Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 16- Duel of the Fates
On the surface of Dromund Kaas, multiple landing ships are beginning to make landfall. As the ships are touching down, on the bridge of one, Rex is watching the surface, his mind racing as he formulates a battle strategy. Rex was one of the commanders of the main landing force, by Anakin's orders. The 212th was the unit that had been selected to accompany the Jedi strike team meant to assault the main Citadel, to Rex's disappointment. However, he also knew this was a massive operation, and his tactics could help them win the day.
This was an operation mainly being run by clone Commanders, under the command of Jedi General Quinlan Vos, who had been ordered to lead the assault in the absence of the more experienced Generals. However, Vos was trusting Rex and the other Commanders to help him plan and lead the assault.
"We need to get our forces deployed as soon as possible. We've started to draw their attention, and we need to keep it," Rex says.
"Yes. Start deployment," General Vos orders.
Within minutes, the assault ships open up, and the legions of clones begin to disembark. Over 240,000 clone troopers begin to disembark from the assault ships. Almost every kind of clone trooper in the Grand Army of the Republic are among the ranks disembarking from the ships.
Also among the ranks of the clones are some of the newest weapons and vehicles in the Grand Army of the Republic. New versions of the LAAT, some new rotary blaster cannons, and new walkers. The Republic had been heavily militarized, and among those additions were two new kinds of walkers. The first, which had seen service for several months in limited numbers, was the AT-ST, or All Terrain Scout Transport, which was a two-legged light walker designed to succeed the AT-RT. Although though not as fast and nimble as the AT-RT, the AT-ST was much more deadly and protected.
However, the second one was far more dangerous: the successor to the AT-TE, known as the All Terrain Armored Transport. The massive, four legged walker was a walking terror. Extremely heavily armored, it also towered over the battlefield, standing over 20 meters tall. Under it's massive head, it carried two heavy laser cannons, and two medium repeating laser cannons on the sides of its head. The AT-AT had only seen service once so far, in the Battle of Jabiim, and so far existed in limited numbers. However, this operation was so important that the Republic had taken most of the existing AT-ATs and sent them to take part in this battle.
It takes the Republic less than half an hour for all of the clones to disembark from their ships. While the ships remain at their landing site to take aboard the clones either after the battle or during a retreat should it be necessary, the clones begin moving into battle formation and preparing for their advance. Rex is among them, ready to lead the 501st into battle.
However, as the Republic's troops are preparing for their advance, and the Separatist army is marshalling to meet them, the strike team meant to assault the Citadel is moving down towards the Citadel in a number of LAATs. Aboard are Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Mace, Yoda, Plo, and clones from the 212th. Ahsoka had also called in a favor from Bo-Katan Kryze. Bo-Katan had brought three other warriors with her to join the strike team as repayment for Ahsoka helping the Mandalorians reclaim Mandalore from Maul.
On the LAAT leading the force, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka are standing in the middle, along with Cody, who was leading the clones. Obi-Wan and Commander Cody had reunited during the preparation for the assault of Dromund Kaas, and had been able to reconcile for Cody turning on Obi-Wan under Order 66. Although everything was not back to normal between the two, they were well enough to be able to work together on this mission.
Anakin leans out the side of his gunship to watch as the Citadel gets closer and closer before ducking back into the gunship. "Alright. Get ready to land. This is not going to be an easy mission! Sidious is going to have this place heavily guarded, and who knows what traps we'll be facing here! This is our chance to end the war at last! Let's make sure we take it!"
Everyone readies themselves to touch down, and Anakin shares a look with his master and his former apprentice.
As the gunships descend, they begin to fire their laser turrets and chin mounted laser cannons at the droids on the ground at the landing site. Dozens of droids are destroyed in a matter of seconds. The gunship pilots determine that the landing zone is relatively safe and move to set their gunships down.
As soon as the gunships set down on the surface, the Jedi leap out of the gunships, lightsabers ignited, the clones following them immediately, as well as Bo-Katan and her warriors. The clones and the Mandalorians quickly begin firing their blasters at the droids still active on the landing site. It's only a matter of moments before all the droids around the landing site are destroyed.
"Alright. Speed is essential here, so let's move!" Anakin shouts. The entire strike team, led by the six Jedi, makes their way to the gates of the Citadel. In the distance, they can just hear the distant explosions as the clone army begins to engage the Separatist army.
The strike force reaches the gates, and several heavy weapons clones armed with rocket launchers use their weapons to blow open the gates, allowing the strike force into the Citadel.
Immediately after entering the Citadel, the strike force comes under fire. Over a hundred battle droids are in the entrance hall, pouring blaster fire towards the strike force. Several clones are hit, but the Jedi are able to deflect most of the incoming blaster fire as the clones return fire.
After about a minute of fighting, all droids are destroyed in the entrance hall. After taking a moment to confirm this, Anakin looks around at the team and orders, "Alright. Me and the other Jedi will ascend the Citadel to confront Sidious. Cody, choose one platoon and accompany us. Bo-Katan, you and your warriors will come with us as well. The rest of you, stay here and keep any reinforcements from entering the Citadel!"
"Yes, sir," a number of clones answer Anakin's order.
"Let's move!" Anakin orders.
Anakin leads the Jedi, the Mandalorians, and Cody's platoon out of the entrance hall as the other clones try and set up to prepare for any possible reinforcements coming into the Citadel.
As the advance team moves up through the Citadel, the Jedi in the team are beginning to realize how deep the darkness is in this place. The dark side is stronger here than almost anywhere else. For Yoda, who had visited Moraband not long ago, he begins to think to himself that Dromund Kaas might be even stronger with the dark side than Moraband.
It doesn't take too long before they reach a floor about halfway up the Citadel that seems to be occupied by one massive chamber that is sealed off from the hall the team emerges into. On the massive doors leading into this chamber are inscribed the images of ages past, including several notable ancient Sith Lords. Two that are instantly recognizable are Marka Ragnos and Darth Nihilus.
"This has to be it. His throne room," Obi-Wan mutters.
"Within, Sidious is. Not alone, he is," Yoda voices.
Suddenly, doors begin to open into the hall, and droids pour into the hall. The Jedi quickly ignite their lightsabers and begin deflecting the incoming blaster bolts while the clones and Mandalorians return fire.
After a few moments, Cody glances over at Obi-Wan and shouts, "Go, General! We'll hold them off. Go finish the war!"
Obi-Wan looks at Cody, feeling a rush of emotion. "Very well, Cody," he responds before he turns towards the doors and says, "Let's go."
The six Jedi make their way towards the doors. Together, Anakin and Obi-Wan use the Force manipulate the bars on the inside keeping the doors shut, then move the doors open with the Force.
The six Jedi move into the chamber, and immediately see a large throne at the far side of the chamber, with a robed and hooded figure sitting upon it. It is instantly clear that the figure is Palpatine. However, Palpatine is not alone. Four other figures are standing around Palpatine. All of them are wearing black robes and black armor. One of them is a Pau'an that some of the Masters recognize as a member of the Jedi Temple Guard. Another is a grey-skinned humanoid who is wearing some kind of flat, circular helmet on top of his head that they also recognize as a relatively young Jedi who had been a vocal opponent of the war. A third is one whose face is hidden by a ridged helmet and mask. And the fourth is one Mace Windu recognizes immediately. The former Jedi Prosset Dibs, who had been forced into rehabilitation for attacking Mace himself.
On his throne, Palpatine looks up at the new arrivals and stands up, cackling. "Welcome…to Dromund Kaas, my friends. I must say, I have been looking forward to this," Palpatine's voice echoes through the throne room.
"Your treachery ends here Palpatine," Anakin growls.
Palpatine laughs before he says, "You had a chance, Anakin. A chance to join me, and you threw away the chance at ultimate power."
"You would've been the reason I lost everything! I'll never join you, Palpatine. You almost deceived me once! I'll never let you deceive me again!" Anakin yells in return.
Palpatine cackles. "Then, you will die," he cackles. He then gestures to the four individuals surrounding him and says, "Around me, you see four who have realized the truth. Who have seen that the true path forward lies in the dark side. Ever since I left Coruscant, I have trained them to do one thing: slaughter any Jedi in their path." He pauses for a moment, then says, "Inquisitors, kill them."
"With pleasure, my lord," the Pau'an says. Then, the Jedi watch as all four individuals raise a saber handle resting within a metal circle. A second later, all of them ignite a pair of red saber blades, and then, to their surprise, the blades begin rotating.
The Jedi ready themselves to face these individuals, settling into their combat stances. Then, Yoda takes a step in front of all the others. He then looks at Anakin and says, "Master Skywalker, face Sidious, you and I will. The rest of you, handle these Inquisitors, you will. End it now, we will."
"Yes, Master Yoda," Obi-Wan says. He pauses, then says, "Let's go!"
Knowing they have to draw their attention away and make a gap for Yoda and Anakin, the other four ready themselves and charge at the four individuals Palpatine called Inquisitors. Obi-Wan moves to attack the Pau'an, Ahsoka moves towards the one with the ridged mask, Plo moves towards the one with the flat helmet, and Mace moves to engage Prosset Dibs. With the sounds of clashing sabers, the four duels begin.
As the duelists spread out to the side, Yoda and Anakin advance on Sidious directly. Anakin has his saber drawn and ignited, but Yoda has yet to draw his saber. Both of them are ready to finally face the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Palpatine smirks under his hood. "I am the descendant of a thousand years of Sith growth. The mysteries and legacy of the Sith are mine! I have mastered the secrets of the dark side more than any Sith in history! I am Darth Sidious!"
"In the end, never triumph, will the darkness. Always there to break through, the light is," Yoda responds.
Palpatine cackles wickedly. "Your dogmatic view of the Jedi will never give you the strength to defeat the Sith!" he declares.
"But there's two of us, and only one of you. This ends now!" Anakin growls, settling into his Djem So fighting stance.
"Yes, it will," Palpatine says. Then, from each of his long sleeves, Palpatine produces a lightsaber, the two blades springing to life. Palpatine cackles as he readies himself to face his opponents.
Anakin readies himself to attack, and yet, as he does, he feels Yoda's intentions. Almost as if he and Yoda have some sort of mental connection. Instantly, Anakin knows what to do. Anakin approaches Sidious, as if to attack him. However, as he does, Yoda whips his saber off his belt, its green blade springing to life as he lunges at Sidious, spinning through the air as he slashes his saber at the Sith Lord.
Sidious spins one of his sabers and easily deflects Yoda's saber. Anakin dashes in and slashes at Sidious' other side, but Sidious easily blocks it as well. And with this, the duel between the three begins.
Yoda leaps high over Sidious, slashing at his head while Anakin drives in towards his side. Sidious ducks and spins under Yoda's blow before bringing both of his sabers around to meet Anakin's blow. Anakin pulls back a step, spinning his saber behind his back as he shifts it to his other hand and then strikes at Sidious' hip, but Sidious easily blocks it while simultaneously blocking Yoda's blow from the other side. Sidious then leaps to the side as Yoda strikes at him again, trying to get both Yoda and Anakin in front of him. Anakin charges Sidious, trying to keep the pressure on him. Sidious flips to the side to avoid Anakin's blow before trying to strike at Anakin's head, which Anakin deflects with a spin of his blade.
As Anakin and Yoda are engaging Sidious, the other four Jedi are engaging the four Inquisitors. Despite the initial feeling of uncertainty, it's clear to the Jedi that these Inquisitors are still relatively experienced.
On one side of the throne room, Mace is dueling Prosset Dibs. "You once clung to the light. How could you have fallen so far?" Mace demands as he clashes sabers with Dibs.
"You showed me that the way of the Jedi meant nothing," Dibs growls before pushing Mace back. He then slashes one of the blades of his saber right at Mace's head, but Mace manages to deflect it to the side before bringing his saber down towards Dibs' saber, destroying one of the blade emitters
Dibs takes a step back to try and regain some ground before striking at Mace's shoulder. However, Mace ducks aside, spins around, and drives his saber through Dibs' stomach. Dibs gasps as the saber enters his body, and then falls to the ground dead as Mace draws the saber out of his stomach.
Mace looks around at the other three duels, and sees that Ahsoka and Plo are slowly beating back the Inquisitors they are fighting, while Obi-Wan is so far about on even pace with the Pau'an. Mace immediately moves to assist Obi-Wan.
As Mace moves to help Obi-Wan, the duel between Sidious, Anakin, and Yoda is intensifying. The sabers of the three combatants are flashing around with such speed that the sounds of the sabers clashing sound like a near constant crackling.
Anakin pushes against Sidious' defenses, alternating between striking at his shoulder or his waist, but occasionally aiming for a different spot to throw Sidious off. All the while, Yoda is flipping and leaping all around while slashing wildly at Sidious with incredible speed. And yet, Sidious is managing to keep up with both of them, deflecting their blows as he switches between various lightsaber forms to counter both of them.
As Anakin draws back his saber a bit more for an even stronger strike, Sidious takes his chance. He deactivates both sabers and then opens his palms as he lets out a powerful wave of Force energy that forces both Anakin and Yoda back.
Yoda is closer to Sidious and readies himself to attack Sidious. However, Sidious puts away both sabers and lets loose bolts of Force lightning at Yoda. Yoda tries to deflect it with his saber, but the lightning knocks Yoda's saber out of his hand. Yoda is immediately forced to bring both hands forward to try and contain the Force lightning.
Anakin recovers from Sidious' Force wave only a moment later and charges at Sidious. Sidious glances over at him and shifts one of his hands towards Anakin. Anakin is caught off guard and is caught in Sidious' lightning. Anakin screams in pain and collapses to his knees.
Sidious cackles as he continues casting lightning. However, as he refocuses more on Yoda, thinking Anakin is momentarily subdued, Anakin manages to raise his head and look around. He sees his master, apprentice, and others he's called friends and fellow Jedi duelling the Inquisitors, and Sidious casting Force lightning at him and Yoda. He feels a sense of defeat come through him, thinking that Sidious might be unbeatable.
Then, it feels almost as if Anakin is taken out of his body. He's no longer seeing the scene around him, but an image of those closest to him. Padme, standing with the twins, smiling brightly at him. Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Rex are all standing a bit behind Padme, all smiling at him.
Anakin looks into the faces of those he loves most. Then, he finds himself back in reality.
Anakin struggles to lift his head to look up at Sidious, who is still staring at Yoda as he pours more energy into the lightning he's casting at Yoda. Then, he takes a deep breath and focuses on the faces of his loved ones while releasing everything else into the Force.
Almost immediately, he begins to feel some of the pain fading away as he draws more and more of the Force around himself. Slowly, Anakin manages to force himself to his feet and ignites his lightsaber again, using the Force to protect his saber so the lightning doesn't damage it.
It only takes Sidious a moment to realize that Anakin has gotten to his feet. Surprised, Sidious begins increasing the intensity of the lightning towards Anakin, but to his shock, Anakin is very slowly forcing himself towards Sidious, step by step.
Sidious begins to fear as Anakin gets almost within arms reach. Realizing Anakin will soon get himself close enough to attack, Sidious ceases casting lightning, draws one of his sabers and ignites it, and strikes at Anakin.
Despite being greatly weakened by the lightning and the effort to push through it, Anakin blocks Sidious blow with relative ease. As Anakin draws on lessons with his master and shifts to Soresu to defend himself, Yoda, now free of the pressure of resisting Sidious' lightning, summons his saber back to him and ignites it before leaping towards Sidious.
Sidious is immediately aware of Yoda's approach. However, the speed with which Yoda is able to attack him again catches him slightly off guard. He quickly produces his other saber and ignites it, just managing to block Yoda's first blow. However, with Yoda's speed, boosted by the Force, he is a microsecond too slow.
Yoda presses his attack, with Sidious blocking his next three blows, but with Yoda's advantage growing with each blow, Sidious not having enough time to fully regain his stance. Then, Anakin, though still weakened, switches from Soresu back to Djem So and presses against Sidious. Sidious takes a step back to try and get a firmer position, but Yoda presses his attack. Flipping up and over Sidious, slashing at Sidious' head as he goes, then dips under Sidious' defense, and with a wide slash, slashes Sidious' left wrist off.
Sidious howls in the pain, but also feels a surge of power within the dark side as he draws on the pain. However, Anakin doesn't let up and drives forward at Sidious. Sidious deflects his first blow, but Anakin then stabs at Sidious' chest. Sidious deflects Anakin's saber upwards to protect himself, but then Anakin does something to surprise him. As his saber is deflected upwards, Anakin deactivates it and drops it. Then, he brings his other hand up, grabs the saber, ignites it, and, before Sidious can react, drives into Sidious' chest.
Sidious gasps as the saber enters his chest. He and Anakin share a look in the eyes before Anakin rips his saber out, and just to make sure, slashes diagonally upwards across Sidious' entire front, carving open the front of his body. With a loud cry, Sidious falls.
Anakin and Yoda both stand over Sidious, looking for any signs of movement or life. However, as the moments pass, they see and sense nothing. Finally, they accept the truth: at last, Sidious is dead.
Anakin and Yoda both look at each other. Yoda then smiles at Anakin as he deactivates his saber. "Well done, Master Skywalker. Truly powerful in the Force, you are. Grow to be the greatest of Jedi, you will," he says.
"Thank you, Master," Anakin says. As he does, he also now realizes just how drained and exhausted he is, and collapses to his knees, breathing very heavily as he tries to recover some energy. Yoda smiles as he steps forward and rests a hand on Anakin's shoulder reassuringly.
Anakin slowly looks around, just in time to see Ahsoka kill the Inquisitor she had been fighting. Obi-Wan and Mace had already killed the Pau'an, and Plo had already beaten the last Inquisitor.
Anakin continues looking around the throne room as it finally dawns on him. At last, they've destroyed the Sith. At last, the war can end.
And, I'll end there.
I hope this was a good chapter. I know I didn't show the duels with the Inquisitors very much, but if I did, this chapter would have been prohibitively long. Also, for those wondering, the Inquisitors we saw were the Grand Inquisitor, the Fifth Brother, the Eighth Brother, and the Tenth Brother. I wanted to include some more, but we know some, like the Second and Third Sisters, were just younglings or young Padawans at this time, and we know some did not turn until they were captured and tortured. The ones I used are the ones almost confirmed to have turned to the dark side by the time of Order 66.
Instead of giving equal attention to both, I focused my attention on the duel with Palpatine. I hope you liked how I did it, and that I did it justice.
So, obviously, this is not the end. We still have at least two more chapters to wrap this story up. And, we still have the sequel to this. So we are definitely not done with this universe.
Alright. The next chapter will be up soon enough. Until it's up, please leave a review and stay tuned!