The alarms clanged and blared setting everyone's nerves on edge. A few minutes later Leia's voice came over the comm announcing that an evacuation was underway. An Imperial Star Destroyer had come out of hyperspace nearby, meaning a full-scale Imperial invasion was imminent. More warnings started to blare and lights flashed red through the corridors.

"Chewie better have that ship together," Han muttered under his breath as he raced from the room.

Luke rolled to his feet, no time to sit and recover. "You had best get on one of the transports," he said to Anakin. "I'll show you there on my way to the pilot briefing." Pulling off his medical garb, he began to dress himself in his orange flight suit.

"If you need pilots I can fly. I can fly anything." Anakin hoped he wouldn't be sticking his foot in it by offering to help people he didn't know anything about, for a cause he didn't know anything about. The Force seemed to have guided him here, though, and it seemed like the right thing to do.

Luke gave him a look for a moment, then nodded. "I'm sure was can use an extra."

The two of them were knocked off their feet as the base was shaken to its core. The base shook a second time, snow from the ceiling raining down on them.

"You okay?" Anakin called out.

"The Empire got here sooner than we thought," said Luke. "We need to get to the ships."

They sprang to their feet, and Luke led the way as they ran down the hall. The floor shook again, sending the two of them crashing into the wall of the corridor. As the snow settled they got their feet under them once more. Shuffling quickly as possible down the hall towards was a golden protocol droid, with a white and blue astromech gliding along behind. The golden droid hailed them. "Master Luke. Master Luke. You must hurry at once, there's not a moment to spare."

Running up to the droids, Luke ducked as a shower of snow dumped on the four of them."What is it, Threepio? We need to get going."

"But Master Luke, that's exactly the problem. You cannot leave in your X-Wing. The entire fighter squadron was rendered useless in the first blast. You and all the other pilots will have to evacuate on the ships. Princess Leia told me to inform you of this should I see you before she does."

Luke grimaced. "Looks like we have a change of plans then." Turning, he motioned for Anakin to follow. "Come on, the transport hangars are this way."

The two men ran down the hallway. It was increasingly congested with people fleeing the looming Imperial threat. They paused to let a bevvy of intelligence personnel race by with what appeared to be all the sensitive information the base possessed. More people passed by, pressing towards the hangars, hoping to get out before the Empire got in.

Leia caught up with them, Han with her. "What are you still doing here?" Her tone exasperated and accusatory. "You were supposed to be gone already."

"I was trying to leave, we haven't made it to the hangars yet." Luke dodged around another person who bullied past, blindly unaware of anything but the pressing need to get away. The droids finally catching up to them again.

"We must hurry. The ground assault must be almost here by now. My circuits will be stomped upon by those heartless heathens." C-3PO was in a tizzy. The astromech beeped in response.

Another blast rocked the base. Large chunks of the ceiling fell in on them as yet another blast hit nearby. More snow collapsed completely blocking the hallway. Threepio could be heard squawking in protest at the snow that had jammed itself in his joints.

Anakin sprang to his feet. "We can still get through, I just need a moment to-"

"We ain't got a moment, kid. We need to get to the Falcon and get out of here!" The others dragged themselves upright. Han grabbed Leia's hand and the two of them pelted back down the hallway. Luke wasn't far behind with Anakin following. Threepio shuffled along as quickly as he could, trailing them by quite a few feet, Artoo bringing up the rear.

Swinging into the hangar the party heard the sound of enemy blasterfire at the far door. Anakin was a little dismayed at the ancient and haphazard looking ship that was the hangar's only occupant. The blasterfire sounded again, and the doors sealing the other end of the hangar were forced open in a shower of sparks and squealing metal.

As the smoke cleared, Anakin stood, riveted, as the figure came into view. He looked like a long forgotten nightmare. His black armor stood in naked contrast to the snow that surrounded them. His cloak ominously trailing over the fallen as he entered the hangar. Anakin barely noticed the white-clad figures that flanked the newcomer on either side.

Anakin could feel the raw power of the Force flowing from this dark spectre. He had never felt the Force so powerfully in anyone before, every fibre of his being tingled because of the sheer might emanating from the person before him. Anakin could also feel a bitter edge on the radiant power, the taint of the Dark Side. Undoubtedly, this man was it's slave.

Anakin snatched his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. The dark clad figure stopped still. For a long moment Anakin knew he was being closely observed by the other. Stepping sideways, Anakin began to position himself between the Sith and the ship. "Get to the ship!" He called over his shoulder. He didn't have to look to know the others were frozen in place, watching.

Leia shook her head, this was going to end the same way as Obi-Wan had. "You can't face him, he's too powerful." She was half pleading. The Rebellion needed him alive if he was going to help them at all.

"Don't argue, just go!" He heard the people and droids run across the hanger and clatter up the ramp. Anakin stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and the Sith warrior. "Time to face me, Sith. You must be the missing one we've been hunting all this time. Your days of evil are done."

The Sith ignited his own lightsaber. The red blade casting a grim light on the surroundings. The Sith raised his blade, pointing it at Anakin. "Who are you?" The filtered voice sent chills down Anakin's spine. The voice itself was unnervingly familiar.

Reaching for the Force, Anakin stretched out his hand and pushed the Sith. The Sith took a step back and Anakin didn't hesitate with his follow up. Jumping forward he swung his lightsaber with everything he could muster. His blow was parried away, and combat was locked.

Perfectly matched in height and build, they went blow for blow, neither one taking or giving any quarter. Anakin heard the sound of engines roaring to life. He hoped he could make it out of here alive. The Sith bore down on him, striking him with the cold fury that marked the Dark Side. Anakin was forced back, this being was certainly the most powerful he had ever fought.

The air in the hanger was disturbed by the engines of the ship. It was thick with snow, making it hard to see. Anakin let the Force flow through him, he let it guide him as he struggled against this dark knight. The Sith raised his hand and silence fell. Anakin felt his throat close off. A wave of panic rushed through him as he instinctively put a hand to his throat, even knowing the gesture was futile.

Struggling to remain calm, Anakin reached out seized the Force and pried himself out of the clutches of the Sith. The Falcon's engines whined as the ship began to lift from the ground. Particles of snow were blasted in all directions. Desperate to get away, Anakin reached out with the Force with all his might and pulled the ceiling of the hangar in. Backflipping clear of the epicenter, he took a running jump and landed on the still extended ramp. Tumbling into the hallway he lay there on the floor, breathing hard.