Author's Note: Chapter fourteen. Nearing the end, guys.
The Rebellion was getting desperate. They had learned that the Empire was building a second Death Star, and this time, Luke wouldn't be there to destroy it. No one knew what had happened to him. Many wrote him off as dead, but Leia and Han, recently rescued from Jabba the Hutt, held out the hope that their friend still lived. They knew he wasn't captured. There was no way the Empire would keep it quiet that they had captured the one who had destroyed the first Death Star. However, it was a shallow comfort. Not knowing where he was or if he was all right was torture. Still they kept up their hope. Hope was all they had.
Luke was currently asleep, snoring softly. Piett tossed and turned in his own sleep, dreaming of a childhood memory of play wrestling with his adopted father and brothers. Well, he dreamt until he rolled right out bed, hitting the floor with a *thud* and sleepy grunt. He sighed and was flattened when Luke also rolled out bed and landed on top of him.
"Luke!" he snapped, awake now.
"Huh?" came the sleepy reply.
Huffing in irritation, Piett heaved himself up, dumping his nephew onto the floor.
"How do you move so much in your sleep every night? I should make you sleep standing up like Master Yoda threatened a few times."
Luke, too sleepy to think of a response, settled for merely sticking his tongue out at his uncle and climbed back into bed. Piett sighed at his behavior and got back into bed as well. It was rare night of, mostly, peaceful sleep, if one discounted falling out of bed. Nightmares had become frequent for all three of the Skywalkers, Vader in particular, which disturbed his brother, who featured in most of them.
His thoughts latching onto the Dark Lord, Firmus reached along the bond that he shared with his elder brother. He was meet with the fuzziness of sleep and let Vader's own sleepy feeling lull him back into the land of dreams.
Morning came with new orders that made Piett's blood run cold and the Force surge briefly.
"We are to go to the moon of Endor and get the construction of the Death Star II back on schedule," Vader said.
As the Executor went into hyperspace, Piett was filled with turmoil. The Death Star. The only thing that had truly shaken his loyalty to the Empire. The destruction of Alderaan. So many innocent people murdered at the whim of a madman. Secretly, he commended Luke for destroying it, even if he resented the loss of life of those aboard, not counting Grand Moff Tarkin.
Luke was more open about his feelings when he was informed later in the training room.
"There's another one?!" he cried in dismay.
"Yes. The Emperor will be arriving them after we do to personally oversee the final stages of construction."
Piett snapped out of his meditation trance, his still unfinished lightsaber once more falling to the ground.
"What?! The Emperor will be there?!"
"Yes, and you both will be presented to him."
Uncle and nephew exchanged anxious looks. Neither one was looking forward to this.
"Do not fear. We are stronger than the Emperor."
"It's not that much of a comfort, Vader. The Emperor is strong. You told me yourself that he defeated members of the Jedi Council and matched Master Windu, one of the most powerful Jedi."
Luke swallowed nervously.
"That was over twenty years ago, Firmus."
"So he may not be as good with a lightsaber as he was then, but it doesn't mean he's weaker. The Darkside is strong, and you know Luke and I won't use the Darkside."
His brother had a point. He and Luke would be at a slight disadvantage when faced with the Sith Master.
"He will not have much of an advantage. He will not win if he makes this a fight."
The Admiral sighed.
"I hope you're right, Vader. I hope you're right. The end is coming, and the Force is clouded. I can't even begin to guess to how this all will turn out for us."
The Death Star II was impressive and foreboding, despite being unfinished. Piett felt a shiver go down his spine at the sight of it. He hated it. He hated what it was intended to do and what it stood for, the maniacal, murderous whim of a madman who wore the title of Emperor.
/You look ready to blow it up for the Rebellion yourself./
Piett mentally scolded himself for being so wrapped up in his inner turmoil that he had neither sensed or heard his older brother's approach.
/I hate it. I know I shouldn't, but I do. I hate everything about it./
/Not even a Jedi would condemn you for feeling such emotion, only for using it. It is the difference between the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi accept that such feelings are natural to have, they are part of being a living, feeling thing, but they did not use those emotion. The Sith embrace such feelings./
/Every time I ever fought with my anger I regretted it. I either lost because I couldn't focus and think clearly or because I went to far and everything spun out of control. I could never be a Sith./
/Then do not. You still have a choice to make, Firmus. Trust your instincts and listen to the Force. You will find your place./
The Admiral turned on his heel.
"Captain Jereks, the bridge is yours."
"Yes, sir."
Piett returned to his room and flopped down into a meditative pose.
"Rough shift?" Luke asked, concerned.
His uncle sighed.
"That monstrosity needs to be destroyed."
Luke eyed the Admiral for a moment.
"Should I be concerned about that qualifying as 'Rebel talk'?"
"Not all Imperials are like the Emperor. Luke. Many good men died on the first Death Star, men drafted or there so they could feed their families. War isn't black and white. There are heroes and villains on both sides."
The Jedi lowered his gaze. He had felt twinges of guilt over all the deaths from those aboard the first Death Star before, but right now he felt like downright scum.
"I guess I just always tried to block it out."
Piett sighed.
"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to bring you down. Guilt can eat you alive. No one is innocent in war, we're all guilty, Imperials and Rebels. Sadly, the Empire takes more of a immoral stand and does not always consider the consequences."
"It's happened with the Rebellion a few times, too," Luke admitted.
"I'd be surprised if it hadn't. Like I said, we're all guilty, whether we want to believe it or not."
Luke sighed and settled into a meditative position as well.
"I guess whatever happens over the next few days will decide the end of everything."
Piett nodded.
"Obi-Wan was right. The final confrontation is coming. I can sense it. It comes with the Emperor. The end is near."
End Note: I can't believe how hard this chapter was to write. Han and Leia return briefly. They'll feature more in the next chapter. The Skywalker men have arrived at Endor, and soon the Rebellion will join them for the final battle. Please Review.