Part Three: A Great Master Goes Down
"Enough!" a voice called out.
Vader turned, greeted by the blade of a purple lightsaber. He stepped back, releasing Obi-Wan from his grasp. Mace helped his friend to his feet and approached the Sith Lord.
"Master Windu," Vader bowed courtly. "A pleasure to see you again."
"A pleasure to see you are feeling better, Vader. But this ends now."
"I'm sorry, but the only thing that is going to end is you, my friend." He attacked.
Mace pushed away and struck Vader's unguarded arm. Vader cried out, but quickly gained his position. He turned to face the Jedi, but Mace attacked again, forcing Vader to pull away. Vader growled and struck high, but Mace dropped to a knee stance and pushed Vader back with a Force-push. Mace got to his feet and slowly approached the startled opponent. Vader was down on one knee, catching his breath.
"Do you give up? There is no sense in fighting something you can't win against."
"Never!" He pushed himself forward.
He tackled the Jedi to the ground. Obi-Wan rushed to his friend's aide, but Mace held up a hand to stop him. Mace turned his attention to the Sith, pinning him down. He could see the hate in his eyes, but the lost and confused boy he met so many years ago. The evil was too powerful for the small boy to stop the madness.
Vader began to choke the Jedi, but Mace fought back and sent a burst of Force-sedative into his opponent. Vader pulled back, dizzily, allowing Mace some breathing room.
"Master Win--" Obi-Wan tried to say.
Mace held up a silencing hand and slowly got to his feet. Vader also gasped for breath from the surprise attack. Mace began to move at a steady pace around his opponent. Vader wavered his hand sending objects toward the Jedi Master. Mace dodged them all and Vader knew it would take more than that to take down his new opponent. Obi-Wan watched with curiosity as he saw a small bolt of light escape Vader's hand. He looked back at Mace. Their eyes met for a quick second. Mace jumped high into the air, his lightsaber ignited, into a somersault in front of the lost Jedi. Vader pushed out his hand and set a burst of blue lightening in Mace's direction. He caught the blow, but Vader retaliated with another blow, much powerful than the first that Mace was forced to give into. His body took the shock like a big lightening rod.
"Nooooo!" Obi-Wan cried.
It was too late to save his friend. Mace dropped to his knees, his lightsaber dropped to the ground. The last life in Mace's eyes died and his entire body hit the ground. Within seconds, his cloak was the only thing that remained.
"Noooo!" Obi-Wan cried again.
Vader turned to the other Jedi. "Now, I can destroy you for good, Jedi." He moved toward the frozen Jedi.
"Stop right there, Vader. One more step--" Ki-Adi Mundi jumped from behind a rock.
"One more step and?" Vader grew amused.
"You will have to face us all." Plo Koon joined the other Jedi.
Jedi emerged from the cave and their hiding spots to surround the lone Sith, each holding a lightsaber firmly in their hand.
Vader only laughed. "You didn't think I wouldn't come prepared, did you?" He drew up his hand as a signal.
Droids and stormtroopers appeared, driving the Jedi back. In an instant Jedi, droids and troopers fell victim to deadly blows. Vader watched the Jedi disappear into the mist, the troopers and droids pursuing them. Then he turned to Obi-Wan, but he was already gone.
to be continued......