Parallel Shadows

Chapter 4 - Exegol

Author's Note: This fic is eight chapters, so we're half done now. :')

Also, I regret nothing. ;)

~ Amina Gila

The first thing that hits Luke when he flies down through the atmosphere is how strongly the place feels of the Dark Side. Thick dark clouds cover the sky as far as he can see, lightning crackling between them. The atmosphere is extremely electrical, so he has to fly carefully to avoid being hit.

The Dark Side is calling to him more strongly than ever, and he doesn't know how to pull back from it. Doesn't have the strength to try. Doesn't even care to.

A strange nervousness suddenly twists inside of him, as he lands the shuttle where he was directed. This place is... not abandoned. There's signs of life here, of ships and such, though he didn't stop to look closely.

It's not a surprise, after all. A Darksider or whatever he is, is living here, after all. He has no idea who this is or who he's about to meet, but none of his experiences with meeting Sith or Force users at all really have been very pleasant, so yes, he's wary. They've been helping him, but...

He's silently grateful for the feel of his lightsaber as he moves warily through the building, into where the voice told him to go. They give him a couple more directions – it seriously begins to make him wonder why they aren't just coming out here to talk to him themselves – before he finally reaches a door.

The presence behind the door feels... familiar. Where did he feel that before?

Hesitantly he pushes it open, stepping into the room. It's mostly dark, but there's still enough light to see. There's a throne-like chair at the far end of the room that vaguely resembles...

Wait –

Wait.

Before he can finish that line of thought, his eyes settle on the figure on the throne. He looks just like the one Luke saw on occasion, but he didn't realize he was quite this tall. Yellow???? eyes peer down at him, from so many feet above his head.

"So you have arrived," the figure purrs.

"Who are you?" Luke demands, refusing to show any of the fear that's suddenly rising inside of him. Something's not right here. No, something is very, very wrong. He just doesn't know what.

"Some call me Snoke," he replies, "But once, I was another, a dark Lord of the Sith."

Luke frowns. "That... is not what you said before."

"I have seen both sides of the Force, my boy," Snoke responds, "The Light is weak. Those who use it will always fail. You have seen the power of the Dark Side, the power to save your father."

He can't really deny the truth of those words, especially not with how strongly the Dark Side is calling to him. He can't be a Jedi anymore anyway, not after what he did. He always wanted to be like Anakin, and... But if he can have his father with him, it will be worth it. "You must fully embrace the Dark Side if you want to be strong enough."

"... I thought I already did."

"No," Snoke counters, "Not yet. You still cling to the Light. You are not strong enough yet."

After what he just did, maybe he should stop to think, but it wasn't because he Fell that that happened.

"I can sense your questions," Snoke murmurs, "Tell me, was it not the Alliance who killed you father?"

It ignites a familiar feel of anger and betrayal in him, but now, there's hatred and despair directed at himself. "Yes, but –" He also can't deny the guilt burning through him now.