The Gift.
Darth Sidious left the turbolift several floors beneath his office, heading for one of the meeting chambers where Desolate and other members of the Dark Council were waiting for him. As he moved along the corridor, two Senate guards turned the corner and walked toward him. Palpatine slowed, ducking his head, unsure if these were vampire substitutes and conscious of the droplets of Slayer blood that had splattered onto his face.
As the guards came alongside him, they threw him a clumsy salute, and Sidious knew they were vampires. He continued on, but rather than going straight to the meeting chamber, he stopped by one of the many office doors on this level. Using the Force to open the door, he quickly entered. The office was unoccupied, and he walked to where an abstract statue was being displayed at the far side of the room. Lifting the statue, an artist's interpretation of victory over adversity, he pulled out the sparkly hilt of Buffy's darksaber from where he'd hidden it inside the base and carefully tucked it inside his sleeve. Then the Sith checked his appearance in the mirror hanging on the wall.
A line of blood stained his chin. He rubbed it off with the back of his hand, straightened his robe, and took a deep breath to center himself, knowing that the coming interview would not be a pleasant one. As he passed the desk, he hesitated and then touched the control panel. A viewscreen raised, and Palpatine watched as footage of the Senate chamber began to play.
There was no sign of his vampire guards, and the Senators were being escorted from the Senate rotunda by members of the Jedi Order. His lips drew-up, in a snarl of frustration. It appeared that another plan had been foiled by the Jedi. The vampires were supposed to have accessed the locked chamber and turned as many Senators as they could.
The droidcam changed. Now, one of the hovering droids showed a close up of Buffy's face as she and Count Dooku walked into the elevator. The Slayer's neck was caked in bacta-powder and her blood stained the low cut-top she wore. She stared up, directly into the camera lens, her face pale yet resolute. Palpatine's fingers stretched involuntarily towards the image, his eyes on hers before she turned away to listen to something Dooku was saying.
Sidious had no doubt that she would find him. He also intended that the next time they met he would finish what he'd started down there in the Senate chamber. He toyed with the idea of keeping her alive. Perhaps taking her somewhere isolated where he could torture her, but no sooner did the thought cross his mind than he discarded it. She'd already proved that he lacked any restraint around her. The only way to deal with Vader was by draining, siring, and then torturing later at leisure. He gave himself a mental shake, all that was for later, now he had to face the repercussions of his actions in the Senate.
As soon as he opened the door to the meeting room, Desolate's hollow voice called out his name, "Thidious."
Sidious bowed his head subserviently to the seated vampire. "Master."
To even use that title again stuck in Palpatine's craw. He had always hated addressing Darth Plagueis as Master, and the Pau'an was more repulsive than Plagueis had ever been. Thidious! Desolate wasn't even able to pronounce his name properly!
"Come to me, my apprentice."
At the command, Sidious's nostrils flared but he made no other outward sign of rebellion as he walked across the floor. Around him, the other vampires watched jubilantly, happy to see the newest, most feted, Sith Lord being belittled. Palpatine flicked a glance at Sifo-Dyas. Standing behind Desolate, the ex-Jedi master was studiously examining the floor as if absorbed by the tile pattern.
Sidious had only covered half the distance when the first fork of lightning hit him in the chest. He gritted his teeth. More blue light crackled around him, and Sidious instantly fell to his knees, knowing that this was expected of him. The Force energy cut into him like a thousand blades slicing into his flesh and he focused on the pain, turning it outward, drawing the Force to him until the Dark Side of the Force crackled at his fingertips. Regretfully, he released the energy back into the Force. A little lightning strike wouldn't kill him or Desolate, being struck was more embarrassing than life-threatening.
"Your plan failed," Desolate said flatly. He pointed to where a nearby screen showed a replay of Buffy offering Palpatine her neck and then being attacked.
To Sidious's shame, the sight of the Slayer's creamy neck made his face change. He pushed back, forcing the vampire aspect of him away and willing his human face to reappear, but it was too late. Desolate was on his feet in a swirl of dark, billowing robes.
"A Sith controls his passion! He does not let his passion control him!" Desolate snarled, the Dark Force swirling around him. "You were thopposed to be the strongetht Sith in the galaxy! You vanquished a Smoke Demon and yet the sight of your girlfriend's neck reduces you to a dithering wreck. You have destroyed all our plans!"
"I cannot deny it, Master," replied Sidious truthfully. Before entering the Senate he'd fed well and felt fully in control of the demonic blood urges. When he'd seen Buffy, and she'd taunted him, he'd lost control. "A Slayer's blood smells divine and..." he swallowed hard, "the taste is... irresistible."
Desolate's lined face looked at him thoughtfully. "Very well, Thidious. You will capture Vader and bring her to me, alive and unbitten." Surprise flashed on Sidious's face and he continued smugly, "If anyone turns Vader, it thall be me."
Darth Sidious merely bowed his head at the jibe. Years of hiding his anger allowed him to conceal the wrath the Pau'an's words caused inside him. He knew that the Pau'an would never have her. Their alliance was pre-destined. For years the Force had whispered to him that a vicious and powerful apprentice would be sent to him called Vader. Buffy was his, body, soul, flesh, and blood! He would not share! How dare Desolate assume that he had the right to take over that role! Anger roiled, and Sidious silently swore that Desolate would never sire Vader, yet how would he ensure that never came to pass?
Palpatine shot a sidelong look at Sifo-Dyas, who met his eye and then dropped his gaze knowingly to Sidious's sleeve.
Deciding to portray the broken man Desolate expected him to be, Palpatine stuttered out, "My... my Lord, please, if-," He broke off, as blaster fire sounded in the corridor outside.
"Shut-up, get-up, and take your place beside me, Thidious. We have visitors." As Sidious reached the older Sith, Desolate growled, "This isn't over with."
Palpatine nodded contritely, taking his position to the right and just behind him. From outside came the hum and whirr of Lightsabers, deflecting blaster bolts, and then the sound of lightsaber combat. When the sounds of battle finally died away, and the door opened, it wasn't Buffy and Dooku who entered the room, but Mace Windu followed by several more Jedi Masters.
From all around the meeting chamber came the snap and hiss of lightsabers being ignited.
…...
Count Dooku and Buffy stood silently in the turbo-lift together, watching the numbers change as they rose through the building heading for Palpatine's private quarters. Suddenly, Buffy reached out pressing the button to stop the elevator and then stared at the flashing display, seemingly lost in thought.
Dooku gave her a questioning look and, when she didn't respond, touched her arm gently. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Why are we stopped?"
"He isn't this high up," Buffy replied. She shivered. "I can sense Palpatine stronger than ever now he's a vampire, he's... repulsive." Dooku opened his mouth, and she forestalled him by saying, "Yeah, I know he was repulsive before, but now he really does give me the wiggins."
"Actually," said Dooku, "I was going to ask where you think Palpatine is, if he isn't in his office?"
Buffy looked sheepish, "Oh! Er, lower down. If we descend slowly, I'll stop us at the level my Slaydar gets pinged."
When they finally opened the turbolift doors a couple of levels further down, the sound of lightsaber battle came to them. Without hesitating, they ran from the elevator, down the long corridor heading towards the sound. Dooku holding the hilt of a lightsaber in his hand, a lightsaber that he'd managed to knock from the hand of a vampire guard just before Buffy dusted him.
As they rounded a corner, a blue shadow moved in one of the open doorways, and a figure stepped out to block their path. Dooku glared, his Force sensitivity telling him that this was no living human while beside him Buffy readied herself to attack.
"Buffy! Here!" The guard threw a cylindrical shaped object to her, it spun through the air, and she caught it.
The Slayer stared down at the familiar-shaped hilt of Mr Sparkly, then looked up inquiringly as the guard raised his mask to show his face. "Kardash!"
"The one and only," smirked the young vampire. "They're down there, in the conference room." He pointed to the double doors at the bottom of the corridor. With a quick nod of thanks, Buffy ran on.
The Count threw open the doors with a burst of Force energy and Buffy scanned the duels going on around her. The first Jedi she recognised was Quin, he was in mid-leap with his dark locks flying around him, his face twisted in a very un-Jedi look of contempt as he battled a huge, snarling Bothan. Quin's green blade flashed, his overhead blow blocked by a second green blade at the last possible moment. A little further off, Kit Fisto wore a wide grin as he twisted his wrist, his green lightsaber blocking blow after blow from a pair of Senate vampire guards who fought with blue blades. She turned, and Qui-Gon Jinn spun past her, his Jedi tunic whirling around him dramatically as he took on three ex-Jedi knights at once. She watched Mace Windu somersault over another vampire who then exploded in a cloud of dust. On the opposite side of the room, Obi-Wan was busy beheading something that looked like Gimli from Lord of the Rings.
They were not the only fights going on in the large chamber, but Buffy was searching for one face in particular – Darth Sidious. She darted past fighters until she found him surrounded by a ring of vampire guards. Palpatine stood by a doorway, the ex-Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas at his side. Darth Desolate stood slightly apart from them and Buffy's eyes met the yellow ones of the Pau'an Sith vampire Lord. He stared back at her and then smiled a welcome, revealing a set of long, yellow front teeth. Desolate beckoned to her mockingly and she moved forward, ready to engage the Master vampire.
From out of nowhere, a giant Wookie vampire charged her, roaring abuse at her and swinging a green lightsaber. Buffy ducked under his blow and raised her own blade to block a downward swing, using Slayer strength to push his blade away.
"Size matters, not," she quoted, chirpily, to the large creature as she spun and swung her blade in sideways.
He parried the blow and thrust at her. What he lacked in finesse, he made up for with brute strength and Buffy decided to change tactics. Using her enhanced speed, she ducked and darted away, always staying out of reach, determined to wear him down, and then make a fast kill. As she bobbed and weaved, she saw Qui-Gon dust one of his attackers while, on the far side of the chamber, Obi-Wan had two clumsy vampires on the defensive.
The Wookie threw a weak Force push at her and she somersaulted away from it. Mid-turn she caught sight of Desolate watching her, Sidious now stood behind him and Sifo-Dyas stood further off. Sifo-Dyas' focus on Sidious.
Why was the ex-Jedi Master so interested in Sidious?
She jumped, avoiding a low cut calculated to take out her legs before thrusting with her blade and cutting the Wookie's arm. It roared angrily at her, its eyes reddened with rage, and she had to act fast, blocking a flurry of strong blows. Dooku came into her line of sight, the Count fighting alongside Qui-Gon with two new opponents. Buffy's eyes flicked over to Sidious. The Sith Lord stepped forward, his arm moving swiftly, the darksaber igniting as it was thrust into the back of the unsuspecting Darth Desolate.
The point of the Wookie's blade came within an inch of Buffy's eye. She jerked backward, parrying his blade, trying to see between the fighters who'd moved into her line of sight. What was going on? The Wookie's blade almost took the top of her head off. She swung Mr Sparkly absent-mindedly, trying to angle herself around so that she could see what was happening with Desolate. Had Sidious stabbed him in the back? Suddenly her view cleared, and she saw Desolate stagger forward two steps before exploding in a bright flash of light and dark ash.
The Wookie thrust at her once more. This time she stepped sideways, narrowly avoiding a table that had been Force pushed towards her by Dooku. It hit the Wookie in his stomach, knocking him off his feet and sent him crashing to the floor. Buffy jumped up over the table and, as she landed, brought her blade down and across - beheading the stunned creature.
Had she really seen Sid kill Desolate! She stepped forward, craning her neck as she walked, trying to look over the top-.
~Buffy! DUCK~ Obi-Wan's warning through their bond reverberated inside her head as his lightsaber sailed toward her.
Time slowed. Buffy dropped into a low crouch as the Jedi's lightsaber flew above her head. The vampire behind her who'd been about to strike, hit by the spinning energy blade. He wavered, then toppled to the ground, the top half of his body coming adrift from his lower half.
Obi-Wan threw up a hand, recalling his lightsaber back to him. As it circled back to him, Buffy rose up with a soft smile of thanks. His blue eyes scolded her for her inattention, but through their bond, the strength of his love was as strong as ever.
"Thanks for-," she began saying and then stopped as a horrible, gut-twisting pain flooded through her.
Buffy staggered. Her eyes fell on the red lightsaber blade protruding from Obi-Wan's stomach and then up to his face. His pain-filled eyes met hers. Obi-Wan had been stabbed. The world tilted and went out of focus. From Obi-Wan she felt pain, loss and an overwhelming sense of sadness. He'd made a mistake and knew that he'd lost everything.
Qui-Gon shot past her, green lightsaber blurring as he fought an ex-Jedi Master. Part of her registered the shock on his face and knew that he'd seen what had happened to Obi-Wan. Mostly, though, she didn't care about Qui-Gon's feelings. There was no room inside her head to think of anyone or anything else right now. She felt numb and dis-jointed.
Please, don't let him die. Don't let Obi-Wan die. With that thought, the world came back into sharp focus.
Qui-Gon drove his blade into the vampire and Buffy stepped around him just in time to see the man she loved fall onto his knees. Sifo-Dyas stepped out from behind him, holding up a red blade, and, when he saw her, an evil smirk crossed his face. With a fast kick at Obi-Wan that sent the young Jedi falling to the ground, the vampire turned and hurried away through the fighters to find his new master.
Buffy pushed past Mace Windu, who was fighting two fake Senate guards, and narrowly missed being hit by a swinging blade. Further on, a vampire tried to engage her in a fight and she punched him so hard in the face that his jaw crumpled inwards and he dropped to the floor, out cold. Buffy jumped over the body of two dead Jedi and reached the spot where Obi-Wan lay.
Dropping to her knees beside him, Buffy stroked the red-gold hair away from his face before using a trembling hand to check the exit hole in his stomach. She didn't want to start pulling at it, but she could see that it was blackened and oozing blood where it hadn't cauterized the blood vessels.
Inside Buffy's head, the words, 'This isn't happening, this can't be happening,' repeated themselves, over and over again. She felt useless. The paltry first aid she'd learned back in her own dimension hadn't prepared her to deal with injuries like this.
"Buff-y," Obi-Wan's voice was barely above a whisper.
"I'm here. Obi-Wan." Buffy could feel their bond becoming weaker and something inside her broke. He's going to die. Obi-Wan is going to die.
She stroked his forehead again, all the time listening to his shallow breathing, watching the way he fought for each breath. She took heart from the fact that he was fighting. He was fighting to stay conscious and fighting to stay with her. Buffy swallowed hard, forcing the lump back in her throat. She had to stay focussed, stay positive, and not break down in front of him. Qui-Gon Jinn took up a defensive position beside them – stopping anyone from attacking and eyeing his old apprentice worriedly.
"You're gonna be okay, Obi-Wan," she said, more to reassure herself than him. He didn't reply. His eyelids droop closed and it had her begging, "Obi-Wan, look at me. Stay with me."
If he doesn't look at me and see how much I love him, need him,, he might... slip away.
When he didn't respond she took his hand, lacing her fingers through his, and leaning in to be closer to him so that he knows she's there. He's warm and solid, and she's always thought him indestructible. But he isn't. A tear rolls down her cheek and plops onto his tunic.
She'd sobbed into his tunic before, it was nothing new. This time though, he can't hold her and tell her everything is going to be alright. It's not fair. Andrew had told her that Obi-Wan Kenobi's life was all about sacrifice and she hadn't listened to him. She'd thought that the future had been changed. He hadn't sacrificed himself so that Luke would survive, he'd done it for her. He hadn't been killed by Vader, but for Vader. She hadn't changed things for the better for him, she'd changed it for the worse.
"I'm sorry. If I hadn't distracted you, this wouldn't have happened." She should have been the one lying on the floor, not him. "Please, keep fighting."She wouldn't let him stop fighting. "Don't leave me, Ubi!"
His eyes stay closed and his words are raspy, but he says, "You thought I was a nerd."
The crazy statement had her barking out a harsh laugh. "I always thought you were cute, Ubi. I could tell you were special." Don't die. Please, don't die.
He sucked in a painful, ragged breath, and Buffy panicked as he forced out, "Quin... promised me... he'll look after you."
"I need to get you back to the Temple," she said, ignoring what he'd said and looking about her. The Temple had the Halls of Healing. They could work miracles there, she knew they could. If she got him back there they'd fix him. They'd make him better. Don't die, please don't die.
"No time," he gave the tiniest shake of his head, "...will be with the Force."
"YOU WILL NOT!" she snarled. Hot tears were trickling down her cheeks, down her neck, and stringing as they entered the bites Sidious had made.
"I'm not letting you go, Obi-Wan," she said firmly. "I love you and I'm not gonna lose you to the damn Force."
Maybe, if she refused to believe it, it won't happen. Don't die, please, don't die.
When he spoke again, his voice was so low that even a Slayer had to strain to hear it, "...love you... always..." and then the muscles in Obi-Wan's face relaxed and his body went limp.
…...
