POV Rio
I looked over reports on what was left on Bastion. We had to make sure the planet was cleaned up before we delivered it to the Commonwealth. Just yesterday, HK-47 had killed the last two remaining members of Palpatine's Empire on Bastion. One was a defective clone of C'baoth. The other was a Gen'Dai warrior that was fighting for Palpatine for some reason. I had to get creative and use the remaining chemical and biological weapons to make a truly vicious concoction. It had melted the wall and everything it came into contact with.
'It was fortunate that the stuff doesn't last long; otherwise, that could have been an annoyance.'
All that was left on Bastion was Palpatine himself. And with only him, it would be easy to finish the job. The report said that we could begin our landings in 4 days. But I could do so now as I was immune to the effects. Droids and Force Wielders could also do so with minimal issues. I ordered a shuttle to take me down to the planet so I could deal with Palpatine sooner rather than later. I had been acting as Valkorion for some time, so I needed to play the part one last time.
'It has been great for training my acting skills. Now let's get into character.'
I schooled my face into a constantly unimpressed and cold look. Like I was better than everything else. Then I put on the outfit, and Anakin accompanied me. It was his final task before he would be redeemed. He had accomplished around two dozen tasks, and not one did he fail.
'If anything, this is more for his closure than anything else.'
I feel the shuttle land. I walk out with Anakin just behind me. We head straight to the throne room. Once we arrive, I see Palpatine in rough shape. He was slouched in his chair, with massive bags under his eyes. I could sense the exhaustion and madness in him. When he saw us, he froze for a moment, and then I felt his mind become clearer. I sense surprise, fear, anger, and a whole lot of hatred.
Rio: "The Circle closes, the end begins."
Palpatine: "You dare come here? And you bring the traitor."
Rio: "I gave him a second life, anointed him my Wrath. One, I forged into a vessel of supreme power."
Palpatine: "You will both feel my wrath, and once I have killed you, I will reclaim the galaxy as is my destiny!"
Rio: "You know deep inside that you cannot succeed. But you do not have to stand against me. You can kneel."
Palpatine: "Fool. Thy feeble skills are nothing when compared to all the power of the Dark Side."
Rio: "You have mastered the Dark Side of the Force. It is not enough. It never was."
Palpatine: "You are a fool if you think that the Dark Side is so weak."
Rio: "Kneel bfore the Dragon of Zakuul!"
Palpatine: "I will never kneel before you!"
Rio: "Your striving is insignificant. Let your death be the same."
I motioned for Anakin to step forward. He does so and ignites his Lightsaber. Palpatine ignites his, and they begin the duel. I simply watch as Palpatine struggles to defeat an Anakin that isn't crippled with his suit. Combined with his exhaustion, it was clear that he wouldn't last very long. I was waiting for Palpatine to use the technique that was taught to him by Dramath.
'Or at least, who he thinks is Dramath.'
The Holocron that Palpatine was using was a fake with a simple AI in it. It was given all the info the original Dramath would know and then some to ensure that Palpatine fell for it. The technique was what Palpatine had been prepping for the past several weeks. However, once he releases it, he will find that it doesn't do what he thinks it does.
'I really must thank Darth Tenebrous for his studies. The final revenge wouldn't have been possible otherwise.'
The technique Palpatine was using was a modified ritual that converted Midi-chlorians into Maxi-chlorians. I had already convened with the Force and confirmed that this would cause Palpatine to be stuck in an infinite loop of experiencing his death while never being able to escape until eventually his soul was destroyed. Which meant no next life, resurrection, or Sith bullcrap. He was doomed. After a while, Palpatine makes a mistake and is disarmed. He falls over and tries to attack Anakin with Sith Lightning, but Anakin easily blocks it. Palpatine stops once he can no longer muster up the strength.
Palpatine: "Hah hah, this is not the end. I will not be defeated here. I will outlast you all!"
A surge of energy is released, and Palpatine smiles, but his face becomes horrified when he starts feeling the effects. He rapidly ages and becomes shriveled. His skin darkens and dries up into a husk. Then his body breaks down into dust, and he dies. Anakin just stares at the pile of dust that Palpatine became, and I walk up to him. I place my hand on his shoulder.
Rio: "He is gone. He won't be coming back. Ever. Instead, his soul and mind will be trapped in an infinite loop of his death. You have done what was said in the prophecy. And I hereby absolve you of your sins."
Anakin: "Thanks. It's just. Sigh. I still can't believe that he is gone. Even now, I question if all of this was needed. If I had just seen the warning signs earlier."
Rio: "That's the unfortunate part of this. You never would have. The Jedi indoctrinated you from a young age, and then you were forced into a life of training and solitude. You had no one you could trust because you thought that being a Jedi was what you had to do. But you never stopped and asked if that was what you wanted to do. He was a Sith Lord and a Noble. He knew how to manipulate others and keep secrets. And he groomed you from a young age. In such a scenario, you were doomed. There was no way you would have learned the truth. If anyone is to blame, it is Obi-Wan and the Council for not believing Dooku when he told them the truth."
Anakin: "But why was the Chosen One Prophecy made in the first place? You did more than I ever did."
Rio: "That is the issue with Prophecies. They can be misleading. I have already told you how you did technically bring balance to the Force. But there is more to it. The Force is not omnipotent nor omniscient. It made you because it was annoyed by Darth Plagueis. But even before that, it was annoyed and frustrated that nothing it did worked. It tries to make a balance, but every time, it backfires. Then they overcorrect. Then one side wins again, and the Force has to try and correct it again. Rinse and repeat for thousands of years. The Force is sentient, but it isn't that smart."
Anakin: "What?"
Rio: "Think of it like an animal. A sentient one, but still an animal. It acts with its lower intelligence, trying to find a solution. But each attempt fails, so it started learned helplessness. Nothing it does works, and can even cause it to be damaged, so it gave up. Until Darth Plagueis decided to poke the Force, and the Force snapped back. All it wants is balance, but it can't seem to get it right. But I have spoken with it and have even assisted it in improving its intelligence. It agreed to stop making Force Sensitives other than once a generation. Or unless they are needed for a greater threat. It should stop this ridiculous cycle of war and hatred."
Anakin: "But will that really stop war from happening again?"
Rio: "Oh, heavens no! But it will reduce it drastically. The galaxy as it stands has enough resources to go around, and moreover, trying to rule the galaxy is strictly not feasible. At least in the ways this universe is set up. Democracies cannot rule such a large territory, as there would be insufficient representation and upset everyone. Or too much representation, and nothing will get done. And a non-democracy faction can never see widespread appeal due to the thousands of years of democracy that the galaxy has experienced."
Anakin: "Sure, they have a democratic history, but surely they wouldn't be that upset if it meant things got done."
Rio: "Hah! As if. Do you think that the rebels were made because the Empire was tyrannical? No. Most were just unwilling to let democracy die. They liked their corrupt and inefficient mess because it didn't get anything done. Some were idealists who thought Democracy was the best form of government, which it can be. Depending on the size of the nation, but the Galactic Republic was simply way too big. Others joined because the Empire did them wrong at some point. Not that the Empire is good. It isn't and wasn't, but it was a working system for such a large territory. They at least protected the planets in the Empire. The Republic isn't and wasn't able to do that."
Anakin: "Is that why you created the Commonwealth?"
Rio: "Yep, it is a halfway point between the Republic and the Empire. It has representation, but it has a high council that can make decisions quickly. It has a clear constitution. But with a review process that allows it to be rewritten every half century, so it can remain updated to the current culture of its time. It is also made to be a defensive nation, not offensive one. And it is just the right size where it is as big as it needs to ever get, while still being able to expand outwards without causing issues. It was the best that could be made, given the restrictions I have."
Anakin: "I guess that makes sense."
Rio: "Now, let's get going. With Palpatine dead, there are only a few things left to do before we can leave."
Anakin: "Will I get to come with?"
Rio: "Of course. You have redeemed yourself, and Padme would be very angry if I said no. She can be quite the annoyance when she wants to be."
Anakin: "Haha, yeah, she can."
Padme: "Oh, annoying, am I?"
Anakin goes pale and looks behind him to see Padme with an upset face. I slip away while they are distracted. The only things left to do were to finalize the work on Mandalore and the relocation of the Twil'leks that didn't join. On Mandalore, I had been helping them terraform the planet from its radiated wasteland into a lush planet. I also returned the Mask of Mandalore to them, which made me an official hero of Mandalore. I also ended the issues between the warrior and peaceful groups. They forged me an armor, and I needed to pick it up.
'Though I doubt I will ever need it, but at least they taught me Beskar forging techniques.'
The Twi'leks that didn't join were moved to a planet that wasn't so inhospitable. No one should have to live on a planet where category 6 fire hurricanes are an accepted weather phenomenon. I had set up a fully functioning civilization on that planet, and even Cham Syndulla couldn't argue that Ryloth was their homeworld, as I showed that they were placed there by the Rakata. The last thing I needed to do was capture a Yuuzhan Vong ship so I could send one to the Commonwealth, and we would keep the other.
'Their ability to negate shields is fascinating, and I can't wait to see how it works.'
Once the ships were delivered, I made sure that everything else was done, and then I left the trial.
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Authors Note:
Well, the trial is finally over. I will admit that this was much longer than anticipated, and I even had to cut many things out for time's sake. Until next time Ciao.