Kadus ventured toward the throne room on the Death Star to find some peace there. The Dark side had given him everything. Surely he could find more power here. But Rey's words still rung in his head, she wanted to take Caden Skywalker's hand, but he was dead. He was weak. Darth Kadus wasn't. He entered the room where Rey was and tried to find the darkness. The room was empty, but not silent. Suddenly there was a sound in the darkness, breathing.
From the shadows came the hulking presence of Darth Vader. Kadus activated his red blade as Vader did the same. Vader swung at Kadus who blocked it with ease. Vader swung again, forcing the descendant of Skywalker to defend himself. It was a brutal fight, both of them seemed to be strong enough to be equals, but Kadus was no match. Vader struck him down. Kadus screamed in pain, and fell to the ground struggling to breath, his saber thrown somewhere else. But when he looked down, there was no wound on his chest.
"You are weak. You think you can take my place? No one can." The voice of Vader said. "You are alone." The voice said. Kadus got up and looked around. He realized those words were true. He put his head down, tears streaming down his face. But then, three figures came forward, one of them picking up Vader's blade.
"Hello there." A voice called out. Kadus turned around. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
It was the Force spirits of Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
"A civilized weapon such as this, deserves a bit more respect." Obi-Wan said.
"And just because it was used for evil, doesn't mean you use it the same way." Anakin said.
"No, you all stay back." Kadus said.
"What are you afraid of Skyboy?" Ahsoka asked.
"What are you doing Caden?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'm only doing what you did!" Kadus pointed to Anakin. "The Jedi Order lied to you, made you believe what they did was right, and they were wrong!"
"I was wrong. I let myself be manipulated by someone who wanted the galaxy in his control. And for twenty years he succeeded." Anakin said.
"The Jedi Order wronged me too. I didn't turn my back on everything I held dear though. I was still myself." Ahsoka added.
"And perhaps, the Jedi of the past were wrong as well. Your father was right, it was our hypocrisy, our hubris that led the Sith to rule." Obi-Wan said.
"And fear." Anakin said. "Fear led me to do awful things. I hoped it wouldn't happen again, but I suppose it was destined to be." Anakin said.
"But Caden, you don't know what your father did." Ahsoka said. "He may have made decisions that were questionable, but he always loved you and your mother. He wanted you safe."
"Well, he sure as hell had a weird way of saying it." Kadus said.
"You think that's bad? You remember what happened when I first met your father?" Anakin asked chuckling. "It didn't turn out well."
"Caden, sometimes we believe that people are too far gone. That there is nothing left. But even in my infinite knowledge, I believed there was no more good in Anakin. But your father did. He knew it." Obi-Wan said. "I should have told him about your grandfather, but I didn't know if he was ready for that knowledge."
"And when he found out, he helped me find myself back. He didn't deny it, run away from it, or embrace the dark side. I was saved by your father, Caden." Anakin said.
"But it's too late for me. I can't go back." Kadus said.
"Oh, Caden." Ahsoka said comfortingly. "We all make mistakes. But the best thing we can do, is to learn from them."
"We all fall Caden, but that's when we learn how to get back up." Anakin said.
"Failure is the greatest teacher of them all." Obi-Wan said. But Kadus was still shaking his head.
"I can't!" He shouted. "I won't do it! I have to do this! For myself, for my family, for… for Rey." He said the last part to himself.
"No matter what happens, we will always be with you." Anakin said. The Force spirits went away and Kadus found himself alone again. That is until he felt a presence behind him.
"Hey buddy." A familiar voice said to him. Kadus knew who it was, he turned around to find Sabine Wren standing before him, in her Mandalorian armor. It was the last time Caden Skywalker saw his mother. "Look at you Caden. You look so handsome son." She said. Kadus shook his head.
"Caden Skywalker is dead. That name means nothing to me. He was weak and foolish and I destroyed him." Kadus said.
"No, Darth Kadus was already dead. My son is very much alive. I know he's so much stronger than he thinks." Sabine said. Kadus shook his head.
"This is just my mind playing tricks with me. You're not real." Kadus shook his head.
"I'm real in your heart." Sabine countered.
"Then if that's true, why did dad leave you to die? Why didn't he save you?!" Kadus shouted.
"He wanted to." Sabine replied calmly. "But I knew it would be in vain. We would both be dead. And I wanted him to live so that at least one of us could find you. That you wouldn't live as we did, without our parents." She explained. "Caden? Don't run, come back." She said.
"I can't. She's gone. I'll never see her again. She knows who she is. And she'll run where I can't find her. I've ruined everything! It's all my fault!" Kadus said in tears.
"That girl is the best thing that ever happened to you Caden. She may be a Palpatine, but she is good at heart." Sabine said to him before reminiscing for a moment. "You know, for a long time I was Sabine Wren, I worked for the Empire, then the Rebels, and then I met your father. Even when I found out who my parents were, I wasn't Sabine Wren, or Sabine Kenobi anymore, when I was with your father, I was Sabine Skywalker. And that's who you are. That's who you always will be." Sabine said. Kadus looked at her for a moment. "Caden?"
"Can I do it? Can I fix everything? Make it better?" Kadus asked.
"You already made that decision." Sabine said placing her hand on his cheek making him cry some more.
"Mom…" Caden said. His voice was trembling, like he was ten years old again.
"I love you too. I always have." Sabine said, then Caden threw the blade back into the room. He turned around to find her gone. Caden knew what he had to do now. He would return for that blade, because something told him he wouldn't need it. Just then a figure stood behind him.
"Caden?" The voice said. It was his cousin.
"I really hope you're not stopping me Ben." Caden said.
"No." Ben said. "I'm going to help you."
On the lead Destroyer, Palpatine was communicating with General Pryde and Tyron.
"The Princess of Alderaan has disrupted my plans. But her foolish act will be in vain. Come to me on Exegol, General Pryde, Lord Tyron." Palpatine said.
"As I served you in the old wars, I serve you now." Pryde said.
"Those two may have betrayed you, but I will not. I will serve you as your true apprentice." Tyron said.
"Perhaps I was wrong to dismiss your grandfather so easily, come to me and I will help complete your training." Palpatine said to Tyron. "Send a ship to a world they know. Let it burn. The Final order begins. She will come, her friends will follow."
"Yes, my lord." Pryde said.
The Resistance got a call that terrified them all. Kijimi had been destroyed by the Final Order.
"Kijimi? How?" Poe asked.
"A blast from a Star Destroyer." D'Acy reported. "A ship from the new Sith fleet. Out of the Unknowns."
"The Emperor sent a ship from Exegol." Beaumont said. "Does that mean every ship in the fleet—"
"Has planet killing weapons, of course they do." Poe finished. "All of them. This is how he finishes it." Suddenly, a transmission was broadcasted.
"Listen." DJ said. "It's on every f-f-frequency."
"The Resistance is dead. The Sith flame will burn. All worlds, surrender or die. The Final Order begins." Beaumont translated.
"Leia made you acting general." DJ said to Poe. "W-w-what now?" But Poe didn't have an answer, instead he went to where Leia's body was laying.
"I gotta tell you, I don't really know, how to do this. What you did. I'm not ready." Poe said.
"Neither were we." A voice said behind him. It was Lando and Hera. "Luke, Han, Leia, me. Who's ever ready?"
"It was the same for us." Hera said. "Sabine, Ezra, Kanan, me."
"How'd you both do it? Defeat an empire with almost nothing?" Poe asked them.
"We had each other." Hera answered.
"That's how we won." Lando added. Meanwhile Kira had been holding something back, and wanted to tell Finn but couldn't find the right time. He was having the same thoughts.
"You know, back when I first started here, I didn't think we'd be something." Finn said.
"No, to be honest, I thought we were never going to be a thing." Kira said.
"But now that we are, I don't care what happens next. I will always be there for you. After this, we can do our own thing." Finn said.
"What'd you have in mind?" Kira asked.
"Maybe somewhere quiet. Somewhere peaceful." Finn suggested.
"Kashyyyk. I want to visit there. It's where my dad was born. And maybe we can bring Chewie with us too." Kira said.
"I'd like that." Finn said. That's when they both sat in silence for a bit. "Okay, so I've been holding something back."
"Me too." Kira quickly added.
"Do you think we should say it at the same time?" Finn asked.
"Well, we're both alone now, so might as well." Kira said.
"Okay so on the count of three. Ready?" Finn asked.
"Yeah." Kira said.
"Three, two, one." They both said.
"I have the Force!" Finn exclaimed.
"I'm pregnant!" Kira exclaimed. Both of them were stunned silent.
"You're pregnant?" Finn asked.
"You have the Force?" Kira asked.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Finn asked.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kira asked. "Can you lift anything with the Force?"
"No, how long have you been pregnant?" Finn asked.
"Less than two months, I already felt it." Kira said.
"Who are you having a baby with?" Finn asked. Kira looked at him confused.
"I think it's obvious Finn." Kira said.
"Oh, yeah, right." Finn said. "Wow. Wait, you shouldn't be fighting."
"Oh no. Don't start this. I am perfectly capable of fighting on my own." Kira said.
"Wait, you fought Kylo Ren while pregnant!" Finn realized.
"Finn, I'm fine, baby's fine too." Kira reassured him. "Do you not trust me?" She asked.
"Of course I trust you." Finn said.
"And I trust you too. So stop worrying. Let's survive this and get back to living our lives." Kira said.
"Okay." Finn said with the two of them embracing. That's when they noticed the little droid messing around with Rey's things. "Hey, don't touch that. That's my friends." Finn said.
"Sorry. She is gone?" The droid asked.
"Yeah, she's gone. I don't know where." Kira said.
"I miss her." The droid said.
"I miss her too." Finn said before turning to the droid. "So, what's your name?" Finn asked. The next thing they knew they were heading to Poe who was also looking for them. "We gotta talk to you about something."
"I gotta talk to you both about something." Poe said. "I can't do this alone. I need you both in command with me." Poe said.
"This droid has—Thank you." Finn started to say.
"We appreciate that." Kira said.
"Generals." Poe gave them their ranks.
"General." They both called Poe.
"This droid has a ton of information about Exegol." Kira said.
"What? Cone face?" Poe asked.
"I am D-O." The little droid said.
"Sorry, D-O." Poe apologized.
"He was going to Exegol with Ochi of Bestoon." Finn said.
"Why was he going to Exegol?" Poe asked.
"To bring the little girl he was supposed to bring from Jakku to the Emperor." Kira explained. "He wanted her alive."
On Ach-To, Rey was busy destroying the remains of Kylo's TIE fighter. She was going to spend the rest of her life here, in hiding. She was scared of who she might be. She then grabbed Anakin's saber and with all her might, she threw the saber into the fire. But shockingly, the blade was caught, and out of the fire stepped Luke Skywalker.
"A Jedi's weapon deserves more respect." Luke said.
"Master Skywalker." Rey exclaimed.
"What are you doing?" Luke asked.
"I saw myself on the dark throne. I won't let it happen. I'm never leaving this place, I'm doing what you did." Rey explained to Luke.
"I was wrong. It was fear that kept me here." Luke said with remorse. "What are you most afraid of?"
"Myself." Rey answered.
"Because you're a Palpatine." Luke said taking Rey by surprise. "I knew it the moment I saw you and Caden. Leia knew it too."
"She didn't tell me." Rey said. Luke sat down beside her. "She still trained me."
"Because she saw your spirit." Luke said. "Your heart. Rey, some things are stronger than blood. Confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi. Your destiny. If you don't face Palpatine, it will mean the end of the Jedi and the war will be lost." Luke explained before getting up. "There's something my sister would want you to have. And something else I want you to take." Luke said before leading Rey to his hut where she uncovered a bundle with three sabers in it. Rey picked out the one in the middle.
"Leia's saber." She whispered.
"It was the last night of her training. Leia told me that she had sensed the death of her son at the end of her Jedi path. She surrendered her saber to me and said that one day, it would be picked up again by someone who would finish her journey." Luke explained.
"Your saber? And this?" Rey gestured to the two other blades.
"That one is the Darksaber. It belonged to Sabine before she passed it down to a friend of hers. We found out that someone from the Empire had stolen it, and we managed to find it back. But Sabine had a vision, of Caden wielding the blade himself. She told me to keep it hidden, until someone could give him the blade. And now, that person is you. A thousand generations live in you now. But this is your fight. You'll take all those blades to Exegol."
"I can't get there." Rey said. "I don't have the Wayfinder, I destroyed Ren's ship." She explained.
"You have everything you need." Luke said echoing Leia's words to her after Crait. Rey then went to the TIE fighter and found the first Wayfinder.
"Two were made." She said. Just then, the water began to rumble and Rey saw Luke's old X-wing was lifted from the water with Luke himself lifting it out with ease. He gave her a smile and Rey was now filled with hope. She would set out on her journey and finish this.
Boy, if that beginning scene with Caden didn't bring you to tears, I don't know what will. But yep, Caden Skywalker has returned. The next chapter, or rather two chapters will cover the Battle of Exegol, I got some major plans for this one.
Reviews:
avengersendgame426: Thanks for your thoughtful reviews. Yes, Caden will come back, and I was always going to have Ahsoka appear to him as well as his mother and his grandfathers, Anakin and Obi-Wan. We'll see about that lightsaber though.
ABEBOABDU: We'll see about that.
MerlockVonBaron: I know right?
Guest DCDGojira: Very sad indeed, but yes Ahsoka was always going to appear before Caden.
Mr Guest: Well, I hope you'll like what I do with Tyron in the Battle of Exegol. Sorry, but Caden was always destined to come back.
