Luke saw the creature was down and out and continued to back his way up, deflecting laser blasts with ease. With one foot on the ramp he could hear an excited R2-D2 whistling on board behind him and was anxious to join him. Then he saw a dark figure approaching very quickly beyond all of the troopers. It was a man, tall and all in black, streaming past everyone as if they were standing still. There was a foreboding presence about him, about his movements. It caused Luke to stop and unknowingly halt his breathing. He paused at the edge of the ramp and waited a moment for the figure to get closer.

Time seemed to slow. Luke could hear the gears inside the laser gun of the Falcon very slowly turning and aiming itself on the new target approaching. It fired rounds of lasers towards the black caped man who ignited a bright red lightsaber and harmlessly batted away the blasts. The red glow danced around him as he ran in long strides towards Luke.

Luke's remembered that red glow, the distinctive flashes it made as that lightsaber struck the lightsaber of his teacher and mentor Ben Kenobi on the other side of the large landing bay back on board the Death Star. Obi-Wan was his Jedi name, struck down by the same evil man as his father. Leia described him as a monster. The iron fist of the Empire itself. And without a doubt this was him, Darth Vader.

The image of his Aunt and Uncle's burnt corpses flashed before him. Anger and hatred surrounded and filled Luke's heart. The excitement of the moment pounded in his chest. Revenge!

How would a Jedi react in this situation? How would his father react? Protect his friends, defend the ship so they can escape, and strike down the enemy in doing so. Rid the universe of this evil. That would be a worthy goal of any Jedi. The force was with him today, and he felt like he was just the one who could do it.

Luke slowly stepped off of the ramp and raised his lightsaber. The approaching figure sensed a change and he slowed down to a walk and raised his lightsaber as well. When he was within earshot Luke was about to yell out to the monster, yell out who his father was, who his teacher was, who it was that was about to destroy him. The engines of the Millennium Falcon ignited and roared just over his head, and Luke took another step away from the ramp as it started to close. Then a distant voice drifted through him like a cool breeze. It was a voice he had not heard since the Death Star, since the Great Victory. It was the voice of his mentor. It was Ben!

"Run, Luke. Run!"

Luke's jaw dropped open. He had no time to listen. Vader sensed something and began to run again towards Luke. Luke squeezed the lightsaber. He was here to do this. He was meant to do this, today- now! He knew he must fight.

"Run!" echoed Ben, louder now.

Tears streamed down his face as he grimaced and gnashed his teeth towards the approaching darkness. His heart was exploding in his chest as he steadied himself for the battle. Again he heard the voice. Finally he cried out in pure agony, gave in to his mentor, and kicked out with his legs, throwing himself back and up into the closing ramp.