The Power to Save Her
Chapter 34
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.
"Return auxiliary power back to the bridge now!", Piett commanded, his officers having frozen in fear to watch as the fleets destroy each other. A few of them flinched at his tone, but Piett knew it was necessary to snap them out of it.
"Returning it.", an officer reported, having shaken himself from his fear.
Within minutes the bridge had power again, though Piett knew not for how long. While he still had control, he ordered that the emergency hatches be unlocked, ordering several of his officers to ensure that the routs to the hangers and escape pods remained open. Spies were also no doubt jamming the communications, but he'd spent much of his time as an officer to work his way around it. After ensuring that safety was guaranteed for his men, he opened up a connection to the other fleet, bypassing security protocols. The Moffs appeared before him again, faces growing serious.
"Admiral Piett, what is the meaning of this?", demanded one with dark hair, as Piett heard a commotion from their side.
"Our targeting systems have been engaged to aim for your ships.", warned Piett, even as he watched a barrage of canons continuing fire. "Without my authority."
"Then there must be spies on all your ships admiral.", the Moff commented, seeming to grow angry. Though with him or the spies, Piett could not tell, nor did he particularly care. Working with Lord Vader had desensitized him to angry superiors.
"Which is why you must fall back and regroup.", Piett stated, voice even. "Our loyal men will shut down all weapons on the Executor, but we must work together to create a ceasefire."
"What do you suggest admiral?", asked the same dark-haired man.
"Your best TIE fighters have to take out the canons of the other star destroyers.", Piett stated, knowing he'd have to communicate this to the others in his fleet. "I will make contact with the captains to ensure their men don't fight back."
An explosion rocked another ship and finally the Moff nodded, his voice even.
"Very well admiral.", the Moff stated, knowing there was little choice. "We'll do it your way."
Piett's mind was racing.
"And prepare a garrison for attack.", Piett also commanded, speaking both to his own officers and the Moffs on the other ships. "We must understand why there was an attack on the Senate building and ensure it doesn't happen to the Imperial Palace."
"I will send our garrisons, but you lead the men admiral.", commanded the Moff, his voice steely. Piett grew surprised by the command, before his superior continued, "We need to ensure that the Empire's most loyal ensure the safety of Coruscant."
Piett didn't negate this confidence in him, simply nodding to the military leader before shutting off the line directly to the Moff. Piett had only moments to consider the thought of leading ground troops before ultimately feeling resolve come over him. People to whom he was loyal needed his help, and to do this, he would have to set foot on a planet where the Emperor resided. Lord Vader had gone on ahead, and now he would follow in his footsteps. Finally, after a few seconds of hesitation, Piett opened another channel.
Madine appeared before him, and the admiral explained what exactly was going on.
Together, the Rebel and Imperial leaders began devising a strategy before their communications lit up simultaneously.
It was a distress signal from Leia Organa.
Nothing but pain, raw pain was what he felt.
As he fell to his knees, a coldness inside of him began to take form. A darkness he'd not felt since his first moment inhaling the processed air of the hated mask filled him. Anakin, though no longer mortally wounded, felt as if he couldn't breathe, his hands were shaking with the realization of what had just happened. Padmé and his daughter were gone. Both ripped away from him by the unfeeling monster across from him.
Sidious during this time, remained where he was, relaxed and unmoving on his throne, simply watching the suffering of his former and traitorous apprentice. Anakin didn't look at the Sith, knowing once he did so, he wouldn't be able to resist the swirling darkness. Ignoring the inferno that was his hatred towards Sidious, he chose to lift his eyes to the only family he had left. The boy was the only light in this place, and even his presence was marred by their deaths. He could see that while Luke was kneeling, his face cast down, feeling the same loss as he was. His lowered head betrayed a sorrow, which Anakin himself felt.
Anakin's lightsaber was clenched in his shaking hand, but he dared not raise it. His anger burned but he resisted it's calls for blood. Over and over again, he had to tell himself what was important, and what could be salvaged, even if the emotions of loss were blurring his path. Anakin breathed in and out, remembering. Luke was still alive, and so was he. Sidious had a reason for this, and he was certain he knew why.
Finally, he trusted himself to speak.
"What could you possibly want from me now?", he asked, his voice raw with anger, despite his attempts to keep it at bay.
"Nothing from you, my friend.", replied the Sith, his voice mocking. "But if you wish for the boy to live, you will answer to your true master."
"What do you want?", he repeated, some hopelessness coming over him.
He'd sworn never to follow Sidious again, and yet the Sith had caught him in the same way. Despite knowing this, all he could think of was Padmé and his daughter, both dead, and the very real possibility of the same happening to Luke. He battled inwardly when Luke tried to reach out to him in the Force. He could sense the boy pleading with him already.
"I know that another Rebel fleet goes to destroy the Death Star.", the Sith his eyes narrowing, though Anakin couldn't feel shocked that he already knew this. "And that your fleet has been replaced with them."
Anakin didn't speak, neither confirming nor denying this statement, but Sidious already knew.
"I will promise that both your fleet and young Skywalker will survive if you draw the Rebel fleet back to Coruscant.", the Sith continued, making his terms clear.
"You will not do that.", Luke insisted, raising his head to stare Anakin down. His eyes were full of conviction and Anakin could feel the boy's determination, "She wouldn't have wanted that."
The Sith merely smiled, a condescending expression on his face, but Anakin knew that the boy was right. Time seemed to slow down, as his options were laid bare. Sidious seemed so certain of what he'd choose, so confident that Anakin's decision would be selfish. Anakin remembered the death after Sidious had promised at another of his loved ones would live, and rose his gaze to the boy, a deep ache forming in his chest.
He knew what decision he had to make.
Leia came to, having unlatched the door of the senate room and sealed it shut before the bombs had gone off. Though it'd done little to conceal the aftereffects of the explosion, it did protect them from the flames that would've incinerated them had they stayed a moment longer. Leia hadn't been practicing with this skill very long, but she was glad to have learned it before coming into the rigged building.
Han, having discarded his helmet, was coughing as the dust of the rubble filled the air. Her mother approached her in the limited space they had, a look of concern on her face. Only now did Leia notice the gash at her side from a protruding metal rod. Thank the Force it was only a flesh wound, for if Leia had landed only a few more inches to the left… well it would've been over.
"Are you alright?", she asked, seeing the crimson staining the rubble.
"It's not bad.", she muttered back, and Han came over, his eyes widening at her wound. "Really. It's better than it looks."
"Well… what now?", Han asked, and though most would consider the question unhelpful, Leia did know it was one that needed to be asked.
"Piett told us that it was a trap.", she stated, glancing around at their environment, some pieces of the building on fire. "The military leaders are not here. They never were."
"The others?", her mother asked, and Leia shook her head, she too having thought of the rebel troopers that had fallen into the trap.
"Several dead, but some are wounded.", Leia replied, sensing a great deal of pain, though wasn't attuned in the Force well enough to distinguish the life forces.
"We must get them out.", her mother declared, though they acknowledged their trapped situation.
"There's a way out.", Leia announced, pointing to an opening where rain drizzled down lightly.
Then she tapped on her communications, trying to reach out to one of the star destroyers above.
"You know what you will choose.", intoned the Sith, rising from his throne, though he didn't approach Anakin. His pale hands were coiled, ready to strike, but he kept them still.
"You don't know him.", Luke interfered, seeming to find another source for his strength.
"I knew him well enough to understand what he was capable of.", sneered the Emperor seeming to pace behind the young Jedi while Anakin could only watch. "What he would do for the power to save her."
Anakin felt a spark of defiance at these words, even as the Sith continued on.
"It was here that he slaughtered thousands of innocents. Younglings, yes even them, to protect what was rightfully his."
Anakin felt something else at this. It was a disturbing idea that he'd once stopped considering Padmé as his wife, his life partner and replaced her as some sort of object or idol to be protected. Acts committed in her name, even against her own wishes. Anakin looked at Luke who'd locked eyes with him, shaking his head. Luke was his son, but he did not want to be saved at the expense of others, but neither could Anakin let him die.
"I will die in his place.", Anakin declared, his voice certain of this conviction. "You will not hurt him, nor see the destruction of the Rebel Alliance."
"As if you could make demands.", the Sith sneered, pacing even more impatiently.
"You've never kept your word in the past.", Anakin replied, voice rising, even as he came to his feet. "You want Luke as your own apprentice, since you know you can't have me. Before the end, you would force us to try to kill the other. I am no longer Jedi, no longer a Sith, but I know I will not be your slave again."
For the first time in his life, he attacked his old master, using the Force to slam him back into his throne. With ferocious speed, he yanked Luke towards him, and sliced his binders off, at last freeing the young Jedi. The Sith was rising to his feet, a deep scowl on his face, even as the Red Guard closed in around them.
He and Luke were back to back, a high and low guard stance respectively.
They rose from the rubble, Leia desperately needing to get a better signal to the battle happening above. The three of them were pushing aside a heavy beam, and finally they were greeted with the open misty air of planet that had just seen a heavy rain fall. While she waited for the signal to reconnect her to Admiral Piett and General Madine, Leia glanced over to the Imperial Palace, eyes widening at the sight. What she saw were storms were still localizing over the foreboding structure and an army of stormtroopers gathering at the steps of the palace. Even from here, she could see that they were standing at attention, ready to attack any who try to go through or exit from the entrance.
"Luke!", Leia whispered, her eyes going wide as the three of them faced the impenetrable Imperial Palace.
"We're going for him.", Han stated, coming next to her.
"How?", Leia asked, not seeing a way out of this.
"I think we left a few good TIE fighters behind.", the smuggler stated, motioning to the platform that was closer than it had been to the 500 Republica. It was still far away.
"We'll never make it in time.", Leia despaired, observing the distance between them and the ships. Then her mind turned to the men were around them, regrouping after the explosions. "And we have a duty to help these men."
One of the surviving rebel-stormtroopers, were rising from tending to a wounded man, while Leia continued feeling conflicted about the two obligations. What the right choice was seemed to evade her. Then that same rebel approached her, his voice filtered by the stormtrooper's helmet.
"Go princess.", the unidentified man stated. "Commander Skywalker needs to get out of there alive."
Leia smiled with some relief at the blessing, though it was one that was half-hearted. This was because Leia knew that realistically, they wouldn't make it in time to help Luke. However, that problem was quickly solved when she noticed several Imperial shuttles descending on their location, and a transmission coming through. It was General Madine.
"Princess Organa!", he greeted, surprised, and pleased all in one moment. "We received your earlier distress signal and sent out a garrison to assist you. Thank goodness you survived."
"We did," Leia replied, glancing over to the injured. "Most of us. What's happening up there?"
"Nothing that you need concern yourself with.", replied General Madine, despite the explosions occurring in the background. "We sent more troops to help look for you, but since you're alright, perhaps you and Captain Solo can help lead the assault on the Imperial Palace."
"We'll do it.", Leia answered immediately, glancing over to Han who nodded. The shuttles were descending closer now. Then she continued, looking over to the troops at the Imperial Palace. "We must secure the perimeter, as a significant Imperial Force has been gathered there."
"Very good.", the general replied. "The admiral will need all the help he can get."
Before she could ask, the communications closed abruptly, just as the shuttle landed in front of them. At the top of the ramp was Admiral Piett, decidedly out of his comfort zone for leading a ground assault, but nevertheless determined. He was followed by several other troopers, though she didn't know if they were rebel ones or not. However, she decided it wasn't important now, as they were all under a trusted and seemingly loyal servant to the Empire.
Leia nodded to the Piett, their goals aligning well.
The battle between the guard and the two Force users continued on, though it was clear that the two were winning. Sidious was on the fringes, his demeanor growing angrier the more they fought against his elite guard. His father raised his hand to choke a red guard for a few moments before roughly casting him into the dark corners of the room. Another speared their prod towards Luke, only to have him parry the weapon, and arch his blade in a deadly blow. His green blade pierced the flesh of the last guard landed, though Luke felt no pleasure from it, feeling the life of the guard diminish. His foe, finally defeated, landed at Luke's feet, but the Jedi immediately snapped his gaze up to the Sith, who'd been watching.
"Indeed, you've grown powerful.", claimed the Sith, though he was watching them both with a fierce hatred.
Suddenly, the Sith attacked, curling both his fingers in an unnatural way. Anakin felt his throat constrict and could only watch as both he and Luke were raised into the air within the Sith's grasp. With some difficulty, he threw his saber at the Emperor who was forced to drop them both to dodge the attack. They both dropped to the hard floor, with only seconds to recover. Then with a speed faster than what an old man should be able to do, Sidious raised his hands, and shot lightening at his son.
Anakin shoved Luke out of the way with a Force push, and the energy of the lightening blackened a marble column. Then Anakin reached out a hand to summon his lightsaber back to him, just in time before the Sith could send another round of lightening at him. Anakin's saber absorbed all the power, it's flickering light reflecting on his bare face.
Anakin could see it now. The fear behind the Sith Lord's eyes, and for a moment, Anakin felt pleasure at this sight. A deep satisfaction filled him, knowing that the Sith would fear him before the end. Then, as quickly as that feeling came, it left. Anakin knew he'd never rid the dark side completely, but he could abstain from it. With a Jedi-like calm, he took steps forward, getting closer and closer to his old master.
Finally, having had enough, the Sith ceased the lightening, and summoned his own blade. Anakin raised his eyebrows, knowing that Sidious detested the use of lightsabers, preferring to rely only on the Force. He only resorted to this when threatened, and both he and Luke were now considered that very thing. Anakin raised his lightsaber to a high guard position, while Luke did the same not far from where he was.
Sidious had not counted on his apprentice being free of the suit, for he would not have incited the fight. Now, caught in a standstill, Anakin waited for Sidious to react. Instead of attacking him, he raised one hand, and used the Force to pull Luke towards him, his blade poised to give a deadly strike. Anakin, with his own lightsaber, knocked the blade up and away before Luke could even come close, attacking the Sith to distract him.
The Emperor, having expected this, attacked Anakin's center, pushing him back after a fierce saber-lock. Then, Sidious continued advancing, seeming to have forgotten about Luke, his eyes locked on him. Anakin knew better than to believe that he was unaware of Luke's presence, even as the two of them circled each other like predators. Silently, he told Luke to stay away, but Anakin knew he wouldn't listen to that for very long.
Sidious attacked, forcing Anakin back into a high guard, leaving his middle open for attack. The Sith took immediate advantage, blasting Force lightening with his other hand, and causing Anakin to fall onto his back with a pained grunt. He saw Sidious, bring his blade down to strike him but before that could happen, a green blade blocked it.
Luke was there, clearly terrified by the foe, but an expression of absolute determination in his eyes. The Sith now, with his attention locked on the boy, turned from Anakin momentarily. This was enough for Anakin to recover and use the Force to push Sidious into a stumble. Anakin summoned his weapon again, but before it could make it to his hand, Sidious sliced the handle in half, midair.
Now, weaponless, which had clearly been the Sith's plan all along, the hooded figure turned to face him fully. Luke attacked from behind, forcing the Sith to block him, and send him flying back again. The boy hit the wall, his head knocking back into the hard surface, and became dazed. Luke's saber rolled away from his hand, and the Sith started advancing on his vulnerability. Before Sidious could strike his son, Anakin curled his hand dragging the Sith back towards him. The Emperor, facing him now, broke from his hold, and boldly went flying towards Anakin who was still weaponless. Before, Sidious landed a blow, Anakin summoned his son's lightsaber, lit the green blade, and raised it at the advancing Sith. Then, without thinking, he curved the blade inward to protect his middle, twisting the red blade, and in one motion, sliced the lightsaber hand off the Sith. Sidious didn't seem to feel it, a dark vortex surrounding him as he raised his other hand to strike Force lightening at him once more. There was nothing in the Sith but darkness, and a hatred so deep that Anakin almost wavered from his opening.
Then he remembered what Sidious had led him to do. Though Anakin wouldn't deny his part in all the evil, it was the Emperor who'd made false promises. The death of Obi-Wan, along with the countless others that lay beneath the Temple, was on his hands, but he could not forget the man who'd pushed him there. The same Sith who wanted to keep him in darkness.
He knew this was his chance and took it.
Anakin, fueled by something that went beyond emotion arced the green blade, its speed aided by the Force, and instantly freed the Sith's head from his torso.
A second later, the body of Sidious dropped.
All at once, the nightmare had ceased.
In one moment, he'd fulfilled his destiny.
It was over.
The Sith were no more.
Anakin however wasn't looking at the corpse of Sidious, he was looking for his son. Luke was standing a fair distance off gripping an aching arm, still feeling the spasms of the Sith's attacks, but staring down at the dead Emperor. Anakin felt something in him at the moment, something filled with relief and joy, but knew that the emotions were far beyond what he could express at the moment.
Instead of reveling in the victory over the Sith, or even a man he'd hated for years, he closed the distance between himself and Luke. The firm clasp of his father's arms around him clearly startled the young Jedi, though it was not unwelcomed. Not caring if this would be strange for someone like him to do, he reveled in the fact that at least one of his family was alive.
Only a moment later did he realize that Luke wasn't the only one who'd survived.
The fighting outside of the Imperial Palace didn't last very long, nor did she consider it to be a fight at all. Imperial stormtroopers had not been surprised by their appearance, as they too bore the same armor, but they had not expected people they thought to be on their side, to turn on them. With guns at their backs, they were able to disarm most of the garrison and do so quietly, even as the citizens observed the strange arrests. In an attempt to ensure compliance from his mix of rebel troopers and actual stormtroopers, Piett claimed that the people who'd swarmed the Imperial Palace were traitors trying to assassinate the Emperor.
Padmé had to smile at how the admiral was thinking on his feet, and the way he'd been able to deliver it so convincingly.
Now with the outside forces dealt with, Padmé surrounded by rebels stormed into the Imperial Palace, not stopping to take in the grand scale of its interior. Admiral Piett was with her, while Captain Solo and her daughter followed at a brisk pace. The stretch of the corridor was long, grand, and absolutely adorned with all manner of Imperial embellishments. Every hall had a flag, seeming inform in it's allegiance but Padmé spotted something up ahead that told her that Anakin was near.
The bounty hunter slumped over, out cold from an attack, but still alive. This area held signs of a battle having taken place there, as scorch marks marred the walls. There was another grand archway, another room to explore, and she continued forward, filled with a new dread and anticipation. Not knowing what she'd find, she burst into a large ornate room, one that had once been a part of the Jedi Temple, and immediately noticed the scattered bodies of people robed in red clothes. Her eyes searched the room quickly before coming to rest on two people standing in the midst of it all.
Her heart skipped a beat, but the next moment, she felt a spark of something inside her, causing her to let out a thankful laugh at the sight of them. In the next moment, she was rushing towards them, her company following. Without reservation, even in the sight of everyone present she gathered them both in each arm, though they had to stoop to accommodate her height. Leia ran up to hug Luke fiercely, a strange emotion on her face. Han sauntered over, while Leia was still in Luke's arms, and the young Jedi smiled at his friend, who grinned back and patted him on the shoulder.
Padmé now with just Anakin kissed him fiercely, something which he returned, while enveloping her into a crushing hug. Something in his demeanor was shaken, as if something far darker had happened to him, but she didn't ask him. He was safe, as was her family. Then he pulled away, some pain coming over his face.
"I-I thought you were dead.", he uttered, seemingly broken by having believed this.
Though she hated the idea that he'd be subjected to such a notion, she couldn't hide the complete and overwhelming pride she had for him in this moment. Though she didn't stare very long at the body of the Emperor, she knew he'd defied the man, even at his lowest moment. She glanced over to Luke, who was shaken, but alive, and turned back to Anakin, some unspoken emotion shining in her eyes.
"You did the right thing, in spite of it all.", she said, not really sure what else to say.
Then she came back into Anakin's embrace, head resting on his chest while his arms were wrapped around her. He seemed to be watching the reunion between the other three with some contentment, and Padmé realized that this was the first time in years he'd been free from the darkness of the Emperor. She didn't look on the body, nor did she need to. All that mattered was that her family was safe and that the threat against them was gone.
"I love you.", she whispered, thinking at first that she was too quiet for him to hear.
He brought her closer to himself, kissing her brow before responding.
"And I you."
In the next couple hours, much of Coruscant was told of the Emperor's fate and by the next day, the entire galaxy knew it. He observed from the windows of what was once the Jedi Council room to the streets below. They were currently tearing down the statue of Sidious, and Anakin watched with a slight smile as it cracked, further signifying the end of the Emperor's reign. Luke, who'd deigned to stay away from the celebrations in favor of touring what was once a Jedi haven watched the spectacle with some distant expression in his eyes.
"I never thought I'd see the day.", he muttered quietly.
"It's a day that should've come sooner.", Anakin replied, though he felt content a moment later.
"What happens after this?", Luke asked, turning to his father.
"The galaxy starts healing.", he answered simply, though the answer was far more complicated than that. "And we will transition into an era of peace."
Luke smiled at this, content in that knowledge.
By the time the military leaders and Imperial Ruling Council arrived in the throne room of the Imperial Palace, he'd adorned himself one last time with the suit and respirator. He knew it was a necessary evil to appear as the feared second in command for an easy transition of power. It'd taken time to convince the Imperial leaders he was who he said he was, after the Emperor's claims that he was an imposter. For the very fact that he could report what only Darth Vader himself knew, did they relent. Though unhappy with his commands, they couldn't disobey, as he held the highest title in the Empire now. By the second day, the Rebel fleet appeared after successfully blowing up the partially constructed and second Death Star, though mostly due to the help of some locals. To the astonishment of the Imperial leaders, and to the galaxy at large, Darth Vader welcomed the Rebel Alliance High Command to discuss the terms of reform.
Yoda, who was still on Endor for the celebrations by the locals, sent his greetings to their team with the Rebel leaders, as did Rex, who still didn't know that Anakin Skywalker was still alive. With the old Jedi master having vouched for the change in Darth Vader, and the fact that he himself had kept his word, Anakin was able to convince the Imperial and Rebel leaders to cooperate and eventually sign a treaty. Padmé was there, as well as Leia and Luke to inform them what had happened, and to smooth over any blunders he made.
And he made several.
Without both Padmé and his daughter, who both had political experience, he surely would've failed. Solo almost seemed too smug about his predicament before Anakin exacted a small measure of revenge by putting the spotlight on him. The smuggler became less than enthused by this, and from then on refrained from being as much of a nerfherder. Too much time was spent debating not to find some enjoyment out it.
While busy with the political disputes, Anakin also assisted Admiral Piett with the military decisions. After commending Piett for his services in saving thousands of lives in the fleet, as well as the ones on Coruscant, Anakin appointed Piett as the head of the entire naval forces. The admiral was deeply humbled by the promotion, this time receiving it by merit instead of by way of being next in line. Of course, Piett was busy now and had to settle the fleets scattered across the galaxy, but he was soon off-world, making Anakin wish he could escape the politics here.
Several days were spent trying to stabilize the chaos of a toppled Empire, but Anakin did as he promised he would, and eventually organized the reinstatement of the Senate. To further appease both the Rebel Alliance and the Imperial loyalists, he instated Mon Mothma and another member of the Imperial Ruling Class as leaders with the same powers as a chancellor. This seemed to be the catalyst of things starting to change, and though there was much work to do, he knew that this was enough for now.
In less than a month, the galaxy had started settling, and only then could he finally fulfill his promise to Padmé.
One calm afternoon, after returning from the arduous debates, he turned to her and uttered the same words she'd said weeks ago.
"Come away with me."
A/N: Oh man, I hate writing endings, though I definitely don't want to drag the story out for too long either. I was so nervous to write this final chapter, and even more so to publish it for you guys. The perfectionist in me kept saying that it wasn't good enough, so I've gone over each moment (several times in fact) with a critical eye, and I'm still not entirely satisfied with it XD Either way, I truly hope this multichapter finale lived up to expectations and that you thoroughly enjoyed all the ups and downs that came with it! Next chapter is the epilogue in which we'll see the final moments with our characters!
Special shoutout to RyanSquad, ELinkA, westerns never die, Jeda31, MMM73181, and ichigo urahara Shihoin for reviewing! A big thank you to those who favorited and followed my story! What did you think of my finale, or the conflicts our characters had to resolve? I've been blown away by the support shown for this story and continue to love hearing feedback from you all. We're nearing the end, and I've only gotten this far because of your support :) If you have any thoughts or opinions on this chapter, before we head into the epilogue, I'd love to hear them!