Chapter Fifteen - The Clash of Sabers
Author's Notes: Once again, thanks for all the feedback. Last chapter kinda sucked hard for me to write. I had a longer and somewhat better, in my opinion, introduced before I inadvertently deleted it. *Facepalm* Either way, I think I pulled off the beginning fairly well and that the introspection helped Anakin develop or mature.
While I was writing this, I realized that Luke Skywalker wasn't yet Grand Master. That didn't come until years later during the Swarm War. Sorry for the mistake, just pretend he declared himself Grand Master during the Yuuzhan Vong war instead.
ACSkywalker: I thought I was pretty definitive on why Anakin had to be left behind, that it was because he was a linchpin in Palpatine's plans, and that the Sith Lord had expected the Jedi Council to send someone else. To keep up the facade of not knowing who the Sith Lord was, they went along with his plans, except that they did so with their eyes open.
"It is, as some admiral once said, a trap."
- Mara Jade Skywalker
#
"My boy. I've heard that your Jedi Council chose your former Master to lead the attack on Utapau. With your skills, I had hoped that they would have sent you."
"The Council believed a Master was needed, Chancellor Palpatine," Anakin said, gritting his teeth.
"Well, hopefully Obi-Wan will be able to deal with Grievous. I should offer you congratulations, I suppose," Palpatine said with a warm voice.
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked, confused.
"Your wife is with child. Your's, I'm assuming." Palpatine smiled.
"Of course the child is mine!" Anakin snapped.
"Ah, my apologies Anakin, I did not mean to cast doubt into your mind. I just know that Obi-Wan and she are quote close friends as well."
Anakin closed his eyes, trying to keep his temper. You can't make me lose faith, Sith Lord. The child is mine, and I have Luke as proof. "What is it you wished to speak to me about?"
"When we last spoke, you seemed on edge. I just wanted to see if you were alright. The last time I saw you this stressed was after Tatooine and that unfortunate incident with your mother...and the Sand People."
He wants to know about my dreams, he realized. "My sleep has been...troubled," he allowed.
"Visions?"
"Of Padmé's death," Anakin confirmed. If he hadn't known to look for it, he wouldn't have seen the pleased glint in the Chancellor's eyes. But it was definitely there and Anakin had to struggle to keep his face and his feelings blank.
"I'm sorry, my boy," Palpatine said with false sympathy. "So what will you do about it?"
Anakin struggled for an answer, "Obi-Wan would want me to let go and do as the Force wills."
Palpatine scoffed, "You know Anakin, the Jedi aren't the only power in the galaxy who have control of the Force."
And now we come to the crux of the matter. It's time.
"Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force."
"How do you know the ways of the Force?"
"My mentor taught me everything about the Force, even the nature of the Dark side."
"You know the Dark side?"
"Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader you must embrace...a larger view of the Force. Be careful of the Jedi, Anakin, only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the Dark side of the Force and you will be able to save your wife...from certain death."
Palpatine ended his sentence with a sickening smile.
Blue and green lightsabers flashed and twirled, blocking and deflecting blaster bolts and stun blasts back towards their attackers or towards safer avenues. They moved in sync, each Skywalker guarding the others' back as they slowly moved towards Padmé.
Luke moved to a guard position in front of both women while Mara bent low to speak to Padmé.
"Padmé, get to safety, get to a safe place in the house and wait for us to come get you!"
Both women looked back when another grenade was deflected by Luke to open a gaping hole in the ceiling. Out of the smoke, shapes began to loom, beings of a variety of races, all heavily armed and all firing at the trio.
Luke noticed that the stun blasts seemed to be focused at Padmé while the more lethal ammunition was being directed at Mara and him.
"They're here for Padmé!" he shouted, "I don't think they want her dead!"
A blaster bolt zipped past Luke's blade to leave a scorch mark inches away from Padmé.
Luke shouted, "Go! Get Padmé to safety, Mara."
Mara gritted her teeth, hating to be dragged from any fight, but particularly one where her husband was involved. Farmboy needs me. "Come on, Padmé! Get in the fresher near the south side of the apartment, away from any of the edges of the building. Get a blaster and stay safe!"
Even as she gave the orders, she was holding onto Padmé and guiding her to the desired direction. "I need to help Luke. That son of yours can't go a few days without ending up in the bacta tank.
Another blast in the veranda's direction.
And then something new.
Another lightsaber igniting. No, not one, two lightsabers. Ahsoka and Ventress? Extending her senses, she encountered exactly the opposite of what she had hoped. Something cold, dark, and sinister. Sith, she thought, and not Palpatine. Mara's eyes went wider and she pushed Padmé into the room a little more forcefully than she had intended.
"Stay safe, Padmé, for Anakin, for me, and for your babies. Farmboy needs my help."
Ignoring Padmé's protest, she dashed around the corner and back into the outer area of the apartment. Mara found chaos where peace could be found just minutes before.
Gaping holes in the walls, the ceiling, and the floor littered the area in front of her. Blasters were still firing at Luke, but far fewer of them than there were before. Even as she watched, she saw a double-bladed lightsaber clashing furiously against Luke's green blade.
The Sith was good.
Mara cursed, time to even the odds. Leaping into the fray, she bisected the nearest mercenary before turning to a tall, pale human with red hair who seemed far more competent than the other intruders.
This woman had evidently fought Jedi before and knew enough to move constantly, evading any deflected bolts turned towards her direction.
Sparing a moment, she saw Luke fighting hard, as hard as he had fought Shimrra just a week or so ago. Mara scowled at the pale woman. She had better be quick.
#
Hidden in the fresher, one of the more secure rooms in the house, Padmé crouched awkwardly, her swollen belly somewhat impeding her attempt to make herself a smaller target. Blaster in hand, she heard the firefight that was occurring just meters away. A firefight and the unwelcome sound of lightsabers clashing against one another. This is anything but subtle, Palpatine must be ready to make his move.
Grabbing her comlink, she signaled Obi-Wan who didn't pick up. Must still be at Utapau. She tried Master Windu than and was relieved to hear him pick up.
"Senator Amidala?"
"Master Windu! It's time, Palpatine sent someone skilled with a lightsaber to attack me while he's meeting with Anakin. I think he's almost ready to make a move!"
"I'm having a hard time hearing you, Senator. You said the Chancellor was making his move? Senator? Senator!"
But Padmé was unable to answer as the floor fell out from beneath her. She was caught somewhat awkwardly by a figure very much resembling a Mandalorian. Before she could utter a shout, a syringe was injected into her neck. Her opened mount slackened and blackness enveloped her vision.
Ahsoka's head jerked up and turned panicked eyes towards her companion.
"Ventress, I think it's time! I feel trouble coming from Padmé's apartment."
Asajj Ventress nodded curtly and began and equipped herself. Her lightsaber, a vibroblade, and a small holdout pistol while Ahsoka wore only her two lightsabers.
Not a minute later, they were in their borrowed speeder zooming towards the source of the disturbance that Ahsoka had felt.
"Join me, Anakin, and I can give you the ability to save your wife," Darth Sidious crooned.
Anakin ignited his lightsaber, the blue blade casting it's light upon his face. "Sith," he hissed.
"What are the Sith, Anakin, but just another point of view. Your passion will give you strength and your strength will give you power. And with that power, you will see the victory you need to break the chains that bind you. I have long been your friend, Anakin, you can trust me," the Sith Lord said solemnly.
Anakin's blade had somewhat lowered as Palpatine spoke but caught himself and raised it back up. He cursed to himself, he had thought Palpatine had been a friend and he might have had the faith in him to walk the path of the Dark side. But now he had Luke, now he knew the future he could face if he chose wrongly.
"You are a Sith, Palpatine, the Jedi Council will deal with you."
Inwardly, the Chancellor groaned. Apparently, the boy wasn't quite as easy to coax as he had hoped. But he was a man who believed in contingencies, and his contingency was on her way to his office even now.
"It is not against the law to follow the way of the Sith, Anakin. What can they do to me?"
"The Senate will see things clearly, Palpatine."
"I am the Senate, young Jedi."
"Not yet."
A soft sound from the entrance caught Anakin's attention.
"Padmé!"
Still unconscious, Anakin's wife was deposited gently onto the floor in his office before her captor stood and held a blaster to her head.
"What have you done to her!?" Anakin shouted.
Ah, there it is. There is the rage that will make him mine. "Not to worry, my young apprentice, I made sure she...or your child...wouldn't be harmed. But now you have a choice, Anakin. Better be sure that you choose wisely," Palpatine almost purred.
Luke breathed harshly as his duel with his tattooed Zabrak foe continued. A slash to his left met his blade while he had to duck out of the way from the oppose end of his dual-bladed lightsaber. Luke's riposte met only air. Luke breathed out as he had to jump out of the way of an incoming piece of debris summoned by his foe. The man was good, very good, but Luke had seen and fought better. Reaching for the Force, he centered himself and prepared to finish the fight.
Still, he was a Jedi and he had redeemed those considered lost before. "Why do you fight? Why fight for the Darkness?"
"I despise Sidious, but I hate the Jedi more. I foresaw the death of the Jedi, but I saw you had the power to stop it. I will take Sidious' place one day, but whatever his plan to destroy the Jedi is, it must see its completion."
"It's not too late. You can always fight for the Light and do what is right!"
"You old fool. You don't know the power of the Dark side." And with his last statement, he leapt towards Luke with an overhand slash which was easily blocked by Luke. I wonder if every Dark side user in existence says that at some point, he thought in a sort of morbid amusement. Sparing a quick look at Mara, he saw that she had finished off the rest of the mercenaries and was now engaged in battle with a tall pale woman. Gritting his teeth, he returned his full attention to the fight and began to show this Darksider what a Grand Master of the Jedi Order could do.
#
Another blaster bolt was deflected by Mara towards another would-be assassin making the far more capable pale woman the last besides the Darksider facing her husband. The pale woman, whom Mara was beginning to think was a fairly reputable and skilled bounty hunter from this time known as Aurra Sing, jumped out of the way of a piece of duracrete Mara Force pushed into her direction. Mara scoffed inwardly. There's only room for one red haired assassin in this room and I'm it.
On the heels of that thought, Mara ran from her position behind a still intact couch and charged the woman. The woman fired her blaster pistol repeatedly in her direction, each shot being blocked or evaded. Mara continued her charge and used the Force to drag a nearby carpet towards the woman, using it to trip her up. The bounty hunter's eyes widened as she stumbled and began to fall. Mara jumped towards her, lightsaber extended in a lunge. The pale woman landed on her back and had just enough time to glance upwards before Mara's blue blade pierced her chest.
The woman groaned, fell back onto the floor, and remained still. Deactivating her lightsaber, she turned towards the lightsaber duel that raged on the other side of the room.
#
Luke felt the Force flow through him as he moved without thought. As his former Masters had once instructed him, he let go, he was at peace, and he moved.
Luke deflected a swipe of his opponent's lightsaber and turned his blade to make a quick swipe towards the Darksider's neck. Though his foe might be well trained, enough so that he was able to dance mostly out of Luke's blade, Luke was still rewarded by the Zabrak's hiss of pain at the smoldering cut on his shoulder his emerald blade had left in its wake.
An almost rabid snarl escaped the red and black tattooed face before he leapt towards Luke, blade flashing with deadly intent. Luke blocked the blade and had to fold himself backwards to dodge the other blade. While bent over, Luke kicked his leg out, making his foe grunt in surprise as he fell to the ground. He scrambled to his feet and barely managed to parry Luke's thrust. While the Zabrak had managed to block Luke's thrust, he ended up leaving himself open.
A sapphire blade flashed past Luke's vision. The thrown blade had impaled the Darksider, who wore an incredulous look on his face before he groaned and collapsed to the floor without another word.
"Wow," Mara commented lightly. She began striding towards Luke and grabbed a fistful of his hair. Mara pulled Luke's mouth to hers, where she proceeded to kiss him vigorously and thoroughly. After a moment, Mara let Luke go with a pat on his cheek. Seeing Luke's somewhat bewildered face, Mara chuckled. "Come on Farmboy, you know a good fight gets me excited."
Mara spent a moment looking around before she gazed at the fallen Darksider. Hey forehead creased before she proceeded to stab him several more times and finally decapitated him.
"Mara!"
"He has cybernetic legs!" Mara defended herself, "He clearly isn't the type who likes to stay dead. I just made extra sure. Besides, he wanted to kill you and-"
"Yes, Mara, I know. That's your job," Luke finished. Rolling his eyes, he winced as he viewed the now dismembered corpse.
A moment passed before Luke frowned. "Mara, where's Padmé?"
Mara looked confused and stretched her senses. Eyes widening, she bolted out of the room. A moment later she came back, face pale with a grave expression. "Someone took her. While we fought."
Luke swore. "Palpatine, it must have been. He's meeting with Anakin now and with this attack, my guess is he plans to hold her as leverage."
"Makes sense, he always did enjoy using love to twist others," Mara said bitterly. "Stang! We need to move Farm-"
There was an odd sound and Mara stilled.
Luke frowned at her pause. "Mara?"
Mara looked confused and looked down where a growing red patch had appeared on her stomach. The sound repeated and she managed to dodge the second attack with a harsh grunt. Something metallic flashed in the air and Luke saw Mara's vibroblade now embedded in the throat of the pale woman who had managed to survive Mara's lightsaber. But all that was secondary Luke has Mara staggered into the nearest wall and began sliding down its length. To his horror, a swath of red marked her progress towards the floor.
"Mara...oh gods, Mara!"
There was a clatter on the floor which set Luke on his guard. To his relief, it was Ahsoka and Ventress who came into the ruined room.
"Luke? Where's-oh god, Mara?"
Mara pulled Luke to her. "Luke...go...get your mother. There's a beautiful redhead out there waiting for one of those future Skywalkers, and you better be damned sure he's there for her. Go!"
When Luke hesitated, she rolled her eyes and growled. "Go Luke, you need to be with your father." She looked at her hand which had been pressed to her wound and saw that it was stained red. She turned her attention to Ahsoka, "Go to Padmé's guestroom and get me the datapad which is underneath one of the pillows."
Luke's eyes were moist as he realized the extent of the damage caused by the blaster. "Mara..."
"Go Luke. We will be...together again. Will of the Force and all that," she managed to smile.
Luke stood up a little too quickly and closed his eyes hard. Thinking of Palpatine made him want to rage, but he'd fallen down that trap before and he refused to do it again. He wouldn't seek revenge, but his dying wife would see justice. Turning towards Ahsoka and Ventress, he said, "Stay with her, be here for her." Given their flinches, he supposed he wasn't quite as calm as he had believed.
A hand touched his leg and he saw Mara smile up at him. "Go get him, Luke, and save that father of yours." Luke nodded and bent down, kissing her gently on the lips and then on her forehead. He breathed out harshly, stood, and ran out of the room.
Mara breathed tiredly but ended up coughing. Turning her hand, she saw that blood had flecked onto her hand. Not much time, she thought. "Where's that datapad, Ahsoka?"
