Everyone looked around and immediately hid when the sound of stormtrooper boots clacked down the hallway. They stopped in front of the door and opened it, then stood in a salute in front of the door before entering. Then Mari saw why. Darth Vader walked through the stormtrooper lineup, holding Mari's daughter Celeste. As Mari saw her baby asleep in that…that monster's arms, she almost began to cry.

She calmed herself and then became worried, there were a lot of troopers there, and….Darth Vader, and the….Emperor. This was going to be hard, Mari knew it, and she felt it in her bones as she pressed the button that opened the door to the chamber, lightsaber blazed.

…..

The inside of the Emperor's meeting chamber looked like a large open room with a broad open center. The large throne was in the middle which held the Emperor in a big, bullet proof, metal chair. In his scraggly thin and weak arms he held…Celeste. Mari stood in the center of the room; her lightsaber was raised high, ready for anything that these Sith Lords could through at her.

Behind her in practically perfect formation stood Shadow, Maryanna and Clay, their lightsabers also blazed high and ready for attack. Six rebel troops stood behind them, blasters, guns, vibroblades, any weapon, really, were also aimed and poised for attack. Mari smiled at the totally evil Emperor and spoke in a sweet sounding voice.

"I think you have something that belongs to me."

The Emperor began to cackle and said, "Ohhh, I think that you have it quite wrong, dearest child, but this baby is no longer yours, she is mine."

His voice sounded as if he was mocking Mari, as if it was all just a game. Nothing but a game. With that, Darth Vader raised his lightsaber and moved toward Mari and her crew of rebels. The game had begun.

…

Darth Vader smashed his lightsaber against Mari's, pushing hard. The surrounding stormtroopers began to fire at the rebel troops. Each rebel fought valiantly back at the stormtroopers. While Mari engaged in a fierce battle with Darth Vader, Maryanna, Clay and Shadow cut down the stormtroopers, who kept coming like a bunch of battle droids.

They worked quickly and were able to disarm or kill most of the stormtroopers, without any casualties. Mari fought and slashed her lightsaber against Darth Vader's, creating a loud clanging and electronic clashing sound that echoed through the chamber. Then, Vader stepped back and the Emperor kicked in.

The blue lightning slashed against Mari's lightsaber, deflecting back toward the Emperor. The Emperor only absorbed the power and pushed it out further now hitting several victims at once, while still holding the thankfully unharmed baby in one arm. The blue Sith Lightning pulled down Clay and Maryanna, causing them to writhe and spasm on the ground.

Mari looked in panic as she watched her husband Shadow fall as well, the blue lightning causing him to fall and struggle on the cold ground. Mari shook her head and fought back harder. She focused the Force on her baby and the lightning that was now overflowing her lightsaber and hitting her body. Mari gritted her teeth in pain as she felt the blue lightning ricochet through her body. Fighting back with all that she had, Mari used the Force to fight for her baby.

Then, unable to help it anymore, Mari fell, landing near her husband on the ground where she lay in a vulnerable position, on the floor. Then the Emperor said to Darth Vader in his raspy and cocky voice, "Lord Vader, finish them."

Darth Vader approached Mari with his lightsaber poised for kill. Then, before he could do anything, a purple lightsaber crashed onto his, protecting Mari. Then six more rebels entered, and began to shoot at the Emperor, who spun around in his metal, bullet proof chair, deflecting the fire. The Emperor, followed and surrounded by his Royal Guards, escaped the room, hurrying away, still carrying Marilee and Shadow's daughter.

Meanwhile, Ember Sparkstone was in a fierce battle with Darth Vader. Mari, regaining her strength, stood and ignited her lightsaber as she ran to help her friend. Mari then looked over to her husband, who had worked his way to the back of the room, where he, Maryanna, and Clay were surrounding the remaining Stormtroopers. Mari smiled at him from across the room and then continued to fight Darth Vader.

Suddenly, Darth Vader began to retreat, deactivated his lightsaber, and used the Force to yank items from the room, using them to bash and batter the two girls fighting him. At first, Mari and Ember were able to Force leap out of the way before being hit by flying debris. Chunks of plastioid and wall ornaments flew from the walls, whacking into Ember's body, causing her to fall down, injured and having the air knocked from her.

Mari, defending her friend, bounced back and slashed her lightsaber back against Darth Vader's. He Force yanked a large chair and then a piece of tubing from the room. The debris crashed into Ember, who was already worn out. Now she was bleeding and broken, unable to move from under the heavy wreckage.

Mari gasped when she saw Ember crushed, and then engaged in a fierce battle with Darth Vader until the rebel troops were getting worn out and knew that it was time for a final retreat.

Knowing that the Empire would work her troops until they were all dead, and seeing that they were clearly outnumbered for this fight, Mari gave Zaren the signal to retreat and split up, so they wouldn't be found by the vicious Empire.

Then, from her uncomfortable position underneath the garbage that crushed her body, Ember tossed her ignited lightsaber toward an unsuspecting Darth Vader, hitting the lighted control panel on the front of his suit. With a satisfied sigh, Ember passed out, and Darth Vader retreated.

After Darth Vader left, Mari ran to Ember's side, and grabbed her under her arms and then dragged her trapped body out of the debris and to safety as well. Everyone split up, some going in the air vents, out the exit, through the garbage chutes, the basement, back door, and others. Mari took off with Ember and lost track of her other family members. When they entered the basement exits, Mari laid down Ember on her lap and tried to read her with the Force. Ember was still alive, but was beaten pretty hard by all the debris that hit her. Mari's body ached terribly from the callous Sith Lightning that had rocketed through her.

Mari then looked down and for the first time, noticed that her left hand was zapping and electrocuting, blue sparks flying off of it. Surprised, Mari rubbed it and then focused on Ember. Ember was breathing shallowly and opened her eyes slightly. She looked at Mari and spoke so quiet that it was barely a whisper.

"Mari….leave me…..I don't think…..I will…..make…it…" Ember stopped speaking to breathe and Mari shook her head violently.

"No, Ember, you will make it. Don't give up. I'll get you to a Medic. Force-Heal yourself, like we learned at the Temple. Come on Ember!" Mari, now seeing that Ember's vital signs were failing, lifted her over her shoulder and then ran the rest of the way through the basement tunnels.

…

Ooooh battle! Now, what do you think? Ember's dying! HAAAAAHHHH, when I wrote that, my lovely cousin and I were fighting. I SO BADLY wanted to kill her character off. Then she apologized and I couldn't do it. XD LOL! Anywhoooo….how was it? Did I write it to 'fast'? Was it too abrupt? I mean, they faced the EMPEROR. XD Whatever. Let me know! REVIEW! That blue button is oh-so-tempting, I bet. :-) Love you all! Thanks for reading/reviewing! Fallon.