Chapter 9:
Luke woke up in an unfamiliar environment, and looked around in confusion. Mara sat in the pilot's seat, manipulating the controls. "About time you woke up."
Luke frowned, and sat up. "What happened? Where are we?"
Mara sighed and turned around. "We're in my shuttle, on our way to Imperial Center. I'm taking you to the Emperor."
"The Emperor? Why?"
Mara looked at him, hard. "Because he told Vader to bring you to him, and Vader had no intention of doing that. So it's my responsibility to make sure the Emperor's commands are carried out."
Luke looked down, uneasily. "Why do you think he disobeyed the Emperor?"
"I have my ideas." Mara watched Luke, closely. "But others may know better than I would. Why is Vader so interested in you, anyway?"
Luke started to answer, but a beep sounded from the navicomputer, and Mara turned away to focus on bringing the shuttle out of hyperspace.
::My lord, I have brought Skywalker here, as you commanded.:: Mara touched the mental link she shared with her master, as soon as they landed.
:Good, my child. Bring him before me at once.::
::It will be done, my lord.:: She broke off the connection and her eyes refocused, turning to look at Luke. "Let's go. The Emperor's waiting."
Mara walked briskly up the steps to the throne room, with Luke trailing behind her. The red-clad Imperial Guards stepped aside and opened the large doors before her, and she entered at once. She took a few quick steps towards the throne, and knelt before it. After a moment's hesitation, Luke followed her example.
The Emperor watched them both, eyes glittering. Finally, he said, "Rise, my child. You have done well."
Mara stood, the warmth of his approval filling her. "Thank you, my lord."
The Emperor then turned to observe Luke. "Well, young Skywalker. I trust you were treated well on your way here?"
Luke bowed his head. "Y-yes, milord."
The Emperor chuckled. "You are wondering why I had her bring you here. You are wondering why Lord Vader did not."
Luke raised his eyes to look at him. "I-I am, milord," he said, cautiously.
The Emperor met his gaze from under his dark hood. "I brought you here to begin your training. But I understand that I have been superseded." His gaze turned cold, and Luke shivered. "It is no fault of yours, however, my young…. apprentice."
Mara and Luke both started involuntarily. "M-milord?" Luke asked, uncertainly.
The Emperor chuckled again. "All in good time, young Skywalker. All in good time. In the meanwhile," he looked at Mara, "I am assigning my Hand to you, to teach you what she knows. She is one of my most skilled operatives, and has never failed me yet."
Mara bowed her head. "As you command, milord." Luke turned to stare at Mara. Hand? The Emperor's Hand?
The Emperor smiled at her. "I am going to send you back to Lord Vader, for now. But first, young Skywalker, a lesson in mastering the dark side of the Force. Anger." He paused, eyes closed, then continued. "Your friends hate you, you know, for betraying them in favor of Lord Vader, of your father." It was Mara's turn to stare. Vader?His father?
Luke looked up quickly, an angry glint in his eye. "Oh yes," the Emperor continued. "They want you to care more about their pitiful Rebel Alliance than about your own family. Your father is their enemy, and they despise you for being his son." Luke remembered the look of horror in Leia's eyes when he told her that Vader was his father, and felt like a cold fist clamped over his heart. "Use your anger, it gives you focus," the Emperor hissed, softly. Mara shivered a little, slightly unsettled. Luke's eyes blazed with constrained anger, and his fist clenched, tightly. "Good, good," the Emperor chuckled. "Mind what you have learned, you will be stronger for it. Now go, both of you, back to Lord Vader, and learn what you can. I shall follow your progress most attentively."
"Yes, my lord," Mara bowed, then turned and left, and once again, Luke followed her lead. He sensed that she had questions for him, and he had a few for her, as well.
Darth Vader, meanwhile, had tracked Boba Fett and his cargo to Gall, where he had stopped at the Imperial outpost there for repairs, and ordered that the hangar be locked down until he arrived. It hadn't been easy to persuade the bounty hunter to forego his quarry, Vader contemplated, but a doubled bounty, as well as the assurance that Solo's fate would be far more unpleasant, had convinced Fett to see reason. Vader arrived at the detention block, curious to see how his prisoner would fare after being unfrozen. He entered just in time to see Solo collapse to the ground, shaking from the aftereffects of the hibernation sickness.
"Wh-who's there?" Solo called out. "I-I can't see."
Vader looked down at him, dispassionately. "The hibernation sickness will fade in time, Captain Solo."
Solo raised his arm over his face, as if to shield himself. "I- I know that breath. Vader."
"I leave you to your thoughts. When my son arrives, you will have much to talk about." Vader left, returning to the bridge, while Han groggily tried to sort out what was going on.