The guardian turned his attention to the entry room. He watched at the two men- identical save for personal grooming choices- and the teenage Togruta backed into the room. The Togruta was using two lightsabers to protect both herself and the two men. The two men were firing blasters of some kind over her shoulders, and seemed to be wearing some variant on Mandalorian armor. The guardian could tell they were fighting off droids of some kind. Droids. With blasters. Who thought that was a good idea?
The guardian couldn't help but approve of having Mandalorians as part of the Sith army. It may have been some time since they had been allies and servants to the Sith, but the Mandalorians had always been fierce fighters when they were.
"Rex, see if you can't get that door closed!" The Togruta- the guardian thought her name was Ahsoka- ordered.
Before the man with lighter hair could do more than take a step, the guardian slammed the entrance shut and turned on the shielding. It was old, but it would hold against any blaster fire. He also took the time to close all the doors leading farther into the temple. Obi-Wan had ordered them to remain in the first room, and they would remain there.
The guardian kept part of his attention on the lightsaber fight, even as he studied the Jedi Padawan. She… was not quite what he had expected. Well matched to Anakin, yes, and young, but… not a Sith. Possibly, she never would be. The guardian would have sighed, but it was true that many people didn't have the temperament to become Sith. And yet, she was willing to work with a Sith Lord, so while she might be a Jedi, she might also be one of the more reasonable ones. Or she just didn't feel she could contradict her Master. And yet, she clearly respected Obi-Wan.
The guardian gave up. These Jedi and True Sith were confusing. He'd just have to ask.
After Anakin dealt with Tyranus. One less Banite Sith in the galaxy would be appreciated. The guardian was fairly certain Obi-Wan would agree, or he wouldn't have been chasing Tyranus. Nor would he have allowed Anakin to fight the Banite Sith Lord. And the fight was impressive. Anakin was holding up well under everything the Banite Sith could throw at him, which was admittedly a lot.
The guardian got the impression that they had faced off before, and Anakin had come off the worst of that meeting- or was it meetings? Still, Anakin had clearly learned from previous fights, and even the Lightning wasn't keeping him down.
Suddenly, Anakin changed tactics. He jumped back, and up, landing on another walkway. "You're predictable, Dooku," Anakin mocked as he stared down at Tyranus.
"Predictability or not, Skywalker, you still cannot defeat me," Tyranus returned.
Surprisingly, Anakin merely smirked in return. "I don't need to defeat you," he said. "Though I will."
The Force was coalescing around the two of them. Destiny was about to change, or be made. The guardian barely managed to keep the temple from harming the Padawan and keep an eye on Obi-Wan as he got closer and closer, he was so distracted by the feel of the Force.
Anakin leapt from the walkway, heading straight for Tyranus. For a moment, the guardian feared that Tyranus would slice Anakin in half, but Anakin blocked Tyranus' swing and ripped his lightsaber from his grip. The red lightsaber went flying to the corner of the room and Tyranus desperately brought his hands up and unleashed Lightning at Anakin, just as Anakin landed. Anakin blocked it with his saber as was driven back for an instant. After recovering himself, he charged at the older man, snarling as he kept blocking the Lightning.
Lightning reflected off of Anakin's saber, seemingly nearly surrounding him as he approached Tyranus, who didn't have the energy or attention to spare to call his lightsaber to him.
His desperation reached into the Force, but there was nothing he could do.
Obi-Wan entered the room just as Anakin reflected one last blast of Lightning, and drove his saber into Tyranus' heart.
Everyone in the room froze. Tyranus' eyes widened as he stared at Anakin, who seemed just as stunned. Obi-Wan stared at them both from the doorway.
Tyranus collapsed, sliding to the ground as Anakin turned his saber off. Anakin stared down at the Banite Sith, almost in shock. The Force seemed to rejoice.
And then the guardian felt it as Anakin's sense in the Force changed. The guardian would have smiled. This was exactly what he'd hoped for- Anakin was Sith, now and forever. Anakin jumped and turned to look at Obi-Wan, who looked just as shocked. "Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I…" Anakin managed before taking a deep breath. "I had to, Obi-Wan," he said.
"I know, Anakin. He might have been unarmed, but he was not without weapons." Obi-Wan took a deep breath as well. "Your Force Sense is different. I'm not sure why."
"And there's something different about yours," Anakin returned. "It's…"
Ah, of course. Anakin wouldn't have been able to tell that Obi-Wan was a Sith Lord until he too became one.
"There's something about yours that now feels like Palpatine's."
"Palpatine isn't Force sensitive," Anakin replied.
"I know."
It was time to greet the two Sith. And perhaps wonder about this Palpatine later.
The guardian focused on providing a form for the two of them to see. It might be petty amusement, but the guardian couldn't help but smile at the two Sith Lords' shock as he appeared.
"That was very well done, young Lord Skywalker," the guardian told Anakin first. "I have not seen anyone handle the Lightning so well in almost 1500 years. And you, Lord Kenobi," he said. "Your choice is perfect."
Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged confused looks. "Why do you call us Lords?" Obi-Wan finally asked cautiously.
The guardian paused. "Because that is what you are," he finally said. "First, though. In life I was Lord Rivan, in death, I am now the guardian of this temple."
Again, Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged glances. Finally, Obi-Wan nodded. "Lord Rivan, I assume we have you to thank for the fact that this has not been a disastrous visit to this temple?"
The guardian smiled at Obi-Wan. "Yes, of course," he said. "I knew you would have no troubles, Lord Kenobi, but your Jedi companion would have had I not interfered."
"Why would Obi-Wan have been safe?" Anakin asked.
The guardian smirked and glanced at Obi-Wan. "Would you care to tell him, Lord Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan eyed him. "No," he said. "Seeing as I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
The guardian froze. He could hardly believe it- but Obi-Wan was telling the truth. He had managed this much and he didn't even know he was a Sith Lord? How much more would he do now that he was about to learn of his heritage?
"You mean… the Banites have destroyed that much? You don't even know? Neither of you?"
The living men looked at each other once more. "Know what?" they chorused.
The guardian took a deep breath. "Lord Kenobi, when did you kill a Sith Lord? How?"
Obi-Wan blanched. "How do you… is that what I'm feeling from Anakin? Because he defeated Dooku?"
"Yes, it is, now answer my question!"
Obi-Wan swallowed. "Not quite twelve years ago- after he killed my Master."
Anakin reached out as if to place his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.
The guardian closed his eyes. "You avenged him, good," he said. "In doing so, you took up an ancient title, Lord Kenobi. You are Lord Kenobi, Lord of the Sith. Perhaps the first of the true Sith that are not also of Bane's line that has existed in a thousand years. And you, Lord Skywalker, just joined him in our order."
Well. They might not have known, but their stunned reactions almost made that worth it.