Two Red Robes threw Epon out of the Emperor's doorway. The Admiral hit the floor with a thud. Captain Rotok, who was just down the hallway, saw his friend in agony and rushed to his side.

"What happened?" Rotok asked, turning Epon over so that he could look at the Admiral's face. Rotok nearly gagged when he saw the face. It was deathly pale, with several cuts and bruises. A very weak breath could be heard.

"You two!" Rotok called to two passing stormtroopers. The soldiers turned to their captain. "Take him to the medical center!" Rotok gestured to Epon.

"Right away, sir!" the stormtroopers said. They picked Epon up, and carried him away.

…………………………………………………………….

The Millennium Falcon, now on Coruscant, landed in front of the Imperial Palace. Out of the cockpit window Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and the two droids R2D2 and C3P0 saw Admiral Ackbar running out of the Palace to meet them.

The Falcon's ramp lowered and the passengers exited the ship.

"Welcome back!" Ackbar said as he shook Han's hand.

"Thank you." Leia said for Han.

"Your rooms in the Palace have been cleaned up for you. Go and have a nice, long rest." Ackbar smiled.

"No, thank you." Luke said. Five heads, three living and two mechanical, turned to Luke.

"What do you mean?" Leia asked.

"I'm going to go on a hunt for whatever is causing this disturbance in the Force." Luke explained.

"No! Not without me!" Leia protested.

"You stay here with Han and take care of the Empire," Luke said. "This is my personal business. I have to do this alone for the sake of the new Jedi Order." Leia nodded her head.

"I understand." She sighed.

"Thank you." Luke smiled. He ran over to the elevators, R2D2 following him. Leia watched him until the elevator doors closed.

…………………………………………………………….

Luke climbed into his X-Wing fighter. R2 was already in the droid hatch.

"Ready, R2?" Luke asked over his radio. The reply was an excited squeal. Luke grinned. "OK, then."

The cockpit's canopy lowered, and the X-Wing turned on. It rose, flew out of the docking bay, and took off into the evening sky.

From her bedroom window, Leia watched her brother leave the planet. The dying light of the setting sun illuminated her face, but in the Force she was covered with the shadow of sadness…