Chapter 3 - Attack
Getting kidnapped by Ewoks to be served as a meal in Threepio's honor was not on Luke's agenda but... it worked. At least the Ewoks are on their side now.
The Ewoks are celebrating and Luke was relaxing in the moment until his thoughts start to wander again. Vader is here. If he wants to talk to his father, this might be the last chance he gets. His father is on the Death Star and it could be destroyed while he's on it. He can't let that happen. He – he has to talk to him.
Ben and Yoda can say what they want but...
If Vader used to be a good person, there has to be something of the father Luke always wanted still in him. He can't believe all of that is gone and if Vader really cares for him, then...
It's dangerous but he thinks it's a risk worth taking.
Luke stands, quietly slipping out of the hut to look up at the night sky, up to the moon far above where his father is now.
But that's when he suddenly senses something else. That other being of the Dark Side that he thought he sensed briefly when they were coming to Endor. He can feel it again. And now that he's standing out here in the darkness, it feels like – like it's coming closer?
It feels very present right here.
They hadn't seen any more traces of the people who were after Camie and he was starting to hope that maybe they lost the trail, but he must have been wrong.
A chill snakes down his spine. It's something –
Whatever it is, it's right here right now, isn't it? And it knows where they are. It's coming here.
A branch snaps somewhere close by and Luke turns sharply, scanning the trees. Uncalled for, his eyes land on a – It's too dark to see shadows moving but there are definitely yellow eyes staring at them through the shadows.
And those eyes don't belong to an animal.
Is that - ?
He's almost certain their eyes lock for a moment and it sends a spiking jolt of fear through him.
Branches snap behind him again and he whips around, half braced for an attack but it's only Leia quietly stepping out of the hut where the rest of the Ewoks are. They're making so much noise it's hard for Luke to hear anything and that's not helpful right now.
"Luke? What's wrong?" she asks.
His gaze darts between her and the eyes. The eyes are still there.
"Act casual," Luke orders, keeping his voice low.
Leia's expression flickers with a mix of fear and apprehension but she quickly schools her expression. "What's going on?"
"We're being watched. I think it's whoever's after Camie. Tell the others to be ready for an attack. I'm going to lure them out."
"By yourself?" she demands.
"I'm the only one who can handle him, if he's really a Sith," Luke replies, with a little more surety than he's feeling. They don't have time for a disturbance like this right now. It could give away their position to the Empire – to Vader – and then everything's going to be over.
Leia nods, but she doesn't look very happy. "Be careful."
"Tell Camie to stay out of sight," he adds as a final afterthought before he turns away, moving soundlessly down the path away from the others.
Time to track down whoever's out there without alerting them that he's doing so. Luke can still swear that he feels eyes on him as he moves, climbing down from the trees to silently move across the forest floor below, but when he looks back at the spot where the eyes were before, he sees nothing.
The leaves rustling over Luke's head keep making him jump as he scans his surroundings. He can feel the Sith close by but he doesn't see anything. All he knows is that he's getting closer. He presses his back against a towering tree, carefully peering around right where he thought he sensed the Sith but there's nothing –
The Force suddenly screams in warning and Luke whips around barely in time as a red lightsaber activates right through the tree he was standing in front of. One second slower, and he would've been impaled.
He draws his own blade, circling around to the other side of the tree.
The figure in the shadows is hooded, but Luke can still clearly see his glowing yellow eyes and his... face below that. He looks like a male blue Twi'lek but there's something wrong with him. Dark lines trace across his skin, almost as though his veins have turned black and are visible on the surface. He looks haunted, almost like he's decaying even though he's still alive.
So yes, maybe he recoils just a little at the sight.
A Force wave catches him, flinging him hard into a nearby tree, pinning him there.
"So a Jedi still lives," muses the deep voice. The voice feels wrong for the body. Luke can't say why.
He throws everything against the Force grip, shattering and stumbling forward unsteadily. "You're a Sith, aren't you?" he demands, eyes narrowed. Maybe he can probe for information. Not likely, but he can try.
The man laughs. "I am the strongest Sith you'll ever meet, boy. I am the only one with true right to the title Lord of the Sith."
What?
When is this Sith from?
He knows very little about Sith hierarchy or whatever, but... "I think the other Sith Lords wouldn't agree with you," Luke shoots back, hands tight on his lightsaber, the humming green blade illuminating his face.
"I have lived far longer than they can ever hope too," he sneers, "By way of the Sith, they will kneel to me if they wish to live."
A Force wave catches him, nearly throwing him again but Luke is ready this time, countering it. He skids back a few steps and then jumps at him, lightsaber raised. He has no idea who this Sith is, or how long he's been alive, but... he's obviously extremely skilled and powerful. It doesn't hit him until right now that maybe he could be even more skilled than Vader. Luke wouldn't know. But he can't back down now.
The Sith swings his blade up to parry the blow. They trade blows in a blur of red against green, Luke trying to find an opening in the Sith defenses, trying to push him back The Sith counters his every strike with ease, though. At least he doesn't have the same brute strength as Vader does, but he's still skilled.
The Sith presses his attacks, nearly taking Luke's head off and he backs away a few steps, slashing through the trunk of the tree and throwing it at the Sith. The Sith tries to shove it back at him but it's too entangled in the branches to move and it gives Luke the opportunity to dive forward, nearly stabbing through his side. The Sith whips around, parrying his blow barely in time, then going for his head again, forcing him back. The trees give him a bit of cover that make it easier but he's not any closer to winning. The Sith isn't tiring,
All he knows is that he is very lost – no idea where the Ewok camp is anymore, the duel's carried a bit of a distance away from them – not that he has the breath to think about as their blades keep clashing.
Their blades clash briefly into a saberlock, Luke struggling to hold off the other blade. "What do you want?" he grits out.
"I know she's here," he retorts, shoving Luke back hard, "And she won't escape me."
That answers nothing.
Not that he has the mind to think about it either.
He comes at Luke in a series of furious swings, the sheer force of it making him back off a bit to try recollecting himself. But he's getting a moment even for that, at least not until he backflips away, just not far enough that the Sith might take off.
The duel is fast and furious, traveling further and further through the forest. The first traces of fatigue creeping up on him are the first indication of how long they must've been fighting already. And he's still no closer to winning. It almost feels like the Sith is just toying with him. He's not even winded and he seems smug. Not the least bit worried that Luke might be able to defeat him.
A blaster shot rings out suddenly, and Luke ducks instinctively, except it was... fired at the Sith Lord instead?
Stick arrows start flying through the branches suddenly and his head turns to the shadows. He can't see much, but a small group of Ewoks is there, along with Han, Leia, and Chewie are here. At least Camie stayed away but she's out there alone now. That's not good. Hopefully the Sith won't know where to find her, at least.
The three of them are suddenly lifted in the air, an invisible Force around their necks.
It's the Sith and he's about to –
A blinding panic and rage floods him, and Luke lunges forward, swinging for him wildly.
"You have much power but no skill," the Sith says mockingly, breaking his hold only as Luke nearly cuts his hand off, except he catches the end of the lightsaber with... the Force? blocking it.
Luke growls wordlessly as he pulls back, swinging for him again.
A Force-wave catches him before he can block it, flinging him into a nearby tree and then the Sith takes off into the trees, back the way they came.
Oh no.
Luke breaks into a run after, heart pounding. This can't be happening. It can't. He's going back for Camie, isn't he? And Luke isn't able to move fast enough to stop him.
He already has a long head start and he's lost him somewhere in between the trees. He can hear Han, Leia, and Chewbacca running behind him but he doesn't stop to look back. He can move faster than any of them.
The flash of a red lightsaber in the trees up ahead is the first traces he catches of him. There's a group of stormtroopers shooting at him and he cuts his way through them all with ease. Well, this definitely means the Empire is on to them and it pretty much screws their surprise attack.
Great.
But if this is an ancient Sith Lord who's this powerful, that's probably more a concern than their surprise attack at this point.
Luke hasn't even made it all the way back to the Ewok camp yet when he hears Camie's cry of panic. He whips around to see the Sith sprinting through the trees a distance off, dragging Camie along behind him. She's trying to resist, digging her feet into the ground to slow him down but for looking like a half-rotten corpse, he seems to have nearly superhuman strength. He picks her up with the Force finally and keeps moving, ignoring her flailing.
"Luke!" she yells, seeing him.
She's panicking and it floods him with a sharp surge of anger. He's not going to let this Sith get away. He has no idea what he wants but he obviously wants her alive for some reason so they'll have a bit more time. Enough time that he can at least try to use his head and figure out a way to corner him.
More blaster shots ring out in the trees behind him and he backtracks a short ways to find Leia, Han, and Chewbacca finishing off another group of stormtroopers.
"He got 'er?" Han asks, taking one look at his face.
"Yeah but these speeders – they should help," Luke replies, heart pounding.
"Good thinking," Leia says.
There are only two so they'll have to double up. Han ends up going with Luke because the only one small enough to double up with Chewbacca is Leia, and they streak away through the trees again.
The Sith is going on foot for now so hopefully they have an advantage. Luke closes his eyes, delving deeply into the Force, trying to latch onto where the Sith is. It's hard but he's managing it – he's just not expecting to zoom out of a clearing in the trees only to come face to face with the Imperial base they were supposed to be getting to. With the slightly wider clearing in the trees, it's enough to see that the sky is starting to get light. It's nearing dawn.
Nearing the time they're supposed to be attacking this place. Well, the surprise attack is definitely screwed at this point.
There's an entire platoon of stormtroopers who are in the middle of a fight with the Sith.
"Luke!" a familiar voice yells and Camie breaks through the trees, practically throwing herself into his arms.
He catches her, squeezing her tightly in return even if the suddenness of the gesture caught him off-guard. But having her here and safe is more relieving than he can begin to say.
"We should get her out before he finishes here," Luke says, glancing around.
"If we sent her away, he'll just go after her again," points out Leia, "I think she'll be safer with us."
Maybe true even if he doesn't want to keep her so close.
Nothing seems capable of stopping this Sith and he doesn't know what to do. The Twi'lek is mid-finishing lopping off the heads of the last stormtroopers down there right when the doors to the compound open and a bunch more run out.
He raises a hand and Luke is expecting a Force shove. Instead a blinding blast of bluish-white lightning pours from his fingers, crackling through the stormtroopers. They go down screaming and he's pretty sure based on the speed the screams ends that they're totally fried. He raises his hand next, directing the lightning through the open doors of the compound. It's too blinding for Luke to look at anymore and he turns away, shielding his eyes from the worst of it.
At least until an explosion rings out and he turns back to see something blowing up inside the base. It's rapidly catching fire – he can't tell if it's from that or the sheer heat of the electricity.
This – if this is the power the Sith is capable of, he suddenly has the sinking feeling that he has no idea how he's going to defeat him. He doesn't know how to defend against that. But he's the only Jedi and he has to stop him. Somehow.
Not that they have the option of slowly slinking away into the trees and hoping he doesn't see them anymore because then he turns right towards them, silhouetted by the burning Imperial station behind him.
Well.
At least he did their mission against the Empire for them?
The shield is down now, as long as the Empire doesn't get it back up before the Rebel fleet arrives which should be within a couple hours.
"Here to meet your end?" the Twi'lek mocks, striding towards them.
Luke ignites his lightsaber again, stalking forwards. No use entertaining this line of talking. He just jumps at him again, going for his head. The Sith swings for his side, pulling back before Luek can counter him, then going for his head instead – he's so fast it's almost ridiculous and it's very hard to keep up with but he doesn't have much other choice.
The Twi'lek is backing away from him a little and he wants to think he's starting to force him back but that seems too easy. It seems more like he's leading him somewhere, very dangerously close to the still burning building. A bad place to be fighting.
The Sith cuts higher than Luke can block suddenly, lightsaber burning across his arm. He stumbles back a step – he knows how to fight through pain but a blast of lightning hitting him before he can recollect himself is the last thing he was expecting.
He goes to the ground with a strangled scream, the burning agony ripping through him. Doesn't know how long it lasts but he hears the sound of blaster shots and then the lightning stops. He forces his eyes open, trying to look up despite the quiet moan that escapes him.
There's something – someone's coming –
Doesn't have mind to think about it though when all he sees is the Sith about to jump at Han and Leia. He hears Han yelling something and Chewbacca growling and Leia yells his name and that's it – It's half of the vision he saw earlier – Force no.
Luke activates his lightsaber, throwing it at the Sith's back. He whips around, knocking it aside and then stalking towards Luke, raising his blade to bring it down for the kill.
He could try to roll out of the way but he'd never be able to make it. Never – not fast enough.
The snap-hiss of a lightsaber activating fills the air, and a red blade appears beneath the Sith's before he can swing down.
Luke looks up sharply to see... Vader?
How did he get here?
Vader shoves the Twi'lek back a step, giving Luke long enough to get to his feet, taking a few wary steps away from them. It's jarring to be looking at his father in person again – the first time he's really seen him since he found out who he was. He just never expected their reunion to go start like this. And he just saved his life. Luke doesn't know what to... think of that.
"So you are one of the Sith this Jedi was mentioning," the Twi'lek muses, staring Vader down.
"Who are you?" Vader demands, lightsaber held ready in front of him.
"The master of all the Sith," he hisses.
"There can only be two and you are not one of them."
The Twi'lek scoffs. "The reason the Sith now are weak and failing. Kneel to me as is your place or face the consequences."
Vader doesn't move – not that Luke expected otherwise. He's retreated off a few steps but he's torn between staying here to try fighting or running back to his friends for cover in the trees. They have the opportunity to run now but he – he doesn't want to leave his father alone here to face this Sith who seems just as hostile to him as he was to Luke. Vader should be fine but he doesn't know that. "I have only one master," his father replies evenly.
"You're still an apprentice?" the Twi'lek says, something like disgust in his voice.
"Why have you come here?" Vader demands, ignoring the question entirely. He's clearly not the least bit intimidated by this Sith, not that Luke thought he would be.
"For her," comes the reply and the Twi'lek gestures towards the trees.
Luke's heart skips a beat as they both turn to look at where Camie is mostly concealed in the trees.
"One of the rebels?"
"She has value to me," he replies, "That is none of your concern. Hand her over to me and I will leave you and your master's disintegrating Empire alone."
Vader's helmet turns between the Twi'lek, Camie, and Luke.
Luke can't tell what he's thinking but he's not going to wait to find out. He ignites his lightsaber, stepping forward again. "That won't be happening."
The Twi'lek laughs as though this is somehow amusing. "You believe you can stop me, Jedi? When you have already failed?"
"I'm not dead yet," he shoots back.
Which was probably a mistake because an invisible Force suddenly wraps around his neck, lifting him off the ground. He tries to suck in a sharp breath, but he can't –
Vader lifts a hand, hurling the Twi'lek back so far and fast that he nearly flies right into the wall of the burning building. "You will not harm him," the cyborg warns dangerously, striding forward.
Wait, he –
He's protecting him.
It doesn't surprise him exactly but it still means a lot. More than he could ever say.
"Then you will die together," the Twi'lek snarls and jumps at them. Vader catches him in a Force-choke, side-stepping his lightsaber swing as he ignites his own, running it through the Twi'lek's chest.
There's a frozen moment of nothing before Vader flicks off his lightsaber, taking a step back. The Twi'lek falls to the ground, crumpling as though dead in an instant.
That seemed...
Way too easy.
If it was that easy, why didn't Luke manage to kill him long ago? To be fair, he wasn't near powerful enough to pin that Sith Lord in place with the Force, but this still feels too simple to be over already.
Vader is still standing rigid, looking at the body as though expecting something.
He is dead, though. Luke can feel and see it.
Vader's head is already turning towards him now. Luke stands momentarily frozen, staring back at him. He wanted to talk to him, to see him again. He just didn't expect it to be right now and definitely not when he has an audience.
Nor did he expect it to be right after Vader saved his life.
"Father," Luke says finally. He can feel the flares of shock from all his friends. Mostly disbelief for Han and Leia. Camie doesn't seem that surprised even if she's obviously taken aback. He'll have a lot of explaining to do later.
He can practically feel Vader's gaze, through the helmet. "So you have expected the truth."
Luke lifts his head, meeting the red tinted visor. "I have accepted the truth of who you once were."
"That name no longer has any meaning to me." It's so hard to tell the tone through how the vocodor distorts his voice. What does he really sound like? Or look like? Is it like Luke himself or... Leia? He always thought it was like him but he doesn't know that.
"You helped me now," Luke argues, "I think that means something."
"You are my son. I need no other reason," he replies, as though it's all that matters.
It warms something deep in his chest, something he never – expected. "Then come with me," Luke requests. "I know there is still good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully. You would be gone before he even knew. You can leave with me."
Vader doesn't immediately reply. Instead, his helmet is slowly turning to look upward.
The low drone of an engine catches Luke's attention and it draws his gaze to the sky. The sun is starting to rise now golden sunlight flooding the trees beyond them.
He doesn't miss the way Vader sort of freezes, going entirely rigid as his helmet turns to watch the incoming ship.
Luke can't tell what it is he's sensing, but it feels like the Dark Side. It feels so much like the Sith they just... killed but twisted with something else. Something's – not right There's something –
Why does it feel like a battle of the Dark Side going on right over their heads when everything looks peaceful except for the approaching shuttle? An Imperial shuttle.
"This is not over yet," Vader replies, hand lowering back to his lightsaber.
"What's happening?" Luke asks, anxiety rising. His gaze darts to Camie again, where she's standing in the tree line watching him. She is in danger here and he doesn't want her to be where she can get hurt. She's not like with his other friends – she's not half as trained for this. And there's something... He still doesn't quite know what to think of it, or what to do with – such feelings but he does not want anything to happen to her. He won't let anyone hurt her, least of all this Sith who is obviously dead so why does Luke suddenly sense him again?
"He is a spirit," Vader intones, "This body was not his." He gestures to the corpse on the ground.
Wait.
What?
"How's that possible?" he protests, spluttering. And so confused.
"He has found another host," Vader warms ominously. "Stay back."
Luke watches him, warily. What does that mean – what does that mean –
The shuttle lands a short distance away in the trees. Luke has no idea what he's expecting to see but the last thing he expected was for a hooded, robed figure to step off the ramp.
It's the Emperor.
He's seen him in holograms before. But there's something wrong with him. The veins of his face rare slowly turning black, the exact same way as the Twi'lek's were.
"Your master paid the price of his stupidity," the voice rasps. It's deep and unpleasant and comes out as a sort-of hiss but it doesn't sound like it entirely belongs to the body either.
Because he's being possessed by a spirit.
Oh Force
This Sith is – a lot more powerful than what Luke ever imagined. He didn't even know this was possible. And if he can just be stabbed and then possess someone else, how are they supposed to stop him? He'd ask his father but he doesn't think he can well ask in front of said Sith.
"What do you want with Camie?" Luke demands, taking a step forward. He can't deny feeling safer with Vader standing at his side. At least he doesn't have to do this alone.
"I have lived for millennia," the Sith replies, mockingly, "And I at last found a body that will not deteriorate. You will not stand in my way."
Camie.
He's planning to possess her? He feels her flare of fear and Luke's anger surges instantly. He's not going to let that happen. No matter what. And they have to stop this anyway no matter what. Somehow. He's too dangerous for them to let get away, especially if he literally just possessed the Emperor – the Emperor who Yoda was saying he had to confront too. At least the Emperor is gone now but that doesn't solve this problem.
If he's planning to possess Camie, why hasn't he done it already? Or is there something more complicated involved that Luke doesn't know about and doesn't want to?
But they'll have to figure it out and fast if any of them are going to be getting out of this alive.
The memory of the last bit of his vision about Vader that hasn't happened yet flickers through Luke's mind and his heart skips a beat. This is – this could get bad. Very bad.
For the first time, he truly has a very bad feeling about this.
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