Saga ROTJ Rewrite

For conversations sake, we can assume that the first two episodes of the original trilogy happened close to the way they actually did, with some crucial changes.

Flashbacks:
0 BBY

Grand Moff Tarkin sat in his private office on the recently completed Death Star. Before him, a holographic image showed a cloaked figure addressing an unseen crowd. Tarkin stroked his chin as he listened to his emperor address the assembled senate on Coruscant, the imperial capital.

"For many years now," said the hooded image of Emperor Palpatine, "the senate has served me well, and I am beyond grateful for your service during these dark times."

Far from the Death Star, in the round Senate Arena, Palpatine stood on a large, central oid, the very same one he had stood on for the last thirty years. First, he had been the chancellor of the Old Republic, heading the galaxy during the terrible Clone Wars. Then, after the war, he had declared himself emperor, and branded all Jedi as traitors to the galaxy.
The titles were no different to Palpatine, either way, he had been in control of the galaxy. But now, as emperor, there were no Jedi, no petty political restraints, no constitutions, to stand in his way of the power that he deserved.
Beside Palpatine on the pod were the Speaker of the House, the Blue Chargin Mas Amedda, and his personal aide, the bald female Sly Moore. All the senators listened to his latest address, the majority with the utmost loyalty, but some, Palpatine knew, held his rule in contempt. Those senators had been kept around this long out of need, but now, times had changed, and soon, they'd all be dealt with.

"The existence of the wicked Jedi order has continued to haunt us these past twenty years," the emperor continued his speech, "but now, thanks to our formidable military, we have at last defeated the remaining traitors and brought justice to the old republic. He shook his fist vigorously as he spoke, smiling with his ugly, deformed face as the mobs surrounding him cheered the same familiar cheers that he had heard these long years.

"Therefore," Palpatine said, "the senate can now be disbanded, and we can continue to prosper no longer as separate systems, but as one single unit!" The majority of senators continued to cheer loudly. Palpatine cackled to himself. At last, the galaxy and everything in it was truly his.


Several minutes later, Tarkin's personal comlink beeped. The commander of the Death Star pressed it.

"My lord," he said with great reverence as the smaller hologram of Palpatine appeared. Among a select few, including Tarkin, Palpatine was able to discard his public persona and live in his true identity, that of the powerful Sith Lord Darth Sidious.

"Governor Tarkin," spoke the raspy voice of the aging monarch, "has Vader managed to recover the stolen plans?"

"I don't believe so, lord Sidious," Tarkin replied, "he has yet to find the rebel base as well." It gave him pleasure to be able to point this out to the emperor, to show who truly was the empire's greatest enforcer.

"No matter," Sidious declared, "The power of our great superweapon will be able to withstand any rebel attack."

"Yes, My lord," replied Tarkin. He still found it amazing how thoroughly the emperor thought everything out, how his plans never failed.

"Without the senate," Sidious said, "nothing left remains of the weakee order. We have done what we had to do, for the benefit of the galaxy."
And as usual, Tarkin believed him.


And now...
4 ABY

The Imperial fleet hovered over the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk. The mighty Star Destroyer Executor circled around the forested world's atmosphere, while an armada of smaller Destroyers followed. Emerging from the hangar of the Executor was a class A Imperial shuttle, descending to the surface of Kashyyyk. Soon, a group of Tie Fighters accompanied it as the shuttle prepared to land.

On the surface of Kashyyyk, an entire legion of storm troopers and officers assembled around the shield generator that protected the city world Coruscant, many light years away. They all stood attention as the shuttle approached the sandy surface of Kashyyyk. From the generator's entrance came a single man of average height, wearing the uniform of a senior imperial officer. Moff Jerjerrod watched nervously as Lord Vader's personal ship made contact with the ground, and stopped in front of the shuttle. Jerjerrod bowed, awaiting the Sith Lord's exit.

Slowly, the ship's hatch opened, and the sound of ominous breathing could be heard by all imperials presence. Not a single one, despite the helmets and stony expressions, was free of terror at the presence that was coming out of the shuttle.
The black-armored Darth Vader walked out of the hatch, motioning for Jerjerrod to rise. The Moff followed Vader down the line of Imperials, who did not break stride.

"This is an unexpected pleasure, my lord," Jerjerrod said carefully. Deep down, he knew that Vader never would visit the generator unless something was wrong. When lord Vader was dissatisfied with something, people would pay.
"I trust that your men are prepared for the oncoming rebel invasion," Vader replied in his deep voice, through his mask.
"I promise, my lord," Jerjerrod replied timidly, "that nothing can penetrate our defenses."
"The emperor is not so sure," warned Vader, stopping to turn and face Jerjerrod, "he fears that Luke Skywalker may once again outwit our forces."
Jerjerrod understood the hidden threat. If Skywalker were to assist with the rebel attack, then he was to personally hand the boy over to Vader. If not, then he would suffer greatly.
"With all due respect, Lord Vader," Jerjerrod said, hesitating before he spoke, "how do we know that the boy will come here?"
"Leave that to me," Vader replied with awesome confidence, "the powers of the force are not to be underestimated." With that, he left the Moff standing outside the generator and entered, heading towards his private chamber.

Kashyyyk had been long intertwined with galactic history. It had served as the location of one of the Clone Wars' last great battles, led by Master Yoda against the Separatist droid army. The Wookiees had won the battle, but the Imperial military had soon put down their resistance. The remaining Wookiees remainded in hiding on Kashyyyk, waiting to be exterminated.
Vader entered his meditation sphere and sat down. He closed his eyes behind his helmet and cleared his mind. Of course, Vader was never able to do this for very long. The same two faces always came back to gin. One face, he had not seen in many years, but in his weaker moments, would give anything to touch again. Memories and feelings of Padme had grown dim over the years, but Darth Vader had long known that he would never fully be able to drive her from his mind. He knew his feelings of love, however deeply buried, would be his undoing if he did not master them, something he had not managed in forty years of using the Force to his will.

The other face, he saw every day, and could not stand to see again. It was a face that had lied to him since Vader was a small boy of one, and that Vader had believed even after he had been tricked into thinking that he could be happy. If only he hadn't listened to Palpatine, if only he had stayed...
Vader could not allow those thoughts. Aside from him being sure his master could sense them, Vader knew that any resemblance to sentiment would weaken him, especially now that he has a son.
Luke...his son. The son that he had recently discovered, the son that he would rule the galaxy with once they had killed Palpatine. Their rule would not be based on fear, but on love, the same love that had driven him to try and save Padme.
Vader reached out with the Force, calling to his son. Luke' was very far away, on the planet that he and his father had both been raised on, the desert world of Tattooine. Vader had felt a personal bond through the force with Luke ever since he had revealed the truth to the farm boy, that he was his father. Luke hade refused to join him and risked his life to escape. Vader would not give up. He had sensed the dark potential in his son and knew that together, they could restore the galaxy to its days of glory.

Luke...Vader continued reaching out to his son.

Father...Luke thought as he activated his recently built lightsaber, in front of the exile home of Obi Wan. Luke's new saber shine bright green. Luke tried to shut the voice out of his head, but as usual, was unsuccessful.

Luke...you cannot escape your destiny...Vader said via the Force.

Father...Luke thought as he swung his lightsaber through the air, why?

That why meant a lot to Luke. Why did his father, the great Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, turn to the dark side. Why did Obi Wan lie about it. Why was life so hard for Luke. Sometimes, Luke missed his old life, on his uncle's moisture farm, on this very world. But no, he knew that he truly belonged with the rebellion, and the Jedi order

"Luke," General Leia Organa interrupted as she stepped outside the hut, accompanied by the Wookiee Chewbacca. "We're ready to go."

"I hope this works," Luke said anxiously, looking in the direction of Jabba's palace.
"It will," Leia promised, stoking his arm as he deactivated the blade. Luke stared back at her. He had loved her for years, since he had laid eyes on her hologram. He sensed that Leia returned his feeling of affection, but at the same time, he sensed that her heart rested elsewhere... it was all so complicated, especially right now.

"Good luck, you two," Luke said as Chewie barked in affection. They al knew what depended on this mission, that they weren't abandoning the war for nothing. Their friend Han was in that palace, and they would not leave until he was free.
"See you soon," Leia said, leading Chewie down the path that Lando, and the droids had taken to Jabba's palace. Luke stared after them until they disappeared.
Then he returned to his lightsaber practice, and the voice that haunted him.

 

0 BBY

"Looks like I'm going nowhere," a teenage Luke sighed as he stood up from the dinner table. He slowly walked outside the kitchen into the circular clearing in the midst of the Lars homestead. His Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen watched him go in silence.
Finally, Beru said seriously, "Owen, Luke can't stay here forever. Sooner or later, he'll have to know the truth."

"There's a lot of risk, exposing him to that world," Owen replied grimly, "Remember what Kenobi told us about his father?" A shadow passed over the room as both Owen and Beru recalled Anakin Skywalker's visit to their home over twenty years before, when they had been engaged and Owen's fathe Cleigg had been in charge of the moisture farm. Cleigg's wife and Anakin's mother Shmi had been kidnapped by Tusken Raiders, and Anakin had gone after them with a vengeance. Owen knew that Anakin secretly had blamed him and his father for Shmi's disappearance. The look in Anakin's eyes when he came back with her body was the same look that Owen often gave Obi Wan Kenobi when he saw him, a look of resentment and blame.

"I know the dangers of being a Jedi as well as you do," replied Beru as the sound of Anakin cutting his lightsaber through Tusken children played in both their minds, "but Luke can't hide for the rest of his life. One day, he'll have to become a Jedi."

"Just like Anakin," Owen replied, "what if he turns out like his father?"

"We'll have to believe in him," Beru said, torn between her protectiveness and empathy for Luke's situation, "well have to trust master Kenobi with him. Anakin was responsible for his own fall. We raised Luke better than that."

"I hope so," Owen replied, "but until we know he is ready, we'll have to hide him here."


4 ABY

Threepio stood beside his new master, Jabba the Hurr, trapped in a restraining bolt. What, the golden droid wondered, had he done to make Luke condemn him to a terrible fate. The giant sluglike hutt licked his lips as he digested a frog. On Jabba's other side was General Leia Organa, chained to the throne. After freeing Captian Solo from carbonite, Leia's disguise had been discovered and Jabba had turned her into a slave, locking Han and the Wookiee Chewbacca together. Really, that Hutt has no manners.
Leia was asleep at the moment, but Threepio could not. He watched as Jabba's second in command, the Twilek Bib Fortuna, emerged from the shadows, followed by a cloaked figure. Threepio could vaguely picture a tattooed Zabrak from Dathomir, but he wasn't sure why. It didn't matter, because the figure three back his hood to reveal none other than Master Luke.
"Master Luke!" the protocol droid cried, unable to control himself, "I knew you'd come for me!" Jabba roared in rage as Leia awoke.
"Luke!" she exclaimed.
"Where are Han and the others?" Luke asked.
"Han and Chewie are in the dungeon," Leia replied, "I don't know where Lando is."

"I told you not to admit him!" Jabba said in Huttese to Fortuna. Bounty hunters and palace guards were now emerging from the shadows of darkness, alerted by the commotion. With a wave of the hand, Leia and Threepio' chains were broken. Artoo wheeled over to his master. With a wave of his hand, Luke broke Leia and Threepio' restraints.

"Let our friends go," the young Jedi commanded, looking Jabba in the eye. Suddenly, three Gammorean guards grabbed Leia and pulled her down. Leia grunted as she struggled in the arms of the strong piglike aliens.
"Stop or she dies," the Hutt threatened and the trio of Gammoreans raised their primitive clubs.
Luke's lightsaber was hidden in Artoo, but he didn't see how, even with the Force, he could retrieve it in time. As he tried to think of a plan, the Mandolorian armor clad Boba Fett came in, leading both Han and Chewbacca at gunpoint.
"Luke," Han said as Chewie roared in desperation. Fett hit him over the head with his blaster. "Quiet, scum!" he muttered.

"Now that everyone's here," Jabba bellowed, "let's have some fun."

"It's over, Jabba!" shored the voice of Lando Calrissian. Still in his guard disguise, he charged into the throne room, followed by a squadron of rebel troops. They aimed their blasters at the guards and bounty hunters present. Seizing the chance, Luke snapped his fingers. Artoo sent Luke's weapon flying from his dome head into Luke's hand.
"Now!" Lando yelled. The rebels opened fire, first shooting down the guards restraining Leia, who grabbed the blaster of a fallen palace guard. Cherie swung his arms, hitting the hunter Bossk in the neck. As Bossk went down, Chewie seized his weapon. Fett fired at Luke as the Jedi ignited his green blade. Now, Luke knew, his skills would be put to the test.

 

Flashback: 0 BBY

As Obi Wan used the Force to creep along the Death Star corridor, avoiding the roaming storm troopers, droids, and officers, he reflected on his life. As a preteen, he had been apprenticed to the veteran Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn, and they had eventually developed a close bond after initial tension. Years later, the same would happen between Obi Wan and his own Padawan, Anakin, whom Qui Gon urged Obi Wan to train with his last breath. On that same day, Obi Wan had given in to his emotions for the first of two times in his life and lashed out in rage at Darth Maul, the Sith that had fatally wounded his beloved Master.

But the loss of Qui Gon had been somewhat healed by Obi Wan's bond with Anakin, and he greatly respected his young apprentice. Obi Wan's angry attack at Maul was not the last time he gave in to his emotions. During his duel with his former Padawan turned Sith Lord, Obi Wan had badly defeated Anakin, but had not been able to seal the final blow. It was because of that emotional decision that he was wheee he was that day, and the reason that so many atrocities had been committed over the past twenty years.

Obi Wan knew that more victims would fall to Vader's blade after today, for he knew that he would not leave he forthcoming duel alive. Not that he couldn't win, Obi Wan had been capable of defeating Vader at the height of his power, and certainly could defeat him in a limiting suit. No, Obi Wan was determined to teach Luke the one lesson he had failed to teach Anakin, and the reason that Anakin had failed as a Jedi. The lesson that life continues after death.

As Obi Wan turned the corner, he saw the distant tall figure waiting, crimson blade ignited. As Obi Wan approached and unclipped his own saber, he listened to the Sith Lord's labored breathing. Obi Wan took in the appearance of his one time bestfriend. But that was another man, a man who had been killed by the dark side of the Force.
Obi Wan activated his weapon, clearing his mind of all thoughts.
It was Vader that broke the silence.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi Wan," he said in his deep voice. Both of them knew hat Vader wasn't just talking about today on the Death Star.
"Vader," Obi Wan said as though they met from time to time, "its been a while since we last met."

He's still as witty as ever, Vader noted. He, like his former master and brother, hadong anticipated this inevitable confrontation, but unlike Kenobi, he had no idea how it would end. Obi Wan had aged beyond his years, but Vader sensed the same energy in him that he had shown in their last encounter, during their fateful duel on Mustafar.
As Vader recalled that day, fresh hate surged through him.
Raising his blade, he said, "when we last met, I was but a Jedi knight. Now I am a more powerful master than you ever were."

"I see your mind is just as clouded as ever," replied the elder man as he lunged at Vader, blade striking at him. Vader blocked it, leaping away. Obi Wan pursued him down the corridor as stormtroppers took notice. Without orders, the former republic soldiers began firing at Obi Wan as they approache t he hangar. With a flick of the wrist, the whole group was dead by their own shots. Vader leapt crazily at Obi Wan, who dropped to the ground to avoid his strike. As the two continued to duel, Obi Wan sensed Luke and Leia approaching via the force.
The time had come.

Remember what you leaned, the spirit of Qui Gon Jinn spoke into his mind, remember what I taught you, and you will be invincible.

Obi Wan struck at Vader as his master's voice gave him reassurance. Qui Gon had been the first Jedi to retain consciousness after death, and he had passed down that skill to Obi Wan. Suddenly, the entry of the hangar was surrounded by more troopers.

You're ready, Qui Gon said. Suddenly, Obi Wan could actually see his physical being behind Vader, but he knew no one else would.

"Now, my old friend," the older Jedi master's ghost said, "unlock your true potential." As Obi Wan once again locked blades with Vader, he truly felt one with the force, more than ever."
As he sensed Luke approach, Obi Wan felt himself no longer on the Death Star. He was a young boy, in another sparring lesson at the Jedi Temple. He closed his eyes as Vader's blade approached, knowing that he had done what he was born to do.

 

Flashback: 0 BBY

As Obi Wan used the Force to creep along the Death Star corridor, avoiding the roaming storm troopers, droids, and officers, he reflected on his life. As a preteen, he had been apprenticed to the veteran Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn, and they had eventually developed a close bond after initial tension. Years later, the same would happen between Obi Wan and his own Padawan, Anakin, whom Qui Gon urged Obi Wan to train with his last breath. On that same day, Obi Wan had given in to his emotions for the first of two times in his life and lashed out in rage at Darth Maul, the Sith that had fatally wounded his beloved Master.

But the loss of Qui Gon had been somewhat healed by Obi Wan's bond with Anakin, and he greatly respected his young apprentice. Obi Wan's angry attack at Maul was not the last time he gave in to his emotions. During his duel with his former Padawan turned Sith Lord, Obi Wan had badly defeated Anakin, but had not been able to seal the final blow. It was because of that emotional decision that he was wheee he was that day, and the reason that so many atrocities had been committed over the past twenty years.

Obi Wan knew that more victims would fall to Vader's blade after today, for he knew that he would not leave he forthcoming duel alive. Not that he couldn't win, Obi Wan had been capable of defeating Vader at the height of his power, and certainly could defeat him in a limiting suit. No, Obi Wan was determined to teach Luke the one lesson he had failed to teach Anakin, and the reason that Anakin had failed as a Jedi. The lesson that life continues after death.

As Obi Wan turned the corner, he saw the distant tall figure waiting, crimson blade ignited. As Obi Wan approached and unclipped his own saber, he listened to the Sith Lord's labored breathing. Obi Wan took in the appearance of his one time bestfriend. But that was another man, a man who had been killed by the dark side of the Force.
Obi Wan activated his weapon, clearing his mind of all thoughts.
It was Vader that broke the silence.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi Wan," he said in his deep voice. Both of them knew hat Vader wasn't just talking about today on the Death Star.
"Vader," Obi Wan said as though they met from time to time, "its been a while since we last met."

He's still as witty as ever, Vader noted. He, like his former master and brother, hadong anticipated this inevitable confrontation, but unlike Kenobi, he had no idea how it would end. Obi Wan had aged beyond his years, but Vader sensed the same energy in him that he had shown in their last encounter, during their fateful duel on Mustafar.
As Vader recalled that day, fresh hate surged through him.
Raising his blade, he said, "when we last met, I was but a Jedi knight. Now I am a more powerful master than you ever were."

"I see your mind is just as clouded as ever," replied the elder man as he lunged at Vader, blade striking at him. Vader blocked it, leaping away. Obi Wan pursued him down the corridor as stormtroppers took notice. Without orders, the former republic soldiers began firing at Obi Wan as they approache t he hangar. With a flick of the wrist, the whole group was dead by their own shots. Vader leapt crazily at Obi Wan, who dropped to the ground to avoid his strike. As the two continued to duel, Obi Wan sensed Luke and Leia approaching via the force.
The time had come.

Remember what you leaned, the spirit of Qui Gon Jinn spoke into his mind, remember what I taught you, and you will be invincible.

Obi Wan struck at Vader as his master's voice gave him reassurance. Qui Gon had been the first Jedi to retain consciousness after death, and he had passed down that skill to Obi Wan. Suddenly, the entry of the hangar was surrounded by more troopers.

You're ready, Qui Gon said. Suddenly, Obi Wan could actually see his physical being behind Vader, but he knew no one else would.

"Now, my old friend," the older Jedi master's ghost said, "unlock your true potential." As Obi Wan once again locked blades with Vader, he truly felt one with the force, more than ever."
As he sensed Luke approach, Obi Wan felt himself no longer on the Death Star. He was a young boy, in another sparring lesson at the Jedi Temple. He closed his eyes as Vader's blade approached, knowing that he had done what he was born to do.

 

Flashback continued 0 BBY
As Vader's blade made contact with Obi Wan, the Jedi Master vanished as his robe fell to the Death Star floor. Vader stared at it, unsure what to think. He had been waiting to finish this for two decades, but he had always imagined it to be slower, and Obi Wan's body to be present. However, Vader was still attuned to his old master enough to sense that Obi Wan was indeed dead.

He didn't have much more time to think about it. He heard a boy shout, "no!" in shock. Vader and the nearby storntroopers turned to face the group ahead. Princess Leia could be seen firing her blaster at the stormtroppers, as well as a Wookiee, a man, and a boy igniting a lightsaber. Even from that distance, Vader recognized the blade. He knew it better than any, even his own Sith lightsaber. That very blade had been the one he had built at ten years old on the world of Ilum.

Without any other thought, Vader walked towards the group, lightsaber still ignited. Leia, the vested man, and the Wookiee ran towards their freight ship, but Luke approached Vader.
"Come on, Luke!" Leia shouted from near the ship as she shot at the stormtroppers.
Vadwr wondered, why did Obi Wan give this apprentice in particular my old lightsaber. Wasn't it a Jedi tradition to build their own?
There must be a significant connection between Vader and the boy, he thought.
"I know who you are," Luke said, hisboicd heavy with rage and grief, "you're Darth Vader!"
"So...," Vader replied, trying not to show emotion, despite the sudden wave of it surging through him, "I see Kenobi has told you about me." Just how much, he wondered. "Has he told you what I do to people who resist me?"
"You killed my father," Luke shouted, "and many Jedi. You won't kill anyone again!" He swung his blue blade at Vader, who parriied, his mind far away. You killed my father? Anakin's blade? Vader knew that Obi Wan had taken his blade after defeating him, but he wouldn't just give it to any new Padawan. There has to be more to it.
"LUKE!" shouted Leia, "we have to get out of here!"
"Come on kid!" called the vested man. At last the boy came to his senses. Avoiding stormtrooper fire, he sprinted back to the freighter, deactivating the blade. Vader was too distracted to order a pursuit. He knew that the ship was traceable. His damaged brain spinning, Vader hurried down the corridor without another word.

4 ABY

Luke continued to block Boba Fett's shots. It was a full shoot out now, between Jabba's entourage and the rebels. The dancers and slaves had fled during the chaos, but nobody paid any attention.
Han was fighting the Rodian hunter Greedo, Leia was shooting Gammoreans, Chewie was taking out anyone he could, and Lando was leading the rebel squadron against Jabba's reinforcements.

Fett ran at Luke, who raised his saber to strike, but Fett struck his face with hard armor. Luke went down, and his lightsaber rolled out of his hand. Fett came down hard, driving his blaster into Luke's face. As Luke struggled to reach his weapon, While there were more important targets, Fett rarely got to target a Jedi, and this was the perfect chance. The only personal grudge Fett had was against the Jedi. The pain of watching his father get cut down in battle was as fresh as it had been as a young child, and Fett was determined to kill this Jedi, like so many others had died.
Luke managed to reach his blade, leaping up fast. Fett was thrown off of him and staggered back. Boba raised his arm, about to launch his built in flamethrower, when Luke brought his blade through his neck.
The last image Fett saw was the very image he had seen that had scarred him for life.

Luke paused as he took in his very first cold blooded kill.

 

Luke stared down at Fett's decapitated corpse. Yes, he had killed imperials before, but never this close and personal. This bounty hunter had kidnapped Han, but he was just as human. A yell of pain from Han brought Luke back to the skirmish. Somebody had shot him in the arm and he was down.
This battle had gone on enough, Luke decided. He leapt onto Jabba's throne, holding his saber at the obese Hutt's face. Everyone, rebel and criminal alike, stopped fighting and turned to face the throne.
"Put down your weapons or he dies," the young Jedi threatened. Part of him hoped that they wouldn't, so that he could kill this awful beast.
One by one, the pancake guards began to lay down their guns. Lando's men forced them to kneel at gunpoint.
"Nobody else has to die," Luke addressed the room, "we just want to go with our friends."
Bin Fortuna turned to his master for instructions. Jabba was silent as he considered the situation. The old gangster had no intention of losing his empire, but he couldn't just let Solo leave. What was more important, Jabba thought, his life or his dignity?

Han Solo solved the problem for him. Raising his blaster, he sent two bolts into the Hutt's head.
"My goodness!" exclaimed Threepio as Jabba toppled sideways.
"That takes care of that problem," said Han casually, blowing the smoke off the nozzle of his weapon.

The palace guards stood up as the rebel troops led them towards the palace' exit.

Lando came up to Solo, assuming a remorseful demeanor . "Han, I'm sorry," he said solemnly, "I had no intention of this happening."
"You made up for it tonight," Han said. His attention was more on Leia, who embraced him warmly.
Luke saw them looking into each other's eyes. He didnt miss Leia's subtle glance at him either.

"Let's head back to our ships," he said. Chewbacca growled his agreement.

 

In the depths of Kashyyyk's shield generator, Vader meditated in his private chamber. Once again, he struggled against his worst enemy, thoughts of Padme and his former life. He almost regretted wanting to convert Luke, because he knew that was the source of his new feelings of sentiment.
What if Vader had never turned, he wondered. He definitely would have been expelled from the Jedi order eventually, but even back then, he had known that it was worth staying with Padme. They would have raised Luke on Naboo, stayed in touch with Obi Wan... Vader was having sentimental thoughts of Obi Wan now. I must really be slipping, he thought. Suddenly, he found himself very scared for his future as a Sith Lord. He decided he needed a break.
Pressing a button on the arm of his chair, Vader said, "Commander Jerjerrod, report to my chamber immediately."
"As you wish, my lord," the Moff said, unable to mask the nervousness in his voice.

Vader just needed a little refresher to keep him on track. A few minutes later, he sensed the Moff at the entrance.
Vader pressed another button and the door to his chamber opened.

"You wanted to see me," Jerjerrod said respectfully. Vader stood up to face him, staring at the imperial officer through his helmet.

Then he raised his hand and reached out with the force. Instantly, Jerjerrod began choking helplessly, grasping at his neck.

"What...have I done?" he gasped as Vader telekinetically squeezed his throat.

Vader didn't answer. He allowed Jerjerrod to suffocate in his grip, then dropped him to the floor.

Satisfied, Vader returned to his meditation. It was only a few more minutes before Vader's holoprojector buzzed on the chair. Vader activated it show the hologram of Emperor Palpatine , also Vader's Sith Master Darth Sidious. Sidious appeared the saw as always, his deformed face hidden by a black hood.

"My master," Vader acknowledged the Emperor with empty respect.

"I need you to return to Coruscant," Lord Sidious commanded, "and oversee the defense against the rebel fleet."

Knowing what his master was playing at, Vader protested, "what of my search for Luke Skywalker? I can sense that he will be among the rebels that attempt to shut down this generator."

"It is of no concern," Sidious replied, "once the rebels break through our shield, we will crush them on Coruscant and you shall personally execute young Skywalker."
Vader paused, trying desperately to hide his fear. Sidious' smile indicated that he sensed the feelings of his apprentice.

"My lord," Vader said calmly, "he would serve us well, and enforce our will with great power."

"Ah, but you, my friend, enforce the empire well enough, I believe," Sidious replied mockingly, "why do you need a rival?"

Vader hesitated. "I will obey your will, my master," he said as he shut off the holoprojector. He hurried out of his chamber, contemplating his next move.

Back on Coruscant, Emperor Palpatine sat in the office he had held since being elected chancellor long ago, in the former Senate building. Mas Ameedda stood beside him.

"My lord," Ameeda said carefully, "killing Skywalker now will eliminate your best chance of replacing Vader." He knew the emperor's deepest secrets, and understood Palpatine's desire for a stronger enforcer.

"Not to worry," Palpatine replied as he gazed into the Coruscant air traffic outside his office, "I shall pit father and son against one another, and one of them will emerge victorious." The emperor laughed to himself as he saw he future ahead, one where the rebellion was completely obliterated and the Chosen One destroyed.

Master Yoda, the last living trained Jedi and one of the few of his species, staggered across the floor of his Dagobah hut.
"The boy has failed to return," the aged Jedi Grand Master remarked, "soon, too late it will be."

"We will continue to guide him as spirts," the voice of the late Obi Wan Kenobi replied, appearing before Yoda a moment later, "that is why we become force ghosts."

"I sense the same darkness in him that was in his father," Mace Windu's ghost chimed in, also appearing in the small hut, "why should we trust him."

"We must have faith," Qui Gon Jinn said as he appeared beside his fellow deceased Jedi, "faith that Luke can bring back the good man that was Anakin Skywalker, and faith that the chosen one can still fulfill the prophecy."

"That prophecy died with the Jedi order, long ago," Windu countered, "there is no more chosen one."
"Died, the order never did," Yoda replied firmly, as he lay in his small bed. "Continue our teachings, Luke Skywalker can, if we continue to guide him."

"He must soon learn the truth," Obi Wan said, "about his sister."

"Tell him, you should," Yoda replied, "but be careful, dangerous to the light side, young Skywalker may be."

Yoda groaned in pain as he rested in his bed. "Join you all soon, I will," he whispered, "hope we must keep, if we are to succeed."

"You are as wise as ever, Master," Mace Windu admitted, "you know what is best for the Jedi and the galaxy."
Yoda lay against the soft bed, and closed his eyes. He thought of a better time, when the galaxy was peaceful. He saw the council chamber, and the twelve masters that had occupied it when he had been chosen as a Padawan, many centuries ago. Yoda's innocence was the best part of his life, one that he had let go far too soon, like all Jedi. As his spirit departed from his body, Yoda felt like a young Padawan once more, ready to move on to the world beyond.

 

Luke's X Wing came out of light speed where the swampy planet Dagobah should have been.
Inside the cockpit, Luke looked around in bewilderment.
"Artoo, are you sure these are the right coordinates?" he asked his blue astromech droid.
Artoo whistled his confirmation from the wing of the fighter.
"But what happened to the planet?" Luke wondered. He remembered when he had first ridden on the Millennium Falcon, on a mission to Alderaan. That time, the planet had been disintegrated by the Death Star. The empire couldn't have built another superweapon, could they?

"I hope Yoda's all right," Luke said.

Suddenly, Luke was startled by the appearance of Obi Wan Kenobi in front of the cockpit.

"Yoda is as all right as he'll ever be," the ghost of Luke's old mentor said, "he is now one with the Force."

Luke paused as he took in what Obi Wan said. Yoda, the legendary grand master, the most powerful Jedi of all time, couldn't just be dead. He was no ordinary being, how could he just die?

"But I still have so much to learn!" Luke exclaimed. Was this the end of his Jedi training? He still had so many questions to be answered. He decided that he needed to ask one now.

"Why did you lie to me?" Luke demanded, sudden anger coming over him, "you told me Vader killed my father."

Obi Wan sighed, having expected this conversation, but had dreaded going through with it. "Your father, Anakin Skywalker, was the greatest Jedi of his age, and a great man. When he turned to the dark side, that man was gone, and Vader took his place."

It is Obi Wan's fault, a voice in his mind told him. Obi Wan turned your mother against me.

Suddenly, Luke was taken from the image of deep space and saw a medical facility. A woman was screaming on the operating table, a medical droid and a man by her side. As Luke studied the scene, he felt a very familiar presence, one he had never felt in his life. Suddenly, he knew who the woman was. He didn't know how he knew, but the woman giving birth was his own mother.

"Save your strength Padme," the man beside her said as Luke saw the medical droid take his own infant self out of hisbmother's womb. This must've been Anakin Skywalker, Luke realized, just before he turned. Luke knew what would happen next. Padme wouldn die in child birth and Anakin would turn to the dark side in grief.
"Luke," Padme whispered as she touched her newborn son's face.
The medical droid said something the adult Luke couldn't understand, then continued operating on Padme Amidala, onetime Queen and senator of her homeworld Naboo.
Luke didn't know what to think. How had he gotten here, twenty-three years in the past and at his own birth. And if there was another baby coming, he must have a twin!
"Leia," Padme gasped as the droid took the baby out of her womb.
Luke almost screamed aloud. So Leia was his twin sister. Somehow, this was not a surprise, but yet another thing that Obi Wan had had chances to tell him, but had not.
"Stay with me, Padme," the man begged, his back turned to Luke. Lukebhas a funny feeling that that was not Anakin at all... it was...

"Obi Wan," Padme said as she laid back onto the bed. So that was it! Obi Wan had turned Padme against Anakin, and that was why he was here rather than the father!

"No," Luke found himself saying, "no, no, noooo!" And he was brought back to the present.

"Luke..." Obi Wan began.

"You're just a crazy old wizard!" Luke shouted. Artoo beeped in surprise.
"Luke wait!" Obi Wan called desperately, but Luke was already puching in the coordinates of the rebel fleet, having nothing more to say to Obi Wan. The X Wing blasted into hyperspace without another word.


In his personal shuttle, Vader smiled behind his helmet. His work was done, he had planted the seed in Luke's mind. By manipulating Luke's mind from afar, Vader had stopped the young man from seeing Dagobah, and had shown him what he viewed as the truth about Padme's fate. For the first time in a while, Vader felt truly one with the dark side. As he looked out the viewport at Coruscant ahead, he thought, nothing can stop us now. Soon, Luke will come to me and we shall destroy the emperor! Vader sensed victory ahead. Yes, the force told him at that moment, that he would unlock his full potential very soon, and become the most powerful force user ever.
I'll see you soon, son, Vader thought. His shuttle entered Coruscant's atmosphere.

 

A massive rebel fleet revolved around the remote world of Sullust. Large Mon Calimari cruisers were protected by various one man fighters flying around them. Inside the largest cruise ship, Home One, which had been named the official rebel base after the evacuation of Hoth, almost the entire rebel alliance was assembled. Officers, soldiers, and pilots of all ranks and species were assembled in the briefing room. As Han, Leia, and Chewbacca entered, they stopped to see Lando waiting for them, a pleased expression on his face.
"A general?" Han marveled, noting the uniform, "Look at you, all respectable!"

"Someone must have told them about my little victory on Tattooine." Lando grinned.

"Don't look at me pal," Han shrugged, "I said you were a fair pilot. I didn't know they needed Somebody to lead this crazy attack."

The group sat in the front row of seats as Mon Mothma entered. Wearing a white robe, Mothma walked with elegance and gave an aura of authority. She had been senator of her home planet Chandrila and was now supreme commander of the Rebel Alliance.

When Mothma spoke, the entire room listened intently. "The emperor has made a critical error and the tine for our attack has come." She activated the holoprojector in the center of the room, showing the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk. Chewy roared emotionally, he hadn't seen his homeworld or his family in years, since he had been forced to flee Kashyyyk.

"Protecting the shield around Coruscant is a generator on the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk," explained Mothma, "it had been left relatively unprotected. A small strike team will go to Kashyyyk in a stolen Imperial shuttle, locate the generator and deactivate it."

"I wonder who they found to pull that off," Leia whispered.
"General Solo," Mothma gestured to Han, "is your team ready?"
Leia looked at Han in a mixture of admiration and surprise. He'd certainly come a long way from the smuggler he had once been.
"I have a squad ready," Han replied with as much confidence as he could summon, "but I need a command crew for the shuttle."

Knowing his best friend well, he turned to Chewbacca uncertainty. "It's gonna be rough, pal. I didn't want to speak for you." Chewie raised his paw, growling his volunteer. Aside from helping Han, the Wookiee hoped to reunite with his wife, son and relatives, not to mention his enslaved species on Kashyyyk.
"Count me in, General," Leia chimed in, raising her hand. She wouldn't let Han out of her sight again.
"That's two," Han said, unable to hid his joy.
"I'm with you too!" a voice called from the back of the room. The whole rebellion stood up as the destroyer of the Death Star and last Jedi walked in.
"That's three," Han grinned broadly.
Leia rushed over to hug Luke. As she entered his embrace, Leia sensed that something was wrong, even a little darkness in her closest friend.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Ask me again sometime," replied Luke. Now wasn't the time, and he wasn't sure if it ever would be.
They took their seats with the others.
"Excellent," Mothma said, "Admiral Ackbar."
A high ranking Mon Calimari officer stood up. A respected veteran of the clone wars, Ackbar was an important figure in the rebellion and had conducted the battles of Yavin and Hoth.
"Once the shield above Coruscant is down," he explained, "General Calrissian and I will lead the fleet in an assault on the planet. Now, the empire is unaware of our attack, but they will undoubtedly have a small fleet defending the atmosphere. Once we get past it, we will begin landing troops near the Senate, and invade. The emperor will have no choice but to surrender."

Nobody in the room could hide their excitement. Finally, a chance to free the galaxy once and for all and a shot at Emperor Palpatine himself! Only Luke knew the power that the man possessed, or so he thought, and he knew that he would have to be the one to confront the malevolent dictator. He pushed the thoughts out of his mind. Too much else to think about.

"May the force be with us all," Mothma said as the meeting adjourned. Everyone hurried to their places, anxious to succeed. As they headed to the hangar of Home One, Artoo whistled a remark
"Exciting is hardly the world I would choose," Threepio replied.
More like suicide.

 

Shuttle Tydirium came out of light speed just outside Kashyyyk's atmosphere. As they approached it, Chewbacca roared in excitement. Han was spaced out and not really paying attention.
"Hey, generalship," Leia said half mockingly, "you awake?"
"Yeah," Han replied distantly, "I just have a funny feeling, like I'm not going to see her again." He had grown very attached to the Millennium Falcon over the years, and he knew that he would not walk away from the confrontation with the empire unscathed.

"Let's try and focus on the present," Leia said gently.
Luke was also in his own thoughts. He sensed that Vader was far away, but also very near...
Suddenly, a Star Destroyer unmistakable for the Executor came around the planet's surface. Everyone held their breath as someone on the Imperial command ship patched in a communication.

"Vader's on that ship," Luke said aloud. But he wasn't, Luke sensed that he was on Coruscant, calling to him. He could hear Vader's deep mechanical voice saying , "Luke, you must Join. me now that you know the truth. Obi Wan lied to us both, and only together can we overcome our enemies."

"I don't want to turn dark," Luke replied through telepathy, closing his eyes, "I won't become a servant tod the dark side."
But just how bad was that, he wondered. Why was the dark side considersed so evil, especially by liars like Obi Wan and Yoda. The only difference that Luke saw was that the dark side was stronger.

He returned to the moment as the voice of Admiral Pierre said, "shuttle Tydirium, what is your business on Kashyyyk."

Han hesitated before replying. "Technical parts and supplies for the generator." Nobody relaxed. The Executor could destroy the shuttle in a second, putting an early end to their crusade and ruining any chance of conquering the empire.

On the Executor's command bridge, Pierre considered the situation. He had been told by Lord Vader that a stolen Imperial shuttle containing Luke Skywalker would try to land on Kashyyyk and that he should not kill the young rebel, or else. Was this the ship containing Skywalker.
Piett considered contacting Vader, but he realized that dojng so would not only risk his displeasure, but that of the emperor. There was one thing to do.
"You may proceed," Piett said. Everyone on shuttle Tydirium sighed in relief, except Luke, as the Executor continued circling the planet.

Han continued to pilot the ship towards Kashyyyk's surface. It had been a close call.

Emperor Palpatine watched from a balcony of the Senate as the imperial fleet assembled in space. Even during the beginning of the Empire, it is been a spectacular force, but now, with no political or legal restraint, Palpatine could expand his military as much as he liked.
"My lord," Mas Ameeda said, approaching him from behind, "Admiral Piett has made contact from the Executor above Kashyyyk. What does he want now, Palpatine wondered. One day, he'd have no need for these governors and officers, his powers would allow him to control everything in the universe from afar.
Palpatine walked back into his office, where then hologram of Piett was waiting.
"What is it Admiral," the emperor demanded.
"An Imperial shuttle ha arrived, requesting to land on Kashyyk," the admiral reported with as much dignity as he could muster, "I allowed them to pass, but I felt I should contact you to see what to do next." Piett seemed aware that he had taken an awful risk.
Fortunately for him, this was all part of Palpatine's plan, as had most events that had transpired over the past fifty or so years.
"As you may suspect," Palpatine said, "that ship indeed contains Skywalker and the rebels attempting to shut down the generator so that their friends can attack us. I have sensed in through the force."
"Should I target them?" Piett asked anxiously, desperate to serve the emperor well.
"Not yet," Palpatine replied, "wait until Skywalker has left, and then arrest his two friends, the smuggler captain and Princess Leia of Alderaan."
"As you wish, your highness," Piett bowed as his hologram faded.
Palpatine sensed another dark side presence nearby, one powerful but never as much as he. A moment later, none other than the failed Chosen one enters his office, past the red robed guards protecting it.
"You summoned me, my lord," Vader said, bowing emptily.
"Your work here is finished, my friend," Darth Sidious said casually, "remain with the fleet until young Skywalker arrives." He smiled viscously as this sunk in.
How did Sidious know that Vader was connected to Luke via the force, let alone luring him to Coruscant? Vader had expected his master to suspect his plan, but the Emperor was evidently a step ahead of him.
"What then, my master?" inquired Vader with anticipation.
"Then you will destroy him," Sidious said, laughing out loud as Vader stared back at him. Both Sith Lords were thinking of a day, long ago, when the young Darth Vader, not encased in a suit of armor but whole and handsome, had bowed before the dark lord Sidious, pledging himself to the Sith.

 

The Imperial had landed in a forest clearing, and the rebel squadron marched away from it into the jungles of Kashyyyk, with Han, Chewbacca, Luke and Leia in the lead and the two droids behind the troops.
"Ugh," Threepio said to Artoo as he stepped over a log, "with our luck, it's probably inhabited with droid eating monsters." The gold droid shuddered. Artoo beeped in derision.
The group trudged through the deep jungle, and stopped behind a grove of tall bushes. Han held up his hand and peered over the bushes. Clearly visible were two scout troopers. These specialized stormtroppers wore armor painted in camouflage, much like the clones that had fought on Kashyyyk during the last days of the clone wars.
"This should be easy," Han remarked. "There's only two of them."
"There could be more," cautioned Leia, "and they could report back to their headquarters and we'd be caught."
"We's just have to stop them from telling anyone about us," Han said, "come on Chewie."
Luke and Leia exchanged looks as Han and Chewie lept over the bushes. The two scouts turned around and aimed their blasters at the two rebels. Han signaled at the hidden rebel troops, and the whole squadron, including Luke and Leia, emerges from the bushes, weapons trained on the two stormtroopers.
As Han was about to confiscate their blasters, more troops began to emerge from the trees and bushes. The rebels aimed their weapons, but then realized that there were too many to fight. Luke ignited his green lightsaber.
"We can take them," he assured his nervous friends. To the others, there appeared to be no way out.
"You rebel scum," The stormtrooper captain said as two ATST walkers appeared into view.
Slowly, the rebels dropped their blasters and put their hands over their heads. Luke deactivated his lightsaber, realizing that there were too many imperials to fight.
"We'll be disintegrated for sure!" Threepio fretted, but Leia shushed him. They needed to think of a way out, and panicking wouldn't help.
From the rows of storm troopers and officers, General Veers stepped towards the group of captured heroes. Chewie roared in anger and began to charge, but Han held him back. They'd all be dead before Chewie laid a hand on the man
"We've been expecting you rebels," Veers sneered disgustingly, "you three," he indicated Han, Luke and Leia, "will be coming with me." When Luke stared, General Veers said, "yes, I know you're Luke Skywalker, the famous Jedi knight. Vader wants to deal with you personally."
Luke tensed. He considered igniting his lightsaber and running it through this man's chest despite being killed by the legion of troops surrounding him.
Before he could act, a shot came from the trees and landed at Veers's feet. "What the.." he muttered, looking up. The second shot hit him in the face and he crumpled to the forest floor. Most of the storm troopers turned their attention to the trees, where dozens of Wookiee soldiers were either swinging down on vines or leaping from branches. All of them carries crossbows or blasters, and were prepared to kill. Chewie roared in delight as the rebels dove for their weapons. As the Wookiees landed on the ground, some of them drew knifes as the storm troopers began to recover from the shock.
Luke reignited his blade and began attacking the imperials, easily cutting through them. Artoo and Threepio retreated into the bushes to avoid the crossfire. Leia picked up a blaster from a fallen imperial, shooting up at the ATST driver. The man hadn't gotten back into the cockpit fast enough and fell out of the machine. The other ATST fired, hitting a large square area of Wookiees. Several dropped dead, as others swung from the vines onto the walker.
"Come on!" Han shouted,signialing retreat. The rebels began to run through the trees, followerd by some Wookiees. Luke took the rear, continuing to mow down imperials with ease. He found that he was rather enjoying himself as he killed these purely evil men.
Before long, the Wookiees had hijacked the other ATST and disabled the first. The remaining storm troopers scattered, disappearing into the forest. All was suddenly quiet as the rebels holstered their blasters and the Wookiees surveyed their dead, muttering in their own tongue. Luke put away his lightsabe, lost in his own thoughts.
Chewie roared loudly. The other Wookiees all turned to him, many apparently recognizing him. He was embraced by his fellow Wookiees as Han explained, "Chewie was an important military leader in Kashyyk before the empire invaded. He hasn't seen his own kind in years."
One older Wookiee approached Chewbacca and formally shook his hand. This was General Tarfull, who had commanded the Wookiee army along with master Yoda and Chewbacca during the Clone Wars, just before the Empire had been formed.
"Threepio!" Han called, "we're gonna need a translator!" Threepio and Artoo revealed themselves from their hiding place. "Oh my, what did I get myself into," Threepio wondered aloud.
Tarfuil growled something to the rebels, and Threepio said, "I do believe General Tarfull has been expecting master Chewbacca to return for sometime, and has hoped for aide from the rebel alliance with the imperial presence."
"Well there we go," Han said, "now that we're all here, let's fight."
Tarfull said something else. "Tarfull most graciously invites us to his secret village, up in the trees. There, he hopes that we can develop a plan of attack."
"Well sure," Han replied brightly, "show us the way."
Chewie barked a question. Tarfull replied that Chewie's wife and son, as well as his parents, were indeed waiting for him.
The Wookiees led the way to their habitat, the rebel troopers following close behind. Luke gazed up at the sky, towards the ominous Executor. That had been a close call, but he knew he'd have to encounter Vader soon, and join him in their shared conquest.

 

In the massive hangar of the Imperial Senate, the formidable imperial fleet prepared for war. Pilots and storm troopers loaded gunships with ammunition, TIe fighters launched towards the Star Destroyers high above the clouds, and Emperor Palpatine inspected the military, accompanied by his red robes guards and a small group of elite shocktroopers.

"Your majesty!" Mas Ameeda called, hurrying to his emperor, "my lord!

"What is it, Ameeda?" Palpatine asked with little patience.

"Vader has abandoned his post," the blue alien reported, "our spies have determined that he is en route to Kashyyyk."

So Vader had dared to defy him. Despite everything, Palpatine could not help but feel a surge of anger at his apprentice's insolence.
It made little difference overall, but now it would be harder for Palpatine to seduce Luke if his father had gotten to him first. If it came to it, Palpatine was sure he could eliminate them both.
"Vader doesn't yet know about Skywalker's twin sister," he said to Mas Ameeda, "if the boy fails and I am forced to kill them both, I can take the girl as my apprentice."
Yes, he would, once again, use Vader's ignorance against him, and triumph over all opposition. No matter how the forthcoming confrontation ended, Palpatine knew he would emerge victorious, with a new, younger and stronger apprentice to boot.

 

This is great! I really enjoy the way you're taking the story along with the characterization!

 

Thank you!

 

High above the Kashyyyk forest floor, the rebel strike team settled in one of very few Wookiee villages remaining the exact same one that General Tarfull had met with Yoda long ago. Contrary to stereotypes enforced by the Empire, Wookiees were very adept with technology. The Rebel and Wookiee armies were assembled on the wooden landing platform around a hologram of the large shield generator.
"According to General Tarfull," Threepio translated, "the interior of the generator is heavily loaded with Imperial troopers."
"What do you suggest?" Han asked the senior Wookiee. Behind him, chewbacca stood with his newly reunited wife Halla and son Lumpy.
Tarfull responded. "The Wookiee general proposes that captain Solo"
"General." Han interrupted Threepio.
Threepio hated being interrupted more than anything. "Shall lead his men into the generator, and a large Wookiee army attack from behind."
"That could work," Han replied as he thought it over. Leia leaned on him.
Tarfull roared something else.
"I do believe the great Wookiee leader wants me to tell a story," Threepio said. Fortunately, he knew most fascinating story, possibly the greatest story that anyone could tell. M
As the Wookiee population gathered around him, Luke broke away from the group and walked out onto the balcony that connected to a long bridge leading to another tree.

Once away from the others, Like gazed up at the night sky, where he knew the Executor was looming. He sensed a very familiar presence, one filled with darkness but also a strange comfort for Luke. Vader had returned and was now wating for his son, so that together they could seize their destiny and destroy Darth Sidious once and for all. Wasn't that the goal of the rebellion, Luke reasoned.
In a way, if he joined with Vader, he would still be helping the rebellion by defeating the emperor. Only he would not do so as a Jedi, Obi Wan and Yoda had proven that becoming a Jedi made one no better than being a Sith, except Luke had seen enough to know that indeed, the dark side was stronger.

 

On the bridge of the Executor, Admiral Piett waited as the ominous figure of Darth Vader entered. As usual, despite his surprise and fear, Piett bowed low for the knight in black.
There was a sinister pause filled with anticipation.
Finally, knowing his life was at risk, piett said, "Lord Vader, your arrival is most unexpected. Has the emperor sent you back here?@

"My business here is my own," Vader replied threateningly, his labored breathing more pronounced, "and I suggest you keep it that way." Piett knew the alternative.
"As you wish, Lord Vader," he said.
"Leave me," Vader commanded.
Piett bowed again and hurried out of the command bridge, practically sprinting. Vader turned to the view of Kashyyyk ahead. His son was there, ready to claim his destiny. His son and.... there was more to it than that. He wasn't sure what it was, but a very familiar connection other than Luke was down there on Kashyyyk right now. Vader dismissed the feeling. He had enough to deal with at the moment.

"Luke, what's wrong?" Leia asked gently as she came up behind him. She had sensed that something was off with Luke, ever since Bespin, when he had arrived to rescue them from Vader's trap.
Luke turned to face his newfound sister. So much was wrong, far too much, and so much of it involved her. Where did Luke even begin?
Finally, he said, "Leia, do you remember your mother, your real mother?" Where was this coming from? Leia wondered. She had rarely thought about her mother, Bail and Breha Organa had always truly been her parents in her mind. But now, she thought deeply about it. And now that she did, she could visualize her mother very well. She had heard this woman speak directly to her, when Luke had been in trouble on Cloud City.
"I remember...everything," Leia said aloud, "I remember her, I remember, she said... something." This was what Luke wanted to know. She had spoken to Obi Wan just before she died, but what had she said?

"Tell me what you remember," Luke urged.

"Why are you asking me this?" Leia asked, her hand now on Luke's shoulder, "tell me what's troubling you."
There was no easy way to explain it, Luke realized. "I have to leave, now," he explained, "I can't be anywhere near you for a while."
Something was definitely wrong, Leia thought. "Why?" she asked, not knowing what else to say.
Luke sighed deeply. "I've learned a terrible truth," he explained sadly, "a truth that will change my destiny."
"Tell me," Leia whispered, as they looked into the Kashyyyk treetops.
"Vader...is my father," Luke said. It still felt strange to say the words.
"Your father!" Leia gasped in shock, not entirely accepting what she had heard, "butt..." something didn't add up. How could Luke, a person with a pure heart of gold, have come from Vader, a symbol of pure evil and oppression, who had destroyed Leia's home planet and slaughtered children?
Yet at the same time, Leia was not at all surprised. Somehow, everything made perfect sense.
"Where will you go?" Leia asked anxiously, trying to piece everything together. Why did Luke have to leave his friends even if he was the Dark Lord's son.
Luke couldn't tell Leia that he was going to join Vader. She wouldn't understand why turning to the dark side was for the greater good.
Finally he said, "There's something else, it won't be easy to hear, but you must. If I never see you again..."
"Luke, don't talk that way!" pleaded Leia, tears coming to her now, "you mustn't leave us, you must come back." For some reason, Luke was refusing to tell her where he was going, but she had a sudden feeling of dread.
"Leia... the Force is strong in the Skywalker family. My father was conceived by the Force itself, and he passed on his powers to me and my sister." His sister? Leia could hear her mind spinning. Nothing made sense, but at the same time, it was all crystal clear.
"Obi Wan Kenobi betrayed my father... our father. Yoda has abandoned me, and I have nothing. Our mother, Padme, died after giving birth to us, with Obi Wan."
"Our mother..." Leia stammered. So Luke was her twin brother! Their mother must have died shortly after her husband fell to the dark side! What did all this mean?
"I must leave you now," Luke said, stroking her hair, "i promise I'll see you again someday." The two siblings held each other for too short of an eternity, then the unavoidable moment came where Luke had to let go. Silently, he walked across the bridge connecting the landing platform with the passageway to the forest floor. Leia watched him go, then silently cried to herself. She knew she would have to compose herself, she still had a mission to complete with Han and the others. But that seemed almost insignificant now, that she knew the truth. It was all connected, she realized, whatever happened here affected he grand scheme of things. Leia slowly walked back towards the group inside the strategy room, her mind a mess of thoughts and prayers.

 

In the depths of hyperspace, the giant rebel fleet massed together, preparing to jump to light speed.

"All fighters are accounted for," Mon Mothma said from inside the command center of Home One, "General Calrissian, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear," replied Lando from the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, "we're ready for takeoff!" Beside him sat his Sullustan copilot Nien Nunb and the mom Calimari Admiral Ackbar.
"May the Force be with us all," Ackbar muttered.
"All crafts make the jump to light speed on my mark," Mothma ordered , "hopefully General Solo's unit will have the shield deactivated before we reach Coruscant."
"Han won't let us down," Lando said as he prepared the Falcon for light speed.
"And...now!" Mothms shouted. One by one, the small Fighters entered light speed, followed by the cruisers. It was all or nothing.

Vader waited in his meditation chamber. He felt an odd giddiness, one he hadn't felt in so many years. He couldn't quite place a finger on what it was. His son was coming! He didn't entirely like that he was aware of this, but Luke was his only family, and Vader felt an unusual happiness about meeting his son not as an enemy, but as a comrade. A genuine comrade.

Vader cleared his mind of these thoughts. They too closely resembled the emotions of a weaker man, a man who had no idea of how much power he could use if he tapped into it. He smiled with anticipation under his helmet as the door to his chamber opened.
Piett stood with Luke, along with two storm troopers.
Nobody spoke for a good five minutes. Piett broke the silence. "His lightsaber," he said, holding out his hand, carrying Luke's confiscated weapon. Luke remained expressionless.
Vader took it and stood. "Your work is done, Admiral," he said, "Order the crew to return is to Coruscant." Piett bowed and left.

Vader and Luke stared at each other. "So, you have come to me," Vader gloated.
Luke bowed his head. "I am ready to accept you as my master," he said, "I am ready for us to rule together."

Vader didn't like how submissive Luke sounded, but it want so important. "Very good," he said, "Palpatine is a weak man. Our combined strength will overwhelm him."

"Yes, father," Luke replied. It felt odd to address Darth Vader as such, his father had been Anakin Skywalker, another man entirely. But the past didn't matter.
"The Jedi lied to us both," Luke said, sincerely believing what he said, "I was a fool for listening to them."

"That is all behind us now," Vader replied, "let us take the future into our hands." Together, they walked back to the command bridge as the Executor sped across space towards the capital, and the dreaded Emperor.

As Luke gazed at the bleak view outside, he wondered whether he was doing the right thing. He thought of Han and Leia, and wondered what would happen to them. He hoped that they would all be alright, but sensed a certain darkness of the future. It didn't matter now, Luke decided as he glanced at his father, the Sith Lord Darth Vader.
There was no turning back.

 

Behind the dark grove of trees bordering the forest of Kashyyyk, Han, Chewie, Leia and the rest of the Rebel strike team remained hidden from the generator along the beach, with the two droids staying a ways back.
"This should be easy," Han muttered, "Chewie and me have been into more heavily guarded places than this. Now if I could only remember how we did it..."
Five storm troopers stood guard at the generator's entrance, but Han knew that it couldn't be that easy.

"I'll go first," Han said, "the rest of you follow me." He crept along the trees towards the generator.
"Stay here," Leia told the droids. She followed Han and Chewie, with the rest of the human rebels bringing up the rear.

"Oh, this place is a nightmare!" Threepio complained to Artoo. He shuddered as Artoo teased him with a beep.

Han crept up behind the nearest trooper and tapped him. Leia and the others hid behind the wall.
"Hey!" the trooper yelled. He shot at Han and missed as Han sprinted around the corner. The five storm troopers chased him and ran into fifteen rebels, including Leia and Chewbacca, all with their blasters trained on the storm troopers. The five troopers dropped their blasters and put their hands on their heads.

Chewie guarded the five imperials outside as the rest of the rebels proceeded into the generator. Waiting for them was no less than two hundred Imperials waiting for them, blasters ominously pointed at them.

Han and Leia put their hands up, dropping their weapons. The rest of the men did the same.
"Back up outside," the officer in charge commanded. This must have been the third guy, since Jerjerrod and Veers had been killed.
The rebels obeyed. Five ATSTs and a large ATAT were waiting. Looking around, han and Leia realized that maybe the Wookiees couldn't defeat a military force this strong. Seeing that his friends were captured, Chewie growled in anger and dropped his crossbow.
"It's now or never," Han mumbled to Chewie. If they failed here and now, there would be no second chance. Chewie nodded and roared loudly. All the way in the forest, Artoo heard him and beeped to the same tune.
"Shut up!" the officer snarled as two stormtroopers hit Chewie with their blaster rifles. It was too late. Within seconds, hundreds of Wookiees from many different tribes were running out of the trees, firing wildly and the imperials. Forgetting the prisoners, the batallion of stormtroopers began shooting back. Han, Leia, Chewie and the other rebels were quick to take advantage of the distraction, diving for their weapons. They slipped behind the generator unnoticed as the battle took place. Chewie charged toward the battle to assist his fellow Wookiees.

"Artoo," Threepio said, "are you sure this was a good idea?" Artoo replied confidently.
Before the walkers could fire at the Wookiee army, dozens of catamarans flew from the treetops, front at them. Within moments, the first walker was down. The others began firing, at first taking down the catamarans with ease. Chewie sognaled to a group of Wookiees, and they followed him to the big and slow ATAT.

Meanwhile, Han and Leia led the human rebels into the back entrance, where they were met by a small group of stormtroopers. An exchange of blasterfire led to over half the Rebel squad being killed, and the whole squad of stormtroopers.
"Let's do this quickly," Han said as they entered the control room.
"Hurry," Leia said, looking at the holographic map of the Coruscant system, "the fleet wlll be here ar any moment!"
Han reached into his pack and took out a bag of explosives. As Leia stood guard, Han set them on the floor and activated them. A stormtrooper charged into the room, but Leia shot him down. A moment later, the rebels were overtaken by another squad of stormtroopers.
Han gritted his teeth in annoyance. Couldn't they ever catch a break.
"Take him and the woman alive to the emperor," the sergeant reminded his men as they executed the remaining rebels.

"Come outside," another stormtrooper ordered, waving his blaster. Han and Leia looked at each other. They felt no fear, only love for one another.
"I love you," Han whispered.
"I know," Leia smiled back.
"Hurry up!" the sergeant snapped. At that moment, the explosives started beeping.
Han and Leia stayed relaxed where they were, enjoying each other's company.
The sergeant realized what was happening. Signaling his men to retreat, the storm troopers did so. Han and Leia followed them for the generators exit, sprinting as far away from it as possible.
Everyone on either side dove for cover as the generator exploded, taking out two more ATSTs. It was a spectacular sight, now that the generator was destroyed, the rebel fleet was able to attack Coruscant. Han and Leia returned to the battle on the shore. There was still a lot to do.

Chewie and his team of Wookiees took out cables from their packs and attached them to the ATAT. Realizing what was happening, the ATAT driver tried to move the vehicle away, but the Wookiees ran around its legs with their cables. Releasing them, the Wookiees ran for cover as the machine collapsed.

By this time, the remaining storm troopers had either been captured or killed. The Wookiees fired their weapons into the air in celebration, as Artoo and Threepio emerged from the forest.

"We couldn't have done it without your troops," Leia said to General Tarfull. Tarfull replied graciously.

"The great Wookiee leader says that he knows of an imperial shipyard on Kashyyk with transport to Coruscant," Threepi translated, "there we can meet with our fleet and the Wookiees can assist us in the battle ahead."

"Sounds great," Han grinned, "we could use all the help we can get." Chewie roared in happiness.

"We'd better get moving," Leia remarked, "there's a lot at stake."

Near the for

 

At last, the Executor arrived out of light speed in front of Coruscant. Luke shivered in fear as he began to feel the extremely dark force presence of Lord Sidious. He had no idea of the extent of the emperor's power, and wasn't entirely confident that they could beat him.
Next to him on the command bridge, Vader said, "Together, my son, we are unstoppable. I know we can destroy the emperor with ease." He sounded so confident, Luke wished he was as strong minded as his father, the great Sith Lord Vader.
"Lord Vader," Admiral Piett said as he stepped on to the command ship.
"Prepare my shuttle," Vader ordered.
"As you wish," Piett replied. If he suspected Vader's true intent, Piett didn't show it. Even if he did suspect, maybe he thought Palpatine's death wouldn't be so bad. I'm doing the galaxy a favor, Vader thought as he led Luke towards the Executor's large hangar. Emperor Palpatine had lived for to long, and plagued he galaxy with his stench. He had improsoned Vader for so long as well, forcing him to submit weakly. No more. Now, Vader was the master. Even as a boy, confidence had been one of Vader's prominent traits, and if it hadn't paid off then, it definitely would now.

For his part, Luke was very nervous, but felt somewhat reassured that he was fighting alongside his father. Vader had been a powerful Jedi Knight and was an even more powerful Sith. As the shuttle launched from the Executor towards Coruscant, Luke found himself able to clear his kind of all self doubt. The dark side was with him, and with his father, who wanted him to rule at his side, he would use it to overthrow the evil emperor. Luke envisioned himself and Vader overseeing the reconstruction of the galaxy. No, the emperor would be no challenge at all.

First, the Millennium Falcon appeared at the brink of Coruscant's atmosphere. Lando took a deep breath as he braced himself for the long and dangerous battle ahead.
"It looks like solo's unit was successfull," Ackbar remarked in the copilot seat. Nien Nunb barked his relief from the gunner's chair.
"Now comes the easy part," Lando said.
"Don't relax yet," Mon Mothma said from Home One as the rest of the fleet came out of light speed, "horde of enemy fighters behind us."
The Falcon's scanner was now picking up on several Tie Fighters approaching from the far side of the planet. They were no match for the cruisers, but they immediately began firing at and hitting A Wing and X Wing fighters.
"Let's turn this thing around," Lando said. As he hit the reverse switch, the Falcon swooped around. Nunb began firing the ship's lasers at approaching TIE fighters. In the distance, Lando saw a group of Star Destroyers approaching, including the Executor. He cursed.
"All ships, break off and regroup in deep space," Mothma commanded over the intercom, "repeat, break off the attack!"
"It's a trap," Ackbar grumbled as Lando steered the ship away from the enemy fighters.
The Mon Calimari cruisers began splitting up, spreading in all directions. Lando flew the Falcon away from corsucanrs's atmosphere. The freighter shook as a shot from a fighter hit it.
"Enemy fighter approaching from your left," Commander Wedge Antilles of Rogue Squadron said in the intercom to Lando.
"A little help!" Lando shouted as the Falcon was hit again.
"I got him," Wedge said as his X Wing shot at the TIe fighter that had been pursuing the Falcon.
"Thanks, Rogue leader," Lando shouted as he swerved the ship around Coruscant from a distance, away from the approaching Star Destroyers
"We're in for a long battle," Ackbar remarked as two more Tie fighters appeared i front of the Falcon.
From the Senate landing platform, Emperor Palpatine watched the battle unfold. He was flanked by Mas Ameeda and his council of top advisers and dignitaries, including Sly Moore, Janus Greejatus, Sim Aloo, Sate Pestage, and Grand Admiral Thrawn.
"My lord," Thrawn said, "for how long should I keep the Rebel fleet distracted?"
"Keep them occupied until the Wookiee reinforcements arrive from Kashyyyk, then begin to kill them off," replied Palpatine sadistically, "but allow Solo and the princess to land."
"What then, your highness?" inquired Thrawn.
"Have them brought to the Jedi Temple, where I shall await lord Vader and Skywalker," said Palpatine, "I shall determine which Skywalker shall be my apprentice, and eliminate the rest."
"It will be done, my lord," Thrawn said, and hurried back into the senate to give orders to the fleet.
"Prepare my shuttle to go to the Jedi temple," Palpatine told Ameeda, "there I will confront Skywalker and Vader."
"Yes, my lord," Ameeda replied.
Palpatine laughed to himself. Today, the dark side would be put to the ultimate test.

 

One by one, all the Rebel fighters, freighters, and cruisers came out of lightspeed just outside Coruscant's atmosphere. Even from space, it was evident how much Coruscant had changed over the past twenty-three years. There had once been lights visible from space, now it was a planet of darkness.
"This is going to be easy," remarked Lando from the Falcon's cockpit. There were no Star Destroyers in sight, or even TIE fighters. The emperor had truly been overconfident in that shield generator.

"It looks like General Solo's strike team was successful," Ackbar said in the copilot' seat.
"I knew Han wouldn't let us down! Lando exclaimed. Then he thought, it can't be this simple. There's always a catch.

In the command station of Home One, Mon Mothma studied the capital world. It would be no trouble getting onto the planet surface now that the shield was down, but something still wasn't right.

Next to her, former Naboo senator and rebel leader Jar Jar Binks pointed outside the window.
"Wesa in big doodoo," the gungan pointed out. Indeed, in the distance, Mothma could see five Star Destroyers approaching the rebel fleet from behind, including Vader's personal command ship, the Executor.
"It's a trap," Ackbar said in the Millennium Falcon.

"Turn the fleet around!" Mothma ordered over the radio, "all fighters prepare for attack!"


On the commande bridge of the Executor, Piett spoke with the hologram of Grand Admiral Thrawn. A blue skinned Chiss, Thrawn was one of the few alien officers, especially of such high a rank.

"The emperor wants Solo and the princess on Coruscant alive, " Thrawn informed Piett, "keep the fleet busy until they arrive, then destroy as many ships as you can."

"What happens when they land?" Piett asked.

"Once Skywalker's friends arrive on the surface, I shall capture them and bring them to the emperor. You will command the Imperial fleet and destroy the rest of the fleet."

"Yes, grand admiral," Piett replied, bowing to the superior officer. He was used to submission to higher authority.

"The end of the war is near," Thrawn said hungrily, "soon, we will taste more rebel blood." His hologram flickered and faded.

 

will return to story soon

 

"Green leader standing by," Green Leader said over the radio. A small fleet of A-Wing fighters sped towards the approaching TIE Fighters.
"Gold Leader standing by," Gold Leader said as the Gold squadron of B-Wings sped towards the enemy fleet.
"Rogue Leader standing by," Wedge Antilles said, leading the other X-Wings towards the TIE Fighters.

As Lando steered the Millennium Falcon towards the Tie Fighters and Star Destroyers, he saw the spectacular sight through the front window; the sight of the crossfires of Rebel and Imperial fighters meeting in midair. Lando swerved the ship downwards to avoid a laser blast.
Nien Nunb gave a Sullustan war cry and activated the Falcon's guns. The ship's lasers began firing at nearby X Wings.

"Only the fighters are attacking," Lando observed, I wonder what's keeping the Star Destroyers."

"Look out!" shouted Ackbar as the Falcon was hit by a laser and shook.
Lando swerved upwards, but the ship was hit again from behind.
"This is not good!" he shouted, "Wedge, a little help!"
"I'm on it, General," replied Wedge over the radio. The Falcon shook again.

"Got him!" Wedge exclaimed.

 

In the command station of Home One, Mon Mothma met with high ranking rebel officers and officials, including Naboo Senator Jar Jar Binks, Garm Bel Iblis, Governor Sio Bibble, Captain Panaka, and, Generals Garm Bel Iblis, Jan Dodonna and Carlist Riekkan.

"The Imperial fleet had caught us by surprise," commented General Dodonna, "We may consider issuing a retreat."
"Impossible," Bel Iblis replied, "We couldn't possibly get past those Star Destroyers."
"We won't be retreating," Morgan declared, "we will just have to keep the Imperials busy until reinforcements arrive from Kashyyyk."

"We don't know how long that will take," countered Dodonna, "the Rebel fleet could be dust by then!"

Just then, the holoprojector buzzed. Morgan activated it and was pleased to see the image of Princess Leia. Leia was the daughter of one of Mothma's oldest friends, Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, who had tragically perished along with the planet itself.

"Princess Leia," Mothma addressed the hologram, unable to hide a smile, "I take it you were successful on Kashyyk."

"We couldn't have done it without the Wookiees," Leia replied, smiling back at Mothma, "we're on the way with backup."

"Excellent work, princess," Mothma beamed, "I'll be glad when this is all over." She was now speaking to Leia more personally, as an old friend and colleague.
"May the force be with you," Leia said, as her hologram faded. Adopted or not, Leia was truly her father's daughter.

Wedge spoke to Lando through the radio.
"General Calrissian, we're losing countless fighters!" he reported.

"Not to worry," Lando replied, as much to himself as to Wedge, "Han and the others will be here soon."

Nunb fired the Falcon's laser at a nearby Tie Fighter and made a direct hit.

Suddenly, Mothma said over the intercom, "Reinforments have arrived. I repeat, reinforcements have arrived."

"Told you he wouldn't let us down!" Lando exclaimed. In the distance, many Owool and Agr fighters were approaching, followed by what could only be Shuttle Tydirium.

"Rebel cruisers, prepare to start your landing," Mothma commanded. To her generals, she said, "Assemble all troops! We're about to launch a ground assault!" Now that additional help had arrived, there should have been enough power to occupy the Imperial fleet.


Standing alone in what had been the Jedi council chamber was the hooded, deformed figure of Darth Sidious. From a distance, he could see the battle play out just beyond Coruscant's atmosphere.
He could feel the approaching presences of Vader and Luke Skywalker. They had landed on Coruacant and would soon be here to confront him. The sooner Vader was out of the picture, Sidious decided, the better. Then, he could easily seduce the boy, or if that did not succeed, his twin sister, who was now participating in the battle above Coruscant.

As Sidious swelled with anticipation for the confrontation that lay ahead, an odd feeling passed over him. Was it... fear? No, he was beyond such petty emotions. But was he? After all, the dark side relied on emotion, and fear was a strong feeling of the Sith. But Sidious wasn't just any Sith Lord. He was the most powerful Sith the universe had ever known, he had successfully conquered the galaxy single handedly.

But even Sidious couldn't escape the thoughts of self doubt. Deep down, he had always feared Darth Vader's power, and although that had been diminished, the younger Sith had a powerful ally, his own son. Unlike his own master, Darth Plagueis, Sidious had yet to discover the secrets of life and death. If he was so powerful, why was the possibility of death even a threat to him. True, Plagueis had died by the hand of none other than his own student, but Sidious had caught him off guard, while now, he was very ready for Vader's betrayal.
I still have time to find the secrets of immortality, Sidious assured himself. But what if his quest for greater power ended right here? Lord Sidious had not forgotten the ancient Rule of Two, which had led to he murders of all Sith masters, including Plagueis. It was the duty of the master to delay their inevitable defeat, but all of them had eventually fallen to the blade of their apprentice. Could this be my day, Sidious wondered. Will Vader finally become my undoing?
As he waited for his approaching enemy, Sidious actually found himself shivering with dread.

 

An army of storm troopers stood on the long, wide steps of the Jedi Temple. All of their blasters were trained on two figures approaching from the distance. Coruscant was a ruin of its former self, with many buildings destroyed and the once prosperous populace driven out. There were no common speeders flying about like before, all movement was restricted.

The 212th Battallion, led by Commander Cody, was one of the emperor's elite forces, and had been trusted with the task of guarding the temple during the battle. Although Lord Vader had been the most feared military commander of the empire, every Imperial on Coruscant was now aware of his betrayal and were ready to kill him per the emperor's orders.

Silently, father and son walked towards the Temple, where the emperor awaited. They stopped at the bottom of the steps leading to it, where Vader had long ago led an army of clones against the Jedi order, killing eveyone in the Temple. Now, he was storming the temple against an army of clones, to eliminate the last Sith Master.

"They stand no chance against our combined strength," Vader said to Luke. The boy nodded silently. He wasn't sure what to expect, except that he needed to clear his mind of doubt. This was his destiny and he was ready to seize it with none other than the father he had idolized since childhood.
"Let do this," Luke said, drawing his lightsaber. He ignited it, ready to do battle. Vader ignites his lightsaber as well, sprouting a blade of blood red.

"Charge them!" Cody beckoned his men, as they ran down the long steps at their targets. As the storm troopers began firing their blasters, both Vader and Luke deflected the shots with ease, returning them to the incoming clones.

As the two force users approached their opponents, Vader used the force to lift about five of them off the ground. He flung them far away as he blocked more shots with his red blade. Like dove into the ranks, easily cutting through the men. Commander Cody himself was the first to fall to his blade. Vader proceeded forward as well, cutting down all in his path.

It was pretty easy to kill the stormtrooowrs guarding the temple. As the two Skywalkers passed through the entrance, another wave of troopers awaited, instantly shooting at the invaders. Luke and Vader continued to deflect their shots and silently cut them down.
"The emperor is this way," Vader said, pointing his lightsaber up a staircase. He had not set foot into the Jedi Temple in twenty-three years, but still knew every inch of it. It had been his home for thirteen years, but that was far behind him.
Luke followed Vader up the stairs and down the long, deserted corridor that followed.

Beyond the most remote regions of space, in the Netherworld of the Force, Masters Yoda, Kenobi, Jinn, and Windu watched sadly as Luke followed his father towards the emperor.
"Falling fast, the boy is," Yoda said sadly as his transparent form watched father and son head across the temple halls, "soon, too late it will be." He sighed, partially unwilling to accept the truth. But he had too. Unless something changed soon, the galaxy may have forever been doomed to darkness.
"I knew we shouldn't have placed so much faith in him," Mace said. He could easily have been talking about either Anakin or Luke. "Now, our legacy will be destroyed." In his life, Windu had never been so discourtesy he was now.

"Patience, masters," Obi Wan's spirit said respectfully, "all hope is not yet lost. The boy may yet prove himself stronger than the temptations of the dark side."

"If his father didn't, why should he!" challenged Master Windu pessimistically, surveying the scene grimly.

Qui Gon spoke up. "The girl may yet be able to save her brother," he said hopefully, "and together, they can find the humanity hidden deep in their father."

"Any trace of goodness in Skywalker was destroyed long ago," Mace argued, sounding genuinely angry, "he killed children! Why should we want him redeemed?"
"Irrelevant, our personal desires and feelings are," Yoda reminded his one time Padawan, "the best hope for the galaxy, and balance to the force, Vader's redemption is."


In the cockpit of Shuttle Tydirium, Han, Leia, Chewie, Tarfull, and the droids gazed at the battle-stricken sky of Coruscant as their ship descended through the clouds. Following them was the millennium falcon, as well as Home One.
The descending ships were bound towards the large platform in front of the Sneare building, where a terrifying number of stromtroopers and ATAT walkers awaited.
"I hope you all are ready for this," Han said as he scanned the battlefield, "let's hope this isn't any harder than Kashyyk." Chewie roared in aggression, ready to tear the Imperials to shreds.
Leia stared off into the distance, towards what she knew to be the Jedi Temple. Over ther, she somehow sensed, someone needed her. The Destiny of the galaxy was being determined not here on the battlefield of the Senate, but in the holy Jedi temple.

"Look out for that walker!" Ackbar exclaimed as a large blast nearly disintegrated the Falcon. Lando concentrates his fire on it, swooning to avoid the blasts. More Walkers were now attacking the approaching fleet.
"This is gonna be rough," Lando mumbled as he steered the ship over rows of stormtrooper blasterfire.
The storm troopers were firing at shuttle Tydirium as it touched down. Instantly, as the ramp opened, Chewbacca and Tarfull charged out, leading a squadron of Wookiees. Han and Leia followed, firing intensely.
"Oh dear!" Threepio exclaimed as jet packed rebel troopers began flying out of the descending Home One, "I'm not programmed for this!"
Larger rebel crafts began flying out of Home One, concentrating fire at both the armies of imperial troops and the walkers head.
Dodging blaster shots, Han, Leia and the others made their way towards the entrance of the once mighty Senate, now merely headquarters for Palpatine and his authoritarian government.

In the round senate rotunda, the emperor's high aristocrats met.
"The rebels have penetrated our defenses," Grand Admiral Thrawn reported, "and are now about to storm this building."

"Go up to the Executor and command the battle personally, Grand Admiral," Mas Ameeda commanded, "we need to turn this around."
"Right away," Thrawn said. He hurried out of the pod towards his personal shuttle on a private, secret landing pad.

"What of the defense of the planet?" asked Sly Moore.

"Our elite shocktroopers are defusing the senate's interior," explained Ameeda, "all we need to do is capture General Solo and Princess Leia, and send them to the emperor."

As Lando maneuvered the Falcon around volleys of enemy fire, he focused on the dome shapes Senate. Nien Nunb fired back at the walkers, causing some damage, but mainly targeting the approaching gunships coming from the Senate. Lando couldn't tell exactly where they were launching from, but a number of old fashioned Repiblic era gunships had joined the battle, taking out rebel fighters with ease.
"This looks bad!" Lando shouted as the Falcon was hit by a light laser beam. The back of the ship had caught fire.

"Over there on that platform!" Ackbar exclaimed, pointing at a tunnel-like structure near the very top of the senate.
Lando steered the Falcon in that direction, unable to fully control the ship.
"We're coming in too fast!" he cried as he closed his eyes. I'm sorry Han, he thought. It looked like there would be a little more than a scratch to the Millennium Falcon.
The Falcon skidded into the tunnel and landed on the floor, taking out a group of waiting storm troopers.
Lando leaned forward in the pilots seat and clapped Ackbar on the back.
"Let's win this war," he said.
"For the republic," Ackbar added as the trio ran out of the Falcon, blasters drawn.
Lando felt good about himself at that moment. Even though Han had forgiven him, Lando hadn't gotten over his remorse for betraying Han and allowing Vader and Boba Fett to capture him. Now, he was participating in the final battle against the empire, the very enemies he had once been forced to help. No more.

Luke and Vader suddenly froze as they reached the entrance to the round council chamber. The twelve seats were still there, including the once that Vader had once sat in. The last time Vader had entered his room, a little boy training to be a Jedi had approached him, glad that the great hero Anakin Skywalker had come to save the children from the attacking clones. In that moment, Vader had ignited his blade and cut down every child in the room. It was then where he knew there was no turning back, whether he wanted to or not. Yes, even then, he had had doubts, but there was no way he could redeem himself after that.

The chair once occupied by Master Yoda now contained the dark lord Sidious.
The emperor laughed as his two challengers entered the room and stood. "Welcome, young Skywalker, I've been expecting you," he said with a false warmness to his voice, the same that he had used with Vader so often. Fresh hate surged through Vader as he held his saber in front of him. It was finally time to bring down the man that had destroyed him, to take revenge. This was bigger than ruling the galaxy, this was personal.

With no fear, Vader said, "Your rule is at an end, old man. I am going to be emperor, with my son beside me." Side by side, Luke and Vader circled the room, ready for battle.
Palpatine laughed as he sensed the fear in the younger Skywalker. Luke has never dealt with this much power, and it was just the beginning.
"Father and son, united at last," Lord Sidious chuckled in his raspy voice, "by now, young one, you must realize that your father will never be as strong as I."
"Save your words," Luke replied with pure hatred, "they won't do you good against our strength."
Palpatine cackled and quickly threw off his cloak. On top of his deformed, scarred face was a mane of thin, white hair. Palpatine drew a small lightsaber from his black robes and ignited it to reveal a blade as red as Vader's.
"Soon, you will bow before me," he said, "just like your father did."
At this, Vader telekinetically grabbed a chair and hurled it at his old master. Sidious jumped to avoid it and leapt at Vader, bringing down his blade. Vader barely blocked the strike and was driven backward. Luke joined the fight, charging at Sidious, who raised a hand. Luke found himself floating backwards as Palpatine continued his attack on Vader.
Luke leapt back to his feet, making up the ground quickly. He struck at Palpatine, who was forced to deflect the attack with his own lightsaber. The emperor used the Force to throw Vader across the room. The armored Sith grunted as he hit the wall.

As Luke locked blades with the emperor, he felt he dark side flowing through him. Channeling his inner aggression, he lashed at his enemy, repeatedly clashing sabers.
"You are taking your first steps toward your destiny," remarked Darth.Sidious, "you can be so much more than Vader. I can show you far greater power than he can ever dream of."
Luke ignored him and continued his assault, aiming his green lightsaber at Sidious' head. He could tell that the emperor was working hard to keep him at bay, despite his great power and experience.
By this time, Vader had gotten to his feet. Lightsaber in hand, he returned to the fight and reached out with the force. Through it, his hand found the Emperor's throat. Palpatine sputtered as he floated away from Luke towards Vader.

"I have been waiting for this moment a long time," Vader declared as he pulled the struggling Palpatine towards him and raised his lightsaber, ready to deal the killing blow, "i an the master now, and you are nothing."

Palpatine was quiet as Vader choked him in the force. "Never!" he screamed, breaking free of Vader's grip. Sidious sliced at Vader, cutting his shoulder. Vader staggered and fell.
"Father!" Luke hollered, running to the emperor and the fallen Vader. Suddenly, the emperor turned to him, unleashing a jet of blue lightning from his hand. The ray of energy painfully hit Luke in the chest, sending him to the floor in agony. Palpatine deactivated his own lightsaber.
"We're just getting started," he laughed maniacally, "you have no idea how much pain you will soon be in