The tunnels connecting the different levels of Pau were in chaos. Clashing metal, the booms of muskets, the occasional blasts of petards, and the screams of the wounded blended into a symphony of carnage. Despite being wide enough for two wagons, they were never meant to be host to opposing armies vying for control of the city. In many of the tunnels, the fighting had become deadlocked with the Republic and Separatist forces only able to attack one another head on.
General Grievous no longer cared about the battle. He was in too much pain and breathing was only becoming more difficult. If he couldn't escape Utapau, whether it be by Kenobi or his own lungs, he knew death would come for him. Even if he did escape Utapau, with Dooku dead, there would be no more blood transfusions, which meant that soon he would be incapable of using a Lightblade.
Both Grievous and Obi-Wan had been fortunate to not run into any of the tunnel skirmishes up to that point, but as they came around the tunnel curve, Grievous saw amassed ranks of his troops locked in combat with the homunculi. There was no time to slow down, not that he would have anyway.
The weight of the grindwheel crushed everything in its path. The metal bodies of automata crumpled like sheets of parchment. Weapons snapped like twigs. Not even the shield wards of automekas could stand up to the grindwheel.
The homunculi facing off against the automata could only watch in horror as the wheel kept coming. Proud soldiers of the Republic in their white armor were reduced to noting but bloody paste inside metal shells as Grievous smashed through their line. Obi-Wan had seen many terrible things during the war, but the sight left in the wake of the grindwheel would haunt him for the rest of his life.
While he was cutting a swath of destruction through the battle lines, Grievous held out a three fingered hand and grabbed a homunculus' spear. He brought it to bear against Obi-Wan as the Jedi pulled alongside. The General thrust the spear at his opponent repeatedly, trying to maintain control of the grindwheel with his remaining hand and wrist stumps. One of the blows cut the waist strap holding Obi-Wan in his saddle, but neither of them noticed.
Obi-Wan slapped the clumsy spear thrusts away several times before grabbing the weapon just below its head. With only three fingers holding it, the Jedi was easily able to wrest it from Grievous' hand. Obi-Wan flipped the spear around and thrust it awkwardly at the Separatist general. The blow went wide and hit the side of the grindwheel, breaking off the very tip of the spear.
Obi-Wan tried again, but this time Grievous grabbed ahold of the spear haft with both hands and pulled. The Jedi was counting on his waist strap holding him in place and was alarmed when it didn't. Grievous was just as alarmed when Obi-Wan came with the spear and grabbed onto the control levers to keep from falling to the ground.
The grindwheel swayed side to side as it exited the tunnel. Obi-Wan tried to pull himself up while the grindwheel raced across the ground, heading towards the landing platform where Grievous' belbullab waited. In his attempt to climb up, Obi-Wan pulled one of the control levers back, causing the grindwheel to spin out of control. Both Grievous and Obi-Wan were thrown free as the grindwheel flew off the edge of the landing platform, narrowly missing the belbullab, and falling into the pit below.
Obi-Wan's Lightblade dislodged itself from his belt as he tumbled and it clattered across the floor. Obi-Wan was the first to his feet, still holding the spear. Grievous lunged at the Jedi, but received the flat of the spear blade to his face, snapping off one of his bony fins.
Grievous didn't even get to recover from the blow before Obi-Wan had spun and planted the blunt base of the spear into his chest plate. The General fell backwards, coughing painfully. Obi-Wan was just about to land the final spear blow into the prostrate Grievous when the Separatist general kicked the Jedi away with his powerful leg, sending Obi-Wan flying.
General Grievous stood and clutched his chest. He stormed over to Obi-Wan as the Jedi tried to stand. Obi-Wan rolled under Grievous' arm as he threw a punch. He wasn't so fortunate on the next blow though. As Obi-Wan came up from his roll, he caught a backhand from the General.
The force of the blow threw Obi-Wan into the wall and knocked the wind out of him. Grievous wasn't done though. He was fighting for his life with the rage and fury of a wounded animal.
The General lifted Obi-Wan by the front of his robes and wound up a punch. Obi-Wan ducked his head to the side just barely in time. Grievous' fist hit the stone wall and sent a spiderweb of cracks outward.
Obi-Wan noticed that the blow he had dealt with the blunt end of the spear had loosened one of Grievous' chest plates. Without giving it a second thought, he reached out and pried the General's chest plates apart, exposing the cracked glass vessel holding his heart and lungs. The green glass cracked more and began slowly leaking.
Grievous howled in a mixture of agony and rage. He flung Obi-Wan away, swearing in Kaleesh. The Jedi hadn't even stopped skidding across the floor before Grievous kicked him, flipping him onto his back. The General raised a clawed foot and brought it down hard.
Obi-Wan rolled to the side at the last second and the claws only hit stone. Grievous tried again with the same result, so he kept that foot planted and used the other to land a kick to Obi-Wan's shin.
The Jedi cried out and his hands went reflexively to his leg. With this opening, Grievous grabbed Obi-Wan's throat and flung him towards the platform edge. Obi-Wan barely caught himself and he dangled holding on for dear life like he had done in Naboo so long ago.
Grievous grabbed the spear from the ground with his clawed foot and tossed it in the air, catching it before stalking over to the helpless Jedi. Obi-Wan pulled himself up enough to support his weight with his elbows and upper arms, but he wouldn't be able to fully get to his feet before Grievous got to him. He had to think fast.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the silver glint of his Lightblade's hilt. He reached out through the Force and pulled it towards him, activating it as it moved through the air. Grievous lifted the spear to bring down on Obi-Wan and was suddenly shocked to see a blue glowing blade sticking out the front of his chest.
The liquid that had been leaking from Grievous' organ vessel ignited. Panicked, he dropped the spear and clawed at his chest, only succeeding in fully breaking the vessel. Obi-Wan winced from the heat as General Grievous was engulfed in flames. The proud former Kaleesh warlord let out one last agonized wail before collapsing to the ground.
Obi-Wan grunted as he fully pulled himself up and onto the platform. He looked at the smouldering exoskeleton of his foe. The bone plates crackled and the metal ticked as they cooled. Obi-Wan reached down and scooped up his Lightblade.
He was about to make a snide comment about Grievous' desire for Lightblades when he saw the belbullab crawling over to its master. It nuzzled the charred husk, trying to see if it would move. The belbullab laid down next to Grievous' body as though guarding it.
Obi-Wan turned and walked away, unable to help but feel guilty even though he had done the right thing. He looked down at the soot on the hilt of his Lightblade and began to wipe it off with his sleeve.
Over the course of the war, the Jedi Temple's roost had undergone many alterations, the largest of which was that most of the delsev pens had been retrofitted into la'at nests. It was among these great beasts that Masters Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin and Agen Kolar gathered in preparation to head towards the Senate building.
Anakin walked up to the group with urgency. "Master Windu, I must talk with you."
Mace Windu turned. "Skywalker. We just received word that Obi-Wan has killed General Grievous. We were just about to leave to make sure the Chancellor returns his emergency powers to the Senate."
"He won't give up his power. I've just learned a terrible truth. I have reason to believe that Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord."
Everyone's faces froze.
Mace Windu looked at Anakin skeptically. "A Sith Lord?"
Anakin nodded. "Yes. The one we've been searching for."
Master Fisto cocked his tentacled head. "What led you to this conclusion?"
"He knows the Ways of the Force. Furthermore, he's been trained in the Dark Side."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
Master Windu heaved a deep breath and scowled. When he spoke, his voice was cold. "Then our worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive."
The Jedi moved as a group towards their readied la'at on the platform outside. Anakin thought it best to caution his fellow Councilmember. "Master, the Chancellor is tremendously powerful. You'll need my help to attempt an arrest."
"For your own good, stay out of this affair. I sense a great deal of confusion in you, Skywalker. There is much fear that clouds your judgement."
"I must go with you."
Mace Windu's response was firm. "No. If what you have told me is true, you will have gained my trust." By then, the other Jedi were already atop the la'at. Master Windu started to climb up after them. "But for now, remain here. Wait in the Council chamber until we return."
Anakin's shoulders sagged. "Yes, Master..." He watched as the la'at's great feathered wings flapped and lifted the bird off the ground. Off it flew towards the Senate building at the city's apex, its passengers steeling themselves for whatever lay ahead.
The orange glow of sunset bathed the Council chamber. Anakin had only just arrived but every minute felt like an hour to him. He paced back and forth, filled with anxiety. He should be there with them.
He looked out the window towards Padmé's apartment. She was there now, likely reading a book and having an herbal tea. Anakin wanted to be there with her, watching the sun set and the stars come out. He sat down in his chair, propping his elbows on his knees and holding his head in his hands.
"You know, don't you?" There was a quiet voice in his head almost like Palpatine's, but it was different. The voice sounded... Older. "You know that if the Jedi destroy me, any chance of saving her will be lost."
Anakin chalked the presence of the voice up to stress, but it had a point. Of all the Jedi to try to take the Chancellor into custody, why did it have to be Master Windu? If it came down to it, Mace Windu would certainly rather cut the Chancellor down rather than bring him in alive.
A vision of Padmé filled his mind, but not like the ones he had been having. In it, she was cradling and rubbing her belly contentedly, singing softly and giggling every time the baby moved inside her.
Anakin stood. Damn the Order! Damn them and forbidding love! He no longer cared whether or not he would be expelled, he couldn't let Padmé die. He would do anything to save her...
He rushed from the Council chamber, mind made up. Anakin ran through the halls to the Temple's roost and jumped on the first delsev he found.
The Jedi Masters entered Palpatine's office with grim expressions. They carried their Lightblade hilts in their hands, deactivated but ready for any signs of hostility. Chancellor Palpatine sat behind his desk, with his chair facing out the window watching the shroud of night cover the city.
Palpatine turned around at the sounds of carpet-muffled boots approaching him. He smiled warmly. "Oh? Master Windu, I wasn't expecting you at such an hour. I take it General Grievous has been killed? I must say, you're here sooner than expected."
"In the name of the Senate of the Republic..." Mace Windu ignited his Lightblade. "...you are under arrest, Chancellor." The remaining Jedi, who had fanned out to either side of Master Windu ignited their own blades.
Palpatine's smile turned into a frown. "Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?"
Mace Windu took a few steps towards the Chancellor. "The Senate will decide your fate."
Palpatine stood. "I am the Senate!"
Master Windu narrowed his eyes. "Not anymore."
The Chancellor tucked his right hand into his left sleeve. "It's treason, then..." His eye twinkled.
None of the Jedi had time to react to what happened next. In a single leap, Palpatine crossed the room flying like an arrow. While midair, he pulled a rose gold and leather Lightblade hilt and activated it.
Palpatine landed in front of Master Agen Kolar with his blood red blade already plunged clear through the Jedi's chest. The Dark Lord ripped the blade out sideways and followed through on his swing, cutting Master Saesee Tiin in half. Masters Windu and Fisto moved in with the latter engaging first.
The red and green blades connected twice before Palpatine delivered a spinning kick to Kit Fisto's face. The Jedi Master recoiled, inadvertently turning away. The red blade cut deeply through Master Fisto's torso, from his left shoulder to his right hip. His spine severed, he dropped like a stone. The Dark Lord had slain three Jedi Masters in as many seconds.
Palpatine roared with a fury born of a lifetime of hatred for the Jedi as he charged Master Windu. Their weapons connected with enough force to strain the Jedi's arms. Mace Windu blocked each subsequent swing while trying to retaliate, but the Dark Lord's fury pushed him back.
The Jedi leapt back to provide some much needed distance, swinging a wide arc as he did so. Palpatine ducked under the swing and came up with his blade tip uncomfortably close to Master Windu's chest. He stepped back before the Dark Lord could fully exploit his advantage, knocking the Sith's outstretched weapon upwards and locking blades with him.
The two combatants struggled with one another, each desperate to overpower the other. Palpatine snarled with anger, baring his yellowed teeth. Mace Windu glared back with determination and perhaps even a bit of hatred himself.
Anakin didn't even bother to land the delsev, instead jumping off and landing on a platform. Time was running out.
Master Windu and Palpatine jumped back simultaneously and readied their blades. Keeping their eyes locked on one another, they strafed, waiting for any opening. Mace Windu moved first with a quick overhead swing. Palpatine blocked then launched into a flurry of blows.
Mace Windu sensed that something was off. He had seen how easily Palpatine had killed the other three masters, but he wasn't displaying that same level of skill now. It was almost as though the Dark Lord was toying with him... Or biding his time.
As they traded blows, the fight moved to next to the office's giant floor-to-ceiling window. A glancing sword blow from a deflected swing shattered the massive single pane. Glass shards cascaded down the outside of the Senate building to rain down on the streets below.
The cold night winds rushed into the office as the Jedi and the Sith clashed once more. Palpatine lunged at Master Windu, who deflected the Dark Lord's blade and planted a knee into his face.
Palpatine snapped backwards from the hit and fell onto his back in the empty window frame. His hands flailed as he fell in an attempt to catch himself. In doing so, the Lightblade flew out of his hand and out the window.
Mace Windu pointed his blade at the disarmed Sith. Palpatine crawled backwards through the broken glass, wailing as he went. Master Windu closed the gap until Palpatine had his back against the window frame.
Anakin rushed into the Chancellor's office, praying that he wasn't too late. The sight that greeted him on entering was Master Windu with the tip of his Lightblade almost touching the unarmed Palpatine's chest.
Mace Windu glared at the Dark Lord as he held out his hands pitifully. "You are under arrest, my Lord."
The two of them turned their heads as Anakin approached. "Anakin! I told you it would come to this," said Palpatine breathing heavily. "I was right! The Jedi are taking over!"
Mace Windu snapped back to Palpatine. "The oppression of the Sith will never return! You have lost."
"No," growled the Chancellor. "No, no, you have lost!" From his outward facing fingertips, blue lightning surged forth. The first few bolts hit Master Windu before he brought his Lightblade up to absorb the Dark magic.
Anakin winced as the lightning arced off the sword and back to its caster. Despite his magic being reflected back at him, Palpatine didn't let up. Instead he redoubled the effort he put into it.
"Traitor!" Palpatine yelled in between cries of pain.
It was taking everything Mace Windu had to hold onto his purple Lightblade, but through gritted teeth he called out to Anakin. "He is the traitor! Gah!"
Having his magic reflected seemed to be taking a toll on the Chancellor. Anakin watched in horror as beneath the lightning crackling across his skin, Palpatine's face was becoming frightening and twisted. It was as though he was aging decades in a matter of seconds.
Palpatine looked to Anakin pleadingly. "I have the power to save the one you love... You must choose..."
Mace Windu's hands were shaking. "Don't listen to him, Anakin!"
Palpatine's features twisted more as the Dark magic coursed through him. "Don't let him kill me..." His voice was getting weaker. "I... can't hold it... any longer... I- I can't... I'm... too weak..."
The Dark Lord's hands fell to his sides and his lightning fizzled out. Master Windu once again pointed his Lightblade at Palpatine.
For the first time, Anakin could clearly see the extent of what had happened to the Chancellor. His eye sockets were sunken in and darkened while the rest of his skin had grown pale and wrinkled. Veins show through in several places. Furthermore, his hair had thinned and his teeth had turned grey. Whether this transformation was a result of using so much Dark magic, having that magic reflected back, or this being the Dark Lord's true form, there was no way to tell. Perhaps all three were correct.
When Palpatine spoke again, it was in the same voice that Anakin had heard in his head. "I- I couldn't hold it... any longer..."
Mace Windu's lips curled. "I am going to end this! Once and for all!"
"No," Anakin shouted. "He must stand trial!"
"He has control of the Senate and the courts. He's too dangerous to be left alive!"
Palpatine cowered, curling up and holding his hands in front of his face. "I'm too weak! Don't- don't kill me! Please!"
"It's not the Jedi Way," Anakin said sternly. "He must live."
Mace Windu glared at the pitiful Sith in front of him as though thinking Anakin's words over. He narrowed his eyes and set his jaw.
"I need him," implored Anakin.
"Please don't!" Palpatine cried as Master Windu raised his arm to deliver the killing blow.
"No!" In that instant, Anakin made possibly the most fateful decision of his life. He drew his Lightblade and swung it upwards as Mace Windu brought his down. Instead of aiming for the purple blade, Anakin aimed towards the Jedi Master's forearm.
Mace Windu's Lightblade and the hand holding it flew out the shattered window. The Jedi yelled in pain and clutched his stump as his eyes flew to a shocked Anakin.
Palpatine uncurled himself and smiled maliciously. His irises turned yellow and began glowing as he stretched out his hands once more. "Power!" He yelled as a veritable storm shot out from his fingertips. "Unlimited power!"
Master Windu screamed and spasmed in agony as the Dark magic tore through him. Through his skin, his skeleton glowed with an unholy blue light. Anakin was frozen as all this happened, still processing his decision.
The Dark Lord cackled as he lifted Mace Windu off the ground with the Force. He threw him out the window, leaving the Jedi to plummet to his death on the streets below. After he was out of sight, Palpatine sighed with satisfaction and laughed.
Anakin fell to his knees. "What... What have I done?" For the most part, he was distraught. He had just helped kill one of the members of the Jedi Council. But there was another feeling, one that he felt far too little.
All at once a revelation struck him. He had grown up a slave and felt that little had changed after he had become a Jedi. For all their talk of justice, the Jedi Order had little care for the plight of the individual. He was just as much a slave to the Order as he had been to Watto and Gardulla. Now for the first time in his life, he felt truly free. With this freedom, he could be with Padmé. But first, he had to save her.
Anakin looked up and saw Palpatine standing before him. "You are fulfilling your destiny, Anakin." He reached out with a wrinkled hand. "Become my apprentice. Learn to use the Dark Side of the Force."
Anakin cast his eyes down again. "I... will do whatever you ask..."
"Good," said Palpatine, drawing out the word.
"Just help me save Padmé's life... I can't live without her."
The Dark Lord grumbled. "To cheat death is a power that only one has achieved, but if we work together... I know we can discover the secret."
Anakin leaned forward, supporting himself on his hands and knees. He bowed his head. "I pledge myself... to your teachings." If this was what it took to save her, this was what he would do.
"Good... Very good..." He nodded and laughed softly to himself. "The Force is strong with you. A powerful Sith, you will become... Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth... Vader."
The newly named Dark Apprentice looked up. "Thank you... My Master."
"Rise."
Elsewhere, in Kashyyyk, Master Yoda reeled at the massive disturbance in the Force. Something was wrong, but he wasn't sure what it meant.
Anakin stood shakily as Palpatine fetched a black cloak. "Because the Council did not trust you, my young apprentice, I believe you may be the only Jedi with no knowledge of this plot. When the Order learns of what has transpired here, they will kill us along with all the senators."
Anakin glanced down at one of the dead Jedi Masters. "I agree."
The Dark Lord pulled up the hood of the cloak. His eyes glowed through the shadow. "With the Order's next move being against the Senate, every single Jedi, including your friend Obi-Wan Kenobi, is now an enemy of the Republic."
"I... Understand, Master."
"We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they are not destroyed, there will be civil war without end." He turned to Anakin, who had his eyes on the floor. "For your first task, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off-balance."
Anakin nodded solemnly.
"Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy. Only then will you be strong enough with the Dark Side to save Padmé."
"What about the other Jedi spread throughout the world?"
"Fear not, Lord Vader. Their betrayal will be dealt with." Palpatine walked over and sat at his desk. "After you have killed all the Jedi in the Temple, travel to the island of Mustafar. Wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the rest of the Separatist leadership. Once more, the Sith will rule the world, and with that rule... There shall be peace."