I was really losing my cool at this point. The room in front of us, full floor to ceiling with clone pods, was freaking huge - as tall as a skyscraper at least. After battling with Acylotes, we were face to face with Vader once more.

We jumped around for what seemed like forever, fighting clones and dodging pods and jumping higher than I ever thought I would. It was annoying.

Finally we reached the top platform, and as we were fighting incomplete clones, Vader disappeared. We finished quickly, following him. We reached an elevator and I sat heavily when we entered, awaiting our arrival at the top.

A presence poked my mind. I felt my sister slide in, sharing my sight as I saw my view of the elevator fade to share space with a velvet red floor and a pair of battered knees. I looked up and saw both the wall of the elevator and Vader enter the red room, felt his Force around my neck as he lifted my sister to her feet. I followed suit of my own will, watching carefully.

Probably an ultimatum, she whispered to my mind.

Probably, I replied.

You're still going to come up?

No. I'll hang back and let Starkiller choose.

That's probably a good idea. I think he's going to put me somewhere else so he can bait you away from him.

Most likely.

Her presence faded, leaving me to my own thoughts, and I contemplated the reason why Vader would split us up.

In ten seconds, the elevator would reach the floor we wanted. I had ten seconds to figure out Vader's plan.

Splitting us up would make it easier to get into our heads. When we're together, we're together in mind and body. However, splitting us apart not only makes us more vulnerable, but it also makes our decisions that much more impressionable. Vader will use Juno against him, which makes it quite obvious who he'll use against me. Starkiller has two lightsabers while I only have one, and if I ask to borrow his he'll get suspicious, so I can't just toss Jai one and keep the other like he can. I'll have to give her mine and remain vulnerable as she fights him. When she gets tired we can switch, and I can finish the job and end the Apprentice once and for all. I highly doubt Starkiller is thinking this way right now, and I can't suggest it because there's a chance someone will hear it. Besides, if I only have ten seconds I'd only get about half a sentence out before we arrive. There's nothing I can do except hope that he's got more brain than I've seen so far. This is less than reassuring, but I just have to trust his judgement. We can't afford to be wrong, not this late in the game. I chucked to myself at that thought, earning a confused look from my brother. I really hope he knows what he's doing, and maybe he'll think hard enough to form a plan that isn't just to murder Vader. If that's all he banks on, he's sure to lose not only the chance to kill Vader, but also to save Juno. This is really bad, I really wish they weren't going to separate us, he's so screwed. I hate having to rely on a hope and prayer. This is gonna suck.

The elevator doors opened, startling me from my thoughts. I looked at my brother, who stared at the open doors and slowly started for them.

The hall split left and right, confusing us as we looked down one hall, then the other. It was dark on both sides, making my fingers twitch with anxiety. I felt a pull from the right side and turned towards it just as Starkiller turned left.

"They're trying to split us up," I said quietly. "What're we gonna do?"

"Go get Jaisa," he mumbled back, just as quiet. "I'll rescue Juno."

"Star, they're using our weaknesses against us in order to shake us. How about I get Juno, it'll be -"

"No," he snapped loudly, startling me as I slowly turned to face his back. "You can't help her. You're not strong enough yet."

"It's okay, Star, I won't let anything happen to her, I promise. You can trust me, I -"

"I said no," he said harshly, louder than before. "You're too weak to handle him. Go and get your sister, and meet up with Kota. I'll find you guys once he's dead."

I shouldn't have, but I felt hurt at his words. "...Starkiller?"

He tensed at my sad tone. "What?"

"Be careful," I whispered, and started down the hall towards my sister. I felt the air change as he turned to look back at me, probably about to speak, but I ignored him and kept going. My heart sank, but I didn't stop.

My hand was on the wall, guiding me through so many turns I got dizzy, and eventually I saw a dim light ahead. I followed, turned left, then right, then right again, and came into a small room overlooking a platform several dozen yards below.

The apprentice stood with clenched fists, his lightsaber at his feet. I didn't look at it too long because I didn't particularly care about it, since my twin sister was right beside the dark man before me. My fingers itched, but I stopped in front of the both of them and stood still.

"I know what you want," I said quietly. "I know what you want from me and my brother. I can tell you right now, regardless of how he feels, my answer is no. You're not first to try and control my power and take it for your own. You probably won't be the last. That's all I have to say to you, Starkiller." I ignited my lightsaber and crouched to leap at him. "You may be part of my brother in more ways than one, but you aren't him. He wasn't evil, unlike you."

The figure stared at me under his hood with glowing, angry eyes. "...Evil," he repeated quietly, speaking in a rough, unused voice. He cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Evil? You think I am evil? You know nothing, little one. You know nothing of the world. Light cannot exist without darkness, just as the light side of the Force cannot live without the dark side. Just as the Jedi cannot live without the Sith." His lightsaber raised and pointed at me. "You would not be here if I had not brought you here."

"And how did you manage that, just out of curiosity?" I growled, crouching lower. "You hurt my friend doing that. And my sister."

"That is not for me to reveal, young one. Your path will lead you back to your world in due time. But for now, sister, we fight for the lives of those you care about."

"I'm not your sister," I hissed.

A blast nearly knocked me off my feet as it shook the floor, glass shattering from not too far away. I heard a scream from my brother, and as I looked behind the Apprentice to the raining planet outside, my stomach turned at the horrid sight beyond it.

Juno fell, fast and hard, into a platform several dozen yards below. While it wasn't far enough to shatter her spine, it definitely broke some ribs, and she didn't move. With a start I realized that her heart had stopped from the impact, and my own feelings were mirrored by the rage of Starkiller as he battled Vader, overpowering the cyborg in his overflowing hatred.

"Star-!"

"Ah ah ah," the Apprentice said loudly, flashing his blade to my sister's throat. "Not a word, little one. We aren't finished here yet."

I growled and leapt at him, my saber blurring through the air as I cut straight at him, giving him barely enough time to dodge my attack. I stood in front of my sister protectively, waiting for him to strike as he watched me, smiling.

"Yes," he said proudly, "yes! Just like that! Attack me again, just like that!" He laughed, sending a chill down my spine. "You feel it, don't you? The hatred is burning inside of you even now, fighting to be released. Attack me again with all of your hatred, kill me!"

"I'm not like you!" I snarled, rushing to meet him as he dashed forward. Our sabers clashed, stopping me in my tracks as I fought to keep my knees from buckling under the pressure. He pressed down on me hard, bending my already weak knees and making my tired arms scream in pain. I had been fighting for hours, and my limit was closer than I had hoped. I grit my teeth, growling to stay upright.

"Jen -!" Jaisa, hands bound, rushed toward us to lend any aid possible, but the Apprentice had no trouble throwing out a hand and releasing a blast of Force energy so strong I felt my bones clatter together. A deafening roar filled my ears as I watched, helpless and unable to stop the blast, as it slammed into my sister and sent her through the window, plummeting to the platform below just as Juno had.

I screamed her name, but the Apprentice had none of it as he pushed his saber once more, causing me to lose my footing and fall, hitting my head against the velvet floor. I grunted in pain but looked to the window once more, tears filling my eyes as I began to sob.

"No, no, Jaisa, no," I whimpered, turning onto my side as my vision started blurring. "No, please, Jaisa!"

The Apprentice watched almost in fascination as I crawled over to the broken window and looked down, gagging at the sight of my sister, limp and broken, so far below me. I sobbed louder, calling her name, but she didn't move. I finally looked away, calming my breathing and shaking my pain and fatigue away. I turned back to the room only to find it empty, my lightsaber on the ground wire I had left it. I stood on shaky feet, desperately scooping it up and vaulting out of the window, landing hard on the platform and rolling to expel my momentum. My left arm snapped when I landed on it, making me cry out in pain, but I stood and stumbled over to Jaisa nonetheless. I crouched beside her, laying my hand on her forehead as I placed my lightsaber down beside her. Her head was very warm and I bent over to her chest, placing my ear against it and listening closely. To my relief a faint heartbeat registered, making me sigh. I kissed her forehead and promised a speedy return before grabbing my lightsaber and crawling over to Juno. A quick listen revealed nothing, so I put my lightsaber aside and placed my hand on her chest, breathing deeply and concentrating hard. I breathed deeply, closing my eyes and gathering what little energy I had left. I pushed it into her chest, jumpstarting her heart. Her eyes stared blankly up at me, but I had no time to wait and make sure oxygen reached her brain. I turned and watched Starkiller battle Vader, quickly assessing the situation and understanding that if I jumped in at that moment I rolled only be in the way. I relaxed my body and watched, keeping a close eye out for the Apprentice just in case he decided to try and interfere.

My broken arm healed before I realized and I jumped up, lightsaber in hand and ignited just as fast. I rushed in to help my brother, and together we overcame the cyborg easily.

Just as Starkiller raised his twin blades to end the villain once and for all, Kota came running outside with some rebel troops. He stopped, catching his breath for only a moment.

"Don't kill him, Starkiller. Think of the information we could get out of him, he must live!"

"I can't let him live, not after what he's done!"

"Kill me, Starkiller," Vader rasped past his nearly destroyed breathing apparatus. "Become the Sith you were created to be. Strike me down in your hatred for me and join the Dark side of the Force."

"If you kill him now, Vader wins!" Kota spat. "All of this would have been in vain. Give him to us, Starkiller, he can't run any longer."

"You have no idea what he's done to me!" Starkiller screamed. "He doesn't deserve to live!"

"This isn't what Juno would have wanted, Starkiller. If you let him live, there's a chance we could save her! Just let us handle him!"

"Strike me down, Starkiller! Fulfill your destiny and join the Dark side," Vader said, his voice crackling. "Embrace the Sith Lord you are. Embrace your hatred and kill me!"

"Galen," I said softly, gripping my saber. "It's your choice. Whatever you decide, I'm with you all the way."

The crossroad of fate was revealed, and I was powerless to decide which path would be taken.

Three more chapters after this and then we're done with this we're on the last book of the series!