Maul made quick work of the guards in the entrance to the Imperial Palace. He motioned to the others to follow him inside, then directed them to the elevator and the lower levels, so they could find Taggart.

"You should not come across much trouble. The Emperor tries, but his Imperial Guards are still sloppy, undertrained, and therefore easily defeated."

"Easy for you to say," wesley scoffed. "You live with these guys and you know all their moves and stuff."

Maul rolled his eyes. "Go rescue your friend." he muttered, splitting off. "Hurry! You don't have much time. Palpatine by now knows we are here, and what we intend to do."

Lindsey checked the charge on his blaster, as the Sith strode away on his self-appointed mission. "Well, you heard the - guy." he led the way down the hall to the elevator.

"I can't believe we're doing this." Breckin shook his head.

"When will you believe it?" Nordat asked rhetorically.

Wesley watched Maul disappear around the corner. He returned his gaze to the opening elevator doors. Making up his mind, he side-stepped away form the rest of the group, then ran after Maul.

As the elevator descended, Nordat wondered, "Where's Wesley?"

"Uh..." Breckin shrugged.

"He can take care of himself." Lindsey stated gruffly, knowing full well that the young man had gone after Espen.


Wesley rounded the corner he had seen the Sith pass only minutes before. The corridor was grand. High-ceilinged, with wall to wall stained glass windows. He wondered how the Emperor could have possibly appreciated these, but clearly he must because he had allowed them to stay.

Wesley's path was completely vacant as far as living adversaries went. Maul had dispatched them all on his way through. A few of the crimson-clad men lay scattered on the marble floor. He hurried along, hoping to catch up to the Sith. At the end of the corridor, he had a strong feeling to go left, however he soon found himself in front of a locked door. He keyed in the code, as if he had come up with it himself.

Trepur Espen looked up in surprise as the door slid open to reveal Wesley Giles. He rose, hand hovering over the blaster on his belt, and grinned. "I had hoped to see you again, Boy."

"Well, I'd hate to disappoint you, Scuzzbucket."

"Ouch, my feelings are hurt, Wes." the other feigned innocence. "I can't imagine why you'd have such contempt for me. I didn't kill your father."

"Contempt? Me? For you? Never."

"That's good." This was the drop in guard that Espen had been waiting for. Wesley was quick of wit, but he often forgot to watch for physical threats. Within seconds he had whipped out his gun and shot the young man in the shoulder.

Wesley's reflexes had him pressing his left hand against the cauterized wound. He yelped in surprise at the burning sting, and was not paying attention to Espen. The bigger man punched him in the face, knocking him, stunned, to his knees. Blood oozed out of Wesley's nose and trailed down his face, dripping onto the beige carpet.

"Oh, now, look what you've done, Little Wes. Blood stains, y'know, and the Emperor is very protective of his carpets. He'll kill you for this.

"Assuming there's anything left of you when I'm through, that is."

Wesley looked up at the other, wishing he had stayed with the group.


Darth Maul darted down the hidden passageways to the Emperor's expansive throne room in the centre of the Imperial Palace. He felt no guilt or remorse over having directed Wesley to Espen. It was what the boy had wanted, afterall: a chance for revenge.

Maul's only concern now was getting Jareena away from Palpatine.


"S'Ritak," the Emperor beckoned the Twi'Lek. "Maul is sneaking about my Palace. Dispose of him once and for all."

The Sith Apprentice bowed in respect, then went to the wall. An ornately carved panel in the wall slid back and to the left to reveal a secret passage. He entered, and then the panel closed behind him. Lightsabre in hand, S'Ritak Vedul sought to do battle with his Master.

Maul, he's coming, Lou thought over and over again.

Palpatine slapped her, then held her shocked face by her chin. "What did I tell you about that?" the old man narrowed his discoloured eyes at the Kyterian.

Lou swatted Palpatine's decrepit fingers away.

Feeling a little safer with one less adversary in the room, and with one still unconscious on the floor, Jenkens chose this time to turn on the lone Imperial Guard. He jumped to his feet, and grabbed the guard's staff away before he knew what was going on. Jenkens hit the crimson-clad man several times, forcing him to his knees.

The Emperor's head snapped in the direction of this new distraction. "You had your chance," he said to Lou, eyes flashing momentarily. The being summoned the Force, and used its harnessed energy to strike down Jenkens. The power manifested itself as blue-hot bolts of lightning, and they wrapped themselves around Jenkens, heating his body inside and out.

Jenkens screamed in pain, an awful sound that reverberated off the walls to linger, even after his steaming body had fallen to the floor.

Park and Lou both stared in shocked disbelief at the smoldering corpse of their friend. Park scampered over to Lou, as Palpatine laughed merrily.

Park's gaze locked with Lou's, and he saw that she had tears in her eyes. He swallowed hard, then allowed himself a quick glance at the still-grinning Emperor.

"I haven't done that in awhile," Palpatine said jovially.

Park's eyes widened, and he turned back to Lou. "I think you should do what he says, Mi."

Lou shook her head slowly, sadly, regretfully. "I can't, Morty, I can't."

"Then I'll get to do it again."


Maul, he's coming.

The Sith's lightsabre was in his hands instantly, and his movements were more cautious. He reached out with the Force to find the threat: his apprentice.

Mere moments later, Maul sensed Jareena's distress. It was so powerful that he had to put his hand against the cold stone wall to keep himself steady.

And then S'Ritak was there.

"Here you are, Master. His Highness has sent me to dispatch you. He is tired of your meddling."

Maul ignited his sabre. "Well, you'll both be disappointed to hear that I'm not done yet."

"Maul, by the time you get through me it'll be too late for you to do anything else," Vedul lit his sabre as he spoke.

"We shall see what there is time for when I'm done with you shortly."

The clash of lightsabres could be heard for meters down the old passages.


Lindsey slid the slain guard's passcard through the lock, and the door slid open. He, Breckin, and Nordat entered the darkened room, blasters at the ready.

"Guys," Breckin's hushed voice cut through the silence. "I'm going to find Wesley. I kinda told Dee that I'd look after him for her."

"You'd never find him now, Bracket."

Breckin rolled his eyes at his Captain. "Look, Lizzy, as long as you keep getting my name wrong, I refuse to listen to you. I'm going to find Wesley, and then we will meet you back at the ship. See ya," and with that, he left feeling very proud of himself.

Nordat took Lindsey's hand, "Come on, let's find Taggart and get out of here. Breckin can take care of himself."

"He called me Lizzy."

"Yes, he did. You can reprimand him later. Taggart's gotta be around here somewhere. Let's find him so we can leave."

Lindsey nodded, following her deeper into the cavernous dungeon.


Obi-Wan Kenobi opened his eyes to black. He was still in the box Palpatine had left him in. The metal was cold beneath his hands, and his legs had long since cramped. He wondered how long he had been locked in there.

The Force alerted the former Jedi to two new presences in the hall, just outside the room that housed his prison. The Force? That meant that those loathesome ysalamiri must have escaped, or been taken out. Either way, Kenobi was now able to reach out to touch Lindsey's mind, and direct him to open the cell.

"Kane," Kenobi whispered gratefully.


"This way," Lindsey blasted the lock on the door to his right.

"How do you know?" Nordat asked.

"I just do," he pushed the door aside, the rusted hinges squeaking terribly. "Raine?" he called.


Kenobi banged on the sides of the contraption to make his presence known. Let me out. Let me out. Let me out.


"What is it?" Nordat wondered, searching for a way to open the metal box.

"I'm not sure. But Raine's inside, I know that."

Nordat arched her eyebrow, but did not argue. "So, how do we get in? Or rather, get him out?"

Lindsey noticed for the first time the control station behind the box. He hurried over to it, and scanned the various buttons and blinking lights for one that might solve the riddle. His fingers hovered over the numbered keypad.


Kenobi sensed his friend's distress and reached out with the Force to guide Lindsey to the correct combination of keys.


Lindsey found his fingers dancing across the keys, entering a code that he did not know. What the-?

The keypad illuminated orange. A hiss exited the metal box, and Nordat jumped back in surprise. The sides came apart, lowering to the floor.

Kenobi rolled to the floor, squeezing his eyes shut against the sudden brightness.

"Raine!" Lindsey exclaimed, sliding over the console to his friend's side.

"Are you alright?" Nordat asked, kneeling beside him.

Kenobi nodded, trying to find his voice.

Lindsey put his hand on his shoulder. "You can explain later. Right now, we have to get out of here."

The other nodded again, and Lindsey and Nordat helped guide him to his feet. It took Kenobi a few minutes to get used to standing after days cramped in that small metal prison, but he was soon ready to walk. They hurried back to the main floor, not encountering anyone along the way.


Palpatine released Park's hair, and he slid to the ground, stunned. Lou slid off the throne to the floor. She cradled Park in her arms, but watched the Emperor closely. Caylon was finally awake and anxious for revenge, but the old prune would not let him near Lou.

"Raef, Kenobi has been released. Make sure he and whoever is with him do not leave."

"Yes, Sir," and he left to follow his orders. If Caylon could not harm Lou, then he would harm someone she knew.

"Good boy," Palpatine turned back to Lou. "Your friends are unnaturally determined."

She ran her fingers through Park's hair. "I know."


Darth Maul licked the blood from his lip where Vedul had succeeded in butting him with the end of his lightsabre.

"Admit it, Maul, you are no match for me," the Twi'Lek sneered.

"Admit it, S'Ritak, your overconfidence is what will destroy you."

"Oh, pish posh. My overconfidence gives me power!" Vedul lunged at Maul with a beastial cry.

Lightsabres crashed, sparks slicing through the air at every contact. Maul forced the Twi'Lek back, then spin-kicked the weapon from his grasp. Vedul reached out with the Force, stopping the sabre's escape in mid-air.

Maul swung horizontally, but the other ducked, then low-kicked him in the gut. Maul stumbled back, and Vedul lunged again. He got his lightsabre up just in time to block the apprentice's attack.

"Getting tired, Master?" Vedul mocked. "Want to rest a few minutes?"

Maul roared, calling upon all the power of the Dark Side. He shoved Vedul back, kicked him in the face, then sliced down with his lightsabre, severing the Twi'Lek's body from right shoulder to left hip.

Satisfied with his kill, the Sith ran full-tilt down the hidden passage to meet his Emperor one final time.