Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, George Lucas, or Timothy Zahn
Imperial Palace - Imperial Center - 0 ABY
Bartimeus Crouch, newly enchristened Malum Tenebris, stood beside his new Master, Darth Sidious. He had recently been made one of the Emperor's Royal Red Guard, as well as one of his Force-sensitive aides - part of a group including Sim Aloo, Janus Greejatus, and the Emperor's Hands, among them Cronal, Shira Brie, Roganda Ismaren, and Mara Jade, the latter of whom seemed to believe she was the only Hand . . .
Tenebris smiled coldly. Idiot.
And speak of the Sith, but who should come in right then - none other than Emperor's Hand Mara Jade.
Sidious, obviously having expected her, leaned forward. "Report."
And Jade explained to the Emperor how she the results of her investigation of Imperial Moff Glovstoak - an embezzler who had stolen Imperial artwork, which in the eyes of Darth Sidious was akin to treason.
When she finished, Tenebris's Master said, "Your part in this is now ended, my child - others will carry on from here. You have done well."
Jade's warmth at Sidious's apparent approval was palpable. Tenebris could have scoffed at her childish naiveté - she thought the Emperor saw her as his own daughter. Tenebris admired the way his Master had manipulated the young Dark Jedi.
"Thank you," Jade said. "Then unless there's something more urgent pending, I'd like permission to do an investigation of the six artworks I found in Glovstoak's safe. The ones I examined appear to be from a batch of ten that were stolen from a gallery five years ago during an attack on a Rebel cell on Krintrino."
Tenebris grimaced with disgust, realizing what she was implying - the Moff was a Rebel traitor. One should be able to expect more from an Imperial politician. Though the likes of Bail Organa and Padme Amidala didn't defend that argument.
Sidious seemed to be feeling the exact same thing, but it was difficult to tell with the Sith Emperor. "So as well as being an embezzler, Glovstoak may also be connected with the Rebel Alliance."
Jade seemed a little wary here - perhaps the child wasn't sure about her accusation. "Or he may have a connection with the Imperial forces who carried out the attack. Or it could have been pirates or thieves who simply took advantage of the attack's chaos to grab and run. The interesting point is that Glovstoak apparently bought them through an auction house, which suggests he and the seller wanted to stamp of legitimacy put on the transfer."
Sidious leaned back. "You said ten were stolen. Yet only six were in Glovstoak's safe. What happened to the other four?"
"A good question," Tenebris murmured, his voice to low to be heard over his scarlet helmet. "Where are they, girl?"
"As far as I know, they're still missing," Jade explained. "That's one of the questions I'd like an answer to. Another is why the original owner suddenly decided he needed such a large influx of cash a year and a half ago."
Darth Sidious smiled, and Tenebris thought that he might be satisfied. Finally the Emperor spoke, "The loss of the Death Star was a great shock to even my strongest supporters."
Again, Tenebris strongly wondered what this Death Star was that everyone referred to. It seemed to be a powerful weapon. He'd been trapped on that infernal Dementor-coated island, an empty shell, during its entire "life". But it must have been a great morale booster, to have shaken the loyalties of Sidious's strongest supporters. He'd heard of Tycho Celchu's recent defection, and he was angry that the Rebellion had shaken Imperial resolve so much.
It's still no excuse to betray our glorious Emperor, Tenebris thought bitterly. Loyalty to Master Sidious should be unconditional. Things would be different if I was his apprentice - rather than that fool Vader.
Seconds later . . .
After Mara Jade's departure, Darth Sidious dismissed his other guards. Then he turned to his most favored guard - Malum Tenebris. The man who could be his weapon against Potter, Weasley, and their stooge Luke Skywalker.
"Remove your helmet, Lord Tenebris," Sidious commanded.
The scarlet mask was replaced with the Dark Jedi's pale face, cold blue eyes, and short blond hair.
"What was your opinion, my son?" Sidious asked him.
"The traitors of the Empire should be terminated, my Master," Tenebris said. "Tycho Celchu, Crix Madine, Jan Dodonna, Armand Isard . . . these traitors need to be stopped before their infestation spreads."
"I agree, my son," the Emperor replied. "But in order to do so, I must have the son of Anakin Skywalker. Once I take care of him, wiping out the rest of those meddlesome Jedi should be easy." Looking Tenebris in the eyes, he said, "You will be the one to face Harry Potter, my child."
Tenebris knelt before the former Senator from Naboo. "Thank you, my Master. When will that be, my lord?"
"Not until the Endor Project is completed," Sidious replied. "Then my enemies will be destroyed. It will be soon. Already Lord Vader searches for his son."
Tenebris smiled. So Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, eh? Then he said, "He is, my lord?"
"Yes," Sidious replied. "Oh, he seeks to hide that from me . . . probably seeks to replace me as Emperor. But I know of his search. I always know. Soon Vader will either destroy Skywalker or Skywalker will destroy him . . . and the boy will be mine."
