Chapter 6

(Mandalore)

Anakin was deflecting the blaster bolts as best he could, Satine crouched behind a shattered chuck of…well, Anakin didn't know what it was, but it wouldn't hold up to the blaster fire for much longer.

The Deathwatch had come out in full force today, hoping to catch Satine and her government off guard. Already Anakin could hear the sirens going off, fires flickering in the distance as the Mandalorian warriors attacked anyone and anything they could find. They seemed to have no true strategy, no true path or goal. It was as if they had woken up that morning, realized they would never be in power, and had decided to watch the world burn.

"This doesn't make any sense!" Satine shouted. "Why are they attacking the people they claim they want to help?"

"That's the way it is with people sometimes," Anakin replied, his face stern and fierce as he deflected a bolt back at a warrior, sending him to the ground. "You can't sit them down and chat about your feelings and expect them to be all smiles about it!"

"I don't think I like your tone!" Satine snapped. "I will have you know that the path of non-aggression is one more difficult than flying half-cocked across the galaxy chopped at anything that doesn't nod it's head and agree-" Satine's rant was cut off by a shot that came inches from striking her head.

"Listen, this kind of talk might work with Obi Wan but I'm not your boyfriend. So unless you want to die maybe you could duck down and let me-"

An explosion rocked the area around Anakin, sending him flying through the air. He slammed into a building with a thud, the Force the only thing keeping him from splattering against it like a Naboo swampfly. Lifting his head, he tried to force his vision to clear as he saw several Deathwatch warriors land and march towards Satine, weapons raised.

"Goodbye, Duchess," one of them said mockingly, leveling his weapon.

The next moment the weapons were gone.

"That is no way to treat a woman," a figure said from above. Anakin watched as the man held out his hand, green energy racing from his fingers and forming into a reek. The beast slashed at the warriors, sending them flying, before shattering and turning into a protective shield to protect Satine and Anakin from more blaster fire.

"Friend of yours?" Satine asked, trying to get a good look at the mysterious figure.

"At this point I will take anything I can get," Anakin said, igniting his lightsaber and helping deflect blaster bolts.

The man swung around, holding out his hand and creating hundreds of floating orbs. His eyes flicked behind his mask before the orbs launched out in all directions. Anakin didn't even have time to ask what was going on, the orbs returned that quickly. Only now each one held a striking Deathwatch member, including Pre Visla.

"The era of Deathwatch seems to have ended rather quickly. A shame, really," the figure said dryly. "Duchess, do you have a place we can secure these men? They have been relieved of their weapons."

Satine nodded. "Yes…we do have a prison facility, assuming it is still intact."

The orbs launched out, depositing the warriors. "It will be once I am through." The orbs transformed into construction droids, working to repair the damage the prison had suffered. The green droids then set to work putting out the fires that had been created around the capital city, the sirens going quiet.

"Master, what is going on?" Ahsoka asked.

"Get over here as fast as you can, Snips," Anakin said, watching as the figure held out his hand, the green energy forming several anti-fire crafts that swept across the city, quickly putting out the fires.

"You are safe now," the man said, still hovering above them. "Do not worry though, I will keep my eye on this planet to ensure no further incidents will occur."

"That is sweet of you Obi Wan," Satine said.

The figure frowned, his voice dropping an octave. "Obi Wan…who is…"

"Master, you really aren't going to try and pretend that you aren't…you." Anakin laughed at the figure's flustered look. "That mask doesn't do much to hide your identity."

"He's right," Ahsoka said, hurrying towards them. "Though, I could tell it was you through the force."

Obi Wan sighed. "I told Tomar that this disguise wouldn't work."

"Tomar?" Satine said.

"A long story."

"We have time now," Anakin said pleasantly. "We'd love to hear about your new clothes. Very form fitting."

"Indeed," Satine teased.

Obi Wan looked at the Lantern costume in annoyance. "Not my choice."

"I'm sure, I'm sure. Come on, you can tell us all about it…" Anakin said, dragging Obi Wan back towards Satine's residence.

~MC~MC~

(The Planet Myloreth-Sector 2815)

Sinestro stared at the once vibrate space hub, feeling his insides clench. Where once has sat a busy planet covered with mile high cities and encircled by space stations there was only a dead husk, the planet devoid of all movement and life.

The reason for this stillness hung before them all: Parallax. The great being of fear, the embodiment of terror and dread, stood before the squad of lanterns, more concerned with enveloping the planet than with them. Sinestro was fine with that…let Parallax enjoy his last meal.

"Keep your rings at their lowest intensity. Run silent at all costs." Sinestro looked over at Kilowog as the other lanterns slowly moved into position. The plan was a dangerous one: the lanterns would pool their energy together to create a micro-weave mesh net, a weapon used by hunters on the planet Litric to capture the shapeshifting Musk Wolf. They would sneak onto Parallax, then ensnare him in the net; when he went to escape, the 'ropes' would uncoil into thin blades that would rip him to pieces. The more the beast thrashed the more violent the death.

It was too good for the monster.

"We end this now. For the people of Myloreth and the countless others that creature killed. We do this for Abin Sur and our brother lanterns murdered."

KIlowog nodded. "Give the word."

"One my mark. 5…4.."

~MC~MC~

(Coruscant)

Sidious looked down at the ring that rested in the palm of his hand. It had taken days of work, channeling the force into the amber, carving it away sliver by sliver. Each little slice had burned as it flaked away, making it hard to breath, but the Sith Lord had turned that discomfort into a strength, using his frustrations that the process was so messy and painstaking to strength his connection with the darkside.

Oh, but it had been worth it.

The ring resembled the one that emerald warrior had wielded, save for its yellow color and the Sith emblem Sidious had forced onto its face. It was cool to the touch but within he could feel a hidden energy just waiting to burst forth, to burn all those that dared stand in his way.

More than any lightsaber or battle station, this truly was a weapon befitting a Sith Lord of his stature. A weapon limited only by the user's ability to instill fear.

Sidious slipped the ring upon his finger, at once feeling the energy rip through him. It coursed through his veins, charging his very atoms and making his heart beat faster. His eyes glowed with a sickly yellow light as he felt the power of the ring stir, the energy crackling and begging to be unleashed.

"Power…" Sidious cackled, rising in the air. A yellow light enveloped him in its wicked grip, cocooning him in the Dark Side. "Unlimited power…"

Sidious held out his hands, watching as his force lightning erupted from the ring. It flashed blue for only a moment before the ring converted it to yellow, solidifying it into a deadly solid weapon crackling with violent energy. Sidious lashed out, the web-like structure striking a wall and causing it to explode.

"UNLIMITED POWER!" Sidious roared, drunk on power.

~MC~MC~

"What is this…" Parallax murmured, turning away from his feasting. He sensed something, something he had not felt in a long time…

A power strong enough to call to him.

It took him only a moment to realize what it was…a piece of himself, being used by enough. The entity's body trembled in rage as it thought of the being that DARED to use fear as a weapon, to pretend to be as powerful as him.

This would not stand.

Turning, Parallax rocketed from the planet, noticing only for a moment the small beings before him, a massive net cast about them. He swatted them away like flies, not even bothering to savor their souls as he burned and consumed them, their fearful cries only a mute buzzing.

He had other matters to attend too.

~MC~MC~

"Sinestro!" Kilowog shouted, just managing to pull the lantern away from one of Parallax's tentacles.

Sinestro could only float there in a daze, staring at the shattered remains of the net construct, the bones of 10 different lanterns, some of the brightest in the core, floating about him. Their entire squad had been cut down by half in a matter of seconds…and Parallax hadn't even noticed them.

"By the Guardians…what do we do now?" Sinestro whispered.