Chance Encounter

Chapter 36

"A Jedi? Yes, I see now. I understand. The Force is telling me that what you say is true. You are my son."

Vader then stepped forward and clasp his hand over Luke's shoulder and for the first time in a long time; Vader felt a sense of ease. For here was his son—his and Padme's. Luke and Leia were the last things left in the world of his angel. And for a glimmering moment he felt hope begin to stir in the mist of his despair.

Luke sensed the feelings bubbling up inside of him and said, "Father, I believe you're not all evil. Won't you help me and Leia fight Darth Sidious?"

The young Jedi then saw the look of hope fade on Vader's scarred face. He turned away from him and released his shoulder and said, "No, there is no hope for me. The Dark Side is too strong. The Emperor is too powerful."

"Hm, some Chosen One you've turned out to be," said Thrice critically.

Irked, Vader glared at the war-maiden. It did not surprise him that she remained unchanged. She was unnatural and defiant. She was the force behind Obi-Wan's betrayal. Vader blamed her as much as Obi-Wan for abandoning him. He knew that she was the one that Obi-Wan loved over him. She was the one that corrupted him.

"What do you know of the Chosen One, witch?"

"Only that the Chosen One was foretold to bring balance back to the Force, but I can see now that you are a coward. You are nothing more than a lap dog to the Sith. You won't even try to defend your own children."

Vader was outraged. He ignited his lightsaber and approached Thrice, but Obi-Wan stood between them. He was ready to defend her. Obi-Wan would not let Vader harm his wife again.

Vader shouted, "You know nothing! You took my children away from me! You stole them. You and Obi-Wan. I have no family. All I have is my revenge!"

"No, your wrong!" shouted Luke. "I believe in you, father."

Suddenly, Darth Sidious appeared and electrocuted all the Rebels with his Force-lightening and had them all writhing in pain until they dropped to the floor. He laughed maniacally and said, "How touching, too bad your faith is misplaced, young man."

Sidious then turned to Vader and said, "Have them taken back to the Death Star. I will deal with them later."

Vader bowed and followed the Dark Lord's step and said, "Yes, my Master, but what of Lord Blackswan and the Rebel ships that managed to escape?"

"Let them run. Today's victory is ours. I doubt that the Rebel Alliance and Lord Blackswan will be foolish enough to attack us again."

"Yes, my Master."

XXX

Location: Death Star, throne room

When Obi-Wan finally awoken, he discovered that the Emperor had Han, Luke, Leia, Jinn and Thrice all shackled and lined up on the floor. Groggily, he got up and saw that they were on board the Death Star and that they were in the throne room. Sidious was seated in front of a large window and Vader was standing to his left. Obi-Wan immediately reached for his lightsaber, but saw that it was missing.

"Are you looking for this?" asked the Sith Lord.

Obi-Wan replied, "Yes, but I should have known you would have us disarmed. Tell me, what do you plan on doing with us, Darth Sidious?"

"Oh, I have plans. Plans for you, my dear Obi-Wan."

"I'm sorry, Sidious, but only my wife has the privilege of calling me her dear."

The Sith laughed at Obi-Wan's gall. It seemed his wife's spirit had rubbed off on him. And admittingly he thought they were a rather attractive pair. They were similarly driven and dedicated to their cause, but equally stubborn and defiant even to the last. Sidious watched as he bent down to revive his wife and the others with a gentle hand.

"Darling, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Are you hurt?"

"No, and the children are fine. Can you stand?"

"Yes."

Sidious smirked and rose from his throne towards the couple and unexpectedly clamped a force-collar onto the war-maiden's throat. Shocked, Thrice tired to remove it and Obi-Wan sprang forward to attack the Sith. Sidious grinned and knocked Obi-Wan off his feet with his powers.

He towered over him and said, "Yes, I have plans for you, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I want you to join me, my enemy, and serve me as a Sith or your precious wife will die. I'll break her like I did before, but this time I will do it right before your very eyes."

"No, don't! Let her go."

"Then, I want your answer. Join me or she dies."

Sidious inwardly gleamed. He saw the doubt creep into Obi-Wan's eyes. He could nearly taste it. He knew that witch was Obi-Wan's weakness. She was the window in which he could manipulate him into falling. However, Thrice senses the same break in her husband's resolve.

"No," she shouted as she yanked on the collar around her neck. "You lie. You were never able to break me. All you were able to do was destroy my body, but my spirit will never die because I am a warrior!"

Enraged, Darth Sidious used his powers to blast Thrice away. He loathed for spoiling his plans. Instead, he decided to destroy her. He knew her death would break Obi-Wan completely. He knew he loved her too much and that her death would push him over the edge. Sidious shot a bolt of Force-lightening at her, but Obi-Wan quickly moved to shield her with his body.

"NO!" she cried.

Thrice saw the bolt engulf Obi-Wan whole. Fear gripped her heart. She couldn't lose him. He couldn't die. Immediately, she ran to him and flipped him over to his back. His skin was boiling hot and parts of his clothes were burned and chard. Desperately, she checked his pulse and then listened for his breath and discovered that it was shallow and weak. Tears began to pour from her ruby-eyes with as she cried with relief.

"Oh, please be all right, please."

Obi-Wan groaned and replied, "Don't…you…ever die."

"Obi-Wan!" she cheered. "Oh, thanks the gods! You're alright."

Thrice then tried to remove the shackles on his wrists, but then realized she was cut off from the Force. Irked, she reached up with her own bound hands and pulled on the Force-collar around her neck. "Dog's of hell! I forget I still had this damn collar around my neck."

However, Jinn and Luke finally made their move. They used the Force to unlock their binds and summoned their weapons from the Emperor's throne. Luke quickly freed Leia and Han, while jumped between his parents and the Emperor.

Jinn flicked his wrists and activated his father's lightsaber in his right hand and gripped his mother's sword in his left. Though, in response Darth Sidious was intrigued. He had never seen Jinn before, but felt that the Force was strong within him.

"Who are you?"

Confidently, he replied, "I am Jinn Kenobi."

"Ah, another Jedi."

"No, I am both a warrior and a knight. I am the son of Ben Kenobi and Lady Thrice."

Sidious grinned in fascination and said, "So, you are both yet neither. You are a Gray Jedi then."

Puzzled, Jinn asked, "And what on earth is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, my young warrior, that you are not wholly in the Light. I can sense in you a touch of Darkness. You are more your mother's son than your father's. I can feel your bloodlust. Deep down you wish to kill me."

"Oh? Is that really so surprising? You were about to kill my parents."

Darth Sidious laughed at Jinn and said, "Yes, why not? It is only natural that you should seek revenge. You should embrace the Darkness. Come, your bloodthirsty desires makes you more and more like me. In fact, you both could join me."

Jinn narrowed his brow. He didn't know what sort of game Sidious was playing, but he would not listen. He would not be fooled and neither would be Luke.

Yet, out of nowhere, Luke cried, "Jinn! Look out!"

Vader was about to strike, but luckily Luke and saved him at the last minute. Together the two drove Vader back. Swiftly, Luke disarmed Vader of his weapon and Jinn used Force-lightening to force him down onto his knees. Vader cried out in pain as the bolt coursed through his body.

Though, Darth Sidious was greatly amused. He chucked with glee and shouted, "Yes! Kill him! I knew you had it in you, boy. Kill him and take his place as my new apprentice!"

"No!" shouted Jinn. The young warrior then deactivated his lightsaber and threw it aside. "I am not like you! You are empty and hollow and full of hate! I am nothing like you."

"That's right," added Luke. "My brother and I serve the Light. We will never join you, Sidious. You can't force us to change sides."

The Dark Lord sneered and replied, "Then, you and the others will die."

Then, with a violent attack, the Emperor used his god-like powers to subdue all of Kenobis and their friends. He used an enormous bolt of Force-lightening to paralyze them all. Each one of them fell to the ground and screamed in agony. Sidious' face contorted with manic glee as he watched his victims fall at his feet.

It looked like the end for the Rebels. There was no escape from the Emperor's immense strength. Obi-Wan clung to his wife with all his might and hoped for a swift end if they must die, but then without warning an explosion blasted open the double doors to the throne room. A great plume of smoke descended into the chamber and standing on top of the debris stood Siri.

"You haven't won yet, Darth Sidious. You haven't defeated me."

XXX

TBC

XXX

Cliffhanger!

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