Immediately, the sweet thrum of the Force flowed through him, baptizing him in its essence and relieving him of the small aches and pains that he had slowly grown accustomed to.  Feeling the sudden growth of the Lightside of the Force, Sidious immediately beckoned for his personal guard, knowing that he alone could not face a fully trained Jedi Knight, especially not one with the furious expression Obi-Wan Kenobi was currently wearing.

The six Imperial Guards, though well trained, were not equipped to fight an enemy who used as many dirty tactics as they, themselves, employed.  Normally the Jedi Knights that the Guard fought would refuse to stoop to such low tactics, but Obi-Wan was not above any trick that might save his life, and the lives of the remaining free men, women and children throughout the Galaxy.

Only a few moments had passed, and yet three of the guards were mortally wounded, and two more were injured in such a manner that they could no longer fight.  The final guard was trying to prevent Obi-Wan from reaching his Master, while Sidious was quickly summoning more of his officers and storm troopers.  Quickly dispatching the final guard with a swift kick to the solar plexus and a follow up right hook with his chain-wrapped hand, Obi-Wan turned his attentions to the Emperor.

"Your reign of terror has ended Palpatine.  The Galaxy is no longer yours to command," Obi-Wan declared, an almost feral grin covering his handsome features.

"Is that so?" Sidious questioned, finally giving up in his attempts to summon more guards.  "Do you really think that one lone Jedi has the power to destroy me?"

"He's not alone," a calm voice called out from the side entry into the great chamber.

"And he never has been," another voice continued, as two shrouded figures came to a stop just before the seal on the floor.

"N'erak. Bant," Obi-Wan greeted, sounding unsurprised, despite the unexpected appearance of his childhood friends.

"Obi-Wan," N'erak answered, as Bant nodded in greeting.  "We thought you could use a hand."

"I assume you are the reason I cannot contact my guards?" Sidious asked, his voice betraying none of the anger and even fear that he was feeling.

"Seven to one was bad enough odds," N'erak replied flippantly. 

"I appreciate your help," Obi-Wan declared, risking a quick glance at both of his friends, "but neither of you should be here."

"We couldn't just leave you," Bant argued.  "Even if you did leave the Order."

With Bant's declaration, Sidious' eyes narrowed.  Prior to her revelation, he had assumed that Obi-Wan was planning some form of rebellion, but he had felt assured that the Knight would not break his vows in the name of the Order.  With this new information, however, nothing was assured.

"Again, I truly appreciate your assistance, but it would be best if you and N'erak left now," Obi-Wan stated again, trying with his eyes to convince his friends to leave as quickly as possible.  Using the distraction of the three Jedi's discussion, Sidious began to slowly inch his hand toward the hidden compartment within his throne where his lightsaber was kept.

"Bant," N'erak began, understanding suddenly why Obi-Wan was trying to get them to leave, "I think we should…"

Before the young Knight could finish, the distinctive hum of an ignited lightsaber echoed through the vast chamber.  Almost before his mind could process the sound, Obi-Wan had tucked into a roll that brought him to his feet several feet away from where he had been standing.  He had dropped just in time, as the swish of Sidious' lightsaber buzzed just above where his head had been.

"Obi! Here!" Bant yelled, quickly tossing something to him.  Catching it with his right hand, while keeping an eye on the rapidly advancing Sidious, Obi-Wan was surprised as the familiar hum of his own lightsaber crept up his arm. 

"How?" he questioned, as he swiftly ignited the azure blade to defend against Palpatine's crimson.

"Your temporary resignation from the Order has ended… Master Kenobi," N'erak answered with a grin, as he ignited his own blade and took up a position to Obi-Wan's right.

Parrying a blow that would have caught him across the middle, Obi-Wan flashed a quick smile at his childhood friend.  Before Sidious could take advantage of his distraction, however, the newly instated Knight dropped back a step, allowing N'erak to engage the Sith Master.

"Bant!" Obi-Wan called, taking a brief moment to catch his breath.  After having endured the Sith's tender treatment, his endurance was not quite what it had been.  Responding to his summons, the Mon Calamarian Healer appeared at Obi-Wan's side.  "I need you to get N'erak and any other prisoners that are still trapped here, and leave."

"Obi, we aren't going to leave…" Bant argued, only to be cut off as a cry from N'erak signaled a minor victory on the Sith's part.

"Take him and go!" Obi-Wan cried, as he reentered the fray, jumping over his friend's prone form to block a blow from the Emperor.  Engaging the Sith again, it was clear that Obi-Wan was attempting to block Sidious' path to the only two exits from the grand chambers.

Quickly offering a shoulder to N'erak as he rose unsteadily to his feet, Bant made the only decision she could.  Turning as swiftly as she could while supporting N'erak, the Mon Calamarian hurried toward the small door through which she and her fellow Knight had only just entered a few moments before.

Grateful that Bant had taken his advice and was leaving, Obi-Wan turned his entire focus and energy on the battle with the Sith Master.  Increasing the intensity of the fight until the 'sabers were only a blue and crimson blur, he forced Sidious farther and farther back from the entryway of the hall.  As the two drew nearer to the throne, Obi-Wan aimed for a glancing blow, knowing it would be sufficient to draw the Sith off long enough for him to implement the final portion of his plan.

As his lightsaber caught Sidious across the left shoulder, Obi-Wan sprang from his crouched fighting position to the terminal still operational on the side of the throne. Quickly logging into the maintenance files, he started a cascade failure of every minor system within the Imperial Center.  Though the minor failures on their own would not be an issue, a cascade failure would lead to a much larger pull of energy being drawn from the main generator.  With such power radiating from the centrally located core, it would only take a well-placed blaster bolt to blow the entire Center to pieces.

Just as he completed the last sequence in the failure cascade, Sidious' lightsaber cut through the terminal, ending Obi-Wan's connection to the main city systems.  With a cry, the Jedi Knight jumped to his feet, fiercely engaging his mortal enemy in battle once more.

"It appears that your friends have truly abandoned you this time," Sidious crowed, as broke from a 'saber lock with his opponent.  "They did not even stick around to watch your demise."

"My friends are aware that there are some things more important than just one individual's life," Obi-Wan replied calmly.  "They know that my life would be meaningless if it came at the cost of the lives and freedoms of so many others."

Taken aback by the Jedi's frank acceptance of his own demise, Sidious hesitated too long in a final parry.  With a quick series of movements, Obi-Wan knocked the Emperor's lightsaber from his grasp and brought his own lightsaber down in a killing maneuver.  Pausing just as the tip of the 'saber began to burn at Palpatine's throat, Obi-Wan spoke.

"As much as I would like to take your life, I can't do it like this," the Jedi spoke. 

With a sudden relief he wouldn't have thought possible, Palaptine smiled.  "I knew that you could never take a life in cold blood. It is simply against your Jedi morals."

Suddenly offering a death-head smile, Obi-Wan laughed darkly.  "Ah, you think that I intend to let you live?" he asked, his voice a deep, dark tone that seemed against the normal nature of the Jedi Knight.  "In that belief, you are mistaken," he continued, as he reached for something that lay hidden just beside the throne.

Holding up the gold Force-blocking collar, Obi-Wan grinned.  "I have every intention of killing you… but make no mistake, I will not risk any chance you might ever come back." 

Moving so quickly that his arms appeared a blur, Obi-Wan latched the collar around the Sith's throat, only waiting long enough for the Force numbing field to come into affect before raising his 'saber once more.  "For the death of my Master, for the destruction of the galaxy, for the death of my friends, and most of all… for the death of my apprentice," Obi-Wan whispered almost reverently as he brought his 'saber down, separating the Sith Lord's head from what remained of his body.