Ben is sitting on the couch, holding six month old Tamar, tickling her chin, smiling at the soft sounds the baby makes. He smiles at the top of her bald head, noticing that a few strands of bright red hair have started to appear. As he plays with his daughter, he can feel a chill start to walk up his spine, and a heavy malevolence infusing the Force. Standing, he gently sets Tamar down in her bassinet, and calls out for Syal.
When she enters the room, he glances her way. "Take Tamar and go into the kitchen."
Then there is a pounding on the door, and a synthesized voice can be heard through it. "Open up, by order of His Majesty the Emperor."
Ben walks to the door, and opens it, looking at the two storm troopers to either side, and finally allowing his gaze to fall upon the dark form of his grandfather.
Ben looks up into the mask, allowing the rhythmic breathing to wash away his fears. He quickly bows his head. "What can I do for you?"
"I am searching for Valin Halycon. You will tell me where he is."
Ben frowns. "I am sorry my lord, but I know no one of that name."
Suddenly Ben is propelled back into the house, crashing into one of the tables behind the sofa. "Do not trifle with me. I know there is a Force user in this house, and I know that Valin Halycon, son of Nejaa Halycon is alive and well still."
As the door opens from the kitchen, Ben turns his horrified glance that way, seeing Syal and Tamar being lead from it by two more stormtroopers. He can clearly feel Syal's fear in the Force, and turns his head back to Vader as he hears the snap hiss of a lightsaber.
"If you will not tell me, then perhaps she can be made to."
Vader takes a step towards Syal, and Ben's instincts take over, stretching out his hand, he calls the Force and his lightsaber to him, and ignites the blade, and quickly putting it beneath Vader's knocking him away from her. "Stay away from my wife and child Sith."
"Ah, Valin, I knew you would be easy to find."
I hide my grimace, hide the fact that I'm not Valin, and set myself ready to receive his attacks. Vader hesitates a moment, almost as if he is expecting Ben to attack first, then with a step forward, he is bringing his saber crashing down at Ben.
Ben throws his saber up; catching Vader's and staggers from the Force of the blow.
Seconds after catching the blade, the pressure is gone, and Vader's saber is coming in low. Ben parries that attack away, sliding to the left, and stabs in with his saber.
Vader catches Ben's blade, and stretches out his hand, sending Ben flying against a wall.
Ben picks himself up, and rushes Vader, sliding in under Vader's defenses, ramming his shoulder into Vader's stomach beneath the control panel. Vader grabs his shoulder and with a pulse in the Force flings Ben once more against the wall.
He can hear Syal's gasp, and Tamar start to cry.
A cold anger settles into the pit of Ben's stomach as he once more attacks. His blade coming in fast and strong, yet Vader's blade matches each strike perfectly. "Yes, your anger makes you powerful, you could be of great assistance to use, join me."
"Go to Hell."
"So be it."
Then Vader goes on the offensive, pushing Ben to his limits, his attacks coming lightning fast, and with a strength that leaves Ben's arms trembling after he parries every blow.
Ben flips backwards out of Vader's reach, landing on the far side of the sofa. Vader raises his hand and flings it at Ben and a shower of wooden spikes from the shattered sofa table come flying towards him. He throws up a Force shield, deflecting the shards which almost hit him.
Then he hears her cry out in pain. Turning his head, he sees a large shard sticking out from Syal, and in seconds he is there beside her, cradling her head in his lap, Vader and the duel all but forgotten.
"Syal, please don't die Syal."
She smiles up at him, a smile filled with pain and regrets and longing. Her voice is a pained whisper. "I love you Ben. Take care of Tamar."
As she passes, he screams his grief and rage out, coating the Force with his anger and despair. He notices Vader stumble backwards and the rush of emotions pounding through the Force, and can hear the whispers of the Dark Side, offering vengeance and power.
As he stands and prepares to use his anger and hate and grief to destroy Vader, a small whimpering cry stops him.
He turns and sees Tamar lying on the floor next to Syal's body. Bending down, he picks her up and softly begins singing his favorite song to her, not caring about Vader as he straightens and begins to stare at Ben.
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made
Suddenly he stops singing and without looking up, he begins to talk to Vader. "Did you have a wife?"
The question surprises Vader, as none of the Jedi he has fought have cared about speaking with him. They usually just attack him, intent upon either allowing themselves to be destroyed or vainly attempting to destroy him. So in the novelty of the situation he decides to answer. "Yes, her name was Padme."
Ben rubs the few strands of red hair on his daughter's head, as he begins to cry at what the Force is telling him to do. "Children?"
"They died at the same time as her."
"Then you don't know the unadulterated love for a child. The willingness to sacrifice anything and everything for your child."
Vader does not reply, just stares at him.
"I won't fight you on one condition."
"What is that?"
"Ensure that she is taken care of, given a good home, not for me, because I know you have no cares about me, since I am a Jedi, but do it for Syal; do it because you were once a husband the same way I was."
Vader slowly nods his head. "It will be as you ask."
Ben places his forehead against his daughter's, touching her with the Force once more, infusing her with all the love, light and laughter that he has experienced, showering her with a hope, so deep-rooted that he hopes no matter what evils befall her, she will never give up her light.
Then he kisses her forehead, and places her once more in her bassinet. Then he calls his saber to his hand, and holds it out to Vader. Vader takes it from him, and stares at the hilt for a second.
Then igniting Ben's blade, he cuts Ben down where he stands, watching mutely as Ben's clothes crumple to the ground, his body dissipating into the Force.