1 Part one continued…
Mara stood outside the Emperors Throne Room. What did he want her for? Another mission perhaps? No that wasn't it. When it was a mission he was calm about it. He had been a little frazzled when he contacted her, which she had found strange. Mara shifted from one foot to another as the Imperial Guards stood there telling her that she could go in after the Emperor was finished with what he was doing now.
The doors opened and Grand Moff Tarkin came hurrying out, smiling from ear to ear with
happiness. Mara gave him a strange look and headed in, "You called my Master?"
"Yes, Mara Jade. I have a proposition for you." Emperor Palpatine answered.
"A proposition, Master?"
"I need the Skywalker twins as distracted from each other as possible."
"Forgive me, Master, but what does this have to do with me?"
"Everything, you are going to seduce young Luke Skywalker."
"Seduce him? Master, no offence, but Skywalker would never fall for it."
"Yes he will my young apprentice."
"But Luke-Luke's my friend."
"You have NO friends." The Emperor snapped, "Dark Lords and Ladies do NOT have friends."
"Of course Master."
"What about Lord Vader? What should happen if he discovers this plan?"
"I will handle him, you just take care of young Skywalker."
Mara bowed her head, "of course, my master." And with that she left and hurried home to her apartment. She was there in only a matter of minutes.
Mara Jade sat down on the plush sofa of her small apartment of Corscant. What problems. The Emperor had just informed her that she needed to do all that she could to keep the Skywalker twins apart. How was she supposed to do that? Master had suggested that she seduce Luke, that way he'd be too involved with her to even care about Leia.
No, there was no way that Luke would fall for it. Luke was too smart. He would never fall for her. Mara had never been romantically interested in him and this sudden interest would make him suspicious and what about their father? What would Darth Vader do to her if he uncovered this plan?
Mara shuddered at the thought. Lord Vader was very protective over his children. Granted, he let them fight their own battles but any time some one gave an ultimatum against them, Vader took them out. What am I going to do? She pondered. She was in such major trouble here.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Leia Skywalker hopped down from the ship. She couldn't wait to go home now that her brother was with her. But Luke seemed preoccupied. "Luke what is it?" Leia asked, concerned.
"Nothing," he said, distracted.
"Luke I know you and I know something is wrong, what is it?"
Luke shrugged, "I don't know just this feeling I have."
"And you don't know what it's warning you?"
"It's warning me that someone's going to hurt you or me."
Leia raised her eyebrows, "Okay granted your feelings are often right and such but please, Luke, between Father and ourselves no one can touch a hair on our pretty little heads."
Luke still wasn't convinced, "I don't know."
Leia sighed, "Luke, you must always trust your feelings but I highly doubt that anyone is trying to destroy us. Many have tried, and because of Father they've failed."
Luke nodded, "It doesn't chase away this feeling I have."
Leia knew that she could never chase away any feelings or premonitions her brother might be having but she could help him work through them, "Come," Leia said, taking his arm, "We'll go meditate."
Luke nodded, "I suppose meditation may help me see just what I'm feeling."
Leia smiled slightly, "Yeah, it just might, now come on."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darth Vader bowed before his master, "Yes my master?"
"Grand Moff Tarkin has brought to me a layout plan for a super weapon named the Death Star. It can bring destruction to any planet and travel through hyperspace. I want to bring construction right away."
"Master?" Vader asked, not entirely sure what this had to do with him.
"You will travel with Grand Moff Tarkin to build this super weapon."
Vader was stunned. Whatever he had been expecting it hadn't been this. What about his
children? But he knew better than to argue. As if sensing his thoughts the Emperor said, "You children will be safe in my hands Lord Vader."
Vader bowed, "Of course Master."
"No wgo. You leave tomorrow."
Vader bowed again, "Yes my Master." And with that he left. How was he supposed to leave his children behind? Who knows what someone may do to them. Vader shook his head beneath the dark helmet. His children were fine. They didn't need him and they wouldn't turn to the light side while he was gone. Everything would be just fine. But somehow he wasn't too sure.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What do you mean you're leaving!?" Leia yelled.
"Leia, the Emperor is sending me on a mission to build his newest super weapon."
Leia glared at him, "What about us?"
"You and Luke will stay here and live as you normally have. Leia you've been basically on your own since you were thirteen."
Luke shook his head, "So you're the Emperor's top guy and your being sent to oversee a
construction of a ship?"
"No, I am overseeing the construction of a major project and that is that."
"What's the project?" Leia pushed.
Vader stared at his daughter. He didn't dare tell her. If he did she would go running to Rebels with the information. There was no doubt in his mind that his daughter would be against it. Luke might agree to it, "Its not to be known at this time."
"Yeah right," Leia said, sarcastically and hurried out of the room.
Luke looked at his father, "Why? I'm not understanding this."
"I don't know the full reasons behind it either but it is important that I do this."
"Because it's what he wishes right?" Luke asked, sarcasm dripping from his words.
"Basically," Vader said.
Luke sighed, "And Leia and I are just supposed to run missions for Master while your gone?"
Vader nodded, "Yes. Now watch over your sister."
"I will," Luke said and watched as his father left.
Luke headed up the stairs, "Leia are you alright?"
Leia turned away from him, "Whatever."
"Leia-"
"Luke don't you dare defend his actions at leaving us like this."
"Leia, he did it because that was Master wants him to do."
Leia made a rude sounding noise, "Like I've said whatever."
"Leia don't be so hard on Father."
Leia spun on him, "Luke, don't start with me! Its always Master wants this and master wants that. Can't we just live our OWN lives?"
"Leia this is OUR life. We've been living this way since we were born and you are constantly turning away from the dark side." Luke argued, "I would have figured your being kidnapped by Jedi would have convinced you enough that the dark side is the only proper place to be."
Leia gave him a funny look, "I don't want to be an assassin for the rest of my life, Luke."
"You won't be," Luke reassured her, "One day we'll train our children to be assassins."
Leia groaned and stopped out of the room, "You need to get a clue!"
"Leia!"
"Luke leave me alone!" She screamed.
Luke stared after her. What a horrible mess. His sister hated him but what else was new? She was constantly going on and on about how this wasn't the life she wanted. How did she know what she wanted? This was all they had ever known.
Luke's thoughts were disturbed by a knock on the door, "Luke?" a quite voice asked.
"Mara? What are you doing here?"
"I just came to visit with Leia but she stormed out of here and said you were in the lounge so I figured maybe we could talk?"
"About?" Luke said almost impatiently. Mara was Leia's friend, not his. Granted, they spent a lot of time together and often enjoyed one another's company but he wasn't Mara's biggest fan that was for sure.
"I'm worried about Leia."
"You and me both."
"I mean she seems so preoccupied lately and she doesn't sound like she's taking joy in any of her work."
"When did she start taking joy in her work?" Luke asked sarcastically.
"True."
"Look, I'd love to stay and chat but I've got some errands to run."
"Okay."
And with that Luke left. Mara shook her head; this was never going to work. Never.
Mara stood outside the Emperors Throne Room. What did he want her for? Another mission perhaps? No that wasn't it. When it was a mission he was calm about it. He had been a little frazzled when he contacted her, which she had found strange. Mara shifted from one foot to another as the Imperial Guards stood there telling her that she could go in after the Emperor was finished with what he was doing now.
The doors opened and Grand Moff Tarkin came hurrying out, smiling from ear to ear with
happiness. Mara gave him a strange look and headed in, "You called my Master?"
"Yes, Mara Jade. I have a proposition for you." Emperor Palpatine answered.
"A proposition, Master?"
"I need the Skywalker twins as distracted from each other as possible."
"Forgive me, Master, but what does this have to do with me?"
"Everything, you are going to seduce young Luke Skywalker."
"Seduce him? Master, no offence, but Skywalker would never fall for it."
"Yes he will my young apprentice."
"But Luke-Luke's my friend."
"You have NO friends." The Emperor snapped, "Dark Lords and Ladies do NOT have friends."
"Of course Master."
"What about Lord Vader? What should happen if he discovers this plan?"
"I will handle him, you just take care of young Skywalker."
Mara bowed her head, "of course, my master." And with that she left and hurried home to her apartment. She was there in only a matter of minutes.
Mara Jade sat down on the plush sofa of her small apartment of Corscant. What problems. The Emperor had just informed her that she needed to do all that she could to keep the Skywalker twins apart. How was she supposed to do that? Master had suggested that she seduce Luke, that way he'd be too involved with her to even care about Leia.
No, there was no way that Luke would fall for it. Luke was too smart. He would never fall for her. Mara had never been romantically interested in him and this sudden interest would make him suspicious and what about their father? What would Darth Vader do to her if he uncovered this plan?
Mara shuddered at the thought. Lord Vader was very protective over his children. Granted, he let them fight their own battles but any time some one gave an ultimatum against them, Vader took them out. What am I going to do? She pondered. She was in such major trouble here.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Leia Skywalker hopped down from the ship. She couldn't wait to go home now that her brother was with her. But Luke seemed preoccupied. "Luke what is it?" Leia asked, concerned.
"Nothing," he said, distracted.
"Luke I know you and I know something is wrong, what is it?"
Luke shrugged, "I don't know just this feeling I have."
"And you don't know what it's warning you?"
"It's warning me that someone's going to hurt you or me."
Leia raised her eyebrows, "Okay granted your feelings are often right and such but please, Luke, between Father and ourselves no one can touch a hair on our pretty little heads."
Luke still wasn't convinced, "I don't know."
Leia sighed, "Luke, you must always trust your feelings but I highly doubt that anyone is trying to destroy us. Many have tried, and because of Father they've failed."
Luke nodded, "It doesn't chase away this feeling I have."
Leia knew that she could never chase away any feelings or premonitions her brother might be having but she could help him work through them, "Come," Leia said, taking his arm, "We'll go meditate."
Luke nodded, "I suppose meditation may help me see just what I'm feeling."
Leia smiled slightly, "Yeah, it just might, now come on."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darth Vader bowed before his master, "Yes my master?"
"Grand Moff Tarkin has brought to me a layout plan for a super weapon named the Death Star. It can bring destruction to any planet and travel through hyperspace. I want to bring construction right away."
"Master?" Vader asked, not entirely sure what this had to do with him.
"You will travel with Grand Moff Tarkin to build this super weapon."
Vader was stunned. Whatever he had been expecting it hadn't been this. What about his
children? But he knew better than to argue. As if sensing his thoughts the Emperor said, "You children will be safe in my hands Lord Vader."
Vader bowed, "Of course Master."
"No wgo. You leave tomorrow."
Vader bowed again, "Yes my Master." And with that he left. How was he supposed to leave his children behind? Who knows what someone may do to them. Vader shook his head beneath the dark helmet. His children were fine. They didn't need him and they wouldn't turn to the light side while he was gone. Everything would be just fine. But somehow he wasn't too sure.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What do you mean you're leaving!?" Leia yelled.
"Leia, the Emperor is sending me on a mission to build his newest super weapon."
Leia glared at him, "What about us?"
"You and Luke will stay here and live as you normally have. Leia you've been basically on your own since you were thirteen."
Luke shook his head, "So you're the Emperor's top guy and your being sent to oversee a
construction of a ship?"
"No, I am overseeing the construction of a major project and that is that."
"What's the project?" Leia pushed.
Vader stared at his daughter. He didn't dare tell her. If he did she would go running to Rebels with the information. There was no doubt in his mind that his daughter would be against it. Luke might agree to it, "Its not to be known at this time."
"Yeah right," Leia said, sarcastically and hurried out of the room.
Luke looked at his father, "Why? I'm not understanding this."
"I don't know the full reasons behind it either but it is important that I do this."
"Because it's what he wishes right?" Luke asked, sarcasm dripping from his words.
"Basically," Vader said.
Luke sighed, "And Leia and I are just supposed to run missions for Master while your gone?"
Vader nodded, "Yes. Now watch over your sister."
"I will," Luke said and watched as his father left.
Luke headed up the stairs, "Leia are you alright?"
Leia turned away from him, "Whatever."
"Leia-"
"Luke don't you dare defend his actions at leaving us like this."
"Leia, he did it because that was Master wants him to do."
Leia made a rude sounding noise, "Like I've said whatever."
"Leia don't be so hard on Father."
Leia spun on him, "Luke, don't start with me! Its always Master wants this and master wants that. Can't we just live our OWN lives?"
"Leia this is OUR life. We've been living this way since we were born and you are constantly turning away from the dark side." Luke argued, "I would have figured your being kidnapped by Jedi would have convinced you enough that the dark side is the only proper place to be."
Leia gave him a funny look, "I don't want to be an assassin for the rest of my life, Luke."
"You won't be," Luke reassured her, "One day we'll train our children to be assassins."
Leia groaned and stopped out of the room, "You need to get a clue!"
"Leia!"
"Luke leave me alone!" She screamed.
Luke stared after her. What a horrible mess. His sister hated him but what else was new? She was constantly going on and on about how this wasn't the life she wanted. How did she know what she wanted? This was all they had ever known.
Luke's thoughts were disturbed by a knock on the door, "Luke?" a quite voice asked.
"Mara? What are you doing here?"
"I just came to visit with Leia but she stormed out of here and said you were in the lounge so I figured maybe we could talk?"
"About?" Luke said almost impatiently. Mara was Leia's friend, not his. Granted, they spent a lot of time together and often enjoyed one another's company but he wasn't Mara's biggest fan that was for sure.
"I'm worried about Leia."
"You and me both."
"I mean she seems so preoccupied lately and she doesn't sound like she's taking joy in any of her work."
"When did she start taking joy in her work?" Luke asked sarcastically.
"True."
"Look, I'd love to stay and chat but I've got some errands to run."
"Okay."
And with that Luke left. Mara shook her head; this was never going to work. Never.