Fighting for Skywalker ↬ Star Wars

Till Death Do Us Part

Luke glanced nervously at his grandmother. She couldn't stop the rounds of coughing, and her breathing sounded more like wheezing than actual breathing. Luke just wanted Ben to hold him close, to say everything was going to be alright. Oh, how he missed Ben..Ben was his older brother, he had always been there, and now he wasn't. Luke's heart was heavy because of it. He glanced around the room, careful to avoid looking outside and witnessing the fight and destruction.

His grandfather stood watch by the door, holding his lightsaber poised to strike if anyone tried to get in or attack them. "Grandpa? Can I help?" Luke asked him hopefully, trying to ignore the sounds of explosions from outside. Anakin glanced down at him with a sad smile, and Luke knew what the answer was. Anakin shook his head no. "I need you to watch over your Grandma, don't let her be alone."

Luke nodded glumly and moved to her side, positioning the rag underneath her mouth once more. More blood was still being forced up with each cough. His Grandmother's force signature was fading fast. "Grandma..can I lay with you?" Luke asked her tentatively, not knowing if that was okay with her current state. Padme nodded weakly in reply, a cough leaving her frail body. Luke climbed underneath the warm sheets, which were now stained red with blood, and pressed his face into her chest. She slowly repositioned her arms around him, glad that he couldn't see her tears. "Luke..."

-

Kylo Ren looked around the familiar grounds of his old home, reminded of the times he and Luke would swim over to a small island and lay out on the sand to dry while cloud gazing and naming many of the flying creatures the went by. He and his family would often have picnics by the waterfall and play in the lush grass, and tell stories by firelight.

He violently shook his head to clear it of those thoughts. Kylo Ren was there for Starkiller, and Starkiller alone. He waved the nearest Storm Trooper over, feeling a wave of panic roll off of the soldier. What a fool. "Find me Starkiller. Leave him alive. Do what you will with the others, but I want Starkiller alive. No mistakes will be tolerated," Kylo Ren growled at the trooper, trying to get his point across. "But sir, we're under heavy fire-" the soldier was cut off abruptly as he began to claw at his throat, his feet rising a little ways above the ground. "What was that?!" He raged, glaring at the trooper, using the force to keep him in a choke hold.

He reluctantly let the man go, watching him tumble to the ground. "Nothing...my lord. It...is understood....my lord." Kylo Ren had no sympathy for the gasping man, and left him to grovel. Glancing up at the sky, he sensed Leia and Han Solo, along with Sarah Skywalker-Lars..and yes, Darth Starkiller. He smiled wickedly at the thought of having the great Sith by his side.

-

"Luke...I.." his grandmother began, still struggling for air so she could speak. Anakin glanced sadly at the two of them, knowing there wasn't much time left for his wife. "I..l-love.." Padme tried again to speak, barely able to say the words. Luke looked up at her, struggling to keep back tears as he gazed into her eyes. "I..love..you.." his grandmother kept on speaking. "All...of y-you..." Padme glanced at her husband lovingly, and then her eyelids dropped for the last time. Luke felt his grandmother's grip on him loosen, and he sat up.

"Grandma.." Luke began. "Don't be silly Grandma..wake up! Grandma..?" he shook her shoulders to no avail. "Grandma! Wake up!" Luke sobbed, raising his voice. "Luke..sh-she's gone.." Anakin's voice was shaky, and Luke could sense the emotions that ran through his Grandfather matched his own. He was crying into his grandmother's hair, cradling her head in his lap.

Behind him, Anakin had fallen to his knees in grief. They were both sobbing, consumed by sadness, lost in their emotions. Until there was a metal clang hitting the ground, and a beeping sound filled the room. "Grenade!"