Anakin Skywalker is dead.

He burnt to death on Mustafar twentythree years ago. He was a weak and fragile man, but from his ashes grew something greater. Not a mere man, but a Sith Lord; Darth Vader. Not weak by any stretch of the imagination, stronger the durasteel. He is feared by the galaxy for his power. However that is merely an illusion, there are two other observations of him. A fallen hero who is lost in the dark and must be guided to the light, or a being of great potential; that was squandered when he killed his wife and had his limbs cut off and his organs damaged. Such potential for dark side that was cut off by guilt and a major loss of his connection to the force. Anakin Skywalker is dead.

Luke Skywalker is alive.

He has almost as much potential as Anakin did during the Clone Wars. He may try to hide it with his bravado of heroics and love for his father, but under that shell of light there is a flicker of darkness. Of fear. Of anger. Of hate. He must be guided away from the light and into the dark.

"Your thoughts betray you father. I feel the good in you, the conflict." Luke said as he stood atop a catwalk unarmed. "There is no conflict."

Vader said confidently as he brought his crimson saber to a defensive guard in front of his helmet. "You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe you'll destroy me now."

A naive thought. I only showed mercy to convert you. Vader reflected. "You underestimate the power of the dark side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny."

Vader heaved his saber and threw it toward the supports of the catwalk and with a flurry of sparks the walkway collapsed and Luke rolled off the walkway and out of sight of the Emperor's platform.

Vader marched down the steps to the entrance of the throne room, he could hear his master's chuckle at the pain of the young Jedi. Well not necessarily hear like a normal human would through the ears, but through a part of his helmet that picked up audio and directly vibrated false ear drums that were wired into his brain. Vader walked under the platform into a shadowed area beneath where most definitely Luke was hiding. He stands with his lightsaber poised and ready and he surveyed the area, an unnecessary measure as all he needed to do was tap into the force and probe the area for Luke's mind.

"You cannot hide forever." Vader warned. "I will not fight you father." He pinpointed Luke with the force. Now it was only time to... "Give yourself to the dark side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for…"

He could feel Luke's thoughts, his emotions. His strong loyalty to his friends. Like Anakin Skywalker once was. No he is dead. Vader reminded himself. He saw images of a scoundrel with a lopsided smile. A wookie wearing a bandolier. A con man with grandiose. Two droids who looked familiar… No that is in the past! And lastly a sense of caring, of familial bond for…

"...Sister! So,you have a twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her, too. Obi-Wan was wise to hide her from me. Now his failure is complete. If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will."

"NEVER!" Luke ignited his blade with a snap-hiss and his brilliant green blade came flying towards the Sith. Vader was only able to block it at the last minute. The young Jedi's eyes carried the promise of hell just like... Anakin Skywalker.

No he is dead! gone! Luke chopped at Vader carrying sparks as his blade slashed across the low ceiling. Vader caught the cut with his saber, but Luke's slash had been so fierce it caused electrical interference in Vader's cybernetic arms. A memory flashed of the past. An ambitious Sith Lord hacking at a lost brother in an inferno. Luke swiped once again pushing Vader backwards. Another memory. A young Jedi Knight chopping at an senior duelist, taken down from a haughty aristocrat to a fearful old man in a metal encased room. Luke lashed out at Vader once again pushing them back toward the elevator to the throne room, once again triggering a memory. A padawan nearing his knighthood pounding on an assassin out of her league on a stone temple. Luke pushed Vader again. They were now on the bridge to the elevator with a thousand meter drop off each side. Again a further memory. A heartbroken padawan turned demon slaughtering barbarians on bloodied dunes.

Luke's flurry of strikes pushed Vader to the ground only barely defending the angered Jedi's barrage. One heavy strike. A caring brother and friend. Two. A loving mother and guardian. Three. A loving and caring wife who had stood with him since they met strangled to death by his own rage. The green blade cut through his cybernetic arm. Anakin Skwalker's, no his son stood above him with his blade pointed at his throat.

He cackled with glee as he saw Luke give in too his anger, now he shall give in too his hatred.

"Good! Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!" Young Skywalker clenched his gloved hand in front of his face then peered to his father's cut hand.

No, he must be pushed more. He is like his father, tied down by family bonds. Those bonds must be cut for him to embrace the darkside. Sidious had an idea. He took together memories of Vader from his memories, memories extracted from: Vader, Imperial Officials, and surveillance footage. He implanted images into Luke's mind of young Amidala, a caring mother whose life was taken by Vader. The killing of Jedi Master Kenobi. He tampered with the destruction of Alderaan replacing Tarkin with Vader commanding destruction of the planet. He implanted images of Vader torturing Princess Organa on the Death Star and the smuggler Solo on Bespin. He showed Vader slaughtering younglings in the Jedi Temple. No he is still turning away from the dark!

A smile crept up onto Sidious's face as he conquered a fictional illusion into Luke's mind. 501st stormtroopers (who had in reality died years ago) aiming their guns at Organa and Solo and executing them by Vader's command without the Emperor's consent.

A fire returned to Luke's eyes. He brought his saber up.

Yes this is the price I must pay for my own actions. Killed by my own kin, but Luke must not live with the guilt of killing a member of his family.

Vader attempted to communicate to Luke, but too little too late. Skywalker's green blade was brought down in a swiping motion it decapitated Vader. The Sith Lords head rolled onto the ground and faced at Luke and imploded, showing Vader's true face. A burnt, deformed face stained by the Dark Side. Luke recalled his vision of the duel with Vader with his own face showing on the decapitated head of the imaginary Vader. This wasn't Luke's face however, but a monster's face.

Luke defused his blade and dropped it onto the floor. He collapsed as well breathing heavily.

"What have I done?" The Emperor walked over to Luke and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Taken your first real step into a larger world, A fuller understanding of the universe. The Jedi trained you as an assassin to kill me, hardly a heroic action. The Jedi's dogmas lead to death and destruction. You have made a right in the world by eliminating Vader." Luke turned to face the Sith Master. "No the Jedi are guardians of peace." Sidious purposely turned his face grim. "A false notion from one who has had propaganda hammered in by insurgents and Jedi. No. You were too young to know the Old Republic. It was corrupt and was in constant war with constant death. The Sith helped create a new order that unified the Republic and ended the Clone Wars. It created peace for the galaxy until the feeble rebels created chaos once again in the galaxy. Join me. Join the Empire. Join the Sith to create true peace in the galaxy."

Luke stood up on bended knees wearily. He seemed to stand for an eternity and then he bowed. Bowed before the Emperor. "I pledge myself to your teachings… master." The word master felt painful in Luke's mouth. "Good, good. You are hereby accepted into our fold. You shall be known as..." Darth Sidious placed his hand over Luke's head and searched the Dark Side for the young man's essence in the force. "...Darth…" Luke snuck a look at the Sith from his bowed head. "...Starkiller. Now, rise."

"Yes, my master."