For The Blood We Spill

Chapter 7 - Sidious

Author's Note: Major plot twists ahead! I do not apologize for anything. Also, a reviewer asked me a while back if we'd get to see more about Anakin's relationship with the Force (or something like that; I don't remember exactly), and the answer to you is that yes, you will! :D

WARNING: Self-harm, suicidal thoughts/feelings, blood, and general darkness!

~ Amina Gila

"I am most impressed to see you have survived your injuries," Sidious intones. That voice. It sounds so... familiar for some reason, though Anakin can't quite place it. He has to wait. The Force will tell him when he should reveal himself.

"I used your training, Master," Maul answers, keeping his head bowed, "And I have built all this in hopes of returning to your side."

Sidious hums, and Anakin suspects that the Sith, too, can sense Maul is lying. "How unfortunate that are attempting to deceive me," Sidious spits.

"Master?" Maul queries, something like fear in his voice. That, more than anything, scares Anakin. If something is bad and evil enough to scare Maul, then Anakin knows that it definitely should scare him too. It does. Somewhat. All other emotions have fallen away, and here, in the Force's embrace, he is emotionless. He is one with the Force.

"You have become a rival!" snarls Sidious, lashing out and hurling the two Sith backwards. He pins them to a glass wall, pushing them against it with such force that the glass begins to fracture. Anakin finds that he can barely breathe, alternately torn between disbelief and terror. How can anyone be so powerful? How can he be expected to defeat Sidious? Can he? Or is this to be his death? He can't not try, though. He would never forgive himself if he walked away without at least knowing the Sith Master's identity.

Fear not, the Force comforts him. You are stronger than him. Is he? Is he? Well, yes, he probably is. Anakin already knows that he's the strongest Force sensitive ever, and in recent months, he's been learning how to hone his abilities, how to focus them and use them. Sidious has years of experience, and experience is useful, but Anakin has raw power. Maybe he doesn't need to try and overpower Sidious. Maybe he simply needs to outlast him. Maybe the calm endurance of the Light will outburn the passionate wildness of the Dark.

On Mortis, Anakin did what was thought to be impossible. He drew both the Light and Dark into himself, controlling and balancing both at once. It took a lot out of him, but perhaps he can do the same again here. Perhaps he can tap into the core of the Force like he did on Mortis, the wellspring of raw power buried deep within him, and use it to tame the Sith Master and bring him down. Perhaps.

Sidious cackles, cruelly and wickedly, as the Zabrak brothers struggle in his Force grip. Finally, he drops them, and they fall to the floor. Anakin tenses, preparing himself for the fight that he knows is coming. When it comes, perhaps Maul and Savage will accept him as an ally so they can defeat Sidious together, because Anakin knows they will fail on their own.

The brothers stumble to their feet, both igniting their lightsabers as they face off against Sidious. The Sith Master doesn't hesitate, pulling out two red blades of his own as he meets the brothers' attack. Now, whispers the Force, and Anakin yanks aside the grate, dropping from the ventilation shaft, igniting his lightsaber mid-fall, and blocking a blow which might have hit Savage. For a moment, none of the Sith move.

"Surprised?" Anakin asks lightly, though his voice hardly feels like his own. The Force is filling him, surging through him in a way it never has before. He never wants to think of himself as the Chosen One, not on Mortis, not here, and yet... what else can this power be?