Jedi Insurgency 250

Golden sunlight spilled over Coruscant’s horizon in radiant torrents, piercing the artificial night Sidious had summoned. The first rays of dawn touched the battlefield like divine judgment. Many of the floating structures that were being swept up into the vortex now gently lowered themselves to the surface. A clean air spread throughout the land as the putrid foulness who called himself Emperor pulled himself from a smoking pit. 

Clad in all black, the ground around Palpatine was perfectly white. Wiped clean like a new slate, or sheet of printer paper, the area was perfectly circular, and radiated a solemn aura. If any lesser Darksider were to step into this circle of purity, he would doubtlessly lose his mind or pass out due to the stinging effects. 

As for Palpatine, his flesh sizzled, and tiny white spots spread across his skin, as if he had vitiligo. No matter how much he pulled upon the storm-those countless billions of lives worth of energy-to restore his youth, and heal damage, those spots refused to go away! 

Every second of life was agony for the Dark Lord. Most vexing to him, this kind of pain wasn't what a Sith used to draw upon even more power from the Darkside. No! These Lightside spots injected a kind of solemn dryness, a type of boring pedantry that only a Jedi monk who cut himself off from emotions would find pleasant! 

Feeling stifled, and under immense duress. Palpatine rose to his full height. Yellow eyes narrowing, he glared at the calm Jedi Master who appeared perfectly content to remain floating in place. 

“So sure of your victory?” Palpatine tutted. 

Snapping his hands, he sent a psychic command to his Clone Commanders. Although many of his forces had perished, many yet remained in space. Seconds later, Venators & Acclamators began to unload an extreme amount of turbolasers. Their target, however, was not Yoda, but instead the Imperial Palace! 

Grinning to himself, Palpatine hoped to pressure Yoda with the lives of his comrades. 

Yoda, however, sat still. Unmoving in the face of the potential annihilation of the Jedi, he idly looked down at his cane in hand, contemplating life. 

“Scared, you are, hm?” Yoda teased, and then extended one clawed hand. 

A pillar of pure radiance crashed down from the heavens. It struck with a velocity faster than that of a turbolaser and the might of the Force. 

Palpatine tried to dodge, but was caught in the edge of the pillar, vanishing in an explosion of white-gold fire.

The platform he had been standing upon vaporized beneath the impact. A shockwave rolled outward across Coruscant’s skyline, yet it seemed to only go upward, dispelling part of the storm above. 

Before the beam could consume him fully, Sidious exploded into black mist. The Dark Lord reformed atop a distant tower. Stretching out a pair of white-spot scarred fingers, he commanded the [Force Storm] to act. 

Thousands of crimson lightning strands converged into one singular, mighty strike. Carrying the concepts of hunger and devouring, it was unlike any ordinary Sith Lightning ever before. For good measure, black clouds funneled into this blast, intent on tearing the Jedi apart at the molecular level. 

The air around Yoda folded inward, and before the lightning even struck, the pressure alone was enough to churn the magma below, forcing eruptions all across the surface of Coruscant. 

Yoda’s ears flattened, and the old Jedi Master inhaled deeply, then pulled both of his hands down in a sharp curve. The Force willingly answered, and a translucent sphere of emerald light erupted around him.

The compressed storm hit the barrier an instant later. Lightning wrapped around Yoda’s shield in oceans of red and black energy. By now, there weren't even any skyscrapers nearby for miles around. Instead, the already broken, and ruined section of Coruscant that they found themselves in became blackened, and compressed. Those pieces of rubble, or twisted metal support beams were melted down, and turned into pure black ash. The surface of this once bustling commercial & political district was beginning to resemble Mustafar in appearance, such was the danger in that one attack. 

A crimson-black vortex opened up in front of the small alien, and began to ceaselessly churn against this barrier. Each second that it persisted, a large chunk of Yoda's defense was eaten away. At the same time, repeated lightning strikes came down as frequent as rain in a tropical storm. 

Despite this apocalyptic attack, Yoda remained unmoved. Pressing his palms together, millions of radiant spears lanced down from the sky, striking at the vortex. 

Each pillar struck at the anomaly, feeding it a seemingly unending supply of energy. Some of the pillars were no wider than a meter, others were broad enough to engulf entire city blocks. Growing in size, the crimson-black electric cloud that enveloped Yoda began to act sluggish, like a man who had vastly overestimated his capabilities after participating in an eating contest. This fearsome anomaly now became limp, like a plant oversaturated with water. 

“If so hungry you are, how about seconds?” Yoda steadily said, wisps of white light drifted up from his pores like streams of vapor stream as the millions of pillars became tens of millions. 

This closest cloud that had been enveloping Yoda's emerald barrier eventually began to flop around him, like a corpse animated by electricity. Until finally, it burst like a blister. All that pent up energy had been consumed, devoured, and then spat out as condensed Lightside power! Those tens of millions of pillars had combined with the anomaly, and then under Yoda's direction, transformed into a nation spanning [Wall of Light]. 

Dropping down like the palm of a god, the pillar directly struck the Emperor. 

Recoiling in disgust, Palpatine attempted to flood the area with an even denser cloud. Drawing the distant storm ever nearer, most of Coruscant was now bathed in sunlight due to this seeming withdrawal. However, the sky directly above his head had once more become the darkest black. Cloaked in midnight, he met the attack head on. Blocking most of it at the cost of losing half his storm, he still ended up wounded during their exchange. 

The [Wall of Light] was agony to him. Much more than physical pain, it affected his very soul with something he detested: Purity.

Every hateful thing within him screamed beneath its touch. Grinding his teeth, he let out a low Sith hymn, and began to direct the [Force Storm] like a conductor at an orchestra. 

Dark clouds, and swirling crimson lightning made of pure plasma, hatred, hunger, fear, and everything wrong in the world accelerated until the clouds became a singular black disc overhead. 

From within this vile creation, billions of ghostly faces could be heard wailing in agony. 

These apparitions formed within the cyclone were the echoes of the dead. Unable to find the peace, and release of ‘becoming one with the Force’ as every other lifeform could upon death, they now served as the ultimate source of power for a Sith. The amount of emotions harvested from this grudge were at a level few could imagine. Many souls of the fallen seemed to claw from the storm itself, reaching for Yoda with hollow eyes, and a deep sense of blame. 

Their cries resounded across the Force as a psychic scream. Any lifeform ‘fortunate’ enough to have survived up until this point within a ten mile radius now collapsed dead, blood draining from their orifices. 

The emerald barrier surrounding Yoda rippled, and that steamy white energy-like vapor rose from his skin at an ever increasing rate as he struggled to maintain his defense. Looking like an aged raisin, the Jedi Master grimly looked on. 

“Yesss. At last, you weaken. Surrender yourself, my friend, and I promise-” Palpatine said trailingly, only to strike mid conversation. 

Black tendrils erupted from the storm and suddenly pierced through the emerald shield like tree roots piercing through concrete. Although the barrier remained standing, these dark limbs were thick as tree branches, and wrapped around Yoda’s limbs.

His small body was lifted from his floating meditative pose, so that he was spread eagle. 

The Dark Lord wore a vile grin on his face as he clenched his fists. Subsequently, Yoda’s joints twisted at unnatural angles as the Force sought to tear him apart limb from limb. Those small lashes that wrapped around his arms were constantly feeding upon the tiny Jedi, devouring his energy every second. 

Despite the pain, despite the feeling of being eaten alive, Yoda did not cry out. Instead, he closed his eyes.

Directing his will at the screaming storm of pain and misery, a warm breeze swept across the ruined skyline.

Palpatine’s eyes widened as a green light spread outward from Yoda's emerald barrier in rippling waves.

[Force Valor], one of the secrets to Yoda's longevity was a technique that ordinarily enhanced a practitioners body. But in this instance, the long-lived Jedi spread this Lightside enhancement into the hate-filled storm. He could have obliterated it with [Wall of Light], but what then would become of those spirits trapped inside? 

The energy surged across the battlefield and through the city beyond. Fires dimmed. Civilians buried beneath rubble felt strength return to their bodies. Panicked minds became calm. Fear receded beneath an ocean of serenity as those few survivors regained clarity of mind. 

And the Darkside recoiled. The black tendrils restraining Yoda burst apart, and he once more floated in place, although the wounds on his shoulders remained blackened, and burnt, he did not show the slightest bit of consternation. 

The [Wall of Light] once more answered his call with catastrophic force. An enormous column descended from orbit. A skyscraper-sized beam of blinding radiance crashed directly through the center of Sidious’ storm. The heavens detonated, and the [Force Storm], weakened due to the released spirits split open.

Clouds vaporized for dozens of miles, and sunlight flooded through the rupture.

The crack in Palpatine’s confidence lasted only a heartbeat, but in a duel between masters of the Force, a heartbeat was eternity.

Sidious roared with hatred.

The shattered remnants of the [Force Storm] folded inward, cloaking him like armor. Black-crimson lightning erupted from every direction simultaneously, not merely cast from his hands, but summoned from space itself. Gravity distorted. The ashen debris of their battlefield lifted upward, and rivers of airborne debris accelerated toward Yoda like bullets fired from a railgun. 

Palpatine no longer fought with the cool calm as per usual, but now-body tormented by purity-brought his desperation to bear. 

“YOU WILL NOT TAKE THIS FROM ME!”

The Dark Lord thrust both hands skyward, and a continent’s worth of Darkside energy descended upon Coruscant in one final cataclysmic strike.

The sky became black fire, and Yoda met this all or nothing attack with a peaceful smile. As though he had finally reached the end of a very long road.

“Defense, a Jedi knows better than anyone else.” He slowly said, then rose into the air. “Wisdom, knowledge, more important than power. A Sith, you will never understand.” 

The Force then exploded outward from him in concentric golden waves. Every remaining ray of sunlight over Coruscant bent toward the ancient Jedi Master. Millions of beams converged around his tiny form until he resembled a living star suspended above the ruined skyline. The [Wall of Light] had never been meant as a weapon. It was a revelation to be studied, to help a Jedi become closer to the Lightside. 

The luminous aura around Yoda expanded until entire districts glowed gold beneath its radiance. Citizens across Coruscant looked skyward in awe as darkness retreated street by street.

The Force itself seemed to breathe.

Palpatine’s storm collided with the expanding sphere of light.

And lost.

The impact was indescribable.

Black lightning and golden radiance devoured one another like a sponge taking on water. The clouds ignited from within. The screaming souls trapped inside Sidious’ storm were released in torrents, vanishing upward like sparks returning to the cosmos.

Yoda stretched both arms outward, like someone giving another a hug. The old Jedi trembled violently, struggling to exert his will. His skin had become translucent with strain. But still he pushed.

“Luminous beings are we…” Yoda murmured.

His body, completely covered in a golden aura from head to toe detonated next to Palpatine in a point blank explosion. 

The [Force Storm] powered by billions of souls shattered. 

The black cyclone, and cloak of armor surrounding the Emperor burst apart across the atmosphere in burning fragments of shadow and fire. The heavens cleared in an instant. For the first time in hours, true sunlight touched Coruscant unobstructed.

A dawn unlike any in the planet’s history swept over the world.

Palpatine screamed in agony as he was pressed upon the planet’s surface. The destruction of the storm rebounded through him catastrophically, the [Wall of Light] singeing his every cell, piercing directly into his soul. 

The Dark Lord convulsed as golden fractures erupted across his body. White sunspots bloomed beneath his flesh like burning stars trapped under his skin. They spread along his arms, neck, and face in branching patterns, radiating pure Lightside energy directly into his corrupted body.

Sidious crashed into the ruined land down below. Where once there was dark ash, and twisted metal, now a perfectly flat, perfectly circular all white landscape spread forth for as far as the eye could see. 

For several seconds, the Emperor did not rise. He lay amidst the purified landscape twitching in agony. The white marks coating his flesh continued to burn.

Palpatine clawed at the ground, trying to stand, but his limbs betrayed him. Steam rose from his body. His own Darkside aura flickered chaotically, destabilized by the immense purification forced into him.

The old Jedi landed a short distance away. Holding onto his cane for support, he couldn't take a single step forward. 

(Yoda's theme for the scene: https://youtu.be/1MmZhsYSIaE?si=0yNFSecInyLTybYF)

For a moment, neither spoke. The wind blew gently, ruffling Yoda's cloak, his tiny form bathed in sunlight, seemed like an impossible existence to look at. Merely glancing at him burnt Palpatine’s eyes. 

“You… fool…With power such as this…You could have ruled for eternity…” Palpatine rasped. 

Yoda looked at him sadly.

“Fool, I am? Perhaps.” He slowly got out. “Regrets? Few, I have. But in the end, I did it my way.” 

The Sith Lord snarled and tried once more to rise, but like a newborn deer struggling to stand, collapsed to his knees. 

Yoda simply watched him for a long moment, then the old Jedi looked toward the horizon.

The sun was beautiful.

He could feel the Force flowing peacefully now. The storm had been pacified, and all the land that the [Wall of Light] had touched was purified. Hope was in sight. The future remained uncertain, as it always would, but life endured.

In the distance, Venators & Acclamators were still bombarding the Jedi Temple, almost reducing the area to slag. The Jedi were almost completely overwhelmed, and appearing at the edge of his vision was that phantom, Cronal. 

Yoda exhaled slowly, it appeared he would have to make one final move. Pulling upon the last remnants of the ghosts of Ruusan-those Jedi & Sith other than Hoth or Kaan-Yoda faintly smiled. 

“Release you from your oath, I do.” 

Then, his body sagged. The cost of today's battle had finally come due. Even for one such as him, there were limits. Drawing upon such power at his age had burned through what little time remained to him.

Yet there was no fear in him.

Only warmth.

Only peace.

The ancient Jedi lowered himself carefully onto a broken piece of stone overlooking the city.

For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to let go. To no longer worry about his people or the fate of the galaxy. 

“In good hands, it is.” Yoda murmured to himself. 

Palpatine stared at him in disbelief.

“No. This isn’t over. You dare escape? Are you not fearful for your friends?” Palpatine hissed as he finally stood up. 

Although the white-spots were agony to him, the Dark Lord still managed to release a baleful aura no lesser than that of Mace Windu’s. Although defeated by Yoda, anyone as strong as the Order Master wouldn't be his match. 

“Escape?” Yoda chuckled quietly.

The old Master shook his head. 

“Going home, I am.” 

The sunlight around him grew brighter, and Yoda closed his eyes.

Across the Force, something extraordinary happened. Countless beings-both Light & Dark-felt it. Even ordinary people seemed to sense this feeling. 

“Luminous beings…are we.”

Then his body became light. Golden particles drifted upward into the morning air, and Yoda was gone.

Upon his departure, every Jedi upon or near Coruscant as well as those Jedi on Illum-and their friends/allies-were teleported away. The revenge of the Sith had been stopped once more, as the Jedi were transported home. 

Yoda had brought them home. To Tython. 

Silence fell over the battlefield after Yoda’s departure. 

The Emperor immediately summoned a transport, hoping to fix this condition by swapping to a clone body. Only to receive word that the cloning facilities on the moons of Coruscant had been restored. 

Meanwhile, on another part of Coruscant, safe from the malicious intent that had been the [Force Storm], Senator Amidala looked on in stunned disbelief as a handsome, golden haired man-her husband-opened the front door. 

“Padmé, I'm home!” 

Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, perfectly restored by Revan’s accidental extremely powerful [Heal] said, rushing up to take his wife into his embrace. 

The second he reached out both of his arms to her, Padmé disappeared in a flash of light, teleported away due to Yoda's final act. 

However, to Vader, it was clear who was to blame for this, as only one man he knew possessed powers over teleportation. 

“REVAAAAAAAN!” 

~~~~~~~~~~~

AN: Chapter 250, what a good number to end one of the most significant arcs in the story. 

Sorry to everyone who wanted Vader or Palpatine dead. I just really want to do a full power Vader vs Revan fight. It wouldn't be fair to Vader if he was in the suit for that. To explain what happened, Corvus used [Heal] to break the Infinite Gear, but he also kind of pumped a lot into [Heal] to get it done, accidentally healing Vader along the way, kind of like what was done to the Plagueis clone when he was cured of the Blacklight virus. As for Palpatine, he won't be fixing himself anytime soon (if at all?). Which leads to an interesting dynamic where Perfect Anakin can force the old man to teach him everything he knows.

I also wanted to apologize for not being able to fit in more Yon/Bad Batch action, but it just didn't fit narratively, and would stall the all gas, no breaks nature of this arc.

Finally,  we're onto the Tython arc. Thanks for sticking with me up to this momentous battle. Exar Kun & Plagueis are waiting in the wings (among other threats), it's only going to get spicier from here on out.