Chapter 42

Darth Plagueis eyes the Chosen One, feeling the beacon of the Force that the boy is radiating outwards. The boy is extremely powerful, and it is no wonder that he and Vader are the same person. The potential laying from beneath would soon be unleashed onto the galaxy that even the Muun begin drooling thinking about it.

That power under his grip would make him invincible. Yes, he can't drain that energy for himself especially since Vader would sense his betrayal and instantly make short work of him but that doesn't mean one can't dream.

Skywalker ignites the purple lightsaber. Both sides have been warned to use training modes especially since Sith battles could be quite deadly

Anakin shoots him a smirk. "Shall we?"

Plagueis smiles before turning to all of the students. "You have all been gathered here because both me and Vader himself wish to see how our rising Sith Order can stand against the Jedi. Vader's allies have received Jedi training on top of others, and so they are naturally the best candidates. Any who wish to spar against Vader's protege can while the rest of us observe and watch."

He allows them a minute to reflect on the news, but given their lack of shock, their Masters clearly have briefed them on the situation. It's mostly the younger Sith that are eager and crave to share their abilities. Such arrogance would have to be removed before they enter the battlefield or else the Sith Order would have a short time to roam the galaxy.

It's obvious that most of them didn't take Skywalker seriously especially since his youth can serve as a major disadvantage.

"Are there any volunteers to begin?" Plagueis asks.

"I will," comes a dark female voice.

Sev'rance Tann makes herself known in her dark glory. She is quite one of the most powerful Apprentices among the many other Sith. Many of the fellow students have suffered embarrassing defeats by the Sith Apprentice, but something is holding her back. Something from within her is preventing her from completely giving into the dark side, but Plagueis wishes to see that change in the near future.

The woman halts a few paces in front of Skywalker, waiting for Plagueis to leave the center of the training area. She draws her lightsaber, voice riddled with power, before speaking. "Come. Meet your competition."

Anakin moves his ignited lightsaber into the Soresu opening, his hand sticking outwards. "Spare me the lectures. I have been through countless survival training. You defeating me would be impossible, I can ensure you."

They begin to circle one another, their lightsabers angled at one another. Tann takes several practice swings while Skywalker simply smirks at the competition.

That is until Tann's next words.

"You are nothing but a slave. You allow morals to enslave you and now..."

A red haze rings through Skywalker's head, malice dripping from the man's mouth, daggers in the air, it takes a concentrated effort not to throttle the Chiss Apprentice to death with the Force. Skywalker's response is cold and sharp. "I am no slave. I would show you the true power of the Force. You would be glad that you would be able to speak when I'm finished with you."

Skywalker takes that moment to move, wrapping the veil of the Force around himself to guide his moments. He lashes out the moment Tann takes several steps back, crossing blades and then sending the saber down, both sparking against the floor, before headbutting the Sith Apprentice and sending her backward.

"I sense great fear in you, Apprentice," Skywalker taunts when they lock in yet another blade lock. "Is that it? You are afraid of being cast aside, of failing your Masters, of never meeting the expectations of what it means to be a Sith?"

Tann shouts, her lightsaber more furious and angrier. "I'm not afraid!"

Skywalker simply parries the attacks, causing her to stagger back every blow. Most notably, he is using only his right hand.

Tann's blade is forced away, and before she could reach out for it, Skywalker is coming at her with a dark stare in his now golden eyes, driving it straight down into the Chiss's chest in what would have been a killing blow normally, but would instead leave nasty internal burns.

She screams in pain as she drops her lightsaber and reaches for her wounds. Tann deactivates her lightsaber as she withdraws it. Skywalker doesn't stop however, instead picks the Chiss Assassin up with the Force, before tossing her onto the other side of the room.

"Does anyone else wish to try and beat me?" Skywalker inquires with hostility, his lips peeled back into a sneer.

There is a stunned silence across the room.

"What, was that?" Misericors asks, tasting the power within Skywalker.

"It's called having the midi-chlorian count I have," Skywalker replies, his voice poisoned with decision. "Or perhaps the training that takes almost a decade to fulfill. I can block both light siders and dark siders from seeing me." He gives him a teasing smile. "Or perhaps you simply aren't ready for a man who is born to be a warrior."

There is a sharp silence within the room, murmurs of antagonism or surprise ripping through the room; and one of the Sith, Asajj Ventress, rumbles out, "So that is what you use in battle?"

Anakin replies. "Of course. I rather not have my limbs severed in battle."

"Interesting. Perhaps you should try to fight a Master." Ventress quips.

"I am visible to the Jedi themselves but none of them would be able to defeat me in straight combat," Anakin replies shyly.

"So, you have learned how to use the veil of the Force itself? Very impressive, Skywalker." Plagueis speaks, seeing that the boy has grown into someone who could be a Sith Lord at such age if he was among their ranks.

The Sith Muun stares at Vader, seeming amused. "I admit that you have taught him well. Perhaps too well. You should keep him under careful observation. The untamed emotions can morph him to becoming your enemy."

Anakin gives him a coy smirk. "If I'd thought any better, it almost sounds like you are afraid of me. Not to worry, I won't become a Sith limited to an Order like you are."

Plagueis blinks. "You have the blood of the true Sith."

Skywalker chuckles. "I am not destined to betray my friends or family. All you Sith do is lie and kill anyone whoever mattered to you because what? Attachments limit you. Because you are afraid of being outmatched by your emotional feelings. I would never betray the man who raised me nor leave him behind when he needs me the most."

Many Sith casts him another sharp glare, and even Plagueis seems slightly taken aback.

"That remains to be determined," Plagueis replies flatly. "Especially since Darth Malak once claimed such a thing and he betrayed Revan in his time of conflict."

Skywalker huffs. "Unlike Malak, I do not shrug off my emotional attachments to my family. Malak failed Revan because he chose power over control and that is why he was ultimately bested by his reborn Master."

Plagueis has to admit the boy knows his history. "The Sith would not ever have diseases such as Malak again."

"Yes, you keep saying that, but everyone here has their own ambitions," Anakin draws. "I have passions but I know how to keep them under control."

Plagueis shakes his head, hardly believing this boy is lecturing him about control when he turned to his passions in a future past. "Oh, Skywalker, highly doubt that the other Sith and even your companions wish to remain here while we are lecturing one another about different beliefs."

Anakin replies cheerfully. "I happen to be a very good nuisance, my Lord. Now which other student wishes to have their asses kick?"

Plagueis chuckles. "You use the veil of the Force. Perhaps using light side abilities would be more benefitting to all here since we are fighting the Jedi."

"Very well," Skywalker responds. "But if your students do see it fit to cheat, I would not hesitate but to draw on my other abilities."

"You of all should know that intense training does require limits," Plagueis replies. "The Jedi tries to avoid bloodshed. Maybe you should train my students how to use that to their advantages. Did your Master put you through such intense moments?"

Anakin says. "The training droids I fought were always in intense damage mode. He only helped me because it allowed me to grow as a person. Yes, I was injured several times but it only helped me in the middle of combat."

Plagueis sends a smirk back into his direction. "You do forget that Vader has always been a warrior. Not everyone in the galaxy is. The Jedi are training their own to become warriors, and we have to do so as well, but I highly doubt that they would be intent to kill when capturing can only help them in the far run. You as a former slave should know what's it like to be puppet."

Anakin says snidely. "I'm not some weak abused slave anymore. If you want me to go easy on your Apprentices, then fine. I'll refuse from using most of my more active abilities, I'll even refrain from using the Force itself. It will be doing them no favors though, because you ever expect a Jedi going easy on these pitiful bands of Sith, you would have a heavy casualty rate. These weaklings could not stand straight."

It turns out calling them weaklings makes most volunteer to fight him, because there sure as hell hasn't been such combat in his life than it has been over five hours. Unlike with Sev'rance Tann though, he didn't go for swift, brutal wins, because in all honesty, he needs the practice with not engaging other Force Users in the past months. He takes his time. Having to be kept on Tatooine did have momentarily drawbacks on his part, but now that Anakin is unleashing his abilities, it leaves him with adrenaline rushes for hours.

The smooth effortless motions of Djem So are therapeutic, to counter any strike, parry it away before attacking, or an instant strike that caused the enemy to take several steps back. To move through the flow of battle, his movements never breaking, never standing still and throwing himself. An attack none of these Apprentices or Masters could break. Then came the Soresu finish: he is capable of fighting with Form III an entire fight, oh yes, he could, but that would be immediate victories which would be quite boring.

He did fight a few that did give him a small challenge and forced them to reverse to another form. The actual respectable Masters and experienced Apprentices were observing and waiting for their own turns, letting others get their kriffing asses kick, before facing him down. Some are having trouble standing up now even despite how he hadn't moved a step.

"Enough!" Someone in the back barks, his arms crossed, something dark within his eyes. "I wish to see Obi-Wan Kenobi in battle! It is rumored that he was the first Jedi that murdered a Sith in over thousands of years! I wish to see his so call power!"

Anakin seems slightly taken aback at first that someone wants to fight Obi-Wan but doesn't resist and instead moves to stand at Vader's size. The boy is hardly even breathing despite how he's been fighting.

Obi-Wan senses pride and arrogance as well as the call of blood on it. He is using the Force to sustain himself, having taken practice to keep his breathing under control.

"Are you sure, Savage Opress? This man is after all the one who killed your brother, Darth Maul." Plagueis can sense the rage rising from within and is using that as a way to exploit his fury.

"He may have killed Maul, but I am not him," he replies roughly. "Kenobi may be interpreted as powerful, but he would be brought down to my level when this end."

Obi-Wan's lips slowly peel back into a snarl. He still has bitter feelings against the Zabrak that could have killed his Master even after all these years. He speaks, his voice coming out cold. "I can ensure you that your brother was easy to defeat, and I'm telling you that you don't wish to do this. I am far stronger now than I have been at that point in my life."

Opress sneers at him with open contempt. "I have grown more powerful than my brother."

Obi-Wan gives him a wide, cold stare. "So, you think you can handle all within this Academy? You can handle Darth Plagueis himself in open combat?"

Opress draws his lightsaber and ignites both sides, falling into the familiar form that Darth Maul was known for. "Of course."

Many of the Sith noticeably stiffen at that, but none of them comment on it, instead looking attentively.

"Well," Obi-Wan says, before noting with an ounce of coldness. "You are not going to put your weapons on training mode? Well looks like one of us would lose a limb."

"You would lose more than that." The Sith grit his teeth at him. So simple to rile up. It is going to be so much fun to fight yet another Zabrak, someone who clearly wants revenge against the man that made short work of his brother.

With a surge of anger that set the dark side roaring, Opress dashes at Kenobi, his lightsaber flying viciously through the air with brutal slashes that hit with such impact. Kenobi takes only a few steps back, deflecting every single strike while sending his own. The Zabrak tries to use his full body weight to push Kenobi down, but the former Jedi Padawan swerves around. Unlike Skywalker, Kenobi is weighing on the defense, using his crossguard lightsaber to deflect more than attack.

Plagueis comes to the conclusion quite quickly. The brother of Maul is nothing but an animal compared to the might of Kenobi.

Kenobi and Opress lock blades once more before he reaches out to punch Kenobi in the chest. Something within Kenobi snaps at the immediate impact, and he pushes on the offensive, who seems bored at this point.

"At this rate you would die like your brother."

Opress lets out a roar as he gives chase against Kenobi. Now he is fighting to kill, with Kenobi mainly sidestepping and evading his efforts, batting away his lightsaber every so often. Opress is indeed a good duelist but he is best suited as an assassin instead of someone who engages with one in open combat, and to be honest, he is hardly giving Kenobi a challenge.

When Kenobi shoves him back once more, he dashes forward and attacks him. Opress is now fighting desperately, angling his lightsaber towards his throat. Kenobi catches his blade before punching him straight in the face, the two emitters on the side shunning his shoulder and causing him to scream out.

Opress is swinging his double-bladed lightsaber towards Kenobi. Obi-Wan falls into Soresu, deflecting all of the blows effortlessly, even with Opress continuing to try to stagger him. The way Kenobi is dueling Opress, many recall how often Soresu is quite a helpful form for Force Users. Darth Zannah used Soresu to great effect as did multiple other Sith of the past, but none as impressively as Kenobi is demonstrating right now.

It is like Kenobi isn't a master. He was regarded, rightly, as the Master of Soresu by a past timeline. His defensive ability was so great there was basically no way any opponent would break him down. It lends an air of pathos too, as all Kenobi could do was defend, he had no way of successfully going on the offensive all the time - just like how he probably wouldn't want to, given a certain opponent.

Vader have taught him well, to the point where Kenobi is nothing but a blind blur, countering every movement directed at him. Nothing seems to be able to break him, with his blade there to deflect every single movement every second.

"Wrong again; who taught you to fight like a moron?" Kenobi taunts, again shrugging off yet another strike.

The Zabrak growls as he rotates his lightsaber around himself. Kenobi gives up on trying to toy with the Zabrak, thrusting his lightsaber to the Sith Apprentice's blade before chopping off his arm, and at last seizing hold of the Zabrak in a Force Choke.

He throws him across the room, slamming into the upper walls where he slumps down, coughing and rasping, bruises already forming around his throat. "Even without using training lightsabers, you still could not defeat me. That is a weakness within you, I guess."

Plagueis eyes the lightsaber onto the floor with sick amusement. It was no accident that Opress wished to kill Kenobi - he had seen this as a moment to end the murderer of his brother, but it is obvious Kenobi is far more powerful than him. He holds out his lightsaber to him and speaks. "Do remember to put them on training mode. The last we need is for students to die when our Order is just rising. We need not be each other's greatest enemies when we have competitions against us."

Savage massages his throat for a moment before taking his weapon and saying with a scowl. "One day I would kill you, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"You can try," Kenobi replies coldly. "My door's always open."

Suffice to say, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi's names spread through the academy for entirely different reasons. The former managed to lay quite most of them out in the past five hours, even when it does seem like he's going to lose. The latter was talked about because of the fact that Savage Opress's brother seemed to have been killed by him.

"If we can't beat them," a male Sith speaks, one of the youngest among these Sith, "Then how could we defeat the other Jedi? These two can't be learning nothing else but Jedi's lectures, however, none of us could beat them."

Skywalker's head twists, head tilting to the young Sith's direction, "Because for one, since you Sith are leaking your arrogance in the air, and fighting like a blind bantha, me and my companion could fight you all for hours without defeat. The problems with the Jedi are they refuse to give into their emotions while the Sith gives into it too much."

The man's ears seem to turn red at having all the attention focused on him.

"For two," Skywalker continues, "Because you Sith are stupid just like the Jedi. The light and dark are supposed to represent the opposite of emotions but you Sith have been corrupted by the dark while the Jedi were corrupted by the light. The dark side is independence, the light in the opposite."

He makes himself sound offensive. "The only Sith here who could actually potentially defeat the likes of Master Yoda in combat is Darth Plagueis and perhaps Count Dooku, but the rest of you would be cut down by the forces of the light because you hardly recognize how to act without rushing in and practically allowing one to bury you all in a body bag."

He cracks his neck to one side, then the other. "I highly doubt that none of you would be able to defeat me. I am more powerful than you all could dream of being, and the same can be said for Obi-Wan."

The young Sith stammers a bit before the hand of a hooded figure, one of the Sith who has yet to fight him falls on his shoulder and speaks calmly. "Calm yourself Apprentice Artel Darc."

The Apprentice bows his head a bit. "As you wish."

Skywalker stares over at the man and frowns. Something about that man is different from most of the other Sith. He seems much more cautious than the other ones. He has been there a few times but they haven't talked.

So, he takes the moment to taunt the Sith, "Why have you refused to engage me in combat? Surely your power has been backed by experience."

The Sith smirks. "I can see that you are capable of defeating all within this Academy, but I don't wish to see harm come to you."

There goes for the hope of having one Sith that's not arrogant.

He scoffs. "That is strangely sentimental for a Sith."

The Sith ignores him. "I have class after all and does not prefer torture. I analyzed you in the fray with Tann and I admire your brutality but also the refrain from arrogance. Your Master taught you well. You and your companion, both who would be unable to beat me, that I could tell you."

Skywalker shrugs. "I promise that you would not be able to wound me nor my companion, Darth..."

"Darth Misericors, and I do advise you, young one, to not get arrogant in the middle of battle." He scowls in deep disapproval. "You would die or get your companions killed."

Skywalker's face becomes dark. "I'm always having a liking to try new things, but do please spare me the lectures - not when I have heard them countless times before." His expression then becomes an open-tooth grin. "Perhaps you would care to have a go at us, Master?"

Skywalker motions for Kenobi to come over and gives him a smirk. "We would have some challenge, it seems that Sith's irritation spread throughout their own Temple. I guess it is something that is expected."

Kenobi gives him a small snort. The first time they bantered for a while.

"As you wish," the Sith Lord replies before his gaze briefly transfers to the younger man, his voice baritone, "Come, Apprentice, let us show these two that they still would have to respect our Order."

Darc bites his tongue thickly before nodding and following the Sith Master onto the other side, calling over two other Sith, "Asajj Ventress" and "Trenox", before each ignites their blades. They each are ready for battle, obviously believing their opponents could be defeated with someone as much training and experience as the Sith Lord has.

"I once was a Jedi," Misericors says coldly as he positions his lightsaber in a ready stance. "I ensure you that you would not be able to defeat me. To beat an experienced warrior such as myself would be impossible for the likes of you. I am not speaking from an arrogant opponent but rather as someone who have been in my face of combat against the likelihood."

Kenobi wrinkles his nose. "This again? Just because we are young doesn't mean we are entirely helpless. If you Sith have some kind of strength, you wouldn't have been wiped out centuries ago. We are not ignorant that had the Sith been more concentrated and focused that they would have defeated the Jedi in combat."

Skywalker scoffs in agreement. "The Jedi have the luxury of not being worried about their fellows impaling them in the back after all. It would completely amaze me if this Sith Order survives when the Order of Revan failed before it even began."

"We'll be different from them all!" Trenox snarls, obviously very passionate about the Sith. "None of us would betray our Masters nor superiors or they would have to face the wrath of the rest of us!"

"And one wonders why the Sith was almost wiped out," Skywalker continues, "Sure you don't want another band of Sith here?"

Ventress smirks, giving him a dark look that suggests more than otherwise. "You say that as if we require them when more dark siders are beneficial. Four Sith alone can take you down when trained together effectively, while four Sith who seeks only victory or whatnot would be unable to do so."

Kenobi breathes heavily. "Maybe, would have been a nice experience either way you put it."

"For whom? Us or you?" She asks joyfully, obviously loving this banter.

Kenobi smirks dangerously, "A Force User must always keep their secrets. This is as much a test for myself as it is training for you four fellows."

Kenobi makes a beckoning motion as he opens with Soresu, his lightsaber angled in front of him protectively. Ventress lunges forward, swinging her lightsabers around Obi-Wan.

Skywalker didn't choose to attack, instead, he throws up a single right hand, just as Trenox runs up to him, and is gripped by his throat. Easily the man could crush his windpipe, but instead, he throws him across the room, his bald head hitting the other room hard. His groaning and instantly closing his eyes signifies that he has been winded, just when Misericors and Darc attack.

Skywalker throws away from using the Force, calling straight into Makashi, he slices high and then drags his saber down, slashing downward into his side, burning the tunic and making Darc yell in pain. But the Sith Master recovers from his comrade's scream, dipping his blade upwards against his lightsaber, before throwing back a hand that sends him backward.

A current pierce at him, and Skywalker rolls to the side, before throwing up his hand which causes electricity to bounce towards the Sith which sends him staggering backward to the point where a small explosion makes itself known. The Sith Lord recovers quite easily, and again throws up a hand to raise him into the air.

This time, he is successful, and Skywalker feels himself squirming just as the Sith deactivates his weapon and places it onto his belt.

"As I said, young one, you still have much to learn."

Arrogant son of a bitch.

Ventress formulates a defensive as the former Padawan barrages toward her, breaking her defensive altogether and causing her to stumble back. Kenobi kicks her in the spine - or where it should have been if she wasn't successful to leap into the air and land on the other side before attacking.

Now it is Obi-Wan's turn to throw up his own lightsaber, parrying each of the strikes in under twenty seconds, before twisting her hilt on her left lightsaber and sending the hilt across the air, before he is striking at her again, now with the sole lightsaber. Now she is backing up actively, dodging and sidestepping, while sending kicks and punches at his flank.

Skywalker allows the man to draw closer before he throws up a Force Assault, which causes him to jump backward. Trenox now recovers and is dashing towards Skywalker, when he raises a single hand at him. "Sleep."

He jabs deeply with pinpoint precision piercing into Apprentice's barriers, injecting the command in. To the boy's credit, he puts up resistance, before he begins falling limp.

"Sleep."

The boy still resists but Skywalker gives the command one last time.

"Sleep."

Skywalker drops Trenox onto the ground in front of all the participants. He now is regaining his focus on his training opponents, as he drapes the Force, not around him, but himself, making his Force Presence difficult to predict for his opponent. He feels the Sith's efforts are broken, and he returns the favor, thrusting a hand forward and sending him flying, skidding along the ground nearly to the audience of Sith.

Skywalker takes several steps towards him just when, to his credit, he gets back to his feet. He extends an arm forward, rather than trying to aim, he just releases the Force in a massive blast. Skywalker yelps as he is tossed backward, landing hard onto his back where he is certain that it's going to be bruised for a while.

He grimaces when he feels the Force moves around him. The Sith Lord can't get a grip directly on him, but he's smarter than most of the other Sith. He feels the Force swirling around him like a web. He brings it in, imprisoning the area rather than Skywalker himself, and he is once again restrained.

This time, the Sith lifts him up into the air before twisting his hand, and his lightsaber is pulled out of his grip. He snarls under his breath, struggling against the Sith's grip. His hands feel trapped, and he feels his mind slowly being shattered into, about to break him.

"Do you yield, Skywalker?" The Sith taunts, eyebrow raised.

At that moment, the other Sith is disarmed.

"Unless you are going to stab me through my gut yourself, I would never yield to you," he spits.

"As you wish," he says, seeming almost remorseful.

Skywalker can feel Kenobi in a deep fight with the other Sith, too distracted to help him. He closes his fist tighter, and pressure begins to build all over his body, yellow starts beginning to dance in his vision. He is almost about to pass out when Skywalker senses something. The Force is as always guiding him and won't allow some Sith to be able to beat him without some sort of challenge on his part.

"I already have you, Skywalker, you have to learn to concede..."

With his mind, he guides the beaten earlier Apprentice's lightsaber with the Force, propels it through the air, and ignites it. If it had been at full power, the Sith would have been chopped into half. Currently, he'll have a nasty burn. He drops him with a stunned grunt, stumbling a bit, hand going to his side. Skywalker lands on his feet, staggering a bit before righting himself and giving him a cold stare.

"I would not be defeated in such a manner, and I know when to give up, but I'm doing my mentor proud."

For a moment, the Sith's hidden fury wraps itself around him and it seems he is about to explode, but he again regains his control and calms himself. "Hmmm, I see that your Master has taught you better than I anticipated."

Skywalker raises an eyebrow at that. It seems he is using this as a learning experience. "I take that as an admission to see that I can win against any opponent."

The Sith smirks. "Don't believe because I'm praising you that you are suddenly stronger than the entire galaxy."

He gives him a cold look. "I merely wish to show my mentor that I'm not letting him down."

The man ignores him and bends down to the Sith Apprentice, placing his hand above his head, and undoubtedly using the Force currently.

Trenox stirs. "Huh?"

"The challenge is over, Apprentice," he says not so happily, "I see that you require much more training before you engage the best of the Jedi."

The young Sith flushes in embarrassment. "I would... Yes, I'll do it immediately."

The Sith says nothing more, just helping him up and walking away. The Apprentice gulps thickly, rubs his head, shoots Skywalker one last stare, and walks after him. Honestly, Skywalker feels bad for him. Failure is never a pleasurable feeling, and undoubtedly, he would be obligated to train even more now that he has failed his Masters after he regains his bearings hopefully.

"If it's any consolation, boy, it taken me two tries to put you down," says Skywalker to the Apprentice's back, only to be ignored. He doesn't want an unnecessary enemy among the Sith.

Skywalker rubs himself a bit, a little winded from being squeezed by the dark side. The Sith Apprentices around the room seem to get the hint that trying against Skywalker would be nothing but a failure.

Skywalker glances at Dooku. "Alright, we've been at this awhile, this is beginning to seriously bore me. Given from what Qui-Gon told me, you are a skilled user of the Force, and I wish to try against you."

Dooku arches his eyebrows and opens his mouth to speak before halting, glancing behind him. Skywalker couldn't help but tense a little as the giant marching of Darth Plagueis makes itself known. Oh, kriff it... Does he have to fight the most powerful Sith in the galaxy?! He watches, over the course of the longest second in his life, as the Dark Lord of the Sith makes his way out to the center of the arena.

"So, I take it that you want to take up the challenge. I want both you and Kenobi to fight me together." Plagueis says. "Come, protege of Vader, show me the true power. Kenobi would give you an advantage over me in terms of numbers and would only be helpful an against you."

Anakin wonders to himself how long he could last in a serious fight against the Sith Lord if was he aiming to kill him. Fifty seconds? Two minutes if lucky? His feeble 17 years of life and training for the past 9 years did not even begin to scrape at a full century afterward of life and experience. Though it is possible that Obi-Wan's help would be to his advantage, he seriously doubts that there would be no way to win.

Still, he wouldn't show weakness; he speaks, trying to pass an amused front. "You wish for some sort of companion who can keep this battle fair?"

At that, he jokes. "I would not require one. You have not yet reached your full potential."

"I already know that!" Skywalker snaps, his eyes glaring the Sith Lord down. "I just want to keep this fair!"

"Battle isn't fair, Skywalker, and I want to show you a lesson."

Skywalker feels Kenobi walking to his side, both eyeing the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Skywalker feels himself coming to a complete halt. This is the Muun that had killed his Apprentice along with many Jedi from the shadows. The only disadvantage he has is an obvious prosthetic. If the Muun somehow ever betray and beats Vader, at least they would have enough experience to come back.

Skywalker slowly smirks. "I can ensure you that it is wise to back down. Your hundred years of age is going to be weary on your body."

Plagueis blinks before taking one step forward. "Try me."

Skywalker nods at Kenobi, sending a mental thought towards his friend before both raise their hands.

Blue arcs of lightning exit from them, surging at the Muun. The Dark Lord takes several steps forward even as the strands of electricity come toward him.

Both eyes widen as Plagueis did not roll to the side nor block it with his lightsaber, he reaches out a hand and catches - KRIFFING CATCHES - the electricity with only one hand. Both have seen it before but usually, it takes a toll.

"Lightning? Unorthodox."

Anakin and Obi-Wan both narrow their eyes before racing forward in different paths, realizing what is coming. Surely them going in different directions would be beneficial and stop him from laying them...

Then he thrust his hands outwards and throw their own bolts of lightning back at them. Obi-Wan barely manages to get his lightsaber up and ignited in time to block the Force attack, blue light bouncing off his weapon, but Anakin isn't as fortunate and is sent flying backward. He can feel a sigh escaping his bond with Vader.

"Well done, you almost manage to catch me," Plagueis says, watching as Anakin struggle to stand up, even as Obi-Wan walks towards him with his crossguard lightsaber. "That is facing the true Master of the dark for you."

Skywalker doesn't say anything else aside from raising his hand again and focusing on painful memories, allowing them to fuel him, before sending it towards the Dark Lord of the Sith.

This current from his hands is more furious, but not the strongest he could produce. The Force Drain simply comes into his hand once more, but this time he sends it at Obi-Wan, who shouts out, as he grits his teeth and blocks it with his weapon. Oh, kriff it all.

Anakin cannot believe someone so dark and twisted has so much patience. Sith of the past usually falls to pride. It is as if he is just a teacher waiting for their students to present a school project, and for kriff sake, he hasn't even drawn his lightsaber yet. The fact that Vader can defeat him, yet Skywalker nor Kenobi cannot even combine, makes one wonder. At that moment, Anakin is grateful that he has some sort of assistance so he doesn't have to share this embarrassment on his own.

"Consider this as another lesson, gentlemen," Plagueis says, his words dripping in both of their minds.

"Damn you!" Anakin shouts.

Coming to his side, Skywalker prepares his lightsaber, pulling his arm up and angling it upwards in front of him. No more games!

Plagueis moves his hand to the side, and holds out the other, calling his lightsaber to his hand, briefly adjusting its settings, and igniting it, assuming a Juyo opening. Skywalker is about to make a snide comment to taunt the Sith Lord when he practically FLIES at him and Obi-Wan in inhumane speed.

Holy karking shit!

All of Vader's lessons, all of the successes and failures, and all of the combat taught to him are the only reason that he is able to deflect the strike. The Sith Lord is a volley of lightsaber strokes spinning and rotating around him. Skywalker reverses between Djem So and Soresu, his lightsaber activated to keep up with blocking and attacking, barely able to even think between saber attacks. The protege of Vader may be powerful but he is half compared to Vader.

Kenobi is barely able to keep up himself, as he too falls into Djem So. He ground his teeth together and thrust a hand out as he leaps again, his lightsaber spinning in a smooth strike that aimed for his head. Plagueis merely ducks before throwing Kenobi backward, winding him more than anything.

But those few moments of Kenobi fighting bring the time Skywalker needs. Skywalker is stabbing forward towards the Muun, their blades locking, as he attempts to twist his blade out of his hand. Anakin sees it coming and places both hands on his hilt, before kneeling down and giving Kenobi the time in shoving him backward with a powerful Force Assault.

Neither man could recall ever feeling this in their lives - Windu's strikes were mainly to disable them instead of killing them, but Plagueis appears to be drawing off them. And even so, Vader did most of the fighting in that particular battle, buying both of them the time to fight the other Jedi. But now that the man that is the most powerful of them all is not with them, both are finding themselves barely able to keep the handling of their weapons, as they take steps forward. This may be a training session, but Mustafar's lavas, this feels like the fight to the death!

"I never imagined the great Dark Lord would have had a cut off arm!" Kenobi drawls, hoping to make the Sith Lord more arrogant, as he counters. "Did your apprentice do that to you when he betrayed you?! Did you lose your power when you fought Darth Sidious?!"

"Clever," Plagueis says, shrugging off the Force Assault and taking several steps towards him. "I see that your former Jedi Master didn't teach you any manners, boy."

Skywalker ducks and Kenobi rolls as the Sith launches overhead, only being caught by Kenobi, as he lands, finally letting up his defensive and choosing to attack, and both of them feel the weight of it as they are forced clockwise before Plagueis sends lightning towards Kenobi which sends him flying elsewhere, causing Anakin to fight him head-on. He merely takes a singular step back, but the Sith Lord doesn't let up, his lightsaber passing within centimeters of him, and then leaps at him again, lightsaber angling for his throat.

Skywalker is not willing to let this Muun of a troll beat him with no challenge. He allows him to collapse onto the floor, his arm coming up and punching the Muun in the chest. The Sith Lord allows an indignant roar, flying overhead and onto the ground. He deactivates his lightsaber just as he wills the Force to land himself on the ground in an appropriate manner, both hands raised in front of him, before drawing his blade again. Skywalker is already recovering, breathing starting to become a bit heavy. Offensive style or not, keeping up with him is not possible. Skywalker falls back into the offensive style with Kenobi following from behind.

Plagueis didn't immediately attack, observing him. "Your offensive style is appropriate. But you have to do better or else I fear the consequences of you getting engaged in combat with the likes of Jedi such as Yoda."

Skywalker breathes. He knows it is meant to be a taunt but the Sith is right. Perhaps Plagueis respects Vader in that regard and in turn Skywalker for passing off all of his teachings. Perhaps he is trying to help both of them in combat even if he would rather be drawn to using them for his own selfish ambition.

Kenobi scowls. "We have to take him together."

The Sith Lord walks forward, lightsaber in his gnarled fingers. "Do you wish I fought seriously? Do you wish for me to no longer play you at a game?"

Skywalker snaps. He isn't the type of man who backs away from a challenge. He would take this battle in stride, consequences be damned. "Go ahead, show everyone here what you are made of."

It is taking all within Kenobi to not facepalm at the courage of his friend. "For goodness's sake, Anakin, try not to make him upset."

He can't help the grimace nor the snarl that escapes his lips when Plagueis's presence blazes like a very definition of the dark side of the Force, experienced and having many years backing him. That merely being in his presence is like standing in a lake of flames crawling on one's back.

Kenobi shifts his lightsaber to counter his initial strike while Skywalker sees the moment to strike, guided by the Force when his eyes didn't permit either of them to even see him move. This is the very Veil of the Dark Side, and Plagueis is the vapor guiding it against him, seeming to be drawing strength from them every second their blades make contact.

At that moment, both men understand that they will never stand a ghost of a chance against him without their full power, the strength that they could have, especially Skywalker decades later if he ever accomplished that. Skywalker is not someone who has the strength of the Jedi Master or Sith Lord, and Obi-Wan Kenobi can best the best of the Sith, but neither could defeat the very Dark Lord of the Sith himself at least not yet.

Both still want to prove themselves though, so Skywalker turns and counters before attacking; it ends up feeling like he just attempted to punch an unbearable barrier with his fist. It causes his arm to tremble, but both thrust their lightsabers towards the Dark Lord.

With a twist of his lightsaber, their lightsabers are out of their hands. Kenobi seems to accept that defeating him is impossible and yields, but Anakin Skywalker is a slow learner and would not be defeated as easily, sending a massive wave of Force Lighting towards him. Plagueis's eyes widen slightly, dropping his lightsaber to catch the electricity in a mere second.

Rather than relinquish it, he continues to pump the Force through his hands, jaw throbbing. Anakin dashes forward towards the Muun, before chopping forward, only to be caught in a Force Stasis. Him, the protege of one of the most powerful Force Wielders in the galaxy, is now being defeated by a Sith!

"Your determination would always be a weakness, Skywalker. I can safely say that you surpassed my former apprentice by now, but that doesn't mean you are stronger than me."

Of all the things Skywalker expects, that is not it. He blinks down at him, unsure of how to respond to the compliment. He speaks in a snarky tone. "You thought I would have backed down?"

Plagueis shrugs, his eyes going to his mentor. "I see that you have taught him too much. Now he is unable to stop having a response to everything."

Vader takes several steps forward. "At the very least he learned something today."

Skywalker is unable to believe that Vader would stand aside the Dark Lord of the Si... No, he didn't just stand by him. He ordered this! He allowed him to be humiliated! Something within Skywalker rings betrayal, and he wants nothing more to hurt Vader at this point. How dare he?!

That's when common sense returns to him, and horror takes its place. Why does something within him is always drawn to violence? Why does he want to suddenly unleash himself onto others? Even with Vader allowing Plagueis to humiliate him, he still loves him. He has to. Because otherwise, Vader wouldn't have complimented him when he needed it the most.

He wouldn't have extended a helping hand in those years of insecurities and helped him out with his trauma.

"You could have done more."

Plagueis walks away, a faint chuckle filling the air. Skywalker smirks a little at the small accomplishment, but it is gone quickly as he glares at the Sith's back, contemplative. If Vader is able to beat him and Skywalker is hardly able to stand him, that raises a bunch of questions.

Skywalker is going to have to put those thoughts aside. It's a thought for another time, he's sore after that fight - no that humiliation with Plagueis. Taking a brief respite on the ship is definitely something that is not out of range of impossibility right now.

And Skywalker realizes that Vader has been extending a hand toward him. He stares at it for a moment before taking it, allowing himself to be picked up, before limping only slightly along with Obi-Wan whose arm is also around him. Vader is leading both wounded men back to the ship, before Kenobi immediately goes to his quarters to retire, while Skywalker glares at him, deciding to confirm.

"Why?" Skywalker's voice sounds like a croak. "You know I could not defeat Darth Plagueis and yet you allowed me to be wounded. Now I would be confined to bed rest because you refused to intervene."

Vader responds. It is words that Anakin needs earlier. Obi-Wan could have never saved Anakin on Mustafar. It was too late. There was nobody to call Anakin out. A lot of people had every right to hate him and fear him for what he'd become and what he'd done to them, including Luke and Leia. However, what Anakin really needed was someone like Luke who gave him tough love and refused to enable any of his problems. Vader intends for Anakin to learn that lesson earlier.

"Because you have to learn that you cannot defeat every enemy. Talent without training is nothing. Failures is seen as embarrassing, but you not encountering it would only make you talentless. Winning every fight with one would not teach you any lesson, being loved by everyone is impossible, and going into challenges with no opposition would only make you more foolish. Failures help one grow. Struggling is a natural part of life. If one doesn't struggle and fail, they would only be halves of themselves, for a living being must find acceptance."

Skywalker grits his teeth. "I know that but you could have spared me from those humiliation. At least have him fight me away from public's eye."

Vader arches an eyebrow at the younger man. "Oh, but would you be able to fight another opponent - one who wants your head - away from public eye? Battle comes to you, Anakin, and temper tantrums about losing a fight are natural for one so young, but also gives you motivation to focus in the future. Now you would learn from this."

Skywalker knows that he is right but he still is angry and embarrassed too much to voice that confession. "You talk about struggling is nothing, but I have never seen you struggled as much as me or anybody else. You know me so well but you never struggled."

Vader tenses for only a moment. "Believe it or not, I have struggled many times. When I was in my younger days, I feared keeping everyone I loved safe just like you do. In my later years, I committed horrible things, shaping myself to become a monster. But actions don't define who we are, young one, for you can learn and grow through them to become a better person. Failures do not make you weak. Failures make you stronger and admitting such show everyone around you that you are capable of admitting such things. I, for one, was hoping that you would have been able to defeat Plagueis, but defeating all is impossible as I have learned in my days."

Anakin opens his mouth to respond, only to have his words stuck in his throat. He cannot respond to what is fact. Vader has said the words so simply, but each syllable has truth in them. This has been yet another lesson for Anakin to grow stronger because like Vader and even Plagueis had made clear: fighting on the battlefield would not always be fair and he would have to just be careful in the near future.

While Vader may have technically betrayed him, it is obvious that his mentor has been rooting for him. And that's when it hit Anakin. Vader is proud of him - has always been even when he refuses to make it known. He views him as yet another son and took him under his wing when he needed it the most.

"Very well, I wish rest for now."

And it's true.

For the first time in a long time, Anakin Skywalker, who has always been active on the move, wants to sleep.

Fighting a Dark Lord does that to a person.