Negotiations with a Lightsaber

Anakin had left Luke with Obi-Wan in Otherways where the child should be safe. At least, safer than here.

Here being Imperial Center. Coruscant. Whatever. In the Imperial Palace, even.

He finds himself stepping into an empty corridor. There isn't a trace of the chaos that had been there when he was last here. But then...it's been quite a while since then and he didn't really expect to see any. He's hoping that this means they won't be expecting him. Even if Palpatine has always seemed to know things were coming before they happened. Surely he won't see this?

At least, that's what Anakin hopes.

Silently, he glides through the hallways of the Emperor's stronghold, doing his best to avoid guard patrols and security cams. He's not entirely certain he's successful, but one must make do with what one can manage.

It's not difficult for him to find Palpatine, the presence of the Sith Lord is unmistakeable, even with Anakin cloaking his presence in the Force and not reaching out to it. Which does make him worry that the Emperor can sense him as well. But there's nothing for it, so he continues toward the throne room, from whence the sense of Palpatine's presence emanates.

He's hardly stepped into the darkened chamber when Palpatine speaks.

"I've been waiting for you, my wayward young apprentice."

Anakin's lip curls, that implicit admonisment sound far too much like Obi-Wan's. He doesn't respond, however, just moves closer into the room, keeping his guard up for...anything.

So Palpatine continues, He always did like to hear himself talk Anakin thinks savagely. "I knew you would return to me. Together we will continue what we began..."

Anakin can't resist the snark, "You imprisoned me. You killed my daughter. I am not here to do your bidding anymore, Palpatine."

Palpatine's yellow eyes narrow and glint in the low light, "So you say..."

Anakin was approaching striking distance when the Emperor rose from his seat. "You cannot destroy me, Lord Vader."

Anakin smiled slowly. "I think I can." He'd just never wanted to before. Not really. Not like now.

Palpatine makes his move first, calling on Force Lightning in the same maneuver that caught Anakin the last time they'd met but...this time Anakin's ready. This time, he catches the lighting in his flesh hand and throws it back at Palpatine. "And I've learned a few new tricks, Master." And then it's Anakin pouncing, lightsaber flashing. Palpatine's lightsaber is brought out just in time and the battle is joined.

They fought all over the throne room, paying no care to the destruction they wrought. Palpatine was old, but he was powerful, and clever. But Anakin was at least as powerful, and he had learned well from the Sith lord over the years. And yes, from Obi-Wan too. The fight is long but in the end, Anakin gains possession of Palpatine's lightsaber and....with not even a moment's hesitation, beheads the old Sith Lord the same as he killed Dooku. The symmetry pleased him.

He looked down at the fallen figure of Palpatine...and all he saw was a twisted, old man. Just a shell.

For a moment, he looked at the throne. He knew what this would do to the Galaxy, knew it would be thrown into chaos.

He didn't care.

His life was elsewhere now.

And with that, he left, returning to Otherways.