Chapter 11 - Arms Will Open Wide

Biel leaves for Engel's apartment the next morning. Sidious can tell that he's still upset so he's not surprised but he is on edge. He can clearly sense Biel's pain – as if he has something to be pained about – and he has the distinct feeling that he is up to something though he doesn't know what.

Sidious planted a device in Engel's apartment to eavesdrop on him as needed, to see what he's saying to Anakin. They don't always talk there so it hasn't shown him everything but it's enough to know that Engel's been trying to make things easier between Anakin and the rest of the Jedi. That's half of why he's so Light still, as infuriating as it is.

He can sense the growing shift in how upset Biel is the next day so he turns the device on, just in case, just to see. The Force is humming in warning suddenly and he's on edge.

When he turns on the footage in the next moment he has time between meetings, it's to see that Biel is in fact talking to Engel right now.

"What's this about?" Engel is asking.

"I've been keeping a secret from you for a long time," Biel replies, fidgeting a little, not really looking at him, "But I don't know how to handle it by myself anymore."

Engel steps closer to him, touching his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"I should have told you a long time ago, I know. But I..."

"Just tell me."

Sidious' eyes narrow as he watches. He can feel Biel's guilt and he's almost certain he knows what this must have to do with even if he doesn't understand how –

"Sheev is going down the wrong path. I want to help him but I don't know what to do. He's not very receptive to it and I think maybe I've just been trying all wrong but I don't know what the right way is."

If he would stop attempting to interfere with his plans, Sidious might find his "concern" more amusing than frustrating. But right now –

He doesn't want to have to see Biel as a liability again. And that is precisely his problem. He's letting himself be weak. That is the only thing he does need to be concerned about, so Biel was right on some level.

"I've noticed it," Engel responds, gaze heavy, "But after the incident with Anakin, I didn't want to upset him anymore."

"I know, but it's worse than I've told you. He's – he's a Sith." Sidious blinks, just staring at the transmission for a moment. He just said – what? "The Sith Lord that I'm sure Anakin's mentioned to you before."

How does he know that?

Sidious did everything to ensure he would never find out so how - ? And he just told someone. The burning sting of the betrayal floods him full force, quickly shifting to fury.

Yes, this is what he gets for being weak, for indulging in precisely what Biel claims he needed to indulge in more. He should not have made the same mistake a second time. He gave his brother a lot and this is what he gets in return?

"What?!" Engel demands incredulously, eyes going wide with shock, "How do you know that? Did he tell you?"

"No, he didn't but I can feel it through the bond we all share. Sometimes he feels so dark. In pain. It never goes away. I had to wonder after a while," Biel replies.

"I knew something was wrong but I never imagined it was something like that," Engel responds, shaking his head. He looks visibly upset but takes a deep breath, seeming to compose himself. "I have to tell the Jedi Council. They'll be able to stop him. They'll know what to do."

"No!" Biel interrupts, alarm flickering across his face, "If you tell anyone, they're going to kill him."

That still matters to him?

Not that it has much meaning when he already made a choice this foolish. But Biel has always been naïve, especially when it comes to trusting Engel.

"Do you know what you're saying?" Engel demands sharply, "If he's that Sith, then he's the one who started this war. All the billions of deaths in the galaxy are because of him. Because he's too obsessed with power to see past himself. He's a monster. He's not my brother. The Jedi are right to stop him, however they have to."

Of course Engel would turn on him to this extent. He never expected any less but that does little to stop his wild rage. This was an open end he should have dealt with before it was too late.

He didn't eliminate Engel already because –

Because...

Well, in part it was because for all that he is angry at Engel, he still remembers positive things of their time together. And because nothing else had triggered him to just be done with him already. But clearly none of that matters to Engel.

"I know what it means, Engel. But I can't believe our brother isn't still in there somewhere." He sounds devastated.

"I don't see how he could have deceived us like this," Engel replies fiercely but Sidious can sense his own pain. He is hurt, as though he has the right to be.

"I can't speak for him, Engel," Biel replies quietly, "But please don't say anything to anyone. There has to be something else I can do."

"You need to wake up, Biel," Engel replies, clearly frustrated, "Sheev has lost himself. Even if there was a chance he could change, that's not going to make right all the people who he's killed. And he's evil. The Sith only think about power. They don't care for anyone except themselves. Whatever he's done for Anakin... it's out of selfishness. It's not for love."

"I know. I know. But I'm willing to forgive him for everything. He's still our brother, no matter what he's done. I'm not going to leave him now."

The words should not still matter but they do on some level. It doesn't change that Biel betrayed him, even if it was a mistake, and he can't let that go undealt with. Not again. Everything he's ever worked for is in jeopardy right now because of him.

"Maybe you can forgive him, but I can't," Engel replies firmly, "Not after what he's done to Anakin. I have to protect him from Sheev no matter what the cost, even if it means my own life."

Well.

That he will definitely be arranging in very short order.

As for Biel, he doesn't know what to do with him. He may have betrayed him, but he clearly didn't intend for this to be the consequence.

"Engel..." Biel protests.

"Anakin's like my child, Biel. And he deserves better than this. I'm not putting him in danger. He deserves to know the truth. I have to warn him."

Of course he is.

Sidious intended to reveal himself to Anakin soon but he had to do it himself. Engel will be sure to ruin it, even if there's still a chance that Anakin will side with him.

But he can't wait any longer. Anakin has likely already heard who he is by now. He needs to be at his office for when the Jedi come to attack him, but first he needs to stop his brothers.

**w**

Coming here is a risk but it's one Sidious will have to take. He tells his aids he is leaving for an early dinner – if the Jedi show up in the meantime, they'll wait there for his return and he'll still be able to carry out his plans – before going to Engel's apartment. He lands on the landing platform outside, knocking on the backdoor. There should be no cameras that can record that he's here.

Engel and Biel are both still there. They're upset – obviously still arguing about the situation. Biel finally opens the door.

"You," Engel says sharply, glaring at him. "You're a traitor."

"Am I?" he asks mildly.

"Sheev," Biel starts to say. He looks afraid. Likely, he can sense his intentions pretty clearly through their bond.

He doesn't want to listen to whatever ramble he's about to spew out, either. He doesn't have time for it.

He reaches out with the Force instead, wrapping it around their minds and sending a sleep impulse over them. They both succumb to it in a second, falling to the floor.

Getting them to the speeder discreetly and then flying to his place in the Works is easy enough. They don't start to awaken until he has them both suspended in energy fields,

He can't help the satisfaction that floods him when Engel jerks awake with a start, eyes widening as he looks around.

Biel's shock is less amusing, but he did ask for this when he betrayed him. Until things are under control, Sidious will not be able to let him out.

"Sheev," Biel says, with rising horror, "What did you do?"

"You betrayed me," he replies bluntly, "And you have both interfered with my plans for long enough." This is too close and he is... concerned for how this could go. His fear of that gives him power as it always does but that doesn't mean facing the realization that Anakin could turn against him now is easy. The boy could be lost to him and if he is, Sidious cannot risk the chance of the damage he could cause against him. If... he has to take action against Anakin, it will be fully Engel's fault.

"How?" Engel demands, "Is this about Anakin? What do you want with him?"

"Anakin is not yours," Sidious hisses back, a swirl of fury rising, He does not appreciate the way Engel is able to make him lose his cool in a way no one else ever does. "He is mine and he always will be."

"He doesn't belong to either of us," Engel retaliates. But for all his bluffing, Sidious can sense his fear and it's so satisfying. He's tired of sharing with him.

"Sheev – " Biel interrupts, sounding desperate, "Please listen to me. I know you and Engel have problems but – "

"This is about far more than that. It's not about some petty squabble," Sidious cuts him off. Maybe a little bit but it's far beyond that. This is about all of his plans, all the Sith's plans.

"Isn't that always what it's been about?" Engel asks flatly.

"Engel," Biel says, frustrated, "You're not helping. Sheev, just let us go. We can talk about this."

"You ask this after you turned on me?"

"I just want to help you." He looks like he's going to cry. "I still love you and I always will – "

"Then don't get involved," he replies flatly. "You should have stayed out of it while you had the chance."

"But you've hurt so many. You – "

"You're weak," Sidious interrupts, disgustedly. He may want Biel to stay with him but he is done with letting his... relationships with others solely by their terms. He spent his entire life doing that. "And your advice is useless. You have never seen power. That's why you have no appreciation for it."

"I didn't remember much of my past, but I remember a few things now," Engel speaks up, glaring at Sidious even if he looks hurt, "You were already violent back then. I should have expected it was going to be worse when you were older."

Because he is so one to talk about that.

"Good time for you to remember," he replies mockingly, "Because you have little time left to live."

Biel's eyes widen. "Sheev – " He feels his panic and betrayal urge wildly.

Engel's own fear flares too. "You shouldn't hate us. We're part of you."

Part of him.

As if.

Then he wouldn't be trying to take Anakin away from him. He wouldn't be trying to ruin the only thing that has ever been his – everything he's done.

"You are nothing but a hindrance to me." He reaches out with the Force, wrapping it around Engel's neck, strangling him.

Engel's eyes go wide as he chokes, panic bleeding into the Force.

Biel is crying. And saying something that Sidious forces himself to ignore. He will deal with him later.

"You should have drowned in that river years ago," Sidious hisses, gaze focused solely on Engel, "You only came back to ruin everything I have worked for – my life and my dreams. I lost Anakin because of you." He doesn't know that with certainty but he can only imagine what Engel said to him. It's probably too late now, especially with how Light the boy's become.

"G-good," Engel rasps, "Long as Anakin's – not gonna Fall – I'm happy."

He's this close to snapping his neck right here and now, but no. That would be too easy.

Sidious lets go of his hold on his throat, only so he doesn't die right now. "I won't kill you. Not yet," he hisses, "First I'll make sure that Anakin is here to see it. Perhaps I will even have him do it before I eliminate everyone else in his so-called family."

He turns on his heel and stalks out the door. He has to get back to his office and he needs to find some way to deal with Anakin before it's too late.

He can hear his brother's voices drifting in from the room when he's out in the hall.

"- you alright?" Biel is asking, voice shaking.

"I'm alive," Engel replies.

"I'm sorry," Biel says, "I didn't realize how bad it was with Sheev. I should have done something to help him sooner."

"Don't blame yourself," Engel replies, huffing out a breath, "No one is to blame here. The three of us may share the same blood and face, but we don't share the same reality. There's nothing more we can do for Sheev. He made his choice when he chose the Dark Side."

Sidious doesn't stay around to listen any longer to their conversation. It's pointless. Biel turning against him eventually is likely inevitable. But it is not as important as how all his plans are about to come to fruition.

He needs to settle the Engel situation and fast before it's too late.

**w**

The last thing Anakin expected to hear from Engel was that Palpatine is the Sith Lord. It doesn't seem possible. It's just – how could it be possible?

But he was so certain. He said Biel already knew.

The shock still hasn't worn off. He's always trusted Palpatine, looked up to him, and apparently he's the Sith behind the war. The one who – who's done so much to the galaxy. How could he have done this?

How much of everything that Anakin's always known about him is actually a lie? How is he even supposed to know what's true or not anymore? How many millions of people have died because... he was complicit in it? Anakin doesn't know how far his control went, but he's torn between a gutted betrayal and steadily growing anger.

Palpatine is practically family and he doesn't want to feel like this toward him but Engel wasn't lying. Palpatine's done Force knows what and Anakin has to stop him. He can't let him keep harming the galaxy. It's his duty by the Jedi way to stop him even if he doesn't want him to be hurt. He's so angry though because how could Palpatine have done this?

Windu's alone when Anakin finds him. "Master," he says, heart pounding.

"What's wrong, Anakin?" Windu asks, obviously catching how upset he is.

"I've just learned a terrible truth. I think Palpatine is the Sith Lord."

Windu stills. "A Sith Lord? How do you know this?"

"His brothers told me they... figured it out." He doesn't know beyond that but he knows Engel and Biel wouldn't be making it up. If they didn't firmly believe it, they definitely wouldn't be going to the Jedi about it.

"They're certain?" Windu asks, incredulous.

"Yes. Engel just called me about it."

"Then our worst fears have been realized," Windu decides, "We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive." He turns to head off.

Anakin follows. "What will you do, Master?"

His vision flashes through his head again.

Engel – Palpatine? – being threated with a blue lightsaber. Was that what this was? Because – because the Jedi are about to go after him, to kill him? It –

They have to arrest him. Anakin knows that, but he just – He doesn't know what to think anymore. Palpatine did tell him the Jedi are plotting to take over, but that has nothing to do with this. Not if Palpatine was really committing treason. How could he do that?

"We will assemble a strike team to apprehend him."

"I am ready," Anakin volunteers instantly.

Windu turns to face him. "No. Wait here. If what you have told me is true, then you will have gained my trust, but for now, wait in the Council chamber until our return."

What –

His trust?

Anakin knows the Council doesn't have much trust for him but it still stings sharply to hear Windu saying it so plainly. And he wants to confront Palpatine himself, to get answers – to –

He doesn't want him to get hurt. He just knows they need to stop him. But he can't help with any of that if the Jedi won't let him go at all.

He can't argue a direct order like this, though, so all he can do is mindlessly nod, watching as Windu leaves.

He paces back and forth in the Council chamber, restlessness growing with each pacing moment. It's not only about this. Whatever's about to happen. Something else is wrong.

He senses a distinct flicker of pain suddenly. He can't point much more clearly but Engel is upset. Afraid. Something's happening to him.

His hands fumble for his comm and he dials Engel's frequency. There's no answer and his heart rate picks up as he waits.

It's a few minutes before he gets a call back.

He has no idea what's wrong but the sensation is only growing.

Engel's tiny hologram flickers to life finally and he looks worried. The shadowing on him is a little weird but Anakin doesn't think anything of it.

"Engel, are you okay?" Anakin asks, frowning.

Engel glances around, to something over his shoulder. "No. Palpatine... took us somewhere. But don't come here. It's not safe for you."

He took them? What exactly does that mean? His panic swells instantly anyway.

And why's he not saying 'Sheev'? Or is it because he's so angry about the most recent betrayal?

"Where are you?" Anakin demands, "I'm not just leaving you there."

"There's nothing you can do. I'll find a way out on my own," Engel replies.

A way out on his own.

So Palpatine did take them there by force?

He feels sick. He has no idea how Palpatine could even do that. Or why.

"No," Anakin says stubbornly, "I'm not leaving you. The Council already told me not to get involved in dealing with Palpatine so I can come to you while he's not there." How's he even able to call them if Palpatine is holding them captive? Maybe it's not as bad as it sounds right off. He doesn't know.

Engel glances around furtively again.

"It's the Li'merge complex," he replies, before telling him the exact area. "But don't come here. It's too dangerous."

Dangerous. As if he's going to leave someone from his family in a situation that's dangerous just to protect himself. "I'm not going to abandon you. You're part of my family too," he replies firmly, desperation clawing at him.

Engel throws another glance around, abruptly ending the call.

Well, that's not ideal.

Is something happening?

Windu told him to wait, but – He didn't know something was happening here. Anakin can't just do nothing. He scrambles out of the Council chambers, making a beeline for the hanger. He'd tell Ahsoka where he's going but she's in class right now and he knows she'd demand to come if she knew. And he does not want her anywhere near the Sith.

The sun is rapidly sinking below the horizon as Anakin flies through the buildings in the Works, to where Engel told him about. He's never been to this part before, but the way the sun is reflecting off the building looks eerie somehow.

He can feel the Dark Side.

He parks the speeder a short distance from the building – why does Palpatine even have a property out here? – jumping out and sneaking up to the building. There's a window near the top of a hangar and he forces it open with the Force, clamoring inside and jumping to the floor.

The Dark Side hits him in a rush now that he's here. And it does feel distinctly like Palpatine, though he probably wouldn't even realize it if he didn't know that's who it was.

It makes him feel sick.

This is Palpatine and he trusted him and apparently he's –

He doesn't know what to think anymore.

Something moves near a doorway on the far side of the hanger, and he spots Engel standing there. He's not restrained, at least.

"Engel!" Anakin exclaims, relief flooding him.

He sprints across the hanger, practically tackling him in a hug. "We should leave." He doesn't quite know why he hasn't left already.

"No, we have to get to Biel first," Engel objects, something oddly intense burning in his eyes, "Palpatine has him deeper in the complex. I don't know how this Force thing works – I didn't want to go anywhere in case I'd alert him."

That's fair.

Anakin has no idea what kind of Dark Side traps or just normal security he might have here, either.

"What did Palpatine want with you?" Anakin asks.

"He was angry that I told you his identity. He said we were interfering and he took us here."

Anakin swallows hard. So he basically kidnapped them but it doesn't look like Engel's hurt, at least. "Wait here and stay out of sight," Anakin tells him, "I won't let Sidious hurt you." No matter how much it hurts to have to think about him like that.

Hand on his lightsaber, Anakin moves past him into the hallway beyond.

This place is a lot more complex than he initially expected so he tries to focus on following where the Force is nudging him so he doesn't get lost.

He ends up tracking Biel's Force presence to something that looks suspiciously like a hall with prison cells. He stills in front of the first one – Biel is right inside, suspended in an energy field.

Like an actual prisoner.

Palpatine did this to his brother? To Biel?

Anakin knows Palpatine cares about Biel. How far has the Dark Side blinded him? How much – Does Anakin even truly know him? Is anything he thought he knew real? He can't believe it's all not and yet –

There's a sudden movement behind Anakin.

He whips around instinctively, hand reaching for his lightsaber. A sudden pressure wraps around his throat and he sucks in a breath sharply or tries to, because he can't breathe –

This has happened with Dooku before. He knows –

But it's Engel standing behind him - ?!

Oh.

Oh.

How did he stop paying attention to how the eyes looked wrong? He was so scared for Engel, he hadn't even thought of it –

"You – you're not Engel," Anakin chokes out, struggling and failing to draw in a single breath, past his panic. This is Palpatine and he's hurting him. He's –

What.

"Sheev – " Biel starts saying, but no one is listening to him.

"No, I'm not," Sidious agrees smoothly.

This is the first time Anakin has ever sensed this kind of darkness around him.

"Let him go!" yells a voice from somewhere down the hall.

The real Engel.

Sidious scoffs but the pressure on Anakin's neck abruptly disappears.

He stumbles to his knees before he can catch himself, gasping for breath.

Sidious is standing over him, and something about the position of being on his knees in front of him makes his heart rate skyrocket. He's –

He knows this position far too well and he's been in it too many times but never to his friend who also is a Sith who betrayed them all and –

He lashes out instinctively, shoving Palpatine back and stumbling to his feet. Sidious falls at the unexpectedness of the Force-shove and Anakin levels his lightsaber over him. He crosses his hands discreetly as he does, pushing the button his comm. It's going to dial to Ahsoka which isn't ideal but he has to let someone know just in case.

Sidious looks up at him, and –

Anakin's seeing his vision happening right now.

The blue lightsaber.

Someone who's dressed like Engel but looks like Palpatine.

With –

And he could stop him right here and now if he wanted to. But he –

How could he actually hurt him? He's so angry that Sidious would do what he has, that Palpatine is Sidious at all, but he can't just –

A blast of lightning catches Anakin before he can make up his mind or get a word out or anything. It happens so fast, he doesn't have a moment to try raising his lightsaber to block it. The lightning is hot and burning and all he can do is scream. It's a far sharper, stronger intensity than he's felt in a long time. It's not meant purely to hurt; it's meant to –

The world blacks out around him, swimming in a world of stars.

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