A/N - Thanks to everyone who is reading this story. This chapter deals a lot with Revenge of the Sith including direct excerpts of dialogue from the movie. I didn't write that part, George Lucas did. Just to clarify so I don't get sued and/or killed by LucasFilmLTD. Also it was pointed out to me by the lovely haleyskywalker2 that there was a mistake in the previous chapter that I did not catch. Obviously, "Leia kissed Mara's shoulder." isn't what I meant to say...i'm not writing that kind of fanfic. Please excuse the error.
Please enjoy and review.
Thank you ~ Eradyne
The framing of the comm link cracked under the crushing pressure of Luke's fist clenching it when he heard Leia tell him that the Emperor was boasting about "procuring" Mara.
He'd never heard Leia so distressed before, normally she was very calm and logical. The Emperor had completely unnerved her, "I just know that something is going on Luke I could sense it in the way he was speaking to me about all of us. Like we were the integral parts of a larger machine."
Luke attempted to calm her down, "Don't worry Leia. I'll be right there." Leia asked, 'Is Mara coming with you?" Luke replied, "No, she's asleep."
Leia's voice trembled, "You shouldn't leave her Luke. When he spoke about her...I don't know, just don't leave her alone."
Luke felt fear thread through his stomach and he said quickly, "I am coming to get you now then I am bringing you back here. Get a few things together. There is a spare room here that you can sleep in. I have a scrambler in there, I will get Han on a comm link okay?"
Leia felt a massive swell of relief, she was a capable woman but the Emperor was just too much for her.
A few minutes later there was a knock on her door, "Who is it?" she asked timidly, "It's Luke"
She opened the door and Luke slid in and shut it behind him, grabbing her bag and asking, 'Are you ready? I don't want Mara to wake up and see that I'm gone and come looking for me." Leia nodded and Luke opened the door again and they both snuck out into the hallway and moved as quickly as they could to Luke and Mara's apartments.
Mara stood there, arms crossed in the black silk robe tapping her foot impatiently when they came through the door sneaking like thieves
Luke looked down shamefully, Leia did too grabbing her bag from Luke.
Mara asked starkly, "What is going on?"
Leia looked at Luke, who rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and said, "Leia needs to stay here until my father gets back." Mara looked and Leia who looked very upset and said, "Of course, that's perfectly fine. But why?"
Luke sighed and looked at Mara with sympathy in his eyes and said, "I didn't want to do this Mara. I didn't want to tell you all of this, and put you in this danger." Mara's eyes flared, "I don't need anyone protecting me Skywalker. And I don't need anyone keeping the truth from me. Especially not the man I love."
Luke nodded shamefully, "I hope after I'm done telling you, you'll understand why." Mara replied, "I hope so too Luke."
They all sat in the formal sitting room in the soft flickering glow of Mara's fireplace. Leia sat next to Luke and Mara across from them. Leia nodded at Luke encouragingly and Luke began, "Mara, you know that my father is Darth Vader. He is also Anakin Skywalker." Mara nodded and said, "Yes, that was his identity before he joined with the Emperor, I know."
Luke sighed, hating that he had to put her at any sort of risk with the Emperor, "No Mara. He still is Anakin Skywalker. Darth Vader is just a disguise."
Mara shook her head and Luke continued, "Back when Palpatine first came to power, my father and mother knew that he was too powerful then to be beaten. They used to force to fool the Emperor into thinking that my father had murdered Mace Windu and succumbed to the dark side of the force. He then was to wait until the Emperor was caught off guard and kill him. But Palpatine was too powerful by then and my father had to wait until another force user as strong as he was could join him. Me. But the massacre of the Jedi, the death of my mother Padme Amidala. It was all a lie."
Mara replied, "It can't be Luke. I've been here practically my whole life, with Vader! I've seen him carry out the Emperor's rulings."
Leia replied sadly, "Yes, he despised it every time. Trust me, I know. I lost my entire home planet." Mara shook her head, "The Jedi are dead." Luke grasped her hand and said, "Mara, look at me. Why would I lie to you?" Mara took her hand from him, "Maybe you were lied to! Have you thought of that?"
Luke and Leia exchanged a look of sympathy. Luke began again, "Mara, I have seen Mace Windu with my own eyes. The Jedi are alive. My father, my mother, my sister, myself the Jedi and the alliance are all staging a plan to overthrow the Emperor."
Luke concentrated and let down all of his barriers through the force and allowed Mara into his mind fully.
She saw everything, the first time he saw his father, the first time he saw his mother. Training to become a Jedi with Anakin and Obi Wan. Leia falling in love with Han Solo. Coming to the Imperial Palace, and herself, she saw herself as he saw her. Wrapped in translucent starlight...then the plan. The one thing he had to keep from her, the one thing he had wanted to tell her all along. Arguing with his father, wanting to tell her, to trust her. Wanting more than anything to save her from the tyrannical rule of Palpatine.
Mara's green eyes flew wide and blazed in the firelight, "Luke no! You can't! Leia please tell him! The Emperor is too strong he'll kill all of you! Please stop this! Luke, I can't bear the thought of you in danger." She took his hand in her own and hugged it to her chest.
He hadn't even suspected she would feel this way, that his well being would take precedence over her anger at being deceived...
She read this thoughts which were now an open book for the first time, "Oh I'm angry Luke make no mistake. But I could never want to put you in harms way. You, or Leia. I have to get you two out of here, safely, now."
Suddenly Mara went completely rigid and grasped her head in anguish, crying out. Luke dropped to his knees in front of her. "Mara! What's wrong? What is it!" She cried out again, "I don't know! Luke!" He dropped into the force and felt through her mind. There was something there, something inside her mind causing her pain. He saw it, some small piece in her mind shooting out electric sparks. He reached out with his formidable power and dissolved the device. She exhaled in relief and fell into his arms.
She felt him trembling and asked panting, 'What was that Luke?" He looked at Mara, then turned to Leia who had jumped to her feet in all the commotion.
L'wren entered the room after hearing Mara's cries. Luke looked again at Mara, tears in his eyes and said, "Mara... it was a behavior modification chip."
Leia's hands went to her mouth in shock. Mara shook her head, her voice breaking, 'No Luke. It couldn't have been. I would have known if he had done something like that."
Luke sighed still fighting emotion, "Mara, he attempted to fit my father with one as well. My father was too strong and dissolved it as I just did with yours. He studied it. It's a modification chip to make you obedient, a variation of what they do with the storm troopers. It triggers if it detects any brain waves that hint on disloyalty."
Mara swallowed. Hard.
Leia gasped as she remembered, "He said that one day you just miraculously snapped into obedience when I saw him tonight Mara. He did this to you."
Mara looked at Leia, then back at Luke, then to L'wren who had her hand over her chest looking at her mistress with shock and sadness in her eyes. She stood quivering, "No, you're all wrong. I would have known if there was a chip put in my head."
Luke looked at her and asked honestly, "Would you have? It would take less time to install it as it would for you to load a blaster. He could have done it while you were sleeping and you never would have known it."
She closed her eyes...no. If he could do this what else could he have done?
She walked away from them, Luke rising to follow her. She turned, her eyes teary "Luke, what else could he have done to me." Luke embraced her tightly and she broke into heartbreaking sobs. They fell to the floor, she was mumbling, "He took my life from me...my whole life. What is this makes me different Luke? What if you don't love me this way?"
Luke's own tears flooded down his face and he said, "Mara. Don't. I would love you no matter what happened. I saw you Mara Jade and I fell in love with you. I'm always going to love you more than anything in this galaxy."
Suddenly Mara felt a great swell of hatred, "I'm going to make him pay for this Luke." Luke kissed her head and said, "We both will sweetheart I promise you. But we have to do this the right way. This plan has been in affect for twenty years. You have to trust me."
She looked at him, her green eyes still glassy with tears, "How can you want me now? Knowing how bitterly damaged I am." Luke held her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. "Mara. I will always want you. You will heal from this and I will help you. You are everything to me, the thing I hold dearest in my life. No matter what happens, you are still my Mara Jade." she sighed and rose shaking.
"We should get some rest. Leia, you are more than welcome to stay here. I'd prefer if we all stayed together. For safety."she said weakly Luke kissed Mara's hand and said, "I'm going to help Leia get settled and then I will be with you." She nodded defeated and walked into their bedchamber.
Luke looked to L'wren who nodded and said, "I understand Lord Skywalker, I won't let her be alone." she followed Mara demurely.
Leia hugged Luke tightly. "He ruined her life Leia. Forced her to obey him." Luke spat hatefully, "I want to kill him. Sneak into his chambers and cut him in half." Leia nodded and said comfortingly, "I know. But like you said we have to follow the plan. And he didn't ruin her life, he ruined her life up until this moment. Contact father. Now."
Luke was unable to reach Anakin immediately, he left him a message, "Father it's Luke. I'm letting you know that the situation here is extremely unstable. The Emperor has alluded to much larger designs regarding all of us, and I've just dissolved a behavior chip in Mara after it triggered. Please hurry back. We may need to discuss moving the plans forward."
Leia looked at the chrono, it was nearly dawn. Luke handed his comm to Leia who turned it on immediately and punched in Han's frequency, "Solo." he replied commandingly.
Leia smiled at the sound of his voice and said softly, "It's me." Luke smiled to hear the complete relief in Han's voice, "Leia! Are you all right?" Leia looked up at Luke who moved his way to the door mouthing 'good night' before he left. Leia replied, "Oh Han. I hate it here." Han answered, "I know honey, but soon it will all be over. We're leaving Naboo now, I wish I was coming there to get you." Leia smiled, "Me too. But soon you will. Rescuing the princess again huh?" Han laughed, "You're hardly the damsel in distress. Not some maiden in a tower waiting for some guy to come strolling along. You'd have already worked your way out of the tower and demolished it properly and bawled out the prince before needing any sort of rescue." She smiled at his analogy. She did have a very take charge attitude. "Is my father still there?" she asked.
Han answered, "No, Did you need him for something?" Leia sighed, "Palpatine has been increasingly alarming lately. Without my father here we're just all on edge." Han replied soothingly, "Just hang on honey, it will all be over soon. Then we'll be together."
Leia smiled fighting back tears, 'That's what we're fighting for."
L'wren sat with Mara stroking her hair as Mara sat in bed looking at the wall. Mara looked at her handmaiden and asked quietly, "Is everything a lie L'wren? My whole life?"
L'wren gathered Mara in her arms and said, "No my dear. You've been cruelly deceived that's to be certain. But you are still Mara Jade as Master Luke said. You have been a pawn for the Emperor for all this time unbidden. But now, now you have a rare opportunity to make a choice for yourself. Do you stay? And succumb to the wishes of the malevolent lord who has done you significant harm? Or do you go with the man and the family who care a great deal for you and want you to be happy? I think your choice is clear."
Mara looked at L'wren, "How can you say this? You were hired by Palpatine! Your loyalty is to the Empire."
The handmaiden raised her chin defiantly, "I am loyal to you Mara Jade. Yes, the Emperor hired me...for you. That is where my duty lies. I would be a fool if I could not see the truth of this matter. Lord Skywalker loves you completely, and the two of you have a chance to live your lives as you see fit. I suggest that you grasp it."
Mara sighed still trembling, "It frightens me." L'wren replied with resolve, "Then you must face it head on, and defeat it. No more hiding, no more doing what you're ordered to do even though it's a choice you were never make. You're too proud Mara, too proud to continue answered to a man who only seeks to possess you."
Mara felt the heat rising in her chest, L'wren was right. She wanted to be with Luke, but on their terms not the Emperor's. She would cut the marionette strings and be herself again.
Most of all she wanted to make sure that the last thing the Emperor saw in this lifetime was her utter defiance.
Mace Windu looked out the shuttle window as the shooting stars gliding by. He was older, wiser and more reticent. The years in seclusion hadn't lessened his power, but they had changed his perspective. He recalled the day it all changed...
FLASHBACK
Anakin was rushing towards him, "Master Windu I must talk to you."
He acknowledged, "Skywalker. We have just received word that Obi Wan has destroyed General Grievous. We're on our way to make sure the Chancellor returns emergency power to the senate."
Anakin replied angrily, "He won't give up his power! I've just learned a terrible truth. I think Chancellor Palpatine is a sith lord!"
Shocked moved across the unshakable mein of Master Windu, "A sith lord!"
Anakin replied, "Yes, the one we have been looking for."
Still incredulous, "How do you know this?
Anakin answered, "He knows the ways of the force. He's been trained to use the dark side."
Mace asked firmly, 'Are you sure?"
Anakin said, "Absolutely."
Mace sighed and said, "Then out worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive."
Anakin agreed, "Master, the chancellor is very powerful. You will need my help if you are going to arrest him."
Mace lightly chastised, "For you own good stay out of this affair. I sense a great deal of confusion in you young Skywalker. There is much fear that clouds you judgement."
Anakin insisted, "I must go Master!"
Mace replied firmly, "No. If what you told me here is true you will have gained my trust. But for now. Stay here."
Mace and three other Jedi were in the lift rising to the Chancellor's office when Anakin reached out through the force.
"Master Windu. He's too powerful. Trust me please."
Windu tried in vain to ignore the voice, trying to focus.
"Master Windu. I have an idea. I know that he can sense you coming for him. He will be on guard. He thinks that I am will succumb to the dark side. Let him believe that I have. Then when he is vulnerable I will remove him."
Mace answered, "I will handle this. Do not interfere."
The lift doors opened, and he, with his companions walked into the Chancellor's office.
He felt a dark sweeping of the force, but continued to walk forward.
The gentle tenor of the Chancellor greeted him, "Master Windu, I take it General Grievous has been destroyed then. I must say you're here sooner than expected."
Mace activated his majestic light saber and said evenly, "In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic you are under arrest."
Palpatine snarled, "Are you threatening me master Jedi?"
Mace retorted, 'The senate will decide your fate."
In a fury of anger Palpatine yelled, "I am the senate!"
Mace answered his anger growing, 'Not yet!"
Palpatine called his own lightsaber to his side and replied venomously, "It's treason then..." and flew at the four Jedi.
Mace was shocked at how formidable the old man was. Before he knew it, his three Jedi companions were dead. He reached out as he defended himself against the sith onslaught, 'Anakin! You were right! Come now, we will fake my death with the force. Then you will appear to be fallen to the dark side. We will meet to discuss further plans. Hurry!"
Anakin replied breathlessly in a run, "I am on my way."
FLASHBACK ENDS
Mace sighed and looked down at his prosthetic hand...it was a simple sacrifice. He and Anakin had coordinated their fight in their minds through the force as it was happening. Palpatine had to think that he was winning. Anakin had played his part so masterfully that Mace had truly been afraid for several moments.
FLASHBACK
After pledging his allegiance to Palpatine, Anakin sought out Mace Windu and several other Jedi and holograms of the masters. All who respected Mace's authority.
He began, "A very grave danger has come upon us. Palpatine is a Sith Lord. Anakin and I have created a plot to deceive him into thinking that Anakin is his new apprentice."
Anakin interjected, "He seeks to destroy all of the Jedi. You must go into hiding until he is killed. He has not told me yet how he will seek to annihilate us, but I know it will be soon. Trust no one at this time. You must appear to be dead, then go into hiding to stay out of danger."
Yoda tapped his cane furiously, "Agree with this I do not! Deception, the dark side that is. Destroy the Sith, we must."
Mace sighed at the grand jedi master and said, "You cannot Master Yoda he is too strong and he will expect an attack. Let Anakin do this, he will lull the Emperor into a sense of false security then he can destroy him."
Yoda lightly growled, "The way of the Jedi this is not! Fallen to the dark side young Skywalker has!" His blue hologram faded into nothingness and Anakin looked to Mace Windu who said, "Yoda has demonstrated his loyalty to the Jedi ways alone. My faith is in the republic and I will do whatever necessary to restore it."
The remaining knights, padawans and masters all agreed with Master Windu.
Ki Adi-Mundi turned his holographic image to Anakin and asked, "This is a very big responsibility young man. Are you certain you can do this?"
Anakin replied, "I know I have seemed taciturn and ungrateful. And I apologize for it. Now it is time to tell the truth. Three years ago I secretly married Padme Amidala. The child she now carries is my child. I had a force vision that Padme died in childbirth and Palpatine sought to manipulate me through my love for her and desire to save her. I make no apologies for my marriage to Padme. She and I came up with this plan together and though it will hurt us both acutely to remain apart, it's what we must do to save millions of lives and restore liberty."
Ki Adi Mundi nodded his head in reverence to Anakin and said, "May the force be with you young one. Master Windu, I will contact you after...well...after I am dead I suppose."
Mace nodded and the master's hologram vanished. Mace looked to Anakin and asked, "What about Obi Wan? Surely you will want to make your intentions known to him?" Anakin sighed and said, "Obi Wan cares for me too much, he would never let me commit myself to this danger. And he could get himself hurt by interfering. I sense he has a larger part to play in all of this. I despise lying to the man I fought side by side with for so many years, but it cannot be avoided. I know him too well."
Mace added, "And your wife?" Anakin looked down and said, "Padme understands that she must fake her own death as well to be free as well as separate herself from our child lest the chancellor senses it's force presence. Palpatine has sought to kill Padme for too long to stop now. I won't be ordered to murder my own wife and child. He has ordered me now to kill all of the Jedi, I must collect a regiment of clones now to storm the Jedi Temple, I will have to give the younglings a crash course on force trances. We have so little time to organize this."
Mace put his hand on Anakin's shoulder and said, "I will contact the remaining Jedi and inform them of this plan. Then I will disguise myself as a clone and assist you in the temple."
Anakin asked softly, "You're not angry with me about having a wife?"
Mace sighed and said, "If we weren't in so much danger now then yes I would be. But as it is. You're not the first Jedi to have this...situation. But you're willing to put others first before yourself. That's a true trait of the Jedi." Anakin smiled and said, "I will meet you in the temple then. Afterwards I will go to my wife and tell her what has transpired."
Mace nodded and vanished into the dark street of Coruscant.
FLASHBACK ENDS
The stars whizzed past the glass window of the ship which housed Mace Windu. He had longed for this moment for many years. He looked around to his Jedi companions, they had as well. Soon their deception would be over, no longer forced to hide in abominable places. They would be free. As they so richly deserved. It had been a long time coming.
