HEROES AND VILLAINS By Kondoru.
Alternative ending to RotJ
Standard Disclaimers.
Thanks to Budgie for Beating.
Chapter Four; In which Luke Skywalker proposes and Leia Organa disposes.
The next day was the sentencing of the accused. The hall was packed to bursting point. All wanted to hear Mon Mothma's final verdict.
Darth Vader had been relieved from his comfortable but casual position on the floor at Mon Mothma's dainty feet. This time he was chained to a pillar, arms above head, and thoroughly miserable, as that position was one that strained his cybernetics badly. He never raised his arms above his head if he could help it, relying on his great height as an advantage in combat.
"Now, what to do with you?" The Senator gestured at her sad victim.
"I propose using him for lightsabre practice." Leia said helpfully.
Mon Mothma was silent. She paced up and down the podium for a minute.
"We are dealing with an extraordinary man here…One who has committed extraordinary crimes." She announced. "Crimes for which there is little precedent…Except in the darker eras of history."
"He has committed crimes against the Force." Luke added.
"And how would the Jedi Order have dealt with a Sith lord?" Asked Admiral Akbar curiously.
Luke had spent much time reading through Palpatine's records of the Jedi order. "I don't like to talk about that." He said sadly.
Mon Mothma turned to the accused. "So, Vader" she said grimly. "You have pleaded guilty to each and every crime we have accused you of…What have you to say for yourself?"
Darth Vader was silent for a long minute, the great helm tracked back and forth, clearly assessing the mood of the crowd. "Very well, cut off my limbs, to teach me humility, feed me to the fire, so I can experience true radiance, and sear my lungs, so I will no longer belong to humanity, and thus must exist as an alien instead. Enslave me, as I was born a slave and that is all I am fit for. Take away my good name, so I cannot recognise myself, put me in a mask, to show the galaxy my shame. Torture me continually, so I understand the pain of my victims, kill my family, so I finally learn the doctrine of non-attachment. Drive away my Padawan, so my heart is broken. Keep me in isolation, so I can explore the Dark side."
Darth Vader paused. The Hall was silent. "I don't think there is anything you can do to me." He said triumphantly, "it has already all been done."
Luke turned to the crowd. "Maybe it's time for forgiveness? Instead of simply punishing my father…Maybe we can teach him to become a better person?"
"I am willing to learn from you, my son. Even if the lessons are harsh."
Luke smiled. "There will be no Besh trees in my Jedi Academy. (1) Only understanding and love."
"A school without a whip?" Darth Vader asked. "But what if the pupils are like me…Bad?"
"They will be helped to reform…And given detention, of course." Luke scratched his cybernetic hand in reflex "I'm sure the governor of the Shard will permit me to give you lessons by holo."
There were a few laughs at this.
"And that leads onto the subject of custody." Mon Mothma shook her head sadly. "Imprisonment? He's already been a prisoner in a life support unit for over twenty years. Anyhow, I don't know how we can imprison someone who is a known Force user. Too much of a security risk."
"What about the Ysalmiri?" Asked General Rieekan, who had been instrumental in the acquisition of these rare beasts.
Leia shook her head sadly. "We can only keep them alive for a limited period, so we would need to constantly collect new…The supply of Ysalmiri is limited and I for one do not want to rely on them."
"Something painful? Our cyberneticists have checked twice. He has no pain management systems on him." Mon Mothma shook her head. "Darth Vader is in a lot of pain."
"The Emperor said I was to channel my rage and agony into the Dark Side." Darth Vader said sadly. "Thank you for relieving my misery. The burning of Mustapha has been my constant companion." He tilted his head in a sneer, "for those of you who have ever thought I should burn in hell...I already do."
"Brainwashing?" She looked about her. "We don't do that here. And you already regret your crimes."
Luke nodded. "And this is why I am reluctant to follow Jedi teachings on dealing with Sith…They would have been brainwashed into reforming their ways," he said sadly, "even in some cases involving a memory wipe. I do not like to tamper with the computers of Droids, let alone the minds of living beings. I believe that the Light Side should be chosen in full and free knowledge. My Father has returned to the light of his own free will." Luke stopped. "All because one being in the Universe loves him." He looked at his father. "To do otherwise would be to betray that love."
"Enslavement?" Mon Mothma was evidently ticking off a list.
"I have never known freedom." Darth Vader said sadly. "I was born a slave. I went with the Jedi because I believed they would set me free…I was wrong; so wrong! When I became a Sith apprentice I willingly embraced my chains…As I believed such a sacrifice would enable me to become stronger." He shrugged as best as he could from his stretched out position. "Now look at me. I'm a slave to a life support system."
"You are a Cyborg and no person." Leia added. "He's more machine than man…I have no intention of changing the laws on manufacture and ownership of Cyborgs…Not that we now know what they are capable of."
"Banishment? I for one don't trust that gundark out of my sight." Mon Mothma finished. There were laughs at that.
"I don't trust myself out of my sight either." Darth Vader added unhelpfully. More laughs.
"We of the Republic have abolished the death penalty...However there are exceptions." Mon Mothma's face was grim and rather frightened. She would go down in the history books as the senator who condemned Darth Vader to death. "You deserve a thousand deaths. We will be merciful and grant you just one."
Leia nodded slowly. "He deserves nothing less." Was all she said. "And if I was judging you..."
The crowd erupted in cheers and roars of approval.
Luke looked at his feet "So this is how justice dies, to acclamation…" He said sadly.
Darth Vader had been expecting this…Yet he was still shocked. "I don't want to die!" He yelled. "Please have mercy! I will endure anything but that!" He yelled and screamed, fighting against his chains, which clicked and clanked under the strain.
The Imperial guard stepped forwards, aiming their blasters at the suddenly active prisoner.
Leia put on her `I'm so embarrassed by this person` look
"Blast him! I cannot think without that ruckus!" Mon Mothma tugged at her dress in annoyance.
Luke stepped forwards, he plugged his datapad into his father's chestplate. "Sorry, Dad." Swiping the screen he switched off Darth Vaders Vocabuliser.
There was a sudden shocking hush.
"That's one good thing about him. His audio has a mute setting."
Everyone laughed, leaving Darth Vader to scream and rage in silence.
Court adjourned.
After recess all filed back into the courtroom.
Their unhappy victim was still hanging in mute misery.
Luke reconnected the datapad. "Now, no screaming, no tantrums, none of those bad Huttese words which I know you are so fond of."
Darth Vader twitched a hand and nodded by way of agreement. He hated it when the suits controls were taken over.
Luke switched the suits audio back on.
"Thank you!" Growled Darth Vader
Luke stood up. "I'm so glad to see you again in the land of the civilised, Dad." He smirked. "Now, here's where I, a Jedi Knight takes over. " Luke Skywalker had been mostly silent all through his father's trial, "Ben Kenobi and Yoda taught me about the Jedi Order…What do Jedi Stand for?"
"Peace!" Said Admiral Akbar.
"Justice!" added Han Solo.
"Death to the Sith!" Leia had to say.
"Lightsabres!" Shouted a Rodian at the back.
"The Force!" Rieekan offered.
"Doctrine of non-attachment." Darth Vader said unhappily.
Luke lit his lightsabre and raised it triumphantly in the air. "Tell the Galaxy! The Jedi are back!" he shouted. "I will see justice done…"
The crowd erupted in cheering. This was the most tangible sign of a change for the better they had seen so far.
Luke stepped up to Darth Vaders pillar. "I ask you one question, Father, I will call you that as I have waited all my life for you to return…I dreamed my father was a mighty Jedi Master."
He whipped round to face the crowd. "Now look what I got. I got a Sith." He turned back to Vader, and holding his lightsabre at his prisoner's throat, he asked in a soft voice, almost too soft for the mike to pick up. "…I ask you two questions, Condemned …Who are you? My Father or Darth Vader? What are you? Jedi or Sith?"
Darth Vader nodded triumphantly. "I was a Jedi…I have been a Sith Apprentice…Now…I'm neither." He said sadly. "And to who I am…I'm a dead man."
Luke turned back to the crowd. "As we have agreed, my father, Darth Vader is an extraordinary man who has committed extraordinary crimes. It's only just that he be subjected to an extraordinary punishment…After all, deaths far too simple for the likes of him."
You could have heard a Poughull drop in the hall.
"I believe that it is right and just that Darth Vader undergoes the Ordeal of the Will of the Force." Luke explained. "My proposal is to seal him shut in a metal coffin and bury him alive. It will be quite painless; his batteries will run down and he will simply drift off to sleep." Luke suggested. "If the Force wills it...He will die." Luke paused. "But if the Force is merciful, Darth Vader, the man who abused the Force so much, will die; but my Father will be reborn." Luke said grandly.
The courtroom was suddenly a seething pool of emotion. Luke flinched. He had gone too far, hadn't he? He reached out for Leia, but the girl was masking, as usual. (She was very good at that.) The only Force user he could detect was Darth Vader…Who approved.
"Who is your father?" Someone at the back of the hall yelled.
Luke Skywalker smiled. "I am a hero and a Jedi Knight. However the man who sired me was a far greater hero and Jedi Master. I speak of Anakin Skywalker, the Hero With No Fear!" He raised his hands. "Have you not heard of him?"
"Wasn't he killed by Vader here, along with the other Jedi?" Asked Admiral Akbar.
Darth Vader began to laugh that grating laugh of his. "Yes, I killed Anakin Skywalker...In a way. You're looking at him."
Mon Mothma nodded. "I spoke to Darth Vader last night. He said he was Anakin Skywalker…I believe him."
Leia stood up. "Much as I hate to admit it….Both me and my brother have had DNA tests, we were indeed sired by that Thing in the Suit." She said in revulsion. "It's a normal reaction of disbelief and disgust to find that your parents indulged in…." she tailed off, not liking to finish the sentence. "Think how I feel, finding I was sired by an ambulatory junkyard." Leia paused "probably by artificial insemination. Anything else doesn't bear thinking about…"
"I think we have had this conversation before…." Vader said sadly.
"Like how When a Daddy Demon and a Mommy Angel Love Each Other Very Much?"
"I wasn't in this horrible prison back then!" Darth Vader protested "Anakin Skywalker was a good man, who did love your mother very much."
"And why did he kill her?" Leia retorted. "I don't believe you when you say that Anakin Skywalker was a good man." She stabbed a finger at her offending sire "you are everything but."
Darth Vader was silent for a moment. "The Dark Side twists love into hatred…A Sith can be allowed no positive emotions. And yes, you are quite right…I am a Demon. I loved an Angel, and that turned out as bad as you might expect."
"Uh huh."
"For the record. YES I WAS MARRIED TO YOUR MOTHER AND YES I DID ON OCCAISION HAVE SEX WITH HER," he paused, breath hissing, "Now everyone knows the shocking truth behind your birth. Tabloid journalists will cheer."
Several media people cheered in agreement.
Luke reached out and placed his hand upon his sister's shoulder. "Enough of that, Leia. Does everyone agree to my plan? At worst we dispose of a villain and at best we regain a hero."
Mon Mothma nodded. "I like the idea."
"I'm willing to try it out." Agreed Admiral Akbar.
The other Alliance leaders nodded their agreement. Luke smiled. All was going to plan. "Then it's decided. Darth Vader will be buried alive. The Ordeal is harsh...But it will purify him." He stepped up to his father. "Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith and Champion of the Dark side! Do you freely give up your own life in order for Anakin Skywalker to be reborn?" Asked Luke.
"My life is worth nothing to me!" Darth Vader replied. "If I can be cast into the crucible of fate in order that the greatest Jedi might live, then I desire nothing more." He nodded. "It will be the greatest of honours, one that I do not deserve."
Luke nodded in satisfaction. "Oh, I think you deserve it…"
"Well, that turned out...Interesting." Han said over a glass of Corellian brandy.
Chewbacca shrugged, a human gesture he had picked up long ago from his comrade. "Luke's come to a compromise." he said.
"So he has...I guess that's what being a Jedi is all about. Compromise."
"What does Leia think?" Asked the big Wookie. "Her looks were unreadable."
"I don't know. She's in a mood."
"Leia's just fine! She's in a mood all right." Chewbacca stretched his arms, "Females."
Han shook his head. "Does anyone believe that a man can survive without food and water and only a limited air supply for a month?" He gave a smirk. "I'd like to see that."
Chewbacca grunted to himself. He had a feeling Darth Vader could survive the end of the Universe.
Leia came stalking into the cell. She stood for a moment, silent.
"My daughter…" Darth Vader was on the floor, again. You would think someone would have the decency to place him on the bunk, wouldn't you?
Leia gave her nemesis a sharp kick in the ribs. "You have no right to call me that. I won't let you."
"Leia…"
It was Darth Vaders helmet which received the next kick.
"My Lady."
"Out with it! You are up to something! Luke is entangled in your plots."
Darth Vader shook his head, "No, I am entangled in his plots. My son has plans…And he's using me for his own advancement."
"Is he?" Leia paused. "I'm going to have words with my incomprehensible brother."
"Luke is a great Jedi."
"Let me tell you one thing, Dark Father…I'm playing along with my wimpy brothers games…I will need him in the future. However he won't be digging you up without my permission…And I will not be easily persuaded to release you. If you were going to be executed, it would be done by beheading you with your own lightsabre…A death too quick, to my thinking." She smiled grimly, "this way you will die slowly in the dark and the silence. You might rave and scream, but no one will come for you. You will truly be alone."
"I don't mind suffering. My life is horrible…And it's all I have got."
"Can you see why I consented to this game of Luke's so readily?" Leia nodded to herself "After what you did to me, torturing me, forcing me to watch while my planet was destroyed…I do not want to see you die too quickly. This way is better, oh yes."
Her prisoner had nothing to say to that. "Promise me one thing." Darth Vader demanded
"I won't promise you anything." She growled.
"When Anakin Skywalker comes back…Will you forgive him?" Darth Vader paused. "He is your father, after all, not me. I think you will find he is a very different person to me. Give him a chance, the same as Luke."
Leia turned on her heel and stalked out. "I'll see you in Chaos."
The media called it `elaborate suicide` a way for Darth Vader to die without suffering the indignity of execution. It was indeed a compromise.
The grave was public, there would be a guard of the red armoured Emperors finest. The Imperial guard.
These men were loyal to the current government…And that didn't mean Vader, the man who killed their former leader.
A hole had been lined with ten metres of duraconcrete, reinforced with steel and studded with sensors to detect any tunnelling. Every effort had been taken to prevent any rescue.
Though Darth Vaders life support was intact and indeed Luke had overseen its overhaul, his useless limbs were further disabled by having their servos crushed, and their individual power cells removed…He was still chained.
There was no way Darth Vader could escape under his own powers. He was doomed.
Luke walked alongside the stretcher Darth Vader was occupying. "This is all wrong for a Jedi." His Father told him. "Jedi are cremated…Only Sith have burials." He explained.
"Jolly good thing you are no Jedi!" Etsi Yanadai quipped gleefully from the other side, she was covering the entombment, and her usual cheery self.
"Anakin Skywalker was burnt on Mustapha" Luke said. "You told me this yourself. He was reborn as Darth Vader, a Sith Lord." Luke paused thoughtfully. "Now, why won't burying Darth Vader bring Anakin Skywalker back? Makes perfect sense to me." Another pause. "Do you think this is just, Etsi?" He asked.
The Twi'lek nodded, lekkus bouncing provocatively. "You are a Jedi. I trust you." What she did not say what that she thought the theatrics of this `execution` was mightily to her likings.
"I don't trust him." Growled Leia sulkily. "I meant you, Luke, not Darth Vader. "She spat. "That is a given."
"Leia. I love you but this Dark Lady game is getting old." Luke chided.
"Could I warn you about the dangers of the Dark Side?" Vader turned to her. "I am sorry about the torture. I should not have let Tarkin do as he pleased with the Death Star."
All knew that the destruction of Alderaan was one crime he had been acquitted of.
The red robed guard parted, to reveal a coffin, made from lightsabre proof Mandolaran steel. Luke and Leia manhandled their father's inert form in. (With the minimum of pinches.) Leia spat in Darth Vaders mask by way of goodbye. Etsi giggled evilly and wiped it off with her handkerchief. "I will be interviewing you when you come out." She threatened.
"I see." Darth Vader said slowly.
Luke pressed his forehead against his father's ebon helm, a gesture he knew Darth Vader used as one of rare affection. (His hands were of metal, after all.)
"Are you ready?" He asked.
"Yes," hissed the mask. "Thank you for this."
"Thank. You." And Luke pulled the metal lid shut with a clang.
Besh tree, a birch. In Anglo Saxon England all the trees had a symbolic meaning. The birch was commonly used as a flexible rod by schoolmasters…The birch stood for school, for discipline, for learning, a sometimes painful process. The Birch is the second letter of the alphabet (Atten, the Oak, is of course the first) so in Aubesh, that is Besh.