Chapter 19: The Final Attack
Leia and Luke boarded the Death Star with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, and the now older clones from the Clone Wars. Leia and Luke have been told to go to the tractor beam and disable it while Obi-Wan and Ahsoka begin to head to the throne room. Things may be at won, but the best the two older formal Jedi can do is delay him. They highly doubt they would be able to destroy him. With them running in blasting and lightsabers activated, both children continues to chop heads off, not willing to let these narrow minded blind fools to get in their way. The clones from the previous war have proven to be of great help and will continue to watch out for the two children, likely never having to witness the war itself.
After cleaning out carriers of Stormtroopers, Leia and Luke ran up to the prison cell and opened the door whereas they should have seen their mother since her original presence was here. "Why are you here?" A voice ringed out, followed with a sound of a lightsaber.
Quickly, Leia and Luke flipped around and saw a woman with dark robes walking down with a bitter look on her face. Both activated their lightsaber and clenched their teeth as she growl at her, "Where is our mother? And what did you do to her." She demanded lowly, twirling her double bladed lightsaber threateningly and dangerously, not backing down.
"Luke! Leia! No!" A voice cried, followed with the sight of Padme Amidala running up and throwing her arms around her children. Leia and Luke held their mother close, both children glad. "Luke, Leia, meet Mara Jade. She's helping me escape." The former senator introduced the young orange girl.
Neither Luke nor Leia trusted her. But Luke couldn't denied the fact that he cannot take his eyes off of the girl.
Leia clenched her jaw and glanced at Mara with daggers in her eyes. "Why are you doing this?" she asked her accusingly. "Why are you helping us against your master?"
"Darth Sidious must be put to a stop," Mara said coldly, "for far too long he have ruled the galaxy and cause the death of many innocents. I can see you and your masters as potential resources of stopping Darth Sidious. While I may be a Sith, I still abide by the code my mother had taught me. I'm going to avenged them and make sure Sidious paid for what he has done to me. Join me and together we can all bring peace and freedom across the galaxy. After, I would surrender to the Rebellion."
"Rex," Leia said to her comlink a little bit of bitterness in her tone as she glared up at Mara, watching her every move. "I have my mother."
"Rex?!" Padme exclaimed. "You mean Commander Rex!"
Leia nodded as Rex responded, "I would be there soon, Commander."
"Come wait here," Luke ordered. Padme opened her mouth as if she was about to argue but Luke prevented her from doing so. "We will explain later."
Luke and Leia begin running down with the former Sith Assassin taking the lead, each of them intend to take down the galaxy.
As they ran down, sneaking in the base to find the primary target to turn off the tractor beam, Luke and Leia still had many questions. Mainly though, both Skywalkers were concerned about their masters, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka who is likely on the verge of confronting the Emperor.
"I never thought that a Sith would help down enemies." Leia frowned at her.
"I don't have real enemies, Jedi," Mara hissed. "I only want Darth Sidious to die. I don't care if you win, I want Emperor Palpatine to lose. Now quiet. The Emperor must still think I'm on his side and I can act like you both are my prisoners."
Mara went up to the tractor beam controllers and proceed to turn it off without a moment of hesitation. Despite her past, both Skywalker realizes she is a good person at heart. There is a chance for her, when she is fully release from the Empire's clutches that is. The Emperor have likely manipulated her for years and have influenced her for years, but Mara must have gotten to know her parents and knew what they would have wanted.
"Likely, your friends haven't made it to the Throne Room due to his guards but we have to still try," Mara continued firmly.
As they walked down, both of the children can feel Mara's thoughts of being fully ready to destroyed the Empire. Mara was fully determined to kill the Empire for what he has done to him. And the fact that Ahsoka nor Obi-Wan is not here brought even more fear to them about something happening and them not managing to destroy Sidious, but yet they can feel the dark side. What's odd is that the Throne Room was not as far as the two Jedi would have thought it to be so it was a short walk, the two Jedi wanted to stop the Emperor but fear was cleared in the eyes.
"Carry on," Mara states, sensing their fear. "We are close."
Suddenly, one of the Imperial Guard came up to the current Emperor's apprentice. "Miss Jade, who are them?" He motioned to the two Jedi who stood motionlessly, feeling the urge to activate their lightsabers.
Yet, Mara lunged forward and impaled the guard with her purple lightsabers. Giving the dead body a look of satisfaction, Mara kicked over her body as she thought about how she can possibly make the Emperor to come to a stop. "The Emperor is upstairs," Mara told them bluntly. "You two better be good fighters, for Darth Sidious is strong with the Force." Beginning to shake with a mixture of fear and anticipation, both Luke and Leia followed Mara into the elevator. There may have been a chance to defeat Sidious if Ahsoka and Obi-Wan was here, but they can hopefully delay him and prevent him from killing all of their friends.
The elevator came to a stop on the top floor which revealed the Throne Room of the very master who is behind all of this. Once the doors opened with a cold silent hiss, Mara strode out confidently, igniting her lightsabers and quickly beheading a couple of Royal Guards on her way. Luke and Leia both hesitated briefly before following her towards a set of stairs leading up to a platform, activating their lightsabers as well - Leia holding her double bladed purple, and Luke a single blade green lightsaber. A large circular window dominated the far end of the room, and directly in front of window was a black chair facing the opposite direction. A dark aura passed in the room as the chair flipped around to face her.
"Your time is at an end, my Lord," Mara snarled determinedly.
Sidious stood up from his throne calmly and begin to walk towards the two Jedi and his former Assassin and potential Apprentice. "You dare betray me, Jade," Sidious said coldly, his voice ringing in their ears as each - subtracting Jade, shivered.
"Yes, for far too long you have ruled the galaxy." Mara's eyes flickered yellow as she held her lightsaber in a fighting stance. "I am done with being your slave and will destroy you."
"Very well then," Sidious cackles menacingly. "Will the strength to destroy me, Jedi." Sidious raised his hands as the three advanced forward. Easily, Sidious can see they have fall for his trap and raised his tender fingers, sending lightning to them. "You three would have to embrace the full power of the dark side to stop me." The three hit the ground before they could have raised their lightsabers to deflect the shots. Mara, Luke, and Leia struggled on the ground. "But there is still a chance for you both to join me, Skywalkers. You can unleash unlimited power and even surpassed Lord Vader."
"Never!" Leia cried.
"We are Jedi like our father before us!" Luke added.
Sidious frowned coldly and raised his hands, "So be it. You two are pathetic and weak. It would be a regret to kill you both but no one can stop me." Just as he raised his hand to send more lightning, a blue blade activated and deflected the lightning. Scowling as he saw the very two Jedi who have once been important to his apprentice, Sidious let out a mad yell. "You!"
There stood Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi. For a moment they just stood there but then they assumed their fighting stances. "You're done, Palpatine." Ahsoka told the Empire.
Sidious realized that while the three Younglings are children these are fully Jedi Masters like. Ahsoka was the apprentice of the Chosen One whereas Obi-Wan was the master of him. He knew he would have to use his lightsaber. In his robe, Sidious called for it and activated the lightsaber, revealing a red crimson blade. The Sith Emperor lunged to the two of the former Jedi. Sidious forced his blade at the two Jedi, moving with great speed and not willing to let them cut him down. While they are powerful, Obi-Wan has passed his prime and Ahsoka never really completed his training.
Dodging another slash from Sidious, Ahsoka brought an slash for own towards him, managing to keep up with his speed. She was mainly on the defense as he attack with such speed. Ahsoka felt he was 'toying' with her a little. Each time, it look like he was about to cut her down, they were an hold back that felt like he prevented himself from doing so. Ahsoka parried another blow, before sending him back with a kick, making him skid with his feet across a little. Not allowing him to gain the offense, the Togruta ran up and kick and punch against his torso. This gave Obi-Wan an opportunity to nearly cut him in half but yet the Emperor parried the attack however it was harsher and send his blade back.
Ahsoka moved very fast and dodge the Force Lightning the Emperor send at her. Obi-Wan is slow and cannot end him but with her there is a chance. She deactivated her lightsabers to increased her speed and was about to strike him down with a jump. However, this opportunity didn't gone very long, and Sidious quickly recovered and again activated his crimson lightsaber and send a few blows at her, which she had to duck as she activated her lightsabers again and blocked the attack. Obi-Wan begin to speed up but the Emperor raised his hand and Force Pushed him down the stairs.
The Emperor raised his lightsaber high over his shoulder, as did Ahsoka with her lightsabers, but in a different way. She held them from the bottom of her back, while he done it high so. Clashing, the two force each other blades at each other, dodging and blocking each other attacks with most of their willpower. Sidious was not having an easy time dueling Skywalker's former apprentice, but he wasn't having an hard time either as he continues to swipe away at her, trying to find an opportunity.
Things were not easy, as Ahsoka barely managed to fight off her old master's master. Sidious swung downward, slightly cutting the floor, as small objects came to her, stunning and subduing her. She found herself struggling now. With blinding fast speed, Sidious send harsh blows towards her, which she managed to counter. The Sith Emperor had use the same movement and attacks on Obi-Wan many years ago. The two lock blades, as did their eyes and the two pressed on each other blades, with Sidious getting the upper hand.
Sidious raised his tender hand and send lightning to her, causing her to collapsed against the ground. "And thus the old apprentice falls." Sidious hissed. "Fear not, your friends as well as Vader's children shall die."
At that moment, Sidious continues to torture her by sending torrents of lightning. Ahsoka looked around weakly, seeing Luke and Leia squirming to get up, and seeing their new ally also having a problem to get up. Ahsoka was to die first no doubt to pushed Luke and Leia down the path of the dark side. She sworn she has heard footsteps and looked up to see a person she have never thought she'll see again. The last time she had saw him was on the original Death Star and that was a long time.
"Get away from my apprentice!" Anakin Skywalker's voice boom, blue lightsaber activated by his side. "I have turned away from the dark side and you shall die now!"
Arthur's note: I am slowly experiencing writer's block with this story but I have watched stories that inspired me so I'm going to force myself to finish it, but the next chapter shall be in a while.