"Luke! Please help me!" Mara screamed out in pain. Luke could see her and fight as he may he couldn't get to her. The Emperor blasted her with force lightning again, she cried out in agony,the pain so real that Luke could feel it through their bond like an inferno charring his skin.
"Why do you not defend yourself as your Jedi lover has taught you?" The Emperor snapped at her in hatred.
Mara sobbed in pain, curled up into a small ball shuddering in fear. "Why do you not defend yourself Mara Jade?"
Mara looked up at him with blood shot eyes her lovely face bruised and snarled, "Kriff you!" he blasted her again violently, her visceral scream pierced Luke's soul, he was crying out trying to get to her.
Luke woke violently, "Mara!"
She shot up next to him, 'Luke? What's the matter? Are you all right?" She rubbed his back soothingly, he was drenched in sweat. "Did you have a nightmare?"
Luke nodded blankly...a dream it had only been a dream but it had been so real.
Mara was being violently beaten and tortured...why? Why would the Emperor torture Mara?
"Luke? Do you want to tell me about it?" He looked at Mara, her beautiful face concerned. Luke swallowed and said, "No, it was just a nightmare. It's not important." She cocked her head to the side and said, "Sweetheart, you seem very upset."
Luke laid back down covering his eyes with his hand and said, "Well, it was very vivid. But I don't really want to talk about it right now it just seemed too real." She lay her head on his chest and he wrapped his arm around her tightly.
He refused to shut his eyes again, he fought hard to push the images of her writhing in pain from his brain and think of her only now, lying on him affectionately, unbruised, unharmed...safe...safe with him.
Now more than ever, he must stay with her and watch her. Somehow he knew that there would come a point when the Emperor would become angry enough with Mara to kill her and Luke would be powerless to stop him.
'No', he thought intentionally blocking his thoughts from her.
If it came to that, I would destroy him. He will not hurt her, no matter what I have to do.
"Lord Vader, it has been brought to my attention that several rebellion forces have risen on core planets. I require your particular attention for this mission. I want you to find them and extinguish them. Their presence has been bothersome at most for the past decade but they're growing in force now."
He handed Vader a large packet of documents, specific written orders and itineraries.
In his head Anakin knew as he took the documents that the Emperor would send him to Naboo where Padmewas hosting several councils with the rebellion in preparation for the final battle.
Vader replied, "As you wish my master. May my son join me on this mission?"
The Emperor looked up sharply and said, "Is his training still incomplete?" Vader replied, "No my master, his training is complete. However it would be useful to capitalize on his formidable skills.
The Emperor hesitated for a moment and said, "I believe the young Skywalker is better serving me here. Take whatever battalions you need to compensate for his absence."
Anakin's heart leapt with fear, he knew that the Emperor had been using Luke. But he had never let it be known before.
He asked, "Is there anyway I can be of help with my son's mission here my master?" The Emperor sneered, "No Lord Vader, you will do as I command. Be sure you return before the nuptials however. Lord Skywalker is progressing just as I have planned for him. Do not fret for your son Lord Vader, I have him well at hand."
Anakin knew that he was shielding from the Emperor but if he had not been the Emperor would have felt his unleashed fury at the evil old man referring to his son in such a manner. Using his only son to meet his own selfish needs. Vader wanted to snatch the lightsaber from his belt and hack the old man in two. He rose stiffly and left the room silently seething lest he do something that he knew he would be made to regret.
Luke paced around their bedchamber. Mara attempted to read in bed but his nervous energy unnerved her terribly. "Luke! Will you just sit down and talk to me! What in the galaxy is going on with you?"
Luke looked at her, every time he saw her face, he pictured her beaten and bruised being mercilessly tortured.
He looked away, 'I'm fine. Just worried about my father. He usually isn't called in for a private counsel with Palpatine."
Mara flinched at the way Luke spit the Emperor's name. "I'm sure he's fine Luke. Maybe the Emperor wants to go in halves with him for a stellar wedding gift?" she joked.
Luke looked at her smiling face and she added, "Don't worry. Your father is completely capable of taking care of himself. Now, about dinner tonight with your sister...what should I wear?" Luke grinned and said, "You're asking me what you should wear? Darling, you will look beautiful no matter what you wear. I completely prefer what you wore last night however."
Mara thought for a moment and smiled, "I think your sister would prefer it if I wore some clothing don't you agree? And can you imagine the faces of the guards we passed on the way there?"
Luke climbed into bed and kissed the top of her head and said, "I don't think it's a formal thing. But dress nicely. The first of many family dinners." Mara smiled the word like soothing balm to the void in her life. Family.
Luke's comm link buzzed interruptingly from the night table he reached for it, "Father?" Vader answered, "I need to speak with you Luke right away. Meet me in my chambers."
Luke was suddenly very alarmed. He looked at Mara who looked concerned as well and she said, "I hope everything is ok..." Luke nodded kissing her and hugging her tightly, "I love you, I'll be right back. Will you stay here, please?" Mara nodded silently feeling Luke's alarm.
Luke closed the bedchamber door behind him and L'wren approached, "Can I do anything for you Lord Skywalker?"
Luke smiled and said, "You're always so efficient. Anticipating a need before we even ask...but as it is I do need something. Mara assured me that she would stay here until I got back but can you stall her if she tries to leave. I just have a bad feeling today, if anyone comes here or she tried to leave, use this." he handed her his comm link and said, "this will reach me immediately and I will come for her."
L'wren was puzzled, but took the device from Luke and asked, "Do you sense a particular danger involving my mistress." Luke hesitated, fearful that if he said too much that she would tell Mara and Mara would certainly balk at being protected. "Vaguely. Hopefully nothing too serious. I must go convene with my father for awhile though. He will help me define this so I can protect her better if there is any danger." L'wren nodded and Luke added, "Just be sure not to tell her."
L'wren smiled and said, "Yes I know exactly how she'll feel about being minded like a child. I'll say nothing to her sir, I assure you. If it's like you say and her safety could be in jeopardy I will trust you."
Luke thanked L'wren and hurried to his father's chambers where Anakin had hastily stripped off his Darth Vader uniform on his way to his inner chambers. Luke picked up the heavy pieces and walked into his rooms where Anakin was extremely distressed. "Luke, I've just come from the Emperor." Luke set the Darth Vader guise down, "You shouldn't leave these things in the outer chambers Father anyone could have come in, seen them and assumed you've committed suicide."
Anakin glared and Luke and said, "Not now Luke. The Emperor told me that I was to go on a mission to several core planets to wipe out the rebellion." Luke sat and sighed, "Where can we hide them now? We need them close now more than ever!"
Anakin nodded, "I know, but even more disturbing is the fact that he told me that you could not accompany me. Because you were already serving his purpose here. That you are progressing just as he had planned."
To say that Luke was disconcerted by this news would have been an understatement.
He face went blank and he said to his father, "What plan?" Anakin ran his hands through his hair and said, "I don't know. I fished for it but he wouldn't tell me." Luke asked, "Do you sense any danger?" Anakin shook his head and replied, "Very little, but that doesn't mean that danger does not exist. Lest we forget the Emperor is extremely skilled in the force he could be blocking everything from me. I want you to get out of here."
Luke looked at his father incredulously, "You must be joking? If I leave now any hope of secrecy will be lost." Luke could see that Anakin was panicked, "Luke! You will do as I say. I will not be here to protect you if something should happen!"
Luke grabbed his father by the shoulders, "Father please! Trust me it will look worse if Mara and I run now."
Anakin sighed and said, "I have tried to be patient with your feelings Luke. I appreciate that you were up front and honest with me about them. But you can't continue to have a relationship with Mara. It's playing right into the Emperor's plans apparently." Luke's eyes darkened, "You said that he didn't say what his plan was."
Anakin replied, "He didn't. However, it's the one thing he has put in motion with you and taken a keen interest in it." Luke shook his head and said, "He may have, but I will not believe that she has a hand in it. She is merely his pawn, same as the both of us."
Anakin looked at his son and said, "Please, for my sake. You must leave this place, both you and Leia. Go back to Naboo, we'll get your mother and we'll just go. I won't leave my children here in his clutches while he sends me off on some vile mission."
Luke looked at his father, their matching blue eyes and Luke said, "Father. Trust me. Leia and I will be safe. I will watch this situation very closely and I will contact you if I see anything disturbing. Right now this is the only way. I won't have you throw away your plan that you've been working to achieve for the past twenty years."
Anakin's shoulders hung in defeat and he said, "Luke, I do trust you. I know that you will keep yourself and Leia safe. Just be very cautious."
Luke nodded and said, "I have another matter to discuss with you. Last night I believe I have a force vision. It was of Mara, the Emperor was torturing her, brutally with force lightning. It was so real, her pain was so intense that I could feel it myself. I don't know why he was punishing her, but it was so violent. He wanted to hurt her, badly even kill her."
Anakin asked, "Did you tell Mara about this?" Luke shook his head, "No, I could barely tell you now. The memory of her pain..it's just too much."
Anakin held Luke by the shoulders and said, "I understand, I had similar dreams when I found out that Padme was pregnant. I'm sure that you were disturbed by them Luke, as I was then. However, they're not warnings of what will happen, merely warnings of what could happen. Obviously Padme did not die in childbirth as I foresaw, but if I had turned to the dark side who could say that it would not have come to pass."
Luke ran his fingers through his hair in anxiety, "I'm not letting her out of my sight until we stage the overthrow. What also concerns me about the visions is that she is alone. I'm not there with her, I would never allow her to be tortured by Palpatine. Am I imprisoned in the future? Am I dead?"
Anakin shuddered at the thought of his son's death and said, "I agree, you'll need to stay close to her. You may be right Luke, she could be an innocent pawn in all of this. But the Emperor wants you with her for a reason, we need to try and figure out what that reason is."
Luke sighed heavily, the weight of the world on his shoulders and said, "I have a bad feeling about this. Not all of the Jedi have reported in yet...not even close."
The reclusive Jedi had all agreed to congregate into Coruscant for the coup so they may be of assistance in the battle that would inevitably ensue.
Anakin acknowledged Luke's fears, "I know, when I am "searching" for the rebels on this campaign I will be seeking out Jedi as well. I must move quickly the Emperor wants me back before the wedding. But I know that Master Windu will assist me in contacting the Jedi, his authority certainly outweighs mine. They should be assembled by the time I return."
Luke nodded, his fears concerning Mara overwhelming his thoughts "I need a contingency plan to get Mara out. As capable as I know she is I don't want to risk her if I don't have to. This will be a hard fight, I can't face the possibility of losing her."
Anakin thought hard for a moment, and looked at his son. Their faces identical masks of anxiety and frustration, 'She has seen battle many times Luke. Are you concerned for her fighting? Or are you concerned for whose side she will be fighting with?"
This was one of Luke's deep seated fears, that Mara would find out the truth and end up despising him for betraying her trust by lying to her and she would fight against him rather than be at his side.
Luke admitted, "I don't know Father. I sense her frustration with Palpatine but unto treason? I couldn't say for certain. I want to answer yes, unequivocally but I can't. I know that at the very least when she finds out the truth she'll be very angry and hurt. I cannot prevent that, but I won't put her in harms way not if I can prevent it. As long as I know that she is safe I can spend the rest of my life making it up to her."
Anakin regarded his son for a moment and asked, "Do you trust her Luke? Search your instincts...think...don't answer right away."
Luke sat, and was silent for several long minutes, "Yes, she loves me, I know she does. She'll be angry and certainly confused but she would never raise her weapon to fire upon me. Are you considering relenting and letting me tell her?"
Anakin sat next to Luke and said, "you're my son. And you're very gifted with the force. If you say that she can be trusted then I believe you. But this is not a decision that we can enter into lightly. She has been deep in the enemy's counsel all of her life. We have to know that if we trust her with his that she won't go immediately to Palpatine and we lose the element of surprise which could cripple us completely."
Luke said nothing, he wished with all his soul that he knew that Mara would never tell the Emperor about their plans, especially knowing that it would mean Luke's certain death. He never thought that she would intentionally put him in harms way, but Palpatine was supremely manipulative and had a lot of influence over Mara.
He finally responded, "Let me think on this Father. I want to be sure before we risk everything, and ask her to risk everything. If I can put her at less risk by not telling her then that's what I'll do. She's very susceptible to Palpatine's deceptions and seeks his approval. I will come up with a way to get her out of the palace that day. I won't see this vision come to pass, no matter what I have to do."
Anakin saw a shadow of his own obsession to save Padme from his force vision in his son's fierce blue eyes.
His own lit with fear, "Don't say that Luke. The Emperor probably knows that Mara is your weakness, and your feelings for her go beyond any mandate of his and he'll use it against you if you let him. You don't yet realize how far you can go."
Luke replied harshly, "Yes I do. I know exactly, and I will go as far as I have to, to protect her."
Anakin felt a chill go through his bones as he watched his son step into the very same path he had been in twenty years ago...