"Luke, please stop!" she screamed from across the throne room, not realizing that she had spoken out loud. Luke turned his head over his shoulder, seeing the terrified expression on her face. The moment the words left her lips, she felt her throat constrict, however, her message had been sent.

She knew he had listened to her. She felt the pressure on her throat release, and she took in a deep breath, trying to get air back into her lungs. His shoulder heaved as he looked down at his father, a broken figure lying on the bridge. It seemed amazing that Vader, who was feared throughout the galaxy and was one of the most powerful Sith Lords to ever live, could look so weak an vulnerable, and at the hands of his own was a reverse of what had happened on Bespin a year ago, and Anna closed her eyes at the memory.

Luke looked down at his own gloved hand, and in that instant, he knew. He raised his head to look directly at the Emperor, trying to clam his breathing.

"Never," he said, casting his lightsaber away. "I'll never join the Dark side."

Anna couldn't help but admire the confidence in his tone, his powerful aura returning to him once again.

"You've failed, your Highness," Luke continued. "I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

The Emperor just gave Luke a long stare, his yellow eyes glowing with rage under his hood. Luke stared back, still struggling to catch his breath.

"So be it," he said. "Jedi."

The last word was spoken with a stabbing tone, as if he was getting one last shot in. It didn't seem to bother Luke, but it definitely phased Anna, who felt the anger surfacing again.

The Emperor turned back to look at the young girl, and suddenly his face relaxed. A sinister smile crept across his lips, and Anna's anger transformed into fear. Her narrowed eyes went wide, knowing that whatever the Emperor was plotting was not good.

"Guards," he called from across the throne room. Anna watched as two of the red-cloaked figures walked from behind the elevators. "Bring her."

They obeyed without a word, and she shifted in her restraints, eyeing them fearfully. They released her from the restraints and pulled her wrists in front of her, snapping binders around them in front of her once again as she was led toward the Emperor. She tried to shake them off, using the last bit of energy she could muster into trying to get them to lessen their tight grip, but to no avail. These guards were well-trained in what they did, and they would not be deterred from their orders.

They brought her to a halt in front of the Emperor, and Luke watched with fear in his eyes. What would the Sith Lord do to her? If he were to touch her, he would pay the price, Luke knew. He would protect her from the Dark side, even if it meant sacrificing his own life to save her. He couldn't bear to watch her soul, which had suffered so much in the short time it had lived, be corrupted by the Dark side. She had worked so hard in order to reach a point in her life where she wasn't afraid of everyone, and could protect those around her as well as herself. She had come a long way from that frightened little girl that he had found in the swamps of Dagobah. She was a warrior now, brave and strong, but she was no immune to the Dark side, just as he wasn't. However, he knew where he stood, and he would not shake his position.

"Attach her to the railing," the Emperor said, and Luke watched as she was led down the stairs, close to where Luke stood. He did nothing, as he knew that if he tried to intervene, it wouldn't be worth it. The Emperor, as frail as he looked, could easily kill both of them he he had a mind to, and it certainly looked like he might have that anger burning inside him. That drive to kill, Luke could see it in the old man's face.

"Please," Luke said. "This is between you and me. Leave her out of this."

The Emperor turned to face the young Skywalker as Anna was forced to her knees, and her binders clipped around the railing, several feet from Luke. Both of her hands were still secured in front of her, but she couldn't move from her position. She was forced to lean uncomfortable on her side, watching fearfully as the Emperor stalked Luke, his eyes narrowed.

"You were the one who dragged her into this," the Emperor said. "Should you have left her on Dagobah to die as she should have, she would not be here. She would never have been influenced to the Light side, and I could have turned her myself. But, I suppose that the other Jedi that still survive, the few that remain, should know that even the Lightest souls can be turned with the right leverage."

"There are only two of us left," Luke stated. He didn't even want to get into what else the Emperor had said. He would not let it affect him as it just did; he refused to channel the Dark side.

"Do you believe that?" the Emperor challenged. "Because if you do, you are very wrong. There are others, ones that survived the Great Jedi Purge, one of which is related to your dearly beloved. A sister."

Luke stepped back, trying to register what the Emperor had just told him. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "Anna has no relatives that are Force-sensitive."

The Emperor laughed. "Just as you thought before you found out who your real father was," he said slowly. "As well as your own sister." His face turned dark as he saw Vader slowly standing up from behind Luke, who looked over at Anna. He seemed to be just as confused as she was, but now was not the time to mull over details such as her family and distant relatives which may or may not exist.

It was quiet in the room for a few seconds. "If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed," the Emperor said darkly, and raised his hands. In a second, blue electric bolts shot from his fingertips, hitting Luke dead on. The young Jedi collapsed as they hit him, and he fell into some canisters lying not far from him. His head rolled as he hit them, clutching onto them in order to keep from falling.

Anna felt Luke's pain through the Force, and she drew her legs up to her stomach as she felt as if the bolts had gone searing through her as well. However, she knew that she would be fine, and her eyes shot up to Luke, making sure that he was still all right despite the attack. He was slightly dazed, but seemed on worse for wear. The Emperor was preparing another round when he paused. Luke and Anna were holding each other in their gazes, and they both seemed to be lost. They were gone to Some other planet, on the other side of the galaxy, where he couldn't get to them. He was about to give both of them each a powerful blast of Force Lightning, but stopped, suddenly realizing what this all meant. It was unmistakable what he saw, love. The same reason Vader had turned. The Emperor had used it to his advantage once before, and it had turned out brilliant for him. Now, the framework was laid before him again.

Vader walked slowly up to his master, injured, but still mobile. His mechanical breathing had steadied slightly, but he was still exhausted from the battle with his son. If he was feeling pain, he was doing a good job of suppressing it.

"Do you have her lightsaber?" the Emperor asked, looking at his apprentice.

With his remaining hand, Vader pulled off her saberstaff which he had attached to his belt, ready to be handed over should the Emperor ask for it. He took it from Vader's gloved hand, and walked slowly over to where she lay, leaning against the cold metal rail.

Her head shot away from Luke as she saw the Sith Lord approach, holding her lightsaber. She drew herself up against the rail.

"Stay away from me," she hissed, but her fear was overpowering her confidence. The Emperor smiled, and turned his head toward Luke.

"Find your weapon, boy," he said to the young Jedi, who was still lying in a daze in the canisters he had been knocked into.

Anna felt the binders on her wrists fall away, and she scrambled to her feet. Finally, she was free, but her fear kept her in one place. She wouldn't loved to grab the man's neck, and watch as the life drained from his form, but after witnessing Luke channeling the Dark side, she knew that it was a dangerous path. She had to keep her emotions in check, no matter how hard it was for her.

"This weapon is unlike anything I've ever seen a Jedi wield before," the Emperor said, and held it out to her. "Put it to good use."

Anna eyed him cautiously, and with an element of confusion. Why was he offering her lightsaber to her? Did he trust her enough not to strike him down right then, subdue Vader, and escape the Death Star with Luke?

Then it dawned on her.

"You're sick," she gasped.

The Emperor laughed, but said nothing.

Behind her, she heard Luke ignite his lightsaber, and she turned her head over her shoulder. His eyes were already full of regret, but she would much rather see that than the blinding anger that he had displayed not long before.

She snatched her weapon from the Emperor's hand, and turned to face Luke.

"Do not hold back," the Emperor warned. "Or it will be worse for both of you."

And thus begins the twisting of the plot.

Maybe I've given too much away about Anna's lineage? Who knows, do you have any guesses as to who it might be?