Chapter Nine
Vader's lightsaber ignited with a snap-hiss. He stood there waiting for Luke to make a move. But he didn't. Luke had learned much since Bespin. He was becoming a Jedi. It was the Jedi way to be defensive. "You and I are much alike young one." Vader spoke to try and lure Luke.
It was true though. Luke and Anakin were very alike. They both struggled with emotions. Both seek more from the Force. They went beyond the Force.
Luke replied intelligently, "No." But then again they were different. Anakin had thrived on his power and let it take control of him. Luke controlled the power that was given to him. He balanced everything out so they were equal. "Where's Leia?" Luke demanded. Luke saw that this was a point less question. Vader would never give up her.
"Never mind that son. She is fine for now." Vader quickly changed the subject right back to where the discussion began. "I failed that day in Cloud City, but I will not fail here. You will join me!"
Luke focused and argued, "No, I am Jedi. Anakin, my father, was as I am and he still is."
"No!" Vader snapped back. "I'm sorry son, but he is no longer. Darkness is all that is left of him."
"Father, why can't you see the truth inside you? There is still some form of love! The Emperor has not fully taken you away from the light."
The air seemed still from these words. Silence. Nothing dared to move. Then darkness except from the shimmering blood stained blade of Vader.
He came slowly at first but then was visible atop the stairs alongside Darth Vader. His voice was cold and shivering. Evil covered his words. The Dark Lord of the Sith, the ruler of the Galaxy spoke. "I'm afraid he is mine." His words spat out of his mouth. "It is hopeless to try and recover his pitiful soul from the darkness."
Vader was hurt by these words. Was he truly that pitiful? Did his master really think that low of him? He felt...betrayed. The Dark Lords had stood by each other for a long time, but now the Emperor through away their friendship for another? A more powerful being, his son? How could he! His hate for the Emperor was growing more and more each second.
The emperor continued his assault on Luke. "I have consumed him. I have been controlling him. I brought him life and power that he couldn't of imagined. He is my slave!
Luke saw how really evil this man was. He had lied and manipulated people as Vader. He had revealed himself to the Republic and replaced it with a wicked New Order.
"Come to the darkside, son." Sidious went on, "You will have even more power than me."
"And what of my father!" Luke questioned, "Are going to just throw him away like he was trash?"
A smile came upon the old man. "Your father. So that's what you want. The darkside will enable you to unleash your fury upon me. Once I am gone you father and you will take my place as ruler of the galaxy! Feel your hate for me."
Luke ignited his saber. Snap-hiss. The green blade was at his side. He took a step back and then sprinted forward. With incredible speed he lunged into the air onto the platform. Vader's blade met his up in the air.
The evil Dark Lord took a step back and sat back down in his throne. A pure smile of wickedness was on his face as the two warriors battled it out.
Vader was confused at what Luke had just done. He had given in to Sidious' hate? Was Luke really that naive? He couldn't tell at the moment because he needed to focus on this fight.
Luke was aggressive with his attacks. He came at Vader at Vader hard and swift, barely controlling his blade. Vader parried the blows with both hands, turning his arms at every attack. His footing was stable and didn't move much.
"Your skill has grown since our last meeting." Vader said as they broke out of the exchange of attacks. "Come at me with more power than before."
Luke tightened his moves meeting the red blade every time. He improved his speed. The green lightsaber flashed in streams of color around him as he tried to break through Vader's defense.
Vader was tired of this none sense and went on the offensive. Luke had to back up towards between the staircases just to meet Vader's blade. Both attacked at the same time now. Luke trying to keep Vader form over powering him; and Vader trying to bring Luke's anger out. Their blades locked in the air.
Then something unexpected happened, Vader took a step back and thrust out a hand at Luke. The Force push was extremely powerful, sending Luke off the platform head of heals. He soared through the air and landed in a crumple on the floor. A deep moan came from the young man in pain.
Vader saw the chance and leaped down to him from the platform. Vader was a meter or so from Luke's feet now. He extended his hand and put out his palm. But Luke was ready for this and somersaulted into he air. He landed on his feet and extended his palm also.
The two were engaged in a contest of the Force. Each component used all their skill and power into their Force pushes. Luke was young and had the advantage of the newly found passion of the Force. He knew he could take Vader. Luke didn't bury his thoughts, he gloried it. He engorged himself with the satisfactory of winning. The power made him feverish and tingly. His lust was overpowering and made him blind to all other choices.
Then Luke thought of Yoda. This was not the Jedi way. He was becoming apart of the darkside as his father had. He could not let this happen. It was a difficult decision for Luke. He was confused.
The he saw the light! He put out both his hands now and deflected the incoming power. Slowly his hands turned, away from Vader and towards the space across from him. Using his mind instead of his hands he grabbed his lightsaber from his belt and motioned it to Vader, blade ignited.
Startled by this new turn of events, the Sith was forced to let go of his onslaught and reach for his own lightsaber. His blade met Luke's in mid-air. The clashed was a glorious meeting of light and dark. It lasted for a few seconds then Luke retrieved his blade. Vader did the same.
Now refocused, the two ran to each other in aggressive stances and clashed in the center of the room!
The evil Emperor let out a wicked laugh that seemed to last forever. His face lit up with a huge smile from his gross, yellow teeth. He was soon to claiming his prize.
The atmosphere of the Senate district was calm and gentle. It was day time and only a few speeders filled the air. Mostly everyone was glued to the Holo-net inside their own homes, far from here. Over the decades the Senate had been utterly been wiped out. No more greedy senators ever came here anymore. The actual domed, mushroom shaped Senate building was still their though. Earlier after the destruction of the first Death Star, it served as an apartment complex for the finest of rulers. In the later years it was sometimes occupied by Imperial forces to organize the armada of troops on Coruscaunt. Now it was mostly abandoned except for the usual gangs that hideout there.
The poor thing had stood for thousands of years during the Republic's reign and now it was a useless piece of junk. Fortunately this building would not have to suffer any longer. The Rebels had to destroy it in order to get to the main power generator.
Boom! Boom! Boom! That was the sound of three gigantic laser bolts entering Coruscaunt's atmosphere. They had come from the major Mon Calamari star cruiser in an attempt to clear a pathway for the Rebels to gain access to a shaft that led right to the generator. Each green bolt came hard and fast striking the domed building.
The first hit left a crater on top of the dome leaving it looking like a donut. The crater went down for about fifty feet before absorbing into the metal material that was the ground. The next strike was the second blast; once this hit the Senate building the sides of the donut collapsed outward. This left the crater another fifty feet deep adding to a total of one hundred feet. The last blast totally destroyed the old building ending the life of this ancient relic. The crater was now deep enough and the small shaft was visible.
Immerging from the clouds was a squadron of Rebel fighters. In the lead was the always heroic Millennium Falcon. It soared towards the crater along with the other craft. Behind it was Wedge Antilles in his X-wing fighter. Behind Wedge were various pilots flying more X-wings or A-wings.
Inside the cockpit of the Falcon everyone looked out the window. Han and Lando in the front driving, Chewie and the droids in the back. The Coruscaunt sky was even more beautiful than the night before when they had rescued Luke. They all gave out comments about the city or the mission in front of them.
"Goodness gracious, me!" Three-pee-oh exclaimed, "This place seems very familiar too me. How odd…"
Ar-too gave a series of burst and beeps from his little body. Obviously he was excited about the mission.
Chewie yelled his eagerness in the mission also. These big buildings were nothing compared to the huge trees back home on Kashyyyk.
Lando gave a sigh of relief. "I'm glad this will be almost over after this." Lando glanced to Han. "Well good luck to us."
Han was taken back from this statement. "Luck? There is no such thing as luck, Lando. Only the Force." Han had really changed over the last couple of years. He had learned much from Luke and his ways and had lost his old ones. Han was sad that this could be his last mission, he had grown to like the Rebellion.
