A Journey of Discovery -- Book One: Pendulum Chapter 12 By Michele See Chapter 1 for disclaimer Rated PG-13 As they reached the steps to the Emperor's throne, Luke and Mara were roughly shoved to their knees by their guards, who in turn were immediately dismissed by their ruler. Palpatine casually flicked a finger, and their manacles clattered to the floor, just as Luke's had on the Death Star. "So, my children," the withered sovereign crowed, "you thought you could escape. I offered you power and prestige, but you chose poverty and hunger." "We chose freedom," Mara spat, clenching her now freed fists. "The only foolish thing I did was follow you blindly for years." "Watch your tongue, Mara Jade, or I shall change my mind and delegate you to be the first to die, instead of the Princess." At the word 'princess,' Luke's head snapped up, dread filling his eyes. "Yes, my young Jedi, your turn will come also," the Emperor rasped. "But I deemed it would be an even more rewarding punishment to have you witness the deaths of those you care for before you suffer your own miserable end." A hologram suddenly flickered to life near Palpatine's throne, showing Han and Leia now bound in what appeared to be an interrogation chamber. "She and her pitiful Rebellion have been thorns in my side for too long now," Palpatine sneered, as he pointed one bony finger at the wavering image and shot arrows of pain into Leia through the Force. Even as the others watched the diminutive princess suddenly scream in anguish, Luke crumpled forward, catching himself with one hand while holding his side with the other. His actions even caught Palpatine momentarily off-guard. "You have developed a strong bond with Organa," he stated slowly, testing his words by again inflicting Leia with unbridled torment, this time in her head. Luke clutched his own head for an instant, but just as quickly lowered his hands and gritted his teeth in determination. *Don't let him hurt her, Father,* he sent pleadingly to Vader, shielding his silent communication as best he could from the Emperor. *I cannot interfere, my son,* was the only reply Luke received. "No!" In desperation, Luke sent a Force shove to the Emperor's hand as he raised it once more to strike at his sister. "You dare to match your pitiful strength against my power," Palpatine cackled as he held both Luke and Mara in vice-like Force grips while simultaneously sending bolts of agony to Leia. "Father, please just save Leia," Luke cried, out loud this time. "You should be more concerned with your own welfare, Jedi," Palpatine interjected before Vader could speak, "instead of ..." "Sister," Darth Vader finished, coming a step closer to Luke as realization swept through him. "The Princess is your twin sister. My daughter." "How can you let him destroy your own family?" Mara addressed the Dark Lord as Luke struggled to withstand yet another attack, this one directed at both him and his twin. She bent to help him, but was immediately pushed back by a powerful Force shove from Palpatine. "I will deal with you in good time, traitor," the Emperor viciously sent to his former Hand. "Father," Luke begged, his body racked with excruciating pain. "Help us..." Vader stared at the malevolent grimace on his master's face, as his son's pleas continued to fill the room. "Father...please." Luke was weakening under the merciless assault, as Palpatine had now turned his full attention to the young Jedi. "Stop!" Vader took a step toward his emperor. "You will not kill my children!" Palpatine paused in his torment of Luke, but didn't seem surprised by his servant's protest. "Then, Lord Vader, it is you who must die. Your powerful son will take his rightful place at my side, after all." The Emperor stopped Vader's approach with a bolt of Force lightening. "As you well know," he cackled, "there can be only two." Vader staggered back slightly, quickly raising his lightsaber to fend off the bolt. "He will never join you!" he declared, as Palpatine increased the potency of the energy bolts. "His rage at witnessing the murder of his only parent should be sufficient to cause him to turn, just as it was for you." The Emperor turned his full attention to Vader, summoning more dark power than was conceivable. "The added deaths of his sister and his traitorous lover will be that much more incentive." "No!" A new sense of determination filled Darth Vader. He had allowed Palpatine to control him for over half of his life; he would not allow the same fate for his son. Killing the ruthless despot wouldn't atone for all the atrocities he himself had committed, but it was all he had to offer. Mara Jade watched in horror as the Dark Lord of the Sith battled her former master. She had risen once, intending to circle behind Palpatine and join in the assault, but without warning she was hurled against the far wall by an unseen force. His Excellency had no trouble with split concentration. Crawling back to Luke's side, she could feel both his lingering weakness and his relief that the assault on Leia had ended. But overriding those emotions was a deep feeling of anxiety for his father. Expecting him to forego common sense and try to join in the battle also, she was surprised to see an intense look of concentration filling his face. She soon realized what he was doing, and reaching out to clutch his hand, didn't hesitate to join him. Although he was besieged by multiple injuries, Darth Vader continued to fight against the Emperor's relentless onslaught. Suddenly, he felt new strength pulse through his limbs. Luke was sending him additional Force power! Jade, too, seemed to be channeling her strength to him through Luke. The entire throne room crackled as rivulets of Force-powered electricity arced their way across the ceiling and floor, flaring up violently as darkside and lightside energies connected. With both Luke and Mara augmenting his own formidable power, Darth Vader was able to go on the offensive, his blue blade meeting and returning each incoming firebolt with unbelievable speed. His old lightsaber had been constructed as a weapon for a Jedi of the Light, and for the first time in many, many years, it felt like it belonged in his grasp. "You will pay for this, Vader," the Emperor grated out as he swayed under the trenchancy of his servant's crushing assault. With his face contorted in anger and the effectiveness of his lightening bolts diminishing, Palpatine then sent chairs, tables, statuary, every inanimate object in the room flying at his opponent. But unlike Luke on Bespin, Vader was prepared. He sent the deluge back at his master with practiced ease. "No, Palpatine," Vader growled, all pretext of homage to his master gone from his voice. "It is you who will regret underestimating the united power of the Skywalkers." Mara pulled Luke behind a sturdy pillar as the Force whirlwind swept the room. Behind her, she could hear guards pounding ineffectively on the locked doors. Beside her, Luke's eyes were focused solely on his father, though he gripped Mara's hand tightly. She could feel the raw power pouring out of him, manifested outwardly only by the beads of sweat that trickled down his face. But it was what she could see on her former master's face that captured Mara's attention -- a glint of fear in his yellow eyes. Palpatine was straining to fend off Vader's potent onslaught, even as the dark lord's echoing wheezing gave testimony to his own dwindling strength. Finally, Vader lunged at his master just as Palpatine conjured up an enormous ball of fire. Even as the conflagration was destroying his breathing apparatus, Vader reached through the flames with his lightsaber, cutting down Palpatine in one clean stroke. Luke and Mara covered their faces as a violent darkside explosion filled the throne room, slamming into them with unbridled energy. At last, the Emperor was no more. As Darth Vader collapsed to the floor, he knew he would not survive much longer. Dimly he could hear his son's voice as Luke clamored to his side, begging him to hang on. Luke knelt by his father, cradling him in his arms. "Father, don't die. Hold on, we'll get you out of here," he cried, tears threatening to spill. "It is ... too late ... for me, Luke." "Please, Father ..." "Help me, Luke ..." Vader rasped in a hoarse whisper, making a feeble attempt at raising one hand toward his face. "Help me ... take this mask ... off." "But you'll die," Luke objected weakly, his voice cracking with despair. "Nothing ... can stop that now ..., my son. Just once ..., I want to see you with ... my own eyes." Slowly, carefully, Luke did as his father requested. Tears sprang to his eyes as he finally gazed upon the scarred, deathly white visage of Anakin Skywalker. Luke could feel Mara's light, comforting touch on his shoulder. "Luke, I hear explosions," she whispered hesitantly. "I think the palace is under attack." Luke realized he hadn't even noticed as the distant sounds of an artillery bombardment pierced the eerie stillness of the shattered chamber. "Go, my son. You both must ... escape." The dying patriarch's voice was growing weaker by the moment as he drank in the sight of his precious son. Luke was shaking his head adamantly. "No, you're coming with us," he protested. "You must,... Luke." Anakin paused, wracked by a violent cough. The boy was as stubborn as his mother. "You have ... a great destiny to fulfill, my son, ... to rebuild ... what I have destroyed. Now ... leave me." "But I can't leave you here. I won't." Luke clasped his father's hand, begging him to understand. "I've got to save you." "You already have, my son." Anakin took another strangled breath before continuing. There was so much he still wanted to say to his son, so much he needed to say. "Your mother ... named you well, Luke. You have brought ... the Light ... to me, and dispelled ... the Darkness. You were right about me. Tell your sister ... you were right. Tell her ... I am sorry." Feebly he raised his right hand, still clutching his old lightsaber. "This is yours ... " he trailed off. "Now, go, Luke." "Father, no!" Luke cried out in anguish. "Don't leave me..." he trailed off in a choking sob. Anakin gave a great heaving cough, then shifted his unfocused eyes to Mara. "Take care of each other," he addressed them both with barely a whisper. Then Anakin Skywalker, filled once more with the Light of the Force, closed his eyes and died. Luke clutched his father's body tightly, weeping quietly into the coarse folds of heavy black cloth. Her own eyes wet, Mara gently pulled him back as the sound of guards torching through the heavy doors drew closer. "Luke, we have to get out of here. We have to go get Leia and Han." At this, Luke slowly straightened up and wiped his sleeve across his eyes. "You did save him, Luke," Mara consoled him quietly. "There's nothing more you can do here, but your sister still needs you." Luke nodded, carefully releasing his father's body and rising to stand just as stormtroopers burst into the throne room. As the troopers hesitated a second, taking in the destruction that lay before them, Mara spied Luke's own-built saber, lying among the pieces of black rubble that had once been the Emperor's throne. Snatching it up, she snapped the green blade on and heard Luke do the same with his father's weapon. Together, they easily defeated the disorganized stormtroopers. Luke started for the doors, but Mara called him back. "Wait! The Emperor's private lift will be faster!" She hurried to an isolated corner of the throne room, pushing debris out of her way. Luke followed, shaking himself out of his daze. Mara was right; he needed to pull himself together and concentrate on rescuing Leia and Han now. Pausing near the large transparisteel window, he was startled to see Rebel snub fighters making strafing runs across the cityscape. "Stang!" Mara cursed loudly as she punched at the controls. "I'm locked out!" A nearby explosion rocked the chamber, and Luke recognized it as a proton torpedo detonating. He grabbed Mara's hand and dragged her toward the open doorway. "Then we go out the way we came," he insisted. They reached the main bank of turbolifts, but the indicator lights showed them all in use, starting and stopping at nearly every floor. "This way!" Mara headed toward the stairwell. "There's another set of lifts ten levels down." As they scurried down the steps, they were soon joined by others fleeing the bombardment. No one took the time to even notice the shabbily dressed pair of refugees with unlit lightsabers clutched in their hands. The entire group spilled out of the stairway door when they reached their common destination, and were immediately confronted with a scene of mass chaos. Throngs of people hammered at the turbolift doors in desperation. Palace guards were being overwhelmed by the crowd's panic, their orders for everyone to remain calm lost among the deafening cries. Elegantly-dressed politicians pushed and shoved their way next to plainly-clad servants. "The Emperor will save us!" one man shouted above the din, just as the walls and floor shook from another explosion. "The Emperor has probably already abandoned us," someone else retorted, and no one disputed his claim. A dozen people tried to force their way onto a lift that was already jammed full, cursing and wailing when they were pushed away. "Back to the stairs!" Mara called to Luke, as they were caught up in the scores of frightened people taking the same path. They soon found it necessary to grip hands to avoid being separated in the chaotic mob. Alarms began blaring all around them, echoing loudly in the stairway shaft. *Could we use the secret passages?* Luke asked silently. He was relieved to feel his strength returning as adrenaline pumped through his body. *If we can make it out of here to get to an entrance,* Mara sent back, pushing her way past a corpulent dignitary. She and Luke squeezed through the panicked crowd to reach the nearest exit, spilling out with several others onto the sixty-third floor. They were nearly swept up with a mob of assorted beings all fleeing in one direction along the wide hallway. "Where are they all going?" Luke asked, stepping back as a stormtrooper passed him without so much as a glance his way. The entire scene reminded him of the poor souls fleeing Xixor's palace before Lando's thermal detonator brought the building down. "There's a landing platform on this level," Mara returned, already pulling him against the flow toward the nearest passage entrance. "They'll be over-running anything that flies." "Mara?" The frightened feminine voice behind her caused Mara to whirl around in consternation. A group of four young women huddled against the wall, their shimmering costumes crushed in disarray. "Mara!" another of the women repeated, relief evident in her voice. "We thought that was you," she said, as her gaze took in Mara's disheveled appearance and darkened locks. "What's happening?!" wailed a blonde girl who appeared younger than the others. "What should we do?" "The palace is under attack," Mara hastily explained the obvious. She shot a glance at the throng that still pushed past them. "You need to get to the lower levels, then away from the palace." "But the Emperor..." one of them protested. "Surely he ..." "The Emperor's dead," Mara bit out. She looked aside at Luke, who was listening to the conversation in wide-eyed wonder. "Come with us," she said suddenly, starting back along her escape route. Putting their faith in Mara's leadership, the four women followed quickly, being no strangers to obeying orders without question. Mara ducked into a nearby office, now deserted by its occupants. She led the little group into an adjoining storage area, and began shoving empty cartons aside to reach her goal. *Who...?* Luke began, eyeing their new companions. *Dancers,* Mara replied quickly as she felt for the hidden release mechanism. Luke glanced over his shoulder once more. *You mean there really are court dancers?* Mara paused and gave him an incredulous look. *Of course! I told you that was my cover at court.* Shaking her head, she resumed her task, and soon a meter-square panel in the wall slid aside. "All right, listen up," Mara announced to her new charges. "We're going to get out through here. It's going to be pitch-black, so everyone will have to stay close together." "What is this place?" one of the girls questioned from the middle of the group, her curiosity overcoming her terror as she peered over a companion's shoulder into the inky darkness of the passageway. "The Emperor's secret escape route," Mara responded. "And don't even ask how I know about this," she added as one of them started to speak up. "It's better you don't know." "Is he coming with us?" the blonde asked, sizing Luke up with interest. Mara had a reputation as a loner; it was unusual to find her with a handsome, albeit poorly-dressed, young man. "Yes," Mara shot back quickly. "Now, ..." "Is he yours?" the same girl persisted. "Or is he up for grabs?" Mara rolled her eyes in exasperation, then caught the embarrassed look on Luke's face. "He's mine." Sith, that didn't come out right. "I mean, he's my assignment." She grabbed Luke's arm, pulling him toward the opening. "We don't have time for this," she growled under her breath. "Now join hands, and follow us," Mara instructed sternly, causing the quartet to lapse into silence. Behind her she sensed Luke taking the hand of the front-most girl, and without hesitation the group began their flight through the dark, dusty corridor, Mara expertly leading the way. Wish I had a glow rod, Mara thought, as she used the Force to anticipate upcoming twists and turns. *You do,* Luke sent back, hearing her nonetheless. *Hanging from your belt. Built it myself.* *You could have spoken up sooner,* she grumbled back, irritated at herself for not thinking of the lightsaber already. *You told me days ago that you were in charge of our whole escape,* he replied as he heard her switching on his saber, her outline now bathed in soft green light. *I figured that meant until we got off-planet.* *One of these days, farmboy...* Mara trailed off, seething at his impertinence. Luke smiled, allowing himself a moment of contentment. Can't wait, Mara. Can't wait. With their barely-contained panic supplementing their natural athleticism, the dancers had little trouble keeping up with their two guides. Several times the group paused to brace themselves when explosions shook the structure. Before they knew it, Mara called a halt to their trek, leading them out into a nearly deserted hallway. "Go out that way," she instructed the girls, pointing toward a nearby archway. "It will take you to a walkway that should be a safe passage from the palace." "Aren't you coming?" one of the girls asked, pausing behind the others. Mara shook her head. "We still have unfinished business here." The girl glanced at Mara and her mysterious companion, then turned and fled with the others. As Luke and Mara reentered the passageway, Mara reflected on what had just transpired. Two weeks ago, she would have never stopped to help anyone else, especially someone as lowly as a dancer. Blast, this guy was rubbing off on her, she thought, as Luke's footsteps echoed behind her. He was going to turn her into some kind of weak-minded almsgiver yet. The pair soon reached the detention levels. Unlike the upper floors of the palace, the stormtroopers here remained at their posts, and the outside bombardment could only be faintly heard. Luke easily zeroed in on his sister's presence, and they quickly located Han and Leia in a chamber near their old cell. He and Mara dispatched the surrounding guards with no trouble, moving expertly in tandem with each other. "You guys been practicing those moves together?" Han quipped, impressed in spite of himself at the skill Luke and Mara had just displayed. He flexed his stiff limbs as Mara undid his shackles. Sensing Luke's somber mood, Mara answered for them both. "No, Solo." She glanced across at Luke, who had already released his sister and was now nodding at Leia's assurances that she was all right. "Guess it just comes natural to us." "He's gone, Leia," Luke was choking out to his twin. "He killed the Emperor, but I couldn't save him. Father died for us." "Oh, Luke." Leia hugged her brother close to her. "He was a good man inside, Leia. He told me to tell you ..." Luke paused, grief filling him once more. He looked up, catching Mara's upraised eyebrows and 'you can tell her later' expression. The floor beneath them shook as a torpedo found its target close to them. "Let's get the hell out of here," Han spoke up, taking charge of the situation. "They've started the attack early!" "Speaking of which," Mara began, grinning to herself when she spotted her wrist blaster in a pile of confiscated weapons. "What in blazes is going on out there?" "The Alliance is striking at Coruscant," Leia explained hurriedly. "We have to escape before the whole palace comes down." "No kidding," Mara retorted smartly. They made their way out of the chamber, Han and Leia now armed with blaster rifles seized from stormtroopers that no longer needed them. As they progressed down the corridor, Mara suddenly ducked into their former holding cell. "Hey, where are you going?" Han shouted. "We don't have time for sightseeing detours!" She emerged moments later, looping her and Luke's pack of clothes across her back. "I wanted a souvenir," she snorted, as she brushed past Han to take the lead. "C'mon, I know a shortcut." "Don't suppose you have a way of raising that ship of yours," Mara shot to Han as they raced onward, barely blinking as she deflected a blaster bolt from an oncoming stormtrooper. She glanced back as Luke deflected a second shot back at the hapless trooper. I'll have to have him teach me that, she thought as they turned into a side passage. "Not anymore," Han sent back, pausing behind her to catch his breath. "I can get us to one of the lower landing platforms," Mara reasoned out loud. "Maybe there will still be a shuttle left we can appropriate." Many floors, and many dead guards later, they stepped out onto a deserted platform. "Sith," Mara swore. "The cowards have even taken the Emperor's shuttle." Indeed, even Imperial officers and stormtroopers were fleeing the palace's chaos, lost without the strong-armed guidance of Palpatine and his dark lord. They made to reenter the building when Luke suddenly spoke up. "Wait!" He squinted into the smoke-filled battle zone above their heads. "I feel ... Look!" He pointed upward as a familiar shape swooped into view. Whoops of joy erupted from both Han and Leia, while Mara looked on apprehensively. "It's the Falcon!" Han exclaimed, waving his hands wildly. "They probably can't even see us," Mara groused. "They won't know we're here." She glanced to the side to see Luke standing still, eyes closed in concentration. He soon looked up, a smile lighting up his haggard features. "They do now," he pronounced happily, the wind blowing his hair as Han's beloved freighter approached the landing pad. "Ahh, the famous Millenium Falcon," Mara smirked. "Be still my heart." Han started to retort when Leia grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the lowering ramp. "How'd you find us?" Han shouted as he entered the cockpit, taking the pilot's seat that Lando was just relinquishing. "We saw the party was starting without us," Lando explained as he settled into the rear navigator's chair, "and didn't want to miss out on the fun." "But how'd you know where we were?" Han was still puzzled, as he readied the controls for lift-off. [I felt something in my head,] Chewie howled, [guiding me to your location.] So that's what Luke was doing, Han thought. "Guess Jedi are good for something after all," he admitted, entering the fray of the battle. He felt one hundred percent better now that he was once more at the helm of his faithful ship. Luke and Leia checked in from the top and bottom turret guns, already blasting at the approaching TIE's. "Where do you want me?" came a voice from the rear of the cockpit. Lando turned to see a young woman bracing herself in the doorway. A dirty, disheveled, and most attractive young woman. "Strap yourself in the lounge, and stay out of the way," Han yelled, not even turning around. With a disgusted growl, the woman disappeared. "Who was that?" Lando questioned in awe. "Just some stray Luke picked up," Han retorted, concentrating on his flying. "She's not your type," he added, not able to pass up the chance to rib Lando. "Oh, I don't know ..." the former Baron Administrator drawled, straining his neck for another glimpse. "She's female."