The More Things Change…

THE PAST…

Starkiller….no… that wasn't his name anymore. He was Galen Marek, son of Kento and Millie Marek… both Jedi Knights and protectors of the galaxy… like he was now. He was on a mission to rescue the headstrong prince Luke Organa, and his father Bail, along with several Senators who had been willing to join him in a rebellion against the Empire. Senators Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Garm Bel Iblis would be executed, along with Bail's son Luke, who had refused to be left behind and replaced by Galen's best friend PROXY. He had been captured, along with Bail's aid and Luke's teacher Ylenic It'kla, a Caamasi.

He looked over at Juno Eclipse, who smiled at him sheepishly. "Am I going to see you again?" she asked him.

He looked down as he opened the rear hatch of the Rogue Shadow. "If I can free the Rebels, they are going to need extraction..." he hesitated for a moment, and then answered her question. "Probably not…no."

Juno took him into her arms. "Then I'll never need to live this down." And then she kissed him passionately. He felt a sensation that passed through him down to his toes, and when she finally broke the kiss, he looked into her eyes, and saw all the possible futures they could have together… if only he could walk away now…

But finally, he had already made his decision. "Goodbye Juno." He said, and leaped out of the Rogue Shadow. "goodbye, my love." She whispered as she watched him fall into the depths of the Death Star.

"You are all traitors to the Empire." Palpatine said to his captured prisoners. Bail, Luke, It'kla, Mon Mothma, Iblis, and Rham Kota stood before his throne, each in shackles. "You will be interrogated, tortured, you will give me the names of your friends, and allies, and then you will die." Bail was about to speak, but Luke beat him to it. :"Our deaths will only rally others to our cause." Palpatine sneered and pointed at him. "Your very public and painful executions will serve as an example to the rest of the galaxy." Then the alarms sounded. Master Kota smiled. "There may be a rebellion yet." Palpatine and Vader looked up at a hologram of Galen approaching them. "Lord Vader… deal with the boy." Palpatine ordered. "As you wish, my master." Vader replied as he turned to leave.

Galen made his way through the Death Star, battling stormtroopers, purge troopers, and anything else that stood in his way… until finally, he was confronted by Darth Vader himself. "I have trained you well," Vader challenged, holding his lightsaber in the typical combat style. "But you still have much to learn."

Galen smirked at him. "You have nothing left to teach me!" And the two attacked….

. As Palpatine chuckled, looking at the young boy who looked defiant in the face of his own death… and he felt… something… strong. The boy… he was.. powe…

Just then, before Palpatine could finish the thought, Lord Vader was smashed through the observation window. His black armor was smashed, his helmet was missing half his faceplate, revealing his burned face underneath. His mechanical legs could be seen through the damage in his armor, and his breathing apparatus was laboring heavily as he lay on the ground. Palpatine was in shock as Galen Marek leaped in, looking none the worse for wear.. and Palpatine took advantage of the situation. "Yes! Kill him! He was weak! Kill him and you can take your rightful place at my side!' Behind him, Master Kota leaped forward. "NO!" he yanked Palpatines lightsaber from his robes, and cut down two of Palpatine's finest Royal guards. Palpatine snapped his hands up and enveloped Kota in Force lightning. Bail Organa looked at Galen and cried out. "HELP HIM!" And for a moment…. Galen hesitated. Kill Vader…or help his friend and master, Kota? It was a very easy decision….

Palpatine was blasted off his feet as Galen charged him, the force swirling around him in a storm of power. Palpatine unleashed force lightning upon this upstart… but Galen grabbed his power, and turned it back upon him. Palpatine unleashed a massive force push, enough to shatter steel, and Galen took it… He charged up his own attack, and blasted Palpatine again, and the Dark Lord couldn't believe how powerful Galen was. This was unexpected, and he now knew he was fighting for his life.

As Galen approached, Palpatine unleashed more dark side energy, calling more of his Royal Guards, but Galen made short work of them, pulling Palpatine down from his perch and smashing him to the ground.. Palpatine looked up and pleaded finally. "Yes… kill me… strike me down with all of your hatred, and take my place! Do it boy! It is your destiny!"

Galen raised his lightsaber, but Kota put his hand on his shoulder. "He's beaten, let it go." Galen struggled inside. "It's a trick! He's stronger than you know and he deserves to die for what hes done to me. But Kota smiled. "Maybe so, but if you strike him down in anger, you'll be right back where you began." Galen deactivated his lightsaber, and turned to the Senators. "Get Bail and the others out of here, I'll be right behind you.."

Palpatine snapped to his feet. "NO!" he roared, blasting at Kota with force lightning again, but Galen got in the way, absorbing the energy and fighting back. "GO, HURRY! PROTECT THE SENATORS!"

The senators all ran, following Master Kota.. until Bail realized.. "Where's Luke!?"

Behind them, Palpatine struggled… as Galen prepared to unleash his full power. Palpatine used the Dark Side as a shield to protect himself from the Force lightning… and then… the unexpected occurred.

A single blaster shot was heard, and Palpatine gasped.. His force attack ceased, and Galen blasted him away. Palpatine hit the floor and did not move…. Galen fought to catch his breath, and looked up….

There was the young boy. Bail's son, Luke Organa with a stormtroopers blaster. "Lets go!" the boy said. Galen heard Lord Vader returning with more stormtroopers, and quickly ran forward, grabbing the boy's hand and running towards the Rogue Shadow. "Thank you." Galen said to him as they ran. Luke smiled up at him. "Don't thank me yet, General. Thank me when we make it out of here."

Galen smiled. "General… I like the sound of that."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

As the Rogue Shadow blasted away from the Death Star, carrying the future leaders of the Rebellion, Darth Vader turned Emperor Palpatine over gently. "My master?" Vader asked softly. Palpatine coughed up black blood, and murmured to Vader. "Lord….. lord vader… Get me to Byss……immediately." Vader turned to one of the guards. "Get a medical capsule immediately!" The guards rushed to do his bidding. "Yes sir, right away!"

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

On the Rogue Shadow, Bail hugged his son, and smiled at Galen. "With you here, we now have a rallying point. The Rebel alliance will begin. Set course for Kashyyyk" Juno kept looking at the controls, and not revealing her blushing face. As Galen sat down next to her, he leaned in close to her and asked. "Now what was that about not living things down?"

Juno finally smiled and leaned close, kissing him softly on the lips.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Vader stood next to his master's medical capsule as their shuttle flew towards Byss. Palpatine struggled to speak through his breath mask. "He was meant to route out the Rebels.. not lead them. This victory will inspire them."

"But now we know who they are. I will hunt them down and destroy them, as you always intended… master." Vader said softly.

Palpatine coughed hard, and caught his breath finally. "You must be relentless, Lord Vader. If even a single rebel survives, this Rebel Alliance we have unwittingly created…. Will be our undoing."

THE PRESENT

Garm Bel Iblis caught his balance as the Peregrine shook from a hard hit to its shields. "Sir, shields are at 70 percent and dropping rapidly. Orders?" he heard one of his helmsmen say. Garm smiled. "No worries boys. We got some back up on the way."

Just as he spoke, ships of all kinds emerged from hyperspace. Old ships from the Clone Wars, but now completely refurbished. Arc-170s, and Jedi fighters of all types. "Get me the General." Garm said as they new attackers flew in to assault the Tie forces. "Good of you to join us General… thought you were doing Jedi Business at Rancor Base."

On the bridge of the Sword of Light, a Venator Class Star Destroyer, General Galen Marek, leader of the Rebel Alliance, smiled as he answered. "Didn't want you to take all the credit, Garm. Let's clean this place up, and make sure Corellia never falls to the Empire."