“You.” The Emperor’s spirit intoned, “How does a pathetic child like you keep coming back.”

“I’m sure people have been saying that about you for a thousand years.” Remi said with a wry twist of her lips.

“Do you still think you can defeat me?” The black mass seemed to increase in size.

“You’re dead, between me and my friends that’s the third time, four if you count Lord Ninka.” Remi replied, looking around. She could not feel the Force in this room it was perfectly contained. She remembered creating a weapon in her hand if she focused her will. She wondered if she had constructed her nightmares or if they had been illusions created by the Emperor.

“Death cannot hold me.” His laugh was as hollow as his voice. He threw a bolt of power at her. She focused and brought up her lightsaber in time to catch it. The strength of the attack forced her backwards but she endured the pain. She told herself it was not real. The shadow sent bolt after bolt of pure will at her, she blocked and parried but some of his attacks blasted through her guard. The pain felt too real to ignore.

“I am power incarnate,” the shadowy voice mocked her now as each bolt sent her backward the most recent driving her to her knees. “I cannot be destroyed. Even if you defeat me here, I am patient, I will find my way back to consume the galaxy, but before I do, I will make sure everyone you have ever loved will pay, including your legacy. A thousand years from now the last tortured breaths of your kin will curse you for the mark I have placed on your bloodline, beginning with your son.”

The room was empty, there was no force here only will. The ancient emperor’s power filled it, his spirit tempered by a millennia of experience, he had clawed his way to power as a child, conquered cities by force as a man, and tricked his contemporaries into making him immortal as a Sith. His will brought him the power and ambition to consume the galaxy; his only thought was to conquer the universe. Now as an undead terror over one thousand years in the making, he focused his power against a small Jedi, a mere mortal, a woman, a mother; her only thought was protecting her child.

The lich that was the Emperor did not stand a chance.

Remi rose to her feet finally understanding the white room, she smiled at the fallen Emperor and called a lightsaber to her hand. She leaped at the shadow slashing with her will. It tried to envelop her, trying to suffocate her, she spun forcing him to spin with her, confusing him negating his attacks. Her light pierced the darkness of his being and he began to diminish, he shrank as he was beaten, cursed as the terrors he sent were ignored, and finally screamed in pain as his darkness was cast out.

Lord Scourge reached the top of the station, Imperial Guard reinforcements were arriving. Lord Ninka and her group arrived at the same time. He could see a dark cloud enveloped Remi and their son. Lord Ninka drew her saber, “Go to her,” she said facing the fresh Guardsman, “We’ll hold here as long as we can.”

Scourge nodded and ran to the stasis field. Remi curled around their son protecting him from the shadow. It was fading, she had beaten it and the ritual was nearly complete. The stone box glowed with a dull light, somehow connected to Remi, their son, and what remained of the shadow.

He could see now what the shadow had done to her, her skin was flayed and blistered, her robe tattered as if she had walked through a storm of razors, she bled from a hundred places. Her breath came out in gasps. Her life force sputtered, a mere spark compared to what it had been. She was dying.

The stasis field was weakening and Scourge reached out to touch Remi, the shadow stung his hand, it was still dangerous. He watched as his son moved in her arms, he was alive and unharmed. Scourge could feel his connection to the dark side. It filled him with pride and a touch of regret. The little Sith pureblood reached out to touch his mother’s face.

Scourge felt the Force draining out of his son, he watched in surprise as a single cut on Remi’s face healed. The dark side could heal but it was difficult and required personal sacrifice. Until now, it would never have occurred to him to try. He walked into the stasis field gathering Remi and his son into his arms. He ignored how the shadow burned him. He closed his eyes and reached for the Force, he did not know what he was doing, only what he wanted more than anything else, he would give anything to make her whole. The darkness swirled around him.

Remi looked down at herself, she held her son in her arms, Scourge held them both. She felt no pain but her other-self bled from cuts and flayed skin.

“Hello, old friend.” A familiar voice said behind her.

“You again?” Remi said suspiciously, “Isn’t there something more important in the galaxy for you to be doing than talking to me?”

“Hey, it’s not something I choose for myself,” Master Orgus said shrugging, “You were my Padawan we’re connected.”

“I see,” Remi said smiling despite herself, “You do realize I’m terrible at being a Jedi.”

“You saying that’s my fault?”

“Nah,” she chuckled, “I probably just didn’t know you long enough.”

“Good answer.” Her former master smiled, “Now let’s go.”

“Go? Go where?” she asked.

“The Emperor shattered your body, you’re dying.” Orgus indicated her broken form lying on the floor.

Remi stared at him in shock, she had come so close only to fail at the very end. “Did I save him? Is the Emperor gone?” she asked looking at her son.

“You’ve done well, but it’s your time.” He touched her shoulder, it was strange that she could feel it, but she supposed she was a spirit too.

“I’m not dead yet,” she pointed at herself still taking shuddering breaths, “Can I at least say goodbye?”

“You can barely see, you can hardly breathe, at least this way you won’t feel the pain of death.”

“I can handle the pain if I can say good bye.” She says stubbornly, “There’s something I needed to say.”

“He knows how you feel, we can’t stay here, it’s not safe.”

“What do you mean?” Remi asked looking around.

A dark shape appeared. It was massive, tendrils of black and red smoke curled out of it, spikes of pain swirled at its core.

“What is that?”

The dark shape moved toward her. “Remi,” it whispered.

The shadow was dark and powerful but oddly familiar, “Scourge?” she asked stepping closer, she looked behind to see Scourge huddling over her and their son. She did not know what was real, but the shadow felt more like Scourge than the false dreams she experienced.

“Come.” The darkness whispered.

“Don’t listen to it,” Master Orgus said urgently, “It’s a trick. The Emperor’s still trying to defeat you.”

“No, it’s Scourge,” Remi was more sure now, “I’d know him anywhere.”

“You can’t trust it Remi. If you go back to the darkness you won’t rejoin with the Force when you die. You’ll be a force-ghost, I can’t let you go.” Master Orgus grabbed her arm trying to pull her away from the approaching shadow.

“You always told me I had a choice.” She said wrenching herself away. She ran to the shadow that was Scourge. The dark form seemed to welcome her she threw herself into it. It caught and held her.

Master Orgus screamed and dissolved into a black mist.

“The traitor,” it intoned, “I gave you everything you have. I can take it from you.” The shadow marshaled the last of its strength and hurled it at the pair.

Scourge enveloped Remi in his shadow, shielding her from the attack, he gave her his strength keeping her alive. The power ate at his spirit whittling it away, but it was not enough. The Emperor began to fade away.

“I will hate you forever, my hatred will only grow, your time will come, and I will be waiting.”

“My Lord,” the shadow that was Scourge whispered, “Do you know what the Rakata mind trap is really for?” The darkness grinned as he felt the Emperor’s fear, and he pulled Remi back to life.

The title of this section is a shoutout to Earthmama's awesome fanfic that inspires me to try to add more emotion to my writing.

Remi opened her eyes, Scourge held her in his arms. They sat on the floor next to the floating gray stone. The Sith Lord looked gaunt, his skin tone was greyish, and he seemed weaker than she had ever seen him. He opened his eyes they glowed red but seemed dull and tired. He drew on the Force to replenish his strength.

Scourge looked down at his love, her body was no longer shattered, and her life force no longer flickered. He had healed her, not well and not fully, but she was no longer dying. He held her tightly, careful not to crush their precious son.

They got to their feet carefully and looked around. The fighting had ceased, Lord Ninka and her crew held off the Imperial Guard. The remaining defenders stopped fighting when the black mist disappeared. The ritual was complete, a new Emperor had been named. The guardsman paced forward and knelt before the group in the center of the room.

Remi looked up at Scourge with confusion.

“We all feel it, the Sith and the Imperial Guard,” he said quietly, “Our son has been named.”

Remi looked down at her son he smiled blissfully. She blinked back tears, “No.” she whispered. “I won’t let him be their puppet.”

Scourge put a finger to her lips and looked into her eyes. “Just because he is named, does not mean that everyone will bow to him, he will have to learn, and grow stronger. He will have a choice,” he assured her, “but we must let him make it when he is ready. Until then,” he gave her a wicked grin and stepped forward to meet the remaining Imperial Guard.

Many of the Guardsmen remembered Lord Scourge from his time as Wrath, some were relieved a powerful Sith would command them, others were angry that they would have to follow the traitor, but they all bowed to him. Captain Isen looked up at the father of his Emperor. “Your orders, my lord.”

“First, see that nothing and no one ever tampers with that.” He pointed at the Rakata device that held the remains of the Emperor’s spirit.

“Second,” He looked at Lord Ninka she was a strong fighter and a good leader who looked after her own people. “There will no longer be a position known as the Wrath.” He announced to the Guard. They glanced at Lord Ninka, she said nothing but gripped her lightsaber tightly. “This woman is the new leader of the Hand. You will obey her command as you would mine, as you would your Emperors.” He enjoyed the stunned expression on Lord Ninka’s face before returning to Remi and their son.

Captain Isen bowed to Lord Ninka. “My Lord?”

Lord Ninka raised an elegant eyebrow, “Secure the station.” The Captain nodded to the other guards, they left to carry out her orders. She called to Lord Scourge, “Just don’t ever call me Servant.”

Remi watched as the Guard cleaned up their fallen, Doc and Captain Quinn treated the wounded. Kira walked up the ramp dragging Master Kavil behind her. She dumped him in front of Remi and Scourge.

“I’m not sure what to do with him.” She said, she looked up at Lord Scourge feeling a little ashamed.

Remi ignored the traitor of the Jedi Council for a moment and simply hugged her friend. She let Kira hold her son and limped to Master Kavil. She crossed her arms and waited for him to speak.

“Please Master Remi,” he groveled, “I was wrong, but all I ever wanted was to bring peace to the Republic.”

“By kidnapping a child?” she asked.

“Killing,” Kira said angrily, “His plan involved killing a child, along with me and a lot of our friends.”

Remi turned back to Master Kavil letting him answer her charges, “I was wrong,” he said, “But I considered it a small sacrifice for the greater good.”

Remi drew her lightsaber, “Small sacrifice?”

“Please,” he said holding up his hands in surrender, “You’ve come a long way to return to the light, don’t undo all that because of me.”

Remi frowned, “Jaesa?” she called.

“Yes?” the Sith answered calmly.

“What’s in his heart?”

Jaesa turned to Lord Ninka for permission, the Sith Lord nodded. Jaesa bowed her head and pressed her hands together. “He hates the war and the death of innocents, he wants peace. He hates the cruelty and emotions of the Sith. He still believes he was right to sacrifice your son, because your son is a S-.”

Jaesa did not get a chance to finish her sentence, Remi cut off Master Kavil’s head.

Remi limped back to her family taking her son back from Kira.

Kira watched Lord Scourge holding Remi and their child, she was not sure if she had been wrong about him, or if he somehow had changed since she saw him last. She grinned a little wondering if there was such a thing as a Gray Sith.

“So do you have a plan?” Kira asked waving a finger at Koa, the little pureblood grabbed at it.

“Nope, not a single thing.” Remi answered laughing. “I didn’t want to think of this moment until it happened.” She leaned against Scourge and closed her eyes thinking of the other messes they had survived. “I’m sure we’ll figure the whole parenting thing out, how hard can it be?”

Kira snorted, “If you don’t think parenting is at least as challenging as defeating the Emperor you must be dreaming.”

Remi opened her eyes and glared at her friend, “Don’t even joke about that.”

Doc escorted Remi down the aisle. She looked out over the assembled guests. The wedding was taking place on Nar Shaddaa, it was the only way the bride and groom’s odd mixture of guests could gather without a fight breaking out. They reached the end of the aisle and parted ways, Remi took her place next to Jaesa, Darth Ninka, and a Twilek named Tivva. Doc stood next to Jomar, Seth and two Mirialan men who could have been brothers.

Vette walked down the aisle, escorted by Pierce. She had wondered if the former Wrath would be angry when she decided not to work for the Hand. Instead, Darth Ninka commissioned her wedding gown, the tailors were excited to have the order from such a prestigious Sith and terrified the results would not be satisfactory. The dress was perfect in Vette’s eyes, even if Jaesa kept making faces at the purple trim.

Major Pierce had walked his daughter down a similar aisle not too long ago, her wedding had fewer Pubs but more bugs. They stopped when they reached the end and he gave Vette’s hand to a green skinned kid with tattoos on his face. He walked to his seat next to Lord Scourge, Quinn, Broonmark and Moff Galvan. Behind him were a motley assortment of Twileks and a few Sith, and across the aisle was a mass of Jedi. He could not help but wonder what would happen if a fight broke out.

Seth held Vette’s hands in his, the wedding was a combination of modern, Twilek, and Mirialan traditions. Which meant it was very confusing and no one was sure anything was happening correctly, but the couple looked happy and that was all that mattered to their friends. Seth had given up his place as a Jedi, he joked that he was a better pilot anyway. He had not expected so many of his Jedi friends to attend, but they did, and it made him happy and gave him hope that peace in the galaxy was possible.

The reception had little mingling between the two sides but no open hostility. Pierce walked up to Lord Scourge who observed the guests with his usual predatory amusement.

“So, when’s your turn?” Pierce asked.

“When is yours?” the Sith replied.

“I don’t want to marry anyone.” He grinned, “Can you say the same?”

The Sith Lord frowned and said nothing; Remi had avoided the topic every time he tried to speak with her about it. Finally, he gave up and left well enough alone.

“So it’s like that,” Pierce said sympathetically, “Maybe she just doesn’t want to be Lady Scourge.” He suggested with a grin. Pierce had earned Lord Scourge’s friendship, and he was allowed to prod at the Sith to a point, but Pierce also knew when to back down. He clapped Scourge on the shoulder seeing his expression, “She looks good tonight, maybe you should talk to her again.” Then he left the Sith alone to talk to one of Vette’s pretty friends.

Remi was the only person who mingled with everyone in the room. When she finished catching up with her friends, she walked out to a balcony enjoying the time alone. She and Scourge rarely went anywhere without their son, but Vette had made her wedding a strictly adults only affair, even child-Emperors were not invited. Scourge found her looking out over a sea of lights. Her dress was more elegant than he would give Vette credit for choosing and the green matched Remi’s red hair.

They could still hear the music coming from inside the reception, “Do you dance?” he asked.

“No, do you?” she asked carefully. Her body was tense and her hand twitched as if she were holding a lightsaber.

“No, it was a joke.” He replied pulling her into his arms. She relaxed, laughing a little.

“You don’t want to marry me, do you.” He stated. She tensed up all over again and tried to pull away. He held her tightly not letting her go.

“I have my reasons,” she said finally.

“You do not wish to share them?” he asked.

“I just don’t think we need to get married,” she said into his chest, “We have Koa, what difference would it make? Why do you even want to get married?”

He held her away from him, “Because,” he said astonished that she did not know. It had never occurred to him that she needed to be told, “I love you.” She shuddered, he held her arms tightly, if he let her go, she would run.

“Don’t say that, I’m going to die someday.” She whispered, “It will hurt more, if you love me.”

He laughed at her without mockery, “My love,” he said still chuckling, “Without you, I am lost in a sea of pain and sorrow, words left unsaid will not change that.”

“Won’t this make it worse?”

“I told you before,” he replied pulling her close and holding her tightly, “Some things are worth the pain.”

THE END (again)