Disclaimer: No infringement intended!

Author: Angel Kamiya

A/N: Please review, I love reading feedback!

Making A Lightsaber

Chapter Twelve

Darth Vader stared at the large hologram of the Emperor that was being projected at the center of his office. Just moments earlier he had received a call from Palpatine while he was still trying to get his feet off the ground. The com-link luckily had been on his belt at the time so he could respond. Unable to move during the call, he barely stopped himself from cursing angrily in front of Mara. The Sith Lord somehow managed to think up plan which involved using the lightsaber that Mara had borrowed from him during the first few days she arrived. After a few quick swipes from the glowing weapon, he was glad to be finally able to walk again. He immediately tried peeling Mara off of him again but failed to even move her. Getting the girl off was going to take much more creative. Unable to do anything further, he had no choice but to take her along.

"What is thy bidding my master?" Vader asked, now in his office.

There was a long period of silence that followed, which made him grow uneasy. Usually the Emperor did this whenever they communicated over long distances.

"So you two are getting along I take it..." the Emperor smiled, just noticing the unusual sight before him.

"No we aren't!!!" Mara blurted out unexpectedly, making Vader nearly jump. "Darth forgot to look after me tonight!"

Vader quickly stood up to protest, but before he could his master interrupted him.

"Lord Vader I'm not pleased."

Vader looked at the floor, trying to resist the suddenly desire to shake his fist at Mara, and also wanting to be anywhere but in that room.

"I apologize my master, there was something important that I had to do at that time."

"Mara needs to be kept under constant supervision my friend. She's a very gifted girl so you shouldn't be too hard on her. How is her training going so far?"

Vader was stunned at what his master had just said. Since when did the girl that fell down all the time suddenly become gifted? Mara was to him one of the most untalented children he had ever had the misfortune of meeting!

"Hey!" Mara wailed, almost as though she had read his thoughts.

"Understood master," Vader continued, ignoring Mara's outburst. "I will keep you updated on her status."

Mara looked curiously at the blue projection that was being shown. She had always talked to the Emperor face to face so this was something new for her. The two men soon talked about some Imperial officers and some Prince. After the Emperor finished his call, his image disappeared leaving both of alone again.

"Now, we need to find a way to get you unstuck to me." Vader commented, getting to his feet. "It's already past your bed time."

"Darth, do... do you really think I'm not talented?" she questioned, her eyes suddenly watering.

"Hopefully you might become more talented in the future…"

As Darth Vader walked to the nearest medical center, he found himself looking at the bottle of adhesive that had taken along with him on the trip. There was no useful information on container which could help him. He decided that going for help was the best course of action this time. Luckily, the closest medical center was just a few minutes away. The doctors there probably dealt with odd problems like this all the time he thought. On the way there he noticed many more people out that night then usual.

"Mara I told you that this wasn't a good idea." Ane declared.

The boy had decided to come with them after Vader had told him where they were going.

"I found it on the ground near the couch," Mara told them, trying to be helpful.

"We are going to a hospital to find a solution to this problem." he explained.

"But... Hospitals are sccaaary!" Mara suddenly shouted, nearly making him jump.

"There is nothing to be afraid of little girl." Vader commented. "The people there just want to help."

"No we can't go there! We can't!" she repeated, almost kicking him while trying to get his attention.

Mara shook her head in disbelief.

"Mara stop being so difficult!" he exclaimed, shaking his finger at her.

The girl turned her face away from him trying to not show him her expression.

The comlink on his belt suddenly sounded again. Picking the device up, Vader activated it.

"My Lord we have an emergency! We have a suspected Jedi that we have cornered, we need your assistance!"

"I'll be there shortly." the Sith Lord replied, a little unconvinced. Usually whenever he had returned to Courscant, Imperial troopers would always contact him to inform him of some kind of individual that looked like a Jedi. "Mara I want you to try to be good, this is something important!"

"Darth can I ask you something," she asked, as they headed toward the location the man over the comlink had asked him to go to. "Why do you always wear that creepy looking mask?"

Vader turned the corner to see the group of stormtroopers that had gathered outside a building.

"It's a long story…" he commented mysteriously, scanning the area with his mind. "I have to put on this mask all the time because it helps me breath."

"That's terrible!" Mara exclaimed, looking shocked. "I always thought you wore that mask to just scare people...."

There was a ripple through the Force which immediately caught his attention. It was definitely someone that could be a Force user.

"Don't be silly."

"Don't you miss smelling flowers and eating cakes?" Mara asked, still curious about him.

"I don't smell flowers or eat cakes..."

Walking to the middle aged man that was obvious in charge, Vader finally stopped to talk. The man had gray hair and was wearing the uniform of an Imperial office. Judging by his rank he was a General.

"Give me an update General."

The general looked surprised at the girl who was with the man that was rumored to be very ruthless. It took him a moment to realize it wouldn't be a good idea to make a comment about what he was seeing, so instead he gave his report.

"We have the...." the General started, when all of a sudden everyone except Vader fell to the ground. Darth Vader felt the strong Force power and had waved his hand to try to repel the attack but was still pushed back a little to the ground. He quickly reached for his lightsaber on his belt, but instead found nothing. Realizing it was gone he suddenly was mad at his apprentice and then himself for never making a spare lightsaber after all these years.

"Where did you…"

"I left at back at home..." Mara answered, already knowing his question."

Hoping that she wasn't hurt or anything like that, he quickly got back to his feet.

"Oh what happened? We're finally apart!" she said rather loudly.

"It finally must have worn off..." Vader muttered, very relieved. "Mara, are you well?"

Vader felt very relieved because there would no need to have to go everywhere with Mara Jade anymore now that they were unstuck.  That would have been very stressful!  Suddenly he felt a little uneasy at the fact that she was with him on this rather dangerous location.  Only recently did he constantly have to worry about safety, which was something didn't give a second thought to.  This was probably because he was now looking after someone and not just himself.

"Mara I want you to head back to the palace immediately."

He called for the stromtroopers that were the closest to them.  Several men in white armor marched to where the both of them stood.  There was no way he was taking any chances by letting Mara wander off alone anymore after all those previous incidents!

"I can take care of myself" Mara tried to assure him, when she stated to leave. "Darth, maybe you and I could go on a panic one day!"

Watching her leave the Sith Lord doubted he would be going on any picnics anytime soon.  The last picnic he had with a girl was with Padme and it really didn't end up well.  Getting frustrated at all those returning feelings he tried getting back to the task at hand.

"What are you men looking at get to WORK!" Vader ordered, crossing his arms and glaring at the officers that were trying to listen in on their conversation.  Checking to see if this was an actual Jedi was infinitely more important then trying to deal with a six year girl or thinking about the past.

to be continued...

A/N: OH Nooo!!!! School is starting in a few days, so I'll be busy the next couple of weeks. ^_^*

I'll try to update this story as soon as time permits it, see ya later!