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.
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