Obi-Wan was pleasantly surprised to find that the Temple's roost still had its mounts unharmed. He surmised that the homunculi must have let them live because they were considered property of the Republic. He saddled up the first delsev he found and flew to Padmé's apartment. It was the obvious answer when he thought about it.

When Padmé opened the door, she was somewhat shocked to see Obi-Wan.

"Hello, milady. Might I come in? There's something urgent I need to discuss."

"Is it about Anakin?" Although she tried her best to hide it, there was still a bit of suspicion in her voice.

"Yes. I'm afraid it is."

Wanting to believe he was still trustworthy, she let him in. After he was inside, she sat on the couch, while Obi-Wan paced next to the window.

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"Yesterday."

"Do you have any idea where he might have gone?"

A pause.

"No," she said with the barest hint of defiance.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Padmé, please. I need your help. He is in grave danger."

Padmé raised an eyebrow. "From the Sith?"

Obi-Wan winced and furrowed his brow. "From himself. Padmé... Anakin has fallen to the Dark Side."

In an instant, Padmé's expression turned to one of anger and disgust. "You're wrong. How dare you even suggest that?"

"I didn't want to accept it either, but... In the Temple... I saw the security recordings... He's the one who led the attack..."

Padmé's eyes shot wide.

Obi-Wan choked up as he continued. "I saw him... killing younglings."

"N- no. Not Anakin! He couldn't!"

"He was deceived by a lie. We all were... It seems that the Chancellor was behind everything, even the war."

Padmé looked at him incredulously.

"Palpatine is the Sith Lord we've been searching for. After Count Dooku died, Anakin became his new apprentice."

"I- I don't believe you... I can't..." Tears started to roll down her cheeks.

Obi-Wan sat next to her. "Padmé, I must find him."

Padmé snapped her eyes to Obi-Wan. "You're going to kill him, aren't you?"

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "He has become a very great threat."

Padmé's lip quivered. "...I can't..." She looked away.

Obi-Wan stood with resignation. He turned to address her one more time before he left. "Anakin's the father, isn't he?" He already knew the answer.

Padmé began sobbing. That was all the confirmation he needed.

He had known about Anakin and Padmé for a long time, but never addressed it. He had no room to judge Anakin's relationship with her, not even now. Memories of Satine flowed through Obi-Wan's mind. "I'm so sorry, Padmé."

Anakin stood at the ironworks' observation deck watching the river of lava flow beneath him. Despite the facility's cooling wards, the air was still hot. Feelings of anger, sadness, and betrayal flowed through him, fed by the wellspring of Darkness that flowed through Mustafar.

Deep in the back of Anakin's mind was a nagging feeling of guilt for what he had done. Was this really worth it? He had committed such terrible atrocities in the name of love. Could he truly live with his actions?

Anakin seethed, angry at his own internal conflict. His eyes burned, irritated by the heat and the lack of sleep. Idly, he gripped the hilt of his Lightblade. Simultaneously, it felt both wrong and right for him to wield it. The sword belonged to Anakin, not Darth Vader.

The sun was setting over Coruscant. Lamplighters began their rounds as shops closed for the night. In the Grand Harbor, Captain Gregar Typho stood at the base of the gangplank leading to Padmé's Nubian yacht. He had readied it just as she had asked him, and she would be perfectly able to sail it with See Threepio's assistance, but he wasn't sure if it was the best idea for her to travel without his protection.

When Padmé and Threepio arrived at the dock, Captain Typho approached them with visible concern. "Milady, I beg you, please reconsider. Let me come with you."

"There's no danger, Captain. The fighting is over. Besides, this is a personal matter."

Typho sighed. "As you wish, milady. I just... The events of last night have me on edge. I mean... The Jedi, of all people. I never thought that they..."

Padmé frowned. "I know. But we might not have the whole story. At any rate, I'll be fine by myself. This is something I need to do alone. Besides, Threepio will look after me."

Captain Typho nodded. "Very well, milady. I'll be awaiting your safe return."

Threepio followed Padmé up the gangplank. He wanted so desperately to be of help, but he had no experience with this kind of situation. Once aboard, he raised the anchor and unfurled the sails.

Padmé took the helm and guided the yacht away from the dock. Threepio walked up next to her. "I do believe that I'm finally getting used to all this sailing business."

Below deck, Obi-Wan settled himself into one of the cabins. He had snuck aboard after finding that the yacht was being readied. Such infiltration was nothing new to him, but doing it against someone he considered a friend left a bad taste in his mouth. Still, this was likely the only way to get to Anakin before more tragedy occurred.

As the yacht left the harbor, its silver hull caught the reflection of the sunset, making it appears as though it were carved from ruby. It slipped into a Hyperion gate and vanished.

The newly declared Emperor Palpatine revelled in his victory. Following his address, he wasted no time setting to work drafting the first few decrees. Instead of returning to his office at the top of the Senate building, he had pages bring quills and parchments to the room below the floor of the Senate chamber where the pulpit sat retracted while not in use. This was in part due to his eagerness to set to work, but he also didn't want the Senate janitorial staff to distract him while they removed the corpses and cleaned up the broken glass left from the earlier melee.

Palpatine's writing was interrupted by the miniature desktop font in front of him rumbling. He waved a wrinkled hand over it and the surface solidified into the hooded form of his new apprentice.

"The Separatists have been dealt with, my Master."

The Emperor grinned. "It's finished, then. You have restored peace and justice to the world. Send out a message to the Separatist armies; all automaton units are to be immediately shut down."

Anakin bowed his head. "Very good, my Lord."

Following the end of the communication, Anakin heard a strange chiming coming from one of the overseer's office consoles. Curious, he strode over to the console and looked at the flashing red crystal and realized that the chime was the notification that a ship had pulled into Mustafar's harbor. His eyes widened as he sensed Padmé. There was no doubt that she was the one who had just arrived.

After pulling up to the dock, Padmé just sat and stared up at the volcanic hellscape. Since coming out of the Hyperion gate, she felt an overwhelming sense of dread. It was as though this island was feeding her grief.

She lowered her head and wiped a tear with her thumb before looking back up. Framed against the red glow of lava, someone in a hooded cloak was jogging towards the boat. Her heart jumped as she registered that the figure was indeed Anakin. Padmé stood from the helm's chair and rushed to the railing.

Anakin arrived on the dock as Threepio lowered the gangplank. Anakin waited impatiently until Padmé had set foot on the dock before he ran up to embrace her.

"I felt that it was you arriving. What are you doing all the way out here? It's not safe for you." There wasn't even the barest hint of anger in his voice, only genuine concern.

Padmé gripped fistfuls of Anakin's cloak and began sobbing. Anakin stroked her hair and whispered to her, trying to soothe her. They stood there for several minutes until Padmé had calmed down enough to talk. "Obi-Wan... He- he told me terrible things..."

Anakin noticeably tensed. "What things?" There was far less compassion in this question.

Padmé sniffled. "He said... He said you've fallen to the Dark Side... That you... killed younglings."

Anakin's expression hardened. "Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me. The Jedi can't be trusted anymore."

"He... knows about us."

"...Us?"

She nodded meekly. "He knows. I think he's known for a while. He wants to help."

Anakin shook his head. How naïve she was.

"Anakin... All I want is your love."

He frowned. "Love won't save you, Padmé. Only my new powers can."

"But at what cost? You're a good man, don't change that for my sake."

"I won't lose you like I lost my mother. I am becoming stronger than any Jedi has ever dreamed of. I'm doing this all for you. To protect you." He tried to hold Padmé's head to his chest, but she pulled back a bit.

"Anakin, come away with me. Help me raise our child. Leave everything else behind while we still can!"

"Don't you see? We don't have to run anymore. The war is over. I have brought peace to the Republic. I am more powerful than the Chancellor. I- I can overthrow him." Anakin's eyes flashed to yellow, just for an instant. His expression however was almost manic.

Padmé was aghast. She shook her head refusing to accept what she was hearing.

Anakin continued. "Together, you and I can rule the world! We can make things the way that we want them to be!"

Padmé pulled away from Anakin. She slowly stepped back, horrified by what her husband's words. "I don't believe what I'm hearing. Obi-Wan was right! You've changed!"

Anger replaced Anakin's mania, but he calmed himself before he spoke. "I don't want to hear any more about Obi-Wan. Or any other Jedi, for that matter. They turned against the Republic and against me. Don't make the same mistake."

Padmé continued to back away from Anakin. Tears flew off her cheeks as she shook her head. "Anakin, I- I don't know you anymore! What happened to the man I fell in love with?" She began to sob again while Anakin looked at her with disappointment. "You're going down a path I cannot follow!"

"Because of Obi-Wan?" His question was cold.

Padmé balled up her fists. "No! Because of you! Because of what you've done! And what you plan to do!"

Anakin noticed movement over Padmé's shoulder and looked up. Obi-Wan was standing at the top of the gangplank with his fists on his hips. Unbridled fury filled Anakin and the yellow glow returned to his eyes.

Padmé bawled. "Please, Anakin! Please stop! Come back! I love you!"

His eyes snapped back to her. "Liar!" He pointed accusingly at Obi-Wan. "You're with him! You brought him here to kill me!"

Padmé turned and was horrified to see Obi-Wan standing on the yacht's deck. She turned back. "No," she screamed. "No! I didn't-" Padmé's hands flew to her throat as Anakin began to choke her through the Force.

Obi-Wan walked down the gangplank. "Let her go, Anakin!"

Anakin's gaze flew to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan stepped onto the dock. "Let. Her. Go."

It wasn't Obi-Wan's words that prompted Anakin to release his grip, but a sudden realization that hit his conscience. All the artrocities, all the killing, it had been for her. If he killed Padmé, all that would have been for nothing. Even if Obi-Wan had corrupted her in his eye, Anakin couldn't bring himself to kill the woman he loved. The yellow in his eyes blinked away.

When the grip was released, Padmé collapsed to the dock, landing on her side. Anakin looked at her, disgusted in himself. For several seconds he just stared until his gaze trailed back up to Obi-Wan. "You! You turned her against me!"

Obi-Wan scowled. "You have done that yourself."

Anakin ripped off his cloak and tossed it aside. He angrily paced in front of Padmé and drew the hilt of his Lightblade. "You will not take her from me!"

Obi-Wan removed his own cloak. "Your anger and lust for power have already done that. You have allowed the Dark Lord to twist your mind until... Until you have become the very thing you swore to destroy." He began to circle strafe Anakin in an attempt to lure him away from Padmé.

Anakin sneered and took the bait. "Don't lecture me Obi-Wan. I have seen through the lies and hypocrisy of the Jedi! I do not fear the gifts of the Dark Side as you do!" By the time Anakin finished his statement, he and Obi-Wan had traded places

Anakin faced out to sea and raised his arms triumphantly. "My eyes are finally open to the truths of this world. This vision has allowed me to bring peace, freedom, justice, and security to this new Empire!"

Obi-Wan, who had been checking on the unconscious Padmé while Anakin spoke stood. "This new Empire? Listen to yourself Anakin! We fought to uphold the Republic! To defend democracy!"

"If you are not loyal to this new Empire, then you are my enemy."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Only Sith deal in that kind of absolute." He drew his Lightblade hilt from his belt. "I will do what I must."

"You will try." Once Anakin heard Obi-Wan's Lightblade ignite, he backflipped towards him, activating his own midair.

No sooner had Anakin landed than he and Obi-Wan were trading sword blows. Obi-Wan retreated back as he blocked Anakin's vicious strikes, trying to move the fight away from Padmé. Anakin pursued, moving and attacking with a ferocity born from raw anger.

The two of them moved off the dock and onto the path leading to the ironworks. As they came to a switchback, Anakin forced Obi-Wan as close as he could to the edge overlooking the lava flowing below. Anakin swung, putting as much force into the strike as he could, trying to send his former master over the edge.

Obi-Wan dodged and moved around to continue up the path. He tried to land a blow on Anakin before the fallen Jedi had time to react, but wasn't quick enough. Anakin parried and planted his foot in Obi-Wan's chest, sending him flying. The Jedi jumped to his feet and took off running towards the ironworks.

Palpatine looked up from his writing. He sensed a familiar presence, one that he had become far too familiar with for his liking. He put his quill back in the inkwell as the rhythmic tapping of wood on stone grew louder.

The red armored elite Senate guards standing at the doorway turned to look into the hallway, their staves readied. Neither of them had a chance to even see who or what it was coming up the hallway before an unseen force hurled them across the room and into the far wall. Palpatine placed his hands on the arms of his chair and waited for his uninvited guest to enter.

The Dark Lord turned his chair to face the door as Yoda entered. The diminutive Jedi stopped and rested his hands on the head of his walking stick. "I hear a new apprentice, you have, Emperor. Or should I call you Darth Sidious?"

Palpatine smiled and spoke in a friendly manner. "Master Yoda..." The smile turned to disgust. "You survived."

Yoda cocked his head. "Surprised?"

"Your arrogance blinds you, Master Yoda. Do you honestly think you can best me in my domain?" Palpatine stood and held out his fingers towards Yoda. "Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side."

A storm of blue lightning erupted from the Dark Lord's fingers. Yoda held up his hand to catch the Dark magic as he had done against Dooku years before. While he did collect some of the magic, there was far more than he anticipated. The lightning hit him, sending him into the wall. He fell to the floor hard and rolled over, gasping.

Inside the ironworks, Anakin and Obi-Wan had resumed fighting inside the entryway. The narrow corridor was never meant for combat and their Lightblades cut glowing gashes into the walls and ceiling as sparks showered them. Anakin's ferocity had deepened as more negative emotions flowed through him.

The former friends exchanged blows faster than they ever had in their lives. Years of fighting alongside one another let them know the other's fighting styles by heart. For all their spinning, slashing, and parrying, neither could gain an advantage.

They locked blades next to a window and for the first time, Obi-Wan was able to see the telltale yellow eyes of a Sith. The sight broke him. The boy from Tattooine that he had sworn to teach truly was gone.

Anakin pushed their blades to the side and the window shattered. The fallen Jedi hissed and grabbed his face as a shard cut his cheek. He lunged at his mentor as blood trickled from the gash.

Obi-Wan spun to let the thrust move past him. For an instant, they were back to back and Anakin reached around to grab Obi-Wan's free hand. Obi-Wan blocked Anakin's upwards sweep before he had a chance to remove the Jedi's arm. The two of them jumped back and Obi-Wan retreated further inside the foundry.

Anakin caught up to him in the control room. Many plates of various metals adorned the room's control stations. Each was covered in swirling patterns of runes and sigils that kept the facility functioning, including the cooling wards.

A particularly fierce blow from Anakin sent Obi-Wan staggering back. Obi-Wan blocked an overhead swing, then a horizontal one before retaliating. The two of them briefly locked blades next to one of the sigil plates. Without realizing their surroundings, Obi-Wan forced their blades to the side, cutting through the plate in the process.

Palpatine cackled as he strode over to Yoda. "I have waited a long time for this moment, my little green friend."

While the Dark Lord cackled again, Yoda stood uneasily, bracing himself on his walking stick.

"At long last, the Jedi are no more!"

Yoda scowled. "Not if anything to say about it, I have!" He extended his hand and let out a burst of Force energy.

Palpatine wailed as he flew backwards. He flew over his desk and struck his chair hard enough to not only knock it over with him, but break it in half.

"At an end, your rule is. And not short enough, it was."

The Dark Lord scrambled to his feet while Yoda readied himself for whatever his next trick would be. Palpatine flew at the door, hoping to make a break. Yoda landed in front of him, blocking any escape.

The Jedi master raised an eyebrow. "If so powerful, you are, why leave?" He gave a quarter turn on the head of his walking stick and thumbed the activation rune as he pulled it away from the rest. A glowing green blade emerged from the wooden hilt.

Palpatine stepped back. "You cannot change anything. Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us." He shook his right sleeve and the twin of the Lightblade he had lost earlier fell into his hand. The red blade shot forth.

"Faith in your new apprentice, misplaced, may be." The wizened master assumed a combat stance. "As is your faith in the Dark Side of the Force."

Palpatine raised his sword over his head. Yoda jumped at him, throwing his entire body into his strikes. The Emperor blocked each attempted blow seemingly without effort. Master Yoda landed on the side of the retracted pulpit and again leapt towards his opponent.

Palpatine cackled with joy as their blades connected. For so long he had waited to fight this wretched Jedi. For so long he had put up with his presence for the sake of his grand scheme. That patience was now being rewarded with this duel, and he would make sure to put everything he had into it.

The Dark Lord thrust his sword at Yoda. The two locked blades for a moment before Yoda pushed them to the side. For Palpatine, not even killing his master had been so enjoyable as this fight.

Anakin's brass hand wrapped around Obi-Wan's throat. The Jedi gripped the metal wrist as he choked, trying to pry it away. Anakin took hold of Obi-Wan's right hand as it still clutched his Lightblade. He snarled as he moved the hand closer to Obi-Wan's head. Obi-Wan himself bent backwards, desperate to avoid the incoming blade as his vision faded.

Obi-Wan flung out his leg and kicked Anakin in the side, flinging him away. He rubbed at his throat and stumbled as air once more flooded his lungs. When Obi-Wan's vision returned, he was greeted by the sight and feeling of Anakin landing a kick in his chest.

Obi-Wan fell backwards and his Lightblade spun away across the floor. Anakin stormed towards him as his eyes burned yellow. Obi-Wan turned on his side and swept Anakin's legs from under him. The fallen Jedi landed hard on his back with a grunt.

Anakin and Obi-Wan both pulled their Lightblades into their hands. Obi-Wan swung from overhead while Anakin blocked at the last moment. Their blades stayed locked as they each tried to overpower the other.

Emperor Palpatine stood in his pulpit, blocking the lunging strikes from Master Yoda. At some point during his leaps, Yoda's foot hit the ascension rune. Cogs, gears, and screw shafts whirred as the pulpit rose.

The mechanical iris door at the base of the Senate chamber dilated open and the pulpit emerged through it. All the while, the Dark Lord and the Jedi Grandmaster continued their duel. The sounds of their Lightblades connecting over and over echoed through the cavernous chamber.

Between Yoda's clawed toes and the glancing blows from the Lightblades, the ancient pulpit rapidly grew disfigured. Perhaps it was an apt transformation, considering what had become of both the Republic it was made for and the final Chancellor that utilized it.

Yoda and Palpatine locked blades. In that moment, they couldn't have been more different. One stood stoic, fighting for the sake of everyone, having lost everything he had worked for. The other laughed with psychotic glee, caring only about himself and the knowledge that he had everything he wanted in the palm of his hand.

Anakin's and Obi-Wan's movements had become little more than blurs. Their blue blades collided with speed and intensity the world had never seen. Once again, they locked blades.

Trying to use the Force to push Anakin away, Obi-Wan released his off hand's grip on his Lightblade and held out his palm. Anakin noticed the Jedi's motion and did the same. The air hummed as the opposing magics went against each other. For only a few short seconds were they able to hold their ground as the magic built between them.

There came a loud snap and both Anakin and Obi-Wan flew away from each other, violently repulsed by the blowback from their power. The two of them landed on opposite sides of the room with Obi-Wan hitting a console and denting a sigil plate.

Anakin was the first to recover. He wasted no time bounding across the room and bringing his Lightblade down towards Obi-Wan. The Jedi rolled to the side and Anakin's Lightblade cut through the large intricate sigil plate that Obi-Wan had landed on.

A deep bellowing horn sounded through the ironworks. Outside, the pale blue glow of the facility's cooling wards winked out. The collection platforms overhanging the lava river groaned under their own weight as the guy wires supporting them began to slightly stretch from the heat.

Obi-Wan deflected Anakin's Lightblade into a doorframe as the Jedi tried to eacape to the walkway outside. Again, Anakin kicked him, sending Obi-Wan stumbling backwards. The back of his legs hit the top of the walkway's railing and he almost tumbled over into the lava below. He pulled himself back with the Force just in time and rolled to avoid a wide swing from Anakin.

Obi-Wan stood and took off running down the walkway, turning to block a blow from Anakin. Their Lightblades locked and they struggled side to side, trying to make an opening. Anakin won out and Obi-Wan stumbled. The fallen Jedi responded by kneeing his old friend in the face, splitting his lip.

The Dark Lord laughed at Master Yoda from one of the thousands of the Senate's platforms. The Jedi leapt from the pulpit to one of the lower platforms and contemplated his next move.

From above came the loud cracking of stone as the Emperor broke two platforms free with the Force. Yoda jumped to another platform as one of the broken ones hurtled towards him. Shards of grey and white stone flew in every direction when they collided and an almighty crash thundered through the Senate chamber. Yoda jumped again as the other platform careened towards him.

Over and over Palpatine tore the ancient speaking platforms from the chamber walls and hurled them at Master Yoda, laughing maniacally the entire time. Yoda jumped and dodged, gripping his Lightblade tightly as stone dust accumulated on his skin and robes. Stone rubble and twisted metal rained down around him, with the occasional larger piece coming too close for comfort.

Two platforms came at him simultaneously, one aimed where Yoda had jumped from, the other where he was jumping to. Although Yoda was not directly hit, the platform he had landed on fell to pieces under his feet. He fell to a platform below, landing hard on his chest.

The Emperor's laughter picked up at this small victory and he ripped another platform free to deliver the final blow. Master Yoda stood and held out a single hand while the broken platform flew directly at him. He managed to use his power to stop it with nothing more than a finger's length to spare.

The platform hung in midair, held by Master Yoda as he built up a burst of energy to sent it back at the Dark Lord. The Emperor laughed as he watched the suspended platform shake and shudder, believing Yoda was struggling to hold it. His cackling immediately ceased when the platform rocketed at him.

He jumped to a platform below him and to the side, narrowly avoiding being crushed but still ending up showered with chunks of stone. Palpatine glanced back to where Yoda had been only to see that he was no longer there. He looked around frantically, not wanting the Jedi to be able to sneak up on him.

When Yoda leapt onto the platform from below brandishing his Lightblade, Palpatine reflexively unleashed arcs of his Dark lightning. The Jedi's Lightblade flew from his grip and fell to the Senate floor far below.

Master Yoda extended his hands to collect the Dark magic. With a better sense of what he was dealing with, he was able to keep the magic from overwhelming him.

The Emperor redoubled his onslaught. Lightning enough to rival even the worst storms arced through the Senate chamber. Spots on the platforms' metal railings glowed and chips spalled off of the stone floors wherever the bolts hit them. Yoda gritted his teeth and concentrated. A massive blue ball of Dark energy had formed between them and it was only growing.

An inconceivably loud thunderclap filled the chamber as the magic became too much for even Yoda to control. Both the Jedi and the Sith were flung backwards by the blast. Palpatine slammed into the wall of the Senate chamber and fell back onto a platform. Yoda was thrown into the middle of the Senate chamber and tumbled down.

He hit the ruined pulpit with an echoing thud before falling the rest of the way to the rubble strewn Senate floor. The tattered remains of his cloak fluttered down and caught on a twisted piece of railing. From high above, Emperor Palpatine cackled in his triumph. He had bested the greatest living Jedi and nothing now stood in his way of ultimate control of the world.

Yoda crawled across the floor, dragging a broken leg behind him.

Obi-Wan steadied himself after jumping to a collection platform's guy wire supported walkway. He held his Lightblade out in front of him defensively as Anakin leapt and landed in front of him.

Anakin thrust his blade forward but Obi-Wan knocked it away with his own. The fallen Jedi followed through with the motion, turning it into a spin. Their swords connected again and again with Obi-Wan backing towards the platform's wide far end.

Anakin lunged forward and swung his Lightblade. Obi-Wan deflected and came back with a pommel strike to Anakin's face, splitting open his eyebrow. Anakin recoiled and screamed in pain and rage as blood oozed into his eye.

Anakin slashed in an upward diagonal arc, narrowly missing Obi-Wan and leaving himself open. Before Anakin could bring his arm back down, Obi-Wan caught his wrist in his off hand. Anakin caught Obi-Wan's wrist in his own off hand as the Jedi tried an upward strike. The two former friends grappled with one another as around them, geysers of lava erupted from the river below.

Yoda crawled through one of the Senate building's maintenance tunnels. He had been able to use some of his healing magics to mend his broken leg, but the pain was still considerable, leading him to believe that he had set it incorrectly. There wasn't anything he could do at that time though as he needed to get away from the Senate building as quickly as he could.

Once he had reached one of the panels leading to the building's exterior, he slumped against the wall of the tunnel and tapped his comm crystal. "Hurry. Careful timing, we will need."

Bail Organa's voice responded. "I'm almost there. Activate your tracker whenever you're ready."

On the Senate floor, three squads of homunculus military police officers searched the debris for any sign of Yoda. After several minutes of fruitless searching, one of the lieutenants addressed the Emperor. "Sir, we haven't been able to find a body."

Palpatine scowled. "Then he's not dead. Double your search."

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir."

Palpatine narrowed his eyes and addressed his Vice Chancellor-turned-Vizier. "Tell Captain Kagi to prepare my shuttle for immediate departure. I sense that Lord Vader is in danger."

The Vizier bowed his horned head. "Yes, Master."

As the Vizier left, the Emperor pulled out a shiny black pocket font. The silver head of a man with a metal eye patch appeared. "Yes, my Lord?"

"Cylo. It is time."

The duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan had moved to the far end of the collection platform. The heat coming off the lava was unbearable and both of them dripped with sweat. The one saving grace for them was the ever present crosswind flowing towards the volcano's summit.

For a moment, Anakin and Obi-Wan locked blades next to one of the platform's bucket winches. Obi-Wan hopped back when Anakin pushed forward, hoping that the fallen Jedi would lose his balance. He did not, however, and instead used this opening to swing at Obi-Wan's legs.

Obi-Wan jumped over the attack and the Lightblade cut the chain holding a collection bucket. As Obi-Wan landed, both men heard a deep rumble and felt the collection platform flex. For a moment, the fight was forgotten as a geyser of lava surged upwards and coated a swath of the platform's walkway. Anakin and Obi-Wan took cover between the bucket winches as molten rock splattered close by.

Guy wires snapped from the heat and the entire platform groaned and started to sag as the metal melted. More wires snapped under the added strain, compounding the structural failure until finally, climactically, the platform and walkway broke free. Anakin and Obi-Wan ran as fast as they could away from the winches, wanting to be as far from them as possible when they hit the lava flow.

When the platform hit the surface, the wide winch supports acted as a base for the structure, causing the walkway to stick straight upwards. The suddenness of this flung both Obi-Wan and Anakin free. For just a second, there was nothing between them and the lava below. Fortunately for them though, they were able to grab hold of a pair of swinging guy wires.

The entire time that Yoda waited, he meditated on his defeat. Visions of a dark future swam in and out of focus. His failure nagged at him, as did the pain of his leg. Perhaps he was no longer worthy to be a Jedi master.

A presence nearby snapped him out of his meditation. He activated his tracker and used a weak wave of Force energy to push the exterior panel away from the maintenance tunnel's opening. Within seconds, Senator Organa appeared atop his wyvern.

Yoda waited until Bail was close enough then leapt out, pushing off with his good leg. He landed in the saddle behind the senator and buckled himself in as the wyvern flew onwards. The Jedi hung his head. "Into exile, I must go... Failed, I have..."

These were the only words Yoda uttered on the trip back to the Tantive.

The platform floated down the lava river while Anakin and Obi-Wan swung wildly from the guy wires. Their situation was not aided by the multitude of submerged rocks and exposed islets that the platform collided with along the way. Farther ahead, the river poured over the edge of a cliff and into Mustafar's largest lake outside of its caldera.

Obi-Wan was the first to see the edge. He looked around for a way out while he continued to swing and spin. A short distance ahead were a trio of floating mobile collection platforms. Each was large enough for two people and were protected by their own cooling wards.

Anakin, meanwhile, was solely focused on killing his former master. As the two swung towards one another, Anakin ignited his Lightblade and held it out. The glowing blade effortlessly cut through the steel guy wire and Obi-Wan fell.

With the remaining momentum and a little help from the Force, Obi-Wan landed on one of the mobile platforms. Immediately on landing, the cooling ward surrounded him. He almost began to shiver from the drastic temperature difference. Obi-Wan guided the mobile platform away from the fall and looked back at the structure he had been on mere moments before just as it tipped over the edge.

Anakin swung upwards and landed on the platform's walkway as it went horizontal. He sprinted towards the now glowing half-melted winches and channelled his magic into his legs. With an almighty push, he jumped off the walkway, cleared the edge of the lava fall, and landed on another of the mobile collection platforms. Behind him, the structure gave a metallic groan as it crashed into the lake below.

Anakin idly whirled his Lightblade around as he guided his platform towards Obi-Wan. The Jedi readied his weapon and blocked Anakin's incoming strikes. The two men clashed with renewed ferocity while the platforms carried them up the river.

Obi-Wan's platform pulled away from Anakin's, granting him a temporary reprieve. He held his Lightblade in front of himself with both hands and took a few cooling, calming breaths while Anakin glared at him. The Jedi gave a sad chuckle. "I've failed you, Anakin... I have failed you..."

"I should have realized sooner that the Jedi were plotting a takeover!"

"Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil!"

Anakin sneered. "From what I've come to see, it's the Jedi that are evil!"

Obi-Wan winced. "Then you truly are lost!"

They continued up the river, nearing the rim of the caldera. Obi-Wan was filled with shame. He couldn't help but blame himself for Anakin's fall. If he had listened, if he had communicated, if he had been more supportive, then maybe things would have been different.

Anakin burned with hatred as he stared his mentor down. Memories of the constant lectures, criticisms, and scoldings that Obi-Wan had given him fueled the flames. "This is the end for you, my Master." The last two words dripped with resentment and sarcasm.

Obi-Wan readied his Lightblade and Anakin jumped to the Jedi's platform. He landed on the edge and whirled his arms around to keep his balance. Anakin recovered in time to block Obi-Wan's swing before going on the offensive.

With the most rage yet displayed, Anakin launched into a flurry of attacks that culminated in a blade lock. Anakin pushed, pouring his loathing into trying to force Obi-Wan off the platform. Just as Obi-Wan was about to fall into the lava, he backflipped and landed on the stony shore of the caldera. Anakin guided the platform close to the shore and gripped his Lightblade tightly.

Obi-Wan looked down at his former student. "It's over, Anakin! I have the high ground." It was partly a bluff, but he prayed that Anakin would back down.

Instead Anakin scoffed. "You underestimate my power!"

Obi-Wan's face fell. "Don't try it," he pleaded.

Anakin jumped off the platform, aiming to land behind Obi-Wan. As he went over the Jedi's head, Obi-Wan swung his Lightblade, severing Anakin's left arm and both of his legs.

Anakin hit the gravelly ground with a crunching thud, moaning in pain. He slid down the embankment past Obi-Wan. The boy he had trained howled in agony and rage as he tried to crawl towards him. Anakin's face was bleeding and his yellow eyes were bloodshot and surrounded by dark circles.

Tears streamed down the Jedi's face at the sight before him and mixed with the sweat. "You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Be the one to end the age of darkness, not be the one to plunge the world into one!" He deactivated his Lightblade and turned. As Obi-Wan started to walk away, he picked up Anakin's Lightblade.

Obi-Wan glanced back, unable to help himself. Anakin had made little progress in his crawling but his expression hadn't changed. Saliva bubbled at the corner of his mouth like a mad dog. "I hate you!"

Anakin slipped and slid further down the embankment. He screamed in pain as the radiant heat from the lava began to build on his leg stumps.

Obi-Wan started to sob. "You were my brother, Anakin... I loved you."

The radiant heat finally built up enough that Anakin's black robes ignited. The flames spread rapidly, reaching his waist in seconds. He writhed and wailed as the fire moved from his clothes to his hair and ears. His skin charred and blackened. Flames went down his throat every time he inhaled. Anakin reached out towards Obi-Wan partly out of rage and partly as a cry for mercy.

Obi-Wan looked away, horrified and nauseated. Even like this, he couldn't bring himself to kill Anakin. He stole one last glance back and then walked away, leaving his former friend to whatever fate awaited him.

Obi-Wan returned to the docks emotionally drained. Artu rolled up to him urgently and Threepio called from the yacht's gangplank. "Master Kenobi! I was able to escort Miss Padmé onto the boat, but something is happening. Please hurry."

The Jedi rushed aboard with Artu in tow and made for Padmé's cabin. He found her laying on her bed, grimacing in discomfort. When Obi-Wan placed a hand on her shoulder, she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Obi-Wan? Is... Is Anakin all right?"

A pang of guilt hit Obi-Wan. He couldn't tell her the truth, nor could he bring himself to lie. Obi-Wan left without saying a word and went to the helm. No more than ten minutes later, the yacht pulled away from Mustafar's dock.