Hey guys
No owning of Star Wars
Miles away in the senate building
Palpatine is finishing looking at the finale notes for his speech on a data pad for the upcoming senate meeting. Currently, Palpatine is no longer in his red robes but wearing a solid black hooded robe with the hood up.
Satisfied with the speech Palpatine sets the pad down when through the Force without warning he gets images. Various images of Anakin fighting Obi-Wan with lava all around them, Senator Amidala clutching her throat then the final, but hazy image is Anakin in pain.
Rapidly standing up Palpatine knows he needs to move quickly since his apprentice will soon be in trouble. Pulling out a commlink disc Palpatine touches a side button and after a few minutes wait it brings up a small hologram of Commander Cody.
"Commander Cody I want a debrief of the situation immediately because I believe Lord Vader is going to need your assistance. You must find him, and I shall be there shortly in person" Palpatine orders.
Later in an underground cavern system
Obi-Wan and Padme walk into a decent area where off in the far corner and down an incline is a bubbling lava pit. Looking around the room as they keep walking through it both the Jedi Knight and the senator see various cracks in the wall filled with lava.
"I always heard rumors of the lava that follows under the city but never believed it" Padme said.
"Yeah me to" Obi-Wan replied.
"And let's hope we don't run into any more baby rancor's" Padme said.
"Be careful that's usually Obi-Wan and I used to end up in a lot of trouble" an all too familiar voice said from behind them.
Obi-Wan and Padme whirl around to see several feet away is Anakin entering the room, but his face is much colder, and his eyes contain an untamed rage inside.
"Anakin, is what Obi-Wan has told me true? Have you really turned to the dark side and helping slaughter everybody up there?" Padme asked uneasiness in her voice, like wishing it wasn't true.
"Yes" Anakin replied not even hesitating.
"Why? What caused to turn your back on being the good man I loved?" Padme asked upon feeling a part of her life destroyed.
"Because Palpatine helped show me the truth and has promised to save you and our child. He has a plan to make the Republic into one that can better protect the galaxy without the useless bureaucracy we currently have" Anakin said.
"What? A child?" Obi-Wan asked, shocked at that news.
"That useless bureaucracy that you both hate is called a democracy that may be flawed but it is better than living under a ruthless directorship" Padme said gripping her right hand around the blaster rifle's grip.
"Palpatine is the Sith Lord we've learned of, isn't he?" Obi-Wan asked. Because suddenly it all fits of why Anakin fell to the dark side. Given Anakin would only trust a person, he was loyal to for him to betray his very principles.
"Yes, and I'm sure in your eyes it makes him guilty with needing to be executed on the spot for simply having a belief differently than yours's Jedi" Anakin said.
"Wait Palpatine is what?" Padme asked surprised.
"Because you know the Sith's goals are only greed and pursuit of power with themselves as the ruler at the cost of destroying countless innocent civilizations. So yes, Darth Sidious is a monster who needs to be stopped" Obi-Wan replied.
"And from my point of view the Jedi are evil" Anakin said angrily.
"Chancellor Palpatine may have shown you friendship but he is using you only for his own power and will destroy you once your usefulness runs out" Obi-Wan said.
"And what have the Jedi ever showed me? Certainly not family" Anakin snarls.
Obi-Wan opens his mouth for a response but does not speak while glancing off in guilt.
Meeting his eyes "Please just come away with me. We can hide out somewhere and raise our child. Before" Padme said trailing off seemingly at loss for what more to say and feeling like this a battle already lost.
"No, we don't have to hide anymore. Don't you see, I've brought peace to the galaxy. I am more powerful than Palpatine. If you want Palpatine gone I can overthrow the Chancellor, and together we can rule the galaxy. Make things the way we want them to be" Anakin said fully believing it.
"What have you become? What about our child, you want them to grow up inheriting a tyranny of evil?" Padme asked horrified with tears filling up in her eyes.
"It's not evil if you don't use being an Empire for brutal oppression. Both of you, help me and we can rule together" Anakin said, an almost pleading tone to his voice.
"You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now . . . you have become the very thing you swore to destroy" Obi-Wan said sadly.
"You are going down a path I can't follow. I am sorry" Padme said full of pain and guilt for what is about to occur.
Suddenly lifting the blaster rife upwards Padme points it directly at Anakin with her finger on the trigger, inching closer to squeezing as sweat comes down Padme's face. However, Padme after a moment finds she is unable to kill Anakin because despite everything, despite the monster standing before them she still loves him. Even if it kills her Padme realizes lowering the weapon and drops it.
"You've betrayed me. I love you, but you betrayed me" Anakin said rage filled.
Padme suddenly starts grasping at her throat finding herself unable to breathe as Anakin raises his left hand in a pinching motion Force choking the senator with lifting Padme off the ground.
"Anakin let her go" Obi-Wan yells.
"You will not take her from me" Anakin replied growling.
"Let her go. Think of your child, let your wife go. This is between us" Obi-Wan yells strongly.
Anakin manages to partially snap out of his rage and telekinetically throws Padme across the room where she lands on the ground in one of the corners seemingly out cold. Safe from what is to come Anakin decides.
"You are right. And we both know you are not going to just walk away" Anakin said throwing off his hooded cloak.
"I'll do what I must" Obi-Wan replied flinging off his hooded robe and tosses Anakin's old lightsaber into it as well. After all, no use using it since has no skill in using two blades in combat.
"You will try" Anakin said removing the hilt from his belt and igniting the lightsaber.
Obi-Wan ignites his own lightsaber as Anakin walks forward with eventually reaching near him they circle each other for a moment. Suddenly Anakin lunges forward swinging downward at the Jedi Knight as Kenobi brings his blade up as it meet's Anakin's blade.
For the next several minutes in the hot cave with both sweating Anakin's red blade of plasma clashes against Obi-Wan's blue one. As Anakin takes an aggressive swing or combinations of blade moves against Obi-Wan who meets his every move by either blade or moving out of the way.
Both the Sith and the Jedi Knight are too well skilled to really gain much ground and unlike Mace Windu, Obi-Wan is not struggling yet. And the two men remember an environment like this years ago on Mustafar where they fought side by side as brothers. Now they are fighting to kill each other as their bonds of family have fallen apart with pure hatred driving one of them.
Swinging at Obi-Wan's upper body Anakin only gets his attacked blocked by Kenobi's blade. Stepping backwards a couple of feet Anakin jumps over Obi-Wan using the Force with landing behind the Jedi Knight then brings his blade downwards.
Only Obi-Wan blocks it with his lightsaber without even turning to look then spinning around to stop the next short series of attacks against Anakin's lightsaber. Noticing an opening Obi-Wan moves his blade backwards then thrusts forward in a slash move sending it painfully across Anakin's chest.
However, this move has left an opening on Kenobi's left side that Anakin uses to send his blade across Obi-Wan's body severely cutting through cloth and flesh with burning the skin to cauterize the wound all at once.
Letting out a hiss of pain Obi-Wan blocks Anakin's blade headed for his head with his own then kicks Anakin in his upper body sending Skywalker backwards. Only Anakin embraces it with coming up in a roll while thrusting his lightsaber blade to Obi-Wan's right side Anakin sends a punch intending it to meet Kenobi's ribs. However, Obi-Wan while blocking the lightsaber on his right uses his other arm to push Anakin's fist away.
Taking a slight step backwards and parrying a blade swing meant for his upper body Anakin delivers a powerful jump kick to Obi-Wan's chest sending him sprawling backwards.
As Obi-Wan still ahold of his lit lightsaber he scrambles backwards to avoid the downward swing Anakin gave and quickly gets to his feet. For the next minute or so Obi-Wan parrying madly realizes they have both been backed up to a wall.
Blocking a strike above his head Obi-Wan pushes the red blade downward, only for Anakin to try to bring it upwards again forcing Kenobi to fight against it. Struggling for a moment Obi-Wan pushes Anakin's red blade backwards then using the Force pulls Anakin's lightsaber out of his hands with sending it directly into the ground.
Stepping forward Anakin steps out of the way with grabbing Obi-Wan's wrist as they both struggle for the weapon as the lightsaber is held above their heads. After a few minutes, Anakin manages to push forward with grabbing Obi-Wan's hand smashes it into the side of the wall, burning it on some lava and breaking a few bones inside.
As the lightsaber falls to the ground Obi-Wan grabs the back fabric of Anakin's tunic with kneeing him near his chest area, hard enough to break a couple of Anakin's ribs causing the Sith to gasp painfully.
Reaching up Anakin grabs ahold of Obi-Wan's head with going to slam it against the lava wall, however, Obi-Wan manages to force his hands off his head. In response, Anakin kicks Kenobi backwards, a couple of feet but Obi-Wan manages to remain standing.
Anakin begins using the Force to choke Kenobi but doesn't move either of his hands. Only for Obi-Wan with his hands still at his throat responds with a Force push to telekinetically remove the grip from his throat.
Gasping for breath for a brief second Obi-Wan using the Force pulls his lightsaber back to his right hand, just as Anakin does the same for his hilt then they reignite their lightsabers.
Both Anakin and Obi-Wan sends blasts of the Force towards intending to push each other off the ground, only for it to meet between them. Each with their free hands raised, it becomes a struggle through the Force to gain the upper hand when Anakin managing to overpower Obi-Wan.
The result is a powerful blast of Force energy sending Obi-Wan back some several feet where he lands painfully on his back near an incline that leads into a lava pit.
Walking forward Anakin reaches Obi-Wan who is on his feet and has moved away from the incline, so Anakin's back is facing that direction. Anakin thrusts forward with his red blade as Obi-Wan's blue blade meets it then pushing Anakin's blade upwards.
As their blades lock in between them "It's over Obi-Wan, you underestimate my power" Anakin said.
"No, you underestimate your own arrogance" Obi-Wan replied.
Suddenly Obi-Wan pushes Anakin's blade outwards, before rapidly slicing off Anakin's arms near his elbows then bringing his blade in a downward sweep cuts off Anakin's legs just above his knees.
Letting out a massive scream of pain Anakin falls down the slight incline and into the lava pit where his clothes catch fire, and the hair on his head quickly burns leaving him bald.
Massively yelling in unbearable agony, worse than any beatings he was subjected to as a slave, Anakin's body begins to burn. Still screaming and unable to move given his limbs are pretty much gone, Anakin focuses on the Force to create a protective shield to keep himself alive. Only that is quickly disappearing under the heat and pain from burning.
"I loved you. You were my brother Anakin" Obi-Wan said full of pain and guilt.
Finally, after so many years admits what Anakin always wanted to hear only knowing it is when their relationship is already gone forever. Despite everything Anakin was the only family he's ever known.
Anakin can only glare back full of unchecked hate since he trying to speak requires too much energy that is simply being used to merely keep himself alive while he burns.
Looking away Obi-Wan can no longer stand to look at the site of what is happening to Anakin. Briefly debates killing Anakin only decides not to because the lava will finish him off regardless.
Turning around Obi-Wan deactivating his lightsaber walks away from Anakin.
Reaching his brown, dirty hooded robe and the lightsaber resting on the fabric that is laying on the floor Obi-Wan attaches both lightsaber hilts to his belt. Grabbing the robe Obi-Wan puts that on before rushing over to Padme and checks her pulse to discover she is thankfully alive, but just unconscious.
Gently picking Padme up Obi-Wan carrying her in his arms walks out through the exit and continues further into the tunnel system. Briefly debates sealing off the doorway, but that might waste precious seconds they do not have.
Some minutes later Anakin has tried to telekinetically move his body from the lava pit but cannot since his strength is gone.
Even his shield is on its last flickers of protecting him, so Anakin knows he is going to die but is fine with that. Because in his last moments understands the truth of Padme considering him a monster. And she's not wrong since he is one for attacking his own wife and child.
If Padme and his child are still alive then that is the only reason he has left to live and will never stop trying to find them until they are his once again. But guesses they don't have to worry about that because given his current circumstances he will not be leaving this situation alive.
Feeling darkness overtake him Anakin closes his eyes as he feels himself slip into unconsciousness knowing that he never will wake up again.
Suddenly Palpatine with five stormtroopers enter the room with spotting Anakin in the lava pit they rush over to him with stopping over a few feet away.
"With that lava, there is no way for us to get him out, even if we did die doing it" Cody said.
"I'm surprised he's even able to survive in that lava pit" another stormtrooper said.
"Only by his hate" Palpatine said then raises up his hands.
Focusing on the Force around Anakin's body Palpatine lifts Anakin up from the lava pit and moves his burnt, severely damaged body up past the incline and onto the ground in front of them.
"Get a medical transport capsule and a transport ship. Immediately" Palpatine ordered.
"Yes sir" Cody replied.
As Cody along with the other four stormtroopers leave the room to go get a medical capsule as Palpatine sees the grey and black lightsaber on the ground. Reaching down Palpatine picks up the object intending to return it to its owner later.
Moving his gaze towards Anakin's heavily damaged body Palpatine knows this not what he wanted but is not going to give up on all his work.
Later at a massive tower known as the Grand Republic Medical Facility
Inside a darkened surgery room where the only main light is focused on a clean metal table which is surrounded by three droids with various other stations containing multiple pieces of equipment lies around them. There is a thin layer of smoke that fills the air.
Anakin is in a floating medical capsule where the droids remove him from it and put him on the medical table. As Anakin begins to come awake groaning in obvious pain immediately the droids begin to work as Palpatine hidden in the shadows looks on.
Yelling in agony the droids perform surgery on a fully awake Anakin by giving him metal prosthetic legs from the knees downwards before giving him new metal prosthetic arms and hands, all the while Anakin is in pure torment.
Over the next couple of hours, the droids work on Anakin as they construct a suit of armor that covers him completely. Black armored legs with boots, a full black upper body armor that ends at his wrists with dark colored gloves to hide his prosthetic hands. A black long cape extends from his armored shoulders down to his ankles.
Located in the middle of Anakin's chest is a box containing various buttons and dull rectangle lights that is the control panel for his breathing and life support systems. Around his waist is a belt that contains two control boxes on his left and right sides with multiple different buttons. His lightsaber hilt that Palpatine recovered earlier is on the right side of Anakin's belt.
The only remaining piece that is still visible of Anakin Skywalker is his badly burnt and scared head.
However, the droids moving over him lower the black half face mask that looks like a skull onto Anakin's head. A black helmet that is carved out to show his face and reaches the bottom of his neckline, is placed onto Anakin's head that connects to his mask.
The smoke around the mouth filter of the mask stops moving for a second, then is pushed away as Darth Vader takes his first breath through the respirator.
Slowly the metal table itself begins to move upright as Vader is strapped to it with wrist and ankle restraints. Palpatine walks over near Vader with glancing over his armor and life support suit, extremely pleased.
"Lord Vader can you hear me?" Palpatine asked.
"Yes, my master" Vader said, surprised at how his voice is now a deep growl due to the respirator.
"Excellent" Palpatine replied.
Looking around "Where is Padme? Is she and my child all right?" Vader asked.
"It appears the Jedi have taken her" Palpatine replied.
Darth Vader's hands tighten into fists as various objects in the room begin flying around with the droids themselves getting destroyed as Darth Vader breaks the restraints causing them to fall to the floor. Stepping forward and stumbling slightly Vader regaining his footing is consumed with rage, and hate.
After some minutes all the various chaos stops as the machine parts finally fall to the floor and Darth Vader regains his focus.
"Come there is much work to be done for the Empire. The remaining Jedi Knights scattered throughout the galaxy must be hunted down and killed. Only then will you have your revenge" Palpatine said before letting out a vicious laugh.
After some minutes all the various chaos stops as the machine parts finally fall to the floor and Darth Vader regains his focus.
"Come there is much work to be done for the Empire. The remaining Jedi Knights scattered throughout the galaxy must be hunted down and killed" Palpatine said before letting out a vicious laugh.
Palpatine leaves the room and after a moment Darth Vader follows his master.
I hope you all enjoyed this. Let me know what you think
Yes, I didn't go to Mustafar and that was one thing I seriously debated on whether to remove Anakin and Obi-Wan's duel on the planet like Revenge of the Sith. However, because the story flowed better I got rid of them fighting on Mustafar.
I still wanted to keep that planet as an important place in both Obi-Wan and Anakin's lives, so I had it referenced and even shown up in chapter 6.
Now trying to figure out how to make the lava part work was troubling then I had a lightbulb moment when I realized I could just rewrite the planet to explain what I needed to.
So, the reference to lava pits and tunnel system in the very first chapter was a set up for the events that would happen in this chapter.
Now onto the fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin itself yeah this was one of the things I wanted to change from Revenge of the Sith. Namely I removed the fight going on for way longer then it needed and got rid of all the swinging on ropes, machines and all that spectacle crap.
George Lucas like a lot of other people who tell stories think that spectacle equals a good story. Spectacle it does not equal a good story and more often than not drags the story down.
I put the focus back onto just Anakin and Obi-Wan merely trying to kill the other and doing anything to survive the fight. Because that is all you need to focus on, they are enough.
Plus, I wanted to take out the high ground comment since that is just a dumb line.
That might work on a large battle field for the high ground, but not in close combat.
Moving on
We have the birth of Anakin in the Darth Vader suit
Palpatine's line for their being more work to be done for hunting down the remaining Jedi Knights is to explain why Obi-Wan in New Hope said Darth Vader helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights.
Next time will be the finale chapter as this story up wraps up