CHAPTER 21
Luke and Anakin were stunned, unsure what to make of Maul's actions. Luke held his green blade at Palpatine's back, while Anakin held his saber to Maul's throat, unsure what was happening and who their true enemy was. Maul did not flinch, did not even glance at Anakin or Luke, seemingly unconcerned that he had two powerful Jedi prepared to strike him down at any moment. He kept his eyes focused on Palpatine, kept his blood-red saber pointed at his former Master. Palpatine knew he was trapped, and his yellow eyes went wild with rage.
"What is this, Maul?" Palpatine growled, hardly able to comprehend the actions of his former apprentice. "Is this treachery some plan of Kun's?"
"Kun has been destroyed," Maul stated simply, without emotion.
Palpatine tore his gaze away from Maul, looking for Kun. Not far away, he saw what was left of the powerful Sith Lord, and realized he had been betrayed.
"Traitor!" he spat, his yellow eyes boring through his former apprentice.
"You are the traitor, Palpatine," Maul stated with conviction." You have betrayed our Master and our Realm! But most of all you have betrayed the Dark Side. For this you will pay a terrible price. You will return with me to face our Master."
Luke and Anakin took in this conversation with varying degrees of interest and mistrust. Anakin, especially, was loathe to take anything he was hearing on trust. Palpatine was a master of manipulation, and Maul was a dangerous, bloodthirsty Sith Lord. Anakin held his saber up higher, moved slightly closer to Maul.
Anakin was torn about how to proceed. He wanted nothing more than to destroy the two Sith who stood before him now - vanquish their very spirits so that they could disappear from the Force entirely. But he was Jedi. No, more than that. He was a redeemed Jedi, forgiven and taken back into the fold. One who had vowed never to take up the path of darkness again. Palpatine was unarmed and trapped. Maul was not threatening him or any other Jedi. To strike either of them down now would be to skim the tenuous line between light and dark, and Anakin knew he could not afford to do that. But to simply step back and allow these evil ones to retreat safely into the Dark realm, to allow them the opportunity to formulate another dark plan.....it was unthinkable! Anakin blinked, trying to clear his mind .His hand began to shake, betraying his internal struggle.
Luke watched his father intently, knowing the dilemma Anakin was feeling. Luke felt much the same, more so about Palpatine than this other Dark Lord. Palpatine had made threats - deadly, vile threats - against Luke, his family and his fledgling Jedi Order. Luke had no doubt that one such as Palpatine would surely follow through with those threats if given the opportunity. But to strike down an unarmed man, even Palpatine...No. Luke had passed this test long ago. That was not the Jedi way. Anger, aggression - those were of the dark side. And the Dark Side was a place Luke Skywalker would not go.
Father and son stood there a moment longer, each lost in conflict but seeming to take strength from one another. Then, as if on cue, Anakin and Luke took a step back, not striking, but keeping their blades ever ready, fully prepared to fight if either Palpatine or Maul made any aggressive move.
Palpatine looked from side to side, his gaze finally becoming transfixed on the Transcendence Portal. It was obvious he was trying to decide if he should make an attempt to reach it, but a deep seated fear of destruction from either Maul or one of the two Sky walkers held him back.
Maul sensed Palpatine's capitulation, and took one hand off of his lightsabre, reaching it into his robes and pulling out an odd-looking device. Palpatine recognized the device, and took a half step backwards, stopping when he felt the hot sizzle of Luke's lightsabre blade touch his back. Maul flipped a switch on the small device and immediately a blue spiral of pure energy shot forth, locking onto Palpatine, wrapping around him like a coil, holding his arms to his side and lifting him up several meters off the ground.
Satisfied that the former Emperor was effectively immobilized for his journey, Darth Maul began to walk backward, keeping his guard up in case Anakin or Luke decided to change their mind about allowing him to retreat. As Maul moved, so did the suspended Palpatine, as though he were attached to an invisible leash. Back the two went, step by step toward to Dark Realm, all the while Palpatine spewing threats at Maul, at Luke, even at the now-destroyed Exar Kun. But soon the two Sith Lords had crossed back into their rightful Realm, their forms becoming dimmer, fading from view as the Blackness of the dark side swallowed up the Light. Soon, they had disappeared entirely.
Anakin and Luke looked at one another, unsure what to say - or even think - about what they had just witnessed.
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The Legions continued to advance toward the portal. One by one, they fell into line, creating a wall of darkness across the terrain. Behind that wall, Darth Tyranus continued to move, coming ever closer to the Transcendence Portal.
Obi-Wan analyzed their position and knew what Legions were doing and where they were heading. Obi-Wan's young face was beaded with sweat, and his muscles were starting to tire. But he refused – refused – to allow these Dark Ones to reach their destination. A sudden premonition hit him, and he felt his stomach tighten. If the Legions decided to make a drive for the Portal, there would be no possible way the Jedi could stop them all from crossing. Many would be destroyed, true, but some would surely make it to the Other Side. The thought of the damage the dark ones could do sent a cold chill through Obi-Wan. He sent a mental warning to the Defenders, knowing they were tiring, but willing them to fight harder.
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In his mind, Anakin heard Nomi calling to him, desperately trying to break through the mental block he had constructed. He lowered his mental shields, getting a wave of images through his Guide-Bond with Nomi. He saw what she was seeing - saw the Legions forming a line, heading directly toward the Transcendence Portal. He spoke to Luke, never taking his eyes off Palpatine and Maul.
"The Legions are heading this way," he stated, turning to face his son. "You have to go, Luke. Go now!"
Luke hesitated, but only for a moment. He stared hard at the Transcendence Portal, then looked over his shoulder and saw a line of Dark Ones approaching rapidly. He looked at his Father with concern.
"We can hold them," Anakin stated with certainty. "You're destiny is along a different path. You must take it."
Luke nodded, Anakin's choice of words helping to steel his resolve. He took a step backward, staring into the swirling portal.. He closed his eyes and ran forward, jumping upward, feeling a tremendous power envelop him as he passed into the Transcendence portal. Then, just as it happened before, Luke felt his body become paralyzed, felt his consciousness beginning to wane. Luke tried to relax, putting his trust in the Force to take him back where he needed to be. He saw a flash of light, then nothing at all....
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Anakin watched as Luke passed through the portal. His son had simply vanished through the rift, disappearing in a heartbeat. He immediately reached out to Luke through their bond and was relieved to sense his son's presence, alive and strong. He smiled, a rush of relief flowing through him followed by a pang of emptiness. He pushed his emotions aside, though, clearing his mind as he turned and sprinted across the grass to meet the threat of the Dark Ones. As he turned away, Anakin did not notice that the Transcendence Portal began to slowly fade away....
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Tyranus allowed himself a brief smile. He was within clear sight of the Transcendence Portal, and saw that it was now completely unguarded - and starting to wane. This was his chance, he knew. His one and only chance to alter the course of destiny for the Dark Side. He inhaled deeply, and called upon the force, feeling the Dark Side's cold touch envelop him. He threw back his heavy dark robes and launched himself forward with blinding speed, propelled by the Force. He passed up the row of Legions in a instant, his movement nothing but a blur to anyone watching. His path crossed Anakin's, and the Jedi stopped, his eyes turning to follow the blur of motion that passed him. Anakin cursed, realizing what was happening. But before he could move to intercept, the Sith Lord had reached the transcendence Portal.
Anakin felt his heart almost stop in his chest. "Nooooo!' he screamed, watching as the Dark One leapt up, passed through the rift and disappeared.
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Obi-Wan heard Anakin's scream, and turned in time to see a blur of darkness leap through the Transcendence Portal. Within seconds, the Dark Warriors began to disengage from the battle. The line of Dark Ones turned and fled back to the Dark Realm, crossing through the borders just as they began to solidify. Obi-Wan watched, mesmerized, as the boundaries between the Light and Dark realm started to become whole again. Moments later, the wavering portal closed up entirely. The borders solidified, the air became still, and the wind subsided. The Light Realm was suddenly quiet, returned to an almost eerie peacefulness once again. He turned to Qui-Gon, then looked down the long line of Jedi Defenders, all who were breathing heavily, weapons still at the ready, looking to one another for answers to the monumental events they had just witnessed.
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The Dark Master walked slowly around Palpatine's still-suspended form. Darth Maul and Lumiya stood patiently nearby; saying nothing, knowing their Master would deal with his traitorous servant in his own good time.
Palpatine, too, held silent. He knew his time was short. He realized the final moments before his ultimate destruction would be filled with extreme suffering. But that was of no concern to him, not anymore. His thoughts were focused on the humiliation he had endured these past many years, on the injustice of it all. Palpatine had once told Kun and Maul that destruction was better than an eternity as a lap animal.
And so it would be. Palpatine's eyes held fear and a powerful anger, but he glared at the Dark Master with as much defiance as he could muster. He would not give the Dark Master the pleasure of seeing him surrender to his fate. Besides, deep in his heart, Palpatine knew he had hurt this Dark Master far worse than anything he could ever do to him. The Sith were gone on the Other Side. All of them. The Master had blamed Palpatine for that for years, and Palpatine had always resisted that idea. Now he gloried in it, relished it. The Master would destroy him, but Palpatine had already destroyed the Sith and there was nothing - absolutely nothing - the Dark Master could every do to change that. Even when Palpatine was destroyed and gone, he would never be forgotten.
The Master stopped his circling and moved to stand before Palpatine, acknowledging his servants harsh glare with one of his own. So much waste potential, he thought to himself, as he looked on his servant. A sad waste indeed.
"So this is where it ends, Palpatine," the Master stated softly, his eyes focused on the floating form in front of him. "I have to wonder when it was, exactly, that you believed you could best me."
Palpatine continued his defiant glare, but said nothing. The Master reached into his robes and brought forth a small scroll, yellowed with age. He opened the scroll and began to read aloud.
"One Master. One Apprentice. Always two, no more or less. Study in secret, do not let your powers be known. When you advance too far in age, you pass your title of Master to the Apprentice, and so the goes the ways of the Sith." The Master cocked his head and rolled up the scroll. "Those are very simple rules, Palpatine. Very simple. And I know you were taught all of them." The Master paused, looking sadly at the ground beneath his feet. "Was that such a difficulty for you, Palpatine? To follow those rules - the rules I created two millennia before your birth! Who were you to try and change them?"
Again, Palpatine held silent, but his eyes began to glaze over with fear.
The Master shook his head. "You're actions threatened to destroy us. You chose power over the Sith way. You forsake the rules that had allowed us to survive for thousands of years, all for the sake of your vanity, your greed and lust for control." The Master paused, his face a mask of disgust. "You tried every means possible to keep yourself from aging. You went so far as to try clone technology, transferring your spirit into youthful clones of yourself. All because you could not bear to relinquish your title to your apprentice. You further corrupted the Sith ways by betraying that same apprentice. You thought to have the Sky walkers battle one another, to find out who was the stronger of the two." The Master shook his head. "A dangerous, foolish plan derived from a dangerous and foolish mind. It is little wonder that your physical life ended as it did."
The Master stopped a moment, and his eyes hardened. "Before I decide what to do with you, Palpatine, I want you to know something." The Master stepped forward, as though confiding a deep secret. His voice lowered. "I know what you are thinking, Palpatine. You are as simple for me to read as this scroll. You always have been. You still think you have still won, don't you? You think you have hurt me by destroying the Sith on the Other Side?"
Palpatine's eyes flashed, knowing the Master was very close to the truth, but he covered his reaction quickly. But not quick enough. The Master began to laugh.
"The Sith will rise again, Palpatine. I have taken care of that." He regarded his servant. "You didn't think I would really let an event such as a Transcendence go unnoticed, do you? I assure you, a faithful follower of the Dark Side is now safely on the Other Side. He will follow the Sith ways to the letter and he will insure our survival." The Master stepped back, reveling in Palpatine's look of outrage. "Of course," he continued casually, "we would never have been able to find the right location without your help." The Master paused.
Palpatine tensed, rage in his every feature. This could not be! It was not possible he could have...
"Helped...?" The Master finished Palpatine's thought with a smile. "Oh yes, have no fear, you were a vital part of this plan. You and that unfortunate Exar Kun. So you see, Palpatine, you cannot defeat me. Because I understand you better than you understand yourself. I knew what you would do before you did it." The Master literally beamed with pleasure as Palpatine began to fight against the chains of energy that bound him. The Master turned, began walking slowly away, then turned back almost as an afterthought.
"Oh yes, one other thing, Palpatine. I have no intention of destroying you. Not at this point. You're punishment will be legendary, I assure you, but you will survive it. I think you will serve a much greater purpose as a living example to the others in the realm who may someday get the idea that they are greater than I." The Master turned away once more, motioning to Lumiya and Maul as he departed.
"Take him to the caverns."
Palpatine cried out - a primal, wicked sound from the depths of his soul. He thrashed wildly, his yellow eyes ablaze with fear. He knew what lay ahead in the caverns, knew his fate. As his energy-prison began to float away toward the caverns, a phrase he had spoken earlier that day came to him, surfacing from somewhere in his terrified mind....
"When last I saw you, you were screaming in pain, begging only for death to come quickly..."
Lumiya, Maul, and finally Palpatine, disappeared into the blackness.