Chapter 13

Stormtroopers rushed efficiently through the halls of Bast Castle. Vader's fortress was on high alert in order to deal with the Jedi invaders. As Leia passed a group of Stormtroopers while she walked towards her father's quarters, she knew that Luke was with the Jedi. She realized that Luke would try to rescue his friends, just like he rescued her from the Death Star three years ago.

While such memories reminded her of happier times, they also told Leia of a time when she was weak. But even then, she still managed to save her would be rescuers. Leia was a survivor and not accustomed to failure.

The door to Vader's personal quarters split vertically and slid into the wall. Darth Vader sat alone in meditation, seeming like an immovable black mass to the untrained eye. But to a Force wielder, Vader appeared as a whirling red vortex of dark side energies.

"I assume you have come to inform me of the Jedi threat," Vader said.

"It would be wrong to assume that you are ignorant of the intrusion, Father," said Leia.

The Sith Lord slowly rose from his chair. "You must not allow Skywalker to escape," he commanded. "As for the Jedi Master, I must face him alone."

Leia nodded. She was not eager to face her friend in battle, but she was not yet ready to betray Vader. She would have to play his game for the time being. "As you wish, Father," she acknowledged.

Luke, Mara, Yoda and Artoo rode the turbolift down to the detention level. Luke was uneasy, but he drew inspiration from Yoda's calm. Mara, on the other hand, was a rippling pool of anticipation. She was the antithesis of everything Obi-Wan and Yoda taught and Luke could not help but feel intrigued. Mara Jade was a deadly beauty, a poisonous flower.

Suddenly, the turbolift ceased moving, causing the floor to shake beneath them. They were not at their desired floor. The castle's security measures sought to trap them for easy capture.

"Artoo, see if you can get the lift moving again," Luke said.

Artoo warbled his acknowledgement before moving over to the computer terminal in the lift.

"It'll take too long to override," Mara growled before unclipping her lightsaber from her belt.

Yoda looked to the Dark Jedi and urged, "Patience. Divided, easily conquered we would be."

Mara did not like the Jedi Master, but realized the wisdom of his words. She returned the lightsaber to her belt while Artoo tried to override the security system. The astromech beeped his success and the lift began moving down again.

Moments later, the lift stopped and the door opened. The group found Stormtroopers with blaster rifles pointed at them.

"Hands up!" the commanding trooper ordered.

Luke and Mara looked to each other. The Dark Jedi smiled before drawing her lightsaber again. Luke followed suit and soon, their energy blades emerged.

The troopers opened fire, but their first volley was wildly off target. Yoda used a Force push to unbalance the soldiers so Luke and Mara could advance. Green and violet blades took advantage of the situation.

Luke easily redirected blaster bolts with his lightsaber, angling his weapon with an obvious proficiency. As he drew closer, he cut down Stormtroopers that would not flee. He was a clam, efficient defender.

Mara showed no such restraint. Her movements were swift and deadly. She focused her violet blade for killing stabs and lunges, thinking nothing of her own safety save for her swift movements. She was a feral killing machine.

Smoke filled the corridor after every trooper fell. Yoda stepped out of the turbolift and Artoo followed him. The door to the detention level was straight ahead.

"Oh dear!" a familiar voice rang as metal feet clanged in their direction. "Mistress Leia has gone mad, Master Luke!"

"Threepio!" Luke exclaimed. "What's going on?"

The golden protocol droid reached the Jedi party and replied, "It's madness! I can't understand human behavior sometimes!"

"Spit it out!" Mara growled, obviously eager to keep moving before more Stormtroopers arrived.

"She's joined the Empire!" Threepio exclaimed, waving his arms frantically.

Artoo beeped to Threepio.

"But what does that have to do with anything, Artoo?" Threepio asked. "Bail Organa perished on Alderaan."

"Threepio, I'll explain later," Luke said. "Right now, we have to rescue our friends."

"Oh, right," Threepio said.

The party rushed to the detention center door. Luke tried to open it, but it was locked.

"Unlock the door, Artoo," Luke commanded.

The astromech rolled over to yet another computer terminal. He inserted his probe into the socket and proceeded to override more locks. His domed head swiveled as he worked, letting loose a series of warbles and beeps.

"Master Luke, Artoo says there are no Stormtroopers in the detention center," Threepio translated just before the doors slid open with a hissing sound.

"That's good news," Luke said as he rushed into the detention center. He probed with the Force, searching for two particular cells. He then pointed Mara in one direction before he ran in another.

Luke opened the door to Han's cell, revealing the sullen smuggler seated on the cold durasteel floor. "Han!" the Jedi called.

Han looked up to Luke before standing from the floor. "Luke!" he exclaimed. "Am I glad to see you!"

Lando and Chewbacca rushed from their cells, having been freed by Mara. The Wookiee roared with happiness to see his best friend.

"Chewie!" Han said before stepping out of his cell and into a powerful bear hug. "Chewie, not so hard!"

The Wookiee released his friend and said, I thought I failed to uphold my life debt to you.

"Well, I'm not dead yet," he told Chewie. Han then looked to Luke and said, "Leia's gone off the deep end and sided with the Empire. I don't know what's happened to her."

"Leia is being drawn by the lure of the dark side," Luke said. "She's receiving training in the Force from Darth Vader."

Han was confused at the situation, but simply shrugged. "I can't worry about that now," the smuggler said. "Where's the Falcon?"

"They're storing her in Vader's hangar bay," Lando said. "That's where we were brought in."

"Well, we should have no problem getting there," Mara said. "Not with three Force users on the team."

"Three?" Lando asked. "I only see two of you."

Luke looked behind him, searching for Yoda. "Oh no," he said.

Yoda exited the turbolift to emerge on the top floor of Bast Castle, stepping into a dimly lit arena. The aged Jedi Master knew what he was about to face. Against the Chosen One, even one as strong in the Force as Yoda stood no chance. But the Jedi could no longer cower in fear of the darkness. Such fear led to the demise of the Jedi Order.

Drawing the Force to him, Yoda called his lightsaber to his hand. Built during his exile on Dagobah, it was his only hope of coming out of a confrontation with Darth Vader alive.

Heavy mechanical breathing filled Yoda's ears. Lights illuminated the arena, revealing the black armored form of Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. He activated his scarlet energy blade without hesitation.

"Master Yoda," Vader said. "I have been waiting for this for a long time."

Yoda ignited his glowing green sword with a snap-hiss. "Come to end this, I have," he bravely affirmed.

Vader walked towards Yoda. "I have become more powerful than any Jedi," he said.

"Heard those words before, I have," Yoda revealed. "Win against me, you cannot."

"Then permit me the opportunity to prove you wrong," Vader said. The Sith Lord made the first move, striking swiftly for Yoda's tiny form.

Yoda easily parried Vader's blade. The Jedi Master twirled to avoid Vader's rapid strikes. The Dark Lord surged forward, pressing his attack. Yoda would meet every lunge from Vader's blade either on the ground or in the air. He leapt as quickly as he spun, creating an impregnable cyclone of green energy around his body.

Vader did not relent. Yoda knew it was not in the Sith Lord's nature to show mercy towards a Jedi. Their swords clashed again, green and red swords locking together in a contest of skill, an ancient contest of hero against villain. Each warrior poured every ounce of knowledge and every ounce of skill into his strokes.

Yoda leapt out of the way of Vader's next flurry of attacks, performing a sommersault as he leapt back and onto a pile of broken battle droids. He then leapt towards Vader, prepared to strike at the Sith Lord's head.

Vader brought his blade up to prevent Yoda's attack from succeeding and their swords clashed loudly. The Sith Lord took a few steps back and Yoda landed on his feet. The Jedi Master struck for his legs, forcing Vader to return his defensive and offensive strokes to his lower body.

Masters of the blade stared at each other from across locked sabers. It was a grudging respect they showed for each other since the confrontation was indeed the most challenging they faced in decades. But the respect could not dissolve the true purpose of their battle. Only one could survive the contest.