Star Wars: Arda Unleashed

by Lord Exar Kun

After the Arda Campaign ended in victory for the Republic and their local allies, the galaxy's eyes returned to the wider Clone Wars. However, the Dark Lord Sauron has yet to be vanquished. Now he has come to the wider galaxy free from the binds of Arda, and is ready to be unleashed upon the stars. As the Chosen One's fate, the Republic's and the Jedi Order's remains to be seen.

33. Battle of the Fates

Chapter 33

Battle of the Fates

"This is an abomination! An outrage!" Senator Greyshade snarled. His face beat red, and near frothing at his mouth. His hands gripping the edges of his pod as he roared and howled seemingly at random about the air. Whilst countless others in the Senate Rotunda followed much after his example. Thousands of beings, the so called 'elite' among all of galactic society, and those 'gifted' to lead for the people of the galaxy...all standing about and screaming like children. It was enough to make Padmé sick.

However, the smile that was present on her lips disallowed her from showing such. She was elated beyond compare and beyond any words in the Basic language to describe how she felt! Her body buzzed with anxiety fueled adrenaline and anticipation! The declaration had been sent out, and Contingency Order 65 put into effect. Her brown eyes tilted down to look upon the central podium. Her ears hearing the mess of screams, cries, snarls and curses, but her mind mostly ignoring them. As she narrowed her vision into slits and focused upon him. Upon 'Chancellor' Palpatine. Robed in his garments, the ragged man, scarred and deformed, sat upon his seat. Still seeming momentarily lost, and in the quiet of her mind Padmé could not help but feel a twinge of something akin to...snobbish empowerment. She...they, her Bail, Mon, and all the rest of the 2,000 had won! He and his cronies had lost.

"Order! There will be order in this chamber! I say Order!" Mas Amedda scrambled and bellowed as loud as he could. The thunderous cry of his voice only so loud by the chamber's speakers, and his alien hand beating upon a buzzer that acted as the gavel.

"Come to Order! Everyone shall...I say everyone-"

"You have no authority here, Amedda!" Someone, Padmé could not tell who, screamed. A male voice, but it didn't really matter who had said it. What mattered was the sudden laughter, and the clamor of clapping and applause, in opposition to the cacophony of boos that boomed.

"Padmé," She turned her head left and glanced at Bail. Himself also sporting a pleased smile, while flush with emotion and adrenaline. "We're at the next part of your plan I think." He stated, not wondered. Though Padmé cast a somewhat mischievous, if knowing smirk.

"'My plan?' That your way of distancing yourself from me if this all goes sideways?"

"Not at all!" Bail chuckled. "I merely mean to say: I think it's fitting you lead us in the next phase." Bail offered, and jutted his head left towards the interior of the chamber. "I would recommend sooner than later. While the chaos of emotion still blinds Palpatine's supporters."

"Your thoughts align with mine, Bail. Don't you worry." She beamed another smirk before closing her eyes. Cocking her head back and inhaling a long stabilizing breath. "Let's topple this would-be tyrant." She intoned. Face set in stony conviction, and taking a step forward to the edge of her delegation's pod.

"I rise to speak, Mister Vice Chair!" Padmé's voice once more boomed! Carrying a strength and power to it that managed to call to her the attention of many, but for the most fiery and passionate of spirits. Yet, even they would slowly be corralled into looking upon the feminine voice of power.

"I demand to be allowed to speak, Mister Vice Chair!"

"The Senator from Naboo has no leave! None!" Mas began harshly, stabbing a finger up towards her. "Further, she shall address me appropriately!"

"Then I demand to speak, Chancellor-Regent!" Padmé immediately snapped back, equally as harsh but undulating with the undertone of mockery. "I shall not be silenced! None in this chamber who yet adhere to the principles of democracy and yearn for its revitalization shall not be silenced ever again! Not by our former 'Emperor' and not by his lackeys, pawns, or toads...!" Padmé uttered with contempt, and many murmurs among the curses could be heard as Amedda's head reclined. His eyes unseen, but doubtless gawking and shocked by her brazen accusation.

"Furthermore," Padmé carried on, disallowing the man from retorting, and thrashing her right hand with pointed finger about the air. "I speak on behalf of many in this body! For we have suffered this day a terrible blow to honor, prestige, to democracy and liberty, but we yet stand. However, the recourse and the due processes to safeguard ourselves must begin, have already begun at that. Let there be no mistake, democracy only functions when those who live within it, fight for it! Fight for it we shall!"

"The Senator is out of order!" It was not Amedda, but in fact one of Palpatine's toadies. Padmé glanced left to see the fat husk, deprived of morality known as Orn Free Taa. "The Vice Chair, with the adoption of this criminal Contingency Order has assumed temporary Chancellorship, and the Senator from Naboo will humble herself! We are not all of us at your behest or whims yet, madam!" Padmé silently glowered, but contained herself. All former thoughts of anger and disdain towards those who had long ago sold democracy for credits writhed within her. Her calm exterior betraying the fire of passion she felt burning in her spirit. Yet, she did not give retort, as Bail stomped to the left edge of his pod.

"It is beyond fascinating! Astonishing even!" Bail began with an accusatory and pointed voice. "I have never seen it done before, Orn, but you have surprised me! For, it is only here and now you have managed to find your 'ethics' and hear them over the clanging of all those ill gotten credits in your pocketbook!" Bail accosted, and the room went wild once more! Howls and cheers of laughter sounded as Bail and Padmé's allies reveled in the shocked and gaped expression upon the bloated twi'lek's face. Whilst his allies, and those of Palpatine sneered, shouted and spat.

"How dare the Senator from Alderaan! How dare he!" Someone shouted with mock outrage. How quick the most vile and amoral were to clutch their pearls when they were met with the same fire they oft used. Padmé could only smirk as she returned her attention to Mas. The chagrian utterly lost for words.

"As I was saying!" Padmé caught the room once more. The serene cadence and power of her voice calling them to attention. "Today has proven that this body is not yet so diseased as to buckle to any and all demands of tyranny. Today has proven that we have been undermined from the very heart of our Republic."

"You don't have-"

"The Senator from Columex will wait his given leave to speak!" Padmé sharply and powerfully rebuffed Greyshade as he made to speak. The man tilting his head at her grimacing demeanor as she pointed his way, but did not bother to look upon him. A sideways condemnation that showed how little she thought of him. "I shall not be cowed to sit or be silent! We are no longer to be quiet and obedient accomplices in this affair!" Padmé continued, moving her arm back down as Greyshade remained momentarily silent.

"I call upon this body to further our move towards proper governance and peace! I issue a recommendation for a vote of No Confidence! And, let me be the first to put forward the motion itself!" Padmé cried and was met by a cheering clap from her and Bail's allies. Nearby Mon nodding while also passing glances at their allies. All of whom knew the part they had to play next, whipped into careful position to play the part.

"Not content with just Palpatine, are you?!" Another crony, it looked to be the Tarkin woman who cried from across the chamber. It was 'obvious' to everyone who Padmé would try to force out of position and power. Amedda, of course…

"We can no longer trust in those who have their positions based on the old system!" Padmé continued. "We cannot trust those who we have for too long been willing to do as they do regardless of merit or worth. The Republic must be revitalized, dear fellow senators, and it begins by voting from power the Chairman of the Security Council! Zafiel Snopps!"

"WHAT?!" A cry all but shrieked from the lower echelons of the chamber. Padmé glanced to her right and saw the man himself, Snopps gaping with wide mouth up at her. Even from a distance shock and some would say horror etched onto his face. His confusion and loud reaction doing nothing more than playing into the game Padmé had planned, and thus an indiscernible thin smile traced her lips.

The confusion throughout the chamber was equally palpable. Many who had been screaming and shouting from both sides of the argument were struck. Unsure if what Padmé had just said had been right? Had she just condemned the man who had voted to remove Palpatine's official power of control from the Grand Army?! However, some of her friends, especially Mon Mothma, and many others among the s called 'Delegation of 2000' began to shout their support. Palpatine supporters twisted and remarked one another from the pods. Tilting and glancing. Looking for some measure of clue as to what they would collectively do. But, in their weakness of action...some took the bait.

"I concur! Utterly and wholly!" Shayla Paige-Tarkin, cried from her pod. The pale woman, her dark hair shadowing her brow, and accented Eriadu manner rising to catch the attention of all who stood with her and Palpatine. "Remove the Chairman from his position at once! Vote the enfeebled Senator from Corulag out! Vote now!" Shayla recounted the words used by Palpatine's detractors, and suddenly, a new chorus began to thunder the room. Amedda at the podium utterly locked into stunned confusion. His right hand planted to his chest, and twisting where he stood with his lips opening and closing.

"VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW!" They all cried, even supporters of Bail and Padmé joined. Truly a show of 'bipartisanship.' Though, Padmé glanced right. Her hardened brown pools meeting the glower of Simon Greyshade. The man cocked a curious brow, and said nothing. Padmé cast him an almost daring look. Turning away from him and regarding Bail who was overlooking the sights.

"This had better work…" Bail trailed off. Perhaps sensing Padmé's attention on him.

"It will, Bail. Regardless of the vote passing or even occuring. All we need to do for the Jedi is give them time." Padmé assured taking a step nearer. Joining the Senator from Alderaan at his right. His dark features doing nothing to hide how drained of color he was. Even through the buzz of victory felt moments prior he, like Padmé, was a mess of anxiety and emotions all intermingling within his gut. He masked it well, but Padmé could perceive it over the chanting of the chamber.

"Look there." Bail jutted his chin out. Padmé followed his gaze and found Amedda at the Chancellor's podium. "He's woken up."

"Then, the real challenge begins." Padmé intoned as she nodded. Watching what Bail did. As Mas was drawn in and now bending at his waist to hear something Palpatine was saying to him. Unheard by them of course. The rabble of the chamber a discontented match of voting chants, with the odd argument and spitting match happening between the pods among more aggressive and upset politicians.

"He looks upset." Bail scoffed, more to himself than to Padmé.

"I cannot imagine why? Though it is curious you can make out an expression from here, Bail." Padmé smirked and glanced left at him. Catching Organa's lips curl into a somewhat wry smile.

"Maybe I can't tell particularly what mood he is in, my Lady." He admitted. "Call it intuition. Or, perhaps I am gloating?"

"You, gloat?" Padmé faux gasped and shook her head dejectedly. "Whatever has become of the one time respectable Bail Organa of Alderaan?!" Both of them chortled. Finding the mildest relief of their shared anxieties relieving. Before both of them returned their full attention to said podium.

Padmé pausing and going somewhat rigid in spite of herself. Her body buzzed and a slight sweat could be felt upon her brow as heat flushed over and through her. At the podium...the Chancellor, their would-be Emperor was glaring up at them. Or, as Padmé felt deep within herself, he was glaring up at her with a type of glower she imagined more than directly saw. Though, in truth she was not too far as to not make out his expression. Cast in anger, and disdain...disgust.

Padmé chose to extend her head up from her neck. Pronouncing herself in a regal manner she had found herself often doing whilst Queen of Naboo. Her expression became stoic and emotionless, and she dared him, even from afar with her eyes. The two glared, and Palpatine for his part did not move...at first. The man snapped his head to the right and Padmé watched him place his right hand to his cloaked brow. Seeming as though a headache overcame him. Though, that was just a guess. She could imagine a migraine for any politician in his position. She took some hidden dry mirth in that.

"ORDER!" Mas Amedda howled, and apparently had been repeating for the past few moments as Padmé and her one time Senator took sharing a glower. "Come to order now! The chamber will enter recess! I say again, the chamber will recess! The chamber, WILL, ENTER, RECESS!" Mas' voice carried loud and thunderous. Echoed by the podium's microphones which seemed to finally have been maxed out, and caused a slight ring through the unseen speaker instruments.

"Care to take them up on their offer, my Lady?" Bail wondered as he pulled away from the podium's edge. Many in the chamber refusing loudly to leave their podiums. Shouting down at Amedda even as the chagrian called a pod over. The Chancellor's seat not moving from place, as anticipated.

"You think leaving the chamber to be a good idea?" She wondered.

"The order has been sent out. For now the Chancellor and his cronies don't have any control over the troopers. I will risk it. Some, perhaps not all, but some of the opposition have to be seen confidently leaving the chamber for the cam droids."

"You have a point." Padmé nodded somewhat absently. "We should confer with Mon and other members of the leadership. If the vote goes through they are to vote against removal of Snopps."

"They know, my Lady." Bail assured. Though he did tilt himself, more a shrug. "Though it would not hurt to remind them."

"Exactly." Padmé smirked. "Lead the way." She motioned, and gladly Bail did. Leading them from the chamber, as it became only somewhat more empty. With many commotions, shouting matches, arguments, curses and personal attacks taking place in pockets between enemies of old and new.

---

Moments Before…

"Amedda!" Palpatine snapped causing the chagrian to jump. Turning to Palpatine. His expression a mixture of surprise, and relief that the true mind behind this...thing was seemingly awake once more.

"Yes, Master?" He groveled, and bent towards him. For his part Palpatine swallowed and dampened his dried throat. Shaking himself from the stupor of...everything that had just happened. His body shook, trembled even. A mixture of wrath and rage he had not felt in many long years. Perhaps not since Plagueis had yet lived and caused his student to feel used, and mocked? This though?! This was a mockery, a shame, and humiliation that Palpatine had spent all his years in Republic politics maneuvering! Defeats happened, of course. But, this?! His face glowered beneath his cowl. A sneer likethat of a starved rancor ran across his features, and his eyes barely restrained the yellowed glow of the dark side as he eyed Amedda. A contemptuous look in his gaze, that the chagrian recoiled ever so subtly against.

"You," Palpatine stabbed a bony and wroth index finger into Amedda's face. "Shut this display down, at once, Amedda!"

"I...I…"

"Silence!" Palpatine bid with a hissed tone, casting a sideways glare up at the platform that housed both Bail Organa and that little whelp that should have been bound up by now, Amidala...Amidala-Skywalker! "This...this whole thing is a farce! A joke! A ruse!" Palpatine informed the stunted bureaucratic fool that was, and always had be, will be, Mas Amedda. "The opposition have put this vote forward against that fool Snopps to beleaguer, and slow us down from countering this charade."

"I...I do not understan-"

"Of course, you don't." Palpatine spat without a trace of scorn. Rather he sounded dull and matter-of-fact. A long sigh huffing from him. "They concocted this plot for the Security Council to vote me from power, but now they don't want you, with your powers," Palpatine accentuated. "Putting forth a vote rescinding the order!" To that, the chagrian finally seemed to understand. His body retracting and head bobbing.

"We...we should put forth a Vote of Confidence in your abilities, and Censure the Security Council from all further proceedings until a...until an investigatory committee indicates they are free of any corruption!"

"A wise decision, Regent." Palpatine nodded. "Call a recess, and a pod over. Get everyone in line and make them understand this is all a charade." Palpatine waved his right hand out in a callous manner. "The opposition understands their frothing hatred for Snopps. They do not care if he is or is not removed from power. Vote down this measure, and call the Confidence Vote."

"Yes, Lord." Mas bowed. Turning from Palpatine and clearing his alien throat. "ORDER! I say again ORDER in the chamber! ORDER at once!" He cried out garnering some attention, as the bluster and chanting for the votes continued. Palpatine, however, tuned Amedda and the cries of the chamber from his mind. He glanced down at his hand and regarded his ring. Noting the soft glow of the red runes upon it.

Though, he was quicker to remove his eyes from the band, and to twist them up once more. A sneering and scornfully hateful glower to his brow. Lips icily curled in such a manner to have made even the most hungered of nexu disregard him as prey. That man, Organa! He and his opposition...Palpatine never thought them to have ever had it in them to make any meaningful resistance in the open. They were victims of tradition and procedure. Wholly unaware of the rot Palpatine had instilled in their system. Incapable of surmounting the obstacles, more from lack of vision and dogged determination than anything Palpatine had done personally.

Though...Palpatine's eyes found Padmé. The woman turned and met his gaze. Even from afar both humans found the other. Palpatine could sense faintly a mixture of emotions. Victory and pride, mingled with anxiety and disgust. Pointed upon him, and toward him. For a long moment Palpatine watched her, observed her. Sordid memories coming to mind of how their lives intertwined. Often times in ways Palpatine had never wanted. Certainly in ways he never expected when he had gone to her parents and made them goad her into running for Monarch of Naboo.

"Always a little thorn in my side." Palpatine whispered to himself. Feeling the icy hate of the dark side wriggle over his body and through his bones. "Perhaps I have been too easy on you?" He continued to himself, even as Mas entered the final stages of his commandments to the chamber. Willing, and loudly; with the aid of the speakers, commanding the rabble to order. "Yes, too kind. Too easy." Palpatine sucked in air through his nostrils. Calling on that same Force, the dark side and all his myriad of emotions. The ring on his finger seemed to thrum softly upon his finger. Palpatine reached out through the Force, and time seemed to slow imperceptibly to all but him. With his new powers, and his added strength, he imagined if he could warp her mind? Twist her into something here and now that would undermine this whole affair? Perhaps even, to a degree that would make him look all the greater. The 'evidence' and recording of the Jedi in his office...that could have easily been doctored. Be it by the Jedi rebels, or some other Separatist faction seeking to sow discord! Yes...yes! There was a way out of this! Palpatine merely had to remember to play the game. The Force as his tool in order to-

"ACK!" He snapped back and away. Reeling his face from her direction! Feeling the pang of some searing pain tear through his mind! Thoughts and images becoming jumbled. A sudden flash like a star before his mind's eye blinded him to all prior ruminations! A fire, pitted at its center with a glowering opening at its center. Dark as any abyss about the vastness of space. Slowly...painfully slowly at that, Palpatine opened his eyes. Feeling the quake of a splitting migraine assaulting his temples. A shuddering breath passed his lips. Wholly unintended but his body took a long moment to return to full control, and calm.

Palpatine turned back up to look at Padmé Amidala Naberrie Skywalker. Then...he saw it. Palpatine saw her. Her entire body thrummed with a pulsating and pure light. Robed in white like shimmersilk glinting as stars above a world lacking in pollutants or lights. Her flesh unmarred, and untainted, eyes burning with fires that did not wane her beauty and wonder. Hair flowing and slowly whipping as though gently whirled by winds from some unknown sea. Powerful, broad, her light stretching forth from her and casting down across all within the chamber, even Palpatine himself. Whilst a wheel like fire slowly spun at her back. Intricate spokes sprung from the spinning wheel, stabbing in all directions as it rotated.

As she turned from him and made from the chamber, and Mas Amedda had some nameless unimportant senator float his pod over to the podium and pick him up, Palpatine reclined in his seat. The room returned to its normal glow and color. As the vision of Padmé faded, and she once more bore the look as she always did, of a mere human woman. Before she faded fully from sight.

Palpatine had a sudden flash of memory. He was turning towards the door. His Master, Plagueis was asleep on his couch within his apartment. Drunk on wine. The dark side had whispered to Palpatine then. A thought coming to mind. His election was assured within the Senate to the seat of Supreme Chancellor. What need have he of Plagueis? He should end it now! And, and it he had.

Now, like then, the dark side whispered to him. Only this time, there was mockery in its slithering machinations. Not really a mind or consciousness of its own. It was the ambitions, the will, the thoughts of Palpatine given temporary agency. The voice, however, finally...truly understood something it had not yet formulated these past hours, or this past day. Grievous, the duel in his office, the Temple and the Jedi who yet lived there, Padmé…

Palpatine, with his agent, and part-time mistress Sly Moore sat worriedly eyeing him, ran his left hand up across his mouth. His eyes dashing from left to right. He could not know just how nearly he mimicked the words of his Master, when Darth Plagueis had gone in search of Anakin Skywalker within Palpatine's suite all those years ago, and failed to find him. But, the words ushered from Palpatine would have made the old muun laugh, as they flowed in a whisper from his mouth. The vision of a Great Eye in his mind.

"Am I undone? Have you undone me?"

---

"It was Hego Damask as Plagueis who then set his sights on a seemingly confused young man and, with meticulous skill, manipulated him into committing patricide, matricide, fratricide. Darth Plagueis who took him as an apprentice, sharing some of his knowledge but withholding his most powerful secrets, denying the apprentice his wishes as a means of controlling him, instilling in him a sense of murderous rage, and turning him to the dark side. It was Plagueis who criticized the early efforts of his apprentice, and who once choked him in a demonstration of his superiority. Plagueis, who denigrated him in private for hiring an inept assassin to carry out the murder of Senator Kim – and yet who allowed himself to be tricked by the Gran and nearly killed by mercenaries. Plagueis, who turned away from the Grand Plan to focus entirely on himself, in an egotistical quest for immortality. Plagueis who had the temerity to criticize his apprentice for having inculcated too much pride in the assassin he had trained. Plagueis, who attempted to turn his equally powerful apprentice into a messenger and mere intermediary.'

'Plagueis the Wise, who in his time truly was, except at the end, trusting that the Rule of Two had been superseded, and failed to realize that he would not be excused from it. Plagueis the Wise, who forged the most powerful Sith Lord the galaxy has ever known, and yet who forgot to leave a place for himself; whose pride never allowed him to question that he would no longer be needed.'

'You lost the game on the very first day you chose to train me to rule by your side – or better still, under your thumb. Teacher, yes, and for that I will be eternally grateful. But Master – never.'"

- Palpatine / Darth Sidious

---

"Step aside, now!" Fox thundered as he stomped towards the entrance directly ahead of him. Overhead the warble of LAATs sounded. Dozens of the gunships circling and moving to and fro across the skies. Joined by the odd CSF police airspeeder as well. Though CSF was wholly out of its depth, and merely moving about ensuring the government sector's security grid was activating across the whole plaza. Barricades rose out of the various walkways near and far while the gunships dropped off units of the 501st, having finally left their posts surrounding a now; though unknown to be, emptied Jedi Temple. Along with the 501st came detachments of Fox's Coruscant Guard not currently engaged with militia pockets still outside the Temple District, and the 187th Legion from the navy.

Hundreds of clone troopers had begun to surround the Senate Building. None yet breaching it. The entryways guarded by Senate Security, who even under their masks looked markedly uncomfortable. Though they were also mixed with Coruscant guard units assigned to the building and other security bureaus and divisions including local police, and some Security Bureau TAC squads. How they had made it here so quickly before Fox? He had not clue to that, nor cared.

"Commander, I cannot let you through."

"Why is that?" The clone Commander briskly wondered as no less than six troopers formed up behind him and at his side. Their sea of frowning helmets reflecting a small team of three Senate security guards, holding their blasters close to their chests.

"Orders have come from The Vice...err, Interim Chancellor, Amedda. No outside troopers are to enter the Senate building until otherwise given freedom to do so."

"I have received no such commands."

"Well," The guard shrugged, as nonchalantly as he could. "Those were our orders. The situation on Coruscant is fluid. The message could have gotten...lost."

"Lost?" Fox intoned.

"Lost." The man nodded. Fox, for his part huffed an unimpressed sound and nodded. Tilting his head right and then left to his men. All of them ranking officers in the Guard.

"Troopers! Fan out and issue directives to all incoming clone forces. Form a defensive perimeter around this building! No one is to come in, or get out until the situation has cleared. Am I understood?!"

"SIR!" They all snapped at the same time. Breaking off and running to the nearest squads, whilst activating their internal comm units.

"Wha...what are you doing?" The same guard wondered as his two friends huddled behind him just inside the building. It was a smaller entryway. Not the regal main entrance that was near...relatively speaking for the vast mushroom that was the Senate Building, at least.

"Setting up a security perimeter." Fox bluntly offered and pressed his right hand against his helmet. Listening in to a series of check-ins and reports before regarding the guards again. "Order 65 is now in effect, men. Regardless of what you may know, or think you know, this building now retains a criminal. Procedure and Senate dictates will only last so long. When they are superseded, and they will be...with time, you will not stand in my way, or the way of my men."

"We aren't-" The man began, but Fox cut him off by throwing a gloved palm up at him.

"Once I am at breach capacity everyone in this building will be ordered to stand down, and to evacuate themselves immediately. Otherwise you will be aiding and abetting, and considered thus, traitors and enemies of the Republic."

"You can't-"

"Excuse me." Fox turned and ignored the man after. Refusing to play anymore games today as he glanced from left over right. Watching as hundreds more troopers arrived, and gunships zoomed overhead. Watchful and waiting for anything. Though, silently the Commander did have to say...this morning was turning out to be quite insane! The Guard was stretched thin as it was. Militia was still fighting elements of CSF, the Security Bureau, and all manner of Legions across the outer zones of the Temple District. Now, he had elements of those very same forces minus the 501st and 187th defending the building the 'unfit' Chancellor occupied.

"This day is insane." He remarked to himself. Like clockwork, however, his comm buzzed and a voice ignited in his ear.

"Commander, sir!"

"This is Fox, go ahead." He pressed his hand to his ear comm again.

"Commander, CT-3181, sir! I am overlooking Government Sector entry point Yirt-225. There is a large column of civilians on approach! I note several dozen intermixed in the crowd holding blasters and assorted weapons. How respond, over?!"

"Militia?" Fox sneered under his helmet as he asked.

"Looks like more, sir! They're loud...and angry. Posters, banners, and assorted paraphernalia regarding Palpatine, sir!"

"This is CT-9880, Coruscant Guard. Apologies for interjection, sir. However, I and my platoon have set up a checkpoint at entry walkway Mern-30. I also have a large column of civilians approaching my position. I have issued orders to not advance, but they are still on approach, how respond, over?"

"All troop-" BOOM! Something popped in the distance. All nearby heads who heard it turned, and most could guess it to be either a small thermal detonator...or a pipe bomb.

"Where was that explosion?!" Fox demanded, and released his hand from his comm. "Kriff!" He cursed, as the comms once more became a mess of reports...some conflicting.

"Improvised explosive detonation at the corner of the Spaceport Authority office!"

"All civilians will halt! I say again, all civilians will halt!" Someone blared loudly in the background as the report came in.

"Gunships, this is Fox, move out to the outer layers! I don't want any civilians piercing the third barricade positions! All troopers on first and second positions, pull back to the third! Form up and do not allow any civilians entry! Weapons free is authorized!"

"I have two groups of civies going at it over near the Tax Collection adjunct building." Someone butted in as Fox relayed his commands. The gunships overhead whirring and zooming off while some of the clones just arriving re-boarded idling gunships and followed local officer commands. Rerouting to the necessary defensive points.

"Repeat last on civilian infighting." Fox commanded as the area around him came to life with troopers moving to their own barricades. Blocking off the Senate Building...though Fox damn well hoped no militia got this far into the Government Sector on foot.

"They're-" A pop sounded on the other side of the comms.

"Weapons fire, weapons fire!" Someone cried out, before the first voice returned. The dull percussion of releasing blaster gas pinging in the background. Distantly to be heard by one's ears without the comm.

"Two groups of civilians are engaging one another, sir!" The first trooper relayed with a newly rushed and exasperated tone. "Some with Palpatine banners! Others with...Republic insignia flags...defaced Palpatine art. Opposition civilian protest!" The unknown trooper seemed to deduce on his end.

"Dammit!" Fox could've spit were it not for the helmet. The day could in fact get worse, it seemed.

"Commander Appo, this is Fox! I need reinforcements from the 501st!"

"At your disposal, Commander." Appo replied simply.

In the distance large columns of chanting, screaming, spitting and howling patchwork riotous mobs formed and marched. Some carrying the banner of Palpatine, screaming against the Republic that the rear echelon patriots had venerated mere hours before. Whilst opposition groups, carrying plasma torches, effigies of Palpatine hung from flag posts, and emblems of the Republic disavowed the Chancellor! A previously silenced resentment welled up within many common folk across Coruscant finally called upon to be unleashed, with the removal of Palpatine. The show of his nature as a Sith, and the words of Bail Organa, and Senator Padmé Amidala Naberrie calling them to action.

Bottles were thrown, blasters fired. Beatings and mass rioting began in the Republic Government Sector. Whilst gunships flew overhead, and troopers advanced or retreated dependent on where they were. Chaos, overtaking the government Sector. Chaos, overtaking Coruscant. Chaos wholly unleashed.

---

"All Coruscant Guard detachments within the Senate Building, move yourselves to the outer limit of the building and form defensive postures at all verandas, terraces, patio positions and overlooks!" Three red striped clone troopers of said Guard stomped in a clamor of sound as they raced through the long corridor. All of them hearing the same general order.

"Addendum: all troopers posted to the entryways of the Senator pods are to remain in place! If needed and as needed, you shall escort any and all government officials to the bunker level, or evacuation points. Large unruly and riotous civilian elements are advancing on the Senate Building. Any and all non-Guard security forces are to have any and all orders ignored if counter to these commands. Further, any and all local security forces seeking to undermine you in the pursuit of your orders are to be fired upon if so required with all prejudice granted." The voice harshly, methodically, even mechanically went on as the men raced on. "Commander Fox, out."

"Come on, move, move!" The man at the head of the trio barked. Leading them with a sweep of his arm back and then forward. They reached the end of the hall, turned right and out of sight. No longer around to see a small doorway open up midway through the corridor. Out of which a whirring and beeping white and blue astromech droid appeared.

The droid turned to its left. Rolling for some time, locally listening in to the chaotic exchange of orders and mounting concern from the soldiers. He had run into a few troopers along the way, but they had all ignored him. Most of the time soldiers did. Assuming him to be another run of the mill droid carrying out its...his duties as he went about the building. Causing no harm and bringing no unwanted attention to himself.

Eventually, leading to him from his origin point. Being, one of the building's computer system arteries. Going through one of countless mazes of halls, corridors and winding paths. Finding himself nearing an ancient...and this truly was ancient, access shaft. It was, based on the schematics read before, built during the time of the so called 'Great Galactic War.' A maintenance tunnel that led from the structure base buzzing with tremendously large wires housing hundreds of smaller cables that fed electricity to mind-numbing numbers of systems inside the building.

For security purposes it was always magnetically sealed and locked. Even during a blackout, as occurred during the Separatist attack. Only repair droids ever dealt with the wiring and electronics, unless a technician was absolutely necessary. According to the records, only a quick survey by a tech had been done after the recent battle. Now though, the astromech rolled up to it. Found the locking mechanism and once more its interface module extended, and stabbed into an adjacent circular port. With a beep, and inquisitive twist of its domed head, the droid's module spun left, right, right, left again, and then…

The magnetic seal sounded a harsh release and the doorway popped into an eased position. Still locked behind a rudimentary key code, which was easily input. Then the door, with a thin layer of wafting dust, parted. Behind which stood seven figures. One noticeably smaller then the other six.

"Artoo!" Obi-Wan beamed, idly waving his hand before his face from the dust. He neared and chuckled softly planting his hand atop the droid's head. To Artoo's bobbing pleasure. "It's good to see you! Good work getting us in."

"Mmm, fine work, it is." Yoda agreed hobbling forward and leaning on his gimmer stick.

"Once again you've been most helpful." The tall wizard in white, Gandalf greeted with a twinkle in his eyes. While the twin elven princes, Galadriel and Gimli followed them in. Artoo beeping happily, but shutting the doorway behind them, just for appearances sake.

"Alright, here we are!" Gimli stout and brisk informed everyone. "I'm ready to do my part! Just send me on my way and let me at them!"

"Now now, Master dwarf," Gandalf admonished lightly, tapping his staff. "We've discussed the plan. There's no 'going at them.'"

"Ah!" The dwarf waved him off. "But, a mere expression, Gandalf! But, the faster we move, the quicker we can hopefully end this despot's plans."

"Aye." Elladan concurred. "The sooner we can act, the swifter indeed." The Prince noted, as he pulled the strapped blaster rifle from over his back to his chest. Placing his fingers upon the safety mechanism and idling atop it carefully. His twin doing the same. Having learned how to wield them...a bit too fast for Obi-Wan's sake, but he dared not complain at a time like this.

"Alright," Obi-Wan began, turning to the rest of the group as they formed a semicircle. "Artoo has let me listen in on tapped communications between the clones. They're distracted and moving to the outer edges of the building due to...mobs."

"Mobs, Obi-Wan?" Gandalf questioned.

"It would appear there are several large and angry groups of the citizenry marching on this location. Those in support of Palpatine, and those against him."

"It would certainly seem madness has gripped this place." Elrohir offered, and Obi-Wan couldn't disagree. Merely nodding as a sigh passed his nose. Even with Order 66 rescinded the clones couldn't be expected to be...forthcoming if Obi-Wan and Yoda along with a ragtag team of off-worlders attempted to 'apprehend' the former Chancellor.

"Regardless," Obi-Wan carried on. "This has made our task potentially easier. Gimli, Elladan, and Elrohir. You three continue with your part of the plan."

"Get their attention, cause some mayhem, get them scared!" Gimli listed off and primed his own blaster rifle to life. "What are we waitin' for?!"

"Patience, Gimli." Obi-Wan smiled thinly. Truly feeling tired, and wholly...unprepared for what he could guess awaited he, Master Yoda, Gandalf and Galadriel. In spite of their preparation and knowledge of what to expect, a pit still knotted in Obi-Wan's stomach. He felt his pulse race, then calm, then race again. Adrenaline spiking even as he centered himself in the Force. Calling on its calming light to guide him, and protect him...him and his friends. Anakin too...wherever he may have been. Still...he couldn't dwell on that. Not now! There was too much at stake.

"Hmm," Yoda interjected before Obi-Wan could begin again. "Remember to take great care, you must. Cause as little harm, we should. Though, if any clone jeopardizes our mission, or your lives-"

"We understand, Master Yoda." Elrohir, the markedly calmer and more diplomatic of the twins nodded. "We shall try our best to cause no death. But, we cannot guarantee it in a task as precarious as this. Hopefully this 'stun' setting works as intended." The elf remarked, the three of them having had their knowledge expanded on the concept of stun versus lethal settings.

"Hmm, all we can ask, it is." Yoda affirmed, nonetheless.

"Right." Obi-Wan began again. "Once the alert you three cause begins, we four shall be waiting for Palpatine. Once the alert happens, don't stay too long." Obi-Wan shifted his attention to silently observing Artoo. "Artoo, you monitor them through the building. Lock off as many security teams trailing or chasing them. Lockdown all security rooms once the alert goes out, and then all of you meetup back here when the evacuation begins and get to safety."

"Are you sure about this, Grandmother?" Elladan noted Galadriel. The almost ethereal elf stood with her eyes closed. Almost looking like a Jedi in meditation. Though, Obi-Wan would assume she was sensing. Just for something else. Something nasty and small...rings. Obi-Wan was a bit tired of rings.

"This threat they face cannot be left to fester. Its reach will be greater than even Sauron's. We cannot do nothing. To do so would be inviting greater harm in the future." Galadriel smiled thinly. In fact, a bit grimly. "Whatever may happen, my daughter's sons, I shall stay here and do what I can. What we must. If it should all be for naught, and I fall into shadow, you three must return to Arda. Inform all who can and will hear, and ready for war. Terrible and undesirable as it may be. War does not wait for the best of times for the peoples it falls upon." To that, the twins nodded. Their eyes set and determined.

"Yes, Grandmother."

"Yes, my Lady." Elladan and Elrohir offered respectively.

"Come." Gandalf commanded, tapping his staff and beginning to move down the hall. Seemingly aware which one they needed...though it could have been pure luck. Obi-Wan didn't want to think it was this new ring's...stink or call calling and guiding the wizard. "We have idled too long here! Our enemy awaits, and time is no less short."

"Hmm, agree I do! Move we must." Yoda tapped his gimmer stick and picked up his pace. Walking with a speed and determination rarely seen in a Jedi as elder as he.

"Good luck, everyone. May the Force be with us all." Obi-Wan bid. Turning, he made after Yoda and Gandalf. Galadriel following in his wake, while the three idled a moment longer. Before moving in the opposite direction. Artoo remaining where he was, to find a computer access console in short order. Everyone knowing their tasks well enough.

Breaking off into two groups though, did nothing to calm and ease Obi-Wan's nerves. Buzzing with anticipation, and anxiousness. Obi-Wan pulled his brown Jedi robes in close. Wrapping himself in the Force. He and Yoda projecting a circle around the group. Making them appear 'small' in the minds and eyes of any who would glance at them. Reaching out and sensing for any presences near. The dull patting of Obi-Wan's lightsaber at his belt a constant reminder of what was coming.

Palpatine...Darth Sidious! One and the same. Empowered by a ring from Arda, crafted or found. Far too many questions remained unasked, unspoken and unanswered there. His blue eyes set themselves quietly. Obi-Wan would, if he made it out of this, discover how such a thing could happen. He and...he and Anakin would. When he found him, helped him, freed him.

"We will." Obi-Wan intoned so low as to be a breath of soundless wind. Though, unseen Galadriel looked upon him. Regarding him for a moment, before smiling once more. Nodding in silence.

As the four of them moved through the Senate building towards the entrance of Palpatine's central podium. In time, alarms would blare. In time, the great duel would begin.

---

"Remain at your post. Report anything and everything out of the ordinary, trooper!"

"Yes, sir!" The red painted clone trooper acknowledged. Pinning his blaster to his chest with a faint clamor of metal to plated armor. His commanding officer regarding him a moment, before moving on. A small squad of fellow Coruscant Guard at his back. The whole of the building was abuzz with troop movements. Many within the Guard were being side-eyed, suspiciously harassed, and agitated by the Senate Guard, and various other security forces. A tense situation developing within the confines of the vast Senate Building as all became uncomfortably aware it was the imperative of any and all clone troopers to arrest, detain or otherwise 'remove' the former Chancellor. Many of the varying security forces weren't taking too kindly to that.

Especially, from what this trooper had been hearing over his comms, were those troops on the upper floors. Many Senate Guards were meandering nearby doors that access Senate pods. The Coruscant Guard troops standing outside those doorways remained at post. Ostensibly there to guard the senators and various politicians within their varying pods. Whilst a silent understanding was passed about, whether verbally, or by sheer forethought, that if Palpatine left the Rotunda, he was to be hunted down.

This was all not even mentioning the various garbled calls, orders, commands, cries and whatever have you going on outside! From what this one trooper could hear over the comms, civies were marching on the kriffing Senate Building! He had woken up from the barracks hearing about a Jedi rebellion. The initiation of Order 66. The command of which had made him snap to attention. A dazed sensation rippling over his mind, hazing his senses, and activating his conditioning. Whether he knew it or not. Bred and raised, perfected to be the best soldiers by the Kaminoans. Subservient to the issuing of orders, no matter the morality of the individual soldier.

The man shook his head. Ruminating on thoughts that were stricken from his mind quickly thereafter. There was a reason clones weren't asked to think. They were made for war, and to serve the Republic. To follow orders, like good soldiers.

"Oi!" The clone jolted slightly. Glancing right, down the hall, and aiming his blaster on instinct. Though, his brow cocked bemusedly. Down the hall stood a stout little man...at least the trooper thought he was a man. He was four feet or so? Hard to guess with the weird stone helmet atop his head. Thick reddish hair hung down the man's face, while he wore a burgundy like tunic over...something. He looked bulkier than made sense for his appearance.

"Halt!" The trooper commanded gruffly and kept his blaster aimed down sights. Noticing through his observations...the man held a blaster of his own. Looked like a clone regulation DC-15S. "Don't move!" The trooper further issued and allowed his left hand to release from the bottom of his rifle and tap his ear comm.

"This is CT-2239, floor 13! I have an unidentified person in hallway 2-20. Requesting an officer and reinforcements!"

"Copy, hold position." A slightly dull voice responded quickly. Likely a trooper sat at a security console in one of the various command stations in the building.

"Ah, we may have a wee problem with yer' orders there, laddie!"

"Don't talk!" The clone snapped! Taking a single step forward and flashing his blaster's barrel by jutting the blaster forward at the small figure. "You are in a restricted area!"

"Aye, this we know!"

"We?"

Suddenly a blaster bolt shot out! The trooper ducked and whirled around! A charring mark hit the paneling of a wall near him. Two figures stood down the hall, and aimed their blasters down at him! Both tall, both certainly more human looking than the short man. Both of them...moving, and fast!

"Blaster discharge! Discharge! Multiple unknown suspects on-" PANG!

A bolt slammed into the trooper as he tried relaying to command! A flurry of calls, echos and repeat commands repeated in his ears. Whilst he fell onto his back in a crumpled mess. His every muscle spasming and teeth jittering as the obvious signs of a stun blast overcame him.

"Master dwarf, come!"

"I'm with you two princelings! Go, go!" The stout figure heaved and sprinted past the trooper. Incapable of moving. Laying on the ground.

The three unknowns dashed back into the hall the two princes had come from. A door opened at the far end. Four clone troopers rushed out. Dashing to their collective left. Two falling onto a knee, and the other two raising their blasters immediately!

"Fire!"

"Left, brother!"

"Right!" Elrohir responded to Elladan. Both dashing to the sides of the hall in respective fashion. Both firing single bolts that slammed into a trooper each. Both masked men howling as they fell over shaking.

"I've got the center!" Gimli loosed a gruff chortle! Firing like a madman! A sweeping ripple of bolts loosed from his blaster and a mirth filled cry broke forth. As the two poor, but very much alive, souls he hit took three to four bolts each. Both hacking and falling back with their fellows as the elvish princes and their dwarven companion raced forward without relent.

"Ha! A fine set of hits, Master Dwarf!" Elladan grinned and kept dashing on light foot.

"Indeed! A master of shot we shall make you!" Elrohir agreed.

"You two laddies should see me with me throwing axes!" Gimli chortled as he fell slightly behind them.

The hall blared to life! More troops dashed in from behind them. Both princes turned. Fell to their knees as they had seen the men do here and before when they came with Anakin to the Executive. Both of them downed one man. A second, then third. Shots rang out, and burnt the walls and ceiling before, behind, and beside them! The dwarf comrade twisted and ran behind a pillar. Leaning his blaster around, and spraying a volley that ravaged another man or two. As more clones came like a flood broken past the dams.

Lights whirling in blaring alarm through this hall. This floor. Through the whole building.

"I think we have their attention!" Elrohir noted, as another clone trooper fell in a howl of pain. His brother turning as a door in the opposing direction slid open. Allowing more troops to seemingly materialize from nothing.

"In that we can be sure, brother!"

"Aye, they are angry!" Gimli added, turning and loosing a volley that made the newcomers whirl back into the hall they were coming from. Though, as they did, a large slab of metal slammed down from the ceiling! Crashing into the floor and sealing the hall off. Blocking those newcomer clones from any path to the three companions.

"What is…"

"The droid!" Elrohir answered for Elladan.

"Aye, but let's not linger! We can thank the machine when next we see him!" The dwarf dashed with a huffing heave of breath into an adjoined hall. The twins smirking at him, but following him. As the three of them continued to cause chaos. An unseen and unheard guardian droid watching them from elsewhere in the building.

---

"Order! Come to order! This Chamber is not a sports cantina! All sitting members shall respect our codes and ethics! So, as I say come to order, you come to order!" Amedda continued to crow. His voice ever so ragged and worn by his constant and consistent shouting. His blue complexion, even from afar a bit paler than usual, and presence smaller than ever before. Weak...limp.

The recess had ended just a few standard minutes ago. Those senators that had taken the chance to leave their pods had filed back in. Everyone was in no less a raucous mood, angry and flustered. Especially the loyalists who sided with Palpatine. The man never leaving the podium, remaining sat, almost dejected and subjected to the cam droids. Padmé had only caught the briefest glimpse in passing. Seeing some senators in the halls huddled around a few mobile projectors. Watching the HoloNet explode with anchors, journalists, panelists, hosts and everyone beyond or between give their two credits for what was happening.

Friends and allies of the regime, of Palpatine, were apoplectic. Lambasting the Senate for daring to throw this 'farce' up! Daring to undermine the power, and prestige of the Chancellor, his office and the Republic. Many of whom were, like the feckless, smarmy, rearguard nationalists they were, made snide comments or insinuations about 'who' should do 'what.' From what Padmé had seen, there were video feeds showing mobs marching on the Senate...something that made her feel the faintest more uneasy, but she hid it under her stoic determination.

However, what this showed was the mobilization, even now, of those who allied with Palpatine. Be they civilian, politician, media moguls, and Padmé portended many within the military. Which was the most unsettling of predictions. The clones would do as ordered. But, before they could let them, they needed a Chancellor who would give them the right orders.

Her eyes glanced down at Amedda and Palpatine. It certainly was neither of them. Her nostrils flared as the many foreboding thoughts whirled across her mind. Her tunneled vision of mind and intent forcing her to focus on this moment. Waiting for Obi-Wan, the Jedi, and...and Anakin's friends from Arda to make their move.

Padmé's mouth opened. For a moment she forgot herself. Her breath shuddered, and she barely managed to stop herself from uttering his name aloud. She wished she knew where he was...what he was doing. Everything was in chaos. Bail had been the one in contact with Obi-Wan, and the Temple. Padmé had wanted to beg him to tell her what Anakin was doing. To tell her where he was! She...she, however, chose to focus on what she could do.

Padmé couldn't put more stress onto Anakin. She couldn't imagine what he was going through internally. She wanted him to know she was here. Would be here, always. But...she closed her eyes again. Feeling her eyelids flutter. Opening them to harden her gaze once again. She would play the part she knew best. Do her duty. Allowing herself to imagine what peace there could be, would be, once this was done. Once she: and Bail, Obi-Wan, the Jedi, the loyalists to the Republic and democracy, once they all had won. Not Palpatine.

"-as such, the vote shall now commence!" Amedda finished after all the perfunctory pomp and circumstance he allowed himself. Many jeers and hisses met him, regardless of his prior statements.

"Stooge to the 'Emperor!'"

"Coward! I say again, coward, Amedda!" Two voices from among the pods cried out. Which, of course, required the retaliation of 'boos' and 'hushes' coming from the Palpatine camp.

"Order!" Amedda snarled, barking from the position beside the utterly silent and forward glaring Palpatine. Bereft for once in his life of anything to say. A marked improvement from where Padmé stood.

"The Chair, puts forth to a vote, shall the Senate vote in Confidence, or no Confidence for the sitting Chairman of the Republic Security Council? A one, Zafiel Snopps of Corulag. All members shall cast a simple yes, or no vote to be tallied after a standard three minutes! Any member failing to cast a vote via hand or proxy is hereby counted as void! Now, vote!" Amedda abridged the usual structure, and stamped his hand onto his computer console. All pods then beeped.

A title, a Republic law code and documentation index set, the usual appeared. The screen buzzed and requested senators or proxies enter their personal sequence.

"Care to take first stab?" Bail offered. But, Padmé cast him genuine thin smile and shook her head.

"Please, your Grace. Go ahead." Bail chuckled softly. Though both knew the other was still a chaotic ball of anxiety. Bail moved ahead and entered his pin. Entered a vote of 'no,' as Padmé and he knew the rest of the Delegation to do as well. Padmé inched closer and input her own 'no' vote. Listening to the elicited sea of chimes through the chamber as others voted. For the first time in...an hour? Padmé didn't even know how long they had been in session...regardless, the first time in a while it was quiet in the Rotunda. Anger, mistrust and passion teemed beneath, of course. But, the room had a strange foreboding nature to it.

All the same, the screens across their monitors showed the seats that voted one way or another. Yes votes were few...very few. Padmé scoffed a smirk onto her face. It was evident that Amedda and Palpatine had smelt the ruse, and it was not wholly unexpected, of course. It was meant to be a delaying tactic. The few who did vote no must have gotten the go-ahead by Amedda for political reasons. Public relations.

Some of the names were more than familiar. Greyshade, in all his frowning, and glaring contempt as he sat in his seat with arms crossed. His hateful stare pouring onto Padmé...or Bail? In all honest, probably meant for them both. Along with Simon, however, was that Tarkin woman, Free Taa, and the rest of the Security Council that had voted against the implementation of Order 65. With some more irrelevant, currently at least, names adding their votes for whatever their reasons. Regardless, as a louder 'ding' rumbled the air, the voting system shut off anymore activity and Amedda began to speak. A light cough echoing from one of the pods before he did.

"The votes have been tallied and are, by declaration of the Interim Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, deemed legitimate and true." Amedda began with a lingering undertone of agitation to his voice. Bail turned to Padmé and leaned in.

"We could perhaps delay this."

"How so?" Padmé wondered.

"We can object to the tallying of the votes. Demand a floor count."

"Hmm…" Padmé nodded in thought, however…

"Under Special Privileges and Powers assigned the Office of Supreme Chancellor by assent of the Senate, and the Executive Office, I hereby table any and all resolutions against the officiation of the count!" Both Padmé and Bail shared a dumbfounded and gawking look. Before both scoffed into low laughs. Shaking their heads at his brazenness. Echoed by many as once more the chamber erupted with many like minds to Padmé and Bail. Hundreds of senators rising and booing! Jeering and spitting curses at Amedda who stood attempting to appear unfazed.

"Tyrant!"

"Stooge!"

"Lick the boots from such a height, Amedda?!" Some voices mocked. Whilst others jumped to meet the challenge. Those like Simon Greyshade and the Palpatine loyalists who began seething, spitting, slandering and barking.

"Sit down and let the count be heard!"

"Traitors! Traitors attempting a coup!"

"Long live the Order! Long live the New Order!" They, in turn rallied like fans in a pod race stadium. Less showing anger at the 'breach' of protocol by mocking the interim Chancellor. More, putting on a show for the cam droids, and Palpatine himself.

"Chancellor!" Simon called from his platform. Catching Bail and Padmé's attention, among many even over the many arguments that once more drowned the room in verbal mayhem. "Chancellor, sir! Read the votes! However, I put forward a motion to follow the tally and count! I demand a Vote of Confidence be placed in our true Chancellor, Palpatine! Along with it-" He went on, even as opposition senators began booing even more pronounced and sharply at him.

"The man cannot help himself."

"He's trouble." Padmé answered Bail. "Regardless of how this day ends, he will be trouble going forward too."

"He should be isolated as quickly as possible. Otherwise," Bail intoned lowly. A dark thought crossing his mind, and seeming to darken his brow. "He could rally dissent of a more violent nature."

"We should do what we can to not make him an arbiter." Padmé nodded in agreement as Simon kept on going...had been at that.

"This past vote should be nullified! I petition a Vote of Confidence in Em...Chancellor Palpatine's leadership! I and many others demand it!"

"Sit down, you crowing fool!" Someone managed to remark over the insanity and laughter rumbled out.

"Palpatine!" Someone else howled in enthused adulation. Which began it...a chant began to form once more.

"PALPATINE! PALPATINE! PALPATINE! PALPATINE! PALPATINE!" The crowd snarled and jumped for joy. A total disgrace to what politics should have been. Truly bringing new meaning to the term 'political theater.'

"Order! I say, Order! Order!" Mas began again. He hadn't even begun to recite the damnable vote. Palpatine on the central chair, dipped his cowled head down. His right hand disappearing into the folds of his hood. Padmé wondering, perhaps even hoping, the old man was planting a cold hand against his brow. Fully realizing the monster he had crafted and unleashed was now bogging down his own attempts at counterattack.

"I say, Ord-"

BLARE! A piercing sound whined through the Rotunda! All mouths silenced, all bodies save the most controlled jerked and jumped. The blaring began again! Ring, ring, ring, then pause. Ring, ring, and ring again! The emergency evacuation alert had been tripped. The building was being put into a security alert.

"Is this-" Bail began. Excitement in his voice.

"Yes!" Padmé gasped. Fully aware only then she had been clutching the rests of her seat. Her heart pounding, face flushing as she heard angry clamoring. Clones were moving into the Rotunda room. Grabbing senators, and yanking them into the hall for their protection. Some were literally kicking and screaming. In her core, however, Padmé knew it...just knew this to be it! She may not have known the plan in full, but she could feel it buzzing through her, and making her just the smallest bit nauseous with anticipation. This was the moment where Obi-Wan, Yoda and the rest would make their move.

"Senators!" A clone barged onto their pod, and made Bail's delegation jump defensively. Causing Bail himself to rise and calm them with a sweep of his hand downward.

"What's happening?" Bail demanded.

"Security breach. All persons must be evacuated immediately! All of you, now!" The Coruscant Guard clone commanded. Padmé stood and patted her dress. Sniffling lightly and nodding to the trooper.

"Lead the way, trooper."

"Yes, ma'am. All of you, come." He turned and led out. Others in the Rotunda were unsteadily doing as ordered themselves. Some were harassing their troopers before they were grabbed, and pulled into the halls. Their pleas, and contempt ignored as the clones merely did their duty. That's what the Palpatine loyalists had wanted, no? Padmé took grim pleasure in their contrition.

She allowed the attendants and delegates from Alderaan to shuffle from the pod. Bail casting her an almost boyish smirk before he followed after. Allowing her to be the last. Padmé turned, her dress sweeping in a circle around her ankles. She cast a final glare of disdain, and no small amount of satisfaction.

Utterly limp, stunned, gaping and circling about, Amedda twisted. The enigmatic Sly Moore gawked about. Palpatine, however, met her gaze once more. Padmé could not tell from the distance, but she imagined an understanding even acknowledging match of expression. Hate billowing within him.

"The Republic is not what it once was." She intoned to herself. An old memory flickering over her mind, of that man saying as much to her once. Ringing true now more than ever.

"Miss!"

"Ah, yes. Forgive me." She turned to the barking trooper.

"Yes, ma'am. Please, follow me." He jerked his head out of the pod into the hall. Padmé turned from Palpatine. Shutting him from her thoughts, from her mind. Imagining, at least in this moment, and no matter what happened after, a door closing. A chapter ending.

The moment she left Palpatine, behind.

---

The Rotunda was being emptied. Small petty squabbles were being barked out by senators, delegates, representatives, and all other manner of limp toad in Palpatine's service. It meant nothing. They meant nothing! Their anger, meant nothing! Their contrition, and the loud barking they made on his behalf in vain hope of receiving his attention? It too meant nothing! Palpatine sat unfazed. Seemingly, at least. His expression unchanged as he held a contemptuous frown upon his face.

He tilted his head up. Palpatine saw Padmé once again. The woman staring down at him with a haughty and flat mannered a look. He narrowed his gaze, meeting her piercing stare. Until, like the other many thousands, she was taken away. Led by the clones placed at her pod's entrance. Troopers he had ordered placed there, and at every other entrance.

The alarms rung loud and reverberated in his ears. The shrill three toned wail causing his skin to shiver. The room emptied further and further. Clones becoming less friendly in their requests for the politicians to move for their safety. Grabbing hems of shirts and cloaks or suits. Dragging, yanking and maybe even carrying their charges off and out of the grand chamber. Until, the room, even with the alarm, began to quiet further and further.

"My...my Lord!" Amedda scrambled for his attention. In truth, the chagrian had likely been calling to him for some time now. Only, Palpatine did not bother nor care to listen. His senses dulled, as he felt the Force sneer, wail, cackle and crackle about him. Mocking him, and feeding him the power of the dark side. His hands balled into fists atop his cloak covered knees. For a moment, he shut his eyes. Allowing himself to descend deeper into the dark side. Only, whilst there did he feel the wriggling masses beyond the chamber itself. A furious avalanche on approach. Two writhing beasts in opposition, and filled with ire. Directed in many fashions and forms.

"Amedda." Coolly, and frighteningly calm, Palpatine intoned.

"Ye...yes, Sire?"

"Lower the podium. I have...some calls to make."

"I...well, of course, your Grace! But...but-"

"I am aware of the risks." Palpatine countered with the barest hint of anger returning to him. His voice dripping with barely restrained venom, as his yellowed eyes darted in the direction of the horned alien. "Lower it. Now."

"Yes...my Lord." Amedda dipped his head. Palpatine easily perceiving the self centered terror in the man. The preening bureaucrat more than aware that Palpatine's upending only boded ill for himself. He could not, and would not navigate any political arena without Palpatine. Not anymore. This was not the Republic of Valorum. This shouldn't be a Republic at all.

"My Lord?" Palpatine was shaken from thought. Glancing left he found the continued concerned stare of Sly Moore meeting his gaze. Her rarely spoken voice, low and hissing like smoke. Accentuating her umbaran nature in beautiful a manner, or so Palpatine oft regarded her when he allowed himself to.

"Do not worry yourself, my dear." Palpatine reached his left hand over to her and pat her nearest knee. Though he turned from her and stared ahead as the podium began to descend. "I have erred. Too rash, too eager." Palpatine intoned, more to himself.

"What shall we do, Lord?" She inquired low and simmering, like the molten rivers of Sullust.

"'We?'" Palpatine chuckled and looked to her. "My dear, I shall attend to matters as they are needed. I have much work to do to salvage this mess. You, on the other hand, will leave."

"My Lord I-"

"No." Palpatine retorted simply. "Your place here is unnecessary, my dear. Return to Umbara. Await my call, should it come." Palpatine offered up as the podium descended. The teeth like encircling slabs of metal opening into the circle. Amedda reaching towards the console dash, and snapping a few keys to shut off the alarm in the office below, and the Rotunda above. Though the thrumming echo throughout the building could still be heard whining all around them. Just distantly.

"I…" Moore began. Before she reclined and bowed her bald head. Her deathly cold features assuming her stoic disposition. Deferring to him, as she had ever since he had taken her in so many years ago. An amusing toy she was, Palpatine so mused indifferently. Useful for his pleasure, and companionship when he so desired it. Her uses, had grown of late, but for the sake of the current dilemma he was in, she would be better gone. Her potential entanglement in the chaos he sensed about to unfold would be obtuse. He did not 'care' for her. Palpatine knew this. Any true Sith could not care, nor love another. But, he did not wish to be troubled with her. Nor her sentimentality, or use as a bargaining chip by an enemy faction. Of which, he was now sure he had many. It didn't matter. It was all but stray thought. Ideations, musings and ruminations.

They reached the bottom. The podium came to a stop, and the hiss of easing gears sounded. Amedda stepped off the elevated platform. Shaking, limp. Weak. It disgusted Palpatine. A sneer slithered across his wrinkled face. Whilst Moore climbed down from her position, and like the proper devotee she was, silently she made from the room. Past the two still loyal crimson guards within the room on either side of the door.

"Amedda,"

"Ye...yes, my Lord?" Mas jumped and turned to face Palpatine as he quickly circled around his desk, and sat at it.

"Remain here a while yet. I may have uses for your 'interim' powers."

"Ye...I mean, of cour-"

"Cease speaking." Palpatine coldly ordered and entered several keys along the table's holocomm. "Your trembling voice is most, irritating."

"I..." Mas began. Then thought better of it. Like Sly Moore before him he shut his mouth. The chagrian swallowed harshly, and came up behind Palpatine. Standing behind the man as he sat at the desk within the chamber. The would be Emperor pressed a final key and the holocomm whirred for a moment. Before an acceptance sound buzzed, and onto the table came the vision of two familiar men. Armand Isard, and Crueya Vandron. The latter of whom looked far more sweaty and disheveled than usual.

"Both of you report, now!" Palpatine sneered. Both men expected to know the full situation at hand.

"Your Excellency," Armand began. Clearing his throat and gulping harshly. Only seeming marginally less flustered than Vandron in reality. "I...what I mean to say is I do not have anything new to report."

"The Jedi?" Palpatine simply wondered.

"A...agents on the ground have indicated that shortly after Order 65's initiation and the rescinding of Order 66, the Temple has been, or rather was-"

"Get to the point!" Palpatine slammed his open right palm onto his desk and both small human forms fluttered. Both men jolted where they stood and Amedda equally jumped. "I haven't patience for pleasantries, nor the care for civility! Tell me what I wish to know promptly, or promptly see yourselves made my enemies. Just like the many made this day."

"Yes, Lord."

"Of...of course, your Grace!" Armand and Crueya answered respectively and promptly. Armand taking another moment to gulp, as his right hand's index finger lightly pulled at the neck of his suit. Regardless, he found his voice soon after.

"The Temple has emptied, Lord. The Jedi made use of their fighters, and various transports or ships within the Temple, or from wherever else." Armand's lip smacked as he continued. "Many Jedi have, however, already been liquidated, my Lord! Across the galaxy and within the Temple! Of this I am-"

"Thousands of that order have escaped with their lives today, Isard!" Palpatine snarled. The man retreating where he stood from the wrath. "It is a disaster." Palpatine finished, snapping his head to the silently watching Vandron. The portly subservient meeting Palpatine's gaze wherever he was, and trembling for it...beneath it.

"Vandron,"

"Yes, my Lord?!" A little too quickly and loudly he snapped his shoes together.

"Tell me why there are thousands of bodies approaching the Senate? I can sense them." Palpatine dropped any veneer or pretense of his own abilities. These men knew better, and Palpatine no longer cared to be coy. For his part, Crueya seemed almost happy. His expression lit up, and a twitching smile prickled across his face.

"Yes, Lord! You see...I mean, I was at the Temple perimeter when the Order, I mean Order 65 was initiated. I pulled my TAC squads from the Security Bureau back, and I've implanted as many as I could into the Senate building, but more than that – I have turned Security Bureau HQ into a fortress, my Lord. I have made contact with Ishin-Il-Raz!"

"And?"

"It is true, your Excellency," Crueya spoke in a 'salesman' manner. His right hand motioning down flat, as though to preamble any ill mood to come. "The man was...is responsible for siccing the mob onto the Temple. There was miscommunication within the Bureau."

"Fantastic." Armand offered coolly. Ever the two bickering and jockeying whelps. "Your department started an insurrection on the capitol! Militiamen are engaged with troopers in pockets there, even now!" Isard accused, and rightfully so. "Now, you have more of these COMPOR, and drunken would be martyrs marching on the Senate?!"

"For our Lord's - for your protection, Lord!" Crueya began, and snapped back to Palpatine as he continued. The wide eyed expression of delirious self confidence a sight to behold. Pressure and stress breaking a being before one's eyes. "They will draw the clones from the building, and allow you, allow us, to rectify this situation, my Lord! We will force the clones to fire on the people! This will give us, and the Senate – those on our side at least, clear cause to-"
"Explain how we can count on any of that," Armand interjected. "Whilst mobs of detractors, would be fifth columnists, and rabble-rousers are currently engaged in street fights with your mob?! Explain, Vandron how we can use this to our advantage while-"

"Enough!" Palpatine growled. His slithering and croaking voice bringing both men to attention once again. "I will have no more of this bickering and squabbling! If I hear anymore of it I shall destroy you both!" Palpatine warned the two men. Both of whom remained stiffly and coldly silent. "Isard."

"Yes, Lord?"

"Direct your Agency toward discovering the location of all surviving Jedi. We will need this knowledge when the time is right."

"Y...yes, your Eminence." Armand nodded. His silent unease clear to see. Palpatine ignored it and turned to Crueya.

"As for you, Vandron – maintain your position within the Bureau's headquarters. I want all Tactical teams of your department at my disposal when ready."

"Already done, my Lord!" Vandron sweatily huffed.

"Very well. Both of you, report back to me in one standard hour. I shall clean this mess up myself. But, both of you be warned," Palpatine accentuated with a grim growl and point of his bony finger. "This long comedy of errors come to an end, now. No more second chances, no more excuses, and no more errors. There will be no room for failure. None!"

"Understood, your Grace." Armand dipped at his waist.

"Yes, my Lord!" Crueya bowed. Before Palpatine nodded slowly. No more words coming to his mind, as he callously snapped the key ending their shared transmission. Allowing both small forms of the men to fade. In truth, Palpatine did not yet know what action to take.

For the first time in many long and cruelly patient decades he was left not knowing what to do. Not since before the time of Plagueis' death had he felt so...unsure. The absence of confidence in any action or movement felt so far removed from normal as to be unnatural. Brooding in his thoughts, and fully aware there was a source to this catastrophe.

Idly, he glanced at the ring upon his finger. The dull throbbing and hatefully crimson glow of runes cast their light. Palpatine...Sidious reached over and laid his left hand atop his right. Running his palm across the metal band. His heartbeat rose. A desire to pull it off met against the unshakable wall within himself that refused to do so. Would he die should he do it?! Had he died in his Office hours ago?! Another grim sneer crossed his cracked lips.

"Blind and foolish. Too sure." Palpatine intoned.

"Master?" Amedda wondered behind him. The stink of his fear palpable to the Sith Lord.

"Nothing you need wor-" Palpatine began, pulling his hand from atop the other. However, he paused. The Force pulsated. Someone neared...someone...familiar.

Tap, tap, tap…

The sound of a cane upon the metallic flooring. Palpatine tilted his gaze up and left. Both of his crimson guards whirled in at the doorway and a diminutive figure crossed the threshold. Both of the guards began to point their staffs down defensively. Before a groan of the Force echoed and both were callously tossed into the wall with hard cracking thuds! As Master Yoda flicked his right hand back in dismissively calm a manner. Allowing the two witless guards to crumple to the floor unconscious.

As this occurred, Palpatine swiveled his chair to its left and faced the Grand Master.

"I hear, a new Empire you've formed, Emperor." Yoda intoned mockingly. "Or, should I call you, Darth Sidious?"

---

Moments Before…

The halls were packed full of politicians and security personnel. Alarms whined through the halls, and everyone was being moved to the appropriate shelters or stations. So much happening as to make four beings moving in the opposing directions unnoticeable. Even with security troopers running along the sides of the halls, directing people, clinging their blasters tightly and listening over their comms to the myriad of messages being sent hurriedly. Both within the Senate building and outside through the Government Sector.

"Where are the intruders now?!" Through pants, someone demanded over the comms.

"Two in hallways 234!"

"Negative, negative!" Someone else cut through. "Unknown intruder located in hallway 332!"

"How many intruders are there in the building?!" They kept on calling and demanding. Unknown to the troopers, the chaos brought a thin smile to the face of one, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Clearly Gimli and the twin sons of Elrond were more than doing their share to confuse the troopers. Just what was called for.

However, it did not distract Obi-Wan enough from the knot within his stomach. Even with Gandalf, Galadriel and Yoda near and with him. His mind was muddled in thoughts. He tried to hear Qui-Gon's words of wisdom through the storm. Many times in the past few hours closing his eyes and centering himself in the moment, here and now. Rather than focus on the past or the future. Even as the senses the Force gave him were uncertain and clouded. A fact that was far too common of late. A fact that made Obi-Wan frustrated, even if he did release such tensions into the Force closely thereafter.

It did no one any favors, however. Obi-Wan, Yoda, Gandalf and Galadriel were nearing their destination. The entrance to the Chancellor's podium. The halls; that would have normally been lined in guards like a security bastion or fortress, were somewhat bereft. The group moved lower through the crowds. Thinning until an uncomfortable quiet had begun to come. The distant rumblings and movements of groups fading. Leaving only their shuffling feet, cloaks, and the whine of security alarms.

"Stop, we should." Yoda spoke up after the group neared a descending hall. The other three, including Obi-Wan turned to him. Finding the small Master at the precipice before the steep decline.

"Master?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"Hmm, alone I should go."

"What?!" Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. Whilst Gandalf appraised the small Jedi silently. Galadriel remaining quiet as well. "Master, you said yourself, we should face the Chanc...Sidious together! If what Gandalf has said is true then-"

"Ah, but alone I shall not be!" Yoda cut him off and chuckled knowingly. "Believe I do, better off we shall be – if we force Palpatine into a trap."

"Hmm…" Gandalf hummed thoughtfully. Clanging his staff down. "You believe we three should wait in the wings. Allow him to believe you are his lone enemy."

"A blunt diversion." Galadriel added wisely.

"As perceptive as Jedi, you are." Yoda smiled. Though, for his part, Obi-Wan did not feel quite so sure of the Master's idea.

"But, Master, if you confront Palpatine without us, and this ring has made him as powerful as we've been told-"

"Draw him in, I shall." Yoda again cut Obi-Wan off. Leaning on his gimmer stick and beginning the slow walk down the path. Small grunts elicited from the diminutive Grand Master. "Trust in the Force, Master Obi-Wan, and be with you it will."

"Yes, Master."

"Hmm, good." Yoda smiled as he passed by Obi-Wan. "Refuse to meet my challenge, Sidious will not. Engage him, I shall."

"How should we catch him off balance?" Gandalf wondered as Obi-Wan listened.

"Hmm, force him into the Convocation Chamber, the Rotunda, I shall. Lead them, Obi-Wan. Choose the best moment, and then strike. Distracted, Sidious will be."

"Yes, Master. Very well." Obi-Wan relented. Though he did worry for Yoda. He was worried for a lot of things right now, actually. Numbly his thoughts snapped to Anakin again, and as quickly he had to ignore them for now. He had to be here and now. With Yoda, with Gandalf and Galadriel. With the Force.

"Be troubled, you should not, Obi-Wan." Yoda assured as he picked up his pace and began to slowly pull further and further from the other three. "Trust in the Force."

"I...I shall, Master." Obi-Wan answered back, as Yoda silently moved further away, and in time disappeared down another corridor. Out of sight.

Gandalf neared and planted his hand onto Obi-Wan's right shoulder. "Come now, show us the way to this Rotunda." He gently nudged. Obi-Wan turning to the wizard and regarding him silently, before nodding and turning. Though, as he did, Gandalf remained alongside Obi-Wan, and leaned in. "Trust in the Force, Obi-Wan, but trust in your friends." Gandalf offered. His manner and voice, as ever, damnably encouraging. Eliciting from Obi-Wan a low breath through pursed lips.

"We're with you, and I am with you. No matter what." Gandalf spoke for he and the elven Lady. Through the Force both of them shone like restrained beacons. Not projected like through the Force. Nonetheless, bristling with a light that seemed to warm Obi-Wan as it traveled alongside and wrapped about the Force. Obi-Wan silently drew on that. Those connections. That bond of companionship, and friendship. Both literally and figuratively.

"This will be a tough...terrible battle, I fear." Obi-Wan admitted.

"Of this we can be sure." Gandalf nodded.

"Of this we should be honest." Galadriel offered from behind the men. "Any battle should be terrible, Obi-Wan. What matters is if the battle is worth waging? Are the stakes of matter? What can be done, to lessen the harm done by battle or conflict?"

"There is much we can do. Much we can stop." Obi-Wan replied. "Sidious cannot be allowed to take power. He will destroy and kill...even more than we have...we have allowed him to."

"The will of evil often ensnares those of good intent into believing they are complicit in it." Gandalf cautioned. "The true test comes, when the veil is dropped. When all shadows are removed and the wicked comes into the light, Obi-Wan. What's done is done. What matters is how you react, and what we do now. For good or for ill. Victorious or not. We can only match the will of evil be contending with it. To sit idle as darkness blackens the world, the land, or this galaxy, that is the chief desire of evil. Inaction, and apathy."

"Hmm…" Obi-Wan hummed as he allowed the words to ruminate inside his head. A small smile finding its way beneath his beard. Glancing at Gandalf and back at Galadriel as he slowly led them both towards an entrance to the Rotunda. "You certainly have a way with words of encouragement, Gandalf." The wizard chortled lowly. Smacking Obi-Wan's shoulder, clasping it tight and allowing the warmth of his touch to almost radiate through Obi-Wan. To his very core.

"I am but a fool, Obi-Wan. With a fool's hope."

"Unnecessarily humble, my friend. But, thank you. Both of you." Obi-Wan glanced to both of them. The Lady bowing her head. While Gandalf turned and said no more. As they drew nearer to this Duel of Fate.

---

A lone shuttle car, bulkier and larger than your average airspeeder zoomed through the skies of Coruscant. Moving through the security perimeter and being hounded by Republic gunships. Though, just as they had demanded it leave the restricted airspace, it had transmitted security codes, and gained clearance. Leaving the pilots confused, but without cause to stop it. Turning and returning to overlooking the mob violence and factional violence breaking out around the Government Sector. From which three new smokey plumes rose into the skies. Explosives of the homemade and military grades having both been expended by the militia and GAR of course.

The shuttle car moved onto one of many landing pads within the Senate building. Coming to a stop, upon descended landing gears. Several dozen troopers stood about confusedly. All of whom clutched their blasters defensively. Though, with them were small broken up crowds of senators or other office staff from the building. Being slowly ferried to shelters beyond the building as both Commanders Fox and Appo regarded the Senate Building to be untenable because of the encroaching mobs.

Nevertheless, the car's ramp fell, and a groaning hiss released gasping hydraulics. Whilst another kind of rasp, and then hiss announced itself. Causing many on this ramp to turn. While...an obelisk descended from the ramp. Boots thudded on the ramp. A whirling black cloak wrapped and whirled in the high winds of Coruscant. An expressionless, skull of a face with soulless eyes came into view as the daylight glinted from their plasteel and across pads of armor from shoulder down to knee. A computer of some kind was planted upon their chest while in their thick right gloved hand, they held a lightsaber hilt which everyone recognized.

"What is that?!"

"Who is that?"

"Look at him...it…" Voices across the platform began to whisper. Some gasped, and whirled. Reeling away from the sight. While troopers ran forward, aimed their blasters and formed a crescent. Denying the creature the chance to move by them into the building. Bringing them to a momentary pause. Their sucking of air and releasing as a hiss sending shivers through them all.

"Halt! Identify yourself!" The lead clone demanded.

"I do not wish to harm any of you." The voice was baritone, deep. Powerful and imposing. By itself it made the troops take defensive steps away. Allowing the monstrously tall being to take one forward. "I have business with Palpatine."

"Identify-" The man spoke no more. Instead, his left hand rose, and with a flick of his index finger all of their blasters were ripped from their hands! Two men being dragged to the floor before scraping along it before releasing their grips. All blasters bundled into a clump in the air before the creature, and then callously tossed back towards the air car.

"Try to stop me, and I shall not restrain myself again." The voice thundered. As distant onlookers, politicians, crooks and cronies gaped and gawked. The clones all confusedly sidestepping, as even their programming whittled underneath the imposition and power of the being in dark cloth and armor. Who, at their inaction stomped ahead. Pushing past and through them. His cloak whirling behind him.

The creature paused before disappearing into a doorway. Glancing right. Eyes without emotion, or thought beheld a vision among the crowd. Several beings huddled together. All of them staring at him. One of whom stared a little harder than the rest. And though, for a moment, the being encased in the armor wished to stop, and run through the crowd to them...they did not. Shuddering, unheard, as thoughts only known to the being within passed over his mind...he moved into the building.

"What was that?" Bail whispered as Mon shook her head.

"I haven't the faintest clue. Terrifying, whatever he...it was." The Chandrilan woman gasped.

"Padmé?" Bail turned and regarded. Though, he paused as he saw the Naboo woman staring at the spot the being had stood with an intensity he had rarely seen. Even compared to when they had been within the Rotunda before. "My Lady?"

"Huh?" She snapped back to attention. Shaking her head. "Sorry I...sorry." Was all she could whisper. Not knowing why heat flared to her face, and her heart beat a little harder. Some dull sensation nipping at the back of her mind. As her friends regarded her curiously, but said no more.

---

"Master Yoda, you survived."

"Surprised?" The little green goblin inquired with a tilt of his head. Sidious remained frowning, but very quickly it tilted up into a callous and mirthless smile.

"In all honesty? No, I cannot say I am. Hardly the most shocking thing today."

"Ah, lose your Empire as quickly as you formed it, did you?" Yoda hummed in a feigned chortle.

"Your arrogance blinds you, Master Yoda." Sidious taunted. His voice spitting in contempt. "Regardless of any missteps taken, in a single night I ordered the deaths of more Jedi than have died in the last thousand years. In one night I burnt your Temple, and ravaged your friends, and allies. In a day I brought the Republic to its knees, and given a few hours more...it would be no more."

"Made with the help of your special ring, is it?" Yoda wondered, and Sidious, cocked his head to the side. His eyes narrowed, and though he looked as though he wanted to say something. He did not. At least, not before huffing a single unkind scoffing laugh.

"You presume to know more than you do, Master Yoda. Though, what you do know will not be enough to save you, or your Order. Now," Sidious gurgled the world. Letting it tremble in the sneer that was his natural voice. "Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side!" His hands rose, and from the tips of all fingers a cracking thunder of bolts buzzed to life! Purple and blue infused tendrils shot out and Yoda faced them. Opening his gait and stance as they slammed against him! The green alien Master tossed harshly to the further wall. His body bouncing and air huffing from him as tendrils of lightning skirted and danced across his clothing. Sending wisps of smoke into the air.

Sidious began to cackle. The darkness brewing inside him boiling over. The call of the dark side to be unleashed snaking within the Dark Lord of the Sith. The great Shadow of the Republic and the Jedi Order. He cackled with glee. Allowing himself to immerse into instinct. The deep long held desire to let go of all veneer and kill the Jedi! Each and every one.

"Leave us, Amedda."

"Where sh-"

"Now!" Sidious rasped, and without another word, the fool broke into a run from the room. Going...Sidious didn't know, nor care. Himself rising from his seat, and like a predator, he slowly inched closer to the fallen Jedi. His throat harshly uttering more and more cackling laughs, almost maddened in how freed they were, bereft of rhyme and reason.

"I have waited a long time for this moment. My little green friend." Sidious growled, watching as Yoda; clearly not as fazed by his prior attack as the Master let on, got to his feet. Sidious wheezed another laugh, and raised his hands. Stretching them from himself, daring the Jedi to make a move. "Soon the Jedi will be no more."

"Not if anything to say about it, I have!" Yoda raised his hand, and with a cry Sidious felt the Force wash over him! Power bursting from the light tossed him backwards! His body light as dust in the wind before he felt himself flail over his desk, spinning and crashing against his seat. It fell backwards, his legs, unbecoming in manner, pointed towards the ceiling, before he fell with the chair to the floor in a crumple.

Sidious groaned. Teeth barred as he lifted his head and slid his hands out. Pushing up, and glaring back at Yoda as the Dark Lord grappled the wall behind himself and stood back up.

"At an end, your rule is." Yoda goaded. "And not short enough, it was." His hands rose, and he swept his fingers in. A 'come forth' stance readying to fight. Sidious barred his teeth and without another second, leapt through the air! The Force at his feet and in his muscles he fell gracefully before the entrance of the room. Looking as though he meant to run and escape. Though, what Sidious wanted was greater room to commit to this coming duel...so he told himself.

Nonetheless, Yoda matched the jump. Spinning and landing onto his green stumpy feet. Blocking Sidious' path, pulling his cloak aside as Sidious loosed a rasp. "If so powerful you are, why leave?" Yoda snapped his saber to life! The metal cylinder spun in his hand and projecting the green beam to life. Sidious shook his head in response.

"You will not stop me. Not after everything I've done. Not with all I have yet to do! Not while I wear this ring!" In a flash, one of the Sith's own lightsaber's snapped from within the confines of his crimson cloak. The equally red beam springing to life with a hiss.

"Faith in your new ring, misplaced may be." Yoda whirled his lightsaber and aimed the tip at Sidious. Falling into his pose after. Readying in ataru stance. "As is your faith in the Dark Side of the Force."

No more words were then spoken. Sidious slowly raised both arms above his head. His right hand seemed to seethe in a red glow as the runes of his ring burned brighter! Hotter in the culminated release of the Sith's darkness. The left hand met the right and both clasped around the lightsaber hilt. Then Yoda made his move! The Master jumped, spinning in a leap. Sidious swung down, his saber grazing Yoda's as the Master let his momentum carry over Sidious onto the podium. His feet landed, and he pushed himself back. Angling into a jump over Sidious left shoulder. The Dark Lord whirling back and spinning his saber downwards. The two beams clashed in a bright white light and singed the air as Yoda fell back before Sidious.

A groaning slither of a sound came from Sidious, and he circled his saber over and slashed down. Yoda caught the blade with a quick riposte. Slashing out at his right. Yoda jumped, swirling through the air and slashing down. Sidious parried and stepped back again. Yoda landed on the ground, just as Sidious stabbed in. The Master blocked the strike, raising his green saber up vertically, twisting to horizontal as Sidious pressed in. His maw loosing a heaving laugh. Cackling in dark mocking glee. Yoda frowned and grit his own teeth. Shoving Sidious' weapon to the right. The laughing Sith still doing so, before he whirled his saber out, allowing Yoda's momentum to carry him. Then he struck back left, and hard! Their sabers bouncing into one another as they crashed and sparked.

The two masters, one of light and one of darkness, both fell into the rhythm of the duel. Unleashing their talents upon the other. The Force flowing through and around both. Creating an unseen whirlwind or whirlpool where the Force's two aspects clashed! Tremendous power unleashed the rumbling beneath the surface of the waking world.

With a hacking cackle, Sidious slashed down right, Yoda blocked, and pushed him back. Jumping right, slashing out, stabbing in. Sidious parried each slash by angling his saber down. Catching each stab and slash. Yoda whirling himself over in consistent repetitive jumps and twirls over and around through the air. Ataru's motions and endless pressure on full display. Yoda fell onto his feet, and swung up. Stabbing at Sidious' left hip. The Sith circled himself, parrying the stab. Whirling around and aiming his saber down from his right shoulder. Both hands on his hilt once more. A gurgle of pleasure passing from behind his grinning maw.

The Sith Lord then stabbed down. Yoda spun and blocked on the turn. Sidious swiveled his saber up, then crashed back down left. Yoda turned and blocked it. Before jumping up and slashing at Sidious' seemingly exposed right shoulder. The Sith swept his saber up in an arch, sidestepping to his right. The two weapons met in a sparking crash. Yoda fell to the ground and dashed in. Slashing with a wild, but controlled motion at the Sith's ankles. Palpatine, cackled in glee, fully unencumbered of all prior veils or veneer. He stabbed down. The crimson saber puncturing the floor, and sending sparks, and cutting Yoda off from his strike. However, the Jedi Master spun inwards. Sliding in behind the red lightsaber, and invading Sidious' inner defense. Yet, the Sith merely thrust his open left hand down. A boom thrummed through the Force! Yoda was cast back. Catching his footing, as his robes whirled about him. In time to glance up, green saber swept back at his right, to see Sidious charging! Both hands gripping the lightsaber at his right shoulder, angled down. Sidious charged with a snarl. Yoda cartwheeled up and arched left. His saber grazing Sidious' before he fell onto the opposing side, at the Sith Lord's right. Sidious slashed wildly at his right, and Yoda caught and blocked the attack. Their beams crashing into another dazzling white explosion of sparks.

Yoda grimaced, and shoved the lightsaber back. Sidious laughing as he did so. Yoda jumped in at the Sith. Stabbing and slashing in wild displays from left over right, stabbing, slashing up, parry and then sweep! Sidious parried, and slashed down right. Catching as Yoda twirled and stabbed left. Sidious caught and blocked that too. Yoda whirled up and slashed at his head. Sidious swung up and blocked. Yoda carried that momentum, and slid behind Sidious. Rolling onto the floor and turning in time to see Sidious goad him. Cackling as he beckoned with his left hand.

"Come now Jedi! Show me the skills of the one who trained Dooku!"

"Hmm!" Yoda's eyes narrowed. The green alien spun his lightsaber at his right, angled it over his left, and then, he thrust his left hand forward! The Force echoing from him. Sidious was once more caught off guard. The wave from the Force thrust him backwards with a heave and snarl! His back clanged against the podium, but in the moment after, he leapt up and backwards. Landing feet first atop the podium. Yoda dashed and jumped up onto the podium. Landing atop the arch of the console. Sidious slashed in right, Yoda blocked, then in left, Yoda spun and met the crash and blocked it again.

The podium activated, neither being knew exactly how it happened. Be it by one of them pressing something without realizing it, or doing so on purpose. None could say. Regardless of how, the teeth above the podium began to open. Sidious spun his saber over his right and slashed down. Yoda whirled in a spin to his right. His saber flicking and grazing across the crimson beam of the Sith. The diminutive Master landed further back atop the podium console, his left hand gripping the edge of it. Yoda circled his saber in at an arch right and swung up. Crashing into a meeting of Sidious' beam.

Sidious whirled his saber back over right and circled it down to slash, Yoda whirled up again and swung down. Blocking and parrying the motion with grace and ease none would expect of the small Jedi Master.

Sidious swung in right, Yoda fell and parried on the drop. Landing and stabbing in, for Sidious to graze and crash off of the meeting blades once again. Sidious circled his saber over his head once more and slashed in left. Yoda caught the assault and forced him back. Yoda jumped in at Sidious' right. The Sith swung overhead and down. They met. Yoda whirled at his left and leapt down atop the console again. Sidious slashed and blocked him. With each and every move Yoda made, Sidious was there. Stabbing, slashing, circling and whirling his lightsaber in. Yoda incapable of piercing his defense...almost as though the Sith toyed with him. Almost.

The podium ascended. The Senate Rotunda was seemingly emptied of all beings. None there to bare witness to the truth of Palpatine. Though many now felt they knew the truth already. The galaxy not present to see what the Republic's Supreme Chancellor really was in all his glory. The chamber empty and hollow as the Republic had become under not only his tenure, but the floundering bureaucracy before him. Vacant and open, filled with nothing but untended seats, and the clashing lightsabers of a Jedi Master and Sith Lord.

Yoda arched into a jump over from the right side of the dais, and Palpatine's head, to the left. The Sith made to block right, but swiftly swung into a wild slash around as Yoda fell. Their beams crashed once more. Sidious reeled back, and swung down from overhead! Crashing into Yoda, who then whirled into a circle where he stood. Jumping and twirling into a slash. Grazing and sliding off of Sidious blade and repeating into a second stroke, that Sidious stepped back and away from. Yoda came to a stop, and tested a slash right, Sidious blocked again. Their rhythm of slash, clash, whirl, stab, meet, continuing.

As the central dais rose higher and higher, Yoda jumped and swung. Slashing in his circular leaps. Moving around the small space allowed him across the podium. Every move and circle, every dive and stroke, Sidious parried, blocked, and swept in. His form wild and without true distinction. Not molded in any of the proper Jedi styles, but taken from all of them. Not tied by any, but defined by all. It was clear in the silence of Yoda's observation, through panted breaths, how Master Windu would have met a match in this case.

Yoda jumped up again. Circling himself in an arched jump at the Dark Lord's left. The Sith horizontally slashed down, and met the flying strike. Yoda fell, grabbed the podium and jumped up again. Swiping in as his body circled the air. Sidious reeled back and slashed up in at his left. Yoda fell onto the podium proper, and Sidious stabbed in at an angle from his right. Yoda jumped again before it could hit, and his green saber jumped off of the crimson beam as Yoda reeled onto the opposing side of the podium. Slashing and meeting Sidious' own stabs twice while in the air, and parrying both by the sheer swift movements of his body in the air.

Yoda jumped forward and struck in, but Sidious blocked down at his right. Their beams crashing and locking in place. The Sith Lord growled long and arduously. His face contorted under the wrinkled pathways burnt by years of the dark side and hteful burns of Sith lightning. A long growl elicited from him as he and Yoda remained momentarily unmoved. The small Jedi finally forcing the red beam from him by thrusting right. Before Yoda leapt around the Sith at his right. Sidious slashed in, Yoda blocked mid-jump. Landing on the front of the dais again. Sidious whirled his saber in a circle and slashed out right, catching and forcing Yoda to jump again, further onto the central point of the podium. Stabbing down and meeting another thrust from Sidious, spinning in place, and slashing around his small body to meet a stab by Sidious meant for Yoda's back. Parrying it easily as Sidious whirled around in an arch at Yoda's right flank. The Jedi catching the strike yet again. Sidious swung over back and in at Yoda's left flank then and they clashed again.

A raw and primal sound of dissatisfaction grumbling from Sidious' mouth as his yellowed eyes glared. As these two continued their dance.

---

The two beings dueled with such speed and ferocity as to dizzy anyone looking in on them. The hopping thrusts and sweeps of the green Jedi Master and his equally green lightsaber were dazzling. While the circular overhead slashes, thrusts, parries and crashes by the red beam of the Sith lord were equally as mesmerizing. The display unlike any duel ever perceived by the eyes that watched them from one of many repuslor-pod entrances.

"Their skills are beyond the sword craft of many." Galadriel lowly intoned. Gandalf nodding, though he among the two was the most used to seeing such combat.

"Alright, my friend." The wizard glanced to Obi-Wan. The fellow Jedi removing his brown outer robes. Snatching at his lightsaber hilt, as a low breath ushered from his mouth. Before the Jedi turned to face Gandalf, the wizard watched him close his eyes. A feeling washed over him, and he was sure Galadriel as well. Calm light, warmth and determination. The fleeting echoes of this Force. Obi-Wan Kenobi delved into its light, and allowed himself to be carried by its will. Calling on it to fill his body, and his actions or movements. Opening his blue eyes only after and turning to Gandalf baring a thin, perhaps even dower smile on his features.

"Are you ready, Obi-Wan?"

"As ready as I can be."

"Your friends are with you." Gandalf reached forward and clapped the Jedi's shoulder once more. Showing a true determined smile in his aged face. Imbuing with his words the truth of what he said. He would be there for him and with him. With them all.

"I know, Gandalf. Thank you." Obi-Wan bowed his head. Tilting it back up, he showed a new determined expression. Brow furrowed and indented. He turned and his legs jumped very gently. Once and then twice. "You two, do what you can."

"We will, Master Kenobi." Galadriel acknowledged. And, without another word, Obi-Wan glanced back, nodded a single final time, and then he ran!

Thudding boots sounded, and then a dazzling blue light burst to life! The Force whirled around him and the hum of a new lightsaber filled the great chamber. With a leap of the Force, Obi-Wan Kenobi flew through the air! His saber up overhead, and with expert skill and recalling his knowledge in ataru, the Jedi Master flung across the great divide from the pods to the Chancellor's central podium.

Master Yoda came to a stop. His green saber matching the red of his opponent. The green Master slashed up and threw Palpatine's weapon upwards. Obi-Wan then fell upon him from his right flank. The Sith only turning moments before disaster! Their lightsabers crashed into a thunderous cracking spark! Obi-Wan landing on his feet just beside the horrific figure of Palpatine. Taking in the slightly worn and grayed features, as Mace had described. Seeing the darkened yellow glint in both eyes, peering and glowering from beneath the red hood. While tortured teeth grit from beneath cracked lips, and the dark side snarled around the man. A man Obi-Wan had never trusted, but never could have imagined to be...what was standing before him.

"You've brought friends, Master Yoda!" Sidious declared and slashed down, pushing Obi-Wan's blade to the podium where both it and the crimson lightsaber gouged the floor. Yoda jumped into a twirling assault. Sidious ducked and slashed up at a horizontal angle to his left catching Yoda's blade and allowing the Master to fall and then jump up into concentric circles and twirls before the Sith. Each one gliding or testing the Sith's defenses.

With a snarl, Sidious spun in a circle! The Force thrashed out from him in all directions with a rumble of unseen power! The room quaked and quivered as metal settled and whined. Both Jedi were at once tossed from the podium. Yoda whirling backwards, but adjusting midair, and landing atop one of the pods, facing the Sith at the center of the room. While Obi-Wan fell several stories, but crashed to his knee with a huff atop a lower pod. Both Jedi looking as the Sith Lord stood at the center of the room, and spun his saber coolly in his right hand. An endlessly self confident cackle erupting from his throat.

"Bring as many Jedi as you want, Master Yoda! It will change nothing!"

"Your overconfidence will be your undoing, 'Emperor!'" Obi-Wan called up to him. Standing and adjusting himself into his more comfortable soresu stance. The elder Dark Lord tilted towards him and bore a mirthless smile.

"So you may believe, Master Kenobi. So too did your padawan think! Yet, I wonder where Anakin is right now?!" He mocked and callously goaded. Obi-Wan didn't let it affect him. He released the tension, fear and anger that entered him into the Force. His expression nonetheless hardened.

"You did not kill him, and you will not kill me! You will harm no one else!" Obi-Wan countered.

"We shall see." The man growled. And, with the Force, he leapt through the air! His being almost floating before landing atop a pod on Yoda's level. The green Master circled his lightsaber and dashed! Jumping from one pod to the next moving in a circle towards his mark.

Palpatine, Sidious, the would be Emperor turned and thrust his left hand out! The dark side exploded! The wave fell upon Yoda, and the Jedi paused and raised both hands. The Force encased him, but his cloak whirled back as the wave tore through four pods behind Yoda and the one atop him dented with the harsh crack of metal! The dark side flowing out of him like a storm. Obi-Wan below raising his left hand defensively as the sickening sensation crawled across his body even from his position.

"What a wonderful little thing I have, no?!" Sidious cackled with such glee as to sound demented. His lungs emptying of breath before he began again. Holding his right hand up, exchanging his saber hilt with his left. Allowing his fingers to extend to the ceiling, and for the red dull glow of the small band to illuminate with a sudden wave of power. "Much have I learned since your return from Arda, Kenobi! Should you be so lucky as to experience just a taste of my new powers?!"

"Power alone does not win battles!" Obi-Wan retorted and leapt from his position higher. Jumping onto a high pod, and then another after. Sidious turned to him and awaited. Yoda returning to his dash from behind him. Wordless and determined, but as Obi-Wan landed atop a pod on the same elevation as Sidious the Dark Lord did to him as he did to Yoda. Raising his right hand up a burst of power unleashed! Crashing against Obi-Wan, who raised his hands and blocked the full force of it, but heard pods behind him become dislodged from their resting places and be tossed like paper in the winds. Tearing crashing and sparking.

Then Sidious turned and slashed down, sweeping into a series of parries and flurries left to right, circular sweeps from overhead down to meet the onslaught of Yoda. The green Master twirling, jumping from left to right. Overhead and down his back, for Sidious to turn, catch and parry the stroke. "Come now, Jedi! You can do better!" Sidious heaved a single snorting laugh and thrust upwards! Yoda back jumped. Then Sidious turned and slashed down as Obi-Wan came in and stabbed at his back. Sweeping and turning to crash into Yoda's assailing lightsaber from above. Sidious twisted and pushed himself to the edge of the pod. Spinning his saber and meeting a flurry of stokes by Obi-Wan testing him, opening him. Allowing Yoda to jump from behind Obi-Wan and strike down in a cleave. Sidious caught it, and swiveled his body left and threw Yoda to the side. The Master rolling and jumping back at him. Obi-Wan stabbed in, and Sidious stabbed down right and caught the move. Twisting himself in a circle, allowing his free right hand to send a burst into Yoda! Sending the green Master with huff a few pods away. Crashing into one of the wrecked, and dangling pods.

Obi-Wan grimaced, and slashed up and away from the meeting of his blue saber and Sidious red. Falling into defensive posture. Sidious turned to him and bore a wickedly wild grin. He brought his saber overhead and slashed down! Crashing into Obi-Wan who parried and spun under the meeting of blades. Sidious became a whirlwind of motion. Not unlike a familiar old foe. His stabs and strokes in at Obi-Wan were fleeting. In left back out, stab right. Down in left, up right. Swinging in quick motions that were dazzling. Giving Sidious time to twist and turn like a dancer with...not grace, but madness. It reminded Obi-Wan of Maul, all those years ago on Naboo. It only made sense. Where the Apprentice learned from his Master. However, Obi-Wan allowed the Force to carry his movements, and himself. Filling him, moving him. He parried left, blocked right, swept up and caught a downward strike. He sidestepped and let Sidious stab in, slashing right at him and his center. Obi-Wan jumped back and down from the pod onto the one below. Leaving Sidious momentarily alone. His breaths, both of them, breathing heavily. But, the glint of yellow in Sidious eyes, as they glared down betrayed nothing. He was not tired. He was invigorated, and the dark side reveled about him. Flushing through the ring that drew Obi-Wan's gaze.

"Is this all the great masters have to offer me?! Is this all Mast-" A billowing blinding white light exploded through the room! Sidious howled a sudden sound of angered and impassioned...what almost amounted to pain. Even Obi-Wan had to cover his eyes as Yoda stood back up with a grumble. The Dark Lord was thrust through the air! Cast from the pod and sent falling below! However, before he could crash to the bottom, he pushed himself out with the Force! The explosion of which sent him to the clear other side of the Rotunda, and landing with a roll onto a pod.

"It is not all they have to bare, Dark One!" A voice...it was Gandalf's, but Obi-Wan felt a chill wriggle up his spine. Though it did not fill him with fear. Rather, it was awe he felt. Power radiated in Gandalf's voice. Booming with an echo that spoke to his nature. The true nature Obi-Wan still did not fully grasp, but in the moment...it became a little more clear to him. As the white wizard, radiating that white light, as it seemed to repeal into him came into the room from one of the higher pods.

"Ah hah!" Sidious snarled, standing back up, sounding as though he were out of breath in his madness. "I had hoped to see you again, wizard!"

"They are not alone!" An equally powerful, deep boom echoed. The room rattling beneath its power. As Galadriel entered the room from another pod near Gandalf. Her form seeming to encase in some light mingled with power Obi-Wan had not known before. The light seemed to be...old. Echoes of some other kind of power or Age he was unfamiliar with. Yet, in their presence and looking upon them, especially Gandalf...Obi-Wan felt his heart swell.

"Ah, and the witch too!" Sidious beamed a grin. "This shall finally put this ring to the test!" Sidious cackled and threw his lightsaber into his right hand, raising his left to the sky after. "What power can there be in mere words I wondered?! Much, as I have...learned!" Sidious rambled, though only seemingly...before… "Delu nên!" The words seemed to cause a seethe through the air! The room exploded with tendrils of lightning! Purple beams of crackling power that erupted from his fingertips and like snaking beasts circle the air, before all came crashing down! Falling as a pyramidal cone across all pods. Obi-Wan raised his lightsaber and encased himself in the Force. The beam absorbed the tendril, but the blue light of the weapon buzzed and glowed hot.

While Yoda threw both hands up and protected himself. Gandalf created an orb that encased himself and Galadriel seemed to momentarily disappear into a misty orb of winds.

"Sorcery will not save you here!" Gandalf boomed, and then his staff raised up, and his white light loosed a percussion through the room! Casting all darkened tendrils from sight and radiating out of every pod entrance into the halls beyond in illuminated warmth. "In your blind ambition for greater power you have given no heed to elder craft."

To Gandalf's words Sidious sneered. "What are you rambling about, old fool?!"

"While I stand, Dark Lord, and while anyone who yet opposes you still stands, there is hope!" Gandalf cast back his staff and a ray of light seemed to erupt into a lone tendril of brilliant white lightning. Casting down it stabbed through the air, loosing the crack of thunder as it went. Sidious raised his lightsaber and the beam caught the strike, but his shoes skirted along the pod he stood upon. A grimace unseen forming, but snarl loosing clearly heard from him. A radiant light seeming to spark to life within a ring upon Gandalf's hand. The red jewel upon it, like a heart without long a beat, thudding to life, as newborn kin called to it. Its Shadowy sibling calling forth to it, and once more bringing forth resilience, and hope. While another near also sparked to life. Nenya – preservation and concealment.

As such, Galadriel appeared. Only now she stood upon a pod completely different than where she had been. Without word, and with the crackling of thunderous winds enfolding her, the tendrils like that of storm clouds stormed from her. Arching towards Sidious upon his platform. Meanwhile, both Obi-Wan and Yoda dashed towards him. Obi-Wan circling in from his right along the left side of the room by his perception, and Yoda doing the same upon the Sith's left. Both of them trailed their lightsabers at their sides.

Yoda loosed a cry of battle and leapt over several racks of pods and fell upon Sidious. The storm clouds fell upon the Dark Lord, but the Sith motioned his left hand out and a bubble seemed to encase him. Yoda broke through and swiped up into a circular spin. Sidious blocked and parried. Stepping back and slashing out, forcing Yoda back and down. The Master turned and circled into a series of twirling flurries. Slashing down over and over, in circles. Sidious parries each and every blow. Then the bubble of power around him, thrashed out! Sending Yoda and the stormy clouds away. Yoda heaved and was thrown to another pod a rack below. While Sidious turned and blocked the downward slash Obi-Wan made.

With a sneering grin, Sidious thrust Obi-Wan back. Twisting into a series of flanking strikes. More toying with the Master, so Obi-Wan deduced. Slashing in right, down over left, up back around right, circling himself and twisting into a crouched swipe at Obi-Wan's legs. The Jedi jumped back, and allowed Sidious to send another burst of the Force forth. Throwing Obi-Wan backwards. Though, the Sith turned just as another thunderous lightning strike came upon him. Dazzling the room and filling it with the earthy scent of oncoming rain. Yet, the Sith caught it with his saber, and with a directed swipe up left he tossed it in the direction of the elven Lady.

In kind, Galadriel seemed to disappear entirely. Her figure disappearing into mist. The strike of lightning crashing and burning a bored hole through the metal wall paneling. The Dark Lord cackled in unrestrained glee. Turning and leaping upwards. The Force aiding him, just as Obi-Wan jumped in and struck down. Hitting nothing but the bottom of one pod. Sidious rose high, reaching above the mid level of the Rotunda. Turning he snapped his hand out. Deactivating his lightsaber and causing the pod he was on to begin floating slowly through the room.

Yoda jumped from where he had been thrown back. Landing atop a lower pod beneath Sidious' position. Falling onto his left hand while he brandished his saber out right. As Sidious raised both arms above his head. Pulling with ease, and the Force, two more pods from their positions. Yoda stood his ground, as Sidious threw his right arm down! One of the pods flew down towards Yoda! Smashing into the pod he was upon and crashing both down in a crumpled mess of refuse. Yoda jumped and rolled sideways onto a nearby pod. Standing back up and reactivating his lightsaber. Spinning it in hand as he beheld the sight of the Dark Lord upon his platform, and three more being hurled up and behind him. Projectiles, toys for him to toss.

Sidious reeled his left arm back and thrust down. Another pod careened towards Yoda. Crashing and destroying the pod he had been upon, The small Jedi leaping onto the falling carcass of the thrown pod and jumping onto a second falling pod tossed by Palpatine. Before landing upon another unmoved pod. The wild man grabbed more and more pods! Yanking them free and throwing them with abandon! Two more crashed into the pod Yoda had been upon, sending him into flight. He fell onto the next pod face first. Losing his footing, and momentarily winded.

"Master!" Obi-Wan called. Leaping from one pod to another. Dashing towards Sidious. The Dark Lord caught him, and with a howl of laughter he directed another pod towards him instead. It spun freely like a thrown saucer. Obi-Wan dove under and jumped to a lower pod. The crash behind him shaking the room and his footing. Obi-Wan stood and began his run, leaping onto a higher pod. Just as Sidious sent a bolt of lightning his way. It thundered and slammer against the wall beside him. Obi-Wan ducked and jumped higher. Dashing and jumping closer. While he caught sight of Gandalf raising his staff, and then slamming it down upon his own pod. Sending another bright burst of light through the room! It encased and blinded them all. Sidious grumbled and clutched his eyes shut. Giving Obi-Wan time to land on his pod.

The Jedi Master slashed down left, but Sidious leapt from his pod onto a lower one. Once more running from Obi-Wan. However, as Palpatine landed, and glanced around himself, Yoda jumped onto the same pod. Reactivating his lightsaber. The Dark Lord quickly extended his left hand forward and tendrils of incredible power burst forth! Yoda's right hand came up and began to catch the lightning into a cluster of the dark tendrils before him. But, the weight and power of Sidious' attack caused him to whirl back as the Dark Lord used both hands to unleash a barrage of Sith lightning. Yoda's lightsaber hilt slipping from his left hand and falling down to the very bottom of the Convocation Chamber among the tossed debris of many pods.

Yoda used both hands then. Blocking the onslaught. Sidious daring to walk nearer as the blue streams intermingled with harsh purple bolts fought to overwhelm Yoda. The Jedi barely managing to hold them back by the palms of his hands. All the while the Sith grit his teeth and happily snarled. Grinning as he forced more and more power onto Yoda. The little Jedi's hands trembled, as did his arms. His head reeled back from the onslaught and Sidious pressed all the harder.

"Hold firm!" Gandalf called, as Obi-Wan jumped down to their level. The wizard tapped his staff and a wind seemed to race over both elder combatants. Yet, they wrapped around Yoda, enfolding him, racing into and across him. The Force bristling and the light burning suddenly white hot within the aged and powerful Master. Green eyes turned, determined with that fire, glistening and glinting the light of Sidious' own lightning. The captured tendrils between them growing larger and larger. Palpatine beginning to reel back and whine, louder and louder! Understanding he had made an error, before – BOOM! Both Yoda and he were tossed from one another!

Sidious rolled over the side of the pod, but as he held onto the side railing encircling the pod, he glanced up, seeing Obi-Wan stab down at his finger tips. Sidious cackled even now, breathless, and momentarily reeling, he released the railing and fell onto a lower pod with a huff. Yoda crashing to the central podium, and bounding to the lower ring. Clinging onto the edge by his fingertips. Scratching and slipping. Gritting his teeth as he neared falling…

"I have you." A cool and unmarred fair hand encased Yoda's wrist. He peered up and saw the smiling face of Galadriel meet his gaze. Before, with great strength and ease, she hoisted him back onto the podium. Allowing Yoda to fall to his knees and heave in relief.

"My thanks, you have."

"Of course." She bowed her head, before turning towards the Dark Lord. Allowing the old Jedi with her to gasp and regain his strength. Her form once more bristled with incredible power, and a thrill of resolve moved through all four of the combatants against this Sith. Obi-Wan fell upon him, had for a moment since Yoda's fall. The Sith reactivating his lightsaber and blocking a strike horizontally, and swiping down diagonal and slashing into a flurry up right, down left, swipe across, circle and stab in. Obi-Wan carried and circled himself for each blow. Parrying and riposting at the very end. Slashing in right, the Sith turned and blocked. Allowing Obi-Wan to swipe his right foot in and crash into the left ankle of the Sith. Sidious fell with a growling snarl, but as he did he loosed another powerful tendril of lighting that Obi-Wan caught and threw aside with his lightsaber. But, Sidious had enough time to jump up and stab in at Obi-Wan's stomach. Just as wind, like that of an unseen circular disc flung through the air and slammed into the Sith throwing him back and away from Obi-Wan. Galadriel standing and thrusting her hands out to combat the monster. Obi-Wan turning and nodding his thanks. As Gandalf leapt to a lower level, and once more ushered from his staff a powerful consuming light that filled the room in luminosity! Galadriel was once more enfolded by tendrils of misty clouds, while Obi-Wan charged in at Palpatine. Yoda rising up and taking a breath of air as all three of his comrades sought to impose a blow against the Sith, but…

"Enough of this!" A violent percussive boom howled through the air! The dark side screeched like the ghastly groan of a phantom for all to hear, emanating from the very depths of Sidious' power. The light within the room was tossed away! While a wind of terrible hot destruction threw both Obi-Wan and Galadriel backwards. Stumbling nearby Gandalf as the light receded, and a dark cloud seemed to wriggle throughout the great Rotunda before the lights within the room once more dared illuminate what they could.

Obi-Wan had fallen onto the edge of the pod he was on. He shook his head, matted in sweat. Tilting up and gripping his lightsaber hilt he saw Palpatine rise. The Force showed him, however, a faint glimpse of what lay beneath. Darkness greater than any shadow. Burning eyes cast in deathly light, while behind him seemed to ebb a deathly green glow. The ring upon his hand shone bright, but only in that it seemed to brim in the color of freshly loosed blood. Burning ht as the fluid itself. Leaving Obi-Wan to gasp for air at the horrific sight.

"I grow tired of this game." Sidious announced. His voice trembling with unknown and unnatural power. Before it, like his vision returned to normal. "All of you, every single one, are wholly beneath me! This has been fun, but…" Sidious raised his right hand. From it, came another piercing wail, a screech of darkness that ebbed and then howled from the ring itself. Before his mouth opened once more. "Denna-dad!" The words in elvish wriggled unseemly from his maw. Then all four were overcome by incredible force. The Force itself beat down upon them and all four gave cries! Gandalf fell onto his knee, Galadriel was struck back, air huffed from her lungs before she was thrown to both of hers. Obi-Wan was slammed back down onto the ground, his saber shaking within his hand under the pressure. While Yoda was ground into the podium alongside the elven Lady.

"Look at that." Sidious intoned in a philosophical manner. "As will the whole galaxy in time, already I have lords, ladies, wizards and Jedi bowing before me. What wondrous a sight, from so wonderful a gif-"

The entrance to one podium cracked and slammed! The door leading in surged clear across the chamber. The slab of metal embedding into the far wall. Sidious paused. Contempt and anger passing over him as he was interrupted. He glanced up right from the source of the sound. Where all eyes and ears paid close attention. They all heard it then.

Intake, hiss. Intake, and hiss.

Heavy thuds echoed across metallic floor. A tower, a pillar, a bastion and obelisk of darkness stomped onto the platform. Slowly coming into view. The lights of the Convocation Chamber turning the darkened visage into a shadow. Illuminated by the twinkling lights upon their chest. Whilst the skull faced being peered down, and held in their right hand an as of yet, activated lightsaber.

At first, only Palpatine, only Sidious gave a passing cock of his brows. A sign of recognition passing over him. Whilst, in the moments after, a pang passed through the awareness's of both Obi-Wan and Yoda.

"I've come to finish what we started, Darth Sidious." The voice, baritone, deep, powerful and chilling spoke. Obi-Wan tilted his quaking and pinned head up. Still cast low by the Force and words of elvish. His heart lurched and he felt sickness toil in his gut.

"An...Anakin?!" The being glanced his way. They said nothing. Turning they beheld Gandalf who also looked up at him wide eyed and confused. Galadriel perceived him, and even if she repressed the emotion, she felt cold horror ripple through her at his sight. While Yoda...Yoda gave a grumbling sad groan.

A crimson lightsaber burst to life in his hand, and the dark being circled it at his side. Pointing the tip of the brilliant crimson beam down upon Sidious.

"You shall not touch them again! Release them, now!"

"My, you have grown demanding, my friend." Sidious grinned, though he did flick his fingers and released all four prior opponents. All of whom clamored to the floor and gasped. "You are resourceful, son. Even beaten, burnt, broken...you found a way to escape! You chill me with your raw potential, and awe me with your skills. Even now! Even after all we have laid bare, and all prior embittered contention...can you not see what I have done for you?! How I have given you freedom unlike any Jedi. I can sense it, my friend. The power writhing in you! The focus, the strength! It is the dark side. You teeter upon the edge, and it gives you unbridled power! Would you dare say you feel nothing?" Sidious wondered. While Anakin, encased in his armor, blackened cloak lightly whipping at his heels. He tilted his head quizzically.

"The dark side?" His voice restated confusedly. "You think the anger you've instilled in me is the dark side?! This is not the dark side, Sidious. This is me! This is Anakin Skywalker, or your Darth Vader! I am one, and the same. All you did was strip away the final vestiges. The last barrier between the two aspects. The lies I fed myself. For that, you have my thanks." Vader...Anakin growled. "But, you made the mistake of torturing my mind. Hours of torture felt like days. You made me see much, your Excellency. Sickened, and near death, broken in spirit and mind. Only to awaken and be rebuilt. To come here intended on destroying you! Yet, you have failed, and it is complete. For, I know Padmé lives. I know the Republic yet stands. I know my friends yet remain. I know now what I look upon, even with your ring." Anakin, Vader, one in the same rasped. Sidious frowned.

"And what is that?"

"Failure given form. Clung to the vain hope you can turn this all around. Wholly unaware, you have made your end. It stands before you! I stand before you!" The terrible voice assured and the room rumbled with the Force as it drew into him and roared about him. Trembling and thundering the room! Some incredible aspect of it birthed to life by...no one knew. Perhaps by the truth Anakin had discovered, or the torture he had endured? Regardless, the Force was at his beck and call. Sidious too felt it. Taking an unconscious step back. Before the great black obelisk leapt from where he stood and crashed onto the podium Palpatine stood. The entire surface of which shook beneath his incredible weight. Before he stood to full height and towered above Palpatine.

"I am free of your tricks, and games. Your words. I will hear no more, Dark Lord!" He spat the words mockingly. Falling into a stance, where he held his lightsaber freely at his right. Echoing Anakin's lazy djem so opening stance. "Come now, 'Master,'" He growled. "Face what you could not turn. Face what you then broke and remade. Face, Darth Vader." He aimed his saber at the old Sith once again.

Sidious appraised him. Golden yellow Sith eyes studying the visage from booted feet to helmet encased head. The dark side pulled in around him, and Sidious snapped his bloody lightsaber to life. A sneer crossing his ragged face.

"So be it."

"Anakin…" Obi-Wan called from where he lay. The dark helmet glanced at him, only so much. Refusing to take his attention away from Palpatine.

"Leave this to me, Master." He calmly intoned. Leaving Obi-Wan unsure, but ultimately...with what power Sidious had shown him...all he could do was nod.

For a long heavy moment the two stared at one another. Darth Sidious, and Anakin Skywalker, in the visage of Darth Vader. Sidious spun his lightsaber once in hand then raised it over his head in a strike-down posture. While Anakin brought both hands to his hilt and raised it vertically near his helmeted face. The crimson glow upon him. Between the two, the Force roared in silent flush. Passing between the two, through them both. Seething with life, anger, hatred, determination and the ebbing rise of the light. The room in partial ruin by Sidious' own hands. The stage set for their battle, their duel.

At last, Sidious loosed a howling snarl! He flung himself forward and crashed down. Anakin parried, and thrust him back. Stomping forward he slashed down left Sidious blocked and twirled. Anakin circled his saber in hand, through the pain of shattered bones crawling along his arms, he fed on the pain. He did not let it determine his nature. Nonetheless, his saber circled the air. He before he crashed it down atop Sidious again. The buzzing sparks that flew illuminated them both. As Sidious jumped to his left and slashed right. Anakin parried and turned. With ease and the Force in his patchwork body, he growled and met the oncoming strike with a riposte. Stabbing in as he circled Sidious' blade over right. The Sith awkwardly slashing back in and parrying the stab. Swinging in at Anakin's neck. The encased Jedi raised his left hand and the Force boomed! Echoing from him and stopping the Sith in his tracks. His eyes widened, and then, Anakin pulled his arm back and thrust it ahead! Tossing Sidious from the pod down to the floor below. Anakin stomped to the edge, readying to jump off.

"Be careful, lad!" Gandalf called encouragingly. The wizened wizard showing no disgust, no disdain, no shame nor judgment across his face. Anakin perceived him through an unspoken and unseen veil of red. Unseen, cracked and burnt lips smiled, and he tipped his head. Jumping to the floor below as Palpatine just rose to his feet. Anakin's heavy form crashing and thudding the ground.

Without delay Sidious stabbed in! Both hands on his hilt and aimed from over right shoulder. He swept in, Anakin parried the blow, and stepped back. Allowing Sidious to fly into a set of flanking strikes and flurries. Circling the lightsaber over his head down in right, back in left, back around right. Each one Anakin blocked, parried, swiped away. Stepping back and back. Allowing the Force to flow through him. Falling on principles taught by Obi-Wan and his soresu.

Then, Sidious snarled again! Anger etched in his face, and the dark side flooding through him, siphoned and sucked through the ring on his finger. He whirled around in a full elegant circle. His red blade cleaving the ground, before he slashed upwards vertically! Anakin struck! He stabbed in and caught the saber, forcing Palpatine to awkwardly step back. Before Anakin then fell on him, and hard! Slashed down, overhead with falling avalanche crashes, each one the old Sith blocked and stepped away from.

Every step brought Anakin pain, but he used it to fuel himself. The Force writhed within him, the darkness of his being feeding his worn muscles, but within his mind, and his heart all he knew was his foe. With his legs quaking in torment, and arms howling in pain, he began jabbing, thrusting, circling himself in horizontal strikes, as he would have without this suit. A blur of gigantic size, as he unleashed the djem so. His massive form unstable, but his footwork excellent.

Slash right, Sidious parried, swipe back up around left, Sidious jabbed and blocked. Anakin tilted around and stabbed in behind himself. Sidious riposted and swung in for a killing strike at his back. Anakin easily twisting and with his strength carrying Palpatine's momentum and forcing his blade down into the ground. His left hand coming up and unleashing another burst of power that stumbled the old Sith.

Sidious grit his teeth, he lowered his blade, and raised his left hand. Unleashing a torrent of lightning! The purple tendrils exploding and slamming into Anakin's...Vader's crimson saber. A grunt loosed from behind his vocabulator. His body skirted along the floor as the ring fed Sidious incredible power! Anakin's body shivered and shook under the assault, but unlike before he would not yield! He would not bend! He stood even as his legs shook from flesh to robotic replacement. Gears whirred and servos grumbled uncomfortably.

"It would appear you're not quite as unstoppable as you'd like to imagine, my friend!" Sidious grinned. The Force flushing through him. "Let's up the pressure for you!" He deactivated his lightsaber, and raised his right hand. A second jumbled torrent crashed into Anakin's lightsaber, and even while feeding on his pain, his body trembled! The lightning sparked and danced from around his lightsaber. One tendril slamming into his right shoulder. Whirling him back. His right hand let go of his hilt, but his left desperately held it up defensively blocking the main assault of lightning.

Ah, there it is!" Sidious cackled hoarsely. "The weakness!" He lurched back and then pressed both hands forward. A bout of renewed purple tendrils burst up the prior and Anakin was struck by an explosion that sent him reeling! Flying backwards, his tremendous black crashed to the wall. He fell to his right knee. Heaving breaths that came through his respirator in hitched short intakes and outflows. "Is this all you have to offer, Anakin? I had expected more. I wanted more!"

"I am not dead...yet!" Anakin grunted. Standing back up and loosening another wave of energy that fell upon Sidious. Yet, with a flick of his right hand a bubble encased and defended him even as fallen debris from the many tossed pods crashed and whirled around him.

Without relent, Sidious ran ahead. Reactivating his lightsaber as he did, he charged and slashed down right in at Anakin with gleeful laughter. Anakin swept up, blocked and slashed around in. Swiping at Sidious' center. The Sith immediately parried, and then flurried. Jumping up he slashed down with great strength fueled by the dark side. Left right, left right, up then down, down and up, left, right, swipe around, stab. Sidious was a blur of motion. Anakin blocked, horizontally jabbed, swiped up and sidestepped. But, he was being pushed back. He spun away, feeling his cloak whirl around him. Giving himself room. Feeling his breath catch. He stabbed in, Palpatine blocked and circled him, much as Dooku would with his makashi. Anakin barely managed to keep a tight grip on his blade, but his wrist tortuously wanted to let go. Giving Sidious the chance to swipe up! Swipe up he did. The red blade pierced Anakin's inner defense and grazed the breathing apparatus up into his helmet! Cleaving a vertical scar from left chin up to his eye. Anakin reeled and loosed a howl that came like a roar through the vocabulator. He loosed a powerful Force wave from his whole body! The room trembled and finally Sidious was forced back. Leaving Anakin to snatch at his torn mask. Noting his eye was fine, but white sparks and the stink of singed plasteel made him retch within his helmet.

Anakin's gloved hand fell from his helmet, perceiving Sidious ahead. Cackling, mocking him. Anakin called on the Force. Felt it rush through his core. Then, he charged! Swinging his saber over his right shoulder he swung down left. Palpatine caught the blade and let the momentum push his own saber down. Anakin, however, reeled back up and slashed in! Stabbing at the old man's head. He parried, Anakin swung back at the neck, Palpatine blocked horizontally and swung up. Pushing Anakin's arm back over shoulder. The old Sith loosed a spark of lightning. It crashed into Anakin's already sparking chest, and he loosed another grave growl. Stumbling backward. Allowing Palpatine to press.

The Sith Lord swept in and circled overhead, slashing right. Anakin sidestepped and blocked. His footing stumbling. Palpatine grinned, and then crashed down overhead in one slash, two, and three! Each one bouncing off of Anakin's upraised blade. Each one pushing him more and more onto his fumbled right foot. Until Palpatine surged the Force into his hands, and crashed a final blow atop Anakin's lightsaber and the armored man fell backwards. He held his saber up as Palpatine stabbed down. Anakin barely parried it. Rolling awkwardly, sweat beading across his ruined body and stinging reopening wounds and sores. He rose up, and Palpatine grappled Anakin's body in the Force. Yanking him towards him, and jabbing his lightsaber in a stab. Anakin raised his saber, but Palpatine's glided along it, and thrust into Anakin's left shoulder, and through it entirely!

"ARGH!" Anakin heaved, before Palpatine withdrew his saber and circled it in his hand. Swiping into a slash up under Anakin's sideways saber, throwing it away from him, and straight out of Anakin's hand. Allowing the man to fall onto the floor heaving...gasping. His body...aching, worn and broken. Just as the droid warned...he was not ready for this fight. Even through the bluster, and the power he still felt. He was weakened. His every inch felt like it was on fire. Burning. Always burning.

Anakin fell onto his knees. His left arm going limp. Ligaments, bones and muscles destroyed by the Sith's lightsaber.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan howled and jumped down. His blue saber came to life. But, Sidious loosed another wave that crashed into the Jedi Master and slammed him to the far wall! The other three fell down. Yoda, Galadriel and Gandalf.

"None of you interfere now!" Sidious raised both hands, and as all three readied to fight him once more, they were all overcome by the Force gripping them! Tightening around them! Yoda tried to use the Force to resist, but it was not enough. "I've toyed with you long enough!" Sidious threw them all back and all three also crashed into piles of broken pods, or the wall.

"Anakin!" Gandalf called, pushing himself up by his staff.

"Silence, wizard!" Sidious thrust his hand out and again Gandalf was pinned to the wall. Grunting from the power pressing upon him like so much weight.

"Leave...leave them alone!" Anakin snarled. His voice trembling with that same baritone.

"I shall not, my friend." Palpatine smirked. Sidious smirked. "I will kill them. All three of them. Then I will kill the rest of the Jedi, and then your wife, Anakin. I will kill them all, one by one! Until just your children remain."

"No."

"I will take them and make them my apprentices, my successors."

"No!" Anakin rumbled, trying to stand, but falling back to his knees as he trembled weakly.

"Then strike me down!" Sidious seethed, even as he bore a grin. "Use that anger boiling in you! Use it as it is meant to be used, my friend! Hate me, despise me! Use that strength and power to destroy me! Give into your hatred! Fulfill your destiny!"

"No, Anak-" Obi-Wan began, but then 'hacked!' His throat constricted.

"Let him go!"

"Kill me!" Sidious roared! "Kill me, and embrace the dark side! If you will not turn with my good graces, you will turn by your contempt of me, Jedi!" Sidious' grip tightened. "Kill me, Anakin!"

Anakin...delved deep. The world around him numbly lost sound. His hatred boiled within him. Rising to the surface. His right hand trembled. Shook. He wanted to kill him. Anakin would kill him! Anakin's eyes, unseen ebbed. Blue one second, yellow the next. The Force was a storm around him. The dark side beckoned to him. The ring on Sidious' finger giving it more life than anything he had felt before...save one other ring.

He would destroy Sidious! He would kill him, mangle him! Tear him apart! Anakin's neck tightened, his muscles that yet moved to his will went rigid. Anakin would call his lightsaber to him, kill Sidious, and then he would be the savior of the galaxy! Savior of the Republic, the Jedi, his wife, his friends and children. He'd be the Hero with No Fear!

No.

No he wouldn't. Anakin's eyes shut. That was an empty road. Because Sidious wouldn't die. He'd make Anakin strike out in anger, and in darkness. Debase himself to try to earn an easy kill for his pleasure. Rather than...rather than for what was right.

"What's right…"

"What?" Sidious grumbled as Anakin intoned to himself. Anakin did not answer him, however.

Instead, Anakin felt his heart race. He felt himself shake. That was it! There it was. He glanced up at Palpatine. His left eye visible through the torn mask. The dark odious creature tilting his head quizzically at Anakin. Not aware that the Jedi had remembered, or perhaps, discovered the truth.

This battle wasn't about glory. This duel wasn't about destiny or fate. To some it could be that way, stated that way, or imagined. The truth in it, of it, was far more simple. So easy, and yet...so difficult. Here on his knees, Anakin, Vader? It didn't matter. What mattered was why. He calmed himself. Anakin closed his eyes and loosed a breath from his nose. Delving into the Force, he pushed all anger aside. All emotions that sprung from within for himself. Instead he let Padmé's face come to mind. The little bundles of his children. The flawed family of Jedi, those beings who worked for the greater good of all such as Bail Organa, his friends from Arda. Their struggles and their hopes or dreams…

"What are you doing?!" Sidious demanded. While Anakin...Anakin Skywalker remembered the truth. This battle, this duel, this fight was about what was right! That, and only that, was all that mattered. There was no 'point of view.' There was no 'other side.' There was right, and there was wrong. He would not kill in anger, he would fight, and die, and kill not for himself. But, for that solemn, ultimate truth.

"There…" Anakin intoned, his voice baritone and grumbling. Sidious regarded him quizzically, and yet a flicker of something in his eyes showed...he perceived something too. Something that made his yellow eyes widen. In a blink, Anakin's right hand rose. In another a lightsaber slid out from Palpatine's robes. Mangled, cracked and burnt...Anakin's blue lightsaber taken hours before. The Force, light exploded from within him, into the lightsaber, and the shattered pieces within sprung a trembling blue blade to life!

Anakin, Vader, the Chosen One, lurched up, and forward and… HISS!

Silence.

Anakin stood. Right hand raised up, and blue quivering unstable lightsaber in hand, the visage of darkness encasing the light within. While Palpatine stood gawking...gaping. His right hand, falling to the floor, his stump of a wrist burnt.

"I...I...how…?"

Anakin Skywalker slashed down left at just the right angle. His friends released, gasping, and themselves watching in frozen awe. Palpatine's lips quivered, and that terrible realization in those yellow Sith eyes seemed to manifest tenfold. Just before his head fell from his neck, and his body crumpled to the floor. The ring upon his removed hand, gave a wail of feeble ghastly darkness, before a thunderous shatter sounded through the chamber! The band ripped apart in a dazzling and wholly unexpected, though mostly ignored display save for the silent acknowledgment of all who saw it do so. From it, millions upon millions of shards turned to dust scattered about the ruined and debris laden floor of the Senate Chamber.

Anakin turned to his friends. Breathing ragged, hoarse and painful upon the ears through his mask. His body broken, trembling, and blue lightsaber beam disappearing as the Force that bid it work, receded within the host that wielded it.

"An...Anakin…" Obi-Wan gasped.

"The right thing." Anakin mumbled. Falling to the floor in a great clamor.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan dashed to him. Yoda, Gandalf and Galadriel soon to follow. "Don't you-"

"I'm not dying, Master." Anakin managed even through ragged breaths.

"No, no you're not!" Obi-Wan swore to him reaching down and lifting his head up with some discomfort and effort.

"But…but…"

"What is it lad?" Gandalf inquired. Concern etched into his wrinkled features. As Galadriel regarded the man, and also the fallen body of the Sith. As a terrible sensation seemed to fade from the room in his wake.

"I could...use...a...a..."

"Anakin?!" Obi-Wan demanded, while unseen Anakin bore the most feeble of smirks.

"Vacation, Master."

Obi-Wan stuttered a repressed laugh. Shaking his head. Whilst, without shame, tears rolled down his cheeks. The other three joining in the most needed of laughter. Within the shambles of the Senate Rotunda.

Anakin Skywalker, had won.

---

Author's Note: If you find any glaring grammatical errors do please let me know. I will have to go over this chapter again, or L will more likely. It is long and while I am happy with the end result I know it likely has some grammar and flow issues to be resolved later. However, in its current state I feel it is near exactly where I want it.

I have been gone for some time. As well, I am uploading this and not L, because while I feel I do not need to tell anyone anything, I will do so, because I want to. Last September I learned shortly after my last chapter that a family member had cancer. I took time off work, I put a lot of things on standby to help them go through test and treatments. Yet, it was all...for naught. By the end of October they were gone. That kind of life whiplash took the energy from me for much of my life. Even to this day I feel I am not where I was. This story means a lot to me, and I will not abandon it. I have a weaving tale in mind and an end. It may take me time, but I will get there. I am sorry for those who thought it was abandoned, but this story, while I love it, does not make me money as say some of my new freelance work does. That is NOT a way for me to ask for any money, only that work and life takes precedence over some parts of my life.

I appreciate all of you who love this story. It is just a fanfiction, but it helps me think of things, and life and escape even if it's just in my own head when I'm thinking of future turns and plots for you all to read and review. So, for those still around, I thank you.

That said, L will return next chapter which will hopefully come sooner than this did. It is long because this was always meant to be sort of the end of Part 1, and things will be changing in terms of story, format and so forth. Especially since we are at the end of Revenge of the Sith. But, I digress. No spoilers. Please leave a review if you feel so inclined, and enjoy.

-Lord Exar Kun

Edit Note: Edited/Updated 04/14/2023