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The Bitter Glass	By : Cyranothe2nd Category: Star Wars (All) > General Views: 5530 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
Sorry for the long wait, and the evil cliffie that ended the last chapter. This was going to be the last part of this fic but I have decided that there are simply too many loose ends and so there will be one more, as well as an epilogue. A big shout out to my two betas; Lemony and Zim. Without you guys...well, it would definately be hareder to read :D

Please review. I love honest opinions.
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Part Six: A Rebirth of Light

No. No. No. No.

It was a drumbeat, a mantra of denial that spread from Luke's beleaguered heart into his brain and finally tore from his mouth in a savage cry, "NO!"

Luke shook his head, disbelief and horror ringing across the fabric of the Force- his own, and his father's. Padme slumped slowly forward, her fingers futily catching on Vader's arm as she fell. Vader caught her before she hit the floor and her awkward weight bore him down. He crouched over her, his helmet tilted over Padme's still form like a cruel benediction.

No. No. No. No.

Luke's lightsaber dropped from his nerveless fingers and rolled away, unnoticed. Blood rushed in his ears and he whispered again, "No."

And then shock gave way into hot, burgeoning rage.

Luke let it fill him, welcoming its warmth. Power flickered through him, running down his spine, crackling through his limbs. His mind filled with an expanding awareness and an even darker purpose. With barely a thought he called his saber back to his hand. His foot came up, connecting with Vader's chest and sending him sprawling. Padme's body rolled away as the Sith looked up at him, clearly startled.

"Defend yourself!" Luke snarled in a voice that wasn't his own. The red lightsaber came up, reflexively blocking Luke's downward slash. Vader rolled, regaining his feet just as Luke's saber buried itself in the floor, sending sparks flying. Luke wrenched it out, and with an animalistic cry of rage, launched himself at Vader.

No. No. No. No.

Vader stumbled back, his balance and grace lost in shock. Luke pressed the advantage, raining blows down, each thrust more powerful than the last. His face was frozen in a rictus of pure fury and Vader was driven back, helpless to resist the power of Luke's rage.

A ringing overhanded blow sent Vader into the wall and Luke stepped into his body. Their swords lock and with an almost negligent twist of his wrist, Luke disarmed his opponent. His foot lashed out again, sending Vader to the ground.

Luke stood over him, his lightsaber at Vader's throat, his body trembling with Dark power.

"Good!" Sidious' voice sounded far away. "Kill him. Fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side."

At my side...Join me. It is the only way...

Once you walk down the Dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny...

And then a soft voice broke across the redness of his rage."Luke, no! He's your father."

Father?

Luke's brow furrowed as he looked down at the prone man in front of him. Father was dead. Vader had killed him. Father was...a black figure reaching out over the endless expanse of bufetting wind. Father was a red saber arching down. Father was...

Luke realized that he had let his saber fall and raised it once more for the killing blow. And once more that voice spoke into his mind.

"Luke, please!"

Mother?

He stepped back, looking in confusion to the place where Padme laid, still and unmoving, like a doll with its strings cut. She was dead. Dead...and yet, her words echoed over and over in his mind.

He is your father, your father, yours...

He looked at the immense dark figure at his feet.

Father was Anakin Skywalker. Father was a Jedi. My father...

"Strike him down, my young apprentice!"

Father...Jedi.

And the words seared into his brain, burning his rage to ash.

What have I done? Luke's eyes widened in horror. He lowered his arms, thumbing the lightsaber off. Oh Force! He had nearly given in. He had nearly killed in anger. He had almost murdered his own father.

But with his horror came new resolve. He reached out to the Force, and let the Light fill him, expunging the Darkness from his soul, soothing his regret and loss. Its strength filled him and he turned to face the Emperor.

"Never!" he said. He tossed the saber away. "I will never join you! You've failed, your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

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Vader was driven backward, buffetted on the wind of his son's rage. He could feel the Dark energy swirling off Luke like a demonic fire and it gave him no pleasure. He'd wanted Luke to turn, but not like this. Not at the cost of Padme's life.

Padme's life. His son's soul.

He parried Luke's blows only half-heartedly, his heart beating out a bleeding tattoo.

No. No. No. No.

He had lost his angel once. He could not do so again, not so soon after finding her. But was it too late-too late for her? For Luke? For himself?

Luke's shoulder drove into his chest and with a quick twist of his wrist, his son had disarmed him. A vicious kick to his knee sent him sprawling to the floor and he laid prone, Luke's glowing blade at his throat.

Luke's face twisted into a sneer of truimph, his eyes as dead as space and twice as cold.

What have I done? Vader thought helplessly. I've turned my son into a monster. I've killed Padme all over again!

Regret and sadness washed over him, threatening to crush his very soul. Vader raised his arm and reached out, though whether it was to defend himself or to wipe that look off Luke's face he didn't know.

His master's voice sounded loud and obscene in the silence. "Good!" he crowed. "Now finish it! Kill him and take your father's place at my side!"

Vader knew a moment of hurt betrayal, quickly squelched. Had he not made the same offer to his son? Only now, at the end, could he admit the truth. He had not wanted to hurt Luke. Nor Padme. He'd only wanted them with him- to fill the void that existed in his soul, to satisify the emptiness that Darkness created. But now Luke had been given over to the Dark, his soul offered up as sacrifice. Not his son felt that same bottomless casym, the black hole of the Dark Side that consumed all it touched.

Luke raised his saber over his head for the killing stroke and Vader felt the terrible weight of guilt settle over him.

I didn't want this, he thought. I never wanted this!

And then another voice spoke. "Luke, no. He's your father!"

Padme? Vader turned his head quickly to look at the place where she laid. She had not moved but her voice...He sent a tendril of Force energy towards her and his heart sang with hope at what he found. He looked up at his son. He was looking towards her too, confusion evident on his features. But then he lifted his lightsaber once more, his anger unquenched.

"Luke, please!" Luke stepped back, shaking his head. Vader could feel him, teetering on the edge, and he knew a memont of breathless uncertainty.

"Strike him down, my young apprentice!" Sidious hissed.

It was too late. Vader could feel his son let go of his rage, the Light burning his pain to ash. Luke lowered his arms, his empty eyes now full of sorrow. Vader could feel him reach out, pulling the Light into him, calming even as his Master's anger grew. He thumbed off the saber and threw it from him.

"Never. I will never join you!" He turned away from Vader, his back straight, every word he said ringing with power. "You've failed, your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

He jerked his head towards Vader and Vader felt a rush of warmth at the pride in his son's voice.

How could it be, that after everything that he had done, his son was still proud of him?

"So be it." Sidious said almost softly. "Jedi," he finished malevolently. He held up one gnarled hand and Force-lightning burst from his fingertips, aching across the room toward the young Jedi.

For a moment, Luke mananged to repel the vicious attack. But then the terrible Darkness overcame him and he fell, twisting and writhing on the floor as the energy coursed through him.

No! Vader could not tell if he had spoken aloud. He could not allow this to happen. He could not allow Palpatine to kill his son, his Jedi son. Vader struggled to his feet.

"Poor fool," Palpatine crooned. "Only now do you understand the power of the Dark Side." The sparks subsided. Luke did not answer. The despot's features twisted and he raised both hands, lashing Luke once more.

Fear rising in his heart, Vader limped to his Master's side. Not Luke. He could not take Luke.

The Force lightning hit the young Jedi and he screamed in agony as the energy swirled around him in a merciless dance.

Vader could feel his son's presence in the Force-once so blindingly Light-begin to dim.

Something inside him shattered as Palpatine stopped the lightning a second time. "You have paid the price for your lack of vision," he gloated. "And now, young Skywalker, you will die!"

Vader moved without volition. His saber flew into his hand and he ignited it and drove it into Palpatine's back with all his strength.

There was a loud clap of thunder. And then the room exploded into Darkness.

Vader felt Sidious grab hold of his mind. Help me! Don't let me die!

Once, when he was younger, the plea had moved him to pity and an action that had had far-reaching consequences.

Now he only felt sickened by his Master's desperation and fear.

"Go," he said aloud. "You are not wanted here!" He gave a mental tug and Sidious' hold was loosened and he tumbled into the black void of the Dark Side. Vader stood, regarding that void for a long moment and then he deliberately turned and walked away from it.

"Father?" Luke's voice called shakily.

Anakin came to himself. "Here," he answered back. His feet had taken him to the place where Padme laid, and he knelt beside her, holding her in his arms. Luke appeared at his side.

"She still lives. Help me, my son. I cannot save her alone."

Luke sank down beside him, looking pale. "I don't know what to do," he said. He reached out and placed his hand over his father's. "Show me."

It was an act of unparalleled trust. The shields in Luke's mind dropped and he sat ready and completely exposed. Anakin hesitated. And then he slipped easily into his son's mind. He ignored the memories and emotions that he longed to see-his son's mind so full of love and Light that he felt like a starving man suddenly given a feast-and instead focused on, and found, the core of his son's power.

Like this, he Sent, showing his son images and emotions, healing methods of the Jedi that he had thought long-forgotten. The Light. He felt Luke respond, opening up and pushing his Force-energy towards his father.

Anakin drew Luke's power into his own body- the Light searing away the shadows that remained in his soul- and directed it into Padme's still form. Under his direction, burnt flesh unravelled and knit itself together. Blood rushed to the affected areas, restoring life to the dead tissue. Nerves spread out, rejuvinated by the pure energy of the Force.

Padme, Anakin whispered into his wife's mind. Padme, come back to us.

Anakin?

Yes. He felt the warm rush of her love and was amazed by it. Sleep now, he told her. We will be here when you wake.

Anakin withdrew from her mind. He could feel Luke beside him, his power still rushing through him like a still-flowing river. He reached out, ready to give that power back but Luke stopped him.

Luke? Anakin spoke with confusion and Luke seemed to open himself up even more, offering more of himself to his father. What are you doing?

Luke ignored him, concentrated on imitating his father's actions of moments before. Anakin could feel himself frowning.

Luke, it's useless. Don't you think I've tried?

It was true. The wounds were too old, his body too scarred and useless to heal itself. Nonetheless Luke poured the power into him, Forcing the Light into his wrecked lungs.

Luke, it's too much. You- But it was too late. Luke was passed the point of no return now. He had extended himself far beyond his ability to control. Help me, father, Luke demanded. Anakin reached out once more, knowing it was futile but wanting to save his son from his own mistake. If he did not draw back, and soon, he would expend himself completely and he would die.

Anakin let the Force flow through him, guiding it into healing, into restoration. And to his astonishment, it responded. He felt his scarred lungs begin to expand, to perform the function for which they were created. He gulped in a rush of air and choked, the suit's filter trying to even out the overload. He clawed at the black helmet that had encased him for so long and succeeded in wrenching it off. He threw it aside and took a deep breath of pure, sweet air.

He could feel Luke's delight as he slowly withdrew from his father's mind.

"Are you alright?" It was the first time in a long time that he had heard his voice without the aid or amplification of a vocoder. It sounded strange to his own ears but Luke was grinning at him.

"I'm fine. Just..." A huge yawn threatened to crack his jaw and Anakin laughed. A real, full-throated laugh.

"Oh, my son," he said, reaching out and clasping the boy's shoulder affectionately. A sudden sound of blaster fire interrupted them. They both turned to the door. Anakin could feel Stormtroopers on the other side, attempting to force the Force-locked door. He stood up, retrieving the helmet and faceplace from the place he'd dropped it. He contemplated it for a moment, then set the hated thing back onto his head. He quickly went through the complicated process of switching the breathing aparatus off. The vocoder he lef activatedt, knowing that he would not be recognised without it.

Anakin turned to Luke. "I am going to open the door and let them in. Say nothing!"

With a wave of his hand the door opened. Stormtroopers poured in, followed by the red-robed Imperial Guard.

"My Lord, we heard an explosion and we feared-"

"That explosion was the Force. I am afraid that the Emperor has succumbed to his own power. He is dead."

A Stormtrooper had found the spot where Palpatine had died, now just a smoking ring on the floor.

"And these two?" Anakin turned his attention to Padme and Luke.

"My family was wounded in the blast. See that they recieve medical treatment immediately."

"Yes-" The voice of the Imperial Guardsman hesitated for an instant, unsure what to call him. Anakin waited, knowing how important this moment was. "Yes, your Highness," the guard finally managed. He turned to Luke, who looked weak and peaked now that the crisis was over. "If you will follow me, my lord."

Anakin nodded at his son. Go with them. And after you've slept a bit there is something I will need you to do for me...

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Leia rubbed her tired eyes and let her head fall into her hands. It seemed she had barely slept the entire time they were on Tatooine and now that Han was finally safe, her worry had only been transmuted to thoughts of Luke. She sighed, rolling her shoulders. Would this war ever end? Would those she loved ever be safe?

"Mistress Leia." The hesitant sound of Threepio's voice interrupted her musings.

"What is it?"

"Artoo had just recieved a rather strange message, my lady. He says-" the droid hesitated, as though he was afraid to speak the words. "He says it is from Master Luke."

"What?!" Leia burst out. She turned to the astromech, who had followed the protocol droid into her quarters. With a whistle, Artoo rolled forward. He beamed a thread of light onto the table next to her and Luke's image coalesced. Leia's heart leapt as she saw him, pale and tired-looking, but otherwise healthy. And then he began to speak and Leia's mouth dropped open in shock.

Leia listened to the message, and then restarted it and listened again. Finally, she sat back, incredulity and relief waring in her heart. Could she trust the message? Could it really be true? Could it be-just like that- that the war was over and they had won?

She was still staring off into space, trying to decide what to feel when Han found her. "Hey Princess, you all right?"

She turned and a smile- her first real smile in weeks- lit her face. "You are not going to believe this!"

6

7

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The Bitter Glass