In Shadows and Darkness

Chapter 33

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Palpatine lunged forward with a series of short, fast, measured blows, looking for flaws, testing for weakness- the boy had recovered from major injuries less than a year ago, his arm and shoulders shattered by a massive, close-range blast and while he was well-enough healed, their skill levels were so close that even the smallest flaw should be sought out and exploited; a fraction of a second, a degree less flexion- at this level, they were the difference between life and death.

The offensive brought the brunt of his first attack to Skywalker's left side, seeking that advantage... but Skywalker held fast against the onslaught with only a single sidestep, deflecting every blow, repelling any advance, eventually taking the initiative and pushing Palpatine back three hasty paces before he disengaged and stepped beyond the boy's reach, freshly wary.

Despite furthering Skywalker's lightsaber skills in his early years here, Palpatine had always avoided duelling against the boy, even in practice; he was loathe to hand out any evidence as to his own ability when taking the opportunity to study and dictate his advocate's form. So the boy knew little of Palpatine's skill, whilst he knew his Wolf's in detail, physical and mental, always an advantage.

He knew the boy was volatile and fearless; that when he fought, it was because he was at the end of his patience and thus he could be goaded into mistakes, but after that first burst of aggression Skywalker would calm and calculate; look for weaknesses to play to in his opponent, for opportunities in the terrain, for the unexpected strike and the unorthodox tactic.

He knew the boy would be committed to the fight; that he'd push every chance, leave no option untried. He knew he was agile and dextrous in mind and body, and that the duel had always been his lasting interest. That those endless hours of practice had ensured his technique had few flaws and many strengths to play on.

But there were other weaknesses to exploit; as he had with his father, Skywalker was clearly looking for a fair fight; he didn't want - or more importantly he didn't feel the need - to use the Force in any other way than to augment his skill with the lightsaber. He was fast in mind and body and Palpatine was well aware that in an ethical fight he would struggle to bring the boy down.

But then in all his dealings with the boy, the Sith had never once held to a fair fight- it wasn't in his nature. The question was, had he taught that lesson by example too? It hardly shook his confidence, but it certainly concentrated his mind- and his resolve; the boy was deceitful; disloyal. Such betrayals deserved only one response.

Palpatine came quickly forward, batting Luke's blade up and to the side and at the same time he threw out a Force-blow which landed to Skywalker's midsection knocking the air from his lungs with enough force to send him staggering back a step, winded. Seeing the opportunity, Palpatine stepped quickly inside the boy's defences...

And saw just how fast his opponent really was-

Rather than try to bring his own blade up to hook the incoming blade away Skywalker arched backwards. He'd already released his blade into his right hand as Palpatine had swept it aside so that now as he arched back, he dropped onto his left hand, springing away from Palpatine in a tight backflip, his blade arcing round behind him to hold his opponent at bay, a solid wall of light so fast was the motion.

Momentarily Palpatine paused, uncertain whether the boy realized how close to the edge of the raised dais he was, but Skywalker made an nimble, unexpected flip-and-half-twist backward which took him safely over the drop to land soundly on both feet, dropping into a crouch to absorb the impact.

The half-twist had left him facing away from Palpatine and the Sith hurried forward with a long step-and-jump to push the seeming advantage home. But as Skywalker landed he'd used the momentum of the high flip to spin himself about on the balls of his feet, half-crouching to avoid what should have been the Sith's incoming blade, his own saber brought in tight to his body then whipping up in a massively powerful roundhouse blow as he stood-

Ironically it was Palpatine's relative slowness to react and step into the feint which saved his life, leaving him that vital half-step away when Skywalker's blade came up in a slice which would have cleaved him from hip to shoulder. As it was, it sliced through the cloth of his cloak as he backpedalled wildly, a vivid revelation of their relative dexterity.

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Skywalker wasted no time lamenting the missed blow, already coming forward again, less than a single beat between the strike and his advance.

Palpatine sidestepped, the high dais at his back, giving ground before a hail of fast blows, and was only able to stop the offensive by reaching out through the Force to seize at the massive bulk of the heavy sunburst throne, its mass grating forward as Palpatine prepared to launch it to the boy's unprotected side, as he had done moments earlier with the stone pillar-

But Skywalker was unwilling to make the same mistake twice and this time glanced to the side, dividing his attention without even reaching out his hand against the throne though Palpatine sensed a massive counter-weight thrown against it, forcing it back against his pull. As he released it, the weighty precious-metal throne toppled back where it stood with a dense, resounding thud, the massive beaten sun which formed its backrest gouging fine lines at the edge of the pale disk of inset marble which had once graced the Jedi Council's assembly hall.

Still, it afforded Palpatine two further steps back and put sufficient space in between them that when the boy spun back round his opponent was beyond reach and they once more stared each at the other - and in the seconds that followed, whilst each man stood poised, ready to renew the fight at the slightest sign, Palpatine reassessed his view.

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He'd never been blind to his young advocate's speed and strength, but he'd always remained confident in his own supremacy for that very fact; his obvious superior experience, his seasoned mastery in comparison to his youthful apprentice. But Skywalker was no novice any more, his reflexes polished, his execution precise, diligently training, learning everything his exacting Master would teach him when Palpatine had prepared him for the duel with his father... and afterwards he'd devoted still more time to refining that ability, building on it and polishing it day on day, all in preparation for...

Palpatine's eyes narrowed and his chest heaved as he stared at the boy... all those hours invested in practice - he had always thought them an avoidance of Court and its corruptions, or a strategy to deal with Vader, when Palpatine finally allowed his Wolf permission to finish the duel he had curtailed by force years earlier - but in light of Mara's revelation, that had never been the case. Now the truth was enacted with cold confidence; now all those invested hours were meted out without qualm against his own Master...

Realisation filled Palpatine with cold fury-

This had been in his head; this moment. Every drill, every kata, every advancement and refinement- it had all been leading to this; all focusing down to this moment.

This duel.

This goal, this objective... this betrayal.

"YOU!" Palpatine spat out the accusation, sulphurous yellow eyes aglow, "You always wanted my Empire - wanted my power for yourself. That's why you conspired with Vader!"

"Then why not kill me?" Luke almost shouted the words, fury and guilt barbed and bound within them "Why him? I disobeyed...I challenged you - not him!"

"You are more useful to me- despite your ambitions."

"And that's it?" Luke yelled, incredulous, "That's the limit of your compassion- your connection? You told me you created Anakin. You used the Force to create life and he was the result. You created him - he was part of you. Your... your son."

"He was flawed." Palpatine dismissed without even a shade of regret, "His connection to the Force had been weakened."

"He was still yours! A part of you! You can't disown that connection, that bond."

"I've told you before- one must be prepared to relinquish the past to own the future."

For long seconds Luke stared, just stared at the Sith, completely beyond words...

Finally he nodded slowly, a veil of cool detachment dropping before those outraged eyes, features bathed blood-red by the saber's glow, voice low and ragged and charged with derision.

"You're right - you're right, Master. I shouldn't allow the past to influence present decisions- I shouldn't tolerate any such hold on me... none at all. You want me to learn at my glorious Master's feet? Then I do - I renounce you. I disown any link to you. Your claims of connection and heredity are nothing. They're immaterial. You have no heir - you have no dynasty. Your reign ends today and by your own choice you'll die alone and abandoned."

Palpatine was outraged before the torrent of accusations and rejections, lashing out a derisive condemnation, "If only your power were equal to your ambitions- perhaps then you'd have the potential to take my Empire from me..."

"I don't want your precious..."

"Then what is this?" Palpatine hissed, "You brought this fight to me- what is this if not ambition?"

The boy shook his head in disbelief, grief making him spit out the words before he'd even thought to censure them in the presence of his ever-perceptive Master "This is retribution."

Palpatine found some part of his own composure at that obvious rush of emotion from the boy, the desolate despair that drove those words igniting a wide, goading grin. He saw a better weapon now to force a mistake and bring his charge down; Skywalker's all-too-obvious obvious guilt at his father's death.

"You blame me so completely but you surely knew that you were your father's replacement, child. The instant you cowed your father in a duel you sealed his fate. You proved you were stronger... you knew that the moment I could control you as I controlled him he would become redundant."

"But you don't- " Skywalker contested, wild, wounded eyes shadowed behind dark hair in the low light, "You don't control me, not completely... you never did, you know that- so why kill him?"

"...Then you did understand-" The revelation set the Sith's head to one side; cruel amusement at the boy's pitiful weakness. "Is that why you struggled so? Always so unpredictable and erratic. Year after year, wilfully insubordinate - every time I thought I could trust you, every time I said as much... you went out of your way to disprove it, didn't you? Did you believe you could buy his life for as long as you were disobedient- keep your father safe? Nothing could do that, child. I work to my own agenda, not yours."

"Your agenda has signed your death warrant." The boy vowed, "You set this in motion- you untied my hands!"

And there, with that incensed accusation, came to Palpatine the abrupt comprehension of what he had truly done. The act which he thought would be so containable - a punishment for disobeying his command, the guarantee that it could never be breached again...

In removing Vader, he had unwittingly removed every restraint.

In his confidence, Palpatine had never looked for ulterior motives, sure that his possession of the boy was absolute. He'd believed that it was his influence alone that had held sway- and perhaps for a time, when he'd first converted the boy, it had been. But the truth was that underlying Palpatine's control, limiting the boy's responses and shaping his actions, was that one fact; that his father was alive - and what was necessary to keep him so.

All control which the Emperor had held of Skywalker had been unknowingly dependant on that single fact... and now, he'd effectively removed that one overriding constraint.

"If you cut me down, you will make me more powerful than you could possibly imagine..."

Abruptly the Sith realised Vader's cryptic words when he'd acknowledged his own fate earlier that day; that he'd known - had chosen to die. To give his son this freedom, this impetus, this driving need to finally act.

The need to act- to bring down Palpatine, as Palpatine had once brought his own Master down. Still panting from the last burst of exertion, the Sith gritted wasted teeth against the injustice of this situation - that Vader had finally out-manoeuvred his Master; had ultimately found the strength to break the bonds which had held him to grudging servitude for decades - and in doing so poisoned Palpatine's protégé against him.

The dog which had cringed so long at its Master's feet had finally found its teeth - and now the wolf smelled blood.

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"You're running out of time." Skywalker stated, dropping his blade low in an invitation to attack, goading his opponent on.

Palpatine narrowed yellow eyes, unsure what the boy meant, and Skywalker smiled, the tip of his ruby blade weaving as he set in a slow circle about his old Master, remaining just out of range.

"Minutes- that's what you taught, Master; experience versus endurance- a veteran duellist has just minutes to bring a duel with a younger opponent to an end, because if he can't bring his challenger down quickly his advantage becomes his weakness. All those years of experience simply become all those years... you're tiring and your opponent hasn't even broken a sweat yet." Luke grinned in open provocation; "Isn't that what you said - the strongest wolf will lead the pack."

"I said experience overcomes strength." he corrected.

But the boy wouldn't be intimidated; "And yet I'm still here - and you're getting tired. So what do you need to beat experience and strength, Master? Because you have one minute left to find it."

Palpatine gritted his teeth against the outrageous incitement, aware on some level that it was the truth; he knew he no longer had the boy's speed or dexterity, so that after that first flurry of blows, a large portion of his attack had been aimed at avoiding a direct confrontation, looking instead for alternative means to bring the duel to a quick, decisive end.

Again the boy stopped, spinning his sabre one-handed so that the cowl of the hilt was against the heel of his hand and bringing it in tight to his back, the scarlet blade upright behind his body in an open invitation to attack. Palpatine hesitated, knowing the boy's reflexes now; that he was not nearly as vulnerable as he appeared, his feet carefully placed, his shoulders already turned to give power to the imminent underhand strike; this was one of his favourite moves, to lure in and then lash out, his reflexes and dexterity equal to the task.

So Palpatine remained still, no counter to the invitation... and the boy grinned in provocation, his empty hand out before him, palm up, raising his eyebrows in unspoken question; afraid?

Palpatine bridled at that; almost set forward- almost walked in to the trap anyway, so incensed was he at the inference. But he caught himself; experience held him back, despite the blatant incitement.

Oh, he saw so much of himself in the boy....

And the boy had allowed it, he realized; encouraged it because it served his own ends- convinced Palpatine to see that connection with himself to the exclusion of any others... even Vader.

"You manipulative little creature." he growled, incensed.

Skywalker only smiled, unoffended; "I learned from the best."

The Emperor came forward at that, blade high, and the boy caught the blow, his blade travelling downward to his opponent's hands. At the last second, Palpatine stepped forward, twisting his blade up and to the side as he did so, robbing Skywalker's counter of any momentum and forcing him to backstep and disengage or allow the Sith inside his defences.

Palpatine pulled back grey lips in a half-smile, half-sneer, "The wise Master never teaches all that he knows."

Skywalker grinned, unimpressed, "The wise pupil knows he should look further afield to complete his knowledge."

"It won't be enough to save you child, not now; not from me. It never was. You don't have the power to stand against a Sith Master. I brought down a thousand Jedi at the height of their power- you think one more will test me? Or do you believe all those Jedi Masters who came before were lesser men than you, with lesser resolve? Do you truly think yourself above them all? What could you possibly have that they- "

"Don't waste your breath." Luke bit out contemptuously, "These are old lessons long since learned. You've used them too often already, Master. Half the fight is in the head, isn't that what you taught? If I'm committed to win - if I believe I will bring you down - then I'm half way there already. I know what I want and I know what I'm capable of. What you say - what you think - is immaterial; my wolves are gone, Master. The only thing which stands in my shadow now is you. Your wolf is right here- what did you call it... Darkness and destiny."

"Oh, I know what you're capable of," Palpatine hissed, "Betrayal and lies. I know what you want- my power; my title... my Empire.

Skywalker shook his head, setting subtly forward again, hiding the advance behind a slow circling of his opponent. "You're wrong - I don't want your Empire Master; only you. But I'll take it, because that's the only thing you ever valued so that's what will hurt you most. I really don't care about your precious Empire... I simply want to hurt you. If you'd left me alone, I'd probably still be farming dust on that dried-up desolate little planet, but you couldn't bear the thought that there might be someone out there with the potential to stop you. You came after me."

"Vader pursued you-" Palpatine said, but the boy wasn't willing to listen; to allow his convictions to be divided.

"You did this. You created me, not my father- You! You created your wolf- you fulfilled the vision. You made your own killer."

"Liar! You want power."

"No- I just want to take it from you. And when I do, when I hold your power and your position, I'll dedicate it to one thing, Master. Because it's not enough just to kill you. You destroyed my life - you cut it away slice after pitiless slice until Luke Skywalker was dead and gone - and I'm what's left. I'm everything that you made me. Luke Skywalker would have killed you, but that's not enough for me, not anymore- you taught me that. So when I take your power I'm going to dedicate it to removing every single trace that you ever existed. Every record, every image, every document, every statue. Everything. Within a decade you'll be gone, like you never existed. And then I'll take your ashes and I'll scatter them to the winds........ All that work, all your ambitions, your power, your precious Sith dynasty- all reduced to nothing. Dust in the wind. That's what I want- " he loosed a feral grin, mismatched eyes like ice and fire beneath long twists of wild hair. "Stop me if you can."

Outraged, Palpatine threw out his hand and Luke sensed the pull in the Force, the danger running a cold warning down his spine, Palpatine's fury imbuing incredible focus and power-

There was a grinding, wrenching 'c-rack!' high behind Luke, stone shearing from stone.

Luke didn't turn- instead he focused on the substantial bulk of the incoming missile, one of the massive carved pillarheads, then reached out and took a solid Force-grip of his own, adding his own velocity, catapulting the substantial carved block onward with only the slightest change in its trajectory, crouching low as it surged past overhead so close that its leading edge rustled through his hair as he ducked.

Palpatine realised of course, but the combined momentum of two powerful wills was an incredible power to stop in the space of two strides, so that even as he threw out his hands to stop it, the massive section of marble pillar cannoned into hastily created shields, shattering outward, Luke maintaining that relentless momentum. Bracing, Palpatine was thrown back by the sheer force of the blow as the fighter-sized block of stone impacted his shields, skidding across the smooth floor in a flurry of red and raven robes.

Luke set grimly forward as the column of the missing pillar-head collapsed with ground-wrenching force behind him, the dust sheeting out about him in a wide cloud.

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Mara walked with forced calm down the grand, deserted hallways toward the Throne Room, the Force buzzing all about her, grating through the air, slicing through her mind, setting her teeth on edge. This was no argument; no spirited clash or heated dispute- this was Darkness and it rolled through the cavernous hallways like a tidalwave, so that it took all that Mara was to simply walk; to hold her poise and composure, chest tight, muscles taught as she neared the rising storm. And every step closer made her heart beat faster, made her breath burn with adrenaline at the back of her throat.

If Luke had challenged Palpatine outright, there could be only one reaction; it wouldn't be a return to the cells, it wouldn't be chastisement or punishing reprisal- it would be a death sentence.

Her walk quickened pace to a jog, then an open run as desperation cut in, feet slipping on the polished marble floors, footfalls echoing in the empty halls.

When she rounded the final stairwell, taking the wide steps three at a time, the massive concourse was empty - no guards; nothing.

She raced forward to the massive arched entryway... and her heart sank, feet skidding to a halt of their own accord. Her eyes locked on the crumpled forms of the eight Red Guard laying before the closed doors, their bodies slumped against the walls where they fell- and she knew it was Luke. Knew what he intended.

Had he challenged Palpatine already? Was that what this was; a duel between Sith.

But Vader was dead, and she'd sensed no such upheaval then- not like this. Just a single burst, a flare of intense radiance, a release like the shock-wave of a detonation; a momentary rush, then nothing.

Not like this.

She glanced about, afraid that someone had seen the guards, that the alarm had been raised, but Palpatine had cancelled Court and the corridors were deserted, these levels out of bounds when Court was not in session.

Heart pounding, she set forward again at an unsteady walk, her legs trembling, the upheaval hammering at her mind, almost overwhelming at this proximity. Glancing up to the crushed security lens, she took her comlink in her hand and contacted Palace Security, stilling the tremble in her voice as she assured them that all was under control.

"What's happening?" the tight voice asked, and Mara knew that the guards here must have been dead before they even fell; no time to sound the alarm. All Security knew was that they hadn't checked in... now the only thing which was stopping them from sounding a general alert was her own status and security clearance.

"It's an impromptu security assessment at the Emperor's command; that's why the Court was cancelled today- reaction times are being monitored and units tracked. You're not one of those under scrutiny; you need to stand down and not influence the results."

"We have two lenses down in you location..."

"That's for the assessment- you needn't do anything. They'll be back up when we're through. Clearance code is override Jade nine-three-five-nine, terra actual."

It was so easy; so easy to use her reputation and her rank... Of course it was; she was beyond suspicion, absolutely loyal.

Absolutely loyal....

Stand down from any alarm, she'd assured, using override codes the Emperor himself had supplied. Was this treason? Probably. She didn't care; if Palpatine lived to accuse her, it would be because Luke was dead...

.

There was a colossal spike in the Force making her flinch back, then a foreboding rumble of tremendous noise, the floor beneath her feet shuddering ominously.

Mara rushed forward, her hand reaching for the locked release at the centre of the door... and froze, unable to move, loyalties split between her master and her lover.

The outpouring of energy into the Force was a whirlwind now, incredible intensity, power drawn to power, wild and furious and dangerous and determined, all twisted through and bound up in each-other so closely that the individual sense of the two combatants within couldn't be separated, lost in the surge.

And it terrified Mara.

She desperately wanted to enter, to run into the room... but then what - when she was inside, then what? Who would she help and who would she fail? Whose aid would she come to- who would she protect when the blade went to their throat?

What should she do... because she was at a loss- she had no idea; none at all.

A second rumble vibrated through her hands resting on the heavy doors and she felt her legs buckle, collapsing to her knees, her arms up about her head as if she could shut out the roiling turmoil, shut out the pain and the fear and the chaos in her head.

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Just visible to Palpatine through the settling dust, Luke set forward over the scattered remnants of the immense pillarhead, the boulder-sized fragments slowing him as he climbed and jumped over them, intending to push home his advantage whilst it still remained, knowing that even this wouldn't keep the Sith Master down for long.

Palpatine had deflected the massive chunk of stone at the last moment, its weight as it impacted against his shields compressing the air about him, pushing it from his lungs with incredible intensity, leaving him gasping as he fell, winded.

And the boy came forward without hesitation, without conscience; everything that Palpatine had desired of him, everything that he had worked so hard to create- the wolf, smelling blood on the air.

But he'd find no quick victory here- no easy prey; all he did was concentrate Palpatine's resolve. The Sith staggered, trying to stand upright but falling again, Skywalker jumping onto a hip-high chunk fallen masonry, sabre lit-

Without hesitation Palpatine reached out, the Force twisting the boulder beneath his attacker, taking any foothold he had. Skywalker lurched back without loosing his balance, leaping clear to land solidly on the marble floor, steadying himself in seconds, already moving forward again.

Palpatine glanced down, hands to the ground as the boy came forward-

Luke braced, muscles tensing, knowing the Sith wasn't nearly as vulnerable as he'd have Luke believe, searching for the snare-

Without warning, the weighty marble floor beneath his feet erupted up into rubble, the fissure throwing up razor-sharp fragments, following Luke's footsteps as he stumbled back, Palpatine's hand outstretched on the floor.

Unable to recover as the floor bucked wherever he placed his feet, Luke fell to one knee, saber held beside him as he sent out a single massive Force-pulse in every direction, the heavy rubble about him wrenching outward in a jolt of kinetic energy, Palpatine shying back from the surge, twisting away, arm before his face as finer debris was launched back.

Luke lurched up and forward, covering the distance in seconds, Palpatine igniting his blade as the boy came forward, staggering back at the fury of the first few blows.

They locked blades, each man pushing in, leaning into the live blades, faces lit by the sparking, incandescent glow of the scarlet sabres-

Abruptly Luke stepped forward and to the side, taking the risk of dropping his blade as he did so, the sudden release of counter-pressure on his blade sending Palpatine staggering forward a step as Luke twisted about, blade in his right hand to affect a swift backhand swipe as he came around, Palpatine half-jumping clear to avoid the unexpected blow.

He staggered back as the boy turned fully about, sabre still low. Palpatine twisted his blade in an infinity loop to hold him at bay- and the boy simply paused coolly beyond its range, neither provoked nor hesitant, allowing Palpatine the move, knowing he couldn't sustain it.

And he was right; the Emperor brought his blade down and to the side and Skywalker set immediately forward. He was controlling the fight Palpatine knew, as he once had with Vader; always pressing in, closing distance and reaction time with short, fast blows, making Palpatine fight at close range where speed was everything; forcing the fight on his terms.

Too close; to agile, too fast to fight a fair fight.

Palpatine glanced about the vast chamber seeking other means, though the empty room held little to use against his rival.

No words now, no goading or validation. The fight had fallen to focused silence, all energy and attention given over to the duel, both combatants aware on some level that the end was near, one way or the other.

The boy came in with blade high, a massive blow with all the power of his arms and shoulders behind it, Palpatine drawing on the Force to absorb the impact, Skywalker using the counter-strength of the block to spin about and bring his blade in low, forcing Palpatine back. He caught Skywalker's low blade, dragging it around in a big arc, forcing both men to spin about to break the hold, each coming back to face the other a half-step back; the boy set forward immediately, always closing that gap- but it was all the space Palpatine needed.

He reached out with the Force to the tall pillar behind himself, wise enough now to know better than to launch such an object from a direction the boy could use against him. A man-sized hunk of twisted, cable-reinforced stone pillar grated free at the top of the fluted column and launched past the Sith toward Luke.

All his momentum moving forward, Luke had no time to counter the substantial bulk of the incoming missile so planted his forward foot down, letting his rear knee buckle, one hand to the ground behind him before kicking off into a tight backflip as the immense chunk of masonry whistled by overhead, his knees lifting behind its rear edge as it skimmed past, Luke tucking neatly in to land a second after it passed, coming back up so quickly that his hair brushed the pillar's trailing edge as he pulled upright, jerking his lightsaber up against the fast roundhouse blow which came in at stomach height, making Palpatine spring backward to gain enough momentum to counter the strike.

Both men staggered as the heavy pillar impacted behind them, dragging gouges into the marble floor, throwing up fine debris and dust as it ground to a halt with a reverberating resound which trembled through the building, neither noticing in the heat of the duel.

Already Palpatine was coming forward to push his advantage, but the boy was moving too, not a moment's hesitation or protest. Unlike his duel with his father three years earlier, he let out no yells of outrage or frustration at his opponent's reluctance to fight fairly, conveying only a grim determination, a fire in his eyes that Palpatine had never seen before-

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Bringing his blade up and back in a one-handed defence Luke powered forward to meet Palpatine's incoming blade, whipping his own about it and pushing it aside as he launched a heavy Force-blow to his Master's side, the impact twisting Palpatine about in a staggering misstep, Luke's bright ruby blade droning past Palpatine's shoulder with unerring aim as he twitched away, the fabric of his gown momentarily lighting in a curl of smoke.

Palpatine broke off and to the side as Luke snapped his blade round for one more sniping blow at head-height, his Master heaving deep breaths in as Luke stalked slowly to the side, sabre still in one hand, sidestepping, searching for that opening...

Luke saw the momentary shadow which crossed his Master's face and knew why, but if Palpatine chose not to fight honourably then Luke certainly felt no guilt at matching his Master - not any more, his mood twisting in frustration, both at Palpatine's actions and at his own part in initiating them.

Because his Master was right about one thing; Luke had caused this fight- his own weaknesses, his compassion, the human frailties which Palpatine had tried so hard to cull from him and Luke had fought so long to hold on to as if they were some kind of asset, when in truth it was these self-indulgent flaws which had brought him here today.

Luke's fault in allowing Mara even a fraction of the truth; in wanting her to do the right thing, in giving her the opportunity, the choice- in believing she would do it. His weakness. His craving for some kind of closeness, despite Palpatine's warning.

His wish for a deeper kinship with his father, a commonality, despite all the risks. It was he who had allowed his father in, seeking some bond, he who had allowed Mara close because despite everything he wanted to trust her... yet another excuse; a way to abdicate responsibility. And he wouldn't allow himself them anymore.

It was his weakness and not Mara's which had caused his father's death.

His weakness that had set all of this in motion. Had cost him so much and brought him to this.

His Master was right; compassion was a debilitating flaw yet he'd held to it like a prized possession when the truth was that it was a curse, nothing less. A weakness to be mastered.

Just like Palpatine- he too was a flaw Luke had allowed to fester; a drain on his energy and intentions. Another impediment he'd allowed himself to tolerate rather than remove. Well, no more;

No more weaknesses.

He reached out into the Force for the power he knew dwelled there, howling for recognition, baying to be used, eager to be summoned...

And took it.

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Palpatine hesitated at the change that came over his Wolf as he stalked forward, scarred face etched now with grim intent, lightsaber low and to his side, eyes afire, glowing golden at their brink...

His left hand rose, outstretched, the action strangely familiar to Palpatine...

Bright actinic lightening flared for a moment about Skywalker's hand then launched forward in a razor-barbed burst, lancing towards Palpatine, dazzling energy slicing into him in a fury of unrestrained power, seizing muscles, freezing lungs.

For a moment Palpatine caught the bolts, countered them- but they only intensified, breaking through barriers, overrunning defences as he wilted beneath the onslaught.

A massive, potent burst, then Skywalker's hand jerked open, twisted as his amber-edged eyes turned down, the Force ripping Palpatine's feet from under him, throwing him hard to the ground, stabbing strikes of brilliant, Force-powered energy into muscles with white-hot pain-

.

He could do it, Luke knew. He could kill him now; just maintain this for a little longer- sear flesh from muscle, burn muscle from bone, char bone to black, crumble it to ash. The Sith deserved no more. Let him know what this felt like! Luke had been on the receiving end of Palpatine's fury often enough, had collapsed beneath it, craving unconsciousness as a respite from the pulsing, blistering, burning pain...

Abruptly, he broke off the attack, vivid memories lighting a lucid flare of horrified self-reproach.

No- not like this.

He took two staggering steps back as Palpatine gasped for breath, smoke curling from his singed clothes. Luke turned away, resolve faltering...

.

Still breathless, Palpatine glanced up, expecting to see the incoming blade... but the boy staggered back, pale blue eyes appalled as he curled his hand to a fist, lost in some inner battle.

Seeing him hesitate and realising his opportunity, the Sith lurched up, reaching out with the Force, searching any weapon-

The move was lightening-fast, the boy lost in thought, and Palpatine finally scored the blow he'd sought; the heavy, carved footrest which lay at the foot of his toppled throne yanked forward with incredible speed and power, impacting with a rewarding crack on the back of his opponent's head-

.

Luke didn't know what hit him; he only saw a bright flash then stars exploded in his vision as his legs collapsed beneath him and he dropped to his knees, some distant voice within him chiding his own inattention beneath that burst of undeserved compassion, sight and sound fading to the encroaching blackness;

Don't pass out.... Don't pass out!

His hand went to the floor to steady himself as he sensed Palpatine step grimly forward, reality reduced to a slow loop of nauseating gravity which dragged awareness ever slower-

Don't pass out...

He drew the Force to him, giving him the power to lurch unsteadily up and back as Palpatine rushed in, Luke still staggering from the blow as he brought his sabre up in weak defence, head spinning, vision blurred.

The Emperor's pale hand rose, spindly fingers splayed, and the hasty Force-strike came like a body-blow to the centre of Luke's chest, making him stumble back, breath knocked from his lungs in a scarlet-spattered gasp.

Palpatine brought his sabre up and forward in a lunging stab and Luke barely batted it aside with no retaliation, no reciprocating blow; he only staggered further back, tripping unsteadily over unseen debris, arm out to steady himself as he struggled to recover, the Emperor sidestepping and disappearing from his still-narrowed vision, blade raising high to deliver another blow.

Luke backed up, still dazed, struggling for breath, heart pounding loud in his ears-

The back of his hip bumped against something and he realised he'd backstepped all the way to the raised dais, automatically putting it to his side, aware on some level that to do so would reduce Palpatine's field of play, keep him trapped in Luke's limited line of sight. It cut down his own manoeuvrability but at this point that wasn't even a concern- his main consideration was simply staying upright.

Don't pass out- not now, after all this- after all these years, don't pass your one chance up...

Anger and frustration welled up inside him at that and the Darkness answered, pumping fresh power to trembling limbs, sending blood and oxygen rushing round his body and he clung to it- to the power it gave.

He wouldn't let him win; he wouldn't let the black-hearted Sith steal this. He'd stop him; no matter what the cost - if it was his own life, he'd stop him.

.

He swayed uneasily, chest heaving, giving ground as Palpatine came forward along one side of the dais, aware that he was being backed into one of the tall, heavy, metalwork screens which divided the cavernous space; using the Force he reached out behind him and yanked the massive screen back against its mechanism with a screeching wrench, giving him the clearance to stumble into the room beyond.

As Palpatine closed Luke slammed the massive screen shut, forcing the Sith to take a hasty step back to avoid being hit by the heavy slab of floor-to-ceiling metal. On impulse Luke lunged blindly forward again, sabre before him, the blade cutting effortlessly through the precious-metal screen until the tip of his hilt hit the white-hot surface, and was rewarded with a half-yell from behind the screen.

Knowing better than to remain where he was, Luke dropped down, one hand to the ground, pulling his saber back and rolling away as he did so, mind and vision clearing. An instant later Palpatine's saber blazed through the screen above Luke exactly where he had stood, the scarlet blade cutting a narrow horizontal slash through screen as Palpatine Force-yanked it back a half-second later and lunged forward into the ante-room.

Luke's mind raced, adrenaline giving incredible clarity, the brief moment's respite offering realization- a plan... and it had to be now-

Muscles bunching, he powered up, staggering back to the other screen, reaching out with the Force to get a solid grip and dragging it open as he rushed back through into the main chamber, slamming it shut as Palpatine stalked through the first screen and into the small ante-room, giving Luke valuable seconds unseen in the main chamber.

He set forward to the dais at a half-run, eyes glancing about it as he reached out his hand...

.

Palpatine dragged the second screen aside with a yell, setting purposely forward, his limp pronounced, ochre eyes scanning the massive, debris-littered Throne Room. Skywalker turned about from his run toward the dais, seeking room to manoeuvre, backstepping across the cream marble of the inset floor from the old Jedi Council Chamber so he did so, the shattered remnants of Palpatine's precious Sunburst Throne scattered about the dais, the dying embers of the day bleeding over the beaten golden sun as it lay on the pale cream of the wide circular marble inlay, like twin suns setting...

.

The Sith launched forward at a broken run, Skywalker giving ground against the onslaught, a flurry of bright scarlet blades, a wall of incandescent light weaving through the air, each looking for the advantage, completely focused, unyielding, each blow laid with flawless precision, each counter leading to an attack, the pace implacable now, the intensity decisive, each attack pushing home, forcing a mistake-

It was Skywalker who faltered; stumbled, the momentary lapse bringing his blade up a fraction too late, giving Palpatine the impetus to catch the one-handed blow rather than block it and enabling him to hook Vader's lightsaber away from the boy, sending it clattering back across the Throne Room floor, Skywalker's empty hand still reaching after it as he turned side-on, twisting back, eyes wide, to face his foe empty-handed-

.

"Where are your reflexes now, boy..." Palpatine grinned, voice triumphant as he brought his own blade back one-handed in a wide, open arc to deliver the killing blow-

"Where's your experience... Master?" the boy hissed derisively.

.

The moment- the instant the words left Skywalker's mouth, Palpatine knew what he'd done, recognized his error; that he had been played, encouraged by his opponent's helplessness to make a grand gesture, leaving himself open a fraction too long-

Palpatine twisted his wrist, brought his scarlet blade about and in-

But he wasn't nearly fast enough; Skywalker's arm came from behind his back with devastating speed-

In his hand was his own lightsaber, recovered from the dais where he had abandoned it at the duel's start, the blade still activating as he brought it up with the speed of a whiplash, batting Plpatine's blade back, already inside his defences-

The perfect deception, flawlessly executed, any chance of a hasty defence squandered by Palpatine in the belief that his foe was unarmed.

No fair fight here after all - only the desire to win. Perhaps they were more similar than either realised...

Skywalker's saber closed on Palpatine's throat, his father's lost blade returning in that same moment to his outstretched hand, the two blades meeting in a scissor action-

"STOP!!" Palpatine poured five long years of merciless control into that single word.

.

Stupidly- stupidly- Luke hesitated, unable to withstand the intensity in his Master's command. He faltered, the moment's dark clarity lost, intent wavering... and the Sith saw it.

"You always hesitated, Jedi. You always doubted yourself." Palpatine wheedled, voice hypnotic, yellow eyes shifting from genuine fear to a self-assured composure. He shook his head in mock pity, grating voice dismissive and amused, "I didn't make you- you made yourself with your own insecurities and fears. I warned you to hold them in check or your enemies would use them against you..."

.

A small wisp of smoke curled up past the edge of Luke's vision, daunting in its implications-

Realising, he glanced down... below the bright radiance of the two scarlet sabres in his hands was the incandescent glow of a third-

And Luke heard the goading triumph in his Master's voice; "How much do you want me dead, my little Sith?"

Luke's hesitation at his Master's words had created the opportunity for him to slowly bring his own blade about, level with Luke's stomach, the tip now inches away from his skin, burning a fine hole in the fabric of his shirt-

Palpatine kept those sulphurous yellow eyes steady on Luke, "... Enough to kill yourself for the opportunity?" The slightest of deprecating grins pulled thin, bloodless lips back from spoiled yellow teeth; the boy had hesitated too long... he'd won again. The Sith shook his head slowly, voice malicious and mocking, "I think not."

Luke remained frozen, seeing exactly every nuance of emotion as it passed over his Master's decrepit features, mismatched blue eyes remaining locked on spiteful yellow-flecked ochre....

.

This was the price...this was the price to end his Master's reign - because if he truly wanted to end it then to kill Palpatine wasn't enough. His precious Sith Dynasty would continue, he had already ensured that....

Luke blinked slowly, a strange, detached calm flowing through him, buzzing in his ears.

Time slowed about him, his heartbeat dragging...

Abruptly he remembered Bespin- remembered this same pacific peace settling so benignly about him as he'd stood, resolute, at the edge of the instrument vane, no-where left to go...

No-where left to go.

This was the price... and he was willing to pay.

.

He held his eye on the end goal, unflinching and composed, committed to the action.

The tranquil stillness which bled through him was like a deep breath of warm air, gifting acceptance and serenity, the ability to move forward. The slightest of smiles twitched at the corners of his scarred lips as Luke stared at his Master for long seconds... but he would not blink-

Mismatched blue eyes hardened, defiant.... and he watched that heinous grin fall from his Master's face-

In that last second, Palpatine saw the commitment in those wild eyes-

He retreated, stumbled back a step, saber out before him at his Jedi's stomach-

.

...The stubbornness which was a strength...

Death... he heard the grating drone of the blades- scarlet red, the colour of blood and betrayal...

...the hiss of superheated light....

.

Luke lunged forward into Palpatine's blade, embedding it front to back through his own body, jerking at the bite, pulling the crossed sabers in his hands open as he did so, the scissored blades slicing effortlessly through flesh and bone-

The Sith's decapitated body fell away before him, Luke remaining upright for a few seconds more as Palpatine's blade tugged free from his body, bringing Luke crumpling to his knees.

In the next instant, a backwash of power exploded out from the dead Sith's corpse- Darkness and fury and fear released, the energy impacting on Luke as he gasped against it, wrenched backwards by the force, unable to do more in that moment than simply endure it.

.

When he opened his eyes, aware again, he was crumpled against the far wall, still somehow upright but knelt down awkwardly, sat on his heels, arms wrapped about his stomach against the fire which burned deep there.

In the absolute silence, he listened to his own laboured breathing for a long time...

He wondered if he could stand, realised that he couldn't, recognized that he was sagging down now, falling deeper into the utter silence, reality becoming an ever more distant whisper as his body began to fail.

Momentarily he panicked, looking about him... holding out his hand, he called his father's lightsaber to him across the dust-strewn floor and tried unsuccessfully to pick it up, hands incredibly weak.

Instead, he rested his palm on it, the searing fire in his stomach expanding outwards now, weakness toppling him over onto his side, the shattered room twisting dizzily about him. His eyes fluttered, lungs burning against laboured breaths, simply breathing becoming an impossible task, chest heaving air in short, shallow breaths, no oxygen left, like suffocating- like drowning in deep water.

He let out a gasping sigh and whispered her name - in that moment nothing else mattered; neither betrayal nor blame. All he wanted was to touch her sense again, to touch that radiant red hair, soft as silk and bright as glowing flame; "Mara...."

And the world faded away....

.

.

.

Knelt outside the doors, slumped on the floor, Mara buried her head in her hands until the roaring tornado of power drawn from the Force fell to ominous stillness, leaving her sure they were both dead...

She sat and sobbed into the void, the silence absolute.

.

His voice speaking her name issued from nowhere and everywhere, no more than a broken whisper, his sense fading to darkness.

She dragged herself upright, tears blurring her vision so that she clawed blindly at the lock, rushing in, desperate hope thrown out against all belief, convinced they were both dead.

Palpatine's decapitated body lay in the centre of the pale cream marble, a burst of grimy destruction radiating out about it in the devastated room, his precious, prophetic throne toppled beside him. She walked no closer, searching the dust-laden gloom, desperate and desolate, afraid to see-

Little more than a crumpled shadow in the all-pervading darkness, Luke lay slumped on his side, ashen white and deathly still.

Mara stumbled forward, tears blurring her vision, breath frozen in her lungs, caught in a lockjam at the back of her throat... then she was on her knees beside him, reaching out tentatively to touch his face...

The relief was a physical release so intense she felt the blood drain from her head, leaving her dizzy and faint.

He's alive... he's alive!!

She stroked his hair and cried all over again, the emotion spilling out of her, unstoppable, fear and hope and disbelief and loss and longing, too much to possibly process. All she could do was stroke his hair and whisper to that distant sense, growing ever paler.

He wouldn't die- he wouldn't. She wouldn't let him. He was everything she needed- everything this whole sad, lost, battered galaxy needed...

He couldn't die. Not after all this...

She swiped the tears away with the heel of her hand as years of indoctrination cut through the shock and the absolute calm of a trained soldier kicked in once again.

Pulling herself together with a long, trembling sigh, she lifted her comlink from the floor where it had fallen unheeded.

Her voice back under complete control, she commed Reece, "The Heir requires your presence immediately, Reece- and that of Hallin. In the Throne Room."

"The Throne Room?" She could hear his nervousness - how much did he already know? "Court isn't in session today, Commander Jade- and.. I was under the impression that The Heir had not yet returned from Mosiin Barracks."

"He arrived a short time ago... for a critical meeting regarding command structure." Would he understand?

There was a long pause... "Will the Emperor be attending?"

Mara sighed just slightly, understanding the question, "The Emperor is.. no longer here."

Again Reece paused, clearly as unwilling to speak on an open channel as Mara, but recognising the necessity, " Hallin's attendance is..."

"Crucial." Mara said.

She switched off the comm, knowing Reece would already be on his way. She had an Empire to secure.