Starlight - The Third Book in the Starchild Series

Chapter 9

***Leia's POV***

I can't believe it. Luke is my brother? And if Luke is my brother, that means that Darth Vader is my father. Wow. Talk about revelation. But I had to focus on that later. The time to strike on the base was now. I had seen a shuttle lift off into the sky, signalling the exit of Darth Vader. And, I think, Luke. But now that Vader was gone, we would have a whole lot easier a time with this. 

Going over to the hut, I see the party is dying down. "It's time!" I say, and everyone nods. Then everyone (Ewoks included) picks up their gear and follows me down to the forest floor.

Moving quietly as possible through the forest, we reach the base in no time. I scanned the area. Patrols of troopers, AT - STs, droids, officers...looked like a disaster waiting to happen.

"We have to be careful. Get in, plant the explosives, get out. Quick and quietly." Turning to one of my soldiers, I ask her, "Do you have the explosives?" She nods and holds up the bag. "Good. Ok, let's go!"

Ducking behind the boulders that create a natural wall around the base, we prepare for the attack, but we lose the element of surprise after a patrol sees us. Then, all heck breaks loose.

Blaster bolts are firing everywhere. Shouts of pain and surprise are ringing around the entire clearing. But we eventually win.Though there is this uneasiness at the back of my mind, like something is not right. We won too easily. But brushing it off as just my imagination, I led my troops into the base.

Big mistake.

We were only in there for a few seconds when a ton of stormtroopers came in. They surrounded us with weapons drawn. "hands behind your head!" The commander shouted. We had no choice.

As we were lead out into the clearing, I looked at the sky. And I prayed for Luke Skywalker to help us soon.

***Luke's POV***

"You're gravely mistaken. You won't convert me as you did my father."

That was me, to Emperor Palpatine. He wanted me to join him. All I can say is, fat chance!

He laughed, a terrible dry sound that reverberated around the room. "Oh no, my young Jedi. You will find that it is you who are mistaken, about a great many things."

Vader steps up and hands Palpatine my saber. "His lightsaber." My father says.

Palpatine takes it and says, "Ah, yes, a Jedi's weapon, much like your father's. By now you must know that your father can never be turned from the dark side. So will it be with you."

"You're wrong. Soon I'll be dead, and you with me" I say.

Palpatine laughs, a dry hacking sound. "Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet? Yes; I assure you, we are quite safe from your friends here."

I refuse to show fear. "Your overconfidence is your weakness."

"Your faith in your friends is yours." He replied.

"It is pointless to resist, my son." Vader says.  

"Everything that has transpired has done so, according to my design. Your friends, out there on the sanctuary moon, are walking into a trap, as is your Rebel fleet. It was I  who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them." Says Palpatine. Then he adds, with a mocking tone, "Oh, I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive."

For the first time, I experience a flash of true fear. Then, outside, I see familiar blue flashes as the Rebellion's fleet comes into view.

"From here you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance - and the end of your significant Rebellion."