Chapter 17

Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith and ruler of the galaxy, kneeled in defeat before his son. He could only conjure one word to describe his situation: irony. Over two decades ago, Vader held his predecessor in the same position and killed him to become the next apprentice to Darth Sidious.

And now the circle was about to be completed. Vader was too deep in the darkness to appeal to his son. He just stared, waiting for the inevitable.

Luke held Darth Vader at his mercy. "They would call me a hero if I ended your life here," he told his father. The Jedi drew his blade back and prepared to deliver the killing blow.

Then, a shock hit him like a ton of duracrete. Luke sensed Yoda's death in the Force like a supercharged blade. The younger Skywalker walked backwards for a few steps.

Luke, you must not do this! Luke heard Yoda plead. The old Jedi Master was one with the Force, just like Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Luke trembled as cold sweat formed on his body. He switched off his lightsaber and the green blade retreated back into its hilt.

"But Jedi don't kill their prisoners," Luke finally said. "You're coming with me."

Sensing the confusion radiating from his father, Luke walked over to the broken man and knelt before him. "You have the power to end this," the Jedi said. "You can order your forces to stand down. There's no need for more bloodshed today."

Vader's breathing seemed labored before he at last said, "I'm sorry. Everything that has happened is my fault. I changed the fate of the galaxy with a single stroke of my lightsaber. I walked the dark path, taking Palpatine's side against my better judgment. But you have to understand, Luke. I had no choice."

"None of that matters, father," Luke said. "I forgive you." When those words exited his mouth, Luke felt the weight of the galaxy sliding from his shoulders.

"Help me stand," Vader requested.

Luke nodded his head before giving his father aid in standing.

Darth Vader was no more, but the terrible reminder remained. Luke watched as Anakin Skywalker looked to the battle in space. Rebel forces were growing closer to the Executor and it would not be long before they would be in mortal danger.

Kyle Katarn drove his blade with a vengeance as he fell upon Darth Apostas. The Sith Lord, having little time to savor her victory over Yoda, was now faced with a much fresher opponent.

Apostas returned to the Makashi form to face Kyle. Kyle's blows fell like a furious tempest. He struck for her waist, but found the red blade in his way. A thrust for the Sith Lord's head also met with failure, forcing Kyle to slip deeper into Vaapad in an attempt to overwhelm her.

Kyle knew the dangers of falling too far into Vaapad. The technique was a tightrope walk over the dark side and the more he poured into the technique, the closer to the abyss he moved. But his was the ultimate form. Kyle refused to fail.

Apostas sidestepped Kyle's next attack for her legs before sweeping her blade back to where she stood only seconds before to knock the cyan plasma away. She then used a Force push in attempt to unbalance the Jedi.

But it had no effect on Kyle. The Jedi came at her like a raging boma, holding his blade close to his body before slamming it forward.

Apostas had to grip her hilt with both hands to prevent her lightsaber from being jerked out of her hands. She pushed against their locked blades in an attempt to gain the advantage. Kyle shoved hard and she backed away. Then a boot connected with her chin, causing Apostas to see stars as she stumbled backwards.

The Jedi swung his blade in a wide arc, slicing through the hilt of the Sith Lord's blade.

Apostas fell on her back, disarmed and defeated by Kyle.

Kyle moved the tip of his blade before the Sith Lord's throat. "It's over," he told her. "Now, about that trial."

"You think it is easy to capture a Sith Lord, Jedi?" Apostas asked.

"I was told that I had the power to destroy you, Apostas," Kyle said to her. "But I will not let you off so easily." He deactivated his lightsaber and extended his right hand to her. "I'd rather save you."

Kyle could see a flicker of hesitation in her brown eyes. Then, all he heard was laughter.

"You redeem me and then what?" asked Apostas. "Do you think Vader trained the other Sith you fought on Ziost?"

"What do you mean?" Kyle questioned. As far as he knew, Vader was the only Sith Master in the galaxy.

"If you must ask, then you aren't worthy of knowing," Apostas said. She then held out her left hand and used her blinding technique on Kyle.

Kyle called on the Force to restore his sight, but he suddenly felt sleepy. Knowing such sensations were dangerous, he tried to fight it with every Jedi technique he knew.

The Jedi fell to his knees and the world around him slowly became visible again. But Darth Apostas was gone.

"Luke, signal the fleet," Anakin told his son.

Luke nodded before rushing to the communications terminal. He opened a channel with the fleet and said, "They're waiting."

Anakin said, "This is Darth Vader ordering all forces to stand down and surrender to the Rebellion. There will be no more bloodshed today."

Hours after the Imperial surrender, Anakin Skywalker was in the Rebel base, waiting for judgment from the Alliance command. The Jedi were present as well, giving the former Jedi a small sense of comfort. But that was all he felt.

The Big Three of the Alliance sat behind a table. Mon Mothma studied Anakin with interest while Ackbar and Crix Madine tried to hide their disgust.

"Darth Vader, your crimes against the galaxy are immeasurable," Mon Mothma began. "You may have been responsible for ending the Clone Wars, but the atrocities you committed in the name of the Empire are inexcusable. Though the Alliance considers the death penalty illegal, there is no other sentence to fit your crimes."

"However, we are willing to compromise on this issue," Admiral Ackbar said. "Luke Skywalker has requested that you be released to the custody of the Jedi Order to deal with you as he sees fit."

"That is reasonable," Anakin said.

"Only a Jedi is fit to judge another Jedi for his crimes," Luke said. "I accept Vader into my custody. We will take leave of Dantooine and bring him before the Jedi Council."

"But the Jedi Council was destroyed, General Skywalker," Crix Madine argued. "Surely you haven't gone as far as making neophyte Padawans Jedi Masters."

"There are mysteries to the Force that cannot be explained, General Madine," Kyle interjected. "I know just the place where we can meet the Jedi Council. All we ask is that this meeting be kept confidential."

"You have our word," Mon Mothma said. "Until Grand Admiral Thrawn returns from Kessel with the Imperial computer, we will be planning our next move against the Empire. I fear that Leia won't rest until she has destroyed the Rebellion."

Suddenly, the doors to the meeting room opened. Vima Da Boda entered with Kyp Durron in tow. The ancient Jedi carried the computer from Kessel with her. She looked up to Anakin.

Anakin returned the old woman's gaze, but only briefly.

"Thrawn sent us ahead," Vima told Mon Mothma. "He says he is going to consolidate the remaining defectors for the fight against the Empire."

"A worthy goal," Mon Mothma admitted as Vima set the computer on a table. "Did he say when he would return?"

"No, he did not," Vima replied.

Anakin turned to his son and asked, "When do we leave?"

"We can go now," Luke told the former Sith Lord.

"We leave you to Jedi matters, General Skywalker," Mon Mothma said. "May the Force be with you."

+

The Sith Infiltrator exited hyperspace in the Deep Core. Darth Apostas at first felt obligated to return to Coruscant, but another world beckoned.

Byss. The world seemed tranquil from orbit, but the Sith Lord could sense the dark side currents on the planet. Apostas buried her reservations and flew towards the planet.

No one challenged Apostas as she flew through the atmosphere and towards the towering citadel. The Sith Lord landed on one of the many landing pads and she saw a man waiting outside for her.

Apostas stepped down the access ramp and the man approached her. He was young and wore a black leather trench coat that concealed his body. But Apostas easily recognized him through the Force.

"Lord Sidious," she said.

"Welcome to Byss, Lady Apostas," Darth Sidious told her. "I have been expecting you."

Apostas stepped before the Emperor and fell to one knee. She cast her gaze downward and said, "I pledge myself to you, Lord Sidious. You are the true Dark Lord of the Sith."

"Good," Sidious said. "Rise, my apprentice."

Darth Apostas rose to stand face to face with her new master. "Let us stand together," she told him. "We will finish the Jedi once and for all."