A/N: Woot another chapter! And don't worry we will be seeing some more of Obi-wan and his agenda when he comes to tell Vader off for not listening to him. Poor poor Luke caught in the middle of all this plotting and oblivious to it all. Sorry this is a slightly shorter chapter. I'll make it up in the next one. :)

A/N 2: Whooops! Thanks to the reviewer who caught a major error. Apparently my brain translated Boushh into Bossk. My bad! It's fixed now. XD

Vader was in an especially fowl mood upon returning to Coruscant. Not only had the Rebels escaped him again, but in his absence his Master had stepped up his game between the young Hand and his son. He needed to advance his plans too if he hoped to steer Skywalker away from his Master. Jade was proving to be a wildcard. He was never certain if he could trust her or not. His Master had learned of his little slip and was most annoyed. What Vader could not learn from his spies within the Palace was if the Hand had intentionally ratted him out or not. He would confront her eventually in regards to that… but for now his main objective was to get Jade as far from him as possible. It wasn't hard. A few modifications and edits of security footage from the throne room was all it took. Uncaring for the moment he was disobeying his Master, since he was already sure to be punished anyways, he approached his son in the libraries after ensuring Jade was no where around. "My son." he addressed Luke, keeping his voice low.

"Lord Vader?" Luke responded, the pitch of his voice raised a full octave in his nervousness at being alone with the Sith lord- father or not.

"Relax my son. I merely wish to help you. I understand you have become quite close to Jade in the past while." he stated and Luke nodded. "I must caution you around her. She is loyal only to her Master and can not be trusted." Sliding a data card into Luke's hand he continued "Security holo cam data. Watch and learn what you do not see when she is away from you." With that he strode away quickly, leaving a confused Luke holding a data card. Luke knew Mara kept secrets. That didn't surprise him. She understood he was uncomfortable with some aspects of her work and intentionally sheltered him from that. What was on the card that was so horrible? Finding a quiet corner he slipped the card into a data pad. As he watched his face fell. Crushed he made his way back to their rooms, ready to confront her when she arrived home.

Mara arrived at their door as happy and relaxed as she'd ever been. It was nice. No holding back her feelings anymore. Her Master approved of the budding relationship with Skywalker and she was becoming quite close to him. Maybe she wasn't in love yet, but she definitely loved him. When she opened the door and saw his face, and froze. "Luke? What happened? What's wrong? Did Vader-" he cut her off with a growl.

"Vader showed me the truth. You make me sick. To think I cared for you… thought you cared for me." Mara was stung.

"What truth Luke?" she begged.

"That this… what we had is all a lie." Mara flinched. She had a good guess what he'd seen on the data pad he was holding. Her early meetings with the Emperor… but the holo cams should of been turned off then… which meant…

"Vader is the one lying to you." she said as she realized it.

"Do you deny you got close to me because it was your precious Master's orders?" he spat at her. Looking down she sighed.

"There was a point early on… but what does it matter how it started? I love you now. Isn't that what counts?" she pleaded.

"How do I know you aren't lying about that too? All you've ever done is lie to me. I can't trust you Jade." Mara was fighting tears. This could not be happening. She'd finally let herself love and be loved… and now it was being thrown back in her face.

"If you can't tell then you clearly don't love me as much as you think you do Skywalker." she bit out, tears trickling down her cheeks.

"I don't love you at all Jade." That cut to the quick and Mara couldn't take it anymore. She bolted from the room, swearing vengeance on Vader. If this was how he wanted to play things, fine then. She'd fight exactly as fair as her enemies… and Vader was now an enemy. Being sure she was broadcasting her hurt wide enough anyone with a lick of force sensitivity would feel it she was pleased when she heard her Master's voice in her head.

"My child, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Vader. He showed fake holo cams of our meetings to Skywalker… Skywalker hates me now. What am I to do?"

"Give the boy time. I sense his feelings to you are still strong. As for Lord Vader… I will deal with him personally."

"What of our sleeping arrangements? I can't go back there tonight." Mara felt a wave of compassion from her Master.

"Come to my chambers. You shall stay with me for the time being." The connection broke and Mara felt a moment of hesitation, but took a deep steadying breath and made her way to her Master's private chambers. She'd seldom been in there. Usually only her Master's concubines came here. Was she to become one too? Pressing down her nerves she approached the sleeping chamber and was relieved to find her Master fully clothed. As she reached the foot of the massive bed she slid her boots and weapons off and crawled up the length of the bed til she reached the pillow. Her Master brought an arm around her and she settled in to sleep. As she dozed off she couldn't help think of how cold and boney her Master's arm felt compared to Luke's warm, strong embrace.

"You're a fool Anakin." Obi-wan said as he appeared before Vader. Vader debated slashing at the annoying ghost with his lightsaber anyways, even though it wouldn't be very effective, just to vent some rage. "You've made a very dangerous enemy out of a potential ally" he continued to lecture Vader. Vader for his part was sorely regretting killing the Jedi Master. Who knew dead people could prove so annoying?

"Jade is loyal to her Master. She cares nothing for my son." Vader growled.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that Anakin."

"And it's not Anakin. It's Lord Vader now"

"You will always be Anakin in a way." the Jedi Master continued. "And Jade does indeed care for your son. Or she did anyways. I am less sure of that now she seeks refuge in her Master's bed from your son." Beneath his mask Vader made a face. That was not a mental image he wanted. Catching his former Apprentice's train of thought Obi-wan gave a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Vader snapped.

"I fear you misunderstand. Jade is hurting. She is sleeping in her Master's bed because she fears to return to her own. Your son's comments hurt her deeply… something they couldn't do unless she truly cared Lord Vader" Obi-wan said, emphasizing the name. Vader mulled that over.

"Why is it you care so much about this anyways? You are awfully nosy for a dead Jedi Master." Vader grumbled, wishing his armour allowed him to drink about now.

"It is their destiny to bring balance to the Force." Obi-wan stated and Vader shook his head.

"You once said the same about me old man."

"True enough. I never understood balance then. It's different from within the Force. Jade is trained in both light and dark… as is Skywalker now. I see now both sides are necessary for true balance. You and I are the end of an era of picking strictly one side, my friend."

"Perhaps, but what is done is done. It's too late now. If I tell him of my betray it will only push him away from me."

"For now, but Luke will learn of your betrayal regardless. It would be best if he heard it from you." Obi-wan reasoned before vanishing once again. Vader sighed. As usual his former Master was right. Sooner or later Luke would learn it was a lie to keep him from Jade… and if they were as close as Obi-wan appeared to think.. learning the truth sooner rather then later may be for the best.

If Vader was going to tell Luke the truth he had to survive his Master's punishment first. As force lighting covered his body, Vader's howls of pain brought even the least compassionate towards him to watch with pity. Mara Jade kept to the shadows, but Vader still saw her there… a look of guilt crossing her face. Of course. Unlike her Master, Mara wasn't heartless. She had a temper and her loyalties to anyone outside her Master were questionable at best… but she still held a thread of compassion for others- even her enemies. Vader shouldn't of been surprised. He'd heard many a story of the young Hand sparing the life of defectors and others if she felt their reasons were justified. Finally the onslaught stopped, but Vader didn't dare move. Not until he was ordered to would he dare leave. Motioning Mara to his side Palpatine turned to her and asked "Have you been avenged my child?". She was a shade of green and struggling for words. She'd never seen her Master this angry before and it frightened her.

"Y-yes my Master." she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"You are dismissed Vader. Do not play such games with me again. Next time I won't be so lenient." he said. Vader limped his way out as fast as he could and made his way to where Luke was staying.

Luke was startled when he opened the door, taken in the badly mangled for of the previously menacing Sith Lord who was his father.

"Forgive me my son… I have been punished for my foolish actions. I wish to apologize to you as well." he said, his voice rasping more then usual in his pain.

"Father, what are you talking about? What happened?" Luke asked. Vader noted his son actually called him Father for the first time with a bitter irony.

"I have… misled you… I feared Jade would harm you… so I made up the tapes…. edited them to show what I wanted…" Luke's face fell. More lies. Everyone lied to him… everyone except Mara. She'd been telling the truth and he'd chased her away. He hadn't even seen her since their fight and wondered where she was even staying.

"Do you know where to find her? I need to apologize. I said… horrible things to her." Luke blurted out. Vader slumped down against the wall, too tired and pained to stand anymore.

"I last saw her with her Master. She's been there since…" Vader trailed off as he began to lose consciousness. Luke hesitated, torn between the need to mend things with Mara and the obvious distress of Vader… his father. Sighing he decided Mara could wait a little longer. He wasn't so sure his father would. Furious though he was with him, he couldn't leave the man to die. Sending out a call for medical assistance he followed the stretcher to the med bay, watching as dozens of doctors worked to stabilize his father. Father… it was strange to think of the masked monstrous Sith lord as such, but he knew it to be true somehow. He couldn't explain it.. he just knew. The trouble was… where did that leave him and the Rebellion. Though he thought about it less, he still missed Han, Leia and Chewie. He wondered about how they were doing. Did they even miss him? He didn't think now he could ever go back to them. He had a father here… and if she'd ever forgive him a possible lover. He still didn't feel right here either though. There was so much corruption here and he still disagreed with Imperial treatment of aliens. He did feel a bit better about it when he worked to end corrupt officials reign of terror over innocent people. In some ways it was the same as he had done in the Rebellion… though the Rebellion never killed those who were guilty unless they had to. So lost in his thoughts he was he didn't notice a figure creep up behind him.

"Son of Vader" a small grey alien addressed him. "We thank you for your assistance to Lord Vader, even in your rage against him. A true hero" Blinking at the strange creature who had a wicked looking blade at his side Luke noticed, he turned to speak with him.

"Who are you? What are you for that matter?" Luke knew it was a bit rude, but he'd never encountered an alien like this before.

"I am the noghri Rhuk, personal body guard of Lord Vader and servant to the Empire."

"Wait you said we- who's we?" Two more noghri stepped out from the shadows. "I see."

"We shall watch over Lord Vader and ensure his care. You are free to seek the woman who troubles your thoughts Son of Vader." Rhuk said. Shaking his head to clear his mind, Luke nodded to the noghri.

"Thank you friend. Do you know where I might find her?"

"Just look around." the noghri suggested. He was about to ask what he meant when he felt a light touch to his shoulder.

"Hey Luke." Mara whispered, her eyes still on Vader's still form. "Is he going to be ok?"

"A lot of repairs to his suit, calcification of his body.. but he'll live."

"I'm sorry Luke I never thought he would… I mean I expected punishment… but not like this." Mara said, her eyes downcast. Pulling her into an embrace Luke shook his head.

"It's my fault. I was the one who upset you. I blew up over something without even checking my facts."

"I've missed you."

"I missed you too. Are we ok now?"

"Yeah. Can we go home?" Mara said, tiredness clear in her voice. Luke wondered if she had even slept since their fight. Picking up on his thought, Mara shook her head. "Not really." Nodding to Rhuk, Luke took her down the halls to their room, where they both collapsed into bed and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Palpatine fumed. Vader had nearly destroyed his plans. He needed to keep Skywalker and his Hand well out of Vader's reach… but how? Drifting into the Force for guidance he got an idea. The last of Skywalker's Rebel friends were planning to rescue one of their own from Jabba's Palace on Tattooine. Perhaps it would be amusing to let the boy go to his friends… rescue them from the Hutt… then bring them to him. He would kill them of course… but it would be fun to convince the boy that they would be brought before him for a diplomatic discussion like he had had with the young Skywalker. Unlike with Vader, the Rebels would never suspect a thing, until it was too late. Oh yes, he liked this idea very much. Summoning his Hand, he called out to her through the Force.

"My child, I have a mission for you- Skywalker too. Both of you report to me immediately"

"Yes my Master." Mara responded. He felt their presences both growing closer as they made their way through the Palace to his Throne Room. As they both kneeled at his feet he smiled down at them.

"My children.. I have learned Skywalker's Rebel friends are in grave danger on Tattooine." Palpatine said, inwardly amused at Skywalker's panicked look. "I wish to send you to their assistance, that you may bring them here were we can speak and put a diplomatic end to this war." Skywalker's face lit up while Mara's was confused and dark. His Hand no doubt was suspect of the mission, as well she should be… but she didn't dare question it either.

"Sire it would be a great honour to undertake this task." Luke said without hesitation.

"Jade, will you help him?" Mara nodded a rather less than enthused affirmative.

"Yes my Master." She was certain her Master was plotting something… something Skywalker would not like. Still… if it would make Luke happy…She wanted to warn Luke of her fears… but she also feared her Master now. She dared not defy him. While he asked, she heard the unspoken command. This was not an option. This was an order. She use hoped Skywalker could live with himself when this was over.

Boba Fett waited on Tattooine. Several of the dancers tried to flirt with him, but he ignored them. He was past the age he enjoyed random affairs with strangers. Finally the Rebels began to emerge. First the man who'd arranged the escape from Cloud City showed up as a guard. A week later a figure claiming to be the bounty hunter Boushh showed up with Solo's wookiee. Fett knew better though. The hunter was an impostor. The size and weight was wrong for what Boba Fett had recorded for the real Boushh. Tipping Jabba off they waited for the fake bounty hunter to make her move. That night she- Princess Leia, Boba Fett realized- thawed Solo from the carbonite. They apprehended her immediately, Jabba making her his new slave. The wookiee and Solo were sent to the dungeon to await their execution. Fett had suggested to Jabba they execute the prisoners immediately, but Jabba had wanted to wait until Solo's eye sight recovered so he could see the sarlacc as it ate him. What baffled him is what an Imperial agent was doing here. Though she had dyed her hair and wore practically nothing, Fett never forgot a face. If the Emperor's Hand was there, there was one hell of a reason and he wanted to know it. Pretending to flirt with her he suggested they find a quiet corner. Apparently figuring out his real reasons, Jade acquiesced. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I should ask the same of you." she replied

"Vader ordered me to stay and ensure the Rebels died. Does he not trust me?" Fett asked annoyed.

"I am here to see they live."

"What side are you on Jade?" he asked.

"Same side I've always been on. Don't ask me the reasons, but my orders are to bring them back alive."

"I see. I was not informed of the change in orders."

"Probably because Vader is still in recovery. He learned just how dangerous it can be to defy an order." Mara warned him. Taking that in Fett nodded.

"Very well. I shall be at your assistance then."

"Good. Once Skywalker arrives.."

"Skywalker?"

"Once he arrives we shall put our plan into action. Do not interfere unless I signal you. At which point, toss me this." she said, handing him her lightsaber.

"As you wish." Boba Fett said bowing his head to her and vanishing back into the crowd. Mara made her way to the dancers chambers to get some rest. Tomorrow would be a long day