The Power to Save Her
Chapter 33
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
Important Note: I will not follow comics/legends characters or concepts closely, if at all. My knowledge is strictly on the that of the movies and a more mainstream knowledge of Star Wars. Though I may reference events and things outside of the movies, I do not claim to know the material on a deeper level.
Storm clouds still covered the city-planet when they approached the 500 Republica. Citizens hardly paid any mind to the group of troopers passing through their midst, used to an Imperial presence after over twenty years of occupation. Some were young enough to have never lived without it, which Padmé felt was sobering. Of course, they were here to end it all if things went as planned, though after hearing what had happened so far, the former senator wasn't too optimistic. She furrowed her brows, but knew they had to at least try.
With this in mind, she, her daughter, and Han all surrounded the complex, using their grapple hooks to scale the sides of the building while the rebel stormtroopers guarded the perimeter of the structure. Though they couldn't climb too far up, as there were security measures to prevent that sort of thing, they didn't need to. Their job was to keep the various military leaders from leaving or sending out transmissions of any kind, and to do this, they'd need to jam the communications which was located at a lower level within the complex. After this, they'd ensure that the apartments with exits were guarded by troopers.
As they were scaling the walls, now on the twentieth level of the building, they were clinging to the sides of it, trying not to look down. Padmé could hear Captain Solo mutter more than a few choice words, and she inwardly sympathized with him. The drop was very steep, even there, and only one of them was Force sensitive. Finally, they reached their desired level and huddled onto the narrow ledge. The glass of the window was dark, and though the hallway they'd be entering through was a private one, they knew the possibility of being spotted. With some carefulness, Leia used a tool to cut the glass, and moved it to the side gently. It nearly dropped over the edge when it was bumped into, but Han was quick to catch it.
Now having an access point, they entered, listening for the barest hint of a sound, only to hear nothing. Though quiet, that didn't stop the three of them from clearing the entire apartment. There entire search concluded that the rooms were completely empty. Padmé thought it was incredibly lucky that the space they'd chosen to enter was unoccupied, though she wouldn't stop there. They still had a job to do, and that included finding the communications hub on this floor, and setting off an EMP that would shut of any and all private communicators within the building. They came to the entrance of the apartment and the door hissed open. Han took a glance around the corner quickly, and then promptly waved them forward. While creeping forward on their toes, they kept a wary eye out, watching for any unwelcome sights and listening for any movement besides their own.
In their short time there, all that they were met with were empty halls and dead silence.
Before even reaching the communications center that Leia ceased walking, stopping dead on her tracks. Padmé turned to face her daughter, a hint of worry rising from within, knowing that she wouldn't be doing this for any unimportant reason. Upon looking at her, she noticed that Leia's posture was stiff, her eyes searching the seemingly abandoned structure.
"What is it?", she whispered coming up to Leia.
"No one's here.", she uttered, her voice barely heard, and immediately Padmé drew short.
Then there was a clatter of something loud and then the sight of a figure skittering behind a doorway. The three of them tensed immediately, though they approached the source of the noise, noting that whatever was there seemed to be more cautious of them. Regardless, they turned the corner, only to find a silver protocol droid waiting for them, though it didn't appear afraid.
"Hello, my name is RA-7.", reported the droid, though a protocol droid, did not look like the 3PO droids of the same class.
"RA, why were you hiding?", demanded Captain Solo crossing his arms.
"Your visit was not scheduled.", it answered simply, no emotion to its voice. "I was going to report this to Moffs who are in a meeting with the Imperial Ruling Council."
Leia and Padmé glanced at each other at this bit of knowledge.
"Where is this council?", demanded Han, impatient for the answer, though the droid didn't take note of the lack of decorum.
"In the old senate building.", reported the droid and the three of them glanced through the window, over to the domed structure not too far from where they were now.
"Should I schedule your visit?", asked RA-7, not quite understanding the reason for their presence.
"No RA.", Padmé interceded, her voice gentle. "We will do so at another time."
"Very good.", the droid replied before walking off to attend its other duties.
With some wariness, the three made an urgent call down to the ground troops, informing them of the change in plans. In no time at all, they exited the building, spoke with the troops urgently, and got them all on the same page. Though they were adaptable, Padmé knew that the Senate building would be much harder to secure than the 500 Republica. It was a much bigger area to cover, with so many places to hide, but at least she knew the interior of that place very well. Though wary, this was an opportunity they could not pass over. If they played it right, they could round up more than just military leaders. If they captured the Imperial Ruling Council and their military leaders, the power of the Empire could dissolve much faster than expected.
Though Padmé resolved to do this, she could tell Leia was watching the domed building with wariness.
The steps of the Imperial Palace were drenched in rain, and their footfalls splashed in the puddles that formed upon them. Though he had his cloak to shield from the gloomy weather Luke wasn't so lucky with the Imperial issued flight suit. They were getting closer now, and Anakin looked up fully to the imposing and haunting structure of a place, he'd once called home
Anakin let out a steadying breath, as he approached, though he didn't avert his gaze. His eyes were carefully taking in everything, waiting for something, anything to attack. The exterior was massive, and despite its impressive design, it still bore the same blaster marks from the night he'd slaughtered the Jedi. Anakin clenched his jaw and kept a steady but careful approach with Luke at his side. Sidious, he knew, did this on purpose, so instead of focusing in on the ghosts that'd been left behind, he decided to think on something else. While letting out a steady breath, he focused on the presence of his son. It was a bright and warm presence here, even in the swirling darkness of the Sith.
Though comforted, Anakin kept glancing around, and paused his stride. They had not seen a hint of the Red Guard, nor the patrols of armed stormtroopers. From this, he could tell already that something was off, though everything about this place was arguably wrong. Luke was looking around too, seeming to sense this. He too seemed to understand that Sidious was luring them in without impediment. That or he was trying to get inside his head. Anakin shook himself, drawing his hood higher to shield his bare face, and watched the darkened interior as they crept nearer to the entrance. They'd only taken a few steps closer when decided he could take it no longer. He stopped Luke on his tracks with an arm in front of him.
"Something's wrong.", he uttered, eyes carefully watching the shadows of grand entry hall.
"Yes.", Luke acknowledged, sensing this too. "Why is it that no one's here to stop us?"
"My thoughts exactly.", he muttered, drawing Luke to the side. "The main entrance is too obvious. I know a way to his throne room, and it is far less known by his men."
"Let's go that way.", Luke nodded, sensing a great many things, one of which included a trap.
Anakin nodded as well, feeling apprehension for his son, hoping that this was the right path. With careful guidance, he ushered Luke towards a ledge near the entrance of the building. He soared into the air with a Force jump, landed atop of the ledge. To his surprise, Luke was able to mimic the action, having learned it in the short time during training. Anakin knelt down to the hidden panel, removing it with great care. The tunnel was dark, but with his senses, he knew the way. Luke resealed the panel and then followed him, the space only large enough for them to crouch in. The tunnel wasn't long, nor was it a direct route to Sidious, but it was a shortcut from the prying eyes of the main hall. Soon they came upon another panel, which Anakin removed quietly, and set aside. They jumped down to the floor of the other side, cushioning their landing with the aid of the Force.
Much to their growing wariness, they were met with yet another empty corridor. However, this time Anakin did feel like they were being watched and didn't turn to its source on purpose. Anakin could sense that this familiar being was behind him, and gave Luke a significant look, which the boy acknowledged. As one, they turned around, to find the familiar sight of the bounty hunter. Somehow, Boba Fett had followed them to the former temple, and knew exactly where they'd be. Only now he was armed with a vibroblade, his blaster missing, most likely destroyed from their previous encounter.
"Back for a rematch Fett?", he asked, his voice going low, at his side, his saber was ready.
"I always finish a job.", came the response of the bounty hunter, seeming to mean it.
"If you are ready to lose another hand, I'll consider it.", he replied, noticing the way in which Fett seemed to flex the prosthetic. The one he must've gotten after losing his limb at Jabba's Palace.
Fett's only response was to angle the blade in a challenging way. Anakin sighed, despite the tense situation, and finally lit his crimson saber. Fett stiffened slightly. Though startled by the Sith colors, the bounty hunter didn't let his guard down. Anakin waited, knowing that the hunter would be the first to strike. Sure enough, he propelled himself forward, with the aid of his jetpack, angling his blade for an under and up strike. Anakin deflected this, slicing the handle of the vibroblade in half by the red lightsaber. Anakin skidded around, blade ready to deflect more attacks.
However, instead of continuing his one on one fight with him, the bounty hunter soared over him, pressing a few buttons on his gauntlet.
There were explosions at his feet, so he was forced to retreat, his form backing into a dead end of the corridor. Before Anakin could go after the bounty hunter, a white light surrounded him, and he drew short. Anakin was trapped on the other side of a ray shield, unable to continue the fight. Luke was there, watching him with shock. Before he could even warn Luke to run, the floor underneath him disappeared and he was dropped into the bowels of the former Jedi Temple.
On the way down, all he could see was a black void.
With the Force telling him that the bottom was coming to meet him fast, he'd only a second to barely cushion his fall. He rolled into the bumpy ground, hearing some ominous cracking from whatever it was that he'd landed on. Anakin looked around, only seeing darkness. He wasn't able to see his hand in front of him, but he instantly knew there was something wrong about this place.
While breathing heavily from the fight and the fall, there came a strange whisper in the Force. He tilted his head at the sound, hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Within minutes he was able to discern what exactly was around. He grew cold, having heard these whispers before, though only in a dream, well a nightmare really.
It was as suffocating as the void around him, and though he hesitated to see what was waiting in this darkness for him, he lifted the hilt of his lightsaber. With a firm grasp on the weapon, he used his thumb to switch it on. The red color came bursting from it, and it was casting an eerie glow about. The darkness fled from the light, but with it came the full knowledge of what he'd landed on.
Anakin felt the color drain from his face, his insides going numb.
Under his booted feet were the remains of the Jedi. How did he know? Who else would be buried beneath this building and in such a callous and cold mass grave? He dared not move, having felt that he'd violated this place enough, though he could not take his eyes from the slain. They had been simply scattered around and forgotten, far beneath the Temple. The whispers grew louder, more sinister and Anakin reached up to his ears covering them, but he could still hear them. He knew that these noises came though the Force and not through the natural realm. Their voices were accusing, mournful, and filled with regrets.
Upon realizing the feelings of the dead would not go unheard, he removed his hands, a sense of absolute shame rising in his core. For a time, he just listened, knowing that he deserved to hear them all. He continued to stay put, frozen above the people he'd cast down. He was kept still in the face of his past evils, seeing the visions of his past, rising up before his eyes. Even when closing his eyes, he bore witness to the last moments of these fallen Jedi, most of which were younglings. He could hear the screams of the children now, see their eyes turn from hope to horror. He watched his past self, advance forward, raising his blade to murder the innocent. Overcome with grief, Anakin knelt down, setting his lightsaber aside, his breathing coming out in shallow bursts. He felt stinging behind his eyes, something that had not happened in many years, as the visions and voices assaulted him continuously.
"Obi-Wan.", he called out audibly, his voice broken. He reached out into the Force, trying to find his old master, only to draw short. He wasn't there.
Desperately, Anakin looked around the room, finding himself alone in the midst of his wrongdoings. In this hell that Sidious had created for him. Delirious with emotion, he brought his hands to his face. The Sith had made this place to taunt and accuse him, a living nightmare that he knew Anakin was susceptible to. That was it's purpose, and Anakin had to overcome it. With a shaky inhale, he closed his eyes, trying to focus his mind on what he needed to do.
Though Obi-Wan wasn't answering him, he could still heed his old master's words.
Then something struck him, causing him to jolt in realization and remembrance. Luke! He had to save Luke. Anakin knew that it was too late to save these people, and he may never atone for what he'd done there, but his son was alone and needed his help. Sidious wanted to separate them. Anakin was meant to be trapped there, to be kept paralyzed with remorse, but Anakin could not continue to wallow. He could not be stopped from doing the right thing now. Anakin couldn't be entombed by his past, nor could he be paralyzed by what was to come.
Right here and right now, Luke needed him.
As if a fog had lifted, Anakin noticed something that he was sure hadn't been there before. With the guidance of the Force, his eyes were directed to an exit, hidden behind a panel. When he approached it, he tried to pull it open, but it was locked. Anakin reached for his lightsaber, reigniting it. With a steely determination, he plunged the blade into the metal door, some unexplained emotion overcoming him.
The exit from this torment were before him now.
He didn't notice that the whispers quieted the moment he decided to save his son.
Admiral Piett was on the bridge, feeling tense despite the fact that most of the battle was happening on the planet below and another on the forest moon of Endor. Though he'd little time to absorb what and who he was aligning himself with, he did know he was on the right path. His one job was to protect Lord Vader from any outside threats, as well as the lives of his men, and he'd carry out that order to his dying breath.
The vast reaches surrounding the planet were peaceful so far, but something told him that it would soon change.
There was a warning in the system before the they dropped out of hyperspace. When they did, Piett spotted several other star destroyers approaching their fleet with purpose. Though daunting at first, Piett observed them coolly. Instead of reacting in fear the way some incompetent admirals on this ship had done in the past, Piett calmly asked to his men to hail the other ships. The Imperial officers working in the pit seemed confused by his stiff and urgent request, but they complied.
When he reached out to the other ships, he was met with the voices of various Moffs, high ranking ones in fact. They seemed just as surprised by the presence of the Executor over Coruscant as Piett was at seeing them, though Piett had grown thoughtful, silently counting the number of military leaders over the planet. When he was done with the estimations, he felt something cold settle in him.
"What's going on Admiral Piett?", one asked, clearly confounded by the silent way the admiral regarded them. Piett distantly acknowledged the leader's confusion, knowing he hadn't adopted his usual professional exterior.
"You're not in a meeting on Coruscant?", he asked, the question rhetorical.
"No?", replied a Moff, who'd furrowed his brows in uncertainty.
Then it all clicked into place, and Piett understood what was happening. Instead of being on Coruscant, taken captive by Padmé Amidala and her team, the crucial military leaders were here, speaking with Piett. Padmé Amidala and the other two rebels were walking right into a trap. Without a warning, the admiral cuff off the communications with the Moffs, a numbness coming over him. Without any regard for protocol, he raced from the bridge and opened a direct line of communication to the wife of Lord Vader from the terminal, not caring who'd see this.
He was met with static before the line started to open a connection.
Luke turned on Boba Fett the moment his father disappeared from view, having fallen through the floor. Luke's heart was racing, though his focus unbroken. He'd definitely heard the silent command of his father to run, but Luke decided not to listen. It wasn't because he was stubborn, but because he knew that running blindly from this wasn't a good idea. Even if he could be certain of the outcome of fighting this notorious bounty hunter was positive for him, he didn't know what he'd end up running into after the fight was over. As he stared at Boba Fett, the Mandalorian helmet betrayed nothing of what the hunter was feeling behind it, though the way he raised his cable arm in challenge told Luke he was about to fight. He was about to use the same tricks from their earlier battle.
With the words of Obi-Wan in his mind, he allowed the Force to guide his actions. In an instant, he was moving out of reach from the cable, its wire wrapping around a column behind him instead. After it went taut, Luke sliced it before Fett could recall the cable, which rendered the device useless. Now without this weapon, Fett resorted to flying over the Jedi, casting a blaze from his flamethrower. Luke dodged much of the scorching heat, sinking behind one of the marble columns. He peeked around the corner, watching the hunter approach while flying.
While Fett was still midair, Luke jumped out of his hiding place and shoved him into the wall with a powerful Force push. Instead of falling unconscious like he did before, the hunter rose to his feet, and made to run towards the young Jedi, clearly angry. Sensing this, Luke sidestepped the hunter, and while recalling the swift reflexes of Ataru, sliced the back portion of the bounty hunter's jetpack. The jetpack short circuited and sent the man weaving through the air wildly before Fett removed the jetpack all together. The now deviceless Boba Fett landed with a grunt, and Luke leveled his green blade at the man.
"Remove the flamethrower.", Luke demanded, acting braver than he felt. "I'd rather not take off your other hand."
Instead of complying Boba Fett raised his arm to defy that command and Luke had no choice but to sever the weapon and hand from the bounty hunter's body. Boba Fett cried in pain, though Luke knew he'd try to keep fighting. Without thinking on it too much, he gave another quick Force push, and the bounty hunter was slammed back into the wall. This time, he did fall unconscious and Luke knew he'd finally been beaten.
Before he could revel in his victory, a swarm of guards in red cloaks filled the room. Luke knew when he was outmatched, though he didn't necessarily want to surrender. Before making a move, he tried calling out to his father, but then grew cold.
He couldn't feel his father in the Force.
He wasn't dead, but something was suppressing him, making him almost seem nonexistent in this present life. The Red Guard leveled their force pikes at him, only inches from his face, and Luke stood frozen, his green blade still ignited. The first pike was jabbed towards him, and Luke was able to evade the attack with his reflexes. Two more attacked from his front and behind, and Luke jumped from the middle of the guards, landing outside their circle, right behind them. Immediately, he used the Force to push them while their backs were turned to him.
Two of them fell, but the other four merely stumbled forward, bracing themselves against the surprise maneuver. Luke positioned his blade to a low guard, waiting for the first move to be made, as they were too many close together to target for one attack. He had come prepared for a fight, and if he played it right, he just might be able to win. However, before any one of them moved, Luke felt a dark presence from behind him.
The young Jedi didn't have to turn to know who this was, as he'd felt this way before. The familiar presence sent him unwarranted visions of his brief encounter with the Sith on Naboo, which left him vulnerable. Without a warning there came a sudden electric current, as well as harsh push. Luke, though having braced for an attack, had not expected the brunt force of the lightening. His lightsaber went flying across the room. It scraped across the floor, until it landed under one of the boots of the red guard. Luke fell to the marble floor, his muscles spasming as he tried lifting a hand to summon the blade back to him. Before this could happen, he was hit with another surge of the white, hot energy. Luke cried out in pain, for several moments of agony. After the assault was over, Luke could barely raise a hand to reach for his weapon, much less look in its direction.
Before he could start standing after the attack, a boot from one of the guards came down on his back, causing the Jedi to fall back down. Immediately after, he was restrained with stun cuffs, though Luke was too delirious to struggle. However, he did understand with growing panic what had happened, and what he was about to face. Any attempt to fight now would be met with pain. Without warning, the guards yanked him to his feet and started dragging him to an even darker but grander room.
He was deposited on his knees before a throne, while the robed Sith seated himself in front of the lone Jedi. Luke didn't meet the eyes of the powerful being, his mind trying to focus on keeping his thoughts hidden. Even after only seconds of Sith lightening, he was still feeling the effects. His arms, though he tried to relax them, were shaking.
"I've been expecting you, young Skywalker.", the Sith said, his tone flat. There was no hint of emotion on the face of the Emperor, though Luke did note the calculating flicker in his eyes before it disappeared altogether.
Luke didn't respond to the Sith's words, keeping silent.
"I look forward to completing your training.", the Sith continued, seeming almost certain that this would happen. Luke stiffened but didn't speak, knowing that he was only toying with him. "I had hopes of having both you and your father by my side."
"No, you didn't.", Luke replied with indignation, before he could stop himself. The Sith merely smiled.
"Perhaps you doubt the power of the dark side?", the Emperor replied, his voice careful.
"No.", Luke replied, with some unusual calm to his voice. "Not the dark side, just you."
Instead of fury, Luke was met with a mocking laugh. The Sith seemed to find amusement in his jabs, though Luke knew that wouldn't last forever. He'd felt some of emotions of his father when discussing the Emperor and knew that he'd been punished for much less.
"Your father will be joining us," Sidious continued, his tone anything but intimidated. "But before that happens, I want him to experience your pain."
"Do your worst. I will never join the dark side.", Luke replied, his voice certain.
"We shall see."
Padmé climbed through a broken door of the abandoned Senate building only to find more emptiness within its walls. Before going in, she had her doubts as to why the Imperial Ruling Council would be meeting here, of all places, but when she looked at the others, she could tell that they felt the same. Captain Solo was muttering something to her daughter about his doubts, and Leia didn't argue.
"We still have to try.", was all she said, though Padmé could tell that her heart wasn't behind those words.
While Padmé was examining the decrepit nature of the grand entry hall, she heard her daughter asking the rebel stormtroopers to scout the building. She, Leia, Captain Solo, and a few other rebels would be exploring the various offices in the opposite direction of the other group. There were rooms that had once housed thousands of representatives and hopefully where they'd find a few Imperial leaders. It was a dark and devoid place, full of memories from another life, frozen in time, so Padmé had her doubts.
With some growing bewilderment and uneasiness, she and her daughter pushed through all the doors in all the rooms of the office, before deciding to check one last place. Padmé knew that the place they were returning to would bring back awful memories of the day that Palpatine had taken over, but they entered into the vast auditorium anyway. This was where thousands of star systems had pled cases to the Chancellor in the past. This is where matters were voted on. A place where democracy had once been allowed to thrive, or so she thought. Only now it was dark, devoid of any life, aside from the humming of the power that kept the emergency lights on.
When they moved further into the room, at the bottom of this vast chamber they heard no signs of the Imperial leaders having ever been there. Padmé turned to her daughter, about to state that this was nothing but a wild bantha chase, but before that could happen, the door behind them sealed shut. With alarm, Padmé turned to Leia and Han who were standing next to a few other rebels, a sick realization coming over them all. Then her communicator crackled to life, and a frenzied Piett was shouting a message at them.
"Milady get out of there! It's a trap!"
Then Leia seemed to sense something too late, her eyes widening in shock. Their ears heard the humming of the bombs, as they grew ready to go off. She took one last look at her daughter and Captain Solo before it happened.
For miles around, the Senate building could be seen going up in smoke.
The bridge aboard the Executor was chaos as Piett listened to the reports being given to him by officers and captains alike. The Moffs were watching everything unravel with some shock, though Piett was numb, having hoped he'd warned Padmé Amidala in time. Suddenly, the admiral steadied his breathing, forcing his mind back to the matter at hand.
"The Senate building has been attacked!", one captain from the other fleet cried out, and Piett grew cold. The captain continued, "It's the rebels!"
"We were told that a Rebel fleet would be here.", said another Moff on the other ship. Then he turned to address Piett directly. "Did you dispatch of them in the air or are they only on the surface of the planet?"
"Listen to me, it was not the rebels.", Piett declared, though he had no explanation as to how he knew this. Then he continued, his voice quite serious, "There's something else going on here."
While he was saying this, the guns from all the star destroyers of his fleet were being aimed at the star destroyers of the Moffs he was currently speaking to. Before he could utter a word, the bridge lights shut down, and all communications were cut off. Officers on the bridge expressed their confusion and he could only raise his head to what was happening outside the viewports. Helplessly, they watched as their own ship's canons were used to fire on the other Imperial star destroyers. Piett saw with his own eyes as the shots made impact, balls of orange fire flaring before dying out, no doubt killing hundreds of Imperial soldiers.
"The targeting systems!", cried one of his officers. "They've been overridden to attack our own!"
Anakin rose from underneath a panel that concealed a spiral staircase. He still had his hood up, barely taking note of the defeated bounty hunter, and walked towards the grand entrance of the throne room. It was down an ornate corridor, a place located in what was once the heart of the Jedi Temple. As he walked, he noticed changes that he'd never acknowledged before. Instead of statues bearing the likeness of ancient Jedi masters, in its place were pillars with Imperial flags adorning it. The history of the Temple was gone. Almost as if it'd never existed.
However, the state of the Temple meant little to him now, as he'd come forth with one thing on his mind. Anakin could sense his son's fear long before he'd made it back to the top, and it only pushed him to proceed faster. He knew that Sidious could feel him coming, but it did little to halt his pace. The red guard by the door barely acknowledged him, allowing him to pass through despite him no longer bearing the appearance of Darth Vader. Their emotions were indiscernible in the Force.
Anakin passed through the massive archway, the final one which gave way to the throne room. The sight that greeted him caused a feeling coldness to come over him, but he kept his face neutral. Luke was kneeling with his back turned to Sidious, though he was in front of the Sith, vulnerable. Anakin could see, even from here, that the boy was shaking from the aftereffects of Sith lightening. His eyes lingered on his son for a few minutes before drifting towards the object of his hatred. On the throne sat someone far more vile and cunning than any creature in the galaxy. A thing that had once been a man, cloaked in the darkness, bending the Force to his will. His yellow eyes were the only source of light, though it was a light that had been corrupted, far beyond reason.
"I have been expecting you.", he spoke, his voice a low snarl. Anakin saw and heard the Sith, but he still glanced worriedly to his son. This caused a flicker of interest from the Sith, which Anakin didn't catch. "Though your appearance is most… unexpected."
"You didn't expect the machine to no longer be your slave?", he retorted, his eyes focusing back on the Sith. "I will never kneel to you again."
"You may claim to be redeemed, but oh I can still sense your anger.", the Sith replied, a faint smile starting to form on his distorted face. Anakin, despite himself, felt a tremor at this comment. "Yes, a great deal of it. Enough to tip the balance."
"You're wrong.", Anakin replied, though this confidence was precarious. Then his voice got calm, saying what he knew to be true, "I've seen what the dark side can do, and it couldn't save my wife."
"A power to save others from death.", taunted the Sith, a sneer crawling across his features. "You may claim to have left the dark side, free from me, but you never will be. Even now you do not know that it is far too late."
"Too late for what?", he asked, his voice low with fear.
"To save the one you loved.", the Sith replied, a sneer forming on his face.
Before Anakin could ask what that meant, they heard a distant rumbling, something that wasn't too far from the former Jedi Temple.
Instantly, Anakin felt a coldness from within. A deep chasm of emptiness that caused him to reach out blindly in the Force for Padmé. He tried in vain, only to feel nothing. Then he desperately reached for Leia, trying to do the same. He could feel nothing outside of this throne room. Instead, all he could sense was Luke and the sinister presence of a man who had just slaughtered his family.
There was nothing but a despair like no other inside him as Sidious looked on with sick and twisted glee.
A/N: Ah, good old cliffhangers, but not to worry! The next chapter is mostly written, though I have quite a bit of work to do on it ;) Sorry for the delay, I've recently run into real-life work, which will be taking up much of my writing time. I can't believe this is all coming to a close, but I expect next chapter will be the last real chapter left, and then there's an epilogue. As far as my plans go, the epilogue will be the 35th and final chapter.
Special shoutout to RyanSquad, westerns never die, MMM73181, ichigo urahara Shihoin, Jedi Alex Colbent, IanAlphaAxel, Jeda31, ELinkA and angie (Guest) for reviewing! A big thank you to those who favorited and followed my story! There's been amazing support for this story, and without you, I don't think it would've gone this far. If you have any thoughts or opinions on this chapter, please, feel free to let me know! I absolutely LOVE hearing from each and every one of you :)