Here we are, the last chapter of Martyr's Requiem. Thank you to The Giant Daifuku and Riku Uzumaki for staying with this weird crossover. :D Stayed tuned for the sequel, Last Judgment!


"They're gone...Vader took them all to the Emperor."

Starkiller carefully sat down on the bench, wincing from the harsh injuries dealt by Vader's lightsaber. He had fallen from the cliff after PROXY, using Balthier's battle simulation, fought Vader and hopelessly lost. But Juno managed to find Starkiller sooner than later and took him aboard the Rogue Shadow, where they both tried to recollect what went wrong. From where she sat beside him, Juno sighed.

"I don't understand," she admitted. "If it was all a trick, why did Vader allow us to attack so many Imperial targets?"

"To sell the deception," Starkiller answered, pulling a bandage around his wrist. "Credits, starships, Imperial lives—they're all meaningless to Vader. Vader needed me to find the Emperor's enemies, no matter the cost. And I did just what he wanted..." He cast his eyes downward, unable to do much else.

Juno finished tying the bandage for him and tried to smile. "Yes, you did. But now the fate of your alliance rests only with you. What are you going to do?"

"We're going after Vader and the Rebels."

He lay against the wall, closing his eyes. His mind had to be clear of all emotions, of all stress and worry. Taking in a deep breath, Starkiller tried to concentrate, but Juno's tense aura was getting to him.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Meditating. Jedi can sometimes see visions of the future."

"Have you done this before?"

"Never been a Jedi before."

Starkiller closed his eyes again, this time blocking out all his surroundings. He could hear the whirring of a ship's engine, the yells of impatient workers, and the mutterings of a frustrated guard: the progress isn't as quick as he wants. Then the comforting words of a woman to a sobbing broken man. He was crying and pleading: I don't want this, I never wanted this—why must I be this way? Ashe, Ashe—what have you done to me? But the woman would not hear him, and he could do nothing as the darkness enveloped him, Force-lightning surging closer and closer—

"No...No! Balthier!"

"What?" Juno was at his side in an instant, touching Starkiller's shoulder. "What did you see?"

He struggled to regain composure, breathing heavily. "A massive space station..."


Balthier awoke with a start, instantly pulling against the belts holding him to the table, restraining him from any chance of escape. He let out a choked gasp, clenching his fists, when a warm, smooth as silk hand clutched his throat. The hooded figure of the acolyte stood over his feeble and worn body, her red lips in a thin expression that was both a smile and sneer. Balthier could do nothing but merely gape at her, too stunned to speak.

"I've missed you," she said in that oh so familiar voice. It was like music to his ears: a soft, melodious lullaby. Her hood slipped from her face like how a groom removed the veil of his bride on their wedding day. Ashe brushed her hands across Balthier's cheeks, and he gladly drank in her rosy scent. She banished his restraints with a wave of her hand, and he swiftly sat up and wrapped his arms around her. "I hope you haven't forgotten," she murmured in his ear.

"Forgotten what?" Balthier wasn't really concentrating on what she was saying; it felt so good to feel the warmth of her skin again. He nuzzled his face in her hair, running his hands slowly down her back.

"What I told you, so long ago. Your happy ending is but a dream."

He stopped holding her and pulled away, eyes narrowed. "Must you be so serious, Princess? Our reunion shouldn't be filled with chatter focused on dreams. What we have here, now, is reality." He touched her chin, smirking twistedly. "Isn't that right?"

"You are a fool, Balthier; a damned fool who has no heart to give. What good are you to me, now that you've fallen so far?" Ashe drew away, pulling her hood over her face. The acolyte returned, and suddenly Balthier was bound to the table yet again, unable to escape. "You are of use no longer. Those unable to withstand the truth are powerless and weak. For you, there is only darkness."

She faded away as if she were never there, laughing with a shrilling screech and utmost ecstasy—and Balthier was tied to the table, yelling out her name and cursing her existence. But it wasn't long until he felt alone, so very alone and cold. But there were voices around him, voices he didn't recognize, and they were telling him to just give up and let go of the past. The past was the past, what was done was done. Balthier writhed, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Ashe, Ashe! What have you done to me? What have you done?"

The voices grew stronger and clearer; the figures were standing over him, and the Force-lightning fizzled out into simple sparks. Balthier felt himself return to reality (it was all a dream?), limbs twitching from the magick-like shock still surging through his bones. Vader's mechanical breathing was loud above him and Emperor Palpatine was snickering ruthlessly.

"This one is mad," Vader said deeply. "Just as I told you."

As he lay there, numb and cold, Balthier stared at the shadows. He could see the others—Kota and the senators—chained to pods of metal and bright light. They were prisoners, too. But the Emperor chose Balthier to be a part of his demonstration of what was to come, hadn't he? Yes, that was what happened. And then Balthier blacked out, lost in a delusion of what he longed for.

The Emperor was now pacing in front of the senators and Kota, while Balthier gawkily tried to sit up, fumbling and grasping at the floor with shuddering fingers.

"You are all traitors to the Empire," the old hooded man said. "You will be interrogated. Tortured, much like this whelp. You will give me the names of your friends and allies. And then you will die."

"Our deaths will only rally others," Bail spat, always the noble one. Balthier envied him.

"Your very public and painful executions will serve as an example to the rest of the galaxy."

An alarm shrilled overhead, red lights flashing with blue, nearly blinding Balthier. He was shoved in an empty pod, arms chained almost immediately, just as the display screen across the chamber lit up. There, running as fast as he could, was Starkiller. His holographic image was blurry, but Balthier knew just how determined the boy was to save the people he ultimately and unintentionally betrayed. The Emperor turned toward Vader, scowling.

"Lord Vader, deal with the boy."

Vader did as told, vanishing behind sliding doors. Kota smirked from where he was chained, almost laughing.

"There may be a rebellion yet," he said.

"You," Balthier breathed heavily, "have such faith in him. But you're just an old fool, old man."

Kota laughed out loud this time. "Hah! I still stand by what I said to you earlier, pirate. Any negative thoughts reflect not only on your soul, but your appearance as well. You're looking rather gray, these days."

"I suppose that's a compliment," Balthier joked with a raspy chuckle, "coming from a drunk."

The Emperor was pacing in front of the prisoners again, and just behind the thick metal doors, Balthier could faintly make out the clashing sounds of lightsabers. Occasionally his fingers twitched from the residual lightning in his system, and he could just feel, out of annoyance, that his hair was tousled and matted. And if it was like Kota said, he definitely wasn't looking his best, especially with his paler skin.

Moments passed, and suddenly the massive doors slid open in time for Vader to be flung into the chamber. Parts of his armor were decimated, burning with a robust scent of iron, and his mechanical hand was completely missing, leaving behind a steaming stump. Starkiller walked in like a soldier marching from a victorious battle, lightsaber still brightly lit and hanging from his tight grip. He stood over Vader as the Emperor burst into maniacal fits of laughter.

"Yes! Kill him! He was weak, broken! Kill him and you can take your rightful place at my side!"

Starkiller appeared unsure, and suddenly Kota was free of his restraints, using the Force to grab the Emperor's red lightsaber. He jumped for the Lord of the Sith, but soon he was struck by Force-lightning and fell right in front of Balthier, helpless and in pain. Balthier only stared at him, realizing then that his restraints, too, weren't as strong as they should have been.

"Help him!" Bail exclaimed.

Swallowing hard, Starkiller stood in silence, eyes dancing between his mentors: one of the dark past, and one of the bright present. Suddenly he yelled out, raising his blade and running for the Emperor. His attacks were easily parried, blue flashing against red, and Balthier found it hard to keep track of what was going on. He pulled away from the chains around his wrists and rushed to Kota's side, helping the old man up. Once Kota gave him a grumble of thanks, he hurried to the senators and snapped their handcuffs with magick. Breathing heavily, he caught sight of the Rogue Shadow drifting just outside the space station.

"Juno," he murmured, lip curling. "Couldn't leave us behind, could you?"

Balthier spun around when the Emperor let out a mangled laugh and cry, collapsing to the floor in a heap. Starkiller stood above the weakened man, lightsaber raised as if he meant to kill.

"You were destined to destroy me," the Emperor snickered, rotten teeth showing through his pasty lips. "Do it! Give in to your hatred!"

Kota touched the boy's shoulder, shaking his head. "He's beaten. Let it go."

"It's a trick!" Starkiller snapped viciously. "He's more powerful than you know. And he deserves to die for what he's done to me."

"Maybe so. But if you kill him now, out of hatred, then you will be right back where you started."

Balthier flinched: right back where you started. Kota knew who Starkiller was all along. That made absolutely no sense at all. Starkiller deactivated his lightsaber in a hesitant motion, shoulders slumping just a bit. He finally turned around, looking at Balthier with a solemn expression.

"Get Bail and the other out of here. I'll be right behind you."

No you won't, Balthier wanted to say, but all he could do was nod. He turned, grabbing Bail by the arm, and started to lead the senators to where the Rogue Shadow was docked in the next chamber. Just as he turned, though, the Emperor sent a volley of Force-lightning in Balthier's way. The sky pirate grimaced, only to feel himself being shoved out of the way. Starkiller was poised between him and the Emperor, holding back the dancing sparks and lightning with his own hands.

"Go!" he yelled to both Balthier and Kota. "Hurry! Protect the senators!"

And then Balthier ran. The bridge of the ship never looked so inviting, and Juno's tense expression only made him wish he was dreaming. The exit ramp closed and the Rogue Shadow was in flight. As it soared into space, a colossal explosion erupted in the space station, lined with both darkness and light. Balthier lowered his head against the controls of the ship, sighing deeply.

"Just had to be the martyr, didn't you?"


Kashyyyk was the nearest system, and after a brief message from an Alderaan ship, Juno piloted the Rogue Shadow into the dark, deep forest. None of the senators spoke once the ship had landed, Kota was lost in a isolated vigil, and PROXY; well, the droid was just a mangled mess of metal in the cargo hold now. Bail, Kota, and the rest of the senators departed the ship, leaving Balthier and Juno alone. He shifted in his seat, ready to follow, but Juno was still.

"He's gone," was all she said.

Balthier frowned, looking at her with a drained expression. "I am sorry, Juno."

She shook her head. "No, we shouldn't be sorry. He's...in a better place now." Juno flashed a smile, genuinely touching Balthier's cold hand. "Before he left to rescue you and the others, he told me of what so startled him the last time we were on Kashyyyk. He found his old home and remembered who he really was."

"And?"

"He told me his name. Starkiller, after all, was just a mask given to him by the Empire." Juno looked out the window. "Galen Marek. A hero of the rebellion."

They joined the others in the small hut that was once the home of the Marek family. Bail stood at the head of the table, with Leia at his side. She gazed at Balthier with an expectant look in her bright eyes, but he turned away, staring into the swaying flames in the fire pit.

"Are we ready to finish what he started?" Bail asked, and the other senators agreed. "Then at last, the Rebel Alliance is born. Here, tonight."

"We need a flag to rally behind." Leia dusted off the table, wiping the dirt to reveal a noble sigma: the Marek crest. "A symbol...A symbol of hope."

As their meeting came to a conclusion, and as soon as Balthier couldn't take it anymore, he wandered outside the hut to find Kota and Juno in a deep conversation. His hand was on her shoulder, comforting her as she looked upon the night sky and stars. Balthier, too, looked to the sky. But he felt no need to appreciate its beauty; he could only stare and regret what had happened. Though in the back of his mind, he made a faint note to explore this galaxy's vast entity and claim it as his own. It was all he could do now, wasn't it?

"He's at last one with the Force," Kota said to Juno in a quiet voice.

She cast her eyes downward. "You always knew who he was, didn't you?"

"I suspected, yes."

"Then why did you help him? After all the things he had done?"

Kota thought for a moment, his gray eyebrows creasing. "When he came to me in the bar, among all his dark thoughts, I glimpsed one bright spot. One beautiful thing he held onto, even at the end."

"What?" Juno asked, tilting her head.

"You."


To be continued...