Luke's emotions are in turmoil as he stands, helplessly watching the rebel fleet being decimated by the vastly larger Imperial fleet.

"As you can see, my young apprentice," continues Sidious, pushing the knife deeper, "your friends have failed. Now witness the fire power of this fully armed and operational battle station!" He activates the COM link on his armrest and barks a command. "Fire at will, Commander!"

Within seconds, a massive beam of energy bursts forth from the Death Star, blasting a nearby transport into oblivion. Luke is clearly shocked, for this was a secret well kept …even from me…I watch as the Death Star lashes out at the Rebel Fleet, blasting ships effortlessly while the fleet of star destroyers stands by. Luke stands with his back to us, staring in horror at the decimation.

"Your fleet is lost," taunts Sidious. "And your friends on the Endor moon will not survive. The Alliance will die; as will your friends."

At these words Luke turns back to us, his eyes full of hatred as he glares at Sidious. He glances up at me, as though seeking my aid.

"Good," sighs Sidious as he closes his eyes. "I can feel your anger! I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!"

Luke turns away, the struggle within him mounting. I watch him, sensing that his breaking point is near. He turns back and with tremendous speed, his lightsaber leaps into his hand. It is ignited and swinging towards the emperor, when I stop it with my own blade. Sidious laughs, enjoying the obscene spectacle of a father and son about to engage in a mortal combat.

My son attacks me viciously, and with far greater strength then he exhibited on Bespin. He has me at the top of the stairs, and I lose my footing, tumbling down the stairs. Humiliated, I get to my feet as above my master laughs.

"Good!" he encourages Luke. "Use your aggressive feelings, boy! Let the hate flow through you!"

I walk to the foot of the stairs, and up at my son who has turned off his saber.

"Obi wan has taught you well," I comment as I start up the stairs once again.

Luke watches me, but the hatred that I felt surging through him moments earlier is gone. He has controlled it. "I will not fight you, Father," he tells me softly.

I am silent as I continue up the stairs to meet him, his words getting to me in a way I don't like.

"You are unwise to lower your defenses," I tell him and press the attack once again. Luke deflects my thrusts, and leaps backward to the catwalk above, turning off his saber once again. He looks down at me, a smile on his face.

"Your thoughts betray you, Father," he tells me. "I feel the good in you, the conflict!"

"There is no conflict," I lie.

"You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe you'll destroy me now," he declares.

"You underestimate the power of the Dark Side," I tell him, mustering the Darkness around me, immersing myself in it once again. "If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny!" I throw my own ignited saber towards the cables that hold up the catwalk, slicing through them easily. The catwalk collapses and Luke tumbles to the floor below as I head down the steps to meet him, summoning my saber back into my hand.

From behind me I can hear Sidious's encouragement. "Good, good..." he says. Is that meant for me or for Luke? I wonder.

It is dark, and Luke is no where to be seen. "You cannot hide forever, Luke," I tell him as I walk carefully among the control panels, the low ceiling threatening to hit my head.

"I will not fight you!" I hear him say. He is doing an effective job of hiding from me, not giving me any hint as to where he might be. I realize there is only on thing I can do to bring him out of his hiding. It almost sickens me to manipulate my son in the very manner that I was manipulated all those years ago, but I am desperate, and Luke is too stubborn. Just like his father…

"Give yourself to the Dark Side," I tell him. "It is the only way you can save your friends." That got him…. "Yes! Your thoughts betray you; your feelings are strong, especially for…" I stop, sensing in him something I had not expected, and I don't understand what it means for a moment…and then it become clear to me…there were two….oh Padmé…

"Sister!" I proclaim, digging out his deepest secret. "So, you have a twin sister! Your feelings have now betrayed her too. Obi-Wan was wise to hide her from me. Now his failure is complete!" I can feel his anger mounting, his desperation to protect his sister filling him. "If you will not turn to the Dark Side," I taunt, "then perhaps she will!"

"NEVER!" screams my son, who comes out of no where, his lightsaber flashing. He attacks me relentlessly, his hatred pouring out of him, giving him more strength than he ever imagined. He pushes me back, my own strength weakening under his onslaught. I wasn't prepared for this, didn't think it was possible, but he means to kill me, I can see it in his eyes, feel it with every blow he reigns down on me. I am exhausted, weakened by the emotional blow that the existence of my daughter has given me, and yet he pushes me even harder, bringing his saber down on mine over and over again, knocking me to my knees. I grab on to the railing that edges the energy shaft for support, and he takes advantage of my momentary distraction by slicing his blade through my wrist, severing my hand. I scream in agony, the pain incredibly real despite the fact that the hand I just lost was mechanical. I hold up my other hand in a gesture of defeat, my lungs feeling as though they are about to collapse, my breath coming hard. Luke stops his eyes ablaze with anger and hatred as Sidious' voice is heard behind us. He is laughing…

"Good!" he shouts encouragingly. "Your hate has made you powerful! Now fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!"

You bastard… I think to myself. You've used me all along…I look up at my son, seeing the horror in his face as he looks at his own black gloved hand, the replacement of the one I severed at Bespin, and then he looks at stump where my hand had been. He doesn't want to be like me…he hates what I have become…can I blame him for that?

Finally Luke straightens up and turns to face Sidious. "Never," he declares proudly. "I'll never turn to the Dark Side! You've failed your highness! I am a Jedi, as my father was before me."

I feel tears welling up in my eyes, so proud am I of my son…and so ashamed of myself. The grin on Sidious' face fades, and his face twists with anger. "So be it," he says simply. "Jedi." He walked towards Luke slowly, his eyes not leaving my son for an instant. I can feel the anger in him, the raw hatred. He has always hated the Jedi; Luke is certainly no exception. "If you will not be turned," continues Sidious menacingly. "You will be destroyed!"

Out of his fingertips, the emperor shoots blue bolts of pure energy, hammering Luke to the floor. He grabs onto a metal canister to keep from falling down he energy shaft as the bolts subside momentarily. I struggle to my feet, dazed and weakened, and walk to the emperor's side.

"Young fool," continues Sidious. "Only now at the end do you understand." He sentence is punctuated with another blast of energy. "Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the Dark Side!" Luke is on the floor writhing, his agony reaching out to me in mine. "You will pay the price for your lack of vision!" continues Sidious, prolonging my son's agony, and enjoying each moment of it.

Luke looks towards me, imploring me. "Father, please!" he begs me, barely able to speak. "Help me!"

My heart aches as I watch, wishing I knew what to do, knowing that my own life was forfeit if I were to intervene. The bombardment has ceased for the moment, perhaps as Sidious gathers his strength; it also gives me a chance to gather mine.

"Now, young Skywalker," Sidious tells my son, "you will die."

I look at him, then back at my son whose body is now under attack once again. The intensity of the pain has increased, yet he still manages to call out to me. I turn back to the monster beside me, seeing him truly for the first time. This is not the man who mentored me as a youth, who befriended me and encouraged me when no one else would; that man never existed, for it was all just an evil plan. He has used me all my life, and it is because of him that I have lost everyone I have ever loved.

Not this time… I decide, realizing for the first time that I love my son, that I would do anything to save him, even if it means my own life. Without another moment's hesitation, I pick up the emperor, the energy bolts now hitting me, his shrieks deafening in my ears; but I do not stop. I must destroy this thing, as it should have been destroyed many years ago. I am in agony, the pain filling my entire being, yet I know what I must do as I continue to struggle against the pain, against my own weakening body. Finally I reach the edge of the energy shaft, and throw the emperor into the bottomless abyss.

He screams all the way down, the energy filling the chasm and blowing up into the throne room. I collapse at the edge, utterly spent. Perhaps it would be better if I followed him to my own death…yet my son is at my side in an instant, pulling me back, cradling me in his arms. I lean back against him, unable to speak, but knowing that words are not necessary. I feel Luke take my hand and squeeze it, and in that simple gesture, the love he feels for me flows over me. I am redeemed…