Darth Vader: Hero of Naboo

Chapter 17

The manipulative human paused at that, realizing he was missing something. So absorbed in his battle with Plagueis, he failed to notice just what Vader was doing, where he was going.

Where he was.

"They let him into the Jedi Temple?" Sidious realized, his rage temporarily on the backburner as he savored the delicious taste of knowing that, due to whatever Vader had said or done, a Dark Sider had be begrudgingly welcomed into the Jedi Temple.

"The Sith of old have battled their way inside, and a few of our order have been invited there under our public personas, but it's truly rare for a Sith to be brought into the temple without restraints," Plagueis agreed, he and Sidious eyeing each other, both waiting to see who would attack first.

Plagueis felt Sidious's hatred grow and swell anew, yet it had no outwards target. Nor did the younger Sith show any of his disdain or rage, looking at the Muun with something approaching regret. "You never were intending to replace me," Sidious stated, not asked. His infliction might even be mistaken for sadness, if the room and its contents weren't vibrating with his wrath.

Yet, Plagueis just nodded solemnly. "It is too late to turn off that lightsaber, Sidious," he forewarned, twirling the unignited lightsabers behind his back idly.

"Oh, I am aware, Plagueis, I am aware," Sidious acknowledged, rolling his shoulders as his own sabers flew into his palms. Yet, he did not raise them or even move, merely regarding the Muun with idle interest. "I'm curious. If I win, I just go along with the plans we already made. If you emerge alive at sunrise, how well do you believe you can salvage things?"

"Depends on how the Naboo-situation plays out with reactions to your death, which may require me to wait until the next election to take the chancellorship, lest I appear too...opportunistic, shall we say? Regardless, the heinous murder of the kind, modest Senator of Naboo will surely be blamed on the Trade Federation," Plagueis laid out without even needing time to consider his answer.

"Giving you all the headway you need to push the galaxy towards a great and terrible civil war," Sidious added in with approval before scowling. "Considering the humancentrism of many worlds, you might have better luck just full-scale backing the defecting faction to inevitably win."

"I'm deeply considering it, Sidious. Now, if you're done stalling, I believe you've grabbed as much as you need," Plagueis asked condescendingly.

Sidious paused for half an instant, before snarling as he unleashed hell.

Igniting his lightsabers, Plagueis was neither surprised nor alarmed by the overwhelming amount of objects hurdling towards him at high speed. Scraps, tools, even chunks ripped off the wall or ship. Indeed, he weaved about the assault as if he were intangible, a mere ghost, closing the gap between him and Sidious rapidly. What he could not dodge, he knocked aside with a skillful and precise swing of his blade.

Just as the distance between them closed to striking distance, Sidious's snarling rage turned to twisted delight.

The Muun felt it coming before he saw it, striking to deflect it before he could be hit. His surprise, his alarm was genuine when he saw the slab of burnt metal make impact and cut through his lightsabers. Barely saving his arm or oxygen mask, he managed to spin out of the way at the last instant. Jumping back, he expected Sidious to already be upon him, but was caught off guard by said Naboo-born Sith remaining unmoved from his position. Plagueis tensed as he turned around, seeing the slab coming towards him once more. He reached out to counter the Force thrown object's momentum with his own Force powers, but was briefly dumbfounded by the Force not affecting it in the slightest.