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Message from author: I made some slight revisions to the dueling scene, as I was unhappy with the way it was originally. I hope you enjoy this revised version!

Chapter VIII

"Are you threatening me Master Jedi?" Sidious' voice thundered throughout his office as he stood from his chair, gripping his lightsaber behind his back, and readying himself to strike at the three Jedi's who had come to bring him to justice. Chancellor Palpatine was a Sith Lord, first and foremost. He would rather have his livelihood severed and handed to him than surrender, as dictated by the Sith Code. Nothing would stand in his way for revenge against the Jedi. Revenge for destroying the Sith Order, which had ruled the Galaxy over a thousand generations ago. This was it, this would be the confrontation, which would decide the fate of the universe - It was either going to be his empire, or a democratic republic.

"Palp's, we can either bring you to justice..." Anakin said, reaching into his cloak and activating his lightsaber. "...Or we can bring justice to you. Whichever you prefer." The young Jedi Knight's weapon hummed menacingly. Mace Windu looked over at Anakin; his frown displayed his disapproval of the young Jedi's actions. But, this wasn't the time to lecture on Jedi etiquette.

"The senate will decide your fate," Windu said, looking back at the Sith Lord, who looked every bit as evil as the devil himself at the moment. Sidious stood tall, and defiantly over the three Jedi. "I am the senate!" Sidious said, letting fly his powerful Sith force lightening with his left hand against the trio of Jedi. Anakin was able to block it with his lightsaber, but Obi-Wan and Mace Windu were caught off guard, and were sent flying against the wall in the Chancellor's office.

"You're all traitors to the Republic!" Sidious spat, igniting his crimson lightsaber, and jumping over his desk, hurling himself toward Anakin.

"I will not tolerate your treason!" Sidious growled, unleashing a strike towards Anakin whom quickly blocked it.

"Nor will I against you and my wife!" Anakin twirled around, unleashing a powerful strike with his Jedi weapon. Sidious performed a backwards summersault; successfully hurling himself out of the blade's path.

"Ha! Padmé moaned like a whore as I ravaged her!" Sidious spat, provokingly towards the young Jedi. Anakin growled with rage and hurled himself towards Darth Sidious. Launching a fury of attacks against the Sith Lord, who in turned nimbly blocked and dodged his attacks. Sidious, while old, was still very agile, and well versed in the Jedi arts. But, he was no Jedi. Anakin knew this, and would use it best to his advantage.

By now, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi were back up on the feet. Their lightsabers drawn and ready to join in the fight.

Darth Sidious however, had other plans rather than fight three Jedi in combat; Sith Lord's fought dirty, and he proved that by reaching out with the force, lifting his desk into the air, and hurled it over at Kenobi and Windu as they ran towards him. Obi-Wan nimbly dodged out of the way, by the desk connected Mace Windu and pinned him hard against a nearby wall.

Obi-Wan lunged forward into the fray and attacked with his lightsaber. Sidious barely managed to block both of the Jedi's attacks. He cried out and extended his left hand. Powerful Sith force lighting shot forth from his fingertips. Obi-Wan managed to block his attack with his lightsaber, however Anakin was less fortunate - he was unable to block in time and was sent crashing to the ground as the lightning surged through his body.

Sidious cackled evilly as he attacked Obi-Wan Kenobi with his lightsaber. Kenobi dodged and blocked his aggressive onslaughts. Brilliant red & blue lightsabers buzzing past one another in a musical whur. And clashing against one another a fury of wills.

"Master Kenobi you disappoint me! Fight back!" Sidious tormented as he growled and lurched forward against Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan blocked the Sith Lord's blow and unleashed a slashing attack of his own against the Chancellor. Sidious cunningly parried Obi-Wan's blow and struck back at him - successfully connecting with his lightsaber against Kenobi's shoulder, slicing into it deeply.

Obi-Wan groaned in pain and his lightsaber fell to the floor. Darth Sidious cackled with glee as he raised his hand and used his force lightening against the Jedi Master. Obi-Wan flew across Palpatine's office and crashed into a wall. The pain transmitted by the force lightening was unbearable, and Obi-Wan thought he had died right then and there when he felt his back land against the back wall of the Chancellor's office.

"I'm going to enjoy watching you die Kenobi!" Sidious said with delight as he surged more powerful lightening through Obi-Wan's body.

However, a certain other Jedi Master wasn't out of the fight yet as Sidious could sense a tremor in the force. He turned just in time to see his desk flying towards him. Sidious made a mad dash out of the way - just barely in time as his desk crashed against his office window, shattering it into a thousand fragments.

Anakin managed to shield himself from the fragments of glass, which fell all around him, and outside. A powerful gust of wind now surged through the office, blowing any small object astray.

Darth Sidious now turned his attention towards Mace Windu, who apparently was down, but not for the full count.

"Master Windu, you don't strike me as a masochist," Sidious moodily commented as he threw himself against the Jedi Master. Mace raised his purple lightsaber just in time to protect himself from being slashed by Lord Sidious. Their lightsabers locked, and their faces dangerously close to one another. Mace could almost smell the Sith Lord's foul breath as he shoved him away with his weight. As the Sidious stumbled backwards, Mace unleashed a powerful series of attacks that kept the Sith Lord at bay. Windu had the physical advantage on the battle field, and took full advantage of it. Darth Sidious countered by picking up several pieces of broken glass with the force, and threw them at the Jedi Master.

Windu docked and dodged as a barrage of broken glass pieces came flying towards him. As nimble as he was, he couldn't dodge them all however - one piece of glass managed to connect with his shoulder and sink in. The wound wasn't a serious one.

"You're going to have to better than that Chancellor," Windu said, clashing his lightsaber against Palpatine's.

By now Anakin had recovered from the shock the powerful force lightening sent through his body. He shook his head as he clumsily stood up, and activated his lightsaber. To his right he could see his friend Obi-Wan lying on the ground. His Jedi tunic drenched in blood from the wound he had sustained from Palpatine. If he didn't get him medical attention soon, he might bleed to death.

Anakin turned around to the sound of clashing lightsabers. Mace Windu and Darth Sidious were engaged in a vigorous brawl. Master Windu seemed to be holding his own at the moment. They're red & purple lightsabers slashing in the air, and clashing loudly against the other.

Anakin let out a battle cry as he dove towards Sidious, who turned and used the force to knock Anakin down onto the ground. However, the Sith Lord was distracted long enough for Mace Windu to find the opening he needed: "You may be well versed in the ways of the Jedi, but you are no Jedi!" Windu said, kicking Sidious' lightsaber out of his hand with his boot.

Sidious wasted no time, and let out a fury of force lightening with both hands. He was no longer playing around, and Windu could feel the powerful surge of energy emanating from the lightening as he attempted to deflect it with his lightsaber. Darth Sidious in a last desperate attempt was unleashing everything he had against the Jedi Master, and it was holding him at bay.

"Anakin, help me! He's too strong!" Windu yelled over the roaring lightening.

The words "Anakin... Help me," ran into his mind over and over slowly. Except it wasn't Master Windu's voice he was hearing, but Padmé's. It was the cry she yelled just before Sidious committed his crimes against his wife. Anakin gritted his teeth and marched over to the man who had wronged him and his wife so.

Out of the corner of his eye Sidious could see Anakin Skywalker walking over towards him, his blue lightsaber clearly illuminating the death glare on his face. Sidious knew he had been cornered, and there was no way out. He did ponder however jumping out of the window for as moment, before an insidious plot entered his devious mind...

"If you strike me down Skywalker, I shall become the bane of your existence!" Sidious declared, letting out his force lightning against Mace Windu with full force.

"That makes two of us," Anakin said bringing his lightsaber to bare against Chancellor Palpatine, Dark Lord of The Sith.

Zwak! His lightsaber went as it decapitated the Chancellor in one quick swing. His head falling to the ground with his body as justice was administered. Anakin stared coldly into the unmoving eyes of the severed Chancellor's head as they blankly looked back at him.

Mace Windu gasped for breath as he deactivated his lightsaber. "Anakin..." He said as he walked up to him. The Jedi Master placed a hand on the young Knight's shoulder. "You've whole heartedly earned my trust now. I couldn't have done it without you.." Mace Windu admitted as he patted Anakin on the shoulder once - and walked over to the wounded Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Mace knelt down and examined Kenobi. He was losing a lot of blood fast, and seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness. "Anakin... Obi-Wan needs medical attention, I'll get him to a hospital..." He paused in mid sentence; he could obviously feel a great disturbance in the force. Anakin could too. "Padmé.." Anakin said softly.

"Get over to the Jedi Temple, I sense something terrible is happening! Hurry!" Mace commanded. Anakin didn't need to be told twice, he was already out the door as Windu was finishing his sentence. Anakin dashed over to the nearest elevator. A hundred thoughts ran through his mind. Please be okay Padmé.

As he waited for the elevator to arrive, Anakin could sense a familiar, and forbidding presence...

Inside the Jedi Council chambers Senator Padmé Amidala was sitting in one of the council members chairs. They were actually quite comfy, and very cushy. Her peaceful moment however was interrupted by blaster fire. Padmé sprang to attention as she heard the shots. Two Jedi Masters, one male, and one female that were in the room with her exchanged worried glances and ran over to the door and looked out. To their horror they could see legions of Clone Troopers storming the temple and firing on anything that moved. The Jedi were outnumbered twenty to one, and had already started dropping like flies in combat.

"Get Senator Amidala to safety!" The male Jedi Master said as he activated his lightsaber, and ran out of the Council Chambers to join the fight. The female Jedi Master ran over to Padmé and took her by the hand. "Come! We have to get out of here!" She said urgently leading Padmé out.

Behind her Padmé could see hundreds of Clone Troopers engaged in combat with the Jedi. "Why are they killing them?" Padmé asked, completely bewildered.

"I don't know!" The female Jedi responded as she stopped at a corner suddenly. "Shh!" She said as she activated her lightsaber, a brilliant green blade extended out. "I sense at least a two dozen Clone Troopers heading our way... That was our only exit. We'll have to find another way out!" She said, taking Padmé by the hand and making a mad dash in the other direction.

The duo gasped in horror however as they rounded a corner back from wench they came, and came face-to-face with a dozen Clone Troopers who had apparently broken through the blockade of Jedi, which could only mean one thing...

The female Jedi readied her lightsaber, and clenched her jaw tightly as the Clone Troopers raised their rifles, preparing to fire...