Epilogue

The Ewok huts nested in the treetops of Endor were all quiet—a drastic contrast from three standard hours ago. The Battle of Endor marked the greatest Alliance victory they had seen, and resulted in the death of the Empire's two strongest leaders. Though most every rebel knew deep down that they had surely not seen the last of people associated with the Empire's endeavors, today was not the day to think about that.

The celebration in the maze of Ewok-made platforms and walkways had hosted hundreds of rebel soldiers and pilots—many of whom were intoxicated. Now, most rebels were asleep, but Tess was not one of them.

The fifteen-year-old rebel pulled herself from her sleep sack. She tried not to disturb Leia and a few of the female soldiers who shared the hut with her. She tip-toed past them, careful not to step on anyone's hands or feet.

As Tess emerged from the hut, she heard a distant cry. At first, she thought it was an animal. Then as she approached the edge of the balcony, she saw a man a few levels down. He grasped onto the railing and, holding it with a white-knuckled grip, lurched his body forward in a fit of sobs. He then dropped to his knees, still holding onto the railing, and hung his head. Further down the platform Tess stood on, she saw that the source of a sniffing sound was a woman rocking back and forth, holding her legs to her chest, weeping.

Tess had almost forgotten that she was not the only one to have complicated feelings about the day's events. Though the Alliance had won, hundreds of rebel comrades were killed, both in this battle and the ones passed. Some rebels even had friends or family that were associated with the Empire and had perished with the Death Star II's destruction.

The young rebel still did not know how she felt about all of this. She was grateful that her friends and her brother and sister had survived, but Tess' father was dead. Considering who he was, she wished she could be happy about it like everyone else. All the questions she had growing up now had their answers. So why didn't Tess feel the sort of closure one would expect?

Suddenly, Tess did a double-take at the sight of a familiar bluish form standing by the balcony. She beamed.

"Inny!" Tess exclaimed, mentally shushing herself before she woke anyone. She raced to her former guardian. "I was hoping I would see you again."

"I'm always here with you," assured the ghost of the older woman. "Even when you don't see me."

Tess sat on the edge of the balcony, and non-corporeal Inny sat beside her.

"Luke says Ben Kenobi visits him."

"A very strong Jedi, and a dear friend," Inny reflected. "I had just become a Jedi Knight when Anakin Skywalker was assigned to be his Padawaan. He was greatly admired."

"Did you meet him?" the young girl queried. "Anakin, that is."

"On several brief occasions. Yes."

Tess smiled. For a moment she allowed herself to believe that Anakin Skywalker was her father, like Luke and Leia. At least he redeemed himself before he died. Tess pondered asking Inny a question. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"What is it, dear?" Inny asked. Tess swallowed.

"Did you know of the Em—my father—back then?"

"We had not personally met, but everyone knew Chancellor Palpatine," Tess' guardian shared. "He was known to many as smart and kind-hearted until took advantage of political unrest and transformed a Republic into an Empire, with himself on the throne. And then, to eliminate any threat from the Jedi once they found out that he was a Sith Lord, he ordered the Purge."

"When all the Jedi were killed?"

"Yes."

Tess hung her head. She recalled a piece of Anakin's last words.

"Before he died…" Tess stammered nervously. "Vader—Anakin—he said that there was no Palpatine in me. Just Padme." She looked up at the blue ghost expectantly.

"The battle between the Light Side and the Dark Side is constant," Inny sighed. "Even for the strongest Jedi. Just because you had some brushes with this struggle does not mean you are turning into the monster your father became."

Tess was silent for a moment, showing little emotion. She was hoping for a straight agreement.

"I feel like he is still here," she admitted darkly. "Taunting me. Tempting me." Tess brought a hand to her face as a shiver convulsed her body. "I can still feel his hand on my cheek." Tess looked up at Inny with wide eyes. "He won't let me forget that I came from him."

Inny looked at the child sympathetically. Tess wished she could rest her head in her guardian's lap and just be held by her—just this one time. But the girl pushed away the unrealistic wishes.

"Why did you come here?" Tess asked softly. Inny paused.

"I don't mean to alarm you," she said gently. "Only to express a word of caution. Tess…to tell you that this is over would be a lie. It is nowhere close. You will face harder trials to come—harder than you can even imagine now. And pain…" Inny grimaced as if she had seen something horrible. "Pain…and it will lead you into darkness. Your brother and sister will not be able to protect you forever. They may not be on your side forever. Your destinies may separate. Maybe not soon, but someday."

Tess just sat wide-eyed, praying the Force was playing tricks on her as she listened to the warning.

"Your struggles are not over," Inny repeated. "Thinking so will be a means to your end." Her form grew faint, then slowly faded out. Her parting words flickered by ever so softly, like the echo of a whisper.

"This is just the beginning."

This is only the end of the first book! You guys aren't getting rid of Tess that easily. As Inny said, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

Daughter of a Dead Woman is marked as complete because this individual section is complete. If you start reading the next part to the story, be forewarned that you may run into cliff hangers or long periods of writer's block from yours truly.