Luke had a familiar copilot for his flight back to Dagobah. Ezra Bridger was next to him at the controls and Luke was glad to have someone his own age to talk to.
"What's it like, being a Rebel?"
Ezra rolled his eyes, "They call themselves the Alliance, actually. and I'm not sure I'm really one of them."
"No, you're a Jedi."
Ezra shrugged, "I've been with Kanan for a couple years, but he was never knighted. He's sent me to Yoda to get some direction. Would you call yourself a Jedi?"
Luke returned the shrug.
"You had so many chances to join us, Skywalker, but it looks like you finally joined the Jedi because you ran out of other places to go." Bridge pointed out with a brittle edge to his voice.
Luke scowled, "Oh, was that why you kidnapped me and my sister last year and handed us over to Saw Guerrera? I must have missed the invitation to join your Alliance."
"After that, you came back to Lothal. You didn't even try to escape. You kept going back to old wrinkle face. Why should we trust you now?"
Luke bit back a laugh, "Obviously you do trust me or you wouldn't have got in this shuttle with me."
"I trust Kenobi." Ezra clarified.
"He's not here to protect you at the moment, now, is he?" Luke couldn't help but replying.
Bridge shook his head dismissively, "I bet the moment Third Sister makes planetfall you swap allegiances and ask her to take you back to your daddy."
Luke sobered, "I'm not going back."
"Because they'll kill you if you do?" Bridger asked.
"I don't know!" Luke burst out. "Why the kriffing hell did Obi-wan have to send you back with me?"
The blue haired boy laughed, "Cause we have to protect you from those nasty Imperial sensors. He and Ahsoka will be fine if that's what you're worried about."
"Are you sure? Third Sister is vicious."
Bridger smiled, "We'll be ready for her."
The plan was for Ahsoka, shadowed by Obi-wan to lure Third Sister to Dagobah. To that end, Ahsoka had spread a few rumors, and would make a conspicuous appearance on at Taos Station which was known to be frequented by the Imperial Inquisitors. Then she would then make her way to Dagobah in hopes that Third Sister would follow her. Obi-wan was shadowing the whole operation, while being careful not to be noticed himself. Too many Jedis might deter Third Sister from her mission.
But too many Jedi would be exactly what was waiting for her on Dagobah. Luke, Ezra, and Master Yoda would be waiting on Dagobah. Together with Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano, the dark sider formerly known as Barriss Offee didn't stand a chance.
Vader was astonished to hear that there had been a sighting of his former padawan at Taos, of all places. Ahsoka knew better than to stroll the marketplace of a known smugglers nexus, which meant she was on a mission.
Had she sensed it, in the Force, that Third Sister was hunting for her? The Inquisitor was hardly subtle, Vader's own spies had been able to track her easily. It helped that, like his own children, the Inquisitors were imbedded with trackers. When she disappeared from view, Vader would assume that she'd fallen for Ahsoka's trap, and he trusted his former padawan to end Barriss decisively.
He'd been right to do nothing. He'd considered, after Leia's visit, that he should warn Ahsoka of the danger, but it was far too likely Palpatine was watching him. Marek had obviously spilled the information as a test of Leia's loyalty.
Ahsoka didn't need his help. And she would protect Luke. She'd undoubtedly figured out the issue with Luke's chip, for there had been not even a whisper of his presence near any Imperial stronghold.
Vader's main concern was Leia, as it always had been. She was powerful now, and that pleased him, but he wished he could still command her loyalty, as he once had. But... that wasn't quite right, it wasn't her loyalty that he desired. He missed having a daughter who loved him.
After a thorough lecture from Yoda and hours of practicing hiding their Force signatures, Luke and Ezra were ready when Ahsoka Tano's ship touched down. Luke watched the tall Togruta slip into the jungle, and disappear. Only minutes later a second ship could be seen against the twilight, running on minimal power, just above the tree line.Thatwould be Third Sister.
Luke wasn't sure when Obi-wan Kenobi was going to show up, but surely the four of them would be able to handle one Inquisitor. In fact, Luke and Ezra had been advised to stay back while Tano and Yoda subdued their former comrade.
Luke watched from his vantage point with a scope. He saw Ahsoka approach Yoda, bow to him, and enter into easy conversation. He wished he could hear them but he couldn't risk using the Force lest it draw attention.
As Ahsoka and Yoda spoke he listened, instead, to the Force, hoping for passive guidance to the position of the Sith.
The slightest rustle of leaves behind him had him spining about to find not a lightsaber but a cruelly serrated dagger at his throat.
Third Sister's helmet was off and her green skin glimmered grey in the light. "We need to have a little chat."
Luke allowed himself to be led further away from the camp. He didn't reach out in the Force for Yoda or any of the others. He wanted to hear what Third Sister had to say.
When they were past the point of hearing and with many threats from Third Sister, Luke sat and gave Third Sister his full attention.
"I wondered if I'd find you here!" She breathed excitedly. "You've joined them haven't you?"
"You do realize you're about to be captured, right?" Luke whispered back, "There is no way they'll let you take me back to your ship."
Third Sister shrugged, "Maybe that's not my mission."
Luke looked at her dubiously, "Palpatine has sent you after Ahsoka Tano. We saw it in the Force."
"We?" Third sister mocked.
Luke scowled, "Fine, what's your mission, then?"
"Part of it is you. You ran away from your mission. I really should slit your throat for that." The Inquisitor hissed.
Luke shrugged, knowing it would annoy her. "If you were going to do it, you'd have done it. You're just killing time. They'll be coming."
Third Sister sat down inelegantly in the weeds, still pointing her dagger at him. Then she flipped the dagger to offer him the handle. "Go on then, you'd better take that."
"What?" Luke asked, nonplussed.
"And these." She tossed her unlit sabers to the ground at his feet. "I surrender." She gave him a lazy smile and raised her gloved hands.
Luke glared, "I'd really prefer if we could fight to the death, if it is all the same to you."
Third Sister grinned at that, "That isn't the Jedi way. I should know."
A pair of pale sabers lit up the jungle nearby. Ahsoka Tano glared down at them.
"Ahsoka!" Third Sister said, sounding truly delighted.
Ahsoka drew her blade even to her former comrade's throat, "Hello Barriss. It's been awhile."
Luke got to his feet nervously, "She says she wants to surrender."
Ahsoka's fierce expression flickered, "You always had to make things so complicated!"
Barriss had raised her empty hands up further, but was still sitting still and composed, "Please, I can't go back to the emperor."
More footsteps sounded then out of the trees Ezra Bridger and Obi-wan Kenobi emerged, sabers lit. Then Master Yoda, who had not drawn his weapon, came into the clearing.
"Very well, Barriss Offee, hear what you have to say, we will."
Leia and her father knelt before the emperor, who was absolutely seething. Waves of darkness roiled off him, obliterating everything but his ire.
"Do you sense it?" The emperor hissed.
"No, my Master." Vader replied, unbothered by the nexus of dark energy which filled the room.
"And you, Leia?"
"All I sense is your anger, my master." Leia answered, her mental shields were down, and she had to focus not to get caught up in the emperor's fury.
Palpatine's eyes flashed gold, "The Jedi have taken one of my Inquisitors."
"Is she dead?" Leia asked, genuinely curious.
Palpatine chuckled, "No. The Jedi are ever hampered by their precious code."
"Where is she?" Vader rumbled.
"Her transponder went dead in the Outer Rim. She could be anywhere." The emperor bit out. "Just like your brother."
Leia twitched at that. "Maybe she found Ahsoka."
A flicker of pride in Vader, "She will be no match for my former apprentice."
Palpatine cast his piercing gaze on Vader. "So it would seem. I wonder, if I send Marek out after her, how he would fare."
Vader remained silent, his mental stance was the equivalent of a shrug.
Palpatine cackled at that, "And if I sent Leia?"
Vader straightened slightly, "Leia would defeat her easily."
"I wonder Lord Vader, if that is true. If you have truly trained your daughter to be more powerful than any of my other servants."
"Her natural affinity is greater." Vader was unswayed by Palpatine's difficult tone.
"And your son?"
"He is lost." Vader ground out.
"Perhaps." Palpatine agreed, turning back to stare down at Leia. "Perhaps he will yet prove of some value."
Leia looked back at Palpatine, willing herself to meet his gaze. "I've done everything you've asked, master."
Palpatine smiled slightly, "Indeed. But you are not a Sith, yet."
Darth Vader observed his daughter's face lined with exhaustion and unhappiness. He knew she was suffering. He also knew she did not welcome his concern, nor would she tolerate his sympathy. Nor, perhaps, did he have any right to offer it. He had wanted this for her. He'd wanted her to be truly strong, a master of the Force in all its aspects, a Sith.
"If Palpatine finds Luke, he's going to order me to kill him." His daughter said, looking down at her hands, the heavy atmosphere of the hyperbaric chamber swirling around them.
"I believe you are correct." Vader agreed.
"Everything I've done has been to protect him. I agreed to serve on the basis that our master would leave Luke alone. Let him be."
"I do not believe our master is capable of relinquishing control of something he believes to be his property."
Leia snorted, "Sounds familiar."
"I care for you." Vader clarified, for once unashamed to say such a thing.
"Even though that makes you weak." Leia bit out.
"Yes." Vader agreed, "Just as you care for your brother."
His daughter sighed again, "I remember caring for you, Father, I just don't know what to do with those feelings. The darkness in me is skewing everything."
Vader attempted to control his reaction, then thought better of it. It was acceptable that his daughter know how he felt.
Leia just gave him an exhausted look. "How does this end?"
"What do you wish for?"
Leia shook her head, "I don't want to be a Sith. I've never wanted that."
"The emperor envisions a moment in which you will gladly accept that power, and step into my place as his apprentice."
Leia blinked but said nothing, her mouth a straight line.
"As you have said, the dark side obscures feeling of love and care. I stepped into the darkness willingly, thinking to save the ones I loved."
Leia's brown eyes met his own, "I'm not you."
Vader was not offended. "No. You are better. You do not have to follow my path."
Leia's mouth twitched, "Tell me, father, what other option is left to me?"
Vader knew exactly how she felt. He knew the pressure his daughter was under, to either comply and inch nearer to her own destruction or risk everything to break free.
"You never tried to fight him." His daughter whispered, reading his mind.
"I did not believe I could win." Vader stated baldly.
Leia bit her lip, her mind searching back in time. "I grew up fighting him. Fighting you. We did win, in the end."
"In your other life, I died. Palpatine died. You were able to vanquish your enemies, yes. But were you able to gain control of the galaxy?"
Leia raised an eyebrow, annoyed, "I have no idea. I didn't get to live the rest of that life."
"How would your rebellion have taken out the remaining Imperial forces? What of the Moffs with their own garrisons? Did you think they would have willingly submitted to your rule?"
Leia scowled, "We would have found a way forward. Many planets would have joined us in creating a new republic."
"But not all of them. The galaxy would still have been at war with itself."
His daughter's eyes narrowed, "Even now I do not know if you are trying to convince me to fight the emperor or to continue to serve him."
Vader regarded his daughter steadily, "I wish you to remember who you are."
Leia shifted glancing to the sealed door of the hyperbaric chamber. She wanted to escape this conversation, Vader could see that clearly.
"Why?" Leia asked, her voice rough, almost pleading.
"Because that was what you did for me." Vader replied immediately. "I have lived for you, these past three years."
Leia opened her mouth but did not speak. She blinked repeatedly, but the tears were coming so she finally relented at let them fall. She was being torn apart by warring emotions. Her father was doing this on purpose, and she wanted to resent him for it. She wanted to tear down the door of his precious hyperbaric chamber and storm out of his residence. But the only place she had to go was the Palace, where her master waited, with new provocations to push her further into the darkness.
Her cheeks were wet and she hated the feeling of being seen. Her father, unmasked, watched her with his blue eyes expectant, hopeful, even loving. It made her want to lash out at him, and that desire, in turn, horrified her.
She had never wanted any of this. Yes, she could remember clearly wishing she could make her father and the emperor proud, knowing she never would. She'd blamed herself for her weakness and inability, and had felt so very grateful that her father understood her limitations and cared for her nonetheless. Then Luke had come and it had all,slowly, unraveled, first with doubts, and then with the painful return of her discordant memories and the uncomfortable revelations that had accompanied them.
She'd never wanted any of this. Her real life had been stolen from her, perhaps by the emperor's Sith magic, and perhaps not. By the will of Palpatine or perhaps by the Force itself she'd been pulled back in time, out of the arms of the man she had loved and the future she'd hoped to build with him.
She'd cooperated first to protect Alderaan, and then to keep Palpatine's attention off of Luke, and finally, in a few excruciating moments she'd let the Darkness in because she knew the taste of it and had wanted more.
She could imagine it with painful clarity now, how her father had attacked her mother on Mustafar. That was how fast the dark side took control, and the reward for letting the dark side flow was power, and exhilaration, and at least a temporary cessation of pain. That was the promise of the darkness, that the greater the sacrifice the more exquisite the reward. She could imagine herself killing Luke, or Vader, even though she loved them. Because she loved them, because love so easily bled into hatred. Attachment flowed into resentment.
And at her core she knew, the final one she would have to kill if she wished for perfect unending unity with the darkness. Every Sith apprentice wished to kill their master, every Sith Master knew to expect that day.
But she was not Sith, not yet, as her master had said.
She looked up into her father's blue eyes, "Thank you. I know exactly who I am."
She left Vader's residence. The sun was falling over Imperial City, casting everything in a rusty haze. She felt exhausted, but resolute. She did not know exactly what was going to happen, she could only sense the potential of it, pure energy seeking outlet, yet ungrounded, nebulous.