'Sir, we have a fighter returning to the hanger.'
'Are their engines damaged?'
'The connection must be lost. I can't contact the cockpit. It'll need an analysis once it docks.'
Grand Moff Tarkin thought nothing more of the TIE fighter that exited Yavin 4. While the worker attempted to contact the returning ship for a second time, the leader of the invasion observed the result of his efforts.
The star destroyer was monitoring the troops' advance through the jungle, and from the control room, the gaunt man was anticipating the Resistance's surrender.
After sending the Jedi named Revan Shan to the Death Star, Tarkin's eyes were set on a complete takeover. They were surrounding the rebel base, and the rebels' ships were diminishing to their bare bones. It wouldn't be long until Padme Amidala had no choice but to give herself up, and Tarkin could present the rebel captain to the Emperor as his grand prize.
With her in their grips, the Empire could use her as leverage against the leader of the Resistance, Mon Mothma. And with one less Jedi in the galaxy to worry about, as Tarkin assumed that the Emperor would have disposed of Revan Shan, then the Empire would have complete control over all planets and moons in every system.
Grand Moff Tarkin saw the TIE fighter that they thought was heading for their hanger. It flew as normal, but on its tail, was a collection of rebel ships. The TIE fighter appeared to be fleeing the Resistance's change of attack, and when Tarkin saw the rest of his ships leaving Yavin 4, he realised that the starship battle was coming to him.
'They're preparing to attack us, sir!' a workman called from the other side of the control room. Tarkin pried his large eyes from the windscreen and looked to the workmen that rushed around in their duties.
'Activate the shields,' the man called over the bustle.
'Already done, sir!'
Tarkin had nothing to worry about. The rebels would never be able to break through their shields with the few ships that remained. He could see the beaten-up x-wings and starfighters were on their last legs. Even when their blasts and missiles made contact with the star destroyer's surface, the monstruous carrier ship functioned as normal. But the rebels continued to rain blasts all while fleeing from the TIE fighters and Imperial ships that followed them.
'What are they thinking coming up here?' Tarkin said to no one in particular. 'If they're not protecting their base, then they're more than just fools.'
The man shook his head with a humourless chuckle. The rebels' attack was futile, but Tarkin would gladly watch their pathetic efforts lead to their own demise. The Rebel Alliance's belief that a mere sense of hope would take down the Empire was laughable, and Tarkin didn't even admire their drive. They were assuming that the Emperor was an old fool, and that Tarkin was ignorant of their antics, but the Empire always found out.
While the star destroyer focused on the rebels that blasted at their shields, a lonesome TIE fighter circled the ship. In its cockpit, Ahsoka Tano worked the controls and searched the surface layer of the grey eyesore.
She remembered the lieutenant's hologram of the exhaust port, and searched for the opening that was no more than ten metres wide. She didn't have to worry about blaster fire from the destroyer, the Imperial offense, or the Resistance, because she was in-between hiding under their noses. Ahsoka had the time to search for her target.
But the Jedi could do nothing with the shields still operational, and when she saw the fight between rebels and the Imperials, Ahsoka wondered if the shields would ever be torn down.
'This is Ahsoka Tano. I am looking for the exhaust port, and I need those shields down. Does anyone copy?' Ahsoka said to the controls, which she hoped had been connected the rebel ships she could see out her windscreen.
'We're working on it, Miss Tano! But more ships have just left the destroyer's hanger! We're overrun!' a female's voice came through the fighter's speakers. At the end of the connection, Ahsoka saw the TIE fighters that poured out from the below the destroyer. Her stomach plummeted at seeing the continuous line of starships, and she felt even more helpless when they began blasting at her entourage.
'There's too many of them! Ahh!-'
Ahsoka looked to the right and saw a rebel ship burst into flames. The TIE fighter that was responsible for the explosion went on to follow another rebel ship, leaving the starfighter to spiral below. Ahsoka watched in horror as the ship disappeared into the abyss of space, and more began to fall across her windshield.
But there it was; the exhaust port. Below the control room, where she knew Grand Moff Tarkin stood with his hands behind his back, was the ten metre-wide space. It was so small, that if Ahsoka hadn't been looking for it, and if her Jedi senses hadn't piqued, the Togruta would have missed the rectangular gap in the destroyer's build.
'I found it! I repeat, I see the exhaust port!' Ahsoka called out, her excitement getting the better of her. But when she received no reply, Ahsoka's attention was brought back to the tragedies around her.
Rebel ships fell, and the cry of TIE fighters dominated the battlefield. The star destroyer was even blasting ships from its belly's blaster, and the cries of pilots sounded through Ahsoka's speakers.
'I'm going down! Help me-'
'It's no use! We're done for!'
'For the Resistance! Down with the Empire-'
'Where's the Jedi?! Where's the Chosen One?!'
Ahsoka couldn't help but feel hurt at the calls for the supposed Chosen One. Sol was nowhere to be found, and Ahsoka was just as capable as the woman that was off on her own mission. Ahsoka was never the one to destroy the Sith, but that didn't mean that she couldn't bring down Grand Moff Tarkin.
But Ahsoka could do nothing against the Imperial ships without blowing her cover. She had to watch her fellow rebels fall to their deaths, and had to listen to their calls for help. The shields were still solid around the destroyer, and Ahsoka felt the light in the Force fade by the second.
The Resistance was dying and Ahsoka had failed Padme with her foolish drive for an impossible chance.
'Ahsoka Tano? Ahsoka, do you copy?' a voice suddenly transmitted into the cockpit. The Jedi ripped her eyes away from the death and destruction and looked to her control panel in confusion.
'Yes... yes, I copy?'
'We're under the orders of Mon Mothma to bring down this destroyer,' the voice said again, and Ahsoka's chest filled with relief. 'We're at your service.'
As if sent by the Maker himself, an army of x-wings and starfighters appeared from behind Ahsoka's ship. The TIE fighter shook as they soared past her and curved in formation around the destroyer.
Joining their fellow rebels, the reinforcements attacked the Imperials that had nearly wiped out the Resistance left on Yavin 4. The rebels that were left cheered and hooted at the appearance of reinforcements, and their voices came through Ahsoka's controls in a collective applause.
'Bless that woman!'
'We're saved!'
'Mothma, you Maker send!'
The TIE fighters didn't know what to do. The rebel reinforcements came out of nowhere and unleashed their blasts on every ship they saw. With spins and twists of experienced pilots, rebels became the majority as Imperial cockpits were set alight. Wings broke off and with a fleeting cry, TIE fighters fell below the star destroyer to their deaths.
Ahsoka was in awe. She had only ever met Mon Mothma a handful of times, and it seemed that the short-haired woman was always too busy with other Resistance matters to help with Padme's division. But now, Ahsoka was seeing the true power that the Resistance held, and the leadership of the great Mon Mothma.
'The shields are nearly down, Miss Tano!' another voice came through her controls, and Ahsoka wanted to grin. 'Won't be long now!'
---
The Emperor had never felt so powerful. There was so much hatred and anger in his chamber that the dark side was raging with evil. He stood with his robe over his head and his hands clasped together, and unlike everyone else in his presence, his eyes had remained in their intense yellow with a fiery red ring.
His apprentice had revealed his face, but Darth Vader was still present. He glared at his opponent, who had lost all the confidence he once had against the Sith. Vader gripped his lightsaber with a suffocating grip and his arms almost shook in anger. When his blue eyes glanced to Sol on the floor, he had to contain himself from Force crushing Revan Shan's skull in fist.
Sol had been able to prop herself up against a metal pipe. By being away from the energy well, Sol was shadowed from the fight, but the smoke from her robes made her presence known. The Emperor had stepped forward to be closer to his apprentice and his opponent, but Sol could still see the way Vader's face tilted downwards to look at Revan through his brow.
Through the heat that burned through her chest and stomach, Sol could feel the dark side throbbing in the Force. The light still remained, and Sol could even feel the Force flames that weren't present in the room. There were many colours that appeared to be waiting for something, and unlike Emperor Palpatine's black signature, the flames in the Force were full of good and balance. Sol felt the presence of Jedi from long ago, and even felt Master Yoda standing beside her. She couldn't see him, but he was there with Satele Shan, Master Aayla Secura, and so many others that had fallen at the hand of the Sith.
'I'm not afraid of you, Anakin,' Revan said with both hands on his lightsaber. His eyes were still yellow, but the fear in them was apparent. If the dark side didn't have a hold on his purple signature, Revan's hands would be shaking at Vader's heaving shoulders and clenched jaw.
'You should be,' Vader said, and stepped forward with a rear back of his blade. Revan's eyes widened and he held up his weapon, but even with two hands on the handle, the strength of the Sith was too much.
Vader threw his weight into one arm and felt the satisfying landing of his blade. Revan's wrists bent at the collision and the silver cannister fell from his fingers. The metal clattered against the tiles and rolled towards the railing of the energy well.
Without its wielder's rush to grab it, the sheathed lightsaber disappeared over the edge and fell where it would never be found again.
From the attack, Revan stumbled backwards and landed on his backside. For the second time since facing Darth Vader, Revan laid in the intimidating figure's shadow. Revan had underestimated the power of the Chosen One by being blinded by the dark side. He thought that his hatred was enough to power his fight, but like many before him, Revan had lost to Darth Vader.
'Good, Vader. I knew that you would not fail me,' the Emperor stepped to be by his apprentice's side. 'Now, I will remove this pathetic excuse for a Jedi and a Sith, so that you can finally reunite with your beloved.'
Sol saw the way Revan's eyes turned back to their original dark brown. They were ridden with fear as the Emperor raised his crippled hands, and when Revan turned his head, he met Sol's gaze with a shade of realisation.
The Emperor had never planned for the trio to fight to the death. It was all a ploy to make sure that Vader overpowered Revan, and that Sol was rendered to the Emperor's control. He wanted Sol out of action while Vader unleashed his anger on his opponent. It proved Vader's allegiance to the dark side, while also eliminating the Jedi that dared to challenge the Emperor's apprentice.
With Revan cowering against the well's railing, the Emperor was free to destroy the pest that had entered his chambers. And Sol was too injured to fight any longer, letting the control and power fall back into Emperor Palpatine's hands.
'A weak Force user deserves to be destroyed! You're use of the dark side was pathetic, and you will pay the price for your lack of vision, Revan Shan!'
Bolts of lightning left the Emperor's fingers. The shocks of purple and blue blackened the man's fingers, but their volts hit Revan's body with vengeance.
With an ear-splitting cry, Revan convulsed on the floor and tried to roll away from the Emperor's power. But it was so intense, that Revan was forced to endure the bolts in an immobolising, pain-filled experience.
Revan's mouth hung open and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. His robes smoked and Sol smelt the burning of flesh that stung her nose. The woman had to resist the urge to close her eyes at the uncomfortable and agonising sight of her cousin's jolts and convulsions. She grinded her teeth to try and retract the grimace on her face, but with her cheeks high, Sol couldn't help but cry for the Emperor's mercy.
'Stop it! Please, stop!' Sol said, but the Emperor ignored her. She looked to Vader, who remained by his Master's side.
Vader didn't know what to do. The anger he felt towards Revan had diminished when he saw the man withering on the floor. The Emperor was enjoying the torture so much, that he wouldn't even sense Vader's attack from behind. For all he knew, his apprentice was still faithful to him, and he would begin walking Sol down the path of the dark side once he was done with Revan. But while the Emperor electrocuted the defenceless man, he was dangerous. Any contact with the man would result in also falling victim to his power.
'Anakin...'
He heard her voice in the Force. Looking to the woman against the pipe, Vader was reminded of Sol's presence. But he hated to see the twist in her beautiful features and through her pain, Sol looked at him in a desperate plea. Her purple eyes were growing glossy, and she gripped at her burnt robes with a clenched fist. While Vader stood conflicted beside his Master, Sol used their unique connection to fulfil his and her destiny.
'Stop him. Please... you have to stop Palpatine,' Sol said through the Force again. 'You're a Jedi. You know it's right. Come back, Ani.'
'Use the Force, Anakin.'
'You are the Chosen One.'
'Destroy the Sith once and for all.'
'Good, you still are.'
The voices of past Jedi accompanied Sol's. Anakin heard Master Mace Windu, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and Master Yoda. They were here with him, and they saw what the Emperor was doing.
Anakin had to destroy Palpatine. Everything that had happened up until this moment was for the greater destiny. Sol had tried to bring him back to the light, and now, his Force signature was returning to its warm orange. The Jedi Order were surrounding him with connected auras, and as Sol begged, Anakin Skywalker turned to look at his Master that cackled.
He dropped his lightsaber and grabbed the Emperor's middle with two hands. The man who was engrossed in Revan's torture let out a cry of surprise, but the electricity from his fingers continued to rage. But instead of attacking Revan, the bolts ricocheted off the walls and conducted down his body to attack his apprentice.
Sol watched as Anakin lifted the Emperor over his head and headed towards the railing. Electricity zapped at the leather suit and the torment on Anakin's face showed how painful the currents were. But as he reached the railing, Anakin used his remaining strength to throw the Emperor into the energy well, where the man continued to wail and cry at his student's betrayal.
Emperor Palpatine flew down the well and his electric powers lingered in singular bolts. Anakin collapsed against the railing while he watched his Master fall to his death. Before the Emperor could disappear into the abyss, the robed body exploded from reaching the well's energy core. A reaction occured and a burst of light covered the dark chamber.
Sol and Anakin squinted from the stinging light, before it faded back into the well's containment. The Jedi were left in a silence and the Force flattened with a sense of balance.
With a gloved arm leaning on the railing's bar, Anakin panted in exhaustion. Sweat layered his face and neck, and his hair had dampened from the amount of moisture oozing from his skin. Anakin had just taken a thousand bolts of electricity to his already burnt and damaged body. But he wasn't in a great deal of pain, as the healing process was only just beginning.
The absense of darkness in his Force flame allowed the light to seep in. What was once red and angry, was now orange and calm. The Force was balanced and Anakin's wounds that he thought had scarred, were healing underneath his black suit.
Anakin sensed Sol's presence before he saw her. Sol had been able to push herself off the pipe and made her way to Anakin's side. Before Sol raised her hand to place it on his limp arm, Anakin turned his head while still panting.
'D-Don't, I'm still-'
Sol didn't listen as her hand touched the leather of his glove. No bolts travelled off his body and Anakin was relieved to be able to touch Sol without hurting her. But much to his frustration, his weakness and injuries made it hard for him to move. Sol noticed this and forced her arms to wrap around his shoulders. It hurt to pull at her wounds, but Sol made herself push through the pain.
The two found comfort in each other's touch. It was the first time that Anakin had felt Sol's embrace since the Republic, and it was just as intoxicating as he remembered. With Vader gone, Anakin felt like he could enjoy Sol's smell, presence and touch without the whispers of the dark side in his ear.
Sol's head leaned against his, and Anakin reminisced in her gentle hold. They were hurt, but they were free. They had each longed to be together, and after years of hiding, fighting, and resisting the dark side, Sol had made her way back to Anakin, and he had made his way back to her.
'You did it, Ani... he's gone. The Emperor's dead...' Sol said in almost disbelief, and the slouched man was able to rest one hand on her waist.
'Revan is too...'
With a slow twist of her neck, Sol looked over her shoulder after Anakin's tired mumble. She looked down and from her angled stare, Sol could make out Revan's motionless body. Despite Anakin's heroic act, the Emperor's attack had been lethal. Revan was exposed to the monster's electricity for too long and it had caused the man's heart to fail.
'Oh... poor Revan...' tears prickled Sol's eyes and she looked away from Revan's corpse. Anakin could see Sol's sorrow and despite his dislike for the Shan, he squeezed her waist as a sign of comfort.
'I'm sorry, Sol... I-I could have helped him sooner-'
'No. It wasn't you... what matters is that... we're alive, and the Sith is defeated.'
Anakin knew that this wasn't true. Sol was allowed to mourn the death of her longtime friend. Revan had been used by the Emperor as a piece in his game, and even when the greater destiny was fulfilled, Revan still didn't make it out alive. He was tricked by the dark side and his death was a tragic one.
Sol would take the time to grieve Revan's life and death, but Anakin was in front of her. Anakin was alive, Vader was gone, and the Emperor couldn't twist his mind anymore.
'Thank you, Solaris,' Anakin started, bringing the Jedi's attention back to him and his sincere eyes. 'You were right about me. You... you brought me back.'
'There was always good in you,' Sol said with a growing, tearful smile. 'I love you, Ani. I never stopped... even when I thought you were gone. I love you, and I always will...'
Anakin gawked at Sol with heavy-lidded eyes. How could someone like him, who regretted so much, who was hated by so many, be allowed to have someone like Sol?
'I love you, too, bright eyes. I never stopped loving you, either. I... I love you so much...'