A Long Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far Away

Chapter 160

Impase. Neither of them could overpower the other.

Even Vader didn't have a prayer....

Anakin had been forbidden from ever learning Vaapad.

It was a good thing he was rather gifted at learning on the fly. This wasn't a battle for just a Jedi or Sith.

It was a battle for both. Neither the light or dark alone could last.

The blue blade in Anakin's hand snapped to life as he gathered a mixture of both the light and dark before launching himself into the fight. He felt the pain from the movement, which fed dark and turned into his strength and speed, allowing him to meet each of Sidious's stikes head on. The light revealed to Anakin where Sidious wasn't paying attention, allowing him to catch the Sith off guard.

The dark let him feed off of the Sith's fear.

The light let him know where the Koran Master was next to attack and how best to assist.

And it was in this way that the two Jedi made headway against the dark shadow. Purple and blue danced through the air, fending off the whirl of red. Left, right, up, down, under, over.

Anakin didn't have time to think or to second guess himself. Mace was a whirlwind of power being thrown back at it's source. Neither had time to make decisions, but just followed through with what was needed.

Mace moved to use a shatterpoint through the Force just as Anakin moved to block a strike aimed at the slightly distracted Koran Master.

Moments later, no one could tell you who did it, but the blade of red was cut in half as Sidious found himself on the floor with the two Jedi advancing. The Sith hissed in fury, raising his hands and shooting out lightning, aiming at the Jedi.

Purple and blue blocked, sending the stream of deadly rays back to its source. The Sith's mask began to fall away as the crackly electricity ran over him. Sidious continued to throw all of his power into the lightning, but between Anakin and Mace, nothing got through.

The Sith sent one last, would be deadly, bolt at the two, but both Jedi managed to hold firm.

"I surrender," Sidious finally cried as he cut off the bombardment. Anakin and Mace shared a look.

It was a lie that sung through the lightside clearer than day.

And a truth of him being too dangerous sung through the dark.

"You're too dangerous to be kept alive," the Korun Master said, the point of the glowing purple blade at Sidious's throat.

"No, mercy, please!" the Sith begged, fixing Anakin with an imploring gaze. The Jedi met the Sith's gaze hard and steady.

Any trace of Palpatine was gone now, only Sidious remain. The Jedi found it strangely easy to look at the man with an emotionless detachment.

"Unfortunately, he has a point," Anakin finally said. "He should stand trial.... But his influence is widespread, it wouldn't be fair...."

"My thoughts exactly," Mace agreed. "He controls the courts, and will turn on us at a moment's notice."

"Anakin, think! Remember I—" Sidious started, only to be cut off.

"I'll never join you, Sidious," Anakin spat. The Sith glared at the two of them merdously before his eyes landed on something else.

"You," Sidious hissed. The Force screamed a warning less than a second before a fury of Sith lightning sprung from Sidious's hands. Anakin raised his blade to block, only to find the lightning wasn't aimed at him, but someone else.

A shriek was ripped from someone behind the them. Anakin didn't waste a moment, cutting of the hand that was shooting lightning before stabbing Sidious in the chest.

He didn't bother to stay long enough to watch the surprise fully form across the Sith's alien features. Anakin was already turning around and racing to the side of the target.

He hadn't noticed her enter the room. He hadn't noticed she was watching them just a few meters away.

But Anakin had just known the moment the lightning had passed by him that Luna was on the receiving end.

She was lying motionless on the floor, barely breathing.

"No, no, no," Anakin muttered, crouching down beside her and feeling for her pulse.

Luna's heartbeat was erratic and, while she hadn't received that long of a burage, Sidious had made sure it was strong enough to do damage. She needed medical attention. Immediately.