Chapter Two

The dark room that was known as the Justice's Hand General's Quarters was as dark as night, occasionally lit up by the vibrant explosions outside. A figure was strapped to the General's Chair, chained at the wrists and ankles. That figure was Emperor Kenobi, ruler of the Empire. His face was expressionless, staring blankly out the window. His black robes looked tattered and old, and his usually neatly trimmed beard was scruffy, which matched his hair perfectly. Kenobi was a wise ruler for the Empire, strong willed and not afraid to kill traitors. Oddly, the Sith had not yet overthrown him for their own gains. But whoever tried would be a foolish Sith indeed, for not many people knew the politician was also a skilled lightsaber user. He wasn't exactly Sith, he was simply a "Dark Jedi", for lack of a better word. Only the Sith Master, Darth Sidious knew this, and that's why his Sith minions avoided confrontations with Kenobi. Besides, all the beings in the Empire thought Kenobi was the wisest ruler, and no one could take his place. But none of this was surfing through the mind of the Emperor, for his attention was focused on his other plan. Because Kenobi had a secret. One that would ruin all of his decades of planning if anyone knew. Emperor Kenobi was in fact the same being as Jedi Master Obi-Wan. And only one person besides the dictator knew that. And in his gut, Kenobi knew that person might not live to see tomorrow's sun. But the great ruler's thoughts were interrupted as he heard footsteps behind him, and he quickly banished all thoughts of his alter ego. Sure enough, the faces of Darth Tyranus and Darth Vader appeared in front of him. Tyranus, always the polite one, bowed.

"Emperor Kenobi! It is a pleasure to see you again, even under circumstances such as these." Greeted the old Sith.

Kenobi nodded back.

"Likewise, Tyranus. And Vader! It has been far too long! But right now, if you would be as kind as to un-strap me from these uncomfortable chains, we can be on are way. The idiots have had me here too long." Quickly spoke the politician, but his eyes widened as he motioned behind the pair of Sith.

"Behind you!" breathed the Emperor, his face in a perfect expression of horror. Vader turned around first, to see that Mace Windu, the fallen Sith, was stepping down the stairs, purple lightsaber at the ready. In hopes of catching the man off guard, Vader held up his hand, and lighting erupted from his fingertips towards the form of the Jedi. But it would take more then a simple Force trick to kill Mace Windu, as the Jedi Master lifted saber, and the weapon simply absorbed the lightning, like a sponge. Realizing this had failed, Vader lit his own saber as Dooku already had done, and walked slowly towards the stairs. Mace lifted his saber in a fighting position, speaking through gritted teeth.

"I don't want to fight you. Surrender now, and I will spare your lives."

Dooku laughed, and lifted his weapon.

"I didn't join you on Geonosis, and I won't join you now. Prepare to die old friend."

Without warning, Darth Vader charged and leapt towards Mace, saber aimed at his heart. Mace neatly sidestepped, causing Vader to crash to the floor. Dooku however was now right behind the Korun Master, and was about to sink his blade into Windu's left shoulder when an arm came around and smashed into his ribs. Tyranus managed to spin to the other side, but he was sure a rib was broken. He ignored it, and flipped to face Windu, and they started to duel. As this was going on, Vader, who was at the bottom of the staircase, leapt into the fray. Mace easily kept them at bay, but surprisingly made a large leap, landing safely away from the Sith.

"I will," growled the Jedi, "Give you one last chance to surrender. Just because there are two of you, you do not have the advantage."

Vader laughed this time.

"Two of us? Why Windu, there are two of you!"

Mace froze. Did they….know…?

Vader went on, "We know about this "Obi-Wan"! In fact, we tracked him all over the galaxy! The Sith probably have him in custody right now!"

Mace was fought back the urge to wink at Kenobi, and charged towards the Sith. The Korrun slashed towards Dooku, who dodged it and responded with his own slash. Mace parried it in time to stop Lord Vader's blow that was coming from above. The battle continued, Windu blocking the cuts and slashes, Vader and Tyranus wildly attacking the Jedi from all angles. Just after blocking another stab towards his shin, the Korun heard a whirring behind him, and the handle of Vader's lightsaber came hard upon his back.

Mace grunted with pain, and tried to turn around. But as he was doing that, Dooku came out of nowhere and furiously flurried towards him. Windu was slowly losing, and he knew it. But he did have one little trick left…As Vader lunged towards the Jedi; Mace lifted a boot and swung it into the young Lord's gut. Vader fell, giving his nemesis enough time to stand up, raise his arm, and lift Dooku high into the air using the Force. Tyranus floated for a moment, wondering why he was in the air. Then there was a loud WHOOSH sound, and the Count was flung like a rag doll against the wall, landing motionless on the ground. But this spurred Vader on even more, attacking with more rage and fury then ever before. Mace, with only one opponent in fighting condition, found this much more appealing. The sabers went back and forth, parrying and lunging, blocking and slashing. There was a nary a sound, save the swishing of the lightsabers, the grunts from either swordsman, and the nervous gasps escaping the Emperor's mouth each time Mace almost got a hit. After what seemed like an eternity, Mace broke the battle's silence.

"You don't have to do this, Vader." he said gently, backing away from the Sith Lord,

'You don't have to follow the dark path laid before you."

Vader slash vertically, narrowly missing Mace's face.

"I don't have too. I want too! You should join us again sometime. We get capes." Jested Vader, swinging his weapon, a bemused look on his features. He often joked in the heat of battle; it helped him be at ease and concentrate. And with that, the fight resumed. But both of the combatants were tiring, their movements getting choppy and sluggish. Windu got a gash along his leg. Vader experienced Mace's purple blade scratching his cheek. The Jedi, now desperate, jumped down to Emperor, putting his blade against the soft skin of Kenobi's forehead.

"Give up," an exasperated Windu breathed, "Or he dies." Of course, he didn't mean it, he would never harm his Master, but Vader didn't know that.

The Sith Lord said, "Release him, Jedi! Or I will burn the flesh off your bones."

Mace chuckled and was about to rebuke when the Emperor yelled.

"He's going to kill me! Save me, Vader!" screamed Kenobi in a perfectly horrified voice. So perfect in fact, that Mace looked down and was gave the Emperor a reassuring look. He didn't want his Kenobi actually thinking he was going to kill him! But one look was all it took. In the time it took the Jedi too look at the captive Emperor, Vader held out his hand, and once more lightning flowed through them, hitting Windu in the chest, and sending him reeling into a wall. Vader leapt across the room, landing with his blade inches away from Mace's neck. And he was about to end the Jedi's life with a simple twist of his blade when a cry echoed across the room.

"No!"

It took Vader a moment realize the voice was that of the Emperor. Without taking his eyes off Mace, he responded.

"What do you mean my lord? This fool has threatened the very Empire you rule! And you say "No"?" growled Lord Vader.

Kenobi nodded quickly.

"We cannot kill him, Vader. He is as good as dead anyway. Simply tell him to come along peacefully, and he will!" explained the politician, glaring at the Jedi.

Vader shook his head, raising his blade for the killing blow.

"No! I need his power! I need the power I get from killing him! I need more power!" exclaimed the young Sith.

Kenobi smiled that gentle smile, the smile that made him loved by the public, despite being head of an evil Empire.

"Exactly, young Vader. True power is being able to not kill an enemy, even when he is broken and beaten." Softly spoke the Emperor.

Vader didn't move. Why hadn't he killed his enemy yet? Surely if he brought back Mace alive, the Sith would reward him…right? And then without thinking, Vader sheathed his weapon, and helped a dumbstruck Windu up.

"You understand," spoke the Sith, "That is you do not go peacefully, you're dead?"

Mace nodded, sheathing his own saber. Vader grunted, and went over to unchain the Emperor. Just then, a huge rumble shook the ship, and the sound of crashing and explosions roared in Vader's ears. He threw himself to the deck, and covered his head. As abruptly as it has started, the shaking stopped, and Vader cautiously peered above him. Many walls were destroyed, and many more beyond repair. He checked the Emperor and saw he was safe, the spun around, looking for Mace Windu. But all that was left of the Sith turned Jedi, was a bloody stain under a large piece of wall that had fallen. Darth Vader stared in shock at the mess, and then turned around as he heard grumbling in front of him. Tyranus, having regained consciousness, now stood, stretching and clasping his head. He looked over at his partner, then at Windu's remains, then back at Vader.

"My, my. You certainly got the job done." He observed in surprise.

Lord Vader nodded dumbly, and then shook his head, as if he had been dreaming. He got up, and with a twist of the Force unchained Kenobi. The Emperor rubbed his arms, looked at the two, and then responded as if nothing between him and Vader happened.

"Gentlemen? We don't have all day!" he said, motioning towards the door.

The Nemoidians on the bridge froze, their blood running cold. A door opened revealing a cloaked figure; its feature's hidden under a hood. It stepped across the bridge in slow meaningful steps, eventually coming to a stop at the head of the bridge. A small Nemoidian stood there, trembling as he stared at the tall foreboding thing. A voice, a ruff, metallic voice came from the hood.

"Status report. Where are the Sith?" spoke the voice, in almost a whisper.

The Nemoidian, scared out of his mind, gulped and replied.

"Th-th-they escaped W-Windu's trap, General…." Squeaked the alien, feeling very small at the moment.

The General stood up higher and threw back his hood. There were a couple of gasps from the bridge crew who had never seen General Grievous before. He was bipedal, standing almost six feet tall. Metal and plated his entire body. Was his entire body! At his belt hung 4 lightsabers. But his face…his face was what scared them the most. It was roughly average human sized, and metal. It had sunken eye sockets, yellow eyes peering forth from out of them. The mouth…there was no mouth, simply the metal in dagger like shapes, giving the droid "fangs". Instead of ears, there were audio sensors, on either side of the droid's head. General Grievous, Supreme Commander of the Rebel Droid Army, brilliant but deadly, glared into the Nemoidian's soul.

"That would be a problem." He said, turning around to a holo-cam. Sure enough, the two Sith and the Emperor were there, in a hall, walking slowly. Grievous clenched his hands in fists.

"Activate the ray shield. Send a battalion of guards. Bring them to me. They may have killed Windu, but let's see how their "Force" compares with a metal fist in the face."

A purple wall appeared right in front of Count Dooku, causing him to come to an abrupt halt. The Emperor, who was following close behind, bumped into his back.

"Tyranus? What is the meaning of this?" questioned the dictator angrily. Dooku motioned for Darth Vader to come up. When the young Sith came over to his older partner, he stared at the wall, and realized he could see through it. He took out his lightsaber.

"Whatever it is, it's blocking me from continuing my mission…" he muttered, stabbing his lightsaber into the shield. Or rather, trying to stab his lightsaber into the shield. As soon as it hit, there was a loud blast and sparks flew everywhere. Tyranus turned around, to see that another ray shield had appeared behind them. Vader scratched his head.

"Ray shields? Why can't we get more of these..?" he said thoughtfully. Suddenly, there was a large clanking sound, and two destroyer droids appeared on either end of the trap. Vader was about to say something about how feeble destroyers were, when twenty more of the droids came to the trap, surrounding them. Vader stared, and was going to say something like "This is hard. Not impossible.", when ten super battle droids came and joined the party. There was a silence.

One battle droid said,"Give us your weapons. Now."

Dooku said nothing and took out his saber. Vader did likewise. The Emperor simply stared at the droids and spoke.

"I've got a bad feeling about this…"