Palpatine glanced down as Skywalker threw his father's saber from his left hand to his right, voice low, the threat absolute, his feral Jedi's warning issued in a hissing whisper; "Call it to you now and I'll rip you to pieces..."
The Emperor paused - actually hesitated beneath the assertion in that vow, issued with absolute malice through tight jaw. It froze his blue-tinged hand behind his back as his eyes went to Skywalker's left hand, out of sight as he had twisted his body side on, wondering if his Jedi could do this- if he had the ability, the knowledge, the will to summon Force-lightening. Knowing that if he did, he wouldn't hesitate- not now, when all control he'd held was lost.
Was it a bluff, or was the threat real?
Slowly, Palpatine allowed the radiant blue-white corona to dissipate unused...
.
Luke circled, committed past fear, mind crystal clear, watching every minute move Palpatine made, waiting for the subtle shift which would betray his intent.
"Do you remember the vision Master?" he said when the Sith remained still, "The wolf hunting in the dead of night, black against black. We've both seen it, in nightmares and visions... That's why you gave me the name, isn't it?"
"What of it?" Denial was pointless; they both knew the truth.
"All these years, ever since I was a child, I had that dream... the black wolf... always there- sometimes so close it was in my shadow. And every time I heard its breath; when I heard the scratch of its claws against stone as it set forward... I turned and ran." He tilted his head again, eyes barely visible as twists of hair fell forward, a cold smile curving the deep scar through his lips. "I was wrong. All this time, all these years... I always ran from the wolf."
"You could never run from the wolf- it was in you, part of you. You are the wolf."
"No, I'm not the wolf. But you're right- it is part of me. Because I doubted- I doubted my own ability, my judgement, my motives, my intent... and no matter how fast you run, those doubts always stay with you- just in your shadow. I think it's time to turn and face the wolf."
"You're wrong." Palpatine grated, instilling years of ingrained confidence and control into his words, willing the boy down. "The wolf is Darkness and destiny. You are the wolf."
"Perhaps I'm your wolf, Master. But then you always knew that, didn't you?" He held his ground, unmoved, expression wild and menacing, coldly amused. "Perhaps we both turn and face our wolves tonight."
Palpatine's eyes narrowed, knowing now that this fight could not be avoided, that the boy would not back down, adrenaline and regret entwined at the realisation that he would have to destroy that which he had invested so much in creating.
A work of art, glorious and vicious and deadly, honed to perfection... too volatile though; too assertive now, too hostile to leave alive. The next generation would be easier to control, more pliant, owned and indoctrinated from birth.
But it would never be the same. Not as this wild thing, this feral twist of lost hope and bitter pain and raw power. It would never be this.
He had never truly owned it- not as he would have wanted- to do that would have destroyed it. But what glorious destruction, a trail of fire and desire to burn all other considerations to ash. Perhaps he should have done so anyway, just to know the rapture of possession, because now it was lost to him forever.
His eyes flicked momentarily to the lightsaber at his feet and Skywalker didn't miss the action. "Pick it up- or so help me I'll cut you to pieces unarmed."
"No you won't." Palpatine said, "Because you're weak. You always were. I never did quite wring that last shred of compassion from you. You will always be a disappointment to me- just like your father."
With a feral yell part fury part grief, Luke launched forward and Palpatine dropped his own lightsaber from his sleeve, igniting the blade with the Force as it fell, swinging it up to lash out a quick strike into his Jedi's face.
It was a perfect blow flawlessly delivered and it should have taken Skywalker's head from his shoulders...
Luke dodged the unexpected blade at the last second, twisting to the side as he buckled his knees, igniting his father's saber as he dropped down onto one hand, his blade whipping out as he did so to force Palpatine back.
He turned the move into a fast, one-handed backflip and came up quickly, twisting about, hand outstretched against the heavy stone plinth which Palpatine had launched towards him from the base of the dais, his countering Force smashing it to fine debris which exploded out about them, stinging bare flesh as Luke turned full circle, sabre raised to counter the incoming blow-
.
Chapter 33
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Palpatine lunged forward with a series of short, fast, measured blows, looking for flaws, testing for weakness- the boy had recovered from major injuries less than a year ago, his arm and shoulders shattered by a massive, close-range blast and while he was well-enough healed, their skill levels were so close that even the smallest flaw should be sought out and exploited; a fraction of a second, a degree less flexion- at this level, they were the difference between life and death.
The offensive brought the brunt of his first attack to Skywalker's left side, seeking that advantage... but Skywalker held fast against the onslaught with only a single sidestep, deflecting every blow, repelling any advance, eventually taking the initiative and pushing Palpatine back three hasty paces before he disengaged and stepped beyond the boy's reach, freshly wary.
Despite furthering Skywalker's lightsaber skills in his early years here, Palpatine had always avoided duelling against the boy, even in practice; he was loathe to hand out any evidence as to his own ability when taking the opportunity to study and dictate his advocate's form. So the boy knew little of Palpatine's skill, whilst he knew his Wolf's in detail, physical and mental, always an advantage.
He knew the boy was volatile and fearless; that when he fought, it was because he was at the end of his patience and thus he could be goaded into mistakes, but after that first burst of aggression Skywalker would calm and calculate; look for weaknesses to play to in his opponent, for opportunities in the terrain, for the unexpected strike and the unorthodox tactic.
He knew the boy would be committed to the fight; that he'd push every chance, leave no option untried. He knew he was agile and dextrous in mind and body, and that the duel had always been his lasting interest. That those endless hours of practice had ensured his technique had few flaws and many strengths to play on.
But there were other weaknesses to exploit; as he had with his father, Skywalker was clearly looking for a fair fight; he didn't want - or more importantly he didn't feel the need - to use the Force in any other way than to augment his skill with the lightsaber. He was fast in mind and body and Palpatine was well aware that in an ethical fight he would struggle to bring the boy down.
But then in all his dealings with the boy, the Sith had never once held to a fair fight- it wasn't in his nature. The question was, had he taught that lesson by example too? It hardly shook his confidence, but it certainly concentrated his mind- and his resolve; the boy was deceitful; disloyal. Such betrayals deserved only one response.
Palpatine came quickly forward, batting Luke's blade up and to the side and at the same time he threw out a Force-blow which landed to Skywalker's midsection knocking the air from his lungs with enough force to send him staggering back a step, winded. Seeing the opportunity, Palpatine stepped quickly inside the boy's defences...
And saw just how fast his opponent really was-
Rather than try to bring his own blade up to hook the incoming blade away Skywalker arched backwards. He'd already released his blade into his right hand as Palpatine had swept it aside so that now as he arched back, he dropped onto his left hand, springing away from Palpatine in a tight backflip, his blade arcing round behind him to hold his opponent at bay, a solid wall of light so fast was the motion.