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Good afternoon, everyone who loves a good Star Wars Expanded Universe story! How are you on this warm day of July 22, 2017? I am well, if a little tired, as, so far, I've been reading more of The Generals: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, and the Winning of World War II, by Winston Groom, and I've been enjoying it, as I've read through over a third of the book so far. Unfortunately, due to my massive influx of books that I've been purchasing in both here and in Missouri, my mother has prohibited me from buying any more books for a while. Anyway, I'm ready to get started on what is becoming more than likely that this will be the final battle in my story. After that, the story will begin its denouement, and the story will end with a twist that only one person beside myself will see coming. So, as of now, I've written over two hundred and ten pages in this story so far, along with over one hundred and eleven thousand words in this final story. Well, I'd better get to writing my chapter, as I've only got so much time left before I have to go back to work. May the Force be with me, as well as Powerslammer, as I still haven't heard anything from him.
(July 23, 2017 Addendum.) Good afternoon, everyone. How are you doing on this day? I am well, but it is quite stormy where I am, and I am a bit tired. Anyway, what comics are you guys going to get this Wednesday, as I plan on getting Mass Effect: Discovery #3, and I can't wait to get it, as I will enjoy more of Mass Effect. Anyway, I am still reading The Generals, but I've made great progress so far in reading it. So, I think that I will need this battle to include a great Lord of the Rings moment, which will occur in this chapter, and will likely end the battle between the Palpatines and Darth Krayt. Oh, and, I don't think that I'll include X Ambassador's song, Torches, in my story, as I don't think that I can make it work into my story. Well, that's it for this addendum. May hre Force be with us all.
Onboard the Slave I
Boba Fett could hardly believe what he was doing at this very moment: He was flying his ship through the bowels of the planet of Korriban in order to save Edaan, Adari, Tau, Ben, and Adari from Darth Krayt's wrath, all the while bringing Tenel Ka, K'Kruhk, Kyle, and AG-37 along as reinforcements in case the four of them needed backup. In his younger years, or, even last year, he would have never gone on a suicide mission for a Jedi, much less for who could likely be the most powerful Jedi to have become a leader since Yoda. And yet, due to the young Jedi Master's persistence, compassion, military knowledge, and an overwhelming desire to aid people who came from all ways of life, his heart softened towards Edaan, and they developed a mutual respect, if not friendship, as Boba was still too stubborn to consider people his friends.
"Mand'alor, we need to pick up the pace. I can sense that Edaan and Tau are the only ones still able to face Darth Krayt." Tenel Ka urgently said, which irked the bounty hunter.
"Don't tell me how fast to go, Ka. I'm relying on you Force Users to navigate the disintegrating catacombs, and one wrong turn will be the death of us all. So, you do your job, and I'll do mine. Got it?" Boba irritatingly said to the Hapes Consortium Queen Mother.
"Regardless, we need to hurry, because I'm not sure if Edaan and Tau can take out Darth Krayt all on their own, let alone capture him." AG contemplatively said.
"At this point, I'd just be happy that he'd be dead, because the Shadow Alliance will eventually have him killed anyway for his crimes against life itself." Kyle said, which sickened K'Kruhk due to his respect for all life.
"But if we kill him, then we'll never know just how spread out Krayt's spy network is." K'Kruhk pragmatically said in protest of the Jedi Grand Master's apparent callousness, as he knew that everyone here was used to dealing in death, even the Whiphid Jedi Council Member.
"Look, we can worry about Krayt's fate once we find Edaan and the others, and make sure that they're all right. Fair enough?" Boba said, more than a little fed up with everyone arguing over the fate of a demented madman.
"Agreed." Everyone said to the leader of the Mandalorians, and they kept quiet for the remainder of their journey.
Meanwhile, Just outside the Dark Crusader
Tau Palpatine could feel the Force burning like a roaring fire within his body. Unfortunately, said fire, while enhancing his Force Powers, was slowly destroying his body down to the cellular level, as his body could was failing to handle the Force energy that he was calling on in order to stay in the fight with Edaan and Darth Krayt, who had years, or, in Krayt's case, decades of experience in fighting powerful Force Adepts.
"I can sense your exhaustion, Tau Palpatine." Krayt tauntingly said to Tau before he continued, saying, "Why not give up, and let the sweet embrace of death take you, just as it will soon take your brother and his loved ones?"
"I will never give up, Krayt! I'm a Palpatine, and if there's one thing that Palpatines are known for, it's that they never give up!" Tau defiantly said to the Dread Lord of the Sith, who only sneered in contempt of the younger Jedi's display of courage.
"Then I'll just have to make your death as painful as I can be before I make my escape, you young fool." Krayt condescendingly said to the rogue Iteration before he continued his attack on the two Jedi.
As the three Force Adepts continued their battle, Tau and Edaan shared a knowing look, and used a combined Force Push to launch Krayt in the air, where the commandeered Dark Crusader pointed a turbolaser in Krayt's direction, and fired. Unfortunately for the Shadow Alliance members, Krayt deflected the blast with the usage of the Force Power of Tutaminis on his stolen Consular-Class Cruiser, causing an explosion that shook the entire ship and destroyed the turbolaser.
"ADARI!" Edaan fearfully shouted, which filled Krayt with glee that he could cause such distress within a usually composed and collected Jedi Master. He then turned to face Krayt, and, despite the rage that made his entire body shake in pain, he forced himself to stay calm as he said, "I will not succumb to the Dark Side, Krayt. But, I can say that I will kill you for threatening my wife."
"That's a shame, Edaan, because we could have accomplished so much together. But, instead, I'll make you pay for destroying my plans for conquest." Krayt mock-hurt said before he, noticing how exhausted Tau was, then said, "Starting with your 'brother'." He then charged at the clone Jedi Knight, and was intercepted by the quick blade of Edaan.
"Tau, get to the ship! You can't fight anymore, and Krayt will kill you if you stay here!" Edaan yelled to his brother.
"I'm not leaving you to face this juggernaut all on your own!" Tau pleaded to Edaan before he saw Edaan's eyes turn yellow with anger, and, in his sudden burst of fear, then meekly said, "Never mind." He then tossed Edaan his Yorik Coral lightsaber, and then made a run for the Dark Crusader.
"And now you're all alone, Edaan Palpatine. And, in a matter of moments, I will kill you, and then kill your loved ones. Now, then prepare to become One with the Force, you wretched Jedi Master." Krayt menacingly said to Edaan before he moved with a sudden burst of speed, and slashed at Edaan's chest, and made him scream as he fell onto one knee from the pain.
As Krayt then walked up to Edaan, the scion to the Palpatine family could see horrific visions of the possible future, with all of his loved ones on board the Dark Crusader being butchered by Krayt, and him and his resurrected Sith order ruling the galaxy with an iron fist, and he then heard the voice of Vestara, saying, "Edaan, don't give up. You can stop Kryat here and now, and bring peace to the galaxy. You just need to let all of your power out and no one will be able to stop you."
Let it out? What does she…? Edaan wondered before the idea hit him, and he realized that he might not escape this battle alive. He then quickly began to gather all of the Force energy within his body, and, as he summoned the will to stand once again, he shouted to Krayt, "You cannot pass!"
Onboard the Dark Crusader
Adari, sensing that her husband was in mortal danger, prepared to disembark the Consular-class cruiser in order to help him, but Tau got in-between her and the exit to the bridge, and sternly said, "You're not going anywhere. You've got to focus on flying the ship, and trust in Edaan to finish off Krayt. Vestara is counting on you."
"I don't care! My husband needs me, and I'm not going to abandon him now!" Adari said as she Force Pushed Tau out of the way in order to reach her husband before it was too late. She quickly found Ben preparing to exit the ship, and gratefully nodded at the older Jedi Master as the door to the ship opened to reveal a wounded Edaan standing firm against a towering Darth Krayt.
"EDAAN!" Adari shrieked to her husband, who did not even look in her direction, as he was too focused in his trance.
Edaan then began to speak in a rising voice, and resolutely said, "I am a servant of the Living and Unifying Force, wielder of the blade of the Jedi Order." He then ignited both his and Tau's lightsabers, and raised them in a defiant manner. He then yelled out, "The Dark Side will not avail you, descendant of Jedi long gone!"
Krayt then smirked in amusement at Edaan's speech, and then prepared to strike at the young man, but his lightsabers blew up in his hands, taking a portion of the flesh of his hands off , and he screamed in agony from the agonizing pain.
"Go to chaos, Darth Krayt." Edaan snarled out as he prepared his final attack on the now vulnerable A'Sharad Hett. And, for the first time in many decades, Krayt felt fear course throughout his body, and he used his remaining strength to charge up a torrent of Force Lightning at Edaan. However, before he could attack, Edaan bellowed, "YOU… SHALL NOT… PASS!" He then unleashed a barrage of pure Force energy at the Dread Lord of the Sith, and he screamed in agony as he was blasted into wall after wall until he fell into a bottomless chasm, screaming the entire time that he fell.
"It's over." Edaan thankfully said as he felt the presence of Darth Krayt vanish, and his strength began to leave his body at a faster pace than ever before, quickly falling to the ground as a result. He then began to lose consciousness, and the last thing that he saw was Ben and Adari ran up to him, with Adari screaming his name the entire time.
Across the galaxy, the Jedi and their allies felt the disappearance of Darth Krayt's Force signature, and they all rejoiced at the elimination of their adversary. However, their jubilation was cut short once they felt the fading presence of Edaan Palpatine, and each of their hearts were gripped by fear at the prospect of losing the founder and leader of the Shadow Alliance.
Onboard the Slave I
Boba felt his heart suddenly fill up with sorrow for a reason that eluded him, and he turned his head to see the grief on Kyle, K'Kruhk, and Tenel Ka's faces. Growing concerned for his allies, he said, "What's going on?"
"Edaan got Krayt, but I think that he's dying. It doesn't look like he'll last long." K"Kruhk said as a tear went down his face, which shocked the Mand'alor, as he thought that no one could kill Edaan Palpatine. Realizing that speed now trumped safety, he accelerated his ship's speed, and, after a matter of moments, he came across a CEC Consular-class Cruiser with Sith markings on it, and saw Ben and Adari bringing a passed out Edaan into the ship.
Acting fast, Boba opened the Slave I's comlink, and tersely said, "This is Slave I, requesting an update on Edaan's condition. Respond immediately, over."
After a moment, the voice of Tau came over, and he fearfully said, "This is Tau Palpatine. Edaan managed to kill Krayt, but the effort must have drained his reserves. We have him onboard Krayt's ship right now. I think that he only has, at most, a few minutes left to live. Lead us out of the catacombs, and hurry, because he and Vestara need immediate medical attention. Over."
"All right. You'd better follow me, because we've only got a handful of minute left until the catacombs completely cave in, and once that happens, it's game over for all of us. Over." Boba curtly said, and then shut off his ship's comlink. He quickly turned to face the three Force-sensitives on his ship, and he said, "You'd better know the way out of here, because there's no room for error here."
"We know, Fett." Kyle gravely said as he prepared to help lead Boba out of the catacombs.
Meanwhile, Back on the Dark Crusader
"Edaan? Edaan?! Stay with me, Edaan!" Adari fearfully shouted as she and Ben brought Edaan to the ship's medbay, and laid him down on a table, where the 2-1B medical droid was preparing to give Vestara a prosthetic hand before he noticed the dying Jedi.
The droid then said, "Well, mistress, it appears that you will have to wait, as we have a patient in a much more dire condition than you."
"Yeah, no kidding. Just help Edaan." Vestara sarcastically groaned through the pain as the droid prepared to administer a shot of morphine in order to awaken the young Jedi Master from his coma.
Concurrently, Deep Within Edaan's Consciousness
Edaan suddenly found himself within a Sith temple that appeared to be on a burning Coruscant, and he saw what appeared to be a fully alive Darth Krayt battling a male blonde-haired bounty hunter that wielded a green lightsaber.
Before he could understand what was going on, he found himself being faced by his five dead masters, and he then fearfully asked each of them, "What's going on? Is… Is this the future?"
"It is, indeed, Edaan." Revan said to Edaan, which broke his heart, as he knew that the Sith would eventually take over the galaxy, and that the Shadow Alliance would fall. But, before he could say anything else, Revan then comfortingly said, "Do not fear, Edaan. Your efforts delayed the Sith's conquest for seventy years, and gave the galaxy a much-needed respite from war. And, watch what happens to Cade Skywalker and Darth Krayt." Baffled beyond belief at Revan's revelation, he turned to listen, and he saw Cade kneeling on the ground before Krayt.
As Edaan then listened in, he could hear Cade speak of his own doubts and fears before he declared to the seemingly triumphant Darth Krayt that he was a Jedi, and he struck Krayt through the chest, killing him instantly, as Edaan could sense that Krayt was truly dead this time.
He was then transported to a ruined world that he did not recognize, but he saw an Imperial Knight standing over a one-eyed Sith Lord, and what Edaan heard could barely be comprehended: he heard the Sith Lord beg to be killed in order to avenge his family, and he was then blasted off of a cliff by a black-haired smuggler that carried an assault rifle. "Who is this?" Edaan then asked to one of the five Force Ghosts that were guiding him through these series of visions.
"That, Edaan, is my descendant, Ania Solo. She was the one who killed the last Sith in all of existence, Darth Wredd. This will take place one year after Darth Krayt is killed by Cade Skywalker." Jacen Solo said with a smile of pride on his face as he spoke.
"Why am I being shown these visions?" Edaan numbly asked as he realized that he was merely meant to pave the way for the Sith's eternal destruction, which gave him a sense of peace that he had not felt since he married Adari.
"Because, Edaan, you are dying, and you will soon leave this plane of existence." Meetra calmly said as she motioned for Edaan to follow her and the others.
"I see." Edaan sadly said as he realized that all of his friends would be heartbroken at his death, but knew that they were strong enough to eventually overcome their grief. "How long do I have?" Edaan then asked, hoping that he would have enough time to say goodbye to his loved ones.
"At most, ten minutes, Edaan. Which is why we come to tell you that you did well as a servant of the Light Side of the Force, and that it is time for us to leave your body." Qui-Gon proudly said to his final student.
"Well, you got any final words of advice for your final student?" Edaan courteously said to his fading Jedi Masters.
"Tell your loved ones how much you love them, as you will never get another chance, my friend." Tau simply said as he and the four other Force Ghosts faded from Edaan's soul, and Edaan quickly founded himself awake and within the confines of a medical bay.
He then saw a 2-1B medical droid standing over him, and the droid startlingly said, "Oh, my. It appears that my latest patient is awake."
"EDAAN!" Adari shrilled out as she immediately came above Edaan, and he could see the tears that were freely flowing from her eyes. "Oh, Edaan. Hang on, luv. We're in orbit above Korriban, and we'll be on a MedStar, in a little bit, and the doctors there will save you." She then tenderly said, which broke Edaan's heart, as he knew what he would say would devastate his wife.
"Adari... I'm so sorry, my love, but I'm afraid that I won't last the hour. I've exhausted all of my energy, and I can feel my life force slipping away." Edaan despondently said to his aghast spouse.
"No. No, don't say that, Edaan. We'll find a way to save you, just hold on a little longer." Adari practically begged to her husband.
Oh, Adari, I love you so much. I am so sorry that I have to leave you. But you have to carry on and lead your people into the new galactic age. Now, I need you to get the others and bring them to me, as I need to tell them of my visions." Edaan tenderly said to the love of his life.
Adari, realizing that Edaan did not have much time left, quickly followed her husband's last wishes, and, after a matter of moments, he sensed Adari, Tau, Ben, and Vestara standing right next to him, and he sensed their despair coming from all of them in waves. Edaan then said, "I am so sorry that I'm dying, but you must listen very closely, as I don't have much time until I become One with the Force, and what I'm about to say is crucial to the galaxy's survival. The galaxy must be vigilant, for the Sith will return one last time, and they will threaten everything that we hold dear. You must beware the one-eyed Sith, as he will decide whether the galaxy tips into Light or Darkness. Lastly, you must keep the Skywalker and Solo families alive, as they will be the shatterpoints for bringing a lasting peace to the galaxy. Tell the leaders of the Shadow Alliance of this, as they must be ready for when the final war comes. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Edaan." Vestara tearfully said to the person who saved her from the Dark Side.
"Vestara, you and Ben need to promise me something." Edaan said as he beagn to cough violently, which alarmed everyone. Soon enough, he stopped coughing, and he said, "You two need to promise me that you will be there for each other throughout the good times and the bad, and to help each other if one of you stumbles in your walk with the Light. Promise me."
"I promise you, Edaan." Ben said as tears of his own fell off of his face, and he held onto his wounded lover very tightly as he prepared himself for his former apprentice's death.
"Good. I regret that I couldn't see the wonderful family that you two will make together, and what great things that you will do for both the people of both Kesh and the galaxy." Edaan solemnly said. He then turned to face Tau, and he said, "Tau, I need you to promise me that you will follow the Will of the Force, as I can sense that you have a great destiny in store for you. I also need you to look after my friends, as they will need your help in order to survive whatever comes next. Also, please keep my holocron safe, as I bestow it onto you. Record into it my final words, and… add to the knowledge for future generations of Jedi to learn from. Finally, I need you to forge your own path, as you don't need to live in my, or our ancestor's shadow."
"You have my word, brother." Tau said as he struggled to maintain his collected demeanor.
Edaan finally turned to Adari, and he gently said, "Adari. Oh, my love. My greatest regret is that I couldn't get to form a family with you, or that we couldn't make that house on Kesh like we wanted. But, I know that you will do great things for the rest of your life, and, one day, we will be reunited in the Force. I… I know that you will do what's right." Edaan said as he struggled to breathe, which tore at everyone's hearts.
"Edaan, please don't leave me." Adari begged to her husband, even as she felt the last vestiges of his strength leave his body.
"I… know… that you all… will do… what's… right…." Edaan whispered as his eyes shut for the final time, and he breathed his last, leaving four of his heartbroken loved ones alone with their grief. Then, something miraculous happened: Edaan's body began to dissipate, and, after a few moments, his body became merged with the Force, and all that remained was his armor and cybernetics.
Knowing that they still had a job to do, Tau and Adari headed to the bridge to guide the ship into a MedStar, and, after Ben gave Vestara a passionate kiss, allowed a medical team to take Vestara in order to give her a prosthetic hand. Once the three remaining fighters left the Dark Crusader, they saw the crew of the Slave I look upon them with a sorrowful expression, which made them know that everyone knew that Edaan Palpatine was dead, and the Shadow Alliance was finished.
Well, that ends the most sorrowful chapter of my final story. I hope that you enjoyed Edaan's final words, as I put a lot of time into constructing them in my mind before I wrote this chapter. Oh, and I hope that you enjoyed the Gandalf reference in my story, as it felt like it was perfect for this chapter. So, what are you guys doing on this day, which is July 24, 2017? I recently got back from seeing Dunkirk with my mother at a local movie theater, and it was riveting. I hope that all of you go see the movie, as it will not disappoint you all. Anyway, you don't need to worry about my story ending for at least a month, as I still have more than a few loose ends to tie up. Well, I guess that this is it for this chapter. I just want all of you to know that Squasher looked it over in case anything could have been improved in this chapter. I hope that you enjoyed, as it took me around three days to write this heartbreaking chapter. May the Force Be With You, and Long Live The Expanded Universe!
