"We're coming out of hyperspace!" Siri called from the cockpit.
Anakin nodded, and shut his lightsaber off, and Katana did likewise.
Anakin strapped himself into the co pilot's seat and Katana strapped herself into a seat behind Anakin and Siri.
The ship lurched and came to a stop... right into the path of a star destroyer.
Anakin's eyes widened in realization. He should have known these coordinates. They were at Wayland. A planet Palpatine had just discovered and was using it to store things. His senses came to life. Obi- Wan was here, and so was Palpatine.
"Siri. Pull out." he said, his eyes not leaving the sight of the star destroyer.
"Yeah, I think we had better..." she said, as she tried to put it back into hyperspace. Nothing happened.
"Pull out." he repeated, having not noticed that she had already tried.
"I can't!" Siri cried, "We're in a tractor beam!"
This startled Anakin out of staring at the star destroyer, "They know its me. I'm sure this is on direct orders from Palpatine. He can sense me! I know he can!"
"He's on that ship?" asked Siri.
Anakin nodded, "And so are Obi- Wan and Mara."
The tractor beam continued to pull them in. "I think I have an idea," Anakin said. "I think we could lure a few storm troopers up here. I know my way around this ships, I spent a majority of the last 5 years on them. We can pose as storm troopers, get Obi- Wan and Mara, and get out of here."
"Are you sure that will work?" Katana asked, looking from Siri to Anakin.
"Its worth a shot." Siri told her.
All were silent for a few moments until the tractor beam had fully pulled them in.
"Jedi! We know you're in there! Come out now!" came a voice over the comm.
"Don't do anything," Anakin muttered, walking into the passenger area. Then he told the landing ramp to extend itself, and sure enough five storm troopers began to run on board. He closed the ramp and slammed them in to the wall with the force. Four were knocked unconscious but one remained conscious enough to attempt shooting his blaster. Anakin, however, was to fast for him, and slammed him into another wall, knocking him unconscious.
"Hurry up!" he called to Siri and Katana.
"Siri, take that ones armor," he said gesturing at one, "Katana, you take that one."
Anakin picked up a storm trooper and began to put on the armor. Siri and Katana did likewise.
"C'mon, lets get off this ship before they realize what's happened." Anakin said, his voice muffled by the helmet he was now wearing.
~*~
Obi- Wan's force sense jumped in surprise. Siri was here. So was Anakin. He reached out to them through the force. They had come for him! No longer would he remain in this prison cell! He smiled slightly, but then remembered what had become of Mara. Did they know what she had done? Did they know that the Emperor himself was on board this ship? He hoped they wouldn't come to trouble just because of him.
~*~
"Okay, prisoner cells are this way," said Anakin, leading Siri and Katana through the corridors of the ship.
Never once were they questioned and Anakin was beginning to wonder how he had ever trusted the Imperial security so heavily.
"We're getting closer," said Siri, "I can sense Obi- Wan."
The turned a few more corners until they finally came to the prisoner cell block.
"We're to transfer Obi- Wan Kenobi to cell block 87 C, part of code seven-two-three prisoner transfer," said Anakin, confidently.
What are you thinking? Siri thought at him through the force.
I know all of the Imperial codes this guy isn't a threat. Anakin thought back.
"Right away," said one of the guards, who appeared to be of a fairly high military ranking.
The guard led them to the cell that Obi- Wan was apparently in.
"Out," the guard, told Obi- Wan, shortly.
"Gladly," said Obi- Wan, trying his best to hide his smile.
"What are you so happy about?" Anakin asked, forcing his voice to sound totally cold.
"Nothing." Obi- Wan replied.
"It had better stay that way." Anakin said.
"Do you want back up? This ones trouble." said the guard.
"No, I think we can handle it." Anakin replied, taking electrocuffs and putting them around Obi- Wan's writs.
And with that, Anakin left. Obi- Wan walked directly behind him, and Siri and Katana stood on either side of Obi- Wan.
"And that," said Anakin as soon as they left the prison cell, "Is how being a former Sith lord comes in handy. Now lets go find Mara."
~*~
Luke came out of hyperspace and was shocked to see a huge ship- a Star fighter he believed it was called- come into view.
"Unidentified ship, please state your business here, if you do not comply we will bring you in."
Not good! Luke thought. What should he say? But before Luke could do anything, he felt his ship move forward. Wait! Mara is here! And so is my Dad! I know they are! Maybe this will be okay!
~*~
"They're here," said Palpatine.
"Who is here, Master?" Mara asked.
"You should know," he growled, "Obi- Wan, the former Lord Vader, and several others who have come to 'rescue him'"
Mara was about to respond when she suddenly felt something. Luke! He was here! Had he decided to join her?
"We fight them now," said Palpatine, who had his eyes closed.
Mara nodded, who too now had her eyes closed.
~*~
When Anakin, Obi- Wan, Siri, and Katana finally reached the docking bay, they were shocked to see that there weren't any guards in sight. Obi- Wan's electrocuffs were removed and Anakin, Siri, and Katana removed their armor. Then, all four of the Jedi's danger sense's flickered, and two lightsaber's were heard igniting.
Anakin knew who it was. He drew his light saber, and Katana and Siri did likewise. Obi- Wan, however was weaponless.
"I was wondering when you would return, Lord Vader," Palpatine, sneered at Anakin.
"I would prefer to be called Anakin," Anakin replied, taking a step forward.
"He is no longer your servant," Voiced Obi- Wan.
"He has returned to the lightside of the force," added Siri, stepping forward.
"Ah, but with his leaving, another has seen the truth. Mara Jade, has now seen the truth. She has finally learned that your ways are foolery."
"They are not foolery. You have simply tricked Mara into believing your ways, just as you did me." Anakin replied, moving to engage Palpatine.
Palpatine smirked, and the battle began.
"Mara, why?" asked, Obi- Wan.
Mara rolled her eyes, completely ignoring him.
Anakin and his former Master's blades clashed. Attack, defense, attack, defense. They appeared to be evenly matched.
Siri stepped forward and tried to help Anakin with his fight.
Palpatine was to fast for her. He force slammed her away, Siri fighting consciousness.
"Master!" Katana cried, running forward to avenge Siri. She too tried to help Anakin with his fight.
"Katana! No!" Siri managed.
But it was to late for Katana. She caught the back swipe of a blow Palpatine had tried to launch at Anakin. For Katana, the world began to spin, and then it simply... Stopped.
"PADAWAN!" Siri yelled, in tears now. It was then, that she fell into unconsciousness. Both from the blow Palpatine had given her, and from the shock of her Padawan's death.
~*~
When Luke's ship came into the docking bay, he was surprised to see no one. He did however, hear the clashing of lightsabers. He climbed out of the cockpit of his ship, and ran to where he heard the sounds of the battle.
His Father was fighting someone, Obi- Wan was retrieving a light saber from some lady.
"Luke, stay back!" Anakin called, sensing his son's presence.
Palpatine, finally noticing what Obi- Wan was doing, slammed Obi- Wan into a wall, knocking him unconscious as well.
Luke ran, to where Obi- Wan had fallen, and grasped the light saber Obi- Wan had been retrieving.
He had to help his Father, he had to help Mara. His eyes rested on Mara, she was standing off to the side, watching Anakin and the Emperor fight. Gleams of happiness came into her eyes whenever the Emperor tried to strike a blow at Anakin. Luke narrowed his eyes. He had to help his Father. It appeared as though even his best friend wasn't helping.
Before Luke could do anything to help, both Anakin and Palpatine tried to slam each other into a wall at the same time. Both, were knocked unconscious leaving only Luke and Mara able to fight.
"Dad!" cried Luke, running to his Father.
"Master!" Mara cried at the same time, trying to aid Palpatine.
However, both were unconscious beyond the point of waking up soon.
"Luke." said Mara, coming over to her friend, "What are you doing here?" she asked, hugging him.
"I had to help you. I had to help my Dad." He replied.
"I don't need any help." she said.
"Yes you do." Luke told her, "I can tell. You've changed. You aren't... the same as you were."
Mara nodded. "I know. Luke I'm – I think I'm supposed to be your enemy now."
"My enemy?"
"Yes," she said, "I am a sith now. If I'm not mistaken, you are to become a Jedi."
Luke nodded uncertainly, "But we can still be friends, Mara." Luke said, smiling hopefully at her.
Mara shook her head, "We can't."
"Why is that?"
"Because." she said, "Because of everything. Luke, you were, and probably still are my best friend, so I'm going to let you take all of them, and go."
"Mara wh-"
"I'll deal with my Master. Just take them and go. My master will kill you all if you don't. And I don't want that to happen." she said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
Luke nodded. He hugged his friend. "I hope we see each other again, someday, Mara." he said.
A small smile came onto Mara's face, "Me too." she said, "Now be gone, if my Master comes back to consciousness all of this is pointless."
"Thanks, Mara."
_*_
AN: I know that's a little longer than usual, but that's okay! I plan to be totally finished with this story in two more chapters. Then on to the sequel! :)
I love you all so much, and thanks for reviewing!
- Sarah