Title: Sleight of Hand
Author: Alonna
Summary: AU. A character other than Mara Jade becomes the Emperor's Hand
Disclaimer: Star Wars and its characters are owned by George Lucas, not me.
Prologue
"He is, shall we say, an experiment."
For the six years since the return of the Sith to their true place in the galaxy, Darth Sidious had been occupied with consolidating his power. The destruction of the Jedi had been but the first step as he continued to tighten his stranglehold on the former republic. While the Senate had largely been neutralized as a possible threat, they still were a possible hazard. He still had other enemies who opposed his reign either due to a desire to return the Empire to its former state or to seize power for themselves.
While his apprentice had proved to be very useful, there were some tasks to which he was not properly suited. Vader was too much of a public figure to accomplish jobs of a more delicate nature. As a result, Sidious had begun a new project to fulfill this need. He had arranged for local law enforcement officials to search for force sensitive children who could be taken so he could shape and mold them into servants who would serve him with the utmost loyalty. Unlike Vader, they would be shadowy figures who struck where he ordered and then disappeared until their next assignment. While they would be trained in the Force, they would be neither Sith nor Jedi, merely servants of his will.
The comm buzzed. "Your majesty," said a voice. "We have the boy for you as ordered."
"Bring him to me, Commander."
"As you wish, my Lord."
The door to the throne room slid open and in stepped a pair of former clonetroopers holding a young boy of around five or six between them. The boy's face was streaked with tears, but he stared at Sidious with a look of defiance. "Excellent work, Commander," Sidious said. "I trust that your taking of the boy has been covered up."
"The local imperial liaison has assured me that he has everything under control. He will ensure that no connection is made between you and the boy."
"Make sure it stays that way, Commander. Now leave me with my new apprentice."
"Of course, my Lord." The two men bowed their heads and left, leaving the boy alone with Sidious.
Giving the boy a cruel smile, Sidious said, "Come closer to me, child."
The boy shook his head. "I want to go home. I want my mom and dad."
"I'm afraid you won't be seeing them again, child. You have a far greater destiny in store for you as my servant. Your family is of no consequence anymore."
"You can't make me do anything for you."
"I assure you that I can." Sidious raised his hand, and a flurry of bolts of electricity flew from his fingers into the boy's body. The boy collapsed onto the floor, as his muscles spasmed and twitched. Rising to his feet, Sidious went to where the boy lay on the floor whimpering in pain and grasped his chin firmly. "Do not forget that you belong to me now, child. Once you learn your place, you will serve me well, Corran Horn."
Returning to his seat, Sidious turned on the comm and said, "Send a medical team in immediately. I will be most displeased if my new apprentice is not well by tomorrow."
"As you wish, my Lord," came the response.
Turning his gaze back to his future Hand who had not gotten back up after the lightning attack, Sidious said, "We will begin your training tomorrow. I believe our's will be a very productive relationship."
