**SPOILERS**

After suffering a terrible defeat at the hands of Darth Plagueis’ Sith army, the diminished Jedi Knights hasten to find a way of destroying the enemy.  The ancient Sith warriors of the Kryptal Empire, resurrected from death by the sacred manuscripts of the Force, now surge out of the shadows into every corner of the galaxy, unleashing inexorable carnage everywhere in their path. As the galaxy is conquered before the near powerless Jedi, they band together and devise a scheme to destroy the Sith and their “Charge of Darkness” once and for all by obtaining the Kyber Crystal. Overflowing with midichlorions, the Crystal is rumored to possess some measure of the will and power of every Jedi or Sith who has passed from this world and into the Force. Mara Jade, Jaina, Anakin, and Taweigh, separate and lead several bands of the remaining Jedi across the galaxy to rouse people to take a stand for themselves against the evil Sith army.

Luke travels to an ancient Jedi Temple on Yavin IV, a holy palace full of the Force, to consult the spirit of his deceased father, Anakin Skywalker. Anakin reveals to Luke that the only way to defeat the Sith is by love and unselfish sacrifice. This is how Obi-Wan managed to pass his powers to Luke, by sacrificing himself.  It is how Luke was able to turn his father back from the Dark Side, destroying the evil Darth Vader. It is how Anakin was able to finally defeat his wicked master, Lord Sidious.

Meanwhile, as the Sith soldiers terrorize and enslave the galaxy, Master Plagueis and his apprentice Crystal Vanai, Darth Bane, and Exxar Kun plot to destroy the Jedi once and for all. With the Kyber Crystal at their disposal, none can overcome the Sith. Plagueis reveals that only one more thing is needed to destroy the Jedi. He has uncovered an ancient mask embodying the pure will of the Dark Side, forged by the first Sith Lords on the planet Mustufar hundreds of millennia ago. Called the Mask of Lucifus, the name of the original Sith Lord, the image of the mask resembles that of the mask Darth Vader wore, the image of evil incarnate. Plagueis states that Darth Vader was not intended to have the image artificially fused to his mangled body. Vader failed to surrender fully to the Dark Side, thus was defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi and never became the God of the Sith prophesied in the “Charge of Darkness.” Emperor Palpatine never possessed the Mask of Lucifus to begin with, but had only seen versions of the mask carved into the walls of Sith temples. When Plagueis finally found the mask on Mustufar, he knew that only one born of a virgin and fully permeated with the Dark Side could bear the mask without being killed by its power. The other Sith remind Plagueis that Vader was destroyed when Anakin turned back to the Light, and thus he cannot be resurrected, as his spirit has gone into the peace of the Force. Plagueis states that he had not planned to bring Vader back, but rather find another who could fulfill the prophesy and take his place as God of the Sith. Exxar Kun reminds Plagueis that Sidious was the most powerful Sith since the first, Lord Lucifus, and was also born of the Force from a virgin. This is why Sidious took such an interest in young Anakin, feeling a connection with him, unaware that one of them was intended to wear the mask of Lucifus, wield the Kyber Crystal, and become the God of the Sith. Plagueis refuses to resurrect his former apprentice, who betrayed and murdered him, fearing that history might repeat itself. The other Sith plot behind Plagueis’ back to take the sacred texts and revive the spirit of Sidious.

While Plagueis leads a battalion against the peaceful planet of Jabiim, combating Mara and the her Jedi fleet, Vanai and Lord Bane perform a spiritual ceremony deep under the surface of Mustufar in the sacred cave where the Mask of Lucifus was discovered. The eager Sith bring together the mask, the Crystal, and one of Lord Sidious’ old lightsabers and raise their new master, the evil Darth Sidious, back from the depths. As the malevolent master of darkness that once ruled the galaxy, Sidious again takes human form and bellows in laughter with a chilling glee as he is informed of what is happening. The moment he learns that Luke Skywalker still lives, Sidious determines to destroy the insolent Jedi who had caused his demise and taken Sidious’ apprentice out from under his oppression.

The Jedi are succeeding in rallying the people of the galaxy to take up arms and rebel. They now realize that the Jedi have fought for the peoples for millennia to maintain peace, now the people must fight alongside the Jedi if they are to win this war. A small rebellion had managed to stop Palpatine’s Empire years ago, but now each planet would have to find its own courage and rebel themselves to stop the endless waves of Sith soldiers.

In the meantime, Luke attempts to track down the Kyber Crystal, realizing that the Crystal on the move with the Sith from planet to planet. Luke soon discovers that the Sith have a new master, Darth Sidious, and follows him to the planet Roon. During a battle on the planet, when it seems that the Jedi forces, led by Anakin Solo, are defeating Plagueis’ troop, a new wave of Sith led by Sidious lands and dominates the struggle. The obsessed Darth Sidious finds Luke and engages him in a duel. Luke nearly dies, but is accidentally saved by an unexpected hero. A shocked and enraged Plagueis beholds his old apprentice and determines that he must kill him and the Sith who raised him. Luke scarcely escapes as Plagueis attacks a thrilled Sidious. A terrified Plagueis soon realizes that Sidious is now more formidable than ever before. Lord Sidious chooses to spare the defeated Darth Plagueis and takes him back to his ship. After conquering Roon, the Sith return to Kryptal where a dethroned King Plagueis is forced into the service of the new Emperor. Anxious to bear the Mask of Lucifus and take his place as God of the Sith, the power-hungry Emperor Palpatine realizes the ceremony must be performed in the Sith temples of Mustufar. On the way back to the planet of fire, the Imperial forces of Kryptal conquer everything in their path, Lord Sidious still searching frantically for the fleeing Luke Skywalker. Between battles, a desperate Darth Plagueis attempts to kill Sidious in his sleep. History repeats itself as Plagueis is dispatched by another Sith with a greater vision, his apprentice Crystal Vanai. Vanai swears her allegiance to the Emperor and soon to be God of the Sith.

Luke rendezvous with his wife and the Solo children on Dantooine, assembling the Jedi together, and lays out a plan to stop the Sith. Luke will use himself as bait on the Sith lair near to Mustufar called Korriban, luring Lord Sidious off course from his plan while the Jedi gather on Mustufar before the Sith army return. The Jedi have now gathered many courageous individuals from across the galaxy to their band of heroes, their army nearly equal in size to the Sith. Though, these soldiers are not great warriors like the Jedi, they are merely brave souls rising up to defend their homes and their families from continued death and destruction. Upon arriving on the apparently deserted lava planet, the Jedi search for the hidden Sith Temple where the ceremony is to take place.

Meanwhile, Luke infiltrates a Sith stronghold on Korriban and feigns an assassination attempt on Darth Sidious. A surprised and pleased Emperor believes that Luke really thought he could kill him and takes the Jedi captive. Instead of killing him immediately, Sidious wants Luke to witness his final transformation into the most powerful Sith to ever exist, so that Luke may know that the Dark Side prevails. The Jedi Master is tortured mercilessly at the hands of the Sith as they travel to Mustufar, barely surviving the brutality.

Back on Mustufar, the Jedi discover the Sith Temple of Lucifus being guarded by Darth Bane and his warriors. Jaina and Anakin Solo and his girlfriend, Tonin Lamur, surreptitiously penetrate the Sith defenses and sneak about the temples, trying desperately not to be caught as the scope it out. Mara Jade amasses an army across the planet surface above the temples and a blockade of ships in the skies in preparation for the returning Sith. The young Jedi spies finally find their way to the Temple of Lucifus high above the treacherous volcanoes on the surface, sitting atop the highest peak. The only way of access, besides taking a ship and being seen, is underground and straight up through the volcano to the peak where the temple sits.

The Jedi are unaware that Lord Bane has already discovered their presence and alerted the Emperor. As the Jedi spies prepare to sneak back out through the underground passageways, they encounter a formidable group of Sith masters and engage them in battle. After losing, they are taken captive and only Tonin escapes to warn the other Jedi. Before she can reach Mara Jade, it is too late. Bane’s forces rise up from underground and ambush the Jedi troops from behind.

Meanwhile, up in the ashen skies, Sidious has dispatched a decoy of ships to attack the Jedi blockade as a distraction as he lands his armies in various locations surrounding the Jedi encampment. As the battle rages and the heroes of the Republic fight to destroy the enemy, the Emperor pours countless more troops into the battle, surrounding the Jedi on three sides. Waves of Sith swarm into the valley on foot, mounted on running and flying beasts, driving tanks and piloting fighters. As the conflict grows, the dwindling Jedi and their assisting warriors are purposefully given a way of escape into a ravine of jagged rocks, volcanoes, and stormy skies; a labyrinth of death covering the entrance to the underground passages leading to the temple. Countless more heroes begin to die from the treacherous terrain as they try to infiltrate the entrance to Sith temples and caves. The Jedi already inside manage to kill Darth Bane and escape, helping others into the secret Sith headquarters. As Jaina helps the Jedi troops in the deadly Lucifus Labyrinth, Mara Jade and Anakin race through the volcano to its peak, trying to reach the Temple of Lucifus. By the time they reach it, Darth Sidious has already landed and begun commencement on his transformation as a beaten Luke Skywalker watches from the sides, fiddling with his shackles to escape. The Jedi troops on the ground and in the air now realize just what is happening atop Mount Lucifus. The blockade of Jedi spacecraft disperse and races toward the volcano’s peak to stop Sidious. At the same time, more Jedi surge through the passageways and even clamber to climb the mountain in an attempt to defeat the Dark Lord. Exxar Kun and other Sith are now having a difficult time keeping the Jedi at bay. Palpatine ignores them and sits on Lucifus’ throne, carefully placing the powerful Kyber Crystal into the handle of the scepter-lightsaber that once belonged to Lord Lucifus. The whole while, Crystal Vanai chants spells and incantations from the “Journal of the Whills” and the “Charge of Darkness.” Mara reaches Vanai and attacks her attempting to steal the sacred manuscripts. Vanai struggles to continue the ritual as Emperor Palpatine takes the Mask of Lucifus in his hand. Luke finally breaks free of his bondage and attacks Lord Sidious. The two duel atop Mount Lucifus in an epic struggle to take the Mask. Luke is finally tossed to the side; Sidious races to the throne and presses the Mask of Lucifus against his face as Crystal Vanai finishes the incantations.

At that moment, the skies overhead scream in protest with raging bolts of lightning and ear-shattering thunder; the ground quakes violently as chasms begin to open across the planet surface, literally swallowing many people to their doom; volcanoes and geysers erupt into a colossal display of bursting lava and fire spreads across the land. The Mask of Lucifus conjoins to Palpatine’s face and seems to come alive; his body is enveloped in a filmy black substance emanating from the mask. The mask that once resembled that of Darth Vader comes to life and animates with twisted expressions of horror and evil glee. Before everyone’s eyes, Darth Sidious’ human form is altered into a ghastly, vile demon; his shape now towering over ten feet in height; his enormous hunched body stretching to full length and revealing his shining black armor and flowing robes. Jagged claws tear through his fingertips; his piercing eyes glow reddish-yellow; his mouth opens to reveal rows of teeth like daggers. Long, black horns extend out of Sidious’ skull and shoot down over his head and neck, forming something of a helmet. The beast of darkness bellows an ear-shattering roar that echoes across the Hellish plains of Mustufar. The Emperor now towers in a terrifying form far beyond anything Vader could have ever been or Sidious ever was. Nothing like this horrid demon of darkness has been seen since the ancient days the original Sith Lord Lucifus roamed the galaxy. Grand Lord Darth Sidious, God of the Sith, takes his scepter-handle holding the Kyber Crystal and ignites the blade. The lightsaber hums with an unmatched power, the color of the blade changing rapidly before settling again at a glowing red. Lord Sidious swings his weapon down at Luke’s head, who barely manages to block it. Mara rushes to aide her struggling husband, but is stopped by Lord Vanai. The two women combat one another through the temple as Luke and Sidious lock sabers on the volcanic peaks high above the battle scene below.

On the planet’s surface and in the sky, it seems the Sith, now with newfound strength in their god, begin to completely turn the tide of the war. Much to the everyone’s surprise, the little Treecian Jedi, Taweigh, who was thought to have been killed on Dantooine, lands on Mustufar with thousands more rallied troops from the corners of the galaxy. The epic battle rages; lightning crashing and volcanoes erupting all around. Mara finally kills the powerful Crystal Vanai with help from her son, Anakin.

On top of Mount Lucifus, Luke is being beaten to a bloody pulp by the monstrous Darth Sidious; thrown about like a rag doll. The massive fiend of darkness destroys Luke’s lightsaber and runs him through with the scepter-saber. Holding the helpless Jedi Master high above the battle scene in his clawed hands, dangling his weak and broken body over a cliff’s edge, Sidious erupts into laughter. Luke remembers what his father told him back on Yavin. “The only way to defeat the Sith is by love and unselfish sacrifice.” This is how Darth Sidious was defeated to begin with. Luke knows what he must do. Sidious summons lightning from the sky down into Luke’s body, now holding him in the air with the Force just inches from Sidious’ fingertips. As lightning courses through Luke’s body, he uses the Force to take hold of Sidious’ scepter-saber, now hanging on the monster’s belt. Luke grabs the lightsaber in both hands and stabs it into Sidious’ chest. The lightning surges from Luke’s body, through the saber, and into Sidious’ heart. The God of the Sith screams in pain and disbelief as his own summoned powers and the potency of his own weapon overcome him. Luke smiles knowingly at his enemy and vanishes into the Force as the lightning kills him, Sidious now only holding the Jedi’s cloak in his hand. He looks down at the saber stuck in his chest as the lightning surging through his body from the sky begins to emanate from his claws, eyes, and mouth. The Mask of Lucifus explodes into flames and disintegrates off a shocked Palpatine’s face. Lightning bursts from the Dark Lord’s body, exploding the evil god from the inside. The horrified Sith watch below as their master is destroyed. The remaining Sith, now a defeated army attempt to retreat, but are struck down by the heroes of the galaxy everywhere they turn. Hundreds more are swallowed up by gaping chasms in the ground and are sucked into their fiery doom below. The Jedi and the courageous rebels from across the galaxy cheer in victory as their enemies are destroyed.

Back home on Coruscant, the triumphant Jedi celebrate their victory over evil and lament the loss of their many beloved fallen brethren, including Master Luke Skywalker. A momentous funeral is commenced for the Jedi heroes who gave their lives in defense of liberty. Afterwards, as festivities spread across the galaxy, the spirit of Luke Skywalker descends into the peace of the Force, where he meets his former mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan explains that what the “Chosen One” began is now finally complete through the selfless sacrifice of his son, and that the Force is finally balanced. The spirits of the evil Sith linger between worlds no longer and descend into their eternal damnation. The same is finally true for the enduring spirits of the Jedi, who will at last be able to retire into the eternal peace of the Force. Mara meets with her husband’s deceased spirit one last time before he crosses over permanently into the eternal peace of the Force.

In the final scene of the closing Star Wars chapter, Luke Skywalker crosses over into the Light of the Force with countless other heroes of long ago. Among the heroes seen ascending into eternal rest are Qui-Gon Jinn; Mace Windu; Padme Amidala Skywalker; Bail Organa; Obi-Wan Kenobi; Yoda; Han, Jacen and Leia Solo; Lando Calrissian; Chewbacca; and Luke’s father, Anakin Skywalker. Our heroes cross over into the Light of the Force, ascending into the heavens, becoming a twinkle in the stars.

The End