Star Wars What If…?/The Gray One
Story By A Writer With No Name
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS! THIS A FREE TO READ WORK OF FAN BASED WRITTEN FICTION! PLEASE DON'T SUE ME!
Chapter 1: The Failed Promise
Anakin landed his ship as fast as he could at the entrance of the Senate building. As soon as he felt the ship touchdown, he didn't even check his system to make sure it had landed properly. The young Jedi flew up the cockpit window and took off down the Chancellor's chamber. The looming pillars and long red carpet reminded him of events only but a few months ago.
After he had slayed Count Dooku and landed the Invisible Hand on Coruscant. He was taken here to this very building to be congratulated by the government. While he felt grateful for the praise by the Senators, the true reason why he was here was to see his wife. It had been a while since he had seen Padme, so it was only appropriate that he would finally be with her again after his greatest victory.
However, their heartfelt reunion was soon too dour by Padme admitting that she was now pregnant. Anakin at first was joyful about this, but the look on the love of his life's face reminded him of the reality that he lived. A scandal of this magnitude would sink their careers and livelihoods. Though, even that wasn't on Anakin's mind for long.
Much like his mother before her, Padme was seen in Anakin's visions of the future. She was in pain and slowly dying. This war had taken a toll on him, the young man, at only twenty-three years of age. Had seen Hell and lived to tell of it. Not only that, but the Jedi Order had proven itself to be backwards and not as in tuned to the force as he had been led to believe. Resulting in him looking to the dark side for answers, in order to find a possible way to help save his wife.
While Palpatine was certainly an evil man, Anakin started to believe that he might have been a necessary evil. One to bring order where the Senate and Jedi certainly couldn't, and while it was the right thing to do to turn him over to the Jedi. He was still Anakin's only possible lead on a possible cure for Padme's inevitable illness. He must stop his execution by the hands of the elite squad of Jedi sent after him.
It was because of this mindset, of thinking up reasons to convince them to take Palpatine prisoner. That caused Anakin to first proceed slowly down the hallways. However, he soon felt the heated battle happening between Palpatine and Master Windu. Because of this he started to run, it was now only a matter of time before the chancellor would be overwhelmed. Master Windu was one of the greatest Jedi to ever live, next to master Yoda.
Their bout felt especially violent, as if an immovable object had met an unstoppable force. It reminded Anakin of something, an event where he had also felt the same amount of violence in the air. The night where his mother had died to the sand people, and how he slaughtered the entire tribe as if they were nothing. After that, he had felt an overwhelming amount of guilt and shame for the lives he had taken.
If it hadn't been for Padme comforting him, who knows what he might have become.
'Become?' Anakin thought.
This thought stopped him in his tracks. As he quickly began to think of his life and the steps he had taken to get to this point. When he left to become a Jedi, he unknowingly doomed his mother to die. Now, he was facing another similar decision. Every Jedi would most certainly be adamant about Palpatine meeting his end, yet he was Anakin's only hope of saving Padme.
Or was he? If Anakin had stayed with his mother. Then he would've been there for them to be sold to Cliegg Lars, brought to live with his new stepbrother Owen. Where they could've saved his mother from certain death. If he had chosen that path of walking away from the force wielders. Then perhaps, he would've had a happier life.
Another violent shift in the force due to the battle ahead snapped Anakin out of his thought process. Causing him to now run as to make sure the battle didn't end too quickly. Though the thoughts didn't leave his mind, and soon more came. Some of them were answers, while others led him down different possibilities. Such as if he could've ever even saved his mother to begin with.
If he had never joined the Jedi, he would've never married Padme. Though it was because of the Jedi that he was in this situation. Perhaps if he completely fled from the force entirely, he could avoid the inevitable carnage that fate always seemed to bring, but even then. Could he possibly even protect those he loved if he never learned to use the power he was given? Why couldn't he simply hold onto the power that he had in order to protect and heal his loved ones?
Did he truly have to leave the Jedi? Why couldn't they understand his struggles? Why did he have to go through this? All he wanted was to save his love. Was that too much to ask of the Jedi?
All of these thoughts and scenarios rushed through his head as fast as he ran down the halls. It was as he entered Palpatine's chambers, that one last disturbing thought came to mind. Perhaps no matter what path he took, there would always be pain and death that he couldn't avoid. So, why even bother with the consequences of his actions? Whatever he saw as the best possible outcome is the one he should take.
Anakin's thoughts were interrupted as he saw the bodies of his fellow Jedi laying out across the floor. Seemingly taken down in an instant by Palpatine. Who was simply defending himself, he had to have been. He was the necessary evil, and Master Windu was the corrupted good. Though the bodies still disturbed the young man, another thought did cross his mind.
'Did they really need to die?'
He turned the corner into the meeting room, where Windu had barely won over Palpatine. The Jedi had the Chancellor pinned to the ground. Both of them were on the edge of the window. Making it easy for Anakin to kill whomever he chose to betray. However, for now Anakin hoped for there to be a peaceful path forward.
A path he knew would never be taken, but he had to try.
'To Hell with Master Yoda's teachings!' He thought.
"You are under arrest, my lord." Windu said, with his cold sarcastic edge.
His stare was that of anger and determination. Which seemed horrific in the face of the scarred and beaten Chancellor. When the two of them noticed Anakin, Palpatine was the first to speak to him.
"Anakin, I told you it would come to this. I was right, the Jedi are taking over!" His voice was noticeably weak and tired out.
Windu must have done a number on the man if he had now become this weak. Though that clashed with the immense power Anakin felt coming off of him when was far away. This man, no matter his age, should still be able to fight back with how much command of the force he had. And as Anakin got closer to the two. He noticed the look in Palpatine's eyes was still that of a fighting spirit.
So, why was he begging for Anakin's help?
"The oppression of the Sith will never return! You have lost." Master Windu told Palpatine.
Not even bothering to acknowledge Anakin and his possible stake in the outcome of this fight. Reminding the young man of what he hated the most about almost every one of his fellow Jedi. Their over instance of repressing their emotions and keeping to themselves. All while being forced to make decisions based on a person's personality. Leaving them open to being manipulated by those with true power.
Ones like Palpatine, who even now was tricking the Master Jedi into thinking he was beaten.
"No, no, no! You will die!" Palpatine shouted, and then began shooting force lightning.
The force and brightness of Palpatine's attack took both Jedi off guard. Anakin backed off for a second and shielded his eyes. While Windu was quick to block the lightning with his lightsaber. Though the strength of Palpatine's attack was so immense that all Mace could do was simply stand his ground and defend. All while the lightning backfired at Palpatine and started to heavily scar his skin.
Most of all his face, which slowly turned him into a hideous looking monster. One that would look the part of a master manipulator of the dark side of the force. Though as he took the damage, his expression was still that of pain. It was as if he was still an older man defending himself against the truly corrupted ones. And once Anakin's eyes had adjusted to the brightness, is when Palpatine made his plea for help.
"He's a traitor!" Palpatine shouted to Anakin.
"He is the traitor, ahhh!" Mace responded, finally acknowledging Anakin.
Though not as focused on the young man as he was trying to defend himself. In typical Jedi fashion, not understanding the real threat in the room. At this point, it was as if Palpatine was practically offering up Master Windu as a sacrifice. Anakin's first step into becoming a Sith. Though was he truly ready to take that path?
"I have the power to save the one you love! You must choose!" Palpatine told Anakin.
With the painful state that the old man was in. Anakin couldn't help but feel sorry for him. And if what he said was true, then Master Windu was the only one currently standing between him and saving Padme. The young man turned to Mace with anger and frustration. Knowing not only would he continue to hold his ground and not try to retreat as to not stop causing Palpatine anymore pain.
It was that his response would be the same distant emotionless response from before.
"Don't listen to him, Anakin, ahh!" Mace Windu shouted back.
Despite his cries of pain, the Jedi Master was not as helpless as he seemed. He soon pressed his lightsaber forward. It seemed to take all his strength, but it was done in a true risk and reward nature. As he wanted to drive as much force lightning as he could back and the Chancellor. And it seemed to be working, in only driving Anakin more and more towards taking Palpatine's side.
"Don't let him kill me, ahhh!" Palpatine said, shooting more lighting to ward Mace off.
Though this only caused more forcing lightning to scar his face, as well as blinding Anakin for a second as well.
"I can't hold him any longer! I can't hold…I can't…. I'm…too weak." Palpatine cried to Anakin.
The young Jedi couldn't tell if this was a trick or not anymore. Palpatine was a master manipulator, but a living soul at the end of the day. No living being should be put through this much pain. At this point, the very least he could be granted was a quick end, but if he received that. Then Anakin would lose what knowledge he could gain from him.
Palpatine was right, Anakin had to choose, stamping out a necessary evil or saving his wife. Which one to pick? It was too much for him to handle in such a stressful point where every moment counted. Even years of war could not prepare Anakin for a moment like this. How could he know what the right choice was?
"Anakin! Help me!" Palpatine pleaded, then ended his force lightning.
Immediately, Mace Windu had his lightsaber back to the Chancellor's throat, as if he too had been manipulating the other two about how weak he was.
"Ahh, I can't hold on any longer." The old man said through cries of pain.
"I am going to end this once and for all!" Mace Windu responded, back to his old stoic ways.
"You can't! He must stand trial!" Anakin pleaded with Mace.
Palpatine open mouth smirking through the bouts of pain, his plan was about to fully come to fruition.
"He has full control of the Senate and the Courts. He's too dangerous to be left alive!" Mace argued back.
"I'm too weak. Don't kill me, please." Palpatine pleaded as well.
"It's not the Jedi way. He must live!" Anakin argued back.
The young Jedi remembered how he butchered Count Dooku. How much of a mistake that was to allow Palpatine to pray on his anger. Perhaps a compromise could be reached with the Jedi order. If the Chancellor was captured, it gave Anakin enough to learn the ways to save Padme's life. He would gladly take to his exile and leave in peace.
For a second, Mace Windu did consider this approach. Though he quickly came to the conclusion that if the Sith were allowed to live. He would still prove a great threat to the galaxy no matter where he was, even if he was behind a cell. In typical Jedi fashion, he wasn't able to understand the emotions of the one who truly mattered in this. As Master Windu made his decision, Palpatine and Anakin made their final pleas before they struck.
"Please, don't!" Palpatine cried.
"I need him!" Anakin pleaded.
Mace did not listen and raised his blade to strike the final blow.
"Please, don't!" Palpatine cried, turning away and preparing for death.
"NO!" Anakin shouted and ignited his blade.
The young man sliced Master Windu's hand clean off. Sending his lightsaber tumbling down the side of the building. As the Mace cried in pain, he didn't have a moment to take it in. Before Palpatine realized what had happened, that his plan had worked. And now it was time to finish the foolish Jedi.
"POWER!" Palpatine shouted as he struck Mace with Lightning.
The attack was so powerful and blinding, it showed Mace's skeleton and forced Anakin to flinch and back away in terror.
"UNLIMITED POWER!"
In a matter of mere seconds, the Sith had fried every organ of Master Windu's body. The Jedi had cried one last time in pain. Before flying out the window and into the city. Where if the lightning hadn't already killed him. Then the fall to the ground most certainly would.
Palpatine laid back and sighed in relief. He had achieved victory; Anakin had crossed the line. Soon, he would use this event as proof to the Senate that the Jedi were corrupt and attacked him. And his plan would be complete to achieve complete control of the galaxy. With his disfigurement, Palpatine could use this to intimidate the Senate and force them to surrender their power to him.
The entire universe was at his mercy, but first things first.
"What have I done!?" Anakin cried.
As he backed away and sat down, shocked by his own actions. Palpatine got up and approached the now fallen Jedi. Anakin was now in the palm of his hand, all he had to do was simply tell him the truth. Tell him that what he was doing was right. That it was fate that brought him here to this moment.
"You're fulfilling your destiny, Anakin." Palpatine told him.
The Chancellor's face was now so mutilated that Anakin could barely even look him in the eye.
"Become my apprentice, learn to use the dark side of the force."
Anakin, however, knew he was now too far gone. He had betrayed his fellow Jedis, killed one of his brothers in arms. What other option did he have? Palpatine could help save Padme. The Jedi wouldn't even try to help him with that even before he had helped to kill Master Windu.
"I will do whatever you ask." Anakin responded, breathlessly.
"Good!" Palpatine said, surprised at how fast he accepted the inevitable.
"Just help me save Padme's life. I can't live without her." Anakin then begged.
Sidious knew that Anakin was still thinking about her. It was one of the many ways he had manipulated the young man to this point. Though him being this desperate at this moment, was so pathetic to the Sith Lord. That it slightly caught him off guard. He realized that if he gave Anakin the wrong answer, the fallen Jedi could think about betraying him.
Truth was that only one Sith ever managed to cheat death, and the secret hadn't been passed down to Sidious. If this info ever made it to Anakin's ears, then all of this work might have been for nothing. However, Palpatine knew that no matter what lie he would tell him. That the truth would find its way to Anakin no matter what. So, why not be what the Jedi could never be for Anakin, at least for one moment.
"To cheat death is a power that only one has achieved, but if we work together, I know we can discover the secret."
Time froze for Anakin. He was about to kneel down and pledge his allegiance to the Sith. However, hearing that line, truly shook him to his core. Palpatine had lied to him about his knowledge to create life. The power to cheat death, as he had said, was only achieved by one. Someone that Anakin had never met, and in their stead was the manipulator.
Darth Sidious, the one who had tricked him into performing such a horrific deed. Mace Windu was a foolish and close-minded man. Though he didn't deserve to die. Perhaps Anakin could've defeated him if he hadn't acted so rashly. Along with Master Windu, what about the other Jedi, did they deserve to die?
Was it truly an act of self-defense from Palpatine? No. Especially with how he manipulated how strong he was for Mace and Anakin to preserve. Was this truly the way that Anakin wished to follow? The same way that had produced this monster straight out of Hell.
Yet, even then, with all of these factors at play telling Anakin to fight back. Sidious was still his only true lead on a cure for his wife's future ailments. Perhaps he could follow him just for now, until he discovered the way to save Padme. That was until Anakin's mind went back to the tragedy that befell his mother and the thoughts he had before entering the room. It was these thoughts that gave this spirit broken man the strength to stand up to what felt like the inevitable.
"No…no, you told me you knew of a power to save my wife." He said as time resumed for him.
The young man looked up at the Sith lord with true fire in his eyes. His voice was cracked and weak, and his body posture was slumped as he was still sitting down. Though the pupils in Anakin's eyes were pure yellow. Reminiscent of Palpatine's eyes, ones that made them both look like true dark side users. However, Anakin had no more wishes to fall down this path any more than he had too.
"You forgot; it was Darth Plagus who discovered the secret. I was Plagus's apprentice. With my experience of his experiments, we can still achieve his power."
Palpatine expected some push back. He knew that Anakin's willingness to join his cause didn't come with simply blind devotion. What Sidious needed to do here was play his cards correctly, just like he had always done before. Though the look Anakin gave him with those yellow eyes did catch him off guard. He knew that the young man was close to falling to the dark side, but already he could achieve the eyes of a Sith.
"Well, isn't that convenient." Anakin responded, his voice stabilizing and his posture improving. "Yet, you still told me that you could save Padme. No one else, not the Jedi, just you."
This push back was still expected, though it was now that Palpatine was wondering if he truly had a hold of Anakin's will.
"Don't you realize that even without my promises, your odds of saving your wife's life are better with me than with the Jedi. I simply told you what you needed to hear. Your destiny is standing by my side, Anakin. You've seen the failure of the light side with your own eyes, come join the dark and maintain what you still have. Before you lose it forever."
Anakin winced and looked away, as Palpatine wasn't entirely wrong. Though the young man was still not fully convinced. What he wanted was a guaranteed outcome. No more false promises from either side, he wanted a way forward. Though it seemed like he would never truly find one.
"I understand how traumatizing this must have been for you. Though you will soon learn to embrace the pain and turn it into a weapon. A weapon to protect and destroy, wherever one needs it to work. Consider the future, Anakin, don't linger so much on the past."
Palpatine was now pulling the more sentimental route. Which appeared to be working, as he even laid his hand on Anakin's shoulder as he said it. Though looks can be deceiving, and soon Anakin knocked away Palpatine's old wrinkly hand. The young man then breathed a deep breath of frustration and acceptance. As he began to decide his own way forward.
"The past, no matter what you do, will forever haunt you." Anakin said, softly, a hint of malice in his voice.
He wasn't even able to look up at Sidious, as he was still looking towards the floor.
"Ever since I first joined the Jedi, I've been reminded time and time again of the mistakes I've made. One of them, to begin with, was accepting my place as part of their order. Being there to watch my individuality stripped away, watching my loved ones die, and taking part in a war I never truly wanted to be a part of. All of this started at one particular moment. A part of my life that I can never forget.
When I walked away from my mother. I sealed her fate of dying and my fate of being alone. Of never truly having a family, or anyone who could be there for me when I needed a release. It all started on that day, when I chose to allow myself to be manipulated by the force users. Now, here I am."
Anakin looked back up at Palpatine, his yellow eyes gone, but his rage still building.
"Another choice, another path to walk down. That will lead to more pain as you just said. I know that pain is inevitable, but I am done with a force user's version of pain. Where, when we're not suppressing our emotions. We're using them to hurt people, perhaps even the ones we love."
Sidious started to become impatient with Anakin's speech and aspirations. It was now clear that Anakin had no intention of becoming a true Sith, but it didn't mean he still couldn't become one. Palpatine hadn't put all of his elaborate plans into motion, simply for one of them to fail at the very end. He was going to bend this insolent fallen Jedi like a stick, and if he snapped. Then he was never truly meant to become his apprentice.
"Your aspirations for a life away from conflict are pitiful and weak minded. You know as well as I do that no one can truly run from their destinies. The force will guide you on whichever path it wants you to, and all paths lead to me."
"They do." Anakin agreed, surprising Sidious. "They all lead to me confronting you."
Anakin rose and stood eye to eye with the Sith, his yellow eyes slowly returned, though not as bright as before. Anakin was just as tall if not slightly taller than Palpatine. So now, the young man felt like he was the predator now. Not the weak manipulated prey, though he still had to be cautious. He could still feel the massive amount of strength Sidious was holding back.
"You fool! Confronting me would be a fate worse than death!" Sidious didn't back away despite being close to Anakin.
The two were now in a standoff, waiting for either one to concede.
"Either join me and rule with enough power to crush the galaxy in one fell swoop. Or die, taking your chances that your child will grow up without their parents. The odds don't look favorable for you, Skywalker."
Sidious began to grin and even his hands started to glow with electricity. Anakin was within grabbing distance; he could easily fry the man alive in one simple move. However, the young man did not waver. He simply smirked back, not intimidated in the slightest. Anakin had taken many force lightning attacks before, and he wasn't going to let this one be the death of him.
"There's an old smuggler saying, Sidious. Never tell me the odds. And as for my child growing up in a world without me. At least they won't have to bear witness to the horror of their father falling to the dark side. And who's to say I can't use what power I currently have to save Padme?"
Anakin truly began to smile and even stepped closer to Palpatine. Who was now starting to feel intimidated, not that he fully showed it. However, he was the first to back up. Edging more towards the window. As the young man's plan slowly became clear, at least at first.
"You're right in how the Sith hold much more knowledge in saving lives. The Jedi seem to be more obsessed with ending them. In which case, I could keep you alive, but just barely. Just enough for you to tell me everything you know. To help me in what I need you for and nothing else.
You won't need whatever limbs you use to fight me with. I only need your mind, the one that tricked me and drove me to trust the likes of you. I'll cut you from limb to limb, with just your head to give me advice. Then once my wife lives, and my child is safe, then you have my permission to die. That is all the power I need, the true power I can use to protect my loved ones."
His eyes were now glowing with the fire of molten lava. For the first time in a long period of time, Sidious now started to feel fear. Yet at the same time, annoyance. Frustration that this foolish young man could dare talk back to him. He had ruined his plans, now he would face the consequences.
"It seems you need a reminder. Of whom you're dealing with!" Sidious shouted as shot his force lightning from his hands, almost point blank at Anakin.
The fallen Jedi went flying, as he didn't have enough time to grab his lightsaber. Anakin then crashed into the wall and fell behind the furniture. Sidious began laughing and started making his way to where Anakin had fallen. Listening for his inevitable cries of pain. Though he didn't hear anything, perhaps Anakin was already dead.
"It seems that a rogue Jedi like you needs to be disciplined and taught in the true ways of the force." Palpatine said, before he noticed something glowing behind the couches.
Palpatine lost his breath as Anakin rose up. His hands were glowing, containing the lightning that was just shot at him. With another smirk, he sent it flying back. Palpatine quickly deflected it, but it shot to another part of the room. Causing an explosion and creating a hole in the wall.
The two quickly took the destruction in and then turned back to each other. Sidious was horrified and impressed at the strength of Anakin. Perhaps he could do the same thing that Anakin had threatened to do to him. Though afterwards, he'd put the young man in a robotic suit to fully restrict and control his actions. Along with dressing it in black to intimidate his foes, making him nothing more than a machine to obey orders.
Meanwhile, Anakin breathed a sigh of relief at being able to pull that off. He rolled his shoulders and laughed cockily. All through this he managed to keep his yellow eyes. Staring into Palpatine's soul, seeing him for the monster he truly was. How he ever thought the Chancellor was a necessary evil was beyond him.
"An old trick Master Yoda taught me. Though I never truly had the chance to use it." Anakin said.
"Yes, it was impressive, but not impressive enough." Sidious then used the force with one hand to push Anakin towards the wall.
Then he shot lightning at him with the other hand. It was a direct hit, yet it somehow bounced. Though not in a timed force hand absorption way, it bounced right back towards the Chancellor. He had to quickly deflect it as it hit him directly on. As if…Anakin had somehow, despite the force pressure limiting his movements. Pulled out his lightsaber and deflected the lightning.
Though it did take a lot of strength to do so. The massive amount of strength that Palpatine had been hiding was now being put into effect. Despite his skill with the force, Anakin was lacking in raw force power. However, that wouldn't deter him from trying something that the Sith wasn't expecting. It was unpredictability and cleverness that would win him this fight.
Sidious struck with his force lightning again, knowing that Anakin would block it surely enough. Anakin then began walking forward, straining to get closer to the Sith and falling right into Palpatine's trap. The Sith quickly switched to pushing him with the force, not giving Anakin enough time to gain his footing on the next attack. Resulting in him being pinned against the wall.
The wall visibly cracked as Anakin was pinned against it. The young man barely had the strength to hold onto his lightsaber. However, he had landed on his feet on the wall and kept his lightsaber on. So, the second that Sidious switched to shooting his lightning, Anakin lunged at him. If he had been just a little bit faster, he might have taken the Chancellor's head off, but the Sith was quick enough to grab his second lightsaber. Though it didn't stop the two from colliding off each other and barely stabbing themselves with their own swords.
Once the two recovered, they eyed each other up and went into battle stances with their sabers.
"I can sense that you've already lost much of your strength. Your planning in battle is commendable, but it is no match for the power of the dark side."
Sidious tried to sound intimidating, but it only made Anakin laugh.
"I've heard that one too many times, Sidious. From each one of your lackeys that I've managed to defeat in battle. You were even there for the one I killed. What makes you any different?" Anakin responded.
"Power, unlimited power."
Sidious said this while sending his entire desk flying at Anakin. Not even using his hands to help move it. Anakin was quick to slice it in half, but Sidious was quick and was on Anakin in an instant. Their blades clashed and quickly they began to trade blows. Sidious fought much like Mace Windu, playing defense while exploiting Anakin's weakness for aggression. Then, the second Anakin seemed to be slowing down, he quickly changed to Darth Maul's aggressive attacks.
Though Anakin was expecting this and had been trained by Obi-Wan. A master of defensive combat mixed well with diverting a foe's attacks. Resulted in an underling who could take the attacks without a single strike getting through. However, this did cause him to get close to the window. A familiar sight, if not for the change in lightsaber color.
The two combatants came to a standstill on the edge of the window as the two locked each other's blades together. Palpatine pressed against Anakin with all of his strength. The young man's feet were almost slipping off the edge. If Anakin didn't do anything, then he'd fall and leave himself open to attack. So, using all of his strength, he pushed Palpatine away though only temporarily.
Sidious didn't swing his lightsaber back down at Anakin, but instead he force pushed him out the window. The Sith then started laughing, thinking he had sent the young man hopelessly falling. Though his laugh was interrupted, when Anakin revealed he had been saving his force energy. To pull Palpatine out with him, sending them both falling down onto the Senate docking area platforms. Though they both shared a similar fate to Master Windu, they were far from dead.
As they quickly approached the ground, Anakin pulled his ship closer to him. He turned on the system and set the ship to autopilot. Though in doing all that, he forgot to force levitate himself to soften the impact of the fall. Only at the last second did he pull it off, and he still landed badly. If he survived this, he'd have a massive bruise on his shoulder.
Through all of this, Anakin not only managed to hold onto his lightsaber, but he also kept his ship in the air. The young man then spun around and stood up to see where Sidious was. He looked towards the ground, but didn't see anybody. Nor could he sense the overwhelming presence of the Sith. That was, until he sensed an attack coming from above.
To which he ignited his lightsaber in response and blocked the incoming lightning. Palpatine had already done the same as Anakin, but much quicker and more efficiently. The Sith lord was smirking down at the fallen Jedi. Struggling to keep his ship floating while Sidious hovered above him, not even breaking a sweat. Their lightsabers both ignited as they stared each other down.
"You're a truly foolish individual, Skywalker." Sidious said.
"Says the man who doesn't know how deeply he's doomed." Anakin responded.
"Ha! What do you mean?"
"You might think that I'm at your mercy, but who's to say I have to fight you? All I have to do is escape, alert the Jedi, and you're done for."
"You coward, don't threaten me with a bad hand. Through years of training, a Sith is worth the strength of a hundred Jedi."
"Does that include Ventress? Who I defeated. Or perhaps Dooku? Who I killed. You underestimate my power, Chancellor."
"In that case, make up your mind. Are you a coward or a proper failure of a force user? Either way, I'm sure the Jedi wouldn't even trust you. Even if I dragged you to them myself, just as limbless as you threatened to do to me."
"That's the thing, your highness. I never liked this approach to the world. It's either the light or the dark with many people. Yet, I've realized that both roads lead to misery. So, why not walk my own path? And see to it that you just so happen to meet your end along the way."
"And how do you plan on doing that?"
Anakin simply smirked and activated the ship's thrusters, while still keeping it in place.
"I don't know." He spoke. "But I'll find a way, it seems that I always do."
He then let the ship fly at Sidious. Force jumping off of it to gain some distance from the explosion. Though Sidious was still much faster, as he caught up to Anakin in midair within the time that he could blink. Both lightsabers clashed, the explosion of the two ships rocked the senate building. As the two combatants fell into the streets of coruscant.
Hey everyone, how did you like that? I've been playing around with this idea in my head for a while. Though I could never write it down properly given the trickiness of capturing the characters just right. That was, until I saw the Acolyte. A show so bad I audibly shouted, "Fuck this, I can do better."
I hope you all enjoyed this story. Please let me know what I can do better. SERIOUSLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS! TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO BETTER! Unlike George Lucas or modern writers, I want people to tell me what I can do to improve future projects. As well as where I could properly take this story. In a way that won't make me feel like I'm jumping the shark too prematurely like with my other fanfiction.
Thank you all for the support. I'll see you next time. I don't know what will be done first, either the next chapter of this or of my other series, Record That. I just hope that you all still enjoy it in the end. Because that should be a writer's main goal, to please their audience and not just lecturing them. While at the same time giving the story their own style, while keeping their political leanings either subtle or non-existent.
Take notes Hollywood.
May the force be with you all.
P.S. Happy Fourth of July.