Chapter Twenty:
Into The Heart of The Dark Side
He could sense it, even from down below. The fleet had arrived, and the battle had begun.
In that moment, Luke and Ahsoka could hear the sound of explosions from above, the strong indication that Rebel fighters had gotten past the Imperial ships above and were attacking the surface. Luke felt his sister's presence in The Force, and he knew she had to be on the Falcon.
Both Jedi weren't that far from the Imperial Palace at this point, and they couldn't let the battle impede them. Luke and Ahsoka dashed through the sewer tunnel, and smashed a pair of patrolling Imperial droids against the wall with the sweep of a hand and the will of their minds. Luke studied the tunnels, looking for the passageway that would lead into the palace.
With each crucial moment that passed for the two Jedi, the Force spoke to them, warning of Vader's presence and telling the Force users of how close they were. The top of the tunnel shuddered to an explosion above.
Luke opened his eyes and stepped forth again, with Ahsoka following him. They were near the perimeter of the Imperial Palace, and they had to keep following the sewer tunnel. A service hatch was around the next corner, around one of the adjacent sections.
The duo gripped their lightsabers, prepared to defend themselves against Imperial forces at any moment. Once more, Luke heard the Force speak, warning him that Vader was aware he was coming. The darkness was getting stronger, and stronger, the closer both Jedi got to the palace above.
A dragon began to emerge in Luke's heart, representing the Dark Side, and slithered its way into his mind, whispering menacingly to him. The dragon offered no help, only discouraging sentiments.
'You can't succeed, Jedi.' The dragon whispered, 'The Dark Side consumes all. Your father, Anakin Skywalker, is past the point of no return. Only Darth Vader remains. Serve... Serve...'
"I think this is it." Ahsoka said.
She and Luke had followed a small trail of water to a ladder, which led upward through the ceiling, all the way into a service hatch. The Force was singing to the Force-sensitive pilot, telling him he was at the X on the map in his mind. The palace was above, and so was Vader.
And so were whole platoons of Stormtroopers, along with who knew how many officers.
It was too late to reconsider, too late for second thoughts. Luke deactivated his lightsaber temporarily, and began to climb the ladder. Ahsoka soon followed, with her lightsabers shut down for the moment as well. More explosions echoed above, and dust fell from the ceiling. Both Jedi climbed through the hatch, and Luke reached out for a button on a nearby panel.
His hand accessed the mechanism, and the hatch doors slid open, enabling the Jedi to continue further up the ladder until the next door above them opened.
Ahsoka and Luke found the interior of the Imperial Palace waiting for them outside the service hatch. They climbed out, setting foot into the grandiose halls of what had once been the Jedi Temple from the days of the Republic.
Red banners with the Imperial insignia hung over the walls, and Luke heard the sound of radio chatter as Stormtroopers hurried everywhere. The young Jedi and his father's former apprentice treaded down the hallway, keeping alert for Imperial forces, while the sounds of starfighter blasters firing echoed through the walls.
An explosion shook the palace, and debris fell from the ceiling.
"HALT! INTRUDERS IN SECTOR EIGHT!"
Luke and Ahsoka ignited their lightsabers, and faced the white-armored guards they'd just encountered. The Stormtroopers took aim, and red-orange energy bolts burst out of their barrels, streaking towards the two Rebel Jedi as the Imperials engaged in combat.
The Force swam through Luke's body, and the knowledge of his training coursed into every inch of his body. He brought up the green blade, blocking the fast-moving bolts of dangerous energy, and Ahsoka brought up her shining white lightsabers, swiftly deflecting the stormtroopers' fire alongside the Jedi-pilot.
Concentration and calmness were the key, and both Jedi reflected the guards' firepower back in the Imperials' direction. Pieces of armor exploded, and the guards collapsed, with smoke rising from the top of their helmets and their chest area.
Red-orange bolts whizzed around the Jedi duo, sweeping past their shoulders, and Ahsoka spun around with her lightsabers raised. Luke turned, seeing more stormtroopers approaching with a pair of red-robed guards.
"This is Unit 83!" A trooper yelled, "Jedi have been spotted in the Imperial Palace! Moving to neutralize! Requesting back up!"
Defensive reflexes were working overtime. Luke and Ahsoka's sabers swung through the air, deflecting blaster fire in random directions, and the Red Guard moved in, with steel pikes at the ready. Luke wielded the Force, letting its energy help to protect him and the Torgruta fighting beside him, and incoming blaster bolts were deflected into the faces of the red guard.
Even when the Jedi were able to take out their enemies, they could sense more troops and guards were on their way, and most of the stormtroopers were still standing.
It was a stand-off.
And there was only one way out.
Luke pushed out with the Force, knocking the rows of Imperials back, then he and Ahsoka darted down the nearest hallway, dodging Stormtrooper fire while they evaded a pair of Red Guards exiting a turbo-lift. The guards hefted their pikes, attempting to cut down the intruding Jedi, and Ahsoka twirled around the Imperials, with her lightsaber cutting through their necks.
Heads covered in red-black helmets collapsed to the floor, followed by the bodies, with their weapons clattering to the ground. Ahsoka and Luke wove their way down the hall, and threw themselves behind a large pillar that ascended towards the ceiling.
Behind them, Stormtroopers were in pursuit.
Down the hall, a pair of Imperials were heading towards the Jedi.
The trap of the Dark Side was closing, but Luke knew it was unlikely the Stormtroopers, or the guards, or the officers would actually kill him or Ahsoka. Vader wanted Luke alive, and he already sensed his presence. The rebel pilot looked over at the former Torgruta Padawan, and they dashed towards a lift on their right.
A Stormtrooper emerged from the elevator, with his blaster ready, and Ahsoka unleashed the Force, knocking the trooper aside before he could open fire. Both Jedi ducked inside the lift, and Luke tapped the 'up' button on the control panel.
The lift closed, and began moving upward. Seconds later, the doors swung open, and the Jedi stepped out to find themselves on the second level of the palace. Stormtroopers were running at them from all directions, with their blasters aimed at Luke and Ahsoka.
"We have the intruders!" One of the guards shouted.
'And we have the Force.' Luke thought.
He and Ahsoka made their move, reaching out again, and a group of the white-armored Imperials were sent flying. Their blasters dropped from their hands, and the Jedi dove down the hall to the next lift as blaster fire screamed around them. Ahsoka sliced down a Red Guard, and stepped into the nearby elevator before the doors closed behind the Force users.
Luke tapped the button that pointed to the upper levels of the palace, following the tune of the Force as he sensed for his father's location. Vader was waiting, somewhere above him and Ahsoka. The former moisture farmer turned off his weapon, and the Torgruta did the same. The elevator continued to ascend, and the walls resonated with a chiming sound.
Once more, the dragon spoke to Luke;
'You can't fight forever, Skywalker. Your father can never be turned from the Dark Side, and your friends are going to fail. The Empire will reign supreme over the Galaxy as it was destined.'
The lift stopped, and the doors rolled open, allowing Luke and Ahsoka to enter the palace's upper levels. A few Stormtroopers came at them, opening fire without delay, and the Jedi deflected the moving bolts of concentrated energy back at the Imperials. The three-armored soldiers fell, and both Jedi wove around them, moving towards the door at the end of the hallway.
He was on the other side, waiting patiently.
Luke and Ahsoka kept their lightsabers out at the ready, and moved towards the door, seeing no other guards in sight. Sensors stirred, and the doorway rolled open. Luke and Ahsoka walked through the archway, entering the throne room of the palace. Faint starfighter engines and laser fire filled their ears, and the two Rebels noticed the large window on their left.
Coruscant was engulfed in war, and explosions were filled the smoke-filled sky as Rebel bombers dropped their payloads on Imperial installations. X-Wings streaked past, followed by TIE Fighters, and a Gozanti-class cruiser crashed into the street, engulfed in flames.
The battle was not Luke's concern, nor was it Ahsoka's concern, not when they could sense the dark presence of the one they'd come to face.
"I have been waiting, Luke."
Luke and Ahsoka looked ahead.
And there was Vader, standing near the throne, and staring ominously at them from behind his helmet. His cold mechanical breathing carried through the room, resonating off the wall ominously, and Luke could feel the tug of the Dark Side, like a river of darkness preparing to swallow him.
Vader stepped forward, his cape moving lightly behind him, and the two Jedi gripped the hilts of their lightsabers. Somewhere within Luke's mind, he could hear Obi-Wan's guiding voice; 'Luke. The Force will be with you. Always.'