Chapter 21 – Confrontation

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars, even if we wish we did. xD

Author's Note: Ahsoka's time in the future is rapidly drawing to a close! :P

~ Amina Gila

A myriad of emotions swirl within me as we stand in the elevator ready to meet Vader. Worry, fear, apprehension... Despite our last conversation, I really don't know what to expect. And nor do I know how well trying to turn him back is going to work, but we cannot fail. Despite everything, I can't deny the excitement I also feel way inside. I can't believe I'm really about to see him again face to face after so long. It's been far too long. I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances.

I'm practically holding my breath as the elevator stops moving and the door slides open. Vader is standing only several feet away waiting. Knowing he was here didn't quite prepare me for seeing him. Conflicting emotions surge inside of me, the strongest being regret for what I did to him in his timeline and hope that maybe Luke and I will succeed.

The commander hastily steps out and Luke and I, in binders, follow, with three stormtroopers right behind us. Vader's helmet turns towards Luke and I for many long moments – I find myself really wishing I could actually see his face to get an idea what he's thinking – before he looks back to the commander who is speaking to him.

"These are Rebels who surrendered to us. Although they deny it, I believe there may be more of them, and I request permission to conduct a further search of the area." He then holds out our confiscated lightsabers. "They were armed only with these."

Vader looks over at us again before turning back to the officer and taking the lightsabers from him. "Good work, Commander. Leave us. Conduct your search and bring their companions to me."

"Yes, my lord," he responds, immediately turning and walking back into the elevator. The stormtroopers follow as the elevator door slides shut, leaving us alone at last. I'm glad to be with him, but I can't deny the small amount of unease. I'm really not sure how he's going to react to my presence.

"The Emperor has been expecting you," Vader informs, turning and beginning to walk down the hall. Luke and I follow close behind.

"I'm sure he has been," I reply. And probably very eagerly to. I'm sure he's not at all appreciative of me being here, to say the least. Unless he's hoping to turn me, in which case he's completely delusional. I can only hope he's not planning to kill me. Not that he'd succeed anyway, but still.

"I know, Father," Luke responds.

"So, you have accepted the truth." His tone is even, betraying little emotion. I find that I'm beginning to loathe the monotone of the vocoder. I miss his real voice fiercely.

"I've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father."

Vader stops and turns to face us. "That name no longer has any meaning for me," he replies. Except it does.

"It is the name of your true self," I insist, "He's still inside you, though he may be hidden."

"You've only forgotten," Luke adds, "I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully." He turns and slowly steps over to the large window beside us which overlooks the forests of Endor, "That is why you couldn't destroy us. That's why you won't bring us to your Emperor now."

Vader doesn't reply, instead looking down at Luke's lightsaber.

"I see you have constructed a new lightsaber," he comments, igniting it and looking at the green blade. "Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen," he continues before pausing and turning to me, "And you, Ahsoka, the Emperor is interested in speaking with you about your presence here." Oh great. That's not at all disturbing. I have no desire to see him.

Vader extinguishes the blade and when he doesn't say anything right away, I decide we better use the little remaining time we have to our advantage. "Come with us," I request as Luke turns back to face him as well. I don't expect him to agree, but I need to gauge his response to see how to continue this conversation. It's hard to tell how he's feeling, and it's driving me insane. All I know for sure is that I can feel the light in him right now. There's so much of Anakin left there.

"Obi-Wan once thought as you do," Vader replies, "You do not know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my master."

"I will not turn, and you will be forced to kill me... us," Luke asserts.

"If that is your destiny." I stare at him for a long moment. No, he doesn't really mean it. He wouldn't kill us. Not Luke at least. And he won't kill me, either. I promised to change all of this, and he knows I keep my promises. I can feel some of the turmoil in him, even as he tries to hide it. We're getting somewhere with this conversation, but I don't know if it's going to be enough. And we're running out of time.

Luke steps closer to him. "Search your feelings, Father. You can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate," he urges.

"It is too late for me, son." he responds. I can almost hear his regret in his voice.

"No," I insist desperately, "It's never too late to make changes if you really want to. You can still leave with us." Don't do this, Master. Come with us. Please.

"I cannot, Ahsoka," he says, though I can almost hear resignation in his tone. He looks between both of us for a moment and then motions for the stormtroopers to come. "The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now."

"Then my father is truly dead," Luke says quietly as the stormtroopers approach and lead us away. I look back once I'm in the elevator to see Vader still watching us. It's the last I see as the door slides shut again. But somehow, I have the feeling we've gotten through to him. I just hope it's enough.

**w**

I'm not really sure what I'm expecting as Luke and I, still in binders, follow Vader towards the Emperor's throne room. I have a very bad feeling about this, even if I do sense light in the future. It's probably me going home. I know it will soon be time to leave. Hopefully, something good will happen here, too.

The door finally slides open in front of us to reveal a very dark room, certainly appropriate for an evil Sith Emperor like Sidious. Red-cloaked guards stand on either side of the entrance way. A long staircase leads up to a chair which is currently turned away from us. Good thing, too, because I'm not at all ready to set eyes on the monster who destroyed the Jedi, the Republic, and turned my brother into a monster.

I take a deep breath to control my simmering anger and hatred towards him as we ascend the steps, Luke and I on either side of Vader. As we reach the top, the hooded-Sith Lord turns the chair around to face us. He looks nothing like he used to, yet still exactly as I expected. It takes all my will power and any sense of self-preservation left in me to keep me from attempting to murder him on the spot. Vader bows in greeting.

"Welcome, young Skywalker and Tano. I have been expecting you," his dark and all too smug voice rings out. I stare back at him defiantly, as does Luke. Neither of us respond.

His gaze turns to the binders on our wrists. "You no longer need those." He moves his hand slightly and the binders on both of us clatter to the floor. "Guards, leave us," he commands next and the two of them turn and step out of sight beyond the elevator, leaving us alone.

"I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you will call me Master."

"If you think I will ever call anyone except Anakin, least of all you, 'Master,' you are hopelessly delusional," I spit out, glaring at him.

"You're gravely mistaken," responds Luke, "You won't convert me as you did my father."

The Emperor rises from his throne and approaches us, stepping far too close for my liking. I struggle to suppress the overpowering urge to punch him in the face.

"Oh no, my young Jedi. You will find it is you are a mistaken about a great many things," he cackles.

"As will you," I retort, eyes narrowed. He ignores me.

"His lightsaber," states Vader, holding out Luke's lightsaber to the Emperor who takes it from him.

"Ah, yes, a Jedi's weapon. Much like your father's. By now you must know your father can never be turned from the Dark Side," Sidious continues but I cut him off.

"Anyone can turn back from the Dark Side."

"Ah, so quickly it seems you have forgotten your Jedi beliefs that no one can return from the Dark Side," he mocks, "Now that it may work to your benefit, of course."

"I am no Jedi," I hiss, glaring back at him. No, I'm not. Not anymore. But that doesn't mean I can't still give in to the Dark Side. I need to be careful. I can't let my anger control me, even now.

"And why would that be?" he sneers, "In your time, have you already left the Jedi Order? Already furthered your part in your master's decision to join me? Perhaps you are thinking of changing this when – or rather if – you return home. A pity that it took seeing what would happen for you to change your mind about that, don't you think?"

I don't say anything as I struggle to keep myself under control. The worst part is that I know he's right. I was going to allow all this to happen. I did fail Anakin, in this timeline. I would have in my own if the Force hadn't brought me here to see the consequences of my actions. Yes, I know it wasn't only, or even mostly, my fault, but I accept responsibility for the harm I unintentionally caused. I can almost feel the Dark Side calling out to me. No. No. I can't give in, I won't Fall. I can't fail Anakin like that. Not this time. I won't.

"But know that whatever you try to change if you return to your time, it will not succeed. It was his destiny to join me and that cannot be avoided." It's about all I can do not to wring his neck right about now. The only thing that's stopping me is the Force whispering that I shouldn't. I don't understand why, but I'll always follow the Force. Calm, Ahsoka. Calm. Breathe. You won't fail.

Finally, he turns back to Luke again. "Hear me well, young Skywalker. Your father cannot return from the Dark Side. And so will it be with you."

"You're wrong," Luke retorts firmly, "Soon, I'll be dead and you with me."

The Sith laughs evilly, sounding – and looking – completely drunk on the Dark Side to me. "Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet?" Luke looks up sharply and I stiffen. Wait – they already know? I suppose I should have expected it, after all. Vader sensed us and would have told Sidious. And this means the entire mission might be doomed. No. It can't be.

"Yes, I assure you we are quite safe from your friends here," he continues far too smugly before turning around and starting back for his chair.

"Your overconfidence is your weakness," Luke retorts.

"Your faith in your friends is yours," the Emperor growls as he returns to his throne. Well, the way I see it, it doesn't matter that much what will occur in this time. None of this will happen anyway. Soon, I'll be home – somehow – and I'll make sure Anakin won't Fall. A sense of determination settles over me, somehow filling me with calm and the worst of my anger flows away.

"It is pointless to resist, my son," Vader interjects. That's when I notice that most of the time here, he's been watching us. He doesn't want us to turn. I can feel it.

"Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design," Sidious declares angrily.

"I doubt my arrival to foil your plans is according to your design," I retort.

"Your presence here is of no concern to me," snaps the Emperor in a tone that gives me the feeling I really need to be more careful with what I say, "Your friends up there on the Sanctuary moon," he motions out the large window near the throne, "Are walking into a trap. As is your Rebel fleet. It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them. Oh, I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive."