Chapter 3
Anakin stood alone on Dagobah, staring at the dark side cave. It beckoned him like a familiar song, calling him into the cave. He remembered the test in his dreams. Qui-Gon Jinn told him that the cave contained only what he took with him.
But why was he back on Dagobah?
Anakin stepped into the cave, feeling the dark side pulse around him in waves. It was a familiar power that he knew how to command. Something inside him screamed for release, reminding Anakin of his dark past.
Two shadowy figures appeared in front of him. Anakin was once again on Mustafar during the time before his fateful confrontation with Obi-Wan.
"I have brought peace, freedom, justice and security to my new empire!" Darth Vader proclaimed.
"Your new Empire?" Obi-Wan said. "Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy!"
"I've seen this already," Anakin said. "I was so sure of myself then."
"If you are not with me, you are my enemy," Vader told Obi-Wan.
"This is the past!" Anakin exclaimed as he rushed towards the figures. "Why are you showing me this?"
Darth Vader turned to Anakin Skywalker and activated his blue lightsaber. "You are a traitor," he said. The human slowly morphed into the familiar black armored form the galaxy came to know for two decades. "The Jedi cannot be allowed to rise again."
Anakin called his lightsaber to his hand and orange plasma emerged with a snap-hiss. "You're dead," he said. "I buried you on Ziost."
Darth Vader lumbered closer to Anakin. Then, the Jedi struck. A swift stroke flew towards Vader's power box. The Sith Lord parried the blow with ease, forcing Anakin to withdraw and sweep up from the left using just a single hand to grip the hilt of his weapon.
Sparks flew as Anakin impacted Vader's armor. Orange plasma cut into the Sith Lord's shoulder. Vader growled and took advantage of the opening Anakin left. He came in from below, hooking his sword under Anakin's blade.
And Anakin leapt out of the way, his lightsaber flying from his hand. While he was still airborne, the Jedi held out his right hand, slamming Vader with a Force push. The Dark Lord growled as he was hurled through the air.
Anakin landed on his feet and called his lightsaber back to his hand. He reactivated the orange blade. "I created your style," he taunted. "Even my son was able to beat it."
"Your arrogance blinds you, Skywalker," Vader said as he stood. Red plasma sprang from his gloved hands. "You could never destroy yourself."
"I am not Darth Vader!" Anakin denied.
"But you are," Vader said as he walked towards the Jedi. "You cannot see this. You are the Sith'ari. You know the power of the dark side, Skywalker. Why do you deny what is yours?"
"You're not real," Anakin said. "You're just a vision."
"Who are you to decide what is real?" Vader asked Anakin. "We are one."
"Never!" Anakin screamed before he decapitated Vader. Sparks flew from the cyborg body as it fell to the ground. Vader's helmet rolled to a stop before Anakin. Without a second thought, he drove his lightsaber blade into the faceplate.
Laughter filled Anakin's ears. "You, like your daughter, are mine," a familiar voice taunted.
Anakin fell to his knees and screamed.
Anakin awoke in his quarters with a start. Cold sweat drenched his body, making the sheets cling to him. He panted, trying to catch his breath. A vision that intense had not visited him for decades. But he had no clue what it meant.
Kyle Katarn rushed into the tactical room aboard Home One. Most of the Alliance had gathered already and he was late. Without a word, he took a seat by Mara.
"You're late," she whispered.
"Didn't miss anything, did I?" he asked.
"Just news of a second Death Star," Mara told him.
"General Solo, is your strike team assembled?" General Crix Madine asked.
Han took a second to respond. "My team's ready, but I need a command crew for the shuttle," he said.
Chewbacca said, Sure you do.
"Well, I wasn't going to speak for you, pal," Han said to the Wookiee. "That's one."
"I might as well," Kyle volunteered. "I have to keep you out of trouble."
"I'm coming too," Luke said.
"So am I," Winter told Han.
At the last moment, Anakin walked into the room with Kyp. "We're coming too," he said.
R2-D2 beeped. Next to him, C-3PO said, "Exciting is hardly the word I'd choose."
"I mean it, take her," Han said to Lando in the hangar bay. He wasn't eager to part with the Millennium Falcon, but the former smuggler knew he could trust his friend with the ship. "You're gonna need all the help you can get. She's the fastest ship in the fleet."
"All right, already," Lando said, caving into Han's prodding. "She won't get a scratch."
Han started to walk towards the shuttle Tydirium, but turned to face Lando. "You promise?" he asked. "Not a scratch, right?"
Lando laughed. "Will you get going, you pirate," he said.
Not far from Han and Lando, Mara walked beside Luke towards the shuttle. "I don't know why you insisted I remain with Rogue Squadron, Master," she admitted. "You're going to need me on this one."
"Probably, but there are more than enough Jedi on this mission," Luke said. He stopped walking near the shuttle's boarding ramp. "Besides, it's time for you to face a trial without my supervision. I'm leaving Rogue Squadron in your care."
As Luke walked up the ramp, Mara said, "May the Force be with you."
Luke stopped and turned to face her. "May the Force be with you, Commander."
Mara watched as Luke ascended the boarding ramp and cast her gaze to the durasteel floor beneath her feet. She could not shake the feeling that she may never see Luke again.
Han and Chewbacca took the pilot and co-pilot seats of the Lambda-class shuttle. Luke and Winter took seats in the cockpit behind Han and Chewbacca.
Chewbacca complained, This seat is too small!
"I don't think the Empire had Wookiee's in mind when they designed her, Chewie," Han said as he worked at the command console. He took a moment to gaze at the Millennium Falconthrough the viewport.
"Han, what is it?" Winter asked as she strapped herself into her seat.
"I've just got this feeling that I'm never gonna see her again," Han said.
"Come on, general," Winter said, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Let's go."
"Right," Han said.
Han piloted the shuttle out of the hangar bay and clear of the fleet. "Are the hyperspace coordinates in?" he asked Chewbacca.
Yes, the Wookiee replied.
"This is it," Han said before pulling the lever towards him. The shuttle Tydirium launched into hyperspace, leaving the Rebel fleet behind.
+
Orbiting the forest moon of Endor, the incomplete Death Star hung like a dreadful artifact in space. On the Death Star's north pole stood the Emperor's observation tower. Darth Sidious stared out into space through the large viewport. His throne stood next to him, flanked by attendants.
The Dark Lord waved his hand and his attendants walked down the long flight of stairs to the turbolift. They passed the red armored Imperial guards and Darth Apostas.
"You have done well, Lady Apostas," Sidious said with his back to her. "Approach the throne."
Apostas walked up the stairs, her cape flowing behind her with each step. "What is thy bidding, master?" she asked.
"Tell the fleet to journey to the far side of Endor," he commanded. The clone turned to face his apprentice. "There it will stay until called for."
"What of reports of a Rebel fleet amassing near Sullust?" Apostas asked.
"It is of no concern to us," Sidious replied. "Soon the Rebellion will be crushed and young Skywalker will be one of us. Your work here is finished, my friend. Go to the command ship and await my orders."
Apostas clenched her teeth.
Sidious smiled. "Does it make you feel inadequate that I desire your brother at our side?" he asked her. "I thought you wanted to turn him to the dark side."
"Treachery is the way of the Sith," Apostas answered before turning to leave her master by his throne.
