Chapter 40
Darth Plagueis sits on the throne, his hands rested across the armrests. Aside from planning and thinking of manners to force the Jedi to lose ground, the Muun Sith Lord has been mainly meditating as of late, surrounded by the ancient archives of the Sith, and gaining foresight from the Sith of the old Republic.
"My Lord," a Sith Officer states, putting forth a salute as he walks up to the Sith Lord. "We have just gotten word from our air forces. An upcoming ship is heading for our planet, the individual on board demanding to speak with you."
Plagueis arches an eyebrow but he doesn't put forth an interest. However, if they are able to avoid his air forces, then they would have to be labeled an individual of interest.
"Allow them access," the Muun commands, preparing himself for a possible battle. "Detain them the moment they land on the planet.
The Sith Officer replies, following his orders without so much as of hesitation. "Yes, my Lord."
Plagueis sighs for a moment before clicking onto the button on the throne and watches the recording of the ship coming down onto the planet. He can see the shuttle landing on one of his spaceports with deceptive idleness, the retrothrusters firing in magnificent plumes as the shuttle slows, shudders, and finally sets itself jerkily down.
A moment passes and the hatch opens, the boarding ramp extending as a dark, hooded figure became silhouetted against the internal lights of the shuttle with three others. Long, purposeful strides bring the figure down the ramp and the two Sith men guarding the platform raced to the intruder. The leader has barely gotten a word out before their blaster-rifles fall from suddenly nerveless fingers, invisible forces closing their windpipes. Vader never break its stride as the men are forced onto their knees, merely stepping onto a speeder platform and directing it to the Palace of the Sith.
As he rides the speeder platform, the figure allows his careful, controlled fury to feed him and allow him to fuel conduits to reserves of dark side power he usually leaves well alone.
More guards are in his way, but they are disabled as quickly as the others and fall to the ground before they even saw the dark, approaching figure. When they finally get to the familiar doors of Plagueis's throne room, he felt four presences, two of which he knew to be the final guards. Without even lifting a finger, the guards inside the room are knocked unconscious and the hooded figure opens the doors with a wave of his hand, striding through without a glance at the dead men on either side of the opening.
Now that Plagueis gets a better look at the individuals who just entered the throne room, he can see the indescribable power radiating from the trio. One figure is hooded, his intense power giving him immense pause. One figure is armor, clearly having scars of the past, and two pairs of brown eyes staring out. Another figure... this one is strong with the light side, easily able to be assumed as a Jedi.
"Vader," Plagueis greets, recognizing the man from a mile away, but he can sense that Vader's ambitions here are greater than one would assume. "It has been many years since we have met. You could have shared a transmission with me to let me know that you were coming."
Vader didn't give the emotion of any sort, as always, an unreadable mask to everyone around him. "It appears that your Order have grown powerful throughout the years. Your powerbase has grown since your last apprentice and I can sense the bravo of the men and women who serve you. Devotion is rare among the Sith of the past, but you seemed to have learned from those past mistakes. Well done."
"I see that you have recruited forces of your own," Plagueis replies, examining over the light side individual not with disgust but with absolute pride. "Recruiting Jedi and allowing them to keep true to their Jedi's beliefs while still sustaining their loyalty to you? That is a greater accomplishment."
"Jedi can be recruited as well," Vader replies, drawing his lightsaber to life and igniting it, illuminating the room with a unique color that not even Plagueis saw before. "You would submit to my new rule or you would be killed. This army would be able to stand against the Republic but the Sith would only drive themselves into destruction. Always would one of your Acolytes desire powers for himself."
"You are planning to start a war with the Jedi like Revan did centuries ago," the Muun responds, rising from his throne and triggering both of his lightsabers to life, at last realizing the true intent of Vader. "You came here to gain control of my Sith followers and use them in your tirade against the Republic."
Vader doesn't say anything aside from angling his lightsaber downwards, just as his followers step to the side of the throne room, prepared to watch the battle with great interest.
The Muun draws power from within himself as he stands at the throne with both lightsabers ignited, poised to the ground in front of himself. With groundbreaking speed, Plagueis dashes toward Vader, his lightsaber in front of himself, prepared for any sort of counterattack.
Falling into the familiar form that is Soresu, Vader deflects every single blow without effort, no matter the willpower that is raining down upon him. The Muun has never thought that Vader's defense is this impressive, and even his companions seem to be at odds with themselves at the test of wall power.
Vader is moving like cutting air, his blade directed towards the Sith Lord who is forced to dodge and parry. Seconds later, the Muun staggers due to Vader slamming his blade downwards, barely able to recover in time before the lightsaber would have stabbed him through, making him grunt as the intensity of the battle begins to dawn on the Sith.
The dark side is clinging onto Vader as if it is one with him, amplifying his abilities even against one who would call himself the Master of the Dark Side. Vader's palm explodes and sends Plagueis back, as quickly as Vader's physical moments are with the Dark Lord of the Sith. For a moment, the Muun thinks that he at last opened up Vader, when the man pulls away.
Vader quickly switches his form from Djem So to Makashi, testing each of the Dark Lord's forms to the fullest capabilities. Darth Plagueis is feeling himself being sent back.
Plagueis raises his hands and applies the Force, sending his cloak billowing in the wind. It is at that moment that he felt a surge of power come from Vader, and his eyes widen as he sanctions the trap too late to do anything about it. With a cry of exertion, Vader propels a powerful Force push at Plagueis, who catch it directly in the chest and is sent flying through the Throne Room.
"That's it, Plagueis, don't stop," Vader replies, pleased to see what is to come next, blocking each strike with smooth movements. "You are the Dark Lord of the Sith after all. Surely the Dark Lord could sustain his dignity."
Despite him appearing to be stunned, the Sith doesn't halt. Only the sound of a twirling blur and a warning from the Force enables Vader to parry the lightsaber that has been thrown at him, yet even then it was a close elimination. This was evidenced by the fact that his cape is now half its normal length.
He manages to absorb some nobility by landing on his feet, but almost as soon as he touches the ground, Vader receives a powerful Force Blast from the Dark Lord of the Sith, but he merely waves a hand towards Plagueis, leaving him stunned long enough for Vader to seize him into the air.
Seeing what is coming and not allowing himself to be defeated so easily, Plagueis sends a burst of lightning towards Vader, catching him. Vader feels himself being consumed by electricity, but even so, he doesn't even move a step, the only damage that comes is releasing the Muun onto the ground.
The Muun calls his lightsabers over to his hands. The Sith tenses in anticipation of a renewed lightsaber assault, but none came. Instead, Vader holds his lightsaber and points toward the ground, his stance calm and focused.
"That's it," Vader says. Plagueis can feel himself getting weary; his fight with this opponent is more intense than his battle with his Apprentice. "For the Sith Master, I would have expected me to be dead yet I am still alive. Stop me."
Vader's retaliation doesn't end there. With a ferocity that could be compared to the most brutal of warriors both in Jedi and Sith history, he lunges at his opponent, his saber creating a cyclone of pain and death which Plagueis is forced to evade and dodge before blocking and countering each strike. Now, Plagueis is sending a series of the devastating area of effect Force attacks, causing Vader to raise his blade and hardly move.
His opponent stands perfectly still, focusing and channeling his power at the lightning, almost as if he is drawing them in. At the last possible instant, Vader unleashes a wave of energy that sweeps Darth Plagueis off his feet and sends him gliding backward.
The Muun twists in midair so that he can roll with the impact when he lands. He quickly springs back to his feet and advances again, moving more slowly this time.
Vader stands in the precise same position as before. Plagueis begins to sense the oppressive presence of the Force weighing down on him, and at last, the Muun is overwhelmed, collapsing onto his knees and clutching his head, before flying to the wall in quite a humiliating fashion.
Instead of charging forward when Plagueis is in his feeble position, Vader opens himself up to the Force, letting both the light and the dark side flow through him like twin rushing rivers, but instead of focusing or channeling the Force, he releases it in its purest form, contrasting to what the Muun would have done if he was in that position.
There is a brilliant flash as the air between the two combatants lit up. The energy unleashed is powerful enough to send both staggering, and both of them flying away. Vader is the first one who lands on the ground, cape floating in the air behind him.
Plagueis recovers just as quickly before lunging forward. Vader lifts himself up on one knee, and his hands fly forward as he hurtles a bolt of crimson lightning at his enemy. The Muun intercepts the bolt with his lightsaber, though the impact stops his charge dead in its tracks.
Vader unleashes more strikes in quick succession. Plagueis bats the first aside with his lightsaber, ducks the second, deflects the third back in the direction of its source, throw the fourth aside into the ceiling, and jumps over the fifth.
The sixth assault strikes Plagueis in the chest, sending him sliding several meters back on the floor. For the first time, the Sith's emotionless veneer cracks as he allows out a primal hiss of rage, causing the room to tremor with dark side energy. He rises to his feet, focusing the dark side onto his wounds and allowing himself to be healed. His golden flares crimson, and he raises both hands high above his head.
Plagueis knows gathering his power is wise: to unleash a swirling storm of pure dark side energy. The Sith swiftly considers his options. Realizing he can't close the gap between them quickly enough to halt the assault, he gathers his own energy and spread his hands before him, ready to catch and absorb Vader's attack.
A dozen bolts of now purple lightning arches from Vader toward him. Plagueis attempts to draw them in and contain them. He is knocked to the other of the Sith Throne Room, landing only stairs before his throne, before lunging up into the air. To his credit, Plagueis is now putting up a brutal fight. He skillfully parries a blow from Vader, sidesteps the attack, and at last, they lock blades for three standard seconds.
Quickly taking advantage of the fact that Plagueis's failure of a strike has left him overextended, the Sith chooses to lash out, instead of decapitating his head from his shoulders he kicks the Sith's feet out from under him. This is immediately followed up by Vader pirouetting to deliver another punch which sends his rival flying into his own throne, hitting his head hard. He slumps down to the ground.
Vader walks over to the Sith, pointing his blade downwards at the seemingly defeated Sith Lord.
"Surrender, Plagueis."
It all happens in the space of only a few seconds. Plagueis appears to transport elsewhere before landing on another side of the palace and is moving fast, his lightsabers coming in front of him, locking against the white lightsaber a mere second before they land, his teeth ground together at the battle-hardened individual, breaths leaving him rapidly.
"Plagueis, it's quite a shame we have never received an opportunity to do this before," Vader says in a taunting manner, no doubt seeking to undo him, as he shoves him backward. This is someone who the galaxy is fortunate enough that would not become a Sith Lord or else the galaxy would be wiped out in mere armies.
The Muun gives no reply as he launches forward, lightsabers cleaving in his direction. Effortlessly, Vader blocks, barely moving a step despite the severity of that assault. Upon the failure of his assault, Plagueis calls off the dark side, becoming an embodiment of what all Sith should be.
Vader, however, moves with all the speed and ferocity of a warrior in his prime, leaping between his adversary, his lightsaber flashing furiously back and forth in a series of slashes and cuts that immediately throws his opponent on the defensive.
The Muun barely manages to deflect the first wave of his assault, unable to even think about countering with an attack of his own. Another quick thrust forces him off balance, and he stumbles backward, almost losing grip on his lightsabers.
Vader seizes on the opportunity to focus all his efforts on breaking through Plagueis's defenses. The Sith is obviously overmatched; though he manages to hold his ground, he is forced down to one knee. In the awkward position, the Sith's right flank is exposed, and Vader brings his blade in to deliver a crippling cut, about to bury his lightsaber through his spine.
An ordinary foe would have been killed, but Plagueis instinctively elevates a Force barrier to protect himself, absorbing and redirecting the brunt of the impact. Even so, Vader knocks him off balance just enough to send his lightsaber wide of the mark, giving the Muun the opportunity he needs to scramble away to safety before standing in a battle position.
"Come on, Plagueis. You are a Sith, aren't you? Don't allow your arrogance to blind your reality." Vader says sharply.
Calling off the dark side of the Force, reinforced by the taunting voice that enters his head, the Muun dashes forward again, hoping to drive Vader back into a corner, but he meets his charge.
Among their lightsabers clashing, said Sith's face is set into what would have been an intimidating scowl had it been used on any other person, but Vader can tell that the Sith Lord is running out of breathing space and it is only a matter of time before he is disarmed. An eruption from the Force sends both of them flying backward, their capes flourishing into the air, and their eyes staring at one another.
Without a word the two launch towards one another yet again, their colliding sparks of lightsabers producing a fierce growl and a shower of sparks. The Master of the Force and the Dark Lord of the Sith push against one another, attempting and failing to overpower one another, before breaking away and attacking every second. Their blows are becoming more powerful, increasingly forcing each other back, swings, and jacks providing to be useless against one another. This is almost like a boxing tournament.
The Sith is broken out of his musings when he feels an enormous boiling of power welling up within his opponent, a sign that a powerful attack is about to be unleashed. Not wanting to be caught in such a thing Vader is swift to break the saber lock and put some distance between him and Plagueis. Immediately he launches a mental attack on the Sith, knowing that the Muun's skills in the mind arts, while they may be skilled, are poor compared to his own.
"Come on, Plagueis, you are more powerful than this. Don't be reduced to a weakling. You were able to kill your apprentice even after he pushed you backed like a hound and prevented you from learning immortality. Defeat me and prove yourself as the Dark Lord of the Sith."
Standing up, Plagueis pushes past the weight on his body, as if they are nonexistent, lunging towards Vader in mad flurries, now causing him to take several steps back. The dark side is vibrating as he tries and fails to get his mark, his eyes becoming a bright golden. He is being tested to the limits as he angles his lightsaber upwards and downwards, using years of teachings in the hope to disarm Vader.
Vader twists his hold over his blade before slamming his leg against the Muun's chest, sending him flying back with a grunt and reaching for his gut. Taking advantage of Plagueis being caught in that area, Vader attacks with his weapon, the Muun's blade barely catching the lightsaber that is coming down upon him, allowing himself to fall onto the ground.
Vader reaches out with the Force and seems to be trying to probe Plagueis, something that receives a chuckle from the Sith. "You are trying to probe through my shields?"
Vader pulls away so quickly that it leaves a tinkling pain. "No, I just wished to see if you took your own advice to your own students to remember to keep your shields intact so an opponent wouldn't be able to exploit them."
Despite the agony his body is in, he musters all of his power and charges Vader, slamming his shoulder into him, whilst testing his power more and more. Vader raises his hand and a powerful blast leaves his hand, causing Plagueis to not evade or block but raise both hands and throw the Force Blast back at Vader. When Vader is knocked back slightly, he drags the Muun Sith with him,
Plagueis sends lightning towards Vader which the former Sith blocks with his right hand, before sending it back to the Sith Lord, staggering the Muun slightly, lightning coursing through his body. Whereas some are simply able to absorb massive amounts of energy, which he could either distribute harmlessly through his body or reflect back to the assailant, most Jedi usually used their lightsabers instead to deflect incoming attacks.
Vader and Plagueis press each other, a tremor in the Force for more powerful than anyone in history. Any shove made by Plagueis only fails as Vader manages to sidestep them. It is obvious that Vader is not attempting to kill him as he has done with the Jedi who joined Windu's forces regrettably, Vader should add.
Vader outstretch his hand, utilizing the ancient power known as Force Drain which slams into Plagueis's, causing some of his energy to become his own, the current appearing endless as he presses more and more into Plagueis's. Have Plagueis not been as powerful as he is, he may have been disintegrated from the power alone, but instead, a ripple of power comes at Vader too.
Vader blocks the Force Attack with a shield forming around himself and throws it back at Plagueis who propel the Force energy to the side. Before Vader could even be allowed to recover, Plagueis is already all over him, slicing his left shoulder while pushing forward more and more assaults, evading around him, and attempting to get a disabled or fatal blow against Vader.
"There he is. There is the Dark Lord of the Sith." Vader says.
Plagueis sends an equally powerful cleave but Vader parries the blow, pushing him back without a struggle. The Muun sends lightning towards Vader's direction, yet he disappears before emerging beside him, driving his lightsaber to his back yet he evades to the side, his cloak receiving some sort of damage, before accelerating towards the Muun's direction, deciding to test his defensive as much as his offensive, before seizing hold of the Muun into the air and keeping him motionless.
Plagueis's hands held helplessly at his side, and the dark side of the Force seemed to abandon him. "What are you going to do now that you have defeated the Dark Lord of the Sith, Vader? Are you going to end me and seize control of my entire army? Use the title of the Sith and attack the Republic with all of your might? Or finish what the Jedi started?"
Vader shoves the Muun to his dark throne. "No, you can control the army, but now you answer to me. All of the individuals you capture, their training would be observed by me. Your allies would answer to you solely, but I would puppeteer events in the background, and very few would know about this. I sense that you are heading a Dark Council."
"Yes," Plagueis responds, smirking viciously. To be fair, his ego should be wounded given how he just lost the battle, his abilities mocked, and he languorously would be disgraceful to his Sith Allies. "I am willing to acknowledge that you have defeated me this day, Vader, and that you deserve to lead the Sith Army from your boots. None would question your ascendency."
"You could serve as my wrath, an individual that would answer to me alone," Vader replies, "all would know about me and acknowledge my rank, but I would sense if you choose to betray me. If you shall, the entire Sith Army would be exterminated. The Jedi and Sith are only sole threats that could be disposed of easily."
Plagueis has to admit smirking at the threat lingering in the air, surrounding who must be the most powerful Force User in the entire galaxy. Only a few could ever force him to submission, but not as Vader had done.
"You seem to have your cards gathered, Vader," Plagueis responds, his teeth ground together, and gnarled hands rubbing against one another. "I wonder... when you rule the Republic, what would you do that would astray from my vision? You wish to dominate the galaxy under your mechanism... your vision is different from mine."
"Oh, but how do you know I wish to rule the Republic?" Vader queries, evidently amused at the delicious shock that radiates from the Sith Lord. "Just because I wish to reorganize the Republic doesn't mean I wish to destroy the Jedi Order and Republic fractions. Reconstruct them to their rightful place along with the Sith to start anew, yes. But destroying the Republic and the Jedi Order has never been my intention. I wish to only rebuild in my designed vision while casting off the corruption on both fronts."
Plagueis replies. "So, you are telling me that you don't wish to destroy the organizations has been hounding you since you have revealed yourself to the known galaxy? Since you have made your Force Signature known? Are you telling me that you are not angry by their ambitions to bring you to trial and stand in front of the courts of their ignorant Republic?"
"No, but that doesn't mean I wish to wipe out the Jedi," Vader retorts pointedly, the flames bubbling from within him, appearing as if they are surrounding him in waves. "Ridding the galaxy of the peacekeepers would be a disaster, but that doesn't mean they don't require change. My goals are clearly different from your own, Darth Plagueis, but we need followers. Let us continue this conversation away from public's eyes."
Qui-Gon has been stunned the moment he sensed the presence he hasn't felt for so many years on the planet. He managed to mask his surprise well, especially since there are so many dark signatures surrounding the presence of the Sith - most of them familiar, but all of them appear to be contained and under control, unlike the Sith who he and Obi-Wan fought so many years before.
Returning to the ship, Qui-Gon regards the elder Skywalker and gives her a gentle smile at her concern. He also cast a brief eye at her stomach which appears to have developed healthily, reminding him who he is fighting for. When the child is welcomed to the galaxy, they would be welcome with love and affection by his family.
"Where's Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Vader?"
Shmi has always had that motherly concern for everyone among the crew. She would always be worried about their stakes when they are not on the ship, though Jinn keep his senses up so he would know if something happens that doesn't go as they planned.
"Our Sith friends have been accepting of our presence and so Anakin and Obi-Wan parted ways. Vader is having a daily chat with the leader of the Sith here." Qui-Gon is unable to resist a quip, folding both arms across his chest and trying to keep the ringing darkness from vibrating within his head which is, as always, attempting to overwhelm him. No one is immune from falling to the dark side.
Shmi walks up and plants a kiss on his lips. Their relationship has flourished as of late, to the point where they begin feeling nothing short of love for one another, and even though it goes against all that the Jedi Master once believed, he still loves her to the point where marriage is a possibility.
That shouldn't be on his mind since they have been friends longer but this pregnancy has backtracked things for both of people.
"I love you," Shmi says once the Maverick Jedi Master pulls away from her.
"I love you more," Qui-Gon replies.
"I question that my old padawan," come a stoic and dreadfully familiar voice, "that you would have ever been able to feel something close to love especially since what happened to Tahl."
Qui-Gon tenses up and distastefully stares at the door, spotting someone he didn't want to deal with right now, or ever, standing not far from them. He has been angry upon sensing him but now he is afraid of what his fallen Master would do to Shmi.
"Master Dooku, to what do I owe the displeasure? I see that you have fallen far from your rightful place during the time of my Master."
His old Master takes a moment to look him over before scowling. "You have been declared as one of the Jedi's enemies who would have to be brought in for trial, can your old Master not express concern and check on his old Padawan to see if that left some sort of trauma? It appears as if falling has something to do with my lineage."
"I am okay if you must know," Qui-Gon stiffly replies.
Dooku slowly and dramatically arches an eyebrow. "Okay, are you? The truth is you haven't been happy for so long. That is anything but fine. Force, I haven't seen you in such a happy state especially since what happened to Tahl."
Qui-Gon frowns right back at him. "Not that you offered any comfort to me but a brief 'I'm sorry for your loss, but you should have known better'. You were not precisely the best Master for me or anybody."
Dooku scoffs but something within him seems hurt. "You do realize that you have failed your student? I saw Kenobi in his sorry state on the cameras, and he is now harboring a respirator, again another failure that came with you teaching that boy too much to trust a Jedi."
Qui-Gon almost seems like he is about to pounce which is very unlike him. "If you wish to condemn me for my failures, my old Master, then you can leave."
Seeming disgusted, Dooku shakes his head at his student. "Time and again I try to advise you Qui-Gon, but never does my lectures break through that thick skull of yours. You don't listen. You believe yourself always right."
Force, it is like his apprenticeship all over again, and every time they met afterward. While he had always, and would always respect his former Master, it has always been complicated to deal with how apathetic he could be. That ever so eloquent cultured voice delivering harsh rebukes from a cold emotionless face. And his advice always leaves much to be desired...
"Perhaps," Qui-Gon starts, voice growing icy, "You should consider how you deliver your so-called advice. I do hope you don't have an Apprentice now or else you may offend them with that ego of yours."
Dooku almost seems offended at what he just said, an unfamiliar coldness wrapping around him. "I always consider my words with great caution, perhaps you should consider how you interpret them."
"I interpret them as an old man, lost in his ways no better than Master Yoda and the other Jedi are, wishing to bring others down until they are in similar situations and then hoping to find some sort of reprise for that because they know that others are suffering," Qui-Gon snaps, only reassured when Shmi places her hand on his shoulder.
Dooku pauses and went completely silent. He stares at Qui-Gon for a time, hurt displaying across his usually controlled face.
Finally, he offers a faint, "I see."
For a second, Dooku seems every inch his age, perhaps even triple it, his voice brittle. "I will leave you to your struggles then, I won't bother you ever again." He smiles bitterly at Shmi who is standing alongside his former apprentice. "Take care of him; he is a handful after all, I should know."
For a brief moment, as Dooku turns to leave, Qui-Gon feels no small amount of guilt. Despite their separation and shaky relationship, it is obvious that Dooku always cared about him, defending him whenever his Maverick ways offended the Council. However, Qui-Gon didn't issue an apology and didn't stop his old Master from leaving. He has his own issues to deal with, such as pregnancy.
"Qui-Gon..." Shmi says, her voice sounding rough and stern, combined with the expression across her face. "Are you just going to let someone who trained you go?"
Qui-Gon freezes as a familiar but faint Force Signature brushes against his mind.
Don't make the same mistake you did with your Padawans... don't allow him to leave... or you risk losing your Master forever...
Qui-Gon blinks a few times, curious and bewildered. Why did it feel familiar? And how did they just communicate like that? It feels like the person who spoke is everywhere and nowhere at once. He registers the words, and his face pales, aghast. Oh, Force, he has done it again, hasn't he? Forcing away anyone who meant anything to him. Just like Feemor, just like Xanatos... and even seeing his daily failures impacting Obi-Wan...
Will he ever learn?
Qui-Gon scrambles towards his old friend, spotting his Master slightly further away from the palace of the Sith, seconds about to enter. His words halt in his mouth as he glares at the old man. Force, he can feel the effect his words have on his Master. There is agony all over his signature, and threads of darkness weaving their way in, interweaving with what was already there. Did his words, his opinion, really mean that much to Dooku to have hurt him so? It was just like Xanatos, he is pushing his Master to darkness.
No.
Never again.
"Master Dooku," Qui-Gon calls out rather loudly, drawing the attention of the Sith within who has been training or walking about.
The old man halts and half turns his head, bracing himself as if expecting a further and public rebuke.
"I'm... sorry," Qui-Gon manages to find his voice, shoving away his wounded pride over so public a declaration, "My words were harsh, hurtful, and without thought. I want to rebuild our relationship, to the way it was. I want to have my children grow up into a positive light."
Dooku turns to a full-on stare at Qui-Gon, his face that impassive featureless mask he knows so well. Yet the Maverick Jedi can feel the man abruptly pull himself together in an instant, appearing to be reassured. The former Jedi nods sternly and follows behind his former apprentice to the ship where Shmi is now inside. They sit down on the ramp, staring at each other as if they are in their youth once more.
Dooku is a skilled man with words, however, he is heavily blunt. "Do you truly think that low of me Qui-Gon? Do you honestly think I would never care about your mental status."
Oh, the hurt is gone, the rage has taken its place. He feels as if he is about to be placed over his Master's knee for the first time in many decades just like he was when he had disrespected him in a public setting...
"It's how you've treated me for so long," Qui-Gon replies softly, "I know better, but sometimes, it's hard to remember that you are a person instead of an emotionless monk..."
"I am still like that Jedi I once was," Dooku responds thinly, "I wish to keep a tight and careful control of my emotions. I am exploring the dangers of the dark side, betraying any of what you feel may..."
"This path can lead to betrayal if you do not proceed cautiously," Qui-Gon responds, "I remember your lessons Master, as much as I disagree with them occasionally. Not everyone should be treated like Lorian Nod."
Dooku glares at him with a dangerous glint in his eyes that could have eviscerated him if his eyes could torch.
Qui-Gon learned to shrug off that glare when he was thirteen. "Don't give me that, my old Master, you know very well that what I just said is true."
Dooku cocks his head slightly. "I would have thought you would have more prudent then that my old padawan. Some subjects are better left buried."
"Even when they impact all conversations you have with others?" Qui-Gon presses.
"Since when did you become a Mind Healer?" Is that a quip? Wow, Qui-Gon is truly shocked.
"Since I became a different man outside of the Jedi Order and learned new things," Qui-Gon responds, before smiling slightly. "You know that your training has been helpful to me since I chose to leave the Order."
"I know that something I taught you would have come in use one day," Dooku responds, a soft smile crossing his lips, breaking through that impassive face that he has known for so long.
The two men stare each other down before they both chuckle softly, tension slowly leaking out of the atmosphere.
Dooku sighs and rubs the back of his head. "Qui-Gon, what happened? What made you leave the Jedi Order? I know you had a misgiving and I sided with you, but I must know."
Qui-Gon begins explaining himself, keeping a close eye on Dooku's expression throughout. No doubt the Count has been attempting to learn what lead to him leaving the Order. It is an easy story to tell, from Naboo up until the end of their time on Tatooine. Then his voice trails off, and he knows uncertainty is radiating from him in the Force judging from the look that the Count is giving him.
"What is it my old Padawan?" Dooku queries.
Qui-Gon hesitates. "Vader has something he is not telling us. There's a connection between him and the boy from Tatooine which I do not understand, Master. It is not a casual Master and Padawan, but something which seems far more... intimate..."
Dooku responds in obvious agreement. "I thought I was the only one who detected it. Vader is like a shadow of Skywalker, all in all a dark counterpart. Something isn't right about that man despite how would you interpret him as a friend. I sense no evil intent within his bones - at least not as cripplingly as much as the allies of Plagueis - but something is out of place about the man to begin with."
Dooku plants a hand in front of his mouth, ever so similar to Master Windu. "I need to see Skywalker for myself to make some sort of conclusion on whatever is known for him. I do hope as a protege of Vader, he has emotional control and stability, especially given his backstory of being a slave..."
'Pain...'
Pain has become all too of an emotion that has become a lifetime partner...
But even though the itself appears to scream, the Sith Lord walks through it.
The smell of death is thick in the air, all receiving painful deaths by enemy troopers. Rotten vegetation, fruits, and corpses drain, revealing blood. And the fog… The horrid stench radiates the humid, warm air.
An explosion. Along with more screams permanent the air... And there is an undeniable shockwave that fills the air.
And he senses those who are wishing to complete their hunt. At least three… around him, concealed, invisible. He is surrounded. So he waits. Patiently. Allow them to close in…
…tighten his grip on the hilt of his blade...
He could crush it easily now.
One of them is flanking the Sith. A snap-hiss and a flash of crimson. He collapses to the ground, the wound he received visible by the crimson weapon...
The predator's efforts are useless, for they would perish just like their precious Order.
And they spread around him. They use the Force as stealth fields of sorts, attempting to deceive his masked visor and believing their invisibility would allow them any chance of survival. The Sith moves, his lightsaber clashing against all around him. One collapses, releasing out a death rattle. Then another one…
Then they are falling...
That is until something nips at the Sith's leg. He realizes all too late that his hunters is now using the planet against him in their foolish belief that they could destroy him. Adrenaline fuels through his body and pours into his blade, cutting through the fighters...
And it is all over in a second...
For the planet is embraced by darkness...
That's all that this planet is; full of non-staggering and unmerciful darkness crashing down among them all, its tender calls trying to lure yet another soul such as Skywalker to its side. The dark side is seductive, wishing to gain control just so it could gain total victory.
Skywalker travels through wood and sticks, finding it difficult not to draw his blade, and defend himself from whatever darkness that is awaiting ahead.
The area he was in was archaic, with tall pillars, and stone walls, extending on via long winding corridors, with large windows overlooking a cityscape below.
In fact, it looked almost like…
"The Jedi Temple?" Anakin questions himself, has not been at the palace of the Jedi for nearly a decade.
Looking around the open area he is in, Anakin suddenly hears a familiar voice from behind him. It's almost has been a lifetime since he heard that voice.
"You have done well, young Skywalker, but you have one last assignment to fulfill your destiny."
Anakin spins, his eyes immediately seeking the visage of someone who sounds so much like his mentor but also darker. However, unlike before it appears he is not addressing him.
Before him are five shapes, five people. The four of them appear to be clouded in darkness, their identity concealed. The Force around the people assembled is full of fear, anger, and despair.
Three of the shadows are kneeling as if defeated, not showing reverence to the Sith Lord.
The fourth shadow stands beside a completely masked and armored man as he speaks, listening to every word that came from the Sith Lord's mouth. Rapid breathing - ever so familiar - makes him shiver, air leaving his lungs.
"Now my apprentice, do as you are told. End your ties to a past life." The insidious figure behind the mask says coldly.
Anakin observes as the shadow that stands beside the Sith Lord moves towards those that are in obviously captivity before gripping a familiar sight by the throat.
He gasps in horror as the individual is revealed to be a beaten and bloody Shmi Skywalker. Her eyes are full of despair and agony, tears going down her eyes, clearly has bruises and marks across her body.
The dark figure lifts its hand outwards, its hand revealing a claw shape.
Anakin feels the rush of the Force as it tightens around his mother's throat. He is forced to watch as his own mother is lifted off the ground by an invisible Force, clutching at her neck as she struggles to breathe.
"... Please... Don't do this!'
Seconds later, Anakin hears an audible snap, and the figure releases his mother, her body crashing to the floor, dead.
"No! Mom no!" Anakin calls, attempting to rush over to her prone form and hoping to heal her in her critical state. Instead, he finds himself incapable to move now, despite how much he calls upon the Force, all those lessons before now labeled useless.
"Good my apprentice, good. Now the next one!" The dark figure hisses.
Said figure moves over to the next kneeling figure.
And once again, the identity of the next kneeling shadow person is revealed to him. While not someone who is as close to Vader or his mother to him, Skywalker still would protect him until the bitter end, given he freed him from slavery and is someone like a mentor to him in times of conflict.
"Qui-Gon!" Anakin shouts in absolute terror, knowing the fate that awaits his friend. The shadow apprentice reaches onto their waist, producing a lightsaber hilt, and igniting the crimson blade, before plunging it deep into the former Maverick Jedi's chest.
Qui-Gon didn't make a sound as he dies, his body slumping to the ground like his mother's, a burning hole through his chest. Even though he was angry about how he slept with his mother, Anakin still cares about him.
Anger brims up from within Anakin. Rage, hatred!
He wants to gut the person who did this. He wants to stop this!
"Very good my apprentice, now the last one." The masked figure again snarls, his face blinded in malice and a sick sense of amusement.
Anakin watches, tears slowly coming down his face, as the Sith's apprentice moves across to the last kneeling shadow.
Anakin watches with despair, anxiously waiting for the final reveal.
The shadow of the kneeling person starts to reveal itself.
"No! Please!" Anakin whispers to himself as he recognizes the last figure. "Not him! Anybody but him!"
The Sith smiles in the background.
The shadow apprentice stands unmoving, staring down at the figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who stares back, both in defiance, and loss.
"Make this one hurt. He destroyed who we are and left me in this suit as well as having caused pain so much in our lives. Make him plead for death. Kill Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Anakin watches as the shadow raises its hand, pointing towards Obi-Wan Kenobi with all fingers. Seconds later, lightning explodes from the shadow's fingertips, engulfing Kenobi, who falls back onto the floor screaming in agony.
Anakin attempts, again and again, to run over to him, to save the remaining family member he has left, to take the attack for him. But it is all in vain. Anakin couldn't move. Something wouldn't let him.
Anakin can only watch, powerless to help.
He attempts to close his eyes, but the sounds of Kenobi screaming in agony are still present. If anything, they got louder! They are now piercing through his eardrums.
"Anakin! Please!" Obi-Wan manages to yell through his screams, desperation in his voice, his skin beginning to burn as smoke vibrates off of his screaming body.
"Don't you think I'm not trying?!" Anakin shouts back. But anything he does is futile.
The former Jedi screams for a few more seconds, as arc after arc of force lightning coursed over his body, until she suddenly fell silent and motionless.
"No!" Anakin murmurs, dropping to his knees in despair at the sight of Kenobi's lifeless body. "Obi-Wan."
"Very good my apprentice. Come, stand before me." The Sith speaks, gesturing to the shadow, the only person's identity left unseen to Anakin.
Raising his head slightly, Anakin watches as the figure approaches the masked man, before bowing before him.
"It was the most exciting kill I have ever committed."
"Thank you, my master." The shadow speaks in an eerie monotone voice.
Suddenly, the shadows fade around the mystery apprentice, and Anakin finds himself staring at a familiar sight.
The shadow takes the form of a tall human male, all and all an emotionless void.
None other than Anakin Skywalker, his eyes dark gold, the corruption of the dark side leaving his skin paled.
He is taller than the masked figure, and clearly more powerful too.
It is then that his identity is revealed to Anakin. Perhaps it is what he is meant to be...
'Or what you will be.'
And this version of himself had just murdered three of his closest loved ones without batting an eyelid.
It occurs to Anakin then that Obi-Wan had not been calling out to him, but to this corrupted version of him, trying in vain to get through to his brother figure.
"You have cut off the last ties of your old life my friend. Now, we together will bring peace to the galaxy." The figure growls, sounding nothing but pleased.
Anakin watches in horror as the dark version of himself nods before speaking. "Yes, my master."
The masked individual tilts his head up, before speaking once more.
"It appears we have company."
At that moment, both Skywalkers turn around and see the ever-familiar presence of Padmé- his angel even after all these years. Many figures are behind the woman, all wearing body armor, their guns aimed at both of them, disgust across each of their expressions.
"Ah, Padmé," the figure looming behind them states in a mocking tone, "at last you have an army behind you. I take it Naboo has grown stronger."
Padmé didn't respond, instead, her teeth are bare together. Both Anakins focus on the barrel of the blaster posed at the dark version of himself as well as the other who lingers behind. He hears Padmé speaking in a disgusted tone he hadn't ever heard from her before.
"You turn your back on everything we believed in. You betrayed me."