In Shadows and Darkness

Chapter 26

Hallin breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way past the staged blast doors close to the Destroyer's bridge, glad to be free of the Emperor's close scrutiny, though quite obviously the fact was that he couldn't have been farther from the Emperor's thoughts. Still, he wondered again how Luke could stand to be the subject of the Emperor's close and critical scrutiny day after day. Why he stayed at all.

But then Palpatine was a master of manipulations, playing complex mistruths and malicious misdirections and veiled suggestions with subtle ease and devastating effect, some glimpse of which had been afforded Hallin in discussion with Luke earlier that year.

It had followed yet another internment in the cell beneath the Palace - his most recent, though that was now five months ago. When first they'd happened, and Luke had no-one whom he particularly trusted here, no-one had known the specifics of where Luke disappeared to, often for days or weeks at a time, always following some antagonism or challenge of the Emperor on Luke's part, be it private or public. The official line - and one quickly learned never to question the official line here - was that Luke had been retained on a classified assignment by the Emperor, and would return when it was complete. Slowly though, without ever needing to address the facts directly, Hallin had realized the truth, though it had been years before he'd dared to ask others in Luke's close retinue whether they too knew. Jade knew - had always known; was in some way involved, Hallin suspected - though neither she nor Luke ever made mention of it.

All Hallin knew for sure was that when he returned Luke remained quiet, reserved and introvert for days, as much out of exhaustion and injury as from the trial of facing off against Palpatine one more time.

But the onerous ordeals which had once been common lessened over time, in number if not in content, as the Emperor found new ways to control or chastise. This last time had been no different, Luke reappearing after four days, battered and scuffed, walking slowly and painfully from the main entrance, where Clem had announced his unexpected arrival, to his private quarters, one hand to the wall, ordering anyone who came forward away in clipped, breathless tones. Hallin had long since learned not to go; to let Luke make his own way back no matter what his condition, knowing that it was a matter of principle for Luke that he walked even this last stretch alone.

When he'd first been returned to the cell beneath the Palace fro chastisement, Palpatine had set in place the that on his release, Luke was always taken, unconscious, to the Emperor's apartments, the first medical treatment he recieved always by Palpatine's medics. The established routing became that until Luke was capable of standing and walking the long distance from the Emperor's apartments back to his own under his own power, he was not allowed to leave. If he tried too early and failed, Luke was returned to Palpatine's apartments exhausted, his recovery that much delayed for his exertion. Another little trial put in place for no other reason that Palpatine's amusement, Nathan suspected. Another little wordless battle of wills between himself and his Jedi.

So tonight, as he always did, Nathan forced himself to wait in Luke's private quarters, biding his time and making what little medical diagnosis he could from six paces away, and biting his tongue against the need to offer solace. It was well past midnight, and Luke collapsed down onto his bed still-dressed, Nathan leaving him exactly as he was, knowing better than to try to help undress him, instead sitting down on the chaise to the far side of the huge room. Just once, Luke had glanced to Nathan, daring him to make comment, but Nathan had looked away with a self-effacing 'we both know this game' shrug, and Luke had let his eyes drift closed, giving in to exhaustion as Nathan had remained, quietly watchful throughout the night.

Nathan had remained close fro the next few days, though Luke would seldom tolerate any attention, medical or otherwise. Instead he'd remain silent and insular, clearly playing the same thoughts over and over in his head, and all Nathan could do was wait for the explanation which it took Luke almost another two days to put into words, and even then in only the vaguest terms to begin with.

He remembered distinctly sitting in patient, attentive silence, watching the warm orange glow as the sun slowly settled to dusky copper. Remembered wondering if he would have to wait out another long day in silence until Luke had put his thoughts in order sufficiently to voice them, when Luke looked up to Nathan and, as if this was the continuation of a long-standing discussion, asked, "Do you believe it's possible to spontaneously create life?"

Nathan blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question which had clearly been running endlessly through Luke's thoughts for days now.

"I suppose...." Nathan considered, pulling his thoughts together, aware of expectant eyes on him. "I suppose scientifically I must- at some point, life was created from the random interaction of certain molecules which maintained integrity. A single-cell organism came into being. Every life-form is another expression of that random interaction; the biological creation of a new species, the driving force of nature to evolve. The whole galaxy is a manifestation of the spontaneous creation of life."

"But do you think it's possible to spontaneously create complex life- a human life?"

"Human life? No, I don' believe so. If it were, there would be documented cases."

"But you said yourself that nature seeks to evolve- to push the boundaries of potential. And even a human life begins with the division of a single cell."

"But there must be an outside catalyst which stimulates that cell division. It can't happen in isolation."

"There are species which can spontaneously conceive."

"But they're not human. Their physiology is very different; it's taken literally millennia for that ability to evolve. Human physiology requires an outside influence."

Luke had moved uncomfortably against aches and pains, his bruises still darkening from angry scarlet to deep purple. "What if that outside influence were the Force?"

Nathan set his head to one side, prepared to continue the debate because it had so clearly been praying on Luke's mind, though he felt he was charting unknown territory, "Now you're asking me to comment outside of my field of expertise. I suppose my answer would have to be, you tell me?"

Luke looked away, forehead furrowed in thought, seeking to follow the argument through to its natural conclusion; "We're talking about the division of a single cell... the Force can operate at a molecular level within the body- that's how we heal ourselves."

"So then, are you saying that a Jedi would have the potential to create life within their own system?"

"But we can use the ability to heal on others too. The Force is, at its most basic level, a molecular entity. I don't make a conscious decision to work at a molecular level and I'm not specifically aware of doing so, but if I can reach into another body and manipulate the organisms within at that level to destroy an infection or disperse a drug, with the proper knowledge surely I would be able to divide a single cell?"

Nathan shifted uncomfortably, "Are you intending to do so?"

Luke glanced up, shocked that Nath would even consider him willing to try such a thing, "Me? No- no of course not. I'm just..." He trailed off, leaving Nathan to gaze at him uneasily, searching the reason for this sudden intense preoccupation.

Luke remained silent for a long time, lost in thought again, mind clearly racing. When he finally looked up it was with another question, "If, theoretically, a Force-sensitive were able to do that- to manipulate the Force and induce life in another human being... would the life which had been created have any real link to its creator? Would it carry its creator's characteristics as if they had been a physical donor, good and bad? Or would it be solely a creation of the Force- and if so, would it carry the fingerprint, the orientation, of that which had been used to create it?

"Those are big questions," Nathan said gravely, but Luke's eyes steady on him made him consider. "Theoretically - medically - it would carry only the genetic makeup of the human parent. Only their DNA could be present so only their DNA would be available for use. So you're effectively talking about a type of clone."

"But would the Force itself - the midichlorians which induced the cell-split - become the second donor? If it did, that child would hold an unprecedented midichlorian count... a connection at a more basic level than any before. But if that were so, then would the aspect of the Force used to create it, be the aspect of the Force which to which it would be inescapably attuned?"

Realization slowly dawned on Nathan that this was a more personal discussion than it seemed. "Are you... talking about yourself?"

Luke shook his head just slightly, "No... no, I'm talking about my father - and Palpatine.."

Nathan fell to a shocked, considered silence as the far-reaching implications slowly dawned.

It went to Luke then, to ask the next logical question, one that he clearly didn't want to believe possible but he felt he had to consider; "Could the genetic footprint of the instigator be passed on through the Force? Would they be, to all intents and purposes, a biological donor?

"I don't think so- individual genetic make-up is incredibly complex."

"So is the Force. It has the ability to influence a sentient mind, to affect individual perceptions and memories, to communicate without words even over extended distances. Human DNA is at its most basic a construct- it has mathematical, reproducible margins. Could that pattern of DNA be reproduced by the Force- and if so, would that constitute a biological link? "

Nathan was silent for long moments. "That's... that's way out of my experience or field of knowledge. Anything I said would at best be conjecture. Without proof, it's all little more than speculation and supposition anyway."

Luke nodded thoughtfully and fell to silence for a few seconds. When he looked up again his voice was very sure, as if voicing his agreement with Nathan. "I need a sample of Palpatine's blood."

The words left Nath near-speechless.

"Anything else?" He managed at last, voice high with shock.

"Yes- Vader's."

"Of course! Whilst I'm at it, why don't I get you a sample of....." Nathan struggled to finish the sentence; "I'd say something even more outrageous but I think you've actually topped off the scale there."

"I realise it will be difficult,"

"Difficult?!"

"But this is important, Nath." Luke said, voice steel. "To me- to everything I'm trying to do."

"Is it though? What would really change if it were true, aside from your self-perception?"

Luke shook his head, "I won't be the next Palpatine."

Nathan glanced down, uneasy, "You're not Palpatine."

"I'm getting a little more like him every day. I can see it Nath, so I don't believe you can't."

"You're learning to deal with him- to operate within that world, to use it to your advantage, that's all."

"The logical conclusion of that statement is that in order to nullify Palpatine, I would have to become him." Luke argued quietly. "He once... he once said to me - when I asked him why he didn't kill me when he first saw me - he said, 'Darkness recognises its own'."

Nathan paused, choosing his words with care, "You know that this is what Palpatine does- that he'll use any means to..."

"No. that's an excuse; a validation. I can't afford to be ignorant. When..." Luke glanced down, frowning. "When I was in the cell six days ago Palpatine said that the only thing stopping me from leaving was my own weakness- my own conscience. He said that if I opened the door, the price would be paid in lives. The lives of those around me."

"That isn't a weakness Luke- I think you know that."

Luke lifted his head, stared at Nathan in silence for long seconds. "I nearly did it. I seriously thought about opening the door - just gong ahead and opening it anyway - I can't tell you how close I came."

Nathan knew that he had been watching the weight of that knowledge settle on Luke's shoulders for the past few days as his friend finally voiced his greatest fear;

"What if that's all I am- all I can be? If Vader was created by Darkness, then how can I be anything more? Palpatine fell by choice, but what about my father? There is still good in him, I can feel that- some part of him that wasn't consumed. Perhaps he still thinks he's simply playing the game when he stands beside Palpatine, just as I do. I have to know, Nath- I have to know that when I play Palpatine's games, I can still step back. I have to know that I won't get lost in that game."

"You won't get lost," Nathan assured, "You haven't yet."

Luke shook his head, "Is that what my father thought? What if he did the wrong thing for the right reasons... because he simply didn't have that ability within him to recognise the difference- to step back. And if he couldn't do that because of what he is... how can I?"

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Eight days in to its maiden voyage and having left the Peerless and the Dauntless behind in its last brief emergence from hyperspace in dead space at the edge of Sullust, the Patriot was reaching the end of her journey, somewhere in the Moddell or Ablajeck Sectors as far as Luke could calculate based on time and some vague, indistinct sense of direction, though it could just as easily be the Spar or Vivenda Sectors.

The journey had gone surprisingly smoothly this far in terms of undisclosed secrets, almost too much so, given the situation. It wasn't that Luke was looking for trouble - in fact it seemed that the more secrets he himself held, the less Luke was prepared to rock the boat - but in his experience, life seldom went the way one hoped, and if it did, then it was generally the lull before the storm.

Now, Luke walked beside his Master on the vast bridge, Palpatine yet again discussing the events which had marked the new Destroyer's launch, Luke lost in his thoughts, remembering how easy it had been to turn on the Rebels; to validate their removal as somehow being in their own greater interests.

"What is relevant is that this signifies a substantial change in tactics for them." Palpatine turned slightly as they made their slow way from the rear to the front of the bridge along its outer pathway, voice quiet but still quite audible in the hushed bridge, though to all who heard, this was little more than a discussion of tactics between the Emperor and his Heir.

The subtler game which was hidden beneath the words was theirs alone- and Palpatine was pushing for a reaction. "They're becoming bolder, taking more risks... why do you think that is?"

"Honestly?" Luke said, "I think that without Mothma to hold him in check, Madine is beginning to make his presence felt amongst the leadership there."

He had expected the name of one of Palpatine's officers, long since defected to the Rebellion, to have a greater effect but in fact Palpatine remained silent for several seconds as they walked before asking casually, "Is that what your spy thinks?"

Luke didn't turn round but kept walking as he stated evenly, "Yes. And yours?"

He had no proof that his Master had managed to place another spy among the Rebels, but for the safety of Argot, he needed to find out, so the game played on. Palpatine paused to gaze out of the long, wide viewscreen, clearly not wishing to be drawn. But the lack of answer was an answer in itself, Luke knew.

Still, he was aware of his Master's subtle curiosity as Palpatine tried a different thread, seeking to clarify his own unspoken suspicions. "Perhaps it is Leia Organa. She is after all the new leader of the Rebellion."

Luke didn't hesitate or make any move to defend her. "Perhaps. She has a more military perspective than Mothma ever did, and she'll doubtless feel the need to establish herself."

Brief flash-images of Leia's face seared through his thoughts - of the moment when he'd turned on her group with a vengeance, of the fear in her eyes when the choking smoke had cleared and she had turned to him, horrified.

Where was the line then? Had he crossed it in attacking at all, even when he knew they were already betrayed, or had he simply sought to buy Leia's life with that of those about her, his eye on the greater picture. Acceptable losses. The wrong thing for the right reasons - or was that the other way around?

His fear was no longer whether he could play the game- it had become far more whether he knew when to stop.

The Emperor spoke on, still pushing to find some perceived weakness, and Luke tried to concentrate, to hide gnawing doubts from his Master's searching mind as Palpatine sought to lay subtle traps. "In your opinion, is this the kind of action she would instigate?"

He shrugged, aware that Palpatine was seeking to get a reading of his opinion of Leia, given her convenient escape, but unwilling to supply one. "It's a long time since I last spoke with her. Time changes people."

"Still, you knew her well."

Palpatine paused before the forward viewscreen, looking into the maelstrom of lightspeed without truly seeing. Luke kept his expression and his thoughts guarded, aware that his Master's acute senses were trained on him. Was this an idle discussion; a taunt, no more - a reminder of his former naivety - or was Palpatine aware that something was amiss but unable as yet to chase it down?

Whatever else it was, the conversation certainly wasn't a genuine request for opinions; Palpatine did as he pleased regardless of those around him.

"Based on past experience I'd say that she wouldn't shirk from this kind of action if it were suggested." Luke replied calmly, shaking his head slightly, forcing his mind to focus past the distracting images which burned into his thoughts. "All the beings who advise her at present are military in outlook and experience- I'd say it's inevitable that she would develop a more militaristic attitude."

"Do you think I should remove her?"

"I think you should remove the Rebellion entirely, but that seems to be proving difficult." Luke dodged neatly. Was he failing to see the desert for the dunes? Something bigger was going on here, carefully hidden behind Luke's own smaller, more routine concerns; he was uneasy about Mara and the Rebels, his thoughts distracted. Was this a diversionary tactic? Carefully played along by his Master, was Luke failing to ask the bigger question, which was.... what?

Luke frowned, mind split between his Master's words and the reason for his speaking them. The big question was... Why was Palpatine here at all?

"Perhaps I should place a bounty on her head?" The Emperor pushed.

"I would be very surprised if you hadn't already."

Palpatine let out a small laugh at that before trying another lure. "Heh, perhaps I should send you after her?"

Luke didn't flinch; "Perhaps you should give me sole responsibility for pursuing the Rebellion in its entirety."

Again Palpatine laughed, clearly amused at Luke's single-minded determination. "You've wanted this for a long time."

Luke half-turned, completely drawn in by the conversation now, though he remained silent, knowing when to push and when to allow the Emperor time to feel that a decision had been reached by his own will.

It was, of course true that he wanted responsibility for the insurgents turned over to him. Not for the reasons he allowed his Master to believe, though Luke had to admit that Palpatine's teachings had probably influenced his view on how to deal with this.

As his Master was so fond of saying, knowledge was power, and if he intended to move forward from the status-quo which had existed between Empire and Rebellion for the last two decades then Luke needed, no matter how covertly, to move information both ways through contacts in the Rebellion. It was the only way to contain them- to direct them. He'd always sought to take command of dealing with the Rebellion from his father, knowing that Vader's deeply-set opinion of those he pursued would mean that he'd never allow Luke to establish contact, even to his own ends; that, fearing a split in Luke's loyalties, Vader would do everything in his considerable power to stop him.

Whilst responsibility for the Rebellion rested with Vader, Luke knew he would always be reliant on his father's good will, which was tenuous at best. Notwithstanding their recent cooperation, that facts remained unchanged. Luke still hadn't revealed his ultimate goals to his father nor did he have any intention to do so, because whilst their relationship had settled, Luke had to admit that he didn't for one moment actually trust his father. Couldn't depend on him not to place his own goals before Luke's, as he always had. And whilst that fact remained, Luke still needed to gain control of the anti-insurgency taskforce. It was the only way to guarantee access to the Rebellion.

"I will... consider your request." Palpatine allowed into the extended silence, his eyes turning again to the radiant, mottled splendour of hyperspace. "You will have new duties soon - new responsibilities - and I would not like to see your attention too divided. But perhaps in the long term, these undertakings could be made to integrate... yes, I will consider."

"Thank-you Master." Luke murmured, head down to hide his satisfaction.

Less than a day later, he stood in the same spot beside his Master and the game Palpatine had been playing in coming here had taken on a devastating new twist.

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"You disapprove." Palpatine intoned from his position before the viewport, keeping his eyes on the half-constructed battle station which hung like a silvery pearl in the velvet darkness, but growing larger every second - and more unmistakable.

He remained stock still, his senses trained on Skywalker, searching for any telltale sign as the boy stood close by. But there was nothing; he was too accomplished now to allow any chink in his armour, even at this.

"I see no use for it." Skywalker said mildly, hands clasped behind his back as he stood to loose, wary attention, his tone casually dismissive though Palpatine knew his thoughts must be reeling.

They had come out of hyperspace after a nine-day jump, still manoeuvring closer to the massive, partially complete battle station over a verdant green planet whose name Palpatine never could be bothered to remember.

He had walked slowly to the front of the bridge to stand beside his Jedi as helm announced their imminent reversion, wishing to be close when the Patriot came out of hyperspace, the other officers present instinctively withdrawing, leaving them alone.

Now Palpatine turned to his Jedi, watching his jaw tighten as their destination became apparent. Skeletal though it still was, he was sure its familiar shape, the massive dish almost complete, must be firing memories of its predecessor, which Skywalker himself had destroyed over Yavin IV - the act which had first brought him to the Emperor's attention.

"There is always the need to maintain stability." Palpatine said at last, pressing for a reaction.

"Perhaps," his feral Jedi allowed, "But I don't believe it will do that."

"It is a manifestation of my power. Power is stability; one will above all others."

"Too much oppression encourages dissent." The boy was taking care to keep any emotion from his voice or his sense, aware that his Master was looking for a reaction and disinclined to provide one.

"Dissent can be dealt with."

"If you know it exists." Luke said, "And where. This is only a deterrent if you know where to point it. You assume you have a single enemy; they scatter themselves widely for that very reason."

"You will find a target." Palpatine said confidently.

The boy glanced over, realising, and Palpatine brought sharp, yellow-flecked eyes to his Jedi.

"You are charged with the responsibility of completing this project and bringing it online, my friend- it needs a strong hand now to guide it. Your arrival on Coruscant meant that I became remiss in pushing it forward; I had other, more important concerns. But whilst the Rebellion is gone from the Core Systems, it remains very much a presence in the Rim worlds. In retrospect, I believe that perhaps you were right when you claimed that you could do what your father could not."

"The Rim is a difficult area to police-" It was almost a defence, and it brought Palpatine's eyes to the boyimmediately, but he was still staring at the unfinished Death Star, his next words tempering Palpatine's suspicion, his thoughts clearly on the appointed task. "Even this can only be in one place at once."

"That is all it need be, if used properly." Palpatine said. "But any deterrent is only as effective as the hand used to guide it; if I gave this to your father, he would use it without compunction and it would, as you said, only encourage dissent."

"If one has nothing to lose, then why not gamble- why not fight?" The boy said, aware of the paradox, "This is global, impersonal; it can't separate between innocents and insurgents. Retribution is indiscriminate, non-selective."

The boy turned slightly to his Master, knowing that Palpatine wanted to hear that he saw both the disadvantages and the advantages in this. "But you think that's also its strength, because it will make the Rebels unpopular- unwelcome wherever they try to hide. Reprisals would be absolute; unconditional and global. A whole world could potentially pay for the mistakes of one being. Insurgents taking refuge on the far side of a planet could no longer be ignored when by doing so they placed one's own family at risk. There can be no degrees of allowance or tacit disregard when the result will be felt so close to home. Every single being on any given world would have a vested interest in removing such dangers from their own planet - reporting them. Its existence is enough."

Palpatine smiled; the boy had learned his lessons well. He could, he supposed, have invested the same effort in teaching his father - in many ways it would have been far less problematic - but Vader had given up any rights when he had failed to bring down Kenobi. He had lost the power Palpatine had devoted so much to investing in him and in that moment, he had become as every Sith apprentice was in Palpatine's eyes; a commodity. A tool to be used and discarded. A pity; he would have been easier to control than his son - but therein had laid the pleasure... and the satisfaction of leading the boy to this moment.

"You understand - appreciate the delicate nature of such a weapon." He turned to his Jedi, indulgent, "You always were my fine blade."

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Luke's gaze was held completely by the spectre before him, present and past colliding, reducing him to tense, noncommitive silence; he understood- he just didn't necessarily agree.

Though he wasn't naïve enough to say such out loud- or allow even a trace of it to slip through ever-present shields.

So Palpatine continued, believing they were of one accord on this, "When it is operational, it will be assigned to your Fleet, together with a charge to turn it against the Rebellion. You have asked me repeatedly for that assignment and I have always refused, believing you not ready. Your actions onboard the Patriot were exemplary. I am confident now that you are equal to the responsibility; that you will fulfil all obligations that the role requires."

"I don't need this. Give me access to the Rim Systems and I'll take them apart anyway. This will take at least a year to complete - give me that one year and control of Vader's anti-insurgency taskforce..."

Palpatine shook his head as Skywalker spoke, unyielding... and finally he tendered the reward, knowing exactly how to draw his Wolf in with the offer of that which he desired above all else; "No. But when you have completed this weapon... I will give you free run to use it where you see fit, my friend."

For an instant, Luke only stared, speechless... but already, knowing his Master of old, he was examining the details of the offer, considering the implications...

Palpatine gave him what he wanted- at a price.

Always a price.

Luke glanced back at the half-completed monstrosity which hung before him, an echo of a previous life brushing at his soul and leaving deep misgivings. He'd helped destroy its predecessor- was he really willing to help create the progeny? Was he prepared to relinquish so...

He broke the thought, glancing to the small moon behind the skeletal station then out to the stars beyond, looking for a point of reference-

"Where is this?" Immediately Luke tempered the question behind another meaning, "Can we guarantee that it's secure?"

"Yes." Palpatine's gravely voice was imbued with its typical confidence, "It has remained so for some time; we are far enough from the beaten path that we can ensure privacy."

"The planet isn't occupied? It looks habitable."

The Emperor glanced down, tone dismissive as he struggled to even remember the planet's name, "Endor is lost in the Outer Rim, close to the edge of the Unknown Regions. It has no technology and no mineral wealth, therefore no connection with the civilised galaxy- but it does have one thing I need; power."

Luke barely heard, his mind caught up not by Palpatine's offer of eventual free reign beyond the Core Systems if he finished the Emperor's new toy... but by the realisation that acceptance of this task may necessitate a far earlier relaxing of restrictions. He glanced to his Master, a cool, curious expression arranged on his face as his thoughts raced; Endor... In the Outer Rim.

The Emperor continued, unaware of Luke's split attention, "I would not leave myould no leave so vital-a project undefended- there are a series of shields projected from the sanctuary moon..."

Luke nodded distantly, the possibilities sparking; Endor. If he took this task then he would be required to travel to the Outer Rim regularly- under covert means, since its existence was clearly classified. Falling off all official and unofficial radars may well enable him to evade the Emperor's close scrutiny too. Just as importantly it would guarantee the one thing that Palpatine had always so vigilantly denied Luke; regular personal access to both the Core and the Rim Fleets.

His mind began to race at the opportunities; he could gradually swap out trusted allies from both fleets on the pretext of manning the construction; institute a line of command which would give him absolute control here. The amount of supplies and technology coming in would be vast- it would be easy to appropriate and re-route part of it; expand and reinforce the 701st at a far faster rate than he'd anticipated. Double their size and split them between the Peerless and the Patriot- then again between the Patriot and this station. He'd already left a contingent covertly scattered aboard the Peerless along with a reliable Captain; if and when he chose to move, together they would guarantee the loyalty of the Peerless.

Which gave him the Peerless, the Patriot, the Executor... and now this. Plus reliable Star Destroyer Captains and Command Staff on many others, combined with deep-cover operatives from the 701st who could guarantee that those trusted officers maintained command at the allotted time...

His Master droned on and Luke nodded from time to time, mind still reeling at the potential...

Once - just once more - he saw again the Death Star, remembered his past convictions... but they were gone in an instant, quashed beneath realisation of the opportunity which presented itself here. He was after all not intending to aid Palpatine; this was the opportunity to do all that those distant memories had desired- to bring the Emperor down.

In his bitter, blind desire for ever more power Palpatine had been the architect of all that Luke had lost; it was only fitting that the ultimate statement of that power should be pivotal in his downfall.

He could not turn this down- all he saw now was potential.

His Master was right; Power was stability - one will above all others... just not Palpatine's.