A/N: Whee another update! Thanks to all the reviewers. I am working as fast as I am able to finish this story up. Next chapter will be the big show down. Who will win? Will everyone survive? We'll see. For now- enjoy the party! This chapter is mostly party- both Rebel and Imperial ;) Writing half vocal half force conversations was making my head spin as well as Luke's… admitted I am writing in the middle of the night, which explains a lot lol.
The Grand Hall filled with guests and soft music was piped in from hidden speakers, creating a surprisingly relaxing atmosphere in light of the emotional tension in the air. As Luke reached out in the Force he could feel a mix of anxiety, annoyance and alertness from Mara, confidence and a twisted pleasure rolling off Palpatine, outright rage and hatred from Isard- mostly aimed at Mara he noted. He could see from his spot across the room from her, Mara was still playing bait the Isard, and he could feel Palpatine's amusement at watching the women play against each other. The pair were circling like a couple of nexu and Luke wondered if he wasn't going to be breaking up a fight by nights end. Certainly they had always antagonized each other, but there seemed to be a new level of hatred between them he considered, then tried to bring his focus back to what the Moff was saying to him. Kriff these dignitaries were boring. Maybe he should just join Mara in Isard baiting. At least she looked like she was having fun. Or he could just strangle the man with the Force. He was the Son of Vader after all, wasn't he? Even as Luke thought it he was alarmed for even letting himself consider it. He defiantly needed to get out of here soon, or he would fall. Catching Mara's glance at his sudden spike in anxiety, he waved his hand at her from across the room trying to pacify her. She gave him a skeptical glare but let it go as the music shifted and she stepped onto the stage. Luke watched entranced with everyone else as she spun and leap graceful, her body swaying sensually to the music. Her eyes were shut and Luke realized she was using the Force to feel the beat of the music and match her body to it. There was certainly a novel application of Force talent Luke had never considered. Several other dancers had joined the stage, but everyone's eyes were on Mara. When the music died down she bowed deeply and stepped back to Palpatine's side to play her role as Imperial dancer and concubine. There were those of course who knew it was all an act… himself, Vader, Isard, Pestage… but most didn't question it at all. After exchanging a few words with Palpatine, Mara floated from guest to guest, accepting praise on her dance before finally making her way over to him. Never breaking character she bowed before him.
"Hello. I understand you are the famous Skywalker… the Son of Vader… it's an honour to make your acquaintance." she said smoothly out loud. Through the Force she asked him "So enjoying your first Imperial party?" amusement obvious.
"A pleasure to meet you. I greatly enjoyed your dance. Perhaps you might dance privately for me some time." Luke answered formally, though a slight amused twinkle lit his eye as he responded to her unspoken question mentally "If I have to listen to one more Moff try convince me of his tactical genius and why I should choose him to serve under me when I get my ship I really will strangle someone."
"Your own ship?" Mara asked mentally. Keeping up pretences she said out loud "It would be an honour sir." Tired of trying to hold two conversations at once, Luke grabbed a pair of champagne glasses from a tray and guided her to a nearby bench.
"Sit and drink with me?" he asked and she nodded taking one of the glasses from him. "I haven't been told anything, but apparently the rumour mill is the Emperor will be presenting me with my own Star Destroyer soon and everyone who is anyone wants on my crew list… since I guess I have the prestige of Vader, without the reputation for homicidal tendencies… yet." Luke told her ruefully.
"Yet? I hope you don't develop any. We are just getting your father over those." Mara responded, stern and teasing all at once.
"I'm serious Mara… I… I thought for a moment about killing the Moff… just for being annoying. I felt the urge to reach out in the Force and choke him." Luke admitted shamefully.
"Well, in my experience Moffs have that effect so don't feel too bad." Mara tried to assure him. As she did she noticed Palpatine and the soon to be Grand Admiral Thrawn talking and glancing her way. "Kriff… I better see what's up. I don't like that look."
"Who is he Mara?" Luke asked.
"Admiral Thrawn… he's to be announced as Grand Admiral tonight. Keep an eye on him. He's the Emperor's favourite tactician… which speaks volumes since he is an alien… and the Empire isn't precisely alien friendly. An alien who has made it this far is very very good at what he does." Mara told him before breaking the connection and walking back to her Master's side, leaving Luke once again with his thoughts.
Mara felt a flicker of hesitation as she approached her Master, realizing both Admiral Thrawn and Intelligence Director Isard stood by him. Still she knew Isard would not dare harm her with her Master so close by, so she swallowed hard and closed the distance. She was vaguely amused to feel Isard's flicker of annoyance and possessive jealousy as Palpatine wrapped an arm around Mara's waist, pulling her close to his side, as might be expected of an Imperial concubine. Though she was less then thrilled with her Master's hand sitting low on her back- far lower then would be proper with any woman but a concubine Mara noted- it pleased her to vex Isard so. Taking the game a bit further she leaned into Palpatine's touch. Palpatine glanced at her questioningly for a moment, but catching Mara's smirk and Isard's glare he became amused. The two certainly had it in for each other tonight. He'd heard of course about their little run in earlier. He wondered idly who would win should a full fight break out between the pair. It could be quite amusing to watch. He knew both were in the habit of carrying weaponry of sorts. Mara favoured compact blasters and her lightsaber while Isard preferred small toxic darts which would be used to immobilize an opponent and cause them pain. Right now he would not allow it… not while Mara carried his heir… but after… yes it would be quite amusing to let their growing hatred take it's natural course to conclusion. Thrawn's voice broke his thoughts and brought him back to the present.
"You dance wonderfully. I am a great collector of art… it's a shame one can not collect such grace and beauty." Thrawn said to Mara who bowed her head.
"Thank you." she said softly. Isard gave her a disgusted look.
"I see you are right she does indeed possess a great many skills." Thrawn said to Palpatine. "It's a shame she can not fully utilize them for the time being. Still I can see when she is she will be a great asset… and I thank you for your willingness to allow me to borrow her." Mara bristled at the comment. What was she? All these kriffing men acted as though she were a piece of meat to be passed around. Even Isard gave her a slight understanding look. She knew how little respect women received as much as any woman in the Empire.
"Master? I was not informed of this." Mara said.
"You are being informed now." Palpatine told her, his tone warning her against any protest. Isard shot Mara a smug look- Isard 1, Mara 1. She'd proven her point. Palpatine cared about Mara only as far as she was useful to him.
"Yes my Master." Mara said bowing her head subserviently.
"As for you Ysanne… I wish you to accompany our new Grand Admiral to Byss to inspect his work and proceed with what we discussed the other day." Palpatine said and Isard jolted. She was being sent away too? This time Mara smirked. Mara 2, Isard 1. Wait.. their discussion… cloning facilities? Had he had a premonition? Was Vader soon to betray him and succeed? Palpatine gave a slight nod to her, indicating he had picked up her thoughts and she was correct.
"Of course my liege." she said calmly. "How soon do you wish me to leave?" she asked.
"Tonight." Palpatine said.
"After Skywalker has killed the Rebels?" she asked.
"No, before. I will see to it the Rebel scum are taken care of. I wish you to leave just after Thrawn is presented." he told her and Isard jolted.
"So soon?" she asked. Palpatine nodded and stroked her cheek.
"I apologize for the lack of notice my dear. It has become rather an urgent matter." he said. Mara observed the exchange and was puzzled by it. She made a mental note to study Byss after and see what was going on that would so motivate Palpatine to send two of his best minds there suddenly.
"I understand my liege." Isard said, bowing. Her expression and emotional state were one of worry Mara noted. Curiouser and curiouser. As Isard stepped past her, Mara utilized her pickpocket skills to swipe one of the neurotoxin vials from her uniform. For the life of her she couldn't explain why she had… just a flicker from the Force telling her she should. Besides… she enjoyed the challenge and the honing of her skills. Quickly slipping the vial into a hidden pocket in her skirt while Palpatine was distracted speaking to Thrawn, she schooled her face into one of perfect calm. Palpatine still glanced over at her curiously, but shrugged it off assuming whatever had just gone on was more mere baiting between the women. He was unsure exactly what Mara had done to Isard, but he hadn't missed Mara's sudden focus then calm. She'd done something. He'd no doubt hear of it later… whatever childish prank it was.
The Whyrens Reserve flowed generously around the Home One as everyone took time out to celebrate Han and Leia's engagement. Mon Mothma wasn't fully supportive of Leia's involvement with Han, but seemed pleased he had finally proposed. Lando slapped Han hard on the back. "Congrats buddy!" he said. "Who thought we'd ever see the day you got married." Chewbacca barked an agreement.
"Hey, you aren't exactly marriage material either and Maala married you pal." Han told him, and both Chewie and Lando laughed.
"Maala?" Leia asked, coming to join the group.
"Chewie's wife on Kashyyk." Han explained. Leia looked surprised.
"You have a wife Chewie?" she asked "Why aren't you with her?" Chewie barked an answer and Han translated.
"He says a life debt is more important to wookiees then the bonds of marriage." Chewie gave another woof "And he does go visit her when he can."
"Don't you miss her Chewie?" Leia asked. Chewie gave a mournful woof.
"Of course he does. Wookiees live for a long time though… so his months away don't seem as long as they do to you or me." Han explained.
"I guess that makes sense." Leia said. "But you'd better not go taking off on me for months on end! And Chewie, as soon as we have a base established you are going to visit Maala." she said, jabbing the wookiee in the chest with her finger to accent her point. Chewbacca barked his agreement and Han grinned.
"Hey not a chance I'd leave you sweetheart… and besides, I don't want to upset anyone who isn't scared to order a wookiee around." he teased. Leia laughed and smacked him playfully.
"Always such a nerf Han." she said as she kissed him. A chorus of awwws went up around the room and Leia blushed. She blushed even more furiously when General Rieekan spoke.
"Ah, nothing has changed since Hoth… besides their ability to make use of the Falcon's sound proofing." he said with a grin.
"Wasn't entirely their fault… ice does carry sound very well. I'm just glad they never caused a cave in." Madine added with a grin of his own.
"Oh stop embarrassing her." Mon Mothma admonished, shaking her head at the men.
"She's marrying a Corellian smuggler… soon nothing will mortify her." Madine reasoned and Mon shook her head.
"True as that might be, I believe it's Solo's job to break her into that." she said.
"Might be a poor choice of words in light of the context." Dodonna said, and Mon flushed.
"Oh you lot are horrible." she said shaking her head. Grabbing a glass of the potent whiskey Mon raised a glass in a toast "To Han and Leia, a most unlikely pair if there ever was one. Though I question her sanity at marrying such a scoundrel, I have seen over the years how he makes her happy and how she grounds him… and I wish them all the best. We get precious few moments to celebrate here, so I raise my glass to their happiness. May it last for years to come!" she said.
"Here here!" Madine said, raising his own glass, along with the various other Generals, pilots, and crew around them. "To happiness, wherever one finds it." he said.
Though the vision of Vader standing before the Rebellion with his 501st still lingered in Leia's mind, she pushed it to the back of her thoughts for now and smiled brightly. Mon was right. There had been little reason to celebrate of late. Kriff it, for one day responsibilities and the Force could be damned. She was going to celebrate the fact she was now the future wife of Han Solo, the man she loved with all her heart. Raising her glass she repeated Madine's toast.
"To happiness." she said, raising the glass to take a sip. As she did she recalled the first time Han had introduced her to Whyrens and laughed.
"What's so funny sweetheart?" Han asked.
"I was just remembering the first time I tried this stuff." she said laughing. Han joined her laugher, remembering a younger Princess so sure she could handle whatever Han could and taking a large swig from the bottle… then promptly coughing and sputtering as the burn hit her throat. She'd since acquired a taste for the famous Corellian brew, but the image of a sputtering, coughing Princess trying to show him up and failing miserably still was clear in his mind. Considering that, Han marvelled at how far she had come as well as how far they had come as a pair. It had been a crazy journey, but Han knew he'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. He would do anything for Leia.
Isard walked side by side with the newly announced Grand Admiral Thrawn towards his waiting ship. As she did she questioned him, as Palpatine had told her virtually nothing as to why she was being sent off planet, save the small hint he had provided. He believed he was going to die. That much she knew, but why send her? Surely Thrawn was able to remove a clone from stasis. "Admiral Thrawn, tell me what you know of why we are being sent to Byss." she said.
"I am going to ensure the Spartii cloning facilities are all functioning correctly. You I believe will act as a beacon." Thrawn said, not bothering to correct her usage of his former title. Ranks mattered little to him anyways.
"A beacon?" Isard asked.
"From what I understand your presence near the clone body will allow for an easier location and transfer of His Majesty's essence into the clone body we will remove from stasis when we arrive." Thrawn explained. "As he explained it to me, each person possesses a unique signature in the Force. Because of his intimacy with you, he is most attuned to your signature. By placing you near the clone it helps him locate the body."
"So he believes Lord Vader will act very soon.. and be successful?" she pressed.
"Indeed. Perhaps even as soon as tonight, which is why time is of the essence." Thrawn told her.
"Tonight?" she started "Then why send us away when we could protect him?" she asked.
"I believe letting Lord Vader think he has won is part of his plan." he explained. "Meanwhile he shall gain a new and younger body with which he can strike back at Lord Vader when the time is right."
"A younger body?" Isard asked. Thrawn nodded as they boarded the ship.
"I suppose that would interest you, given the nature of your relationship. Not that young.. perhaps only fifteen or twenty years younger. Clones grow rapidly to the age of their DNA donor. Palpatine had his clones created around the fall of the Republic." he said. "And from what I understand once he had taken over the body, use of the Dark Side will age the body more rapidly." Isard considered that. While she had her doubts about the process, if it worked it could be quite interesting. She had been barely more than a child at that time. If the process worked that was.
"You believe this will work?" Isard pressed.
"I have studied the writings of Darth Plagieus… his Majesty was kind enough to grant me access to the journals he left. Given the spectacular things he was able to do and create with the Force, I believe this is almost certain to work easily." he said.
"He spoke with me of the experiments… but I still worry what could happen if this goes wrong. The galaxy would be flung into chaos." Isard said sighing.
"True enough, but it would be temporary… and that is why you and I will avoid the initial chaos which will break out on Coruscant. We will return to restore order while he adjusts to his new body, and maintain it until he is ready to return." Thrawn explained. So that was the true reason Palpatine was sending them both away. He wished to ensure their safety so that his best minds were not lost and order could be quickly restored. The idea didn't thrill her, but it did make sense.
Mara had to quickly suppress a flicker of alarm and surprise as she felt a familiar if unaccustomed presence in her mind. Turning to face the Sith Lord she frowned at him. "Why are you in my head Vader? Don't think I have enough voices floating around in here?" she grumbled to him mentally.
"Luke wished me to relay a message… he will soon be taken to the Rebels… when he does, ask permission to watch." Vader told her, being sure to keep them both shielded from the Emperor, not trusting Mara's own shields to be strong enough.
"We need to obtain some neurotoxin still" Vader told her and Mara flashed him a grin.
"It's taken care of, though you will have to tell me what I'm doing with it." she told him.
"Well that simplifies manners. You will know what you need to do when we get there." Vader responded "Be ready to move quick. This will be our only chance." he told her as he strode casually away, before the Emperor could become suspect of their conversation. Mara stepped quietly to stand once again at her Master's side, biding her time as he discussed plans for new weaponry of some sort. Mara tuned most of it out. Finally the man he spoke with left and Palpatine turned to face her.
"I sense you have a question for me. Speak child." he said.
"I wish to watch as Skywalker kills the Rebels." she said. Palpatine studied her for a moment.
"Why the interest my child?" he asked.
"I carry his child, and I hope that means some form of partnership between us… as his partner I think it is important I be at his side for such important progress in his training." Mara said calmly. Inside she was a nervous wreck, but she carefully shielded that part of herself, so when Palpatine searched her mind lightly he believed she felt exactly as she said.
"Very well, I see no harm in allowing you to watch my Hand. It might motivate him more having you there as a reminder of the price should he disobey." Palpatine said. Mara flinched slightly at that, not bothering to conceal her discomfort with that idea.
"He will not fail." Mara said.
"For your sake I hope not my dear. I would hate to have to separate you. Your skills compliment each other well and I think as a team no force in the galaxy could oppose us once the child is born." Palpatine responded. "You have another question." he said.
"What is on Byss? I can't help notice you have sent your two best minds there." Mara said, and Palpatine smiled patting her head the way he used to when she was very young.
"I will explain to you later… right now it is time to present Skywalker." he said.
"Tomorrow then?" Mara asked, knowing full well if things went well she would be gone by then… but she had to keep up appearances.
"Of course." Palpatine said, knowing it was a lie as well. If his vision was right he would be dead by then… or at least this body would be. "Shall we my dear?" he said, taking her hand and guiding her towards the seat nearest to the stage on which Skywalker waited to be presented formally. As she watched the presentation Mara smiled. Very soon now she would be free. If it meant being without the Force, so be it. What mattered was her freedom.. and her child's freedom