Chapter 3: The Last Hope

The Enterprise-E, Voyager, NX-01 and two Klingon birds of prey broke off from the rest of the fleet to try to make contact of what was left of the rebel alliance two weeks after the destruction of half of what was left of the federation fleet, and still nothing. As the days went on Luke Skywalker became more and more uneasy about the alliance and his friends. While he could sense that his closest friends were alive; it was very obvious that they were hiding, but where he didn't know. Luke kept reaching out with the force with the being called Q to try to locate his friends or anyone from the alliance but to no avail and to Luke and Q it was starting to become painfully obvious that the rebel alliance was no more. They had talked at length on how to locate his friends, Q was a master of the force and almost as strong as Master Yoda in his prime but was still unable to figure out exactly where his friends were. Q could have just snapped his fingers and sent his friends and all remaining survivors to a nearby planet to be picked up, if it weren't for the Emperor. After three more weeks of searching and reaching out with the force the two decided to inform the Captain that the alliance was most likely no more.

Picard sat back in his chair, obviously stressed as he received the news from Q and Luke. How could it be possible? The rebel alliance had the weapons the Federation had gave them as well, there is no way they could have fell so quickly, or so Picard thought. He sighed and looked at Luke with a sad expression, "We will do all we can to retrieve your friends and any survivors, I was one of the voices calling for the Empire to be armed and my judgment was totally off as I was seeking the total destruction of the Borg." Picard paused, sighed and continued, "If it weren't for us arming the Empire your friends and the alliance would have been fine..."

Q butted in before Picard could finish, "Nonsense Picard, I know as well as you do the only way to get rid of those ants is to be armed and ready for their ability to adapt and assimilate. As far as I'm concerned you only had one option and you took it."

Luke shook his head sadly in agreement, "He's right Captain, without the Empire being able to stand up to the Borg the galaxy would have been theirs in a matter of months."

Picard sighed and stood up, "I suppose it was, we shall continue this conversation later. As of now we are going to rendezvous with what's left of the fleet and head towards Coruscant. The emperor won't be expecting a full frontal assault on the capital of the Empire."

Q nodded, "A prudent choice Picard, strike at them before they can hit us with all they've got. I know the Emperor and his little pet well, they're cunning but they're also extremely arrogant so I suspect that the defenses of the Empire will be spread thin as they are out looking for us."

Picard nodded as he pressed a button on his Desk, "Picard to the bridge, set a course for the fleet. It's time to make our first move."

Vader stood at the center of the bridge and watched his men scramble to locate the Federation fleet, before Vader gave the command to proceed to the first known location he felt something in the force, he reached out and felt it, felt his son and Q. Vader looked towards Admiral Hefton and pointed in the direction of Coruscant, "They will be attempting an all out assault on the capital, we should be there to give them a proper greeting." The Admiral simply nodded, knowing not to question Vaders order and made the announcement that the ships were now heading back to the capital to defend it from the enemy. Vader looked out into space and continued to search for the rest of the fleet and found them, they were regrouping and heading straight for Coruscant, but little did they know that he would be there waiting for them. It would give Vader great pleasure to strike down Picard, Kirk, Archer and most of all Q. Then, he could finally turn his son to the dark side, take down the Emperor and rule the two galaxies with his son at his side. The time to end the Federation was near, the time was now.

Five Days later...

The fleet was in shambles, Picard bellowed orders from the bridge of the Enterprise to no avail, the entire Imperial fleet was waiting for them the second they got there. Not only were they outnumbered they were now outgunned as well. The Imperials were using the Federation weaponry that they had stolen along with their more primitive original weapons with great success. The trick that Commander Tucker of the NX-01 and Scotty put together to take care of the tie fighters had worked, but the one hundred Star Destroyers they were facing was a different matter, they had taken out seven of them but the fleet of three hundred Romulan, Federation, Cardassian, Ferengi and Klingon ships had already lost fifty and counting. Their last hope was on Vaders flag ship trying to take him down and take the ship from the inside. Captain Kirk, Q, Worf, Data and Lieutenant Reed were the only ones left alive of the fifty men that they had sent, and the fate of the battle rested with them.

Q held on to his lightsabre tightly as he led what was left of the strike team closer to the bridge, he had been on the older models of these and was sure that the bridge was in a similar spot, and according to the directions on the wall he was correct, they rounded the corner and took out any storm trooper they saw with ease. The rest of the strike team perished during the biggest skirmish they had on the ship, a few hundred storm troopers had cornered them and taken out all of the Klingons and Romulans that had borded with them and now it was up to them. Q looked back at Kirk, Data, Worf and Reed to make sure they were still behind him and motioned to them that there were a few storm troopers dead ahead. Q jumped out into the hallway with them as the others laid down cover fire. Q began slicing away at the troopers and blocking all friendly fire and enemy fire that came his way until he was surrounded by nothing but dead storm troopers. Once that batch of troopers was finished he motioned the men to follow him onto the bridge. They entered the door to the bridge with haste and looked around, what was supposed to be the bridge was a large empty room. Kirk looked at Q as the door locked behind them, "Q, I thought you said this was the damn bridge!"

Q shook his head in disbelief, "I was certain that it was, the older models of this ship had the bridge located here I could have sworn it was here."

Before they could continue their conversation they heard heavy breathing and a lightsabre ignite. Slowly, they looked up and found Darth Vader standing a mere fifteen feet away from them, "So Q, we meet again."

Q scowled as he pointed his sabre at Vader, "You were no match for Obi-Wan and you'll be no match for me. Once I kill the Emperor and regain my abilities I'll enjoy nothing more than to bring you back as a Romulan scepter bug." Vader lunged at Q slamming his lightsabre into his, knowing that he would most likely be outclassed he'd have to do his best to use Q's ego against him, which would hopefully be his undoing. Vader swung again at Q this time missing while Q used the force to push Vader towards Kirk, Kirk was ready and double fist punched Vader into a wall. Vader got up and swung his sabre at Kirks head, Kirk ducked and kicked Vader square in the chest towards Q who in turn tried to stab Vader only to have it blocked by Vaders red blade.

"Most impressive, but not enough to defeat me." Vader mused as he force pushed Q into the wall, slowly Vader walked towards a struggling Q, blocking the phaser fire from Reed and the others on the way to the injured entity. "This is the end for you old friend, farewell." Vader swung his blade at Q only to have it blocked by another blade, Vader looked up but saw no one and then looked down. Beneath him was Master Yoda, Vader swung in fear at the little green alien only to have Yoda jump over him and swing at him with force and speed. Soon the battle between Q and Vader turned into one of survival for Vader than an end to Q. Vader had to find away to retreat but couldn't, He tried to leave through the only exit only to be outclassed by Kirk of all people, one with no powers whatsoever. Frustrated, Vader swung furiously at Kirk and Yoda, slicing a deep gash in Datas arm, but that didn't affect the Android as he rushed right to Vader and tore his mask off of his body, Vader fell to the ground gasping for breath and clinging on to life. Before Yoda could deal the killing blow Vader lifted up towards Q and fell next to the now standing entity.

Q smirked, "This is what I think of what you did to her you insolent pathetic asthmatic robot." Q lunged his sabre deep into Vaders chest and looked into his eyes as he died, "By the way, Padme died of heart break you coward." with that be pulled the lightsabre from Vader and walked back towards the group and away from his lifeless body. Before Yoda or anyone could say anything to condone how he had ended Vader, Q pointed towards the door, "They know that he's dead as they monitor his vitals constantly from the bridge, they'll retreat and take the emperor with them. We've won this battle, lets get out of here before we're outnumbered a thousand to one."