What If?: The Fall of Skywalker

This is the transcript of an episode of my podcast, From the Mind of Maro, and a little something I wrote for the Star Wars "May the 4th Be with You" celebration last year. It's part of a series where I explore what might have been in various timelines if things had turned out differently. Be it in fictional worlds, or our own.

Quick disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Star Wars or any of its characters. This is just a what if scenario I did for fun.

If you like this story, feel free to check out my podcast for more on Spotify, Itunes, Iheart and Spreaker.

Hope you enjoy!


Luke’s body was nearing its breaking point. He had barely managed to survive Vader’s previous attack, as the Dark Lord hurled various debris at him with the Force, before being sucked out of a window overlooking a catwalk, which itself stood over a massive, seemingly bottomless chasm. He was able to grab the edge of the catwalk as he fell, using all his strength to pull himself up onto its surface. He used this brief moment of respite to catch his breath, as he noticed he could no longer hear the sound of Vader’s respirator.

Although he had only begun his training as a Jedi, Luke was not fooled by the sudden, eerie silence. The Force told him Vader was still nearby. But his senses had not been honed to the point that he could tell the Sith Lord’s exact location.

Slowly and cautiously, he made his way up the catwalk’s footpath, coming to a doorway. Making his way down the connected hallway, his sense that Vader was close grew stronger with each step. But where? He still did not hear the dreaded breathing sound that was the telltale sign of the Dark Lord’s presence. Yet the feeling of danger became stronger with every passing second.

Suddenly the sound of a lightsaber igniting came from his left, and in an instant, a crimson blade of energy came swinging down directly in front of him, just missing him by a hair’s width. Activating his own weapon, Luke blocked another attack from Vader’s saber as the Sith Lord emerged from a darkness shrouded corner less than a foot to Luke’s left and resumed his relentless assault.

As they crossed blades once more, Vader forcing Luke to go on the defensive, Luke realized that all this time Vader had been toying with him. When their duel had begun, Vader was holding back. But now he seemed to relinquish caution all together, his swings becoming increasingly more forceful and aggressive. In the back of his mind, Luke was beginning to think that he had been an utter fool to abandon his training with Yoda. He was starting to wish he had heeded his mentor’s warnings.

Vader was forcing Luke farther and farther back along the overhanging narrow catwalk with every blow, towards the edge of a platform on the other end. One strike actually knocked Luke onto his back, as Vader pointed his lightsaber down at him, the tip mere inches from his face. “You are beaten!” Vader declared “It is useless to resist! Don’t let yourself be destroyed as Obi-Wan did.”

Luke swatted Vader’s blade away with his own before quickly rolling to the side to dodge another blow. Instantly getting back on his feet, he felt his confidence rise as he managed to score a hit on Vader’s shoulder. Vader cried out in pain and surprise, and for a brief instant, Luke felt as though he might actually win this battle.

But that all came crashing down as after blocking a couple more swings, Luke felt a sudden burning pain, crying out in agony as he grabbed his right arm, just below the wrist where Vader had severed his hand, sending it and his lightsaber plummeting into the chasm below. The burning blade had effectively cauterized the wound as it sliced through flesh and bone, preventing any blood loss. Luke sank to his knees, grasping the still burning stump of his arm. He had been defeated. He had failed. He looked up at Vader, expecting the finishing blow to come at any second. But it never did. Instead, Darth Vader merely stood there, looking down at him from behind his mask. “There is no escape.” He said, stating the obvious. “Don’t make me destroy you.”

For an instant, Luke wondered why Vader didn’t just finish him then and there. Out of desperation, he climbed backward onto a fixture at the very end of the pathway behind him. Using his remaining hand to hold on, and cradling his stump beneath his armpit, he knew his only option would be to jump, likely to his doom.

But as he did so, Vader continued speaking. “Luke. You do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power.” It was then that Vader offered him an alternative to falling to his death, a choice that would forever change the fate of not only Luke, but the entire galaxy.

“Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy!”

“I’ll never join you!” Luke defiantly declared, as he shimmied along the side of the of the fixture in a feeble attempt to get as far from Vader as possible. “If you only knew the power of the Dark Side!” Vader replied. “Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.”

“He told me enough!” Luke said, venom seething in his voice. “He told me you killed him!” “No.” Vader said “I am your father.” For a brief moment, Luke could only stand there in shock at this revelation, before managing to sputter “No. That’s not true. That’s impossible!”

“Search your feelings, you know it to be true!”

Overcome by a sudden flood of emotion and despair, Luke could only let out an anguished cry of “No!” in response, as he was on the verge of tears. “Luke, you can destroy the Emperor.” Vader said “He has foreseen this. It is your destiny! Join me, and together, we can rule the galaxy as father and son!”

Vader extended his gloved hand, waiting for Luke to take it. In that moment, Luke knew his only options were to accept or die. Mentally weighing both choices for several seconds, he came to a decision. Carefully balancing himself on his precarious perch, he tentatively reached out with his remaining hand and allowed Vader to bring him back onto the platform. “You have chosen wisely my son.” Vader said as he deactivated his lightsaber, clipping it to his belt. “What happens now?” Luke asked hesitantly.

“Now, you embrace your destiny.” Vader replied. Luke could have sworn he had heard a tone of pride in Vader’s voice, as though he had just accomplished some great deed. “I shall tell the Emperor you refused to join the Dark Side, and I was forced to kill you. Then, after we have completed your training, and when he least expects it, we will destroy him together.” Luke nodded solemnly. “Yes, my master.”


Meanwhile, far across the galaxy, on the swamp planet of Dagobah, Jedi Master Yoda sensed an incredible disturbance in the Force, the likes of which he had not felt since the great jedi purge. “Fallen, young Skywalker has.” He said sadly “As we feared, it is. Joined the Dark Side, he did.” A glowing blue apparition materialized beside Yoda, appearing as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“We did warn him.” Obi-Wan said disappointedly. “All is lost.” Yoda sighed. “Doomed, the galaxy is.” “No, master.” Obi-Wan said “You said so yourself. There is another.”


One year later


Princess Leia was at her wits end. In the last year, the rebellion had suffered immense casualties at the hands of the Empire. All together, they had been reduced to around a hundred members of the alliance, having suffered one crushing defeat after another. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Han Solo, the man she loved, was most likely hanging from the walls of Jabba the Hutt’s palace as a decorative trophy, having been frozen in carbonite and delivered to the notorious gangster by Boba Fett.

What’s more, Luke had completely vanished after Cloud City, with not a trace to be found. She could only conclude he had been killed by Vader. The only bit of luck she and the rebellion had in the last year was her, Chewie, Lando and the droids having managed to escape that place after their failed attempt to rescue Han. After seeing the bounty hunter’s ship fly off, they were able to return to the Millenium Falcon where R2 finally repaired the ship’s hyperdrive, allowing them to escape.

The remaining members of the rebellion were now scattered across the galaxy, either in hiding or being hunted down by the likes of Vader and his spies. She was currently trying to sleep aboard the Falcon, having not done so in she didn’t even know how long. The stress of her situation was too much to bear.

That was when she heard a faint voice whisper her name. A voice she didn’t recognize. She immediately shot up from her bunk to see a vaguely familiar sight, that of an old man dressed in long, brown robes and radiating a pale blue light. Who are you?” Leia asked. The old man smiled. “You already know who I am, though you don’t know my face. You sent an R2 unit to find me, saying I was your only hope.”

Leia’s eyes widened in surprise and sudden recognition. “Obi-Wan?” The old man nodded. “But you’re dead. Luke saw Vader kill you on the Death Star!” Obi-Wan chuckled “True. But those strong in the Force can transcend even Death. Which brings me to you.”

“What do you mean? I know nothing of the Force.” Leia said, confused. “Which is why it is imperative that you learn as soon as possible, if there is to be any chance of saving the Rebellion and the galaxy.” Obi-Wan replied “If you wish to do so, come to the Dagobah system at once. There you will learn the truth and begin on the path freeing the galaxy from evil.”

The apparition of Obi-Wan began to fade, becoming more transparent.”Wait!” Leia said, reaching out in a vain attempt to stop him. “What truth? How can I learn of the Force on Dagobah?” But Obi-Wan had already vanished.

Reeling with confusion and disbelief from what she had just witnessed, Leia sat there for several moments, as her mind tried to process what had just happened. Was she dreaming? Was this just a hallucination caused by her overtaxed mind? There was only one way to know for sure. She sprang to her feet and raced to the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit.

She found Chewbacca at the pilot’s seat, having essentially inherited the ship after the loss of Han Solo, and C3PO in the copilot’s. “Chewie, set a course for Dagobah immediately.” Leia ordered. The Wookie responded in the guttural growls and grunts of his people’s language. “He says, why Dagobah? There’s nothing there but swampland!” C3PO translated.

“I know that. I can’t really explain it, because I honestly don’t understand it myself. But please, listen to me and set a course. Apparently, we have to go there if we’re to save the rebellion.” The Wookie and the droid looked at each other, Chewbacca shrugging as if to say “Well, we don't have any better plans.” before adjusting the Falcon’s navigation computer to set a course to Dagobah. I hope you weren’t just a trick of my mind, Obi-Wan, Leia thought. Because now more than ever, we need a new hope.


In the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, the Emperor sat upon his throne, flanked on either side by his Royal Guards. His throne was turned away from the door, facing out a large window overlooking the skyline of the planet wide city. He was reflecting to himself on how the last year had been an immense success for him and the Empire. His apprentice, Vader had destroyed a major threat to his rule in that of the son of Skywalker, and the rebellion was in tatters, with only a handful of splinter cells remaining.

They would be dealt with soon enough. His victory in the Galactic Civil War was for all intents and purposes, assured. He chuckled maliciously to himself, reminiscing on how it had all begun. How he manipulated the people of the galaxy and even the jedi themselves under their very noses as Supreme Chancellor. Single handedly turned Anakin, one of their most powerful and gifted, into his apprentice and enforcer. And essentially purged the galaxy of the jedi once and for all.

It had been many years in the making, but his ultimate plan was now complete. The Sith once again ruled the galaxy. Even if the vast majority of its citizens didn’t realize it. He was still deep in his thoughts when the door to his throne room opened, only brought back to reality by the sound of his apprentice’s breathing echoing throughout the room. “Ah, Lord Vader.” Said the Emperor. “I trust your latest mission was successful?”

Instead of a verbal response from Vader, The Emperor was surprised to instead see his two guards simultaneously blasted through the glass window in front of him, sending them and thousands of shards falling countless stories to the lower levels of the city. “What is the meaning of this?” The Emperor said angrily, instantly rotating his throne to face Vader.

But Vader was not alone. Standing beside him was another figure in dark robes, their face shrouded in darkness by a hood. Clutched in one mechanical hand was a lightsaber hilt. Both Vader and the mysterious figure ignited their weapons, twin crimson energy blades hissing to life. “Your reign as Emperor ends now, my Master.” Vader said with a note of sarcasm on the word, master.

Instead of anger or betrayal as Vader had expected, The Emperor instead had a look of disappointment about him. “Lord Vader. Is this how you repay me after all I’ve done for you all these years? Very well. If I must destroy you and your mysterious friend, so be it.”

With incredible speed despite his apparent age, The Emperor raised both his hands and unleashed two torrents of force lightning from his fingertips. Vader and his new apprentice instantly raised their blades, blocking the lightning, albeit with great difficulty. The force of the lightning’s energy began to push the Emperor’s assailants backwards, the two of them struggling to keep their footing.

Decades of Sith training had given the Emperor complete mastery over the Dark Side of the Force. He could keep up his attack for hours if need be. Sooner or later his traitorous apprentice and his accomplice would weaken, and then he would easily destroy them both. But then something happened that took the Emperor completely by surprise.

The two other Sith Lords both raised their other hand and lowered their weapons, using the force to absorb the energy of the lightning before sending it back directly towards the Emperor! The impact blasted him backwards into his seat, smoke rising from his singed robes and skin. “Surrender now, and your end will be quick.” Said the hooded figure, raising their lightsaber once more.

“I have not begun to fight!” The Emperor declared. In the blink of an eye, retrieved his own lightsaber from within his robes, and propelled himself forward with the Force, quickly gliding just above the floor towards his assassins. Sparks flew in all directions as the three Sith’s blades whirled and slashed this way and that. As the battle raged on, Vader couldn’t help but relish every moment.

Here he was, in a duel to the death against the man who ruined his life, side by side with the son he thought he had lost all those years ago. Indeed, this was the closest thing he had ever felt to joy in a very long time. Not since his wedding to Padme had he felt like this. Once the two of them struck down his former master, the galaxy would be theirs to rule together! But they had toyed enough with their enemy. Now it was time to finish it.

The Emperor brought his lightsaber swinging down in an attempt to cleave Vader’s accomplice in half, but the strike was blocked by the hooded figure’s own blade. Vader used this opportunity to disarm the Emperor by slicing the grip of his weapon in half, before grabbing him in a telekinetic stranglehold by the throat, as he had done to so many incompetent Imperial Officers before. The Emperor gasped for air, clawing at the invisible hand crushing his windpipe.

Vader began to lift the Emperor off the ground into midair as he choked him, giving his new apprentice the opportunity to unleash their own volley of force lightning upon him. For several minutes they held him there, suspended and tortured by the combined power of father and son. The Emperor would have screamed in agony if he could. The pain was unbearable! Vader wanted to make sure his old master suffered as much as possible before they finally ended him.

After what seemed an eternity, Vader released his grasp, letting the Emperor drop to the floor with a thud. Laying in a smoking, crumpled heap, the Emperor could only weakly look up at his old apprentice and sneer. “You’re nothing without me, Anakin.” He spat, using Vader’s hated former name as a means of one last insult. “Everything you are, is only because of me! Without me, you would still be that sad, weak, pathetic little boy from Tatooine. Sooner or later, you will meet the same fate as I do now.”

Vader said nothing in response. He looked to his apprentice, who merely nodded, before removing his hood to reveal himself as the former jedi in training once known as Luke Skywalker. But now his skin was deathly pale, and his eyes had become yellow and bloodshot, with fiery crimson irises, his hair as white as the surface of the planet Hoth.

The Emperor could only give a shocked expression of recognition, as he saw the boy that he had foreseen could destroy him was indeed alive and Vader had lied to him. Now, in his final moments of defeat, he could only give a slight smirk and a small chuckle as he realized the irony of the situation, before both Vader and Luke plunged their lightsabers through the Emperor's cold, shriveled, twisted heart.

Now was when Vader, for the first time in his life, in what was left of his being, felt overcome with pride. Not just in himself, but for what he and his son had accomplished together! Now the galaxy belonged to them! And once the last remaining pockets of the rebellion had been dealt with, no one would stand in their way! Deactivating their weapons, father and son looked at each other in near silence, the only sound being Vader’s breaths. “Well done, My Apprentice.” He said at last. “You have fulfilled your destiny. Now, there is much to do if we are to secure our rule.”

Vader turned and walked behind the former Emperor's throne, gazing out at the view of the capital planet. “Together, we will hunt down the remaining rebels and bring peace to the galaxy at last. Afterwards, we” But he was cut off mid-sentence as he suddenly felt a hot burning pain pierce through his torso, the blade of his son’s lightsaber protruding from his chest. “You taught me well, father.” Luke said, his voice somewhat distorted with the Dark Side “But there’s only a place for one ruler in this galaxy. Palpatine was right. You did meet the same fate as him. Just much sooner than he thought.”

As Vader took his last, wheezing breaths, Luke withdrew his blade from his father’s back, before giving his body a gentle shove, sending him falling to the planet’s surface. Brimming with the power of the dark side, Emperor Skywalker took his place upon the throne. “The galaxy is mine.” He stated, a grin slowly spreading across his face. Vader was right about one thing: He indeed had much ahead of him to do.


The Millenium Falcon circled the atmosphere of Dagobah for hours before finally finding a clearing in the marshes large enough for the ship to land. As Leia exited the ship, she told Chewbacca and C3PO to stay put. “You’ll hear no arguments from me, Princess.” C3PO said, but Chewie seemed to protest. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.” Leia said before descending the ramp and setting foot on the swampy surface. Even though I have no idea what I’m supposed to be looking for, she sarcastically thought to herself.

From far off in the midst of the swamp, Yoda and the Obi-Wan watched as the Princess navigated her way through the gnarled trees and fog. “Sure are you, that our last hope she is?” Yoda asked. “I know she is.” Obi-Wan replied “As to whether she can complete her mission, neither of us can say. The only thing we can do is train her, and hope that she succeeds where Luke had failed.”

“And if succumbs to the Dark Side she does too?” Said Yoda “What then?” Obi-Wan sighed “Then it will have all been for naught. But that’s a chance we have to take. It is the only way.” Yoda sighed, knowing that his old student was right. “We shall see.” He said, knowing that Leia would either be the galaxy’s savior, or its final doom.