Dark Ascension

CHAPTER 1- Dark Ascension

The throne room was a graveyard of light and shadow. The cold gleam of Derastel walls reflected the faint glow of Luke Skywalker's green lightsaber as he faced the two figures who embodied everything he sought to destroy. Darth Vader stood steady, his crimson blade humming like a predator's growl. Beside him loomed Emperor Palpatine, his sunken eyes glittering with malevolent glee.

"This is your final test, young Skywalker," the emperor rasped, his voice dripping with venom. "Strike me down, and your journey to the dark side will be complete."

Luke's hands trembled on the hilt of his lightsaber his breath ragged. He had come so far trained, suffered, and fought to bring balance to the Force. But now, standing here in the heart of darkness, he felt the shadows clawing at his resolve.

"You'll fail," Luke spat, glaring at the emperor. "I'll never join you."

Palpatine cackled, his laughter echoing through the cavernous chamber. "So confident, yet so blind. The anger in you, boy, it burns brighter than any Jedi's light. You cannot resist forever."

Luke lunged at Vader, their sabers clashing in a burst of light. The Force roared between them, each strike fueled by desperation. Vader's strength was relentless, his attacks driving Luke back step by step.

"You are unwise to lower your defenses, my son," Vader said, his voice cold and commanding.

"I'm not your son!" Luke roared, his anger surging. He struck harder, faster, until his blade knocked Vader's aside. For a moment, it seemed he might win.

But Palpatine raised his hand, and lightning arced from his fingertips. The blinding energy slammed into Luke's chest, flinging him across the room. He hit the ground hard, his lightsaber clattering out of reach.

Gasping for air, Luke struggled to rise, but Vader was already upon him. The Dark Lord's boot pressed down on Luke's chest, pinning him in place.

"You fight well," Vader said, his tone almost regretful. "But you are not strong enough to resist us."

Luke glared up at him, defiant even in defeat. "I'll never bow to you."

"We shall see," Palpatine sneered, stepping closer. His face twisted into a cruel grin. "Take him to the holding chambers. Let us show him the true nature of power."

+Time Skip Luke Got Knocked Out +

Luke's world dissolved into a haze of pain and darkness. The sterile light of the interrogation chamber burned his eyes, casting long shadows across the walls. His wrists were bound above him in crackling energy restraints, the hum of the machinery a cruel metronome to his suffering.

Time had lost meaning. Days blurred into nights, punctuated only by bursts of searing agony. Lightning danced across his body, leaving his nerves raw and his spirit frayed. His defiance, once a blazing fire, was now a flickering ember.

Palpatine stood before him, a predator savoring its prey. "The Jedi have taught you to suffer for nothing," he hissed, his voice oily and relentless. "They failed you, just as they failed your father. Do you not see the truth yet?"

Luke clenched his teeth, his body trembling. "You'll... never win," he gasped, though his voice cracked under the weight of exhaustion.

Palpatine sneered, his gnarled fingers curling in the air. "Oh, but I already have." With a flick of his wrist, the restraints tightened, sending fresh waves of pain surging through Luke's body. He screamed, his voice echoing through the cold void of the chamber.

In the corner, Vader watched in silence. His dark presence loomed like a shadow over Luke's soul, the rhythmic hiss of his respirator the only sound between Luke's cries.

"Enough," Vader said at last, his voice measured, devoid of emotion. He stepped forward, towering over his son. "You are strong, Luke. But strength without purpose is meaningless. Accept the dark side, and your suffering will end."

Luke's head hung low, his body slack in the restraints. Somewhere deep within, he reached for the teachings of the Jedi, the lessons of Obi-Wan and Yoda. But their voices seemed so far away, drowned out by the relentless whispers of the dark side.

"You resist out of pride," Vader continued. "But pride will not save your friends. It will not save the galaxy. Only the power we offer can do that."

Luke's breath hitched at the mention of his friends. Leia. Han. Chewie. Were they still alive? Were they suffering because of him? The thought clawed at his mind, sowing doubt in the cracks of his resolve.

"Give in," Palpatine coaxed, his tone almost gentle. "The pain will cease. The chaos will end. All you need to do is let go."

The words slithered into Luke's mind like a serpent, coiling around his thoughts. He felt the shadows creeping closer, promising release, promising peace.

A single tear traced a line down his cheek as he whispered, barely audible, "I... I can't..."

But even as he spoke, his strength faltered. His mind was a battlefield, and the light was losing ground.

(804 Words)