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They are right in the middle of a training duel when the alarm goes off.
Though, to be fair, there isn't much of a duel. A more accurate description would be: Vader keeps disarming, pinning or force-shoving Asajj and she refuses to stay down. It was honestly starting to get on his nerves.
He just get her down on the mats again by twisting a foot around her ankle while grabbing her lightsaber with the force while she is distracted. All too easy. She is getting frustrated and that is only making it more easy for him.
For a moment both stop when they hear the ringing bells.
Both have heard this sort of alarm before, the sort that warns of an enemy attack. But up until this moment, they had only heard it in the field. Fighting rebels during insurrections or assassins that held personal vendettas.
Never before had they heard this on Coruscant.
This was the crowning jewel of the Empire. While many might have liked to attack here, it was the most well fortified place in the galaxy.
For an alarm to be sounded in the Imperial Palace -
Darth Vader and Asajj Ventress share a look. He tosses her her lightsaber before grabbing his helmet and leaving the room with a swish of his cape.
The first guard who is unlucky enough to cross his path reveals that multiple attackers have made it into the throne room. They do not know what went on inside, as the doors have been locked. They do not know how many attackers there are - through their increasingly limited air supply they only manage to force out one word: "Jedi."
Vader scoffs, though of course the guard cannot see this trough the helmet.
They only see a cold lifeless mask staring down on them as their windpipe is crushed. It is the last thing they see.
Darth Vader has never been a particularly studious apprentice. He only vaguely knows of the Jedi. He does remember asking about them, only to be reminded by his master that Jedi haven't been around in centuries.
Since the great war a millennium again, where the Sith were - of course - victorious. The Jedi were completely wiped out, their culture and artifacts ground into dust. The few relict's that remain and are under the Empires control are so few that they make up less than one shelf in the archives.
However it is not unusual for some force-sensitives who have even a modicum of training to call themselves Jedi - only to be absolutely destroyed. They may not be a threat, but the Empire cannot allow anyone to claim to work against them and remain living.
The doors to the throne room are imposing. Vader can hear the sounds of a fight coming from inside. Multiple voices, shouting. The air tastes like lightning.
But upon trying to get inside he realises that some sort of force field is holding the door shut. Upon exerting more force he abruptly realises that it is not some technological intervention but a person.
Someone very strong in the force is holding the door shut.
Vader grimaces. He will not be made a fool of. Focusing on his anger, his hatred, his bloodlust, he pushes until he can taste blood in his mouth.
Still the door refuses to budge.
Whoever is working against him is either a very strong force-user, rivalling even Anakin, who is the child of the force itself or - more likely, they got very good at one particular trick.
He ignites his lightsaber and begins to slash wildly at the door.
He does not realise that the hum of his lightsaber is the only sound still remaining until he stands inside the liquefied remains of the door taking in the carnage.
What remains of the throne room is charred, the marble floor has multiple chunks missing and the Imperial Throne is split in half by a clean cut. Most likely by a lightsaber.
In the middle of the room lies a dark hooded figure, unmoving and so mangled that Vader cannot imagine that he still lives. And short probing of the force reveals: the Emperor, Darth Sidious, is dead.
The shock of it nearly brings Vader down to his knees.
It takes him an embarrassing amount of time to realise he is not the only living person remaining in the room.
On the other side, close to the hidden exit that leads directly to Sidious private rooms stands a young man. He must be about Anakins age. His shining red hair reaches his shoulders, except a lonely braid which reaches his mid-back. He wears dark robes and holds a blue lightsaber. He is also the most beautiful person Anakin has ever seen.
The youth looks over his shoulder and Vader understands suddenly that he intends to fight Vader off alone, probably to give his accomplices a chance to flee.
"You are foolish, if you think you can win against a Sith", Vader taunts.
The boy smiles brightly at him and raises his lightsaber in a defensive position. "Well, Sith Lords are my speciality, darling. So give me everything you have."
His tone is teasing, but his voice is soft.
The circle each other until Vader gets impatient and lunges. The youth parries masterfully and defends himself without ceding ground.
Their force signatures clash. It feels strangely vitalising, Vader feels good - empowered. By the way the other seems to hesitate for only a moment, he feels the same.
He steps back with a frown on his face, his lightsaber still ignited.
"I do not know what you are doing, but if you are trying to persuade me to join the dark side, I should inform you that more powerful men have tried and failed to do so."
"Who?" Vader forces out before it occurs to him that this should not be his focus right now.
He lunges forward again, attempting to surprise his opponent. But their force signatures are still intermingling and the other can anticipate his attack without issue and side-step him.
"Vader!"
The voices forces Vader to turn his attention away from his opponent only for a moment to face Tyranus. But that moment is enough for the Jedi to disappear.
But he might as well. Vader will find him again later. He will.
For the moment they have to decide who will step into the newly vacated spot of Emperor. Darth Vader raises his lightsaber. Hatred in his gaze once again.