A Path Less Taken

Chapter 50 - A New Beginning

"Isn't Mortis just a myth?" Serra asked.

"It was believed to be. But only because no one could plot its location. But it is all too real, I assure you of that. And it was there I learned a lesson. A lesson that should've stuck, but didn't. Now it has," Anakin said calmly. It was a calm that was tempered by a mix of kindness and rage.

"You think this changes anything?" Sidious questioned, making everyone look towards him.

"From where we're standing, yes. It does," Serra said, eyeing the Sith Lord with disgust.

"And if you don't believe us, all you have to do is look as this," Ahsoka said, raising a video tape. "This is the result of all your wrecking out there. You know. When you were swinging your red lightsabers out there on security video feed."

"And your claim that the Jedi attempted to overthrow the Senate will be proven all for naught when they find out you've been a Sith all along. Your eagerness blinded you to see the bigger picture. And as long as I stand, you will murder no more innocents," Anakin said, allowing a bit of anger to slip through. But that was all that slipped through.

"Are you sure you can handle that? You cannot watch me forever," Sidious said, feeling a small surge of satisfaction at seeing Anakin's eyes light up with anger. But as quickly as it came, it was gone. And nothing more than a strong feeling of conviction remained.

"Know this Sidious. I am no longer the man who allowed his emotions to be ruled by your words. Your future will know nothing of darkness. Whether in death or a cell, I am not certain. But I am certain of this. You. Are. Finished," Anakin said as he flicked his wrist. The Sith Lord was forced to put his hands downward, and it was almost like he was lying prostrate before him. Something that the Sith did not like, and Anakin knew it.

"So get used to it, my Lord," he finished sarcastically before looking to Dooku. "Do you have anything to say, Count?"

"No. Nothing," Dooku said calmly, and Anakin only nodded.

Everyone noticed the proud way Anakin stood, and the decisiveness of his words. There was impartial feeling in his attitude - his emotions on the subject not dictating his actions. Palpatine's actions let Anakin act as he did, and it was only through that impartial ruling that Sidious was allowed to live. Yoda and Obi-Wan were glad to see Anakin come so far.

"So what now?" Serra asked.

"Now we fix things," Obi-Wan answered.

The Senate building was deafening at the moment. The repairs to the building took weeks to finish, and Anakin made sure to keep Dooku and Sidious off Coruscant in the meantime. No clones could be allowed to find them and distract them from guarding the Sith. Because while Dooku had seemingly put his ideas of fighting to rest, Sidious did not. And he knew his target was Ahsoka.

It wasn't hard to see the motive behind that. Anakin had defied him. Spared him. Refused to do any of the things he had been manipulating the man to doing, and in the end, Anakin stuck to his convictions and said no to every decision. Now instead of attempting to turn him, Sidious wanted him to suffer. It should've been an idea that made him angry, but it didn't. It was all but an empty desire if he could not act on it.

The Senate was a bit more tricky. According to Sidious, the Senate was done for, and an Empire sprouted in his place. But, given how they were the only ones who knew of the Emperor's whereabouts, they all but demanded all members of the Senate show up. Since no one could find where the Jedi had hidden Palpatine, they had no choice.

Which lead to how Anakin was here. Acting as a representative for the Jedi, given Obi-Wan was the figurehead for getting messages out to the public. The clones were ordered to stand down, and Dooku was sent to a jail cell while Anakin and Obi-Wan held Sidious as a prisoner. Of course, Anakin was doing the heavy lifting.