Author's Note: Chapter sixteen. We're finally at the end.
The Skywalker men stepped into the lift that would bring up to the throne room where the Emperor awaited. At Vader's urging, Piett unmasked his signature and submitted to Palptine's mental probing, bringing his loyalty to the Empire to the front of his mind. He relaxed when the Sith Master's presence left his mind, apparently satisfied with what he ad found.. He brought his lightsaber from the band in his sleeve and attached it to his belt so it hung at his left hip, while his blaster hung at his right hip.
The lift stopped, and the door opened with an ominous hiss that Luke thought suited the situation perfectly. Before them, in this dark, dimly lit room, waiting the Emperor, seated in front of the spiderweb-like window. His deformed face and glowing, yellow eyes sent a shiver down the young Jedi's spine, and he could sense his uncle's discomfort as well. The Darkside swelled around this evil creature, for neither Luke or Piett could bring themselves to call him a man.
The trio approached, and Vader and Piett knelt before him, while Luke remained standing. He was rather sure that if Piett was not an Imperial he would have remained standing as well.
"Lord Vader, why did you keep this man's Force Stength and relation to you a secret from me?"
"I was waiting to be absolutely sure that his powers would serve you well, my Master. He is loyal, and he is powerful. He will be of great service to the Empire with his abilities beyond his use as an Admiral."
Emperor Palpatine turned those terrifying eyes to the Admiral kneeling beside his apprentice.
"The son of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Shmi Skywalker. You are powerful indeed, however, you are strong in the Lightside of the Force. I have little need for a Light-user."
"He is loyal to the Empire, Master. His use of the Lightside could be an advantage to us. There may yet be some Jedi in hiding, without the Darkside about him, he could get close to them and reveal them to us. The men who serve under him respect him, as well. They follow him without question."
The Sith Master was quiet, thinking over what Vader had said.
"Perhaps he can of use to us after all. Now, rise my friend, and you as well, Admiral."
Vader and Piett stood up, and then Vader stepped forward to present Palpatine with Luke's lightsaber.
"Skywalker's lightsaber, Master."
Palpatine smiled at the sight of the weapon, causing the two younger Skywalker's to shudder at the sight.
"Ah, your old one. I wonder if young Skywalker knows how you last used it."
A wave of confusion came from Luke before he reigned in his emotions.
"So you do not. Allow me to educate you then, young one. At my command, your father attacked the Jedi Temple, killing all within. With this very lightsaber he slaughtered all in his path, from the oldest Master to the youngest child."
Piett felt horror coil inside him, and shock, disbelief, and horror from Luke spilled across their bond. Piett had know that Vader had destroyed the Jedi, but to know that he had sunk as fast as to slaughter the children was something he hadn't known. The Admiral withdrew into his thoughts, hardly registering the arrival of the Rebel Alliance and the battle beginning outside as the deaths began to echo through the Force. He snapped back to reality when Luke attacked the Emperor, prompting Vader to stop him, which began a duel between father and son. He reached for his own lightsaber to try to stop them.
/Do not interfere!/ Vader snapped across their bond.
Luke regained control over his emotions and began trying to coax Vader back to the Light. Piett allowed himself a small smile as the cracks in Vader's resolve grew. They had a chance to bring him back to the Light and restore Anakin.
Move! roared the voice of Count Dooku.
Piett obeyed, but he had no time to wonder why he was hearing Dooku, as fire bloomed in his torso, and the end of a lightsaber blade as red as Vader's came into sight, sticking through his chest. It disappeared a moment later, and he collapsed, hearing two screams that sounded miles away, just before everything went dark.
Han and Leia exited the shuttle, disguised as stormtroopers with a sense of deja vu. They hurried across the hangar bay to the nearest lift.
"Okay, got a 'feeling' about what floor Luke might be on?" Han asked.
Leia concentrated then pressed the button, beginning the lift's journey to the throne room. The door opened, and they stared at the sight of Luke and Vader dueling. Then the Emperor, with a lightsaber of his own, stabbed the Imperial officer near him through the back. Luke and Vader jerked as if struck and whirled to see the officer fall.
"NO!" they both screamed.
The two Rebels watched in shock as Jedi and Sith abandoned their fight with each other to descend upon the Emperor.
"Come on!" Leia exclaimed, running for the downed officer.
They reached him, and Leia ripped off her helmet to carefully put her head to chest. After a moment she heard his heart beating.
"He's still alive."
"Yeah, well he won't be for long if he doesn't get medical attention," Han said, pulling off his own helmet.
Luke rushed over.
"Han, Leia!"
As Luke and Leia hugged, Han looked to see where the Emperor was. He was currently busy trying to fend off the stronger Vader.
"Nice to see ya, kid."
Luke checked the officer.
"Can you two get him out of here?"
"What about you?" Leia asked.
"I've got to help deal with the Emperor. Please, take care of him."
Han grabbed Luke's wrist.
"Hang on a second, Luke. This guy's an Imperial. Why do you care?"
"Because he's my uncle, and Vader is my father."
His friends stared at him in shock.
"Vader is your father?!"
"Yeah. I'll explain everything later, I promise. Please, get him help."
Han and Leia nodded, and Luke rushed back into the fray. Neither he nor Vader was fighting in anger any longer. They found to destroy the Emperor because they had to, because he needed to be stopped. As Han and Leia tried to figure out how to get Piett out of the Death Star without making his injury worse, Vader at last spotted an opening and struck, his blade finding the Emperor's heart.
"It's over," Luke breathed.
They hurried over, and Vader carefully gathered his brother into his arms, carrying him bridal style so that his wound wouldn't be aggravated too much. Switching on the commlink with the Force, he ordered the Fleet to stand down and await further instructions. Leia, at Luke's approval, changed it to a Rebel frequency, and, as they hurried to the hangar bay, Vader proposed pace negotiations with the Alliance High Command in exchange for a cease-fire.
End Note: The Emperor is dead. Has Vader's dream come true? Please Review.