Chapter Ten
Five years had gone by since Shira Brie had been made the offer to be an Emperor's Hand. Though she requested to settle for being a Shadow Hand of Lord Vader when she wasn't with Arden, she had a feeling the offer was still open especially now that she had shown true potential. Her black lightsaber was one of the most well known in the Emperor's service and one of the most feared. Combined with Arden Lyn's green and orange lightsaber, anyone who would have attacked the Emperor and threatened him before didn't stand a chance.
Now, alone again, Shira began to ponder the implications of the offer which was something she thought would get easier with time. In truth, now that she began considering it once more, it was even harder than the first time she considered it. Within five years since their first meeting and their attempts to be normal human women, Shira had grown more accustomed to viewing Arden as a mother figure. Whenever she was not around the other students, Arden and Shira had done their best to satisfy their more feminine impulses such as shopping and telling jokes about men.
And in those five years of service, they had shared more stories from their past lives than they had in the first month of their meeting. But as was expected to have happened, nothing was the same after their first attempt to be normal human women, the service had hardened them both. However, there was something else that Shira noticed in Arden, something a little more subtle than that. As time slowly drifted by, she noticed that the woman she called mother was starting to wither away inside.
As she day passed, it seemed as though Arden was becoming less inclined to serve the Empire and more inclined to serve her own aims, perhaps even rebel against the Emperor. And if she was aiming for that and the Emperor found out, would Shira be asked to stop her along with the others? Would she be able to turn on the closest thing to a mother she had ever had in her life solely because her affiliation and her loyalty didn't lie with the Emperor? Or would she forsake all her dreams and all she had worked for to save her from the wrath of the man who overruled them all others in the Empire?
Once again, thinking about becoming the Emperor's Hand stirred these sorts of thoughts within her and these thoughts stirred her eyes to tears. She just couldn't find it in her heart to say yes or no to the offer without revealing it to Arden and that was not something she wanted to do either. Despite the motherly affection she had towards Shira, Arden did sometimes get a little ill-tempered and jealous. Additionally in this case, she'd be right to do so since she thought she was the only one with this rank for five years.
One of the worst things about it was that Shira suspected that by now, she must surely not be the only one who had the offer extended to her, it just wasn't how the Emperor worked. He had surely extended it to people more inclined to take it than she was, all of who had certainly grabbed it. Shaking her head to get her focus back on to the subject of telling Arden, Shira decided that it was best to do it. She didn't care what the Emperor said about familial bonds like hers with Arden Lyn, she had to inform Arden of this revelation... the time had come.
Arden Lyn was meditating for the first time in fourteen months, the longest she had gone without some kind of nourishment thanks to her long hibernation periods. Already, she had been meditating for nearly an hour and a half when she sensed a disturbance like none she had sensed before. It surrounded Shira, her Little Wolf, and from the look of it she was conflicted and sad with paining her inside. Soon after sensing this, Little Wolf arrived and she told her to enter when she knocked on her door lightly.
"Mama Bear, I have to talk to you about something. Something I've been meaning to tell you for years now but have only recently worked up the courage to tell you," Shira said immediately. "Well, I am certainly glad that you got to the point as to what was bothering you," Arden said smiling. "Yes but I don't think you're going to like what I have to say as it concerns the Emperor," Shira replied.
"I'm listening," Arden said. She had never liked the Emperor in all her years of service but she had had to believe that he would complete his offer in return for her service. "Five years ago, before you returned from killing Hermione Astin, Lord Vader came to me and extended an offer from the Emperor. The offer... was to become an Emperor's Hand like you," Shira said, wasting no time at all.
"And you never told me this because?" Arden asked. "Because I feared what you would do to me if I told you and what it would mean for the dreams I still have. The dreams that involve serving the Emperor... look Arden, I love you as the mother I never had and I wouldn't want to hurt-!" Shira said. "Say no more Shira: it isn't your fault that I allowed the Emperor and Lord Vader to use me as their toy all these years, it's mine," Arden replied.
"So you aren't mad with me?" Shira asked, beggingly. "Of course not, Little Wolf. If you want to take his offer, go for it; just understand that I have been planning to phase out anyway," Arden said. "What do you mean?" Shira inquired.
"Over the years of my servitude to the Emperor, I have slowly come to realize that he is slippery as a snake and would never complete his end of the offer that enticed me to him. Initially, I called him out on a bluff but when he said that he could and had resurrected the dead, I was hooked. I had hoped that he would resurrect my husband Xendor, I foolishly let him play with my love for that man. Now, he means to use the rank he bestowed me to turn you against me but it won't work," Arden explained.
Shira sighed a heavy sigh of relief and Arden placed a hand on her face, telling her not to worry. "If you truly wish to be this close in servitude to the Emperor, I understand. As far as I can tell from the stories of your life, you don't have anywhere else to go anyway," she added. "Thank you Mama Bear but tell me, what are you going to do now that you know what I've told you?" Shira asked.
"I'll not say a word of it to the Emperor or to Lord Vader that's for sure. He'll think I'll be complying and since the Death Star was destroyed six months ago, he needs people to hunt Rebels. Especially the boy who destroyed the Death Star, the one called Skywalker I might add. I'll use whatever power he gives me when I offer my resources to finding him to go rogue," Arden answered.
"He wouldn't have the damnedest clue and would assume you failed, I like it. Definitely is far more cunning than going to him in a storm," Shira admitted. "And far more likely to succeed in its intent," Arden agreed. "Then May the Force be with you Mama Bear, I will miss you," Shira stated.
The two women embraced, knowing this was probably going to be the last time they would see each other. Arden told Shira that she notify the Emperor that she agreed to his offer, if it was still open, and leave her to pack up what few provisions she had for her subtle departure. "Yes I should, thank you for everything Arden," Shira stated. "Hey, before you go, I want you to have something to remember me by," Arden said.
Before Shira could ask what it was, Arden took out an amulet that she had bought in one of the shopping sprees and handed it to Arden. It was a chain necklace with a large ruby-like jewel as the main attraction and looked beautiful on Shira even after her extensive damage during the Yavin 4 battle. "Remember me through this, remember the good times we had and the missions that we underwent. Never lose sight of who you are and always know that if ever I were to have children of my own, I would want them to be like you," Arden said.
Shira surprised her old Mistress with one last hug before heading off to inform the Emperor of her acceptance of his offer. Arden watched as she left and in some ways, felt like it was watching a real daughter born of her blood walk off into the unknown. I doubt I'll ever meet another like her before I die Arden thought silently. Returning to her sparring sessions, she decided to practice the Variant of Anger for the first time in a long while; she'd need it if she was going to go rogue on her pupils.
Two and a half years later...
"There is a great disturbance in the Force," Emperor Palpatine stated. "I have felt it," Lord Vader admitted. "We have a new enemy: the young rebel who destroyed the Death Star. I have no doubt that this boy is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker," Palpatine said. And it was true: for days, he had been trying to decipher how it was possible for one Rebel pilot to destroy the Death Star.
In the end, due to all the other pilots perishing during the battle, he concluded that it was because the boy was gifted with the Force. But even then, he observed that the only person with capabilities remotely as great as that feat was Lord Vader himself. "How is this possible?" Lord Vader asked. "Search your feelings Lord Vader, you will know it to be true. He could destroy us," Palpatine answered.
This was no lie, Palpatine had done the same in his own attempts to decipher the possibilities as to how such a boy could have done it. "He's just a boy, Obi-Wan can no longer help him," Vader replied. So he did receive training for the late Obi-Wan Kenobi. That may also explain why he had such abilities in the Force Palpatine thought but didn't say as he continued.
"The Force is strong with him, the son of Skywalker mustn't become a Jedi," he warned aloud. "If he could be turned, he could become a powerful ally," Vader suggested. Hmm, two Skywalkers if Vader succeeds and returns alive but one if he succeeds and doesn't. Either way, I emerge victorious in fully destroying the Jedi Order should Luke succumb Palpatine observed gleefully.
"Yes, yes, he would be a great asset. Can it be done?" he asked. He needed to know for certain if he could be done: if Luke didn't fall but Vader perished, he would surely lose out. "He will join us or die, Master," Vader answered before cutting transmission. It does not matter in the end, there are only a couple ways I could lose on something as grand as this Palpatine said to himself.
"Does one of them include me bringing the young pilot Skywalker to you before Vader can?" a familiar voice asked. Sidious turned to see Arden Lyn and was surprised that she had peered into his thoughts and voiced them aloud. "No Arden, I don't see how that would be one of them," he replied. "Then let me have a chance to corrupt Skywalker, unlike Vader I know how to delve deep into the inner conflict of someone in order to destroy them from within," she suggested.
The Emperor knew there was no lie in this statement, bold as it was for indeed, she did have to learn that early on in her career as his Hand. "And if I say yes?" he asked, suspicious of her sudden inclination to do this. "Then I will never rest or return until I have corrupted him or I have his head," she answered. "And if I say no?" he inquired.
"I'm a patient woman and I'm very persuasive too, you will break and say yes even if you say no now," she explained. This response humored Sidious and triggered one of his famous cackles of joy at hearing the sadism in her warning. "Very well then, I permit you to hunt Skywalker on my behalf but be careful of Lord Vader while you're at it," he said. I should have the other Hands do this similar thing as well he thought but didn't say aloud.
"I will return, Master," she said with a bow, turning to leave after that. But before reaching the exit, she stopped and asked him a question that completely off guard. "You never intended to complete your end of our original bargain, did you?" she asked. He had not anticipated this question but he should have expected her to have had doubts after peering into his thoughts as she had on her entry.
Because she could very easily gaze into his mind and there was no getting around it anyway, he decided the best thing to do was be honest with her. Honesty was such a hated virtue amongst the Sith, it always undid them with its bright burning light more than the Death Star could ever destroy a planet. "Guilty as charged," he said, spitting every single word out like poison. "Just as I thought but no matter, maybe I can persuade you after I bring the boy's head to you or something like that," she retorted.
And then, just as stealthily and speedily as she had appeared, she was gone once more. He was getting used to these subtle entrances and exits but he doubted he would be seeing the former again. Not after what he had just confessed to her about not aiming to complete his end of their bargain, that she would serve him in exchange for the resurrection of Xendor at the end of the service. In fact, when he was forced to reveal it, he suspected that she had also seen his original intent: to destroy her instead.
Seven and a half years had gone by since the day that he had originally recruited her and he was glad that she had not recognized his deception until now. In that time, Arden had taken out several rogue Jedi, governors conspiring against the Empires, and assassins that had turned on the Emperor. She had not had contact with Shira Brie or any of her pupils in three years since their full graduation and their reassignment to other locations. Still, even now that all this was under her belt and his, he had the feeling that he could have used her powers for so much more when it seemed he wouldn't.
But it was too late to change anything that she had done under him and if she did go rogue now, she had been most useful. Perhaps, this was better and then perhaps not, the will of the Force was the only thing that would reveal that to him for certain. "Now where were we?" he asked Xizor, the Falleen leader of Black Sun, when he reappeared from the shadows. At first, Xizor made to inform him of something concerning Arden Lyn but then he kept his mouth shut and they proceeded with business.
Admiral Zaarin was almost ready for his ultimate goal, the TIE fighter models turning out better than ever he had imagined. His son, Paris, helped him sometimes but the younger man preferred to groom his shoulder-length black hair and bed beautiful women than help his old man with ships. Brilliant as he was, Demetrius had to admit that he was somewhat disappointed in Paris' personal preferences. Not that he was any different when he was in his teenage years but he had grown past it by the time he turned twenty-two, Paris was almost thirty and still preferred it over engineering new weapons.
Nonetheless, he knew he could count on Paris to side with him once he was ready for his ultimate goal: dethroning Palpatine and destroying Vader in the process. At most, he would only need to wait another six months or so then he would strike with vengeance and fury against his enemies. And he had just the targets for that job to be pulled off as well, all of them major and essential to the Empire. But still, even with this, he felt like something was missing and it was something that he knew would be vital for the defeat of the Emperor: a Force-sensitive whose power was at least on par with him.
Few could ever hope to best the Emperor and all of them were already under his service to the best of Zaarin's knowledge. "Send for Paris, I think I need him to find a certain someone that he would be capable of seducing to my cause," Demetrius asked one of his subordinates. "Is that really wise, Admiral? Asking your son to use his viper charm to persuade a Force-sensitive to join us?" the subordinate asked.
"If we're going to fight the Emperor, we need someone who can counter his silly Force magic with more of it. Have him fetch me any in Palpatine's service who goes rogue as soon as it is revealed," Zaarin answered. "Yes Admiral, shall I follow the news on attacks concerning Force-sensitives?" the subordinate inquired. "Do that, it's the only way we'll know for certain about anything," Zaarin ordered with a nod.
The subordinate bowed and made to obey his orders as well as have his son ready to use that viper tongue of his to charm them into service. What he wondered though was what would happen if the Force-sensitive he needed turned out to be a man? Would his son be able to improvise around it after so much practice with women or would he discomfort the warrior to the point of appearing gay? Only time and possibly the will of the Force, ludicrous as such a thing sounded to him, would tell.
Arden had set her destination for Tython in her own personal shuttle but not before sensing Hoar boarding with her. It had been a while since one of her students had accompanied her anywhere and the last one to do so had been Shira Brie, eight months ago. Since then, the girl had become busy as a Shadow Hand of Vader and a Hand of the Emperor himself. "What brings you back into my fold, Hoar?" Arden asked immediately.
"I know what you intend to do, I overheard your conversation with Palpatine. But I'm not here to stop you, I'm here to come with you if you would have me," he answered. "What happened with traveling with Thok?" she inquired. "I don't owe a life-debt to him as I do with you and besides, he went splitsville after he took an offer made to him by Jabba the Hutt and Palpatine approved," he said.
Figures that Pigman would leave me at the first chance he would obtain with the Emperor's stamp she thought. "And the other students?" she continued. "You know as well as I do what happened to them: they went to serve Vader and the Emperor like Shira Brie did. If not that, either they've defected to the Rebels or else have been killed in the line of duty since Yavin 4," he replied.
Shrugging, she had to admit that he was right and that she wasn't surprised if that was what had happened to most of her other students. "If you already know my intent then you should know that if you follow me, there's no turning back," she warned. "Trust me woman, if I wanted to stay and help fommel the Emperor's balls any longer like Vader then I'd have cleared that with you first," he retorted. Laughing lightly, Arden had to admit that she knew that to be true about the disgraced Tusken Raider that followed her everywhere whenever he could.
"In that case, strap in and prepare for lightspeed the moment we're cleared out of this spaceport. We'll be headed to Bunduki first where I've got some old business to settle first and then to Tython, ancient home of the Jedi," she said after silence. "Going back to the home of the Palawa priests to settle your old scores with them, I take it?" he asked. "You know me all too well, Sand Person," she answered with a smile.
"Good, now that means I get some real killing which I haven't gotten since that mission we did for the Prophets against the splinter group of Followers of Palawa," he stated. "Don't get me started on any of our old missions, the nostalgia is distracting," she replied. Chuckling, he admitted that she might be right in that point and made sure that Arden had said all her goodbyes to everyone she could. "I could only reach Shira and she had to leave for a mission as a Shadow Hand soon after that," she said.
"Then what are you waiting for? Take off already!" he exclaimed. And that was just what Arden did after taking one last look around her, soaking in the sights of the Imperial life that was hers once. However, Arden found that she was right about nostalgia becoming distracting to her ability to break off the chains that bound her life. Had it already been so long since she had awoken from the meditation that she had gone to in her grief for Depa and even longer since she had helplessly watched her die?
Shaking her head, she prepared the ship for hyperspace and watched as the stars illuminated the entirety of the glass port with bright white light. Hoar sat back and even began to sleep while she traveled which she found extremely interesting considering that she had never seen him sleep anywhere. She herself had never fully slept since she had awoken from her first hibernation and frankly, she had never really needed to sleep as much as normal people did. Meditation had supplemented her whenever she needed rest but she just found it very funny that she had never really needed it.
This was especially true since the vision of the man with black hair and the girl that looked like Arden herself had been growing stronger with the years that had come, indicating occurrence to come.