The End of the Sith

by NedeserThul

Mara Jade has been tasked to kill Luke Skywalker. To that end, she has infiltrated Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine as a dancer and there she waits until the Jedi Knight arrives. As usual when the Jedi is involved, things don't go as planned and Mara Jade finds herself in a face to face confrontation with Luke Skywalker. See also: Host from the Past and Dark Lords of the Sith.

8. Chapter 8: The Final Conflicts

Mara. MARA! It's going to be okay. Listen to my voice.

Mara Jade took several deep, calming breaths as she tried to listen to what Luke Skywalker said. On the outside, she knew she looked completely dispassionate but on the inside, she was waging a war with all of her childhood fears. Darth Vader had always terrified her, ever since she was a small girl learning from the best instructors the Empire had to offer.

He's going to kill me, Luke! I can feel it! He's going to ignore the emperor's wishes and KILL ME!

Luke watched as the Dark Lord put a hand to his lightsaber, the black masked face staring directly at Mara. Then he'll kill me too.

Luke placed himself directly between Darth Vader and Mara. Vader looked at Luke but the young Jedi couldn't read the masked face. Finally, the Imperial commander cleared his throat and reported, "These are the rebels who surrendered to us. Although they deny it, I think there may be more of them and request permission to search the surrounding area." The commander pulled their lightsabers and Mara's holdout blaster from his belt. "They were armed with these."

Lord Vader took the weapons and examined them. He dropped Mara's blaster and stomped on it in disgust before clipping her lightsaber next to his own on his large, black belt. Luke's lightsaber, he held in his hand. Finally, he addressed the Imperial Officer, "Good work, Commander. Continue your search and bring their companions to me."

The officer bowed and headed off with the Stormtroopers. Vader turned fully to Mara Jade. "Why have you returned, traitor? Have you decided to plea for your life or have you just gotten tired of running already?"

Mara held her head high and displayed a bravery that she certainly did not feel. "I am here to support Luke. He's going to need it when he finally realizes that you are the evil, force-forsaken monster that you and I both know you are - that you can never change from that."

Vader stared at her, the emotionless mask unable to contain the waves of hatred that rolled off him towards her. After several seconds of the two of them glaring at one another, Lord Vader turned away dismissively and began to walk towards the other side of the corridor. Luke strode up beside them and Mara hung slightly behind. Speaking to Luke, Darth Vader said almost mildly, "The emperor has been expecting you."

Luke replied in an equally non-comital voice, "I know, Father."

Vader looked over to Luke and mild surprise was mixed in his force signature. "So you have accepted the truth."

Luke turned to fully face the dark lord. "I accepted the truth that you were once Anikan Skywalker, my father."

"That name no longer has any for me."

Luke stared at him and Mara was sure that only she could recognize the pleading hidden in his voice and his face as he said, "It is the name of your true self; you have only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven if from you fully."

To Mara's dismay, Luke turned to face the viewport, his back to Darth Vader. The farm boy continued, "That is why you couldn't destroy me. That is why you won't take me to your emperor now."

There was silence for several moments. Suddenly, Lord Vader lifted Luke's lightsaber and ignited it. Mara took an involuntary step forward, moving protectively toward Luke but Vader was just examining the hilt. In an almost conversational tone, Lord Vader comments, "I see you have constructed a new lightsaber. Your skills are complete."

He closed the blade down and regarded Luke for a moment. "Indeed you are powerful as the Emperor has foreseen."

The two stared at each other until, in a quieter, almost pleading voice, Luke says, "Come with me."

"Obi-Wan once thought as you did." Said Vader. "You don't know the power of the dark side. I MUST obey my master."

Mara was a little surprised. Was Vader trying to convince Luke or himself now? Was that doubt in the Dark Lord's voice? No. Surely not. Luke looked sad. "I will not turn – and you'll be forced to kill me."

Vader replied simply, "If that is your destiny;"

Mara could feel the frustration inside Luke's being and felt her heart ache slightly. No matter how many times he was rejected, he would keep trying. Poor Farmboy. "Search your feelings, Father. You can't do this."

Luke began to speak quickly and desperately, "I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate!"

Lord Vader turns away and says, "It is too late for me, son."

Mara could swear that she heard both hesitation and REGRET in the Sith Lord's voice. Was Luke right and she wrong about Vader? Deep beneath the dark armor and shattered body and the shadows of past evils, was there still good in him?

Vader turned and signaled to a quartet of stormtroopers before saying, "The emperor will show you the true nature of the force. He is your master now."

Luke stared levelly at Darth Vader and said in a not-quite convinced voice, "Then my father is truly dead."

As they were lead away, Mara whispered, "I'm sorry, Luke."

The farm boy looked at her and smiled. "For what, Mara – for being right?"

Mara thought about it for a second and then nodded. After a moment, she whispered, "You know, we could still escape from this. It wouldn't be hard. So long as we don't get aboard that shuttle we can still make it out of this and join the others."

Luke shook his head resolutely. "Mara if you wish to go, then go. In fact, I know they could use your help and you probably should go. I need to do this. I NEED to face Darth Vader and the emperor. I know you don't believe it, but it's my destiny."

Mara sighed. She knew it wasn't going to happen but it was worth a try. "Not a chance, Farmboy. Until this whole operation is over, I'm going where you're going. You're stuck with me. Besides, I'm on probation, remember? I'm not allowed to leave your sight."

Luke chuckled at that, causing one of the Stormtroopers to look at him. In a quiet voice, Luke said, "I suppose I could be stuck with someone worse."

"Quiet, rebel scum." Snapped one of the Stormtroopers. Neither of them spoke allowed but Mara sent a thought his way. If we're alive when this is all over, I am going to find you some professional help – and then I'm going to find ME some professional help for coming with you.

Luke couldn't keep another chuckle from escaping, earning another look, quite probably a glare, from the stormtroopers. In the words of a great Jedi Master, 'who is the bigger fool; the fool of the fool who follows him.

Mara's facial expression was bland as she mentally asked, Did Yoda say that one?

Nope, Obi-Wan Kenobi, actually. He was my first master.

I remember reading about him. He was a master negotiator, a brilliant swordsman and tactical genius during the Clone Wars – at least, that's according to his files. Apparently he and Anikan Skywalker were the heroes of the galaxy.

Luke gave a mental sigh and said, He never talked to me about the war. Neither did Yoda. When this is all over, I think I'll ask around and see if anyone in the Alliance can tell me about it.

Mara sent a mental hmmm. They didn't say anything else as the stormtroopers locked them in separate cells to wait for transportation in the morning. Mara felt better than she had when she had first seen Darth Vader approaching them but she was still nervous. If it wasn't for Luke, she would never have gone anywhere near the Death Star. With a sigh, she laid down on the rough cot and sent Luke a final thought before she tried to sleep. Goodnight, Farmboy.

Luke's warm return caressed her mind affectionately. Goodnight, Mara.

She didn't think she would ever get used to the warmth of his mental touch.

The following morning came all too soon for the two prisoners. Stormtroopers roused them roughly and escorted them to Lord Vader on the landing pad where a Lambda shuttle awaited them. From there, they were taken off the forest moon. Luke and Mara sat side by side across from Lord Vader. Luke's penetrating blue eyes were gazing at the Dark Lord, whose black mask seemed to glare back at him. Mara just leaned back and fought with all her strength against the waves of terror that kept washing over her. No one spoke during the trip. No one said anything as the shuttle landed and no one said anything as they were escorted to the turbo lift that would lead them to the throne room. When the lift doors opened, Mara took one last deep breath and held her head high, ready to face her former master. As they approached the stairs, a great throne turned away from a huge viewport and Luke looked upon the Emperor for the first time. In a cracked and wizened voice, the Emperor said, "Welcome, young Skywalker. I have been expecting you."

Palpatine then turned to Mara and said, "Ah, my trusted and faithful hand has returned to me. Well done in leading Skywalker to me, my child."

Mara spoke in a voice that did not quaver, "I did not lead him here. I came with him against you and Vader."

The Emperor just chuckled slightly. With a wave of his hands, he released the binders on both Luke's and Mara's wrists. "You will now longer need those. Guards, bring Mara Jade up here and stand over there. I will deal with her later."

Palpatine motioned to an area on the dais near a small blast door. A royal guard took each of her arms and they lead her up to the indicated place. The emperor turned back to Luke and smiled. "I am looking forward to completing your training. In time you will call me 'Master'"

Luke stared levelly at him, a confident and defiant smile on his face. "You're gravely mistaken. You won't convert me as you did my father."

The Emperor stood from his throne, his smile becoming a gleeful leer. "Oh no, my young Jedi. You will find that it is you who are mistaken - about a great MANY things."

Vader then approached his master and handed over Luke's and Mara's lightsabers. "Their lightsabers."

The Emperor took them and said, "Ah yes. A Jedi's weapon." Mara's he tucked into his wide sleeve before examining Luke's. "Much like your father's." The Emperor turned his full, evil gaze on Luke and a derisive sneer entered his voice, "By now, you must know that your father can never be turned from the dark side. So will it be with you."

Luke didn't rile or flinch. His facial expression remained much the same as it had when he entered the room. "You're wrong. Soon I'll be dead – and you with me."

The Emperor cackled evilly. "Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet."

Both Mara and Luke sighed internally. Though they had expected him to not be surprised, they were hoping that he would not be fully aware of the situation. They were wrong. The Emperor nodded and sneered again, "Yes, I can assure you, we are quite safe from your friends here."

Luke's smile became a little wider and he said, "Your overconfidence is your weakness."

The Emperor whirled and snapped, "Your faith in your friends is yours."

Mara was a little surprised. Her former master was not one to bandy words with anyone. Was Luke getting under his wrinkly skin? Why would a barely trained Jedi Knight cause a Sith Lord to lose his normally guarded composure. Something occurred to her that made her gasp out loud, drawing the attention of the two guards. Could Emperor Palpatine, killer of dozens if not hundreds of Jedi and mastermind behind the Great Jedi Purge, fear Luke Skywalker. The thought made her smile ever so slightly. Vader said in a low voice, "It is pointless to resist, my son."

In a smug sneer, the Emperor spoke again, "Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. Your friends on the sanctuary moon are walking into a trap, as is your rebel fleet. 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."

Leaning forward, the Emperor's voice became mockingly regretful as he said, "Oh I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive."

Despite the fact that he was aware that the Emperor had increased the defensive forces of both the garrison on the moon below and the Death Star, Mara could sense that Luke was becoming uneasy. To try and bolster his confidence, mentally said, We knew that he probably knew we were coming, Luke. This isn't a surprise. Han and his commandos will do fine and the fleet will be here soon enough. So long as there is an open lain for the fighters, there will be nothing to worry about.

"That is enough of that, Mara Jade. It is not polite to telepathically converse when others cannot hear." Snapped the Emperor angrily. He motioned with his hand and one of the guards turned and backhanded Mara across the face. The blow stung but it didn't hurt too badly. Mara first began to feel shame. She had been struck many times that way for failing in her training. Suddenly, it was replaced by anger and pride and she stood tall and spat blood from a cut on the inside of her cheek. The Emperor's face grew stormy. "When I am done with Skywalker, I will see to your very painful execution."

He turned to Luke and sneered, "Perhaps I will have Lord Skywalker do it himself."

Luke began to feel anger rising in his own being. Seeing Mara struck and then seeing her stand tall had made him feel more confident but the idea that Palpatine would make him kill her caused a roiling of dark emotions to fill his soul. "I am no Sith Lord, Palpatine and I never will be. I will never serve you."

The Emperor's sneer returned and he said, "Oh but you will. Come, your fleet is arriving. Join me on the dais and watch. Come, Mara Jade, come and see what you have become a part of."

They both strode up to the massive circular viewport and watched as well over a hundred rebel starships dropped into view and quickly began to approach the Death Star. Seeing all the ships arrayed against the Empire, Luke looked over at Mara and they shared a private smile. It didn't last long, though. The shield was still up or else the Emperor or Darth Vader would have been contacted. It was as they had feared. The fleet would be trapped if an Imperial fleet arrived. Watching quietly, they saw hundreds of Imperial Star Destroyers and the massive Executer-Class Star Dreadnaught close in behind the rebel fleet. Luke glanced at Mara again, who looked at him. Both of them knew that things were about to go horribly wrong. The Emperor cackled and said, "See for yourself, boy. From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance and the end of your insignificant rebellion."

Mara could sense the distress Luke was in. Thinking fast she said allowed, "HA! Insignificant? How many weapons and super weapons have you lost to this 'insignificant' rebellion? You are as deluded as your cyborg lapdog."

Luke felt a smile tug at his lips as Palpatine's face grew livid. "How dare you even speak to me, TRAITOR!"

He lifted a hand and bolts of force lighting leapt from them, striking Mara Jade in the chest. She was lifted by the attack and sent flying back towards the guards. Luke took a step towards him, anger darkening his presence in the force. It took all of his will to maintain the fragile control on his temper. The Emperor turned to him and motioned to the viewport, saying, "As you can see my young apprentice, your friends have failed. Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station." He then pressed a button on the arm of his chair and spoke into a mic, "Fire at will, Commander."

Within moments, a massive super laser beam struck one of the rebel cruisers, destroying it and the majority of its escort ships. Luke looked horrified for several moments until his already frayed temper snapped. Giving in to his rage, he called his weapon to his had and attacked the emperor, only to have his green blade stopped by that of Darth Vader.

Mara stood shakily but, before she could move to help her friend, the two guards grabbed hold of her arms. Glaring at them in turn, she called on the force. Faster then either could keep up with, she spun out of their grip, snatched one of their force pikes and smashed hard on top of a helmeted head, cracking it and taking down the royal guard. Within a couple blows, she had subdued the other guard. Four more rushed into the room and, ignoring Vader and Skywalker fighting furiously not five meters away from the emperor, they surrounded her.

Luke parried and thrust, strike and blocked, ducked and spun, trying to keep himself from being battered down and slain and also trying to find a weakness in his opponent's defenses. Whether it was due to a natural ability not yet fully known or to the power that he had gained, Luke began to push the Dark Lord back. After a very vicious flurry, he kicked out, catching Vader in the chest and sending him backwards down the stares.

Mara didn't see any of it. She was too busy fighting off the royal guards. Even with the force as her ally, she was nearly killed or seriously injured several times – but she had been the emperor's hand. She knew all the regimens and techniques of the royal guard. More importantly, the force WAS her ally. Finally, as Lord Vader strode up the stares and attacked Luke a second time, Mara's final opponent felt to the ground. Reaching out, she summoned her lightsaber and simultaneously leaped at the emperor. She grabbed the weapon and activated its maroon blade with a mighty yell. Just as she was certain she would cut her former master down, she was stopped in midair by an invisible hand. Luke was still fighting furiously with his father. Suddenly, he leaped backwards onto a catwalk and out of the dark lord's range. As she hovered in the Emperor's grip, Luke closed down his weapon and said, "Your thoughts betray you, father. I feel the good in you... the conflict."

Mara was about to scream at him in frustration when she was suddenly slammed to the floor and the lightsaber was ripped from her hand. The emperor slowly turned to her, his yellow eyes sneering down at her. "You have left my service but a short while ago and yet you are already a thorn in my side, Mara Jade. Perhaps it would be best to kill you now. Wait..."

Suddenly, Mara felt him poking around in her mind. She didn't even have time to attempt to defend her thoughts before the Emperor had withdrawn. Palpatine burst into scornful laughter and sneered at her. "You believe that he is falling in love with you, Mara Jade? Fool! Who could love something like you – an assassin, a thief, a traitor and a murderer. Though perhaps..."

The emperor turned towards the confrontation between father and son. Vader threw his scarlet blade, cleaving the supports to the catwalk and causing Luke to tumble down the now - inclining walk. Vader called his weapon back to him and strode down the stares after his son once again. The emperor turned back to her and said, "You are his friend. Perhaps one final push is all it will take to send him fully to the dark side. Perhaps if I kill you..." And he struck her with a bolt of lightning, causing her to cry out in pain. It had been many years since she had felt such pain. The force lightning, as much as the loyalty she had felt for the emperor, had been her motivation to never fail a mission except her last one. Again he struck her, and again, cackling sadistically each time as she screamed. The emperor turned at the sound of an angry roar from under the stairs. Luke was driving Vader before him until he was out from under the stairs. Laughing, the Emperor struck her again with force lightning, this time allowing a long stream of the force energy to blast into her. She screamed a loud, incoherent scream and felt tears rolling down her face. Suddenly, she felt Luke's awareness of her plight and he stopped his vicious assault on Darth Vader. "Mara!"

Palpatine laughed again and sent forth another torrent of lightning. Unable to bare the pain, Mara screamed, "Luke! Help me, please! Luke..." Before all speech became another feral, incoherent scream.

Luke looked from Vader to the Emperor again and again. "Let her die. Let her death fuel your rage." Said Lord Vader. Taking a deep breath, Luke gathered the force. With a telekinetic blast, he sent Vader flying across the throne room before turning and leaping over towards the Emperor. His mind was torn for a moment between simply killing the evil man or standing between him and Mara. Though it was a matter of moments, it seemed as though time had stopped. Everything that Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi had ever taught him about the dark side passed through his mind. At that moment, he made his decision. With a leap, Luke placed himself between Mara and the Emperor, catching the torrents of force lightning on the blade of his lightsaber. The emperor stopped and glared at him. "You fool. You had your chance to kill me yet you saved the girl."

With irresistible power, the emperor seized Luke, lifted him and wrenched the lightsaber from his hand before slamming him into a nearby bulkhead and blasting Mara Jade again with more force lightning. Staggering up, Luke leaped again, placing his own unprotected body between the emperor and Mara. Using the force, Luke tried to block the powerful attacks but the force lightning blasted through his defenses and he felt pain the like of which he had never experienced. The emperor glared at Luke again and said, "I can feel your anger and your hate. Give in to them. Take up your weapon, strike me down with all of your hatred. Complete your journey to the dark side and take my place. Or attack your father and destroy him. Take his place at my side. Let us rule this Empire together and bring peace to the galaxy again."

Lord Vader stood behind the emperor now, his weapon unlit it his black gloved hand. Luke looked at his father – a monster who had to waer an armored life support suit simply to stay alive. Looking down at his prosthetic right hand, twitching and smarting still from the force lightning, it dawned on Luke how close he had actually come to giving in and becoming that specter he had fought in the cave on Dagobah so long ago during his training with Yoda. Standing and taking a deep breath, Luke said, "No. I'll never turn to the dark side. You have failed, your highness. I am a Jedi – like my father before me."

The very air became colder and silence stretched for several long moments before the emperor said, "So be it, Jedi."

Mara knew that it was over but she couldn't give up yet. Her body was wracked with pain and she could tell that the damage was severe. Even so, she tried to stand until the baleful yellow eyes fell on her, pinning her in place. After just a moment, Palpatine focused back on Luke, a far more urgent threat. "If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed."

Once again, the emperor unleashed torrents of force lightning. Once again, Luke tried to wrap himself in the force. It was only marginally successful as the force lightning blasted through the barrier and he spun and collapsed to his knees. Worse even than losing his hand to a lightsaber, the pain was unfathomable. As if to prolong the suffering, the emperor stopped again. Luke opened his eyes and found himself facing Mara. Her green eyes gazed into his filled with fear and frustration and sorrow. "I'm so sorry..." Said Luke before the emperor interrupted, "Young fool – only now at the end do your understand."

Another blast struck Luke, causing him to cry out himself. But he refused to move, knowing that if he did, Mara would die. She looked into his eyes when they opened again. "We only have to hold a little longer. I see rebel fighters coming. The shield is down." She whispered. The cracked voice said, "Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side. You have payed the price for your lack of vision."

Again Luke screamed as a stream of intensifying lightning blasted him. In a last effort, Luke called, "Father please, help me."

After what seemed like an eternity, Emperor stopped again and said, "And now, young Skywalker, you will die."

Luke knelt there, groaning, his eyes not leaving Mara's as tears rolled down her cheeks. If he died, he wanted her to be last person that he saw. Mara's heart burned. This young man had changed her life. The thought that he would die tore her apart. Suddenly, the Emperor attacked again. As Luke screamed and writhed, Mara groaned and wrapped her arms around him. The force lightning arced from his body to hers and she screamed with him. Placing her forehead against his and holding on tight, Mara pressed one thought through her mind against the pain. If you're going to die, so am I. If you're going to die, so am I.

Suddenly, there was a roar from behind Luke and the attack stopped. Luke forced his burning body to turn and he saw Darth Vader attack the Emperor with a telekinetic blast, sending the shriveled man off the dais and almost all the way back to the turbo lift. Vader turned to Luke. "Son, help me. I can't defeat him alone."

Luke looked at his father through bleary eyes. Kneeling down, Vader placed a hand on Luke's back and said, "Take some of my strength, son. I can't defeat him without you."

Mara was more than shocked. She still held the farm boy and stared into the dark mask. Suddenly, a roar came from the direction of the turbo lifts. Like a dark, avenging demon, the emperor approached. Mara's lightsaber was in his hand and he screamed, "You have betrayed me for the last time, Anikan Skywalker. Now you and your son will die."

Vader stood and his scarlet blade ignited with a snap-hiss. Luke stood again. Though he was not fully recovered, he summoned his lightsaber to him and ignited it. Mara tried to stand as well but the damage to her body was too extensive. Vader looked down at her and after a moment, he said, "We won't leave you, Jade. I promise you and my son will make it out of here alive."

By then, the Emperor had bounded up the stairs and attacked with all the viciousness of hate itself. The Skywalkers fought as though they had fought together a thousand times, working in perfect synchronization to bring down the emperor. At first it looked as though the emperor couldn't possibly withstand them but then his own long forgotten lightsaber skills returned to him and he drove them both the length of the dais. With a kick, Palpatine sent Luke somersaulting through the air. He managed to land on his feet and attacked again, beginning with a blast of telekinetic energy that sent drove the Emperor away from the elder Skywalker. Anikan Skywalker attacked with the determination he had once been famous for and his son proved that they were one blood. After minutes of fighting where neither side seemed to gain or lose ground, the emperor roared. "ENOUGH!"

With a blast of telekinetic force, the Skywalkers were sent flying back. The Emperor lifted his arms and blasted back Luke. His focus was devoted to the elder Skywalker now. With the vengeance of a demon, he attacked the dark armored man. To Mara's surprise, Anikan Skywalker held his own. He stayed defensive as the evil old man leaped and flitted around him, trying to find a weakness. The younger Skywalker leaped in again and again – and again and again a telekinetic or force lightning blast sent him hurdling back out of the fight. Mara screamed in frustration as she tried again to stand and fight but her limbs were weak from the pain. Since she couldn't move, she gathered the force to her as much as she could.

The Emperor managed to disarm the elder Skywalker and had both of them writhing in pain as he blasted them with force lightning, their lightsabers rolling at their knees. With a single blast, Mara hit the emperor with telekinetic force, launching him towards the Skywalkers. They both ignited their weapons and attacked – Luke swinging high and Anikan thrusting low. The Emperor reflexively blocked the green blade coming at his head but missed the blade that he impaled himself on. "With that, I pay some of the debt I owe this galaxy." Said the former Darth Vader as the emperor gasped his life's breath out. With a final telekinetic blast, the elder Skywalker sent Emperor Palptaine's body out over the edge of an exhaust shaft. Suddenly, a swirl of dark side energy flew up from the shaft and dissipated. Luke staggered upward and went straight to his father. "Get to Jade," said the dark armored man who was slowly making his way to his feet. Luke half ran, half staggered over to Mara. She was barely conscious as she looked up into Luke's eyes. "We… did… it… farm…boy…"

Luke cradled her head. "No, no, you are not dying, Mara. You're not…"

"Luke, let me see her. It has been many years since I have used a Jedi healing trance. Let us hope I can still do this. Luke, pay close attention;"

Luke looked into the black mask of his father as the elder Skywalker explained, "With Jedi healing trances, they can be administered by one's self or by another and can be done so for a pre-determined time or set to a pre-determined phrase. I'm setting her to the phrase 'Anikan Skywalker says thank you for saving his son'."

Reaching out a gloved hand, the former dark lord concentrated. Suddenly, Mara went limp in Luke's arms. "WHAT? NO!"

"Luke, it worked. Her vitals have dropped to next to nothing but examine her in the force – see, she is still alive."

Luke did and was relieved to sense her presence. Suddenly, the entire station beneath them trembled. Anikan was up, lifting Mara Jade from Luke's arms. "The rebels have succeeded. Luke we have to get to the emperor's private hanger. When we get to his shuttle, I will put you in a trance as well."

"What about you? Can you be put in this trance?"

They both staggered along as the station continued to shake around them. The hanger wasn't far from the throne room. The elder Skywalker replied, "My life supports are failing slowly. The force lightning has done its work. I can get the two of you to the moon's surface but after that, I won't have long."

"There has to be something we can do, Father. Why can't that Jedi trance help you?"

Anikan was long in responding and when he did, there was no mistaking the sadness in his voice. "My body is too reliant on the life support system. It is how the emperor rebuilt me all those years ago. There is nothing that can be done in the time that we have, son. But I can save you and Mara Jade."

A tear rolled down Luke's face. "I won't lose you, not now father. I have to save you."

Anikan turned to his son as they entered the hanger. "You already have, Luke. You were right about me. All along, even when I denied it, you saw the good in me. You were right about me."

They made it to the shuttle and rushed up the ramp as fast as their battered and weary limbs could take them. The elder Skywalker laid Mara Jade on the bench and strode up front. Luke strapped her in before collapsing on the bench across from her, his last vestiges of energy finally spent. The elder Skywalker took off and had them away from the Death Star within minutes – but they weren't far enough to avoid feeling a small effect of the massive shock wave as the battle station exploded. As soon as he had a course set, the dark armored man stood and staggered back towards the passenger space. "Lie down, Luke. Let me strap you in. I will put you in a trance for eight hours. You should be fully recovered by then."

"Wait, father. What do I do from here? What can I do since the Emperor is dead and you…" Luke couldn't get the last words out.

There was warmth, barely detectable in Anikan Skywalker's voice, even through the vocabulator. "You must find and train knew Jedi, Luke. You must help rebuild the Republic. Undo all of my work, my son. Make right my wrongs. Please, Luke."

As Anikan Skywalker gripped his son's shoulder, Luke looked into the dark mask and said, "I will, father. I promise."

The elder Skywalker gently squeezed his son's shoulder before raising his hand. The last thing Luke remembered was the gloved hand less than a half a meter over his face.

Updated May 24, 2015