Chapter 8

Hi,

It's been a while since my last update (I feel bad for leaving you like that), nut here come chapter 8.

Enjoy!

Chapter 8

If the first discovery of the fact that Luke had a twin was huge, it was nothing compared to the shock of finding out who the twin was. All eyes had now turned to Han, who – for the first time for as long as he could remember – was looking like he was in shock. He himself was starring wide eyed at Luke; who in turn was looking guilty at the ground.

When Palpatine had told them the identity of the twin Han had stopped breathing for a few seconds; and only one word had echoed through his mind. What!

When he felt Leia squeeze his shoulder he finally let out a long shacking breath; at the same time millions of question entered his mind.

Why hadn't Luke told him? Was he ashamed of it or something? For the first time since childhood Han was unsure of himself.

Or was the Emperor simply lying? But by the way Luke had reacted – to what had revealed – it must be true.

But how had he not known? He had of course always been close to Luke, ever since the destruction of the first Death Star. He had actually constantly seen Luke as the brother he never had. And now they were not only brothers by friendship; but also by blood. As much as he felt shocked he couldn't help but feel happy too. He had a blood relative – a twin no less. That fact warmed his heart more then anything else.

He now started to feel less tense; and started to become aware of his surroundings. But when he saw that everyone was starring at him he started to become tense again. Under normal circumstances he would fell uneasy for being in the center of attention; however this time he felt like they were intruding something private, and he didn't like that one bit.

He tried to shake of the feeling of apprehension by concentrating on the Emperor instead.

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The Emperor was once again pleased from the reactions he got from his revelation. To see the surprise in their eyes – and the look of defeat and guilt in Skywalker's – was enough to delight him. Everything was going exactly how he wanted. After a while he noticed that the first shock had settled down and he decided that it was time to address the others again.

"Oh yes; Han Solo and Luke Skywalker are brothers. Young Skywalker must have thought it was a bad thing, for keeping it a secret. How long have you known, I wonder? For days, weeks, months? Did you feel that they didn't deserve or need to know the truth? Not even Captain Solo."

After he had finished his short speech he felt a tremble in the Force coming from his right side. He looked even though he already knew who it was he had felt. What met his eyes was the form of his apprentice; who was still leaning up against the wall. He smiled to himself; it had been a long time since he had seen his apprentice look this much shaken up.

"Something wrong, Lord Vader? Are you not happy that you have another son? Just 4 years ago you didn't know about any one of them; and now you have both of them in your grasp. It must feel so good for you."

Vader didn't answer; because he knew that the Emperor was simply toying with him. But he was also in such a state of shock – which hadn't been in since he had found out about Luke – that he couldn't get a word out of his mouth.

He had another son. Han Solo was his son. How had he not felt it? He had of course only had a few confrontations with Captain Solo; but in neither of them had he felt a relation to him. But he had also not felt related to Luke the first time he had felt his Force signature onboard the first Death Star; so maybe it wasn't so surprising that he had not know that Han was his son.

Now that he knew he could see the resemblances between himself as young and his newfound son. They were both headstrong and weren't afraid to say what was on their minds.

If I would have a verbal fight with Han we would probably be equally matched. Vader chuckled to himself.

But he had to leave these thoughts to later. He now had to refocus his thoughts on what was going on now.

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When his apprentice didn't answer Palpatine turned his attention back to Luke.

"So, you have been keeping secrets from your friends. I ask you again; how long have you known?"

Luke answer directly, defending himself; but more towards his friends then the Emperor.¨

"I have only known for a few days; Ben…Obi-wan told me the truth. I was going to tell when I had time." Luke now changed into a voice that sounded more like his brother's, then his own.

"But as you know I have not had the time to tell anyone. And whose fault is that? Oh, that would be yours."

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Skywalker. It might suit your brother and maybe your father 25 years ago, but not you. Are you trying to act like a real arrogant Skywalker; trying to fit into the family?"

The Emperor was trying to get to Luke; he still wanted to turn him after all. And each time Skywalker feels more anger or guilt, the Dark Side will take one more part of his soul. In due time he would turn, and he would have a new and powerful apprentice.

Luke was about to answer, but someone beat him to it.

"Don't you dare talk to my brother like that!"

Everyone turned towards Han; who was now standing up, looking furious. And that was also what he was.

"Luke might have lied to me, but he's still my brother and I will not let you speak of him or my family like that! I'm not afraid of you, old man."

By now everyone was stunned; both because of Han's words and also because of the fact that he had yelled at the most powerful man in the universe.

The Emperor was surprised by the attack from Solo; but he masked it well.

"It's a shame you aren't as strong in the Force as your brother. With that anger you would have made a fine Sith. But you're not powerful enough to be a servant of the Dark Side; even with the Force."

Now it was Luke's time to cut his brother of.

"You're wrong, your highness. Han might not be as attuned in the Force as I; but he still is one of the most brave, cunning and powerful non-force users I have ever met. He beats both you and me in everything except in the use of the Force. But if he was as trained as me in the Jedi ways he would be a very big threat to you; even more then he is now."

That made Han calm down. He was both surprised and glad that Luke had said all those things about him. And Han could see in Luke's eyes that he meant it; and that made Han feel better then before. Luke was proud of having him as a brother, as much as Han himself was proud of having Luke as a brother.

Han's eyes meet Luke's and they came to a silent understanding. They would stay together on this, no matter what was coming for them. Because they are brothers – in blood and soul – and they would fight side by side until the end.

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Vader had by now refocused on what was happing around him. He was watching his two sons – it was still hard for him to think of them as that – have a silent conversation. Even if he couldn't read their thoughts he knew what they were silently saying to one another; he was connected to them.

He was their father after all, and fathers and sons always had a connection that could not be broken. He only had not know about the link he had with Han; but now when he knew he felt it so much that he wondered how he hadn't felt it before.

He could see the determination in their eyes; and in that moment Vader understood something. Luke would never turn now that the last secret was out; the Emperor had made a terrible mistake in reviling it.

Together Luke and Han were strong enough to resist the pull of the Dark Side; they would never break with the bond they now shared. The only question that was now lingering on Vader's mind was what he himself would do.

Was he strong enough to stand up against his master, or was he simply going to let Palpatine destroy his last blood relatives? They were also his last link to his angle, Padmé.

It suddenly struck him how easy the decision was to make. He took a deep breath and started to push himself of the wall

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After a long silence that followed Luke's words Palpatine decided to speak again.

"I see that your weakness is you faith in your friends and family. I have told you this before, yet you haven't done anything about it. Perhaps you're not as clever as I thought you would be. You must face the inevitable; you're compassion for your friends will be your downfall. Why draw out on it? Pledge yourself to me. If you don't I will be forced to use other methods."

But Luke would fall for it.

"You must be beginning to become senile; because only a few minutes ago I told you my choice on this matter. I will not turn."

"So, you choose to let your friends suffer."

Before Luke could react, Han once again found himself on the floor, trembling with pain from the lightning attack the Emperor was producing. The first attack had been painful, but it was nothing compared to the one that was thrown at him now. Every cell in his was in fire. Han heard a familiar scream; and realized soon that it was coming from himself. He was in pure agony.

As Luke watch Han fall to the floor in agony it took all his self-control not to attack the Emperor. But even if he had wanted to do it he wouldn't have had a chance, for someone would have beaten him to it.

Luke eyes looked up as the familiar sound of lightsaber being turned on caught his ears. And a second later the lightning that the Emperor had created seized. He looked to his right as a blade was pressed against his neck.

There was none other then his apprentice standing, with his lightsaber drawn and pointed against him. He was about to speak, but Vader interrupted him.

"You will not hurt my sons anymore. Touch them again and you will have me to deal with."

This angered Palpatine.

"Your dare defy me!

"You are mine; you serve me and not you and you will stand down now!"

But Vader was to determine to back down.

"I will not stand sown, master. Your days as Emperor are over; I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago."

"Lord Vader, you will deactivate your lightsaber now or you will be punished for disobeying me."

"I don't answer to that name anymore. You may address me as Anakin Skywalker; that is my true and only name."

With that said Vader was finished speaking, and brought his lightsaber up to deliver the killing blow.

But before he could deliver it the Emperor made a movement, so fast that no one had time to react. He ducked away and brought up his own saber – that he had secretly hidden in his robes – and blocked Vader's blow.

This was a shock to Vader and it made him unsure of what to do, and he hesitated. That hesitation worked to Palpatine's advantage, and he brought his saber hard upon his apprentice.

Luke watched in horror as his father fell to the ground, with a lightsaber wound in his chest.

TBC

Cliffhanger!

I know that the language is bad at some points, but you will have to remember that I'm from Sweden and do not normally write in English. I'm doing my best.

Please review and tell me what you think.