AN: Just a heads up. My wife and I are getting ready to move back to the mainland US in a few weeks (along with multiple family visits both going and receiving before that) so I'm gonna be pretty busy for a while. I'll still try to write when I can but I'm only going to be posting things for the poll winner and the 'posted till completion' stories until I'm settled into a new place, whenever that is. I'll be preparing a big update once I'm settled in to make up for everything.

AN2: Recently got Jedi Survivor and I'm loving the game. Gonna be incorporating some elements into the story, but I'll give it a few chapters so that anyone who hasn't finished it won't be spoiled.

Shadow of the Force

Chapter 25

-Palpatine-

Frowning, hood hiding most of his features, Palpatine tapped his long nails repeatedly on the armrest of his throne. The sound being the only one left in the throne room now that cooling corpse at his feet had stopped screaming. Hearing the door finally open, he looked up to see Mara Jade, now his sole surviving apprentice, enter. The woman easily took in his displeasure as it rippled through the Force, as well as the charred body at his feet.

"What is your bidding my master?" She kneeled down before him. He could easily read the thoughts racing through her mind, fears of herself being the cause of his fury. Of wondering where the Grand Inquisitor was. And more.

"The Grand Inquisitor…is dead." Palpatine hissed out, yellowed nails digging into the metal of his throne as he gripped it tight, the force strengthening his body as the metal warped under his grip, "It was my former Apprentice. I can feel it in the Force. Along with him an entire Star Destroyer and the captives the Grand Inquisitor had managed to collect are all gone."

"When do we strike?" Mara Jade's eyes blazed, eager for blood and glory. To prove herself to him.

"You will be leading an assault against the Rebel Forces currently amassed on the Frozen World of Hoth." He shook his head.

"We…you're just going to let Skywalker get away with it?!" Mara Jaded gaped at him incredulously before letting out a strangled sound, eyes widening as he could see her throat closing from the force choke.

"You stupid girl." Palpatine sneered, letting her breathe before she could pass out, "Those prisoners would attack the once Vader on sight. Either he tries to keep them and they'll either attack him or make him a target for the other rebels more than he already was. The other option was he might seek to use them as a bargaining chip. Either way, we would still have to find them. The 'original Rebel Faction', on the other hand, we know exactly where to find. I'd rather minimize the chance of being attacked from behind when we do eventually end the line of Skywalker."

"Yes…Master." Mara Jade gasped out, some indignant rage finally forming in the girl's mind over the loyalty she felt towards him and his empire. Good, a proper Sith needed to hate…so long as they knew their place.

"Then go. Prepare the forces under your command and take Hoth in my name." He ordered the girl, "I must see to who shall oversee the Inquistorius now that its previous Grand was gone." Not to mention he wished to check on improved Death Star's construction, "Prove yourself…and you might earn your Sith Name."

-Harry-

Steepling his fingers, Harry looked at the various members of his war council he'd gathered, the call from Anakin Skywalker still weighing heavy in the room.

"I…that was him?" Luke looked over at Obi-Wan who knew Anakin the best of everyone assembled at the table.

"Yes and no. That wasn't quite the Anakin I once called brother but neither did that feel like Darth Vader. But a shade torn between the two." Obi-Wan ran a hand through his beard, "I can say that he wasn't lying. Anakin was never able to lie to me."

"So, he wasn't lying about." Marris grunted, "I still don't think I trust him around Lu-everyone." Harry suppressed a smirk at the woman's near slip up. He was rooting for them, and more good news was always welcome.

"I plan to go there to the meeting." Harry spoke bluntly, "Luke, Leia, Obi-Wan. You may come if you wish, or you can join the teams looking for more force sensitives or scattered Mandalorian clans."

"I…would like to go." Obi-Wan decided, "I need to speak with him again."

"I…don't know." Luke admitted nervously, "Part of me wants to meet him, but another part is afraid, you know?"

"If you go, I'll come with you." Marris gave Harry a look, not willing to back down on that point and her presence seemed to reassure Luke.

"I won't be." Leia shook her head as Harry looked her way, "I have found word of survivors of Alderan. People who were off world when it was destroyed." Her gaze hardened, "I yet remain Princess of Alderan. Those are my people, and I will not leave them to wander aimlessly, at risk of being found to the empire."

"Take at least one other inner circle with you." Harry nodded, in approval of the mission as Leia nodded relieved he wasn't protesting with different orders for her.

"I will go with her." Oola spoke up, his wife having an expression on her face that he didn't recognize but didn't think too much about it, he'd have time later.

"I'll go with you." Luke decided before wincing and sending an apologetic glance at Marris who was giving him 'the look' "I mean we." The Zabrak commander nodded satisfied "I think I'll regret it if I run from him on this." Harry nodded as more and more of the council got their orders.

Some, such as Dobby, would be staying on Mandalore to help oversee repairs and be prepared to deal with any counter attacks from the empire.

Others, Kal and his crew, would be heading out to collect more allies scattered throughout the galaxy.

His every gut instinct along with the Force was telling him that things were going to start escalating soon. More battles, more blood, and more death. His people were going to need every advantage they could get.

"If that is all, then I will be going." The raspy voice of Grievous coughed out, the cyborg being the first to rise from the table "I have soldiers to train." the tactical genius had taken well to working with the Mandalorians. He almost felt pity for anyone those soldiers would face. Almost.

Nodding, and seeing the various groups splitting off to go see to their missions, Harry gave Oola one last kiss before she and Leia departed.

"Where are we meeting Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked, the man sounding both fearful and hopeful all at once.

"Ilum." Harry stated as he headed to his ship, those coming with him trailing behind, "The Empire finished their mining operations a few years ago so the place has been largely abandoned ever since."

Obi-Wan let out a little snort, "Anakin would at least know the place well given how often he was forced to go there when he was younger."

"He was? Why?" Luke blinked curiously as they exited the palace, heading for the Citadel.

"Because he kept losing or breaking his sabers and had to constantly get new ones." Obi-Wan sighed, but Harry could hear the fondness in his tone at the memories, "It only got worse when the Clone Wars began."

"My old Master told me a bit about him." Marris spoke up with a frown, "I was still a toddler when Master Ti escaped with me during the Purge, so I don't remember him myself."

"Most of those who were around during the Clone Wars could have told you stories." Obi-Wan sighed, "Anakin was," the old man trailed off, considering the right word "I suppose magnetic is apt. He always seemed to get involved in things, or drew in people's attention. Both the good and the bad. Every Master on the council had a strong opinion on him, whether that was positive or negative."

"How do you think he'll react to us being there?" Luke asked softly as the Citadel began to rise up into the air.

"Vader would be angry. Anakin would be nervous and trying to get closer to you without making it worse while making some absolutely awful Jokes and small talk." Obi-Wan shook his head, "How he reacts…that will answer several questions I have as well."