Disclaimer: Star Wars and all its aspects belong to George Lucas. Anything of my creation will be noted at the beginning of the chapter in which it first appears.
Author's note: Although this story is obviously AU, I have tried to keep canon as many aspects as possible; on that note, my references were the game itself and the eternally-helpful Wookieepedia, so if my attempts at canon aspects don't match with the book, it's because I have not yet read it. Also, credit for the title goes to the song "Holding Back" by Dougie MacLean - I was astounded at how well the lyrics fitted to the story of Galen Marek.
Prologue
Rahm Kota's cry of shock rose above the debris scattered across the throne room of the Emperor's tower, ravaged by the desperate conflict that had only moments ago ceased between Galen Marek and Darth Sidious. Razor-edged shards of glass glittered wickedly across the floor, partially concealing the scorched marks that were scored into every surface. The twisted bodies of the Emperor's Royal and Imperial Guards were sprawled limply along the chamber's perimeter, a mute testament to the ferocity of the battle.
Kota yelled in pain as the Emperor, only moments before seemingly defeated, threw another wave of lightning at the old Jedi, slamming him back into the ground where he writhed in agony. Without thinking, nearly acting on instinct, Galen threw himself between them, catching the Emperor's attack with his own hands. Trembling with the effort of holding back the unexpected strike through the Force, he turned his head in time to see Imperial reinforcements arriving under command of Darth Vader, whose metallic breath could be heard from afar.
"Go! Hurry!"
Galen screamed in vital urgency, glaring wildly at the rebel captives who stood halfway to the door, who were still standing in hesitation, unwilling to leave him behind. The former Sith apprentice heard Kota groan from the ground behind him as the general struggled to his feet again, his body still traumatized by the vicious lightning. That same lightning now burned like electric acid in Galen's hands, his will forcing his body to maintain the defense, the only barrier between life and death for the senators. The Emperor bared his teeth in wicked anticipation as his gaze met with Galen's, and there the younger man saw his own doom drawing inexorably closer.
Tearing his face away, he twisted around to see Kota standing a little ways behind. "Protect the senators!" he shouted, his eyes meeting with the general's. The harsh snap of lightning filled Galen's ears, and he wrenched his concentration back to resisting, for a few moments longer, the Sith Lord's attack. He just needed to buy his companions enough time to flee to the Rogue Shadow, where Juno was waiting to pilot them to freedom and safety.
A flurry of energy bolts whipped past as the platoon of storm troopers charged into the room. The tiny missiles burst and whizzed amongst the four captives. They took off, Bail hanging back slightly as Kota regained his coordination, and then both joined the mass dash for the exit. The troopers halted, ending pursuit, but continued to fire randomly at the fleeing rebels until the escapees had disappeared.
Galen gasped and arched his back in agony as Sidious pressed the already powerful attack. The Sith Lord's lightning lashed at the apprentice's body, engulfing his arms in devastating energy. Behind the Emperor, he could see the crippled and tattered figure that was his former master. Bitter satisfaction welled inside him. His last act would be to rid the galaxy of the Sith empire, and have his revenge for their betrayal.
The Emperor's lightning, now overcoming Galen's resistance, stabbed at him from all sides, tearing into his tortured body. Galen threw back his head, and with his voice reverberating in an inhuman scream of defiance, let the Force explode out of him. Searing light filled his vision. He was vaguely aware of agony beyond comprehension engulfing his senses, and the sensation of falling. His last coherent thought was of Juno - how would she react upon hearing of his demise?
Then darkness swathed his spirit, and there was nothing.
***
"He's dead, isn't he?"
Juno Eclipse's query was directed to Master Kota in a voice laden with both grief and acceptance. She had rushed to the boarding ramp as soon as she had gotten the ship safely away, out of range of the Death Star. Kota paused, letting the other's pass him by as the pilot directed the exhausted senators to temporary quarters aboard the ship. Bail, the last to depart, flashed a look of sympathy at Juno before disappearing after his companions. Only when he was alone with Juno did Kota speak.
"Yes," he said, quietly affirming the pilot's dread. "No one - or close to no one - could have survived that explosion." Hesitantly, he put a heavy hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"Well, I'm not." Her voice was surprisingly intense as she stared fiercely back at him. "He gave his life to defeat the Empire, and I don't regret that." The words came automatically from her mouth, but she wondered if her heart was in agreement.
Kota did not meet her gaze. "I'm not sure he - he did even that," he said slowly. "Surely we would have felt it if the Emperor, or even Vader, had been killed. Somehow…. I think they're both still alive."
She glared at him, determined to hold back the angry tears that threatened to spill at this announcement. No… he could not have died for nothing… not after all the torment he had already undergone….
Kota shrugged wearily, leaning against the wall. "We underestimated them once," he pointed out. "We may have miscalculated again. I doubt any one man could kill either of those Sith Lords."
Juno felt her anger abating as realization came fully. "And he knew that," she murmured, almost to herself. "He knew he would die, but he still went to rescue you. He told me, before he left." She felt her face grow hot as the memory of their parting kiss resurfaced. It had been so passionate, so heartfelt, proof that Starkiller had finally, truly died.
"The boy knew what he was getting into," the old Jedi agreed. "It was only a matter of time before Vader found him again, and he had to act while he had the advantage." He smiled wryly. "He wasn't one to stop and talk things over for long."
Kota fell silent, following Juno as she made her way to the empty cockpit. The stars streaked silently by as she sat in front of the control panel.
"It's so strange," she noted softly, glancing at the co-pilot's chair. "Not seeing him sitting there." Turning away with an obvious effort, she took the Rogue Shadow off autopilot and began laying in a course.
It was a long moment before Kota felt the shifted movement of the ship, and comprehended.
"What are you doing?" he demanded furiously, standing over her.
Juno crossed her arms and looked up at him coolly. "We're reversing course," she calmly explained.
"We just left that gargantuan planet-blaster! Now you want to go back for round two? Who are you planning will die this time?"
Her features shifted into a look of dangerous determination. "I'm going to retrieve his body."
"You're as bad as he was, that much is obvious. At least I know better than to openly challenge a power like that." Kota swore under his breath. "What do you want the body for? If you're planning some elaborate Jedi funeral, think again - he's probably already been incinerated. The Emperor will want to destroy the evidence that someone came so close to over-throwing his rule."
"I realize that. But I won't let him be thrown away like a piece of garbage. He deserves better than that."
"You're going to get yourself killed," Kota warned her.
"Fine. Then you can come with me and make sure at least one of us makes it out with him."
The Jedi general stared levelly at her for a few moments before letting himself fall into a nearby seat, his hands spread carelessly wide. "Might as well," he conceded. "Someone who knows how to handle a weapon is going to have to watch your back. But I'm warning you," he added, straightening with a finger pointed in Juno's direction, "if things heat up too much, we're getting out, whether we've got the body or not. Bail Organa needs me if he intends to continue defying the Empire."
"Understood." Juno nodded, then swiveled away from him, back to the controls. "I'm activating the cloak now."
Leaning forward, Kota shook his head despairingly as he faced the viewport, seeming to watch the bright speck that was rapidly resolving into the ultimate image of destruction. Eyes narrowed, he stood. "I'd better tell Senator Organa, at least, what you're planning. If everything goes wrong, he should be able to get himself and the other senators away."
Almost at the door, he looked back. "I hope you realize what you're doing," he growled. "There's a high risk of all of us being captured again. Don't make his sacrifice a wasted one, by accidentally destroying the rebellion he created." With that, he disappeared.
Juno kept her eyes trained on the growing Death Star, making final preparations for the approach. They would begin where the trail left off - the shattered remains of the Emperor's tower.
More to come soon, I hope! Please read and review! May the Force be with you.
