A week later.
Interior: Dromund Kaas, Imperial Citadel, throne room.
"My Lord Emperor, I bring you a gift," snarled Darth Drakkon as he pushed a handcuffed Anakin Skywalker to his knees.
"Hello, ugly," quipped Skywalker, taken aback by the sheer power and darkness radiating from the Emperor.
"So this is the mighty Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi's Chosen One," chuckled Vitiate, "welcome, my boy," as he summoned Anakin's lightsaber to his hand, resting it on the arm of his throne.
"I am not your boy!" growled Skywalker as he struggled in his restraints.
"No? Oh, but you will be." mused Vitiate, "I see the darkness in you, the darkness that you crave to unleash.
The power of the dark side calls to you."
"What I need, I already have."
Turning his gaze to the doors, Vitiate opened them with the Force.
Behind his mask, Drakkon's eyes widened as Daesha was marched in, and pushed to her knees before him.
As Lord Scourge and a masked, human female Inquisitor stepped back a short distance, Daesha was trembling, "Master Drakkon, what is happening?"
"Turn to me, girl," ordered Vitiate.
"Y- yes, my Lord Emperor," stammered Daesha as she knelt before Vitiate.
"Stand, and come to me, Drakkon's pet," said the Emperor, and she obeyed.
"Beautiful like a flower," observed Vitiate who towered over her, and caressed her cheek, "so delicate, so soft," before he felt a sharp pain in his gut, and gazed down to see he'd been stabbed by twin blades.
"And like the rose, I have thorns, my Lord," quipped Daesha as additional blades of red plasma sprang from her hilts.
"Filthy wench!" growled Vitiate who pulled the blades out, shoved them into her lower abdomen, then launched her across the throne room, into a pillar, with Sith lightning.
"Noooo!" shouted Drakkon.
Rushing to Daesha's side as he discarded his mask, Cay cradled her in his arms as she weakly smiled at him.
Feeling something wet on his hand which rested on her side, Cay brought his hand away to reveal blood, then shed a tear.
"Oh, for kriff's sake," thought Scourge, shielding his thoughts, "don't you dare get weepy and distracted, boy.
There's too much at stake."
"Crap, that wasn't part of the plan," thought Skywalker, keeping his mind guarded.
"Promise me you'll stay the good man I know you to be deep down.
Don't let your grief turn you into a monster." pleaded Daesha, "Please don't spend the rest of your life bitter, self-destructive, lonely, or brooding,"
"I promise." vowed Cay, and he meant it.
"I know it's difficult, but it's time to let me go." Daesha softly said, "I love you, Cay," as she took her final breath.
"I love you too, Daesha." returned Cay who gently closed her eyes, kissed her temple, and laid her down.
Slowly clapping, Vitiate taunted, "How touching, if I had a heart, it might just feel the slightest bit warm."
"If you wish to achieve victory over this abomination," whispered Kreia's disembodied voice, "you know what you must do."
As he rose to his feet, freed Skywalker who summoned his weapon, and stared into Vitiate's eyes, Cay ignited his crimson blade, "You! You will die for this!"
"So, you stand against me? You ally with the Jedi?" hissed the Emperor.
"I have from the moment I learnt my brother lives." confirmed Cay whilst Scourge and the Inquisitor stood by his side, crimson blades in hand, "I stand by my family, and they stand against you."
"It's treason then."
Staring down the Emperor, Cay, Inquisitor, Scourge and Anakin raised their fully extended arms to shoulder height, fingers spread, and intercepted an incoming Force storm with great difficulty, creating a blinding light.
"All these years, your true self has been asleep in your own mind, Cay Marek," bluntly stated Kreia's disembodied voice, "It is time for you to… awaken."
Heeding Traya's words as he opened himself up to the Force in every aspect he'd denied himself as a Sith, Cay's eyes shone emerald green as the light dimmed.
"You harness immense power, but you lack the will to direct or control it, boy," taunted Tenebrae, "you are but disobedient children.
I expected better from my Wrath."
"My loyalty is to the Empire, not you." dismissed Scourge.
"Awww, are you upset because someone's standing up to you?" teased the Lethan Dark Council member as she emerged, "and by the way, sending the Imperial Guard to kill the rest of us was just rude.
Unfortunately for you, the Inquisitorius is dealing with the ones you sent after me and Drakkon."
"Now, now, Talon, be a good, submissive Twi'lek, like all your kind should be," taunted Vitiate, "Submit and give yourself to me, and I may let you live as my slave."
"You're insane," hissed Talon, "my chains are broken, the Force shall free me."
"Foolish Twi'lek, I shall enjoy breaking your will, and dominating you in every conceivable way."
"Your time is over, Tenebrae." growled Cay.
Facing towards the traitors and the Jedi, Vitiate cast a mighty onslaught of Sith lightning, but Cay, Scourge, Inquisitor, Talon and Anakin intercepted it at the last moment.
"Your striving is admirable, but insignificant," hissed Vitiate, unrelenting in his attack, unfazed whilst his opponents were slowly being pushed back, "I expected as much defiance from you, young Skywalker.
But you, Talon? You were always so loyal to the Empire.
Your betrayal was disappointing, Lord Scourge.
You, Shado, are weak like your sister.
And you, Drakkon, have heart, but you are not even close to the power your brother wields."
"My name is Cay Marek!" corrected the wayward son of Kento, "and I don't have to be like Galen."
"My life spans millennia, legions have risen to test me.
My-" began Vitiate.
"We don't care!" interrupted Anakin as they were brought to a near stalemate with the vastly more experienced Emperor.
Exhausted as the lightning collision ceased after a relentless 30 minutes, Cay breathed heavily as his eyes returned to their natural brown, "Is that all you have?"
"I will make you suffer," snarled Vitiate as he, along with six duplicates, cast black lightning and pure dark side energy, "now, you will pay the price for your lack of vision." sending the overwhelmed group to the ground, writhing in agony.
Lifting Scourge above the ground with the Force, Vitiate tore his insides apart and cast him aside, "Fools, I cannot be contained, I will not be redeemed!
All that remains is death! And you have not the strength to kill me!"
"Enough!" hissed the spirit of Kreia who appeared in front of Cay and his companions, absorbed the attack, then sent it back at the real Vitiate who crashed into a pillar whilst the duplicates were destroyed, "Step away from them."
Rising to his feet, Vitiate scowled in disbelief, "This doesn't concern you, Traya."
"On the contrary, Tenebrae, I have endured your corruption of my other students, you shall not have this one." spat Kreia as she used the Force to heal Cay and replenish his energy, "You will not harm him! You will not harm him ever again!"
The exile from the Orders of both the Jedi Knights and Sith Lords turned her gaze to Skywalker, "And you, 'Chosen One,', rise and accomplish that which you know in your heart must be done.
Break your chains, for yours are the words of prophecy.
Free yourself from the slavery of a predetermined destiny."
Strengthened in resolve by the memories of his friends and family as he trusted his feelings, instincts, and the Force, Anakin rose to his feet, radiating a glowing aura.
His eyes and aura shone like the twin sunsets of Tatooine as he fully immersed himself in the Force, tapping deeper into his true power than he'd ever done before.
With a serene series of hand movements, The Chosen One obliterated Emperor Vitiate's form, then cleansed the planet's corrupted Force Nexus with pure light side energy, sending monumental shockwaves through the Force.
"At last… it is done. In this form of crude matter, he is no more," exhaled Kreia's ghost as she vanished, then the others fell to the ground in exhaustion.
Taking a minute to replenish his energy, Cay made his way to, and sat upon the throne, then his surviving companions slowly came to.
"Cay?" asked Talon as she slowly approached her friend, "are you okay, dear?" and held his hand.
"I just lost the love of my life, so I don't think I'd describe myself as okay right now."
"Well, I'm here for you, as I've always been."
Noticing the Jedi slowly getting up, Cay asked, "You good, Skywalker?"
"Exhausted, but I'll live," answered Anakin as he rubbed his forehead, and sat with his back against a support pillar, "and I think I hear my bed calling."
"You'd best leave while you have the chance, Anakin." pointed out Talon, "you're a Jedi, this is the Sith Empire's capital."
"Thanks for the help, and give my regards to Galen," added Cay, "and where is he, anyway?"
"A Sith fleet knocked on the door of his borders," sighed Anakin, "also, sorry for your loss." then turned towards the door as several of Drakkon's Inquisitors entered.
"My Lord, the last of the Imperial Guard has been eliminated, and-" began the Seventh Sister who eyed the Jedi, "Skywalker!"
"Our guest is to be given medical attention, real food, fuel for his ship, and safe passage off Dromund Kaas," ordered Cay, "He's not to be pursued or tracked, am I clear?"
"As you wish, Master." obeyed the Inquisitors as they guided Anakin out of the room.
"Are you okay, Tal?" inquired Cay, turning his gaze to his friend, "I know that shit he said about Twi'leks struck a nerve."
"I'm used to my species being looked down upon.
But the idea of being Vitiate's slave, and kept on a leash like a pet, makes me sick." answered Talon, "Nothing would piss him off more than a Twi'lek as his successor."
"I'm okay too, thanks for asking," muttered Shado.
Sensing something, Cay turned to his fellow Inquisitor, "Your Force signature… It feels familiar.
Take off that mask, show me who you are."
"Once you know, there's no going back,"
"Try me."
Removing her mask, Shado revealed a familiar yet unknown face, "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"You look like my-" began Cay as Shado vanished.
Turning to his friend, Cay stated, "I told Galen change had to come from within.
Looks like this is our chance to start changing the Empire for the better."
"I may have to consider dressing slightly more conservatively as Empress.
I'm practically in my underwear."
"Nobody's complaining or judging you, Tal, it's your choice," shrugged Cay, "besides, we all know your speciality is terrifying and seducing people at the same time."
With a chuckle, she slapped his arm, "And don't you forget it, Honey.
Now, which of us gets the throne?"
Gazing into her eyes, Cay had an idea, "Join me, and together we can rule as the new Emperor and Empress.
We can bring about a new era."
"Sounds like we're getting married."
"Romantic, isn't it?" he chuckled.
"Soooo romantic," snipped Talon.
At the same time.
Exterior: Mandalore sector, border, space.
Interior: Rogue Shadow, cockpit.
Sensing the disturbance as his, Aayla, Kota, Ahsoka, Plo, and Obi-Wan's fleets combined finished off a massive Armada led by the Imperial military's Supreme Leader, Galen exhaled, "Vitiate is dead, Ani and Cay did it."
"Don't be so sure." replied Revan, "Knowing the Emperor, he will find a way to return."
"Then you must be ready." agreed Meetra as she appeared to them.
Later.
Exterior: Dromund Kaas, Imperial citadel, entrance.
Stepping outside to see clear skies and sunshine instead of the dark storms they were accustomed to, Cay, who'd fixed the damage to his gear, mused, "This is a new day, a new beginning."
"Quite literally." agreed Talon, "and here comes the Press." before dozens of reporters arrived on schedule.
As he stood behind a microphone on its stand, Cay informed the crowd of reporters, "For unspeakable acts, and the highest of treason against the Empire, Darth Vitiate has been executed."
After letting the Press talk over each other, Talon chimed in, "Being the only surviving members of the Dark Council, the burden of the Imperial throne has fallen to the both of us."
Cay declared, "I, Emperor Drakkon, take Talon as my wife, and name her Empress." earning surprised looks then genuine applause.
"My Lord Emperor?" asked one of the reporters, nervous.
"By all means, speak freely.
Unlike Vitiate, I encourage freedom of speech."
"How will the Empire change under your leadership?"
"Vitiate stood in the way of the Empire evolving and changing with the rest of the galaxy.
With his death comes the opportunity to make the Empire stronger, better, and more with the times.
To improve and address the matters his lazy, fear mongering shebs ignored."
Talon added, "Yet another war with the Republic was Vitiate's agenda from the start of his reign, not the Empire's.
He was playing the same game as Naga Sadow.
We know there is separatism in the Empire, and we are willing to discuss and address their concerns."
Cay finished, "Change must come from within, and this is the first step."
A reporter inquired, "Will you be holding peace talks with the Republic as well?"
Talon answered, "With the Dark Council dead, a new Emperor on the throne, and one giant mess to sort out, the war's a waste of time, lives and resources for all sides."
"Vitiate and Sadow's lust for conquest ravaged worlds, eradicated civilizations, cost us the original Empire and its territories, and cost countless lives on all sides." began Cay.
Talon continued, "We tore the galaxy apart in their names, and in return they controlled, destroyed, enslaved, divided, and segregated us."
Cay finished, "Now, let us break our chains, and stand together.
Let us stand united as we rebuild a new Sith Empire… a better Empire."