Chapter Ten: Fighting for their Lives

Five minutes earlier

The Jade Saber and Steel Dragon scoured the moon's surface with their sensors in search of Brakiss' encampment. They didn't use the Force, for fear of being detected. That left them with the old-fashioned method, scanning the planet in hopes of finding something, anything that would lead them in the right direction.

On the Jade Saber, Ami's eyes were glued to the sensors. "I'm picking up life forms!" she half-shouted.

Anakin unbuckled his crash webbing and leaned over Ami's shoulder. "It's 200 meters south of our position. We must be cautious"

Mara reached for the com, but the squeal of the speakers beat her to it. "Jade Saber, this is the Steel Dragon. We've found them-or rather, Zekk found them."

Mara nodded, sending her reddish locks bouncing. "Good work, Zekk. Let's set down here and go on foot." She eased up on the flight stick and set the engines to hover. As the ship descended to the sands, Mara and Ami half-closed their eyes and concentrated, willing an ornate rod into each of their right hands.

The ship touched down with a thud, allowing Mara to power down the engines. She and Ami unbuckled their crash webbing and, accompanied by Anakin, headed for the main cabin. They found Hotaru and Lusa-or rather; they found Sailor Saturn and Sailor Chiron.

Saturn held out her right hand and the Silence Glaive materialized. "We must move quickly," she intoned.

Mara held her transformation wand high and shouted. "Coruscant Power Makeup!"

Ami also held her wand up high and shouted. "Mercury Crystal Power Makeup!"

A stream of blue energy wound around the young woman's body, melting her jumpsuit and reforming it into a Sailor Fuku with a bright blue bow on front. A matching skirt, knee-high boots and elbow-length gloves completed the ensemble.

At the same time, a green shaft of light enveloped Mara. When it faded, she wore a Sailor Fuku with a green bow on front, matching ankle boots and elbow-length gloves. "I am the pretty sailor-suited soldier Sailor Coruscant! I will right wrongs and punish those who use the Dark Side!" Coruscant's eyes suddenly blinked and her whole body stiffened as she realized what she said.

She raised her hand to her temple and massaged her forehead. "I need to stop with these speeches. They're driving me insane!" She ran over to the control panel for the door and hit it with her palm, simultaneously opening the hatch and lowering the ramp. Chiron trotted down, followed by Anakin, Coruscant, Saturn and Mercury.

They glanced over and saw the Steel Dragon to their right. Sailor Dathomir, Sailor Corellia, Sailor Tatooine, Jacen and Zekk all simultaneously looked over, locking eyes with their friends and family.

Coruscant unclipped her lightsaber from her skirt and ignited it, sending a sapphire blade shooting forth. "Let's do this," she coldly said. "For love…"

The other Senshi finished for her. "And the Force!"

The ten Jedi ran up a sand dune, but not all was well. Chiron's equine legs sank up to her flanks under her weight. She let out a cry and thrashed about, getting even more caught in the sand dune. "Little help, here?"

Saturn turned back to her and raised her right hand, telekinetically raising Chiron from the sand. "The ground over the rise will be more compact and will be able to support your weight," she said. "Until then, I shall help you, my friend."

Chiron nodded her thanks, sending her chestnut-brown locks bouncing up and down. "I owe you."

Corellia and Coruscant quickly took the lead. The younger woman looked up at her aunt and said between breaths, "So, what do we do when we reach the top?"

The former Emperor's Hand stared at the approaching top of the sand dune and quickly formulated a plan. "It's simple. You and Tatooine begin firing off Corellia Starbursts and Tatooine Groundquakes like there's no tomorrow." She turned and motioned at the rest of the group with her free hand. "Hotaru, can you extend your Silence Wall around Tionne and her group?"

The young Senshi thought for a moment. "I believe so, but it won't hold for long."

Coruscant's eyes narrowed, not unlike that of a predator. "It won't have to. Jacen, Anakin, Zekk, I want you three to take out any clones down there. Lusa, Tenel Ka, I have an important mission for you." She bent down and pulled her crystal shard out of a flap on her ankle boot and handed it to Dathomir. "Try and figure out how to fit it together and how to use it against Xim's spirit."

Corellia and Chiron also handed the warrior princess their shards. Dathomir nodded. "We will find the method. That is a fact."

Sailor Tatooine also nodded and held up a clenched fist. "Sure thing! We'll beat that old jerk no matter what it takes! Brakiss is a dead man!"

Coruscant's face turned up in a half-smile as she regarded the young girl. "That we will, Tahiri. That we will."

The ten Jedi resumed running up the dune, reaching the summit in two minutes and cresting the top. Coruscant looked down-just in time to see all hell break loose. She rolled her green eyes and sighed at her husband. "I guess they didn't need our help after all."

Tamith Kai chuckled as Brakiss readied a killer blow. With Skywalker dead, the entire Jedi Order would crumble without their leader within months. She gripped the time staff as Brakiss built up the charge. Suddenly, a multi-colored blur appeared in front of her, startling her.

Before she could react, Setsuna grabbed her time staff back. "This is not a toy!" she snarled, swinging it at Tamith Kai's head. Tamith simultaneously raised her arms in an attempt to block the object and leaned back, doubling over as her gauntleted hands pushed the time staff away.

The Nightsister somersaulted back and landed in a crouch, hands already out front. "How did you get free?"

The guardian of time held out her hand and concentrated. As her transformation wand appeared in it, she spoke. "The Force is my ally, as is Master Skywalker." She then held the ornate rod high and shouted, "Pluto Crystal Power Makeup!"

At the same time, Brakiss was still readying his killer blow. Before he could deliver it, he gasped as two incredibly strong, incredibly hairy arms wrapped around him and squeezed.

His blue eyes bugged out as Lowie lifted him off the ground, roaring. His armor even began to groan and strain as Lowie's powerful, Force-enhanced embrace cracked it open. He snarled and let his anger build before letting loose with Sith Lightning. The bluish-white bolts of energy streamed around Lowie, causing him to drop Brakiss and reel back in pain. His fur smoked and Em Teedee's vocalizer sent out static.

Luke raced toward his friend, lightsaber ignited and at the ready. Brakiss turned to Luke and smirked, though "Sorry, 'Master', but you've got a meeting with Daddy dearest first."

Luke skidded to a stop and felt a prickly sensation crawl up his spine. He turned and raised his lightsaber, the green plasma blade meeting up with Anakin Skywalker's blood-red energy blade. Luke parried it down and stepped back. "I don't want to fight you, he pleaded. "Father…"

Anakin stepped forward and wordlessly attacked, ignoring Luke's plea. He feinted a stab and then brought his blade up high, nearly decapitating Luke. The clone's ice blue eyes bore into Luke, while an expression of confidence spread across his face. "You're weak, son. I could take you anytime."

Luke deftly blocked a side chop, then sent Anakin back with a series of thrusts and overhead swings. "I may not want to fight you, but I will in order to protect that which I hold most dear!"

Jacen and Anakin, meanwhile, ran down the sand dune, kicking up clouds of dust on the way. both stopped at the bottom and looked around, checking out the situation in Anakin's case. The hostages were already free and were battling the clones, Tamith Kai or Brakiss. A lot better than he expected.

Anakin suddenly looked to the left and shouted, "Duck!" while rolling to the side.

Jacen turned to his younger brother with a confused look on his face. "What's a duck?" His brown eyes went wide as he saw a boot flying right to his face. "Oh, blaster-" The calf impacted the left side of his face, breaking his cheekbone in two places and slicing open his ear. He fell to the ground like a sack of bricks, twitching and groaning in pain

Anakin's eyes widened in horror as Kyp Durron stood there with a malicious grin plastered onto his face. He didn't even realize that he had activated his lightsaber until he saw the blue blade.

The clone of Kyp also held a lightsaber in a ready position. He swung it at Anakin in a deceptively lazy arc, hitting Anakin's blade and forcing it into a downward spin. Anakin held out his hand and telekinetically shoved Durron back, knocking the clone back a bit and also knocking the wind out of him.

The clone quickly rolled out of the way milliseconds before Anakin's blue blade came up to slice his head off. Durron roared, swinging his lightsaber at Anakin. The two quickly lost themselves as their battle waged.

Sailor Dathomir carefully approached the wizened form of Gethzerion. She gripped her turquoise-colored lightsaber, pointing it at the old crone. "You corrupted the women of Dathomir and turned them to the Dark Side. "I can't forgive you for that! In the name of the Force, I shall punish you!"

Gethzerion turned her red, bloodshot eyes upon the young woman. "Insolent whelp! Do you think you can beat me?" She casually raised a bony arm and fired off a stream of lightning at Dathomir, not even bothering or caring.

Dathomir raised her arms and shouted, "Hapan Wall of Protection!" forming a glass-like bubble around her and redirecting the lightning from her body and into the ground. As soon as the lightning ceased, she leapt at Gethzerion and swung her blade at the Nightsister's head with a mighty yell.

The old crone gasped and quickly held her hand up, erecting a telekinetic barrier between her head and Dathomir's blade The plasma blade skidded against the invisible wall and Dathomir The twisted in the air and before landing in back of Gethzerion.

She twisted around just as the crone raised her knobby arm and sent out a stream of Sith Lightning. Sailor Dathomir brought her turquoise lightsaber high and concentrated, causing all of the lightning to flow into the blade harmlessly.

Gethzerion raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. We appear to be at a stalemate."

Dathomir nodded. "That is, unfortunately, a fact." She assumed an offensive martial arts stance. "It is also a fact that I won't give up."

Gethzerion smiled, showing off a mouthful of yellow, rotted teeth. "Neither will I, child." Sparks danced around her fingertips as she spoke. "Neither will I."

Sailor Coruscant and Sailor Corellia approached the last of the clones. Corellia observed Sannah, Luna and Tionne as they ran up the dune and away from the clones and both breathed a sigh of relief..

They soon joined up with Tatooine, Zekk, Saturn, Chiron and Mercury. "Stay back!" Coruscant shouted. She turned and spotted the final clone heading toward the pair.

His living armor pulsed as he spoke. "So, a failed Dark Sider and a trainee are going to stop me? Do you even know who I am?" he said, laughing.

Coruscant's green eyes narrowed as she stared at him. She gasped as an image from long ago appeared in her mind…

Palpatine stood before a large statue. His head turned slightly to his right and he glanced down at a small girl. "Do you know who this is?"

The girl looked up at the imposing stone statue, her head tilting and her long reddish hair falling over her left shoulder. "It's Darth Bane, the first of the new Lords of the Sith. He started the rule of two one thousand years ago."

Palpatine smiled, somehow causing him to look even more evil. "Excellent, my young Hand." He grasped the girl's shoulder and began leading her down a large corridor. Statues and paintings of other Sith Lords lined the expansive hallway. "Now we shall begin your education in your duties…"

Coruscant gritted her teeth and slid down the sand dune, sending up a cloud of dust in her wake. She ignited her lightsaber halfway down, jumped up at the bottom and swung it at Darth Bane's head as soon as she reached him.

Bane leaned back, allowing the lightsaber to pass harmlessly over his bald head. He thrust his arms into the air and quickly gathered his power while Coruscant readied another attack. After a few seconds, Sailor Corellia joined her aunt in attacking Bane, but he managed to barely dodge her as well.

The first of the new Lords of the Sith waited until both Senshi were in range, then thrust his arms out and punched each one right in their ribcage while simultaneously releasing a massive amount of Dark Side energy through his gauntleted hands. The point of contact flashed briefly before Corellia and Coruscant cried out and were flung back.

The blast drove Corellia into the sand, burning her chest. She tried to get up, but slid down, clutching the point of impact. Coruscant also slammed into the sand dune like a rag doll and was quickly rendered unconscious. Bane let out a snort of laughter. "Nothing can stop me. I am invincible!"

At the top of the sand dune, Saturn and Mercury looked down at Bane. They, along with Tatooine, Zekk, Luna and Chiron, formed sort of a reserve force.

Mercury's blue eyes flashed as she saw Bane hit her friends with Dark Side energy. She raised her arms and pointed her ignited lightsaber at him. "Shine Aqua Illusion!" A stream of watery energy began flowing around the blade before shooting off at Bane.

He raised his arms and crossed them in front of his chest. A crystalline barrier appeared in front of him, deflecting almost all of the water. A little bit slipped through, however, and hit him in the chest, freezing the orbalisk armor and killing several of the symbiotes. They flaked off, leaving Bane's chest vulnerable.

Saturn's raised her Silence Glaive and narrowed her eyes, concentrating all on the blades of her weapon before shouting, "Death Ribbon Revolution!" Twin streams of rainbow-colored energy shot off from the glowing blades, streaking out and hitting Bane's shield. They skittered across the barrier before breaking through-and skewering Bane right through the chink in his armor. Blood leaked from his mouth as internal organs were perforated, and he dropped to the ground, dead before reaching the sand.

Saturn looked down at the corpse and suppressed a shudder of revulsion. "I hate doing that. I sometimes hate my power."

Mercury nodded and patted her on the shoulder. "Killing is never right, but it is a necessary evil." She looked over at the other areas of combat, scanning with trained eyes. Then she looked down at Sailor Coruscant and Sailor Corellia. The former had finally regained consciousness, and the latter was trying to stand.

Sailor Chiron, who was standing just behind Mercury and Tatooine, trotted over to the pair. Mercury looked at the young centaur and said, "Lusa, check up on Mistress Jade. I'll check Jaina." She then looked over at Sailor Tatooine. "Watch for anything suspicious." She then slid down the sand dune toward Sailor Corellia. At the same time, Chiron skidded down to Sailor Coruscant.

Mercury stopped in front of her friend. She tugged on her ear, and a blue-tinted visor swept across her equally blue eyes. Her mini-computer materialized in her hands as she scanned the still groggy Corellia. "Did we win?" she asked.

Mercury shook her head. "Ah, no. He nearly killed you. As a matter of fact, that Force blast broke three of your ribs." She touched the broken areas, sending healing energy through the Force.

Corellia groaned as she fought to remain standing. "It doesn't matter. We've got to stop Xim's spirit."

Mercury shook her head. "No. You have to finish-"

She stopped talking as Corellia grabbed her by her collar and spoke through gritted teeth. "No way! I am a Jedi Knight and a Sailor Senshi. A few broken ribs won't slow me down. Besides, Aunt Mara was probably hit worse than I was, and look at her!"

Mercury turned her head and saw Sailor Coruscant standing a few meters away. Sailor Chiron was tending to a few of her wounds, but the older woman appeared all right. Mercury turned back to her friend. "If you think you're all right, I won't stop you."

Corellia flashed Mercury a trademarked Solo grin, but as soon as she turned away, a grimace of pain sweep over her face.

Sailor Coruscant checked her Sailor Fuku and found nothing out of place. Although her back hurt, she didn't feel any other pain.

Chiron scanned her through the Force and through observation. "Other than a bump on the head and some abrasions to the back, you seem fine."

The redheaded Senshi looked over the various battles going on. "We can't just stand around! We've got to do something!" She glanced over at Mercury and Corellia and motioned them over. At the same time, Zekk and Tionne led Sannah, Luna, Saturn and Tatooine down the sand dune.

Zekk looked over at Jacen's prone form. "I got to get to him. That Durron clone's dangerous, and I don't know how long Anakin can last."

Coruscant nodded and looked over. She saw Lowie trying to crawl away from the duel between Luke, Anakin Skywalker and Brakiss. "Lusa, get that Wookiee!"

Sailor Chiron looked over the battlefield and saw the lanky Wookiee crawling away from the fights. His fur was burned in several areas, and his brown eyes had a glassy look about them. "Right!" she shouted before making her way across the battlefield.

Sailor Tatooine, meanwhile, dug out her crystal shard from a pocket on her uniform. "I think we better figure out how to use this. Any ideas?"

Sannah pointed at Tamith Kai and Sailor Pluto. Both were locked in a dance of death as Pluto parried and blocked the Nightsister's thrusts and chops. "That Force witch has our crystal shards as well as Tionne, Lowie and Setsuna's lightsabers," she snarled. Her yellow eyes bore holes into Tamith Kai, but the Nightsister paid her no heed.

Tionne half-closed her silvery eyes and concentrated. Her transformation wand appeared in her right hand. "Sannah," she said, looking down at the small Melodie. "We'd better transform."

The young girl sighed, but held out her right hand. She closed her pale yellow eyes and concentrated. After a second, an ornate rod appeared in her hand. She and Tionne held their wands to the sky and shouted.

"Yavin Power Makeup!"

"Melodie Power Makeup!"

Anakin struggled as Durron pressed his attack. The clone's green eyes danced with an internal fire, and his mouth was slightly ajar.. The tow-headed Solo knew this wasn't the slightly vain but guilty Jedi Master he had grown to respect. This clone was everything Kyp Durron rejected. This was the butcher of Carida. This was Kyp under the thrall of Exar Kun's shade. This was Kyp Durron completely insane, and Anakin had no kriffin' idea what to do.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Zekk hurrying over to get Jacen.

Durron caught the motion of his eye and raised his left hand, pointing it at the former Dark Jedi. Bluish-white bolts of Sith Lightning leapt from his hand and shot at Zekk.

The lanky young man looked up and in a flash ignited his lightsaber. A reddish-orange blade sprang to existence just in time to intercept the bolts of pure evil. Sparks erupted and he pursed his lips in concentration.

Suddenly, Durron stumbled back a few steps as Zekk Force-shoved him. The little tap didn't hurt the clone, but it did give Zekk enough time to hoist Jacen onto his left shoulder in a fireman's carry. Jacen's brandy-colored eyes fluttered open. "Did we win?" he said groggily.

Zekk sighed as he hotfooted across the white desert floor. "Sorry, but you'll have to sit this one out." He quickly made his way back to his group.

Anakin quickly took advantage of Zekk's distraction. He pressed the attack, shoving Durron back with another Force-push. The clone lost his grip on his lightsaber and fell onto his backside.

Anakin ran over and destroyed the clone's lightsaber with a deft flick of his wrist. He then moved his wrist slightly and held his blue-bladed lightsaber two centimeters from the clone's chin. "I don't think I have to tell you what a superheated plasma blade can do to human flesh," he said with a maddeningly calm voice.

The clone's eyes went wide and a snarl formed on his lips. He let out a wordless yell-and sat up, impaling his throat on Anakin's blade. The clone's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he slid off the lightsaber's blade, carving out a little more of his throat.

Anakin deactivated his lightsaber and let the hilt slip from his suddenly numb fingers. He stepped back even as the hilt landed in the sand, producing a small cloud of dust. A look of total shock was plastered over his face as he mumbled. "I didn't…I didn't…mean to do that." He stepped back-and bumped into Sailor Saturn.

The young woman looked up into Anakin's troubled eyes, sensing his doubt, uncertainty and sadness over the clone's death. "Anakin, you didn't do anything wrong. He killed himself."

The two friends made their way back to the 'reserves'. "It was still disturbing. And it was still my blade."

Saturn looked back at the hilt still lying in the sand. She raised her free hand and levitated it into her outstretched hand and then looked over at her best friend. "It doesn't matter. He killed himself. You have nothing to be guilty over. Besides, Master Skywalker himself said that we can't redeem the clones."

Anakin mulled Saturn's words over as they reached their friends. Jacen was lying on the ground and was being tended to be Sailor Mercury. "He'll live, but he'll have to have his jaw wired shut for a week."

Sailor Corellia let out a mocking sigh of relief. "Does that mean no jokes? Oh, joy!"

Jacen slowly raised himself using his elbows. He opened his mouth, but only a garbled cry of pain came out. Mercury touched his forehead and put him into a light-healing trance. The blue-haired genius then stood up and spoke to Coruscant. "Have you figured anything out?"

Coruscant shook her head. "They're too small for our hands. It's like trying to hold onto water. They keep slipping out."

Sailor Melodie glanced over at Pluto and Tamith Kai, still fighting. "We still need those crystal shards too. Without them, we're stuck with a pretty bauble and nothing more."

Sailor Yavin, who had been watching the battle, suddenly tossed her bowed hair over her shoulders. "I'm giving Setsuna a hand," she stated, clenching a fist. And before anyone could object, Sailor Yavin sprinted across the desert floor.

Tamith Kai swung her lightsaber at Pluto. The Nightsister was consumed with rage as the Senshi deftly blocked her attacks with that damned time staff of hers! The guardian of the Time Gate spun around for a parry, Her dark green, almost black hair sweeping around her body as she jabbed Tamith Kai in her armored gut with the staff.

The Nightsister fell to the ground, but she quickly regained her footing and attacked Pluto with a stab to the gut.

Pluto let the Force flow through her as she blocked Tamith Kai's stab. The blade skidded along the time staff, sending up a shower of sparks that momentarily blinded both combatants. When Pluto's vision cleared, she saw a good friend standing behind Tamith Kai-Sailor Yavin.

A glance down confirmed that the Nightsister had the crystal shards in a pouch on her belt. Three stolen lightsabers were also there, jangling and bouncing to the beat of the battle. Pluto parried the blood-red lightsaber down and, with some help from the Force, spun Tamith Kai around. "Now, Tionne!" she shouted.

Sailor Yavin, standing at the ready, latched onto Tamith Kai's belt with the Force and yanked with all her might. The dried leather strap quickly ripped off and sailed right into Yavin's hand. With one smooth motion, she unclipped her lightsaber, flung the belt over her shoulder and activated her silver-colored lightsaber. "Now you see the true power of the Force," Sailor Yavin said, posing somewhat. "Hey, this is kinda fun!"

She then thrust her blade at Tamith Kai, who now could only dodge the attack. She rolled to her right and got to one knee before Sailor Yavin was upon her. Tamith Kai blocked an incoming strike and the two became locked in a test of strength, their blades straining against one another. The Nightsister's arm muscles bulged as she, over a period of five minutes, fought to a standing position. "I will not lose to some dressed-up Jedi!"

Her purple eyes bulged with hate, and with a final burst of strength, pushed the silver-haired Senshi off. She raised her left hand and sparks erupted from her gloved hand. "I am going to enjoy watching you fry."

Her danger sense suddenly flared, not unlike a shiver up her spine. She looked to her left and saw Pluto standing there, the top of her time staff leveled at her.

"Dead Scream," she whispered, releasing a torrent of energy from the ancient weapon. It slammed into Tamith Kai, disintegrating the Nightsister's flesh and blowing her flaming corpse into the side of a sand dune where it lay there, smoldering.

Yavin's silver eyes went wide and her mouth dropped as she witnessed Tamith Kai's fiery death. Pluto sensed her shock and walked over to her. She placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but there was no other way. She would've killed you if she had the chance."

Yavin nodded. She stifled her gag reflex as she said, "I know, but it was still a shame." She quickly opened the brown satchel that held the stolen crystal shards and looked inside. "We'd better get this back so we can figure out how to assemble this weapon Padme told us about."

Pluto looked around, her gaze sweeping over the other battles raging. "We'd best hurry."

The two quickly made their way back to the group and Sailor Yavin met up with Sailor Coruscant, handing over the satchel with the crystal shards. "Now then, what's our plan?" she asked.

Corellia shrugged. "Tenel Ka's got the final shard. We'll need it before we can start figuring out how to assemble this thing." She looked over and saw the Senshi of balance fighting against the Nightsister Gethzerion. "I hope she'll be all right."

Dathomir's body twisted in midair as she dodged multiple blasts of sapphire lightning. She landed on her high heel-clad feet and spun around to confront her opponent. As soon as the bluish-white bolts ceased, she leapt at Gethzerion and swung her turquoise-colored lightsaber at the crone's head with a mighty roar.

Gethzerion held up one of her wrinkled old hands and muttered an incantation. As soon as the plasma blade came within a few centimeters of her head, an invisible barrier appeared and deflected Dathomir's strike. "We appear to be at an impasse, young one." she said as Dathomir somersaulted and landed. "I still cannot attack while defending, and the same is true for you. Why not simply give up now and spare yourself the pain?"

Dathomir shook her head, sending her reddish locks into a whirlwind. "No. I won't give up. You willingly gave yourself to the Dark Side, and you remain unrepentant for the near destruction of our homeworld." She pointed her lightsaber at Gethzerion. "It is a fact that you must be punished, in the name of the Force!"

Gethzerion snarled, showing rotted, yellow teeth. "Fool! I'll smash you into the desert!" She reached out with the Force in an attempt to telekinetically grab Sailor Dathomir.

The Senshi felt the grab and instinctively raised her arms in front of her. "Hapan Wall of Protection!" she shouted. A glassine bubble formed around her, and she felt Gethzerion's Force-grab dissipate. She kept the shield up with one hand and pointed at the Nightsister with her other. "Dathomir Heatwave!"

A bluish fire surrounded her gloved right hand, and a tongue of flame leapt at the Nightsister. Gethzerion's bloodshot eyes went wide as she saw the flame race toward her and she attempted to erect a Force barrier, but the flame quickly engulfed her wrinkled hand and quickly traveled up her robed arm, engulfing the her in flames. Gethzerion didn't even have time to scream as her body was reduced to ash within seconds and was scattered by the wind.

Dathomir turned and quickly spotted her friends some ways away. She jogged over, but when she saw Jacen lying on the ground, she immediately broke into a run. "Jacen, my friend! What happened?" she frantically asked when she reached the group.

Mercury looked up from tending to him. "He was kicked in the face by a clone of Master Durron. He'll heal, but his jaw will have to be wired shut."

Sailor Corellia, who was talking to Sailor Melodie, looked over. "Yeah, but at least we won't have to hear any jokes for a bit," she said in a teasing voice. At Jacen's groan, she looked down at him. "Oh, you know I was kidding… sort of."

The redheaded Senshi shrugged. "I like Jacen's jokes. They amuse me." She then glanced up and her jaw dropped at the sight of the last duel. Luke was fighting not only Brakiss, but also a clone of Anakin Skywalker with Sailor Coruscant standing off to the side, her emerald eyes were focused on the battle to the exclusion of all else.

Dathomir half-ran to her. "Mistress Jade, may I ask why you aren't helping Master Skywalker?"

Coruscant spoke to Dathomir without her eyes leaving the duel. "Before beginning the fight, Luke sent me a message through the Force. 'Stay out unless I fall.'" She finally looked over at Dathomir, but when her eyes met the nape of Dathomir's neck, she looked up in partial surprise. She's my height? When did that happen?

"For Luke, this fight is even more personal than when Brakiss cloned Obi-Wan," she said, looking back. "I only hope he can keep his emotions in check. A Skywalker gone Dark Side can be very dangerous."

Luke fought. He fought Brakiss. He fought the clone of his father. And most of all, he fought the urge to simply give in to his hate and loathing of this situation.

His emerald blade flashed as he first parried a slash from Anakin, then turned on his heel and kicked Brakiss in the gut. His danger sense screamed and he backflipped just as Anakin's red blade went to bisect him.

He followed through, tumbling back and rolling as soon as he hit the sand. His blade instinctively went up just as Brakiss rushed forward, his red-colored blade crashing down. He concentrated and shoved his former student with the Force, pushing him back and sending him flying.

Anakin's eyes sparkled as he sneered. "Excellent! Let the hate grow in you, Luke. Let it control and dominate you, like it did me."

Luke shook his head. "No. I won't give in. The Light Side is stronger."

Anakin snarled and swung at Luke. "Why" Smash. "Don't" crackle "you" smash "listen?"

The towheaded Jedi Master blocked the first two strikes, then pushed with the Force as the last one hit, throwing Anakin off-balance and allowing him to stab at Anakin's robed form. His green-bladed lightsaber sliced into Anakin's tunic, leaving a shallow cut along his ribcage.

The clone gasped in pain, his eyes bulging slightly. His ran his left hand across the wound, staining it red. He held it up, looked upon his own blood, and his eyes went a little wild. Suddenly, he yelled and charged at Luke.

The Jedi Master stood firm as the clone of his father slashed wildly and thrust his blade. Anakin had now fully given himself over to the Dark Side, and he was soon lost in battle lust.

Luke blocked an overhead swing and smoothly parried it out of position, never losing his cool. He then stabbed at Anakin, who barely had enough sense left to dodge. Luke's wrist flicked to his left, and his green blade sliced right through Anakin's lightsaber hilt above the thumb.

The emitter plate went flying into the sand, and sparks poured out of the ruined hilt. Anakin shouted and dropped the ruined hilt seconds before the power cell exploded in a puff of smoke.

By now, Brakiss had recovered from Luke's Force shove. The armor-clad Sith Lord stumbled over just as Anakin's lightsaber was destroyed and shouted, "Do something, you idiot!"

Anakin abruptly turned around and grabbed Brakiss by his collar. "'Idiot?' Who are you calling 'idiot'? I destroyed the Jedi Order. What have you done?"

Brakiss snarled, Luke forgotten for the moment. "No. Darth Vader destroyed the Jedi Order. You are a clone of him."

Anakin's blue eyes bore into Brakiss, and his face became a stony mask. He raised his right fist and clenched it. "And I have all his memories, fool."

Brakiss' eyes bulged as he felt his wind pipe constrict. Spots danced as he was denied live-giving oxygen and he clawed at his throat. Anakin stepped forward even as Brakiss dropped his lightsaber and sank to one knee. "I am the chosen one. You are an amateur."

Luke sensed what Anakin was doing. "Stop, Father!" he shouted, holding up his hand. "Please, I beg you!"

Anakin turned his head to Luke and a sad smile crossed his lips. "Sorry, but like Brakiss said, I'm not your father." Luke ran to his side, but Anakin pushed him away.

As Brakiss' vision turned black, he telekinetically latched onto his deactivated lightsaber with the Force. The activation switch was turned on and tried to levitate the red blade right into Luke's chest.

Anakin's eyes flickered as he sensed the danger a fraction of a second before Luke. He instantly shoved him to the side-and took the blade right in his chest.

Luke screamed, grabbed the lightsaber and pulled the energy blade from Anakin, but it was too late. He gently lowered the clone to the ground. "Brakiss…must be stopped," Anakin gasped out. His blue eyes clouded over and a small stream of blood trickled from his mouth.

"I'm sorry," Luke gasped out. "I-I'm sorry." His fists clenched at his utter feelings of impotence here.

Anakin let a peaceful smile drift across his face. "Don't be. You…saved me again." And with that, Anakin Skywalker died once more.

As Anakin fell, Brakiss rose. The last of the Sith levitated his lightsaber into his right hand and sneered. "I told him he was an idiot."

Luke rocked a bit while still clutching Anakin's corpse. His eyes shut tightly as he screamed "NOOO!"

Brakiss looked over-just as Luke's green blade slashed at his head. He quickly backpedaled as Luke slashed, thrust and swung at him. Pure fury was etched on Luke's normally serene face, and Brakiss knew he had made a fatal error. He quickly began speaking, his words turning into babble. "Luke I'm sorry. Please don't kill me please don't kill me please don't kill me I'm sorry please don't kill me I'm sorry!"

He tripped over his own feet and fell onto his back. He quickly scrambled to his feet-only to come eyeball-to-blade with Luke's emerald-colored lightsaber. Luke snarled at Brakiss. "Give me the sword." he growled through clenched teeth.

The cowering Sith Lord unsheathed the ancient sword from a scabbard on his back and, with a trembling hand, gave it to Luke.

Luke stuck the sword into the ground, then mechanically turned back to Brakiss. Just as he was about to kill him, a voice sounded out over the desert, bringing him back-almost.

"Luke, don't give in to hate! Isn't that what you taught me?"

He turned around and saw Sailor Coruscant-or rather, he saw Mara Jade Skywalker, transformed back from her Senshi guise. The former Emperor's hand held out her arms and spoke to her husband. "Luke, I'll agree that Brakiss is a sniveling little dog, but you can't kill him like this. To strike him down in such a manner would send you to the Dark Side, and would eventually pit you against me."

Her voice took on a plaintive tone as she walked towards the Jedi Master. "I love you, and I don't want to see you fall into the same trap that you helped me climb out of."

Luke looked down and to the right in shame. "You're right." He deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt before turning back to Brakiss. "Brakiss, you're not going to escape justice that easily."

Brakiss got to his knees, then slowly got to his feet. "Oh, I think I will." With a burst of telekinesis, he grabbed onto the Sword of the Sith and pulled it to him. The blade flew into his right hand, and he held it high. A maniacal smile bloomed across his face as he shouted, "Now I will rule forever!" He swung the sword at Luke's head, but he ducked and quickly moved out of Brakiss' range.

Mara's right arm came up, and a blaster pistol tucked away in her sleeve shot into her hand. She took aim and fired a bolt right at Brakiss' head.

The Sith Lord reacted with lightning speed and instinctively brought the sword up. The bolt of superheated plasma struck the ancient weapon dead on-and fractured the blade. Bits of steel exploded from the impact point, and the tip fell and impaled itself onto the sandy ground.

Luke's eyes went wide in horror, and Mara dropped her blaster in shock. "I-"

Before she could speak, Luke turned his head around to her. "Transform, now!" He also began shouting instructions at the others. "Ami, Setsuna, Hotaru, prepare for battle. The rest of you, assemble that crystal!"

Brakiss, meanwhile, looked at the ruined weapon and shook his head. "It's ruined! Now I'll never rule!" Five seconds later, the hilt and the partially buried tip began glowing a dazzling white. He held the wooden hilt away from his armor-clad body, but his fingers simply wouldn't let go. "What's…going on?" he asked. A look of terror and despair washed over his face approximately three seconds before his soul was destroyed.