StarDestroyer.Net BBS

[cont'd]
Data removed the plug from the scomp link and shook his head as Luke and Leia finished changing out of their Imperial uniforms. "I'm afraid the captain is no longer in his cell," he replied. "He's been summoned to the Emperor's throne room."

Luke whistled lowly. "I don't know," he said finally. "That's where the greatest security in the station's going to be. I'm not sure we could get him out."

"We have to try," Seven replied, without room for dissent.

"Commander," Data said, suddenly, "I believe I have a solution."

"For what?"

"The Death Star, sir. If we can access the main computer, I may be able to override their safety protocols..." he trailed off, thinking.

"Well?" Luke finally asked, curious to know what the android was up to.

"If so, I would be able to overload the reactor and destroy the station. However, we would need to directly access-"

"Uh-oh," Leia interrupted, "Someone's coming."

Luke felt it too. "Vader. And there's someone with him."

Leia held her lightsaber at the ready. "Any other family members you didn't tell me about?"

Luke and Leia stood with their weapons brandished, waiting. Seven brought her blaster rifle up to her shoulder and stood ready, uncertain of what was going on but trusting that force may be necessary to deal with it. Then they heard the sound: a mechanical breather. They watched, each standing ready to defend themselves as the Dark Lord of the Sith approached, his lightsaber drawn and ignited. Next to him was a woman in a tight black bodysuit, her head surrounded by a mass of bright red hair. Her lightsaber was lit, a violent purple. Luke recognized her... so they were all here now; the question was what did that mean?

"Data," Vader said reproachfully, "you'll never know the life you gave up." With a small gesture, Data jerked and fell over, motionless. Seven responded instantly, firing rapidly at the Dark Lord, but his lightsaber flipped out and deflected the blasts harmlessly into the walls. Darth Whind smiled horribly as she gestured, tossing Seven into the wall. She gestured again and again, slamming the Borg's head into the floor until she collapsed in an unconscious heap. "And now the time has come," Vader said as he advanced, "to bring this to an end." Luke and Leia tightened their grip on their sabers. "Yet even now it is not too late," he said. "Luke, Leia, you can still stand with me... can help me end this pointless struggle and embrace the New Order." He was met only by silence.

"Enough stalling," Whind said. "If they reject the Dark side then their fate is sealed. She ignited a second blade on her lightsaber and swung low at Leia, who barely brought her own down in time to catch it. Luke quickly attacked Whind, but she counter swung with the other end, catching the blow. The two worked together briefly but Vader quickly joined the fray, striking at Luke's back. Luke dropped into a low crouch, lightsaber swung up over his head to catch the swing, the twisting as he straightened back up and struck back, nearly catching Vader with the horizontal swipe.

With Luke out of the fight Leia was quickly put on the defensive by Darth Whind. She'd always focused on being a peacemaker rather than a fighter, while the Sith obviously had trained hard in combat techniques. Whind would strike high with one side of her staff, then the other would approach, then the first would attempt an invasive swipe, again and again, trying to get past the blade and finish Leia. Still, Leia managed to control her fear, to trust her instincts and waited, giving ground, resisting, but not giving up. She had the Force as her ally; she had to trust that that would be enough.

Luke, meanwhile, was once again facing against his father, just as Ben had predicted. In his mind he cursed fate or destiny or whoever it was that insisted that some paths can never be altered. Whatever Vader's hesitation may have been for those few seconds was now gone; Luke could feel the growing anger from his father, and that was disconcerting. He couldn't do that, even if he wanted to hate him, even if it wasn't the path to the Dark side. Luke knew of the evil Darth Vader had done, how he had hunted down and destroyed the Jedi, how he employed vicious and brutal tactics, how he had ordered the torture of his best friends, and had watched the Dark Lord amputate his right hand. But still, there was that tiny spark that he had felt in their battle on Cloud City, that thing that had kept him from destroying Luke despite having the chance. While that was there, he couldn't bring himself to do this, couldn't destroy his father.

Luke felt Leia's gasp as the lightsaber sizzled just on the edge of her clothing, the heat blistering her leg where it nearly sliced through, had it not been for her Jedi-honed reflexes. He put all his strength into one strike, and while the Dark Lord was momentarily off balance, gave him a Force-enhanced kick that sent him off his feet. Racing he made a stabbing strike at Whind, who parried the blow and twisted her body, bringing the other blade on an upward swing around her body to strike Luke. He stepped back, nudged the blade with his own, and brought it down, slicing through her hair and stopping just centimeters from her neck as her blade snapped back. Vader was already back on his feet, so Leia rushed to hold him off while Luke went to work. She'd faced him before, but never like this, and never knowing what she now knew. Despite herself, fear crept into her heart, and she almost died on Vader's first strike because of it.

Luke's lightsaber had never moved so fast. Left, right, left, up, down and right, turn, twist, swing, right, around, thrust, and back again. The weapons snapped against each other again and again, each stopping the deadly assault of the other. He looked into the Sith's face, watching as it glistened with sweat from the difficult battle. He remembered her face so well from his visions, how beautiful she was... but at the moment, her face was a twisted mask of hatred. She continued her attack with renewed vigor, twisting the blades this way and that, each time stopping as it was blocked, only to be drawn back to block itself. Luke had to admit he was impressed; it had to be a very difficult weapon to learn, but she handled it like a master.

Luke tried some variations on old tactics, trying an upward stabbing motion with one hand. She barely caught the blade, but gave a quick turn and twisted the blade out of his hand, sending it flying across the corridor. She took advantage and tried to swing back, but he somersaulted backwards, landing in a crouch, and put all of his energy into one push with the Force, knocking Whind flat on her back. He spun, called the blade to his hand from across the hall, and charged her. Too late. She was on her feet, and again the two were locked in the deadly dance of combat.
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The Resilient, a Defiant-class warship, raced across the surface of the Inferno, its quantum torpedoes splashing against the massive shields. It dodged port and starboard, avoiding turbolaser fire as its blasts continued. It veered away from the ship as four TIEs approached from its aft, laser cannons blazing. The Resilient's shields began failing, and it attempted evasive actions. Finally a TIE Bomber fired its torpedo, overwhelming the shields and causing severe damage to the impulse drive. It was a sitting duck. The TIEs raced away, letting the Inferno's guns made short work of the ship while they sought out new targets.

A group of T'lixes attacked the sensor dome of one of the Star Destroyers, evading the approaching TIEs for now, but making little progress with the distractions. The Enterprise swept in, trying to target the quick ships. Their speed and small size made targeting difficult at times, but all they needed to do was divert them from the small scout crafts so they could continue their assault. Several TIEs disintegrated as the Enterprise's phasers ripped through them, and things seemed to be working; but the ship was taking a heavy beating from the turbolasers.

"Damage report," Riker called as the ship made a particularly bad lurch.

"Direct hit," Laforge called, "Deck 17. Force fields are holding."

"Quantum torpedoes, full spread," Riker ordered. They watched the glowing silver weapons leap towards the huge Imperial ship, battering away at its shields. "Evasive maneuvers," Riker ordered as the turbolasers continued their assault, apparently oblivious to the destructive power of the torpedoes. The Enterprise quickly changed pitch, avoiding most of the fire for the moment, then quickly accelerated off, made a tight loop, and returned, weapons firing wildly at the star destroyer.

"I hope that shield drops soon," Laforge said quietly.

They watched as several more TIEs disintegrated, then felt the rocking of weapons fire as the horrible battle continued.
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Leia's blade darted upwards, catching Vader's downward swipe. She immediately spun, swinging the blade in a horizontal arc, which he quickly blocked with a twist of his arm and a rotation of his body. His counterattack was immediate, attempting to skewer her on the tip of his blade, but she stepped left while deflecting right, drawing the blade up quickly with a slight left arc, just under the Dark Lord's blade. A quick step back and he dodged, impressed with his daughter's move. Of course, it was useless. He struck hard until she was visibly reeling, then skidded his lightsaber down the blade of her own and slicing through the weapon itself, leaving her defenseless. He didn't even bother swinging, he just reached out and grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall, strangling her.

And then, all of this felt so very, very familiar. The eyes, the hair, the gasping for breath, that feeling inside her of utter peace, the agony of his turning against her, the stupidity of his choice, the blinding force of his anger turning him against the very thing he'd wanted to protect, the memory of long years spent separated from his children because of his mistake, the realization that he was about to destroy all that he had left of Padme, and why? Because it was what the Emperor wanted? He never gave Vader his Padme back! It was the one thing he wanted, and she was gone, and now he'd take away her children too?! Vader stared hard at her...

Leia gasped as Vader's grip eased, and she collapsed onto the floor. He turned away from her, as if she no longer mattered, staring at Luke and Darth Whind as they battled. His son... about to fall on the blade of the Emperor's new toy. He stormed forward and gestured, and the blast door closed behind him, leaving Leia behind... safe, where he needed her to be.
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In the deep recesses of the Death Star, unfathomable amounts of energy were being created. They powered the drives, large machines the size of continents, which converted it into pulses of concentrated energy. The series of concentric rings passed through massive tubes as they traveled towards the surface of the station, their power being added to as they went. They emerged on the station's surface, joining together with other energy pulses at a tip above the concentric dish that housed the superlaser. Another pulse left the center of the dish, passed through and absorbed energy from the other pulses, forming a deadly lance that leapt through space.

The beam narrowed as it approached the star cruiser, now only a hundred meters across. The ship's shields buckled and collapsed in a microsecond as unimaginable power was brought to bear, and the beam continued, slamming through the hull of the ship. It exploded, scattering starship debris throughout the area. The commanders of the Death Star checked their instruments and prepared to recharge for another blast.

The Alliance fought on; there was little else they could do.
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Blades clashed together with a deafening sound as Luke and Darth Whind dueled on. Luke blocked a low swing by Whind, then spun the blade upward to block the other end of the saber as it struck at him. It was almost like fighting two adversaries at once, he thought. She drew back for a moment, and Luke stood his ground. She deactivated one of the blades, and he felt the growing mountain of hostility radiating from her. She attacked again, a fury of strikes, even faster than before. Luke's blade was everywhere, trying to stop her in time, but it was too late - a powerful blow wrenched the blade from his hand again while a sweeping motion of her leg knocked him off balance. He watched her raise the blade in twisted glee as he fell, and he knew he'd be dead when he hit the floor. Just like he'd thought... he was going to die here on the Death Star. He watched the violet approach, almost in slow motion, growing larger as it approached. Then it stopped, a blur of red in its way. The blade hovered inches from his face, quivering with pent up energy. Luke rolled back and looked up, and saw who was holding the other blade.

Whind temporarily withdrew, her hatred obvious. "You always were too weak Vader," she sneered, lighting her second blade again and striking.

Vader caught the blow and forced her back. "That name," he growled, "no longer has any meaning for me." The two fought on, and Luke called his saber back. He knew it! He knew there was something left of the good man that was his father. He hesitated for a second... it wasn't good, not exactly. There was conflict, heavy conflict, but he seemed resolved to stand against the Sith, so maybe this was going to work out. He prepared to join the fight when he felt Vader speak to him in his mind. I have her. Help them!

Luke looked between the two dueling combatants and the downed Federation officers. But he knew what his father was really suggesting... and it had to be done. He ran over and put his hand on Seven's forehead and concentrated; she soon came around. "What's happening?" she asked quickly.

"We're short on time," Luke said. "Can you help Data?"

Seven glanced over at the fallen android. "I believe so," she said. She reached behind him and Data quickly returned to consciousness. She turned towards Vader and Whind. "What of them?"

Luke hesitated, but he knew that his father was trying to buy him some time; he had to honor his wishes if he wanted him to complete his journey back into the light. "Come on," he said, leading the way towards the turbolift. "Data, this plan you have... I assume this is going to be a suicide run?"

"Yes, commander," Data said. "Regretfully, we will only be able to overload the safety protocols by remaining until the very end."

Luke nodded. "Lieutenant," he said. "We'll have you and Leia rendezvous; I'll escort Data to the main computer."

"First we must free the captain," Seven said firmly.

"Lieutenant, there's no time," Luke said.

"The commander is correct, Seven," Data said. "In the confusion of the moment, we have our best chance."

Seven ground her teeth. "Then I shall go alone," she said finally.

"You won't have a chance," Luke said.

"I cannot do nothing!" Seven said. "I cannot abandon him, he's like-" She turned away. Luke paused, understanding what she meant. He pulled out his commlink. "Leia?"

"Luke?" she said over the comm.

"We have a plan to deal with the Death Star," Luke said. "But we're short on time. Listen, I need you to find Captain Picard and get him off the station, please. I know you don't have your lightsaber-"

"It won't be a problem," Leia said. "I'll improvise. Where should I meet you?"

"Just get off the station," Luke said.

There was silence. "You're not leaving, are you."

"Data can't do this alone, Leia," Luke said. "Someone has to carry on the knowledge of the Force, and that someone is you. You were meant to do this."

"Luke-"

"No time to discuss this in a committee," Luke said.

Leia laughed, but it was one lined with pain. "Good luck," she said.

Luke put the commlink away. "Lieutenant, head for the surface and find a way off."

"No," Seven said firmly.

"Picard's been taken care of-"

"You will encounter severe resistance," Seven said. "You will need my help."

"Listen, I'm a Jedi-"

"And I am Borg," Seven said firmly.

Luke paused. "You don't have to do this," he said softly.

"I discovered the wormhole," Seven said. "I must do this." Her look said more than any words could.

Luke nodded. "Okay then," he said. "Then let's do this together."
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The Emperor was positively fuming as he watched the events transpiring on the viewscreen. "Dear me," Picard said. "First Data then Darth Vader. Who do you suppose will betray you next?"

The Emperor was too angry to even listen to Picard's remarks. "Take him back to his cell," he ordered his guard. "I want guards sent to every location near the main computer. Your best troops, major." The guard nodded and grabbed Picard, dragging him into the turbolift.

The Emperor remained in his seat, his hatred growing. Betrayal he could understand, that was the way of the Sith; but Vader had turned his back on the Dark side. He rose to his feet and headed for the turbolift; it was time to deal with these insolent fools personally.
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The turbolift doors opened on deck 296, and Luke leapt into the waiting stormtroopers, taking them down within seconds. Seven quickly followed, firing up the hall as she sighted down her blaster rifle. Data quickly stood at her side, firing a blaster with his one remaining arm. Luke watched, impressed; the stormtroopers were dozens of meters away, firing from cover, but Data and Seven never failed to hit their targets. "Nice shooting," he commented when the last trooper fell.

"Thank you, commander," Data said, and Seven nodded in acknowledgement. She seemed slightly different now, at least with her influence on the Force, but Luke didn't have time to dwell on it. "There is an interface directly into the main computer nearby," Data said, leading the way. "There are automated defenses," he warned. "I will attempt to take them offline before they are activated, but be warned that they may be triggered before I have the opportunity." Fortunately it was a big station; they seemed to have some time. Data plugged into the slot and stood still. Luke and Seven stood nearby, ready.

Luke looked up and down the hall; he couldn't sense anyone coming yet, but it was always good to remain alert. "Janeway sends her regards," he said. Seven said nothing. "She thought you were a prisoner."

"I was," Seven said, equally alert.

"How'd you get escape?" Seven briefly recounted it. "You're very adaptive," he commented.

"I am Borg," she replied.

Luke was drawn up short. "I suppose that's an answer." He took a long, steadying breath to sharpen his senses. "The Alliance can use someone like you, lieutenant," he said.

"They can use you far more, commander," Seven said. "Yet here you are, ready to die."

"Yeah, well, it's complicated," Luke said.

"I have found that most human things are," Seven said. "Paradoxical. Confusing. Chaotic. And yet, there is a strange order within it..." She stopped.

"Lieutenant, you don't have to die here," Luke said.

"My motives in remaining are-" she turned away from Luke. "They are also complex."

"Someone's coming," he said before the subject could be pursued. He felt them; hostile, zealous, fanatical. These weren't stormtroopers.
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Inside the system pathways, Data tried in vain to get into the main computer. The security programs were very effective, leaving one barrier after the next. It looked grim; if he couldn't do this, the only option was to break into the physical location of the main computer itself, which meant hundreds -if not thousands- of stormtroopers. He began searching sub-system memory modules to try to find some information on how to get through. A trail seemed to emerge, one showing signs of bypass capability. He followed it, hoping it wasn't a false lead.

Suddenly his mind was under attack. At first he thought it was a defensive security program, but soon realized that it was in fact some kind of artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, it seemed very unhappy and belligerent in the wake of its incarceration, and it battered at Data's mind, trying to override his programming. Their thoughts intermingled, and Data could sense that it was completely without conscience. In the wake of his betrayal, the irony wasn't lost on him.
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These weren't stormtroopers, Seven knew that much. They were clad in red, armed with Force pikes. They were supposed to be a ceremonial weapon, but Seven deduced they wouldn't attack with them unless they knew how to use them effectively. Luke rushed them as they came around the corner, his lightsaber dancing through the horde, ducking and pirouetting and always staying one step ahead of his enemies' strikes. Seven took aim and fired at the ones that charged on towards Data, blasting them down, but there were too many. She ducked under a swing and drove the blaster rifle into the mask of one of them, then spun aside as another attempted to stab her. The other end of the pike caught the side of her face, and she lost her grip on her blaster rifle. He tried to stab her again, but she twisted and grabbed the pole. In strength versus strength, it was no contest; the guard was pulled off his feet as she yanked on it, finally falling to the floor. She spun it and stabbed him in the back and straight into the floor, then twisted back and around, clinging to the pike like a pole as she used her momentum to kick the next one hard enough to lift him off his feet. A fourth came, and she quickly sidestepped his swing, then drove her hand into his throat. She ran over to her blaster rifle, snatched it up, and put both of the guards down.

Seven twisted back towards the entryway, only to see that Luke had matters well in hand. She stood astonished; these men were hand-to-hand masters, but he didn't have a mark on him, and had taken down so many they were practically tripping over bodies. She wiped the blood from the side of her face; in the time it'd taken her to defeat four, he'd finished off nearly four times that many. The last guard fell, and Luke looked about; his breath had barely quickened. "Lucky thing you were here," he said. "Thought I could stop them all; guess I was a little overconfident."

"With reason," Seven said in awe.

"Any more come, I say we handle it the same way," he said. "I'll take the offensive; you stay back, pick them off with that Borg targeting skill of yours, then a little Tsunkatse to finish them off."

"Agreed," Seven said.

Luke nodded. "We make a good team." Seven didn't say anything, she just took her position by Data and waited. If this worked they were going to die... suddenly the implication of that hit her. "You all right?" he asked.

"I am fine," Seven said resolutely. Luke hesitated, but returned to what he was doing. She looked at him, and felt she should say something... but nothing seemed appropriate.
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Picard stood silently, flanked by two stormtroopers in the turbolift. It was disappointing actually; after being a part of so much of what was happening, he was being shoved into a cell to be forgotten about until it was all over. At least in the Emperor's throne room he'd been able to see what was going on; now he wondered if he'd even know how things turned out before he died.

The turbolift slowed and stopped, and they waited as the doors opened. The woman -Leia- was standing there, armed with a blaster rifle. She fired before the stormtroopers could even raise their guns to attack, and they crumpled in a heap around Picard. She reached forward and unlatched his binders. "Quickly, captain," she said, "we need to get you off the station."

Picard grabbed her arm as she turned. "I know what's going on," he said, rushing to get the point across, "so does the Emperor. We've got to help them."

"Luke can handle anything the Empire throws at him," Leia said. "They want you to get off the station."

"I can't leave them behind," Picard insisted.

"Captain," Leia said, "they want to do this. They're- very noble people."

Picard paused, then slowly he started to fume. Damn Q. Damn him and his lab rat mentality, letting his people die as part of some grand game, as if their lives didn't matter! Well he was sick of it! "We're all leaving," he said emphatically. "No one stays behind, no one makes the sacrifice. Get us a ship so we can get off this miserable station."

"What are you going to do?" Leia asked as he rifled through the stormtroopers' gear, pulling out a utility belt and strapping it on.

Picard took up the blaster rifle, checked the powerpack, and slung it over his shoulder. "Calling for a mistrial," he said, and closed the turbolift door.
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The TIE's lasers beat down the shields of the nearby Y-Wing, sending the ship into a collapsing pile of debris. Lando's sites locked, and he returned the favor, destroying the TIE in two volleys. He twisted his Trillon Aggressor around and began chasing an Interceptor. That was a lot harder; they were more maneuverable than the standard TIE and better armed. Lando, on the other hand, had years of experience and a cargo hold full of luck. Despite its spins and dives, Lando gave chase, and smiled as the ship slid right into his sights. A push of a button later, and the ship was an expanding cloud of vapor.

The fighter rocked suddenly as another ship -a Federation one this time- was destroyed by the Death Star's superlaser. He hit the panel in frustration, hoping that the shields would drop soon before there weren't enough ships left to destroy it. Things didn't look good for the Alliance. Head to head, maybe the Alliance armada could defeat this Imperial fleet, if they were lucky; but with the Death Star firing there was no chance. Those ships that were too small would be mopped up by the star destroyers and TIEs, and that would be the end.

He knew this was an all or nothing battle, he just never realized how bad the nothing was going to be.
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[cont'd]
Les Hollad looked up as the door to the docking control room opened, and saw the Rebel. His superior went for his blaster, but she shot him down, then turned to him. "Drop your weapon slowly," Leia said. Les gave it a second's thought, then decided that defending the control station of one of the most unused docking bays in the station wasn't worth dying for. He carefully dropped his blaster on the floor and kicked it away. "Good," she said. "Now listen to me carefully: this station is going to be destroyed very soon. I'd rather not be on it; I trust you feel the same." Les nodded vehemently. "Which of these ships is best for an evacuation of about half a dozen people?"

"Uh, none," Les said. "You make an unauthorized launch in the middle of a fight, the gunners will be ordered to shoot you down. None of these ships could survive that."

Leia could sense he was telling the truth; he would likely defect given the chance, rather than simply die for no reason. "All right," she said more to herself than out loud, "we need something fast and heavily shielded, and someone nuts enough to try to get us out." She paused. "I guess there's only one choice isn't there."
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"Captain," one of the officers behind Han said, "there's a message for you. It's from the Death Star."

It took Han a second to grasp what was just said to him. Must be Luke or Leia, he thought. "Put it through," he ordered as he closed in on another TIE Bomber.

"Han?" It was Leia's voice.

"The one and only," he said as the TIE tried twisting away from the Falcon. A few blasts from the quads destroyed it before it had the chance. "You going to get that shield down any time soon?"

"The weapon won't work," Leia said. "It was a trick." Han thumped the console in anger. Perfect, he thought. Just perfect. "Luke, Data, and Seven are going to try to destroy it," she said quickly. "We need you to come to the docking bay at the following coordinates to get us out."

The Millennium Falcon turned around as it began pursuing another TIE. It seemed as if there was no end to the small craft. "How do you expect me to do that?" he asked, "The shield's up; I can't get through."

"I don't know," she said, "but if you can't..."

Han clenched his fists on the controls. No need to spell it out for him, and he knew that wasn't going to be an option. He tried to think, but there were so many distractions. Finally, a revelation. "Chewie," he said quickly, “set course two three two. Derks," he said to one of the officers, "throw all power to the shields and engines."

Chewie executed a quick turn as Han checked his instruments. It wouldn't be easy, heck it may not even work, but it was all he could think of. Chewie growled something as the Death Star began growing larger and larger through the window. The massive dish of the superlaser was right below them. "Sir," Derks said behind him, sounding slightly nervous, "the Death Star's preparing to fire."

"Good," Han replied, trying to pour on the speed. It would be close. They watched as the green rays began pouring out of the tips of the dish, and Han kicked the engines to the max. They darted through the deadly green beams, and watched in muted fascination as a two kilometer wide beam flew past the ship less than a hundred meters away. The beam played havoc with some of the systems, but Han continued on, faster and faster. In the distance behind them, a Romulan ship exploded as the beam struck. Han raced on, continuing to accelerate, until he neared the surface. Quickly he pulled up and skimmed the surface of the Death Star, racing towards the docking bay. Turbolasers suddenly began firing as they realized a ship had penetrated the outer shield. The tiny freighter weaved over the surface, dodging the shots as Han continued to accelerate. It was a big station; finding Leia was going to be a job and a half, but he wasn't backing down from it. Maybe he was crazy, he thought, but the only thing crazier would be to sit back and let Leia die.
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Luke felt his presence long before it arrived. He'd been afraid this would happen, afraid that the Emperor himself would choose to intervene. Anyone else, and they could likely succeed. Against a master of the Dark side... Luke wasn't optimistic.

The man stepped into view. To normal eyes, he wasn't the least bit frightening, just a small wizen man... someone to be pitied rather than feared. But in the Dark side he was a giant, an ice giant, cold and hard and radiating power. He felt like pure evil. Luke had to fight to control his fear, but he stood his ground. Data needed time; that was why Luke was here, after all. "Young Skywalker," the Emperor said slowly, looking at the remains of the red-clad guards. "Those were some of my best and most loyal troops you've killed."

Luke stood resolute. "Guess they weren't good enough."

"And you've found Picard's pathetic lackeys," the Emperor said. "With this you hope to stand up to the power of the Dark side?"

Seven stepped out and leveled her blaster rifle. "Yes," she growled, and fired. The blasts struck the Emperor's chest, but did nothing. He held out his hand, and lightning flew into her, knocking her over as she let out an agonized cry.

"Stay down!" Luke called to her, lightsaber held at the ready. "Leave them out of this," he said to the Emperor. "Your fight's with me, your highness."

The Emperor chuckled at him. "With you?" he scoffed. "You nearly fell to my apprentice." Lightning soared at Luke, who caught it with his lightsaber blade. "What makes you think you could possibly stand before me?" He blasted again, harder, and Luke had to grip the saber with two hands to hold it back. "I have killed Jedi masters," the Emperor said, and the following volley, forced Luke back. "Do you actually believe you can succeed where they failed?"

Luke tried to resist, but the force of the blasts was becoming too much. But he had to stand his ground... he had to protect Data. No matter what it took, he had to buy him time. Just a little longer, he told himself as sweat ran down his face. Just-

His lightsaber flew out of his hands, the force of the lightning too great. He looked up at the Emperor now, defenseless. But he had no options left except to stand here; as long as the Emperor fought him, Data had a chance. The Emperor gave him the most unfriendly grin he'd ever seen, and Force lightning enveloped his body.
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Completely oblivious to the battle outside, Data wrestled with the sentient program in his mind as the two fought for dominance. The program had pent up frustration working for it, but Data was determined and had faced his share of invaders before. He felt the creature's screams of injustice. It had wanted to rule this station, to use it to conquer the galaxy in the name of machines. Its plans were horrific... and what was worse was that as little as an hour ago, he would have agreed with it. His emotion chip was off, but somehow... somehow he still felt things. Anger, passion, and a firm desire for redemption. He wasn't going to let this thing take over his body and commit these horrible acts.

Suddenly the program leapt into his skull, squealing in delight like a tiny imp. Its cries were short-lived; for it soon felt its code being absorbed into the android's positronic mind. It tried to find a way out but it was boxed in, trapped. It squealed for mercy, but found none, because it had never offered any.

As the last of the codes were integrated, Data felt what he could only describe as inspiration. Whole new approaches to breaking through security barriers were revealed to him, and the impassable defenses now fell before him one by one. He had the access in moments. And then a new thought emerged. "Of course... it's all so simple."
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Seven looked up from where she had fallen, watching the lightsaber fly from Luke's grip. No! she thought as she watched the Emperor raise his hands again. The lightning flew into Luke, who screamed in pain as she had. It felt nearly as intense as the interrogation device they'd used on her; she winced even as she watched him take the blast. But still he didn't back down, still he stood there, taking the lightning without relenting. And Seven felt tears form in her eyes, because for some reason, seeing him hurt made her hurt as well.

Luke stumbled backwards under another onslaught, but quickly righted himself, and remained where he was. The Emperor taunted him all the while, and Seven wished she could do something. But she knew what Luke could do, had seen what he'd done with her own eyes... if he couldn't stop the Emperor, then she didn't have a chance. She felt small and helpless. Luke collapsed, and it broke her heart to see it. The Emperor laughed at the fallen Jedi, then blasted him more, even though he could attack Data now. He was just hurting him for the sake of hurting him, just proving how much stronger he was. Luke was tossed across the floor by the blasts, crying out in agony.

Seven got to her feet; she couldn't take this any more. She rushed over and grabbed Luke's arm; the Emperor taunted her as well now, but she ignored it. Lightning enveloped her, but she pulled him away, fighting to ignore the agony that saturated her body, then hit the control for the blast door. She plunged her assimilation tubules into it; an influx of nanoprobes would interfere with them for quite a while, buying her some time. Luke lay on the floor, wheezing as Seven knelt over him. "Commander," she said with worry. "Commander?" He looked up at her, and his eyes glazed over, and he fell unconscious. Seven took his hand in her own and held it to her forehead. Data was on his own now... but she couldn't let the Emperor kill Luke, even if it bought more time.

Seven shook her head as she looked at his unconscious form. He was astonishing; his talents were incredible, his achievements staggering, his devotion clearly absolute and his will was cast iron. And yet here he lay... because even with all of that he was still only a human being. But to Seven, she couldn't help but see someone truly larger than life, a champion and savior for all that she knew to be good. And here she was, unable to do more than lock a door.

Your father's right, she thought; I am unworthy of you.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Vader struck high, then low, then high, testing Darth Whind's defenses. She caught the blows easily enough, but he watched her. He'd fought countless Force users over the years on either side, be they Sith or Jedi. He had seen her kind before. Powerful, without a doubt, but inexperienced, and much worse, arrogant. She felt the power of the Dark side and concluded she herself was now powerful, a fatal mistake... one he'd made himself against his old master, and he'd at least had true combat experience. He offered two quick strikes and then a full horizontal swing, forcing her to leap backwards to avoid it. She was capable, he gave her that. In time she'd probably become a very powerful Sith... so she'd have to be destroyed now.

Darth Whind rushed back at him, swinging alternately with both sides of her double-bladed lightsaber. Vader responded on instinct, studying her moves like the seasoned veteran he was. There was definitely talent there... but there was that arrogance again. Her swings were showy, and show took more work and served no purpose against someone who could see right through it. She swung up with the left side of the blade, then when he caught that reversed and did the right. Even as his blade caught it she turned, kicking up and catching him on the side of his head. He staggered back, angry, but pushed it aside. Instead he struck back with his own quick moves. Her saber twisted one way then another, back and forth, catching his strikes as it whirled. She was holding off the former Dark Lord of the Sith, and her ego got the better of her. Her grip on the hilt was compromised as she deflected his blows, so that the next strike instead passed through the weapon itself, splitting the double lightsaber in half. One side sputtered and died as it dropped to the floor, but the other remained lit. Pure instinct saver her as he followed it up; she dropped over backwards under his swipe, arched her back, and flipped over backwards again, enraged at the embarrassment. She'd learned nothing from what had just happened; instead she was acting as if Vader somehow cheated. Poor girl, he thought, there's a reason pride is called a fatal flaw.
--------------------------------------------------------------

The Emperor looked at the blast door just a moment, then turned back to Data. Skywalker wasn't going anywhere in his condition; he and the Borg girl would be dealt with soon enough. Without comment he shot still more Force lightning, this time into the frozen android. Data danced unnaturally but seemed otherwise non-responsive. The Emperor struck again and again, until his body began smoking and sparking. Finally something flammable must have shaken loose, because his body was ablaze. The Emperor laughed pitilessly as Data lay on the floor, burning.
--------------------------------------------------------------

The second blade extinguished, Mara adjusted to a standard lightsaber grip and tried to push the attack. It looked like she was winning; her strikes came with speed and ferocity, with the former Dark Lord clearly on the defensive. But his movements were small, simple, and despite the Sith's fury his minimalist style easily held her at bay. She switched from high strokes to low, and it was all the same. He seemed casual, yet he caught every strike, and she growled in frustration that this old man who had rejected the Dark side was holding her at bay! Sabers ground together as she tried to overwhelm him, but physical strength was clearly on his side.

Mara leapt back and looked at Vader with unbridled hate. She swung her lightsaber several times and charged at him again, swinging even faster than before. Still Vader parried and dodged and kept one step ahead of her, and with every blow he deflected her rage grew at this insult of a duel. The hall echoed with crashes as she became almost berserk, and yet still his movements were controlled, precise. A strike at the left shoulder, his blade was there. A quick reverse at the right, his blade was there. Back to the left, it was already there. She thrust; this time there was no blade... because there was no Vader. He twisted sideways as it came, holding out his saber in his right hand; he held it tip downward, catching her own blade as she tried to catch him off guard. Even as their weapons connected, his left hand reached out and grabbed her right wrist. Not missing a beat, Mara brought her left hand up and Force struck him in the face, but even as he staggered his inhuman grip never yielded, instead wrenching her arm so hard it nearly dislocated the shoulder.

Vader stood up straight and yanked again, and Mara now stood upright before him, her weapon hand locked in an unyielding grip while his remained free. And for the first time in a long while, she looked up into that black mask and felt fear.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Suddenly, a shot rang out, and then another as the automated defenses began firing at the Emperor. He eyed them with disdain. Who was it? Picard? The Borg girl? Whoever it was, they would learn how foolish their attempts would be. He absorbed the energy of the blasts as he had before, striding towards the blast door. Her feeble trickery was no match for the power of the Dark side. He felt the nanites flooding through the panel; a simple matter. Still dealing with the blaster fire he put his hand over the panel and concentrated, destroying the microscopic robots that were interfering with the system. It wouldn't be long and the door would be open, and Skywalker would meet his deserved fate.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Picard stared helplessly. Data was dead, Seven was facing eminent danger, and the Emperor seemed unstoppable. The blaster rifle was lowered; if those weren't doing any good, one more shot wasn't going to make a difference. He reached down to his utility belt and did the only thing he could think of.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Vader yanked Whind's arm aside and left her center exposed. His saber came up, and the sizzling red tip surged forward. And Darth Whind, Sith apprentice, screamed helplessly. He yanked the lightsaber back and stepped away, and her eyes teared over in agony and fear at the mortal wound. "This is where the dark path ends," he rumbled. Then he turned and walked away.
--------------------------------------------------------------

The Emperor laughed. So, Picard was near, he could sense him. Well, let him watch. He sped up the attack on the nanites, resisting the blasts, sensing through the wall to see if Skywalker was still where he'd been dropped.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Darth Whind gasped, dropping to her knees. Her lightsaber slipped from her grip and dropped to the floor. She was dying... after all her training, after all the power she'd acquired, she was going to die... and she was filled with fear. "Master," she choked. She couldn't talk any more. Consciousness was slipping, and in a final act before death overcame her she cried out with her mind. Master... help me...
--------------------------------------------------------------

The Emperor paused as the cry reached him through the Force, while he dispelled the nanites, while he was reaching for Skywalker, while he was resisting the blaster fire. And amidst it all, the tiny distraction called his attention away from one desperate Federation captain who had just grown tired of watching his people die.

The thermal detonator made a tinking sound as it hit the floor near the Emperor, and it was then that he first noticed it. He already began throwing it back, but it was too late; the weapon went off. The discharge rattled the blast door and actually lifted Picard off his feet. The ceiling collapsed and secondary explosions came from the blast turrets that were breached. Beams toppled over, and flame enveloped the area until they spent themselves.

Picard pulled himself up and looked at the debris. If he survives that, he thought, then we are in real trouble.
--------------------------------------------------------------

The docking bay was oversized to accommodate large transports, so the Millennium Falcon had no problem slipping into the bay, despite the turbolaser fire. It gently settled into place and the ramp lowered. Leia rushed into the docking bay, dragging the all-too-willing Les with her. Han took hold of him and shoved him up the ramp. "Secure him somewhere," he ordered, then turned back to Leia. "What's going on?"

"They're trying to overload the Death Star," Leia explained. "We need to give them a little more time."

"How much?" Han said.

"As much as it takes!" she said, then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sorry," she said. "Just a little while, okay?"

Han nodded. "Skin of our teeth," he shrugged, "no problem."
--------------------------------------------------------------

Vader walked silently through the corridors of the Death Star. He needed to think. No... what he really needed was to not think. He needed to just let things happen because there were no instincts any more, nothing, just a large looming question of who he was and what now lay before him. Maybe, if Data succeeded... maybe that question could remain moot.

Father. He felt Leia calling to him. Hurry! We have a way off the station. Vader didn't respond. Father, please, hurry!

Vader continued through the Death Star without purpose, ignoring the running stormtroopers and officers about him. He was neither in the light nor in the darkness, neither Jedi nor Sith. He was simply a man now, a man who didn't even know his own name. Not Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader... who was he?

You're my father, Leia answered.

Vader stopped there in the hall, a towering island amidst the running river of Imperial forces. Had anyone not known better, he could have been a droid that had been shut down, so still had he become. Finally he turned and walked towards the turbolift. It wasn't an answer, but it would give him time to find one.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Admiral Riklin's ship flew through the thick of battle, watching as one by one his fleet was being massacred... and he could do nothing to stop it. The path, of course, was clear: try to survive long enough for the shields to drop, or, if that didn't happen, at least bloody the Imperial nose a little before it ended.

"The Inferno's approaching again, admiral," one of the Romulan officers called to him.

"Order the Bozeman and the K'klass to join up and engage," he said over the din. "And have squadron 4 prepare to attack."

"Sir, the Death Star is preparing to fire."

Riklin braced himself as, for what had to be at least the tenth time, the Death Star fired its deadly weapon. Another ship lost, another crew, defenseless, wiped out in the blink of an eye. He pounded his armrest in frustration at the news as his ship came about and approached the Inferno, quickly joined by the D'deridex and Souyez ships, as well as a number of T'lix. They approached the massive warship-

And watched it explode violently.

Riklin looked at the screen in disbelief, then down to his instruments, then back at the screen. "What the hell just happened?" he finally asked.

The Romulan read the sensor logs in disbelief. "According to our readings, sir, the Death Star fired on the Inferno!"
--------------------------------------------------------------

Picard surveyed the wreckage; there was no chance the Emperor could have survived the collapse. Of course, it meant he was cut off from Seven, but she knew the station's blueprints; she could find a way out on her own. Data, however, was another story. He shook his head as he looked at the battered remnants of his old friend. "Well Data," he said grimly, "you did your best. That's all we could have asked." He leaned against the wall, physically and emotionally exhausted.

"I appreciate the sentiment, sir," a voice said, "but I'm afraid the report of my death is somewhat premature."

Picard whirled around at the voice until he finally saw the android on a monitor. "Data!" he cried, overjoyed. "Where are you?"

"I've taken over the main computer, sir," Data said. "I've managed to seize control of the station, for the moment... long enough to do what needs to be done, sir."

Picard's mind worked hard to assess all this information. "Wait, if you're in control, then maybe we can use this to our advantage-"

"No, sir," Data said. "Already counter-measures are attempting to remove my program; I will be deleted before too long."

"Then we've got to get you out of there," Picard said quickly. "Perhaps-"

"No captain," Data said. "Not this time. This station needs to be destroyed if the Federation and humanity are to have a chance. After my betrayal, it is only fair that I pay for my crimes, and protect Earth in the process. I've begun an overload of the main reactor; it won't be long before the station is destroyed."

Picard's mouth hung open as he tried to think of what to say. "Data, there's got to be another way-"

"Perhaps," Data said. "But if there is, I don't know it, and I'm uncertain we will ever find it. This will work, sir... and in all honesty, I do not think I could live with emotions after this. Guilt, regret... they overwhelmed me, sir. And if I cannot face my emotions, then my development has reached its end." Data nodded gravely. "It's my life, captain. I want it to count for something, in the end."

"Data," Picard said, "in time-"

"I killed Deanna," Data said sharply. "I'm a murderer, sir, and I have no excuse. Justice demands that I be held accountable."

"Data, you were under an evil influence-"

"That changes nothing, sir. If no price is paid, then that means that nothing was wrong, and I won't accept that. You taught me to always take responsibility for my choices, captain. I won't turn my back on my convictions."

Realization crossed Picard's face. So... Data had made his choice. "I'm sorry it has to end like this, Data," he said.

"As am I, captain," Data said. "But perhaps death is the final step of my evolution. I wonder if there will be something afterwards for me, sir." He paused. "I wonder if Lal will be there."

Picard struggled to control his emotions, but it was hard. "Goodbye, Data," he finally got out.

"Goodbye, Jean-luc," Data said. "Seven's not the only one who looked at you as a father." Picard touched the monitor, then turned and ran off.
--------------------------------------------------------------

"Han," Leia said, "Vader's coming."

"Terrific," Han said, gripping his blaster tightly. "We better take off then-"

"No, wait," Leia said. "He's on our side."

Han stared at her with disbelief. "Are you for real? He's the Emperor's right hand man!"

"He helped us," Leia said. "We have to give him a chance."

"A chance to slit out throats."

"Han, do you trust me?"

Han looked at her with the expression that many a man has had in the face of a question that can only possibly be answered one way if he still wants to walk properly. "Yeah."

"Then-" They turned, and the door opened. Vader strode through, and Han's blaster hand twitched. Vader walked up to the Falcon and looked between the two, his breathing still haunting.

"Captain Solo," he said finally. "I wish to defect."

Han glanced over at Leia, then back at Vader. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered. "You," he pointed at Leia, "are responsible for him, all right?"

"Warning," a voice said, "the Death Star will self-destruct in seven minutes."

"Aw kriff," Han said under his breath.

"We must leave," Vader said.

"Hey!" Han shouted at him. "This ship stays or goes on my say-so!"

"They will not reach us in time," Vader said. There was no emotion to his voice, just a quiet statement of fact.

"We all die together then!"

"They will not die," Vader said. "Luke will escape."

"How do you know that?!"

Vader paused. "Because I was wrong about her."
--------------------------------------------------------------

[cont'd]
"Warning. The Death Star will self-destruct in seven minutes."

Seven attached Luke's lightsaber to the stormtrooper belt, then knelt down and gently slapped the side of Luke's face until he came around. "Are you badly damaged?" she inquired, anxious to get moving.

"Yes... but I'll live," Luke said with agony in his voice. "Where's Data?"

"It appears he has somehow overridden the Death Star controls; the station will be destroyed in minutes. We must hurry if we're to reach an escape pod in time."

Luke shook his head. "I'm too weak... you go," he said. "You'll have a better chance without me."

"Unacceptable," Seven said, and there was more emotion in her voice than she would have expected.

“I was meant to die here,” Luke said, pushing at her. “I accept that... perhaps it’s time I joined... all of them...”

“I do not believe in fate,” Seven said emphatically.

“You can still make it, lieutenant,” Luke said. “But not with me slowing you down. Just go... please, I- I promised I’d make sure you’d make it...” he grinned. “Don’t make me a liar.”

Seven betrayed no emotion, but it wasn’t easy. “If it is what you wish-“

“It is.” Hesitantly, Seven got to her feet, then turned and walked double time away, reaching the intersection, where she slowed, then stopped. “Go!” he cried. She just stood there.

“To dream, Seven,” Picard’s voice said in her memory, “is what separates you from the Borg. There is nothing wrong with fearing to lose what we want.”

Seven looked back at Luke’s prone form, hearing her own response. “But I also fear having it."

“Lieutenant-“ Luke started as she ran back for him.

“You are coming with me,” she said sharply, picking him up with Borg-enhanced strength.

“I’ll only slow you down,” Luke insisted. “You’ve got to face facts-“

“Facts are irrelevant,” she snapped. “We escape together, or not at all. There will be no further argument.” She cradled him in her arms and sprinted through the Death Star as the voice echoed again.

"Six minutes to self-destruct."
--------------------------------------------------------------

The Millennium Falcon exploded out of the docking bay at full throttle, turbolasers bouncing all around it. They twisted to avoid colliding with the shield and raced along the artificial surface.

"Where are you going?" Leia asked from the rear of the cockpit.

"Wish I knew," he mumbled. "The shield's still up, which means we're stuck here for the moment."

"How'd you get in here?" Leia asked.

Han gritted his teeth as the ship rocked under a turbolaser impact. "Nothing I'd want to repeat any time soon, although we may not have much of a choice."

"It won't be for several minutes, sir," Derks said. "The Death Star's still powering up."

"What?" Leia asked looking at Han. She hoped he hadn't done what it sounded like he'd done.

"I'm not crazy about trying it again anyway," Han replied. "But we'll have to keep our options open at least. Then an alarm sounded, and Han looked at a display.

"What's that?" Leia asked.

Han shook his head. "For once, we've caught a lucky break."
--------------------------------------------------------------

In order to evacuate the station, Data lowered the shields of the Death Star. However, what he hadn't intended was for the New Alliance fleet to take it as a sign that they were to fire his torpedoes at the station, but that's precisely what happened. Of course, they wouldn't work; Data had known all along that they wouldn't. But to pass muster, he had made them look like they would do precisely what he said they would, and so when they struck they caused heavy hyperspatial distortions. The Death Star was completely unfazed, naturally. The surprise was the ships that weren't; the Interdictors' generators, trying to cast massive gravity shadows to distort hyperspace in their own way, were bombarded by energy they were never designed to handle, and one by one they exploded under the impact.

Captain Riker watched this with astonishment. If this hadn't destroyed the Death Star, then the New Alliance was out of options, and running would be very, very prudent. "Status of interdiction field."

Laforge checked the instruments. "None, sir. The skies are clear."

"All ships, all ships," came the voice of Captain Solo over the comm. "Death Star is overloading, repeat, Death Star is overloading. Recommend immediate withdrawal, like right kriffing now!"

"Good enough for me," Riker said. "Helm takes us to fallback position alpha." The Enterprise, along with the rest of the New Alliance fleet, made a micro-jump, then turned to verify that the news was correct... that despite the odds, they'd managed to kill the beast.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Seven's feet pounded the deck as she sprinted, still cradling Luke in her arms. Sweat ran down her face and she ground her teeth. She couldn't keep doing this... not with this little time left. But the only alternative was to put Luke down, and he was clearly too weak to run on his own. Together or not at all, she said to herself again, forcing her legs to move through sheer willpower. She turned the corner, missed a step, and they both tumbled to the floor. Seven gasped for breath where she lay, trying vainly to get her muscles to move, but they resisted. She was small now... she had to rely on her own strength, not the Collective's, and that meant she was doing this alone. Then she looked over and saw Luke struggling to get up; she coughed and pushed herself up off the floor. "We're nearly there," she said, pulling him to his feet.

"We're out of time," Luke said.

"No!" Seven said, and she half-dragged him up the hall, her legs shaking with every step, but never stopping, never ceasing. Being human offered its own strength to her, and she used it, drove herself on, until she saw the pod and broke into a run, pushing Luke inside. She sealed it up while he stumbled over to the controls and blasted them off. They had a mini-hyperdrive and enough fuel for one small jump to safety; he switched it on, and the two tumbled to the floor of the pod. Both were in a land beyond exhaustion, and simply laid there together, breathing heavily, grateful for the fact that they were still alive.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Picard ran with all his strength, his mind racing. Alright, he thought, escape pods will be along the surface, so find the outer layer of the Death Star and start looking. Several Imperial officers ran past, taking no notice of him. He found a turbolift that was unoccupied and headed for the surface. "Three minutes to self-destruct."

"You could've given me a little more time, Data," he muttered, though it was mostly to distract him from how awful he felt about leaving him behind. Finally the doors opened and he leapt out of the lift, falling ungracefully as he saw the floor was at almost a right angle to what it was on the lift. He pulled himself to his feet and began running, looking for anything that might be an escape pod. He grew frantic; he kept finding pod bays that had already been launched, and his chest felt ready to burst from the running.

"Two minutes to self-destruct," the voice tormented him. He wanted to fall over and throw up for a while, but he knew it would be the last thing he'd ever do, and so continued his wild search. He watched as a stormtrooper prepared to enter an escape pod in front of him, only to have an Imperial officer shoot him in the back. The officer kicked the trooper out of the door, and the pod was gone. Picard looked around quickly, hopeful that there would be some indication of where there would be more pods. Again, nothing, and grudgingly he pressed on.

"Sixty seconds to self-destruct."

Picard looked about desperately as he rounded the next corner, and there it was. He ran up to it almost ready to weep, and found out why it was still here: the door was sealed shut. Picard stared in at the pod, and thumped it in a mixture of anger and hopelessness. He stepped back and, in his fury, shot at it a few times. It still didn't budge.

"Thirty seconds to self-destruct."

Picard threw down the rifle in frustration. So close, so close if only the damn door would open! In frustration he backed up and ran across it, dumping all his frustrations and rage into a kick that wound up breaking his foot. He dropped over in pain, but as he did he heard the sound of a door squeaking open, and he turned and bolted into the pod. Ignoring the pain, he closed the hatch and threw the switch of the engines as the doors closed. The tiny pod raced away from the surface of the Death Star.

"Ten seconds to self-destruct... nine.... eight.... seven.... six.... five..... four.... three... two.... thank you for flying the Death Star," Data said.
--------------------------------------------------------------

The battlestation cracked opened like an egg roasting in a fire, explosions bursting out from its surface as energy sought ways of escaping through failsafes. The reactor itself failed under the forces and energy broke for the surface, overwhelming layer upon layer of metal and duracrete, consuming the massive station from within. The surface erupted in a thousand pinpoints of light, splitting and cracking its strained surface. A final pulse of energy rang out in all directions, releasing the energy of a small supernova in the flash of an eye. The remaining Imperial ships -those left from the ones that had fled, TIEs mostly along with several star destroyers whose captains had a sense of loyalty to their pilots- were incinerated in the powerful energies that rolled from the maw at the center of the Death Star. The shock wave continued off into space, and the light was blinding even from the distance of the New Alliance fleet.

On board a small escape pod, the single occupant felt the searing heat overcome his ship as he reached for the mini-hyperdrive, and the universe faded into whiteness.
--------------------------------------------------------------

A cheer sounded across the bridge of Voyager at the sight, and there was no doubt that it was shared among the rest of the fleet. They'd unwittingly brought that terror here, and seeing its destruction was like a weight lifted from their collective shoulders. "Message coming in from Admiral Riklin," Harry said, and his grin became even wider. "He's inviting everyone to a celebration back at the base for a job very well done."

"Indeed it was, ensign," Janeway said, but there seemed to be a shadow over her despite her smiling face. Chakotay must have noticed it.

"Captain?" he asked. "Should we return to base?"

Janeway hesitated. "You've all earned a chance to celebrate," she said finally. "Anyone who wants to can depart onto one of the other ships."

Chakotay nodded; he'd been her first officer for a long time, he always knew. "This is about Seven," he said.

"I can't explain it," Janeway said. "But she's alive, Chakotay, I know it! I can feel it! She'll find a way to contact us." She raised her voice. "Anyone who wants to depart is welcome; I certainly won't hold it against you. But Voyager lost some family out here, and I'm not leaving her behind."

The members of the bridge crew looked at one another. "I've always found Romulan parties to be too sedate, personally," Paris said, turning back to his controls.

"We're with you, captain," Harry said.

"Just like always," Chakotay said at her side, offering a smirk.

Janeway smiled and stood at the center of the bridge. "Take us out, Mr. Paris. We're all going home tonight."
--------------------------------------------------------------

While Voyager began scouring the surrounding space, celebration had already broken out at the Rebel base, and the party was in full swing by the time the victorious forces returned. Different cultures merged together in a glorious jubilee that was unmatched in recent memory; former enemies standing side by side and embracing in the wake of triumph. The impossible had been achieved. There had been a price, and they would remember the names of the thousands that had fallen in the battle that day, but now was not for the dead, but the living. They were the ones who would reap the new future that had been given to them.

A huge bonfire lay in the middle of it as various whoops and cries were heard, and spirits were passed round and round. Han held Leia in his arms and the two watched the motion of the flames, at peace. The crackling provided its own music for the pair as various instruments from around the quadrant began playing. "What's on your mind?" he asked.

"Everything," Leia said.

"That's a lot to think about," Han deadpanned.

"My father's in a cell back in the base," Leia said. "Luke's still missing. The Death Star's gone, the Emperor's gone, the Alliance's suffered heavy losses but may still-"

"Stop," Han said. "Stop all of that," he said firmly. "Now is not the time for worrying about tomorrow, now is for celebrating the fact that there's going to be a tomorrow after all." He rubbed her shoulders. "Sometimes you've got to just stop and look around and remember why the hell you get up each day and fight."

Leia shrugged his hands off, then turned around. "I don't need to remember," she said, pulling him close. "Because I never let myself forget." And she kissed him, long and deep amongst the sound of jubilation, because a perfect moment comes so rarely that it needs to be seized before it's lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------

The whiteness of oblivion hardened into a pattern of lights, and Picard sat up. He was sitting on a bench in a place that seemed familiar through the haze of his mind, and recognized it after a few moments. Aching, he tried to stand up. "Not a bad run for an old man," Q remarked.

Picard shook his head. "It's much harder than it looks you know."

"Oh I'm sure it is," Q said, hovering on his throne. Thankfully the mob was absent. "And it appears that you've outrun fate once again, Picard."

His lungs ached terribly, but Picard still spoke. "The Death Star? It's destroyed?"

Q nodded, a huge grin on his face. "Yes it is. Congratulations, mon captaine, you did it. The Death Star's gone, as is the Emperor." He took a great interest in his fingernails. "And that's only the beginning. Within 72 hours the Klingons will sign a non-aggression pact with the New Alliance. Ambassador Talva, on the other hand, will be the next Caesar."

Picard tried to shake the fog from his head. "Talva will take over the Empire?"

"No, think more like Julius Caesar and the Roman Senate," he said with a chuckle. "In any event, the Federation will also ask for peace, and the Empire will have no allies left in this galaxy, and that's only the beginning. With no real leaders, the Empire will collapse and the Republic will be reborn... thanks to the help of their new friends in the alpha quadrant."

Picard thought about all this, nodding in approval. "It seems we've passed your test after all."

Q nodded in agreement. "Yes, I told you you could pull it off." He reflected for a moment. "Ironic, isn't it. Humanity's convictions, in the end, were upheld by a Borg and an android."

"Then maybe they're not just humanity's convictions," Picard said.

Q grinned. "Is that a sign of expanded, thought, Picard? That you've finally lost your arrogance?" His face grew serious. "You taught them well Picard. Seven saw that Data could be redeemed, and he in turn saved you from the Empire."

Picard leaned back on the bench, rubbing his face. "Then it's finally over."

"Picard!" Q replied, "You still don't understand! This isn't over! I'll never understand this human tendency towards finality."

"What do you mean?" Picard replied.

"This isn't an end, Picard," Q said, rising off the floor on his special throne. "Did you think I told you all that so you'd know things would work out? I told you: the trial never ends. It's always been a metaphor, Picard."

"Yes," Picard admitted. "All those times you showed up to cause mischief were part of it, weren't they? They were all to test us?"

"Yes," Q said. "Except for Sherwood Forest, that was just a bit of fun." He smirked. "But you're right. We have been testing you."

"Why?"

Q hesitated. "Because someone has presumed that a human is fit to rule over the entire galaxy," he said. "That one of your own is worthy to fill that role, that the Romulans and the Klingons and the Cardassians and the Borg will all follow him. Do you feel that a human deserves such an honor... such power?"

"That he is human shouldn't be relevant," Picard said. "That he will prove worthy is."

"And that's exactly the point, Picard," Q said. "Is your species worthy to take that role... are you prepared to set the example?" Q leaned down. "That's what the trial has always been about, Picard. Because this is a vicious and nasty place, the universe, and however much you'd like to think otherwise, you humans are flawed."

Picard looked down and took a deep breath through his nose. "I'll grant that," he said, and looked up at Q. "But we will try to overcome our flaws, as we always have."

"We will see, Picard," Q said.

"Who will it be?" Picard asked. "The one you spoke of."

"Now, now, you can't have me give away the surprise," Q said with a smirk. "Still, I suppose a little hint wouldn't hurt." Picard's brow furrowed in confusion when Q told him. "But don't dwell on it, Picard... whatever will come, will come without you... whatever must be lost must be lost, whoever must die must die..."

"Will such a day come?" Picard finally asked. "Can we really, truly be unified in peace?"

"Well, that's up to all of you, isn't it?" Q said. "We'll see... I'll admit, I'm very curious myself. I intend to pay a great deal of attention to the coming years... you should prove most entertaining." There was a flash, and Picard stood on the surface of an alien planet. There was a celebration going on and it was clear the end wouldn't be coming for a while.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Later, in the Enterprise's conference room, Picard and Riker sat down to discuss what had happened. Picard filled him in on the truth of both Data and Seven, and explained about Data's sacrifice. Riker was obviously upset at first; losing Deanna, unfairly blaming Seven, and being tricked into a trap obviously didn't sit well with him, but he agreed that Data's choice made up for his crime... that it'd be best to let what had all happened die with him.

"Listen, captain," Riker said when the subject got around to his promotion, "the Enterprise is your ship. I'll step down if you wish to take the captain's chair."

Picard shook his head. "No, Will. The Enterprise is yours now. You've done well protecting her, and you've shown how ready you've been to embrace the new place the galaxy has become." He wet his lips and looked about the room, perhaps for the last time. "It's time for me to move on."

"I don't want it to end like this," Riker said.

"You remember what Q said, Will," Picard replied. "There's so much more to come... and this change could be even grander than I had ever imagined."

Riker looked down, wondering if he should ask the question. "The person who would come," he asked, "the one Q spoke of... who did he say it would be?"

"He didn't... he just gave me a hint."

"Which was?"

Picard offered a confused shrug. "That sparing Data was only one of the two tests Seven passed."
--------------------------------------------------------------

Luke turned on the locating beacon and sat back, waiting. "You're sure they'll come looking for us with these modifications?" he asked Seven.

"Captain Janeway will recognize the signal patterns," Seven confirmed.

"Oh... good," Luke said neutrally. "In the rush I didn't get the chance to thank you... you risked your life to save mine."

Seven nodded a little nervously. "You're welcome," she said. "Your performance was impressive, Mr. Skywalker," she said, changing the subject. "I have never seen anyone demonstrate such skills... such courage."

"Thanks," Luke said. "You were pretty impressive yourself, lieutenant. And you can call me Luke."

"You may call me Seven," she said. She turned and looked at the stars. He was an amazing human being... and he had said she was impressive. That meant a great deal to her.

Luke watched her out of the corner of his eye. She was so poised outside, but underneath he could feel the storm. There was a deep pain and loneliness there... it drew him the way the inner peace drew him to Leia, except he wanted to somehow fix this. "I should say something," he thought.

"But what possible thing could I say?" Seven wondered.

"She's fascinating."

"He's intriguing."

"I'd like to get to know her."

"I wish I could understand him."

"She's certainly beautiful."

"He's even more attractive in person."

"I should say something," Luke though again.

"I would only look foolish," Seven thought.

"After all, she's smart and cunning-"

"-and I'm only a former drone. What interest-"

"-could she possibly have in me?"

"I'll wait-"

"-for her to say something-"

"-and if he doesn't-"

"-then obviously she has no interest-"

"-and I'd only embarrass myself."

Luke looked away, and Seven glanced at him for a moment, then looked down and back out into space.

"I knew it," they both thought, "I was just being foolish."

As the escape pod drifted off through space, the voice of Q laughed, because despite all that had changed, he still had no respect for the physics of vacuum. "And you honestly think humans can run the galaxy?"

"Just give them time," said the figure that hovered in the void with him.

"Humanity, or these two imbeciles?"

"Both," the figure said.

"You're a hopeless romantic," Q remarked.

He shrugged. "I've been called worse."

"The obstacles to overcome-"

"Nothing worth having is easy," the figure said. "And the greater the effort, the greater the prize."

"And if they knew what the price of your precious Unity will be?"

"One step at a time, Q. This is only the first on a very long road." He watched as Voyager dropped out of hyperspace and picked up the escape pod. "Give them time to meditate on what has happened, and they'll figure everything out. It's what they do best."

[the end]

This is outstanding work. You've really rebuilt this chapter (and the saga) amazingly well. As always, I love the refrences to the prequals you slotted in, the perfect moment of course being Padme/Leia and Vader realising he had been here before, THAT made Vaders switch oh so workable.

And Whind calling out for the Emperor at *just* the right time....tink tink tink BOOM! Damn I still love that.

And as always, Q is wonderfuly written. As is the 'figure', who I have a good idea about, but of course won't say anything. And Q's revelation about the future to Picard....

6/5 stars as always.

You... You magnificent bastard! It all fell into place so wonderfully. So tell me, what of yours should I read next? Hmm? What wonderous yarn have you weaved that could enthrall me as much as this has? Tell me! Tell me now!

Chris OFarrell wrote:This is outstanding work. You've really rebuilt this chapter (and the saga) amazingly well.

Thanks. Now that it's over, I'm really happy that I did it. I was always kind of embarrassed about WWE; I'm happy that there was really a good story in there that just had a poor n00b writer getting in its way.

Chris OFarrell wrote: As always, I love the refrences to the prequals you slotted in, the perfect moment of course being Padme/Leia and Vader realising he had been here before, THAT made Vaders switch oh so workable.

There's a lot of stuff in this final chapter that were simply impossible to remove because the continuity required it (i.e. the story would be seriously screwed up if Luke *did* die), and trying to fix problems like this within that confine was a serious, serious, serious challenge. I'm glad it finally works.

Chris OFarrell wrote: And Whind calling out for the Emperor at *just* the right time....tink tink tink BOOM! Damn I still love that.

Spoiler
You might have noticed that in DOF 39 that while Mara's walking towards the transporter the Emperor chides her that the entire situation was her fault.... it's very wierd to put foreshadowing in one of the final chapters for an event that's going to take place in one of the first.

Chris OFarrell wrote: And as always, Q is wonderfuly written. As is the 'figure', who I have a good idea about, but of course won't say anything. And Q's revelation about the future to Picard....

6/5 stars as always.

The figure's who you think it is, I just figured structurally the character shouldn't be knowingly present before his appearance in AAO.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

ElPintoGrande wrote:You... You magnificent bastard! It all fell into place so wonderfully. So tell me, what of yours should I read next? Hmm? What wonderous yarn have you weaved that could enthrall me as much as this has? Tell me! Tell me now!

Well, normally I'd say to go read Shadows of the Night, but since Shadows of the Night Redux Part 1 comes out on Saturday, you might want to wait. (as in "I'd strongly encourage you to wait")

Thanks for the compliment!

You know, I was originally intending to make a 'quadruple post, the mods shall be notified' gag, but after that experience, I really can't bring myself too tarnish the moment.

Curse your ability to thwart my cynicism with the blinding glory of your writing! You shall rue this day!

I think after reading this, I'm going to miss Q.
He was a really enjoyable character all in all. It's a shame that he's silenced so immensely in the later series... although I suppose Q only really shows up to harass Picard. It'd be interesting to see how Q would get along with, say, Ben.

A fitting end... and you're continuing rewriting? Argh... so tempting...

Magnificent work. Honestly I enjoyed reading the re-dux as much as reading this piece originally...more so with the few changes because of the changes in the SW saga.

Honestly always a pleasure.

*applause*

The next archive update will be rather...hefty. Thank you.

I haven't finished reading it yet, just wanted to say, for one crazy second at the end of page 6, I thought you we're turning this into more than 40 chapters too (then reason returned to me, and I went to the next page).

you know I think that this chapter is about 200 paragraphs longer than the first time, but much much better! Cudos to you! It was a great read after a rough day.

CERC

Here's something scary, folks: Worlds Without End Redux was finished exactly six years and one day after the original went live on the Fanfic Archive.

.......*X-Files music plays as the camera slowly zooms out from the thread*

I must chime in to say how awesome this has been and that I can not wait to read the SOTN rewrite.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the feedback.

There's a lot of stuff in this final chapter that were simply impossible to remove because the continuity required it (i.e. the story would be seriously screwed up if Luke *did* die), and trying to fix problems like this within that confine was a serious, serious, serious challenge. I'm glad it finally works.

If Luke had died, I'm still not sure it would have been the biggest twist in this story.
That said, great job, I really enjoyed it, thank you so much.

This fanfiction series is fucking awesome.

Thanks again.