Chapter Nineteen

Facing The Emperor

Luke and Darth Vader approached the throne room where there was a chair in the middle or the room that swivelled around to face Luke. There sat the hooded figure of the Emperor. Luke got his first good look at the Emperor. He looked like he had bathed in acid. The Emperor radiated darkness completely through. There wasn't the light that was present in Vader and Anakin.

"Welcome young Skywalker, I have been expecting you." Anakin started to speak but soon realized that he was addressing his son. He exchanged glances with Obi-Wan as they kept to the shadows and listened to the force waiting for the oportune moment to enter the battle that would ensue. "You will no longer need those," Emperor Palpatine said using the force to release Luke from his binders. "Guards, leave us," he said leaving Luke alone with the Emperor and Lord Vader, and unbeknownst to them Anakin and Obi-Wan. "I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time you will call me Master."

"You are gravely mistaken, your highness. You will not convert me as you did my father."

"Where is the Elder Skywalker?" Darth Vader asked his son.

"Oh no, my dear friend. It is you that are mistaken about a great many things.'

"His lightsaber, Master."

"A Jedi's weapon, much like your father's. By now you must know that your father can never be turned from the dark side, so will it be with you."

"You are wrong," Anakin said stepping out of the shadows. "Leave my son alone."

"Anakin, why my dear boy...this is a surprise."Obi-Wan followed Anakin stepping out of the shadows. "Kenobi, you are still alive. How unfortunate. I am sure my apprentice will enjoy tearing the flesh from your bones as you did his." Obi-Wan said nothing, only met his gaze. "You are the last, are you not. Today will see the end of the Jedi."

"I don't think so."

"Your overconfidence will be your downfall," Luke said looking at the Emperor.

"Your faith in your father is yours."

"It is pointless to resist, my son."

"It's not too late, Vader. You remember what it felt like to be bathed in the light, you remember the love."

"Love is forbidden to a Jedi," Vader replied. "Leave me, Skywalker. You will die."

"You can't kill me or you will cease to be."

"But I can kill him," Vader said nodding in Obi-Wan's direction. "He deserves to die."

"You want this don't you?" The Emperor asked fingering the cylinder lightsaber. "I feel the hate swelling within you. Take it. Strike me down and then your descension to the dark side will be complete. With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant."Luke grabbed the lightsaber and before Anakin or Obi-Wan could move to stop him Vader blocked his thrust. "It is unavoidable, your destiny, like your father's. You, like your father, are now mine."

"Not yet, your highness," Anakin said staring the Emperor down. "You were my friend," Anakin said, the hate swelling within him. "How could you do that to me?" he asked motioning to Vader. "You took everything from me. My Knighthood, my wife, my son, you stole my soul," Anakin barked menacingly. He could feel the fear in the room, but for once it wasn't coming from him but from Palpatine. "You controlled everything. You were behind the assassination attempt on MY WIFE," Anakin roared.

"Anakin, you are my friend. I kept your secret. As a Sith you could have stayed married. Would the Jedi allow it."

"I NEVER gave them the chance," Anakin replied flinging his robe to the ground.

"Anakin," came the calm voice of Obi-Wan. "Anakin," came the repeated warning.

"You destroyed the Republic along with the Jedi Order."

"It needed to be destroyed."

Anakin and Obi-Wan watch a moment while Vader and Luke parry in that old dance or dark vs. light, good vs. evil, Jedi vs. Sith. "Obi-Wan has taught you well."

"I will not fight you, Father.

"You are unwise to lower your defences. It's how I ended up like this," he said sadly.

"I feel the conflict within you. I feel the good within you."

"There is no conflict. If you do not fight then you will meet your destiny."

"I don't think so," Obi-Wan said as he activated his lightsaber and parried leaving Luke free to hide. "Remember your training, Vader."

"I have come a long way from your training, old man."

"Indeed you have," Obi-Wan agreed, noticing that the dark Lord was parrying but he wasn't taking any of the openings that Kenobi offered him.

"You cannot hide forever, Luke."

"He's your son, Vader. Your son."

"I will not fight you, Father."

Vader stopped completely, leaping away from Kenobi as he sensed something. "Your feelings are strong, especially for...sister. So you have a twin sister."

"Oh Sith," cursed Anakin. Vader turned to Anakin.

"You knew about this."

"You'd be blind not to see it."

"I have a daughter. Padme," the voice of Vader boomed. "Is she alive?"

"No," Luke said, "she died a long time ago. I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed your highness, I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

The Emperor was angry at the turn of events. "So be it, Jedi," he said raising his hand as Anakin ignited his silver double-bladed lightsaber and absorbed the lightning. "Impossible."

"Leave my son alone. You will never defeat me."

Then in a flash of lightning the Emperor drew his own lightsaber to meet Anakin Skywalker's. The Emperor was hoping to draw out the anger in both Skywalkers. And the sister..he didn't have time to ponder that as Anakin struck...