Han, Leia, and Chewie were escorted out of the bunker with their hands over their heads. As they cleared the bunker, Threepio popped up over the ridge. Atroo whirred as well to gain the Imperials attention.
"Bring those two down here," the commander demanded as a few stormtroopers ran up the hill. As they surrounded the droids, the Ewoks came out of the forest and attacked the Imperials. They dropped boulders on the scouts and their bikes with others attacking the walkers.
Since the troopers were surprised by the turn of events, Han and Leia were able to break away as the Imperials rushed to fight off the Ewoks. They ran for cover at the bunker entrance as explosions echoed around them. Leia called for Artoo when they noticed that the bunker was now locked with new codes while more Ewoks descended on the troopers.
"Come on!" Han urged when he saw the two droids approaching. The astromech plugged into the terminal just as a stray blast hit his dome. Artoo sprang backwards as he started to short circuit. Han sighed as he went to the terminal as Threepio checked on his friend. "I suppose I could hot wire this thing."
"I'll cover you," Leia agreed as she pulled out her blaster and peered around the corner. Chewie was nowhere in sight, but she could see the Ewoks working together to take care of the surrounding Imperials.
"I think I got it. I got it!" Han cheered before another blast door covered the entrance. Frowning, he turned back to the wiring as Leia spotted more scouts in the bushes. After a brief exchange of fire, she felt a searing pain in her shoulder as one of the blasts hit their mark. Han turned to her, no longer interested in the control panel.
"Mistress Leia, are you alright?" Threepio asked as Han leaned forward.
"Let's see," he whispered before she shook her head.
"It's not bad," she insisted. She could see a trooper behind Han and watched as he drew his weapon. Another trooper appeared next to him.
"Freeze. Don't move," the trooper instructed. Leia glanced at Han as she showed him her blaster at the ready. Realization hit him and he smiled.
"I love you," he whispered. Leia returned a smirk.
"I know," she replied.
"Hands up! Stand up!" the trooper demanded as Han slowly moved. Once Han was out of the way, Leia leaned forward and shot the troopers within a flash. Han grinned before hearing another walker approach.
"Stay back," Han warned as Leia pushed herself further into the corner. She wasn't in any condition to fight at the moment. Han stepped forward as the hatch opened to reveal his old friend. "Chewie! Get down here, she's wounded. No, wait!" Han shouted before turning back to Leia with a grin. "I got an idea."
~~F~~
Luke stared at the battle raging outside the window, his anger rising. He did his best to control himself, but he hated that he was so helpless and powerless. The Emperor watched him carefully from his throne, a grin forming on his lips. Vader instead turned to Padme who wore her heartbreak on her face. The last time he had seen that look was on Mustafar, when she had betrayed him. He stared, wondering now if that was even true.
"Good, I can feel your anger," the Emperor told, breaking the silence. Vader turned back to his master to see Luke's rage manifest as he looked at his weapon. Vader's mind was made when he saw himself in his son. "I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete."
The lightsaber flew from the Emperor's side to Luke's hand and ignited. Vader dashed forward and blocked the blow from Luke, inadvertently saving the Emperor's life. Luke turned as he backed away, both realizing that it was their turn to duel.
Vader drew his son away from both the Emperor and Padme, hoping to dissuade his master from joining and trying to keep Padme away from danger. Luke fought against his father well, learning much since their last confrontation. In his advance, Vader fell down the stairs as Luke stands at the top, ready to attack.
"Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy! Let the hate flow through you," the Emperor goaded as Luke turned to him. Luke took a deep breath, remembering himself. He wasn't an aggressive person, and he wasn't about to let the Emperor turn him into one. However, that gave enough time for Vader to stand up again.
"Obi-Wan has taught you well," Vader remarked with a hidden grin. His old master was cleverer than he gave him credit for. Luke lowered his weapon as he approached.
"I will not fight you, Father," Luke informed as Vader frowned.
"You are unwise to lower your defenses," Vader informed before attacking. Luke defended himself before leaping to the safety of the catwalk above. Vader stared at his son as he wondered what he should do. This wasn't the way he wanted this to go.
"Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you. The conflict," Luke replied. Vader took notice of how his master reacted before replying. The Emperor was sure of Vader's loyalty.
"There is no conflict," Vader argued. Luke had seen his thoughts, as terrible as that was. There was conflict, yes, but it wasn't between the light and the dark. It was between his master and his family. He wanted nothing more than to overthrow the Emperor to clear prosperous path for his son. Together, they could rule the galaxy while finding a safe place for Padme to live as well. He was sure that Padme would want nothing to do with him, and while that broke his heart, he could not make her fall with him again. That much he knew.
"You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe that you will destroy me now," Luke countered. Vader advanced on him, trying to prove him wrong in the Emperor's eyes. He needed to wait for the opportune moment.
"You underestimate the power of the dark side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny," Vader informed dramatically before throwing his saber to cut the catwalk above. Luke fell and rolled out of sight underneath the platform.
"Good, good," the Emperor laughed, clearly enjoying himself as he watched the family quarrel. Vader walked around the area, trying to find him again.
"You cannot hide forever, Luke," Vader informed. Luke stared as he kept moving away from him in the darkness.
"I will not fight you," Luke answered before moving out the way.
"Give yourself to the dark side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for-" Vader taunted before it dawned on him. He turned and stared at Padme as she glared at him. She was slyer than he ever gave her credit for. Vader's anger returned as he realized that she didn't only hid his son. She hid his daughter away from him as well. He returned to search for Luke, a new urgency coursing through him. "A twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her, too. Padme was wise to hide her from me. Now your failure is complete. If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will!"
"Never!" Luke shouted as he revealed himself and advanced on his father. Vader parried his attacks as Luke unhinged his anger upon him. Images flew through his mind as Vader realized that not only had he met his daughter; he had threatened her as well. He had captured her and tortured her without mercy. His anger faded as Luke backed him toward the elevator.
Vader defended himself before glancing at Padme. With his new knowledge of his daughter, Padme looked completely defeated. She had spent her life protecting her children only for them to fall into the dark side in the end. Luke brought Vader to his knees and slashed Vader's hand off, the same hand as Vader had taken a few months prior. Vader's saber vanished with his hand into the shaft below as Luke took in his father. He glanced at his hand and saw that it was mechanical, like his own. It seemed that he had more of his father in him than he had ever thought.
"Good, your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!" the Emperor shouted. Luke turned to him as his true agenda was revealed. Luke stepped back and shook his head, throwing his saber to the side. Padme leaned forward, her panic seeping in as the troopers held her back.
"Never! I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed, Your Highness. I am a Jedi," Luke informed before staring at his mother. Padme watched as he had a hint of a smile. "Like my father before me."
"So be it, Jedi," the Emperor growled after a moment of consideration. Luke stared as the leader came closer. "If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed."
Lightning shot from the Emperor's fingertips and entered Luke's body before the young Jedi fell to the ground. Vader used the railing to help himself off the floor as he watched the Emperor attack his son. Padme screamed and cursed at the Emperor as she struggled to get free. Her heart broke seeing his son be tortured by this monster.
"Young fool, only now, at the end, do you understand," the Emperor sneered as he continued his attack. Luke groaned and screamed as he clutched one of the canisters near the edge. "Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side. You have paid the price for your lack of vision."
"Father, please," Luke pleaded through his teeth. Vader turned to his son, realizing that the moment was at hand. He could end all of this, and he could end his son's suffering. "Help me."
"Now, young Skywalker, you will die," the Emperor informed before increasing the lightning.
Padme stopped shouting and struggling when she saw Vader grab the Emperor. Confused, the Emperor shouted and struggled with his hands pointing upwards. Luke, no longer being attacked, panted before he looked to see his father before him. However, the Emperor turned his power onto Vader in an effort to save himself as he was carried toward the edge.
Using the last of his strength, Vader held the Emperor high above his head. He gritted his teeth as lightning burned through him and pushed through. Once at the edge, he threw the Emperor down the shaft. Vader watched as the lightning fell with his former master as the monster screamed in anguish. Luke stood and helped his father stay on his feet.
With the troopers stunned on what had just happened, Padme ripped from their grip and ran to her son and former husband. Luke helped her with her binders before they both helped Vader back to the elevator.
When they made it to the hangar, the whole battle station was in an uproar. The shield had been deactivated and the rebels were closing in. Luke left Padme to carry Vader as he went to start the Imperial shuttle. The two were able to hobble onto the shuttle as Luke started to takeoff. Padme laid Vader on the floor as she kneeled beside him. Her thoughts ran wild, wondering if this was the best idea. This man had chased her and her family through the galaxy, threatening them at every turn. However, he managed to save her son, and she wondered if Luke was right.
"Help me take this mask off," Vader whispered. Padme shook her head as he reached for her hand.
"I can't do that," Padme murmured. She gingerly took his hand, ready to run at the earliest opportunity. "You'll die if I do that."
"Nothing can stop that now," Vader informed before Luke ran back. He had set a course for the forest moon and put it on autopilot. Vader looked up at Luke before turning back to Padme. "Just once, let me look at my son with my own eyes."
Padme motioned for Luke to come closer before she reached down and removed the helmet. There was a sharp hissing as it unlatched. She lifted it away from his face and tears fell down her cheeks. He was pale and scarred, but his eyes were the same. His blue eyes shown as he looked between his son and her. Vader reached for his son's face with his left hand as Luke stared.
"I am so sorry, my son," he whispered as he watched Luke. "You have become a greater Jedi than I could have ever imagined."
"Anakin," Padme muttered unexpectantly as he turned to look at her. She couldn't see any more hate left in his eyes, only remorse and compassion. "We're going to get you to safety."
"You two have already saved me," he whispered as Luke turned to his mother. Luke's father squeezed his hand, earning his attention again. Luke could feel the life starting to drain from his face as his eyes began to close. "You were right about me, Luke. Tell Leia… that you were right…"
Padme closed her eyes as Luke watched his father carefully, tears also falling down his cheek as well. Vader-
No.
Anakin's hand fell limp in Luke's grasp as he exhaled one final time. Luke held his father's hand firmly as Padme went over to her son, embracing him as they both mourned his father.