Anger boiled up within the Emperor, but he contained it. He refused to be manipulated by this old Jedi. “I can see that your youth is gone too, old man,” he said calmly. “And do not take my apparent age for a sign of weakness. It is merely the price I have paid for my power. Against that power, you cannot stand, and your advanced years will merely bring your end more quickly. Now…why don’t you come down here, where we can talk more closely. Do not be afraid. I will not destroy you until I have satisfied my curiosity.”
“I’m quite content to be up here for now,” Vantos said, sitting down on a bench. “But I do want you to know why I am here to kill you. I was chosen by the Force to fulfill a special destiny…to be a savior…to be the Son of the Suns.”
“I am sure I have never heard of that title,” said Palpatine, “and Lord Vader described you merely as a victim, one he disposed of easily years ago.”
“He has me confused with my brother, I think,” said Vantos. “I’m not at all sure why,” he smiled slyly. “I was always meant for greater things than Ashka. A long time ago, I had a vision that concerned you. Yes, you. I foresaw…all this.” Vantos indicated the throne room. “All the evil you’ve done. I tried to kill you as a child, but I failed. My brother stopped me. He…killed me in cold blood. Otherwise, all this…would never have come to be. No Emperor, no Empire. I would have been the Galaxy’s unknown savior. But, thanks to Ashka…
“Still, I never gave up. I even came back from the dead to keep on trying, because I can still make a difference. I can still be a savior. Today, after all these years, I have another chance to end your evil reign.”
Palpatine listened intently, scowling. He was deeply disturbed that this man had come so close to killing him as a child. It disgusted him that he had been so…vulnerable. But that was the past, and right now, he needed Boda’s secrets in order to save his own life for the Empire’s future.
“You returned from the dead?” prompted Palpatine. “Are you immortal then, as Lord Vader believes?”
“I’m afraid I cannot be of much help to you there,” said Vantos. “I only came back once, and it is by no means certain I could do so again. Does the subject interest you…personally?”
The Emperor cursed silently. Vantos was coming too close to understanding too much. The damnable Jedi was too crafty, much more so than Palpatine had expected. Whoever he was, he was also clearly a fool with delusions of grandeur. He was too mysterious as well. Vader had sworn that this man was Ashka Boda, but now the Jedi claimed to be Ashka’s unheard-of brother. And did he have the secret of immortality or not? Palpatine forced himself to reason it out. Perhaps there was a way of taking a new body after one’s death. If that was true, then this Vantos might have taken over his own brother’s form. The theory explained Lord Vader’s assertions, and more—it might offer Palpatine some real hope for his own affliction. However, it was becoming clear that Vantos was not going to divulge anything important voluntarily. It was time to end their conversation, take the Jedi down, and proceed with a more efficient form of questioning.
“It is such a pity, Vantos Boda,” he said with mock sadness, “that your life’s work has to come to nothing.” Palpatine walked steadily closer to the Jedi. His voice was laden with sarcasm. “I have enjoyed our conversation. It is an uncommon pleasure to speak with a Jedi in these times. However…” His withered hands slowly lifted. “This audience is at an end.”
Palpatine allowed all his fear for his own mortality and all his anger at this mocking interloper to ignite the power of the dark side within him. The raging energy burst forth from his hands and sprayed out as searing blue-tinged Force Lightning. The surging bolts climbed instantly up to the defenseless Vantos Boda, hungry to rip the life energy from him. What happened next stunned the galactic ruler. Boda spread his arms wide, and seemingly absorbed the Force Lightning. Then he thrust his arms forward and hurled his own stream of writhing energy down at the Emperor. Frozen in surprise, Palpatine almost failed to defend himself. His reflexes saved him, as the power of the Force formed an energy shield to shunt away Boda’s attack.
“Dark Jedi!” hissed the Emperor, raging. “A dark side adept! I should have known a Jedi would not approach me like this. But I am deceived no longer! Now you will meet your true Master, old fool!”
Without warning, a severe tremor shook the throne room. A deep rumbling filled the air. As the floor and walls continued to shake, Palpatine fought to keep his footing.