Residence of the Grand Vizier

Padme Amidala-Skywalker watched from her penthouse apartment as columns of smoke rose from the Jedi Temple. She was horrified, and couldn't believe what was happening. All over the news, reporters and anchors were spewing out the same information; the Jedi were holding a rebellion against the Empire and were deemed as enemies. She was terrified of the possibilities of where her children could end up, or even if they had been killed. She had no way of contacting them, and couldn't get any transmission through to the Imperial Executive Building.

It was just past midnight, and Padme was wide awake. Every time her mind drifted off towards the political impact of what was happening, the thought of her son and daughter instantly came back. She needed to know that they were okay.

She didn't believe for one second that the Jedi were to be imprisoned. The woman was smart enough to know that they were all being slaughtered, right in their own home and across the Galaxy on the battlefield. It was a nightmare, and her head began spinning. The thought of losing her children… was even more unbearable to comprehend than the loss of her husband. Her true love, Anakin Skywalker, died at the hands of the same monsters; the believers of the Dark Side.

There was a sudden sound from the entrance, and Padme quickly turned around. The door shut, which was down a hall, and she heard slow footsteps. Padme's heart began to race, realizing her blaster pistol was in her bedroom, near the hall where the footsteps were coming from.

Out of the dark hall appeared a black suited man, with a black shiny helmet and visors,

"Padme."

"Who are you?!" screamed the Grand Vizier.

"It's me...Anakin." Padme felt a chill run down her spine. She stared with wide eyes at the visors of the masked man. She swore she heard a hint of her long-dead husband's voice. The love of her life… she couldn't have heard his voice amidst the monotone voice modulator.

"No it's not. You're some Imperial war machine, or a pawn of the Emperor." shouted Padme nervously, taking a step back, bumping into an end-table that had a lamp on it.

"I've come to save you and our children from the Jedi. Luke… and Leia." replied Darth Vader. Padme's lips moved, but no words came out. She noticed his right mechanical hand, which bore the same glove that he wore before he died. Her eyes began to tear up, and she gulped,

"It can't be… you died… you must be a clone. It's the only way."

"The Syndicate revived me, and the Emperor told me where you were and to talk to you-"

"He told you to come here? You're actually listening to him? Do not tell me that you were just at the Jedi Temple." Padme rose her eyebrows and Vader could see a tear rolling down her cheek. He didn't speak, fearing her reaction. "Tell me that you weren't at the Temple! Tell me you weren't killing Jedi!" screamed Padme. Vader stood motionless, not knowing what to say, and looked away from Padme's face. "You joined him, didn't you?" stammered the Grand Vizier, catching her breath, "What have you done?"

"The Jedi were going to overthrow the Empire!" boomed Vader, "They are trying to reestablish the Republic! Something that failed and cost us trillions of lives! You just don't understand what's at stake here!"

"I don't know what's at stake?!" boomed back Padme, holding her hands to her heart, "I've been serving as the second in command to the Emperor for five years! I worked tirelessly with the Senate for decades. And you know what?" Padme turned away from Anakin, "I started to believe that maybe… just maybe, this Empire would work. I let myself fall into Zaoku's trap for galactic dominance! He fooled me into thinking democracy and freedom couldn't work like this anymore… and most importantly, he's fooling you." Padme looked at Anakin once more, waiting for his response.

"Emperor Zaoku is the wisest man I've ever met, he knows what's best for all of us! He knows what will lead to our survival and success. The Jedi failed to protect the Republic, and they failed to protect the Empire!"

"Survival for what?! The Republic lasted for over twenty five thousand years, and put up with thousands of wars!" scolded Padme, looking into Anakin's black visors, "We've always made it. We were always able to deal with it. No matter what the challenge."

"This war was the last straw… I can see you don't understand that, the Jedi had the same problem." barked Vader.

"Anakin…" coughed Padme, crying, "You're breaking my heart." Vader turned around to face the balcony of the apartment tower, facing the bright cityscape of Coruscant. He looked on the horizon, seeing the Temple that spewed plumes of smoke into the night sky. "I can't follow you down this path." said Padme.

"Then you are an enemy of the Empire, an enemy of the Emperor… and an enemy of mine." spoke Vader, he slowly lifted up his right hand into the air, making a fist. Padme began to cough, her throat closing slowly. Padme's eyes gushed with tears, and she clasped her neck, gasping for air. She managed to speak a few words,

"Please… Anakin… Don't…" the woman began to rise off the floor, and her throat closed even more, "Hurt…" Padme squeezed her eyes shut from pain, "Luke… or…" the Grand Vizier let out a final breath, "Leia…" and lost conscience. She fell to the floor, and Darth Vader relaxed his arm. He turned to look at his wife on the floor, and came to realization what he just did.

Vader began to breath faster, with his respirator getting louder and louder.

"I knew you'd be here." spoke a familiar voice. Vader looked towards the door and saw his old friend, his old mentor, teacher… Master. Obi wan dropped his brown cloak to the floor, and looked at Vader with worried eyes.

"Obi wan…" spoke Vader.

"I'm sensing a strong disturbance with you, but I don't want to feel it… I try to push it to the back of my mind… but I can't avoid the truth."

"The truth that the Jedi have failed the Galaxy for the last time? Or the truth that you have come the very thing your own Master sought to destroy?" shouted Vader, "If you let me excel more and faster, I wouldn't have died at the hands of that so called Sith in front of the Senate Building."

"Your recklessness and irrational behavior led to your death, and to your wife's." said Obi wan horrifically, noticing Padme's body on the floor. "I know that you turned, your anger is apparent… and I saw what happened at the Temple. You were the Chosen One! The one who was supposed to bring balance, not destroy an entire half of the Force!" screamed Kenobi. Vader ignited his lightsaber at his side, and didn't say anything. He ran over to Obi wan, and the Jedi ignited his blue blade.

The two clashed against each other, pushing hard at each other.

"Where is my son?!" boomed Vader.

"You won't find the answer from me! He was smart enough to sense hell and ran off!" Vader pushed Obi wan back, and the fifty five year old man slid across the floor. Vader ran over to him, slicing his lightsaber through the chairs, table, couch and even lamps. Sparks flew into the air, bouncing off the floor. Vader swung from the side at Obi wan, but the Jedi Master blocked each blow.

"I will find my son and daughter and teach them the true ways of the Force!" screamed the Sith Lord.

Corusca Hall - Senate District

An emergency session of the government was called by the Emperor, calling all senators during the night to Corusca Hall, along with members of the Supreme Court, Grand Moffs Board, and many other officials of the Empire. The legislative body was just in session the other day, so many of the delegates were still on the planet.

The chamber was filled to the brink of capacity, with numerous hover-cams capturing the monumental moment; the Emperor hasn't attended a session of the Hall in years, and many were glad to see him on the podium once more. Members of the Imperial Council were also present, nervously watching from their seats on the upper levels.

Bail Organa was an upper level row with just his guards, and with a droid recording the speech. The droid was an astromech, blue and white, named R2-D2. Through the doorway to the pod walked out a golden protocol droid,

"What did I miss?" asked C3PO quietly. R2 beeped discreetly to him, filling him on what was happening.

"The Jedi have been planning to overthrow the Empire for years now." boomed the deformed Emperor, "Their little rebellion has been foiled, and their Order shall never see the light of day again. Their pitiful attack on my life has left me scarred, and deformed… But I assure you, that we shall see to their complete elimination." the crowd erupted into applause, echoing throughout the entire building. However, there were many senators that did not applaud. Bail Organa could see a select few that sat motionless, some with looks of despair, some with looks of disappointment, and some with looks of anger. "They have been useless and derelict, and have been slowing the greatness of the Galactic Empire. They have allowed the Syndicate to fester and grow..." the wrinkled Nikto looked around at the thousands. The crowd clapped and applauded loudly again, "And with that, we have received news that the Head of State of the Gundao Syndicate is dead, along with her chief members of staff, and research facilities. We can finally say that we've reached an end to the Second Galactic War!" the massive crowd applauded and cheered even louder, "All those who defy the Empire, shall share the same fate of the evil Jedi Order!"

Bail Organa sighed and rested his face in the palms of his hands. R2 D2 beeped sorrowly, slowly leaning forward, shutting off his camera. C3PO rested his hand on R2,

"Oh dear…"

"Liberty has officially been crushed." said Bail to himself, watching as people rose up to give the Emperor a standing ovation.

Vader vs. Kenobi

Obi wan slammed his lightsaber up against Vader's red blade, getting ever so close to Vader's mask. The bright light from the red blade beamed off of the shiny helmet, and Vader's breathing was loud and fast. Obi wan could sense he was getting tired, but the anger within him was swelling even more.

Obi wan swung once more, pushing Vader out towards the railing-less balcony. The sound of speeders and transports were very apparent and loud, all around them as they fought in the night.

Suddenly in the distance, there were explosions in the sky, towards the center of the Senate District; behind the Senate Building. Obi wan glanced, seeing that they were colorful fireworks. The bombardment of colorful fireworks continued and became even louder and larger, lighting up the night sky.

"It looks like the Emperor is celebrating your imminent death!" shouted Vader, also noticing the fireworks. Obi wan jumped back and Force pushed Vader back, but he was so heavy that he only slid a few feet. Kenobi got a better look of the fireworks, having an epiphany,

We lost. I've failed…

Vader clunked over to Obi wan with his lightsaber over his head, ready to swing downward. The Sith Lord swung at Obi wan, but the Jedi Master rolled to the side, slicing his lightsaber through Vader's legs.

The Dark Lord of the Sith boomed and screamed with pain, falling to the floor. And Obi wan stood in front of him, just six feet away, putting away his lightsaber,

"You were the Chosen One!" the man's eyes teared up, "You were supposed to put an end to this madness, not join it!"

Vader's breathing became wheezy and loud, and the machine of a man looked up at his old Master, not saying a word. A whirlwind of emotions came over Vader, racing throughout his mind.

"Anakin you were like a brother to me, I loved you like family! All this pain that you're feeling… is all because of know, that one day this will all catch up to you and you will get what you deserve." Obi wan walked over to Padme's motionless body, and lifted her up. He went as fast as he could to the door, sensing Padme's soul slipping out of her body... fast.

Corusca Hall - Main Chamber

The Emperor was speaking with his closest colleagues and officials from the Office of the Emperor, and leading members of the Senate in the now quiet main chamber of Corusca Hall. His speech had ended and most people were making their way out of the palace-like building.

The Emperor was standing beneath his podium, and was talking to a few senators and a Supreme Court Justice. He immediately stopped, feeling a ripple in the Force, one that was just calling to him; screaming.

The deformed Nikto looked over to the central entrance to the chamber, seeing his two guards point their guns towards the floor, at someone very short. The two guards flung to opposite sides of the aisle, and the Emperor got a better look of who it was.
A nearly 900 year old Jedi Master of short stature stood with his cane at the top of the aisle, which was at a higher elevation than where the Emperor was. His colleagues fled the scene quietly, and stormtroopers stormed the chamber.

"Put an end to your reign, I will. Not short enough, was your tenure…. Traitor." shouted the Grand Master. Emperor Zaoku chuckled and held his hands out,

"Guards, halt! I shall deal with this fugitive myself!" the stormtroopers all stopped, and remained at their positions at the edges of the chamber. "I knew you'd be one of the few Jedi to survive…. the cleansing."

"Enacted a purge you have! In that coma, died you should have! Saved nothing, have you." snapped Yoda, dropping his cane, and taking off his pale gray cloak. The green Jedi took out his lightsaber, and ignited the weapon, holding it close to his face.

"You came here to kill me, not talk. So do it." hacked the Emperor. Yoda inhaled, closing his eyes, then exhaled, and opened his eyes. The Grand Master bolted down the aisle, nearly floating off the ground as he used the Force to propel him across the floor.

Zaoku shot out his pale, clawed, hands, firing bright blue Force-lightning on the Grand Master. Yoda's eyes widened and was hit by the powerful lightning. The Grand Master flew back a few meters onto the floor, dropping his ignited lightsaber that began searing the carpeted floor. The Emperor began to laugh,

"If you'd only see the potential of using the Dark Side, who knows that you could achieve! But of course, you've lost the will to lead, and to change; like all old Jedi."

Yoda shook his head and stood up, nearly pulling a muscle. He used the Force to get his lightsaber back, gripping it tightly in his hands, and he looked at Zaoku,

"Changed I have; willing to kill you, I am. Willing to sacrifice my life, I am." Yoda Force jumped dozens of feet into the air, coming down upon Zaoku.

The Emperor slowly Force jumped to his podium, and Yoda clashed his lightsaber on the floor. Yoda looked up and saw the old Nikto opening a compartment of his podium, taking out two silvery lightsabers. He ignited both, the one in his left hand was green, just like his old lightsaber, and the one in his right hand was blood red.

"I think this one suits me more," smiled the old Emperor, throwing the green saber like a spear at Yoda. The Grand Master jumped to the side, avoiding the speared lightsaber, jumping onto the pew-like seats. He then leapt to the lower podiums and then to the Emperor's podium, right in front of him.

The two clashed with each other with intense precision and speed. The lightsabers crackled and sparked as they blocked each other's swings.

The Emperor Force-pushed Yoda off the podium, and jumped after him, landing in the middle aisle. The Emperor had to face downward, and swung his lightsaber down at the short Grand Master. But the ancient Jedi was putting up a tough fight, spinning around and jumping from side to side. He even jumped onto the armrest of the nearest benches, back to the floor, then onto the opposite benches. It was a smart tactic, causing the Emperor to quickly change his defenses and style of fighting.

Yoda and the Emperor clashed once more, causing the two to nearly lose the grip of their lightsabers. The Jedi and the Emperor then directed their left hands at each other, trying to shove one another with the Force; but the energy was bouncing back from their hands.

Yoda centered his focus on the evil Nikto, trying his hardest to overpower the old man. He could feel the Force flowing throughout his whole body, flowing towards his left hand. Rising up from his feet, drifting past his heart and lungs, flooding through his left arm, and amassing in his left hand. The Grand Master squeezed his eyes as he kept on pushing, and suddenly, his power of the Force boomed against Zaoku; causing him to fly down the aisle, screaming in a deep voice.

Yoda stood up straight, letting out a tired breath, slowly walking down the aisle with his lightsaber, ready to end the fight once and for all.

The Emperor was on the floor, sitting up against the wall of the tiered podiums, catching his breath, and holding his arm across his abdomen from pain.

"Lost, you have." scolded Yoda, making his way to the Emperor. He was still a few meters away, but kept an eye on the slick old man.

The Emperor cringed his eyes from pain, and grabbed his abdomen,

"Sure as hell you have!" his eyes shot open and his hands rose upward, facing the glass dome of a ceiling. The glass chandeliers began to sway and shake loudly, clinging and clanging. The walls began to shake, and the floors too. The stormtroopers and Yoda nearly lost their balance as what seemed like the entire building trembled right before them. As if the Emperor summoned upon the devil to shake the planet for him from Coruscant's Hell.

One after another, the gigantic silver chandeliers broke from their anchor-points in the ceiling, and crashed loudly on the floor. The carpeting began to tear right beneath Yoda, and so did the steel floor underneath that. There was a loud shattering sound, and everyone looked up, besides the Emperor. The glass dome began to crack much more, and huge chunks of glass cascaded to the floor.

A shard of glass over seven feet wide and long fell and was coming right down over the Grand Master. The Jedi dropped his lightsaber and held out his hands, closing his eyes. The glass slowed to a stop just inches over his head, and he threw it to the side. More pieces of glass and metal framing fell from the dome, cutting and slicing at the Jedi's clothes, and even cutting his skin.

"Kill him! Kill him now!" screamed the Emperor to his guards, "Kill that Jedi!" the stormtroopers got up and ready, aiming their blaster rifles at Yoda.

Yoda was ready to face his death, and took in a deep breath. That was it for him. Nearly 900 years old, serving the Republic and Jedi Order, and even partially the Galactic Empire. Something he thought that would actually bring stability to the Galaxy… but at what cost? Ever since Zaoku was appointed Chancellor at the death of Karsguard, and then his immediate ascension to Emperor, the Jedi were slowly being casted aside. Pushed away from their duty, pushed away from their true purpose; keeping the peace. The Grand Master was supposed to manage the Order, and thus lead the peacekeepers to do their job. But he failed, not the others. The Jedi didn't fail, Yoda took the full blame. For decades he'd been the Grand Master, the one who protects the Republic. With the Clone War and Second Galactic War, he knew that his time was coming. Not death, but time for his true trial. A trial to whether he could really protect the Galaxy. Something that any Jedi should live up to, no matter what the cost, or the sacrifice. But as of today, he couldn't stop the definition of evil. The one man who was causing all the trouble in the Galaxy, the one who lost his way and only saw destruction as a solution.

Yoda knew that he already lost, and that he's failed. The Dark Side won the war. Not the Second Galactic War, but the war between the Light and Dark. Good vs Evil. He failed, and if he couldn't defeat the source of evil… who could possibly do so?

Suddenly a blinding light beamed from the gaping hole in the ceiling where the dome used to be, and red lasers blasted from the light at the edges of the chambers. The red laserfire hit the stormtroopers, or mostly exploded near them, causing them to lose focus and even get killed. Yoda and even the Emperor could hear roaring engines, it was a ship.

The Emperor used the Force to jump out of the way, and just in time. Red lasers fired at his podium, exploding into a fiery explosion. A rope ladder flung down near Yoda, and the Grand Master was shocked.

"C'mon Master Yoda!" shouted a voice from above, a soft voice, one of a woman, a friend of Yoda's. The Grand Master squatted and jumped up into the air, not needing to climb up the majority of the ladder. The ship then flew out, and Yoda climbed his way up.

The Emperor got up, wiping off ash and dust from his black robe, and stared at the hole in the ceiling, watching the ship disappear into the night sky.

"Your majesty, are you alright?" asked a stormtrooper, who came in as reinforcements. More stormtroopers were in the area as well.

"Yes, yes. Track down that ship, and shoot it down. I want the Jedi dead." said the Emperor, coughing.