Chapter 18: Preparation for the End: Part Two

An old human male dressed in the hooded garbs of a Jedi Master is walking in the halls of the ruined Senate building of the new Galactic Empire. As he watches the workers rebuilding the once proud symbol of the Republic, he remembers the foolish decisions he made.

If only he was not so stubborn about his order's traditions, this losing war between light and dark would not had last for so long. He really is a foolish leader. Though he and others of the council could sense the dark side growing in her, he should have listen to her. She always had the best intention since he found her in a near death state all those years ago.

As the war reaches its final stages, the force is no longer in balance. The balance that he and his order sought to protect is no more. The dark side had won, and he finally knows who caused such terrible event.

The wise old man arrives at his destination. The Supreme Chancellor's chambers. The guards of the Chancellor approach the man.

"I'm sorry Master Jedi, but the Chancellor is not acce-"

The man wave his hand in front of the guards. "The Chancellor wants to see me."

"Th-the Chancellor wants to see you." One of the guards said in a monotone voice. The two guards move to the side so the man can move through.

The hooded man enters the office to be welcome of the sight of Chancellor Palpatine. Palpatine did not expect any visitors, especially from Jedi since most, if not all, are involved in the upcoming military attack, while the younglings are at the Jedi Temple. He stood up from his chair and walked to the Jedi with a smile.

"Master Jedi, a pleasant surprise to see yo-" He was cut off with the activation of the man's lightsaber.

The hooded man points his white beam weapon at the old Chancellor. "As Kage of the Council of Balance and the Knight Order, I, Zeno, hereby declared your execution in means to bring balance to the force." He remove his hood to reveal his wrinkled face to the individual.

A sinister grin starts to form on the Chancellor's face. His sudden chuckling made Zeno raise his eyebrow. "Good. Good. This will save me trouble of finding an excuse."

"What are yo-"

Palpatine uses the force to push Zeno away from him. "Guards, Guards! The Jedi is trying to kill me! Help!" He ran behind his desk as his guards enter his office.

The guards were bewildered at the sight. A Jedi with his lightsaber armed and ready to be used and the Chancellor hiding in fear behind his desk.

The guards aim their blaster rifles at Zeno. "Stand down Jedi!"

"Drop your weapon, now!" The other guard ordered. He places his hand against his ear, activating his ear-com. "Send reinforcements to the Chancellors Chambers, a Jedi is trying to attack the Chancell-"

Before they barked another order, their heads were cut clean off. Their bodies dropped to the floor like a bag of meat and their heads like apples. The man who caused their early demise starts laughing.

"They outlive their usefulness." Palpatine caught his lightsaber he thrown. "Now, the people will believe that the Jedi are traitors to my Empire." He jumps across the room to clash blades with Zeno. "I'll make sure to thank your Order by eliminating them alongside the Jedi."

Havoc was hit in the face with the but of Shilia's lightsaber causing him to fumble backwards. Shilia is quite unimpressed with the individual she has grown obsessed with over the last couple of years. This is the man who had cause such imbalance in the force? She shook her head in disappointment as he rushed at her.

He brought down his weapon in hopes to cut his opponent in half and focus his attention onto his Father. Shilia effortlessly blocks the attack on her life. They clash lightsaber and try to overpower the each other. "You are a disappointment Coquer. I expected much more from y-" All of a sudden she is having trouble in their bout. She uses her other hand as support so she is not overwhelmed.

"That is not. My. Name." Havoc hissed menacingly. He let one hand off of his weapon to grab his second lightsaber. He activates it and held it in a reverse grip.

He deactivates his first lightsaber to make Shilia lose her footing. Taking advantage of this, he uses his second beam weapon to slice off of the hand of his opponent, disarming her of her weapon. Shilia screams out in pain, but does not have time to react to such trifling throbbing pain of her lost hand. She grits her teeth and lunge forward. With no room to follow up, Havoc dashes backwards with Shilia hot on his tail. She grabs hold of his throat and uses force lightning while holding on to him.

"Once I kill you, balance will finally be returned!" She cackled with her eyes flaring with the similar corruption of Havoc. "Then the others will see that I should be in charge!"

Havoc struggles with great effort to use his weapon to defend himself but the excruciating pain of being electrocuted while being choked at the same time is proving too much for him. His eyes starting rolling back, his heart is about to give out. He drops his trusted lightsabers on the ground and begrudgingly accept his death.

Across from the two, Dooku and Anakin continue trading blows with each other. With his descension to the dark side and Dooku already tired out from dueling his son, Anakin has the complete advantage over his opponent. Anakin never felt such power and liberation before. He parries a blow from Dooku with no challenge at all. With the power he attained, he can even take on his new Master.

When Dooku deflect another attack on his life a realization struck him. He might lose. He glances at his son and was horrified at the sight. His son, his own flesh and blood is being electrocuted to death. His fatherly instincts, the same instincts that brought him in his current situation, kick in. He uses the force to grab hold of Anakin, and then throws him at Shilia, stopping her attack on Havoc. His son collapses on the floor, unconscious.

Dooku hurries over to his son, deactivates his weapon, and then picks him up. He runs out of the room with a tight grip on his son.

Ahsoka jumps backwards to dodge a slash at her midsection from Ventress. She quickly turns around and begins running away. Ventress quickly follows after her. She will not escape from her wrath. When she strikes her down, he shall be all hers with no one imposing on their love.

Ahsoka skids when she took the left turn. When Ventress took the turn, she raised her eyebrow in confusion. Ahsoka is no longer in front of her. They are in straight hallway with no rooms or other hallways till the end. And there is no way for her to run down the long hallway so quickly.

"Argh!"

Ventress looks up to see Ahsoka coming straight for her. She immediately got in a defensive stance to prepare herself for the attack that is sure to come. Ahsoka skillfully landed which surprise the older women. She had thought her opponent would use the downward momentum as an advantage in her attack.

Ahsoka drops to her knees and sweep Ventress off of her feet. She then proceeds to use the force to push her to the metal wall. Not giving Ventress a single chance to fight back, she charges in with her green lightsaber aimed for her opponent's chest. This will end today.

Just as she was about to sink her blade in Ventress, the whole place shook. Ahsoka stops in her tracks from the base rumbling.

"What the hell is going on?" Ahsoka asked herself.

The base shook violently once more giving Ventress an opening to escape. She used the force to push Ahsoka away from her, and then runs. Whatever is happening, both young women are getting a bad feeling from this.

Mace Windu alongside his former enemy General Grievous watches from the command deck of the lead cruiser. They watch as the fleet begins their assault.

"They are putting up quite a fight it seems." Mace commented on the battle.

"They will soon die as their leader will die be by my hands." Grievous curtly turned away with his Magnaguard droid following right after him.

Though Grievous is beyond livid working with the Republic and their Jedi, but his hatred for that man is greater than his distaste for the Jedi. I guess he should start calling them the Empire after his side surrender. Yes, surrender. The alliance between the Confederacy and the newly formed Empire are not on equal ground and his former enemy came out on top with the document, being able to pass laws and stationing bases in their systems. Experience general like him knows this fragile peace his side and the Empire would not last for long when their common enemy is destroyed. Particularly when they see how unfair the document is towards them and advantageous to specifically the Chancellor of the Empire. The Senators of the Confederacy should had seen this, so why did they agree on such unfavorable terms?

Palpatine and Zeno are equal in both power and skill. They can continue on forever with neither getting tired or winded in their duel. Palpatine deactivates his lightsaber and strikes out both of his hands creating force lightning. Zeno mirrors his opponent, and their attacks made contact. They slowly start inching towards each other. The crackling sounds of lightning, Palpatine menacingly cackling, and Zeno yelling fills the room.

Just as their hands about to touch, the force between the two proven to be too much for them and was push back to opposite sides of the rooms. Zeno had not expected the man to be so skilled. Just as he was about to stand up, multiple guards entered the room, firing at him.

Zeno activates his weapon and starts defending himself. He has failed his mission. He must escape to warn his Order what is to come. He must protect them.

The Kage fell down to his knee from a sharp pain in his back. He turns his head to see what cause this. He narrowed his eyes at Palpatine who has a blaster rifle from the dead guards from before. Zeno was soon filled with similar feelings all over his body till he can no longer feel anything at all. Zeno fell dead on the ground.

The guards immediately surrounded both the deceased Kage and Chancellor to protect him incase the man spring back to life. Palpatine dropped his weapon and dropped to his knees.

A guard knee down with the Chancellor. "Are you okay Chancellor?"

"Yes, thank you for saving me from that Jedi." He stood up and walk to Zeno. He shook his head in disappointment. "I knew that the Jedi were not happy with the decision of the Senate, but I never thought they will resort to assassination." He faced his guards. "As of today, all Jedi are now deem traitors to the Empire and are to be shot on sight. Tell all of my degree."

The guards stood in attention. "Yes sir." The guards start leaving the office to tell officials of the Chancellor's new law.

When he made sure he was alone, Palpatine took out his personal holocommunicator from his pocket. A projection of Miram appeared on the other line of the call, eagerly waiting for orders. "Execute order 66."

She bowed. "It will be done my Lord."

The call ended after that. Soon the Jedi will follow suit.