Chapter Twenty

The Final Battle

Anakin struck and struck hard. "I always wondered, Emperor," Anakin said slowly as their lightsabers clashed. "How old are you?" the question caught Palpatine off guard. He didn't reply but the sheild that he had put around him and Anakin faltered. "You have got to be at least as old as Master Yoda and he admitted to nine hundred."

"Imprudent boy."

"You were old twenty years ago. Did the acid bathe help?" Anakin continued. A stormtrooper entered the room without his helmet, his hair longer than the standard military length.

"Uncle D, from the DNA that was left of the Princess."

"Get on with it Jix."

"She's your daughter."

"Thanks, Jix," Darth Vader replied.

"It was nothing, Uncle D. Do you need any help?"

"Stay here, Jix."

"Aye Aye, Uncle D."

"Don't be imprudent, nephew."

Anakin continued pushing the Emperor back. "Vader," he called but Vader just stood there watching as Anakin seemed to be the stronger one. Everyone else ceased fighting and stood watching the Chosen One battle the Sith Lord. Even Vader stood not saying or doing anything. Then Leia rushed in and Palpatine struck at her, before anyone could do anything Anakin jumped in front of her, taking the hit meant for her.

"Leia," Anakin mummered seemingly unconscious. Palpatine laughed as he attempted the same thing on Kenobi, but Obi-Wan had his lightsaber prepared as he and Luke began to fight the Emperor.

Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, smiled beneath his helmet. He reached Anakin side, "Are you alright, Skywalker?"

"I think you would be the first to know if I wasn't," Anakin said with a wit only he possessed. "There's a way to defeat him. Here," he said, handing the Ysalamir to him. Vader's eyes widened underneath his mask. "I don't see why anyone would want to live their life under a mask."

"I don't," Vader replied," helping Anakin to his feet. Anakin entered the fight as Vader took the syringe and injected the blood into Palpatine's system, the Emperor never suspected Vader.

"Traitor," he cried as they backed up. "Curse you Skywalkers, you want to know the truth about your father. The Great Darth Vader is a sick man behind an iron mask. Yes that mask inspired terror throughout the galaxy but that feeble heart within was forever possessed by the impotent side of the Force," Palpatine cried shooting Force lightning which hit Vader but no one else as he died. Vader fell down, weakly.

"I hate you," screamed Leia. "I don't care if you are a hero now, Five minutes of regret don't make up for a lifetime of atrocities," she screamed at him.

"Help me take off the mask," Vader said and the Jedi obliged. "You were wrong, Master," he said his gaze on Obi-Wan. "I'm not the death of you," his gaze turned to focus on Luke. "You were right about me. I am...Ana...kin...Sky...walker."

"I've got to save you," Luke protested.

"You already...have...Luke. Don't...make...the same...mis...take, I did something good, Obi...Wan." he told Anakin as he died. Anakin felt the force tremble.

"Yes, you did, old friend," Obi-Wan replied.

"We have got to get out of here," Anakin said He saw Obi-Wan and Jix carrying the body of Darth Vader and he felt Qui-Gon.

"It's time to go home, Anakin. You have learned what you needed too."

"I'm going to miss Luke and Leia."

"I know, Ani. Now for the the truth. I created you Anakin. I used the Force to influence the midiclorians to create you, Anakin."

"Thank you, Father," he said, being embraced by the white light, the warmness of the force.