Thank you for your review's I hope to hear more with this chapter, it may be a bit shorter, but I wanted to leave it where it was before carrying on.


Duel of Fates Chapter 4

The Struggle of Temptation

It had been three days, well that was what Han had guessed at, but in reality he didn't have a clue how long it had been. They could have been sat here for maybe a day or two, or they could of been sat here for weeks, each second stretched into a minute aa each minute stretched into an hour.

Suddenly his stomach growled, his hand shot to his stomach drawing in a breath and clenching his stomach in an attempt to silence the painful sound. It had been a whilst since he had eaten, but overall that food wasn't that bad, well as much as came through the small hatch beside the door. It seemed that they were being given the same food as everyone else, well the stormtroopers anyhow. It was not what he was expecting anyway. It was soup, it wasn't watery either, he came to the conclusion that it was vegetable soup after a couple of spoons full. They were given bread, and it didn't crumple in your hand.

He glanced over to where Leia was lent against the wall. For some reason unknown to the smuggler, their shield had been lowered giving them free access to what once was the walkway between the two cells, nevertheless the shield around Luke still didn't fall. It had changed though. Opposed to a solid wall, now beams shot from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall creating a deadly grid between the two.

The gaps were large enough for a hand to fit through easily, although be it carefully. That was how a pile of bread had ended up sitting beside Luke totally untouched. Leia was always mirrored where Luke sat, very rarely did she move from that spot. Occasionally she would draw herself up using the wall before pacing the wall to stretch her legs, this was a luxury that the young Jedi didn't have. He had never once moved from his position, not even shifted to get comfortable, Han was certain that he was not.

"Luke..." Leia whispered with a shaky voice causing Han togulp. "Please Luke, answer me." Still no response, from where he was sat Han could see that those blue eyes were open wide. But he gaze remained forward not even flickering towards the pleas. "Ok. Just show me that you heard me, twitch your finger. Please Luke, just this once. For me." He remained statue still.


His body was frozen in place, he dared not move. Leia's pleas rattled his bones, oh, how much he longed to reassure and comfort her, but he knew he was being watched. One move, even in the slightest would be disobeying the Emperor's orders, and disobeying his orders would mean punishment for them.

Submerging the urge to lick his lips with a sandpaper tongue he slowly closed his eyes in an attempt to distance himself from reality. He did not sleep, a dark void beckoned him into its warm embrace, he fought against it as he fought a losing battle against reality. His arms were numb, as well as his feet. His spine ached against the wall due to extended period of malnourishment.

"Luke..." There it was again, he sunk further inside himself his eyelids closed tightly now. He questioned how much longer he could keep this up for.


A sound that he distantly remembered echoed through the room, three clicks. The door was unlocked, someone was to enter. He knew exactly who even before the tapping of the cane could be heard. He heard the force field drop and dared open his eyes. Before him he saw the end of the old man's robes that swayed as he halted, bottoms of red robes to either side. To his right he saw Leia scurry back and sit with Han who held her tight.

"Luke!" She cried, "Do something, Luke! Don't just sit there! Luke!" Pressed further into Han in fear, the look in Solo's eyes showed the same amount of fear Leia had just expressed.

"He will never answer to you, girl!" Palpatine snapped, never once did his gaze move from his prey. "Isn't that right, my young Jedi." In fear for their safety he hastily replied, "Yes Master."

"Good," he praised, "Look at me." Luke complied lifting his head to meet the Sith Lord's yellow eyes.

Palpatine looked into the youths eyes, he could see how tired the young Jedi was, and the fear that danced across the sky blue waves. The boy had obeyed his ordered, but only in fear of what would happen to his friends. A small dwindling fire could be seen in him. This was not what he wanted, he wanted the youth to willing be his servant, to obey his orders not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Only then could he gain the Sith that he wanted, and there was only one way to do that.

"Stand!" He barked causing the young Skywalker to flinch before he rushed to obey the order. The wires were long enough for him to stand and take maybe a step or two, but restrained non the less. Now that the boy was standing, on obviously aching legs, his plan could continue. "Bring him in." He hissed. In an instant a group of footsteps could be heard drawing closer and closer to the room till a wave of black swamped the door frame.

Darth Vader stalked into the room, behind him followed two stormtroopers with a body hanging limp between them.

Palpatine took a few steps back, a sickly grin on his face. The Dark Lord took his place beside the Master of Darkness as the troopers dumped the figure before them. As quickly as they came the white clad soldiers retreated back to safety.

The figure, dressed in a rebel uniform, was left kneeling in-between the Sith and Luke, but most importantly he was facing Luke. Although his head was bowed Luke felt as though he recognised this man, and by the look on Leia and Han's face it was no question that he knew this man.

When the man raised his head Luke hissed under his breath and would have taken a step back, but stopped himself from doing so.

"I see you remember our guest."

"I do," Luke replied before adding "Master." For good measure.

"Admiral Vox, I assume." Palpatine replied.

"You presume right, master." Luke replied, his eyes had never broken contact with the Admiral during the conversation with his Master. Subconsciously his hands clenched into fists as he vented his anger into the force.

Palpatine sensed his anger, "Good, the Dark Side flows strong with you." He rasped, this caused Luke's anger to rise even further. "Kill him."

Luke's head snapped up at the casually spoken words, "No!" He spat, he would not kill this man, even if he wa...

No! He pushed the thought away, he would not fall to the darkness.

He expected a harsh reminder of the consequences, but it didn't come. "Really?"

Luke was left stumped, he chose not to reply.

"It's tempting isn't it?" Palpatine questioned, not waiting for a reply he continued, "You want to kill him. I sense it in within you."

Luke snuck a glance at his friends who watched with faces of horror, then he glanced at his father who remained silent.

"Why do you deprive yourself of this necessity. He is far from innocent, far from those you swore to protect. He betrayed you." Luke cast his eyes down. "Wasn't he one of those that condemned you to this place. Casted you out because they were two afraid of their hero, because he was the son of the Dark Lord. And the grandson of the ruler of the galaxy?"

Luke took a mental check, checking to see if he had heard right, he was the grandson of whom? No, it wasn't true, it was impossible.

"I was correct!" Vox voiced, "Traitor!"

Darkness raged around the youth tearing at him, he brought a shield of white around him, but he struggled to maintain it as his own mind longed for the warmth of the darkness.

"Your thoughts betrayed you my young Jedi, or is my young Sith more appropriate?"

That was it, Luke's anger flared to a new level, the darkside broke through, a deep, raging fire sprang to life in his eyes for a brief moment before it dwindled and died.

"Kill him!" Palpatine snarled.

Vox merely chuckled before looking back up at the young Skywalker, "You can not kill me! You do not have the courage to do so, you're pathetic and weak!"

This time Luke had no hope of restraining the darkside as it flared out grasping at the being who had caused his anger. The darkness wrapped around Vox, Luke had one arm outstretched he hand tight tightening ever so slowly.

The Admirals hands darted to his throat, there they clawed at the invisible hold with each breath his throat tightened, he sucked more breaths in, each one weaker but more desperate than the last, before the last he whispered, "Pl...e...a...se..."

Luke only smiled, before with one squeeze of his had the Admiral toppled to the side, dead.

Luke stepped back panting slightly, he stopped before his back could hit the wall. He stared at the Admirals corpse, he felt no gilt, no remorse, no regret. In fact he felt rather ecstatic, he openly let the darkside flow through him. Only then did he look up to his grandfather, who he now saw in a different light, he was his master and his grandfather, the true master of darkness, therefore the master of him.

"Very good my young Sith." He scrutinised the youth, easily braking through his mental shields even though they had been strengthened by the darkside, the boy did not resist his search. Palpatine saw a mine of hatred and anger, some of which was directed at himself and Vader, whilst a mass majority laid with the rebellion, some even to the Jedi who had both betrayed and lied to him.

However there was still one tie to the light that had not been broken, and that was his friend, the smuggler and the princess. Cutting his love off for them was going to prove difficult, but if he wanted a true and loyal Sith it had to be done. Maybe there was a way though.

"Knell." He commanded, the boy instantly obeyed dropping down to one knee his head bowed in submission. "You shall remain like that until I return. You know the consequences if you disobey."

"Yes Master." Luke replied.

Palpatine turned and walked from the room, Vader followed close behind as the force shield was raised. The door locked behind them and they carried on their way.


"The child is strong in the force."

"Yes he is master." Vader agreed.

"He has fallen..." Palpatine stated.

"Then why is he still in the cell master?" Vader hastily asked.

"If you would let me finish son." Palpatine waited a few moments to make sure that his Sith would remain silent. "There's still one connection to the light that has to be broke for him."

"And what is that connection?"

"His friends, they are his ties to the light and his ultimate weakness. Cut them off and we shall gain the ultimate warrior." Palpatine explained, they had reached the private wing of the palace and Palpatine had stopped at his doors. "Tomorrow we shall visit him, and his friends will betray him. Then you will kill them" Offering no further explanation Darth Sidious entered his rooms his door shutting swiftly behind him.

Leaving the two royal guards to protect his father Vader returned to his own quarters. Removing his mask he settled down on the sofa and looked out over the city.

For once in his life things seemed to be falling in place, soon he would have his son, with Luke by his side the rebellion would hold no hope in winning this war. There was still one thing missing though, Padme, his angel. His heart suddenly fell heavy with guilt, even with the truth of him not being the direct cause of het death with his son as evidence he knew that he had ultimately caused it.

He vowed that he would not let anything harm his son.


Leia looked upon Luke who still remained in the position the Emperor had left him in, that had been several hours ago. The body of the Admiral laid cold at his feet, even in sleep the moment that Luke had committed the sin had haunted her, the wide eyes that stared into her soul. They watched her now, from the opposite side of the force field; she felt tears prick at her eyes, but non would come, too many had fallen already.

She had tried to gain Luke's attention, but it was as the Emperor said, 'He will never listen to you, girl!' Some how that tyrant had gained leverage over the Rebellions Hero, or maybe that was the leverage he had over Luke. He was no longer their hero, they had casted him aside in the face of the truth. For the briefest of seconds his eyes had burnt yellow, they looked so much like that of the Emperor.

"Please Luke, don't give into your hatred." She whispered.

All of a sudden the door opened.

Palpatine entered first followed closely by his lap dog, Darth Vader. The shield fell, two stormtroopers advanced towards them, Vader followed closely behind his red blade ignited. Leia elbowed Han in the ribs causing him to awaken with a groan. When he had come to his senses he moved forward whilst pushing Leia behind him in one swift motion.


Time seemed to slow, each step took what seemed to be hours. Luke watched from the corner of his eyes with horror as his friends were herded into a corner by his father. His anger grew, what had he done wrong?

He rose to his feet, knees threatened to buckle beneath him, but by some miracle they held.

Palpatine's gaze shot to where Luke had risen, "I told you to kneel!"

"Master, please, don't hurt them." Luke pleaded, taking a step forward, only to be hit by a jet of force lightning that sent him fly back wards.

Han was grabbed by one of the troops and dragged forward ever so slightly, but enough for his partner to get at Leia. Finding his strength Luke pushed himself to his feet, he dashed forward towards them for the first time putting all his weight on the unyielding bonds. Yet again his disobedience resulted in a bolt of lightning hitting his chest sending him back on the floor.

"Stay down!" Sidious barked.

Mustering up all his strength he channelled the darkside into his bonds willing them to open with all of his will.


A small click caught Palpatine's attention, he turned round to find Skywalker free of his restraints, Impossible!

Luke was now charging at the two Sith. "Vader!" Sidious yelled.

Vader turned lightning fast, to see his son charging at him. At first he was in shock, how had he-? He sensed pure anger radiating of the boy, his eyes- they were not sickly yellow like his or Palpatine's no his burnt with the fires of hell.

Gathering the force to him he pushed Luke away, sending him flying across the room with such speed that when he impacted the wall a large crack and dent was left behind.


His back ached, his head throbbed. Eyes that were merely slits came into focus, for the briefest moment he saw he friends being dragged out of the cell. Just before the door shut he heard the hiss of a lightsaber as it cut through air. He remembered no more as the darkness calmed him.


I know that this chapter is short, but I've got lots of studying to do over this holiday ans I wasn't sure of when I would be able to get a chapter up.

Please Please review!

TTFN

RavenLu22...