Chapter 10: Battle of the Patriarchs
The Force Lightning shot straight at Sim who just brought his hand up as he absorbed the force lightning. He then raised his left hand as the same Lightning shot straight out of his finger tips, though amplified to twice the original power, back at Vader. Vader brought both hands up as he absorbed the lightning. Neither showed any expression as their eyes bore into each other with great intensity. They effortlessly began to circle each other like long before as memories began to fill both of their minds. Sim watched as Vader started circling. He was looking at his former friend, ally, and brother. The same man that he fought alongside in the Clone Wars long ago and the very brother that he fought on Mustafar. That was right he told his brain. All these years he had asked Obi-Wan to say that he had fought Anakin on Mustafar and made him into what he was. He couldn't live with the thought that he did it and Obi-Wan being the great Jedi Master he was helped him out. But he could no longer deny it, he was the one that battled Anakin for the last time on Mustafar, the man that had confronted his brother and made him into his very own enemy, the same man that was forced to deliver the death blow to his brother, and the man that left Anakin on the shores of the lava to die in agony to only become Darth Vader hours later. He could see the anger growing within Vader as he also recalled these memories. His hatred that he had allowed to be buried deep within him began to resurface as he looked into the eyes of Sim Nam, the one that defeated him on Mustafar, the one that made him wear a black suit for 20 years, the man that was responsible for everything that happened afterwards. He would make Sim pay.
"I see you've not aged one bit Sim from the last time we met," said Vader with no expression.
"The light side of the Force does that for you. I also see that you are no longer burned to a crisp. I do wonder, how did you return back to your former self, Vader?" said Sim with a slight humor.
"Thanks to the dark side of the force. Because my son joined me in the Dark Side we ventured to an ancient Sith temple that restored me back to my former self," said Vader with an obvious smile on his face. That day had been the best in his life for a long time. He could feel his powers that day without any restrictions and nothing to hinder it. He was the ultimate force user.
"So it took you 20 years? Pretty sad, I could've healed in you in a couple of months," said Sim with some cockiness that had returned from his earlier years no thanks to Han and Leia. This statement only further angered Vader as he resisted the urge to strike Sim down there. He could feel his powers growing further and further. He was more powerful than anyone including Sim Nam.
"You underestimate the power of the dark side, Sim. I might have failed to defeat you in our last duel but I assure you that neither you nor any of your friends will in anything but a coffin ship," said Vader as his eyes once more turned into a bright yellow.
"No, it is you that overestimates the dark side. You've allowed the dark side to control you until you've become weak. Your potential has grown but it is no match for the light side," said Sim.
"Do not try to lie to me. I am no longer some gullible Jedi like you. My powers have grown and I'm now the most powerful Sith or Jedi in the galaxy. Not even you can match me," replied Vader, "give up. You can't win, I suggest you kneel and let me kill you. I promise it to be a fast death."
"I would be fool then. Only a Sith judges his own power," said Sim as he stopped circling. He was now facing Vader directly.
"And a Jedi does not?" replied Vader with the return of his dark tone.
"Nah, we like to let our opponents tell us," said Sim with a grin on his face. He was purposely making Vader agitated. He knew that Vader's anger would eventually be his downfall.
"You do not threaten me, Sim," said Vader as his cloak fell to the ground, revealing his lightsaber hilt.
"I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm also sorry that even after 20 years you have not changed. You have become so evil that you have pleasure in watching your children duel. You do not care for anyone except yourself. You truly are a Sith, Vader," said Sim as his Jedi cloak fell to the ground revealing his own silver hilt and his Jedi clothing.
"You think you can stop me? You will try but in the end you will fail," said Vader as his lightsaber hissed to life and a red blade came out.
"No, it is you, my old friend, which will fail. This is an end to your rule, Vader," said Sim as he force pulled his lightsaber into his hand and a black blade came out.
"This is the end for you, Sim," shouted Vader as the fight began.
Vader leaped over to Sim who brought his lightsaber up to block him. The blades turned into a whirlwind of flashes as the two legendary masters of the Force fought to decide the fate of the galaxy. The two's blades spun on their hands as they blocked blow after blow from each other. Sim slashed at Vader who promptly kicked him to only feel a punch to his face afterwards. The two spun around and their blades clashed as their hands locked together as both men tried to push the other back but without any result.
Vader slashed at Sim who did a back flip and dodged it. He leaped at the railing and bounced off of it and brought his blade down in a downwards arch that Vader matched with a spin. The two blades locked together as each looked into the other's eyes. One showed of compassion and good while the other showed of hatred and evil. Vader swiped their blades up as he brought his in a sideways slash into Sims midsection. But Sim foresaw it and brought his lightsaber down to block it and pushed Vader's to the side as he tried the same trick but couldn't accomplish it as Vader blocked it to with a hard hit to the left with his blade. The two disengaged momentarily as they tried to find a weakness in the other. They were too evenly matched and even after 20 years they still knew each other's moves. Sim decided he would employ an old tactic that he learned as a Jedi: stay on the defensive. Sim leaped and twirled at Vader once more as he brought his lightsaber in a downward arc that suddenly changed into a sideways arch as he used the force to turn in midair. Vader was not expected this as his blade missed Sim's. Sim immediately took advantage of this and slashed Vader in the midsection, forming a gash there. Vader screamed in agony as he realized his mistake but he would not give up. Using the dark side of the force he recovered and attacked in full fury at Sim. The two lightsabers clashed as they went into blurs. Vader spun as he blocked another blow to only turn his lightsaber and block another. He jumped sideways as he touched the ground and then spun backwards in an attempt to hit Sim in the back but Sim was already knew this trick as he leaped over Vader's blade. He landed on the ground but leaped sideways, narrowly dodging another blow from Vader. He immediately turned as their lightsabers once more clashed violently.
The two masters disengaged as they once more circled each other. Nothing was working for either of them. The other was too equal to be defeated and an upper hand was unlikely to be gained on either side. As the two patriarchs of each side looked at each other one could tell them far apart. One was the Dark Lord of the Sith and the most powerful user of the Dark side of the Force while the other was the Grand Master of the Jedi and the most powerful Light Side of the Force user. One's eyes were brown while the other was yellow, two opposites. This contest would not be one on lightsabers only both of them knew. It was time for some assistance. Vader retook his Form V position as Sim took his Form IV position. Vader leaped but instead of going after Sim he leaped on top of the next level. Sim followed suit as he targeted Vader's lightsaber. The two once more clashed as their fight spilled out of the hanger bay and into the hallways. Sim leaped all around Vader as Vader turned on his axis and blocked every of Sim's moves while Sim finally leaped over to a ledge before bringing a downward swing on Vader who promptly blocked and brought it down to block another of Sim's blows. The two twirled and spun their lightsabers at each other as they tried to defeat the other. Their lightsabers were no longer recognizable as they were only blurs and lights. The two masters were using the force to guide their lightsabers and block at such speeds, without the force neither would stand a chance at this speed. Vader finally did a back flip as went farther down the hall. Sim followed with a jab at Vader who sidestepped it and brought his blade in a swipe at Sim who just leaped over it and brought his own blade to Vader's side but was blocked. Soon they found themselves battling in the control room where the crew was operating the ship. Admiral Piett watched as the Emperor and Sim fought each other. The crew members began to run out of the control room as the tried to get away from the two battling force users and their deadly blades that were spinning and destroying everything. Vader jumped down from the top floor to where the consoles were, followed closely by Sim who continued the fight as the consoles were destroyed from missed blows and swipes. Sim jumped from that section and leaped to a ledge at the top of the control room. He immediately deignited his lightsaber as he used the force to grab a huge block and throw it at Vader.
Vader immediately saw this and dodged it landing on another platform. He then picked up a large canister and force launched it at Sim who brought his hand up and easily flew it away from him. He then proceeded to force throw the Sith across the room, slamming Vader into the wall. He shook his head as Sim ignited his lightsaber and leaped at him. Vader force called his lightsaber into his hands and ignited it in time to block Sim's lightsaber and get up. He then once more continued the slashing as the two battled off. The picked up large objects and threw them at each other as they missed and slammed into the walls, tables, and consoles. The ship was being destroyed from the inside and Vader's anger was blinding him from noticing it. Sim leaped out of the way of another block as he jumped on to the platform Vader was and slashed at him. Vader met his blow with his own that was easily blocked. The two paced around each other as they exchanged blows and their blades turned once more into blurs of red and black. Sparks flew as the intensity of the fight wore on and the two fought to kill the other. They used whatever they could from their lightsabers to their hands to inflict damage on the other. Sim kicked Vader straight in the chest launching him backwards into the console. Vader immediately threw Force Lighting straight at Sim who couldn't bring his hands up in time to block it. He was thrown across the room and slammed into the wall. Vader leaped off his platform and bouncing off another he went straight at Sim. Sim immediately put up his hand as he force caught Vader in midair and then with a flick of his hand slammed him into the ceiling and then into the ground before hitting him into two walls before letting him go. But Vader was not fazed as his anger continued to fuel is body, even if it was in physical hurt. He pulled out his fist as he Force-Choked Sim. Sim went to his throat but closed his eyes doing a similar feat as Leia did and released his force choke but instead of merely pushing Vader's hand back, he used the light and slammed Vader across the room into the wall. Both of them jumped to the center where their lightsabers twirled around each other while not moving. Neither of the lightsabers hit each other until the blades finally locked. Both masters had one hand on their blades as they brought their hands up to force throw the other. Their two hands stayed in place as the two used the full power of the force to try and throw them but they were too equally matched. Instead they found that the room began to shake violently as screens and windows exploded and shattered while metal was bent and the walls collapsed around them. The floor began to crack and fall apart as the two continued without relenting from the damage they were doing. Sparks flew out of the computers as they were crushed by the awesome might of the force colliding. In one second finally both gave away, as they were force threw across the room and both slammed into the wall, momentarily ending the fight. Their lightsabers flew from their hands, as did so, automatically deigniting.
But the fight was far from over yet. Vader and Sim picked themselves up before calling their lightsaber and reigniting them. Both of them knew that this fight would not end with a draw but in the end a win for either side. Vader jumped at Sim who blocked him and once again started the lightsaber duel. The duel left the control room as they made their way into the flight hangers where the spacecrafts were all stored. As they entered the room there lightsabers swung at each other, sometimes scrapping and slashing into the fighters. As their fight continued, Sim once more did a back flip onto a fighter panel. He promptly, using the force, picked up one of the fighters and hurled it at Vader. Vader Force-jumped out of the way as the picked up another fighter and chucked it at Sim. Sim instantly caught it with the force and picked up 5 others and then sent them straight at Vader. Vader picked up three fighters and smashed it into another three fighters coming at him before catching the rest and hurling them back at Sim. Sim just merely put up a Force Shield around himself causing the fighters to bounce off of him and crash into the ground. He then proceeded to pick up one of the TIE-Bombers and a couple of fighters. He smashed them together as they formed a huge ball and a grin showed up on his face for the first time in the entire battle, "Batter up Vader!" he shouted as he threw it at Vader. He jumped out of the way from the ball as it slammed into the wall causing the room to begin to crash as cracks formed and the support structures began to fall apart. Neither of them, though, seemed to care as the fight continued with their lightsabers. Sim force grabbed Vader's lightsaber from him and brought the two lightsabers at him but Vader jumped backwards and chucked a piece of the rubble at him causing him to lose concentration. Vader instantly grabbed his lightsaber again and attacked Sim once more. The two spun and leaped as their lightsabers danced and they made their way out of the destroyed hanger bay. As they entered the engine room, hisses could be heard all over. The two continued not seeing the danger as they slammed each other into the wall. Suddenly, the reactor exploded, though not significantly, and hurled the two apart. Sim shook his head as he recalled his lightsaber and attacked Vader once more who got up and blocked his blows. The two continued until being forced to leap toward each other and land on the same platform level.
Vader shot Force Lightning at Sim who deignited his lightsaber and used his hands to deflect it back. The two tried to overcome each others force powers with Vader beginning to gain the upper hand. As Sim weakened from the blow and inability to absorb all of it be began to show pain in his face,
"Do you realize now Sim that you are no match for the dark side? I am the most powerful Force user in the galaxy and once I'm through with you I will destroy Leia and her friends. You lose, Sim!" shouted Vader as a smile formed on his face and he started laughing. Suddenly something clicked in Sim as those words rang in his head. His face turned from pain once more into seriousness as he turned to look Vader in the eyes directly. Sim could feel his powers once more as he began to deflect the lightning once more at Vader to the point Vader's eyes widened in sheer fear as he began to get overpowered by his own Force Lightning. Sim pushed the lightning farther and farther into Vader as he began to weaken but before he could finally end the fight the Force powers exploded in an explosion that hurled the two masters far apart and slammed them into the wall with such force that they slumped to the ground and the room fell apart. Everything went black for both of them as they slipped into darkness and unconsciousness.