The planet Coruscant, recently named capital of the Galactic Alliance, has now been invaded by a massive Imperial force, led by Supreme Hand Aphra, and the resurrected Grand Admiral Thrawn. Aphra oversees the ground forces, and has personally led an elite force to the Jedi Temple, where they have now engaged the Jedi-Bendu.
At this moment, Aphra is fighting Ezra Bridger, Luke Skywalker, and Mara Jade. Although she has no force abilities, neither do her opponents, as their connection to the force is dulled thanks to the venom coating on Aphra's armor. During the fighting, a bright, white portal suddenly appears.
We knew Umbra had access to the World Between Worlds, so this isn't much of a surprise. Ezra Bridger thinks, as he briefly looks at the portal.
"Now that I've… softened you up, I'll back off so you can use your precious force powers. You'll need all the help you can get. Not that it'll make much difference in the end." Aphra says. She backs away from the fight, and switches off her darksaber. Then, she approaches the portal. Seconds later, Darth Umbra, Empress of the Galactic Empire, emerges. She now appears to be in her early twenties, with long silver hair tied into braids.
"All forces, stand down!" Umbra says. The imperials stop fighting.
She's regenerated herself. Doesn't look a day over twenty five. I wonder what poor bastard had to give up their life force for her. Ezra thinks.
"This is far worse. This… is her original body, restored using an ancient Sith ritual. Her connection to the force is even stronger now. Defeating her… will not be possible. At least, not yet." The voice of Ahsoka Tano says.
Great. What can we do then? Ezra thinks.
"Prepare to remove the chosen. They must survive today, or there will be no future." A male voice says.
Kanan. Ezra thinks.
"I know you're afraid, Ezra. But you don't need to be. Believe in Kira. Believe in the others. Believe in yourself, and... trust in the force." Kanan Jarrus says.
Alright, then. Let's do this. Ezra thinks.
"We will be with you." Ahsoka says.
"Always." Kanan says.
Ezra starts walking toward the Empress. He is soon followed by Kira, Ben, and Sabine Wren. Aphra prepares to attack, but Umbra signals her to back off.
"No, my Hand. Leave this to me." Umbra says. Aphra bows, then backs off.
"Nice of you to surrender. It'll save us the trouble." Sabine says. Umbra laughs.
"There will be no surrenders today." Umbra says.
"Then, I guess we have nothing to talk about." Sabine says.
"Perhaps we don't, but Kira on the other hand… I would very much like to talk to her." Umbra says.
"She's not interested." Ben Solo says.
"Ah, Kylo my son. How I have missed you. The heir to Darth Vader… on the cusp of greatness. You could still have that. The darkness calls to you. Embrace it." Umbra says.
"His name isn't Kylo…" Kira says.
"And I'm not your damn son." Ben says.
"All who live… are my children. Now, come Kira. Let us talk." Umbra says. Ezra turns to look at his daughter.
"Go ahead, Kira." Ezra says.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Kira asks.
"Trust me on this, alright?" Ezra asks.
"Okay." Kira answers.
Talking to Kira will distract Umbra long enough for me to do what I need to do. I'm not entirely thrilled with this, but… it's our only shot. Ezra thinks.
Kira starts to walk forward. Ben touches her arm, and Kira stops to take his hand.
"Kira…" Ben says.
"I feel like… I have to do this, Ben." Kira says.
"You sure?" Ben asks.
"Yeah." Kira answers. Ben nods, then kisses her on the lips. After a moment, the two separate, and Kira makes her way to the Empress.
"Well, here I am, your highness. What did you want to talk about?" Kira asks.
"I sense you are still angry with me." Umbra answers.
"I have every reason to be! You lied to me! You pretended to be part of my family! I loved you! You… you broke my heart." Kira says, as she barely holds back tears.
"This… was a lesson you had to learn. A very painful lesson, but an important one nonetheless." Umbra says.
"What lesson is that?" Kira asks.
"That love… is a weakness." Umbra answers.
"You're wrong!" Kira says.
"Am I? I have lived for seven thousand years! Let me tell you about love, and how meaningless it is!" Umbra says.
I have no idea what game she's playing here, but if it buys us some time, I can live with it. Kira thinks.
"Alright then." Kira says.
"So, you want to hear the story?" Umbra asks.
"Sure." Kira answers.
"On an isolated, primitive world, there lived a young woman. Very close to your age, in fact. She was the heir to a great kingdom that had been stolen from her family. She had to fight for it, but eventually, she took it back. She was alone at first, but eventually, she found someone. A man who loved her. Or so he said. As her power grew, the man became afraid of her. One day, he showed how much he really loved her… by stabbing her in the heart. She knew at that moment… that love was nothing, and that it had no place in her life." Umbra says.
"Assuming this story is about you… a lover betrayed you, so you reject love… forever. That… has to be a very sad and miserable existence." Kira says.
"Love is a weakness! A disease! I have no use for it! One day, neither will you!" Umbra says.
"I will never be like you!" Kira says.
"You will… once you have learned." Umbra says.
"I will learn nothing from you." Kira says.
"You already are." Umbra says. Suddenly, she hits Kira with a bolt of lightning, knocking her to the ground.
"Kira!" Juno says, as she runs to her daughter. Kira seems dazed, but uninjured as Juno helps her to her feet.
"She'll be fine. Just a little… lesson. If I had wanted her dead, she would be already." Umbra says.
"You… stay away from my daughter." Juno says.
"Ah,Juno my old friend. I'd heard you were back among the living." Umbra says.
"We… are not friends, Sith Lord! We never really were, were we? The woman we knew as Qi'ra was just a host body! Another victim of Sith treachery!" Juno says.
"Qi'ra was no victim. She was bred for a purpose! She was a clone, commissioned by me to serve as my host body until my true form could be restored." Umbra says.
"Qi'ra… was a clone of your original body. That's why you still look so much like her." Ezra says.
"Yes. Now, what was mine is mine again, and it will never be taken from me again. Pray to your force Jedi, for you are about to take your last breath!" Umbra says.
"If you think we're just going to lay down and die, you're wrong. We'll fight you!" Ben Solo says.
"I would very much like to see that! Perhaps your feeble attempts will even amuse me. If you truly wish to fight, I will… indulge you." Umbra says.
"If you want a fight, we'll give you one!" Sabine says, as she activates her darksaber. Everyone else readies their weapons, except for Ezra, who walks to Sabine.
"Wait Sabine!" Ezra says.
"What the frack are we supposed to do, Ezra? Just stand here and die?" Sabine asks.
"There is a plan. It's a long shot, but it's all we've got." Ezra says, in a low voice only heard by Sabine.
"Care to fill me in?" Sabine asks.
"Sorry, Sabine. I'm afraid we're out of time. You're just going to have to trust me on this one." Ezra answers.
"Alright. Fine. What do you need me to do?" Sabine asks.
"Distract her for as long as you can. Yes, I know what that could mean. But if I don't follow this plan exactly, then everything we've fought and sacrificed for… dies today." Ezra answers.
"Okay. I'll talk to the others. We'll buy you some time." Sabine says. Ezra embraces her.
"Saying goodbye to each other? Take your time. I'm patient." Umbra says.
Ezra soon separates from Sabine, and walks to Kira and Juno.
"Juno. It's time." Ezra says.
"Alright. Do what you have to do. I'm with you, no matter what." Juno says.
"What's going on?" Kira asks.
"You'll find out soon enough. No matter what happens… do exactly what I say when I say it." Ezra answers.
"Heed your father's instructions. This is absolutely vital!" A female voice says.
What's about to happen here, Bastila? Kira thinks.
"As your father said, you'll find out. Now, focus on the moment at hand. We will speak again later." The voice of Bastila Shan says.
"Kira… you'd better join the others. Get ready to fight." Ezra says. Kira looks at her father, and seems to hesitate for a few seconds, but ultimately decides to listen to him. She walks to the other rebels, taking her place beside Ben. The two hold hands briefly, then separate, and ignite their lightsabers. The other Jedi-Bendu follow suit.
"Lightsabers? How quaint." Umbra says. She extends her hands upward, and lightning emerges from them. However, this is no ordinary force lightning, as it glows a bright red. The lightning masses into a large ball, several hundred feet above, then fires outward in all directions. The sky soon takes on an unnatural blood red hue, and red bolts of lightning begin to strike, seemingly at random.
"She's distracted! Now's our chance!" Sabine says. She advances toward Umbra, and the others follow suit, except for Ezra and Juno, who stay put. Husband and wife look at each other, then Juno nods, as if she is approving what Ezra is about to do. Ezra nods in return, then vanishes.
Good luck, Ezra. If what you told me is true, then this is our only shot. Juno thinks.