The Eternal Emperor

The landing bay of the Pride of the Core was immaculate, its polished floors reflecting the glow of the overhead lights. Clone troopers moved in disciplined formations, unloading supplies and coordinating logistics with quiet efficiency. A cool hum of machinery underscored the atmosphere, and the faint sound of boots echoed against the cavernous walls as Kenobi and Anakin descended from their LAAT/i gunship. 

Lelouch stood near the center of the hangar, his white uniform pristine and tailored to perfection. He leaned lightly on his command cane, a faint smile playing on his lips as his dark, hypnotic eyes focused on the two Jedi approaching him. Behind him, Captain Fordo stood at attention, his presence a quiet but undeniable reminder of the elite nature of Lelouch's guard. 

Anakin was the first to speak, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he stepped forward. "You didn't have to come down here to greet us, Lelouch. We'd have found our way." 

Lelouch's faint smile widened. "A good host ensures his guests feel welcome, Skywalker. Besides... with your history?" His tone was smooth, almost teasing, but there was an underlying gravity to his words. 

"Eventually... we'd still have found our way." Anakin chuckled softly, but Kenobi remained silent, his gaze flickering between Lelouch and Anakin. Something about their interaction unsettled him. The ease with which they spoke, the subtle camaraderie—it was almost familial. He couldn't help but feel like an outsider. 

The Palpatine family... The thought lingered in his mind, unbidden but persistent. He had always been wary of Chancellor Palpatine's relationship with Anakin, but now it seemed the son was just as close, if not closer. The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth. 

After exchanging pleasantries, Lelouch gestured toward the exit, and they began walking toward the bridge. Clone troopers formed a protective perimeter around them, Fordo leading the way with the precision of a man who trusted no one with his general's safety but himself. The air was filled with the rhythmic sound of boots against metal as the group moved through the ship's corridors. 

As they walked, Lelouch's voice broke the silence, calm but edged with steel. "With the loss of Kamino, the Republic's supply of veteran soldiers has been cut. The clone program is crippled. Recruits can fill the ranks, but training takes time. Soldiers can be conscripted, but vessels require resources, time, and skilled labor to construct. The Separatists know this." 

Kenobi frowned, the weight of the truth sinking in. "You believe their next move will be to cut off our supply lines? Target our fleet production?" 

"Precisely," Lelouch replied, his eyes glinting as he spoke. "Without Kamino, their only viable strategy is to deny us the means to sustain the war effort. If they can destroy our ability to manufacture warships, the Republic's military advantage will evaporate." 

Kenobi's brow furrowed in thought. Kuat was untouchable in its own right, the dreadnoughts guarding it making it a suicide for any fleet to attempt the same tactic as with Kamino. That left either their resources or funds to maintain and expand the Republic Fleet, and resources were plentiful amongst the numerous worlds... and everyone knew the capital for the war was an ongoing problem for the republic. 

"But the Banking Clan funds both sides of this war. Their neutrality depends on maintaining that balance. They'd never cooperate with the Separatists to cut off our resources. That leaves the Separatist with no choice but to attempt a military solution, but that would be insane in and on itself." 

Lelouch smiled faintly, the expression as sharp as a blade. "And yet, the Separatists may have no other choice. If they're serious about capitalizing on the destruction of Kamino and ending this war within the year, Scipio becomes the natural target." 

Anakin's jaw clenched as the realization dawned on him. "The Banking Clan's homeworld." 

Lelouch nodded, his expression unreadable. "Exactly. Their entire financial network operates from Scipio. If the Separatists can destabilize or seize control of it, they'll have the means to paralyze us." 

As they approached a massive elevator, Lelouch glanced at Anakin. "You'll be at ground zero, Skywalker. Senator Amidala has already, somehow and against all my meddling, secured her place in the delegation heading to negotiate the revised loan terms for the continuation of the clone program and, possibly, an expansion of the Republic Navy." 

Anakin's face hardened at the mention of Amidala. "She's already on her way?" 

"She left Coruscant an hour ago," Lelouch replied, the doors opening as they stepped in, only to stop as Lelouch turned to Anakin, pressing a finger against Anakin's chest and pushing him back slightly, just beyond the elevator doors. "You'll need to move quickly to catch up." 

Anakin blinked, his mouth opening as if to protest, but no words came out. The elevator doors slid shut, leaving him standing there, stunned. 

Kenobi, suppressing a chuckle, stepped into the elevator beside Lelouch. "You seem to enjoy toying with him." 

"A little," Lelouch admitted, his faint smile returning. "But I find it helps him calm down and clear his mind from useless muddled thoughts that he seems intent on considering." 

As the elevator ascended, the tone shifted. Kenobi glanced at Lelouch, his earlier unease returning. "You wanted me to stay. Why?" 

Lelouch's eyes darkened slightly. "Because when the Council inevitably questions why I bombarded Kamino into oblivion, I'll need a voice of reason to ensure they don't label me a 'madman who glasses planets' just because he feels like it." Lelouch said as he quoted with his fingers. 

The escort clones had the decency to look away at that particular term. While they were not privy to the plans of the High-General, there was indeed a pool amongst the clones of the Zero Legion to see if the next planetary deployment would include orbital bombardment or not. 

Kenobi's eyes widened, his voice rising in alarm. "You're going to what?" 

Lelouch's tone was icy, his words measured. "The planet is a biological hazard, Master Kenobi. Nothing can be salvaged, and for droids, it's an open playground. If even a single one of them leaves Kamino intact, the intelligence breach could cripple us in ways we can't predict." 

Kenobi stared at him, conflicted. The thought of obliterating an entire world, even one as compromised as Kamino, felt like crossing a line. Yet the logic was inescapable. The Blue Shadow Virus ensured there could be no survivors, and the risk of the droids retrieving valuable data was too great. Slowly, almost reluctantly, Kenobi nodded. 

But Lelouch's reaction caught him off guard. He stood there, staring at Kenobi with a cold intensity. "You've changed, Master Kenobi. Once, you asnwered you would stand steadfast just and righteous. Yet when faced with this decision, you chose to destroy the greater evil, even if it meant committing one yourself. Perhaps... there's hope for you yet." 

Kenobi's expression remained stoic, but inside, his thoughts churned. His mind drifted back to a conversation he'd had with Lelouch two years ago—a conversation where he had given a different answer, one that he now realized had been more about what he wished to believe than the truth of who he was. 

As Lelouch turned and began walking away, Kenobi sighed deeply, his gaze distant. War had changed him... or perhaps merely brought forth who he was all along, disregarding the pretense of the simple life of the temple. 

=========================== 

Master Yoda sat cross-legged aboard a Jedi shuttle, his meditative state undisturbed by the subtle hum of the hyperdrive. The passage of weeks had not dulled the lingering effects of recent events. The loss of Kamino, the siege on Scipio, and the desperate measures taken weighed heavily upon him. Through the Force, these moments played like whispers in his mind, painting a vivid tapestry of conflict and consequence. 

A once-pristine world, home to the Republic's lifeline of clone soldiers, was now a graveyard, obliterated to ensure that no remnants of the biological plague—or Separatist forces—could escape. Yoda had felt every life extinguished, their sparks fading into the Force. The echoes of their passing still lingered in his heart. 

.... 

Within the ancient and malevolent halls of the Sith Temple on Moraband, his diminutive frame illuminated by the eerie, flickering crimson glow of Sith runes etched into the walls. The heavy air seemed to press down on him with every step, carrying whispers of hatred and despair that gnawed at his resolve. 

He had come to this desolate, cursed world at the behest of the Force Priestesses—enigmatic, ethereal beings who promised him a path to deeper understanding. Yet even they, for all their wisdom, appeared before him as fading, transient figures, their words cryptic and incomplete. 

"The Ascended Force Sensitive, who has severed the bonds of mortality, now claims the mantle of the new All-Father of Mortis," they had said, their voices a haunting blend of clarity and vagueness. "He siphons the power of the Force, drawing it from beings such as ourselves... and countless others similar existences." 

A pause lingered, their ghostly faces betraying neither fear nor anger. "Disturbed, you seem not," Yoda had remarked, his curiosity tempered by concern. 

"If it is meant to happen, it will happen. If it is not, it will not, the force will see to it in either case." they replied, their tone serene, as though it was not their existence that hanged in this balance, as if the gravity of their revelation bore no consequence to them. 

That was all they had offered him—no further explanations, no guidance, only this vague pronouncement and a task. They had charged him with trials designed not merely to test his mastery of the Force but to challenge the very foundation of his beliefs. The burden was his to carry, the answers his to uncover. 

The final trial had brought him here, where the dark side was most potent. 

Yoda stood aboard the gunship, his small frame steady amidst the hum of the repulsorlifts. Across from him sat Anakin Skywalker, clad in his battle-worn Jedi armor, his expression sharp with determination. Surrounding them were the clones of the 501st Legion, their white and blue armor gleaming under the dim light of the cabin. Yet Yoda's mind churned with confusion, his connection to the Force disrupted by a haze that had not lifted since the appearance of Darth Sidious's phantom. 

Turning to Anakin, Yoda's ears tilted slightly as he asked, "Hmm, young Skywalker, why here are we? What is this mission?" 

Anakin's gaze softened momentarily, though his tone carried urgency. "Master Yoda, intelligence picked up a Separatist vessel landing in The Works. Count Dooku is on board, and we believe he's meeting with... someone." 

The final word hung heavy, and Yoda immediately understood. The Sith Lord. His heart stirred with resolve as he realized the importance of this encounter. "Reveal the truth, we must," he murmured. 

The gunship descended swiftly into Coruscant's industrial underbelly, its engines roaring as they landed amidst the shadowed, labyrinthine structures of The Works. The air reeked of ozone and durasteel, the glow of industrial lights casting long, menacing shadows. Anakin ignited his lightsaber, the blue blade cutting through the gloom. Yoda followed, his own green saber springing to life as the clones moved into formation. 

Ahead, two figures awaited them. Count Dooku stood with his characteristic poise, his crimson blade already lit, his expression a mixture of disdain and readiness. Beside him, cloaked in darkness, loomed Darth Sidious, his yellow eyes gleaming like fireflies in the night. 

Before Yoda could act, Dooku raised a hand and unleashed a storm of Force lightning. The blue tendrils struck the advancing clones, sending them flying into walls and scattering their formation. "Run along, clones," Dooku sneered. "This duel is not for you." 

Anakin, with a furious shout, launched himself at Dooku. Their sabers clashed with a thunderous crackle, the blue and red blades painting the walls in erratic streaks of light. The two combatants moved with breathtaking speed, their strikes precise and unyielding. 

Yoda's attention shifted to Sidious, who began to retreat toward the far end of the chamber. With a leap, the Jedi Master intercepted him, their blades meeting in a shower of sparks. Sidious's laughter echoed as he parried Yoda's strikes, his movements deceptively fluid for one of his age. 

Behind them, Yoda caught a glimpse of Anakin overpowering Dooku. The young Jedi delivered a brutal slash to the Sith's leg, sending Dooku to his knees. Seizing the opportunity, Anakin disarmed him, holding both lightsabers crossed at the Count's throat. 

"Do it," Sidious hissed from across the room, his voice cutting through the chaos like a dagger. 

Yoda shouted, "No, Skywalker! Stay your hand!" But his words fell on deaf ears. With a grim resolve, Anakin decapitated Dooku in one swift motion, the Count's head rolling to the floor as his body crumpled. 

Sidious laughed louder, his glee reverberating through the Force as Yoda turned back to him, his heart heavy with the realization that the darkness had further ensnared the Chosen One. 

Sidious darted out of the chamber, his cloak billowing like a shadow given life. Yoda gave chase, his small form propelled by the Force as they emerged onto an outdoor walkway. The air was dense and cold, the lights of Coruscant stretching endlessly below. 

Sidious turned, his saber igniting with a snap-hiss, and the duel resumed. The Sith Lord's strikes were ferocious, each swing a deliberate attempt to drive Yoda back. Yoda countered with skillful precision, his small blade intercepting every blow with almost preternatural timing. 

The fight was interrupted as Anakin arrived, but before he could join the fray, Sidious unleashed a torrent of Force lightning. The young Jedi was flung back, his body colliding with the walkway's railings before he fell unconscious, teetering over the edge. 

"Skywalker!" Yoda cried, extending his hand to hold Anakin aloft with the Force. Sidious seized the moment, pressing the attack with relentless ferocity. Yoda parried as best he could, his saber a green blur against Sidious's crimson strikes. 

"You cannot save him and fight me, Master Yoda," Sidious taunted, his voice a venomous whisper. "Let him fall. Sacrifice one to save many." 

Yoda's face was a mask of determination as he made his choice. Disengaging his saber, he used both hands to lift Anakin fully onto stable ground. The moment of vulnerability allowed Sidious to unleash another blast of lightning, striking Yoda directly. The Jedi Master winced but stood firm, his small frame enduring the full force of the attack. 

"You see? This is why you Jedi will always lose," Sidious sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Even your Chosen One is too weak to protect himself." 

As the section of the walkway began to collapse under their feet, Yoda acted decisively. With a flick of his hand, he hurled his lightsaber toward the structure supporting Sidious, shattering it completely. The Sith Lord stumbled, his mocking laughter echoing as he fell alongside Yoda. 

As they plummeted toward the ground below, Yoda's eyes caught a fleeting glimpse of another figure near the top of the spire—a shadowed form that had eluded his senses, climbing step by step as they both fell, casting a single glance towards them before continuing his climb. Sidious's presence in the Force had masked this individual, their escape ensured by the Sith Lord's interference and unleash of the dark side with such burning ferocity. 

Realization hit him too late. Darth Sidious made himself a target... no... a burning beacon during his attempt at unveiling the truth, and he himself had followed through without a second thought. 

The world blurred as they descended, the reverberating laugh of Darth Sidious haunting him the deeper they fell.. When Yoda finally landed, he reached for the fallen Sith Lord, only to find himself holding nothing but empty robes, but the taunting laugh of the dark lord wouldn't stop. 

Looking up, Yoda could only lament. Who was the hidden figure that Sidious had gone to such lengths to hide from him... and more importantly, what did the spire itself represent? 

A.N: End of Year has me busy, both on work and at home, so I could only finish this chapter. But i made sure to make it lengthy and it turned out for the better. At least i think its better than just following Anakin on Scipio and have him actively discreetly push/choke Clovis through the force to let him fall... which still happened but we will discuss it later. Anyway hope you enjoyed :)