Chapter 9
DISCLAIMER: how…
"The main entrance to the control bunker's on the far side of that landing platform." Leia pointed out from behind the log they were covering behind. "Thisisn't gonna be easy."
"Hey, don't worry." Han pompously said. "Chewie and me got into a lot of places more heavily guarded than this."
Kat peered over the log and took a long look at their objective.
"I've encountered more Imps…" she frowned.
Wicket, the Ewok that had found Leia, and Paploo, an Ewok scout, were chattering away in their funny language.
"What's he saying?" asked Leia.
"He says there's a secret entrance on the other side of the ridge." Threepio replied confidently.
Kat nodded and kept gave herself the sight to remain silent.
Han, Leia, Kat, Chewie, the droids, and their two Ewok guides reunited with the Rebel strike squad. The entire group was spread through the thick undergrowth. Ahead of them was the bunker that lead into the generator. Four Imperial scouts, their speeder bikes parked nearby, kept watch over the bunker entrance. Chewie growled an observation, and Paploo chattered away to Han in his own language.
"Back door, huh?" he nodded. "Good idea."
"Sneaky way in." Kat smirked mischievously. "I like that way."
"It's only a few guards." Han continued. "This shouldn't be too much trouble. You'd like this way, kidette."
"Thanks."
Leia was the first to be slightly pessimistic. "Well, it only takes one to sound the alarm."
"Then we'll do it real quiet-like." Han self-confidently smiled at his girlfriend.
Kat gave Leia her most ridiculously big grin and two thumbs up as they turned back towards the bunker.
"Oh! Oh, my. Uh… Princess Leia-!"
Leia quickly placed her hand over Threepio's voice box. "Quiet!" she whispered.
"I'm afraid our furry companion has gone and done something rather rash." Threepio pointed at one of the Ewoks who had instinctively ran off towards the scouts guarding the bunker.
"Oh, no." Leia sighed.
"I'm getting a slightly terrible feeling from the Force…"
"There goes our surprise attack."
The Ewok Paploo had slipped out of the undergrowth near where the Imperial scouts were lounging. He silently swung his furry ball of a body onto one of the scout's speeder bikes and began flipping switches at random. Suddenly, the bike's engine fired up with a tremendous roar. The scouts leapt up in surprise.
Han, Leia, Kat and company watched in distress. Chewie barked his anxiety.
The scouts raced towards Paploo just as his speeder zoomed into motion. Paploo hung on by his paws and shot away into the forest.
"Look! Over there! Stop him!"
Three of the scouts jumped on their speeders and sped away in pursuit. The fourth watched them go as he missed out on the chase.
The leaders of the assault team exchanged delighted looks.
"Not bad for a little furball." Han considered. "There's only one left. You stay here. We'll take care of this."
Han and the Wookiee nodded at each other and slipped down towards the bunker.
"You idiots. Wait!" Kat tumbled down behind them.
Threepio moved to stand next to Wicket and Artoo. "I have decided that we shall stay here."
Han snuck up behind the remaining Imperial scout, tapped him on the shoulder and let the scout chase him behind the bunker into the arms of the waiting Rebel strike team. Kat made her way towards the door, getting a slight tickle from the Force, and made sure both lightsabers were at her hips.
The elevator opened. Vader and Luke entered the Emperor's throne room. Luke walked beside his father up the steps towards him. He could feel his knees beneath him slowly become weaker and weaker.
To hell with being afraid.
Vader bowed to his Master.
"Welcome, young Skywalker." Hearing him speak for the first time made Luke want to cringe. "I have been expecting you."
Luke peered at the hooded figure defiantly. The Emperor then looked down at Luke's binders.
"You no longer need those."
The Emperor motioned ever-so-slightly with his finger and Luke's binders fell away, clattering to the floor. Luke looks down at his own hands. If anything, I'm free to reach out and grab his neck right now. He did nothing.
"Guards, leave us."
The red-cloaked guards turned and disappeared behind the elevator.
The vile Darth Sidious turned back to the young boy. "I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you will call me… Master."
"You're gravely mistaken." Luke's blood pumped quicker. "You won't convert me as you did my father."
Slowly, the old Emperor got down from his throne and walked up very close to the Jedi Knight.
The Emperor looked into his eyes and, for the first time, Luke could perceive the evil visage within the hood. Those yellow eyes… just like…
"Oh, no, my young Jedi. You will find that it is you who are mistaken... about a great. Many. Things." The Emperor smirked.
Vader extended his arm. "His lightsaber."
The Emperor took it gladly.
"Ah, yes, a Jedi's weapon…" he examined it little. "Much like your father's, and Darth Cahira's. By now you must know your father and young Cahira can never be turned from the Dark Side. So will it be with you."
Cahira? "You're wrong." Did I miss something? "Soon I'll be dead... and you with me."
The Emperor only laughed.
"Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet."
That got Luke's attention.
"Yes... I assure you we are quite safe from your friends here."
"Your overconfidence is your weakness."
"Your faith in your friends is yours." The Emperor spat back.
Vader looked at Luke. "It is pointless to resist, my son."
The Emperor sat back upon his throne again. "Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. Your friends up there on the Sanctuary Moon..."
Luke looked up.
"...are walking into a trap. As is your Rebel fleet!" Luke felt the hatred swell off the pale, wrinkly man. It felt like an icicle stabbing you through the heart. "It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them."
The Emperor leaned forward with that horrible smirk and evil gleam in his yellow eyes.
"Oh... I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive." He taunted, before sitting back and letting out that laugh.
That cruel laugh.
Han, Kat, Leia, Chewie, and the Rebel strike team stormed through a door and entered the main control room, taking all of the personnel prisoner.
"All right! Up! Move! Come on! Quickly! Quickly, Chewie, Snowball."
"Han, Kat, hurry. The fleet will be here any moment." Leia warned.
Kat quickly moved to help Han with the charges.
"Charges! Come on, come on!" he urged.
Kat grabbed Han's shoulder. "Quickly… something's happened…"
Before she could say anymore there was a blaster point to her back.
"Freeze!"
Kat sucked her breath in sharply as she turned her head to see the stormtrooper behind her.
"You Rebel scum."
Dozens of Imperial weapons trained on them and their cohorts. Even more pouedr into the room, roughly disarming the Rebel contingent. Han, Leia, Kat and Chewie exchanged looks.
They were helpless.
"Come, boy. See for yourself."
The Emperor was sitting in his throne, with Vader standing at his side. Luke moved to look through a small section of the window to witness the battle going on outside.
"From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance, and the end of your insignificant Rebellion."
How dare he?!
Luke was in torment. He glanced at his lightsaber sitting on the armrest of the throne. He breathed heavily between all his choices.
The Emperor watched him and smiled, touching the lightsaber.
"You want this, don't you?" he taunted. "The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it! Give in to your anger! With each passing moment, you make yourself more my servant."
Anakin watched Luke in his agony.
"No…" Luke breathed out. What Master Yoda taught you… what Master Yoda taught you…
"It is unavoidable." The Emperor challenged. "It is your destiny. You, like your father, are now… mine."
One Imperial was holding Kat's lightsaber's and showing them to his superior. The surrounding area was now crowded with two-legged Imperial walkers and hundreds of Imperial troops.
The situation… appeared… hopeless.
"All right, move it! I said move it! Go on!"
Except then, from the undergrowth beyond the clearing, came a wild series of beeps and whistles.
"Hello! I say, over there! Were you looking for me?!"
"Oh you clever little teddy bears…" Kat grinned.
"Bring those two down here!
"Let's go!"
Artoo and Threepio were standing near one of the big trees. As six Imperial stormtroopers rushed over to take them captive, the two droids ducked out of sight behind the tree.
"Well, they're on their way. Artoo, are you sure this was a good idea?" Threepio continued to remain pessimistic. "I'll say if Seefor were here rather than those wretched ships-"
"Freeze! Don't move!"
Threepio was startled for a moment, but continued with the plan. "We surrender!"
The stormtroopers came around the tree to find the two droids waiting quietly to be taken. As the Imperial troops moved to do that, however, a band of Ewoks dropped down from above and overpowered them.
"Ohhh! Stand back, Artoo!"
In a nearby tree, an Ewok raised a horn to his lips and sounded the Ewok Attack Call. Kat took a few steps back and laughed, stretching out her arms and taking her lightsabers from the bunker commander with the Force and igniting the red and yellow blades. The hood went over her head and the front went over her mouth.
All hell broke loose.
Hundreds of Ewoks threw their fuzzy bodies into the fray against the assembled stormtroopers and their awesome two-legged walkers. Biker scouts darted about blasting Ewoks, only to be crushed by a volley of rocks tossed by Ewoks from the trees above.
Kat sped into the foliage to help her Ewok friends.
In the confusion of the battle, Han and Leia broke away and dove for the cover of the bunker door as explosions erupted around them. Han went to the bunker door control panel.
"The code's changed." Leia concluded. "We need Kat or Artoo!"
"I'M A LITTLE BUSY AT THE MOMENT!" they heard the feminine voice scream at them as Kat chased a stormtrooper past the back bunker door.
Leia rolled her eyes. "We need Artoo!" she told Han.
"Here's the terminal." Han said.
"Artoo, where are you?" Leia spoke into her commlink. "We need you at the bunker right away."
Artoo and Threepio were hiding behind a log as the battle raged around them. Suddenly, the stubby little astromech muttered a series of whistles and shoot off across the battlefield.
"Going? What do you mean, you're going?" Threepio panicked. "But- but going where, Artoo? No, what! Artoo! Oh, this is no time for heroics! Come back!"
Kat glanced around the area where the battle took place. So many… she pondered, sticking out her red lightsaber as a stormtrooper ran past, slicing him in half. There're too many for the Ewoks…
Her eyes went golden as she ran off into battle again. Must help them…
The Emperor, Vader, and a horrified Luke watched the aerial battle out the window of the Throne Room. Another Rebel ship exploded against the protective shield.
The young Jedi Knight was mortified.
"As you can see, my young apprentice, your friends have failed."
Luke felt his body shake with every deep breath he took.
"Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station!"
What?!
The Emperor leaned to the armrest and pressed the commlink.
"Fire at will, Commander."
Luke looked out across the surface of the Death Star to the Rebel fleet beyond, and watched the explosion of one of the main ships in horror.
Artoo and Threepio made it to the door, as Han and Leia provided cover fire. Kat was still fighting in the chaos with the Ewoks and strike team.
"We're coming!" Threepio exclaimed.
"Come on! Come on!" ushered Han.
"Oh, Artoo, hurry!"
The little droid moved to the terminal and plugged in his computer arm. A laser blast hit near Artoo, knocking him back to the other side of the entrance. The stubby astrodroid's head then started spinning and smouldering as his circuits were overpowered. Suddenly there was a loud sproing and Han and Leia turned around in time to see Artoo with all his compartment doors open, and all of his appendages sticking out; oil and smoke spuredt out of the nozzles in his body. Han rushed to the terminal, as Threepio rushed to his wounded companion.
"My goodness! Artoo, why did you have to be so brave? Don't listen to Seefor next time…"
"Well, I suppose I could hotwire this thing." Han shrugged.
"I'll cover you." Leia pulled out her blaster and stood in front of the pirate.
Kat was back in the clearing out the back of the bunker again. She couldn't find Chewie anymore, Han and Leia, along with the droids were busy at the door.
Going around like a silent assassin wasn't going to help the Ewoks quickly. I have to do something… last night with the fire… remember you kept the fire out with the Force…
Extinguish that flame…
She could do this. She power-downed her lightsabers and clipped them both to her belt. She lowered her hood and closed her eyes, clenching her fists in concentration.
Leia was the first to notice. "Han…" she called him.
"Just a little busy at the moment!"
"No Han, it's Kat."
"When isn't it Kat?"
"Han, listen," Leia dodged a laser blast and shot one back, hitting a stormtrooper square in the chest. "she's just standing there. And nobody's noticing her."
"What?" Han left his job and brought out his own blaster, managing to hit a few stormtroopers as he came to his girlfriend's side. "What the hell is she doin'?"
"It's like…" Leia swallowed the lump in her throat. Luke was able to alter the mind of Bib Fortuna…
"It's a Jedi Mind Trick. Like what Luke did at Jabba's Palace. Except not altering the thoughts-"
"Altering sight." Han fired his blaster again at more Imperials.
Leia had her small moment of triumph as she shot three Imperials in a row.
"Leia, is the glowy part a Jedi thing too?"
"What?!"
"She's glowin', Worship."
Leia should've kept paying attention to what she was doing, but almost dropped her blaster at the sight.
Kat was shining like the twin suns of Tatooine.
Leia squinted at the bright light that overtook Kat's image. Eventually she turned in another direction to make use of herself…
… when she realised stormtroopers were falling to the ground like mayflies.
She knew Kat was strong in the Force, but not this strong.
As soon as Han noticed the stormtroopers had stopped dying and the blinding light go out, he turned to see the Jedi Knight had fallen to the ground. And before he knew what he was doing, his blaster was aimed at any surviving Imperials in the area as he ran as fast as he could to Kat.
He skidded to the ground as he approached the girl lying in the foliage. "Kidette?! C'mon, don't do this to me!"
He rolled her onto her back, and saw the whole story written on her face. Tears ran down her cheeks as she crawled to her hands to face her handiwork.
"What have I done?"
Han's heart almost broke as he heard her weak voice.
"C'mere, Snowball." Han wrapped his arms around Kat's shaking body and picked her up, running back towards the bunker.
"Kat?!" Leia saw her broken friend in the arms of Han as he placed her behind Artoo, next to the bunker door. "Han, is she alright?!"
"'Just dandy'." He quoted. "Gotta get the door open then we'll help her."
"Your fleet has lost." The Emperor tortured Luke with his words. "And your friends on the Endor moon will not survive. There is no escape, my young apprentice. The Alliance will die... as will your friends."
Luke was filled with rage from head to toe. He could barely think straight he was so angry.
"Good. I can feel your anger." The Emperor tilted his head back as a small amount of joy lifted to his head. "I am defenceless. Take your weapon; strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the Dark Side will be complete!" he spat.
Luke couldn't resist any longer. His lightsaber flew from the Emperor's side and into his hand. H ignited it in an instant and swung at the Emperor. Vader's lightsaber flashed into action, blocking Luke's blow before it could reach his master. The two blades sparked at contact, and Luke turned to fight his father.
And the Emperor laughed.
That terrible laugh.
Han worked furiously at the control panel; wires sparking as he attempted to slice the door. He motioned to Leia, who was blasting away at some stormtroopers.
"I think I got it..." he grinned. "I got it!"
As soon as he had said that, a second set of blast doors closed shut over the first lot, causing Han to frown and turn back to the wires, and in a few moments he felt a sharp pain hit him on the head.
"Snowball!" He cursed as he turned his focus back to the wires.
"You idiot!" she swatted his hand away and started fiddling with the wires herself. "Connect the red one to the yellow one and flick the back switch there!"
Han squinted into the complex system. "You better know what you're talkin' 'bout, kidette." He followed Kat's instructions, but as soon as he flicked the switch her got a small zap in his fingers.
"Dravvaadas!"
"Hang on!" Kat shoved Han out of the way and attempted to slice through the doors herself.
Leia kept on exchanging shots with stormtroopers in the bushes, then suddenly cried out in pain, stumbling back as her shoulder got hit by a laser blast.
"Oh, Princess Leia, are you all right?" Threepio was the first to her side, and Han and Kat were quick to her side.
"Let's see." Han tried to see the wound.
Leia tried to shoo him off. "It's not bad."
"Freeze!" a stormtrooper came up from behind Kat and Han.
"Krispo ma hosta flutta schutta." Kat cursed.
"Don't swear." Han blandly said.
"Oh, dear."
"Don't move!"
Much to Kat and Han's relief, Leia grabbed hold of her blaster and held it ready.
"I love you." Han grinned.
"I know." Leia smiled back.
"Ugh." Kat banged her head against the blast doors.
"Hands up! Stand up!"
Han and Kat stood up slowly and turned, revealing the blaster in Leia's hand. She disposed of the stormtroopers in a flash. As Han turned back towards Leia, he looked up to see a giant walker approach and stand before him, its deadly weapons aimed right at him.
"Stay back." he told Leia, as Kat unhooked one of her lightsabers, igniting the yellow energy-blade and stood at the ready.
The hatch on top of the walker opened and Chewie stuck his head out and barked triumphantly.
"Chewie!" Han sighed in relief, before hearing a howl of Shyriiwook come from the girl next to him.
"What?" Kat clipped her lightsaber to her belt again. "Four years, Han, I got better."
Han, wide eyed in shock, turned back to his best friend. "Get down here! She's wounded! No, wait..." he turned to Leia. "I got an idea."
"That's new…" Kat frowned.
Luke and Vader were engaged in a man-to-man duel of lightsabers. The advantage shifted to Luke, as Vader's back was facing the steps. The Sith Lord was forced back, losing his balance, and knocked down the stairs. Luke stood at the top of the stairs, ready to attack.
"Good!" The Emperor laughed. "Use your aggressive feelings, boy! Let the hate flow through you!"
Luke looked momentarily towards the Emperor, then back to Vader…
I can't let him win. I shouldn't be doing this…
He stepped back, turned off his lightsaber, and relaxes, not allowing the hate to go further.
"Obi-Wan has taught you well." Anakin said as he stood back up
Luke shook his head slightly. "I will not fight you, father." He croaked out.
Vader, ever so slowly, walked back up the stairs towards the Jedi.
"You are unwise to lower your defences!" his voice grew as he turned to attack,forcing Luke into the defensive. After a few more strikes, the young Jedi found his next advantage and leapt into a control panel, then jumping into the air, flipping mid-air and landing on a catwalk overhead.
"Your thoughts betray you, father. I feel the good in you... a conflict." He said to Vader who stood below him.
"There is no conflict." The stubborn Darth Vader held up his red blade in front of him.
"You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe you'll destroy menow." Luke strode along the catwalk.
"You underestimate the power of the Dark Side." Vader taught his son. "If you will not fight, then you will meetyour destiny."
Vader threw the laser sword like a boomerang and it cut through the supports holding the catwalk, then returning to Vader's hand. Luke tumbled to the ground in a shower of sparks and rolled out of sight under the Emperor's platform. Vader moved to find him.
"Good…" the Emperor laughed again. "Good…"
"This better work." Kat grumbled to the smuggler.
"Don't worry, Snowball. Don't worry." Han ushered her behind the bushes. "'Improvisation'."
Kat patted him on the head. "Aww, you're learning!"
"Shush!" Leia frowned at her boyfriend and bestfriend.
As the door to the bunker opened and the Imperial troops rushed out, they were surprised to find themselves surrounded by Rebels, their weapons pointed at them, and one Jedi emerging from the bushes and igniting their two lightsabers. Ewoks holding bows and arrows appeared on the roof of the bunker. The Imperial troops threw down their guns as Han and Chewie rushed inside the bunker with explosive charges.
Han, Chewie, Leia, Kat and several troops rushed into the control room and planted the explosive charges on the control panels.
"Throw me another charge." Han gestured, and Kat chucked one of the deadly electronic bombs at him.
Vader stalked through the low-ceilinged area on the level below the throne, searching for Luke in the semi-darkness, his lightsaber held ready.
"You cannot hide forever, Luke."
"I will not fight you."
"Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends…"
Luke tried his hardest not to think of the people on the moon below.
"Yes, yourthoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for..."
Vader stopped and sensed something. Luke shut his eyes tightly in anguish.
"Lover."
No, no, no… not her…
"You have a significant other… How interesting she be Darth Cahira."
What? Luke clenched his fists at the very thought of her.
"She lies, you know. Her failure will soon be complete. She was wise to lie to you…"
Kat felt it like a frypan to her face.
She crouched down, gripping her hair and pulling it in frustration.
"Kat?" Leia eyed her.
"Dammit to the Dark!" she stood back up and kicked at the wall. "He knows, dammit!"
"Who knows?"
"Luke knows!" Kat grabbed Leia's shoulders, sending the Princess' eyes wide. "He knows I lied!"
Leia got the gist of things, though she was still uncertain what happened. "Why lie?"
"To save his ass, goddamn!" Kat shook Leia's shoulders. "His faith for me is restoring. Force knows what happens now!"
"You should know by now that she is already one of us," Vader continued to torment Luke. "Nadae's girl has always been a Dark Lord of the Sith."
Luke rubbed his face in his palm. Of course she lied. he mentally slapped himself. Of course Kat lied.
But she'd have to explain the 'Darth Cahira' part.
"Yes… your feelings betray her. Obi-Wan was clever to hide other half of her real name. But there is another. Especially for… sister."
Damn it. Not Leia! Never, never, never Leia!
"So... you have a twin sister… Your feelings have now betrayed her, too."
You will not get to Leia.
"Obi-Wan was wise to hide her from me. Now his failure is complete. If you will not turn to the Dark Side, then perhaps she will.
That pushed all of Luke's buttons.
"Never!"
His word ended up as a war-cry as he ignited his lightsaber, screaming in anger.
Kat fell to her knees.
This time, both Han and Leia came to her side.
"Snowball?" Han panicked as Kat placed a hand to her heart and grabbed onto his shoulder.
"The Force?" Leia seemed to understand.
Kat could only nod, knowing how her plan had ultimately failed.
"He's angry." She simply stated, then looked into Leia's eyes. "He shouldn't be angry."
Luke hated the man in front of him.
He hated that he knew about Kat. He hated that he threatened to use Leia. He hated him. He hated him. He hated him.
He pounded his lightsaber at his father with a frenzy. Sparks flew as Luke and Vader's swords clashed. Luke's hatred forcd Vader to retreat out of the low area and across a bridge overlooking a vast elevator shaft.
Each stroke of Luke's sword drove his father further towards defeat.
Eventually the Dark Lord was knocked to his knees, and raised his sword to block another onslaught from his son.
Luke pounded and pounded his lightsaber into Vader's, until he lost complete and utter control, sending Vader's right hand off at the wrist, causing metal and electronic parts to fly from the mechanical stump.
Luke moved over Vader and held the blade of his sword to the Dark Lord's throat.
The Emperor watched on with uncontrollable, pleased agitation.
"Good!" he approached the pair. "Your hate has made you powerful." He smiled at Luke. "Now, fulfil your destiny and take your father's place at my side."
Luke almost cringed at the voice.
Luke looked at the stump where his father's right hand should've been, then to his own mechanical, black-gloved hand.
I refuse to turn into someone like Vader.
And Kat sighed in relief as they started to run for the exit.
11111111111111111111111111111
Luke stepped back and hurled his lightsaber away.
"Never." He breathed out and faced the Emperor. "I'll never turn to the Dark Side." He took two bold steps forward and straightened his back. "You've failed, Your Highness. I am a Jedi,like my father before me."
Though Luke didn't have to be a Jedi to be able to see the rage fire from within the Emperor.
"So be it... Jedi."
Han, Kat, Leia and several of the fighters ran out of the bunker and raced across the clearing.
"Move! Move!" Han waved his hands around like a madman.
Ducking behind a log for safety, Kat grabbed Han and Leia's hands as she watched in anticipation. Not just for the explosion, but by what was happening up above as well.
A shock wave knocked them flat as the bunker exploded, followed by a spectacular display as the huge shield-generator radar dish exploded.
Luke stood still as the Emperor reached the bottom of the stairs. He raised his arms towards Luke.
"If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed!"
Bolts of energy, evil lightning, shot from the Emperor'shands at Luke. In his surprise, the young Jedi fell to the railings next to him, with his knees buckling. The wounded Vader struggled to his feet, and moved to stand at his master's side.
In between Han and Leia, came Kat's fourth act of pain. Crippling to the ground, she shrieked in pain and grabbed for her neck.
"Young fool... only now, at the end, do you understand."
Luke was almost unconscious beneath the continuing assault of the Emperor's Force lightning. He clutched a canister to keep from falling into the bottomless shaft as the bolts tear through him, groaning in agony.
"Kat?! Again?!" Han tried to keep her still.
"Anakin!" she yelled. "Anakin help him!"
"Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the Dark Side."
Luke felt the pain stab through him again as he writhed onto the floor in unbearable pain.
"You have paid the price for your lack of vision."
"Anakin! Help him! He's your son!"
Luke reached weakly up towards where Vader stood watching.
"Father, please…" he groaned. He had had visions of this… "Help me."
"Anakin, snap out of it-"
"-And help him!" Kat kept gripping to her neck.
"It's where Jabba kept the shock collar on her." Leia noticed. "It's still hurting her, somehow."
By now, even the Ewoks had surrounded the scene and were mortified that their Goddess was in pain.
Again Vader stood, watching Luke. He looked at his master, the Emperor, then back to Luke, his son, on the floor.
"Now, young Skywalker... you will die." The Emperor concluded.
"Anakin, please! It's time to stop breaking her heart!"
The Emperor continued to torture Luke, the sound screaming was heard through the room. Luke's body writhed in pain.
"Anakin! Come home!" Kat writhed on the ground and grabbed Han's shirt.
"I don't know what to do…" Han worried. "I don't get what's happening!"
Leia held Kat's hand, and Kat squeezed it so hard that Leia thought her bones would pop.
Anakin snapped back to reality, and stared at his withering son in pain on the floor.
No.
Anakin grabbed the Emperor from behind. Though with a weakened body and gravely amputated hand, the Emperor struggled in his embrace, his bolt-shooting hands now lifting high, away from Luke and surging though Anakin
Anakin held his evil master high over his head and walked to the edge of the abyss at the central core of the throne room. With one final burst of his once awesome strength, Anakin Skywalker hurled the Emperor's body into the bottomless shaft. Finally, when the body was far down the shaft, it explodes, creating a rush of air through the room.
Anakin had collapsed next to the bottomless shaft. Luke crawled to his father's side and pulled him away from the edge of the abyss to safety. They both felt too weak to move as Luke held his father to his chest.
Luke had finally succeeded.
Kat panted heavily as the final stroke of pain drifted away from her body, and a containment from within her mind had dissolved into nothingness.
She sat back up abruptly, with everyone looking at her with great confusion. Turning her head to Leia, she cocked one eyebrow at the Princess.
"Who the hell is Anakin?"
In the midst of this uproar and chaos during the final moments of the Death Star, Luke was trying to carry the enormous deadweight of his father's weakening cyborg body towards an Imperial shuttle.
Finally, Luke collapsed from the strain. The explosions grow louder as Anakin drew him closer.
"Luke… help me take… this mask off.
Luke frowned. "But you'll die."
"Nothing… can stop that now. Just for once... let me look on you with my own eyes." Anakin struggled to say.
Slowly, hesitantly, Luke removed the mask from his father's face. There beneath the scars wass an elderly man. His eyes couldn't focus, and his skin pale underneath the aging scars.
But Anakin smiled at the handsome sight before him.
"Now... go, my son." He spoke for the first time without his mechanical voice. it was strange, yet so warming to Luke. "Leave me…"
"No." Luke was stubborn. "You're coming with me. I can't leave you here. I've got to save you.
"You already have, Luke."
And the warrior stared down at his father and started to cry.
"You were right." He whispered. "You were right about me. Tell your sister… tell your lover… you were right."
And with one final smile at his son, Anakin Skywalker breathed out his last breath, and became no more.
"Father..." Luke stuttered. "I won't leave you…" his voice started to break.
Luke looked up, a single tear rolled down his cheek, and he felt sick.
He continued helping his dead father onto the shuttle.
Han and Leia looked to the sky as the Death Star revealed itself in a final flash of self-destruction. Kat was huddled by Ewoks as they thanked their Goddess for all she had done. They all cheered.
Han looked down from the sky to Leia, a look of concern on spread across his face. Leia continued to look at the sky, as though listening for a silent voice.
"I'm sure Luke wasn't on that thing when it blew." Said Han.
"He wasn't." Leia concluded. "I can feel it."
Han felt the envy. "You love him, don't you?"
Leia smiled, puzzled at Han's words.
"Yes." She said like it was the most obvious thing.
"All right. I understand." He misunderstood. "Fine. When he comes back, I won't get in the way."
She realized his misunderstanding and laughed.
"Oh. No, it's not like that at all." She leaned forward and held his arm. "He's my brother."
Han was stunned by this news. Leia smiled and leaned forward for a kiss.
Kat, in the background, smiled at the Ewoks as they continued hugging her with their fuzzy little arms, making sure she was ok.
5655 WORD MEGA EXTRAVAGANZA. IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO WRITE.
And only one more chapter and an epilogue left. Famous Last Words Trilogy is almost complete! I never thought I'd get passedchapter 6 of Young Blood!
I think I need a nap after writing this.
- yoda-is-cool