Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Thirteen

Well, here's the final chapter. Hope you all enjoyed my series!
EDITED 2/22/2017 Yeah, super late edit. Mainly just tweaked a paragraph regarding the Senate in the aftermath, as well as switched out a character's name for another.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Beast Lord stopped.

He felt it in the Force. It felt as if time had just stopped and everything he had been fighting for had just fallen apart. 

Darth Vorath was dead. The staff of Valtheran was destroyed. There was no point in fighting any further. Kal-Teraz simply stood where he was and allowed the many surrounding starfighters to take him.

Forgive me, Lord Valtheran, he said quietly to himself. Forgive me for everything....

*  *  *

The Apocalypse shook violently as both Republic and Imperial forces fired upon the Super Star Destroyer.

They had been betrayed. As Admiral Aay Zavos thought frantically on what to do, he recognized the Chimaera among the Star Destroyers firing on him, as well as the Eradicator, much to his surprise.

"Why is Lord Scythe firing on us?!" Zavos wondered aloud. He knew the Sith Lord was not on Coruscant, which meant...

His eyes slowly glided across the viewport and saw one or two Imperial shuttles fleeing the battle.

They had been abandoned, Zavos realized. The Sith Lords were either dead or fleeing from Coruscant. It was over. The Empire had lost.

"Sir!" an officer on the trembling bridge cried. "What do we do?!"

Zavos frowned as he stared out into the space, flames erupting all around him. "We die..."

*  *  *

Luke slowly opened his eyes to see Toah standing over him, cradling his weakened, dying body. The clone of Anakin Skywalker was standing nearby, clutching his side as he limped over to them.

Luke turned back to Toah and said quietly, "Where's Vorath?"

"Dead," Toah replied, his voice shaking. "It's over, master."

Luke smiled. "So it is. You've done well, Toah...you've done good...."

"Don't die, master," Toah murmured, blinking back tears. "Please..."

"There's nothing that can stop me," Luke said. "Remember the Jedi Code, Toah. There is no death; there is the Force."

Toah nodded mournfully but said nothing. The Anakin clone walked up next to Toah and looked down upon Luke sadly.

"I...wish we got to know each other more," he said. "Seeing that I am a clone of your father...that technically makes us brothers...."

Luke nodded, smiling. "It also means that you will be able to carry on the Skywalker legacy, if you so choose."

"I would rather it be you," 'Anakin' said, frowning. "I...I should have been the one to die. I deserve it, seeing that I was a Sith Lord..."

"So was my father," Luke said. "But I still wish he was alive today, despite his dark deeds." He smiled again. "Everyone should be allowed redemption, including you."

At that moment, Luke saw Han and Leia run into the room as his vision began to blur. Following them was Lando, Wedge, Chewbacca, the droids...everyone. Leia had likely sense Luke's dwindling life in the Force.

He looked back up to Toah. "Tell them...tell my entire family...that I love them. Tell Master Baran that he...is to lead the Jedi Order. And...tell everyone...that I will always be with them, in their hearts."

He put his right hand on Toah's shoulder. "Twenty-six years ago, this entire journey of mine started. You helped me complete that journey...."

As Luke lowered his head, he smiled for one last time. "Remember, the Force will be with you...always."

With that, Luke closed his eyes, and the gates of Praetus opened, and his father, Obi-Wan, and Yoda were there to greet him.

*  *  *

A month had passed since the Battle of Coruscant. The repairs on the damaged city-planet were slow due to all of the chaos done by the titan. In the meantime, the New Republic had relocated to Corellia, at the behest of Garm Bel Iblis, who revealed that it was he who summoned the Mandalorians.

On Corellia, a meeting was held between the galactic leaders, including the new Chief of State Leia Organa Solo, Imperial Remnant leader Gilad Pellaeon, and Mand'alor Boba Fett. It was there that it was decided that an alliance would be formed between the three factions.

With the Treaty of Corellia, the Galactic Alliance was founded. The remaining Imperials were granted amnesty for their hand in defeating the Sith forces, and Pellaeon was granted a seat on the new Galactic Triumvirate, after Boba Fett had denied his seat, preferring that the Mandalorians remain a separate faction from the others.

But not everything had ended exactly well. Senators who had been loyal to Valorum, such as Pwoe and Viqi Shesh, had been voted out of their respective offices. Borsk Fey'lya, who had served as Chair of the Senate under Valorum, was revealed to have been aware of Valorum's connections with Darth Vorath, and was subsequently arrested, with Senator Ponc Gavrisom succeeding him.

But in the end, it mattered not. The Imperial Sith war was over, Darth Vorath and Valorum were dead, and peace had finally been restored to the galaxy.

*  *  *

Toah sighed as he walked out of the Jedi Temple, staring at Ossus' two setting suns. It had been one month since Luke Skywalker's death, but the following funeral was still vivid in his mind. 

Over the following weeks, Toah had been able to cope with his emotions and carry on with his life as normal. However, he still could not help but feel as if a piece of him was missing. After spending meditation sessions with Master Cilghal, Toah finally realized what it was that he needed-or wanted-to do.

He sensed someone approach behind him, and turned around to see Kyle Katarn, Han and Leia Solo, who had come to speak with Master Xanus Baran; Lando, Chewbacca and the droids, and the redeemed Darth Nemesis, who had renamed himself Kane Skywalker.

"We heard that you were leaving Ossus," Kyle said, smiling slightly. "Want to leave all of the hard work for us?"

Toah smiled back. "No. I want to find out more about my family, and to see if there are any relatives or descendants of my brother out there."

"Good luck with that," Han said. "Of course, if Luke were still here, he's say that there was no such thing as luck...."

"Well, thanks for the wish anyway," Toah said. "I might also try to find out how my father became Darth Revan."

"Be careful with that," Leia warned. "You know that the dark side is a dangerous road."

"I know," Toah replied. "But it maybe one I'll have to search. But don't worry..." He turned to the others and smirked. "I'll have a navigation map with me."

"You be careful with that ship," Han grunted, gesturing to the Corellian freighter that awaited Toah outside the Jedi Temple. "You crashed my ship, so don't go crashing anyone else's."

Toah laughed. "I'll try not to."

Kane looked at him and smiled. "May the Force be with you, Toah Jarsan."

Toah smiled back. "And with you, my friend. All of you."

He turned around and headed for the Corellian freighter. As he climbed on board, the droid MB-RA-7 and Vima were there to greet him.

"Are you ready, Master Jarsan?" Embee asked.

"You bet," Toah replied. He then looked at the droid and arched an eyebrow. "Hey, where you guys and Raj after the Falcon crashed?"

"Fighting in the battle," Embee said simply. "Where else?"

"Never mind," Toah said, as he closed the ramp door. Soon, the Corellian freighter began to rise off the ground. Toah looked out a viewport and waved to Kyle, Kane, Han, Leia, and the others, who all waved back.

Once again, an adventure had ended. But as always, it brought forth another one, for not just Toah, but for everyone in the galaxy.

Toah took a seat next to Raj in the cockpit as the ship exited Ossus' atmosphere. Leia was right; who knew what dangers lied ahead? But that was all part of the adventure. It was all part of destiny.

It was all part of the Star Wars.

THE END

EDITED 9/23/2016 I know this is a very late retcon, but I've decided to change Darth Nemesis' new identity from Annikin to Kane namely because 1 -- it was too similar to Anakin Solo -- and 2 -- it just looked and sounded stupid. Besides, Kane Starkiller was basically the same character as Anakin Skywalker (before the Vader retcon) in George Lucas' original drafts, so it works.

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE

Leia ducked as another piece of the Senate Building's ceiling fell and crashed to the ground. Outside, she could see a dark, rock-covered titan sending out emerald flames towards the various starfighters that were beginning to surround it.

She quickly turned her attention back to Valorum, who was back on his feet and running towards her, his sword raised high over his head. Leia ignited her lightsaber and deflected Valorum's blow as he brought his cortosis blade down.

Kicking Valorum in the shin, Leia pushed the corrupt man away with a blast of the Force, and then sprinted for a way out of the crumbling office. As she reached an opening gap in a nearby wall, she briefly sensed danger in the Force.

Turning around, she saw Valorum's sword heading right for her. Catching it in mid air, she flung the weapon back towards its owner, watching as the blade impaled itself into Valorum's right shoulder. Crying out, Valorum took out the sword and discarded it. With his left arm, he brought out a blaster pistol and began firing rounds.

Leia avoided the shots and leaped out of the hole in the wall, landing on a ledge sticking out of the damaged Senate Building. Looking up, she saw Valorum limping towards the gap, aiming his blaster at her again. She quickly reactivated her lightsaber and deflected the plasma bolts with ease.

As they bounced off of her blue blade, Leia began to consider on how she should end the fight. She could just wait for Valorum's blaster to overheat and then apprehend him, or she could fling her saber and end it right then and there.

As much as she disliked the prospect of the latter idea, she realized that, for a man such as Valorum, who had helped orchestrate the Sith's war and had welcomed the galaxy's very end, it was either death or an asylum.

And since there were no asylums on Coruscant- or, at least, not anymore- Leia knew what had to be done.

Once Valorum's blaster had overheated, Leia threw her lightsaber towards Valorum. It spun right though his shoulder, severing his weapon arm. Then, like a boomerang, it flew back and impaled Valorum through his torso. 

The red eyes on the former Chancellor's helmet flickered as he staggered and toppled forward out of the building. Leia caught her lightsaber in time as Finis Valorum's body bounced off of the ledge she was standing on, and plummeted to the ground below.

Leia let out a sigh of relief. Valorum was dead, the titan was starting to lose against the starfighters, and the Imperial forces were starting to scatter. Only the Sith Lord behind it all was left standing, and she hoped that someone, anyone, was taking care of him to ensure that the Empire would finally fall...

*  *  *

Toah groaned as his body slammed against another wall again. He quickly rolled aside as Vorath made a stabbing move with his lightsaber. Toah then raised his own saber as Vorath swung and the blades clashed together.

The Dark Lord's now violet eyes glared at the Jedi Knight. When he spoke, his voice sounded like many voices speaking at once. "Why do you persist on fighting, Jedi?" Vorath growled. "Even without the staff of Valtheran, the galaxy is doomed."

Toah glanced at him and smirked. "I don't think so."

A powerful Force push quickly wiped that smirk off his face. This time, Toah cushioned the blow with his mind and was soon back on his feet.

Vorath glowered at him, his grip around his lightsaber tightening. "I never expected such smug words from a Jedi. Unless you know something I do not..."

"I do," Toah muttered. "I know that, if the staff of Valtheran is broken, its owner will be in a whole world of pain."

"Is this supposed to be it?" Vorath scoffed, gesturing around himself. "On the contrary, I feel more powerful than ever! Nothing can stop us from ruling the galaxy!"

Us? Toah ignored the change in Vorath's tone. "So your plan is to become the galaxy's sole ruler, right? And just how is that going to work? Not everyone will follow you."

Vorath and his many voices laughed in unison. "We will wipe them all out, and then recreate them into mindless, obedient slaves, bended to our will."

"I see," Toah replied. "So you'll be the only one left in the galaxy with an actual life. That's a pretty sad way to live, you know, with no one to be with and all..."

Vorath's eyes narrowed. "We don't need anyone. I don't need anyone, and never have."

"Are you sure? From the sound of what you told me earlier, about your life, it sounded like you were close to someone named Nova."

Suddenly, Vorath strode over to Toah and grabbed him by the collar of his Jedi outfit. The Dark Lord's many voice snarled all at once.

"Never speak her name."

"You loved her," Toah coughed, struggling to release himself from the Sith Lord's grasp. "I know you did. You said so yourself that she was your lover."

"She was Kalon Soral's lover," Vorath spat. "She means nothing to us-to me!"

Toah stared hard at the mad Sith Lord. "If she were to appear to you now, as a ghost or whatever...what would she think of you?"

The violet eyes began to twitch. "Her thoughts would not matter..."

"What would you think of her?"

Vorath began to shudder. "It...it matters not..."

"What would you say to her?"

"Shut up..."

"Would you still love her?"

"Shut up!"

"I know you still love her."

"SHUT UP!!" Vorath threw Toah to the side with all his might. The Jedi Knight landed on his feet, retrieving his dropped lightsaber.

Driven mad by the dark side, Vorath unleashed a burst of violet lightning, which knocked Toah's lightsaber out of his hand. Instinctively, Toah raised his hands, knowing that there was no stopping the lightning.

To his surprise, his hands suddenly began absorbing the lightning. He had heard of this ability before, but he had never been taught it. He then glanced to his side-again, by instinct-and saw the spirit of his father hovering right next to him, with one hand on his shoulder, and the other reaching out, as if he was blocking the lightning as well.

"You can do it, son," Aron Jarsan said to him. "The Force is with you. We all are."

Suddenly, the spectral image of a dark-haired woman appeared next to Aron. Toah immediately recognized her to be the woman from his glimpse of the past many months ago. His mother...

After her came the ghost of a person who looked almost exactly like Toah; his brother. Soon, all of Toah's ancestors and relatives came to his side, helping him in shielding the Sith lightning.

But the surprises did not end there. Coming out from behind Vorath were the many Sith spirits that had been absorbed into Vorath's body. However, contrary to what Toah was expecting, they had not come to help the Dark Lord.

Instead, they grouped together and began pushing Vorath towards Toah. The lightning began to roll up into an orb in Toah's hands. As Vorath got closer, the orb grew bigger. Toah strained as more and more power got into his hands, but the spirits of his family ensured that he held his ground.

Soon, Vorath was no less than a foot away from Toah. The Dark Lord's now-scarlet eyes were staring wide-eyed at the Jedi Knight. For a second, Toah could have sworn that he was a hint of remorse in Vorath's eyes, but it quickly vanished.

"My destiny..." Vorath said quietly. "It was never supposes to be like this..."

"I'm sorry," Toah murmured, still straining from the lightning. "But you chose the wrong path."

"Maybe I did," Vorath muttered. "Or maybe I chose the right path. One can never tell..."

Toah could not take anymore. He pushed his hands out and the orb exploded light. A wave of energy surged through Vorath, and his body began to harden into stone. A final blast struck him, and the stone became sand.

The scarlet eyes faded away as Darth Vorath, one of the oldest Dark Lords of the Sith known to ever live, crumbled to dust.

Toah did not take time to savor his victory and instead ran to his master, who was lying on the edge of death...

 

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Luke narrowly stepped aside as Darth Vorath moved his lightsaber to stab the Jedi Master, but stabbed thin air instead. He then swung his saber at Luke, who blocked the attack and pushed the blade away, causing Vorath to stumble back.

Regathering himself, the Dark Lord charged again, his weapon held high. Red clashed onto green as the two began to parry, exchanging attacks and blows. It soon became apparent that to Toah that the two were evenly matched.

Closing his eyes, Toah concentrated on freeing himself from the chains that bounded him. But the continuing sound of clashing lightsabers averted him away from that. He could not do anything but watch the duel, hoping that Luke would arise as the victor.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of another lightsaber activating and looked up to see Darth Nemesis, free from his own restraints. The Sith Lord looked down on him coldly, and for a moment Toah thought he was about to kill him, until Nemesis raised his scarlet lightsaber, and sliced through Toah's chains.

As he dropped to the floor, Nemesis reached out and handed Toah his azure lightsaber, which Vorath had likely dropped when he had attacked Luke.

Toah looked at Nemesis confusingly. "Why are you-?"

"You've been waiting twenty years for this moment," Nemesis said, "whether you knew it or not. You deserved to take part in it."

Toah nodded curtly and took the lightsaber, igniting its blue blade. Filled with a new sense of fetermination, he ran to aid his master.

*  *  *

It was hopeless.

As Han Solo ran along with the rest of the Republic forces away from the monstrous titan, which was now rampaging through Coruscant, he began to wonder, Just what was the point?

Was it really worth fleeing? The beast was eventually going to reach them and crush them into plaster. Although he usually wasn't the one to admit defeat, Han was starting to think it was a pretty good idea right about now.

To his left, a building toppled over, crushing a dozen Republic troop carriers, along with their crews and anyone who was nearby them. Shortly after, two more buildings fell, preventing Han, the Jedi, and the others from going any further.

With no way to go around their obstacle, the Jedi and the soldiers turned around to face the titan. The being seemed to notice their dilemma and chuckled, its emerald eyes glowing with malice. Green flames began to erupt around the titan's rocky 'skin' as it raised its powerful arms and prepared to unleash a deadly quake that would surely kill Han and the others.

Just as the beast was about to bring it humongous arms down, a round of plasma bolts hailed down onto it, pounding fire into the titan's stone surface.

Han looked up and dropped his jaw in awe. Flying down from Coruscant's fiery sky was the Slave I, the personal ship of Boba Fett, followed by an entire fleet of Mandalorian ships, with several warriors grappling down, unleashing rounds of blaster bolts on the Sith and Imperials like hail.

For the first time in his life, Han was actually glad to see those T-shaped visors.

*  *  *

Luke was not sure how much more he could take.

Vorath hammered him with blow after blow. Although Luke was able to deflect and counter them with his saber, the Dark Lord kept returning with stronger attacks, bringing him to the point of losing all of his strength. 

Suddenly, a blast of lightning came from behind Vorath and struck the Sith Lord in the back, forcing him to break away and turn around. Standing there was Toah Jarsan, along with the captive Sith Lord Luke had noticed earlier, his hands crackling with blueish lightning. 

Vorath's eyes narrowed into slits. "So," he said to the other Sith Lord, "you have turned against me. Just as I predicted..."

"I realized how blind I was to your schemes," the Sith Lord said. His voice struck Luke to be awfully familiar. "Or rather, how mad you had become."

Vorath growled. "I am not mad." The Dark Lord brought out his bladed, spear-like staff, and unleashed a beam of blue light, which sent the other Sith Lord flying back.

Toah then ran towards Vorath, who simply pushed him away with the Force. Vorath then turned back to the Sith Lord, his scarlet eyes flaring with fury.

"I should have thought twice before I created you," the Dark Lord growled. "I should have known that there was no way I would be able to create a perfect, purely dark copy of Anakin Skywalker."

Luke's eyes widened in shock at those words. It can not be...

The Sith Lord staggered painfully to his feet. "Just another one of your many mistakes, master..."

Vorath snarled. "You do not deserve to call me that anymore."

He rose his staff again, its bladed tip sparking with white energy. Star-like specks swirled around as the Dark Lord prepared to take another soul once again.

It was then that Luke made his move. Reactivating his lightsaber, Luke lunged and slashed Vorath across his back. Screaming in both pain and rage, Vorath lost his balance and sent the white energy blasting through the ceiling. 

Enraged, the Dark Lord swung around and brought the staff's blade across Luke's chest, causing the Jedi Master to stumble back, gritting his teeth in agony. Vorath then raised the staff again and unleashed another blast of white energy, which struck Luke again in the chest. The Jedi Master felt the beam like a hook as it latched onto his soul and began to tug on it.

But he held his ground. As Vorath attempted to pull his spirit back towards the staff, Luke slowly stepped forward, trying to follow the energy beam. Noticing this, Vorath tugged harder, but Luke kept fighting against his pull. 

As he felt his energy beginning to dwindle fast, Luke held up his lightsaber. Although he knew there was now way he was going to bring the Dark Lord of the Sith down with it, at least there was a way that could weaken him.

Luke slowly and painfully stepped towards Vorath until they were nearly face-to-face. Then, with all his might, Luke swung his emerald blade and sliced the Staff of Valtheran into two.

A powerful blast emitted between the severed pieces, so strong that it sent both Luke and Vorath flying across the room. Once they landed to the ground hard, Luke saw a swarm of spectral figures emerge out of thin air, and fly towards Vorath.

The Dark Lord howled in a mix of rage and terror as he scrambled to his feet and created a shield of sorts around him. The spirits easily penetrated through it though, and flew into Vorath's body. The Dark Lord's scarlet eyes changed violet as he snarled and ignited his lightsaber.

To weak to get up, Luke only sighed as the mad Sith Lord walked up to him and raised his weapon to deliver the final blow. The red blade came within less than a foot when an azure blade appeared and blocked it.

Luke tiredly looked up to see Toah Jarsan standing over him, staring bravely into the violet eyes. 

The Jedi Master closed his eyes while the sound of clashing lightsabers filled the room once again.

 

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Ten

CHAPTER TEN

Valorum staggered back as Leia's lightsaber brushed against his shoulder, leaving a small burn. Cringing in pain, he glared at the ex-Senator-turned-Jedi, her azure blade held up in self-defense.

"You're fighting for a lost cause," Valorum spat. "Even if I die, there will be no stopping Vorath and his plan. Your Republic is doomed."

Leia stared coldly at the 'Chancellor'. "What are you talking about? What else does the Empire have planned?"

Valorum laughed softly. "Listen for the sound of thunder. Or, in your case, feel the Force float away and leave an empty void behind."

Sure enough, right after speaking those words, the ground began to shake violently. Valorum watched Leia as she stumbled back and clamped her hands over her ears. Valorum could hear the deafening roar as well, but his cybernetic helmet managed to decrease the volume.

As Leia struggled to recompose herself, Valorum grinned beneath his helmet. "The Beast Lord descends..."

* * *

Toah cried out as a tremendous quake moved the ground, accompanied by a thunderous roar. Luke seemed to hear it as well, as he nearly dropped his lightsaber when his hands shot up towards his ears. Darth Nemesis merely cringed while Vorath remained motionless.

"And so the end begins," the Dark Lord said. "And soon, a new beginning will come forth."

Luke managed to resist the pain and glowered at Vorath. "What is the meaning of this? What is it that you have planned?"

Vorath paused, glancing from Luke to Toah, until his eyes lighted up. "Seeing as you are unlikely to stop me," he said, "I might as well tell you."

Another tremor shook the ground as Vorath continued. "For many years, ever since I claimed the mantle of Dark Lord, I searched through the tombs of my predecessors for the key to victory. After a certain number of years, I would put myself in stasis to preserve my life, and reawaken a decade or two later. 

"When I awoke on the eve of the Naboo Invasion, I found the holocron of Ajunta Pall, which held info on the armor of Valtheran. Years later, I uncovered Exar Kun's holocron and learned of the Tedryn Holocron. Later on, I found out about Palpatine and his 'Grand Plan', and decided to go to the Unknown Regions and wait out the Clone Wars. Once the conflict had ended and returned to Imperial space, I started my plan.

"Over the following years, I acquired the armor and the Tedryn Holocron, the latter from which I learned of the Prophecy of the Apocalypse, which foretold the rebirth of the universe under a sole ruler."

"Which you took to mean yourself," Luke muttered, raising his lightsaber up again. "I am not going to stand for this."

Vorath sighed. "Predictable as always." 

With the sound of a snap-hiss, a red lightsaber blade appeared in the Dark Lord's hands. He raised it up towards Luke, his eyes glowing sinisterly. 

"Normally, I would simply take your soul," he said quietly. "But since you are the son of the Chosen One, as well as leader of the Jedi Order, I will make an exception with you."

Toah could only watch as the two warriors charged towards each other, and emerald clashed against ruby.

*  *  *

The battlefield was silent. Jedi Knights and Sith Lords, Republic soldiers and Imperial stormtroopers, looked up in a mix of awe and terror as a being almost as large as a Star Destroyer descended from the sky. The ground trembled beneath its feet, and its green eyes struck all below him like an invisible blade.

For the longest time, everyone was silent, gazing up towards the titan. It was Kyle Katarn, mouth hanging open, who gave out the call they were all anticipating:

"Run."

 *  *  *

Admiral Pellaeon stared in disbelief at where the titanic monster once was. 

One moment, the Imperial fleet had been warring against the Republic, slowly rising to become the victor. Then, a black monstrosity came out of nowhere and passed the waging battleships, letting out a noise that should have been impossible to make since it was in zero gravity.

Once it was gone, the entire crew of the Chimaera was left with an empty, void-like feeling, as if they no longer had a purpose in the galaxy.

Pellaeon was quick to shake the feeling off, but the sense of doubt soon replaced it. Who-or what-was that being? What was it's purpose? Why had he not been informed of it? Combined with his doubt on his allegiance, Pellaeon was now certain on what to do.

"Admiral, what are your orders?" the still-stunned captain of the Chimaera asked.

"Avert your fire away from the Republic forces," Pellaeon replied, ignoring the shocked looks from the rest of the bridge crew. "Give out the order to the rest of our fleet as well."

"S-sir?" the captain stuttered in surprise. "Are...are you feeling all right, sir?"

"I will be once this battle is over. Now do as I say!"

Hesitating only slightly, the captain turned around and barked out orders across the bridge. Pellaeon simply remained silent, staring out the viewport, knowing that if Thrawn were still around, he would likely glance at him and give a curt nod of approval.

*  *  *

From the Galactic Voyager's command deck, Captain Cha Niathal focused her large eyes on the Super Star Destroyer up ahead, shrugging off the empty feeling the monstrous entity had left for her and her crew.

Red plasma bolts pounded onto the Star Destroyer's hull. Judging by the dreadnaught's slow reaction, Niathal presumed that the Imperials on the ship were still trying to shake off what had just occurred. The Star Destroyer returned fire, green bolts crossing with red. 

At first it seemed that the two ships were evenly matched, until the tables suddenly turned when an emerald bolt struck directly into the Galactic Voyager's bridge, causing Niathal to nearly lose her balance. More fire pounded onto the Republic cruiser, which was beginning to lose control, allowing the Star Destroyer to take the upper hand once again.

Just when Niathal was about to call for a retreat, she heard one of the bridge officers cry out, "Look!"

Looking up at the viewport, she saw, much to her utter surprise, a group of Imperial ships approaching the Super Star Destroyer from behind.

Firing upon it.

The tables had turned once again. Niathal turned to the bridge office and said quietly to him, "Resume firing."

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Nine

EDITED 4/22/14 Changed the dialogue a bit due to a "retcon" of sorts I made in Invasion.

CHAPTER NINE

Gavin Darklighter flinched as he watched another E-wing fighter go down in flames. The battle in Coruscant space was not going good for the Republic Defense Fleet. Already had they lost a quarter of their star cruisers, followed by losing half of their squadrons. It was now down to Rogue and Gold Squadrons, as well as whatever was left of Blue and Vortex Squadrons. And Gavin knew that it would not be enough.

"This is Rogue Six," the Kuati pilot Jak Denon said. "We've brought down the Twilight, but the Liberator is heavily damaged, and there are two Star Destroyers approaching fast."

Gavin sighed. "There's not much we can do, Jak. Tell Captain Sacul and his crew to abandon ship. Rogue Two, go help the E-wings escort their pods to the Defender Two."

As the Quarren pilot Kral Nevil flew off to assist the E-wings, Gavin ordered the rest of Rogue Squadron to regroup.

"It's time we take on that Super Star Destroyer," Gavin told them, speaking of the Bellator-class Destroyer which was closest to Coruscant. "Admiral Madine says the Protector and the rest of his fleet will handle the rest, while the Galactic Voyager and the Strident will focus their firepower on the Super Star Destroyer."

"So what do we do?" asked the Bith pilot Vac J'bath.

"We're going to try and locate the ship's shields and take them out," Gavin answered, "and fend off any TIEs that come our way. Is that all understood?"

The rest of the Rogues gave their assent. Gavin grabbed the controls of his fighter. "Then let's give 'em what we've got."

*  *  *

Toah woke up in a daze to find himself chained to a wall. Once his vision had cleared fully, he saw Darth Nemesis tied up as well, sitting on the floor with his head down. There was no sign of Raj, Vima, or the others, nor could he see the Millennium Falcon.

After looking around as far as he could from where he was chained, Toah determined that he was in some sort of chamber, possibly somewhere within the Senate Building, or a nearby facility. Outside, he could hear the cries of war and and the sounds of burning buildings, but they seemed to be distant.

Suddenly, a door on the opposite side of the room opened and in walked a man in dark-bronze armor, a pair of scarlet eyes glowing from beneath his helmet. In one hand, he carried a two-bladed staff, and in the other was Toah's lightsaber. The man came to a stop before Toah, his eyes looking as if they could pierce into the Jedi's mind. In a voice Toah knew all too well, Darth Vorath spoke.

"We meet again, Toah Jarsan. I assure you that this will be the last time."

Toah scowled at the Dark Lord of the Sith. "You sure seem like you have some sort of vendetta against me, even though we've only met once before-twice, if you count that time on Dromund Kaas."

Vorath glared at the Jedi Knight. "It is not just you that I seek vengeance against, but your father as well."

Toah looked at the Sith Lord strangely. "My father? Wait, you said a year ago that he took away everything you had...and made you become who you are now."

The Dark Lord nodded stiffly. "Indeed he did..."

"How?"

Vorath looked away and began to pace around the room. After a moment, he finally turned back to Toah. "Have you learned anything about your father since that day on Dromund Kaas when I mentioned him?"

Toah frowned. "I've learned that he was a Jedi Knight in the Mandalorian Wars before becoming Darth Revan..."

Vorath nodded. "Yes...thousands of years ago, when I was known as Kalon Soral, I was one of the first to join Revan's Revanchist movement and fought in the war against the Mandalorians. After Revan killed their leader at Malachor Five, he and Malak disappeared into the Outer Regions. The other Revanchists and I followed them, and we eventually met on Korriban.

"It was on that day that Darth Revan's Sith Empire was fully established and he declared war on the Republic."

Vorath paused for a moment, as if to let his words sink in, before continuing. "After the war ended three years later, with the death of Darth Malak and Revan's redemption, the Sith Empire was left fragmented. Many factions arose from its ashed and warred on Korriban.

"I was among the Sith warlords who fought for control, though my efforts came to no avail. A few months after Malak's death, Revan led a group of Jedi and drove the warlords off of Korriban. I was the only one whose faction stayed and fought against them.

"Eventually, it was simply down to me, my lover Nova, and half a dozen others. Revan decided to face me alone and we met in the tomb of Marka Ragnos. After defeating my warriors, Revan and I clashed blades, with only Nova watching."

Toah began to envision the duel in his head, seeing his father's violet blade clashing against Kalon Soral's scarlet one. He then wondered if history would repeat itself, and that he would be the one facing Vorath...

"The duel did not last long," Vorath went on. "Revan soon proved to be the greater adversary, and I was disarmed. It was then that I looked into his eyes and saw a small tint of the Sith Lord he used to be. Just as he was about to deliver the fatal blow on me, Nova jumped in and...and she was killed..."

Toah's eyes widened in a mix of horror and disbelief. He felt a surge of emotion flow through him, and he began to feel...pity for the man who was threatening to kill millions of people.

Vorath gave out a sigh, almost sadly. "After that, I left Korriban once Revan decided to spare me, and stood by as the Sith Triumvirate carried out their attack on the Republic and the Jedi Order. Once I had felt the deaths of Darths Nihilus, Sion, and Traya in the Force, I decided to make my move.

"I traveled to where Malachor Five had once been before its destruction, and discovered that the core of the Trayus Academy still remained intact...but the spirit which it had once contained was now free. It spoke to me, and I fell under its sway.

"I learned the true ways of the Sith and became Darth Vorath."

For a while, Toah was simply silent, stunned by what the Dark Lord had told him. After managing to find his voice again, he finally spoke. "You know...if he was still around, I'm sure my father would regret everything he's done as a Sith Lord...including Nova's death."

"It wouldn't surprise me," Vorath muttered.

"Then maybe there's a chance for you to be redeemed?"

"No," Vorath snapped, stepping towards Toah. "The moment I became Dark Lord, my life as Kalon Soral was left behind. And after today, I will have become something more, and none will stand in my way!"

"Not as long as I still stand."

All eyes turned to the doorway through which Vorath had stepped in. Standing there, emerald-colored lightsaber in hand, was Luke Skywalker.

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Eight

UPDATED 12/13/12 with a name change: Karin Zal to Zarin Kal (because Karin sounds like Karen...)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Never before had Toah seen so much chaos.

The moment the Sith Lord, who had introduced himself as Darth Nemesis, had mentioned the Empire's invasion, Toah was hoping there would be enough time to reach Coruscant and warn the Republic of the impending attack before it was too late.

But the moment the Millennium Falcon came out of hyperspace, he immediately saw that there was no need. The sight of Imperial Star Destroyers and Republic cruisers crowded his view. TIE fighters swarmed in from all sides, with several X-wings, A-wings, and E-wing fighters chasing them off.

One of the X-wings, one marked in the decals of Rogue Squadron, flew up besides the Falcon.

"Hey, hold it right there!" said the fighter's pilot, who Toah immediately recognized to be his former flight partner from twenty years ago, Corran Horn. "Who do you think you are, jumping into the battlefield? And I know you're not Han Solo, because-"

"Corran?" Toah said, leaning towards the cockpit's comm-speaker. "Corran, it's me! Toah Jarsan!"

"Toah?" The Rogue pilot was silent for a moment, before he bursted out with laughter. "Ha! I knew you wouldn't be dead for long!"

"That's nice," Toah said hastily. "Anyway, I have to get to Coruscant, quickly!"

"Sure that's a good idea?" Corran asked. "It's...looking a bit chaotic down there."

"It's going to be a lot worse if I don't get there in time," Toah replied. "Think you can help us get over there?"

"Sure thing," Corran said as he advanced his fighter ahead of the Falcon, blasting down TIE fighters along the way.

After squeezing past Star Destroyers and Star Cruisers, the Millennium Falcon finally reached Coruscant, and avoided the many battleships which were beginning to surround the planet's orbit. As it passed the last one, which was the same Bellator-class ship Toah and the others had seen leaving Dromund Kaas, Toah suddenly felt his dreadful feeling again. This time, he was certain on what the source of the feeling was, but it was Darth Nemesis who spoke for him.

"Vorath's on that ship..."

*  *  *

It can not be...

Vorath's eyes drifted as he watched the Corellian freighter fly pass his bridge of his flagship, the Apocalypse. He began to sense a surprising presence, one he had not felt in several months.

Toah Jarsan...

Months ago, on the same day he had incapacitated Darth Trayus' spirit, Vorath had felt Toah's apparent 'death' in the Force, though he did not dwell upon it, for he was too focused on getting rid of his former master. Afterwards however, he realized that with Toah's death, he had finally achieved the vengeance he had so long sought against Aron Jarsan.   

And now the son of Darth Revan was alive and well, heading for Coruscant to defeat the Empire.

Vorath growled quietly as he began to walk down the bridge. At least this time he would be given the satisfaction of killing Toah Jarsan personally.

Just as he had reached the turbolift at the other end of the bridge, Admiral Zavos called after him. "My lord, where are you headed?"

"For my shuttle," Vorath replied. "I'm going down to Coruscant."

"Already?" Zavos asked. "But weren't you going to wait?"

"I have waited three thousand years for this very moment, admiral," Vorath muttered. "I believe that is enough time, don't you?"

Zavos made no reply as Vorath boarded the turbolift and descended towards the hangar below.

*  *  *

Lightsabers of various colors clashed amongst the fire that had plagued Coruscant. Leading the Jedi Knights alongside the Republic soldiers was Master Xanus Baran, his violet blade clashing against the many scarlet ones of the Sith warriors.

Following him was his Iridonian apprentice, Donhran Remker, who was spinning his emerald blade wildly and almost recklessly, a direct contrast to his friend Kyle Katarn, whose prowess in the lightsaber arts clearly showed.

Nearby, leading a large group of soldiers, was Plun Kil, who, despite his reluctance on going to the Republic's aide, was proving to be a formidable ally, twirling his two double-bladed sabers like propellers. Alongside him was his Kiffar apprentice, Zarin Kal, deflecting blaster bolts and blasts of lightning away from the soldiers.

There was so much going on, too much for Luke to comprehend. He wanted to take part in the battle, but he knew he couldn't, at least not yet. He had to wait for the Sith's leader, Darth Vorath, and bring his regime to an end.

And if Leia's vision for his fate was indeed true, then Luke hoped that he would bring the Sith down with him.

*  *  *

The Millennium Falcon shook as it flew through the raging battle of Coruscant. Everywhere Toah looked, flames ravaged through the Upper City's buildings. Imperial stormtroopers and Sith warriors charged towards the defending Jedi Knights, bringing down Republic soldiers along the way. Toah then looked towards the Senate Building, which, to his surprised, was untouched.

"Finis Valorum is there," Darth Nemesis said suddenly. "He's been acting as a liaison to Vorath for years!"

Toah turned to look at the Sith Lord incredulously. "You never mentioned that...."

"I was too preoccupied by what Vorath had told me of his plans," Nemesis said a bit sharply. "I'm sure Valorum is the key to whatever it is Vorath has planned."

"You said earlier that you have no idea what Vorath's plan is," Raj noted. "So how do you know it's going to be like the 'end of all days?'"

"Look around you," Nemesis growled. "Everywhere you look, you will see Star Destoyers, Imperial fighters, Sith Lords, stormtroopers...all which make up the entire Sith Empire, causing havoc everywhere you turn. If this isn't the end of all days already...then I'm sure what my master has planned will be."

Toah turned back to the Falcon's viewport, searching for a place to land. Suddenly, the ship shook again as a TIE Interceptor fired upon it. Raj gritted his teeth as he seized the controls in order to keep the ship steady, but it proved to be no use as the fighter fired again, causing the Falcon's engines to short-circuit. 

Toah grabbed onto his seat as the ship began to spiral towards the ground. He heard the sound of the Falcon's top turret firing at the control of Raj's wife, Cera. Although he soon saw the Interceptor explode into a million pieces, he knew there was now way to stop the Millennium Falcon from crashing into the ground...

  

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

For almost exactly a thousand years, the House of Valorum had been hailed throughout history as one of the greatest political families to grace the Galactic Republic.

The earliest known patriarch of the family was Tarsus Valorum, the first non-Jedi Supreme Chancellor in over four hundred years and the architect of the Ruusan Reformations, which helped rebuild the Republic after the New Sith Wars.

Over the next nine centuries, many Valorums would rise to the seat of Supreme Chancellor, including Eixes and Tullius Valorum. Finally, nine hundred and sixty years after the Ruusan Reformations, Finis Valorum ascended the chair of Supreme Chancellor.

And the Old Republic crumbled beneath him.

After he was voted off his seat, Finis Valorum went into hiding, away from the people who had eagerly disposed of him. Ten years later, after the outbreak of the Clone Wars, Valorum came out of hiding and attempted to prove how corrupt his successor, Palpatine, had become.

Days later, Valorum boarded his freighter, planning to distance himself from the Republic, and was killed by an Anzati assassin shortly after. When the freighter then exploded in Coruscant's skies, it was believed that Finis Valorum, heir to an ancient dynasty, was dead.

Those who though so were wrong.

In actuality, Valorum had predicted that Palpatine would try to 'remove' him, and placed a decoy to be killed by the assassin. Valorum then boarded a different freighter and left Coruscant, headed for the Deep Core. It was there that he plotted his return, to overthrow Palpatine, and restore the Republic to its former glory.

With the help of Darth Vorath, that dream had come true. And with the Sith's invasion at hand, Valorum's chance to become the galaxy's ultimate ruler was at hand.

*  *  *

"The Defense Fleet are on their way," Norr reported to Wedge, who stood at the main console of the command center. "The Empire is approaching fast; they've already passed Muscave."

Wedge nodded. "Are the ground forces prepare?"

"Barely," Norr said. "General Calrissian says a lot of our troopers are acting very nervous and twitchy..."

"Can't blame them," Wedge muttered. "Let's just hope that they'll hold their own and last as long as they can."

Nor nodded in agreement. "Shall I have Admiral Madine go ahead and send Rogue Squadron out?"

"Yes," Wedge said, smiling slightly. "I think they deserve to be the first to get a taste of the action."

*  *  *

Admiral Gilad Pellaeon stared out at Coruscant from his position on the Chimaera's bridge. For more than twenty years had the Chimaera been in the Empire's service, having served as Grand Admiral Thrawn's flagship in the last years of the Galactic Empire, and had went on to become Pellaeon's flagship in the Sith's Empire, making him one of the few non-Sith fleet leaders, not counting Admiral Zavos.

And yet, despite all these years, it was only now that Pellaeon was beginning to think about whether this was all worth it. A year ago, shortly before his apparent death, Thrawn had one last debate over the Empire's purpose after Palpatine's death on the second Death Star, and later his betrayal at Coruscant.

Was it worth fighting the Republic, Thrawn had asked. Was it worth trying to take over a galaxy which would only resent its new Empire?

Even with their victory at hand, Pellaeon was not sure that it was a deserved victory. Perhaps the galaxy was better off under a Republic. After all, that's what it had been under for more than twenty-five thousand years. 

The aged admiral soon had to put away his thoughts as the Dark Lord's flagship exited hyperspace, followed by a titanic monstrosity...

*  *  *

Leia took long strides down the corridor which led to 'Chancellor' Valorum's office. Behind her, struggling to keep up, were Senators Kaal Novarl and Ponc Gavrisom.

"Senator Organa, is this truly wise?" Novarl called, stopping to take short breaths. "The Empire is poised to attack and you want to talk with Valorum now? Why?"

"He caused us to lose the Mon Calamari Shipyards," Leia replied, not stopping to look at the plump Senator. "He underestimated the Empire by placing less forces at Mon Cala than we should have! Without the extra ships, the Empire now has the advantage."

"You are right on that, Leia," Gavrisom said. "But why take it up with him now, of all times?"

Leia sighed and paused to look at Gavrisom and Novarl. "I've heard stories of Finis Valorum from my adoptive father, Bail Organa. He failed the Old Republic by letting it fall to corruption. He failed us at Mon Cala. I wouldn't put it pass him to fail again."

Without another word, Leia turned around and walked down faster towards Valorum's office.

*  *  *

Valorum broke his gaze from Coruscant's crowded sky as he heard the door to his office open. He slowly turned around to see former Senator Leia Organa Solo standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest.

Valorum smirked beneath his helmet. "Leia Solo. This is certainly a surprise."

Leia made no reply and simply glowered at the self-titled Chancellor.

"I don't think this is a really good time," Valorum went on. "The entire Imperial fleet is hovering overhead. I'm starting to think it would be best that we surrender."

"No," Leia said sharply. "A good leader would never surrender before the battle's even begun."

Valorum chuckled. "Ah, but my dear, in a way, you have already lost. You lost the moment I became head of state."

Leia narrowed her eyes, unhooking her lightsaber from her belt. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that I have been engineering events so that the Republic would fall, and the Empire would take its place once more."

With the sound of a snap-hiss, Leia ignited an blue blade from her lightsaber. "I cannot allow this," she said quietly.

Valorum chuckled again. "I figured you would say that." He reached behind his back and brought out a thin sword made of the lightsaber-resistent materiel cortosis.

The first sounds of battle outside could not muffle the clash of blades.

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

The moment the Millennium Falcon exited hyperspace and the world of Dromund Kaas came into view, Toah's head pulsed with agony. He let out a scream, but he could not hear it. He barely managed to open his eyes to see that Raj, Neelo, and the rest of the crew were clamping their hands over their ears as well.

Gritting his teeth, Raj staggered towards the viewport to find the source of their 'discomfort'. He quickly stepped back though, when he saw a huge rock fill the Falcon's screen. To the crew's horror, they realized it was not just a passing asteroid.

It was an arm.

Raj seized the pilot controls and swung the ship in order to avoid collision with the arm. As the Millennium Falcon accelerated towards Dromund Kaas, Toah could now see what appeared to be a large, titanic being. Emerald eyes glowed from the being's stone-like head as it watched the ship fly pass it. The titan seemed to disregard it however, as it then followed an Bellator-class Star Dreadnought, which was blasting off into lightspeed. 

The agony Toah and the others had felt was finally beginning to lessen. But for Toah, the relief did not last long, as he suddenly felt a pang of dread as the Falcon descended towards the Sith planet. He then felt a different and more distant feeling. As they landed, he realized what that feeling was.

It was loss.

*  *  *

All eyes were on General Norr Ruk'thri as he stood in the doorway of Republic Headquarters' command center. Wedge Antilles stared hard at the Bothan, though his ire was not aimed at him, but the subject of the general's devastating words.

"What do you mean Supreme Commander Bel Iblis just resigned?" Wedge finally managed to say.

Norr bowed his head. "He told me that he was getting to old to serve the Republic, and that he would just cause more trouble for us."

Wedge shook his head, incredulous. "Tell him that's not true, and that we need him, especially now."

"It's too late," Norr replied. "I already sent his resignation form in, and he's most likely on his way to Corellia."

Wedge groaned as he held his head in his hands. "This is not like him. As much as I respect the man, this has got to be the stupidest thing he's done."

"Well, what do we do now?" asked Commander Hawk, who was standing at a console which showed the approaching Imperial fleet. "The Empire's just passed Stentat and are clearing Muscave. They'll be here any moment now..."

Wedge sighed as he tried to think on what to do. There wasn't enough time to have 'Chancellor' Valorum appoint a new Supreme Commander, and Bel Iblis' right-hand, Admiral Madine, was not present at the moment...

"Nien Nunb, send all fleets!" Wedge ordered. "Hawk, call together all squadrons! Norr, set up the ground defensed and deploy whatever troops, tanks, and ground vehicles that we have!"

He gritted his teeth as he turned to watch the Empire approach Coruscant.

"Let's make this day one worth remembering."

*  *  *

"You want us to leave Ossus?" Jedi Master Plun Kil asked, almost incredulously, to the holographic image of Luke Skywalker. "Wouldn't that leave the Jedi Temple vulnerable?"

"Not unless the Sith know where the Jedi Temple is," Luke replied. "Besides, we need all of our Jedi Knights here on Coruscant. The entire Imperial fleet has entered the system, and I'm sure there are dozens of Sith Lords among them."

"Don't worry, Master Skywalker," Kro Sadoon said before Kil could protest. "We will be there as soon as we can."

Once Luke's hologram had dispersed, the Besalisk Jedi Master faced Sadoon angrily. "We can't all go!" he said loudly. "It's too dangerous! If we all die, the Jedi Order will fall once again!"

"Better to die protecting our Republic than to be betrayed by it," Master Morin Tharr interjected. "We shall go to Coruscant, per Master Skywalker's request, and help the Republic in fending off the Sith."

Plun Kil scowled but remained silent as he and the rest of the Jedi High Council headed out of their chamber.

*  *  *

The Millennium Falcon slowly came to a stop as it landed on the outskirts of Dromund Kaas' capital city. As he stepped off the ship, the dreadful feeling Toah had felt earlier was suddenly gone, replaced with the feeling that life on Dromund Kaas no longer existed.

Months ago, when Toah, his master, and Kyle Katarn traveled to Dromund, several buildings were lighted up, albeit dimly. Byt now, the city had plunged into darkness, nearly as dark as space itself. The only light that served as guidance were the frequent flashes of lightning that struck across the stormy sky.

Raj, Neelo, Vima, and the rest of the Falcon's crew followed Toah down the ramp and observed the abandoned city in awe. Raj let out a quiet whistle. "Guess there's no need for infiltration," he said. "Looks like everyone got up and left."

"Typical too," Neelo muttered. "We had this all planned out! We had the droid to sneak in and the Jedi to kill the Sith Lord! And they ruin it!"

Toah frowned as he looked around. "Thiss isn't good," he said quietly. "If the Empire isn't here, then where are they?"

"The last place you'd want them to be, of course."

Toah spun around, lightsaber in hand, to see a pale-skinned, dark-cloaked man. Immediately recognizing him to be the Sith Lord who had captured him, Kyle, and Luke a year ago, he activated an azure blade from his lightsaber.

The Sith Lord held up his hands. "I mean you no harm," he said. "Please, hear me out if you want the Empire to fall."

Toah glared at the man. "Why should I trust you? You're a Sith Lord."

"That may be true," the man said, "for now. But I've come to realize how far my master has gone. He's manipulated everyone, both Republic and Empire, for his ultimate plan."

Toah scowled. "And just how long did it take you to figure that out?"

"Too long," the Sith Lord replied bitterly. "But there's no time to explain. Darth Vorath has taken his entire army to Coruscant."

Toah's eyes widened. "You mean...everyone in the Empire?"

"Yes. Every Sith Lord, admiral, captain, general, commander, and stormtrooper is at Coruscant, and if we don't hurry..."

The Sith Lord's face darkened. "Everything will end."

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

Luke Skywalker could feel the aura of solemness surround the room as he entered the Solo's apartment. He had been summoned to Coruscant by his niece, Jaina Solo, who said that her mother had something very urgent to tell him, and that it was best if he was told in person.

Inside the Solo's apartment, Luke found his sister, Leia, sitting on a nearby couch, with Han and Jaina at her side. Near her were her sons Jacen and Anakin, along with Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and, to Luke's mild surprise, Lando Calrissian.

Noticing Luke, Leia sat up straight in her seat. "Thank goodness you're here," she said. "Luke, I have very bad news for you..."

Taken slightly aback by the quick and urgent welcome, Luke took a seat across from his sister. "What is it?" he asked.

Leia exchanged nervous looks with Han and Jaina. The former then decided to speak for her.

"Leia just received a, uh, what's it called? A Force vision?"

"A Force vision?" Luke echoed in amazement. "Those are very rare occurrences." His face grew serious. "What was it about?"

"It was about you," Leia said quietly. "I saw...I saw a city on fire...I think it was on Coruscant. Then I saw you, fighting a man in black. I think it was the Sith Lord we saw on Dromund Kaas. And then..." 

She rose her head, her eyes making contact with Luke's. "...then he killed you."

At first, Luke felt as if his heart has stopped beating, as if those words alone were able to kill him. After taking a deep breath, he was able to recompose himself. 

"That's...not good."

Leia nodded sadly. "I don't know what to make of it. Is it a glimpse of the future? Or just a possible future?"

Luke sighed. "Not even a Jedi can predict the future, Leia. If it is the will of the Force that I must die, then so be it."

Leia lowered her head, blinking back tears. Han looked up at Luke and compressed his lips into a thin line. 

"Never though it would come to this..." he muttered. "I never thought that...any of us would go down. I always thought we were..."

"Invincible," Luke finished for him, nodding in agreement. "We were young and foolish back then. Of course, now we're just foolish."

He looked towards Jaina, Anakin, and Jacen Solo, smiling. "Luckily though, we have others to carry on our legacy." He shrugged. "And who knows? Maybe the vision is nothing more but a false alarm. No one can know..."

The others gave their assent and silence filled the room. It was soon shattered, however, when Lando's comlink chimed.

"That's probably Nien," Lando said as he unhooked the device from his belt. "He told me that a bunch of Imperial fleets are retreating from the Inner Rim, which the Empire's been trying to capture for months."

"Can't believe we've mad it this long after losing the Mon Calamari Shipyards," Han noted.

As Lando held up the comlink to speak with Nien Nunb, Luke could hear the Sullustan's panicked voice speaking through it.

"Lando!" Nien cried with a thick Sullustan accent. "You're not going to believe this!"

"What is it?" Lando asked anxiously, while Luke and the others looked at him, waiting for the reply.

"The Empire...they've all retreated from the Inner Rim," Nien said, his voice shaking. "But...they've been spotted on the outskirts of the Coruscant system..."

Everyone in the room froze as the Sullustan finished. "The entire Empire is going to invade Coruscant."

*  *  *

"Your shuttle awaits, my lord," Admiral Zavos said to Darth Vorath as the Dark Lord of the Sith strode towards the ship. 

A rough-looking man, Aay Zavos came from a planet near the Colonies region, and was son to a trader who worked for the Galactic Empire after the Clone Wars. During the Dark Empire's war, Zavos had served as captain of the Vendetta. Years later, after Darth Sidious' death, he gave away the location of the Empire's remnants on Bastion, and joined the Sith's Empire, becoming commander of Darth Vorath's personal fleet.

"All of the others have made it to the Coruscant sector," Zavos went on as he followed Vorath. "Shall I have them begin the invasion once your flagship makes it out of hyperspace?"

"Yes, do that," Vorath replied. "It makes a good impression when one arrives fashionably late."

Just as they had reached the shuttle, Vorath paused in mid-step, signaling Zavos to stop as well. The Dark Lord was silent for a few seconds before he spoke to someone Zavos could not see.

"Is there something troubling you, Lord Nemesis?"

Stepping out of the shadow of Vorath's shuttle was a man in dark robes, slightly untidy hair, and pale skin. His yellow Sith eyes glowered at Vorath, who had yet to face him.

"My lord, Jerec told me that you are preceding with the attack ahead of time," Darth Nemesis muttered. "With all due respect, master, I believe this is a wrong move."

Vorath slowly turned around, his red eyes blazing like an unstoppable fire. "Care to explain why?"

"Sixteen years ago, Palpatine attempted the same thing; a full-scale assault on the Republic. In the end, a majority of his forces retreated from the battle, and the others were eventually defeated."

"Yes, as planned," Vorath replied, prompting a surprised look from Zavos. "Thrawn and the others were supposed to retreat so that they would join the empire I had forged."

Nemesis scowled. "Would it not have been simple enough to kill Darth Sidious and take over his empire?"

Vorath glanced at Zavos. "Leave us," he said.

The admiral reluctantly nodded and boarded the shuttle. Turning back to Nemesis, Vorath's eyes flared. "Let me tell you something that only I, my council, and Jerec know of. Palpatine, or rather his clone, did not rule the Dark Empire. Finis Valorum did."

Nemesis gaped at the Dark Lord. "But...Valorum is your liaison to the Republic!"

"Indeed he is. But for a time, he served as liaison between me and Sidious' empire. You see, since I lacked the means to construct an army, I decided to take one. But I decided not to simply overthrow Sidious and take over the Dark Empire, for I knew those who were loyal to Palpatine would rebel.

"So, knowing someone, such as Thrawn, would defect and order a retreat, I had Sidious launch an attack on Coruscant. While Thrawn and the others realized that Sidious had sent them to die and retreated, those loyal to Palpatine either stayed and died, or retreated to Bastion, where, by chance, the Republic wiped them out."

Nemesis stared at his master incredulously. "So all this time...you've been controlling the Republic and the two Empires. All this time, this war has just been your own game."

"Exactly," Vorath replied. "And in addition, the Dark Empire served as a distraction for the Republic while I finished my plans."

"And you don't realize that is almost exactly what Palpatine did in the Clone Wars," Nemesis growled. "And eventually failed."

"Yes, it is quite similar. But I've borrowed an...idea from my former master, and I'll make sure that no rebellions arise from my attack."

Without another word, Vorath turned and headed for his shuttle, his black cape sweeping the ground behind him. Nemesis simply watched him, his eyes filled not with contempt nor with fury...

But with fear.

   

Star Wars Destiny: Episode VI, Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

This isn't happening, Jato thought as he ran towards the shuttle he and the other Jedi had arrived in. It can't be. It must be some horrible nightmare...

But he could deny the reality of the situation as he reached the ship and turned to see his master duel Zavar Rarnok, whom Jato was now sure was a Sith Lord. How is it possible?, he wondered. His fellow Jedi Knights Kyle and Remker had mention their encounter with two Sith Lords on Zegris more than twelve years ago, and they managed to escape with their lives.

And yet here, a Jedi Master and his apprentice had already fallen, and Marrab was most likely about to share their fate.

Jato blinked away a tear as he climbed onto the ship. First he had lost his brother, and now the person who he had looked up to as a father was close to being killed. He stayed and watched as the duel continued, clinging onto the hope that just maybe, his master could make it out alive.

That hope was soon crushed when Rarnok slashed the Jedi Master across the torso and pushed him into the sea below. Knowing that crying out would be helpless, Jato started up the ship's engines and rose off from the platform, blasting off into Skustell's sky.

*  *  *

Darth Ravage gave a satisfied smile as he watched the Mon Calamari Jedi's body plunge into the ocean below. Now that all four of the Jedi were out of his way, he could now approach the Ongree as 'Jedi Master Rarnok' and sow their distrust in the Jedi. Soon, once nearly all of the Republic's remaining worlds had lost faith in the Jedi and have denied them of their assistance, Coruscant would be vulnerable to the Sith's attack.

As he approached the military base, a male Ongree in the outfit of a commander came out and his fanged mouth gaped open. "What happened here?!" he exclaimed, gesturing at the two corpses which laid on the platform. "And who are you?"

Ravage gave a forged frown. "I am Zavar Rarnok, former Jedi Master. The Jedi are plotting on taking over the Republic."

The Ongree's elongated eyes widened. "What? They are? But why?"

"Their belief is that they are better fitted to lead the New Republic than Valorum," Ravage lied. "They think that the Old Republic only became corrupt when the idea of Jedi Chancellors was abandoned."

"And is that true?" the Ongree asked.

Ravage shook his head. "No, which is why I left the Order and have made it my mission to prove how corrupt the New Jedi Order has become."

"Well, thank you for letting us know," the commander said with a bow. "I'll make sure word gets out to the Republic."

"Please do," Ravage said as he turned to leave. "You would be doing the galaxy a great favor."

*  *  *

"Do you mind if I ask you something?" Toah asked Raj as he sat down in one of the Millennium Falcon's passenger seats, placed behind the co-pilot Neelo.

"Ask away!" Raj replied.

"How did you acquire this ship?"

Raj scratched his chin as he leaned back in his seat. "Not so long ago, I met a former Imperial named Titus Klev on Nar Shaddaa," he said. "He said that he had just escaped from Bastion, where he mentioned a bunch of Sith Lords attacked. He sold me the ship for a very cheap price, and, I gotta say, this hunk of junk was worth every credit!"

"I see," Toah muttered. "I was just asking because...a friend of mine had a ship that looked exactly like this."

Raj glanced at Toah and smirked. "Was his name Titus Klev?"

"No, it was Han Solo."

The ship suddenly tilted to its side as Raj accidentally let go of the controls. After setting it back to autopilot, he turned and gave Toah an incredulous look.

"No way," he said. "The Han Solo? The guy who made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?"

Toah nodded. "So you've heard of him."

"He owes my dad a thousand credits," Raj grunted. "And since I apparently owe him his ship, I guess that makes us even now."

He leaned towards the ship's navigational computer and made the calculations needed for hyperspace travel. "We'll have give him his ship back later, though," Raj continued. "'Cause we're gonna need it if we want to bring down the Empire."

Toah nodded again, slowly and silently this time. As the stars began to elongate, he wondered if Han would indeed get his ship back...

*  *  *

"Are you sure about this, my lord?" asked the Miraluka Sith Lord Jerec, whose holographic image shimmered before Darth Vorath. Having been in Vorath's order for two decades now, Jerec had recently been appointed to be Vorath's liaison with the Imperial Army.

"Yes, I am sure," Vorath replied, slightly irritated. "I have decided to proceed with the attack on Coruscant ahead of schedule."

"But you yourself informed us to wait another year or two," Jerec protested. "And didn't you send Lord Ravage to sow distrust amongst the Republic during that time?"

"Indeed I did. However, it appears to me that I underestimated Valorum a bit. The Republic has already lost the Mon Calamari Shipyards. Without further production of their fleet's ships, they are now vulnerable to our attack."

"I see..." Jerec muttered. "Very well, I shall inform Admirals Zavos and Pellaeon to organize the Imperial fleet and armies."

With that, the Miraluka vanished from Vorath's projector, leaving the Dark Lord in solitary. For a split second, he could have sworn he saw a cloaked figure hover in a nearby corner. Although he saw nothing when he turned to look at it, he still heard the voice of Darth Trayus faintly ring in his head.

Fool, was all it said.