Hyperspace enroute to Corellia
The room was blurred and slowly her eyes came into focus as Mara Jade was awakened from her unexpected nap courtesy of Ahsoka. Mara flinched ever so slightly as she struggled to get out of her newfound binders as she was strapped to a chair in the middle of the brig aboard the Sunrise. As she lifted her head slowly she could see her captors staring her down with a glare that could stop a Krayt dragon dead in its path- if possible.
" Nice to see you awake ... finally." Anakin spoke deathly. " It seems that your still in business now in days even though the Empire lost."
Mara looked up momentarily confused Last me. Empire lost. " You must be mistaken as I was passing through looking for someone"
" Cut the kriff Jade we know what you were after... it's the child wasn't it?!"
Mara Jade held an expressionless face although Anakin could read through it like turning pages through a well read book.
" What would the Empire want with children Jade... especially since the last children I remember Palpatine taking included younglings that you were apart of ? Must be easy to inflict that same life on others after having been through it yourself ... alone .. lost ... forgotten memories of the love they once gave you..." Anakin paced menacingly towards the assassin each word he knew biting painfully into her soul. He always knew as Vader about the repressed treatment through the Force that Palpatine gave the young girl to get her to forget who her parents were and the warmth that they had for her... the old man told her countless times that they'd abandoned her just to etch his way into her very soul for himself. Mara didn't completely forget though and he knew somewhere deep within her subconscious those feelings, emotions, and memories that she had from her youth before the old hag took her were there.
Mara tensed slightly but to any lesser man other than a force sensitive they wouldn't have noticed. She was skillful they'd give her that. She spoke hoarsely " I never had parents... my loyalty has been to the Empire since birth. I won't betray it consciously though... you'll have to kill me first. She eyed the two Jedi with a cool gaze.
Ahsoka looked at the exchange between her master and the assassin and she knew it was just a matter of time before Anakin did something he'd regret, when that would be she could never be sure. " Jade, What would the Empire want with children, who do you serve? What purpose would the empire remnant want with force sensitive children? " Ahsoka asked.
Mara Jade looked up to the young Togruta tightlipped. Anakin paced back and forth until he almost was ready to rip the girls throat. Ahsoka felt his frustration as time was running out before the landed in Corellia to pick up a young boy by the name of Chet Farler a young human male of 5 standard years. He too like Alena was a bright light of hope in the galaxy. His file described him as adventurous and strong minded but compassionate towards life as his dad had described him to be at his young age. Chet was tied to his homeworld living only with his father as his mom died recently last year due to an outbreak of flu within the region. His father Cecil was hesitant about letting Chet got but due to his recent development of his force potential, he had no knowledge on how to best raise his son. He wanted his wife to live on through their child and be a help for the galaxy and if Chet could do this by becoming a Jedi well then so be it. They would be there to pick up the child with the next two hours if all went according to plan; at the moment dealing with Mara Jade meant a huge if as they didn't know what to expect.
Anakin Skywalker bawled a fist in his right hand and slammed it against the wall." I don't have time for games Jade.. tell us what's going on or I will rue the day you were born into this galaxy. "
Mara knew the Jedi meant business and pondered where she would have encountered him. Slowly she tried to recall all the Jedi she had the pleasure of meeting in the past decade in the Empire. She felt a slight ripple in his force presence and for a moment she thought it was ... him. That couldn't be though or could it. She would need more information.
Ahsoka feeling the heated exchange just about to take it's toll and decided to take a crack at the prisoner herself while Anakin check on Alena in the lounge. No doubt Alena probably felt the frustration in the force giving out around her. Anakin shakily compiled and went to check on the child and make sure she was alright.
As Anakin left, Ahsoka looked at the assassin. " Mara Jade I'm impressed you held up well to Anakin Skywalker not many have and lived to tell the tale under interrogation of the greatest Jedi in history."
Mara's force presence was stunned. How could Skywalker be alive she researched the Jedi thoroughly and found he died in the purges. Darth Vader killed him himself if she recalled correctly... if that had been the truth.
Ahsoka sensed her thoughts. " Your pretty smart assassin- yes your right Darth Vader was here in your very presence and almost choked the life out of you. However he doesn't go by that name these days; he's Anakin Skywalker reborn since your emperor's demise. I wasn't kidding around by saying you met my master before. Now if you want to live I suggest you really think wisely on telling us where the kids are or we have ways of making you talk. " Ahsoka said smoothly.
" Such as torture Jedi, please I'm immune to whatever tactics you have and I know that Jedi wouldn't kill unarmed prisoners. " Mara snarled as her red hair shook over her face.
" Have it your way ... but we will get what we came for. " With that Ahsoka left Mara.
...
Anakin Skywalker had just finished feeding the young child Alena and putting her down for a nap so that he could finish discussing the issue with his padawan. Anakin decided first however knowing the assain so well to meditate in the force first. He decided to sit in his room and dive deep within the force around him. Soon as he quieted his mind he saw images of a conversation with who it was unknown. He saw the baby on Corellia and a young dark adept slithering it's slimey carcass into the shadows in wait for the kid. The Jedi were coming up fast but it was too late as the kkid was dragged into the ship.
Anakin awoke in a hurry ... the force surging with urgency. I have to handle this he panicked. Anakin decided to comm the temple to explain the situation to Masters Yoda, Kenobi, Windu and the rest of the council. As he commed he told Ahsoka to watch the kid and the assassin while he explained the urge to ask for another team to head to the rodian system for the young girl Jaila Karn who was around 7 years of age. They needed to ensure her safety from asaasin' s plot and quickly. As Skywalker explained the dilemma the council agreed to dispatch Master Shaak Ti and her padawan Maris Brood whom she picked up along her exile to Felucia. The two made a good team when examine by the council in fact a match made from the living force to help young Maris temper her darker edge as she held respect for Master Ti.
The two were on a trip to Felucia for a training mission at the moment but set course for Rodia immediately. While Rodia was taken care of there was just one more planet besides their intended target of Corellia approaching: Naboo. Skywalker was torn between going there or not as he saw this as a way to pay homage to his fallen Angel by helping one of her people. Skywalker decided to put his grief and pride aside after talking it over with his apprentice and call for the council to make a move for someone to pick up the native Nubian boy Rarn Oleen, who was a boy of around eight years of age. His parents managed to keep him hidden on Naboo during the Empire days and he was truly blessed of the force to be alive being so close to the emperor's homeworld. With Obi Wan and Luke Skywalker on the mission to Naboo, Anakin felt better with the situation.
As far as now in the moment Skywalker headed to the brig for the very object of all this trouble. As he opened the door with the force he was greeted by the asaasin with a smirk on her face what for Anakin couldn't tell.
" Hello Darth Vader.. or should I call you traitor. I should have known you were a defector you always did scheme against the emperor. "
Anakin was surprised she figured it out ... maybe though with little help. Skywalker started to her. It didn't take long for his choke hold to be presented. Mara Jade took her hand instantly to get throat.
" If you know who I was then you'll know I'm not do playing games Jade. Now tell me what the kriff is going on with these kids. I have a vision so now mess I know if your lying."
Mara coughed out weakly " I don't know .. "
" Wrong answer Jade.. I'm waiting" Anakin felt his grip tighten as the life slowly pressed against her wind pipes.
" Ok.. Ok .. The empire wants the children to train... part of the plan to advance forces... I dont know the rest.. "
Anakin dropped Jade as soon as he felt himself start to enjoy the sight of her cowardice before him. I can't let this happen again he thought. Just as Skywalker was about to ask her for more details, Ahsoka came in the door. Anakin Skywalker froze and walked out the door past her with Mara Jade gasping for breath. Ahsoka knew what had just happened.
She went after her Master immediately knowing what he would do. Now wasn't the time.
" You did it didn't you.. the choke hold came back for a mighty return? "
Anakin's gazed faltered. " Snips I had no choice .. She was knew what was happening"
" I don't blame you.. in fact I'm proud of you...best record yet on restraint .. She had it coming anyway if you ask me for baiting you "
Anakin was surprised. " That's not the Jedi way, I shouldn't have.."
" Anakin you acted on emotion for the best interest of those kids .. you held restraint earlier and acted when the crucial time had come to do so. It's ok your working on it. Your a master .. you knew when to stop .. but we all make mistakes we have emotions. That we can't change. Besides you got over a darkside trip not that long ago I think I'd expect a few mistakes here and there but your not evil. Your human and I'm here do you as you are for me. She gently squeezed his hand.
" Just next time try not to go all subzero on us, Alena was complaining that it was getting cold on the ship and I had to tell her it was cold in space...she bought it after a bit. I was cold a bit too" Ahsoka smirked and teased him
" Yeah that happens... I noticed. I'll work on it. and snips... thanks for the help."
" No thanks master... just be there for me like I know you will if I go dark side on someone. We need each other. The order is a family, albeit a big one."
As the two say quietly in the moment it was too long before a small knock at the door came and both knew who it was as Mara was locked safely away. Alena was on the other side and wanted to play. Ahsoka smiled as she went to go throw the ball with the youngling. She had been a joy to them along this crazy mission. The next part of their trip soon approached.
