Midnight in the Garden

Chapter 29: Return of the Jedi

As I edit and post this I see scenes of Palpatine and Sereine's original relationship. Palpatine's first run for Republic Senate from the Chommell sector. As the appointed incumbent, it should have been an easy victory. But a ghastly blunder by Palpatine makes the headlines at exactly the wrong time, plus the decisions of the beloved Sio Bibble and the electric Olivia Sen to enter the race opposing him plummets a chagrined and nervous Sith lord to the bottom of the polls. Masters of the Game? Yep, that story is now on Wattpad, too.

***

The elevator stopped and the door opened. Anakin hit the door button. It wouldn't close.

He looked up at the ceiling. If he had his lightsaber, he'd have a chance at getting out of this.

If he had his lightsaber, he might not need  a way out of this. He palmed Padmé's blaster. What am I supposed to do with this?

A low, dangerous croak reverberated through what looked like a forgotten storage room. Old crates, abandoned building materials, and large sheets of thick metal and wallboard cast ominous shadows across a dimly lit vault.

"Are you afraid of me, apprentice? You should have considered that much sooner."

Darkness poured into the lift. Darkness, hatred, and murderous intent.

"I don't understand why you're doing this!" Anakin called out. "I've never hurt you! We're trying to save  you!"

"You swore an oath one is not allowed to break!" grated Sidious, eerily closer. "You think you will destroy our Order?"

"You broke your promise to me!" Anakin called out. A tingle in the Force brought his blaster up.

The ancient voice sounded closer still. "I  will destroy you!"

A spinning fury of black robes hurtled through the door at him. Anakin had no choice but to fire at the strobe of crimson light that flashed in his eyes. And as the Force directed his aim, despair consumed another part of him.

This was exactly what he was not  supposed to do! How would they ever save Palpatine now? But if the alternative was widowing Padmé and leaving his two babies --

-- there was no alternative.

He had thought he was used to how quickly Palpatine could move. He wasn't. Anakin fired as fast as he could, keeping that crimson blade busy and away from his throat. Palpatine's arms beat like wings; this close, this furious, the tiny Sith lord seemed huge.

Blaster bolts ricocheted off the steel walls and zipped back and forth in showers of sparks. The Sith blade hummed and throbbed in Anakin's ears. Flashes of warning guided Anakin this way and that, just before a reflected blaster bolt would have killed him. Palpatine, too, dodged blaster bolts as he attempted to catch an unguarded chance at Anakin's neck and hands.

We've got to get out of here. This is dangerous!  No sooner had Anakin thought it than Palpatine yelped and threw his smoldering robe to the floor.

Anakin saw his chance and darted over the Sith master's arm and out to freedom. With a growl, Palpatine leaped after him. Anakin spied a 'fresher sink on the floor and used the Force to hurl it at him. Palpatine jumped nimbly aside and crossed the floor to him in one long leap.

Anakin brought his blaster up. The bolt he fired squarely met Palpatine's blade --

-- and returned to the blaster itself, superheating the weapon. Anakin felt the echo of darkness that guided it. 

The blaster exploded in his hand. Anakin screamed and jumped away, shielding his head with his mechanical arm.

"Hah!" shouted Palpatine. He flew through the air, as close behind Anakin as if Anakin were drawing him on a string. His blade slashed at Anakin's head.