I'm not usually big on the significance of the last word of a story, but I am going to try very hard to make the last word of this one either Jedi, or Sith, as you can tell this story is coming to an end. Sorry… no trilogy this time.
Chapter 16: The Last Battle
Tensions ran thick on the bridge of the Executor. Not to say they had never been that way before, in fact tension was always at a high on the ship because of its commander, Darth Vader, but today it was different. Three people, who had not set foot on the bridge ever before stood near the open archway that led out of the quiet command center, Anakin, Leia, and Mace Windu. It was obvious the reason for their presence, to prevent any sort of betrayal on Obi-Wan's part, it was also obvious as to the reason Anakin and Leia were there, painfully obvious, they had the most reason to be angry with him and they made no effort to hide that fact as they watched him pace up and down the bridge. Siri and Mara stood in a corner conversing quietly and Raz was off on her own, leaning against the gray durasteel wall, arms crossed and thinking about all her past misdeeds, just like the former Sith Lord who was constantly receiving spiteful looks from the three Jedi near the door and nervous glances from the officers in the crew pit.
Their purpose for being there was that the plans to attack Coruscant and Carida were formed, and now the fleet was being organized, the giant superstar destroyer at the helm of the formation. All that remained was the order for group one to depart to Coruscant, and group two for Carida.
As Obi-Wan approached the triangular view ports for about the thousandth time today a ripple in space, coming up on the left side of the fleet's flank caught his attention. The three guarding Jedi noticed it as well and ran to get a better look next to Obi-Wan. A massive fleet of Imperial Star destroyers shot out of space near the very left of the flank where Captain Tarkin's Mon Calamari Cruiser was stationed along with a Nebulon-B frigate and a several other Mon Calamari Cruisers. Anakin narrowed his eyes as the rest of the fleet exited hyperspace and realization suddenly dawned on him. In a flash of movement he activated his cerulean lightsaber and Obi-Wan found he had his old apprentice's blade at his neck, Mace and Leia in turn activated their own amethyst blades and angled them at Obi-Wan's face, he looked to them, as did every other person in the bridge, Siri and Mara activated their own weapons and Raz slowly drew her vibro sais.
"What the hell is going on?" Anakin cried. "Why is that fleet here?!"
"I did not call anyone if that is what you're thinking!" Obi-Wan retorted. "I have no idea why they are here."
"One good reason, give me one good reason why we should believe you?!" Leia snapped.
"Because I am telling to truth!" Obi-Wan retaliated.
"Maybe I should just kill you now, my old master, and end it." Anakin suggested coldly.
"Anakin!" Mace warned. "If you kill him you'll be no better than he is, or the Emperor."
At those words Piett strode up to them rather abruptly, a highly concerned look crossed his face as Mace Windu angled his weapon at the admiral's chest.
"Lord Vader…"
"Lord Kenobi, Admiral." Obi-Wan corrected quickly.
"Yes, Lord Kenobi, there is an incoming transmission from one of the star destroyers!"
"You!" Anakin cried, moving his lightsaber so close to Obi-Wan's neck that it nearly singed his gruff beard. "Why are they contacting you?!"
"I don't know!" Obi-Wan shouted. "Why don't we find out? Piett, patch the transmission through!"
"Belay that order!" Leia barked. "First Vader, tell us why they are here, think real hard now… maybe I'll ease your passing with a swift stab through the heart!"
"I don't know!" Obi-Wan snapped as Siri and Mara took a step forward and Raz grabbed the blades of her sais, holding them in throwing position. The officers in the crew pit looked from Obi-Wan, to the three Jedi, and then at one another, confused as to what to do. "Piett, patch in the transmission!"
Piett who was growing very pale nodded to one of the officers and a hologram materialized on the bridge over the crew pits. Everyone turned to look at the cloaked figure standing there, smiling widely, Anakin shoved Obi-Wan in front of the Emperor's image, his lightsaber at the apparent Sith Lord's back. Siri and Mara took another step forward, ready to leap into action should Anakin try something, Raz pulled her arm back slightly, ready to let her weapons fly.
"Hello my apprentice." Sidious greeted. "I thought I would give you the professional courtesy of alerting you that you are about to die."
"Damn straight he is." Leia muttered under her breath.
"You never should have betrayed me and turned to the Rebel Alliance my friend. That is the last mistake you'll ever make."
"You!" Obi-Wan cried. "You tried to have my wife executed! I will kill you!"
At this the Emperor chuckled, once again realization dawned on Anakin. Obi-Wan had betrayed the Emperor, not the rebels. As much as he wanted vengeance for all that Obi-Wan did he knew he could not take it, he was a Jedi, he could not stoop to that level, and even if he could take vengeance, even if he was not a Jedi and bound to nothing but his own code… he knew he could not do it because it was wrong. He deactivated his weapon, Leia and Mace did the same, coming to the same realization he had. Siri and Mara followed suit and Raz sheathed her sais.
"Goodbye my foolish apprentice." Sidious growled. "For the last time."
The hologram disappeared in a flash of light and everyone turned to glance out the viewports as the Emperor's overwhelmingly large fleet opened fire.
"Charge up the port turbo laser batteries Admiral Piett!" Obi-Wan ordered. "Anakin, Mace, Leia, you should probably get on line with the rest of the fleet. Open fire!"
Anakin's eyes narrowed slightly, he did not like receiving orders from Obi-Wan, but he had to get a defense mounted now.
XxX
Dauntless, Bridge
"What is going on?" Tarkin asked in confusion, to no one in particular. Yoda's eyes narrowed as he watched the lead ship of the Imperial fleet heading towards them, preparing to go broadside with the Dauntless and the rest of the enemy fleet opening fire.
"The Emperor I sense." Yoda stated grimly. "Learned of Obi-Wan's betrayal he has."
Tarkin looked at the small Jedi master and then to the lead ship coming towards them.
"Prepare to broadside!" Tarkin shouted. "All gunners to their stations! Open fire!"
XxX
Chimaera, Bridge
The Emperor and his new apprentice Lumiya watched as their ship turned to go broadside with an enemy ship. Thousands of TIE fighters began to swarm in space, very few of the enemy's fighters had launched, they had caught them off balance. The Emperor smiled, he sensed Yoda on that ship as well as the traitorous Tarkin, an excellent way to warm up the turbo laser batteries, but the real prize was the enormous super star destroyer in the distance which had just unleashed a volley of fire toward his fleet. Slowly the rest were doing the same.
"Captain Pellaeon." Grand Admiral Thrawn addressed behind them.
"Yes Grand Admiral?" Pellaeon asked.
"Instruct the gunners to fire the ion cannons only, concentrate on taking out their weapons, then fire the proton torpedo launchers and destroy their shield generator, after that we will have them." Thrawn instructed.
"Very well," Pellaeon acknowledged and relayed the orders to the gunners.
Thrawn turned to face the Emperor and Lumiya,
"I've studied Tarkin; he keeps no artwork which suggests that he has no taste. That type of person would use only his own tactics, the ones he created. I know of Tarkin's strategies, I've used some of them myself before. I also know the way to counter it."
"Very well Grand Admiral Thrawn," The Emperor said. "Carry on. I want that ship destroyed."
Then Tarkin and Yoda would die, he would eliminate two great threats at the same time. Smiling at his own plan he turned to face his new apprentice.
"I trust you know what you must do?" Sidious asked.
"Yes, I'll take the explosives you issued me and attach them near the main reactor of the Executor." Lumiya acknowledged.
"I know you can complete this task my apprentice. When you are finished return here, we will discuss what do next, it is likely that Kenobi and the rest of his Jedi comrades will not be aboard the ship when it explodes. They will come for me; I want you here when that happens. Together we will kill them all."
"Will do, master."
"Excellent, commence operations."
XxX
Executor, Bridge
Space began to erupt with exchanging fire, whether it be the huge blasts created by the capitol ships, or the tiny streaks of laser emanating from the gnat-like star fighters swerving around in dog fights, there was no question, they were outnumbered. Even with this super star destroyer they would not win, unless the enemy was robbed of its commander, thankfully not one person had a problem with murdering the Emperor or any of his associates.
"That's it, I'm going out there." Obi-Wan stated
"As you wish milord," Piett said. "I am capable of commanding this ship."
"I know you are Admiral, I trust you will do well in my stead."
"Whoa, hold on a minute Obi-Wan." Anakin said. "You're not going out alone; you'll be killed in the first few minutes without cover."
"I'm completely capable of protecting myself without your help Anakin." Obi-Wan retorted, even though everyone had realized they were on the same side tensions were still at an all time high.
"The fact is I don't trust you enough to let you near the Emperor alone. I am going with you."
"Fine, I've ordered ten X1 type TIE fighters, they're expensive to mass produce but are good ships now that I've had the kinks worked out in their targeting systems. You can fly one of those, try not to wreck it. Anyone else feel the need to accompany me?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'm coming father." Mara said.
"So am I." Siri added.
"I'm not going to be left out of this." Raz stated. "I need to repay my debt."
"Thank you Raz," Siri said. "That is more than a good start."
"I don't trust you people." Mace said. "Anakin is not going in without me."
"Or me." Leia said.
"Actually I am, Leia." Anakin stated with finality and a resolution that would not be broken. "You just had your arm cut off, you're staying here."
"But—"
"Don't argue with me." Anakin said icily. "You are staying."
"I'll contact Luke," Mace said. "We need all the help we can possibly get."
"Fine, let's just move!" Obi-Wan snapped.
XxX
Space over Yavin IV, Near the Executor
They were out now; Lumiya could sense it and her thoughts were confirmed as she saw several odd looking TIE craft drop down from the hangers of the colossal Executor. She watched as they zoomed past her, not even bothering to make one less enemy for themselves, it would have been an excellent idea to shoot down the modified TIE interceptor that was speeding toward the Executor's hanger bays now. Lumiya liked the ship she had at her controls, it was not the standard interceptor you would see, it was modified with a slight bit of armor, as well as proton torpedoes and a life support system, standard TIE craft did not have life support systems, they would just weigh it down and the Empire had an obsession with obtaining superior fighters, because of all the systems taken from the TIE crafts they had become the most maneuverable star fighters in the galaxy, at least in Lumiya's experience.
She glanced at her radar screen; an X-Wing was on her tale. She shook her head, irritated, this would cost her time but with the capabilities of this modified, nimble, and lightning fast interceptor at her disposal she could probably take the enemy out in less than twenty seconds. To prove this to herself she banked up sharply, and shot forward, she then pulled up again, hard, but because she was flying upside down she dived behind her enemy and before the ill-fated pilot even knew what hit him his X-Wing exploded into a cloud of superheated gasses. Lumiya cranked up the interceptor to full throttle and sped towards the Executor's hangers. She landed easily in a practically deserted one, taking note that it was hanger D-047.
As her ship touched down, the new Lady of the Sith noticed several fully suited TIE fighter pilots running into the hanger bay, they were headed towards the latter to her far left side which led up to the suspended TIE fighters, ready to be launched. As soon as they saw the strange, unauthorized craft in their assigned hanger however, they drew their standard grade blaster pistols and approached it slowly.
Lumiya waited until they were practically three feet away from the ship, in one quick movement she opened her top hatch and leapt out into the hanger while activating a blood red lightsaber in mid air. The pilots never got a chance to shoot; she landed behind them, spun and slashed with inhuman speed. Two heads fell to the floor, and two bodies with them. The remaining pilot extended his pistol to take a shot, however he found that he no longer had a hand and then he died as a blood red lightsaber incinerated his heart. Lumiya shook her head at the pathetic fools and then quickly sprinted out of the hanger, now all she had to do was get to the main reactor and plant the bombs strapped to her belt.
XxX
Dauntless, Bridge
The entire cruiser jolted violently as several turbo laser blasts drilled into its hull and took out some important system. Yoda was able to keep his balance on the bridge due to the aid of the Force but everyone else either toppled over or nearly lost their balance. The Chimaera was battering their hull like a blood thirsty wampa, most of their turbo lasers were destroyed on the starboard side, they'd have to turn to face it port side, but for now they were defenseless. Yoda's ears drooped, there was little hope that they would survive, he would have to take an escape pod and soon.
Tarkin, after regaining his balance shouted orders madly.
"Hard to port! We need to turn around now!"
"We can't sir!" an alarmed officer cried from the crew pits. "Our engines are blow out! They're going for are shield generators!"
"Transfer as much available power as you can to the shield generator's area!"
"I can't sir, no shields are operating over forty percent, I'd have to transfer every deflector shield we have, then we might as well just let them destroy the generators and get on with it!"
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" an officer next to him cried. "You cant talk to the captain that way!"
"Who are you to—"
"Silence!" Yoda barked. "Abandon ship we must."
"Sir!" an officer cried. "All shield are operating at zero percent, they've blow a hole in the hull near the main reactor!"
Tarkin glanced out at his ship with wide eyes. "Abandon your posts! Abandon ship!"
No officer had to be told twice, they all scrambled for the exit. Yoda turned to follow them, calling on the Force to aid his walk. Without warning the ship jolted once more, very violently. An officer who happened to be next to a monitor cried out the problem.
"They've hit a fuel cell! There's a fire on the maintenance deck, near the main reactor!"
"Forget about it." Tarkin ordered. "Leave."
The officer nodded and promptly fled the bridge. Yoda and Tarkin were the only two left, the small Jedi master was near the door, Tarkin ran to catch up to him but was surprised when the wise little man stopped in his tracks.
"Master Yoda, we must leave!"
"Too late it is Captain." Yoda said sadly. "Glad to work with you… I was."
"This cant be! We must escape!"
"Stand Tarkin, an honorable captain you must be… go down with your ship."
"I can't, if you have a death wish then fine. I am leaving." Tarkin snapped. He took off out of the bridge and toward the escape pod bay. Yoda sighed as the man went out of sight; he looked back into the bridge and at the flashing screens in the crew pit. The fire was practically right next to the main reactor and in a few seconds the ship would be nothing but a smoldering hunk of metal. Yoda watched grimly as the screens went berserk, all power went out and red emergency lights came online. The little Jedi master gazed out in space for the last time.
"Failed I have," he mumbled to himself. "But begun… the fall has."
Everything flashed crimson and the wisest of Jedi went to join the Force.
XxX
Chimaera, Bridge
The Emperor fell into a cackling fit as the Mon Calamari Cruiser to their port side exploded into a bright cloud of superheated gas. He felt the lives of the crew be wiped away from the universe, and he felt the life of Yoda fade into the Force. He ended his insane cackling spell and turned to face Thrawn.
"You have done well." Sidious praised.
"Thank you sir," Thrawn replied. "However I should inform you that several TIE craft have landed in our hangers and another Mon Calamari Cruiser as well as two Nebulon-B frigates are coming in on our port side."
"Very well, take them out however you see fit, and ensure that the intruders are stopped." The Emperor ordered, although he knew that these uninvited victors would certainly make it to the bridge, they were all very powerful, and they were here to destroy him. However he decided he should at least hinder their progress until Lumiya came to his aid, as powerful as he was Sidious did not know if he could handle all of the intruders single handedly. He needed his apprentice. As Thrawn instructed that the gunners on port open fire Sidious pulled out his comlink.
"Report my apprentice." Sidious commanded as the communication went online.
"I'm at the Executor's main reactor." Lumiya reported back. "I've planted all of the bombs, I'm about to leave, at the moment I'm on a catwalk near the main reactor and…"
"Can you hear me my apprentice?"
"Yeah, sorry master I must go… there's a woman here with a lightsaber, she's just begging for me to kill her I think."
"Take care of it and report back to the Chimaera at once. The Jedi have landed, Vader is with them."
"Of course master. I have to go… hmm this woman has a mechanical arm… how interesting…"
Hmm… interesting how long this chapter is. Oh and yes Yoda is dead, weren't expecting that one were you, and now I leave you with a cliff hanger, Lumiya about to battle… oh you know who it is.