George Lucas owns everything. Not me.

Dack finished the last of his meal, and left. A junior officer saluted him at the door.

"Admiral Ralter, you have a message from the Emperor in your quarters."

Dack nodded and continued down the hallway. It should have been the happiest day of his life. He had successfully delivered Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker to the Emperor, alive, in perfect hibernation. He was the most successful Imperial ever. Palpatine had gotten word of Vader's return to the light side, so they made up some story about him being on a secret mission for the Emperor. Holos everywhere had his face on them – he was the Empire's biggest hero. His whole career as a seemingly worthless intelligence officer had finally made him someone important – the Emperor's second-in-command, glorious savior of Imperials everywhere. And yet he felt dull – like there was something missing.

He saw a datacard lying on his table. It was a written message. Thank the Force. Although he had gotten much praise from Palpatine, the last thing in the galaxy he wanted to see was that deformed tyrant.

Admiral D. Ralter – Throne room – 1600 hours. Bring Lightsaber.

"Short and sweet, as usual." He sighed, and lay down on his bunk. He looked through some files of officers. He had read his own file, and looked up people who had served with him on other missions. He had meant to talk to them – find out more about himself, but somehow something always came up. He stared at the virtually lifeless faces. They stared back blankly. He wondered vaguely why he had ever picked the job that he did. He didn't want to please any of these people; he didn't have any fun doing his job. And then it hit him.

There were people running everywhere. They were in a large, icy cavern, with x-wings and snowspeeders, droids, computers and rebels running around. He ran past them. Then someone grabbed his arm. He turned to look at the young pilot.

"Good luck, Dack! See you at the rendezvous!" After shaking hands, the pilot slapped him on the shoulder. He smiled and kept running. He saw an empty snowspeeder and he jumped in. Strapping himself and warming up the computer, he looked out at the sea of Rebels. He knew their cause. And deep inside, he knew he had to help them. He couldn't let them down. Then a very familiar face came forward and hopped into the pilot's seat of the speeder.

Dack lurched forward and took a deep breath. The great super star destroyer had moved into hyperspace, heading for the Death Star, jolting him out of his vision. Breathing a little easier, he shuddered at his vision. The pilot of his speeder he knew all too well – Luke. But the other pilot, who had wished him good luck. Who was he? He was in some of Dack's other visions, too. So were many of the others running around. But to him, they were all nameless faces, people he had deceived to get information. The feeling of loyalty that was present also disturbed him. He knew the planet as Hoth – had any of those pilots survived? Or had his colleagues killed his only "friends"? He felt a pang of sadness, or more accurately loneliness. He very rarely had memories of his past, and the only ones he ever had involved Rebels, friendly Rebels. Aside from them, he could remember no friends, not even childhood acquaintances. Did he have a girlfriend? A wife? Children, family of any kind? It seemed he would never know.

Smiling sadly, he remembered Luke's mother. She was so beautiful. What had become of her? Then he thought of Vader. How was his former Master doing on the light side? Was he even alive?

"What am I even still doing here?"

My one mission was to kill Luke Skywalker. I didn't manage to do that, but Palpatine has him now – that's worse than death; it's what he deserves. But what about me? Is it possible to retire young from Imperial service? He laughed at himself, imagining asking Palpatine if he could quit now. The Emperor would never agree to losing another right-hand man. It would be a PR nightmare! And Dack wasn't even 30 yet. A comm beeped near him.

"Admiral Ralter here."

"Sir, we've reached the Death Star."

"Very well. Prepare my shuttle." Realizing he sounded like Vader, Dack shook his head, made sure he looked proper, grabbed his lightsaber and walked to the shuttlebay. Tomorrow he would return to Coruscant, for festivities, and to attend the unveiling of his own statue. Small though the physical statue would be, the honour was huge. The only other person who had a public statue was Palpatine. Shaking his head again, he stared out at the monstrous planet-like station. And then it happened again.

He was crammed with about six other people on a bench, in a room with other benches and a screen near the front. They were watching a badly-made holo. It was of a celebration of some kind. An old general with a white beard handed Princess Leia a medal, and she placed it round Luke's neck. After Han got the same thing, they turned and smiled at the perfectly arranged crowd of Rebels, who stood at perfect attention – toes were in line. Then they burst into applause, clapping and smiling.

It took Dack a moment to realize that he was now on the Death Star, and that the Imperials were clapping for him. He smiled weakly and waved a little as he walked through. He was uneasy as he remembered that holo. It was a recording of the first Death Star Destruction celebration. He had about fifteen minutes till he had to meet the Emperor. He sat down in a room adjoining the throne room, and strained his memory. And he came up with something.

"Who is that General, the old one?" Dack asked the pilot next to him. It was the same pilot from some of his other visions.

"You don't know? That's General Dodonna. He's one of the most famous Generals ever!"

"That's General Jan Dodonna?"

"The very same."

"I expected him to be younger."

"Oh yeah, he looked old, but he was spry, and young like any of us. He was one of the best Generals ever, Dack. It's a pity you never got to serve under him. He was strict all right, when we stood at attention, he made sure our shoulders and toes were in line, and that we were all looking straight and stuff. But he was smart, and just a great leader."

"Yeah, I've heard. I also heard he went nuts at the end."

"Naw, not nuts. It's just that after his son died, he wasn't fighting as vigorously as he used to. So then when he stayed at Yavin, well."

"I know. He'd been fighting for nearly fifteen years, right? I think he believed he probably wouldn't live to see freedom from the Empire. So then when he couldn't save the galaxy for his son either, he just let go, huh?"
"Yeah, something like that." The other pilot looked at the newcomers to the room, glad to be off that topic of discussion. "Hey Wedge! Come over here, let's play sabaac."

Dack leaned back against the wall. The air felt thick. He could feel the darkside practically oozing from the next door room. Palpatine was doing something big.

Anakin smiled. Padmé had forgiven him! He felt light, happy like he hadn't for years. Yoda was a wise master, and Anakin was learning new things from him. He had a feeling something good was going to happen soon, and dissipate the dark cloud in the back of his mind. Until then, he and Padmé would remain here, in peace. And with Yoda's and Padmé's help, and Jedi healing and meditation, by the time that good thing happened, he might be able to shed his terrible armor, and finally put that part of his life to rest.

Dack walked into the throne room. The carbonite slabs of Han and Leia were still against the wall. Palpatine sat looking contented, and at his feet, Luke, dressed in all black, was kneeling, lightsaber in hand, gleam in his eyes.

"…and then kill him and take your rightful place." Palpatine finished his sentence as Dack walked in.

His blood ran cold, and then suddenly he was red hot with anger. Palpatine was planning to get rid of him the whole time. He ignited his saber angrily.

"Ah Ralter, you pathetic whelp. You're actually going to try and defend your position, are you?" Palpatine gave him a sick smile.

"You scum!" Dack spat out.

He cackled evilly. "Skywalker's more powerful, you fool! It's in his blood! DIE!"

And then Luke rushed at him, radiating the darkside, brandishing his green saber.

What will happen next? You'll just have to wait for the next chapter. Bwaha!

Oh yeah, I know that I originally had General Dodonna in Chapter 3, but as seeing as he was captured shortly after the battle of Yavin, he can't be there! That's been changed. Thanks to my faithful reviewers, hope you like the story! You'll just have to see if I reveal the identity of Dack's pilot friend. (no, it's not Luke) I hope you enjoyed this story, seeing as it's almost over!