Luke stood outside the interrogation room as he watched the red head pace inside the room. If she wasn't the Emperor's Hand, he would've asked her out in a heartbeat. She was beautiful but he suspected this wasn't the time to be acting on instant feelings for her. She nearly succeeded in kidnapping his father. If it wasn't for Han coming to the med ward, they would've never known what had taken place until it was too late.

Mara stopped pacing and faced the double-sided mirror and scowled as if she knew he was standing here. "I know you're there, come on out. I promise not to bite," she paused for a second and with a smirk she quickly added. "Too hard."

Luke rolled his eyes as he waited for Fress to come in but he wanted to talk with Mara one on one before his father's friend came in. He took a deep breath as Ahsoka entered in as he glanced at her. "I'm going to talk with her. Maybe I can get through to her. Wait here in case something goes wrong."

"Not a good idea, Luke," Ahsoka pointed out with a frown. "You should wait for Fress."

"Skywalkers' are born without self-preservation, that's what Han always says," Luke pointed out with a smirk. "Why not prove him right?"

"Padme is not even blood related and she's just as bad as Anakin. I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Ahsoka grumbled under her breath as Luke opened the door and walked in.

"Father told me you're the Emperor's Hand?" Luke questioned as he sat down at the table as Mara sat down at the opposite end. "Palpatine sent you to kidnap Anakin?"

Mara just sat there with a shocked expression on her face as she swallowed hard. "He's your what?"

"Vader is Anakin Skywalker my father," Luke answered as he watched her face pale. "My sister and mother are still alive and I can't see Anakin turning back to the dark side knowing that we're giving him a second chance to be in our lives. He's more than happy being here. I'm finally getting to know my parents. Anakin will kill Palpatine first chance he gets," that was the plan. But Luke decided to keep this last bit to himself. There was no telling how Mara would react.

"You're lying, Vader has no children let alone a wife," Mara sounded unsure with this statement as Luke watched her with a neutral expression.

"You sound unsure about your response," Luke pointed out with a frown causing her to glare. "Mara, Palpatine has lied to a lot of people to get them to do his dirty work for him. He's using you just as he used my parents," he paused for a second as he let what he just said have time to sink in. "Are you sure you know what happened to your family?"

"Palpatine told me they abandoned me," Mara answered with a frown. "Why would he lie about that?"

"To pretend he cares," Luke answered easily as Mara raised an eyebrow of disbelief in his direction. "He only cares about himself. He cares about power and riches and nothing more. Are you sure you're on the right side?"

"That's enough Luke," Fress spoke up as she entered the room. "I would've preferred if you waited for me."

"Mara, if you weren't the Emperor's Hand. I don't know why but I have this urge to ask you out," Luke spoke with an honest smile as his cheeks warmed a little as Mara sized him up.

"You're a farm boy aren't you?" Mara questioned with a smirk.

"Moisture farmer," Luke answered honestly surprised she was able to peg him down the way he grew up. "See you around, beautiful."

Fress watched him with a funny expression as Luke stood up and left the room. He opened the door and closed it behind him as he joined Ahsoka behind the two-way mirror.

"Smooth move, farm boy," Ahsoka teased causing Luke's face to flush further. "Wait until I tell Anakin about this. He won't be happy that you were flirting with the Emperor's Hand in there."

"What's your point?" Luke questioned as he watched Fress sit down in the chair he was sitting in a few seconds ago. "There is something about her. I can't explain why I'm attracted to her but I am."

"Now that you've heard what Luke had to say, you'll listen to what I have to say," Fress spoke with a frown. "My home planet was Alderaan. Tarkin blew it up as a demonstration of power. The Empire deals with slaves, crimes, and rules in fear. I'm under the impression from Anakin that your family was killed and Palpatine spared your life due to your Force sensitivity. He decided to raise you and turn you into an assassin carrying out his dirty work for him."

Fress paused for a second waiting for Mara to respond. So far the young woman was scowling at Fress. "You're lying. He told me my family abandoned me."

"According to Anakin that wasn't the case," Fress explained with a frown. "He's requested that we go easy on you. Because you're another victim to Palpatine's mind games."

"May I speak with him? Face to face?" Mara requested as she watched Fress shake her head. "Why not?"

"Due to his condition being complicated and the way Fey'lya had him treated yesterday. The medic was checking his blood for infections and discovered Anakin somehow contacted the stomach bug that's been circulating around Home One as of late. I can ask if he would be up for a holo communication from his recovery room instead. I can't guarantee he would be up for chatting now. Maybe tomorrow he would be more up for it," Fress explained with a frown.

"Father's sick again?" Luke questioned with disbelief in his tone.

"Apparently," Ahsoka answered with a frown. "He was just starting to come down with a fever just before they took Mara away. Padme is staying with him because she had it a few weeks ago. He's requested to have the clone brought in and have his memories transferred over. I suspect as soon as he's well enough, Padme will be making the arrangements."

"Are you telling me, he would've been sick on my ship half way back to Imperial Center?" Mara questioned as Fress nodded. "By holo communication than."

"I'll be back," Fress stood up from the chair and walked towards the room where Ahsoka and Luke were waiting. Fress turned her attention to Ahsoka. "Commander Tano , keep Luke from entering in and flirting with the prisoner."

"You got it, General," Ahsoka agreed as Luke made a sour face as Fress left the detention level to go make arrangements. "You heard the general, Commander. No flirting with the prisoner."

Luke raised an eyebrow as he watched Ahsoka give a toothy smirk causing him to look back towards the two-way mirror. Mara now seemed unsure about everything. She was staring at the table clasping and unclasping her hands as if something was bothering her. If they can prove to her that Palpatine has been lying to her, he suspected she would be willing to jump ship. She looked like she could use a friend to talk too.


Fress approached Anakin's bed as he held up a hand preventing her from coming any closer. She stopped and watched him with concern. He looked far paler then he did an hour ago. The flu bug was definitely starting to take hold on him. "Anakin, I suspect if she hears the story from you about what happened to her parents. I sense she'll jump ship. Are you up for talking with her via holo communication? If not we can do this when you're feeling better."

"Might as well get this over with, she won't like the answer. I was there tracking her family due to them being Force sensitives," Anakin explained as he closed his eyes.

Fress levitated a holo communicator towards Anakin as he held out his hand and accepted it. "Luke was flirting with her in the interrogation room and he doesn't know why. But he appears to be attracted to her."

Anakin raised an eyebrow as he watched Fress with a serious expression. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, I ordered Ahsoka to keep him out of there," Fress explained with a frown. "Who knows, maybe she's his soul mate."

"That would give Palpatine nightmares at night," Anakin commented as he watched Fress. "Which channel?"

"Channel three," Fress answered as she turned around but paused for a second as she turned towards Anakin again. "Are you sure you're up for this? You look like death has warmed over," Anakin swallowed hard and nodded. She turned around and headed back to the interrogation room. It was time for Anakin to tell Mara what really happened.


Fress stepped into the room behind the two-way mirror as Ahsoka shook her head. She glanced towards the mirror noting Luke and Mara talking. "I told you to keep him out of there."

"It feels right, Fress," Ahsoka said with a frown as she watched Luke and Mara talk about things. "Luke felt Mara could use a friend right about now. I sense a bond developing between them."

Fress watched Ahsoka with a frown as she stretched out with the Force brushing Luke and Mara as they both looked up with curious expressions. Ahsoka was right, it was the same bond she sensed between Han and Leia the first day they met. "Palpatine will have a fit when he finds out."

"With Mara's skills, she'll be a welcome addition to the Alliance," Ahsoka pointed out with a frown. "She has skills that are advanced for her age. How is Anakin doing?"

"He looks like death has warmed over," Fress answered with a frown. "We should get this done and over with so he can rest. Wait here and watch everything."

"That's why I'm here," Ahsoka said with a tight smile as Fress opened the door and entered the room as both looked up with frowns.

"Mara, Anakin has agreed to speak with you via holo communication. We should try and keep it as brief as possible as he's not looking too good at the moment," Fress explained as she turned on the holo communicator as Anakin answered immediately. "Anakin, your son is fascinated with her. We should let it play out."

Luke didn't say a word as he cast a betrayed expression to Fress. "You told him?"

"Luke, don't worry about it. Let me talk to her," Anakin said with a sigh as Fress placed the holo communicator down on the table in front of Mara. "Mara, what I'm about to say won't be an easy thing to hear. Palpatine told you that your family abandoned you. It was a lie to cover up the real reason. Your father was a padawan learner that survived order 66 that I eventually tracked down and killed. By the time I discovered where you and your mother were, Palpatine had gotten there first. He kept you and told me he was going to raise you and turn you into an assassin. He ordered the troopers to kill your mother. I'm so sorry Mara."

"Palpatine and you killed them?" Mara questioned sounding like a lost child. "I wasn't abandoned? He lied to me. Am I the only hand or did he lie about that too?"

"Palpatine has another hand called Roganda Ismaren," Anakin answered as Fress sensed Mara's anger begin to flare at Palpatine's name.

"I'm not the only one after he reassured me I was?" Mara barked angrily causing Anakin to grimace at the expression on her face. "Palpatine can die for all I care. I'm done serving him," she paused for a second and studied Anakin. "You look like death, Skywalker."

"You look angry," Anakin shot back as he closed his eyes grimacing. "Would you mind if we cut this short? We can pick this up when I'm feeling more up to talking if you want too. Fress and Ahsoka can help you get situated if you decide to join the Alliance."

"I'll talk to Leia," Fress said with a subtle smile as Mara raised an eyebrow.

"It's a good thing she takes after her mother," Anakin muttered under his breath. "Two politicians in the family, Force help me."

Fress smirked as Padme slapped Anakin teasingly on the arm for the comment. "I didn't realize Padme was there?"

"She's insistent to take care of me until this bug runs its course," Anakin explained. "She was elsewhere when you came in earlier."

"Can we talk later?" Mara questioned as Anakin nodded as Padme placed a wet cloth on top of his forehead.

"I would be more than happy too," Anakin answered with a slight smile before cutting the transmission short as Mara stared down at her hands.

"Father doesn't look too good," Luke muttered under his breath. "Are you all right, Mara?"

"No, I'm not," Mara answered with a frustrated sigh. "Everything I've done was kill people and for what? Was it in cold blood?"

"Mara, did you want to join the Alliance?" Fress questioned with a frown. "We could use someone with your skills in Intelligence security."

Mara glanced up and nodded as Fress signaled for Ahsoka to come in. Ahsoka walked in as the young girl stared down at her hands again and closed her eyes. The truth was hitting her hard. "Ahsoka, get into contact with Mon Mothma and Leia Organa. Ask them to come down here please," Ahsoka gave a nod as she left the room taking out a comlink.

A few minutes later Leia walked in as Fress looked up with a smile. "Leia, Mara wishes to join the Alliance. She would be good in Intelligence Security."

"I see, what has changed her mind, might I ask?" Leia questioned as Mara glanced up with a frown.

"Are you really Vader's daughter?" Mara questioned with a curious expression as Leia nodded in confirmation. "No wonder he left the Empire. Vader told me what happened to my parents. I was under the impression I was abandoned when I was a child but Vader said the Empire killed them. I'm not the only Emperor's hand. I was under the impression I was. He's lied to me, and there's no telling what else he lied to me about."

"Are you ready to tell the Alliance anything you know that would be useful to us in our fight against the Empire?" Leia questioned as she placed a hand onto Mara's shoulder.

"I am," Mara agreed as Leia smiled and patted her shoulder.

"Welcome to the Alliance," Leia spoke with warm welcoming smile. "We'll get you assigned to a cabin onboard and have you work with Lieutenant Paige. I'll help you with your paper work."

"Thank you," Mara gave a weary smile.


Padme helped Anakin lean back against the pillow as he breathed in and out heavily. This flu seemed to be more relentless on him then on her. Considering his condition, the medic warned them ahead of time that this might be the case. "Relax Anakin. Close your eyes and try to sleep."

"I feel like death is knocking at the door," Anakin muttered under his breath as Padme handed the bucket to the nurse as she took it to rinse it out. Padme stood up and walked to the sink to wash her hands. She stepped back to his bedside and rested the back of her hand on his forehead. At least the fever was close to breaking.

Anakin closed his eyes as his breathing relaxed. Finally, Padme thought to herself as the nurse walked back in and was about to check his blood pressure. Padme stopped her by placing a hand onto the nurse's arm. "He's finally asleep. Leave him for a bit," she requested with a frown.

"I'll come back in a few hours," the nurse whispered in agreement. "Let me know if he needs anything further."

"I will, thanks," Padme watched as the nurse walked out of the room again as she turned her attention to Anakin. He was passed out cold. She closed her eyes as sleep beckoned her. She slowly fell asleep as Anakin's symptoms have finally subsided for now. She hoped it stayed that way.


Thanks for reading :)