'm fine. I take it from your presence that your… 'meeting' went well?" I ask softly.
He looks at me silently for a moment before nodding curtly. "He's dead. I killed him"
I feel drained as an overwhelming feeling of relief swamps through me, my head drops limply to my chest as I murmer prayers of thanksgiving silently into the night. He's dead, it's over. A cool breeze passes over us, and I cannot suppress a shiver as the cool air blows through the thin material of my nightgown.
My head snaps up as Anakin curses sharply and moves toward me once again. "You are still not fully recoverd, you should not be out here, and most certainly not dressed like that."
"I am not a child Anakin!" I snap as he grips my arm firmly to pull me to my feet. I'm not certain whether he underestimated his own strength, or if he overestimated my weight, but the end result is that I am propelled upwards slamming into his chest, my body flush with his.
His arms come up instinctively to steady me, and he freezes. His breathing is labored as I look up into his eyes. They are still dark, but this time with a different emotion. My breath catches in my throat as his gaze locks on my lips. I swallow sharply my mouth suddenly dry as his head moves slowly toward mine. "No, most definitely not a child." He murmers softly his breath feathering against my skin. Then his lips are on mine firm and warm, at once exciting and familiar. I can feel my own lips softenin beneath his as warm tingling waves of desire start to pulse through my body. He groans sharply as my arms come up to embrace his, and he pulls me more firmly against his body. So close that I can scarcely tell where he ends and I begin, yet it's not enough. I need to be closer, a need I can feel closely mirrored in him as his hands tangle in my hair. As the passion crests higher within me, I surrender myself to it, letting desire swamp me. Surrendering, I let go, and the hairbrush falls unheeded to the floor.