If You Honor What They Fight For

Act III

Return of the Jedi

Victory! The Rebel Alliance has triumphed over the Empire at the Battle of Dantooine and Darth Vader is no more. The Sith Lord Darth Apostas has taken control of remnants of the Imperial Navy and has assumed her father's role as Commander of the Imperial Navy.

But unknown to the Rebellion is that the Empire has been secretly building a second more powerful DEATH STAR and the Empire plans to use it to regain lost momentum in the Galactic Civil War. Emperor Palpatine, long thought dead by many in the Alliance, has reclaimed his throne and is seeking to crush all hopes for freedom and justice in the galaxy…

Chapter 1

The second Death Star was an incomplete structure orbiting Endor. With very little fleet presence near the battle station, a powerful shield generator on the forest moon maintained the superweapon's invulnerability.

A single Lambda-class shuttle exited the Super Star Destroyer Lusankya and approached the Death Star. One of the shuttle pilots signaled the shield generator station to transmit the shield access codes before it could land in one the Death Star's many hangar bays.

Stormtroopers assembled and formed lines on both sides of the shuttle as Moff Jerjerrod approached the ship. The shuttle's access ramp descended and Darth Apostas emerged. Her cape glided behind her with each step and a new lightsaber was on her hip.

"Lady Apostas, this is a pleasant surprise," Jerjerrod said. "We are honored by your presence."

Apostas waved her right hand. "I require no pleasantries, commander," she told him. "I have come to put you back on schedule."

Two servants of the Empire walked away from the shuttle side by side.

"Milady, the infighting between Imperial factions has put a strain on our resources, but I assure you the Death Star will be completed on schedule," he told her.

"The Emperor does not share your optimism," Apostas told him.

"Milady, we're working as fast as we can," Jerjerrod argued.

"Then perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them," Apostas said coldly.

Jerjerrod stopped walking at the same moment Apostas did. "But he asks the impossible," he confided in a low voice. "I need more men."

Apostas stared at the Moff and suggested, "Perhaps you can tell him that when he arrives."

Jerjerrod's expression changed from feigned confidence to obvious fear. "The Emperor's coming here?" he asked. Then, he regained his composure and promised, "We shall redouble our efforts."

"I hope so for your sake, commander," Apostas told him. "The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am."

With those last words, Apostas turned and walked towards the turbolift to exit the hangar bay.

The Rebel base was a scene of celebration. At last, the great and evil Darth Vader was gone. Even though the war was far from over, Luke Skywalker had given the Rebellion hope. A Bith band played on a stage while a feast was served and ale was poured.

Luke smiled as he watched his father eat for the first time in what seemed to be years. Anakin nearly choked as he tried to consume the food too fast. "Take it easy," he told his father.

Anakin quickly grabbed the mug of ale from the table to wet his throat. When he finished drinking, he set the mug down and said, "This is wrong. I'm the Chosen One of the Jedi and I'm going to be done in by food."

Luke chuckled as he tried to enjoy the moment with his father.

"So why don't you go meet your friends?" Anakin asked his son. He motioned to the table where Han, Lando, Chewbacca and Winter were eating and then to the table where Kyle and Mara sat.

"I'd rather eat with you," Luke admitted.

Anakin sighed. "Luke, I don't mind the company," he admitted. "But you shouldn't shut your friends out just because they don't like me."

"I think the only ones who have a problem with you are Han, Lando and Chewbacca," Luke told him.

"Then I guess I should go try to make amends," Anakin said. He grabbed his mug of ale and stood from the table. Without saying anything else, he walked over to where Han was seated.

Luke bolted out of his seat. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he said.

Anakin took an open seat across from the smuggler and said, "Hello, Han."

Chewbacca roared at him, drawing the attention of other Rebels.

"If it isn't Darth Vader?" Han said. "Look, I gave you transport to Ziost and back only because Luke asked me to. After what you did to Leia, don't expect me to be your friend."

"You know that's bantha poodoo, Han," Anakin told him. "Leia made her own choice. But if you think I don't have any regrets, you're insane."

"The only insane one here is you!" Han said before standing from the table. "You've got some nerve!"

Lando grabbed Han's arm. "Calm down, Han," he told his friend. "It's not worth it."

Luke seconded Lando's suggestion. "Come on, Han," he said. "He was trying to be nice."

Han jerked away from Lando. "How can you defend him?" he asked.

Winter pleaded, "Han, just sit down."

"Is there a problem here?" Kyle asked as he approached the table with Mara. He had risen to the level of enforcer for the Jedi due to his combat skills. His words carried a lot of weight in the Rebel Alliance.

"Just break it up, you two," Mara said. "As much as I think people here want to see Solo fight Helmet, this really isn't a good idea."

"Oh, space off!" Han growled before walking away from the table.

Chewbacca called for Han before the Wookiee followed him.

A few seconds later, the Bith band began playing again and the Rebels returned to their business.

"That went well," Anakin said dryly before rising from the table. "I think I'll get some fresh air."

Anakin stepped outside the Rebel base, leaned against the outer wall and inhaled the night air of Dantooine. It was a pleasure he had taken for granted before that fateful day on Mustafar. Nothing had been the same since that day.

"So you're Leia's father?" Winter asked as she approached him from behind.

Anakin turned to look at the Alderaanian. "Yes," he said. "And you're Leia's friend."

Winter nodded before she leaned on the wall, joining Anakin as he stared at the stars. "I'm sorry about Han," she told him. "He can be difficult at times. But he's a good friend once you gain his trust."

"Don't worry about it," Anakin told her. "I understand he loved my daughter."

"I think he still loves Leia, but he won't admit it," Winter said.

Anakin stated, "I sensed as much."

"I have to admit that your trip on the Millennium Falcon was the first time I ever met the great Darth Vader," Winter said. She turned to gaze at the middle aged Jedi Knight. "You weren't what I expected."

"The dark side grants you power beyond your wildest dreams, but it comes with a terrible price," Anakin said. He never bothered to look in Winter's direction. "I lost everything when I turned to the dark side. I lost my best friend. I lost my wife. My body was badly burned when I fought Obi-Wan on Mustafar, forcing me to wear that suit that you always saw in the media."

Anakin finally turned to Winter and added, "I'm not that man anymore. Nor am I the arrogant Jedi that fought in the Clone Wars. They called me the Hero With No Fear. What did they know?"

"I see neither," Winter said. "I see a man who has a lot of regrets. But there's always hope, Anakin. You have to believe that. You say Leia made a choice, but you carry the burden of her decision on your shoulders. You were responsible for your own fall just as Leia was for hers."

Anakin chuckled and received a confused look from Winter.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Are you sure you're not a Jedi?" Anakin asked. He shook his head. "I'm sorry. You just sounded like a Jedi when you told me those things."

"So non-Jedi are not good at giving advice?" Winter asked.

"That's not what I said," Anakin told her. "Thank you. I needed that."

Winter smiled. "How would you like another ale?" she inquired

Anakin smiled back at her. The response still felt strange even though he was trying to smile more frequently. "I'd appreciate that," he said.