Chapter Nine:
Shmi fully expected to be brought before the Emperor again the next day, and she was right. Only this time she had full vision restored. And to say she was revolted by the visage before her was an understatement. It took all of her will-power not to pull a disgusted face when looking at Emperor Palpatine.
"You must be wondering why I have brought you here," Palpatine said.
"Yes, Sir."
"Master."
Shmi frowned. "What?"
"You will address me as Master from now on," Palpatine ordered.
"But... you're not my master, I don't have one."
Palpatine smiled in a way that made Shmi back-step uncertainly. "I would not have spared your life if I did not intend to use you for my own ends. I am your master, and you will address me as such."
"What do you mean you want to use me?" Shmi asked, eyes narrowed.
"You will do my bidding, whatever I require of you, you will do..." Palpatine leaned forward. "Or you and those you love will suffer the consequences of your disobedience or failure. Do I make myself clear?"
Shmi sucked n a breath. "You're lying! You don't know where my family is!"
Something flickered across the Emperor's face then, and Shmi hesitated. What was that look? What was it for?
"Family, you say?" Palpatine mused aloud, still leaning forward. "You only have a father, child, unless..."
Shmi swallowed nervously. She hadn't meant to give up her mother's identity... especially to Mara's former master.
"My Hand must have done a much better job at her assignment than even I thought." The Emperor grinned happily.
"... assignment?" Shmi repeated. She knew already, of course since Mara had told her, but the Emperor didn't need to know that.
"Yes, I tasked her with getting closer to your father, and I believe she has done just that... but to make sure..."
Shmi never saw it coming, but suddenly her mind was stabbed by harsh mental fingers that tore through mercilessly and sought the information she had.
Shmi screamed in agony, dropping to the floor and clutching at her head. "STOP IT!"
But the Emperor continued his assault, and Shmi writhed on the floor, her heart pounding in time with the swiftness of Palpatine's mental invasion.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, the abuse stopped, leaving Shmi gasping on the floor, her head aching fiercely, and her body quivering.
"Indeed, Mara has served me well." Palpatine sounded rather pleased with himself, while Shmi was fighting the urge to wretch. "Now, you will begin your training. You will be escorted to your first lesson by two Crimson Guards."
Shmi was hauled up by her arms before she could protest, and then dragged away from the cackling Emperor.
Shmi tried to keep track of where they were taking her, but her attempts were only semi-fruitful. She did, however, catch sight of several landing platforms on their way down into the lower levels of the Imperial Palace.
Shmi mentally categorized each location, committing them to memory as her mother would have. The thought of Mara gave Shmi a boost of energy and willpower, and with a new sense of determination— taking on Mara's mindset— Shmi straightened up and set her feet beneath her, ignoring her trembling frame the best she could.
She was proud of herself for it, and thus, despite her initial reservations of serving the Emperor, she had to admit that voice in her head had a point. Let the evil man upstairs think she was cooperating: Shmi would learn what she needed to until she was able to affect an escape.
Shmi would not, however, kill for Palpatine. She would rather take his punishments than become a monster.
With chin held high, Shmi walked into her classroom.
00000
Luke was in the midst of re-programming Lars with the software Mara had prepared when a sudden stab of pain lanced through his mind, and before he knew what had happened he was on the floor, screaming.
His body convulsed and he tried to make sense of what he was feeling— and why it seemed like he was experiencing someone else's agony— when something heightened, and he blacked out.
00000
Mara sprinted through the corridors of Home One, racing down to their shared quarters where Luke was working on Lars. Mara had felt Luke's pain and as she neared their door, she heard his screams.
However, the moment Mara barged through the door he went limp, and Mara's heart clenched.
"Luke!" Mara cried, dropping to her knees beside him and checking his pulse.
It was thankfully strong, but the Force still echoed his misery from seconds earlier. Mara carefully shifted her husband to lie on his back while she continued checking him in the Force. To her shock, she realized that his pain had been sensed as a secondary thing.
And when Mara recognized Shmi's essence, her heart dropped. Anger boiled up inside Mara, and she was just contemplating what to do with the Emperor when she saw him again when Luke stirred.
He groaned, and Mara took his hand. "Luke?"
Luke's head shifted, and then he slowly opened his eyes, looking around for a second before he zeroed in on her.
"Mara," Luke took a ragged breath, and sat up gingerly, his free hand clutching his head. "What happened?"
"Palpatine did something to Shmi," Mara grated. "I'm certain of it."
Luke's nostrils flared... but to Mara's astonishment, he controlled his anger almost instantly. He closed his eyes and centered himself, then without another word turned back to Lars.
"Luke..."
"The sooner we get a pair of eyes and ears in the Palace the better," Luke told her. "Time is running out."
Mara actually sat back at his tone: it was hard as ice, yet utterly in control. As was her husband. Then she smiled softly to herself and counted another point to their chances of success.
"I have one more thing for you: a map of the hidden halls and such in the Palace if he should need them." Mara handed him another datachip. "This is what I was working on just now."
Luke took the chip with a 'thank you', and inserted it, then closed the access panel and flipped Lars on. His photoreceptors flickered to life, and the droid turned his head to face the Skywalkers.
"I am ready to serve, Master," he said.
"Good." Luke helped the droid up and began to lead him to the hangar bay. "Your task is to keep an eye on Shmi. Do not, however, interfere with her unless she is outside the palace and in immediate danger."
"Understood, Sir," Lars answered.
"She cannot, for her own safety, know you are there. It would also not be a good thing for you," Luke deadpanned. "Act as an Imperial droid, and you will be fine."
"Yes Sir."
Luke motioned to a tiny ship that was waiting for the droid. "This will fly you to rendezvous with an Imperial supply vessel on its way to Imperial Center. It will attach itself to the hull, all you have to do is stay powered down until the ship gets through security at Imperial Center, and then make your way to the Palace and blend in."
"I have given you the necessary codes to get around, but do not make that tidbit common knowledge: only a few people would have the codes I gave you," Mara added seriously.
"I will not fail," Lars assured them, walking up the ramp and strapping in.
"Good."
The couple watched with mixed emotions as Lars was sent away, and only when his small ship was just another star against the field of hundreds outside the hangar bay did they turn to leave.
00000
Venussia had seen many things in her life: some good, some bad, and some ugly. But the treatment the child before her was receiving took the rychate. The woman hadn't been able to stem her pride long enough to admit it to herself before, but Venussia could no longer deny the stab of pride and protectiveness she felt each time Shmi was taken and then returned to the cell.
The child was utterly exhausted when she returned: beaten and bruised both physically and emotionally. And yet... despite all that, the child remained strong resolute... focused. It was almost as though she was counting down till something. It made the older woman proud though she knew she had little right to her daughter anymore.
Days had passed, and Shmi had yet to crack. She remained stubborn and strong, and it put Venussia to shame to think she was being outshone by a seven-year-old.
Thus, when the child was taken away for the ninth day in a row, Venussia could stand it no longer. She had to do something.
She was a mother, whether she deserved that title or not. And Shmi was her daughter. Besides, Venussia was ready to do something good for once... something good by her daughter.
Venussia began plotting as Shmi was spirited away for another day of grueling training.
She would help Shmi, if it was the last thing she ever did. Because, through it all, Venussia had watched the girl, and had fallen in love with the child in the way she should have done at her birth.
I'm seven years too late, but I will make sure Shmi has a chance to return to her father.
And she knew just how she was going to do that.
(A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short, but I need it to stop there for the next one.)
