THE VEIL OF DARKNESS
A STAR WARS FANFIC
(Disclaimer: I don't own SW, blah blah blah. All copyright goes to George Lucas, that stubborn guy who refuses to make episodes 7,8 and 9! )
=Author's Notes=
1. I finally made up my mind to write a decent SW fanfic, not like parodies that can be done in minutes. I tried to make it as canon as possible. Still, it might have minor conflicts with SW canon. Please, do signal any mistakes you've spotted.
2. Oh, and I've also added around 10 OCs and 2-3 original planets – but 1. not all of them are important to the major plot and 2. SW does need lots of characters. I tried to invent as much as possible to keep it close to canon, as I said before.
3. By the way, English isn't my native language but I study it in school, so I hope not no make any serious grammar mistakes.
And 4. If you have any ideas, suggestions regarding the plot or the characters, anything, tell me. Now stop reading these stupid things and go to the story!
P.S. This chapter is a prologue, describing the final details of the Battle of Endor and the defeat of the Empire at the hands of the Rebels. Not until the second chapter will the story truly develop!
Chapter 1
The Final Strike
The Emperor kept sending electric shocks all through Luke Skywalker's already severed body. Fully aware of his superiority towards the weakened Jedi that at this point wasn't even worthy of being named "his opponent", he stopped for a few moments, slowly descending the stairs that extended from beyond his throne. He contemplated the scene in fron of him. Watching the Rebel in agony further fueled his determination to strike him down. It was a pity indeed that Skywalker had refused to accept and understand the true nature of the Force - the Dark Side…
In fact, he was so pitiful he could not even oppose him. His so-called Jedi powers were totally useless against his Force Lightning. And Skywalker had decided to stick to this insignificant light side out of a sheer and stupid loyalty…He was young and inexperienced and had refused to join him – so he had to pay.
And so yet another beam of blue lightning emerged from his fingertips towards the defenseless Rebel. He was now crying for help…That was even more pleasant. The best thing in the world, next to galactic domination, was watching your adversary's reaction as he understood his inevitable death…as he finally knew that any form of opposition would now be useless and that he'll painfully die once and for all…Good.
The lightning now illuminated the whole throne chamber and at this point the smell of ozone from the electric discharge was fairly noticeable. All that was now left for him was to strike him down…
And suddenly he felt a disturbance in the Force. A warning of danger. But it was too late. Ironically enough, the Emperor himself had been the overconfident one…and now, before he could act, Darth Vader lifted him and brought him on the edge of the bottomless pit. Betrayal! How come he had not foreseen this? Traitors! Rebel scum!...
His last thoughts died along with him as Vader threw him down the shaft to his death, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the Chosen One. Moments after, Luke quickly got back to his feet, realising the need to save his father. He got to him and dragged him along to the ramp of his vehicle, as he was too weak to walk on his own due to the Force lightning's effects.
He was taken aback though when Vader suddenly asked him to take his mask off. He then explained that his own death now was inevitable – and his dying wish was to see his son with this own eyes. It took a few moments for Luke to accept the truth…after which he proceeded. A part of him wanted to see his father's eyes as well.
And Luke was even more surprised to look at his father's face. Indeed, it was pale and scarred after Mustafar and his lack of exposure to the sun afterwards – but it was not that which he had noticed first. He did not notice any trace of hate or anger in his expression, just peace and resignation. He then remembered that particular line in the Jedi code…"There is no emotion, there is peace". So his father had ultimately been redeemed.
=o=
The Rebel ships quickly left its Imperial attackers behind and entered the Death Star's superstructure followed up close by the Millenium Falcon. The TIE fighters, however, were as persistent as they were and continued their chase. After all, not only were their opponents Rebel scum that had to be crushed, but also their target was one of major importance. Under no circumstance were they to be allowed to destroy the Imperial superweapon.
At some point, the group split up in an attempt to divert its attackers – and as the shaft gradually began to narrow down, Lando Calrissian was forced to make more and more careful maneuvers. Fortunately, they soon knew luck was on their side when they arrived at the Death Star's reactor core. He and Wedge Antilles destroyed its core by setting a chain reaction…and then kicked full power to the engines as they ran for their lives. The flames almost got to the Millenium Falcon when Lando got the ship out of the Death Star.
And minutes after the Executor had crashed onto its surface, the mass destruction weapon exploded.
=o=
Back on the surface of Endor, Luke sat quietly watching his father's cremation. Now it was all over. He had finally fulfilled the prophecy and brought balance to the Force. But beyond all that, he had redeemed himself. He had become again Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Knight. And he, Luke, had won his father back. Watching the final ritual further swayed his emotions…But there is no death, there is the Force.
However, life had to go on, so he found the inner strength and bid his father a final goodbye and headed towards the others. The galaxy was now free of Imperial domination – nevertheless, the hard work had just begun. But for the moment…he just wanted to join in and celebrate.
It was a victory the Rebels would always remember.
It was a defeat the Empire would never forget.