Darth Umbra, Dark Lord of the Sith, has emerged from a portal to the World Between Worlds, and is now on Coruscant, confronting the Jedi-Bendu and their allies. The Sith Lord seems to be very strong with the Dark Side of the Force, and has now created a massive storm that has turned the Coruscant sky to an unnatural blood red. Our heroes now find themselves in an apparently hopeless situation.
In a desperate charge led by Chancellor Sabine Wren, the Jedi-Bendu and their gathered allies advance toward Umbra, who seems to be focused on the storm she has created. The first to attack the Sith Lord is Sabine, whose darksaber is blocked by a lightsaber that seemingly appears out of nowhere. Umbra now turns her attention to Sabine, but the storm above remains, as if it's now working of its own free will.
"I am not as distracted as you think, Madam Chancellor. You're going to have to do better than that. Much better." Umbra says.
Sabine is suddenly hit by a red bolt of lightning that throws her back several feet. As she hits the ground, the lightning continues to attack her. The other rebels try to block the lightning, but it simply twists around them, and continues to strike Sabine, who desperately tries to block the attack, but in vain, as most of the lightning reaches its intended target. Eventually, the Mandalorian ruler drops her weapon. Seemingly satisfied, Umbra stops her attack. Sabine is helped to her feet by Zeb and Kyle. She takes off her helmet, and tosses it aside.
Okay… my HUD's shorted out, so the helmet's no good to me now. Sabine thinks.
"Are you alright?" Zeb asks.
"Yeah. Just a little sore. And she shorted out all of my gear. But… I'm good. I've had worse!" Sabine answers.
"I think she's just toying with us, Sabine." Kyle says.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Let's find out, huh?" Sabine asks.
"Don't do anything crazy now." Kyle says.
"You know me…" Sabine says.
"Yeah. That's what I'm afraid of." Kyle says.
Now appearing to be recovered, Sabine picks up her darksaber, then stares defiantly at the Sith Lord before her.
"Is that the best you can do?" Sabine asks.
"That… was nothing. You may be leader of Mandalore, but in the grand scheme of things, you are insignificant. A minor annoyance at best." Umbra says.
"I'll show you insignificant!" Sabine shouts.
"I very much doubt that. Besides, I have already defeated you. By right, the darksaber is mine, and so is Mandalore." Umbra says.
"The only way you're getting Mandalore is over my dead body!" Sabine shouts.
"That's the general idea. Mandalore will be mine, the galaxy will be mine, Kira will be mine, and the rest of you… will be dead." Umbra says.
Our heroes take turns trying to duel the Empress, but every strike is blocked with ease. It is during this fight that Ezra reappears, having teleported away for an as of yet unknown reason. The Jedi-Bendu Grandmaster now walks with a long, white staff in his right hand. Nobody notices as he approaches Finn, stopping directly behind him, and leaning closely.
"Hey, kid. Stay quiet. I don't want her noticing me." Ezra whispers.
"What are you…" Finn whispers.
"Get ready to go for a ride. Put your hand on the staff." Ezra whispers. Finn hesitantly follows Ezra's instructions. Seconds later, the two vanish, being teleported away to an unknown location.
The fight continues. With the Empress knocking back everyone that attacks her, several of our heroes have been thrown some distance away, such as Jyn Erso, who is now being helped to her feet by Cassian Andor.
"You sure you don't need my help?" Cassian asks.
"No, Cassian. You and the team keep working on those troopers. Let the rest of us handle the Empress." Jyn answers.
"I hate to say it, but…" Cassian says.
"It's not looking good right now, is it? I know the odds are against us, but… we are here now, fighting this fight. I have this power within me, and I will use it to fight the evil that now stands before us, or I will die trying." Jyn says.
"We've been here before, haven't we?" Cassian asks.
"Scarif. We faced death before. I wasn't afraid then. I'm not afraid now." Jyn says.
"Neither am I." Cassian says.
At this moment, Ezra returns.
"Ezra! Please tell me you have some kind of plan!" Jyn says.
"Yeah, but… you'll have to come with me." Ezra says.
"Come with you? Are you fracking kidding me? We're getting our asses kicked here! I'm not leaving anyone behind!" Jyn says.
"If you go back into the fight now, you will die. All of us will die, and everything we believe in… will end here." Ezra says.
"You want me to just… leave with you? Leave everyone behind?" Jyn asks.
"Do you trust me?" Ezra asks.
"Yeah." Jyn answers.
"Then, put your hand on the staff." Ezra says. Jyn hesitantly reaches for the staff, then after a few seconds, puts her hand on it.
"You coming, Cassian?" Jyn asks.
"I think this is just for you, Jyn." Cassian answers.
"What? No! Ezra! He's coming too, right?" Jyn asks.
"Sorry, Jyn. I'm afraid not." Ezra says. Jyn removes her hand from the staff.
Jyn's one of the chosen. I can't leave her here. We're running out of time. If I have to force her to come with me, I will. Ezra thinks.
"I'm sorry. There's no time for an explanation. At least, not here." Ezra says.
"Jyn. It's okay. Go do whatever you have to do." Cassian says.
"Cas…" Jyn says, as tears form in her eyes.. Cassian takes her hand.
"I should have been dead a long time ago. I'm only alive because of you. If this is the only way to stop this war, then go with Ezra. If that means I die here, then I die here." Cassian says.
"No…" Jyn says.
"I'm sorry, Jyn. This is the only way. We have to go. Now." Ezra says.
"I can't leave him." Jyn says.
Cassian walks to Jyn, and gently wipes away her tears. Then, he kisses her. Eventually, the two slowly break away from one another.
"I love you." Jyn says.
"I love you too, Jyn. Now, go." Cassian says.
I have to leave him. I don't want to, but I know in my heart, that I have to. I just have to trust in the force. It's brought me this far. Jyn thinks.
After a moment of hesitation, Jyn puts her hand on the staff once more. She looks at Ezra, and nods. Seconds later, the two vanish.
Our heroes continue to fight the Empress, but make little progress, as every attack is blocked.
"Well, this has been amusing, but playtime is over. It's time for all of you to… meet your fate. Except for you of course, my dear Kira." Umbra says.
"You seem so certain of your victory." Luke Skywalker says.
"I will win, Skywalker. There is nothing anyone can do to change that!" Umbra says.
"You may win in this moment, but in the end, you will lose." Luke says.
"Typical Jedi arrogance! The last of you… stand here before me. Soon, you will be no more." Umbra says.
"Are you sure about that? Might want to take a look around." Luke says.
Umbra examines her surroundings, and notices that Ezra, Finn, and Jyn are gone.
"I see my old friend Ezra has decided to leave us. The stormtrooper and the Erso girl also seem to have left us. How rude. This party isn't over. Where is Ezra? He's up to something, isn't he?" Umbra asks.
"He's doing what needs to be done." Juno says.
"I know he's learned the old ways of the Bendu. It won't matter. I cannot be beaten." Umbra says. She puts her hands together, and a wave of red energy emerges, flying in all directions. Everyone around is knocked down, except for Grand Moff Aphra.
"Good. You remembered to wear the amulet. It will make you immune to the curse. Which reminds me..." Umbra says. She unleashes another, smaller wave, which hits Kira only. The young woman, who is in the process of getting up, is knocked down again.
"What the hell?" Kira asks, as she slowly gets to her feet.
"I just saved your life. I don't want you dying on us." Umbra answers.
"Your compassion is overwhelming." Kira says, sarcastically spitting out the words.
"I have plans for you, Kira. So, no, you won't be dying today. I can't say the same for anyone else. It should be starting right about... now." Umbra says.
"What did you do?" Kira asks.
"Watch… and learn the price for defying me." Umbra answers.
What is she talking about? What did she do? Kira thinks.
"Mama! Your hair… It's… turning gray…" Kira says, as she notices strands of gray in her mother's blonde hair. Juno drops her blaster, and grabs her right wrist, as if in great pain.
"That's not all that's happening, Kira. I can feel it. I'm getting older. So is everyone else. Except for you it looks like." Juno says.
"No…" Kira says, as she looks around. All of her fellow rebels seem to be aging before her eyes. Even her teenage padawan, Chana, now appears to be in her thirties.
"Anyone that swears allegiance to me… will be restored. Kneel before me, and I will spare your life." Umbra says.
"No one here… will submit to you. We believe in our cause, and we will die for it if we must!" Leia says. There is a noticeable waver in her voice as she now appears to be in her seventies.
"Which will be very soon, I think. Don't be foolish! Don't throw your lives away! I am your salvation! All you have to do… is bend the knee!" Umbra says.
"No one here is stupid enough to submit to you. If we die, then we die free." Ben Solo says. He now appears to be in his fifties. Kira struggles to hold back tears as he takes her hand.
"There is no freedom, other than what I give you. There is no life, other than what I give you. Last chance… submit, or die." Umbra says.
"Go... to... hell." Han Solo says, with his last breath as he dies of old age. Leia, now quite old herself, holds Han in her arms, and looks at Ben.
"Mom… dad…." Ben says, as a tear rolls down his cheek.
"You'll live, son. I've already seen it. You'll live. Kira… you…. Take care of my boy." Leia says.
"I will." Kira says. Leia smiles, then succumbs to the curse. Kira wraps her arms around Ben, who falls to his knees.
"Kira…" Juno says. Her voice is now much weaker. Kira turns to face her mother, who is now very old, and has fallen to the ground.
"Mama!" Kira says. She runs to her mother. She tries to help her mother up, but Juno doesn't seem to have the strength to stand. Kira finally manages to get Juno into a seated position against a nearby wall.
"Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. I don't want… to leave you..." Juno says.
"Mama. No! Not again!" Kira says, as she starts sobbing.
"Be… strong. Your father… has a plan. Trust him. I… I… love… I…. love... You…. " Juno says. As she finishes speaking, she breathes her last breath, and succumbs to the curse. Kira sobs as she cradles her mother's body. Ben, now appearing to be in his seventies, wraps an arm around her.
"You will watch all of them die. You will learn." Umbra says.
Suddenly, there is a blinding flash of white light. Ezra reappears, and extends his staff toward Ben. A blast emerges from the end, and hits Ben. He glows for a moment, then starts to get younger, soon returning to his proper age.
"I see you've learned the ancient ways of the Bendu. Impressive, but it will not save you. I will give you a moment to say goodbye to Kira. Then, you will meet your fate. As for Solo, looks like I'll have to deal with him the old fashioned way." Umbra says. Ezra nods, then kneels in front of Kira.
"She's gone. It happened again." Kira says, as she embraces her father.
"I know, sweetheart. I know. Doesn't mean you have to accept it. Take the staff. Destination's already set. All you have to do is… will it to teleport you." Ezra says.
"Take the staff? As in… us, but not you?" Kira asks.
"I'm not coming. My journey… ends here." Ezra answers.
"No! I've already lost so many! I can't lose you too!" Kira says.
"You have to let me go, Kira." Ezra says.
"No…" Kira says. She starts sobbing again, and Ezra embraces her tightly.
"I love you, sweetheart. Now, go. Please." Ezra says.
"I know it hurts, but your father is doing what he must do. If you wish to save that which you care for, then you will follow his instructions." A female voice says.
I can't just leave him! Or the rest of them! Kira thinks.
"You cannot help them. At least, not here." The voice says.
Dammit, Bastila! Do you know what you're asking me to do? Kira thinks.
"I know exactly what I'm asking. I'm sorry, Kira. There's no other way." The voice says.
Alright. Kira thinks.
Kira hesitantly puts her hand on the staff, and Ben does the same. Ezra lets go of it, and stands up. Kira's eyes fill with tears again as she looks at her father, who is now starting to get older, as he is no longer protected from Umbra's curse. Ezra smiles briefly, then nods. Kira nods in return, then concentrates on the staff. Seconds later, she and Ben vanish.
"What have you done? Where did they go?" Umbra asks.
"It doesn't matter. You're too late." Ezra answers. Despite his now advancing age, he continues walking toward Umbra.
"I'll find them! Kira will serve me, or she will die like the rest of you!" Umbra says.
"You've... already... lost." Ezra says. Soon after, he succumbs to Umbra's curse, dying of old age just like everyone else has. Now, only Umbra and Aphra remain alive.
"Please tell me you had this moment recorded." Umbra says.
"Of course, my queen. It will be transmitted over the holonet as soon as you give the word." Aphra says.
"Good. Everyone… in the galaxy… will see this. They will know… that resistance… is hopeless." Umbra says.
It appears that the bad guys have won. Or have they...